 By Gazette Staff
March 11,2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Toronto Star reports that NDP MP Lori Idlout is crossing the floor to Mark Carney’s Liberals, leaving them two seats shy of forming a majority.
With three by-elections scheduled for April 13, including in two Liberal strongholds in Toronto, the Nunavut MP’s defection could set up a majority for the Carney government.
 NDP MP Lori Idlout crosses the floor of the House of Commons to become a Mark Carney Liberal. Idlout’s decision was announced late Tuesday night by interim NDP leader Don Davies, who called on her to “put the decision to voters.”
“We’re very disappointed that Lori Idlout has decided to join the Liberal caucus,” Davies said in a statement.
“The position of the New Democrats on floor crossing is long-standing and clear. We believe that when someone rejects the decision of their electors and wants to join another party, they should put that decision to their voters.”
In a democracy, something as important as the choice of party representation in Parliament must always remain with our constituents. We believe that should happen here.”
Idlout, who beat a Liberal opponent by just 41 votes in last year’s election, has previously said she was being courted by the Liberals but indicated she would not cross the floor.
Last Thursday, she spoke in support of NDP leadership contender Avi Lewis at a more-than-800-person Ottawa rally.
She is the fourth MP to cross the floor to the Liberals after the dramatic defections of former Conservatives Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux.
 By Gazette Staff
March 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
This article has been revised
The National Theatre School DramaFest formerly known as the Sears Drama Festival, has been running for 80 years as of 2026. Founded in 1946, it is a long-standing Ontario-based youth theatre festival that has been presented by the National Theatre School of Canada since 2017
Thousands of careers started on those stages.
 Zainab Majid, Michelle Stern, August Frade Two Burlington High Schools will take part in the Western Regional Showcase at the Gravenhurst Opera House, the week of April 20, 2026.
From March 4th to March 7th Students from Halton High Schools competed in the first round of performances.
The following schools participated.
Nelson High School, Disconnected
M.M. Robinson High School, No Cause for Concern
Milton District High School, Rory and Sonny
White Oaks Secondary School, Still Perfectly Fine
St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School, How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery
T.A. Blakelock High School, 20 Neo-Futurist Plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind
Assumption Catholic Secondary School, Fortress
Burlington Central High School, The 146 Point Flame
McLachlan College, You’re Only
Craig Kielburger Secondary School, Crime and E-punishment
Advancing to Regionals (Outstanding Production Winners)
 Cast and crew of the Nelson High School students who produced Disconnected They will go on to the South Regional Showcase in Hamilton in April. These three outstanding production winners, two from Burlington, advance to the Western Regional Showcase
- Nelson High School for their production of Disconnected.
- Burlington Central High School for their production of The 146 Point Flame.
- Milton District High School (Host school) for their production of Rory and Sonny.
The winners of the Ontario competition will compete nationally with schools from three other provinces.
 By Pepper Parr
March 11, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
When Leah Logan spoke to Council a week or so ago, she said Indwell wanted to provide affordable housing to people who lived in Burlington.
 Stopping place for quite a few people. The move what they have in shopping carts to a location that is safe for them. She perhaps didn’t know that there were homeless people living just over a block away under a bridge from where they expect to build affordable homes..
 Burlington is home for them – they just didn’t have homes. Burlington was home for them – they just didn’t have homes.
When the Gazette found these people, we got a look at where they live and the conditions they had to cope with.
We got to speak to a couple who had been living rough for a couple of years.
The idea that a home might become available to them in a year or more (Indwell hopes to have their building permit in December of this year, astounded them.
 Home is under a bridge in a tent. “What do we have to do to get a real home they asked.
I said I would keep in touch with them – the problem is they didn’t have cell phones, they don’t have access to internet services.
The just lived under a bridge.
 By Gazette Staff
March 11th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Roseland Community Organization will be hosting a Speaker Event on March 24th.
Cheryl Stepan, editor-in-chief of the Hamilton Spectator and Malcom Kirk, President of the Canadian Press will be in conversation with Gerry Arnold, editor-in-chief of the Canadian Press and former chief parliamentary correspondent.
They will be discussing the many issues facing Canadian legacy news organizations – the disappearance of local news outlets, what is true and reliable, the inroads made by social media, the increasing role of AI, the proliferation of news organizations, not all trustworthy, the role of government in supporting the legacy news organizations and local press.
 By Pepper Parr
March 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council took two big steps to get to the point where space will become available on Waterdown Road just north of Plains Road for affordable housing that will be provided by Indwell on land the city bought for $7 million and has now expressed its intent to lease that land to Indwell who will in the fullness of time construct a building that will have space for up to 74 people.
The debate was limited in that Councillor Galbraith was unable to participate due to a conflict of interest directly across the road from the planned development. Galbraith understands business better than the other Council members; his comments and questions would have been more than useful.
 Leah Logan, Regional Director with Sylvia Harris, Senior Development Manager, Flourish. The Indwell people have been before Council several times in the last month.
Social housing is managed by the Region. Their Hatch program BETTER HERE budgets for the purchase of housing and for the building os new housing that can be made available t o people who cannot afford market rate accommodation.
 Indwell is the largest organization providing very affordable accommodation, along with the services some families need to get themselves to the point where they can become productive members of the community.
Indwell has been operational for over 50 years, founded in 1970 in Hamilton, Ontario, as a Christian charity focused on providing support for adults with mental health disabilities moving from institutions to community settings. It began with a group of Christians creating a group home called The Homestead. In 2000, the model shifted from residential care to providing permanent independent apartments with support services.
When they were explaining to Council what they do they made a point of saying they expected to provide accommodation for Burlington residents who are homeless.
They may not have been fully aware of just how many homeless people there are in the immediate area they plan to build.
 A community of homeless people find places that are out of sight where they can set up. Indwell is a Christian organization that provides not just accommodation but services some of the homeless might need. Putting a life back together if you have lived “rough” is not easy.
 By Pepper Parr
March 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
City Communications released the following:
At its March 10, 2026 meeting, Council considered confidential report LLS-20-26 from City Legal regarding the public disclosure of information that was subject to solicitor-client privilege.
 Blake Hurley: Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services Following that review, Council accepted City Legal’s recommendation to waive solicitor-client privilege over limited information related to Council’s authorization of staff to negotiate the acquisition of the remaining Millcroft Golf Course lands, excluding those already approved for redevelopment by the Ontario Land Tribunal, subject to the final approval of Council.
The information was made public by Councillor Bentivegna and subsequently, as part of a joint statement, by Councillor Bentivegna and Mayor Meed Ward, based on the advice received, thatat the time from the CAO, that it could be disclosed. Once it was determined by the Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services that there had been a breach of solicitor-client privilege, steps were taken to remove the information from social media and the two Members of Council apologized for their inadvertent error. Council accepted that apology.
Does this mean that the complaint filed with the City Integrity Commissioner is now null and void?
Was this decision by Council in a closed session, made because neither member of Council, Meed Ward or Bentivegna, did not want to be going into an election with an Integrity Commissioner decision tat was not in their favour?
Council’s waiver applies only to the specific information that had already been disclosed publicly, namely:
- that Council authorized the CAO to negotiate the acquisition of the remaining Millcroft Golf Course lands and to report back to Council for further instructions should the owner be willing to sell at the offered price;
- that the Chief Administrative Officer contacted the owner to inquire about a potential City purchase of all or part of those lands for $15 million, a sum approximately three times the amount the golf course was purchased for in 2020, prior to residential use being permitted on the lands;
- that the owner subsequently advised the City that it was not interested in selling the remaining lands to the City at that price.
All other aspects of this matter remain confidential and subject to solicitor-client privilege.
By Gazette Staff
March 10th, 2-026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Councillor Kearns was having a great time. Last Sunday, the Burlington Chapter of the Special Olympics held a polar plunge to raise funds.
The turnout wasn’t huge, and it wasn’t all that cold – but they pulled it off.
The award for the best photo op this year goes to Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns who seemed to be having a great time doing a Polar Plunge.
Special Olympics Ontario, of which Burlington is a part, provides sport opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Our athletes look to our volunteers for inspiration, guidance and coaching. Over the past 50 years Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes, to becoming the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sport.
 It wasn’t a huge crowd, but it was a hearty one. Mayor Meed Ward decided to attend in a supporting role. She is on the left side of the photograph.
 By Roman Suslo
March 11th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Player checks the betting market change
Not everyone has access to the same data at the same moment. This creates a disparity in how it impacts the various betting markets and determines what price you obtain. Bettors will use early indicators to determine how they will bet long before the larger audience becomes aware of these events. To illustrate how a large number of customers have access to 1 x bet Republic of Ireland betting platform, such as. That access points vary greatly from one population to another in terms of time and audience.
Uneven access creates early movement
Participants in betting scenarios will not always share equivalent insight about the game at the same time. Some people will have advance knowledge of lineups being leaked, tactical changes being indicated, or player information becoming available.
Information asymmetry can arise when:
This leads to a small group making an immediate reaction that will affect the market before a great deal of time has elapsed, which will then influence the direction of early market prices.
Within registration processes, certain platforms also allow users to enter the promocode 1x_3831408 to increase the maximum welcome deposit bonus. Bonus size and wagering conditions vary depending on the registration country, so reviewing the official terms before making the first deposit remains essential.
Early reactions shape odds pathways
Layers exist in how betting markets react. First movers will pick up on information indicated through changes in behaviour, and move quickly. Moving first causes small shifts in the market, and only later does general public participation happen.
The typical sequence for how the market will react is:
- A small number of people pick up on new information
- First bets are made in the market, causing odds to start to shift slightly
- Other bettors begin betting based on the visible changes in adjustments
 There is a big difference between expected outcomes rather than confirmed facts. How asymmetry affects prediction stability
Data gaps often do not enhance precision, but they can add to volatility instead. Markets may do the following things as a result of early betting based on partial information. They might overreact based on a few updates, misprice an item or result temporarily, and then correct themselves once a broader base of information becomes available. With all of this activity and uncertainty going on with pricing, all prices will temporarily reflect expected outcomes rather than confirmed facts.
Comparing market responses
The table shows how markets may behave under different information conditions.
| Information Access Level |
Early Odds Shift |
Stability Before Match |
Late Correction Risk |
| Equal access |
Minimal |
High |
Low |
| Partial asymmetry |
Noticeable |
Moderate |
Medium |
| Strong asymmetry |
Rapid |
Low |
High |
Behavioural impact on betting patterns
When there is an unequal distribution of information within markets, it leads to behaviour changes of market participants. A trader may place a bet earlier than another trader if he believes he has advanced knowledge of a future price movement, while the other trader will prefer to wait until he has been confirmed, making his bet.
This creates two groups of traders who behave differently – early placing of bets based on information received, and placing bets after receiving confirmation of information they have received. The interaction between the two groups creates a layered price path rather than a single linear price movement.
Why timing matters more than volume
Betting volume has a marked influence on the market. However, time plays an equally significant role. A small wager placed before an important announcement may have more of an impact on the odds than larger wagers placed after that announcement. This will happen because earlier bets will change the baseline price of a particular wager and will subsequently adjust all other prices relative to this new base. In this way, asymmetry creates a different starting point for the reaction to the market.
Long-term structural effect
 Traders refine their pricing models to account for the different timing of early versus later responses. Often, certain events will spread through small groups prior to receiving any official confirmation. Odds to be adjusted before a public announcement. Thus, early price adjustments are not always mere noise but rather can mark the beginning of a larger adjustment within the overall betting marketplace.
As these types of dynamics continue to occur, betting companies and traders refine their pricing models to account for the different timing of early versus later responses. Information asymmetry will continue to be a feature of the structure of today’s betting marketplace as compared to traditional betting markets in which information asymmetry was comparatively rare.
By Gazette Staff
March 8th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Natalie Haynes, renowned for her highly varied and accomplished career as journalist, critic, comedian, broadcaster, historian and novelist, will be at the Different Drummer bookstore on March 15th to talk about her book:
Sunday, March 15, 1:00pm – 2:00pm Central Library Centennial Hall
Admission is free–
 By Gazette Staff
March 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 A spring runoff. Conservation Halton advises that the Flood Watch issued on March 6, 2026 has been extended. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Surface Water Monitoring Centre (SWMC) are forecasting 20-40 mm of precipitation starting late Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday. Warm air temperatures in the double digits through Wednesday will continue melting the significantly diminished snowpack across the watershed, with snow now isolated to sheltered areas. Saturated and any remaining frozen ground conditions will increase the amount of water runoff. High water levels in creeks and streams within our jurisdiction are expected again. Existing ice cover on watercourses has broken up and ice jamming is no longer considered a risk.
Areas of localized flooding in urban areas are possible. Municipalities, emergency services, and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should be on alert. Regular inspection and removal of debris at culverts and drainage inlets is recommended.
All watercourses and ice-covered water bodies should be considered dangerous during this time. Conservation Halton is asking all residents to stay away from watercourses, shorelines and structures such as bridges, culverts, dams, and break walls. Cold water temperatures combined with high water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks and shorelines make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor weather forecasts and watershed conditions and will issue an update to this Flood Watch message as conditions warrant. This Flood Watch message will be in effect through Thursday March 12, 2026 and will either be updated or terminated.
 Tom Parkin
March 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Destroying major pieces of the global energy supply system will hurt many, benefit a very few.
From under $60 earlier this year, on Monday morning oil prices surged past $120. The Dow Jones Industrial Index, at a high of over 51,000 points just one month ago, plummeted to 46,600, a loss of about nine per cent.
But later in the morning came news G7 nations may release oil reserves to support supply and dampen inflation. And in the afternoon came comments from U.S. President Trump suggested him might abandon his war.
 Damage at the eight-day point in the war in Iran As horrific images of the eight day war circulated, polls sagged and bad economic news piled up, Trump told CBS News his war “is very complete,” despite only a few days ago saying it would take at least four weeks.
By day’s end, oil was below $85 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished slightly up.
Trump war threatens Canadian inflation, GDP, jobs
Whether war continues or ends early, there has been massive damage to the world’s energy supply system. And the cost to Canadians from those cheering-on Trump and his war has been made clear, even through the thickest skulls.
Pump prices are already up across Canada. And those higher costs will work their way into almost everything Canadians need. That’s the first punch.
But Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki late last week cautioned that supply shocks can create inflation that, even in a weak economy, the Bank may respond to with interest rates hikes.
Such hikes would land a second punch to Canadians on affordability, cutting consumer spending, business investment, economic growth and jobs.
Trump’s economic damage is already being reflected in U.S. central bank projections. Friday, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDP “nowcast” dramatically slumped to 2.1 per cent, down from 3.2 per cent just days before. The Bank is part of the Federal Reserve System, backing and servicing banks in the United States’ Southeast states.
A very select few will benefit very well
But oil companies with production intact are suddenly in a sellers’ market from which they can extract windfall profits. That windfall will be paid from the wallets of workers and the bank accounts of businesses that employ them.
The Toronto Stock Exchange energy index, which includes key companies such as Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Cenovus, Imperial Oil and Teck Resources, gained ground in the morning as the economic gloom set in, then fell on the comments from Trump and the G7.
An analysis by economist Isabella Weber found that after the 2022 oil price spike, 50.4 per cent of the $377 billion in U.S. windfall profits flowed to wealthiest one per cent.
Political fall-out in Canada?
As the economic damage of the war becomes clearer, there may be risks and opportunities for Canadian political parties.
 If the Iranian war drives down support for Trump far enough it could also release him from the MAGA monkeys on his back. Polls show about two-thirds of Conservative supporters back the war. But realizations about the economic pain from war may shrink that support, further isolating Poilievre. But, if it drives down support for Trump far enough it could also release him from the MAGA monkeys on his back. If he wants them removed.
Interim NDP leader Don Davies, speaking on the Left East to West podcast released Monday, argued PM’s confused backing of Trump was now “a step too far” for many centre to left voters. Polls show Carney’s support is shared by less than 20 per cent of Liberal voters and under 10 per cent of NDP voters.
If anyone should have foreseen the economic damage that Trump’s war was going to inflict on working class Canadians it ought to have been the former central bank governor. Or maybe he did and just followed the path of least resistance.
 By Trevor Hurry
March 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Sports fans see betting odds almost everywhere. Pregame shows mention them, sports apps display them beside matchups, and online conversations often focus on favorites. Known as sportsbook lines, these numbers are now a regular part of game previews and discussions.
Beyond wagering, sportsbook lines offer a quick snapshot of how the broader market views a matchup. A spread, total, or moneyline can hint at expected scoring pace, team momentum, and competitive balance, helping fans see the story behind a game before it even begins.
How Sportsbook Lines Are Created
Behind every sportsbook line is a blend of data analysis, statistical modeling, and the experience of professional oddsmakers. Setting those numbers involves far more than predicting which team might win.
Before releasing an opening line, analysts evaluate many factors, including historical performance, recent team form, player availability, and scheduling dynamics. Advanced models process thousands of data points to estimate the likelihood of different outcomes.
A small group of sportsbooks typically posts the first “opening line” to establish an early benchmark for the betting market. Once it appears, other sportsbooks adjust their numbers to stay aligned with the broader market while keeping odds competitive.
Many fans explore sportsbook lines to see how bookmakers translate team statistics and matchup context into betting markets. Each line also includes a built-in commission, known as the vigorish or “vig,” which helps sportsbooks maintain balanced and sustainable markets.
Reading Sportsbook Lines as a Snapshot of the Game
Sportsbook lines offer a concise summary of a matchup between two teams or competitors, based on oddsmakers’ expectations and early market activity. Fans often glance at them to gauge how competitive a game might be before the first whistle.
Three common types of lines help tell that story:
- Point spreads indicate the perceived gap between teams. A favorite listed at -7 suggests a projected advantage of roughly one touchdown,
- Totals (Over/Under) estimate how many points both teams might combine to score. A higher total signals expectations of an offensive showcase,
- Moneyline odds represent the probability of each team winning outright.
These numbers appear simple at first glance, yet they condense large amounts of information into a single figure. For sports fans who enjoy breaking down matchups, sportsbook lines act as a shorthand for the expected flow of a game.
 Sportsbook lines act as a shorthand for the expected flow of a game. Why Sportsbook Lines Move Throughout the Day
Once a sportsbook posts its opening line, the number rarely stays still. Lines react constantly to new information and market activity. In many cases, odds can shift several times within hours as new updates reach the market.
Several factors drive these changes.
- Betting activity: Heavy wagering on one side can push a line in the opposite direction to attract interest on the other side,
- Professional bettors: Sportsbooks often respond quickly to wagers from experienced bettors whose opinions carry weight in the market,
- Breaking news: Injury announcements, lineup adjustments, or late roster decisions can trigger immediate shifts,
- Weather forecasts: Outdoor games sometimes see their totals adjusted if wind, rain, or extreme temperatures are factored into the equation.
Fans often turn to analysis like FanDuel Research to understand why odds are shifting, from performance trends to injury updates. Line movement may unfold over days or change quickly when major news breaks before game time.
What Line Movement Reveals About Teams and Sentiment
Tracking line movement can reveal how the sports market interprets a matchup and responds to emerging information before game time. As odds shift, they often reflect new information, betting patterns, and changing expectations around a game.
Sometimes a popular team attracts most of the bets, yet the line barely changes. In those situations, sportsbooks may feel comfortable with the current number, showing that public enthusiasm alone does not always move the odds.
At other times, the opposite occurs. A majority of wagers land on one team while the line moves toward the other side. Analysts often call this reverse line movement, suggesting that influential bettors may prefer the less popular option.
The final odds before kickoff, known as the closing line, often represent the most refined projection after days of betting activity and news updates. Watching how sportsbook lines evolve leading up to the closing line gives fans a clearer view of shifting expectations before game time.
 Sportsbook lines now play a prominent role in how fans discuss games. Sportsbook Lines and the Modern Sports Conversation
Sportsbook lines now play a prominent role in how fans discuss games. Pregame shows reference spreads when evaluating contenders, while analysts often cite totals when debating whether a matchup could become a high-scoring thriller or a defensive battle.
For sports betting enthusiasts, tracking these numbers adds insight to matchups. Odds movement reflects news, performance trends, and market sentiment. Though simple at first glance, understanding how sportsbook lines form and shift helps fans see games more clearly.
 By Ray Rivers
March 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
“The Ford government’s proposed Bill 33 would allow the province to replace elected school board trustees with government-appointed supervisors whenever it determines it is in the “public interest”. The Minister of Education has further threatened to get rid of elected school board trustees entirely, prior to scheduled elections on October 26, 2026. (Elementary Teachers Ontario)
This is one time when I think the Doug Ford government is on the right track. The history of electing Ontario’s school board trustees dates back over 200 years. The rationale then was that, since trustees needed to make decisions about public taxation to fund schooling, they should be held accountable at the ballot box.
 One room school are a part of Ontario’s history. Things have changed. But that is no longer the case since education funding is mostly determined by the provincial Ministry of Education. School boards are still required to make local decisions, such as the provision and maintenance of physical facilities and choosing a principal but those are largely driven by the bureaucracy. The curriculum and so much else has been consolidated at Queen’s Park that the trustee is becoming a rubber stamp and an historical artifact.
In fact, most electors likely can’t even name their trustee. Voter turnout for municipal elections, as we know, is relatively low. Checking off a choice for trustee in the voter’s booth for most of us has become a guess, if a choice is made at all. For example, in recent school trustee elections in PEI just 1% of eligible provincial voters bothered to vote, which was down from the miserable 2% in the previous election. And PEI voters had even been offered the option of on-line voting.
 Four Halton District School Board trustees observing a community meeting. Despite some opposition to the idea of eliminating the elected trustees, including from teachers unions, the truth is that the vast majority of electors vote with their feet come election time. Holding elections for largely unimportant political roles doesn’t strengthen our democracy, it make a mockery of the concept.
And this is not just about cost savings. Though the roughly 650 positions elected in Ontario in 2022 received an annual honorarium of between $7,500 and $30,000 each, depending on the Board. Still, that would be money better spent on lowering class sizes, for example.
And one has to wonder why school boards have not already been brought under the umbrella of municipal councils. The value of integrating new schools into municipal development planning, for example, should be obvious to everyone.
Finally, since change is in the air for our provincial education system, isn’t it long past time that the Minister integrated the Catholic and public boards?
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Trustees – PEI 1% voting – School Board Data – Not Everyone Agrees –
 By Gazette Staff
March 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Macie Jurczyk,, City Auditor The City Audit department is small: the Auditor, Macie Jurczyk, and an assistant.
The practice is to do four major audits each year.
Set out below are the audit plans going forward:
Risk Factors and Associated Criteria
The Plan is established based on the assessment of risks and exposures in City services. The assessed inherent risk the total risk without controls or raw risk. The level of inherent risk (as determined through risk factors) is used to ensure significant risks are addressed and there is effective use of audit resources.
Inherent Risk Factors
Risk factors include quantitative and qualitative criteria and attributes used to identify areas of City operations that would benefit most from an internal audit. Inherent risk is determined by considering all the factors; not just an individual factor. However, not all factors are considered equal. A weighting is applied to each factor to reflect their relative importance (which is a matter for judgment) based on business practices, legislation and regulations, and strategic plan.
There are many risk factors that can be used in assessing inherent risk. For example, quantitative criteria may include: size of the budget and payroll, number of employees, value of capital equipment, the time elapsed since the last audit, client satisfaction, and extent of partnering/alliances. Qualitative criteria may include: areas of concern to management, possibility of adverse publicity, complexity of IT infrastructure, the effect of governmental or other regulations, technological innovation and information integrity. The inherent risk factors must be tailored to the City and its operating environment.
Calculating the Overall Inherent Risk Ranking
The overall inherent risk ranking is calculated using the following formula:
OVERALL INHERENT RISK RANKING SCORE = INHERENT RISK ATTRIBUTE RANKING SCORE x FACTOR WEIGHTING
Risk assessed audit entities will be listed from highest to lowest score.
By Pepper Parr
March 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Macie Jurczyk, the City Auditor Macie Jurczyk, the City Auditor does four audits each year. The Audit department consists of the Auditor and one staff person.
The Audit committee is made up of both Council and community members. The Audit Committee members are:
- Councillor Kearns
- Councillor Sharman
- Mathew Moore
- Etienne Durafour
- Michael Di Iulio
- Kartik Gupta
- Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, an ex-officio voting member of the Committee
At a recent meeting of the Audit Committee Chad McDonald, Chief Information Officer, Burlington Digital Services explained how his department does self audits.
“With software, we’re seeing extreme amounts of increases with software, especially with our cloud software, that’s industry wide, that’s not just affecting Burlington.
 Chad McDonald: Chief Information Officer, Burlington Digital Services. “I can talk about some of the stuff we’re doing as a management team that doesn’t necessarily tie into an audit, but the processes we’re putting into place. We’re doing full observation of our overall software licensing schema. We’re looking for opportunities where we might be able to right-size our software. One that I think everybody can relate to is Microsoft.
“We have a significant expenditure with Microsoft from our email to our productivity software to Teams, things that almost everybody uses. These items, for instance, are going up at least 13% in 2027 because they’re removing all of the discounts for government. We’re working towards identifying and making sure that we have right-sized everything.
“We’re creating a number of personas, what type of licensing each individual should have. We’re working with my colleagues, commissioners and chiefs, in order to do this. We are actively looking at our software licensing and how we may be able to do this more efficiently and ensuring that we’re using software as effectively as possible within the organization.
“There’s no audit required in order for us to do that, because we’ve already recognized that this is a significant area of cost for the organization and also an increasing pressure for the organization.”
The Net Budget for Digital Services in 2026 is set at $15,033,000.00, an increase of 7% over 2025
 By Pepper Parr
March 8th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
This article has been updated and corrected. Kingston Transit is not free.
At some point in the very near future, the Gazette would love to hear the Mayor explain why she has been such a fervent supporter of the transit service.
 Burlington Transit gets new buses. It is important that the public understand that transit is a service, not a business, but a service City Council has decided to provide.
It is free to seniors, it is free to students during specific hours.
It is not heavily used. Those who maintain the buses are running empty most of the time need to take a closer look. It is true that the buses are not always full, it is also true that the buses are not always empty
At this point, the public has chosen to put up with gridlock – that is a choice they make.
It is true that the Transit people have not come up with much in the way of innovative options.
Council can direct Burlington Transit to spend some time and money on piloting possible options.
Transit has a new Director – hopefully, she will give the transit service the energy it needs to provide a service that people will use. The City did in the past have a superb Director of Transit who knew the business. Decisions made by the City Manager at the time resulted in her resigning.
Council members are already in re-election mode, but that doesn’t mean they can step back from their responsibilities.
 Mayor Meed Ward needs to remind the public why she championed the transit service we have. Mayor Meed Ward has championed the idea of free public transit and frequently points to Kingston, where she has said transit is free. A reader pointed out to us that transit in Kingston is not free.
Here is the Kingston transit fee schedule:
It is time for Meed Ward to let the public know that she is still the champion the transit service needs.
It may not be particularly popular, but on this one, Mayor Meed Ward is right.
Related news story
Sharman wants transit audited on a value for money basis.
Bfast reminds the city what public transit is all about.
By Pepper Parr
March 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
During a Special Meeting of Council last week, Mayor Meed Ward set out her schedule for the weeks ahead saying:
“I have a couple of items for folks, lots of opportunities for public engagement with me on a variety of issues.
“First number of Town Halls that are coming up.
“March 10, town hall at the Alton Community Center with Councillor Bentivegna.
“March, 25 the Town Hall will be at the new Appleby branch library with Councillor Sharman
“April. 28 the Mayor’s Town Hall with Councillor Galbraith at La Salle Pavilion.
“We will be talking about the state of the city, as well as any questions that you have. I know traffic will be top of mind, public Safety always is an issue. Development Charges may come up. I’m happy to chat with you about that too, whatever is on your mind. We’ll share a little bit about what’s happening across the city, as well as some Ward and Regional-specific matters.
 Councillor Galbraith  Councillor Sharman  Councillor Bentivegna What the Mayor is doing is showing the city the four people who control city Council. The four council member votes can push through whatever they want. And with a municipal election taking place in late October, control of council is nice to have.
Mayor Meed Ward added: “I also have my drop ins. These are no appointment necessary. I come to you in the community.
March 26 Robert Bateman Community Center, 11:30 till 1:30 just come by and tell me what’s on your mind.
April 30, drop in at the Burlington Center Mall, 11:30 till 1:30 these are always really well attended, and I appreciate the opportunity to chat with folks.
The spring Telephone Town Hall is scheduled for April 14, 7:00 to 8:30 where you can get your questions answered from the comfort of your own living room.
 On April 15 the Key to the City ceremony will take place at La Salle pavilion.
You can register a nomination on the city website. If you know a resident who is deserving of extra honour in the city, please recommend them and fill out that form.
And finally, the last Mayor’s Speaker series of the year is on April 21st at the Burlington Performing Arts Center from 6:00 to 8:30 with a focus on community wellbeing and safety.
By Pepper Parr
March 8th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Having lost an hour of sleep, the day hasn’t gotten off to a very good start.
The cost of gas isn’t going to make you feel any better, either.
That war that we have nothing to do with is hurting us nevertheless.
 The price of gas in the GTA has risen nearly 20 cents a litre since the U.S.-led attack on Iran
And unless that war ends soon, it is going to get worse.
Seventy percent of what we buy gets transported by trucks and those trucks are buying gas that will, in all probability get even more expensive.
The weather is said to be nicer.
  The Burlington Special Olympics group are hosting a Polar Plunge in the Beachway between 9 and 11 today.
When the local Special Olympics appeared before Council seeking a permit to hold there event on the Beachway the Mayor said she was surprised to learn that you needed a permit to do that. Lou Frapporti, who happened to be delegating at City Hall on a different issue, announced that Alinea Land would donate $5000.
That might be it for today.
However, hope springs eternal and the sunrise over the pier might be a nice one.
Special to the Burlington Gazette
By Doug Brown
March 7th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Bfast – informs the debate on transit to insure the issue of transit service doesn’t get lost in the Official Plan Reviews. Doug Brown speaking for Burlington Friends and Supporters of Transit (Bfast) responded to our request for a comment on the remarks made by Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman during a meeting of the city’s Audit Committee. where he commented on the number of people who actually use public transit and how much the city spends on transit. A link to that article published earlier this week is at the bottom.
 Doug Brown, Bfast Brown said: “There’s an old saying that some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. We hope this is not the case in Councillor Paul Sharman’s call for a “value-for-money audit” of Burlington Transit at the recent meeting of the city’s Audit Committee. The value in transit is this: think of 4.3 million more car trips on Burlington roads every year.
“Many economic analyses have found that each dollar spent on transit creates as much as eight dollars of value. Among them are a number of studies by Atif Kubersi, a world-renowned economist, professor emeritus at McMaster and a resident of Burlington. Prof. Kubersi has studied the economic impact of transit spending in eight or more Ontario municipalities, including Hamilton.
“If the study advocated by Mr. Sharman measured the economic benefits of transit to the community against the city’s expenditure, we would support that; in fact, we have argued for it for years. But spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to determine whether Burlington Transit uses too many pencils is not a good use of our tax money.
 Councillor Sharman chose to deflect and muse about “value for money” when he knows that Burlington Transit is well run and serving his constituents. “Mr. Sharman’s implication that spending on transit is “about probably” the biggest item in the City budget is at best misleading. Much of the transit budget comes from the provincial gas tax and the funding that will replace it, and the federal government contributes to capital expenses like bus purchases. In fact, each Burlington household spends an average of less than $40 a month in municipal taxes to support our growing transit system. That’s less than a tenth of a typical monthly city tax payment.
“Mr Sharman’s longstanding obsession with the transit budget diverted discussion from an important issue identified by the auditor, that “many staff report being at or overcapacity because there are too many tasks with priorities competing for resourcing and time. This leads to heavy workloads, unclear roles and responsibilities, capacity limitations and resistance to changes.”
“Rather than concentrate on the priority risk factors, as outlined in the auditor’s report, Councillor Sharman chose to deflect and muse about “value for money” when he knows that Burlington Transit is well run and serving his constituents while helping to reduce the very traffic congestion he complains about.”
Related new story.
City Auditor didn’t see any merit in the Sharman argument.
By Pepper Parr
March 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Completing a Council meeting was a bit of a stretch this week.
Convened on Tuesday, they ran out of time and had to adjourn to Thursday.
 The delegation on the parking problems was important: did the three business people have to repeat what was said previously? Brian Dean, on the right, did a good delegation. The Tuesday parking spaces delegation went on and on with members of the four person delegation speaking several times, basically repeating what had been said previously. Better management of that delegation would have helped.
Delegations are important; the amount of time taken up by Council member questions is getting out of hand. For some reason, every Council member feels they have to say something. All too frequently, they don’t add anything to the debate.
 Indwell has a great story to tell. It didn’t get told at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday. There was an incredibly moving delegation on what Indwell does as an organization. The problem was the Indwell didn’t do all that well in explaining just what they do and who will live in the units they want to create on Waterdown Road on land they want to rent from the city on a 30-year lease. More on the Indwell project once it clears Council next week
The Thursday meeting started at 1 and went into a CLOSED session shortly after 2:00 and remained there until just before 4:30
There were a number of small items that did not get dealt with. They were referred to the Council meeting that will take place on the 10th.
There was at least one group attending the Thursday Council meeting waiting to delegate and answer questions that were left sitting.
 City Clerk Michael de Rond The Clerk’s office is going to have to do some serious thinking about how the CLOSED sessions are dealt with.
The Chair of a Committee meeting is required to report publicly on what took place within the CLOSED session.
Thought could be given to setting aside one full day for nothing but closed session, and get away from breaking up the flow of regular Standing Committee meetings.
This week was just a very chaotic one for council and those delegating.
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