 By Pepper Parr
November 26th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
We took in one of the Advisory meetings last night. The Integrated Transportation Advisory Committee was meeting with a decent agenda but no quorum for the first while of the meeting.
There was an update from Catherine Baldelli from Transit. She passed on what Council had learned earlier – transit use is up; as much as 13% on some routes.
The data is still being worked through to learn where the increase is taking place and then where is it coming from.
 Transit use is up – a good sign. Chair Kerry Eaton runs a meeting that flows nicely and pulls in the views of anyone who has something to say.
The Accessibility Advisory; the Cycling Advisory; the Seniors Advisory and the Sustainable Development Advisory are all part of the Integrated Transportation Advisory (ITAC). What they’ve done is something very sensible – created committees that look at a number of interests instead of having a bunch of committees that sit as silos. Kudos to whoever brought that about.
There were a number of matters covered that we will deal with going forward.
 The city wants people to make more use of bicycles – and not just for pleasure – using a bike for running small errands is the direction the city want to go. Will the public buy into it? Cycling is getting attention.
Former city manager James Ridge liked the idea of Burlington having a ride share system similar to the one Hamilton has – his hope was that Burlington might be able to buddy up with Hamilton and use the same platform.
THAT isn’t going to happen. Seems that the bicycle ride share business has changed – no one wants to put a bunch of bikes on the street and look for revenue from those who rent the bikes to cover the costs. The costs weren’t getting covered.
Dan Ozimkovic told the committee that the cycling types were looking at options – no date on when something might get sent along to council for consideration.
Many years ago there was conversation at Council about a bridge – just for cyclists and pedestrians that would cross over the QEW.
The question was where would such a bridge be placed ? The cost is a major issue but the location has to be determined before costs get attention.
The “preferred location at this point is in the Brant – QEW area; nothing more than that at this point other than the committee wants the bridge to lead to some of the trails in the city.
 Is a bridge something like this in the works for Burlington – a way for cyclists and pedestrians to get across the QEW. The good news is that the project is getting looked at – hopefully someone is looking at what federal or provincial funding might be available.
Doug Benton wondered aloud if there was not some way to create a Kiss & Ride in the Brant – Fairview area. Turns out he drops his wife off in the Upper Middle Road and Brant area where she can get the bus she needs. There isn’t a convenient place for him to pull in and drop her off or wait for her when she is coming home.
There were a number of “possible ideas” that were floated and there were some interesting stories on how people are using the bus. One woman who took advantage of the free service for seniors during the off-peak hours told Catherine Baldelli that she travelled around on the bus just to get out of the house and be with people. It was this citizen’s way of being with people.
Transit it appears is more than transportation.
Good things coming out of this committee – worth watching.
I recall a past transit committee meeting at which members were throwing copies of the agenda at each other – chaos for the most part.
An observation – there was no council representation at the meeting – a good thing?
By Staff
November 26th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region, which usually takes care of the garbage removal and ensures that water comes out of the taps also does some short term, short range investing in the municipalities.
 Region partners with any government that will write a cheque.
The Region is investing more than $316,000 in community safety and well-being initiatives through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF). The funding, which is dedicated to supporting emerging community safety and well-being initiatives in 2019, will be provided to five community organizations to assist Halton’s older adults, youth or those at risk of homelessness.
“Since 2012, the HRCIF has been helping enhance how our communities support the health, safety and well-being or our residents,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “This investment will help continue that work by addressing community safety and well-being priority issues in Halton, including homelessness prevention, isolation among older adults and support for youth exiting child welfare services.”
In 2019, the HRCIF has awarded nearly $2.7 million in funding (including this $316,000 investment) to a wide range of non-profit health and social service programs that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents. The HRCIF is part of Halton’s overall approach to community safety and well-being planning and supports a holistic response to human service needs.
The $316,000 earmarked for community safety and well-being initiatives will be provided to the following organizations:
• Home Suite Hope to develop a pilot project to enhance access to life skills programming for individuals at risk of homelessness.
• Links2Care to identify and support older adults who are isolated or at-risk of isolation.
 • Community Development Halton to enhance the Halton Senior Connectors program, which offers resources and referrals for older adults.
• Oakville Meals on Wheels to support the agency’s ongoing operations of delivering meals to older adults and preventing isolation.
• Halton Children’s Aid Society (CAS) to create two housing opportunities through the Halton CAS Host Home program.
These community partners and many other organizations from across Halton continue to work closely with the Region and the Halton Regional Police Service to implement strategies that support the health, safety and well-being of residents.
 By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament for Oakville North Burlington, may have thought she had gotten a break when she was made Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health.
It didn’t work out that way. Despite getting a whopping margin over the Conservative candidate former Ministry of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor was not invited back into Cabinet.
She was appointed the Deputy House Whip – that’s not even a sideways move.
 Pam Damoff in conversation with former Ministry of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor. Damoff had been appointed her Parliamentary Assistant Damoff of course held her Oakville North Burlington seat by a respectable margin. During her first term of office she didn’t embarrass herself and she was a very strong advocate on women’s issues – but she didn’t shine.
The appointment as a Parliamentary Assistant was a good career boost though it seemed as if she was on a Snakes and Ladders Board – and had slid down a couple of notches.
In her Newsletter to constituency residents Damoff said:
“A month ago, Canadians chose to re-elect a Liberal government on an ambitious and achievable platform that will help more people make ends meet, make life easier for parents and families, protect our environment, and keep our economy strong and growing. While I am proud of our accomplishments over the last four years, there is much more work to be done, and I am excited to get started.
“We were elected with the only plan that takes climate change seriously, recognizing it for the threat it poses to our economy, health, public safety and way of life, and we have the experience and the capacity to deliver on our commitments.
 It was as cold as it looks: Pam Damoff, centre doing a New Years Day Polar Dip “Building on the work we did over the last four years, we will make sure young people have access to education, housing and employment by enhancing Canada Student Loans, investing in jobs for youth, and making home ownership more accessible. We will make our communities safer and healthier with a ban on military-style assault rifles and the introduction of a national universal pharmacare plan.
We will continue to be a strong voice for Canada on the world stage, and we will always stand up for the rights of Canadians — for women’s reproductive and sexual health, for LGBTQ Canadians, for indigenous people and for those living with a disability.
What Damoff didn’t say was if she was going to do that Polar Dip thing on New Year’s Day.
 By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Recall those occasions when you put two and two together and realize that the total is five?
 This crew will probably not be clearing the leaves from your property. They were working along New Street when this picture was taken. Keep that in mind as you look through what we have written about the Loose Leaf Collection Program and read the comments carefully.
Could it be that City Council is giving serious thought to the idea of killing the program as part of a tax saving measure?
The program is expensive and no matter that the city does – something goes wrong.
 Why not just get rid of it early in their term of office; give the native’s time to get used to the idea and boast about how you have managed to keep the budget at just a pinch above the 4% increase last year.
If that doesn’t fly – how about a Loose Leaf Collection levy?
This is a story that still has some legs – let’s see where the tail that wags the dog takes us?
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again – when the Ho Ho man rides down Guelph Line and along New Street to City hall following almost anyone who can walk as part of the Santa Clause Parade that takes place on Sunday December 1st – which happens to be the start of that month long Free Parking gift from the city.
 There is Free P for you in downtown Burlington parking lots and on-street spaces throughout the month.
Few will remember that it was our Mayor who stick handled this one through city council when she was a mere ward Councillor.
Now in its seventh year, the Free P program allows visitors to park in on-street parking spaces at no cost for up to three hours and, in municipal parking lots or the parking garage at 414 Locust St. with no maximum time limit. Free parking overnight in municipal lots is also permitted.
Motorists with downtown parking permits are reminded to continue to park in their assigned parking lot throughout the month of December to maximize the number of parking spaces available for visitors and holiday shoppers.
The City of Burlington provides 1,500 municipal parking spaces in downtown Burlington. Free parking is year-round in the downtown, Monday to Friday after 6 p.m. and all-day Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Starting at 2:00 pm – the Season parade begins at Guelph Line and Prospect.
 Road closures:
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Guelph Line from Prospect Street to New Street
New Street from Guelph Line to Martha Street
James Street from Martha Street to Brant Street
Brant Street from Baldwin Street/Victoria Avenue to Elgin Street.
The Joseph Brant hospital is holding a Join the Joy Holiday Open House. You can leave the hospital event and scoot over to New Street and watch the Santa Claus parade.
By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Every month the Rocca Sisters produce a report on residential real estate sales in Burlington where they break out houses and condominiums data.
In their most recent issue they report the following:
The trend line for condominium sales is consistent while the number of units sold moves around a bit. The high so far for the year is 67 units with a low of 40.
For the purposes of the point we want to make – let us use 65 units per month as what can be sold.
At this point in time there are about 1500 condominium units that will come on line. The Berkley is selling units that you can move into; same with the Paradigm. The Bridgewater, Saxony, Gallery, and the Molinaro development on Ontario Street are under construction with perhaps something coming out of the Revenue Property development that is at LPAT waiting for a decision on their 23 story request – they are already approved for 17.
 Can the market absorb these two developments that are side by side in the “football”? 
The CORE development for 27 floors, the Old Lakeshore Road (Carriage Gate people) development also looking for 27 floors and their other development on Perl (29 floors), are at the early application stage.
Simple math – 1500 divided by 65 – suggests that it is going to take 23 months to sell those units.
There are other projects that have been put on hold.
Has the development community realized that there are limits on what a community can absorb ?
Maybe the demand isn’t what many have convinced themselves it is.
The Gallery development opposite city appears to have decided to sleep for the next while; construction on the site has come to a halt.
 By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
We can tell you about at least one bum that was sitting in the stands at the Grey Cup game in Calgary on Sunday.
Ron Foxcroft watched the Tiger Cats get defeated by the Winnipeg Bombers. It was not a scene he expected to observe.
The Tiger Cats had a magnificent season – won every game they played on their home turf and went out west expecting to bring the Grey Cup back to Hamilton for the first time since 1999 when they defeated the Calgary Stampeders.
 Losing at the Grey Cup level hurts. But it wasn’t to be – it didn’t even come close. 33 to 12 for the Bombers who took control early in the game and never let it go.
Foxcroft was convinced that if the game had been played in Hamilton it would be a sure thing. He thought the game down to the wire would be won in the trenches during the last minutes.
Foxcroft said he has “watched every playoff game since 1957” and like many, if not most Canadians, he is a fan of the Canadian Football League where he sees Hamilton as his favourite.
“Winnipeg played a better game today and that’s why they’re champions,” said Ticats coach Orlondo Steinauer, who held a lengthy team meeting after the game.
 Ron Foxcroft blowing a Fox40 whistle to get the photographers attention. Hamilton came into the game as the favourite after compiling a CFL-best 15-3 record and finishing atop the East Division standings. The Ticats were also 2-0 this season against the Bombers.
It was a tough loss for everyone – but the game goes on and you look forward to the next season which will begin in May.
Foxcroft, ever the champion in his own right, had presented the game referees with rings and a Fox40 whistle the day before the game took place.
By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The We Love Burlington (WLB) crowd finally got some recognition for the work they did to prevent a change in the status of the municipalities in the Region of Halton.
The provincial government did a Provincial Review and, after a lot of banging away by the municipalities across the province, the top tier governments and citizens groups, the province backed off and said there would not be any changes in the status of the cities.
 Michael Fenn and Robert Seiling were the two members of the Provincial Review panel. Their report was never made public. Many thought the plan was to create a city of Halton with the existing three towns and city becoming almost administrative units.
The city of Burlington didn’t get all that fussed over the issue. Other than the Mayor, little was heard from individual Councillors even though half of their pay cheque comes from the Region.
Blair Smith and Lynn Crosby were the leads on what the Burlington We Loves were doing. They had patterned themselves on the We Love Oakville group and worked closely with them. Burlington and Oakville were not able to raise much in the way of interest in Milton. Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette did take a strong position and worked closely with Mayor Meed Ward at the Regional level.
The Burlington We Love people have sort of morphed themselves into a group that is going to pay a lot more attention to the way Burlington is getting itself to the point where it will have an Official Plan that meets its needs, will get approved by the Region and be something they can defend at LPAT hearings and any other tribunal it finds it has to run up against.
We Love wants to ensure that citizen interests are front and center as the process the city is currently involved in works its way forward.
 A reported 1000 people took the city up on the offer. At this point there are two “concept” for the downtown core that have come out of the Action Labs, surveys, Food for Feedback plus the Walking Tour. WLB hopes to generate stronger citizen involvement.
 From the left: Blair Smith, Jorge Gomez (Chief of Staff to Mayor Burton), Mayor Burton and Lynn Crosby Back to the event at the Oakville Town Hall. Mayor Rob Burton and several members of Oakville Town Council acknowledged the efforts of the citizen groups that fought against regional amalgamation and the Halton MegaCity. The celebration was primarily focused on WeLoveOakville and the residence associations, Mayor Burton publicly thanked and recognized WeLoveBurlington as well, and presented them with a certificate of appreciation.
For the first time in Oakville history, Keys to the City were presented by the Mayor and the inaugural recipients were the WeLoveOakville committee.
Related news stories:
We love Burlington delegates at Provincial Review
Decision pushed back – again.
Minister decides not to make any changes – report doesn’t get released.
 By Pepper Parr
November 22, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the second public meeting to update people on the 25 year Master Plan that the Royal Botanical Garden is putting in place.
The RBG is a sprawling 2700 acre property that has dozens of nooks and crannies that many, probably most, don’t know anything about.
 Formerly a market garden, Laking Garden is home to RBG’s herbaceous perennial collections. There are of course the obvious Laking, Hendrie, Arboretum and the most recent Rock Garden but did you know about the Rock Chapel? The South Shore Commons?
The RBG has a core group of supporters that are rock hard. They see themselves as stewards there to support management and ensure that no one infringes on the place.
Other than some American Republicans everyone knows we no longer have weather – we have climate change. We are also becoming much more aware of the relationship of the climate we live in and what it does for our overall well-being.
The RBG is an operation with a $50 million budget of which 65% is generated internally.
They are in the process of expanding their revenue options while at the same time taking a look at what in the way of problems is coming their way.
The recent news of the waste water that was allowed to seep into the water is just one example of what RBG has to cope with.
 It was a full house of people who see themselves as stewards in place to support management to ensure that no one infringes on the RBG The RBG is part of a bigger picture; it is impacted and impacts the Great Lakes, the Escarpment and local agriculture. Pollution is an ongoing concern and adjacent land users need to have an eye kept on them.
The objective is to ensure that the RBG is ecologically resilient and reflects the changes in the way the public now sees the place.
Drew Wensley, a principal with MT Planners, said they were looking for a way to change the “landing points” for the RBG adding that he didn’t think it appropriate for the entrance to the RBG be a parking lot. He thought the entrance point should be a garden of some sort.
Thought was being given to improving transit to the site and also looking for way to use “green transit” on the site.
All this is a part of the 25 year plan – how does RBG adapt to the public change in attitude towards the changing climate? And how do they continually take the RBG’s environmental pulse?
 People attending the Master Plan Update meeting had more than fifty poster sized graphics to see in detail the changes that were being thought through. Thursday evening well over 150 people turned out to learn more and get an update on the Master Plan being developed by a team of consultants led by the Primary Consultant, MT Planners. The long-term policy document will identify short-term capital projects to be addressed in the next five years as well as longer-term projects for the next 25 years. The plan is expected to be completed at the end of February 2020 and approved by RBG’s board of directors in mid-March 2020.
Called a “bold initiative” it will be the roadmap for Royal Botanical Gardens to ensure future generations will connect with plant-life in a unique environment, fostering awareness and care for a world that is under increasing ecological threat. RBG aims to instill in everyone they reach, a deeper awareness of themselves, their place on this planet and their role as protectors and stewards of the environment.
“The Master Plan will be the roadmap to achieving RBG’s goals; namely to build the financial strength and independence to serve its future and to enhance infrastructure and amenities for current visitors and for new, more diverse audiences from local, national and international markets.
 Mark Runciman – the xx of Royal Botanical Gardens; runs a tight ship. “RBG plans to achieve this by creating new revenue streams and leveraging and enhancing its existing land use plan. RBG will explore not only the living framework of the landscape, and its business and market, but the aspirations of RBG’s members and governance body.
“At the heart of this plan is the critical need to nurture and protect ecosystems on a local, national and global scale. While the need to achieve financial sustainability is clear, RBG exists to affect real and positive change in how humanity interacts with our environment and has pledged to take full advantage of our resources, knowledge and reputation to make significant strides in this direction. To bring this Master Plan to fruition, significant fundraising efforts will be required and formalized throughout the planning process.
 Kelvin Galbraith,Ward 1 Councillor, is the Regional representative on the RBG Board Kelven Gailbraith, who is the Regional representative on the RBG Board noted that: “There was a large crowd at the event last night and many were very excited about the future that this master plan will bring to the RBG.
“Many of the people I spoke with were frequent users of the gardens and use it as an escape from our busy society.”
The Gazette will have an opinion piece in how the meeting went – what worked and what didn’t work.
By Pepper Parr
November 22nd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – this comes as no surprise.
People are livid over the changes in the Loose Leaf Pickup Program.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte told her fellow councillors she “understands how frustrating this week has been regarding the changing plans and communications around the program.
“Let me start by saying that I was notified on Wednesday, at the same time as the public, that the service was being dramatically reduced.
 This crew will probably not be clearing the leaves from your property. “We have spent the last few days attempting to access additional resources from both the Region as well as outside contractors in order to fulfill the expectations of the community, but unfortunately the vast majority of contractors have already switched their equipment over in accordance with their Snow Removal contracts.
“We have worked diligently to find some resolution with City Staff, but the final decision has concluded that Zone 1, 2 and 3 will only receive one Leaf Pickup this season and Zone 4 Leaf Pickup has been cancelled.
“Once cold weather with freezing temperatures and snow arrives, the sweepers and leaf clearing units cannot operate effectively in below zero temperatures.
“We have also experienced this in the other years where the leaf collection program has been cut very short when winter has come early.
“I fully understand that this decision will frustrate many residents and I assure you, as a resident myself, I share your frustration.
 This was the announcement that was put out by the city. Councillor Stolte advises that Zone 1, 2 and 3 will only receive one Leaf Pickup this season and Zone 4 Leaf Pickup has been cancelled. “Senior staff have stated that any decision of this nature is not taken lightly and is carefully considered and balanced against available resources, weather and the priority of winter road and sidewalk clearing.
 How come Council members were not given a heads up when the leaf collection program was being revised? They might have had some comments – perhaps. No word from the Mayor – not at our level. “Please try to bag or mulch any remaining leaves. The Region has confirmed that they have extended their yard waste collection service until December 20, 2019.
“If you are unable to clear the leaves previously raked to the curb, it would be helpful if all storm sewer grates are cleared to prevent flood risk.
“We are in the midst of an operational review of this program to see how it can be better managed in the future.”
Does that cut it? Will the visceral frustration ease?
This is Burlington.
 By Ray Rivers
November 22nd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are a political follower like me, you would have been glued to the TV watching the US House of Representatives impeachment hearings for the last two weeks. It is the best entertainment on the tube – better than the latest season of the Crown. And the Democrats have been brilliant, unfolding their story so there can be no doubt about Trump’s guilt in his latest attempt at corruption.
Call it quid pro quo, bribery, international blackmail, breach of trust, abuse of power – take your pick or tick all the boxes. It’s corruption – dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. And Trump will almost certainly be impeached by the House of Representatives, though politics being what it is south of the border, he is unlikely to be removed from office.
Corruption seems to be contagious these days. Trump’s closest ally, Israeli PM Netanyahu, has also been indicted for corruption. But at least he didn’t betray his nation’s security as Trump has been doing since his election, given all the irrefutable testimony of the last two weeks.
 Donald Trump with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump has been accused of withholding military aide until Zelensky opened an investigation into Joe Biden who wants to run against Trump in the 2020. Few countries can hold a candle to the former Soviet republics when it comes to corruption, and Russia and Ukraine in particular. So Trump figured – what’s a little more corruption – they must be used to it? Or maybe he was just trying to please his master in Moscow.
Canada has had its own share of corruption. Stevie Cameron’s best seller, ‘On the Take’, gives an uncontested accounting of the slime we’d seen over the Mulroney years. And don’t forget the former PM accused of accepting brown paper bags full of cash from that Karl Heinz character. Of course there was the Sponsorship scandal which ultimately kept the Liberals out of power for almost a decade and at one point relegated them to third party status.
Andrew Scheer thought he had hit pay dirt, letting rip accusations of corruption and criminality at Mr. Trudeau over the SNC prosecution. But it turns out there was no smoking gun, just a lot of smoke. Mr. Trudeau had been cited by the Ethics Commissioner a couple of times and he has apologized at least once. But then even mild mannered Stephen Harper ran up a sizeable laundry list of potentially impeachable offences.
 Jason Kenney fired the province’s elections commissioner who was investigating just how Kenny got elected. The latest unwinding of Canadian corruption takes us to Alberta and Jason Kenney. When the province’s elections commissioner investigated some of Kenney’s dirty tricks getting to office, and charged him with over $200,000 in fines, Kenney just borrowed a page from the Donald Trump’s playbook and fired him. And when opposition leader Notley objected, the speaker kicked her out of the legislation and the majority Conservatives just let Kenney off the hook.
Doug Ford had brazenly attacked the Kathleen Wynne government as corrupt. But he must have known that was pure fiction. Indeed the Liberals had an imperfect record during their decade and a half in power, and especially regarding McGuinty’s gas plant mess. But there was no corruption. Even the former premier’s budget numbers were proven to be accurate, at least in light of the auditor general’s observations.
 Are the people who voted for Doug Ford experiencing buyers’ remorse? Ford’s popularity has tumbled in Ontario – it’s called buyers’ remorse. Anyone expecting the PC’s to better manage the treasury can’t be happy that the deficit is now climbing to over $2 billion more than it would have under the Liberals this year, despite Ford’s best efforts to slash and burn public services. And that slash and burn will end up in a war in the not too distant future as teachers and other public service employees confront ignorance and a lack of respect from this hostile government.
Ford has been boasting about his other war, the one on the environment. He is proud of how it only cost taxpayers an additional $200 million dollars to cancel and roll back some 800 renewable energy projects. But didn’t Ontario voters support climate action in the last federal election. His actions mean that our growing electricity demand will now have to be supplied with climate damaging natural gas.
And speaking of climate change, tax payers are on the hook for as much as $2 billion dollars a year since Ford cancelled Ontario’s cap and trade carbon pricing system. And we’re also paying for his $30 (plus) million ideological court battle with the feds over the carbon tax – which everyone knows he will lose.
There is no better example of the Ontario government’s abuse of power than forcing every gas station in the province to stick a political message on their pumps. Fortunately the labels seem to want to fall off. Having managed his family’s label making company, one would think that labels would be the one thing Ford could get right.
The Ford government has even messed up the cannabis file having wasted over $40 million dollars this year and failing to get an effective private distribution system in place. The Liberals had planned to use the experienced and profitable LCBO by contrast. Instead something like 80% of the province’s cannabis is still delivered through the blackmarket today.
Given the Ford family’s history around Ontario’s drug culture, one would think that pot would be the other thing he’d be able to manage without screwing up. One can only speculate into whose pockets some of that $40 million went.
 Doug Ford poses for a picture with Ron Taverner, his first nominee for Chief of Ontario Provincial Police. We all live in glass houses when it comes to calling out corruption and it wasn’t long before the cracks started appearing in Ford’s. So far it’s only been a little bit of patronage, nepotism and cronyism. But he has still got two and a half years to go.
Particularly troubling is his government’s intention to muck with judicial appointments. As we’ve learned from the US impeachment hearing, that is perhaps the number one source of Ukraine’s corruption. Can we really trust this government to avoid that pitfall? Can we really trust this government?
Background links:
Israeli Corruption – Mulroney – Harper –
Alberta – Ontario Budget – Ford Cronyism –
Ford Cannabis – Black Market Pot – Politicizing the Judiciary –
 By Staff
November 21, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board has announced it is hosting its second annual experiential learning event, Halton Pathways: A Future that Fits, for approximately 1,500 Grade 10 students, on Friday, November 29 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre (Velodrome) in Milton.
 The daylong event will feature an opportunity for students to explore high school Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs and to meet the teachers and employers related to each SHSM sector.
The event will include more than 45 local businesses, providing a full day of hands-on interactive activities for students.
Colleges and universities will attend and provide displays related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Police Foundations, Trades and Technology, the Environment, Energy, and Arts and Culture. Activities will include a robotics display, healthcare medical simulation mannequin, construction and DIY projects, sound, lighting and equipment, a virtual reality trainer, fire trucks and fire extinguishers, cupcake decorating, welding simulations, therapy dogs and a fingerprinting session.
“This event will give our students the opportunity to explore many different businesses and learn about programs, like the Specialist High Skills Major and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, that allows them to engage in specialized programming and real-work experience in high school,” says Veronica Kleinsmith, Specialist High Schools Major Resource Teacher for the Halton District School Board.
The HDSB currently offers 60 Specialist High Skills Major programs and 15 Concentrated Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs with approximately 1,500 Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in more than a dozen different sectors such as Business, Arts and Culture, Transportation, Construction, Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services.
For more information on A Future that Fits, CLICK HERE
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The comments section of the Gazette is not functioning the way it is supposed to – it appears that someone has hacked into the web site – again.
This was not random – this was targeted and deliberate. Someone doesn’t like what we have to say.
This time we think we might know who the culprits were.
In the meantime we will work with our host and solve the problem and report back to you.
Related news story.
Hacked
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2019
Burlington, ON
There is one thing you can be absolutely certain about with the current city council: when Councillor Sharman is upset – you will hear from him and his words will be very precise.
Councillor Sharman asked the Mayor for the floor to make some comments on November the 18th.
He said:
Let me begin by making the following statements:
a) The consulting report is the subject of my discontent in these notes, it is not personal towards any person or staff.
 Councillor Sharman: “Let me begin by acknowledging …” b) My business background coupled with my consulting and professional accounting career lead me to hold reasonable expectations of consultants when it comes to them guiding investment decisions, especially using hard tax dollars, which must be performed with sincere concern for the public trust.
c) I fully support the concept of increasing the modal split in the City of Burlington and the Region of Halton.
Let me begin by acknowledging that my analysis of the business plan, as already communicated to you by Tom Muir, (via the Burlington Gazette) is correctly reported. I will confirm and add to what has already been reported:
1. There was no assessment of the actual Burlington market, its operations, long term history or projected short, medium, and long-term rider demand.
2. There was no analysis or forecast of demographic and related ridership changes in coming years even though we already have a reasonable expectation of what is likely.
3. I will add a new point. Most people are bothered by the huge level of congestion on Burlington streets at peak hours.
This is probably the most significant motivator of increasing modal split. A few considerations:
a. Peak hour traffic will only be reduced by the amount of automobile traffic that can be redirected to GO transit. However, since most of the peak hour traffic relates to people coming into the City from outside (70% according to Transportation staff) or travelling from outside and exiting through the City (30% according to Transportation staff) are most likely not well served by GO transit. Then the probability of those people continuing to use their cars is high. But we have no analysis.
b. Given that the City is still growing, and new residential communities continue to grow to the north, west and south of Hamilton, the number of vehicles on Burlington roads will increase for the foreseeable future. But we have no analysis.
c. Since Burlington Transit essentially serves only the trips of those who travel within the boundaries of the City, increased service cannot be expected to have any material impact on ridership growth in terms of re-directed commuter trips.
4. Halton modal split numbers are theoretical. Our purpose should be to figure out in realistic terms if, how and when they can be accomplished.
5. Our consultant used Canadian Urban Transit Association standards to determine what that meant in terms of how many more buses, drivers, maintenance staff, overhead staff and facilities we will need to add to the budget in each year going forward. CUTA standards are aspirational goals that have been demonstrated to not actually represent any Burlington peer municipality (Jeff Casello, Waterloo University 2012). They are more representative of highly intensified big city circumstances, which we are not… not for a long time anyway.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman does know how to drill down into the data and look for results. 6. When you look at the numbers in the tables provided, they are all premised on a 23% average ridership growth that is required to achieve theoretical modal split goals. For some reason it was assumed that growth will somehow occur in a way that is highly front end loaded with a 36.5% growth in year 1 of the plan, i.e. from 2,000,000 riders in 2019 to 2,730,000 in 2020, with no explanation of how.
7. The critical concern is not so much the report per se, but that the 2020 budget for the City of Burlington includes funding to purchase 4 new buses and hire 8 new drivers. The report proposes that the City should do that in each of the following four years at a cost of millions of dollars each year.
8. The risk is that that the City is about to pour all sorts of real hard dollars into a plan that is completely devoid of any substantive assessment of ridership projections or a realism.
9. Keep in mind that a 1% increase in the City of Burlington budget equals a $1.6m spending increase. Further, that transit revenue, presently, represents less than 25% of the transit operating cost. This is at a time when the City is built out and new sources of property tax increases are drying up. Remember the 2019 budget use of reserves to keep tax rate increases low. This is not going to get any easier.
10. My concern is that costs will go up way more rapidly than ridership… so will taxes in a period of low tax growth, therefore increasing taxes by perhaps 10 to15% in total just for extra transit spending over the next 5 years. What does that mean giving up?
11. We can agree that “more bus users” would be good, but we do not agree to getting there by any means or a hope and a prayer.
So, what should we do, you might ask? Well:
1. Hold off a year to see what happens in 2020 with the new grid network;
2. Hold off a year to see what happens when the new buses and drivers approved in the 2019 budget actually come on line in the next month;
3. Use 2020 to remedy the concerns I have advised you of above;
4. Use 2020 to plan acquisition of electric buses instead of traditional diesel fueled vehicles;
5. Use 2020 to plan a complete transition of Burlington Transit to a 100% electric service;
6. Use 2020 to plan the implementation of on-demand service to undeserved neighbourhoods
I hereby move that we refer this to staff
Related news stories:
Muir on the transit problems.
Council doesn’t like what the consultant had to say – neither did the Director of Transit
 By Staff
November 20th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The good folks at the Brant Hospital Foundation want to get you into the hospital – but not too far past the front door.
They are celebrating their third annual Join the Joy Holiday Open House! They would like to see a lot of people show up and take part in a fun program. Event runs from 11:00am – 1:30pm., on Sunday, December 1st.
You can leave the hospital event and scoot over to New Street and watch the Santa Claus parade.
Admission is free and includes:
• Photo with Santa Claus
• Holiday treats (while supplies last)
• Musical Entertainment
And you can purchase Festive Activity Station tickets for additional activities including:
• Teddy Bear Wellness Clinic (please bring own stuffed animal)
• Holiday Photo Booth
• Festive Fish Pond
• Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos
• Cookie Decorating
• Stocking Ornament Decorating
• Finger-Cast Making & Germ Station
Register here to take part – no cost
In addition, you can purchase tickets for the children’s gift draw which includes gift certificates, toys and more and gingerbread Joy cookies from Christy’s Gourmet Gifts.
All proceeds from the event support the renovation of the Labour and Delivery Unit.
 By Staff
November 20th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Stephen Lewis and Michel Chikwanine will lead a Human Rights Symposium on December 5th in Burlington,
A full-day of learning is planned at the Symposium with a selection of workshops led by children’s rights advocates and educators including UNICEF, Halton Environmental Network, Special Olympics Ontario, Community Development Halton, Rick Hansen Foundation, and more.
“This year’s Human Rights Symposium provides an opportunity to learn about the important role each of us plays in the lives of youth,” says Rob Eatough, Superintendent of Education for the Halton District School Board. “We look forward to once again bringing educators and community partners together to engage in vital conversation on how we can all work together to support the success and well-being of all members of our society.”
 Michel Chikwanine Keynote speakers Stephen Lewis and Michel Chikwanine will lead education and community partners through an important day of learning and collaborating about children’s rights.
 Stephen Lewis – a full blast speaker who truly soothes the souls of the forgotten. If you’ve never been in the room where he was speaking – attend this event, you will be better for it. “I spent a large chunk of my life” said Stephen Lewis, “ dealing with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“When I worked with UNICEF, I was responsible for travelling around the world to persuade governments to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and take all of its clauses seriously. The Convention provides a tremendous range of rights for children, all of which I hope to be addressing before you.”
“I’m really looking forward to the Human Rights Symposium,” says Michel Chikwanine, motivational speaker, author and human rights activist based in Toronto and originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. “There are so many workshops that have many implications for young people, not just here in Canada but across the world.”
Chikwanine is more than a child advocate. When he was not much more than a young boy he was kidnapped from the soccer field outside his school in the Democratic Republic of Congo; he and his childhood friends were “recruited” to be rebel soldiers.
The Human Rights Symposium will take place on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre (3063 South Service Rd, Burlington).
Register HERE
For event details or support with the registration process, email symposium@hdsb.ca.
By Staff
November 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
We are experiencing the effects of Climate Change.
The city announced earlier today that: “Due to the cold temperatures and the early snow fall, the loose-leaf collection schedule is changing.
• Leaf Collection Zone 2 will resume Wednesday, Nov. 20 to Nov. 29, if weather allows.
• Leaf Collection Zone 3 will run between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6, if weather allows.
• Leaf Collection in Zones 1 and 4 is cancelled. Residents are encouraged to mulch their leaves or bag them for Halton Region’s yard waste pick-up.
Loose leaves pick up for districts 1 and 4 are cancelled. To ensure the safety of collection crews and avoid damaging equipment, please keep the loose-leaf piles free of debris and sticks. Leaves mixed with debris and waste will not be collected. Please help prevent flooding, by keeping catch basins and ditches clear of leaves.
To ensure a successful pick-up, residents can:
• Rake leaves to the edge of the curb or roadway in a loose pile
• Remove basketball nets, cars and other obstructions from the road during pick-up dates
• Clear leaves from sidewalks and walkways
• Avoid playing garbage bags, bins, Blue Boxes or Green Carts on top of loose-leaf piles
• Give crews distance to remove the leaves when driving
After the collection program is complete, any remaining leaves should be placed in yard-waste bags for curb side collection by Halton Region.
Mark Adam, Manager of Road Operations said that: “The early snowfall has covered many leaf piles and has interrupted our collection program. The cold temperatures limit the effectiveness of our leaf vacuum units and street sweepers as frozen piles of leaves cannot be swept up or vacuumed. Long-range forecasts show a short period of favourable weather in which crews will do their best to complete Zones 2 and 3.”
 By Staff
November 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service has made an arrest after three Royal Canadian Legion Poppy donation boxes were stolen from various locations in the City of Burlington.
 The first incident occurred on Monday, November 11, 2019. The female accused attended a grocery store on New Street. During the moment of silence for Remembrance Day, the accused took a Royal Canadian Legion Poppy donation box and concealed it on her person. The accused then stood for the remainder of the moment of silence before leaving the store.
The second incident occurred on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at a coffee shop on Brant Street in Burlington. While the accused was in the store she took another two Royal Canadian Legion Poppy donation boxes and concealed them on her person before leaving the store.
The accused was quickly identified by Halton Regional Police Service officers and was arrested on November 15, 2019.
Accused: is a 32 year old female who lives in Milton.
Charges: 3 counts of Theft Under $5000
The Gazette normally publishes the names of those accused – we have not done so in this case.
The accused was later released from custody on a promise to appear.
That the police were able to identify the suspect so quickly suggests she was previously known to the police.
Burlington either has a small petty thief who exploits every opportunity to steal or we have a person who needs help. If it is the latter one would hope that the Legion might choose to be part of providing that help.
No one was born to be a thief.
Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Pepper Parr
November 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council meetings are sort of like a big rubber stamp. The details in Staff reports get discussed at length during the Standing Committee meetings which run rather long. Council meetings are usually under an hour and a half. Former Mayor Rick Goldring once got through one in just over twenty minutes.
One has to listen carefully and watch closely to pick up some of the detail that gets skipped over.
The Council meeting Monday reported that there were 24 hours of meetings between November 4th to the 12 during which there were 34recommendations put forward and 4 bylaws proposed.
City Council has to approve all that to make it the law of the land.
There were two items that we observed during the Standing Committee meetings that were going to get some attention at the Council meeting; those were the stiffing that Councillor Nisan got from the Transportation department over changes in the speed limits in Kilbride and the problem the Director of Transit had with data in a report that was being discussed.
Councillor Sharman had, as is his want, looked at the numbers carefully and came to the conclusion that there was something very wrong with them.
 Ah – for the love of faulty data: Councillor Paul Sharman As he put it at the Planning and Development meeting – they were just plain wrong. None of the other members of Council appeared to have the same grip that Sharman had on the numbers; the suspicion was that they either hadn’t fully read the report or failed to see the errors that Sharman identified.
After much discussion the Standing Committee decided to refer the report to City Council, which happened last night.
 Direct of Transit Sue Connor giving a consultant a very hard look. She was not happy. The problems appear to be more serious than originally realized. Council decided to refer the report back to the Standing Committee during its next round of meetings.
They basically punted the ball up the field where they would deal with it when they get to that point.
How are you liking the Burlington version of transparency so far?
Councillor Nisan said that he still didn’t have the speed limit changes he had promised his Kilbride constituents but he was still working at it. I think we were seeing an example the tail wagging the dog.
There is a process at city meetings whereby a Staff report can get approval if there aren’t any council members who want to say something. These are referred to as Consent items – they just get passed.
Among those that were consented to were: The report on Vision to Focus; the Active Aging Report and the Cootes Escarpment initiatives. Councillor Sharman had learned of an event that takes place in Detroit where more than 1,000 people show up for a community walk. |He was going to bring it up at the Council meeting and had run it by Parks and Recreation Staff who told Sharman that they didn’t need a Staff Direction – they would just do it.
 Councillor Nisan still doesn’t have the speed limit changes he promised his Kilbride residents. Now either Councillor Sharman has skills that Councillor Nisan doesn’t have or the Parks and Recreation department fully understand the relationship between Council and administration. Sharman has the community walk idea as a good to go; Nisan might have to stand on the road in Kilbride and wave a sign to slow down the speed of traffic.
Councillor Lisa Kearns chose to make some comments on the mammoth development that CORE Development Group want to build within the football – 27 storeys in a place where eight are possible as of right and up to 15 if there are benefits given to the city.
The Gazette has been advocating for some bold moves in that part of the city. We learned from Mayor Meed Ward that the acceptable benefit is for the developer to buy the land on the south side of Old Lakeshore, deed it to the city and they can have the additional seven floors.
 The Mayor seemed to be saying that all the Core Development Group had to do was buy the land inside the black box, deed it to the city, and they would be allowed to build 15 storeys instead of just the eight permitted. The developer has an application in for 27 storeys. Nothing can be built on the land, there are top of bank issues that would make any development not feasible. That is the first time we have heard the Mayor be quite that specific. Something to think about.
Councillors Kearns reacted to a comment in the Gazette where we wondered why she had not moved the motion to receive and file the report on the development that was to have retirement apartment units in one tower of a two 11 storey tower development on New Street and nursing home care that would include what were referred to as “memory units” intended for people with dementia, in the other.
 Excited – this is as good as it gets. Councillor Kearns told her colleagues that it is not her practice to “get too excited” in public nor does she “get upset” in public. She said that what Council was hearing was the extent of her public comment.
 To the victor go the spoils. Both Councillor Kearns and the Mayor commented positively on the development with the Mayor saying that “Burlington was open for business” and that Council wanted to “shape where it goes and the use it is put to.”
“Take note” she added: “Do it right and you get a thumbs up”.
Those comments will stick in the craw of the development community but it is what she said she would do when she ran for the Office of Mayor – and she is doing what she said she would do.
Related news stories:
Transit Director gets sloppy data – Sharman spots the errors
Nisan credibility takes a hit
By Staff
November 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The 3rd Annual Festival of Trees will be on display in the lobby and mezzanine of the Performing Arts Centre from November 20 – December 21, 2019.
 The pre-lit trees, donated by the Canadian Tire Burlington store, will be available to the public by auction. The proceeds go to Performing Arts Centre’s ‘Live & Local Artist Development Initiative’, which provides performance opportunities and support for Burlington-based artists.
Over 10,000 patrons are expected to visit the Centre during the Festival of Trees which will run from November 20th to December 21st from noon – 4pm, seven days a week.
Each tree is individually sponsored and decorated by a local business in Burlington. Patrons and visitors to BPAC will have the opportunity to take one of these trees home by silent auction.
“The Festival of Trees has quickly become a holiday tradition at BPAC, and a great opportunity to bring the joy of the season to our many visitors,” said Tammy Fox, Executive Director.
 The look of the Family Lobby last year. The silent auction will close with the lucky winners announced during The Andy Kim Christmas.
The full schedule of BPAC Events during the season is here:
Sponsor a Tree!
Promote your local business or organization to over 10,000 local visitors, while supporting BPAC, by sponsoring a tree!
The Sponsorship Commitment:
$250 Tree Sponsorship
Decorate your tree at BPAC on November 18th or 19th (9am – 7pm)
You provide the decorations and ‘gifts’ – have fun making your tree a spectacular and seasonal reflection of your business!
Your Sponsorship Benefits:
Promotional Signage in the BPAC Family Lobby beneath your tree for over 4 weeks, seen by over 10,000 visitors to BPAC!
Recognition in 14 ‘BPAC Presents’ house programs (8,000 programs!)
Recognition in all Festival of Trees advertising and promotions, include activation on BPAC’s social media channels!
Recognition on BPAC’s website, with a direct link to your website (22,000+ visitors per month)
Recognition in a promotional eblast – sent to 28,000+ patrons! (a $200 value)
2 complimentary tickets to The Andy Kim Christmas on Dec. 21st ($139 value)
Opportunity to draw and announce your tree winner’s name on Dec. 21st
All proceeds support The Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s ‘Live & Local Artist Development Initiative’, which provides performance opportunities and support for Burlington-based artists.
Related news stories:
Twenty five pre-lit trees auctioned in 2018
Festival of trees supports the arts
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