Penny Hersh, a citizen, wrote the Mayor’s office asking if the city’s flag could be lowered today to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the German death camp where a reported million Jews were put to death.
The request was denied. “We can unfortunately not lower the flags every year in remembrance as there are just too many international remembrance days.”
Despite the cruelty some managed to survive – but antisemitism is still rampant in this world
The liberation of Auschwitz is not just another Remembrance Day.
Hersh pointed out to the Mayors office that the flag was lowered for the citizens of New Zealand who died when there was a mass shooting on the Muslim Community.
There appear to be some “tin ears” in the office of the Mayor who reported that there would be a mention in the Mayor’s social media.
It’s not quite the same.
There is however, an opportunity to do the right thing at this evening’s council meeting: A moment of silence for the six million that are no longer with us because they were Jews.
They were children whose playmates were ushered into a gas chamber to die of Zyklon B poisoning.
When someone perceives that something wrong was done during a municipal election there is a process for making a complaint.
The municipalities, working with the Regional government, created a Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee.
That committee received a number of complaints – several which they rejected as unsupportable.
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan
They did decide to look into possibly doing an audit on a complaint about a raffle ticket ward 3 candidate Rory Nisan held during the October election.
The Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee decided to reject the request for an audit giving the following reasons in the hand written report set out below.
Hand written Election Compliance Committee report.
How did city council spend an afternoon and well into the evening hearing what Director of Community Planning Heather MacDonald had to say about the process being used to review the material prepared for the Scoped Review of the Downtown portion of the adopted but not approved Official Plan and get to the point where they received and endorsed the document?
Staff presented its report, explained what they did to get input from the community; council then asked Staff and the consultants that were hired to come up with ideas as to how the downtown could be developed – those ideas then had to be codified – put into language that became the rules used when development applications were being considered by the planners.
The cover of the report sets out the challenge: pictures of the Burlington that is – with a building site ready for a construction crane.
Getting input from the community was no small matter. Planner Alison Enns went more than that country mile coming up with ideas that were interesting, innovative and did aide in getting a clearer picture of what the public wanted.
This time Planning Staff did the work – the public could have done more. Burlington has a small stable of people who delegate and comment – that stable could be a lot larger.
Enns is reported to have spent her Christmas holiday writing and revising so that documents were ready in time.
The Planners were first asking that the report could be received – it could have been deferred.
They then wanted endorsement of the report – which Enns explained wasn’t approving everything in the document but it was telling the planners that they were going in the right direction.
However before the endorsement was recommended by the Standing Committee there were a number of amendments that came from Mayor Meed Ward and ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns who had spent all of the weekend prior to the Thursday meeting going over the recommendations in the SGL report; combing through them precinct by precinct and writing up the changes they wanted to make.
The Staff report they were working with was titled: Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown: Preliminary Preferred Concept“, January 2020.
The first step was to:
Direct the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation, and Mobility to consider the following during the development of policy modifications to the adopted Official Plan:
appropriate built form;
enhancement of transition provisions in the Downtown East Mixed-Use Precinct, to ensure an appropriate interface with the areas to both the east and the north;
enhancement of provisions to protect the existing character and streetscape of the Downtown East Mixed-Use Precinct, with particular attention to the pedestrian experience on Elizabeth Street;
appropriate built form in the V2 area of Village Square Precinct, with appropriate performance standards to avoid or mitigate potential impacts from new development on the existing low-rise buildings on Martha Street and existing low-rise buildings west of Pearl Street;
policy or mapping-based solutions to acknowledge, protect, and enhance existing community institutions or other private organizations that provide public services or amenities; and
Recognize the need for a transportation corridor through the Mid-Brant Precinct without presupposing that it must be a road, to allow consideration of the appropriate function of the new transportation corridor during the block planning exercise; and
Upper Brant Mixed Use precinct. The numbers refer to the different height limits that were being proposed. The hope was that there be some form of parkland as well.
Direct the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility to consider, during the development of policy modifications to the adopted Official Plan, enhancement of transition provisions in the Upper Brant Mixed-Use Precinct north of Ghent Avenue to ensure an appropriate interface with the established neighbourhoods to the east; and
In order to send the recommendation to council the Standing Committee first had to pass them.
Direct the Director of Community Planning to prepare detailed modifications to the Adopted Official Plan to implement the recommended concept as discussed in community planning department report PL-02-20 and in the report titled “Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown: Preliminary Preferred Concept“, January, 2020, prepared by SGL Planning & Design CARRIED
Amendment
Moved byMayor Meed Ward
Endorse the recommended concept in PL-02-20, Appendix A, subject to the following modifications:
Exclude from endorsement, subject to the considerations in 2, the recommended concept for the lands identified as:Village Square Precinct V2 sub area; and
Mayor Meed Ward worked through a weekend with ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns on crafting amendments to a staff report on what the changes to the approved but not adopted Official Plan would permit.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns worked with the Mayor during a weekend to craft amendments to a Staff report. Baggy gym pants were the dress of the day according to Kearns.
Downtown East Precinct located east of Elizabeth Street and south of Lions Park, and the block bounded by John Street, Maria Street, Elizabeth Street, and James Street; and
Direct the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation, and Mobility to consider the following during the development of policy modifications to the Adopted Official Plan:
appropriate built form;
enhancement of transition provisions in the Downtown East Mixed-Use Precinct, to ensure an appropriate interface with the areas to both the east and the north;
enhancement of provisions to protect the existing character and streetscape of the Downtown East Mixed-Use Precinct, with particular attention to the pedestrian experience on Elizabeth Street;
appropriate built form in the V2 area of Village Square Precinct, with appropriate performance standards to avoid or mitigate potential impacts from new development on the existing low-rise buildings on Martha Street and existing low-rise buildings west of Pearl Street;
policy or mapping-based solutions to acknowledge, protect, and enhance existing community institutions or other private organizations that provide public services or amenities.
CARRIED
Amendment
Endorse the recommended concept subject to the following modification:
Mid Brant precinct
Recognize the need for a transportation corridor through the Mid-Brant Precinct without presupposing that it must be a road, to allow consideration of the appropriate function of the new transportation corridor during the block planning exercise. CARRIED
Amendment
Moved byMayor Meed Ward
Direct the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility to consider, during the development of policy modifications to the adopted Official Plan, enhancement of transition provisions in the Upper Brant Mixed-Use Precinct north of Ghent Avenue to ensure an appropriate interface with the established neighbourhoods to the east. CARRIED
There was concern over what was going to happen to the heritage structures in the Downtown which resulted in a Heritage study staff direction. They resolved that as well.
The red sites are designated heritage properties. The blue are on the municipal registry
Moved by Mayor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of Community Planning, in consultation with Heritage Burlington, to assess the heritage value and appropriate protections (including possible Heritage Act designations) for the potential built heritage resources and potential cultural heritage landscapes identified by ASI in their September 2019 “Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment of the Downtown Mobility Hub”, with funding source to be determined, and report back to Council with the assessment and associated recommendations by Q4 of 2020. CARRIED
The concern over the development that was taking place at the Lions Park. staff direction
Moved by Mayor Meed Ward
Direct the Executive Director of Legal Services, working with the Executive Director of Environment, Infrastructure, and Community Services, to report back with options for the future of Lions Park.
With the recommendation motions put on the table, voted upon (all the votes were unanimous) the city was days away from having a bylaw that significantly modified an Official Plan pushed through by the previous council, despite a clear signal from the community that the plan did not meet the desires of a very significant community voice.
Was that group of people a majority? The election results suggest there was a majority – there was certainly a group of people who paid attention and advocated for a change.
Appeals are possible of course and something might come “out of the blue” at the Special Council meeting to take place on the 30th of January, but in the words of Standing Committee Chair Shawna Stolte “we are bringing it home” and those of the Mayor who said “we are close but we are not there yet” the city had an Official Plan that they believed met the immediate future needs of the city, gave the development community enough for them to be able to work with the city and was defensible should it get taken to the a Local Planning Area Tribunal (LPAT)
Some would say when and not should.
There are reports of up to three appeal applications to LPAT for non-decision on the part of the city.
Metrolinx sent the city a letter outlining their concerns with “the materials presented on January 14, 2020 for the Interim Control By-Law (ICBL) Land Use Study and the related proposed Official Plan (OP) and Zoning By-law (ZB) Amendments being considered by Council on January 30, 2020.”
Metrolinx’s interest is related to the proposed OPA and ZBA on the lands at and surrounding Burlington GO Station within 800m of the station and within 30m of the rail corridor.
Burlington GO station – south side
“Burlington GO Station is served with regional rail service, which will be increased to headways of 15-minutes or better under the GO Expansion program by 2027. To capitalize on provincial investment in regional transit and to realize the intended benefits, Metrolinx is undertaking transit oriented development at and adjacent its stations to increase ridership, improve the customer experience and to offer more choices in modes of travel. Transit oriented development is, at its essence, mixed-used high density development well integrated with transit and all other modes. These objectives are consistent with the policies of the Growth Plan (2019), and 2041 Regional Transportation Plan.
“With regard to the proposed Burlington Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments arising from the ICBL Land Use Study, Metrolinx requests the City:
• retain existing land use permissions and not approve the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for the study area at this time;
• undertake additional analysis to demonstrate that the proposed land use and height permissions, at a minimum, support the Growth Plan density target of 150 people and jobs per hectare for the Burlington GO Major Transit Station Area (MTSA);
• consider greater densities within the MTSA, in order to incentivize transit oriented development and support the massive investment in regional transit currently underway as part of the GO Expansion program; and
• further engage affected stakeholders and landowners, including Metrolinx, in detennining the proposed land use framework for the ICBL study area, prior to presenting a revised proposal for City Council’s consideration.
More detailed comments on the ICBL Land Use Study and proposed OPA and ZBA are below.
Scope
Metrolinx’s comments on the ICBL Land Use Study and proposed OPA and ZBA are focused on our lands located at 2101 Fairview Street and 2120-2144 Queensway Drive, and those lands adjacent to and/or within 30 m of the active rail corridor where Metrolinx has an interest to ensure safety, operational, and policy compliance.
Comments have also been provided on proposed policies that may impact how future and recent GO customers access mid use Burlington GO Station.
15 minute service by 2027 – imagine?
Land Use
• Metrolinx supports the conclusion in the ICBL Study that the highest and densest buildings be located closest to the GO station. The study however, effectively down-zones lands in the M’I’SA at a time when the Province is-promoting transit oriented development that can leverage the benefits of the significant capital and operating investment in regional transit. This is of great concern to Metrolinx.
• Analysis should be provided by the City to demonstrate that the proposed height and land use permissions, at a minimum, allow for achieving the Growth Plan minimum density target of 150 people and jobs per hectare within 500 to 800 metres the Burlington GO station, which is a designated MTSA.
MetroLinx understands that the exact boundary of the MTSA will be determined through Halton Region’s Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and that an interim boundary may be required for the City’s analysis. The boundary used previously in the Burlington GO Mobility Hub Study should be considered until the limits of the MTSA are confirmed by the Region.
• Metrolinx encourages the City to consider permitting densities above the minimum established in the Growth Plan, taking into consideration:
o the surrounding community context, including the existing land uses and block structure which provide any opportunity to transition between tall buildings on underutilized sites at the core of the MTSA, to lower density residential neighbourhoods:
o the frequent rail service being provided to Burlington GO Station;
o the Provincial interest in incentivizing transit oriented development to support the massive investment in regional transit currently underway as part of the GO Expansion program.
• In addition, and with regard to the specific permissions proposed in the OPAs, we note the following:
o Recommendations in Section 14.2 of the Dillon Land Use Study and in Part Ill, Section 7.2.3 of the proposed OPAs in Special Planning Area “A'” significantly constrain feasible development on Metrolinx lands. When combining proposed public space allocations, maximum building floor plates, mid-block public right-of-way, and associated setbacks with existing rail corridor safety standards and setbacks, it becomes difficult to implement transit supportive development. A more fulsome investigation and analysis of the net result of these recommendations, coupled with rail safety standards needs to be undertaken.
o We note that the draft outputs of the on-hold Mobility Hub Study did not restrict development to 24 storeys and that the Mobility Hub Study conclusion was reached through extensive consultation with Metrolinx staff, other landowners, agencies, and the public. Until further consultation and analysis is completed, the existing height permissions should be retained.
Connectivity and Circulation
• Metrolinx supports conclusions in Section 6.2.1 of the Dillon Land Use Study relating to improved mobility and connectivity to Burlington GO Station and between the station and Downtown. Through the 2016 GO Rail Station Access Plan Metrolinx has identified several complementary recommendations that would integrate well with the ones proposed in the Study. It is encouraging to see that sustainable and active travel modes are being prioritized to move people within Burlington and to the station.
Metrolinx wanted quite a bit more height than the Planning department is proposing.
• Metrolinx also supports recommendations in Section 6.2.2 of the Dillon Land Use Study that support improvements to the local transit network and its operations; particularly the implementation of bus priority along Brant Street as this is also identified in the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan.
• Map 4 (Schedule M-1 MTSA Special Planning Area) from the proposed OPAs and Diagram SA from the proposed ZBAs note a new mid-block, public right-of-way running east-west between Fairview Street and the rail corridor. Metrolinx does not support this road bisecting the existing bus loop at the Burlington GO Station. If this proposed road were to be implemented, significant impacts to bus operations could be expected and bays, which are already at a premium, would be reduced. This concern was previously shared with City staff from the Integrated Mobility Team so it is concerning to see the road included in the proposed amendments.
Process
• In Appendix A, the overview and timeline details activities between 2006 and 2022. The anticipated future schedule of the Burlington GO Mobility Hub Study is requested to be included as it is understood the forthcoming Secondary Plan for the Burlington GO Station area would replace the ICBL recommendations.
• Metrolinx requests to be included in the Technical Advisory Committee and Landowners’ Group when the Burlington GO Mobility Hub Study (as well as Aldershot and Appleby GO) resumes.
• Metrolinx also requests further consultation on the delineation of the Burlington GO MTSA boundary and identification of height permissions and density targets through City of Burlington secondary planning and Region of Halton Municipal Comprehensive Review process.
One hopes that the GO trains run on a better schedule than the letter sent to the city. The public meetings on this issue are all but complete – they go to a special session of city council later this week.
At least Metrolinx is on record with their position.
Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement in response to the first presumptive case of the Wuhan novel coronavirus in Ontario and following a briefing of the province’s directors of education:
“The health and well-being of Ontarians, including and especially our students and school staff, is our number one priority. To that end, earlier today Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, briefed Ontario’s directors of education on the province’s extensive protocols to monitor, detect and contain any cases of the Wuhan novel coronavirus.
Ontario continues to work directly alongside our partners at the Public Health Agency of Canada and local public health units to monitor the situation closely. Newly strengthened protocols for identification and control are working to keep the public safe.
We want to assure students, parents and school communities that officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are working together in close cooperation with our partners in both the education and health care sectors to ensure the continued safety and well-being of students and staff.”
To help educate Ontarians about Wuhan novel coronavirus, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they suspect they may be at risk, the province has launched a dedicated webpage.
Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board
Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board said in a statement he released to the Gazette last night that he is in “close contact with Halton Region Public Health” and is “jointly working on a communication to school administrators and families” which he expects to have out to these people before the end of the day on Monday.
Dr. Steven Selchen, Chief of Psychiatry at Joseph Brant Hospital
On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Dr. Steven Selchen, Chief of Psychiatry at Joseph Brant Hospital and colleagues invite you to join them on Facebook Live as they have a conversation about mental health and access to programs.
Mental Health is not something that gets the serious attention it needs; many people still want to hide the fact that there are problems within the family.
The hospital is taking a very welcome step in opening up the subject in a way that is less public for those who face mental health issues every day. Kudos to the hospital.
Date: January 29, 2020 Time: 9:00 a.m.
Just log into:
www.Facebook.com/JosephBrantHospital
They seemed to be on a robbery spree – three robberies in a single day.
A joint effort involving police from all three districts of the Halton Regional Police Service led to the arrest of four adult males.
Charged is:
Liban Guedi, 19 years old of Etobicoke is charged with three (3) counts of robbery and possession of property obtained by crime under $5000.00.
Hasan Abdihafid Hassan, 18 years old of Etobicoke is charged with three (3) counts of robbery, wearing a disguise and possession of property obtained by crime under $5000.00.
Dahir Kheyre, 19 years old of Brampton is charged with three (3) counts of robbery, wearing a disguise and property obtained by crime under $5000.00.
Ilyas Kheyre, 20 years old of Brampton is charged with three (3) counts of robbery and property obtained by crime under $5000.00.
It began with the robbery atRabba Fine Foods on Derry Road, Milton, confronted the clerk and demanded cash. The accused males indicated they had a firearm but one was not observed by the clerk. The accused males fled the store on foot with cash and ciagettes in hand. They were last seen exiting the parking lot in a black vehicle.
A short time later at 1:03 am on the 26th of January 2020 the same crew attended the Esso gas station at 1170 Guelph Line, Burlington. The males again indicated to the clerk they were in possession of a firearm and demanded cash. No firearm was observed. The accused males fled with a small amount of money.
The males quickly struck again at 1:13 am on the 26th of January 2020. This time hitting the Esso gas station located at 5539 Harvester Road, Burlington. Cash and cigarettes were demanded of the clerk however the accused’ were interrupted by an unsuspecting patron and they quickly fled the scene.
Uniform patrols utilizing suspect and vehicle information relayed to them from the visual evidence captured at QEW corridor ramps. The accused males were located within minutes of the last robbery by a sharp eyed two district patrol officer who observed the suspect vehicle entering onto the QEW at Dorval Drive. The officer conducted a traffic stop and the driver pulled over without incident.
The cameras that help media report on road traffic were used to watch for suspected vehicles.
Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the four males the recovery of stolen property from inside the vehicle including cash and cigarettes.
No one was hurt or injured during the robberies. The investigation is ongoing and Police are asking anyone with additional information about the robberies to contact the Halton Regional Police Service Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905 825 4747 ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously 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.
Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court
It might be cold outside but there will be more than just the normal heat inside the Performing Arts Centre during the month.
The Centre has announced a series of Public Education and Outreach Workshops for people 16+ throughout the month of February aimed at developing artistic practice for local artists and providing enhanced arts experiences for audiences.
Workshops and panels happening next month include a Navigating the Music Industry panel, a Memoir Writing Workshop, and a Triple Threat Workshop.
On February 8, the Navigating the Music Industry panel will discuss what is involved in being an Agent, Manager, or Presenter in today’s music industry by going behind the scenes to discuss the music business. The panel will feature Artist Manager at SRO Management, Cynthia Barry; Senior Vice President of The Feldman Agency, Tom Kemp; Director of Programming, Marketing & Business Development at The Corporation of Roy Thompson and Massey Hall, Jesse Kumagai; and Artist Manager at ZED Music, Steve Zsirai.
On February 22, the Memoir-Writing Workshop with Alison Wearing will focus on elevating personal writing. Participants will learn about the different tools and tactics needed to find their voice and put their own personal stories on paper.
On February 23, the Triple Threat Workshop will give everyone a chance to audition, receive personal advice and then get an all-important second chance to knock it out of the park. The workshop will be led by director, writer, and performer Richard Ouzounian, who will give advice on everything from what to wear and what to sing and choreographer Amanda Nuttall will give advice on how to present oneself at a dance call even with two left feet.
Each one of these workshops /panels is being led by Canada’s ‘best in show’. These people are working professionals who are leaders in their fields.
You have to register, and there is a nominal cost.
Register on the Performing Arts web site CLICK here to get there.
The Performing Arts Centre aims to develop comprehensive, impactful and accessible learning experiences for all ages, and are committed to fostering artistic appreciation, development and participation through this Public Education & Outreach Series.
The Halton Regional Police Service has created a Regional Robbery Task Force. The formation of this new Task Force is in response to a recent spike in bank robberies throughout the region. These crimes have been escalating in both frequency and violence.
Two bank robberies took place in Halton in December 2019 and there have been four thus far in the month of January 2020.
The striking of this Task Force ensures effective and efficient coordination of our internal investigative resources, provides enhanced connectivity with neighbouring police services, and facilitates sharing of critical information pertaining to these crimes and those who perpetrate them. Our officers are deeply committed to community safety and well-being and continue to relentlessly investigate each of the incidents in our jurisdiction.
Police are also asking residents to be extra vigilant when attending a bank and report any suspicious activity to police. If residents witness a crime in progress, they are asked to call 911.
Police recognize that the nature of these crimes can have a deep impact on bank staff and its customers. We want those who have been victimized to know that the Victim Services Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service remains available to provide support and assistance to those affected.
More information on this service can be found HERE
Any tips or questions on this task force can be directed to Detective Sergeant Ellie Bale, Case Manager, Regional Robbery Task Force at 905-825-4747 ext. 2415.
How many times does the Mayor have to travel abroad to represent the city?
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward is the Mayor of a mid-sized city.
She is not yet the Premier of the province nor is she representing Burlington at a federal level.
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward with Richard Rohmer, Honorary Lieutenant General Richard Heath Rohmer OC CMM OOnt DFC CD QC), during the D-Day celebrations.
The trip to Normandy to celebrate the D-Day landings had merit.
Burlington’s Mayor leading a parade in Itabashi Japan.
The trip to Japan to celebrate the xx year relationship with the city of Itabashi was a little excessive; the trip to Apeldoorn in May is one of those “nice to have’s” the Mayor complained about when she was a citizen banging on the doors of the council chamber to be let in.
Being a Mayor with provincial pretensions calls for an ability to judge the difference between personal ambitions and the needs of the city you lead.
The plans for a side trip to France while she is in Holland can’t be justified no matter how hard you try.
Our Mayor is not listening to the genuine concerns of a lot of people.
She could be in the process of losing the connection she has to her base.
In October of 2018 Marianne Meed Ward was the best choice of what was available for the job of Mayor – her “tribe” expects her to grow into the job.
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.
The Halton Region is critical to the convenience and comfort of the life people who line in the Region. They provide the services that don’t lend themselves to purely local delivery. Water, sewage, waste management, police, public health services and the maintenance of roads that run between municipalities.
Transit is currently a municipal responsibility – there are those, including the Mayor of Burlington, who would like to see it made a Regional responsibility.
Transit is a local service but it is becoming evident that it will soon have to be moved up to the Regional level where it can be managed and funded for a wider market and not require people to change buses just because they are crossing the border into Milton.
Regional governments sit in between the local municipalities and provincial ministries.
Who runs this level of government and who pays for what they provide? The latter part of the question comes down to this – there is just the one tax payer with pockets that the money for every level of government comes from.
The people who make the Regional level decisions come from the municipalities that are served – with the number of seats on Regional Council determined by the population of each municipal council except for the Chair who is elected by popular vote.
Regional Chair Gary Carr tasting honey while on an agricultural tour.
Each municipality determines who it wants to send to the Region. In Burlington all seven members of council are also Regional councillors.
Gary Carr, the current Regional Chair, does a more than reasonable job – the concern is that there isn’t anyone in the wings who even looks like they have the skills in the kind of leadership Carr has provided.
The Region has seven members from the City of Burlington; eight members from the Town of Oakville; three members from the Town of Halton Hills; five members from the Town of Milton for a total of 24 when you include the Chair.
In 2000, as a result of changes to the Ontario Municipal Act, Joyce Savoline became the first person to be directly elected to that position by the voters of Halton. She was re-elected in 2003. Prior to 2000 Savoline had been selected by the members of the Regional government.
The Regional Council is served by a bureaucracy that has to look at the bigger Regional picture rather than the tighter, narrower focus required at the municipal level.
Regional administrative office are on a sprawling site in Oakville . The building once housed the offices of the Regional Police as well.
Administratively the Region’s corporate leadership is done by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). There are six departments, one being the CAO; the other five are: Legislative and Planning Services, Finance, Health, Public Works, Social & Community Services. A Commissioner leads each department.
The last review of representation for Regional Council, which culminated in an increase of three members during the 2018 election was initiated by a resolution adopted by Regional Council in February of 2015, asking the four local municipalities to set out the conditions under which they would consider any changes to Regional representation.
Under Section 218 of the Municipal Act, an upper-tier municipality is compelled to review the composition of its Council after 2018 and every second regular election after that (2026). The legislation does not specifically align the timing of any reviews to the release of census data.
There is an exception provided in that any upper-tier municipality that made a change to its composition between 2014 and 2018 does not need to undertake this review until after the election in 2026, which means there will not be any changes in Halton until 2030.
Any such changes must be approved by a triple majority – a majority of all votes on Regional Council must be cast in favour of the changes, a majority of the local municipal councils must pass resolutions consenting to the changes (three local municipalities in the case of Halton).
The Regional Council – elected in December of 2018
How do people in Burlington, who want to be involved in the way the city is run, get to take part?
The city has a number of Citizen Advisory Committees that have in the past played an important role in bringing a detailed viewpoint to city council.
Is this house a Heritage property? The owners didn’t think so and took a very compelling argument to the Heritage Committee.
There was a time when the Heritage Advisory Committee basically took over a large part of the Heritage issue in the city and has continued to serve the city well.
There are others that don’t do a very good job – usually because of the committee leadership or committee members who were poor choices because they didn’t know how to behave and respect the views of other people.
Each committee has a Council member attached to it. In the past there have been council members who tended to direct and at times bully the committee. There is at least one from the current council who has yet to learn what his role on an Advisory Committee is.
Each committee has a Clerk. Burlington is fortunate in having Clerks who are very good at their jobs. A smart committee chair will stay close to the Clerk – they always bail the chair out when things get confusing.
Former Mayor Rick Goldring and former Toronto Mayor David Crombie at the Waterfront Advisory Committee. The committee was sunset – it suffered from poor leadership.
The committees have a small budget to cover some of the costs.
Members of Advisory committees are not paid.
With every term of Council, the Clerk’s Department undertakes an Advisory Committee Review. This process began last year with Citizen Action Labs being held in the Spring and then a request for interest was sent out to those who attended the Action Labs to be a part of a “working group” to review the data received from the engagement process and prepare a report with recommendations regarding the Advisory Committees.
The criteria for how people are selected for advisory committees is based on each committee’s Terms of Reference under the heading “Committee Composition”. The Clerk’s office is holding off on recruiting new members to advisory committees until the review is complete.
Home owners at a Heritage Workshop had plenty to say – the planners were given two weeks to come up with answers. An example of an Advisory Committee at work.
The one thing the city has not done is publicly recognize the committees as a group. Several of those committees provide very valuable advice. The Mayor is currently re-thinking what the Burlington BEST awards could be in the future. Formal recognition of the Advisory Committee members has merit.
A significant number of people who serve on Advisory Committees go on to run for political office. Being able to say the you served on an Advisory Committee and then also being able to refer to a report you were part of is an important first step to developing a public profile; much needed if you want to serve the public.
Marianne Meed Ward and the Save our Waterfront committee; a foundation piece for a political career.
THE case study on how to do that is the current Mayor; she made saving the water front her issue and took control of a committee (not a city hall committee) and turned it into a campaign organization.
Set out below are the current Advisory committees and when they plan to meet in February. The meetings are public – walk in, introduce yourself to the Clerk who will introduce you to the chair and the rest of the committee.
The Halton Regional Police Service is saddened to confirm that the deceased individual who was located submerged in a viaduct in the area of Grahams Lane and Legion Road earlier on this date is a 22-year-old female from Burlington who had been missing since Sunday.
At this time, the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
The investigation is now with the Coroner.
Anyone with information, dash-cam video, or surveillance footage from the area is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2315 or ext. 2316.
We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased.
Earlier this afternoon, the body of a deceased individual was located submerged under the ice in a viaduct in the area of Grahams Lane and Legion Road in Burlington.
Expect a significant police presence in the area as our officers investigate.
There is no ongoing, related public safety threat.
The location and the circumstances sound like a homeless person who might have crawled into the space.
Sean Baird had another day in Court – he didn’t attend, his lawyer Caroline McKenna, a Hamilton based lawyer stood before the Judge representing Baird.
Caroline McKenna represented Sean Baird in Milton Courthouse where numerous criminal charges will be heard.
McKenna is with Paquette –Wilhelm, a small firm with a strong criminal law reputation.
Baird did not appear, just the lawyer. He was not required to be in the Court room. The purpose of the hearing was to begin the process of the defence getting the discovery documents which is basically the case that the Crown believes it has against Baird.
The lawyers now look at the documents and prepare for a trial, assuming Baird decides a trial is what he wants.
They will be back in Court on February 18th. One can expect the lawyers to have figured out how long a trial might take so that a trial date can be set.
Baird is reported to do a lot of business with Hamilton area restaurants.
Baird is facing the following criminal charges:
Uttering a Forged Document – Contrary to section 368(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada
· Fraud over $5000 – Contrary to section 380(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada
· Corrupt Practice (four counts) – Contrary to the Municipal Elections Act.
Weren’t we supposed to be the good guys – the number one (#1) mid-sized city in the country. The greatest place to live play and work.
Then we learn that Halton has the highest per capita emissions in the GTHA when industry sources are excluded. This is despite the fact that Halton’s per capita transportation emissions are at the GTHA median, and the region’s percentage of long car-based commutes is not as high as in Durham or York.
These are the root causes of our green house gas emissions.
Natural gas — captured in the buildings sector data — is responsible for a large portion of Halton’s emissions. This natural gas is primarily used for water and space heating, so the warmer winter (with less heating demand) in 2017 is partially responsible for the large overall decrease in emissions that Halton is showing from 2015 to 2017
Let’s let Chair Gary Carr explain that one!
Burlington city council did the right thing by declaring a Climate Emergency – other municipalities followed but other than assuring that there is an “environmental lens” made a part of every Staff report Burlington can’t claim they have done very much.
Halton’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality
All the municipalities in Halton declared a climate emergency in 2019, suggesting that the region plans to accelerate climate action.
Halton’s emissions from natural gas are high compared to most other parts of the GTHA. Although this is due in part to industrial consumption of natural gas, undertaking energy efficiency retrofits will have to be a critical part of Halton’s plan to reach net-zero emissions.
Further, green standards for new buildings should be developed to ensure that the region can continue to grow while still reducing emissions.
SCALABLE SOLUTION FROM HALTON, FOR THE GTHA
Oakville-based company BerQ RNG produces renewable natural gas from Ontario’s food waste. In 2019, TAF invested $1.15 million in a 15-year project with BerQ to install and operate new refining equipment. Not only will this investment reduce carbon emissions by displacing fossil fuels, it will demonstrate the business case for renewable natural gas.
When industry and commerce see an opportunity they move and basically take over. Unfortunately there are all kinds of places where there isn’t a profit to be made – which results in little getting done.
We all know that plastic packaging is hurting the environment. Why then, we ask, doesn’t the federal government declare that in xxx years – let’s say five – plastic can no longer be used to package foods. That leaves the packaging industry five years to re-tool and re-think the way food is packaged. The federal government could also put up millions (they did that to buy a pipeline) and let those smart minds out there come up with solutions.
It can be done – all it takes is political will and the courage to make hard decisions.
We’re not banking on it though – are we?
However, we did it with seat belts and cigarettes.
Soccer, tennis, football and baseball are sports that have a following. Hockey has stood the test of time.
Soccer has been a favourite across the globe, with cricket, football, tennis and basketball also achieving international fame. The interesting part about hockey is that while there are just a few countries that play the sport, yet its fandom is universal.
Fans go wild when their team scores.
As a sport, hockey has everything going for it. The action inside the rink is fast, confined, and thrilling. The teams and the players have a celebrity-like persona that results in fans worshiping them.
Hockey is a regular in the betting world, giving it a stamp of approval that makes it an international sport worth watching. The collection of great NHL moments shown below is something you will want to watch again and again.
Year-Round Activity
One of the main reasons for NHL being a highly bet-worthy event is its year-round activity. There are competitions, such as the tennis Grand Slam Wimbledon, that take place for a few days every year and gather up quite a following. However, when it comes to lucrative sports betting, it is always nice to invest in something that goes on for a long time. In the case of the NHL there is the regular season followed by intensely played play-off series.
Even during the off-season, there are opportunities to bet on player transfers and trades. With so much activity going on, there is something or the other for punters to wager on when it comes to the NHL.
Excellent Coverage
It’s one thing to have year-long happenings, but a completely different one when it comes to coverage of a sport by bookmakers. When it comes to the NHL, all the leading bookmakers are onboard. Bookies tend to cover each and every game of the season with equal enthusiasm. Moreover,sites such as Canada Sports Betting feature the latest NHL oddsfrom the most prominent online bookies along with tips and predictions to help punters decide on the best bets. The kind of coverage given to the sport makes it easy even for first-time bettors to make money from the NHL, especially when you count in the welcome bonuses that bookies give to their new customers.
Massive following
Sports has always been about getting people together and having a passionate and fun time. NHL does precisely that, with everyone from kids to the elderly following their favourite teams throughout the season. Since there is such mass following, it makes betting on NHL games a lot more exciting. Adults wanting to wager on games can discuss and debate players and team statistics with friends and family, and make sports betting a fun affair with rewards that everyone can enjoy.
The storied Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
In the end, the cherry on top of the NHL cake is the Stanley Cup. Whether you look at it from a betting point of view or just as a fan, the euphoria of an entire season culminates into one massive event that has everyone excited. Not only does this further adds to the sporting allure of the NHL, but also ends everything with a bang, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the start of the next season.
Burlington has twinned itself with two cities: Itabashi in Japan and Appeldoorn in the Netherlands.
The relationship with each city is robust with delegations from Burlington going to Holland and Japan and delegations from those countries visiting Canada.
It is a satisfying relationship for everyone and the cost is minimal.
Canadian soldiers storming the beach of Normandy on D-Day
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward spent the 75th Anniversary of D-Day on Juno Beach in France. Prior to her leaving for the trip she learned about the very significant role Burlington plays in Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Juno Beach Centre was designed by an architect from Burlington and paid for with funds raised in Burlington.
The Mayor of Courseulles-sur-Mer is reported to have asked Mayor Meed Ward if they could twin with Burlington. It sounded like a nice idea with much merit. Far too many Canadian men lost their lives storming the beaches of France on D-Day. It was the event that turned the tide of WWII. Twinning with Courseulles-sur-Mer would be very fitting.
It raises the question, however, of just how many countries does Burlington want to twin with. There has to be a limit somewhere.
The Mundialization Committee is working through a number of ideas including the creation of a second category which would be a “friendship” relationship that would involve a lot less interaction and probably not include visits to France. (Link to that report below.)
The Mundialization Committee has not made any decisions; the Mayor is going to be in Holland for the 75th Anniversary of the end of the second world war and has plans to make a side trip to France to follow up on the idea.
I have a very serious concern over the creation of a “friendship” relationship with Courseulles-sur-Mer while we maintain a full blown boisterous relation with a city in Japan.
Canadians died on the beaches of France defending democracy.
Canadians died in the Pacific in a war we fought to bring an end to; a nation that attacked Pearl Harbour and wanted to conquer America.
Perhaps the status of Itabashi could be downgraded to one of “friendship” and Courseulles-sur-Mer brought in as a twin.
It might be awkward from a diplomatic point of view but to put that small sea-side community whose beaches our men died on to defend democracy as a “friend” while Itabashi has a full blown twinning relationship is just not right.
Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer, a beach where many Canadian men died during the D-Day landings.
Canadian troops liberated Apeldoorn in World War Two; an event that is celebrated by both countries every November 11th.
Japan and Germany have come along way from being what they were in the 1940’s but we don’t celebrate the wars they started.
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.
The Mundialization Committee was delegating last week to a Standing Committee on changes that were being recommended to Council.
Burlington currently has two active twin city relationships: with Apeldoorn (Netherlands) and Itabashi (Japan).
Ed Dorr, retiring chair of the Mundialization Committee has steered the organization through a very successful development path.
These relationships are sustained through efforts of the Burlington Mundialization Committee (BMC) and engagement by city staff. The relationships are robust and for those doing the participation very satisfying. The strong, regular active participation in citizen exchanges and celebrations come out of deeply rooted historical ties and cultural attachments.
When Mayor Meed Ward spent several days in France during the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy she toured the Juno Beach Reception Centre and was asked by the Mayor of Courseulles-sur-Mer if there was any interest in creating a twinning relationship with that community.
As a result of that conversation Council: “Direct(ed) the City Clerk in cooperation with the BMC to report back to Committee of the Whole in Q4 2019 with options for twinning with Courseulles-sur-Mer”; and “Direct(ed) the City Clerk to provide proposed criteria, for committee’s consideration, for future twinning relationships including consideration of a city in a developing country”.
In an Appendix attached to the report it is proposed that the “structure allows for a twinning relationship to be established with cities such as Courseuller-sur-Mer at an appropriate level.”
The Mundialization Committee is currently working on the second part to the staff direction regarding criteria to be considered for future twinning relationships. The BMC has been working overtime this past year with the 30th Anniversary celebrations and official delegations with Itabashi, Japan, and preparing for the 15th Anniversary celebrations and official delegations with Apeldoorn, Netherlands. There has been a subcommittee struck to focus on the proposed criteria to be presented to council in a future report.
The BMC has surveyed best practices in city relationships to help formulate their recommendation. Findings show that cities with the highest level of engagements with other cities tend to elevate peer relationships where common goals are identified.
Tiering relationships according to engagement structure further allows focused growth in both quality of interactions and the number of networks.
The recommendation from the Mundialization Committee and the Clerk’s office is to establish the following structure for city alliances:
These cherry tress were a gift from an Itabashi citizen – part of the rich relationship between the two cities. .
Partnership City: further the common interests of Burlington and its allies in the pursuit of increasing economic development and increasing cultural exchanges.
The BMC would continue to drive these partnerships and continue to be supported by City staff.
There would be “increased engagement between BMC and other Burlington development organizations – Economic Development and Tourism being the most obvious.”
Friendship City: is a formalized relationship which is arranged by approval of BMC and proclaimed by City Council. It would be supported by city staff.
Common activities include official letter exchanges and flag raising ceremonies on significant dates.
Enhance our twin city program to a structure which contains multiple tiers of alliances with other cities around the world.
The Burlington Teen Tour Band lined a street in Apeldoorn during a parade.
“The current partnerships have worked extraordinarily well in enhancing our cultural ties to our allies. We can elevate this partnership by including a focus on priorities which are part of Burlington’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, it enables Burlington to create new alliances with cities around the world based on shared interests and goals.
“The financial component of the recommendations in this report will include the cost of travel for Burlington’s official delegation to travel to twin cities. Depending on the cities chosen to twin with, costs will vary. Cost per person for the recent trip to Itabashi Japan was $3,500 per person. The number of staff and council members that typically travel on an official delegation is four along with two members from the Mundialization Committee.
Costs associated with travel expenses for the Mayor, members of Council and staff members have been paid from the Corporate Mundialization initiatives account for travel in the past to twin cities.
Climate Implications
City council brought in a policy that calls for a “climate lens” to be applied to every decision made. The Mundialization report adds that “travel involved in establishing a twinning relationship at the ‘friendship’ level would produce greenhouse gas emissions. All travel arrangements would be made with all efforts to reduce, limit or mitigate climate impacts. For example, using electric vehicles when possible, carpool, investigate offset programs, research the method of travel with the least amount of climate impact and choose those methods when possible.
“One of the priorities moving forward will be to share best practices, leading edge technologies, and climate change initiatives with twin cities both at the partnership level and friendship level.
The Mundialization chair and vice chair have consulted with the committee, the Mayor and members of Council.
The BMC is looking to enhance the twin cities program to a structure which contains multiple tiers of alliances with other cities around the world.
By Staff
