 By Pepper Parr
September 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Walter Wiebe advised the Gazette earlier in the week that a developer told him that he had an ‘exclusive agreement’ to place lawn signs on his land. Walter was told this after he mistakenly thought he could place signs anywhere they did.
A candidate who asked not to be named asks: “
If that is true, I believe it amounts to a corporate donation of advertising services, and is contrary to Ontario elections law. Placing lawn signs on commercial property is already a grey area … unless you claim that the signs have no value, how do you justify commercial property providing lawn sign space under the new law?
It further implies a formal agreement between developers and property interests to help Kim Calderbank, Rick Goldring which will not do any of them any good in Ward 2. Both candidates are struggling to find locations on residential property in Ward 2. In my opinion it is a serious political misjudgement, as well as step across the line from a ‘grey area’ to a clearly illegal area. If commercial properties wish to donate lawn sign space to all candidates equally, that would be a different story.
Candidate Weibe appears to be making the most of the issue.
https://twitter.com/Walter4Ward2/status/1039982989365714944
Roland Tanner, a candidate for the ward 2 seat said: “I find it very disappointing in the current municipal climate that some candidates are alleged to have entered into agreements with developers and commercial property owners.
The candidates should clarify immediately whether the allegation is true. The legality of any such an agreement, which can be argued to amount to an illegal corporate donation of advertising services, should be addressed by the city. My campaign does not request or want any sign locations on non-residential property, least of all property owned by developers, as it is essential voters know I represent their interests above all else.
Regardless, residents can already judge for themselves which candidates are able to get support from residents, and which candidates depend on wealthy developer backing for personal donations and sign locations.”
Just where is the city Clerk on all this? Missing in Action?
 By Staff
September 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a tradition in this city.
Every September for the past 37 years Burlingtonians have run, walked and cycled in an event that raises funds for cancer research in the name of Terry Fox.
One of the city’s first sons, Casey Cosgrove, was lost to cancer last year days before the run.
 An aerial view of the “run” last year. Thousands of people have done the “run”.
Last year they raised $103, 576, the 37 year total is $1,930,304
This year’s run is on Sunday September 16th
 The Terry Fox marker – yards away from Lakeshore Road – the route he took when he ran through the city. Burlington Schools last year raised $121,492 and in total they have raised $1,843,076
This year school run is Thursday September 27th
 Terry Fox on his run through Burlington. Burlington is one of the few, perhaps the only, city that has a monument to mark the day Terry Fox passed through the city.
The details:
The 38th Annual Burlington Terry Fox Run.
This year the Start/Finish is at the east end of Spencer Smith Park by the Pier in front of the Waterfront Hotel. This is a non-competitive family friendly event with runners registering at 8 am and starting at 9 am.
The family run begins at 10 am. Family run includes runners, walkers, strollers, roller blades, dogs, but unfortunately NO BIKES.
Following the run enjoy free food, face painting, balloon animals, massages, tattoos as well as a live band, DJ and MC’s.
 By Staff
September 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Member of Parliament for Oakville North Burlington is looking for high school students who are interested in becoming members of her 2018-19 Youth Council.
Ms Damoff writes:
 “With school now fully back into session I am looking to select high school students from Oakville North-Burlington to join my youth council.
“If you or someone you know has a passion for social justice and an interest in learning more about the Canadian political process I hope you take the time to apply.
“My youth council meets approximately once a month during the school year and it provides an opportunity for you to learn from community leaders, meet other students interested in making a difference and provides a forum for you to let me know on how best the federal government can represent you!
“Previous youth councils have participated in a blanket exercise at Crawford Lake, learned from mental health experts from the Canadian Mental Health Association, and enjoyed some delicious smoothies after powering Halton Food for Thought’s Blender Bike.
 Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville Burlington North “To apply, please prepare a letter of interest outlining why you would like to join my youth advisory council.”
Some point you may wish to consider are;
• Previous work experience
• Previous volunteer experience, and how you feel this had made a positive impact in the community
• What skills, interests, and talents you can offer the Council
• Some issues you are interested in and hope to address if selected
• Examples of your time management skills
Please also include the contact information for one reference who is not a family member.
Completed applications should be sent to Pam.Damoff.c1b@parl.gc.ca and will be accepted until end of day on Friday, September 21st. My office will notify applicants if they were successful or not during the final week of September.
If you are a high school student please consider applying! If you know a high school student who may be interested please feel free to pass along this information to them.
 By Staff
September 14, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Information Technology people did an upgrade on the service that lets people register for courses and events on line.
 Deep in the bowels of this building the IT staff toil away at monitors that display lines of code and a language called HTML to create the applications that let people use city hall services. From time to time – something goes wrong. It bumped into some glitches – usually the result of poor testing before a service is released for public use.
The city Parks and Recreation department now advises that the on line Drop-In Schedules are now working properly.
 By Staff
September 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It is silly and embarrassing.
The pettiness and rancor that have become part of the process of determining who is going to represent the people of ward 5 at city council next on December 3rd when the new council is sown in.
ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington have worked hard to organize debates at the ward level. This is something Burlington has not had for well over more than a decade.
 Intense to the point of making delegations uncomfortable ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman does know how to drill down into the data and look for results. Paul Sharman, the incumbent who was first elected in 2010, re-elected in 2014 rather easily is in a tough battle this time around.
He has decided not to take part in the ward debate that has been organized.
His reason? “My very presence at your event will provide the opportunity for you to load the questions and to create the kind disrespectful behaviour we have experienced over the last 10 months.
“Therefore it will be better for everyone that I will not be present.”
Mr. Sharman, an accountant by training, knows full well that ECoB was incorporated as a non-profit corporation. He also knows that ECoB will not have anything to do with the questions that are asked by the moderator other than to collect the questions written out by the public when they are in the auditorium.
To suggest that ECoB has an opportunity to load the questions is just plain sleazy.
 Ward 5 candidate Wendy Moraghan in conversation with incumbent Paul Sharman Sharman has a battle in front of him; the chatter on social media is pretty vicious and Sharman is adding to it.
Why he doesn’t talk about his accomplishments, and there are some, is beyond this observer.
In 2011 Sharman literally pushed through a 0% tax increase – something that has not been seen since then.
With that notch in his belt he went on to be close to abusive with delegators. It was a path he chose to take – it has not served him or his constituents well.
Sharman claims ECoB avoided the question of whether or not ECOB is a) actually an organization and b) whether you are simply organizing a public forum or one that will be characterized by the regular ECoB tactics of divisiveness and c) who is funding these activities.
As to the ECoB funding – they are donations made by citizens who attended the public meetings. There were more than 50 people who were dropping $20 bills into a box and several that wrote healthy cheques.
At the first ECoB organizational meeting a citizen said he was in the room representing people from his community and that he had a signed cheque in his pocket – he wanted to know who to make it out to.
There is still time for Paul Sharman to do a course correction. The ward 5 debate is on Wednesday, September 19th at the Bateman high school. You will get to see Paul Sharman or an empty chair with his name on it.
Ouch!
Salt with Pepper are the opinions, reflections, observations and musings of the Gazette publisher
By Staff
September 12th, 2108
BURLINGTON, ON
Hamilton’s Super Crawl requires changes in transit routes.
Route 1 and 101 will be detouring around the Supercrawl event starting on Friday, Sept. 14 to Sunday, Sept. 16.
 Hamilton, Ontario, September 13,2014, Huge crowds at The Arkells concert Friday night at SuperCrawl. Cathie Coward/ Hamilton Spectator Detour Area: James St. between King St. and Strachan St. W. and York St. between Bay St. N. and Hughson St. N.
Detour Dates: Friday, Sept. 14 to Sunday, Sept. 16
Detour Routes: Routes 1 and 101 will turn right onto Queen St., left onto Main St., left onto John St., left onto John St. and left onto King St. and continue regular routing.
Stops not in service: 911 (York Blvd at Bay St.) 912 (York Blvd at Park St.), 834 (York Blvd at James St), 681 (Wilson St at John St.), and 680 (Catherine St. at King William St.)
Proceed to:
• Bay St. N. at Vine St. (#682) for Route 1
• York Blvd. at Queen St. N. (#913) for Route 101 (Friday)
• King St. at James St. N. (#679) for Route 1 and 101.
 By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The first series of tournament to kick-off the 2018-2019 season were held last weekend; the Burlington Eagles came ready to compete in 2018-2019 with an unprecedented 6 Tournament Championships.
Burlington Eagles Elite players from different ages and levels were competing all over Southern Ontario. The amazing efforts of all the players is recognized as they continue to demonstrate why the Burlington Eagles Elite is considered one of the top programs in Ontario.
The six teams bringing home the Championship hardware this weekend are:
 1: Minor Bantam AA Gold, Team Sponsored by Burlington Mall: Vaughan Ranger Early Bird
2: Minor Bantam AA Blue: Team Sponsored by National Sports :Garden City (St. Catharines)
3: Minor Bantam A, Team Sponsored by Sport Chek: Niagara Falls Early Bird
4: Peewee A, Team Sponsored by Mark’s: September Showdown
5: Minor Peewee AA Gold, Team Sponsored by Mark’s Commercial: Vaughan Ranger Early Bird
6: Atom A, Team Sponsored by Global Fuel: KMHA Early Bird
By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Rory Nisan, a candidate for the ward 3 seat released a statement Tuesday evening saying he “was made aware by the City of Burlington on Monday afternoon that there could be an issue with the raffle held at a community barbecue” he hosted on Sunday, September 9.
 Ward 3 candidate Rory Nisan Nisan also said: “It quickly became clear to me that I had made a mistake by holding a raffle without a permit.
“I regret this error.
“I have reached out to the City to find out how best to rectify the situation. I have also voluntarily cancelled the raffle and have already returned almost all contributions and am in the process of contacting the raffle participants to provide refunds.
 Table offering raffle tickets which are not permitted as a fund raiser “As far as corporate donations are concerned, the 2018 Candidates Guide for Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections states on p. 23 that vendors may make personal contributions of goods and services.
“Also, returning an ineligible contribution is the correct response (p.20-21) should one be received. After discussing with the city and the province, I am convinced that there is no corporate donation being made to my campaign.
“I look forward to resolving the issue of the permit by-law soon.”
Nisan sees the error as minor and that the matter is now closed.
Related news story:
Gareth Williams wants Elections Clerk to investigate fund raising efforts by Rory Nisan
By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Arts and Culture Council of Burlington (ACCOB), in collaboration with the City of Burlington and the Art Gallery of Burlington, is presenting a celebration of the City’s rich artistic and multicultural tapestry at the Art Gallery of Burlington on Friday September 29th, 2019 from 6:30- 9 pm.
This free event, which is open to everyone young and old, will feature some of the city’s finest performing and visual artists in various spaces within the AGB.
True to the theme of the 2018 Culture Days, RHYTHM AND BEAT- an exploration of drumming and rhythm- the event will feature a number of examples of drumming from Indigenous, Asian and Caribbean groups within the city. In addition, the Gallery will be humming with a wide variety of musicians, dancers, singers, poets, choirs, orchestras, theatre and opera companies, as well as numerous visual artists from various genres.
This celebration marks the launch of Burlington’s Culture Days festivities, which will take place throughout the weekend of September 28th- 30th.
 Culture Days is a national initiative that was founded in 2010, that aims to raise awareness, provide accessibility and encourage participation and engagement in the arts and cultural life of the country. It is taking place in communities across Canada.
A variety of performances, workshops and demonstrations will take place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre throughout Saturday and Saturday. Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm, the Museums of Burlington will host Doors Open, a province-wide event that celebrates heritage sites, noteworthy buildings and places of interest through the City.
 Denise-Delilah McQuabbie was Miss Shawanaga First Nation. She will perform at the ACCOB Culture Days event at the Art Gallery A variety of special activities will be taking place in a number of these locations. All of these activities offer free admission.
The Arts and Culture Council of Burlington was incorporated in 2017 with the express purpose of increasing public understanding, knowledge and appreciation of arts and culture in Burlington and region; to be a catalyst to inspire, engage, connect and advocate on behalf of members of the artistic and cultural communities; and to promote and foster artistic and cultural development in the city.
More details about artists and performances on September 28th will follow shortly.
RHYTHM AND BEAT: BURLINGTON CULTURE DAYS LAUNCH
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2018
6:30- 9 PM
ART GALLERY OF BURLINGTON
1333 LAKESHORE ROAD, BURLINGTON
FREE ADMISSION
By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 3 Council Candidate Gareth Williams is requesting City of Burlington Election Clerks take action against possible campaign finance and fundraising rule violations by fellow candidate Rory Nisan.
On Sunday, September 9th, Nisan held an event advertised as a “Community BBQ,” at which his campaign sold tickets for a raffle lottery with the proceeds going to his campaign. According to several of Nisan’s own social media posts, the sum total of prizes were valued over $900, and he also mentioned some prizes were donated by local businesses.
 Table with raffle ticket sale incentives. The Gareth Williams campaign confirmed with the Clerk’s office in the days leading up to the event that a raffle was not a permitted fundraising activity for a candidate based Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulations, which are readily available online. Only charities or non-profits may hold raffle type events, and only when licensed by the City. A municipal campaign or candidate would not qualify. Williams notified the Clerks office of the advertisements for the event but the raffle went forward nonetheless. Attempts to follow up with the Clerk’s office on Monday were not successful. A complaint has also been filed with the AGCO.
 Ward 3 candidate Gareth wants a clean campaign. In addition, according to changes made last year to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, no candidate may accept contributions from businesses, only personal contributions from Ontario residents. Nisan posted multiple times to social media thanking businesses for their donations to his community BBQ raffle. Based on these posts, it seems that Mr. Nisan may have accepted corporate donations.
 Furthermore, according to testimony from witnesses, event organizers offered raffle tickets for selected prizes as an inducement for attendees agreeing to take a campaign lawn sign.
“It is the responsibility of candidates to inform themselves of and follow the rules that govern election campaigns. Other candidates in Ward 3 and throughout the City have successfully followed the rules, and Mr. Nisan appears to have either not learned the rules, or opted not to abide by them.” said Williams.
“The voters and other candidates of Ward 3 deserve a clean campaign, and Mr. Nisan owes them an explanation for his behaviour.”
Related news story:
Nisan regrets the fund raising error
 By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Colleen Mullholland, president of the Burlington Foundation, announced the appointment of Leena Sharma Seth as the Manager Grants and Donour Relations.
 Leena has been working to empower people and communities for over two decades. Passionate about creating strong and equitable communities, Leena has leveraged this passion in service for organizations that include Global Vision (Kuala Lumpur), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, and over the past five years with the Halton Poverty Roundtable. Leena is a trained community mediator and completed a Master’s in Conflict Analysis & Management at Royal Roads University in 2012.
Leena is a collective impact champion, having experienced its power to advance impact in her work at the Halton Poverty Roundtable. Leena looks forward to supporting her own community of Burlington as Burlington Foundation continues to grow and focuses on helping all those in need, today and for tomorrow.
Please take this opportunity to update your contact information. Leena can be reached at: lsharmaseth@burlingtonfoundation.org or at 905-639-0744 x221.
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 6 city council incumbent Blair Lancaster has said she is not going to take part in the ward level debate that is to take place on September 20th, at the theatre in the Hayden High school.
Lancaster bases part of her decision on the “exposing the alternative motives behind Engaged Citizens of Burlington – ECOB”, the group that organized the debates.
Further Lancaster refers to a photograph that has three people on one of the The Issue program which Lancaster claims “is clearly a bias when the host of the show ran against me in the past and the co-host ran against me in the past and is now running again against me. I will not be participating in a debate hosted and organized by such an obvious biased group of individuals.”
 From the left: Mark Carr, Angelo Bentivegna, Lisa Kerns and Jim Young. When ECoB became aware of Lancaster’s concerns they arranged for Deb Tymstra to serve as the moderator for the ward 6 debate. That apparently wasn’t enough for Lancaster,
Where is the bias?
There is still time for the council members to change their minds and be responsible and accountable to the people that elected them.
 Deb Tymstra will serve as the moderator for the ward 6 debate – replacing Mark Carr. All the ECoB people did was book the space, organization the event and keep everyone informed. The looked for a moderator who was experienced and had a strong, positive reputation in the community. Mark Carr is the host of The Issue, a weekly program aired on the Cogeco network
Cogeco has a license to operate a cable network that comes from the federal Canadian Radio and Telecommunication Committee.
These guys are about as above board as you can get.
 Mark Carr with Mayor Goldring doing a Cogeco broadcast from city council chamber. Mark Carr has a group of co-hosts that he rotates through. Angelo Bentivegna, who is running against Blair Lancaster.
Quite why Lancaster doesn’t want to participate in a debate intended for the people in her ward is difficult to understand.
What is most interesting is that the three incumbent members of the current city council have decided not to participate in the debates organized by a citizens group. And that is all ECoB did – organize the event.
In most civilized communities the elected would applaud a group of volunteers that put in the time, effort and energy to make the debates possible. It has not been an easy task.
 Blair Lancaster got serve as the Mayor’s deputy and chaired a council meeting. She kind of liked sitting there – she didn’t get to wear the chain of office. In 2010 when Blair Lancaster first ran for a seat on city council she was also a member of the group that wrote the Shape Burlington report. Should that have precluded her from running for public office?
When she was elected to city council she voted to approve and adopt the Shape Burlington report – then managed to forget everything in the document.
One of the prime recommendations was to encourage the development of community ward level organizations.
This city council consistently speaks of the need to engage the community – but when a community organization is created this city council does everything to shut them down.
What this city council likes is the citizen Advisory groups that they create, determine who will sit on the committee and then assign a council member to “guide” them.
Citizens have had enough.
 By Staff
September 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is that fall festival hymn:
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
 Loads of things for the younger ones to do. Burlington’s rural roots made farming a part of our DNA. The folks at Ireland House do an annual event that takes a stab at experiencing the tradition this Sunday, September 16, 11 am to 4 pm.
Meet baby farm animals (bunnies, goats, ducklings & chicks!)
Burlington Horticultural Society – make a fall floral arrangement in a mason jar
 The hay maze is a challenge – hopefully someone explains where the hay came from and what farmers do with it. Face painting
Children’s crafts
Fair-style games: can stacking, ring toss, horseshoes
Historic house tours and demonstrations
Hay maze
Pony rides
Vendors’ market
Main stage entertainment
Applefest Fall Fair is part of the Museums of Burlington program that takes place with the assistance of many volunteers.
Admission is FREE, courtesy of our sponsor, The Rocca Sisters Team.
Parking is available at MM Robinson High School, 2425 Upper Middle Road.
By Pepper Parr
September 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
So it has come to this.
One had hoped that he might go quietly into the night – but that is obviously not going to happen.
Councillor Rick Craven published a vitriolic screed about why he could not support Marianne Meed Ward as Mayor.
 Craven and Meed Ward couldn’t get further apart – bad blood between the two of them. There was never any doubt that he was not going to support her. The bad blood between the two of them was evident almost before Meed Ward became a council member.
For Craven to come out publicly against Meed Ward at this point in the campaign is very telling – Craven realizes that she has traction and that the incumbent Mayor is in serious trouble.
We have inserted our own editorial comments alongside what Craven wrote. This kind of cheap garbage cannot be left to stand without some comment.
In his Facebook comments Craven said:
Meed Ward for Mayor – I don’t think so.
There’s one fundamental fact about this election that I hope Burlington voters understand.
The mayor of Burlington has no power.
Under the rules set up by the Province we have what is known as a “weak mayor” system. The only power the mayor has is the power to call a meeting and the power to declare an emergency. That’s it! Everything else must negotiated with the other members of Council. This requires skill, diplomacy, care and compromise; traits that Marianne Meed Ward has failed to demonstrate.
Diplomacy, care and compromise are not exactly skill sets that Craven has demonstrated in the eight years the Gazette has watched him
Her inability to pass most of her major proposals is clear evidence that she has no interest in negotiating with her council colleagues. It’s all about her. She thinks she has all the answers and the rest of Council can simply go to hell.
Meed Ward supporters will argue that her routine 6-1 losses result from the fact that the rest of us simply don’t get it and that she is usually right and the rest of us are usually wrong.
Really?
The six other members of council are mostly wrong and Meed Ward mostly right? Surely the average Burlington voter knows that this is simply not probable.
Meed Ward supporters will tell you that the 6 to 1 losses are a badge of courage. I think they are a testament to failure. They are a testament to her inability to get along with others in authority.
So, Meed Ward can make all the promises she likes: promises that sound good and appeal to the disappointed, the angry and the worried in our City, but her record would suggest that she simply does not have the skill to get her agenda passed. She is too adversarial.
She is not a consensus builder.
I’m not the only one who believes this.
Columnist and former City Councillor Joan Little wrote “She’s smart, but not well liked by colleagues – a big minus at the mayor level”.
Joan also wrote “Meed Ward has a sharp mind and a lot to offer, but is disliked by many colleagues, and a mayor needs council support. For that reason she’d likely be ineffective.”
The Burlington Gazette wrote “One must admit that Meed Ward does run on – frequently. She has no friends on Council.”
Craven never recognizes the Gazette for what it is: a credentialed newspaper that is published on a web site. However, now that it serves his purpose, Craven quotes us.
Burlington once had a mayor who thought he was smarter than the rest of us and didn’t need to consider Council’s views. During his four years in office Cam Jackson caused a lot of problems at City Hall. Little was accomplished and 17 senior staff left the City taking decades of expertise with them. Today, we call the Cam Jackson term “the lost years”.
I have worked with Marianne Meed Ward for 8 years. I cannot support her for mayor. Today, I have outlined just one of the many reasons. We don’t need another Cam.
Rick Craven did not work with Marianne Meed Ward – he sat beside her and never missed a chance to belittle her, diminish her and disrespect her.
His personal behaviour to the woman was shameful. Much of what we know about that behaviour is confidential – we were asked to keep it confidential and will respect that request. We do want to add that Rick Craven has represented the city on the Police Services Board for the eight years we have been following him. Connect the dots.
Let us just leave it at that.
Craven said he: “Fully expects to be vilified for this in social media by Meed Ward supporters, but it can’t be helped. This election is too important. I cannot remain silent.” Indeed, when it comes to Meed Ward Rick Craven cannot remain silent. It is Craven at his worst which is unfortunate because during his time as the Councillor for Ward 1 he did a lot for the Aldershot community.
To sully his own reputation like this is disappointing.
Salt with Pepper are the opinions, reflections, observations and musings of the Gazette publisher.
By Staff
September 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There are people out there who are doing their darndest to scupper the candidate debates that ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington have organized in all six wards and a debate for those running for Mayor.
The three city council incumbents seeking re-election: Councillors Sharman, Dennison and Lancaster have said publicly that they will not be taking part in the debates – because they don’t see ECoB as credible.
We asked Engaged Citizens of Burlington ( ECoB). Who are you? What are the organization’s objectives, and what is the role you feel you play in Burlington?
These are the questions that some have been asking.
Here is the response we got:
Engaged Citizens of Burlington ( ECoB) was formed in November 2107 by a group of citizens who were concerned about the approval of the development application for a 24 storey condominium at 421 Brant Street. With donations received at that initial meeting we were able to incorporate as a not for profit.
 While the city talked about Engagement – a group of citizens formed an organization and invited others to take part. Close to 100 people showed up on a winter’s night to listen – and donated enough money to let them incorporate and organize election debates. ECoB , a totally volunteer organization, could not have accomplished anything without the continued help and guidance of loyal supporters.
The objects for which the corporation is incorporated are:
a) To advance the rights and interests of citizens of the City of Burlington, Ontario by engaging and informing those citizens in affairs which concern and affect them.
b) To enhance communications and access to information for citizens of the City of Burlington, Ontario by collecting and disseminating information on topics which concern and affect them.
c) To liaise with other non-profit community groups and associations, government and governmental agencies and organizations in encouraging citizens of the City of Burlington to participate in community decision-making.
The special provisions are:
The corporation shall be carried on without the purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the corporation shall be used in promoting its objects.
People who are leery about ECoB ask: why isn’t there information on their Facebook page?
The person who handles the Facebook page has been away.
The twitter account was suspended by ECoB when the password for the account was in the hands of a member of the Board who had resigned. That password is being recovered and our understanding is that ECoB will begin tweeting again soon.
ECoB’s : Accomplishments:
– Held public meetings to encourage public engagement.
 People interested in running for office attending an ECoB event. – Held a forum for residents considering running in the Municipal Election.
– Met with the Downtown BIA.
– Met with the Chamber of Commerce.
– Met with staff of the Planning Department, The Transit Department and some of the ward councilors to bring the issues of the residents with regard to intensification in the downtown core.
 People delegating at a city council meeting asked if staff could provide some kind of a drawing showing where these new high rise buildings were going to be located and how they measured up against what the city looks like now. Staff said they couldn’t do that – so the ECoB people made up a to scale model using Lego blocks. It was a creative solution to a simple, reasonable request. – Built to scale a 3D Lego Model to show the impact of the approved and proposed buildings on Brant/James Street.
– Held a rally at City Hall to show citizen support for not adopting a New Official Plan until crucial studies, i.e. transit, transportation had been completed.
– Delegated at City Hall.
The comments above came from ECoB – they are well aware of their shortcomings
ECoB’s Failures:
We failed to proceed with an appeal to LPAT with regard to the approved development of 421 Brant Street.
ECoB came to realize that citizen engagement has to start at the beginning of the application process not when a report is brought to Council to approve. Delegation should be the last avenue of engagement not the first.
Citizen Engagement in Burlington has been an issue for many years. In 2010 Shape Burlington, a committee that was headed up by John Boich and Walter Mulkewich brought forward a report to re-shape the way citizens interact with elected officials and staff. Unfortunately this report seems to have been put on a shelf and ignored.
ECoB takes the recommendations that came from Shape Burlington as a cornerstone for Citizen Engagement. The ward candidate debates were organized with that in mind. The purpose of these debates is to inform not to influence.
There are many residents of Burlington that are presently working diligently to help candidates with their campaigns who feel strongly about citizen engagement.
ECoB will be approaching them to join with the object of forming independent ward level advisory groups. These groups would work with staff not only when a planning application comes into the city, but also on an ongoing basis to provide a voice for the residents.
ECoB was formed to fulfill the promise that members of the current council has been talking about for the past eight years. Now that those members of Council have to “walk their talk” they have chosen to avoid having to stand before their constituents and be truly accountable and engaged.
The irony of all this is that two of the three; Lancaster and Sharman were members of the Shape Burlington committee.
Amazing.
Background:
The Shape Burlington Report.
By Jim Young
September 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
This is my Political Fridge Magnet.
 Political magnet on a fridge When I stick it on my fridge it tells my friends, family and anyone else raiding my fridge for stale pizza or a cold beer, who I support in the upcoming Burlington Election.
As is my right in our democracy, I also hope it helps persuade my fridge raiders to support my candidate too.
It is after all a “Political Fridge Magnet”
 Political magnet on a car This was my Political Fridge Magnet when I stuck it on my Car.
My hope was that, without distracting other road users, I might inform and persuade them to support my candidate too.
That’s how our democracy works right?
Wrong!
According to Burlington Elections Office, when I stick my political fridge magnet on my car, it becomes an election sign and since election signs on cars are limited to one per candidate, my fridge magnet becomes illegal.
Bylaw Staff are interpreting “one per candidate” to mean “one per campaign”.
This seems ridiculous, we do not limit candidates to one lawn sign per campaign.
Also, I am not a candidate so the limit for “candidates” should not apply to me.
Based on this overreaching interpretation, I am not allowed to let my fellow Burlingtonians know how I will vote or to encourage their participation in the election by using my fridge magnet on my car.
It cannot be the size of the sign that offends nor the content.
After September 8th, people will be allowed to put much larger signs on their lawns that will say exactly the same thing.
Many citizens will do this in favour of their favourite candidate.
That is one of the fun, informative and engaging features of our democracy.
Except I don’t have a lawn. I live in an apartment.
If I was wealthy enough to own a house, I could have a lawn sign 100 times bigger than my fridge magnet but the poor fridge magnet on my car would still be deemed illegal.
This is my Political Fridge Magnet on my car when I stick some really ugly masking tape on it to hide the word Mayor.
Apparently that makes it legal and in compliance with Election Sign and Election Car Magnet rules.
I’m going to leave it on my car like that and I won’t tell anyone it says “Mayor” under there if you don’t.
(Rumour has it that the folks at MMW’s campaign office have colour coordinated tape for just this purpose.)
This degree of bureaucratic nonsense makes my head spin and while it easy to make fun of, it begs answers to the following:
1. Does our city really pay an electoral officer to monitor fridge magnets?
2. Does a bylaw allowing election signs on lawns, and nowhere else, discriminate against those who do not have lawns? Those without lawns tend to be the poor, the marginalised, the young, the elderly and the less abled who cannot afford a home with an expanse of lawn. (On a truly silly note, but no sillier than the bylaw, what if economic circumstances force me to live in my car? Can I call my hood my lawn and stick my fridge magnet there? Just asking.)
3. On a deeper level: This is an infringement upon my freedom of speech, freedom of political thought and my freedom to express that thought? Surely that runs counter to the whole purpose of elections in a free and open society.
4. This is the kind of silencing of citizen voices we saw in this council’s attempt to reduce citizen delegation time last year, and the insistence, despite all evidence, that we were fully consulted on major issues like The Official Plan and Downtown Intensification, that are giving rise to citizen groups demanding better from our city council and the number of candidates vying to replace them.
 Jim Young is an Aldershot resident who delegates before city council frequently.
By Staff
September 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The reception for the Fourth Biennial Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fibre Art took place at the Art Gallery of Burlington Sunday afternoon.
 Ode to Lavallèe: Artist: Art KWilt Connections: Illene Atkins, Dorothy Holdenmeyer, Marg Notar, Judy Pearce, and Nancy Winn. The AGB has developed a reputation for showing this art form – this year they did themselves proud. There is some very very fine work on the walls of the Michael Lee Chin gallery.
The exhibition is on until the 16th of September – admission is free. Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
There is a second Artist Talks on the 15th. More information on the talk – call the AGB 905-632-7796
The event showcases 90 works by 60 artists from across Ontario, in fabric, paper, yarn, thread and mixed media materials. The goal of the Fibre Art community is to raise the profile, awareness and acceptance of Fibre Art as a true art form.
 Corrosion – Artist: Mary Pal Fibre is an art form that has come into its own – it was seen as a craft that grew into an art form that is popular with a growing audience.
It is the kind of thing you have to see and spend time looking at to fully appreciate.
Several of the pieces on display are quite stunning.
Well worth the time – allow yourself a couple of hours – you might find yourself thinking in terms of something you would want to put on your walls.
 Sunset Over the Village – Artist: Chris Liszak
By Staff
September 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The calendar for drop-in recreation activities is experiencing difficulties.
To ensure you have accurate information, please use the online Live and Play catalogue until further notice.
 Log in and use the browse and register service – Drop in service isn’t fully operational. A number of people have complained about using the on line service, saying it is quite difficult – we are following up on this.
By Staff
September 09-2018
BURLINGTON, ON
A little bit more on that polling that was being done by Campaign Research. The Gazette learned that Campaign Research was doing the election survey for another “marketing agency”. The Gazette also learned that KG&A had taken on Reserve Properties as a client.
Reserve Properties is the developer appealing the decision to limit to height of a property at the SE corner of Brant and James to 17 storeys. The election survey was asking Burlington residents their view on the municipal election and then, apparently, focusing on a particular candidate who most of the people we have heard from, say was Marianne Meed Ward who is running for the Office of Mayor.
City Clerk Angela Morgan advised a Gazette reader that she is the Returning Officer for the municipal election and when she learned about the polling she did the following.
I have received a number of complaints regarding a poll conducted by Campaign Research, specifically the content of the questions included in the survey and if the survey would be considered third party advertising. I have investigated this complaint including: contacting Campaign Research to receive a copy of the survey, review of the legislation, canvassing other Municipal Clerks to determine how they are handling similar polls in their municipalities and discussion with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
 City Clerk Angela Morgan certifying the 2010 election results. As the Returning Officer for the City of Burlington, my authority comes from the Municipal Elections Act, which does not include any regulations concerning tactics or content of materials used in any election campaign.
With respect to the question of third party advertisement, based on my research, I have determined that this poll is not third party advertising as defined by the Municipal Elections Act for the following reasons:
The Act defines Third Party Advertisement as follows:
“third party advertisement” means an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing,
(a) A candidate, or
(b) A yes or no answer to a question referred to in subsection 8(1), (2) or (3)
But does not include an advertisement by or under the direction of a candidate or an advertisement described in subsection (2) or (2.1)
The first test is whether a poll would be considered as a form of advertisement – as the definition of third party advertisement begins with “an advertisement in any…”, the Act does not include a definition of advertisement, consequently, I must rely on the standard definition included in Merriam-Webster dictionary which reads as follows:
A public notice; especially: one published in the press or broadcast over the air
A poll or survey does not fall into the above definition of an advertisement as a “public notice”.
In addition, the copy of the survey I received did not include any reference to specifically oppose, support or promote a specific candidate. I understand that a “push” poll has the intention of swaying respondents in a specific direction, I have consulted on this matter with the Ministry and it is their view that if the questions did not include the name of a specific candidate they would not be considered to be opposing, supporting or promoting a candidate.
The reader the Returning Officer was responding to added: “Wow what a bureaucratic response. Nowhere in my complaint did I mention “third party advertisement”. I will have to think for a while on this response.
So – there you have it. The Returning Officer has done everything she feels she is able to do.
Related news stories:
Follow the dots
Who did it?
By Staff
September 9, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
How, asked an east Burlingtonian, do we expose the fake news and misinformation that is coming out of the “Burlington News” Facebook page?
Burlington News began to appear about six months ago. All they have is a Facebook page that they make comments on and then allow others to make comments on the comments.
The Burlington News Facebook page carries a lot material that comes from Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman and is said to be used by Councillor Lancaster to support some of the positions she takes.
The Burlington News also uses original photographs taken by Gazette photographers. When we can find out who they are and where they are, we have a nice plump invoice we want to send along to them. No one seems to know who they are.
The Gazette has an IP address for them and when there is time we will trace that and find out just who these scallywags are. Transparent they are not.
Our reader maintains that the Burlington News “focuses only on what they dislike about ECoB (Engaged Citizens of Burlington) and attempts to defame ECoB by spreading misinformation.
“It is Trumpian fake news at its most obvious.
 Councillor Blair Lancaster. “Blair Lancaster has also been using it as a means to post her public position, which again is anti ECoB. “
Lancaster took the ridiculous position of finding Mark Carr, the moderator for the ECoB debates as being biased because he interviewed some of the former ECoB Board members on the Cogeco program he hosts and was aided by Angelo Bentivegna, who ran against Blair in the 2014 election.
Bentivegna did come second in the 2014 election for the ward 6 seat; she may be feeling the wind blowing around her ankles.
How, asked an east Burlingtonian, do we expose this fake news and misinformation that is coming out of the “Burlington News” Facebook page?
 Councillor Sharman wants to know who are the people who run ECoB. He doesn’t ask who runs Burlington News – and why is that? 
It would appear that Lancaster doesn’t want anyone who is seeking her seat on Council to get any kind of air time or other forms of media coverage while she has gotten reams of coverage in other media paid for by the city.
 Angelo Bentivegna – a candidate for the ward 6 city council seat. Lancaster think Bentivegna being part of the hosting team makes Mark Carr unacceptable as a moderator and demanded that ECoB find someone else as moderator.
Politics does strange things to people – or put a different way – people who might be about to lose their status as elected officials say and do strange things when that status is threatened.
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