 By Staff
October 30th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There is no better news source than a citizen who has a vested interest in an issue – they are like a dog with a bone – they don’t stop chewing.
Parents from the Lester B. Pearson high school have been following events at the Halton District School Board very carefully – they think they have figured out what the Board is up to with the decision to close their community school.
On Wednesday October 18th, Stuart Miller, Director of Education was asked by Ward 4 trustee Amy Collard if he would expand on an article published by the Gazette in which we said the school board was well along with its thinking about how they would build a new administrative Centre.
A resident wrote us saying: “I watched with interest the Halton District School Board (HDSB) Trustee meeting of Wednesday Oct. 18, 2017 and in particular the question asked by Trustee Amy Collard to the HDSB Director of Education. Below are the question by trustee Collard and edited responses by Director Miller, Superintendent Veerman and Superintendent Cullen.
 Ward 5 trustee Amy Collard glares at the Director of Education Stuart Miller during a very contentious debate. Trustee Amy Collard questions: “… there was an article published two weeks ago, perhaps a little more than that, about the new administration building. And I was wondering if I could get some more information about how far we are along with this process and where the funding for that building comes from. Because there seems to be some concern that the funding comes from areas where the students might benefit from and if there will be any type of community consultation … and just what the steps are going forward and when we anticipate seeing the next report on this?”
In several of the paragraphs that follow the writer has kept the pauses that were part of the answer.
 Director of Education Miller responds: “… I read the article as well … and there is … ah … it is not … there are inaccuracies in it. Ah … we are prohibited from taking money that would be for student use …ah … prohibited from using proceeds of disposition … all those things to use for an admin. Centre. We can’t use any of these funds to build an education admin center.”
 Superintendent Lucy Veerman Superintendent Veerman states: “… any funding for new buildings would have to come from the sale of existing higher administrative buildings or anything that is not school related.”
Superintendent Cullen states: “… the … ah … status of that … as you recall we have been working on the original outline scope plan … in … in … broad-brush strokes around me. Some of the comments in the article … ah … again were inaccurate around the need for a … ah … new building in terms of the population of the staff currently and in the future. And that again was all outlined in the staff report not the article referred to.”
Trustee Collard asks a follow up question: “Is it perhaps … um … prudent to communicate as to the community that how such a building would be funded and perhaps engage the community a little bit on this?”
Director Miller replies: “… we discussed that and we suggested it is probably not prudent … um … at this point, … because I think it just … it stays out there for a longer period of time and I think … ah … we end up in debates about it … and so …”.
“I have attached a link – you can follow the conversation. might see the responses.”
Our writer adds: “Here is an interesting inaccuracy that ought to be pointed out:
“The questions by Trustee Collard to Director Miller and responses shown above are not reported, summarized or mentioned in the Trustee Questions and Comments 5.8 section of the Oct. 18th , 2017 Minutes of the Halton School Board Trustees meeting.
“Was the article Trustee Collard refers to “being published 2 weeks ago or perhaps before that” from the Burlington Gazette published on October 7th, 2017 and titled “Is there a link between the closing of two Burlington high schools and the plans for a new administration office?”
“The Oct. 7th article for the most part quotes the Halton District School Board: Accommodation Study for Long Term Administrative Office Needs which can be found appended to Feb. 17, 2016, Board Agenda and Minutes on Pages 61 through 91 (assigned HDSB Report 16038 dated January 29, 2016).
“I believe the only inaccuracy was the typographical error of the date of the HDSB meeting minutes of February 2017 instead of February 2016.
“I am surprised, that Director Miller mentioned “… I read the article as well … and there is … ah … it is not … there are inaccuracies in it.” Typically when inaccuracies are mentioned the inaccuracy is identified. However, it makes me wonder due to the speech pattern and stumbling of Director Miller whether the inaccuracies occurred at all or if this was an attempt to discredit without evidence the article? The same applies to Superintendent Cullen … “Some of the comments in the article … ah … again were inaccurate around the need for a … ah … new building …”.
“The article to which Trustee Collard referred did not state where the money was coming from so again, I wonder why amount of concern by the Director and staff other than answering Trustee Collard’s question?
“Remember: all the HDSB money comes originally from the taxpayer and therefore all assets belong to the taxpayer.
“Is this an attempt to deflect from the chutzpah (unmitigated gall or audacity are other terms that could be used to describe the spin the Director tried to put on this matter) of closing two Burlington high schools, then building a $29.6 Million administrative facility and stating “This is not a question of quantity of space, but rather of quality of space.” and “… and in turn, create a facility that reflects the Board’s values, resulting in the delivery of the highest quality education for the Board’s students.”
Those Pearson parents are like a dog with a bone – they don’t stop chewing.
Article on the Board of Education thinking about a new administrative building.
By Pepper Parr
October 30th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a little like closing the barn door with the horses already out and on the run but “better late than never” is perhaps an appropriate phrase to describe the provincial government decision to take another look at the way the decision to close schools are made.
In a media release the Ministry of Education said it was committed to revising its Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG) and Community Planning and Partnerships Guideline (CPPG).
“We heard that there is a need to strengthen the pupil accommodation review process for all school boards and to better encourage joint responsibility for integrated community planning across Ontario” said Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education..
“Through this process, we will make certain that:
 The Halton District School Board set out utilization numbers in their initial report that many parents looked questioned. The Ministry wants to see better information made available to the public. “We are placing an emphasis on open and effective communication and partnership between school boards and communities;
“Decisions about the future of our schools consider a range of community and student impacts; and that Boards work collaboratively to consider joint-use solutions where possible.”
The Ministry statement pertained to both Pupil Accommodation Review and Guideline Community Planning and Partnerships Guidelines; this report will focus on just the Pupil Accommodation Review and the decision-making around school closures.
The ministry’s proposed revisions to the PAR aim to create a stronger, more collaborative process that better promotes student achievement and well-being and better recognizes the impact of school closures. The ministry proposes to achieve this by considering the elements.
 Public meeting participants responding to questions that we put on on a screen – Many felt that the questions were skewed from the get go and they began to mistrust the Board from the very first meting. Revising Pupil Accommodation Review (PAR) timeframes:
Extending the current minimum PAR timeframe beyond five months;
Eliminating the minimum modified PAR timeframe of three months; and/or
Further extending time-frames under specific circumstances, such as if new closure recommendations are added mid-way through the accommodation review process.
 Superintendent of Facilities Gerry Cullen provided data that he admittedly found confusing – it was the best they could do at the time – the Ministry appears to be suggesting that school boards will have to do better. Introducing minimum requirements for the initial staff report by requiring school boards to include:
At least three accommodation options (a recommended option, an alternative option and a status quo option).
Information on how accommodation options will impact:
School board budget;
Student programming /achievement;
Student well-being; and
Community and/or economic impact.
Promoting community input in the PAR processes by requiring:
School boards to invite elected municipal representatives and municipal staff to a meeting to discuss the initial staff report;
School boards to disclose municipal participation / non-participation in PAR and Community Planning and Partnership (CPP) processes;
A broader role for trustees throughout the PAR process, beyond ad hoc membership of Accommodation Review Committees, hearing public delegations and making the final decision; and
A participatory role for secondary student representatives in PARs involving secondary schools.
Reforming the PAR administrative review process by:
Extending the time frame to submit an administrative review petition from 30 to 60 calendar days; and
Reviewing the signature thresholds and requirements for launching an administrative review request.
Developing ministry supports, such as:
A PAR toolkit to standardize type and format of initial staff report information;
A template for use by community partners to engage boards with proposed alternatives to school closures or other proposals for community use of schools; and
New support for the review and validation of initial staff report information and community proposals by independent third parties.
The public consultation on revising the Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline will be conducted in two phases:
Phase 1: Discussion Questions
The first phase of the consultation will focus on collecting feedback on the areas of change listed above, as well as other proposed changes to the PARG. This phase will run from October 12, to December 6, 2017.
Phase 2: Revisions and Editing
In January 2018, the ministry will post a draft of the revised pupil accommodation review guideline and community planning and partnerships guideline for further public feedback.
This draft will be informed by what we heard during Phase 1. The ministry will also post a summary of all Phase 1 feedback.
The Ministry is asking the public for input:
Do you think the ministry’s proposed revisions to the PARG will create a stronger, more collaborative process?
If not, why? Are there other elements the ministry should consider?
If yes, do you have suggested improvements or comments on the elements being proposed?
Do you think the above measures to support improved coordination of community infrastructure planning will work to promote sustainable use of school space in communities?
If not, why? Are there other elements the ministry should consider?
If yes, do you have suggested improvements or comments on the elements being proposed?
When making decisions about school infrastructure within communities, what measures could be conducive to fostering collaboration and cooperation between municipalities and school boards?
 Several of the public meetings were packed – there were city council members at the meetings – there was a public that wanted information. They don’t feel they got what they were entitled to. To submit your thoughts and ideas on revising the PARG please send your feedback with the subject line “Revising the PARG and CPPG” to information.met@ontario.ca.
These are very wide ranging proposed changes. Had they been place in October of 2016 when the Halton District School Board announced it was going to hold a PAR would the outcome have been any different?
The public would certainly have had much better information. The Gazette works from the assumption that an informed public can make informed decisions.
 By Staff
October 30, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Digital marketing is more than a buzzword, but it’s also not a replacement for your traditional marketing efforts.
It’s a new approach that’s disrupting the industry by changing how you connect with your customers.
 Something is brewing between the city and the University campus on the South Service Road. Mayor wasn’t ready to let that cat out of the bag this morning. The McMaster University DeGroote School of Business is putting on a presentation that will take place at the Ron Joyce Centre on Friday, December 1.
The panel of experts will be discussing and answering questions on topics such as:
Practical tips for using digital marketing strategically.
How to stay competitive in a digital economy.
The integration of traditional and digital marketing.
How to position and prepare content for multiple platforms.
How to build an authentic brand.
The challenges of managing digital properties.
Click HERE to register – $35 – includes lunch
The event is open to alumni, business community members, and students.
 By Pepper Parr
October 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Kelly Childs opened up a cup cake shop on Brant Street in 2013
With exceptional marketing skills she managed to turn it into a destination that frequently has people lined up outside to get in.
 Kellys Bake Shop serves as a back drop for a display of antique automobiles on Brant Street. Childs says she gets thousands of customers a week and has had people fly to Burlington from Buffalo to savour her cupcakes.
 Her operation was seen as a local success story that grew beyond Burlington and included an upscale cupcake recipe book that was as much a coffee table item as it was a cook book for the gluten free people.
The first few years of operations were great – the name Kellys was splashed on the side of buses; Child used social media to great advantage – there was hardly a promotional angle that she didn’t find a way to use. The cookbook, interest from financial interests in Dubai was talked about – the only thing that wasn’t mentioned was plans to franchise the operation.
Childs was one of those serial entrepreneurs who always has something on the go.
 Kelly Childs addressing a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Right now she has what one can only call a crisis in front of her. The owner of the property she rents has sold the building to a developer who wants to have shovels in the ground within the next 24 months – even though there is not as yet an application before the Planning department that is public.
The block on the east side of Brant from James Street to the Brant Street parking lot opposite the Queen’s Head has been bought by Reserve Properties.
Burlington has become a hot spot for developers who seem prepared to put a high rise wherever they can assemble enough land. Brant Street, John Street and Lakeshore Road are ripe for the pickings.
Which creates a problem for Childs – she has nowhere to go.
Her lease was for five years but she is apparently going to have that lease bought out from under her.
“There is very little in the way of commercial space available in the downtown core” she explains. “What there is, is owned by the developers and you can’t get much more than a five year lease.”
Childs is far from a quitter but brick walls tend to be difficult to get over. She will be meeting with the Mayor, talking to the people at the Economic Development Corporation.
Childs will tell you that there will be street level space in the new buildings going up but she adds “they want twice what I am currently paying in rent.”
Childs is thinking through the options that might be open to her and is going public and asking people if they know of a location in the downtown core that she can move into in the next 24 months.
The issue that Child faces is one that every retailer that doesn’t own their premises faces – there just isn’t the commercial – retail property that is needed.
 The Brant Street public parking lot is undergoing an upgrade to accommodate the Elgin Street Promenade that will skirt the building. The location is basically ground zero for the Downtown Mobility Hub. Why do this work now when the city knows that the block is going to be redeveloped soon soon? And for those that who do own the property they are located in – the prices that are being offered by the developers are at times too good to take a pass on.
Childs would like to find something with 25 to 26 thousand square feet – what she is seeing in front of her is a location that would amount to 8000 square feet which she doesn’t feel will meet her needs.
“I’m thinking of creating a petition said Child but she wasn’t clear on who the petition would be addressed to and what it would achieve.
Someone is a going to have to do some serious in-depth thinking to find a way to maintain a vibrant retail life in the downtown core.
Previous article
 By Staff
October 30, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A group of voters that are going to be vital to Premier Kathleen Wynne if she wants to be re-elected as Premier next June heard her say today that she “had the opportunity to hear directly from workers about the changes we’re making with the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act.
 As the bill returns to committee today, it was important to me to hear the voices of some of the millions of people who will be impacted by these changes. What I heard was similar to what I’ve been hearing from people in every corner of the province — it is time for action.
“The economy has changed. People are working harder than ever, but they just can’t get ahead. Parents are worried about whether they can pay for their child’s university or college tuition, or how they’ll afford retirement. Many are struggling to put food on the table and keep up with their bills. In a province like Ontario, where our economy is growing and unemployment is at a 17-year low, this is not fair and not acceptable. The system needs to work better and be fairer to the growing number of people who are put on contract, who are working part-time or who are among the nearly 30 percent of workers earning less than $15 an hour. Ontario can and must do better.
“The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act is about building the kind of province where anyone who works full time is able to buy groceries, make rent and care for their family. It is about cracking down on businesses that take advantage of part-time workers by paying them less and denying them benefits.
 We didn’t pay her even the minimum wage but Burlington did return a Liberal to the Legislature for which she has been eternally grateful. On January 12018 the province is increasing the minimum wage to $14 an hour, and then increasing it to $15 an hour one year later. They will make it illegal to pay part-time or contract workers less than full-time workers for doing the same work.
They will introducing paid sick days for every worker, stepping up enforcement of employment laws and giving workers at least three weeks’ vacation after five years with the same employer. The government will also make employee scheduling fairer and expanding personal emergency leave so all employees receive at least 10 days per year, including two days of paid leave.
Is all this enough to bring in a demographic that tends not to bother with elections? Kathleen Wynne certainly hopes so.
Goodings on minimum wage
By Pepper Parr
October 30th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District school board sent the Minister of Education what can only be seen as a pretty direct set of statements on the way they see an Administrative Review of decisions they made being handled.
The decision the Board of Education made last June was something parents could ask to have reviewed. Any review however was limited to the process the board followed and not the actual decision made by the trustees.
 Bateman high school parents and students protesting the decision to close their school. Parents from both the Lester B. Pearson high school and the Robert Bateman high school filed requests for Administrative Reviews. Of the twelve school groups across the province only the two in Burlington had review requests that were granted.
Read it all for yourself. The letter is the Board’s response to the request for an Administrative Review made by both the Pearson high and and Bateman high school parent groups.
We are writing in response to the request received on July 6, 2017, for an administrative review of the program and accommodation review (“PARN) process undertaken for the secondary schools located in the City of Burlington which resulted in a resolution of the Halton District School Board (“HDSB”) to close Lester B.Pearson High School effective June 30, 2018.
HDSB staff were able to verify that 194 of 213 supporters who signed the petition are parents of students from the Lester B. Pearson High School community or participated in the program and accommodation review process. This represents approximately 49% of the June 30, 2017 headcount (397).
 The PAR was initiated on October 19, 2016, with the Director’s Preliminary Report being presented to the Board of Trustees at a regular Board meeting On June 7, 2017. Approximately eight months
later, trustees approved motions regarding the Burlington Secondary Schools PAR, which included the closure of Lester B. Pearson High School effective June 30, 2018.
At the outset we believe it is important to establish the parameters and ground rules of a Ministry administrative review of the HDSB’s decision to close Lester B. Pearson High School. The purpose of an administrative review is to allow an objector to challenge a school board’s decision to close an operating school on the sole ground that the board’s conduct of a PAR did not comply with the board’s PAR policy.
 School Board trustees voting to close two of Burlington’s seven high schools. In the context of an administrative review, it is not open to a complainant to challenge the merits or reasonableness of a decision to close or not close a particular school. The trustees of a school board are elected to make those difficult policy decisions and the Ministry should not interfere with the proper exercise of a board’s discretion to use that power, which is granted under Section 171{1), paragraph 7 of the Education Act. Rather, the scope of a Ministry administrative review is limited to challenging a board’s decision to close a school on the narrow ground that the school board did not follow its PAR policy in undertaking the PAR process.
The merits of the HDSB’s decision to close Lester B. Pearson High School is beyond the ambit of a Ministry administrative review. The focus of this exercise is not whether the decision to close Lester B. Pearson High School was reasonable or financially prudent. Instead, the Ministry’s inquiry should be directed to the issue of whether the Board generally complied with the PAR policy in arriving at the decision to close the school. In order to succeed on this application for an administrative review, the complainant must establish a compelling case that (i} there was non-compliance with the PAR policy and (ii) the non-compliance was material such that the Board would likely have reached a different decision.
It is instructive to review the Board’s statutory authority to close a school. Section 171(1), paragraph 7 of the Education Act reads as follows:
171 (1) A board may,
“… determine the number and kind of schools to be established and maintained and the attendance area for each school, and close schools in accordance with policies established by the board from guidelines issued by the Minister. “
It is clear from this provision that the organization and conduct of a PAR is to be based on a Board policy that is derived from a Ministry guideline. It is a policy based on a guideline. Strict adherence to such a policy is thus not required given the very nature of policies and guidelines, which are considered general rules and flexible. Strict adherence would be required, however, if a PAR were governed by the provisions of the Education Act or a regulation made under that legislation. It is therefore sufficient if the process undertaken for Robert Bateman High School maintained the spirit and intent of the Board’s PAR policy. We are confident that the PAR process in this case more than satisfies that standard.
The arguments raised by the complainant, although framed as process related challenges, are in substance debating the merits of the Board’s decision.
The Board of Education provided a detailed response to the complaint filed by each parents group. They are extensive and will be set out in a seperate news report.
 By Staff
October 29th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Youth Soccer Club (BYSC) is hosting its annual gala, Volunteer Appreciation & Awards Night, to honour the achievements of its players and coaches, and to celebrate the contributions of its volunteers. This event takes place Wednesday, November 1st from 6:00 – 9:00 pm and will be hosted by event sponsor, and BYSC Partner, Atrium Banquet and Conference Centre.
 Soccer has thousands playing the game. At the Volunteer Appreciation & Awards Night, the BYSC will be presenting the following awards to the nominated recipients, including:
Referee of the Year (Youth),
Referee of the Year (Adult), Keith Grant
Referee of the Year, John De Benedictis (Recreational)
Coaching Award,
Volunteer of the Year,
Young Volunteer of the Year,
Competitive Coach of the Year,
Male Competitive Player of the Year,
Female Competitive Player of the Year,
Harry Newman (Competitive) Team of the Year,
and the Melanie Booth Award.
 During a car fee Sunday on Brant the pavement didn’t seem to be a problem. Get a dozen kids and a soccer ball plus two nets and you’ve got a game. The Melanie Booth award is named after former BYSC player and National Team/ Olympic Bronze Medalist Melanie Booth, and is awarded to a player with successes at the National Level.
Honoured guests expected include Melanie Booth, Ron Smale (President of Ontario Soccer), and Steven Caldwell (Toronto FC),
For information about BYSC events or programs, visit www.burlingtonsoccer.com or call 905-333-0777.
By Staff
October 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Prime Minister was in town.
He spent a couple of hours at the YMCA meeting with people who are taking part in a YMCA Employment Services program and then making an announcement that has national implications.
Burlington is now a Liberal friendly city and the crowds were adoring.
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being greeted at the Burlington YMCA These Prime Ministerial tours are major productions with support teams that that amount to more than 25 people.
Security is thick – but not obtrusive.
For the first time in my experience I saw RCMP officers carrying rifles in special back backs that don’t give away what is inside them – these men are sharp shooters.
Easily ten plain clothes police – they are ranked by how close they can get to the Prime Minister. Each wear a button – a pin in their lapel – red ones mean they get close – they surround the PM – you have to get past them to get near the PM. The black ones are at the rear of the room.
There is always one, usually a nervous looking young man standing right beside the PM. It is a well-orchestrated event.
The first part of the visit had the Prime Minister in the lower level of the YMCA talking one on one with people taking part in the YMCA Employment Services program
As structured as the event itself was the Prime Minister didn’t seem to be WORD – he walked into the room – no one said a word – there was no applause. He was greeted by the head of the YMCA and asked a few questions and then began talking to the dozen or so people who were enrolled in the Employment Services program. Each was sitting in front of a computer monitor so the Prime Minister dropped to a squat and was able to talk directly – eye to eye to each person.
 He spent a good fifteen minutes going from person to person – asking what they were looking for in the way of work and the kind of help they were getting.
It was quiet – the only thing that made it a bit unreal was the dozens of photographers and television camera operators hovering.
There was no grandstanding on the part of the PM – he was just in the room talking to people. His communications support people – there were easily six – maybe eight of them – were everywhere paying attention to the details – there had to be a glass of water at the podium and it had to be in a clear glass. .
When all the students had been talked to the PM said a few words and headed for another room where there was a group of about 75 people, all invited, in a room that had Canadian Flags and a backdrop of Canadian flags and a podium for the Prime Minister to speak from.
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meeting and greeting at the Burlington YMCA Television cameras from every network in the country were lined up. The PM announced a 2019 federal investment of $500 million toward the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB).
Trudeau also announced a 2019 federal investment of $500 million toward the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB). The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) will help those folks who are working hard to make ends meet and who are still struggling at the lower end of the income scale.”
With the speeches done the Prime Minister chatted with the invited guests then headed into the foyer of the YMCA where there were close to 100 people waiting to see him. Babies were held up for a Prime Ministerial kiss – two that we saw – and then out into the street where vehicles were waiting.
To ensure that this was a truly Burlington event there was one lone protester holding up a Save Bateman sign.
 By Staff
October 28th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Toronto Dominion Bank on Brant Street at Caroline was robbed this afternoon when a lone male suspect entered the bank at 12:40 pm and approached the teller.
The suspect provided a note demanding cash and indicated he had a weapon. The teller complied with his request and an undisclosed amount of cash was provided to the suspect.
The suspect fled the bank and was last observed running westbound on Eileen Drive.
No weapon was observed during the robbery, nor was anyone injured.
The suspect is described as:
• Male white
• 35-40 years old
• No facial hair
• 5’8″ to 5’9″ tall
• Medium build 170-185 Ibs
• Black touque
• Yellow and black rain jacket
• Blue jeans
• Black running shoes with white trim
Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Detective Phil Vandenbeukel of Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Robbery Team at 905-825-4747 ext 2343. Tips can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers; “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.crimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
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By Staff
October 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service began releasing the names of those who have been charged with the offence of driving while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.
A number of Gazette readers took offence to this information being made public arguing that a person arrested for driving while DUI is not guilty until found guilty by a Judge.
 Charges being written up. When asked an HRPS spokesperson said: “The decision to release the names of those charged with DUI offences was not made lightly by the Halton Regional Police Service.”
While the number of charges laid nationally is getting smaller “ impaired driving still remains one of the most frequent criminal offences and is among the leading criminal causes of death in Canada. In addition, while alcohol-impaired driving is down over the past several decades, drug-impaired driving is on the rise”.
“In an effort to bring more attention to the risk of driving while impaired, assist in identifying witnesses, and reduce continued offences, the Service will continue to issue a media release publishing the name, age and municipality of motorists charged with impaired driving.”
The Police Services Act permits this disclosure for individuals charged with a Criminal Offence.
Related news stories:
Two arrested for driving while under the influence
Region police now releasing names
 By Ray Rivers
October 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
If Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals are not re-elected come the provincial election next year, it will partly be because of how the Liberals have managed and mismanaged the energy file. True enough there has never been a power blackout or even a brownout over their period of governance – as there had been regularly during the previous Harris/Eves government. But the price of electricity had been dramatically rising, at least until this past summer when it tumbled by a whopping 25%.
There are a number of reasons that account for why our hydro bills had been rising:
1. Neglected maintenance – During the Rae and Harris years electricity infrastructure, transmission in particular, had been sacrificed resulting in brown and black outs;
2. Privatization – New generation, whether renewable or conventional energy required long term contracts with fixed prices and guaranteed purchases;
3. Labour Costs – The utilities’ employees are among the best paid in the province, senior executives with Ontario Power Generator (OPG) and Hydro One in particular; and
4. Waste – Most memorable is the billion or so spent to cancel new gas plants still under construction, allegedly to save electoral seats in the GTA.
 Maintaining the system has not always been the top priority – we end up paying for it eventually. For a generation Ontario Hydro had typically debt-financed its operations, even before the Davis government. In fact when Mike Harris dissolved Ontario Hydro at the turn of the millennium he discovered an accumulated debt load of almost $40 billion, some $20 billion greater than the value of all of the utilities’ then current assets.
This stranded debt had been placed on our utility bills until more recently when the Liberal government eliminated it.
As rates started rising over the McGuinty/Wynne years, lower income families complained about how they couldn’t afford to pay their hydro bills, some businesses threatened to move out of the province, and even the left wing media were doing an almost daily grind on electricity prices. So early this spring the Premier responded to the criticism by taking out a mortgage, the way someone looking to renovate their house might do. She is using the borrowed money to cut electricity bills for small business and residential customers by 25%.
In a way it’s just turning the clock back. And it’s fair game for opposition politicians to call this a political pre-election move. It sure looks that way – trying to win votes by lowering hydro bills today and paying the piper tomorrow. It’s OK for the political parties to do that – call her out – but not Ontario’s Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk who is supposed to be an independent officer of the legislative assembly. Instead she is acting like the king-maker James Comey did in the last US election.
The nub of her report is that it would have been less costly to finance the 25% rate cut by adding to the provincial debt rather than piling it onto OPG and its financing agency, because Ontario’s credit rating is better than OPG’s and the interest rate is lower. She is right to point that out but not to assign motive on behalf of the government – that is my job and the job of the opposition parties. And the government would likely respond that the debt should go to the rate payers rather than the general public – something she fails to note.
 Former Premier Mike Harris was no friend of a “Best in the Business” hydro system. The Ontario AG delivered another scathing report almost two years ago in which she decried the use of long-term fixed-price electricity supply contracts, but failed to offer any alternative as to how the system would work otherwise. It has been the provincial policy since the time of Mike Harris to bring on new energy sources through the private sector using long term supply contracts. And the private sector needs the security of a contract to ensure that it receives a fair return on its investments.
Again, she was right in pointing out that privatization had been a costly exercise. But somebody on her staff needed to take a course in micro-economics 101. She presented an imaginary $37 billion number, a purely hypothetical figure which might as well have been pulled from the air. But it is a complicated file, her strength is accounting not economics, and so her report then, as now, was only partly helpful.
Over the last decade Ontario’s energy costs climbed to be the highest in Canada – though still much lower than those in the major North American centres in California and New York. With the 25% reduction Ontario has fallen more in line with the other provinces. But of course it will never be able to compete with Quebec, Manitoba or BC. These jurisdictions have a tremendous advantage with their low cost water power endowment, and they have also retained their provincial monopolies to generate and distribute electricity reliably and cheaply.
 Leader of the Opposition at Queen’s Ark – Patrick Brown New Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown claims he’d tear up the province’s long term supply contracts, much as Dalton McGuinty promised to tear up the 407 lease Harris had signed years before him. It was simply not possible, the lawyers had sealed it well. And even if Brown were legally able to do that, how would he replace these contracts – how would he keep the electrons flowing and the lights on? I am one of the hundreds of Ontario residents who operate a small solar energy project under Ontario’s MicroFIT energy program. Without a reasonable assurance of market access and price no reasonable business entity is going to take a gamble investing in a public sector electricity system.
Brown is not someone to be underestimated. Over the relatively short period of time he has been provincial Tory leader, the former Harper disciple and MP, has moderated and adapted. In fact he has boldly reversed his view and position on abortion, same sex marriage and sex education in schools. And it has worked for him, he is now leading in provincial popularity with almost half those polled saying they would vote for him. He has been a strong and vocal critic of the Liberal government at Queens Park and on the electricity file in particular.
But if he is to become our next Premier he has to do more than just criticize – to tell us what he wouldn’t do. Brown, who had been promising to release his party’s long term energy plan several months ago, almost immediately pulled back from that promise until next year and the election. Indeed it would be very helpful for Mr. Brown to present a coherent alternative. After all it was his party who created this chaos in the first place by dissolving our relatively stable and low cost provincial electricity monopoly. He might want to look to Quebec, Manitoba or B.C. for inspiration.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington in 1995. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Ontario 2003 Black-out – Bruce Nuclear Deal – Stranded Debt – Auditor General Report –
More AG – Large Renewable Suspended – MicroFit Valuation – Patrick Brown Energy Plan –
Ontario Polling –
 By Staff
October 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The southbound lane on Brant Street, just south of Victoria Avenue, will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for road paving.
 One side of Brant Street to be paved on Saturday Southbound traffic will be detoured to the west, down Locust Street.
Northbound traffic will be maintained.
Signs and barricades will be up and Halton Regional Police Services will be on site to help with the detour.
Access to properties along Brant Street will be maintained at all times.
For more information, contact Florin Patrau at 905-335-7671
By Staff
October 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Yesterday, members of the Burlington Street Crime Unit concluded a drug investigation resulting in the arrest of a Burlington man.
Investigators executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant at the mans residence on Castleguard Crescent that resulted in the seizure of the following: (See included photo)
• Cocaine (1 gram)
• Marihuana (123 grams),
• Percocet pills (51)
• Pill press
• White powder believed to be a cutting agent
• 2 Digital scales
• 2 Cellphones
• $800 in cash
• Machete
• 2 throwing knives.
Estimated street value of drugs seized is $1500.
Emanuel DaSilva THOMAS (25 yrs) of Burlington is charged with trafficking marihuana, possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of Percocet for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of breaching probation. He was held pending a bail hearing.
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes). “See something, Hear something, Say something”.
By Staff
October 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite years of awareness campaigns illustrating why driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs is dangerous, impaired driving remains the top criminal cause of death in Canada. The Halton Regional Police Service remains committed to road safety through prevention, education and enforcement initiatives.
 Members of the public are reminded that driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
The Service’s Twitter and Facebook accounts should not be used for this purpose as they are not monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Offences:
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, just after 8:00pm, Halton Police officers investigated a collision involving an impaired driver in Burlington. Police charged Sarah Duggan (42) of Milton with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and driving over 80mgs.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at approximately 10:45pm, a traffic stop was initiated at Brant Street and Fairview Road in Burlington. As a result of an investigation, Edward Lee (43) of Burlington was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, driving over 80mgs and refuse breath sample.
 By Staff
October 26, 2027
BURLINGTON, ON
Attempts to trick you into responding to a message you get in an electronic piece of mail are never ending.
The thieves out there see this as an easy way to steal – they seldom get caught – for the most part they live on the other side of the world.
For those of you who are Scotia Bank customers it might have been tempting to respond to the following:
 An email attempt to get information on your bank account. One of the first clues that this is an attempt to steal from you is the quality of the graphics – a bank would never send out something as crude as this.
Second – look at the address line. Doesn’t say it comes from a bank.
Third – what is it you are being asked to verify? Banks never do things like this by email – they will telephone you
 By Staff
October 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Hydro One crews will be conducting maintenance along Burlington Beach from Monday, November 6 to Sunday, November 12.
The overhead shield wire between towers 20 and 22, as shown below, is damaged and must be repaired to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the power line. Shield wire is in place to protect equipment from lightning strikes and allows for the monitoring and control of the infrastructure; it does not carry electricity. Hydro One crews will be repairing the damaged shield wire each day until the work is complete on November 12.
Crews will be using all-terrain vehicles and some small pieces of construction equipment to complete this work.
For worker and public safety, pedestrian access to the area between towers 20 and 22 will be restricted while work is taking place. We recognize that this area is used by members of the community, and Hydro One staff will use signage, barriers and flaggers to ensure that the area is safe and secured.
Typical work hours will run from approximately 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In addition, on Saturday, November 11, crews will be working from 8:00 p.m. into the night while the infrastructure is de-energized. To ensure safety, proper lighting will be used during all evening work. Your local electricity service will not be interrupted as a result of this maintenance work.
 By Staff
October 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Those folks in the west end that have a quarry in their back yards are ramping up for their next community meeting.
Meridian Brick has a license to operate a quarry – it was given to them in 1972.
Since that time a number of rather high end homes have been built yards away from the back yards of these homes.
 The two pink patches are existing quarries that are close to mined out. The green space to the left of the marker is where the brick company wants to quarry next – all the trees would have to go. The residents believe they have been poorly served by the city and the real estate industry in the way they weren’t properly advised that the quarry did have the right to start digging.
Tyandaga Environmental Community is going to meet on November 16, 2017, 7pm-9:30pm at the Crossroads Centre, 1295 North Service Road.
Gord Miller,former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario and David Donnelly, Environmental Lawyer, former executive director of the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund will be speaking
Meridian Brick has announced that they will be holding a follow up community meeting at the same location on November 29th – starts at 7:00 pm.
 By Pepper Parr
October 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is called Flora Hominis.
It stands at one end of the Dalglish Family Garden which is part of the revitalized Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Garden.
 The first permanent sculpture commissioned by the RBG in decades commemorates the legacy of Thomas McQuesten in a bold, imaginative work of art by Hamilton artist Brandon Vickerd. It is the first permanent sculpture commissioned by the RBG in decades and was done to “commemorate the legacy of Thomas McQuesten and RBG’s long-standing commitment to the stewardship of our land.”
The sculpture was done by Brandon Vickerd, a Hamilton based artist and Professor of Sculpture at York University.
There are two stories being told – that of a bold, imaginative work of art that will take some getting used to for some people and the story of Thomas McQuesten, a man who did more to build the province of Ontario than anyone else in his time or since.
Today we celebrate the work of the artist. Vickerd serves as Chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. He received his BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1999) and his MFA from University of Victoria (2001).
The work was funded in part by the Ontario 150 Fund, and RBG donors Peter and Camilla Dalglish.
 Close up of the head of Flora Hominis The statue, cast in bronze, is a life-sized figure weighing approximately 350 lbs. that appears to be Thomas McQuesten from a distance; but on closer inspection, the sculpture is composed of a collection of local flora and native plants.
The artwork is intended to connect the representation of McQuesten to the rich and vibrant ecosystem of Royal Botanical Garden that he was pivotal in creating. Flora Hominis addresses the interconnected ecosystem that humans inhabit along with all other forms of organic life.
The title of the work, Flora Hominis, is the Latin translation of the words plant and human, and is intended to encapsulate the interdependency of both.
By presenting a figurative work that marries plant and man, the sculpture addresses the interdependency of both elements of the natural world. McQuesten referred to park spaces as the “lungs of the city,” a vital organ that by its very nature makes civilization possible.
Flora Hominis calls for an alternate understanding of what it means to be human – that humanity can only realize its full potential when it accepts that it is part of the natural world.
In other words, we are not stewards of all things natural, but subjects of the complex ecosystem that surrounds us.
 Camilla Dalglish Camilla Dalglish explained how the work of art came to be. She said that she had her husband Peter “visited Whitehern, Thomas McQuesten’s family home in Hamilton and became fascinated by the story of this remarkable man”, who became obsessed with city planning. He worked with lawyers, politicians, engineers, architects, artists, and horticulturalists and within a decade created a city park system that is the largest acreage of parkland in any Canadian city.
It includes Cootes Paradise, Gage Park, The High Level Bridge, the Royal Botanical Gardens Rock Garden, the Niagara Parks Commission, the Queen Elizabeth Highway as well as the once glorious grounds around McMaster University.
The Dalglish’s “felt this incredible man deserved much more recognition”. Mark Runciman and the Board of the Royal Botanical Gardens agreed. Today we are thrilled that Thomas McQuesten is immortalized in The Dalglish Family Courtyard.”
 Brandon Vickerd, the artist who created the statue. The process Vickerd used to complete the statue was complex; it included both traditional and innovative Vacuum Assisted Organic Burnout (VAOB) bronze casting methods. Flora Hominis will be the first public sculptural work using the VOAB process in which a ceramic mold is constructed directly around organic material. The ceramic mold is then fired at a high temperature that strengthens the mold while incinerating the organic material, leaving a cavity.
Next, the ceramic mold (which is porous by nature) is placed on a high capacity vacuum so that when the bronze is poured into the mold the vacuum forces the molten bronze into the miniscule cavity of the mold creating a highly-detailed rendering that exceeds the detail of any traditional bronze casting process.
 Mark Runciman, President and CEO of the Royal Botanical Gardens The selection jury included Tobi Bruce (Art Gallery of Hamilton), Mark Runciman (RBG CEO), John Best (author of Thomas Baker McQuesten: Public Works, Politics, and Imagination), Camilla and Peter Dalglish (RBG supporters), and Maryella Leggat (RBG supporter). They considered over 45 submissions from across the country before settling on 4 short-listed artists.
By Staff
October 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Where does all the money come from?
 Burlington MP Karina Gould with a constituent. The federal government is pumping a lot of money into Burlington – which means our Member of Parliament is doing her job.
A new list of transit projects has been approved under the Canada-Ontario Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) agreement, which is designed to address key infrastructure priorities with a focus on repairing and upgrading existing facilities and assets.
The Government of Canada is providing Ontario with over $1.48 billion under PTIF, and will fund up to 50 per cent of the eligible project costs.
 $75,000 for a Bus Rapid Transit on Plains Road – Fairview – where does that fit in? As part of the bilateral agreement with Ontario, the following projects in 28 municipalities have now been approved for federal funding amounting to more than $202 million.
By Staff
October 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The land that the latest piece of public art sits on has a sad story behind it but the soaring aluminum rods that artist Lilly Otasevic created is stunning.
 It is a sculpture that needs some time to be fully appreciated. The sculpture, Crescendo (Rising Wave), was created to represent the contemporary and historic Aldershot Village.
Located at the intersection of Plains Road and Waterdown the theme of Crescendo links together the past, present and future of the neighbourhood. The term crescendo in music represents a gradual increase in loudness: a buildup to reach a point of great intensity.
This aligns with the change that has occurred in Aldershot Village over the years and is continuing today. The sculpture’s shape represents a hub of activity in the community. The wave shape reflects connection to the lake in the neighbourhood.
 Artist Lilly Otasevic Lilly Otasevic was born and raised in Serbia, (then) Yugoslavia. She completed program at High School of Industrial Design in Belgrade, and studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. Lilly moved to Canada in 1994, and since then has exhibited in Canada, USA and the Middle East.
A trained painter Otasevic’s main body of work consists of sculptural work. Her art is driven by her interests in nature and higher order of things in the universe. Her growing up in a society with recycling practices in the early 80s, has influenced Lilly’s interest in ecology and environment since childhood. She is using various materials presently focusing on reclaimed bricks. Lilly has successfully completed several large-scale public art sculptural, as well as industrial design projects in Ontario, Canada.
 Walking around the tubes and you see something different each time. Crescendo in music represents a gradual increase in loudness. In general terms, it refers to a build up to reach a point of great intensity, force, or volume. The angled tubes gradually increase in length and height and follow a twisting motion to create a rising and culminating wave.
 All that is missing is a small marker identifying the artist. It is a very impressive addition to the intersection. The design of a rising wave was motivated by the desire to create a sculpture that demands attention and has a dynamic appearance, appearing as though it is moving, even though it is not.
Aldershot was once a thriving farming community and Plains Road all gravel. In time the road was THE road to Niagara Falls.
The community created a Village Vision that changed the character of the Plains Road.
Significant residential and commercial development is taking place.
In 2014 the city expropriated the land on which Murrays Convenience was located. It was needed to widen Waterdown Road where a large residential development is now under construction.
The city, and more particularly, the ward Councillor Rick Craven did nothing to protect the interests of the property owners.
 There was once a busy, bustling convenience store at the intersection. The city expropriated the land to widen Waterdown Road – took far more land then they needed and cheated the property owners. Full story is worth reading.
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