With Waterdown Road now a nice short drive to Hwy 403 development in the immediate area is beginning to take place.
Getting information on how one particular project is working its way through the system appears to be a problem for at least one Aldershot resident who writes:
It’s an attractive enough building – interesting way they handled vehicles getting to the parking spaces.
“As someone who has been following the 35 Plains Road building proposal closely, and attended the first public meeting, I am now concerned to find that a statutory public meeting is shown on the City of Burlington website for November 8th. https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/35-Plains-Road.asp
The application is for an eight storey building with 55 residential units and commercial uses on the street level.
Our reader signed up – hasn’t heard a word since – what’s up?
“Part of my reason for contacting you is to see if you received notice of this meeting. I was told that if I signed up to receive information (which I did), I would receive notice of this meeting. There are little over 20 days until this meeting, and yet I have received no formal notice from the city about it. I would have expected at least 30 days notice so that people wanting to attend could plan around it.
An interesting use of the lot.
Good morning city hall – can anyone help this lady?
The project is an interesting one. It appears to be a project being developed by Ruth Victor & Associates. Ms Victor has in the past worked as a planner/consultant for the ADI Development Group when they were telling the public about their plans for what is now known as Station West –
It is just under a month away but registration for this event is going to fill up very quickly – you will want to register now if you’d like to attend.
This struck the Gazette as one of the more interesting ways to promote the history of the city – and if anything is history in Burlington it is the Freeman Station.
Pauline Grondin – the year is 1920 and she is at the Burlington Junction station in Freeman.
On Saturday, November 19th, well-known professional storyteller Pauline Grondin will again work her magic as she relates, first-person, her story of life around Freeman Station.
The year is 1920, and the Burlington Junction Station in Freeman is a vibrant hub of community comings and goings.
Pauline will bring history to life for us as she relates what’s happening around the village. (A bit of gossip here and there?)
Waiting for the train.
The Friends of Freeman Station invite you to join them at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre for “Breakfast at the Bistro,” beginning at 8:30 AM for a delicious meal followed by Pauline’s enchanting presentation.
Reservations are required, seating is limited, breakfast is only $ 6.18 per person, tax included, it’s all for a great cause, and a good time will be had by all. Nostalgia guaranteed, tears optional.
Book early! Registration is required. Limited seating, and typically sells out well in advance.
To register, log onto: https://secure.burlington.ca/recexpress/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp
and enter the code “345506” in the TTR Barcode Search field to pull up Breakfast at the Bistro – Pauline Grondin – 345506
Many of us use PayPal as a way to pay for items we bought or sold on the internet. It is a useful service – even though they do take their time about getting your money to you when you ask for it.
Other than that – decent value – people trust the service – and the trust the brand – which is why the crooks like to use it.
This came across our desk recently – don’t believe a word of it. Someone wants to steal your identity.
(NOTICE) Your PayPal account has been limited
In order to get back into your account, you will need to confirm your identity with us.
We have made the process easy for you:
Download and open the attachment file that we have sent, and proceed into filling in the form.
Our security team will review the information that you have provided, and immediately remove the limitations in your PayPal account.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
There will be no apology when they siphon money out of your bank accounts.
Less than an hour after sending out a media release announcing the holding of two by – elections on November the province sends out a second media release announcing significant infrastructure projects for one of the ridings – Niagara West Glanbrook.
The by-election release came out as 12:07 – the infrastructure release came out at 1:01.
It is stuff like this that give politics a bad smell.
Was it just a coincidence?
The province has hundreds of communications specialists working to grind out media releases – sometimes as many as ten in a single day.
These people are trained to get out positive messages – and they are expected to be politically aware – especially those who work in the office of Cabinet Ministers.
The media release on infrastructure work that I to “Improving Roads and Bridges in Niagara Region” said the following;
Ontario is supporting upgrades to roads, bridges and other local community infrastructure in Niagara Region, helping to connect communities and keep people moving while creating jobs and economic growth. Municipalities benefiting from upgrades include: • Grimsby • Lincoln • Pelham • West Lincoln • Niagara Falls • Niagara-on-the-Lake • Fort Erie • Port Colborne • Thorold • Wainfleet • Welland
The boundaries for the riding of are shown below:
That detailed information is followed by the boiler plate stuff put at the end of every media release the province sends out – sort of like Burlington’s fetish for the news that it is the number one mid-sized city in Canada
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history – about $160 billion over 12 years, supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Investing in municipal infrastructure is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
They do all this with your tax money – don’t you just love them?
You knew before the meeting was over that this was a group of parents who were going to think through the situation they faced very thoroughly and present a case for keeping the community school.
They packed the room.
There were well over 80 people (some set the number at close to 100) packed into a room at Wellington Square United Church to figure out what they wanted to do about the Halton District school Board decision to hold a PAR.
A PAR is a Program Accommodation Review which is a look that the board has to take when the amount of available space in a school falls below 65%
A PAR – to address enrollment, empty/overfull space and programs offered – is needed for Burlington secondary schools claim the parent group – but the conditions needed to hold a PAR are not yet in place.
In its report Board of Education staff found a number of school that were below or very very close to that 65% number and they produced a report that set out 19 option. The options were related to various schools in Burlington.
There are just too many empty seats at Central High.
The utilization percentages are good – bu the sea available are in the wrong schools.
The parents group covered everything – and then some.
The parents did their homework – the looked at the facts and they came to the conclusion that while there might be a need for a PAR – this was not the time to proceed.
The Board for its part produced an exhaustive report – we are talking inches thick here and it takes time to go through the details and then measure them against what the parents know and experience.
The letter was signed off on by Michael Kukhta and Dania Thurman who were speaking on behalf of the Burlington Central Strong Community Group).
Michael had run for school board trustee before Dania is new to the game but keep an eye on this woman. She is a force to be reckoned with.
In a letter to the school board trustees this group of parents from Burlington central high school said:
At the Halton District Board of Education (HDSB) Board of Trustees meeting on 19 October 2016, you will be deciding on a motion to approve beginning the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) process.
In this letter, we will outline why we urge you delay the start of the process by tabling the motion until numerous issues are addressed. This request is made in order to ensure the integrity of the PAR process and to ensure that accurate and productive recommendations can be made to the Board of Trustees at the conclusion of the PAR process.
It appears to be clear that a PAR is needed, but also clear that the conditions to start it now, 19 October 2016, have not been met. It is crucial that many issues in the Halton District School Board’s (the “Board”) PAR process and Director’s Preliminary Report on the PAR (#16132) be clarified and clearly understood before proceeding with the PAR process. There are also many concerns with data and the Board’s new and untried PAR process that should be addressed.
Summary of Concerns:
1) A PAR is needed, but conditions to initiate the PAR at tomorrow’s (October 19th) meeting have not been met;
2) The Board’s new and untested PAR process has critical errors and confounding steps;
3) Significant segments of data are incomplete, missing or inaccurate;
4) The nineteen (19) Alternate solutions offered do not consistently compare conditions and issues creating unfair and confusing conclusions and inferences.
Very compelling details, supporting data and information about each of these Concerns are detailed below in Appendices. (They are voluminous and will be set out in detail on the web site when it is fully operational.
The Gazette will publish that data later in the week.
Our volunteer and dedicated community group has worked very hard to pull this letter and information together in a short time frame. There are, no doubt, challenges and questions with the conclusions we have made; however, we have only had a week to look at this.
Nevertheless, we have discovered and documented many issues that will jeopardize the PAR until they are understood and corrected. We look forward to continue working together with you and the board to be as informative, objective and accurate in providing productive discussion, analysis and recommendations to assist you in making the best decisions possible.
Decisions to close schools and realign boundaries will have long-lasting and profound effects on the community. Let’s get it right. Mistakes could be costly and cause delays in implementation. The Board’s process is fast: 5-7 months from approval and launch to recommendation to and ultimately approval by the Board of Trustees.
There is insufficient time once the process starts, to research, fix and present new data to the PAR Committee. A delay in the process will allow the constituencies affected – indeed, the students and entire community of Burlington – to catch up with the process and truly feel engaged and respected as valued stakeholders.
From the right Burlington trustees Amy Collard and Leah Reynolds – two of the four.
We urge you to table the approval of the PAR process until all of the issues and concerns are clearly articulated, the data and information understood and the process robust and transparent.
Will the trustees listen? The four from Burlington can be expected to do so. But there are 11 trustees and they all get a vote on this.
It will be an interesting Board of Education meeting this evening.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has charged a Hamilton man with three offences as part of an Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) coordinated, national investigation to suppress human trafficking.
Dubbed Operation Northern Spotlight, members of 36 police services from across Ontario, including Halton Regional Police Service, directly engaged with people suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will.
During coordinated investigations over a six-day period, police charged 25 people with 67 offences. Police were also able to ensure the safety of 16 people who had been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will. A total of 207 police officers and support staff engaged with 199 people and offered them information and contacts with community-based support agencies.
Charges resulting from the operation include Trafficking in Persons under 18, Trafficking in Persons, Procure Sexual Services under 18, Procure Sexual Services, Receive Material Benefit under 18, Receive Material Benefit, Communication for the Purpose of Obtaining Consideration the Sexual Services of a Person, Exercise Control, Make Child Pornography, Distribute Child Pornography, Possess Child Pornography, Child Luring, Advertise Another Person’s Sexual Services, Assault, Obstruct Police, Resist Arrest, Weapons Dangerous, various Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) and Failure to Comply with Court Orders and Conditions including Breaches of Recognizance and Probation.
As part of their role in Operation Northern Spotlight, officers with HRPS’ Morality Unit engaged eight potential exploited victims working in the Halton area, rescuing one.
Twenty-four year-old Sean TRACEY has been charged with Procuring a Person to Offer or Provide Sexual Services for Consideration, Advertising Sexual Services, and Receive Material Benefit from Sexual Service as a result of the HRPS investigation.
“Like our counterparts, our Service is committed to fighting human trafficking by holding those engaged in it to account, while supporting its victims,” said Inspector Anthony Odoardi. “We are pleased to have contributed resources and expertise to this important joint operation.”
Given some of the stuff we are hearing while the Americans try to figure out who they want to lead them – it is little wonder that trafficking in human beings is a business. These guys are just a little lower down the food chain that a nominee for the President of the United States of America,
The Hamilton-Burlington Junior League Annual House tour will be taking place November 11 to 13th.
There are three homes on the tour this year: two in Burlington and one in Ancaster.
Designer creates a focal point in a home for the Holiday Season
Jackie Cracknell and her colleagues were given one of the Burlington homes to get ready for the event. The home, a 2400 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house that undergone a significant renovation. Located in the east end of Burlington the home will be open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Jackie said the challenge in preparing a smaller home for a tour is keeping the flow of patrons moving smoothly so that they can view everything in their own time, but not have areas of congestion.
This home provided great opportunity in that the interior has been completely restyled and has some interesting design features that will allow the decorators to showcase the beautiful renovation that has taken place.
She added that “most of the decorators in this home have worked on the tour before and know exactly what is required to wow our patrons.
Those that are new are given information from previous tours so that they know what is expected. Our role as house reps is to ensure that the decorators follow the guidelines and also to liaise between the homeowners and decorators so that everything runs smoothly.
The most outstanding transformation in the renovation of this home is the kitchen – it really is the heart of the home and a wonderful light space to enjoy, with some very special design features. I think it highlights that fact that you can really incorporate some wonderful features in a home that may not be as large as some of the others on the tour – bigger is not always better!
The decorators of this home include House of Fraser Décor, Megan & Megan, Welcome Home Interiors, Details Interior Design, Hudson Interiors and Marquis Cavalier Dreamstore.
Tickets to this always popular event – this is the 34th Annual Tour the Junior League has done, are available at: CLICK HERE
Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The address for each of the homes is printed on the tickets you receive.
From left to right: Dianne Brown, Fonda Loft, Jackie Cracknell,Liz Vandenberg, Annette Hamm, Cate Banfield, Karyn Glibbery, Roseanne Grego-Venneri, Sarai Spzak, Barb Oliver, Jane Tynan-Byrd, Iris Hughes. Middle: Anne-Louise Watts, Kathy North-Ross, Wendy Powell Front: Rachel Griffiths, Emily Stewart
The Junior League is looking for people who would like to serve as volunteers at the different house tour locations. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Junior League – sort of a toe in the water approach. Diane Brown would love to hear from you. info@juniorleague.ca
Burlington has an almost symbiotic relationship with the Ontario Municipal Board – at times city hall’s Planning department must feel they are joined at the hip with the OMB.
Nautique – an ADI group development is one of the development projects that is now before the OMB.
There are many in the municipal sector that would like to see the OMB abolished – it was formed in 1906; there were some very good reasons for keeping the Board which may no longer apply.
Ontario Proposing Changes to Ontario Municipal Board to Improve Efficiency and Accessibility: Province Seeking Public Input on Board’s Scope and Process
The Ontario government sees a continuing need for the OMB in Ontario’s land use planning system. That is why they are exploring changes to make sure that the Board’s role is appropriate, open and fair.
Through the OMB Review, the government will consider the Board’s scope (what it deals with) and effectiveness (how it operates) to determine improvements with respect to how the Board works within Ontario’s broader land use planning system.
The province is undertaking a comprehensive review of how the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) operates and its role in the province’s land-use planning system to help make it more efficient and more accessible to all Ontarians.
Former Burlington Director of Planning wrote the text book on how the OMB works. Now he is the Executive Chair of the ELTO that oversees the OMB.
Environment Land Tribunals Ontario is a cluster of five boards including Assessment Review Board (ARB), Board of Negotiation (BON), Conservation Review Board (CRB), Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) and the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)
The OMB’s primary role is adjudicating applications and appeals under various land use planning statutes.
The Executive chair of the ELYO is Bruce Krushelnicki who was until a number of months ago the Director of Planning for the city of Burlington. How the city managed to let a good one get away is beyond many people in the province.
The OMB plays a central role in Ontario’s land-use planning process as an independent, public body through which people can appeal or defend land-use decisions that affect their property or community.
Ontarians wishing to participate in the consultation may submit comments online or in person at one of the town hall meetings being held across the province this fall.
Registration and an open house will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The town halls will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m.
Oakville, November 3, 2016 Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road RSVP date: October 30, 2016
Hamilton, October 24, 2016 Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection, 821 Upper Wentworth Street RSVP date: October 21, 2016
RSVP on line: https://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page15043.aspx
Email at OMBReview@ontario.ca
For matters of registration you can call 416-585-6014 or 1-855-776-8011
We sometimes wonder why the crooks with these innovative ideas don’t just go out and get good jobs – they would seem to be smart enough.
Maybe it’s because too many decent people get sucked in.
Here’s the latest one:
In the last two weeks Halton Regional Police Service has received three complaints for a package delivery scam in the Halton Region.
The suspect will call a small business and claim to be from a neighbouring business and asking the victim to sign and pay for an urgent package they are expecting but unfortunately cannot be around to collect themselves. They claim that they will pay back the victim as soon as they can get back to collect the package.
A short while later a male will show up with a boxed package for delivery and collect the COD fees and leave the store. It is not until sometime later after the neighbouring business doesn’t show up that it is discovered that the package is just an empty box weighted with used magazines and the victim is out the cash given for the delivery.
Police are looking for this young man. Seen him?
Police are hoping to identify the male pictured below and asking anyone with information to contact the Halton Regional Police Fraud Unit or if they wish to remain anonymous to call Halton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
Approximately 3.4 per cent of Ontarians have a moderate to severe gambling problem. This means that about 26,500 adults in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region are estimated to be negatively impacted.
You’ve lost it all – now what do you do? Help is available.
Many of these people think they will win big. The truth is that some will gamble to the point that they damage their finances, relationships and health. Problem gambling can be financially and emotionally devastating for the individual involved and the most important people in their lives.
“When gambling becomes a source of worry or stress, it’s important to listen to yourself”, says Jon Kelly, CEO, Responsible Gambling Council. “Ignoring changing feelings potentially puts both you and the people you care about at risk.”
The good news is that paying attention to how you feel about your gambling is the first step to early detection of a potential gambling problem.
Having mixed feelings about your gambling? If so, listen to yourself
If your gambling has stopped being fun and has become a source of stress and worry, it’s time to take a break and reflect.
Anxiety, guilt or frustration are common early warning signals that, if ignored, can lead to a potential gambling problem. The consequences of which can be emotionally and financially devastating not just for you but also for your family and friends.
During Problem Gambling Prevention Week, which runs in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region from October 17th to October 23rd, RGC is urging people to listen carefully to how they feel about their gambling.
What are some early signs of a potential gambling problem:
• Feeling guilty, anxious, frustrated or worried about your gambling.
• Thinking or talking about gambling more than usual.
• Gambling more to win back losses.
• Experiencing extreme highs from gambling wins and extreme lows from gambling losses.
• Getting irritated more easily or having less patience when dealing with normal, everyday activities.
The thrill of the horses thundering towards the finish line is one thing – the money you blew on a ticket that didn’t win is another.
What to do when you have mixed feelings:
• The most important thing is to listen to yourself and recognize that these feelings are there for a reason. When they arise, take a break from gambling and do something else. Get back to those other activities that you enjoy.
• Set a betting limit to what you can comfortably afford to lose and stick to it.
• Never chase losses by gambling more to win back lost money or get out of financial trouble. This usually leads to even greater losses.
• Set a time limit for your gambling and, when it’s reached, walk away.
• Bear in mind that gambling is not a way to make money. Virtually all people with gambling problems hold the false belief that they are due for a big win. That belief can feed the development of problems.
How to get help
There is free and confidential help available for those who feel they may have a problem. You can find contact information for local resources at www.knowthesigns.ca or you can call the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505.
For more about the emotional and behavioural signs to watch for and how to protect yourself, go to www.knowthesigns.ca.
They are the reverse of an ATM – you just keep putting money in.
Residents in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region can access local help at:
• Burlington: ADAPT (The Halton Alcohol, Drug, & Gambling Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Program – 905-639-6537 or 1-866-783-7073
• Hamilton: Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Services (ADGS) City of Hamilton, Public Health Services – 905-546-3606
• Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline – 1-888-230-3505
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to problem gambling prevention. RGC works to reduce gambling risks by creating and delivering innovative awareness and information programs. It also promotes the adoption of improved play safeguards through best practices research, standards development and the RG Check accreditation program. RGC is committed to bringing together all perspectives in the reduction of gambling problems, including those of people with firsthand experience with gambling problems, gaming providers, regulators, policy makers and treatment professionals.
A Burlington entrepreneur, 27-year-old Eric Rodgers, Co-Founder of a Burlington Digital Marketing Agency has been chosen as one of the best and brightest young Canadians under 30 by Canada’s Marketing Magazine.
I didn’t know how to dress,” says Rodgers, 27. (That’s changed: with a lightly polka-dotted shirt, Hugo Boss jeans and loafers, he has the Silicon Valley uniform down cold.) “Once we got going, I got used to speaking at higher and higher levels (of executives). I’m more open now among clients.”
At 21, Rodgers and industry veteran Don McNeil identified a gap in the market for precise digital marketing based almost solely on measurable data. With a focus on full user journeys instead of last-click attribution modeling, they went on to form Direct Access Digital in 2011. Both were keen to adopt new analytics models, participating in all available marketing platform betas with an interest to drive new business at the lowest cost per acquisition for clients like BMO, Lowe’s, Rona, and Enercare.
Eric Rodgers is no stranger to receiving awards, he was the first Canadian to win Google’s prestigious Google Search Excellence Award in 2014. The award is only given out to two Canadian’s a Year – amazingly, Rodgers won it again in 2015.
BMO’s CMO of Canadian Banking and Wealth Management, Betsy Chung says, “Whenever I have an issue or literally a business problem to face, he’s one of the few I would pick up the phone and ask, ‘How do consumers behave from what we know of how they purchase?’”
Rodgers’ says, “The early days were stressful, I was literally one of two guys sitting on either side of a desk. We focused on optimizing every marketing dollar spent just as we do today, that’s been our winning model. The model that, like Google, continues to change at a rapid rate and includes more tactics and platforms like Programmatic, Rich Media and SEO.”
With a father who worked in IT, Rodgers says he was attracted to technology at an early age, building his first computer at the age of 10. At Geosign, he essentially turned a summer job into an apprenticeship in selling and buying traffic from Google. By 19 he was managing a team of seven who in some cases were twice his age. After meeting McNeil at another job post-Geosign, the two believed there was a gap in the market for an agency built around what it calls “math men (and women” rather than Mad Men.)
Direct Access Digital’s team has grown to 30 brilliant digital marketers and is always looking for more engaged talent.
Rodgers shares the award with the Schulich School of Business, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Ela Veresiu, SnapChat’s Senior Account Manager, Alanna Glicksman, Facebook’s Client Services Manager, eCommerce, Vino Jeyapalan, McDonald’s Digital Social Engagement Manager, Rashel Hariri and 25 other young Canadians.
What was equally interesting is that among the 30under30 that were recognized as some of the brightest – there were more women than men. The times they are a changing.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is going to get a $1 donation for every ReStore transaction from October 17 to October 31st.
Those funds will help more families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable Habitat for Humanity homeownership.
The donation is coming from Proctor & Gamble and Swiffer, one of their products.
With nearly 100 locations across Canada, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are home and building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and used building supplies, home furnishing, appliances and décor. Habitat’s ReStores accept donations of secondhand, overstocked and discontinued items, as well as salvageable building materials donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals. Proceeds fund Habitat for Humanity operations and homebuilding projects in communities across the country.
To provide additional incentive, Swiffer is also giving out a free Swiffer Duster with all purchases while supplies last.
The funds generated through this campaign will be used towards Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga’s ongoing builds in Burlington, Acton, Georgetown and Mississauga. Once complete, the project will enable more families than ever before to partner with Habitat for access to affordable home ownership.
Habitat for Humanity’s first ReStore was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1991. Today, there are almost 100 locations across Canada and almost 1,000 worldwide generating funds to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. It’s estimated that Habitat’s ReStores in Canada have been directly responsible for the construction of 1,200 Habitat for Humanity homes and in excess of 250,000 tonnes of material being diverted from landfills.
It is not often that we see a media release from the provincial government that follows comments made by one of our columnists.
Ray Rivers wrote about the amount of water the Nestle corporation takes out of aquifers in the province. A couple of minutes after publishing the column we received the following media release.
Ontario Taking Action to Protect Clean Water : Province Proposes Two Year Moratorium on New and Expanded Water Bottling Operations
Ontario is taking action to protect the province’s water resources for future generations by proposing a two-year moratorium on new or expanded water takings from groundwater by bottling companies, as well as stricter rules for renewals of existing permits.
The proposed moratorium is the first of a number of steps the province will be taking to further protect Ontario’s clean water. It will apply to every water bottling facility that takes groundwater and is required to have a permit under the Ontario Water Resources Act. Proposed rules would reduce the duration of permit renewal applications from 10 years to a maximum of five years, as well as require increased public transparency, new operating guidelines, mandatory reductions on water taking during drought and further scientific studies.
As part of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to protect its water resources, the government is also closely examining how pricing and other tools could be used to help manage and protect the province’s water resources, and will provide an update later this fall.
While the proposed moratorium is in place, Ontario also plans to:
• Undertake research to improve understanding of groundwater in Ontario
• Review existing rules for adequate protection of groundwater for future generations
• Receive public input and feedback on Ontario’s current groundwater permitting process and groundwater management moving forward.
In the face of climate change, population growth, increasing water consumption and drought, concerns around water security have risen. Ontario’s ongoing plan to protect groundwater resources is essential to the health and integrity of the province’s ecosystems and communities.
Managing our water resources responsibly is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
That’s almost what Ray Rivers had to say – wasn’t it?
Ontarians can comment on the proposed two-year moratorium through the Environmental Registry until Dec. 1, 2016.
“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” (The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Samuel Taylor Coleridge).
By Ray Rivers
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Take Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, something which the devastating hurricane Matthew just did. And what sad irony! Because only days before, environment officials from these two provinces walked out of a meeting on climate change. They were protesting the federal announcement of a national carbon tax, refusing to accept the easiest path for reducing climate changing emissions. So when NS and NL got hit by flooding, an apparent consequence of global warming, their walk-out became more like myopia or stupidity than irony.
Bottled water production line.
In Ontario we are having a very different conversation about water. Nestlé S.A, the world’s largest food and drink company is a massive transnational corporation with 447 factories, operating in 194 countries and employing over three hundred thousand. Already the second largest global water bottling company, with extensive operations near Guelph, it has just won access to another aquifer out bidding a small municipality near Elora.
In total, 1.4 trillion litres of water are extracted from ground water sources in Ontario every day. But only a fraction is returned into all the aquifers, especially the water from those plastic bottles. Between 2011 and 2015 the aquifer at Nestlé’s bottling plant in Aberfoyle dropped by 1.5 metres. And their continued pumping has become a major issue for a growing City of Guelph, which also relies on that aquifer for its water. And now the emerging sprawl community of Middlebrook near Elora, has lost its water source to the same corporation which could be allowed to pump as much as 1,300 litres per minute from the 110 meter deep artisan well.
The citizens of Elora fear they are the next source of water that the Nestle Corporation is looking at.
I’m not one of those generally opposed to the bottled water industry. Water coolers, which have been around forever, provide a healthy alternative to caffeine, in addition to offering a location for office gossip. And there are places where clean water only comes in bottles, as anyone who has travelled to Asia, Africa or Latin America will attest. But most of the water from the Nestlé bottling works near Guelph, or in Hope B.C. which extracts 265 million litres a day, goes into the North American market. And the water quality here is arguably better coming out of the tap than the bottle.
In part the argument is about money. The company pays just $3.71 per million litres in addition to a renewable five-year permit fee of $75. For that they are entitled to take 3.6 million litres per day. That costs the company less than $15 a day for water which sells for $2.00 or more per 500 ml bottle at the airport.
The bottling process itself can use three times the water that actually goes into the bottle. And the energy needed just to manufacture enough bottles for America’s consumption is the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. Americans use about 50 billion water bottles a year, the world’s largest users, but only 23 percent of these are recycled. The balance, the equivalent of $1 billion in plastic alone, goes into land-fills, ends up as litter on the land or becomes part of the huge problem of plastic waste in our lakes and oceans.
Demonstrations against Nestle.
Globally, over half of the water bottles out there are just bottled tap water, but that is not what Nestlé is producing. Using ground water, instead of surface water, say from Lake Ontario, places the discussion closer to what is going on in California. That US state is experiencing its fifth dry year in a row, and ground water has become the last resort for agriculture, in particular. Ontario got its taste of drought this spectacular summer, and it wasn’t the first year water started to get scarce.
So the Premier has opened the tap on limiting water taking by the bottling industry, and on making that industry pay a more reasonable price for the resource. After all, is it fair that Nestlé, gets an almost unlimited supply of our water for next to nothing, when we have been coaxed into investing in low flush toilets and other water conservation practices? And do we really need to keep buying all those wasteful water bottles, when so many reasonable alternatives abound?
Editor’s note: As we went to press earlier today the province released the following statement:
Ontario is taking action to protect the province’s water resources for future generations by proposing a two-year moratorium on new or expanded water takings from groundwater by bottling companies, as well as stricter rules for renewals of existing permits.
Ray Rivers
Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also a candidate in a past provincial election
Did the members of city council get hornswoggled by a couple of small time developers who seem to have succeeded in pulling a fast one?
The ranch style home reported to have been built in the 50’s
There was a piece of property with a large ranch style house that was apparently built for the Newbold family back in the 50’s – specifics on just when the house was built aren’t clear. It fell into dis-repair and was bought by a developer who had plans to put five structures on the site.
Neighbouring property owners had issues with the flow of water in small creeks and the number of units the developer wanted to cram into the space; city council listened dutifully and eventually went along with a three unit development. The people who brought the development to council grumped and complained about how hard it was to make a decent living in the development business and muttered about this being their last attempt to build in this city.
First application was for five homes on the site.
Following application was for just four homes on the site. The developer settled for just three – then put the land up for sale.
The ranch style house was torn down and then the property was put up for sale at an eye popping $2,788,000.
The real estate notice described the property as site plan ready, zoned for three single family homes in the 4000 sq. ft. range. Engineering drawings ready with full survey, soil and noise tests completed.
Home torn down – property put up for sale to a builder. Will this one come back to city council for some tweeking and maybe a run to the Ontario Municipal Board for an upgrade?
The value added to the property by those who made the applications was getting it through council and then marketing it to a builder with a reputation for quality work.
That wasn’t what council thought as going to happen when they debated the issue.
Look for some pretty fancy prices for whatever gets build on the land.
We have put Thanksgiving behind us – and we will survive Halloween and then set our sights on what we plan to do for the holiday Season.
Someone has asked you to buy a ticket to an event – $25 – $30 if you decide to pay at the door to visit some homes that have been decorated for the Holiday season – but they can’t tell you where the houses are other than that there are three places you are going to go to; two in town and a third a couple of miles away.
Oh, and you are going to love what to see. Houses, beautifully decorated houses – and the money is going to a good cause.
You might have figured out by now that you’re being asked to take part in the Junior League of Hamilton – Burlington Annual Holiday House Tour of Distinctive Homes where homes are chosen and made over by creative designers.
They do the whole house – and really give it the “treatment” The least you are going to come away with are some really smart design ideas.
This year one of the homes in Burlington is a 5,500 sq ft – 4 bedroom, 5 bathrooms set up; the second Burlington home is a 2,400 sq ft – 4 bedroom, two bathroom arrangement.
A home decorated on a previous Junior League House Tour.
The third home is in Ancaster is a 3,200 sq. ft. – 4 bedroom with 4 baths.
Big job – big committee -this crowd organizes the finding of the homes that are part of the tour and then lining up the decorators.
The Junior League has been doing these tours for 34 years. Visitors can tour three gorgeous homes, filled with stunning décor and holiday decorating ideas, and feel good about the fact they’re helping the Junior League to improve the community.
Every year, generous homeowners loan their homes to the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington (JLHB) and talented design professionals transform them to showcase stunning holiday décor and entertainment ideas.
“Often it’s the little things. Everyone can find ideas for their own home, while on the tour.” says Dianne Brown, co-chair of the 2016 House Tour Committee.
The event is the JLHB’s signature fundraiser that generates the financial resources to help the charitable organization, now in its 80th year, continue to make a lasting impact in the Hamilton-Burlington community.
The committee making this happen is made up of quite a collection of women.
Iris, Annette and Diane – co-chairs of the House Tour Committee
They are looking for people who would like to serve as volunteers at the different house tour locations. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Junior League – sort of a toe in the water approach. Diane Brown would love to hear from you. info@juniorleague.ca
There is quite a bit more to the story of the roll-over of that tractor trailer on Wednesday carrying 180 pigs to the Fearmans slaughterhouse.
It took Burlington 35 years to create a memorial to Terry Fox’s remarkable attempt to run from coast to coast raising funds for cancer. He died of cancer before he could complete the run.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 5 million members and supporters has asked the City of Burlington to erect a 1.5 metre “tombstone memorial” at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road. City spokesperson Donna Kell has said it would get back to PETA in a couple of days.
Fire fighters, police officers and Fearmans staff do as much as they can to get the pigs out of the trailer; 42 to 48 of the pigs are reported to have been killed in the accident. It is not clear if any of the pigs were sent to the slaughterhouse assembly line and entered the food chain.
At the same time the Ontario SPCA is appealing for witnesses as it investigates how the pigs were handled leading to the death of 42 animals.
Deputy Chief Insp. Jennifer Bluhm said initial reports suggested two veterinarians responded quickly after the truck carrying the pigs rolled at 7 a.m. Wednesday of this week.
The SPCA, which has fielded “numerous” calls of concern, is still probing the incident to decide whether charges are warranted.
Bluhm said “within the next few weeks we should have a better understanding of what caused this and how it was handled and whether or not there were things that should have been handled better or differently,”
Mayor Rick Goldring with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne during Rib Fest several years ago.
Lost in all this is the relationship the city of Burlington has with the hog business. Every year for the past 20 years a Rotary club in Burlington (the city has four of them) sponsors a Rib Fest that has been exceptionally successful in the past where thousands of people fill Spencer Smith Park to chow down racks of ribs – the meat comes from Fearmans.
Ribs are a great fund raiser for a Burlington Rotary.
Rotary is very proud of this event. More than 175,000 people attended the festival in 2016; more than 150,000 pounds of ribs were sold over the course of the four-day event and more than $3 million has been raised for local community organizations and charities over the last 19 years.
The Rib Fest is great for Rotary, very good for the city of Burlington and good business for Fearmans.
Now that there is a bit of a crisis it would be nice to see all the beneficiaries of the pork business at the table working out solutions that will prevent this type of thing in the future.
The Rotary and the “save the animals” crowd have a lot to say to each other.
Fearmans is a major employer in Burlington and a heavy hydro user as well.
Mayor Goldring reading a Proclamation about Burlington becoming a Compassionate city.
Burlington city council, and the Mayor in particular, got four square behind the creation of a “Compassionate Charter for the city. The Mayor went so far as to read out a Proclamation on the city being a compassionate place.
The “save the animals” crowd would like to see that Charter extended to the animals as well.
The SPCA is asking witnesses to call 310-SPCA to provide contact information for follow-up.
Sofina Foods Inc., which owns Fearmans Pork Inc., said Thursday it continues to co-operate with all parties during the police investigation.
“Once they are available, we will review the findings to determine next steps,” spokesperson Daniele Dufour said.
Halton Regional Police hadn’t yet said Thursday what caused the transport truck driver to lose control at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road.
Dozens of emergency responders — including Health Canada, Ministry of Transportation officials, firefighters and police — helped get the pigs “safely and humanely” off the truck, police said.
But an agency that specializes in animal law is calling for cruelty charges against the slaughterhouse. Witnesses just outside the Appleby Line plant were disgusted to see injured pigs suffering for hours in the sun without medical attention, said Anna Pippus, a lawyer with Animal Justice.
Animal Justice has pointed to video footage showing pigs being hit with paddles to force them out of the truck.
Injured pigs were stunned with a captive bolt pistol before being taken into the slaughterhouse. The bolts penetrate animals’ skulls and brains, Pippus noted.
It wasn’t clear how many of the 42 pigs died as a result of the crash or were put down because of their injuries, police said.
Dufour said the injured pigs were too badly hurt.
“Except for the hogs that died in the accident, the other hogs were seriously compromised and could not be saved. In all cases, all proper and regulatory procedures were followed in collaboration with the authorities.”
Animal rights advocates, however, don’t buy that, and are outraged the slaughterhouse didn’t allow them to take injured pigs to be rehabilitated in their care.
“I did not understand for the life of me why an injured and otherwise useless, as far as they’re concerned, animal couldn’t be released to sanctuary,” said Steve Jenkins, who owns an animal sanctuary in Campbellville.
Anita Kryncj being placed under arrest for obstructing the police.
The “save the animals” community would appear to have some momentum in raising their public profile. The leader of Toronto Pig Save was arrested on the accident site for obstructing the police and is at the same time faces a charge of “mischief” under the criminal code. What is normally a small matter for the criminal courts has taken up three days of a trial that is now scheduled to last five days.
The Toronto Pig Save group has been watering pigs in transport trucks at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvest Road during the blistering hot summer days – the same intersection where the transport truck rolled over earlier this week.
To a considerable degree the group of parents working to ensure that the Burlington Central High school is kept open are working on the fly. They are nimble, quick to spot the changes that have to be made and, if you ever wanted to see what collaboration is all about – sit in on a couple of their meetings.
If there were any egos to be seen – they got checked at the door.
Most are young professionals who are way past the getting signatures on a petition. These people understand policy and they focused on strategy right from the beginning – they are focused and determined. The smarter people at the school board will want to pay attention to these people – they are the ones that will be coming up with the solutions.
The Facebook set up they are using has been changed – the NEW Facebook address is set out below.
https://www.facebook.com/centralstrongBCHS/?notif_t=page_fan¬if_id=1476309799742119
The introduction to the Facebook page says it “was created by the committee of parents/residents and alumni (replaces the Group that was started) to keep the downtown core community informed on the HDSB’s proposal to close Central High School in 2018. The Board of Trustees’ final vote would be in May 2017, and the recommendation to close schools may change based on public input. It is important for us to share info and keep you informed of important meeting dates where you can provide ideas and feedback.”
While the Gazette can report on much of what the group does – their Facebook page will probably be the core source for information on an hour to hour basis. Bookmark it.
It was interesting, exciting and exhilarating to watch some 60+ parents, several with children in tow and babies in carriages talk about how they will go about ensuring that those children have a high school to go to. The Parent Council at the high school did a superb job of both organizing and pulling together information. A quick look at the sheets of notes highlights how thorough they are going to be.
The trustee for the ward was doing what she is supposed to do – advocate for her constituents. The ward Councillor did her job as well. Her “I am here for you” was what the room needed to here.
If one can assume that all four trustees are on side for keeping Burlington Central High open – that gets 4 of the 11 votes. What about the two more that will be needed to ensure that the proposal to close BCHS is not approved by the trustees?
As an aside it looks like the parents with students going to Lester B. Pearson are comfortable with the decision to merge that school with M.M. Robinson.
The potential to become one of the best high schools in the province rests in the hands of the Parent Council.
The people taking part in the first BCHS community meeting were active, engaged and offered some superb comments.
This is their school – and this may be the opportunity for the community to not only oppose the closing of the school but put together ideas and proposals that would make the place one of the best in the province in terms of where students go for their education.
The structure has a sense of style and solidity to it. It is in the downtown core.
It does need a makeover which if done properly will make the school the one many students will want to attend.
It is already unique with its K to graduation set up. It has a very significant number of bursaries and scholarship available to students.
These are the people that can make their school into whatever they want it to be.
It has a parent population that in 1975 raised $100,000 to, we are told, refurbish the auditorium. Those were 1975 dollars.
This is a group of people who should not limit themselves to the just keeping the school open.
Dare to be Daniel’s and show your Board of Education that you have a vision for your community school.
Salt with Pepper is an opinion column publish from time to time
This didn’t go down very well with at least one parent.
“The Punch” photograph – a signed Odor baseball and Jose Bautista jersey.
Minimum Bid – $150
The picture, the signed baseball and a jersey – they raised $500 for BOMBA – was it appropriate asks a parent?
The silent auction ran for the duration of the Blue Jays – Rangers series – that was just three games wasn’t it?
Well that auction ended and they realized $500
The parent that contacted the Gazette explained that the BOMBA – Burlington Organized Minor Baseball association – administrator sent an email with a link to the auction.
“My 6 year old son has played baseball for the past couple years. I think to promote to baseball players fighting and being punched in the face and then using this incident to raise money for any youth sport is in very bad taste and judgement.
By Pepper Parr
That detailed information is followed by the boiler plate stuff put at the end of every media release the province sends out – sort of like Burlington’s fetish for the news that it is the number one mid-sized city in Canada
Those funds will help more families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable Habitat for Humanity homeownership.
To a considerable degree the group of parents working to ensure that the Burlington Central High school is kept open are working on the fly. They are nimble, quick to spot the changes that have to be made and, if you ever wanted to see what collaboration is all about – sit in on a couple of their meetings.
