 By Pepper Parr
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
After numerous meetings the city finally has a draft of a Code of conduct that will have close to the force of law and which if seriously violated could result in the suspension of a member of |Council.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward takes the position that she has the right and the responsibility to involve herself in any issue in any ward. Her belief is not shared by all members of Council. The most contentious issue during the discussions is whether or not a member of council can involves themselves in issues outside their wards. Ward 2 Councilor Marianne Meed Ward has taken the position that she is responsible for ward 2 issues but can involve herself in matters that are city wide and has done so in the past.
Ward 1 Councilor Rick Craven feels that ward 1 is his turf and no one should intrude on his territory. Councilor Dennison felt that as a courtesy a council member should at last inform fellow members of Council when they are involving themselves in an issue in a ward that is not their own.
The document is not what you would call an easy read. The Gazette will publish the version of the Code of Conduct that gets passed by Council on the 25th.
The portion of the draft code was revised at the Standing Committee with the removal of the part that had to do with how and when a council member can involve themselves in matters outside their ward. That section read:
General Integrity
• Members of Council are committed to performing their functions with integrity, accountability and transparency.
• Members of Council are responsible for complying with all applicable legislation, by-laws and policies pertaining to their position as an elected official.
• Members of Council recognize that the public has a right to open government and transparent decision-making.
• Members of Council shall at all times serve and be seen to serve the interests of the municipality in a conscientious and diligent manner and shall approach decision-making with an open mind.
• Members of Council shall avoid the improper use of the influence of their office.
• Members of Council shall not attempt to influence or interfere with, either directly or indirectly, financially, politically or otherwise employees, officers or other persons performing duties under the Provincial Offences Act.
• Where a member of Council is involved in an issue outside the Member’s own ward, the member will inform the ward Councillor of such involvement.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven takes the view that he is responsible for the concerns and issues in his ward and that other council members should basically mind their own business. He lost that argument. Deleting it from the code passed on a 4-3 vote.
In 2006 the Municipal Act was amended to provide municipalities with enhanced accountability powers including the ability to establish a Code of Conduct and appoint an Integrity Commissioner to administer the Code of Conduct.
Burlington’s city council began work on a Code in December 2013 as part of their governance review. Currently, there is a Code of Practice that was adopted in 1996. The Code of Conduct would replace this policy.
Any failure to comply with the code of conduct can have serious and significant consequences. “Members of Council shall adhere to the provisions of the Code of Conduct. The Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes Council, where it has received a report by its Integrity Commissioner that, in his or her opinion, there has been a violation of the Code of Conduct, may impose either of the following penalties:
• A reprimand;
• Suspension of the remuneration paid to the member in respect of his or her services as a member of Council or a local board, as the case may be, for a period of up to 90 days.”
It would be tough to get re-elected were a council member to be suspended for any period of time.
There have been four workshops held with Council to draft the code that was presented.
At the January workshop, Council received an update from the City Solicitor on Bill 8: Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014. Bill 8 significantly expands the role of the provincially-appointed Ombudsman in the affairs of municipalities. This includes oversight over the investigations conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
In some cases, municipalities may forgo the appointment of an Integrity Commissioner and leave the oversight to the Ombudsman. It is staff’s view that despite the oversight from the provincial Ombudsman, it would still be prudent to hire an Integrity Commissioner at the local level. At this point the regulations on Bill 8 have not been released. Those regulations will likely include details on procedures for investigation and any related costs to the municipality.
Following approval of the Code of Conduct, staff will retain an Integrity Commissioner on a fee for service basis. The plan is to share an Integrity Commissioner on a fee for service basis with the Town of Milton. The Town of Oakville already has an Integrity Commissioner in place. The expectation is that the cost will come in at about $20,000 a year – which of course depends on how many complaints get sent to the Commissioner and how well our Council members behave.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman has in the past come perilously close to crossing some of the lines set out in the Code of Conduct. One section of the Code of Conduct spells out very clearly that:
Members of Council shall not:
• Maliciously, falsely or otherwise inappropriately injure the professional or ethical reputation, or the prospects or practice of staff;
• Compel staff to engage in partisan political activities or be subjected to threats or discrimination
for refusing to engage in such activities; or
• Use, or attempt to use, their authority or influence for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, coercing, commanding or influencing any staff member with the intent of interfering in staff’s duties.
That requirement has not always been fully met in the past.
Free tickets to events have been a problem in the past – the rules were never very clear. They will be clear when the Code of Conduct is passed by city council.
“Members of Council are expected to represent the public and the interests of the municipality and to do so with both impartiality and objectivity. The acceptance of a gift, benefit or hospitality can imply favouritism, bias or influence on the part of the Member. At times, the acceptance of a gift, benefit or hospitality occurs as part of the social protocol or community events linked to the duties of an elected official and their role in representing the municipality.
“Members of Council shall not accept gifts that would appear to be in gratitude for influence or to induce influence. For these purposes, a gift, benefit or hospitality provided with the Member’s knowledge to a family member or to a Member’s staff, that is connected directly or indirectly to the performance of the Member’s duties is deemed to be a gift to that Member.
Members of Council are not precluded from accepting:
(a) compensation authorized by law;
(b) such gifts or benefits that normally accompany the responsibilities of office and are received as an incident of protocol or social obligation;
(c) a political contribution under the Municipal Elections Act;
(d) a memento of a function honouring the member;
(e) where a member is speaking or attending an event in an official capacity, the food, lodging, transportation and entertainment provided by provincial, regional and local governments or political subdivisions of them, by the federal government or by a foreign government within a foreign country, or by a conference, seminar or event organizer;
(f) food and beverages consumed at banquets, receptions or similar events, if:
1. attendance serves a legitimate business purpose;
2. the person extending the invitation or a representative of the organization is in attendance; and
3. the value is reasonable and the invitations infrequent;
(g) communication to the offices of a member, including subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals;
(h) gifts of a nominal value (e.g. baseball cap, t-shirt, flash drive, book, etc).
 Some ward 6 residents felt their Council member, Blair Lancaster was just a little too close to the owners of the Air Park. In the case of exceptions claimed under categories b, d, e, f, g, h where the value of the gift or benefit exceeds $25, or if the total value received from any one source during the course of a calendar year exceeds $25, the Members shall within 30 days of receipt of the gift or reaching the annual limit, list the gift or benefit on a Councilor Information Statement in the prescribed form and file it with the City Clerk. This information will be posted on the website with Councilors expenses.
Members are permitted to receive up to two tickets to a dinner or a fundraising event, as long as the Member is attending only one such event as a gift from the same individual or corporation within any calendar year.
Fundraising, Community Events and Donations are also clarified in the code.
This Code recognizes that as community leaders, Members of Council may lend their support to and encourage, community donations to registered charitable organizations and not for profit groups. Monies raised through fundraising efforts shall go directly to the groups or volunteers and chapters acting as local organizers of the group. This Code recognizes the important work of Members of Council in supporting charitable causes and the need for transparency in Members involvement.
This Code sets the following additional guiding principles for Members of Council
(a) Members of Council should not directly or indirectly manage or control any monies received relating to a charitable, not for profit or community-based organization’s fundraising in their capacity as a member of Council.
(b) A Member of Council or a third party acting on behalf of the Member shall not solicit nor accept support in any form from an individual, group or corporation with a pending matter, such as but not limited to, a planning or demolition application, partnership agreement, tender or Request for Proposals before Burlington City Council.
(c) With reference to Member-Organized Community Events, Members of Council must keep a record of the names of all donors and the value of their donation that supplements the event and file it with the City Clerk.
(d) Donation cheques shall not be made out to a Member of Council. Nothing included herein affects the entitlement of a Member of Council to:
• Use their office expense budget to run or support community events subject to the terms of the Councilor Expense Policy.
• Urge constituents, businesses and other groups to support community events and advance the needs of a charitable organization;
• Play an advisory or membership role in any organization that holds community events.
Once passed the Code gives the public a process to complain. Complaint of a Violation of this Code
Any individual that has reasonable grounds to believe that a Member has breached this Code, may file a complaint with the City Clerk.
The Integrity Commissioner shall be responsible for investigating such complaints and if the parties are in agreement, the complaint may be resolved by way of mediation.
If either party does not participate in the mediation process, if the complaint is not resolved through this process, or the matter is not appropriate for referral to mediation, the Integrity Commissioner shall assume responsibility for investigating the complaint in accordance with the procedures established by Council.
In the case of a complaint of discrimination or harassment, the complainant may file a complaint directly to the Human Resources Department under the City of Burlington Respect in the Workplace Policy. The complainant will also be advised of his or her right to advance an application to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
The procedure for filing a complaint includes an informal or a formal complaint
The formal procedure is as follows:
Any individual who has identified or witnessed behaviour or activity by a member that appears to be in contravention of the Code may address their concerns through the formal complaint process set out below.
1. All formal complaints must be made using the Complaints Form prepared by the City Clerk and/or Integrity Commissioner and shall be dated and signed by the Complainant.
2. The complaint must include an explanation as to why the issue raised may be a contravention of the Code and any evidence in support of the allegation must be included with the Complaints Form.
3. Any witnesses in support of the allegation must be identified on the Complaint Form.
4. The Complaint Form must include the name of the member alleged to have breached the Code, the section of the Code allegedly contravened, the date, time and location of the alleged contravention and any other information as required on the Complaint Form.
5. The complaint shall be filed with the Clerk who shall confirm that the required information is complete. The Clerk will forward the complaint form to the Integrity Commissioner who will determine whether the matter is, on its face, a complaint with respect to non-compliance with the Code and not covered by other legislation or policies.
6. The Integrity Commissioner may request additional information from the complainant.
 Councillor Jack Dennison felt it was just common decency to advise a fellow council member that he was talking to people about a project in their ward. The existence of an Integrity Commissioner gives the public some recourse to behavior they feel is wrong or unbecoming a member of a city council. However the authors of the code were aware of the possibility that someone might want to exploit the process in an election year. They covered off that possibility.
 By the end of the month of May your seven members of Council will have to adhere to a Code of Conduct that allows for the suspension of a member of r up to 90 days of they stray from the rules. The Integrity Commissioner shall not make any report to Council or any other person after the last Council meeting in June in any year in which a regular municipal election is to be held. Any reports would proceed to the first Council meeting after the Inaugural meeting of the new Council.
Any guesses as to how long it will take for someone in the city to file a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner and who the complaint will be against?
The Gazette will publish the code of Conduct in its entirety once it has been passed by Council.
 By Staff
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Mark Visser, a Burlington resident since 1967, feels a technicality has left him high and dry – which was not his experience when the city was drenched with more than 190 mm of rain last August 4th.
Visser sold his house in June, 2014 and put his belongings in a storage locker until he bought a new home. The storage locker he rented was flooded August 4th.
Here is the story he tells:
Submitted original claim for $6,374.00 to replace personal property (essential and non-essential) lost in the Burlington Flood
April 7: Request for compensation denied
April 13, 2015: Re-submitted new claim of $3,302.75 for essential lost property only (dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses)
April 30, 2015: Received word that I would receive only $770.00
Visser believes the final settlement should be $3,302.75 and not $770.00
There was a total of 310 claims submitted of which 42 were denied. Visser points out that $ 2.97 million dollars was raised for flood relief by citizens, corporate dnations and funds from the provincial government.
He maintains “there certainly is no shortage of funds to honour my claim of #3,302.75 to replace lost essentials.”
MAY 20, 2014
Sold my home. In June my personal belongings were moved to locker #3000 at Access Storage (2177 Plains Road E. Burlington ON L7R 3T1) till I would find another home.
AUGUST 4. 2014
Heavy rains caused flooding to many parts of the city. I was away on holidays and my daughter informed me that my locker was flooded by water and mud.
AUGUST 11, 2014
I was informed that Access Storage had filed a Notice of Claim with Halton Region Legal Services, City of Burlington Legal Department, Province of Ontario Claims Management Services and CN General Claims Department
AUGUST 18, 2014
Returned to Burlington. Family and friends had cleaned out my locker. Items that could not be salvaged were deposed off and the rest was repacked into new storage boxes.
I lost most of my collectables (stuffed animals and postcards), tools, vacuum cleaner, family mementos (pictures and wedding albums), dining room set, mattresses and bedroom furniture.
AUGUST 22. 2014
I send a claim for damages in the amount of $6,374.00 to Access Storage. Claim was supported by pictures
SEPTEMBER 3. 2014
Letter from Access Storage in reply to my claim of $6,374.00 stated: “Access Storage’s Tenant Insurance does not cover damages related to flooding of water”
NOVEMBER 7(?), 2014
I attended an information meeting set up by the Burlington Community Foundation which was held at the Burlington Senior Centre located on New Street in Burlington. This Community Foundation operates under guidelines set by ODRAP (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program)
– This meeting was held for flood victims who either were under insured or had no insurance at all.
– Many of those in attendance did not receive the information they were looking for. I was one of them. I was not your typical home owner who got flooded. I was a ‘storage locker resident’ I had sold my home in May and at the time of the flood had not yet purchased another one. I was ‘in between homes’.
– I was given a form called ‘Application for Assistance for Losses and Damages’ and told “make a list of ALL items and once completed, hand it in together with pictures and receipts”.
NOVEMBER 8, 2014
As requested I dropped off a letter at the Burlington Disaster Relief Committee that proofed that my property (or what was left of it after the flood), was still in storage at Access Storage on 2177 Plains Road East, Burlington
NOVEMBER 17, 2014
Submitted the Application for Assistance for Losses and Damages to the Disaster Relief Committee at the Burlington Community Foundation located at the North Service Road in Burlington
NOVEMBER 18, 2014
I dropped off a letter, at the Burlington Flood Disaster Relief Committee located at 3380 South Service Road in Burlington, with more info and additional pictures to support my claim for $6,374.00
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
I received an email from Cameron MacKenzie, Claims Adjuster for Cunningham & Lindsey. Attached was my Application Form for Assistance. The email informed me that the form was not properly filled out and was asked to print NA in all space that did not relate to my situation.
DECEMBER 1
Took possession of my new home. Before I could move in I had to purchase essential items lost during the flood such as a dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses. Total out of pocket costs: $3,302.75.
Copies of receipts were dropped off at the Burlington Community Foundation before the December 15 deadline.
EARLY DECEMBER, 2014
The Burlington Flood Relieve committee informed me that my application for financial assistance had been processed and that all claims will be forwarded to assurance adjusters Cunningham & Lindsey located in Mississauga.
APRIL 7, 2015
Received letter that my claim had been rejected based on:
– That property in a storage locker were not eligible for compensation under the ODRAP guidelines (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program)
Visser says he checked the ODRAP website and the words ‘storage or locker’ are not mentioned in the guidelines.
– That the program is not intended to replace insurance policies provided by private insurance companies.
I provided them with proof that I was not covered by any insurance including Access Storage Inc.
APRIL 13, 2015
Received email from Burlington Community Foundation that my request to reconsider the boards decision (see April 7 letter) would be forwarded to the committee for review.
I also mentioned that I was willing to adjust my claim for $6,374.00 (essential and non-essential items) to $3,302.75 for essential lost property (dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses)
APRIL 30, 2015
Received word that after reviewing my claim that board decided that I would receive $770.00 if I signed and returned the enclosed Declaration. I would receive an interim payment of $385.00. The letter still listed my original claim amount for $6,374.00 and not the revised claim of $$3,302.75 as submitted on April 13, 2015
APRIL 30 or MAY 1
Under protest I signed and submitted the declaration. On the declaration I made a note that I expect that the final payment will be $2,917.75 ($3,307,55 – interim payment of $385.00).
Received copy of ODRAP guidelines (one page) from Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
NOTE: The ODRAP website has, when printed, 11 pages and nowhere is it mentioned that property held in a locker or storage unit is not eligible for compensation.
MAY 12, 2015. (My last email send to the Burlington Flood Relief Committee)
I did receive my first cheque for the amount of $385.00 as explained in the letter dated April 30, 2015.
This weekend I had some time to reflect on was has transpired over the last weeks, reread the correspondence and went online to do some research. I would like to register the following:
1 – April 7, 2015 letter stated: “Contents held in storage are not eligible under the guidelines” I did access the ODRAP website and made a copy (11 pages). I researched the site and there is NO mention of contents held in storage. And by the way, they are called guidelines, not rules carved in stone which means there is room for decisions made and based on common sense and compassion.
2- April 30. Letter stated that after reassessment of my claim it was determined that I would be compensated for the amount of $770.00. This letter mentioned also that the amount claimed was $6,374.00. This amount was to cover all items lost included non-essential items.
After I received the letter dated April 7, 2014 I resubmitted a new claim for the amount of $3,302.75 which would cover only essential items lost such as mattresses, bedroom furniture and a dining room set.
3- When I received my first cheque for the amount of $385.00 I expected a note telling me that a second and final cheque for the amount of $2917.75 would be issued at the end of April, 2015.
Visser says: “I’m convinced that the availability of money to settle claims submitted by flood victims is not an issue. The amount raised and number of claims received tells me that there is more than enough to compensate flood victims.
Burlington citizen and businesses gave generously with the understanding that their donations would help flood victims who did not have any insurance to cover items lost.
“I think that many Burlingtonian’s would be upset to know that I received $770.00 (not even enough to buy a new mattress) compensation for the loss of $3,302.75 in essentials.
“Given the fact that the Committee’s decisions were based on the ODRAP guidelines I know that you, at the local level, did everything you could do to help me. I will not trouble you again and with little time left I have decided to go public to tell my side of the story.
Colleen Mulholland headed up the local Disaster Relief Committee. She is out of the city but has said she will review the correspondence from Mark Visser and comment when she returns.
 By Pepper Parr
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
He was up early, got himself cleaned up and into his uniform and headed off to meet the Queen.
 Ron Foxcroft outside his hotel in London preparing to drive to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. Ron Foxcroft, Burlington’s most famous high school dropout, packed a bunch of his Fox40 whistles, which had been worked into a presentation he was giving the Queen and, along with his wife Marie, headed for Buckingham Palace.
 Cpl Nathan Cirillo 1989 -2014 Foxcroft is in London with Colonel Kennedy and Colonel Hatfield of the Argyll’s. The three are there representing the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), the Canadian Army Reserve infantry battalion with a storied past, a proud present, and a bright future. The battalion lost one of its own when Nathan Cirillo who was shot to death while standing sentry duty at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on October 22nd, 2014.
Home for the Argyl’s is the Major John Weir Foote VC Armouries, Hamilton, Ontario where they have been since raised in 1903.
The Regiment fought with distinction in Canada’s major 20th Century wars, earning 34 Battle Honours. Since the 1990s, over 130 Argyll’s served overseas on Canadian military operations, including Cyprus, Bosnia and other parts of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.
In 2013, the Regiment received its 35th Battle Honour, Afghanistan, in recognition of its contribution to that campaign.
The Queen is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyles. Ron Foxcroft is the Honorary Colonel of the regiment.
 A presentation piece made out of Fox 40 whistles and shaped as a Canadian poppy will become part of the collection of gifts given to the Queen. Foxcroft arrived in London a few days ago and went through the process of being told how to address the Queen by Commander Andrew Canale, who is Equerry to the Queen.
 Text on the plaque that Foxcroft will present to the queen on behalf of the regiment. When you meet the Queen Foxcroft was told, you address her as Your Majesty. After that call her Mam.
Colonel Kennedy and Colonel Hatfield were told to be relaxed and discuss Argyll Business. Later in the meeting the Queen will then buzz and our wives come in and meet the Queen. Foxcroft said the meeting is expected to last about 90 minutes.
They expect to talk at length about the murder of Corporal Cirillo and the impact that event had on the battalion.
The question everyone is asking is: Will Foxcroft get the Queen to blow one of his whistles.
 By Pepper Parr
May 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It used to be that Lakeshore Road was the place to be if you wanted to enjoy an outdoor patio.
Joe Dogs was further up Brant Street and there were a few places that had a couple of tables – but there was nothing that had any style or pizzaz.
 The Test Kitchen had to pay full freight for the two parking space the Pop Up Patio took up. 21 tables in that space – it’s hoot and a fun place to be. Alex Mickalow opened his Test Kitchen on Brant Street and offered a lunch that included a glass of beer or wine for $10 – the place became THE place to be seen.
There was a buzz to the place with a menu that was different for this city. Finally something that said one can do better than just a burger and beer.
Alex decided he could ratchet his operation up a notch and talked to people at city hall to see what they thought of what were being called Pop Up Patios.
 It’s not the Brant Street you are used to seeing – expect to see servers scooting back and forth across the street. It took a lot of talking – and city hall wasn’t exactly reasonable with the deal the Test Kitchen got but it did get approved much to the delight of the Burlington Downtown Business Association and Jodie Wellings, Special Business Area Coordinator responsible for making the Downtown Core Commitment real.
She unfortunately wasn’t in town for the opening.
The patio is now constructed and open – there are 21 tables in the space that used to hold two parked cars – tight but friendly.
 The Test Kitchen Pop Up Patio on Brant Street is open – and appears to work. Your menu is on an iPad which allows for instant menu upgrades and is kind of cool to use. Staff is great – they are kept busy.
City Council took to the idea and hoped there would be more applications for this type of operation. They seemed prepared to let Brant Street become one row of restaurant after restaurant – with room for other innovative commercial ideas. The street could eventually become car free – with just bicycles and people strolling along.
Does it have to be Brant Street? John Street has significant potential – the Organic Farmer’s market is now into its third year.
The Brant Street Test kitchen has proven that something upbeat, different and with some hip style to it will work. Mickalow knows he is on to something and is in the process of opening up a second Test Kitchen on Appleby Line.
Getting a table at Brant Street – make a reservation. (289) 245-1999
 By Staff
May 18, 2015
Burlington, ON
We are at that time of year when the outdoor art shows begin to take place. Burlington managed to miss out on a show that was proposed and would have taken place on the Old Lakeshore Road part of town but that got tied up in red tape and some faux pas on the part of the organizer – for some reason that sort of thing seems to happen to Burlington a little too often.
We lost the opportunity to host the pre-Olympic cycling trials a few years ago – even though the parks and recreation people did everything they could to make it happen. The policing costs were a killer and an organizer who didn’t have the depth or all that much in the way of organizational talent blew that opportunity.
 Several of the well known smaller breweries will be part of the 2015 Burlington Beer Festival Burlington’s Beer Festival, now in its second summer season is branching out and adding the arts to its event.
Wayne Brown, brought the Magic Moments to Burlington in 2013 and that was a success artistically if not financially.
Last year Brown hosted both a winter and a summer Beer Fest that went quite well. This year he is gearing up for his third Beer Fest event and is going up market and adding an art element to the three day occasion.
Brown traveled to Calgary and took in the large Beer Fest held in that city. He found it had a Hooters tinge to it and that wasn’t what he wanted.
Adding some of the arts to the event appealed to Brown and he met recently with the seven Guilds at the Art Gallery of Burlington who have agreed to take part.
 The smaller craft breweries bring character and their own interpretation of what a good beer should taste like. A pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon learning what you like and don’t like.  Wonder what this beer will taste like? Returning this year is a beer brand from Thailand which gives the event a bit of an International flavour. Beer Fests in Canada trend to focus on the local craft breweries – which is good for local business and helps them continue to make something more than just a dent in the Beer Store monopoly that exists in Ontario. That is changing but it has a long way to go before we can buy almost every craft beer made in the province.
The 2015 Summer Festival takes place from Friday the 17th through to Sunday the 19th of July: Hours are: Friday 4-11 pm; Saturday noon-11 pm and Sunday noon to 8 pm.
 By Pepper Parr
May 15, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a smart move, it brought to the public forum a concern that is very real and was done in a way that the concerns came from the people who had them and not from the people who thought they had a solution.
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward held a public meeting, the first of four, to learn from people and developers what they wanted. Her focus was the downtown core but the approach could be applied to any ward in the city.
 It was a full active room with citizens and planners exchanging views – citizen participation at its very best. The city needs more of this kind of meeting. “What if…developers, businesses and residents could work together to build our downtown – finding common ground instead of fighting? asked Meed Ward.
 Meed Ward works from the premise that people have a right to determine what gets built in their neighbourhood and that the views of the public are as important as the views of the developer who owns the property and the planners that determine if a property meets the Official Plan and the zoning – and more importantly if an application for a change to the Official Plan or the zoning is beneficial to the community.
Many Burlingtonians don’t understand why an Official Plan can be changed – they want the Plan cast in stone. Burlington’s Director of Planning explains again and again that there isn’t an Official Plan in existence that can foresee all the ideas and opportunities that innovative developers can come up with.
About 125 people showed up for the Workshop including the following developers. A few who said they would attend didn’t show up. It was an impressive list.
Robert Molinaro, The Molinaro Group – attended
Sam DiSanto, The Molinaro Group – attended
Matt Jaecklein, Mayrose-Tycon Group – attended
Albert Faccenda, Coral Gable Homes – attended
Andrew and Donna Haid, Welwyn Interests – attended along with their architect Jonathan King and planner David Capper.
Dr. Michael Shih, Emshih Developments – attended
Ken Dakin on behalf of Vrankor Group (Darko Vranich) – attended
Nick Carnicelli, Carriage Gate Homes – attended
Jeff Paikin, New Horizon Homes – did not make it
Saud & Tariq Adi, Adi Developments – did not make it.
 Nick Carnacelli, the developer of the Bentley getting closer to the point of putting a shovel in the ground makes a point at the Workshop  Maurice Desrochers and Dr. Michael Shie look as if they are putting together a deal – it was more an exchange of views. Note that Paletta International, the largest landowner in the city, didn’t plan on attending and didn’t have anyone in the room. The Reimer’s were not in the room nor was there anyone from Hopewell, the people who own the land on the North Service Road that IKEA had hoped to build on.
The first event ran for a full two hours and if the conversations at the different tables are any indication – there were a lot of opinions floating around.
Before the participants got down to what Meed Ward called the “table work” Andrea Smith, Manager of Policy and Research for Burlington set out the policy framework within which development in the downtown core takes place.
The working premise for the evening was:
How we got here
Existing policies
Scope of OP/Zoning review
What do we want to achieve
Meed Ward set the current situation which she defined as the city wanting to keep the existing farm land- which is basically everything north of Dundas Highway 407.
She said cutting back on the infrastructure that has to be built will reduce taxes but to do that the city needs to get better use out of the infrastructure it already has in place
Meed Ward talks of a more walkable city with much more mixed use – which is an attempt to do something other than repeat the urban sprawl that is expensive to maintain and doesn’t do much for really healthy communities.
There are always personal agendas when politicians meet with the public. Meed Ward was letting the city see the kind of leadership she would provide were she to get to wear the Chain of Office that Mayors’ wear.
 Andrea smith, Manager Police and Research and the planner shepherding the Official Plan review Andrea Smith, Manager of Policy and Research – the person heading up the review of the existing Official Plan, put a graphic up on the screen that showed where development is currently taking place. Few had seen this document before.
 There is a lot more development approved in Burlington than most people realize. There are three big project at different stages of development: Paradigm, Bridgewater and the Bentley – all approved and at different stages of development.
While there are few construction cranes on the Burlington horizon now these three project will keep the construction trades busy for the next five years.
Does the market have the capacity to absorb the number of units that will be built? The developers have those number in closely guarded reports – what do the planners know about what market demand for accommodation in the city?
During a Committee of the Whole meeting recently, Director of Planning Bruce Krushelnicki pointed out that the city doesn’t have any demographic talent at city hall – without it he suggested there is some flying in the dark being done.
The three projects that are in various stages of development cater to radically different markets. The people who buy into the Paradigm are not the same people who will be buying into Bridgewater.
 Matt Jaecklein, Mayrose-Tycon Group listens quietly to a city planner. Jaecklein was a patient developer who first got approval for what is now the Bridgewater development back in 1985. As for the hotel that will be part of the Bridgewater development on the south side of Lakeshore – well that was going to be open for the Pan AM Games which kick off in the middle of June.
Planner Smith then put up a graphic of the parking lots the city owns – they want to unlock the value of that land and get buildings up. Where will cars park? The city is hoping there will be fewer cars in a future Burlington. Does it make economic sense to put up large structures and dig down for parking spaces?
 The city has parking lots throughout the downtown core. They will do more for the city’s finances if there were buildings on the land rather than cars. Getting to the point where something can be gotten to the point where there are shovels in the ground is WHAT Is it possible to grow the residential community in the downtown core and create the jobs in the community that people can walk to or use public transit as the prime mode of transportation?
Planner Smith set out the provincial and regional policy initiatives that Burlington has to comply with and just where the city has wiggle room and where it can do very little.
There are also individual property rights that have to be respected – look at the battle taking place in the Beachway to get a sense of how those situations make for complex problems and then there are infrastructure realities that have to be dealt with.
There are pipelines that run underground through the city that limit what can be done with some properties – the pipeline that runs alongside the Performing Arts Centre and cross two of the city owned parking lots – can’t dig too close to those pipes.
City Council approved what is called an Urban Growth Centre – this was where the growth was going to take place and the rules for that growth were established.
 The Urban growth center is where city council, through its official plan has determined where the city’s commercial development will take place  The Planners created precincts which are boundaries that define parts of the city and then applied zoning for each precinct. All these issues have to get dealt with within the boundaries the Official Plan has created. In the last Official Plan review the city created a number of what they called “precincts” and applied very specific zoning to those parts of the city to protect what was already in place and to allow for any ideas that a developer might come along with.
 Tom Muir, tends to focus more on Aldershot issues – seldom fails to have an opinion on how the city can grow itself in a reasonable manner and still retain its core values. As the graphics shows there are a number of precincts – names given to different parts of the city with zoning attached to each, Burlington has two residential precincts on either side of Brant Street; the St. Luke’s precinct on the west and the Emerald precinct on the east. The residents of each fight just as fiercely as those in Roseland to ensure that their neighbourhood does not undergo radical change.
The idea of a 28 storey tower on the edge of a residential neighbourhood that has some commercial and professional space in the area has some people frothing at the mouth and also feeling helpless now that the development has gone to the Ontario Municipal Board because the city faield to do anything in the 180 day window they had to respond to the application. Quite why city council didn’t get a chance to pronounce on the application is another story.
The Wellington precinct south of the downtown core has a number of high rise buildings stuffed into the neighbourhood. When they were approved the thinking was that the residents would spend and there would be decent commercial development – maybe even a super market.
 Robert Molinaro explains a point to people participating in the Workshop. The Molinaro’s built several of the condominium high rise buildings along Lakeshore Road and are now developing along Maple Avenue. The residents in those towers saw life differently – they head south in the winter.
Does anyone know how well the butcher at the corner of Brant and |Lakeshore Road is doing?
The Old Lakeshore precinct is a bit of a mess and a major lost opportunity for the city. It has three sub-sections within the precinct that isn’t much more than a couple of blocks in size.
Two groups were formed and asked to think along the lines of a number of themes:
Parking; heritage; office/retail; compatibility; design; trees; benches; affordability; transit & traffic; height; density; public art; sustainable buildings; jobs and festivals and events.
 This is the Burlington we have. what do we want t do with what we have – and who gets to make that decision anyway? The conversation was at times electric and the room at the Lions Hall certainly had a real buzz to it most of the evening.
Too early to tell what came out of the event. All we know at this point is that there will be another; don’t miss the next one.
The second meeting will take place at the Performing Arts Centre on May 27th where Meed Ward hopes to apply the principles in place to two specific sites:
Brant/Ghent
Lakeshore/Burlington
The third community Workshop will take place June 10, 2015, at the Burlington Lion’s Club Hall where Meed Ward hopes she will be able to present areas where there is a consensus and possible draft recommendations.
By Staff
May 13, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
North America will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope on July 13, 2015. Terry Fox visited Burlington during that first event.
 The Terry Fox Run to Cure Cancer has been a Burlington event from the beginning 35 years ago. Last year the organizers of the event set up a booth in the Car Free Sunday in Alton. The city has been approached by the Burlington Terry Fox organization requesting a plaque or monument be installed along the waterfront, on the border between Wards 1 and 2, to mark the 35th anniversary.
Terry Fox ran along Spencer Smith Park during his cross Canada run, and the annual race takes place in Spencer Smith/Beachway Parks.
The city is exploring the idea further, and will be presented the following staff direction at the May 12, 2015 Community & Corporate Services Committee meeting:
Direct the Manager of Arts and Culture to consult with the Burlington Terry Fox Foundation in the design of a monument to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run with funding provided by the Terry Fox Foundation for implementation;
Direct the Executive Director of Capital Works to consult with Halton Region on a location of the monument in alignment with the Beach Master Plan; and
Direct the City Clerk to write a letter of support for the project to the Burlington Terry Fox Foundation.
 The tension between Councillors Meed Ward and Craven is close to measurable at times. It will be interesting to see how they manage to cooperate at the unveiling of the plaque the city is considering. , It will be interesting to see how the Councillors for wards 1 and 2 manage to co=operate on this event. They are not known for the conviviality of their relationship.
The plaque itself is a wonderful idea – Burlington has been a consistent supporter of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope since its earliest days.
By Pepper Parr
May 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Large parts of this article were first published in a blog Mayor Goldring contributes to from time to time
The group that spent close to a week in Holland representing Burlington in one of the most politically and historically significant events for the western world are all back in town.
 Burlington and Apeldoorn residents touring the Kasteel Cannenburch in Vaassen. Mayor Rick Goldring and Councillor Blair Lancaster represented the city officially. Staff members Scott Stewart and Rob Peachy took part in the trip along with members of Burlington’s Dutch Community and the Burlington Teen Tour Band.
The event was the 70th year celebration of the end of the Second World War. The remaining members of the armed forces who fought that war are in their 90’s – the chances of them taking part in the next celebration ten years from now is remote.
 Brian Bourne, Mayors John Berends and Rick Goldring, Scott Stewart, Councillor Blair Lancaster, Ed Dorr, Jan Koorenhof and Charles Minken come together with the Burlington Teen Tour Band and visiting Burlington residents for the preview of Burlington Park in Apeldoorn. The occasion was an opportunity for Burlington to further cement its relationship with Apeldoorn, the city was twinned with ten years ago.
Mayor Goldring called the trip “the experience of a lifetime”.
The celebrations were multi-faceted. In April, 21 Burlington students from participating high schools travelled to Apeldoorn for a week-long exchange. There was also an art exchange and pen pal program between participating Grade 4 and 5 students.
 Cycling is a key mode of transportation in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. Ideas for encouraging cycling in Burlington were shared. Apeldoorn is a city of approximately 150,000, while Burlington has about 180,000 residents. We have many similarities despite our physical distance.
The Burlington delegation met with municipal officials on several occasions to share ideas and best practices, with discussions around infrastructure, sustainability, fleet, efficiencies, greenspace management and council procedure, among others.
There were also discussions about possible economic development opportunities. Economic development is a priority for both Apeldoorn Mayor John Berends and myself.
The close ties between the Canadian and Dutch people date back 70 years when the Canadian Forces liberated Apledoorn in April 1945 and the rest of the country by May 5, 1945.
Today, both Canada and the Netherlands are highly regarded in the international community for our strong open democracies with enduring traditions of tolerance and respect for human rights and the rule of law. We are natural friends and partners in so many ways.
 Mayors Rick Goldring and John Berends lay a wreath at Loenen, the Netherlands. Mayor Goldring said the visit to Holten Cemetery to honour our Canadian soldiers “touched my heart, as did the veteran’s parades in Apeldoorn and Wageningen.” Apeldoorn Mayor John Berends and Mayor Goldring laid a wreath at Loenen.
“I have always been proud to be Canadian” said Mayor Golddring. “This past week, observing thousands of Dutch citizens waving Canadian flags and seeing young Dutch children run up and hand our veterans homemade cards and fresh flowers during the parade deepened my patriotism.”
 Canadian veteran and Burlington resident Mr. Jim Warford meets with Councillor Blair Lancaster and Mayor Rick Goldring.  Councillor Blair Lancaster and Mayor Rick Goldring with Canadian veteran and Burlington resident Mr. Stan Egerton. “Last week”, while in Holland, “ I also had the opportunity to connect with Burlington veterans Mr. Jim Warford and Mr. Stan Egerton in Apeldoorn. Words are not enough to describe the honour of shaking their hands.”
“It is so very important to teach our young people about the importance of freedom and the relationship between Canada and the Netherlands. Everywhere I went, people spoke about the talent, precision and dedication of our young people in the band. They truly are the pride of Burlington and Canada’s Musical Ambassadors.”
 Princess Margriet of the Netherlands meets members of the City of Burlington delegation in Apeldoorn. Goldring reminded us that: “It is special to note that during the Second World War, the Dutch Flag was flown over the Parliament Buildings and Peace Tower in Ottawa when Princess Margriet was born in Canada. She is a beloved daughter of Canada.”
The Burlington delegation to Holland had an opportunity to meet Princess Margriet during their visit. “She was gracious and very complimentary of Canada and the relationship with Burlington.” Said the Mayor.
Goldring spoke during the preview of the Burlington Garden in Apeldoorn and said:
“I would like to extend warm greetings to Mayor John Berends, Apeldoorn Burlington Committee Chair Jan Koorenhof, Burlington Apeldoorn Committee Chair Charles Minken, Burlington Mundialization Chair Ed Dorr, our citizens, the Burlington Teen Tour Band and our friends in attendance.
 A bench embossed with maple leaves in Burlington Garden in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. The park was a mundialization initiative. “What a glorious occasion it is to be here today at the preview of Burlington Garden during the 10th anniversary of the official twinning of Burlington and Apeldoorn.
“The Burlington Garden is a meaningful initiative for both the City of Apeldoorn and the City of Burlington.
“Two years ago, Mayor Berends and I celebrated the ground-breaking for Apeldoorn Park in downtown Burlington. How quickly time has passed, my friend.
“Apeldoorn Park officially opened in Burlington in September 2014. It was a special occasion as Apeldoorn high school students were present at the opening.
“It has many Dutch features, with orange play equipment, benches engraved with tulips, and hundreds of Apeldoorn tulips.
 Burlington Teen Tour Band members line a street in Apeldoorn for the walk of silence on the Day of Remembrance on Monday, May 4. “Every time I drive or walk by Apeldoorn Park, I see children playing or seniors sitting enjoying the scenery. Apeldoorn Park is a park that holds a special place in the hearts of our residents. It is an honour to be here today at the opening of Burlington Garden.
“This garden embodies the friendship and close bond between the people of Burlington and Apeldoorn. It is also symbolic of city council’s dedication to the welfare of the people of Apeldoorn, as the garden will be maintained by area citizens and residents of Heeren Loo.
“It is beautiful to think that children will be playing in Burlington Garden at the same time as children in Apeldoorn Park. Although we are separated by a vast ocean and hundreds of miles, we are family.
By Pepper Parr
May 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The route for the Pan Am Torch run has been determined. It will go through Burlington on Friday June 19 and start at Brant and Leighland and proceed south to Caroline where it will turn west along Caroline to Locust.
South on Locust to Elgin
West on Elgin to Maple and south on Maple into Spencer Smith Park.
The Torch Route will start at 17:40 (5:40 pm) arriving at the stage at Spencer Smith Park at 18:25. (6:25) pm These times need to finalized with TO2015, which we anticipate shortly.
 Pan Am Torch route – Friday June 19, The 19th of June is Sound of Music time of year – so the Torch run will somehow become part of the Sound of Music.
There are hordes of people involved in the Pan Am event. Corporations are being asked to think in terms of possible staggered hours for their employees or have them work from home.
Traffic is expected to be a bit of a mess for the whole of the Pan Am and the Para Am games.
 This is the torch Burlington’s representative will carry June 19th Burlington has what the bureaucrats are calling “non-event” status – which is a polite way of saying nothing is going to take place in Burlington other than the practice soccer games that will take place at City View park – but the public will not be allowed to watch those games.
All these decisions were made before Burlington was recognized as the best mid-sized city in Canada to live in.
 Dr. Ashley Worobec will carry the Pan Am Torch through Burlington and into Spencer Smith Park. Dr. Ashley Worobec will carry the Torch for the Burlington portion of the run into Hamilton.
Worobec is a Burlington based chiropractor at the Burlington Sports and Spine Clinic. She is also an avid Crossfit practitioner.
A mother of two young children, she is actively engaged in numerous community activities and blogs about her community, her practice, parenting and staying fit and healthy.
 By Staff
May 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It looks like it could come from the Bank of Montreal – and we all make little goofs logging in. Did I make that many I might ask.
 It might look legitimate – it isn’t. This kind of scam is an attempt to get you to click on the link they want you to go to – then they begin to gather information. It doesn’t take them very long to get to the point where they have enough information to begin sucking money out of your bank account; your credit card or any number of places where you have funds that are accessible on line.
The sent from address used is a little confusing – this isn’t from a bank.
The basic rule is always be vigilant and if in doubt – don’t.
 By Staff
May 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In September 2014, Halton Regional Police recovered a stolen Freightliner tractor cab that was reported stolen from within the Region of Peel. The cab was located in the Walmart parking lot at 2065 Fairview Street in the City of Burlington.
 Shoplifter drives to Walmart in a tractor cab – police at first unaware of his mode of transportation Milton officers investigating tractor thefts in Halton continued their investigation into the stolen truck a couple days after its recovery and learned a suspect had driven the stolen truck to the Walmart parking lot in Burlington and entered the store.
The suspect was arrested that day and charged with shoplifting offences. What police didn’t know at the time was that his trip to the Walmart Store was by the truck tractor.
On May 6, 2015, the accused was located by Halton Regional Police investigators in Milton and charged with the theft of the truck.
The police don’t say how long the accused was driving the truck.
Accused:
Harjeet SINGH, 29 years, from Brampton has been charged with:
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Failing to comply with his Recognizance x 3
Anyone with any information about cargo theft is asked to contact Detective Constable Candido Moniz of the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at (905)825-4747 ext. 2416 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com; or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
For additional information about community concerns in Milton and Halton Hills, follow us on Twitter @HRPSMiltHH. Additional tips for securing your home and other property can be found in the Community Policing section of the Service’s website at www.haltonpolice.ca.
 By Staff
May 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ouch – 10 to 1 – for the other guys.
The Burlington Bandits, this city’s entry into the Inter County Baseball League held took part in a game on Saturday and took a drubbing.
 The Majors just hit too many of the balls Perego was throwing. The London Majors pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of five Burlington errors in a season-opening 10-1 win over the Bandits Saturday aMajors third baseman Alex Martinez went 3-for-5 with a run scored, as five London batters had multi-hit games.
Cody Mombourquette, Larry Gonzalez, Brett Sabourin and Argenis Vargas each had two hits.
Majors leadoff hitter Humberto Ruiz had a double and scored three runs.
London starter Oscar Perez went five innings, giving up one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out three.
For Burlington, starting pitcher Dylan Perego was tagged for four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings.
He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Adam Odd had the lone RBI, a sacrifice fly that scored Brad Bedford in the bottom of the first.
London (1-0) will host Hamilton May 15 at 7:35 p.m. at Labatt Park, while Burlington (0-1) hosts Brantford May 16 at 1 p.m. as it opens the season with four games at Nelson Park.
By Staff
May 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This downtown vibrancy that gets talked about may get upped a notch or two.
The movie theatre that used to be at 460 Brant Street might get revived and the old Regus operation that rented small office space to people that didn’t need more than an office might be coming back to life.
George Matt, who runs DTR Solutions in Burlington is looking at the third floor space and doing some market research to see if there is enough demand to make it a viable venture.
He wants to add additional services – accounting, web site development, not much on the specifics however.
Matt says the DTR Business Centre is going to be catalyst for the SME market place in Burlington. The objective is to provide not just an office space for small business owners but also the proper resources to help facilitate their growth.
Some of the additional services we will be providing for the tenants will be:
– Accounting and Financial Services
– Technology Services (Web Design, IT Support, Computer Hardware/Software, etc.)
– Event Planning Services
 Lino A. Fera, a seasoned executive who focuses on the vision of a business, will speak to prospective clients for a new downtown business centre. On May 22nd and 23rd DTR will be hosting a 2 day ‘Open Office Event’ at 460 Brant Street – 3rd floor – to showcase the amenities and commercial office space to potential tenants. On Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 am all attendees will have an opportunity to take in a one hour complimentary Entrepreneurship Seminar with keynote speaker Lino A. Fera, a seasoned executive who focuses on the vision of a business.
The Seminar will take place in the Theatre on the ground floor.
To book an open office viewing or to attend the seminar fill out the form at this link:
Regus, an International company that has hundreds of serviced offices around the world, wasn’t able to make a go of it in Burlington – even though there are a number of serviced offices in Burlington, especially along the Service Roads.
The HiVe set up a very well appointed clutch of offices on Elizabeth Street and held one of the better opening parties this city has seen – but it didn’t translate into enough revenue to cover all the costs.
The HiVe has moved to Guelph Line and Harvester Road where they certainly won’t run out of space.
By Pepper Parr
May 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Question period in the House of Commons is that occasion when Members of Parliament get to hold the government accountable by asking questions.
Each party is allocated a specific amount of time – the Leader of the Opposition party asks the first question and then the Speaker of the House recognized different members.
 Burlington MP Mike Wallace has a piece of art explained to him by AGB Curator of Education Leslie Page during one of his weekend trips to Burlington. Last week Burlington’s MP Mike Wallace asked a question and presented two reports.
The question was to the Minister of Finance of his own government. These are basically set up questions where a member of the government party asks a question of a Minister who then gets to stand up and tout the government line
Wallace asked:
Mr. Speaker, the strong leadership of this Conservative government has steered Canada out of the global recession. It has created over 1.2 million new jobs. They are overwhelmingly full-time private-sector jobs, in high-wage industries.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance please tell the House the next steps that this government will take in this year’s budget to create more jobs?
Someone needs to have a chat with Wallace – the jobs created were not “overwhelmingly full-time private-sector jobs, in high-wage industries.”
Questions like this then allow the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance to add to what is basically an exercise in parliamentary
 Burlington MP Mike Wallace preparing for a funding announcement at Memex Automation. Wallace later presented two Standing Committee reports. On this occasion he was speaking as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. This is an important Standing Committee and while there have been occasions in the past when Wallace was a little more partisan than he perhaps should have been – the committee does some very good work.
On this occasion Wallace was presenting the report on Bill C-35, an act to amend the Criminal Code (law enforcement animals, military animals and service animals).
The committee has studied the bill said Wallace and has agreed to report it back to the House without amendment.
Wallace continued: I also have the honour to present, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to the study on the subject matter of Bill C-583, an act to amend the Criminal Code (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder).
All in all a good days work for the Member for Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
May 8, 2015
BURLINGTON ON
Part 3 of a multi-part series
The west end of the Beachway Park does not get a lot of pedestrian traffic. Lakeshore Road ends and curves into Eastport; Lakeshore Court is home to a dismal looking cinder block building and a house that was once a grand structure. Times have changed for both structures which are now defined as priority properties that have to be acquired if the park plan is ever to proceed.
The planned park is five different parks rolled into one and if the financial hurdles and finding a way to acquire the homes that are in the way can be found – construction on the park will begin sometime in 2018 – once the re-development of the Joseph Brant Hospital is complete.
The people who did the draft version of the park that was presented to slightly less than 100 people at a public meeting in April have changed much of the west end and turned it into a very active part of the planned park.
They created a section they call the Commons and another section they call Skyway/Federal pier. Both parts border on the Burlington canal which itself is rich in local history. While the canal is not Regional property nor does it belong to the city – it’s federal government property with all kinds of rules and regulations surrounding a vital waterway for Hamilton – the park planners have included it
The Commons and the Skyway/Federal Pier are part of a much bigger picture.
 The Beachway Park- from the Canal to the west end of Spencer Smith Park The plan is very large in scope and while there are no times lines announced yet and there is no budget allocated, the development of the park is seen by the Region as a major development for their parks program.
The plan calls for some changes to the west end of Spencer Smith Park as it merges into the new park at the point where the Joseph Brant Museum is located and Lakeshore curves and leads towards what will be the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital will be located.
Lakeshore Road will be raised as much as one metre at this point and taper down to a new height of half a metre at about where the water treatment plant is today. At this point Lakeshore Road will be realigned and take a 90 degree turn to the right and run closer to the QEW.
 There are five distinct areas within the Beachway Park – each will have its own theme. These are the draft plans – the properties needed to make the part happen have yet to be acquired by the Regional government – residents say they have no plans to sell. There are essentially five parks, each with different purposes and orientations. The upgrades to the western end of Spencer Smith make it six parks.
The Living Shoreline will be much different than what people see now – today it is just something people walk past. The Strand will continue to be the aquatic area where the Pump House stands.
The Wind Beach will see quite a bit of change.
The Commons is a completely new idea and represents the biggest changes to both the landscape and the homes that are in place now.
 The Commons is at the extreme west end of the park and will undergo the most significant change in terms of the number of activities brought to the area. The jetty on the Burlington side of the canal will be incorporated into the park and there will be both shipping and naval interpetation stations.
 These homes are on the lakeside of Lakeshore Road and are considered priority homes by the park planners. The portion of Lakeshore Road in the picture will be moved to the left and align with the QEW. Lakeshore Road, which currently runs down the middle of the land – will be shifted closer to the QEW so that what is now road will become recreational area.
That recreation will include volley ball courts, lawn courts and Food Trucks.
There is some very environmentally sensitive dunes in this area – they will be protected.
 This is a cinder block garage at the end of Lakeshore Court steps from the canal There will be a couple of shaded areas with a structure that will have benches. There will be a few very small parking lots: 30 space size, along with a number of landscape enhancements to keep any traffic noise the Eastport Road from filtering in.
There will be a lot of activity: an artisan/market; washrooms and a play area along with 28 spaces of on street parking.
There will be a festival park – small in size.
There will be a pond park, additional interpretive stations as well as a Storm Water management pond with a open edge.
There will be a Pond Pavilion as well.
This is the part of the park that has many, perhaps most of the “priority homes” that the park designers have said must be torn down if the design of the park as they see it is to be completed.
 Definitely the most magnificent looking house in the Beachway; it backs onto what was once the railway line which suggests that it was built before the rail line was put in. It too is amongst the “priority homes” that the planners want taken out. This home could be moved and restored. The current residents fall into several categories: those who say they will fight to the bitter end and are never going to move; those that are resigned to having to move eventually and hope that eventuality can be pushed well off into the future. There are a few angling for the best price they can get from the Region. So far just three properties have been sold; two of those were an Estate sale.
Part 1
Part 2
By Pepper Parr
May 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The sun rises in the East.
Is that sun going to shine on the Skyway Plaza in the east end of the city?
 A plaza that has a very run down at the heals look to it just might be getting the kind of attention it needs – if the location does get re-developed will it be the kind of mixed use that many want to see?  The place isn’t quite derelict but there are more retail locations empty than occupied and the place just doesn’t look very busy.
The city has been trying for some time to work with the owners of the property but ward 5 councillor Paul Sharman couldn’t get his phone calls answered.
Former city manager Jeff Fielding was prepared to do a deal that would involve the Skyway arena just behind the plaza – but there was no buzz.
There are changes coming – the Economic development Corporation has been able to do what Sharman couldn’t do – and there are now reported conversations taking place with architectural renderings being prepared.
It is now very clear that the new team at Economic Development are able to make things happen.
Can we expect an announcement in the near future?
By Way of background:
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman has been doing everything he can since he was first elected to get something going with the Skyway Plaza, but has gotten absolutely no traction with the absentee owner of the property.
Sharman has made phone calls – dropped into offices in Toronto – nothing.
 Frank McKeown, then the Mayors Chief of Staff explains a concept to Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman. McKeown is now the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation and seems to have revived the hopes of re-developing the Skyway Plaza in the east end of the city. At one Standing Committee meeting in 2014, then city manager, Jeff Fielding suggested the city could pool the property it has to the rear of the plaza and come up with a major development opportunity. What would it take to get to that point, asked Sharman? A staff direction would get us started, replied Fielding.
The city began looking at what are called Community Improvement Programs (CIP). At the city council meeting back in July of 2014 Councillor Sharman put forward a motion that few saw before it was actually presented but it got passed and resulted in the following Staff Direction:
DIRECTION REGARDING LAKESIDE PLAZA
Direct the Director of Planning and Building and request the Executive Director of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation as follows:
Prepare a series of re-development options for the site based on intensive mixed use re-development and approach the owners of the property with the redevelopment plans; and
Investigate and report on the authority available to permit the use of incentives for re-developing the site, and
Provide an estimate of the resources needed to prepare and implement a Community Improvement Plan.
 If the arena just behind the Skyway Plaza were rolled into any re-development of the area there is the potential to create the kind of community modern planners are advocating. No one in Halton has done a CIP in more than 20 years; no one seemed to know all that much about the things – until Councillor Meed Ward informed Council that the downtown development group knew all about how they worked.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s the provincial government made some money available for CIP type projects – but that tap got turned off.
All this looks like it is now coming together – and the east end of the city might see some sorely needed development. The city does need a win.
 By Staff
May 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the most gifted and at times controversial writers on important public issues, Jeff Rubin returns to Burlington to mark a major event in publishing and in fiscal and environmental analysis–the release of his new book The Carbon Bubble.
 A compelling, forthright author and speaker, recipient of the National Business Book Award and author of two momentous works of economic forecasting, Why Your World is About to Get a Lot Smaller and The End of Growth, Jeff Rubin is in great demand in all media for his cautionary insights and startling predictions.
“If the world is changing, those willing and able to change with it will be rewarded. For a high-latitude country like Canada, whose average temperature is expected to rise a multiple of the global average that change points to a fundamental rethink of our national economic priorities.” –from The Carbon Bubble
The Diffeent Drummer, is hosting Jeff Rubin in partnership with Burlington Public Library on Monday May 25 at 7pm in Centennial Hall at Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street.
Tickets are $10, available at the bookstore and at the third floor Information Desk at the Library.
To reserve seats in advance, please contact us at (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com.
By Staff
May 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington 48 Hour Film Challenge is a weekend film making competition where teams of up to 10 cast and crew members set out to create films within the span of 48 hours.
The clock starts clicking the moment the teams receive their packages: will have no more than 48 hours to write, shoot and edit their short films.
All films are screened the weekend later and those eligible will be critiqued by a chosen set of judges putting them in a position to win a prize package.
The Challenge is open to filmmakers of all skill levels as well as newbies who would like to take a stab at film making.
The shoot gets done May 29th to the 31st. Entry fee is $65
The event is presented by the Filmmaker’s Alliance of Burlington and is currently in it’s first year. This is one of many events held by the Filmmaker’s Alliance in their mission to promote and support the film making industry in and around the Burlington area.
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 By Staff
May 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Rocca Sisters, a noted Burlington Real Estate agency, has provided us with a review of the first quarter of 2015 real estate sales broken down by area, along with thier latest forecasts for the year ahead.
It would appear that, for the first quarter at least, some neighborhoods in Burlington are achieving a more balanced market condition than others. Aldershot south being a terrific example. Sales are up significantly, values are stable with a moderate increase and days on market have increased suggesting that buyers are unwilling to pay a premium given the availability of inventory.
Parts of south Burlington are seeing unusually high days on market as compared to the same period last year which suggests that while there are more buyers than sellers, hence the increase in values, asking prices have been somewhat inflated and have had to in many cases, reduce before selling.
Headon Forest, Tyandaga and Palmer continue to outstrip the Orchard and Millcroft in terms of increases in values year over year. Buyers are seeing these comparably moderately priced neighborhoods as viable alternatives to these incredibly unbalanced markets. Millcroft continued it’s skyrocketing increase in value while the Orchard cooled a little in the first quarter due mainly to significantly reduced inventories and a natural ceiling on what buyers will/can pay for a family home in this neighborhood.
Central Burlington saw a huge increase in values due mainly to the concentration of sales being in the actual core as opposed to the same period last year when the majority of sales were the outer limits of downtown Burlington.
Alton Village saw a significant increase in value but when you drill down, it appears to be more a case of the type of home that has predominantly sold in 2015 which was the 3000+ sq.ft. homes.
Finally and notably, Roseland has now achieved an average price of over one million dollars.
Here is what the numbers – Courtesy of the Rocca Sisters – look like by neighbourhood:
 By Pepper Parr
May 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s always close to the same number – something around the 35% plus number. That being the percentage of the trucks pulled over for safety inspection.
 When more than a third of those pulled over fail the tests and 15 trucks are actually taken off the road – those roads are not safe.
 Lots of paper work when a truck gets taken off the road – money well spent. Get tougher. Yesterday the Halton Regional Police Service in partnership with Peel Regional Police, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of the Environment and the Region of Halton conducted a Commercial Vehicle Safety Initiative.
The focus of the blitz was to identify vehicles that may not be properly maintained and could pose a danger on our roads.
In total 40 commercial vehicles were inspected resulting in:
• 70 provincial offence notices issued
• 15 vehicles removed from service
• 38% failure rate
Tougher crackdown on these people – raise the stakes – impound the trucks for a week. Let the carriers unload the products they are hauling and send a warning letter and a liability notice to the company that hired the truck – make it clear – this is not going to be tolerated.
The association of police chiefs are not shy when it comes to getting their message out. Get this message out – our roads are going to be safe.
 When police catch this – take the car off the road and send the driver home in a cab. Don’t get me going on the nut cases that drive with the cell phone in their hands. $2500 fine and they have to call a taxi to get home; impound the car and if there are children in it – call Child Services.
The police want anyone who kills a police officer in jail for life – that issue is important to them. Safe roads are important to the people who drive them. Crack down
Day two of Operation Tag and Tow will take place in Oakville on May 7th, 2015.
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