Health Minister stays out of the Legislature - except to vote on her Bill and then scoots out of town. Health Coalition advises new clinics not to set up shop

By Staff

May 10th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

When it came time to finally pass Bill 60, Your Health Act, into law yesterday, Health Minister Sylvia Jones wasn’t in the chamber to answer questions about the bill her government spent months arguing would end the dysfunctional status quo that leaves Ontarians languishing on wait lists for basic surgeries and diagnostic tests.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones wasn’t in the chamber to answer questions about the bill her government spent months arguing would end the dysfunctional status quo that leaves Ontarians languishing on wait lists for basic surgeries and diagnostic tests.

Jones’ decision to duck questions — in favour of attending a federal funding announcement with Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, where she did not actually speak — prompted suggestions from opposition parties that the PC government wants to put the controversial bill behind them. Its opponents, meanwhile, are vowing to make sure that does not happen.

Jones returned to the house at the tail-end of question period, in time for the third reading vote and just in time to answer the very last question of the morning.

“Bill 60 will actually improve community and surgical centres in the province of Ontario. Why? Because we don’t want people having to wait an inordinate amount of time for their surgeries,” Jones insisted.

After voting on the bill, Jones was gone again, dodging questions from reporters at Queen’s Park.

She didn’t have time, the government said, because she was giving a keynote speech to the Federation of Northern Municipalities.

Opposition leaders suggested the minister’s manoeuvring indicates the government is not feeling as confident about the legislation as it has previously professed.

“After the vote today, even their applause was lukewarm,” noted NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“I don’t think that this government is really interested in engaging with or responding today,” said Liberal Health critic Adil Shamji. “The minister of health’s conduct is extraordinarily emblematic of the conduct of this government as a whole.”

They are looking for more than 1 million referendum. votes – be one of them. This matters

A Bill 124 redux

Opponents say they will not let the PCs turn the page on the controversial legislation — echoing the way in which Bill 124 has dogged the government since its passage in 2019, before being struck down late last year.

“We will fight this legislation until the end, even if it means through to the next election, because this is a pivotal moment in Ontario’s history for its public health-care system,” said CUPE Ontario regional vice-president David Hurley during a press conference at Queen’s Park ahead of the final vote.

Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra said her group will start its pushback with a “formal complaint” to the federal government or possibly “legal action,” arguing the province is already violating the Canada Health Act by not preventing existing clinics from charging Ontarians illegal fees for OHIP-covered services — which the PCs deny is happening.

Mehra told Queen’s Park Today her organization may go to court to seek a writ of mandamus, which is an order requiring the government to perform a duty owed to the public. In this case, that would be enforcing the Canada Health Act’s provisions against charging people for medically necessary care.

The Mayor and the Minister at a meeting of the Ontario Big Mayors Group. Meed Ward is on the left with the Minister almost opposite her. Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga (and the next Liberal leader if I have it right) is next to Marianne

The coalition and its allies are also organizing an unofficial “referendum” on Bill 60, with thousands of volunteers set to begin canvassing Ontarians across the province to cast a ballot answering the question: “Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics?”

The effort will involve 1,000 voting stations collecting ballots on May 26 and 27. Organizers are aiming to get one million people to participate, a level of engagement they believe will make the poll too politically damaging to ignore.

“We have held tens of thousands of volunteers out in front of grocery stores, coffee shops, legions, union halls [and] faith-based organizations asking Ontarians to vote,” said Mehra. “If you are a private clinic owner in Ontario and think you’re going to set up shop here and charge OHIP and patients on top of that, you have another thing coming.”

Oppo warns investors not to set up shop
Opposition parties warned potential clinic owners and investors to save their money because the new system being put in place will not outlast the PC government.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“It’s not over yet. We are going to continue this fight,” said Stiles, noting that provinces such as British Columbia and Quebec are already backing away from their own private clinic experiments due to the high cost of such clinics and their impact on the public system.

“I will say to those people who are thinking of investing in for-profit clinics: listen up, there’s going to be another government elected here in three years,” Stiles added.

“Is it a great investment? Probably not,” agreed Liberal Leader John Fraser.

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The rumour about an NHL franchise for Hamilton is still out there - no denial from Alinea so far

 

By Staff

May 10th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Recently there has been quite a bit of buzz around an NHL franchise landing in Burlington with the King Road site owned by Alinea mentioned as the location.

Don’t laugh – there was an occasion at the beginning of the first Goldring term that meetings were held in Ron Foxcroft’s office about building a sports field for the Hamilton Tiger Cats on the site. That didn’t go anywhere – but the location has a lot going for it. GO station is at the eastern end.

In a recent item on the Ontario bets web site Cecil Peters, who is an odds analyst, wrote the following:

The Aldershot GO station could handle all the traffic from Toronto – where fans might want to watch a team that can win.

“The NHL has expanded twice in the past few years, adding the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021. It has only been a few years for Vegas and only two years for Seattle, but the early returns have been great on both ends.

“With such great success, for the league and Ontario sports betting, it is only natural for other markets without NHL teams to express interest, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed at the March General Manager’s meeting that that was indeed the case, as a few markets and potential owners had reached out with interest in getting an NHL team.

“Bettman also confirmed that the NHL was not in an expansion mode, so it seems to be a moot point. But often where there is smoke, there’s fire, and it’s only natural to wonder about potential locations if the NHL does indeed decide to expand.”

A Trip Down Memory Lane
“The NHL’s expansion history is littered with successes — with the occasional failure mixed in — but to go from a six-team league in 1967 to the current 32-team league, they make a lot of correct decisions and the league is in a relatively healthy place.

“Expansion has come in stages in the NHL. There was the doubling of the league in 1967 from six to 12 teams, the 1979 WHA absorption when they added four teams, the two-year stretch from 1992-93 where four teams were added and the 1998-2000 stretch where they also added four teams.

“With the NHL now tied with the NFL for the league with the most teams, it does seem unlikely that they would lead the charge and become the first league to go beyond that number, but crazier things have happened.

“If they do decide to expand, there are several areas interested in bringing in a team, with Houston, Atlanta and Quebec City all confirmed as having interest. Perhaps the most intriguing potential location is in Canada, with the Toronto area’s ability to add another team creating an interesting dynamic along with Quebec’s desire to bring in a team of their own.

With this in mind, OntarioBets.com created hypothetical odds of where the next NHL franchise could be. You won’t find these on Ontario sports betting apps, but when it comes to NHL movement or expansion, we think it’s a matter if when, not if.

To be clear, the odds below are based on both chances for an expansion team, or current team location.

Could Quebec 2.0 Work For All?

“Quebec had an NHL franchise from 1979 to 1995 but the small market combined with a struggling Canadian dollar made the league move the Nordiques to Denver, Colorado for the 1995-96 season. The issues that caused the team to leave aren’t as glaring anymore, with the population of the area above 550,000 and an NHL-ready rink that hosts the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL dying to bring in an NHL squad.

“The Canadian Dollar isn’t at its best and that remains an issue, but it is not at the point it was in the 1990’s where most of the Canadian teams were struggling to stay afloat. If the NHL were to expand, Ontariobets.com gives the market a 22.5% chance of getting the next team and gives it hypothetical odds of +350.

“Another Canadian option is the Toronto area, most likely in Hamilton. Hamilton has a population around 800,000, which is more than enough people to support a second team in the way that New York does with the Rangers and Islanders and that Chicago and Los Angeles do in other leagues.

Aerial view of 1200 King Road – with the rail line and Hwy 403 on either side and the Aldershot GO station in the distance. Made for a major development.

“While there would certainly be demand among fans and the financial stability of the team would be fine, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t want to see some of their fanbase change allegiances and nor do the Buffalo Sabres, who reside less than 70 miles south of the Hamilton area. The push-back from those two franchises leaves Hamilton as a longshot to get the next team, with hypothetical odds of +1595.

“There is definitely an appetite for a team in both markets, but both come with roadblocks as well, including Bettman’s stance that expansion isn’t currently on the radar.

“Several other areas will have a say, particularly Houston, which logically seems to be the next location for a team with its market size and arena readiness, hence their position as the favourite on the list at +300.

“Will Canada have an eighth team in the coming years? Unlikely, but the path is there for something to happen should the NHL change their tune.”

OntarioBets.com has you covered on all NHL news throughout the postseason, and we’re also home to the best Ontario gambling sites.

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How AI will push the gambling industry forward

By Benjamin Anderson

May 7th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It’s no secret that AI is now helping several industries at a rapid pace, where one might expect that artificial intelligence will replace physical manpower to cut costs and make parts of the industry faster and efficient.

How big a hand will Artificial intelligence have in gaming?

But to what extent can AI be used, and how can it effectively work in the gaming industry in Canada? We’re taking a closer look at what impact it might have and how the popular technology of AI will be used going forward.

AI solves problems on a daily basis

As daunting as it might be, where AI can replace different jobs and positions for people in several industries, it also has great upsides. For online casinos, the technology can provide personalized gambling experiences for players by analyzing player data by using machine learning. This helps on making automatic recommendations, tailoring both game offerings but also promotional offers. This is where the latest tech at new casinos has a big upside to them where the technology works as an additional support.

Security becomes tighter

Another advantage is the assistance of fraudulent activities, something that the gambling industry fights hard against in many ways. As AI is getting smarter by the minute with the help of machine learning, the algorithms can detect anomalies in transactions and behaviors that are unusual or suspect. This also goes for account creation, typically online casinos have tedious and long KYC requests to deal with when a new player creates an account, where now AI can be used to verify identities much faster than a regular check.

Will players be able to invoke Artificial Intelligence?

Player data becomes safer

Players don’t have a lot to go on when playing at newly released sites when it comes to security. The casino industry’s biggest stamp of approval comes from their gaming licenses, which shows that the business is legitimate and has certain checks in place to verify they are safe to play on. Here’s where AI will help in a bigger way, by automatically verifying the identity of each account it hinders fake account creation, which is big news for the industry. Not only that, but the algorithm can also learn along the way how they deposit, play games, and withdraw money. This makes the layer of safety much higher than before, where the algorithms learn the patterns, it can detect unusual transactions thanks to the use of IP addresses and additional data it has learned along the way.

This helps to build trust in the industry, especially for new sites which don’t yet have an established brand. In this research, it’s said that new casinos are released every month, and going forward, new casinos in Canada has hard competition to beat, which is why security will play a bigger role for the future.

Is Gaming going to become the human mind up against Artificial Intelligence ?

The gambling industry looking forward

It’s safe to say that the industry will continue to grow, by looking at total revenue for gambling related activities in Canada, the revenue for the whole country amounted to $14-16 billion, and all projections tell this number will be even higher in 2024. Online casinos have come a long way regarding player safety and tailoring experiences for all players. With the help of artificial intelligence, many of the tedious checks become more efficient and safer.

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Health Care Coalition wants to fill Public Gallery in Legislature protesting Ford government's hospital privatization bill

By Staff

May 5th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition executive director is advising anyone at all interested in what happens to the health and hospital service we have in Ontario that on Monday (May 8) the final vote on Bill 60, the Ford government’s hospital privatization bill will be held in the Ontario Legislature.

The coalition will be holding a press conference in the media studio at Queen’s Park at 9 a.m. at the invitation of the NDP. We are inviting members and supporters to come at 8:30 a.m. to get through security and attend the press conference.

Following the press conference we will be filling one of the galleries in the Ontario Legislature at 10 a.m.

The Opposition Parties will welcome us into the Legislature at 10 a.m. They will be demanding answers of the government regarding Bill 60 during Question Period (10:30 a.m. – noon).

Everyone who comes will be able to leave their things in an office at the Legislature that is pre-arranged.

The vote on Bill 60 will be at or around 1 p.m. People can stay for as much or little of these events as they wish. It would be great to have a significant presence in the Legislature on Monday.

Everyone who would like to come should send their full name in an email to ontariohealthcoalition@gmail.com by Friday (today) mid to late afternoon so that we can get the list to security so people can get in quickly. (You are, of course, able to go to the Public Galleries without pre-arrangement if you want.) Please note in the subject line: “Bill 60 Queen’s Park” so we can easily find your email!

This is an event that matters.

Related news articles:

What happens to the health and hospital service we have in Ontario

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Halton’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9% between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023;

By Staff

May 2nd, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

On April 6, Statistics Canada released the Labour Force Survey data for the first quarter of 2023.

The data shows that Halton’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9% between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023; remaining lower than the provincial and national rates.

Meanwhile, Halton’s labour force participation rate decreased by 1.8 percentage points from the previous quarter, averaging 68.9% in Q1, similar to the pre-pandemic rate in Q4 2019.

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How good is Burlington as a real estate investment market ?

By Staff

April 29th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Location, location, location.

Almost a mantra for the real estate sector.

And so as  location goes where does Burlington stand relative all the other communities across the country.

Money $ense magazine (they were the people that put Burlington on the map as the Best mid sized city in Canada) published a report that lists the best places to buy real estate

Here’s the LINK

Data on Burlington is … well we will let you find that out for yourselves – it is better than Oakville.

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How to Deposit and Withdraw Money at Online Casinos

By Staff

April 24th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Online casinos have become incredibly popular around the world. However, before players can start playing, they need to deposit funds into their online casino account. Likewise, when it’s time to cash out winnings, they need to know how to withdraw funds from their account.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about depositing and withdrawing money at online casinos, as well as giving you a few tips and tricks to make the whole process go smoother.

Depositing Money at Online Casinos

The first step to depositing money at an online casino is to create an account. Once you have created an account, you can log in to and navigate to the cashier section of the casino’s website. There, you will find a list of available payment methods.

Online casinos offer a wide range of payment methods, each coming with their own pros and cons. This is why it is important to choose a payment method that works for you.

To deposit money, all you need to do is select your preferred payment method and enter the amount you want to deposit. You will then need to follow the instructions provided by the casino to complete the transaction. In most cases, your funds will be deposited immediately, and you will be able to start playing your favourite games right away.

Of course, proper money management is essential when making deposits at online casinos – it can be all too easy to get carried away and go over your budget.

This same process is going to be incredibly similar at virtually every establishment. It doesn’t matter if you play at the Casumo casino to cite one example, or indeed any other online casino, making deposits is simple and straightforward.

Withdrawing Money from Online Casinos

When it’s time to cash out winnings, You will need to navigate back to the cashier section of your chosen casino’s website. Simply select your preferred withdrawal method and enter the amount of money you wish to withdraw (assuming you do have funds that are eligible for withdrawal).

It’s important to note that online casinos generally require players to withdraw funds using the same method they used to deposit. For example, if you deposited funds using one of the most popular payment methods, like a credit card, you will need to withdraw funds to the same credit card.

Once you have submitted a withdrawal request, the casino will review it and process the transaction. Withdrawal times vary depending on the payment method chosen, but it usually isn’t too long of a wait. After this, your funds will be transferred to your original payment method.

In conclusion, depositing and withdrawing money at online casinos is a simple process that can be completed in just a few steps. All you need to do is choose your preferred payment method, enter the amount you want to deposit or withdraw, and follow the instructions provided by the casino.

Once you have been through this process a few times, you will quickly become accustomed to the ordeal. In a little time, you will know the online casino withdrawal and deposit processes like the back of your hand. Have fun!

 

 

 

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The Scam Scum are busier these days - seeing more than usual of their attempts to steal your money

By Staff

April 23, 2023

BURLINGTON,ON

 

The scam game appears to be ramping up.

The scam scum are still using the Costco brand name is as a way to pull you in – it must be working for the people who want to steal your money – they keep using it.

Others are using the Microsoft brand and for those that are really gullible someone is now using the International Monetary Fund.

The rule is always the same – look at the email address the information came from – if it looks fishy – it probably is – ignore it and delete it.

The Microsoft message “might” be legit – not certain about that one but I’m not in the market for refurbished items.

When in doubt – DON’T

Costco is such a trusted brand name – people feel comfortable and recognize the corporate name. Always look at the address the email came from – that’s where the clues are hidden in plain sight.

 

Microsoft – another trusted corporate name. Much of what makes your computer work is made by Microsoft. This one looked very fishy to me – I didn’t touch it. Others will.

 

 

Again – look at the email the message came from. Also the IMF works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 190 member countries. It does so by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being.

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Mapleview has Mothers Day Plans - a flower wall as a backdrop for picture taking

By Staff

April 20th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Mapleview Shopping Centre is going to make Mother’s Day (May 11 to 13, 2023) a little more colourful this year with the installation of a whimsical floral wall for photo-worthy opportunities, and chances to win mom-worthy gifts from Mapleview retailers to celebrate Mother’s Day this year.

It could be a perfect backdrop for Mother’s Day memories, guests can snap photos at Mapleview’s stunning flower wall or try their luck at the centre’s Prizing Cart featuring Spring must-have gifts up for grabs.

Guests that spend a minimum of $200 at Mapleview Centre, can take home a custom complimentary spring bouquet from the DIY Bloom Bar, sourced from local Burlington florist Euro Style Flower Market.

An upscale location with huge parking lots

In honour of Mother’s Day, Mapleview will be making a donation to Halton Women’s Place, a local organisation providing shelter and crisis services for women and their children.

A donation will also be made to the Burlington-Oakville chapter of Mamas for Mamas, supporting mothers and caregivers through community programming.

“We’re excited to partner with our retailers and local organisations to celebrate Mother’s Day with guests and the community,” said Rita Donnelly, General Manager, Mapleview. “From memorable photo opportunities with mom, to surprise giveaways, and custom DIY bouquets – it’s a fun way to show appreciation for mom.”

The activation will be located in the Food Court, on the Upper Level and will run from May 11 to 13, 2023 from 2pm – 7pm on Thursday and Friday and 11am – 5pm on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

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Staff take Council through a Workshop where ideas were popping out all over the place.

By Pepper Parr

April 20th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Earlier this week Staff did a work shop that included Council.

It was an interesting and refreshing approach that had staff setting out their issues and explaining to council just what they were up against.

The Workshop included 30 graphics, one of which is set out below, that took Council through a very detailed presentation with more depth than usual.

 

Changing the setting proved to be a smart idea – there was much better communication once the administrative restrictions were removed.

Two two blue boxes:  Mindset of open to change and Pause in New Staff Directions are not the kind of thing that was seen in the past.

There is a refreshing change taking place.  The leadership at the Executive Director level is much better.

During the half day event Brynn Nheiley, Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility, had Council doing some role playing followed by a very casual, almost family living room setting, where questions were asked and comments made without a Chair in place directing the conversation.

Nheiley went from being Manager of Development & Design in the Community Planning Department to becoming an Executive Director. As the Manager of Development & Design, she led a number of initiatives that has led to improvements in development planning that support better outcomes for Council, residents and staff; these include:

  • Establishing a two-stage reporting strategy in order to provide Council with the opportunity to make a decision on an application within the legislated timeline, while also enabling the flexibility for staff to work with applicants to create the best planning outcome for development applications.
  • Bringing together staff from key departments to collaboratively build a development review process that gives applicants a single point of contact, and single application to satisfy multiple pre-approvals, from multiple departments, which are required before a building permit can be applied for.
  • Bringing together a management team that included staff from building, planning, forestry, site engineering and Information Technology Services departments in order to launch an entirely digital review process for all forms of development applications. The result was that the City’s development review process was delayed by less than two months from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to working at the City of Burlington, Brynn worked for the City of Hamilton as a Senior Planner and as the Acting Director of Planning and Building Services for the Town of Antigonish in Nova Scotia.  Brynn has a Masters of Planning from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University.

The Workshop ended with this slide.

 

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Chamber of Commerce announces its 2023-24 Board of Directors.

By Staff

April 19th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce announces its 2023-24 Board of Directors.

Chair: Randall Smallbone, Smallbone Consulting

Vice-Chair: Shafiq Mohamed, Stratus Building Solutions – Fully Promoted Burlington

Second Vice-Chair: April-Dawn Blackwell, Brock University

Director of Finance: Ravi Dhaliwal, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

Directors:

  • Joseph Apps, Joe Apps Technology Support
  • Lynn Beechey, Beechey Management Resources
  • Peter Choma, RBC Royal Bank
  • Shirlea Crook, Care for Life Support Services
  • Daniela Fonseca, KMB Law
  • Shaheryar Mian, LJM Developments Inc.
  • Kristina Shea, BlueSkys Life + Beauty
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Rentals, if you can find one - are being priced out of reach for many people. Supply is the problem.

By Staff

April 15th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The average asking rent for all property types in Canada rose 10.8 per cent annually in March to $2,004, according to the Rentals.ca  and Urbanation latest National Rent Report.

Average rents were up 1 per cent month over month – the first monthly increase since November – pushing the year-over-year percentage growth back into double digits.

Over the past year, average asking rents have grown by $196, indicating how rental housing demand is outstripping supply in Canada.

Toronto finished second on the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom at $2,506 and second for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $3,286.

Year over year, average monthly rent in March  for a one-bedroom in Toronto was up 22.2 per cent and up 19.7 per cent for a two-bedroom.

Welcome to Burlington – you won’t be here for long if you are low income person.

Burlington came in sixth on the list for average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom at $2,178 and eighth for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $2,565.

Year over year,

average monthly rent in March

for a one-bedroom in Burlington

was up 8 per cent and up

14.9 per cent for a two-bedroom

Although not on the list, Oakville average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom home was $2,313, and average rent for a two-bedroom was $2,$2,885.

Year over year, average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom in Oakville was up 17.5 per cent and up 23.7 per cent for a two-bedroom.

Private room and shared-accommodation rentals have gained popularity as rents have soared over the past year. The average rent for single-room rentals in Toronto in March was $1,309, and the average rent for a single room in Ontario in March was $934.

Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation puts it in context:   “Spring arrived with a highly competitive rental market in Canada, driven by a record population increase of over 1 million people in the past year and low home ownership affordability after last year’s spike in interest rates. With supply unable to keep up with current levels of demand, expect further upward pressure on rents in the coming months.”

That sounds like it is going to get worse before it gets better.

The rent increases are not mandated – this is what a market economy does.  Supply is low which allows property owners to increase their prices.

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SOLO will be on stage in Burlington December 7th at the Performing Arts Centre doing Seasonal numbers with a 50 member chorus.

By Staff

December 5th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

A big big sound.

On stage at the Performing Arts Centre on December 7th

The Southern Ontario Lyric Opera company will be featuring Seasonal music along with two short classic operettas by Measha Brueggergosman-Lee

Seldom does Burlington get an opportunity to exceptional voices supported by a very large orchestra.  For those who want to nibble at opera – this is an event worth the time.

 

In May La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave will be presented.

It is based on La dame aux Camélias (1852), a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas.

 

 

Tickets at the Box Office

The event is produced by the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera

 

 

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Sailor chooses land over sea; raises bees - uses honey to produce a number of products.

By Pepper Parr

November 2nd, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

A national charity established by His Majesty The King, launches its 7th annual “Buy Veteran” awareness campaign to encourage people in Canada to celebrate and support Veterans by buying from and hiring Veteran-owned businesses.

It is a signature initiative of Prince’s Trust Canada ( PTC’s0 Operation Entrepreneur (OE) program that includes 680 businesses that are proudly Veteran owned and is searchable by province, city, category of goods and services, and includes an icon to identify sustainable businesses and products that operate using socially responsible and greener practices.

A Burlington resident, Vincent Sowa – Owner, Backed by Bees participates in the program.

After serving in the Navy (He means the Senior Service) for 15 years, Vincent launched Backed by Bees in 2019. Having grown up immersed in the outdoors of rural Ontario, he knew he wanted to bring a sustainable product to the market. He now operates 700 beehives in Halton Region to produce sustainable mead and non-alcoholic, honey-based beverages and also runs a subscription food box service, delivering farm fresh goods throughout the region.

The farm is located on Appleby Line

Link to the web site is HERE

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Why You Should Always Read Online Reviews

By Luke Parker

October 6th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We’ve all been there before. You’re standing in line at the store, debating whether or not to buy that new product you’ve been wanting. But then you remember that you have no idea what other people think of it. If only there were a way to find out…

Luckily, in today’s day and age, there is! Thanks to online reviews, we can get an inside look into how real people feel about products, services, and businesses before we even commit to trying them out for ourselves. Here are just a few reasons why you should always take the time to read online reviews before making a purchase.

Avoid Potential Scams
We have all seen those too-good-to-be-true deals online (looking at you, $10 Louis Vuitton purses!) and oftentimes, they are just that— too good to be true. Other times, you could feel pressured into buying a service out of fear, like those people trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty expiring.

Before you buy an extended warranty, you should read Endurance warranty reviews, and before you buy that fake Louis, check the reviews to see if it’s a scam. Reading reviews is an easy way to spot red flags before you start handing out any money.

Get Unbiased Opinions
When you are looking for an honest opinion about something, online reviews are usually your best bet. Unless you know someone who has tried out the product/service you are interested in and can trust their opinion, looking at online reviews written by strangers is often the next best thing.

People tend to be more critical in their reviews than they would be in person because they can remain anonymous, so you can trust that the reviewer is giving an unbiased account of their experience

Save Time
In our fast-paced society, time is money. And reading online reviews can help save you both! Instead of spending hours researching a product or service online or in person, reading just a few reviews can give you all of the information that you need in order to make a decision quickly and efficiently.

Save Money
When it comes to saving money, there are a lot of different strategies that you can use. One often overlooked strategy is reading reviews before making a purchase. This can be especially helpful when buying big-ticket items, like appliances or electronics.

By reading reviews, you can get an idea of which products are more likely to break down or have other problems. This can save you a lot of money in the long run, as you’ll be less likely to have to replace items that break down quickly. In addition, reviews can also help you compare prices and find the best deals on products.

Make Better Decisions
Not sure whether you should try that new restaurant down the street? Curious about which movie to see this weekend? Wondering if the new casino in town is legit? By reading online reviews, you can get insights from other people who have already tried or experienced something so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

Get Insider Tips and Tricks
In addition to learning about other people’s experiences with a product or service, reading through reviews can also clue you in on some insider tips and tricks that you may not have otherwise known about! For example, say you want to buy a new foundation but don’t know which one to choose.

By reading some online reviewers who have already done the legwork for you, not only will you be able to learn about what other people liked and didn’t like about certain products, but you may also learn application tips (e..g which brush works best) or colour matching advice from people who have already gone through the trouble of testing out all of the products for you!

Reviews are Available for Almost Anything
No matter what kind of product or service you’re looking for, chances are good that someone has written a review about it online. From hotels and restaurants to movies and books, there’s no shortage of things to read about! All you have to do is start searching

Voice Your Own Opinion
Have you ever had a really great (or really terrible) experience with a product or service but could not find any information about it when you went looking for it online? Leaving your own review can help discourage other people from making the same mistake (or help them have as great of an experience as you did)!

In addition to helping others, writing your own review also allows you to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings about an experience and solidify them in writing so that you can refer back to them later on if need be!

All in all, reading through online reviews before making a purchase or trying out a new experience is always beneficial— oftentimes more so than we realize! So next time you find yourself Googling a new product or service, remember these five reasons why reading them can save you time, money, and headaches down the road!

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Has the Bateman High School site deal been done ? It was supposed to close on September 30th

By Pepper Parr

October 5th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Does anyone wonder why September came and went and there was no announcement on the purchase of the Bateman High School property?

Given that the 30th was a federal holiday which the city administration decided would apply to all the municipal employees one could understand that there was no one available to put together one of those statements that would quote the Mayor on how much had been achieved and what to look forward.

Somewhere in that communication would be mention of the cost and the hole it is going to put in the public purse.

There was nothing on Monday. Nothing on Tuesday. Wednesday isn’t over so maybe there will be an announcement.

At this point all the public has is a plan and a sense that the cost will come in at somewhere neat $50 million.

The subject didn’t even get asked at the Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday – that the Mayor made no mention suggest the new may not be all that good.

No word from any of the ward 5 candidates.

There is a story in there somewhere – the part of that story we know today is – they don’t want you to know.

We have reached out to Councillor Sharman and Councillor Stolte asking:

Is there anything you can say about the status of the sale/purchase of the Bateman High School property?

The public was told that the deal was to close on September 30th.

Stolte has a personal investment in the deal: The city Integrity Commissioner docked her five days’ pay for telling the public that the site was going to come in at something near $50,000,000.

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Millcroft residents look at how City Council is handling their concerns: they don't appear to be impressed

By Staff

October 5th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

“It seems that the City follows the same process over and over again and expects different outcomes. This is frustrating and the residents of Burlington are tired of the “in camera” nature of the decisions. How can we assess the City’s “best” when it is secretive. Trust is now an issue. This Council was elected partly on a promise of transparency.”

Millcroft residents are deeply concerned with changes a developer wants to make to the golf course their homes are built around.  The plan is to add 98 homes to the site and a small medium  rise apartment building.  The homes are expected to sell in the $1 million plus range.

The development application is still in review by the Planning Department – the developer has taken the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal \9olt0

There are a number of players in the game; all with similar names.

 

The developers.

One of the two community groups

The other is the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance

We are asking Burlington’s City Council to pass a resolution at today’s special Council meeting to enable further discussions with the Province to protect this invaluable greenspace. Allowing the Millcroft Greens development application to proceed without this public declaration is unacceptable. Greenspace does not require studies or reports and this narrative from our elected officials is unacceptable.

Proposed City Resolution
The City of Burlington resolves to protect the Millcroft Golf Course property greenspace and its zoning of Major Parks/Open Space. We commit to working with the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and community groups to protect this mature tree canopy and green stormwater infrastructure consistent with our Climate Policies.

A significant number of taxpayers have requested that this application be stopped and further expense through an OLT hearing would be shameful.

We trust that our politicians will act responsibly and publicly state their position before the municipal election on this October 24.

It was to be a community built around a golf course – innovative at the time.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who attended the community meeting, responded to the request by the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance for a council resolution that would be sent to the provincial government.

Meed Ward responded with the following

Thank you so much for reaching out on this critically important community issue. We all appreciate the great work, research and insights that the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance and Millcroft Against Bad Development groups have provided to us. Thank you also for engaging the Millcroft community, and beyond, on the issues at stake with the Millcroft Greens application. We’ve all heard from thousands of residents, and that input and lived experience will be very valuable for us once we are in a position to take a position on this matter.

You have asked Burlington City Council to pass a resolution about the Millcroft Greens development application, specifically to adopt a resolution to preserve the golf course prior to the Ontario Lands Tribunal Case Management conference on this matter in November.

Thank you for hosting and leading the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance public meeting last week, which myself and Councillor Stolte had an opportunity to attend to listen to residents, where I first heard of this proposed resolution. As you will recall, I was asked by residents and permitted by you and the organizers to speak and answer their question about the resolution.

I provided the following comments at that meeting but restate them here with some additional information, so you have a written copy. Feel free to share this with any of your members or neighbours who may have similar questions about such a resolution.

Such a resolution would be both ineffective and damaging to the city’s case, and to community interests.

Passing a resolution now would be ineffective, because no resolution from council can legally stop the OLT process that is underway. That hearing will continue, and a decision will be made there. Additionally, current council members cannot bind future councils. Any resolution passed by this council could be undone by a future council. The new council will need to take their own position on this matter and direct staff to defend that position at the OLT.

Passing a resolution now would also be damaging to the city’s case at the Tribunal because the Tribunal doesn’t look kindly on positions that are arrived at without the benefit of completing the full review, in a fair and impartial way to all parties. Such a resolution would be seen as circumventing the review process, and would not be based on any informed reports and recommendations from our own staff, because we don’t have them yet. It would be viewed as a purely political move by incumbents in an election to save their seats.

This is not how we do planning in Burlington. Circumventing the process, giving the Tribunal reason not to support whatever position we do ultimately take, would go against community interests – not help them.

Right now, we are waiting for staff to complete a full review of the application, including all relevant studies and community feedback. That review is not yet complete given the nature of this project on a flood plain and greenspace – which is different from any other project we have received which are usually tear downs/rebuilds of existing buildings, without the same complex issues.

That is why this project has taken longer than others for our staff to properly review, and come to an informed recommendation to bring to council.

Mayor Meed Ward: “We serve the community’s interests best by allowing staff and the independent consultant who reviewed the flood plain studies, to complete their work, and bring a recommendation to council.”

We serve the community’s interests best by allowing staff and the independent consultant who reviewed the flood plain studies, to complete their work, and bring a recommendation to council. This is expected in December or more likely January of 2023. Council will then be in a position to take a well-informed position, backed by expert studies that can be defended at the Tribunal. To short circuit that process for political gain during an election period would hinder the city’s case at the Tribunal, which isn’t in anyone’s best interests.

What I can tell you, though, and what I shared at the meeting, are the principles I hold that will be front and centre in evaluating any recommendation from staff and ultimately the position I will take on this matter. Council does have the prerogative to take a position that is different from the staff recommendation.

These principles include: this is on greenspace (which we need more of in Burlington, not less); it’s on a flood plain which serves as natural storm water management (and our experience in the 2014 flood reminds us how important natural storm water management systems are); the biodiversity of plants/animals on the course; the trees that would be lost, at a time we are trying to increase our tree canopy; and the fact that this isn’t in an identified growth area of the city – we can accommodate our share of growth at GO stations, retail plazas and other strategic areas of the city, without impacting greenspace. I believe many of these issues will be central to the case at the OLT.

Finally, it’s also important to note that the case management conference isn’t the hearing. The case management conference will identify the issues to be discussed (some of which are likely the ones I’ve outlined above), what expert witnesses need to be called, and as a result how long the hearing will need to be. Then a hearing is scheduled. That hearing is unlikely to get into the Tribunal calendar before fall of next year. There is no need to rush this, to our own detriment.

My position on the OLT is that it is an undemocratic, ineffective and inefficient body that should be abolished. I brought a motion to Regional Council in 2019 to eliminate the OLT (then called the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) which was unanimously approved, and that remains Regional Council’s position. Read more here: https://mariannemeedward.ca/halton-regional-council-unanimously-supports-resolution-from-burlington-and-halton-hills-mayors-to-eliminate-lpat/

As a delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, myself and other members of council met with Provincial Attorney General Doug Downey and advocated for reforms of the Tribunal. We will continue to do so.

I have never avoided, nor has anyone on this council, making tough development decisions. Based on the unanimous support for the resolution to abolish the OLT, we all would like the OLT to get out of our way, get out of our democratic process, and let us make these decisions, with full participation by our community and accountability by elected representatives for our decisions. I will stand behind all the decisions I’ve made, and you can see what they are because I tell people how I voted and why in my monthly newsletter, so residents can hold me to account. Decision-making should always rest with local councils, our professional and qualified staff, and the community, for maximum accountability and democracy. I will continue to fight for that and I will continue to be transparent with residents about every vote I cast on every development.

In due course, once our professional staff have completed their review and brought a recommendation forward to council, council will take a position and direct our staff to defend that position at the Ontario Lands Tribunal. The public will be aware of our position, and the rationale behind it. We will follow this process, because it’s the best way to protect community interests, your interests.

Daintry Klein  followed up with

Marianne

Daintry Klein: Millcroft Greenspace Alliance

Thank you for your response. I am hearing the narrative and I am following the ongoing development outcomes in the City of Burlington.
I am also following what is happening in other municipalities to see how outcomes can be different.

It seems that the City follows the same process over and over again and expects different outcomes. This is frustrating and the residents of Burlington are tired of the “in camera” nature of the decisions. How can we assess the City’s “best” when it is secretive. Trust is now an issue. This Council was elected partly on a promise of transparency.

We cannot afford to lose another City planning decision at the OLT, particularly of such importance to our health and well being, and we are imploring you and the rest of Council to look beyond to find a positive outcome. We are asking that this Council stretch beyond its current perceptions and explore what can be possible rather than continuing to tell us what isn’t.

A previous Council enacted OPA 117 to protect our City and its residents. The current Council appears to be ignoring their responsibility to uphold it. Consideration of future Council decisions does not absolve this Council from responsibility for its (in)actions and decisions.

Our understanding from planning experts is that obtaining a political intervention such as we are looking for here is different from the “technical” process of the planning stream which ends with the OLT. A delay by this Council of making a public declaration precludes the political process of the Province assisting with a solution. We have proposed a possible solution to our MPP but she is unable to help without the City’s initiative. With the pending election and interruption of Council’s cycle of business it is more critical than ever that Council proceed with a resolution ahead of the pending OLT hearings. We have little to lose given the City’s record at the OLT.

The Millcroft Property is different from other areas which are zoned for development. It is becoming clearer by the day that the tree canopy as well as the benefits of the grass, “green infrastructure” cannot continue to be hacked and slashed. Replacement small saplings that may or may not survive, and hardened surfaces that cause further problems for climate change will have an exponentially negative impact on our City. No studies change the nature of greenspace.

Lastly, the engineering studies completed in the 1980s were definitive that this greenspace should never be built on. There should be nothing new that would lessen that impact given climate change and the severity of the weather. While the updated mapping is important, we will be reviewing the parameters closely as very recent experience is challenging the previous thinking on the 100 year storm. New precedents are looking at 200 year storm events. In addition, the parameters of studying the downstream impacts are critically important. Our City has substantial drainage and flooding issues which are the responsibility of Council and the City.

The site has a story book setting and w storm water management program that works very well. The addition of 98 new homes would change the balance and put everything at risk.

To be clear, passing a resolution could enable a possible alternative positive outcome without the costs and risks of the OLT. There is no indication that the OLT will change so that is not a concern to this file.

Regards,
Daintry Klein

Council met on Tuesday and did not pass a resolution.  The matter wasn’t even on the agenda.

Related news feature

It is a big story – a community could be destroyed

 

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Canadian and Russian online casino legislation: How does it compare?  

By Dan Prefman

September 30th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Anyone who lives in Burlington knows what a great place it is and what a fabulous country Canada is. With so much natural beauty and so many interesting things to do in your spare time, it is a fabulous place to call home. While playing sports and meeting up with friends is something people all over Burlington love to do, playing online casino games is also popular with many now. This is true across many parts of Canada, where lots of people love to relax with exciting games online.

Of course, online casino gaming is loved in many other parts of the world and Russia is a prime example. Although there might be a shared love for casino gaming online between Canada and Russia, it is fair to say that the legislation both countries have in this area can differ.

But how does Canadian and Russian online casino legislation compare?

Russia has platforms that offer awesome games alongside generous bonuses. And a no nonsense leader keeping an eye on things.

 Russia – What is their online casino legislation?

 The situation around iGaming is a little muddled in Russia – despite it having some very clear-cut laws around online gambling! It is without doubt that legislation passed in 2006 banned online gambling across Russia and further legislation passed in 2009 banned all forms of gambling in the country apart from in four special gambling zones.

This all seems pretty straightforward until you learn that the iGaming sector in Russia remains popular and many people there gamble at online casinos regularly. There are in fact some top online casinos to game at for Russians now and platforms which offer awesome games alongside generous bonuses.

But just how can this be possible with the legislation from 2006 and 2009 in place? It all comes down to many Russians bypassing legislation by playing at offshore casino platforms. Although this is something of a grey area, there is little risk involved for players and plenty of foreign sites who accept Russian users. Of course, it is key to stay updated with any future changes to online casino legislation in Russia which could impact people’s ability to play at offshore sites.

Where does Canada stand on online casino gaming?

 The Canadian online casino market is an interesting one and one that is in a period of change right now. It is estimated that up to 20 million Canadians love to game online and the local online gambling sector pulls in around $1.2bn in revenue.

While regulation from the 1970s paved the way for the first land-based casino in Winnipeg during 1989, updates to laws around online gambling have been a bit slower to emerge. This is because Canada leaves it up to each province to set their own rules around online casino gambling.

As a result, some provinces have been slow to react to the rise of online gaming across the country and slow to pass legislation which could enable people to gamble at online casinos legally in certain provinces. In places like this, many follow the lead of Russia and play at offshore casino sites instead.

Despite this, there have been recent movements in some provinces in terms of legalizing online casino gaming. Ontario’s online gambling market was launched in April 2022 for example, after legislation was passed to make this achievable. This means it is now possible for internet casinos to operate within Ontario provided they have been issued the relevant license by provincial officials.

Ontario is professionally and responsibly regulated. One of the safest environments for on-lime gamblers.

This move by Ontario has led many people to speculate whether other Canadian provinces could follow suit and pass legislation moving forward to launch legal online gambling within their borders. This could soon see Canada fully open for top casino brands to operate legally within the country and see it breaking the glass ceiling around iGaming in the country.

Canada vs Russia – How do they compare?

 In essence, it is clear to see the similarities when comparing online casino legislation between the two countries. Both for example have a nation of people who love to play online casino games, and both turn something of a blind eye to people who game at offshore platforms.

There are also some clear differences between the two though. Russia for example has not passed any recent legislation in this area, while Canada seems to be in a period of change. Russia seems to have set out its stall to be completely against online gambling, whereas Canada’s stance is seeming to soften. Russia also takes a more central, federal approach to setting iGaming laws, while Canada is happy to leave it up to individual provinces.

 

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Guy D'Alesio: liked city hall when he applied to replace Mike Wallace in 2006 - has decided he wants to move in - running in ward 5

By Pepper Parr

September 19th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Running for public office in these times means a web site, a social media presence, some money that isn’t already committed to something else, a couple of good pairs of shoes and the ability to go from door to door and convince people you have their best interests at heart and you know enough to be able to make wise decisions about a sector that you know relatively little about.
During our interview with Guy D’Alesio, a department head with the Halton District School Board, who has committed to resigning as a teacher at the end of December we learned two things:

Guy D’Alesio: Don’t tell me no – tell me why.

This man can get quite emotional about some things – students and the unmet needs they have and a statement he said he uses often: Don’t tell me no – tell me why.

He sees his strength as his ability to pull a group together and achieve an objective. Talking it through until the objective is clear and everyone is on board.

He wants to see more of the cultural events spread out through the city – asking does everything have to be downtown. He wants at least a part of the major events held in the northern, eastern and western parts of the city.

How he gets Sound of Music out of Spencer Smith Park is something many people want to hear about – Rib Fest has the same problem.

Transit – he likes what Uber can offer to resolving at least some of the getting around the city issues.

D’Alesio is a big supporter of the redevelopment of the Skyway arena but didn’t have a solution on how the $39 million undertaking is going to be met. He sees the walking track that will be part of the new structure is a must. Other than ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte who voted against spending every member of Council saw this as something the city was going to do.

D’Alesio sees Burlington as two cities – north and south of the QEW – few would disagree with him – but no one has put forward much in the way of viable solutions.

He leaves people with the impression that he has a solution but there wasn’t much of it put on the table during the extensive interview other than new solutions.

When Mike Wallace gave up his council seat to run for federal office Council decided to interview people to replace Wallace for the balance of the term of office.  D’Alesio was interviewed by Rob MacIssacc. Guy appeared to like the look of city some time ago.

The D’Alesio family came out of Hamilton where his parents ran a grocery store. He has lived in the east end of the city for more than 32 years and claims that the worst traffic jams are in the Burloak area; he might get some argument from fellow citizens on that.

Ward 5 boundaries

After high school (Assumption and Aldershot HS) Guy D’Alesio attended Ryerson where he studied Mechanical Engineering, decided that was not a sector he wanted to work in  and enrolled at the  University of Guelph where his focus was on philosophy and history.  He then attended Brock University where he earned his Teaching certificate.

D’Alesio was in no rush to file nomination papers. He was one of three people who showed up on the list of candidates on the day nominations closed. He had made the appoint back in July but was away for much of August.

The team that is going to get him elected is made up of family, friends and people from his football past. He was always involved in school sports events as a teacher
There are three children in the family: a girl and two boys.

Still an employee of the school Board, D’Alesio will need to take quite a bit of time off, should he be elected,  if he is to take part in the orientation meetings that will begin the minute he is sworn in – some of the orientation will take place before that date.

Guy D’Alesio is one of three candidates running against incumbent Paul Sharman.   Andrew Hall, one of the three, is a former student of D’Alesio.

 

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Some of the strongest wording so far in a delegation on the coyote problem.

By Stephen White

September 14th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

Stephen White, co-author of the Burlington Oakville Coyote Management report that was given to the City Manager some time ago delegated to council this morning.  He did not mince his words.

I want to begin my remarks this morning by thanking the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability Committee for the opportunity to delegate on the proposed Coyote Response Strategy Escalation Protocols.

Stephen White

My name is Stephen White and I have been a Ward 5 Burlington resident for 47 years. Prior to 2014 I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I saw a coyote. The only time most of us saw one was if we were down in Bromley Creek and saw one in the distance. Interactions were infrequent.

I had my first coyote interaction in November 2014. I assure you it was not a moment from a Disney movie. I was walking my dog at the time, an older Collie, at 5:30 a.m. on my street. Three coyotes sixty feet away approached me from around a corner, saw us, and got within twenty feet. The Alpha male approached us from the front, and the two smaller pack animals approached from each side. As I turned to the one at the side the other one advanced in a widening arch. Had it not been for the intervention of a delivery driver for the Hamilton Spectator who drove his car up on the sidewalk blocking their advance, my experience may not have been limited to a frightening encounter.

I have been actively involved in this issue since early 2015. I delegated at Council 7 years ago almost to the day on this topic. At the time, I stood in these Council Chambers, and I said the City’s coyote management program was ineffective and piecemeal.

I questioned why there wasn’t consideration of other control measures other than restricting feeding and reporting coyote sightings on websites.

I mentioned that the City needed to be more proactive and involved in eliminating threats from wildlife. I said, to the chagrin of Councillor Craven at the time, that if something more definitive wasn’t done that some Burlington residents were going to be attacked or seriously hurt. I take no great pleasure or pride in saying “I told you so”.

In June of 2017 at a public meeting on coyotes attended by over 200 Burlington residents at Mainway Arena, I and other speakers again delivered the message that this City needed to get actively involved in controlling the coyote problem. Once again, our message landed on deaf ears. In September 2020 I watched in horror one morning as my next-door neighbour’s 12-year old cat was ambushed and shredded by three coyotes. My neighbour was so traumatized by this event she was off work for weeks and had to seek medical care. In one week in my neighbourhood seven cats went missing. One member of BOCM living in Ward 4 had a coyote scale the fence in their backyard and attack their small dog, resulting in a severally injured family pet and several thousand dollars in emergency vet bills.

My fellow BOCM co-founder, Julie Martin, has met with multiple residents, and documented several cases in her West Oakville neighbourhood of coyote attacks and stalking. In early 2021, she started an online petition on Change.org calling for Oakville and Burlington to adopt a more focused, specific plan to control coyotes which received over 700 signatories.

In March 2021 following yet another frustrating teleconference on the issue of coyote management replete with no definitive action plans, no comprehensive strategy, and where Julie, who actually instigated this meeting, was not even extended the courtesy of presenting or delegating, both of us reached our limit. We decided to create Burlington and Oakville Coyote Management, or BOCM. Over the course of 2021 our group met weekly, and the culmination of our work is the Report that is an Appendix. It contains eleven specific recommendations that are intended to protect residents and their pets. These recommendations were predicated on a multi-faceted approach that encompasses Analysis, Education, Prevention and Protection. Underlying these recommendations is our belief that in order to combat this problem an integrated, multi-faceted approach is needed in conjunction with the Town of Oakville.

At the heart of BOCM’s recommendations is our belief that public safety is paramount. Every resident in Burlington and Oakville has the right, and expectation, to be able to walk down their street at 2:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., and know that they are safe. They should not have to carry sticks, pepper spray, stones, whistles, alarms, or any other personal protection devices, to protect themselves, their children, or their pets.

Julie and I, as well as members of BOCM, have read the proposed Coyote Response Escalation Strategy. We wholeheartedly support the measures embodied in this Report, and we are pleased to lend our endorsement. In doing so, I also want to thank City Manager Commisso, the Mayor, and Councillor Stolte for their tacit support of our efforts to raise awareness. I especially want to acknowledge, with sincere thanks, the support of Councillor Paul Sharman who has patiently endured my incessant pleadings for the City to get involved and do more, and whose steadfast encouragement of BOCM’s efforts over the past few months is genuinely appreciated.

That being said, let me be blunt: BOCM believes that it has taken this City way too long to respond effectively to this problem. The City’s previously passive, non-interventionist approach to coyote management which implies that reporting coyote sightings on websites, refraining from feeding animals, and essentially, learning to live with it, are somehow sufficient remedies. As the events of the last few weeks have clearly shown, they aren’t.

Simply, this reliance upon simplistic solutions has been ineffectual, naïve and short-sighted. The focus needs to be public safety, not coyote rights.

This approach has placed an inordinate onus on individual citizens, with far too little support, direction and engagement from the City. Cheery bromides such as “living in harmony with nature”, and “don’t feed the coyotes” are cold comfort to residents who feel unsafe walking down the street for fear of being attacked. The last time I checked, coyotes don’t pay taxes, they don’t vote, and they also aren’t on the hook paying thousands of dollars in vet bills for injured pets.

The recent attacks on several residents and children should serve as a clarion call to everyone concerned about public safety. Finally, to those who may say this is an over-reach, or unnecessary, let me respectfully suggest some of the probable consequences of not adopting the measures contained in this Report. If the current situation continues unchecked, my prediction is that one of, or a combination of, four things will happen in future:

1. A resident is going to be seriously attacked, or God forbid, killed.
2. The City is going to be on the receiving end of a massive lawsuit for damages from the individual or family of the person severely attacked.
3. There will be a public outcry that will make the recent publicity around coyote attacks pale in comparison. and
4. In the absence of clear and compelling direction from the City citizens will intervene and take the law into their own hands. They will l lay traps, or they will put down poison. When traumatized, untrained and alarmed people do things in a spirit of irrationality and anger bad things happen, and often, innocent by-standers are negatively impacted. And lest you think I am being alarmist, I’ve had it confirmed from one of my neighbours this is exactly what is going on in one Niagara Region subdivision.

In summary, BOCM believes this Report is responsible, balanced, and goes a long way to addressing a long-standing and serious safety risk in this community, and we urge Council’s adoption in its entirety of this Report.

Thank you.

 

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