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June 7th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
City Councillors are talking about a possible earlier opening due to the significantly lower new covid19 infections. June 11th is being heavily hinted as the date that things will open up. The decision will come from the province. Note – this is just a hint and a hope. 
June 7th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON This is a very significant change in policy and deserves attention by those who follow what gets done at city hall. The Municipal Act, which sets out how municipalities operate, states that “a municipality shall adopt and maintain a policy with respect to the circumstances in which the municipality shall provide notice to the public and, if notice is to be provided, the form, manner and times notice shall be given.” The City’s Public Notice policy was originally enacted on April 7, 2008 as Schedule E to the Procedure By-law 37-2008. It remained part of the Procedure By-law until 2016 when it was inadvertently repealed by Procedure By-law 64-2016. No notice policy was established in its place and this policy is required by legislation. Strategy/Process Establishing a Public Notice Policy, allows the community to know how and when notices will be provided and aligns with the principles of open government. The Policy also provides guidance to public notice authors, which ensures that all notices are uniform, communicates the pertinent points, and are written in plain language. Corporate Communications – Newspaper and City Website To achieve balance, the Policy indicates that the City may use more comprehensive methods when providing notice, and for a longer period. It also encourages public notice authors to consult with Corporate Communications & Engagement staff to ensure that all appropriate tactics are used (e.g. amplifying through corporate social media accounts, use of corporate digital screens, use of local media) and that the use of other formats, such as video or direct mail are considered when providing notice to the public. Many municipal comparators have moved towards publication of notices on their website, either exclusively or a hybrid approach with an optional or mandatory newspaper publication. The new Public Notice Policy will provide greater flexibility to the municipality by allowing notice to be given on the City’s website in accordance with the City’s Corporate Communications Policy and Web Communications Policy. Website Enhancements Planning and Heritage Act notices will also be posted to this site. In addition, links to the Region of Halton Notice page, and the Ontario and Canada Gazette will be present to provide residents with a one-stop shop for most government notices. Options Considered When reviewing the City’s former Public Notice provisions, the notice provisions in the Municipal Act and current public notice practices of surrounding municipalities, staff took into consideration the most effective means of providing notice to the public. In addition, staff undertook to provide for notice timeframes that gave the public sufficient time to make submissions. Nothing in the policy prevents the City from using more comprehensive methods of notice or for providing for a longer notice period. In addition to specifying or providing recommendations for notice, the Public Notice Policy will provide clear direction to determine what department is responsible for providing each notice. This will serve as a tool to help City staff understand the notice requirements and their responsibilities for providing notice. The Public Notice Policy has been reviewed by the stakeholders involved in providing notice including staff in Finance, Capital Works, Licensing, Clerks and Planning departments. Staff was requested to provide comments and feedback on the policy requirements outlined in the Public Notice Policy. All recommended changes have been considered during the review process of this policy. Financial Matters: Engagement Matters: The new Policy was drafted with communication and engagement methods in mind, respecting market analysis and trends including use of social media. The City website (https://www.burlington.ca) remains as the City’s primary and predominant internet presence however the use of social media is also a key aspect of how the City communicates with its residents to engage, inform and receive feedback. In addition, the use of social media affords the opportunity to deliver time-sensitive information quickly. Should Council approve the Public Notice Policy, it will be made available on the City’s website under Corporate Policies. Conclusion:
The policy city staff is proposing: 1. Where the City is required to give notice under the Act, the notice shall be given in a form, manner and time as set out in Schedule A unless; The notice required in the Act or other legislation is greater in scope or time; Notice for the subject is not provided for in Schedule A and Council, by resolution, or staff determines that notice is desirable, in which case the Director responsible for the subject requiring notice shall provide notice. 2. Time periods set out in this Policy shall be counted by excluding the day of the period on which notice is first given and including the day of the period on which the meeting or other event takes place. 3. Every notice given shall contain the following information, when applicable: Identification of the authority under which the notice is given; A description of the purpose of the notice (i.e. date, time and location if applicable) and effect of the proposed action; A description of how and where comments can be made, including any submission deadlines; Contact information for the purpose of submitting written comments or obtaining additional information; and, Where the notice is related to identifiable lands, a key map showing the location of the lands; and That the Public Notice is given by The Corporation of the City of Burlington, or by the City Clerk on its behalf. 4. Where Direct Mail is required and the matter is related to identifiable lands, notice by Direct Mail shall be to the abutting property owner, unless legislation requires circulation to property owners within a designated radius of the identifiable lands. 5. A Public Notice, utilizing the City’s website, shall be sufficient even if the City website is not accessible at all times during the public notice posting period. 6. Nothing in the policy shall prevent the City from using more comprehensive methods of notice or for providing for a longer notice period. 7. No additional notice will be required for subsequent meetings where a matter has been deferred to a subsequent meeting by Council or by a Committee of Council. 8. Where possible, Public Notices should be written in plain language and provided in an accessible manner. Public Notices shall incorporate the following strategies to enhance participatory opportunities for the public: 9. If a matter arises, which in the opinion of the City Manager, in consultation with the Mayor, is considered to be of an urgent or time sensitive nature, or which could affect the security of property or health or well-being of the residents of the City of Burlington, or if a state of emergency is declared, or is so advised by a Provincial Ministry, the notice requirements of this policy may be reduced or waived. Definitions: For the purpose of this policy, unless otherwise stated, the following definitions shall apply: Term Definition Term Definition Mayor Means the Head of Council of The Corporation of the City of Burlington elected or appointed in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, as amended, or the Deputy Mayor or Acting Mayor as may be appointed or designated by Council from time to time. Newspaper Means a printed publication having general circulation in the City of Burlington. Notice Means a written, printed, published, or posted notification or announcement. Plain Language Means a way of writing, organizing and presenting information so that it makes sense and is easy to read. Information should be presented with straightforward vocabulary and sentence structures and by organizing material clearly and logically, to ensure that messaging is clearly understood. Procedure By-law Means the by-law to provide for the rules of order of Council and its Committees, 2021-31, as amended, and any successor legislation in substitution thereof. Public Notice or Notice to the Public Means notice given to the public generally but does not include notice given only to specified persons. Term Definition References: Municipal Act, 2001, c. 25, as amended Roles: Accountable: Council is accountable for approving this Public Notice Policy, and any necessary amendments. The City Clerk is accountable for recommending and preparing any necessary amendments to the Public Notice Policy, collecting concerns or complaints relating to the Public Notice Policy and ensure staff prepare and circulate notices within the designated time. Responsible: City Staff are responsible for preparing notices within designated timeframes and coordinating notices to be published (via newspaper, mail, and/or website).
June 7th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
If you were a member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association you would have received a notice like the one below. We put the information in the public domain so that citizens who will vote on the provincial government they want in June of 2022 understand how the Liberal candidate was chosen. Important Notice – Action by you is required to vote. Please read carefully. Notice of Nomination Contest Notice is hereby given of the vote of the Nomination Contest to nominate the official candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party in the electoral district of Burlington. Eligibility to Vote (Membership Cutoff) You are eligible to vote in this contest if you are: 1. A resident of Burlington who was a member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association on Sunday, June 6, 2021 by 5 PM; or Registration for Voting Due to ongoing restrictions for large in-person gatherings, the voting for the nomination contest will be conducted electronically. To register to vote, you must reply to this email attaching a scan or a photo of your identification by June 13, 2021 at 5PM. Identification can be: Option 1: ONE government issued ID with your photo, name and current address. (examples: driver’s license, Ontario photo card) Option 2: TWO pieces of ID Alternative to email, you may send the IDs over WhatsApp to 437-237-3598. WhatsApp messages must be sent from a phone number registered to your membership record, or the membership record of another person in your household. Please be assured that your identification will be deleted. If you require assistance on registration, please email us by replying to this email. Voting Once you are registered for voting, you will receive an email with credentials, a PIN number and instruction to cast your ballot. You will be able to cast your ballot online or by telephone. Voting will be open on June 26, 2021, between 11AM and 8PM. The vote will be conducted by preferential ballot. You will be able to rank your preference or simply vote for one candidate. Candidate Presentation/Speeches A live webcast will be held where you can hear speeches/presentations by the candidates for the nomination. A video of the webcast will be posted and available for viewing later. Date: June 23, 2021 To register for this live webcast, please visit: Getting nominees was certainly not a slam dunk for Liberals in Burlington. The Gazette published extensively on the process that that took place. It was more like a public spectacle rather than a well organized process where the Liberal Party association in Burlington acted like adults and kept the public informed. Related news stories: Kearns announces: Want to be the Liberal candidate in 2021. Kearns: decides she doesn’t want to be a nominee
June 7th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was warm and the locals got a little restless. A Burlington resident wrote saying the last she had heard was that ‘there was still a pandemic and there were some rules on social distancing and being out with crowds of people that were not immediate family. “Last time I checked there was still a pandemic and provincial rules were still in effect.” Our reader reports that on Saturday there was “a party in the park with well over 100 attendees.”
“No bylaw officers and no police attended. The park was all cleaned up this morning by city workers and this is what it looks like by 5pm. “A downtown business owner caught someone defecating in between the buildings. “We have found discarded Gatorade bottles filled with urine on our property. We are constantly being awoken at all hours of the night by the cars with the modified mufflers racing up Lakeshore.  The Pier was packed – the breezes would make Covid19 concerns a little easier to live with. “There is never any enforcement by police or bylaw. Downtown is going downhill fast. “We have sent numerous letters of complaint to the Mayor and Ward 2 Councillor. “The people who live in this neighborhood are not very impressed.” The Bylaw enforcement people do not patrol the city – they respond to specific complaints and they investigate. The police do patrol and they do respond directly to complaints.  The owners of this hospitality facility were fully aware of what the rules are – why they weren’t observed and enforced is something they will have to explain – to whom? The Mayor invites direct contact but is not always able to respond immediately. The ward 2 Councillor is involved in other interests. People may hear from these two elected officials during the week we are into. If this kind of behaviour becomes a pattern there is going to have to be an increase in the police presence.
 Can the demand for public space and a place to be outside be met in Spencer Smith Park?
June 6th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
This isn’t the first time the Neal Family has done a bottle Drive. Each time they hold a drive the amount they raise increases.
The last one came in at $8000 and loads of food plus significant cash donations.  Julie Neal with her son explaining how the bottle drive got started and then just grew. One person drove in from Kitchener with a load of bottles. The volume has gotten to the point where they are asking people who drop off bottle to separate the cans from the bottles. The drop off point this time is the North Burlington Baptist Church located at 1377 Walkers Line – just north of Forest Run Avenue They open at 9 and will close it up at 4 pm. It all takes place on Saturday June 26th. They are hoping they can pass the $8000 mark they set last time. This is serious business.  This is what they were dealing with last time.
June 6th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette reported yesterday on the response to the question – where should the next Rainbow crosswalk be located. There were more than 4000 responses – with 2813 wanting to see it located on Fairview near the Drury Street intersection which is the location of the Catholic District School Board. One can see some differences of opinion when the matter gets to council on Tuesday. What comes first – the wishes of the supporters of the gay community or the wishes of a school board that decided not to permit the flying of the rainbow flag at Catholic schools. Delicate. The responses and the way the numbers broke down are set out below.
Some demographics on the people who responded.
It would have been useful to see some additional demographic data like age and gender. It will be interesting to hear what, if any, interpretation staff provide and what position council members take.
June 6th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
City hall announced on Thursday that the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Martha would be closed while a construction crane was installed on the ADI construction site where the Nautique was being built. Those cranes are complex pieces of equipment – assembling them is no simple task. A local photographer was able to train his camera on the men and the work they were doing.  The finished job. Now they begin to lift steel beams and concrete to the site as the building rises floor by floor.  With the upright section in place the riggers wait for the two side of the horizontal section gets lifted into place.  First piece of the horizontal section is hoisted into position with the riggers waiting to bolt it down.  The height doesn’t impact on the men doing the work. Their focus is on making sure everything is in place and done properly before inspectors sign off on the work. Imagine for a moment if a crane that tall were to topple.
June 4th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Those men and women who drive the school buses have a sense of humour. And like everyone else they have learned to pivot – rather well.  School bus company pivots to reward drivers. They weren’t able to hold their annual Awards Banquet – they came up with a different idea. This year they are holding a drive-through BBQ for the drivers and they are holding a charity dunk-the-staff-and-managers event for the drivers.  Dunking senior management Every driver has been given a form to indicate which management and staff they want to dunk. The drivers will pay $2 a ball or 3 balls for $5. 100% of the funds will be going to Food for Kids Halton. We will get back to you on the where of this event.
June 4th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) – 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) with the assistance of 2 District CIB has concluded a week-long investigation in relation to a series of garage and shed break-ins, and vehicle entries in Burlington and Oakville.
On June 2, 2021, Dylan Brown (28) of Hamilton was arrested at a Hamilton residence. He has been charged with the following offences:
A Criminal Code search warrant was executed as a result of the investigation and approximately $70,000 worth of stolen property was recovered. Brown has been held in custody pending a bail hearing. Investigation is continuing in efforts to identify other possible suspects in regards to these incidents. Anyone with information regarding this investigation or wishing to inquire about any recovered stolen property is asked to contact the following investigators. D/Cst Cole Richards – 3 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 2345. D/Cst Mark Bingham – 2 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 2268.
We would like to remind our community of the following tips to help prevent becoming a victim to these types of crimes:
June 4th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation has a fund raising initiative underway and has found willing supporters within the commercial sector.  They are there when you need them. Be there for them when they need you. Using the tag line: This June, support local businesses and support local healthcare. The following have joined the J. Factory Shoe Outlet These are a few of the corporations that are taking part in the drive. Each has something unique in the way they donate – each supports the hospital. Factory Shoe Outlet is over halfway to its fundraising goal of $40,000!  Jack is all in! When Jack Fernihough saw the We Love our Hospital lawn signs were popping back up around the city, he went to his garage and proudly added his sign from last year back onto the front lawn. But he had thrown away his old “We Joined” sign. So when the Foundation was delivering a sign to his neighbour, Jack asked if he could have the full set. “It’s just something fun,” he said. “I think it’s important to support the hospital because a strong community needs a strong hospital. And Burlington is a top-notch city, and we need a top-notch hospital.” To request a sign, please click here. Signs will be delivered and installed by Foundation staff following all safety precautions with contactless delivery. The plea from the Foundation is: We need you now more than ever.
Make this moment matter,
June 3rd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON In an earlier version of this story there was a headline that was inappropriate. It was revised. The production happens to be about sex being used as a weapon. The three members of council are part of the production. Apologies to anyone who was offended. There was a time when radio is all there was. And it was great. Radio captures the mind and lets the imagination run rampant. There were those classic programs: Johnny Dollar the report of a private investigator and what he spent his fee on. There was Allan Mills and his program. There was that Bed Time story that CBC used to run. Television was never able to do what radio does.  The audience will be “out there” instead of these seats. The people at the Performing Arts Centre are taking us back to what radio was all about: words, tone and inflection all used to capture the imagination and build up a sense of what was being communicated. Because The Show Must Go Online the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Presents Dangerous Liaisons Online BPAC will stream a virtual reading of the classic play, Dangerous Liaisons (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) next Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12. Tickets for the stream cost $20 per household, or $15 for BPAC members and volunteers. To thank Burlington-area front-line healthcare workers for their sacrifices during this pandemic, they can contact the BPAC Box Office for complimentary tickets to the show.  Three council members amongst the cast. Adapted to run approximately 60 minutes, this reading will be directed by Stratford Festival director Richard Ouzounian. The incredible cast features local artists and politicians, including Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Councillors Lisa Kearns and Rory Nisan, KooGle Theatre’s Leslie and Christopher Gray and others. For those of you who remember the moment when the Mayor sang from the passenger seat of a Smart Car – you can once again hear the dulcet tones of a women who trained to sing opera. Listen to how she did. “After such a long time without being able to entertain the people of Burlington, it is exciting to be back doing what we do best – and that is putting on a show,” said BPAC Executive Director Tammy Fox. “Working with a director the caliber of Richard Ouzounian and a cast that mixes talented performers and enthusiastic local leaders is fun, energizing and just the tip of the iceberg of what we can accomplish when we are able to welcome patrons back.” Participating restaurants Paradiso and Pepperwood Bistro have prepared delicious prix fixe takeout meals to accompany a night at the online theatre, so patrons can make it a true dinner and a show experience. Hungry theatre patrons can find all the details about their tantalizing dinner options through the BPAC website. About the Show About the Cast The Burlington Performing Arts Centre Tickets can be purchased online or by telephone: The full schedule of BPAC Presents events is available here: burlingtonpac.ca/bpacpresents – Tickets and dinner choices facebook.com/BurlingtonPAC | twitter.com/BurlingtonPAC | instagram.com/burlington_pac
June 3rd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
BurlingtonGreen was not going to totally lose the chance to have an impact even if the province put a kibosh on their annual CleanUp/GreenUp event.
They did what everyone did – the pivoted and put together a program that helped people do things at home. THE GREEN UP & TREE LOVING CARE (TLC)Ways that you can GREEN UP at home:
Request a packet of FREE native plant seeds to support your Green Up activities at home, while quantities last. 2. Remove invasive plant species from your property. 3. Give some Tree Loving Care (TLC) to your trees 4. Learn about the importance of trees, pollinators, native species and biodiversity  The annual clean up event is seen by some as something for the younger crowd. While these woman are certainly young at heart – and they are doing their bit. Perks of Registering:  Thousands of trees have been planted by BurlingtonGreen volunteers. When you register your Green Up participation, you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Burlington Centre. We are giving away 2 gift cards for those that register between now and October 31st. We’ve got extra prizes for those that share their photos with us – so take photos of your Green Up and tag us on social media or e-mail them to us for EXTRA chances to win! Note: Submission of photos provides permission to BurlingtonGreen to use your photos in print, or in digital materials including social media platforms with permission to edit, alter, copy, or distribute the photos for media advertising and marketing. To take part in the program REGISTER
June 3rd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON’
The previous provincial government closed all of the coal-fired power plants and permanently banned coal as a fuel for electricity production. That was one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in North America. More than 30 mega-tonnes of greenhouse gases annually were eliminated. That is the equivalent to taking seven-million petroleum powered vehicles off our roads. In addition, closing the coal plants helped reduce the number of smog days in Ontario from 53 in 2005 to zero in 2015. In 2005 coal-fired electricity still accounted for 19% of the utility bill. By 2015 when coal was gone, wind and solar energy had come from nowhere to account for 9%, even as electricity use in the province increased by another 3%. And while the costs of getting there were not inconsequential, solar and wind are today’s lowest cost sources of electrical energy.  Wind turbines work exceptionally well if located in the right place. Of course wind and solar are intermittent sources of energy by their very nature. And while awaiting the development of backup energy storage systems, natural gas had been included in the mix to allow for those times when the sun was down or the wind had stopped blowing. Still, by 2018, the year the government changed political parties, natural gas accounted for only 3% of the energy mix. Renewable energy accounts for a third of the electricity produced in Ontario. And a third of that comes from Ontario’s fleet of solar and wind installations. But after the 2018 election the Ontario government stopped approving and started cancelling new solar and wind projects. Still, even in 2020 wind and solar still generated over 11% of the provincial energy mix. As a result Ontario’s electricity system is currently about 94 percent carbon free. However that is down from 97 percent under the former government, though still very respectable when compared to other jurisdictions like the USA, or even Alberta.  Solar panels have proven to be very cost effective. Unfortunately the current provincial administration is allergic to naturally sourced renewable energy. In fact, the Premier has recently moved to de-prioritize renewable energy in an effort to allow increases in the carbon content of Ontario’s energy mix. So it should not be surprising that this Ontario government, through its wholly owned Ontario Power Generation, has just spent three billion dollars purchasing three existing gas plants from TC Energy. It is easy to understand why TC Energy would want to unload these facilities which represent yesterday’s fossil fuel burning technology. But why would the Ontario government buy them? The contrast with what we see happening in the US could not be clearer. US President Joe Biden is committed to eliminating natural gas electricity production within 15 years, replacing it with renewable energy. Canada has just announced new climate change targets for 2030 which would entail a 40-50% reduction in fossil fuel burning. Recently 27 municipalities across Ontario, representing half of the province’s population, have demanded that Ontario phase-out natural gas electricity production. They are concerned about re-carbonizing Ontario’s energy mix and the potential smog pollution which would result. Converting Ontario’s vehicle fleet to electricity is hardly carbon free if recharging the cars’ batteries relies on carbon based electricity. The province’s Independent Electrical System Operator (IESO),which manages Ontario’s power system, had begun a stakeholder engagement process to examine the feasibility of phasing-out natural gas. In response, the Ontario Energy Association (OEA,) which represents most large energy providers, quickly generated a report in defence of the gas plants.  One of the three gas fired energy plants the province bought. The OEA report delivers what they term a ‘rough estimate’ of $60 billion over the next decade as a consequence of eliminating natural gas from electricity production. Rough estimate is a generous term for this sketchy effort at producing a large enough number to get everyone’s attention. And unsurprisingly, the imaginary number, intended to impress the reader, is based on heroic and incomplete assumptions – in short, shoddy work. But this is not just about climate change and the environmental consequences of burning more fossil fuel. There have been huge economic costs associated with the direction this government has been taking us from the get-go. They gave away $3 billion when they dismantled Ontario’s cap and trade emission reduction system. Another $231 million was spent compensating approved new renewable energy projects which were cancelled by the government. Then there were the millions, (initially $30 million) which were poured into the pointless effort to kill the national carbon tax. And now the Province is spending $3 billion to buy gas power plants which will have to be decommissioned in as little as a decade. Meanwhile the government is paying $6 billion a year to subsidize our monthly electricity bill, a practice estimated by the Ontario Energy Association to possibly end up costing $228Billion over the next 25 years. And even so, the cost of electricity has actually increased since this government came to power, peaking just prior to the onset of the pandemic and the Premier’s decision to offer work-at-home rate relief during the crisis. By any measure, economic or environmental, this is a troubling roadmap. And it is taking Ontario tax payers into the most ideologically driven and wrong-headed misadventure since a former premier broke up Ontario Hydro.
Background links: Coal Power Plants – Ontario Energy Mix – Ontario Electricity Rates – Municipal Pressure – OEA Study – TC Plants – Today’s Energy Mix – Ratepayer Subsidy –
June 2nd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON Another parking fee – this time at LaSalle Park – you pay to park the vehicle you used to tow your boat to the public launch. The LaSalle Park Community Marina opened the public boat launch on June 1. The same day the city began charging for parking.  Trucks parked at LaSalle now have to pay for the parking. New Parking Fees The parking lot has often had traffic flow problems caused by too many trailers and/or improper parking. The new paid parking requirements are intended to create more order in the lots, improve traffic flow and reduce frustrations.  Public ramp – at a time when the water was high and the winter ice had done a lot of damage. Residents and visitors can use the HonkMobile app or scan the QR code found on signage at the marina to search, pay for, and top-up parking payments directly from their smartphone, tablet or computer. Dashboard tickets are not required as every payment is linked with a trailer licence plate number. The Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a floating wave break. The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club (BS&BC) and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
June 2nd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Ooops! The web site was off line, or to use our language – the presses stopped running early this morning. A monkey wrench got thrown into the works and we were responsible.  Traffic increase to the Gazette had us moved to a different server. The company that hosts our site advised us recently that they were moving us to a different server due to an increase in our traffic. That required us to make a number of changes in the back end of the system – which I personally never did understand.  Monkey wrench was in the wrong place. One of the changes didn’t get made and something called a proxy server stopped serving. We are back and apologize for the inconvenience.
June 2nd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Where do the policy initiatives come from? Where do the fresh ideas come from? Are we to rely on those with vested interests or can we look to independent bodies that contribute initiatives and do the analysis needed to take what the data offers?
Put bluntly it was a regurgitation of information from Statistics Canada Tax-filer data, which was interesting and informative. So what – the taxpayers in the Region put up at least half of the annual CDH budget for which the public has a right to expect more in the way of quality analysis.  The numbers are useful – the analysis is vital and missing. Why does Burlington have fewer working poor than Milton or Oakville? Is it because it costs so much to rent in Burlington, if rental space can be found? Is the lower level of working poor people one of the forces that is driving the development of high rise towers? We are talking structures that are well above twenty floors in some cases. Development in Burlington has tended to be for those who can pay the millions for a view of the lake. There are reasons for the geographical distribution of the working poor. Knowing what those reasons are would be a useful contribution and part of what social planning is about. Something is missing from the material coming out of Community Development Halton. Related news article. Working poor lower in Burlington
June 2nd, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
There is now a road map to get us from where we are to where we want to be in the battle to prevent the further spread of Covid19 and its variants. The Roadmap to Reopen, a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health care indicators.  Burlingtonians understand social distancing Step One An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower, and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity.  People got out and exercised. Step Two Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, overnight camps, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity. Step Three Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits. The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step: Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose. Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses. Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses.  As soon as 60% of the population is vaccinated we can move into Step One of the Roadmap to re-opening. The government expects to enter Step One of the Roadmap the week of June 14, 2021. What the public is permitted to do between June 2nd and the 14th is not at all clear – other than to get out and get vaccinated. Step One will permit the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized and will permit retail, all with restrictions in place, including but not limited to : Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people; The detail is dizzying.
June 1st, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Work or employment is commonly understood as a means for individuals to have a decent living. With the impact of COVID-19 over the past year, there were substantial changes in both employment and earnings, leading to precarious work for individuals and their families.1 Many of those individuals may become the working poor and how we as community ensure that all members of our community are included in the recovery process is critical. As shown in the chart below, Oakville and Milton are above the Halton average, while Burlington and Halton Hills are below. As with poverty, there are many ways to define working poor. Using Statistics Canada’s tax filer information set as the data source,2 working poor3 is defined as individuals with an after-tax income below the Low Income Measure (LIM-AT) and earning an annual working income4 of over $3,000. The income threshold of $3,000 reflects the federal government’s Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) refundable tax credit intended to provide tax relief for eligible working low-income individuals and families who are already in the workforce and to encourage other Canadians to enter the workforce. Using the most currently available data, in 2018 a working poor person earned more than $3,000 but less than $24,654 (LIM-AT for a single adult).
The data was provided by Community Development Halton. 1 COVID Economic and Social Effects Study (CESES), McMaster University, 2021. https://labourstudies.mcmaster.ca/research/covid19- impact 3 A similar definition is used in Metcalf Foundation, The Working Poor in the Toronto Region, mapping working poverty in Canada’s richest city by John Stapleton, April 2015
June 1st, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Tomorrow, June 2nd, we come out of the Stay at Home order the province put in place April 7, 2021. Social distancing was observed in most places. However, all the other public health and workplace measures remain in place provincewide until Ontario enters Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen, at which point some restrictions will ease with an initial focus on outdoor settings. The Roadmap to re-opening is a complex document with specific changes that are linked to the number of people who have been vaccinated. Details on that Roadmap will follow in a separate article. “With the Stay-At-Home order set to expire, we need to provide people with certainty so that they can continue to follow public health guidance. Doing so will help us to meet our goal of starting to gradually lift some restrictions when we enter Step One of the Roadmap when it is safe to do so.” In a concentrated effort to reduce mobility and opportunities for transmission, the Stay-At-Home order required Ontarians to remain at home except for the purposes set out in the order, such as exercise, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, or accessing health care services. Once the Stay-at-Home order expires on June 2, these restrictions will no longer be in effect. This includes limiting indoor gatherings to households only and outdoor gatherings of up to five people, subject to limited exceptions, maintaining a cap of 25 per cent capacity for essential retail where only certain goods are permitted to be sold, restricting non-essential retail to curbside pickup and delivery only, as well as limiting short-term rentals to individuals in need of housing and allowing Ontario parks and campgrounds on public lands to be used for day-use only, subject to limited exceptions. Ontarians will be able to leave home to travel within the province to a secondary residence for any reason however, they are not be permitted to host members of another household indoors except for a person from another household who lives alone or with a caregiver. A simple, easy-to-understand summary of restrictions can be found on the province’s “Reopening Ontario” webpage, which provides details on what public health measures are in place before the province enters Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen. As always, anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who may be exhibiting symptoms of the virus should use the province’s self-assessment tool to determine what they should do next, including getting a test and isolating if necessary.  One has to wonder why a Stay at Home order was put in place. With the expiry of the Stay-at-Home order, emergency order O. Reg 266/21 (Residential Evictions) will also expire on June 2, 2021. Emergency orders currently in effect under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act have been extended until June 16, 2021. No word yet on what the Premier wants to do with schools. He is looking for a consensus: should something go wrong the blame can be shared by everyone.
June 1, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank got to meet with new Garden Coordinator Samantha (Sam) LeGrand on site this week. The seedlings are beginning to sprout – Sam expects them to begin to produce in about a month.  Samantha (Sam) LeGrand on site this week. There is some lettuce, sage and rhubarb to harvest today along with the garlic greens and garlic heads that were planted last season. Canadian Tire gave Sam a collection of seeds (sunflowers among others) they could not sell and now we are sending some seeds (that we could not use in our own garden plots) along to our clients. The Food Bank was allotted seven plots at the Maple Gardens, found Sam as the woman who would lead the operation and find the volunteers needed to make it all come together and produce fresh vegetables.  Without the volunteers we wouldn’t have gotten this operation off the ground said LeGrand. There is someone on site everyday watering and making sure the plants are in good shape. Please contact Sam at garden@burlingtonfoodbank.ca if you are interested in helping out over the summer. If you are in need or know of someone who could use our help, PLEASE have them email us at info@burlingtonfoodbank.ca or call 905-637-2273 to make arrangements to have food dropped at their door or make arrangements to pick it up through our curb-side pickup option. If you are a resident in Burlington, we are all here to help. Don’t struggle – give us a call.
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“There was garbage and smashed beer bottles everywhere. Nearby residents had to listen to the pounding of their music well past the 11pm noise bylaw.
Since May 23, 2021, a total of 37 incidents were reported where vehicles, garages and outdoor sheds were entered. In many incidents, the accused used the garage door opener stolen from the vehicle in the victim’s driveway in order to gain entry to the garage. Multiple items were stolen through the course of these entries, including high-end bicycles and tools. The accused was also using a stolen vehicle to perpetrate these crimes.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 
They had to announce on April 8th that the Community Clean Up has been temporarily postponed due to the stay-at-home order issued by the Province.
Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
We recently published a piece on a report on the working poor in the Region put out by Community Development Halton (CDH).
In 2018, there were over 444,000 working poor individuals in Ontario. They represented about 6.6% of the population (18-64 years) excluding full-time students living on their own. By comparison, in Halton Region, the working poor population was over 12,000 accounting for 4.5% of the working age population.