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Crosby: 'Burlington Council is responsible for the Burlington costs' adding - tell us what the actual tax rate is and not some number you make up

By Pepper Parr

November 19th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

Lynn Crosby delegated at City Council yesterday. What she said is at the bottom of this article.

Lynn Crosby

How Council responded is set out below. Rarely does Council engage with a citizen. Crosby is more than a butterfly that flits about. She was heavily involved in the Meed Ward 2018 election campaign and at one point was being considered as part of the Mayor’s staff.

The discussion after the delegation went as follows:

Councillor Nisan:

With respect, this is all about engagement. You mentioned that that there wasn’t enough time for council members or the public to review. The strong mayor power says we only have 30 days between presentation of the budget and passing a resolution to amend that budget. It was the budget report put up October 25 and we have special council meeting to provide any Council amendments on November 25. Do you have any recommendations for how we would work within the strictures of the strong mayor legislation that only gives us 30 days?

Crosby: I think that you should release a draft budget that is very similar to the proposed one far sooner, because as far as I know, the legislation doesn’t say anything about draft budgets. The information we received prior was way too limited. There was as missing data and numbers. It was just very vague. We don’t even have till the 25th of November, because nobody thinks it’s going to change drastically the last week of November or the day of that meeting; more has to be released that’s very similar to the proposed budget much earlier.

Nisan: My second question it, does the strong mayor powers do mention that if the head of council does not propose the budget by February 1, Council must prepare and adopt the budget. Do you have a position about that?

We’re not allowed to do Q and A,

Crosby: I might be wrong the way I’m interpreting that. But does that not mean that, if a mayor does not, if February 1 comes and goes, and the mayor has not presented a budget, a proposed budget, then Council does that. Is that what that says? And they also have to do it on February 1.

We’re not allowed to do Q and A, but functionally, that appears to be the case. Some, mayors have taken that route. I thought it was sort of if the mayor doesn’t do it, then Council has to do it.

Chair Sharman cuts in – “ This is not a debate, please.

Councilor Stolte: My question is a little bit more generalized. I hugely appreciate that you’ve come to talk about engagement, because you are 100% right. There are a lot of ways that we could continue to improve. Do you have some good suggestions about perhaps we should be making sure we have all the information that is common sense. Good, solid, common sense. My question to you, as I said, is kind of generalized, and that’s when it comes to public engagement.

Would you agree that there needs to be a balance in our public engagement, especially when it comes to something like the budget? The budget is detailed. The budget is specific. The budget is very hardcore numbers, literally, and you, particularly yourself as Lynn Crosby represent.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say one of maybe 200 people in the city of Burlington that dives into it to the detail of what you do, and therefore your comments are valid and respected because you take the time to educate yourself, but 200 people in the city of Burlington, of almost 200,000 that represents 0.001% of the population who takes the time and effort to educate themselves to then be able to engage effectively. Would you agree that there’s a responsibility on both sides of the ledger, as far as the city providing opportunities for engagement, but the public also taking the time and energy to educate themselves. So the engagement they’re giving is really effective,

Crosby: Sure, but the problem is – how are they supposed to do that with a 615, page document, you hardly have any time. This is the problem. And so the people that are looking at this, they have all kinds of questions clarifications they’d like to make. It’s unreasonable to think that a massive amount of people in Burlington could do that. I think you need to give them what they need. And I think people have different ways of engaging. Nobody has to come here and stand here. People who are working can’t be here. And no people should not have to take a day off work to come here. People have other ways of engaging, and one of those valid ways is sending emails to council members. You heard Jim’s experience on how that went. You know, we often send, send in emails and you don’t get anything back, or you get a response back, which you don’t really believe quite answered you, and then it says the file is now closed. Well, it’s not closed for me.

I feel like you need to come to where people can engage and even if that’s if they’re replying on City’s Facebook page or this, councilors ones, look at that like that’s still engagement too.

Councillor Kearns: I want to understand a little bit more around what your group or yourself took back from what were considered sort of the height of the engagement opportunities, which would have been the mayor’s individual Ward presentations.

How the information that you saw there and the feedback received be reflected, in your opinion, in the budget that we have before us today?

As far as I could see, none of them chimed in and said that they knew the answer.

Crosby: I attended several of the meetings in person and almost all the rest virtually. I did not see any sort of agreement with people who were asking for reductions. I felt like it was too soon – having the meeting before the budget was released. The mayor can’t help it if she doesn’t have the information. Then, why are we doing this right now?

There, were a number of staff in the room – none of them ever spoke. As far as I could see, none of them chimed in and said that they knew the answer. I felt like a lot of the theme of the meeting was people politely giving suggestions on how the you know, cuts could happen, and how they wanted things to be reduced. Even small things – this idea that if it’s not a giant thing like transit it won’t make a significant enough dent in the tax rate. So we won’t go there.

The whole theme was, that you need to spend responsibly, and in times of difficulty like now and when the rate is over 8%

Do a whole bunch of little things – they add up. That’s what we did not see.

On the 25th no one really got the point, which was cut all the things that aren’t absolutely necessary – rein in your spending. We did not get that. Those of us who were at the meetings felt was that it was rather a waste of time.

Kearns: My second question is on the release of a draft budget. I had nothing to present at my own September 18 Ward two community update.

We then had two days of committee. Around the end of October, we did have the the line by line 615 page proposed budget. I was able to pull together a community meeting for the Wednesday, well attended, very rich dialog. I like sort of the theme being brought forward around releasing a proper draft budget with all the lines. I felt like community members wanted to be involved, but the timeline put pressure on sort of disengagement case. Might that be the case?

Crosby: Yes, absolutely. I think that’s important, and I think it’s rather unfortunate that you didn’t get the information you needed when you needed it.

Councillor Sharman: I have a couple of questions. Lynn, the first thing about the 600 page document, there was a summary that was, I believe, quite thorough and full of a lot of information for most people who don’t understand the accounting logic. Do you feel that that was inadequate the first 30 page the summary document in the binder?

Crosby: I think in general, it’s best to look at the actual meat and not just the summary. So, and I think oftentimes the summaries just are too vague.

Sharman: My second question is about the when you refer to as the tax increase of the city at 8.5 and I have to use an analogy to clarify my question. If you go into a grocery store and you buy a piece of steak and vegetables and butter and salt and sugar, each item has a lit has its own price, and at the bottom, there is a price for the total bill, which is what you’re paying, not necessarily an individual item by itself.

Isn’t it true that the tax increase is actually the sum of the bill of all the items, not each individual one, where the blend of the price is actually the bottom one, not the individual one, and therefore, clarity purposes, the tax increase is actually the bottom line, not the top line. Could you comment on that?

Crosby: You’ve completely lost me there.

Crosby: You’ve completely lost me there. I’m not a numbers person, though, so But to me, that’s complicated, and my point stands. I think that Burlington Council is responsible for the Burlington costs. You’re spending our money as you see fit. At the end of the day, you are spending 8.3% more. You’re asking people to give feedback on the budget by telling them that it’s going to go up 4.9 it is certainly reasonable to think that people’s answers on what they should how what you should be doing or not doing, would be different if they thought it was 4% something or eight.

Sharman: Did you not see in the summary document that we declared the 8.5

Crosby: Yes and No – it wasn’t clear, because at the at the meetings before that, the mayor did, I saw different slides at each meeting, sometimes the 8.3 was there. It was not there very prominently. Yes, it is in the summary, and it is in the other budget document to if you find it. But that does not change the fact that the media releases, the social media, posts, the interviews, – everything – we’re hearing, 4.97 4.97 and that is wrong, in my opinion.

The Crosby delegation:

November 18, 2024 – Budget Committee Meeting

During the budget process

Councillor Nisan:

We’re not allowed to do Q and A, but functionally, that appears to be the case. Some, mayors have taken that route. I thought it was sort of if the mayor doesn’t do it, then Council has to do it.

Chair Sharman cuts in – “ This is not a debate, please.

Crosby: Sure, but the problem is – how are they supposed to do that with a 615, page document, you hardly have any time. This is the problem.

And so the people that are looking at this, they have all kinds of questions clarifications they’d like to make. It’s unreasonable to think that a massive amount of people in Burlington could do that. I think you need to give them what they need. And I think people have different ways of engaging. Nobody has to come here and stand here. People who are working can’t be here. And no people should not have to take a day off work to come here. People have other ways of engaging, and one of those valid ways is sending emails to council members. You heard Jim’s experience on how that went. You know, we often send, send in emails and you don’t get anything back, or you get a response back, which you don’t really believe quite answered you, and then it says the file is now closed. Well, it’s not closed for me. I feel like you need to come to where people can engage and even if that’s if they’re replying on City’s Facebook page or this, councilors ones, look at that like that’s still engagement too. It is absolutely thank you.

How the information that you saw there and the feedback received be reflected, in your opinion, in the budget that we have before us today?

The whole theme was, you need to spend responsibly, and in times of difficulty like now and when the rate is over 8%

Do a whole bunch of little things – they add up. That’s what we did not see.

Kearns: My second question is on the release of a draft budget. I had nothing to present at my own September 18 Ward two community update.

Crosby: Yes, absolutely. I think that’s important, and I think it’s rather unfortunate that you didn’t get the information you needed when you needed it.

Crosby: I think in general, it’s best to look at the actual meat and not just the summary. So, and I think oftentimes the summaries just are too vague.

Sharman: Did you not see in the summary document that we declared the 8.5

and elsewhere, we keep hearing the word “engagement” from staff, the mayor and city councillors. They say they want to engage with residents and seem to believe that their engagement is real and effective. In the opinion of many of those residents, however, it is not.

What exactly IS engagement? Looking at definitions and the purpose of engagement put forth by numerous experts, one finds common criteria. This from Citizen Lab puts it well: “The idea behind community engagement is that community members should have some power over the decisions that affect their lives. Community engagement requires an active, intentional dialogue between residents and public decision-makers. Its nature is formal: cities provide citizens with the necessary tools to get involved in decision-making. Its main challenges are identifying what is important for citizens, convincing them to engage, and offering them all the necessary information to make well-founded decisions.”

Today’s meeting focuses on the budget, so I will speak to the engagement surrounding that. It is indicative of the problems which I believe continue to repeat themselves in Burlington with respect to all engagement with citizens.

The City released their proposed 2025 budget on Friday, October 25. Residents pay the property taxes and have a right to clear explanations of where that money goes. Getting a 615-page document a few short weeks before the budget is voted on does not allow for true engagement. This is an issue both for residents and council members. The councillors got the budget when we did, how can they effectively represent us with such a short time to review it and get our feedback? This does not “provide us with the necessary tools to get involved in decision-making” when it is almost impossible to do so in such a short time-frame.

Speaking of not having the necessary tools: how can any reliable feedback be given in any manner including the much-touted (and, in the opinion of many, deeply skewed) city surveys, when we are not given the accurate numbers of what the proposed spending increase and tax increases even are? We also are missing the Flood Report and the post-2024 Transit Master Plan, which won’t be issued until after the budget is passed.

Fact: City spending will increase by 8.3%; Burlington property taxes will increase by 7.5%. And yet, the number we hear over and over again from the city and the mayor is 4.97%. The city has calculated this number by blending in the education and regional taxes. I suspect that if blending in other entities’ tax rates caused the Burlington rate to be higher, no such blending would occur. Asking residents if they agree with a 4.97% increase and to base their comments on that when the true increase is 8.3% completely skews any feedback.

If I went to the grocery store and filled my cart, adding up the costs of my purchases as I went, and then discovered at check-out that in fact the total is much higher because the price tags were labelled too low, I would realize that I would have made different choices along the way had I known. I would then be removing several things from my cart.

Additionally, since the Halton Region Police Service is looking for a 13.8% budget increase, which will “impact” the Halton Region increase by about 2%, this makes the continued presentation of the 4.97% number to council and the public, including at the November 4 Committee of the Whole meeting, even more misrepresentative. Your blended number, which you repeatedly reference as the “impact,” will be inaccurate and too low if this is approved at Halton Region.

It would be more prudent and transparent to time the Burlington budget process to occur after the Halton Region tax rate has been set and after all reports and data necessary for budget planning have been released. Under the Strong Mayor Powers legislation, the proposed budget doesn’t have to be released until February 1.

What else skews the feedback? Being asked to provide most of it before we even had access to the proposed budget, and therefore, zero idea how much any of our responses would actually cost in real terms, both in dollars and in changes to other services or items.

To ask citizens to give feedback at the Food for Feedback Event without us having any context of what the implications would be if we “voted” with stickers for increases or decreases on various broadly-worded items is quite simply a flawed and cynical approach. To do so with no numbers attached is pointless. I’m shocked that anyone thinks putting stickers on a poster in this manner counts as anything. You have no idea who even attended: surely not everyone who dropped by for “free” food even lives in Burlington. Some sticker-happy souls were children. You have no idea how many people stuck all their stickers on one box. And regardless, they certainly didn’t have “all the necessary information to make well-founded decisions.” And yet we are to believe that the mayor and staff used this at least partly as a basis for preparing the proposed budget.

Lastly, we had the mayor’s budget meetings held in each ward, again, before the proposed budget was released. Therefore, the necessary tools — the needed data and the context — were missing. And time and again when residents did try to engage – to give suggestions and opinions on asking for cuts and reductions, this feedback was met with excuses about why these would not be heeded. Stephen White and Jim Barnett spoke at the November 4 Committee of the Whole meeting about the lack of true engagement at those sessions.

I urge council and staff to look at Sherry Arnstein’s “Ladder of Citizen Participation”. Arnstein wrote in 1969 in the U.S. about citizen involvement and described this ladder. It has been described since as: “a guide to seeing who has power when important decisions are being made. It has survived for so long because people continue to confront processes that refuse to consider anything beyond the bottom rungs.”

The bottom two rungs of the ladder are labeled as examples of “Non-Participation;” the middle three as “Tokenism” and the top two as “Citizen Control.” I would like to quote from descriptions made by David Wilcox in describing the rungs for a UK publication (www.partnerships.org.uk/part/arn.htm:). These are the rungs of the ladder that I believe we are stuck on in Burlington:

Bottom two rungs:

1 Manipulation and 2 Therapy. The aim is to cure or educate the participants. The proposed plan is best and the job of participation is to achieve public support through public relations.

The middle three “Tokenism” rungs:

3 Informing. Too frequently the emphasis is on a one way flow of information.

4 Consultation. A legitimate step … but Arnstein still feels this is just a window dressing ritual.

5 Placation. For example, co-option of hand-picked ‘worthies’ onto committees. It allows citizens to advise or plan ad infinitum but retains for powerholders the right to judge the legitimacy or feasibility of the advice.

I’d like to end by repeating the idea of engagement which I cited at the beginning: “that community members should have some power over the decisions that affect their lives.”

I speak for friends and neighbours, for members of the Burlington Residents’ Action Group as well as numerous other residents who have delegated or commented on various forums when I say that we do not feel that we have any power over the decisions being made with respect to the budget on how OUR money is being spent. This is NOT a community budget. True engagement must go beyond the sheer number of events termed to be “engagement”; the type and worthiness of the engagement is what matters. Let’s try to get to the top of the ladder on engagement, not stay on the Manipulation and Tokenism rungs.

BRAG: A Better Burlington is Within our Grasp

By Staff

September 30th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

BRAG, a newly formed citizen action group has thrown down a gauntlet and let the city know what they exist and what they plan to do – then set out the ideals they are committed to. They don’t pussy foot around.

They have moved away from the zero tax increase they originally called for – now nothing more than inflation is acceptable.

They are very tough on citizen engagement – something the Gazette has been hammering away at for more than 10 years.

They want the Strong Mayor powers Mayor Meed Ward has rescinded – existing provincial legislation would not allow that change.

Interestingly they made no mention of the Bateman High school re-purposing situation. No mention either on what the City can and cannot do with developments that are taken to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Set out below are the values BRAG published on Saturday.

Something to BRAG about.

The Burlington Residents’ Action Group (“BRAG”) is deeply committed to actively promoting certain policy initiatives that align with our overall goal of promoting a safe, secure and sustainable future for all residents. To that end, we are committed to the following ideals:

Responsible Financial Management:

- - The actual tax increases in the last 3 years have been excessive, and we believe these were too high. Consequently, we are calling for the following:
    - A clear and transparent budget process that provides for line-by-line budgets that reflect where tax dollars are being spent;
    - Establishment and management of a website that accurately depicts actual spending year to date in relation to the approved budget;
    - Municipal tax increases should not exceed the rate of inflation;
    - Funding for emergencies and extraordinary expenses should be provided through the allocation of reserve monies or time-limited tax levies that expire once the problem has been corrected;
    - Elimination of vanity projects such as Love Your Neighbour, mundialization, the upcoming trip to Japan, drones and art for public buildings;
    - More stringent funding criteria for special events, social causes and not-for-profit organizations;
    - A three year hiring freeze;
    - Prioritization of the maintenance of existing physical assets over the tearing down and reconstruction of existing facilities.
  - We strongly maintain that Council should undertake more of an effort to reign in discretionary spending.

Flood Mitigation:

- - We support the development of a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy that focuses on better advance communication of impending severe climatic events, regular inspection and clearing of storm drains and creeks, upgrades to existing storm and wastewater systems, identification and opening of release catch basins in established neighbourhoods, and more direct interaction and consultation by City staff with homeowners impacted by the July 2024 flood.
  - We believe a proactive approach to flood mitigation will be more cost-effective for everyone. Existing infrastructure must be kept free of debris and improved where required.

Environmental Sustainability:

- - We maintain that there is a direct correlation between population intensification and environmental degradation. To that end, we believe the City should reject further massive development projects such as Appleby/Fairview and 1200 King Road on the grounds that these projects present significant flooding risks and negatively impact the surrounding greenspaces.
  - We believe that positive measures to address climate change should focus on enhanced tree planting, broader use and application of permeable concrete, and widespread adoption of bioswales.
  - We believe the expenditure of public funds on environmental conferences, seminars and such is both wasteful and unnecessary. We know there is a climate emergency, and these public funds should be directed toward addressing the city’s carbon emissions and other issues under the city’s control.
  - We believe a paperless option for our tax bills and other communications from the city is long overdue.

Traffic Congestion:

- - We support better traffic light timing measures, and not just for buses. Traffic congestion has a direct impact on the quality of our lives and the climate.
  - We support the restoration of two-lane traffic in both directions on Appleby, Walkers and Guelph Lines south of New Street.
  - We believe the City should investigate bus cut-in or queue jump lanes on Fairview Street similar to what exists in Mississauga on Burnhamthorpe Road.
  - We support the restoration of two-lane traffic on Lakeshore Road west of Brant Street. Do we want to add that the restaurant patios on Lakeshore Road should be eliminated – they already have large patios between their doors and the sidewalk, they don’t need to take a lane of roadway as well.
  - Other cities have strict rules against developers taking over lanes of roads and pedestrian sidewalks while building their condos for years.
  - We believe that continued intensification without road widening will result in a grid-locked and unlivable city.

Development:

- - This development proposed for 535 Brant will be completed. It doesn’t comply with the BRAG ideal.
    
    We believe that Burlington is essentially built out. We believe that future growth in the housing inventory should be organic in nature.
  - We maintain that the City should actively promote the creation of affordable 2-and 3-bedroom properties by private developers. We believe that new developments throughout the City should be limited to eight storeys outside of the MTSA’s. We support the move to build a variety of housing types including townhouses, bungalows, starter-sized homes, smaller duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes similar to what exists in communities such as Montreal.
  - We feel that the creation of additional high-rise condominiums should be rejected on the grounds that this type of accommodation has significant negative impacts on nearby residents, and is also antithetical to the housing needs of new homebuyers.
  - We propose that the City should initiate a modular housing project such as the ones developed in Peterborough and the Region of Waterloo, to address the issue of homelessness. The target should be 50 homes.
  - We feel that the City should admit that the target of 29,000 new housing starts for Burlington by 2030 is both unrealistic and unachievable.

Stong Mayor Powers:

We believe the Strong Mayor Powers that were adopted by the Mayor in 2023 are antithetical to the principles of a fair and democratic government, as well as community engagement. We believe this authority should be rescinded.

Community Engagement:

- - Burlington has always had a small group of citizens who get out to public meetings to review budgets, policy proposals and share ideas. The city stopped this type of meeting when Meed Ward became Mayor.
    
    We feel that the City’s Charter of Engagement doesn’t need to be rewritten so much as it needs to be followed by council. The current review of the engagement charter is taking an inordinate amount of time and money with three staff members working on this project for what is now two years and counting, multiple surveys, advertisements, public sessions, and continual delays. We believe the Mayor and Councillors should proactively commit to following the principles of consultation, and to follow the Charter of Engagement going forward.
  - We believe the previous practice of semi-annual City-wide and monthly Ward Town Halls should be reinstated.
  - We do not consider having council members meet with members of the public – usually one-on-one – in food courts or other such places, to be proper engagement. Council members should hold proper meetings in city facilities where the audience can hear all other attendees’ questions and the answers, and attendees do not feel like random customers in the mall are listening to what they have to say. Meetings should have an agenda and an open question and answer period, and the council member should be accountable for the answers he or she provides to the group at large.
  - We believe that all engagement must include associated costs, including the cost of staff time.
  - We believe tax increases must be stated in terms of the Burlington portion of the tax bill and the overall impact on the total bill when combined with the Halton and Education. The council’s current practice of stating the “impact” is misleading and doesn’t match the actual increase that people are seeing on line 1, the municipal line, on their tax bills.

'I find it infuriating, distressing, overwhelming,' said one expert. , 'I’m relieved that I do not have children, knowing what the future holds,” said another

By Staff

May 12th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

Global heating is likely to soar past internationally agreed limits, according to a Guardian survey of hundreds of leading climate experts, bringing catastrophic heatwaves, floods and storms.

Only 6% of the respondents thought the 1.5C limit could be achieved, and this would require extraordinarily fast, radical action to halt and reverse the world’s rising emissions from fossil fuel burning.

However, the experts were clear that giving up was not an option, and that 1.5C was not a cliff-edge leading to a significant change in climate damage. Instead, the climate crisis increases incrementally, meaning every tonne of CO₂ avoided reduces people’s suffering.

We have yet to hear, read or be aware of an occasion when the Burlington MPP, Natalie Pierre spoke of Climate Change and what the provincial government was doing about an world wide emergency. For MPP Pierre, the photo op is the medium she chooses to get her massage out. Just what is the message?

The task climate researchers have dedicated themselves to is to paint a picture of the possible worlds ahead. From experts in the atmosphere and oceans, energy and agriculture, economics and politics, the mood of almost all those the Guardian heard from was grim. And the future many painted was harrowing: famines, mass migration, conflict. “I find it infuriating, distressing, overwhelming,” said one expert, who chose not to be named. “I’m relieved that I do not have children, knowing what the future holds,” said another.

“Climate change will not suddenly become dangerous at 1.5C – it already is – and it will not be ‘game over’ if we pass 2C, which we might well do,” said Prof Peter Cox, of the University of Exeter, in the UK.

Dr Henri Waisman, at the IDDRI policy research institute in France, said: “Climate change is not a black or white question and every tenth of a degree matters a lot, especially when you look at the socioeconomic impacts. This means it is still useful to continue the fight.”

Out of control fire burns in southeast Manitoba -May 8th, 2024

The scientists’ responses to the survey provide informed opinions on critical questions for the future of humanity. How hot will the world get, and what will that look like? Why is the world failing to act with anything remotely like the urgency needed? Is it, in fact, game over, or must we fight on? They also provide a rare glimpse into what it is like to live with this knowledge every day.

The climate crisis is already causing profound damage as the average global temperature has reached about 1.2C above the preindustrial average over the last four years. But the scale of future impacts will depend on what happens – or not – in politics, finance, technology and global society, and how the Earth’s climate and ecosystems respond.

The data reflects something we are all responsible for.

It is not as if we didn’t know – we have always known – we just aren’t at the point where we fully realize how much trouble we are in. Hopefully then we will begin to make smarter decisions and not panic and do really really stupid things. Do you know what the Provincial Climate Warming Plan is ?

Rivers on the federal budget: Paying the Piper

By Ray Rivers

April 18th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

Pouring over the 400 page federal 2024 budget document, one can’t help but be impressed with the breadth and scope of federal involvement in almost every facet of the lives of Canadians. It is a lot of money that gets spent by your federal government each year. This year that list of expenses is even longer thanks to the NDP demanding their pound of flesh for propping up the Liberal government.

The photo op reminds one of two students turning in their homework. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Freeland

The federal government has been forced to use the power of the purse to buy its way into areas which were once exclusively provincial. That is because the premiers of provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario are not meeting the needs and wants of their electorate. And the public doesn’t know, or even care, which government is responsible, but blame the feds if they don’t get what they want and need.”

So the feds have found their way into having to develop their own health care, dental care, pharmacare, education and child care programs. Provincial governments are involved in some of these but none of these new initiatives would be happening without federal leadership or funding. And now there is a billion dollar school food program, filling a void left open by most provinces and some parents.

The federal government was late in getting to the point where they would play a direct role in getting housing built. The provinces left them no other option.

Housing has taken a front seat in this budget as the feds have plunged headlong into dealing directly with municipalities to meet the hugely unmet demand for accommodation spaces across the country. The provinces may resent the federal intrusion into their back yard, but Canadians feel it is a federal responsibility. So it’s in the budget. Of course, cutting the bank rate, which is driving up mortgages across the country, and limiting immigration would also help solve the housing crisis.

Justin Trudeau came to power, unlike his political opponents, arguing for even more deficit financing to grow the economy. And it’s been a spotty growth record, marred by the pandemic and the acute inflationary supply shortages immediately following. Still, Canada posted one of the highest growth rates over the past couple years among the G7, though not on a per capita basis thanks to the flood of new immigration we’ve seen.

Economists these days prefer to talk about debt as a percentage of the GDP. Still, when the cost of financing the debt is more costly than what the government contributes to health care, that is troubling. Canada’s debt to GDP ratio, which is about half of that of our southern neighbours, had been slowly declining until Covid came knocking at our door. The budget predicts that ratio will get back to where it left off and continue its downward trajectory.

That will be helped by the big news in this budget that taxes are finally going up for those who can most afford them. There are about 40,000 Canadians who earn over $250,000 in capital gains and only pay income tax on half of that. The capital gains tax for those folks is rising from 50% to 67%. That is still well below the 75% rate once imposed by former PM Mulroney.

A younger Justin Trudeau made it clear from the beginning – he was going to work for the middle class – more votes in that demographic.

And why would capital gains be treated any differently from employment income – why shouldn’t it be taxed at 100% like other earned income? Capital gains, much like an inheritance or casino winnings are windfalls but they are spent and saved just like earned income. Why do we treat them as a free lunch?

Income tax rates have not been touched in this or other recent budgets. One of the first acts of the Trudeau administration was to cut taxes for the middle class, which the PM claims helped lift more than one million Canadians out of poverty. And to pay for that he created a new top federal income tax bracket of thirty three percent.

But Canada, with its publicly financed health care is still a relative tax bargain for its citizens. We still have the lowest marginal tax rate in the G7. For example, the richest Americans are taxed at 37%. Also, Canada’s corporate income tax rate is the 4th lowest in the G7 at 26.2%. And taxation of new business investment at 13%, compared to the USA at 17.8%, is the lowest in the G7.

Unquestionably this is a progressive budget and those who don’t believe in government playing a bigger support role in our lives will disapprove. Still we know from our experience with the Canada Health Act that universal publicly funding universal programs are less costly to society overall. It’s a known fact that Canadians pay something like half what Americans do for a health care system with better outcomes, despite some access issues.

So those naysayers are on the wrong side of history. As we are forced into the age of fighting to save the planet from the potential ravages of climate change we need to get used to governments playing an even bigger role. But we need to pay for what we are demanding. And making the wealthiest Canadians pay a fairer share by raising the inclusion rate on capital gains is just a start.

Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly 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

Background links:

Budget – Debt – Highlights – More Canada – Not Less –

Stern on 2024 budget: Fairness for every generation.

By Eric Stern

April 19th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

On April 16^th the federal government introduced its eighth budget. Using the term “fiscal guardrails” to describe their approach to deficit spending the Liberals plan to add another $39.8 billion to the national debt.

We have wonderful social programs and it is amazing to see this government adding to them. Canada is the only country in the world with healthcare coverage but no prescription medication coverage for people under 65 (outside of hospitals). The budget takes a tentative first step towards correcting this.

The problem with adding new social programs is that we need a fair way, for every generation, to pay for these programs.

Debt and Deficit

Federal debt

The federal debt load, the sum of all unpaid government deficits, is now around $1.2 trillion. These numbers are so big they become meaningless. Dividing $1.2 trillion by the population of the country, 40 million, we get something more meaningful. The federal government has borrowed, on behalf of each person in Canada, about $30,000. Using the same line of calculation and a population of 16 million, the Ontario government has borrowed, on behalf of each person in Ontario, about $26,850.

Adding the two totals together, a baby born today, in Ontario, owes $56,850. Is this fair to the newborn generation?

Another way to look at this problem is to compare healthcare dollars with the interest payments on the $1.2 trillion debt. The federal government will transfer, to the provinces, $49 billion for healthcare and will pay $54 billion in interest payments on the debt. If the current government, and previous governments, had actually had any fiscal guardrails, far more money would be going to healthcare, something the current generation of seniors might see as fair.

Trudeau has added more money to the total debt than all previous prime ministers combined going back to 1867. This burden will be transferred to future generations, once again calling into question the statement “Fairness for every generation”.

The federal government has added 100,000 employees to the payroll. In 2015 there were 257,034 employees, in 2023 there were 357,247 employees. Healthcare is a provincial responsibility; the growth didn’t take place in healthcare. In spite of Trudeau promising, in 2015, to reduce the use of consultants, consulting fees have increased 60% (2015 to 2023).

The Liberals have failed to make the civil service more productive either through the use of technology or other means, and have failed to control the size of the civil service. Arrivecan is just one example. With such massive growth in both public sector employment, and in the use of consultants, there must be opportunities to reduce government spending to pay for new social programs offering true fairness for every generation.

Tax the Wealthy

In 1990 there were twelve countries in Europe with a wealth tax, today there are three. In France, between 2000 and 2012, an estimated 42,000 millionaires left the country. Over time, as wealthy people leave, tax revenues decline. France repealed their wealth tax in 2018.

While the Liberals play checkers, Canada’s millionaires and billionaires have accountants and lawyers who play chess. Can a billionaire move to the Caymen Islands, a tax haven, and fly their private jet to Toronto for meetings? Why not, Trudeau hops in a plane with less thought than the rest of put into taking an Uber.

The Fraser Institute, a conservative think tank estimates that the top 20% of Canadian income earners pay more than half of total taxes. Statements like “the wealthy must pay their fair share” may already be true. Link to the report HERE.

The 2024 Forbes list of billionaires shows there are 67 billionaires in Canada with a combined wealth of $314 billion. This is a very small number of people, I bet all 67 can fit in the Prime Minister’s jet. A tax system that encourages and allows more people to become billionaires will generate more tax revenue for all Canadians.

The change in the capital gains inclusion rate will cause real and long-term damage to our economy. Tobi Lutke, one of our billionaires and a cofounder of Shopify, posted this on “X” immediately after the budget was released. “Canada has heard rumours about innovation and is determined to leave no stone unturned in deterring it”.

Tech companies, in particular, need venture capital funding to grow. The changes in capital gains taxation will deter venture capitalists from investing in Canada. In the US, the tax rate on capital gains is a flat 21%. We are simply not competitive. Small and medium sized businesses, in every sector, now have one more difficulty to overcome when trying to attract capital to grow. How many Canadian venture capital firms will relocate to the US and simply stop investing in Canada?

Housing Costs

Someone in the federal Liberal government fell asleep at the switch, the result is that Canada’s rate of immigration is unsustainable. Immigration is wonderful but schools, healthcare, roads, and housing need to keep up.

Oval Court: A high rise development planned for Burlington

The budget completely ignores the fact that the Liberal government created the housing shortage.

Now that the opinion polls have forced the government to wake up the Liberals really have no choice but to spend tax dollars, collected from all Canadians, to create more housing. Burlington has already received $21 million in federal housing funding and the money has gone into processes, not physical housing. I really hope this new round of federal money goes into homes instead of more photo ops to boost the Liberal party’s sagging popularity.

Is this article almost finished?

Almost.

There are many budget details still to be released. The government expects to raise $6 billion with a new digital services tax. Will this be just another tax along the lines of charging HST on top of the carbon tax? We’ll have to wait and find out.

The Liberal government has forgotten that Canada needs a vibrant and growing private sector that can be taxed, fairly, to pay for our social programs. Companies in Canada need to compete against companies around the world, employee housing costs, personal tax rates, and corporate tax rates are major factors in this competition.

Inflation is a problem for everyone, the Bank of Canada has asked all levels of government to reign in their deficit spending so that interest rates can come down. Borrowing $40 billion just pours gasoline on the inflation fire. Here’s a new slogan: Budget 2024: Un-Fairness for every generation.

I sometimes wonder if Trudeau understands the difference between a million, a billion, or a trazillion.

Eric Stern is a Burlington resident, a retired businessman in the private sector and said to handle a pool stick better than most of the people he plays with.

Where have all the workers gone?

By Pepper Parr

August 7th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Where have all the workers gone?

Covid19 meant huge changes in where people worked – the office moved to the kitchen table and teachers did their best to keep a class interested while everyone dealt with a virus that was killing millions.

Remote work was necessary during the harder days with lock downs in place.

Burlington chose to become a hybrid city with some staff able to choose to work from home full time – going into the office only when it was necessary.

City manager Tim Commisso liked the idea

City manager Tim Commisso liked the idea and directed the Executive Director level to organize the jobs that had to be done into various forms of hybrid work. Neither Commisso or the city’s Communications department every released numbers

“People thought remote work would last forever, and the importance people put on work-life balance reached new heights … people were putting their personal lives first and moving to beautiful locations,” said Travis O’Rourke, president at Hays Canada.

The number of fully remote jobs has decreased as a number of employers have called time on work-from-anywhere policies. The volume of applications for remote jobs has also increased, he said, putting them high in demand for those who have relocated to these locales.

Jessica Weisz optimized for sunshine. “We came and saw the place that we could rent … You could see the mountains and the lake, it had a pool and it was massive and it was the same as rent for our little small loft in Toronto.”

Jessica Weisz, who works in tech entrepreneurship and venture capital, stopped working in-person in Toronto during the pandemic and moved to Niagara, Ontario, and then Kelowna, B.C., where she has continued working remotely for her employer.

For Weisz, returning to an in-office position holds little appeal. “I like being able to be home and focus and not have to go into the office,” she said, adding that the flexibility helps her be a more involved parent.

“What we were optimizing for was sunshine. I had never been to Kelowna – I knew nothing about it,” she said. “We came and saw the place that we could rent … You could see the mountains and the lake, it had a pool and it was massive and it was the same as rent for our little small loft in Toronto.”

Since then, the number of fully remote jobs has decreased as a number of employers have called time on work-from-anywhere policies. The volume of applications for remote jobs has also increased, he said, putting them high in demand for those who have relocated to these locales.

Research suggests that, like Weisz, most employees who got a taste of remote work are eager to continue. Nearly four in five Canadians said they much prefer it to working in the office, according to a report by the Future Skills Centre.

The impact of remote work on the office space sector of the real estate business is severe. Some office building operators are looking at ways to convert the space in residential.

Others are finding that productivity isn’t quite the same but those people aren’t certain and think it might be too early to tell what the final outcome is going to be.

Social media has become a very dangerous computer application - used by politicians to communicate with you

By Pepper Parr

July 16th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

This article is about Twitter, Threads, social media, the Canadian Press and how literally everything about you is being used by social media to exploit you.

That sounds harsh – it just happen to be true.

Lets start with the Canadian Press: they are a Canadian national news agency headquartered in Toronto. Established in 1917 as a vehicle for Canadian newspapers to exchange news and information,

The article below, written by Tara Deschamps who is employed by the Canadian Press, sets out th explain what social media is doing to us. She begins with:

It knows when you’ve been online shopping, the last time you worked out and whether you’ve been lurking on your ex’s profile.

Meta’s new social media platform Threads is gobbling up massive amounts of sensitive data on its 100 million users and counting.

The specificity and quantity of information the text and multimedia platform can access poses a risk to most users, if it falls into the wrong hands or is used to target them, tech experts agree.

Claudette McGowan CEO, Protexxa Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank.

“This is a hacker’s dream,” said Claudette McGowan, a longtime banking executive who founded Protexxa, a Toronto-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to rapidly identify and resolve cyber issues for employees.

“The more data you have sitting in a certain position (or) spot is going to get people really, really excited about getting access to it and being very creative about it.”

Threads falls under Meta’s wider privacy policy that covers its other social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. That policy details how Meta captures everything from the information you give it when you sign up for accounts, to what you click on or like, who you befriend online and what kind of phone, computer or tablet you use to access its products.

Meta is the company that owns Facebook and Instagram and recently launched Threads, an application that compete with Twitter.

It also keeps tabs on what you’re doing on your device, like whether the app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving, messages you send and receive and details on purchases you make, including credit card information.

Threads also has its own supplemental privacy policy, which says “we collect information about your activity on Threads, including the content you create, the types of content you view or interact with and how you interact with it, metadata about your content, the Threads features you use and how you use them, the hashtags you use, and the time, frequency, and duration of your activities on Threads.”

The privacy policy Threads has embedded in Apple’s app store shows it may collect, and link to your identity, data including your health and fitness, financial, browsing history, location and contact information, along with the broad category of “sensitive information.”

“It looks to me like it is a grab bag or a drift-net approach,” said Brett Caraway, a professor of media economics at the University of Toronto.
That approach is not unusual for social media services or other apps. It’s become “standard repertoire” for such companies to broker access to as much data as possible, he said.

TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices or webcams. The app was launched in 2016 by the Chinese technology company ByteDance. The Canadian government banned TikTok on all government-issued mobile devices in late February, citing serious privacy and security risks for users.

Music-centric social media app TikTok, for example, collects usernames, passwords, dates of birth, email addresses, telephone number, information disclosed in user profiles, photographs and videos. It also grabs preferences you set, content you upload, comments you make, websites you’ve visited, apps you’ve downloaded and purchases you have made.

Screen resolution, keystroke patterns, battery levels, audio settings and “your approximate location, including location information based on your SIM card and/or IP address” are also scooped up by TikTok.

Caraway often hears from students who wonder why they should care if social media companies access their data because they’re not high-profile and don’t use such apps for controversial activities.

“Just because you’re safe today doesn’t mean you’re safe tomorrow,” Caraway argues.

“We’re certainly seeing a situation in the U.S. where certain marginalized populations are under attack, at least rhetorically and sometimes legally, and you might find yourself as part of one of those marginalized populations.”

Regardless of what you do on social media, Caraway said these companies leave users “not in the position to bargain.”

“You just have to take what the platform gives you.”

Asked about the app’s privacy concerns, Meta referred The Canadian Press to Threads posts from its chief privacy officer Rob Sherman, where he argued its privacy measures “are similar to the rest of our social apps, including Instagram, in that our apps receive whatever information you share in the app — including the categories of data listed in the App Store.”

“People can choose to share different kinds of data,” he wrote.

Before signing up for Threads or any other service, McGowan recommends people go beyond a cursory glance at the privacy policy they are agreeing to and read it more thoroughly with how the data could be used in mind.

“People just don’t understand the value of the data,” said McGowan.

“They become the product. Things are being monetized that they don’t even envision and they’re thinking they’re making decisions and formulating opinions that really are being formed and decided for them.”

She also advises people to consider a company’s history.

“Do they have a track record of handling sensitive information with care?” she questioned.

“Do they have a track record of being transparent and open and honest with their user community?”

How dangerous can social media be ? In 2018 Facebook gave an application developer access to the personal information of about 87 million users; that personal info was used to target U.S. voters during the country’s presidential election that ended with Donald Trump in power.

In the case of Threads, its parent company Meta was infamously ensnared in privacy concerns in 2018, when it was revealed that consulting firm Cambridge Analytica paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million users.

The personal info was used to target U.S. voters during the country’s presidential election that ended with Donald Trump in power.

Threads has yet to launch in European Union, which has strict data privacy rules.

“We would have liked to offer Threads in the EU at the same time as other markets, and the app does meet General Data Protection Regulation requirements today,” Sherman has said on Threads.

“But building this offering against the backdrop of other regulatory requirements that have not yet been clarified would potentially take a lot longer, and in the face of this uncertainty, we prioritized offering this new product to as many people as possible.”

This is what social media could be – without some form of government intervention it has become dangerous,

If you’re having second thoughts about an account you’ve signed up for in light of such developments, most services offer tools that help you adjust settings, limiting access to some of your personal information.

“And you always have the option to disconnect,” McGowan added.

However, to dump your Threads profile, which is embedded in Instagram, you must also delete your Instagram account.

Canadian Press advised readers that Meta funds a limited number of fellowships that support emerging journalists at The Canadian Press.

Heat Warning issued for Halton Region

By Staff

July 4th. 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

As a result of extreme heat and humidity, Environment Canada has issued a Heat Warning for Halton Region starting July 4, 2023. This warning is issued when forecast temperatures are expected to reach 31 degrees Celsius or more with overnight temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius for two days, or when a humidex of 40 or higher is expected for two days.

Especially at risk

Seek shade from the sun.

• older adults (over the age of 65), infants and young children, people who work and exercise in the heat, people without adequate housing and those without air conditioning; and

• people who have breathing difficulties, heart problems, kidney problems or are taking medication that increase their heat-health risk.
Prevention tips

• drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water;

• avoid strenuous outdoor activities;

• seek shade from the sun;

• spend time in air-conditioned places, such as shopping malls and community centres; and

Some choose to sit in the shade listen to the music and enjoy time with their neighbours – summer in the city

• visit friends and neighbours who may be at risk and never leave people or pets in your care unattended in a car.

If you or someone in your care experiences rapid breathing, headache, confusion, weakness or fainting, please seek medical attention right away.

Weather and heat information are available on local radio and television stations and the Environment Canada Weather Conditions and Forecast webpage. For information and tips on how to protect your health during heat warnings, including a listing of air conditioned locations in Halton, please visit our Heat Warning webpage at halton.ca or call 311.

The Redesign of Civic Square - Part 1

By Pepper Parr

July 1st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

This is a long story so I have broken it up into three parts.

City Hal released a plan last week to redesign Civic Square. The three parts are:

What was done before the plans that are now before the public?
What did the Staff report have to say in their report to Council ?.
And how did council react

In December of 2018 the city budgeted $600,000 for upgrades to Civic Square, the space to the south of city hall.

Civic Square as it is today.

Many of the improvements were required to improve things like accessibility, safety and convenience.

The city held an on-line survey with renderings of the new look; it was poorly promoted and the results of that survey were never made public.

At the time there was one 28 storey tower planned for the west side of Brant Street on the north side of James. The plans were approved and the tower is nearing completion.

The first tower to be built directly across the street from City Hal – 28 storeys. Construction close to completion.

Plans for a second tower on the south side of James have not been completed. They did have approval for 17 storeys and that is where that second tower sits.

The city had embarked on improving what they called Customer Service, gave it the initials CSX.

The first run at that idea stumbled getting out the gate. A former City Clerk was assigned to improving the team; some progress was made. The wrinkles got worked out, the software being used was upgraded. The former Clerk left for greener pastures – retirement.

The second tower that will be opposite City Hall – on Brant south side of James Street. Construction has yet to start.

Covid entered the picture, many staff worked from home and the city used the opportunity to remake the ground floor of city hall – you will not recognize the place when it is opened to the public. Expect a major photo op event when that happens.

Inside City Hall will look and feel a lot different. A visual was prepared to give the public a sense as to what was in the works. Take the 33 second flyby to see what the end result is expected to look like

When the changes to the inside of City Hall were taking place little attention was paid to Civic Square other than mention of a new entrance, some reshuffling of things in Civic Square – more flag poles, some trees and plans to either get rid of the fountain or move it.

The noise and dust from the renovations proved to be more than staff could put up with if they were going to get any work done.

The Customer Service department was moved to the Sims building, which is on the southern side of Elgin Street.. The city bought the building for $17 milliom about five years ago.

Parts 2 and 3 to follow.

Ward 2 Councillor sent her regrets - three times. Why?

By Pepper Parr

June 20th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns has published a newsletter for her constituents. The content is good; Kearns is thorough and she has an understanding of the issues that surpasses that of most of the other Councillors.

She takes on the Mayor when she thinks a little tug on her chain is needed.

She manages Standing Committee meetings better than any other member of Council.

The opening paragraph of the most recent newsletter goes:

“I have enjoyed seeing so many out and about at our local parks and visiting small local businesses. I hope to see you out there too! I continue to be so proud of the many ways our community has shown its commitment to caring for each other. My office continues to support all requests and is here to serve you, please reach out.”

Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns

The concern for us at the moment is we didn’t see Councillor Kearns at any of the Standing Committee meetings this week. All the public got was that Kearns had sent her regrets – which is political speak for “I am going to be absent”.

Councillor Nisan was away for at least one meeting – he was at a conference.

With two Councillors away the important business that gets dealt with at Standing Committees suffers from input from Councillors that are not at the table.

Kearns has children that often need attention – which her constituents understand.

What isn’t know is – why is Kearns absent? Does the public have a right to know ?

Is the problem a physical one – Kearns was thought to be dealing with long covid or is it psychological – she does have difficulty standing up for a position she has taken on occasion.

Civic Square needs an upgrade – and Council needs what Kearns can bring to the table in terms of how it can best get done. What Staff brought to the table earlier this week is not good enough.

The plans for a significant upgrade to Civic Square needed input from Kearns – Staff was bungling the presentation – there were too many unanswered questions.

Her involvement in the discussion on changes to ward boundaries is critical – it is her ward that has the most residents – the solution to the problem is complex and far more difficult than most people realize.

Kearns is the smartest member on this Council – her contribution is significant. It would help if the public knew a bit more. How much more – it is a little sticky when the personal lives of public people is the issue.

Public people need to learn to trust the people that put them in office.

We wish Kearns God speed in dealing with whatever it is that ails her. The residents of ward 2 need her sharp mind.

When Marianne Meed Ward was involved in an auto collision and learned she had suffered a concussion she skipped Standing Committee meetings but was always at Council meetings where the vote counted.

Procedural by law up for review - Clerk's Office doing a survey

By Pepper Parr

June 22, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

For those who have concerns over the way the current council manages itself – this is your time.

City Clerk Kevin Arjoon

The Office of the City Clerk is conducting a review of the Procedure By-law and is looking for community input through a community survey on the sections of the by-law pertaining to the public.

Your feedback will considered as part of the review and help us improve our meeting experience.

The Procedure Bylaw is a bylaw that rules how Council and Committee meetings are run and details the decision-making process of Council.

The Procedure Bylaw makes sure the City’s Council and Committee meetings have consistent, collaborative decision making.

It does this by establishing transparent and accountable governance and includes information about:

membership,
scheduling,
agendas,
voting and
public participation.

You may feel the city, Clerk in particular, don’t listen. You might be right – but you still need to go on record with your concerns.

Related news story:

Ward newsletter sent out late

Provincial statutes get different treatment in Burlington and Hamilton - not a good sign

By Pepper Parr

June 21st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

The Ontario municipal election campaign donations appear to be treated one way in Burlington and another in Hamilton.

When the Gazette was doing a series of articles on the donations given to ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith we noted that in his Election Donations and Expenses document (a Forn 4) that Galbraith did not appear to have opened a separate election campaign bank account; a requirement before he could accept donations.

Burlington City Clerk Keven Arjoon – a little loosey goosey when it comes to ensuring that candidate reports are reviewed.

When we brought this to the attention of Burlington City Clerk Keven Arjoon his office responded that they did not go through the reports in detail, other than to confirm that it was provided by the candidate.

Hamilton has a much different approach. Hamilton City Clerk, Andrea Holland presented a report to Council in which she set out a number of donation infractions.

If the name Andrea Holland sounds familiar – it should. She was at one time a Burlington employee working in the Clerk’s office. She was one of a number of bright women who found greener grass in other municipalities.

In Hamilton a special committee must decide whether to take some of Hamilton’s biggest developers and business names to court for allegedly donating too much to candidates in last year’s city election.

Under Ontario election law, no donor is allowed to contribute more than $1,200 to a single municipal candidate or more than $5,000 in total. Candidates are required by law to tell prospective donors about the limits, but it is up to donors to ensure they do not contribute more in total than the law allows.

A review by the Hamilton City Clerk of financial contributions made during the election last fall found several donors who “appear” to have violated the maximum donation rule — although not by much, in most cases.

That triggered a meeting of an arms-length “election compliance audit committee” to decide if a violation occurred — and if so, whether it warrants pursuing rare court action that could result in fines.
Several big-name donors were under the microscope – but only one, Sam Mercanti, showed up in person.

“I apologize,” said the 75-year-old founder of national auto body chain Carstar, who told the committee he was unaware of the $5,000 donation limit that he exceeded by $700. “Now that I know, it will not happen again.”

Other notable donors on the alleged over-contribution list included:
Darivoj (Darko) Vranich, Hamilton’s downtown mega developer, appeared to nearly double the donation limit with $9,600 given to eight candidates;

Sergio Manchia, a developer and ubiquitous planning consultant, appeared to donate $5,300 to 13 candidates;

Tighter oversight in Hamilton when it comes to municipal election campaign donations.

Silvio Guglietti, founder of Rosehaven Homes and a multi million-dollar development player in Hamilton’s Elfrida expansion area, appeared to donate $5,200 to seven candidates.

The committee ruled at that time no legal action should be pursued.

The Hamilton committee went behind closed doors to discuss whether to pursue any legal action over violations.

In Burlington any concerns remained in the office of the City Clerk.

Does the city need Heritage Culture Districts ?

By Pepper Parr

June 20^th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

There was an interesting comment made by a woman who attended the first of two community meetings on the creation of Heritage Designated areas.

A Burlington downtown resident who lives in one of the areas the city wants to designate a Heritage Cultural Area questions both the idea and the way the city is working with residents.

She made these comments on the differences between ZOOM (virtual) meetings that the bureaucrats seem to prefer. City meetings are webcast – it is not unusual to have close to half the members of Council working from their homes.

“If you’ve watched any of the Zoom meetings the City had regarding this matter, where they all blabbed away and at the end of it said “that went well thanks everyone “

Citizens will show up for a meeting if you make it interesting enough and promote it effectively. This crowd was going through the city budget. Virtual or Zoom meetings are not popular to citizens.

“The meeting last night was the equivalent of a Zoom meeting – the City and the consultant struggled so much and came across as ill prepared and uninformed because … they had to sit in a room face to face with real people, real business owners with real questions.

“Zoom meetings are not a substitute for real life – they really need to stop “working from home”

“When Zoom meeting participants have to confront real life… they can’t cope”

The city and the consultant(s) were completely bewildered as to why everyone wasn’t going yeah – let’s do it and do it twice

Does she have a point?

Retrofit Pilot Program goes to Council on Tuesday for approval

By Pepper Parr

June 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

As recommendations go they don’t get better than this:

Approve the establishment of the Better Homes Burlington Energy Retrofit Pilot Program to provide a maximum of twenty loans to Burlington homeowners who meet program eligibility criteria to support the implementation of air source heat pumps.

Direct the Executive Director of Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services to monitor and assess the results of the Better Homes Burlington pilot program and report back to council in one year with recommended next steps.

The purpose of the report was to obtain council approval of the necessary elements to deliver the Better Homes Burlington (BHB) program. In 2020, Council approved the Burlington Climate Action Plan and set a target to become a net zero carbon community by 2050. The BHB program will support decarbonization measures in the residential sector to help Burlington achieve its net zero community target.

The report recommended the BHB program as a pilot project which will support residential decarbonization by:

• providing a concierge service to homeowners with guidance on options to complete a home energy efficiency retrofit;
• offering loans to homeowners to accelerate the adoption of air source heat pumps; and,
• engaging and educating homeowners and contractors to promote/deliver home energy efficiency retrofits.

For those who want to upgrade the way they heat and cool their homes the Better Homes Burlington would appear to be something worth looking into.

Council directed Staff to bring forward a business case as part of the 2023 budget process for the resources required to support implementation of a small-scale home energy efficiency retrofit program including a virtual delivery centre/support for homeowners, and loans through a Local Improvement Charge (LIC) mechanism for Burlington homeowners to improve home energy efficiency.
Council recently approved the Better Homes Burlington program coordinator position (one year contract) as part of the 2023 operating budget.

Better Homes Burlington – Concierge
The program coordinator will act as a concierge to provide assistance to homeowners as they consider options to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This role could be more significant than administering the BHB loan given the complexities for homeowners to navigate the home energy efficiency retrofit environment. The concierge will provide guidance on:

• Grants and incentives – Enbridge Gas has partnered with the federal government’s Greener Homes program to be the one stop shop for both the Greener Homes and Enbridge grants to support a wide range of home energy efficiency measures – Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+)

• Financing – discussing options with homeowners for the best options to finance home energy efficiency retrofits (ie. financial institutions, the federal government’s Greener Homes loan program, Enbridge Sustain and/or Better Homes Burlington loan)

• Energy audits – provide guidance on the benefits of and how to arrange an EnerGuide Home Evaluation

• Energy Efficiency Measures – provide guidance on the types of measures which can improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint

• Contractors – offer guidance on how to find and retain contractor services for energy efficiency improvements
The program coordinator will also be responsible for community engagement activities to promote the benefits of home energy efficiency measures and the options available to homeowners, as noted above. Contractor engagement to promote the program will also be part of this role.

Jim Feilders, the owner of a home that is carbon neutral explains: ÈPutting it all together with the best data I could find, is shown in the chart below. It includes the “What if” we do nothing, called business as usual. You know, keep our heads in the sand and keep doing what we have always done. I’m not saying change is easy by any means.” Burlington GHG emmissions – source The obvious solution is to make the Community Energy Plan work – problem with that is we don’t know yet how to do that. Extrapolations for the CEP are less optimistic as most of the behavioural change will have occurred. With our CEP alone, we fall short.

Better Homes Burlington Loan
To implement the Better Homes Burlington pilot loan program, a bylaw is required to utilize the Local Improvement Charge (LIC) mechanism. In 2012, the provincial government amended the LIC regulation to permit municipalities to deliver home energy efficiency loans to homeowners, which can be repaid through property taxes.

A maximum of $10,000 will be offered to homeowners to support the installation of air source heat pumps and leak sealing. The target for the pilot project is 20 homes which currently rely on burning fossil fuels for a source of heating.

Eligibility criteria include:
• All registered owner(s) of the property must consent to participating in the Program;

• Property tax and all other payment obligations to the City of Burlington for the past five years must be in good standing;

• Owners must enroll in the pre-authorized property tax payment plan prior to approval for term of loan; and

• The owner must notify its mortgage lender (if applicable) of the owner’s intention to participate in the Program using the City of Burlington’s prescribed form.

• Note: homeowners with CMHC or other insured mortgages are ineligible to participate in the Program.

The maximum term for a loan will be 5 (five) years to be paid back with interest (prime rate). Through the LIC mechanism, the loan is tied to the property and can be transferred to new homeowners if a home is sold, however, most homeowners pay off the loan prior to selling. An administration fee will be charged in the amount of $50.00 (fifty dollars).

The program details for the Better Homes Burlington loan is summarized here:

1. Homeowners will be asked to contact the program coordinator to discuss eligibility for a loan. The program coordinator will provide information on all options available to homeowners to fund energy efficiency measures, such as grants, loans, the Home EnerGuide Assessment process, and how to find a contractor.

2. If the homeowner is eligible for a BHB loan and decides that this is the best option, they will be directed to obtain quotes for the work.

3. The homeowner will submit the information with a funding application to the City. The funding application will be reviewed by the program coordinator to confirm eligibility and once approved, a property owner agreement (POA) will be shared with the homeowner for signature, which will be signed by the Executive Director of Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (or designate).

4. Once the POA is executed, the homeowner can proceed with the proposed works and can submit the final report (project completion) to the City with the invoice.

5. If the amount differs from the original application, a revised schedule can be attached to the POA. The program coordinator will work with Finance staff to begin the loan process through the property tax system.

Jim Feilders turned his home into a carbon neutral house. He said: We need to replace gasoline vehicles with electric and hybrid models and transition our residential space heating and water heating from natural gas to electric inverter heat pump technology – air, water and ground sources. These technologies are actually less expensive on a life cycle basis than their fossil fuel alternatives.

The program will be promoted to homeowners throughout the summer with the opening of applications to occur in September. From the time homeowners receive funding approval, they will have six months to install the improvements (air source heat pump and leak sealing) with an opportunity to request a further extension (up to six months). Once the improvement is installed, the homeowner will submit the completion report to confirm the loan amount. The completion report will be reviewed by the program coordinator and the manager of environmental sustainability, and the loan will be processed. Loans will be added to the tax bill at the end of April 2024 to begin the repayment process. If the homeowner has not submitted the completion report in time to process a loan and add to the annual tax bill by April 2024, then the homeowner loan repayment will be added to the tax roll the following year (2025) for repayment.

By January 2024, the program coordinator and manager of environmental sustainability will review the loan application process to determine whether to recommend continuation, particularly given that loans are only added to the tax roll once per year.

Assessment of the pilot program will be based on overall interest in the program and number of applications received. If 20 loans have already been pre-approved by the end of January 2024, the pilot program will come to a close and will be assessed at that time.

Program Monitoring and Assessment
Metrics will be tracked to assess and monitor all aspects of the Better Homes Burlington program to report back to council in 2024 on the results, such as number of homeowners assisted, types of questions asked, number of community engagement activities and participation rates, and number of loans applied for and issued, and number of loans refused. In addition, staff will continue to collaborate with neighbouring municipalities and our extended networks to identify alternative measures for future consideration to support the transition off of the use of fossil fuels for thermal energy.

Financial Matters:
It is recommended that the Energy Initiatives Reserve Fund provide the source of funding to support homeowner loans through the LIC mechanism. Annual loan repayments by homeowners will be credited back to the reserve fund.

With the uncommitted balance currently at $185,000, along with the 2023 funding provided through the rooftop rental fees the City receives from three solar installations on City facilities of $25,000 per year, accounts for the $200,000 reserve fund requirement of the loan program. The reserve fund was originally established in 2015 to help fund energy efficiency initiatives in City facilities.

Total Financial Impact
Based on a cap of 20 loans for each homeowner at $10,000/resident, a total of $200,000 is required to support this program. In addition, Council approved $120,000 one-time funding for a one-year contract for a program coordinator position.

Staff time will be required from Finance in the property tax section to support on the tax eligibility criteria listed above and adding the loan to the property tax bill for repayment.

Lynn Robichaud, Manager of Environmental Sustainability

Engagement Matters:
A communications plan is being finalized with Communications staff to launch, promote and deliver the Better Homes Burlington program. Engagement activities to promote the program will include webinars, presentations and demonstrations in partnership with community stakeholders and networks. A website was created at the same time the Better Homes Burlington feasibility study was completed in partnership with the Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College and will be launched in the near future with a media release.

The program will be voted on at the June 13th Council meeting.

The prime contact at this point is Lynn Robichaud, Manager of Environmental Sustainability 905-335-7600 x7931

It is time for Honest,Direct Engagement and Straight Talk about what the possible impacts of Upper Tier Dissolution will be other than expensive

By Blair Smith

May 22, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington Today reports that:

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward says there will “absolutely not be a City of Halton.”

She told BurlingtonToday that Burlington council has agreed to support an assessment of Halton Region and be an active participant in that process, after passing a motion at its May 16 meeting.

Burlington, along with Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills are gathered together as a Region. The Region has its own Official Plan that Burlington must comply with. The Region handles Social Services, Waste and water management, some roads, police and Emergency Services. It levies taxes which the city collects.

“Everything else is on the table,” she said, adding things like transit could be uploaded to the Region and other things downloaded, “but it must deliver better service for better value.”

To be polite, here we go again with our Mayor answering a question that may have been relevant six months ago but hardly now in the face of Minister Clark’s announcement on Thursday.

Actually, it’s puzzling why BurlingtonToday would choose to report the Mayor’s comments since their context is now rather dramatically changed. And just to be completely accurate, “the motion” was tabled as a “consent item” at the May 16th Council meeting with no questions, comments or debate. So much for being “an active participant”.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward greeting Premier Doug Ford during a tour of Joseph Brant Hospital.

Indeed, there will certainly not be “a City of Halton”; there may be no Halton at all. There may be no City of Burlington either, although I imagine that Meed Ward is eager to accept the prospects of a Mississauga scenario with abundant Strong Mayor powers.

The reality is that the Ontario Government is once again rolling the municipal dice and the target – not for economies of scale and operational efficiencies but for better management of new housing targets – is the Upper Tier.

All the services that were consolidated will be disaggregated into the emancipated municipalities and the costs, both of dissolution and of creating needed service depth and structure, will be borne by the taxpayer.

Will Burlington benefit if Halton Region is dissolved? It is impossible to say at this point but I personally don’t like the prospects. The economics just don’t make sense.

When a group of us fought regional amalgamation in 2019 we believed that we were protecting local voice and decision-making. Today, we would be far less enthusiastic. Even in 2019 we acknowledged and supported the benefits of further consolidation of certain services and functions at the regional level – things like information technology, fleet management, common purchasing, vendors of record and transportation.

However, we felt that cities, such as Burlington and Oakville, should have strong influence over how they grew as communities and should not be amalgamated into an indistinct ‘melting pot’. That would still be our belief today despite the failure of our Council to deliver on their promises and a truly remarkable opportunity.

It is time for honest and direct engagement with Burlington’s citizens – straight talk about what the possible impacts of Upper Tier dissolution are. Given the fact that the municipalities left standing and perhaps whole will still be creatures of the province, subject to provincial direction and control, but now tasked with funding standalone services, it is difficult to be enthusiastic.

Related news story:

The article that brought out the opinion.

It is going to take more than grassroots love to stop Doug Ford from doing whatever he wants to do with the Regions

By Pepper Parr

May 22nd, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Doug Ford is at it again. He seems to have this fixation on what the municipal level of government is all about. He continues to meddle and muddle until he finds something that suits his fancy. In the process, he creates great churn and turmoil in all levels of government below the province.

The government introduced legislation on Thursday dubbed the “Hazel McCallion Act” to dissolve Peel Region and have the three municipalities stand on their own starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon will be ‘peeled’ apart in under two years — and six other regions have been put on notice that they could be next.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark said he was taking “decisive action” to help the municipalities build more homes.
Ontario also said it will appoint “regional facilitators” in the coming weeks for the upper-tier municipalities of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo and York. Their job will be to find out whether the municipalities that make up those regions are able to stand on their own.

The facilitators were initially announced in November with the goal of looking into whether the regions should get strong mayor powers, and to advise on “the best mix of roles and responsibilities between upper and lower-tier municipalities” for tackling the housing crisis.

Simcoe, which was initially left off the list, was added on Thursday.

Now, the government is explicitly saying the D-word – dissolution!

“These facilitators will be tasked with reviewing whether the upper-tier government continues to be relevant to the needs of its communities or whether the lower-tier municipalities are mature enough to pursue dissolution,” reads the Thursday release.

It’s still unclear who the facilitators will be.

“Details regarding the facilitators and the timing of their appointment are under development and we will have more to share on that soon,” Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) spokesperson Melissa Diakoumeas said in an email.

None of the municipalities provided comment about their potential dissolution by press time.

There’s nothing in the new legislation about expanding any municipal boundaries, as the government has been wont to do, sometimes without warning. Of course, the facilitators could make that recommendation; or the government could decide to do it at any time.

Clark was asked on Thursday why Simcoe was added to the list. “I think we’ve always had that discussion, given the high growth pressures in Simcoe County,” he said. “Servicing is obviously an issue.”

Regional Chair Gary Carr, speaking at the Millcroft resident’s meeting said that there were huge changes coming to the Region. At the time Chair Carr didn’t elaborate – now we know what he was talking about.

The up-to-five-person transition board that will oversee Peel Region’s breakup has a slew of issues that will have to be sorted out — like the future of municipal taxes, finances, regional staff, conservation authorities, and the Peel Region Police — by 2025.

The transition board will also have the power to ban the municipalities from doing things it deems would hurt the dissolution. If the municipalities ignore the board, the legislation gives power to Clark to step in and manage their affairs directly.

The Ford government will appoint the panel’s members sometime this year — and the municipalities will foot the bill, according to the legislation.

We Love Burlington fought the good fight back in 2018-19 – the report that was to be released has yet to see the light of day. The government is in the process of taking another crack at changing the role that Regions play in the building of the residential housing the city has pledged to deliver.

That same process will be used when the province decides to take another look at how Halton operates. This might revive the “We Love Burlington” advocacy group.

In 2018/19, the newly elected PC Government undertook a review of regional governments with specific emphasis on achieving economies of scale, reduction of red tape and operating efficiencies through amalgamation.

The direction was directly opposite that announced on Thursday; it was to assimilate specific lower tier municipalities into the upper tier government.

It projected multiple benefits through consolidating services at the regional level and dramatically reforming or eliminating local governments.

Former Waterloo chair Ken Seiling, right, and former deputy minister Michael Fenn (who was once a General Manager with the City of Burlington) were tasked with the review to be prepared and reported by early summer of 2019. The report they submitted was never released to the public.

There were specific target regions – Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County, the County of Simcoe and their lower-tier municipalities. Former Waterloo chair Ken Seiling and former deputy minister Michael Fenn were tasked with the review to be prepared and reported by early summer of 2019.

Grass roots organizations quickly sprouted in Oakville and Burlington (the “We Loves”) to fight amalgamation and counter the perceived threat to local decision-making and the expression of local voice. The anti-amalgamation campaign was short but relatively intense and well-co-ordinates. Although public opinion seemed to be split in other regions, Halton presented a common face and championed preserving local autonomy. What started with much fanfare and bluster ended quietly in late June 2019 when the Ford Government announced that they would receive the report but neither publish nor act on its recommendations.

So, today it’s “déjà vu all over again” but in reverse with the regional governments in danger of dissolution, of being “peeled back”. This is not a victory for local autonomy and the integrity of local governance and decision-making. Municipalities, such as Burlington, are still the creation of the Province and very much subject to its control and direction.
Indeed, early messaging from Queen’s Park is that an even tighter choke will be placed around the lower tier neck.

Some of these municipalities, such as Burlington, may not recognize themselves when this is through.

Ironically, those who founded the 2019 We Love Burlington campaign would find it difficult to pose the same arguments of local governance integrity and transparency today.

Related news story:

Opinion piece on the changes in Regional government.

Conservation Halton Foundation Connected Campaign aims to raise $20 million

By Staff

April 29th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

The Conservation Halton Foundation has launched the largest fundraising campaign in its history. The Connected Campaign aims to raise $20 million to grow Conservation Halton’s ‘greenprint’ to provide communities with more opportunities to connect with nature. This effort will not only help to expand and enhance parks and greenspaces in the conservation authority’s watershed – it will also accelerate restoration projects that protect local ecosystems and make nature-based learning and outdoor recreation more available and accessible to all.

The campaign was announced by Garner Beckett, Executive Director of the Conservation Halton Foundation and Hassaan Basit, Conservation Halton President and CEO, during the official launch event held at Crawford Lake Conservation Area in Milton. The park is one of eight conservation areas that Conservation Halton protects and manages within its watershed.

“Halton has grown rapidly in the last two decades; in Milton alone, the population has quadrupled.

Turtle clan longhouse at Crawford Lake.

It is not surprising that Conservation Halton has seen record-breaking numbers of park visitors. People in our communities and across the province place great value on spending time in nature,” said Basit. “Being able to experience nature, learn about it, and really feel connected with it benefits our mental and physical wellness. These connections also motivate individuals and communities to safeguard these greenspaces for all to enjoy – today and well into the future. With this campaign, we aim to ensure these vital areas are preserved, protected, and enhanced for years to come.”

The announcement highlighted transformative projects and goals for community investment aligned with the campaign’s three priority areas: Parks and Greenspaces, Biodiversity and Resilience, and Education and Community. The campaign’s leadership also celebrated the generosity of new and long-time donors whose contributions have been “instrumental in the launch of Connected,” said Beckett.

“Over the past three years, our foundation’s efforts have been building momentum – thanks to the collaboration, partnership, and incredible support of our growing community of partners and donors.”

Catherine Mulvale, center standing, is the Conservation Halton Foundation fund raising Chair.

Campaign Chair, Catherine Mulvale, recognized Parks and Greenspaces donor EATON for supporting the creation of lakeside gathering spaces at Area 8, Biodiversity and Resilience donors Sheila and Keith Minkhorst for their significant gift toward Area 8 habitat restoration, and Education and Community supporters Francine McCarthy and Mike MacKinnon for recently establishing The McCarthy Fund for Crawford Lake, an endowment that will support engagement and education about the globally significant meromictic lake protected at the park.

Mulvale also recognized RBC, whose lead, multi-year funding commitment kickstarted a new climate action program for newcomer youth, enabled investment in new environmental monitoring technology, and is helping Conservation Halton connect more youth with nature at its parks and across the watershed.

Conservation Halton safeguards over 10,000 acres of forests, wetlands, creeks and other natural areas, all within one of Canada’s fastest growing regions.

The Conservation Halton Foundation is a registered charity and partner organization to Conservation Halton that raises funds for environmental projects and programs that protect natural assets, connect people with nature, and inspire positive change.

Our vision is an engaged and supportive community, driven to creating a healthy environment with clean streams, abundant forests and thriving natural spaces.

Karina Gould on the civil service strike and child poverty

By Staff

April 28th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington MP Karina Gould, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development in the Trudeau government spoke in the House of Commons on a number of public policy issues.

Responding to the comments made by a member of the opposition Gould said:

The current Liberal government believes in the right to strike and the Public Service Alliance of Canada didn’t let them down.

“Mr. Speaker, I think what is particularly concerning about what the member opposite is saying is that the public service grew at a time when Canadians were in their darkest hour. We are talking about a once-in-a-generation pandemic. We supported, and those same public servants supported, 8.5 million Canadians to access the Canada emergency response benefit. Those same public servants supported Canadians to receive the Canada emergency business account support. They were there in Canada’s time of need.

“We believe in collective bargaining. We believe in the right to strike, and we will get a good deal for the public servants and for Canadians.”

Burlington MP Karina Gould in the House of Commons while former US president of the United States Barack Obama addresses a joint session.

Later, on the same day, Gould said:
“Mr. Speaker, in difference to the Conservative members of Parliament, on this side we actually respect workers and we respect their rights. We are at the negotiating table right now to ensure that we get a fair deal for Canadian taxpayers, as well as for the hard-working public servants who have been there for Canadians, particularly in their moment of need, particularly during the worst economic and health crisis that we have seen in a generation.

“We are going to get a good agreement that is going to support our workers as well as Canadian taxpayers.”

It was a busy day for the Burlington MP who spoke about how they improved Canada’s child poverty rankings

“Mr. Speaker, it is a bit hard to take the Conservatives at face value when they talk about Canadians in poverty, because when the Conservative government came into power in 2006, it was 17th in the OECD when it came to child poverty rankings. By the time Conservatives left office nine years later, they had fallen to 24th. They had actually done nothing to alleviate people who were living in poverty.

“We came into office in 2015. We have helped 450,000 children get out of poverty. We have helped 2.7 million Canadians get out of poverty. We are going to keep being there for Canadians, unlike the members opposite.”

Mayors' confidant subject of a complaint report from the Integrity Commisioner

By Pepper Parr

April 16th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Updated – A note from Diane Leblovic is set out at the bottom of this article

City Council faces a sticky one on Tuesday.

The City Clerk, Kevin Arjoon has submitted a report prepared by the Integrity Commissioner regarding the behaviour of a member of the Committee of Adjustment

The report is about a complaint made by a property owner who feels she was treated poorly by a member of the Committee of Adjustment.

The Committee of Adjustment hears applications for changes to property and situations where a resident wants to make a minor variances.

Committee members are not elected but are appointed by Council.

Nicholas Leblovic is a member of the CoA

Nicholas Leblovic with his wife Diane on the left; Mayor Marianne Meed Ward with her husband Pete on the right.

He is also a confident of Mayor Meed Ward and has been, along with his wife, a significant contributor to the election campaigns of the following members of city Council:

Mayor Meed Ward $1,200 donated by Diane Leblovic, wife of Nicholas Leblovic

Kelvin Galbraith Councillor for Ward 1 $250 from Nicholas Leblovic

Lisa Kearns Councillor for ward 2 $250 from Nicholas and Diane Leblovic

Rory Nisan Councillor for Ward 3 – $250 from Nicholas Leblovic

Council is being asked to direct staff to make arrangements for the conduct of training to be conducted by the Integrity Commissioner on the ethical framework applicable to local board members.

The recommendation has many informed people close to outraged.

One has asked if the members of Council who received election campaign donations should not be required to recuse themselves from the debate given that there is a potential conflict of interest.

The Integrity Commissioners report refers to the Code of Conduct for Local Boards which was established on February 25, 2019, by City Council. The Code’s main purpose to guide members to act with honesty and integrity, serving in a diligent manner, and performing their duties in a manner which promotes public confidence.

The Integrity Commissioner is appointed by and is accountable to the Burlington City Council. The City of Burlington has an established accountability framework, with the Integrity Commissioner playing an essential role.

Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan:received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

Ward 2 Council member Lisa Kearns received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

The Integrity Commissioner reports to Council on any investigations

City Council decides what it want to do with the recommendations.

Numerous complaints have been taken to the Integrity Commissioner; some dismissed, others with recommendations that were accepted by Council

Ward 1 Councillor Galbraith was the subject of a complaint that he was in a conflict of interest related to his property holdings in ward 1.The complaint was dismissed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte was docked five days’ pay for discussing a matter that was part of a CLOSED session of Council.

If the Commissioner conducts an inquiry he is entitled to have free access to all books, accounts, financial records, electronic data processing records, reports, files and all other papers, things or property belonging to or used by the municipality or a local board that the Commissioner believes to be necessary for an inquiry.

Penalties
(5) The municipality may impose either of the following penalties on a member of council or of a local board if the Commissioner reports to the municipality that, in his or her opinion, the member has contravened the code of conduct:

1. A reprimand.

2. Suspension of the remuneration paid to the member in respect of his or her services as a member of council or of the local board, as the case may be, for a period of up to 90 days.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward received a $1200 election campaign donation from Diane Leblovic, wife of Nicholas Leblovic..

Complaints
The established process complaint process (part of the Code of Good Governance) dictates that any complaint is submitted directly to the Integrity Commissioner. The Office of the City Clerk is not involved in complaints, unless directly interviewed by the Integrity Commissioner.

The complaint process itself is nuanced, which allows the Integrity Commissioner many tools at their disposal to resolve complaints. The complaint process also provides options to complainants and the respondent to resolve complaints through alternative ways.

A recommendation report was filed by the Integrity Commissioner with the Clerk on April 6, 2023. As part of their process, the complainant and the respondent were also provided a copy of the report.

The report indicated that a complaint was filed on December 22, 2022, from an applicant to the Committee of Adjustment in regard to the conduct of a member of the Committee of Adjustment (Leblovic) during a hearing in December. The Integrity Commissioner report addresses the investigation conducted and conveys their findings and recommendation.

The City Clerk has worked with the Integrity Commissioner to ensure that the rules of how this item is disposed with is clear. The Integrity Commissioner will be present at the City Council meeting on April 18, 2023, to respond to questions of Council.

• Nicholas Leblovic or a representative may request to delegate at Council regarding the report.

• The Integrity Commissioner will provide opening remarks on their report.

• In accordance with the Procedural By-law Members of Council can ask questions of clarification, two at a time to the Integrity Commissioner.

• Once questions of Council have been exhausted, the Mayor will open the floor for any motions.

• The recommendation as listed in this report could be put on the floor, if Council wishes not to endorse the recommendation the report could be received for information.

Nicholas Leblovic as the Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee

• Once a motion is placed on the floor speaking times will coincide with Council rules, this means each member is afforded, two, five-minute speaking times. If a member wishes to speak for a third time this is put to a vote and is only provided to members through the successful passing of two thirds vote of Council.

Options Considered
The rules as outlined in the Code of Good Governance states that:

If upon completion of the investigation the Integrity Commissioner finds that a breach of the Code has occurred, the Commissioner shall report their findings to Council including a recommendation as to the imposition of a penalty as set out in the Municipal Act.

Therefore, a recommendation is made by the Integrity Commissioner and is conveyed to Council, who makes the final decision.

Burlington City Council has seven members. Four received election campaign donations from the Leblovics. Another is reported to be on a leave of absence for two months for personal health reasons.

Should the Council members who received the campaign donations do the right thing and recuse themselves – then there would not be a quorum ?

That should be fun.

We will follow up with a detailed report on just what it is that Nicholas Leblovic did to result in a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner. It is lengthy and detailed and very troubling.

Leblovic is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada but he no longer practices law.

Leblovic was the Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee which the city sunset in 2012.My husband Nick Leblovic was required under the Code of Conduct to take a leave of absence from the Committee of Adjustment from May 2 to after election day on October 24. That was because he was going to work on the municipal election in Burlington. Once you are on a leave of absence you can donate to any campaign. This process was confirmed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Note from Diane Leblovic: My husband Nick Leblovic was required under the Code of Conduct to take a leave of absence from the Committee of Adjustment from May 2 to after election day on October 24. That was because he was going to work on the municipal election in Burlington. Once you are on a leave of absence you can donate to any campaign. This process was confirmed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Related news stories:

Marianne Meed Ward, Nicholas Leblovic and the Waterfront Advisory Committee

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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