UPDATE: Burlington Investigation of individual located submerged in a viaduct .

News 100 blackBy Staff

January 22nd, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Halton Regional Police Service is saddened to confirm that the deceased individual who was located submerged in a viaduct in the area of Grahams Lane and Legion Road earlier on this date is a 22-year-old female from Burlington who had been missing since Sunday.

Graham Lane - Legion

At this time, the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

The investigation is now with the Coroner.

Anyone with information, dash-cam video, or surveillance footage from the area is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2315 or ext. 2316.

We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased.

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Body found submerged under the ice in a viaduct at Grahams Lane and Legion Road

News 100 blackBy Staff

January 21st, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Earlier this afternoon, the body of a deceased individual was located submerged under the ice in a viaduct in the area of Grahams Lane and Legion Road in Burlington.

Expect a significant police presence in the area as our officers investigate.

There is no ongoing, related public safety threat.

Graham Lane - Legion

The location and the circumstances sound like a homeless person who might have crawled into the space.

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Halton is not a leader when it comes to the degree to which we pollute.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

January 21st, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Weren’t we supposed to be the good guys – the number one (#1) mid-sized city in the country. The greatest place to live play and work.

Then we learn that Halton has the highest per capita emissions in the GTHA when industry sources are excluded. This is despite the fact that Halton’s per capita transportation emissions are at the GTHA median, and the region’s percentage of long car-based commutes is not as high as in Durham or York.

BG chart 1

These are the root causes of our green house gas emissions.

Natural gas — captured in the buildings sector data — is responsible for a large portion of Halton’s emissions. This natural gas is primarily used for water and space heating, so the warmer winter (with less heating demand) in 2017 is partially responsible for the large overall decrease in emissions that Halton is showing from 2015 to 2017

BG chart 2 tcoLet’s let Chair Gary Carr explain that one!

Burlington city council did the right thing by declaring a Climate Emergency – other municipalities followed but other than assuring that there is an “environmental lens” made a part of every Staff report Burlington can’t claim they have done very much.
Halton’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality

All the municipalities in Halton declared a climate emergency in 2019, suggesting that the region plans to accelerate climate action.

Halton’s emissions from natural gas are high compared to most other parts of the GTHA. Although this is due in part to industrial consumption of natural gas, undertaking energy efficiency retrofits will have to be a critical part of Halton’s plan to reach net-zero emissions.

Further, green standards for new buildings should be developed to ensure that the region can continue to grow while still reducing emissions.

SCALABLE SOLUTION FROM HALTON, FOR THE GTHA
Oakville-based company BerQ RNG produces renewable natural gas from Ontario’s food waste. In 2019, TAF invested $1.15 million in a 15-year project with BerQ to install and operate new refining equipment. Not only will this investment reduce carbon emissions by displacing fossil fuels, it will demonstrate the business case for renewable natural gas.

BG chart 3 stats

When industry and commerce see an opportunity they move and basically take over. Unfortunately there are all kinds of places where there isn’t a profit to be made – which results in little getting done.

We all know that plastic packaging is hurting the environment. Why then, we ask, doesn’t the federal government declare that in xxx years – let’s say five – plastic can no longer be used to package foods. That leaves the packaging industry five years to re-tool and re-think the way food is packaged. The federal government could also put up millions (they did that to buy a pipeline) and let those smart minds out there come up with solutions.

It can be done – all it takes is political will and the courage to make hard decisions.

We’re not banking on it though – are we?

However, we did it with seat belts and cigarettes.

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How many countries should Burlington twin with?

 SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

January 19th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Burlington has twinned itself with two cities: Itabashi in Japan and Appeldoorn in the Netherlands.

The relationship with each city is robust with delegations from Burlington going to Holland and Japan and delegations from those countries visiting Canada.

It is a satisfying relationship for everyone and the cost is minimal.

Storming the beach on D day

Canadian soldiers storming the beach of Normandy on D-Day

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward spent the 75th Anniversary of D-Day on Juno Beach in France. Prior to her leaving for the trip she learned about the very significant role Burlington plays in Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Juno Beach Centre was designed by an architect from Burlington and paid for with funds raised in Burlington.

The Mayor of  Courseulles-sur-Mer is reported to have asked Mayor Meed Ward if they could twin with Burlington. It sounded like a nice idea with much merit. Far too many Canadian men lost their lives storming the beaches of France on D-Day. It was the event that turned the tide of WWII. Twinning with Courseulles-sur-Mer  would be very fitting.

It raises the question, however, of just how many countries does Burlington want to twin with. There has to be a limit somewhere.

The Mundialization Committee is working through a number of ideas including the creation of a second category which would be a “friendship” relationship that would involve a lot less interaction and probably not include visits to France. (Link to that report below.)

The Mundialization Committee has not made any decisions; the Mayor is going to be in Holland for the 75th Anniversary of the end of the second world war and has plans to make a side trip to France to follow up on the idea.

I have a very serious concern over the creation of a “friendship” relationship with Courseulles-sur-Mer while we maintain a full blown boisterous relation with a city in Japan.

Canadians died on the beaches of France defending democracy.

Canadians died in the Pacific in a war we fought to bring an end to; a nation that attacked Pearl Harbour and wanted to conquer  America.

Perhaps the status of Itabashi could be downgraded to one of “friendship” and Courseulles-sur-Mer brought in as a twin.

It might be awkward from a diplomatic point of view but to put that small sea-side community whose beaches our men died on to defend democracy as a “friend” while Itabashi has a full blown twinning  relationship is just not right.

Juno Beach Centre

Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer, a beach where many Canadian men died during the D-Day landings.

Canadian troops liberated Apeldoorn in World War Two; an event that is celebrated by both countries every November 11th.

Japan and Germany have come along way from being what they were in the 1940’s but we don’t celebrate the wars they started.

Related news story:

Council to decide how many locations around the world the city will twin with.

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.

 

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Council has a recommendation to consider increasing the number of communities around the world with whom we develop formal relationships

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

January 18th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Mundialization Committee was delegating last week to a Standing Committee on changes that were being recommended to Council.

Burlington currently has two active twin city relationships: with Apeldoorn (Netherlands) and Itabashi (Japan).

Ed Doer

Ed Dorr, retiring chair of the Mundialization Committee has steered the organization through a very successful development path.

These relationships are sustained through efforts of the Burlington Mundialization Committee (BMC) and engagement by city staff. The relationships are robust and for those doing the participation very satisfying. The strong, regular active participation in citizen exchanges and celebrations come out of deeply rooted historical ties and cultural attachments.

When Mayor Meed Ward spent several days in France during the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy she toured the Juno Beach Reception Centre and was asked by the Mayor of Courseulles-sur-Mer if there was any interest in creating a twinning relationship with that community.

As a result of that conversation Council: “Direct(ed) the City Clerk in cooperation with the BMC to report back to Committee of the Whole in Q4 2019 with options for twinning with Courseulles-sur-Mer”; and “Direct(ed) the City Clerk to provide proposed criteria, for committee’s consideration, for future twinning relationships including consideration of a city in a developing country”.

In an Appendix attached to the report it is proposed that the “structure allows for a twinning relationship to be established with cities such as Courseuller-sur-Mer at an appropriate level.”

The Mundialization Committee is currently working on the second part to the staff direction regarding criteria to be considered for future twinning relationships. The BMC has been working overtime this past year with the 30th Anniversary celebrations and official delegations with Itabashi, Japan, and preparing for the 15th Anniversary celebrations and official delegations with Apeldoorn, Netherlands. There has been a subcommittee struck to focus on the proposed criteria to be presented to council in a future report.

The BMC has surveyed best practices in city relationships to help formulate their recommendation. Findings show that cities with the highest level of engagements with other cities tend to elevate peer relationships where common goals are identified.

Tiering relationships according to engagement structure further allows focused growth in both quality of interactions and the number of networks.

The recommendation from the Mundialization Committee and the Clerk’s office is to establish the following structure for city alliances:

Spring trees will bloom in Itabashi, Japan and hopefully in Burlington as well.

These cherry tress were a gift from an Itabashi citizen – part of the rich relationship between the two cities. .

Partnership City: further the common interests of Burlington and its allies in the pursuit of increasing economic development and increasing cultural exchanges.

The BMC would continue to drive these partnerships and continue to be supported by City staff.

There would be “increased engagement between BMC and other Burlington development organizations – Economic Development and Tourism being the most obvious.”

Friendship City: is a formalized relationship which is arranged by approval of BMC and proclaimed by City Council. It would be supported by city staff.

Common activities include official letter exchanges and flag raising ceremonies on significant dates.

Enhance our twin city program to a structure which contains multiple tiers of alliances with other cities around the world.

BTTB in Apeldoorn - celebration of the dead

The Burlington Teen Tour Band lined a street in Apeldoorn during a parade.

“The current partnerships have worked extraordinarily well in enhancing our cultural ties to our allies. We can elevate this partnership by including a focus on priorities which are part of Burlington’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, it enables Burlington to create new alliances with cities around the world based on shared interests and goals.

“The financial component of the recommendations in this report will include the cost of travel for Burlington’s official delegation to travel to twin cities. Depending on the cities chosen to twin with, costs will vary. Cost per person for the recent trip to Itabashi Japan was $3,500 per person. The number of staff and council members that typically travel on an official delegation is four along with two members from the Mundialization Committee.

Costs associated with travel expenses for the Mayor, members of Council and staff members have been paid from the Corporate Mundialization initiatives account for travel in the past to twin cities.

Climate Implications
City council brought in a policy that calls for a “climate lens” to be applied to every decision made. The Mundialization report adds that “travel involved in establishing a twinning relationship at the ‘friendship’ level would produce greenhouse gas emissions. All travel arrangements would be made with all efforts to reduce, limit or mitigate climate impacts. For example, using electric vehicles when possible, carpool, investigate offset programs, research the method of travel with the least amount of climate impact and choose those methods when possible.

“One of the priorities moving forward will be to share best practices, leading edge technologies, and climate change initiatives with twin cities both at the partnership level and friendship level.

The Mundialization chair and vice chair have consulted with the committee, the Mayor and members of Council.

The BMC is looking to enhance the twin cities program to a structure which contains multiple tiers of alliances with other cities around the world.

Related news:
Mayor take part in 75 Anniversary of D Day landings.

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Snow plowing updates

News 100 blueBy Staff

January 18th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Snow plows - tandem on Fairview

On major routes they work in tandem to get the snow off at a single run. Quite something to see the teams working on the QEW

Has your road been plowed?

When can you expect it to be plowed.

Click here and see what the city plans to do.

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Wundeba has both environmental issue and ownership problems

News 100 redBy Staff

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The people in the Mt Nemo community have shared some news.

A restaurant on Guelph Line that has been doing great business, bus loads from Burlington arrive for lunch in the good weather, at times it is difficult to place a reservation,

The Wundeba was a very welcome addition to restaurants out of town.

The news from the community was disturbing. The details are set out below.

Wondeba letter

Philippe St-Cyr
5123 Mount Nemo Cres Burlington, Ontario, L7M 0T7 Canada

Sjonum Sristi Awalia 5123 Mount Nemo Cres
Burlington, Ontario, L7M 0T7 Canada

Site
4448 Guelph Line
Burlington, Regional Municipality of Halton

1. Authority to Issue Order

I have authority to issue orders under the EPA and the OWRA to further the purpose of the EPA and OWRA, namely to provide for the protection and conservation of the natural environment.

This Order is being issued pursuant to section 16(1) of the OWRA and section 157(1) of the EPA.

I reasonably believe that the Company has contravened or is contravening these sections of the OWRA and the EPA as outlined in the Suspected Violations/Offences section of this Provincial Code Act applies.

Description of Site and Orderees
The Site is located at the address municipally know as 4448 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario. The Site is operating as Wundeba Restaurant and is located in a rural area, on the west side of Guelph Line, south of #2 Side Road, Burlington. Residential properties are located south and north of the Site and a retirement home is also located to the north of the Site. A. pond is located on the southern portion of the Site which has been designated by Conservation Halton as part of the Grindstone Creek Headwaters Wetland Complex, a “Provincially Significant Wetland .”

The Company was incorporated in Ontario on February 13, 2012 and has as its registered mailing address: 5123 Mount Nemo Crescent, Burlington, Ontario, L7M 0T7. The Company purchased the August 2014 and therefore is responsible for compliance with conditions of the ECA.

The Directors are named as Orderees because they have management and control of the Company and the Site. In the Ontario public corporate records, the Director’s names are listed as: “Sjonum Sristi Awalia” and “Philippe St-Cyr”. The Ministry of Transportation Drivers License information records the Director’s names as: “Awalia St-Cyr, Sjonum S” and “St-Cyr Diotte , Philippe”.

Wundeba sign

Can’t miss the place on Guelph Line.

Historical Information re: Environmental Compliance Approval# 5131-757NNN In 2007, the Ministry received an application from the engineering firm of Kenneth Youngs Engineering which had been retained by the previous owner of the Site- Frank Moser Investments Incorporated. The engineering firm submitted an application to the Ministry to replace the two existing Class IV septic systems. Both were old clay tile drainage systems which were failing.The Ministry’s engineering assessment report which supports the current ECA, concluded that the holding tank was the only feasible option for the Site as follows:

The Consultant has carried out the design for a replacement sewage works using tertiary treatment and shallow buried trenches and concluded that housed on the type of soil, size of lot, setback requirements for wetland and building/parking requirements, there is not adequate space to construct an on-site sewage disposal system even with tertiary treatment.

ECA # 513l-757NNN was issued to Frank Moser Investments Incorporated on July 26, 2007. The ECA lists the equipment that has been approved for the handling and storage of sewage at the Site as the 40,000 litre storage tank and related equipment. This is the only equipment that is documented on the ECA for installation and use at the Site.

Summary of Events
The following provides a summary of the significant events relating to the Site and the ECA.

On August 9, 2011, the Ministry received a letter by Kenneth Youngs Engineering Incorporated signed by an engineer confirming that the 40,000 litre storage tank, alarm system and works had been installed in accordance with their submissions.

On February 9, 2015, the Ministry received a letter from a representative of 1866252 Ontario Limited advising the Ministry that the Company was the new owner of the Site as of August 8, 2014 and requested that the ownership of the ECA be transferred to 1866252 Ontario Limited.

On July 21, 2015, the Ministry forwarded a letter to 1866252 Ontario Limited acknowledging receipt of $10,000 for financial assurance which is required by condition 8 of the ECA.

On May 30, 2016, the Ministry forwarded a letter to 1866252 Ontario Limited acknowledging a change of ownership of the Site from Frank Moser Investments Incorporated to 1866262 Ontario Limited. The Ministry’s letter also provided notification of any environmental approvals which were in effect at the Site and listed Environmental Compliance Approval# 5131-757NNN.

On May 18, 2018, the Ministry received a complaint that employees of Wundeba Restaurant were pumping sewage from a holding tank, onto the ground. The complainant described strong odours and provided photos. It appears from the photographs provided, that employees had pumped septic waste out of the 40,000 litre holding tank and onto the ground.

On May 31, 2018, Provincial Officers Nick Fowler and Carly Munce conducted an inspection of the Site. During the inspection, Officer Fowler was advised by an employee that since purchasing the property, the new owners had re-routed the sewage works. Sewage from the washrooms was now being directed to a septic system and not to the 40,000 litre holding tank. Only sewage generated in the kitchen, was being directed to the holding tank.

On June 13, 2018, Provincial Officer Nick Fowler issued an Onsite Sewage Disposal Site Inspection Report which detailed the Company’s non-compliance with the ECA and required them to enter into a service agreement with a Ministry-approved sewage hauler, by June 22, 2018.

He also requested that the Company decommission the unapproved septic system and reroute the septic system back to the approved, 40,000 holding tank by July 13, 2018. These actions have not been done.

As a result of his inspection, Provincial Officer Nick Fowler issued two Provincial Offences Act notices on the Company. One notice was issued for a depositing waste without an Environmental Compliance Approval, which is a violation of section 40 of the EPA.

The second offence notice was issued for a violation of section 186(3) of the EPA for failure to comply with conditions of the ECA. Specifically, the company failed to provide pumping records which were requested during the May 31, 2018 inspection.

On June 27,2018, I met with Philippe St-Cyr as requested. Mr. St-Cyr stated that they only pump grey water from the kitchen, onto the ground from the holding tank. He agreed that they would cease pumping sewage onto the ground. He also stated that he was not aware of the ECA and that since it was issued to the previous owner it was not applicable to 1866252 Ontario Limited. I stated that the requirements of the ECA are the responsibility of the Company that has care and control of the Site and are in effect at this time. I stated that non-compliance with the conditions of the ECA and pumping sewage out of the septic system and onto the ground were chargeable offences. We discussed the septic systems which were installed at the Site. However it wasn’t clear what equipment had been installed. I requested that an assessment be done of the septic systems at the site. We discussed the possibility of submitting an amendment application to this Ministry requesting approval for the septic system which was in use.

On July 06, 2018, as a follow-up to tour- meeting, I forwarded a letter as an attachment to an email to Mr. St-Cyr. I requested that a service agreement be entered into with a Ministry-approved septic hauler who would regularly inspect and pump out the holding tank as required. This requirement to obtain a service agreement from the hauler is required by condition 5.2 of the ECA. I also requested that a Qualified Person be retained to inspect the system to ensure that it was operating in accordance with the ECA and any unapproved system had been decommissioned by August 09, 2018.

Wundeba - rear

The patio at the rear and the lower level are great places to be on a sunny day. Site is great, food was good when we were last there. Obvious management problems. Unfortunate.

On July 13, 2018, I received an e-mail from Mr. St-Cyr confirming that a Ministry-approved septic waste hauler had been retained to inspect the storage tank bi-weekly and pump it out as required. He disagreed with the purpose of the assessment of the on-site system, which he believed was to assess the functional operation of the system in use and not to assess the environmental compliance of the septic system. He stated that he would like to apply for approval of the septic tank, distribution box and septic bed which is in use at the Site.

On August 07, 2018, 1 received the following report:
Inspection Property: Wundeba Restaurant, 4448 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario ESSE Canada, July 31, 2018.

The report assessed the components of an unapproved septic system, which is currently in use at the Site. The components include a septic tank, distribution box and septic bed. It didn’t discuss the 40,000 litre storage tank which is in use, or compliance with the ECA which is in effect for the Site. ·

On August 20, 2018, I mailed a letter to the Company, providing my comments on the July 31, 2018 report. I stated that the approved 40,000 litre holding tank had not been mentioned in the report and the septic system that was described and is in use, has not been approved by the Ministry.

I again requested that the following actions be completed:

1. Retain the services of a Qualified Person to ensure that all sewage from the Site is directed to 40,000 litre holding tank and that the unapproved system is decommissioned. Decommissioning the unapproved septic system would only require that the septic tank be decommissioned and provided a guidance document to decomnssion the septic tank.

2. Provide confirmation that the above acti1ns have been completed. Confirmation was to have been received by October 01, 2018. To date these actions have not been done.

On July 31, 2018, Philippe St-Cyr forwarded an email to me with an amendment to the July 13, 2018 report. The report did discuss the 40;000 litre tank which is installed and in use at the Site.

On September 06, 2018, I received a letter from Mr. St-Cyr. The letter discussed his understanding of what was agreed upon at the June ·27, 2018 meeting at the district office. He believed that the purpose of the assessment was to identify the components of the septic system in use and to determine if they were functioning properly. He also stated that the septic system was in use when the Company purchased the Site and had not been altered. He requested again to submit an amendment application.

On September 12, 2018, I emailed a letter to Mr. St-Cyr. This letter provided an overview of the relevant environmental history of the Site. I also provided a link to the Ministry’s approval applications and guidance documents which are available online.
The letter concluded with the following action item:

Retain the services of a Qualified Person to prepare a report to assess the options to handle the sewage at the Site. The report shall provide recommendations which are in compliance with relevant provincial environmental law and any other regulatory requirements. The report shall include an implementation schedule and a copy forwarded to the undersigned provincial officer by October 17, 2018.

On October 16, 2018, I received an email from Philippe St-Cyr in response to my September 12, 2018 letter which stated that the new owners of the Site, have not re-routed any septic system.
The email concluded with a request to submit an application to amend the current approval. The assessment which I requested in my September 12, 2018 letter, has not been done. On October 31, 2018, the Ministry received a phone call from a resident complaining about strong odours from sewage being pumped out onto the ground at the restaurant.

On November 05, 2018, Provincial Officer Nick Fowler and myself conducted a Site inspection. We noted that the lids on the 40,000 litre tank weren’t secure as required by the ECA. While onsite, we had a brief discussion with Philippe St-Cyr. He again requested to submit an amendment application to approve the septic system that was in use.

Scott Thompson
Provincial Officer
Badge Number: 386
Date: 2018/12/20
District Office: Halton-Peel District Office

In a related matter:

The family who owns Wundeba, the restaurant that was raided along with a home in the Mount Nemo area of Burlington last week has released a statement.

After Halton Regional Police Servcices (HPRS) arrested Mohan “Jarry” Ahlowalia for several charges related to human trafficking, his family—the owners of Wundeba—issued a statement claiming the allegations are baseless.

“It is easy and enticing to follow the media and believe everything it says. However, when you and your family are targetted by it, you can really start understanding the meaning of ‘fake news’ and how it can lead you to think a certain way about a situation and can appreciate that what is portrayed in the news is sometimes, and probably more often than not, a fabrication to make their media more exciting,” the statement reads.

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Police seize rifle, drugs and cash in drug trafficking investigation.

Crime 100By Staff

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Halton Regional Police Service’s – Burlington Street Crime Unit has completed a drug trafficking investigation. In January 2020, James “Jimmy” Antaloczy was observed conducting multiple drug transactions at a restaurant in the City of Burlington.

seized items Jan 17

The Street Crime Unit executed a search warrant in Brantford with the assistance of the Tactical Rescue Unit. As a result of the investigation the following items were seized

-1 Marlin 30-30 lever action rifle (unloaded)
-30 grams of cocaine
-328 oxycodone pills
-8 hydromorphone pills
-22 Cialis pills
-4 Viagra pills
-11 ecstasy pills
-$485.00 Canadian currency
-3 cellular telephones
-A digital scale
-Total street value of drugs was approximately $10,570.00

On January 16, 2020, James Antaloczy (51) of Brantford was arrested and charged with the following offences:

-Trafficking, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 7
-Contravention of Storage Regulations of a Firearm
-Careless Storage of a Firearm
-Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
-Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

Antaloczy has been released on an Undertaking.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Scott Heyerman of the 3 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 2342.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

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Prospect Street closed - Jan. 20 to 24, 2020

notices100x100By Staff

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Prospect Street will be closed between Dynes Road and Cumberland Avenue from Monday, Jan. 20 to Friday, Jan 24 for excavation works.

All traffic will be detoured using Dynes Road, Woodward Avenue and Cumberland Avenue.

Prospect and Dynes

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Councillor goes looking for way to recoup lost revenue - also wants city to think about not providing snow removal from private residences.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Things sort of fell off the wagon during the Budget deliberations last December.

There is a Budget Requests report (BAR) that each Councillor prepares setting out things they would like to see changed. In the rush to get the budget process completed a number of requests were not dealt with.

There was a little bit of time available at the end of the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee meeting to deal with some of the requests.

Angelo watching Roru

Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna

There were two on the list that were submitted by Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna that gave us a closer look at how the Councillor approaches his job and his views on what people should get for the taxes they pay and how the city goes about collecting fees that have not been paid.

One BAR read: Direct the Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry to review options for residential property owners to clear sidewalks in front of their property and identify any impacts.

Staff reported that there are 850 km of sidewalks; those belonging to schools get taken care of by the school boards.

Bentivegna argued that the money saved could be put into infrastructure, particularly roads.

The Mayor asked “Is this to remove side walk clearing from the budget – then I’m not supporting it.”

Councillor Sharman added that 30% of the population below the QEW is over 65 – he wasn’t supporting the idea either.

Councillor Galbraith said he wouldn’t support the idea.

Councillor Nisan said the move would “literally” hurt people.

Councillor Kearns said the bylaw expense of enforcing such a bylaw would eat up any savings. The motion to move the Staff Direction failed 6-1 with Bentivegna the only supporter.

Bentivegna had a second BAR. He wanted to:
Direct the Director of Building and By-law to investigate the feasibility of providing additional support to ensure by-law compliance (e.g. business and lottery licenses, building permits). Investigate pilot project on specific commercial roads to ensure compliance with all businesses to create a level playing field and to seek compliance opportunities to ensure transparent practices throughout the city. Seek opportunities to utilize business Intelligence (BI) platform for reporting data to internal and external stakeholders.

Bentivegna had apparently gone looking for business locations that did not have the proper licenses. He saw this as a revenue opportunity to re-coup those losses in revenue.

The biggest concern for council members was the cost of determining who did and didn’t have a license.

City manager Tim Commisso thought the idea should be deferred until the city learned if there was going to be any additional funding from the province to look into the creation of more efficient processes at the municipal level.

Dev fee guy STAFF

City bylaw enforcement officer

Councillor Galbraith said it was a little vague to him and asked “is there a problem to solve?” The Bylaw enforcement officer  said there wasn’t a problem.

Councillor Kearns said she had never heard of there being a problem.

Councillor Stolte said she would support a motion and added that this looked like one of those situations where “we don’t know what we don’t know”

The Mayor saw this as a service review question and added that if the Councillor (Bentivegna) knows of establishments that don’t have the required licenses “tell us”.
The Councillors colleagues suggested he prepare a memo to Council with more detail.

The BAR was withdrawn.

A Licence is required for the following:

Automotive Establishments
Motor Vehicle Repair Garage (Includes Auto Body Shops)
Motor Vehicle Dealership (Includes Used Car Dealers)
Storage of Motor Vehicles
Convenience Stores
Class A – Sale of Foodstuff/Sale of Tobacco
Class B – Sale of Foodstuff/Sale of Tobacco/Lunch Counter
Personal Services
Acupuncture
Aesthetics
Barber/Hairdresser
Ear Piercing
Electrolysis
Nail Salons
Tattoo/Body Piercing
Public Assembly
Billiard/Pool/Bowling/Pinball/Electronic Game Machine Establishments/
Theatres
Night Club
Public Halls/Banquet Halls
Restaurants, Take-Out Restaurants and Lunch Counters
Transient Trader
Day Sales
Seasonal Sales (Christmas Trees)
Door to Door/Sales Person
Antique/Collectable/ Auction Show
Craft Show
Trade Show
Flea Market
Refreshment Vehicle
Refreshment Vehicle – Class A, B and C
Miscellaneous
Carnivals
Festivals
Newspaper Distribution Boxes
Sale of Fireworks
Sale of Foodstuffs/Catering
Sale of Tobacco
Sale of Adult Magazines
Salvage Yards

The fee for a license is set by the city each year.

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Changes planned for the Advisory Committees? Something appears to be in the works.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

A reader, who is more comfortable remaining anonymous, but who we know to be reliable, wrote to comment that “the City went all big on Public Engagement and held Citizen Action Labs – public sessions to consider Citizens Advisory Committees” (my understanding is that this ‘issue’ has been in discussion since 1997).

“A list of many of the suggestions/recommendations was sent around to participants (and is available on the getinvolved site – click on Latest News). Then a staff report was to be presented at the Nov. 4 COW meeting – but pulled, literally at the last moment.

“Explanation, of sorts, can be found

HERITAGE B Oct 16-12 A

The Heritage Advisory Committee is exceptionally successful. Former city councils gave then a lot of responsibility and they didn’t fail to deliver. There are other Advisory committees that are close to failures.

“Since then, some kind of ‘review team’ was struck to ??? Jim Young and Roland Tanner are two names that I can identify as being invited.

“I caught wind of a Q & A (not my words) to be held at City Hall on the evening of Jan. 23, with some members of existing Advisory Committee members before the staff report gets sent to Council.

“I don’t think there’s anything nefarious going on but it is frustrating when a citizen takes time out to participate and then is kept in the dark until the ‘results’ are presented as a fait d’acompli almost a year later.”

Anything to it?  The report was pulled very suddenly last November.

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Residents getting value from its city council

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

They were close to bringing it home.

Standing Committee chair Shawna Stole, who proved she could manage a committee very well, told her colleagues that “we are close to bringing it home” as they worked through the final steps of recommending that the Preferred Concept presented by the consultants be endorsed.

MMW looking screen

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

It had been a long day and the group of seven were getting a little giddy. Mayor Meed Ward blurted out “Good Grief” when she spotted something that surprised her. That’s not a phrase heard often from this Mayor. “Awesome” is usually her preferred word.

Sharman confused

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Sharman, aka The Grinch

A little later Ward 4 Councillor Paul Sharman said that he would vote for the several amendments the Mayor had put on the table. Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, who had worked long and hard with the Mayor during the previous weekend on the amendments turned to Councillor Sharman and with a wide smile said: Are we seeing the heart of the Grinch get a little bigger.

This city council is certainly a very different group than what the city had from 2010 to 2018. There are certainly philosophical differences and personalities at times get little awkward but they are getting important things done.
Five people with no previous experience have taken their seats at the Council table and shown that the voters got it right. Some are doing much better than others, some may have chosen the wrong place in which to serve the public – but collectively – the city is getting real value.

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.

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Council endorses Preferred Concept for the Downtown section of the adopted but not approved Official Plan: policy work now begins.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

It was a long but very fruitful session of the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Standing Committee. (CPRM)

In a phrase, Council recommended the endorsement of the Preferred Concept for the Downtown core section of the approved but not adopted Official Plan.

Alison Enns, who steered the creation of the Taking a Closer Look at Downtown reports, explained that “endorsing” does not mean a final decision has been made.  All the endorsement amounts to is being told that they are going in the right direction.

Enns group

From the right: Thomas Douglas, Alison Enns, Catherine Jay and Paul Lowes of SGIL Consulting.

Enns and Thomas Douglas did more than a yeoman’s job on this file.  They were everywhere, trying every community engagement tool they could find.  They held Action Labs, Food for Feedback Sessions, Walking Tours; they even managed to convince several Councillors to hang around the library to try and engage people to talk about what they wanted for their city.

For Burlingtonians it was all about the Lake; they wanted a clear view and easy access to the lake and they wanted Brant Street to serve as the frame for that view.

Suzanne Mammel - shooting from the hip

Suzanne Mammel, of the Halton, Hamilton Home Builders Association (HHHBA)

There were seven delegations; the development community, represented by Suzanne Mammel, of the Halton, Hamilton Home Builders Association (HHHBA) resented the short time frame her organization had to respond to the Preferred Concept. She took the view that the 20 metre set back that was being proposed for Brant Street would result in very little actually being built.

The planners settled on a total of seven precincts for the city and took the meeting through what each of the precincts would likely look like once development began to take place.

There was a lot of discussion over the “numbers” how many residences were going to be built, how many jobs would be created, how high might a building be and when would all this actually happen.

The Gazette will report in detail on what the plans are for the precincts.

When it came time to put forward a motion that would approve a recommendation that would go to Council.  Mayor Meed Ward, as is her practice, came forward with a number of amendments that were eventually approved.

Those too, will see the light of day once all the documents become publicly available later today.

The Mayor did put up a graphic that she has marked up to give people a sense of what she had in mind.

MMWammend

A portion of a graphic used during the meeting with scribbles and notations from the Mayor.

There was a lot of discussion on the shopping plaza on east side Brant, north of Caroline where the No Frills supermarket is located. The thought was that a park could be put in place, a trail could be added to the edge of Rambo Creek which runs along the eastern edge of the property and John Street would be extended north through the site.

Paul Lowes, the SGIL consultant, told the meeting that what was put in place did not have to be a road but did think there had to be something in the way of a transportation route to take some of the traffic pressure off Brant Street.

The information that came out of the meeting was lengthy, detailed and highly relevant; the Gazette will set out to report in as much detail as possible.

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Dorr recognized for his community service contribution; committee chair sets new dress standard.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

January 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Thursday was a very full day.

Two of the Standing Committees met and approved a number of recommendations that will go some distance in the way the city develops its international profile.

The Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee heard a report from the Mundialization Committee that included the announcement that committee chair Ed Dorr was resigning. Dorr, has served for nine years, during which time he worked with four Mayors and five city managers.

There was other business conducted but what Ed Doer, and anyone else in the Council Chamber will remember, is the Certificate of Appreciation read out by the Mayor and presented to Ed. It went:

Ed Doer

Ed Dorr

On behalf of the City of Burlington, it is our pleasure to once again extend sincere gratitude to Ed Dorr for your exemplary service to the Burlington community.

You have strengthened our city through leadership, mentorship and your focus on positive outcomes while being flexible in their achievement.

Your many years of service as member and chair of the Mundialization Committee is but one bright example of your giving of time and energy to making Burlington a better place. In that role you are duly credited with strengthening twinning relationships with Itabashi and Apeldoorn to their currently mature state, ensuring that for many years to come Burlington’s residents will enjoy the diversity of culture, international exchange and goodwill provided through those relationships.

Please accept our utmost gratitude for the time, effort and dedication you have given to your Burlington community.

The Certificate was signed by the Mayor and Councillor Rory Nisan who represents the city on the Mundialization committee.

Nisan set a new level of dress for a Chairman of a Standing Committee; he abandoned a jacket, dress shirt, no tie. One wonders if the appropriate dress will become a T shirt, shorts and flip flops.

All the other males on Council wore jackets.

Jackets

Every male member of Council wore jackets; committee chair chose not to.

Nisan - just shirt

Rory Nisan, serving as Chair of a Standing committee.

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First change in the direction of development growth was approved on Tuesday - the second gets heard on today..

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

January 16, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

With one long, exhausting day, during which city council accepted the recommendation from the Planning department that came out of a dense and complex report from Dillon Consulting, the public and council move to the next phase of the city getting what the Mayor refers to as a ‘better grip on the kind of development that takes place”.

Many felt that getting the Land Use Study part right was essential – and that if council did get it right they could then move onto the Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown report; if they didn’t get it right there was no point in doing the second part.

It is too early to determine if council did get it right on Tuesday.

There were some surprises and still some confusion as to just what the process is for moving the boundary of the Urban Growth Centre and then – how does the city get rid of the MTSA designation that was slapped on the bus terminal ?

Urban growth centre

Burlington had to have an Urban Growth Centre. It has to be a certain size. The boundaries of the Burlington UGC were determined by the province – the city wants to change those boundaries. The above are the current boundaries.

Heather MacDonald didn’t come across as being totally committed to the level of citizen participation that the people who packed council chambers on Tuesday expected.

Some people were upset over the lack of time the public had to download a 135 page document and wade through it all.

There was a lot of data – making sense of it was the hard part.

MacDonald - JAmie - Commisso

Heather MacDonald outlined the purpose of the Statutory meeting and, when needed, spoke to issues that needed clarification. Jamie Tellier, on the right aided while City Manager Tim Commisso observes. He said little.

MacDonald said that there was no requirement to promote the Land Use Study meeting.  One wonders why one of the two critical meetings, Taking a Close Look at the Downtown, was promoted mercilessly while the other got very little promotion.

Angelo watching Roru

Councillor Bentivegna was brought up a little short by Chair Stolte when it wasn’t clear if we actually asking a question. It was nicely done.

The Tuesday meeting was legally a Statutory meeting – something the city was required to hold and follow strict rules as to how the meeting is conducted.

It started at 9:30 and ended just before 8:00 pm – with breaks for meals.

Committee Chair Shawna Stolte did an excellent job of keeping things moving – she was able to curb Councillor Angelo Bentivegna’s penchant for asking questions that were less than clear.

There were conflicting statements from the Planning people on what the city can do about the Urban Growth Boundary (UGC) boundary and the status of the bus terminal.

Heather MacDonald did explain why nothing has been done yet.  She argued she felt it was vital that she have motions from the city making it clear why they wanted a change.  She also wanted evidence and data to support the request.  The Land Use Study certainly has loads of data.

The understanding is that the province doesn’t care where the Urban Growth Centre boundaries are – but that the city does have a growth centre.

The consultants the city hired said the province has never said yes or no to such a request – because no one has ever asked.

Council was not prepared to direct the Planner to do just that.  Such a request would be political and it would be appropriate for it to come from the Mayor to the Minister.

There is considerable concern over how the Planners decided to keep the Waterfront Hotel within the Urban Growth Centre.  Don Fletcher, heavily involved in the Plan B initiative said he believed the “Waterfront Hotel + Old Lakeshore Road Precinct + Brant Main Street Precinct should be moved out of the UGC, and define a similarly sized area (roughly 11 ha or 10% of the total 106.4 ha) within a suitable precinct north of Prospect Street on Brant/ Fairview.”

The view of many is that the UGC should be moved north and not include the Brant –  Lakesh0re area; that will be a different debate – and not an easy one.

werv

The John Street bus terminal has the same status MTSA – Major Transit Station Area as Union Station which everyone agrees is dumb, The city wants to have that status lifted from the terminal.

As for the status of the bus terminal – it appears that this is something the Region can do on its own – and that any request for a change has to comply with ROPA – which is the Regional Official Plan Amendment.

Waiting until city council has dealt with the Land Use Study, which determines whether or not the Interim Control Bylaw is lifted.  It is due to expire on March 5th.  The ICBL has been an expensive experience for the development community and for one developer, the Molinaro’s quite unfair.

Meed Ward at her old city hall office - the desk is as cluttered in her new space where she tends to fill up her voice mail box and overspend her postage allowance. She promises to get back to people within 24 hours - and delivers on that promise. Now she wants to deliver onher promise to keep spening in line with what is in the bank.

Meed Ward in her first city hall office – the desk is as cluttered in her new space . Her eighth floor office is a lot more spacious and tastefully decorated.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward made her views crystal clear and pleaded for the community to trust council when she said:  “It was identified in this study that there are significant gaps in our own policy and provincial policy. To be able to define the downtown bus depot that it doesn’t function the same as Pearson/Union (even though designated the same), it also doesn’t function as a bus depot. Now we have the evidence that this designation downtown is odd. I greatly appreciate that work from the consultant and staff. We now have a policy framework in front of us and can better manage the pressures of over development in the downtown. That’s what the community asked us to do & that is what this Council has done. I can appreciate members of the public don’t feel that way. I would plead to the community to hear us when we say we have heard you, understood & taken steps to control over development pressures. That was the start of this journey. We have independent research and policy tools to help us now. The one thing I think we all agree on is the downtown isn’t the same as the GO and will never be.”

Burlington MPP Jane McKenna jumped into the fray in January when she sent Council a letter that only served to further muddy the waters.

McKenna letter

The day long Standing Committee sessions produce recommendations that go to a Special Meeting of Council for approval on January 30th.

Related news story:

Planning preferred concepts for downtown core.

 

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Federal government wants view on what people think about Medical Assistance in Dying.

News 100 redBy Staff

January 16th, 2020

BURLINGTON, OM

 

On Monday the Government of Canada launched an online consultation regarding changes to our current law on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).

The online consultation will be open until Monday, January 27th. If you are interested in participating please click here.

Damoff Pan in the house

MPP Pam Damoff speaking in the House of Commons

Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff said today that: “Our government understands that medical assistance in dying is a difficult, complex, and deeply personal issue. We know that Canadians have diverse and evolving views, all of which need to be heard and respected. Over the coming weeks the Government of Canada will be holding extensive consultations with patients, practitioners, stakeholders, disability advocates and Canadians of all stripes.

MAID

There are strongly held views on the issue.

“This current consultation stems from a September 2019 judgement by the Supreme Court of Quebec. This decision struck down existing provisions in Canada’s law on MAID related to the requirements that a patient’s death be reasonably foreseeable. Our government has chosen not to appeal this ruling, and instead we are committed to reviewing and updating the current law.

“Any future legislation will ensure that the most vulnerable are protected, and that the personal autonomy of those seeking medical assistance in dying is respected.”

A news report published in June of 2018 said:

Almost 4,000 people have chosen medical assistance to end their lives since the practice became legal in Canada two years ago.

That includes 1,525 in the last six months of 2017 — a 29 per cent increase over the first half of the year.

The statistics are contained in a third interim report from Health Canada, which is planning to implement a permanent, national reporting and monitoring system for assisted deaths in the fall.

Editor’s note: The Gazette is interested in publishing comments and opinions of personal views of MAID – Medical Assistance in Dying.

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How hard does your city councillor work? They certainly have to read a lot.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

January 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

How hard do they work ?

How big is the work load is another way of asking basically the same question.

A look at the pile of reports they have to wade through is one indication as to just what is involved when you are a member of city council.

Agendas plus

The Mayor says she reads all these reports on-line. Others work with the thick agendas that get delivered to their offices. That is a three inch pile on the right. The pile on the left is for January – and we are only half way through the month.

The pile to the left is just for the month of January and we are just half way through.
The pile on the right measures three inches high, printed on both sides of most of the pages but that doesn’t make it any easier.

The salary is basically a little over $100,000 annually. The vacation schedule is very good – but it has to be stacked up against the many evening meetings – which can now run to as late as 11 pm.

Some of reports are pretty simple – easy to get the sense of what was written.

Other are long, complex and will, for most of this council, result in a phone call to a Staff member asking for some clarification.

Then the Council members have to think about what they’ve read and if they are good politicians, reach out to ward residents for comment and feedback.

Add to this the numerous vested interests who want to bend their ear.

The job is not easy and there are a few that struggle and are perhaps wondering why they went after the job. Of the five – newbies – how many will run again in 2022? There are at least two, maybe three, that will decide it just isn’t for them.

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Constant vigilance is needed if you are going to use the internet; no different than when you drive your car - pay attention.

Crime 100By Staff

January 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The scammers work at this kind of thing full time. And why wouldn’t they?
Doing just this kind of thing (see below) someone sucked half a million out of the Burlington coffers.

It is always THE golden rule: If in doubt – don’t and double check.

We received the following earlier today.

November/December statement and outstanding payment have been generated, Find Google Drive uploaded Document for details.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Mt_wC4sBlK3XgLZoKGVTcE3_ObrKmYCu

Note: No login required

Regards,

Edward Simpson
Invoicing/Payment Processing Unit

The email address this came from was:
Edward Simpson <edward.simpson@metalcontractor.org

We had never heard of the organization and it is clearly a phony address – but a clerk somewhere in some company might mistakenly click on the link.

Somewhere out there a bunch of crooks are spending your tax dollars – the money they stole from the city.

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We goofed - Mayor's State of the City address will take place at the Performing Arts Centre on January 30th.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

January 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We goofed.

The annual delivery of the State of the City address by the Mayor to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce has always taken place at the Burlington Convention Centre – usually to a packed audience.

Receiving line touching male

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward talking to a business person at her first State of the City address to the Chamber of Commerce.

It was an occasion when those that matter in the world of business and those that matter in the world of local politics gather in one huge room and tell each other tall tales.

We assumed the venue would be the same this year.

We were wrong – the State of the City address will take place at the Performing arts Centre, around the corner from city hall.

The sit down breakfast will have to be a buffet in the Family Room with the address being given in the large theatre.

At this point we should perhaps say less until we have done a follow up.

Last year Mayor Meed Ward told Chamber members that her five priorities for the year ahead were:

Reasonable Growth, Not Overdevelopment

Get Traffic Moving, While Keeping it Safe

Reduce Flood Risk, Enhance Greenspace

Reduce Tax Increases, Keep to Your Priorities

Rebuild Trust, Create an Open Government

 

The political and commercial elites will gather in the Performing Arts Centre on the 30th to hear the Mayor talk about the State of the City.

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ECoB delegation urges the city to resolve the confusion over the urban growth centre and the John Street bus terminal.

opinionviolet 100x100By Roland Tanner 

January 14th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Glenn Nicholson delivered this delegation on behalf of Roland Tanner who was out of the country.

EcoB’s position with regard to the ICBL study is as follows. While there are elements within the report which we support, there is a key area where we believe the staff recommendation is in error.

Dwyer-Tanner-preg lady

Roland Tanner, co-chair of ECoB taking part in one of the Action Labs that were part of the public participation events that were part of the Taking a Closer Look at the Down Report.

Firstly, we would like to recognise the good work in the staff recommendations in their acknowledgement that the Burlington Go Station area needs improved zoning and height regulation. While we believe the Go Station is a far more appropriate location for a dense Urban Growth Centre neighbourhood connected to mass rapid transit, we do not believe this is an argument for bad development. For the Go Station area to become a vibrant new neighbourhood it is essential to have excellent zoning that insists on commercial space and retail and places reasonable limits on height. It is an opportunity for a truly complete community properly connected to transit. We support the staff recommendations in this specific regard.

Secondly, however, we do not support the recommendations regarding the downtown MTSA.

We acknowledge that current debate around the downtown MTSA revolves around which change is possible in which order. What these recommendations state is that we pass a new Official Plan and put in place zoning that builds the MTSA into all our city planning documents, at exactly the same moment as city planning staff have acknowledged that the John St bus terminal simply does not, never has, and never will function as a MTSA.

The staff solution to the assessment that the John St Bus terminal is not an MTSA perhaps makes sense from the perspective of municipal procedure, but it makes no sense from the perspective of logic or reality. The city must come into compliance with the Region, says the ICBL report, even if though, to put it bluntly, the Region is not in compliance with the laws of physics. The staff recommendation is therefore to continue to build the MTSA language into our planning documents, but to redefine MTSA, in this one instance, to mean what we want it to mean.

EcoB does not think this recommendation makes sense. To be flippant, if something does not look like a duck, or walk like a duck, or quack like a duck, and a consultant agrees that it is not a duck, and never will be a duck, is it really so unreasonable to insist that we stop calling it a duck immediately? If it’s instead large and grey and has a trunk and is a completely inappropriate resident of the local duckpond, does it make any sense to redefine the word ‘duck’ to describe something that everybody can see quite clearly is an elephant? We don’t think so.

Bus shelter - John Street

Debate centered to a large degree on the John Street bus terminal that most people didn’t think should have the status of a MTSA Major Transit Station area. Others want significant funds spent on upgrading the site. All the city has seen in the last six months is upgrade to the transit shelters.

A better way to square the circle of legal requirements and practical reality would be to make a clear statement that Burlington does not believe downtown is or can be an MTSA, and that zoning and density targets should reflect the impossibility of major mass rapid transit ever coming to downtown Burlington, regardless of higher level designations.

Because the fact downtown is not an MTSA gets to the core of the entire debate we have been having in recent years. Places to Grow and the subsequent growth plans were all predicated on the sensible objective of placing people near mass transit. Oakville asked its Urban Growth Centre to be placed in midtown because its downtown could not support mass transit. Our council did not, no doubt still thinking in a car-centric manner of the proximity of the QEW exit, and not of what the province was actually trying to achieve.

Places to Grow and successive provincial governments asked cities to place intensification near transit. That is the alpha and omega of planning logic over the last 15 years or more. Rightly. Burlington has gone down a road of saying transit existed where it does not and cannot exist. Yes, even if shuttle buses can be provided, as they should, from downtown to key areas and transit hubs across the city, that will still not make downtown a major transit hub. Because of this fatal misdesignation, we are in fact concentrating development in a place the Province was at pains to avoid – somewhere separated significantly from a major transit node.

Surely the time to stop pretending downtown is an MTSA is now. Right at the moment when staff have acknowledged it is not – in any practical way – an MTSA. Not in two or five or more years when we can persuade the Region to change. And not after playing games with language which developers and LPAT are unlikely to respect or acknowledge and might well appeal.

In short, building more inaccurate language into our documents must be an error, and we urge council not to accept the staff recommendation on this matter.

Since every element of the logical basis for downtown designation for major intensification was based on the concept of mass transit, and since we have now established that logic was at fault, we therefore ask council to consider a formal motion to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing making a public request for:

A) His clear guidance on how the downtown Urban Growth Centre can be urgently moved or modified, because of the faulty logic by which the UGC was first established.

B) How the province can work with the Region to speedily correct the error that was made when it designated John Street as a Major Transit Station Area.

Burlington MPP goes after Liberals on a point of personal privilige.

Burlington MPP Jane McKenna is said to have a simple answer on how to resolve the MTSA concerns.

We have already received multiple indications from MPP McKenna that the Mobility Hub designations are within council’s remit to designate or undesignate, and we believe Council should do so as soon as practically possible.

Time is of the essence, and we cannot rely on the tortuously slow process of multi-year municipal planning revisions to deliver these essential corrections to the mistakes of earlier councils.

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