 By Staff
February 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario is reporting 842 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 281 in ICU on Sunday. We have broken that 1000 hospitalizations barrier – which is a good sign.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns – isolating  Burlington Member of Parliament Karina Gould – isolating. At the same time Burlington’s ward 2 Councillor reported that she had COVID19 and was isolating. There is a report that MP Karina Gould has COVID19.
The province notes that not all hospitals report on weekends. There are also at least 2,001 new cases of COVID-19.
So it is out there and it is being transferred from people to people.
Gould and Kearns are committed mask wearers and are also in the public sphere.
On Tuesday March 1st, the province opens things up.
Another really important concern is the number of people who still believe this is all hokum and there is nothing to worry about.
 By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns is recovering from Covid19. There was a bit of a glitch in the web cast of the February 22nd, Standing Committee meeting at which there was a meeting on the resumption of the Waterfront Study.
What was available to the public did not include the first six to eight minutes of the meeting during which ward 2 Councillor Kearns announced she had contracted Covid 19 and was isolating at home.
She stayed on the web cast during which we did hear a bit from Councillor Kearns but not the usual robust on top of an issue Lisa.
A polite mention from the Mayor at the end of the web cast wishing Kearns a speedy recovery would have been nice.
Kearns advises us that the first few days were difficult but she is on her way to a full recovery.
 By Staff
February 25th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Some City web applications and online forms temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance March 3
 On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the following applications and forms will not be available starting at 10 p.m. until Friday, March 4 at 2 a.m.:
- Burlington calendar
- Application to search for City parks and facilities
- The City’s online job application platform
This maintenance work has been scheduled in the evening hours to limit the disruption.
 By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Quiet, quaint, downtown Burlington may become a thing of the past.
The owners of the Waterfront Hotel have filed a development application to build two towers on the site; one at 35 storeys, the other at 30 storeys with both sitting on a five storey podium.
 This is what we have. Some development can be justified – but it has to be the right development for the city. There is a public that is opposed to a development of this size. Disturbingly there is also a city council that has been less than vocal in its views on the development.
During the Statutory meeting held earlier in the month the Mayor, the ward Councillor and one other member of council spoke out not totally against the development but certainly against the height the developer was asking for.
 The developer would like to make Lakeshore |Road 6 m narrower; they want to put up towers that will rise 40 storeys.  This is what the developer want to build. It is very good design, it could well win awards – it is the location that is wrong.  Of the limited number of delegations (there were six) the one that drove home just what the issue is came from Plan B, a group that has 500 supporters and 5000 people following them on the Facebook page – which you can find right HERE
There are two processes being handled at the same time which to many seems awkwardly odd. The city is processing a development application while at the same time the city is working its way through a Waterfront Study that will “inform” and guide the development of the area.
Part of the study is a survey that is asking people how they feel about some of the ideas that were put out during the Statutory meeting last week.
Confusing – true – the developers, their legal counsel and their planning consultants are quite comfortable with the confusion – they understand the issues and they have a tonne of money invested in the process.
For parents dealing with the fallout from Covid19, stressed and struggling to run households – finding time to respond to a survey about an issue of which they may not be fully informed, is a stretch.
 Two processes – out of which there will be only one result and it may not be made by the city council you elected.
The survey isn’t the easiest to navigate. They appear to be looking for responses from people who live in specific parts of the city. When you are asked to enter your postal code, you have to know what it is – you get a thank you for taking part.
We live in a time when there are serious decisions to be made – don’t leave it up to the people you elected unless they are fully transparent and prepared to be accountable for the decisions they make.
Are these three now mute? Do they not have a view of how the city should grow?
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte  Angelo Bentivegna ward 6. While members of Council are elected by the people in a specific ward the have a responsibility for the growth of the city as a single entity.  Kelvin Galbraith, ward 1. Based on the Statutory meeting last week Councillors Bentivegna, Stolte, and Galbraith have some explaining to do. And one might ask – where is the most experienced Councillor on this issue – other than his remarks on the failure to come up with a vision, Councillor Sharman hasn’t had much to say.
 By Staff
February 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General’s has awarded the Halton Regional Police Service a Victim Support Grant
The $200,000 in funding, to be issued over a two-year period, will facilitate an expansion of supports offered to victims and survivors of intimate partner violence in Halton region through a multi-pronged strategy.
 Collectively, these complementary, victim-centric strategies focus on enhanced partnerships between police and non-police partners to better respond to the complex needs of survivors and help create safe places across our region for survivors to report violence and coercive and controlling behaviour.
A portion of the grant will be used to embed a dedicated violence against women (VAW) support worker from Halton Women’s Place* within the HRPS Intimate Partner Violence Offender Management Unit (IPV-OMU). As a result, the IPV-OMU will be better positioned to provide survivors safety support, community referrals, crisis, group and individual counseling, and advocacy, which will help mitigate risks to survivors.
 Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill To better meet the needs of our diverse community, the VAW worker will also work closely with the IPV-OMU and the Victim Services Unit of the HRPS to access their volunteer crisis workers who amongst them, speak 15 languages. Additionally, HMC Connections** would also provide consultation and support in terms of strategies for providing services and supports that are culturally appropriate and address the complexities faced by newcomers to Canada.
A portion of the grant will be used to provide enhanced intimate partner violence risk assessment training to Halton Women’s Place staff and HMC Connections staff.
Recognizing that victims and survivors of intimate partner violence may have more comfort accessing support through non-police agencies, this training will ensure that non-police partners who are dealing directly with survivors of intimate partner violence have access to the same risk assessment tools as police. This training will bolster their ability to identify and mitigate risk for their clients.
Intimate partner violence is an ever-present secret carried by far too many in our community. The HRPS, and our community partners, know and see the toll of violence on families. In 2020, the HRPS responded, on average, to more than ten intimate partner violence incidents a day in the community.
The true incidence of intimate partner violence may never be known, as we recognize that much of it goes unreported to police. While the complexities of survivors are unique, the commonality they share is the need for a safe place to report intimate partner violence. The strategies funded through this grant will provide a safer pathway forward for survivors, including through reporting.
The HRPS, Halton Women’s Place, and HMC Connections extend their gratitude to the Solicitor General for granting this funding for new intimate partner violence victim supports. These initiatives will support our steadfast commitment to ensure that Halton region is a place where every person can safely live, work and play without fear of violence.
“The Halton Regional Police Service believes it is the fundamental right of every person to live free from the threat of violence and to feel safe in our community,” says Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill. “This grant will help expand the reach of our collective efforts to ensure survivors know that they are not alone, that support is available, and ultimately help them begin their journey of healing.”
 “Halton Women’s Place is thrilled to expand on our partnership with the HRPS through this new initiative, which will provide women who have experienced violence with greater support and safety options,” says Laurie Hepburn, Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place. “This integrated approach with the placement of a VAW counsellor at the HRPS and support from HMC Connections will help build capacity and capabilities to best serve our community.”
“The risk assessment training is going to give our Settlement Specialists tools to identify people at risk and to make sure they now where and how to reach out for support,” says Kim Jenkinson, Executive Director of HMC Connections. “It is critical to get information to people early – they need to know they are not alone and there are people and systems that can help them. Being able to identify people at higher risk will also allow us to customize and tailor the information provided to the cultural needs of the client.”
By Staff
February 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor of Milton is not happy.
The Regional government made a decision earlier in the month related to the Preferred Growth Concept that impacts all four municipalities in the Region.
Mayor Krantz wants to be able to expand the urban boundary for Milton and use some farmland to handle the growth that has to take place.
 Citizens told the Regional Council that farm land had to be saved. A majority of Regional Council agreed The 58 people who delegated at the Regional meeting took the position that climate change was far too important and that to have a chance of meeting the reduction in C02 gasses being pumped into the environment farm land had to be saved.
Thus the letter to the Minister;
The Hon. Steve Clark
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
RE: Halton Region Official Plan Review
Dear Minister Clark,
As you are aware, Halton Region Council and Councils in municipalities across Ontario are engaged in ongoing discussions to finalize their Official Plans. As you know from your time as Mayor, determining a community’s Official Plan is a very important decision and one that cannot be taken lightly.
 Gord Krantz – longest serving Mayor in the province. I appreciate the opportunity I have had to connect with you, your staff, as well as with
the Hon. Parm Gill, Milton’s Member of Provincial Parliament, regarding this issue over the past few months. We appreciate your ongoing attention and interest.
On behalf of the Town of Milton, I am writing to continue to ensure you are aware of our position with respect to Halton Region’s Official Plan review. As we have previously communicated, it is critical for Milton – and indeed for the financial health of Halton Region – that an Urban Boundary expansion is contemplated. Based on recent discussions at Halton Regional Council, we are concerned the Preferred Growth Concept that will be approved will not allow for the expansion required to strategically and appropriately manage the coming growth.
As per the provincial policy and mandates, Milton is committed to intensification and densification of our existing urban structure. To better serve our citizens and to align with A Place to Grow – The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Milton is building complete communities and A Place of Possibility. We are intensifying, developing, and creating 15-minute walkable, accessible, integrated neighbourhoods with jobs, schools, transportation, community services, parks and recreation facilities and a variety of homes that are easily accessed with multi-modal – walking, cycling, bus and GO Transit rail – connections.
As you know, Halton Region municipalities are maturing at different stages. Milton is at a different stage of development from both Burlington and Oakville. Both of these municipalities were granted urban boundary expansions over a decade ago and as a result, have already developed to their outer edge. Milton is seeking the same opportunity and consideration to grow in the right places, with the right uses. We have a strategic growth plan capable of responding to a variety of residential and employment market demands including and especially transit-oriented development.
Increased population across Halton Region is unavoidable and must be strategically planned. Milton Council continues to demonstrate its commitment to intensify and densify our community and to allocating growth – residential, commercial, mixed-use and industrial to ensure the development of complete communities. For Milton, an urban boundary expansion will ensure the ability to strategically manage anticipated growth pressures and the proper use and allocation of land from now until 2051, while continuing to protect the over 71 per cent of Milton’s community that consists of the Greenbelt, Natural Heritage Systems and farmland.
We continue to communicate to our Halton Region Council colleagues that we are concerned that establishing a hard, urban boundary will create a number of unnecessary and avoidable risks to Milton and to Halton Region including:
• Removal of Milton’s ability to direct growth to the appropriate location, for example, designating industrial/warehousing and logistics abutting the 400 series highways
• Incompatibility within employment lands
• By 2031, stalled assessment growth creating fiscal instability for Halton Region and Milton
• Increased pressure on the residential tax base resulting in increases to property taxes
• Disruption to Milton’s ability to create compatible, complementary and complete communities
• Elimination of Milton’s ability to create desirable mixed-use, complete communities with local amenities
• Increased risk of actual urban sprawl
 Four decades as a politician – Gord Krantz is still at it. On February 16, 2022, Halton Region Council will discuss a Notice of Motion (NOM) which contemplates no urban boundary expansion until 2041. Should that NOM be approved, this will mean that Milton will experience a 10 year gap in our available employment lands as our current supply will be at capacity by 2031. Further, it will mean disruption to the appropriate balance between residential intensification and new greenfield development to 2051.
Milton’s members of Halton Regional Council and I will continue to work with our colleagues to find an amenable solution. However, in advance of Halton Region Council’s decision regarding the Preferred Growth Concept, I felt it critically important that Milton’s position be clearly communicated to and understood by you.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of Milton’s position. If you or your staff have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mayor Gordon Krantz Town of Milton
The decision made at the Region will go to the public again, sometime in April as a Statutory meeting.
The province requires a commitment from the Region as to what it is doing to comply with the need to grow requirement the province has put in place.
By Pepper Parr
February 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The event is set up as a Statutory Public Meeting taking place during a Standing Committee this evening, Tuesday at 6:30 pm
Log into the city calendar and work your way to the Committee meetings part and select the 22nd.
That will get you into the meeting where you can watch and take part.
The Statutory Review is required by the Planning Act. The review is about an Applications to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law owned by Burlington 2020 Lakeshore Inc. Addresses: 2020 Lakeshore Road
There are two process taking place within the same basic time frame.
 Many wonder what the one process means to the other.
Applications were submitted by owner and deemed Complete on December 2021
The site is : 0.76 hectares; Frontage on Lakeshore Rd: 114 m, Frontage on Elizabeth St: 50 m
Proposed Mixed-Use Development is as follows:
- Residential: 557 apartments
- Hotel: 122 suites
- Retail/commercial: 4,445 m2
- Office: 4,348 m2
- Two tall buildings: 35 & 30 storeys with 5-storey podiums
- 598 parking spaces
- Proposed Floor Area Ratio: 76:1
What it works out to is set out below.
This is what the owners of the Waterfront Hotel want to do with their space. It is your city and your park. Is this the best the city can get? What will the site look like from different streets that leads to Lakeshore road ?
The question the Gazette is asking is set out in the graphic below..
Take part in the Statutory meeting this evening and if you don’t like what you see stand up on your hind legs and bark. Do the same thing if you like what you see. It is your city – it is your park.
By Staff
February 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Be advised – there will be a provincial election on June 2, 2022
The Ontario government is making life more affordable and convenient for nearly eight million vehicle owners by eliminating licence plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13, 2022.
“As the cost of living continues to go up, our government is cutting costs for families to make life more affordable,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Eliminating the fee to renew your licence plate and refunding the cost of doing so for the past two years is a concrete way we can put and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Ontarians.”
 The government is introducing red tape legislation later today that would enable the province to refund eligible individual owners of vehicles for any licence plate renewal fees paid since March 2020. Upon passage, vehicle owners will receive a cheque in the mail starting at the end of March and throughout the month of April.
“Our government is taking strong action at a time when the cost of living and doing business in Ontario is skyrocketing,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “For many families, driving is an absolute necessity. Eliminating licence plate renewal fees and stickers is part of our government’s commitment to support drivers as we continue to build Ontario’s transportation network, including by building the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413.”
To receive a refund cheque, vehicle owners who have moved recently will need to confirm that their address information on their vehicle permit or driver’s licence is up-to-date at Ontario.ca/AddressChange by March 7, 2022, and pay any outstanding fees, fines or tolls. For more information and/or assistance with changing an address, vehicles owners can call ServiceOntario’s dedicated line at 1-888-333-0049.
“Our government is putting money directly back into the pockets of Ontario families and workers to help make life more affordable,” said Ross Romano, Minister of Government and Consumer Services. “Eliminating these fees and stickers is just one of the ways we are reducing the burden on Ontarians and making it easier, quicker, and simpler for Ontarians to access critical government services.”
Under the proposal, renewal fees will also be eliminated for passenger, light duty commercial vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds that are owned by a company or business. However, no refunds will be given for the period of March 2020 to March 2022.
“Small businesses play a vital role in fostering Ontario’s economic growth,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “Starting next month, eliminating renewal fees for vehicles owned by a company or business is just one of the many ways we are supporting small businesses across the province so they can continue to thrive and contribute to their communities.”
Vehicle owners will still be required to renew their licence plate every one or two years at no cost to confirm their automobile insurance is valid and pay any outstanding Highway 407 tolls and other municipal fines. The government is working with partners to develop a new, more user-friendly process that will continue to validate automobile insurance requirements, support law enforcement efforts and collect municipal fines and unpaid Highway 407 tolls.
The Ontario government is also investing in Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology as part of its commitment to provide police with the tools they need to do their jobs, improve public safety and strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts across the province. An ALPR system can read thousands of licence plates per minute allowing officers to process more information on licence plates. It also has the capability of capturing vehicles of interest such as amber alerts, drivers with a suspended licence, and stolen vehicles.
Renewal fees and requirements for licence plate stickers for heavy commercial vehicles and snowmobiles remain unchanged.
Quick Facts
• Eliminating renewal fees will save vehicle owners $120 a year in southern Ontario and $60 a year in Northern Ontario for passenger and light commercial vehicles.
• Vehicle owners should update their address before March 7, 2022 in order to receive a refund for fees previously paid by the end of April 2022.
• Physical licence plate stickers have been eliminated in other jurisdictions in Canada including Quebec, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Alberta.
• Driver’s must continue to renew their driver’s licence every five years online or at a ServiceOntario centre and pay a $90 fee.
• ALPR is tested technology already being used by a number of Ontario police services.
The Gazette wishes to point out that a provincial election is scheduled to take place in June.
 By Staff
February 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Appointments to the following committees, were announced by Council on the 15th; took a week to get the list from the Communications department.
 The Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory Committee which was sunset by the city made some very useful contributions to the way the waterfront issues were managed. Burlington Seniors’ Advisory Committee
Burlington Inclusivity Advisory Committee
Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee
Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
Committee of Adjustment
Approve the following appointments to the Burlington Seniors’ Advisory Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2022:
Bob Chepyha
Kerry McGregor
Peter Buckley
Margaret Doma
Sara Elkabany
Ron Minaker
Deepak Sharma
Approve the following appointments to the Burlington Inclusivity Advisory Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2022:
Ashley Wall
Rajan Chopra
Rajan Sharma
Approve the following appointments to the Burlington Sustainable Development Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2022:
Dave Bourns
Dave Rokosh
Sarah Merriam
Approve the following appointments to the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term to expire on December 31, 2022:
Ken Harris
Don Prescott
Patricia Debly
Doug Benton
Cindy Bond
 Committee of Adjustment, the only committee that pays its members has made some pivotal decisions on small property adjustments and approving requests for changes to a zoning. Approve the following appointments to the Burlington Committee of Adjustment for a term to expire on December 31, 2022:
Robert Martin
Filippo Capuano (Alternate)
Hany Aly (Alternate)
The disappointing part of this announcement is that the appointments are just for the balance of this year; all end on December 31st, 2022.
There are a lot of new faces, which is good, new blood is vital. However, experience counts for a lot. It will be hard for these committees to make useful decisions.
The Gazette would like to hear what others have to say.
By Pepper Parr
February 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The McKenna announcement that she would run for the Region of Halton Chair, was, we were pretty sure, to be followed by an announcement from Anne Marsden that she too would have her hat in the ring.
 Anne Marsden during the 2014 municipal election campaign. In the past Marsden has pulled in a very respect- able percentage of the vote.
She surprised us with the following:
“Could not think of a better candidate for Halton Regional Chair than the Hon. Jane McKenna. She is very well informed on the Region issues that have been left to fester and become gangrenous under Carr’s blatant lack of leadership:
Official scam in terms of the claim that Burlington has a Region approved new Official Plan.
Halton’s diabolical infectious disease record that includes:
no accountability for the Halton MOH who failed to report death from West Nile Virus to Region,
no accountability for 91+ deaths and dozens of very sick people related to 10 month delay in tackling unreported C.Diff outbreak beginning weekend of April 8, 2006 at Joseph Brant, and
2018 Halton Region Councillor silence on encephalitis disease higher than Ont average
Halton taxpayers money used to build barriers rather than remove them as the law requires.
Halton police services lack of accountability in terms of vulnerable, elder and child abuse investigations.
Discriminatory practices in terms of the Halton Council delegation process that leaves vulnerable residents without a voice in Halton decision making.
Now all we need is for the appropriate Ministers to utilize the information put in their hands either directly or through Jane and set the ball rolling for her to clean up as she did after a Liberal candidate (sorry her name escapes us) -( it was Eleanor McMahon) – interrupted the fine job she was doing as MPP beginning in 2014.
By Staff
February 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The province cut the public some slack in opening up things in the hospitality sector – they certainly needed a boost.
Burlington sent out an update on changes taking place at the recreational facilities as well as vaccination updates
 Capacity at gymnasiums that are used by community groups has been increased. Recreation facility capacity limits will be increased for rental, program and activity spaces, while ensuring requirements for physical distancing are maintained. Existing program providers and facility renters have been notified directly.
Drop-in recreation programs will increase capacity. Participants are still encouraged to register in advance. For schedule and online registration visit burlington.ca/dropinandplay. For information on how to register or to setup an account, visit burlington.ca/registration
Registered winter courses already in progress may open additional spots if possible, pending staffing, regulations, specific ratios, and maintaining physical distancing for example. Check liveandplay.burlington.ca for new spots.
Spectator seating areas remain at 50 per cent capacity, and change rooms and dressing room capacities remain limited. Occupancy levels are posted.
Proof of Vaccination and Screening
Proof of vaccination with an enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code is currently required for entry into City recreational facilities.
Masking and physical distancing is still required.
Those entering recreation facilities will be required to acknowledge posted screening questions at the point of entry. Pre-screening in advance of arrival is no longer required.
 Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture continues to emphasize that the “Health of participants and staff will always be a top priority. We’re looking forward to safely and carefully welcoming more people back into our facilities and programs. Increasing program capacities takes time so please be patient as we work through these changes.”
By Staff
February 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government has procured AECOM as the successful engineering consultant to undertake a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Update Study for the widening of Highway 6 South in the City of Hamilton. The project will increase lane capacity from two lanes to four over a nine kilometre segment between Highway 403 and Upper James Street, as part of the government’s plan to build Ontario.
 Study area for a Hwy 6 expansion from two to four lanes. Highway 6 from Highway 403 to Upper James Street is the primary connection from John Munro Hamilton International Airport to the Greater Golden Horseshoe via Highway 403.
“The widening of Highway 6 from two lanes to four is vital to the continued growth of the John Munro Hamilton International Airport and the surrounding areas,” said Donna Skelly, MPP Flamborough-Glanbrook. “This is an important step forward in our work to ensure the safe, efficient movement of people and goods here in Hamilton and across the region.”
 Better access to the Hamilton Airport The Preliminary Design and EA Update Study will include outreach to Indigenous communities, municipalities, and stakeholders including the airport and business owners, and will commence in spring 2022, with a targeted completion of spring 2024.
Quick Facts
The province has allocated more than $21 billion in funding over the next 10 years, including approximately $2.6 billion in 2021–22, to expand and repair highways and bridges.
A four-lane highway link to the Hamilton airport was originally designed and received environment assessment approval in the late 1980s. The existing two-lane road was built in 2003.
 By Pepper Parr
February 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The province moves into a new part of the Roadmap to Recovery with many restrictions being lifted.
Halton Regional Medical Officer of Health Hamida Meghani told Regional Council yesterday that while things are certainly a lot better than they were in January it is still important that people be vigilant – “wear your mask when you are with people who are not part of your bubble”.
Dr. Meghani displayed some graphics that show the stages this pandemic has gone through adding that the virus is still very much with us.
 The degree to which the Omicron variant impacted the province. The concern is that there could be another variant working its way towards us. The defence is ensuring that everyone is fully vaccinated. Provinc- level testing has been cut back but the Region has been testing the effluents at the waste water treatment plants in the Region and reported that the level of the virus in the community is stable with none of the waste water treatment plants showing increases.
 Testing results from waste water treatment plants Dr. Meghani stresses again and again that this virus is passed from person to person and that the most effective way to prevent that from happening is to wear a properly fitted mask.
She produced a graphic that explains it all – adding that being fully vaccinated lessens the chances of an infection taking hold.
Look at the graphic carefully – it shows the path the virus takes.
 The virus on the left and the route it takes getting to you. Related news stories:
Province eases up on restrictions February 17th and again on March 1st.
 By Pepper Parr
February 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Something like this is probably coming your way.
It is labelled the 2022 Preferred Concept for the Waterfront Hotel site that was put before about 110 people that took part in a virtual presentation Wednesday evening,
 Proposed 2022 Preferred Concept – half the height of what the developer is asking for and a lot more park space. It is considerably different than the plan the developer has before the city Community Planning department; basically half the height and much more park space..
There are two towers in the concept but they are between 15 and 17 stories each rather than the 30 and 35 storeys the developer has before the Community Planning department.
The two towers rest on a 3 storey podium instead of the five storey podium the developer is asking for.
The biggest difference is a 20 metre wide piece of land on the west side of the site that runs from Lakeshore Road to the southern end of the property. It was described as a needed addition to Spencer Smith Park which was described as closes to full capacity on many occasions.
There was some additional park space to the lower right of the 2022 Preferred concept.
Evan Sugden, the Bousfields Inc., planning consultant hired by the developer was taken aback when he saw the concept and asked where the justification was for taking land to be used as park space. He wanted to know where the report was that set out the need for additional park space.
All developments are required to provide park space, either in land or cash in lieu.
 The developer wanted two soaring towers that would be 40 storeys including the podium. While well attended the virtual meeting ran out of steam at the one hour point of a meeting that was scheduled for an hour and a half.
All members of council were reported to be in attendance but other than the Mayor none had anything to say.
The Mayor did take a shot at having a straw poll done on the spot – that didn’t work out – the consultants running the event said i would not be appropriate at this point to hold a straw poll.
Next step? The city wants opinions and feed back from the public. They are fully aware that this development is going to go to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a decision and they want to build the strongest case possible.
The city wants feedback from the public no later than March 1st. For those who did not take part in the virtual meeting – the presentation was recorded and will be available on the GetInvolved section of the city web site.
By Pepper Parr
February 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Transparency is a word that gets used by every member of the current city council – frequently.
They pride themselves on being transparent, but saying you are transparent doesn’t mean you are.
In the past several months many have asked why there are so any Closed Sessions of Council- and why next to nothing gets said by Council when they come out of a Closed Session. At least two council members want the address of the property made public when they go into Closed to discuss property matters.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte has been consistent in her efforts to bring more transparency to the business of city Council. Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte has sort of led this effort for more in the way of transparency. She has said that she would oppose going into Closed Session when it was proposed and indeed today she did just that.
While the matter they were going into wasn’t crystal clear – it may have had to do with the possible purchase of the Bateman High School from the Board of Education.
Elsewhere in the meeting there was a bylaw passed to authorize a request for the issuing of a debenture by the Regional Municipality of Halton for a Confidential Land Acquisition.
There was no mention in the bylaw what the land acquisition was nor what the amount of the debenture was; the Region handles all the raising of loans for the municipalities.
There is no evidence that the two matters are related. Many feel the public has a right to know what the money is being borrowed for and how much is being borrowed.
Outside legal Counsel was involved in this Closed Session that lasted about 25 minutes and when they voted to implement the decision that was made Stolte voted for it, which suggests Stolte was Ok with the decision that was made.
Stolte has been a strong advocate for more information in the hands of the public.
But when there was an opportunity to comment in Open Session – not a word from Stolte.
 Councillor Nisan wanted the city manager to immediately contract with a law firm for advice on going into Closed Session procedures. Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan, who doesn’t have much in the way of a getting along well with Stolte relationship (they differ on many procedural issues), put forward a motion that directed the City Manager to immediately contract with the law firm Aird and Berlis to guide the city on its procedures and policies on the matter of Closed Meetings.
There is a procedure for a citizen to complain about Closed Sessions of Council. Mayor Meed Ward said it was all set out on the city web site.
The sticking point would be appear to be with the city legal department. They appear to be asking that a Session be Closed and the Clerk goes along with it.
I don’t recall this Council or any other for that matter, being opposed to going into a Closed Session
Mayor Meed Ward then made this comment. “There are times when I work quietly behind the scene”.
THAT by any stretch of the imagination is not a definition of transparency.
Much more to this story.
 By Pepper Parr
February 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Monday afternoon City Council held an Indigenous education workshop. It was, unfortunately not widely promoted by members of Council or the city’s communications department. Unfortunate.
The name Joseph Brant is well recognized; his role in the development of the land that was territory the Indigenous people lived on is not that well understood.
They own precious little of that land today. The workshop is about how that came to be.
 The Mississauga of the Credit First Nation lay claim to a large area; the part known as the Haldimand Tract is tightly tied to Joseph Brant.  Over time land was taken from the Indigenous community through different treaties. There were two main speakers who had a lot to say. You might want to listen to:
Darin Wybenga, Acting Director and Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Coordinator, Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, who spoke on; “Mississauga of the Credit First Nation – We are Still Here.”
Indeed they are
 There was a time when the majority of people living in what is Canada today believed what the Indian Act said. Following Darin Wybenga is Bryant Peters, College Instructor at Fleming College and Executive Consultant from the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, who spoke about the: Indian Act – What Can We Do?
It looked at one point if Peters was going to read every section of the Indian Act – a very repressive piece of legislation that is still in place.
Both speakers made extensive use of visuals and maps.
It should be well worth your time to spend some time listening to what was said. We will have more to tell you about this Workshop later in the week.
Burlington, like most local governments, now reads a land acknowledgement before each meeting.
If Darin Wybenga is correct, and he probably is, our reference to the Bowl with one spoon wampum is incorrect. Look for Council to correct that error.
 Wampum belts were used as signatories to commemorate and, to some degree, legitimize an event. The biggest lesson this writer learned was the significant difference between what the Indigenous people thought when they were signing a land treaty and the view the British had.
The British believed they were acquiring land which they described and defined in the treaties; the Indigenous people believed they were agreeing to share the land.
They were either not able to or didn’t know how to get that language into the treaties.
As a result they are left with bits and pieces of the land they inhabited. The 4 million acres they started with was whittled down to 200 acres.
And we wonder why they are angry.
By Staff
February 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier this week Regional Council spent the best part of a day working their way through a 2000 page document on the Growth Concepts before Council.
The purpose of the meeting was to Review the Draft Preferred Growth Concept that will be part of the Regional Official Plan.
The Gazette will need another day or two (there goes the weekend) to distill the document and set out what it means to the people who live in the four municipalities that make up the Region of Halton.
The issue of population growth…
The Region has to grow – that isn’t something that can be debated – where the politicians can have an impact is on where the growth will take place.
Colin Best, a Milton Town Coucillor, has a firm grip on the numbers- his professional work is related to property assessment.
There is one document (above) that sets out what the politicians are dealing with.
That is the direction in which we are going, like it or not.
 By Staff
February 10th
BURLINGTON.ON
 And it doesn’t hurt. Ontario is distributing FREE COVID RAPID TESTS to the general population as supply increases.
Starting today, over 2,300 participating grocery and pharmacy locations — including 32 locations in Burlington — will provide free rapid tests, with a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit.
A list of participating retailers as well as information on how retail locations are distributing rapid test kits can be found at Ontario.ca/rapidtest
By Pepper Parr
February 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington Planning department is working feverishly on an application development to build two towers – one 35 and the other 30 storeys that will sit atop a five story podium.
This application has to be presented to council not later than April 15th or it can be taken to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a non-decision appeal.
Municipalities have 120 days to respond with a decision on a development application.
At the same time the City of Burlington is resuming work on the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study. When the study is completed, it will provide guidance in the redevelopment of this site.
Located next to two of Burlington’s most significant landmarks, Spencer Smith Park and the Brant Street Pier, the City is asking for input to make sure the new development reflects a high quality of urban design that enhances the community’s access to the waterfront and the downtown.
The fact that there is a development application for land in the centre of that waterfront study area would suggest that the die has already been cast.
Within the same general time frame, February 22nd, there is a Statutory Public meeting on the development application which will have the Planning department setting out the issues and the developer explaining what they plan to do.
Virtual Public Open House – Feb. 15
Residents are invited to join a virtual public open house to talk about the study process and hear from City staff and the consultant team, The Planning Partnership, who will present the preferred concept plan for the site. There will be a Q & A period following the presentation. The open house is on:
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Zoom or dial +1 647 374 4685 by telephone and enter meeting ID 813 0521 1078
Residents also have the opportunity to learn more about the planning study on the City’s online engagement platform, Get Involved Burlington.
The Waterfront Hotel Planning Study is separate from the development application process. This sentence fails to add that there is an application for development approval before the Planning department now.
2020 Lakeshore Rd. Statutory Public Meeting – Feb. 22
The City will hold a Statutory Public Meeting under the Planning Act to consider the City staff report concerning the development application for 2020 Lakeshore Rd. City staff will be recommending that Council direct staff to continue to review and process the application. Due to COVID-19, this Statutory Public Meeting will be held virtually.
This meeting will take place on:
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022
6:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting that will be on the city web site
To view the meeting details, the Meeting Notice [PDF] or to register to delegate, visit burlington.ca/2020lakeshore.
 This is the developers architectural rendering of what they would like to build. Planning Study Background
In 2017 and 2018, the City began the planning study to guide the redevelopment of the waterfront site at Lakeshore Road and the foot of Brant Street, including the Waterfront Hotel at 2020 Lakeshore Rd. City staff gathered feedback through visioning workshops, public and stakeholder engagement.
In mid-2018, the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study was placed on hold due to other Council directed priorities such as the New Official Plan process.
On Jan. 11, 2022, City staff presented Council with a study update through staff report.
Why the study can resume
The City is able to resume the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study at this time because:
• the re-examination of the New Official Plan Project, including Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown, has been completed,
• approval of the new Official Plan (under appeal), as well as
• the Minster of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s approval, with modifications, of the Regional Official Plan Amendment 48.
City staff, with support from the project consultant, will pick up the work where it left off in 2018, and complete the study. The work is estimated to take four months and will use community input to-date to help develop a final preferred concept.
The City has this work remaining:
• Phase 4: Report and Recommendation of Preferred Land Use Concept, Q1 2022
This phase of the study involves the selection of a preferred concept and the preparation of a Planning Justification Report.
• Phase 5: Official Plan Policies, Zoning and Urban Design Guidelines, Q2 2022
The fifth phase of the study includes the development of draft site-specific official plan policies, zoning regulations and urban design and implementation guidelines. This phase will also include a public open house, presentation to Committee and final delivery of the implementing Official Plan Amendment and
 Determining what should be built on the waterfront hotel property has gone through a number of concepts. The Waterfront study restart will pick up where things were back in 2019 when it was paused.  Marianne Meed Ward – moments before she was sworn in as Mayor. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward made the following comments:
“We know the Waterfront Hotel is a key site in our city, right next to our cherished downtown waterfront park. We know we have to get it right, and the time is now, with the Waterfront Hotel study starting up again, and an active application for redevelopment filed. We also need to ensure the public has every opportunity to share their feedback. That’s why Councillor Kearns and I worked together on a motion to direct staff to complete the study and the application review within the required statutory time frames — so we can record a decision as a community on this site, and not risk an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal for non-decision within the deadline. The best way you can shape the future of what happens here is to participate in both the study, as well as the development application review. ”
Ward 2 City Councillor Lisa Kearns spoke a little more forcefully: “We have heard loud and clear that residents place an extraordinary value on Burlington’s Waterfront. Development concerning the Waterfront Hotel site is extremely important to Ward 2 residents and to residents across our city. The outcome of an active development proposal is paramount to the future of our Waterfront and Spencer Smith Park, not to mention our downtown businesses and residents alike.
 Lisa Kearns – ward 2 Councillor “I encourage everyone to get engaged with the study information, subscribe to the Get Involved page for updates and attend the meetings on the Hotel Study on Feb. 15. and the Statutory Public Meeting on Feb. 22. The City will make a decision on this planning file to ensure that the decision is made at the local level. Let’s come together to give our feedback and make sure the new development results in a property that supports the community’s waterfront and downtown experience.”
Related news stories:
Is there a better way to develop this critical part of the city?
If you haven’t heard of Plan B – check them out.
The Plan B web site:
By Staff
February 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Determining just how much in the way of new population is going to be determined for each of the four municipalities in the Region was always a political decision.
The Region has been stick handling this for some time.
 Someone at the Region thought the issue was ready for a Statutory Meeting where the issues and a sense as to what direction would would be set.
The political people realized that this was not the time for a Statutory meeting and changed the format of the meeting to a workshop. There would be no delegations at the workshop – just open debate and discussion.
Turns out the Regional Councillors were not ready for a workshop either.
Set out below is the order in which changes in the meetings went:
The recommendation on the Preferred Growth Concept will not be considered by Regional Council on February 9, 2022 as originally scheduled. The consideration of the Preferred Concept will be rescheduled to a future meeting. There will be an opportunity for the public to provide written submissions and delegations at that time. To register and receive a notification when the opportunity becomes available, please email the Regional Clerk.
A Regional Council Workshop on the Preferred Growth Concept has now been scheduled for February 9 at 9:30 a.m. At the Workshop, Regional staff will present updated information and respond to questions and requests for clarification regarding the Preferred Growth Concept. Under Halton’s Procedural By-law, delegations are not permitted at Council Workshops however the public is welcome to observe the live-streaming of the Workshop on our website.
The Statutory Public Meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. on February 9, 2022 about a Regional Official Plan Amendment application related to the Milton Education Village will proceed as planned.
This is a critical issue – better that they get it right the first time.
Related news story:
Councillor Sharman explains what is happening at the Region on population growth.
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