 By Staff
January 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Yesterday evening, shortly after 6:00 PM, a 2018 Mazda was westbound on Stratton Road east of Hampton Heath Road when it struck a fifty-four year old Burlington man.
 The man was brought to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Mazda, a seventy-seven year old Burlington woman, was not injured.
Speed and impairment were not factors in this collision.
The incident remains under investigation, and any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 5065.
Yesterday evening, shortly after 6:00 PM, a 2018 Mazda was westbound on Stratton Road east of Hampton Heath Road when it struck a fifty-four year old Burlington man.
The man was brought to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Mazda, a seventy-seven year old Burlington woman, was not injured.
Speed and impairment were not factors in this collision.
The incident remains under investigation, and any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 5065.
 By Staff
January 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The “Snow Event” is now complete.
City staff are continuing with some post event cleanup.
Staff will continue to monitor weather reports.
It was direct and to the point – and there were few notes sent to the Gazette on the quality of the serviced.
Earlier in the year there were numerous complaints, especially in Alton and the Orchard.
 A successful snow plow run. City staff moved on the problems, the ward Councillor promised they wouldn’t happen again – and for the most part it appears that they didn’t.
Getting the vehicles off the street overnight when the plows have to be able to clear the snow was a challenge – but it seems to have worked.
Kudos to everyone.
 By Staff
January 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Peter Marshall, Principal of Boyne Public School in Milton, has been named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for 2018 by The Learning Partnership, an organization which honours the unique and vital contribution of principals in publicly-funded schools.
 Peter Marshall opened the Boyne school in 2015 and built the school’s culture on three concepts: Work hard, be nice, and make a difference. “Peter Marshall is a dedicated leader who puts student success and happiness first,” says Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “His desire to ensure students, staff and the community come together to provide an inclusive learning environment where students feel welcome and encouraged speaks to his leadership and teamwork skills. He joins a group of outstanding principals and educators from the Halton District School Board who have received this award.”
Each year, 40 principals across the country are recognized for demonstrating innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and for their remarkable efforts toward improving public education. Recipients attend a five-day executive leadership training program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in late February.
“It is an honour to be recognized by The Learning Partnership,” says Marshall. “It is humbling to read some of the kind comments written by students, families and staff about the work we have been doing at Boyne Public School. There are so many wonderful administrators within our Board and this really is an indication of the great work throughout the Halton District School Board. I feel very fortunate to be in an amazing school with terrific children, supportive families and hard-working staff.”
Marshall’s nomination was supported by students, parents, school staff and colleagues.
In the nomination package sent to The Learning Partnership, parents of students at Boyne Public School described Marshall as someone who enables their children to realize their full potential and contribute to society in meaningful ways. Students said Marshall continuously strives to improve their learning environment and teaches them the importance of connecting with others and that one simple action can impact a community for the better.
Under Marshall’s leadership, Boyne Public School opened in September 2015. He built the school’s culture on three concepts: Work hard, be nice, and make a difference. Students, staff and parents credit this culture for fostering an environment that is a welcoming and caring place for children.
Staff members speak about Marshall’s ability to promote progress and engage educators in their capacity to effect positive change and growth. His colleagues say his knowledge of the curriculum and research-based practice is driven by caring and empathy, which results in his effective leadership style.
 Loui Silvestri and Andrea Taylor were named Outstanding Principals in 2017 This is the fourth consecutive year Halton District School Board principals have received a Canada’s Outstanding Principals award: Alka Sahai (2015), Michelle Newlands (2016), and Loui Silvestri and Andrea Taylor (both 2017). The Learning Partnership invites nominations of outstanding principals from school boards, colleagues, parents, teachers, students and community members.
The Learning Partnership is a national charity dedicated to enhancing publicly-funded education to prepare students in Canada for a globally connected world by building partnerships between government, education and business.
 By Joe Gaetan
January 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mayor Rick Goldring as he appeared on a Christmas card. “The Vote is as expected”, said Mayor Goldring affirming that the Official Plan will not be delayed until after the fall election. The Mayor’s words underscored the vote of six members of council not to defer the adoption of a new plan.
The lone vote to defer the plan was cast by Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. But before that, all council members had an opportunity to say why they voted “as expected”; here is my take on what was said.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven Councillor Rick Craven was adamant in his belief that 34 out of 35 delegators, or in his words the “200 angry people” who were opposed to the Official Plan were not going to sway him because he cares and does listen, and that the Burlington downtown has to take its share of intensification. During the 2014 election 4,772 voters gave Mr. Craven the right to vote as he did.
 Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster. Councillor Blair Lancaster also made the point that she cares and listens and took the time to ponder her decision, but that council sets the policy which is what they were elected to do. During the 2014 election 2,087 voters gave her the right to vote as she did.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman Councillor Paul Sharman said the vote was not about today but about our city 50-70 years from now, he also stated we are kidding ourselves about affordable housing and that he was looking forward to running on this issue in the fall election. During the 2014 election 3,935 votes gave Mr. Sharman the right to vote as he did.
 Jack Dennison Councillor Ward 4 Council Jack Dennison stated we need the “assessment growth” (aka taxation revenue), there was “no news in this Official Plan”, that they had to vote as they did and not because “of the 200-people” standing in front of us. During the 2014 election 5,401 voters gave Mr. Dennison the right to vote the way he did.
 The Dean of Burlington Council, Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor Councillor John Taylor opined on the fact Burlington has run out of greenspace, that we need to grow as a city and that we need to start intensifying south of the QEW. During the 2014 election 2,977 voters gave him the right to vote a she did.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward, cast the lone vote to defer the adoption of a new Official Plan April 4th. Councillor Meed Ward made several attempts to sway the vote, asking council to put the Official Plan “to a test of democracy”, that citizens had been given little time to review parts of the plan, that citizens only learned about some aspects of the plan in November, that the changes were not minor. During the 2014 election 4,654 voters gave Ms. Meed Ward the right to vote as she did.
Mayor Goldring stated he did not believe there is any benefit to deferring the OP, that there had been tremendous dialogue and good discussion on the Official Plan and that OP’s were never perfect, that there was no benefit to deferring, as it would not represent leadership and that council had to finish what it started.
During the 2014, 36,237 voters gave Mr. Goldring the right to vote as he did.
According to Deputy City Manager, Mary Lou Tanner, the citizens have four more opportunities to weigh in on the Official Plan, not that it will make much difference where our downtown is concerned. Why? The fate and future of the downtown was sealed on Monday January 25 by the “Expected vote”.
It appears that the majority of council believe, the voices of 35 delegators have no weight in this matter, are not representative of the majority of Burlington voters, and that they were fairly elected to vote as they did on this and other matters that come before council.
 Joe Gaetan attended and delegated at the meeting of January 23,2018, and attended the Council meeting of January 29,2018. While a resident of Ward 2 in a Tall Building, he does not live downtown.
By Pepper Parr
January 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The problem people are having with the changes the city is making with its Official Plan is that they don’t fully understand much of the detail and there is a lot of information that needs time to be fully processed.
What will the city look like in five, ten and fifteen or 25 years they ask.
 Citizens clutching their notes as they go up against the people they elected to lead them. 30+ delegations later – city council didn’t budge. During the Reverse Town Hall Mayor Goldring held mention was made of a 3D visual that would let people see what a street would look like. The Mayor seemed to like the idea – it wasn’t possible to get a sense that the Planning department was actually going to do anything. These things are expensive and the Planning department is overwhelmed with new applications.
The housing development sector is keen keen on the opportunity to build in a city where the demand seems to know no end.
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Mewed Ward has pushed for a deferral of the plan – her colleagues are holding fast to the schedule, which in itself was a moving target.
The original goal was to have the Official Plan approved by the end of January, which would be today.
Meed Ward asked her colleagues, and the public that she was really speaking to, to imagine 17 storeys at
 Draft Official Plan allows 17 stories on this site. Accura on Brant
No Frills
James and John
The Poacher
The Lion’s Club
Middle of Village Square
Maria and John
Ukrainian church
John and the Lakeshore
Martha and the Lakeshore
Pearl and the Lakeshore
Those locations are currently zoned for four storeys; 17 storeys is intensification.
 Planning department rendering for the north eat corner of Brant and Lakeshore. She added to that – “the disconnect between what we are told and what we get” and points to the 421 Brant project (approved for 23 storeys)
 Meed Ward sticks to her push for deferral of adopting the Official Plan until after the election Meed Ward is clearly not done with getting the approval of this plan deferred until after the election.
She told her colleagues that “this is not our plan, this is the citizen’s plan.”
There were fewer than 15 members of the public at the city council meeting on the 29th when the modifications were put forward at the two day Planning and Building meeting. The public seems warn out.
There are still a number of dates when the public can speak and there is going to be a whopper of a document available to the public on February 7th on the city web site; printed copies will be available at city hall.
This document is being call the February 28th revision and will show all the changes that have been made since November 30th.
In February 6th, there will be a Planning and Building meeting to “continue the conversation” and focus on the “growth plan”
On February 12th there will be a drop in – meeting with the planners at the Haber Centre; 6:30 pm
On February 15th there will be s similar meeting at city hall in room 247
On February 27th and 28th there will be a second Statutory meeting – one does not have to register for this event.
Meed Ward wanted to know what the last possible date there is going to be for the public to have their say. Deputy city manager Mary Lou Tanner said somewhere around March 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
This is going to be a long march – and it is far from over.
 By Staff
January 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is declaring Jan. 30, 2018 a “snow event”, beginning at midnight. All snow plows and salt trucks will be dispatched throughout the city.
Environment Canada is forecasting 15 cm of snow to fall between Monday, Jan. 29 and Tuesday, Jan. 30.
As of midnight, and during the snow event, all vehicles parked on the street must be removed and parking exemptions are void. Failure to remove vehicles from residential roads could result in being ticketed or possibly towed to allow snow plows and other heavy machinery to safely navigate the narrow streets.
Cars will be towed at the owner’s expense.
If residents notice a vehicle on their street, they are encouraged to kindly ask the owner to remove the vehicle or call Parking Control during business hours at 905-335-7816 (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) or after-hours, Halton Regional Police Service at 905-878-5511. (Ask for “dispatch” and police will send a parking officer).
 Residents are also asked for their patience as clearing all 1,900 km of roads can take up to 24 hours and 850 km of sidewalks can take up to 72 hours to clear.
During a snowfall, the city will provide updates at 9 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. at burlington.ca/snow.
Mark Adam, Manager of Road Operations explains that “the city wants to ensure the safety of our drivers and pedestrians. Our biggest challenge is getting through the neighbourhoods, particularly in Alton Village and the Orchard.
“Our plows can’t get past many of the parked cars so we can’t plow your street properly or at all. Please, put your cars in a driveway or make arrangements to get them off the street. We appreciate your co-operation.”
 By Staff
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service investigated a motor vehicle collision and subsequently arrested two adult male persons for impaired driving in relation to operating the same motor vehicle.
On Sunday January 28, 2018, at 3:25 pm, a 23 year old male was operating a Honda Prelude vehicle and had his 26 year old male friend as a passenger. The vehicle was exiting a parking lot at 2084 Old Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario. The Honda Prelude vehicle failed to yield to a passing Ford Edge vehicle on the roadway and collided into it as it travelled along Old Lakeshore Road.
 Traffic got a little heavy on Old Lakeshore Road Sunday evening. Immediately after the collision the two male occupants of the Honda Prelude vehicle got out of the vehicle.
They then decided to flee the collision scene and switched drivers, now with the 26 year old male driving and the 23 year old male now as the passenger.
The Honda Prelude motor vehicle then started from a stopped position and reversed a short distance and almost collided into pedestrians standing behind the vehicle. The two male occupants of the Honda Prelude vehicle then decided to park the vehicle, exit it and walked away to avoid responsibility for the vehicle collision.
Police quickly arrested both male persons a short distance away for impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. Both males were taken to hospital for minor injuries they sustained in the motor vehicle collision. A 55 year old female person who was operating the Ford Edge motor vehicle also went to hospital by ambulance for minor injuries.
Both of the adult males will appear in court in the Town of Milton for a first court appearance on February 21, 2018.
Charged:
Corey Jorden JEFFREY (23 years old) from the City of Hamilton
Charles SMALL (26 years old) from the City of Hamilton
Charges:
1. Impaired operation of a motor vehicle contrary to the Criminal Code.
2. Operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams contrary to the Criminal Code.
3. Fail to remain at the scene of a motor vehicle collision contrary to the Criminal Code.
Anyone with information regarding this incident asked to contact Constable Andrew Lindsay at 905-825-4747 ext. 2305. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
The Halton Regional Police Service reminds the public that even though charges have been laid in this incident, the two persons charged are presumed to be innocent of any alleged crime until a court renders a decision.
 By Pepper Parr
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The six ward members and the Mayor will meet at 7:00 pm this evening to turn into law the motions that were passed at various council meetings since the last City Council meeting in December.
In order to speak at a Council meeting, individuals must register as a delegation no later than 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting. To register, complete the online application at www.burlington.ca/delegation, email cityclerks@burlington.ca or phone 905-335-7600 ext. 7805.
The Agenda, as set out on the city web site looks like this:
Recommendations from Standing Committees:
Committee of the Whole meeting of January 15, 2018
Committee of the Whole – Budget meeting of January 18, 2018
Planning and Development Public meeting of January 23 and 24, 2018
 The seven are up for re-election in October of this year. Will they all seek re-election? The Mayor will take the council members through what was done at each of the meetings and then vote on the recommendations – they all get done at once unless a council member asks to have a separate vote on an item.
While every meeting is important the meetings of the 15th and 18th of January are not the focus of this article – the meeting that started on the 23rd and ended on the 24th that heard more than 30 delegations is critical to the direction growth in Burlington takes place.
Motion to Approve Standing Committee Minutes:
Committee of the Whole meeting of January 15, 2018
Committee of the Whole – Budget meeting of January 18, 2018
Planning and Development Public meeting of January 23 and 24, 2018
Set out below is what the Council members will be approving from the January 23rd and 24th meetings:
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Defer approval of Official Plan until after the 2018 Municipal Election.
LOST
 The site – on Lakeshore Road between Brant and John – .started at 22 storeys – got cut back to 17 Moved by Councillor Taylor
Direct the Director of City Building to modify the block shown at the northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore located in the Cannery Precinct to the Downtown Core Precinct with a maximum building height of 17 storeys including community benefits obtained through Section 37 agreements.
CARRIED
Amendment: Moved by Councillor Meed Ward –
Amend the motion to replace the words “17 storeys” with “15 storeys”.
LOST
Moved by Mayor Goldring
Direct the Director of City Building to modify the building height permissions of the Downtown Core Precinct so that development shall:
 Complicated formula for the Downtown Core Precinct – looks like it could go almost anywhere. i) have a maximum height of 12 storeys; or ii) have a maximum height which shall not exceed 17 storeys, subject to a site-specific Zoning By-Law Amendment, with additional storeys above that permitted in the Downtown Core Precinct being provided in accordance with the following:
1. one additional storey for every 150 sq m of dedicated office and/or employment floor space; or
2. one additional storey for every 8 publicly accessible parking spaces provided in an underground parking structure.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Amend the motion to replace the number “12” with “4” and the number “17” with “8”.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate within the proposed new Official Plan an increased minimum tower separation requirement for tall buildings within the Downtown Mobility Hub of 30 metres.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to include policies to allow additional density in developments that preserve heritage buildings, as a factor of square footage preserved.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to include policy encouraging consideration of public-private parking partnerships in the Official Plan.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to prepare mid-rise buildings guidelines by end of the third quarter of 2018.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Refer policies in the Official Plan regarding semi-detached homes to the zoning by-law review process.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate an Official Plan policy that assigns a minimum target % (TBD) of residential dwellings contained within mid-rise and tall buildings to be configured with 2 & 3 bedrooms with at least 10% of the building containing 3 bedrooms to accommodate families with children.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to delete Chapter 3 Section 3.1.1 (2)(i) in the Official Plan “more than 200 dwelling units” and add a target percent of new mid-rise and high-rise units to achieve affordable, assisted, and special needs housing, as defined in Halton Region’s Annual State of Housing report.
CARRIED
 Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to add the North-West corner of Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to the special planning area (6 storeys) to match the north east corner.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to retain the height at Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to 3 storeys.
LOST
 Meed Ward got some changes to what will be permitted in the precinct pushed to a February meeting. Moved by Councillor Meed
Ward Refer discussion of blocks 4 and 5 of the Upper Brant Precinct to the Planning and Development Committee meeting of February 6, 2018.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to discuss with the Region and province the possibility of removing the mobility hub classification for the downtown, and shifting the Urban Growth Centre from downtown to the Burlington GO station.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to work with the Region of Halton to review the Downtown Urban Growth Centre boundaries, and consider restoring original boundaries with the exception of Spencer Smith Park.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to remove the special policy area at the South East corner of Brant and James Street.
LOST
Moved by Mayor Goldring
Receive department of city building report PB-11-18 regarding supplementary information with respect to the proposed Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan and associated Official Plan policies; and
Direct the Director of City Building to proceed with the proposed Downtown Precinct Plan, as described in report PB-81-17, as amended, and incorporate into the proposed New Official Plan; and
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate Additional Supporting Policies for the Downtown, as described in report PB-11-18, as amended, into the proposed New Official Plan which will be presented to the Planning and Development Committee on April 4, 2018.
CARRIED
Council members get paid by the city and the Region.
Starting April 1st, the significant seven will earn:
Mayor $177,110
Council members. $105,398
The amount they are paid is determined by an approved formula. The City of Burlington portion of Council salaries is to be adjusted effective April 1st by the percentage equal to the average annual change in the “All Goods” Ontario consumer price index (CPI) for the twelve-month period October to September with the provision that the increase is to have the following limitations:
- Any increase cannot exceed 65% of the calculated Ontario CPI percentage;
- No increase can be granted in the event the calculated Ontario CPI amount is less than 1%;
- Any increase cannot be greater than the increase determined for budget purposes for non-union staff compensation;
- When no increase is taken in a year, the amount cannot be carried over and aggregated in future years (i.e no carry-over of forfeited increase from any year to another);
- Overall Council may adjust the calculated increase to a lesser amount than that determined while meeting the provisions
When calculating the eligible adjustment using the above limitations, the resulting increase is 1.16% and is calculated as follows:
- 65% of the average annual change in CPI from October 2016 to September 2017 of 1.778% = 1.16%
- CPI is greater than 1%
- Non-union proposed merit increase = 3%
 Therefore, Council may implement an increase up to 1.16% on the City portion of their salaries. If the full amount is implemented effective April 1, 2018, the city portion will be adjusted as follows:
- Councilor salary: from $54,882 to $55,519
- Mayor salary: from $125,772 to $127,231
The Region of Halton formula averages the Ontario CPI and the Toronto CPI figures. The Regional adjustment effective January 1, 2018 was recommended to 2% resulting in a salary of $49,879.
 By Ray Rivers
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The federal government runs a program called Canada Summer Jobs, an effort to assist unemployed students get summer work and income. This program, which has been going for a while, is largely administered locally through the MPs’ offices on the basis of some fairly open-ended funding criteria.
Over last five Harper years about $3.5 million dollars were handed out to anti-abortion groups, such as Campaign Life Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR).
 In Calgary, Canada, there is a pro-life group, The Canadian Centre For Bio Ethical Reform, that drives around a truck with the images of a post-abortion fetus on the side. The latter, CCBR, is best known for distributing obscene and disgusting images and literature in the hope that the visceral images would shock Canadians and convert them to support ending a woman’s right to choose. The federal money paid for household leaflet drops and obscene posters placed on the sides of city buses in the organization’s base town of Calgary.
Canadian policy is very clear on this matter. The criminal code has only always defined life as beginning at birth, not at conception nor when one forgets to purchase a package of condoms for a romantic evening. Still, ever since former PM Kim Campbell ended the national debate on abortion almost a quarter century ago, there has been an ongoing campaign among the folks who aren’t happy with the status quo. But while these dissidents have continued their campaigns unabated, the rest of the country has grown to become overwhelmingly supportive of the right to choose, particularly among those women in their child bearing years.
 Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Stephen Harper may have personally been opposed to a woman’s right to choose, and he did cancel funding for Canadian organizations providing family planning in developing nations. Yet, even he resisted re-opening the abortion issue in this country, in fact actively discouraging the zealots in his caucus from bringing the subject up.
Last year the Trudeau government refused to allow these anti-choice organizations to use federal money to distribute their propaganda. And this year (2018) the government has firmed that up with specific criteria – “The government recognizes that women’s rights are human rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights — and the right to access safe and legal abortions. These rights are at the core of the Government of Canada’s foreign and domestic policies.”
 As expected the government has come under fire from the anti-abortion crowd claiming their constitutional right to freedom of expression and/or freedom of religion is being violated. But of course that is nonsense. They are welcome to express themselves but just not on the taxpayer’s nickel.
And abortion is not a religious matter. The term doesn’t even appear in any of the scriptures. Quite likely creationist evangelists just missed this little piece from their favourite book. Genesis 2:7 (New International Version) – Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Life begins at birth.
Neither the pronouncements of the Catholic Church on this subject, nor the chattering of the disparate evangelicals makes this a matter of conscience except for those directly involved – the woman and her doctor. And while the Prime Minister has been unequivocal in his protection for the rights of women, that is not the case for his primary opponent, federal Tory leader Andrew Scheer. Scheer has not been supportive of the right to choose, and he would reverse the government’s decision and allow anti-abortionist groups to use federal money to promote their cause.
Scheer shared a place in Harper’s caucus with the prominent former MP, Patrick Brown. Brown also represented the so-called religious-right, and the wedge issues of opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. But then after winning the leadership of the Ontario PCs, Brown had an epiphany and disowned his past political life. He grew the party’s membership, put together a progressive popular platform, and brought his poll numbers up into the majority range.
 Patrick Brown giving a press conference hours before he resigned as Leader of the Provincial Opposition. Unfortunately the other side of his past political life came back to bite him when two women he knew back in his MP days came to cry out about sexual impropriety. If the claims are true wouldn’t that be the height of religious hypocrisy – claiming piety but acting like pig?
There are a couple of wild conspiracy theories to Brown-gate. Suspicion is high that the release of these stories was orchestrated by his own party or someone influential in it. One rationale is that the Mulroney camp wanted to get Brown out of the way when it seems like the summer election is in the bag for the PCs. If Brown wins he might get two or three terms before Caroline Mulroney gets a crack at it.
Then there is the revenge theory. The right wing of the party was unhappy with Brown for having walked back his commitment to those so-called religious-right wedge issues and they staged the confessions in the hope of forcing him out and installing a more conventional conservative leader. The only thing for sure at this point is that the party, which only a breath ago had been measuring the Premier’s office for new blue furniture, is now living in much more exciting times.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Harper’s Charity Audits – Summer Jobs Program –
Life Begins –
Boston Globe –
Canada’s Catholic Church –
Abortion Poll –
Harper’s Cuts –
Freedom of Religion –
Evangelicalism –
More Evangelicals –
Summer Jobs –
Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform –
Scheer on Summer Jobs –
PC’s in disarray –
 By Staff
January 28, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Alvin Tedjo, an advocate for parents and families, was nominated as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the new riding of Oakville North–Burlington.
 Oakville Burlington North is a new provincial riding. “I’m running to fight for fairness for our families. We need to ensure high-quality child care, affordable education and expand health-care coverage,” said Tedjo. “I’m honoured to be on Premier Kathleen Wynne’s team to work towards a province that has opportunity and fairness for everyone.”
 Alvin Tedjo. Liberal candidate for Oakville Burlington North Tedjo is the Director of Government Relations at Sheridan College in Oakville. He is also the founder of Canadians for Paternity Leave and Vice-President of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. Previously, he served as a senior policy advisor to the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities. Tedjo was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 and Young Citizen of the Year. He and his partner, Rebecca, an ER nurse, have three young children.
The Progressive Conservative Party for ONB does not list a candidate.
The New Democrats have yet to announce the name of their candidate.
By Staff
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier today the Halton Regional Police Service investigated two separate armed robberies at two convenience stores in the City of Burlington. The investigation led to the quick arrest of two male culprits.
 At 8: 48 AM, one male culprit used a metal crow bar to commit a robbery at a “Hasty Market” store located at 1600 Kerns Rd, Burlington, Ontario. The male culprit obtained an amount of money and the investigation determined that the male fled and got into a grey SUV type vehicle.
At 11:21 AM, two male culprits then attempted to rob the “Brant Smoke and Gift” located at 2201 Brant St, Burlington, Ontario. The culprits displayed an imitation handgun and demanded money. The two culprits did not get any money and were chased away and got into a grey SUV type vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect vehicle went south on Brant Street and got involved in a minor motor vehicle collision with a female motorist. The damaged suspect SUV type vehicle then went into the “Best Buy” parking lot nearby and was observed by a Halton Regional Police Service canine officer who was responding to the robbery call.
Two 21 year of male suspects were arrested in the vehicle without incident. An imitation handgun and a metal crow bar were found inside the suspect vehicle. No other suspects are believed to be involved in these incidents.
There were no injuries to the store clerks in these two incidents. The female motorist was not seriously injured in the minor vehicle collision but went to hospital as she was shaken up and upset due to the collision.
Charged:
• Joshua Glen HORN (21 years old) of the City of Burlington
1. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
2. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
3. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
4. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
5. Pointing a firearm, contrary to the Criminal Code
6. Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to the Criminal Code
– Jordan Martin SMITH (21 years old) of the City of Burlington
1. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
2. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
3. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
4. Pointing a firearm, contrary to the Criminal Code
Both persons will be held in custody for a video remand hearing on Sunday January 28, 2018.
Anyone with information regarding this arson is asked to contact Detective Jared MCLEOD of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2385 or 2315. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
The Halton Regional Police Service wants to remind the public that even though charges have been laid in these incidents, the two persons charged are presumed to be innocent of any alleged crime as the matter is proceeding through the court system and there have not been any findings of guilt for any person.
By Pepper Parr
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
ECoB announces that it is going to hold a Workshop for anyone interested on running for office in the October municipal election.
Then along comes an Aldershot resident with this message:
 Aldershot resident Greg Woodruff “If anyone knows anyone willing to run in Ward 4 or 5 please get in contact through the Burlington Citizens for Responsible Development (CfRD) – RDev.org Facebook page or you can contact me through https://gregwoodruff.com .
The organization’s Facebook page includes this statement:
Citizens for Responsible Development seeks to make sure that developments are of value to local residents, consistent with local character and enhance the livability of the community in which they are placed.
“We have people lined up to challenge all wards and Mayor only 4 and 5 are needed.”
There goes the united front.
 Greg Woodruff talking to a member of the provincial cabinet. The Citizens for Responsible Development don’t name who they have lined up for wards 1,2,3 and 6.
Greg Woodruff, the contact person at CfRD ran as a candidate for the office of Regional Chair in the 2010 election and, while he has yet to make a formal announcement that he is running for office he did tell the Bay Observer that he had plans to run for office.
Woodruff does not have any experience in an elected office. We might be looking at a ‘Woodruff slate.
By Staff
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In a statement released on Friday ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington said that: “Once again Burlington City Council has chosen to ignore the voices of the very citizens it is elected to represent.
 Packed Council chamber during a Planning and Building meeting. Jim Young, an Aldershot resident and one of the ECoB founders said “For a city that boasts its level of engagement with its citizens the irony of this seems to escape them. In rejecting Councillor Meed Ward’s motion to delay a decision on the New Official Plan until after the election, council not only overruled the one Councillor who truly understands engagement, they flagrantly silenced the majority of citizens who since November have sent more delegations, more letters and raised their voices more often than any other time I recall in 36 years in Burlington.
“It is difficult to decide which is worse; the ongoing disrespect by council of Councillor Meed Ward and her advocacy for her constituents, or the growing disrespect for the voices of citizens when raised to suggest improvements to the long term plans which can alter their lives.”
ECoB is developing plans to host an All-Candidate Workshop for potential candidates who want to run for office in the October municipal election.
 ECoB member Jim Young Young points out that “… it is this very refusal to give electors a voice in October that will do most to ensure the New Official Plan becomes an election issue for those Councillors who hoped it might not.
“Citizens may not be aware that a new council will be able to revisit the issue in a new three year session. It is our responsibility to elect a new slate of Councillors who will not only revisit the issue but will do so in an atmosphere of real citizen engagement and respect that has been missing in some of council’s interactions with citizen groups.
“Not only have council ensured that this will be an issue in the October election, they have brought an element of negativity to their positions which may not serve their electoral ambitions well.”
Engaged Citizens of Burlington will work to oppose those who have chosen not to hear our voices in the next election and support potential candidates who, regardless of political affiliation, will help guide our city to a real level of public engagement in the years ahead, and re open to revisiting the Official Plan in the next Council Session (2018 – 2021).
The ECoB position is clear. Mayor Goldring put out a statement on his blog where he explained why he voted against deferring the approval of an Official Plan until after the election.
“There are significant benefits to having a Council approval decision sooner rather than later. This will actually better address the significant public concern and interest for establishing greater certainty in the planning process.
 Mayor Rick Goldring “A new Official Plan means we can move away from a site by site negotiation and instead bring more certainty to the application process. This is what residents have been very clear about.
“Staff confirmed that the City will be in a better position to plan within a clearly defined framework with an updated Official Plan that can be defendable by today’s standards.
“Staff will be able to use the new Official Plan when working with developers even though the Official Plan won’t officially be approved by the Halton Region until sometime likely in 2019.
“Staff will continue to develop a detailed Downtown Area Specific Plan which includes matters such as transportation, parking and servicing.
“I believe that it is not only important for the reasons I have outlined, but a responsibility of this Council to bring as much certainty as possible to our downtown planning. Our current council has the necessary understanding of the development of the Official Plan. It’s important that this Council complete the process.”
 Mike Wallace -sitting in on a Council meeting. No word yet on where candidate Mike Wallace stands on the question of deferral of the approving of an Official Plan. Wallace did sit in on council sessions.
Deferring a vote on an Official Plan has to be seen on light of the number of people who will run for office in October.
Nominations cannot be filed until May 1; at this point there are just two people who plan to run for a council seat – both are eyeing the same ward.
Burlington could end up with a Council close to identical to the one in place now.
By Staff
January 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is hosting the 2018 HDSB Secondary GSA Student Conference on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Milton District High School (396 Williams Ave, Milton).
 The all-day event, with the theme Queering Valentines, begins at 9 a.m. with a marketplace of community partner displays including the Positive Space Network, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and Egale Canada.
The conference features keynote speaker Teddy Syrette, a two-spirited genderqueer activist. Board Superintendent of Education Rob Eatough will also address the conference.
Organized for students and by students, the day offers LGBTQI2S+ youth and allies the opportunity to connect, converse and create with each other. Facilitated conversation spaces throughout the day include Inclusion in Sports, Trans Inclusive Environments, LGBTQI2S+ Literature, Spoken Word Workshop, and Indigenous and Two-Spirit Perspectives.
This conference is one way the Halton District School Board ensures all Halton schools are positive spaces that welcome, recognize, and respect diverse genders and sexualities.
By Staff
January 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Tim Hortons wasn’t the only downtown coffee shop that was vandalized this week.
 Timmie’s to a big hit – significant smoke damage from a fire that was set in a garbage container.
The Lakeshore Coffee House across the street from the Waterfront Hotel suffered some damage when a couple of miscreants did some damage to the outdoor seating area.
The short video clip and the picture that was cropped should help people identify one of the
 Their video has been widely shared. The Halton Police have taken photos and also screens shots from the security system.
There is a message here for the commercial sector – upgrade the quality of the video cameras – better images will lead to faster arrests.
By Staff
January 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On January 25th 2018, shortly before 2:30 AM, Halton Regional Police and Burlington Fire Department responded to a fire call at a Tim Horton’s located at 601 Brant Street in Burlington.
The fire which originated in an exterior garbage can was extinguished but not before causing damage to the front of the building and smoke damage inside, estimated at $250,000.
The investigation revealed that at approximately 1:47 AM, two suspects attended the front of the Tim Horton’s which was closed at the time. One of the suspects (suspect #2) was observed on video surveillance tampering with the garbage can briefly before both continued to walk away. Within minutes, a large volume of smoke could be seen coming out of the same garbage bin and continued to burn and spread until eventually it was noticed by a passerby who then called 911.
Suspects descriptions:
 One of two suspects. Suspect 1: wearing black hooded coat (hood pulled up obscuring features) light blue jeans, dark coloured shoes
Suspect 2: male, white, black coat, light blue jeans, short dark hair, dark coloured shoes, walking with cane in left hand.
Anyone with information regarding this arson is asked to contact Detective Constable Jacques Brunelle of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2334. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Ray Rivers
January 25, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Damn I hate when that happens. Now I owe my publisher, a bottle of single malt over who’ll win the election this year. But I won’t give it to him until election night, just in case Brown manages to defy gravity and bounce back.
We don’t know anything about the allegations of sexual misconduct which have led to this yet, though that detail seems irrelevant at this point. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, here in Canada. But it is pretty incriminating when virtually all of his office staff had resigned because he initially wouldn’t – though he has now. No doubt we’ll be getting the tabloid details in weeks to come, but it sure looks like he and his political career are toast.
Patrick Brown – former leader of the Progressive Conservative party in Ontario The Ontario PCs will have a major test before them to appoint a new leader and determine if they move away from the platform Brown had assembled. Despite Liberal accusations that he was playing stealth with his carving knife, this was one of the most progressive and middle-of-the-road Tory platforms in over a generation.
Given that most Ontario voters still had no idea who Patrick Brown was, this gives the PCs a chance to grab the limelight in Ontario politics and introduce a new leader. And depending on their choice that may more than compensate politically for having to shed Brown when the polls looked so good for them. So this may not be the gift for the Liberals that some pundits might speculate it is for them.
Still, this has to be a huge personal defeat for Brown who had spent his entire life up to now priming himself for political leadership. If the facts prevail against him in this case, that will be another huge lesson for everyone, and especially males with a penchant for whatever it was he did that led to this.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Patrick Brown resigns.
There was someone waiting in the wings – she never expected to become the leadership this way.
Publisher’s note: Whenever Rivers has to pay up on his wager debts he invites me to his home and we seem to consume all of the bet that I won.
By Staff
January 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It was an interesting start to a significant meeting on the direction growth in the city of Burlington is going to take.
Ward 2 Councillor set out in her Facebook page what took place.
At the beginning of the meeting I discussed the lack of respect in the proceedings and called on all of us to set a higher standard. We may disagree, but need to be respectful. There’s no place for name calling, false allegations and the like.
My full opening statement on a Point of Privilege is here:
I would like to raise a point of privilege before we begin.
My goal in raising this is to ask all of us to commit to respectful dialogue.
 Councillor Meed Ward raises a Point of Privilege at council meeting. Point of privilege is used “when a member wants to draw attention to a matter that affects the integrity, character or reputation of an individual/group”
· Last night a delegate say planning staff should be fired; it’s not the first time our staff have been unjustly criticized publicly; I hope it will be the last.
· Another delegate said residents are NIMBYs, motivated only by self interest
· The same delegate said my motions were “political interference” a serious allegation – he chose to criticize the woman who is bringing motions, but had no similar criticism for my male colleague who is also bringing motions – some of which are similar to mine.
· Finally, a 14-page memo has been submitted to the public record from Mr. Mark Bales from Carriage Gate Homes, we all got a copy Monday. Mr. Bales has never spoken to me about my views about the OP or the downtown, and yet in his memo he presumes to know my motives, calls into question my integrity and character, and makes allegations with no evidence.
* and the Burlington Post being told they are “not a real newspaper.”
All of this has to stop. None of this is helpful to our discussions.
Like many women who have been subjected to personal attacks for having an opinion, and saying it out loud, I have mostly ignored these things in the past, assuming they’re simply part of being in public service. I can take it – I have a tough skin – 22 years as a journalist and 7 in elected office does that.
But I’ve realized this isn’t about me; it’s about all of us and the culture and example we’re setting. So it’s time to speak up.
When people see others exposed to personal attacks, it discourages them from participating in the community conversation. And we lose that input. I know people who will not stand at that podium because of the way they have been treated.
When personal attacks go unaddressed, it sends the message that these are okay. They are not. We can’t have one standard for people we agree with – letting their comments go unchecked – and another for those we don’t.
It’s time for this to stop.
So, I am asking that we all – everyone around this horseshoe and all members of the community – commit ourselves to a higher standard of respectful dialogue and mutual respect.
This is in keeping with our Engagement Charter, and referred to in the draft OP Chapter 11: “Mutual respect for citizens, staff and members of City Council is the basis for the development of constructive relationships and successful citizen engagement.”
We may disagree about many things today and going forward; I expect we will. But let’s commit ourselves to this: let’s assume that each one of us around this table and in the community wants the best for the future of our city, even as we have different perspectives about how to get there. Let’s allow for that difference, and maintain mutual respect.
 The delegate who made the comment about residents being NIMBYs who are motivated only by self interest deserves a closer look.
 Glenn Wellings is a planner by profession who works for clients in the municipal sector. He was the last delegator to speak and was one of the three that was supportive of the plans and ideas that had been put forward by the planning department.
Who chooses the order at which delegators speak? That decision would be made by people in the Clerk’s Office. Are speaking slots determined by the date at which the request to delegate are received by the Clerk’s office?
Can people ask to be allowed to speak at a particular point? People who cannot get to a day time meeting will ask to be heard in the evening.
Wellings didn’t add much to the information Council was given. The Gazette learned that Wellings, representing a client in Halton Hills, had urged the public to participate in the public dialogue – but he did something quite different in Burlington.
Wellings Planning Consultants Inc. lists the following as clients:
- Township of Amaranth
- Township of East Garafraxa
- Town of Grimsby
- Regional Municipality of Halton
- City of Hamilton
- Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
- County of Hastings
- Town of Milton
- Regional Municipality of Niagara
- Town of Oakville
He was doing what his client wanted in Halton Hills. Did Wellings have a client he was representing in Burlington? He didn’t say he was representing anyone; neither did he say that he has a relative working at city hall. Nothing wrong with that. The relative worked in Human Resources.
The relative did at one point work in Planning where the responsibility was related to the development of the downtown core. The relative did some very good early work on the background related to future changes of the Waterfront Hotel.
What the Gazette was surprised to learn was that in January the relative was transferred from Human Resources to the Office of the City Manager where all the strategizing is being done on getting the draft version of the Official Plan approved by city council.
Wellings could have given full disclosure and told Council about the relative that worked for the city.
Related news story.
Wellings urges citizens in Halton Hills to get out and support a development; in Burlington citizens are NIMBY’s – concerned only about their self interest.
By Pepper Parr
January 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a tough and probably expensive meeting for the developer that owns the north side of Lakeshore Road between Brant and John Street.
The property was put in a new precinct called the Cannery where the height limit was set at 22 storeys.
 During the two-day debate on what the limits were going to be for the 13 precincts the downtown is now divided into the property got moved out of the Cannery precinct and into the Downtown Core precinct where the height limit is 17 stories.
 This rendering of what a building at the north east corner of Brant and Lakeshore could look like – the rendering was not provided by the owner of the property. The motion to have this happen was put forward by Councillor Taylor who said that he did this because it was what he promised to do when he agreed to the staff recommendation that allowed the 23 story 421 Brant project.
The rules in the draft Official Plan call for all tall buildings to be built on a three story base.
The planners wanted to ensure there are good sight lines to the lake and that the $14 million Pier (original price was $7.5 million) could be seen by everyone.
A little later Councillor Marian Meed Ward tried to get the 17 storeys reduced to 15 but that didn’t pass.
The property opposite city hall on north east corner of James and Brant was approved at 23 storeys. The land to the south, where Elizabeth Interiors was once located, has a height limit now of 17 storeys that the Mayor said he felt should be the same as the 421 Brant building which is 23 storeys.
There is an attempt to keep some of the historical look of Brant street by retaining the building on the corner of Brant and James.
The public shouldn’t expect to see shovels in the grounds any time soon – but this is what they want the Lakeshore Road and Brant part of the city too look like.
A citizen group has some thoughts for what a re-developed Waterfront Hotel could look like. Known as Plan B it moves a hotel development to the east opening up public space and creating a grander look to the Pier.
By Staff
January 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Between December 2017 and January 4th 2018, cash and property was stolen from the residents of a home in the City of Burlington. The accused was the live-in care provider for one of the elderly residents.
The accused is Charmain Bibiana PETER (55 years old) from Saint Lucia.
Charged with; Theft Over $5000, three counts of Theft Under $5000, Possession of property obtained by crime and Uttering threats.
The accused was arrested and some of the property was recovered.
Police are advising Halton residents to ensure that they conduct screening process for hiring Live-in care providers and care providers entering their home. If you hire them privately; ensure they are entitled to work in Canada with a Social Insurance number, conduct reference checks, and ask questions about their qualifications for the services they are going to be providing.
Another method to ensure your safety and that you receive the professional care you are contracting for is to hire a registered and licenced Personal Support Worker. (PSW).
More information available at: Personal Support Worker Association – https://pswa.ca/
A resource and questions you should ask of your care provider: Home Care Ontario: https://www.homecareontario.ca/home-care-services/overview
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