 By Staff
November 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Our Member of Parliament is no longer homeless.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon was the warm up band for Karina Gould on the day she was elected as the Member of Parliament for the city. Karina Gould will put her name on the door of the office space that Mike Wallace used to occupy at the Burlington Mall
The telephone number – effective Thursday – will be 905-639-5757
There will be at least one person in the office answering the phone.
Gould said “the public is always encouraged to email me at:
karina.gould@parl.gc.ca
Give them a little time to get the furniture set up. Gould, who was always very good at working with her people might want to hold a house warming and invite people to bring pictures and plants to make the place look hospitable.
 By Staff
November 17, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
Look for a tax increase of about 3.85% – Mayor Goldring suggested they might try and get it down to 3.25% during an Overview of both the capital and Operating budgets for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
The Gazette will provide details on a budget that will result in a total tax levy of $146,883,341
 Don’t expect to see very much in the way of public engagement in the budget that council is working its way through – the word is that they will inform you – and that the time set aside for delegations will not include an evening session. Don’t look for all that much public engagement. Director of Finance Joan Ford said the city would “inform” the public but did not [plan on “engaging” the public on the contents of the budget.
There will be one occasion for the public to delegate on the city budget – January 19th at the Community and Corporate Service meeting – there will not be an evening session.
Burlington’s budget, in its first form, has been presented to Council before the Regional Council has decided on how much money it is going to need.
The Director of Finance expects the surplus for the fiscal year that is ending to come in at about $3.5 million. A large part of that surplus was the result of a supplementary tax payment – $1.8 million.
The finance people in Burlington continue to refer to the surplus as a positive variance.
Oakville has predicted a tax increase of 2.45%
 By Staff
November 17th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Taken from the largest collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics in the world, Still Life – Landscape from the Permanent Collection will run November 27, 2015 to January 31, 2016.
 Harlan House, Iris vase – 1989 Co-curated by the AGB’s Chief Curator Dr. Denis Longchamps and Permanent Collection Curator Jonathan Smith, who recently celebrated 25 years with the AGB.
Still life and landscape, while they are considered to be classic subject matter for painting, are a rich source of inspiration in the clay community. From decorative motifs to sculptural installations, this exhibition looks at a rarely examined area of inspiration and their relationship to each other.
Join AGB curators Denis Longchamps and Jonathan Smith on Sunday November 29 at 2:30pm for their free Curators’ Talk on the exhibition.
 By Pepper Parr
November 17th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Chairing the board of a non-profit organization when your full time job is to enhance the profitability of your client’s – calls for a splitting of ones mind-set that not everyone can pull off.
Ilene Elkaim, who currently serves as the Chair of Burlington’s Performing Arts Centre in her spare time runs a Canadian retail services business that focuses on putting time and/or money back into the hands of small to mid-sized retailers. The focus is on systematizing or automating administration, operations during the rest of her week.
 Ilene Elkaim, chair of the Performing Arts Centre Elkaim followed Rick Burgess and Brian Pearson as chair of an organization that experienced a bit of a rocky start but under its third Executive Director is doing quite well.
Elkaim headed up the selection committee that recently hired Suzanne Haines to run the place on a day to day basis.
Burlington was very fortunate when it hired McCurdy to run the organization several years ago. He was a very fortunate choice; while with the Centre he righted a ship that was listing badly.
After the first Executive director vacated the job McCurdy put a program in place that was just what the city needed.
Suzanne Haines now needs to build on the solid base she was given; she has Elkaim at her side to advise.
The centre is run by a corporation – The Theatre Board that sets out the strategic direction and what it wants to achieve.
 From left to right: The centre board chair Ilene Elkaim, former Centre Executive director Brenda Heatherington, immediate past Executive director Brian McCurdy and newly appointed Executive director Suzanne Haines So who is this Elkaim lady that works in the background ensuring that the vision is firmly fixed?
The theatre and the stage floor have a magic of their own and they draw people either to the seats in the theatre or the stage itself.
Ilene Elkaim is one of those people who was drawn to the stage – her first performance was as a snow flake – she thinks she was probably in kindergarten.
Originally a Montrealer she was educated at one of Quebec’s CEGEPS and then went on to McGill University where she earned a degree in Commerce and arrived in Burlington in 1995.
Her most recent performance was in a production at the West Plains Road United church. Drama is a hobby and Elkaim has a strong enough sense of self to not take her hobby too seriously – for her it is fun.
The task at the Centre is to insure that the place thrives and that it meets the needs and aspirations of the public and at the same time grows a stronger appreciation for the performing arts.
 The day the Burlington Teen Tour Band marched through the sliding doors – the Centre belonged to the people. The BTTB finally had a home “The objective is to engage people” said Elkaim and “that means listening to what they have to say.” The measure of their success is seen in the sale of tickets but that is just part of the job. Earning enough to cover all the costs is not something that happens in the cultural world – the Centre is probably always going to need financial support from the city. The city owns the building.
Theatre operations come in two flavours – there are presenting theatres which means they books different acts or rent the space to artistic groups.
Then there are production theatres that create act and shows that are put on the stage.
Burlington is a presentation theatre – it doesn’t do or create any new theatre productions. These things can easily cost a million dollars to mount and unless a show goes on the road that kind of money is never recovered. It is also a hugely risky undertaking and city council is never going to let that kind of event take place.
 James Burchill, one of the better social media practitioners in the city use the Performing Arts centre for his events. Another pillar in the makeup of the Centre is making the space available to local and community groups.
The Performing Arts Centre needed a little time to plug into the community and arrive at an understanding with different groups on costs and who pays for what.
The Performing Arts Centre has costs and- expenses that have to be met even if there isn’t a single person in a seat.
With two spaces for theatre – the Community theatre (200 seats) and the Main stage (700 seats) the Centre can meet very different needs.
The magnificent open space – the Family Room – makes the Centre quite unique. There are occasions when the two theatres are being used and the audiences from each mingle in the Family room during an intermission – enjoying a drink at the impressive bar – and then return to the theatre they were sitting in.
There is always quite a buzz when the two audiences mingle – not an experience one can have in many places.
Rental of the space is always a challenge – the Family Room can be turned into a stunning space – it was almost awesome on the opening night several years ago.
McCurdy was very successful in pulling in grant money that allowed him to create programs for young people which Elkaim believes is the foundation that the board is mandated to build.
 The Centre took a soft opening approach that let the city get used to the place. when the “official” opening took place they pulled out all the stops and the place looked great. “Everyone can remember the first time they attended a theatre production” said Elkaim. “If we can do that kind of thing often enough we will create the audience of the future.
During the week, often in the afternoons, it is not unusual to see half a dozen school buses parked on Elgin Street outside the theatre where they delivered students who take part in an event.
“The biggest challenge we face” said Elkaim “is to really engage the community” She adds that engaging a community means bringing them into the tent and making them a part of the process that sets out the direction the Centre takes.
It is all about selling tickets – but it is also about scheduling events that reflect what people want to see and at the same time introducing new ideas and forms of entertainment that have not been part of the cultural community in Burlington.
 Denise Walker, a fund raiser for the centre was the first person to take to the stage and speak to an audience that had paid for a ticket. It has been a number of years since Denise Walker stood on the stage and opened the very first performance – when Royal Wood entertained.
I attended that event and remember both a fine performance and the two ladies that are best described as part of the “silver haired set: who walked out of the theatre rather briskly mumbling about a performance they clearly didn’t enjoy. They would have preferred to hear Guy Lombardo.
That same space saw the Blue Jeans festival fill the house that watched talent that ranged from The Spoons to Gordy Tapp and a young man who has probably learned that ballet was not going to be his art form.
The audience loved the event – it got to see, and learn, that the Mayor missed too many piano lessons and that while former MP Mike Wallace who is a very fine dancer he does a better job dancing with his wife than he did dancing with a broom in a Gene Kelly impersonation.
The applause for almost everything that was on the stage was welcoming – the community was enjoying and celebrating its performing arts centre.
The board of the Centre has its challenges but after the three year run under the direction of Brian McCurdy the place is on a sound footing – they want to keep it that way and grow both the audience and the artistic tastes of the city and introduce the younger demographic to theatre and all the magic that takes place on a stage.
One thing that the public will not see is Board chair Ilene Elkaim performing as a snow flake.
 By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Does anyone know where our newly elected Member of Parliament is hanging out these days?
Karina Gould is reported not to have assumed the lease that Mike Wallace had at Burlington Mall where he had his Constituency office – but it was reported that she might use the space on a month-to-month basis.
 Burlington’s MPP ha nice digs on Brock street – room enough for the Member of parliament to move in and couch surf for a period of time? There is a report that Gould is “couch surfing” in the offices of the member of the provincial legislature, Eleanor McMahon, who has nice new digs over on Brock street.
 Federal MP Karina Gould after the Canadian University Woman’s Association debate at which she did very well. Quick on her feet – but not as fleet of foot in getting a constituency office set up. At some point it would help if the MP told people where and how she can be reached. People need help and support on matters that are managed by the federal government. The local constituency is an important part of the democratic process.
Karina Gould has an email address – no answer from her so far – no telephone number for her in the House of Commons yet.
 Political power is in the hands of two woman in this city. What can be expected of the two of them – a tag team perhaps? As the senior public official in the city she was the first to lay a wreath at the foot of the war memorial last week.
Time for the Member of Parliament to let the public know who they should contact when they need help.
Gould will have been going through a steep learning curve but she is a smart cookie and will ace most of that stuff.
Being in three places at once will be the challenge and putting a staff in place that will hit the ground running is the next step.
 By Staff
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On November 13th 2015, the Halton Regional Police, Burlington Strategic Support Team (SST), concluded a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in three arrests and the execution of Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a Burlington residence.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 59 grams of cocaine
• 428 grams of marihuana)
• 11 grams of cannabis resin/ hashish , also known as “shatter”
• $2940.00 in cash.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $ 10,500.00
The following persons have been charged:
Robert David EMERY (25 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine),
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) – under 30 grams
Cole SIROIS (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance, (marihuana) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (cannabis resin) for the purpose of trafficking,
Aaron MACISAAC (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 15th 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
Assuming the federal government decides to get into the distribution of marihuana – how will the police handle drug raids?
By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Your city council just might be doing some thinking and getting prepared to issue some kind of a statement on just why and how the ADI Development group application for both an Official Plan change and a zoning change was managed.
 Twenty six storeys on a very small lot – city council didn’t manage to formally vote against the development. When development applications are made the city has 180 days within which to respond. This time line is in place because at one point some municipalities sat on development applications they didn’t like. Now they have to respond within 180 days.
When that time line was passed ADI took their application to the Ontario Municipal Board and asked them to make the decision the city didn’t appear to want to make.
 This is is the lot a developer wants to build a structure that will reach 26 storeys into the sky. Tom Muir, an Aldershot resident, wanted to know why the city council did not vote on the application within that 180 day time frame.
He put his question to the ward Councillor and didn’t get a response. He then put the question to the Mayor and the city manager and included the ward Councillor who did get back to him.
The Mayor also got back to Muir asking for some patience and said he would get back to Muir with a “meaningful response”.
Muir never did hear from the Mayor other than to be copied on a comment he made to Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. The developmental, to be built at the intersection of Martha Lakeshore Road is in ward 2.
John Was, another Burlington resident advised the Gazette “that all six councillors have been asked for a response regarding the 180 day timeline. The resident was also kind enough to say that our “efforts and persistence are appreciated”. At least two people like us
The one response that Was did get is disturbing:
It went as follows:
“I think Council is accountable for the end result, but responsibility for administrating this file rests with the Planning and Legal Departments.”
We have deliberately not identified the writer of that statement but will say that it was neither Councillor Meed Ward nor the Mayor.
The balance of the response went as follows:
“I still do not have a satisfactory explanation of why the timing requirements were not met and I also don’t have a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission. I will respond back further when I have those questions answered.”
 Which member of this council does not have “a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission.” The response is astounding – one of your elected official does not seem to know what may well turn out to be a very expensive Ontario Municipal Board hearing that has to potential to change significantly the way the eastern part of the downtown core works.
We will leave it to the Council member to identify himself.
On the same issue – it appears that there are efforts being made to put together something in the way of a response to the public.
Muir adds that he is “concerned that this has been going too long already, and the information being prepared appears to be for unspecified questions.” He adds: “How long is this information going to take to get to residents?
Meed Ward did say to Muir that the “city is preparing some additional information for residents in response to some of the questions that have been raised. Suggest waiting for that to determine if and whether additional correspondence or a meeting needed.”
What no one can understand is – what’s the problem? And why all this obfuscation?
 By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keeping the natives happy seems to be easier said than done.
Aldershot resident Tom Muir is still spinning his wheels over the answers he isn’t getting on the development application made by the ADI Group for a 26 storey building at the intersection of Martha and Lakeshore Road.
Now Vince Fiorito is wondering why his discovery of what he thinks is toxic material discovered in Sheldon Creek is not being looked into.
 Vince Fiorito on a tour of the Sheldon Creek when the waters were high. Fiorito wrote MPP’s Eleanor McMahon (Burlington) and Indira Naidoo-Harris, (Halton) and Mayor Rick Goldring.
Fiorito had strong environmental credentials – he was named the Steward for Sheldon Creek by the Halton Conservation Authority. In his most recent email to the above named he said:
“This is a status update, regarding a dump site that I discovered in the Sheldon Creek flood plain adjacent to a residential neighborhood near 1829 Creek Way, Burlington, Ontario”
Fiorito had taken his concern to the provincial Ministry of the Environment. When he followed up with them he was told “the MOE considers this case to be closed even though as far as I know nothing has been done about this site and nothing is planned to be done.”
Fiorito, who documents rather well, provided pictures of the material he discovered and said he “estimates the site covers 1000+ square meters. The depth of material buried at this site is unknown. What is buried at this site is unknown. This site is also full of sharp metal objects and broken glass.
 A Burlington resident doesn’t know what these chemicals are – no one seems to be concerned. This site is next to a residential neighborhood full of children and apparently near the residence of McMahon the Burlington MPP.
Fiorito discovered this site in the Sheldon Creek flood plain next to a residential neighborhood about a year ago. At the time, he considered this site to be yet another dump site, like many others that Friends of Sheldon Creek has discovered and cleaned up.
He organized a volunteer clean-up of this site on June 27, 2015; David Hulsman from the Field and Stream Rescue Team showed up to help. The two of us started cleaning up the site and dragging trash to the curb.
 Rusted out drums and some equipment were found in Sheldon Creek – Burlington resident Vince Fiorito wants to know how it got there and what is being done to remove it. so far he claims nothing is being done. They halted their activities out of concern for their personal safety, when Hulsman found two pesticide containers indicating that the site could be a toxic waste dump.
Fiorito immediately contacted the MOE spill hot line to report this site. The MOE opened a file (case # 2784-9XVMEM) and contacted the city for follow up. City staff couldn’t find the site and they contacted Fiorito.
 Vince Fiorito, the Steward for Sheldon Creek discovered what he fears are toxic chemicals in the Sheldon Creek flood plain and cannot understand why neither the province, the local MPP or the Mayor have not moved on this – they were alerted five months ago. On Monday June 29th, 2015, Fiorito guided Gary Glenn of the City of Burlington to the site. He agreed that this site appeared to be a problem. The two agreed that the site appeared to be decades old and that it looked like someone dug a big hole, dumped suspicious looking barrels, drums and containers into it, and then buried it. We were unable to determine the scale of the problem, because when we lifted up a barrel or sheet of metal, we could only see more barrels and metal underneath, indicating that this could be a deep hole.
“I expected the government would follow this problem up until it was resolved and keep me informed. But after four months of silence and no sign of activity at this site, I decided to follow this case up.
“I went to the MOE website for information about case # 2784-9XVMEM. As far as I can tell, the MOE has no way for the public to search for information on a reported spill by case number.
“I tried to file a request for information but got an error message. Finally I called the spill hot line, where I was able to get help. The operator told me that according to the file:
• I reported the site with contact information
• The MOE contacted the city
• The city couldn’t find the site and was going to contact me.
• The file had been closed by Karen Wassink, Senior Environmental Officer – HALTON-PEEL DISTRICT (I looked up her contact information: Phone: 905-319-3149 Email: karen.wassink@ontario.ca)
“I contacted Gary Glenn of the City of Burlington ( Gary.Glenn@burlington.ca ) for a status update. In his email reply he informed that the City of Burlington does not own that property and that it is owned by Paletta International. I have been directed to contact that Company for follow up.
Fiorito said he is “dissatisfied with the process and lack of results. I reported this problem nearly five months and absolutely nothing has been done.
“At a minimum, this site should be tested immediately to see if it is leaking dangerous chemicals. I’d like to know the results of that test as soon as they are available. If it is leaking dangerous chemicals then the public needs to be informed immediately.”
 A fish caught in the Sheldon Creek is believed to have been dinner for a local family. “Downstream, Sheldon Creek flows through a nature area, parkland and eventually into Lake Ontario, where it becomes our drinking water. This young person in my neighborhood caught a rainbow trout in Sheldon Creek. I believe he took the fish home and ate it with his family.
Fiorito who certainly knows how to jump on a high horse when he sees one said: “I feel that more than one person has behaved irresponsibly and possibly illegally. I feel that government officials have not done their duty. Their inaction after knowledge of the facts could be endangering public safety.
Fiorito continues: “If city staff have determined that Paletta International is responsible for this site, then I feel they are still responsible for following the problem up as well as keeping the MOE and myself informed. Just because I found and reported this problem, should not mean that I am responsible for ensuring its resolution. I will try to clean it up if I can, but first I need to know if the site is safe or contains toxic chemicals. We will happily remove trash, including sharp objects (Field and Stream Rescue Team has insurance, so our activities do not create any liabilities), but we are not qualified to clean up toxic chemicals.”
Fiorito is a strong believer in accountability and responsibility and points to the people he holds accountable:
 Mayor Goldring positions himself as a strong environmentalist – but so far he hasn’t delivered in the eyes of Vince Fiorito – who walks his talk. This site is in our City Mayor Rick Goldring. You should be aware of the action and inaction of city staff. I am concerned, that if this case is typical of how city staff handles environmental problems, then I have to wonder, “How many other problems like this have been reported and ignored, rather than cleaned up?”
He takes the same approach to MPP McMahon: “This site is in your neighborhood Ms McMahon. You should inform your neighbors about this problem. You should tell them that you are aware of the problem and following its progress towards resolution closely.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon hasn’t made the grade in the eyes of Vince Fiorito who points out that what he believes could be very toxic chemicals dumped in Shelden Creek close to the home of the MPP has not been given any attention. Fiorito finds himself feeling “that if I do nothing in this case, then nothing will be done. How is it possible he asks “that after I reported a problem to the responsible government agency and guided city staff to the location, where we both agreed I identified a problem, that this problem can then be ignored?
Fiorito does acknowledge that he did get an acknowledgement from the Office of the Mayor. Tom Muir, the Aldershot resident looking for detailed information on just why the city missed that 180 day deadline’ got the promise of a “meaningful response” – so far he feels all he has gotten is a lot of bafflegab.
Two effective, involved, concerned citizens spinning their wheels. Is there a trend here – is this the way the city does business.?
By Staff
November 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional police have advised media that the person responsible has now been identified as Kerry HENWOOD (54-yrs) whose last know address was in the Hamilton area. He is now wanted for three counts of theft under $5000 and 7 counts of fraudulent use of credit card under $5000.
Detectives in Burlington are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man responsible for a series of thefts from the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital
On Sunday November 8th 2015, an unknown male suspect attended the hospital and gained access to employee areas within the hospital. The suspect stole personal items belonging to several employees.
 The same suspect later used the victim’s stolen banking cards at various retail locations in Burlington.
The suspect is described as being male, white, approximately 50 years of age, standing between 5’2″ to 5’4″ and weighing between 140-150lbs. He has short brown spiky hair and was seen wearing dark framed eyeglasses. He wore a dark coloured vest with a long sleeved shirt with gray & black horizontal stripes.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Kevin Harvey at 905 825-4747 extension 2347 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS (8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
November 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Thursday November 12th at approximately 3:40 AM, a resident on Park Avenue in Burlington woke up to find an intruder in the home.
After being discovered, the intruder quickly fled and police were called.
At approximately 5:00 AM, police responded to Spring Garden Road for a report of a male breaking into cars.
Police located and arrested a male who was found to be in possession of numerous stolen items including a PlayStation 4 that had been stolen from the Park Avenue break and enter.
Arrested and held for bail is:
Wayne Gordon PUNTER (38 yrs) of Maple Crossing Blvd. in Burlington
Charges:
Break, Enter & Theft
Possession of Break-in Instruments
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
Theft under $5000
Breach Probation (Three counts)
Anyone with information about this investigation are asked to contact the Detective Vince Couce – Burlington – Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2307 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Ray Rivers
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Four trucks and seven Ontario Hydro workmen arrived to replace an old hydro pole and transformer before connecting the grid to my new solar collector. A couple of hours later they packed up, leaving me with a pole that looked a lot like that tower in Pisa, and handing me a bill for almost nine thousand dollars for their efforts in installing their own pole.
Electricity started out as private enterprise. So why the fuss about selling shares in Hydro One? At the turn of the century there were entrepreneurs selling electricity and electrical appliances to replace kerosene and coal-gas lamps. Then a little later in the century politicians like Sir Adam Beck, with a bold vision, pushed for the public capital needed to harness the potential of rivers, like Niagara, and distribute the electrons created to every household and business in Ontario.
 Columnist Ray Rivers holding up a hydro poll that feeds the electricity his solar collectors gather and feed into the hydro grid. By the mid-1990’s deregulation was all the craze. Governments were busy doing their every bit to get themselves out of the business of business. Newly elected Ontario premier Mike Harris was a believer.
His plan was to deregulate the entire energy sector, break Ontario Hydro into smaller components, privatize it all, and bring in competition wherever possible. This was just common sense to him, after all.
Economics 101 tells us that monopolies can be the most efficient form of industrial organization, particularly where conditions favour a natural monopoly – for example where wires come into everyone’s home. Even the phone and cable guys, who managed to stay private, acted like monopolies.
So to deregulation’s credit, telecommunication costs did fall after Bell was required to compete and give up its monopoly.
 Mike Harris – are the mistakes many think the current Liberal government is making an extension of the mistakes Mike Harris made? But Harris hadn’t done his homework. The energy workers’ unions and the courts fought him on privatization. As his plan stalled and the costs of his deregulation spiked, he got cold feet and turned over the keys for the Pink Palace to Ernie Eves. Eves, then facing an imminent election in 2003 and huge public outcry over high rates, further subsided them and put a halt to privatization.
But there was the debt. Decades of subsidized electricity rates had left Hydro almost $40 billion in the hole and $20 billion more than could be supported by its assets (called stranded debt).
Allocation of all that debt among the new companies would have sunk them before they even started operating. And Harris, the deficit-cutter, knew that transferring $20 billion onto the existing provincial debt would have cost him the 1999 election. So every month we now pay off a little more of our parents electricity bills.
Hydro One had its growing pains, including that disastrous first CEO, Eleanor Clitheroe, who paid herself $2.2 million and otherwise acted like a drunken sailor. Today the CEO still gets close to a million bucks while over half of Hydro employees have made the sunshine list. With that kind of leadership I shouldn’t have been surprised by my bill or the seven linesmen who showed up at my place briefly.
Word is out that Hydro One turns in over $750 million to the province annually. They call it a ‘cash cow’ and I know where the milk comes from. Subsidizing government programs with electricity rates is about as regressive as it gets. That hits the poorest households and small businesses the hardest, and is hardly what we’d expect from a liberal government. And doesn’t it make a mockery of the 10% discount we get on each hydro bill – paying ourselves?
 Hydro workers clearing trees weighed down by winter ice. So how would private investors buying a chunk of the giant public corporation be such a bad thing? Hydro One is a big company and isn’t being broken up – and it isn’t even a monopoly. There are other electrical distribution entities scattered in communities all around the province.
Remember all those other guys, besides the heroes from Hydro One, who help us get through that ice storm two winters ago.
The province will hold the biggest share of Hydro One for those worried about the evils of privatization. And in any case there is still a megawatt or two of oversight and control through the Energy Board, the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Energy Minister.
The money being raised from partial privatization has already been targeted to pay for way overdue and badly need transportation infrastructure. And it looks like the public offering has exceeded expectations by already earning $5 billion.
Market investors have a perfectly safe asset in which to stick their cash. And perhaps a new board of directors can help steer a more efficient pathway for the troubled utility.
 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 a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
A Bone Headed Plan A Natural Monopoly
Auditor View US Restructuring NDP/Toronto Sun View
Hydro One More Hydro One Even More Hydro Bell Canda
Whether Our Electricity Local Electrical Ontario Energy Stranded Debt Hydro Sales
 By Walter Byj
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board Student Trustee don’t seem to be buying into the flipped classrooms practice.
A flipped classroom has the student doing the reading part of the assignment at home which is then followed by questions in the classroom. Some students found that more work at home was overwhelming and that the program was not effective.
Both trustee Amos (Oakville) and Collard (Burlington) requested that any notes that were received by the student trustees be passed on to the other trustees so that they could better understand how effective/ineffective flipped classes are.
The HDSB Recognition Program was presented to the board by a trio of trustees, T. Ehl Harrison (Oakville), L. Reynolds (Burlington and J. Gray (Halton Hills).
This program was created so as to implement a procedure that would allow trustees, through a nominating process, to recognize those individuals that have contributed either formally or informally to the overall educational process in Halton.
The trustees were very enthused with this new program and are looking forward as to who will be the first recipient of this award. It is a noteworthy effort to recognize those that play a significant role in the education of our students, and it is hoped that the standards for such an award will be high.
The policy is now up on the HDSB website for public input.
The provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office issued the results of the grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics results for Halton
The Gazette published an overview of the results which are now posted on the school boards web site.
Board Superintendent David Boag along with Nicole Jarvis (Instructional Program Leader for Mathematics) and Phil Davison (Instructional Program Leader for Literacy) lead a more detailed PowerPoint review of the EQAO report for both math and literacy. The Gazette will cover this report in detail at a future date.
 Burlington school board trustee Andrea Grebenc in an interview with Gazette education reporter Walter Byj Trustee Grebenc (Burlington) will now serve as the chairman of the communications/marketing committee. With a strong background in communications, it is hoped that one of her priorities will to revamp the current HDSB website into a more friendly and accessible format.
Director Miller then briefly mentioned that the public information presentations of the Program Viability Committee have concluded and that information sessions with the following specific groups are next on the agenda.
Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Principals/Vice Principals
Student Senate
The PVC will then prepare a parent questionnaire and develop a focus group process for December-January public consultations.
By Staff
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service, Burlington station is reaching out to the public for help locating wanted persons and hold them accountable for their actions.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit shares information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
 Nicholas Christopher SAWADSKI 31 years old of, Brantford ON. 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Nicholas Christopher SAWADSKI 31 years old of, Brantford ON.
In November 2014, the accused stole a quantity of electronic goods from a store in Burlington and was arrested and charged.
The accused failed to attend Court. Officers have made numerous attempts to locate the accused with negative results and a Warrant has been issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Theft under $5000
Fail to Comply Probation
Fail to Re-attend Court
SAWADSKI is described as 5’7”, 165 lbs with short brown hair and brown eyes. SAWADSKI is known to frequent the areas of Burlington, Brantford, Tillsonburg and the surrounding areas.
The police share “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
Anyone who may have witnessed this person or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are asked to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The downtown block that Elizabeth Interior’s currently occupies, is to have been bought and will be developed as high-rise condo’s,
 The whole block is reported to have been sold – opposite city hall. View is from James Street. The owners of Elizabeth Interiors are reported to have recently purchased the Ethan Allen building on Fairview and will be moving the business there.
Her current Fairview location, “Liz@Home”, will likely continue to operate.
Our source said: “If he were a “betting man” the Molinaro Group would be his wager on the developer.
 View of the Elizabeth Interiors from Brant Street -was everything bought ? Condo’s are spring up all over the place – what size and what price and what will they have in the way of amenities are the critical issues.
During the Strategic Plan discussions members of Council have agonized over the lack of those critical 25 – 34 year olds that are energetic and want to make Burlington their homes where they can live and work and begin to form families.
The water front and the Escarpment will only take us so far – what prospective employers want is a work force that is educated and local that can be employed.
Downtown looks as if it will become a concentration of condominiums – where are those high tech jobs going to be?
No one seems to be prepared to work at bringing commercial properties to market.
Interesting times for a city that is still trying to figure out what it wants to be – hopefully Council will do the job before the developers and the market make the decisions for us.
 By Staff
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ralph + Lina is a rough and tumble romance following the struggles of two Italian lovers, in the face of war, immigration and old age.
The award winning creative team made up of real life husband and wife Dan Watson and Christina Serra, along with director/co-writer Michele Smith, has created a production that critics have called “an enduring romance that resonates through generations.”
 Based on a true story, the play follows the lives of Serra’s grandparents, Peterborough residents Raffaele and Carolina, and their voyage from Italy to Canada after World War II.
With four Dora Mavor Moore Nominations – (not to be sneezed at) that included Outstanding Production, New Play, Ensemble and Female Performance, this acrobatic comedy has proven an instant favourite with audiences everywhere.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre presents Ralph + Lina, November 25-29. Patrons are invited to enjoy post-show chats following each performance.
“This show means so much to me personally” says Co-Writer and Performer Dan Watson. “It’s a story about love and family, about roots. It means so much to me to be able to bring it to Huntsville where I have roots and to share it with all of my friends and family here.”
“The play is a unique opportunity for youth and seniors to experience an important part of Canadian History together,” adds Watson. “We’ve had so many people see the show, and come back a second time with their family. And always the same thing: we have a story just like this in our family.”
Tickets to Ralph + Lina at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre November 25-29 can be purchased online www.burlingtonpac.ca, by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
Burlington,ON
It is true – the city is losing Scott Stewart – he will become the Deputy Chief, Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services for the city of Guelph. His start date is very early in December. Stewart will commute to Guelph for the first while
 He was sometimes gruff – always direct and never passed the blame for mistakes along to others. Hopefully,before he leaves Stewart will tell the full story about the purchase of the piece of property at the intersection of Walkers Line and the North Service Road on the west side. We have lost a good one – at a time when we can least afford such a loss at this level.
Less than four years ago the city had three General Managers – we got down to one and now that one is leaving.
City Manager James Ridge now has to look at his senior level corporate structure and decide how he wants to organize his staff. And he is going to have to look really hard to find someone of Stewart’s calibre.
There are two people at the Director level who could move into the job Stewart has held but both are critical to the operations they now run.
 Scott Stewart the one general manager we have poses with an award he was given for leadership at the inter-municipal level. The city has a number of people who are doing exceptionally well and can be expected to grow into Director level jobs – most need three to five years to mature in their jobs and develop their leadership skills.
James Ridge has been with the city long enough to have gained the measure of most of his staff compliment but what is known about his past experience does not include this level of management reorganization.
 City manager James Ridge with Michelle Dwyer, who has shown considerable leadership in ensuring the Strategic Plan development process runs smoothly. To the left is JC Bourque, one of the two KPMG consultants facilitating the process He has developed good working relationships with his staff; his personality is such that he works well with people –
is able to draw the best out of most people.
The challenge for Ridge is going to be to get city council to do the job they were elected to do – the previous city manager Jeff Fielding soon realized that this Council was never going to do very much and he pretty well rode rough shod over them.
That isn’t Ridge’s style – his armed forces experience has taught him what a chain of command is and he expects those he serves to do their jobs. There is some heart ache coming his way.
If this had to happen to him – a year from now would have been better.
 By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a fence, a sign or a hoarding?
 Nothing but posts in the ground – will there be new signs or will it be a fence? It took the legal department a few days to determine which it was – doesn’t matter now – it is no more.
The signs – and they were signs, promoting the ADI Development planned for the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road was taken down after the city advised the company that they were signs which also happened to exceed the allowable size.
 The lot is where the ADI Development group want to build a 26 story structure. The ADI development group has arm wrestled with the city at almost – and we do say almost – every point of contact.
The sign that broke the rules – gone – but for how long? The relatively new to Burlington development company has completed just the one project – the Modern on Guelph Line, which is a very attractive building.
The Linx on Dundas and Sutton is a significantly different design on a site that overlooks Bronte Creek.
The project they have planned in Aldershot, described as Masonry Court but to be marketed as Station West is still at the discussion with the planning department stage.
The city released a document that suggests there has been some progress with the project.
By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This story and its headline have been revised since the initial publication.
Sometime in the very near future city hall will announce who has been selected to become the Director of Transportation. Vito Tolone has been serving as the interim for a short period of time.
The Gazette erroneously reported that Tolone had been appointed. We have been asked to publish the clarification that the this vacancy is going to be filled by competition, not by appointment. “You can imagine that reading the information in this article could make potential candidates quite uncomfortable” said the city communications department.
 Scott Stewart – his sweater says it all.  Vito Tolone – now Director of Transportation Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure nurtured Tolone for a number of years as he did with Chris Glenn and Alan Magi.
Stewart is the last man standing of the team that Jeff Fielding had to work with when he took on the job of city manager.
When Fielding left for Calgary many thought Stewart would fill that roll. That didn’t happen.
 Many thought Scott Stewart, on the left would succeed Jeff Fielding, on the right as City Manager. That didn’t happen. Has Stewart found a place where his skill set will be used and appreciated? Has Stewart found greener grass somewhere?
The Gazette has picked up comment from two sources – not sure yet if it is common chatter or do they know something the rest of us don’t yet know.
Losing Scott Stewart would be a serious blow to the city which at this point has just the one General Manager and a city manager who is getting a feel for the job.
By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It is one of the really good news stories and the credit goes to a dedicated band of people who just would not give up.
 The renovation/rebuild of the Freeman Station is well underway. The sign on the front of the building stresses that help is needed to complete this task. History is being polished here. It took years to win the battle but the Freeman Station is sitting on a firm foundation alongside the fire department headquarters on Plains Road where it quietly and effectively undergoes what is almost a rebuilt.
 There was a city engineer who once said the building was not worth saving, at the time the city couldn’t sell it for kindling. What was once a sorry looking building sitting on wooden blocks is getting to the point where it will be presentable and open to the public. Not this year and maybe not next – but the direction the Freeman Station is going in is clear.
Additional help is always needed.
 The public art on the south side of the Freeman Station isn’t going to keep everyone happy. Perhaps it is not complete? The city decided recently that there would be public art in each of the wards – for ward 2 the Freeman Station was chosen – the art is in place and the structure has a decent coat of paint making it look pretty sharp from the road as one drives by.
When the official opening day comes one hopes that it is the ward Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and her colleague ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster who lead the ribbon cutting. They were the two who took on the task of finding a way to keep the station while the rest of Council sat on their hands.
By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The crowds are larger – they have been growing each year for the past three years. Is it because there are no WW I veterans left and we are losing those who survived WW II each month?
 During the service we sang, we prayed we listened to the Last Post and we heard the Reveille and our heads lifted to the sky as we watched the Lancaster bombers do a fly past.
 Is it because the world is a much more dangerous place and we are becoming very aware of how precious the democracy and freedom we have is?
MPP Eleanor McMahon and MP Karina Gould Those who gather at the cenotaph each year bring their own thoughts, memories and dreams that were dashed with them. We go with the words “Lest we forget” on our lips – might we ask – was it all necessary? The It was John Lennon who got it right when he sang:– “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”
 Reviewing stand veteran A friend passed me a comment a number of years ago which went like this:
War will become obsolete when it is socially unacceptable.
It really is up to us.
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