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October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The autumn hours of operation at the Royal Botanical Gardens have changed.  Autumn ours have changed at the RBG RBG Centre will be open 10am through 5pm daily. – The Hendrie Park/Rose Garden kiosk is now closed for the season. Weather permitting, access to Hendrie Park is available through the RBG Centre entrance. – Laking Garden kiosk is now closed for the season. – Extended hours will begin again November 14th for Holiday Traditions. 
October, 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Councillor Blair Lancaster and grade 6 students from Trinity Christian School along with Retired Sgt. Jim Warford, 35 Composite Company, Royal Canadian Service Corp, members of the Royal Canadian Legion and members of the City of Burlington Mundialization Committee will be planting 700 tulip bulbs from the Canadian Garden Council to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and to celebrate the culture and heritage of the two nations. The event is to take place on Thursday, October 15, 2015, between 11 to 11:20 a.m. at the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Garden, Apeldoorn Park on Elgin Street  As a token of their gratitude for creating a home for the Dutch Royal Family the government of Holland has given Canada 100,000 tulips every year. 7000f those tulips will be sent to Burlington. The City of Burlington was selected as one of 140 recipients of tulips as part of the 70th Anniversary Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden. Overall, 100,000 tulip bulbs were distributed across Canada by the Canadian Gardens Council. The 100,000 bulbs replicate the original gift given to the people of Canada as an act of appreciation for hosting the Royal Family during Princess Margriet’s birth and the role of Canadian Armed Forces in the Liberation of Holland.  Mayor Goldring and Councillor Blair Lancaster being greeted by a member of the Dutch Royal Family. Councillor Lancaster, Mayor Goldring and a number of city hall staff spent several days in Holland during the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland by Canadian troops.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The Halton District School Board has created a program to ease children into the school system.  Mohawk Public school will host an OPEN House for those starting school next year. Bit of a drive for those who live in Alton and Aldershot isn’t it? They will be holding five Kindergarten Open Houses for the three year old set to to learn more about starting school. • Explore a Kindergarten classroom There are apparently no “loot bags” unless a back pack falls into that category. Children born in 2012 can start Kindergarten in September 2016. Registration for Kindergarten begins in January 2016 and takes place at the school your child will attend.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Presiding as the newly installed Director of Education, Stuart Miller passed his initial test with flying colours. Although there were not many actionable items on Wednesday’s agenda, it was nevertheless full.
The public school board has given this issue a lot of time and attention and has now moved to the point where the public consultation process can begin. Getting a stronger fix on just what the public wants and then finding the teachers needed to deliver a French program is proving to be a bit of a challenge. The Gazette will pass along more information including times, dates and location of public meetings. There is a review of how the board creates its policies and how they are reviewed on a going forward basis taking place. Background material will be posted on the board’s web site – the Gazette will watch for the document and keep you informed. The governing principles of the Board are thought to be in need of some clarification. The unfortunate part of this review process is that once the background documents are placed on the board web site they will remain there “for a minimum of 25 days”, which in this busy world is not a lot of time. And given the mess that the board calls a web site – finding the document might be a challenge. Now that Miller is the Director of Education he was given unanimous approval by the board to advertise internally and externally for the position of Associate Director. Director Miller reported that the Community Partnership Policy will be getting a closer look – this is the policy that looks at the optimal use of the Board’s space and how they make that space available to the public. When the policy was posted for public feed back there were just two responses. Jeff Blackwell (Interim Executive Officer- Human Resources) presented the latest Halton enrollment numbers with elementary schools up 127 students to 44,134 while the secondary population grew to 17,632 showing an increase of 134 students. Gary Cullen (Superintendent of Facility Services) presented the Annual Testing Report, the Closing the Gap Update Report and the Elementary School Design Guidelines report . The discussion points and comments on each of these reports will be reported shortly. For those parents that have children that will be attending kindergarten next year, be on the lookout for a flyer that will be welcoming new students with special nights beginning in November. Scott Podrebarac (Superintendent of Schools) said the theme of the flyer and nights will be “Calling All Three Year Olds” and will reflect the board’s efforts to reach out to Halton parents before their children attend school by having four special nights where the parents and their children can visit their future school and learn of the benefits being offered. This should make the first day in September much easier for the student.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON There is something about former Toronto mayors and the city of Burlington – we keep inviting them out to talk to us. A couple of years ago Toronto’s Tiny Perfect Mayor, David Crombie visited the city to talk to the then Waterfront Advisory Committee. Mayor Goldring, then in his first term, did not make a practice of attending those meetings but with Crombie speaking the Mayor chose to sit beside him at the table.  The last Toronto Mayor who came to Burlington was well received but not really listened to – what will we do with David Miller when he speaks? Crombie got the Waterfront Advisory Committee all excited with what was possible – but before any of the ideas got off the ground the city sunset the committee – they did manage to get two things done – a solid look at the way Windows on the Lake were created and they did get something into the Pump House in the Beachway.  You wouldn’t know it – but this is public property and anyone can walk out to the end and look over the lake. City will now put signage indicating that the land is public. Great views. The disappointing part about the Windows on the Lake was the loss of a significant piece of land between the two Windows the city is going to gain. A piece of the city’s heritage was lost forever. Former Mayor of Toronto David Miller is going to be in town November 3rd to speak at free community event called Take Action Burlington. The event is a joint initiative between Mayor Goldring’s Inspire Burlington Series and the City of Burlington and will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The focus is reported to be on what individuals, businesses and community leaders can do to continue to work towards fostering a healthy, green community. Miller who is now the CEO and president of World Wildlife Fund Canada, will be the keynote speaker. Mayor Goldring will give a presentation on environmentally sustainable projects and initiatives in the City of Burlington. Interactive exhibits from green-minded community groups will be on display before and after the presentations. One of the stronger traits behind what Mayor Goldring does is his consistent commitment to the environment – he did slip up when he let the turbine get taken out of the pier design, but he has been an admirable advocate for the environment. While he was not in Burlington when the micro WORDS was unveiled at Burlington Hydro recently that initiative was very much in the Goldring view of the world. Current Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito points out that Goldring was a federal Green candidate who pulled in 3500 votes when he ran – which in Burlington is a number that has yet to be exceeded – Fiorito doesn’t expect to do that well.  A piece of our heritage lost forever. When David Crombie was in town he pointed out that there was a time when Burlington was the leader in the development of a waterfront trail through the city. Crombie probably lost weight when he learned that Goldring went along with the sale of public land that bordered the lake – even though city staff recommended the property be either kept by the city or leased. We shall all wait to hear what David Miller has to say to us – and then wait a little longer to see if the Mayor heeds any of his advice.  Are there panda bears in our future? With Miller being the CEO of the World Wildlife Fund and the Mayor returning from a trip to China – is there perhaps a pair of pandas in Burlington’s future – with maybe a zoo somewhere in the Escarpment? This city could certainly use some good news – any news would be nice.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON During the drive to the tens of thousands of Thanksgiving dinners that took place across the province during the weekend – one could not miss the turning of the colours of the trees. The change in season was taking place right before our eyes.  The changes in the foliage tells us that the season is changing – right before our eyes. What else is changing? The political pundits had this as the weekend that families would gather around their homes and vigorously debate how the current federal election was going to roll out. I took part in two such dinners, one with good friends and another with people I’d never met before. There was a candidate’s sign in the driveway of the location that was new to me – comments from the other guests were quiet – the owner of the home had apparently changed his colours and decided he had to vote for what he felt was best for the country. Orange had changed to red – and for the most part the tenor of the really large gathering was that this is what was necessary for the country to recover. With the Liberals six points ahead and the new Democrats struggling to find what they need it appears to have become a race between the Liberals and Conservatives in Burlington – and this race is far from decided. There was a point at which many suspected the core Conservative vote was going to hold in Burlington – but there were signs of some wiggle – one of which was the change in tone from Mike Wallace, the Conservative candidate, who began to explain that while Prime Minister Harper may not been all warm and cuddly – he was still the best leader for the country. When a candidate has to explain his leader shortcoming core voters often feel less of an obligation to vote the way they have for generations. The new riding of Oakville North Burlington appears to have decided it wants Liberal Pam Damoff to represent them The colours of the leaves are indeed changing.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Is the city going to hire a new Planner soon? Burlington parted ways with Bruce Krushelnicki June 1st; the city has been without a planner ever since. Apparently not – but there is a planner coming our way – expect an announcement soon soon. And expect a bit of a surprise as well.  Roy Male – now playing gold full time. With a Planner about to be announced – some comment should be made on the retirement of Roy Male, Executive Director of Human Resources since Moses parted the waters of the Jordan River. Male appears to have decided that there was still time for some golf – and he wasn’t wrong on that issue – he did make some mistakes on the hires he made but he was a consistent advocate for attracting smart young people to the municipal sector. Laura Boyd has been appointed to replace Roy Male. There are those at city hall who frown on appointments – and think every job opportunity should be posted. We may be reading more about Boyd – she recently filled in for the City Manager at a meeting of Council. Nice to see an improvement in the gender balance – it isn’t going to stop at Human Resources.
October 13, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Why is it so difficult to get answers out of city hall? Tom Muir wrote Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward asking why she had not said something publicly about why city council did not manage to vote as a council against the proposed ADI development at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street. Muir sent that information request in September 16th and said at the time that he asked for “an explanation of how the staff report on this ADI project did not make it to Council within the 180 days mandated in the legislation as default grounds for OMB appeal.’ His original request was set out in an email he sent to Meed Ward, the Mayor and the city manager. On Thursday, October 8th Mayor Goldring responded to Muir with the following: Hi Tom, The Mayor has been away – in China – which is significant from an economic development aspect – and the city has not heard a word about that trip. That is another matter. Meed Ward also said she would respond but Muir has apparently not heard from her yet. Her response has been to refer people to her Newsletters of March31st and September 16th. Most people the Gazette hears from find the content of the two newsletter confusing.  Aldershot resident Tom Muir wrote city hall on September 16th asking for an explanation as to why the city failed to get a response to a developer within the 180 day mandated deadline. The issue for Tom Muir was – how did the city fail to vote officially on the Planning department recommendation not to approve the development application. Everyone at all concerned with the project new that when the 180 day deadline was reached ADI would be going to the OMB and asking them to approve the project because the city had failed to provide an answer within the 180 day deadline.  The ADI Development Group sought permission to put up a 28 storey structure on a small lot at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha. The city’s planning department put some of their best people on the review of the project and delivered a sound report that said the project should not be approved. That report went to the Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee where members of Council voted unanimously against the project. That recommendation from the Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee is just that – a recommendation. Recommendations from the Standing committee have to go to Council to become effective.  This city Council never got the opportunity to vote against a proposed development within the 180 days they were required to do so. Many people in the city want to know why this happened. The Mayor has promised a “meaningful answer” six months after the event. Every member of Council will tell you that they are free to change their minds and the vote they cast at a Standing Committee when a report and recommendation gets to council. The city’s Planning department was fully aware of the 180 day deadline. Council meetings are scheduled on a meeting cycle that is public – but, and this is significant – Council can meet at any time at the call of the Mayor. That the Mayor did not call a Special meeting of council is inexcusable. Had the Mayor done his job and called a Special meeting of Council the city’s position before the OMB would have been a lot stronger. There still would have been an OMB hearing – but the grounds for that hearing would not be that the city failed to respond. There are those who are saying the will of the city was clear at the Standing committee – and it certainly was – but that will has no standing until the city council votes on it.  The ADI development is shown in the upper right, outlined in orange, the Bridgewater development that will break ground in earlier 2016 is shown in the lower left in red. All that happened on March 31st 2014, when Paul Sharman, Chair of the Development and Infrastructure committee advised the public that a summary of a planning report would be read but the city would not be voting on the matter because ADI had taken the matter to the OMB. It is only now that we are hearing the Mayor say: You will receive a meaningful answer. And so a cranky constituent waits patiently while the Mayor prepares a meaningful response – will the Mayor make a public statement on just how he failed to call a Special meeting of his Council and vote officially on this issue? Or will Tom Muir have to send that response to the Gazette so we can make it available to the public? This kind of situation crops up again and again with the Mayor and his Council. There are many in the city who are concerned about what will happen at the Ontario Municipal Board hearing that is due to take place before the end of the year. It is going to be a tough fight and there is no guarantee the city will win it.  Two blocks away from the site where ADI sought permission to build a 28 storey structure the city approved the building of a 22 storey tower that will break ground in January. There is a 22 storey structure two blocks away – the Bridgewater development that will break ground in the New Year. Expect ADI to argue that they are as relevant to the development of the city as the Bridgewater project which was initially approved in 1985. Far too many people have the sense that this Mayor does not have a firm grip on what the city wants and that he has not grown into the job of Mayor in his second term. The Gazette interviewed Mayor Goldring when he was running for re-election in 2014. We were stunned at what little he had to say during that interview which took place in the offices of Rick Burgess, a Burlington lawyer who once for Mayor. During that interview Goldring didn’t give any sense as to what he wanted to do in his second term. At the time it looked as if he was going to be acclaimed. When Peter Rusin decided to run against the Mayor – the game changed quickly and Goldring had to scramble to find a campaign office and then raise the funds needed to run a campaign.  Mayor Rick Goldring speaking during a municipal election debate when he had to run against Peter Rusin and Anne Marsden There was no comparing Rusin with Goldring. While the Gazette doesn’t think Goldring is doing a very good job – and that view is supported by a significant number of people with standing in this city – Rusin would not have been an improvement. Anne Marsden ran against Goldring but was never a contender – she was a place for people who were dissatisfied with the Mayor to park their vote. The Mayor no longer talks to the Gazette – he does not answer emails and we are not able to make appointments with him That is a legitimate comment – however, Rick Goldring is the Chief Magistrate in this city and that position and title does not allow him to behave like a petulant little boy.  The last Mayor to refuse to talk to media was Rob Ford of Toronto – a rather embarrassing comparison for Burlington, If he has a concern – he has the responsibility to meet with us and set out those concerns. The last Mayor to do something like that was Rob Ford in Toronto. There is more to say on how this Mayor behaves – right now we are waiting to see what his “meaningful answer” is going to be and why it has taken so long for some kind of statement from city hall. The city would also like to hear what the Mayor actually did in China?
October 11, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Each week between now and the day we all vote, October 19th, Ray Rivers is going to give Gazette readers his take on how the election is going. The week that was will appear every Monday morning. Next Monday, the 19th, is election day in Canada and the polls are showing the Liberals trending upwards as the NDP decline. As readers who follow me already have guessed, I won’t be voting for Stephen Harper. Mr. Harper made this election about the economy, claiming he is the best economic manager for Canada’s future. So what is his record?  They were called Bennett buggies – no one could afford gas and repairing a vehicle was out of the question. Canada was in the middle of a depression in the 1930’s It turns out that since Harper became PM in 2006, Canada’s growth rate has averaged 1.77 percent, the lowest rate of growth since R. B. Bennett took us for a ride in his Bennett Buggy during the 1930’s great depression, three generations ago. Mr. Harper has blamed the recent oil price drop for Canada’s current malaise. In fact, during the period when oil was high, this so called fiscal conservative ran six straight deficit budgets in a row, adding $150 billion to the country’s debt load. As a result he increased Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio by almost a quarter, to over 85%, from where Paul Martin had left it in 2006. And in spite of this extra federal spending he was unable to get unemployment levels back to where it had been when he took over the reins of power. Today’s 7.1% unemployment rate is almost an entire percentage point higher than the 6.3% Paul Martin had bequeathed him in 2006. Mr. Harper’s belief is that by cutting taxes the extra money in the taxpayers pockets will trickle-down and stimulate economic growth. But the tax revenues declined faster than expenditures, and with the economy stalled, that formula just rendered bigger deficits. The cuts to corporate taxes, rather than stimulating the economy, showed up in even fatter pay and bonus cheques for executives, or being hoarded. As a consequence, over the last decade of corporate tax cuts Canada’s manufacturing sector lost 400,000 jobs.  Railway tank cars that were not as strong as they should have been were transporting oil to the east coast. Human error result in the deaths of several dozen people when rail cars rolled into a town with the brakes basically shut off. Mr. Harper put all of his faith and some healthy subsidies into oil exports, transitioning Canada into a Saudi Arabia of the north. And to get the oil to export markets, even before his government’s failed rail policies contributed to the disaster at Lac-Mégantic, pipelines were seen as the answer. Yet, despite having slashed historic environmental laws to expedite this goal, his government has failed to build even one pipeline. Harper claims Canada’s economic future is tied to these so-called free-trade deals he’s been signing all over the world. Yet, the big one with the EU is stalled over the corporate right to sue governments – the ‘investor-state’ clause. And given recent protests in the UK and Germany against a similar agreement being negotiated with the Americans, there is reason to doubt an ultimate ratification. In the USA, the leading Republican and Democrat presidential candidates have promised to kill the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement which was initialed just last week. That may turn out to be a blessing. Mr. Harper has set aside over $5 billion to compensate Canadians for economic losses which will ensue, but has failed to identify any direct benefits for this mother of all trade pacts.  Scientists who were on the federal payroll found they were prevented from talking about their research – they risked losing their jobs if they protested. There are many more reasons which would keep me from voting for Mr. Harper. Canada’s sullied place in the world of foreign affairs, as the PM has replaced principled foreign policy with shameless pandering to domestic ethnic communities, is an example. Canada’s failure to address our growing contribution to climate change is another one. The muzzling of the public service by a government which came into office promising more transparency is still another. Mr. Harper’s social policies, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, prostitution, immigration and drug legalization are part of an ideology he shares with a number of other Canadians. And his government’s style inevitably reflects his own personality, which may explain his reluctance to meet with his provincial partners. Though one can hardly be blamed for their personality, and should be accorded respect for their ideology, these are considerations for an informed electorate. And not everything he has done is wrong-headed in my view. There are some economic policies which I applauded, particularly in his early years as PM, such as reducing the GST, introducing income-splitting for seniors and closing the income-trust loophole. Nevertheless, Stephen Harper is the incumbent PM, having been in control of our economy for the last decade. He has made this election about the economy and put his record up as the reason to vote for him. Yet an objective assessment of that record shows increased national debt, higher unemployment and lower economic growth. By anyone’s measure that is a failure. In conclusion, regardless of all his other policies which have mostly divided Canadians, Mr. Harper has shown himself to be an incompetent manager of our economy. For that reason alone, people in this election should vote for anyone but Harper.
Background links: Jobs Economic Growth Debt to GDP Unemployment Corporate Hoarding Oil Subsidies TPP Clinton Opposed More Clinton opposed to TPP
October 9, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Beginning October 13, construction will begin in Millcroft Park to install free Cogeco Wi-Fi. The construction and installation of equipment is expected to take four to five weeks. The free Wi-Fi is a pilot test with Cogeco Cable to provide free internet access within certain areas of the park. Most of the city’s arenas, city hall and recreation and community centres already have free Wi-Fi access. The park will remain open during construction.
October 9, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The Human Trafficking and Vice Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service have arrested two individuals for trafficking female victims. In the early morning hours of October 8th 2015, the Hamilton Police Service Tactical Response Unit along with the HRPS Human Trafficking and Vice Unit executed a search warrant at a Stoney Creek residence. Upon entry police located and arrested Andrew GORDON (32 years) and Astra MULAWKA (29 years) for human trafficking related offences. During the search of the residence police located identification of females believed to be victims of human trafficking. The search warrant and arrests culminated a yearlong human trafficking investigation into GORDON.  Andrew GORDON Evidence gathered throughout this investigation has revealed that GORDON is trafficking female victims in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Police have identified several human trafficking victims, however police believe GORDON is responsible for the exploitation and trafficking several other females throughout Canada. Andrew GORDON has been charged with the following offences: Count: 1) Trafficking in persons, s. 279.01. Criminal Code Count” 2) Receiving financial/material benefit, s. 279.02. Criminal Code Count: 3) Exercise control, s. 212(1((h). Criminal Code Count: 4) Living on avails of prostitution, s. 212(1)(j). Criminal Code Count: 5) Extortion, s. 346. Criminal Code Count” 6) Knowingly Advertise and offer to provide sexual services, s. 286.4. Criminal Code Count: 7) Receiving material benefit, s. 286.2(1). Criminal Code Count: 8) Uttering threats, s. 264.1(1). Criminal Code Count: 9) Forcible Confinement, s. 279(2) Criminal Code Count: 10) Assault, s. 266. Criminal Code Count: 11) Assault, s. 266. Criminal Code GORDON was held for a bail hearing and will appear in Milton Court today (October 9th 2015) Astra MULAWKA has been charged with the following offences: Count 1) Trafficking in persons, s. 279.01. Criminal Code MULAWKA will appear in Milton Court on November 2nd 2015. The Halton Regional Police Service Human Trafficking and Vice Unit believe Andrew GORDON who is also known as “ President” or “Bush” is responsible for trafficking other female victims, as such we have attached his photograph to this media release. We would encourage anyone with information relating to GORDON to call Detective Martin DICK at 905-208-0959 or 905-825-4747 ext 8723
October 9, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Tom Muir is an Aldershot resident who takes what goes on in his community seriously – he is a major thorn in the side of Rick Craven, the council member for the ward. Aldershot resident Tom Muir is a strong believer in community participation in how the city grows. He has issues with the way city council failed to do its job.,
Muir has been wanting to know how the city ended up facing an Ontario Municipal Board hearing over a development that was proposed for the Lakeshore Road/Martha Street intersection in the downtown part of the city. Muir had written Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and copied the Mayor and the city manager in the middle of September about the matter and thought he deserved at least an acknowledgement. As Muir explains it “I asked for an explanation of how the staff report on this ADI project did not make it to Council within the 180 days mandated in the legislation as default grounds for OMB appeal. “My initial message was sent to Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward, where the proposed project is located, and cc’d Mayor Goldring and City Manager James Ridge Muir says he find it disturbing that his initial message has been completely and inexplicably ignored by Councillor Meed Ward. Not on to be easily deterred Muir wrote a follow up letter asking to be informed about how the decision was arrived at to allow the 180 day period, mandated by legislation, to elapse before the Council vote was made? “Whether it was deliberate or inadvertent, an explanation to inform citizens is warranted” said Muir. “I have reviewed all of the pertinent content of the newsletters put out by Councillor Meed Ward, dated March 31, and September 16. There is no explanation there addressing my question; the latest newsletter commentary reads like the decision to let the timeline elapse did not happen.” “What is written there rationalizes, and pardons, this failure to meet a deadline that triggers an automatic legal grounds for appeal to the OMB. It further denies that this failure matters, or is of consequence, and tries to project the blame for the predictable outcome on the developer ADI.” Muir points out that the 180 day deadline was not legislated for nothing, so you can’t blame ADI for pursuing their legal rights. The fault lies in the city letting this happen. The process timeline included in the March 31 Meed Ward newsletter shows that the city planning department recommendation for refusal of the ADI application was made public, and therefore provided to ADI, more than a week before the 180 day deadline. “In this situation” said Muir, “it is irrational planning management for the city to then fail to meet the deadline.” “The city failure to meet this 180 day deadline is a major victory for the aggressive approach of ADI. It gives them an automatic appeal standing with the OMB, a very valuable legal right.  Aldershot resident argues that the city’s failure to act properly on a development application almost legitimizes signs like this. “Further, it apparently legitimizes the several marketing activities they now have underway. These too are aggressive, speculative and misleading. “These go beyond the controversial billboard on the proposed building site, and the storefront on Brant St being opened by ADI, advertising they are open for business for registration of purchases of “Lakefront Residences”, in what is called “Nautique”. “Further, for example, I received a post card size advertisement in the mail, from a Loyalty Real Estate Brokerage, selling the ADI project address, but it is called a “Burlington Condominium”. It promises numerous project features, VIP first access, huge discounts, no lineups, instant gain on purchase, and wide selection of units. “As well, in the Hamilton Spectator real estate section, New Home Living, dated October 3, ADI is advertising “Nautique”, as “arriving soon” and invites registration. Again, it is obviously the proposed project. “This is spectacle, and where it will lead is assuredly to nowhere good for the city and citizens. It reminds me of a gold rush promotion mentality where shares in a mine site – in this case a patch of pavement and dirt – that has been salted, but not proved, are being hustled for sale. “It begs the question of what the responsible city staff were thinking to surrender control of this development situation to ADI? What kind of city organization would allow this to happen? “What kind of development planning strategy and tactics, and business plan does this action entail? This appears an illogical retreat from a position of dominant planning argument, strength, and public support. “What is the rationale for revealing, then folding a winning hand, thus letting ADI outflank the city, go straight to the OMB, and then use this to market what they failed to get the city to approve on official planning grounds? “It could constitute city hall actions based on something sensible, or maybe worse, but how will we ever know with no information and transparency? It really needs inquiry, and needs to be visible. Transparent decision making processes are part of the foundation of the good governance of a municipality. “You all know your duties and responsibilities under legislation and policy, and I will not read you chapter and verse, but just give a taste that is most relevant here.” Section 224, subsection (d) of the Municipal Act is a good starting point. It outlines the role of the municipal council as follows: “224. It is the role of council, (d) to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;  Aldershot resident Tom Muir wants city council to do the job the Municipal Act requires them to do. He’d also like an explanation as to why they appear to have goofed on the ADI development application. The Municipal Councillors Guide 2014 states that ,”Clearly, accountability and transparency are a priority in maintaining public trust in council and in the management of your municipality. Section 224 of the Act explicitly includes ensuring the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality as part of the role of council.” Control and responsibility are other givens. Muir, who doesn’t give up on issues that he thinks are important adds the “Burlington Citizens Engagement Charter contains similar and identical text, and city commitment and policy. As does the draft Code of Conduct, approved by Committee, and passed to the City Manager by Council for inclusion in the Strategic Plan. You can add in the Oath of Office that Council members take.” Muir sums up his most recent letter saying: “I hope that you can see your fundamental responsibilities, both legislated and policy, in this matter of providing the explanation I have asked for. “It’s your duty to ensure the transparency and accountability that underlie credibility and trust.”
October 9, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The Halton Regional Police have made a male suspected of accused breaking into lockers belonging to members of a private gymnasium and stealing money from their personal belongings.  Vezio CARDULLO In August and September 2015, Vezio CARDULLO attended a health and fitness gym on several occasions in the City of Burlington. The accused broke into lockers belonging to members of the gym and stole money from their personal belongings. Police have been unable to locate the accused and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. 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 will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual. We will share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice. In this edition of Fugitive Friday, the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Vezio CARDULLO, 33 years old, of No Fixed Address. CARDULLO is wanted by the Halton Regional Police Service for: Theft under $5000 x 3 CARDULLO is described as 5’7”, 170lbs, bald with brown eyes. CARDULLO has forearm tattoo sleeves on both his left and right forearm and a scar under his left eye. CARDULLO is known to frequent Burlington and the surrounding areas. Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are encouraged 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).
October 8, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton have surpassed records in the number of vehicles inspected and the total number of charges from previous years.  Officer checking the condition of truck tires during inspection blitz. Police Officers and Inspectors from eight police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results: Total CMV’s Inspected 472 The out of service rate improved by approximately 6%; this could be attributed to an increase in compliance with safety statutes. In 2014, out of 457 inspected, 188 were taken out of service; a 41% failure rate. A total of 301 charges were laid in the 2014 blitz. Of the charges laid this year, the following is a sampling of some of the offences: Failure to complete annual inspection 55 Based on these number more than a third of the trucks that pass you on the road shouldn’t be there – tougher regulations might be needed or heavier fines. Having the trucks taken off the road for a short period of time doesn’t seem to be doing the job – this blitz takes place every year – the numbers don’t decrease.
October 8th, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Each year the Fire Department holds an Open House which Fire Chief Tony Bavota describes as a day for the family that doesn’t cost a dime and “if they buy a hot dog from the service group they get it at cost – a great inexpensive family outing”. But this year there was no Open House because the fire department HQ is undergoing a major renovation – so they had to come up with a new idea. And they certainly came up with what can only be described as a winner. The Fire Department partnered with the Culinary class at Robert Bateman High school for a cook off between four teams. Each team was made up of a fire fighter and two students. Murray Zehr who runs the Culinary program said there are 300 students in the class where the focus is on nutrition and kitchen safety. The cooks had an hour to prepare the meal. There were very good reasons for using a cook off as the focus for the event – 53% of the fires in private homes are the result of unattended cooking.  Acting Captain Sam Wakunick taught the Gazette reporter a couple of things about unattended cooking. It was embarrassing. This reporter has some direct experience with unattended cooking and the Burlington Fire department. Shortly after moving into a new home and getting used to the stove I wandered away from the kitchen and then heard that beep beep sound of the smoke alarm. There was nothing I could do to shut the damn thing off the way you can in most houses. I called security and told them everything was under control but it was too late – the fire department was on the way and before I knew it Sam Wakunick was standing at my door in full fire fighter kit. I sheepishly explained what I had done – she smiled – Sam wasn’t a guy – and asked if she could just look through the unit – which wasn’t exactly tidy. Months later I show up to cover a news event and there is Sam – reminding me not to wander from the kitchen when food is cooking. The Fire department media people working with the Bateman staff came up with a really fun and instructive program that made the point – fires are dangerous and they can be prevented. It was also an opportunity to showcase the cooking talent at Bateman  Fire fighter Peter Temoche explains a point to a member of his team Kristan Dymad – Alicia Ann Husk was also on the team. Each of the cooking teams was given a recipe and the ingredients – there was a table with all kinds of oils, wines, and fresh vegetables that cooks could dip into. To jazz up the event – a fire fighter with the name “That Guy” who wandered from stove to stove and just became a pain in the butt. He would drop something into the food or give one of the cooks a penalty which meant they had to sit in a penalty box – and not be able to take part in the food preparation. There was a party atmosphere that brought out the newly minted Director of Education Stuart Miller and Mayor Goldring who advised the students that he had absolutely no culinary skills but was prepared to serve as a judge for the cook off. The Mayor mentioned that during his recent trip to China he learned to ask what he was being served; “you sometimes didn’t want to know” he said. Burlington’s taxpayers however might want to know what the Mayor was doing in China for close to a week.  Firefighter Dave Reid and Bateman students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales look into the ingredients they were given to cook up a meal in one hour. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales were on a team called the Dragons.  Fire fighter Chris Grieve takes his cooks Cameron Davies and J.R. Kelertas through the approach he thinks they should take to preparing the meal. Chris Grieve, the fire fighter was on a team with students Cameron Davies and J. R Kelertas – they decided to be known as Five Arm Alarm; one of the students had a cast on his arm Fire fighter Peter Tamoche teamed up with Krista Dymod and Alicia Ann Husk – they wanted to be called the Hot Tamales.  Ty Solomon gets rapt attention from a student during the cook off. Ty Solomon and students Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw titled themselves: Kill it with Fire.  The Bateman high school kitchen with its four gas stoves was a bit of a zoo with cameras all over the place and students scooting around picking up supplies and utensils. The kitchen at Bateman was a bit of a zoo with students photographers wandering all over the place, the Cogeco cable News camera kept popping up while cooks were scooting around getting equipment and ingredients while Dennis Hayes kept calling out trivia questions and announcing penalties and in the last fifteen minutes telling everyone how little time they left. Students and other observers looked on from the back of the kitchen. The judging was pretty tight: winning team got 75 points with two teams getting 71 points. They were judged on presentation and taste.  Dave Reid’s team, on the left took first place while Ty Solomon throws his arms up and congratulates Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw who took second. There were less than four points between each team. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Plouffe and Hales took first place.  While students were cooking up their storm other students were trying on fire fighter equipment. The fire department had three pieces of equipment parked outside the school and all kinds of fire fighter equipment set out for students to try on. There were 19 fire fighters helping out “on their own time” added Chief Bavota.
October 7, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON The Regional Health office is making it easier for parents to advise the health office that their children have been properly immunized. The online immunization reporting form makes it more convenient way to report required immunizations. The form is available at halton.ca/immunize.  Advising the regional health office that your child has been properly immunized is a requirement. That can now be done on line. “Halton Region’s Health Department is responsible for enforcing the provincial Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), which outlines the immunizations students need to attend classes, in order to keep our schools and students healthy,” said Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani. “Since students without up-to-date immunization records can face school suspension, it’s critical that parents make sure the Halton Region Health Department has their child’s most recent immunization records on file.” Immunizations are available through family doctors or at one of Halton Region’s immunization clinics. If children are unable to get immunized, they must have a notarized exemption on file with the Health Department in order to meet school attendance requirements. To learn more about which immunizations are required to attend school and how to report immunizations, please visit halton.ca/immunize.
October 7, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON There are occasions when the city does listen to the people who pay the freight. Not as often as they could and should but they at least do try. Last year the city held an event that people who liked the idea of serving on an advisory committee could attend and meet city staff who could explain what was involved. Danielle Pitoscia, Manager of Committee and Election Services, who I think deserves credit for the initiative announced that “After the success of last year’s first-time event, we are holding the event in a larger space to make room for all the participants. It’s great to know there are so many people who want to get involved with their city through the committees,” she said.  Except for one person, and she was a consultant hired by the city, these people are all community volunteers. At times they are very effective. “This event is a great first step for people wanting to become involved and have a real impact and voice within their community through our volunteer boards and committees.” The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at Burlington City Hall between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Whoops – glitch!  City hall is not the only place in the city people can meet in. Why does everything have to take place at city hall. This makes it very inconvenient for people who live north of the QEW. Lesson in there for city hall – hold three events – one at Tansley Woods, and another at the Haber Recreational Centre.  Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven is a big booster for his ward – he welcomes everyone to his part of the city. Ooops – just heard a groan from Councillor Craven in Ward 1 – hold the event in Aldershot as well. That does mean the people who are behind these committees have to get out of their offices more than once. If you want the public to be involved – give them a decent chance to become involved. Everyone is welcome to come out and learn about the committees and see why volunteering on a local board or committee can help you meet new people, share your talents, develop skills, address a common interest as well as make a difference in your community. Current volunteers are also invited to attend as a networking opportunity. Applications for local boards and committees close Oct. 30, 2015. For more information about the Volunteer Open House, committees or to apply for a volunteer position, contact the Clerks Department at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 or visit www.burlington.ca/citizens.
October 7, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Some of the most horrific highway accidents take place on holiday weekends – that’s when families are in cars going to see other members of their family. Check the newspapers Monday, listen to the radio – you will see and hear it all.  Can we get through the Thanksgiving weekend without pictures like this? Try Over the Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th through to the 12th, the Halton Regional Police Service will be taking part in a national road safety partnership known as Operation Impact. The goal of the program is to remind drivers that an essential part of traffic education and enforcement is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways. Officers assigned to Operation Impact will focus on behaviour that puts drivers, passengers and other road users at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive/distracted driving. Aggressive drivers often engage in a combination of high-risk road use behaviours; non-use of seat belts, drinking and driving and speeding. The results of these behaviours are often catastrophic for all involved road users. This year there have been several motor vehicle fatalities investigated by Halton Police. Each of these deaths represents the tragic loss of a loved one – a senseless tragedy that in most cases could have been prevented. Our annual participation in Operation Impact forms an important part of our overall traffic strategy where partnerships lead to greater road safety. A focus on high risk behaviours provides opportunities for enforcement as well as education. A good program, that will be solidly enforced – what was missing? Not a word about distracted driving – the nut cases that think they can text and drive at the same time. If the behaviour isn’t mentioned and targeted it may not get the attention it deserves. Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2015. That is an interesting target – aren’t we already in 2015?
October 6th, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Was it a sign, a fence or hoarding around a construction site. City lawyers say this is a sign and not a fence or a construction site hoarding. Will now work with the developer to bring them into compliance. The city by law enforcement officer needed to know just which it was before she took any action on the huge sign that sits on Lakeshore Road at Martha where the ADI development Group has submitted an application to put up a 28 storey structure that was rejected by the planning department but never actually voted on by city council. It is now before the Ontario Municipal Board which will hear the ADI argument for the right to build the structure at a December meeting. The by law enforcement officer had to respond to a complaint – but needed to get a ruling from the city’s lawyers.  This isn’t construction site hoarding and it doesn’t look like a fence – so the bigger part was declared to be a sign and has to be brought into compliance with the bylaw – six square feet. Well as a sign it is too big – they are allowed to put up a sign that is not larger than 6 square metres. The sign is apparently close to 16 square metres. The options for the city? Fine the developer and force them to reduce the size of the sign. The city can do both but the understanding the Gazette took from our discussion with the bylaw enforcement officer is that they would probably not do both. The intention is to work with the developer and bring them into compliance. Why the velvet glove treatment? ADI has run rough shod over every process and procedure the city has in place. They appear to see rules as things that are made to be broken or severely bent.
October 6th, 2015 BURLINGTON, ON Holding a discussion between candidates running for public office needs a public audience and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) served the community well when they hosted the discussion between the four candidates who want to represent Burlington in the House of Commons. The meeting was broken into two parts; the first was used to put forward questions that had been prepared by the CFUW – the second part was to put forward questions prepared by the audience. The CFUW could have done a better job of tightening up their list of questions – there were too many and some overlap between the questions. When the overlap was getting out of hand the audience made it clear that they didn’t want to hear anymore. It was rowdy room – the auditorium at Central High School was close to packed; when the audience didn’t like what they were hearing they got a little boisterous. Moderator Dorothy Borovich sent out her most withering glare on more than one occasion – it didn’t always work. What the audience did get was a clearer look at just where the candidates stood on specific issue.  Conservative incumbent Mike Wallace who has served two terms as the Burlington MP was giving a rough ride during the all candidate discussion sponsored by the Canadian Federation of University Women. Mike Wallace had to defend himself on several issues and while he had his supporters in the room it was pretty clear that the audience was buying what Karina Gould had to say. There were several bursts of spontaneous applause for Gould positions. Burlington doesn’t do debates – the thrust and cut of argument doesn’t seem to suit the community. There was no clear winner but it was clear that Wallace was on the defensive. It was an older audience for the most part but it certainly wasn’t a submissive audience – they hooted and hollered frequently. Every candidate agreed that the demographic shift that has taken place meant more attention and resources had to be spent on the senior population – and all four candidates agreed that the biggest problem facing the country was climate change. The first question from the CFUW list was related to governing and they wanted to know what each candidate had to say about the way they would lead locally – that is what they would do in the community. Mike Wallace started off with is nine year track record which he thought was pretty good. He spoke of leadership and the way the federal government has handled terrorism (which got a groan from the audience) and his work as chair of the Justice Committee. He wanted voters to look at the issues and then decide who is best suited to lead in both the community and the country.  Green Part candidate Vince Fiorito talks over an issue with a participant. Vince Fiorito followed with four points: the environment, the debt, poverty and jobs – and then went on to tell the audience a little about himself. Part of the reason the government had a surplus last quarter Gould said was because they didn’t spend the money budgeted on the veterans and the aboriginal community. We have a government that hides its problems and doesn’t trust Canadians. The audience at Central High school burst into applause. As people were filing into their seats the audience appeared to be more senior than younger family types – I thought they were part of the core Conservative vote out to hear that candidate. David Laird tells people this is his fifth campaign and that he was there once again to fight the good fight for the working people. He added that his focus was the young people and the help they needed – not the smartest political move in an audience that has less than 5% younger people. The CUFW wanted to know what the candidates would do with the health system, specifically home care, pharma care and longer term care. Wallace explained that health is a provincial responsibility and that the federal government is a funding partner that transfers money to the provinces. The amount to be transferred next year is to be reduced by 3% he explained but if a province has experienced significant growth in senior population an additional amount will be available. One would have thought the federal government would know where the senior population is located – this isn’t exactly a mobile demographic. Gould was more specific. She said a Liberal government would pour in an additional $3 billion into home care – because it works she said. With all this agreement being set out – one wonders why this isn’t already in place. Why are seniors worried? CFUW wanted to know what each candidate would have their party do about Canada’s image worldwide.  Liberal Party candidate Karina Gould had a good night. She was applauded frequently but summed up rather weekly Gould hit the right button when she said: Step # 1 Change the government – for which she got an immediate burst of applause. She went on to say that “Canada used to have a vision, we were a player, we were respected at the United Nations; our view on climate change was understood and respected – we were not seen as obstructionist – our was a voice of reason.” David Laird said he had predicted all this and said the government needed to explain why the system was broken. Wallace said he didn’t agree with the premise behind the question (for which he was booed) and pointed to the way Canada supported the government of the Ukraine and how it had stood up for the values of the men and women who had fought in Korea and WWII The CFUW wanted to know where the candidates and their party’s stood on pensions. Gould said the current pension system is not working – we have to meet with the provinces on this – we get that she added. The Guaranteed Income Supplement has to be increased by 10% – then the pension paid has to be indexed.  David Laird, New Democrat candidate, running for the fifth time, made a very strong point when he said pension money does not belong to corporations. Laird wanted to see pensions increased and was specific – add $400 million to the GIS – it is amazing how the politicians throw around figures. Laid did make a very strong point when he said: Should a company declare bankruptcy the bond holders get first dibs on any assets – Laid wants the pensioners to be first in line. He added that some companies declare bankruptcy to get out of their pension obligations. Laird is absolutely right – pensions are not a corporate asset – pension contributions have to be put into a fund that corporations cannot touch – it isn’t their money. Wallace pointed to some changes that had been made to the RIF rules that allowed people to take some of their money out at an accelerated rate. He wasn’t on for increases to the Canada Pension Plan which the Conservative government called a tax on business. More cat calls from the audience at this point. Education – always a warm spot for the CFUW who offer a scholarship every year. Laird wanted to see free university education. That brought some rather direct comment from the audience which in turn brought the first of the Borovich glares. When Dorothy Borovich directs her very strong gaze on you – you want to duck. She has a Shush that would put a librarian to shame. Fiorito took basically the same view – universal, state paid university education to those who show merit – if you have the marks – you get in. Gould didn’t talk about an education program – she wanted to focus on a Day Care program that into which a Liberal government would pump $500 million. Karina Gould took the room from the very beginning of the evening and while she didn’t shine every time – she was on target most of the time. She was never booed – the others were. Both Wallace and Laird at some point both said they agreed with her. But when the evening was over and the candidates were doing their summing up – no one really moved the audience – other than the Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito, who spoke with conviction. There was more – we will cover that in an additional report.
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