 By Pepper Parr
May 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) announced today that Gary W. DeGroote has been named the 2015 Philanthropist of the Year. He will be honoured at BCF’s annual Masquerade Ball on October 24th, 2015, at the Burlington Convention Centre.
 Gary W. DeGroote, Community foundation philanthropist of the year “Gary DeGroote epitomizes what it means to be a sustainable philanthropist and we are honoured to work so closely with a man who has made such an incredible impact on Burlington and the wider community,” says Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Community Foundation. “Gary is a true leader who not only supports our foundation but also consistently demonstrates a passionate, caring and generous commitment to the arts, youth and recreation.”
The Philanthropist of the Year award presented by Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life offers the chance to publicly honour and thank a noted philanthropist for their positive impact on Burlington and surrounding communities. Gary and his family have a long history of sharing their time, talent and treasures.
Gary’s leadership in many endeavours will be forever noted in Burlington’s history. A passionate supporter of the arts, his Titanium Benefactor Gift helped to kick start the fundraising campaign for the renowned Burlington Performing Arts Centre. His contributions are too numerous to list as Gary and his family continue to donate countless hours of leadership and significant funding to the arts, culture, recreation, youth and education sectors in Burlington.
“It is a true honour to receive this award” says Gary DeGroote. “I hope this award encourages others to give to our community in their own way. Gestures of kindness and gifts of time and resources are what keep our communities strong and vibrant. I am very proud to support Burlington and all of the fabulous organizations that work each and every day to help make life better for others.”
DeGroote came up through the ranks of the company his Dad formed and later sold. In a Bloomberg report for 2007 Michael DeGroote was reported to have a net worth of $1.23 billion, up 6% from the previous year.
 Gary DeGroote co-chaired the fund raising committee that raised much of the $28 million it cost to construct the Performing Arts Centre DeGroote was generous to his community and plunked down $5 million to kick start the fund raising for the Performing Arts Centre.
Businessman Gary DeGroote seems to be following in the footsteps of his father, Michael — the former Laidlaw Inc. CEO turned philanthropist — with a $5-million pledge in November 2006 toward Burlington, Performing Arts Centre. He’ll still have a long way to go, though, before he tops his dad’s record-breaking $105-million donation in 2003 to Hamilton’s McMaster University, which named the DeGroote School of Business after him.
DeGroote co-chaired the fundraising committee for the $28-million Centre that was brought in on time and on budget.
 By Pepper Parr
May 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a scene in the movie ET where the lost alien says “Home” – he just wanted to go home.
That’s the reason Brian McCurdy tendered his resignation earlier this week to the Board of the Performing Arts Centre. McCurdy’s wife remained in Kingston when McCurdy took on the job – he commuted on weekends but it go to be more than he wanted to continue doing – he will leave his office in October.
He said he has enjoyed his time in Burlington but now he wants to retire and spend more time with his wife in Kingston.
 Retiring Executive Director leaves the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in better shape than he got it it. He will be missed. McCurdy seemed prepared to stay on a little longer if that is what was needed to find and break in whoever is hired to replace him – but he will not celebrate Christmas in this city.
McCurdy has offered to serve as a talent scout for the Hiring committee the board will establish. He seems to be leaving on the best of terms
In his almost two years as the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre he has improved the program and gotten most of the past financial difficulties behind him.
He is proud of the three local production groups that are now making significant use of the facilities. The Todering Biped, the Koogle Theatre and Nortsur productions have each mounted performances. Some were better than others – but at least community groups are using the space.
“It takes time” said McCurdy “to build an audience for new artistic endeavours. It took time for the public to get used to the size of the subsidy the BPAC needs and will probably always need.
The Performing Arts Centre now has a solid reputation and draws audiences from Toronto – they advertise regularly in the Globe and Mail
Asked which performance was he most proud of bringing to Burlington: the Pat Metheny Unity Group.
If the Board has the good sense to involve McCurdy in the hiring process we will be well served.
The disturbing part of all this is that we had first class talent at BPAC – now we have to go looking all over again.
Home – that summed it up
 By Pepper Parr
May 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The notice that the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) s looking for a new Executive Director was brought to our attention by an observant reader.
The several hundred word notice published on the BPAC web site mentions the building and the amount of space and who the designer was and then gets to the meat of the media release.
The position of Executive Director is open
 Brian McCurdy improved the quality of the performances brought to Burlington and made a huge dent in the losses that were being incurred. His position as Executive Director of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre is being advertised as open. The release doesn’t say if Brian McCurdy resigned or if he was asked to leave or if he is suffering from poor health and has to slow down.
No one was available at this early hour – 8:00 am, to comment. The last media release on the BPAC web site was September 19, 2014.
The event to announce the fall line-up is scheduled for later this month – will McCurdy be on hand?
Did he resign, was he asked to move on? Nothing in the way of information.
McCurdy has done a fabulous job of getting the BPAC out of the financial slump it was in – the place was bleeding deficits and costing the public very close to $1 million in subsidy
He made big improvements in involving community groups – BPAC was a healthier place because of McCurdy.
McCurdy took over at BPAC in August of 2013
Losing Brian McCurdy is not good news for Burlington.
Anyone interested in the job has to get their application in no later than Friday, June 26th in confidence to: bpacjobs@burlington.ca
More when there is more to tell
 By Staff
May 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
One down, one to go.
Alannah MARACLE was arrested on May 19th in the Peel region.
Lorne GENERAL managed to evade police and remains at large.
The Halton Regional Police Service had asked the public to assist in locating Lorne General.
The duo are wanted in connection with a residential break and enter, theft of motor vehicles, police pursuit and motor vehicle collisions which occurred in the City of Burlington on May 11th 2015.
Lorne GENERAL (28 years) is wanted for 22 charges and Alannah MARACLE (21 years) is wanted for 8 charges in relation to the incident in Burlington. Further charges are anticipated.
If a member of the public has knowledge regarding the whereabouts of GENERAL, they are encouraged to phone police. Personal safety is the #1 priority, please call police and do not approach these parties. Any person with information that can assist in this investigation is asked to call the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau – at 905-825 4747 ext. 2316/2312 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 8477 (TIPS), or through the internet at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Staff
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ron Foxcroft is seldom, if ever, at a loss for words.
 Queen Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, receives Honourary Colonel Ron Foxcroft at Buckingham Palace Foxcroft and his wife Along with Colonel’s Kennedy and Hatfield of the Argyle’s and their wives were presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace earlier today. Foxcroft filed the following with us moments ago:
“Arrived at 11:30 for 12:0 meeting.
“Changing of the guards were in progress but an audience with the Queen takes presidency.
“We were whisked in to a private area of the palace. We were taken to her private apartment and briefed in the Empire room by two Equeerys and the lady in waiting.
“We were buzzed in to her apartment at 12:08.
“She was radiant in a blue floral dress and beautiful. She held out her hand we all three shook hands She offered condolences to the regiment and the Cirillo family. She said she is proud of her regiment
“She wanted an explanation of the poppy gift that was on an easel beside her. She said it will be hung permanently in Buckingham Palace.
“She talked Argyll business and I presented her with two Argyll logo whistles. She put her lips on one but did not blow it.
“After 30 minutes she buzzed for our wives. They greeted her. She took us to the window and proudly pulled back the drapes and said enjoy my beautiful little garden.
“We have a small party tomorrow for a few people. I asked how many.
“She said 8,000. I said you do a marvellous job cutting the lawn.
She laughed and said that is my John Deere lawn mower as she pointed to the machine. She said if I blow this Fox 40 will it scare the Canada Geese off my lawn.
“She said it is better than using a gun and laughed.
She said I do not like goose dirt. She said she has only seen Princess Charlotte once and was sleeping.
“She says I never wake a baby.
“The pictures that were taken are protected by copyright and will be mailed with a contract for us to sign
“We left at 1 pm.”
Ron Foxcroft will be telling this story for the next five years. Bet on that.
 By Pepper Parr
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
After numerous meetings the city finally has a draft of a Code of conduct that will have close to the force of law and which if seriously violated could result in the suspension of a member of |Council.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward takes the position that she has the right and the responsibility to involve herself in any issue in any ward. Her belief is not shared by all members of Council. The most contentious issue during the discussions is whether or not a member of council can involves themselves in issues outside their wards. Ward 2 Councilor Marianne Meed Ward has taken the position that she is responsible for ward 2 issues but can involve herself in matters that are city wide and has done so in the past.
Ward 1 Councilor Rick Craven feels that ward 1 is his turf and no one should intrude on his territory. Councilor Dennison felt that as a courtesy a council member should at last inform fellow members of Council when they are involving themselves in an issue in a ward that is not their own.
The document is not what you would call an easy read. The Gazette will publish the version of the Code of Conduct that gets passed by Council on the 25th.
The portion of the draft code was revised at the Standing Committee with the removal of the part that had to do with how and when a council member can involve themselves in matters outside their ward. That section read:
General Integrity
• Members of Council are committed to performing their functions with integrity, accountability and transparency.
• Members of Council are responsible for complying with all applicable legislation, by-laws and policies pertaining to their position as an elected official.
• Members of Council recognize that the public has a right to open government and transparent decision-making.
• Members of Council shall at all times serve and be seen to serve the interests of the municipality in a conscientious and diligent manner and shall approach decision-making with an open mind.
• Members of Council shall avoid the improper use of the influence of their office.
• Members of Council shall not attempt to influence or interfere with, either directly or indirectly, financially, politically or otherwise employees, officers or other persons performing duties under the Provincial Offences Act.
• Where a member of Council is involved in an issue outside the Member’s own ward, the member will inform the ward Councillor of such involvement.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven takes the view that he is responsible for the concerns and issues in his ward and that other council members should basically mind their own business. He lost that argument. Deleting it from the code passed on a 4-3 vote.
In 2006 the Municipal Act was amended to provide municipalities with enhanced accountability powers including the ability to establish a Code of Conduct and appoint an Integrity Commissioner to administer the Code of Conduct.
Burlington’s city council began work on a Code in December 2013 as part of their governance review. Currently, there is a Code of Practice that was adopted in 1996. The Code of Conduct would replace this policy.
Any failure to comply with the code of conduct can have serious and significant consequences. “Members of Council shall adhere to the provisions of the Code of Conduct. The Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes Council, where it has received a report by its Integrity Commissioner that, in his or her opinion, there has been a violation of the Code of Conduct, may impose either of the following penalties:
• A reprimand;
• Suspension of the remuneration paid to the member in respect of his or her services as a member of Council or a local board, as the case may be, for a period of up to 90 days.”
It would be tough to get re-elected were a council member to be suspended for any period of time.
There have been four workshops held with Council to draft the code that was presented.
At the January workshop, Council received an update from the City Solicitor on Bill 8: Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014. Bill 8 significantly expands the role of the provincially-appointed Ombudsman in the affairs of municipalities. This includes oversight over the investigations conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
In some cases, municipalities may forgo the appointment of an Integrity Commissioner and leave the oversight to the Ombudsman. It is staff’s view that despite the oversight from the provincial Ombudsman, it would still be prudent to hire an Integrity Commissioner at the local level. At this point the regulations on Bill 8 have not been released. Those regulations will likely include details on procedures for investigation and any related costs to the municipality.
Following approval of the Code of Conduct, staff will retain an Integrity Commissioner on a fee for service basis. The plan is to share an Integrity Commissioner on a fee for service basis with the Town of Milton. The Town of Oakville already has an Integrity Commissioner in place. The expectation is that the cost will come in at about $20,000 a year – which of course depends on how many complaints get sent to the Commissioner and how well our Council members behave.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman has in the past come perilously close to crossing some of the lines set out in the Code of Conduct. One section of the Code of Conduct spells out very clearly that:
Members of Council shall not:
• Maliciously, falsely or otherwise inappropriately injure the professional or ethical reputation, or the prospects or practice of staff;
• Compel staff to engage in partisan political activities or be subjected to threats or discrimination
for refusing to engage in such activities; or
• Use, or attempt to use, their authority or influence for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, coercing, commanding or influencing any staff member with the intent of interfering in staff’s duties.
That requirement has not always been fully met in the past.
Free tickets to events have been a problem in the past – the rules were never very clear. They will be clear when the Code of Conduct is passed by city council.
“Members of Council are expected to represent the public and the interests of the municipality and to do so with both impartiality and objectivity. The acceptance of a gift, benefit or hospitality can imply favouritism, bias or influence on the part of the Member. At times, the acceptance of a gift, benefit or hospitality occurs as part of the social protocol or community events linked to the duties of an elected official and their role in representing the municipality.
“Members of Council shall not accept gifts that would appear to be in gratitude for influence or to induce influence. For these purposes, a gift, benefit or hospitality provided with the Member’s knowledge to a family member or to a Member’s staff, that is connected directly or indirectly to the performance of the Member’s duties is deemed to be a gift to that Member.
Members of Council are not precluded from accepting:
(a) compensation authorized by law;
(b) such gifts or benefits that normally accompany the responsibilities of office and are received as an incident of protocol or social obligation;
(c) a political contribution under the Municipal Elections Act;
(d) a memento of a function honouring the member;
(e) where a member is speaking or attending an event in an official capacity, the food, lodging, transportation and entertainment provided by provincial, regional and local governments or political subdivisions of them, by the federal government or by a foreign government within a foreign country, or by a conference, seminar or event organizer;
(f) food and beverages consumed at banquets, receptions or similar events, if:
1. attendance serves a legitimate business purpose;
2. the person extending the invitation or a representative of the organization is in attendance; and
3. the value is reasonable and the invitations infrequent;
(g) communication to the offices of a member, including subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals;
(h) gifts of a nominal value (e.g. baseball cap, t-shirt, flash drive, book, etc).
 Some ward 6 residents felt their Council member, Blair Lancaster was just a little too close to the owners of the Air Park. In the case of exceptions claimed under categories b, d, e, f, g, h where the value of the gift or benefit exceeds $25, or if the total value received from any one source during the course of a calendar year exceeds $25, the Members shall within 30 days of receipt of the gift or reaching the annual limit, list the gift or benefit on a Councilor Information Statement in the prescribed form and file it with the City Clerk. This information will be posted on the website with Councilors expenses.
Members are permitted to receive up to two tickets to a dinner or a fundraising event, as long as the Member is attending only one such event as a gift from the same individual or corporation within any calendar year.
Fundraising, Community Events and Donations are also clarified in the code.
This Code recognizes that as community leaders, Members of Council may lend their support to and encourage, community donations to registered charitable organizations and not for profit groups. Monies raised through fundraising efforts shall go directly to the groups or volunteers and chapters acting as local organizers of the group. This Code recognizes the important work of Members of Council in supporting charitable causes and the need for transparency in Members involvement.
This Code sets the following additional guiding principles for Members of Council
(a) Members of Council should not directly or indirectly manage or control any monies received relating to a charitable, not for profit or community-based organization’s fundraising in their capacity as a member of Council.
(b) A Member of Council or a third party acting on behalf of the Member shall not solicit nor accept support in any form from an individual, group or corporation with a pending matter, such as but not limited to, a planning or demolition application, partnership agreement, tender or Request for Proposals before Burlington City Council.
(c) With reference to Member-Organized Community Events, Members of Council must keep a record of the names of all donors and the value of their donation that supplements the event and file it with the City Clerk.
(d) Donation cheques shall not be made out to a Member of Council. Nothing included herein affects the entitlement of a Member of Council to:
• Use their office expense budget to run or support community events subject to the terms of the Councilor Expense Policy.
• Urge constituents, businesses and other groups to support community events and advance the needs of a charitable organization;
• Play an advisory or membership role in any organization that holds community events.
Once passed the Code gives the public a process to complain. Complaint of a Violation of this Code
Any individual that has reasonable grounds to believe that a Member has breached this Code, may file a complaint with the City Clerk.
The Integrity Commissioner shall be responsible for investigating such complaints and if the parties are in agreement, the complaint may be resolved by way of mediation.
If either party does not participate in the mediation process, if the complaint is not resolved through this process, or the matter is not appropriate for referral to mediation, the Integrity Commissioner shall assume responsibility for investigating the complaint in accordance with the procedures established by Council.
In the case of a complaint of discrimination or harassment, the complainant may file a complaint directly to the Human Resources Department under the City of Burlington Respect in the Workplace Policy. The complainant will also be advised of his or her right to advance an application to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
The procedure for filing a complaint includes an informal or a formal complaint
The formal procedure is as follows:
Any individual who has identified or witnessed behaviour or activity by a member that appears to be in contravention of the Code may address their concerns through the formal complaint process set out below.
1. All formal complaints must be made using the Complaints Form prepared by the City Clerk and/or Integrity Commissioner and shall be dated and signed by the Complainant.
2. The complaint must include an explanation as to why the issue raised may be a contravention of the Code and any evidence in support of the allegation must be included with the Complaints Form.
3. Any witnesses in support of the allegation must be identified on the Complaint Form.
4. The Complaint Form must include the name of the member alleged to have breached the Code, the section of the Code allegedly contravened, the date, time and location of the alleged contravention and any other information as required on the Complaint Form.
5. The complaint shall be filed with the Clerk who shall confirm that the required information is complete. The Clerk will forward the complaint form to the Integrity Commissioner who will determine whether the matter is, on its face, a complaint with respect to non-compliance with the Code and not covered by other legislation or policies.
6. The Integrity Commissioner may request additional information from the complainant.
 Councillor Jack Dennison felt it was just common decency to advise a fellow council member that he was talking to people about a project in their ward. The existence of an Integrity Commissioner gives the public some recourse to behavior they feel is wrong or unbecoming a member of a city council. However the authors of the code were aware of the possibility that someone might want to exploit the process in an election year. They covered off that possibility.
 By the end of the month of May your seven members of Council will have to adhere to a Code of Conduct that allows for the suspension of a member of r up to 90 days of they stray from the rules. The Integrity Commissioner shall not make any report to Council or any other person after the last Council meeting in June in any year in which a regular municipal election is to be held. Any reports would proceed to the first Council meeting after the Inaugural meeting of the new Council.
Any guesses as to how long it will take for someone in the city to file a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner and who the complaint will be against?
The Gazette will publish the code of Conduct in its entirety once it has been passed by Council.
By Staff
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Mark Visser, a Burlington resident since 1967, feels a technicality has left him high and dry – which was not his experience when the city was drenched with more than 190 mm of rain last August 4th.
Visser sold his house in June, 2014 and put his belongings in a storage locker until he bought a new home. The storage locker he rented was flooded August 4th.
Here is the story he tells:
Submitted original claim for $6,374.00 to replace personal property (essential and non-essential) lost in the Burlington Flood
April 7: Request for compensation denied
April 13, 2015: Re-submitted new claim of $3,302.75 for essential lost property only (dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses)
April 30, 2015: Received word that I would receive only $770.00
Visser believes the final settlement should be $3,302.75 and not $770.00
There was a total of 310 claims submitted of which 42 were denied. Visser points out that $ 2.97 million dollars was raised for flood relief by citizens, corporate dnations and funds from the provincial government.
He maintains “there certainly is no shortage of funds to honour my claim of #3,302.75 to replace lost essentials.”
MAY 20, 2014
Sold my home. In June my personal belongings were moved to locker #3000 at Access Storage (2177 Plains Road E. Burlington ON L7R 3T1) till I would find another home.
AUGUST 4. 2014
Heavy rains caused flooding to many parts of the city. I was away on holidays and my daughter informed me that my locker was flooded by water and mud.
AUGUST 11, 2014
I was informed that Access Storage had filed a Notice of Claim with Halton Region Legal Services, City of Burlington Legal Department, Province of Ontario Claims Management Services and CN General Claims Department
AUGUST 18, 2014
Returned to Burlington. Family and friends had cleaned out my locker. Items that could not be salvaged were deposed off and the rest was repacked into new storage boxes.
I lost most of my collectables (stuffed animals and postcards), tools, vacuum cleaner, family mementos (pictures and wedding albums), dining room set, mattresses and bedroom furniture.
AUGUST 22. 2014
I send a claim for damages in the amount of $6,374.00 to Access Storage. Claim was supported by pictures
SEPTEMBER 3. 2014
Letter from Access Storage in reply to my claim of $6,374.00 stated: “Access Storage’s Tenant Insurance does not cover damages related to flooding of water”
NOVEMBER 7(?), 2014
I attended an information meeting set up by the Burlington Community Foundation which was held at the Burlington Senior Centre located on New Street in Burlington. This Community Foundation operates under guidelines set by ODRAP (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program)
– This meeting was held for flood victims who either were under insured or had no insurance at all.
– Many of those in attendance did not receive the information they were looking for. I was one of them. I was not your typical home owner who got flooded. I was a ‘storage locker resident’ I had sold my home in May and at the time of the flood had not yet purchased another one. I was ‘in between homes’.
– I was given a form called ‘Application for Assistance for Losses and Damages’ and told “make a list of ALL items and once completed, hand it in together with pictures and receipts”.
NOVEMBER 8, 2014
As requested I dropped off a letter at the Burlington Disaster Relief Committee that proofed that my property (or what was left of it after the flood), was still in storage at Access Storage on 2177 Plains Road East, Burlington
NOVEMBER 17, 2014
Submitted the Application for Assistance for Losses and Damages to the Disaster Relief Committee at the Burlington Community Foundation located at the North Service Road in Burlington
NOVEMBER 18, 2014
I dropped off a letter, at the Burlington Flood Disaster Relief Committee located at 3380 South Service Road in Burlington, with more info and additional pictures to support my claim for $6,374.00
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
I received an email from Cameron MacKenzie, Claims Adjuster for Cunningham & Lindsey. Attached was my Application Form for Assistance. The email informed me that the form was not properly filled out and was asked to print NA in all space that did not relate to my situation.
DECEMBER 1
Took possession of my new home. Before I could move in I had to purchase essential items lost during the flood such as a dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses. Total out of pocket costs: $3,302.75.
Copies of receipts were dropped off at the Burlington Community Foundation before the December 15 deadline.
EARLY DECEMBER, 2014
The Burlington Flood Relieve committee informed me that my application for financial assistance had been processed and that all claims will be forwarded to assurance adjusters Cunningham & Lindsey located in Mississauga.
APRIL 7, 2015
Received letter that my claim had been rejected based on:
– That property in a storage locker were not eligible for compensation under the ODRAP guidelines (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program)
Visser says he checked the ODRAP website and the words ‘storage or locker’ are not mentioned in the guidelines.
– That the program is not intended to replace insurance policies provided by private insurance companies.
I provided them with proof that I was not covered by any insurance including Access Storage Inc.
APRIL 13, 2015
Received email from Burlington Community Foundation that my request to reconsider the boards decision (see April 7 letter) would be forwarded to the committee for review.
I also mentioned that I was willing to adjust my claim for $6,374.00 (essential and non-essential items) to $3,302.75 for essential lost property (dining room set, bedroom furniture and mattresses)
APRIL 30, 2015
Received word that after reviewing my claim that board decided that I would receive $770.00 if I signed and returned the enclosed Declaration. I would receive an interim payment of $385.00. The letter still listed my original claim amount for $6,374.00 and not the revised claim of $$3,302.75 as submitted on April 13, 2015
APRIL 30 or MAY 1
Under protest I signed and submitted the declaration. On the declaration I made a note that I expect that the final payment will be $2,917.75 ($3,307,55 – interim payment of $385.00).
Received copy of ODRAP guidelines (one page) from Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
NOTE: The ODRAP website has, when printed, 11 pages and nowhere is it mentioned that property held in a locker or storage unit is not eligible for compensation.
MAY 12, 2015. (My last email send to the Burlington Flood Relief Committee)
I did receive my first cheque for the amount of $385.00 as explained in the letter dated April 30, 2015.
This weekend I had some time to reflect on was has transpired over the last weeks, reread the correspondence and went online to do some research. I would like to register the following:
1 – April 7, 2015 letter stated: “Contents held in storage are not eligible under the guidelines” I did access the ODRAP website and made a copy (11 pages). I researched the site and there is NO mention of contents held in storage. And by the way, they are called guidelines, not rules carved in stone which means there is room for decisions made and based on common sense and compassion.
2- April 30. Letter stated that after reassessment of my claim it was determined that I would be compensated for the amount of $770.00. This letter mentioned also that the amount claimed was $6,374.00. This amount was to cover all items lost included non-essential items.
After I received the letter dated April 7, 2014 I resubmitted a new claim for the amount of $3,302.75 which would cover only essential items lost such as mattresses, bedroom furniture and a dining room set.
3- When I received my first cheque for the amount of $385.00 I expected a note telling me that a second and final cheque for the amount of $2917.75 would be issued at the end of April, 2015.
Visser says: “I’m convinced that the availability of money to settle claims submitted by flood victims is not an issue. The amount raised and number of claims received tells me that there is more than enough to compensate flood victims.
Burlington citizen and businesses gave generously with the understanding that their donations would help flood victims who did not have any insurance to cover items lost.
“I think that many Burlingtonian’s would be upset to know that I received $770.00 (not even enough to buy a new mattress) compensation for the loss of $3,302.75 in essentials.
“Given the fact that the Committee’s decisions were based on the ODRAP guidelines I know that you, at the local level, did everything you could do to help me. I will not trouble you again and with little time left I have decided to go public to tell my side of the story.
Colleen Mulholland headed up the local Disaster Relief Committee. She is out of the city but has said she will review the correspondence from Mark Visser and comment when she returns.
By Staff
May 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
“Pressure, pressure, pressure that was definitely the theme this week” for the most recent Friday Fugitive.
Scottie Ryerson was arrested in Hamilton Friday evening after Halton police were able to contact him at which time he surrendered. He was under intense pressure from family and friends as a direct result of the media coverage as soon as articles were posted.
A previous Friday Fugitive, Curtis Komp remains in custody in Ottawa; he has been charged with 13 counts of False Pretences, two counts of Breach of Probation and two counts of Fail to Comply with Recognizance. Curtis is to appear in Ottawa court on May 19th where a guilty plea is anticipated.
 Raymond Lloyd French – still on the Friday Fugitive list  Kenneth Lorne Moodie – there are people who want to talk to you The count for this initiative is now two out of four back in police custody.
Still on the list are Kenneth Lorne Moodie and Raymond Lloyd French
French
Moodie
By Staff
May 17, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Detective Ellie Bale, 30 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau wants very much to meet up with two WANTED PARTIES.
The duo are wanted in connection with a residential break and enter, theft of motor vehicles, police pursuit and motor vehicle collisions which occurred in the City of Burlington on May 11th 2015.
Lorne GENERAL (28 years) is wanted for 22 charges and Alannah MARACLE (21 years) is wanted for eight charges in relation to the incident in Burlington. Further charges are anticipated.
If a member of the public has knowledge regarding the whereabouts of MARACLE and/or GENERAL, they are encouraged to phone police.
These two look like they may at some point qualify for Fugitive Friday recognition.
Personal safety is the #1 priority, please call police and do not approach these parties. Any person with information that can assist in this investigation is asked to call the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau – at 905-825 4747 ext. 2316/2312 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 8477 (TIPS), or through the internet at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Joe Gaetan
May 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
By Joe Gaetan is like a dog with a bone – he just isn’t going to let it go until he has ever last bit of meat on it. Gaetan has been tracking the progress of the province’s “discussions” and Premier Kathleen Wynne’s statements on any plans to sell Hydro One.
According to a March 10, 2015 CBC report, “Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she hasn’t made any final decisions yet on asset sales, but she did not dispute a report that she is planning to sell shares in Hydro One”.
 There are thousands of Ontarians who don’t think selling Hydro One is a very smart idea. The Premier appears to have already made up her mind. Have you? Fellow Ontarians, in spite of her waffling, Premier Wynne must have been planning something big, because it’s now called Bill 91, The Building Ontario Up Act (Budget Measures), 2015. It’s Current Status, “The Bill has been Ordered referred to Standing Committee pursuant to the Order of the House Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs”.
The purpose of the Act is to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various Acts. If you feel like reading the lengthy document you will come across sections such as Schedule 1 that deals with making Ontario a more beer friendly province, containing folksy language such as hectoliters, standard bottles of beer, microbrewers, beer, wine and wine coolers.
To pave the way to sell off Hydro One, Wynne apparently knew she had to change a slew of acts such as, The auditor General Act, The Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, The Co-operative Corporations Act, The Financial Accountability Officer Act, The Financial Administration Act, The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, The Commodity Futures Act and most importantly The Electricity Act, 1998.
 Premier Kathleen Wynne – is she ready to say definitely where she stands on the possible sale of Hydro One? For someone who wasn’t sure on March 10, Premier Wynne sure was busy doing a lot behind the scenes in anticipation of making her final decision found in B91. The piece de resistance of B91 is, Section 48.2 subsection (5), the section that deals with Restrictions on Province’s sale, etc. and specifically where the province,” shall not sell, dispose of or otherwise divest any common shares of Hydro One Inc. if the sale, disposal or divestment would result in the Minister on behalf of Her Majesty in right of Ontario owning a number of common shares that is less than 40 per cent of the outstanding number of common shares of Hydro One Inc.
Premier Wynne “what is it you can’t face”, maybe the truth about selling 60% of Hydro One all along?
 By Pepper Parr
May 15, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a smart move, it brought to the public forum a concern that is very real and was done in a way that the concerns came from the people who had them and not from the people who thought they had a solution.
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward held a public meeting, the first of four, to learn from people and developers what they wanted. Her focus was the downtown core but the approach could be applied to any ward in the city.
 It was a full active room with citizens and planners exchanging views – citizen participation at its very best. The city needs more of this kind of meeting. “What if…developers, businesses and residents could work together to build our downtown – finding common ground instead of fighting? asked Meed Ward.
 Meed Ward works from the premise that people have a right to determine what gets built in their neighbourhood and that the views of the public are as important as the views of the developer who owns the property and the planners that determine if a property meets the Official Plan and the zoning – and more importantly if an application for a change to the Official Plan or the zoning is beneficial to the community.
Many Burlingtonians don’t understand why an Official Plan can be changed – they want the Plan cast in stone. Burlington’s Director of Planning explains again and again that there isn’t an Official Plan in existence that can foresee all the ideas and opportunities that innovative developers can come up with.
About 125 people showed up for the Workshop including the following developers. A few who said they would attend didn’t show up. It was an impressive list.
Robert Molinaro, The Molinaro Group – attended
Sam DiSanto, The Molinaro Group – attended
Matt Jaecklein, Mayrose-Tycon Group – attended
Albert Faccenda, Coral Gable Homes – attended
Andrew and Donna Haid, Welwyn Interests – attended along with their architect Jonathan King and planner David Capper.
Dr. Michael Shih, Emshih Developments – attended
Ken Dakin on behalf of Vrankor Group (Darko Vranich) – attended
Nick Carnicelli, Carriage Gate Homes – attended
Jeff Paikin, New Horizon Homes – did not make it
Saud & Tariq Adi, Adi Developments – did not make it.
 Nick Carnacelli, the developer of the Bentley getting closer to the point of putting a shovel in the ground makes a point at the Workshop  Maurice Desrochers and Dr. Michael Shie look as if they are putting together a deal – it was more an exchange of views. Note that Paletta International, the largest landowner in the city, didn’t plan on attending and didn’t have anyone in the room. The Reimer’s were not in the room nor was there anyone from Hopewell, the people who own the land on the North Service Road that IKEA had hoped to build on.
The first event ran for a full two hours and if the conversations at the different tables are any indication – there were a lot of opinions floating around.
Before the participants got down to what Meed Ward called the “table work” Andrea Smith, Manager of Policy and Research for Burlington set out the policy framework within which development in the downtown core takes place.
The working premise for the evening was:
How we got here
Existing policies
Scope of OP/Zoning review
What do we want to achieve
Meed Ward set the current situation which she defined as the city wanting to keep the existing farm land- which is basically everything north of Dundas Highway 407.
She said cutting back on the infrastructure that has to be built will reduce taxes but to do that the city needs to get better use out of the infrastructure it already has in place
Meed Ward talks of a more walkable city with much more mixed use – which is an attempt to do something other than repeat the urban sprawl that is expensive to maintain and doesn’t do much for really healthy communities.
There are always personal agendas when politicians meet with the public. Meed Ward was letting the city see the kind of leadership she would provide were she to get to wear the Chain of Office that Mayors’ wear.
 Andrea smith, Manager Police and Research and the planner shepherding the Official Plan review Andrea Smith, Manager of Policy and Research – the person heading up the review of the existing Official Plan, put a graphic up on the screen that showed where development is currently taking place. Few had seen this document before.
 There is a lot more development approved in Burlington than most people realize. There are three big project at different stages of development: Paradigm, Bridgewater and the Bentley – all approved and at different stages of development.
While there are few construction cranes on the Burlington horizon now these three project will keep the construction trades busy for the next five years.
Does the market have the capacity to absorb the number of units that will be built? The developers have those number in closely guarded reports – what do the planners know about what market demand for accommodation in the city?
During a Committee of the Whole meeting recently, Director of Planning Bruce Krushelnicki pointed out that the city doesn’t have any demographic talent at city hall – without it he suggested there is some flying in the dark being done.
The three projects that are in various stages of development cater to radically different markets. The people who buy into the Paradigm are not the same people who will be buying into Bridgewater.
 Matt Jaecklein, Mayrose-Tycon Group listens quietly to a city planner. Jaecklein was a patient developer who first got approval for what is now the Bridgewater development back in 1985. As for the hotel that will be part of the Bridgewater development on the south side of Lakeshore – well that was going to be open for the Pan AM Games which kick off in the middle of June.
Planner Smith then put up a graphic of the parking lots the city owns – they want to unlock the value of that land and get buildings up. Where will cars park? The city is hoping there will be fewer cars in a future Burlington. Does it make economic sense to put up large structures and dig down for parking spaces?
 The city has parking lots throughout the downtown core. They will do more for the city’s finances if there were buildings on the land rather than cars. Getting to the point where something can be gotten to the point where there are shovels in the ground is WHAT Is it possible to grow the residential community in the downtown core and create the jobs in the community that people can walk to or use public transit as the prime mode of transportation?
Planner Smith set out the provincial and regional policy initiatives that Burlington has to comply with and just where the city has wiggle room and where it can do very little.
There are also individual property rights that have to be respected – look at the battle taking place in the Beachway to get a sense of how those situations make for complex problems and then there are infrastructure realities that have to be dealt with.
There are pipelines that run underground through the city that limit what can be done with some properties – the pipeline that runs alongside the Performing Arts Centre and cross two of the city owned parking lots – can’t dig too close to those pipes.
City Council approved what is called an Urban Growth Centre – this was where the growth was going to take place and the rules for that growth were established.
 The Urban growth center is where city council, through its official plan has determined where the city’s commercial development will take place  The Planners created precincts which are boundaries that define parts of the city and then applied zoning for each precinct. All these issues have to get dealt with within the boundaries the Official Plan has created. In the last Official Plan review the city created a number of what they called “precincts” and applied very specific zoning to those parts of the city to protect what was already in place and to allow for any ideas that a developer might come along with.
 Tom Muir, tends to focus more on Aldershot issues – seldom fails to have an opinion on how the city can grow itself in a reasonable manner and still retain its core values. As the graphics shows there are a number of precincts – names given to different parts of the city with zoning attached to each, Burlington has two residential precincts on either side of Brant Street; the St. Luke’s precinct on the west and the Emerald precinct on the east. The residents of each fight just as fiercely as those in Roseland to ensure that their neighbourhood does not undergo radical change.
The idea of a 28 storey tower on the edge of a residential neighbourhood that has some commercial and professional space in the area has some people frothing at the mouth and also feeling helpless now that the development has gone to the Ontario Municipal Board because the city faield to do anything in the 180 day window they had to respond to the application. Quite why city council didn’t get a chance to pronounce on the application is another story.
The Wellington precinct south of the downtown core has a number of high rise buildings stuffed into the neighbourhood. When they were approved the thinking was that the residents would spend and there would be decent commercial development – maybe even a super market.
 Robert Molinaro explains a point to people participating in the Workshop. The Molinaro’s built several of the condominium high rise buildings along Lakeshore Road and are now developing along Maple Avenue. The residents in those towers saw life differently – they head south in the winter.
Does anyone know how well the butcher at the corner of Brant and |Lakeshore Road is doing?
The Old Lakeshore precinct is a bit of a mess and a major lost opportunity for the city. It has three sub-sections within the precinct that isn’t much more than a couple of blocks in size.
Two groups were formed and asked to think along the lines of a number of themes:
Parking; heritage; office/retail; compatibility; design; trees; benches; affordability; transit & traffic; height; density; public art; sustainable buildings; jobs and festivals and events.
 This is the Burlington we have. what do we want t do with what we have – and who gets to make that decision anyway? The conversation was at times electric and the room at the Lions Hall certainly had a real buzz to it most of the evening.
Too early to tell what came out of the event. All we know at this point is that there will be another; don’t miss the next one.
The second meeting will take place at the Performing Arts Centre on May 27th where Meed Ward hopes to apply the principles in place to two specific sites:
Brant/Ghent
Lakeshore/Burlington
The third community Workshop will take place June 10, 2015, at the Burlington Lion’s Club Hall where Meed Ward hopes she will be able to present areas where there is a consensus and possible draft recommendations.
By Staff
May 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A 61-year-old Burlington woman was defrauded $37,500 in an increasingly common romance scam targeting individuals who frequent online dating sites.
The female met an unknown individual in February 2015 on a popular dating website and began an online relationship with them. The individual persuaded the female to wire transfer funds overseas to DUBAI, United Arab Emirates to assist with the purchase of horses and then several days later continued to convince her to send more money for the care of the horses.
When staff at the wire transfer business suspected the activity was fraudulent, the female continued to send additional money through her own bank. The female victim was devastated to learn that the relationship was deceitful and she had been victim to this scheme.
Halton Regional Police are reminding residents to be vigilant when communicating with anyone online, especially using online dating sites.
Please be cognizant of romance scam relationships and be suspicious of the following scenarios;
• Anyone you are not familiar with wanting you to send them money via wire transfer or through your bank.
• Asking to communicate with you outside the dating service or email.
• Requesting your address to send you flowers or gifts. Never give out your address or personal information.
• Claims they live in Canada or the U.S., but they are currently travelling, living or working abroad.
• Refers to your relationship as “destiny” or “fate.”
• Soon after initiating the relationship, outlines an emergency situation pleading you to assist them financially.
Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call 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
May 15th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If there was ever any doubt that thieves regularly steal your identity any way they can – read on.
On Wednesday May 13, 2015 at 6:45am a Halton Regional Police uniform officer on patrol at Motel 6, located at 4345 North Service Road in the City of Burlington observed a motor vehicle that had been recently reported stolen by Ottawa Police. The vehicle was stopped and the occupants subsequently arrested.
Further investigation revealed the two female occupants in the vehicle were also in possession of several pieces of counterfeit government identification, stolen credit cards and a small quantity of marihuana.
Accused:
Line PHRAND, 55 years, from St.Andre D’Argenteuil, Quebec
Cynthia GILBERT, 38 years, from Montreal, Quebec
have both been charged with:
Possession of Stolen Property over $5000
Unauthorized Possession of Credit Card Data
Possession of Identity Theft Documents
Possession of Counterfeit Mark
Possession of a Controlled Substance
Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call 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 Pepper Parr
May 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington just may have witnessed the beginning of a tradition last night at the BEST awards occasion where seven of our citizens were recognized for their contributions to the betterment of the city.
 Dwight Ryan claims he got the white sports coat at Variety Village – on sale – he couldn’t pass up a bargain For the second year in a row Dwight Ryan served as Master of Ceremonies where he brought a self-deprecating dry wit to the evening.
Ryan will never be known for his sartorial flair – he claimed the jacket he was wearing was bought at Variety Village where he got it “on sale”. He then added that the white sports coat he wore the previous year was also bought on sale.
At that point Burlington’s MP Mike Wallace slipped onto the stage and pulled that white sports coat out of a plastic bag and of course Dwight Ryan put it on. A prank that was consistent with the way Wallace enjoys life. It was heard later that Wallace actually wanted the purple stripped jacket Ryan had been wearing.
Expect both Dwight Ryan and that white sports coat to show up next year; it is going to become the tie that gets given year after year at Christmas.
The presenting of awards to seven of Burlington’s BEST was a fast paced event that had everyone on their way out the door by nine. Ryan hung around for a while – he apparently wanted people to see him in all his splendour.
The nominees for 2014 BEST awards were:
Citizen of the Year – Angelo Bentivegna, Ron Foxcroft, Maibritt Bergman
Senior Citizen of the Year – Esperanza Peacock, Helen Deadder, Bonnie Purkis
Junior Citizen of the Year – Kevin Han, Caitlyn Kay, Connor Fraser
Environmental Award – Susan Fraser, Monte Dennis
Heritage Person of the Year – Alan Harrington, Mary Jane Pilling, the late Dave Morris
Arts Person of the Year – Chris Giroux, John Kemp, Leslie Gray, Tomy Bewick
Community Service Award – IronDames Group, Mary Nichol, Bob Vandenberg, Christine Karczmarczyk
 From left to right: Mary Nicol, Tomy Bewick. Bonnie Purkis, Ron Foxcroft, Kevin Ham, wife of the late Dave Morris and Susan Fraser. The winners were:
Artsperson: Tomy Bewick
Heritage Person of the Year: the late Dave Morris
Community Service Award: Mary Nichol
Environmental Award: Susan Fraser
Junior Citizen of the Year: Kevin Han
Senior Citizen of the Year: Bonnie Purkis
Citizen of the Year: Ron Foxcroft
Both the nominees and the city of Burlington were all winners
By Staff
May 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It is week #4 for Halton Regional Police, Burlington station “Fugitive Friday” initiative. This is the police reaching out to the community and asking for help in locating wanted persons and holding 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 will share information on a wanted person hoping the public can assist in locating the individual.
 Scottie Ryerson. Burlington police detachments Friday Fugitive In this edition of Fugitive Friday the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for:
Scottie Patrick RYERSON, 28 years old, of Hamilton, ON.
It is alleged:
– In December of 2014 the accused was investigated during a traffic stop for operating a Motor Vehicle while his licence was suspended
– Upon arrest a quantity of Heroin and Methamphetamines were located in the accused’s possession as well as a Machete.
– Further investigation revealed the accused was already on a form of release with Hamilton Police Service for Possession of Drugs – Methamphetamines as well as Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
– The accused was released on an Undertaking and was required to attend court on April 24th, 2015 in Milton which he failed to do and a warrant was issued for his arrest
He is now wanted for:
Possession of a Schedule I Drug (2 counts) – Heroin and Amphetamines
Breach of Undertaking (3 counts)
Fail to Appear Court
The accused is on an alarming pace racking up 11 current charges before the courts since December of 2014.
The accused is known to frequent areas of Halton Region as well as Hamilton and the surrounding area.
Scottie RYERSON is described as 5’8”, 165 lbs, blue eyes and brown hair.
RYERSON has several tattoos (Left forearm – Punisher skull, Right forearm – blade, skull with flames and the name Kaylee-Ann, Neck – Chain around his neck.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in identifying 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).
By Staff
May 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Three City of Burlington employees were engaged in landscaping work on a centre island median on Walkers Line, south of Berton Avenue.
At 9:30 am, the driver of a northbound Nissan Pathfinder lost control of the vehicle and mounted the island median.
 Scene of the accident that seriously injured three city employees who were working on the median island. The Nissan struck all three landscapers, then came to rest on the grass at the east side of the roadway.
Two males, age 19 and 22, were transported to Hamilton General Hospital with critical injuries. They are presently in stable condition.
The third worker, a 34 year old female, was transported to Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The 51 year old male driver was not injured.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, but police have ruled out alcohol and cellular device usage. The police have not released the name of the driver of the Nissan.
This investigation is continuing and police are requesting anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Greg Cormier at 905-825-4747 ext. 5066.
 By Ray Rivers
May 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
When things go off the rails who do you call? Lisa Raitt, of course. Canada’s transport minister, was the woman on the job at the annual parliamentary press gallery dinner, as she rescued Green Party leader Elizabeth May from herself.
 Fortunately MP Elizabeth May has a good government pension which she will need because she will never make a living as a stand up comic. May, suffering from lack of sleep, had been at the microphone ranting about the sorry state of the fourth (fifth?) political party in Canada. Then she experienced a Rob Ford moment, trying to make something humorous out of Canada’s mistreatment and neglect of native son Omar Khadr. She had planned to play the theme song from a ’70’s sitcom – “Welcome Back Kotter”, and was hauled off the stage while screaming that Khadr had more integrity than the whole ‘f**king’ Harper Cabinet.
It was a dumb trick – no wonder it didn’t work for her. There is absolutely no connection between the fictional teacher Kotter and our child-soldier Khadr. The names are spelled differently and they don’t even sound the same. The crowd watched in disbelief as May’s little stunt collapsed like a deflated balloon. And May then had to be ushered off the stage by fellow east-coaster and parliamentary buddy, Raitt.
The parliamentary press gallery dinners have been troublesome and ofttimes embarrassing for Canada’s leaders over the years since the 1870’s when they first started. The idea of a forum for some good fun involving self-depreciation and ‘roasting’ of political leaders is similar to the US White House Correspondence Dinner, which it pre-dates by almost half a century.
William Lyon MacKenzie King used the event to announce his resignation. Pierre Trudeau apparently hated attending the dinners. Stephen Harper used to attend while in opposition, appearing once as a convincing Darth Vader, perhaps foretelling where he planned to take the nation if elected But he is AWOL now, as PM.
Elizabeth May has had an impressive record as a champion of the environment, even before she came to lead the two-seat Green Party. A one-time advisor to Mulroney’s environment minister Tom McMillan, she was instrumental in the creation of several national parks. May was awarded the the Order of Canada in 2005 and Newsweek magazine named her “one of the world’s most influential women” in 2010.
 Minister of Transportation Lisa Raitt, got fellow MP Elizabeth May off the stage at a Press Gallery dinner where her speech stunt flopped badly. Her buddy, Lisa Raitt, on the other hand has a more mixed biography, clouded by actions during her time as head of Toronto’s Port Authority. Her tenure as natural resources minister in the Harper Cabinet was awkward, given her unfortunate outburst during the shut down of the reactor at Chalk River. As Labour Minister she is credited with causing an airport workers’ wildcat strike when she called for the RCMP to arrest the workers.
Harper moved Raitt to the transport ministry following the Lac Mégantic train disaster, to give the appearance that his government was doing something. And the government is finally doing something about banning those unsafe tank cars, knowingly used for decades for this dangerous cargo; informing communities when these oil trains pass though; and re-confirming no exemptions for minimum train crews – to help ensure that trains would be properly braked, unlike the one that broke free and crashed, causing the Lac Mégantic tragedy.
Omar Khadr, is the Canadian-born child soldier, shot and captured by American soldiers in Afghanistan, before growing up as an inmate at the US torture academy at Guantanamo Bay. His release on bail was followed by a media conference where he appeared humbled, promising Canadians he’d be a better person. He had been well primed and appeared credible, if not cuddly. Was that the welcome back moment May was championing?
 A boy of 15 on a battlefield where everyone was shooting at everyone gets charged with murder when someone was killed as the result of a grenade the 15 year old boy threw – for this the Canadian government wants to keep him in jail? This one-time child-soldier, born into a politically activist family with roots in the middle east, had spent most of his life somewhere other than Canada. I don’t know if tossing a grenade in self-defence at a gun-fight with American invaders in a lawless country like Afghanistan is much of a crime. But holding children as extra-judicial military prisoners sure is.
In retrospect he probably shouldn’t have been there (Afghanistan), but history will show that neither should the Americans who shot and then held him prisoner for as long as they did. Omar Khadr has had a tough life growing up and had been poorly treated – by the Americans and his own parents – but he is hardly a hero worthy of praise. And while he is now in the country of his birth, Canada is barely his home. No wonder May’s skit flopped.
Background links:
Elizabeth May May and Khadr Lisa Raitt Omar Khadr
Welcome Back Kotter White House Correspondents
 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.
By Pepper Parr
May 14 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
We asked staff at MPP Eleanor McMahon’s office to provide us with some background material on the Health and Physical Education curriculum – referred by many as the “sex ed” course and were given and referred to the following material that clarifies some common misconceptions about what the curriculum will be teaching our children – including addressing concerns about the age-appropriateness of the content.
It also serves to explain that many parts of the curriculum are currently being taught as part of the 1998 curriculum.
 McMahon comes from a family with strong core values and social convictions – she believes government has a role to play in ensuring our young are given the information they need to make informed decisions. The safety and wellbeing of Ontario’s students is our government’s top priority, and we believe that students need to have the best information possible so they can make informed decisions.
The revised curriculum documents for Health and Physical Education, Grades 1 to 8, 2015 and Health and Physical Education, Grades 9 to 12, 2015, are available on the Ministry of Education website and can be accessed by the public (www.edu.gov.on.ca)
Most parents don’t have the time or the inclination to spend hours wading through at times turgid government reports. They want to know, in simple language they can understand and easily grasp – ‘what are teachers telling my children’.
Well-being is a core component of the government’s renewed vision for education and we are committed to the success, safety and well-being of every student and child. The Health and Physical Education curriculum that is currently being used has not been updated since 1998 – this is over 15 years old – and the world has changed. Technology concepts such as Smartphones, “Snapchat” and sexting were not familiar to anyone, let alone children and teenagers.
In our increasingly interconnected world, students often get information from unreliable and inaccurate sources. The classroom is a safe place for children to learn, and Ontario teachers are professional trained to teach sensitive material. Our students deserve a curriculum that is current, relevant and age-appropriate to give them the best information possible to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
 McMahon: a capacity to listen. The revision of these curriculum documents is the result of work done through an extensive review process. This process was guided by research on current instructional approaches specific to this discipline, expert advice from academics, benchmarking and comparisons of the curriculum with that of other national and international jurisdictions.
It involved extensive consultation with parents, students, teachers, faculties of education, universities, colleges and numerous stakeholder groups including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Ontario Public Health Association and the Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition. More than 70 health-related organizations submitted reports for consideration, and thousands of parents provided their input.
That means a parent in every elementary school across Ontario, representing all four publically funded school boards, was provided with an opportunity to provide input.
Parents and educators play critical and complementary roles to support student safety and well-being. Recognizing this, our government has begun developing a series of resources for parents, which provide information on the Health and Physical Education curriculum and ideas for supporting learning at home.
 McMahon is in the community and of the community where she has to stick handle some awkward issues – how is she doing so far? Eleanor McMahon believes that parents should still have their own conversations about sexual health with their children, particularly when it comes to personal values. Nothing can replace the love, care and concern of a parent. But she also believes the best way to ensure our children are getting the most accurate, fact-based, up-to-date and age-appropriate information is through a Health and Physical Education curriculum that has been informed by experts, research, educators and parents together.
By Staff
May 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington, Ont.—May 14, 2015—The City of Burlington is saddened today to share news about an incident that took place this morning involving city employees.
A vehicle struck three Roads and Parks Maintenance employees while they were working outside on Walkers Line near Dundas Street. Two staff have been taken to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries and a third was taken to Joseph Brant Hospital with minor injuries.
The city is not sharing the names of the employees until the families have been informed.
“This is heartbreaking news,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the employees who have been injured and with their families.”
Mayor Goldring and Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster visited the injured workers at the hospital. Other Roads and Parks Maintenance staff have been called back to their offices where two crisis counsellors will be available. Counselling is also available to any city staff person who needs support.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
 By Pepper Parr
May 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The only thing they didn’t have at the Art Gallery of Burlington Annual General Meeting last night was a hat check person – and they needed one.
Anne Swarbrick, changed hats so often that it was difficult to tell just what her title was at any one point in time.
 Anne Swarbrick, back to being chair of the Art Gallery Burlington Foundation During the past year the AGB has gone through significant changes along with the realization that the balance sheet was a little lop sided with the revenue part of that document nowhere near as high as it needed to be.
Swarbrick who was the Chair of the AGB Foundation had to be brought in as the interim Executive Director to run the AGB on a day to day basis while the chair of the AGB itself Sandra Edrupt kept things on an even keel.
Former Executive Director Ian Ross left the organization and Treasurer Paul MacDiarmid worked with the gallery staff to re-align some of those numbers.
 Sandra Edrupt, Chair of the Art Gallery Burlington Swarbrick and Edrupt worked as one of the most effective tag teams this city has seen in some time and convinced city council to make available the funds needed to cover the short fall for the next couple of years.
Council literally poured funds – more than $100,000 a year for two years into the bucket Swarbrick and Edrupt had brought with them. It was an impressive performance.
Newly anointed Executive Director Robert Steven learned that the woodworking guild was in the process of building him a new desk.
 Robert Steven, newly appointed Executive Director Art Gallery Burlington The meeting was one of the best run the Gazette has seen – the procedures they followed covered all the bases.
We will report further on just where the Art |Gallery needs and wants to go in the next three to five years.
Is there anything the Board or the city wants to say about the city owned property the art gallery sits on?
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