 By Staff
December 6, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
An observant citizen wrote to say: “For the second time in the past few weeks Burlington Fire is attending to a problem in the electrical/control (?) room under the pier. They’ve been there for over an hour so far tonight.
Sure hope it’s under warranty!
 The public gets some value from their $20 million pier as they watch Tall Ships prepare to sail into Burlington Bay. From the people that worked on version one of the pier: “I believe it’s a tail light policy. You have warranty until you can’t see Grahams tail lights.”
Graham was the company that completed the pier.
Are we looking at a lemon here?
 By Staff
December 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – we have heard this one before – the plans to build a high-speed rail line that will connect Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Toronto. It will improve travel options, reduce travel time and – oh yes – create jobs by getting people moving. Everything the government does
The start of an integrated environmental assessment (EA) marks the next phase of the project, which includes identifying the most appropriate route, examining state-of-the-art transportation technology options and an environmental evaluation.
The EA will be guided by consultations in early 2015 with municipal and business groups, as well as with First Nation and Métis communities.
 Shape of things to come? High-speed rail service connecting Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Toronto is part of the government’s long-term transit and infrastructure plan, Moving Ontario Forward. This plan will make nearly $29 billion available over the next 10 years for investments in priority infrastructure projects across the province, including public transit, roads, bridges and highways.
The Mayor of London, Matt Brown thinks it’s a great idea. “This is fantastic news for London. High-speed rail will benefit many vital economic sectors in London. We look forward to working with the province on this initiative.”
Let’s make a note on this initiative – see if it gets much beyond the Environmental Assessment stage.
 By Staff
December 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Sunday – starts at 2:00 pm and winds its way down Guelph Line – starting at Prospect and ending up at city hall – the Ho, Ho, Ho man himself. Santa will be at the end of the parade waving away.
 NEW! Vote online for your favorite float. The 2014 People’s Choice Award voting will begin on December 7, 2014. (Link to vote on line wasn’t available at time of publication – when it is available we will pass it along,)
 Mayor Goldring always shows up; this time he was collecting for the Old Timer’s Hockey Team Last year the People’s Choice Award Winner was Keller Williams Edge Realty.
Hosted by the City of Burlington, the 49th annual Christmas Parade features entries including bands, colourful floats, clowns and mascots; paid for out of the float fees the city charges.
Kids will line streets; many of the same community groups will be in the parade. Some of the residents on streets that butt into New Street park vehicles at the intersection and have hot chocolate – we saw a hibachi lat year,
 The hustle and bustle of the malls can never dull the real message – it is always the same. That’s the way it is supposed to be.
 By Pepper Parr
December 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Shelley Raymond had a problem – both her parents were at that point in their lives when they needed a level of care she had not had to provide in the past.
Her Mother’s Alzheimer’s was advanced and her Father’s dementia while stable, made life demanding for her.
Where do they live when they can no longer care for themselves? There is nothing comfortable about the choices people like Shelley Raymond have to make.
 Seniors will represent more than 25% of the population of Burlington in the not too distant future. More than 14% of Canada’s population is over 65 and that number is going to grow – the Baby Boomers are moving into retirement.
Long term care is one option. According the Ms Raymond, a senior today has a 7% chance of getting a long term care bed,
 Will Burlington be properly prepared for the growth in the seniors population? Staying home, alone is the choice many make – but it doesn’t work. The isolation leads to depression; memory loss creates all kinds of problems – medication isn’t taken; repairs on the house just don’t get done; there are challenges with food preparation and falling down stairs or tripping over objects is very common.
Many, including Shelley Raymond believe the province faces a long term care crisis.
Seniors need some level of support for daily living activities – cooking, cleaning, shopping, transportation and medication reminders. Most seniors want to remain independent as long as possible; many try to remain independent and do themselves considerable harm both emotionally and financially.
 A vital and pressing problem for a lot of families in Burlington. Finding the level of care parents need is just one part of the problem – being able to pay for that care is the second part. The over-riding question is – how long will the money last?
What’s available in terms of care? Long term care facilities: $78 a day – $2400 a month for a private room; $56 a day for basic care – $1707 a month.
 Depressing and scary – is this the best the province is going to be able to do? Retirement homes come in at $3500 a month and can run up to $8000 a month with advanced services. These are now growth businesses. The Pearl at Pine is preparing to open seen, the six floor residence on Upper Middle Road next to the Tansley Woods community centre has been open for more than a year and Aldershot has a new retirement community.
The other options are staying in your home or moving in with family.
For those who choose to stay in their homes there is an additional issue and that is home care offered by the province’s Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). There are limits to the number of people they can handle – the number of senior’s that will need care is not as limited. There is a crunch coming.
There are literally tens of thousands of seniors facing this problem – and they are beginning to realize that the government is not going to solve their problem for them. People are coming up with good ideas – that’s what Shelly Raymond had to do when her parents needed care.
Remember that television program The Golden Girls – they are on the way back. Sharing accommodation was an entertaining idea – Shelley Raymond took it a couple of steps further and developed the idea of what she calls “co-housing”.
 Top house was renovated to become a cohouse. Bottom was purpose built to be a cohouse. She created an organization called Solterra that works with people who want to be part of a co-housing property. She looks for properties that can be used, works with architects to build the homes, markets them and then works with owners to get them set up with the services they want and need. Much more information on their web site. Tell Shelly you read about her in the Burlington Gazette.
People share the ownership of a building. Each resident has their own private space and share common space – kitchens, living room and perhaps gardens.
 Floor plan for a six unit cohouse. Typical “co-houses” have four to six owners. Each owner has title to their portion of the house which can be sold on the open market. They share the taxes, the heating and electricity, maintenance.
 The kitchen area of a cohouse in Brechin Ontario There is also the potential to share household services as well – which many of the cohousing operations do. Someone comes in and does the cleaning; some have a person who comes in and does the cooking and meal preparation. There are various levels of service that are possible. The owners decide what they want and can afford.
Most of the units have small walk outs to a private yard in some cases or a common area in others. Parking, transportation – and what about pets.
The basic rule is usually no pets but the owners of the units are the “board of directors” and they can make any decision they like. “One cohousing operation voted to try a pet for a short period of time” explained Raymond. Sally, the dog is now the star of that house and has put in twenty pounds.
The biggest part of co-housing is the “co” part – decisions are made in common and people fashion the kind of community they want.
 Owners bring their own furniture and set up their home the way they want. How does one know that cohousing will work for them? Most of the cohousing organizations have a three month trial period. You move in – you pay “rent” and try it out. If you find that the people are your kind of people and the level of service is what you need – then you can buy your share of the house.
What are the advantages of cohousing? Financially they are incredible. Heating, electricity, taxes, maintenance are all shared by the people living in the home. And those people are not residents – they are the owners. The difference is that they share the ownership of the property. The house is not a nursing home – it belongs to the people who live in it.
They are purchasing a percentage interest in a home, freehold that is individually saleable on the open market, registered on title as Tenants in Common. It is a private residence in which you maintain your privacy and control
The Burlington Community Foundation recently published their third Vital Signs report in which they said “There will be greater emphasis on shifting care to the community and supporting aging in place. Home Care and Community Support Service agencies will support more elderly people with complex and often inter-related health and social care needs to remain in or return to their homes, especially after a hospitalization.
The report suggested Coordinated Care as an approach that will bring together patients, teams of health professionals including specialists, community partners, to ensure not only a positive health outcome but also a quality of life outcome for patients.
If current trends persist, there will continue to be a shortage of long-term care beds and this will result in more seniors staying in their homes out of necessity rather than personal choice and need. The hope is that substantially more spaces in long-term care homes will be created so that waiting lists and wait durations get smaller rather than larger.
 The layout, scope and size of a cohouse is limited only by the imagination of the developers ad the people who want to live in these homes. Neighbourhood planning and building design will take into account the accessibility needs of seniors both in terms of mobility and to reduce the isolation of seniors. This will continue as part of the movement to develop age-friendly communities; something we have not heard very much from the Planning Department.
 This is what cohousing is all about. It is one of the more imaginative and financially viable ideas to come along in some time. And that is exactly where Shelly Raymond is going with her Solterra concept.
When she spoke recently in Burlington there were a number of women in the room who met with her after and asked – “How can we do this now?”
 By Ray Rivers
December 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The good old Soviet Union used to control its media for the good of the Fatherland, strengthening national spirt and resolve, and helping its people feel good about their otherwise miserable lives. After all, the Soviet empire was the inspiration for George Orwell’s classic epic ‘1984’.
The moderately free Russian press in the post-Soviet years has virtually now disappeared, after a decade or so of Mr. Putin leading the nation. And last year, after Ukraine’s corrupt Russian-puppet president fled to Moscow, Putin’s propaganda machine went into action, especially in Crimea and the Dunbas, areas where significant numbers of Russian speaking Ukrainians live.
Those folks were warned about Ukraine’s Neo-Nazi’s taking over Kiev’s streets, banning the Russian tongue and committing unspeakable crimes. The bigger the lie, the more likely it will be believed. They say ‘communication is the answer’ but in Ukraine’s case, without a trusted national and bilingual (Russian and Ukrainian) broadcaster, there was no way to counter the lies and to communicate the truth.
 CBC – the public broadcaster that covers the country in two languages. Canada, the UK and the USA all have public broadcast networks funded in part by combinations of advertising, donations or license fees, and public funding. In Canada’s case the CBC gets about a billion dollars a year, about two-thirds of its revenue, from the federal government. For that the corporation operates a network covering the entire country in our two official languages, as well as in a number of aboriginal tongues where needed, to make sure we all get the news.
Our Harper government has been slashing the CBC’s funding but that is not enough for the critics of the CBC, who voice that the service should be spun off, privatized or sold. They would like nothing better than to see such drastic budget cuts until a poverty-stricken and handicapped broadcaster fails, opening more air space for others, like the mega-sized and horizontally-integrated Bell media giant. The recent Ghomeshi mess has played into their hands, casting doubts on the capabilities of senior management, and further disillusioning an already skeptical public.
 A graphic that will be remembered by many in Burlington. Objectivity and fairness used to be the two pillars of broadcasting. The US first passed the Fairness Doctrine in 1949, requiring balanced reporting in all national media. This centrepiece of US broadcast policy was upheld by the courts until 1987, when President Reagan killed the doctrine in the name of free speech. So today the majority of Americans listen to the Australian-owned (Rupert Murdock) extremely right-wing FOX news. ‘Fair and balanced’ is the ironic logo of FOX, which is anything but.
It is arguable whether public attitudes in the US have been influenced by FOX or its philosophically opposed competitor, MSNBC. But why would anyone be surprised that we are undergoing an evolution in our thinking? I mean, most Russians believe that current Ukrainian leaders, including their Jewish prime minster, are Neo-Nazi’s – say a lie enough times and anyone will believe it.
The mandate of the CBC, here in Canada, does not specifically require fairness but the assumption of objectivity is inherent, since primary funding comes from Parliament. It is common place for conservative-minded critics to accuse the media of holding a ‘liberal’ bias – an accusation that flies in the face of the abundance of right-wing media (Sun, National Post, CTV) and so many of the various CBC news folk themselves (e.g. Senator Pamela Wallen or Peter Kent). And no objective review of CBC programs or personalities has ever shown significant bias, liberal or otherwise.
 Did Canadians get the information they needed during the Quebec referendum debates? If they did – they got it from the CBC. Compared to the BBC, with federal subsidy (collected through mandatory household licence fees) of over six billion dollars, the billion federal dollars to maintain the CBC doesn’t seem outrageous. Our Prime Minister spent more than that just to host the week-long G-20/G-8 summit back in 2010.
And for that money the CBC is the largest broadcaster in Canada and the only one with a specific mandate to promote Canadian culture. Its reach extends internationally as well as across Canada – making the broadcaster Canada’s best global ambassador. The CBC production “Little Mosque on the Prairie”, for example, has been syndicated world-wide including in Israel, The West Bank and Gaza.
When in the grip of either of our own sovereignty crises, the two Quebec referenda, every Canadian knew, at least, that they were getting the straight and honest goods – consistently and accurately. The decisions they ultimately made at the ballot box were based on all of the information, not just some separatist propaganda. Worth a billion dollars? Well why not just ask the Ukrainians what they think?
 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 against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Background links:
CBC Factum US Fairness Dotrine US Freedom of Expression CBC Broadcasting
CBC Comment CBC Public Opinion CBC Information Ghomeshi and CBC BBC
 By Staff
December 4, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
A house ablaze Christmas Day is terrifying – and it happens all too frequently. People are careless, the electrical system is overloaded or something gets bumped off the stove and there is a sudden fire.
The Burlington Fire Department is offering residents some simple fire and life safety tips that will keep families safe during the winter holiday season.
 This is not where fire fighters want to be anytime – and certainly not during the holidays. “This is the time of year when we see an increase in fire-related risks. Many people don’t realize that some decorating materials can be extremely flammable,” said Joe Wintar, chief fire prevention officer. “Consider opting for safer alternatives for lighting like battery operated candles.”
With the arrival of winter weather, residents are reminded to help keep homes and workplaces clear of snow.
“Having unrestricted access to your home in the event of an emergency is very important,” said Wintar. “Clearing snow buildup away from hydrants, house numbers as well as vents on the outside of your home are a just few ways to stay safe during heavy snowfall.”
A fire hydrant in front of one home may protect properties on either side of the street. Wintar says neighbours should consider sharing the responsibility of clearing the hydrant. Residents are also encouraged to ensure house numbers are visible, especially in the rural areas where there can be blowing snow. It’s always advisable to check in on elderly or disabled neighbours to help with snow removal.
Here are few simple tips to follow to keep your home winter-safe:
Ensure the fire hydrant is clearly visible for approaching emergency vehicles and maintain a one metre clearance for firefighter access.
Clear snow away from exterior doors and stairways to allow for a quick and safe emergency exit
Prevent snow and ice from gathering on outside meters to give access for emergency and utility workers.
High and medium-efficiency furnaces and water heaters have vents that exit the building through outside walls rather than through the roof. Keep vents clear, as carbon monoxide can build up inside your home if the vents are blocked.
 A house on fire on Christmas Day – a true tragedy. Note quite the Twelve Days of Christmas but certainly 12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety tips:
1. Water fresh trees daily.
2. Check all lights before decorating for wear and compatibility.
3. Make sure you have working smoke alarms.
4. Make sure you have working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms; As of Nov. 1, it’s the law.
5. Have, and practice, a fire escape plan so everyone knows how to get out safely.
6. Use extension cords wisely.
7. Give space heaters space, and keep them away from surfaces and anything that could catch fire.
8. Go flameless and use flameless candles.
9. Keep matches and lighters away from children.
10. Keep an eye on your cooking. Stay in the kitchen and pay attention.
11. Ask smokers to smoke outside.
12. Alcohol and fire don’t mix. If you’ve been drinking, avoid smoking and cooking.
The Burlington Fire department wants you and your family to have a happy, safe holiday. They expect Santa to be visiting your home – they do not want to have to visit your home.
 By Pepper Parr
December 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
For those parents that use day care – the decisions that have to be made are both emotional and financial.
For many – the cost of day care is close to prohibitive – and then there is the quality of the day care.
News reports of children in day care actually dying – and it does happen – frighten parents. For those with limited incomes the choices are not all that good.
 The joy of watching a child figuring something out – in a safe environment. The province of Ontario has introduced legislation that will provide over sight for unlicensed day care.
The legislation will strengthen oversight of the province’s unlicensed child care sector and increase access to licensed child care options for families. In addition, it will allow the province to immediately shut down a child care provider when a child’s safety is at risk.
The Child Care Modernization Act also:
Gives the province the authority to issue administrative penalties of up to $100,000 per infraction by a child care provider.
Increases the maximum penalty for illegal offences under the act from $2,000 to $250,000.
Increases the number of children a licensed home-based child care provider can care for from five to six.
Clarifies what programs and activities are exempt from licensing requirements, including care provided by relatives, babysitters, nannies and camps that provide programs for school-age children.
Requires all private schools that care for more than five children under the age of four to be licensed as a child care centre.
Amends the Education Act to ensure school boards offer before- and after-school programs for 6 to12 year-olds where there is sufficient demand.
 Activities that keep them busy and learning at the same time. Is this the first step to getting into poker games? The legislation builds on steps that Ontario has already taken to improve oversight of child care. This includes the creation of a dedicated enforcement team to investigate complaints against unlicensed providers, as well as an online searchable registry – paired with a toll-free number – to inquire about unlicensed child care violations.
It is another layer of government that will have to be paid for by the government. There was a time when there was pressure to create a Canada wide day care service with subsidies. The province has a service that started out costing $5 per day per child. Ontario has never flirted with that kind of an idea.
Ontario has 5,069 licensed child care centres in the province with a total capacity of 317,868 spaces; 166,429 of those spaces are in publicly funded schools.
 Keeping them safe and ensuring that they can be outside getting fresh air and exercise is the objective. Keeping the costs bearable is the challenge. Starting in 2014-15, the government is investing an additional $33.6 million, over three years, to support the ongoing operation and modernization of the child care system –protecting the gains made through the previously announced investment of $346 million over four years.
Additional information:
Four steps to finding the right child care
By Pepper Parr
December 3, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Region of Halton did there Swearing In this morning; they had three new faces. Regional Chair Gary Carr kept his job – he was the best candidate.
Burlington which has seven seats on Regional Council, sent the same gang back to the Regional arena; Goldring, Craven, Meed Ward, Taylor Dennison, Sharman and Lancaster will warm the seats
Halton Hills did the same thing; they returned Mayor Rick Bonnette and Councillors Clark Somerville and Jane Fogal.
The Town of Milton has three Regional Council seats and returned Mayor Gordon Krantz, Councillor Mike Cluett, a new member of the Milton council and Colin Best.
The Town of Oakville has seven Regional seats and they returned newly elected Sean O’Meara and Dave Gittings along with Mayor Rob Burton, Cathy Duddeck, Allan Elgar, Jeff Knoll and Tom Adams.
 During this term of Regional Council there will “likely be a review” of the municipal representation at Regional Council. Milton is badly under represented and will want additional representation.
While there is as yet no known schedule in place as to when the changes in Regional Council seats might be made – they won’t come into effect until the 2018 election.
What could this mean to Burlington where every council member is also a member of the Regional Council – and half of their pay cheque comes from the Region?
Could Burlington end up with fewer regional seats? That would mean a realignment of the six wards we now have if the policy were to have every member of council also a regional Councillors is maintained.
If Burlington went to a practice of having some members of council not be members of Regional council that would mean a 50% cut in pay. Who would run for a council seat for basically $50,000 a year? And what would the voters get in terms of quality representation for that kind of money.
It’s a question that will get raised at the Regional level during this term of office. Milton is going to want better representation.
By Pepper Parr
December 3, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
City hall reports that building permit applications received in 2014 is the second highest on record. The steady construction activity represents an estimated construction value of $383,619,068 to date.
“Burlington has had consistently steady and strong construction activity over the past five years,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure. “By the end of this year, we anticipate the construction value will surpass the $400 million mark.
 Even in their wildest imaginations – the Alton family would never have thought those farm fields would look like this – imagine the increase in value. “This level of activity reflects the favourable climate that Burlington enjoys in terms of its prosperity and quality of life.” That is one way of putting it – another would be that developers can get pretty much what they want in this city – so they go where the grass is greenest
There has been 1,981 building permit application compared to 1,819 in 2013. The highest number was in 2012 when 2,287 building permit applications were received.
Industrial, commercial and institutional sectors account for almost 50 per cent of building permits and inspections activity while the residential sector—such as single-family dwellings, semi-detached and townhouses—represent 33 per cent of construction activity. The renovations sector makes up 17 per cent.
That 50% number doesn’t square with what we have heard at Standing Committee meetings; has the city co-mingled inspection reports with permit applications?
 The controversial Ghent Street development added to the building permit applications. We have consistently heard that the city is falling behind in the commercial-industrial sector – so where does the 50% number come from? The 2014 Construction Activity Annual Report will be published in January – they might need a close look.
Scott Stewart, the odds on favourite to be named the next city manager said: “The diversification of the types of construction portrays a more sustainable economic picture than a decade or two ago when subdivisions represented most of the city’s economic activity”.
By Pepper Parr
December 3, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
He didn’t get it off on his best foot. Mayor Goldring reminded the audience at the Inauguration of the 2014-18 Council that the last time he was on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre he was playing the piano – “and I was terrible” he said.
 Ron Foxcroft on the right explaining to Mayor Goldring that talent was needed to get the job done. He was preceded by keynote speaker Ron Foxcroft who was funnier and agreed with the Mayor that the city had a fine council to go forward with. The city was now in a position to “elevate its game”.
The Honourable Mr. Justice Dale Fitzpatrick commissioned the declarations of office. The members of Council weren’t actually sworn in they just read a statement saying they would basically behave and do the best they could. They all said that last time.
This Inauguration was the first held outside city hall – and it was a decent event. The seats certainly weren’t filled and about 20% of the 400 in the audience were city hall staff – but it was a good idea and should become a tradition for the city.
All the notables were there – but surprisingly – the only candidate who did not win election was Carol Gottlob who ran in ward 4 against Jack Dennison. Every member of Burlington’s council was re-elected which Foxcroft thought was great – there were now no trainees on Council was how he put it. They were all seasoned veterans.
Rick Goldring said all the right things; he thanked the 61 people, who stepped up as candidates to put their names on the ballot for Regional Chair, Mayor, Council and School Board in the 2014 Municipal Election. “Putting your name on a ballot is an act of courage and a true testament to your commitment and love for Burlington. You put your ideas, reputations, and yourselves on the line, offering to serve your community and share your skill and passion. This is democracy at its best.”
He congratulated his council colleagues: Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster. Each was applauded when they were introduced; had there been an applause meter Meed Ward would have been the hands down winner.
 During the election campaign the Mayor chose not to address his citizens on the steps of city hall because it would be seen as campaigning. The issue was one of changing the way the world treats the planet; it was a bigger issue than municipal politics. Daring to be a Daniel was just not within the Mayor’s comfort zone. we will all pay for this. “Your successful election campaigns are” said the Mayor “an endorsement of your tireless efforts and results. We must continue to work diligently and collaboratively, to earn the trust of our constituents. We have been provided a mandate collectively to continue to serve our fellow citizens to address the issues, opportunities and challenges that continue to face us. It is only by working collaboratively, respectfully and in an atmosphere of trust that we can thrive as servants of the residents of Burlington.”
“I firmly believe that holding elected office is an honour and privilege that should never ever be taken for granted. Whether you have served on council for 4 years or 26 years, let us never forget how and why we ended up here. At the same time, we all have to realize that we must make decisions that balance current and future needs.”
“We have to be leaders, not politicians, and be ready to make decisions that may not necessarily be popular in the short term. Getting re-elected should not be our goal. Serving the 180,000 residents of our community is the lens that we need to look through and at the same time be ready to hear and listen to all views on all issues that may result in revised and enhanced decisions.”
“In our decision making,” the Mayor continued, “we must embrace differences in view points and opinions. Having every major decision be unanimous is not our goal. Having thoughtful, informed, forthright, and respectful dialogue is our objective, not just among ourselves, but also with city staff and the community.”
“While we have done great work together, we have much more ahead of us and the community has heightened expectations for us to realize.” The Mayor did get that one right.
My Vision for Burlington
Goldring said: “In the last 4 years and during the election campaign, I have connected and had dialogue with 1000s of residents. Residents made positive comments and some suggestions for improvement. What I heard and I believe we all heard is that our residents love living in Burlington and are proud of their community.”
“My vision for Burlington builds on our past achievements and on where we need to be: a community that is healthy, sustainable, prosperous, safe, inclusive, caring and fun, and has a strong sense of who it is; balancing the vibrancy and amenities of a modern 21st century city with a distinctly rural character that is nestled in majestic and natural splendor is a big part of who we are.”
It is indeed a very big part of who we are – but we are more than our geography and the Mayor did get it when he said, “this balance is manifested in a true, ‘community’ feel, which is best represented by our waterfront, where young and old celebrate large scale, world class festivals, intimate community events, or through a simple stroll, jog, bicycle ride, roller blade, or reflection.”
 Mayor Rick Goldring explaining to Kilbride area residents during the ice storm last year what was being done and the time frames the repair crews were working to in their community. He was also right on when he said “the reality is that Burlington is, in fact, at a critical juncture: we cannot stand still because we have to balance our revenues with the services and infrastructure that residents need us to provide and deliver. We cannot burden ourselves, our children, and future Burlingtonians. The challenge in front of all of us is what we prioritize, how we innovate and design, and what we deliver.”
That was the hint that there are changes coming to tax rates and the level of service we are going to be getting from city hall. Expect some new taxes as well.
The Mayor told his audience that” in the brief time I have with you this evening, I will give you a flavour of the challenges ahead of us. The heavy lifting is to come and we need the involvement of the community.”
Reviewing the words on paper after the Mayor completed the vision portion of his address I felt I was looking at one of those Where’s Waldo puzzles but couldn’t find what I thought was going to be there. I couldn’t find any vision.
Vibrant Neighbourhoods
After decades of unprecedented growth in traditional green field communities like the Orchard and Alton, we have virtually no more room for such development.” Has the Mayor forgotten that Eagle Height is still there, the Evergreen project on Tremaine Road is still there and the city is thinking about converting a lot of employment land to residential. There is a challenge on development – we didn’t hear any ideas as to how this council will address those challenges.
“Councils both current and past” said the Mayor “have been resolute in protecting the 50% of Burlington that is rural and agricultural. The area north of the Dundas/407 corridor with the Mount Nemo plateau, the Bruce Trail, Lowville Park and the unique hamlets of Lowville and Kilbride makes Burlington unique and contributes to the quality of life of the whole city. This area with the tremendous amount green space and woodlots is truly the “lungs” of Burlington. If the rural north is the lungs then downtown is the “heart” and soul of Burlington.
True
“I meet people on a regular basis” said the Mayor “who have moved to our downtown from other areas of Burlington or Canada. They love it. Why – because you can walk everywhere. Shops, services, restaurants, the waterfront, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, the Art Gallery of Burlington and the Joseph Brant Museum all contribute to downtown being one of the most walkable neighbourhoods in Canada.”
 Councillor Meed Ward with Mayor Goldring. When members of council were introduced during the Inaugural Meed Ward got the loudest and most sustained applause. The two will face off in 2018 “We need to apply the same thinking in establishing walkable, compact and amenity rich neighbourhoods in other areas of Burlington. The desire to live in more amenity rich – transit supported neighbourhoods has increased dramatically.”
I wasn’t able to make the connection between being able to walk to most things and how that made Burlington a vibrant city.
“I have been talking about this for the last 4 years” said the Mayor and “ I have realized for the vast majority of people in Burlington there is a disconnection and a lack of understanding about why we are in this position and the benefits of a more urban environment. The context needs to be communicated and we need to engage our residents in this discussion so we can receive input resulting in development that is appropriate for Burlington.”
There will continue to be a disconnect and a lack of understanding; the same seven people who led us for the last four years are going to lead us for the next four years – how will anything different be done?
“We will also be investing in maintaining and improving infrastructure such as roads and technology that can move people and goods more efficiently, while also including bike lanes and enhanced public transportation, to promote healthy living, less traffic, a cleaner environment, and cater to the diverse needs of our community.”
Most of the data in the recently released Vital Signs report suggest just the opposite. We do not use transit; we want to drive our cars and there isn’t going to be a bike lane on Lakeshore Road because council voted against that during the last term.
Prosperity
“As a result of slowing residential growth and residential build out” said the Mayor, “we must strike a new balance between corporate and residential tax revenues by attracting new businesses. This is especially important given our rapidly aging population, which is higher than most neighbouring communities.
“More importantly, these businesses can provide employment opportunities to Burlingtonians who want thriving, challenging, and rewarding career options, but want to work close to home to spend more time with their families or to simply achieve a life balance. Reduced commuting times can also mitigate financial and environmental challenges.”
Noble sentiments – except that the Vital Signs report used data from the Regional government that pointed to the fact that there are now more people working in retail than in manufacturing. No one moved to Burlington to work as a sales clerk in a store or a waiter in a restaurant.
“I also want to encourage and foster entrepreneurship. Such companies create a stunning 80% of new jobs in Canada and create business clusters, which, in turn, attract young people and families.”
“Entrepreneurship” said the Mayor also creates a culture of innovation and creativity that not only fuels those enterprises, but can also cultivate a mindset that can help find better ways for us to live, work, serve each other, collaborate, and govern.”
Excellence in Government
“The Drummond report that was published two years ago commissioned by the Ontario Government discusses the importance of living within our means in an environment of slower growth. The concept of doing more with less will continue and is particularly applicable to Burlington. The transition to Service Based Budgeting for the 2015 fiscal year is not a panacea or cure for all that ails us. However, it does provide us with a framework that will assist in effectively prioritizing, designing, evaluating and funding programs and services that meet the evolving needs of our residents.”
 It didn’t take the Mayor long to realize that the photo ops were the easiest way to create a profile and there was seldom any risk involved. “As an organization we need to and we will continue to embrace the concept and practice of continuous improvement. As individuals, as a team and as a city, there is always room for improvement.”
“Let’s not allow the fact that we are already a very desirable city to live, work, play, raise a family and retire contribute to any complacency.”
“The City of Burlington does not operate isolation. There are many partners that we need to continue to work with in addressing our complex challenges and opportunities including Halton Region, other cities, the province and the federal government.”
“We are fortunate in Burlington to have a spirit of cooperation and collaboration with other orders of government in large part because of the efforts of Gary, Eleanor, Indira and Mike Wallace who are all committed to be bold and innovative in advocating for Burlington.”
This city has to give MP McMahon and keynote speaker Ron Foxcroft a truckload of credit for getting the province to change their mind when they originally said no to the request for financial support for the flood victims.
“The intense storm on August 4 that was unique to Burlington and resulted in flooding to 3500 homes, and the Ice Storm last December, are local evidence confirming the fact that we have to be prepared for warmer, wilder and wetter weather that is extremely unpredictable.”
“On August 4, certain parts of Burlington received as much rainfall in less than a day that was equal to an average July and August combined. Just across the border in Buffalo and western New York, in an area that is used to receiving significant snowfall annually, received the equivalent of one year’s average snowfall, not in the winter months of January or February but in a few days in mid-November. In 9 out of the last 11 years, the insurance industry has paid out more in homeowner claims than they collect in premiums. Currently, Canada is the only G8 country that does not have overland flood insurance for homeowners in the market place.”
“Being a more resilient city should be the goal for every municipality. I assure all of us that Burlington will be a leader, working with the other orders of government, in addressing climate change adaptation.”
It has been evident for some time that Mayor Goldring wants to work with other levels of government; he is in the process of positioning himself on different boards and committees to expand Burlington’s voice. Time will tell if Rick Goldring will prove to be an effective voice should he get where he wants to do.
The Mayor does deserve credit for the initial actions he took once he had a clear understanding as to just how much flood damage had been done. He placed two critical phone calls and got the response he needed. He called Collen Mulholland , president of the Burlington Community Foundation and asked if that organization would take on the task of managing the fund raising drive and then to oversee the distribution of funds that would be raised.
 Burlington’s Mayor thinks through what he does and usually chooses to err on the side of caution. The Mayor then called Ron Foxcroft and asked him if he would lead the fund raising drive. Those two calls were leadership at its best – doing the right thing at the right time. We need to see more of this from the Mayor.
My vision” said the Mayor, “ is to make this city ours. Not yours and not mine but ours. We will do this by working closely with residents to make a city that works for all of us and a city that we continue to be proud to live in.”
“We will need your help to shape the Burlington of the future; we have the opportunity to continue to build and redesign our City to meet the needs of today and the changes needed for tomorrow. There are many opportunities through the Official Plan review process. In concert with the Strategic Plan, this document is the blue print for our City going forward.”
“Even during the best of times, there are always challenges to address that are formidable and daunting. But we are emboldened with confidence given our national recognition as being one of the very best cities to live in Canada. The talents, passion, and leadership of everyone in this room and across our entire community will continue to make Burlington a great city where opportunities abound for everyone.”
“Let us all work together and, over the next four years, make real progress and a real difference for the Burlington of today and tomorrow.”
And with that the audience headed for the bar where the soft drinks were free and you could eat all the cupcakes you wanted.
There was a better table of food at the 2010 Inauguration.
By Pepper Parr
December 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario is taking steps to protect the freedom of people who speak out on matters of public interest. That is certainly good news to Vanessa Warren and Monte Denis who have been served with a libel claim by the owners of the air park for comments they made about the illegal landfill now on air park property.
The Gazette was also a party to that lawsuit that is slowly working its way through the courts.
 The Air Park has dumped tons of landfill on their property without site plan approval from the city. That action brought a strong response from the community – which angered the Air Park owner who proceeded to sue two citizens and the Burlington Gazette.
If passed, the Protection of Public Participation Act would give Ontario courts a more effective process for identifying and dealing with strategic lawsuits. The proposed law would minimize the time and resources wasted by plaintiffs, defendants and the courts on meritless claims, while allowing legitimate complaints to proceed in a timely manner.
The ability to freely participate in public discussion about matters of public interest, without fear of retribution, is fundamental to a fair and democratic society.
The reintroduction of the Protection of Public Participation Act is part of Ontario’s strategy to build Better Justice Together, a commitment to work together with partners to make the justice system simpler, faster and less expensive for all Ontarians.
In its media release the province said:
 Vince Rossi at a meeting with north Burlington residents. Some time after this meeting Rossi sued the owner of the farm property where the meeting was held and another citizen. His lawsuit included the Burlington Gazette. In a strategic lawsuit, commonly known as a SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation), a person or company uses the threat of a lengthy and expensive lawsuit as a way to intimidate an opponent, discouraging others from speaking out.
The majority of strategic lawsuits are filed in court as claims of defamation (libel or slander), have little or no merit, and are often dropped before proceeding to trial.
The proposed legislation includes a fast-track review process. A request to dismiss the case must be heard by the courts within 60 days.
The proposed law is based on extensive stakeholder consultations and the consensus recommendations of an expert advisory panel to provide a faster, more efficient process to address strategic lawsuits and provide greater clarity for the parties involved.
Madeleine Meilleur, Attorney General for the province said: “Using a strategic lawsuit to silence an opponent is not only an unfair way to win an argument, but an undemocratic restriction on freedom of expression. Our government is standing up for the values that Ontarians cherish most by helping our courts identify and address strategic lawsuits, while ensuring those with legitimate claims to defamation are heard.”
Ramani Nadarajah, Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association said: “Anti-SLAPP legislation will ensure Ontarians who engage in the democratic process are protected from meritless lawsuits intended to silence them from voicing their concerns on matters of public interest. The new legislation is consistent with the laws in other jurisdictions which have taken measures to prevent SLAPPs.”
David Sterns, 2nd vice-president, Ontario Bar Association, and member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Anti-SLAPP working group said: “As an advocate for a fair and effective justice system, the Ontario Bar Association called for a powerful tool that would prevent lawsuits aimed at stifling public debate but would maintain access to justice for legitimate claims. Public confidence depends on the ability of our justice system to operate efficiently and to enhance democratic principles. Both of these goals are threatened by the bad-faith litigation that this new legislation is designed to curb. We commend the government for reintroducing the Protection for Public Participation Act and look for it to be passed swiftly into law.”
This is legislation that was on the Order Paper before the election was called. It is being re-introduced and should pass quickly. The question in the minds of Denis and Warren is – will the legislation be retroactive?
If not – they may yet have their day in court – and continue to write cheques made payable to their lawyer(s).
Related articles:
Air Park owners sue two citizens and the Gazette for articles written and comments made.
“Lousy neighbour” appears to alter material on their web site.
Air Park owner writes a Letter to the Editor of newspaper he is suing.
 By Staff
December 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Watch sculpting master Michael Muli use various techniques to transform ice into art at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
 A master ice sculptor will be at the Royal Botanical Gardens December 6thand 7th. No to be missed. Michael is creating an enormous 3D tribute to the RBG Train Show for kids to climb aboard. You can drop by and get your picture taken with the kids.
Be sure to stop by and get your photo taken with the final piece before it disappears!
Event takes place from December 6 (1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.); December 7 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 Sign at the western gateway to the city. With the chain of office officially his for the next four years Mayor Rick Golding can settle in and make Burlington a better place.
One of the first things that he did as Mayor for the 2014-18 term was get his picture taken in front of spanking new sign telling traveler’s they are about to enter the village of Aldershot.
Later today the Mayor will give his Inaugural address and possibly even give us a peek at his thinking for the next four years.
The guy on the left, Mayor Goldring, invited the guy on the right, Ron Foxcroft, to give the keynote speech at the guy on the right’s Inaugural event. The guy on the right is funnier than the guy on the left. Mayor Goldring managed to let himself get upstaged by Ron Foxcroft who will deliver the Keynote address – there will be at least one joke at the Mayor’s expense.
On Thursday the Mayor will glad hand with those invited to a fund raiser to pay off his election campaign debt. Goldring fully expected the 2014 election to be a cake walk; there wasn’t a challenger on the horizon other than Anne Marsden who has run frequently in the past.
Council will begin to take care of business on the 15th when the Standing Committees meet.
Goldring had a campaign team which amounted to a collection of names; no one expected to have to do anything. Then out of the blue came Peter Rusin who did very poorly in the vote count but did manage to keep the Mayor on his toes for a couple of weeks.
Fund raising for Mayoral races usually gets done well before the election. If funds have to be raised after the election it is usually because there was a very hard fought race. That certainly wasn’t the case this time around – did the Mayor get caught flat footed on this one?
Expect anyone who thinks they can curry a little favour with the Mayor to happily accept an invitation to this event. The Gazette wasn’t invited.
By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington is proud of its rich tradition in hosting an annual, live art auction. The event is a critical fund raiser for the AGB which sees itself as the heart of arts and culture in the region.
With an inspiring variety of exhibitions, education programs and an acclaimed Canadian contemporary ceramics collection, it is vital that AGB raise funds to continue to offer enriching programs to our community and keep the galleries free and accessible to all, seven days a week. Thus the art sale.
The next will be their 36th year and will be grown into a week-long celebration of visual art with local, regional and national artists.
It all begins May 31st and runs through to – June 6th, 2015. Mark those dates on your calendar.
 The Belle Epoch was a time of new ideas, emerging artists and rife with political controversy. There was a World’s Fair held in Paris – the world was alive with new wealth and ideas – it all ended with the start of the First Great War This week-long celebration features: an Art Sale; a live auction as well as a Silent Auction. This year there is going to be a theme to set a tone. The AGB people are stretching their wings and actually getting creative. They have chosen La Belle Époque as the theme, which we are told came out of the creative mind of Cheryl Goldring, chair of the Planning committee and an artist with a reputation of her own
Belle Époque was a period characterized by optimism, peace at home and in Europe, new technology and scientific discoveries. The peace and prosperity in Paris allowed the arts to flourish, and many masterpieces of literature, music, theater, and visual art gained recognition. The Belle Époque was named, in retrospect, when it began to be considered a “golden age” in contrast to the horrors of World War I.
 For a citizen of France to accuse the President of the Republic in a newspaper front page letter was unheard of – those were heady times. The Art Gallery of Burlington wants to re-create some of that era with a theme for the 2015 Art Auction. In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, the Belle Époque overlapped with the late Victorian era and the Edwardian era. In Germany, the Belle Époque coincided with the reigns of Kaiser Wilhelm I & II and in Russia with the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II.
All that rich history will be wrapped into a theme that will set a tone considerable different than previous art auctions. The city can perhaps attend an event that has the potential to get away from the stodginess that has at times crept into AGB events. Looks like they are going to zip it up a bit.
There is also going to be a 200 for $200 event; 200 painting priced at $200 each. That should appeal to the younger set that wants to begin collecting seriously.
The Planning committee wants the public to party like it’s 1889 when the world celebrated the opening of the World’s Fair in Paris and the coming of age of Impressionism. That might be a bit of a stretch – after all this is Burlington.
The Art Gallery of Burlington will be transformed into a Parisian market as guests are immersed in late 19th Century Paris with all the exciting sights and sounds of that vibrant era; art, music, jugglers, dancers, cafes, bistros and marketplaces.
The committee planning this event includes: Cheryl Goldring, Chair, Susan Busby, Anne Brownell, AGB, Catherine Brady, Cheryl Soderlund, AGB, Louise Cooke, Kim Varian, AGB and Don Graves.
Submission packages for artists can be downloaded here.
 By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The report gets put out every year – the most recent is the third released by the Burlington Community Foundation. It is a snapshot of where we are with the issues the Foundation feels are important to the city.
This year the Vital Signs report gives more attention is given to transit and mental health as well as, surprisingly, culture.
In the 2014 update, independent research continues to confirm that Burlington is truly unique among mid-size Canadian cities. Employment rates, new community gardens, improved waste management programs and dropping crime rates are among the many great livability highlights of this year’s report .
 Are we a city “we can all feel at home in?” Not everyone can feel truly at home – we have some work to do. As the BCF revisited 11 key areas of community life, a few areas with emerging issues were also uncovered. For instance, as our city becomes more built up, the city is experiencing more traffic, vehicle collisions and related property damage . There’s also a shortage of housing options. The current rental vacancy rate of 1 .9% is well below the 3% benchmark that is considered necessary for adequate competition and supply .
Established in 1999 as a centre for philanthropy, the Burlington Community Foundation exists today because local people had a clear vision for our city’s future .
Arts and culture:
The report suggests Burlington has a strong and diverse arts and culture scene; that should be seen as more of a wish. The arts have been a part of Burlington for a long time; culture is something that is emerging.
 There are enough companies in the marketing field for the city to be seen as a place where good creative work can be done, Vital Signs refers to a rich variety of cultural attractions that will engage people as “go to” places, accessible and affordable to all . Burlington will be home to and will showcase a wide variety of multicultural artists, spanning many types of art: from “traditional” art forms to emerging art forms .
“Burlington will be seen as a city that attracts, inspires, encourages and is home to creative thinkers.” We are not there yet.
If seen as part of the 20 years out projection a vision could have Burlington seen as an arts and culture travel destination: people will come to visit Burlington because of the quality and variety of its arts and cultural experiences within a context of recreational, retail, and culinary options. People come to Burlington now because of the geography and out festivals.
Anne Swarbrick, the Interim Executive Director, Art Gallery of Burlington hopes that the arts will be valued for their contributions to economic development and for the creative thinking and skills that they teach.
In a survey of Burlington residents, 76% said culture is “essential” or “highly important” in their daily lives. There are many types of cultural experiences. For Burlington residents, the top 6 are festivals (86%), museums and local history (81%), art galleries (78%), going to the theatre (75%), public art (69%) and family heritage and traditions (69%).
Burlington is home to 33 community cultural organizations, which together support:
624,000 visits to local festivals, events, productions and exhibitions, of which 535,000 visits are free to the public
89,000+ hours of cultural programming offered to all ages
650+ workshops
1,400+ residents engaging as volunteers.
Impressive numbers.
 Burlington is not keeping up with the work force growth the Region is experiencing. Some research and analysis of this data is needed. who will do that research and analysis? Economic Development Corporation? Someone should do it. Employment
The statistics the kind of employment available in Burlington is not as impressive. The Economic Development Corporation is constantly looking for companies they would like to see move to Burlington and create high added value and high paying jobs; the reality is that we are adding relatively low paying retail sector jobs in a city where apartment rents are higher than other communities in the GTA and rental availability is considerably below the standard
There doesn’t appear to be a strategy that will work. “Creating a high performance economy depends on the right blend of businesses, a highly qualified workforce, and motivated business investment”, says Mayor Rick Goldring. The Burlington Economic Development Corporation is taking a more direct, proactive and strategic approach for a short and long-term development strategy to retain and attract business. This strategy will be focused on creating a dynamic ecosystem conducive to business growth for Burlington’s long-term fiscal capacity, now and in the future.”
Statements like this amount to bafflegab – they say nothing.
Burlington has historically had stronger employment levels than Ontario as a whole . Updated information from Halton Region’s 2013 Employment Survey shows continued strength: the number of jobs is up 7% from the 2012 Employment Survey, and the number of businesses is up 4%.
However, job growth has been lower in Burlington compared to the rest of Halton Region. The types of jobs in Burlington are changing. Notably, in the 2012 Employment Survey, manufacturing was the largest sector by number of jobs, but in the 2013 survey it had dropped to second place behind the retail sector.
A portion of the Phase 2 Final Report on Employment Lands said: Over the next twenty years, a number of the conditions which underpinned the City’s past economic successes are expected to change.”
 The drive for high quality well paying high tech jobs is not being reached; there are more people in retail now than in manufacturing – and Burlington isn’t exactly a shopper’s mecca. “Ontario’s manufacturing-based economy has entered another period of transition, as manufacturers come to grips with increased global competition, changing patterns of foreign investment and an aging labour force. Fuel costs are rising and congestion on the 400 series highway network is increasing. Locally, the availability of land for new greenfield development is expected to become scarcer as Burlington approaches its build-out.”
That is not good news and suggests a significant re-think is needed as to what we want to be from an employment point of view is needed.
 These are not good numbers. The city does not seem prepared to develop options that make it possible to travel by anything other than a car. Longer term this is very bad news for Burlington. Transit and transportation:
The challenge of easing traffic congestion will increase due to population and employment; the call is for more use of alternate modes of transit. The people of Burlington don’t yet have any appetite for getting out of their cars
Build more roads ? – our options are limited: Widening existing roads or building new ones, in most circumstances, will encroach on private property, impact mature trees and green space or compromise the existing public spaces.
A more sustainable transportation strategy is to move more people per kilometer by walking, cycling, via transit using high occupancy vehicles.
15% of all trips within Burlington are by transit
30% of all eastbound trips leaving the city are by transit
10% of all westbound trips leaving the city are by transit
Sustainable local environmental practices
Burlington will have strong local food security and a strong local food economy. There will be significant local food production and processing.
Residents will have ready access to local food through farms, community gardens, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Neither of these is the case today
 Lot’s of room for improvement here. Michelle Bennett, Grow To Give Garden Coordinator, BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association, says the dream, the vision and provincial policy call for Burlington and Halton Region to protect its urban and rural green spaces, agricultural lands and woodlots . The Niagara Escarpment lands, flora, and wildlife have to remain preserved from greenfield development, expanded aggregate extraction and highway expansion.
Residents will be engaged and have as much say as developers, business and city planners in how land is used and developed in Burlington .
Burlington’s drinking water from Lake Ontario and groundwater aquifer sources will be clean and healthy for all.
Burlington will have a community energy strategy that effectively conserves energy use, emits less greenhouse gases, and is increasingly reliant on renewable sources.
These were correctly set out as dreams; it is going to take leadership and vision to make them a reality.
There are also competing interests at play; the people who own large swaths of land north of Dundas didn’t buy it to grow hay for horses.
A city where people enjoy the outdoors
Burlington has 1,472 acres of city-owned parkland, and the city each year takes care of 60,000 trees, plants 600 new trees, and maintains 796 acres of grass. Most residents are within a 10-minute or less walk from green space.
 With steel plants across the bay – our air quality is surprisingly good. Burlington operates three community gardens, two of which opened in 2014. “Community Gardens are shared spaces where people gather together to grow fruit, vegetables, and/or flowers collectively. Community Gardens provide health, economic, educational, social, and environmental benefits to participants and the community at large
 We are prosperous, we are generous. Are we going to be able to make the allowances for those that are not as well of? If the prosperous want cleaning ladies – they will learn to make the needed allowances. Burlington is a giving community.
In 2010, 30% of Burlington tax filers reported charitable donations, which is higher than for Ontario as a whole (24.5%). Collectively, Burlington tax filers donated $63 million to charities. (Community Development Halton, Charitable Donations in Halton, Community Lens Bulletin #91)
Many renters experience financial difficulty
When compared to other Regional Municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area, Halton’s average monthly rent is the highest.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing is considered affordable if shelter costs account for less than 30% of before-tax household income. If shelter costs exceed this threshold, it can become more difficult to afford other essentials such as food, clothing and transportation.
 The data shows close to radical changes. Are we planning this type of change or is it what developers want to build and the city planners go along with the projects? Is this good planning? Does it reflect the Official Plan? In Halton Region, over 41% of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. The problem is even more severe among recent newcomers to Canada living in Halton, with 48 .5% spending more than 30% on shelter.
 Are these numbers to be concerned about? Close to 20% of residents are part of a low income household. Not only are rents high but there is a shortage of rental properties. The rental vacancy rate improved a bit from 1 .3% in 2012 to 1 .9% in 2013 . However, it is still well below the benchmark vacancy rate of 3% considered necessary for adequate competition and supply . It is also well below neighbouring Hamilton’s 3 .9% vacancy rate .
An application of community mobilization to policing – mental health:
“A lot of mental health issues have become policing issues because either there is no one else to call or they don’t know who else to call.” In the community mobilization approach, partnership with mental health organizations is critical.
 Burlington is a safe place to live. Is that because of superior policing or geography? Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner says “We will always be the emergency response for mental health where someone may be violent or when someone is suicidal. We will always have the intervention, but then we should very quickly be able to hand it over to people who can deal with it better on a long-term basis.”
Canada’s age profile is getting older and Burlington is one of the city’s leading this change. The trend will continue for several decades into the future. For example, the proportion of people 65+ years of age in Ontario is expected to grow from 14 .6% of the population in 2011 to over 23% by the year 2036 .
Burlington’s age profile has historically been older than that of Ontario as a whole, and the difference has been increasing over time . As of 2011, 16 .9% of Burlington’s population was 65 years of age or older, compared to 14 .6% of Ontario’s population
The Burlington Community Foundation concludes that: “Potential is a word that sums up our city’s future. As a prosperous and affluent community, individual, household and family median incomes in Burlington are higher than the Ontario average. We are in a very fortunate situation.”
Looking ahead, a broad mix of employment opportunities – including more highly-skilled, well-paying jobs – will enable even more people to work and live here.”
“It is anticipated that the growing local food movement and urban gardening will both have a very positive impact on sustainable local environmental practices. Our close connection to nature will only increase with more urban and rural green spaces being protected from Greenfield development and aggregate extraction.
“Increased recycling and reuse initiatives have already helped to reduce garbage. However, we still have a way to go as 44% of materials currently being put in household garbage bins could have been recycled or composted.”
With less land available, more families will move into high density structures – the Halton Region Official Plan calls for half of all new housing units to be town-houses or multi-storey buildings and 30% to be affordable or assisted housing. Moving away from traditional single family homes will require new solutions and ideas to help us maintain the sense of community and scale that we all enjoy.
 Does Burlington want to be a city of older people? Has our city council taken us in this direction or did it just happen? And is it good planning? More importantly, is it sustainable? The demographics of our community have and will continue to change. With many boomers choosing to retire, a strategy to build stronger connections with millennials will be important. Young workers who establish work and family roots in our community are critical to ensuring a healthy and sustainable workforce. At the same time, a greater emphasis on community-based health care and supporting aging in place will assist our older residents who already face a shortage of long-term care facilities.
The 2013 Vital Signs identified an opportunity to improve mental wellness. In 2014, the Foundation organized three Roundtables to start conversations about mental wellness across our community. Leaders from mental health organizations, corporations and institutions, civic leaders, practitioners and community members, donors and fund holders as well as individuals who have experienced mental health challenges are all involved.
The next step is the creation of an action plan – supported by collaboration and community partnerships – to improve future mental wellness and mental health care in Burlington.
Collaborating with individual donors, public and private organizations to build endowments, give grants and connect leadership, the BCF is now the centre for philanthropy in the city. The 2014 Vital Signs report demonstrates the many opportunities Burlington has to continue to be a city that we can “all feel at home in.”
Related articles:
2012 Vital Signs report
2013 Vital Sign report.
 By Staff
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
A house fire on Deerhurst Drive is being investigated as an arson.
The Halton Regional Police Service is investigating a residential fire that left a number of residents with smoke inhalation after 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
At 3:36 p.m. emergency services were called to Deerhurst Drive where residents were forced to flee their residence as a result of a localized fire in an upstairs bedroom. Residents were treated for smoke inhalation by responding EMS personnel.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the nature of the fire, the Arson investigators were called to the scene and have since taken carriage of the investigation.
As a result of a subsequent investigation by police, a 59 year old male resident was charged with Arson – Disregard for Human Life and Arson – Damage to Property contrary to the Criminal Code.
 By Pepper Parr
November 30th, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It won’t be the cowboy hat and the blue jeans Monday evening for Haley Verrall, the Nelson High student, who will take to the stage and lead the people at the Performing Arts Centre in the singing of O’Canada as they witness the Swearing In of the new city council.
Hayley is a young, 17, Burlingtonian who is fashioning a career as a singer song-writer who wants to change the world with words and music.
She took part in the city’s culture week and was recognized by Angela Pap Paparizo at city hall and then got a call from the Mayor’s office asking if she would be interested in singing the national anthem for the Swearing In.
Both Hayley and her Mom Kim couldn’t say yes fast enough. The question then was – “Do I have to wear a dress” asked Hayley.
 Hayley Verrall at the keyboard. She will sing the national anthem at the Performing arts Centre during swearing-in of new city council. The budding artist has six songs written, a CD with her picture on the cover and more lyrics in the works. Her preference is country and western – with bluegrass where her heart really lies at this point in her career.
Hayley plays piano, trumpet, ukulele, banjo and guitar – you know which the favourite is as she slides the guitar strap over her should and adjusts the instrument to her body and strokes the strings.
Hayley plays around town wherever she can get herself in front of a microphone in Burlington. She has a spot in Waterdown that makes her welcome as well.
 The guitar is her instrument of choice. Hayley Verrall singing “Follow Your Dreams”. Besides being a musician, Hayley is a gamer. She thinks university is in her future with McMaster or Western as the destination for her. Teaching music is something she thinks she could do quite well – but the long term career isn’t the real focus for Hayley. Right now it is writing some and playing wherever she can find people who want to listen
Her Mom, Kim gets a credit as the co-writer for several of the songs written so far. Described as a musician with influences as diverse as country, rock and pop Hayley has been written up as “a versatile performer who blends her instinctive attitude for fresh melodies with a consistent background as a skilled classical pianist.”
Music for Hayley is more than simple entertainment; it is a medium to inspire, share and tell stories that can relate to an audience in a unique way.
We won’t get to hear the true love music on Monday – not unless Hayley rolls from the national anthem to “Young Gambler”, a featured piece on her CD titled: You Ain’t seen Trouble Yet.
By Staff
November 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
If you haven’t got your weekend plans worked out and you are looking for something different to do with the kids – what do you think about Synchronized Swimming ?
The Burlington Synchronized Swimming Club (BSSC) invites families and friends to join us for a FREE family swim as part of the Burlington Sports Festival. Celebrate the power of sport that builds strong communities and get active with BSSC!
 Join the Synchronized Swimming Club at the Centennial pool to learn more about synchronized swimming and try some of the moves. Did you know that synchronized swimming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music?
Join us to learn more about synchronized swimming and try some of the moves.
SATURDAY, November 29, 2014 from 3:00 – 4:30 P.M. at the Centennial Pool, 5151 New Street,
Have fun with a FREE family swim that includes a “try it” session offered by BSSC
By Staff
November 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Are you a teen in the Halton Region who would like to understand more about the Police, Ethnicity and Culture (PEACE) in our communities?
Are you interested in a career in policing?
Have you ever wondered what the police do, how they prevent and investigate crimes and what the different units within the service are responsible for?
Would you like to have hands-on practical experience of what it’s like to be a police officer?
 If you are 15 – 18 years old and the answers to these questions are yes, maybe you’d like to check out the Halton Regional Police PEACE program!
There are still spots available for the Winter Police Ethnic and Cultural Education (PEACE) program, which runs from 6:30 – 9:00 pm every Tuesday night for twelve weeks, starting January 20, 2015 and April 7, 2015.
Each week, students will be given presentations by the different units and bureaus within the police service, with the emphasis being on practical demonstration and involvement. As well, students will learn about cultural awareness and inclusion, how the police service strives to provide equitable service for all communities within our Region and how we are educating new Canadians and recent immigrants about policing in Canada.
You can find out more about this free, voluntary program by visiting our website and clicking on Diversity.
Just complete the application form on line and Email it to the Diversity Coordinator at the contact information on the form.
 By Pepper Parr
November 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Many a political career has been started with a citizen serving on a city board or committee.
There are hundreds of people as well who have served on a board and found immense satisfaction in being able to make a difference.
Burlington citizen advisory committees provide Council and staff with input about a wide variety of subjects through discussions, presentations and recommendations. Some committees also organize and participate in community events.
Burlington welcomes citizens who represent the diverse backgrounds of the community to participate on these committees. Becoming a member offers residents a unique chance to volunteer their highly valued skills and to strengthen our shared sense of community.
One of the key groups is the Burlington’s BEST Awards Committee. It is made up of 10 voting members, including: six citizens from the community, and four representatives from media and information agencies.
 The committee was established in and is seen as a Planning Committee reporting to City Council through the Community Services Committee.
Their mandate is to recognize citizens of Burlington who have brought favourable publicity and honour to the City of Burlington, to increase awareness of the committee so all citizens of Burlington have the chance to be recognized for their achievements.
The recognition is provided through Burlington’s Best Awards an annual event at which Burlington recognizes the Citizen of the Year; a Junior Citizen of the Year; an Arts Person of the Year, and a Seniors Person of the Year;. The city also gives a Community Service Award, an Environmental Award and a Heritage Award.
These awards are important – but there is a problem. In 2014 the nominations or recommendations did not come from the Planning committee – their task was to vote on the nominations they had before them.
Those nominations came from anyone who wanted to send in a nomination. The result was we had wives nominating husbands, Mothers nominating their children and girlfriends nominating their boyfriends, which, while admirable, is surely not Burlington’s definition of the BEST we have?
In the next few weeks the Clerks department will go through the applications for people who would like to be on the Planning Committee. Let us hope that the committee that chooses the people who will vote for the BEST that Burlington has are people who get to vote on merit.
There are some people in this city who have in the past year served us exceptionally well. They deserve to be recognized for what they have done – not for who they are or what their Mother, Father, husband, wife or girlfriend thinks of them.
Friends and family should be applauding the choice the committee makes – they shouldn’t be sending in nominations – nor should the committee be accepting them.
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