 By Pepper Parr
September 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
There are all kinds of leadership. Some lead from the front, they take charge and there is little doubt over who is at the front of the parade. Some lead from the rear while others immerse themselves in the middle of a situation and lead that way.
 Mayor Goldring tends to prepare for events carefully. One’s leadership style comes out of a person’s personality; however people always know when they are being well led or poorly led. It is something a community feels and something they take confidence from.
Leaders cannot lose touch with their community. Leaders have to know and be able to interact with every level of that community. Leadership takes insight and patience.
While a Mayor has just the one vote at Council the good ones nevertheless lead and lead well.
Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie, who has a real soft spot for Burlington, led instinctively. He has been to Burlington on many occasions – at times to express his disappointment with the city. He once told the now defunct Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory Committee( WAPA) that Burlington was once a leader in the protection of the waterfront and then admonished WAPA for losing that level of leadership.
Crombie would experience severe indigestion if he knew that Mayor Goldring supported the selling of a stretch of land south of Lakeshore Road between Market and St. Paul streets. There wasn’t as much as a whisper from the Mayor on his decision to support the selling of waterfront property between Market and St. Paul Streets to private interests.
 Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie always had a soft spot for Burlington and was a resource Rick Goldring failed to develop. A vision for the city is something that doesn’t appear to come naturally to Mayor Goldring. During the Gazettes’ exclusive interview with Mayor Goldring we asked what his thoughts were for a second term as Mayor.
Where would he want to lead Council; what ideas would he bring to the table and how would he promote those ideas and build a constituency for them in the city?
In his first term Mayor Goldring pulled together a group to work on what he called One Vision. He brought people in from different sectors of the city for a two day workshop that got off to a bad start and didn’t get any better before it ended.
There was never a report – it was just $50,000 spent to bring in a consultant, Lance Secretan, who had written a book the maker liked. His reading of Lance Secretan’s The Spark, the Flame, and the Torch, a book about how to become a more inspired person and leader and how to change the world for a brighter future. It was this book that moved the Mayor to hold the One Vision event.
We left it to the Mayor to say what he would do during the interview. We deliberately chose not to challenge the Mayor on any of his achievements during his first term and we didn’t push him on his thoughts for his now possible second term. The Mayor didn’t offer very much; the Gazette had decided before the interview that we were not going to lead with a lot of questions.
The Mayor made absolutely no mention of community engagement.
He did say that he was looking forward to the development of the mobility hoods that are planned for John Street and another for the Burlington GO station.
The Mayor made no mention of what taxes could be in the next four years. The flood is going to take quite a chunk out of our hides.
 Rick Goldring take part in the commemoration of a tree that is believed to mark part of the boundary for the land grant given Joseph Brant. He spoke almost glowingly of the Molinaro development on Fairview next to the GO station but surprisingly didn’t have much to say about how the properties east of the GO station could be developed.
The city held a Work Shop on downtown commercial development a number of months ago and there was quite a discussion on different ways to locate car dealerships. The Mayor doesn’t appear to have picked up any of the ideas that came out of what was one of the best Workshops the Planning department has held in the four years we have been listening to them.
The Mayor thought there was significant opportunity for the “service corporations” that were boldly put forward by former city manager Jeff Fielding, but the Mayor didn’t go beyond saying there was an opportunity.
Mayor Goldring made mention of the Official Plan Review that probably won’t be completed before the end of 2015; he appears to be a champion of the Service Based Budgeting approach to our finances that the city is doing some focus group research on now.
The Mayor didn’t elaborate on the kinds of differences this new approach to budgeting is going to make.
The Mayor did say that the Transportation Master Plan has had the Cycling Master Plan rolled into it and that he thought that made sense, but he made no mention of his flip flop on dedicated lanes on Lakeshore for bicycles.
There was not a word either about what the city is managing to get done at the Region. The only Councillor talking about what members of council get done at the Region is Paul Sharman, who the Mayor is reported to have said is the best strategic thinker on Council.
 Rick Goldring is for the most part a team player – the team however doesn’t play all that well. Burlington has had three city managers during the first Goldring term. Goldring commented that “city managers now last four to six years and then they move on.” There was no suggestion that more highly developed human resources practices might be used to incentivise these people to stick around a little longer.
Goldring commented on how the community had stepped up and donated to the Flood Crisis Fund that is being managed by the Burlington Community Foundation. He seems to have removed himself from the day to day part of the flood.
Councillors Dennison and Sharman have almost made the disaster a platform they are running their re-election on. Both are providing a level of service their constituents have not seen before. Dennison’s staff say he has been in more than 1000 basements – the math doesn’t support that claim.
Mayor Goldring seems to have outsourced the community response to the flood and is content to leave it at that.
Goldring does deserve credit for making those early phone calls to the Burlington Community Foundation and Linda Davies at the Lakeshore Rotary club. But he hasn’t turned himself into a Cam Jackson by being anywhere and everywhere helping people.
 The Mayor we have now never misses a photo opportunity. The Mayor we started out with in 2010 had hoped to communicate differently. Early in his mandate the Gazette asked Rick Goldring if he was going to become the camera hog Cam Jackson was. At the time Goldring said he hoped to but at the cheque presentation for the $25,000 Branthaven Development donated to flood relief Goldring posed with everyone else with the big cardboard cheque and commented that he understands now why Cam Jackson got his picture taken every chance he could. “I get it now” said Goldring.
I always thought people wanted to hear what a politician had to say; I can’t imagine former Mayor Walter Mulkewich posing for the camera in quite the same way.
Mayor Goldring wants the city to do more to attract and keep “the millennials” in Burlington. Millennials are people between the ages of 20 and 30. Goldring didn’t expand on what he meant or get specific about what he would do or to attract this demographic and how he would keep them in the city.
The Molinaro’s, a local developer, understand what has to be done and are putting up five buildings to house these people.
 Rick Goldring is a much better speaker today than he was in 2010. His vision and leadership style need some work. Mayor Goldring is a better speaker today than he was in his first year as Mayor. He no longer strives as hard to make his point; he is more relaxed and has taken to wearing his chain of office outside the Council chamber. During his first two years he was uncomfortable with the “bling”.
There were a few telling moments during the first term that gave us a look at the Mayor that were bothersome. When the Via Rail train left the tracks a few years ago – there was a media briefing the Mayor couldn’t handle. Then city manager Jeff Fielding moved in and took charge. It was a situation Mayor Goldring was not up to at the time.
There was an evening when Glenn Grenier got permission to speak as an unregistered delegation to tout on behalf of the small airport constituency. Traditionally delegations get five minutes; at well past 10 minutes city manager Jeff Fielding suggested to the Mayor that Mr. Grenier could be excused. Fielding had to make comments three times before the Mayor picked up the cue and thanked Mr. Grenier for his comments.
Grenier had clearly outworn his welcome – but the Mayor was not able to execute the power of his office and send the delegation packing.
 Mayor Rick Goldring explaining to Kilbride area residents what was being done and the time frames the repair crews were working to in their community. At the ice storm meeting at the Kilbride fire station in December, the Mayor was much better. He seemed more in charge and spoke with confidence and assurance.
Rick Goldring is one of the most decent people you will meet. The last occasion the late John Boich appeared at a Council meeting to be given a commendation Rick Goldring came very close to losing it. The lump in his throat was palpable. Everyone knew John’s days were numbered and that there were very few of them left. Goldring’s decency and his humanity is there, most of the time, for all to see.
In the coming weeks he is going to challenged in a way he did not expect – the city will now get a chance to see how he defends his first term and hear what he would like to achieve in a second term.
There is now a second credible candidate which means there will be public debates during which the Mayor can be challenged on his record and have an opportunity to defend what he has done and expand on his ideas and vision for the city of Burlington and the role we play in the Region..
It is tough to beat an incumbent Mayor – but Goldring did defeat Cam Jackson in 2010. Peter Rusin will bring some solid experience and an understanding of how growth takes place in Ontario to the debates.
Expect some hard direct questions from Rusin. We don’t know yet what to expect from Mayor Golding – the race is his to win – but he has to run faster than he has in the past to get more votes than the other guy.
Related article:
Mayor’s first term.
By Carol Gottlob, Candidate for Ward 4 Councillor
September 22, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
Each week, until the ballots are cast on October 27th, we are going to follow the tales and travails of a single candidate. We have chosen Carol Gottlob, running in ward 4 against a well entrenched incumbent. Gottlob has no experience in civic government, has never campaigned before and neglects to mention that she is also running as a member of the Regional council. Following this candidate is not an endorsement; Gottlob will win on her own merit.
Five weeks remaining in the election campaign. I’ve been knocking on doors, talking to constituents, informing some about municipal government and being informed by others.
There are those who are extremely knowledgeable, and will tell you all that is right and wrong at city hall. I spent at least 25 minutes on one gentleman’s doorstep, learning all about the right way and the wrong way to go about development.
 Ward 4 candidate Carol Gottlob has signs along LAkeshore Road. This collection is either side of incumbent Jack Dennison’s driveway. Others look stunned upon my arrival, particularly north of the QEW in my ward. They’ve never seen anyone from “city hall” come to their doorstep. And somewhere in between are those who are somewhat aware, but not quite sure what to do.
They ask me if I’m running against Kelly Arnott. Kelly is running in Ward 2, but has a large sign placed on Lakeshore Road in Ward 4.
Marianne Meed Ward, who is the Ward 2 incumbent, has one on Walker’s Line, smack dab in the middle of Ward 4.
 Ward 4 incumbent Jack Dennison has a large sign on New Street. Jack Dennison, I’m told, has one at Walker’s Line and Dundas, which is Ward 6. He’s running in Ward 4.
This only adds to the confusion. Then there are signs for school trustees and soon we may see signs for Mayor.
It’s no wonder people don’t come out and vote. They don’t know who they are voting for! If only there was a better way.
By Pepper Parr
September 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Money talks.
Last week envelopes appeared on the desks of each council member, and we believe on the desk of the Mayor as well. Inside there was a cheque for $750, the maximum that can be donated to an election campaign in a municipal election.
The funds came from a developer; a good developer actually – a company that has done some excellent work in the downtown core.
Councillor Marianne Meed Ward returned the donation. Her view is that members of council running for re-election should not accept donations from corporations that have or can be expected to have business before the city.
Does this make sense?
Candidates are required to file financial statements setting out how much money they spent and where it came from.
Peter Rusin, running against Mayor Goldring has said he will fund his on campaign and not accept donations. When former Chief of Staff to Mayor Goldring was thinking about running for office he said that he would probably pay for his own campaign. But most people are not in a position to spend $5,000 – maybe $10,000 or as much as $15,000 to get themselves elected.
Running an election campaign is expensive. Is a cheque for $750 really going to sway a member of council?
When everyday people have business before the city – say a Committee of Adjustment application or a proposal to sell services to the city – should they refrain from donating to campaigns?
What if they made their donations via personal cheque?
It will be interesting to see what, if any debate there is on this issue.
What do you think?
 By Peter Rusin
September 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
From time to time during the municipal election the Gazette will run items in which candidates put forward their thoughts and view on the election campaign.
We are not interested in running your platform but do want to hear from you if you have something to say on the way the city is run and how you would try and do things differently. This feature is limited to those people who are not currently on city council.
It has been a week now since I registered as candidate for mayor. In that time we have been receiving only positive support which is somewhat interesting; nobody has said anything negative or unjustifiably critical. We have received invitations to meet with people, groups, other political candidates, etc. There has been a refreshing tone of curiosity, and the process we hope is at least engaging the electorate and elevating issues. People are taking this seriously.
 Rusin walks his dog regularly in Spencer Smith Park. I would like to share four notable and very distinct inquiries from a sampling of regular citizens, and some personal opinions:
The first was from a long time city employee concerned about being without a contract now since June and worried about the future. We discussed an assortment of issues important to him and his union brother and sisters. I think he felt better after our chat, because he had a chance to voice his opinions, and perhaps he felt that there was some hope in the future to be treated with a bit more respect than under the current regime at city hall.
The second was from a homeowner completely frustrated by the treatment from the mayor’s office; she felt like being treated with disrespect dealing with what she considered relatively minor issues resulting from the impacts of the flood; all this person wanted was a feeling of respect and not simply receiving template responses from junior mayoral staff.
“Try calling city hall and get a live voice on the other end of the phone” was another concern. According to this individual, a variety of staff attended the property to review the complaints, but, then asked her to come in person to pick up a blah-blah letter from the mayor’s office. It probably would have taken less city staff time and resources if she was treated with a bit of respect, instead of seventy unanswered emails.
Two different people, one from the inside and one from the outside; asking to be treated with a little bit of respect. So, is this city functioning in a caring and inviting way like the mayor proclaims, or, is that not quite how this city hall regime conducts its civil service duties?
Does city hall have a duty to provide service like a government or conduct itself in the style of some sort of exclusive private country club?
The third was a series of questions from a person asking: “are you for the gay community? I realize this is a divisive issue for some in the community but it is extremely important to me that our leaders are not afraid to be transparent about their loyalties and honest about what they will actually effectively stand for”. Answer: 100% in favour of the gay and LGBTQIA community; don’t really understand why this would be an issue.
I remember when I was a victim of discrimination as an immigrant child and the feeling of being a lesser person; but that actually helped shape who I am today. All people are equal. I have enjoyed some of the best dinner parties and conversation with my gay friends; definitely not boring, unlike some of my friends who are straight. I hope I am clear and transparent on this topic.
 Peter Rusin is very hard on crime – and particularly on drugs. Another question from the same person: “is the city planning to promote any programs to help decrease the amount of drug activity apparent around our streets and parks? Answer: Part of the Rusin Quality of Life Enhancement platform is the prohibition of the sale of drug paraphernalia in retail and convenience stores across the city. This will help protect our children, police, justice system, and also keep our streets and neighbourhoods safer and free from drug related activity. The current council has ignored this topic for the past eight years under Goldring’s watch. I will be facing this head on and will see to fighting the drug problem; whatever it takes.
 St. Paul Street residents wants to see Waterfront Trail extended through lakeshore property the city already owns. Rusin has yet to form a view on this situation. City council voted to sell the land to private interests. The fourth was a lengthy email I received from a former childhood neighbour of mine, and it made me pause a little bit more than usual: “how does your platform of preservation of green space relate to our food and preservation of farmlands or planning for affordable healthy food”; “ever since that house next door to your parents and my parents has been built, my dad and I have observed a few trees taken down, robins did not return this year, sparrows are gone”; “I have huge concerns about the waterfront and the access for all in Burlington”. “I felt that since you took a proactive stance in running for mayor I would be proactive in letting you know”.
I have not answered her yet, but, I will form my answer to her questions into the platform on these topics soon.
These people now have their voices heard and their right to vote restored. I am so proud and humbled to be a part of this process.
 By Pepper Parr
September 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It was a small group of people – not much more than a cluster actually, but it was part of the largest climate march in history involving more than 2500 cities around the world and will culminate in a march on New York city, where people will peacefully flood the streets in historic numbers, both in New York City and in solidarity events around the world.
World leaders will be gathered in NYC for a landmark U.N. climate meeting — just the right moment for big public pressure. UN Secretary, General Ban Ki-moon is urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming pollution.
 These Save the Planet marchers met with Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring on a street corner; they were not allowed to set foot on city property because the mayor is in election mode. Can you believe that? “With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we’ll take a stand to bend the course of history. We’ll take to the streets to demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities” announced the march organizers.
The event is billed as the largest climate march in history to be happening worldwide and Burlington was a part of it.
The Burlington event was marred just a little by what can only be called “bureaucratic nonsense”. The March was planned as an event that was to start and end at the gazebo in Spencer Smith Park, where the Mayor was to speak.
Mayor Rick Goldring is a serious environmentalist and it was an appropriate place for him to speak. But – Burlington is in the middle of its election for a new council and the Mayor now has two people running against him – and he can’t make use of any city owned facility. And the Gazebo in Spencer Smith Park is city property – so the event had to march up Brant street and pause on a street corner, where Goldring talked to people about the environment.
 Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring stands on a street corner explaining his environmental views to Save the Planet march organizer Alanna Antrobus. “Can we go to city hall” asked one participant. “No “said the Mayor, “Civic Square is out of bounds as well”.
To get some idea as to just how silly this became; earlier in the week Ward two councillor Marianne Meed Ward rented space at the Art Gallery of Burlington for her campaign kick off. She was told that her people could not walk the corridors of the building wearing buttons or T-shirts – which meant anyone wanting to go to the bathroom, had to take their T-shirt off.
Ian Ross, president of the Art Gallery apparently got a call from City Clerk Angela Morgan bringing him up to date on the rules as she saw them. Hopefully Ross brought the Clerk up to date on how he runs his shop.
One hopes that Ross explained to the city Clerk that the Art Gallery of Burlington was an arm’s length organization which ran its own affairs. The city does own the property – the Art Gallery runs the place.
The Burlington march was organized by Alanna Antrobus
 By Staff
September 19, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
On Wednesday September 17th 2014, members of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau investigated a reported $10,000 credit card fraud that had occurred at the Arctic Spa’s on Fraser Drive in Burlington. The company deals in hot tubs and high end outdoor and indoor saunas.
The investigation led police to a storage locker in Niagara Falls where three men were arrested for fraud and a quantity of fraudulently obtained merchandise along with counterfeit credit cards were seized.
Police later executed search warrants on two rooms at a Niagara Falls motel and a quantity of gift cards, receipts, laptop and a card reader were among some of the items seized.
The three men arrested and charged are from Quebec and all were held for bail.
Arrested/Charged:
Mouhammad SAID (22 yrs) of Valleyfield Quebec
Hassan SAID (24 yrs) of Valleyfield Quebec
Dominic GAUTHIER (24 yrs) of Montreal Quebec
Charges:
Fraud Over $5000
Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data
Possession of Instruments of Forgery
Possession of credit card obtained by Crime (3 counts)
Unauthorized possession of credit card data (10 counts)
Fail to Comply with Recognizance (2 counts – GAUTHIER only)
The police expect to lay more charges.
By Pepper Parr
September 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
We thought he was new to the game of politics. He didn’t appear to have any local profile and he wrote of being in the trucking industry which suggested he drove a truck.
 Jeff Brooks – his politics will be local – wants more for a ward that many see as “forgotten”. We were off the mark on both points. Jeff Brooks has a considerable amount of political experience – not at the elected level but he certainly understands the process. This man is no political neophyte and he doesn’t drive a truck either.
He is part of a team that is responsible for the movement of product into a manufacturing plant and getting what is made distributed to customers throughout Canada and the United States. He is a logistics expert; knows how to respond quickly to a crisis – and when you’re moving freight throughout North America – crisis is part of every day.
Brooks has been a Burlingtonian since 1998. He and his wife and their first child landed in Brant Hills and never left. Loves his neighbourhood but described ward 3 as the “forgotten ward” and wants to see new blood and new energy representing the people in the ward.
Brooks realizes he is up against a well-entrenched incumbent and knows he has a battle on his hands. John Taylor, the incumbent has a large following – but Brooks doesn’t think it is as loyal as Taylor believes it is.
He is active at his church, St. John`s Anglican; has coached hockey in the community and taken part in community tournaments.
Brooks was an assistant golf pro for a period of time and then got into speed skating and raced in the Canada Games and made it to the Olympic trials level.
So – why run for office? Brooks was frustrated with there not being at least a challenger for the office of Mayor – he had no intention of even thinking about that job but as he thought about who was representing the ward and talked with his friends and neighbours he came to the conclusion that new blood was needed, more energy and someone with new ideas was necessary. “I didn’t make a last minute decision – I just waited until close to the closing date for nominations before I filed my papers”, said Brooks. He has been working with friends and getting his campaign material and web site ready for the roll out.
Brooks won’t be running a big flashy campaign but he is certain he is going to give Taylor a run for his money – which in the 2010 election amounted to less than $4000.
Ward 3 has more than 300 flood victims but the ward didn’t see all that much of Taylor, said Brooks. “Most of the people I talked to thought the incumbent could have done a lot more.”
 Jeff Brooks, long time ward 3 resident takes on a 24 year incumbent. Brooks was a YPC (Young Progressive Conservative) while at the University of Toronto and worked with the late Larry Grossman and Frank Miller. Brooks has solid contacts within Toronto municipal circles and expects to draw on those contacts for strategic and financial support.
Brooks sees well-kept flower and plant growth along Plains Road and wonders why ward 3 can’t be made more attractive. “There are a lot of opportunities to brighten up parts of Brant and Upper Middle” said Brooks. “A council member with 20 years plus experience at city hall should know who to call and what to do to make our ward look more attractive.
“The bus schedules in this ward don’t really meet the needs of those who have to take public transit” said Brooks and “I’ve not heard anything about transit changes or improvements from the council member”
Brooks would not have gone for building the Performing Arts Centre “but we have it now so let’s make it work.
Should he get to Council who would he look to as a mentor and model himself after? Marianne Meed Ward he responded without pausing for as much as a second.
The incumbent could probably live with that.
 By Staff
September 18, 204
BURLINGTON, ON.
As of 8:00 a.m. today, the Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee has raised a total of $590,000 in cash and in-kind support.
“We are thankful that many citizens and businesses have stepped up to support our community flood relief efforts, however we still have a long way to go,” says Ron Foxcroft, Chair, BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee. “The need for financial relief is imminent and we are still asking neighbours, families, friends and businesses to give generously so we can help those who are still suffering.”
Over the last week the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee received generous donations of $25,000 each from Branthaven Homes and Union Gas. There has also been a lot of work in the community with a variety of retailers accepting cash donations. A Flood Relief Donations Centre was opened by a concerned citizen at 728 Burloak Drive. In addition, the BCF website is now accepting on-line donations.
 As of September 15th the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee has received five Advance Funding for Emergency Additional Living Expenses claim applications. Two have been granted and three claims were denied as the expenses claimed were not related to emergency living expenses. The Committee has contacted each applicant to explain the rationale and encourage them to include appropriate expenses in the broader Assistance for Losses and Damages application later this month.
“We are pleased to begin sharing the funds raised in this community with flood victims,” says Colleen Mulholland, President of the Burlington Community Foundation. “We would also like to remind those affected that the deadline for Advance Funding for Emergency Additional Living Expenses claims is October 4th.”
 Applicants are asked to complete an Advance Funds Claims Package that includes filling out a form, attaching receipts, and providing all requested information. The package must be submitted to the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee at Burlington Community Foundation, 3380 South Service Road, Unit 107, Burlington, Ontario, L7N 3J5 by October 4, 2014.
The form can be found at the BCF website or residents can call 905 639 0744 ext.223 to arrange for an Advance Claims Package to be mailed, picked up or delivered. The Committee is committed to assisting people in completing the form to expedite the claims process if that is requested.
Advance funding of up to $1,000 will be made available to victims who have no insurance coverage for emergency additional living expenses. Eligible costs are: evacuation costs, accommodation and meals, and essential clothing.
The next phase of the claims and disbursement process is The Assistance for Losses and Damages funding. It is designed to assist victims in greatest need with more extensive losses and damages, and who were either uninsured or under insured for their building and/or contents. Homeowners and tenants, small businesses, non-profit organizations and farms can apply. Applicants will be required to fill out a more complete form that will be made available at the BCF website by September 30th. At that time, more information outlining what expenses are eligible will also be provided.
Funds granted to those in need must comply with a very strict procedure – the Burlington community Foundation has recruited former city manager Tim Dobbie to review each claim and ensure it meets the provincial criteria. The BCF doesn’t set that criteria – they are told what they must do – and they do it.
Donors are encouraged to continue supporting the campaign by:
Cheque – make cheques out to “Burlington Community Foundation” with a memo reference to Flood Relief Campaign – mail or drop off at Burlington Community Foundation, 3380 South Service Road, Unit 107, Burlington, Ontario, L7N 3J5
On-line donations – Click on the DONATE NOW button at BCF web site. www.burlingtonfoundation.org
 By Pepper Parr
September 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Politics is about power – even at the municipal level. Politicians have access to information the rest of us don’t have. They make decisions that determine how much of our money is paid in taxes; they decide when the swimming pools will be open and they decide when the snow gets cleared off your street.
There are thousands of municipal politicians who serve the public and there are some who serve themselves. They fight hard to become politicians and fight just as hard to stay there.
Politicians work at creating the image they believe their constituents want. Not all of them but the vast majority for sure. Some have agendas – others just want to make their community a good place to live in.
In Ontario municipal politicians have to go before the voters and seek re-election. They have to either spend their own money or raise money to pay for their campaigns.
Those who do the job well – work long hours, very long hours. We have one Councillor in Burlington who thinks being a city Councillor and a Regional Councillor is a part time job. It isn’t.
Burlington has had poor media this past eight to ten years. Poor media means an uninformed electorate. Uninformed voters cannot make informed choices. When voters don’t have enough information – they tend not to vote. Burlington has a poor voter turnout.
 Blair Lancaster, first term member of council seeking re-election. The Burlington Gazette has organized a debate for the people running in ward six – where nine people want to replace first term Councillor Blair Lancaster. That is a clear sign that a lot of people are unhappy and that a number of people think they can win the Ward six council seat.
We were able to get the use of the theatre at the Hayden High school and have had positive responses from all but two of the candidates.
Jennifer Hlusko has advised us that she has an important board of Education meeting on Wednesday September 24th. Ms Hlusko has served as a school board trustee for 11 years –however she ends that job in November. She is now a candidate for a municipal council seat and her obligation is to the people, who are voting for municipal representation.
Ms Hlusko appears to want to get permission from the Director of Education to miss the school board meeting. She advised us that she would “speak with the Chair, trustees and Director about the September 24th conflict.”
The director of Education reports to the trustees. Ms Hlusko is currently a trustee; quite why she feels she has to seek permission or approval from the Director of Education suggest she doesn’t fully understand the relationship between trustees and the Director of Education.
Blair Lancaster has not yet replied to our invitation to take part in the debate.
The Gazette got a call from a Brenda McKinley who said she was calling on behalf of a ward six candidate but would not identify who she was representing.
 Jennifer Hlusko, currently a school board trustee running as a candidate for the ward six seat on city council. Ms McKinley wanted a moderator from the Chamber of Commerce and she wanted questions from the panelists to be asked of all ten candidates. We declined to change our format and we did not want the Chamber of Commerce moderating this event. They have in the past held their own debates.
Our format was to have the panelists ask a candidate a question, after which any other candidate could make a comment – with one minute to do so. The candidate the question was put to would have a minute to respond to the comments from the others.
Ward six is clearly a contested seat and there are some powerful interests who want to see the “right” person win. We hope that the wines of the debate are the people of ward six.
The event will start with each candidate being given two minutes to put their case before the audience and two minutes at the end of the debate. The order in which the candidates speak will be drawn by lot.
We learned later that Ms McKinley has been in touch with at least one other candidate to get allocated seating for their supporters. The debate is for the public and we will do what we can to ensure that the candidates do not flood the room with their supporters.
We are trying to work within the framework of a democracy and giving everyone an equal opportunity.
There will be questions from the audience when the debate concludes.
At this point we do not have a commitment from either Ms Hlusko or Ms Lancaster. There will be a seat for them with their name on it – it is up to them if they choose to speak to the voters
By Pepper Parr
September 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
We know more about Peter Rusin today than we did yesterday.
He is currently running around setting up his campaign organization – when you come into the race as late as he did – there is catching up to do.
 We described Rusin earlier as someone who was in real estate, which somehow got the word “developer” attached to him. While Rusin has done some small development work his strength appears to be in getting things done.
The approach I personally take to hiring people is to look at their core values and their range of skill sets. If those are up to snuff – then you have someone you can train.
Municipal government is radically different than the corporate world. The way they do accounting is confusing to those that don’t know how municipalities are structured and the provincial rules they must operate under. Municipalities are creatures of the provincial government – the province can deice to merge Burlington with Oakville in a heartbeat or, God forbid, annex us to Hamilton.
The old Ontario Reality Corporation hired Rusin to clean up a filing cabinet of cases that had languished for years – this was at a time when the 407 was being built through our part of the province and reaching into Oakville and points west. Rusin’s job was to clear up files that were years old related to land acquisition problems.
He was later appointed to the Board of Negotiations, a part of the Ontario Municipal Board but not responsible to it. This was a 4 year appointment made by a provincial Cabinet order.
His job there was to work on files and get parties to agree on a settlement of the financial dispute.
Rusin is a strong family man (don’t they all say that); he drives his kids to school and thinks the city should pass a bylaw that prevents retailers from selling drug related paraphernalia. Drugs are a big personal issue for Rusin and on this one he tends to lose touch with reality. The city probably cannot prevent the sale of such products. As dismal as it is – we are becoming a society that sees the recreational use of drugs as acceptable. Rusin knows all too well that the use of drugs tends to go beyond recreational.
Rusin would like to see a tree bylaw. “We shouldn’t be cutting down trees – it’s as simple as that.” He sees trees as an environmental issue and doesn’t appear to get tangled up with what some developers choose to do when they purchase a property and take out all the trees then apply for zoning changes. Trees are necessary and they don’t get cut down lightly says Rusin.
There is an apartment building on Guelph Line, south of St. Christopher’s where the superintendent wants to cut down the apple trees because the geese are eating the freefall. Someone suggested he gather the apples and give them to the church that has a food bank – superintendent didn’t appear to want to do that. Peter Rusin might want to have a talk with that superintendent.
The Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO) announced that Mayor Goldring was to be appointed (he may have been elected at an AMO board meeting) to an important committee. Rusin saw this as a bit of a travesty – “Why would AMO appoint the Mayor to a committee” asks Rusin – “because they expected him to be acclaimed?” Rusin felt AMO should have issued a statement decrying the fact that the people of Burlington were not going to have an election for Mayor because no one else had come forward. This was part of the reason Rusin decided to run for the office of Mayor.
Rusin believes Burlington needs growth – not growth for the sake of growth but Smart Growth – a term that can mean different things to different people and Rusin was a little fuzzy on a definition.
He points to Dundas and Appleby and what he calls excellent mixed use development. “People can walk to much of what they need in that part of the city. The schools are close at hand; that part of the city seems to function better.”
Perhaps but try walking across Appleby at Dundas – there are six lanes of traffic – close to impossible for a senior with a walker.
 Rusin is apparently a tough negotiator. So – why is Rusin running? He wants to see a more effective Council; he is adamant about their being new blood; term limits are vital. “We have people who have been on this council for more than twenty years – two of them – and twenty years is far too long. We need people who are capable of bringing new ideas to the table and listening to those ideas.”
Burlington is close to build out; all those juicy development charges are not going to come into the city’s coffers. to
There is a piece of land on Brant Street that has round bales of hay sitting on it. The land is adjacent to the Tyandaga golf course which is owned by the city. The piece of and on Brant is owned by the Catholic church – Rusin plans on having a meeting with the Bishop to get that land put into productive use. Letting someone take hay off that land gets them a lower tax rate – which Rusin sees as a lose, lose, lose situation.
Should this guy get the chain of office draped around his neck – expect a much more proactive Mayor. He is a doer, he gets out there and gets it done. He makes mistakes but he seems to have the capacity to pick himself up and move on.
He suggested during our interview that city staff should work a four day week – and, get this, get the same pay. When he says that in a debate there will be an immediate 500+ votes for him from city hall staffers which will come nowhere near offsetting the howls from the other people who will be casting ballots
 Rusin thinks city hall is a dysfunctional building – thinks staff should work a 4 day week City hall he adds is an unhealthy place. “The air is stale, the building is not a friendly place; the structure is inefficient”, said Rusin. There is a report that has yet to be taken to a Standing Committee on what the city has in terms of space and what it needs in terms of space. The report is believed to have recommendations that include a new city hall. It is being held back until the election has taken place. Having come perilously close to having their brains beat out of them over the pier, this council was not going to talk about another high profile, expensive project before the election.
That is not the Rusin way. He seems to want to get all the information out into the hands of the public and let them be a part of the decision. Are we hearing the real Rusin? We can’t know yet. The public needs to hear much more about Peter Rusin and be given several opportunities to ask questions. At this point he is very much of an unknown. He does have to be given credit for ensuring there is a debate and an opportunity to hold Rick Goldring to account.
Rusin wants the city to begin thinking in terms of Regional transit. “There have to be buses running along Dundas. We have to make better use of the GO stations and the mobility hubs the city has been talking about have to be made more real – and a little sooner as well” adds Rusin.
Rusin believes there are good developers in the city and thinks the project the Molinaro’s are building at the Burlington GO station is the right direction. He adds “there are developers who have a feel for the community and we need to work with them.” Parkland dedication, Section 37 issues and creating a smoother permit process are all part of the changes Rusin wants to see at city hall.
We are beginning to get a sense of who Peter Rusin is and the way he thinks.
 By Ray Rivers
September 17, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
I wrote this piece before we had learned of the actual diagnosis. Our wishes are all with Mr. Ford for a speedy and complete recovery. He deserves all of our support in this battle of his life.
Well it’s a tough one – you would have voted for Rob Ford but now it’s his brother. At a high school reunion the other day, a couple guys, who live in Rob Ford’s Toronto, wanted to bet me he’d get re-elected mayor. I should have taken the bet. They voted for him last time, disowned him only last year, but were seriously thinking of him again.
Doug Ford has been described as kind-of like his brother but without the comedy act. I can’t imagine any late night shows inviting Doug to enliven their audiences. Though quality of dialogue isn’t what made his brother Rob so popular. It was the unbelievable dribble, contradictions, lies and obscenities that made him so much fun to watch.
 Just plain boring – with other agricultural interests? Truth is Doug is plain boring – he lacks his brother’s charm. Remember that radio talk-show they used to have? Well Doug was always the straight-man, right? He has other talents I’m sure, but really lacks a good stand-up routine. And that has to change if he is to be taken seriously as the ‘mini-me’ candidate to his younger brother.
Toronto voters have a lot of choice this election. In fact some 67 people had registered as mayoralty candidates this time. I mean why vote for politically right-leaning Doug Ford when you can get the real thing with the ultra-right, neo-nazi, Don Andrews? And if you want something completely different, there is always the dominatrix, Mizz Barbie Bitch’ Ritch who’d just love to whip Toronto into shape.
No question that since Rob Ford’s reign, everyone looks at City Hall as one big circus – so who better to run it than ‘Sketchy the Clown’, Dave McKay? And what about someone called Happy Happy, who lives out the ‘Hokey-Pokey’ in real time, registering for office then pulling out, then registering again, then pulling out again… and that’s what it’s all about. Gosh isn’t that just like the transit debate – light rail is in, and then it’s out and then subways are in, and they shake it all about…
I, too, was diagnosed with a tumour in my abdomen, back a while ago. So I gave up running for office and have been OK ever since. I had a business associate, a friend, who looked like he had inadvertently impregnated himself. Everybody just assumed it was obesity, but he got diagnosed with a benign tumour the size of a basket ball in his abdomen. Once the operation was over, he was a much relieved man.
Rob Ford, as of this writing, is still waiting for the diagnosis of his tumour, mine was cancer, so we all hope his problem is more like the other guy’s. But perhaps Mr. Ford should give up running for office too – and not just for his health – for the rest of us who are through laughing at the ridiculous, and ever so tired of his adolescent antics.
And what is with this family thing? Oh sure, after JFK was assassinated Bobby ran as President, and then Teddy tried to run in his brothers’ stead. But that was the Kennedy dynasty not Toronto’s Fords. Still, patriarch Joe Kennedy made his money doing a lot of what Doug reportedly did at one point in his life – dealing in illegal substances. And the Fords have deep pockets too, despite this masquerade at being with, for, and of the common man.
 Whose interests are being served? Fortunately the mayor is just another vote at council. They took away a bunch of his responsibilities, and he wasn’t around for a lot of the time anyway between football coaching and rehab. Yet, despite his delinquencies, Toronto survived Rob Ford. So chances are good, almost no matter who gets elected, the city will survive – not like our sister city Detroit.
Another guy named Ford made Detroit one of America’s greatest back when. He was a real entrepreneur who founded the world’s fourth largest auto maker. And the city did get a little help from the Supremes and those other Motown music folk as well. But then decay set in and half a century later Detroit faced its second ‘Black Day in July’ – as it declared bankruptcy last year. I’d like to think that would never have happened if Henry were still around.
And don’t we wish Henry were the Ford now running to be Toronto’s mayor. Of course, there are other candidates with experience such as Olivia Chow, and that guy with that unfortunate name, which makes him sound like he personally owns the Progressive Conservative party. But if I lived in Toronto I’d seriously start thinking about that ‘Sketchy’ character. How could he be any worse for the city than the last clown they had?
 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.
Rob Ford Withdraws Doug Ford
Doug Ford Illegal Substances Rob ford Story Rob Ford More
Mayor Candidates Joe Kennedy Detroit Bankruptcy
By Pepper Parr
September 17, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
I want your trust – your votes would be nice too – but it is your trust that is most important to me. And with that Marianne Meed Ward ended her election kick-off event at the Art Gallery of Burlington to a more than respectable audience.
 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and school board candidate Leah Reynolds at the Ward 2 kick off. Meed Ward shared her event with ward one and two Halton District School Board candidate Leah Reynolds who she heavily endorsed. Not something Burlington would have seen in the past.
Selfies, the rage for the social media set, was made part of the event – the photographer covering the room for Meed Ward climbed a ladder to get a group photo which Meed Ward said would be put on her office wall to remind her every day who she was working for – Residents First was the mantra.
Mead Ward took the trust theme further when she said: “ .” She added: “I’ve heard and seen the disrespect towards people who come to city council to delegate – we should be working with you, we should be listening to the really good advice people bring to us.”
“Good discussion isn’t possible when a delegate has five minutes before council” she added and for Meed Ward discussion is what it is all about. The current Council, particularly the Mayor, is not a huge fan of prolonged discussion. The council meetings are short and abrupt – they argue that all the “heavy lifting” gets done at the standing Committee level.
Meed Ward would move away from Standing Committees and create workshops where issues could be thrashed out in a less regulated process.
We talk about infrastructure and we misuse that word, said Meed Ward. “Infrastructure equals “lifelines” those roads and sewers and utility lines are the life lines that keep the community going. We need to talk in language that people understand.”
She made little mention of the Region – but she did talk about the mistrust the people in the Beachway have of their elected representative who went to the Region and failed to represent some of the people that elected him.
 Meed Ward believes taxpayers paid $5 million more than they had to for the pier. “The pier” she said to an audience that laughed. “We failed to trust the contractor we had and instead of working with him to resolve a design problem we took the wrong path and went to court. We didn’t win – but we did pay more than $5 million than we should have – and that was your money.”
The Air Park was next: “We let that problem fester for more than five years until residents told us that it was an intolerable situation. This city reacted when the residents pushed back and refused to accept the argument that the land was all regulated by the federal government.” Two court cases later the city is about to pass a new site plan by law that will have them doing something about the landfill – all because residents pushed back.
The Drury Lane bridge that crosses the railway tracks – “it is a lifeline for an isolated community. All of a sudden it needed repairs and the city shut it down because it was unsafe. Residents were close to locked in.” Meed Ward worked with those residents to get the bridge fixed and made sure that the item got through Council.
Meed Ward however didn’t do nearly enough with the Queensway development that jammed some 50 plus housing units into properties that previously held six homes. It was part of the intensification process the city had to undertake – but it has created a situation where the residents have little in the way of public amenities.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward at her election kick off. Meed Ward takes credit for getting free parking downtown on Saturday and all of December and is a leading talker about our “vibrant” downtown but makes no mention of the number of retail operations that have taken down their signs or how dismal Brant Street is during the holiday season. Some of those stores that gave up have been on Brant Street for many years. New stores open – but they don’t last all that long.
The evening was a remarkable performance during which she made it very clear what she stood for – even though she said she was not going to talk about her platform – that was on her web site for those who wanted to know.
Trust was the issue she wants to ride on – and the audience, made up of supporters, for the most part, there were at least five that we counted that would not normally be Meed Ward supporters.
Meed Ward wants a walkable community – she made an issue of the free parking spot she gets as a council member and regularly pays the city the value of the parking spot which she doesn’t feel she should be given.
Her ward 2 community association is the most effective in the city. No one comes near to what she has done with her residents. She publishes the most effective newsletter and she has asked for more recorded votes than any other member of Council. She also has more 6-1 votes than anyone else. Meed Ward stands up and insists that the votes be counted. There was a memorable council meeting where she called for five recorded votes and was the only person to vote no. Her colleague John Taylor kept rolling his eyes at the temerity of it all – but what was evident was the matter of principle.
Meed Ward believes every vote should be a recorded vote – she hasn’t won that battle.
The room Meed Ward rented at the AGB had small tables set out at the edge – places where she could sit and talk to people. On each table there was what could have been taken for the wine list – no such luck – this is Burlington after all.
Meed Ward brings a level of energy to a job she just loves and takes an “I can do something about that” approach. “I first ran for council” she writes “because my neighbours said they wanted better information, sooner in the process, before decisions were made at City Hall. As a professional print and broadcast journalist for 25 years, I thought “I can do something about that!” I started a website and newsletter, which now reaches more than 4,000 residents across the city.”
 She ran for city council because she believes “Residents come first: We live in a great city and must take care to keep what is great as we grow and change. We must protect what you value and what makes you want to live here in the first place. We do that when city hall works with residents, putting the needs of residents first. When we build a city that put residents first, we create places where business want to come, where people want to visit, and where people want to live. When we put residents first, we attract jobs, tourism and new residents – everyone wins.”
There are many, particularly in the commercial and development sector who believe Meed Ward has done significant damage to the city and that she lacks an understanding of the fundamentals that drive business and development.
 Election kick off crowd posing for the group photo that will hang on the Meed Ward office wall to remind her who she is working for. Meed Ward came back to the trust issue again and again. If given the trust she asks for in the next four years she will work to have a Council Code of Conduct: Currently, she maintains, council members can raise money for their own activities with no limits on who can give, or how much. That allows spending beyond allotted budgets, and has led to seeking funds from developers with current planning applications – a conflict of interest. “I support a Code of Conduct to set restrictions and higher ethical standards, reducing risk to residents” she said.
She will work at creating a vibrant downtown and job attraction by revamping the Burlington Economic Development Corp., exploring “incubators” for start-ups. She believes that “with incentives we can attract jobs here. I support new office and institutional uses downtown, to bring weekday foot traffic to our businesses. Commercial development that helps the city’s bottom line; residential does not – requiring tax increases to cover the shortfall.”
 Neighbourhood character and green space: “We need to move beyond development that just considers maximizing profits and cramming the most units in the smallest space. I will continue to stand with residents, and I will work with the developers who bring projects that respect neighbourhood character, consider public input early on, follow our own Official Plan, and preserve green space.”
Transit, trees, culture and more: “I’ll also champion: adding 13,000 more transit service hours and three community buses serving the Seniors Centre; a tree bylaw preventing clear cutting properties before development; a facility fee waiver to help artists use our cultural buildings; partnering with Halton Region to buy affordable housing units in new builds downtown.”
Quite an agenda for the next four years. In 2018 expect Marianne Meed Ward to run for Mayor – then watch the fur fly. There are those that will choose to trust her and there are those that will do everything possible to stop her.
 By Pepper Parr
September 16, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It look like there is going to be an opportunity for local artists to “paint the town. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM local artists are invited to attend the briefing event at The Hive on Elizabeth Street.
This event is for Burlington artists only ‘No one from Nova Scotia at this event” said Jeremy Freiburger who is organizing the event for the city as part of its Cultural Plan.
 Jeremy Freiburger, author of a report that provided direction for the city’s cultural plan based on reams of data he had gathered. Now the city has to determine how it wants ti implement its Cultural Action Plan. The city is launching the Local Artist Mural Program. It is intended as an annual program that will commission small to medium-scale murals throughout the city. The intention is to have one in each ward but locations will not be worked out until there is significant public participation in choosing the locations.
Burlington residents will have the opportunity to submit suggestions for mural locations and themes and the resulting commissions will be open exclusively to Burlington artists. As part of the program, free professional development opportunities will be offered to artists who may not have previous experience creating public art and/or murals.
“To ensure this program meets the needs of local artists, we want to hear from you”, said Angela Paparizo, cultural co-ordinator for the city.
Local artists are invited to participate in an open brainstorming session – that’s the event at The Hive. The purpose of this session is to identify program goals and maximize opportunities for local artist involvement.
Artists will be given some help with scaling a work they want to do; there are health and safety issues with putting something on the side of a building – what are those issues and how do they get addressed.
Freiburger points out that these “murals” may all be 2D – “but a sound installation could be done” – imagine a graphic of a steam engine running along the old rail bed in the Beachway with the sound of the train whistle. The possibilities are close to endless.
Freiburger is particularly good at tweaking people’s ideas and drawing more out of them than they thought they had in themselves. “I want to know where do you need the help, where can they Jeremy help them
Is this going to be “upscale graffiti” – undoubtedly someone will see it that way and squawk at the $70,000 budget.
Burlington artists, working in a variety of mediums (murals don’t necessarily need to be painted!), are invited to attend a brainstorming session. Dinner and refreshments will be provided.
To register, please contact Kim Selman: kim@cobaltconnects.ca or 905-548-0111
By Pepper Parr
September 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
If you live in Burlington and you are a runner – you know who Kelly Arnott is.
If you are a serious runner and live in the GTA – you also know who Kelly Arnott is. If you live in Ward 2 you will get to know who Kelly Arnott is – she is running against a very popular candidate for the ward 2 council seat.
 Kelly Arnott isn’t that tall to begin with – she has a tall order to beat a very popular candidate. Arnott wants to see a more robust downtown – we would agree with her on that issue – how to make that happen is the challenge and despite numerous studies and a lot of hand wringing, no one has come up with a solution to making downtown “vibrant”. Oakville has it figured it out, Milton has a great little downtown – Burlington; not yet. Check out the south end of Brant and wonder how many established retailers have left that part of town. New people do come in and take their chances – but the word vibrancy just doesn’t apply
Arnott has done a lot to make Burlington a destination for the running community. Every December she brings 4,000 runners in Santa Claus suits to town to run up and down Brant Street. She also runs the Half Chilly Marathon each year that shuts down a portion of Lakeshore Road. There are some that think she should be running that race in the bland, boring industrial part of the city – along Mainway.
Arnott understands what races are all about and is hired frequently to be the race director for organizations throughout Ontario.
She wants to involve younger people in the affairs of the city; not high school students – young people who have chosen Burlington as home but who may work elsewhere.
Arnott thinks from business perspective – how can something be made financially viable? How do you involve people? She certainly has a knack for involving the running community.
 Can that knack be developed and be used to get people in the city involved in the way the city is run? She is the first person we have seen in some time who comes from that commercial retail sector of the city. Arnott doesn’t have a store front now – but she has had store fronts in the past and she fully understands the needs of retailers.
Do the retailers themselves get it? Hard to tell. Is Arnott a true voice for the downtown commercial community? Is she active with the Burlington Downtown Business Association? Does she have a constituency. Why is she running?
Arnott wants to see better representation for ward 2 at city hall? She has chosen not to be negative in the election race but does ask: What has Meed Ward done?
If elected Arnott wants to spend the first part of her term listening and learning what the job of a council member is about. She has a specific interest in the way the planning department works and would like to resolve issues that builders and small developers have with that department.
She also wants to see a more vibrant Tourism office. She believes Burlington has a real story to tell and would like to see Tourism doing a better job. The city has two of the largest public festivals in – Sound of Music and Ribfest plus a very good Performing Arts Centre. The festivals pull in large numbers of people who return year after year – so why isn’t downtown a place they want to shop in and hang around at for awhile?
Are the malls the problem? We don’t know. Arnott doesn’t appear to have a clear cut solution – she just knows that downtown is a bit of a bust and a fix is badly needed.
The Arnott campaign is being run by Shannon Gillies who was a candidate in the 2010 election; she was bested by Marianne Meed Ward.
Arnott has done a lot for this city – she has just over 40 days to lay a glove on Meed Ward – she has her work cut out for her.
By Pepper Parr
September 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation has announced that Michael Lee-Chin and his family have made a $10 million dollar donation at its 14th annual Crystal Ball Gala.
The donation is the largest ever made in the City of Burlington and the largest made to the Joseph Brant Hospital. This gift brings the total raised for Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s Our New Era campaign to $37M – more than 60% of campaign goal.
 Michael Lee-Chin – hospital’s biggest donour. “There is no greater investment than in our health and the health of our community” said Lee-Chin. “We are embarking on a new era of health care in Burlington and I’m proud and honoured to be a part of it.”
Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s Our New Era campaign is on target to raise $60M by 2017 and will help enable the Hospital’s Redevelopment and Expansion Project which includes the construction of the new, state-of-the-art, seven-storey patient tower, scheduled to break ground in spring of 2015.
“We are so thankful to Michael Lee Chin and his family for their incredible generosity and for supporting our vision of a new era of health care in Burlington” says Brenda Hunter, Chair of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation Board. “This gift is a true testament to the family’s philanthropic spirit and to their commitment to ensuring our community has access to exceptional care, in a state-of-the-art facility”
Joseph Brant Hospital’s Redevelopment and Expansion Project includes the construction of the new patient tower which will house a 28,000 square foot Emergency Department, nine additional operating rooms, an expanded Cancer Clinic and Intensive Care Unit, a renovated special Care Nursery (level 2 NICU) and expanded medical, surgical, diagnostic and outpatient services.
The Hospital, which recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary, has not undergone a major renovation in 4 decades.
 Shovels will go into the ground next year for a new seven storey tower that will be named after Michael Lee-Chin who donated $10 million to the hospital foundation. The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is in the middle of a $60 million Capital Campaign, the largest in the Hospital’s and Burlington’s history, to support the local share component of the Redevelopment and Expansion Project.
The city of Burlington levied a tax on its citizens to raise an additional $60 million.
This campaign will be the most significant health care development in Burlington’s history and will ensure that our Community’s residents have access to quality care in the years ahead.
While it may not be all that polite at this point to mention, the hospital has had its problems in the past when more than 90 people died from complications related to c-difficile that resulted in a very significant insurance settlement.
There has yet to be a public apology from the hospital administration for the harm done to the community from that event.
Joseph Brant Hospital is a community hospital serving the City of Burlington and surrounding area since 1961. The hospital provides a range of services including medicine, surgery, emergency, maternal/child, mental health and rehabilitation/complex continuing care.
Joseph Brant currently operates 245 inpatient beds and accommodates over 170,000 patient visits, 13,512 admissions, 47,389 Emergency visits and 1,165 births each year. Its team includes 175 physicians, 1,400 full- and part-time professional health care staff and more than 600 active volunteers.
The hospital, its Foundation and Infrastructure Ontario are partnered on what will be the hospital’s first major redevelopment in 40 years. The design, build, finance project will include the construction of a new, seven-storey patient-care tower and significant renovations to existing space.
Past problems however should not take away from the incredible Lee-Chin donation; the new seven story tower will be named after Michael Lee Chin.
By Pepper Parr
September 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
City hall sort of bungled the whole election sign business.
Ward 6 candidate James Curran took the position that the city did not have the right to tell people when they could put their election signs up and pointed to an Ontario Superior Court decision saying such a by-law is “beyond the jurisdiction of any municipality” and, adds Curran “was passed to assist incumbents with their plans to get re-elected. I would note” he adds, “that Burlington has had a high propensity to re-elect incumbents.
 Curran wrote the interim city manager to point this out to him – but got no response. Curran took the position that there were bigger and better hills to climb and vowed that when he gets to Council – he will be bringing this up.
Curran feels that the incumbents have the benefit if basically free advertising in City Talk – the city’s in house magazine that does puff pieces and tries to convince the citizens that they are doing a great job.
Based on the rule the city had in place – signs can go up six weeks before election day – which would have made Monday the 15th the start day. Then the bylaw control officer sent out an email to candidates saying they could start on the 12th.
One wonders who is calling the election shots at city hall.
At least two candidates were out on the street pushing their signs into lawns. Jim Curran says he has hundreds of locations – we saw just the one. In a couple of days more signs will appear and we will get some sense of the level of support a candidate has.
Carol Gottlob in ward 4 ordered 500 signs and then “press ganged” her sons, Peter and Carl into assembling and putting them into lawns. “I’m looking for strategic locations: said Gottlob. “I want as much visibility as I can get”
 For the Gottlob family – this election is Mom and her two boys and whoever they can find to volunteer. New signs go up on a lawn. Is the laughing about the sign or those running shoes? And so the sign game begins. Candidates are announcing their campaign kickoff dates with Marianne Meed Ward launching Monday at the Art Gallery of Burlington and ward 1 contender Katherine Henshell kicking off next week.
Up until Wednesday of last week Mayor Goldring was thinking about the party he would hold once his acclamation was announced. The Gazette was in touch with the City Clerk asking how this gets done. Angela Morgan explained that on the Friday she would review all the documents candidates had filed to ensure they were all in order and if there was just the one candidate for a ward seat or Office of the Mayor she would advise that person that they had been acclaimed.
On Thursday Goldring suddenly found himself facing a candidate he knew little about and a day later learned that Anne Marsden, a consistent and persistent advocate for people who have physical disabilities, was also in the race.
Marsden would probably not have entered the race on her own, but with a second candidate on the ballot she apparently saw an opportunity to press her agenda. Marsden delegates frequently at city hall and the Region. The Region found that her delegations were taking up time and not adding anything to the public discussion about what local government can do for those with disabilities and asked that she not register to delegate in the future.
Marsden wanted to see the rail on the pier lowered so that people in wheel chairs could have an unrestricted view of the lake. When city hall staff explained that the height of the rail is determined by the province`s building code she continued to press for change.
The purpose of a local election is to attract people who have some experience and a skill set that would allow them to make a meaningful contribution and serve as stewards for the public on how public money is spent.
Marsden has a single issue that gets hammered again and again and again – so much so that the point she wants to make is lost and they get referred to as nuisance candidates.
By Pepper Parr
September 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Longtime Burlington resident and businessman Peter Rusin isn`t letting any grass grow under his feet. He came out very strongly this morning with a media release in which he set out the issues as he sees them and the platform he will run on as he seeks to gain the office of Mayor.
 Peter Rusin wants more for the city he loves – is challenging Mayor Rick Goldring for the office of Mayor. Rusin has no political experience but has recruited some top talent from Queen`s Park who are structuring his campaign. He expect to be fully operational by the middle of the week and will be relentless in his drive to replace Rick Goldring as Mayor of Burlington.
A late addition to the race, Rusin said he “made the decision to run because he believes Burlington needs stronger leadership and fresh ideas.”
“Burlington is an incredible city that is at a crossroads,” said Rusin. “We need to grow, and yet also maintain the green space and elements of that smaller town feeling we all know and love. Our infrastructure is weak, though, and our current leadership does not seem to be able to get the job done.”
Rusin’s key priorities are:
• Smart city growth and infrastructure development;
• Desperately needed affordable housing;
• Better quality of life for the people of Burlington;
• Maintain a balance of smart urban planning and growth and green space preservation and growth;
• Open, accountable government at City Hall.
“It’s time for a mayor who can look at new and different ways to fund infrastructure improvements in Burlington. A mayor who brings a solid business background, a love of this city and a new, fresh way of thinking to the mix,” Rusin said. “We cannot accept the status quo as good enough. We can do better.”
Mayor Goldring is completing his first term as Mayor and for the most part has had a pretty easy ride. He recently said he would be happy if every member of the current council was re-elected – a rather astonishing statement when one member of his council is facing 9 people who want her job.
 Mayor Goldring picking up donation in the Santa Claus parade one year. His first term performance was OK – others want more than just OK. The city isn’t agog with the Mayor they have – he was a nice guy doing his best – but beneath that Burlington politeness was a sense that “nice” wasn’t getting the job done and that there was no sense that Burlington was really doing very well when many people thought it should be doing much better. It looked as if the Mayor was going to get a pass and be returned to office without ever having to defend the positions he took.
That all changed last Thursday. Now the city has an incumbent and a challenger – and citizens will get to hear and test the opinions of two men who both care about their city and see how they would run it for the next four years.
Peter Rusin will be out and about a great deal over the next few weeks to shake hands and let the people of Burlington know who he is and what he will bring to City Hall. Expect the Mayor to have called his campaign team together over the weekend and told them to get a campaign going – quickly.
By Pepper Parr
September 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
So – who is it going to be? And does it matter?
Nominations closed yesterday afternoon and the city Clerk can now begin the task of preparing all the papers and getting the ballots printed. And residents of the city can begin to learn something about the people who put their $100 on the counter, signed a bunch of papers and are now going door to door to tell you who they are.
Does it matter? You bet your bippy it matters – they spend all those tax dollars you send to the city. If you live in an apartment building you might not see that tax bill but it is a large part of your rent.
Does it matter? Should you need care at the hospital – know that the city put a special tax levy in place to collect the $60 million it had to come up with to pay for the hospital. Early in the mandate of Mayor Rick Goldring he learned that – Burlington was going to have to come up with that $60 million. The city manager at the time said it was the largest financial undertaking the city had faced.
Which roads get paved – the people you elect decide that.
The PIER – yes it is built and it is nice – but was it worth twice the price it was supposed to cost? When the bill is set at more than $6 million and the final bill comes in at more than $14 million – questions need to be asked and answers need to be given. If you made a goof of that proportion in the real world you would have been fired. This is your opportunity to fire some of the people who are now on Council.
So – what are your choices:
Ward 1:
Patrick ALLEN,
Jason BOELHOUWER,
Rick CRAVEN,
Katherine HENSHELL,
Gary MILNE
Margaret Anne STEISS,
 Ward 1 boundaries Rick Craven is the incumbent; he has been on Council since 2000
We have written about Henshell and Boelhouwer. A note on full disclosure, Henshell has done and is continuing to do some legal work for the Gazette. We will write about Milne, Steiss and Allan in the days ahead
Ward 2:
Kelly ARNOTT,
Marianne MEED WARD,
Philip PAPADOPOULOS,
Andy PORECKI,.
Meed Ward is the incumbent and was first elected to Council in 2010.
 Ward 2 boundaries We have written about Arnott but not yet as a candidate. We will write about the other candidates in the weeks ahead.
Ward 3
Jeff BROOKS,
Lisa COOPER,
John TAYLOR.
 Ward 3 boundaries John Taylor is the incumbent. He is the Dean of this Council and has served for more than 20 years. Lisa Cooper has been a candidate in the past, Jeff Brooks is new to the election game. We will publish the interview we did with Lisa Cooper and will interview Jeff Brooks in the very near future.
Ward 4
Jack DENNISON,
Carol GOTTLOB,
Doug WILCOX,
 Ward 4 boundaries Jack Dennison is the incumbent and has served on Council for more than 20 years. He has been a controversial candidate and brings a distinct style to serving as a Council member.
Carol Gottlob is new to the political scene and struggles to get a campaign team together. When people meet her they appear to be impressed. we have written about Gottlob. Doug Wilcox was a last minute candidate and does not live in the ward. While that may not make much of a difference to those in the northern part of the ward – for those south of New Street it is a very big deal. The residents in that part of the city are well organized and have two community organizations.
Ward 5
Paul SHARMAN,
Ian SIMPSON,
James SMITH.
 Ward 5 boundaries Paul Sharman is the incumbent and is completing his first term. He has been strong on the financial matters that come before Council and certainly changed the tone of the debate. He is adamant about data – no date he says – then no decision.
James Smith has run for public office before – ran in ward 4 and missed the brass ring by a couple of hundred votes. He has been a frequent delegator at city hall where he speaks about transit and planning.
Ian Simpson is an unknown to us. He has had his nomination in place for a number of months but we know little about him. We will interview Mr. Simpson.
Ward 6
Angelo BENTIVEGNA,
Jim CURRAN,
Pardeep Kaur DOSANJH,
Jennifer HLUSKO,
Blair LANCASTER,
Jivan SANGHERA,
Shoaib SHAMS,
Ishar THIARA,
Mina WAHIDI,
Vanessa WARREN.
 Ward 6 boundaries Blair Lancaster is the incumbent facing nine people who want that Council seat. Lancaster was first elected in 2010 in a ward that includes the Air Park and the Alton community that was not as developed as it is now in 2010.
We have written about Bentivenga, Curran, Hlusko, Sanghera and Warren. We will publish the Wahidi interview in the near future and interview the other candidates – most of whom nominated in the very recent past.
Are there any upsets possible? Lancaster is certainly at risk. Sharman could be in trouble. Dennison has name recognition that is so high he will be difficult to beat – but if his record is looked at carefully the citizens of Ward 4 might go for some fresh blood.
Should Meed Ward be defeated it will be the upset of the century for this city.
Craven can be challenged – beaten? That one is going to be an interesting race.
There is a race for the Regional chair; Mayor Goldring has been challenged by at last one creditable candidate – and there are school board trustees to be looked at.
 By Staff
September 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The largest climate march in history will be happening worldwide September 2oth, 2014, and Burlington is going to be a part of it.
 The march begins at 10:00 am – the route is set out below.
10:00am: Meet at the Bandstand in Spencer Smith Park.
10:45am: Begin march proceeding up Brant to Fairview – west to Maple, south to Lakeshore and back to the band stand where the Mayor is expected to address the marchers.
12:00pm: Meeting Mayor Goldring for a photo with the full worldwide petition.
12:15pm: Picnic! Please bring some food to share as well. (Or money if you’d like to go to one of the local cafes/restaurants)
The event is part of a world wide movement
March route runs anti-clockwise on the map above.
The event is being organized by Alanna Antrobus
By Staff
September 12, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
They called it Project Safe Start but there was nothing safe or re-assuring about the results.
Halton Regional Police wrapped up the 2014 Project Safe Start campaign by reminding the public to take extra care in and around School Zones and Community Safety Zones.
There are 2470 citizens who have a permanent reminder – they had charges laid against them for various offences.
These include:
Speeding 1286
Seatbelts 53
Stop Signs 197
Driving with Hand Held Device 187
Careless Driving 27
Driving while Suspended 6
Disobey Red Light 32
Other (misc. Highway Traffic Act Offences) 682
During the enforcement phase, several suspended drivers were taken off the road. Keep in mind that all of these charges occurred within School Zones and Community Safety Zones!
That is a scary piece of information.
Vigilance, due care and attention should always be paramount when driving; not just when police hold special campaigns such as Project Safe Start. Halton officers will still be out 24/7 keeping an eye on our roads to ensure safe travel for all.
The children of your friends, neighbours and colleagues have a right to feel safe from harm as they walk to school. Lighten up on that gas pedal. For the 187 that were using hand held devices – you deserve the fine you will get. Idiocy!
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