 By Pepper Parr
July 26th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir was bothered about the run around Spectator columnist Joan Little was getting from the city.
“Her narrative on a problem she had in getting information through appropriate senior planning channels is one I am familiar with” said Muir.
Little had said she “… got a rude awakening about how some things are done today in Burlington. I had questions about a city report on the Regional Official plan, so e-mailed a senior planning person to check that my understanding was accurate. The reply came from a name I didn’t recognize. Too late I realized it had been filtered through the communications department – read PR people!”
 Muir said: “I sympathize with this reaction as I recently had a similar experience writing a comment to City and the Mayor about the Millcroft development proposal and the Mayor justifying not making a decision and therefore allowing the application go the LPAT (OLT). I pointed out that the Mayor is on the record from taking office as saying she would never approve of such a non-decision ever again.
“But instead of a response from the Mayor, or a senior planning official, I got the same communications department, Mayor, PR response and they didn’t really know what they were talking about except excuses. I never got answers to my concerns and the Mayor remained silent my question on her pledge to never doing non-decision to LPAT again.
“What I also see, that I don’t like, is the communications PR folks put in charge of answering important questions of City business that are not their purview or competency. What I got from them was just usual PR crap, that didn’t address my questions or concerns, and my second reply on this was ignored.
“Typical PR non-response to the central issue.”
Part 1 of a series.
By Pepper Parr
July 26th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Revisions have been made to this story since it was first published.
There appear to be two Facebook based news outlets – both with the name Burlington News.
There also appears to be some significant hearings taking place at what we used to know as Local Planning Act Tribunal now called the OLT – Ontario Land Tribunal.
 The Burlington News logo has a green logo and is the site we have drawn material from. It is popular. WE have not been able to identify the owners of this site.
 The Burlington News with the red logo has been around a long time – no one knows who is behind that one but there are members of Council who follow what they publish.
There is yet another web site that was set up by former Mayor Rick Goldring. Former Councillor Craven writes for this site along with former city general manager Kim Phillips.
During an OLT meeting that was focused on the Carnacelli development on the corner of Pearl and Lakeshore Road the argument was over the 29 storeys the developer wanted and the 17 storeys most people believed the city could live with.
 The Waterfront Hotel stands at six storeys – plans have been in the works for more than a decade to replace it with a series of structures that would be closer to the water’s edge and more to the east. During that meeting in July, David Bronskill, speaking for the Waterfront Hotel owners is reported to have said the following:
“… our client has concerns with the proposed implementation of this intensification potential. In particular, the ongoing delay in planning for the Property is of serious concern and can no longer be accepted by our client. The Property has not been included within the scope of review related to the new official plan, despite our client having invested approximately two hundred and fifty thousand dollars over five years ago to assist the City in determining the appropriate form of redevelopment for the Property. It would appear that this study is now further delayed with a report on a proposed revise action plan suggested for Q4 2020.”
“During a discussion about height in the downtown, a pending application for the redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel was revealed. The acknowledgment of a proposed 35 storey development on the Waterfront Hotel site was surprising as there is no information available on the City’s web site, and the lack of transparency regarding the possible future of our waterfront is astounding.
“This proposal will not be a surprise to City staff, the Mayor or Council as they would have known about a pending application as far back as Sept. 2020 when a letter from the landowners representative, David Bronskill advised them of their client’s concerns regarding the City’s delay and their intentions to seek approval of their proposal were made clear.
Bronskill said: “This is unacceptable to our client. We can no longer wait for the City and our client’s intention is to proceed to finalize the study on its own and submit an application to secure approvals for the Property in an expedited fashion.”
“As the city learned with the Interim Control By law, (ICBL) planning and development does not stop and wait for the Mayor and Council. It continues and is considered within the approved policy framework that is in force at the time of the submission of the applications.
” It is not clear if this application has been submitted yet or if it will be in the next few weeks however, there is clearly very little, if any, transparency regarding the status of the Waterfront Hotel redevelopment.”
What would a 35 storey building on the edge of the Lake look like? The Bridgewater condominium is 22 storeys high.
To give you a sense of the height we took a photograph of the Harbour Commission building in Hamilton that is six storeys with a 17 storey building beside it.
 Hamilton Harbour Commission on the left – six storeys; apartment building to the right – 17 storeys. The proposal for the waterfront is 35 storeys -twice the height of the apartment building. What is being talked about is 35 storeys where the current Waterfront Hotel is located.
What the Burlington Local News does not tell is the working arrangement that has been in place for close to a decade, one that had the developer putting up a significant amount of money to pay for a study on how any replacement of the Waterfront would relate to the Naval Promenade.
The lawyers do what they are paid to do at OLT hearings – what is surprising is that the Waterfront Hotel re-development is not before the Planning department yet – there is no word on just where the study is – but legal counsel for the developer has gotten their number on the table.
Related news stories:
Plan B
Is Plan B getting the attention it deserves?
 By Staff
July 26th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Given that a picture is said to be worth 1000 words – let the picture do the talking.
If you, or anyone you know is not part of the graphic above urge them to roll up their sleeves.
Getting to that 90% vaccinated level is what will prevent a possible fourth wave. The only people who can prevent that are you and me.
 By Ray Rivers
July 24th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
“Despite being the epicentre of the COVID pandemic in Ontario, for-profit nursing homes, from a business point of view, did incredibly well over the past 15 months. The Ford government indemnified them against liability from lawsuits, paid them out at full capacity no matter how many residents they had, and even offered them subsidies for other lost revenues.
 The profitability of the long term care sector is astonishing. In fact, many of the investment-backed, corporate players in the nursing home industry will emerge from COVID-19 in better shape than they entered it, thanks in large part to the province’s aggressive and generous plan to refurbish old homes and build new ones.” (Toronto Star July 2021)
The authors of this in-depth report (link below) concluded that throughout Ontario’s COVID crisis, premier Doug Ford simply followed the advice of the last person he had met with, and those were all too often corporate lobbyists or his friends in the development sector. Apparently when it comes to COVID Ford has one rule for the lobbyists and another for all the rest of ‘his people’.
 Construction hours have been extended at the request of the developers. Why for example, was construction allowed to continue pretty much business-as-usual when so many other businesses with lower COVID transmission rates were forced to shutter? Construction is known to have one of the highest transmission rates of all industries, and yet, curiously, residential construction was declared an essential service.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to appear to be acting tough on public health measures, recreational golf and tennis, which had no previous record of COVID transmission, were banned. Small non-grocery business owners, with a tiny public footprint, were outraged that their big box competition at Walmart and Costco could continue to operate while they had to close.
And despite being among the hottest spots for viral transmission in the province, meat packing, the Post Office and Amazon, were allowed to continue unabated. In the end it took the local medical officers of health, not the province, to shut them down.
The way Mr. Ford has tailored his priorities helps explain why it has taken Ontario so long to get our COVID infection rates down. This policy of allowing high risk activities to continue while curtailing safer options is not just unfair, it’s also negligent.
 The opening up of the hospitality sector too soon brought about a third wave from which we are just emerging. “….since Ontario first declared a state of emergency in March of 2020 the government has made decisions that align with the interests of lobbyists — many of whom have close ties to the premier, his party or both — and the businesses they represent. Those decisions have often favoured certain sectors over others and have, at key moments in the pandemic, gone against public health advice, delaying or fracturing lockdowns. Those decisions have often favoured certain sectors over others and have, at key moments in the pandemic, gone against public health advice, delaying or fracturing lockdowns.?” (Toronto Star July 2021)
If only a lobbyist for vaccine passports or mandatory vaccination for health care workers could make their way over the premier’s office?
Background links
Star Report – Construction Sector – Building Trades – Retaining and Big Box –
 By Staff
July 23rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Mayor makes major use of social media and every other form of communications. Her journalism degree from Carleton University put her into the world of media where the worked at newspapers, as a columnist (she has never worked as a reporter), as an editor of a magazine and on television where she was very effective. The camera liked her and she liked the camera.
 As a citizen using the Save our Waterfront banner Marianne Meed Ward was effective. When she got elected to Council she was described as divisive but she changed the way that Council did business. A painful Ward 1 election loss in 2006 against Rick Craven led to her moving into the downtown core and setting herself up to run for that council seat.
She won in 2010, was elected Mayor in 2018 and was seen as the Mayor that would make the big difference – and she did make a difference.
The decision to drop an Interim Control Bylaw on the developers was not popular with that cohort. What was to be a one year hold on development has stretched into what is pretty close to three years. The reason for the stretch – there are dozens of appeals which have to be heard before the Interim Control Bylaw can be lifted.
The moving of the Urban Growth Centre north and away from the Downtown Core and getting the ridiculous MTSA designation taken off a bus terminal that couldn’t hold ten people were also wins for this Mayor. And make no mistake about it – she was the driving force.
 Political positioning at its very best. Unfortunately for the Mayor’s image, something she and her husband cultivate and groom with great care, her goof with the Rainbow Crosswalks issue has drawn blood.
Many politically informed observers think Marianne Meed Ward threw three of her council colleagues under the bus when they voted against the Mayor to have six additional crosswalks done as soon as possible rather than the more fiscally prudent approach to adding one each year.
The Mayor wanted to again raid reserve funds to pay for the additional six – Kearns, Stolte and Sharman had no problem with the crosswalks – just not all at the same time.
With that as background it was surprising to see the Mayor with Councillor Stolte at the Poacher enjoying a cool one.
In a social media posting with the photograph the Mayors said: “Great to step out with Shawna Stolte last night at The Poacher for food, conversation and supporting local business. Friday + sun = patio weather. So many great Burlington restaurants to choose from! Where are you headed this weekend?”
 Mayor Meed Ward with Councillor Shawna Stolte. Is this what damage control mode looks like? Who paid for the beer? One Gazette reader, who misses the comments section, wrote us to say: “How ignorant does this mayor think the residents of Burlington are?
“Making nice with the Councillors she threw under the bus a few weeks ago.
“First a joint statement with Lisa,
“Now drinks etc. with Shawna.
“Let’s see if Paul Sharman either gets an invite or decides not to play the mayor’s game.”
Related news stories:
Mayor tries to torpedo three of her colleagues.
The three fight back.
Both sides of the story
By Staff
July 23rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In a normal world members of Council would be in full vacation mode with most of the seven out of town, maybe out of the province or out of the country.
This is not yet a normal world.
 Councillor Sharman has two major events in his riding; Councillor Bentivegna has a number of back yard meetings planned.
Mayor wasn’t specific but she will be out there meeting and greeting and accepting the adulation from her tribe.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte stunned us when she released her summer plans: twelve pop up events in parks within her ward where she will be waiting for people who want to talk to her.
They will ask: Is she running again? She is.
The pop ups run from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm There will be signage in place – you won’t be able to miss her.
 By Staff
July 23rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
As vaccine supply increases, many appointments available in July and August
Halton Region Public Health is encouraging all residents 12 years of age and up to get both doses of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible in order to gain full protection against COVID-19 and help prevent a fourth wave in the Fall.
“We are making great progress with our vaccine rollout, with 81 per cent of residents with one dose and 60 per cent of residents fully vaccinated,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “With a more steady and predictable supply of vaccine from the Federal and Provincial governments, there are many options to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Halton and make it a two dose summer.”
 Here are the many ways to get first and second doses in Halton:
• New! Walk-in vaccinations now available at Gary Allan Learning Centre clinic (3250 New Street in Burlington). Daily, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for individuals 18+.
• New! More clinic options in Milton – appointments can now be booked online for the St. Francis Xavier Secondary School clinic – appointments available in July!
• Quickly and easily book online at one of Halton’s community clinics, located across Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville – appointments available in July and early August!
o All residents are eligible to get a second dose at a minimum 28 days. Anyone who has appointments booked in September and October, are urged to reschedule to an earlier date as soon as possible.
o Same day or “last minute” appointments available based on cancellations. Anyone with a booked appointment can check daily.
• The Province continues to host local pop-up clinics, with one happening July 24 and 25 at Holy Trinity Secondary School in Oakville.
• More than 100 Pharmacies in Halton are offering walk-in or booked appointments.
• Select Primary Care Offices are offering booked appointments.
 Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “We are in a race against COVID-19 and its variants. We need to get everyone fully vaccinated to avoid a fourth wave in the Fall,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “Make it a two dose summer – get your second dose to gain better protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant as soon as possible. We need 90 per cent fully vaccinated and every dose counts. Be part of the community level protection we need to get back to normal…and stay there. Now is the time to #RollUpYourSleevesHalton!”
Important information & instructions
• All individuals 12 years of age and older who have received their first dose can get their second dose at a minimum 28 day interval.
All new appointments are booked at a minimum 28 day interval.
o Anyone who has appointments booked in September and October, are urged to reschedule to an earlier date as soon as possible.
o Anyone who has found earlier appointments elsewhere (e.g., through a pharmacy) or has completed both doses must cancel their existing appointment at a Halton clinic.
• The quickest and easiest way to manage appointments, including booking or rescheduling an appointment at a Halton clinic, is online. Residents are asked to avoid calling 311 unless they need immediate booking or rescheduling support.
• Individuals requiring additional assistance, language supports or other accommodations can contact 311 prior to their appointment to arrange for additional supports.
o Transportation services to and from appointments are available, free of charge, for those who require it. Parking is free at all clinic locations.
• To maintain physical distancing and safety measures, please:
o arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment (not earlier);
o wear a mask;
o complete a wellness check before entering a clinic, using Halton’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Screening Tool; and
o attend appointments alone if possible. You may bring one support person, if required (for example, a caregiver or interpreter).
To learn more about Halton Region’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program, including how to book an appointment, please visit halton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
By Maddy Van Clieaf, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
July 23rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Public Library, BPL, has served as a community hub for information, engagement and literacy since 1872. With the unprecedented events of the pandemic, the library has transformed into a space for community support, equity and inclusivity.
 Lita Barrie, CEO and President of BPL Lita Barrie, CEO and President of BPL, and her team of librarians and staff have been working throughout the pandemic with other community groups and libraries to establish comprehensive services that capture the community’s needs.
The library worked in two ways to accommodate the community. Barrie explained that “it was about what we could do in our capacity as the library to help keep our community safe and our staff safe.”
Just as Burlington shifted online, the library closed its doors on March 13, 2020. Staff and patrons alike adapted to the digital format, with the library seeing a 103% increase in eCheckouts.
 This might be social distancing to the extreme. To respond to the increased demand for online services, BPL transformed their website into a ‘virtual branch’ offering a wide variety of staff picks eBooklists, online learning resources and activities for children at home, as well as a list of community resources for those in need.
As well, a partnership with the Mississauga, Hamilton, London and Ottawa Public Libraries boosted BPL’s digital book collection, expanding the total digital collections to 330,000+ titles.
 All the pandemic did for the library was increase the demand for something to read. Barrie continued, “The second way BPL accommodated the community was in trying to adapt to whatever constraints the pandemic was presenting at one time or another to provide meaningful library service. Part of what we tried to reimagine through the pandemic is how we could continue to be open to the community while our physical branches couldn’t be.”
Reimagining the way a library works and functions in the community means the services provided by the library are constantly changing to adapt. They provide for a broad demographic; young kids learning to read, students, and senior citizens.
Maddy Van Clieaf is a second year journalism student at Carleton University. She is with the Gazette as part of the federal governments Local Journalism initiative.
By Staff
July 21, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Budget time – and this is going to be a defining period of time for this council.
Traditionally politicians put forward a budget that lowers taxes in an election year.
That is going to be very very difficult for this Mayor; she has yet to learn budget discipline.
 Will the Mayor learn to listen to and hear what some of her council members and the public are saying. The Finance department will do their best to make a case for some fiscal prudence. Her council will learn to clamp down – when staff finishes telling them what the city is really up against fiscal prudence will kick in.
Insurance costs have sky-rocketed. Repairing the covid19 damage to the local economy is going to take time.
Burlington is fortunate in having a Finance department that knows what they are facing – and while council lauds their efforts they don’t pay enough attention to the advice that Treasurer Joan Ford puts forward.
The city will be doing another survey – that’s all part of the process. The complexity of municipal budgets is difficult for people to get a grip on. There isn’t a balance sheet or a profit and loss statement – municipalities are not in place to make money – they are there to deliver services and hold funds for those unforeseen situations.
Take the budget survey and tell the finance people s which City services are important to you.
You are encouraged to complete an online survey at www.getinvolvedburlington.ca. All the feedback captured through the survey will be shared with Burlington City Council. The survey will remain open until Sept. 30, 2021.
Key meeting dates for the 2022 budget include:
Sept 22, 23, 28, and 30
City Council workshops with presentations from each City service area
 There used to be public budget meetings that filled the main room at the Art Gallery Nov. 3
Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee Meeting: 2022 Budget overview report
Nov. 4
2022 Budget Virtual Town Hall
Nov. 30 and Dec. 2
Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee Meeting: 2022 Budget review and approval
Dec. 14
Meeting of Burlington City Council: City Council to consider approval of the proposed 2022 budget
Changes in how Council meetings will take place as the Region works its way through Step 3 of the Re-Open Plan. It might be possible to hold real public meetings with perhaps limited public participation.
Does this Council really want the public in the room looking them in the eye and asking some hard questions?
By Staff
July 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Sometime after we were advised of the Facebook posting the Office of the Mayor issued a document
It is a different way of communicating.
Mayor Meed Ward and Councillor Lisa Kearns released a Joint Statement today on the Holland Park development proposed for Fairview and Drury Lane.
Basically they said there wasn’t all that much they can do about a development that has literally nothing in the way of caps on the height.
There is a drawing of what the developers are proposing set out below.
Our question is: Was posting the Joint Statement on Facebook pages an attempt to slip something past the public?
 The proposal is for seven buildings with heights ranging from 29 to 37 storeys. . Related news stories:
It is going to be the biggest residential development the city has ever seen – with no height controls.
 By Ryan O’Dowd
July 20th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
This morning CORE Burlington (Conserving our Rural Ecosystems) hosted their first event since the start of the pandemic to oppose Nelson Aggregate’s Mount Nemo quarry expansion application. According to the citizen groups united against Nelson, the proposal is anything but new.
 The messaging from the speakers at today’s event was clear, this is the same proposal dismissed in 2012, CORE founder Gord Pinard, calls it the “zombie quarry.” Singer and activist Sarah Harmer enforced this message.
“This quarry proposal was a terrible idea in 2004 and is still a terrible idea in 2021,” Harmer said, “every level of government opposed this project.
“It’s an unfair process that the citizens of this area have to mount another opposition and it speaks to governance issues at the provincial level.”
 Nelson’s previous attempt to expand the Mount Nemo quarry was denied in 2012 after failing to include protections for the endangered Jefferson Salamander.
The resulting legal battle cost 2.1 million dollars of Burlington tax-payer money.
The Jefferson Salamander is accommodated for this time with Nelson claiming their native wetlands will be strengthened by the development.
When asked about Nelson’s proposed differences Harmer said the current project and the dismissed proposal were, “materially the same.”
Nelson has suggested sourcing aggregate from other locations will be worse environmentally in the long run due to C02 transportation issues.
“You can’t balance greenhouse gas with permanent destruction,” Janet Turpin Myers, of CORE, told the Gazette. Adding, despite their transportation concerns Nelson already ships fill and asphalt from as far as Toronto and Oshawa.
Shane Phillips, leading the Ear to the Groundwater campaign which fights threats to groundwater, spoke of systemic issues with governance on environmental issues.
“We’re not talking about political parties; it doesn’t matter what parties are involved it’s the same policy. Corporations are driving policy-making, lobbying is driving policy-making. And so, I’m trying to say ‘connect the dots,’ so that people understand this is everyone’s backyard. You can’t say ‘well we need [aggregate] but not in my backyard,’” said Phillips.
 The community speaks. While Phillips was indifferent to party others evoked Premier Doug Ford as a potential factor in Nelson’s new proposal.
“Maybe it’s political; they think they can sneak the quarry in with a construction-friendly [provincial] government,” said protest attendee, Doug Annette.
CORE suggested the environmental impact projections in Nelson’s proposal are incomplete.
 Janet Turpin Meyers was opposed to the idea of a quarry expansion the moment she heard about it 15 years ago. A published author who might yet write a book on rural Burlington. “They’re slanting the proposal [through omission] to their agenda,” Myers said.
In a December 2020 objection letter, the community group cited an overly rosy outlook including claims Nelson’s application treated global warming trends as anomalies, used dated emission factors from the EPA (some 30 years old), and sourced background data from distant communities when the Mount Nemo information was unavailable.
 Sarah Harmer performs Escarpment Blues; a piece she wrote 15 years ago when she and others opposed the Nelson application. A truck hauling aggregate passes by in the background. Today’s speakers raised their voices to be heard over the roaring trucks going to and from Nelson’s existing site. Harmer performed Escarpment Blues, and the audience snapped and swayed along, to a song they knew very well – it was written for their 2005 fight against Nelson.
Harmer spoke about how it felt to have a song from fifteen years ago every bit as relevant today, she cited vigilance.
 Ryan O’Dowd is a Sheridan College journalism student who is part of a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative that will have him reporting for the Gazette well into 2022. He is a Burlington native who plays the guitar.
 By Staff
July 20, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service is pleased to announce the launch of our first Buy & Sell Exchange Zone.
A zone is an area the police set up that they deem to be a safe place. Right outside police headquarters is probably as safe as you are going to get.
Why such a zone? The Halton Regional Police explain:
Many people have become victims of crimes like robberies, frauds and thefts when attempting to buy or sell property online. The purpose of the Buy & Sell Exchange Zone is to provide some additional peace of mind to those who are buying, selling, or trading property online. If you are meeting new people while finalizing online transactions, we encourage you to use our Exchange Zone.
 You can expect to be safe outside Police headquarters The clearly-signed Exchange Zone is situated in the visitor parking lot of our 20 Division facility, which is located at:
95 Oak Walk Drive, Oakville, Ontario L6H 0G6 – Phone: 905-825-4777 ext. 2
If you are unable to meet at our Buy & Sell Exchange Zone, please consider completing your transactions in well-lit, public and popular locations to avoid being a victim of crime.
Tips to protect yourself during a buy and sell exchange:
• Complete your transaction during daytime hours only.
• Use the buddy system when possible. Bring a family or friend with you, or at the very least, let someone know who you will be meeting, the time, and the location of the exchange.
• To reduce the potential of falling victim to fraud, never complete a buy and sell transaction by mail.
• When meeting in person, always inspect goods you wish to purchase before giving money to the seller.
• Limit the amount of personal information you provide.
• Stop. Pause. Think. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is.
 By Staff
July 20, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington will open online registration for indoor summer recreation programs for adults 19+ and adults 55+ beginning Saturday, July 24 at 9 a.m.
Registration for swimming programs at Tansley Woods, Aldershot, Centennial and Angela Coughlan pools will also open on Saturday, July 24 at 11 a.m.
A complete listing of indoor summer programming can be found online at Burlington.ca/recreation.<
Drop-in programs
Registration for drop-in recreational swimming and skating programs at indoor City facilities is required 25 hours in advance of the program start time. Drop-in swimming programs start today, Monday, July 19, and skating programs will resume Tuesday, July 20.
New self-serve option for withdrawing from drop-in programs
New this season, participants have the ability to withdraw from drop-in programs online by logging into their Live & Play account. More information about the new feature is available online at Burlington.ca/recreation.
All City programs will continue to follow public health guidance when required, including physical distancing, capacity limits and wearing masks or face coverings. Individuals participating in an in-person program will be required to fill out the mandatory health screening form at Burlington.ca/screening before each session.
• Individuals who have questions or require assistance can email live&play@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7738 between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
• Recreation fee assistance funding is available to resident individuals or families who require assistance with the cost of City of Burlington recreation programs. For more information or to apply, visit burlington.ca/feeassistance. You can also leave a confidential voicemail message at 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 and staff will return your call to assist you.
 By Alexandra Vanquest
July 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
After months of lockdown and restrictive measures, there is at last some good news for Ontario residents.
The province has moved into Step 3 of the Road to Reopen plan five days earlier than expected.
The new chief medical officer of health confirmed the news to reporters last week, saying that the acceleration of the timetable was, in large part, due to the large number of local citizens who are putting themselves forward daily to get vaccinated.
Step 3 of the plan has two main objectives – to expand what can happen in an indoor setting and to further expand outdoor activities.
Among the new changes for indoor locations:
• Up to 25 people at a time can attend indoor gatherings and public events;
 Spaced out to meet social distancing requirements – people are now able to get out for an indoors meal. • Indoor dining is now permitted with no capacity limits other than the proviso that tables should be at least two metres apart;
• More people are now allowed to attend religious services like weddings, funerals, and christenings;
• Indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities can operate at up to 50% capacity (with spectators capped at 1,000 people);
• Similarly, concert venues, theatres and cinemas can operate up to 50% capacity (up to the same limits); and
• Nightclubs and other places of entertainment can operate up to 25% capacity, with up to a maximum of 250 attendees allowed.
Outdoor locations are also opening up.
• With limited exceptions, up to 100 people can attend outside gatherings and organised events;
• Outdoor sporting and recreational facilities are now capped at up to 75% of the approved capacity, or 15,000 people, whichever is the lower;
• Casinos, museums, aquariums, galleries, fairs, and amusement parks are capped at 75% capacity or a maximum of 5,000, (which is the lower) for unseated events. In the case of mixed seating events, the crowd limit is revised upwards to 15,000 people.
 Online casinos have always been available and are becoming more and more popular. You gamble when and where you want. Of course, those interested in playing online are not limited to visiting physical casinos. There are many online versions available and some of the newest online casinos in Canada are listed here.
Provincial officials have confirmed that masks and face coverings will still be mandatory for indoor public events during Step 3, and that masks will be required in some public settings along with the observation of other public health protocols.
 Getting to the 80% vaccinated level is what it will take to open things up even more. Even where it is not obligatory, people will still be encouraged to wear masks over the coming months to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus.
It is expected that Ontario will remain at Step 3 for at least 21 days, and until at least 80% of those eligible – currently all those aged 12 and older – have received at least one anti-Covid vaccination and 75% have received two jabs.
If those targets can be met, then the provincial government has indicated that it is prepared to remove the majority of the remaining health and workplace safety measures, including lifting the capacity limits for both indoor and outdoor events.
Many Ontarians, fed-up with more than a year of restrictions on personal freedoms, will have their fingers crossed these thresholds can be met, and that life can finally get back to some sort of normal.
By Ray Rivers
July 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The roller coaster ride with COVID has slowed down once again in this province. Our infection numbers have declined substantially since we peaked at over 4000 cases back a few months ago. Clearly the ‘stay-at-home’ and other public health restrictions have helped, though it’s the vaccinations that have really made the difference. And our governments deserve credit, the feds for securing vaccine supply and the province and local health authorities for rolling out the vaccinations.
Yet Ontario’s infection rate is still hovering in the triple digits and only about half of the adult population is vaccinated . But, the Premier is boasting about getting back to normal soon, much as he did last year. But chances are better than even that he is wrong again.
Normal is a long way off. Over the last few days the provincial infection numbers have either settled onto a plateau, or started inching back in the wrong direction. And Ontario’s new medical officer of health is now predicting another increase in infections come September, just as we saw last year.
If we look at the British and Americans. We see how they had mostly opened up their economies when their vaccination levels were similar to those in Ontario. But the results have been disastrous. COVID cases have soared over 90% across the UK such that their infection numbers are now back to those of last January, when they were in the grip of the Alpha (UK) variant and hardly anyone had been vaccinated.
 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to life all controls for the UK: covid19 infections are expected to rise while the PM goes into self isolation. Medical officials in the UK have characterized Boris Johnson’s COVID policy of ‘living with the virus’ as just creating a breeding ground for new viral variants. In the US, the Delta variant has become the prime enemy of the people, with cases doubling every couple weeks and with increases in infections rising in every state. Authorities are laying the blame on the fall off in vaccination rates.
The virus and Delta variant may be the enemy, but those refusing the jab are its enablers. Just as in Canada, the virus in the UK and America is being spread primarily by the unvaccinated. So why aren’t more people rolling up their sleeves? US president Biden accuses social media of killing Americans by spreading anti-vaccine disinformation.
In France, when vaccinations started slowing down and COVID cases started rising, President Macron made vaccination mandatory for all health care workers. And then he made vaccine passports mandatory for access to congregate places, like bars and sporting events. That was a powerful incentive and a million people signed up almost immediately to get the shot in the arm.
Only two provinces in Canada are even considering issuing vaccine passports and regulating their usage. And Ontario isn’t one of them, despite calls from the mayor of Toronto and the business community to do just that. Premier Ford, while saying everyone should get the jab, keeps muttering about a split society, whatever that means. And also he refuses to mandate vaccines for health care workers.
 Quebec chooses to use QR codes as vaccination passports. It can’t be a constitutional rights or a privacy issue. After all, this is the same premier who instructed provincial police to block people moving across the provincial borders and to conduct random checks of vehicles and ticket those not travelling to a workplace. He is the guy who ordered COVID-safe golf and outdoor recreational tennis facilities and children’s playgrounds, shuttered under threat of thousands of dollars in fines.
The truth is that this pandemic will not be over until everyone, who is able to, gets fully vaccinated. It’s how we eliminated smallpox and for a time, measles. It’s either that or we social distance it into oblivion as New Zealand has done successfully so far. And it is likely too late for that.
With an election coming up next year, one would think Mr. Ford would want to ensure that Ontario’s economy is opened up as quickly and safely as possible – not another false start. Getting everyone vaccinated is the best bet for that to be possible.
 After the turbulent series of confusing and often counter-productive provincial policies over the last year and a half, this might demonstrate that Mr. Ford is actually capable of learning on the job and responding to the public will. Otherwise it’s deja vu.
Background links:
Step Three and COVID – French Experience –
The Next Wave – Ford Opposes – Ontario Medical –
Mandatory Vaccinations – England Threat to the World –
By Staff
July 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is to receive provincial and federal funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure -Program (ICIP) that will help fund four projects:
- Elgin Street Promenade, Stage 4
- Design and Construction of Palmer Trail
- City Hall Customer Service Window Renovation
- Roads, Parks and Forestry Operations Centre Renovation
In total, the City will receive $852,200 of funding, $681,760 from the Federal Government and $170,440 from the Provincial Government.
In August 2020 the Federal Government announced adjustments to the ICIP program to help provinces and territories and ultimately municipalities to deal with the financial pressures brought on by COVID-19. This new stream of funding is designed to deliver more infrastructure projects during the pandemic by increasing the types of eligible projects and accelerating approvals.
Funded Projects
 When completed – the promenade will complete the trail from Brant Street to the Centennial Trail. Elgin Street Promenade, Stage 4
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– A 4m-wide fully accessible pedestrian and cycling trail located in the downtown core. Approximately 75 per cent of this trail is complete. This is the final phase of this four-part construction project and represents a vital link to connecting the downtown to an existing 8km trail that links to the broader community.
- Palmer Trail – A 3m-wide fully accessible pedestrian and cycling trail located the heart of the City. Phase 1 was constructed in 2019. Approximately 50 per cent of this trail is complete. This proposed work is to complete the final phase, providing a key north-south link connecting neighborhoods to the larger trail system. The proposed width of these new trails will easily accommodate physical distancing between people passing each other and also allows for people to walk side by side.
- City Hall Customer Service Window Renovation – The existing City Hall service counter requires a renovation to facilitate physical distancing and customer service requirements. Funding will be used towards the reconfiguration of the existing counter location to allow for customer privacy and an adequate queuing area away from the common traffic flow area.
- Roads, Parks and Forestry (RPF) Operations Centre Renovation – A reconfiguration of the existing floor plan at the operations centre is necessary to accommodate RPF service requirements. The renovation will allow for supervisors and staff to work and collaborate efficiently and will also provide for additional physical distancing for staff and contractors through controlled queuing areas.
Related news story:
By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 On July 14, 2021, Regional Council approved Halton’s 2022 Budget Directions Report. The Report provides guidelines to staff to maintain existing service levels for Regional programs while supporting the community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It also establishes a target property tax increase at or below the rate of inflation (2.0 per cent).
“The 2022 Budget Directions Report is an important step in the development of our next Budget and Business Plan,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “It lays a foundation to help us preserve our strong financial position, keep property taxes low and support our community as more residents get vaccinated and Halton gradually reopens.”
The Report identifies priorities for Regional investments in 2022 to ensure residents have access to essential services while providing for critical program enhancements to address community growth. It also ensures next year’s Budget aligns with the strategic themes, objectives and outcomes outlined in the 2019–2022 Strategic Business Plan.
 Seven of those smiling faces represent Burlington – if they voted to hold the 2022 tax increase to 2% for the Region – can’t they do that for the City? Financial pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout are also identified in the Report. Staff are closely monitoring current and potential fiscal impacts as they develop plans for 2022. The Region will continue to address program pressures, reallocate resources to priority areas and maintain service levels to help achieve a property tax rate increases at or below the rate of inflation.
By Staff
July 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington announced the names of the 2021 Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund recipients today.
A community investment of $25,200 will go towards three community projects, focused on enhancing infrastructure amenities within parks, gardens, buildings on public lands or on lands that are accessible to public.
2021 marks the fifth year the City has provided the program.
The projects funded for 2021 include:
 Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Food Bank talking to Adria Cehovin at the Urban Farm on Brant at Ghent. • Grow for Change Urban Farm Community Therapeutic Programs ($10,000)
This project will provide the community with access to a new temporary green space near Brant Street and Ghent Street, as well as therapeutic horticulture programming for adults and youth, to promote positive social and mental health.
• The Orchard Community Garden Project ($10,000)
This brand-new community learning garden at the Trail Head Parkette (5401 Redstone St.), will include eight large garden boxes with fruits and vegetables and native pollinating flowers and plants. Food and plants harvested from the garden will be shared with the community and donated to the local food banks.
• Community Garden in Roseland ($5,200)
This community garden in Roseland, at Port Nelson United Church, will be an accessible space for relaxation, reflection or a neighbourhood meeting. The space will feature numerous seating areas; herbs; perennials that support and encourage the pollinator population; and a ‘Peace Pole,’ an internationally recognized symbol of hopes and dreams that stands for peace on earth.
The successful projects have one year to complete their projects and must comply with the current public health regulations and provincial framework during development and implementation.
We never thought that the Roseland community needed public support for a community garden.
Our understanding was that the “farm” on Brant Street was being funded by the Molinaro Group who owned the land. When Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns first announced the project she made no mention of public money being used.
Quick Facts:
The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund was created in 2016 to inspire residents to champion community-led projects.
The goal of the fund is to improve neighbourhoods by creating a sense of belonging and community pride, while building meaningful connections.
Through the fund, Burlington residents are encouraged to submit community-led project plans that help make our city a better place to live and play.
• For 2021, the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund focused on small projects that enhance infrastructure amenities within parks, gardens, buildings on public lands or on lands that are accessible to the public that meet the goal of the fund.
• All projects are to be planned, led and implemented by, and for the community in a public setting.
• Approved projects receive up to 50 per cent of the funding for the project from the City, to a maximum of $10,000. The community groups selected match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of volunteer hours, donated services, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised, such as cash donations.
• For more information about the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund, visit burlington.ca/matchingfund
By Staff
July 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
We have a reader who I lives directly across from the Fountain at Spencer Smith Park.
She tells an interesting story about some “shampooing” that has taken place recently.
“A number of times last year the fountain was “shampooed” resulting in a foam party down at the park.
 Lady of Lakes has been getting shampoos frequently. The Park maintenance people do not appear to be amused. “I watched as City workers arrived each time to clean up the “mess”. It appeared that each time they needed to drain the fountain and clean it and refill it. It also appeared to take quite a few workers and quite a bit of time and effort to restart the fountain.
“A few days ago (I think last Saturday) I noticed during the day that the fountain was once again shampooed with foam bouncing about the park – quite a few people noticed it and were having a bit of fun chasing bubbles.
“They drained the fountain and have not performed any work to restart it – I’m guessing that perhaps they’ve had enough and have decided to leave it dry – but I’m not sure. It’s a shame but I do get it.”
“The photograph is one from last year’s shampooing from my front window view.”
The city might want to have one of the Park Ambassadors to be on the look out.
 By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It is difficult at times to follow an argument when both sides are not in front of you.
This morning the Hamilton Spectator published a piece written by Mayor Mead Ward who takes Joan Little, a Spectator columnist, to task.
We have published both the Little column and the response from Meed Ward.
Joan Little column of July 7th in the Hamilton Spectator:
Tough council decisions exposing rifts in unity
When writing my last column, I got a rude awakening about how some things are done today in Burlington. I had questions about a city report on the Regional Official plan, so e-mailed a senior planning person to check that my understanding was accurate. The reply came from a name I didn’t recognize. Too late I realized it had been filtered through the communications dept – read PR people!
Because I watch committee and council meetings, I seldom request additional help about issues. This reply was filtered through PR people, an insult to highly capable specialists in their field. Citizens would thank communications staff if they improved the city’s dreadful web site, which offers several hundred (mostly irrelevant) results for any search.
The Adi development on Lakeshore is underway, a constant intrusion on neighbours’ lives.
Disclosure – I live nearby. The worst problem is that the Ford Government has overridden reasonable hours of work bylaws. Burlington’s, like many, is 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Ford’s is 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week. Ironically many other businesses faced restrictions.
Adi simply wants too much development on a tiny lot. City staff refused it, as did council, but OMB chair Susan Schiller (now a full-time vice-chair of the new Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) approved it. Note – New legislation rolled five tribunals into one super-tribunal – the OLT. It handles land use, environment, conservation review (heritage), expropriation, mining, etc.
Because Adi wants 26 storeys on such a small lot, they’ve had to excavate seven floors to meet minimum parking standards – probably deeper for elevator shafts. This, within a couple of hundred meters of the lake. The site ponded regularly. They hit bedrock early, so have jack-hammered for months, from 6:00 am. And this small deep hole magnifies sound, like an echo chamber.
It there any chance that months of daily jack-hammering could weaken foundations of nearby buildings? Do cities ever do stress tests to ensure neighbouring buildings aren’t compromised by development activities?
Recently Coun. Lisa Kearns had hosted a virtual meeting with Adi to answer questions. There were few answers. A subsequent Adi communique made excuses about a “complex” project.
Surely they knew the deep parking garage (deepest in the city) required a larger excavator? That simultaneous activities could create problems? They did however provide a number to call when problems arose (905) 335-2929. With affected neighbours on all sides, calls could be numerous.
Council faces a tough 2022 budget that projects the city portion of total taxes (city, region and education) could rise 5.57 per cent, with an overall increase of 3.33 per cent.
The last council meeting exposed chinks in Mayor Marianne Meed Ward’s grip on council.
When this council was sworn in almost three years ago, only the mayor and Paul Sharman had experience. Five were new, and tended to “follow the leader”. Now they think for themselves.
The issue was Rainbow crosswalks. Burlington installed its first one last year for about $10,000, with consensus that the program would continue. Recently the mayor presented a motion to install six (three this year) and directed staff to address options on rainbow benches and banners.
Councillors Kearns, Sharman and Shawna Stolte supported one a year, because the mayor’s motion meant using unbudgeted dollars from reserve funds this year, and future capital budgets.
Meed Ward’s motion carried four to three. Then she issued a statement thanking the three who supported her, perhaps leaving the impression the other three did not support Pride.
In response the three dissenters took the unusual step of issuing their own statement, outlining costs associated with the mayor’s position. They claimed it would cost taxpayers up to $50,000 this year, and upwards of $100,000 plus, in unplanned future funding. Our mayor is capable, but my observation is that when she wants something, budgetary caution suffers.
It will be interesting to watch council as we approach 2022’s municipal election. Will the chinks become large chasms?
Freelance columnist Joan Little is a former Burlington alderperson and Halton councillor. Reach
her at specjoan@cogeco.ca
Meed Ward opinion piece in the July 15th, Hamilton Spectator:
 Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Thank you to columnist Joan Little for her recent roundup of Burlington issues, particularly the recent 4-3 vote on funding additional rainbow crosswalks to show our city’s support for our 2SLGBTQIA-plus community.
There are several factual errors in the column that must be corrected, especially on such an important topic. I recognize these errors come from a statement on social media by several council members, which also contained inaccuracies. Accurate information can be found in the minutes or recording of meetings, all available online. (See June 8 minutes, item 5.5)
I brought a motion at committee to add three additional rainbow crosswalks in 2021, using the appropriate reserve fund, with consideration for three additional crosswalks to be discussed and funded during the 2022 budget discussions. Those discussions are still to come, and council will determine the source of funding at that time. The cost to date is an upset limit of $50,000 (not $100,000, as noted in the column).
Six crosswalks would provide one per ward throughout the city, something we heard was important from several councillors and the community. Doing multiple crosswalks now provides the potential for bulk savings on paint and contracted services.
It’s been said a council’s priorities are found not so much in the words of their strategic plan, but in the actions of their budget. We fund what we value.
The motion also provided consideration for rainbow benches and banners, with a report back from staff on cost and feasibility. That motion carried 5-2 at committee and 4-3 at council.
Only one alternative motion was presented at committee and supported by three council members.
The column stated councillors supported one rainbow crosswalk “per year” — that is incorrect. Per the minutes of the meeting, the actual motion tabled was for one additional crosswalk in 2021, and removing consideration for three additional crosswalks during upcoming budget discussions. If approved, that would have limited additional crosswalks to one and done. That motion failed 4-3.
I thanked those who supported the original motion. The three councillors who voted against it issued a statement explaining their vote, which is welcome. In the interest of transparency and accountability councillors are encouraged to explain to residents how they voted and why, whether in the majority or minority. I have regularly done so myself in my monthly newsletter, as both a councillor and now as mayor, including the vote count.
The characterization (and headline) that the 4-3 vote on this matter “exposed chinks” in the mayor’s “grip” on council, does a disservice to every member of Burlington council.
All members of council are fully capable, independent thinkers who have made decisions from the start of their terms based on the evidence presented, the merits of discussions and what they believe is best for their constituents. These decisions are done regardless of who puts the motion on the floor. Please respect that — and them.
I’m immensely proud of the careful thought and compassion they bring to each discussion. During this term, we have had 7-0, 6-1, 5-2 and 4-3 votes. That’s as it should be. I can’t imagine any council anywhere in the world that has unanimously passed every motion brought forward to them, nor is a 4-3 vote to be avoided. We welcome different viewpoints. When we disagree, we aim to do so respectfully.
On July 8, at committee, councillors unanimously supported a motion I brought forward to embark on renaming Ryerson Park, out of respect for Indigenous residents and as part of our path to reconciliation.
If reported on (and I hope it is), I hope this unanimous vote won’t be characterized as the mayor now regaining a “grip” on council.
Rather I hope coverage would focus on the importance of renaming the park as part of our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and the unanimous vote as reflective of the deep commitment of every member of council to reconciliation and action.
I hope these clarifications are helpful to your readers’ understanding of what took place.
Marianne Meed Ward is mayor of Burlington.
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