 By Pepper Parr
January 16th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Police Services Board met for 12 hours on Friday, adjourned to resume today (Saturday) at 11:00 am.
 Halton Regional Police Services Chief Steve Tanner The Police Services Board was to meet on Friday – scheduled to begin at 9:30 am, to virtually discuss what they wanted to do about the time the Chief of Police spent time out of the country while the province was under a lock down.
He did so with the permission of the Chair of the Police Services Board.
The in camera meeting recessed yesterday (Friday) just after 10pm and was to resume today (Saturday) at 11 am.
That is a lot of talking time.
And rightly so – there are very serious issues on the table.
The Board had legal counsel taking part in the meeting along with members who have deep policing experience.
There is fault all over the place on this one.
Should the Police Chief have known that it might have been inappropriate to ask for permission with a lock down scheduled to start the day he left the country ?
 Oakville Mayor and Chair of the Police Services Board Rob Burton Should the Chair have sounded out his fellow Board members on the advisability of the Chief being out of the country? Most certainly.
Should the Chairman have given the Chief permission to leave the country? The answer to that one is an obvious – No.
Oakville Mayor Rob Burton who was the chair at the time should have explained to Chief Tanner that he could not give permission to leave the jurisdiction.
Burton’s Chairmanship of the Board should come to an end; leaving the Board would be advisable.
Those on the Board who feel the Chief should be dismissed face some tough issues.
The Chief did ask.
 Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bnonette Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette said in a statement published on the Town web site that “ The refrain, “we are all in this together’ is only as meaningful as exemplified through the actions of those who deservedly are held to a higher standard — particularly those in public office and highly ranked officials serving the community.”
Mayor Bonnette, looking to provide residents with a full and transparent account about having any prior knowledge of Halton Regional Police Chief Tanner’s recent travel plans, issued the following statement:
“We have all had to make sacrifices during COVID-19; not seeing loved ones, not socializing the way we wish and staying home as much as possible. I want residents to know, that no members of Halton Hills Town Council have traveled outside of Canada during this unprecedented time.
Further, let me say that recent events involving the Halton Police Chief’s travel are disappointing. Please know that none of us – including Regional Councillors Clark Somerville and Jane Fogal and me, had any knowledge of the Chief’s travel plans. I did learn that he had received approval from the Chair of the Halton Police Board.”
Clark Somerville is a member of the Police Services Board.
The police officers are reported to be very upset that the Chief left the jurisdiction.
What stoked the anger was that while the Chief was away a Detective Constable suffered a cardiac arrest while on an assignment. Detective Constable Mike Tidball, a 14 year member of the Halton Regional Police service died while on duty.
 Detective Constable Mike Tidball, a 14 year member of the Halton Regional Police service laid to rest last Thursday. His funeral took place on Thursday in Milton where his wife said: “The most unimaginable has happened and I stand here in utter disbelief that my husband isn’t here with me, Kenzley and Colton,” said Tidball’s wife Kim as she choked back tears at the service.
Tidball was 39.
 By Staff
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In a media release sent out by City Hall we learn the following:
Earlier this week, the Province announced a State of Emergency, with additional restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19. The State of Emergency began Thursday, Jan. 14 at 12:01 a.m., including a Stay-at-Home Order in place for all regions of Ontario, including Halton Region, for at least 28 days.
Impacts to City services and programs
City Hall
 City Hall, located at 426 Brant St., remains open for in-person service by appointment only for commissioning services and marriage licences. Walk-ins are not permitted.
Please visit burlington.ca/commissioning, burlington.ca/marriage or call 905-335-7777 to book your appointment. Residents can also visit burlington.ca/onlineservices to access a variety of City services online.
Service Burlington is available to answer questions by phone during regular business hours, at 905-335-7777 and city@burlington.ca.
Building staff are processing building permit applications. Anyone wanting to apply for a building permit or follow up on an existing building permit application can email building@burlington.ca. Staff are responding to requests and are assisting applicants with the building permit process. For more information, visit burlington.ca/building.
Burlington Transit
Burlington Transit will continue to run as scheduled including specialized transit. The transit terminal at 430 John St. will remain open to provide PRESTO services including SPLIT passes. Presto services are available at Shoppers Drug Mart or online at prestocard.ca. Transit schedules are available online at burlingtontransit.ca to download and print, via Google Maps, Apple Maps and using myride.burlingtontransit.ca.
Halton Court Services – Provincial Offences Office
Halton POA administration counter services are currently closed. Telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Many online services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or by visiting www.haltoncourtservices@burlington.ca
Recreation, Community & Culture Services and Facilities
Leaving your home for outdoor exercise is allowed under the current provincial regulations, as long as 2 metres of physical distancing is maintained at all times from anyone outside of your household. Exercise is an essential need for everyone. It is important to stay active for both physical and mental health.
Outdoor recreational parks and open spaces that are allowed to stay open include City-sanctioned toboggan hills, neighbourhood rinks, multiuse courts, playgrounds, trails, Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond and parks. Equipment lending (curbside pick-up) can continue.
Please cooperate with others using the outdoor space and follow all public health measures and posted signage.
Outdoor Skating
 The Rotary Centennial Pond at 1340 Lakeshore Rd. is open for skating daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents wishing to use the rink must pre-register and complete the online screening at burlington.ca/screening. Capacity on this rink is 35 people and meets the provincial regulations.
A new artificial outdoor rink at Hidden Valley Park, 1137 Hidden Valley Rd. is open for skating daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All users must pre-register and complete the online screening at burlington.ca/screening. Capacity on this rink is 10 people and meets the provincial regulations.
For both skating rinks, as per new provincial regulations, additional measures are in place for outdoor activities that require the use of masks. Visitors must wear masks while standing in line and it is highly recommended during skating. For more information, follow @Burl_ParksRec and visit burlington.ca/pond for updates.
Outdoor Winter Play Challenge
Residents can also take the Outdoor Winter Play Challenge and see how many free activities they can complete by Feb. 19, 2021. Learn more at burlington.ca/playoutside.
Active at Home
Options to stay active at home are available online at burlington.ca/activeathome, including a series of virtual activities from fitness to crafts for everyone to enjoy. All videos are free and new videos are added frequently. Follow @BurlingtonParksRec on Facebook and @Burl_parksandrec on Twitter for the latest updates and videos.
Roads, Parks and Forestry
Services provided by the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department will continue as needed. Residents with questions or issues can email RPF@burlington.ca or call 905-333-6166.
 By Pepper Parr
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
We are being asked to stay at home.
We are being asked to go out only when we must and we are being asked to not meet with people who are not part of our immediate circle.
Supermarkets, Big Box stores and other places people go to for the supplies they need are being told to limit the number of people in their premises.
There are all kinds of rules in place, many that are confusing. Bureaucracy run amok.
For the most part the public is complying and waiting.
Waiting for the information they need that will allow them to feel a little more settled and less anxious.
When am I going to get vaccinated and who is going to tell me when that will happen and where will I go to get that vaccination?
Will I get a letter? Will they tweet me?
Will the vaccinations be done by age group?
Will they bring people in for vaccination by alphabetical order within each age group that is decided upon?
Or will they have everyone in a family come in at the same time?
Has all this not been thought out?
In Burlington, no one, as of Tuesday, was all that certain as to which facilities would be used for the vaccinations.
A Task Force created to work through these issues advised that it thought school locations would be best but had not invited anyone from the School Boards to sit on the Task Force.
The Task Force is being led by the Fire Chief and the City Manager’s top aide on matters related to the managing of the issues related to Covid-19.
Both good people – now they need to create a consistent flow of information to settle an anxious public.
 By Staff
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Understanding what is going on around us sometimes means looking at the data that has been collected.
 Set out is a chart that shows the positivity rate of the testing that was done. Shown as a percentage of the tests done and broken out by week and then by age group we can see which age groups had the highest positivity.
The data was released by the Science Table, one of the Covid Advisory groups set up by the provincial government to provide data on which decisions could be made.
There are some surprises in the data.
Younger people are testing positive but not getting all that sick whereas older people have lower positivity rates but they are dying.
By Staff
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
At a time when information is critical there seems to be a paucity of it.
The Halton Region Public Health Unit released the following information:
“Halton Region is currently focused on transporting and administering the vaccine to residents and staff in long-term care and retirement homes.
“We are working closely with Directors of Care to provide regular communications with all long-term care and retirement homes, including administrators, staff, residents and caregivers about when the vaccine will be available in each home.
“Right now our primary method of communications is through our dedicated COVID-19 Vaccines webpage, which provides residents with information about:
Health Canada authorized vaccines Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech;
“The status of Halton’s vaccination program in Halton (including where we are at and information on planning for future phases as part of the Province’s vaccine implementation plan);
“We are also communicating through Halton Region social media (Twitter, Facebook), HaltonParents social media (Twitter) and our 311/Access Halton service continues to provide answers and information to residents.
“We also continue to be in regular communications with our partners to keep each other updated and ensure we are delivering a coordinated and consistent message to the community.
“We are also actively working with our partners on a communication strategy to effectively communicate to all residents about the vaccine program, with specific focus on priority groups as they are eligible. This will include social and digital media outreach and more targeted communications to ensure all audiences and groups are aware of when, where and how to get their vaccination.
“We know that many residents are very eager to get their vaccine and this is such welcome news. We continue to ask for patience as we vaccinate priority populations and we will communicate to residents when it is their turn, ensuring that the information is easy to understand and accessible. “
The Gazette is tracking the work being done by the city and the manner in which it will set up facilities once the vaccines are available for innoculations.
The effort at this point is working out which facilities will be used and ensuring that all the support needed is available.
This is not a simple task; it is complex and has to be done right the first time.
Stay tuned.
 By Staff
January 14th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has made an arrest in connection with a shooting that took place in Burlington in 2019. On August 10, 2019, at approximately 7:20 am, police responded to a shooting at a residence on Maple Avenue.
Suspects fired shots at a victim after ringing the doorbell at the residence. The victim was not hit by any of the shots and not physically injured. Suspects fled the area in a vehicle. No arrests were made at that time.
On January 13, 2021, investigators with the 30 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau executed a search warrant at a residence in Stoney Creek. One suspect was arrested and has now been charged in relation to this incident.
Evan Trites (25) of Stoney Creek has been charged with the following:
• Utter Threats
• Assault with a Weapon
• Reckless Discharge of a Firearm
Trites was held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.
 Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Staff
January 14th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
School boards are looking at the bigger picture – the pandemic will end and a normal life will return. We wish!
The province has treated the educational sector in a rather shabby way – schools are open, then they are closed, and then they are opened again.
Many parents are at their wit’s end.
The Halton District School Board said yesterday that they are now accepting registrations for Junior (Year 1) and Senior (Year 2) Kindergarten for September 2021.
 Students at the kindergarten level – before the pandemic. Mask-less. Will the class of September 2021 look like this? Families are advised to call their local elementary school to find out which dates have been established for Kindergarten registration in their area. Registration will be by appointment only (in-person and/or virtual). Parents/guardians are asked to register their child by Feb. 5, 2021.
Registration forms are available online at www.hdsb.ca (search: Registering for Kindergarten).
To determine your home school, visit the HDSB website at www.hdsb.ca (search: Find My Local School).
Families should contact the HDSB Welcome Centre to book an appointment if they hold a work permit and are registering their child with the HDSB for the first time, or if either the parent or child has a Study Permit/Visa, or the parent is a Permanent Resident applicant on visitor status.
 Hopefully the school boards will see students like this next September. Please have the following original documents when registering:
• Proof of address (any two of the following current documents): lease or deed, car registration, utility bill, residential telephone bill, moving bill, property tax bill, bank statement, credit card statement, correspondence with a government agency
• Proof of age: birth certificate or passport or baptismal/faith record for your child
• Proof of citizenship: birth certificate or passport, Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Permanent Resident card
• If you are not the child’s parent, or if you have sole custody, please bring proof of custody (court order).
To register to begin school in Fall 2021, Junior Kindergarten (Year 1) children must be four years old by Dec. 31, 2021, and Senior Kindergarten (Year 2) children must be five years old by Dec. 31, 2021.
To learn more about the Halton District School Board’s Kindergarten Program, visit the HDSB website at www.hdsb.ca (search: Kindergarten).
At kindergarten.hdsb.ca, future students can explore a Kindergarten classroom to see what their classroom will look like next September. There are videos to watch, pictures to view and fun activities for kids. Parents/guardians can learn about the Kindergarten program at the HDSB, play-based learning, community resources in Halton and before-and-after school care. Families can also sign-up to receive a welcome package from the HDSB including a free children’s book.
Parents/guardians who require language assistance to register their child for school can contact the HDSB Welcome Centre:
• For schools in Oakville – 905-335-3665 ext. 3438
• For schools in Burlington – 905-335-3665 ext. 3452
• For schools in Milton, Georgetown, Acton – 905-335-3665 ext. 3438
Parents/guardians who require accessibility accommodations to register their child for school can contact the Principal/Vice-principal of the school.
By Staff
January 14th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a huge development by Burlington standards.
It is what the current council used as the basic plank of their individual election campaigns back in 2018 and what the Mayor wanted to see when she took on the task of producing an Official Plan that moved the focus of development from the downtown – east and west of Brant Street and south of Prospect.
 The development, which could be as much as a decade to complete, will create a whole new community around the GO station – adding to the Molinaro development which is more than half done. The development which will be discussed at the Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Committee meeting on Thursday is to consist of:
Seven (7) residential towers on top of four (4) mixed use podiums.
Overall heights ranging between 29 and 37 storeys.
Podium heights ranging from 2, 5 and 6 storeys.
A total of 2,494 residential units of mixed type and tenure.
3993 m2 of commercial space.
41, 821 m2 of shared amenity space.
Five (5) levels of underground parking and a four (4) storey parking structure which will be integrated with the residential units.
Pedestrian connections to the surrounding neighbourhood and Burlington GO Station.
A Site Plan Application offers information to use existing zoning and gives you the chance to learn and be informed about the applicant’s plans.
 A drawing showing where the buildings will be located on the property. For this application, formal engagement and public comments were received by the City of Burlington as part of the adoption of the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw policies and regulations that apply to this site.
The application was circulated with various internal staff and external agencies for review and comment.
The applicant recently responded with a re-submission which is currently under review.
A neighbourhood meeting will be planned in early 2021.
By Pepper Parr
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Police Services Board will meet on Friday in a closed session.
The former Chair of the Board, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, gave up the Chair but is thought to still be a member of the Board.
Jeff Knoll, an Oakville Councillor and a member of the Police Services Board will serve as acting Chair during a meeting that will have legal counsel on hand to advise.
On December 21st, Premier Ford announced a lock-down to take effect Dec 26.
On December 22nd, Police Chief Stephen Tanner asked the then Chair Rob Burton for permission to leave the jurisdiction to travel to Florida on a private matter.
Burton gave permission and said at the time that he didn’t have a problem with the Chief being away.
On December 26th, Chief Tanner left for the United States.
On December 26th, the province invoked a shut down for 28 days.
There has been considerable demand for the Chief to be fired.
He asked for and was given permission to travel.
Can he be fired?
In order to lead a leader has to have the confidence and respect of the people being led.
The rank and file of the Halton Police Service are said to be “outraged”.
Driving their feelings is the fact that the Chief was not on hand to meet with the family of a Detective Constable who died while on an observation assignment in Burlington.
One of the Deputy Chiefs met with the officer’s family.
 Oakville Mayor Rob Burton  Chief of Police Steve Tanner It is a messy situation created when a foolish decision was made by Burton.
Can the mess be cleaned up?
The retirement of the Chief and the former Chair will resolve the problems.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Ray Rivers
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It seems that watching TV is about all there is to do during this lockdown. I was looking for something exciting to watch on the channels last Wednesday and boy did I find it. In fact I could swear I was only picking up one of those action movies on Netflix.
 Americans had never seen anything like this before. It was pretty fast moving though I kept thinking that I could probably have done a better job on the script and with the staging. Those police characters were getting walked over by the mob. Where was the army? After all, the last time the US Capitol got attacked it was by invading British troops in 1814.
And the invading squad seemed pretty authentic except for that nutter with the bull horns costume on his head. And where was the superhero who also shows up at times like these? I almost expected to see an Adam Schiff or Nancy Pelosi grab those invading bums by the scruff (or horns) and single handedly Sock!!! Pow!!! and Wham!!! them until they cried out UNCLE.
 Rioter seen frequently on TV screens. Will be seen in a Court House in the near future -minus the horns. And the script was America classic. I mean by the time the army (National Guard) showed up, dressed to the nines in riot gear with gas masks, and everything you’d expect but armoured personal carriers, it was all but over. Some of the clowns hung around thinking there might be a second scene to this movie – or maybe to give out autographs, but this movie, ‘insurrection’ was over.
The reality is that this attempted coup was far more serious than it seemed when sitting two metres from the TV screen. For one thing it’s pretty clear it had been premeditated. For his part Trump had primed his fans and this particular mob for weeks with his lies about the election. He and his pal Rudy actually told them to march to the Capitol building and fight for him. And there was something fishy about how long it took for federal troops to arrive.
The rioters were prepared for a serious occupation of the legislative building. They brought an assortment of assault weapons, Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs for distraction, wrist-tie straps for the hostages, and instruments to enable breaching the entrances. This had to be a planned invasion of the Congress, a takeover of the government and a plan to capture the political representatives as hostages – or did they always carry this kind of weaponry with them when they travelled.
These people – the Proud Boys, Q-Anon and other right wing extremist and conspiracy theorists – were looking for trouble. They were violent and aggressive. Four people died in the melee including one police officer and a rioter whose laser weapon accidentally nuked his family jewels. How do his kids explain to their classmates how their daddy died?
 The troops were not on hand at the beginning. The capital police force was outnumbered eight to one and over 50 officers suffered serious injuries and beatings. Their call for assistance from the DC National Guard was ignored by Trump’s hand picked military leaders until the fighting was pretty much over. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives had to be sequestered for safety in a crowded room and mostly without face masks. One 75 year old congresswomen has since been diagnosed with COVID as a result.
There was something about what I saw that made me think it could be a 1950’s movie. Most of the folks on the screen were white, especially those in the mob. Recall the way which the mostly peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations last summer were handled by the authorities. There was no shortage of military uniforms and tear gas on parade back then.
Of course the BLM protesters were neither armed nor were they trying to occupy the Congress. They were just asking not to be killed wantonly by the police. If ever anyone doubted white privilege, they’d just need to review the tape of the assault on the US legislation by the president’s men.
 Trump speaking to the rioters before they marched on the Capital Trump tried and he failed. Whether he is impeached or not, his future in US politics is over, and so is that of his family. The House of Representatives is charging him with inciting an insurrection against the legislative branch of the US government. It is very likely that he will have to face judgement in the US criminal system as well.
Trump may yet avoid judgement for this sedition or his tax evasion and other crimes. Perhaps he’ll seek asylum somewhere in a nation more friendly to him. There was an unsubstantiated report that a rioters who was arrested had requested a Russian translator – that should make anyone wonder about who this mob really was.
The FBI has warned more violence is likely on the way for inauguration day. One can only wonder what Trump really meant when he promised to make America great again. It certainly hasn’t improved television viewing.
 Ray Rivers was born and raised in Ontario and earned a degree in economics at the University of Ontario. He taught at a university in New Zealand for a period of time and then earned a Masters degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office.
After leaving the federal government he consulted for private sector and government clients. Ray became Executive Director for an organic farm certification organization and then executive director of Clean Air Canada, an environmental emissions trading company.
Rivers completed his first historical novel The End of September in 2012. This story about what might have happened had Quebecers voted for sovereignty association in that first referendum in 1980 is set in Ottawa and Montreal.
He has been active in his community including ratepayers groups, a food bank, environmental organizations, community journalism, policing and community associations and service clubs, churches, boy scouts, and community theatre.
Background links:
Capital Police – White Lies Matter More – Trump Limits Guard Role –
Trump Lies Trump and White Males
Russian Translator – Trump’s Team – Trumps Incitement –
National Guard and Trump –
By Pepper Parr
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 The data in a visual format tells the story.
Stark evidence of what we have done to ourselves.
What happened to those in Long Term Care (LTC) facilities.
Key Findings•Growth in cases has accelerated and is over 7% on the worst days.•Almost 40% of long-term care homes have active COVID-19 outbreaks. Since January 1st198 LTC residents and 2 LTC staff have died of COVID-19. Forecasts suggest more deaths in wave 2 in long-term care than in wave 1.•COVID-19 ICU occupancy is now over 400 beds. Surgeries are being cancelled and the access to care deficit will continue to increase with real consequences for health.
Daily mortality is increasing under current restrictions, doubling from 50 to 100 deaths per day between now and end of February.
Projections: COVID-19 ICU occupancy around 500 beds in mid-January, potentially over 1,000 beds in February in more severe, but realistic scenarios. Graph below.
 By Pepper Parr
January 11th, 2021- 9:45 pm
BURLINGTON, ON
From a source that has never let us down before we were told that Oakville Mayor Rob Burton has or will be resigning as Chair of the Halton Regional Police Services Board.
In an email from Burton to the Board members they were advised that there will be a Special Meeting of the Board.
Burton said: “In response to concerns regarding Chief Tanner’s recent travel to the U.S., the Halton Police Board will be holding a special meeting on Friday January 15th to obtain legal advice.
“This meeting will be closed to the public, as permitted under the Police Services Act. The Board will deal with the matter at its next public meeting 9.am. January 28th, which will be held by Zoom.”
Chief Tanner was reported to have left Canada and entered the United States with a person who is the president of a nationally known advocacy group that has chapters in Burlington, Oakville and Milton.
Early reports were that Tanner had sought permission from Chair Burton to travel who said that at the time, the first day of the province wide lock down, that he had no objections.
Related news stories:
Chief of Police travels to the United States during lock down.
Chair of Police Services said at the time that he had no objections to the travel.
By Staff
January 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Given the number of condominiums that are either in the early stages of construction or in the planning approval process – it would follow that more people are going to live in condominiums.
The operation of a Condominium Corporation is not like running your ball team. It is complex.
The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services would like to invite you to participate in a written consultation on potential permanent changes to enable digital and virtual processes under the Condominium Act, 1998.
 Nautique – an ADI Development: When built it will operate as a Condominium Corporation. If you buy – you might want to know how that corporation is going to work The Legislature passed the COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020 which, among other things, made temporary legislative amendments to the Condominium Act, 1998 related to virtual meetings and the deferral of annual meetings in some circumstances in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These temporary legislative amendments were further extended by regulation to permit corporations to call and hold meetings as applicable through electronic and telephonic means, notwithstanding certain requirements until May 31, 2021.
The Ministry is now seeking your input on whether further temporary or permanent amendments are required under the Condominium Act, 1998 in relation to virtual processes, as corporations adapt to new ways of doing business that are more digital/virtual allowing for broader participation. The Ministry has developed a Condominium Act, 1998 Feedback Form that consists of targeted questions intended to guide participants feedback regarding (1) virtual meetings, (2) electronic delivery of notices and documents, and (3) storage/examination of records through electronic means.
The Feedback Form is now posted on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry for public comment. If you wish to participate we encourage you to provide feedback on these topics at the following link by 5 p.m. on February 8th, 2021.
The link for comments is HERE
By Pepper Parr
January 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City today released data on the impact COVID19 has had on city hall
 The reality that the restaurant and hospitality sectors have been dealing with for months has made its way to city hall. Thirteen people have become infected by the virus; City Manager Tim Commisso said that all 13 cases have been resolved. There was no detail on whether any of the 13 had to be admitted to hospital – just that they had been resolved.
There have been staff layoffs – particularly at the school crossing guard level.
196 people have been laid off; 290 jobs have reduced hours and 68 people were asked to put in additional hours.
City Manager Tim Commisso said that some of the people who were laid off have advised the city that they are looking for work elsewhere and may not be able to return to the city.
Staff morale has been impacted.
Council learned that 700 hours of work were required to get the provincial lockdown in place and that it will probably take that much to get back to what was once the lick down is lifted..
The reality that the restaurant and hospitality sectors have been dealing with for months has made its way to city hall.
By Pepper Parr
January 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Vaccinations are taking place now and there is a plan to do the mass vaccinations that will be needed to bring this virus to heel.
 The big picture: sets out the rate at which the city and the Region will get us all vaccinated. The city administration created a Task Force that would work directly with the Regional Public Health Office which has asked the city to find a possible three locations at which vaccinations can be administered.
 The make-up of the Task Force – city side They asked that one of the three be the Haber Recreation Centre which has been used in the past for measles vaccinations.
The way this will roll out is to have the city providing the space with the required security, backup power supply and the on hand staffing that will be needed. Parking and transit access were also important.
The public will be given details on who is to show up when.
Council learned that it is going to be many months before everyone is vaccinated. Sheila Jones, one of the Executive Directors, who guided the presentations made by staff said she thought it could be completed by August.
There are three phases to the plan. The time lines for each phase are not cast in stone. All the people who are working on this task are fully aware that everything is both fluid and dynamic.
Some people may be getting their vaccinations at a Doctor’s Office; some may get their vaccination at a pharmacy, assuming they are part of the picture.
 Who does what?  Burlington Fire Chief Karen Rocke will work with City Staffer Amber Rushton to lead to Vaccination Task Force Amber Rushton and Fire Chief Karen Roche are the staff members leading this Task Force. More on Ms Rushton in a separate article.
The Plan they are administering so that vaccinations can be given quickly and efficiently includes:
Having the needed equipment in place
Staffing
Site set up
Traffic control
Site security
Public safety and volume management.
Sites that are set up will have to stay in place until the public vaccination is complete – we are talking about many months.
There will be a military liaison person attached to the Task Force as well as someone from the Mayor’s office – that was defined as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Victoria Al Samadi.
The Task Force reports directly to the Emergency Control Group weekly.
One of the problems that has plagued this health crisis is the, at times, very poor messaging by the province.
The Regional Public Health Network hasn’t earned all that many gold stars for the way it has communicated with a worried public. However, they have been good at getting data out.
 Reporting structure is a work in progress at this point – but there are very good people in place to make it all happen. This next phase is going to require very tight communication between the city – they are going to provide a location that is ready the moment the nurses walk through the door ready to put needles in arms – and the Region, that is going to bring the thousands of doses that will be needed to the location and ensure that there are enough nurses on hand to work from 8:30 am to about 5:30 pm seven days a week.
There are still a lot of questions to be answered. Things will be moving very quickly by the end of the month when the public vaccination takes place.
One message to the public: the City and the Region have a very firm grip on what has to be done. The role for individuals is to be patient and to trust the civil servants to do their jobs. The really do know what they are doing.
 By Pepper Parr
January 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Update: Since publishing this piece the following information from a source that can be considered reliable. “ If I have read the articles correctly, the chief left the country on December 26th as we went into full lock down and as of today, he has not returned. I would call that an extended vacation.
Is it time for some good old fashioned police work?
The Gazette reader reaction to the news that the Halton Region Chief of Police was out of the country for a period of time, albeit with the permission of the Chair of the Police Services Board, has been significant.
Most of those that commented want to see the Chief fired including a former police officer who has taken up politics as a new career option.
Rob Burton, Chair of the Police Services Board and Mayor of Oakville (I got it right this time) did say that with hindsight he might have made a different decision. Many don’t seem prepared to accept that explanation; the Mayor of Burlington certainly isn’t on side.
In a Statement released by Mayor Meed Ward yesterday she was both pointed and direct. The Chief had no business being out of the country.
It is not healthy for a part of society to have lost faith in the man who runs the police service.
So some questions:
When did the Chief of Police ask the Chair of the Police Services Board for permission to leave the jurisdiction and travel to Florida to take care of some personal business?
When did the Chief of Police leave for Florida, how long was he there and when did he return to Canada?
Once that information is made public we can lay that over it when the Premier announced there would be a lockdown.
With all that information we will know if Burton was irresponsible and the Police Services Board can decide if they want to take any action and if there should be any repercussions.
Overriding all this is the Advisory that has been in place from both the federal and provincial levels for some time advising the public not to travel outside the community.
The failure to follow those advisories has Quebec with a curfew in place; be off the streets at 8 pm and stay at home until 5 am.
Is this what we are going to see in Ontario?
By Staff
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor issued the following statement a few minutes ago.
For full transparency and accountability, I have not travelled outside the country or province in more than a year and have not left the City of Burlington since before the Provincial shutdown.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward being sworn in as Mayor I am just as troubled and frustrated as the community about continued news of travel outside the country or province by elected representatives, health officials or community leaders. This erodes public trust at a time we need to work with the community to defeat COVID-19.
I immediately spoke to Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) Chief Stephen Tanner, when I learned today (from the media) that he had travelled outside the country to attend to a property, with the permission of the Chair of the HRPS Board, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. I expressed my concern about the travel. I appreciate that Chief Tanner has now apologized and said it was a poor decision and one he deeply regrets.
I encourage those with properties outside the province to consider local property management companies and continue to avoid non-essential travel. I have heard from constituents who also have properties outside the province who are not travelling to those properties, and they expect the same from their community leaders.
Clearly, as community leaders, we need to hold ourselves not only to the same standards we expect from the public, but a higher standard of accountability, transparency and behaviour. We are in a public health emergency when all non-essential travel is being discouraged by our public health officials and provincial and federal governments.
Accountability starts in our own backyard. My expectations are that no senior City staff or Council members will be travelling outside the province for non-essential trips during the shutdown. I can confirm that no senior staff at Burlington City Hall has travelled outside the province since the province-wide shutdown. I also asked and have received confirmation from all City Council members that none of them have travelled outside of the province since the shutdown.
As a new measure during virtual City of Burlington Committee and Council meetings, and other public meetings, I will be voluntarily disclosing where I am calling in from. I have asked all of my City Council colleagues to do the same.
Additionally, I have put on the agenda of our upcoming Emergency Control Group a discussion of what further measures are warranted to ensure our staff and council walk the talk, lead by example and hold ourselves to the same and higher standard than we expect of the community.
We are in the worst of this pandemic. It is all hands on deck. We need to trust each other and work together. To do that, we all need to make the same commitments and sacrifices to beat this deadly virus.
We need to work to restore trust when it has been broken, as it has recently with many announcements of travel by health, elected and community leaders.
I have a question: Why does saying “it was a poor decision and one he deeply regrets” close the matter. That’s just not right.
By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Corrected: Rob Burton is the Mayor of Oakville and not Burlington – When I type Mayor my computer adds Burlington.
Chair of the Police Services Board Rob Burton, who is also the Mayor of Oakville said today that “Chief Steve Tanner informed me in advance of his travel to tend to a property matter. I had no objection.
Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner has the full confidence of the Chair of the Police Services Board. “Things can always look differently in hindsight, can’t they, and things looked differently back before the partial lockdown began when I didn’t have an objection.
Rob Burton – Oakville Mayor and Chair of the Police Services Board – gives the police chief some wiggle room “Since then, I would have responded differently. Chief Tanner continues to have my full confidence. The Chief leads our police service in an exemplary manner and will continue to do so.”
It would appear that the Chief advised the Chair – the Chair said ‘no problem’ bring back some of those Cuban cigars with you’. Then the lock down was imposed. Did the Chair direct the Chief to get back pronto – and is the Chief in place now or is he self isolating?
Related news story
Police Chief in the sunny south
Burlington Mayor releases a Statement
By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATED
 Is there anyone left in the country?
What do you say when the Chief of Police is reported to be in Florida?
Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner is reported to have been or is still in Florida.
Global News broke the story an hour or so ago.
No notice of a police convention in Florida.
There is a report that the Chief is in Florida on a property related matter.
Another report has police union members outraged.
The Gazette has reached out to Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, who is the current Chair of the Police Services Board – the level that hires the police Chief. He has not returned our request for comment.
Public trust just goes down the toilet.
By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There is some chatter about the level of staff turnover at City Hall and there have been Staff Reports that reflect what is going on in city hall – it wasn’t a pretty picture.
That may be changing.
The Mayor recently used her Newsletter to welcome Enrico Scalera as the new Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department.
 Enrico Scalera named Director Parks, Roads and Forestry Scalera brings 30 years of private and public-sector experience in engineering and operations to the City of Burlington. For the past 10 years, he has served as Director of Roads and Works Operations with the Town of Oakville and was responsible for road infrastructure maintenance, fleet and operations facilities.
Burlington scooped a senior staffer from Oakville? That is news.
During his time with Oakville Scalera oversaw the department implementation of many program improvements and enhancements including Asset Management and Work Order and AVL systems and implementation of customer service and response tracking systems.
Scalera is a graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Science Program in civil engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Ontario One Call, the Provincial agency advocating for best practices and communicating locate requests for underground infrastructure.
Something about Burlington attracted the man. Our City Manager appears to be in the process of putting together a different team.
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