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Grandfather wants more invested in the education of his grandchildren

By Ray Rivers

September 18th, 2020

MOUNTSBERG, ON

These are scary times especially if you are grandparents. When it comes to educating our youth, no one should doubt that school boards, teachers and maintenance staff are doing the best they can in the circumstances. But then nobody can say the schools are as safe as they could be – or used to be before the pandemic hit us. The circumstances have changed.

Seven months have passed since the schools were shut down as part of the provincial COVID-19 lock-down. The Premier warned us that this was not going away, that we’d have to change how we do things if we are to avoid getting infected. So what about the children? Aside from some widening of the aisles between students’ desks very little seems to have changed.

Yes, there are the masks and the single cohorts and the managed crowd control, coming and going. But the students, for the most part, are still captive and crowded within their inadequately ventilated classroom environment for most of their day – another petrie dish for the virus and another opportunity for viral transmission.

Leo taking part in a class exercise

So when my wife and I had heard that school would be returning pretty much business-as-usual, we reached out to the parents of our youngest grandchildren and offered to help with their children’s grade 2 and 4 French immersion schooling. There are in excess of 20,000 children who receive homeschooling every year in Ontario, so we’d be in good company, we thought.

Fortunately the education ministry had announced that parents could opt out of sending their children back to the classroom and engage in their program of online or distance learning instead. Students would pretty much get their regular course load but learn at home rather than trucking off to school. The Halton Board sent out requests to parents asking them to opt for the option of their choice.

Teachers, apparently some also teaching regular classes, would appear online through the application of Google online conferencing tools, mainly Google Meet and Google Classroom. Teachers use various media to assist in their online teaching and students are even invited to submit contributions, such as, photos.

There are three teaching blocks of 100 minutes each covering the 8:45 am to 3:05 pm day, and duplicating the essence of what would be learned in a regular classroom. Students may even be given homework assignments. And the online platform allows students to see their teacher as well a number of fellow students, making the experience feel a little less remote.

When we undertook to invite the children to our house we expected that we would be heavily involved in preparing classes. Both of us do have some pedagogical training. As it turns out our role is little more than supervision and coaching as the teachers do the heavy lifting of bringing the curriculum to life on the small screen.

How is it going? Well there was some minor stumbling at the beginning, something one should expect with the introduction of this new way of conducting regular classroom instruction. But the students appear to be excited about what they are doing. And the teachers, in our experience, have been wonderful, clearly competent, enthusiastic and responsive to the needs of the students and their coaches.

While being able to conduct regular classes online sounds pretty amazing, the truth is the technology is still not as user friendly as it could be. But the biggest problem is the size of the online classes. There are close to thirty students in each of the children’s classes.

Bea doing math.

It is impossible to practically see all of one’s classmates on a computer screen. And so it is a difficult for the teacher to stay on top of what everyone is doing. And that makes it a huge challenge for effective immersion language training, for example.

Going through the roster of students can take an inordinate amount of time and that can be really boring to those waiting their turn. Students can lose interest and drift off, even with the best of teachers. And that is the big fear – that students will lose interest, shut down, and their performance will reflect that failing.

This is the same problem one sees in over overcrowded regular classrooms only magnified by the remote learning complication. The solution is obvious – hire more teachers for distance learning. In a country where the unemployment rate is currently above 10% and governments are spilling money like rain water, you’d think this was more than possible.

Of course teachers need some training and a program to follow but this is not rocket science – unless they actually are teaching rocket science. And of course experience counts. But our children are the future, why wouldn’t we want to invest more in their education?

Distance Learning –

Online Learning –

Ray Rivers usually writes about politics and the environment. His grandchildren are doing elementary school as distant learners.

Has council had an impressive peek at its next city manager?

By Pepper Parr

September 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

About once a month – there is this tour de force that takes place at a Standing Committee.

Sheila Jones, the former City Auditor, found herself going toe to toe with a member of Council. The Councillor lost.

Sheila Jones: Executive Director of Strategy, Risk and Accountability.

The difference of opinion had to do with just how much information Jones was prepared to release when all hell was breaking loose over the Customer Relation Management software that had gone off the tracks and was badly in need of some resuscitation.

That occasion was the first time we saw the feistiness that is very much a part of the Jones persona. It wasn’t something we saw in her as a shy auditor.

City Manager Tim Commisso was in the process of redesigning his senior management team; every city manager seems to need to do a re-ordering of the Colonels in his army. Jones got chosen in a competition for an Executive Director of Strategy, Risk and Accountability.

Several months before her appointment Jones led Council and Staff in a workshop session on risk and strategy. She acted like a cheerleader – pushing the importance of risk when creating a strategy. That kind of positive push is seldom seen at city hall.

When COVID-19 hit the world Commisso wisely put Jones in a command role. She pulls together the data she needs from throughout the departments – she knows their role, the department strengths and weakness – she used to audit them.

Earlier today she took council through a review of where things stood given the COVID environment – financially, and the status of the work being done by each department.

On occasion she refers (not defers) to Commisso for a comment.

Sheila Jones, second from the right – went to to toe with a council member – we saw real leadership.

In the past couple of months we hear less and less from Commisso. The pace for him has been brutal – it certainly wasn’t what he thought he was taking on when he was asked to serve as the interim city manager when James Ridge was shown the door.

Commisso had worked for the city for a number of years earlier in his municipal career – he knew where all the bones were buried. This was going to be a another layer of income for his retirement years.

Commisso raising his hand – not something we see very often. He tends to be quiet, laid back and delegates much of the time.

Then COVID hit the fan – and his world changed. And he really didn’t have that great a team in place. There was some baggage that he had to pack and ship out. And some of his stronger people had to leave their jobs – behavioral issues.

In his re-design Commisso found this gem – did he know how well Jones would serve?

Hard to tell but there is no denying that she has a firm grip on the wheel and is determining the course much of the time.

Hard to find a negative word about the woman.

The question that comes to mind is this: what is the city going to do when the Commisso contract comes to an end. It won’t (shouldn’t) be extended.

Some much needed energy and positivity from Sheila Jones.

Is Sheila Jones a possible next city manager?

Why not – Hamilton has a woman doing the job – and based on what we have seen so far Sheila Jones could (and should) lead.

Would she be able to work with Mayor Meed Ward? Not that many woman find they can work with this Mayor; her very competitive nature and habit of using up all the oxygen in a room makes it difficult at times.

Mayor Meed Ward has other political mountains to climb – Jones could make her look very good allowing the Mayor claim she made it all possible as she moves on to the provincial level.

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.

A possible tax increase of 4.9% did get put on the table - the treasurer said that if there was no room to cut - that's wat the city was looking at.tax

By Pepper Parr

September 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The number was put on the table.

Wait for it.

4.95 % as a “possible” tax increase.

A tax increase of 4.5% just did not taste all that good. But when the numbers were added up – it was at least in the wind.

Mayor Meed Ward wanted to make sure that the number was not something council was signing off on – that was not the kind of tax increase that she wanted to be known for.

Treasurer Joan Ford made it clear that she wasn’t chiseling that number in stone.

She did say that: ”If there is no room to cut anywhere we don’t want you to be surprised – and think we didn’t tell you.”

The Mayor also said that she didn’t want to even think in terms of reducing service levels – she wanted to be able to increase service levels.

That would be called sucking and blowing on the same water hose.

Hockey ice pad to be used for covid testing - yes, the ice will be removed

By Pepper Parr

September 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

Ice pad to be used as a COVID testing location?

There has been complaint upon complaint about the length of time it takes to get a COVID-19 test and then about how long it takes to get the results.

Simple procedure – takes minute or two – testing backlog is big.

The city is working with the hospital to use one of the rinks at Nelson to use as a place tests can be done.

For reasons that are not at all clear – this has become a hush hush matter.

During a Standing Committee meeting earlier today Director of Parks and Recreation said an announcement would be made “very soon”.

Looks like the city is going to scrape through financially this year - next year is where it could really begin to hurt

By Pepper Parr

September 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The city will be short about $2.9 million with its 2019-20 budget but there is enough money in various reserve funds to get us through.

The concern is with the 2020-21 budget – assuming we are still dealing with COVID-19 – which the Mayor is certain we will be dealing with into 2022.

Director of Finance Joan Ford

City Treasurer Joan Ford laid out the numbers.

This is the money the city didn’t get.

Where the city was able to save; normal expenses that were lower and funding available from other levels of government.

There was a fair amount of good news. Tax collections for the period ending in April were at 97%.

There is adequate tax revenue to meet the day-to-day costs.

On the down side, the revenue loss was $18.5 million

Money that didn’t have to be spent was $9.5 million leaving a balance of $9 million as the shortfall.

There was some federal money – from the Safe Start Funds – $6.1 million which got the shortfall to that $2.9 million level.

Treasurer Ford and City Manager Tim Commisso both made mention of additional funding from the federal government.

Some interesting questions were asked. Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna wondered aloud what would happen to the malls when some (perhaps many) of the tenants turned in their keys.

Treasurer Ford explained that it is the mall corporation that is taxed – they collect from their tenants – but it is the mall that is responsible for paying the taxes.

Tax collections are holding.

The biggest hits to the city on the revenue side were Parks and Recreation fees that couldn’t be collected – programs had to be cancelled. Transit had a serious shortfall – ridership fell badly.

The city collects all the taxes – including the Regional tax levy and the Board of Education levy.

The city was able to hang on to those funds for a period of time. The money collected for the Boards of Education has to be paid in December. No word yet on just how much has to be paid.

Final meeting at which the public could review and ask questions on the document that will go before Council in October to be adopted

By Pepper Parr

September 17th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

It was to be the last of the meetings where the public could learn more about the Scoped Review of the Revisions to the approved but not yet adopted Official Plan.

This is the plan that was voted on during the closing days of the 2014 – 18 city council that was then turned back by the Region where it has to be approved.

When the document was returned to the city the new council had an opportunity to make additional changes that were more in line with the new agenda.

The document that was being prepared now has 21 appendices, the latest of which was released shortly before the meeting.

The document will go to a meeting of Council where it will be heavily debated. That meeting is on September 30th.

On the 6th of October it goes to city council again and will be voted upon.

This is a map of the Growth Framework with the Neighbourhood centres shown.

This is the map with the Urban Growth Centre boundaries in place and each of the precincts colour coded. This map has gone through numerous revisions. .

The public was introduced to where the neighbourhood centres are to be located. There are eight of them.

It will be passed at city council. Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman might vote against it.

It then goes to the Region where it has to be approved.

Then back to Burlington city council where any last minute touch ups get done – it then becomes the law of the land.

Unless of course it is appealed to the Local Planning Act Tribunal.

Last night the public got to see some new maps.

Aldershot gets another development proposal - the ADI's want to add to their project next to the Aldershot GO station

By Pepper Parr

September 16th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

Another one.

The Adi brothers – probably the largest developer in this city – certainly the most aggressive.

This one is planned for the Aldershot community – part of the now underway Station West – developer is the ADI Group.

Billed as a Pre-application Consultation Virtual Meeting the ADI Development Group is exploring the opportunity to transform 1120 Cooke Boulevard into a transit oriented community.

Station West is to the east of this latest proposal; ADI has always planned additional structures on the site.

If ADI Development Group chooses to pursue this redevelopment, it would require an amendment to the City of Burlington Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The pre-application consultation is scheduled to seek community feedback that will assist in shaping the future proposal. The current design options will require an amendment to the City of Burlington’s Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw. The current Official Plan designation of the site is Mixed Use Corridor, and the current Zoning is Mixed Use Corridor.

No development applications have been submitted to the City of Burlington at this time, and the City has not made any decisions on this proposal.

A Pre-application Community meeting has been scheduled to discuss this potential redevelopment, so that public can provide feedback to Adi Development Group at this early stage.

The Pre-Application Community Meeting will take place:

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Participate Online via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91873809076

Webinar ID: 918 7380 9076

(Internet connection required – Zoom User Guide available at www.burlington.ca/1120cooke)

Participate by Telephone- (audio only) 647-374-4685

During the meeting, City planning staff will provide an overview of the development application review process and opportunities for public participation in the process. Adi Development Group will provide an overview of their redevelopment plans.

This proposed development consists of two different design options for community feedback. The first of which consists of three towers with heights ranging from 29 to 39 storeys, and the second option consists of four towers with heights ranging from 18 to 39 storeys. Both options yield the same approximate number of units, 1,258.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith standing on the spot where the proposed development would be built. Cranes in the background are putting up Station West.

There will be a question and answer session to share your thoughts about the proposal with Adi Development Group. Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and the Mayor will also be in attendance to hear your input.

Nautique – the legal fight over this tower revealed just how creative lawyers for developers can be. It was the existence of a bus terminal, smaller than most kitchens that made it possible. Planning blew the OMB hearing – the developer got everything they wanted.

Residents can subscribe to the proposed development’s webpage at Burlington.ca/ development projects to receive any updates about this proposal.

The meeting is not going to result in any decisions; it is an opportunity for the developer to hear what the public thinks and for the public to see what the developer has in mind.

These meetings are now required by the city before a development application can be submitted. Comments made at the meeting are recorded and become part of the application when it is filed.

ADI is a major development in Burlington. The Nautique at the intersection of Martha and Lakeshore Road is now underway.

Station West is well underway – this most recent proposed development is really a part of the very large Station West plan.

Early site plan for Station West that is now under construction. The Cooke Street towers would be to the left of this project.

Government puts out an interactive self-assessment application - will it make a difference?

By Pepper Parr

September 16th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The province is doing everything they can to get people to use the preventative measure they know work to slow down the spread of the Covid19.

Premier does a media event almost daily – begging – beseeching the public to observe the social distancing rules. But the number of new infections is climbing – daily.

The Premier is his now almost daily web cast where he brings people up to data on what is happening; what they province is doing and putting critical data into the public realm.

He often beseeches, beg the public to be careful and cautious.

A significant part of the public isn’t listening all that well.

Today the province announced a new interactive self-screening tool. It is direct and the province wants people to use it every day.

CLICK HERE to access the app.

That isn’t likely to happen – the questions asked are pretty fundamental and we suspect that after a few days the people that need to hear the message and pay attention will be the first to get bored and stop doing the self-assessment.

At the risk of being a cynic this Premier might have to announce on a Thursday morning that come Friday at noon all bars and places where people gather for non-essential purposes are closed until the following Monday.

Or perhaps a curfew to make the point. British Columbia put a curfew in place.

The number of new infections are still climbing. At some point these infections will work their way into the school system.

The public reaction will not be pretty.

Hospitals in the wider region coordinate their plans for increased COVID infections and more hospital stays

By Staff

September 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The comments made in the video that accompanied the report from the Joseph Brant hospital on how they expected to use the Pandemic Response Unit – another phrase for what is a “field hospital” – were a little on the jarring side.

Totally self contained with very high air exchange features. No television, virtual visits.

The words “expected surge” are now used commonly. Newspaper headlines make mention of the “surge” in reported COVID-19 virus infections. Public Health people are always asked – will there be a second wave while others answer that we are now in a second wave.

A number of months ago Eric Vandewall approved the purchase and installation of what amounted to a small hospital – a little like the convalescent hospitals we had when tuberculosis was rampant.

It didn’t get used and some thought it was a waste of money. Vandewall knew what he was doing – being proactive in the best possible way.

The hospital produced a short video explaining how the unit – called a PRU – will be used. Worth listening to – CLICK here.

The hospitals are not as clear as they can be in explaining how the PRU – Pandemic response unit will be used.

Basically it is in place to handle COVID-19 patients that a hospital cannot accommodate.

It’s a short term facility. People will be there to recuperate. The structure probably has a life cycle of less than ten years – more like five.

Hospitals in Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant and Burlington (HNHNBB Region) are working together to create a regional COVID-19 model of care for COVID-19 positive patients requiring hospital care.

Together, their goal is to be ready to support the increases in COVID-19 care needs, while minimizing any potential disruption of scheduled, regional, and community care across our region.

The hope is that transmission rates in our region remain low, any increases in COVID-19 care will be managed within each of our hospitals, and that the regional COVID-19 model of care will not need to be activated.

However, creating this regional approach is critical to our pandemic response planning and ensures we are prepared for any potential surge in COVID-19 cases.

Regional COVID-19 Model of Care Strategy

Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH), and all HNHNBB’s hospital emergency departments, will care for persons under investigation for COVID-19. Patients who present to JBH, testing positive and requiring hospitalization, will be cared for at our hospital.

Four designated hospitals will be providing acute COVID-19 care:

Hamilton Health Sciences (Hamilton General Hospital)
Joseph Brant Hospital
Niagara Health (St. Catharines Site)
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

Norfolk General Hospital and Brant Community Healthcare System will continue to provide local COVID-19 care, and may transfer COVID-19 positive patients as needed to designated hospitals.

Pandemic Response Unit

Joseph Brant Hospital’s Pandemic Response Unit (PRU) will be the HNHNBB’s regional resource to provide care for COVID-19 patients.

The PRU is an external all-season structure designed specifically to care for stable COVID-19 positive patients who have mild to moderate symptoms.

Patients admitted to the PRU require care and support that cannot be provided at home, including oxygen therapy, medication management, monitoring of symptoms and some personal support. Support for virtual visits and engagement of family/caregivers will be provided while in the PRU.

As admitted patients who are transferred to another hospital recover from COVID-19, they will either be discharged home with community supports as needed, or they will be transferred back to their community hospital for ongoing care as soon as possible.

We are told that there are going to be more COVID infection reports – the numbers are already well above where they were in June and after the lock down.

The solution for everyone is to continue to protect yourself and others by following public health advice including keeping the required social distance, washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when appropriate and getting a flu shot when available.

The solution is in our hands – how serious this probable second wave turns out to be will be determined by how responsible we each are.

Quarry operating looking for partners on turning the property into public space once the aggregate extraction has been completed.

By Staff

September 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

While the reviews of the many technical documents related to the application for an extraction license to expand the existing quarry and create a new one across #2 Side Road take place, the quarry operators are moving forward on their long term plans to turn all the land over to a public authority and create one of the largest parks the Region has ever seen.

Nelson Aggregates has put out a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking a partner to help with the detailed design, construction and operation of a nearly 1,000-acre park in North Burlington.

This RFEI is intended to gauge market interest before determining whether to proceed to a competitive bidding process.

16 Rendering of bowl Golf club or main quarry

Tonnes of aggregate were taken out of the quarry and used to build much of the Burlington we know today. In the future that hole in the ground could become a magnificent park.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to assemble a large piece of land in prime real estate for a public park,” said Nelson President Quinn Moyer. “We are inviting applications from any interested and qualified parties, be it a government, government agency, not-for-profit, conservation or other organization committed to public recreation.”

Interested parties have been invited to respond to this RFEI by October 15 by submitting a letter to Nelson that includes a brief statement of the nature of their interest in the park and any qualifications.

Organizations that submit will be notified in the event of an RFP to determine the winning candidate.

The shaded area to the left and to the south are the properties that are the xx of an extraction license. The large gray area in the middle is the current quarry that is reaching the end of its life cycle. Combined the plan is to turn all of it over to the public to be used as parkland.

“This park is a truly exciting project,” said Moyer, “one that will help Burlington and Halton grow sustainably over the next generation, and then give future generations the environmental and health benefits of a large urban park.”

The proposed park would be 5.7 times larger than Burlington’s City View Park, and would be donated to the public in stages following approval of an application to extend Nelson’s Burlington Quarry. The size and scale of the park would allow for abundant recreational opportunities, from biking and swimming to rock climbing and soccer.

Interested parties are asked to review the RFEI at merx.com.

MERX is Canada’s leading electronic tendering service

Council likes the idea of a Deep Energy Retrofit Program for the city - approved $182,000 for year 1

By Pepper Parr

September 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

This is a long article. If the Deep Energy Retrofit pilot project is a success – the results will be houses that are retrofitted and become low carbon generators which will add significant value to the property.

The recommendation to the Standing Committee was to approve a budget of $182,000 for year one of a project that has the potential to have 80% of the residential homes in the city retrofit by 2051.

The report presented was pretty dry – the conversation and debate was anything but dry – but it didn’t get unanimous support.

If the project gets approved at Council at the end of the month it will mean another raid on a Reserve Fund – this time it would be the Tax Rate Stabilization account.

What the Standing Committee on Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee (EICS) was doing was delivering on one of the election campaign promises.

Early in their term of office the Mayor led her council to declaring a Climate Change Emergency.

There was no stopping them once that declaration was cast in stone.

Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman said, after more than an hour of debate that this is “exactly the right approach. We need a guide – approve this plan – we will find the dollars.

“We will solve the Covid problem – climate change is what is going to kill us all.”

The City of Burlington has set a target for the community to be net carbon zero by 2050. The development and implementation of a deep energy efficiency retrofit program for homes is necessary to achieve the low carbon scenario described in the Climate Action Plan for Burlington.
On July 6th, 2020, staff reported to the EI&CS Committee with background information and options to deliver a residential deep energy retrofit program in Burlington.

The initial implementation of the Deep Energy Retrofit Program including but not limited to a scale-able home owner pilot project, research on resident take up and commitment, homeowner technical support to energy retrofit including the involvement of Burlington Enterprises Corp, and that staff report back with any financial implications of the pilot project.

Scale-able Pilot Project:
Staff recommend engaging the Centre for Climate Change Management (CCCM) at Mohawk College and the Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC) to develop and implement a scale-able home owner pilot project.

The City has an existing partnership with the City of Hamilton and Mohawk College to accelerate action on climate change through the CCCM and BACCC. Both cities recently contributed financially to support the administration of BACCC.

The CCCM is embarking on the development of a business plan for a Low-Rise Home Energy Retrofit Delivery Program for the region of Hamilton-Burlington on behalf of BACCC, with the following objectives:

• identify the Centre’s core services to provide to homeowners
• develop a financially feasible business model for the program
• recommend a governance structure to promote transparency and accountability
• define program eligibility criteria, as well as monitoring and evaluations frameworks
• identify opportunities to scale and transfer solutions (e.g. integration with Brant or other adjacent regions, supporting multi-unit residential retrofits)
• investigate whether outreach and education services should be part of the Centre’s core mandate.

As city staff reviewed the CCCM’s proposal and objectives, it became clear that there is an opportunity and benefit to join forces with the CCCM to expand the scope of this work.

The CCCM can act as the project manager with financial investment from Burlington to develop and deliver a scale-able pilot program for a home energy efficiency retrofit project. The additional work to be managed for the City of Burlington will include:

What makes a home energy efficient?

additional home energy efficiency audits
market research
an initial survey of a scientific random sample of homeowners in Burlington to determine market readiness, barriers and demand for incentives
focus groups following the process to complete more in-depth analysis of homeowners’ experience following completion of a home energy audit and implementation of measures
education – engage organizations such as Humber College and the Clean Air Partnership to deliver workshops and online sessions to residents on deep home energy efficiency retrofits
marketing – promoting current opportunities and benefits to homeowners interested in completing home energy efficiency retrofits.

What can the city expect to get in a year for $182,000?

Kate Flynn, Acting Director, Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk pitched the concept to Council.

The Centre for Climate Change Management (CCCM) is an applied research arm of Mohawk College. Their role is to help the Hamilton-Burlington transition to a thriving low-carbon economy.

They do this by catalyzing multi-sector collaborations with industry, community and government.

They bring collaborators together to work on designing and implementing solutions that are often multi-faceted and require industry, community, and government support.

Their approach is to co-design human centered solutions that actually address the systemic issues of why something isn’t currently working.

In 2018 the Cities of Hamilton and Burlington commissioned a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory. One of the main conclusions of that greenhouse gas inventory was that a home energy retrofit program would be one of the best opportunities for Hamilton and Burlington to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

Essentially, a HERO – Home Energy Renovation Opportunity is one the most important tools to help Burlington meet its 2050 goals to be a thriving carbon neutral community.

The CCCC works as an applied research arm, and as an incubator is that provides additional flexibility, capacity and expertise.

They want to co-design a project that meets Burlington residents’ needs. Through focus groups and home energy audits, we’d engage Burlington homeowners, providing them with the audit report, then asking them what works for them and their needs.

They conclude that given the number and diversity of homes in Burlington, one size will not fill all – the need is to design a program that supports a diversity of implementable solutions.

The hope is that one day, we could develop “turn key” solutions – package deals for certain kinds of homes that are cost effective and minimize disruption.

And finally, we know the battle will not be on establishing a program – the battle will be uptake.

Right now, doing a home energy retrofit is a very difficult thing for homeowners to navigate. We need to make it easy and accessible through the creation of a Home Delivery Retrofit Centre.

The goal at the CCCM is to create programs that effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the local economy, so we keep residents’ interests at the heart of what we do.

We also want to flow resources and support for community organizations that are already DOING some of this work like educating homeowners, talking to people in the streets, and engaging people – we know that’s an essential piece of this and we want to activate current networks and amplify the great work local organizations are doing to do that outreach and engagement.

We also want to design a truly scalable solution – so one that can support the growing market and changing consumer needs, but also can expand to support access, equity and heritage homes.

As part of our partnership with the Cities, we act as the administrative and physical home of the Council but they are an independent group.

Not everyone was onside for a program that would make major changes in the city’s carbon footprint and run by a community college in Hamilton.

Councillor Stolte was more interested in a “made in Burlington” solution and Councillor Bentivegna wanted more detail and what this pilot project was going to cost in its second year.

Councillor Nisan pointed out that “we all supported climate change – and now we are fussed about $300,000. There will be a reward.

The CCCM views this as an opportunity to expand the scope, where the experience and results of the partnership with Burlington will provide additional data and information to support the business plan for a Home Energy Retrofit Delivery Centre.

Project Deliverables
The CCCM proposes the following work to be completed within a year:

• Business plan for a Hamilton-Burlington Retrofits Delivery Centre for Hamilton- Burlington region
• Report on implementation plan
• Results on a study of home energy audits in Hamilton and Burlington, in which the project team identifies common consumer needs to verify delivery centre’s core services (additional energy audits will be completed in Burlington)
• Market research for Burlington – survey of homeowners and focus groups
• Outreach & education initiatives for Burlington residents

The goal is to incubate the Delivery Centre so that it can eventually grow to become its own organization or partner with another organization where synergies exist. The Centre will provide the support and knowledge needed by homeowners, ensuring the energy retrofit process can be convenient, easy to access and effective.

Project Management
The project will be managed by the CCCM, an applied research division of the College, aimed at supporting the Hamilton-Burlington Region’s transition to a low carbon economy.

Project Advisory Committee
For 2020-22, the Bay Area Climate Change Council has identified the acceleration of a home energy efficiency retrofit program as one of its priority areas of focus. As such, the Bay Area Climate Change Council’s Implementation Team on Home Energy Retrofits will act as a project advisory committee. The Implementation Team will meet monthly to provide project feedback and guidance. This group will comprise of 8-10 stakeholders from across the home energy retrofit ecosystem in Hamilton-Burlington.

Municipal Consortium in Ontario
The Clean Air Partnership is continuing discussions with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to develop a municipal consortium in Ontario to support home energy efficiency retrofits.

There is talk about a loan program that would be financed by the municipalities.
The collaboration could take many forms from assignment of project leadership for a set of tools or in other cases it may be advantageous to have group development. Common platform pieces could include:

Window upgrades are critical to achieving a low carbon foot print.

• One stop web site
• Program marketing materials
• Program outreach materials to key stakeholders (homeowners, realtors, contractors)
• Applications forms
• Client management system
• Client supports/resources
• Contractor supports/resources
• Better understanding how to handle and what are the differences in needs/capacity across municipalities with regards to these common platform pieces.

Staff will continue to monitor progress on this collaborative initiative and engage in discussions to determine the best approach for Burlington.

Options Considered
Staff assessed creating a scale-able home energy efficiency retrofit pilot program with in-house resources, however, the benefits of working with an external community-based organization outweighed that option. The CCCM can be flexible in managing the development of this program, has access to expertise within the college, has the ability to reach the community through its networks and, will receive additional guidance and support from the Bay Area Climate Change Council and

Implementation Team.
Mohawk College has a positive reputation for being a leader in applied research and skills training, an important element of scaling up the trades, skills and knowledge to support energy efficient building retrofits in the Burlington and Hamilton communities.

Total Financial Impact
Burlington’s total budget share for year one is $182,000 and year two $103,500. Year one includes one-time funding to develop the business plan and complete market research, including a survey and focus group.

The CCCM has applied to The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) for its share of funding of $32,800 for year one.

Source of Funding
Staff recommend the use of the city’s Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund (TRSRF) for the one-time funding of $182,000 to partner with CCCM for development of a business plan, pilot project and associated market research costs.

As of June 30, 2020 the balance in the city’s tax rate $4.72 million net of commitments. It is important to note, that the city is projecting a year end shortfall as a result of Covid-19. Therefore, the TRSRF will not be replenished at year end with any retained savings, and furthermore, it is possible that the balance may be further drawn upon based on the year end forecasted shortfall.

Background links:

Burlington’s Climate Change Emergency declaration.

Green house gas emissions report

Public Health reports first case of West Nile virus in Burlington

By Staff

September 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

While Covid-19 issues keep the Public Health Unit very very busy, it also has to deal with other significant health issues.

A Burlington resident has tested positive for West Nile virus.

Halton Region Public Health has confirmed that a Burlington resident has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This is Halton’s third human case of WNV this year; the first two positive test results were residents of Oakville.

“Halton Region Public Health continues to reduce the risk of West Nile virus in our community through education and preventative programs, such as larviciding. Until the fall frost, residents should keep using bug spray, remove standing water and avoid areas where mosquitoes are present,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health.

“While 80 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, others will have symptoms consisting of fever, headache, muscle ache and a rash. These symptoms are very similar to illnesses such as COVID-19, so it is important for residents seek medical assessment.”

Residents are encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:

• Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home at least once a week by getting rid of water in containers and objects such as wheelbarrows, tires, plant pots, old toys, plastic pails and wading pools.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes are known to be present such as wooded areas, golf courses or gardens, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• If you are going to areas where mosquitoes are active, cover up by wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly woven fabric.
• Use a mosquito repellent (bug spray) containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
• Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.

If residents see standing water on public property for longer than a week, they can report it to Halton Region by emailing accesshalton@halton.ca or calling 311.

As part of its ongoing West Nile virus surveillance and larviciding program, Halton Region Public Health staff continue to monitor areas of standing water, eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and apply larvicide when mosquito larvae is found during Regional monitoring and surveillance. For more information on Halton Region’s West Nile virus program, visit halton.ca.

Media gets it wrong - school board provides report that was incorrect.

By Staff

September 15th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

Media yesterday, including the Gazette, reported that two students were found to have been infected by the Covid-19 virus.

The two people who were infected were students but they didn’t contract the virus in a classroom.

Neither had yet started school.

They were declared infected by the Public Health Unit on the weekend.

Halton District School Board Director of Education Stuart Miller found himself with a piece of bad news on his hands before the school doors even opened.

So far there has not been an infected student or teacher identified in the school board population.

Media got their information from the school board web site.

MP with a large part of Burlington in his riding reaches out with telephone calls - you can book one

By Staff

September 14th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The moment a politician is sworn in they begin work on the next campaign.

That means meeting people, listening to their problems and their concerns.

Doing that with the whole world dealing with a pandemic is a challenge under the best of circumstances.

Known as AVK – Adam vankoeverden books telephone call appointments with is constituents.

Adam van Koeverden has come up with an interesting way of covering that constituency base: he books appointments for telephone calls.

On his Facebook page Adam van Koeverden explains: “Yesterday was a great little innovation for the way we proactively engage with our constituency.

“I took 11 calls in two hours for a quick touch-base, catch up and chat with Miltonians on issues from tree planting to local jobs, from CERB and EI changes to traffic, travel and rural high-speed broadband access.

“COVID-19 has changed the way we now meet up with one another, but it won’t stop me from interacting with our community, or with our neighbours one on one.

“If you have ideas, feedback or enquiries, feel free to register for a phone call with me.”

To book a call – Click HERE

You can also always send an email Adam.vankoeverden@parl.gc.ca

Seen as the Member of Parliament for Milton his office overlooks the part of northern Burlington that is in the Milton riding.

A significant part of Burlington is in the Milton constituency.

Police pull a car over and find that there was $100,000 worth of fentanyl in the vehicle.

By Staff

September 14th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

It was just after 7:00 pm yesterday when a police officer spotted a car moving a little too quickly in the of Billings Court and South Service Road in Burlington.

A traffic stop was conducted and grounds were formed for a lawful search of the vehicle. Search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, valued at over $100,000, as well as $15,000 in cash.
That is a very significant drug inventory.

Parteek Ghuman (19) of Stoney Creek has been charged with:

-Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
-Obstruct Peace Officer

Ghuman has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.

This is an example of excellent police work.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact D/Sgt Jared McLeod of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2385.

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.

HDSB reports two school related covid infections - meanwhile things at Charles Best run very smoothly.

By Pepper Parr

September 14th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

The report that two students were found to be infected was incorrect. Two people were found to be infected – they were not in classroom at the time – they had yet to start school.

Student with parent - getting saniitized and checked iin Sept 14

Parents walks her son up to the entrance at Charles Best

It was not an auspicious start.

First day back at school and the Halton District School Board reports a student at Brant Hills with a COVID infection.

In a brief statement on the Board’s COVID-19 Advisory Committee page they report that a positive test was recorded at the Brant public school in Burlington and the Garth Webb Secondary School in Oakville.

The COVID-19 Advisory Committee provides the number of positive COVID-19 cases that are connected to schools. For all confirmed cases, families and staff at the school will be notified by letter. Halton Region Public Health will contact any close contacts directly.

The web site page does point out that: “ A positive case at a school does not mean the individual was exposed to COVID-19 at the school.

They may have been exposed somewhere else in the community. The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.

Neither school will be closing nor will any classrooms/cohorts be closed.

This morning students at Charles Best Public School arrived by car, by bus and some walked.

Students get off school bus and head for their classrooms – all wearing masks.

The start of the day was orderly with every student sanitized and let into the school.

Security was tight with principal Paul Thomson walking the perimeter of the school property in a safety vest and a walky-talky on his hip.

School buses arrived, students hopped out while small groups of parents, not wearing masks, chatted with each other.

It was a nice fall day and while things were a little edgy – the day got off to a good start.

Children on the right are keeping their social distance from people walking along the pathway.

Schools throughout the Region ready for students to return - 20% have decided not to do so

By Pepper Parr

September 12th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

All the angst, all the concern and even the worry on the part of parents gets faced Monday morning as those who have decided to have their children attend school send them out the door Monday morning – and hope that they are safe.

The educators – all the way from the Director of Education and the classroom teachers – even the custodial people – are anxious.

What happens when someone becomes infected?

There are rules and protocols galore out there to deal with the child that has a temperature or a runnier than usual nose.

The challenge is to stay positive.

There will be situations where someone will over react. And there will be situations where a situation should have gotten a closer look.

Everyone is on pins and needles.

Tonnes of money has been thrown at this problem. Schools have enough PPE to last them through to Christmas.

There are all kinds of “what if” questions.

Basically if there is a child that is not well – the child gets sent home.

The Regional Public Health Unit is all over this issue. If a child Is sent home – does the class get shut down?

What has to happen for a school to be closed?

Hand sanitizer and a sign in sheet at the only entrance to the school.

This will fall to the principal along with the Superintendent who oversees health issues and the Public Health Unit. Every school has to post a notice on the school web site reporting that someone at the school has been diagnosed as infected.

The province has a reporting system that will detail where the infections were found and how many.

The communications lines will be wide open.

One should feel sorry for the students who sneezes twice in a row – they will be all over the kid.

Everyone at a responsible level is saying “there will be infected people who are identified as infected people. Some of them will be teachers – we have already heard of infected teachers and how the class they were teaching was closed.

Expect the number of infected people to rise. The big question is – how high might it rise and at what point does the province decide that schools have to be closed and everyone gets taught online.

Last week Paul Thomson, principal at Charles Best Public School, met with parents in an outdoor session with everyone six feet apart. “They asked questions” he said “and I gave them the information I had.”

Entrance to all the schools will be strictly controlled. Parents will not be permitted to take a child into the school. They get left at the door where teachers greet them.

Thomson is a believer in keeping people informed and being open, direct and honest.

Monday morning the kids troop into the school. The hand sanitizer is just inside the the front door; teachers in full PPE will be there to greet the children.

Everyone will be trying to focus on the educating of the children in their care.

Whatever in the way of the covid virus gets into a school we know that someone brought it into the school. The person who brought it into the school picked it up from someone else. We are the people who pass this virus on to others. If we keep a safe distance, wear our face masks and wash our hands regularly we will be safer.

The understanding at this point is that the virus needs to replicate itself in people. By staying apart that virus can’t replicate.

Everyone believes that there will be a virus and that that will save us all. Hope does spring eternal doesn’t it.

More than $65,000 in funding for seniors project handed out by MP Karina Gould last week.

By Pepper Parr

September 12th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington Member of Parliament Karina Gould had a busy week. Everywhere she went federal money was being handed out – all for needed community based interests – but it did have just a hint of – is there an election on the horizon to it.

Earlier in the week there was $5 million for transit over a three year time frame.

Karina Gould, Burlington MP and a member of the Liberal Cabinet, announcing federal finding for seniors.

Last Friday Gould, who is a Cabinet Minister, announced an investment of $65,600 in Burlington. These funds will support projects delivered by community organizations to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support for these projects is being provided by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which fosters social inclusion and engagement of seniors by encouraging them to share their knowledge, skills and experience to stay active and engaged.

Michelle Murry. on the left, with Minister Gould at the funding announcement at the Halton Industry Educational Council.

The Halton Industry Education Council is receiving $21,000 for their project expanding online safety and technological literacy for seniors.

With this funding, HIEC will be able to expand their program to include more seniors in Canada and allow seniors to stay connected with their families, feel confident in accessing online supports and information, reduce social isolation and positively impact their mental well being.

Halton Food for Life is receiving $20,000 for their Supporting Seniors Through Accessible Food Provision. Food for Life delivers fresh food bags each week along with accessible meals for seniors who are in self isolation at home, ensuring access to healthy food to seniors across Halton during this difficult time.

The Centre for Skills Development is receiving $24,600 for their Better Together program which is designed to improve the quality of life of seniors during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Seniors will be able to attend workshops on how to navigate social media to stay connected, participate in home exercises and engage in conversations regarding mental health, nutrition and exploring wellness.

These projects announced today are funded through an additional investment of $20 million in funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Organizations will receive up to $25,000 in funding to offer immediate COVID-19 relief or recovery activities to seniors. The projects will include activities such as:

• promoting computer literacy and virtual activities, such as exercise classes, among seniors;
• supporting the delivery of food and medication or personalized monitoring of seniors by phone or by videoconference;
• assisting seniors with essential activities, such as visits to the doctor;
• hiring staff to replace a loss of volunteerism capacity due to the outbreak;
• providing information to seniors regarding how to care for themselves in light of experiences relating to the pandemic; and
• providing training on disease prevention, use of personal protective equipment.

Projects were selected based on equitable distribution of funding across the country, after consideration of active projects taking place in communities. Projects focusing on vulnerable populations or serving rural and remote communities were prioritized.

These additional projects will help ensure as many communities as possible across Canada have projects aiming to reduce seniors’ isolation within the community, improve their quality of life and help them maintain a social support network during the pandemic.

Background:
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being. NHSP funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects. The projects are led or inspired by seniors who are making a difference in the lives of others and their communities.

Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experience to the benefit of others. The objectives of the NHSP are:

promoting volunteerism among seniors;
engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

Since the NHSP was launched in 2004, more than 23,600 projects have been funded across Canada. Further to the Budget 2019 investment of an additional $100 million over five years, and $20 million per year ongoing, the Government of Canada will be supporting even more projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities where seniors are engaged, connected and actively involved in their communities. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding, and small grants of up to $5,000 are available to organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.

Burlington seniors at a Transit workshop discussing their specific needs. Burlington MP Karina Gould looks on.

As part of the 2019-20 NHSP community-based call for proposals, organizations were invited to apply for funding under the NHSP’s three national priorities:

preventing elder abuse and fraud, including measures to reduce crimes and harms against seniors;
supporting healthy aging in community, addressing dementia, including community supports and intergenerational housing; and
counteracting ageism in the workplace to promote labour market retention of seniors.

Burlington has, on a per capita basis, one of the largest senior populations in the province.

Provincial Offences Court dates have changed

By Staff

September 11th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

NOTICE TO PUBLIC
REGARDING PROVINCIAL OFFENCES ACT MATTERS

Revised September 2, 2020

All in-person Provincial Offences Act matters (e.g., traffic tickets and offences under provincial legislation) scheduled until October 16, 2020 will be rescheduled. Do not attend court.

If you were planning on going to court – the date will have been changed.

All in-person Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters scheduled from Monday, March 16, 2020 through to and including Friday, October 16, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, do not attend court. This applies to all POA courts in Ontario.

A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court. For more information, please contact your local Provincial Offences court.

Contact information for all municipal courts is available here: https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/poa/

Updated information about court proceedings at the Ontario Court of Justice can be found on the Court’s website at https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/.

On August 20, 2020 the Ontario government announced that the limitation periods order under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 suspending any time limitations setting out the commencement of POA proceedings will end on September 13, 2020.

Therefore, the following POA limitation periods will resume running on September 14, 2020 including:

• Time for provincial offences officers to file a certificate of offence or parking infraction;
• Time for defendants to file notices of intention to appear;
• Time at which a fine goes into default and may be subject to enforcement; and
• Time for appeals.

Please be advised that the Chief Justice has made a subsequent order pursuant to s. 85 extending certain timelines for the Ontario Court of Justice under the Provincial Offences Act until December 1, 2020.

A copy of the order is available on the Ontario Court of Justice website.

Three words and they know exactly where you are - a simple free app makes it happen.

By Staff

September 11th,2020

BURLINGTON, ON

This one is a little on the complex side.

The Regional Police have signed on to a web site that will aid them in finding people who are lost and help people who are lost in getting found.

The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) announced a new partnership with What3Words. They are one of the first police services in the country to adopt this potentially lifesaving technology and is confident that this new program will help reduce response times.

The service is called – What3words – described as an easy way to communicate an exact location. This is done by dividing the world into 3 metre squares and assigning each square a unique combination of three words.

We did say it is complex.

For example, the what3words address of the HRPS Headquarters’ front entrance is Erupt.Venomous.Linear.

Using the app, callers can communicate their precise location to call takers at the HRPS. If they do not have the app, the HRPS can send callers a text message that will identify their location and unique what3word address. HRPS communicators can then direct officers to the exact location of the caller.

It is complex – but if it works – it could be great.

“This technology could be especially helpful in situations where people have become lost hiking, or have driven off the road and are trapped in a vehicle and don’t know where they are” says Staff Sergeant Stephanie Jamieson, Communications Bureau.

“We think this will also help immensely along the 325 square kilometres of Lake Ontario policed by the HRPS Marine Unit. Boaters can become stranded or lost and struggle to communicate their location to police.”

This program is far more precise than a traditional cell phone ‘ping’ often used by emergency services.

The HRPS will begin using this technology effective immediately.

The app is available for free on iOS and Android or via the online map at what3words.com. It’s also available in more than 40 languages.

The app also works offline, making it ideal for use in rural areas of Halton that may have poor or unreliable data signal.

For more information a video on how the program works can be found HERE.

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