 By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
When we read about infection reports that are above 500 across the province and read about the severe restrictions being imposed in Quebec – it is reasonable to ask – What do I have to do to be safe?
We were invited out for Thanksgiving and wrote our friends asking if we could at least think about re-scheduling.
We have our own bubble that we are careful to maintain.
It’s just the two of us and a couple of dogs.
The vet was over yesterday – I was surprised about how casual he was – no mask either.
With people returning to their offices and rising up an elevator with five or six people that they don’t know – not something I want to have to do.
 M M Robinson High School has not reported any infections. We are getting reports from schools – there are infections. Nothing serious – not glaring hot spots – yet. Is this because we are all very careful or just lucky?
Ten schools have reported infections, all are secondary schools. None of the schools have been closed and the number reported that could be infected is at the 1 and 2 level.
 Students milling around outside the high school between classes keep a safe distance without supervision. The province has released a revised approach to screening students before they head for school every day.
Like most government documents it is too long. The list of things to watch for is good and is set out below.
Claire Proteau has a very open respectful relationship with her students. She reports that about 20% of her school population opted for virtual classes.
One of the biggest issues for Proteau is the level of education her staff is able to deliver with all the COVID precautions in place.
She works closely with the department heads and ensures that they are in very close touch with the classroom teachers.
“But it isn’t the same” she said. “It is very hard to deliver a quality education under these circumstances.” Proteau isn’t complaining, she just does her best to ensure that her students are getting the help they need to cope with what everyone has to deal with and at the same time strive to give them the education they deserve.
“I have a great bunch of students, they are a delight to work with and my teachers are giving it everything they have. If there are problems we will deal with them.”
If we exercise that abundance of caution we will get through this. When we learn of the hundreds that are found to be infected each day we know that some people don’t take the precautions. They are usually the ones that move their lips when they read.
 By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
It was an eleven hour meeting that went as smoothly as things like this can go.
The result – the city now has an Official Plan that it will soon send to the Regional government where it has to be approved.
 They were sworn in to deliver – yesterday – they delivered. Getting the document to this point has been a massive effort on the part of the people in the Planning Department where many of the people in place now are new to the city.
 Alison Enns on a walking tour with a group of citizens. Alison Enns and Thomas Douglas did a huge job of involving the public and fattened their resumes with some superb work.
Director of Planning Heather MacDonald, new to the city as well, was able to get staff to meet the call every time she asked.
Council deserves credit – they believed a better Official Plan was necessary and they hung together for the most part to see it to the point where it passed through the Standing Committee on a 6-1 vote with Councillor Sharman being the exception.
 Councillor Sharman with Councillor Bentivegna – they voted against the 9 Meed Ward amendments – with one exception. His decision not to support the motion was as much a political move as a vote against what is a good Official Plan. This Council did the work that the 2014-18 Council wasn’t able to get done.
Even Councillor Sharman admitted as much.
Mayor Meed Ward did what she always does – did it her way. She, along with ward 2 Councillor introduced nine amendments to what the Planning department brought forward.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – she ran on creating a better Official Plan – she has delivered. Much of the amendments focus was on the eastern side of the city where Meed Ward brought forward reasonable changes. Most people agreed with the Mayor; although the Lions Club would have liked the Mayor to look upon the block sized property they own a little differently.
The specifics of the nine amendments will get covered in future Gazette articles.
The now endorsed Official Plan gets put before a City Council meeting early in October where it will be passed.
Is it the right plan for the city? Only time will tell – what is not in doubt is the size of the effort from everyone involved.
The plan should get through the Regional level – but it looks as if a number of vested interests are going to appeal the document.
The number of letters put on the record by different developers and the legal counsel that have in the past represented the interests of the developers more than suggests the battle isn’t over.
 Heather MacDonald talking with a citizen at a public meeting – we used to have events like this. Is the plan defensible at LPAT is the question on many minds.
Only time will tell.
Heather MacDonald was given the task of hiring consultants to support the work that had to be done. The firm hired –SGL Planning & Design Inc., was her choice – she chose well.
 By Pepper Parr
September 30th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council is meeting today as a Standing Committee that is preparing to endorse the recommendation from the Planning department on a Scoped Review of the downtown portion of an Official Plan that was approved in xx 2018, went to the Region for approval – the Region returned the Official Plan pointing to four areas that did not comply with the Regional Official Plan.
In sending the plan back to be made conforming with the Region the invited the city to make additional changes.
That allowed the current city council to make all the changes they thought the city needed.
That process, which began in 2018 is coming to a head today.
It is a convoluted, complex process, evident in the graph set out below.
 A complex process that is coming to a head at council today. The consult the city hired is doing a superb job; planning staff have set new heights in terms of the community outreach they have done.
Some of it has been excellent – what has not been all that excellent is the public participation. There were walking tours that had less than 20 people. The Action Labs were an interesting approach.
The city has gone through two Planning directors – the difference between the two has been very evident.
Councillors are facing a full day’s work. The delegations and letters sent to council went from a through to r. A lot of people want to be on the record for this run at getting an Official Plan in place that can change the way the city will grow as it faces significant population growth targets.
The Gazette will report in detail on what was said and who said it.
Links shown have not been enabled.
Adi Development is HERE
Molinaro Development is HERE
By Staff
September 29th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The city now requires developers to take their plans to the public and get feedback at that level before taking their project to the Planning Department.
The ADI Development Group will be telling their story to the public on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 Time: 5:30 -7:00 PM.
Participate On-Line via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91873809076
Webinar ID: 91873809076
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. 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.
The four towers are the second phase of this development known as Station West which is within walking distance of the Aldershot GO station.
 By Staff
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Our apologies for the delay in getting this transit information to you. The city sent it out during the day rather than a few days before hand.
Detour for Transit Route 4 – Sept. 29 to Oct. 1
Detour Area: Rexway Dr.
Detour Dates: Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2020
Detoured Routes:
 • Route 4 will travel along Cumberland Ave. and New St. while Rexway Dr. is closed.
Stops not in service:
• 151 and 152 – Rexway Dr. at Cumberland Ave.
• 178 and 180 – Rexway Dr. at Woodview Rd.
• 189 – Rexway Dr. at Rexway Crt.
• 194 – Rexway Dr. at Thornwood Ave.
• 209 and 212 – Rexway Dr. at Walkers Line
• 201 and 203 – 514 Walkers Line (Serviced by Route 25)
• 193 – 476 Walkers Line (Serviced by Route 25)
• 190 – Walkers Line at New St. (Serviced by Route 25)
 By Staff
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) Drug and Human Trafficking Unit has recently concluded a year-long investigation titled, ‘Project Mover’.
Beginning in Halton in late 2019, Project Mover spanned the Greater Toronto Area, and resulted in the largest fentanyl seizure in HRPS history, with a value of more than $4 million.
Nine individuals are facing a total of 30 charges in relation to this investigation.
 During the course of Project Mover, officers executed search warrants at six residences and made use of more than 100 judicial authorizations.
Project Mover resulted in the seizure of the following:
• 10.25 kilograms of fentanyl
• 1 kilogram of cocaine
• 6 kilograms of a suspected controlled substance (identification of substance pending analysis)
• 1.25 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
• $307,065 currency (CDN $)
• Semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun
• .40 calibre handgun with an extended clip
• Stolen 2019 Dodge Durango
• 2016 Acura RDX
The following individuals have been arrested and charged:
Jorge Zamora (28) of British Columbia
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
Ian Singh (31) of Markham
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl (x2)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Heroine
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Breach of Firearm Regulation
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Karen Tran (28) of Toronto
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Joseph Piansay (26) of Brampton
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Domenic Mamone (47) of Hamilton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine
Jordan Treleaven (28) of Oakville
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (x2)
Douglas Johnson (46) of Oakville
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (x2)
Jani Suutarinen (44) of Alberta
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Craig Grant (21) of Mississauga
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Possession of a Prohibited Device
• Breach of Firearm Regulation
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
 The HRPS would like to thank the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO) and the RCMP for their assistance during the investigation.
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
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Do you need to test for the Covid 19 infection?
If you needed one – were you able to get a test?
Where would you go to be tested?
When would the results be available to you?
More questions and answers.
And a very mixed message from the provincial government.
The province put out a graphic that should help.
By Pepper Parr
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The intersection of Brant and Ghent is a bit of a waste land. An empty field on the west side north of Ghent, a parking lot on the east side north of Ghent.
A low two story office building that has seen better days is on the south side Ghent on the corner of Brant.
You could drive by and not know what you had just passed.
That location is in the process of changing.
The Molinaro Group released architectural renderings and announced a date for the now required pre-consultation meetings with the public before an application can be taken to the Planning department.
This is a development that isn’t within what most people see as the “downtown core” – which suggests that it will pass muster with the people that are fighting for what they call the heart and soul of the city
Given the virtual world we live in everything is now accessible by a Zoom link.
To participate On-Line via Zoom go to the web site set out below and use the webinar ID set out below.
https://zoom.us/j/96657726680
Webinar ID: 966 5772 6680
Participate by Telephone: 1-647-374-4685 (audio only)
Burlington is in the process of beginning to look like a very different city.
 Three 25 story buildings with some townhouses on Brant thrown in.
By Staff
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Everyone with ears will have heard that there were 700 new COVID infections across the province.
And many will have heard that we are into a second wave of infections (no kidding) and that it should peak at around 1000 new infections a day by the middle of October.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the province’s record-setting new case count Monday for COVID-19 “deeply concerning” but announced no new public health measures, despite calls by a group of doctors and medical experts calling for a return to Stage 2.
The province reported an additional 700 cases of the infection on Monday, the most on a single day since the outbreak began in late January.
 The picture appears to be that of a beleaguered man – – time for the Premier to begin walking the tough talk. Speaking to reporters, Ford said Ontario is indeed embarking on its second wave, which will be “more complicated, more complex — it’ll be worse” than the first.
Still, asked about calls by the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) to re-implement restrictions to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, Minister of Health Christine Elliott said, “We don’t want to turn back a stage unless we absolutely have to.”
 Is there a covid rule that isn’t broken in this picture? The province also announced the recruitment of 3,700 more health-care workers and caregivers, including nurses and personal support workers (PSWs), at a price tag of $52 million.
Burlington has for the most part been sparred really significant new infections. The breakdown of that 700 number had Halton with more new infections than Hamilton.
Niagara Region: 20
Halton Region: 15
Hamilton: 13
Simcoe Muskoka: 12
Nelson High School reported 2 infections.
 By Pepper Parr
September 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Last June Regan Russell was walking in front of a transport truck that was loaded with hogs that were being taken into the Fearmans slaughter house. The truck had stopped until protesters finished walking front of it; Regan Russell wasn’t able to get out of the way in time and was run over by the truck. She died at the scene.
 Regan Russell The slaughter house is part of a group of slaughter houses across the country that are owned by Sofina Foods.
Regan was one of a number of demonstrators who gather regularly at the Harvester Road/Appleby Line intersection to, as they put it, “bear witness to what is taking place” and to attempt to water the hogs.
They see what they are doing as a peaceful demonstration. They are indeed slowing down the entry of the truck into the meat processing plant.
Regan was run over by the truck that apparently didn’t see her. She was slight in stature and the front of the truck was very high.
The Regional Police investigated and came to the conclusion that a 28-year-old male from the Municipality of North Perth was to be charged with Careless Driving Causing Death under the Highway Traffic Act. The police reported that ‘there were no grounds to indicate this was an intentional act, or that a criminal offence had been committed.”
 The protesters usually arrive as a group waiting for the transport truck to enter the slaughterhouse. Animal Rights protesters have been demonstrating at that location for a number of years.
The meat processing plant, in operation since the 1960’s, has no intention of moving and currently employs 1000 people.
The provincial government recently passed legislation that would give the municipalities that have demonstrator problems “tools” to handle these situations.
The argument is that the issue is really one of public safety – they want the demonstrators out of the way.
Strong legislation certainly helps do that.
 Protestors water hogs when the transport has to stop for a traffic light at the entrance to the slaughterhouse. At the Monday City Council meeting a resolution was put forward and passed unanimously.
The Resolution reads:
Whereas the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 recognizes the unique risks that can result from interfering with livestock transport including creating unsafe work conditions as well as causing stress to animals and introducing diseases or contaminating our food supply; and
Whereas Sections 6(1), 7, 14(1) 3 and 15(1) of the Act came into effect on September 2, 2020 and prohibit the stopping, hindering, obstructing or otherwise interfering with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals; and
Whereas protest groups, including minor children, present outside the Sofina pork plant in Burlington continue to reach inside livestock trailers to touch, film and give water to the pigs creating an unsafe situation where they may be injured by the animals or trailer; and
Whereas the recent tragic loss of the life of a protester in Burlington underscores the urgent need to ensure the safety of all involved; and
Whereas Section 6(2) of the Act states that no person shall interfere or interact with a farm animal being transported by a motor vehicle without the prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle;
Therefore be it resolved that the City of Burlington pass a resolution urging the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to immediately proclaim Section 6(2) of the Act in order to provide a legal basis to prevent the unsafe practice of protestors having contact with livestock trailers and animals; and
That this resolution be forwarded to Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Region of Halton.
Those in favour of the motion didn’t have a word to say about the right of people to protest.
 Hog suffering from heat while being transported. Councillor Sharman sounded more like a shill for Sofina Foods (they are in his ward) rather than a person responsible for the wider community. The puffball questions he asked the three delegations were embarrassing.
Which begs the question: Why not find a way to allow the Animal Rights people to demonstrate, maybe even water the hogs while the trucks wait at the gate for 10 minutes.
After which the demonstrators would be required to move on.
The Conservation Authority closes off a portion of Kind Road for weeks in the spring so that the Jefferson Salamander can cross the road and mate in the wetlands.
 He isn’t exactly pretty but nevertheless plays an important role in the local environment.
In 2008 a provincial tribunal found that the loss of a habitat for the Jefferson Salamander in north Burlington was reason enough not to give the Nelson Aggregate an extension to their license.
We have a proud history of protecting endangered species. Admittedly hogs are not endangered but the right of people to voice their views in a public place is as important as making huge allowances for an endangered species.
That history was sullied this morning by city council.
Related news story:
Protester run over by truck transporting pigs to slaughter.
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 Staff
September 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
You don’t get to see this very often
Click on the link – when you get to the image on the screen click on the middle of the image.
Then click on the video and hold your hand over your heart.
By Staff
September 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
For a small city with eight cannabis retail locations and five applications for a license to operate in Burlington the latest drug bust on the part of the Halton Regional Police is disturbing.
The evidence the police were able to show after a week long investigation in the City of Burlington by the 3 District – Street Crime Unit has led to charges against the following individual:
Rakeem AMOAH (18 years old from Burlington)
• Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Device
• Possession of a Prohibited Device
• Possession for the Purpose of Selling (3 Counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone)
• Sell Cannabis
On September 24th 2020, Investigators from the Street Crime Unit and Criminal Investigations Bureau executed a search warrant at a residence in the City of Burlington. As a result; the following items were seized:
• 81 grams of Cannabis
• 71 x 500mg of Edible Gummies
• 1 Oxycodone Tablet
• 2 High Capacity Extended Handgun Magazines
• Various Ammunition
• 3 Digital Scales
• 2 Cellular Telephones
• $14,410 Canadian Currency
• $10,147 American Currency
$2,235 worth of Cannabis and Cannabis Edibles were seized as a result of the search warrant. (Photo attached).
AMOAH was held for a Bail Hearing on September 25th, 2020.
Anyone with information in regards to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Scott Heyerman of the 3 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 2342.
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
September 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be short duration rolling road closures in Burlington from Monday September 28, 2020 at 10 p.m. to Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 5 a.m.
There will be eight trucks in the convoy – the biggest will weigh 320,000 lbs, the smallest 50,000 lbs.
 Three of the eight trucks in the 8 vehicle convoy. The trucks are taking the load to a ship in Hamilton that will sail to France and offload there.
The job done consists of huge frames with lots of pipes for fuel processing.
Nearly 2 years in the making, from design assistance, route surveys, feasibility studies and a multitude of meetings, finally on Monday evening, September 28th the convoy will start their engines.
More than 70 third party contractors were involved in getting a convoy with varying overall dimensions up to 125’ x 26’ x 24’4” and gross weights from 260,000 to 320,000 lbs, will start out on a journey from Burlington, ON to the Port of Hamilton.
These rolling closures are for a Superload Project move from the Town of Oakville to the Port of Hamilton. There are seven loads moving in convoy with support vehicles including utility trucks and police escorts.
The following roads will see temporary road closures on the night of the move to ensure a safe passage of the convoy, please refer to the attached map:
• Michigan Dr – road closed on both directions from 10:00pm to midnight
• Intersection of Burloak Dr & Great Lakes Blvd / Michigan Drive – road closure in all directions from 10:30pm to midnight
• Burloak Drive between Great Lakes Blvd and North Service Road – northbound direction lanes closed from 10:30pm to midnight. Traffic will use the remaining lanes.
• Intersection of Burloak Drive and North Service Road – road closure in all directions from midnight to 1:00am
• North Service Rd between Burloak Drive and Appleby Line – road closure from midnight to 1:00am
• Intersection of North Service Rd and Appleby Line – road closure in all directions from 1:00am to 1:30am
• North Service Road between Appleby Line and Walkers Line – road closure in all directions from 1:30am to 2:00am
• North Service Road between Walkers Line and Guelph Line – road closure in all directions from 1:30am to 2:00am
• North Service Road between Guelph Line and Brant Street – road closure in all directions from 2:00am to 2:30am
• Intersection of North Service Road and Brant Street – road closure in all directions from 2:30am to 3:00am
• Brant St. from North Service Rd. to Upper Middle Road – northbound lanes closed between 2:30am and 3:30am. Traffic will use the remaining lanes.
• Intersection of Brant Street and Upper Middle Road – road closure in all directions between 3:30am and 3:30am
• Brant Street from Upper Middle Road to Dundas Street -northbound lanes closed between 3:30am and 4:00am. Traffic will use the remaining lanes.
• Intersection of Brant Street and Dundas Street -road closure in all directions from 3:30am to 4:00am
• Dundas Street from Brant Street to Kerns Road -westbound lanes closed from 3:30am to 4:30am
 Eight trucks transporting heavy equipment to a ship in Hamilton. Please note that travel times may vary according with conditions on field. Emergency vehicles passage will always be maintained.
If the move is unable to commence the night of Monday, September 28, the contingency dates for the move through Halton Region are Tuesday, September 29 to Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The move is being conducted and managed by Precision Specialized Inc. based out of Burford, Ont.
 By Ray Rivers
September 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Part 2 of a 3 part series:
In 1976 the World Meteorological Organization warned of a very significant warming of global climate. In 1992 the UN held an Earth Summit in Rio in which climate change became the major topic. In 1997 the world agreed on the Kyoto Protocol, under which wealthier nations would commit to measured reductions and poorer nations would receive help to reduce theirs.
So what happened? Well, Bush and Harper pulled out of Kyoto and Trump is pulling out of the Paris agreement, the latest effort at global action. The oil industry, which had been studying and must have known the effects of their products on the earth’s climate since the 50’s, engaged in a massive dis-information campaign to challenge the science around global warming.
 This was the target – how are we doing so far? And the oil and gas sector, and their ideological entourage of right wing politicians, were successful. As late as 2015 less that half of all Americans believed that climate change was a serious problem and a year later they elected a bon fide climate change denier as president. The industry pulled a page out of the tobacco companies playbook for deception, denial and mis-information. Unlike the tobacco giants, however, they have yet to face their day in court.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the most part are either carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (natural gas). Methane is a very powerful GHG, upwards of 30 times more effective than CO2, but it is relatively short lived compared to CO2, which can last for hundreds of years.
Methane emissions can be natural as from wetlands, landfill and sewage facilities, melting permafrost, or released as a byproduct of farming from fertilizer or meat production
Methane emissions also come from the extraction, production and transportation of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. And, along with coal and oil, total fossil fuels make up as much as three quarters of all greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted to the atmosphere. And since the industrial revolution we have increased the carbon in the atmosphere by 30% – an amount which has been increasing just about every year.
 Gov. Gen. Julie Payette delivers the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa. So what are we doing about this now? On Wednesday the Governor General read a speech from the throne outlining the federal government’s aspirations and plans for legislation they will be introducing. The throne speech is directional, devoid of specific and detailed plans. And this speech for the most part was just a reiteration of last fall’s Liberal election campaign promises, but it made the point that attention to climate change will be one of the four cornerstones of Liberal policy going into the future.
The government promised to create thousands of jobs by retrofitting homes and buildings. It promised to make zero-emissions vehicles and public transit more affordable. It will maintain its carbon pricing policy, subject to a favourable Supreme Court ruling on it’s constitutionality. It will move to exceed its 2030 Paris emission goals. It will make meeting the goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050 the law of the land.
There was a promise to make Canada a world leader in clean technology by launching a fund to attract new investments in zero-emissions products and cutting corporate taxes in half for those companies. The speech noted that Canada already has the natural resources needed for zero-emissions vehicles and batteries, such as nickel and copper.
A Clean Power Fund will connect surplus clean energy to regions that are transitioning away from coal. And the government will uphold campaign promises to ban single-use plastics by 2021, protect a quarter of Canada’s land and oceans in five years and plant two billion trees by 2029.
Energy was only mentioned twice and the government was almost silent on any goodies for the fossil fuel industry, a marked change from previous years. There was no mention however, that the feds will finally end the subsidies that flow to that sector – something they have been under pressure to do for at least a decade.
Will this be enough when it come to combating Canada’s contribution to climate change? Probably not, but it is the most forward looking set of environmental commitments since former PM Brian Mulroney championed sustainable development back in the late eighties. And unless the NDP or Bloc decide to support the government on the upcoming non-confidence vote we will all be in an election, just as we move into Canada’s second COVID wave.
 Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons Erin O’Toole Currently COVID quarantined Conservative Leader O’Toole didn’t spell out his objections, other than mentioning his concern with the prospective price tag. And there is no way he can politically support a program which doesn’t promise more oil extraction and pipelines for the west. Much like former PM Harper and leader Scheer, he is captive to the fossil fuel barons and their supporters in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Trudeau noted that electric vehicles and their batteries will soon be manufactured in Canada, primarily at Ford in Oakville and Windsor, to get drivers out of the gas burners. But the UK is going further, moving to ban the sale of all petroleum powered personal vehicles by 2030. And Norway will be doing that by 2025. Banning the sale of new carbon powered vehicles would be a far more effective policy than even the federally mandated carbon tax.
Absent from Trudeau’s speech was something about the residential and commercial use of fossil fuels in heating and cooking. A ban on sales of gas appliances for new homes and business would have been a measured step to reduce our carbon footprint. And one only hopes that somebody will ban those – so popular they’re out of stock – backyard propane heaters which mostly just heat the outdoors.
It would be fair to say that this throne speech really only addresses the proverbial tip of the fossil fuel iceberg (apologies for that oxymoronic metaphor). But it is a good start and reinforces the results of the last election. Canadians everywhere except the prairies want Canada to move into the post fossil fuel era.
And that is the achilles heel for Mr. O’Toole, the new leader of Conservative party. Despite moving with great speed to modernize existing Tory policy positions, he can’t help but try to keep the separatist Wexit movement from eating up his petro-country base. That political entity has recently rebranded as the Buffalo party, and O’Toole must be praying that like the four legged buffalo they too will almost disappear.
Background links:
How Much Warming – Global Warming – EV’s –
Oil knew about Climate Change – Cows –
Ray Rivers writes frequently on environmental matters
Part 1.
By Pepper Parr
September 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
‘Did someone at Queen’s Park teach the Premier and his colleagues that song about “The Big Rock Candy Mountain”?
Money is flying out of the government coffers.
A million here; ten million there – yesterday it was $1 billion.
All for good reasons – this time it was to Expand COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing.
That we have to test so much is really the problem. We now know what we have to do to keep COVID-19 under control – create a safe bubble and stay in it.
The Prime Minister put it in language we could all understand. “There will be no Thanksgiving Dinners with extended family – but if we do the right things we have a shot at Christmas”.
 A Canadian city with a diverse population. The Ontario government is building on the largest provincial testing initiative in Canada by providing $1.07 billion to expand COVID-19 testing and case and contact management.
The government is also immediately investing $30 million to prevent and manage outbreaks in priority sectors, including the province’s long-term care homes, retirement homes, and schools. These investments are part of the province’s comprehensive plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19.
To date, Ontario has maintained adherence to public health measures and established a strong foundation for testing and case and contact management by:
 Smaller than microscopic – this virus needs you to become its home so that it can replicate itself. • Establishing a provincial COVID-19 lab network with capacity for more than 40,000 daily tests;
• Establishing over 150 assessment centres;
• Testing long-term care home residents and staff in addition to the ongoing testing of staff and homes in outbreak;
• Providing up to 1,700 more contact tracers to support public health units in contact follow-ups through an agreement with the federal government;
• Launching a new, custom-built case and contact management digital system to improve data quality and timeliness and eliminate the use of the multiple tools being used across the province and the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) for COVID-19;
• Launching COVID Alert, the country’s made-in-Ontario exposure notification app; and
• Launching a robust public awareness campaign to educate the public on how to keep them and their families safe, including targeted campaigns to young Ontarians.
Many people have heard all this before – it is the ones who haven’t heard, or don’t want to hear, that are the problem.
 Less than 8 days ago in a Canadian city – near a university campus Massive minimum fines is a start – something to catch their attention.
The rest of us can remind those who choose not to wear masks to start now.
The Regional Police have a program that allows the driver of a car who spots someone driving erratically to dial 911.
Amazing how many of these dangerous drivers get pulled over very quickly and charged with a Highway Traffic Offence.
The Provincial Medical Officer of Health has the power to take action along those lines.
Do it – use the billion dollars to swear in constables with the power to take people into custody if they are not wearing a mask.
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 Staff
September 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There are in this city people who pay attention and appreciate that the Gazette will hear what they saw and make their thoughts available to a wider community.
What a reader from the western side of the city said, in her usually direct language:
“This is what pisses me off…hearing that last night 60 people attended a Rotary charity fundraiser. Yes, I understand that the covid bylaw is private gatherings…but my God…when are people going to use good and safe judgment.”
 Another reader who scans the council meeting agendas pointed out that “…this is a first. No details or agenda for Monday’s Council meeting. No ability to delegate.
By Staff
September 23, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The federal government said through the Throne Speech delivered today that municipalities might be given the right to ban hand guns.
 Hand guns seized in police raids It is going to be interesting to see what the reaction is to this one.
By Staff
September 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be another Telephone Town Hall hosted by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward this evening from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The Mayor will be joined by a panel of local leaders to help answer residents’ questions.
How to Participate
Residents who would like to participate in the town hall can do so in the following ways:
Register in advance: Burlington residential phone numbers will be randomly selected to be part of the telephone town hall. Residents who would like to be added to the telephone call list can email getinvolved@burlington.ca.
Please note: if you registered for any of the previous town halls (held on March 26, April 14, June 4 or July 16), you are not required to register your phone number again. To remove a name from the call list, email getinvolved@burlington.ca.
Join by telephone: Anyone who does not receive a telephone invitation can call 1-800-779-0904 just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23 to join the town hall. For those individuals calling in, please be advised that more than one attempt may be required due to the high volume of traffic on the phone lines. If the first call does not connect, please hang up and dial the 1-800 number again.
Once the call begins, a moderator will provide participants with instructions for how to submit their questions to the leadership panel.
Many of the questions not answered during the call will be posted, with answers, to the City’s website at burlington.ca/townhall, along with an audio file and full transcript of the call after Sept. 23.
By Staff
September 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional government has pushed a little harder on the need for people to wear face masks.
On September 16th they approved multiple amendments to the Mandatory Mask By-law, where it is mandatory to wear a face covering or non-medical mask in certain indoor public places across the region.
These amendments were made to provide further clarification and requirements related to age, employees working in designated staff areas and enclosed common areas in apartment/condominium buildings. Amendments to the by-law take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, and remain in effect until November 30, 2020, unless extended by Regional Council.
 Face masks now required in a condo or apartment laundry room. Key amendments to By-law 47-20 include:
• clarification that every person aged five (5) years old or older is required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering in certain indoor public places;
• the requirement that employees working within a designated staff area (not for public access) need to maintain a physical distance of two metres from colleagues; and
• the addition of enclosed common areas of apartment or condominium buildings, including the lobby, elevator, laundry room, meeting rooms or other common use facilities as “public places”.
“Halton Region Public Health continues to urge residents to follow all public health measures and remain vigilant to reduce the severity of a second wave of COVID-19,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health. “In addition to wearing a mask in indoor public places, please continue to physically distance, wash your hands often, limit non-essential social gatherings and stay home when you are sick (even with mild symptoms).”
It is important to remember that some individuals are exempt from the by-law. As the by-law continues to be in effect, Halton Region reminds residents to continue being kind and supportive of others in our community who may be exempt. Every person’s situation is different and not all exemptions may be visible. The provision that no person shall be discriminated against for not wearing a non-medical mask or face covering due to an exemption, remains in the by-law.
“Halton Region’s Mandatory Mask By-Law continues to be an important part of our community effort to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “These amendments were based on feedback received from the Halton community to ensure there is a consistent by-law in place across the region and further protect each other during the pandemic. Thank you to all residents and businesses who continue to take this pandemic seriously and follow public health direction.”
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