 By Staff
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service investigated a motor vehicle collision and subsequently arrested two adult male persons for impaired driving in relation to operating the same motor vehicle.
On Sunday January 28, 2018, at 3:25 pm, a 23 year old male was operating a Honda Prelude vehicle and had his 26 year old male friend as a passenger. The vehicle was exiting a parking lot at 2084 Old Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario. The Honda Prelude vehicle failed to yield to a passing Ford Edge vehicle on the roadway and collided into it as it travelled along Old Lakeshore Road.
 Traffic got a little heavy on Old Lakeshore Road Sunday evening. Immediately after the collision the two male occupants of the Honda Prelude vehicle got out of the vehicle.
They then decided to flee the collision scene and switched drivers, now with the 26 year old male driving and the 23 year old male now as the passenger.
The Honda Prelude motor vehicle then started from a stopped position and reversed a short distance and almost collided into pedestrians standing behind the vehicle. The two male occupants of the Honda Prelude vehicle then decided to park the vehicle, exit it and walked away to avoid responsibility for the vehicle collision.
Police quickly arrested both male persons a short distance away for impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. Both males were taken to hospital for minor injuries they sustained in the motor vehicle collision. A 55 year old female person who was operating the Ford Edge motor vehicle also went to hospital by ambulance for minor injuries.
Both of the adult males will appear in court in the Town of Milton for a first court appearance on February 21, 2018.
Charged:
Corey Jorden JEFFREY (23 years old) from the City of Hamilton
Charles SMALL (26 years old) from the City of Hamilton
Charges:
1. Impaired operation of a motor vehicle contrary to the Criminal Code.
2. Operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams contrary to the Criminal Code.
3. Fail to remain at the scene of a motor vehicle collision contrary to the Criminal Code.
Anyone with information regarding this incident asked to contact Constable Andrew Lindsay at 905-825-4747 ext. 2305. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
The Halton Regional Police Service reminds the public that even though charges have been laid in this incident, the two persons charged are presumed to be innocent of any alleged crime until a court renders a decision.
 By Pepper Parr
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The six ward members and the Mayor will meet at 7:00 pm this evening to turn into law the motions that were passed at various council meetings since the last City Council meeting in December.
In order to speak at a Council meeting, individuals must register as a delegation no later than 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting. To register, complete the online application at www.burlington.ca/delegation, email cityclerks@burlington.ca or phone 905-335-7600 ext. 7805.
The Agenda, as set out on the city web site looks like this:
Recommendations from Standing Committees:
Committee of the Whole meeting of January 15, 2018
Committee of the Whole – Budget meeting of January 18, 2018
Planning and Development Public meeting of January 23 and 24, 2018
 The seven are up for re-election in October of this year. Will they all seek re-election? The Mayor will take the council members through what was done at each of the meetings and then vote on the recommendations – they all get done at once unless a council member asks to have a separate vote on an item.
While every meeting is important the meetings of the 15th and 18th of January are not the focus of this article – the meeting that started on the 23rd and ended on the 24th that heard more than 30 delegations is critical to the direction growth in Burlington takes place.
Motion to Approve Standing Committee Minutes:
Committee of the Whole meeting of January 15, 2018
Committee of the Whole – Budget meeting of January 18, 2018
Planning and Development Public meeting of January 23 and 24, 2018
Set out below is what the Council members will be approving from the January 23rd and 24th meetings:
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Defer approval of Official Plan until after the 2018 Municipal Election.
LOST
 The site – on Lakeshore Road between Brant and John – .started at 22 storeys – got cut back to 17 Moved by Councillor Taylor
Direct the Director of City Building to modify the block shown at the northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore located in the Cannery Precinct to the Downtown Core Precinct with a maximum building height of 17 storeys including community benefits obtained through Section 37 agreements.
CARRIED
Amendment: Moved by Councillor Meed Ward –
Amend the motion to replace the words “17 storeys” with “15 storeys”.
LOST
Moved by Mayor Goldring
Direct the Director of City Building to modify the building height permissions of the Downtown Core Precinct so that development shall:
 Complicated formula for the Downtown Core Precinct – looks like it could go almost anywhere. i) have a maximum height of 12 storeys; or ii) have a maximum height which shall not exceed 17 storeys, subject to a site-specific Zoning By-Law Amendment, with additional storeys above that permitted in the Downtown Core Precinct being provided in accordance with the following:
1. one additional storey for every 150 sq m of dedicated office and/or employment floor space; or
2. one additional storey for every 8 publicly accessible parking spaces provided in an underground parking structure.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Amend the motion to replace the number “12” with “4” and the number “17” with “8”.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate within the proposed new Official Plan an increased minimum tower separation requirement for tall buildings within the Downtown Mobility Hub of 30 metres.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to include policies to allow additional density in developments that preserve heritage buildings, as a factor of square footage preserved.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to include policy encouraging consideration of public-private parking partnerships in the Official Plan.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to prepare mid-rise buildings guidelines by end of the third quarter of 2018.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Refer policies in the Official Plan regarding semi-detached homes to the zoning by-law review process.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Sharman
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate an Official Plan policy that assigns a minimum target % (TBD) of residential dwellings contained within mid-rise and tall buildings to be configured with 2 & 3 bedrooms with at least 10% of the building containing 3 bedrooms to accommodate families with children.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to delete Chapter 3 Section 3.1.1 (2)(i) in the Official Plan “more than 200 dwelling units” and add a target percent of new mid-rise and high-rise units to achieve affordable, assisted, and special needs housing, as defined in Halton Region’s Annual State of Housing report.
CARRIED
 Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to add the North-West corner of Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to the special planning area (6 storeys) to match the north east corner.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to retain the height at Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to 3 storeys.
LOST
 Meed Ward got some changes to what will be permitted in the precinct pushed to a February meeting. Moved by Councillor Meed
Ward Refer discussion of blocks 4 and 5 of the Upper Brant Precinct to the Planning and Development Committee meeting of February 6, 2018.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to discuss with the Region and province the possibility of removing the mobility hub classification for the downtown, and shifting the Urban Growth Centre from downtown to the Burlington GO station.
LOST
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to work with the Region of Halton to review the Downtown Urban Growth Centre boundaries, and consider restoring original boundaries with the exception of Spencer Smith Park.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Meed Ward
Direct the Director of City Building to remove the special policy area at the South East corner of Brant and James Street.
LOST
Moved by Mayor Goldring
Receive department of city building report PB-11-18 regarding supplementary information with respect to the proposed Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan and associated Official Plan policies; and
Direct the Director of City Building to proceed with the proposed Downtown Precinct Plan, as described in report PB-81-17, as amended, and incorporate into the proposed New Official Plan; and
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate Additional Supporting Policies for the Downtown, as described in report PB-11-18, as amended, into the proposed New Official Plan which will be presented to the Planning and Development Committee on April 4, 2018.
CARRIED
Council members get paid by the city and the Region.
Starting April 1st, the significant seven will earn:
Mayor $177,110
Council members. $105,398
The amount they are paid is determined by an approved formula. The City of Burlington portion of Council salaries is to be adjusted effective April 1st by the percentage equal to the average annual change in the “All Goods” Ontario consumer price index (CPI) for the twelve-month period October to September with the provision that the increase is to have the following limitations:
- Any increase cannot exceed 65% of the calculated Ontario CPI percentage;
- No increase can be granted in the event the calculated Ontario CPI amount is less than 1%;
- Any increase cannot be greater than the increase determined for budget purposes for non-union staff compensation;
- When no increase is taken in a year, the amount cannot be carried over and aggregated in future years (i.e no carry-over of forfeited increase from any year to another);
- Overall Council may adjust the calculated increase to a lesser amount than that determined while meeting the provisions
When calculating the eligible adjustment using the above limitations, the resulting increase is 1.16% and is calculated as follows:
- 65% of the average annual change in CPI from October 2016 to September 2017 of 1.778% = 1.16%
- CPI is greater than 1%
- Non-union proposed merit increase = 3%
 Therefore, Council may implement an increase up to 1.16% on the City portion of their salaries. If the full amount is implemented effective April 1, 2018, the city portion will be adjusted as follows:
- Councilor salary: from $54,882 to $55,519
- Mayor salary: from $125,772 to $127,231
The Region of Halton formula averages the Ontario CPI and the Toronto CPI figures. The Regional adjustment effective January 1, 2018 was recommended to 2% resulting in a salary of $49,879.
 By Ray Rivers
January 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The federal government runs a program called Canada Summer Jobs, an effort to assist unemployed students get summer work and income. This program, which has been going for a while, is largely administered locally through the MPs’ offices on the basis of some fairly open-ended funding criteria.
Over last five Harper years about $3.5 million dollars were handed out to anti-abortion groups, such as Campaign Life Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR).
 In Calgary, Canada, there is a pro-life group, The Canadian Centre For Bio Ethical Reform, that drives around a truck with the images of a post-abortion fetus on the side. The latter, CCBR, is best known for distributing obscene and disgusting images and literature in the hope that the visceral images would shock Canadians and convert them to support ending a woman’s right to choose. The federal money paid for household leaflet drops and obscene posters placed on the sides of city buses in the organization’s base town of Calgary.
Canadian policy is very clear on this matter. The criminal code has only always defined life as beginning at birth, not at conception nor when one forgets to purchase a package of condoms for a romantic evening. Still, ever since former PM Kim Campbell ended the national debate on abortion almost a quarter century ago, there has been an ongoing campaign among the folks who aren’t happy with the status quo. But while these dissidents have continued their campaigns unabated, the rest of the country has grown to become overwhelmingly supportive of the right to choose, particularly among those women in their child bearing years.
 Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Stephen Harper may have personally been opposed to a woman’s right to choose, and he did cancel funding for Canadian organizations providing family planning in developing nations. Yet, even he resisted re-opening the abortion issue in this country, in fact actively discouraging the zealots in his caucus from bringing the subject up.
Last year the Trudeau government refused to allow these anti-choice organizations to use federal money to distribute their propaganda. And this year (2018) the government has firmed that up with specific criteria – “The government recognizes that women’s rights are human rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights — and the right to access safe and legal abortions. These rights are at the core of the Government of Canada’s foreign and domestic policies.”
 As expected the government has come under fire from the anti-abortion crowd claiming their constitutional right to freedom of expression and/or freedom of religion is being violated. But of course that is nonsense. They are welcome to express themselves but just not on the taxpayer’s nickel.
And abortion is not a religious matter. The term doesn’t even appear in any of the scriptures. Quite likely creationist evangelists just missed this little piece from their favourite book. Genesis 2:7 (New International Version) – Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Life begins at birth.
Neither the pronouncements of the Catholic Church on this subject, nor the chattering of the disparate evangelicals makes this a matter of conscience except for those directly involved – the woman and her doctor. And while the Prime Minister has been unequivocal in his protection for the rights of women, that is not the case for his primary opponent, federal Tory leader Andrew Scheer. Scheer has not been supportive of the right to choose, and he would reverse the government’s decision and allow anti-abortionist groups to use federal money to promote their cause.
Scheer shared a place in Harper’s caucus with the prominent former MP, Patrick Brown. Brown also represented the so-called religious-right, and the wedge issues of opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. But then after winning the leadership of the Ontario PCs, Brown had an epiphany and disowned his past political life. He grew the party’s membership, put together a progressive popular platform, and brought his poll numbers up into the majority range.
 Patrick Brown giving a press conference hours before he resigned as Leader of the Provincial Opposition. Unfortunately the other side of his past political life came back to bite him when two women he knew back in his MP days came to cry out about sexual impropriety. If the claims are true wouldn’t that be the height of religious hypocrisy – claiming piety but acting like pig?
There are a couple of wild conspiracy theories to Brown-gate. Suspicion is high that the release of these stories was orchestrated by his own party or someone influential in it. One rationale is that the Mulroney camp wanted to get Brown out of the way when it seems like the summer election is in the bag for the PCs. If Brown wins he might get two or three terms before Caroline Mulroney gets a crack at it.
Then there is the revenge theory. The right wing of the party was unhappy with Brown for having walked back his commitment to those so-called religious-right wedge issues and they staged the confessions in the hope of forcing him out and installing a more conventional conservative leader. The only thing for sure at this point is that the party, which only a breath ago had been measuring the Premier’s office for new blue furniture, is now living in much more exciting times.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Harper’s Charity Audits – Summer Jobs Program –
Life Begins –
Boston Globe –
Canada’s Catholic Church –
Abortion Poll –
Harper’s Cuts –
Freedom of Religion –
Evangelicalism –
More Evangelicals –
Summer Jobs –
Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform –
Scheer on Summer Jobs –
PC’s in disarray –
 By Staff
January 28, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Alvin Tedjo, an advocate for parents and families, was nominated as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the new riding of Oakville North–Burlington.
 Oakville Burlington North is a new provincial riding. “I’m running to fight for fairness for our families. We need to ensure high-quality child care, affordable education and expand health-care coverage,” said Tedjo. “I’m honoured to be on Premier Kathleen Wynne’s team to work towards a province that has opportunity and fairness for everyone.”
 Alvin Tedjo. Liberal candidate for Oakville Burlington North Tedjo is the Director of Government Relations at Sheridan College in Oakville. He is also the founder of Canadians for Paternity Leave and Vice-President of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. Previously, he served as a senior policy advisor to the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities. Tedjo was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 and Young Citizen of the Year. He and his partner, Rebecca, an ER nurse, have three young children.
The Progressive Conservative Party for ONB does not list a candidate.
The New Democrats have yet to announce the name of their candidate.
By Staff
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier today the Halton Regional Police Service investigated two separate armed robberies at two convenience stores in the City of Burlington. The investigation led to the quick arrest of two male culprits.
 At 8: 48 AM, one male culprit used a metal crow bar to commit a robbery at a “Hasty Market” store located at 1600 Kerns Rd, Burlington, Ontario. The male culprit obtained an amount of money and the investigation determined that the male fled and got into a grey SUV type vehicle.
At 11:21 AM, two male culprits then attempted to rob the “Brant Smoke and Gift” located at 2201 Brant St, Burlington, Ontario. The culprits displayed an imitation handgun and demanded money. The two culprits did not get any money and were chased away and got into a grey SUV type vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect vehicle went south on Brant Street and got involved in a minor motor vehicle collision with a female motorist. The damaged suspect SUV type vehicle then went into the “Best Buy” parking lot nearby and was observed by a Halton Regional Police Service canine officer who was responding to the robbery call.
Two 21 year of male suspects were arrested in the vehicle without incident. An imitation handgun and a metal crow bar were found inside the suspect vehicle. No other suspects are believed to be involved in these incidents.
There were no injuries to the store clerks in these two incidents. The female motorist was not seriously injured in the minor vehicle collision but went to hospital as she was shaken up and upset due to the collision.
Charged:
• Joshua Glen HORN (21 years old) of the City of Burlington
1. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
2. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
3. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
4. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
5. Pointing a firearm, contrary to the Criminal Code
6. Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to the Criminal Code
– Jordan Martin SMITH (21 years old) of the City of Burlington
1. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
2. Robbery contrary to the Criminal Code
3. Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, contrary to the Criminal Code
4. Pointing a firearm, contrary to the Criminal Code
Both persons will be held in custody for a video remand hearing on Sunday January 28, 2018.
Anyone with information regarding this arson is asked to contact Detective Jared MCLEOD of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2385 or 2315. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
The Halton Regional Police Service wants to remind the public that even though charges have been laid in these incidents, the two persons charged are presumed to be innocent of any alleged crime as the matter is proceeding through the court system and there have not been any findings of guilt for any person.
By Pepper Parr
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
ECoB announces that it is going to hold a Workshop for anyone interested on running for office in the October municipal election.
Then along comes an Aldershot resident with this message:
 Aldershot resident Greg Woodruff “If anyone knows anyone willing to run in Ward 4 or 5 please get in contact through the Burlington Citizens for Responsible Development (CfRD) – RDev.org Facebook page or you can contact me through https://gregwoodruff.com .
The organization’s Facebook page includes this statement:
Citizens for Responsible Development seeks to make sure that developments are of value to local residents, consistent with local character and enhance the livability of the community in which they are placed.
“We have people lined up to challenge all wards and Mayor only 4 and 5 are needed.”
There goes the united front.
 Greg Woodruff talking to a member of the provincial cabinet. The Citizens for Responsible Development don’t name who they have lined up for wards 1,2,3 and 6.
Greg Woodruff, the contact person at CfRD ran as a candidate for the office of Regional Chair in the 2010 election and, while he has yet to make a formal announcement that he is running for office he did tell the Bay Observer that he had plans to run for office.
Woodruff does not have any experience in an elected office. We might be looking at a ‘Woodruff slate.
By Staff
January 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In a statement released on Friday ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington said that: “Once again Burlington City Council has chosen to ignore the voices of the very citizens it is elected to represent.
 Packed Council chamber during a Planning and Building meeting. Jim Young, an Aldershot resident and one of the ECoB founders said “For a city that boasts its level of engagement with its citizens the irony of this seems to escape them. In rejecting Councillor Meed Ward’s motion to delay a decision on the New Official Plan until after the election, council not only overruled the one Councillor who truly understands engagement, they flagrantly silenced the majority of citizens who since November have sent more delegations, more letters and raised their voices more often than any other time I recall in 36 years in Burlington.
“It is difficult to decide which is worse; the ongoing disrespect by council of Councillor Meed Ward and her advocacy for her constituents, or the growing disrespect for the voices of citizens when raised to suggest improvements to the long term plans which can alter their lives.”
ECoB is developing plans to host an All-Candidate Workshop for potential candidates who want to run for office in the October municipal election.
 ECoB member Jim Young Young points out that “… it is this very refusal to give electors a voice in October that will do most to ensure the New Official Plan becomes an election issue for those Councillors who hoped it might not.
“Citizens may not be aware that a new council will be able to revisit the issue in a new three year session. It is our responsibility to elect a new slate of Councillors who will not only revisit the issue but will do so in an atmosphere of real citizen engagement and respect that has been missing in some of council’s interactions with citizen groups.
“Not only have council ensured that this will be an issue in the October election, they have brought an element of negativity to their positions which may not serve their electoral ambitions well.”
Engaged Citizens of Burlington will work to oppose those who have chosen not to hear our voices in the next election and support potential candidates who, regardless of political affiliation, will help guide our city to a real level of public engagement in the years ahead, and re open to revisiting the Official Plan in the next Council Session (2018 – 2021).
The ECoB position is clear. Mayor Goldring put out a statement on his blog where he explained why he voted against deferring the approval of an Official Plan until after the election.
“There are significant benefits to having a Council approval decision sooner rather than later. This will actually better address the significant public concern and interest for establishing greater certainty in the planning process.
 Mayor Rick Goldring “A new Official Plan means we can move away from a site by site negotiation and instead bring more certainty to the application process. This is what residents have been very clear about.
“Staff confirmed that the City will be in a better position to plan within a clearly defined framework with an updated Official Plan that can be defendable by today’s standards.
“Staff will be able to use the new Official Plan when working with developers even though the Official Plan won’t officially be approved by the Halton Region until sometime likely in 2019.
“Staff will continue to develop a detailed Downtown Area Specific Plan which includes matters such as transportation, parking and servicing.
“I believe that it is not only important for the reasons I have outlined, but a responsibility of this Council to bring as much certainty as possible to our downtown planning. Our current council has the necessary understanding of the development of the Official Plan. It’s important that this Council complete the process.”
 Mike Wallace -sitting in on a Council meeting. No word yet on where candidate Mike Wallace stands on the question of deferral of the approving of an Official Plan. Wallace did sit in on council sessions.
Deferring a vote on an Official Plan has to be seen on light of the number of people who will run for office in October.
Nominations cannot be filed until May 1; at this point there are just two people who plan to run for a council seat – both are eyeing the same ward.
Burlington could end up with a Council close to identical to the one in place now.
 By Staff
January 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is hosting the 2018 HDSB Secondary GSA Student Conference on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Milton District High School (396 Williams Ave, Milton).
 The all-day event, with the theme Queering Valentines, begins at 9 a.m. with a marketplace of community partner displays including the Positive Space Network, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and Egale Canada.
The conference features keynote speaker Teddy Syrette, a two-spirited genderqueer activist. Board Superintendent of Education Rob Eatough will also address the conference.
Organized for students and by students, the day offers LGBTQI2S+ youth and allies the opportunity to connect, converse and create with each other. Facilitated conversation spaces throughout the day include Inclusion in Sports, Trans Inclusive Environments, LGBTQI2S+ Literature, Spoken Word Workshop, and Indigenous and Two-Spirit Perspectives.
This conference is one way the Halton District School Board ensures all Halton schools are positive spaces that welcome, recognize, and respect diverse genders and sexualities.
By Staff
January 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Tim Hortons wasn’t the only downtown coffee shop that was vandalized this week.
 Timmie’s to a big hit – significant smoke damage from a fire that was set in a garbage container.
The Lakeshore Coffee House across the street from the Waterfront Hotel suffered some damage when a couple of miscreants did some damage to the outdoor seating area.
The short video clip and the picture that was cropped should help people identify one of the
 Their video has been widely shared. The Halton Police have taken photos and also screens shots from the security system.
There is a message here for the commercial sector – upgrade the quality of the video cameras – better images will lead to faster arrests.
By Staff
January 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On January 25th 2018, shortly before 2:30 AM, Halton Regional Police and Burlington Fire Department responded to a fire call at a Tim Horton’s located at 601 Brant Street in Burlington.
The fire which originated in an exterior garbage can was extinguished but not before causing damage to the front of the building and smoke damage inside, estimated at $250,000.
The investigation revealed that at approximately 1:47 AM, two suspects attended the front of the Tim Horton’s which was closed at the time. One of the suspects (suspect #2) was observed on video surveillance tampering with the garbage can briefly before both continued to walk away. Within minutes, a large volume of smoke could be seen coming out of the same garbage bin and continued to burn and spread until eventually it was noticed by a passerby who then called 911.
Suspects descriptions:
 One of two suspects. Suspect 1: wearing black hooded coat (hood pulled up obscuring features) light blue jeans, dark coloured shoes
Suspect 2: male, white, black coat, light blue jeans, short dark hair, dark coloured shoes, walking with cane in left hand.
Anyone with information regarding this arson is asked to contact Detective Constable Jacques Brunelle of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2334. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Ray Rivers
January 25, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Damn I hate when that happens. Now I owe my publisher, a bottle of single malt over who’ll win the election this year. But I won’t give it to him until election night, just in case Brown manages to defy gravity and bounce back.
We don’t know anything about the allegations of sexual misconduct which have led to this yet, though that detail seems irrelevant at this point. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, here in Canada. But it is pretty incriminating when virtually all of his office staff had resigned because he initially wouldn’t – though he has now. No doubt we’ll be getting the tabloid details in weeks to come, but it sure looks like he and his political career are toast.
Patrick Brown – former leader of the Progressive Conservative party in Ontario The Ontario PCs will have a major test before them to appoint a new leader and determine if they move away from the platform Brown had assembled. Despite Liberal accusations that he was playing stealth with his carving knife, this was one of the most progressive and middle-of-the-road Tory platforms in over a generation.
Given that most Ontario voters still had no idea who Patrick Brown was, this gives the PCs a chance to grab the limelight in Ontario politics and introduce a new leader. And depending on their choice that may more than compensate politically for having to shed Brown when the polls looked so good for them. So this may not be the gift for the Liberals that some pundits might speculate it is for them.
Still, this has to be a huge personal defeat for Brown who had spent his entire life up to now priming himself for political leadership. If the facts prevail against him in this case, that will be another huge lesson for everyone, and especially males with a penchant for whatever it was he did that led to this.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Patrick Brown resigns.
There was someone waiting in the wings – she never expected to become the leadership this way.
Publisher’s note: Whenever Rivers has to pay up on his wager debts he invites me to his home and we seem to consume all of the bet that I won.
By Staff
January 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It was an interesting start to a significant meeting on the direction growth in the city of Burlington is going to take.
Ward 2 Councillor set out in her Facebook page what took place.
At the beginning of the meeting I discussed the lack of respect in the proceedings and called on all of us to set a higher standard. We may disagree, but need to be respectful. There’s no place for name calling, false allegations and the like.
My full opening statement on a Point of Privilege is here:
I would like to raise a point of privilege before we begin.
My goal in raising this is to ask all of us to commit to respectful dialogue.
 Councillor Meed Ward raises a Point of Privilege at council meeting. Point of privilege is used “when a member wants to draw attention to a matter that affects the integrity, character or reputation of an individual/group”
· Last night a delegate say planning staff should be fired; it’s not the first time our staff have been unjustly criticized publicly; I hope it will be the last.
· Another delegate said residents are NIMBYs, motivated only by self interest
· The same delegate said my motions were “political interference” a serious allegation – he chose to criticize the woman who is bringing motions, but had no similar criticism for my male colleague who is also bringing motions – some of which are similar to mine.
· Finally, a 14-page memo has been submitted to the public record from Mr. Mark Bales from Carriage Gate Homes, we all got a copy Monday. Mr. Bales has never spoken to me about my views about the OP or the downtown, and yet in his memo he presumes to know my motives, calls into question my integrity and character, and makes allegations with no evidence.
* and the Burlington Post being told they are “not a real newspaper.”
All of this has to stop. None of this is helpful to our discussions.
Like many women who have been subjected to personal attacks for having an opinion, and saying it out loud, I have mostly ignored these things in the past, assuming they’re simply part of being in public service. I can take it – I have a tough skin – 22 years as a journalist and 7 in elected office does that.
But I’ve realized this isn’t about me; it’s about all of us and the culture and example we’re setting. So it’s time to speak up.
When people see others exposed to personal attacks, it discourages them from participating in the community conversation. And we lose that input. I know people who will not stand at that podium because of the way they have been treated.
When personal attacks go unaddressed, it sends the message that these are okay. They are not. We can’t have one standard for people we agree with – letting their comments go unchecked – and another for those we don’t.
It’s time for this to stop.
So, I am asking that we all – everyone around this horseshoe and all members of the community – commit ourselves to a higher standard of respectful dialogue and mutual respect.
This is in keeping with our Engagement Charter, and referred to in the draft OP Chapter 11: “Mutual respect for citizens, staff and members of City Council is the basis for the development of constructive relationships and successful citizen engagement.”
We may disagree about many things today and going forward; I expect we will. But let’s commit ourselves to this: let’s assume that each one of us around this table and in the community wants the best for the future of our city, even as we have different perspectives about how to get there. Let’s allow for that difference, and maintain mutual respect.
 The delegate who made the comment about residents being NIMBYs who are motivated only by self interest deserves a closer look.
 Glenn Wellings is a planner by profession who works for clients in the municipal sector. He was the last delegator to speak and was one of the three that was supportive of the plans and ideas that had been put forward by the planning department.
Who chooses the order at which delegators speak? That decision would be made by people in the Clerk’s Office. Are speaking slots determined by the date at which the request to delegate are received by the Clerk’s office?
Can people ask to be allowed to speak at a particular point? People who cannot get to a day time meeting will ask to be heard in the evening.
Wellings didn’t add much to the information Council was given. The Gazette learned that Wellings, representing a client in Halton Hills, had urged the public to participate in the public dialogue – but he did something quite different in Burlington.
Wellings Planning Consultants Inc. lists the following as clients:
- Township of Amaranth
- Township of East Garafraxa
- Town of Grimsby
- Regional Municipality of Halton
- City of Hamilton
- Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
- County of Hastings
- Town of Milton
- Regional Municipality of Niagara
- Town of Oakville
He was doing what his client wanted in Halton Hills. Did Wellings have a client he was representing in Burlington? He didn’t say he was representing anyone; neither did he say that he has a relative working at city hall. Nothing wrong with that. The relative worked in Human Resources.
The relative did at one point work in Planning where the responsibility was related to the development of the downtown core. The relative did some very good early work on the background related to future changes of the Waterfront Hotel.
What the Gazette was surprised to learn was that in January the relative was transferred from Human Resources to the Office of the City Manager where all the strategizing is being done on getting the draft version of the Official Plan approved by city council.
Wellings could have given full disclosure and told Council about the relative that worked for the city.
Related news story.
Wellings urges citizens in Halton Hills to get out and support a development; in Burlington citizens are NIMBY’s – concerned only about their self interest.
By Pepper Parr
January 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a tough and probably expensive meeting for the developer that owns the north side of Lakeshore Road between Brant and John Street.
The property was put in a new precinct called the Cannery where the height limit was set at 22 storeys.
 During the two-day debate on what the limits were going to be for the 13 precincts the downtown is now divided into the property got moved out of the Cannery precinct and into the Downtown Core precinct where the height limit is 17 stories.
 This rendering of what a building at the north east corner of Brant and Lakeshore could look like – the rendering was not provided by the owner of the property. The motion to have this happen was put forward by Councillor Taylor who said that he did this because it was what he promised to do when he agreed to the staff recommendation that allowed the 23 story 421 Brant project.
The rules in the draft Official Plan call for all tall buildings to be built on a three story base.
The planners wanted to ensure there are good sight lines to the lake and that the $14 million Pier (original price was $7.5 million) could be seen by everyone.
A little later Councillor Marian Meed Ward tried to get the 17 storeys reduced to 15 but that didn’t pass.
The property opposite city hall on north east corner of James and Brant was approved at 23 storeys. The land to the south, where Elizabeth Interiors was once located, has a height limit now of 17 storeys that the Mayor said he felt should be the same as the 421 Brant building which is 23 storeys.
There is an attempt to keep some of the historical look of Brant street by retaining the building on the corner of Brant and James.
The public shouldn’t expect to see shovels in the grounds any time soon – but this is what they want the Lakeshore Road and Brant part of the city too look like.
A citizen group has some thoughts for what a re-developed Waterfront Hotel could look like. Known as Plan B it moves a hotel development to the east opening up public space and creating a grander look to the Pier.
By Staff
January 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Between December 2017 and January 4th 2018, cash and property was stolen from the residents of a home in the City of Burlington. The accused was the live-in care provider for one of the elderly residents.
The accused is Charmain Bibiana PETER (55 years old) from Saint Lucia.
Charged with; Theft Over $5000, three counts of Theft Under $5000, Possession of property obtained by crime and Uttering threats.
The accused was arrested and some of the property was recovered.
Police are advising Halton residents to ensure that they conduct screening process for hiring Live-in care providers and care providers entering their home. If you hire them privately; ensure they are entitled to work in Canada with a Social Insurance number, conduct reference checks, and ask questions about their qualifications for the services they are going to be providing.
Another method to ensure your safety and that you receive the professional care you are contracting for is to hire a registered and licenced Personal Support Worker. (PSW).
More information available at: Personal Support Worker Association – https://pswa.ca/
A resource and questions you should ask of your care provider: Home Care Ontario: https://www.homecareontario.ca/home-care-services/overview
By Pepper Parr
January 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The clarification I did not have when this was first written is now in hand. The Planning department expects to be able to take the final draft of the Official Plan to council on April 4th.
The die has been cast.
 Council Meed Ward led the fight to defer the approval of the Official Plan until after the municipal election – the motion was defeated. Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward put her motion on the floor to defer the approving of the Official Plan to after the October 28th election – it was defeated on a vote of 5-1; Councillor Dennison was absent.
The approval of the draft plan is scheduled to come before Council is either April, May or June – there is some confusion as to which month applies.
There were 35 delegations; two were in favour of not deferring – the remaining 33 were crystal clear on what they wanted: defer until after the municipal election in October.
During the afternoon session today staff did admit that there had been a problem in explaining all the changes to the public and there is agreement that staff will work on a communications program that will be visual in nature. No commitment to a date when the visuals will be ready.
The planners and a number of the council members made the point that the city has been working on this for seven years – Meed Ward pointed out the public has only seen the document and graphic material since last September.
There is a tonne of information to convey in news reports. In due course we will get the details to you.
By Staff
January 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On January 4th 2018, between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM six cars had their windows smashed and items stolen from them while parked at Mapleview Mall at 900 Maple Avenue in Burlington. Items stolen included electronics, clothing, purses and wallets with credit cards which were fraudulently used. Police also received reports of two vehicles stolen from the area of Fairview Street and Drury Lane in Burlington.
Investigators identified a red Chevrolet Trailblazer stolen from Puslinch Township as being involved and that vehicle was located in the area of the two vehicle thefts in Burlington.
One of the stolen vehicles, a Ford F-150 was recovered in Brantford days later and was found to contain stolen property from the Mapleview Mall thefts as well as several that occurred in the City of Hamilton.
On January 16th 2018, members of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau arrested Michel Blair Martin MCNAUGHTON (29-yrs) of Brantford. MCNAUGHTON was remanded into custody charged with the following offences:
• Theft of motor vehicle (2 counts)
• Theft under $5000 (6 counts)
• Mischief under $5000 (7 counts)
• Fraudulent use of credit cards (3 counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of break-in instruments
• Fail to comply with probation (2 counts)
Police are reminding the public of the following prevention tips:
• Ensure your unattended vehicle(s) are kept locked/secure
• Never leave personal identification or valuables in your vehicle
• Park in a well-lit and attended areas whenever possible
• Never leave spare keys in your vehicle
• If you have to leave valuables in your vehicle, lock them in your trunk. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving packages or purses in plain view or on the seat.
• Remove garage door openers, GPS navigation and cell phone devices & power cords from view when not in your vehicle
• Consider installing CCTV / Surveillance cameras which can capture the crime and aid in suspect identification
• Ensure their homes and garages are locked when absent from the home or turning in for the night.
• REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO POLICE IMMEDIATELY
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Constable Tyler Freeman of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2363. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
January 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Why is it that a person supporting the view that council has usually get to speak last?
 Glen Wellings, a planner in private practice, told council that the public comments about the planners was “reprehensible”. He added that he thought the expected Meed Ward motions should be sent to the planners for consideration.
Wellings objected to the “special interests” trying to control the agenda yet when he spoke in Georgetown in 2016, encouraging spectators to voice their opinions in front of Halton Hills council during the public meeting on March 1.
“Go to the meeting on March 1 and let [council] know how you feel,” he said.
Glenn Wellings – planner. He assured council that the sky was not going to fall and that they should get on with the job they were elected to do.
The objective is to get the damn things off the table so that they don’t have to be voted on.
Council appears determined to rush the draft Official Plan through – to what end is not at all clear. Perhaps because they can.
The citizens have done their best – and there were some exceptionally good delegations. Debby Morrison and Gary Scobie plus Catherine Crozier deserve to be nominated as Burlington’s Best. If you’re reading Catherine – please send us that delegation – it deserves a wider audience.
A rough calculation would be that 250 people attended the public meeting.
The prospect of the Meed Ward motions making it are dim but there was a point when keep Central high school open looked dim – remember how that worked out.
 By Staff
January 23, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Next Door Kitchen, 650 Plains Road East in Burlington, is hosting a Toonie Breakfast on Saturday January 27th, 2018. Proceeds from the breakfast will support Halton Food for Thought (HFFT) Student Nutrition Programs.
 If you are out and about, want to have a fabulous breakfast or simply want to stop in to see their new space and support HFFT, maybe we will see you there!
Enjoy breakfast on your own or with your family and neighbours at one of their amazing harvest tables while learning more about Next Door and all the resources it provides our community.
The Student Nutrition programs ensure “no student goes hungry at school”… one healthy breakfast at a time!
By Pepper Parr
January 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Brian Dean, the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association, has a pretty good sense of what any buzz going on is about. He is at times shameless when wanting to know “what’s up”?
Dean moved to the point he was before city council to make – consider a delay in the approval of the draft Official Plan.
It is our Board’s contention that the stated timeline to adopt the draft Official Plan by the first week of April 2018 is too ambitious.
 Brian Dean with the ward Councillor celebrating the installation of new parking meters. More specifically, it will not allow the BDBA to adequately position itself as a commenting agency, with the support of its membership.
Dean explained that his association was doing its outreach to his membership – it was proceeding rather well – until …
Dean explained that
“it was in September, with the first release of the draft Downtown precinct plans when our efforts really ramped up.
“The City’s Mobility Hub Team took the BDBA people on a block-by-block walkabout of the proposed precincts to explain the policies and answer questions.
“Until November 2017 I reported the observations that the Official Plan and Mobility Hub sessions were “reasonably” well attended by the business community.
“My conclusion was that there was no clear consensus amongst the membership about whether the draft downtown precincts were positive, negative or otherwise. NOR did there emerge a collective voice petitioning our Board of Directors to advocate in a particular direction.
“That changed in November.
“The watershed moments were the Committee and Council approval of the application by Carriage Gate Homes for a development at Brant & James Streets.
“The feedback to my Association was immediate.
“It seems that the business community was viewing the potential implications for their businesses and considering issues like: construction, future rents and potential displacement… as if for the first time. AND My Board took notice!
“The BDBA wants to put together a series of precepts or statements that will act as the “official comment” from our business community and Association when we are challenged to insert ourselves in discussions around downtown developments, Official Plans and other documents that can affect the health of our community of business.
“We also believe that there is evidence for City Council to reconsider its position on the “innovation district” designation in the revised Official Plan.
“We contend that there is room for more than one “innovation district” in Burlington and that our Downtown does qualify as possessing similar criteria to the area around the DeGroote School of Business.
“Thank you for your time…we are happy to field any questions you might have of us.”
Dean was civil and direct. He has been delegating for years; does it well and comes fully prepared.
 Councillor Paul Sharman had some choice advice for a delegator – Chair Craven had to intervene. Councillor Paul Sharman didn’t see the request for the additional time as reasonable and got into verbal fisticuffs with Dean requiring Chair Craven to caution the council member and basically told Sharman to move to his own corner of the ring.
What has become pretty clear is that this Council isn’t liking what they are being asked to do – the questions are short, often grumpy and there is no sense that council want to be in a collaborative mode with its citizens. The exception is Meed Ward and at times Lancaster who looks for clarification to make sure she understands the point being made.
There was a point when Lancaster was the Council representative on the BDBA Board – that didn’t work out.
 Mayor wants to know if a delegator wants the downtown core plan put on hold or if they want the draft Official Plan in its entirety put on hold until after the October election. The Mayor asks the same question of each delegator – Do you want just the downtown core plans put on hold or the complete draft Official Plan?
They all tell the Mayor – put it all on hold and while no one says it directly the implication is that they want time to decide if they want this council making the decisions.
 By Pepper Parr
January 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Planning and Building committee that met this afternoon and this evening, and possibly into another day if everyone is not heard today does have an agenda which is to:
Receive Department of City Building report PB-11-18 regarding supplementary information with respect to the proposed Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan and associated Official Plan policies; and
Direct the Director of City Building to proceed with the proposed Downtown Precinct Plan, as described in report PB-81-17, and incorporate into the proposed New Official Plan; and
Direct the Director of City Building to incorporate Additional Supporting Policies for the Downtown, as described in report PB-11-18, into the proposed New Official Plan.
The report staff took them through before delegations began was impressive – quite why this wasn’t delivered to the public several months ago is difficult to understand.
What became evident from the get go was that people wanted more time and they wanted more detail before decisions are made.
Brian Dean delegating on behalf of the Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA) asked that any decision on both the Downtown Mobility Hub and the Official Plan be put off until June.
 Citizens are telling city council that they don’t want to be quite as bold as the Planners are suggesting. June is the furthest forward date so far – what was going to get made final at the end of January got pushed to February, then April – and now the business people want June.
The larger public wants the whole caboodle put off until after the election in October when they say the city council will actually have a mandate to do that they are doing.
The back and forth during the 11 delegations in the afternoon got a bit testy at times. With some 80 people in the Council Chamber – that dropped off to under 40 after a short mid-way break.
The Gazette will report in more detail once the evening session adjourns – they have 20 delegations to listen to – and there is going to be a request that delegations be taken from the floor – that is people who did not register be allowed to speak.
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