 By Staff
October 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Beginning school is a big step for parents and children. The Halton District School Board wants to make that transition as smooth as possible.
 Inquiring minds Throughout November, three-year olds and their parents/guardians are invited to attend one of four Kindergarten Open Houses to learn about starting school next year.
Drop by any one of the following open houses between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Georgetown Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 — Park PS (6 Hyde Park Dr.)
Burlington Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 – Bruce T. Lindley PS (2510 Cavendish Dr.)
Milton Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 – Tiger Jeet Singh PS (650 Yates Dr.)
Oakville Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 – West Oak PS (2071 Fourth Line)
At the Open House, families will:
• Explore a Kindergarten classroom
• Learn about play-based learning
• Pick up information and resource material in a free backpack
• Access information about community agencies and resources in Halton
• Get information about before and after school care
• Connect with special education staff to discuss any developmental concerns
Children born in 2014 can start Kindergarten in September 2018.
Registration for Kindergarten begins in January 2018 and takes place at the school your child will attend.
 By Staff
October 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Yesterday, members of the Burlington Street Crime Unit concluded a drug investigation resulting in the arrest of a Burlington man.
Investigators executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant at the mans residence on Castleguard Crescent that resulted in the seizure of the following: (See included photo)
• Cocaine (1 gram)
• Marihuana (123 grams),
• Percocet pills (51)
• Pill press
• White powder believed to be a cutting agent
• 2 Digital scales
• 2 Cellphones
• $800 in cash
• Machete
• 2 throwing knives.
Estimated street value of drugs seized is $1500.
Emanuel DaSilva THOMAS (25 yrs) of Burlington is charged with trafficking marihuana, possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of Percocet for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of breaching probation. He was held pending a bail hearing.
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes). “See something, Hear something, Say something”.
 By Pepper Parr
October 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A number of people were as upset as we were over the way the Petition made to the Ontario Legislature by parents from Lester B. Pearson high school.
The MPP who read the Petition into the record really bungled the job.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon didn’t read the Pearson high school parent’s Petition into the record in the Legislature because she was not allowed to do so. She is a member of the Cabinet and as such isn’t permitted to speak. The Government Whip does that job on her behalf. McMahon would have done a better job. Many people wanted to know why Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon didn’t read the Petition into the record.
Because she was not permitted to do so.
The rules for the Presentation of a Petition are pretty detailed
It is the responsibility of the petitioner(s) to arrange for a Member of the Legislative Assembly to present a petition.
Any Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, other than a Cabinet Minister or the Speaker of the House may present a petition.
The Chief Government Whip may present petitions on behalf of Cabinet Ministers.
If a petition meets all of the requirements for admissibility, it may be presented to the Legislature in one of two ways:
Presentation directly to the House
During any regular daytime meeting of the Legislative Assembly, MPPs are given the opportunity to present petitions by reading them aloud to the Members assembled. Such presentation will be recorded in the official record of debates (Hansard) as well as in the official record of proceedings (Votes and Proceedings).
Tabling a petition with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
At any time during a Parliamentary Session, an MPP may file a petition with the Clerk of the House. Such presentation will only be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
 The Pearson high school parents are leaving “no stone unturned” in their effort to keep their school open. The Pearson high school parents worked with the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures who directed them to the MPP from St. Catharines who also happens to be the Government Whip. The Whip’s job is to make sure all the members are in the Legislature when a vote is being taken.
Once a Petition is read into the record the government is required to respond.
The rules for that are:
Within 24 sitting days of the day on which the presentation of the petition is recorded, the government is required to file a response.
The response is delivered to the Clerk of the House and to the MPP who presented the petition.
The Clerk maintains an index of all petitions that have been presented to the Legislative Assembly during a given Parliamentary Session. This index contains the following information:
A brief description of the subject of the petition
The date the petition was presented
The name of the MPP who submitted the petition
The date upon which a response to the petition was received by the Clerk.
 Margaret Wilson is the Facilitator doing the PAR Administrative Review Assuming the Minister of Education does respond – expect her to tell us that a Facilitator has been appointed and that the Minister is waiting for that report.
It is complex and riddled with rules.
There was a time when citizens were not permitted to Petition their government.
Let’s see how this plays out.
Related article:
Pearson parents Petition the provincial government – feel they got stiffed.
By Staff
October 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite years of awareness campaigns illustrating why driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs is dangerous, impaired driving remains the top criminal cause of death in Canada. The Halton Regional Police Service remains committed to road safety through prevention, education and enforcement initiatives.
 Members of the public are reminded that driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
The Service’s Twitter and Facebook accounts should not be used for this purpose as they are not monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Offences:
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, just after 8:00pm, Halton Police officers investigated a collision involving an impaired driver in Burlington. Police charged Sarah Duggan (42) of Milton with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and driving over 80mgs.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at approximately 10:45pm, a traffic stop was initiated at Brant Street and Fairview Road in Burlington. As a result of an investigation, Edward Lee (43) of Burlington was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, driving over 80mgs and refuse breath sample.
 By Staff
October 26, 2027
BURLINGTON, ON
Attempts to trick you into responding to a message you get in an electronic piece of mail are never ending.
The thieves out there see this as an easy way to steal – they seldom get caught – for the most part they live on the other side of the world.
For those of you who are Scotia Bank customers it might have been tempting to respond to the following:
 An email attempt to get information on your bank account. One of the first clues that this is an attempt to steal from you is the quality of the graphics – a bank would never send out something as crude as this.
Second – look at the address line. Doesn’t say it comes from a bank.
Third – what is it you are being asked to verify? Banks never do things like this by email – they will telephone you
 By Staff
October 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Hydro One crews will be conducting maintenance along Burlington Beach from Monday, November 6 to Sunday, November 12.
The overhead shield wire between towers 20 and 22, as shown below, is damaged and must be repaired to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the power line. Shield wire is in place to protect equipment from lightning strikes and allows for the monitoring and control of the infrastructure; it does not carry electricity. Hydro One crews will be repairing the damaged shield wire each day until the work is complete on November 12.
Crews will be using all-terrain vehicles and some small pieces of construction equipment to complete this work.
For worker and public safety, pedestrian access to the area between towers 20 and 22 will be restricted while work is taking place. We recognize that this area is used by members of the community, and Hydro One staff will use signage, barriers and flaggers to ensure that the area is safe and secured.
Typical work hours will run from approximately 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In addition, on Saturday, November 11, crews will be working from 8:00 p.m. into the night while the infrastructure is de-energized. To ensure safety, proper lighting will be used during all evening work. Your local electricity service will not be interrupted as a result of this maintenance work.
 By Staff
October 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 George Ward has a problem – and he is really, really ticked off with the way a Petition sent to Queen’s Park was handled.
The people behind the Save Lester B. Pearson high school – which is scheduled to be closed in June of 2018 – sent a Petition to the Legislature.
A petition is a request that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario take some specific action (or refrain from taking some action) to redress a public grievance. The action requested must be within the scope of jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly, and the request must be clear, temperate, proper and respectful.
A petition must be addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
If all that is done properly – and they are sticklers about the form a Petition is presented in – then the Petition is read out during the time allocated for the Reading of Petitions.
One would have liked to see that Petition read into the record by the Member for Burlington.
Click to see how badly this was done.
 The Pearson high school parents believe that the opening of Hayden high school and the changing of the feeder schools that served Pearson resulted in the need to close that school. They think they were short changed – to have their Petition bungled when it was read into the Legislative record just added insult to injury. Ward wants to know “if the petition was scheduled to be read by this MPP from St. Catharines at the last minute because it was known that he is totally inept or because it is a plot to avoid announcing our petition on purpose.
Ward sketches out his thoughts on both scenarios.
Was the Member for St. Catharines totally inept?
The MPP from St. Catharines stumbles on his introduction and states “I see I am almost out of time” – why waste time with this statement?
It is fairly obvious that the MPP has not preread or prepared in any way to read the petition – evidenced by the stumbling, fumbling and reading while looking at the floor and being soft in his speech.
The MMP from St. Catharines also is the one to state at the end “I see that I am out of time” – why stop and sit down rather than carry on.
The Speaker of the House states “You can finish if you wish” to which the MPP from St. Catharines refuses.
 Cheryl de Lught and Steve Armstrong, the Pearson high school members of the PAR Committee. Or was it a plot to stop the Save LBP?
Why was such an inept MPP from St. Catharines chosen to present our petition?
Why did the MPP from St. Catharines not prepare himself and read the petition ahead of time?
Why was our petition not read until the end of the session and ran out of time?
Why did the MPP from St. Catharines end his presentation with “I see I am out of time” and sit down?
Why did the MPP from St. Catharines refuse to continue with the petition when the Speaker of the House granted him the time to do so?
Ward thinks he will get a better response if he takes his complaint to Patrick Brown – Leader of the Opposition for his comment and corrective action.
 By Staff
October 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Those folks in the west end that have a quarry in their back yards are ramping up for their next community meeting.
Meridian Brick has a license to operate a quarry – it was given to them in 1972.
Since that time a number of rather high end homes have been built yards away from the back yards of these homes.
 The two pink patches are existing quarries that are close to mined out. The green space to the left of the marker is where the brick company wants to quarry next – all the trees would have to go. The residents believe they have been poorly served by the city and the real estate industry in the way they weren’t properly advised that the quarry did have the right to start digging.
Tyandaga Environmental Community is going to meet on November 16, 2017, 7pm-9:30pm at the Crossroads Centre, 1295 North Service Road.
Gord Miller,former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario and David Donnelly, Environmental Lawyer, former executive director of the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund will be speaking
Meridian Brick has announced that they will be holding a follow up community meeting at the same location on November 29th – starts at 7:00 pm.
 By Pepper Parr
October 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is called Flora Hominis.
It stands at one end of the Dalglish Family Garden which is part of the revitalized Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Garden.
 The first permanent sculpture commissioned by the RBG in decades commemorates the legacy of Thomas McQuesten in a bold, imaginative work of art by Hamilton artist Brandon Vickerd. It is the first permanent sculpture commissioned by the RBG in decades and was done to “commemorate the legacy of Thomas McQuesten and RBG’s long-standing commitment to the stewardship of our land.”
The sculpture was done by Brandon Vickerd, a Hamilton based artist and Professor of Sculpture at York University.
There are two stories being told – that of a bold, imaginative work of art that will take some getting used to for some people and the story of Thomas McQuesten, a man who did more to build the province of Ontario than anyone else in his time or since.
Today we celebrate the work of the artist. Vickerd serves as Chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. He received his BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1999) and his MFA from University of Victoria (2001).
The work was funded in part by the Ontario 150 Fund, and RBG donors Peter and Camilla Dalglish.
 Close up of the head of Flora Hominis The statue, cast in bronze, is a life-sized figure weighing approximately 350 lbs. that appears to be Thomas McQuesten from a distance; but on closer inspection, the sculpture is composed of a collection of local flora and native plants.
The artwork is intended to connect the representation of McQuesten to the rich and vibrant ecosystem of Royal Botanical Garden that he was pivotal in creating. Flora Hominis addresses the interconnected ecosystem that humans inhabit along with all other forms of organic life.
The title of the work, Flora Hominis, is the Latin translation of the words plant and human, and is intended to encapsulate the interdependency of both.
By presenting a figurative work that marries plant and man, the sculpture addresses the interdependency of both elements of the natural world. McQuesten referred to park spaces as the “lungs of the city,” a vital organ that by its very nature makes civilization possible.
Flora Hominis calls for an alternate understanding of what it means to be human – that humanity can only realize its full potential when it accepts that it is part of the natural world.
In other words, we are not stewards of all things natural, but subjects of the complex ecosystem that surrounds us.
 Camilla Dalglish Camilla Dalglish explained how the work of art came to be. She said that she had her husband Peter “visited Whitehern, Thomas McQuesten’s family home in Hamilton and became fascinated by the story of this remarkable man”, who became obsessed with city planning. He worked with lawyers, politicians, engineers, architects, artists, and horticulturalists and within a decade created a city park system that is the largest acreage of parkland in any Canadian city.
It includes Cootes Paradise, Gage Park, The High Level Bridge, the Royal Botanical Gardens Rock Garden, the Niagara Parks Commission, the Queen Elizabeth Highway as well as the once glorious grounds around McMaster University.
The Dalglish’s “felt this incredible man deserved much more recognition”. Mark Runciman and the Board of the Royal Botanical Gardens agreed. Today we are thrilled that Thomas McQuesten is immortalized in The Dalglish Family Courtyard.”
 Brandon Vickerd, the artist who created the statue. The process Vickerd used to complete the statue was complex; it included both traditional and innovative Vacuum Assisted Organic Burnout (VAOB) bronze casting methods. Flora Hominis will be the first public sculptural work using the VOAB process in which a ceramic mold is constructed directly around organic material. The ceramic mold is then fired at a high temperature that strengthens the mold while incinerating the organic material, leaving a cavity.
Next, the ceramic mold (which is porous by nature) is placed on a high capacity vacuum so that when the bronze is poured into the mold the vacuum forces the molten bronze into the miniscule cavity of the mold creating a highly-detailed rendering that exceeds the detail of any traditional bronze casting process.
 Mark Runciman, President and CEO of the Royal Botanical Gardens The selection jury included Tobi Bruce (Art Gallery of Hamilton), Mark Runciman (RBG CEO), John Best (author of Thomas Baker McQuesten: Public Works, Politics, and Imagination), Camilla and Peter Dalglish (RBG supporters), and Maryella Leggat (RBG supporter). They considered over 45 submissions from across the country before settling on 4 short-listed artists.
By Staff
October 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Where does all the money come from?
 Burlington MP Karina Gould with a constituent. The federal government is pumping a lot of money into Burlington – which means our Member of Parliament is doing her job.
A new list of transit projects has been approved under the Canada-Ontario Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) agreement, which is designed to address key infrastructure priorities with a focus on repairing and upgrading existing facilities and assets.
The Government of Canada is providing Ontario with over $1.48 billion under PTIF, and will fund up to 50 per cent of the eligible project costs.
 $75,000 for a Bus Rapid Transit on Plains Road – Fairview – where does that fit in? As part of the bilateral agreement with Ontario, the following projects in 28 municipalities have now been approved for federal funding amounting to more than $202 million.
By Staff
October 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The land that the latest piece of public art sits on has a sad story behind it but the soaring aluminum rods that artist Lilly Otasevic created is stunning.
 It is a sculpture that needs some time to be fully appreciated. The sculpture, Crescendo (Rising Wave), was created to represent the contemporary and historic Aldershot Village.
Located at the intersection of Plains Road and Waterdown the theme of Crescendo links together the past, present and future of the neighbourhood. The term crescendo in music represents a gradual increase in loudness: a buildup to reach a point of great intensity.
This aligns with the change that has occurred in Aldershot Village over the years and is continuing today. The sculpture’s shape represents a hub of activity in the community. The wave shape reflects connection to the lake in the neighbourhood.
 Artist Lilly Otasevic Lilly Otasevic was born and raised in Serbia, (then) Yugoslavia. She completed program at High School of Industrial Design in Belgrade, and studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. Lilly moved to Canada in 1994, and since then has exhibited in Canada, USA and the Middle East.
A trained painter Otasevic’s main body of work consists of sculptural work. Her art is driven by her interests in nature and higher order of things in the universe. Her growing up in a society with recycling practices in the early 80s, has influenced Lilly’s interest in ecology and environment since childhood. She is using various materials presently focusing on reclaimed bricks. Lilly has successfully completed several large-scale public art sculptural, as well as industrial design projects in Ontario, Canada.
 Walking around the tubes and you see something different each time. Crescendo in music represents a gradual increase in loudness. In general terms, it refers to a build up to reach a point of great intensity, force, or volume. The angled tubes gradually increase in length and height and follow a twisting motion to create a rising and culminating wave.
 All that is missing is a small marker identifying the artist. It is a very impressive addition to the intersection. The design of a rising wave was motivated by the desire to create a sculpture that demands attention and has a dynamic appearance, appearing as though it is moving, even though it is not.
Aldershot was once a thriving farming community and Plains Road all gravel. In time the road was THE road to Niagara Falls.
The community created a Village Vision that changed the character of the Plains Road.
Significant residential and commercial development is taking place.
In 2014 the city expropriated the land on which Murrays Convenience was located. It was needed to widen Waterdown Road where a large residential development is now under construction.
The city, and more particularly, the ward Councillor Rick Craven did nothing to protect the interests of the property owners.
 There was once a busy, bustling convenience store at the intersection. The city expropriated the land to widen Waterdown Road – took far more land then they needed and cheated the property owners. Full story is worth reading.
 By Staff
October 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a program that was brought to city Council by Michelle Bennett and Amy Schnurr. They found a provincial program that would support the creation of garden plots in urban environments.
The only catch was that there had to be some financial support from the municipality before the province would grant funds.
 Michelle Bennett And the city didn’t have a budget for this type of thing.
That didn’t deter the two woman from finding a way to get the city on board. Five years later and the city has announced its fifth garden to be located at Ireland Park that will have 39 garden plots, with three of those being accessible.
Applications to rent a garden plot for the 2018 garden season will be accepted until Nov. 30, 2017.
The five community gardens residents can apply to are:
• Amherst Park
• Central Park
• Francis Road Bikeway
• Ireland Park or
• Maple Park
 The Community garden lots were laid out waiting for clients with seeds. Next year’s planting season will run from May to October. There are a total of 164 plots available, which includes 13 raised, accessible plots suitable for persons with limited mobility.
Applicants may indicate a preferred garden location and plot style on the application.
The cost to rent a plot for the season is $51. Water, soil and compost are supplied and all plots have full sun. Plots will be allocated by lottery at the close of the application period. All applicants will be notified of their lottery result by early December 2017.
Community garden applications are available online at www.burlington.ca/communitygardens, at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St., or at City Hall, 426 Brant St., at the Service Burlington counter. Completed applications must be received by the city no later than Nov. 30, 2017 for the 2018 planting season. Applications received after Nov. 30 will be entered into the draw for 2019 garden plots.
The Canada 150 TD Friends of the Environment Foundation provided a grant to make a greater area of the community garden amenities in Ireland Park accessible to all.
Michelle Bennett, one of the women who took the idea to city council went on to become the community garden co-ordinator for the city.
By Staff
October 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
As Halloween approaches, Halton Crime Stoppers wants everyone, young and old, to have a happy and safe celebration.
It’s a time for fun, but sadly crime doesn’t take a holiday and in previous years there have been reports of Halloween candy stolen from youngsters as well as tampered treats handed out to unsuspecting ghosts and goblins going door to door through their neighborhood.
At this time children have also been injured when struck by a vehicle or through falls while running from home to home.
Detective Constable Jodi Richmond, police coordinator of the Halton Crime Stoppers program, said adults are the key to keeping kids safe at Halloween.
“You must take every possible step to ensure youngsters are protected from any possible harm during the Halloween period,” she said. “Adults must be extra vigilant to ensure children remain safe.”
The following is a comprehensive list of safety suggestion from Halton Crime Stoppers to keep everyone safe.
 Mom’s get to dress up too.  That little guy is just gob-smacked with what he sees on his street. • Parents should always accompany younger children as they go trick or treating.
• Have children wear face make-up instead of masks whenever possible.
• Make sure costumes are non-flammable and short enough so youngsters won’t trip.
• Stay on one side of the street so children aren’t darting back and forth across the road. Also walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks and only cross at an intersection.
• Place reflective tape on costumes and make sure young people going door to door are carrying flashlights or glow sticks to make sure they are visible.
• Stay in groups and have one person carrying a cell phone to get emergency assistance if necessary.
• No one should use electronic devices while going door to door at Halloween. They could be a dangerous distraction.
• Homeowners should check their property to make sure sidewalks are not obstructed and nothing that will cause anyone to trip if taking a shortcut across lawns.
• Use battery operated lights instead or candles to illuminate pumpkins around the porch or entranceway.
• Tell trick or treaters to avoid homes that do not have porch lights on.
• Set a curfew for older children who may not be accompanied by an adult and define the area where they are allowed to go in the neighborhood. Also make sure they are carrying identification so parents are quickly notified in the event of an accident.
• Start visiting homes in the early evening hours and don’t stay out too late.
• Make sure children are appropriately dressed during inclement weather and return home immediately in the event of lightning or other dangerous conditions.
• Caution youngsters never to enter the home of strangers or people they don’t know well under any circumstances.
• Make sure all candy is inspected before youngsters are allowed to eat it and discard any homemade treats or items that are unwrapped or partly unwrapped. Don’t take any chances.
• Motorists must drive with care at all times, but it’s particularly important at Halloween when children might forget safety rules.
Halloween is a fun time of year and Detective Constable Richmond said by taking a bit of time to review these rules will help keep everyone safe.
Later in the week we might just learn what Detective Constable Richmond is going to wear. Maybe she will be the police hound.
-30-
By Staff
October 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There is additional information on the way to us from city hall. We will update when it arrives.
 Now the biggest park the city has – and the furthest from the bulk of the population. It’s not the next installment of Star Wars, but the training and skill development equivalent to a Jedi for Snow Fighter training will take place at City View Park from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26, with the park closed to the public from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on those days.
 Drivers to get training on rigs like this. Snow Fighters, which include those who operate snow plows, sanders, salters and brine trucks, will be training and practicing their skills throughout the park’s roads and parking lots to ensure the Snow Fighters are ready for the first snowfall.
By Staff
October 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Beginning in September 2018, the entry point for the Halton District School Board’s French Immersion Program will be Grade 2. In the Grade 2 French Immersion Program, 100% of the instructional day will be in French.
 In anticipation of questions parents may have before registering their Grade 1 child(ren) into the French Immersion Program, a series of parent information evenings are being offered:
• Halton Hills: Wednesday, November 8, 2017 from 7-8 p.m., Georgetown District High School, 70 Guelph St.
• Oakville: Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 7-8 p.m., Garth Webb Secondary School, 2820 Westoak Trails Blvd.
• Milton: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 7-8 p.m., Milton District High School, 396 Williams Ave.
• Burlington: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 7-8 p.m., New Street Education Centre (Brock Room), 3250 New St.
Confirmation of attendance is not required.
Registration for the French Immersion Program is open to all Grade 1 students and will begin on Friday, December 1, 2017. The deadline for submitting your registration form is Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 4 p.m. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
Parents may use the following link to determine which school their child would attend based on their home address: Find My Local School.Scroll down the page a bit – you will see a form that asks for your address – that will tell you which school is closest to you.
Please be sure to visit the www.hdsb.ca website for more details. Registration forms are available online or at your child’s home school.
 By Ray Rivers
October 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Except for the provincial Liberal government nobody seems to like Quebec’s new law Bill 62, banning face coverings for those seeking or providing public services. The rest of the country is either muted, reserved or pointedly critical. Most people think the law is racist since it will largely target one group of Quebec residents – Muslim women who wear some kind of veil to cover their faces. And that certainly fits at least one of the definitions of racism.
 Is it a fashion statement or a religious statement? Is a deeper understanding what will remove the fear? The burka, or more generally the niqab, is not properly a part of Islam and not even mentioned in the Quran. It is a cultural artifact at best. And not all Muslims wear the face veil, even among those within the same Islamic religious order. It is ironic, though, that while women in Quebec are being legislated to leave their face veils at home, females in Iran are beaten and imprisoned for doing exactly that.
The two opposition parties in Quebec’s legislative assembly think the law hasn’t gone far enough. They’d ban all religious paraphernalia, like crosses, the Jewish yarmulke , and even turbans, including one like the newly elected leader of the NDP, Mr. Singh wears. Of course that would make campaigning a bit of a problem for him in the very province where the NDP did so well only a few years ago. Though if all religions are equally affected by the law, one could argue it is less racist.
 In God We Trust is printed on all American currency. The Americans have it in their constitution so Canadians think we do as well – the separation of church and state. But if so, why then is ‘In God We Trust” on their money and why do we have God in our national anthem? Indeed religion has always played a role in our political history, even before the Europeans migrated here. But how far should the state venture in managing how people carry out their faith?
There is an argument that someone applying for a drivers license or passport needs to show her face – to ensure she is who she says she is. Mr. Harper felt that principle extended to citizenship services, to be sure the new Canadian is actually saying her oath to the country. And one can only wonder at how effective a veiled woman might be trying to teach a class of young children. But to deny someone wearing a mask to board a bus, seems to be going too far, unless that someone is planning a token robbery.
 Was the niqab decision made by the government of Quebec a reflection of social values or was it a crass political move to shore up support for the provincial government? Still, Canada is not officially a religious nation despite the vestiges of the past, like that big cross which hangs in Quebec’s national assembly. Social researchers were speculating barely thirty years ago that houses of worship might one day be relegated to the history books. But that obviously was an inaccurate prognosis. Religion is actually making a come back thanks to immigration.
Back in the day, Pierre Trudeau believed that the best way to deflate Quebec nationalism, and the demand for sovereignty, was to encourage multiculturalism though immigration. But most Quebecers were never big on that policy as one can imagine. Having emerged from literally centuries of being controlled by that other religion, Catholicism, they had been enjoying their liberation until the niqab seemed to threaten the preservation of their own just society – one based on gender equality, aesthetics notwithstanding.
 A group of women in their religious clothing.  Nuns in the province of Quebec in their religious clothing. There will certainly be a challenge through the courts including the Supreme Court, and if the Liberals are still in power in that province by the time this law is declared to violate human rights, Premier Couillard may have to use the notwithstanding clause – or he may fix it in some way. But this issue is not going away and it is unhelpful for other provinces like Alberta and Ontario to chip in from the sidelines, fomenting potential inter-provincial animosity.
It is worth noting that since 2011 France has executed an even more extensive law, banning the wearing of face coverings in all public places, including streets and parks. The new law, Bill 62, may be racist, but Quebecers are not – they are just trying to conserve their own culture from something they don’t fully understand. Despite our PM’s more recent comments on this file, he’d be well advised to leave it alone. This is a matter that needs to be resolved in Quebec by all Quebecers, including those impacted by the law.
 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 a candidate for provincial office in Burlington in 1995. 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:
Burka Bill – Religious Neutrality – Separation of Church and State –
What Canadians Believe – Feds on Religion Law – Ontario Reaction –
Burka in Quran – Who wears a Niqab –
By Pepper Parr
October 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A year from today the people of Burlington will troop out to the polls to elect a Mayor, members of city council and school Board trustees.
Who will be in the races and what will the issues be?
We now know that the current Mayor will be in the race; he declared that last week.
 Meed Ward with the Mayor. Mike Wallace is understood to be lining up support and Marianne Meed Ward is understood to be on the same trajectory – one that will have her wearing the Chain of Office. That is something she has wanted to wear since the day she decided to move into ward 2 from ward 1 and run for that seat. She handily defeated Peter Thoem SPELL by focusing her campaign on saving the waterfront. She literally romped to victory in her second term and has grown to be a very effective representative for the people of ward 2 and has spread her impact into literally every ward in the city.
There is at least one new candidate for the office of Mayor. Aldershot resident Greg Woodruff has indicated that he plans to run. Woodruff ran for the office of Regional chair in 2014.
 Three of the our Burlington public School Board trustees sitting as observers during the PARC meetings. Election of school Board trustees is going to be contentious. The decision by the Board of Education to close two of the city’s seven high schools has divided communities and set them against each other. Parents from two of the school scheduled to be closed organized and filed requests for Administrative Reviews which were approved by the Ministry of Education. A decision from the appointed Facilitator should be in hand before the election.
The public School Board issues are clear; the same cannot be said for the municipal issues.
How the waterfront is managed is still very much an issue; added to that is just how the city is going to grow in the next decade has to be determined. That the population will increase significantly is a given – the province has mandated that Burlington grow and the developers have for taken proposals to the Planning department.
In 2014 the city decided their Strategic Plan would cover a 20 year time frame rather than the traditional four years. That led to the creation of a new approach to growing the city based on the creation of four mobility hubs. The Mayor talked about the need to intensify while one of his rivals maintained that the city was already meeting the population growth targets.
Programs to meet the needs of the growing senior’s population became an issue that was being given more in the way of the public attention – not all that much more in the way of funding.
Public transit was found to have been seriously underfunded during the last decade – the need for as much as $1 million a year for a number of years was part of the discussion.
 The planned look of the Joseph Brant Museum. The hope is that, weather permitting, the museum will open in 18 months. City council decided Burlington needed to transform the Joseph Brant museum and approved a $10 million plus project.
Citizens will also elect a Chair of the Regional council. Each member of the city council is also elected as a Regional Councillor – basically half of their salary come from the Region.
In 2014 every member of Council was returned to office.
Nominations officially open on May 1st of 2018.
 By Tom Muir
October 21st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The timing of that PAR in relation to the timing of the Hayden build was perfectly orchestrated by the Halton District School Board (HDSB). The lack of a PAR for Hayden was denied as a point for discussion and the HDSB Board and Director of Education Mr. S. Miller worked extensively to keep it hidden.
Was there any transparency when it came to the Hayden build? Well, members of the community had to go to the Freedom Of Information in order to get any information at all to learn more about how Hayden was planned, approved with known consequences, and built regardless. It appeared that this consequential matter was buried by the Board at the very first Pupil Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) meeting. The parents never had a chance. Just having to go Freedom of Information (FOI) says a great deal about the motives involved.
 Hayden high school – sen as the nicest high school in the city – Muir thinks it was foisted on the public ti justify closing two high schools south of the QEW This decision by the Board to hide the facts of this was an ethical and moral failure. The PAR was started with dishonesty about how they planned and got us to that position, in the direct, known consequences of the Hayden build, and then it was hidden and covered-up throughout. The partnership with the city for more facilities is not a credible excuse, as this was something that happened after the fact of the build plan getting approved. The conception of the build, and the plan, had nothing to do with the partnership, which only came because the build was basically underway.
Reading through the Boundary Review of 2012, it is obvious again that Hayden could go to 1800 students, and that a PAR was justified then, on these grounds alone. Added to this, it was evident that most of the other schools were sure to be driven to much lower numbers. No warning was given to parents of these consequences.
While Lester B Pearson HS remained at 83% UTZ (utilization), there was no warning that this would change as the boundaries and feeder schools were chosen to feed and justify Hayden. MMR was projected at 48%UTZ, but was then favored with more students. A Bateman parent expressed her concern that her child’s special program would be moved, but was assured by the HDSB that programs would not be moved. These are just some of the reasons why parents are objecting to what was done.
Among other things, the FOUR top criteria of the Boundary Review (BR) were:
1. Balance of overall enrolment in each school in the review area to maximize student access to programs, resources, and extra-curricular opportunities.
There were no efforts to achieve this one, including in the PAR. With Hayden projected to an 1800 student enrollment in a 1200 student OTG, how can this criterion be claimed to be acted on and key?
This criterion was analyzed by many members of the community, revealing that balanced, optimal enrollment among schools would provide the best and maximal access to programs etc. – better than maximizing utilization, which is what was factually implemented. Again, how does this fit?
2. Proximity to schools (walking distances, safe school routes, natural boundaries)
Hayden has the second highest busing costs and moves 580 students, almost half of the On the Ground (OTG) capacity, and 1/3 of the high projected enrollment of 1800. On page 4, last line, in the Boundary Review report, it states that The majority of students attending the new Burlington NE high school will be able to walk to school. So how does this fit, as the busing data says it’s not so?
3. Accommodation of students in permanent school facilities and minimal use of portable classrooms
As noted again, there are 12 portables at Hayden and 6 more are stated as needed in future. These will house up to 600 overfill students. So how does this fit this key criterion?
4. Stable, long-term boundaries
 Certainly, it looks like no matter how overfilled Hayden was projected to become, and in fact did so, with portables, busing and 151% UTZ, the boundaries chosen, and feeders, that generated this result remained unchanged. This outcome, despite several other schools becoming under-filled and under-utilized, seems to reveal again the Board premeditated plan to close schools – the boundaries chosen by the board were kept stable, regardless of the cost of 2 schools.
 So they delivered on this criterion, even in the PAR. Again, how does this fit what the parents I think would consider a trustworthy and rational decision to contribute to the benefit and well-being of the students, and the community of schools?
Overall, the issue is not so much building Hayden, but that it was done without a PAR to provide information and analysis of the consequences for all the schools in the review area covered by a Boundary Review (BR). This BR was clearly inadequate and people were in effect deceived by a lack of dire warning of what was to be.
 The Halton Administrative Review requests were the only ones to be approved by the Ministry of Education The “timing” of that PAR in relation to the “timing” of the Hayden build, and the resultant planned and deliberate building of seats that became surplus in south Burlington, is what inevitably led to the decision to close two schools. It should also be noted, that the two Burlington requests for Administrative Reviews are the only ones that have been approved out of the 12 applications from across the province so far this year.
 Tom Muir Tom Muir, a retired federal civil servant has been a consistent observer and critic of civic government. He resides in Aldershot where he is an astute commentator on development in that community. His views are his own.
By Pepper Parr
October 21st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The city’s Planning department have said in a report to city council that they can live with a 23 storey tower across the street from city hall
They want something in the way of Section 37 benefits and they will require the developer to sign a Residential Development Agreement.
 The Planners are recommending a mixed use development consisting of a 23 storey building with a maximum of 169 residential apartment units, a minimum of 365 square metres of office space and 900 square metres of commercial retail space which will rise at the corner of Brant Street and James Street.
The city’s Sustainable Development Advisory Committee is onside. In their report to city council they say: “We support the general concept of this building design if the New Official Plan determines this is where Tall Buildings should be built in the future.”
The report is more than 70 pages long and has six appendices – it will take more time than we have today to get through it all and then report.
The recommendation will be debated at a Planning and Development Standing Committee meeting November 1st.
The direction development in the downtown core will be determined by how city council votes on this application.
Where does the public sand? In the appendices there are a number of comments that range from:
The Growth Plan has been around since 2006. This is bigger than one lady in “the Pink Palace”. There has always been an understanding that that each municipality should accommodate its fair share of growth. I find it astonishing that people continue to refuse to face this reality. Burlington is going to grow. Ratcheting up the rhetoric does not help the situation and does nothing but lead politicians to suggest that they support down zoning. And where do they want this down zoning? In the core of the City! The downtown. The “Urban Growth Centre”!
Like it or not, Burlington is going to grow – ESPECIALLY in the downtown.
to
My wife has just handed me a flyer regarding a proposed 27 storey mixed use building in our downtown core. I also see that there was a meeting and comments due by the 7th of this month.
If the City has lost their minds and approved this project I would like to know who specifically is responsible for allowing this to go ahead. Hopefully the Burlington residents have been respected.
By Pepper Parr
October 20th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They all gathered at the Regional office in Oakville and talked up the new funding for repairs and retrofits to social housing in Halton in order to improve living conditions and fight climate change.
Linking social housing to climate change is a different twist –a sort of two birds with one stone thing.
Kevin Flynn MPP for Oakville, Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP for Halton and Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington were joined by Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, at Halton Region in Oakville today to make the announcement.
 MPP for Milton – India Nadoo Harris  MPP for Oakville – Kevin Flynn  Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon Halton will receive up to $8,497,961 for repairs and retrofits to social housing apartment buildings over five years through the Social Housing Apartment Improvement Program (SHAIP), contingent on carbon market proceeds. This includes $1,659,751 for 2017-18.
This program is what the public is getting back from the carbon market the province created. That carbon market is what increased the cost of the gasoline you put in your cars.
 Explaining the intricate detail on just how this carbon market almost defies description. Writing it would be a challenge – understanding it is something else – getting people to read it is another dimension.
Suffice it to say this – we have a carbon market arrangement.
Proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market must by law be invested into programs that help households and businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on energy costs. Programs include home energy retrofits, public transit, social housing retrofits, and electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure.
Halton will also be receiving $3.1 million over three years through the Home for Good Program to increase access and supports to help families in need remain permanently housed. This is part of the province’s goal to end chronic homelessness by 2025.
 These are very disturbing numbers – they point to a very serious problem for Burlington. Getting more affordable housing built is, at least for Burlington, a very pressing need. The Burlington Foundation released their Vital Signs report earlier this week. Look at the housing situation – those are very disturbing.
Kevin Flynn MPP for Oakville added a comment that points to a program – The Home for Good program – that “will receive $3.1 million over the next 3 years as part of the government’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy to end chronic homelessness for people living with complex physical and mental health challenges by the year 2025.
“This funding will provide housing assistance, as well as counselling, addictions services and life-skills training to ensure that anyone living in Halton Region will have the security – and dignity – of having a safe place to call home.”
Affordable housing comes under social welfare which is a Regional responsibility. All seven members of Burlington city council are also members of the Regional Council. This is a program Burlington city Councillors could work assiduously at to the benefit of those that cannot afford the Burlington market rate for rent. When a comparable unit goes for $894 in Hamilton and $1264 in Burlington – it is very clear that something is out of balance. Burlington needs more affordable housing.
 Regional Chair Gary Carr. Regional Chair Gary Carr said: “Providing safe, affordable and accessible housing opportunities is one of Regional Council’s strategic priorities. Maintaining and improving our social housing infrastructure is integral to providing high quality service to residents in our assisted housing communities. We are proud to work alongside our partners at the Provincial Government and are thankful for the provincial investment which will benefit Halton residents.” Political Pablum.
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