The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton on October 5-6, 2016 indicates that commercial motor vehicle operators, who travel on our roadways or through our region each day, need to be more diligent in complying to rules and regulations to ensure our roads are safe for all users.
Truck being inspected by police officer during a two day inspection blitz.
Police Officers and Inspectors from seven police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results:
• Total CMV’s Inspected 470 • Total CMV’s taken out of service 179 (38% failure rate) • Total Charges Laid 476 • Sets of plates seized 35
In 2015, out of 472 inspected, 167 were taken out of service; a 35% failure rate. A total of 348 charges were laid in the 2015 blitz.
Of the charges laid this year, the following is the top six offences:
“Results such as those achieved last week are a reminder of the need for continuous enforcement of commercial motor vehicle operators across the GTA and beyond. Given the transient nature of commercial vehicles, identifying an unsafe condition on a truck in Halton could just as likely prevent an injury or fatality in any City or Town where the involved vehicle travels. Commercial vehicle safety, and on a broader scale, the safety of all vehicles on our roadways, is everyone’s concern. Safer trucks equate to safer roads,” said Sgt. Ryan Snow, Traffic Services Unit.
The CMV unit is currently planning a fall open house to continue to work with commercial vehicle operators to ensure our roads and highways in Halton Region are safe. Dates to be determined.
New Street is taking on mythological features – one of those things that happened and no one can really explain why.
It seemed like a good idea at the time – then “things” got in the way.
The Pier – that story is now part of the folk lore of the city – an expensive bit of our history.
Now we are asking the same kind of questions about the “road diet” New Street was put on.
The road diet is the lane pattern on the right.
It was to be a pilot project to find out if cyclists would actually use a main thoroughfare and what reducing the number of lanes of vehicular traffic would have on the flow of cars.
The price wasn’t bad – $210,000. It seemed like an idea worth pursuing.
Then the different interests got into the game – the cyclists, who were well informed and well connected at city hall, kept putting out what appeared to be solid information.
They were opposed by those who will enter the Pearly Gates behind the wheel of their cars.
It was difficult to get a civil dialogue going and the city didn’t help. To the best of our knowledge they didn’t issue one media release.
There is some information on the city web site where the statement is made that: “Currently, 60 cyclists a day use New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line.” That does not square with anecdotal evidence.
To date there does not appear to be anything in the way of measuring equipment in place on New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line to determine if just what the flows of traffic are at different times of each day.
The cyclists report that in a meeting they had with the city’s Transportation department there was detailed discussion about the technology to be used to measure traffic flows.
But nothing in the way of a media release from the city.
We then learn that parts of New Street are under repairs – something to do with grates in the road which apparently is going to limit usage by cyclists.
What?
Road construction is taking place while a pilot program is underway?
Did one department not talk to another?
New Street is a road managed by the Region. The people in Burlington’s Transportation department are in touch with the Region daily.
James Ridge, the city manager, created a Leadership Team that meets once a week to go over what is being done and the status of the various projects. Every Director and Executive Director is reported to take part in those weekly meetings. A pretty good way to manage a city.
Did someone in one of those Leadership Team meetings not mention that the Region was going to be doing some work in the gutters of New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line?
Apparently not.
Transparency and accountability fit into this scenario somewhere. When do we send in the clowns?
As we move into the Thanksgiving weekend teachers in the Region use one of their Professional development days which closes the schools for four days.
Most of us will sit at tables filled with platters of food and enjoy time with our families.
It is weekends like this that keep the volunteers at Food4kids busy – they pack food for kids that go home to a fridge that is pretty empty – no turkey on their plates.
Gayle Kabbash reports that 329 healthy food packages were given to children in Halton and 758 in Hamilton this week. “Our numbers will increase as we are higher at this time of year than last year.”
Food in a bag.
Food4kids is just one organization that helps students in need – there are a lot more of them than most people are prepared to admit.
Sheri Armstrong, with the Learning Foundation reported that just 16 days into the school year there were 80 request for aid; compared with the 40 at the same time last year.
The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) partners with individuals, corporations and community foundations to eliminate financial barriers to education for public school students in Acton, Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville.
They provide assistance through emergency funds for students-in-need, post-secondary scholarships, and engagement funds that help schools purchase tools and resources to engage students in learning.
With public support, HLF helps ensure that every student of the Halton District School Board has the chance to fit in at school, to have the same experiences as their peers, to be engaged in learning, and to explore possibilities for the future.
The Learning Foundation has provided Eliminating Barriers funds to virtually every school in communities across Halton. The majority of Burlington schools (95 per cent) have received Eliminating Barriers funds to help students in the last two years.
Thanksgiving – food on the table.
The odds are that there is more than one students in the life of your children who are in need of the basics like food or clothing or who are unable to participate in the class trip or other school activities.
We have much to be Thankful for today – hopefully we will find a way to help those that don’t have quite enough.
As I write this, hurricane Matthew has just pushed its toll of death and destruction, closing in on 900 killed in Haiti alone. The role of climate change in hurricanes is still being debated in the science community, but three factors make for a strong linkage. A warmer atmosphere means more humidity and more rain with the storms.
Second, a higher sea level resulting from melting polar ice means flooding occurs more often and much further inland with each storm. And a warmer ocean has been associated with the creation of the storms.
More than 900 lives lost in Haiti alone as the result of Hurricane Matthew. Had the eye of this hurricane moved inland on the United States the devastation would have been record setting.
At the least hurricanes have become more ferocious, do more damage and occur more frequently than when the earth was cooler. The other part of the science we don’t understand is how unstable, hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes will be into the future as the planet continues to heat up. And then there are the other consequences: the northward migration of pests; losses of cold weather species such as the polar bear; longer periods of drought in some areas; and the propensity for even more raging wild fires, such as the one we witnessed at Fort McMurray last year.
Weather was a huge factor with the fire in Alberta this summer.
Even before the fire had finished its rampage insurance claims in that northern Alberta town were totaling $6 billion . Another $2 billion was paid out by insurance companies following the massive flooding in Calgary only a few years earlier. And then there were climatic related events closer to home in Toronto and the flooding in Burlington. Hurricane Sandy cost over (US) $60 billion and Katrina a whopping $125 billion. That storm damage from Katrina cost the equivalent of the entire 2016 Ontario provincial budget of (Can) $134 billion.
So Justin Trudeau this past week rose up in the House of Commons and in his best ‘pay me now or pay me later’ moment announced that he will impose a $10 per tonne carbon pricing levy in those provinces without such a scheme by 2018. Another $10 will be applied each year thereafter until the total is $50 per tonne by 2022.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing a national carbon tax if the provinces do not create their own tax.
The opposition wailed and railed, but the best they could do was demand Trudeau call it a tax, which it is – a carbon tax. But we pay a lot of different taxes and they’re not all bad. There are property taxes for municipal garbage removal and police and fire services and even income taxes go to make sure that even lower income Canadians can have access to health care, education and old age security.
Besides, the provinces where the vast majority of Canadians live already have or are getting a carbon tax anyway. Quebec led the way back in 2007, with a carbon levy of $3.50 per tonne. B.C. followed suit and its tax is now $30. Alberta will be introducing one starting at $20 this year, in addition to an existing carbon pricing mechanism for the energy sectors. And Ontario’s new emission trading program will include an inherent carbon tax. B.C’s carbon tax amounts to about only seven cents at the pump. And – and that is the challenge.
Electric cars are one part of the solution to cutting back on the use of fossil fuels.
The idea of a carbon tax is to change consumer behaviour by reducing their use of fossil fuels – forcing conservation through smaller cars, less driving, lower thermostats, etc. But if you want people to switch from their old daddy’s Caddy gas guzzler, they’ve already paid off, and buy a new Tesla EV (electric vehicle), the cost of gasoline has to rise significantly higher than seven cents. But if you make the tax too high, everyone will just get upset and vote for that other party next election. So there has to be a rationale for the carbon tax – beyond arbitrarily setting a price to get people out of their cars.
And there is a rationale since we don’t pay the full price for the fossil fuels we use. They are implicitly subsidized. The real cost of a litre of gasoline should also include the clean up of tailing ponds at the oil sands, health and environmental deterioration from air pollution, the costs of clean up from leaking pipelines, impacts of exploding rail cars – and now the huge costs from climate change related disasters. But figuring out these external costs (since they are not in the price per litre) is a tricky proposition. So pay me $50 by 2022 is a good first approximation though we’ll still be paying more later.
Trudeau has promised to return all the tax money collected to the pertinent jurisdictions so they can apply it to provincial programs, for example, assisting those with lower incomes, reducing other taxes, transitioning the economy to be less carbon intensive. Making the carbon taxation revenue neutral and not just a tax grab was a key aspect of B.C.s carbon tax. Alberta and Ontario also intend to use some of the revenue to transition their economies to a lower carbon intensity.
It wasn’t that long ago that all the provinces agreed with the federal government on a strategy, which, in line with Mr. Trudeau’s election platform, called for the inclusion of carbon taxation. Still Saskatchewan and some Atlantic provincial delegates (NS and NL) walked out of a climate change meeting in protest almost immediately after Trudeau announced his mandatory carbon pricing policy.
A part of Canada’s Coat of Arms – From sea to sea
A political cynic might call that grandstanding or just politics. Or perhaps there is genuine concern about a new tax being imposed in their jurisdiction, regardless that they get the proceeds. But it sure sounds like a pretty good deal to me – a common nation-wide carbon tax to level the economic playing field across the country. And the provinces get to keep the cash while the feds get the blame for it.
Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also a candidate in a past provincial election.
The Gazette asked Halton District school Board trustee Richelle Papin, ward 4, if she had made any plans to respond to the decision the board has made regarding the possible closing of the Lester B. Pearson high school?
Papin’s response:
Halton District School Board trustee Richelle Papin.
Trustees should not be responding to the recommended option the report acknowledged regarding the possible closing of the Lester B Pearson High School. I’m not sure if the question can be answered right now. The director has presented a report regarding bringing forward a Program and Accommodation Review for Secondary Schools in Burlington. Part of the report, Ministry, requirement, is that the report must include a recommended option.
This is only one option which could very likely change after the PARC is completed.
Due to low enrollment, underutilization in a number of Burlington secondary schools and the possibility of inequity in education for some secondary students, the director is recommending that the Halton District School Board undertake a Program and Accommodation Review (PAR).
If the Board of Trustees approve the report, the Program and Accommodation Committee will begin the PAR. At this point, I need only respond to whether I agree that the report should be approved or not approved to begin the process. The trustees as a group will do that when we vote on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.
The Gazette asked if Papin planned on organizing a public meeting. Her response:
Trustee Papin has not yet made any comment on what she thinks should happen to Lester B. B> Pearson high school nor has she commented on the views of parents in her ward. These may follow when she returns to Burlington from a short Thanksgiving vacation.
The four Burlington trustees are planning a Super Council meeting for Monday, October 24, 2016 at the JWS office, Board Room for 7 pm to 8:15 pm. We will be meeting with the Director, some Superintendents, Principals and Secondary School representatives. The public is welcome.
Papin was out of the country limiting communication.
Parents in the downtown core concerned about the possible loss of Central High school have organized a meeting at Wellington Square United Church for Tuesday evening – October 11th at 7 pm.
The Burlington and the Brantford Stamp Club have been persistent in their attempts to get a postage stamp issued that would commemorate the CF 105, better known as the– at least in Canada– famous “Avro Arrow”.
Back in 2007 several Stamp Club members of the Grand River Valley Philatelic Association Clubs decided to approach Canada Post with the request – put the Arrow on a postage stamp. A letter was sent and we were given to understand that a twelve member Stamp Selection Committee recommended stamp subjects in any given year.
The official roll out of a Canadian war plane – described by many as the best aircraft of its times – better than anything the Americans had. It was shown to the public on the same day the Russians launched their first space craft.
We were told the Director of Stamp Services for Canada Post would present our request to this committee.
We are now nearing the end of 2016 and were just informed that the Avro Arrow again did not make the list for the 2017 stamp selections.
Can you honestly see a group of twelve Canadians (they do change them around every 3 years) consistently refusing to select the Arrow, but selecting ghost houses and Zambonis for stamps?
Some of our group had a theory about the influence of the governing party during that period and there may be some grain of truth there. After all, it was John Diefenbaker who swung the axe.
We are told that the government does not influence the decisions made by the Canada Post committee.
There is a full sized replica of the Avro Arrow used in a CBC mini-series about the air plane and its fate. It is currently shrink wrapped in a Mississauga Warehouse because a permanent Museum is nowhere on the horizon, at least in the near future.
In its day the Avro Corporation was a leader in the field of aviation development with a very proud history. The cancellation of the arrow put them out of business.
In our Burlington Stamp Club we have a number of members who had friends and relatives working on the Arrow at A.V. Roe in Malton and have a strong interest in seeing a Canadian stamp issued, commemorating this wonderful aircraft.
Just recently that the Arrow had most of the capabilities the new F-35 replacement for the old CF-18, will have if they ever reach production at a reasonable price
These Burlington stamp club members are part of a wider group of philatelists Included in the Grand Valley Philatelic Association, who have been urging Canada Post for the last 10 years, getting just a slight sign of even a sympathetic ear, to produce/issue such a stamp.
The Canadian Mint produced a $ 20.00 Silver, commemorative coin in 1996, without any political ramifications, making it even more difficult to understand the reluctance of the all-powerful Stamp Selection Committee.
The Mint issued a commemorative coin – the stamp collectors feel they deserve equal treatment.
During the 10 year period, 2007 to 2017, the Stamp Selection Advisory Committee apparently have not even placed this Masterpiece of Canadian Ingenuity on the “Short List” for consideration.
This in spite of numerous letters and communications to the Chairperson of the Committee and the Director, Stamp Services, Canada Post, the Arrow again not even make the short list for that year. 2017 will be the 60th Anniversary of the Memorable Roll-Out of the Avro Arrow.
Another missed opportunity. Presumably we are featuring more haunted Houses for the yearly selection of hundreds of topics by the Selection Committee.
The Arrow preparing to land at what was then called the Malton airport.
The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft designed and built by Avro Canada. The Arrow is considered to have been an advanced technical and aerodynamic achievement for the Canadian aviation industry. The CF-105 (Mark 2) held the promise of near-Mach 2 speeds at altitudes of 50,000 feet (15,000 m) and was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) primary interceptor in the 1960s and beyond.
The Arrow was the culmination of a series of design studies begun in 1953 examining improved versions of the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck. After considerable study, the RCAF selected a dramatically more powerful design, and serious development began in March 1955. Intended to be built directly from the production line, skipping the traditional hand-built prototype phase.
The first Arrow Mk. I, RL-201, was rolled out to the public on 4 October 1957, the same day as the launch of Sputnik I.
Flight testing began with RL-201 on 25 March 1958, and the design quickly demonstrated excellent handling and overall performance, reaching Mach 1.9 in level flight. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney J75, another three Mk. 1s were completed, RL-202 through -204. The lighter and more powerful Orenda Iroquois engine was soon ready for testing, and the first Mk.II with the Iroquois, RL-206, was ready for taxi testing in preparation for flight and acceptance tests by RCAF pilots by early 1959.
There were three Avro Arrows in production before the government canceled the program and ordered that the aircraft and the tools be destroyed. It was a major political upheaval at the time.
On 20 February 1959, the development of the Arrow (and its Iroquois engines) was abruptly halted before the project review had taken place. Two months later, the assembly line, tooling, plans and existing airframes and engines were ordered to be destroyed.
The cancellation was the topic of considerable political controversy at the time, and the subsequent destruction of the aircraft in production remains a topic for debate among historians and industry pundits. This action effectively put Avro out of business and its highly skilled engineering and production personnel scattered – many ended up working on the American space program.
The stamp collectors believe this part of our aviation history should be celebrated with a postage stamp.
Portions of this article were copied from other sources.
There are people in Burlington who don’t know just where the Freeman Station is now located – it’s right beside the Fire Station HQ on Plains Road – and last Saturday more than 800 people toured the station – it was the first time since 1988 this historic building was open to the public
The Grand Trunk Railway station first opened in 1906 and was the spot on the railway line where fruit and farm produce was shipped out of Burlington to locations around the world.
It took years but the Freeman Station finally found a home – now it needs the last piece of its funding to complete the restoration.
The station has had at times a tortured history – it was saved from the wrecking ball when a group of citizens refused to let their city council sell what was left of the building for kindling.
It got moved from its original location when the space was needed for railway track expansion and was parked beside the fire station until a real home could be found.
That real home turned out to be yards away from the fire station.
A group of dedicated volunteers has worked for the past two years on making the space presentable for visitors.
They welcome anyone who wants to take part in the rehabilitation of this historic structure.
Station gets moved to its new home and is prepared for the concrete basement that will be poured beneath it.
They have set a very high barrier for themselves – the Grand Re-Opening of the station July 1st, 2017 – the day Canada celebrates is sesquicentennial – our 150th birthday.
If anyone can make this happen – it will be the crew that shows up regularly to nail down, sand and paint the planks and walls that have been restored.
They are about $250,000 shy of the budget they need to complete this work.
The time has come for city council to put a sum of money into the 2017 budget so these people can complete the job they started back in 2011.
If you live close to one of the parks listed below and have children that want a real Canadian experience – listen up. There is an opportunity to get out of the house at night and do something only real Canadians get to do – and that is water an outdoor rink and freeze your buns at the same time.
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
• Brant Hills Park (2 rinks possible) • LaSalle Park • Sherwood Park • Bridgeview Park • Nelson Park • Tansley Woods Park • Central Park • Orchard Park • Ireland Park • Sheldon Park
Residents can suggest other park locations provided the site is suitable and they are willing to take on the water supply at their own expense.
The city is encouraging neighbours to come together this winter to maintain a natural outdoor ice rink in their local park. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now on www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
Here is how the program works
Applicants can choose from 10 city parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply.
City staff will then install rink boards in each requested park. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate.
Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Applications are due by Nov. 1, 2016.
For more information, visit www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink, email skating@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7600, ext. 6454.
The Halton Region Health Department received test results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on October 4 confirming a case of rabies in a raccoon found in Burlington. The Health Department is reminding residents to avoid all contact with raccoons and other wild animals.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes severe damage to the brain and spinal cord, and if untreated before symptoms appear will lead to death. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually entering through a bite or scratch.
This raccoon is infected with rabies.
“Anyone who comes in physical contact with a raccoon or other wild animal should see a physician immediately and contact the Health Department by dialing 311,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “After someone is exposed to rabies, timely use of the rabies vaccine can prevent the rabies illness. The rabies vaccine is extremely effective if it is administered before any symptoms occur.”
There are a number of things you can do to protect your family and pets:
• Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date. • Warn your children to stay away from any wild, stray or aggressive animals. • Do not touch dead or sick animals. • Do not feed or keep wild animals as pets. • Keep your pet on a leash when off your property. • Seek medical attention immediately if you come in contact with a raccoon or other potentially rabid animals. • Any pet that has come in contact with a raccoon or other wild animal should be seen by a veterinarian. • Report all animal bites or scratches to the Halton Region Health Department.
For more information on rabies, call the Halton Region Health Department by dialing 311 or visit halton.ca/rabies.
The Molinaro’s decided they would do it differently.
A child with the Molinaro eyes – charmed everyone.
While it was a Chamber of Commerce event – the Molinaro’s prefer to put family first – so what may have been a first for Burlington’s Chamber of Commerce, there were half a dozen children who took part in the Distinguished Entrepreneur event at which their grandfather was being recognized.
Chamber of Commerce 2016 Distinguished Entrepreneur Domenic Molinaro
Having the children take part (and there wasn’t even one child melt down during the evening) was not the only first. Rather than have a boring speaker talk about the nobility of entrepreneurship – they brought in a comedian – David Hemstad, a comedian who had a half hour special on CTV and is a regular on CBC’s The Debaters.
Hemstad wasn’t sure at times if his audience was a bunch of kids in the front rows or the adult audience in the back rows who he couldn’t see.
All the name developers (except for one – we will leave it to readers to figure that one out) were in the Family Room at the Performing arts centre enjoying the café style food tables and the open bar.
An Italian conversation: Marylou DiSanto, Domenic Molinaro’s eldest child, in a conversation with her sister in law.
Domenic had dozens of people from the trades who were there to recognize his achievement – they knew, better than others, just how appropriate this recognition award was.
Keith Hoey and Mayor Goldring presented the award on behalf of the Chamber; Vince Molinaro spoke on behalf of his Father who stood beside him.
One could almost see the torch being passed – not completely though – Domenic Molinaro has a couple of more buildings left in him.
The Halton Regional Police Service has laid two Highway Traffic Act charges against the driver involved in Wednesday’s single motor vehicle collision involving a pig truck in Burlington.
The 25 year-old male from Brunner, Ontario faces one count of Careless Driving and one administrative-related charge.
Pigs being let out of a truck that had rolled over at the intersection of Harvester Road and Appleby Line earlier this week.
Witnesses to the collision who have not yet provided statements to police are asked to contact the 3 District Uniform Staff Sergeant at 905-825-4747 ext. 2310.
Hours after the truck rolled over a large group of demonstrators had descended on the location. The police had to cut a hole into the side of the truck for the pigs to get out and for a period of time there was considerable chaos while the pig were rounded up and then, according to people at the site, were walked to the slaughterhouse.
It was not a pretty picture.
Of the reported 180 pigs in the truck 40 are reported to have died.
Anita Krajnc under arrest at demonstration.
Anita KRAJNC, 49, of Toronto was arrested and charged with Obstruct Police and Breach of Recognizance in connection with this morning’s incident. KRAJNC was released on a Promise to Appear in Court.
Krajnc is facing a criminal charge of mischief, a trial that is scheduled to last 5 days – Krajnc has been in a courtroom for three days so far.
The city is encouraging neighbours to come together this winter to maintain a natural outdoor ice rink in their local park. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now on www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
“Neighbourhood rinks provide a great opportunity to get active in your community and to get to know your neighbours,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “While the mild weather we had last year posed some challenges, we are optimistic that this winter will bring just what we need to build outdoor spaces that are fun for the whole family.”
Nice quote – what the media release didn’t do was tell anyone which parks people can put a natural ice rink in.
Sort of fundamental – you’d think.
The Gazette will dig that out for you.
Here is how the program works
Applicants can choose from 10 city parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply. Applications to build outdoor rinks in parks that do not have a water supply will be considered where the neighbourhood group is willing to manage the supply and cost of water needed to maintain the rink.
City staff will then install rink boards in each requested park. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate.
Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Applications are due by Nov. 1, 2016.
Has the creation and declaration of Proclamations by the Mayor gotten out of hand?
At the city Council meeting last Monday the mayor issued 20 proclamations and Declared that a specific day was being named as the day to celebrate whatever was being celebrated.
Eight of the proclamations were for events that had already passed.
Are these proclamations not “photo-ops” – part of the process of keeping your name before the public?
Should politicians not be known, recognized and rewarded for the quality of the work they do?
They had every reason to be smiling. Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building.
Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster don’t do coffee all that often but they deserve gallons of credit for the way they joined forces and made sure that the Freeman station for to stay alive. They made that happen.
Here is what our Mayor read out at Council Monday evening. You decide.
The effort to create a bigger sense of compassion for each other is noble and is certainly worth proclaiming.
Terry Fox Day – September 18, 2016 Franco Ontarian Day/Jours de Franco-Ontarien – September 25, 2016 National Coaches Week – September 17-25, 2016 Legion Week – September 18-24, 2016 Culture Days – September 30-October 2, 2016 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – September 2016 Doors Open Burlington – October 1, 2016 National Seniors Day – October 1, 2016 Hospice Palliative Care Day – October 8, 2016 Gift of Giving Back Day – October 12, 2016 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day – October 15, 2016 Workplace Bully Awareness Day – October 18, 2016 United Nations Day – October 24, 2016 Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Day – October 26, 2016 Compassionate City Week – October 2-8, 2016 Fire Prevention Week – October 9-15, 2016 Ontario Public Library Week – October 16-22, 2016 Local Government Week – October 16-22, 2016 Spiritual and Religious Care Awareness Week – October 17-23, 2016 Teen Driver Safety Week – October 19-25, 2016 National Occupational Therapy Month – October 2016
The Character Area Studies for Roseland, Indian Point, and Shoreacres neighbourhoods are nearly complete. City staff are preparing a report about these studies and their impact on other low density residential areas.
Indian Point – a small neighbourhood with a rich history – and a very divided population. Old timers wanted it to stay as it was – the “nouveaus” had plans for bigger homes and thoughts of dividing properties. Some of the early public meetings got pretty hot and heavy.
There will be a series of open house meetings you can drop in on anytime to learn more about these planning initiatives, ask questions, and share your comments.
The Character Area Studies for Roseland, Indian Point, and Shoreacres neighbourhoods were received by Council on February 29, 2016.
Staff have prepared policy and by-law amendments to implement these studies and for low density residential areas outside of the character areas.
Together, they will provide a proactive approach to support all established low density residential areas through an enhanced regulatory framework. The proposed drop in open houses are the final opportunity for you to provide input on these initiatives prior to a Council decision on the proposed amendments.
Lastly, the Statutory Public Meeting for Council to consider the proposed amendments to the Official Plan, Zoning By-law, Site Plan By-law, and Site Alteration By-law is being targeted for December, 2016. Confirmation of the Statutory Public Meeting date will be provided at a later date.
The Gazette will report during the weekend on how city council handled this matter.
The Gazette gets a couple of dozen request each week asking us to promote an event – more often tan not a store opening where the Mayor sometimes cuts a ribbon.
We explain two things to people who send in these requests – there is a line between our promoting an event and the business people advertising their events.
We got a request to mention the Shred It event Crime Stoppers is putting on – this is a really valuable public service and we have in the past promoted them.
Halton Regional Police Detective Constable Paul Proteau at an event with Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah
This year the Shred It event was to take place in Oakville and Georgetown. We explained to Detective Constable Proteau that we cover Burlington events – he responded with: “I know but I’m trying to serve as large an area as I can – that is why I chose half way between Burlington/Oakville right at HQ here.
Proteau added that in the spring we did Milton and now in the fall I’m doing Georgetown. I’m having this issue with the other papers too as they say if it isn’t in our city so we shouldn’t print it. I have to try and serve everyone in the region.
He mentioned as well that “we raised approximately $3100.00 with our combined spring shreds; hoping to make the fall outcome better as we didn’t do as well on the Sunday which was Mother’s Day.
Proteau made an important point – so here is what they want to say to the public about their Shred It event.
Halton Crime Stoppers needs your help to keep our communities safe and secure.
Not only do we require the eyes and ears of everyone watching out for each other, but you must make sure your own private and personal information doesn’t fall into the hands of criminals.
In an effort to protect area residents from becoming victims of identity theft and other fraud, Halton Crime Stoppers will host a Community Shred Event through our semi-annual Feed the Beast fundraising campaign.
The events run on Saturday, October, 15th at the Halton Region Centre, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville (lot A) and, Sunday, October, 16th at The Real Canadian Superstore, 171 Guelph Street, Georgetown. Both the Region of Halton and The Real Canadian Superstore are graciously donating the space on their property for the events.
On both days the event runs from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. The cost for the events are $5 per grocery bag, $10 per bankers boxes and $15 per larger bags and/or boxes. When you arrive look for the distinctive FileBank Canada truck with the large beast on the side which will be ready to gobble up your person documents so no one else can get them.
Autumn is traditionally a clean-up time when people get rid of clutter around the house, but Detective Paul Proteau, coordinator of Halton’s Crime Stoppers program, warns against throwing invoices, bank statements, old tax records or credit cards receipts in trash cans for local pick-up.
“Criminals routinely steal garbage left outside homes to obtain information that can be used to defraud people through various scams, including identify theft,” said Proteau.
“Shred all personal items to ensure your private information doesn’t get into the hands of those who will victimize you,” he said. “Scam artists can create phony credit cards to make purchases anywhere in the world; they can obtain mortgages in your name; they can get loans or they can produce documents and take over your identity.”
Proteau said victims of these crimes are forced to spend considerable amounts of money and countless amounts of time straightening out the problems that these criminals cause. “It is truly a nightmare for victims of identity theft,” he said.
Through the years Halton Crime Stoppers has set up Community Shred Events in partnership with FileBank Canada, not only to raise money to assist the program to combat crime, but more importantly to protect residents from the horrendous difficulties they can face through identity theft and other crimes that can be perpetrated when personal information gets into the hands of criminals.
FileBank Canada – an innovative shredding and record storage company established 28 years ago – provides a mobile, state-of-the-art pulverizing unit, free of charge to Halton Crime Stoppers, to instantly destroy any documents you bring to our Community Shred Event. Personal papers are reduced to tiny fragment and later recycled to produce other paper products.
So you are not only helping to keep our communities safe from crime, but you are also being green and protecting the environment. It’s a win-win situation for everyone when you shred your sensitive papers at the Halton Crime Stoppers Community Shred Event.
“Last year we destroyed hundreds of pounds of personal documents, that’s a lot of paper that didn’t find its way to a landfill” said Proteau.
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison was miffed when name Liz Benneian made mention of the date December 12th – as a deadline for an extensive review of the details, data and background by the City Manager of the proposed water break the LaSalle Park Marina Association says is needed to keep the boats safe from damage.
Where did you get that information asked Dennison – Liz Benneian smiled and said she saw it in an email.
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison.
Dennison wanted to know who the email came from – Benneain smiled again but demurred – Jack was going to have to dig a little deeper to find out just how information he saw as confidential got into the hands of the Save the Trumpeter Swan coalition.
Later in the council meeting that took place on Monday Dennison asked the Clerk what was done with the memo he had sent to all the members of council saying he was going to bring an amendment to a motion.
Meed Ward, who has chosen to be paperless, didn’t get a printed copy. All the other members of council got printed copies – several members of council apparently didn’t see or read their copies before the meeting.
Councillor Marianne Meed Ward
It “appears” that Meed Ward may have shared the information she was given electronically with the Trumpeter Swan people.
This isn’t the first time this Council has suspected Meed Ward of leaking information to people. She has never leaked anything to the Gazette, for which we will never forgive her.
Expect the Councillor for Ward 1 to be reading up on the city’s procedural bylaw to see if Meed Ward committed an infraction.
He came to this country with very little money, the clothing he owned in a single suitcase and the determination to create a life for himself in Canada
Domenic Molinaro has put up more than 50 buildings in Ontario – he is the developer who lined Lakeshore Road with condominiums and is in the process of building Paradigm – a five structure project that will house 2000 people steps away from the Burlington GO station.
Spencers Landing; the Strata and the Brock are Molinaro projects clustered around Maple Avenue.
And he isn’t finished yet.
Thursday evening Domenic will be feted by his colleagues and peers at the Distinguished Entrepreneur event being hosted by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce at the Performing Arts Centre.
Vince Molinaro will speak for his Father as son Robert and daughters MaryLou and Antonella and wife Lina listen proudly.
It is civic recognition well deserved by a man with a limited education but the grit and guts to keep doing what he knew he could achieve.
It was difficult to fully understand how grim things were at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road until you get the hear the squealing of pigs trapped in a truck that flipped over on its side when the driver lost control.
A reported 40 pigs were killed in the accident – those that got out of the trailer were walked to the slaughterhouse.
A 49 year old woman Anna Krajnc was arrested for obstructing police and released on a Promise to Appear in court.
It was hectic at the accident site and very difficult for people who cared about the animals.
The Halton Regional Police Service has charged Anita KRANJNC, 49, of Toronto with Obstruct Police and Breach of Recognizance in connection with rolling over of a truck carrying 180 pigs to a slaughter house.
Anita Kranjnc under arrest.
KRANJNC has been released on a Promise to Appear.
Kranjnc is currently being tried for “mischief” for giving pigs in a transportation truck water on a sweltering hot day. That trial was scheduled to take five days – three days of hearings have been held so far.
By Staff
Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also a candidate in a past provincial election.
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
Staff have prepared policy and by-law amendments to implement these studies and for low density residential areas outside of the character areas.
Halton Crime Stoppers needs your help to keep our communities safe and secure.
Domenic Molinaro has put up more than 50 buildings in Ontario – he is the developer who lined Lakeshore Road with condominiums and is in the process of building Paradigm – a five structure project that will house 2000 people steps away from the Burlington GO station.
