Domestic dispute results in attempted murder charges against a 22 year old male.

Crime 100By Staff

July 1st, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

 

That domestic disturbance in Plains Road yesterday afternoon has become much more serious for the 22 year old male that police has to restrain with the use of a Taser.

He has been remanded into custody by telephone on charges of attempted murder, assault causing bodily harm (two counts) and assault police (two counts). He remains in Hospital where a psychiatric assessment is ongoing. He is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on Monday July 4th 2016 in Milton.

The two officers involved were treated at hospital for their injuries and are now resting at home. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

The injured family member was also treated at hospital for a minor injury and released. They too are expected to make a full recovery.

Though early in the investigation, it is apparent that both officers performed their duties in accordance with their training, employing only a minimal amount of force to effect the arrest. The offender sustained a minor injury to his hand, of which he is expected to recover.

He has been remanded into custody by telephone on charges of:

Attempted murder,

Assault causing bodily harm (two counts)

Assault police (two counts).

He remains in hospital where a psychiatric assessment is ongoing. He is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on Monday July 4th 2016 in Milton.

One police officer was stabbed in the head while police worked at restraining him.

Link to earlier article:

Domestic disturbance at Plains Road residence.

 

 

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How important decisions get made - look at what the Brits just did and what Canada did when it chose the flag we now have.

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

July 1, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Brexit was a simple referendum question – leave or remain. But dumbing down the referendum question doesn’t make the answer any better. Leaving the European Union is a complicated matter involving trade and other economic considerations as well as a broad swath of social issues, including immigration and settlement policy. Is it little wonder that the voters were confused.

britain-eu

They did get their country back – not much left to work with.

Media reports indicated that some Leave voters confessed to regretting their decision as early as the morning after. The truth is that many voters were understandably ignorant of what they were actually voting for, as evidenced by the stampede to a google search for EU. Pity you say – a bit late for voters to struggle trying to figure what the EU actually stands for, after having just voted to leave it. Britain was only part of the EU since the 1970’s after all.

Churchill is reported to have once said that the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter. And this mess is exactly what we should expect when we overlay an ad hoc exercise in direct democracy on top of our normal representative system of governance. So why not make sure that our indirect democracy is as representative as possible.

After all we elect and give license to our MPs to make these complicated decisions so we don’t have to get into the weeds – it’s not our job. And Brexit is about as weedy as it gets. But like Canada, Britain is stuck with an outdated first-past-the-post electoral system. Given voting splits among various parties, the governing Conservatives there came up the middle and were elected by just over a third (36.9%) of the electors.

Canada has had its fair share of grief over referenda in the past. Who could ever forget Mulroney’s divisive Charlottetown Accord. Then there were the two Quebexit plebiscites, the second one coming within a hair off creating a Brexit-like crisis.

Canadian flag at Quebec referendum

The referendum on Quebec leaving confederation was a very close vote. Imagine if they had won?

Had Quebec voted to leave, would aboriginal communities have demanded separation from Quebec, as the Scots may now do? Or what about those English-speaking parts of Montreal and Hull, across the river from Ottawa and dependent on national capital for its livelihood? One might argue that we escaped only through plain luck. But unlike Cameron who had no contingency process, Jacques Parizeau had a secret exit plan. His morning-after involved nationalizing military bases located on Quebec soil.

In the last federal election Justin Trudeau campaigned on electoral reform in order to make our democracy more representative. The loyal opposition is now demanding a referendum to seal any kind of deal on electoral reform. Mostly that is pure survival instinct on their part. Almost any kind of change will make the Tory’s lot in life less favourable – reduce their chances of ever forming government – unless they broaden their appeal beyond the stereotypical right-wing voter.

So the Conservatives are putting their eggs into the referendum basket, having watched the earlier electoral reform campaigns in Ontario and B.C. go down in flames. Still they are part of a parliamentary committee looking at options. One option, some sort of proportional representation, would entail reconfiguring our parliamentary chambers and most likely require a constitutional amendment. Fortunately Canada has a comprehensive constitutional amending formula, arguably superior to any national plebiscite.

And of course representation could be improved, were elected candidates to command the support of a majority of voters, as a first, second or third choice. This kind of change, use of a ranked or preferential balloting process, also referred to as a single transferable vote, would involve a relatively simple modification to ballot counting. In fact ranked ballots are what Ontario has invited municipalities to adopt for their next local elections – without any requirement for a referendum.

New Zealand is a case study for a parliamentary democracy which has also institutionalized some measure of direct democracy. Of course it is a small country with its own ethnic and economic diversity, but on the whole is arguably more homogenous than Canada. That argues for New Zealand as a place to pilot the complementary use of direct democracy. This nation of about four million people introduced its own mixed-member proportional representation system following an overwhelmingly positive referendum, and continuance of that system was confirmed by another.

In fact New Zealand has developed a referendum law and process to guide it. But even a New Zealander might eventually find referenda problematic. For example, thanks to their direct democracy going awry, they totally blew their search for a new flag and are now stuck with the old Australian-looking one.

Flag at house of commons

Getting this flag was not an easy decision.

Contrast that to how Lester Pearson managed to bring in Canada’s new flag while operating with only a minority government. And recall how Kim Campbell defused the abortion debate in this country without any referendum at all. As we celebrate Canada Day today, let us recall that we didn’t need a referendum to adopt a new flag, to re-write our national anthem, to repatriate our constitution, to enter into free trade agreements and a host of other things we entrust to our elected representatives. And they could and will better represent us before long.

Rivers-direct-into-camera1-173x300

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 the 1995 provincial election

Background links:

Scottish Independence –  EU Google Search –  Electoral Reform

More Brexit New Zealand Voting –   First Past the Post –  Single Transferable Vote

Proportional Representation –   BC Referendum –    Electoral ReformNZ Flag –

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Burlington MP shows a strong arm when she throws out the game ball for the Bandits.

sportsgold 100x100By Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

 

They needed all the help they could get – and while Burlington MP Karina Gould put her opening pitch right across the plate – it didn’t count.

Gould had a full week in Ottawa where she said she was sitting ten feet away from United States President  Obama who did a “shout out” to Burlington and pointed directly at Gould.

Bandits - Gould opening pitch

Burlington MP Karina Gould throwing the “game ball” at a Burlington Bandits game.

Gould told the Gazette that she didn’t play any organized baseball – but she did throw a ball around with her Dad when she was little.

“I practiced quite a bit about four weeks ago when I was originally supposed to do this honour” – and added that she felt her arm held up pretty good.

She was given the “game ball”  to keep as a souvenir but was asked to return the sweater – which suggests she should not wait for a call up from the coach.

She at least did a lot better than Mayor Goldring when he threw the game ball at the first game the then Burlington Twins played.

Jeff Hunt and Dan Jagdeo each drove in four runs to lead the Brantford Red Sox to a 14-6 win over the Burlington Bandits Thursday night.

As for the game – it was a brutal 14-6 for Brantford.

Hunt finished with two doubles and a triple, while Jagdeo’s only hit was a two-run home run in the Red Sox’s sixth-run fourth.

Bandits Gould - Ryan Scott - Bandits - game ball

Karina Gould, holding the game ball with Ryan Harrison, marketing manager for the Bandits and Scott Johnston team management.

Tyler Patzalek had three hits and finished a home run short of the cycle. He drove in a run and scored three times. Benjamin Bostick had two hits and three runs, Nic Burdett drove in a pair, and Mike Burk added two hits and scored once.

Nathan Forer (5-2) went seven innings for the win, giving up two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out eight.

Justin Gideon had four RBI after a home run and double for Burlington. He also scored twice. Kevin Hussey and Robert Tavone each had three hits, and Julian Johnson had an RBI.

Ryan Beckett (2-3) gave up eight runs (six earned) on seven hits in three innings, walking four and striking out two.

Sixth-place Burlington fell to 6-15.
Fourth-place Brantford improved to 14-10.

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City gets the decision it wanted in its second court battle with the Air Park - details on th decision next week.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It certainly took long enough but Justice Gilmour delivered his much awaited decision on the court case that had the city asking a judge to order the Air Park to file a site plan and also to compel the Air Park to remove the fill that was dumped on the property without a site plan being filed.

The case was well argued on the city’s behalf by Ian Blue, legal counsel who was brought in to handle the original court case and the appeal of that case.

Airpark aerial used by the city

Property boundary of the Air Park

This first case established that municipalities had the right to require air parks to comply with municipal bylaws. Up until the Burlington case there as some doubt as to just how deeply that complying had to be.

The appeal made it clear that a municipality had the right to require an air park to file a site plan.

Vince Rossi, president of Burlington Executive Airpark Inc., at a meeting with members of the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition that took place in a barn a couple of hundred yards from the end of his largest runway.

Vince Rossi, president of Burlington Executive Airpark Inc., at a meeting with members of the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition that took place in a barn a couple of hundred yards from the end of his largest runway.

That didn’t seem to make any difference to Vince Rossi and his corporation. They played around at filing documents but there was never a properly completed site plan filed – so the city sued.

The decision that was delivered late this afternoon appears to order the Air Park to file a site plan and perhaps remove some of the fill.

While the city has the decision they have chosen no to release a copy until Monday at which time it will be stored on a web site where anyone can read the document.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward sent a note to her followers and included a piece in her Newsletter which was published this evening.

In the Newsletter Meed Ward said:

“The courts have ruled in the city’s favour and is requiring the Burlington Airpark to submit a site alteration permit for land fill activities on the site.

The city was notified late Thursday afternoon, June 30. The court decision will be publicly posted the week of July 4 here: https://www.canlii.org/en/

The news came in just as this newsletter was being prepared. More information about the ruling and its implications will be available in the next edition.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward works the phone the way few Councillors do; manages to overspend on her postage budget, filled her voice mail box the first week she was at city hall and has now been found to have over spent on the amount of time she speaks. There is just no end to this woman.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward works the phone the way few Councillors do.

My Take: I’m delighted at this outcome and want to thank area residents and everyone who supported them for their valuable eyes on the street, and patience and perseverance through this. I’d also like to thank staff and council for their support, particularly Councillor John Taylor who has been a strong advocate for action in this matter. The ruling affirms that municipal bylaws apply where they do not encroach into areas of federal jurisdiction. This is a significant decision not just for Burlington but all municipalities where airparks may be engaged in landfill activities. I’ll have more to say on this matter in the next issue, including excerpts from the ruling when available.”

It was an article in the Gazette in 2013 that brought the dumping of landfill to the attention of city hall. North Burlington residents have followed the several court cases very careful and commented frequently in the Gazette.

Two North Burlington residents were sued for libel by the Air Park along with the publisher of the Gazette. That case has yet to make it to a court room.

Meed Ward thanks Ward 3 Councillor for his efforts – we don’t recall Taylor doing all that much – the Air Park isn’t in his ward. We do recall that Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster did precious little other than argue with residents over picayune matters.

Many in ward 6 felt Lancaster was just a little too close to Vince Rossi. During the first trial Councillor Lancaster sat immediately behind Mr. Rossi in the court room.

Rossi appealed the first court case – lost the appeal. During an Examination for Discovery that was related to the libel case counsel for Rossi and Rossi himself complained about the cost of all the hearings which suggested to some that Rossi might be getting close to being tapped out financially.

He has a short period of time to appeal this Superior Court decision.

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Police officer stabbed in the head during domestic dispute at Plains Road residence.

Crime 100By Staff

June 30th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Late Thursday afternoon – at 4:23 p.m. – Halton Regional Police officers were called to a family disturbance at a Plains Road residence.

Once inside the residence, officers were immediately attacked by a man armed with a knife.

One officer was pushed to the ground and stabbed in the head. A second officer, while attempting to intervene, received a bite to the arm. During the melee, another family member also sustained minor injuries inflicted by the man.

The man was eventually taken into custody following a struggle and deployment of a conducted energy weapon (taser).

All involved were transported to hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.

The 22-year-old Burlington man is currently being held for psychiatric assessment.

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Will Burlington's seniors decide they don't want the kind of change city council is talking about and do something about it with their ballots?

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Now that people have gotten over the shock – the British deciding they no longer want to be part of the European Union – what happens next?

The consequences of such a momentous decision are only beginning to be calculated – it will be some time before the complete cost is worked out and perhaps five years before the change to that society is fully felt.

The Bistro, the heart of the Seniors'entre and the focal point for many of the administrative problems. The new agreement with the city didn't resolve this problem but they have agreed to give it a year to come up with a solution that works for everyone.

The Bistro, the heart of the Seniors’ Centre. 

The political pundits have explained to us that the older population decided they didn’t want to give up what they thought they had and voted to leave the European Union – and given that there were older people voting in England – they won the day by an acceptable 4% of the votes cast.

Burlington has an aging population – and that part of our demographic is only going to increase. What are those seniors likely to want and how will they make their wishes known to people running for office?

At some point someone who wants to sit on city council badly enough or someone who truly believes he or she represents the interests of the seniors community will get themselves elected. On a city council the size of Burlington’s it wouldn’t take all that much to create a majority.

Transit - seniors with Gould

More political clout at this table than at city council.

Keep an eye on those who are interested in ward 2 and keep a keen eye on the seniors in Aldershot – they have a lifestyle they don’t want to see changed all that much.

Community Development Halton tells us that, based on Statistics Canada’s Taxfiler data, there were about 32,000 seniors living in Burlington in 2013 representing an increase of 28% from 2006. This increase was almost three times higher than the overall population increase.

2016 census data will be available soon and we will have a clearer picture of how many seniors there are in Burlington.

We are at a time when the baby boomers are now at the point where they will have much more influence. How is that influence likely to be expressed?

City manager Jeff Fielding doesn't win every time. Joe Lamb, negotiating for the Seniors' Centre basically took Fielding to the cleaners with the deal he talked the city into.

Former city manager Jeff Fielding, on the right with Joe Lamb, who negotiated on behalf of the Seniors’ Centre basically took Fielding to the cleaners with the deal he talked the city into.

We know this much – those seniors take the time to vote.

A number of years ago the Seniors’ Centre ran into some problems with the federal tax collectors and the then GST tax. They weren’t collecting what they should have been collecting.

The member of the centre started calling their council members – it didn’t take long for council members to cave in and send the then city manager over and work out a deal. The city gave them everything they asked for and then some.

getting new - yellowIt was a total rout on the part of the city. The city has this tag line: “Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities …” and the seniors want to ensure that it stays that way for them.

What are they going to tell us they want in the next five years?

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Will there be a public discussion on what the United Ways should do about the organizational mess they have gotten themselves into?

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2106

BURLINGTON, ON

Something just isn’t quite right over at the United Way.

The four United Way organizations in the Region are Oakville, Halton Hills and Milton.

Burlington is partnered with Hamilton to form the Burlington United Way organization

The Gazette doesn’t know much about the branches outside of Burlington. It appears we don’t know as much as we are supposed to know about the Burlington Hamilton organization either.

We got a media release earlier in the week in which we learned that a vote by the Burlington Hamilton organization failed to get the two thirds majority they needed to amalgamate with all the board in the Region into one larger organization. The media release cited all the current public relations buzz words – they would be “better” and “smarter”. There would be more collaboration.

The Oakville organization voted for an amalgamation. Milton and Halton Hills had not yet voted – once they learned Burlington Hamilton were a no go they postponed the vote.

jeff-vallentin United Way

Jeff Valentin, president of the Burlington Hamilton United Way organization.

Determining who gets to vote is a little different at each organization. Jeff Valentin, president of the Burlington Hamilton organization explained that membership votes but that in his organization the members of the Board are the only members of the organization. In Burlington Hamilton there are 18 members on the board.

At the start of the meeting there were 18 members – but two of those members had terms that ended at the AGM at which the vote to amalgamate was taken.

That vote went 11 for and 7 against the amalgamation – however a vote of this significance required a two thirds majority – and the vote was just 61% – thus it failed.

Valentin said he wasn’t sure what the next step for his organization. He is apparently not certain where the missing votes are – which makes it difficult to know who has to be lobbied.

City of Burlington Clerk's department did a great job last year during the United Way campaign drive. Interesting to see what they do this year. Burlington campaign has a $2 million target

City of Burlington Clerk’s department did a great job one year during the United Way campaign drive. The troops in the trenches do their part – the Burlington Hamilton board seems to have lost its grip.

With two new appointments to be made in the immediate future – the vote matter might resolve itself. What is evident is this – there is dissension within the Burlington Hamilton board. An issue this significant requires unanimity and that doesn’t exist at this point in time.

The vote was done by ballot so the executive doesn’t know where the support for the amalgamation is and where it isn’t.  The request for a ballot vote rather than a show of hands should have been a hint that there was a problem.

In a handout provided by the Burlington Hamilton United Way they explain their thinking. There was nothing in the way of a compelling argument for amalgamating in the material we saw.

On the matter of not getting any information from the Burlington Hamilton United Way there is a concern. The last communication we received was February 1, 2016 in which I discussed an interview we wanted to do when the 2015/2016 fund raising campaign came to an end.

When we asked why we had not been sent anything about the amalgamation plans – the response we got from the media department t said: “I thought we had sent the attached to you, I re-checked my sent emails and I had entered your email address incorrectly – symptom of having too much on the go and a clear sign we are in need of merging for greater capacity! Either way, my sincere apologies for missing you on this and I will be sure not to do so again.”

That response falls into the same category as “my dog ate my homework”

When people get into lines this long - you know something is going on. The United Way came up with a great idea - put Food Trucks in parking lots and earn a portion of the revenue for the cause. Great idea - and it worked.

When people get into lines this long – you know something is going on. The United Way came up with a great idea – put Food Trucks in parking lots and earn a portion of the revenue for the cause. Great idea – and it worked.

Strong media departments maintain a data base of every possible contact and if they are on top of their jobs they maintain an open line of communication. We are all busy – saying “having too much on the go and a clear sign we are in need of merging for greater capacity”, doesn’t cut it.

Organizations like the United Way need to be as close as possible to the people they serve; the work they do is “street level” based. A bigger bureaucracy is not going to improve what gets done for the hundreds of thousands of people who need help.

People deeply involved in providing community services feel strongly that whatever the issues were at Hamilton Burlington United Way, they should be made public so that an informed discussion can take place.

Oakville voted for the amalgamation. In a presentation made at that meeting people were assured that jobs would not be lost and that funds raised in a community would stay in that community.

This is not a healthy situation – there is some fence mending to be done at several levels.

Given the way political organizations are falling apart around the world – are we looking at a situation where Burlington pulls away from the hug they get from Hamilton?

There is a need for a wider public debate. The Burlington Hamilton United Way web site lists the following as members of the board.

Tom Atterton: Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer, Hamilton and District Labour Council
Penelope Burk: President, Cygnus Applied Research, Inc.
Elham Farah: Director of Special Projects, Farah Foods / Hasty Market Limited
Robert Forbes: Senior Financial Officer, Hamilton Health Sciences
Gaston Germain: Retired President and COO, Pelmorex Media Inc. (The Weather Network)
Neale Graham: Vice President, Canada, Beam Suntory Canada
Leo Johnson: Founder/Executive Director, Empowerment Squared
Greg Jones: Managing Director, Communications & Public Affairs, Terrapure Environmental
Nancy MacBain: Staff Representative, CUPE Local 3906 (McMaster University)
Anthony Marco: President, Hamilton and District Labour Council
Geraldine McMullen: Second Vice President, Hamilton and District Labour Council
Annelisa Pedersen: Senior Program Advisor, Ministry of Community and Social Services
Wade Poziomka: Lawyer, Ross & McBride LLP
Sandra Scime: Assistant Superintendent of Education, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
David Wormald: President, St Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph and Elder Care, St. Joseph’s Health System

Jeff Valentin is also a member of the board. It is not clear which members are drawn from Burlington and which from Hamilton.

Too many unknowns here.

The only positive comment is that we do know what we don’t know.

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City council will ask staff to develop a governance model to implement climate change initiatives with Hamilton; aren't they the people who fouled the bay?

News 100 greenBy Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Saying we share the air and we have to work together to keep it clean  is one thing – actually doing something about the air we share is something else.

Burlington city Council is planning on passing a motion at its meeting on Thursday to Support a Governance Structure to implement Climate Change Initiatives between the Cities of Burlington and Hamilton.

Smokestacks HamiltonThis is an issue that is dear to the heart of Mayor Goldring – he would, we are sure, like it to become his legacy issue. He doesn’t have one so far and this is as good a legacy as anyone can hope for – let’s see how it goes at Council on Thursday.

Here is what they want to do – the language is a little stilted – but the intent is clear enough.

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN

Whereas, the Government of Canada’s intent is to protect communities and grow our economy by making significant new investments in green infrastructure and clean technologies as well as to endow a $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Trust to fund projects that reduce carbon that will “support projects in clean energy that can be commercialized, scaled up, and exported”;

Whereas, the Province of Ontario has a Five-Year Climate Change Strategy and has introduced legislation, which aims to formalize a cap-and- trade system and invest those funds into green projects to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution;

Whereas, the Province of Ontario has already announced in 2015, the Green Investment Fund that commits $325 million to projects that will fight climate change;

Whereas, the City of Hamilton has developed a Community Climate Change Action Plan, which directs priority actions that will mitigate greenhouse gases, adapt to the risks associated with climate change and will help make Hamilton a resilient and prosperous community in the face of climate change;

Kerr Georhe swims Burlington BAy 75

In an attempt to prove that the water in Hamilton harbour was safe then provincial cabinet minister George went for a swim.

Whereas, taking action on climate change will be beneficial to the Hamilton Harbour / Burlington Bay area and will complement the work on greenhouse gas reduction by the City of Burlington;

Whereas, in order to successfully implement the Community Climate Change Action Plan, a formalized governance structure is necessary; and,

Whereas The City of Hamilton already has an internationally recognized participatory governance structure known as the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) and the Bay Area Implementation Team (BAIT);

Therefore be it resolved:

Aerial view - skyway bridge

The really dirty stuff is on the right in Hamilton.

(a) That staff be directed to develop a governance model similar to the Bay Area Restoration Council and the Bay Area Implementation Team, in collaboration with staff from the Federal and Provincial offices of the Ministries of Environment and Climate Change, and report back to the Board of Health;

(b) That the Mayor correspond with The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and The Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, to request that the Federal and Provincial Ministries assist the City of Hamilton with the establishment of City of Hamilton’s Community Climate Change Action Plan Implementation Team in identifying the appropriate Federal and Provincial government staff, private sector and community representatives to provide expert advice and financial resources toward the action on climate change, within the funding guidelines for the Low Carbon Economy Trust; and, the Five-Year Climate Change Strategy;

(c) That upon the formation of the governance structure for the Community Climate Change Action Plan Implementation Team, the City of Hamilton seek a partnership with the City of Burlington to coordinate efforts, with respect to the implementation of the Plan; and,

(d) That staff be directed to report to the Board of Health annually, respecting the progress of the Community Climate Change Action Plan.

Is this one of those Motherhood issues that everyone will get their voting  hand up to see who can be first?  Will it be like the Shape Burlington report passed unanimously in 2011 and forever forgotten?

James Ridge

The not yet existent Code of Conduct is buried within the 25 year Strategic Plan that city manager James Ridge has put together.

Or will it be like the Code of Conduct that city council has yet to adopt.  They shuffled that one off to the city manager who buried it in his 20 year Strategic Plan – suggesting that we will perhaps see some within the next 25 years.

Which was probably a smart move – this council doesn’t want a code of conduct.

We will know Thursday night how serious they are about climate change.

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Construction going on all over the city.

News 100 blueBy Staff

June 29, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

 

New roads, improvements to parks, murals for public places – all kinds of upgrades and improvements to the city.

Aerial from the south west corner

An aerial view of the Paradigm project under construction on Fairview – next to the GO station.

Developers are banging away as well; The Bridgewater project is still a hole in the ground as is the ADI Linx project on Dundas. The hospital is well on its way to completion and the Paradigm project on Fairview is reaching into the sky.

Ireland Park has started phase one of the upgrades that will include:

• An accessible splash pad with seating and a pavilion for shade
• Ball diamond amenities, including accessible spectator areas with permanent bleachers
• Reconstruction of the south parking lot to improve the surface and traffic flow
• Accessible pathways and seating areas
• New energy efficient pathway lighting
• New goal posts at three soccer fields, and
• New trees

ireland-park-burlington

Ireland Park.

During construction, please expect:

• Pathway closures
• The driveway and the south parking lot, beside the tennis courts, to be closed
• Detours to ball diamonds, soccer fields, washroom facilities, tennis courts and the main playground
• Temporary access restrictions to the washrooms, snack bar and tennis courts

Construction is expected to last approximately six months.

Ireland Park will remain open during construction. We appreciate your patience and co-operation to make sure the park is a safe place during construction. There are other parks available in the community:
Playgrounds:

• Ireland Park – access from Folkway Drive
• Pinemeadow Park – 3171 Pinemeadow Rd.
• Newport Park – 3020 Headon Forest Dr.

Public Tennis Courts:
• Sycamore Park – 3157 Centennial Dr.
• Millcroft Park – 4520 Millcroft Park Dr.

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Second round of public murals announced - three locations this time.

artsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

June 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

City hall has come up with more cash for artists that want to take part in the creation of murals – the city wants to create three more:

Tansley Woods Community Centre (C$12,000)
Waterfront Parking Garage (C$5,000)
Pearl Street Parking Lot Crosswalk (C$1,500)

Application deadline is Friday, July 29, 2016. Applicants must be a resident of Burlington, Ont.

Freeman - public art

Freight trains have always been a large part of the rail traffic through the city. Freeman Station was where produce was put aboard. This mural is on of six that were commissioned by the city. Clair Hall did the mural on the side of the Freeman Station

The Burlington Mural Project is now in its second year. It is funded as an annual program designed to tell local stories using local artists. Each year, small to medium-scale murals are commissioned throughout the city. Free professional development opportunities are also offered to assist artists with the application process and project development.

Apples

There was a time when this kind of illustration was Burlington. The then town supplied fresh produce that was shipped around the world. The community grew enough fruit and vegetables to require a second railway line into the city. Those train tracks are now a walking trail in the Beachway community. Tamara Kwapich did the mural in Orchard Community Park.

The One-on-One Application Review Session takes place on July 12, 2016, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Transportation Meeting Room at City Hall.

If you are unable to attend on July 12, please contact Kim Selman to discuss alternate dates.

These sessions will be open to all artists who are actively preparing an application to the Burlington Mural Program. Attendance is voluntary and appointments must be booked in advance. To book an appointment please contact: Kim Selman, kim@cobaltconnects.ca or 905-548-0111

Artists planning to submit to the Burlington Mural Project may book a 30-minute session with the Public Art Manager to review a draft of their application package and get constructive feedback.

Online Application: Applications may be submitted by mail or using our online application system. To submit your application online, click the link to the right:  LINK.   You are asked to read the full Request for Proposal document prior to submitting your application.

Couple coloured box

It’s a telephone utility box with a mural that hints at the wharf that was once at “Port Nelson” at the foot of Guelph Line. Hannah Sell and Liam Racine did the art work. It is one of six commissioned by the city.

The visual arts are getting funding – the Performing Arts haven’t been as fortunate.

The arts community in Burlington is still working at the creation of a formal Council that they would like to see mandated to operate as the voice and policy body for the arts in the city.

Ain’t ever going to happen.

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Police arrest male found sleeping in a stolen pick up truck: said he wanted to be shot. Pellet pistol and replica handgun recovered.

Crime 100By Staff

June 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The name of the person arrested was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.  The HRPS apologize for the error.  The name below is correct

At just after 6:00 am this morning a Flora Drive resident noticed a pickup truck parked with the engine running on the street for a period of time. The citizen observed a lone male occupant asleep in the driver’s seat of the motor vehicle.

Emergency services were notified to check on the wellbeing of the male person.

HRPS crestMembers of the Burlington Fire Department arrived on scene and observed a handgun on the lap of the male person sleeping in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. A quick thinking supervisor immediately reached in the open window and removed the firearm away from the male persons reach and put it outside the vehicle for public safety reasons. As this occurred the male person awoke.

The Halton Regional Police Service arrived on the scene moments later; the occupant of the vehicle jumped out and began running. A short foot chase resulted and the person was arrested at gunpoint by the police officers. The man was seen to be very upset and told police officers he wanted to be shot. The male was arrested without any injury to any person.

The first handgun located was a metal pellet gun. A search of the vehicle located a second handgun which was a metal replica firearm.

The investigation determined that the pickup truck was stolen on June 27, 2016 from the City of Mississauga in the Regional Municipality of Peel.

The Halton Regional Police Service has charged a 34 year old male person who will be held in custody for a court bail hearing appearance.

James John FOBERT of the City of Mississauga.

Offences:

1. Possession of stolen property, contrary to the Criminal Code.
2. Disqualified driving, contrary to the Criminal Code
3. Possession of an imitation firearm in the commission of an offence, contrary to the Criminal Code.
4. Failing to comply with a court issued weapons prohibition order, contrary to the Criminal Code.
5. Failing to comply with a court issued weapons prohibition order, contrary to the Criminal Code.

Anyone who may have information about this investigation is asked to call investigators at the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-825-4747 extension 2316, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).

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Murderous crows in the Courtyard at the AGB

artsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

June 29, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Is this a friendly visit?

Are we looking at three animals getting to know one another?
The dog is perhaps curious but the hunch in the shoulders of those two crows tells a different story.

How does that story end?

The exhibit at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the Dan Lawrie Family Courtyard until September 25th is well worth a visit.

Philpott stills D

The approach – who springs up and out first?

You will want to ponder the three pieces and wonder – perhaps the friendly posture of the dog will change the intent of the crows.

Does the artist, Mary Philpott, tip her hand with the title of the exhibit: A Murder of Crows.

Philpott stills E

Has the dog figured it out? This isn’t a friendly visit is it?

Mary Philpott, a noted functional potter whose work has been inspired by Neo-Gothic architecture and William Morris’ Arts and Craft movement, has in recent years taken her decorative motifs of animals and birds and transformed them into live-sized three dimensional sculptures, a perfect synthesis of nature and style set in our garden courtyard.

Inspired by the colour, narration and design of medieval illuminated books, tapestries and architecture, Philpott’s work explores the story of flora and fauna in her surrounding landscape. At her studio, Verdant Tile Co., she designs custom pressed tile in porcelain. The animals and birds depicted in her tiles are frequently referenced in her sculptural pieces.

Philpot stills - A

Wary eyes – the posture the artist has given each animal is filled with suspense.

In addition to receiving a BFA in Art History and Archaeology at the University of Guelph, Philpott is a graduate of the Ceramics and Design program at the School of Craft and Design at Sheridan College. She has also studied Anthropology and Archaeology at McMaster University, and Ceramics Intensives at Alfred University in New York.

She is the 2015 recipient of the Helen Copeland Award from Craft Ontario for an established artist working in her field.

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Air Park court case decision was to be handed down before the end of the month - nothing so far.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

June 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The wheels of Justice move slowly – not at a glacial pace but there is no rush to judgement – at least not when it is the city and the Burlington Air Park sending their legal warriors into a Court Room to do battle

On April 4th, the Gazette reported that “a member of the city’s legal staff advised council that a Judge at the Court House advised the city that Justice Gibson anticipates he will be in a position to release his decision by April 30th.

April came and went, we got into May and no decision.  A new date was set –  a decision will be released June 30th

Air-Park-Fielding-city-lawyers-+-Air-Park-counsel-1024x766

Former city manager Jeff Fielding sharing an opinion with Glenn Grenier on what the Air Park was required to do while city lawyers Blake Hurley and Nancy Shea Nicol look on.

The Air Park and the city have been going at it for some time. The story came to the public’s attention when the Gazette reported in 2013 on the number of trucks that were roaring up and down Appleby Line and leaving a terrible mess on the road and disturbing the peace and quiet of the country side with the clanging of truck tail gates.

Air Park - trucks lined up

Hundreds of tucks were hauling landfill onto the Air Park property without any kind of site plan approval from the city. Residents were unhappy; city hall became livid them they became aware of the scope and scale of what was being done.

Literally hundreds of trucks were taking landfill onto the Air Park property. City hall wasn’t aware of what was going on nor did anyone at the Region know very much.

When it came to the attention of people at city hall they could find no record of any permits being issued. Turns out the Air Park didn’t seek any permits – they had taken the position that the Air Park was federally regulated and they didn’t have to ask the city for permission to do anything.

The city saw it differently and one court case, and an appeal later – Justice Murphy clarified that situation. The Air park is subject to city regulation.

The city then began to press the Air Park to submit a site plan for approval and to begin providing some data on just what was in that landfill and what impact was it having on the water table. Was it polluted? Many people in northern Burlington thought is was and they wanted water and soil samples taken.

All the key players in the Airpark dispute:

All the key players in the Airpark libel dispute: Vanessa Warren in the second row and Monte Dennis on the right. The publisher of the Gazette is also a party to the libel case.

The good folks at the Air Park were not only taking exception to the demands the city was making but they took exception to what the Gazette and its publisher had written along with the comments of two citizens: Vanessa Warren and Monte Dennis. We were all sued for libel.

The libel case is still before the courts. The defendants are asking for financial data from the Air Park; the Air Park didn’t want to give any data – a Judge has heard arguments as to why the financial data should be made available and why it shouln’t.  That decision is due any day now.

Meanwhile the city is awaiting a decision on their request that a Judge compel the Air Park to submit a site plan for approval and that the landfill that was dumped on the property without any kind of permit be removed.

It is the decision on that case that everyone has been waiting for. Many believe that whatever the Judge decides the losing side will appeal and that this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada

There are those who believe that the Air Park is not in a position to move more than a couple of truck loads of fill if a Judge orders them to do so – they have already spent a reported hundreds of thousands of dollars on the various court cases – and all the bills aren’t in yet.

Might the Air Park be getting close to being tapped out?

 

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The emergency Department in the new hospital is going to be a lot different than anything you've seen in the past.

jbhhealthBy Staff

June 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The Joseph Brant Hospital Emergency Department, the biggest department in the hospital, will open in the fall of 2017.

Trish Hamilton JBH

Trish Hamilton, Operational Readiness Coordinator.

Trish Hamilton, the Operational Readiness Coordinator, sets out five things you need to know about the new ED

1. Patients will receive care faster in the new ED with the help of a new Paired Triage Registration Model. Currently, a patient moves from triage to registration when arriving at the ED. In the new ED, triage and registration will be combined at one station so that a patient is medically assessed and registered at one time.

JBH examination rooms

The patient examination rooms look a little rough right now – there will be 35 of these rooms.

2. There will be 35 private exam rooms. Each room has a bright, modern space with essential services within easy reach including technology in the head wall above the bed for medical gases; electronic charting stations inside the rooms; and supply alcoves directly outside the rooms that will store linens and cleaning supplies.

3. There will be three private trauma resuscitation rooms and an isolation trauma room featuring glass doors that have the ability to switch from transparent for patient monitoring, to opaque for instant privacy.

4. There will be a dedicated Psychiatry Emergency Services zone with security, three observation rooms, an exam room and a quiet room for families. This area will enhance privacy and dignity for patients who are experiencing a crisis.

5. The Emergency Department will be easily accessible and easy to find, located on the main level beside our new main entrance on Lakeshore Road.

JBH outside from the west

In a couple of weeks the structure is expected to be weather tight – bridge from parking garage to the hospital is under construction.

Staff at the hospital currently work in an environment where an old tired building begins to make room for a shiny new structure that will have all the improvements technology has to offer.

Hopefully you won’t have to make a trip to the emergency department – but if you do – it will be a lot different than anything you have experienced in the past.

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It is very very dry - it would take just the smallest spark to set a house ablaze - no the time for fire crackers.

News 100 redBy Staff

June 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Canada Day – and no fireworks to thrill and entertain my little kids? Get real.

Fire Chief Tony Bavota is getting very real – and very serious.

Remember those fires that devastated large parts of Fort McMurray – the available evidence suggests they were the result of carelessness

Fort mcmurray - fire - roadway

Evidence to date suggests the fire in Fort McMurray, Alberta may have been the result of carelessness.

Have you taken a look at the colour of most of the lawns around the city – some pretty brown looking grass.

There hasn’t been enough rain.

All the farmer’s think they are going to be lucky to get two cuts from their hay fields – three cuts are out of the questions. Soybeans are looking a little limp and who know what’s going to happen to the corn silage?

Forest fires are very dangerous – very tough to control – so if the fire chief says don’t light fire crackers given the weather we are having – he needs to be listened to.

A city council that truly leads would pass a bylaw now that gives the authority to ban fire crackers to the fire chief – and make it a stiff, stiff, STIFF fine for those who fail to adhere to the bylaw.

Don’t let your Canada Day Fireworks go up in smoke” says the Chief.

The Fire Department is reminding residents to keep safety top of mind when planning annual Canada Day celebrations, especially those with fireworks.

“With the lack of rain and dry weather lately, we’re discouraging fireworks on Canada Day,” said chief fire prevention officer Joe Wintar. “The city is hosting a full day of activities in Spencer Smith Park, including fireworks. I encourage everyone to think about enjoying this show put on by pyrotechnic professionals.”

To keep your family and property safe, follow these guidelines when setting off fireworks:

• It must be three days before or during Canada Day, on July 1.
• You are at least 18 years old. Keep fireworks and sparklers away from children so they don’t get burned or have their clothing catch fire.

• You are being safe. Read and follow the directions on label carefully.
• You are on private property.
• Keep pail of water or water hose close by for extinguishment.
• Set off fireworks outside in a clear, open area away from doors, windows, buildings, cars, trees and dry grass.
• Light one firework at a time.
• Never re-light a “dud” firework. Wait 15-30 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Never light a firework in your hand.
• Keep onlookers at a safe distance and upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged.
• If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for 5-10 minutes and seek medical attention.

fort mcmurray fire - house

It takes but a stray spark to start this kind of fire.

As with any emergency, if there is a fire and public safety concern related to fireworks, please call 9-1-1. For more firework safety information, visit www.burlington.ca/fireworks

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Burlington male accused of sexual assault manages to convince a judge to issue a publication ban.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

June 28th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Publication bans are usually put in place to protect people who have been the victims of a criminal act.

Late in May the Gazette published a story on an individual who was arrested for two separate sexual assaults committed on May 24, 2016 at a west end supermarket.

HRPS crestThe information came to us from the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), Service Child Abuse and Sexual Assault (CASA) Unit.
Late yesterday we received an email telling us that a publication ban had been issued by Judge M. Barnes at the bail hearing for the person charged with the two criminal acts.

We were not aware of the publication ban, apparently the HRPS media people weren’t aware of it either. Detective Constable Matt Cunnington and Detective Constable Alanda, the arresting officers were apparently not aware of the ban either.

The Gazette would like to know why the ban was put in place.

We were advised by the police that the ban came under Sections 517.1 and 486 of the Criminal code.

We have removed the article.

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They are relentless - be carefull - if you don't recognize the address - don't open the email.

Crime 100By Staff

June 27th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

They are relentless.

They do nothing but send this type of email out by the tens of thousands – all they need is one sucker to click on that link and they could be in inside your computer tapping into anything and everything you have.

If you don’t recognize the sender – don’t open it.

This on came our way a few days ago:

THAT Zip file

This is a ZIP file – you have no idea what is in it – only that is will not be nice.

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Transit trip planner is now in its, hopefully, final test phase - they want you to try it out.

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

June 28, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Mike Spicer is already grey – and he is in the process of losing the hair that he has left. Some of that hair got pulled out in frustration the past couple of weeks.

Burlington Transit has bought into technology in a big way – they want people to know when that bus is going to arrive and then make sure it does arrive.

Then interim director of transit - now the newly minted Director of Transit for the city of Burlington, Mike Spicer replaces Donna Sheppard who retired as Director last August.

Director of Transit for the city of Burlington, Mike Spicer replaces marches in the Santa Claus parade – he may be wearing an I’m sorry sign in the next parade.

The Transit people bought a technology that would let a person plan their trip on their computer – sounded like a great idea – at the time

The installation of the service didn’t go all that well. They still aren’t sure that it is working the way the advertisements say it is supposed to work.

Spicer sent us a note earlier today saying:

“Our web site is live again as we have been able to fix the issues. We would encourage our customers to use the web trip planner as much as possible over the next couple of weeks in order to ensure that all of the previous issues have been resolved. We have extended our testing for a few more weeks in order to closely monitor the site and software to ensure it is meeting our customer’s needs.”

So – besides being loyal transit users – you are now a guinea pig – testing the service. Keep us informed.

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Missing 69 year old diabetic found.

News 100 redBy Staff

June 27th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Castonguay Carole

Carole Castonguay – found

At 10:34 pm the Halton Regional Police reported that the missing 69 year old female, Carole CASTONGUAY of Niagara Falls was found at the residence safe and sound.

The Halton Regional Police wish to thank the public for their interest and assistance in this matter.

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Paramedic and ambulance response times are meeting their targets -

News 100 redBy Staff

June 27th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Despite a 5.5 per cent increase in call volumes and a 4.4 per cent increase in patients transported compared to 2014, Halton paramedics continue to meet response time targets.

Over the past 10 years, overall emergency and non-emergency call volumes have increased 47.6 per cent in Halton, from 29,054 in 2006 to 42,881 in 2015. The number of patients transported over the same 10-year period has increased 45.5 per cent, from 19,222 to 27,959. In 2015, the Region handled 2,217 more calls and transported 1,175 more patients than in 2014.

Halton ambulance9-1-1 calls from Halton residents have increased every year for the past seven years, clearly showing an increased demand for emergency care in the region. The primary drivers for increased call volumes are population and employment growth, along with the impact of an aging population.

To ensure that the Region is prepared to address the various pressures related to providing paramedic services, Halton Regional Council approved the Paramedic Services 10-Year Master Plan in 2015.

As part of the Paramedic Services 10-Year Master Plan, Halton Region has taken several measures to enhance the level of emergency care available to residents, including:

• maintaining the existing population to paramedic staffing ratio;

• enhancing technology to ensure the Paramedic Services division has the tools to remain responsive and efficient;

• the approval to begin construction on two new paramedic stations: Southwest Oakville Station on Rebecca Street and East Milton Station on Fifth Line, south of Derry Road; and

• continually working with local hospitals, neighbouring paramedic services, the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC), the MOHLTC and community partners.

“The Region is committed to ensuring Halton residents receive timely emergency responses and high quality care when they need it most,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “The Paramedic Services Division Annual Update shows that in 2015 our Paramedics continued to meet Council-approved response time targets in every category. The Region remains focused on achieving these important targets to ensure we support the health and well-being of all Halton residents.”

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