 By Ray Rivers
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a rare moment.
Democrat and republican senators actually agreed to prohibit the sale of assault weapons to people whose names appeared on a terrorist-watch or no-fly list. In fact automatic assault weapons, like the US army’s M16, are restricted. So in theory civilians can no more legally obtain one of these any easier than they could a fully-functioning tank, B-52 bomber or a nuclear missile. But getting one of their semi-automatic cousins is a different story.
Bill Clinton, in 1994, signed a full-on ban for all assault weapons, though he had to include a ten year sunset clause to get the bill through Congress. And since GW Bush was president while the sun was setting, the ban wasn’t re-instated on its best before date, making it open season for gun buyers. So it’s no wonder that these assault weapons have been the first choice of the perpetrators of America’s mass shootings/killings since then.
 Less than $1000 retail The popular AR15 is a lightweight, compact rifle, which only requires a slight shift of one’s finger to fire off a round. And there can be as many as 30 rounds of ammo in the magazine should one want to do a lot of damage. It’s not clear how long it took the mad gunman to empty his magazine and re-load before he killed almost 50 people and wounded almost as many in that crowded night club in Orlando Florida last weekend, but it wouldn’t have been long.
Assault rifles have only one purpose, since they make lousy target or hunting guns – we once again we saw how effective they can be in the hands of a terrorist. Believe it or not it is possible to purchase one of these agents of death in Canada, if you are prepared to go through the hoops and hurdles. But then the weapon is restricted for use only on the target range.
As for US president Obama, gun control has to be one of his biggest failings. After each mass kill, he would rail and try to get new legislation to ban these guns. But like the cartoon character Elmer Fudd, he never could quite bag that prize. After Orlando the frustrated US leader complained that suspects on a terrorist-watch or no-fly list aren’t allowed to board a plane in the US but are free to buy an assault rifle.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Senate democrats picked up the theme and after a marathon filibuster session managed to get bi-partisan agreement. And It didn’t hurt that prospective GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump found himself also concurring.
 Charlton Heston clutching a rife at a National Rifle Association convention, Trump at one point in his life had been an advocate of more gun control. That is until the NRA (National Rifle Association) endorsed him for president. So now he argues teachers should also be gun slingers and that the best way to reduce gun killings is for everyone to carry a gun. Does he have a point? Had some of the partiers in that Orlando nightclub been carrying, instead of just carrying-on, they might have been able to take out the shooter before the count got to 49 fatalities.
But by extension that is a patently illogical argument. It’s true that mutually assured destruction may have kept nuclear armed nations from using their weapons, but would the same approach work for ordinary civilians? Defenders of loose gun laws are hardly driven by logic, meaningful empirical research or reason. But all they need to do is consider how loose guns were a failure even in the Wild West. Indeed the Wyatt Earps’ of that day kept the peace only by keeping the guns out of Dodge. Their gun laws were tougher than most American states have today and they worked.
Assuming the US House of Representatives also agrees to the modest assault rifle restriction, this would be a tiny step towards sensible gun policy south of the border. And a long march always begins with a first step in the right direction. That direction would be where Japan and Australia have marched, with gun laws that make mass shootings almost unimaginable.
The Chretien government made such a mess of introducing universal long-gun registration in this country two decades ago, that its eventual dismantling by the subsequent right-wing government was almost a given. And sure enough, once Harper got his majority he shut it down and destroyed all of the records which had been collected at significant public expense. In another blow to national unity he forced Quebec’s government into court in a failed attempt by that province to use those records as the basis for its own long-gun registry.
Perhaps as a sop to the western gun lobby the Trudeau government decided to campaign against bringing back the long-gun registry, in fact calling its creation a mistake. Still he did make several gun control promises during last year’s election, which are still in process.
 This is all you need in Canada One of those was to implement Canada’s obligations under the International Arms Trade Treaty, requiring manufactures and importers to place special markings on guns. The Harper government, likely in deference to the National Firearms Association (Canada’s NRA), had procrastinated on this simple requirement which facilitates international armament tracking.
And if eliminating the gun registry wasn’t enough, one Conservative MP, a mere month before the Orlando disaster, presented a petition to de-restrict the sale of assault weapons here in Canada. That would mean anyone with a firearms possession certificate could belly up to their local gun shop and bring one of those beauties home to show their little woman or man. Then it’s off to the woods to see about finally bagging that bunny in the bushes – or worse, for some other kind of hunting in a more public place.
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:
Samantha Bee – US Guns – US Gun Laws
Guns and Crime in Canada –
Obama on Guns –
More Obama –
LGBT Orlando –
Trump –
More Trump –
US Gun Debate – Guns and the Wild West – Gun Marking Canada –
More Marking –
Liberal Promises –
Assault Weapons in Canada –
 By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservative MP for Halton, Lisa Raitt threw two questions to the Liberal finance minister.
 Member of Parliament for Halton, Conservative Lisa Raitt Mr. Speaker, the finance minister is trying to strong-arm the premiers in this country to support his plan to increase CPP by over $3,000 a year. That is a tax nobody can afford. Customers will pay higher prices for everything.
Employees will be taking home less in their pay. We have already seen small businesses, this morning, begging the Minister of Finance to stop.
Why will he not listen?
Mr. Speaker, we want the minister to actually listen to Canadians. He does not want to hear how his plan is going to cost Canadian families. He does not want to hear how his plan is going to force businesses to fire employees. He does not want to hear how, actually, families will go home with fewer pay cheques. Even his own advisers have told him that 83% of Canadian households do not face a pension crisis.
When is the minister going to stop taxing Canadians in order to pay for his social engineering?
 By Staff
June 16, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Are you a soprano? An alto? A tenor maybe? Ah – then a bass?
Wayne Strongman, conductor of the 2016 Lowville Festival choir has put out a call to anyone interested in being part of a choir.
Rehearsal is Wednesday July 20th; 7:00 pm at the Lowville United Church.
 Rehearsals will take place in the Lowville United Church Concert takes place Friday July 22nd at St. Georges Anglican Church hall
The repertoire will include classical, musical theatre and folk songs
An ability to read music is a definite plus but it not mandatory.
This looks like a fun choir, a one shot deal with just the one practice. It will get you out of the house.
Wayne Strongman, the Festival Choir conductor Wayne was born in Hamilton and assumed his first position as church organist and choirmaster in the city at the age of 16. From there he went on to found Toronto’s Tapestry Opera, the country’s leading creator and producer of chamber operas, of which he was the Artistic Producer for 35 years.
He was the Artistic Director of Hamilton’s Bach-Elgar Choir from 1984-98.
If you have questions the man you want to talk to is Robert Missen – he is at: Robert Missen <rmissen@sympatico.ca>
 By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With a unanimous agreement to accept the staff recommendation on just when French Immersion classes should start attention now has to be given to just how this might work out and the processes that need to be put in place to monitor.
Both Director Stuart Miller and Associate Director David Boag responded to trustee questions regarding the entry point to the program, the intensity of immersion, role of instructional staff in assisting parents to make an informed decision regarding entry to the program, special needs students and supports for their success.
 Miller confirmed the French Advisory Committee will be reconstituted to look at implementation and ongoing issues. Two minor but related motions were passed.
 Director of Education Stuart Miller on the right. One was to ensure that an annual report be added to the report schedule (starting in 2018), outlining the percentage and number of Grade 1 students in each elementary school that have registered for French Immersion or English programs for the following year, and that this report highlight any schools where fewer than 20 students have registered for the Grade 2 English program and that any school where registration percentages for French Immersion have increased from prior years and provide an action plan to address the enrollment in those schools.
The trustees resolved that additional minutes be added to the Core French Program. A recommendation will be brought back to the Board.
With the decision to introduce French Immersion at the grade two level and not do so until the 2017/18 year the board has time to prepare and to put processes in place to measure the changes.
During the discussion Wednesday evening Director Miller advised the board that the current uptake of French Immersion could not remain at the current level. He said it was not sustainable and that he felt a reduction in the order of about 7.5% was needed.
The gamble for the board is that the decision they made Wednesday evening will allow parents to rethink how French Immersion is going to be managed in Halton.
It will be a challenge.
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are going to try it again – and maybe this time produce more in the way of results.
The Hamilton and Burlington Chambers of commerce are holding their second Bay Area Economic Summit, to promote strategic cooperation between the two cities to advance their respective regional economic development, prosperity and quality of life.
Burlington should be grateful for letting Hamilton allow us to hitch our little wagon to the freight train they have pulling their economy.
 No reason why this shouldn’t be a relationship made in heaven – does it need an office dedicated to nurturing the relationship? While Hamilton city council seems to be waffling all over the planned LRT that gets loads of mention they do have a smoking economic agenda and is now the place to move to for all those Torontonians who were not able to convince their bank managers to go along with the size of the mortgage needed to buy a home in that city.
Hamilton is literally bristling with economic development.
Burlington outsourced its economic growth to an Economic Development corporation that said at its inception it needed time to gather meaningful data on which it could base their decisions.
Lots of data – but not very many decisions – they did put out an interesting graphic that WORDS.
 Art work used by the Burlington Economic Development Corporation. Did it manage to sell anything? The Economic Summit is taking place at Royal Botanical Gardens, half of which is in Hamilton and some in Burlington, on Tuesday June 21, 7:30 am-5:00 pm, followed by a leadership reception.
Premier Wynne will be speaking – she might want to avoid explaining why Burlington now has two Cabinet Ministers because she convinced old war horse Ted McMeekin that he could live life better by doing less.
The Liberals now own the political landscape in Burlington – but Hamilton is the city experience healthy economic growth.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, will play key roles in the proceedings – Eisenberg has the better jokes. There will be an update from the federal government on stimulus funding opportunities available to the Bay Area community – that will keep both Mayors paying close attention.
The media release spoke of building “on the momentum” of last year’s inaugural intercity summit; the recommendations were cited in a post-event discussion paper.
“This year, we’ll focus on significant opportunities of mutual interest ranging from regional transportation and growth management to big data, workforce development and environmental stewardship,” said Keanin Loomis, president and CEO, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “It’s all about responding to the needs of our stakeholders and building a bay area partnership required to strengthen teamwork, and attract talent and investment.”
The agenda, built around the tagline Leading Change in a Regional Age, will dive into three interrelated themes of interest to decision- and policy-makers on both sides of the bay and beyond:
The evolving role of the Bay Area in a growing regional and international economy
Strategies and tactics to position the Bay Area for long term success
Priority planning and actions to drive collaborative change
 Mayor Rick Goldring with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at Burlington’s Rib Fest. She visits the city frequently but doesn’t sprinkle any pixie dust. In addition to morning and noon hour plenary sessions that provide a platform for key messages and announcements, the agenda will include 12 interactive breakouts on topics ranging from regional superclusters and transformations in healthcare to waterfront development and mixed use transit hubs, to name a few.
The summit will wrap up with the release of a communique crafted by event leaders that outlines a commitment to key actions moving forward.
The first summit set out some early steps for an organization that would continue the dialogue that began in 2015.
Feedback during and after BAES 2015 demonstrated great enthusiasm for the initiative and a desire to do it again in 2016. The boards, members and staff of the Hamilton and Burlington Chambers of Commerce are therefore committed to reconvene all stakeholders in June 2016 and to advance (in the interim and beyond) the shared agenda that has emerged from our efforts.
The most important commitments required at this time are from the Bay Area Subcommittee and the Cities of Burlington and Hamilton, including both Mayor’s Offices and Economic Development Departments. We are looking for involvement and investments at the same levels as 2015.
Rationale: The summit provides an existing high profile, multi-sector platform to advance informed thinking and action on the subject of Bay Area cooperation.
Achieve and Promote Early Successes: We will work with our partners to help advance signature Bay Area initiatives that are ripe for success, for example:
- Help secure formal provincial recognition of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System as Ontario’s first “urban biosphere park”
- Help support the exchange of local best practices related to planning and intensification — a topic of growing importance to Hamilton and Burlington
- Help ensure the growth of “women in leadership” initiatives throughout the Bay Area
Rationale: Early successes in the advancement of the Bay Area will provide proof points and generate momentum moving forward.
Assign Dedicated Resources: If there is a desire to maintain the momentum and take advantage of the opportunities associated with further collaboration, we see the need to establish a part-time office dedicated to providing an interim organizational structure for intercity cooperation in the near and long term. Funding for the office would be provided by a consortium of stakeholders, including the City of Hamilton and City of Burlington.
Two immediate priorities for the office:
Form an intercity, multi-sector task force to investigate and report on proven partnership models that could be implemented locally to structure, fund, mobilize and sustain Bay Area cooperation over time. The task force would share its findings and recommendations at future summits.
Help local groups and organizations committed to Bay Area cooperation advance their shared initiatives — e.g., joint events, research, advocacy, planning, etc. A particular focus would be placed on helping achieve select “quick wins.”
Rationale: A dedicated office co-funded and supported by key Bay Area stakeholders would ensure that sufficient time and resources are applied to the important work of coordinating and driving the advancement of the Bay Area as a hub for economic development and quality of life.
This amounts to yet another office that will churn out reports and keep mid-level bureaucrats employed.
The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System isn’t going to create jobs that add to the wealth of the community – money will be transfered from one pocket of the bureaucracy to another.
Burlington has significant residential development underway – part of the drive to meet intensification targets that had already been met. The city is posting house price increases year over year in the 12% plus range – something that isn’t sustainable and makes the city too expensive a place for people who might find jobs in the city.
 Can the guy on the left negotiate a better deal than the guy on the right ? James Ridge, city manager for Burlington wants to convince Chris Murray, city manager for Hamilton to sell some water lots. What Burlington needs is a stronger employment base – that hasn’t been forthcoming despite a significant reset at the Economic Development Corporation.
There is one deal that could be closed at the summit – settling on a price for the water lots at LaSalle Park – any bets on who is going to get the better of that deal?
 To register or learn more, visit www.bayareasummit.ca or contact Whitney Eames at w.eames@hamiltonchamber.ca or 905-522-1151 x 100.
 By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Brantford and Burlington:
A four-run eighth inning gave the Brantford Red Sox a win over Bandits making up for a sloppy start that ended with the Bandits losing 9-5 Thursday night.
Brantford led 1-0 after the first inning on Ricky Murray’s RBI single, but the Bandits scored five runs the second – four of them unearned – after the Red Sox committed two of its four errors.
The Red Sox chipped away and tied the game in the seventh before pulling away in the eighth. Nic Burdett delivered the decisive blow, belting a three-run blast with two out and Brantford holding a one-run lead. Burdett also singled twice for a three-hit game.
 Despite a decent start the Bandits lost the game to the Brantford Red Sox. Murray finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs, Dan Jagdeo drove in a pair, Dennon Koziol had an RBI, while Benjamin Bostick singled and doubled, and Brandon Dailey scored four times. Jeff Hunt added two hits, an RBI and run.
Jamie Richmond (1-1) went seven innings for the win, giving up five runs (one earned) on nine hits, striking out three and walking two.
Canice Ejoh led the Bandits with three hits and two RBI. Bryce Dimitroff had an RBI, and John Whaley added two hits and scored once.
Branden Kuzyk (0-2) took the loss in relief. He threw 1.2 innings and allowed four runs on three hits without walking or striking out a batter. Starter Derek Zwolinski went six innings and allowed five runs on 10 hits, walking five and striking out two.
Brantford improved to 9-7 and sits fourth in the IBL standings. Burlington dropped to 3-12.
Entenza dominates Leafs as first-place Panthers pounce KITCHENER
The Kitchener Panthers stopped a mini two-game slide with a 9-0 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night.
Tanner Nivins had two hits, including his 10th home run, two RBI and two runs. Sean Reilly singled and homered and drove in two.
Jonathan Brouse added two RBI, while Mike Glinka and John Interisano each drove in a run. Frank Camilo Morejon had two hits and scored twice.
Noelvis Entenza struck out 11 over seven scoreless innings. He scattered five hits but didn’t allow a walk.
Grant Tamane, Jon Waltenbury, Jonathan Solazzo, Connor Lewis and Dan Marra accounted for all five of Toronto’s hits.
Harold Rumion took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits over five innings, walking five and striking out three.
Kitchener improved to 12-3 atop the standings, while Toronto slipped to 7-7.
Barrie and Guelph
Atkinson, Arruda poweredthe Baycats past the Barrie Royals where Kevin Atkinson drove in three runs and Nate Arruda went seven innings as the Barrie Baycats beat the Guelph Royals 8-5 Thursday night.
Atkinson had a single, double and scored twice to lead Barrie’s offence. Jeremy Walker singled and had three RBI, while Jordan Castaldo and Ryan Spataro each had a hit and RBI.
Arruda (1-3) allowed both runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking three.
For Guelph, Santino Silvestri and Matt Schmidt each had two hits and an RBI. Brendan Power had the Royals’ other RBI.
Alberto Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits over six innings. Rodriguez struck out seven and walked three.
Future games
Friday, June 17
London at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 18
Burlington at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Hamilton at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Kitchener at London, 7:35 p.m.
The sound of Music schedule for Friday June 17th. There will be StreetFest events at five different pods.
The sound of Music schedule for Friday June 17th.
StreetFest events at five different pods
 
By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again – great music on the waterfront – a little mayhem with traffic. That’s what happens when tens of thousands of people arrive in town.
During the Sound of Music Festival, beginning Friday, June 17 at 3:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 19 at 6 p.m., Brant Street will be closed between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go to the Bus Terminal on John Street or Brant Street north of Caroline.
Saturday, June 18
On Saturday, June 18, the Sound of Music parade will run from 10:30 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. During these times, there will be no transit service on Brant Street between Fairview Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go north on Brant Street past Fairview Street or south on Brant to the Bus Terminal on John Street.
• There will be no bus service on Drury Lane south of Woodward Avenue or on Caroline Street.
Route 4
• Please go north on Drury Lane above Woodward Avenue or south to New Street.
• Please flag or wave the bus driver along New Street.
Delays are to be expected.
Burlington Transit runs a Festival shuttle service will run a continuous loop approximately every 15 minutes from the north side of the Burlington GO station to the Downtown Transit Terminal (430 John St.) as follows:
Saturday, June 11: Noon to midnight
Thursday, June 16: 6 p.m. to midnight
Friday, June 17: 6 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, June 18: noon to midnight
Sunday, June 19: noon to 8 p.m.
Cost for the shuttle: $3 round-trip
Children 5 and under are FREE
Please note: Drivers do NOT make change.
Extended Transit Service
Friday June 17, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
Saturday June 18, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m., 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
 By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Jordan Castaldo, swinging a bat for the Barrie Baycats doubled twice and had two RBI as that team doubled the Burlington Bandits 8-4 in the only IBL game Wednesday night.
Castaldo’s two-run double with one out in the fifth gave the Baycats a 4-2 lead and helped spark a five-run inning that turned the game around for the home side. Barrie’s first baseman also scored twice.
Steve Lewis had two RBI, Joey Guaragna had two hits and drove in a run, and Kevin Atkinson and Conner Morro each added an RBI. Ryan Spataro singled twice and came around to score both times.
Cole White (2-0) allowed three runs on five hits over 6.1 innings for the win, striking out two and walking three.
 Adam Odd singled twice and added a solo home run to lead the offence. Odd also scored two of the Bandits’ four runs. For the Burlington Bandits, Adam Odd singled twice and added a solo home run to lead the offence. Odd also scored two of the Bandits’ four runs. Nate Pettipiece had two hits.
Ryan Beckett (1-2) went 4.1 innings and gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits, striking out four and walking one.
Third-place Barrie improved to 9-6, and eighth-place Burlington dropped to 3-11.
Burlington is still in the basement of the league standings.
Future games
Thursday, June 16
Guelph at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Brantford at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 17
London at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Brantford, 8 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
June 16, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They settled it pretty quickly. There wasn’t a lot of serious or significant debate.
There were a lot of questions to staff on details and trustee Oliver from Oakville wanted to ensure that there was some rigid monitoring to see just what registration in the French Immersion program was looking like as parents register for the 2018-190 school year.
The trustees went with the Staff recommendation for the implementation of a French Immersion program that will start with students in grade two and begin in the 2018-19 school year.
Between now and then the board has to scramble to find the resources they will need to make it happen.
 The trustees voted unanimously to accept the staff recommendation for the rolling out of the French Immersion program. No one knows yet what the unintended consequences of hat decision might be. The gamble – and it became very clear during the discussion that the choice is a gamble
Staff is hoping that enough parents will decide that French Immersion may not be for their child and have their child remain in the core English program.
Director of Education Stuart Miller said that the recommendation has to reduce the number of people who want to put their children in French Immersion by at least 7.5% – he added that he would like to see that number reduced by 20%.
Stuart added that if the uptake for French Immersion does not come down by at least 7.5% “we are in trouble”
The Board faced a situation that has a huge number of people opting for the French Immersion program and that is putting pressure on the board at two levels:
Finding enough qualified French teachers
And leaving them with English classes with as few as five students – and that isn’t sustainable.
The choice the board has made is to move French Immersion as a program that begins in grade two where all instruction will be in French during the first year and decrease in grades three and four to the point where French takes up 50 of the class time.
 Associate director of Education David Boag – he got to carry the ball and explain all the ramifications to the trustees. Looking for a solution to a two pronged problem was a 15 month process that started with Stuart Miller and got passed along to David Boag when Miller was appointed the Director of Education.
There were 14 different options before the committee that was struck to delve into the problem. The committee whittled the 14 down to four and later added two as the process went forward.
The choice as a compromise for what everyone described as a “complex issue”.
Staff put their recommendations before the Board June 1st and gave the trustees three inch binders filled with data. Public delegations were heard on June 13th, there were just ten of them which one trustee said was a sign that the public was basically on side with the staff recommendation.
Notable was the board’s decision not to webcast the public delegations. Recording those delegations would have given the public an opportunity to see the breadth of public thinking – an opportunity lost.
Miller told the trustees that the decision they made will allow viable programs in both languages, and result in very few, if any changes in boundaries.
Students who are currently in a French Immersion will be grandfathered.
The trustees seemed to want to have a system where there is a core French program that introduces students to the language along with a French Immersion program for parents who want a richer French language experience for their children.
Many people look upon French Immersion as an approach some parents to give their children a bit of a leg up in getting a quality education and ensuring that their children are in classes where the quality of the education they get meets the child’s ability.
Miller told the trustees that there are currently 22 schools in the system that have less than 15 students in grade 1.
 Busing students to schools where the class size is sustainable is no an issue the trustees want to even think about. Those small classes go forward year after year – which is something the board cannot afford. To get larger class sizes busing becomes an option – and for those trustees who are advocates, passionate advocates, of students going to school in their neighbourhoods this wasn’t something they wanted to even talk about.
In setting the tone for the meeting, Miller pointed out that French Immersion is an optional program – that had grown to the point where it was seriously de-stabilizing the board’s ability to deliver programs in what trustee Reynolds (Burlington) pointed out is an English language board of education
Miller said they could not have an optional program impede the core English program.
The staff recommendation was expected to resolve the problem – that recommendation had a lot of crossed fingers attached to it.
The Board just does not know what parents are going to choose – the one year delay will, they are hoping will give parents a chance to do some re-thinking.
There is however a very strong well organized lobby for French Immersion The CPF – Canadian Parents for French has chapters all over the country and receives significant funding from the federal government. Their objective is to have the educational system produce bilingual students.
David Boag, Associate Director of Education is very clear when he says the French Immersion programs the Halton board offers does not produce bilingual graduates.
 Director of Education Stuart Miller didn’t miss an opportunity to let the trustees know what he wanted in the way of a decision on the French Immersion question. They went along with him. A student can earn a Certificate of competency in French – but that is a long way from being bilingual.
It is an ongoing situation – one that the board has to manage logistically and at the same time work with parents on both sides of the divide that sees passions rise from time to time.
What the parents want is the very best for their children – realizing that every child is different and that all should have the same opportunity with the limited resources available.
This one isn’t over yet – the trustees bought some breathing time. Miller mentioned on a number of occasions that there might be some unintended consequences coming out of the decisions. He can almost bet the ranch on that observation becoming very real.
The trustees might manage to slip through the 2018 election because we probably won’t know the full impact of the decision by then.
 By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit reports: We have been having some issues with the software. It started last night and we have our vendor and IT people working on it. When we work out these issues it will work on all devices including phones,tablets and desk tops.
I have asked staff to update our web site and advise our customers that we are unfortunately experiencing some technical issues and be patient as we work through them.
Burlington Transit launches new mobile-friendly website with real-time data
Burlington Transit launched an improved, mobile-friendly website, which features real-time data for improved customer service.
It is all at www.burlingtontransit.ca
I wasn’t able to get the information I thought I was going to be able to get – like which busses I had to take to get from my building to a building somewhere else in the city.
 Transit is taking the available technology seriously. Making it really friendly right away would be nice. The transit people said: “This is a significant customer service milestone. In 2011, only 9.9 percent of our web traffic at BurlingtonTransit.ca was through a mobile device or tablet,” said Mike Spicer, director of Burlington Transit. “In the past year, our statistics show that over 53 per cent of our web visitors are using a mobile device, and we expect that number to grow even higher in the years to come.”
Percentages are always a bit mis-leading – there were no raw numbers given. But let’s give them a good mark for trying.
They key features of the new, mobile friendly website include:
• Trip Planner: Plan your trip online by entering an address, intersection, stop ID or searching by popular locations.
• Schedule Finder: View a route or stop-specific schedule online or print one to take with you.
• Next Bus: Get real-time departure information for any bus stop location online or by calling 905-639-0550 with the stop ID number. Users can also see a live map showing the exact location of their bus.
• Stop Finder: Find the best stop location to suit your needs. View a list of amenities available at each stop so you can plan your trip with comfort.
The next steps of the Smart Transit System project include launching a Burlington Transit Twitter account, an online subscription service and online Handi-Van trip booking.
In the very near future we will meet with the good people at Burlington Transit and get them to take us through the new system – once we understand it – we will explain it to you.
By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We apologize for not getting this news to you earlier – it did not come to our attention until late this afternoon.
Looks like an interesting event – the organizers appear to have slipped a little in getting the word out to the media.
 By Staff
June 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Glastonbury Drive, from street number 2293 to 2353, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2016 for emergency storm sewer repair work.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
At this point she has the right to be referred to as “The Honourable” – but Mary Eleanor McMahon has yet to get her calling card updated – it will be Eleanor McMahon for some time to come.
She arrived at the tea party she had scheduled for her seniors – well before she was appointed to Cabinet where she will serve as the Minister for Sport, Art and Culture.
 The Honourable Mary Eleanor McMahon -Provincial Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sports.
McMahon’s Mother stood with her as she was sown in – she had tears running down her face said McMahon. “I was worried about tripping over something.”
The oath was taken with her Bible in her hand – A Catholic Bible McMahon reminded people.
“I met with my deputy minister” said McMahon – “she is going to be great. I will get my first full length briefing on Thursday and then it will be me hitting the Briefing binders.”
McMahon has a couple of projects that will impact Burlington directly – “not going to tell you what they are” she said and then inadvertently mentioned a big one – I agreed to respect her “that was supposed to be off the record” request. It isn’t in the bag yet – but McMahon is pulling hard for this one. The history buffs will like it.
As for the tea party – it was a quiet event.
Small crowd but all the right well wishers were there.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Fifteen minute service during those hours when it count? That is in the planning stage
An additional GO station in Burlington – there are people who are out there scouting different properties.
Electrification of the GO system is also in the planning stages.
 Possible – probable? – location for a fourth GO station in Burlington. Walkers Line on the current StressCrete property Someone wants more of us to take the GO train – and for those poor soul who find themselves having to brave traffic on the QEW every day this must sound like some kind of an advertisement that you don’t think is really going to deliver on the promise.
But if the rumblings and the comments being made have any truth in them the GO people have begun to talk seriously on just where an additional GO station in Burlington might be located.
There was a lot of talk about an additional station be created at Cumberland and tying it into a grade separation at the same time.
The more recent talk seems to be on Walkers Line where Stress Crete is located,
Stresscrete is the company that makes light poles out of concrete. There is a large yard within their property that could be made into a GO station – far far too early to tell yet if that one will come to fruition.
 Upgrades to the south side parking and the entrance to the Burlington station have yet to be completed. There was a point at which even the Mayor couldn’t get a completion date out of the GO people. Given the rate at which the changes being made to the Burlington GO station that seem to be taking forever – there is no value in thinking about which station you would choose to use.
Whichever – expect whatever gets built to have all kind of electric charging stations to be part of the set up.
Change is coming in a big way.
 By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
I didn’t see the change – even though I was at the event where it was announced.
What I saw was an attractive corporate logo with a really catchy tag line;
Give brilliantly!
 The occasion was the launch of the tag line and the newly designed logo put together by Play advertising for the Burlington Community Foundation.
This was the organization that publishes a Vital Signs report on the health of the community.
This is the organization that manages a significant number of endowments created for some community based purpose.
This is the organization that hands out close to a million dollars each year to different community non-profit organizations.
This is the organization that hours after the flood of August 2014, went to work and 100 days later had just short of a million in the bank to hand out to peoples whose homes had been devastated.
I could go on – the word community appears in everything they do.
Thus it was surprising when a friend pointed out to me that word “community” had been dropped from the name – it was now to be the Burlington Foundation.
What?
 When asked for a comment and some clarity, president and CEO Collen Mulholland explained that “Burlington is, and always will be, a thriving community. The Foundation is an integral part — the fabric of the community — as Burlington’s sustainable giving foundation.
“We don’t feel it’s necessary to repeat the word community. We wanted to keep are refreshed brand name concise and memorable also using our new rallying cry and tag line, Give Brilliantly.”
“Hope this helps to clarify for you.”
It doesn’t – defining just who you are matters. Burlington Foundation could be a bank, a club a company that builds basements.
The Burlington Community Foundation tells me exactly what they do – and I applaud that heartily. Continue to Give Brilliantly – the community needs all the help it can get.
 By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Langenburg, Saskatchewan has less than 12 streets and is bisected by the Yellowhead highway – if there was ever a face that goes with the story – the one about the farmer’s daughter – this is one of the better ones.
Jess Moskaluke, born June 4, 1990 is a Canadian country pop singer. She released her debut studio album, Light Up the Night in April 2014, which includes the Gold-certified single “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”
 Take me home – when she begins this piece on the West Stage at the Sound of Music on Saturday night – expect the audience to roar. In June 2011, Moskaluke won the Next Big Thing contest, sponsored by Big Dog 92.7 and SaskMusic. In September 2011, she won the New Artist Showcase Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She was chosen to represent Canada at the Global Artist Party at the 2012 CMA Music Festival.
The people who promote artistic talent love to trot out all the awards and the billings they got – read them if that kind of thing works for you – better to take the fast route and go straight to her music. When she does Take me home – get close to the stage – this song has loads of emotion pouring out of those inviting green brown eyes.
She will be on the West stage of the sound of Music on June the 18th. Get there early with a comfortable chair. This one’s a charmer.
If you want a sample of what this Saskatchewan native is going to do to you – listen in.
Moskaluke’s debut single, “Catch Me If You Can”, was released on June 4, 2012. The song’s music video received regular airplay on CMT. It was followed by an EP, also titled Catch Me If You Can, which was released on September 4, 2012 by MDM Recordings and distributed by EMI Music Canada. Jeff DeDekker of the Leader-Post gave the EP four stars out of five, writing that “by using the full extent of her voice and also incorporating tenderness and fragility, Moskaluke is able to cover the complete spectrum of material.”
 This one’s a keeper – Jesse Moskaluke, came to us from the prairie – Saskatchewan Casadie Pederson of Top Country also gave the EP four stars out of five, calling Moskaluke “one of the best young talents we’ve seen in a long time.”[8] The EP’s second single, “Hit N Run”, reached the top 40 on the Billboard Canada Country chart in 2013. Moskaluke was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2013 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards.[10]
Moskaluke released the first single from her debut studio album, “Good Lovin'”, in October 2013.[11] It became her first single to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Canada Country chart. The album, Light Up the Night, was released on April 15, 2014. “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes” and “Used” were both released as singles from the album in 2014.
By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
He mentored her, he tutored her and he perhaps even scolded her from time to time.
She basically harassed him in 2014 when she wanted provincial money for the flood victims in Burlington
And so it came to pass – that he took that long walk into the dark night and she stood up and accepted the appointment to the Premiers Executive Council and is now a member of Cabinet. Two years ago she was an advocate for better bicycle safety.
Politics is a blood sport – it is not for the faint of heart.
 Ted McMeekin, the Liberal Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the MPP for the riding next to us spoke for Burlington when we needed help. He is now just the MPP for Ancaster – there is still however, a lot of tread on those tires. Ted McMeekin put a wonderful spin on his “retirement” from Cabinet when he said: “Each time a man or woman stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” He added – “I’m grateful to have sent my few small ripples into the current of this Province.”
McMahon gushed and in her typical manner kept saying how honoured she was to have been appointed. It is now time to lighten up on the gushing and the gee whiz stuff and get down to the business of legislating.
 Eleanor McMahon MPP for Burlington – now a member of the provincial cabinet McMahon will be spending much of the weekend going over the mandate letter that went with the job and then spending endless hours poring over briefing books.
Then she has to begin to think about how she wants to carry out the mandate she was given.
No more bootserism, no more yelps about how great it all is. Hard work, creative thinking and assembling the team she is going to need to get the job done.
With just two years’ experience as an active politician Mary Eleanor McMahon has her work cut out for her.
There are some very impressive pluses to the woman – she is one of the best political campaigners this reporter has seen – and I’ve seen a lot of them. She bonds with people – and the bonding is real. She likes people; she cares, really cares.
 The arts are now and tourism are now going to be front and center for the new minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. She has already begun thinking of bike tours throughout the province. Kathleen Wynne saw something in McMahon when she personally asked her to run in Burlington and bring to an end more than 70 years of Tory rule. The confident the Premier had when she recruited McMahon is clearly still there – her choice wasn’t based on just gender.
McMahon now faces the challenge of proving the Premier to have been right; she knows what it is to face a challenge – but she isn’t alone facing this one.
By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a quickie.
But a bit different in a couple of ways
At the regular meeting of city council – that lasted 28 minutes – Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward called for six recorded votes – a record for her. The idea became popular and Councillor Craven, Councillor Sharman and the Mayor asked for recorded votes as well.
 It was almost as if they didn’t want you to know who they are. Terrible picture quality. The city of Burlington just isn’t going to move to a technology that records every vote on everything at both Council and Standing committee meetings.
 The Board of Education visuals are much much better. The Halton District School Board has put technology in place that allows the trustees to press a bottom and within seconds the vote result appears on a screen that can be seen on the web cast as well.
 The close ups of Councillors are not any better. The pink jacket tells you she is Councillor Lancaster. The guy with the bling tells you which one is the Mayor. The city is also a bit of a laggard when it comes to the quality of their web casts, Compare the visuals we have provided – the school board cameras capture the expressions on the faces of the trustees – the city cameras let us know that Councillor Lancaster is wearing a pink jacket.
The city can do better – they just don’t want to – so much for genuine public engagement.
Councillor Craven reported that the public space at the corner of Plans Road and Waterdown is now complete – it took the unfortunate and some thought illegal expropriation, of the former Murphy’s convenience store to make this happen – but that is the price of progress. Craven told council the Aldershot BIA contributed $65,000 to the creation of the small plaza
Aldershot is getting another small space for the public to sit and watch the cars go by at the intersection of Plains Road and Francis – that should be in place by September,
 Commercial services at grade – we have yet to see any form of office space development – the place where all those quality jobs are going to be located. so far – it is just a place for people to live – a place that has neither a decent supermarket or an LCBO store. That isn’t living folks! The report identifies Ruth Victor & Associates as both the Applicant and the person who is representing the applicant. Ruth Victor is the planner who speaks for the ADI Group most of the time. June 22nd – there is a public meeting on the plans for an eight storey structure at Cooke Blvd Road and Plains Road East which Councillor Craven explained as an additional step in the creation of the economic hub that is coming into being in the Aldershot community.
 The existing is the convention centre – the proposed is the six storey hotel. Construction should start soon. A decent watering hole for the east end. The report identifies Ruth Victor & Associates as both the Applicant and the person who is representing the applicant. Ruth Victor is the planner who speaks for the ADI Group most of the time.
A six storey hotel adjacent to the Burlington Convention centre was approved – in record time gushed Councillor Sharman
By Staff
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s not just in Spencer smith Park. It’s in the clubs as well.
Set out below are the locations for the Sound of Music Club Series today and tomorrow.
 The Queens Head – one o the six Sound of Music Club series locations.  The Dickens – will feature a couple of the Club Series performers Today and Wednesday.
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