 By Pepper Parr
October 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton have surpassed records in the number of vehicles inspected and the total number of charges from previous years.
 Officer checking the condition of truck tires during inspection blitz. Police Officers and Inspectors from eight police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results:
Total CMV’s Inspected 472
Total CMV’s taken out of service 167 (35% failure rate)
Total Charges Laid 348
Sets of plates seized 29
The out of service rate improved by approximately 6%; this could be attributed to an increase in compliance with safety statutes. In 2014, out of 457 inspected, 188 were taken out of service; a 41% failure rate. A total of 301 charges were laid in the 2014 blitz.
Of the charges laid this year, the following is a sampling of some of the offences:
Failure to complete annual inspection 55
Improper brakes 16
Insecure loads 23
Fail to complete daily inspection 60
Dangerous good violations 5
Driver’s Licence violations 13
Insurance violations 10
Based on these number more than a third of the trucks that pass you on the road shouldn’t be there – tougher regulations might be needed or heavier fines.
Having the trucks taken off the road for a short period of time doesn’t seem to be doing the job – this blitz takes place every year – the numbers don’t decrease.
 By Pepper Parr
October 8th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year the Fire Department holds an Open House which Fire Chief Tony Bavota describes as a day for the family that doesn’t cost a dime and “if they buy a hot dog from the service group they get it at cost – a great inexpensive family outing”.
But this year there was no Open House because the fire department HQ is undergoing a major renovation – so they had to come up with a new idea. And they certainly came up with what can only be described as a winner.
The Fire Department partnered with the Culinary class at Robert Bateman High school for a cook off between four teams. Each team was made up of a fire fighter and two students. Murray Zehr who runs the Culinary program said there are 300 students in the class where the focus is on nutrition and kitchen safety. The cooks had an hour to prepare the meal.
There were very good reasons for using a cook off as the focus for the event – 53% of the fires in private homes are the result of unattended cooking.
 Acting Captain Sam Wakunick taught the Gazette reporter a couple of things about unattended cooking. It was embarrassing. This reporter has some direct experience with unattended cooking and the Burlington Fire department. Shortly after moving into a new home and getting used to the stove I wandered away from the kitchen and then heard that beep beep sound of the smoke alarm. There was nothing I could do to shut the damn thing off the way you can in most houses. I called security and told them everything was under control but it was too late – the fire department was on the way and before I knew it Sam Wakunick was standing at my door in full fire fighter kit. I sheepishly explained what I had done – she smiled – Sam wasn’t a guy – and asked if she could just look through the unit – which wasn’t exactly tidy.
Months later I show up to cover a news event and there is Sam – reminding me not to wander from the kitchen when food is cooking.
The Fire department media people working with the Bateman staff came up with a really fun and instructive program that made the point – fires are dangerous and they can be prevented. It was also an opportunity to showcase the cooking talent at Bateman
 Fire fighter Peter Temoche explains a point to a member of his team Kristan Dymad – Alicia Ann Husk was also on the team. Each of the cooking teams was given a recipe and the ingredients – there was a table with all kinds of oils, wines, and fresh vegetables that cooks could dip into.
To jazz up the event – a fire fighter with the name “That Guy” who wandered from stove to stove and just became a pain in the butt. He would drop something into the food or give one of the cooks a penalty which meant they had to sit in a penalty box – and not be able to take part in the food preparation.
There was a party atmosphere that brought out the newly minted Director of Education Stuart Miller and Mayor Goldring who advised the students that he had absolutely no culinary skills but was prepared to serve as a judge for the cook off. The Mayor mentioned that during his recent trip to China he learned to ask what he was being served; “you sometimes didn’t want to know” he said. Burlington’s taxpayers however might want to know what the Mayor was doing in China for close to a week.
 Firefighter Dave Reid and Bateman students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales look into the ingredients they were given to cook up a meal in one hour. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales were on a team called the Dragons.
 Fire fighter Chris Grieve takes his cooks Cameron Davies and J.R. Kelertas through the approach he thinks they should take to preparing the meal. Chris Grieve, the fire fighter was on a team with students Cameron Davies and J. R Kelertas – they decided to be known as Five Arm Alarm; one of the students had a cast on his arm
Fire fighter Peter Tamoche teamed up with Krista Dymod and Alicia Ann Husk – they wanted to be called the Hot Tamales.
 Ty Solomon gets rapt attention from a student during the cook off. Ty Solomon and students Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw titled themselves: Kill it with Fire.
 The Bateman high school kitchen with its four gas stoves was a bit of a zoo with cameras all over the place and students scooting around picking up supplies and utensils. The kitchen at Bateman was a bit of a zoo with students photographers wandering all over the place, the Cogeco cable News camera kept popping up while cooks were scooting around getting equipment and ingredients while Dennis Hayes kept calling out trivia questions and announcing penalties and in the last fifteen minutes telling everyone how little time they left.
Students and other observers looked on from the back of the kitchen.
The judging was pretty tight: winning team got 75 points with two teams getting 71 points. They were judged on presentation and taste.
 Dave Reid’s team, on the left took first place while Ty Solomon throws his arms up and congratulates Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw who took second. There were less than four points between each team. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Plouffe and Hales took first place.
 While students were cooking up their storm other students were trying on fire fighter equipment. The fire department had three pieces of equipment parked outside the school and all kinds of fire fighter equipment set out for students to try on. There were 19 fire fighters helping out “on their own time” added Chief Bavota.
 By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional Health office is making it easier for parents to advise the health office that their children have been properly immunized.
The online immunization reporting form makes it more convenient way to report required immunizations. The form is available at halton.ca/immunize.
While the majority of families in Halton Region immunize their children to protect their health, many are unaware of their legal requirement to notify the Halton Region Health Department about any required immunizations their children have, especially those the province requires for school attendance.
Parents can update their child’s immunization records by going online at halton.ca/immunize, dialing 311 or dropping off an up-to-date record at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville.
 Advising the regional health office that your child has been properly immunized is a requirement. That can now be done on line. “Halton Region’s Health Department is responsible for enforcing the provincial Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), which outlines the immunizations students need to attend classes, in order to keep our schools and students healthy,” said Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani. “Since students without up-to-date immunization records can face school suspension, it’s critical that parents make sure the Halton Region Health Department has their child’s most recent immunization records on file.”
Immunizations are available through family doctors or at one of Halton Region’s immunization clinics. If children are unable to get immunized, they must have a notarized exemption on file with the Health Department in order to meet school attendance requirements.
To learn more about which immunizations are required to attend school and how to report immunizations, please visit halton.ca/immunize.
 By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There are occasions when the city does listen to the people who pay the freight. Not as often as they could and should but they at least do try.
Last year the city held an event that people who liked the idea of serving on an advisory committee could attend and meet city staff who could explain what was involved.
Danielle Pitoscia, Manager of Committee and Election Services, who I think deserves credit for the initiative announced that “After the success of last year’s first-time event, we are holding the event in a larger space to make room for all the participants. It’s great to know there are so many people who want to get involved with their city through the committees,” she said.
 Except for one person, and she was a consultant hired by the city, these people are all community volunteers. At times they are very effective. “This event is a great first step for people wanting to become involved and have a real impact and voice within their community through our volunteer boards and committees.”
The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at Burlington City Hall between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Whoops – glitch!
 City hall is not the only place in the city people can meet in. Why does everything have to take place at city hall. This makes it very inconvenient for people who live north of the QEW. Lesson in there for city hall – hold three events – one at Tansley Woods, and another at the Haber Recreational Centre.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven is a big booster for his ward – he welcomes everyone to his part of the city. Ooops – just heard a groan from Councillor Craven in Ward 1 – hold the event in Aldershot as well.
That does mean the people who are behind these committees have to get out of their offices more than once. If you want the public to be involved – give them a decent chance to become involved.
Everyone is welcome to come out and learn about the committees and see why volunteering on a local board or committee can help you meet new people, share your talents, develop skills, address a common interest as well as make a difference in your community. Current volunteers are also invited to attend as a networking opportunity.
Applications for local boards and committees close Oct. 30, 2015.
For more information about the Volunteer Open House, committees or to apply for a volunteer position, contact the Clerks Department at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 or visit www.burlington.ca/citizens.
By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Some of the most horrific highway accidents take place on holiday weekends – that’s when families are in cars going to see other members of their family. Check the newspapers Monday, listen to the radio – you will see and hear it all.
 Can we get through the Thanksgiving weekend without pictures like this? Try Over the Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th through to the 12th, the Halton Regional Police Service will be taking part in a national road safety partnership known as Operation Impact. The goal of the program is to remind drivers that an essential part of traffic education and enforcement is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways.
Officers assigned to Operation Impact will focus on behaviour that puts drivers, passengers and other road users at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive/distracted driving.
Aggressive drivers often engage in a combination of high-risk road use behaviours; non-use of seat belts, drinking and driving and speeding. The results of these behaviours are often catastrophic for all involved road users.
This year there have been several motor vehicle fatalities investigated by Halton Police. Each of these deaths represents the tragic loss of a loved one – a senseless tragedy that in most cases could have been prevented.
Our annual participation in Operation Impact forms an important part of our overall traffic strategy where partnerships lead to greater road safety. A focus on high risk behaviours provides opportunities for enforcement as well as education.
A good program, that will be solidly enforced – what was missing? Not a word about distracted driving – the nut cases that think they can text and drive at the same time. If the behaviour isn’t mentioned and targeted it may not get the attention it deserves.
Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2015.
That is an interesting target – aren’t we already in 2015?
By Pepper Parr
October 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a sign, a fence or hoarding around a construction site.
 City lawyers say this is a sign and not a fence or a construction site hoarding. Will now work with the developer to bring them into compliance. The city by law enforcement officer needed to know just which it was before she took any action on the huge sign that sits on Lakeshore Road at Martha where the ADI development Group has submitted an application to put up a 28 storey structure that was rejected by the planning department but never actually voted on by city council. It is now before the Ontario Municipal Board which will hear the ADI argument for the right to build the structure at a December meeting.
The by law enforcement officer had to respond to a complaint – but needed to get a ruling from the city’s lawyers.
It is a sign say the lawyers – now what?
 This isn’t construction site hoarding and it doesn’t look like a fence – so the bigger part was declared to be a sign and has to be brought into compliance with the bylaw – six square feet. Well as a sign it is too big – they are allowed to put up a sign that is not larger than 6 square metres. The sign is apparently close to 16 square metres.
The options for the city?
Fine the developer and force them to reduce the size of the sign. The city can do both but the understanding the Gazette took from our discussion with the bylaw enforcement officer is that they would probably not do both. The intention is to work with the developer and bring them into compliance.
Why the velvet glove treatment? ADI has run rough shod over every process and procedure the city has in place. They appear to see rules as things that are made to be broken or severely bent.
 By Pepper Parr
October 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Holding a discussion between candidates running for public office needs a public audience and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) served the community well when they hosted the discussion between the four candidates who want to represent Burlington in the House of Commons.
Incumbent Mike Wallace stood against Liberal Karina Gould, New Democrat David Laird and Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito. For a while they had Wallace on the ropes
The meeting was broken into two parts; the first was used to put forward questions that had been prepared by the CFUW – the second part was to put forward questions prepared by the audience.
The CFUW could have done a better job of tightening up their list of questions – there were too many and some overlap between the questions.
When the overlap was getting out of hand the audience made it clear that they didn’t want to hear anymore.
It was rowdy room – the auditorium at Central High School was close to packed; when the audience didn’t like what they were hearing they got a little boisterous.
Moderator Dorothy Borovich sent out her most withering glare on more than one occasion – it didn’t always work.
What the audience did get was a clearer look at just where the candidates stood on specific issue.
 Conservative incumbent Mike Wallace who has served two terms as the Burlington MP was giving a rough ride during the all candidate discussion sponsored by the Canadian Federation of University Women. Mike Wallace had to defend himself on several issues and while he had his supporters in the room it was pretty clear that the audience was buying what Karina Gould had to say. There were several bursts of spontaneous applause for Gould positions.
Burlington doesn’t do debates – the thrust and cut of argument doesn’t seem to suit the community.
There was no clear winner but it was clear that Wallace was on the defensive.
It was an older audience for the most part but it certainly wasn’t a submissive audience – they hooted and hollered frequently.
Every candidate agreed that the demographic shift that has taken place meant more attention and resources had to be spent on the senior population – and all four candidates agreed that the biggest problem facing the country was climate change.
The first question from the CFUW list was related to governing and they wanted to know what each candidate had to say about the way they would lead locally – that is what they would do in the community.
Mike Wallace started off with is nine year track record which he thought was pretty good. He spoke of leadership and the way the federal government has handled terrorism (which got a groan from the audience) and his work as chair of the Justice Committee.
He wanted voters to look at the issues and then decide who is best suited to lead in both the community and the country.
 Green Part candidate Vince Fiorito talks over an issue with a participant. Vince Fiorito followed with four points: the environment, the debt, poverty and jobs – and then went on to tell the audience a little about himself.
Karina got her turn next. “We can do better” she said “with job creation, with fixing and improving the infrastructure.” She added: We need less secrecy, we need to see the Prime Ministers office working differently, we need to create a Senate that works; our job creation has been dismal.
Part of the reason the government had a surplus last quarter Gould said was because they didn’t spend the money budgeted on the veterans and the aboriginal community. We have a government that hides its problems and doesn’t trust Canadians.
The audience at Central High school burst into applause. As people were filing into their seats the audience appeared to be more senior than younger family types – I thought they were part of the core Conservative vote out to hear that candidate.
David Laird tells people this is his fifth campaign and that he was there once again to fight the good fight for the working people. He added that his focus was the young people and the help they needed – not the smartest political move in an audience that has less than 5% younger people.
The CUFW wanted to know what the candidates would do with the health system, specifically home care, pharma care and longer term care.
Wallace explained that health is a provincial responsibility and that the federal government is a funding partner that transfers money to the provinces. The amount to be transferred next year is to be reduced by 3% he explained but if a province has experienced significant growth in senior population an additional amount will be available.
One would have thought the federal government would know where the senior population is located – this isn’t exactly a mobile demographic.
Gould was more specific. She said a Liberal government would pour in an additional $3 billion into home care – because it works she said.
Laird too promised money for home care, palliative care and Pharmacare.
With all this agreement being set out – one wonders why this isn’t already in place. Why are seniors worried?
CFUW wanted to know what each candidate would have their party do about Canada’s image worldwide.
Fiorito said “we have to be more visible at the UN, respect International Law and get back into the Peacekeeping business” for which he got a decent round of applause.
 Liberal Party candidate Karina Gould had a good night. She was applauded frequently but summed up rather weekly Gould hit the right button when she said: Step # 1 Change the government – for which she got an immediate burst of applause. She went on to say that “Canada used to have a vision, we were a player, we were respected at the United Nations; our view on climate change was understood and respected – we were not seen as obstructionist – our was a voice of reason.”
David Laird said he had predicted all this and said the government needed to explain why the system was broken.
Wallace said he didn’t agree with the premise behind the question (for which he was booed) and pointed to the way Canada supported the government of the Ukraine and how it had stood up for the values of the men and women who had fought in Korea and WWII
The CFUW wanted to know where the candidates and their party’s stood on pensions.
Gould said the current pension system is not working – we have to meet with the provinces on this – we get that she added. The Guaranteed Income Supplement has to be increased by 10% – then the pension paid has to be indexed.
 David Laird, New Democrat candidate, running for the fifth time, made a very strong point when he said pension money does not belong to corporations. Laird wanted to see pensions increased and was specific – add $400 million to the GIS – it is amazing how the politicians throw around figures.
Laid did make a very strong point when he said: Should a company declare bankruptcy the bond holders get first dibs on any assets – Laid wants the pensioners to be first in line. He added that some companies declare bankruptcy to get out of their pension obligations.
Laird is absolutely right – pensions are not a corporate asset – pension contributions have to be put into a fund that corporations cannot touch – it isn’t their money.
Wallace pointed to some changes that had been made to the RIF rules that allowed people to take some of their money out at an accelerated rate. He wasn’t on for increases to the Canada Pension Plan which the Conservative government called a tax on business. More cat calls from the audience at this point.
Education – always a warm spot for the CFUW who offer a scholarship every year.
Laird wanted to see free university education. That brought some rather direct comment from the audience which in turn brought the first of the Borovich glares. When Dorothy Borovich directs her very strong gaze on you – you want to duck. She has a Shush that would put a librarian to shame.
Fiorito took basically the same view – universal, state paid university education to those who show merit – if you have the marks – you get in.
Wallace didn’t see it that way. His party believes these are decisions the parents make – the government will provide income tax benefits and some funding but the parents get to make the decisions. The federal government he said would not be creating a national university education program.
Gould didn’t talk about an education program – she wanted to focus on a Day Care program that into which a Liberal government would pump $500 million.
Karina Gould took the room from the very beginning of the evening and while she didn’t shine every time – she was on target most of the time. She was never booed – the others were. Both Wallace and Laird at some point both said they agreed with her.
But when the evening was over and the candidates were doing their summing up – no one really moved the audience – other than the Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito, who spoke with conviction.
There was more – we will cover that in an additional report.
 Ciné-Starz
Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, October 09, 2015 through Thursday, October 15, 2015
The Perfect Guy (14A)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 3:00, 5:10, 9:20
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (PG)
Fri – Mon: 7:20 PM
Tue – Thu: 3:20, 7:10, 9:30
Straight Outta Compton (18A)
Fri: 7:00 PM
Sat – Mon: 7:00, 8:45
Tue – Thu: 7:00 PM
Shaun the Sheep ()
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:35, 5:15
Tue – Thu: 5:30 PM
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:15, 5:00, 7:10, 9:15
Pixels (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:15, 3:20
Ant-Man (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Mr. Holmes (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 5:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 9:40
Minions (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:15, 5:15, 7:00
Tue – Thu: 1:15, 5:40, 7:30
Inside Out (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:00, 3:20, 5:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00 PM
A Walk in the Woods (14A)
Fri – Mon: 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
By Pepper Parr
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
It was a small event, scheduled to run for just over half an hour – it ran for an hour and a half. What was billed as a citizen getting an award for volunteer work turned out to be a love story – the story of Janice Connell’s love for her husband “Mikey”.
 Michael Frederick Swartz, Canadian Diabetes Association 2015 Volunteer of the year Michael Frederick Swartz is a tall lanky man who speaks in a bit of a drawl. He is quiet by nature; tends to focus and drill down into the issues before him. He worked in the world of banks and money; his home on Lakeshore Road suggests he has done well financially.
But this love story was not about how well Michael has done; it was about the woman in his life who cares for him in a way that is seldom celebrated so publicly. It was just a simple, almost brazen declaration of love that came through every paragraph of the comments Janice made about the man who was being named the Volunteer of the Year for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
It is hard to tell how often Janice Connell had to roll her husband over when he had become unconscious: Michael is a type 1 diabetic and needs constant care and attention.
 Mike Dawson, Ansley Dawson (mike’s youngest daughter and baby Cameron Dawson (our 8week old grandson) Janice Connell, Mike Swartz. Tucked in the centre background Ed McMahon, fellow Habitat for Humanity board member. Everyone had nice things to say about Michael Swartz – that’s what these events are about. And while the event was to recognize and celebrate Michael Swartz, it was Janice who put the energy into the space and spread the feelings she has for her husband throughout the room.
There isn’t much nonsense to Janice Connell – perky, direct, sometimes too direct, considerate – the kind of person who goes out of her way to help. This reporter experienced that touch on a desolate Christmas Day.
I wasn’t able to see the look on Mike’s face as she spoke – I wondered what he was thinking as he heard her tell of the numerous times he had passed into unconsciousness and stood a better than even chance of dying were it not for his wife being there.
Janice told her audience that when the doctors tell you ‘everything is under control and you can leave the emergency room – don’t believe them.” I suspect she didn’t leave the room and there isn’t a doctor in the system that would have the courage to insist.
Swartz was described as the go to guy; the fellow who would find the nut in a problem; the kind of guy you work with – not someone you work for – who happens to have a serious Tim Hortons habit.
 Janice Connell with husband Michael Swartz Mentioned as well was his ten years serving with Habitat for Humanity where he convinced the organization to build the large project on Appleby Line – even though they didn’t have the money. “This is what we are here to do” he told the board that met until well after midnight the day that decision was made.
He brought his talents to the organizational side of the 65,000 Diabetes Association volunteers – and they all loved him.
His closing remarks as he held the award he had been given was – be a volunteer – it doesn’t matter where – just be a volunteer.
By Walter Byj
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Secondary summer school continues to grow in popularity.
At a recent Halton District School Board (HDSB) meeting Superintendents of Education, David Boag and Tricia Dyson, presented a report which showed growth in the summer program with overall summer enrollment growing by 15.5%
 Some students chose to gain full credit enrollments, others chose to either upgrade or have a one half credit; 4312 students chose to either upgrade their marks or to reach-ahead.
The major increase was in online enrollment which grew by 34% and had a completion rate of 85% vs 87% for in-class courses.
A quick numbers update.
• 1584 full credit in-class enrollment vs 1524 in 2014
• 1058 upgrade and one half in-class enrollment versus 890 in 2014
• 599 online full credit enrollment vs 507 in 2014
• 768 upgrade and one half credit online enrollment in 2015
By Staff
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
At its meeting on Sept. 28, Burlington City Council approved a new bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wild animals, including coyotes, in the city’s public parks. The bylaw will not however become effective for one year.
 The bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in public parks goes into effect in one year. “This new bylaw will help the city address public concerns over coyotes by trying to prevent conflicts before they occur,” said Scott Stewart, the city’s general manager of development and infrastructure. “Research and experience show that one of the most significant things everyone can do to reduce direct public interaction with coyotes is to avoid feeding them.”
 Swans can be fed but only by those who are licensed. The no feeding wildlife bylaw prohibits the feeding of any wildlife including waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, in public spaces. City Council approved an amendment to the bylaw to allow the Trumpeter Swan Coalition to continue its work with the trumpeter swans that live in LaSalle Park.
“Like all wildlife in Burlington, coyotes are just trying to survive, and they do that by finding food sources,” said Tracey Burrows, manager of bylaw enforcement and licensing. “The new bylaw will not come into effect for one year, during which time the city will be reaching out to residents to help inform them about how we can work together to eliminate and properly manage food sources around homes to ensure coyotes remain wary of humans.”
In addition to the no feeding wildlife bylaw, the city also offers an online service where residents can report coyote sightings. These sightings are monitored and tracked by city animal services staff to learn more about which areas of the city coyotes are located.
For more information about coyotes or to report a coyote sighting, please visit www.burlington.ca/coyote.
 By Staff
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The views of political personalities on issues that are critical to the social well being of the country are important and deserve the widest possible audience. Former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams speaks out on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s position on the wearing of the niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies.
The Gazette believes this country is bigger than the Prime Minister that currently leads us
Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams saaid in a CBC News story that some of the tactics of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper are borderline racist.
Williams, who led a Progressive Conservative government in Canada’s most easterly province from 2003 to 2010, launched his latest scathing attack against Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada on Sunday during an interview with CBC News.
He used the word racism in reference to the debate over the wearing of the niqab by Muslim women taking part in the oath of citizenship.
Williams said the issue is not worthy of becoming a national issue, but the Conservatives have latched onto it in order to secure votes.
 The tolerance for which Canada is respected around the world has been severely damaged by the actions of the Prime Minister over woman wearing a niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies. “He doesn’t care if he isolates the issues of women or if he isolates the issue of minorities, and even crosses, possibly, that racism line,” Williams stated.
Williams accused Harper of breaking a promise on equalization payments, igniting an unusual rift between the two Conservative cousins.
The campaign was hugely successful, with not a single Conservative candidate winning election in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The federal Conservatives remain very unpopular in the province, which is largely a legacy of Williams’s ABC campaign.
Williams left office in late 2010 with his popularity still largely intact, and his views still carry a lot of weight in the province.
Williams is obviously hoping his unfiltered attack on Harper will make a difference in a three-way race between the Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats.
“Over time we’ve seen that this man cannot be trusted. He had no integrity. He’s trying to stifle democracy. There’s no end to what he’s doing,” said Williams.
“He’s a lousy prime minister who’s divisive.”
 By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Membership has its privileges – The Art Gallery of Burlington launched their fall season with a members only reception that had the xx artists in the fall program on hand to chat up their work and answer questions.
 Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets In Spirit
In Spirit presents the work of Timothy Laurin, John Latour and Heather Murray. Timothy Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets. His practice focuses on identity and memory and how one informs the other and keep in flux one’s sense of self.
John Latour’s text-based art, sculpture, and found photography highlight the ways in which we connect with the past, and how this uniquely human activity is mediated through words, objects, and images. Heather Murray is influenced by her rural backdrop and creates diligently and enthusiastically out of her haunted historical studio in Owen Sound Ontario.
This exhibition is co-curated by Virginia Eichhorn, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Denis Longchamps, Art Gallery of Burlington. The exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to November 15, 2015.
Co-curation with the Tom Thomson Art Gallery is not small potatoes.
 Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium. Not to be missed. Thrown
While the thrown vessel is the most common ceramic form, great skill is required to achieve total control in the medium. Once this level of skill is reached, the artist can then either create ever more complex forms or loosen up and relax. Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium.
The permanent collection is gem that is all too often hidden – it was what validates the existence of the gallery – the rest of the country just hasn’t discovered it yet.
Curated by Jonathan Smith, the exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to December 31, 2015 in the Perry Gallery.
 a snapshot of one of the collages “5 Glasses” featuring a photo of artist Clive Tucker surrounded by five different types of glasses. Click. Clip. Paste.
Jonathan Smith presents fifteen of his photo-collages ranging from the earliest created around 1997, to the latest one hung while the glue was still wet. Friends and family of the artist act as his models in this show.
The presence of the artist is suggested through his reflection with his eyeglasses or drinking glasses located in the foreground. Each work follows a set of formal principles: a grid is used for the collage composition following concerns of proportions, dynamic tensions and lines. The photos however were taken without any planned composition in mind. Many are captured at a table sharing a meal, at other times the models pose for the purpose of creating a collage.
Smith is the curator of the permanent collection. He has been with the AGB for 25 years and is an artist in his own right. The showing of his personal work in an exhibition was part of the thank you from the gallery board. Well deserved.
The exhibition is on until October 18, 2015 in the RBC Community Gallery.
 The AGB is going to use the corridor spaces to focus on regional work from different parts of the country. This preserve jar is a prairie contribution. Amber Fields of Grain
The wide open spaces of the Canadian Prairies have been home to a great many well-known Canadian ceramic artists. Beside such great functional potters like Robert Archambeau, the Prairies have produced its own particular brand of sculpture, “Prairies’ Funk” that was created by such notables as Joe Fafard and Victor Cicansky. The Wild West has its own unique culture that is explored, often with great humour and insight that reflects the wide open spaces of the plains.
This is an ongoing 2015-2016 exhibition curated by AGB Permanent Collection Curator, Jonathan Smith.
The Gallery is open to the public:
Monday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Admission is free
 By Ray Rivers
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ray Rivers has been writing a column on political issues in the province and across the country. The Gazette asked Rivers to drop his regular column and write instead on what took place during the week. This is his fourth column on the federal election and what has transpired to date.
The polls are starting to widen as Canadians begin the process of finally making up their minds. The Liberals are trending up and the NDP down, as the two parties have virtually swapped positions from the start of the campaign. Atlantic Canada is consistently showing red and the prairies blue, but Quebec, Ontario and B.C. are still very much in play.
What were the issues that got the electorate to this point?
The Munk debate on international issues was by far the best debate of the campaign followed by Friday’s French language debate in Quebec, thanks in part to the skilled moderation of these events. It is unfortunate that so-called ‘wedge’ issues have come to override the debate of serious issues at this late date in the campaign.
 The niquab – it is being made into an object of fear rather than a part of religious dress for some people. It has also become a fashion statement for some woman. One of those wedgies is Mr. Harper’s promise to ban the ‘Niqab’, a simple woman’s head garment, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that a ban is unconstitutional. It is superfluous the Court says. Everyone is already required to show their face for identity and photographs prior to the actual swearing-in. Further, security is ensured through background checks and signatures, making the Niqab debate such a non-issue.
The PM is ‘full of baloney’ on this issue, according to those who meter these things. But more important is his shameless misleading of the Canadian public. Another wedge issue, also in play, is the annulment of a person’s citizenship.
The loss of citizenship is the last thing the group of 18 Toronto terrorists will regret as they rot in prison for the rest of their lives. But isn’t this a slippery slope – removing the rights of citizenship for some bad actors begs the question – why stop there?
 Citizenship ceremonies take place across the country – they are proud moments for those participating. Citizenship is a serious matter. Don’t we need to have a serious discussion about making it two-tiered, and conditional on the whim of a desperate PM, in the midst of an election campaign? One of those 18 being ‘de-citizened’ was born in Canada, with parents who long ago renounced their original citizenships to become Canadians. Where would Mr. Harper deport him to if he weren’t already headed to a Canadian prison for the rest of his life?
But the really big story this week is the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) which the PM is determined to sign, without debate, even as we sunset this election campaign. Encompassing 40% of global gross domestic product, this agreement is the mother of all trade deals. Yet over the last couple of decades so many tariff barriers have been whittled down such that other factors, for example exchange rates, can be more of a stimulus or impediment to trade.
We know that Canada’s auto parts and supply-managed agricultural industries are at risk from this deal. New Zealand, one of the instigators of the TPP, wants to sell its surplus industrial milk powder into our markets. And if they get a toehold into our supply managed systems, the US is chomping at the bit to dump its subsidized fluid milk onto our grocery counters, putting at least some of our dairy farmers out of business. Oh, and many US dairy producers use a nasty growth hormone which is banned in this country.
But, despite our health laws, we will have to allow American milk companies to sell their milk here because the TPP is really about investor power, about ensuring market access for investors and transnational corporations.
Twenty years ago the world rejected corporate globalization through something called MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment), a contract by which nations would surrender much of their domestic sovereignty to corporations. Now it sure looks like the MAI is back in sheep’s clothing.
 NAFTA, the template for so many of these ‘free-trade’ deals, already allows international companies to sue governments if they feel their right to sell into a market is impeded. And the TPP will supplant NAFTA, adding even more parties to the deal and bringing sovereign national rules and regulations over the economy, environment and social policy to their lowest common denominator. This is the perfect business model for non-interventionist governments – those which believe that government should stay out of trying to regulate its way to a better future, as the current one does, leaving that role to the business community,.
Of course the devil will be in the TPP details, and that makes this deal a pig-in-a-poke. ‘Trust me’ to look after the interest of Canadians,’ is what the PM is saying. And if you listen to the folks in Quebec or Newfoundland, who have been burned by this government on previous trade concessions in the dairy and fisheries industries, that trust is a breach of faith.
Canada’s embrace of free trade over the last decade has coincided with the loss of 400,000 manufacturing jobs and led, in part, to Canada scoring a record trade deficit this year.
 Is there a really Canadian beer company left? Moosehead – that is a Canadian Major Canadian entities like Inco, Alcan, Stelco, and our beer companies have been swallowed up by foreign conglomerates, and in some cases, as with Stelco, shut down to reduce competition for their international parents.
The theory of comparative advantage, that pillar of free trade economic logic, has allowed this government to regress Canada’s once balanced economy. We have almost become the hewers and drawers of natural resources, which we were at confederation. Without the resilience of a balanced economy we find ourselves at the mercy of the international commodity markets and their inherent booms and busts.
But perhaps the real reason the US has fallen in love with the TPP is China. Having surpassed the USA, China is now the largest economy on the planet, something which unnerves political nationalists stateside. So the TPP, which includes 11 nations, but not China, will help to contain the ‘waking dragon’ by drawing an economic curtain around it in the Pacific Ocean.
Given the cloud of secrecy surrounding this TPP deal, it is unclear how much of a role Canada played in its design and in negotiating its terms so as to protect our economy. Since it will replace NAFTA as it steamrolls its way forward, we may have no choice but to get on board. Still, why the rush and all the secrecy? Shouldn’t the public be given a chance to see and comment before we sign onto to something as awesome as this huge trade pact?
Tom Mulcair says he’d tear up the TPP if it endangers our supply management systems. Justin Trudeau, whose father established our supply management systems, promises to defend the farmers if elected.
Mr. Harper, who prides himself on having shut down the Wheat Board has no such affection for supply management, though it would be political suicide for him to say so, especially during an election campaign. So what about it, can we trust him?
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
Niqab Baloney Citizenship Process
Toronto 18
Nenshi and the Niqab
French Language Debate TPP Winner and Losers TPP Dairy
TPP Negotiations TPP Explainer TPP Secrecy MAI
The US Position TPP Investment More TPP Investment Supply Management Fisheries
More Fisheries Export Deficit Overnight Polls
 By Staff
October 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Friday October 1st, at approximately 2:37pm, members of the Halton Regional Police Service were called to an apartment located at 1285 Ontario Street in the City of Burlington in response to a verbal argument between the occupants inside one of the apartments. Police received further information that one of the occupants had armed themselves with a knife.
Members of the Halton Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit officers attended and were able to resolve the incident which resulted in no injury to either of the involved persons.
A 45 year old female Burlington resident has been arrested for offences that include:
-assault
-assault with a weapon
-forcible confinement
-uttering a threat
The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing. She will appear before WASH court (weekends and statutory holidays) on October 3rd 2015.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Joe Barr at 905-825-4747 extension 2385 of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Editor’s note: Invitational seating is limited and has already reached capacity…sorry, no more guests!
During the city Council meeting earlier this week, ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster chaired as Deputy Mayor while the real Mayor was in Chine – we still don’t know why – a list of names of organizations was read out announcing that it was whatever the name of the organization month.
The media tend to take these announcements with a bit of a yawn – every organization seems to have its day at some point during the year.
It is only when we pause and say “I know that person” that some attention gets paid.
 Michael Swartz is being recognized by the Canadian Diabetes Association as its “National Volunteer of the Year. I know that man.
This isn’t the time or place to explain the circumstances under which media came to know Mike Swartz and his wife Janice Connell rather it is an opportunity to learn more about what he has done in the community.
Mike is for the most part a quiet person – he has done well materially in life and has served as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and with the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) in a variety of roles over the past twelve years.
The reception to honour and recognize him will take place at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the Fireside Room at 10:30 am on Saturday.
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service have released their 24th Fugitive Friday bulletin and are asking the public to help them find Michael Adam DAWE, 19 years old, of Brampton, ON.
 Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit shares information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
They share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
In this edition of Fugitive Fridays the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Michael Adam DAWE, 19 years old, of Brampton, ON.
In August 2014, the accused and another party travelled to Burlington with the intent to commit an indictable offence (Robbery).
While on route to their targeted location the parties were stopped and investigated by a ride spot check. Officers at the scene conducted an investigation and found the accused to be in possession of an unauthorized weapon.
The accused was arrested and charged and was scheduled to re-attend court in September 2015 which he failed to do and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police Service for:
Possession of a Weapon – Dangerous Purpose
Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence
Fail to Re-Attend Court
DAWE is described as 5’11”, 190 lbs, blue eyes and brown hair. DAWE has Tattoos of a “Running Man” on his left arm, “Pizza” on his left thigh and writing on his right buttocks. ADAMS has ties to Brampton and the surrounding areas.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are encouraged to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
How did you use the city’s swimming pools this summer?
Many people didn’t get to use the Nelson pool at all – but that is a different story isn’t it?
The City is asking Burlington residents to complete a survey to tell the city how they use city pools during the summer.
 Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation said in a media release: “We know many residents were disappointed that Nelson Pool did not open this summer. We want to know how they use pools so we can consider their feedback during our investigation of summer pool needs in Burlington.”
A survey is available online. Pool users can access the survey until Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.
The input from the pool survey will be used to help City Council make decisions about the future direction of outdoor pools in Burlington. The results will be outlined in a report to council this fall.
For more information on Burlington pools, visit www.burlington.ca/swimming.
By Walter Byj
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Have you heard the term “Active Transportation”? Be prepared to hear the phrase bandied about in the next few months.
Active transportation is defined as human powered transportation such as walking, cycling, wheeling and other methods using mobility devices. This would apply whether going to the store, to work or to school.
It is a buzz phrase at all levels of government. Now how we shop or get to work is for the time being, our decision. However, the Halton District School Board can definitely have some influence as to how children reach school.
 During a ride the bike to school week students at Charles Beaudoin school liked the idea and 200 students stuck with their bikes after the event. Over the last number of years, vehicular traffic around schools has increased tremendously. There was a time when most students walked to schools. That certainly is my memory. With changing times, many more students are reaching school either through busing or car transportation.
There are many reasons that contribute to increased vehicular traffic, (safety issues, French Immersion) there has been a fundamental change as to how students reach school. Approach any school close to the opening bell and you are in the middle of a traffic jam.
This has resulted in schools needing to use the available land for circular drop off points or expanded parking lots. The HDSB did in fact promote the use of Active Transportation back in September of 2014, to date, there has not been too much traction in this area.
Well, this is about to change.
 Burlington school board trustee Andre Grebenc has brought forward a motion for an Active Transportation program A motion presented by Trustee Andrea Grebenc (Burlington), who is also chair of the Transportation Committee, recommended that the board renew its commitment to Active and Sustainable Transportation and to explore, evaluate and participate in collaboration with other school boards, municipalities, the provincial Government and other potential stakeholders is presenting a workable solution.
So why this concern about active transportation?
Various studies point to the evidence that those students who use some sort of physical activity prior to the commencement of the school day tend to concentrate better and achieve higher results than those who do not get any physical activity prior to school.
Some of the ideas to achieve active transportation?
 Actively promoted – children will take to walking to school on a regular basis. • Walking Wednesdays
• Walk a Block (A drop off zone at least a block from the school)
• Bike Trains (Group of bikers along a pre-designated route)
• Walking School Bus (Parent volunteers walking a route and picking up students)
Implementation of some of these ideas would not only create a level of physical activity for students, but could also improve the air quality near the schools.
With an interim plan due in December of this year, this initiative is going to get a lot of discussion – the board is expected to initiative some public consultation prior to that date.
Background links:
City is pushing more walking and cycling as part of its draft Master Transportation Plan
If you give students a chance to make more use of their bikes – they will
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service have received three separate complaints from victims of a variant of a common phone fraud known as the “Grandparent Scam”. All three victims were residents of the City of Burlington and all three had adult children who were the subject of the scam.
The fraudsters are calling un-suspecting victims and claiming to represent the victims son/daughter who has been involved in an accident and needs financial assistance in order to be released following an arrest.
The fraudsters will then ask the victim to wire money to another third party usually out of the country in order to effect the release of their son or daughter.
In the latest rash of calls the suspects have been asking for money to be wired to Lebanon and combined the victims have wired a little under $20,000 dollars overseas. Once the suspects find a victim who is willing they will continue to call and ask for more money for various other delays in the court process.
The Halton Police Fraud Unit is warning the public of these ongoing frauds and advising that before doing anything to contact the involved family member and confirm they are OK.
Prevention is the biggest tool at the disposal of the police in these circumstance and once the money has been wired overseas it is gone for good and following the trail to a suspect is almost never successful. Any of the information provided during the phone call or for the purposes of the financial transaction is fake and subsequent investigation only takes police to a dead end.
Also still prevalent in the GTA area is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) phone scam. Police again want to warn members of the public that the CRA will never solicit money owing on an account over the phone. There are numerous administrative stages that the CRA will enter into first before making any demands for payment of fines or accounts and anyone who receives a phone call claiming to be from the CRA as their first contact on a delinquent account should independently contact the CRA to confirm the information.
With today’s technology the suspects could be working from anywhere in the world and are very skillful in hiding their true identity and location. If you are unsure, always make independent contact with the agency the suspects claim to be calling from and confirm the information you are provided.
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