 By Pepper Parr
October 16, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Flood Relief fund got boosted by $25,000 last week when Longos came through with a cheque for $25,000. That took the total to the 38% point of the $2 million target that fund raising director Ron Foxcroft said he wanted collected within 100 days which is November 15.
The Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee announced it has selected Cunningham Lindsay Canada Claims Services Ltd. as the insurance adjuster to coordinate the claims disbursement process. Since the Application for Losses and Damages became available on September 30th, approximately 20 claims have been filed with the Committee.
 From the left: Gus Longo, Laurie-Ann Correia, Colleen Mulholland, , Rosanne Longo, Eleanor McMahon, Burlington MP and Liz Volk “We are moving forward with our efforts to coordinate the claims process to ensure we can soon start dispersing funds to flood victims who need it most,” says Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. “In addition we are highly focused on seeking clarity regarding the Ontario government’s position on the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) and continuing our efforts to raise funds for the remainder of the 100 day fundraising campaign.”
Put another way Ms Mulholland is asking: Where’s your part of this effort Minister McMeekin ?
The provincial ODRAP program allows the province to give $2 for every dollar raised locally – and much of Burlington has come through in a major way.
 The Claims Committee will work closely with Cunningham Lindsay to assist those who need help completing the Application for Losses and Damages paperwork. Flood victims who are uninsured or under-insured need to fill out the appropriate forms and submit them to the Claims Committee for review.
“We are committed to helping anyone who needs assistance completing the forms and encourage those folks to connect with the BCF office by phone or email,” says Mulholland. “We are also planning Town Hall meetings in early November to offer assistance and answer any questions that flood victims may have.”
As of noon today, the Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee has raised $760,000 in cash.
“Our 100 day fundraising campaign is running until November 14th and the Committee and countless dedicated volunteers are leaving no stone unturned,” says Ron Foxcroft, Chair, BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee. ”We also hope to fully understand how the Ontario government will support the tremendous efforts of our community who have opened their wallets and hearts to sup port those victims who are still suffering from the August 4th flood.”
Burlingtonians can expect to be asked to make a small donation to flood relief when they shop at Fortinos and Longo’s in the coming weeks. About 75 other retailers throughout the city also have coin boxes at their cash. The Burlington Sports Alliance is also organizing fundraising efforts and has established a Burlington Flood Relief Fund bank account which can be accessed at any CIBC branch.
“While we still have a lot of fundraising activities on the go we also recognize there are many other important fundraising initiatives competing for much needed charitable donations,” says Foxcroft. “Our team is working tremendously hard and the good residents and businesses of Burlington continue to step up.”
For those who want a copy of the Application for Losses and Damages CLICK Here,
or call: (905) 639-0744 ext 221
More donors are encouraged to continue supporting the campaign by:
Cheque – make cheques out to “Burlington Community Foundation” with a memo reference to Flood Relief Campaign – mail or drop off at Burlington Community Foundation, 3380 South Service Road, Unit 107, Burlington, Ontario, L7N 3J5
On-line donations – Go to and click on the DONATE NOW button.
 By Staff
October 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Dr. Eric Hoskins and Dr. David Mowat, Interim Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a statement: ““We know that Ontarians may have concerns related to the ongoing challenges in West Africa and recent events in the United States regarding the spread of the Ebola virus.
“Let us assure you that the safety of Ontario’s health care workers, patients and the public are our top priority.
 A “new” Joseph Brant will be easier to keep clean – but cleanliness is an attitude. “We are confident that Ontario is prepared and ready to contain and treat any potential case of Ebola virus in our province — protocols are in place and we’ve seen the system work well in Ontario hospitals.
With the experience and lessons learned from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic, our health care facilities now have sophisticated infection control systems and procedures to protect health care providers, patients and all Ontarians. They are fully equipped to deal with any potential cases of Ebola.
“But all health care workers, especially those providing care to patients, must be safe and protected. This is why we are working with health care employers to ensure they are providing appropriate training for their staff on the proper use of personal protective equipment and other occupational health and safety measures. We are also continuing to work with health care workers and employers to further strengthen protective measures and ensure they’re in place at all times.
“Our health care workers are on the front lines and it is times like these when we are all reminded of how critical their work is in protecting the public. We want them to feel safe.
“We will be reaching out to our health care partners to ensure they have the maximum protection possible and plan to release revised guidelines by the end of the week.
“The government, in collaboration with our health system partners, is monitoring the Ebola situation and is continually assessing our state of readiness should a case of Ebola ever occur in Ontario.
Burlington has experience with communicable diseases.
 A Class Action suit was settled for $9 million – $4860,453 went to the people who died or suffered from Clostridium difficile. Between May 1, 2006 to and including December 31, 2007, more than 90 people died while at the Joseph Brant Hospital from Clostridium difficile. A class action suit was filed that resulted in a settlement of $9 million.
Of that amount just $4,860,453 went to the survivors and those who suffered from the virus but did not die and family members.
Confidence in the public health system is vital – but it takes more than statements from Ministers and senior public officials to instill that confidence.
The Joseph Brant hospital is in the process of being basically completely re-built. It will be easier to keep a new building clean – but – cleanliness is an attitude which the hospital is going to have to instil in every staff member. That wasn’t the case in the second half of 2006.
Ebola is also a much different disease.
 By Staff
October 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
A ring of sophisticated car thieves is being rounded up with additional charges being laid.
Back in June a male was arrested and charged with several counts of theft of motor vehicle relating to his involvement in a sophisticated and organized auto theft group operating in the Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
The continuing investigation has resulted in additional charges against the accused.
Yusuf OMER (22 years of Toronto)
Charged with:
Theft of Motor Vehicle (2 counts)
Possession of Instruments of Forgery
Possession of Identity Documents
OMER has been in custody since his arrest on June 30th, 2014. He now faces a total of 30 criminal charges, including 23 counts of theft of motor vehicle. The value of the stolen vehicles related to the charges is approximately $750 000.
In the fall of 2013 Halton Police identified a trend in auto thefts that were occurring within the Towns of Milton and Oakville within Halton Region. During these incidents, a number of vehicles had been stolen from residential driveways during the night.
In each instance, there was no apparent forced entry to the stolen vehicles while the keys remained in the possession of the rightful owners. An extensive investigation into these vehicle thefts was started that involved members of the Milton and Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau along with several external partnering agencies. The investigation into these thefts identified a number of high-end vehicles that had vanished from driveways in Milton, Oakville, York Region, Peel Region and Toronto.
Over the course of this lengthy investigation, officers worked in cooperation with representatives from Toyota Canada, local car dealerships within the community, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (I.B.C.) and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (N.I.C.B.) in the United States. Auto Theft Investigators from the Peel, York and Toronto Police Services also assisted in the case. This collaborative investigation eventually led to the identification of several suspects alleged to be involved in an organized network of auto thieves from across the GTA. Halton Police estimate the total approximate value of the stolen vehicles related to the charges against these individuals to be in excess of $700,000.00.
Four Toronto men have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of vehicle thefts that occurred in Oakville, Peel Region and the City of Toronto from December 2013 to March 2014.
Yusuf OMER (22 years) of Toronto
Charges: Theft of Motor Vehicle (21 counts), Attempt Theft of Motor Vehicle, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, Possession of Break In Instruments, Breach of an Undertaking, Fail to Appear Court
Yusuf MUSE (21 years) of Toronto
Charges: Theft of Motor Vehicle (Attempt), Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, Possession of Break In Instruments, Breach of Probation
Abdulkadir ABDIRASHID (21 years) of Toronto
Charges: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (2 Counts), Breach of Probation
Manuel BOADU-TWUN (35 years) of Toronto
Charges: Theft of Motor Vehicle, Attempt Theft of Motor Vehicle, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, Possession of Break In Instruments.
Do you want to guess where the stolen vehicles were going?
The accused males were arrested in March and April and have made appearances in Milton Court.
On June 30th Yusuf OMER was arrested for additional offences including 21 counts motor vehicle theft.
Halton Police are continuing to investigate this matter and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Bob Lester, 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext 2455.
Police remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal activity at 1 800 222-TIPS (8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
For additional information about community concerns in Milton and Halton Hills, follow us on Twitter @HRPSMiltHH. Additionally, for the latest crime data, news releases and general information, visit the Service’s website www.haltonpolice.ca.
 By Staff
October 15, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON
They just never quit.
This one crossed our desk. There are occasions when your bank will send you a note saying there is a problem but those occasions are rare – and when they do send you a note they ask you to go to a branch of the bank or call someone at a number they give you.
When you get something like the following – delete it and move on.
One of the reasons the fraudsters continue to do this is because some people respond – and that often proves to be very expensive.
Dear Scotia OnLine Customer,
For your protection, you must verify and update your Scotia card online,
before you can use it!
We will verify that the update has been performed and remove the restrictions placed on your Scotia card.
If you choose to ignore this message does not leave us no choice but to temporarily block your card Visa / Mastercard for your safety!
Sincere greetings from Scotia Bank Online
Background links:
Her is how they do it – identity theft.
 By Staff
October 14, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service will be hosting its first regional Firearms and Weapons Amnesty from October 15th to November 15th 2014. Members of the public are encouraged to surrender their unregistered or unwanted firearms and weapons to the Halton Regional Police.
This amnesty is an opportunity for members of the community to hand in firearms and/or weapons and ammunition that are unused, inherited or illegal, without the fear of being charged for having them.
 The Halton Regional Police Service aims to create a safer community by removing these firearms and weapons from locations such as homes, businesses and schools to prevent their use in violent crimes.
Currently, in Ontario there are 550,000 citizens who hold valid Possession Licenses (POL) and Possession and Acquisition licenses (PAL). There are 325,465 restricted and prohibited firearms registered in Ontario, not including non-restricted firearms (long guns).
In some circumstances, POL and PAL licensees no longer wish to keep their firearms due to age, ability and residential location.
Some POL and PAL holders often omit or forget to renew their license and/or are deceased, leaving the firearms unregistered or in the possession of unlicensed family members. This amnesty is an opportunity to have the police come and safely take these weapons away.
During this amnesty, we encourage people to turn in illegally held guns and ammunition and any other unwanted firearms, imitation firearms and air guns. In addition, any weapon that may pose a threat to public safety such as switchblades, butterfly knives, pepper spray, nunchuks, shurikens, push daggers, knife-combs, crossbows, spiked wristbands, batons and/or blowguns.
Please call and arrange for pick up:
Between October 15th and November 15th, 2014, a dedicated telephone line will be available to arrange a firearm or weapon pick up. (905) 465-8733 will be monitored from Monday to Saturday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm during the first two weeks. During the remaining two weeks the phone line will be monitored Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm .
DO NOT BRING ANY WEAPONS OR FIREARMS TO A POLICE STATION.
DO NOT TRANSPORT FIREARMS OR WEAPONS IN YOUR VEHICLE.
DO NOT GREET OFFICERS AT THE DOOR WITH FIREARMS/WEAPONS.
Officers assigned to pick up the weapons will provide police identification and will require a signature for destruction.
This Amnesty is an opportunity for everyone to take part in removing these firearms and weapons from the community, reducing the risk of them falling into the hands of criminals.
 By Pepper Parr
October 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It wasn’t exactly a full house but those who were in the room at the Art Gallery of Burlington to hear what ADI Developments was proposing for the parking lot at the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road got an ear full. Most of them didn’t like what they heard.
The proposal is for a structure that will reach 28 stories into the sky and be directly opposite Emma’s Back Porch on the Old Lakeshore Road.
 Rendering of the ADI Development project from the south east. The architect described the angle of the building as resembling a “billowing sail”. The neighbourhood meeting was the first in a process that runs for 180 days after which the developer can take his plans to the Ontario Municipal Board and ask them to approve their project.
The meeting consisted of three parts:
The city planners explaining the process, the developer presenting their proposal and then people asking their questions and having a look at the proposal.
The process is important – all too often residents fail to understand the process and miss opportunities to get their views on the record. This particular development, if approved as proposed, will change for the next 50 years what downtown Burlington is going to look like.
The proposed 28 storey structure will join the already approved and now in the early construction stage the 22 storey condominium, the eight storey Delta four star hotel that will front on Lakeshore Road and the additional seven storey condominium that will sit to the south of the hotel close the lakes’ edge.
Combined – and realize that the 22 storey condominium along with the hotel and the seven storey condominium are done deals and the proposed 28 storeys that will be a couple of hundred yards from the proposed 28 storeys, will have a massive physical and psychological change on the downtown core.
Before we look at the ADI Development proposal – let’s take a close look at the process and how the average citizen is going to be able to impact the proposal. The developer has invested a significant amount of money into the purchase of the property – they bought the property.
 That lot with 380 on it will be less valuable if this project proceeds. Of note is the fact that they didn’t buy the lot to the north east – which means the owner of that location is dwarfed with little opportunity to develop. The ADI planner avoided making any comment on what will happen to the 380 Martha lot.
Rosa Bustamante, the city planner on this file did an excellent job of explaining the process that will be followed and because there were perhaps 80+ people in the room the Gazette is setting out that process in some detail for others that will want to follow this development.
 The graphic sets out the process the ADI Development will go through in order to get the Official Plan and zoning by-law changes it want to ask Council to approve. Bustamante set out the context within which the ADI development application is taking place:
The Planning Act provides authority for applicants to submit development applications to amend the Official Plan or the Zoning By-law.
The City is required to process applications.
If Council does not make a decision on an application within a prescribed time-frame, the application can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Pre-consultation takes place between the applicant and City staff before a development application is submitted. This is intended to identify what applications are required and what technical studies are needed to support an application
There is no evaluation of a development proposal at the pre-consultation stage.
That pre-consultation has taken place and the developer has filed all the reports the city required as well as paid the appropriate fees.
Application is submitted along with the required fees and background studies/information
A sign is posted on the property describing the proposed development and providing a web link and phone number to contact for further information
The planner sends a letter describing the application to external agencies and City departments that may have an interest in the proposal. The technical studies are reviewed by these agencies.
Agencies are asked for their comments and any conditions that must be imposed on the development
A City planner sends a letter to neighbouring property owners. The letter describes the proposal and asks for written comments to the Planner. The public may send Comments by mail, fax, or e-mail.
This part is critical. If a resident has an objection – they need to put it in writing. Should this application go to the OMB (and you can expect that it will) the OMB will not consider anything that is not in writing – so do your homework and prepare your thoughts. Meet with neighbours and form groups. If you have any legal talent amongst you – pull that person into your group – think of asking for Standing at an OMB hearing. The OMB Commissioner is there to listen – but you have to make your case. Saying I don`t like it and I don`t want it – is not an argument.
At the Thursday evening meeting the Planner described the planning process and provides background information about the site. The Planner for ADI Developments presented the proposal and the architects explained the details of the project.
There were some good questions – but for the most part it was just people saying they didn’t like it ; didn`t want it and it was going to screw up their city.
Traffic along Lakeshore Road was going to be a mess they claimed – they are probably right. The Traffic study provided by the planner needs to be gone through with a fine tooth comb. There will be four traffic entrances on Martha Street – all within 25 yards of each other: two to the ADI Development, the lane-way to the 395 Martha apartment building and the lane way to the Martha`s Landing parking spaces.
Bustamante explained that:
The Planner writes an information report to Council for the statutory public meeting.
Public comments received to date are attached to the report.
 Your city council members: The Significant Seven. How many of them will be returned to office October 27th. Are these the people you want in office to decide if the ADI project is a good thing for the city? The Statutory meeting is the first time city council and the public are in the same room to exchange views on the project.
And this is where the process in Burlington tends to fall short. People can make delegations; they put forward a point of view and Council members can ask questions – but there is no real dialogue. Frequently, all too frequently a delegation is made and not a single question is asked. Members of the public leave feeling they have not been listened to and have not been heard.
Those opposed to the development need to organize themselves. Marianne Meed Ward has come out against the project as has Mayor Goldring who has said publicly that he is not on for 28 storeys. He points out that the city already has a legacy building –the 22 storey Bridgewater condominium project that was first approved back in 1985 when the Mayor was still a student.
 Councillors Sharman and Lancaster: both part of the Shape Burlington committee that was to change the way council interacted with the public. Both are in tough re-election races. We don`t yet know where the other five members of Council stand on this project. Three of the five cannot say with any certainty that they will be back at Council after October 27th. Lancaster and Sharman are facing very stiff opposition – particularly Lancaster. Dennison is running against a significant degree of dis-satisfaction from his constituents over his appeal to the OMB of a Committee of Adjustment decision not to allow a severance of his Lakeshore Road property. Dennison has yet to see a development proposal he didn`t almost immediately fall in love with.
It isn`t known yet just where Councillors Taylor and Craven stand on the development. Taylor did attend the Neighbourhood meeting. We didn`t see Councillor Craven but he usually ducks the Gazette.
Citizens opposed to the development have to do their homework and then wait to see what they have in the way of a Council once the election results are in.
The developer has a case – and if that case is not refuted it will go to the Ontario Municipal Board where they will probably prevail.
Many people feel that the Official Plan is a static document – it isn’t. It can be changed and has been changed in the past. A home owner can ask for a change to the Official Plan – they have in the past and the change they asked for has been approved.
 The policy sets out how many housing units have to be created and how many jobs the city has to create as well – that policy statement over rides the Official Plan. Developers use the Provincial Policy Statement in their justification arguments.
What city council gets to decide is if a project fits in with the kind of city they believe the residents want. In order to do that a city council has to have a clearly defined vision that is supported by the citizens.
This council has not brought forward a vision – not yet. What you get to decide in the next 14 days is if the current council is made up of the people you want to make this decision.
Major developments are complex matters. They often put citizens up against corporations with significant resources. A council that is a cohesive group, creatively led, can find ways to help citizens. Burlington isn’t there yet either.
 But in the next two weeks they are going to elect seven people to be the members of a city council. Are there people out there asking for your vote that reflect your views?
With a voter turnout that is too low – it is clear that not enough people really care. Then you put up with what those who do get elected.
 By Pepper Parr
October 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Cam Jackson used to have a phrase he used when he wasn’t buying something he was being told or asked to believe. “That’s a bit of a stretch” he would say.
An email Ward six Councillor Blair Lancaster sent out recently is not only a huge stretch but it just may be illegal. We will run this by the city clerk to see what she thinks.
 Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster thinking through the answer to a question. Tends to be cautious. Set out below is a copy of an email that we are told was sent to a number of voters in ward six by Blair Lancaster, the incumbent who is running against nine other candidates.
The email was sent from Lancaster to Lancaster and BCC (Blind carbon copy) to a number of other people. We are aware of a number of these other people.
From: Blair Lancaster <blair@blairlancaster.ca>
Date: 2 October 2014 08:45
Subject: Re Elect Blair Lancaster
To: blair@blairlancaster.ca
I am following up with you because as a resident I have assisted you on an issue and I am hoping I can count on your support in the fall election. Please review my information on my website which includes issues and accomplishments as well as other information important to residents. I will also be going door to door meeting as many people as possible. If you would like to speak with me directly do not hesitate to contact me. Please let me know if I can count on your support. Blair
Re Elect Blair Lancaster Ward Six
905 335 7068 blair@blairlancaster.ca www.blairlancaster.ca
In the email Lancaster asserts that as a “resident” she has in the past assisted the receiver of the email on an issue. Note that Lancaster does not say she assisted as the council member for the ward.
At least one of the people who got this email has never been assisted by Lancaster; has never communicated with Lancaster and has never met Lancaster.
The person who received the email did put her email address on a list asking for additional information.
Every member of Council maintains a list of the people who want to be kept informed of an issue.
However, members of Council are not permitted to use those lists in their election campaigns.
Lancaster appears to have looked for a way to skirt that rule. Given the communications technology available to people today – there isn’t much that can be hidden.
This latest attempt to flout the rules by a council member, who has in the past made a point of stepping away from the council table on matters where there was a possible perceived conflict of interest, seems to have decided that that approach won’t get you elected.
When you have nine people wanting to take your council seat away from you – I guess you do whatever you think you have to do to win.
By Pepper Parr
October 11, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Adi Developments has made application to the city for a change to the Official Plan and the zoning bylaw that would allow them to build a 28 storey condominium at the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road.
 Rendering of the 28 storey tower from the south west. The podium at the bottom will be parking space clad in a metal grill. The existing zoning on the property is four stories with provision to go to eight storeys with planning department approval. The application for 28 storeys has stunned many.
ADI Developments are fairly new to Burlington as developers. They are completing construction of a four level condominium on Guelph Line that is close to sold out. Topping off has taken place. Occupancy is expected to begin early next year.
ADI Developments is also doing a larger project on Sutton Drive and Dundas. That project is being reviewed at the OMB – the developer and the city were not abale to get all the documents cleared and the problems with the project worked out within the 180 day period a developer has before they can take their application to the Ontario Municipal Board
Their most recent project is a very audacious structure that will be the tallest in the city. ADI has always done superb design and have been given awards by Hamilton-Halton Home Builders Association (HHHBA) for the design work they have done. RAW, the project architects have also won numerous awards.
Their first project, Mod’rn Condominium, was the winner of the 2012 HHBA 2012 Award of Distinction, including Project of the Year, and nominated for 2013 Most Outstanding Mid-rise Development by the Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA).
The Planners for the developer are required to provide a justification for the development report. The document Walker Nott Dragicevic Associates Limited (WND) submitted includes a number of studies, including a Functional Servicing Report; a Stormwater Management Report, a Tree Inventory and Preservation Study; a Traffic Impact Study; a Noise Feasibility Study; a Shadowing Study and a Pedestrian Wind Study.
 Delta Hotel on the right and the 22 storey Bridgewater condominium on the left. Both just a block away from the ADI Development. The city`s planning department will review each study and provide comments in a report that will eventually get sent to the city`s Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee.
What is it that the Adi`s want to build on the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road? A 28 storey structure with three levels of parking above the ground and five levels below the ground. They want to make the first two levels retail commercial – and if they do it right it could become the place to locate a professional office.
Rendering of the 28 storey structure from the south east. The architects described the design as having the look of a “billowing sail” that will serve as the gateway to the downtown core. That is not quite how the 80+ residents who took part in a neighbourhood meeting described the structure. Realize that a block away to the west the Bridgewater condominium will reach up 22 storeys and the best hotel the city will have, the Delta, will be yards away, The focal point for the city will shift south and a little to the east of Brant Street.
There are some concerns with the design of the Adi building planned for Lakeshore Road and Martha; there are some very serious concerns with the way traffic will move on Lakeshore Road, particularly at the point where the road narrows.
The architect talked about the design having a “billowing sail” look to it – and that it would serve as the eastern gateway into the downtown core. It may have that look to it – but managing the traffic to the building as well as in and out of the building is going to be a serious challenge to both the planners and the traffic department.
And there isn’t going to be much time to dicker with the developer. When Adi Development found they could not work out the differences with their Link2 project at Dundas and Sutton in the north east sector of the city they moved on to the Ontario Municipal Board almost immediately after the 180 day time period.
We now know what ADI Development wants. How do they justify the application?
In their conclusion Walker Nott Dragicevic Associates Limited (WND) said the proposed 28-storey mixed use development is appropriate for the site and surrounding area and represents good planning. Specifically, the proposed development:
Is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement as it will provide for intensification and redevelopment within the City of Burlington Settlement Area, expand the range and mix of housing, promote transit use and active transportation, efficiently use land and minimize land consumption and servicing costs;
Conforms to and implements the policies of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe by directing growth to an Urban Growth Centre and Major Transit Station Area and facilitating the creation of a “complete community”;
Conforms to and will help to implement the Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area by proposing new development within an Anchor Mobility Hub in a form that will support transit use;
Conforms to the Halton Region Official Plan by directing development to the Urban Area, and an Urban Growth Centre, Anchor Mobility Hub and Major Transit Station Area;
Conforms to overall goals and objectives of the City of Burlington Official Plan by directing transit oriented housing intensification to Downtown Burlington which will improve the streetscape environment and support its ongoing viability and vitality;
Has regard for the Burlington Downtown Urban Design Guidelines and emerging Mobility Hub study by providing for a landmark development at a view terminus and key eastern entry node to the Downtown;
Provides for a safe and active streetscape with commercial uses fronting directly onto the street;
Represents an appropriate form of intensification that is compatible with surrounding built form, including recently approved high rise development to the west and older towers to the east and north;
Can be accommodated by the area transportation and servicing infrastructure.
 The downtown core is in the process of being altered with the construction of the 22 storey Bridgewater condominium and the eight storey Delta Hotel – that project is located in the area with the red outline. The ADI project is the orange outline – a bit more than a block apart. If the Adi Development planner is right and the city planning staff cannot come up with compelling counter arguments there may well be a 28 storey tower at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha three years from now.
“If 28 storeys is acceptable” asked a woman from the audience – “why not go for 75 storeys and call us Toronto West”
Why not indeed
 By Staff
October 12, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
For the book lovers in town it will be an evening to remember.
 Carrie Snyder Five renowned authors will gather at the Art Gallery of Burlington on October 28th.
 Miriam Toews The five are all finalists in the 2014 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize . Hosted locally by A Different Drummer Books, in partnership with the International Festival of Authors and The Writers’ Trust of Canada the evening will feature: Andre Alexis, Steven Galloway, K.D. Miller, Carrie Snyder and Miriam Toews .
 Steven Galloway The event begins at 7:00 pm in the Shoreline Room.8 7pm ~ Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room. Tickets are $10, available at A Different Drummer Books. To reserve, please contact us at (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com.
 K.D. Miller The finalists for the 2014 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize will present their works, just days before the recipient of the $25,000 award is announced.
 Andre Alexis The authors and their books: Andre Alexis, Pastoral, Steven Galloway, The Confabulist, K.D. Miller, All Saints, Carrie Snyder, Girl Runner and Miriam Toews, All My Puny Sorrows
More information about the prize and the nominees can be found at this link:
By Carol Gottlob
Candidate ward 4
October 12, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Each week, until the ballots are cast on October 27th, we are going to follow the tales and travails of a single candidate. We have chosen Carol Gottlob, running in ward 4 against a well entrenched incumbent. Gottlob has no experience in civic government, has never campaigned before. Following this candidate is not an endorsement; Gottlob will win on her own merit.
Thanksgiving holiday marks the 10 week point since the flood hit Burlington on August 4th. In the final weeks of this year’s municipal election campaign, I find myself walking up to houses in all parts of Ward 4; some still have bins in the driveway, and many are patiently waiting for the contractors to show up.
The physical clean-up is virtually complete in terms of removing debris and cleansing, but the social and emotional rebuilding still has to happen and confidence in our government needs to be restored.
 Creeks couldn’t handle the volume of water because they were left in a “naturalized” state which meant broken limbs and fallen branches were not regularly cleaned out During this severe rain storm, our municipal systems that combine storm water and raw sewage into the same pipeline were exposed to more volume than they could handle, and the result was sewage backup spewing out into basements and other low lying drains. As we now know, sanitary sewer overflows which were caused by that huge downpour, created a severe problem to the environment, to public health and significantly, to many homeowners, wreaking havoc on many Burlington homes, causing thousands of dollars in damage to floors, walls, furniture, appliances and electrical systems.
This situation also threatened our Public Health because these overflows were comprised of raw sewage before it reached our waste water treatment plant, and it contained disease-causing bacteria, floating human waste, toxic pollutants, pesticides, and other contaminants that threaten public health and the environment, contaminate drinking water sources, and damage buildings.
Those unfortunate Ward 4 residents who found themselves in this terrible situation were not alone, we now realize. With heightened awareness, we are now learning that the increase in the number of homes connected to already aging sewage systems has contributed to rapid and repeated increases in sanitary sewer backups, flooded basements and overflows in our community.
 The flood waters sparred no one – home owners and commercial sections of the city all had water in their premises. In addition, the problems of the adversely affected Ward 4 homeowners were, in many instances, also negatively impacted by nearby creeks, such as Tuck Creek which became blocked by fallen trees and debris, consequently overflowing and further flooding many residential basements via windows and portals.
Generally, the creeks and waterways in Burlington are under the jurisdiction of Conservation Halton. The storm water system comprised of storm water sewers and culverts is under the jurisdiction of the City of Burlington. Sanitary sewers and waste treatment is under the jurisdiction of the Halton Regional Government.
The question before us is this; are these governments taking sufficient initiatives and offering appropriate financial and other assistance to the adversely affected homeowners?
Apparently, Burlington is making grants to affected citizens to offset the cost of building permits and Halton is offering a lump sum towards the cost of the installation of a back-flow valve.
In this regard, I must point out that it is unacceptable to me that our municipalities are also making it a condition of such nominal payments, that a homeowner formally release the municipality from any other claims they may have. The only statement that may, in my view, be required from any recipient is that such payments shall not be deemed an admission of liability by the government and that if a claim against the government is subsequently successful, the government shall be credited with the payment received.
In my view, this extraordinary, but rare, negative situation deserves an extraordinary response from our municipal governments. Provincial and community fundraising contributions notwithstanding, the municipalities should exercise their authority under the Municipal Act to make a financial grant to the affected homeowners and the municipalities would together, upon a formula agreed between them, fund such grants to compensate for the following:
a) the full cost of the purchase and installation of a sewer back-flow valve;
b) the cost of cleaning out and disposing of the sewer backup sludge, the damaged walls, floors and household contents;
c) the cost of removing mold, cleaning and restoring the basement walls, foundation and main floor where affected;
d) the cost of replacing the interior walls and floors of the basement and main floors damaged by the storm and sewer backup;
e) an interest free loan to cover the costs of restoring the basement and its contents, as well as the main floor where affected and not covered by the compensation listed above.
Certainly, the foregoing compensation would be subject to several process and claim procedures, including the homeowner being able to establish to the governments his or her losses and damages, as well as evidence that none of their claims were covered by private insurance coverage. Clearly, the governments would not be obliged nor able to compensate the homeowners for the loss of intangibles, computer data, electronic media and related records.
It may be argued by some, that the compensation outlined above for the affected homeowners is a precedent to be avoided and that, generally, it is too expensive to be paid for by the governments.
 My response is that such compensation to our neighbours is a precedent which should be set, as it is entirely in the public interest that the few citizens among us affected so adversely by such a storm should not have to bear alone and alone assume all of the negative costs of this storm due to the failure of our municipal infrastructure to handle such a storm. As one homeowner pointed out to me, if a municipal water main erupted and caused damage to nearby homes, would the municipality not be responsible?
How is this event any different, other than it being on a much larger scale? The responsibility still rests on the municipalities, and those homeowners who are experiencing repeated floods are no longer eligible for private insurance. Someone has to step up.
 Carol Gottlob – running for the ward 4 council seat and a seat on the Regional government; two bikes, one car. Furthermore, due to the fact that we can anticipate other significant storms in the future, these expenses are justified in so far as they will remove the public health threat to these citizens whose homes are vulnerable, without such improvements, to being subjected to subsequent sewer backups.
If the municipalities in the past refused to foresee the necessity to rebuild an infrastructure to handle such storms within the context of regional development, why shouldn’t they now assume the cost of paying the affected homeowners for the consequence of such prior government decisions?
All the more reason to learn from this and use the technology we have and the foresight we need to exercise, to plan and build for 100 years out if we want a stable and viable infrastructure and move away from costly damage control.
As the evenings close in on us and the weather turns cooler, I am thankful for the warmth emitted from my furnace, however I am sadly reminded that some of my neighbours are not so fortunate, through no fault of their own, and we owe it to them to provide the basic necessities through community assistance as well as good government that takes responsibility for those provisions.
By Pepper Parr
October 11, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
For those families that have children who are autistic – everyday life is different. One of the fears is that as the child grows he or she may begin to wander and suddenly be lost. The fear and the dread in the hearts of the parents is palpable: where is my child?
The Halton Regional Police have launched a new Autism Registry.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life: it is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. It is believed that over 100,000 people in Ontario are diagnosed with some form of ASD.
This voluntary registry is designed to provide a better system of service delivery to community members by ensuring that front line officers have access to vital information when responding to occurrences involving people with ASD.
The registry system provides a proactive means to gather information voluntarily provided by the person registering in the program, or the parent or guardian of the registrant. This information would include the description and photograph of a registered person, behaviours, routines, communication abilities, expected locations of travel, as well as other detailed information.
This registry is entirely voluntary and operates under the basis that families willingly provide police with critical information in relation to a person living with ASD which will help officers in their overall response. By gathering this data in advance of any potential occurrences, police will be entering into a situation with more information, allowing them to have a more specific understanding of what they are responding to.
This registry was developed in conjunction with Autism Ontario – Halton Chapter as well as with information provided by other police services with similar registries. Participating in the registry simply requires access to the internet and visiting the Halton Police web site. Link here.
Information on the Registry web site includes:
What is the Autism Registry?
Can individuals with other special needs participate in the registry? Or is it restricted to those who fall within the Autism Spectrum?
If I don’t live in Halton Region, can I still register my child/dependent adult in the Registry?
Will the information be immediately available to police officers as soon as I register?
Will I need to quote my confirmation occurrence number when I call police?
Who has access to the Autism Registry?
Can I update my profile more than every year if there are changes? How do I do that?
Will I be notified when the annual renewal is required?
How will this registry help if my child/dependent adult goes missing?
How do I contact Autism Ontario?
The Halton Regional Police continue to promote advocacy, support and education for families who are affected by the challenges of ASD and do so both internally and with our community partners.
Autism directly affects several members of the Halton Regional Police Service.
 By Pepper Parr
October 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
During the debate in ward four Tuesday evening Mayor Goldring brought out an interest he has been nurturing for some time. The current method of determining who the winner is in an election is the person who gets the most votes. They call that First Past the Post – it has its own acronym FPP.
Many people, including the Mayor see the FPP as unfair.
 During the ward four debate Rick Goldring said he was in favour of a Ranked Ballot approach to municipal elections. Would he be Mayor today if that approach had been in place in 2006? l Mayor Goldring would like to see that changed. In 2006 Goldring won the ward 5 council seat with just 28% of the votes cast.
The alternative that is being talked up – more than talked up actually – the Premier has mandated Ted McMeekin Minister of Community and Social Services to begin “a review of the Municipal Elections Act after the 2014 municipal elections”.
“You will ensure that the act meets the needs of communities, and that it provides municipalities with the option of using ranked ballots in future elections, starting in 2018, as an alternative to first-past-the-post,”
What is Ranked Voting ?
Mayor Goldring was well briefed on the concept of Ranked voting – although he didn’t explain exactly what it was all that well.
In a ranked-ballot system, voters cast ballots for preferred candidates — they mark their first choice; their second choice and third choice.
If a candidate does not get more than 50% of the votes on the first count – there is an immediate recount and the second choice votes are added in. If that gives on candidate 50% of the votes that candidate is declared the winner. If there was no candidate with 50% the third choice votes are added in.
There is no mention in the explanation as to how far out this goes – one would hope that three runs at this would find a winner.
So how would this have worked in the 2006 and 2010 elections?
In 2006 the results for Mayor were:
Cam JACKSON 14941
Joan LOUGHEED 13687
Rick BURGESS 12658
Philip PAPADOPOULOS 1393
Stephen KOLCUN 147
 Cam Jackson: Election night 2010 Where would the Burgess, Papadopolous and Kolcun votes have gone if the Ranked balloting approach had been used. There are a lot of reasons to believe Burlington would not have had that four year Cam Jackson experience.
In Ward 4 the results were:
Jack DENNISON 3364
Frank McKEOWN 2517
John VERSLUIS 2085
Jeff ROTTAR 1010
Ross HICKS 915
It would be a stretch to think that the three lowest vote getters would split evenly between McKeown and Dennison. Would McKeown have won? Had he – he would not have been available to serve as Goldring’s Chief of Staff for the first half of the 2010-2014 term – and that would have made for a much different form of leadership from Goldring.
In 2006 the count was:
Rick GOLDRING 1848
Casey COSGROVE 1368
Fred SUTER 1185
Sam SARRAF 647
Bill BASTIEN 503
Vera KURNITZKI-WEST 342
Marnie MELLISH 305
David ABBOTT 253
Stephen BAULD 243
Casey Cosgrove believes that he would have beaten Rick Goldring which suggests Goldring would never have become Mayor.
 Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster thinking through the answer to a question. Tends to be cautious. In 2010 the cliff hanger was the race for ward 6 where Mark Carr gave Blair Lancaster a really good run. Had he lived in the ward he might have taken it. Doubtful if ranked voting would have given the seat in 2010.
Blair LANCASTER 2,574 ELECTED
Mark CARR 2,449
Christopher MULHERN 575
Robb HERRIOT 248
Phil BUCK 176
The process continues until a candidate wins a simple majority of 50 per cent plus one.
Proponents argue it is more democratic, curbs vote-splitting, and leads to less polarizing politics because candidates run less negative campaigns over fears of alienating potential second-choice supporters.
Those opposed to the change warn ranked ballots can be confusing for voters — even though under the current “first-past-the-post” system, candidate routinely win with far less than 50 per cent of the vote.
Many think the municipal electoral system needs an overhaul. A ranked ballot system, for example, would make municipal elections less polarizing and produce a more accurate picture of what voters want.
In ranked-ballot voting, a candidate must secure a majority and wins if he or she has the most first-place votes; if the vote does not produce a true majority, an instant run-off would determine the winner.
 Would Councillors Sharman and Lancaster have been elected in 2010 has Ranked Balloting been in place? Currently, the “first past the post” system dictates the candidate with the highest number of votes wins.
When members of the Legislature are appointed to Cabinet they receive a “mandate” letter from the Premier in which what is expected of the minister is set out. These are usually confidential documents but Premier Wynne released them this time.
Mandate letters are the marching orders; “There aren’t too many surprises in them,” said Wynne.
In her mandate letter to Ted McMeekin, Wynne spells out the importance of leading “from the activist centre” with democratic reforms.
“We will place emphasis on partnerships with businesses, communities and people to help foster continued economic growth and make a positive impact on the lives of every Ontarian,” the premier wrote.
“This collaborative approach will shape all the work we do. It will ensure we engage people on the issues that matter the most to them, and that we implement meaningful solutions to our shared challenges.”
Ranked voting will challenge the way some municipal politicians have held their seats for so long.
By Pepper Parr
October 9, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Elections bring out all the interest groups. Many of these groups have taken to using questionnaires through which they solicit the views of the candidates on their issue and publish the results.
During this election it looks as if there are more than a dozen questionnaires in circulation. BurlingtonGreen has one, the Waterfront Advocacy group has one; the arts community has one, the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition went one better and organized a tour of the damage they believe was done to north Burlington properties as a result of what they describe as illegal landfill dumping.
 Doug Brown and Susan Lewis look over a 1982 copy of the city’s bus schedule. Asked off the record every candidate will tell you that the questionnaires are getting a little out of hand.
BFAST, Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit, a local public transit advocacy group published the results of its first ever Municipal Election Candidate Questionnaire. The focus of the questionnaire was transit issues in the city, ranging from fares, to improving service levels, and providing a better quality of life to seniors and the disabled. The group was impressed overall with the quality of responses it received from candidates.
What was interesting with this survey was the number of incumbents who did not respond to the survey. Councillors Dennison, Sharman and Lancaster chose not to respond as did many of the candidates in ward six where the need for public transit in a newly developed community is important if younger people are to get out of the community without parents driving them around town.
In their media release BFAST said: “Clearly transit has resonated among candidates as a serious issue which the next term of council must address” said BFAST chair Doug Brown. “Many candidates comments agreed with the assessment of BFAST that Burlington has failed to meet the needs of transit users, and can do much more to attract new transit riders.”
A majority of candidates supported suggestions such as free transit for seniors one day a week, as Oakville has recently implemented. There is also widespread support among candidates for freezing or reducing fares, currently among the highest of any municipality in the GTHA. Criticism of the adhoc way in which transit service changes are implemented and communicated is also prevalent.
Here are some of the comments that stood out:
“It seems like we have worse transit now than we did when I was growing up in Burlington.”
“Having Transit Service Standards seem like a no-brainer, and to be honest, I didn’t know Burlington got rid of them… Thanks for bringing it to my attention.”
“When our City looks after its oldest, youngest and most vulnerable, we will all thrive.”
 Burlington Transit put their most festive bus into the parade. The language doesn’t matter – the message is still the same. 
Question 1: Burlington only spends one half of the GTA average on per capita municipal spending on transit, resulting in low service levels and low ridership.
Would you increase Burlington’s share of the transit operating budget to at least the GTA average?
Question 2: Burlington Transit’s capital budget has come from the City’s share of the Provincial Gas Tax Fund. Historically, Burlington had devoted 30% of their Federal Gas Tax monies to Burlington Transit. Most GTA cities allot a larger share of their gas tax funds to transit. For example, the City of Toronto allots 100% of their gas tax funding to transit. In 2013 and 2014, Council reduced the transit share of gas tax funding from 30% to 20%, removing $500,000 annually from the transit budget and using these funds to re-pave some side streets and cul-de-sacs.
Question 3: Although Burlington has one of the lowest transit service levels in the GTA. It leads the way on its fares. The $3.25 adult cash fare makes our fares among the highest in the GTA. For example, Hamilton cash fares are $2.55 (22% less than Burlington!). Even the TTC has a lower fare than Burlington.
Question 4: Transit Service Standards are used in most communities to ensure that their citizens have reasonable access to transit and good service. Transit Service Standards include maximum walking distances to transit from residences and major destinations, hours of service, and maximum wait times for transit users. Burlington had Transit Service Standards, but some years ago, quietly discarded their standards. This has resulted in many residents having little or no access to transit service, long waits between buses (one hour – mid-day – week days on North West routes), and long walks from their homes to a bus stop.
Question 5: Many of our citizens have mobility issues that prevent them from driving, or from using conventional transit. Burlington’s spending on special transit (handi-van and taxi scrip) has been well below the provincial average resulting in longer waits and poor service levels for special transit users. In addition, Burlington has cut funding for “taxi-scrip”, a program that enabled disabled passengers to take a taxi at an affordable rate if neither conventional nor special transit could meet their needs. The elimination of the Taxi Scrip Program has made it difficult in some situations for persons with mobility issues to attend urgent appointments or social events.
Question 6: The growth of transit use in Burlington will also need a considerable promotional effort and incentives to get drivers out of their cars and on to the bus. Reduced fares are a proven method of increasing ridership. For example, Oakville has increased the use of transit by seniors by providing free transit to seniors one day a week.
The responses are available online
 Mobility hubs at the GO stations is close to a no brainer – it is the possible hub in the downtown core that has yet to be thoroughly thought through. Council decided that closing the terminal on John Street to save $8000 a year was not a bright idea. There isn’t a consistently strong transit advocate on council other than Marianne Meed Ward who will press transit issues whenever she can.
When three of the seven incumbents choose not to respond to a serious survey and when the Transit Advisory Committee no longer functions – you know you are not in a transit friendly town.
And yet, when Council speaks of how it is going to improve a rather dismal record of economic development they talk of the creation of four mobility hubs in the city. Fitting public transit into the plans isn’t quite there yet. At one point Burlington Transit wanted to close down the ticket station in the downtown core.
The hope for transit as a public service might be the suggestion Mayoralty candidate Peter Rusin made when he said “transit should be a regional responsibility”. That would move transit policy development even further from the citizens. With an aging population that is getting bigger and bigger Burlington might find that voters will demand a service that meets their needs; that certainly isn’t the case today.
By Lana Kamaric
October 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Ballerina Project by Rolly Astrom is now showing at the Art Gallery of Burlington for the month of October.
 In this photography project Rolly Astrom takes classic ballet dancers and places them in contemporary cityscapes. Each photograph is a portrait that gives you a glimpse of what the dancer is capable of. Astrom’s artist statement reads, “My intent was to showcase the dancer’s grace, beauty, strength, flexibility and lines against a background of local sites.” The Ballerina Project showcases all of these elements while also presenting a portrait of the dancer herself.
Each ballerina is given her own space to work within a different part of the city. In A Stage to Herself we find the ballerina dancing outside of the Performing Art Centre. Shifting the boundaries of dance space, she is taking her craft from the stage and bringing it into the outside world. Another dancer is Stopping Traffic in her bare feet; she turns the city street into her studio, as a lamppost becomes her ballet bar. With each photo we find another public space occupied by a dancer as the world becomes their stage.
 Astrom was surprised at how collaborative the project became when he began working with the dancers. They would simply “meet up and start wandering” according to Astrom. Together they would agree on a space that worked and transform it into an art piece. The dancers would use their years of ballet experience to work with the space and create beautiful shapes, while he would use his photographic eye to capture each portrait. The dancers use the space around them to shape their poses and become part of the space itself. Poised in the Niche portrays the dancer as a statue preserved in the architecture. While Stone Dance seems to pull the dancer into the natural world around her, sculpted among the rocks her body becomes part of the structure.
Astrom works with digital photography. After taking the photo he manipulates elements of it to create various effects. In Waiting the image has the appearance of being folded over twice as one might find with an old photograph printed from film. This illusion according to Astrom was added to give the sense that it was an abandoned photograph picked up by the viewer. With the blending of dance and photography each image tells us the story of the girl in the photo.
 The Ballerina Project is Astrom’s first solo exhibition. On October 5th an opening was held in the Fireside Lounge of the AGB, where the pieces are currently on display until the end of the month. Many of Astrom’s supporters attended the opening to congratulate him and celebrate the first exhibition of this project. Guests were also able to meet some of the ballerinas who attended. The exhibition included the dancers’ old ballet shoes piled below the photo Abandoned, showcasing their discarded shoes. The photos range from bold colours to softer palettes and black and white. Each photograph, taking on its own presence while the dancer’s lines move your eyes from image to image.
 Astrom said that he had difficulty choosing which pieces to print and include in the show. To overcome this challenge he decided to include a digital slideshow of the full collection. The slideshow ran on loop for the duration of the opening. Guests were able to see the same dancers in another variety of movements and spaces that offered further clues to their portraits.
I had a chance to speak with Jodie, one of the ballerinas. She was pleased with how the exhibition turned out, “It’s nice to see our form of art combined with photography. I think it will make people appreciate dance more.” This may be true since the combination of the two art forms opens up each one to a wider audience. Working with Astrom, she found it interesting to use aspects of the background in combination with her dance. It is “unlike typical dance photos” which usually consist of a basic backdrop and the dancer smiling while posed. By taking the dancers out of their studios and off the stage Astrom has given them a limitless performance space and offered the viewer a new way to see ballet.
 So where does he go from here? “It’s not done,” says Astrom. “I’m going to continue with this as an ongoing series.” Working with Dance Makerz studio, he has taken most of the photos in Burlington but is looking to expand into Hamilton as well. With the number of dance studios in the surrounding area I am sure we will be seeing many more ballerinas taking over the cities before Astrom is through.
Lana Kamarić is a contemporary surrealist artist and a self-taught painter. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia Lana arrived in Canada at the age of five. After moving to Burlington she attended Robert Bateman High school and graduated from York University with a degree in Art History. Lana has worked with the Museums of Burlington, the Art Gallery of Burlington and is currently working as a full-time artist. Lana was a participant in Cirque, the 2014 No Vacancy installation event in the Village Square. Her last show was Art in the Workplace at McMaster Innovation Park.
 By Ray Rivers
October 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
They used to call the Ontario Progressive Conservatives (PCs) ‘the natural governing party’. Originated with the Upper Canada Family Compact of Sir John A Macdonald, the party was first led by another Macdonald, who was actually a Liberal. The PCs under one label or another have ruled Ontario for over half of the province’s post-confederation history. And interestingly the Party’s official name used to be the Liberal-Conservative Association of Ontario.
 Next May the Ontario PCs will be choosing a new leader and will get the opportunity to rid themselves of the regressive and divisive politics that characterized much of the past couple decades. Christine Elliott, the widow of former finance minister Jim Flaherty, appears to be the candidate to beat. She’s been down this road before, coming in third place to Tim Hudak in the 2009 leadership fight. Flaherty had been one of the Mike Harris’ radicals though he took on subtler, more folksy and progressive persona as Mr. Harper’s finance minister.
After Flaherty vacated his provincial seat to run federally, Elliott squeaked in to fill her husband’s shoes. She claims to be a moderate, a centrist, and unlike Hudak, was never a foot soldier in the Harris government. In fact she has been known to criticize Harris’ ‘Common Sense Revolution’ and the extreme policies of former leader Tim Hudak, policies which led to the party’s failure in the last provincial election.
There is so much political landscape for a moderate leader of the second party to explore, providing that party is focused on good government and not blinded by ideology. For example we know that balancing the budget is an exercise in offsetting expenditures with revenues. And it follows that if costs can’t be reasonably curtailed, then taxes must increase.
Ontario’s state of transportation infrastructure is in shambles – and especially so in the GTA. Former Premier John Robarts would have intervened long ago to build more public transit, so people could come out of their cars and off the roads. And that would have helped, but this is more complex than just building bus lanes, subways and GO trains – it is about urban sprawl and planning for development in Ontario.
 Bill Davis had problems learning how to balance a budget; never really did learn. Former premier Bill Davis implemented Ontario’s land planning process, calling it one of the most advanced anywhere. But for all the praise, it is not much more than a reactive system driven by unsolicited developer proposals. Only the official plans and Greenbelt represent any kind of meaningful planning. And then there is that archaic institution called the Ontario Municipal Board, which exists nowhere else and, which can overrule municipal decisions to the ‘nth’ detail of a developer’s wet dream, thus emasculating council decisions.
Finally the whole municipal system promotes corruption and influence peddling. For example, some councillors accept contributions from land developers, and then are in a position to approve their development plans. And isn’t four years is too long a term for a municipal official between elections? Term limits might encourage greater participation in the municipal process as well as reducing the amount of ‘dead wood’ in council chambers.
Fixing these things is not really a matter of being right-wing or left-wing, and neither is ensuring adequate health care, reliable energy and quality education for the Ontario public. So I welcome a new PC leader who understands that we just want good government. Isn’t that how the PC party started and evolved, at least until it went off the rails. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a choice between two middle-of-the-road parties that mostly believe in the same things for all of us?
 And don’t we get tired watching one party come to power and then cancel the programs the former one had brought in, and so on and so forth… Of course there are some universal truths. Wealth doesn’t just trickle down from the rich to the poor, which is one of the reasons we have taxation. An economy in perpetual deficit will ultimately fail to perform at all. And the profit incentive is essential to ensure economic progress.
These principles or philosophies can be located somewhere in the constitutions of both of the two major political parties in Ontario if we look hard enough. This is the heritage of the parties and also their foundation. What’s not there is how they act to achieve these goals: being moderate, reasonable, inclusive and cooperative or conflicting, contrary, exclusive and divisive.
 Not everybody always votes for the same party, except maybe in Alberta. Some voters might occasionally want to support a second party, if only for a change of blood. But that becomes difficult when partisan ‘policy wonks’ dream up striking new ideological policy planks for the party leader. You know, the kind of stuff Mr. Tory attempted with religious school funding, Mr. Hudak with slashing the civil service and the crippling the unions, and Mr. Harris by dismantling our reliable electrical generation system.
There are at least four other contenders for the PC leadership so far, and in politics anything is possible. So it may not be Ms. Elliott who wins. Hopefully the new leader will look for inspiration to the glorious days before the 1990’s when the PCs were both conservative and progressive.
 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 against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Links:
PCs Christine Elliott PC Leadership
Patrick Brown Candidate Hudak’s Platform
PC’s Relevant? Federal Conservative Constitution
By Staff
October 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Police work is more than just catching criminals and writing traffic tickets.
When a crime is committed there is a victim – and often the victim needs not only justice through the courts but help to cope with the hurt and the harm done them.
 The Halton Regional Police Victim Services Unit is reaching out to the community for people interested in supporting victims of crime and trauma in our region.
These volunteer positions are for people who want to make a difference in their community and want to give back by helping others in need.
The Victim Services Unit can be called to attend incident scenes, hospitals or other locations where trauma has occurred, to provide immediate crisis assistance to serious incidents. This can include a broad spectrum of physical / psychological trauma from sudden death to assaults, robberies or motor vehicle collisions. HRPS Victim Services Unit volunteers may also be required to provide emotional support, explain police and / or court procedures and / or provide referrals to community agencies. The HRPS proudly supports the growing communities of Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown, Acton and Halton Hills.
Requirements:
To be considered for this volunteer position, you must:
Be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
Be 21 years of age or older.
Have successfully completed at least four (4) years of secondary school education or equivalent.
Not have been convicted of a criminal offence for which a pardon has not been fully granted.
Be a fully licensed driver in Ontario having accumulated no more than six (6) demerit points.
Be prepared to take an Oath/Affirmation of Office and Secrecy
Be non-judgemental and empathetic.
Required to complete the mandatory sixty (60) hours of volunteer training, to take place weekly from January to March 2015.
Required to dedicate a minimum of four (4), eight (8) hour shifts of duty per month. During your shift you will be ‘on-call’ from your home but must strive to respond to calls from any of our locations in the region within 40 minutes of receiving the call.
Required to attend at least eight (8) of twelve (12) monthly meetings, in addition to shift hours.
Have access to internet / e-mail and a cell phone
Successfully complete the Volunteer Crisis Responder application and selection process.
Applicants must be willing to commit two years of volunteer service with Halton Regional Police Service. Full training will be provided.
The Volunteer Crisis Responder job position is posted on our website and can be found by following this link:
The web site does say that the position is in Oakville
 By Pepper Parr
October 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Elections bring out every interest group in the city. Some are minor, a little self serving while others are significant and impact the whole city.
 Barbara Sheldon look at 32 feet of landfill less than 50 feet from her kitchen window. All dumped without any permits because an airport is federally regulated. The Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition’s is one of the major concerns. Their mission statement is “to protect the Greenbelt Plan’s ‘protected countryside’ in North Burlington from ecologically and socially damaging development”. Since its founding in April 2013, it has worked to secure Municipal and Provincial control over the five year, unregulated fill operation at the Burlington Airpark.
In November 2013, and June 2014, Ontario’s Superior and Appellate courts both awarded in favour of the City of Burlington’s right to enforce its Site Alteration Bylaw on Airpark lands. In September 2014, the City of Burlington passed its new, more fulsome, Site Alteration Bylaw that will provide greater controls at the Airpark and will prevent another large scale fill operation from harming our Rural North. However, the story doesn’t end here.
Speaking to those who are running for office the RBGC said in a prepared statement: “Many of you have identified the Burlington Airpark as a major campaign issue, and your term of office will define how and when our City moves forward with environmental soil testing, remediation and restoration on the Airpark and adjacent properties, and in turn, how to bring justice to the neighbours of the Airpark.”
 Landfill comes to the edge of a neighbouring farm causing significant water damage. Candidates and media have been invited to take part in a Candidate’s Open House & Tour of the three neighbouring properties that have been most damaged by the Airpark’s fill operation on Saturday, October 11th 2014
Refreshments and briefing notes will be provided at the event. You are encouraged to drop in anytime between 10am and 1pm. It should take about 90 minutes for the complete tour.
Start at 5199 Appleby Line, and then travel north to the neighbouring farm and rural residences that have been surrounded by untested fill. The residents will be in attendance to share their personal stories and their concerns for the futures of their properties and water supply. Please wear footwear suitable for wet conditions.
RSVP’s are appreciated but not mandatory. Email Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition ruralburlingtongreenbelt@gmail.com
 By Pepper Parr
October 8, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
The momentum to keep raising funds for Burlington flood victims is continuing at a strong pace. As of noon today, the Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee has raised $750,000 in cash and $100,000 of in-kind support for a total of $850,000.
 With a pitch man like this how can a company not write a cheque. “Businesses, individuals and community organizations throughout the Golden Horseshoe continue to help us raise much needed funds for victims,” says Ron Foxcroft, Chair, BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee. “As we plan our Thanksgiving celebrations this weekend we need to remind ourselves that many people in our community who suffered tremendous flood damage are still without essentials like furnaces, washers and dryers. We need to raise more money to help these people.”
The Committee is very pleased to announce that both Fortinos and Longo’s are getting involved raising funds in a big way. Each company has announced it will donate $25,000 for a total of $50,000 to flood relief and collect donations at their checkouts.
The Fortinos fundraising efforts will be held from October 17-30 and customers will be asked to consider contributing $2-5 when paying for their groceries.
The Longo’s fundraising efforts will be held from October 17-24 and customers will be asked to consider contributing $2 or more at checkout.
Grassroots fundraising efforts are also continuing in the community:
A Nine and Dine at Crosswinds Golf on October 5th raised $7,600; The Lion’s Club of Burlington donated $8,000; a Burlington couple donated $13,500 in securities to assist in the relief.
Sheil Patel, an 11 year old Burlington resident approached numerous local retailers for prizes and is selling tickets to raffle off the prizes. So far he has raised $400 and an anonymous donor has stepped up to match all proceeds.
The Bank of Montreal donated $20,000, the Insurance Bureau of Canada donated $5,000
 This total does not include the $100,000 Cogeco is reported to have given by way of in-kind services. This might be an embarrassing question but that$100,000 in-kind donation comes from Cogeco which is a corporation that has the sole right to offer its cable services in protected markets. Part of the deal Cogeco has with the government is that they will provide a community content channel that covers local community events. Cogeco does a lot of this kind of broadcasting. They never cover anything that is the least bit controversial – they don’t want to offend anything – so they tend towards “fluff” pieces that keep the customers smiling.
A key role for the broadcast media is to not only entertain but to inform; that seems to have fallen off the Cogeco radar screen.
For Cogeco to be described as a company that donated $100,000 as in-kind services is quite a stretch. That is there job, that is why they were given a license and a protected territory.
By Pepper Parr
October 7, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The amounts donated to the Burlington Flood Relief fund increase each day. Small amounts get donated via the web site which is at; other amounts get a red carpet treatment.
Last week the Bank of Montreal donated $20,000. The presentation took place at a BMO branch with most of the branch managers in Burlington in attendance along with the federal and provincial political representatives on hand for the photo-op.
 Insurance Bureau of Canada donates $5000 to the Flood Relief program. Mayor Burlington and Burlington Community Foundation president Collen Mulholland accept the donation from an Insurance Bureau representative. Yesterday there was a $5000 donation from the Insurance Bureau of Canada – that amount gets you the Mayor and the President of the Burlington Community Foundation.
There are people who will gulp when they learn of the Insurance Bureau donation.
The grant programs the BCF is administering fall into two categories: a sum of up to $1000 for those who were in a desperate situation and needed some cash to cover immediate costs – motel accommodation for those that had to live in a motel.
The second program is for those who are un-insured or under insured.
One might ask – and many people have – why the public is being asked to support those who did not buy insurance. Are these people not responsible enough to by the insurance they need?
They are responsible – they are just not able to buy the insurance they would like. There are homes in this city that have been flooded up to four times – the insurance companies are just not giving them the coverage they would like to buy.
Mayor Goldring was flooded – the water rose above the main floor in his home. MP Mike Wallace was flooded – it took weeks to get the dumpster off his front lawn. They probably don’t expect to get flood insurance when their policy comes up for renewal. They both had insurance. Will their policies cover everything they lost. Fat chance of that happening.
Collen Mulholland, president of the BCF was flooded – she was talking in terms of $80,000 to cover the loss – that isn’t going to be covered by the policy that family has.
 Premier Wynne has visited Burlington a number of times. Let’s let her know we need some help – soon would be nice. These are not irresponsible people. They had insurance – they probably weren’t under insured. These three people will not be seeking financial support. Those that have filled in the forms seeking assistance are decent responsible people who have come up against the damage that nature can do.
Ron Foxcroft, the man who was asked to head up the fund raising drive, cannot buy flood insurance – few people can; it has gone the way of the dodo bird.
For those who have had to ask for help, and it wasn’t easy for any of them to fill in and sign those forms, some compassion would be nice just about now.
The province has yet to tell the BCF that it will add to what the community has already raised. Burlington’s MPP. Eleanor McMahon is doing what she can do to get the province to help.
We can give our MPP some help by emailing the premier directly and asking her to provide Burlington residents with the financial support they need. The community is doing it’s part.
The Premier, Hon Kathleen O. Wynne can be reached by email at:
kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org
We would like to track the people who choose to email the Premier. If you BCC publisher@bgzt.ca we will be able to get a count of how many people ask the Premier to help out. With that kind of information we can continually remind that Burlingtonians are asking for help.
You can write the Premier at: Queen’s Park, Room 281, Main Legislative Building, Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
The Premier won’t be picking up the phone should you call but they will take a message. 416-325-1941
Make a point of putting Help Burlington in the subject line of your email.
By Pepper Parr
October 6, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
There are Rusin for Mayor popping up around town – maybe as many as a dozen.
Peter Rusin does his second debate against Mayor Rick Goldring and Anne Marsden Tuesday evening at the Paletta Mansion on Lakeshore Road. Start time is 7 pm.
 Peter Rusin with his first election sign – his daughter put it up. The format will be much like the Lion’s debate last week where the Regional candidates, the Mayoral candidates and the candidates for ward four were all at the front of the room.
Rusin has his work cut out for him. He certainly scored some points during the first debate but failing to say who he was at the start of the debate suggested this is a politician who has a lot to learn.
Ward four carries a lot of clout in Burlington and there will be some people watching his performance very carefully. Last week when Rusin took part in an Ontario Poverty Roundtable it became evident that he didn’t know what Ontario Works was all about.
Not knowing what Ontario Works is about won’t make a pinch of difference to the Roseland crowd but it is a glimpse of the short comings in the Rusin attempt to get that Chain of Office around his neck.
Rusin will have to land a sold knockout punch or Goldring will have to stumble badly if Rusin is to advance his candidacy. Neither is likely – we have seen Mayor Goldring stand up to some of the Rusin challenges. What has been useful is a candidate who has forced to Mayor to move out of the lazy stroll he was taking to a return trip to the office of Mayor.
 The Regional government has some explaining to do about the storm water and sewage systems. The battle for the Region Chair has already been determined. Gary Carr has done a good job and will be returned. He could be held more accountable; all for municipalities that make up the Regional government are in for both a surprise and a shock when the Regional budget comes down in the Spring. .
Burlington is due much, much more in the way of explanations as to what went wrong with the storm water sewer and sewage systems.
 Councillor Jack Dennison faces an incumbent who is nipping at his heels – too early to tell is she will manage a decent bite, Dennison is out walking door to door handing our his brochure. Some truth in advertising issues with that brochure. A key part of the evening is watching how well first time candidate Carol Gottlob does when she goes up against long term incumbent Jack Dennison. Gottlob doesn`t have any political experience but she certainly sounds good. Someone younger with new ideas and a different level of energy might be what ward four needs.
It will be interesting to see how well she holds her own.
Maureen Tilson-Dyment will moderate; Joan Little, Hamilton Spectator columnist, Tina Depko-Denver, city hall reporter for the Post and Pepper Parr, publisher of the Burlington Gazette will be on a panel putting questions to the candidates.
The event is being sponsored by the Roseland Community Organization and the Roseland Heights Community Organization.
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