 By Pepper Parr
December 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
At a recent council meeting, during which how city councillors are to be compensated, Ward 1 Councillor Kelven Galbraith said: “With no print newspaper left in Burlington”, he relies on flyers to reach residents. He noted that the current budget only allows him to do so once a year.
Galbraith needs some help; There are four online newspapers that serve the city:
Burlington Gazette, which is the oldest online newspaper: 12 years
Burlington Today – a relative newcomer that has a strong readership.
The Burlington Post which converted to an online paper when Metroland Media killed all their weekly papers, and stiffed their reporting staff at the same time.
The Bay Observer and Insauga.
 
The five online newspapers are active, growing and serving the news and entertainment that are part of every city.
Advertising support from the city, precious little. The Bay Observer has managed to convince some of its city Councillors to advertise. In Burlington, both the federal and provincial elected representatives have advertising budgets. Not much of that money makes its way to the media.
 The Bay Observer manages to get some advertising from members of Hamilton City Council. In Burlington media gets invitations to photo ops where the Mayor might tear up or a Council member is cutting a ribbon at a new retail location. 
Media is in place to keep those that serve the public transparent and accountable. They all read the media – we know that because when there is something that they think is wrong – we hear from them.
 By Gazette Staff
December 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Specifically: 1 (one) lane out of 3 existing (1 left lane), on the QEW Niagara Bound will be closed from 2:00am until 5:00pm Saturday December 6th weather dependent. As part of our project on the QEW/Burlington Bay Skyway Bridge (Niagara Bound), the contractor is working on the rehabilitation of the QEW Niagara Bound lanes of the Burlington Bay Skyway bridge and to carry out this work, one Niagara Bound (eastbound) lane, out of the three lanes approaching the Skyway will be closed to allow for waterproofing and paving of lane 1 and the median, including the approach slab.
Specifically:
- 1 (one) lane out of 3 existing (1 left lane), on the QEW Niagara Bound will be closed from 2:00am until 5:00pm Saturday December 6th weather dependent.
It is expected that there will be traffic delays during this closure.
- Advance signing and notification will be provided to motorists so they can plan an alternate route. Eastport Drive will be open and available as an alternate route. Motorists can access the QEW Niagara Bound both before (north) and after (south) the Burlington Lift Bridge.
- No additional weekend work is anticipated if the work scheduled for this weekend is completed.
Travellers can visit http://511on.ca/ or @511Ontario for updates on work and traffic impacts.
 By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Santa Claus parade will take place on Sunday.
Will there be room in the event for the reason for the season?
Or is the birth of Christ going to be totally forgotten?
 We sometimes lose sight of what the Season is about. Did parents watching the floats pass by use the opportunity to spread the message? You don’t have to buy into whether or not it was a virgin birth.
The fact is Jesus Christ was born.
You don’t have to buy in on whether or not he rose on the third day.
The fact is, he was crucified.
And those two facts are pillars, fundamental parts of the society we live in – the Western society at least.
Amazes me how we have managed to forget all that.
Maybe that has something to do with how damaged a world we live in.
 By Gazette Staff
December 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Community Foundation released their Vital Signs report in September. As part of their in-depth follow up to the contents of the report they have scheduled three Vital Community Conversations for 2026 so they can gather in community to discuss ways to take action around some of the key findings identified in Burlington’s 2025 Vital Signs research.
The first Vital Community Conversation, to be held in partnership with the Burlington Public Library, will focus on housing. A registration link will be made available in January on our website.
 Save the the following dates to join us in community:
- January 27, 6:30-8:30 pm, Central Library (maximum capacity: 60)
- April 16, 1-3 pm, Tansley Woods branch (maximum capacity: 40)
- October 8, 6:30-8:30 pm, New Appleby branch (maximum capacity: 60)
This is an interesting approach to learning what the public thinks and feels about what the Community Foundation has been doing. The funds they make available to community organizations are well known: the most recent distribution amounted to $315,000 to xxx organizations.
The foundation wants to dig deeper into the housing issue. Set out below is the data Vital Signs had on housing.
By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall was shut down and Staff evacuated and then went into a lengthy hold and secure process that lasted more than seven hours.
The threat was made at around 2 p.m. yesterday (Nov. 26) and lasted late into the night to ensure the safety of everyone in the building.
What has yet to be made clear is the actual threat. Some reports say it was a phone call, another report had the threat made by someone from the mail floor of city hall.
 Some reports have the intruder standing in the middle of the ground level of city hall. No dat from anyone on this matter. A representative from the city stated that the hold and secure was lifted at around 11 p.m. last night, but did not respond to questions on the nature of the threat and who it was directed towards.
Const. Jeffery Dillon, a media relations officer with the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), added that the hold and secure was initiated by the city itself as per City Hall policies and was not initiated by the police.
Nothing else?
An arrest was made.
No court date given and so far no names.
This doesn’t pass the smell test.
In the eight hours the building was shut down, there was enough time to search every nook and cranny in the building?
 By Amy Smith
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada continues to establish itself as one of the NBA’s most valuable markets. The support the Toronto Raptors have received even during leaner years is consistent, and when they’re good, it’s arguably beyond compare. That makes sense.
For all this talk about other sports in The True North, basketball is ingrained into the fabric of societal interest. Canada’s impassioned fanbase is what drew the NBA to it in the first place. And now, with franchise valuations skyrocketing, gate revenue on the rise, Canadian sportsbooks emphasizing all sorts of basketball events, and a population of over 40 million people, an intriguing question is starting to make the rounds: Should the NBA add a second franchise to its Canadian ranks?
 Is Canada fit to host a second NBA team, be it back in Vancouver or elsewhere? Anyone who has tangentially followed the Association knows that Canada housed two organizations at one point. Both the Vancouver Grizzlies and Raptors debuted during the 1995-96 season. The Grizzlies, however, vacated Vancouver after just six seasons. More potential was seen in the Memphis market, which is now home to the Grizzlies.
Somewhat ironically, as NBA expansion talk continues its gradual crescendo, the Memphis franchise is commonly cited as one that’s a candidate relocation. Regardless of the machinations behind it, the question is out there: Is Canada fit to host a second NBA team, be it back in Vancouver or elsewhere?
Can Vancouver Support an NBA Franchise Now?
Let’s not mince words: If the NBA adds another team in Canada, it will revisit the Vancouver operation. In fact, many believe The Wet Coast is among the top three destinations for the next franchise, joining Seattle and Las Vegas.
Of course, this raises another question: If Vancouver couldn’t drum up the necessary support before, what has changed in the decades since?
A whole lot, actually.
The proliferation of social media has rendered, well, pretty much everything more accessible to everyone. It is easier for Vancouver residents to become enamored by the game of basketball, even if it’s from afar. The NBA, in particular, is among the leagues that have committed the most time and resources to growing their social media presence. It is no coincidence that Canada has turned into one of the Association’s three-best ratings drawers. And this holds true even if you filter out the Toronto market, which is obviously beholden to the Raptors.
Beyond that, Vancouver seems more attracted to basketball culture in general—not just NBA basketball, but basketball overall. As Niako Liapsis writes for Evolution 1079:
 Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet (23) makes a shot against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter of a NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2017. “Fast forward now to 2025, the city now has a fantastic basketball culture with thriving programs for youth academies and university level athletes. UBC is one of the best university basketball programs in the country and has produced multiple high level professional players throughout the years. Vancouver is also home to the Vancouver Bandits, a professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League or the CEBL. The Bandits have done a great job of increasing interest in basketball in Vancouver and even had some success with the franchise making it to the championship games in both 2020 and 2024 seasons. The team also welcomed Social Media Basketball Influencer Tristan Jazz as a new player to their roster in May, which has further gathered interest for the Bandits and the sport of basketball.”
This growth is enough to put Vancouver on the map. The same goes for its population size.
According to World Population Review, the greater metropolitan Vancouver area has a population of over 2.7 million. That does not compete with Toronto’s population of 7.7 million, but it’s more than double the population of the 1.4 million census data in Memphis.
Further Basketball Expansion in Canada is a Waiting Game
At the bare minimum, we can at least say Vancouver is a potentially viable market for another NBA team. The issue, however, will be moot until the league embraces expansion or relocation.
Unfortunately, the timeline for either is unclear. Relocation may happen first, since two teams have arena leases that expire by the end of the decade. The first is the Grizzlies, formerly of Vancouver. The second is the New Orleans Pelicans—who, for what it’s worth, play in a metropolitan area with a population of 1.7 million, which is smaller than that in Vancouver.
 June 5th, 2019 Burlington citizens turned out to sit in Civic Square to watch the Raptors. Beating out other candidates is Vancouver’s bigger issue. Many experts believe Las Vegas and Seattle will have first dibs on whatever happens. If the league adds to expansion franchises, the prevailing assumption is that each city will end up with one. If there are relocation opportunities, Las Vegas is considered in the poll position, with Seattle right behind it.
This is not an insurmountable obstacle for Vancouver. Given the shaky state of affairs in Memphis and New Orleans, it’s fair to predict at least one of those franchises will be relocated in the semi-near term. And if you combine the prospect of expansion with relocation, there could be four bites at the apple for new markets (two from expansion, two from relocation).
Vancouver, in the above scenario, doesn’t just become a viable candidate. It may turn into an odds-on favorite.
 By Gazette Staff
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 High-quality instruction, supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-informed teaching. Results released from the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show Halton District School Board (HDSB) students continue to perform above provincial standards in literacy and mathematics, with growing achievement year-over-year. These results highlight the HDSB’s ongoing commitment and focus on providing high-quality instruction, supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-informed teaching.
Independent rankings released by the Fraser Institute also place many HDSB schools among the highest-rated in Ontario. These rankings reinforce the HDSB’s consistent record of academic excellence and the impact of the skilled teaching and support delivered by HDSB educators.
While no single measure can capture the full scope of student learning, these results provide valuable insight into student achievement and help guide improvement at the individual, school, Board and provincial levels. The HDSB uses this data, alongside other measures of success, to focus efforts on continuously enhancing student outcomes.
HDSB schools continue to demonstrate sustained growth and improvement across both EQAO assessments and independent evaluations, reflecting a system that builds on achievement through student-focused supports and enhanced teaching strategies. These results highlight the strength of the partnership between dedicated staff and supportive families who contribute to student success every day.
Grade 3 EQAO results
- In Grade 3 Reading, 80 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, a three per cent increase from the 2023-2024 school year, when 77 per cent of students achieved this level. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Reading exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.
- In Grade 3 Writing, 71 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Writing exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.
- In Grade 3 Mathematics, 71 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, up from 69 per cent in the 2023-2024 school year. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by seven per cent.
Grade 6 EQAO results
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 No single measure can capture the full scope of student learning. In Grade 6 Reading, 92 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, reflecting a rise from the 88 per cent recorded in 2023-2024. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Reading exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.
- In Grade 6 Writing, 91 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, an increase from the 87 per cent of students who achieved this benchmark the previous year. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Writing exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.
- In Grade 6 Mathematics, 62 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 11 per cent.
Grade 9 EQAO results
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 The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 16 per cent. In Grade 9, 74 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, showing growth compared to the 70 per cent reported in the 2023-2024 school year. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 16 per cent.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
- In the Grade 10 OSSLT, 91 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the requirements, exceeding the provincial average by six per cent.
Fraser Institute rankings of Ontario secondary schools
The Fraser Institute ranks secondary schools with an overall rating out of 10.
- Abbey Park High School scored 9.3, up from 8.1 last year, tying for eighth place in the province.
- Iroquois Ridge High School also scored 9.3, sharing the eighth-place ranking.
- Oakville Trafalgar High School scored 9.2, earning 12th place in the province.
- White Oaks Secondary School scored 8.8, tying for 29th place provincially.
HDSB Student Experience
Serving communities across Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) consistently performs as one of the top school boards in Ontario. As one of the largest English-language public school boards in the province, we offer high-quality education for elementary and secondary students, as well as adult and continuing education programs to support lifelong learning and newcomer success. Learn more about the HDSB Student Experience.
By Gazette Staff
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The parade begins at 2 p.m. at the corner of Drury Lane and New Street and will make its way downtown along New Street. The parade then travels north on Brant Street and finishes at St. John the Baptist Church on Brant Street at Blairholm Avenue.
Roads will close at varying times along the route and will re-open shortly after the final float has moved through and a clean-up has been completed. For the most updated information including the full parade route visit, the road closure page, details will be posted 1 week prior to the event date.
Residents living in the parade area are encouraged to plan ahead as detours and delays are expected.
Children are encouraged to bring their letters for Santa. Letter carriers from Canada Post will collect them along the parade route, or they can be dropped into any Canada Post mailbox.
The Burlington Teen Tour Band Boosters will be collecting non-perishable food and Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club will be collecting monetary donations in support of the Burlington Food Bank.
 The Santa Claus parade has taken place for more than 45 years in Burlington. Organized by a citizens group that works out of the city’s Festivals and Events office, it is the premier holiday event in the city.
 By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This one smells.
From a source at Queen’s Park:
 The Provincial government hasn’t done all that much this year. Now they are jamming legislation through with little debate on significant matters. With just one scheduled sitting week left in the legislative session, the Ford government is accelerating another stack of bills through Queen’s Park.
Time-allocation motions — which cap debate and set a hard timeline for passage — aren’t unheard of in the final sprint before the winter recess. Governments of all stripes have used them to make sure their legislative agendas cross the finish line, and the PCs have even opened the door to midnight sittings to get it all done.
But here’s the thing: critics say this isn’t a last-minute crunch so much as the Ford government’s standard MO. Throughout this session (and even before), the PCs have repeatedly bypassed the committee stage — the part of the process where stakeholders, experts, and the public weigh in, and where (mostly Opposition) MPPs can propose amendments to some of the government’s most contentious bills.
 the PCs have the votes — the process itself is the real story. With a comfortable majority, the Tories can pass their legislation regardless, so shutting out the public and limiting scrutiny can look like overkill — and, as critics say, is part of an anti-democratic pattern.
The latest time-allocation motion from the Progressive Conservative House Leader, a trio of bills are set to skip committee entirely and head straight for a truncated third reading, with just two hours of debate split between all parties.
- Bill 45, the scaled-back plan to break up Peel Region, which also deals with provincial land and development facilitators…
- Bill 72, which requires the public sector to procure made-in-Ontario goods and services, with steep penalties for those who don’t…
- Bill 76, which green-lights controversial boundary changes in Barrie
Bottom line: All three bills will almost certainly pass — the PCs have the votes — but the process itself is the real storey.
By Gazette Staff
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward commented on the whistleblower policy. She had a huge thank you to the team for their work on this. “This is an incredibly important piece of work to ensure that people have the freedom and the respect and the confidentiality required to report items that may be to the detriment of the city and the city services that we provide. I understand that it is scheduled for implementation pending approval of the budget, which we approved earlier this week. So full steam ahead, this will take effect in Q2 of 2026.
 Mayor Meed Ward: Staff will have the freedom, respect and the confidentiality required to report items that may be to the detriment of the city. This was the first we heard of this policy.
Audit Committee Chair Lisa Kearns had an: Okay, echo that. Thank you very much. We have examples of neighboring municipalities that have had discoveries and that have led to better stewardship of tax dollars and better protection for employees. So looking forward to this implementation next year.
Background:
SUBJECT: Whistleblower Policy & Program update
TO: Audit Committee
FROM: Corporate Affairs
City Auditor
Date to Committee: December 3, 2025
Date to Council: December 9, 2025
Recommendation:
Receive for information office of the city auditor report AUD-15-25 regarding an update about the Whistleblower Policy & Program identified in the 2025 Annual Audit Plan.
Purpose of report:
Work towards designing and developing the Whistleblower Policy was approved by Audit Committee as a part of the 2025 Audit Plan; this report provides Audit Committee with a status update.
Key findings:
A Whistleblower Policy & Program was designed based on leading practices implemented in other mid-sized and large Canadian municipalities. This policy was approved by the CAO and XLT in August 2025
 City Auditor: Maciej Jurczyk The Whistleblower Policy will allow City staff who fear reprisal to confidentially report an issue of wrongdoing to the City Auditor and Chief Human Resources Officer
The Whistleblower Program is scheduled for implementation in Q2 2026, pending Council approval of the 2026 operating budget
A procurement process to source a service provider which will host an online confidential whistleblower hotline/portal will proceed immediately following Council’s approval of the 2026 budget on Dec 2, 2025
Implications:
The City Auditor and staff from Human Resources are leading this initiative; however, multiple staff from Legal Services, Procurement, Information Governance and Burlington Digital Services have been impacted and provided support.
An operating budget of $13,000 was requested from Council through the 2026 budget process
There are no climate-related implications.
By Gazette Staff
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
CBC reported this morning that the latest Canadian food price report releaseed today is forecasting what most households will not want to hear.
Grocery prices, already high are going to keep rising well into the new year.
 Meat prices could rise as much as 7% in 2026 Inflation continues to take a bite out of budgets, especially at the grocery store. Researchers forecast food prices will jump 4 to 6% in 2026. The cost of meat could see the biggest hike as much as 7%
Sylvan Charlebois, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, says “a lot of cattle ranchers are leaving the industry, and that’s impacting inventory.
“Climate change is having a significant impact too. So we need to think about how to make our supply chain more resilient.”
A family of four is expected to spend $17,600 on food in 2026 almost $1,000 more than this year. Sabra Alharthy shops for her groceries in Toronto and says she’ll have to make some adjustments, maybe change diet. “The prices are up, but the paycheck is still the same when it comes to food. There’s only so much you can cut back.
By Gazette Staff
December 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Starting on Saturday, December 6, until end of service on Sunday, December 7, Lakeshore West rail service will be temporarily modified to accommodate critical track work that will bring faster, more frequent service across the network.
 During this time, regularly scheduled Lakeshore West trains will only run between Niagara Falls and Aldershot GO.
GO replacement buses will operate at West Harbour, Aldershot, Burlington, Oakville and Clarkson GO stations to take customers to Bramalea GO for connection to eastbound service on the Kitchener line to Union Station.
There will be no GO Transit service to or from Appleby, Bronte, Port Credit, Long Branch, Mimico or West from Exhibition GO stations. Customers traveling to and from those stations are encouraged to use alternative local transit options like the TTC.
Special GO Train services will run between Exhibition GO and Union Station.
On Friday, December 5, there will also be some late-night service adjustments.
More information about Lakeshore West Line service adjustments and alternate route options is available HERE.
By Gazette Staff
December 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Minister of Education, Paul Callandra, blames trustees for the poor EQAO results. Paul Calandra, Minister of Educationsaid yesterday that: “The latest EQAO results show that more action is needed to support our students and help them succeed.”
“In too many cases, dysfunction and infighting among trustees have distracted boards from this core responsibility. I have taken the time to closely review these results, and we are taking decisive action to get students on track for stronger achievement.”
The results show that despite continued improvement in recent years as the government has continued to implement its back-to-basics curriculum, the pace of improvement in reading, writing and particularly math has not been adequate. Half of Grade 6 students and 42 per cent of Grade 9 students are not meeting the provincial standard in math and some student groups and school boards continue to face significant gaps in achievement.
EQAC results can be found HERE
For that reason, as the government continues to review school board governance to address the many long-standing issues that have been identified with trustee performance and which are impacting student achievement and outcomes, the province will also be launching an expert advisory body to examine EQAO testing. The new advisory body will be made up of two members who will be appointed early next year to lead a comprehensive review of how Ontario supports student learning, focusing on math, reading and writing and closing achievement gaps. The review will examine the root causes behind these results and recommend clear, actionable strategies to better support teachers, parents and students, all while continuing to support Ontario’s public education system.
The review will assess:
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Why student outcomes are not improving at the pace we need
Whether the curriculum and learning resources are clear, consistent and easy to use
How well teachers are being prepared and supported
Whether students have the tools they need to succeed
It will also examine:
Whether EQAO tests align with what students are being taught and are fair for all students
How data can be used to improve teaching, policy and funding decisions
Whether current supports for students who are struggling, including those with special needs, are working
How to better help students before they take standardized tests
The advisory body will also look at how EQAO tests are designed and delivered to ensure students can meaningfully demonstrate what they’ve learned.
The final report will present its findings and actionable recommendations to the Minister. These will be publicly available to guide improvements in supporting everyone involved in education. These recommendations will help ensure teachers have the tools to succeed and students have every opportunity to thrive. The government will also continue to use every tool at its disposal to ensure that school governance models in Ontario are focused on student outcomes and achievement, helping students succeed and preparing them for good-paying careers.
Ontario passed the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, which simplifies, streamlines and broadens the Minister of Education’s powers of oversight, including over school board finances, governance and program performance.
- Ontario is providing historic levels of education funding in 2025–26, with an investment of $30.3 billion in Core Education Funding. This funding supports a back-to-basics approach focused on strengthening core skills in reading, writing and math, supporting students with special education needs, and expanding access to mental health services.
Additional Resources
 By Joe Gaetan
December 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The day after Burlington Council approved the 2026 municipal tax increase, one reality becomes painfully clear: governments of all stripes, wield an economic power most businesses could only dream of. When they need more money, they do not innovate, compete, or cut costs. They reach directly into the pockets of taxpayers.
We have watched this trend play out federally for more than a decade. Ottawa’s cavalier attitude toward public finances, expressed in throwaway lines like “budgets balance themselves” has trickled down into provincial and municipal practice. The cumulative result is the slow, steady erosion of household financial stability.
Here in Burlington, if you live in a house, condominium, or rental apartment, 2026 will cost you more than 2025. Full stop. Higher taxes, increased fees, costlier utilities, the list grows while incomes do not. And unless you are fortunate enough to enjoy an indexed pension or gold‑plated benefits, your options are shrinking.
Many residents will respond the only way they can:
 Eric Stern: Focus Burlington.  Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns: voted against the take increase. – Eating out less.
– Cancelling or shortening vacations.
– Selling the second car — or holding onto the old clunker far longer than planned.
– Downsizing their home, or even leaving the province.
– Making hard choices in a market where the concept of “right‑sizing” is becoming more fantasy than solution.
Against this backdrop, all but one Councillor voted to approve the 2026 increase. Voters cannot revisit that decision until October 2026. And given the power of incumbency in municipal politics, the same group with the same spending habits may well remain in place until 2030.
To be fair, councillors who supported this budget will undoubtedly provide explanations. Some will be reasonable. Some will be responsible. But others, the “nice‑to‑have” items and the “could‑have‑waited” items, are far more difficult to justify after the string of significant increases this council has passed since 2018.
A note of appreciation is due to Councillor Kearns for her vote, and to Eric Stern and Focus Burlington for their thoughtful and community‑focused delegation. Their contributions highlighted the need for transparency and restraint during a time of intense financial pressure on residents.
Council had a choice: to prioritize residents who are already stretched, or to continue layering new spending onto a heavy load. Yesterday’s vote shows which path they chose.
The question now is whether Burlington residents will remember in October 2026 and whether they will decide that their household budgets deserve as much respect as the municipal one.
 By Nikolai Rotickij
December 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The holiday season brings a unique atmosphere of celebration, relaxation, and entertainment. While traditional Christmas activities like family gatherings and festive meals remain central to the season, online casino gaming has emerged as an increasingly popular way to enjoy the holidays. Here’s why playing at online casinos during Christmas can be a smart and entertaining choice.
Exclusive Christmas bonuses and promotions
One of the most compelling reasons to play at online casinos at Christmas is the abundance of special promotions and bonuses. Casino operators go all out during the holiday season, offering players exclusive deals that are often more generous than regular promotions.
 These Christmas casino bonuses typically include:
- Enhanced welcome packages with bigger deposit matches
- Free spins on festive-themed slot machines
- Cashback offers that protect your bankroll
- Special tournaments with impressive prize pools
- Advent calendar promotions with daily rewards
- Loyalty program bonuses for existing players
The competition among online casinos intensifies during the holidays, meaning players benefit from increasingly attractive offers. Smart players take advantage of these limited-time promotions to maximize their gaming budget and potentially increase their winnings.
Perfect entertainment during holiday downtime
Christmas often involves periods of downtime between family activities, meals, and celebrations. Whether you’re waiting for dinner to be ready, relaxing after opening presents, or enjoying a quiet evening after guests have left, online casino games provide perfect entertainment to fill these moments.
 Unlike visiting a physical casino, which requires planning, travel, and specific opening hours, online platforms offer instant access to thousands of games. You can enjoy a few spins on your favorite slot machine or play a quick hand of blackjack without leaving the comfort of your home.
This convenience is particularly valuable during winter weather, when traveling to physical establishments can be challenging or unappealing. The flexibility of online gaming allows you to enjoy casino entertainment on your own schedule.
Festive-themed games and atmosphere
During the Christmas season, online casino providers release special festive-themed games that capture the holiday spirit. These games feature Christmas imagery, seasonal soundtracks, and holiday-specific bonus features that add an extra layer of entertainment.
Popular festive slots include themes like Santa’s workshop, winter wonderlands, and holiday gift-giving. These games not only provide standard casino excitement but also immerse players in the Christmas atmosphere, making the gaming experience more enjoyable and thematically appropriate for the season.
Many online casinos also decorate their platforms with festive graphics and seasonal designs, creating a virtual winter wonderland that enhances the overall experience.
Safe and responsible holiday gaming
Playing at legitimate online casinos provides a controlled environment for entertainment during the holidays. Reputable platforms such as the joueraucasino website feature licensed and regulated online casinos with built-in tools for responsible gaming.
Key responsible gaming features include:
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 Deposit limits to control spending
- Session time reminders to manage playing duration
- Self-exclusion options for extended breaks
- Reality checks that display time and money spent
- Access to support resources and helplines
- Age verification systems to protect minors
These features allow players to maintain control over their gaming activities during a season when spending can easily get out of hand. The ability to set strict budgets ensures that casino entertainment remains fun without compromising holiday finances.
Social gaming options for the holidays
Modern online casinos offer live dealer games that provide social interaction during the holiday season. These games connect you with real dealers and other players from around the world, creating a communal gaming experience that fits the social spirit of Christmas.
Live casino games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat allow you to chat with dealers and fellow players, bringing a social dimension to online gaming. This can be particularly appealing for those spending Christmas alone or looking to connect with people beyond their immediate circle.
Flexible stakes for every budget
The holiday season can strain finances, but online casinos accommodate players with varying budgets. Unlike many physical casinos that enforce minimum bets, online platforms offer games with stakes ranging from pennies to high roller amounts.
This flexibility means you can enjoy casino entertainment without overspending during an already expensive time of year. Whether you have a modest budget or plan to splurge on holiday entertainment, online casinos provide options that match your financial comfort level.
24/7 availability matches holiday schedules
 Christmas schedules can be unpredictable, with activities and gatherings happening at various times throughout the day and night. Online casino platforms operate around the clock, meaning you can enjoy gaming whenever it suits your holiday schedule.
Whether you’re an early riser wanting some entertainment before the family wakes up, or a night owl enjoying the quiet hours after everyone has gone to bed, online casinos are always accessible.
A modern holiday tradition
Playing at online casinos during Christmas combines convenience, special promotions, festive entertainment, and responsible gaming options. The holiday season’s unique offerings from casino operators, paired with the comfort and flexibility of online gaming, make it an increasingly smart choice for those seeking entertainment during the festive period.
 By Pepper Parr
December 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Eric Stern delegated to Council this morning on the 2026 city budget.
He was speaking for a community group, Focus Burlington, that has followed the creation of city budgets and the level of spending that has resulted in tax increases that should be seen as unsustainable.
I’d like to thank the city for giving us a few extra days to review the budget by releasing a draft. This is an improvement over last year, but still far short of the 30 days Oakville residents are permitted to review their draft budget. That being said, can we all admit that the Budget Blueprint Document is too high-level? Focus Burlington is a group of citizens working to engage with the city. We can’t effectively and meaningfully engage without details.
I’d also like to thank the city for responding to our questions.
Is it time for clarity? The budget is increasing 5.8%, the overall tax bill will increase 4.6ish percent, that’s clear and easy to understand. In a budget town hall, we heard: “The city chooses to share the tax increase as 2.98%”.
I choose to continue to object.
City Talk magazine is delivered to every home, at a substantial cost to taxpayers, showing 2.98% as the “City of Burlington’s share of the total tax increase” when the budget, and the Burlington line on our tax bill, is increasing 5.8%. Is this respectful to residents and taxpayers?
 Stern: Is this respectful to residents and taxpayers? We asked the city: “When I receive my final tax bill for 2026, how can I calculate the 2.98% increase by comparing my final 2026 bill and my final 2025 bill?”
With every other bill or salary increase, you calculate the percentage increase by looking at last year’s amount and comparing it to this year’s amount. The city didn’t show how to calculate 2.98% using our final tax bills. Is this respectful to residents and taxpayers?
Jim Barnett, in his delegation, asked serious questions about staff salary increases and the increase in consulting fees. If this information had been available in the budget town halls, a more fulsome discussion may have taken place.
Holding budget town halls before releasing a draft budget is like putting the cart before the horse. Is this respectful to residents and taxpayers?
If, and I’m emphasizing the word if, the goal of the city is to have meaningful engagement, detailed budget information providing evidence for the numbers presented is essential.
I was confused when I heard statements about cuts to the capital budget not leading to a tax rate decrease. Page 18 of the budget book clearly shows that $53,514,000 is being transferred from the operating budget to the capital budget. Does it not stand to reason that a reduction in capital expenses would lead to a reduction in the transfer amount, and this, in turn, would lead to a reduction in property taxes? Is there no opportunity for input on the $105,700,000 in spending in the capital budget. Is this respectful to residents and taxpayers?
Looping back to the budget blueprint, we learned that 2% was for inflation, 2% was for infrastructure, and 1.8% for additional pressures.
Our analysis shows a different story
A 5.8% property tax increase adds almost $17.5 million to the city’s coffers.
Where is the money going?
All we have to do is look at page 42 of the budget book for the answer
The change in salaries, wages and benefits is shown as $11,412,000. Meaning $11,412,000 of the $17,477,000 tax increase is going to salaries, wages and benefits.
Using the blueprints terminology, 3.79% of the 5.8% tax increase is going to salaries, wages, and benefits. Is stating: 2% is for inflation, 2% for infrastructure, and 1.8% for additional pressures, respectful to residents and taxpayers?
If the city wants to argue that all of the increase in Total Revenues from sources other than property taxes is for salaries, those costs still consume 3% of the 5.8% tax increase, exceeding the 2% for inflation number.
If the 1.8% for additional pressures is accurate, that leaves just 1% of the 5.8% for infrastructure.
Elect Respect is an important initiative. A safe and respectful workplace is essential for everyone. Is it time for a Taxpayer Respect initiative? One where members of the community, residents and taxpayers are treated with respect? After all, we are the source of the revenue on which the city is dependent.
Thank you for your time today.”
The delegation wasn’t going to end at the five-minute mark. Both the Mayor and several of the Councillors had comments and wanted to engage with Stern, which surely came as a surprise to him.
Mayor Meed Ward: You talked about the calculation of the 2.98; that was explained at one of the Town Hall meetings.
Eric Stern: I’ve heard many, many explanations, but I am looking for a town hall over the years that I’ve been talking about this, but I would really like to see an explanation that shows how to calculate that from the bill, because when we talk every other thing you talk about 4% increases. You can calculate that percentage increase from the bill. The city has calculations that involve a 51% of the property tax bill being for Burlington, which effectively means you divide the increase by half. That’s your choice to share that number. That’s not a meaningful number to residents, and it’s not reflected on the bill.
 You just have a different perspective. Mayor: You were at the Town Hall meetings where the numbers were explained. You just have a different perspective, which which is fair. My second question is around the salaries piece, and I’ll ask staff about this as well. I hope you can stick around for some additional questions to get more information on the matters you’ve raised the the salary piece wise, it’s included in inflation. Do you know that there’s a, there’s a part of that that is related to cost of living, which is inflation, and that’s why that sits there.
Stern: I understand that there’s inflation, everybody understands that. In our question to the city …
Mayor: I’m going to stop you there for a second; your internet connection might be a bit unstable. I just want to make sure we can hear your answer.
Stern: We understand that people need to paid fairly. There are no objections there. The objection is saying that 2% of the increase is for inflation, when it’s not okay.
Mayor: We will get some clarity for you on that. You have a question coming from Councillor Nissan.
 Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan Nisan: Thank you for all the questions and being so actively involved. Just wanted to ask, I know you recommended that taxes be kept to inflation when it comes to the capital program, where inflation on goods and labor have greatly increased. Do you still want to keep it to the overall national inflation, or do you want to keep it to the inflation in those goods? Because if we don’t, then obviously we’re not going to able to do nearly as many projects and get ahead of our capital program.
Stern: I’m trying to stay on the budget. We did ask some questions about the non construction inflation rate, and we got some very confusing responses. One answer was it’s only 32% over 10 years. Another answer was 52% over 10 years. But I don’t want to get into the weeds in a discussion like this, because it’s too complicated.
Burlington’s Taxes are up, I think, 100% now over 10 years, so at a much higher rate than the non residential construction price increase. That’s one factor. But really, in terms of this delegation, if you need money for infrastructure, great. If you tell us that 2% is for infrastructure, great. But if, in reality, only 1% of that is for infrastructure, that’s not great. That’s what I want to stick to. If Burlington needs more money to keep their assets in good working order, then you need more money. Just be honest about it and say it. Don’t say the money’s for infrastructure when it’s really for salaries.
Mayor: Not seeing any further questions. I did have one question around your comments related to capital, and I’ll also ask staff about this. Were you at the town hall where we talked about the the infrastructure gap, which is the required capital needs all in versus the funding each year of the gap is roughly 340 and that all of the capital items, including that 50 to 3 million, roughly, are trying to close that gap. So if you take money out of it, you make the gap bigger. I’m just wondering if you were part of that town hall to understand why we don’t cut capital.
Stern: “I participated in two town hall meetings. This whole capital thing is a very complex discussion, non construction inflation for 2026 is only 3% we can assume. We don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 50 years. And in my head, I don’t have a full analysis of every asset in the city and the condition and when they need replacing. So it’s very difficult to answer the question that way. What I can say is, I don’t see money going into reserve funds. I see money coming out of reserve funds. Our taxes were increased 2% last year for infrastructure. We sort of expect some money, if we’re talking about a 50 Year Plan, we’d expect some money to be going into reserve funds from that 2% I don’t, I don’t see it and that.
Mayor: We will get that clarity for you.
Stern: You’re telling us the spending is for infrastructure – we think it is going into salaries.
Mayor: “That’s not accurate, but I’ll let staff talk, talk to you about that. My last question is, have you seen the city’s detailed asset management plan, which does spell out all the needs, the funding required, and the gap that we currently have, which is why there’s an infrastructure levy. We’d be happy to get that for you, too.
Stern: I’ve seen, I’ve read it. We have objected to the 50 Year full replacement cost every 50 years. When people don’t do that in their houses, people don’t do that in other jurisdictions. You go to Europe, every town hall is 400 or 500 years old. So I don’t understand why assets can’t be maintained and kept in a good state of repair. A director of the art gallery said, “you know, it’s 48 years old. We have to fully replace it in two years.” That doesn’t make sense.
Mayor: You’ve seen the plan, which is a mix of replacement and renewal. You have a question coming from Councillor Kearns.
Kearns: I was just wondering how you felt coming to delegate today.
Stern: This is my third year. I find the continued discussion around the accuracy of the numbers being presented the way they were presented to residents as frustrating. And I really debated whether or not I wanted to delegate. As you know, we’re trying other means to reach the community and explain what’s going on at City Hall.
Mayor: I am not seeing any further questions. Thank you so much for joining us this morning, Eric. We always appreciate hearing from our residents.
That was it. Later in the day Council did put a number of questions to staff. We will share that dialogue for a different report.
A couple of hours after the budget meeting adjourned the city released the following statement:
Burlington City Council has concluded the City’s 2026 Budget with a focus on investments in the services and infrastructure that support a vibrant, high quality of life.
Property tax increase
The completed City of Burlington 2026 Budget includes a 5.80% increase in the City’s budget.
With the most recent proposed tax figures from Halton Region, Burlington’s completed budget results in an overall property tax increase for residents of 4.49%. This percentage includes services delivered by the City of Burlington, Halton Region (including Police Services), and the Boards of Education and represents the impact residents will see on their property tax bill. The 4.49% increase is an additional $43.68 in property taxes for every $100,000 of residential current value assessment.
By Gazette Staff
December 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s housing market has seen significant affordability challenges since the pandemic, but new data shows a surprising shift: some of the country’s most expensive cities are now seeing improvements in the cost of home ownership.
A new joint report from leading real estate platform Wahi and Perch, a top digital mortgage platform, tracks how changes in mortgage payments and qualifying income requirements have shifted across 13 major markets from 2022–2025.
Ownership costs have dropped significantly in Toronto and Hamilton, while more affordable regions, like Quebec City and Calgary, are seeing the steepest increases.
Key insights from the report:
- Where costs dropped: Toronto and Hamilton saw more than 10% declines in monthly mortgage payments and qualifying income on 25-year mortgage amortization terms, the only markets with outright decreases.
- Where costs surged: Quebec City led the country with mortgage payments and required incomes up ~ 40%; Calgary also saw affordability erode as house prices in these cities climbed.
- Impact of 30-year amortizations, which were introduced in 2024 for first-time buyers and buyers of newly built homes:
- Six markets saw reduced qualifying incomes or monthly payments (including Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria, and Vancouver).
- When looking at longer amortizations combined with lower Ontario home prices, home ownership costs in Toronto and Hamilton decreased by 20–25%.
- Nationally, 30-year terms lowered average monthly payments by 11% and required incomes by 3%, compared to 2022.
- Affordability outlook: When changes to local incomes are taken into account (where a typical household is closer to the required income to buy), affordability improves at the national level as well as in seven markets between 2022 and 2025.
By Gazette Staff
December 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
They did it again.
Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) has granted $315,000 to 35 charities, adding to the more than $13 million in total granting in BCF’s 26-year history.
This was possible because generous donors stepped up.
Funds will support housing, standard of living, children and youth, and mental health and wellness
 These Community Grants are addressing local areas of need in housing, child and youth development, mental health and wellness, and more. Funding is made possible through BCF’s Burlington Community Fund, where donors make charitable gifts to be invested in perpetuity, enabling BCF to align resources annually to the greatest community needs.
 Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. “Donors who contribute to the Burlington Community Fund are among some of the most generous in our city,” said Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. “Donations range from one-time gifts of $20 to a multi-million-dollar private foundation supporting children and youth, which BCF is now honoured to grow and distribute.
“Through the generosity of donors, we are able to provide charitable partners with vital funding that contributes to enhancing local programming, both through pilot and expansion projects and supporting on-going initiatives that will strengthen Burlington in areas where support is most needed.”
In BCF’s 2025 Vital Signs report, Burlington residents identified top issues in the city, including affordable housing and cost of living. The Burlington Community Foundation uses these insights to align its annual granting focus and resources to these needs, beneQiting organizations working to make an impact in the local community.
Below are this year’s key Community Priority Areas and an example of a grant that was provided in support of each area:
- Child and youth development (e.g., Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton – to support the Harmony in the Classroom program’s expansion into Burlington schools)
- Housing (e.g., Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin – in support of the Youth Skilled Trades Program [formerly Tiny Homes Program], where secondary school students build homes that are delivered to local families and First Nations communities)
- Health, mental health and well-being (e.g., Distress Centre Halton – to support on-going free, confidential services to individuals facing emotional stress, crisis and loneliness)
- Standard of living (e.g., Halton Women’s Place – to help ensure nutritious and culturally-appropriate food for clients and provide those leaving the shelter with a $100 gift card for groceries)
Each year, Burlington-serving organizations are invited to apply for funding through BCF’s Community Granting Program to support projects and initiatives that help strengthen the Burlington community. Charitable organizations were able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding this year and 75 applications for funding were received.
BCF’s annual Community Granting Program is funded through its Burlington Community Fund. Donations can be made to the fund to support BCF’s annual grant program, as the Foundation works to address the greatest and evolving needs in the local community.
 In addition to its annual Community Granting Program, BCF has responded to the evolving and urgent needs around housing in the city through its Housing Support Fund, which met its Qirst goal of raising $50,000 for local non-proQits Wesley and Shifra Homes through the generosity of fundholders and community members.
The Foundation is now focused on raising funds to build a permanent Housing Support Fund that will provide annual grants to community organizations addressing housing needs in Burlington and Halton Region. Donations can be made online, through gift of securities (stock), and by contacting BCF.
The 35 organizations receiving grants from the Burlington Community Foundation are listed below. While these grants are focused on BCF’s four Community Priority Areas of children and youth, housing, standard of living, and health, mental health and well-being, the intersectional nature of these organizations means their initiatives and programming may represent multiple areas of need and impact.
- Acclaim Health – to support a program that enhances connection and well-being for those living with dementia through art instruction. – $4,500
- Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton – to support the Out and About sub-group of the Social Café, where participants will visit local community locations during warmer months. – $8,000
- Burlington Community Robotics – in support of bursaries to ensure all students can participate in hands-on STEM learning. – $10,000
- Burlington Performing Arts Centre – in support of the Onstage Arts Education Series, including at least 15 matinee performances to engage at least 10,000 students. Free tickets are also offered to students who cannot afford the cost. – $8,000
- Burlington Public Library – to support the pilot BPL Social Connection Project, which seeks to engage community members in opportunities to create social connection through interactive shared experiences at select Burlington library branches. – $15,000
- Burlington Symphony Orchestra – to record sound and video of two concerts and share with all senior residences in Burlington that wish to participate. – $5,000
- Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton – to support the Harmony in the Classroom program’s expansion into Burlington schools. – $15,000
- Camelot Centre – in support of continued art therapy – $1,800
- Camp Quality Canada – in support of bursaries for Burlington children experiencing cancer to attend camp. – $4,500
- Centre for Diverse Learners – in support of the Mastering Mathematics – $15,000
- Community Living Burlington – to support individuals with developmental differences participate in CLB programming, including helping to cover fees and create programming that will be free for low-income individuals supported by CLB. – $10,000
- Conservation Halton Foundation – in support of the From the Ground Up Program, which blends experiential learning for youth with community and environmental impact through hands-on programming. – $10,000
- Distress Centre Halton – to support on-going free, conQidential services to individuals facing emotional stress, crisis and loneliness. – $10,000
- FeedHalton – to support a driver to ensure a more consistent food and supply delivery schedule to numerous charitable partners (e.g., Burlington Food Bank, Wellington Square United Church) – $10,000
- Food4Kids Halton – in support of the Weekends Without Hunger Program, providing food to children in need for the weekend, when there are no school programs. – $10,000
- Food for Life Inc (Formerly Food for Life Charitable Corp) – in support of continued programming that supports more than 1,300 households per week. – $10,000
- Front Line Outreach – to expand the Safe Haven for Youth program to – $10,000
- Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin – in support of the Youth Skilled Trades Program (formerly Tiny Homes Program), where secondary school students build homes that are delivered to local families and First Nations communities. – $10,000
- Halton Black History Awareness Society – to support the Halton Emancipation Gala and Festival during the 10th anniversary of the HBHAS. – $10,000
- Halton Food for Thought – in support of nutritional programming in Halton – $10,000
- Halton Learning Foundation – to support school engagement grants through HLF and enable schools to fund educational experiences and purchase resources, including programming at four Burlington schools to address human rights, equity and inclusion. – $5,000
- Halton Women’s Place – to help ensure nutritious and culturally-appropriate food for clients and provide those leaving the shelter with a $100 gift card for groceries. – $10,000
- Home Suite Hope – to provide Community Socials and help reduce isolation and build social connection for single-parent families helped with housing and support in HSH $10,000
- Myriad Ensemble – in support of free admission for youth and newcomers for Myriad’s spring concert, Spellbound, as well as bursaries for choir participation. – $7,500
- Next Door Social Space – in support of on-going community programming that includes a community garden, youth ball hockey and free lunches/breakfasts. – $15,000
- Repeat Champions Foundation Inc. – to expand the Super Saturday program, where youth and seniors come together to refurbish, prepare and polish donated trophies and medals to redistribute them to youth organizations. – $4,700
- Restorations Second Stage Homes – in support of a program manager at Nancy’s House, which provides housing and support to survivors of human trafficking. – $7,500
- Royal Botanical Gardens – in support of the Green Angels program, speciQically providing 25 underserved children and youth with the opportunity to attend a one- week camp. – $10,000
- Scouts Canada – to fund urgent meeting space for the 1st Port Nelson Scouting – $3,500
- Shifra Homes Inc. – in support of existing programming as the only maternity residence in the Halton area, providing wraparound support for young, pregnant women without – $10,000
- Christopher’s Church (Open Doors) – in support of a seasonal staff person to handle increased holiday demands. – $10,000
- STEM Camp Foundation – in support of STEM camp bursaries for underserved Burlington children and youth. – $5,000
- Thrive Counselling Services Halton – in support of a project to provide free psychotherapy and counseling sessions for seniors. – $10,000
- Wesley – to support the purchase of bunk beds at Halton’s only shelter for unhoused – $10,000
- YMCA Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford – in support of the Social Prescription program, targeting isolated seniors who can be prescribed participation in YMCA programming to promote belonging and connection. – $10,000
TOTAL GRANTS: $315,000
 By Gazette Staff
December 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Harry William Zahoruk
The world became a little less bright when Harry William Zahoruk passed away in his 91st year. He leaves behind memories that will keep us smiling for years to come. Harry was a man whose humour could light up a room, whose generosity knew no bounds, and whose smile made strangers feel like friends.
 Harry William Zahoruk Born on January 1, 1935, in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, to his parents Harry Sr. and Anna Zahoruk, Harry’s life was defined by curiosity, kindness, and a deep sense of responsibility to family and community.
Harry’s greatest devotion was to his cherished wife of 65 years, Marian Zahoruk, owner of New Street Gallery in Burlington. Together they built a life rooted in love and laughter. He was a proud father to Cynthia Zahoruk (Luc Lacroix), Karen Zahoruk, David Zahoruk (Leslie), and Peter Zahoruk, and was predeceased by his daughter Marianne Zahoruk Griffith (Kelly). Cherished grandfather of Michael, Rachel, Abigayle, Amelie, and Nathalie, beloved older brother of Dennis Zahoruk, and predeceased by his younger brother Dr. Ronald Zahoruk.
Professionally, Harry practiced law in Burlington for over 60 years, continuing until the remarkable age of 90, when health challenges finally forced him to retire. His legal career was never about battles or adversarial victories; it was built on fairness, respect, and the belief that solutions should unite rather than divide. After attending the University of Toronto and graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1961, Harry served as a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, helping shape the profession he loved. His reputation for principled leadership and compassion touched countless lives. Harry treated his staff as family, and his longtime legal assistants Sandra and Beverly were among his dearest friends.
Beyond his legal work, Harry gave back to his community as a Burlington Town Councillor in the late 1960s, and as an original founding director of Burlington Citizens Cable TV. He loved nothing more than getting together to laugh with his longtime friends sharing stories and enjoying the bonds that lasted a lifetime.
Harry will be remembered as a man who valued laughter, loyalty, and community. His legacy lives on in every smile he inspired and every act of kindness he offered. Instead of mourning, we celebrate a life well-lived — one that reminds us to be generous, to stay curious, and to never underestimate the joy of a good joke.
A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Burlington, Ontario. Website Link for donation: https://hpucc.ca/support.php?lang=en
 By Michael Giles, Director of Government Relations RESCON
December 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
A recent poll by Environics Analytics for CTV News reports that last year 35,000 households left the Greater Toronto Area.
That’s not 35,000 people, it’s 35,000 households, so based on an average household size of three people, that’s more than 100,000 people deciding to relocate.
In discussions with friends about challenges facing people in the GTA, particularly the young, one thing I always point out is that people have a choice if day-to-day living is too challenging. They can leave.
The importance of these numbers is that so many of these people who are choosing to leave are young people. They are future workers and taxpayers that are making the decision that the GTA is just not the best place for them to realize their career goals, dreams of home ownership and the desire to live comfortable lives.
Statistically, young people tend to be the bigger risk-takers and therefore the demographic from which societies find their entrepreneurs. So, when you have this group of people leaving it really is a warning bell. We simply cannot afford to lose this future generation of GTA residents to other places.
So, why are people choosing to leave the GTA, often referred to as one of the best places in the world in which to live?
Because increasingly, this is simply not how they, or people from around the world, see this region of the country anymore.
While it’s important to note that the region dropped two places in just one year, it’s worse when you go back to 2010 and find that CNBC had Toronto in the number four spot among the world’s cities. Again, we’re going the wrong way.
What is driving the frustration to levels that see people deciding to leave?
First and foremost, it just costs too much to live in the GTA, particularly if you’re young and just starting out. With respect to housing, we’ve all heard the seemingly endless stories of young people struggling to either rent or buy a first home.
The cost-to-income ratio for them is just too divergent to be able to afford to live on their own.
We’ve all heard of the increasing phenomenon of young people having to remain living at home with parents due to costs of living.
Statistically, we’re looking at about one-third of 18-24-year-olds still living at home.
Second, the cost of living aside from housing is also increasing all the time.
Take a walk into your local grocery store and you’ll see it. In my local store I pass by the prepared foods section. I take note of the packaged sandwiches which in three years have gone from $4.50 or so to $7.50.
Impose that increase across all grocery products and you can see why people find it hard to afford to buy the food they need.
As for congestion, the endless hours people spend in congestion, often the result of poor municipal transportation planning and road closures, increases frustration and reduces quality of life.
On public safety, people simply don’t feel as safe as they used to across the GTA.
 If you don’t feel safe on our streets, where do you go from there?
I could go on, but suffice to say, governments, and indeed all of us, simply need to do a better job than we’ve been doing.
We can’t remain prosperous for long when our youngest and best and brightest come to the conclusion that it’s better to pack up and leave than endure endless struggles just to have a good life in our cities.
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