 By Staff
December 21st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
There are no illustrations with the article.
The best news story of the week appeared in the Toronto Star this morning.
During a week that has been gobsmacked by fast-breaking news, it was a welcome relief to learn more about the Winter penis and erictile dysfucntion.
Kevin Jiang, a Toronto Star Staff Reporter reports in detail.
The shift in temperatures on top of the psychological impact of the season can serve to worsen or even push people on the edge into full erectile dysfunction, experts say.
“There’s no question (patients complaining of erectile dysfunction) increase over the winter, and in most cases it’s men looking for a quick fix,” says Dr. Jack Barkin, a urologic surgeon, a leading expert on sexual dysfunction and clinical professor of surgery at the University of Toronto.
Reports of erectile dysfunction typically increase by 15 to 20 percent in the winter, compared to the regular months, he added.
Usually, when someone experiences erectile dysfunction, it falls under three categories: vasculogenic, meaning it stems from an issue with blood flow; neurogenic, where something had gone wrong with the nerves; or psychogenic, where the problem is psychological.
All three variations can be made worse by winter, but especially vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
“There are basically three things that drive the penis. Number one is blood flow. Number two is the nerve supply that stimulates the erection itself. And then the third thing is the hormonal level — testosterone,” Barkin explained. “Those things have to be in sync for good libido, as well as good erectile functioning.”
Many can attest to the shrinkage that accompanies a sudden drop in temperature, as famously addressed on the TV show “Seinfeld” — when you leap into a pool or step out of the shower, for example.
It’s a natural function of our bodies, explained Dr. John Aquino, medical director of the Ontario Men’s Health clinic. “In cold temperatures, your body wants to keep its warmth to the core of the body for the vital organs,” he said. “So it sort of shuts down more circulation to the extremities, like your hands.”
Veins constrict, limiting blood flow and causing penile shrinkage — leading to an up to 50 per cent reduction in the organ’s length and an up to 30 per cent reduction in its circumference or girth, Barkin added. The testicles, which typically hang outside the body to maintain optimal temperatures for semen production, may also be pulled up into the body.
While this reaction is not limited to winter, the season can cause it to happen more frequently and for prolonged periods of time.
For healthy individuals, the shrinkage may have little impact on their sexual performance. “But for men that are already suffering from erectile dysfunction, this can be a real difficult phenomenon,” Barkin said, explaining that circulatory issues in the organ can be exacerbated by temperature-related blood vessel constriction.
“The penile arteries are the smallest (arteries) in the body,” he noted. This constriction can also cause some to lose an erection mid-sex if it suddenly gets chilly.
Aquino added that “if someone was already prone to erectile dysfunction — maybe they had a preexisting compromise of the small blood vessels there for various reasons, maybe they have vascular disease or diabetes or hypertension — then (winter penis) could be even a bigger challenge to overcome.”
If you don’t recover from penis shrinkage after warming back up, it may be time to see a doctor. “It may be an underlying sign of other blood vessel abnormalities — high blood pressure, for example, high cholesterol, cardiac problems or heart problems,” Barkin said.
In the end, winter penis shouldn’t have any long-term consequences, Aquino explained. “But it can be distressing for some men, though. Not just in the ego sense, but actually, the feeling of the genitalia shriveling up inside their body just physically distresses them.”
Other ways winter affects male sex drive
Penile shrinkage is just one piece of the puzzle. Barkin notes that as people bundle up indoors, they may not be getting enough sunshine exposure and, subsequently, vitamin D. A deficiency of the nutrient can lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.
But perhaps a larger contributor is the psychological impact of winter. For many experiencing erectile dysfunction, the issue is “in the big head, not the little head,” Barkin explained — and seasonal affective disorder is a significant driver of this condition.
“Because of the lack of sunlight, people can get chronically depressed,” he said, explaining that it can also partly contribute to neurogenic erectile dysfunction. “That’s another reason why winter penis, or seasonal erectile dysfunction, can be quite prominent.”
Winter can also significantly affect testosterone levels, a key hormone for erectile function.
“The male hormone is very emotionally related, so things like stress and whatnot can impact dramatically on that,” Barkin said, referencing studies that found testosterone levels plummeted in people undergoing stressful situations, like U.S. army rangers undergoing training.
Meanwhile, people tend to stay inside and not exercise as much. They may gain weight and drink more alcohol — all factors that can significantly affect testosterone.
“Another component is that in cold weather, people don’t get out as much. They don’t socialize as much,” Barkin said. “The old adage of use it or lose it comes into play, where if you don’t get repeated stimulation” it might impact your future performance.
How to treat seasonal erectile dysfunction
How you treat winter penis depends on the type of erectile dysfunction you suffer from.
If it’s circulation-related, consider bundling up more when you go outside — Barkin recommends long underwear or even investing in electric, heated undergarments. “Diminish your time outside if you are suffering from that and take breaks — if you’re out skiing, go back to the chalet every 20 minutes or so,” he said.
If you’re still struggling to have an erection, try raising your body temperature by taking a warm — not hot — bath, he continued.
If you’re suffering from seasonal affective disorder, you can invest in a UV lamp, which mimics sunlight indoors. Otherwise, it’s important to continue exercising throughout winter, go on sunny walks and avoid consuming too much alcohol or tobacco to maintain healthy testosterone levels, Barkin explained.
Finally, you can see your doctor for medical intervention, whether through medication or treatments like low intensity shockwave therapy.
“The last point I wanted to make, which is so important, is smoking,” Barkin finished. “Smoking also causes (blood vessel) constriction. So if one is on the brink of erectile dysfunction, definitely stop smoking — it can have at least a 20 to 30 per cent improvement in their erectile function.”
By Staff
December 21st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Youth leadership has, at times, been a challenge for Burlington.
Community Development Halton, an organization that serves the Region, recently received a grant from the Burlington Foundation’s Community Fund.
 The grant will help to empower youth through leadership opportunities that amplify youth voices on volunteerism and civic engagement and influencing the nonprofit sector with recommendations to ensure that volunteer opportunities are accessible and appealing to youth.
 Rishia Burke, Executive Director, Community Development Halton Rishia Burke, Executive Director, Community Development Halton points out that “This youth-led initiative will bring youth voices to the centre of change to influence volunteerism and civic engagement opportunities in Burlington.
 Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Foundation Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Foundation reports that CDH is one of 33 organizations funded from the Burlington Community Fund which is made up of contributions from community donors and residents who care deeply about helping others.”
The Burlington Foundation’s annual granting program amounts to $1.2 million
 By Pepper Parr
December 20th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
These are troubling times.
But we are about to enter a season that celebrates one of the greatest things that has happened on this earth; the birth of Jesus Christ.
You don’t have to believe the miracles, the stories or the myths. He was real, he did live and the values that came out of that period of time have guided us for a long long time.
There are of course other values in our past that we can draw upon when things are less than perfect.
The music of Ludwig Beethoven will do it for me and for those who want to know more about the library has an excellent event taking place on January 12th
Embark on a journey into the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Composer-in-Residence, Abigail Richardson-Schulte. Abigail draws from her experience with deafness, providing a unique perspective on Beethoven’s artistic genius and his profound struggle with hearing loss.
Explore the depths of Beethoven’s compositions, from his early works to his revolutionary symphonies, and discover how adversity fueled the music icon’s creativity.
Presented in partnership with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
About the Presenter
Award-winning composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte was born in Oxford, England, and moved to Canada as a child. Her music has been commissioned and performed by major orchestras, presenters, music festivals and broadcasters including the Festival Présences of Paris.
 By Tom Parkin
December 20th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Strong housing starts in BC, Alberta, Quebec while Ontario continues to stall
Canadian housing starts were up 30 per cent between this November and November 2023 on big gains in BC, Alberta and Quebec, according to data released by CMHC on Monday.
But not Ontario, where November housing starts were lower than a year ago. At 5,506 unit starts, results were a tiny improvement over the terrible results of the previous three months.
With a population of 16 million, Ontario last month had fewer housing starts than Quebec, population nine million. Quebec workers started constructing 5,660 units last month.
BC and Alberta were close behind, at 4,048 and 4,983 starts respectively. BC has a population of 5.7 million; Alberta’s population is 5.0 million.
A monthly building effort the size of BC, Alberta or Quebec transposed onto Ontario would deliver more than 12,500 starts, a monthly target set by the PCs’ Housing Affordability Task Force report.
But the Ford PCs’ actual effort hit just 44 per cent of that target last month. They’ve failed to hit their target in 30 of the 30 months since their 2022 election pledge to hit them.
Despite recent price drops, Ontario remains expensive
In the four years from Doug Ford’s June 2018 election until the Ontario price peak, the average house price rose 72 per cent in Toronto and 94 per cent in Hamilton.
The price crash since February 2022 has lowered house purchase prices by 19 and 23 per cent, respectively. But the damage has been deep. Many are left holding big mortgages about to renew at higher rates. And with mortgage rates well above pre-peak levels, the costs of ownership may only be cheaper for those coming with lots of cash.
And while apartment asking rents have also peaked, many Ontarians are remain stuck in high rent payments. Others are stuck in long commutes or housing that doesn’t fit their situation because their current place is rent control protected but a new place is not.
High costs, lagging wages taking toll on economy
High costs,combined with Ontario’s lagging wages, leaves less income for other purchasing, and appears to be dragging down the province’s economy.
Most recent data shows Ontario retail sales are lower than February 2022 while the rest of Canada reached record highs. Consumer spending usually powers about two thirds of GDP.
Ontario’s jobless rate rose dramatically last month while falling in most other provinces. Toronto unemployment hit 8.1 per cent; in Windsor it’s 8.9 per cent. Bankruptcies are increasing faster in Ontario than in any other province.
Ontario’s housing experience shows the economic damage that comes with letting housing inflation run rampant, even long after the boom has turned to bust.
 By Ray Rivers
December 19th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Between January 1 and October 31, 2024, Canada’s Border Services Agency seized 1,274 prohibited weapons and 750 firearms coming from the U.S. It also seized over 25,600 kg of illegal drugs (both inbound and outbound) including 4.9 kg of fentanyl of which 4.1 kg was intercepted outbound before it could be smuggled towards the Netherlands. (Extracted from CBSA report)
Donald the disrupter strikes again. He may not care much about Canada or Canadians, but he clearly has it in for Justin Trudeau. It could be his ’wokeness’ or perhaps, it’s because Trudeau labels himself a feminist while Trump is more of that sort of manly beast…you know….someone a jury found liable for sexual assault.
Trump’s ultimatum is that Canada and Mexico need to stop the movement of illegal drugs and migrants into the USA or face a 25% tariff on everything they export to America. But isn’t that backwards? Isn’t that why each country has its own border guards? Isn’t it the job of US border guards to stop illegal importation?
 Neither Canada nor the US stop and search people and cars when people leave their country. They get stopped only when they want to enter the other side. And what about the fentanyl and illegal migrants crossing up from south of the border? And what about those guns crossing into Canada?
This ultimatum is not really about the border at all. Rather it is about the president-elect’s disdain for the two social democratic leaders whose nations border the USA. Mexico’s newly elected president has rebuffed Trump, saying she’ll simply retaliate with her own tariffs. Trump has interpreted that to mean she’s closing the southern border, which she’s not. But then Mexico has more options – as it has been developing a growing relationship with China.
But for Canada it’s not that simple. Our biggest export is oil and gas, and a 25% tariff would hurt secessionist-leaning Alberta more than the rest of Canada. Trump’s goal may not necessarily be to break up Canada – though no one should put that past him. But the great disrupter clearly wouldn’t mind seeing a more fractious and divided Canada if it serves his purposes.
The beneficiary of more political chaos would be Canada’s opposition parties, the Conservatives in particular. And that might hasten the replacement of Canada’s liberal government with one more to Trump’s ideological liking. Meddling in your neighbour’s politics is straight out of Mr. Putin’s playbook, after all.
 Donald Trump is opposed to just about everything the current Canadian government stands for. In particular, he’s an avowed climate change denier and spurns renewable energy, electric vehicles and carbon taxation. For Trump it’s drill baby drill. His musing about bringing Canada in as a 51st state is chilling, considering that he may well be serious.
America is heading for interesting times ahead. And our government had tried to mobilize a Team Canada effort, bringing all of the provinces together to face this challenge, in the belief that Trump may not be bluffing. Still, not everybody agrees on the best strategy. Ontario’s Doug Ford, for example, is running on at the mouth, toting a tough retaliation stand and promising to use Alberta’s oil as his weapon.
Canadians are not opposed to helping the US control the inflow of illegal migrants and drugs. Alberta and the feds have undertaken specific plans to further enhance surveillance of the border and demonstrate to Mr. Trump that they get it. At one point it actually was beginning to look like Canada had it’s act together.
And then the PM upset the apple cart by firing his most important government minister. And with the fourth loss of a female minister from his Cabinet so too went his feminist label.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links
Trump the Disruptor – Freeland – Feminist? – Border Service Report – USMCA –
 By Pepper Parr
December 19th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Museums of Burlington is running an interesting collection of immigrant stories.
The exhibition, created by the federal government, is on tour at the Joseph Brant Museum until April 19, 2025.
 Nicholas Leblovic, his immigration story. Echoes and Reflections | Capturing the Human Story is a travelling exhibition created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
To complement this exhibition, the Brant Museum curatorial team reached out to local Burlington residents asking for stories on immigration experiences.
Local political junkie and retired lawyer, Nicholas Leblovic is featured in one of the profiles.
Link to that profile HERE:
By Pepper Parr
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
I always thought our governments were working hard on our behalf.
Being told by the province what the favourite names were for new born children this year – does sound like government work that taxpayers pay for.
Nevertheless here is that story:
The top baby names in Ontario in 2023 were Olivia and Noah. Olivia has clinched the number one spot as the top baby girl name in Ontario for 15 consecutive years. Charlotte also continued as a favourable choice and came in as the second-most popular name for girls.
Noah took the top spot as the most popular name for boys for the fifth year in a row, with Liam following closely behind. We also welcomed Mila and Henry to the top baby names of 2023.
 There isn’t a Father in Canada that doesn’t remember this moment The top 10 names for girls and boys in 2023 were:
Girls:
Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Emma, Sophia, Mia, Sofia, Ava, Mila and Isla
Boys:
Noah, Liam, Theodore, Oliver, Jack, Lucas, Benjamin, William, Leo and Henry.
“Welcoming a new baby and choosing a name is one of life’s most meaningful milestones, and our government is dedicated to helping new parents focus on these special moments rather than paperwork,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “With ServiceOntario’s 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle, we’ve made it easier for Ontario parents to register their newborns and apply for essential documents like birth certificates and Social Insurance Numbers—all from the comfort of their home.”
Link to registration
Parents should register their child’s birth within 30 days of welcoming their newborn.
 By Staff
December 19th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario Liberals are beginning to take positions on what the Ford government is doing.
 Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie standing outside the Legislature A media release from what is now being called “Team Bonnie” sounds the alarm over Ford’s failure to fund schools
The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) predicts $12.7-billion Shortfall for School Repairs and Capacity in Ontario
“This funding isn’t even about improving our schools—it’s just the bare minimum to keep them safe and functional. That’s $12.7 billion less for our kids’ learning environments. Parents trust our schools to deliver for their children, and we need to invest in them to ensure that trust isn’t misplaced. Ontario Liberals will deliver more for you—because every child deserves better.”
Karen McCrimmon, Ontario Liberal Education Critic and MPP for Kanata—Carleton, emphasized the impact on students and families, saying, “Over 150,000 students in overflow classrooms like portables is just unacceptable. The system is strained beyond recognition, and our kids are the ones paying the price for Ford’s failures.”
The FAO report shows the urgent state of Ontario’s schools:
•
The current cost to bring all school buildings into a state of good repair is $6.5 billion.
•
Over the next 10 years, $15.2 billion will be needed to maintain aging infrastructure.
•
An additional $9.8 billion is required to create the necessary 172,187 new student spaces—equivalent to building 227 new schools.
•
Almost 1/3 of schools are overcapacity, with over 100,000 students in portables.
•
3 out of 4 Ontario schools will be in a poor state of repair by 2034, with a $22 billion infrastructure backlog.
•
Despite self-congratulatory government ads, Doug Ford’s current plan will result in almost 3,000 portables being used in schools, even a decade from now.
In total, the report identifies a need for $31.4 billion over the next decade. However, the Ford government has only allocated $12.5 billion for repairs and $6.2 billion for new capacity, leaving a funding gap of $12.7 billion.
Ontario Liberals are committed to addressing the funding shortfall and ensuring safe, modern learning environments for all students across the province.
 By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We’re looking for people to join the Community Panel to provide feedback on a variety of topics, but specifically the Ward Boundary Review, Climate Action Plan and the Asset Management Plan.
Another one?
By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
As we go into the holiday season and start to wrap up 2024, we want to thank you for all your time, energy, input and feedback you provided to the City through the various projects. This year, Burlington community members provided feedback on City priorities such as the 2025 budget, Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review, Community Engagement Charter, Official Plan, events, park renewals, Community Panel and many more.
- 12,165 surveys or polls completed
- 97,065 visits to Get Involved Burlington engagement webpage
- 11,623 documents downloaded
- 119 engagement opportunities were available in the Public Engagement Calendar
- 6500+ people subscribe to the weekly newsletter
- 172 volunteers contributed 6334 volunteer hours
A Gazette readers see the volume of surveys a little differently.
12,165 divided by 365 days works out to just over 33 polls or surveys a day.
That is very impressive.
One has to wonder if this is since the website started or just in the last year.
Without a timeframe, it is difficult to understand what the numbers mean.
Another comment might be: Enough Already!
 By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
This research project is studying COVID-19 treatments, and we are looking for individuals who have recently tested positive for COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID in the future, we would like to hear from you as soon as possible.
 What is CanTreatCOVID?
Publicly funded research evaluating COVID medications to help people feel better faster and prevent long COVID.
Who can participate?
- Adults who tested positive for COVID with symptoms starting within the last 5 days
- and aged 18-49 years with one or more chronic condition/s or aged 50+ years regardless of health status
What are the benefits of participating?
✓ Personalized care and attention
✓ Close monitoring by a healthcare team
✓ $30 for each follow-up
✓ Participate online or via phone call
How does the study work?
 1. Test positive for COVID-19
2. Enroll via phone call (888-888-3308) or online (CanTreatCOVID.org)
3. Receive a study medication or follow public health advice on COVID
4. Complete a diary for 14 days and answer 4 surveys about how you feel (phone call or online)
The Canadian Adaptive Platform Trial of Treatments for COVID in Community Settings is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Contacting the CanTreatCOVID team for inquiries or other purposes does not mean you are bound to participate. We will provide information so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you choose to voluntarily participate in our research. For more information, please visit https://cantreatcovid.org/. To continue receiving emails about CanTreatCOVID, you can join the mailing list here.
If you have any questions about how your information is being used or feedback, please contact us at info@cantreatcovid.org or 888-888-3308.
CanTreatCOVID, Upstream Lab, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions
St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
30 Bond St., Toronto, ON
M5B 1W8 Canada
By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Here is a good news story and a nice way to end the year.
Community Development Halton celebrates 40 years of service.
It has been a grind at times.
The organization gets precious little support from the city, some, meager at best, from the Region.
United Way supports the organization and the Burlington Foundation has been a consistent supporter.
This organization provides more very useful and relevant support than any other not-for-profit.
By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a hairy week and it isn’t over yet.
Burlington MP Karina Gould has had her hands full working as the Government Leader in the House of Commons.
Here is what she had to say at different times during the day:
December 17th, 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the NDP leader knows full well that we won the confidence of the House last week on multiple occasions. This government’s objective is always to protect Canadians, Canadian jobs and the Canadian economy. That is what we are focusing on right now, and I can assure the House that we are managing our relationship with the United States effectively.
Mr. Speaker, the House voted in confidence of this government just last week on multiple occasions. We have important work to do on behalf of Canadians.
We have a very important relationship to manage with the United States at a pivotal time, and that is exactly what the government is focused on doing.
December 17th, 2:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, what the Conservative opposition is doing is focusing on us while we are focusing on Canadians. We are focused on ensuring that we are delivering affordability measures for Canadians at a difficult time. We are focused on ensuring that we have a strong relationship with our most important trading partner, the United States. That is what the Liberal government is squarely focused on: Canadians, protecting the Canadian economy and protecting Canadian jobs.
December 17th, 3:25 p.m.
Business of the House
Mr. Speaker, it is such an honour to rise in this place on behalf of the constituents of Burlington. I would like to say to all of my colleagues, despite the fact that this was a rather unusual session of Parliament, it is a pleasure to be able to work with everyone on all sides of the House, mostly. I know everybody is ready to go into the holidays.
 Burlington MP Karina Gould with her second child. She will be home for the holidays – we should see her around town. On behalf of the Liberal members of Parliament, I would like to extend my gratitude to everybody who works in the House of Commons, who serves us so well, stays here on late nights and makes sure we are so well supported. To them and their families, I wish a very happy holidays as well. I would like to wish folks in Burlington and right across the country a very merry Christmas and a very happy Hanukkah to all who are celebrating. I look forward to 2025 and all that the new year has to offer. I want to wish all of my colleagues all of the best for the year ahead.
With that, pursuant to order made Wednesday, February 28, 2024, I move:
That the House do now adjourn.
By Staff
December 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Two developments have cleared the Planning department.
The Appleby Line Storage operation at 5051 Harvester Road and the Stonehaven Subdivision.
The Stonehaven Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision is to create 12 lots/blocks, 10 lots to accommodate single detached dwellings, a block to accommodate 8 street townhomes and a block to create a private ownership roadway.
 
The Appleby Line Storage development has also been approved.
  The proposed development consists of a five (5) storey building. The primary use will be Self-Storage, and office and reception/retail space on the west portion of the building. The development will have total Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 33,894 square metres, composed of reception/retail with an GFA of 1,088 square metres , offices with GFA of 8,450 square metres, self-storage GFA of 22,862 square metres, and a loading/other GFA of 1,493 square metres. Underground parking will be provided and accessible on the northeast corner of the proposed building, facing the entryway from South Service Road.
We are seeing more in the way of Self Storage space. If people are going to live in high-rise condos or apartments they won’t have the kind of basement storage that exist in single-family dwellings. Thus the arrival of this new form of storage space.
 By Tom Parkin
December 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
There’s no path forward for the Liberals under Trudeau but he still has some cards to play in his succession.
Over the past few days Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to pull one of the clumsiest internal Liberal purges ever. He’s pulled a few before. Never well.
 There was a time when they were a great team – or at least that was what we thought. Trudeau gambled everything that Finance Minister Christian Freeland would volunteer to destroy herself in order to save him. The PM told Freeland he was going to demote her, but first she would hang a $61 billion deficit on herself. Then he’d sack her and bring in Mr. Clean Up, aka Mark Carney.
It’s incredible that he believed she would play her role in his script. But evidently he thought she would, or at least might.
Now his plan is a shambles.
Cornered, Trudeau’s only call is whether to quit or be fired
There are no opportunities for the opposition to vote non-confidence in Trudeau before the Commons rises for a winter break later this week.
But Trudeau has got to go soon.
It’s unlikely he can hang on more than a couple weeks as he and his Liberal MPs let it sink in that his time is up.
 Are there any leaders in this picture? NDP leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday called on Trudeau to quit. If Trudeau refuses and is still prime minister when the Commons returns from its break, the NDP will vote non-confidence when the opportunity arises. Trudeau will shortly after be fired by the Canadian people in a snap election.
Especially after what’s just happened, surely that’s a terrible option for the Liberal Party.
The Commons is scheduled to return on January 27. While Trudeau can delay the return by proroguing, using the controversial tool just to avoid the Commons a little longer changes nothing except to make it worse.
Trudeau has some say over the succession process
The alternative is to quit. A party leadership race would take at least a couple months to organize and complete, and could be a reasonable use of prorogation, but there are dangers.
Given the Liberal Party’s loose membership rules, a contested leadership vote could become a gong show. But it might be the preferred process if the goal is to give a better path for an outsider to take the reins.
The alternative is for caucus MPs to make an interim selection. Usually, an interim leader doesn’t compete for the permanent job. But there’s no rule.
In mid-November 2008, Stephan Dion announced his decision to resign pending the selection of an interim leader. In mid-December 2008 the Liberal caucus selected Michael Ignatieff as interim leader. In May 2009 Ignatieff won the Liberal Party vote as the sole candidate with 97 per cent support. And the rest is history.
The route of a caucus selection followed by party coronation is probably preferred by Chrystia Freeland. But it depends on Trudeau agreeing to it. Announcing a resignation is not resigning. The leader remains the leader until the position is vacated or replaced.
Trudeau can choose to resign in favour of a caucus-selected interim leader. Or hang on until the party makes a permanent selection. No doubt there will be appeals to Trudeau on both sides of this question and in the end the decision is his.
 Members of the Liberal caucus refused to talk to media after listening to what the Prime Minister had to say. Members of the Liberal caucus refusing to talk to media after listening to what the Prime Minister had to say.
Liberals will be focused on themselves
No matter what process Trudeau decides on, the transition will soon become the central Liberal focus.
And the opposition will not fail to repeat that the Liberals are focused on their own problems, not the problems of Canadians.
But there is no scenario in which Trudeau continues to be prime minister for much longer. And his announcement on the timing of his resignation and the process for his replacement has even less time.
 By Staff
December 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 Brent Butt has long been considered one of the funniest people in Canada, with a career in stand-up comedy that stretches into five decades, including numerous appearances at major festivals in multiple countries and being voted Best Male Stand-Up in Canada by his peers in the profession.
 Brent Butt on stage – always hilarious. He also created and starred in two successful sitcoms, the international hit Corner Gas and Hiccups, which ran for two successful seasons also on CTV.
In 2013, Brent’s first feature film entitled No Clue and directed by Carl Bessai was released and later nominated for Best Motion Picture at the 2014 Leo Awards. Most recently Brent’s first novel Huge debuted to great fanfare immediately becoming the #1 Fiction Bestseller in Canada and it remains on the Top Ten list to date. Making his home in Vancouver for more than a decade, Brent continues to perform in clubs and theatres across the country.
Corner Gas star Brent Butt is bringing his hilarious stand-up set to BPAC on Friday, January 31st.
Ticket Prices
Regular: $59.50 – $79.50(All-in)
Member: $54.50 – $74.50 (All-in)
Tickets -Click here – these will go quickly
By Pepper Parr
December 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a hairdy hairy day in Ottawa.
When the Minister of Finance announced her resignation hours before she was to deliver a Financial Update you know the wheel have come off the wagon.
 Minister of Finance on the day she released her letter of resignation The resignation letter had several tough punches that may have been what sealed the fate of the Prime Minister.
With the resignation letter out, the House of Commons still had to meet.
When it was time for the Economic plan to be tabled, that is made available to the members of the House of Commons, Government House Leader Karina Gould had the clerks put a copy on the desks of each member – and at that point all the Liberals walked out and went to a caucus meeting.
Gould had said earlier in the day: “Mr. Speaker, our government looks forward to presenting the fall economic statement later this afternoon. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude for all that the member for University—Rosedale has accomplished for this country and will continue to do for this country. She has played an integral role in the government, first of all, by standing up for Canada in defending NAFTA, by bringing forward universal child care and by the incredible work she has done in defending Ukraine. We are very grateful for all that she has contributed to the government and to Canada.”
Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre stood and asked: Where is the Minister of Finance and followed that up with: “Is there a Minister of Finance?
 Dominic Leblanc being sworn in as Minister of Finance Well, there was – but Dominic Leblanc had yet to be sworn in. The Prime Minister and Leblanc had to hustle over to Rideau and get the Governor General to set up staff to take part in the Swearing In.
 Media were clustered outside the Caucus meeting room waiting for embers of the House to come out. Few chose to talk to media. Meanwhile Caucus met – Members were given an opportunity to speak and when the caucus was over they all left – few took the opportunity to speak to media who were clustered outside the Caucus meeting room.
 The MP’s slipped through the cluster of media, lips sealed tight, not even a smile.
Oakville North Burlington member Pam Damoff looked a little grim as she eased her way to the stairway without saying a word.
Parliament will meet today – who knows what will happen. The opportunities for the Opposition to call for a Confidence vote are over.
The House will adjourn in the afternoon and return on January 27th.
Much more on where this could go and what the options are,
By Pepper Parr
December 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The day after she had secured the nomination as the candidate for the provincial Liberals in Burlington, Andrea Grebenc was putting together the team that will be out door knocking looking for votes in the election that could be held within the next 120 days.
Grebenc was surprised at the number of people who showed up to vote for her as the candidate; “It was a pretty steady flow of people.”
Finding the location wasn’t hard. “Many of the seniors who don’t get out to a hockey rink recognized where they were supposed to go explained Grebenc. “ One of my volunteers suggested we put out some of the lawn signs that I had used when I was running for the school board.” It was evident that Grebenc was already in election mode.
Despite having to spend the best part of a day at the hospital during the run up to the nomination Grebenc was in a fine mood.
 Andrea Grebenc with Oliver Parker after the nomination vote was announced. “I had a personal medical experience that was really painful. I waited for three and a half hours at Jo Brant before I saw anyone, then an additional four hours before I saw a doctor. Staff are overworked and there aren’t enough of them – something I will be focused on should I be elected.”
Grebenc has already received some training material from the Liberal Party, she has a call scheduled with party leader Bonnie Clark.
“I have been really fortunate in having former MPP Eleanor McMahon as a mentor. She really knows how the Legislature works. I will be a better MPP because of her.”
Along with putting together the campaign team there is the setting up of a bank account and bringing in the people who have fund raising experience.
What will Grebenc focus on? “Health, education and affordable housing are at the top of my list – and I will be commenting on the scandals that surround the Premier.
 Andrea Grebenc had a really solid working relationship with former Director of Education Stewart Miller. When she was elected by her peers as Chair she proved to be exceptionally good at steering the narrative during the pandemic. “I really hope the RCMP report on those land transactions is made public before the election. The public really needs to know what was done and who did what.
“I don’t understand why some of the people who were let go from government positions are still being paid.”
“I have a lot to learn” said Grebenc. Learning the procedural processes at Queen’s Park will take time – but for Andrea Grebenc – the first job is to put her campaign experience into play.
The Burlington Progressive Conservatives have yet to nominate their candidiate; incumbent Natalie Pierre has announced that she will not be running in the next election. The PC’s are going to be challenged to find someone in the demographic Grebenc is a part of. Her profile and her energy are going to be hard to match.
By Pepper Parr
December 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 The above is a rendering done by an individual – we have to wait until the Royal Mint releases a design. This has been a long time coming. There was some good news in that Fall Economic Statement.
A budget deficit of over $60 billion means those $250 cheques aren’t going to make it to the mail.
But you will be happy to know that Terry Fox will be on the next issue of the $5.00 bill.
Sir Wilfred Laurier who was on the $5.00 bill gets an upgrade to the $50.00 bill.
By Staff
December 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Branthaven Oval Court Subdivision. Status has been upgraded to Approved.
 Eight towers to be developed in seven phases. It will be a decade under development. Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision to accommodate seven (7) mixed use blocks varying in size from 4,028 m2 to 8,913 m2 and one creek block of 3,438 m.
 Seven blocks make up the subdivision. This is a huge development. It is bounded by Fairview and the GO rail tracks. Links to previous news reports are attached.
It will be developed in stages GET the image.
In a comment from Mayor Meed Ward she said: “The subject property is zoned ‘Mixed-Use Transit Station Area – Hold (MXT-H)’ with site exception 532.
The holding provision on the property is to ensure the completion of the creek and hazard alterations and Fairview Street crossing upgrades and the completion of the Record of Site Condition and any remedial work required. The exception number established the permitted uses, with a number of site-specific provisions to facilitate the overall development of the site.
Habitat for Humanity announced that they were “thrilled to be partnering with Branthaven Homes on the development of the OVAL Court – a new smart growth community in Burlington.”
There were just four
No new public streets are planned.
 A prefabricated bridge will be put in place across Appleby Creek. There will be a pedestrian bridge from the site to the Appleby Line GO station. The bridge will be pre-fabricated and lifted into place when the time comes. The bridge will be 43 metres in length and 5 metres wide. It will not be covered but it will have lighting
Related news story:
It was a whopper of an application that was cleared by the OLT
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By Staff
