 By Staff
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 2025 marks 50 Years of the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB), giving us a unique chance to examine the past, look towards the future and find our place in the present.
Exhibitions feature Canadian artists and curators, circulating stories of place and our relationship to time.
The AGB kicks off this golden anniversary with an opening reception for our winter exhibitions, Time Isn’t Real and Dry Thunder, on January 16, 2025 from 6:30–8:00 pm. RSVP for a free ticket at the link below.
Continue reading Art Gallery of Burlington celebrates 50 years of serving the public
By Staff
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a banner year with 15 new members.
 By Staff
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 This application will permit the development of 16 townhouses and retain the designated heritage house known as the “Walker House”.
The proposed townhouses will have a maximum building height of 3.5 storeys (13 metres), a maximum density of 42 units per hectare, 1,108m² of amenity space and four visitor parking spaces.
Continue reading Walker House to be included in small townhouse development
 By Pepper Parr
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 In the Trudeau years, the Canadian economy grew by 41 per cent, to $3.2 trillion. It grew by just 18 per cent under Trudeau’s predecessor, Stephen Harper, who governed for roughly the same amount of time.
Per capita income grew by more than 23 per cent on Trudeau’s watch, to $77,700, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Trudeau’s predecessor managed only a 7.6 per cent increase.
In the main, Canadians became wealthier in the Trudeau years. The median net worth of Canadians soared by about 66 per cent between 2016 and 2023, to $519,000, according to Statistics Canada.
Trudeau came to office with a mandate to engage in deficit spending and spend he did on both physical and social infrastructure.
Those are the facts.
By Staff
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Museum is currently featuring an exhibit on Immigration in Canada. The curatorial team at the Museum reached out to local Burlington residents asking for stories on immigration experiences
Charles Zach is 66 years old and has lived in Burlington “all my life”.
 Charles Zach His first job here was helping farmers pick some of their crops in the summertime on Maple Avenue when it was still farmland.
“I am currently a government lobbyist for Canada’s National Firearms Association.
“I’ve been a H.R. manager, I’ve been in I.T., and I’ve been in architecture.
“My mother and father both grew up in the northwestern regions of Hungary. It was under communist rule after the Second World War.
Continue reading Charles Zack: ‘Burlington has lost a little bit of its soul.’
By Staff
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Toddler Days is a hands-on, interactive, parented program designed for children ages 2 – 4 years old. The program takes place at Joseph Brant Museum on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm.
The cost is $12.00/child (includes tax), accompanying adults are complimentary. Pre-registration is required, as capacity is limited. Each week features a different theme, see below for specific dates and to register.
Booking Instructions:
- create a Family account in our online booking system if you do not already have one
- make note of the specific dates you’d like to book, the schedule and weekly themes are below
- select the dates you would like to book (if you would like to book individual days, you will have the option to select these within the weeks you choose)
- PLEASE NOTE – once you process a registration, the system will not allow you to book additional dates due to an internal setting; an error code will display “Please contact an administrator.” Please contact 905-332-9888 x 131 or MuseumEducation@burlington.ca for assistance.
By Pepper Parr
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Elections are going to take place.
When, no one knows for certain – but it s clear that there will be elections at the federal and provincial levels.
Election fund raising tends to come from two sources: large thick wallet corporate donors or smaller sums from individuals that, on occasion, in the past proven to be a winning formula.
The reality is that the big bucks from the big corporations are what pay for the cost of running an election. They pony up because the donation gives them access – and with access things get done.
 Marit Stile’s: Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature. Continue reading There are going to be elections: where will the money to run them come from?
 By James Portside
January 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This information is not professional investment advice. Investors are advised to do their own research into individual stocks before making an investment decision.
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| Veren Inc —–Buy Quantity: 25,000 Average cost: $7.50 Total: $187,500.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Stadnyk, Myron Maurice |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-03-25 |
25,000 |
$7.50 |
$187,500.00 |
|
| Saturn Oil & Gas Inc —–Buy Quantity: 86,000 Average cost: $2.17 Total: $186,208.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Jeffrey, John |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
60,000 |
$2.18 |
$130,848.00 |
| Kaufmann, Justin Joseph Raymond |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
26,000 |
$2.13 |
$55,360.00 |
|
| First Quantum Minerals Ltd —–Buy Quantity: 5,844 Average cost: $18.57 Total: $108,523.08 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Adams, Andrew Bell |
4 – Director of Issuer |
46 – Compensation for services |
01-02-25 |
841 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Chater, Geoffrey |
4 – Director of Issuer |
30 – Acquisition or disposition under a purchase/ownership plan |
01-02-25 |
3,084 |
$19.23 |
$59,320.12 |
| Harding, Robert J |
4 – Director of Issuer |
30 – Acquisition or disposition under a purchase/ownership plan |
01-02-25 |
7,477 |
$19.23 |
$143,818.60 |
| McArthur, Charles Kevin |
4 – Director of Issuer |
30 – Acquisition or disposition under a purchase/ownership plan |
01-02-25 |
1,683 |
$19.23 |
$32,372.17 |
| Montalvo, Juanita |
4 – Director of Issuer |
30 – Acquisition or disposition under a purchase/ownership plan |
01-02-25 |
3,084 |
$19.23 |
$59,320.12 |
| Hogenson, Kathleen Applegate |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
870 |
$18.57 |
$16,155.90 |
| Scott, Simon John |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
1,397 |
$18.57 |
$25,942.29 |
| Warner, Joanne |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
3,577 |
$18.57 |
$66,424.89 |
|
| Grown Rogue International Inc —–Buy Quantity: 75,000 Average cost: $0.92 Total: $69,321.60 Options Issued: 40,100 Average cost: $0.91 Total: $36,491.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Gledhill, Stephen Mark |
4 – Director of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-03-25 |
40,100 |
$0.91 |
$36,491.00 |
| Mindset Capital LLC |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
75,000 |
$0.92 |
$69,321.60 |
|
| Firm Capital Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust (formerly, Firm Capital American Realty Partners Trust) —–Buy Quantity: 7,800 Average cost: $5.24 Total: $40,899.31 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Reid, Scott |
6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
7,800 |
$5.24 |
$40,899.31 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| Agnico Eagle Mines Limited —–Sell Quantity: -46,164 Average cost: $111.84 Total: -$5,162,981.76 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Al-Joundi, Ammar |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
32,500 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Al-Joundi, Ammar |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-17,936 |
$111.84 |
-$2,005,962.24 |
| Celej, Martine |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
4,000 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Celej, Martine |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-2,208 |
$111.84 |
-$246,942.72 |
| McCombe, Deborah |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
4,000 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| McCombe, Deborah |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-2,208 |
$111.84 |
-$246,942.72 |
| Roberts, John Merfyn |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
4,000 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Roberts, John Merfyn |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-552 |
$111.84 |
-$61,735.68 |
| Robitaille, Jean |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
38,262 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Robitaille, Jean |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-21,052 |
$111.84 |
-$2,354,455.68 |
| Sokalsky, Jamie Calvin |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
12-31-24 |
4,000 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Sokalsky, Jamie Calvin |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-2,208 |
$111.84 |
-$246,942.72 |
|
| CES Energy Solutions Corp —–Sell Quantity: -205,016 Average cost: $10.00 Total: -$2,050,160.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Armour III, Spencer Davis |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
9,041 |
$9.71 |
$87,773.64 |
| Aulicino, Anthony Michael |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
54,789 |
$9.71 |
$531,913.53 |
| Aulicino, Anthony Michael |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-54,789 |
$10.00 |
-$547,890.00 |
| Cosby, Stella |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
9,041 |
$9.71 |
$87,773.64 |
| Cosby, Stella |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-4,304 |
$10.00 |
-$43,040.00 |
| Disney, Vernon James |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
54,789 |
$9.71 |
$531,913.53 |
| Disney, Vernon James |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-54,789 |
$10.00 |
-$547,890.00 |
| Hooks, John Michael |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
9,041 |
$9.71 |
$87,773.64 |
| Hooks, John Michael |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-9,041 |
$10.00 |
-$90,410.00 |
| Kitagawa, Kyle |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
9,041 |
$9.71 |
$87,773.64 |
| Kitagawa, Kyle |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-9,041 |
$10.00 |
-$90,410.00 |
| Zinger, Kenneth Earl |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
01-02-25 |
73,052 |
$9.71 |
$709,218.04 |
| Zinger, Kenneth Earl |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-73,052 |
$10.00 |
-$730,520.00 |
|
| STEP Energy Services Ltd —–Sell Quantity: -275,278 Average cost: $4.18 Total: -$1,151,062.10 Options Issued: 305,000 Average cost: $0.42 Total: $128,100.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Glanville, Stephen Murray |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-02-25 |
185,000 |
$0.42 |
$77,700.00 |
| Glanville, Stephen Murray |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
01-02-25 |
-18,028 |
$4.31 |
-$77,700.68 |
| Glanville, Stephen Murray |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-166,972 |
$4.18 |
-$698,658.35 |
| Thompson, Rory John Will |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-02-25 |
120,000 |
$0.42 |
$50,400.00 |
| Thompson, Rory John Will |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
01-02-25 |
-11,694 |
$4.31 |
-$50,401.14 |
| Thompson, Rory John Will |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-108,306 |
$4.18 |
-$452,403.76 |
|
| CanAlaska Uranium Ltd —–Sell Quantity: -600,000 Average cost: $0.73 Total: -$437,000.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Dasler, Peter George |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-140,000 |
$0.73 |
-$102,200.00 |
| Dasler, Peter George |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-03-25 |
-460,000 |
$0.73 |
-$334,800.00 |
|
| Peyto Exploration & Development Corp —–Sell Quantity: -24,000 Average cost: $17.16 Total: -$411,888.00 Options Issued: 24,000 Average cost: $9.49 Total: $227,760.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Burdick, Todd |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-03-25 |
24,000 |
$9.49 |
$227,760.00 |
| Burdick, Todd |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-03-25 |
-24,000 |
$17.16 |
-$411,888.00 |
What is Insider Trading?
How Insider Trading works.
 By Ray Rivers
January 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The polls are not lying. Canadians have decided that they’d like a new PM if not a new government. When Parliament returns on January 27th both the NDP and the Tories are promising duelling confidence motions to bring the government down. If either one of these is successful Canadians will be into a winter/spring election campaign which could last as long as 51days.
 Justin Trudeau will soon have time to drive the car his father left him. Mr. Trudeau is in the driver’s seat at the moment but his options are limited:
- Show up when Parliament resumes and face a non-confidence motion which he’ll lose resulting in an early election – which he also is likely to lose;
- Show up when Parliament resumes and immediately prorogue on the rationale that strong leadership is needed to defend the country from President Trump’s 25% tariff – it’s not the time for an election. Parliament could theoretically be prorogued until the next election date in October; or
- Announce retirement plans and set a date for a leadership convention before Parliament resumes, then prorogue until a new leader is chosen.
Continue reading Rivers on: The Third Option
By Staff
January 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“Volunteering is medicine.”
“We all strive for a purpose in life said Dr. Iris Gorfinkel who added “ but for many people, they struggle with zero purpose. That need to feel needed … promotes physical exercise, social connections and a sense of gratitude.”
When Dr. Gorfunkel sees her patients, there’s always chatter about how work is going, how the kids are growing and even how their pets are doing — some of which she knows by name.
Continue reading ‘Volunteering is medicine.’
 By Pepper Parr
January 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council has one more week before it has to assemble and deal with the business of the city.
On Monday the 13th they will answer to the Role Call, and assuming they are all there, they will get on with the business of the city. Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan, resident of ward 2, seems to spend more time with his Federation of Canadian Municipalities than he does on City of Burlington work.
Nisan was appointed as the FCM representative for the City. Might be time to follow up and learn more about the work of that organization.
The Agenda for the meeting on the 13th is quite light. The biggest item is an update on how the city plans to remunerate Councillors Sharman and Betivegna for the OMERS pension benefit they no longer get because they are over the age of 71.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman  Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna Finding a way to provide this benefit is fair but the optics from a Councillor point of view are terrible. One expects they will learn to live with it.
In setting out the Agendas the City Clerk alerts the public as to what is ahead for City Council. In the February cycle there will be a report on the Bateman Community Centre. This development is something that has generated a lot of concern within the city – it has cost the city a fortune. It does turn a high school that was declared surplus by the school board into usable space. However, a lot of that space will be occupied by the Brock University which is calling the space it will use as the Brock University Burlington Campus (BUBC).
They expect to move in sometime in 2025.
 The Brock students are currently renting space in what was the former Lester B. Pearson High school.
There might also be some mention of the new Skyview site in the eastern part of the city that should be nearing completion. The $39,021,769.55 price tag to build what is a very attractive-looking site.
 Rendering of the front street level of the structure. Staff asked that Council to
Approve the revised total budget of $39,433,100 with revised financing proposed.
Authorize the additional funding of $2,000,000 from Tax Supported Debt; $403,000 from the Corporate Accessibility Implementation Project and $4,710,100 from the infrastructure renewal reserve fund.
The city borrowed millions to cover the balance.
The Skyway arena is in ward 5, Sharman territory. He said: Just slightly more than half of this cost is more than the city expected, but this is not a unique situation- that’s happening to everything. The question raised from time to time is should we wait for things to get better?
 The city has gone all out in making the site as environmentally responsible as they could – cost just wasn’t an issue. The Staff report concludes that it’s going to be at least five years before the current pressure on costs decreases.This is not going to get better. If we don’t do it now.
It’ll just get worse and where does that leave us? It raises all sorts of concerns about improving the infrastructure in the city and increasing the infrastructure in the city. And we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now, I believe that we’re doing something that is badly needed by the city. We need the ice pads and the community rooms and the walking track.
By Staff
January 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Councillor Paul Sharman asked a simple direct question of the City’s Chief Financial Officer:
He did not get a clear or complete answer; actually, he didn’t answer the question.
Watch Craig Millar, Burlington’s CFO, describe a 7.5% tax increase as 3.79% in response to a question from Councillor Sharman.
Have a listen:
Millar slips in the word “impact” which is not what Councillor Sharman asked for. He wanted the CFO to tell him what the tax increase was. Councillor Stolte, sitting beside, Sharman did not pick up the statement the CFO made and ask for clarification. A lost opportunity.
 By Ray Rivers
January 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack.” (Kekius Maximus formerly Elon Musk on X)
Tragic yes, but the the irony is so thick one can’t help but smile. A US veteran blows himself up in a Tesla parked outside the front doors of the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. I mean, ‘the Donald’ hates electric cars (EV’s). But he loves his unofficial banker and stooge #1 Elon Musk, or Kekius Maximus as he now calls himself on X, formerly Twitter.
 Tesla vehicle on fire outside Trump Hotel in Los Angeles. Clearly the intent was to send a message – but what? Was the former soldier saying he hates Trump – protesting his election victory? Was he expressing disapproval at the unholy marriage of Donald and Elon (aka Kekius the crypto avatar)? Was he telling us that this Tesla Cybertruck is so resilient that it can withstand an explosion – which it almost did? Or was he trying to say that you need to load a Tesla with camping fuel and rocket mortars in order for it to catch fire?
Despite all the fake news to the contrary bursting into fire is not a standard feature on Teslas or most other EV’s. There was that unfortunate high publicity incident of damaged battery electrodes on a number of electric Chevy Bolts, resulting in 16 fires and a recall of over 100,000 vehicles. But other internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are at least as fire prone. Hyundai recently recalled over three million ICE cars warning drivers not to park their vehicles indoors.
Tesla will tell you that over the decade from 2012 to 2021, the number of fires on US roads involving Teslas was 11 times lower per mile than the comparable figure for all cars. And newer developments, such as, sodium ion and solid state batteries, are expected to reduce the fire risk even further.
Other studies confirm that conclusion, including a recent one by Swedish investigators which found that your ICE guzzler is something like 18 times more likely to catch fire. An Australian study found the risk of fire with an EV was 0.0012% versus 0.1% for an ICE.
Fires aboard ships have also been erroneously scapegoated onto EV’s. However, the International Union of Marine Insurance, following the Fremantle Highway (cargo ship) fire claims that….“To date, no fire onboard a Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) has been proven to have been caused by a factory-new EV.” In reality, none of the EV’s on that ship were damaged and the fire has been proven to have actually begun on another deck.
But sometimes the facts don’t matter. Nowhere is that more true than with the EV. After all, if the Canadian federal target of ending gas guzzler sales by 2035 actually comes to fruition, it will have a huge impact on big oil and big oil producing jurisdictions which count on the revenue that the black gold brings in.
Thousands of ICE engineers and auto workers would be affected, as would all those garage mechanics who tinker with those complex ICE engines, transmissions, exhaust systems and pollution control devices. We are victims of our past and some find something weirdly romantic about the smell of the toxic gasoline fumes, car exhaust, the roar of a leaky exhaust mufflers and the shifting of gears.
 Elon Musk prancing on stage while Donald Trump speaks But the biggest challenge to the phase out of gas guzzlers is politics. For some bizarre reason there is an ideological divide over existential challenging climate change. Conservatives seem to consider global warming and all potential mitigative solutions as a threat to their way of life. Donald Trump may be the global chief climate denier but Canadian conservatives also refuse to accept climate change as a real concern.
Conservatives generally don’t support renewable energy or EV’s or most other measures to reduce our carbon footprint. These changes are generally perceived as unnecessary at best, and a threat to their lifestyle at worse. That accounts for the war on carbon pricing, and provincial policies in Alberta and Ontario to slow down progress on green energy and low carbon transportation.
The other kind of politics may also be the reason why EV new car registrations in Norway now exceed 80% and China which sold over 8 million new electric cars in 2023 accounts for almost 60% of the world’s EV production. By contrast Canada’s numbers barely reached 12% last year, while the US market turned in fewer than 9% of vehicles sold as EV, including hybrid models.
Why are we so far behind? Elon Musk’s Tesla was the best selling car globally in 2023 so it can’t be the cars. Big oil and big auto laughed at Elon Musk until they realized the joke was on them. Today he whispers in Trump’s ear and is struggling to take over the helm of Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.
 A genius. Like other genius types, Musk is a study in contrasts -unbridled by labels. Having earned his green/liberal credentials as inventor of the modern EV he is also one of the most right wing conservatives in America, even supporting near Nazi political movements in Germany and the UK.
Musk defies stereotyping and makes it possible to both love and hate him. Is that perhaps what the obviously disturbed soldier in his newly rented Cybertruck was trying to say? Was his target Tesla or Musk, Musk or Trump? And why didn’t he just post his complaint on X, formerly Twitter, instead of blowing himself up?
 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:
Las Vegas Truck Bomb – Musk Quotes – EV Sales – EV Sales Canada – Ship Fire –
Doug Ford’s Big Footprint – Alberta’s EV Tax –
By Staff
January 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Electoral recovery hinges on large group of undecided & NDP voters who “might” still support Liberals
The Angus Reid Institute reports that Just days into the new year the future of the governing Liberal Party remains obscured as its most prominent figure, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, continues to mull his next plans. This, after one of the most politically challenging months of his nine-year term saw his approval and his party’s vote intention tumble to new lows.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that in an ironic twist, the person most likely to imbue the Liberals with some (though currently faint) hope in these dire electoral circumstances is the person who played a significant part in these challenges.
After she resigned as Finance Minster in December, Chrystia Freeland is most likely – among six potential candidates to potentially compete for succession in the prime minister’s resignation – to increase their party’s vote share in a future election.
Currently the Liberal Party is able to rely on loyal base of just 13 per cent of Canadians. This group is most likely to stay with the party come what may. (Note, data released December 30 indicated vote intention among only decided and leaning voters at 16 per cent)
In the event Freeland were to succeed as Liberal Party leader, the party’s fortunes among the total population jumps eight points to 21 per cent. While this offers her a large advantage over Mark Carney, Melanie Joly, Dominic Leblanc, Anita Anand, and Francois-Philippe Champagne, all of whom generate little change compared to Trudeau, the Conservative Party still holds a commanding advantage in all situations. In a faceoff against a Freeland-led Liberal Party, the CPC still hold a 15-point lead.
For the Liberals, the challenge is clear: currently, one-quarter of Canadians (27%) say they might consider supporting that party but do not currently. Within this group of available voters two-in-five (38%) say they would vote for the NDP, while 26 per cent are initially undecided when asked about a future election. Prime Minister Trudeau does not fare well among this group that “might consider” his party. He holds a 59 per cent disapproval rating, though Pierre Poilievre fares even worse, with 79 per cent saying they view him unfavourably.
By James Portside
January 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This information is not professional investment advice. Investors are advised to do their own research into individual stocks before making an investment decision.
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| Athabasca Oil Corporation —–Buy Quantity: 595,000 Average cost: $5.21 Total: $3,099,214.41 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Athabasca Oil Corporation |
1 – Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
294,100 |
$5.27 |
$1,549,759.95 |
| Athabasca Oil Corporation |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
12-31-24 |
-642,200 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Athabasca Oil Corporation |
1 – Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-30-24 |
300,900 |
$5.15 |
$1,549,454.46 |
|
| TFI International Inc —–Buy Quantity: 5,000 Average cost: $197.53 Total: $987,633.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| TFI International Inc. |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
12-31-24 |
-203,444 |
-$46.93 |
$9,547,835.17 |
| ENGLAND, WILLIAM T. |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-30-24 |
5,000 |
$197.53 |
$987,633.00 |
| TFI International Inc. |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
12-30-24 |
48,861 |
$195.38 |
$9,546,638.08 |
|
| Total Energy Services Inc —–Buy Quantity: 82,903 Average cost: $11.89 Total: $985,749.83 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Total Energy Services Inc |
1 – Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
82,903 |
$11.89 |
$985,749.83 |
| Total Energy Services Inc |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
12-31-24 |
-89,403 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
| Enghouse Systems Limited —–Buy Quantity: 8,000 Average cost: $26.73 Total: $213,852.80 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Stoyan, Paul James |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-30-24 |
8,000 |
$26.73 |
$213,852.80 |
|
| Stantec Inc —–Buy Quantity: 1,696 Average cost: $113.43 Total: $192,385.35 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Ammerman, Douglas Keith |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
1,190 |
$113.53 |
$135,106.06 |
| Brown, Shelley Ann Marie |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
303 |
$113.14 |
$34,281.42 |
| Morin, Marie-Lucie |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
203 |
$113.29 |
$22,997.87 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| Luca Mining Corp —–Sell Quantity: -5,699,975 Average cost: $0.62 Total: -$3,533,984.50 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Calu Opportunity Fund, LP |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-5,699,975 |
$0.62 |
-$3,533,984.50 |
|
| Peyto Exploration & Development Corp —–Sell Quantity: -65,000 Average cost: $16.90 Total: -$1,098,233.50 Options Issued: 65,000 Average cost: $11.90 Total: $773,450.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Frame, Riley Millar |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-02-25 |
65,000 |
$11.90 |
$773,450.00 |
| Frame, Riley Millar |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-65,000 |
$16.90 |
-$1,098,233.50 |
|
| FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION —–Sell Quantity: -2,100 Average cost: $261.83 Total: -$549,846.06 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Rakusin, Jeremy Alan |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-30-24 |
-2,100 |
$261.83 |
-$549,846.06 |
|
| Propel Holdings Inc —–Sell Quantity: -11,465 Average cost: $36.29 Total: -$416,091.22 Options Issued: 11,465 Average cost: $6.69 Total: $76,723.40 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Ahluwalia, Sarika |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
12-31-24 |
11,465 |
$6.69 |
$76,723.40 |
| Ahluwalia, Sarika |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
12-31-24 |
-11,465 |
$36.29 |
-$416,091.22 |
| Buchman, Noah |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
47 – Acquisition or disposition by gift |
12-30-24 |
-1,400 |
$37.37 |
-$52,318.00 |
|
| Kelt Exploration Ltd —–Sell Quantity: -20,000 Average cost: $7.10 Total: -$142,000.00 Options Issued: 20,000 Average cost: $0.99 Total: $19,800.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Gigg, Bruce Douglas |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
01-02-25 |
20,000 |
$0.99 |
$19,800.00 |
| Gigg, Bruce Douglas |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
01-02-25 |
-20,000 |
$7.10 |
-$142,000.00 |
What is Insider Trading?
How Insider Trading works.
 By Staff
January 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The lights glowed so pleasantly; the young children couldn’t get to the tree fast enough on Christmas Day.
If you were lucky the cats didn’t climb the tree and bring the whole thing down.
Time comes to take down all the decorations and store them away for next year.
And then you have to get rid of the tree – which is where your Regional government is there to help.
Continue reading Christmas Tree collection dates set – January 6th and 13th
By Staff
January 2, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Northern Cardinal Ghent Limited, the developer behind the 2170 Ghent Ave., application proposes twenty-one (21) 3-storey townhouse units within three (3) development blocks along a new private road extending from Ghent Avenue.
 Twenty-one 3-storey townhouse units proposed. A total of 48 parking spaces are proposed providing two (2) resident spaces per dwelling unit and six (6) visitor spaces. The subject property is currently vacant.
 The applicant will lead an Open House January 7, 2025, 7 – 9:00 p.m., at Centennial Hall, Central Branch – Burlington Public Library, 2331 New St., Burlington. ON
Planner of the file is Jaclyn Schneider: J905-335-7600, ext. 7326
Jaclyn.schneider@burlington.ca
 By Pepper Parr
January 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The questions put to Karina Gould in an interview were asked by Julie Slack, Editor of Burlington Today
The question everyone wanted to ask was: Are you going to run again? Yes she is.
Right now Karina Gould serves as the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
It is a frenetic job that has her on her feet for very full days. When the House is sitting she is beside the Prime Minister and on her feet during question period.
During the delivery of the Fall Economic Statement (FES) which turned into a crisis that may end up bringing the government down, Gould was front and center.
 Home is Burlington – in Ottawa, she lives in a hotel. During an interview with Burlington Today Gould talked about everything but the Prime Minister admitting that it is: “a tough time to be in politics. I think it’s a tough time to be an incumbent government no matter what.”
Gould, the Mother of two calls home in Ottawa space in a hotel
I last crossed paths with Karina Gould at the Terry Fox Run for a Cancer Cure – her parting words at the time were: “Wish me Luck.”
It is going to take more than luck to get her through the election whenever it takes place.
Doing the job she is in place to do, talking up what the government has done, Gould said: “that was really good because that pays for things like dental care, like the new school food program, the additional funding for our Canadian armed forces, our support for Ukraine, support for housing, for Indigenous communities, and the list goes on and on and on. I was worried it was going to be really raucous. I thought the Conservative might, oppose items….but I think they kind of ran outta gas.”
“It was a different fall session, but, you know, it was, it was a minority government, in the true sense and that’s what happens. Minority governments are not clean. They’re very messy. There’s a lot of brinksmanship, a lot of games, but, uh, we made it through.”
Asked how she handles confrontation. Gould responded: “I know what I’m fighting for and that’s the people in my community. I have to say behind the scenes, even though Andrew and I disagree on many things. When it comes to negotiating, we’re not acrimonious with each other but there’s a level of professionalism and respect.
Q: There’s a lot of talk about Donald Trump. Have you met him?
“I haven’t met Donald Trump, and I don’t know if I will, I’m not really in the position to, but one never knows.”
At this point in the interview – it got a little silly
Q: Most famous person’s cell phone number in your contacts other than the PM?
Used to have Samantha Power and Melinda Gates.
This or that
Playlists or podcasts? podcasts
Shoes or slippers? Slippers (depends on the house)
Swimming pool or beach? beach
Cats or dogs? Cats, but I love dogs
Summer or winter? winter
Cash or cards? cards
Cookies or chips? chips
 Karina Gould in full campaign mode. Can she do it again? Cute – but the country faces a crisis and Karina Gould is right in the middle of it, but not part of it – other than being the Liberal MP for Burlington she isn’t part of the hatred towards the Prime Minister the country is facing but when the full story of what really happened during that week Chrystia Freeland dropped her resignation letter bomb she was there and will have a lot to say when the book is written.
Gould’s immediate challenge is the next federal election—can she hold the seat? She seems to think so.
She will meet with her constituents on January 12th – security at that event is going to be very very tight – not something we have experienced in Burlington in the past.
Gould is at a very high personal risk – there are people who want to harm her physically – and that is not what this country is about.
By Staff
January 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Many people would have missed this late year-end announcement related to the extension of the deadline for making charitable donations that can be claimed on tax returns
The federal government is extending the deadline for making charitable donations that can be claimed on tax returns through to the end of February, the Department of Finance announced in a press release today.
 Deadline for including donations on your tax return extended.  The federal government intends to amend the Income Tax Act to extend the deadline for making donations eligible for tax support in the 2024 tax year, until February 28, 2025.
The department said this was being done to “mitigate the impacts of the four-week Canada Post mail stoppage by providing donors with sufficient time to ensure their contributions are received and processed, helping charities ensure they can deliver vital services to the communities that depend on them.”
By Staff
January 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
From Burlington MP Karina Gould:
I am pleased to invite you to my 10th Annual New Year’s Levee to ring in 2025! There will be light refreshments for the occasion and a special program to go along with it. You can find the details for the celebration below.
Karina Gould with her second child at the Terry Fox Run for a Cancer Cure during the summer. When: Sunday, January 12th
Where: Art Gallery Burlington – 1333 Lakeshore Road
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
To RSVP to this event, please fill out the Google Form linked to the image above.
I hope you can join!
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2025 marks 50 Years of the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB), giving us a unique chance to examine the past, look towards the future and find our place in the present.
