Nominations for HDSB wards 1&2 trustee now closed

By Staff

April 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The official list of certified candidates running for the position of Halton District School Board Trustee – Burlington, Wards 1 and 2 is as follows in alphabetical order:

      • Robbie Brydon
      • Celina Close
      • Michael James Duhacek
      • Chris Goff
      • Anthony Alexander Hoyes
      • Omar Kayed
      • Ross Montgomery
      • Daniel Warren Oke
  • Voting for the School Board By-Election takes place between May 15 and 29, 2023.
  • Eligible voters have three ways to vote:

online, using Internet voting, from May 15 to 19, 2023

in person, at advance polls on May 24, 202 in person, on election day, May 29, 2023

  • Individuals eligible to vote in the by-election for Halton District School Board Trustee – Burlington, Wards 1 and 2 must be:

             a current English-public school board supporter

           resident of Burlington (own or rent) in Ward 1 or Ward 2

           non-resident, but you or your spouse own or rent residential property in Ward 1 or Ward 2

           18 years of age or older

           a Canadian citizen

           not prohibited from voting under any law

 

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Province wants more input at the school board level; HDSB doesn't come out smelling like roses

By Pepper Parr

April 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The province isn’t happy with the school boards across the province are doing. They don’t like the number indicating where student achievement is waning. They want more power over school boards’ academic priorities and in particular wants to improve training for senior leaders.

Legislated tables today by the Minister of Education would impose new standards of training for directors of education and senior staff, as well as how their job performance is measured, giving trustees a say as well as an opportunity for the Ministry of Education to weigh in.

Education Minister Stephen Leece at a community event.

Minister Lecce said: ““It’s about expecting better from the system,” adding that “Boards need to refocus on what matters, which is student achievement.”

The legislation would also give the government a say in priorities in student achievement, especially in the basics of reading, writing and math, and ensure all 72 publicly funded boards provide information on that progress to parents in a transparent and timely manner, as well as update teacher training at universities.

On the trustee side, the bill would ensure boards are using integrity commissioners to deal with disputes between elected officials in a bid to keep their focus on students.

The bill is also intended, in part, to address the varying academic performance among boards and would give the province a say in “setting priorities for student achievement” as well as usher in “more consistent information (for parents) and approaches to student learning.”

The legislation comes after the province had to step in and supervise and reform the Peel public school board amid allegations of systemic racism. That came three years after the York board failed to act on parent complaints that racist incidents were being ignored, and as multiple incidents of trustee misconduct and dysfunction were brought to light.

More recently, Lecce has publicly chastised the leaders at the Halton District School Board for failing to deal with the controversial dress of a shop teacher that led to months of disruption at Oakville Trafalgar High School, including protests and bomb threats.

The Halton board, which more than a month ago voted to bring in a special adviser to help it move forward, has yet to do so. It also released promised a “professionalism policy” but parents are calling for more specifics on standards of dress for educators.

Minister Leece with a group of students.

The focus on the basics may be in response to parent concerns that boards are focusing too much on non-academic issues.

The province is making a number of changes with the legislation, noting that while Ontario has a 89 per cent graduation rate after five years, some 15,000 students aren’t earning a diploma in that time. EQAO results in math have been an ongoing concern, as have those in literacy, where roughly two-thirds of students in grade 3 aren’t meeting the writing standard, which is equivalent to a B grade.

The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act is wide-ranging legislation that would also speed up disciplinary processes for teachers, particularly in cases where the educator has been found guilty of a crime.

It would also give the province first say when school boards are selling off properties, and will mandate better communication with municipalities. To save costs and but also bring in consistency and help cut red tape, boards would also have a set of standard new school designs to choose when rebuilding.

It comes as the province is focusing on the skilled trades and ensuring students have a pathway to earn a diploma should they choose to take on an apprenticeship in Grade 11.

On Sunday, Lecce announced $180 million for literacy and numeracy supports, saying it would create 1,000 additional teaching positions to help students, many of whom are struggling with post-pandemic learning loss.

NDP Education Critic Chandra Pasma expressed disappointment with Minister Stephen Lecce’s recent ‘smoke and mirrors’ announcement, stating that it is unimpressive and fails to address the urgent needs in Ontario’s education system:

“The government talks about accountability but blindsides us with last-minute changes to the education sector without adequate funding for meaningful change,” Pasma stated. “As a parent, this announcement is frustrating and feels like smoke and mirrors. The underfunding of our education system is impacting our kids directly. We know why they are struggling – oversized classrooms, lack of specialized learning programs, and anxiety levels at an all-time high. How can students focus and succeed in such conditions?

“Adding new demands at this pace sets our students up for failure,” Pasma emphasized. “We need a government that truly address the scale of issues we see in the education system, including huge class sizes, issues with violence and mental health.”

Pasma further raised concerns about the government’s approach to funding, citing the disparity between the government’s stated increase of 2.7% in GSNs (Grants for Student Needs) and the much higher inflation rates of 6.8% in 2022 and the predicted 3.6% for 2023.

“How will this meagre increase in funding help when inflation rates are much higher, and the scale of issues in education requires much more support?” Pasma questioned. “We need a government that takes responsibility and stops shifting the blame for the fact that schools are struggling. The funding announcements are well below the inflation rate, and more is needed to address the scale of issues we see in our education system. The government’s failure to adequately fund education hinders the system’s ability to provide quality education to our students.”

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Provincial Liberals decide on when their new leader will be selected

By Staff

April 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Ontario Liberal Party’s new Executive Council met to establish the leadership process for electing a new leader in 2023.

Following our membership’s decision to move to a direct voting system in March, I’m excited to share details of what will be our most inclusive and accessible leadership process – ever.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie – will she reach for the brass ring. She was certainly doing that the the provincial Liberal AGM

• Party members will cast ranked ballots on Saturday, November 25, 2023 and Sunday, November 26, 2023.
• Voting will be available in person for almost all constituency associations, student clubs, and women’s clubs, with a small number voting by mail.
• Ballot counting and the announcement of round-by-round results will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, with the OLP’s new leader announced the same day.
• The final date to join the Ontario Liberal Party, as a member of a constituency association or women’s club, and be eligible to vote in the leadership election, is Monday, September 11, 2023.
• The final date to join the Ontario Liberal Party, as a member of a student club, and be eligible to vote in the leadership election, is Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Under the new leadership election system, each constituency association will be allotted 100 points, to be awarded to leadership candidates based on the proportion of votes they receive. Student clubs will be allotted 50 points and women’s clubs will be allotted 5.

Simon Tunstall, former Executive Director of the Ontario Liberal Party, will serve as the Chief Returning Officer.

During the leadership election, the Party will also host at least five debates around the province. Dates and locations for these debates will be announced at a later date.

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Member of Committee of Adjustment gets hammered by the Integrity Commissioner - report goes to Council on Tuesday

By Pepper Parr

April 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

This report is excerpted from a report prepared by the Integrity Commissioner and sent to City Council.  Thew fill report is available on the city website. There is the potential for considerable debate at Council on Tuesday

The perception that a community’s elected representatives are operating with integrity is the glue which sustains local democracy. We live in a time when citizens are skeptical of their elected representatives at all levels. The overarching objective in appointing an integrity commissioner is to ensure the existence of robust and effective policies, procedures, and mechanisms that enhance the citizen’s perception that their Council and local boards meet established ethical standards and where they do not, there exists a review mechanism that serves the public interest.

The City of Burlington Integrity Commissioner released the following report earlier in April related to a complaint that had been made from a resident about how her application to the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) was managed.

The application was approved at the CoA by a vote of 3-2

The Municipal Act requires that municipalities adopt a code of conduct for members of local boards, and appoint an integrity commissioner responsible for overseeing the application of the code of conduct for local board members.

Integrity commissioners carry out a range of functions for municipalities (and their local boards). They assist in the development of the ethical framework, for example by suggesting content or commentary for codes of conduct. One of the most important functions is the provision of advice and guidance to members to help sort out ethical grey areas or to confirm activities that support compliance. And finally, but not principally, they investigate allegations that a person has fallen short of compliance with the municipality’s ethical framework and where appropriate they submit public reports on their findings, and make recommendations, including recommending sanctions, that council for the municipality may consider imposing in giving consideration to that report.

Our operating philosophy dictates the format of this report. The tenets of procedural fairness require us to provide reasons for our conclusions and recommendations, and we have done that.

In this regard, we have assessed the information fairly, in an independent and neutral manner, and have provided an opportunity to the respondent named in this Report to respond to the allegations in the complaint, and to review and provide comment on tour preliminary findings report.

The Complaint

On December 22, 2022 we received a complaint from an applicant to the CoA in regard to the conduct of member Leblovic at the hearing of her application for minor variance held on December 7, 2022.

The complaint asserted that member Leblovic made statements at the CoA hearing that were unfounded and false, and risked influencing the outcome of the hearing on the application. In her view, the member had engaged in malicious gossip almost derailing a long and costly minor variance process, which no member of an adjudicative tribunal should be allowed to do.

It was alleged that the member’s conduct breached the Code of Conduct for Local Boards.

Notifying the Respondent on December 29, 2022 of the complaint against him, and providing adequate disclosure of the information we possessed so that he could prepare his response

After initial resistance to the process, wherein the Respondent raised preliminary concerns questioning the complainant’s motives, asserting reputational damage, and challenging our jurisdiction and process, we extended time for, and ultimately received, the Respondent’s response to the complaint in a 13-page response.

Diane and Nickolas Leblovic with Mayor Meed Ward and her husband.

The Respondent Nicholas Leblovic is a member of the City of Burlington C/A and on the C/A for another Township where he owns another property, and has served as such for eight (8) years. He is a lawyer with over 40 years’ experience, retired from practice at a large law firm.

The Complainant is the owner of a century home in downtown Burlington which she has owned and lived in for 42 years.

This is the story of a long-time resident, now living alone, seeking to turn her detached garage into a secondary suite in the back yard of her large home, and a tribunal member trying to block her because, according to an unidentified neighbour who is friends with the member, she has been illegally renting out a basement apartment for years – a fact she vehemently denies.

The tribunal member, as a lawyer himself, has criticized our investigation as lacking jurisdiction because in his view we are presuming to review the conduct of an adjudicative body’s hearing. We agree that it is beyond the jurisdiction of an Integrity Commissioner to review the hearing process of the Committee of Adjustment.

However, it is well-established that the conduct of members of local boards, the Committee of Adjustment included, falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the municipal Integrity Commissioner to review.

The member claims that we have improperly embarked on a review of the procedure at the hearing – something which can only be reviewed by appealing the decision. The focus of our investigation, and findings, is solely the ethical propriety of the member’s own conduct.

In October 2021, the homeowner retained a planning consultant firm to assist her with navigating the process for obtaining the necessary permissions to construct an accessory dwelling unit; the project required 7 minor variances, regarding which staff of the City of Burlington had no objection.

On January 13, 2022 the Complainant filed an application to the CoA for the minor variance to allow the conversion of a detached garage to a secondary dwelling unit.

On December 7, 2022 the application for minor variance was before the CoA for hearing.

The Staff Report from planning staff supported the application.

Nobody appeared in opposition to the application.

The homeowner was not present at the CoA and was represented by her planning consultant.

Although the Heritage Impact Study was not included in the Application Package before the CoA, member Leblovic produced it at the hearing in order to ask the planning consultant questions.

The member proceeded to ask questions of the homeowner’s planning consultant, focused on what he perceived as inconsistent descriptions in the Heritage Impact Study about the interior finishes in the basement of the home – in particular, what he perceived as conflicting information about the presence of a bathroom and a bedroom in the basement – revealing, in his view, the existence of a rental suite.

It should be noted that, although the complainant’s home does not include a secondary suite or basement apartment, we understand that a secondary suite would be permitted as-of-right, should she have desired one.

Member Leblovic made a statement asserting the existence of an undocumented rental unit in the basement, claiming that the neighbours all knew about it.

The member’s comments at the hearing are reflected in the Minutes as follows:

N. Leblovic did not support the application; noted for the following reasons: did not believe the Owner/Agent were being entirely truthful regarding the use of the existing home and had knowledge from other community members as well as the Heritage Impact Study that the home had been previously renovated to include a basement living space which was not reflected in the site plans presented and that non-family members had lived in the house; believed some of the information provided by the applicant was questionable; these concerns prevented the member from supporting the application as presented and believed that perhaps a deferral might be an option to allow the agent to go back and work with the Owner to provide additional information regarding the current use of the property; from a legal perspective, could not support the application.

The next member who spoke reminded members that the CoA must confine itself to consideration of the application based on the merits and the evidence before the Committee. This is reflected in the Minutes, as follows:

…the Committee must evaluate an application based on the merits of the application before the Committee; noted that the application itself became a sworn affidavit when submitted for review; there were no members of the public in opposition to the proposal nor were written comments provided as a result of the public notice; how the Owner utilizes their property was not the purview of the Committee and if there were enforcement concerns there were more appropriate City departments to handle those matters;

Subsequently, the Chair also chastised member Leblovic for his statement, noting that enforcement concerns were not the purview of the Committee; there were other City departments in place to handle enforcement issues; and that the applicant presented good planning rationale for the proposed development.

One other member of the CoA adopted the position and the rationale articulated by member Leblovic.

In the end, the CoA Decision to grant the minor variance was reached on a 3-2 split.

In the days that followed, the complainant raised her concern with the Secretary- Treasurer about the conduct of the member and the unfounded statements which very nearly resulted in a refusal of her application.

The Secretary-Treasurer advised that the Integrity Commissioner was the proper party to consider her concerns.

Member Leblovic’s statement made during the hearing regarding his belief that there was already an existing rental unit at the home, was improper for 3 reasons:

As it was based on what the neighbours apparently had told him, it amounted to nothing more than hearsay, and was not admissible as evidence;

Even if true, it was not a relevant consideration for the C/A; and

Even if relevant, the member was attempting to introduce evidence at the hearing, which was improper given his role as a member of the tribunal adjudicating the hearing.

Had legal counsel for the owner been present at the hearing, the statements by the member would likely have provoked a swift response.

The applicant’s planning consultant, who was present at the hearing, was blind- sided by the line of questioning and attempted to navigate the unexpected tangent.

Having not attended at the home of her client, the planning consultant was at a loss to explain what member Leblovic perceived as inconsistencies in the Heritage Impact Study.
Nevertheless, when the member produced it unexpectedly at the CoA hearing, the planning consultant simply advised that she was unaware of the existing interior improvements of the owner’s basement, but that to the best of her knowledge the owner lived alone in the home.

During our investigation, the member provided the following explanation around the unfolding of events at the CoA as follows:

Also… provided was a draft Heritage Impact Assessment dated May 22, 2022, prepared by Robinson Heritage Consulting relating to the house and garage on the Property. …

In reviewing this documentation, I noted a major inconsistency relating to the basement of the house. The Heritage Impact Assessment at pages 28 to 32 had a brief description of each room in the House and contains the following statement at page 32:

“The basement is finished and is large and bright with laundry, bath, bedroom and family room with walkout to the rear yard.”

However, the Site Plan of the basement area of the house (at page 92 of the Staff Report) showed existing space labelled as laundry room, mechanical room, unexcavated and existing basement with no existing space identified as a bath, bedroom or family room.
At the hearing, the Complainant was represented by XX. In my questioning of XX I asked her to reconcile this inconsistency.

…[the planning consultant was unable to explain the inconsistency, in that she had not attended the property to observe the basement layout, and she understood that her client lived alone in the home.]

When it was the time for Committee members to reach a decision on the application, I made comments to the following effect:

• I did not accept the testimony of [the planning consultant] as being credible on the issue of the additional dwelling unit in the basement as it was inconsistent with both the clear wording of the Heritage Impact Study as well as the prior information that I had obtained from my friends noted in the fourth paragraph of this letter.

• The potential existence of an additional dwelling unit in the basement of the house was in my mind extremely material to the application as it raised the prospect of their being three not two separate dwelling units in the house and garage. This in turn would
increase the potential number of people who could live in the house and renovated garage.

• This would result in potential for material compatibility and nuisance issues with the neighbourhood, which was entirely comprised of single-family dwellings, the likelihood of overcrowding of the limited on-site parking space and the possibility for future use of the house as a rental or short-term rental facility.

When the planning consultant would not agree with the member’s suggestion that there was a rental unit in the basement, he stated that he was ‘questioning the integrity of the application and the integrity of the planners’.

The planning consultant was shocked, upset and taken aback. All the while, her supervising partner was watching the virtual meeting electronically.

Planners are subject to a Professional Code of Practice and Standards of Practice; ethics and integrity are cornerstones of their professional reputation.

Questioning the integrity of a professional planner goes to the core of their professional reputation.  The member, in openly questioning the planning consultant’s integrity during the hearing, was impugning her professional ethics.

From an evidentiary perspective, it is apparent that the finished basement contains no kitchen, which would be crucial in determining whether a basement rental apartment existed – were that a relevant consideration before the C/A. This underscores the problem of introducing hearsay conclusions in the course of a hearing held for other purposes, and which was supported by ample professional evidence tendered by both the applicant and City staff.

Irrelevant Considerations

Even if the information had been introduced by an objector to the application, it is well-established that non-compliance with existing regulatory requirements is not a relevant consideration on an application for minor variance at the C/A.

Alleged illegal or non-compliant use of property can only be pursued through enforcement action because:
withholding a minor variance because of alleged zoning violations constitutes an error of law; and enforcement action provides the property owner with due process and ensures a full and fair opportunity to defend against unfounded allegations.

Though not the case here, existing non-compliance – with zoning or building requirements – is often the motivation for making minor variance applications to the C/A.

Concerns about existing non-compliance are simply irrelevant to the CoA’s considerations.

Similarly, speculation about the possibility that the minor variance may open the door to a future illegal use is equally irrelevant.

As noted above, the Chair and at least one other member of the CoA were at pains to correct member Leblovic as to the irrelevance of the alleged existence of a second dwelling unit.

Improper for Tribunal Member to introduce own evidence

It is important that members appointed to adjudicative bodies understand the nature of their role.

Misunderstanding their jurisdiction or the need for procedural fairness may cause a tribunal to exceed its jurisdiction or otherwise err in law in arriving at a decision, leading to unnecessary and time-consuming appeals to the Land Appeals Tribunal or the courts.

In the complainant’s application hearing, despite attempts by another member and by the Chair to correctly guide the CoA away from irrelevant and erroneous considerations, the member’s strong and authoritative assertions influenced another member to take into consideration irrelevant and possibly erroneous statements, improperly introduced.

Even if the member had personal knowledge of the existence of a second dwelling unit in the home (which he admits he does not have), tribunal members – like judges – must make their decisions based on the application of the law to the facts presented at the hearing or trial.

A tribunal member cannot introduce their own evidence, or supplement the evidence before them with anecdotal information drawn from their own sources.4

The bald unchallenged assertion made by the member abrogated the procedural fairness of the CoA hearing and risked tainting the decision, as underscored by the narrow margin on the vote, which might have resulted in an unnecessary, time- consuming and costly appeal for both the applicant and the City.

We find that the conduct of the member on this occasion undermined public confidence in the adjudicative body.

It is important that misunderstandings – about jurisdiction, procedural fairness and appreciating what are the relevant considerations – be corrected, especially since an erroneous or misguided approach by a single member may influence the thinking of other members. Ultimately, these may lead to undermining the public’s confidence in the process.

Members of adjudicative local boards are not expected to possess legal expertise, and indeed, the Chair and staff play an important role in guiding the committee to staying focused on relevant considerations and ensure procedural fairness.

There are also opportunities for municipalities to ensure that their local boards, including adjudicative committees, receive training from the Integrity Commissioner, the Ontario Association of Committees of Adjustment, and from staff.

Impugning reputation of planning consultant

When the planning consultant would not agree with the member that there was a basement rental unit in the home, the member stated that he was ‘questioning the integrity of the application and the integrity of the planners’.

The member thereby cast doubt on the information properly before the CoA and cast a shadow over the planning consultant’s honesty and integrity.

Although there is no specific provision under the City of Burlington’s Local Board Code of Conduct which addresses impugning the professional ethics and integrity of others – whether members of the local board, staff or others – it should be recognized as inappropriate and contrary to a standard which requires Members to act with honesty and integrity, serving in a diligent manner, and performing their duties in a manner which promotes public confidence.

Challenging the truthfulness of a professional, without a rationale basis, is tantamount to calling them a liar.

Burlington Council’s own Code of Good Governance states the following which, although in regard to social media (Rule 13), nevertheless provides good guidance:

We will ensure that commenters are respectful, and do not impugn the motives, integrity, or competence of our Council colleagues, other members of the public, or staff.

We find that the conduct of the member in impugning the integrity of the planning consultant was inappropriate, and constituted behaviour which did not promote public confidence.

When the complainant raised her concern with the Secretary-Treasurer in the days that followed, it was explained to her that there was nothing the staff or the City could do and her only recourse was a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner.

The member has expressed to us his concern that the complainant’s inquiries to the Secretary-Treasurer’s office have damaged his reputation.

While a member may regard any complaint about his conduct as concerning, and the scrutiny of a member’s conduct may bring unwanted attention to short-comings, persons feeling aggrieved by a member’s conduct should not be deterred from legitimate complaint by the fear of an accusation of ‘damaging the reputation’ of a respondent.

Certainly there was nothing inappropriate for the complainant to speak with the Secretary-Treasurer; the complainant pursued the only recourse available.

Member’s Response to Complaint and Findings

Rather than acknowledge room for improvement on his part, the member has dug in, justifying his actions and attacking the investigator, engaging in ad hominem attacks on the Integrity Commissioner alleging bias, incompetence, arrogance, negligence, lack of diligence, legal errors, ignorance of the law and practice, and a lack of jurisdiction and procedural fairness.

This sometimes happens in Integrity Commissioner investigations – the respondent takes a legalistic or adversarial approach. Care should be taken to recognize that an Integrity Commissioner’s goal in investigating a complaint is aimed at upholding the expectations set by Council for its appointees.

It cannot be the case that members of adjudicative local boards are at liberty to engage in inappropriate, unfair or otherwise improper conduct with impunity.

While ultimately, removal of the member by Council is a possible remedy, any member might rightly demand the procedural fairness of an investigation before being removed. This is the function which the Integrity Commissioner provides.

The member has asserted that there can be no finding he contravened the principles of the Code of Conduct, because in his opinion the guiding principles are unenforceable.

We believe that the better approach is to embrace the Code of Conduct as a policy statement adopted by council, and to understand that the underlying guiding principles, as well as the specific stipulations in each provision, are indeed capable of articulating enforceable standards and expectations unless specifically excluded.

Especially where the goal is public confidence, and where Guiding Principles underly and support the standard of conduct expected, it cannot be the case that a violation of the Guiding Principles is incapable of forming the basis of a finding that the member has failed to meet the standard expected.

This view would be completely inconsistent with the purpose and objectives of providing a framework to ensure members conduct themselves with the highest standards of integrity in a manner that withstands public scrutiny.

Conduct or behaviour which contravenes and undermines the Guiding Principles should not be ignored or condoned, simply because there is not a specific provision of the Code which prohibits it.

Afterall, there are any number of matters not articulated in provisions of a Code – for example one would not find specific provisions prohibiting lying while carrying out their public role, yet no one would argue that this could not sustain a complaint under the Code.

Nicholas Leblovic was Chair of a Waterfront Advisory Committee that was sunset by the city in 2012.

We find that the conduct of the member on the occasion in question – engaging in hearsay on matters irrelevant to the Committee of Adjustment’s proper considerations, and purporting to introduce evidence in the course of a hearing – undermined public confidence in the adjudicative body, in breach of the Guiding Principles of the Code of Conduct applicable to him.

We also find that impugning the integrity of the planning consultant, which was tantamount to calling her a liar, was inappropriate and a breach of the Guiding Principles.

An Integrity Commissioner may recommend that sanctions be imposed, including a reprimand, or a suspension of pay for up to 90-days.

Members of the Committee of Adjustment receive a nominal per diem, however, we are of the view that a sanction which included suspension of a per diem would be of little consequence.

The complainant sought the member’s removal from the Committee of Adjustment, and that he not be appointed to serve on any other City committee.

There is no doubt the member has the ability to offer legal expertise to the Committee of Adjustment, however his defensiveness to criticism and refusal to acknowledge room for improvement, does not lend itself to course correction.

Despite this, it must be recognized that a similar situation is unlikely to be repeated, and if it were, we are optimistic that the member would be more circumspect in his conduct .

As a member of the Committee of Adjustment, member Leblovic holds a privileged position. He should embrace the opportunity to serve in that capacity with courtesy, and a modicum of humility.

We would also hope that the member would publicly concede second thoughts for his conduct.

We believe that the complaint investigation may be sufficient to remind him to refrain from contributing gossip (or giving credence to it) during the adjudication of hearings, and to treat those who appear before the board – whether staff or others – with professionalism and respect.

As such, in contrast to the complainant’s position, we are not recommending his removal as an appointed member to the CoA.

Rather, as is commonly the case for municipal local boards, we recommend that all members of local boards for the City of Burlington be required to participate in training to be conducted by the Integrity Commissioner, to ensure an understanding of expectations for their role set by the Code of Conduct and the MCIA.

Accordingly, it is recommended:

That Council direct staff to make arrangements for the conduct of training to be conducted by the Integrity Commissioner on the ethical framework applicable to local board members.

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Changes in Education policy to be announced by the Minister of Education today

By Staff

April 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce plans to introduce legislation today that will “ refocus the education system on improving outcomes for students.”

He will speak to media as soon the legislation has been tabled.

The Ontario government is investing more than $180 million in targeted supports in the classroom and at home to help students build the math and reading skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce. This investment will support nearly 1000 more educators to help students develop these important skills.

 

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Mayors' confidant subject of a complaint report from the Integrity Commisioner

By Pepper Parr

April 16th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Updated – A note from Diane Leblovic is set out at the bottom of this article

City Council faces a sticky one on Tuesday.

The City Clerk, Kevin Arjoon has submitted a report prepared by the Integrity Commissioner regarding the behaviour of a member of the Committee of Adjustment

The report is about a complaint made by a property owner who feels she was treated poorly by a member of the Committee of Adjustment.

The Committee of Adjustment hears applications for changes to property and situations where a resident wants to make a minor variances.

Committee members are not elected but are appointed by Council.

Nicholas Leblovic is a member of the CoA

Nicholas Leblovic with his wife Diane on the left; Mayor Marianne Meed Ward with her husband Pete on the right.

He is also a confident of Mayor Meed Ward and has been, along with his wife, a significant contributor to the election campaigns of the following members of city Council:

Mayor Meed Ward $1,200 donated by Diane Leblovic, wife of Nicholas Leblovic

Kelvin Galbraith Councillor for Ward 1 $250 from Nicholas Leblovic

Lisa Kearns Councillor for ward 2 $250 from Nicholas and Diane Leblovic

Rory Nisan Councillor for Ward 3 – $250 from Nicholas Leblovic

Council is being asked to direct staff to make arrangements for the conduct of training to be conducted by the Integrity Commissioner on the ethical framework applicable to local board members.

The recommendation has many informed people close to outraged.

One has asked if the members of Council who received election campaign donations should not be required to recuse themselves from the debate given that there is a potential conflict of interest.

The Integrity Commissioners report refers to the Code of Conduct for Local Boards which was established on February 25, 2019, by City Council. The Code’s main purpose to guide members to act with honesty and integrity, serving in a diligent manner, and performing their duties in a manner which promotes public confidence.

The Integrity Commissioner is appointed by and is accountable to the Burlington City Council. The City of Burlington has an established accountability framework, with the Integrity Commissioner playing an essential role.

Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan:received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

Ward 2 Council member Lisa Kearns received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

The Integrity Commissioner reports to Council on any investigations

City Council decides what it want to do with the recommendations.

Numerous complaints have been taken to the Integrity Commissioner; some dismissed, others with recommendations that were accepted by Council

Ward 1 Councillor Galbraith was the subject of a complaint that he was in a conflict of interest related to his property holdings in ward 1.The complaint was dismissed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte was docked five days’ pay for discussing a matter that was part of a CLOSED session of Council.

If the Commissioner conducts an inquiry he is entitled to have free access to all books, accounts, financial records, electronic data processing records, reports, files and all other papers, things or property belonging to or used by the municipality or a local board that the Commissioner believes to be necessary for an inquiry.

Penalties
(5) The municipality may impose either of the following penalties on a member of council or of a local board if the Commissioner reports to the municipality that, in his or her opinion, the member has contravened the code of conduct:

1. A reprimand.

2. Suspension of the remuneration paid to the member in respect of his or her services as a member of council or of the local board, as the case may be, for a period of up to 90 days.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith received a $250 election campaign donation from Nicholas Leblovic.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward received a $1200 election campaign donation from Diane Leblovic, wife of Nicholas Leblovic..

Complaints
The established process complaint process (part of the Code of Good Governance) dictates that any complaint is submitted directly to the Integrity Commissioner. The Office of the City Clerk is not involved in complaints, unless directly interviewed by the Integrity Commissioner.

The complaint process itself is nuanced, which allows the Integrity Commissioner many tools at their disposal to resolve complaints. The complaint process also provides options to complainants and the respondent to resolve complaints through alternative ways.

A recommendation report was filed by the Integrity Commissioner with the Clerk on April 6, 2023. As part of their process, the complainant and the respondent were also provided a copy of the report.

The report indicated that a complaint was filed on December 22, 2022, from an applicant to the Committee of Adjustment in regard to the conduct of a member of the Committee of Adjustment (Leblovic)  during a hearing in December. The Integrity Commissioner report addresses the investigation conducted and conveys their findings and recommendation.

The City Clerk has worked with the Integrity Commissioner to ensure that the rules of how this item is disposed with is clear. The Integrity Commissioner will be present at the City Council meeting on April 18, 2023, to respond to questions of Council.

• Nicholas Leblovic or a representative may request to delegate at Council regarding the report.

• The Integrity Commissioner will provide opening remarks on their report.

• In accordance with the Procedural By-law Members of Council can ask questions of clarification, two at a time to the Integrity Commissioner.

• Once questions of Council have been exhausted, the Mayor will open the floor for any motions.

• The recommendation as listed in this report could be put on the floor, if Council wishes not to endorse the recommendation the report could be received for information.

Nicholas Leblovic as the Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee

• Once a motion is placed on the floor speaking times will coincide with Council rules, this means each member is afforded, two, five-minute speaking times. If a member wishes to speak for a third time this is put to a vote and is only provided to members through the successful passing of two thirds vote of Council.

Options Considered
The rules as outlined in the Code of Good Governance states that:

If upon completion of the investigation the Integrity Commissioner finds that a breach of the Code has occurred, the Commissioner shall report their findings to Council including a recommendation as to the imposition of a penalty as set out in the Municipal Act.

Therefore, a recommendation is made by the Integrity Commissioner and is conveyed to Council, who makes the final decision.

Burlington City Council has seven members. Four received election campaign donations from the Leblovics. Another is reported to be on a leave of absence for two months for personal health reasons.

Should the Council members who received the campaign donations do the right thing and recuse themselves – then there would not be a quorum ?

That should be fun.

We will follow up with a detailed report on just what it is that Nicholas Leblovic did to result in a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner.  It is lengthy and detailed and very troubling.

Leblovic is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada but he no longer practices law.

Leblovic was the Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee which the city sunset in 2012.My husband Nick Leblovic was required under the Code of Conduct to take a leave of absence from the Committee of Adjustment from May 2 to after election day on October 24. That was because he was going to work on the municipal election in Burlington. Once you are on a leave of absence you can donate to any campaign. This process was confirmed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Note from Diane Leblovic: My husband Nick Leblovic was required under the Code of Conduct to take a leave of absence from the Committee of Adjustment from May 2 to after election day on October 24. That was because he was going to work on the municipal election in Burlington. Once you are on a leave of absence you can donate to any campaign. This process was confirmed by the Integrity Commissioner.

Related news stories:

Marianne Meed Ward, Nicholas Leblovic and the Waterfront Advisory Committee

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Election campaign finance reports hard to find on city web site

By Pepper Parr

April 15th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The words accountability and transparency get banged about like a ping pong ball – but little respect from some senior administrative staff and just about every member of Council. They mouth the words but there is little in the way of meat on the bones of their statements.

The swearing in of a new council is the process that transfers power to newly elected Council members. They swear to be accountable and transparent.

Elections are critical: they are actually a transaction between the public and those running for public office. The voters give the power they have – a ballot and use it to transfer their power to the people seeking public office.

The city administration, in this case the City Clerk overseen the elections, makes sure the ballot are properly counted and issues a statement declaring the winner for the Office of Mayo and the Council member for each ward.

Sometime after the election the City Clerk releases the financial statements each candidate is required to file. Those statements were due to be released on March 31st.

Detailed election finance reports are behind this file on the city web site. Go figure.

Try to find them on the city web site.  They are there but difficult to find – we had to work with the City Communications department to figure out just where the documents were posted.

Unfortunately, and unfairly the Communications people are taking the hits for this dumb situation. We believe it is the City Clerk’s responsibility to ensure that the information is made public and easy to find.

Executive Director Jackie Johnson

Both the City Clerk and the Director of Communications report to the city’s newest Executive Director Jackie Johnson; she might want to invite Kwab Ako-Adjei and Kevin Arjoon in for coffee and explain to them that they first have to cooperate and then exactly what she means by accountability, transparency and open government.

The Gazette is in the process of reviewing all the financial returns and doing an analysis of how much money each candidate raised and where the money came from.

Accountability, transparency and Open Government.

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.

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Covid19 is still with us - data tells the story. Positivity testing rates are high

By Pepper Parr

April 15th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Despite the statements being made by a Halton District School Board candidate for trustee Covid19 is real and we are still seeing outbreaks.

Close friends who had travelled abroad and returned to Canada found that they tested positive a few days after their return. Theirs is a nasty case; both are seniors who were exceptionally careful – he wouldn’t shake hands – fist bump was all he would do.

It is out there, it is air borne and masks are one of the ways people can protect themselves.

For people with existing medical issues Covid19 can lead to death.

The Halton Region Medical Health Officer publishes regular reports on what is happening in our community.

Here is some of the data being made public. A fuller picture can be found HERE. The data is updated daily

The number of hospital admissions is lower – but it is still a significant number.

The number of positive results from testing tells us that the virus is still being passed around – it is airborne – a mask is one way to prevent the virus from spreading.

Long term care facilities are major locations. The residents are trapped (too strong a word) where they live. The virus is brought into the buildings. These are older people with nowhere else to go.

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Rentals, if you can find one - are being priced out of reach for many people. Supply is the problem.

By Staff

April 15th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The average asking rent for all property types in Canada rose 10.8 per cent annually in March to $2,004, according to the Rentals.ca  and Urbanation latest National Rent Report.

Average rents were up 1 per cent month over month – the first monthly increase since November – pushing the year-over-year percentage growth back into double digits.

Over the past year, average asking rents have grown by $196, indicating how rental housing demand is outstripping supply in Canada.

Toronto finished second on the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom at $2,506 and second for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $3,286.

Year over year, average monthly rent in March  for a one-bedroom in Toronto was up 22.2 per cent and up 19.7 per cent for a two-bedroom.

Welcome to Burlington – you won’t be here for long if you are low income person.

Burlington came in sixth on the list for average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom at $2,178 and eighth for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $2,565.

Year over year,

average monthly rent in March

for a one-bedroom in Burlington

was up 8 per cent and up

14.9 per cent for a two-bedroom

Although not on the list, Oakville average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom home was $2,313, and average rent for a two-bedroom was $2,$2,885.

Year over year, average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom in Oakville was up 17.5 per cent and up 23.7 per cent for a two-bedroom.

Private room and shared-accommodation rentals have gained popularity as rents have soared over the past year. The average rent for single-room rentals in Toronto in March was $1,309, and the average rent for a single room in Ontario in March was $934.

Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation puts it in context:   “Spring arrived with a highly competitive rental market in Canada, driven by a record population increase of over 1 million people in the past year and low home ownership affordability after last year’s spike in interest rates. With supply unable to keep up with current levels of demand, expect further upward pressure on rents in the coming months.”

That sounds like it is going to get worse before it gets better.

The rent increases are not mandated – this is what a market economy does.  Supply is low which allows property owners to increase their prices.

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Burlington High School Students on the way to Texas to take part in World FIRST Robotic Championship

By Staff

April 14th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

A total of eight robotics teams from the Halton District School Board competed at the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship in Hamilton April 6-8, resulting in four of them qualifying for the World FIRST Robotic Championship in Texas.

Schools participating included Aldershot School, Burlington Central School, Craig Kielburger SS, Garth Webb SS, Georgetown District HS, M.M. Robinson HS and Oakville Trafalgar HS (with two teams).

This robotic devise is programmed to drop that ball in a basketball hoop. They did it – just not the first time.

Each HDSB team qualified for the provincial competition based on their results from taking part in regional competitions including those held at Humber College, Waterloo and York universities. This provincial competition is a qualifier for the World FIRST Robotic Championship to be held April 19-22 in Houston, Texas.

MM Robinson, Craig Kielburger, Garth Webb and Georgetown teams qualified for the world championship; Garth Webb and Georgetown District High School will attend and represent the HDSB.

“Many thanks are extended to all of the coaches, mentors, volunteers and sponsors that provide students with this extremely valuable opportunity that supports the development of critical STEM and technological skills such as manufacturing, electronics, programming, CAD/CAM, pneumatics, design and transferable skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communication,” says Donna Norrie, Specialist High Skills Major Lead at the Halton District School Board. “This has been a truly amazing experience for our students.”

Established in 2001, FIRST Robotics inspires young people to be leaders and innovators in science and technology by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills to inspire innovation and foster self-confidence, communication and leadership.

Other achievements at the Ontario competition included:
• MMR winning the Innovation in Control Award
• GWSS winning the Excellence in Engineering Award
• Aldershot Lions winning Highest Rookie Seed Award and the Rookie All Star Award

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Public Art comes from public money - is it worth what is being spent ?

By Pepper Parr

April 14th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

We published a piece on the 19 different public art assignments that were given and wondered – how much does the city spend on public art – and where does the money come from.

The Orange Crosswalk was both public art and a public statement – that the Indigenous community was real, that it mattered and had to be included.

Bimose Agaming, the project that included the Spencer Smith vinyl wraps and the Orange Crosswalk.  This  came in at $65,000 – the funding came from a federal government grant

Conversations and Stories – $150,000 – funding provided by Dan Lawrie, FedDev and CoB (City portion approx. $40,000)   This project was carried over from previous years due to COVID so wasn’t drawn from 2022 budget allocation.

Celebrating Diversity through Public Art $35,000

Local Artist Programs (vinyl wraps & Culture Days):  $25,000

2023 Planned Projects

Approximately $55,000 towards various local artist programs

The Skyway Arena is under construction. The public art will be installed once the bulk of the construction work is complete and ready for a photo op.

Pine Cove Bridge $10,000 (design only – fabrication part of bridge construction)

Mountainside Pool Mural: $44,000

Skyway Community Centre $150,000;  this project spans 2023-2024 with bulk of spending in 2024

 

 

 

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Saigon on Brant closes after 16 years of operation: rent increase was more than they could handle

By Pepper Parr

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

We published a piece earlier today about rent increases that are now at double digit level

We also published a piece on the terribly insensitive remarks made by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on funding made available to the Landlord and Tenant tribunals.

This time the story is about a small family run Vietnamese restaurant on the west side of Brant south of Caroline that decided to close when a rent increase was more than they could manage.

These are tough times indeed.

The smaller, family owned independent commercial locations are taking the hard hits as well. The larger corporate chains that are part of the hospitality sector are raising prices.

Related news stories:
Residential rents up more than 10%

Minister makes insensitive remarks about those facing possible eviction
 

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The Reasons Behind Mobile Gaming's Popularity

By Amy Smith

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

There’s no denying the fact that mobile gaming has surged in popularity over recent years. No matter where you go, you’ll see someone tapping away on their smartphone, trying to defeat an enemy or solve a puzzle. From casual games to complex titles, for many, their phone is their primary source of entertainment.

Game developers have taken note and prioritized releasing games for mobile devices. The titles deliver immersive experiences that were once only possible on a PC or console. Still, that doesn’t explain why mobile gaming is so popular. Keep reading to learn some of the reasons behind the growing trend.

Huge Catalog of Games
One of the biggest reasons why mobile games are so popular is the wide variety of titles available. For example, casino games are some of the most frequently played in the world. People no longer have to organize friends for games nights or travel long distances to play at a brick-and-mortar facility. Instead, technological advances have made it possible for websites like PokerStars Casino to offer all sorts of fun titles that can be played from home. 3 Secret Cities, Ashoka, and Book of Captain Silver, for example, are just a few of the slots titles players can choose from to keep themselves entertained.

Similarly, if battle royale games are more their style, then they only a few taps away from playing games like Fortnite and Apex Legends on their mobile devices. Every video game genre is available for mobile devices, and technological advances have made many of the top games just as fun to play on smartphones and tablets as on consoles and PCs. From puzzles to platformers, there’s something for everyone.

On the Go Gaming
Once upon a time, if you wanted to play a video game with decent graphics and sound, you had to do it at home with a console plugged into your TV or PC. Saying a lot has changed over the past couple of decades would be an understatement.

Today, you can take your games with you wherever you go, which is one of the biggest drivers behind mobile gaming’s popularity. If you’re planning a trip, your cellphone is one of the technological devices you won’t leave home without.

There’s no need to make room in your suitcase for your PlayStation 5 or carry your laptop when you can play great games on your phone. Mobile gaming gives people access to entertainment wherever they go, 24/7, and that’s one of its biggest draws.

Cost
When you compare mobile games to PC and console games, the price of entry is extremely low. Thanks to the freemium model, you may not have to pay anything to play. If you have a cellphone, you can download one of the top titles for Android from the Google Play Store or browse Apple’s App Store for iPhone games. Once downloaded, you start playing immediately.

Even if you decide to pay for a top-quality mobile game, you probably won’t spend more than a few dollars on it. On the other hand, the latest titles for consoles and PCs could set you back more than $60.

Moreover, mobile gaming doesn’t require players to invest in expensive hardware, saving you even more money. Technology is constantly improving, and we’re getting to the point where almost any game can be played on a smartphone.

Multiplayer Gaming
Gaming was a solitary hobby in its early days. The only way to experience multiplayer fun was to invite friends or family over to your home to play with your extra joysticks. The internet made massively online multiplayer games popular, with many gamers preferring to play in groups instead of completing a campaign on their own.

Mobile gaming has taken this to the next level, allowing people to connect with others from around the world on their phones. Many look for games with a social factor, preferring to compete against others and climb leaderboards. Whether you play Candy Crush Saga or Fortnite on your mobile device, you’re in for a social experience.

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Great news said the Minister - evictions will now get processed a little faster

By Pepper Parr

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

There is a level of cruelty that actually takes place in a setting that is not really public but an event at which the room had more than a dozen reporters on hand.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clarke

Speaking to reporters at a media event when the province introduced new legislation:  Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023.  His stated objective was to get more homes built faster.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clarke said:

“As part of the plan we have more than doubled the amount of full time adjudicators at the Landlord and Tenant Board with an amazing $6.5 million investment that will improve service standards, reduce active applications and decision time frames.

“This is great news for both landlords and tenants.”

He actually said that.

Rents increases are now at the double digit level; far too many people cannot afford the rent increases their landlord are asking and the Ministry and the Minister says: This is great news.

For who?

Related news story

Rent increase at double digit

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Garage sale Supporting Ukrainian Refugees and Tyrsa Ukrainian Dance School!

By Staff

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Saturday, April 29th from 8:30am-1pm at Tyrsa Ukrainian Dance School, 2077 Pine Street

Tyrsa’s fundraising garage sale is back better than ever!

Join our friends for this annual favourite shopping EXTRAVAGANZA! Looking to sell your items?

Email spichocki@yahoo.com to rent a table. Come out to support Ukrainian Refugees and Tyrsa Ukrainian Dance School!

The support is vital.

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Comedy Festival: Back for its 8th year - a moving road show - taking place at four locations on different days

By Staff

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The successful Burlington Comedy Festival is BACK for its 8th year! And what a great lineup there is this year!  The seven-comic line-up is anchored by Dave Hemstad (three-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee who began performing on national television in 2002) and Ottawa-born comedian, host, and actor Jon Dore, one of “10 comics to watch” and a favourite on the comedy club and festival circuit in Canada and the United States.

The four-day Festival will feature five performances at: The Pearle Hotel & Spa, The Block Co., Paradiso Restaurant, and the Art Gallery of Burlington.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND FOR THE HILARIOUS DETAILS!

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The Burlington you know might begin to unravel if Bill 97 passes.

By Pepper

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Kilbride, Lowville, Mt Nemo are at risk and, when – not if – Bill 97 is passed the Burlington you know will have begun to unravel.

That does sound somewhat alarmist – but it is real.
Last Thursday afternoon, just before Easter, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing stood up in the Legislature and tabled a piece of legislation – An Act to amend various statutes with respect to housing and development.
This Act impacts seven different pieces of existing legislation.

Could small residential developments get built within Lowville ? Who owns the property in the community ?

Building Code Act, 1992
City of Toronto Act, 2006
Development Charges Act, 1997
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act
Municipal Act, 2001
Planning Act
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006

The parts that will impact Burlington are:
Building Code Act 1992
Development Charges Act 1997
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Act 2001
Planning Act

A very reliable source with significant expertise told the Gazette that rarely does the provincial government introduce an Act that changes several other pieces of legislation.

The changes are being made to let the province pass the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023.

An example of a change from the current Municipal Act::
“… providing the Minister with authority to make regulations with respect to a variety of matters including governing the powers of local municipalities under section 99.1 and authorizing certain local municipalities to require certain owners of land to make payments and provide compensation. New subsection
99.1 (8) provides that in the event of a conflict, the provisions of the regulations made under section 99.1 prevail over the provisions of the Act or any other Act or regulation.

And what does this mean? Doesn’t sound good.

Is this property in Kilbride the kind of place low rise apartments could be built?

Or this from the Municipal Affairs and Housing Act
1. A new subsection 47 (4.0.1) is added to provide that the Minister may, in an order made under clause 47 (1) (a), provide that policy statements, provincial plans and official plans do not apply in respect of a license, permit, approval, permission or other matter required before a use permitted by the order may be established.

2. A new section 49.2 is added to give the Minister the power to make an order requiring an owner of land to enter into an agreement with the Minister or a municipality in matters where the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator or the Deputy Facilitator has been directed by the Minister to advise, make recommendations or perform any other functions with respect to the land.

And what does this mean? That they can do whatever they want. Remember, municipalities are the creatures of the province – the province creates them and can make whatever change they wish.

More from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act

Minister of Municipal AffairsSteve Clarke displaying the documents that he will change in order to pass the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act.  He introduced the legislation in the mid-afternoon the day before the Easter holidays began.

The Minister may make regulations,
(a) governing the powers of a local municipality under this section, including regulations,

(i) imposing restrictions, limits and conditions on the powers of local municipalities to prohibit and regulate the demolition and conversion of residential rental properties,
(ii) prescribing requirements to be contained in by-laws made under this section,
(iii) prescribing conditions that local municipalities must include as a requirement for obtaining a permit, and
(iv) prescribing requirements that the local municipality must impose on owners of land to which a by-law passed under this section applies;

(b) authorizing local municipalities that pass a by-law under this section to require an owner of land to which a by-law passed under this section applies to make payments and to provide compensation;

(c) for the purposes of clause (b), prescribing the amounts to be paid, the compensation to be provided, the persons to whom payments and compensation shall be made and the circumstances in which payments and compensation shall be made, and otherwise governing the payments and compensation;

(d) prescribing steps local municipalities must take or conditions that must be met before passing a by-law under this section and governing any transitional matters with respect to the implementation of such conditions;

From the Planning Act:
This part is mind numbing – don’t expect to understand much of it – we include it to give you a sense of what is going to happen – if the legislation passes.

(e) defining, for the purposes of this section and any regulations under this section, any word or expression not defined in subsection 1 (1) of this Act.
The definition of “area of employment” in subsection 1 (1) of the Planning Act is repealed and the following substituted:
“area of employment” means an area of land designated in an official plan for clusters of business and economic uses, those being uses that meet the following criteria:

1. The uses consist of business and economic uses, other than uses referred to in paragraph 2, including any of the following:

Gerrie Electric has a large distribution centre in Burlington.

i. Manufacturing uses.
ii. Uses related to research and development in connection with manufacturing anything.
iii. Warehousing uses, including uses related to the movement of goods.
iv. Retail uses and office uses that are associated with uses mentioned in subparagraphs i to iii.
v. Facilities that are ancillary to the uses mentioned in subparagraphs i to iv.
vi. Any other prescribed business and economic uses.

2. The uses are not any of the following uses:

i. Institutional uses.
ii. Commercial uses, including retail and office uses not referred to in subparagraph 1 iv; (“zone d’emploi”)

(2) Section 1 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Doug Ford had plans for the kind of Ontario he wanted well before he was elected Premier. Should he be returned to office in 2026 – it will be the same.

Area of employment
(1.1) An area of land designated in an official plan for clusters of business and economic uses is an “area of employment” for the purposes of this Act even if the area of land includes one or more parcels of land whose use is excluded from being a business and economic use under paragraph 2 of the definition of “area of employment” in subsection (1) provided that the following conditions are satisfied:

Bronte Meadows was once considered as part of a package of properties that Amazon would use had they decided to locate more of their operations in Canada

It doesn’t get any easier.

There are members of Council who will not understand what all this means.

City Staff will be pulled of assignments to study the Act, discuss the complexities and how it is all going to impact the development work that is ongoing now.

Meanwhile the government will move the legislation through the process where it goes to committees for detailed review.

Some changes may get made – but the government has a strong majority and the NDP opposition does not have the depth that is needed to get into the details and come up with changes they might want to put forward.

The Liberals don’t have a leader and very few members who can adequately represent the public.

Does that mean there is no hope for public input?

Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre

Some group of interest and concerned citizens might invite Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre to an Open House to explain the Act, something we expect she would be challenged to do – development issues are not her strength. She is a Parliament Assistant to the Ministry of Education where her experience can be put to good use.

The developers will have their lawyers and the planning consultants going over this with a fine tooth comb.

The owners of stretches of property along some of the side roads have been waiting for this day.

Lowville has the local talent that can put up a good fight, Mt Nemo doesn’t. Kilbride could put up a battle.

Most informed people know what is taking place; the Premier has made his position very clear to the development community – he has consistently hood winked the public.

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City of Burlington Arts and Culture funds 19 new projects

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The City of Burlington’s annual Burlington Arts and Culture Fund (BACF) grant program has awarded funding support to 19 projects this year.

Local artists, event and project organizers submitted 27 grant applications between Jan. 3 and Feb. 3 and a jury of peers and City staff reviewed the applications. The jury selected the 19 fund recipients based on:

artistic merit,
program merit and strategic initiative,
citywide and community impact, and
economic impact.

Approved by Council in 2017, the Burlington Arts and Culture Fund provides grants to local artists, multicultural groups, and arts and culture organizations to foster creativity and enrich how Burlington residents are able to experience and engage with arts and culture across the city.

The BACF seeks to nurture the arts and culture sector in Burlington, while fostering creativity, encouraging social cohesion, enhancing quality of life, and stimulating cultural and economic development through direct investment.

The program recognizes and supports diverse identities, perspectives, languages, cultures and artistic practices.

Here are the people and the project we will get to see in the months ahead:

Burlington Arts and Culture Fund Approved Projects for 2023/2024

Members of the Fine Arts Association.

Project: The Artist’s Mark Juried Exhibit
Applicant: Burlington Fine Arts Association
The Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) is a high achieving artist collective of approximately 170 local artists. It is the largest of the seven guilds of Arts Burlington. The Artist’s Mark will provide a ten-day juried art exhibit at the Hub in Burlington Centre. The exhibition brings original art out of the gallery and into a more accessible community venue to provide a unique celebration of local, contemporary art. Throughout the exhibition, participating BFAA artists will interact with visitors by giving live demonstrations while talking about their work and artistic process. The Artist’s Mark will also feature focused artist presentations and discussions. The project provides a continued celebration of creativity and supports local artists from the Burlington community.

Project: Authors in Your Neighbourhood
Applicant: Sylvia McNicoll
Authors in Your Neighbourhood will encourage children to have fun interactions with local writers and illustrators to foster a love of reading and writing. This year, Authors in Your Neighbourhood has expanded to include four renowned Burlington writers: Lana Button; Jennifer Maruno; Sylvia McNicoll; Jennifer Mook-Sang and illustrator Jennifer Faria. They will each demonstrate and teach their craft in five two-hour workshops. Children will have the chance to learn about writing dialogue, describing settings and characters, structuring plots and illustrating their emotions. These workshops will be hosted by the Burlington Public Library at three branches: Central, Alton and Tansley Woods. The goal is to reach over 250 children.

Project: Community Large-Scale Pour Painting Workshop
Applicant: Samantha Le Grand
The mission of visual artist Samantha Le Grand is to challenge perceptions about the artmaking process. With persistence and creativity, almost any skill can be repurposed and applied to the creation of art. For this activity, groups of three to five people will work together to create a unique large-scale abstract painting. The groups will use a technique called pour painting, which includes dripping, tipping, splashing, flicking and dropping of paint and involves collaboration between groups. While the project is taking place, musician Luc Dupuis will play calming instrumental music to inspire the creative process. Making art is meant to comfort those who feel disconnected, unheard or unwelcome. All voices, levels of ability, skill, perspectives and backgrounds are necessary to create a meaningful art.

Project: Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk
Applicant: Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective
The Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk is a free one-day event that features twenty to thirty local, multi-disciplinary artists, artisans, makers, designers, musicians, performance and arts facilitators. The event is accessible to all ages and has tents and booths showcasing various artists’ work. Twenty interactive and collaborative Art Experience Stations will be hosted by local artists and arts facilitators.

A goal of the project is to help the community learn about the many talented artists and craftspeople that live in Burlington. Through Art Experience Stations, participants can immerse themselves into new artistic practices in a safe, supportive environment. The project allows artists to develop relationships with the community and to network with other artisans to spark future collaborations.

Project: Enhanced Memories of the Brant Inn
Applicant: One Burlington
Based on the success of its 2023 workshop Memories of Brant Inn, the Enhanced Memories of Brant Inn will take place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The Brant Inn presented the best performers of the day, as solo acts performing with the support of the Brant Inn House Band and as ensembles. Renown Black performers including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lean Horn, Fats Waller, Sarah Vaughn and more were featured at the famous venue. The event will celebrate the music of these artists by creating new arrangements of their most iconic hits. These new arrangements will be performed by four singers and a band of three musicians. The project will also explore racial inequities of the time as outlined in Stewart Brown’s book Memories of the Brant Inn.

Project: Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
Applicant: Halton Black History Awareness Society
The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is dedicated to implementing cultural education into the public mindset towards appreciating the values of equity and inclusivity. HBHAS develops programs to erode racism, prejudice and stereotyping, while increasing knowledge of Canadian history and its cultural landscape. The free one-day Halton Freedom Celebration Festival brings together musical acts, children’s and youth activities, cultural art, food, crafts, heritage, historical and genealogical vendors, while promoting inclusivity and community. The multicultural ambience is infused with cultural crafts, art in the park, cultural fashions and accessories, food and music including the best in Canadian R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Cuban, Jazz Fusion, Soca and Pop.

Project: Hansel and Gretel Touring School Production
Applicant: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera
Southern Ontario Lyric Opera’s vision is to provide high-calibre accessible opera, while maintaining a commitment to community outreach. SOLO’s Hansel and Gretel, a touring production, includes a cast of five professional opera singers, a music director/pianist, costumes and props. The project will be presented at Burlington schools. A teacher resource guide will be provided in advance of the performance, suitable for students in grades four through eight. The touring production provides an opportunity for Burlington students to learn about the inspiring world of opera and its many facets. There will be an introduction before the performance and a question and answer session following the opera to educate children and to foster an affinity for this oft-overlooked art form.

Project: Home Is Where the Art Is
Applicant: Lara Kirschner
Local artist Lara Kirschner has partnered with Shifra Homes to offer paint classes to pregnant at-risk women and new moms. The classes will be offered throughout 2023 and each class will involve creating a personal interpretation of a pre-planned acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Epoxy resin pour painting techniques will also be used at some classes and each class will present a new theme to help foster a sense of accomplishment. Learning opportunities for the project include developing a new skillset to boost self-confidence, working outside of one’s comfort zone to promote mental and emotional growth, the development of interpersonal skills in a group learning environment and exposure to a variety of painting techniques. The project provides a vulnerable population with access to creative teaching and skill development.

Project: Hope For Home Workshop and Play
Applicant:  Theatre Burlington

Theatre Burlington was created in 1952 with the mission to provide opportunities for Burlington residents to learn about the direction, production and staging of plays. Live theatre is an example of how art can be inclusive, entertaining and healing. The play Hope for Home promotes understanding and empathy for homeless individuals and their need for community. The workshop will cover fundamentals of theatrical production and participants will learn the basics of live theatre during these interactive sessions. The workshop will be provided to adults from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds, including individuals with no previous experience in theatre. Participants will learn and spend time practicing these new skills as they prepare to take part in the final production of the play.

Project: Images of Our Past, Present and Future
Applicant: Erick Nettel
Images of our Past, Present and Future is a series of free workshops to teach the basics of still photography to new immigrants who have no technical knowledge or background and want to learn a new skill. At the end of the workshops, applying what they have learned, participants will capture four pictures: a picture that represents something important, relevant or symbolic about their past, something about their present, something about their future, and a self-portrait. The pictures will be showcased in a public exhibition and the entire process will be filmed to create a short documentary. It will highlight the newcomers reflecting on the process of learning photography and the meaning of their pictures as it relates to their new life in Burlington.

Project: Indigenous Collaborations – Free Concerts for Burlington Schools
Applicant: Chris McKhool
Three-time JUNO Award nominees and Billboard charting band Sultans of String will present a series of livestream concerts for Burlington schools throughout the city’s six wards. The concerts will be based on the group’s Walking Through the Fire project, a collaboration with First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists across Turtle Island. The concert lineup will consist of the core Sultans of String members: Chris McKhool on violin, Kevin Laliberté on guitar and Drew Birston on bass, as along with Indigenous collaborators: Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan) – Ojibwe Singer/Songwriter, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk (Métis Fiddler Quartet) – Métis Violist, Shannon Thunderbird – Tsm’syen Elder Singer/Songwriter, Dr. Duke Redbird – Chippewa/Anishinaabe Elder and Poet, Northern Cree Pow Wow group, Don Ross – Mi’kmaw Guitarist, Kendra Tagoona and Tracy Sarazin – Inuit Throat Singers. The project offers a unique concert experience for elementary and high school students and provides access to performing arts experiences that inspire, empower and spark imaginations.

Project: The Inspiration Initiative
Applicant: Briar Emond
The Inspiration Initiative encourages creativity in individuals that might not consider themselves artistic. By exhibiting local artists of various backgrounds and media, and providing interactive opportunities for everyone to be creative, artists gain exposure and participants gain a further appreciation for Burlington’s local arts and culture. The project brings art to the community and features a week of demonstrations by award winning local artists, interactive painting activities, spoken word readings and a performance by the Garden City Orchestra. The project showcases a free art exhibition that focuses on Lake Ontario from three artists’ perspectives. Combining visual art with other forms of artistic expression will promote an environment that stimulates and encourages community creativity.

Lowville now has an established summer program – watch for it.

Project: The Journey Around the Sun
Applicant: Lowville Festival
The Lowville Festival was founded in 2015 with the vision that arts and nature were perfect partners in creating unique cultural events in the natural beauty of the Niagara Escarpment. In 2023, the festival will pivot to create outdoor events that celebrate the natural change of the seasons – Equinox and Solstice. The focus of this project is to create performance events for a diverse audience, including people of all ages from different cultures, religions, pronouns and perspectives. The cohesion is the celebration of the journey of the sun and its celestial partners, including the earth and moon. The project will take place on four specific dates: June 21, Sept. 23, Dec. 21 and March 19 which coincide with the dates for Summer Solstitium, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Hibernal and the Vernal Equinox.

Project: Lunar New Year Celebration Gala
Applicant: Redleaf Cultural Integration
The Lunar New Year Celebration Gala is an event to celebrate the beginning of the new Lunar Year, one of the most important festivals in Asian countries. The event connects people, shares diverse cultures, and celebrates the Lunar New Year. The celebration includes a half-day, free culture exhibition showcasing multicultural displays of Chinese watercolour painting, calligraphy, traditional sugar painting, a tea ceremony, Indian Henna painting, a Korean culture display and more. The main event includes performances showcasing a variety of songs and dances from various cultures and a magic show on the BPAC’s main stage. Redleaf Cultural Integration is a non-profit cultural organization that works with people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and ages to enhance the quality of life in Burlington.

Project: The Melting Pot – Building Community Connections through Culinary Arts
Applicant: Creative Community Collective
Nothing brings people more together than cooking and sharing a meal. The Creative Community Hive has been hosting a variety of creative activities at various locations in Halton Region since 2017. This project aims to share multicultural recipes through live demonstrations by chefs from within our community who have origins in Congo, South Korea and Spain, share cultural cuisine/recipe-based anecdotes led by an expert storyteller and hear from expert guests in the food industry that share their knowledge around food literacy. The event will allow participants to learn about nutrition and expose them to new cuisines from different cultures, while introducing them to music, art, crafts and images from the various cultures represented.

Charles Cozens

Project: Metamorphosis Concert
Applicant: Charles Cozens
The Metamorphosis concert will feature composer/arranger and pianist Charles Cozens in concert with his trio. The music embraces new compositions by Cozens and fresh, invigorating arrangements of other contemporary jazz and classical themes. The project will explore the art of improvisation and musical metamorphosis and the development of musical themes and motifs. The concert will be scripted with some speaking by Cozens about the nature of the music and each particular piece. The audience will be encouraged to participate through question and answer periods during the performance which will allow for engagement and outreach. The concert demonstrates that music is a universal language that affects culturally diverse people in a different way than spoken word, as music is all encompassing.

Project: Telling Tales Festival
Applicant: Telling Tales
The 15th Annual Telling Tales Festival returns to the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Hendrie Park. The event is free and visitors can participate in a number of educational activities led by a diverse group of authors, illustrators, musicians and storytellers. The program is culturally diverse and committed to showcasing fresh, local talent alongside internationally renowned luminaries. Guests can listen to stories behind a book’s creation, learn writing tips and meet local authors. Participants can also explore interactive workshops, express their creativity in the craft tent with story-based art and explore the park’s sculpture collection. Telling Tales fosters the family literacy skills that will support mental health and a sense of well-being, by promoting a love of reading and an appreciation for the natural world.

Project: The Women Composers Project
Applicant: Effusion and Friends Collective
Effusion was formed in 2016 when five classically-trained musicians joined forces to present concerts to educate the Burlington community. For this project, Effusion aims to bring awareness to the amazing depth and range of women composers in music from classical, rock and pop, to musical theatre and film. The concert will curate music from these genres and composers will come from various cultures and ethnicities. As we introduce these women composers to the public, we will give brief descriptions of the music, the impact that it had at the time, and share important facts about each composer. The project will feature music by Black, Indigenous and Japanese women in addition to works by women from Europe, Canada and the US and will provide a new way of looking at women composers.

Burlington Symphony Orchestra

Project: Burlington Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Engagement Project
Applicant: Burlington Symphony Orchestra
The Burlington Symphony Orchestra (BSO) produces orchestral and small ensemble performances that engage and inspire large, diverse audiences. The BSO Young Artists Engagement Project is a deliberate attempt to offer a number of experiences for youth at various stages of their musical growth. By connecting these experiences, young people can form goals for their artistic future by visualizing their musical growth and potential. The engagement project includes a Young Artist Competition, Youth Learning Day and a concert at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The winner of the Young Artist Competition will perform as a soloist during the concert. The project provides youth with the opportunity for long term support and real-life experience working within the structure of an orchestral setting.

The Gazette will do what it can to promote these events and tell the story about how they came to be.

 

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Ontario Helping Families Save Money with Energy-Efficiency Program:  Programs providing home upgrades that will reduce energy use and bills for families

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Thousands of families will be able to reduce their energy use and save money is as the result programs now available.

That energy bill is often a shock that comes your way several times a year. Some savings programs are now in place.

The Energy Affordability Program provides free home-efficiency upgrades for Ontarians who are looking for support with their energy bills.

To ensure families have access to these critical supports and help keep costs down, the income eligibility threshold is being raised by $11,715 for a four-person household, and by $8,285 for a couple.

“As the home heating season continues, our government is helping families reduce their energy use and save money on their bills”, said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “With this update to the Energy Affordability Program, Ontario is ensuring access to free home energy-efficiency upgrades like insulation, smart thermostats, and energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioners.”

The Energy Affordability Program offers energy saving measures that can help participating households manage their energy use and lower electricity costs by up to $750 per year depending on eligibility, at no cost to the customer. The energy-efficiency upgrades and types of support available are tailored based on various factors including home heating system, location and an assessment of energy needs.

Under the increased income eligibility threshold, a four-person household with a before-tax income of $84,872, or a couple with a before-tax income of $60,014, is now eligible for support through the Energy Affordability Program. That represents an increase of 16 per cent compared to the previous income threshold.

Like everything the government does for you – there are hoops you have to jump through. A link to the process is HERE

The government is also continuing to invest in other critical programs to support Ontarians who are looking for support with their electricity or natural gas bills.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program provides an on-bill credit of up to $75 per month to provide support for low-income households when paying their electricity bills. Customers can also access the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and receive up to $600 in emergency assistance if they are behind on their electricity or natural gas bill and face having their service disconnected.

The application procedure is HERE:

“Updates to the Energy Affordability Program will provide greater comfort and lower bills for income-eligible Ontarians,” said Chuck Farmer, Vice-President, Planning, Conservation and Resource Adequacy at the IESO. “Energy efficiency programs like this reduce electricity demand and contribute to the overall reliability of Ontario’s power system.”

The Energy Affordability Program and Enbridge’s Home Winterproofing Program, which provides home energy upgrades to income-eligible natural gas customers, are now coordinated though a one-window approach. That means an improved customer experience and making it easier than ever for families to receive energy-efficient upgrades that will help them reduce energy costs and improve comfort at home.

To follow up on what the Enbridge could do for you click HERE

“Energy affordability and climate change are among the most pressing issues we face today, and energy efficiency is one of the most effective solutions that addresses both,” said Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas. .

Background:
In October 2022 the government announced it was increasing funding for the province’s energy-efficiency programs by $342 million, bringing the total investment to more than $1 billion over the current four-year electricity conservation framework.

• The Energy Affordability Program, which is funded by the province’s current four-year electricity conservation framework, has provided free energy-efficiency upgrades to more than 47,000 Ontario households since 2018.

• Free energy upgrades may include insulation, draft proofing, smart thermostats, shower heads, aerators, pipe wrap, energy-efficient refrigerator, air conditioner and health and safety measures where needed such as carbon monoxide detectors and attic dampers.

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Ireland Park outdoor courts to have dedicated pickleball times

By Staff

April 12, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

The game has become incredibly popular – squeezing tennis off some of the courts.

As part of a one-year pilot project, the outdoor courts at Ireland Park will have dedicated times for pickleball play.

Outside of the dedicated pickleball times, the outdoor courts will be available for both pickleball and tennis on a first come, first served basis for 30-minutes at a time.

Ireland Park has four lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.

After the 2023 outdoor court season ends in the fall, City staff will review the project and make a decision whether to cancel, modify or continue the schedule next year.

Dedicated pickleball times
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Sunday – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No matter who is using the courts, we ask everyone to follow the rules of etiquette including keeping the area clean and follow all fair play and sportsmanship rules.
Additional outdoor courts

The City’s outdoor courts will begin to open the week of April 11 and are expected to all be open by mid-April.

• Bolus Garden Parkette: two lined pickleball courts within the ball hockey area. You must bring your own pickleball nets.
• Optimist Park: two lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.
• Sycamore Park: two lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.
• Tansley Woods Park: three dedicated pickleball courts with fixed official height pickleball nets.
• Leighland Park: two dedicated tennis courts (currently closed for construction)
• Brant Hills Park: two dedicated tennis courts

Emilie Cote, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture commented that ““Pickleball’s popularity is now spreading to the younger generations and the demand for courts is high. It’s a great social sport for all ages and abilities. After the 2023 outdoor court season is over this fall, staff will review the pilot to determine what will happen next year.”

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