By Staff
September 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Featured below are companies that have experienced recent insider trading activity in the public market through their direct and/or indirect ownerships, including accounts they have control or direction over.
The list below features insider transaction activity for today’s date; it does not convey total ownership information as an insider may hold numerous accounts.
Buying and selling activity by insiders may reflect perceived value in a security. Selling activity may or may not be related to a stock’s valuation. An insider might want to raise funds for personal reasons. An insider’s total holdings should be considered because a sale may, in context, be insignificant if this person has a large remaining position in the company. Some people put great weight on insider transaction activity when they see multiple insider trading’s of a company’s shares.
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP —–Buy Quantity: 235,843 Average cost: $9.16 Total: $2,160,712.88 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
76,391 |
$9.17 |
$700,459.46 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
59,842 |
$9.17 |
$548,715.10 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
25,078 |
$9.15 |
$229,407.91 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
19,645 |
$9.15 |
$179,708.05 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-06-24 |
30,777 |
$9.15 |
$281,725.24 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-06-24 |
24,110 |
$9.15 |
$220,697.13 |
|
| TELUS International (Cda) Inc —–Buy Quantity: 237,919 Average cost: $4.95 Total: $1,177,923.61 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| TELUS Corporation |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
100,000 |
$5.00 |
$500,230.00 |
| TELUS Corporation |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-06-24 |
66,603 |
$4.95 |
$329,671.53 |
| TELUS Corporation |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-05-24 |
71,316 |
$4.88 |
$348,022.08 |
|
| Calfrac Well Services Ltd —–Buy Quantity: 77,500 Average cost: $3.82 Total: $296,367.75 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Armoyan, Sime |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
77,500 |
$3.82 |
$296,367.75 |
|
| Maple Leaf Foods Inc —–Buy Quantity: 13,400 Average cost: $21.30 Total: $285,422.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| McCain, Jonathan Wallace Ferguson |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
15,000 |
$21.29 |
$319,350.00 |
| Sawatzky, Jonathan David |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
-1,600 |
$21.20 |
-$33,928.00 |
|
| Tourmaline Oil Corp —–Buy Quantity: 5,000 Average cost: $57.07 Total: $285,369.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Rose, Mike |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-10-24 |
5,000 |
$57.07 |
$285,369.00 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce —–Sell Quantity: -50,000 Average cost: $81.87 Total: -$4,093,500.00 Options Issued: 50,000 Average cost: $55.84 Total: $2,792,250.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Culham, Harry Kenneth |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6) |
51 – Exercise of options |
09-09-24 |
50,000 |
$55.84 |
$2,792,250.00 |
| Culham, Harry Kenneth |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6) |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-50,000 |
$81.87 |
-$4,093,500.00 |
|
| Rupert Resources Ltd —–Sell Quantity: -900,000 Average cost: $4.02 Total: -$3,618,000.00 Options Issued: 1,569,825 Average cost: $1.42 Total: $2,227,440.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Credland, Thomas |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
09-05-24 |
200,000 |
$0.87 |
$174,000.00 |
| Credland, Thomas |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-05-24 |
-161,250 |
$4.02 |
-$648,225.00 |
| Karoly, Jeffrey Laszlo |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
09-05-24 |
469,825 |
$1.22 |
$571,440.00 |
| Karoly, Jeffrey Laszlo |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-05-24 |
-251,250 |
$4.02 |
-$1,010,025.00 |
| Ouellette, Michael Anthony |
4 – Director of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
09-09-24 |
300,000 |
$3.20 |
$960,000.00 |
| Withall, James |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
09-05-24 |
600,000 |
$0.87 |
$522,000.00 |
| Withall, James |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-05-24 |
-487,500 |
$4.02 |
-$1,959,750.00 |
|
| COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC —–Sell Quantity: -11,300 Average cost: $194.03 Total: -$2,192,594.37 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Hemming, Robert |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6) |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-11,300 |
$194.03 |
-$2,192,594.37 |
|
| Shopify Inc —–Sell Quantity: -14,823 Average cost: $91.85 Total: -$1,361,431.45 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Finkelstein, Harley Michael |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
9,564 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Finkelstein, Harley Michael |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-5,142 |
$91.85 |
-$472,271.51 |
| Hertz, Jessica |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
11,624 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Hertz, Jessica |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-5,598 |
$91.85 |
-$514,153.23 |
| Hoffmeister, Jeff |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
8,247 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Hoffmeister, Jeff |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-3,659 |
$91.85 |
-$336,064.07 |
| Nejatian, Kasra |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
17,644 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Shannan, Tobyn David |
4 – Director of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
785 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Shannan, Tobyn David |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-424 |
$91.85 |
-$38,942.65 |
|
| Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust —–Sell Quantity: -8,100 Average cost: $87.60 Total: -$709,560.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Ha, James |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
57 – Exercise of rights |
09-09-24 |
0 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Ha, James |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
09-09-24 |
-8,100 |
$87.60 |
-$709,560.00 |
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Reading that more than 1 million people visited a Food Bank in the last year is certainly an eye opener – digging into the number and finding this was a 25 per cent increase from the previous year was stunning.
Windsor – MPP Lisa Gretzky said in her statement that “Everyone deserves access to good food and safe shelter – it’s a basic human right. Today we found out that 1 in 14 of our neighbours and friends – working people, seniors and children – are being forced to turn to a food bank just to survive. This is not the kind of province we want to live in. With the cost of everything going up we have a government right now that has done nothing to make life more affordable for Ontarians.
“It’s been eight consecutive years of rapidly increasing food bank usage. Things are broken in Ontario, and we need a progressive government who will get serious about making it better. It’s time for change.”
 Communities are holding events that focus on the collection of food that goes to the Food Bank
What changed in the past 12 months to get the number of people needing food support as high as it is? Food prices? Is that all?
If it is food prices – where are we with the investigation in the rapid increase in food prices and the increase in small boxes of cereals being sold to us at the same price at the super markets?
And – how does the ability to buy beer at the local grocery stores align with the huge increase in the number of people who can’t afford to buy the food they need.
I’m waiting to hear what the experts have to say on all this.
By Julieta Belen Correa
September 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite the growing presence of locally regulated betting sites in Canada, using foreign sites to bet is common practice within Canada. Since these sites are not regulated, you’re not breaking the law, and offshore European operators tend to offer a wider variety of betting markets and features that make them so easy to love.
However, before betting with these international platforms, there are certain things to consider to ensure you get the best experience.
Site reputation
When picking an international betting site, you must ensure the site you choose is trustworthy and has a good reputation. Unfortunately, with offshore sites, you don’t have player protection by Canadian authorities, so it’s crucial that you go for a site that is reliable. You can do this by looking at reviews, learning what other players think of the site, and checking their track record. A casino with a long-standing reputation is always better than a shiny new one with lots of promises and little proof to back it up.
Licensing and regulation
Any European site you plan on betting with should have a valid license. A betting license indicates that a recognized authority regulates the platform, and ensures bettors’ interests are protected. Some recognized regulatory bodies include the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the Gibraltar Gaming Commission.
A license is synonymous with a safe betting environment. So it’s advisable to steer clear of unlicensed operators.
Payment options and security
Banking is critical, especially when dealing with a site without a physical presence in your locality. There should be a variety of well-known payment methods to ensure you are afforded several viable options to access your funds. It is also vital that adequate security is in place to ensure the safety of your information during transactions. The minimum security requirements are encryption software, firewalls, and fraud detection tools.
Bonuses and promotions
The bonuses offered at many European betting sites are some of the best on the market. Whether or not you’re a lover of bonuses, a generous welcome shows that the site values their customers. Canadian bettors looking for reputable European sites with reasonable promotional offers can check the William Hill promo code available on Wincomparator. William Hill is one of the UK’s best and their bonuses have terms and conditions that are easy to fulfill, making the offer truly valuable.
Customer support
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of functioning and reliable customer support, especially when dealing with foreign betting sites. It is not unusual for bettors to experience minor challenges or need assistance with payments or other site features. And without good customer support, even the smallest issue can ruin your entire experience.
So, make sure your chosen betting site offers responsive customer support. It’s best if there are multiple contact mediums (email, live chat, telephone, etc.) and round-the-clock availability.
As a Canadian looking to bet with international sites, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the multitude of European online sportsbooks that exist. Following the pointers above will help you weed out the bad ones and barrow down the great options, increasing your chances of enjoying a safe and memorable betting experience.
By Peter Leslie
September 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Over 50,000 participants flock to Burlington’s casino tournaments annually, making these events a cornerstone of the local gaming landscape. More than just a source of entertainment, these tournaments offer a variety of opportunities, showcase emerging trends, and provide significant economic benefits that contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
By examining the appeal of these tournaments, understanding the role of Burlington’s major casinos, and exploring their broader impact, we can see how these events have become integral to the city’s identity.
 Poker tournaments are very popular – many of the games have a regular clientele that are almost like a club.
The Appeal of Casino Tournaments
Casino tournaments are more than just games; they are immersive experiences that offer excitement, competition, and the potential for significant rewards. These events cater to a wide range of players, from seasoned professionals to casual gamers, all of whom come together to compete for prizes, recognition, and the sheer thrill of victory.
The allure of casino tournaments lies in their ability to bring together diverse groups of people, each seeking to test their skills, enjoy the social atmosphere, and potentially walk away with substantial winnings. For those looking for added incentives, promotions like 100 free spins no deposit Canada further enhance the excitement, drawing in even more participants eager for a chance to win big.
What Makes Casino Tournaments Unique?
Casino tournaments in Burlington are distinguished by several unique features that set them apart from standard casino gaming. These events offer a variety of formats, prize structures, and community benefits, making them an attractive option for both participants and the local economy.
- Variety of Formats: One of the most appealing aspects of casino tournaments is the variety of formats available. Players can choose from:
- Slot Tournaments: In these events, participants compete to accumulate the most points on designated machines within a specific timeframe. The fast-paced nature of slot tournaments appeals to those who enjoy quick results and the excitement of winning big with minimal strategy.
- Poker Tournaments: Poker tournaments are perhaps the most iconic of all casino events. These tournaments typically follow an elimination-style format where players compete until one remains. Success in poker tournaments requires not only skill in the game itself but also the ability to read opponents and manage one’s chips effectively.
- Blackjack and Other Table Games: Tournaments involving table games like blackjack add another layer of strategy. Players must not only play the game well but also outperform others at the table over several rounds. These tournaments cater to those who enjoy a blend of skill and chance.
- Prizes and Rewards: The potential rewards in casino tournaments are a major draw for participants. Prizes can range from cash payouts to luxury items such as cars or vacations, and in some cases, all-expenses-paid trips to exotic locations. The chance to turn a modest buy-in into a substantial reward is a powerful motivator for many players, making these tournaments highly competitive and exciting.
- Economic Impact: Beyond the individual gains for participants, casino tournaments have a broader economic impact on the community. These events draw visitors to Burlington, filling hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses. The influx of tourists during major tournaments generates significant revenue for the city, benefiting the local economy as a whole. Additionally, the presence of these tournaments helps to elevate Burlington’s status as a regional entertainment hub, attracting visitors from neighbouring cities and provinces.
Burlington’s Casino Landscape
Burlington is home to a thriving casino industry, with two major establishments that regularly host tournaments: Casino Royale and Lucky Star Casino. These casinos are central to the city’s gaming culture, offering a variety of gaming options and tournament formats that cater to both casual players and serious competitors.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is the larger of Burlington’s two major casinos, boasting over 100,000 square feet of gaming space. This casino is a hub of activity and offers a comprehensive gaming experience, including:
- 1,200 Slot Machines: Casino Royale provides a vast selection of slot machines, catering to different preferences. From classic three-reel slots to the latest video slots with multiple pay lines and interactive features, the casino ensures there’s something for everyone.
- 60 Table Games: The table games at Casino Royale include a wide range of options, from traditional games like blackjack and roulette to more modern or niche games that attract a diverse crowd.
- Dedicated Poker Room: For poker enthusiasts, the dedicated poker room at Casino Royale is a significant draw. The room hosts regular cash games and tournaments, catering to both casual players and serious competitors. The poker room is often where the most intense competition occurs, with high-stakes games attracting players from far and wide.
Lucky Star Casino
Despite being smaller, Lucky Star Casino is equally impressive, offering 50,000 square feet of gaming space. This establishment features:
- 800 Slot Machines: Like Casino Royale, Lucky Star offers a diverse selection of slots, ensuring that there’s something for everyone, whether you prefer classic games or the latest releases.
- 30 Table Games: Although fewer in number, the table games at Lucky Star are no less exciting. The casino focuses on providing a high-quality experience, with professional dealers and a welcoming atmosphere.
Both casinos contribute significantly to Burlington’s tourism and gaming industry. Their strategic locations and the variety of gaming options available make them popular destinations not just for local residents but also for visitors from neighbouring cities and provinces.
Popularity and Economic Impact
Casino tournaments are a major attraction for both Burlington residents and visitors from outside the city. These events have a profound impact on local tourism and business, providing a steady stream of economic benefits to the community.
Boosting Local Tourism
The influx of participants and spectators during casino tournaments translates into increased business for local hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments. Visitors who come to Burlington for these events often stay for several days, contributing to the local economy by spending money on accommodations, dining, shopping, and entertainment. This boost in tourism is particularly beneficial during off-peak seasons when other tourist activities may be less active.
 In Canada the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation gives tens of thousand back to the communities they operate in.
Generating Revenue
The revenue generated by casino tournaments is multifaceted. Entry fees and buy-ins from participants contribute directly to the casinos’ earnings, while the spending by visitors on accommodations, dining, and other activities further boosts the local economy. Additionally, many casino tournaments allocate a portion of their proceeds to charitable causes, providing financial support for local organizations and community initiatives. This combination of direct and indirect revenue streams makes casino tournaments a vital part of Burlington’s economic landscape.
Creating Jobs
Casino tournaments also contribute to job creation in Burlington. The increased demand for services during these events leads to the hiring of additional staff in various sectors, including hospitality, entertainment, and retail. Moreover, the rise of online and hybrid tournaments has created new employment opportunities in digital platforms and IT support, further expanding the job market in the region. The ongoing need for skilled workers to manage and promote these events ensures that casino tournaments remain a reliable source of employment for the local community.
Emerging Trends
The casino industry is constantly evolving, and Burlington’s tournaments are no exception. Recent years have seen the rise of new trends that are reshaping the way these events are conducted and experienced by players.
Online and Hybrid Tournaments
One of the most significant trends in the casino industry is the rise of online and hybrid tournaments. These events combine the convenience of online gaming with the social interaction and excitement of live tournaments. Players can participate from the comfort of their homes while still engaging in real-time competition with others. This format has become increasingly popular due to its accessibility and flexibility, allowing more people to join in the excitement of casino tournaments without the need to travel.
Innovative Tournament Formats
In addition to the growth of online and hybrid tournaments, several innovative formats have emerged that are captivating players and revolutionizing the casino experience:
- Progressive Jackpots: Progressive jackpots are a popular feature in many tournaments. In these events, the prize pool increases with each round, adding an element of excitement as players compete for a potentially life-changing payout. The allure of a growing jackpot draws in participants, making these tournaments some of the most popular in the industry.
- Team-Based Competitions: Another emerging trend is the rise of team-based tournaments. These events allow players to collaborate, strategize, and share in the victories and losses together. Team-based competitions foster camaraderie and introduce new social dynamics to the tournament scene, attracting players who enjoy cooperative play.
Responsible Gaming and Social Impact
While the benefits of casino tournaments are numerous, it’s important to recognize the potential risks associated with gambling. Burlington’s casinos take their responsibility to promote safe gambling practices seriously, implementing a range of measures designed to protect players and minimize the potential for harm.
Promoting Responsible Gambling
 Setting limits is vital if you are to enjoy your time at a casino.
Burlington’s casinos prioritize responsible gambling by offering tools and resources that help players manage their gaming activities. These measures include:
- Deposit and Betting Limits: Casinos set limits on the amount of money players can deposit or wager during a tournament, helping to prevent excessive gambling and protect players from financial harm.
- Self-Exclusion Options: For players who feel they need a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs allow them to voluntarily exclude themselves from participating in casino activities for a set period. This provides a valuable safeguard for those at risk of developing problematic gambling behaviors.
- Support Services: Burlington’s casinos offer access to counselling and support services for players struggling with gambling-related issues. These services provide crucial assistance to those in need, helping them regain control and maintain a healthy relationship with gambling.
Addressing Social Concerns
In addition to promoting responsible gambling, Burlington’s casinos are committed to addressing the broader social impact of casino tournaments. This includes collaborating with local organizations to raise awareness about the risks of gambling and providing educational resources to help individuals make informed decisions. By fostering a culture of responsible gaming, Burlington’s casinos ensure that the excitement of casino tournaments can be enjoyed safely and responsibly by all participants.
Future Prospects
As Burlington’s casino tournament scene continues to evolve, it is poised to benefit from technological advancements and changing player preferences. The city is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends, ensuring that casino tournaments remain a vibrant and positive force in the community.
Embracing Technology
Technological advancements, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, are expected to play a significant role in the future of casino tournaments. These innovations will enable more immersive and interactive experiences, blending the excitement of live events with the convenience of online play. Burlington’s casinos are likely to adopt these technologies, offering players cutting-edge gaming experiences that keep them engaged and entertained.
Adapting to Changing Preferences
 Gaming tournaments attract thousands of bright young people who have well developed computer skills that will serve then well when they enter the labour force.with
As player preferences continue to evolve, Burlington’s casinos will need to adapt by offering new and innovative tournament formats. Younger generations of players, in particular, may be drawn to skill-based games and esports-style competitions that provide a more engaging and dynamic gaming experience. By staying attuned to these trends, Burlington’s casinos can continue to attract a diverse and enthusiastic player base.
A Positive Force in the Community
Casino tournaments have become a vital part of Burlington’s cultural and economic fabric, providing entertainment, generating revenue, and supporting local charities. As these events continue to grow and evolve, they will remain a positive force in the community, helping to build a stronger, more connected, and prosperous Burlington.
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Now that the kids are back in school, learning to live without their cell phone in their hands the province is interested in know what you think they should be taught in terms of life skills like: learning how to change a car tire , learning how to sew buttons and put a hem on a pair of trousers.
I thought those were things that parents and grandparents taught you to do? Maybe I’m old school.
Link to the provincial survey is HERE
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Did you watch the Trump – Harris debate.
If you didn’t you should have.
Now – I’d like to hear what you thought.
Did he win or did she win?
Was was the line that you’ll not forget?
Mine was the dogs that are eaten by immigrant in Wisconsin.
The other one that I loved was an MSNBC commentator saying that the election would be determined by the 800,00 Poles in Pennsylvania who would for for Harris after the comment made by Trump that after defeating Ukraine he would be going after Poland.
The other one that many may have missed was when Trump said Viktor Orban, “a respected world leader had nice things to say about me.” Unfortunately the vast majority of Americans won’t know who Viktor Orban is.
 If looks could kill – Donald Trump was dead.
 
By Pepper Parr
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a 3 part series
They were back in their classrooms last Wednesday. The elementary students didn’t have their cellphone with them. The middle school and high school students had restricted use of cell phones in the classroom.
The province has provided funding for mental health support – there appears to be a link between the two.
 Susan Drake – Brock University
Susan Drake is a Distinguished Professor at Brock University, the designation is a lifetime appointment recognizing outstanding achievement in each recipient’s academic discipline.
Drake has done the traditional writing and grants expected of academics; her most significant research impact in education has been felt in real classrooms across the globe.
She notes that: “There has been a noticeable reading lag for many students since the pandemic. Current Science of Reading research in the US indicates that about 25% of students need explicit instruction to read well using the revised Ontario language curriculum. This approach means highly structured sequential steps with a heavy emphasis on sound letter association (phonics)
“Some schools implement externally developed programs. Once the foundations are established the students apply them to texts such as a scientific description of an animal, a fictional narrative or a theme based text.”
Drake, Professor of Educational Studies, joined Brock University in 1989 as a freshly minted PhD with a passion. As a secondary school teacher, she experimented with innovations to engage students and enhance their learning.
“During my graduate studies, I discovered the educational theory to affirm my discoveries, and to expand upon them. I wanted to help teachers find the secrets to student success through engaging pedagogy and assessment.”
Her research had always been grounded in hands-on work effectively bridging the practice-theory gap.
Integrated curriculum is something Drake has worked at implementing whatever she was doing. She was a strong supporter of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). She was delighted when STEM was enlarged to STEAM – with the A standing for the arts.
The classroom focus for Drake it to teach transferable skills, problem solving and connections.
Much of her work now is curriculum and classroom assessment. She also teaches an online course at Brock University.
The cell phone resulted in students becoming unable to connect with other students. If they couldn’t connect, Drke contends students would have difficulty solving problems – which is often a group activity.
Every problem solved creates a skill that can be used to solve another problem.
This holistic approach is one that Drake comes close to preaching about. She will tell you that technology is going to change the world even more than the changes we experienced during the Industrial Revolution. The major difference being the rate at which change is now taking place.
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Average asking rents for all residential property types in Canada increased by 3.3% year-over-year in August, reaching an average of $2,187 per month, according to Rentals.ca and Urbanation’s latest National Rent Report. This marks the slowest annual rate of rent growth in nearly three years.
Key points from the report:
– Average asking rents increased by 3.3% year-over-year in August.
 Colour coding ranking the data shown below.
– Rents for purpose-built and condominium rental apartments increased by 4.7% annually.
– B.C. and Ontario remained the provinces with the highest rents, despite experiencing annual declines.
– Shared accommodation listings recorded an 8.0% annual increase in asking rent across four provinces.




The bigger picture – data from across the country by type:

Where is the relief is going to come from and when it will be felt ?
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The following was taken from a CBC broadcast of an interview with Dominic Cardy, the leader of a new federal political party – the Canadian Future Party that is pitching itself as a centrist alternative to what we now have. The interim party leader says they are looking to fill a gap Canadians are looking for
“We’ve moved away from a policy and tone of moderation and keen judgment and civility, and when I speak with Canadians, said Cardy. “People say they’d like to see more of that. So we do think that we are helping to fill a vacuum that exists.
CBC: So give me the elevator pitch. What’s the Canadian Future Party all about? And why are you launching this now?
 Domenic Cardy was very active in New Brunswick.
Cardy: “We want Canada to go, not left, not right, but forward. We think it’s time for a policy politics that’s focused on being brave, being evidence based, and delivering results, because if democracy doesn’t deliver then people are going to lose faith in it.
“We’re seeing that right now with the Liberals who are trapped in the politics of the 1990s and Mr. Poilievre, who perhaps is trapped in the politics of the 1930s – we want to talk about Canada moving ahead with clear, decisive plans for dealing with some of the big challenges that bluntly, Mr. Poilievre and Mr. Trudeau are simply not being honest with Canadians about wanting defence, immigration, housing and so on.
CBC: “I want to get to Mr. Poilievre in a second. Let’s give you a chance to kind of spell out what you’re all about. As you know, with the established party brands, people kind of have a vague idea of what they’re going to get right. With the Liberals, you’re going to get socially progressive, a bigger government. The Conservatives kind of anti-tax, tough on crime, smaller government. The Green Party, obviously, quite self-explanatory. What are some of the key foundational principles of the Canadian Future Party. What is your brand?
Cardy: “So we line up with the 70% or so of Canadians who say they see themselves in the middle and have concerns about the slide of the liberal and conservative parties towards the extremes. So we’re a party that is liberal on social questions and responsible when it comes to fiscal issues, because if we don’t have a government that delivers results, which means it has to be well run.
“People lose faith in it. And when people lose faith in their government, they look for alternatives. And I think one of the best ways to sum it up is, let’s look at the immigration crisis. Mr. Trudeau team created a political crisis by seizing political control of the temporary foreign workers and student visa programs. The other parts of the immigration system continue to work just fine. The crisis has come because the Liberals ignored the gatekeepers.
 Cardy: “We believe in expertise…”
“So when Mr. Poilievre talks about getting rid of gatekeepers, we’re talking about duplicating triplicating, quadruplicating, the sort of crisis we’ve seen in immigration. We believe in expertise, but we believe that the experts have to show again that they can deliver, and we haven’t done a good job in the political elite of doing that over the last number of years.
“If we can’t get back to a government that actually shows results for Canadian citizens, we’re going to see that slide towards populism, which is exactly what Mr. Poilievre is taking advantage of. But at the same time, there’s a lot of people who don’t feel comfortable with his slide towards extremism and want to see a change from Mr. Trudeau, and we’re there to offer a sensible, evidence based solutions, set of solutions that we hope will attract attention from Canadians, and we’ll get to work on pushing that starting today.
CBC: “You’re a former provincial Progressive Conservative. The party’s interim president Tara McPhail says she’s a former conservative as well. Is this movement that you’re creating that you’re launching today? Is it a direct backlash against sort of the right wing, more populist style that Pierre Poilievre has adopted? You mentioned, you said it’s from the 1930s – maybe elaborate on that, and maybe speak to what his role was really in the formation of this party.
Cardy: “It’s not just Mr. Pollievre, and it’s not just the Conservative Party, it’s our politics writ large. The Liberal party is falling into the same trap, the falling into social media driven, algorithm driven extremism, appealing to people who are further and further away from the mainstream, further and further away from offering concrete solutions to real problems.
“ I don’t want to hear any more apologies for things that Canada has done wrong in the past. I want to see solutions to what’s wrong with Canada now. Mr. Poilievre spends his time talking about Canada being broken. Canada is a fantastic country. We’re not broken. There’s no end to what we can do. But we have people who’ve come to join the new party who are former members of Stephen Harper’s cabinet, former members of Jack Layton’s team: elected folks who are sitting in the House of Commons, former Liberal organizers, Greens, New Democrats, people from across the political spectrum who are all united: there’s something seriously wrong with our politics, that this approach of just using social media and leaders offices to run political parties divorced from MPS being given any real power to express their opinions and vote the way they feel they should in the House of Commons.
 I was a Cabinet Minister in New Brunswick from 2018 to 2020.
“This is a problem that all the parties share, and it’s one where to use that example. We’re proposing a concrete change. Canada copied the British parliamentary system when we built this country. One thing we didn’t copy was the caucus system that allows back bench MPs in the UK to vote against their leaders if the Leader’s office can’t convince them to support them. In Canada, we treat our MPs like sheep. They just vote yay, yay, yay, nay, nay, nay, depending on what the leader says, there’s no reason we can’t change that. That takes will from political party leaders, and that’s what we’re here to say we’re going to do. And I have a record on this, that 2018 to 20 in New Brunswick, when I was a cabinet minister, I helped write the platform in 2018 we ran the government that way through the early stage of covid, creating an all party committee we got like a war cabinet to help manage the province during that crisis. That’s exactly the sort of creative approach we want to see brought to other crises facing Canada.
CBC: “We asked Poilievre spokesperson about your party, and this is what he told us, he said, quote, We are not paying much attention to what the former NDP leader says, and neither are Canadians. So obviously he’s referencing your past as NDP in New Brunswick, you were the leader of that party. Provincially. What do you say to them? It seems like they’re quite dismissive of you and your effort.
Cardy: “What we have seen, which you’ve probably noticed over the last couple of weeks, Mr. Poilievre claiming that his party is the centrist party. Tory influencers online trying to pass that same message. They see the same polls we do. They know that there’s a lot of Canadians, a majority of Canadians, who want to see a change, who are tired of Mr. Trudeau over promising and under delivering, but at the same time are really concerned about Mr. Pollievre’s drift towards populist extremism. So we’re here to offer an alternative to that. And so of course, they’re going to say insulting things. You know, of the other things we’re not going to do, get into that sort of gutter pop sort of gutter politics, we want to focus on what we’re going to do differently. Sure, we’ll be sharp when we have to be, but things like that are exactly why we need to change.
 Cardy: “I’d say it’s extremely dangerous.”
CBC: “You say populist extremism, but it seems to have an appeal, right? I mean, he’s leading over the Liberals by 20 points in the polls. He’s at 43 points. You know, if we’re to believe the aggregators, that’s a huge lead. He’s poised to form a massive majority government if election were held today. So that seems to have a lot of appeal among people, right? I mean, there might be, you might quibble with his tone and tenor, but it’s certainly resonating.
Cardy: “Well, first, wouldn’t quibble with it. I’d say it’s extremely dangerous. And one of the things I think we’ve got to listen to is the voices around the world who’ve had their experiences with radical, populist governments on the left and the right in recent years is how dangerous they are, how they don’t make life better for people. So putting that aside, absolutely, he’s doing well, because right now his party is the only one that’s seen as an alternative to Mr. Trudeau. The NDP have hooked themselves, possibly permanently to the Liberals, certainly for the next election, they’re going to be judged on the same criteria that Mr. Trudeau team will be. The Greens, I think, have broadly succeeded to convince Canadians that climate change is real. Certainly, that’s not something we’re going to waste time on. In the Canadian future party, we believe climate change is real, then you’ve got Mr. Bernier party, who are just grumpy that they’ve been out ring out right wing extremists by Mr. Poilievre.
CBC: ” You mentioned the Green Party, as you know, in our first past the post system, it’s really tough for smaller parties to actually win a seat. It took the Green Party 30 years from their foundation to when they actually won a seat with Elizabeth May. What makes the Canadian future party different? How can you actually win a seat in a system that really does not advantage upstart parties like yours.
Cardy: “First that’s absolutely the case. We recognize the challenge we’re facing, and we’re only embarking on this project the people around me, who, again, come from all parties and none, who recognize the crisis Canada is facing. The reason why we’re doing this is because we want to offer Canadians that alternative, and Canadians have a choice going into the next election about whether they like that or not. Our job is to present a positive, well thought out platform and a team of candidates who could manage Canada.
CBC: “You mentioned candidates you’ve you’ve named at least one for the upcoming federal by election in Quebec and La Salle Marg you will name one in Manitoba as well. What is success look like? What are you expecting to see in those by elections?
 Cardy: “We’re going to be there with a team as new and fresh a party. It’s up to Canadians to decide.”
Cardy: “In those by elections, we want to get our name out there and start to share our vision for Canadian Canadian politics longer term, our goal is to try and win as many seats as possible. I’ve never understood some folks in politics is how we’re just here to try and influence the other guys. In my time in the NDP, that was often a problem. So we want to try and win, but what we really want to try and do is change Canadian politics. I don’t care about party labels. If the liberals or Tories take all of our platform ideas and start recruiting people who believe in those same sort of mainstream, moderate values that most Canadians share. All power to them. If they don’t, we’re going to be there with a team as new and fresh a party as we might be to offer them that alternative, and we’ll see whether or not that catches fire. It’s up to Canadians to decide. That’s democracy.
CBC: “All right, let’s leave it there. Dominic Cardy is the interim leader of the Canadian Future party.
Deeper dive on Dominic Cardy
Dominic William Cardy MLA (born 25 July 1970) is a Canadian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. From the 2018 New Brunswick general election until his expulsion from the caucus in October 2022, Cardy represented the electoral district of Fredericton West-Hanwell for the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick. He now sits as an independent. During his time in government he was the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development under Blaine Higgs. Since September 2023, Cardy has been the interim leader of the Canadian Future Party, a newly-formed moderate centrist federal political party. Prior to being elected to the New Brunswick legislature, Cardy served as chief of staff of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick caucus and had previously been leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party from 2011 to 2017.
Cardy resigned as party leader, as well as resigning his membership of both the federal and New Brunswick NDP, on 1 January 2017, complaining of party infighting which he attributed to “destructive forces” colluding with CUPE New Brunswick, the province’s largest public-sector union against his leadership. Cardy said that he “cannot lead a party where a tiny minority of well-connected members refuse to accept the democratic will of the membership.” He added that “[l]imited time and energy is being wasted on infighting before the election,” and that “‘Some New Democrats unfortunately believe change and openness have had their time. They want to return to an old NDP of true believers, ideological litmus tests and moral victories.”[ Cardy claimed that what he described as his “progressive” platform had been thwarted by both federal and provincial party members and denounced the federal party’s non-interventionist stance on the Syrian Civil War as antithetical to his beliefs.
Cardy’s appointment as strategic issues director for the opposition Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick was announced by party leader Blaine Higgs on 27 January 2017. Cardy said it is “not my intention” to run for a legislative seat as a Progressive Conservative candidate but that a “great many” of his former colleagues in the NDP would be joining the Progressive Conservatives.
In April 2017, Cardy was promoted to the position of chief of staff to the official opposition New Brunswick Progressive Conservative caucus. Later that month he endorsed Maxime Bernier for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Cardy was elected in the 2018 provincial election as the PC candidate in Fredericton West-Hanwell. He had run unsuccessfully in 2014 in the same riding as a New Democrat.
Cardy was re-elected in the 2020 provincial election.
Cardy was appointed as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development on 9 November 2018.Minister Cardy spearheaded a plan to remove the Confucius Institute from all New Brunswick schools. While the educational programs for elementary and middle schools were removed for the 2019–2020 school year, high school programs will not be removed until 2022.Cardy resigned from his position as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Education on October 13, 2022. Announcing his resignation on Twitter, Cardy explained that “At some point, working style and values have to matter.” His resignation letter offered a more detailed explanation, citing Premier Higgs’ behaviour in a series of incidents. Cardy initially committed to staying on as a Progressive Conservative but was expelled from caucus a day after resigning as minister. He was replaced as minister by Bill Hogan.Cardy remained in the legislature as an independent MLA for the rest of his term, while announcing he would not be running as a candidate in the 2024 New Brunswick general election.Cardy said he would be voting for Susan Holt and the New Brunswick Liberal Party in the upcoming election in June 2024. On September 20, 2023, Cardy announced that he was in the process of founding a new federal political party, named the Canadian Future Party to occupy the middle ground between the Justin Trudeau-led Liberal Party of Canada and the Pierre Poilievre-led Conservative Party of Canada. Prior to its launch as a party, the group had been known first as “Centre Ice Conservatives” and then as “Centre Ice Canadians.” On July 22, 2024, Elections Canada recognized the Canadian Future Party as eligible for registration, pending it standing a candidate for election.In July 2024, Cardy was arrested in Toronto for disturbing the peace after engaging in a confrontation at a pro-Palestine protest. According to Cardy, he chanted “Free Palestine from Hamas”. Authorities stated that Cardy “behaved in a confrontational manner towards other protesters and did not follow police directions” to leave the area. He was released without charges.
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government is investing up to $1.18 million over three years through the Women’s Economic Security Program to support the Centre for Skills Development’s Enhanced General Carpentry training program for low-income women in Burlington.
This funding is part of the government’s investment of up to $26.7 million over three years in 25 local programs across the province that provide career training opportunities for women, helping them gain the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to find a job, start a business and achieve financial independence.
 Trained and ready to become part of a trades crew.
Women interested in the program can visit Ontario.ca/women.
“The Women’s Economic Security Program empowers women to achieve financial independence by breaking down barriers to career training opportunities,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “I’m proud of our government’s continued support for local, community-based training programs that help women across the province reach their full potential and achieve the career success they deserve.”
The Women’s Economic Security Program offers training in four streams: skilled trades, entrepreneurship, information technology, and general employment. To help remove barriers to participating, the training programs also include additional supports such as providing meals throughout the training day, transportation to and from training, and support finding child care.
Through the training program, women who have experienced or are at risk of intimate partner violence can also access wraparound supports, including referrals to mental health and well-being supports, counselling, housing, and legal support.
Women interested in the program can visit Ontario.ca/women.
The Centre for Skills Development is located in Burlington, Halton Hills, Oakville and Milton
“Ontario is taking a government-wide approach to address and prevent gender-based violence and support women’s economic empowerment,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Through the Women’s Economic Security Program, we are helping women access in-demand careers, achieve financial independence and succeed in sectors that are vital to the economy.”
This investment is part of Ontario’s four-year action plan to prevent and address gender-based violence. In addition to the province’s $15 million investment over three years in the Women’s Economic Security Program, Ontario is providing up to another $11.7 million through the bilateral agreement with the federal government on the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.
 Women are now part of the trades – and doing very well.
“This investment in the Centre for Skills Development is fantastic news for women entering careers in the skilled trades. The Enhanced General Carpentry training will empower women with the knowledge and skills they need, allowing them to gain confidence and financial success, while earning experience that will support Ontario’s housing strategy and economic development.”
MPP, Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre adds: “This investment in the Centre for Skills Development is fantastic news for women entering careers in the skilled trades. The Enhanced General Carpentry training will empower women with the knowledge and skills they need, allowing them to gain confidence and financial success, while earning experience that will support Ontario’s housing strategy and economic development.”
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Culinary Kids Club
 A really neat program idea.
Registration is open for our Culinary Kids Club, a once monthly drop-off program at Ireland House Museum on Sundays from 1:30-3:30pm.
Culinary Kids Club is designed for children between the ages of 8-12. The cost is $30/child for each session. Pre-registration is required. The first session is September 29!
Age: 8 to 12
Sep 29/ Oct 27/ Nov 24/ Dec 22/ Jan 26/ Feb 23…
01:30 pm – 03:30 pm
Sep 29, 2024 – Jun 22, 2025
Registration is limited and filling up quickly.
Link to the registration site.
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We know at least one person who will be taking part in the meetings on the budget that will be taking place in every ward. The first one takes place on Wednesday evening.
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Port Nelson United Church, 3132 South Dr.
Monday, Sept. 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m., La Salle Park Pavilion, 50 North Shore Blvd. E.
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Haber Recreation Centre, 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr., Room 1
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Arena, 519 Drury Ln., Auditorium
Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Appleby Ice Centre, 1201 Appleby Line, Community Room 1
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Brant Hills Community Centre, 2255 Brant St., Community Room 1
Joe Gatean, a high rise resident on Maple Avenue has some questions you might want to ask:
COB Mayor’s Budget 2025 – Did you know.
If you plan on attending one of the 2025 Mayor’s budget meetings, the 2025 Budget | Get Involved Burlington web link contains F-19-23, the 2023 BMA Management Consulting Inc. financial condition assessment that came before council on June 13,2023. The document contains the following ”Cautions”:
Assessment growth – Growth is lower than the peer average.
Commercial Office Vacancy – Vacancy rate has grown substantially, higher than Halton average.
Property Taxes on a Multi-Residential HighRise Unit – Above the comparator average
Property Taxes on Neighborhood Shopping per sq. ft. – Above the comparator average
Property Taxes on an Industrial Building per sq. ft. – Caution Above the comparator average
My question is, where is the 2024 BMA Management Consulting Inc. financial report condition assessment document.
If you live in a “Multi-Residential High-Rise Unit, own a Neighborhood Shopping concern, or an Industrial Building, according to the 2023 report your property taxes are above the comparator average, and you need to ask the Mayor why and what she is going to do about normalizing your tax burden as it is her budget.
 Expect to see the Mayor wearing her Coronation pin. She wore it during today’s council meeting.
Mayor Meed Ward already knows what she is going to say: “It’s vital to hear from residents as we prepare the 2025 budget. The annual budget reflects our priorities as a community. Your views help shape how council will amend and ultimately vote.
“As I prepare the budget for consideration by the public and council, my plan is to focus on four key areas: Affordability, Livability, Sustainability and Transparency. I encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities to share your input.”
By Staff
September 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (Hamilton International) will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise on September 10, 2024, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The mock exercise is designed to test and enhance the preparedness, coordination and response capabilities of airport personnel, local emergency services and other airport stakeholders.
 Photo from the Gazette photo bank
The simulation will involve collaboration between Hamilton International, the City of Hamilton including Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton Police Service, Hamilton Paramedic Service, and Transit (HSR); Hamilton Health Sciences; WestJet; Canada Border Services Agency; St. John Ambulance; Mohawk College; Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum; Executive Aviation and other agencies. Participants will engage in a variety of activities, including emergency response coordination, medical triage and treatment, incident command and communications.
Members of the public may see increased activity around the Airport during the exercise and should not be alarmed. Airport operations will not be impacted as a result of the exercise. Only authorized personnel will be admitted into the exercise area, and the exercise is not open to media participation.
“The Airport’s top priority is the safety and security of Hamilton International employees, passengers, tenants, partners and other visitors at all times,” said Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director, Hamilton International. “The Airport and its partner agencies hold regular emergency exercises to test and refine procedures, communications and response plans. Such exercises are critical to ensuring that the Airport and its partners are well-coordinated and ready to respond effectively in the event of a real emergency.”
By Staff
September 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has a new community organization. Rather than report we will pass along to you what they passed along to us and give you some time to read it over and decide if this interests you.
A city or town can never have too many community organizations Oakville has more than a dozen and they are the better for it.
Community engagement in Burlington has problems getting the oxygen needed to stay alive. ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington proved that the public interest is there – sustaining it over time seems to be the problem.
Effective today a new community wide residents association has been launched in the City of Burlington. The Association is called the Burlington Residents’ Action Group (“BRAG”), and has been created after several months of intensive discussions with a number of concerned citizens, stakeholders and ratepayers’ associations in other communities.
 ECoB filled a church hall.
BRAG’s mission, as outlined in its Constitution, is “To identify, advocate for and promote strong, definitive and effective measures to advance the interests of all Burlington citizens.” Its mission is to promote measures that ensure Burlington becomes a community “….in which citizens are respected participants and partners in all decisions that affect their interests.”
BRAG’s primary objectives include the following:
-
-
-
- To promote greater awareness and understanding amongst residents on local and regional issues that impact residents.
- To actively lobby politicians and civic officials on behalf of residents, and to ensure the interests of residents always remain a paramount concern.
- To advocate for measures to enhance and protect Burlington’s unique history, culture and character.
- To support the election of local and regional representatives who support the aims and objectives of our association.
BRAG’s creation came about in response to a number of growing concerns impacting Burlington residents such as increasing taxation, development intensification, urban transportation, flood abatement, Strong Mayor Powers, and a heightened sense that civic leaders are not really listening to residents’ concerns.
BRAG’s first priority will be the City of Burlington’s municipal budget. An online petition has been launched calling for three important changes in Burlington’s 2025 budget and related processes:
-
-
-
- A zero percent increase in taxes for the coming year;
- Clear language when communicating tax increases;
- The creation of a transparent and user-friendly process that enhances understanding and awareness.
 Citizens gather for budget discussions. This meeting involved a number of city firemen who were attentively listened to by Councillor Craven, on the right in the blue shirt.
A hyperlink to the online petition can be found here: https://change.org/Burlington2025
Regarding the City’s 2025 proposed budget BRAG’s President, Eric Stern commented:
If the proposed 2025 increase is approved, for every $1,000 in Burlington property taxes you paid in 2022, you’ll pay $1,387.20 in 2025.
For comparison, the Region of Halton increased the R-Region line, on your final tax bill, by 2.52% in 2023 and 3.05% in 2024. Compounded over two years that’s a 5.65% increase compared to Burlington’s 27.39% increase over the same two years.
“Our Burlington City Council has a spending problem”.
To this end, BRAG members will be actively engaged in the budget review process in the coming months. Preliminary indications are that the City is proposing an 8.9% increase in municipal taxes for 2025 which, BRAG contends, is wholly unacceptable. BRAG will be actively participating and attending budget discussions throughout the City, as well as promoting greater community awareness on this and similar issues.
 A budget meeting held by the city on a cold January night – three people showed up – two of them were running for office. Getting the public to take part is often a challenge.
BRAG encourages concerned residents to sign this petition. Moreover, we welcome residents who, like ourselves, are deeply concerned with the current direction of this City, and feel there is a compelling need to change the overall policy direction. Those seeking more information are welcome to contact us for further details.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Eric Stern President
Burlington Residents’ Action Group (“BRAG”) E-mail: eric.stern@gobrag.ca
Website:
By Staff
September 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
In the Fall of 2022, Ashley Bakker, on the heels of a diagnosis of Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, took up running. This was the beginning of her fitness journey. Myeloproliferative Neoplasm is a type of blood cancer where an excess of red and white blood cells and platelets form in the bone marrow.
Concurrently, her two young sons were in school learning about Terry Fox and often came home with questions about this Canadian hero. Together they learned more about Terry’s story and his journey, sparking a curiosity in their young minds. The boys were in awe over what Terry was able to accomplish at such a young age.
“It seemed fitting, given my recent diagnoses, that the Terry Fox run would be my first race in 2023. I borrowed my son’s Terry Fox shirt from school (a little snug but it did the trick!) and made the team Bound2Run in hopes of inspiring my kids to one day run beside me.”
 Ashley Bakker and one of her sons – they will both be in the run on Sunday
So, Ashley signed up as a team of one in 2023, with the hopes that Bound2Run would grow as her young children grew up. And for 2024, the team will grow by one, as her son Elliot (age 8) will be running alongside her for the first time.
Inspiring a Younger Generation
Seeing how running and weight training has changed his mom’s life over the past two years, Elliot has embarked on his own fitness journey. He runs with her sometimes during track workouts and does pull-ups on the monkey bars in the park.
Ashley’s goal for this year’s run is simple. She wants to have fun and show her son that he is capable of doing extraordinary things, just like Terry. It doesn’t hurt that Burlington’s run is so picturesque. Nothing beats running along our beautiful waterfront!
Support Bound2Run
If you’re inspired by Ashley’s story, consider supporting her team with a donation. Better still join the team and grow the numbers of people taking part.
https://run.terryfox.ca/team/bound2run
There is a photograph of Terry Fox when he ran through Burlington in 1980. That photograph was taken by John Oaks who was standing on the sidewalk taking pictures. He thought Terry was waving at him.
The day John Oaks took the Terry Fox photograph
By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
For the political junkies out there – the times could not be better.
The American presidential race, along with the races in each state for Electoral College Votes, is equal to top of the line LSD.
The federal election that could put the leadership of the country in the hands of the Conservative Party that I believe would do close to irreparable harm to the country and to the environment could take place very soon – well ahead of the expected date of 2025.
The race at the provincial level has actually started – no one has told the public yet.
Internationally there has to be an election in Israel at some point – and then the continuation of the trial that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces can take place. The impact in the United States of that trial will depend on who becomes the President of the United States.
In Ontario the most recent polling results from Abacus Research and commentary from Tom Parkin on those numbers will keep the political chattering class going for at least a week.
 Study the numbers and let us know what you think.
NDP has access to largest anti-Poilievre swing vote, poll shows
Number of voters who would swing behind NDP to stop Poilievre is 50% larger than the group willing to vote Liberal to stop him
 When the public gets to hear what Poilievre will do to environmental issues and the number of programs in place now: dental, pharmacare, child care – time of course will tell.
To stop Pierre Poilievre, 55 per cent of current Liberal, Green or Bloc supporters would “definitely” or “probably” swing their support to Jagmeet Singh’s NDP if they were best positioned, according to the most recent poll from Abacus Research.
The NDP’s potential swing group, which represents 17 per cent of the Canadian electorate, would boost the NDP within close range of the poll-leading Conservatives.
The NDP’s potential anti-Poilievre momentum is more than 50 per cent larger than the group open to following the Liberals to stop Poilievre. Only 11 per cent of Canadians drawn from current NDP, Green or Bloc supporters would definitely or probably vote Liberal to stop Poilievre.
Majority of Greens, Liberals would switch to NDP
 My personal view is the Justin Trudeau can beat Pierre Poilievre if only because he is the lesser of two evils. But let us be clear Trudeau has made a lot of mistakes and people are angry.
Among Green supporters, 57 per cent would definitively or probably switch to the NDP to stop Poilievre, but only 36 per cent would switch to the Liberals.
For Bloc supporters, 36 per cent could swing to the NDP to stop Poilievre while 42 per cent could move to the Liberals.
And while 59 per cent of Liberals could swing to the NDP to stop Poilievre, only 50 per cent of NDP supporters are willing to make the same move for the Liberals.
Ending deal helps NDP access pool of voters “negatively affiliated” with Conservatives
The same poll found 40 per cent of current Conservative voters, representing 17 per cent of the electorate, are “negatively affiliated” to the Conservatives. For this group, their primary vote motivation is a dislike for the Trudeau Liberals rather than liking the Poilievre Conservatives.
In contrast, 79 per cent of NDP supporters are motivated by liking Singh’s NDP, rather than disliking another party or leader.
 Will Jagmeet Singh make the same mistakes Thomas Mulcair made?
Jagmeet Singh, in breaking his association with the Trudeau Liberals, may now be better able to access this 17 per cent of voters with the Conservatives for anti-Liberal reasons.
Switching three of those 17 points to the NDP and adding its swing vote would pull the NDP into a tie with the Conservatives, with both just below likely majority territory.
Simultaneously coalescing an anti-Poilivre vote and peeling away some negatively affiliated Conservatives presents a tangible if narrow pathway for the NDP to stop the Poilievre Conservatives, a pathway blocked for the Liberals, antipathy for whom is a major component of Poilievre’s success.
Tom Parkin is a principal with Impact Strategies.
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.
By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Do you remember Margaret Lindsay Holton? The woman who agitated so strong about the plastic grass that was to be installed on the playing fields at the City View Park.
She is an artist and a scrappy citizen who wasn’t shy when it came to letting you know what she thought.
 I first saw this in about 2012 – always wonder who bought it.
She has been a struggling artist who has done a film, several books, an impressive number of painting and has a resume that would run several pages that includes her ability to make pin-hole cameras.
We haven’t heard from MLH for some time. Burlington is no longer home for her.
She moved to the Belleville area some time ago when her life circumstances changed.
Margaret however is still Margaret and she has set up camp close to the shores of the St. Lawrence River where she is holding an open house during Culture Days Canada 2024
She is announcing that her new studio will be open on SATURDAY September 28th,2024 – 11am to 5pm
Culture Days Canada 2024 is a cross-country event showcasing Canadian talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Margaret was always a tireless self-promoter – she had to be if she was to succeed as an artist.
She explains that “ this new studio ‘space’ is my new play room where I can crank up music without offending the neighbours, spin in circles of joy or frustration, or, just sit – and continue to ‘contemplate the eternal verities’ …
 I am not qualified to critique Holton’s work. To me it speaks for itself.
“The walls are crude and relatively bare, the floor is plywood, but the recently enlarged window and newly-attached deck provide immediate access to the ‘outdoors’. There, I can see and feel the intoxicating immensity of the Natural World all around me. Crickets chirp, birds sing, tree frogs burp, fox, squirrels, mink & chipmunks scamper. Wind constantly blows thorough the massive maples. The air smells SOOOO good here! It is all so enchanting – and decidedly mysterious – especially under a full moon when the fireflies emerge from the ferns. Plus, just 400 feet away is my access to the mighty St.Lawrence River.
“If in the area, I am 5 minutes WEST of Brockville on the old river road. To those coming from afar, I am well-situated between the three main urban centres: Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. The drive here is pretty straight-forward from any of those directions. (The nearest international bridge is 20 minutes away. Zoom into the map above to determine your best approach.)
 Margaret Lindsay Holton
“EXACT Address is: 1353 County Road 2 West, Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada – K6V 7C7 – Stone house & studio at the intersection of Watrus Bay Road.
“Note, I do not maintain a phone in my studio, nor is it wheelchair accessible. There isn’t a public washroom here, nor is this a ‘drop-in’ cafe or bar. Please stock-up & discharge before getting here. That said, if invited and visiting with me at my HOME, all amenities & frivolities will be provided, free-of-charge. There will be apple cider & cookies on the day of the event.
“So, join me for a pleasant day, (rain or shine), along the river. See what I’ve been up to in the past & what I’m doing now.”
By Staff
September 8th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is hosting its fourth annual Food for Feedback event on Saturday, Sept. 14, between noon and 4 p.m. at Central Park (2299 New St.).
Residents can come to enjoy a free meal in exchange for sharing their thoughts on City projects.
City staff, advisory committees, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and members of Council will also be in attendance to listen to resident feedback.
Expect the table with the Finance people to be swamped – there is now a well organized group who want to see lower taxes and a City Council that instructs staff to get used to spending less money.

This now annual event went through some arduous debate. At one point each member of Council was arguing that the event should be held in their ward. They came close taking that idea seriously. The Staff report on the event was so poorly prepared and the presentation so badly managed that the then Director was no longer the Director.
A related news story
How we ended up with an annual Food for Feedback event
By Pepper Parr
September 7th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
A Procedural Manual is the kind of thing that lawyers and policy wonks love to read – the rest of us avoid the things.
Burlington’s Procedural Manual set out the rules that govern how City Council handles their meetings. When a person can speak; how long a person can speak – they are in place to ensure the business of the day gets done. The manual in place today has a lot of shortcoming and was due for an upgrade.
 Jim Thomson expressing concern over comments from a Council member.
Jim Thomson who is delegating at city Council on Monday has some brisk comments about the new 19 page document.
This report was due Q3 2023
On Nov 10 2023 the former Clerk told the Ombudsman investigator it would be delivered in December 2023
When the Deputy Clerk took over the file, the report was supposed to be due January 2024.
In April 2024, Council directed it to be complete no later than Q2
Here we are at end of Q3 2024 and the residents of Burlington are given a day and half to review and prepare delegations on what is one of the most important documents the City produces.
Thomson points to the City Vision to build more citizen engagement.
How are citizens engaged when a report is released that gives citizens a day and a half to comment?
A survey held in the summer from June 1 to August 14 in 2023.
Where are the results of the survey?
How did the survey results inform the review?
Complaints were taken to the City Ombudsman – turns out their decisions are not legally binding.
Thomson wants to know what the status is of the Deputy Mayor with Portfolio positions Mayor Meed Ward created.
“Wasn’t the Policy supposed to be reviewed after 1 year? Has it been reviewed? Are any changes needed?
 Jim Thomson delegating before City Council during the days they would let him into the Council Chamber.
“The use of electronic devices to record proceedings of a closed session is Prohibited. The Ontario Ombudsman recommends as best practice that closed sessions recorded.
“There was to be a quarterly listing of outstanding staff directions to be issued by Clerk and the list will be circulated by way of a memorandum in the Council Information Package. Why have there been none issued this year?”
All good questions
In the past Thomson doesn’t get much in the way of time to interact with Council on the questions he asks – other than a lip service – Thank you for your time.
By Pepper Parr
September 8th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
In the 12 years we have been covering Burlington Council meetings we have seen it all.
There have been some brilliant delegations. We watched as a single parent, quite young, not particularly well educated, speak to council and drive home the challenge single parents with jobs that don’t pay very well cope on a day to day basis.
We watched a woman turn to then Mayor Goldring and tell him to be quiet while she was speaking.
We have watched presentations from developers who tried to control the information Council was going to be given.
The evening a decent sized group of mothers who played soccer filled the room with babes in arms and strollers all over the place – made their point – they wanted a fairer distribution of the time available on the soccer pitches in Sheridan Forest park was one to remember.
Things are not like that anymore. The group of people who would delegate regularly is much smaller these days – some of that is a hangover from the Covid 19 concerns.
We watched recently, as the Mayor was just plain rude to a frequent delegator.
The procedure at the opening of Council meetings now has the Mayor reading this statement:
 Mayor Meed Ward
As a reminder, delegates are required by the procedure bylaw to speak only to the report and the item on the agenda. Further delegates must be respectful of staff council members and other members of the public who may have a different perspective on an item. Personal attacks will not be tolerated and we do have a respectful workplace which includes council chambers. So please focus on the issue that you have registered to delegate to and note that those who spoke at committee on an item are required to bring new information forward only and are not to repeat what they said at committee.
Not exactly a welcoming statement.
That procedural bylaw has been described as badly outdated but no mention as to when it will be revised.
At a Council meeting the Mayor announced Anne and Dave Marsden in council chambers said they will speak to two items on the agenda. The first one is the 2024 proposed budget and tax levy for the business improvement area. And the second one is the motion memorandum calling for a new Halton courthouse in Oakville.
“You have five minutes for each of those” she said.
 Anne Marsden
Marsden began by saying: “Over two weeks ago, we did start email conversations with every member of council and the only on this subject, a very serious subject. And the only response we got was a confirmation from Mayor Meed Ward. We’ve had no correspondence at all, no interest shown by any member of council in this very serious matter. The recommendation before Council on this agenda item is approve the 2024 proposed budget for the Burlington Downtown Business Association improvement area. Burlington BIA members pay a tax levy of over a million dollars. This report presents an overview of the 2024 Burlington downtown business improvement area,
Marsden went on for the time she was permitted.
At one point the Mayor interrupted Marsden saying: “sorry you are we are not dealing with that by law. So please restrict yourselves to the by law that we are dealing with thank you, we are not dealing with that 2015 bylaw
Mayor intercedes again “ I’m going to have to interrupt you. We’re not dealing with a 2015 authorizing bylaw. We are dealing only with the budget today. So please confine your remarks to the budget today. I’m sorry that is not relevant to our budget deliberations today.
Marsden: The last time you interrupted me and said I couldn’t speak on a certain item I corrected you and the clerk agreed with that correction. There was no apology from you for interrupting members the public who are trying to ensure that residents are treated fairly.
Mayor: Thank you very much for your delegation. Moving now to your second delegation, which is on the motion memorandum regarding the call for the new Halton courthouse in Oakville. Once again I will advise you to follow our procedure Bylaw and stick to the item in front of us on today’s agenda, you have five minutes.
Marsden begins her delegation.
She gets through the five minutes without any interruptions from the Mayor.
Mayor Meed Ward responds: “Thank you very much for your delegation. We know it’s not easy to present and these issues we are very passionate about.”
Marsden was having a very difficult day – she was in tears part of the time.
 Councillor Lisa Kearns
 Councillor Shawna Stolte
 Councillor Paul Sharman
We have seen other delegators come close to breaking down with one saying she had to get some professional help due to the stress related to her delegations.
These are people who care deeply about issues in their community.
There has to be a better way to treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Councillors Kearns and Stolte and Councillor Sharman have managed to be kind, considerate and helpful when delegates struggle to make their point.
It can be done.
|
|