By Staff
January 11, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Food is still needed at the Food Bank.
St.Matthews Church served as a convenient drop off location.
They have taken a break:
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January 11th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON After spending three quarters of the day on Monday in Closed sessions dealing with legal matters Council got down to issues that impact how we live our day to day lives. City Manager Tim Commisso told Councillors that a total of 150 staff members have been “impacted” by Covid19 – that the number represented 8% of the total staff.  Service levels are being threatened by staff unable to report for work due to Covid19 The bigger concern was what the number of people who cannot report for work is going to have on the city’s ability to deliver services. Will there be enough people available to remove the snow from roads and sidewalks? Will there be enough fire fighters on hand to man the equipment should there be a fire? The GO train service has had to cut back on the number of trains running due to staff shortages. The Toronto Transit service has had to cut back on the number of streetcars and busses in service.  City Manager Tim Commisso has alerted Council to some potential staff problems. With the city in a State of Emergency the day to day operations are worked out by the Emergency Control Group (ECG) that meets three times a week – on an hour’s notice if that is what is required, to revise what can be delivered in the way of services. People in Burlington might want to begin thinking about how they are going to cope with any changes that are required. Things could get bumpy. On the upside there are some very smart people sitting on that ECG committee. They have shown an impressive ability to pivot and then pivot again before the first pivot was completed.
January 11th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Another one of those pictures being worth a thousand words. Council is currently debating the level of growth Burlington will have to experience based on numbers being developed at the Regional level. Much more to tell on this story but for the moment – here is what they are looking at.
January 12th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Online casinos are popular in Canada; it is one of the top countries with a high percentage of online players globally. In the era of the digital age, almost everything happens on the Internet. Games, sport, commerce have been digitized to accommodate and include a bigger percentage of people and to remove distance as a barrier.  With the introduction and growth of online gambling, especially in Canada, the popularity of online gambling keeps rising. Before this age, gambling as a sport happened in land casinos. Gambling in casinos was viewed as exotic, and the most famous casinos attracted the elites. With the introduction and growth of online gambling, especially in Canada, the popularity of online gambling keeps rising. As a result of the outright legalization of gambling in Canada, Canadians can easily play the game, win the games, and still enjoy the casino experience from the comfort of their homes. Advantages of Playing Online Casino in CanadaOnline gambling is a lucrative business and sport for players who play to win and gambling companies. Online casinos offer a diverse range of casino games, much more than regular house casinos. Players in Canada enjoy numerous features such as video poker, blackjack, slot lotteries, and live casino games. Online casino games are safe and legal. Online casino sites that are licensed and registered are required by law to protect player information and data. Players are assured of their safety, credit card details, and password safety. Online casinos are the best method to learn the betting game. Unlike the physical casinos where a learner plays against season players and most times loses money to the experienced player, online casinos give you a more balanced chance to learn without going bankrupt on your first tries. With online casinos, you can play games any time of the day as it is accessible round the clock. It also includes amazing features such as toll-free support numbers, huge jackpots, welcome bonuses, and Canadian banking options. The online gambling platform is prone to change from reviews and is always evolving based on the best info. As a result, the industry is always taking measures to create a safer, user-friendly experience for its consumer base. This has contributed greatly to online gambling thriving as a business and industry. What Are the Canadian Government Regulations for Gambling?Online gambling is legalized in Canada. The criminal code of Canada is a bill that involves illegal gaming and their federal charges in Canada,with the exemption of cases that are clearly stated in the bill or code. The code states that the provincial government can operate, regulate and control lotteries and online gambling. It also states the prohibition of gaming operations in Canada with some exemptions. Online gambling laws in Canada can be regulated by each province in whatever way it deems fit. Each province is entitled to control and regulate gambling laws in its province.  First Nations culture and dance. Gambling laws in Canada are divided into two broad categories, the First Nations law, and the provincial law. In Canada, federal laws are designed to pass online gambling regulations to the provincial government. There are, however, restrictions in some provinces. Some local, provincial laws are difficult and restrictive, while others are flexible and simple. For example, places like Ontario and cities like Markham have restricted web-based gaming, and players experience difficulty in placing bets. To enjoy the full experience of online betting in Canada, it is important to familiarize yourself with the local laws that regulate online gambling in whichever province you stay or are playing from. Before an online gambling platform can operate legally, it must be licensed. The Kahnawake gaming commission is one of the licensing authorities in Canada. Once licensed, it is legal, and legality is guaranteed under Canadian federal laws. Online casinos and gambling sites are, under the law, required to assure players’ safety. This means that players’ confidential and payment information is secure. In addition, licensed online casino sites use SSL encryption to guarantee and ensure data safety from hackers and fraudulent acts. Players are also advised to avoid online casinos that are not licensed. Any form of fraud or danger you might encounter will be to your detriment. Offshore online casinos are prohibited by law and can lead to criminal charges. Requirements to Own a Licensed Online Casino in Canada.The requirements needed to establish and receive a license to operate as an online casino include the following:
The license can be revoked or declined when these requirements are not met. Online casinos are on the rise in Canada, it is huge, and it keeps getting bigger. It is played for fun, entertainment, and as a sport. Online casinos should not be perceived as full-time jobs or a source of income, and gambling should not be done with personal saving money. Players must be well informed on the laws that govern this sport in Canada before playing.
January 10th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON Part 2 of a 2 part feature on the level of citizen satisfaction on how the city is delivering services Engagement has been a prime concern for the members of the current city council. Mayor Meed Ward has made engagement her signature skill set. She at one point said she had 17 different ways to communicate with the voters of the city. All are one-way traffic lanes – from the Mayor to whoever is listening.  Mayor Marianne Meed Ward engaging with the citizens of Itabashi, Japan, during a tour of one of Burlington’s sister city. Meed Ward prides herself on her training as a journalist – she used to frequently make mention of how important local media is – yet – she has not once held an open media event where questions could be asked directly and follow up questions put to her when she might appear to be avoiding an issue. None of this is to suggest that Meed Ward has been a failure as a Mayor. She understood the importance of moving the Urban Growth Centre from the downtown core and pushing it north and closer to the GO stations where the high rise growth is going to take place.  The Rick Goldring Council went along with the Metrolinx decision to designate the bus terminals an MTSA – Major Transit Service Area. And – she made sure that a tiny bus terminal, smaller than many kitchens lost the designation it had as an MTSA – Major Transportation Service Area. That designation is what made it possible for a development to soar 26 stories on a lot that was far too small for that particular development. In the survey done by a reputable organization 755 Burlington residents were randomly selected and interviewed using either a residential landline or cell phone number. The 2019 community survey is the first time that interviews/surveys were conducted using cell phone numbers, this is an important distinction to make as more people are forgoing landlines in favour of cell phones. The Community Survey was also replicated online (from September 13 to October 15) the City’s decision-making about projects and services is reflective of the voice of a majority of residents, with two major differences; 1) it was open call where anyone registered to the Get Involved Burlington platform could take the survey and 2) the sample size was much smaller (234 online versus 755 facilitated by MDB Insight). When it came to measuring satisfaction on engagement we saw the following:
One of the graphics asks where people got their news.
In 2017 the Gazette was on that list. Someone somewhere removed our name from the list of news sources people in Burlington use. Our numbers have grown every year during the ten years we have been publishing. Thought you would want to know that.
January 10th, 2020 BURLINGTON, ON Council is going to hear a report this week on the The Waterfront Hotel Planning Study that was undertaken to comprehensively plan the waterfront site at 2020 Lakeshore Road and guide the landowner in its redevelopment. Given that the site has been referred to as Ground Zero for Burlington an in-depth study made a lot of sense. The Waterfront Hotel Planning Study will inform an implementing Official Plan Amendment. Once approved, that amendment will form part of the City’s Official Plan and provide a strategic framework to guide the redevelopment of the subject property.  Notice the space between the southern part of the dotted red line and the edge of the lake. Who owns that property? Is it part of the hotel land or is it controlled by Conservation Halton? That’s an important question. The Study began in early 2017 and included three public meetings/community workshops (a total of six sessions) and two community surveys. In November 2017, an update on the status and progress of the study was presented to Council at the Planning and Development Committee Meeting. This community and stakeholder engagement phase first explored eight design ideas, which were then refined to three preliminary design concepts, and then two emerging concepts. As a result of additional community and stakeholder input in early 2018, a staff report was brought to the Planning and Development Committee in June 2018. At that time, a set of key policy directions to guide the development of a final concept were endorsed by City Council. These key policy directions were organized around the design principles of Land Use and Built Form, Public Realm, and Mobility and Access. In mid-2018 the Study was placed on hold due to other various priorities in the Community Planning Department such as the New Official Plan process and for staff to re-visit the Study workplan while considering the set of key policy directions endorsed by Council in June 2018. While all the futzing and putzing was going on the developer beavered away at doing the design work and taking part in a pre-consultation meeting required to submit a development application.  The design is world class – the architects have made excellent use of the different views that will be available. That application was submitted, but deemed to be incomplete by the planning department. So what is the point of returning to the Study – the developer has wind in his sails and is on his way. The Staff report makes mention of “height not to exceed three (3) storeys within 20 metres of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road and eleven (11) storeys adjacent to John Street and beyond 20 metres of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road” while the developer presents a plan for two towers that are very close to the southern edge of Lakeshore Road and soar 35 storeys high. The second tower is just 30 stories high. Both sit on a five storey podium. The design of the buildings is superb, these are very smart looking buildings that would be a delight to live in. The plan puts them in the wrong place. One wag described the development as “out of proportion; out of place and should be outa here”  The northern edge of the site is very close to the edge of Lakeshore Road. The five storey podium will loom over the street – with no view to the lake. The entrance to the east end of Spencer Smith Park will be through an opening in the podium. The surrounding context of the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study Area including changes to the northeast corner made through the scoped re-examination of the New Official Plan Project, will be considered in the development of the preferred concept for the Subject Property. This will also include a review of the key policy directions endorsed by Council in June 2018, including the amended key policy direction #8 which was modified by Council to include the following language in bold text:
That “thin red line” concept came from the Plan B, a group of citizens that believe something much better can be done with the hotel site.  It was a solid idea but the city planners found a way to get rid of the idea. At the January 23, 2018 Planning and Development Committee a council motion was carried to modify the block shown at the northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road located in the proposed Cannery Precinct (22-storeys) to the Downtown Core Precinct with a maximum building height of 17-storeys including community benefits. As a result of Council’s modification, the basis for the expanded public realm at the corner and enhanced setback limit was eliminated. On April 26, 2018 City Council adopted a new Burlington Official Plan. On December 4, 2018, the Region of Halton issued a Notice of Non-Conformity to the City, which had the effect of extending the Region’s review process until such time as the Region determined that the non-conformity was rectified. While collaborating extensively with Regional staff on the issues of non-conformity the City undertook the scoped re-examination of the adopted Official Plan. This process took place while the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study was on hold. Through the scoped re-examination of the New Official Plan Project in 2019-2020, the adopted Official Plan policies for the Downtown were studied. As part of that work the north-east corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road was revisited and was included within the Brant Main Street Precinct. The purpose of this precinct was to serve as a unique retail destination within the Downtown and city-wide. The precinct provides a wide range of policies to guide development within the precinct. Specifically, related to built form, this precinct requires height not to exceed three (3) storeys within 20 metres of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road and eleven (11) storeys adjacent to John Street and beyond 20 metres of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road. In November 2020 the Region of Halton approved Burlington’s New Official Plan, which is currently under appeal. The Subject Property was not included in the scoped re-examination of the New Official Plan Project and the new Official Plan did not change the existing land use designation and permitted building height for the Waterfront Hotel property located at 2020 Lakeshore Road.  Former city Councillor John Taylor in discussion with Linda Davies and Dee Dee Davies during one of the six public sessions that were held shortly after this Council was elected. The Gazette was asked to leave the room, at the instructions of the Mayor, when the conversation between the stakeholders was taking place. Next Steps City staff with support from the project consultant, The Planning Partnership, the group that is leading the consultation process will resume the workplan where it left off in 2018 to complete the study. The work is anticipated to take 16-17 weeks and will be completed within the original project budget. The resumption of the study will build upon and advance the previous work and community input to-date to develop a final preferred concept. There is a much better solution on what can be done with the hotel site. A small group is working at building public support for a different look at the waterfront hotel site that includes possible land swaps and building a new city hall on the property; something that would be four or five storeys high and include a purpose built Art Gallery. Burlington can do better than the application before the Planning department. There are limits on what developers should be able to do. This is a story that is going to be around for some time. It is your city. Related news stories: Some ideas on what is possible
January 10th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON Part 1 of a two part report on how satisfied with citizens are with the services the city provides Council got off to a fast start this morning. Just as soon as they confirmed that there was a quorum they went into a Closed Session. There were three different matters that had to do with litigation and the public seldom gets to listen to any of that stuff. Rory Nisan was chairing the CSSRA Standing Committee – he advised that there would be another break in the proceedings for a different closed session later in the day. The meeting today was virtual virtual. The practice up until this point has been to have the Chair and the Clerk in Council Chambers. This time Nisan got to stay home and run the show from his residence. He was not wearing sweatpants or pyjamas. On the agenda was a report on how well the city is doing on citizen engagement. A report from MBD consulting, that had a price tag of $29,000 + was presented. Since 1998, the City of Burlington has conducted community survey since 1998 to uncover resident satisfaction. The surveys typically happen every 2-4 years, the most recent surveys were in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021. The survey provides the opportunity for bench marking and to monitor progress of community measures over time with the goal of continuous improvement. In addition to resident satisfaction, the last three community surveys (2015, 2019 and 2021) included asking residents questions regarding communications and engagement with the City. One of the questions asked related to taxes.
There are additional graphics further along in this article. The 2021 community survey was conducted using Computer Aided Telephone Interviews where respondents were randomly selected from the city’s population using a mix of both residential landlines and cell phone numbers. The goal was to complete 750 interviews/surveys, with 125 completed interviews/surveys per ward. The total reached was 755 completed interviews/surveys with a margin of error of +/-3.6% with a 95% confidence interval. The interviews/surveys were conducted between September 13 to October 18 and it took on average 18 minutes to complete. Responses were weighted based on the population by age and ward. Two items that are important to note one, that satisfaction of city services results were analyzed using a priority matrix that compares performance, room for improvement and the derived importance of each service (a measure which represents the level to which each service is related to overall satisfaction) and two a combination of both randomly selected Burlington cellular and landlines were included in order to obtain a variety of responses. These were the issues that people were most concerned about
Levels of satisfaction with the services that are being provided
Overall, the results of the survey turned out highly positive across several measures.
January 9th, 2020 BURLINGTON, ON
 Stand By says the city motto. The city has a crest with images that links to the agricultural past. The city has a flag.
Soon the city might have decided upon a bird that represents some of what the city stands for. There are a few days left to nominate a City Bird The Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington community team is seeking nominations from the public for a choice of a “City Bird” for Burlington (and one for Hamilton as well). Is there a species of bird you think has a special connection to Burlington? Nominations must be submitted by midnight of Friday, January 14th. Nominations will be reviewed by the BFHB team and short-listed to the top 5 to 10 most suitable bird species to represent the city. The final vote to select one City Bird will be put to the public in an online poll to follow, in late January 2022. The City Bird Nomination Form is HERE: Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington is working to get both Burlington and Hamilton certified as Bird Friendly Cities in 2022, under the new Nature Canada program. Selecting a “City Bird” is part of the certification process. To learn more about Bird Friendly City: Facebook: Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City webpage:
January 7th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
A revision to the City of Burlington’s COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Policy will now require all City employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The new mandatory vaccination policy reflects the need to ensure City workplaces are protected from the impacts of COVID-19 and supports the City’s top priority of keeping City employees and residents safe and reducing the spread of coronavirus. The mandatory policy, which is effective immediately, applies to all staff and any new individuals being hired by the City. Employees will be required to submit their proof of vaccination by April 1, 2022. A previous COVID-19 vaccination mandate put in place for the Fire Department will require all Fire staff to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 by March 1, 2022. The City will comply with its human rights obligations and accommodate employees who are legally entitled to accommodation. The City of Burlington first introduced a COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Policy in August 2021. The policy required all City employees to show proof of vaccination by Oct. 1, 2021 and included a Rapid Antigen Testing option for those City staff not yet vaccinated prior to entering a City workplace. Under the revised mandated policy, the definition of “fully vaccinated” is an individual who has received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It does not include booster shots at this time.  City Manager Tim Commisso Tim Commisso, City Manager made it clear: “The situation with COVID-Omicron variant is dynamic and continues to evolve quickly. Over the last 21 months with the support of Council, the City’s leadership team has continually implemented and revised City policies and practices to help reduce the impact of the pandemic. The need to revise our Staff Vaccination Policy to now make it mandatory is totally aligned with our number one goal of protecting the health and safety of Burlington residents and staff.” Quick Facts • To support the health and safety of the community and City staff, the City of Burlington also has a COVID-19 Contractor Vaccination Policy. The policy requires contractors to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entering any City facility. The policy applies to all contractors who perform work for the City of Burlington indoors, for a period of longer than 15 minutes. COVID-19 vaccine information
Lawson Hunter interviews Gazette publisher and former Council member Rick Craven - should be a hoot.
January 7th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Lawson Hunter is one of those Burlingtonians who gets involved.  Lawson Hunter delegating before Burlington City Council He has delegated at city hall on numerous occasions and served on the Board of a number of organizations. He has a regular podcast he does each week called Burlington NOW on which he interviews people he thinks are interesting. He was the first person to interview Scott Wallace and get part of the unfortunate story about the closure of Burlington Taxi out to the public. Lawson Hunter also does a regular program on CFMU, the McMaster University radio station. Lawson gave me a call before the end of 2021 and asked if I would go on the air with him and talk about how we all got through that year. I am a newspaper person:; radio and TV were never mediums I worked with. I talk too fast for radio and my ears are too big for television. But a chance to promote the Gazette was not something I wanted to miss. The conversation we had is being broadcast over the McMaster University radio station – CFMU. Link to that broadcast is HERE The interview will air live at 5pm Monday on CFMU-FM 93.3. If you are in Burlington you should be able to pick up the interview on your radio. If not click on the link above at 5:00 pm I was advised that I share the program with former Councillor Rick Craven – hearing the differences in our opinions should be a hoot.
January 7th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
City will host another COVID-19 Telephone Town Hall on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
The event provides an opportunity for the community to hear how this latest Covid19 variant is impacting us and a chance to ask questions about the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and how it is impacting city programs and services. The event will be hosted by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who will be joined by a panel of local leaders, including representatives from Joseph Brant Hospital, to help answer residents’ questions. How to Participate Residents who would like to participate in the town hall can do so in the following ways: If you registered for any of the previous town halls, you are not required to register your phone number a second time. If you wish to have your phone number removed from the call list, please email getinvolved@burlington.ca by noon on Jan. 18, 2022. Join by telephone: Anyone who does not receive a telephone invitation can call 1-800-759-5308 just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to join the town hall. For those individuals calling in, please be advised more than one attempt may be required due to the high volume of traffic on the phone lines. If the first call does not connect, please hang up and dial the 1-800 number again. Listen to audio: Live audio from the Jan. 19 town hall will be broadcast on YourTV, channel 700 on Cogeco and on the YourTV Halton YouTube page. Once the call begins, a moderator will provide participants with instructions for how to submit their questions to the leadership panel. A recording and transcript of the town hall will be posted online after Jan. 19
January 7th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Word from a usually reliable source is that Regional Chair Gary Carr is not going to run for re-election in October.  Gary Carr as a goal tender. Gary and his wife moved to Burlington recently and are apparently enjoying being in the city. Previously they were living in a semi-rural setting in Milton Carr has done a good job at the Region. He was a good MPP and an excellent Speaker in the Legislature. He was a pretty good goalie when he played hockey. The talk amongst the political set is that Tom Adams, an Oakville Councillor is looking at the job. The Region could do a lot worse.  Tom Adams – Oakville and Regional Councillor He is the longest continuous serving Chair of Halton’s Planning and Public Works Committee as well as the longest serving Chair of Oakville’s Budget Committee. In these positions, Councillor Adams has worked to protect natural lands, build and renew infrastructure and strengthen Oakville’s strong finances. Adams is young, articulate and well focused when he takes on a task. Good on detail as well
January 7th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
While casino players savour more than one aspect of an online casino, one particularly overlooked part of what they consider important are payment methods. If they’re able to easily use multiple safe methods of payment on an online gaming platform to provide a seamless experience, they’d be one step closer to signing up. Interac
While Interac is an e-wallet, it’s also a part of the Canadian banking system, with the cards specifically issued for it by the respective financial institution. It also falls under the bank’s policies on fees and taxes. As Interac is supported by many national banks, it’s easier to withdraw casino winnings, as players can withdraw their money from their Interac card at an ATM. PayPal
A PayPal online casino is user-friendly, as almost all online users are used to the PayPal system, and each transaction made is secured and encrypted. An online casino that accepts PayPal is most likely trustworthy, reliable, and can be safely accessed through mobile devices. Using PayPal to deposit funds into an online casino account is fast and easy. They simply decide on a payment method from the list of deposit options, choose the sum, and click on ‘Deposit’. They’re then taken to their PayPal account, where they’ll complete the secure transaction. Another benefit of using PayPal is that it supports several different cards and doesn’t ask the player to share their personal data to complete a transaction. They can send money to their online gaming balance in seconds simply by using their email address. Skrill
Withdrawing funds using Skrill is faster than most other methods. A player’s winnings can be with them in just 48 hours. It also has a mobile app to allow players to make payments on their mobile device if they enjoy playing casino games on their smartphone or tablet. Furthermore, some online gaming platforms offer players generous bonuses for using payment methods, with Skrill often being among them. Wrap UpYes, online casino players and sports betting fans want to get on with placing their bets, whether that’s playing their favourite slot or betting on the No. 1 tennis player on the 2022 ATP tour. However, with so many payment methods for players to use, it can sometimes be difficult to know which online gaming platform to choose. One thing’s for sure: depositing and withdrawing at online gaming platforms is easier than ever, regardless of which one they ultimately decide to play at. However, there are certainly some payment methods that are safer than others, such as the three mentioned here. If online gamers combine one of these safer methods with a welcome bonus, such as a matched deposit, they’re on their way to a great introduction and a lot of fun, all while feeling confident their transactions are safe.
January 6th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Another hurdle. Lakeshore West GO train customers will need to check their schedules this month as construction on the Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project will affect some trains trips in January. Hurontario LRT construction continues to move forward in Mississauga at Port Credit GO Station. The work will affect some Lakeshore West GO train service this month. Metrolinx News has the latest information GO customers. Let’s start with the most significant service change, happening on Saturday, Jan. 8. These service changes mean there will be no GO train service between Union Station and Oakville GO throughout the day. A new signal bridge is installed over the tracks  Signal platform work will disrupt service on the GO Lakeshore west service. Some service on the Lakeshore West corridor will be impacted by ongoing work. GO trains will still run hourly between West Harbour GO and Oakville GO and half hourly between Aldershot GO and Oakville GO where buses will be available to take customers between Oakville GO and Union Station Bus Terminal. Customers who use Long Branch, Mimico or Exhibition GO will not have bus or train service and will have to use local transit providers. Why is this happening? Metrolinx is carrying out important work related to the construction of the Hurontario LRT project near Port Credit GO Station which can only take place when trains are not running. Weekday service changes in January Just like the Jan. 8 disruption, there will be no train service between Union Station and Oakville GO while crews work on building the Hurontario LRT near Port Credit GO. Replacement buses will be available at Oakville, Clarkson, and Port Credit GO to get customers to the Union Station Bus Terminal and back again, directly from the GO station’s bus loop. Here’s what you need to know for January 6, 13 and 18-21:  GO train service will be a little on the hectic side for parts of January – getting signal platforms in place is critical for that day that 15 minute service is available. Westbound: The 8:45 p.m. Union Station – 10:03 p.m. West Harbour GO train is the last westbound train to make all stops to West Harbour GO Replacement buses will not service Exhibition, Mimico, and Long Branch GO Stations during the service adjustment. Similar impacts to Lakeshore West GO train service are planned for February and March. Metrolinx will update customers as these impacts to service are finalized. Oh Joy!
January 6th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is blessed with a number of not for profit organizations that serve the public very well. The people working for those organizations don’t earn a lot of money and for many it is a constant struggle. The provincial level has brought in some changes to the legislation that governs how they are to operate. Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) was proclaimed on October 19, 2021 and nonprofits have three years to update their bylaws and letters patent to comply.
Benjamin Miller is a staff lawyer on the Nonprofit Law Ontario project of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) He is presenting in a webinar on January 20th, If you are part of the not for profit sector this is an event you want to take part in – especially for the Board members. The webinar will walk through what is new in the ONCA, steps nonprofits need to take to transition to the ONCA, and how Community Legal Education Ontario’s (CLEO) free resources can help you create ONCA compliant bylaws from scratch or adapt your current bylaws. Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) replaced Ontario’s Corporations Act on October 19, 2021. To learn more visit nonprofitlaw.cleo.on.ca Join us: This session is suitable for: Organizations already incorporated under Ontario’s Corporations Act or a special Act. This session is NOT for: Presenter: Required: Pre-Session Questionnaire (30 seconds) Register here: cdhalton.ca/events Registration closing on Tuesday January 18, 2022
January 5, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
The province has temporarily moved into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications. Effective Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, Burlington Transit will temporarily reduce service and operate on a modified schedule:
Schedule information
Burlington Transit is asking that that the public only use transit
Overview of Modified Service Peak service is between 5:30 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
 By StaffJanuary 5th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
She was a Birthday Girl yesterday – and she had a message for the people of the city.  Mayor Meed Ward with her son and her dog taking a walk in the park. THANK YOU!! To everyone who made my day brighter with all your birthday messages. I’m so grateful that I could start and end my birthday doing what I love. First – serving as mayor of Burlington. Started my day with our emergency control group team ensuring services you count on continue to be delivered with the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation. Second – my happy place is a walk in the woods with my hubby, son, and Wheatie. Missing my two daughters, but I’ve learned when they grow up, they leave home!! (And wow, they do grow up fast!) Today we visited one of Burlington’s amazing parks – Kerncliffe at the top of Kerns Road in our old neighbourhood.
January 5th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Paramedics transported the pedestrian to Joseph Brant Hospital for emergency treatment. Unfortunately the pedestrian succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The driver remained on scene and is cooperating with the police investigation. The Collision Reconstruction Unit has taken carriage of the investigation. Any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are asked to call 905-825-4747 ext: 5065.
By Ray Rivers January 4th, 2022 BURLINGTON, ON
Dog Logic – If you don’t see it, then it doesn’t exist. And Ontario’s Premier Ford figures that’ll work for him. If we stop testing, recording and reporting our cases of COVID infection the pandemic will seem… like it’s gone away. Ontario is in the midst of the largest COVID wave ever and the government is overwhelmed and over its head. Ontario residents got angry last month when the Premier didn’t show up for a briefing on Omicron just as we were entering the Christmas period. Where was he while this new variant was wreaking havoc everywhere and spreading like wildfire is still unknown. But apparently he has a cottage and there is a basement at Queen’s Park where one could hide.  Is the medium the message? Going to take more than a T shirt to command public trust Nobody blames Ford for the arrival of Omicron, it’s everywhere. But his inaction in the face of this new public crisis is indefensible/inexcusable. Unfortunately it’s a familiar pattern for this premier. He’s been late to act with every wave of COVID – each delay actually exacerbating the problem. Anybody could have figured out that the viral surge in South Africa, last November, would land on Ontario’s doorstep by December. So what was Ontario’s government waiting for…Christmas? Even the World Health Organization had warned everyone that it was coming. The feds got the message, and Canada banned travellers from seven southern Africa countries as far back as late November. Mr. Ford referred to the latest variant as spreading like a wildfire. So one would have expected him to have got the water hose out before the flames were already in the living room. But now he acknowledges that it’s too late, and is content to just slow it down. But he’ll use the same tool as always – lockdown restrictions to limit social contact.  No masks required if they are learning at home – question is – are they learning? He has once again paused in-class education, after a good deal of dithering. Sadly, even as we move into the 3rd calendar year of COVID our schools are still not safe enough to fully resume in-class instruction. And that means there would have been almost certain student-to-student transmission with this highly transmissible variant. So initially the government plan was to hide the statistics – not report cases of infection in schools. If you don’t see it, then it doesn’t exist. Except parents, teachers and health care professionals were not going to let him get away with that. Rather than suffer a backlash over reporting, Mr. Ford just closed the schools and Ontario is back to remote learning. And when it comes to transparency, it isn’t just schools. The rules on PCR molecular testing have changed and are now limited only to health professionals and some most vulnerable folks. If you have symptoms and you’re vaccinated, just stay home for 5 days. That is unless you need to show your boss an official positive test result. The government has suggested people use one of those antigen rapid tests to see if they are positive, as an alternative. But, despite the federal government giving 50 million test kits to Ontario, there are none available. Ontario had been distributing these free rapid test kits in some malls and the odd liquor store – but not apparently anymore. People lined up for hours to get a kit – bearing a close resemblance to characters from the movie ‘Hunger Games’ as they scrambled over one another. It was pretty much the same sad story when it came to getting a lifesaving booster shot. The province opened up eligibility to non-seniors only after the Omicron wave was on us. People scrambled to make a booking and the booking systems did what they had done before – disappointed or crashed. Even the National Post, a Tory friendly paper couldn’t hold back its disgust. The government may be right on reporting infection test statistics. What is the point if they are unreliable and unrepresentative? That is a sad admission – so we will be treated to hospital and ICU admissions data from now on instead. Ford’s is not the first government who has wanted to end testing and reporting COVID numbers. Alberta’s Kenny and former US president Trump also tried to trick the public into thinking things were better than they really were by stopping testing. It’s a new year, but unfortunately it feels even worse that last year, given that we should have learned something from past. The government’s failure to act in a timely fashion is disgraceful. Some experts believe the variant will peak in the next couple weeks and then crash, as it has apparently done in South Africa. But what if it doesn’t? What is Plan B? Dog Logic?
Background links: Ontario Restrictions – Anger at Premier – School Case Reporting – Stampede for Boosters – Hospital Surge – Rapid Tests –
January 4th, 2020 BURLINGTON, ON
The three things the city wants to focus on in 2022 Fractious council Losing the football Waterfront Hotel With nothing but virtual Council meetings for just about two years now it is difficult to read just what is taking place.  Councillor Kearns is missing the Standing Committee Clerk and the City Manager are included If you know the players a little you can pick up some of the discord – and there is certainly discord but this council works very hard to ensure that very little of it gets seen by the public. The hope that many Burlingtonians had, including this reporter and the Gazette, when Marianne Meed Ward bent her head forward as the Chain of Office was placed around her neck is not today what it was that December evening in 2018. The hope hasn’t entirely disappeared but there is discord and differences. Council is split into two factions: The Mayor who will be supported by Rory Nisan until the day he is no longer in office and Kelvin Galbraith who likes the way the Mayor accepts his – let’s build stuff approach to being a ward Councillor. One the other side, Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte and Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman are usually on the same page – and it is seldom the same page as the Mayor. The factions are not cast in stone with Nisan being the exception.  The swing vote – didn’t see that coming in 2018 The swing vote is ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna (who’d thought this is how things would work out) who has taken to developing his own view on those matters he understands. And while he is frequently with the Mayor – not as much as he used to be. Five of the seven members of Council have now been in office for three years and are gearing up for re-election. With one exception the expectation is that all seven will seek re-election. And no – I am not prepared to say who the exception is at this point. The important things is the the newbies have found most of their footing – they have developed a good working relationships with their constituents; feel comfortable with most of the issues and are tiring of the way the Mayor treats them. Lisa Kearns thought she would like to serve on the Police Services Board and chose to put her name forward. The Mayor did not support Kearns – and the seat went to a Council member from Oakville. Traditionally members of a Council support each other when they have something they want to do outside of Council. Meed Ward may have had some very good reasons for supporting someone else for the Police Services Board but common courtesy called for her to talk to Kearns and explain her position. Kearns was apparently blind-sided by the Mayor.  Without a doubt the quickest and the fastest mind on Council; a workhorse as well – does her homework Kearns, by the way, would have been an excellent Police Serve Board member – she does her homework (better than anyone else on Council) she would have kept the Board members on their toes.  Councillor Stolte looking for some clarity. When Councillor Stolte isn’t asking for additional clarification on a matter she struggles to get around the interference the Mayor pushes in front of her. If Stolte has an event going on and invites the Mayor – it becomes the Mayor’s event. The differences in approach and philosophy became glaringly obvious when the Mayor could not find a way to get the tax increase number she felt she needed going into an election in October. Her thinking had merit – it deserves an explanation and some analysis and in the fullness of time we will get that to you. Meed Ward had a well thought out position – the other council members just didn’t buy it. This Council came very close to being in a position where they were not able to agree on a budget which would have put the creating of a budget in the hands of staff – which City Manager Tim Commisso advised would “not be a pretty picture”. There are times when the Mayor bends over backwards to get her colleagues to “collaborate” with her. The city does not have someone serving as Deputy Mayor because the members of Council could not agree on just what the job would entail. When the Burlington Land Partnership was set up every member of Council wanted to be on it – wasn’t something the city manager wanted so no one sits on the BLP – which by the way is a significant venture that the general public knows very little about.  Transparency became her middle name – she draped it around her like a flag In 2010 there were three new members on Council. Meed Ward, newly elected had a lot of time in as probably the leading delegate as a citizen knew the ropes. Paul Sharman had a lot of senior executive experience in the private sector and knew his way around process and financial reports. The only really new ember in 2010 was Blair Lancaster. There wasn’t nearly as much learning on the job for the newbies. And Rick Goldring who had become Mayor had a good feel for what the job was about – which is not the same thing as being able to actually do the job.  Normally wears a winning smile. Meed Ward is now in a similar situation. She is Mayor but has yet to create the set of skills needed to make it happen. Politics is the art of the possible with grey being the dominant colour – black or white doesn’t work. Meed Ward doesn’t do grey. Listening intently and being able to read the wind as well as the tea leaves in a cup are vital. It is an art with an understanding of the little bit of science that matters. What a Councillor is made of should be evident by the end of the third year of the term – and with Meed Ward it is evident but it isn’t all that useful.  Expensive but well worth the price – great legal counsel solved a problem for the ADI Group – shovels are in the ground and the cranes are hauling concrete. There have been some major wins. The Mayor managed to get rid of the Planner in place when she was elected. She did get the Urban Growth Centre moved north and proved that the a bus terminal that is the size of the average kitchen is not an MTSA – despite what sharp legal counsel was able to convince an OMB hearing that it was. That was a big win for the ADI Group Meed Ward seems adrift when it comes to solving the football, almost missing in action on the redevelopment plans for the Waterfront Hotel. She gave Black Lives Matter the coverage it needs and then got totally silly with her drive to put Rainbow Crosswalks in every ward while learning to live with a budget that needed some time in a Weight Watchers class. In 2018 the Gazette said Meed Ward was the best of the three people running for the job. We expected her to grow into the job – that hasn’t happened and unless she has a horse shoe in her purse that can be put to good use, or knows how to pull a rabbit out of the hat, she is in trouble.  Rick Goldring seldom wore his chain of Office outside Council Chambers So much so that Rick Goldring is understood to be looking at his chances of once again wearing the Chain of Office.  Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman is usually very direct, tends to want to see data that is verifiable and expects to get his way. Are there other candidates that might want to reach for that brass ring? There are – but they are nowhere near ready to show their hand. As for the members of Council Meed Ward will have the support of at least two – one of which may not win his seat come October 2020. The problem with the football and the strange situation with the Waterfront re-development project will follow. 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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By Pepper Parr
By Rupert Walters 
Enhance the Brant Street view corridor to frame views to the Brant Street Pier, and require a significant building setback from the west property line and define and consider a building setback from the thin red line and maximize the new and enhanced publicly accessible green/open space.
It hasn’t chosen a flower nor has it chosen a mascot – the Jefferson Salamander is a cinch for that category.
By Pepper Parr
By Brian Playfair
Interac is a unique 
One of the most popular e-wallet payment methods is PayPal. The solution is regarded as the best for online gamers as it supports online transactions from numerous countries. It also supports instant transactions and is totally secure and safe.
SkrIll bears some similarities with PayPal, as it’s completely safe and easy to use, and it doesn’t share a player’s data with third parties. It takes seconds to add funds to a player’s Skrill account.
By Staff
By Staff
On Tuesday January 4, 2022 at approximately 7:15 PM the Halton Regional Police Service responded to a 66 year old pedestrian who was struck by a motor vehicle on Lakeshore Road near Goodram Road
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
By Pepper Parr
