 By Ray Rivers
June 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a meeting that never needed to be called. A team of Hamilton traffic civil servants came to deliver a lecture to more than a hundred Carlisle local residents assembled last Thursday evening in Carlisle arena. Apparently somebody had to talk-down those noisy locals objecting to a traffic light being rammed down their throats. At best, it was a top-down consultation after the fact – at worst another example of why the amalgamated city of Hamilton was a bad idea.
 All-way stop sign at Centre and Carlisle Roads City officials claimed that traffic at the village’s existing four way stop was something like 480 cars per hour – which might have made it eligible for a stop light had it been a city intersection in Toronto. That sent the 100 plus local folks attending the meeting into a fit of laughter. Someone in the crowd suggested that number might be over a week, not an hour. Carlisle, with a population numbering fewer than 2000, is a small quaint place which has mercifully been mostly saved from the kind of urban sprawl we see elsewhere in Hamilton.
 Ted McMeekin: Hamilton City Councillor for the Carlisle community. The people were clear – they don’t want this solution to a problem which doesn’t exist. After it became painfully clear that the bureaucrats weren’t listening, let alone getting the message, Ted McMeekin, the local Councillor commandeered the microphone. He then invited comments and about 20 or so people politely explained how the stop light would ruin their peaceful village. They wanted to keep the status quo and rejected the City staff’s stop light pet project.
McMeekin’s introductory comments bemoaned that the city faces a $5 billion dollar capital deficit and was planning an almost 9% tax increase planned for 2026. And yet property taxes in Hamilton continue to be significantly higher than those our neighbours pay. And, the price for this stop light project is tagged at over $400,000.
As the member of the local government responsible for that financial mess, you’d think McMeekin would be pleased to listen to the people, save taxpayers half a million dollars, cancel the ill-conceived stop light project, and take a victory bow. McMeekin, who had lived in Carlisle for a number of years, just needed to listen to his electors, and former neighbours, and say…. no.
 A pot hole like this could cost you a hub cap. But the councillor didn’t do that. Instead, he created just another local committee most likely intent on wearing down the locals until they’d accept the stop light. This whole stop light project has been a waste of time and money, and is symptomatic of what’s wrong with the government of this poorly conceived City of Hamilton. And, it’s not that there aren’t all kinds of much needed opportunities to spend that kind of tax payer money rather than somebody’s pet project.
Hamilton has the worst roads in Ontario, bar none. And, duh, it’s not that lonely intersection in Carlisle but all the pot holed roads surrounding the village that pose the greatest safety threat for residents. Some pot holes are so large enough they’d destroy a car’s suspension and blow its tires, forcing drivers to dangerously straddle the centre line to dodge them. I’d heard about a motorcyclist recently getting thrown off his bike when he inadvertently hit one of those mini-craters.
But city hall would rather spend staff time and our money installing just another unneeded stop light.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Highway Traffic guide – Carlisle Meeting – Worst Roads – Tax Competitiveness – Tax Spending – Frustrated Residents –
 By Pepper Parr
June 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Where do things stand on the Devilrays use of city swimming pools?
 Kimberly Calderbank: President of the swimming club ensured that they had a reserve fund to cover the costs of situations like this. The lawyer representing the swimming Club has written the City Solicitor advising him that he will seek an injunction to prevent the city from doing anything until the matter has gone through a judicial review and invited the City Solicitor to meet with him and see if the problem cannot be resolved before any legal steps are taken.
That should bring that matter to a close, assuming this is just a clerical error or, more disturbingly, an employee failing to seek direction from a superior.
Expect the city to realize the error and reverse the decision made at the staff level.
Lots of egg on a lot of faces on this one.
 By Staff
June 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The start point and the finishing point of the 2026 Around the Bay will be different.
When the gun goes off on April 12, runners will start on Guise Street West (take James Street as far north as you can and it’s the last street you hit before going into the water) and they’ll cross the finish line on Discovery Drive, near HMCS Haida.
The exact spots have yet to be determined, but they’ll be locked down by September.
Why the change?
If the race was going to be run on its traditional weekend, it would’ve been scheduled for March 29. However, that’s Juno Award weekend here in Hamilton, which not only draws a ton of resources, closes roads and fills hotels, but also eliminates the newly renamed TD Coliseum as a venue. For this year, anyway.
The week before would put it on the final Sunday of March break. Lewis says they’ve tried that before and it has a huge effect on registrations.
The week after is Easter, which is obviously a problem. That leaves April 12. Liuna is booked that day
The route will be generally similar to the one this year. The Discovery Centre, the Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre and the Leander Boat Club will provide facilities. And with a slightly later date, the temperatures might even be a little more favourable.
By Pepper Parr
June 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We are beginning to get a tighter look at that mess with the allocation of swimming time in city pools
To recap the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) submitted the documents required to prove that they were a not-for-profit organization and that 85% of their membership lived in Burlington
The swimming club was told that the documents did not meet the requirements.
 The Devilrays asked for a review of the decision.
The review took place.
Same decision – they didn’t qualify.
The paperwork and what appears to be the level at which the decisions were made was handled by Melissa Mordue, CPPO, CPPB – Manager, Procurement Services for the city.
The CPPB certification is designed for non-supervisory procurement professionals who handle essential functions within the procurement cycle.
CPPO – Certified Public Procurement Officer
The designations at least suggest the person doing the work was qualified.
Then why were there so many mistakes made?
Our understanding is that lawyers have been brought in who are asking for a Judicial Review and an Injunction that puts a halt on everything until a Judge has reviewed all the documents, listened to all the testimony and rendered a decision.
Everyone is asking – who at City Hall dropped the ball on this one? Or was the ball even handed over to someone higher up the food chain?
We don’t think Hassaan Basit had told the Mayor about his plan to leave the city and begin working at Queen’s Park when this became an issue. We are trying to put together a timeline to get a fix on who did what when.
The Burlington communications have this nasty habit of releasing bad news late on Friday afternoons – on a holiday weekend if that’s possible.
Last Friday was one of those days from hell for Mayor Meed Ward – she had the swimming pool space allocation issue blow up and the CAO handing in the keys to his office on the same day.
The Mayor has taken the position that she is not permitted to involve herself in procurement matters, which seems to include not asking the CAO to look into the concerns citizens have.
With a municipal election less than 15 months away one wonders if the next city council is going to look any different.
 By Staff
June 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Porter Airlines has added several sunny south routes to its list of destinations.
 Porter Airlines expanding its flight offerings out of the Hamilton Airport. In December they will be offering flights out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to destinations such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, as well as Nassau in the Bahamas.
At their peak, some of the routes will operate up to four times weekly. An end date for the flight routes has yet to be determined.
The multimillion-dollar renovation of the departure spaces was a much needed improvement.
Porter now offers daily, non-stop service to Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton out of the Hamilton airport. A second daily flight to Vancouver will soon be added to the roster.
Porter Airlines CEO Michael Deluce previously told The Spectator that the airline was “very dedicated” to the expansion at the Hamilton airport, noting the company had seen “high demand” for flights out of the city.
 Jet bridges will mean passengers will no longer have to walk across the tarmac to board a flight. The announcement comes just weeks after the airport debuted its multimillion-dollar revamp, which saw the exterior facade transformed and parts of the terminal inside refreshed.
Jet bridges are also expected to arrive at the airport by next winter, meaning travellers will no longer have to walk across the tarmac to their flight — a first for the airport.
 By Wayne Sloan
June 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The quiet departure of Hassaan Basit, the now -“former” CEO of the City of Burlington – might go unnoticed by some—but for those of us paying attention, it signals something far deeper and far more troubling: a city administration mired in mediocrity, marinated in apathy, and completely out of touch with the people it was elected or appointed to serve.
Let’s be clear—Basit’s legacy is not one of innovation or impact, but of glossy presentations and hollow words. His exit does not close a chapter; it simply reveals the stagnation that continues to fester within City Hall. The problem isn’t one individual—it’s the pervasive culture of weak leadership, bureaucratic indifference, and a stunning lack of accountability that infects the entire senior administration.
 Planning that has spiraled out of control. Residents see what’s happening—out-of-control spending, decaying infrastructure, gridlocked traffic that worsens by the week, irresponsible, relentless high-rise development everywhere in the city that threatens the very character and livability of our municipality …. the growing disconnect between residents and their so-called representatives. We see it because we live with it every single day.
Meanwhile, Council and the mayor seem oblivious or simply uninterested, locked in their echo chambers while the city’s planning spirals out of control.
They don’t listen. They don’t act. And when they do, it’s often with arrogance and ineptitude.
 Hassaan Basit, Basit’s exit is not a solution—it’s a symptom. And until there is a complete reckoning inside Burlington City Hall, we will continue to suffer the consequences of a government that is, at its core, unresponsive, unaware, and unfit for the responsibilities it carries.
Replacing Basit might be a starting point for “doing better” — “do better” because the people of Burlington deserve leadership that’s grounded in action, not optics.
And to the mayor specifically: you wanted the spotlight—now try leading like someone who’s earned it.
 By Pepper Parr
June 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The swimming club, Burlington Aquatic Devilrays(BAD) has been around for more than 40 years and now find themselves facing the prospect of losing their pool time – the problem seems to be the requirement that a document that does not exist be made available to the city.
Kimberly Calderbank, volunteer president of the club said: “Someone has made a big mistake – they need to be held accountable.”
The City staff member who handled the paperwork has credentials related to managing procurement issues.
The issue is a document that the swimming club could not provide:
The City rejected BAD’s submission because a requested document: a “current and valid Certificate of Incorporation.”
Club officials explain that the “phrasing was unclear and did not reflect standard terminology or availability in the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations framework.
As verified through communications with Service Ontario on Friday, June 6, 2025, the following was confirmed:
A “current” Certificate of Incorporation does not exist in Ontario’s corporate registry system.
The available and relevant corporate documents are:
o Articles of Incorporation
o Archived Application for Incorporation (1994)
o Articles of Amendment (2024)
o Application for Supplementary Letters Patent (2001)
o Certificate of Status (which BAD submitted)
There is no option to obtain a “current and valid Certificate of Incorporation” under Ontario’s not-for-profit corporate registry. A Certificate of Incorporation, by definition, is a historical document issued at the time of incorporation—it does not have a current or renewable form. As such, it was impossible to fulfill this requirement as worded. In alignment with Service Ontario’s guidance, we submitted a Certificate of Status, which is the only official and up-to-date document available to confirm our active corporate standing. Due to this unclear language, BAD’s application was deemed non-compliant for a technicality that could not have been rectified based on available documentation or processes.
 Club president Kimberly Calderbank Club president Kimberly Calderbank says they applied to renew their pool training time for the fall as usual, but the next thing they got was rejection, no other contact, even after 40 years as pool users, nothing. “We didn’t hear anything the entire time. They say the city told them they needed a current and valid certificate of incorporation as a non profit. The Club says there’s actually no such forum, but it says it submitted documents showing it is a non profit corporation. But then a city councillor told them they were rejected because the city requires that at least 85% of registered participants be Burlington residents. The Devil Rays say more than 85% of their swimmers are from Burlington. Now they say the city appears to be giving the swim time to an out-of-town club from Hamilton.”
“It just doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense. This is devastating to our club. We have about 400 swimmers that will need homes if the city of Burlington doesn’t give us our city Pool time.”
 Head coach of the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays Sergei Soloukhin. Devilrays coach Sergei Soloukhin wonders why this is happening. “I feel like our club is an orphan. You know, feel like, well, something is missing, and I’m not very sure what we did is wrong.”
Mayor Mary Ann Mead Ward’s office said Council is forbidden by law for being involved in any procurement process, and referred questions to the Communications Office, but has added we are aware of the significant disruptions and concerns in the community.
The swimmers say the politicians should be paying attention and that at the end of the day, our mayor and our councillors need to understand what their staff are doing and the decisions they’re making,
The swimmers say it doesn’t end here. They’re preparing to go to court to get a judge to review the city’s decision.
All the information was included and submitted on time, the City deemed the application “non-compliant” and denied the club’s participation in the bid.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Council is forbidden by law from being involved in any procurement process”. Would that include picking up the phone and asking questions?, “This is more than a technical disqualification — it’s a betrayal of community sport,” says Kimberly Calderbank
The club filed an appeal through the City’s internal dispute resolution process, which was denied. BAD has now retained legal counsel and filed an application for Judicial Review, along with a Motion to Stay, to pause any final pool contract being awarded until the Divisional Court branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice reviews the case.
What Families Can Do
The club has launched a public awareness campaign and is calling on Burlington residents to take immediate action:
- Sign and share the petition: https://chng.it/GM75gpK9ZT
- Spread the word on social media using hashtags:
#SupportBAD #WeSwimTogether #SaveCommunitySport
One Burlington resident was less diplomatic saying: “Friday certainly was a bad news day for Mayor My Way… First, she had to try and put a positive spin on the announced departure of her hand-picked City Manager, oh sorry, CAO.
“Then she had to put on another brave face with the news that Parks and Recreation are royally screwing over the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays swim team/club. Classic Municipal Goose Stepping.
“This is going to haunt her… hope she still remembers how to dog paddle!”
 By Staff
June 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
New Democrats issue a statement in response to Premier Ford’s announcement about funding private clinics:
 Public money going into private hands instead of our local hospitals. “The Ford government announced they will funnel $155 million into private clinics every two years. That is public money going into private hands instead of our local hospitals, where help is desperately needed. All of this has been made possible through Bill 60.
“This model of private delivery with public dollars is alarming and unfair. Study after study shows that private clinics benefit the wealthiest, while leaving the rest of us behind.
“Since the Ford government began expanding private cataract surgeries, wait times have only gotten worse. In 2020, 72% of cataract surgeries were performed on time, compared to 66% in 2024. This leaves a significant number of seniors who rely on this procedure for their vision to either pay out of pocket for the health care they need, or much worse, go blind.
“Instead of strengthening our public hospitals and addressing the staffing crisis, this government is handing over our health care system to private companies. Enough is enough. This government received a new mandate to protect Ontario, but what they have been showing Ontarians is that they are willing to choose profits over people, every time.”
 By Pepper Parr
June 27th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 View of the library as you approach the Bateman Community Centre The Burlington Public Library announced today that the current Appleby branch will close and come to life again on September 15th as the New Appleby Branch
The new branch will be located within the Robert Bateman Community Centre on New Street.
Construction crews are working hard to get the new branch ready, continuing to work on the lighting, flooring, paint, and furniture.
 In commenting on the new library when it was under construction, Lita Barrie said – “there is so much light, the public is going to love the place.”  Look at the space in terms of bookshelves. Library CEO Lita Barrie said she has been looking at floor plan drawings and getting used to knowing she has 10,000 square feet of space to set up shelves and work stations.
 Final stages of construction – opens September 15th The last open day for the current Appleby Branch will be Friday, August 22, 2025. The branch will be closed to the public while moving activities are underway; library services, hold pickup, and book returns will be unavailable. The closest BPL branch with full service is Central Branch, located at 2331 New Street.
 By Staff
June 27th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Does it matter?
It should.
An arms race occurs when two or more groups compete in military superiority. It consists of a competition between two or more states to have superior armed forces, concerning production of weapons, the growth of a military, and the aim of superior military technology.
 By Pepper Parr
June 27th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The CEO is leaving the city.
 Hassan Basit – leaving City as the CEO – joining the provincial government as a senior civil servant. It comes as no surprise.
I’ve known Hassan for a long time. First met him when he was doing communications for Conservation Halton. Had long conversations with him when he decided to go after the top job with Conservation.
They made the right decision and hired him as the top dog.
He made huge changes at CH.
I was surprised when he decided to go after the job of CEO for the City. Hassaan and Marianne Meed Ward – I personally didn’t see that as a great fit.
Hassaan didn’t have much in the way of municipal-level experience, but he did bring some new ideas to the job and made the best of what he had in the way of senior-level talent.
He has been hired as the Chief Conservation Executive for the province. In the fullness of time Hassaan Basit could well become a Deputy Minister in the provincial government.
Good luck to him
 Vacation will have to wait – the Mayor needs a new CEO City Council now has the task of finding someone to steer the ship during what is going to be a tough time.
There are two people who could serve as an Interim CEO – Scott Hamilton is probably the best choice. Curt Benson is worth a close look.
Hassaan had no term plans for being a player at the municipal level.
The city now has a problem.
By Pepper Parr
June 27th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Moccasin Identifier is an Indigenous-led initiative dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Indigenous Treaties and history across Canada.
Their mission is to cover Canada in Moccasins, creating visual and educational reminders of the significance of Treaties and the Indigenous relationship to the land.
 An example of the stencil used to paint a marker on a sidewalk identifying Indigenous Treaty Lands. The above is the extent of what media got from the city. The Moccasin Identifier initiative has much for than two sentences going for it.
 Carol King, a former elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. It came about when Carol King, a former elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation was looking for a way to help educators include Indigenous issues in the classrooms.
Schools in Burlington have been using the “blanket” exercise to show how treat lands were being reduced to the point where there really wasn’t all that much land left. The story behind how the Mississaugas of the Credit had most of their land taken away from them is a sad part of Canadian history. Some very good work is being done to ensure that the Indigenous people are always at the table.
 Carol King The kit is a little on the pricey side, but if four people chip in, it works out to $25 each. Every high school student should be given a chance to mark a place in their community that tells people they are walking on treaty lands.
The kit is used to paint a stencil on a sidewalk that indicates the space is part of Treaty lands.
It is worth looking into.
Details on purchasing a stencil kit HERE.
 By Eric Stern
June 26th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Eric Stern delegating at City Council Budgeting is an annual event in the City of Burlington. During the last few months of 2025, our council will vote on the city’s budget for 2026.
All municipalities in Ontario have operating and capital budgets. Burlington’s 2025 operating budget covered $346.2 million in spending, and the capital budget covered $88.6 million in spending.
In April, the 2026 Budget process, was presented to our council.
The report contains this draft schedule.
The new date for the 2026 Financial Forecast is now July 7, 2025. There is a council meeting (Committee of the Whole) scheduled for July 7th, but no agenda is available.
In past years, the financial forecast has been an opportunity for city staff to present their “needs” to the council. In some Ontario municipalities, the mayor and councillors chose to direct staff to limit the budget increase to a specific percentage.
This does not happen in Burlington.
Every organization I’ve worked in had needs. In the private sector, the need to make a profit helped prioritize these needs.
In the public sector, residents elect representatives to help with the prioritization.
Ontario’s Strong Mayor Powers legislation only allows budgets to be reviewed for 30 days.
We can see the impact of this legislation with the release of the proposed budget taking place on November 3, followed by the council review on December 2.
Here are more key dates from the report:
A reliable source has said that the Telephone Townhall is now scheduled for November 5th, starting at 7 pm.
Looking at the timelines, the budget is being released on November 2, a scant 3 days before the Telephone Townhall and well after the “Feedback Opportunities” for residents.
The same source has said that a “draft summary budget” will be released mid-September. This is similar to the process followed last year.
Last year, a summary budget was released; this year, we’ll see a “draft” summary budget. In last year’s summary budget, 434.8 million dollars in spending was described in a 25-page document. Last year’s summary document is available here
Last year, the “Feedback” opportunities consisted of residents looking at about 10 pages of details on the operating budget, capital budget and reserve funds. The other pages include a title page, a statement from the mayor with the obligatory picture, etc.
During the feedback opportunity I attended, no details were shared, and I found it impossible to provide feedback on a purposefully vague and high-level summary budget.
Oakville’s approach is to release a draft budget 30 days before the proposed budget; this gives residents and councillors 60 days to review and comment before the budget is voted on.
Burlington’s process denies residents and councillors the opportunity to review and comment on detailed expenditures.
As we see over and over again, our elected representatives are not interested in what taxpayers have to say.
Eric Stern is the co-founder of Focus Burlington; a grass roots group that wants to see better financial prudence on the part of the city and genuine citizen engagement.
 By Staff
June 26th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Stricter bail conditions and sentencing for those involved in organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft. The Liberal government will table a bill this fall introducing stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft, said Justice Minister Sean Fraser.
“It’s perhaps obvious, given the tenor around the criminal justice system, that reforms are in order.”
The government will consider including additional reforms but “at minimum” will implement the crime policies the Liberals promised during the spring federal election, Fraser said.
In their campaign platform, the Liberals in turn promised to make bail more difficult to get for some offences, including car thefts involving violence or organized crime, home invasions, and some human trafficking and smuggling offences.
By Staff
June 26th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Prime Minister Mark Carney prepared to discipline anyone unable to meet his expectations. Prime Minister Mark Carney expects high-ranking public servants to speedily carry out his ambitious nation-building agenda and is prepared to discipline anyone unable to meet his expectations, government and Liberal insiders say.
To meet his stated goal of achieving “the largest transformation” in the Canadian economy since the Second World War, the sources say, Carney is also ready to recruit more outsiders like former Hydro-Québec chief executive Michael Sabia.
The Prime Minister and his top advisers have made it clear at every meeting that senior federal bureaucrats must meet the challenge of reforming the Canadian economy with the same “pace and urgency” as the government, one official said.
Two Liberal insiders said discussions have been held with Sabia and incoming PMO chief of staff Marc-André Blanchard about demoting or dismissing senior civil servants who can’t meet the performance goals.
 By Karina Rysberg Bay
June 26, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Hand-held devices allow a person to play from any location – this has driven the iGaming market. Ontario’s government has launched a formal review into the province’s regulated online gambling and betting market, attempting to evaluate the sector’s performance and social impact since opening to private operators in April 2022. The announcement was made by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Stan Cho during is opening talk at the 2025 Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto.
The review is designed to increase efficiency, streamline regulatory practices, and support ongoing economic growth in the industry.
Ontario’s iGaming market is expected to generate more than $10 billion in revenue this year: $6.82 billion from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and $3.7 billion from iGaming Ontario (iGO). “That Ontario’s gaming sector is booming would be a massive understatement,” Minister Cho said. “These historic figures, they represent a lot more than just the bottom line. They represent thousands of businesses, tens of thousands of jobs, millions paid forward to charity and billions back to the taxpayer.”
The market is growing in complexity and competitiveness, and players and casino operators are often looking for guidance on how to best engage with Ontario’s regulated landscape. For online poker enthusiasts, platforms like PokerStrategy are becoming highly valuable. This site offers Canadian players strategic insights into the local online poker scene, helping players improve their skills and navigate the country’s iGaming environment.
 The market is growing in complexity and competitiveness, and players and casino operators are often looking for guidance on how to best engage with Ontario’s regulated landscape. The provincial government’s upcoming review will address duplication in reporting requirements, regulatory uncertainty, and inefficiencies between iGO and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). iGO was previously a subsidiary of AGCO and has recently become a standalone agency in an attempt to create more flexibility in the fast-changing iGaming sector.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure the whole gaming sector delivers strong economic outputs for Ontarians,” Cho said. “And I want to be clear, this review and the changes made are not going to be a bunch of politicians sitting in a room thinking, what’s best for the industry. We are going to listen to the experts. We are going to listen to what affects you as the operators. We’re going to listen to the pros.”
This sentiment was repeated by Canadian Gaming Association CEO Paul Burns, who welcomed the review and stated the importance of reducing compliance burdens. “We’ve already started and have had those conversations among our members and industry to say we’ve seen the growing cost of compliance,” Burns said. “He continued that it is difficult in competitive markets since reporting is taking away from potential profits and government revenue share.
 Cho highlighted that brick-and-mortar casinos are still an essential part of the local economy, even with digital platforms experiencing massive growth. He stated the need to include player protection measures, like self-exclusion systems, across online and physical casinos.
At the center of the review is the desire to give Ontario’s iGaming industry an “A” rating. The province is a leader in the sector and can balance casino revenue with responsible gambling practices.
Heidi Reinhart, Chair of iGO, believes that the agency’s new standalone status is an important step to effective industry governance. She continued that the agency will soon announce a new CEO after the retirement of Martha Otton.
The exact scope of the review must still be outlined, but public and private sector leaders seem satisfied with the review’s priorities to reduce regulatory challenges, avoid duplication, adapt to technological changes, and improve inter-agency collaboration.
By Pepper Parr
June 26th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Most people are enjoying a decent summer – the same can’t be said for the people in the finance department.
This is the time they do that “line by line” review of the budget that will go to Council
It has always been my view that the line-by-line is more a’ matter of speaking’ rather than something they actually do.
 Eric Stern did his best to get the city to change the way it introduced the 2025 budget. He and his Focus Burlington colleagues expect to do the same thing with the 2026 budget. Last April, Finance sent a report to Council with a recommendation that they receive for information an outline of the 2026 budget process.
The report provides an overview of the process that will be undertaken to develop and finalize the 2026 Budget. Similar to previous years, the budget process will include:
A; substantial internal review and prioritization by city staff; B; numerous opportunities for public engagement throughout the process and C; opportunities for Council to bring motions to modify the Proposed Budget.
The 2026 Budget will again be aligned with the key principles of Affordability, Livability, Sustainability, and Transparency.
Additionally, the budget will provide a clear linkage to the Corporate Strategy, demonstrating accountability between what is achieved and the value to taxpayers.
Based on the draft schedule outlined in this report, the 2026 Budget is anticipated to be finalized in late November 2025. Budget approval in advance of the new year allows for the early tendering of capital projects, which can result in favourable pricing and construction timelines.
Before I go any deeper into the details Staff provided – some questions: What evidence does the city have that an early budget gives the city access to lower prices?
A clear linkage to the Corporate Strategy would be nice, but I don’t believe the Corporate Strategy has been completed.
Background – was this written with the help of AI?
This report provides an overview of the process that will be undertaken to develop and finalize the 2026 Budget
Similar to last year, the 2026 Budget will be aligned with the following 4 key budget principles
- Affordability – Balance providing for today while preparing for our future.
- Livability – Making sure the quality of life for the residents of Burlington is upheld and the services you depend on are enhanced, especially as we continue to grow by over forty per cent in the next 25 years.
- Sustainability – Our budget must provide for present needs while preparing for our future.
- Transparency – A simpler, easier to track and understand presentation of the budget, to foster better community engagement.
This rushing the budget as it is processed certainly doesn’t foster better community engagement.
Alignment to Corporate Strategy
As outlined in a Staff report (TRN-01-25), Burlington’s Strategic Planning approach on this same agenda, the City is undergoing an internal strategic realignment. This includes a revised 25-year Strategic Plan as well as a shift from the service-based Vision to Focus to a department-based 5-year Corporate Strategy.
 The current city Strategic Plan That Strategic Plan has not yet been updated to reflect Council’s thinking since the last revision.
This Corporate Strategy includes:
Strategic Directions for the organization. These are the high-level, overarching priorities to achieve the vision and mission; Deliver Positive Community Impact; Build Transparency and Public Trust; Unlock Innovation and Partnerships; Enable Sustainable Growth; and Objectives that Help Deliver the Goals. The objectives bridge the gap between the high level priorities and operational execution. These objectives are grouped in four balanced scorecard perspectives.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward giving a solid political speech. If these words were voiced by the Mayor or a member of Council they would make sense; they are a good election platform.
But this is a Staff report with data that is subjective and on point.
Has anyone seen these balanced scorecard perspectives?
How were they arrived at?
 The following wording from the Staff report is pure public relations speak, ticking off the boxes – an insult to people who care deeply about their city.
-
-
- Customer, Community, and Partners
Strengthen community resilience and environmental sustainability
Foster collaboration with external partners
Ensure services and decisions reflect community priorities
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- Financial Stewardship
Drive financial sustainability
Optimize resource planning and utilization
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- Internal Processes (Enablement & Operations)
Streamline operational and decision-making processes
Improve governance and accountability
Leverage technology for efficiency and enhanced customer experience
Build a foundation for operational excellence and future growth
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- Our People
Strengthen leadership and staff relationships
Cultivate a high-performing leadership team
Develop a future-thinking and stable workplace culture
Strategic Performance Indicators that provide quantifiable insights into how effective the organization is executing and delivering the 5-year corporate strategy.
Linking the Corporate Strategy to the budget provides accountability between what is achieved and the value to taxpayers. This process provides a clear link between the strategy and the investment required to implement the initiatives.
The budget is one mechanism that implements the Corporate Strategy through specific project initiatives.
The internal process to inform the development of the 2026 Proposed Budget will include:
An extensive line by line review of the draft operating base budget submitted by each
department will be conducted by the Finance Department and Members of XLT
(Executive Leadership Team)
An extensive review of the draft capital budget will be conducted by the Corporate
Infrastructure Committee (CIC), that includes prioritizing projects based on council
priorities, asset management principles, and financial resource availability.
Staff will prepare a Financial Needs and Multi-Year Forecast report which will be presented to Committee of the Whole in June. This report will outline key budget pressures and significant drivers as well as make recommendations for additional budget investments to address key risks, increase or enhance service levels or address operational challenges.
This is embarrassing!
Public Engagement Process
The city will continue to use existing online engagement tools such as survey opportunities on GetInvolvedBurlington.ca.
The budget will be one of the featured booths at the City’s annual Food for Feedback event in September and a Telephone Townhall is again planned for November.
Budget Townhalls are scheduled in each of the City’s 6 Wards.
The Open Book platform will also be used to present the budget and allow the public to view the budget data in an interactive and intuitive format. This is a useful feature.
To facilitate public input, a draft budget summary document will be posted to the city’s website and hard copies made available in advance of the Budget Ward meetings, which begin on September 18, 2025.
Council Budget Review Process
 Councillor Kearns  Mayor Meed Ward and Councillor Kearns can be expected to “duke it out” during the budget debates. Similar to 2024, should a Member of Council wish to propose an amendment to the budget they are requested to complete a budget review form, which will be provided to all members of council
in an electronic format. Staff request that each Council member use these forms to highlight proposed amendments to the capital and operating budgets.
The consolidated listing of the budget review forms will structure the agenda for the budget review at the Budget Committee meetings beginning November 24th.
Key Dates & Milestones
In addition to the other public engagement methods mentioned earlier, the following schedule outlines key budget town halls and other public feedback opportunities:
Budget Townhalls and Feedback Opportunities (Draft Dates)
Location Ward Time Date
 There was a time when citizens gathered and reviewed copies of a proposed budget and were able to ask staff questions directly. Council members were in the room to hear what the people who elected them to office were thinking. That was real engagement. Food for Feedback (Central Park) September 13, 2025
Haber Community Centre (Community Room 1) 6 7:00-8:30 pm September 18, 2025
LaSalle Pavilion (Main Ballroom) 1 7:00-8:30 pm September 22, 2025
Burlington Senior Centre (Community Room 3) 2 7:00-8:30 pm September 23, 2025
Brant Hills Community Centre (Community Room 1) 3 7:00-8:30 pm September 24, 2025
Tansley Woods Community Centre (Community Room 1) 4 7:00-8:30 pm September 29, 2025
Appleby Ice Centre (Community Room 1) 5 7:00-8:30 pm October 2, 2025
Telephone Townhall (Date TBD) 7:00-8:30 pm Mid – November, 2025
The following schedule outlines the process Council will follow to review the Proposed Budget:
Draft Budget Review Dates
2026 Financial Forecast Committee of the Whole June 9, 2025
Release of Proposed Budget (agenda available October 24)
Committee of the Whole November 3, 2025
Divisional Budget Presentations by XLT Budget Committee November 13, 2025
Committee review of Proposed Budget, amendments proposed via Budget Review Form process take place at the Budget Committee November 24 & 25, 2025
Council review of Proposed Budget Special Council Meeting December 2, 2025
Notes:
Legislation requires a 30-day period for Council to review and amend the Proposed Budget once it has been released. This period can be shortened via a Council vote.
Following Council review of the Proposed Budget there is a 10-day period in which the Mayor can veto a budget amendment. This period can be shortened via a Mayoral Decision.
If the veto power were exercised, there is a 15-day period in which a 2/3rds majority of Council can override the veto.
After the process of amendments, vetos and overrides has passed the budget is deemed to have been adopted.
Financial Matters; Implications
 The ballot box is the biggest implication for the seven members of Council. The approved 2025 Budget invested $346.2M into delivering city services to the community and $88.6M into the capital program to renew aging infrastructure and invest in new community assets.
The budget process provides a venue in which decisions are aligned and made to ensure an appropriate balance between affordability, maintaining/enhancing service levels and financial sustainability is achieved over the long term.
The Financial Forecast will be prepared to recognize key budget drivers including ongoing inflationary pressures as well as investments required to stabilize service delivery. It will also make recommendations for increased funding to key areas to address the needs of our growing community.
Which inflationary pressures is Staff talking about? The latest report from the Bank of Canada had inflation at 1.7%
There is so much pure bumf in the city’s document that one might ask – was this written with the help of AI?
By Pepper Parr
June 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
In Burlington, local politics doesn’t get much attention. Less than 30% of the population bothers to show up at voting stations.
And the city decided to take a pass on voting electronically from the comfort of your living room chair. You could vote in the advance polls electronically.
Why the difference was never really explained by City Hall.
In a little more than 15 months the 2026 election will take place. Anyone expecting a radically different council is smoking the good stuff.
In order to win a seat on city council the public has to know who you are. And in Burlington, creating a profile is challenging – the current Council members flood social media with their photo ops.
Any politician can be beaten – you just have to get more votes than the other guy and work a lot harder.
 Former city Councillor Jack Dennison. I expect some members of the current council to use that Jack Dennison trick – wait until the very last minute before announcing that you are going to run for office. That tends to keep anyone who wants to challenge you edgy – not knowing who they will be running against.
Burlington doesn’t have very much in the way of community based grass roots organizations. It wasn’t always this way – in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, there were numerous groups that spoke effectively to city Council.
That is not the case today. ECoB did a great job in 2018 in holding all candidate meetings in every ward. BRAG – Burlington Residents’ Action Group faltered. Focus Burlington has yet to show what it can do.
 The 2022 City Council – Councillor Shawna Stolte had to attend the swearing-in virtually. For those seeking public office they have to make sure that there is just one person challenging a sitting member. If there are two people challenging the sitting member, the vote tends to get split, and the incumbent slides through.
Of the seven-member Council – who will run and who may not run and who should not run.
 The conflicts of interest are just not recognized by Galbraith. Kelvin Galbraith, Councillor for ward 1, will run again – he likes the job, and the additional income is good. His constituents don’t seem to have a problem with his conflicts of interest. Nor do they have a problem with the way he has disturbingly prevented Tom Muir from playing an active role in ward politics. Muir can be a problem – but that doesn’t mean he loses his right to speak and take part in what happens politically in ward 1.
 Riddled with anxiety Lisa Kearns, Councillor for ward 2 will either leave politics completely or run for Mayor. She has the best mind on this council but is riddled with anxiety and tends to buckle when pressed. At the moment, she is giving Mayor Meed Ward a run for her money – but other than good theatrics – not much of a difference is being made. Who will run in ward 2 if Kearns leaves? There are some decent options – Keith Demoe isn’t one of them.
 Nisan has a game plan, which he is keeping to himself. Rory Nisan has a game plan, which he is keeping to himself. Why he chose to live in ward 2 after being elected in ward 3 is something he has never explained. He toys with the idea of being Mayor – doesn’t have the depth or the vision
 Her thinking on affordable housing was excellent – the problem was she wasn’t able to follow through. Shawna Stole, Councillor for ward 4 said she would be just a two-term Councillor, which takes her out of the race in 2026. Right? Stole may well prove me wrong.
She has never earned as much as she gets paid as a politician, which is certainly an incentive for hanging around. Neither has she all that much in the way of a difference. Her thinking on affordable housing was excellent – the problem was she wasn’t able to follow through.
 Ward 5 constituents have done very well by their council member – developers love him. Paul Sharman, Councillor for ward 5 – people could read his obituary one day and vote for him on the next. Ward 5 constituents have done very well by their council member – developers love him. At the close of each election, he has a surplus in his campaign account.
 His seat is at risk- he might choose to take a pass and retire. Angelo Bentivegnia, ward 6 Councillor, the best retail politician on this council, may not be able to overcome the anger the people in Millcroft have over his failure to really go to the mat for his constituents when a developer decided to use a large part of the golf course property for some expensive housing.
He did get to the point where he could manage the chairing of a Standing Committee – not quite at the point yet where he fully understands the contents of many Staff reports.
Add to that his health. His seat is at risk- he might choose to take a pass and retire.
Tax increases that exceed 10% have some taxpayers riled up; the absence of a clear vision for the city and the way it grows combined will result in a much different Burlington in a decade. It doesn’t have to be that way, but without some fresh thinking, there is not a lot of hope.
There are men and women out there who could serve the city very well – they have yet to be convinced that they can win and that they are needed.
 Hope – most certainly. Fiscal accountability and a vision that reflects what the public wants and what is possible. It isn’t too late – but there is not much time to waste.
 By Staff
June 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
With July 1st just around the corner, Ontario Parks is reminding travellers of their online booking system for securing a daily vehicle permit at 88 parks across the province.
 Sibbald Provincial Park Popular Ontario Parks such as Sibbald Point Provincial Park often reach full capacity during summer, with the July and August long weekends especially busy.
All day use visitors who want to enjoy the beaches and facilities at these parks can reserve a daily vehicle permit in advance, up to 5 days ahead of time.
Visitors planning to arrive in parks this Friday, Saturday or Sunday, can book their day permits now. Visitors planning a visit for July 1st can book a daily vehicle permit starting on June 26th.
Online reservations can be made HERE.
By booking ahead of time, visitors can enjoy a stress-free summer day at their favourite park, knowing they have a guaranteed parking spot.
Midweek Camping Availability at Ontario Parks
For campers looking to experience nature at Ontario Parks, there is one tip that can help secure a coveted campsite at popular parks in southern Ontario: midweek camping.
 Bronte Creek Provincial Park – shallow water that is warmer – great for very young children. Parks that are 100% full on Friday and Saturday nights throughout summer, may only be 50% full during the week.
Close to the GTA, both Bronte Creek Provincial Park have site available for midweek camping in July and August.
In Southeastern Ontario, both Rideau River Provincial Park during the week is a great way to explore the Ottawa area.
In Southwestern Ontario, campers may be surprised they can score a great midweek camping site at parks such as Craigleith Provincial Park.
 Craigleith Provincial Park.
 By Sidsel Nørgaard
June 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Statista has recently reported that the Canadian casino market could hit $9,57 billion by the end of 2025. Looking ahead, the market could continue growing by a CAGR of 2.67%, showing how deeply ingrained gambling is in the country’s culture. As if that’s not impressive enough, studies show that about six in ten Canadians often gamble. So, why do you think this practice is so common in this country?
One reason is how it wraps risk in tight regulation, accessible player tools and a culture that actively discourages recklessness. It’s like stepping into a well-hosted party where the drinks are flowing but no one’s allowed to get out of hand. The whole idea is to safeguard everyone, from seasoned players to curious newcomers.
 It’s like stepping into a well-hosted party. This is especially clear in the digital space, where the rise of safe online casinos in Canada has completely changed how players experience gambling. Beyond just offering convenience, these licensed sites come with proper measures baked into their design to ensure you engage more responsibly. But since this is just scratching the surface, you want to hang around and discover more about how Canada protects participants in the gambling industry.
A Framework Built for Fairness
Each province in Canada has its own gaming authority, which tailors rules to local communities and can evolve more responsively. Take Ontario, for instance. Since launching its regulated iGaming market in 2022, the province has been a benchmark for online gambling safety. Can you believe that, according to igamingbusiness.com, the gross gaming revenue for 2024-25 alone reached CA$3.20 billion? This is a 32% year-on-year increase!
Licensed operators must pass strict audits, follow player protection protocols and commit to transparent advertising standards. And do you know what? You won’t see famous faces in gambling ads because Ontario’s government doesn’t just allow that. Such moves ensure even the most vulnerable populations are protected from the possibility of gambling disorders.
Many people often begin doing something because they saw their favourite celebrity doing it. And if they see these celebrities in gambling ads, they could become curious and start considering gambling. It gets challenging when the person being influenced is underage and cannot engage with restraint.
In British Columbia, the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) oversees all regulated gambling forms, including:
- Online gambling
- Lotteries
- Land-based casinos
The GPEB, through the provincial Gaming Control Act and Gaming Control Regulations, also oversees the provinces’ responsible gambling programs. This is harm reduction in action.
A Prevailing Focus on Security
 Cyber attacks are doing extensive damage to websites around the world. Seeing everyone paying attention to online security in the general gambling industry should not be surprising. With many players joining, especially online, the amount of available customer data increases, making the sector a prime target for threat actors. You may be surprised to learn that this is part of why the global online gambling market is ranked as the third most targeted sector by cyberattacks.
This is why players, including Canadians, have become more security-conscious. Most of them will often examine a website’s security measures before signing up for it. In response to this, operators have been implementing advanced security measures like AI algorithms to improve their appeal to security-conscious players. And this is beyond just the basic encryption.
Operators have been using AI to detect unusual login patterns and flag malicious activity in real-time, preventing attacks from happening. Good enough, artificial intelligence is even capable of identifying threats that may escape human detection. According to Cobalt, 70% of cybersecurity experts claim this technology effectively detects threats that would have gone unnoticed.
AI can also identify vulnerabilities in systems and applications, allowing for proactive patching and mitigation before attacks can be launched. This guarantees players’ safety and encourages them to remain connected with gambling platforms.
Other security features to keep you safe
Besides artificial intelligence, there are more common features like 2FA. 2FA, surprisingly, can protect you from about 99.9% of targeted attacks. When it comes to phishing scams, which are prevalent in online gambling, 2FA can keep off up to 96%. At such a time when cyberattacks have become common, who would not want to take advantage of such a statistic? Absolutely, no one!
You will only need your password and something you have, like a code from your phone or something you are, like a fingerprint. This ensures your account remains safe even if someone hacks your password. To further improve their security measures, most operators have implemented SSL encryption. It uses a combination of encryption techniques, including asymmetric and symmetric encryption, to protect sensitive information during online transactions and other data transfers.
 Robust technologies are creating the right environment for the industry’s further growth. You don’t just want a higher hand value than the dealer in a blackjack game. The experience that comes with it also matters. Imagine the pain of exposing your personal information to threat actors just because you logged into an untrustworthy platform. Of course, you would not want this for yourself. Thankfully, through bodies like the GPEB, the country’s provincial governments actively monitor operators and regularly give updates to reflect changing risks and new technologies.
Gambling providers are also not left behind in this struggle to create a safe gambling scene in Canada. You’ll find self-exclusion features on most of their platforms to help you regulate yourself. Others have implemented more robust technologies like AI to keep players from cyberattacks, creating the right environment for the industry’s further growth.
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