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April 30th, 2021  Monte Dennis BURLINGTON, ON
We learned this morning that our good friend Monte Dennis passed away last week. The Gazette will publish an appreciation later this week. For now, we mourn a friend and a true champion. Rest in Peace my friend – it has been a long battle 
April 29th 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government has appointed Norm Sterling as Chair of the Greenbelt Council. The former minister of environment, and founding member of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, will help guide the province as it undertakes what could result in the largest expansion of the Greenbelt since its creation in 2005.  Norm Sterling, former Minister of Environment named as Chair of the Greenbelt Council. “Mr. Sterling brings important experience to the Greenbelt Council, and I am confident that under his leadership there will be incredible work done to support growing the Greenbelt,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “As a fellow grandparent, we understand the importance of leaving all of our grandchildren, and great grandchildren, with an enhanced version of the gem that is the Greater Golden Horseshoe.” The Greenbelt Council was created to provide advice to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on land use matters related to the Greenbelt, including education and outreach to promote the goals of the Greenbelt Plan. In December, six members of Ontario’s Greenbelt Council stepped down — joining David Crombie, the council’s chair — to protest proposed government rules they say would gut environmental protections in the province.  David Crombie, served as the Chair of the Greenbelt Council – resigned in protest. Crombie, a former Progressive Conservative federal cabinet minister and Toronto mayor, says his resignation, which takes effect immediately, comes in response to measures contained in an omnibus budget bill tabled last month by the provincial government. Sterling, doing his best to fill the Crombie shoes said: “It is an honour to serve as Chair of the Council as we work towards growing the Greenbelt. I will leverage my experience to work collaboratively with our council to ensure that we are working toward protecting and growing the Greenbelt.”
• Established under the Greenbelt Act, 2005, the Greenbelt is a broad band of protected land that currently includes over 800,000 hectares of land in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. • The Greenbelt currently contains 21 urban river valleys and associated wetlands. These are the valleys of rivers that pass-through cities or towns and act as urban gateways to the Greenbelt. • The term of Mr. Sterling’s appointment is for three years. • All Greenbelt Council Members receive a per diem for attending meetings.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Since March 12, 2021, in response to the urgent need to vaccinate as many people in our community and protect high-risk individuals from the COVID-19 virus, Joseph Brant Hospital began operating a Halton Region Vaccination Clinic in the Pandemic Response Unit PRU. The PRU’s flexibility in design allowed us to quickly mobilize the PRU to serve this purpose, using our skilled staff onsite to administer the vaccines. To date, we have vaccinated over 16,000 individuals in our community and will continue to immunize prioritized groups established by Halton Region. At the same time, daily news reports convey the troublingly high number of new COVID-19 cases across the country. It is important to remember the heartbreaking stories behind those numbers. At JBH, we feel every single loss. With each loss, we know that there are so many families, friends and colleagues in immense grief.  Beds can be moved and a vaccination booth set up in a very short period of time In Halton, we continue to see high numbers of new COVID-19 cases and it is too soon to determine if we have reached the peak of this third wave. In terms of our hospital’s capacity, today JBH is at 91% capacity. We are currently caring for 28 patients with COVID-19 – 16 of these patients are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In recent weeks, the total number of patients (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) in our ICU units has ranged on average from the low 20s to as high as 29. We have the capacity to surge to 32 patients in ICU if needed. Understandably, given the dire situation, we have been asked why we continue to use our PRU as a vaccination clinic and why it is not being used for COVID-19 care to help manage patient overflow in regional hospitals dealing with record numbers of COIVD 19 patients. I hear you and I understand your concerns. While I do not wish to minimize the seriousness of the situation, I would like to provide further context and explain where we are today. Vaccination is a critical step to reducing the spread of COVID-19 as well as to keep people healthy, safe and well. We stand ready to mobilize the PRU back to providing patient care within 24 hours if additional bed capacity is required. That decision cannot be made solely by JBH. The decision to open the PRU to care for patients is a decision made at the regional level – at the HNHBB (Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant and Burlington) Regional Incident Management System (IMS) table. The PRU was intended to be used when all conventional space in hospitals was exhausted across the region, as a “safety valve”, to relieve pressure on conventional hospital beds and to ensure there is sufficient capacity to care for COVID-19 mild to moderate patients who are on their way to recovery and to return home. Hospitals continue to respond internally to the growing demand for ICU care and we are seeing more mobile response units constructed to help expand capacity. The point of requiring the PRU for patient care has not yet been reached.  Everyone who has been vaccinated at JBH and comments said it was “just great”.  The PRU structure is between the hospital expansion and the parking lot. It was set up in a very very short period of time – albeit at considerable expense. Since the beginning of 2021, JBH has accepted 50 inter-regional patient transfers, including patients from the greater Toronto Area (GTA). All of these were serious cases placed in available ICU and acute care beds on designated units in our hospital. The most appropriate place for these individuals was to be located in conventional hospital space. Many of these individuals required ventilation and constant monitoring for a deterioration in their condition. In addition to using all the available space in our hospital to care for these patients, we have been able to increase the number of ICU beds up to 32. This has been done by reviewing our health human resources and placing all available healthcare staff in roles to support staffing these additional ICU beds, as a result of our surgical ramp down. I am incredibly proud of all of our team members, including those who have been redeployed to support the provision of comprehensive and compassionate care to our patients. In conclusion, please understand that while our PRU is a well-equipped and robust temporary short stay field hospital space, it does not replace conventional inpatient beds in the hospital. The PRU was designed for individuals who are medically stable, presenting mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, who require additional supports before they are ready to return home. If the decision is made to mobilize the PRU back to providing medical care, we can make that happen in short order, relocating the vaccination clinic to an alternate space onsite. Every day we are working closely with our regional and provincial health partners to monitor the evolving situation, assess risk and determine the need for PRU capacity.  Eric Vandewall, at what was supposed to be a celebratory event at which the Minister of Health at the time was to announce a large provincial contribution to the building of the extension to the hospital. The Minister got stuck in QEW traffic so we all went home. The cheque did arrive. Finally, please continue to follow the guidance of medical experts and public health officials. If you are eligible to get vaccinated, doing so keeps you and your loved ones safe, and brings us one step closer to making our communities safer. If you have vaccine concerns, talk to your doctor or please seek out credible sources of information like Halton Region and the Province of Ontario. I also encourage you to follow JBH on our social media channels to stay up-to-date on the latest news and information from our hospital. Thank you again for your continued support and understanding during these challenging times.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Today, Halton Region Police Chief Stephen Tanner becomes the longest serving police chief in the country – 20 years. His annual report to the Board is, according to the current chair Jeff Knowles, very impressive. The Gazette will report on that when it is made public.  Halton Regional Police Services Chief Stephen Tanner now the longest serving police chief in Canada. Police Service Board meetings are not on the top of the list for very many reporters; unless there is something that has caught the public’s attention. When Chief Tanner went out of the country around Christmas time many were upset and asking – why? Turned out the Chief had permission to leave his post – that was given to him by the then Chair of the Police Services Board Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. That decision cost Burton his job as Chair – he resigned. Chief Tanner was one of many Chiefs who quickly told the province earlier this month, that Halton would not be using the additional authority the province had given them to stop people and ask where they were going and where they lived when the province was under a Stay at Home order. Stephen The Regional Police have State of Emergency authority that they have not used and do not expect to use. The City of Burlington Mayor declared a State of Emergency that immediately set the day to day operations of the city in the hands of an Emergency Control Group that makes decisions regularly at its meetings which often take place more than once a week.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Starting Monday, May 3, Halton residents who are 50 years of age and older (born in or before 1971) and cannot work from home can book an appointment to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at a Halton Region COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. “We are pleased to be able to offer more appointments to priority populations,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We continue to follow the Province’s direction on prioritization and our ability to keep opening appointments to more residents is reliant on ongoing and dependable vaccine supply from the Provincial and Federal Governments. Our clinics are ready for more supply – we have the capacity to double the amount of people we vaccinate each day.” Halton Region continues to follow Provincial direction on prioritization and does not have the authority to grant exceptions. Residents who are 40 years of age and older are also encouraged to book an appointment at multiple participating pharmacies in Halton for the AstraZeneca vaccine. This vaccine is safe and effective, and another way to gain protection from severe illness and complications from COVID-19. “The more people we vaccinate each and every day, the closer we get to returning to normal,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “We have six clinics operating 7 days a week and participating pharmacies continue to offer appointments to those 40 and older. Please get the vaccine when it is your turn – the best vaccine option is the first one available to you.” Important information & instructions:
All appointments are contingent on the availability of vaccine supply.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
In terms of communicating with the public it went exceptionally well. The latest in a series of Telephone Town Hall events ran for an hour last evening ran out of time before they ran out of questions.  Dr. Dale Kalina, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Joseph Brant Hospital Moderated by the Mayor, the strongest theme was information on the different vaccines being used by the Public Health units and the pharmacies. Dr. Dale Kalina, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Joseph Brant Hospital pressed the point that the vaccine used was not a concern – what was important was that people get vaccinated. Close to a majority of the questions asked related to the vaccines available. Throughout the evening there were mini-surveys that asked what people thought about allowing public participation in public events suggesting that consideration is being given to opening things up a little. There was just the one question on recreational issues; many of the people taking part in the call weren’t required to say a word. The public was well served. A transcript of the event will e published. We will ask the Mayor what there are in the way of plans to open up events to the public – it will depend on what the response to the mini survey reveals.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
So much for the Stay at Home order. The Halton Regional Police Service – Burlington Street Crime Unit has completed a drug trafficking investigation with a pair of arrests and a number of charges. On Tuesday April 27, 2021 investigators arrested Nicklauss Ancion (26) of Brampton and Megan Noble (29) of No Fixed Address in Burlington. Ancion has been charged with:
Noble has been charged with:
At the time of arrest, Ancion was in possession of a knife (which was seized by officers).  The evidence Search warrants were also executed at a residence in Burlington and a second home in Brampton. As a result of the investigation, officers also seized approximately 5 grams of fentanyl, and a small amount of cash (see attached photo). There were no physical injuries sustained during the arrests.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
April 29th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region is investing $3.5 million in programs and services that support the health, safety and well-being of residents through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) in 2021. This investment also supports the needs of vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses needs identified through the Halton Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) planning initiative.  Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “By investing in community-based non-profit organizations, we can help ensure that essential services are available to those who need them most,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “This funding is one of the ways we are supporting our community during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Thank you to everyone who is helping us move forward together.”  Region of Halton administrative offices in Oakville Programs that have received funding through the HRCIF continue to address a broad range of human service needs and priorities, including initiatives that strengthen the health, safety and well-being of our community. A total of 31 new grants have been approved to date in 2021. Some of the investments include: • $30,000 to the Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf to support active living, education and inclusion among older adults who are deaf; • $80,480 to the Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre to provide hub based supports for residents in an at-risk community in Oakville; • $30,000 to Halton Women’s Place to upgrade the security system at its shelter locations; • $26,690 to Christian Horizons to provide workshops that support internet safety for individuals with a developmental disability; • $30,000 to the Syrian Canadian Foundation to provide online education and social connection sessions for Arabic speaking newcomer women; • $139,895 to the Housing Help Centre for Hamilton-Wentworth (operating in Halton) to support clients with complex needs to have long-term housing success; and • $107,540 to support the Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable to implement initiatives to strengthen equity and inclusion. Applications for funding through the HRCIF will continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis in 2021 to respond to emergent needs and address the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations that meet eligibility criteria may submit their application through the application form on halton.ca. Applications will be reviewed regularly until all available funding has been allocated. For more information on the HRCIF and a full list of the programs and services that received funding, visit the HRCIF webpage on halton.ca or call 311.
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Watching the Cherry Blossoms Bloom. To help limit the spread of COVID-19 and following the current provincial Stay-at-Home order, all celebrations will be held virtually this year.  These trees have been in place for years: each spring their blossoms come out first in pink and then change to white and then fall to the ground. Each spring the hope, the beauty and the relationship with the people of Japan who gave us the trees is renewed. Virtual Sakura Festival • Live photo stream of cherry blossoms: Follow the progress of the Japanese cherry blossoms on the Sakura trees in Spencer Smith Park as they get ready to burst into bloom over the coming weeks, with a live photo stream available on burlington.ca/CherryBlossoms. Through the photo stream, residents can view new photos of the trees, taken every day, or select the time lapse feature to see the progression of the blooms to date. • Videos celebrating Japanese culture: Between May 5 – 12, follow the City’s social media channels, @cityburlington on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, for videos featuring traditional Japanese performances in music, dance and more. This year’s virtual celebration recognizes the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadian Armed Forces and the 16th anniversary of Burlington’s twinning with the City of Apeldoorn. • May 5 – Follow the City’s social media channels, @cityburlington on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, to see two videos featuring distinguished guests, and musical performances from groups in Apeldoorn and Burlington. Highlights include a speaker who shares his experiences as a small boy at the end of World War II, and a unique performance by elementary school students from Trinity Christian School in Burlington.  Mayor Marianne Meed Ward leads the parade in Itabashi, Japan, with city manager (white shirt center) Tim Commisso following and showing fine form. Itabashi, Japan Mayor Marianne Meed Ward had this to say: “The cherry blossoms of the Sakura trees in Spencer Smith Park are one of our city’s most picturesque landmarks our community, and visitors, look forward to every year. This year, as we do our part to stay home and limit outdoor gatherings to members of the same household, this virtual experience means that residents can enjoy these beautiful pink blooms no matter where there are. I’m also looking forward to commemorating an important milestone in Canada Netherlands Day marking the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian Armed Forces – arguably the birth of the deep connection and friendship between our two nations. We are very fortunate in Burlington to have formed strong friendships with our twin cities – Itabashi, Japan and Apeldoorn, the Netherlands — and I thank our Mundialization Committee for coordinating this year’s virtual events in honour of these important and special relationships.”
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government continues to work with the federal government to further support vulnerable workers by doubling payments made through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) program, the province will introduce legislation that, if passed, will offer up to three paid sick days per employee. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, will introduce legislation on Thursday that would, if passed, require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the CRSB will expire.  Let’s see what happens at Queen’s Park on Thursday. By providing time-limited access to three paid leave days, the province is ensuring employees can pay their bills as they help stop the spread of the virus, including by getting tested, waiting for their results in isolation or going to get their vaccine. The province will partner with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse employers up to $200 per day for each employee. “Our government has long advocated for the federal government to enhance the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program to better protect the people of Ontario, especially our tireless essential workers,” said Minister McNaughton. “It is a tremendously positive step that the federal government has signaled their willingness to continue discussions on the CRSB. Now we can fix the outstanding gap in the federal program so workers can get immediate support and can stay home when needed.” The province has also offered to provide funding to the federal government to double CRSB payments to Ontario residents, adding an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals for a total of $1,000 per week. Combined with the province’s proposed three days of paid COVID-19 leave, doubling the CRSB would provide Ontario workers with access to the most generous pandemic paid leave in the country. If an eligible worker learns that they must isolate for longer than 50 per cent of the time they would have otherwise worked for the week, whether because of a positive COVID-19 test or risk of exposure, they may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if they haven’t taken a paid leave day under this proposal. Let’s see what happens at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Is that light at the end of the tunnel? The small buds on the trees are turning into leaves; the Farmer’s Market has announced they are opening in the middle of May. This is progress. The City is hopeful that Summer Camps and a new Park Play program will be able to run, with registration for both opening May 1, 2021 at 9 a.m. As always, any City-run program will be subject to the Provincial and public health regulations and could be cancelled as we continue to respond to this pandemic. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, summer programs will meet health regulations designed in consultation with Halton Region Public Health and in alignment with provincial health regulations. Precautions include lower ratios of participant to staff and capacity, physical distancing, mandatory health screening and enhanced facility cleaning.  No one within six feet. Park Play Program The participants may choose not to stay the entire time, they can leave and go home for lunch and come back or bring their lunch to the park to eat. Sign in and out procedures are the same as Drop- in programs, but only registered participants are permitted to participate with the group. Summer Camp • SNAP 4 to 10 years old All programs have spaces for Individuals with Disabilities within each camp group. To register or for more information, visit burlington.ca/summer. Recreation Fee Assistance  Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, community and Culture said: “Last summer’s camp programs went very well and we’re hoping to build on that success for this year. The new Park Play program is not a day camp but will offer many of the same fun games and activities that people of all abilities can participate in. ” Links and Resources
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON Burlington Centre Lions Farmers Market to Open Wednesday May 19, 2021at the Burlington Centre The outdoor Market operated by the Burlington Lions Club has been approved by Burlington Centre management and the Halton Region Health Department.
The Market is open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: open from 8 am to 2pm – 3 pm on Fridays The new virus variants required enhancements to last year’s comprehensive Covid precautions. Elements of the 2021 Safety Plan include: Customers are to maintain 2-metre (6-foot) distancing at all times, especially if wait lines occur due to heavy attendance. Personal Masks are prudent and required in close proximity and encouraged in lines. And of course Vendors, Volunteers and Customers are to remain home if feeling unwell, and seek testing as necessary. New provisions: Unchanged from 2020, but with increased emphasis: Social Distancing at all times. Hand Sanitizer stations at Entry/Exit. Service dogs on duty only, other pets not permitted. Vendors’ stall displays are set up for “Point to Buy” service without customer contacting the produce. (Sorry, no samples.) It takes 40 Volunteer 2 hour shifts each week (in addition to the Vendors’ work) to set-up and put away the Safety Plan Items and staff the Entry Point. New Volunteers are invited to contact the Market Manager on site, or visit the market website, or leave a message at 905-634-4002 for a call back. An opportunity for you to do some Community Service! Burlington Centre Lions Farmers Market – For further information contact Perry Bowker at 905-632-5832
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
This evening the Mayor and a collection of people who can answer COVID19 related questions will be taking part in a Telephone Town Hall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The town hall will be hosted by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who will be joined by a panel of local leaders to help answer residents’ questions. The panel will include:  Tim Commisso, City Manager will be on the call.
Tim Commisso, City Manager, City of Burlington How to Participate Residents who would like to participate in the town hall can: 1. Join by telephone: Call 1-800-541-5864 just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28 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. 2. Listen to audio: Live audio from the April 28 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 to this web page after April 28 at burlington.ca/townhall.
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Communicating with our elected officials should be a very simple process: write a letter, send an email or make a phone call. That wasn’t the experience Tamara De Dominicis had when she wanted to let Burlington MPP Jane McKenna know how she felt about a vote McKenna cast in the Legislature yesterday. We want to share that letter with you. All kinds of information in that letter we were not aware of. Dear Ms. McKenna, I am writing to you today because I am deeply troubled by your choice to vote against paid sick days for our Ontario workers. Covid aside, no person should have to choose between their health, the health of their coworkers and other points of contact, and their financial security. In this time of a global pandemic, surely it is more important than ever to protect both the individual workers and to stop the spread of illness.  MPP Jane McKenna pauses at the door to a public meeting on transit matter – decides not to walk into the room. If we assume minimum wage earners like those who staff our grocery stores and warehouses, delivering goods that are essential to our daily needs, make approximately $2430 a month (calculated at minimum wage being $14 /hour and a 40 hour work week with a 15% tax deduction for an under $48 535 tax bracket), let us then examine monthly bills. Assuming rent in Burlington for a one-bedroom costs a minimum $1800, groceries average $200, basic internet is $50, a basic phone plan is $50, and gas is on average $150 monthly, total bills amount to $ 2450 (you’ll note that this is $20 less than their paycheque). Missing a single day of work takes away $97 (after tax). What kind of choice would you have this person make if they lost out on monies earned from a single day of work? Should they skip groceries? Rent? Internet, and deny their children access to online education? With the stay at home order, the provincial government introduced a legal requirement to stay home from work if you are feeling ill. This forces sick workers to face a moral conundrum of choosing between following rules laid out by the government for the safety of its people or being able to provide for themselves and their families. If your government cannot commit to paid sick days in general, surely we can come kind of compromise. You could introduce a temporary bill for paid sick days during the course of the pandemic. Finally, I am also troubled by your decision to remove your contact form and email from your website and disable comments and messaging from your Instagram account. You are an elected official whose responsibility it is to represent your people. Please listen to our needs and represent us in parliament. Eagerly awaiting your swift reply in this urgent matter, Tamara De Dominicis Ms McKenna isn’t the only elected official that limits where negative comments can be placed. Burlington’s Mayor and the Regional Chair are both reported to remove comments that do not support them. Poor practice.
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
Emergency Preparedness Week (EPW) is an annual Canada-wide initiative encouraging all Canadians to take actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. In line with the pressures of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s EPW theme of Emergency Preparedness: Be Ready for Anything, the City of Burlington is launching the first of multiple screenings of the film The Great Disconnect. Residents can sign up for the free May 4 or 6 virtual screenings of The Great Disconnect which will include a panel discussion with local leaders and film crew members. Link to the Eventbrite site to register: CLICK HERE  Two screening: one during the day and a second in the evening. About the film The Great Disconnect uncovers why, in a world seemingly more connected than ever before, people are feeling more and more socially isolated – and the true cost this has on our lives and communities. It was written, directed and produced by passionate people wanting to make a difference in the lives of those who live in their communities, neighbourhoods and abroad. Since its official launch in October 2019, the film has screened across Canada through multiple municipalities, non-profits and NGOs, and has been shown in ten countries across Europe. It has also been featured in over twelve independent film festivals, and in October 2020, the documentary won the award for Best Feature Film at the prominent Better Cities Film Festival. The judges’ panel included the famous architect Jan Gehl alongside other esteemed architects and urbanists.  Acclaimed. Synopsis Experts who were interviewed for The Great Disconnect, described our time as the “age of loneliness.” Despite Western advances in technology, living conditions, education and healthcare, we as a society, are isolating ourselves from one another and because of this, facing a health crisis that affects all ages, genders, races, and cultures. But how have we become so disconnected? And what can we do to change the status quo and fulfill our potential for health and well-being? Join wellness expert Tamer Soliman as he journeys through North American cities to meet with local citizens, community activists, and leading authorities on social, economic, and urban planning to discover the true factors that have profound and lasting impacts, not only on our health, but the health of the communities in which we live. Virtual screenings Residents can sign up for one of the free May virtual screenings on Eventbrite and take our quick survey to help inform the discussion with the panelists at Great Disconnect Survey. Tuesday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The panel will include:
Thursday, May 6, 6 to 8 p.m. The panel will include:
This Emergency Preparedness Week event is an opportunity for community members to view this timely documentary that invites people to reflect on the relationships we have with those around us and raises the question: is it possible to overcome our modern culture of disconnectedness and rediscover how truly essential we are to one other? In an emergency, residents may need to evacuate or stay in their homes for long periods of time. Everyone needs a kit with enough supplies to keep you and your family self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Either build your own kit or buy an emergency kit online and in stores across Canada. Amber Rushton, Community Emergency Management Coordinator explains the context in which the film is being screened: “With the pandemic impacts we have all experienced in our own way, social connectedness, other-centred action, and neighbourhood preparedness will help us recover and build our new normal as a community. “Everyone has a role to play in an emergency and building community resilience and mental health readiness is critical in protecting ourselves and our loved ones. The City of Burlington is proud to provide this virtual viewing opportunity to residents to help shine a light on the importance of the health of our communities.”
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
This isn’t a Burlington story – at least not yet.
Milton has concentrations of industry that have large numbers of workers in conditions that result in the passing along of an infection. The Milton L9E postal code area is a designated “hot spot” in Phase 2 of the Province’s prioritization plan due to historical and ongoing high rates of COVID-19. The L9E area is in the south west part of Milton. People undoubtedly travel from Milton to Burlington and the variants of Covid19 seem to move quickly. Some extra caution would be wise. Halton Region continues to follow Provincial direction on prioritization and does not have the authority to grant exceptions. Residents who are 40 years of age and older can also book appointments through multiple pharmacies in Halton offering the AstraZeneca vaccine. This vaccine is safe and effective, and another way to gain protection from severe illness and complications from COVID-19. “The expansion to more residents in hot spot communities that are seeing a higher rate of COVID-19 transmission and severe health outcomes is critical,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “While vaccination is an important tool in curbing the spread of the virus and preventing severe illness and death, I urge all residents to continue to follow public health direction, including staying home except for essential trips, sticking to your household and not attending any indoor or outdoor gatherings.”
April 28th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
The demand that Lisa Kearns resign immediately is foolish. Were she to do that there would then be the need for a by-election which this city can do without.  Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns What Ms Kearns should be doing in issuing a Newsletter to her constituents announcing her plans (a tweet is what high school girls do – time to grow up) explaining why she will be running as a Liberal in the next provincial election which will be on June 4th, 2022 unless the Premier feels he needs to return to the people for a new mandate. Not something he is likely to do. Choosing to drop bits and pieces of her situation here and there or have long chats with her female friends who then pass along the evolving story is a poor way to communicate with a public that elected her in the first place. Ms Kearns is an intelligent young woman with a first rate mind who has served the city well in a relatively short period of time. There is now a nomination meeting that has to take place; given that the provincial Liberal’s approached Ms Kearns she may well face nomination uncontested. The party needs to now focus on putting together a team and raising the dollars to run a strong campaign. There are many that want the compliant MPP to hold the seat. 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.
April 27th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON OPINION The Science Table released their recommendations to Doug Ford and his Cabinet on Wednesday of last week and made them public on Thursday of last week. Most people fully expected the Cabinet decisions would fairly reflect the recommendations.
That was the moment when everything just flipped. Police forces across the province said they would not follow the provincial directions that would permit them to stop people and ask where they were going . Municipalities across the province said they could not see how they could close the public parks. Several very prominent people on the Science Table were prepared to resign. Burlington’s Mayor called an Emergency Council meeting for the Saturday. The Premier reversed his position on a number of items on the Monday but by then the damage was done.  A weary, tired Premier – battered by media, pummeled by public opinion. During a brutal media event that followed, CTV News reporter Colin D’Mello said to Ford: “… you say the buck stops with you, but I think people across this province are wondering, what does that actually mean? Columnists have recently said there is no effective leadership at Queens Park. Another one said you are showing raging ineptitude, and some are calling for your resignation.” D’Mello then asked: “Premier, do you still have the moral authority to lead this province as Premier? The penny had just dropped. The public has not seen the Premier since. John Doyle in his Globe and Mail column on entertainment was just as brutal. On Monday of this week he said: “If you live in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has been ubiquitous on TV for more than a year. Almost every weekday – rarely on weekends – he’s been part of the local newscasts. “During this pandemic period, his TV appearances and news conferences have had a strange trajectory. It’s been an up-and-down, zigzagging media strategy that was always going to lead to his recent blubbering, blustering mea culpa-filled news conference from a backyard in northwestern Toronto. “Ford is not a natural on TV. But, watching him, you suspect he thinks he is. His natural mode is combative, dismissive and inflexible. And that has led him and his handlers down a disastrous road. Only media strategists who are themselves right-wing populists with a pro-business, anti-union agenda could possibly think it was ever going to work long-term through a human catastrophe. “There was a time, at the start of all this, when Ford’s angry inflexibility fit the occasion. Then it didn’t, mainly because Ford and his communications team ceased to focus on the broad public good and began spinning a narrow political agenda that confounded the public and was aimed at a political base only. Inflexible became insincere and then deceitful.”  In his first year he couldn’t be stopped – he was everything to everyone. Then the penny dropped March of last year Ford was on TV, enraged by price-gouging when a high-end grocery chain began selling hand wipes, usually costing about $8.49, for $30. “Nothing gets me more furious than someone taking advantage and price-gouging the public that are in desperate need of these items,” Ford thundered. He announced he would enact legislation to outlaw the gouging. The grocery chain backed off and apologized. Ford’s media strategy went awry precisely when he began to ignore medical experts – that’s an example of media-savvy strength vaporizing – and made explicitly political and ideological decisions. We’ve seen many things in Ontario this past year and among the most bizarre has been the unraveling of a communications plan that, as soon as Ford’s angry inflexibility became a liability, was always going to end in tears. And so where are we now? The news Monday reporting the death of a 13 year old girl who died at home of a Covid19 infection while her Mother was in the hospital recovering from a Covid19 infection. The child’s father, the family breadwinner, had to work if the family was to be fed. The public fully expected the Premier to announce something that reflected the Science Table recommendations. Sick days pay was front and centre along with target vaccinations programs aimed the “hot spots”. On Friday of last week – nothing Saturday, Sunday nothing. Premier Ford does not work weekends. Surely there would be something on Monday. Nothing.  Editorial cartoonists had found there mark – they were merciless. While the provincial leadership appeared to be frozen, Medical Officers of Health in Brampton and Toronto were inspecting work places where there were large numbers of employees working in crowed conditions. The different Medical Officers of Health shut plants down for for periods of time. Not a word from the Chief Medical Officer of Heath for the province reporting on what was happening. Each day the number of new infections and deaths were reported – positivity rates were above the 10% level. There had been no action on the desperate need for paying people who should not be reporting for work. Yesterday and today the public learns that the federal government and the provincial government were bickering over a plan that would put $1000 a week into the pockets of those who had to stay home from work. The sticking point was who would run the program. The federal government has their CERB program – all a person had to do was apply and then wait for the money to appear in their bank account.. The federal program was limited to $500 a week – Ontario said they would top it up to $1000 if the federal government ran it. The federal government said the computer application wasn’t flexible enough to be revised. What the public was seeing was the equivalent of a bunch of chickens running around with their heads chopped off – blood all over the place. Factory and assembly line workers in the Brampton area were, in the words of one scientist, “being left to burn”. The province was reported to be anxious about how their stakeholders would react to being forced to pay people who did not report for work because they were ill. Meanwhile Amazon, Sobeys, Loblaws and others were reporting massive revenue gains. There is a simple solution – have the province order the corporations to pay people if they are not well enough to work and then let the corporations turn to the federal and provincial governments for reimbursement. Those companies have payroll procedures in place – they can move money into bank accounts in literally minutes. All we have to do is coax the Premier out of hiding and do another media event where he tells his Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour to get into a conference room (wear your masks – keep six feet apart) and figure this out and have a solution they could take to Cabinet. The provincial bureaucracy would arrange for pizza and some of that buck a beer to sustain them while they figure it out We are facing a disaster – we know what has to be done – other jurisdictions have solved this problem. Ontario, the economic engine of the country, is now relying on medical people from the Maritime provinces and the armed forces to fly in and help us through this. The last time that happened was when Mel Lastman called in the army to clear snow from the streets.  Could Andrea form a government? Doug Ford has has shown that he is not up to the job that has to be done. There isn’t all that much in the way of leadership on the opposition benches to replace the current government and one can’t see any of the Cabinet members itching to be Premier. Later this week there will be a funeral for a 13 year old girl who died despite her father using CPR to get oxygen into her young lungs. Nothing in the way of condolences from the Office of the Premier. These tragedies have to stop. 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.
April 27th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON
More people are gambling at online casinos than ever before. In particular, Canada is experiencing a huge growth in online gambling that has surprised a lot of people. This means that this year, there are going to be a lot of changes in the industry. Online operators have to keep offering new and trending products in order to keep their players interested. So, here are the latest online casino trends in Canada.  Playing along in real time with a hand like this is as exciting as being in a casino. More Live Games Have you ever played a live game at a casino online? This is becoming very popular and it is likely that more operators are going to start offering live games. Players are demanding more from online casinos this year. They want to have an authentic casino experience from home. This means that operators have to provide this if they want to beat the competition. Namely, this is coming through live games. The idea of a live casino game is that there is a dealer working in real-time with the player. They are recorded live from another location and technology means that they can interact with the player. This allows a player to play along in real-time as if they were at a real casino. This creates excitement for roulette tables and some card games. It is a trend that we are going to continue to see in Canada. Cryptocurrency as a Payment Method It is common knowledge in the online casino industry that players like choice when it comes to payment methods. For example, this is why bonusninja.com lists a lot of big online websites. They are popular because players like the freedom they can enjoy from choosing what type of payment method they want to use for deposits and withdrawals. Of course, there are some common payment methods that you see a lot. This includes VISA, Mastercard and Paypal. But, an emerging payment method that some major casinos are starting to offer is cryptocurrency. Now, it is possible for players to pay with Bitcoin or other common cryptocurrencies. This is something that can be beneficial if you have crypto and it can help to build trust between the casino and the player. Offering Better Promotions If you have played at online casinos before, you will know that a lot of them offer deals and promotions for first-time players. This is something that is set to continue for the future in this industry. The reason is that there is so much competition. A lot of online operators are having to fight to capture players and this means that they have to do everything they can to get their business. Often, this is through offering deals and free spins. Thus, if you are a player, you can look forward to a lot of benefits. It can be beneficial to play at several online casinos to take advantage of the promotions. Playing with Virtual Reality Trends in the casino industry that we are likely to see soon in Canada is virtual reality. This is something that a lot of people like and it can create an immersive experience. A lot of players want an authentic casino experience and this is something they are definitely going to get with virtual reality. Right now, the technology for this is expensive in Canada. But, this may change in the future. It can mean that players can step into a casino and play games virtually rather than using animated games on the computer. Betting on Esports Have you heard of Esports before? This is a name for electronic sports or it can be referred to as competitive video gaming. Players take on others from around the world and try to beat them at their favorite games. This is something that a lot of people enjoy taking part in. But, when it comes to online casinos, we are seeing a trend of betting on esports. Not only are more people taking part in competitions, but there are a lot more spectators. This has led to betting on esports and creating more excitement around tournaments. Therefore, it is likely that this year in Canada, more casinos are going to allow players to bet on big esport competitions.
April 27th, 2021 BURLINGTON, ON Things are heating up across the provincial political spectrum. The Liberals are sending out several messages a day on their social media feeds – they want the Premiers head on a pole and think they have him on the ropes.. Potential candidates are getting calls from media asking for comment.  Is there just a little defensiveness in the McKenna body language ? Andrew Drummond is on the left. That moved Andrew Drummond to touch base and advise that he has formally applied to be the NDP candidate in Burlington provincially. Drummond adds: “I have begun to assemble a campaign team and with our record fundraising in 2019 and 2020, I am extremely excited to be preparing to launch a robust campaign to take this seat from Jane McKenna. He continues: “More than 55% of Burlington voters have chosen a progressive candidate in the past three elections and with Jane McKenna making statements about how worrying about COVID compares to Chicken Little, I am confident that I can win this seat for the NDP.” With the news from Lisa Kearns that she will be the Liberal candidate there is a race. Watch for distinct changes in the way Jane McKenna begins to behave.
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Ontario’s Greenbelt protects farmland, communities, forests, wetlands and watersheds. It also preserves cultural heritage and supports recreation and tourism in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Scott Heyerman of the 3 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4777 ext. 2342.
Now in its 63rd year, the Market continues to be immensely popular, drawing customers from Burlington, Hamilton, Waterdown and Oakville to the Burlington Centre to purchase fresh produce. Vendors come from all over Southern Ontario, and we’ve added 10 new Vendors this year bringing the total to 50.
Starting Friday, April 30, residents who are 16 years of age and older living in the Milton L9E postal code area can book an appointment to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at a Halton Region COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. Residents must have had their 16th birthday on or before the date of their first appointment in order to be eligible.
They didn’t.
