 By Pepper Parr
July 14th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Staff in the Finance department set out what they believed was going to have to be raised in taxes for 2023 They projected an increase of 7.97% and explained how they got there
That 4.55% on the far right needs to be explained. The number is correct but it isn’t what the Mayor would have you think.
The city collects its own taxes, plus the taxes for the school boards and the Regional government.
Each of those jurisdictions levies a tax.
When the Mayor explains that what the taxpayer has to come up with is that blended rate – she is not wrong.
The blended rate is the tax increase the city is imposing, plus the tax rate the Region imposes plus the tax rate the boards of education impose and adds them up and then divides them by 3: the figure is called the blended rate.
Burlington has zero influence on the school board tax levy, the city has some influence on the Regional rate because all seven city council members sit on Regional Council. Burlington has seven of the 24 Regional Council seats.
What the city controls is the tax levy that the finance department comes up with and which city council eventually decides on. Council usually ends up at a tax rate very close to what the finance people recommend.
Mayor Meed Ward has said that in the past she has been able to cut $1 million out of the spending proposed.
The report the finance department put forward was labelled a Budget Framework – giving Councillors a solid heads up on what they are looking in terms of data at this point.
Councillor Rory Nisan got the debate started by saying what was clearly obvious: “… we have a pretty challenging budget ahead of us and this report isn’t locking us in anywhere but I’ve had the opportunity to sort of canvass with some residents about what’s being proposed through this budget and it’s not vibing very well.
“At this point. What I think we need is more options. The report does have some preview of options of what we can do to bring it down somewhat. But I think we need a sort of a low, a middle and an upper range. This what people are asking for – I’ll be frank, some of this information is coming in kind of late and my own thinking is changing quickly.
 Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan was not getting the vibe he wanted from his constituents – asks colleagues join him in asking finance to come up with some options. He didn’t get any takers Nisan added that “If other councillors are interested perhaps we can do some work together. Just refer the report to September but I expect the response will be quite the opposite. So barring any other comments, I’ll just vote accordingly.”
The Mayor, sitting as Chair asks “:Do you wish to make a referral motion at this time or not?”
“Well, I would need a seconder for something like that but I’m quite content to vote accordingly. But if someone did raise their hand to refer it then yes, I would support that.”
No hands were raised
The data was pretty stark.
The top line in the graphic below is the line that matters. It reflects what the finance people expect to need in the way of budget increases – expressed as a percentage over the previous year.
 Councillor Kearns, no slouch when it comes to number crunching wouldn’t support the Nisan idea. Councillor Kearns said “I will not be seconding it but I do want to just share that. The budget numbers that we did see of course are of concern. They are a deviation from what we would maybe have expected however, they are built out in our multi year simulation. I think a statement that only one council member is concerned with the numbers might not be reflective of everyone’s views and an opportunity to put forward everyone’s views would be inefficient at this time.
“So I’m going to just say that, you know, maybe those comments could be held back and I think we’ll work through the process as we should be.
 Councillor Bentivegna tends to dig into numbers – expect him to be sharpening his pencil to go over numbers he doesn’t always understand. Angelo Bentivegna, ward 6, said that “at the end of the day, we were still going to be voting on the budget.. We make decisions at this table to reduce it or do what we think we need to do. So I won’t be supporting this either.”
Mayor Meed Ward, who was chair (this being a council meeting) said “I will offer my thoughts that we are receiving this file which is a picture from our staff about what the future looks like if we wish to maintain services. At not only the expected level, but the level to account for the fact that we’re a growing municipality; we have well outpaced our growth 12 years early, but the development charges and other fees from that development and growth costs have not caught up yet.
“Because simply some of those units are still being constructed as we speak. So folks often ask us to try to keep our increases in line with inflation. Inflation is running at 8% then adds that the tax increase before than was less than inflation. So this budget picture actually is less than inflation and in a post COVID world where everything has changed. I think it’s really important for us to start framing our conversations around what the final impact on our residents is going to be.”
This is an election year, it is very quiet at this point. People are still coping with a pandemic that is supposed to be over yet hundreds of people are still getting very sick – with some dieing.
 There are a lot of people in hospital recovering from and being treated for Covid19
With it now very clear that the Budget Framework report is going to be received and filed the Mayor moves to fudge the numbers She doesn’t lie – but the truth does takes a beating.
 Mayor Meed Ward is going to have to find something that the public will like – and be ready to pat for if she is to come up with a budget that gets her through the election. She explains hat what the taxpayer will be is actually a “blended rate” one that includes the Boards of Education taxes and the Regional government taxes.
We explained how that works above.
It is good to be eyes wide open. Our staff have certainly painted the picture of what’s coming and the five year projection out gives us that picture. And it’s difficult for every municipality and we would be doing a disservice to not be transparent about what the picture looks like.
So am I open to finding cuts? Yes, every budget I’ve tried to find roughly about a million bucks. That’s my average over 12 years. And I will always look for ways we can do things better and cheaper. But we have work to be done and we have service requests coming in from our residents that we have to that we have to respond to. And it’s not unicorns and fairies that do the work around the city. It’s real people. And we’re in a competitive labour environment as well. So it’s really important to have a transparent and honest discussion about the challenges we face and how this council is going to respond to them. Those are the comments for me and I will turn it to the clerk now for the recorded vote not seeing any other hands on the board.
The vote to receive and file the report carried.
 By Pepper Parr
July 14th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
It is rare, exceedingly rare for a person with little political experience to run for the office of Mayor and win – but it does and has happened.
 Will this piece of Burlington bling be placed on a different neck before the end of the year ? Burlington’s race for the office of Mayor is seen by many as a walk in the park for Marianne Meed Ward.
That could change – there is a potential candidate that could be preparing for a run.
If it takes place it will be well funded – and it will not be a pro-developer candidate.
This individual is young, successful in the commercial world and very well connected in the administrative world.
The Gazette has spoken to a number of people, some of them called us, asking what we knew.
There are some very prominent people who want nothing but the best for the city who have come to the conclusion that Meed Ward is not up to the job that has to be done.
This is not the place to set out where Meed Ward has fallen short – this is the time to look around and ask – can we do better than this. ?
We can
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
July 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Sue Biggs has been promoted to the rank of Superintendent and will serve as the Commander of the Burlington District.
 Superintendent Sue Biggs commander of the Burlington District police operations First couple of days on the job she gets a call from Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte who had received concerns regarding illegal and dangerous activities in Sycamore Park and reached out earlier this morning to introduce herself to Superintendent Biggs and request assistance from HRPS.
She responded within 10 minutes stating:
“Thanks for letting me know about these concerns. Would you be able to forward me the name and contact information of someone that reached out to you, so that I can have an officer connect with them to find out more specifics? If we are able to narrow down times and types of issues it would help us to focus our response and to see if we can connect with other community partners, and residents themselves, to become part of the solution.”
Good start.
Burlington has gone through a series of Commanding Officers in the last year or so – three that we can recall.
Both the Fire Chief and now the top police officer for Burlington are women – progress
 By Staff
July 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council yesterday approved Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather.
This plan identifies Burlington’s risks and vulnerabilities from climate change and is directly related to 2018-2022 Burlington’s Plan: From Vision to Focus.
About the Climate Resilient Burlington plan
 This is what wet looks like The purpose of the Climate Resilient Burlington (CRB) plan is to identify actions to manage the highest risks of warmer, wetter and wilder weather. While the CRB plan considers Burlington’s climate projections to the years 2051-2080 under a high emissions scenario, the plan outlines 32 actions under five themes focusing on building resilience and preparing for a changing climate over the next 10 years. Although this is Burlington’s first climate adaptation plan, work is not starting from scratch, but rather building on initiatives already underway.
The CRB plan was developed with City staff and community stakeholders representing 12 City departments and 17 community organizations. The community was also engaged throughout the process through a number of measures including a dedicated project page, a public project launch and surveys.
CRB Themes and Goals
Theme 1: Resilient Built and Natural Infrastructure
Goal: Manage infrastructure to prepare for future climate conditions and carbon neutral goals
Goal: Enhance resilience of infrastructure exposed to high flood risk
Goal: Invest in proactive measures to prepare for increased extreme events to avoid post-storm reactive costs
Theme 2: Thriving Natural Environment
Goal: Reduce damage to trees while increasing the value of the services they provide
Goal: Value, conserve and enhance the multiple services that natural areas provide
Theme 3: Extreme Heat and Health
Goal: Provide City services to support the community during extreme heat events
Theme 4: Disaster Resilience
Goal: Build capacity in the community to prepare for and respond to more extreme events and long-term climate stresses
Goal: Encourage climate adaptation actions from citizens and businesses
Theme 5: Strong and Resilient Economy
Goal: Support agricultural community in preparing for climate change
Goal: Support and develop resilient local supply chains to help withstand impacts associated with extreme climate events outside of Burlington
 This isn’t what warmer did – that 2013 winter storm Projects with links to climate actions underway
There are several climate actions already underway through various City departments and projects. Each item listed has a direct link to reducing risk, reducing emissions or preparing for climate change effects.
- Alert Burlington – Community Notification System
- Cooling and Warming Centres in partnership with Burlington Public Library
- Home Flood Protection Assessment Program
- Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program
- Stormwater infrastructure improvements such as larger creek culverts and creek channel improvements
- Burlington Stormwater Management Design Guidelines
- Urban Forest Master Plan
- Municipal Natural Assets Initiative – Grindstone Creek Watershed Project
- Spencer Smith Park and Beachway stabilization and wave breaks
- Asset Management Plan
- Climate Action Plan (focusing on reducing community emissions)
- Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan
- City View Park pavilion and solar installation
- Anti-idling campaign and bylaw
- Expansion of the City’s electric vehicle charging stations
- Electric Mobility Strategy
- Corporate Green Fleet Strategy
- Integrated Mobility Plan (focusing on active and public transportation)
- Rural Active Transportation Strategy
- Cycling Plan, a component of the Integrated Mobility Plan, which includes projects such as the Plains Road bikeway improvements
- Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA)
 Pretty wild Related news story;
Lawson Hunter urges Council to take the report seriously – they said they would
Climate Resilient Burlington, Get involved page: getinvolvedburlington.ca/crb
 By Pepper Parr
July 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It is still out there – amongst us.
We behave as if it isn’t – it is.
Precious little in the way of notices and regular updates from the Regional Medical Officer of Health
A Gazette reader passed along a email conversation she had with a friend.
Some background:
 Are the seniors getting the attention they need at the Seniors” Centre? Is the equipment being properly wiped down after use? A friend who is an instructor at the Burlington Seniors Centre. She tested positive for Covid on Sunday. I told her she had to get in touch with staff to let them know as she had taught classes on Wednesday and Friday (16 people and 30 people). She also told me that the instructor after her shares a microphone with her (the one that goes around the head and has a mouth piece to talk into and this instructor never cleans off the mouthpiece).
I told the friend that staff needed to inform her as well as all of her participants. My friend sent an email on Sunday No mention of whether or not they would contact the seniors who had been exposed.
My friend indicated that there was very little being done in the building with regard to wiping down chairs or going above and beyond cleaning the centre properly.
I emailed Shawna (she is the liaison between council and the Burlington Seniors Advisory Committee), Lisa as the Centre is in Ward 2 and the Office of the Mayor. I had also messaged Shawna through Facebook asking her to look at her email. She notified Mandy Kerr, who is in charge of the Centre, Denise Beard, and Chris Glenn. Have not heard back from the 2 other recipients.
My concern is that the city will not inform these seniors.
Here is what we got from the Gazette reader:
“ I tested positive for Covid on Monday. Sunday evening I was not feeling great. Had a really scratchy and sore throat, runny nose and post nasal drip that resulted in some coughing. Yesterday, Monday, I had the most horrendous headache and no OTC medication worked. Terrible nausea and total exhaustion, but could not sleep. Any one who tells you covid is like a cold has no idea what they are talking about.
 “Called my physician who will call me this morning about getting Pfizer- Paxlovid which is medication given to try to reduce ending up in the hospital.
“I was so careful. Saw very few people. I let my guard down about 10 days ago and visited a friend outdoors with no mask…..won’t do that again.”
Covid19 is still with us. It seems to be targeting older people – given that Burlington has more older people than any other municipality in the Region one would like to believe that extra precautions and vigilance would be exercised – especially at those locations where seniors tend to congregate.
By Maria Gacia
July 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
#1 RESOURCE FOR CANADA SPORTS BETTING
There are a lot of people who enjoy online gambling, but there are also many who are hesitant to try it because they are worried about their safety.
After all, when you are dealing with money and personal information on the best sports betting websites, you want to be sure that you are in good hands.
Our text below can help you learn how to do just that. Let’s go!
The importance of online safety for online bettors
When it comes to online safety, online bettors need to be extra careful. This is because there are a lot of scammers out there who are just waiting to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.
There are a few things that online bettors can do to protect themselves from scammers. First, they should make sure that the website they are using is a secure one. This means that the website should have an SSL certificate.
 An insecure network lets cyber thieves the ability to get inside your computer and steal whatever they want – including your banking information. Another thing that online bettors can do to protect themselves is to use a strong password for their accounts. They should also make sure to change their password regularly.
Lastly, online bettors should never give out their personal information to anyone. If they are asked for their credit card number or social security number, they should immediately report it to the authorities.
What are some common scams or threats targeting online gamblers?
There are a few common scams or threats that target online gamblers. One is phishing, where scammers send emails or texts pretending to be from a legitimate gambling site in order to get your login information.
Another is malware, where scammers use malicious software to infect your computer and gain access to your personal information.
Finally, there are fake gambling sites that may look legitimate but are actually just trying to steal your money. Be sure to do your research before gambling online, and only gamble on sites that you trust.
How can online gamblers protect their personal and financial information while gambling online?
 A Virtual Private Network is one of the strongest lines of defence There are a few things that online gamblers can do to protect their personal and financial information while gambling online. First, they should make sure that the website they are using is secure. This means that the website should have an SSL certificate and that all of the information that is being transmitted should be encrypted.
Second, online gamblers should never use public Wi-Fi to gamble online. This is because public Wi-Fi is not secure and anyone who is on the same network can potentially access your personal and financial information.
Finally, online gamblers should consider using a VPN when gambling online. A VPN will encrypt all of the data that is being transmitted between your computer and the gambling website, which will make it much more difficult for anyone to intercept and steal your information.
By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We reported earlier today that the Mayor had some “Urgent Business” on the Agenda which she wanted to revise.
After a bit of time on some procedural stuff Council did go into CLOSED SESSION, stayed there for a bit over and hour and came out with a motion that read:
Direct the executive director of human resources to execute on the performance clause in accordance with the city manager’s employment contract.
The public has never seen the contract – they are rarely made public. It is clear now that there was a “performance clause”
Councillor Kearns was the first to comment on the motion saying:
 Councillor Kearns was chosen as the person who would speak to the decision made on the Commisso contract. “This motion is a strong signal, although it is contained within a contract. It’s a strong signal about accountability and responsiveness to deliver results for the constituents that we serve. We know that this happens from the very very top and the very, very top also sets culture and objectives and we’ve moved from a year to year to a four year to a much longer view.
“And the objectives that are set out with the city manager, you know, are very much tied to those. So what this reflects is us having the ability to carry out and execute on a section within his contract that is directly tied to performance and it is our role through our governance roles to make sure that we are asking for and having those deliverables met and also stretching out to performance development.
“So this really is something I’m quite proud to support as anyone who has been watching along we did have quite a long time have a very robust dialogue and all of that dialogue centered around how we can all together serve our constituents in the best way possible. So I am of course pleased to support this and I have it seconded by Councillor Sharman.”
There were no other speakers. The Mayor added “we appreciate the work you do for us, Tim and subjecting yourself to a review like all others in the corporation have to go through is leadership by example. We had a thorough discussion, and we’re happy to have you.
A recorded vote was required – the decision to approve the motion was passed unanimously.
At the close of the meeting Tim spoke for a moment and said this assignment is the one he is most proud of in his municipal career.
There were clearly issues with at least some of what Commisso was getting done and what wasn’t getting done.
The Mayor was not exactly effusive with her comments. As the seconder Sharman made no comment.
What was it that made this matter one of “Urgent Business” ? Something.
We have some information but the source would be identified were we to publish. The practice of keeping everything under wraps is never healthy – but that is the route this cancel is taking
Related news story:
Council agenda get revised to handle some Urgent Business
By Staff
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Two items were added to the City Council meeting Tuesday afternoon as “Urgent Business”
The Mayor revised the Agenda to bring these two items to the top of the Agenda because outside counsel was to take part
They two items are:
14.1
Integrity Commissioner RFP/Contract Approval
Re-Appoint Principles Integrity as the Integrity Commissioners for the City of Burlington and its local boards pursuant to section 223.3(1) of the Municipal Act for a term to December 31, 2026.
Authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement and any ancillary documents between the City of Burlington and Principles Integrity for integrity commissioner services, in a form satisfactory to the Executive Director of Legal Services and Corporation Counsel.
14.2
Confidential verbal update regarding City Manager Performance Review
Pursuant to Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
It would be hard to come up with a reason for outside Counsel to be involved in the issuing of a new contract for the services of an Integrity Commissioner – but one never knows.
 The second item – a Performance Review of the City Manager and the job he has done. The review is a normal part of how municipalities operate – by why a need for outside counsel?
It will be interesting to see what comes out of the Closed Session.
Has Tim Commisso finally had enough and wants out of his contract and has a lawyer in the room?
Something is up!
 By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Is this the first step[p into entering the race for the ward 2 council seat?
The line in an item on the LinkedIn platform read:
 Is Kimberly Calderbank getting ready to get back into politics ? Looking to hire a Coordinator.
Work from home/Virtual opportunity.
The candidate will work with both Yellow Robot Marketing and Black Robot (Print shop).
Detail-oriented, and experienced. Positive, can-do attitude.
Tasks may include –
Liaise with clients
Coordinate print schedule
Review/Proof-read social media posts and schedule
Source opportunities for speaking engagements/business growth
Excellent customer service.
Past work experience with not-for-profit/charity is a great asset.
Please email your interest/resume to Kimberly@yellowrobot.ca
I never saw the Yellow Robot operation as a not for profit – it is certainly a going concern.
The background story might be that Kimberly Calderbank is bringing in some administrative help to free up the time she will need if she decides to challenge Lisa Kearns for the ward 2 city council seat.
 It will be a much smaller list of candidates in 2022 In the years since the 2018 municipal election Kimberly has grown professionally. She serves as the media lead for the Halton Police Services Board and for the Ontario Police Services Board. She does media for the Food4Life and was a Cogeco commentator during the Sound of Music parade.
Kimberly Calderbank has an itch for public service. This may be the year she makes a move. She once told this reporter that she wanted at some point in time to be Mayor of the city.
By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 For Leah Reynolds it was always about the students After 8 years of public service Leah Reynolds said: “I’m retiring at the end of the school board term.”
“I have decided not to run in the 2022 Municipal Election.
I’m humbled and grateful to have served as a Trustee for the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and represented students and families from the Aldershot and Downtown Burlington Communities (Wards 1 and 2) these last 8 years.
“I want to express my thanks to the constituents who allowed me to represent them at the HDSB board table. My gratitude goes out to all my volunteers and supporters who inspired me and did everything they could to get me elected.
“My decision to step up and get involved was because schools are the heart of our community. As a parent, I advocated and volunteered for well over 20 years, including as a council member and school chair. I volunteered for in-school reading, and nutrition programs. I was active in community projects that included fundraising for playground equipment and auditorium renewals.
“Those early years provided a solid foundation for me to serve eight years as your Trustee. I am proud to deliver on my commitment for improvements to the future of high school programming, with support for skills trades, and a solid plan for school amalgamations that included transitioning and expanded programming for students with special needs.
“While these last few years have been the most challenging, I supported changes always with the lens of student achievement and well-being. Leading through a pandemic, I did my best within the limits of what we were provided. I was so proud to have been part of a system that shifted our collective focus to improving wellness, equity, and inclusion, and increased awareness of Indigeneity and the environment. We did this while encouraging innovative new approaches to how schools can evolve and continuously improve.”
Reynolds represented wards 1 and 2 during a period of time when the high school in her wards was threatened with closure.
 Leah Reynolds with Marianne Meed Ward The two women were always close when they both represented ward 2 residents. Reynolds, who has always been close to then ward 2 city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward, got tangled up in a sticky situation during the tumultuous school board debates.
“We all want our students to see themselves at our board table. It is my hope that candidates from all backgrounds will put their names forward in the next election.
Related news story:
Reynolds accused of being coached during a school board debate
Resident writes Open letter on the coaching issue
 BY Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Community Development Halton (CDH) has been struggling with budget issues, as has every not for profit organization in the Region.
They parted ways with their Executive Director and some staff and are now looking for other not for profits to share the space they have on the South Service Road.
Their intention is to turn the space into something bigger than a CDH office – they want to create a community hub where organizations with similar interests can share space, share resources and more importantly share ideas and look for some intellectual pollination
 It has been a turbulent couple of years for CDH – the pandemic didn’t help and the disruption that took place when Joey Edwardh resigned made it difficult to get a firm grip on what the organization was going to become given the gaps at the leadership level.
It is currently an organization with not much in the way of leadership or anyone with experience in the complex subject of community development.
There have been significant shifts in the make up of the Board – it is a complex job that calls for an understanding of just what the purpose of the organization is and then getting buy-in from the larger community and then being able to leverage that community acceptance into some funding.
While the job description of the Executive Directors includes fund raising none of them managed to raise as much as a dime.
Ted Hildebrand spent 20 years plus with Community Development Halton but was not seen as a future Executive Director – it took time and considerable effort to resolve that parting of ways.
One of the services CDH has been able to continue delivering is the “Community Lens” – reports that take a closer look at issues significant and relevant to the work CDH struggles to do.
 Jan Mowbray served as the President of the Board for two terms and struggled to re-build a board that had in the past been unable to meet the governance need.
 Ann Lawlor,, Chair of Community Development Halton Board Mowbray ended the number of terms she was permitted to serve as a Director and Board Chair and was replaced by Ann Lawlor, who is a member of the Halton Hills Town Council.
Having elected people serve on the Boards of not for profits has never been a particularly good idea. Mowbray served as a Councillor in Milton for two terms after which she turned her attention to CDH. She now serves as an adviser to Law while she gets a grip on just what the organization does and figures out how they can begin to once again serve the community
The Community Lens reports are good, exceptionally good on occasion, that alone id not enough to justify the amount of public money they receive.
Board members are not remunerated.
Median age and average age are commonly used to describe the age of a population.
 Both metrics enable historical comparison of a population or comparison between populations. When a population is divided into various age groups, the age distribution pattern is a useful tool for government, non-profit organizations and businesses to plan, develop and deliver their age-related goods and services.
For example, the size and rate of change of the children’s age group provides vital information for the planning and delivery of children’s education. A non-profit agency serving seniors is interested in the growth of the various age groups over 65 years old. Businesses can better target their products and services to clients in various age groups
Age distribution can be presented in a population pyramid. Each horizontal bar represents an age group (e.g., 0-4 years old) and the proportion (percentage) of the total population. The pyramid is divided into two halves, one for male and the other for female. A pyramid with a wide base and narrow top indicates a young and possibly growing population. On the other hand, an inverted pyramid with a narrow base and wide top, points to an ageing and potentially shrinking population.
The pyramids displayed above show the age distribution of the population in Halton’s local municipalities. They capture a decade of change between 2011 and 2021. The 2021 pyramid (in red outline) is superimposed on top of the 2011 pyramid (in grey).
City of Burlington
Its median age was 44.4 years in 2021, the highest among the four municipalities. The top portion of the pyramid continued to widen. The senior age groups experienced faster growth than the other age groups. They accounted for 21% of the total population in 2021. Over one in five residents was a senior. Among the 6,100 seniors over the age of 85, over two-thirds were women. There were no significant changes in the other age groups.
Town of Oakville
Its median age was 41.6 years in 2021. The top portion of the pyramid was also widening. There was a noticeably narrow mid portion indicating a shrinkage of the 35 to 59 age groups. The share of the child population under 9 years of age decreased by about 2%.
Town of Milton
It was the youngest municipality in Halton. Its median age was 36 years in 2021. However, the base of the pyramid has contracted. The share of the 0-9 years age group old has decreased from 18% to 16%. Although the share of its senior population has increased, especially in the 65 to 79 age groups, the pyramid still has a relatively narrow top in comparison with the bottom.
Milton also has a much more diverse population.
Town of Halton Hills
Its median age was 42 years in 2021. To some extent, the shape of the pyramid resembles that of Oakville. All the above 55 years age groups had increased their shares of the total population.
The challenge now is for each community to take this data and lay it into a bigger data set that includes the number of new residents who will arrive in 2031, then 2041 and then 2051 – time frames that the Region does its planning around.
How many seniors will there be and what will they need in the way of services. Parks and Recreation, cultural activities that fit into the mindset of that demographic.
What the public doesn’t see is – just how does CDH work? Has consideration been given to making their Board meetings public and perhaps some of the committee level work as well.
Room for growth – because the population they are serving is certainly going to grow.
The biggest challenge CDH has is improving its relevance. Losing much of the financial support from United Way was not a good sign.
 By Maria Gracious
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Before you start betting on sports, it’s critical to understand the most frequent bet kinds offered by oddsmakers. It’s amazing how many individuals wager on sports without recognizing what they’re doing or just don’t care.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each of the key bets available from the bookmakers.
 Understand the most frequent bet kinds offered by oddsmakers. Point Spread
Point Spreads betting is the most prevalent type of gambling for most sports bettors, commonly known as handicap betting. Point spread wagering is well-known among football bettors, but it’s also a popular technique of gambling on basketball. In most sports, the home team is listed second, while the away team is listed first.
Because it’s so simple, point spread betting is popular. For newbie bettors, the easiest way to grasp it is to add or subtract the point spread from their team’s score. If you bet on the underdog, then add to the point spread, and subtract points if you bet on the favorite. You win the bet by covering the point spread after doing your math.
Totals
 Totals, commonly known as under/over bets, are the same throughout most betting markets, irrespective of which sport it is. The idea is straightforward. The bookmakers estimate the total amount of points achieved in a given game, and bettors can gamble on an amount under or over that figure.
Also, remember that the total includes all points scored in a game, not just those scored in normal time. Extra points are added to the total if a game goes into overtime.
Moneyline
Moneylines are the simplest form of betting. Moneyline wagers, also known as win betting or line bets in various areas of the world, don’t include any form of point spreads. When betting on Moneylines, gamblers are betting on the contest’s winner. There’s no point differential.
Futures
Futures, often known as outright bets, are wagers placed on events that occur weeks or months later. However, they can be gambled on for a shorter duration until the event is determined. Future markets, unlike point spreads or total wagering, can’t push. Bettors either win or lose their wager. The most prevalent future bets are based on big sports championships.
Propositions
 Many online bookmakers refer to propositions, as props for short. Props are marketplaces that are unrelated to the game’s final conclusion or score. They’re point spread and total derivatives that act as a game inside a game for gamblers. Originally, they were just novelty wagers, but they’re now available regularly for several sports.
Props are classified into two types: player props and team props. “Who will score first?” is one of the most wagered on prop bets, although the prop bet markets available for bettors to choose from are extensive. Many prop bets on various sporting events are available at several sportsbooks. It’s up to the oddsmakers’ creativity, but proposition markets provide an infinite number of possibilities.
Final Words
One of the major advantages of online sports betting is the diversity of betting possibilities accessible. The betting options mentioned above are only a tiny part of the oddsmakers’ wagering arsenal. However, it’s advised that beginner bettors stick to them before moving on to more intricate and advanced bet types.
There’s a lot of value to be discovered in the markets mentioned above. If you line up your bets correctly, you should have no trouble starting your online sports betting journey while following our guide.
By Pepper Par
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Wednesday, July 20th, 2022 / 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Light Refreshments & Small Group Tours
OUTDOOR EVENT – RAIN OR SHINE
Burlington Green has pulled of a really smart opportunity.
I was tipped off that there was a major news story coming – that was as much as the informant would say.
Then the announcement came out that the Pump House on Lakeshore Road was going to serve as a EcoHub for Burlington Green – what a great idea.
Then I wondered how that came about – put a bunch of questions to Any Schnurr who tried at first to slide by them – a little more poking the near and Any explained.
 A significant piece of the city’s infrastructure history has been repurposed – fitting that it becomes the new home for Burlington Green The city had posted a Request for Proposals i=on their web site.
Someone at Burlington Green immediately saw the benefits for their organization.
 The Pump House served as a private residence when it no longer pumped water They put together a response and the city bought it – and why not. The Pump House is a significant part of the city’s infrastructure history. At one point that location pumped all the water Burlington needed to households across the city. Burlington was probably a town when all this happened.
The building underwent some major upgrades – the roof was replaced and some of the architectural features were given some help.
The inside was basically bare – running water and heat.
The basement is dry – for a building that close to the lake to have a dry basement attests to some solid construction work.
The city then put out proposals and found a woman who wanted to set up a beach xxx operation. You could rent chairs, umbrellas, paddle boats. It was a good idea but when Covid19 shut down the city it wasn’t viable – rent had to be paid and there were no customers.
The building was empty – again.
This is one of those win win situations. A part of the city’s heritage was being put to good use and an important part of the city’s not for profit community had a new home.
The current pumping station and water treatment plant are just across the road.
Hopefully Amy will learn from this experience that getting as much information as possible out as early as possible is part of being transparent and accountable.
The Mayor will apparently cut a ribbon – we thought she might go for a swim.
You are asked to reserve at:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/burlingtongreen-eco-hub-launch-tickets-382645351547
 By Pepper Parr
July 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Many elected leaders determined to be managers – Elected officials need to concentrate on where they add value.
“Leading: The Real Value of a Mayor and Council” by George Cuff, is back on shelves.
 Council members have a budget that will cover the cost of the book. Municipal management guru George Cuff makes a compelling argument that municipalities today are not nearly as well served as they should be – because their elected leaders have, in many instances, determined they would rather be the managers. As a result, far too much effort and time is being spent on how staff can do a better job in their roles, without recognizing that, in order to do so, elected officials need to concentrate on where they add value.
Leading others is a simple yet profound duty and privilege, writes Cuff, as he digs into questions around leadership and what it requires from those who step forward at the local level.
Coming from someone with a excellent reputation backed by years of municipal level experience and tonnes of consulting assignment – this is a guy Councillors might want to listen to.
The Gazette has blown its gift budget for this year – we would haved like to have been able to buy a copy of the book and have it sent to the seven members of Council.
George Cuff barely got through high school having found sports and girls a distraction from his studies. As a result, he did not go directly to University but began work as an accountant with the Royal Bank and then after a couple of years there, he moved on to an oil and gas company where he continued his frustration as an accounting clerk.
 George B. Cuff – has wisdom to share with municipal Councillors. Cuff set up his own firm of George B. Cuff & Associates Ltd. (1984) and since then has focused on providing advice and counsel to rural and urban governments, provincial departments and agencies and other groups involved in some aspect of governance and public service. His work has become more focused over time on the art of governance and the elements that help organizations become more effective.
Cuff has published over 450 articles as well as ten books on local government. He has three “how to” books (Cuff’s Guide Volumes One and Two as well as his “Executive Policy Governance” which was published in 2014.
 By Staff
July 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A little early to plan for what you want to do during Heritage Week.
Set out below is a list of what is planned.
A huge improvement over past Heritage Week initiatives. Kudos to the people at Heritage who put this together
| Date |
Event |
Monday, Aug. 1 at
11 a.m. |
Opening Ceremony at Centennial Square. In-person. No registration required. |
Tuesday, Aug. 2 at
6:30 p.m. |
Aldershot West Bike Tour. In-person event. Maximum 20 participants. To register, email hb@burlington.ca. |
| Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. |
Burlington Museums virtual lecture. Virtual event. No registration required. Join the lecture at museumsofburlington.ca. |
| Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. |
Halton Freedom Celebration Virtual Festival. Virtual event. No registration required. Visit HBHAS.ca. |
Thursday, Aug. 4 at
6:30 p.m. |
Burlington Public Library presents Between the Lakes Treaty. In-person event. Register online at bpl.on.ca. |
Thursday, Aug. 4 at
6 p.m. |
Laking Garden Heritage Walk at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) In-person event. Maximum 20 participants. Registration is required at rbg.ca. |
Friday, Aug. 5 at
6:45 p.m. |
Burlington Historical Society Walking Tour of Greenwood Cemetery
In-person event, maximum 25 participants. Register online at hb@burlington.ca. |
Saturday, Aug. 6 at
9 a.m. |
Tour of Lowville. In-person event. Register online at kilbridehistory.com. |
Saturday, Aug. 6 at
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
Freeman Station – Garden of Canada. In-person event.No registration required. |
Sunday, Aug. 7 at
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. |
Maple Park Community Garden Drop In. In-person event. No registration required. |
By Pepper Parr
July 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Perhaps a book that was overdue just had to be returned.
Whatever it was – car went through the windows of the Alton branch of the Burlington Public Library.
No one was injured and the staff managed to get the building opened this morning with little in the way of service disruption.
 The Alton Recreational Centre has a high, a public library and some of the best recreational space in the city.
The property is owned by the city with the three jurisdictions sharing the use of the space.
An incident like this wasn’t in the operational plans.
“We are very glad to be able to welcome people back into the branch so soon,” says Amanda Freeman, Branch Manager. “This library is busy with families, especially during Summer Reading Club. We are very grateful to all our BPL staff and partner organizations for getting us back into operation so quickly.”
 A small area of the branch is closed off with barriers until the damage can be fixed more permanently.
The remainder of the space is still open for browsing, borrowing, programs, and study.
No one was seriously injured in the collision. It occurred before the branch opened Saturday morning.
Police report that:
A vehicle drove through the glass at the library on July 9 at approximately 9:00 am. I am not aware of any charges or injuries at this time.
The Gazette followed up and got this:
“Unfortunately I cannot confirm any other details. Accident reports are completed by the officer and then sent off to the Ministry so I am not able to view the report. The officer is on their 4 days off currently so I am not able to confirm with them either. From what I see there does not appear to be any evidence to support that it was a deliberate action.”
By Pepper Parr
July 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Council met this morning – as a Standing Committee to review a major report on Community Benefits, Section 37 and Development charges.
It was an important matter that had good discussion that we will report on at length later this week.
 Council attendance – those with an X didn’t manage to make it to city hall. That 5:00 is the clock that lets people speaking how much time they have left.. The “news” at this point is that two of the seven members of Council actually made it to city hall.
Councillors Sharman and Bentivegna were in the council chamber – the other five: the Mayor, Stolte of ward 4, Nisan of Ward 3, Kearns of ward 2 and Galbraith of ward 1 chose to take part from the comfort of their homes.
This is becoming a habit – and not a particularly positive one.
Getting ready to announce her candidacy for Mayor Anne Marsden said:
“Speechless especially following a great weekend weather wise. Perhaps they don’t want any delegations to look them in the eye, given they have managed to avoid that for most of their term. It took forever and repeatedly banging away at in-house delegation was a right.before they folded but chose to protect themselves from delegations looking them in the eye by allowing Council and Committees to be hybrid full-time rather than if sick and should not be attending in person.”
By Andrew Johnson
July 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The online casino industry is among the fastest-growing sectors, especially in Canada. With around 20 million online casino players, Canada is among the top eight countries in the world in terms of spending money at online casinos. The online gambling industry is reported to generate approximately $100 billion in revenues by the end of 2023. Canada earned around $3.5 billion from online gambling last year. This is because of the popularity of online casinos and the relaxed gambling laws in Canada, unlike other countries like the U.S.
 Canadian Casino Player’s Demographics
According to statistics, most Canadian players play casino games at any online Canadian casinos between 4 pm and 6 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm, with Mega Moolah, a popular progressive slot being the most popular casino game. It is important to note that nearly 80 percent of online casino players are males; however, it is important to note that the number of females using mobile devices for playing online casino games outnumber men. Regarding the age groups, online gambling is more prevalent in the age group of 20-35. This age group makes up around 16% of total online casino players, while all the other age groups are in the single digits. The younger generation prefers playing fast-paced casino games, while the older people prefer playing comfortable and relaxing casino games like bingo.
Canadian Casino Player’s Preference
Canadian loves sports betting. It is evident from the fact online sports betting is the top online gambling activity. While males prefer sports betting, females in Canada prefer luck-based games like bingo. In terms of table games, poker is the most preferred game of Canadians, with 59% of players playing this skilled game of cards.
 Find a place to play online casino games that is safe and fun at the same time Legality of online casinos in Canada
Online gambling activities fall in the grey area in Canadian law. According to Canadian law, operating an online casino within Canada without a valid license is illegal. However, since no particular laws target offshore online gambling sites, Canadians can play casino games safely and legally at any offshore casino.
The Canadian Gaming Commission oversees the online gambling industry and resolves any major issue. However, individual provinces govern the laws regarding online casinos and other betting activities. Since there is no nationwide legislation to regulate online gambling in Canada, it helps that each province can develop its casino regulations.
Any online casino in Canada must have a valid license from the local authority to operate legally. In addition, the local authorities of the provinces must enter into a special agreement for games to be played across provincial borders. Each province except Saskatchewan has at least one online casino.
Why Canadians prefer playing at online casinos
The number of Canadian players in online casinos has touched a new high, which resulted in Canada becoming a significant contributor to the online casino industry. There are many reasons why Canadian players are thronging online casinos. Some of the reasons are:
Easy of Convenience
Online casinos offer people the chance to play casino games from the comfort of their homes. Since online casinos can be accessed anywhere and anytime, they fit into the everyday schedule of people perfectly, thus saving both time and money.
Casino Bonuses & Promotions
Online casinos offer several casino bonuses to attract new casino players to their website and retain their existing players. Players can claim these casino bonuses to play casino games and win real money. In addition, online casinos run different promotions from time to time for their players.
Several Payment Methods
Online casinos provide several popular payment methods like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Neteller, and more. These payment methods provide a safe and secure environment to transfer money to and from the casino.
 There are all kinds of computer games you can play on line. Plenty of Casino Games
Since online casinos are not bounded by physical space, they can host plenty of casino games. As a result, online casinos have vast quantity and quality of casino games than any land-based casino.
Future of the Canadian Online Casino Industry
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted several sectors, and the land-based casinos are one of them. Because of the different restrictions and health concerns, people don’t prefer to visit land-based casinos, which resulted in the shut down of many land-based casinos. Although many industries have suffered due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the online gambling industry didn’t slow down, resulting in the significant number of online casinos Canada has ever seen. The demand for new games is enormous right now, and the online casino industry is taking full advantage of this.
So, we can safely say that the future of online casino industry in Canada is looking pretty good.
 By Ray Rivers
July 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
If there is anything certain in this very troubled world we live in, it’s that clean electricity is the future. Eventually it will replace every aspect of our lives that were once dominated by fossil fuels. And yet the history of electricity is relatively brief and the lessons not universally accepted.
Niagara Falls holds a special place for Canadians. It is the most popular tourist spot in the country, bringing in over 12 million tourists who spend more than $2 billion a year. And while there are the casinos and the tacky amusement arcade, it is the magnificent 167 foot high waterfall that tourists come to see.
This year the Niagara Parks Commission added an attraction, hoping to lure a thousand visitors a day. They opened up the 2200 foot water spillway tunnel in the historic power plant which takes visitors near the base of the falls. It is a view rivalling that of the ‘maid of the mist’ boats. Commissioned in 1906 the hydro power plant is now a museum and loaded with educational information about the role hydro electricity has played since its inception.
Not all water power projects are alike. The James Bay hydro project in Northern Quebec, poised to become the largest in the world, couldn’t be more different. Development of the Hydro Quebec project required flooding 11,500 square kilometres of wilderness, forcing thousands of indigenous James Bay Cree and Inuit out of their homes and villages.
Over 10,000 caribou were wiped out in the process. And even worse, flooded forest vegetation is now rotting, releasing mercury into the huge water reservoirs and making the fish inedible. The mercury is mostly a result of pollution from coal burnt in southern electricity plants and absorbed by the vegetation as it grew.
But no rivers were dammed at Niagara. As much as three quarters of the water exiting Lake Erie is now channelled to giant water turbines while the rest tumbles over the falls to entertain the tourists. And the good news – the diversion of water from the falls has been slowing down the rate of natural erosion, thus extending the life of the falls.
 If you look closely to the centre left you can see the tunnel opening where the water is returned to the River. Ontario gets about a quarter of its electricity from hydro power sources and Niagara is a major contributor to that. The demand for electricity is expected to increase as our population grows and as society converts from its current fleet of gas guzzlers and fossil fuel space heating. But there are few opportunities for clean water power left in Ontario.
Burning coal or gas for electricity production in Ontario never really made sense for a province with neither coal mines nor significant gas production. That was the case even before we understood the dangers of smog, acid rain and climate change. Nuclear energy allowed the province to get off coal and it currently supplies over half of the province’s electricity. But getting to reliability for the nuclear power facilities has been a long, costly and problem-plagued pathway.
New nuclear development, even with small modular reactors, is both costly and could take years to become operational. Recent research indicates that, though smaller in size and output, the new proposed small nuclear reactors (SMR) generate more nuclear waste per kilowatt hour than the larger heavy water facilities they’re intended to replace. The elephant in the room is the disposal of nuclear waste. Nobody anywhere has a viable solution to the steadily accumulating waste. Currently there are over three million highly radioactive spent fuel bundles lying in swimming pools, as ‘temporary’ storage.
In many ways the closest relative to that Niagara Falls water turbine is the wind turbine. Excepting solar energy and the emerging potential for green hydrogen, wind is the safest and cleanest form of renewable energy. Wind towers are relatively low cost, can be located easily, and produce significant amounts of energy depending on the blow, obviously. Wind towers have been blamed for occasional bird and bat collision deaths, though nothing compared to office towers, oil spills and mostly domestic cats. And even water power ends up killing some fish.
Wind power development in Ontario grew rapidly from nothing at the beginning of the millennium to about 8% by 2018 before the Ford government killed new renewable energy projects. Germany, by comparison, is planning to be 80% reliant on renewable energy by 2030. In the first quarter of this year Germans are already producing half of its electricity with renewables, the bulk of that being wind power, a source which has more than trebled over the last decade.
 A glass walled elevator drops to the bottom of the power station where it returns to the Niagara River. Doug Ford has reversed Ontario’s leadership in combating climate change, embracing fossil fuels in lieu of renewable energy. The Province has invested $3 billion for gas plants during his first term. Mr. Ford’s opposition to renewable energy can only be described as ideological because it is certainly not economically rational. Wind and solar, not gas, are the least costly means of increasing Ontario’s electricity supply.
And it is shortsighted since the province will need substantially more electricity to accommodate the conversion from fossil fuels, be it space heating, electric vehicles or new industrial investment in the face of federal restrictions on greenhouse gas emitting sources. For example, Ontario is losing the proposed $2.5 B Windsor battery maker LG Chem because the government could not guarantee electricity supply. Ontario may claim to be open for business, but not if business requires electricity.
That old power plant at Niagara Falls is a learning centre with many lessons for all of us. Using renewable energy is one of them. As Mr. Ford embarks on his next four year mandate to govern the province, he would do well to take direction from that piece of valuable history.
The Gazette will be doing a feature story on the Power Plant – it is a truly amazing site – well worth a visit.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
 By Alan Harrington
July 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The NHL Draft was held this past week in Montreal.
The 60th time for this showcase of talent where the NHL Teams get to pick the finest young hockey players from around the world.
Usually the BEST players are from Canada – but this time – a Slovakian was chosen first overall.
2022’s first pick overall was by the Montreal Canadiens for Juraj Slafkovsky – a player from Slovakia .
If that wasn’t enough for Slovakia, the 2nd player chosen – Simon Nemec – is also a player from that nation – chosen by New Jersey..
The third player – Logan Cooley – an American from Pittsburgh was taken by Arizona.
Where are the Canadians?
 Shane Wright was an outstanding payer when he was with the Kingston Frontenacs. Seen as the # 1 draft pick in 2022. Especially since Ontario-born players make up about a fifth of the NHL players?
Well the answer came next as the Seattle Kraken embraced the services of Shane Wright to join their team.
Shane Wright is a Canadian – 18 years old – playing for Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL as a centre.
Shane was drafted by Kingston with “exceptional player status” becoming only the sixth player to be granted exceptional status after the likes of: John Tavares and Connor McDavid, . (And that was mentioned in the Burlington Gazette back on February 8 2021).
In 2020, Shane’s first year – he won the CHL Rookie of the Year award. Sidney Crosby won that award back in 2004 and John Tavares in 2006
So what hometown claims Shane Wright as their own??
Burlington, Ontario – birth home of the first Canadian hockey player selected in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Here is how the sports world told the story:
“You gotta feel for Shane Wright. He was labeled as the top draft prospect in his class when he was granted exceptional status into the OHL as a 15-year-old back in 2019. It was pretty much Shane Wright and Matthew Savoie at the time.
Then Shane Wright took off and put up 66 points in 58 games as an under-ager during his first season with the Kingston Frontenacs to really separate himself as the consensus 1st overall pick. Then the global pandemic happened, then Juraj Slafkovsky had a preposterous draft year by being the leading scorer in the Olympics as a 17-year-old and also had over a point per game at the World Championships for Slovakia. There were rumblings a few weeks before the draft that the race would be tight between Shane Wright and Slafkovsky for the top pick but you figured the Montreal Canadiens would have to take the Canadian kid.
 Selected as the 4th draft pick Shane Wright will play for the Seattle Kraken Then the days leading up to the draft there was a lot of chatter that Slafkovsky could be the pick. And then last night with the 1st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the host Montreal Canadiens select…
For over a year, Shane Wright was labelled as the #1 pick.
Then when last night came around, not only did he not get taken off the board 1st overall but New Jersey didn’t need another center with the 2nd pick.
Then Arizona decided to stick with their plan and take Logan Cooley with the 3rd pick.
Finally the fourth overall pick came around for Seattle and somehow Shane Wright fell into their lap.
The first time the Seattle Kraken play Montreal will be a game to watch. Shane Wright is said to be very very upset – admits that he has a chip on his shoulder now.
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