 By Staff
July 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In the first six months of 2020, Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officers responded to 168 suspected drug poisonings. One-third of those victims overdosed while alone, and nearly one in five did not survive.
In their media release the police explain why a new service has been put in place and the outcome they hope will be realized.
“We have been asked why we have taken a harm reduction approach to the overdose crisis in our community. The answer is simple: our goal is to prevent overdose deaths. Ultimately, a life saved today is an opportunity for recovery tomorrow.
“In an effort to ensure our community is aware of any and all resources available to them, we would like to introduce you to the Brave App.
“The Brave App is designed to connect people at risk of overdose with help they need: an ally they can talk to, a human supporter to help them stay safe, and digital monitoring technology to help them when they’re in danger. The app connects them with a community of overdose responders, and/or professional emergency first responders.
“The app is another tool that can be used to reduce the harms to individuals, families and communities from substance use, and is a complement to the services and resources that are available in Halton. The Brave App is not a substitute for calling 911.
“The Brave App was developed independently by Brave Technology Co-op, a multi-stakeholder cooperative in Vancouver B.C., and is not affiliated with the Halton Regional Police Service.
 Designed by people who use drugs. How the App Works
1. A person at risk of overdose can use the app to connect with remote, peer support through a voice call.
2. If your supporter thinks you might be overdosing (through a pre-determined span of non-response), they will request access to the details of your private Rescue Plan.
This plan can include your location, access instructions, and an emergency contact to call instead of, or in addition to, calling 911.
3. You will then receive a 10-second countdown alert letting you know that information will be shared unless you indicate that you are ok by dismissing the alert.
4. If you are unable to dismiss the alert, then that information will be revealed to your supporter, who will only use it for the purpose of sending help.
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
If you use the app, and your Rescue Plan includes calling 911, our frontline officers and other first responders in Halton carry naloxone and we want to assist. As a reminder, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides broad legal protections for anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose.
This means that individuals, including youth, will not be charged for offences such as simple possession for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Privacy
People who request supervision remain anonymous and their location is only revealed if it is necessary to keep them safe. If there is no overdose, then their location is not shared. No account is needed to use the Brave App, and you don’t need to share your name, number, e-mail, or mailing address. No personal information is shared with responding Emergency Services unless it is part of the pre-determined response and only if the Rescue Plan is activated.
Learn More
The Brave App can be used by anyone with a mobile phone and internet access, and is available for download, for free, on both Apple and Android phones.
Click HERE to learn more about the Brave App
Photo credit: Sara Wylie, National Day of Action | February 21, 2017
 By Staff
July 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Expect the pop corn to be available. Some notice on how social distance seating will be handled would have been useful. Cinestarz Upper Canada, the movie theatre on Brant, published their schedule early this morning. First feature is on Friday.
An interesting run of films but not a word on how seating will be handled or what they have taken in the way of social distancing.
An unfortunate corporate practice.
Shortly after publishing this story we learned of the Stratford Festival announcement of their plans to open. Prominently displayed on their web site was the protocol they will follow to protect those who attend live theatre. Something similar should appear soon on the CineStarz web site.
 By Pepper Parr
July 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council meets at 1:00 pm this afternoon for their last meeting until September.
The agenda for that month is loaded.
There have been very few delegations since the first lockdown in March of 2020 – those that did take place left little impression on those listening.
During the period of time the city was in a State of Emergency with its affairs guided by an Emergency Control Group they met whenever it had to –seldom less than twice a week. The City is still in a State of Emergency, which is where the city manager thinks it should remain for as long as possible.
Provincial funding goes to those who are in a State of Emergency.
Last week Council went through an impressive schedule of Standing Committee meetings that were both controversial on some levels and solid governance on others.
The Mayor’s ill-advised tweet about support she got from some of her colleagues but not others was petty politics at its worst – while the comment from Councillor Sharman on the decision by Human Resources to do away with annual performance reports was excellent governance.
 Councillor Sharman was not amused. We will let you know when the annual performance reviews are put back in. Sharman will beaver away at this – expect him to prevail.
Will we see that decision as a Staff Direction? That might be expecting a little too much.
 We used to get this: City Council meeting – before COVID The meeting today will be swift – there is next to nothing on the Agenda page in terms of documents that are going to be approved.
 Now we get this. All the Council members were present – they don’t always all appear on the screen at the same time The City Manager’s work plan – all the things he is going to get done, was not available to media during the Standing Committee meeting.
Some of the narrative in the City Manager’s report was available but the specifics, what was going to get done and when, was not available and the city communications adviser we dealt with said it would not be available.
Public participation was a feature of the Goldring council – there were opportunities to speak – even though they didn’t listen all that well.
This Council is using the pandemic, and the phrase “an abundance of caution” as a reason to keep the public away – and at this point they have succeeded. We no longer hear from Gary Scobie, Jim Young or Blair Smith to name just a few.
During the last Standing Committee last week we did see some rumbling on the part of Councillor Stolte about finding a way to involve living, breathing members of the public.
Stolte got jerked around but her point was made. The City Clerk did set out his concerns – there were a lot of them, few with much in the way of merit.
Council will wish us all a fun summer and be away from their posts until September. Some will begin thinking about their re-election plans. Two of the seven are at risk with a third in for a surprise once his constituents get roused.
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 12th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
More play equipment available to borrow through the Lending Library, thanks to donation from Tim Hortons
Burlington residents can now borrow more play equipment from the City’s Lending Library program, located at Brant Hills Community Centre at 2255 Brant St.
Thanks to a donation from Tim Hortons, the City was able to purchase more equipment, so now more families can play together, get outside and try new activities.
The play equipment is available to borrow for free (with a credit card deposit) for a one-week period. Equipment bookings can only be made online. Pick up and drop off is located at the east entrance, through Duncaster Drive. All items are disinfected between each use.
Bikes and Pickle Ball equipment can be picked up at the Seniors’ Centre
For a complete list of play equipment available to borrow, visit online reservations. Check the website regularly as new items are frequently being added.
Examples of equipment to borrow:
 A telescope is expensive – before buying one you might want to borrow what the city has in its Lending Library. • Archery set
• Beginners astronomy kit
• Bird watching kit
• Giant outdoor matching game
• Large Connect 4 game
• Lawn darts
• Portable practice target net
• Stilts set
• Bikes, including a three-wheeled bicycle
For more information on the Lending Library program, visit burlington.ca/playlending.
Link to the site showing what is available is HERE
 By Staff
July 12, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Parking and fireworks are two issues that always draw attention and phone calls to the office of city Councillors.
In a recent Standing Committee Staff was recommending that:
The Director of Transportation Services proceed with the installation of occupancy sensors in all Municipally owned off-street parking facilities in downtown Burlington for a total cost of $165,000 to be funded from the Downtown Parking District Reserve Fund.
 The signs that were tied into the sensors wasn’t providing accurate data. There have been sensors on the streets of the city for some time – getting accurate data on how many spaces were available in the city owned parking lots was proving to be awkward. The software that came with the signs that indicate how many parking spaces were available were having a problem with the math – they didn’t seem to be able to count.
The collection of accurate parking data for Downtown Burlington is critical not only for the day to day operation of the parking supply but also important for planning where and when future parking is to be built.
In 2016, staff brought forward a report which recommended the installation of parking occupancy sensors at all on-street parking spaces as well as the entry/exits points of parking lots in Downtown Burlington to accurately capture and display parking usage and availability. Council approved a budget of $525,000.00 to implement the technology and devices and in 2017 the parking sensors were installed.
Some of the sensors have proven to be very reliable and staff have used the on-street occupancy data to make informed decisions of where parking should be and have been able to report on parking initiatives and parking supply.
 Everyone was in on the photo op – this was a good news story. Then – not as good a story today. However, the types of sensors that were installed in the downtown parking lots, unfortunately did not meet the City of Burlington’s expectations.
Staff considered and tested a number of alternatives with the sensor technology for the parking lot entrances and after careful examination concluded that the devices used for the on-street parking application are most appropriate for the off street lots. The cost associated with the supply and installation of 750 parking sensors in all of the downtown parking lots is $165,000.
Burlington’s city owned downtown lots have been without accurate monitoring for some time. In order to present a complete picture of the parking supply to downtown visitors, the lots must be incorporated into the system. Given the favourable weather conditions and the fact that parking lots are not yet at full capacity, installation in the summer months this year is preferred.
Staff anticipate that installation will be undertaken by the existing vendor as a single source given that the sensors must work with the present communication system in place. With approval of this report, staff can move forward with award and implementation this summer.
The cost for the parking sensors and associated installation costs of approximately $165,000 will be funded through the Downtown Parking District Reserve Fund. The funds in the Reserve account come from the merchant community and are not actual tax payer dollars.
In the debate and discussion we listened to there was no mention of a discount or a refund from the people who provided the system we have in place now for that part of the system the city bought that didn’t meet the expectation.
Why not?
Related news story:
City contacts for new parking meters
Official installation – the system was working – that was in May of 2016
 By Staff
July 12th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
For the cyclists that use Walkers Line there is a reward while they wait for the construction work to be completed. Work has begun and is expected to be completed by the end of August.
The Bridge Replacement work being done on Walkers Line 1.7 km north of Britannia Road will result in a new bridge width of 1.5 metre on each side.
Bridge work will be staged, west side then east side. Roadway will be reduced to one lane and controlled with a temporary traffic signal.
The new bridge will meet the high water demands from heavy rainfall events and will be constructed with an upgraded traffic barrier and railings.
By Staff
July 12th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The widening income gap between the rich and the poor can impact negatively on economic growth, standard of living, health and well being, and social inclusion. High income inequality also raises a moral question about fairness and social justice.1 In Canada, the income gap between the top 1 percent and the median household has been historically large and is growing steadily larger.2
Custom tabulation from Statistics Canada’s taxfiler data file provides an opportunity to learn more about income inequality in Halton Region. Determining the share of total income by population deciles is one of many ways to measure income inequality. The population is divided into ten equal groups (10% each) from the poorest (lowest decile) to the richest (highest decile) – according to the distribution of values of a particular variable. Then the proportion of total income captured by each group is calculated. If each group has 10% of the total income, there is no income inequality.
 Using the most currently available data, in 2018 the highest decile (10%) of the population in Halton has by far the largest share (25%) of the total after-tax income (disposable income) and the bottom decile captures only 3%.
Oakville has a wider gap between the highest decile (28%) and the lowest decile (2.1%) than the other three local municipalities.
The concentration of income/wealth becomes more skewed when looking at income of the top 1 percent of the population.
The top 1% of Halton’s population (5,730 individuals) has 7% of the total disposable income. The top 1% of Oakville’s population (2,040 individuals) has 8.3% of the town’s total disposable income.
Another measure of income disparity is to compare income levels of various income groups. The population is sorted according to their average disposable income and then divided into 10 equal groups (deciles) each containing 10% of the population.
In Halton, the average disposable income for the top decile (top 10% of the population) was 9 times higher than the bottom decile (bottom 10% of the population). In other words, on average, for every after-tax dollar earned by individuals in the top decile, those at the bottom decile earned 11.2 cents. In Oakville, the difference is 13 times. The individuals in the bottom decile earned only 7.5 cents. In fact, the bottom decile in Oakville has the lowest average after-tax income among the local municipalities.
 The impact of Covid-19 on the income gap among Canadians has been pronounced.
According to a CIBC Economics report,3 Covid-19 has resulted in a dramatic widening of the income gap.
The data shows that this has been fuelled not only by the expected loss of many low-wage jobs, but also by an unexpected increase in the number of high-wage jobs in the fourth quartile of the wage scale, which had year-over-year growth of more than 9% or 260,000 jobs.
In fact, the report goes on to say “…if it were not for the increase in high-wage jobs during the recession, the overall level of employment today would have been almost one million below the pre-recession level.”
As we come out of the pandemic, how we respond to those that have been most impacted is critical to recovery.
If you have any feedback/suggestions on the issue of income inequality in Halton, you can contact us at data@ cdhalton.ca.
Community Development Halton would like to acknowledge the ongoing financial support of the Regional Municipality of Halton.
 By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
They have been offering programs for young people and putting on theatrical performances at the Performing Arts Centre that has been some of the best seen on those stages.
The only thing missing was a larger audience.
 Koogle has put on some of the best summer theatre fare the city has ever seen. The Putnam County Spelling Bee, staged in 2015, was one of the smartest summer entertainment events this critic has seen at the Performing Arts Centre.
Like everyone else, Koogle is edging out of the lockdown offering a virtual program for July and a live program for August.
Hopefully the move in the 3rd stage that starts on Friday will hold and we get to the point where a normal normal begins to be real.
Details on their July virtual program can be found below
The August program is going to be live – location not determined yet – details below.
Register HERE for the July virtual program
Register HERE for the August LIVE program
 By Staff
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The province in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health is moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021.
In order to enter Step Three of the Roadmap, Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70 to 80 per cent of individuals 18 years of age or older with one dose and 25 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks, ensuring a stronger level of protection against COVID-19.
Step Three of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services with larger numbers of people and restrictions in place. This includes, but is not limited to:
Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
 Community meetings like this will not take place during this stage of the Re-Open Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space.
Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
 Museum can now be opened to the public. Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).
 Mayor Marianne Med Ward can still wear her mask in public. Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three. This is in alignment with the advice on personal public health measures issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, while also accounting for Ontario specific information and requirements. Face coverings will also be required in some outdoor public settings as well.
The pandemic is not over and we must all remain vigilant and continue following the measures and advice in place, as the Delta variant continues to pose a threat to public health.”
The province will remain in Step Three of the Roadmap for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their eligible population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated.
Other key public health and health care indicators must also continue to remain stable. Upon meeting these thresholds, the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity limits for indoor and outdoor settings and limits for social gatherings, will be lifted. Only a small number of measures will remain in place, including the requirement for passive screening, such as posting a sign, and businesses requiring a safety plan.
Ontario’s epidemiological situation is distinct from other jurisdictions and the Delta variant is the dominant strain in Ontario, which is not the case with some other provinces. As a result, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, face coverings will also continue to be required for indoor public settings. The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to evaluate this need on an ongoing basis.
 By Staff
July 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Trustees Margo Shuttleworth and Tracy Ehl Harris delegating virtually before a city Standing Committee. Halton District School Board trustees Margo Shuttleworth and Tracy Ehl Harris delegated before a city Standing Committee earlier this week to explain what the Board of Education was doing in the matter of renaming a school.
We have heard from many voices in the community and had many conversations which culminated with formal requests from community members, including those who are survivors of residential schools to consider a change in name of our school on Woodview Drive.
Of course, we have also heard from some who feel we are discounting the positive contributions of Egerton Ryerson to the Canadian education system. He did indeed create school boards, making textbooks more uniform, and making education free. He also advocated for the separation of Church and State within education….. apart from the education for Indigenous children.
For Indigenous students he drafted a Ryerson Industrial Schools Report which supports the creation of industrial schools. These schools have been called manual labour schools, industrial schools, boarding schools, and residential schools. They included religious instruction which Ryerson felt necessary to assimilate and civilize Indigenous children, .
 Instruction for the most part was delivered by Clergy We need to be accountable to the legacy that Ryerson also left behind and the trauma and hurt it causes our students and their families to feel. We must be compassionate to the hurt and trauma that has been part of his legacy.
I am going to read for you an overview of The Ryerson Experiment compiled by Nishnawbe Aski Nation ( Nishnawbe Aski Nation Indian Residential Schools in Ontario, 2005 ). This group represents 49 First Nation communities within northern Ontario with a population of membership (on and off reserve) estimated around 45,000 people.
In 1845, a report to the Legislative Assembly recommended that industrial boarding schools be adopted for the education of Indian children. In 1847, Dr. Egerton Ryerson, the Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada (Ontario) suggested a method of establishing and conducting the industrial schools for the benefit of Indian children.
Their purpose should be to “give a plain English education adapted to the working farmer and mechanic” and in addition “agriculture, kitchen-gardening and mechanics so far as mechanics is connected with the making and repairing the most useful agricultural implements”. To attain their objective, it would be necessary for the students to reside together, with adequate provision being made for their domestic and religious education. Dr. Ryerson especially deemed the latter essential. “With him (the Indian) nothing can be done to improve and elevate his character and condition without the aid of religious feeling”.
 Spiritual guidance was part of the curriculum at the residential schools. For this reason he insisted that the animating and controlling spirit of each Industrial School “should be a joint effort of the Government and of the religious organization concerned. Decisions on the appointment of the School Superintendent, buildings to be erected and conditions for admission of pupils were also to be made jointly. The Government would be responsible for inspection and the laying down of general rules and regulations as well as making financial grants to support each of the operating cost, and provide spiritual guidance for the pupils.
It was these experiments that lay the foundation for residential schools. Ryerson’s approach was to separate Indigenous children from their parents in order to achieve assimilation and although it can be recognized that he made many contributions to the education system, this piece of his legacy has had a traumatic and harmful impact on a part of our school community.
The name Ryerson, for many, brings up experiences of trauma and mistrust of the education system. We value all students who are part of our HDSB community and we must live up to our commitments in recognizing the harm that some of our school names may have.
The delegation was then passed to Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tracy Ehl Harrsion to give an overview of policy and links to our Multi Year Plan
I am going to discuss the policy overlay at the Halton District School Board that compels this renaming process.
The Board adopted a new strategic multi year plan in late 2020.
- The Multi-Year Plan (MYP) is a strategic four-year plan created collaboratively for the Halton District School Board (HDSB). The purpose of the MYP is to set direction and prioritize the collective actions of all stakeholders to ensure our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support the more than 65,000 students 9,000 staff and the broader HDSB
- Five Key Areas & Commitments
- Equity & Inclusion
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Learning and Achievement
- Environmental Leadership
- Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness
- The Board motion touches on a number of these commitments, including equity and inclusion, mental health and well being and Indigenous Perspectives and
- Specifically the commitment related to Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness includes:
- Provide opportunities for a whole community approach to understanding the impacts of colonialism, past and present.
- Foster engagement with Indigenous peoples, communities, practices, perspectives and realities to build awareness, mutual respect and shared
- Enhance learning about Treaty relationships, Indigenous rights, residential schools and Indigenous peoples’ contributions to Canada to fulfil the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action for
 These were not small schools. Above is a photograph of the Kamloops Indian Residential School where the graves of 215 students who attended the school were discovered. With this as our backdrop, as Trustee Shuttleworth indicated that the Board received a number of requests to rename Ryerson Public School. We also received a number of messages indicating that we needed to do research to understand the positive contributions Ryerson has made to public education. When the renaming requests were received, the School Naming and Renaming Policy and Governance Procedure and Administrative Procedure were followed.
These were updated in January 2021, to reflect the new MYP and the current social context.
Once of the guiding principles of the policy is to “Consider equity, diversity and inclusion in the school community;”. The Governance Procedure details what is under the purview of Trustees, while the Administrative Procedure details staff responsibilities, and the two dovetail. In summary:
Renaming requests are submitted to the Director’s office, and the Chair and Director determine whether or not to bring forward a report to the Board. According to the Procedure, the renaming of a school shall be considered if: a) the current name constitutes a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour which is seen to undermine the credibility, integrity or relevance of the HDSB’s contemporary values; or b) the current name was appropriated from a culture or community without the necessary recognition or awareness process.
In this case, a report was brought forward to initiate the renaming, and it was unanimously supported by the Board. Next steps include:
- Forming an ad hoc committee, involving staff, Trustees, and members of the school
- Notifying and seeking pubic input and ideas from the whole community (staff, students, community) which are narrowed down by the committee, and vetted to ensure the uphold the MYP and the criteria of the
- A short list of up to five, fully researched names, are submitted to the Board of Trustees for discussion and ultimate selection of one
This process for the current school under consideration, is to be wrapped up by the end of November 2021.
The discussion at the Board table was not an easy one, and certainly there are complexities. At the end of the day, the Board must uphold the commitments of the MYP. Its development reflects the ideas and values of thousands of people in the HDSB community. Now is our time to be true to those commitments, not only to the words, but to the actions that as a community we decided will make a positive impact on this and future generations.
During the discussion at the Board table, it was noted that the adjacent park has the same name, and as such, the Board wanted to alert you to the process that is going to be undertaken for the school.
 By Pepper Parr
July 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON
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 By Staff
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
On April 10th of next year the people of Burlington will gather at the Cenotaph just north of city hall and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Cenotaph. The creation of the monument was the result of a large community driven initiative to honour the resident veterans that fought in World War 1.
The initiative brought together service organizations, churches and residents to raise the funds and commission the works, a true community effort.
 Ed Keenleyside knows more about the Cenotaph and how it came into being. So much that he convinced the city to print copies of the book and make it available to the public. Last year the city entered into an agreement to print copies of a book written by Ed Keenleyside on the history of the cenotaph and how it came into being.
There was discussion at a Standing Committee earlier this week about using the anniversary of the community spirit that brought about the Cenotaph and tying it to the same community spirit that is getting the city through the pandemic.
The Standing Committee decided the Cenotaph celebration should be a stand-alone event.
The area around the Cenotaph is to be identified in future as Veteran Square; (Not Veteran”s”)
April 9 is Vimy Ridge Day in Canada.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge is Canada’s most celebrated military victory. An often mythologized symbol of the birth of Canadian national pride and awareness.
There are two oak trees that were grown from seeds taken from trees in France at the Vimy Memorial; a piece of land that the French government deeded to Canada.
By Staff
July 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday the 13th, a group of people will gather at the Terry Fox Mile Marker, then off to Crème de la Crème for an ice cream as a reward for completing a run that started in June.
 The T shirts for 2021 have an Indigenous theme. They will have over 200 T shirts in all sizes later this month. Again this year $20 for adult and $15 for kids. Sizes 6X, 10 in kids and S, M, L, XL and XXL for adults – unisex. Their objective was to walk, run, hike or bike to accumulate a total of more than the 3582 km Terry had run when he went through the city.
The 12 or so team members had a financial target of $5000. At this point they have raised over $4200.
Burlington has always been Terry’s town.
The annual run, which usually takes place in September, may have to be virtual again this year. The rules the province puts in place are not as clear as they need to be for the Terry Fox group to do the planning that has to be done.
Last year the run was virtual – and they set a new total in donations.
For those who might want to push the team over the top of their $5000 target go HERE
By Staff
July 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
As of Thursday, July 8, 2021, 638,849 doses have been administered in Halton, which includes 394,519 first doses and 244,330 second doses.
This represents 79 per cent of Halton’s population aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 46 per cent who have received both doses.
The vaccination status dashboard is updated Monday to Friday between 12 and 2 p.m.
The Regional Dashboard with data updated every day can be found HERE
“Exxon worked alongside Chevron, Shell, BP and smaller oil firms to shift attention away from the growing climate crisis. They funded the industry’s trade body, API, as it drew up a multimillion-dollar plan to ensure that “climate change becomes a non- issue” through disinformation. The plan said “victory will be achieved” when “recognition of uncertainties become part of the ‘conventional wisdom’”.
(Chris McGreal – The Guardian 30 Jun 2021)
 By Ray Rivers
July 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Over 700 people in B.C. alone have died so far this summer from the heat dome that sits over much of that province. How could any rational person now dispute the link to global warming? The rising temperature resulted in over 200 forest fires in what was to have been Canada’s biggest renewable carbon reserve. Instead, the nation’s forests have now become another source of carbon emissions.
 Street level view of a burned out Lytton, BC It is estimated that over a billion marine animals have perished in the fires and heat, and we have no idea about the land animals we’ve lost as well. And it’s not just Canada. New Zealand has just recorded it’s hottest winter ever. Siberia is on track for a repeat of last year’s hottest year ever. And even Antarctica has recorded 18 degrees last February, the temperature I keep my house thermostat in the winter.
If there are still climate deniers, or those who doubt that human activity is responsible for the rapid change in the planet’s weather patterns, they should truly be ashamed of themselves. It’s been over a century since scientists first suggested that all the CO2 being emitted would eventually warm up the planet.
In the 1970’s computerization enabled climate modelling which predicted pretty much what we are seeing today. In fact climate scientists now worry that, if anything, they have been too conservative, have underestimated the speed of global warming.
Then there are the other scientists, the ones employed by the fossil fuel industries who knew what was coming as far back as the 1950’s. But neither their boys in the upstairs board rooms nor the political leaders we’d elected to protect us seemed to get the memo. The message was blunt. If we don’t change we’re all likely headed for a doomsday scenario like we’ve never known.
But profits were good and the oil fossil fuel lobby was powerful politically, so their solution was to muddy the waters, create enough uncertainty so that nobody could be sure. The answer was to deny global warming and, when climate change became inevitable, deny that humans were responsible.
 Government did their best to sabotage global efforts at reducing carbon emissions. It is one thing to unknowingly endanger humanity, but quite another to do so deliberately, falsifying data, outright lying and deceiving the public, as the oil executives did during the nineties and 2000’s. They and the GW Bush government did their best to sabotage global efforts at reducing carbon emissions, and perverted the serious discussion of climate change.
Bush almost immediately after being elected in 2000 pulled the USA out of the binding Kyoto emissions agreement. And he and the energy lobby then proceeded to do their best to sabotage the international climate change deliberations.
Canada did sign onto Kyoto, and we might have met our first committed emission reduction, thanks to Ontario closing its coal power plants. But Stephen Harper, who had been unsupportive of Ontario’s Liberal government’s climate initiative, had done little else to reduce Canada’s growing carbon footprint. And no sooner had he won his parliamentary majority than he pulled Canada out of the agreement.
When considering the unethical approach of the fossil fuel sector to their business, it is not difficult to look at another industry which profited from misery caused by its poison. Big tobacco had long been lying about the debilitating health effects of the product it had been pushing, and had deliberately misled the consuming public on its health effects. Several court actions in the USA eventually persuaded the industry to pay up just under $250 billion for the endless suffering it had caused to so many.
 Ronald Reagan, a future president of the United States promoting the use of tobacco. Almost everyone smoked — until we learned how dangerous it was. There was legal action also in Canada, and hundreds of billions of dollars were delivered in assigned settlements, $300 billion for Ontario alone. However, big tobacco cried bankruptcy and premiers Legault and Ford, last year, conducted secret negotiations with the companies. And it now appears that, in a bizarre turn of events, big tobacco might be let off the hook providing they make an effort to get their customers to stop using their products.
There have been a rising number of legal actions in the USA against the oil companies and Big Tobacco is the model they are using since it fits the pattern so well. But nobody should expect any kind of accountability among the political leaders, who like Stephen Harper wasted ten years, or Pierre Trudeau who helped get the oil sands project started back in the seventies.
And there is his son Justin who promised back in his first election to end public subsidies for the fossil industry and has yet failed to do so, and in fact is building a couple of new pipelines to serve the oil and gas industry. Subsidies are the other side of a carbon tax – they effectively lower the price of fuel production and thus serve to promote its greater use. Canada has been named as the G7 nation which most subsidizes its oil and gas sector.
 Mr. O’Toole changed his messaging on the carbon tax Mr. Trudeau has been outspoken on confronting global warming and that has helped him in the polls, particularly when the opposition party denies the reality of climate change. That might just be the loud voice of Alberta and Saskatchewan struggling with the last gasps of their dying oil industry sector. And it was a message we all got more from Mr. Harper and Mr. Scheer than the more moderate Mr. O’Toole. At least Mr. O’Toole changed his messaging on the carbon tax after the court legality ruling, finally acquiescing, albeit with an unworkable tax model.
There are still many otherwise intelligent people who will tell you that they now believe that climate change is happening, but doubt that humans are mostly responsible. If nothing else a big fat court ruling may help the misguided find themselves. And realizing the mess we are creating and leaving it to future generations to start acting responsibly to reduce their carbon foot print.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Humans Caused – Ford Knew – Heat Dome – New Zealand –
Trudeau – Climate Scientists – Antarctica – Billion Marine Animals –
US Tobacco – Canadian Tobacco – Oil Company Deceit – “Air Pollution Deaths” –
By Pepper Parr
July 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
You won’t be able to actually attend a council meeting in September but expect to hear of a report that sets out how council meetings will evolve out of their current virtual format into what has been described as a hybrid set up.
Getting the motion Councillor Stole had onto the table proved awkward for everyone – for once the motion got passed the procedural bylaw that sets out how “walk on” motions are handled everyone was for the idea.
 There was a time when the Council Chamber would be packed with people who were being recognized. When will that day return? We learned that just a few days before the ECG (Emergency Control Group) had been discussing this very matter and opining that it was perhaps a good idea to discuss this.
The Clerk too had been giving this deep thought and advised council earlier in the week that the City Manager had asked that he prepare a report.
We did learn today there are some significant technical challenges in getting people hooked up into one seamless session with some in the chamber and some elsewhere.
The Clerk asked rhetorically who would be able to attend the meetings and the matter of vaccination was brought up.
If you’ve not been completely inoculated entry into any public space should be prohibited.
For some reason the ‘anti-vaxers’ feel that they have the right to threaten the health of everyone else just because they either don’t understand the science or have chosen to see it as junk science.
You can’t go to school if you haven’t been vaccinated for measles. If there are those who are not or don’t want to be vaccinated – let them attend virtually.
 Councillor Nisan congratulated Councillor Stolte for bringing the matter of public attendance to the Standing Committee. There might be some benefit to keeping a virtual component of the public meetings.
Everyone congratulated Councillor Stolte for bringing the matter up – no one apologized to her for making it so hard for her to get the motion on the table. She stood her ground – something the Councillor from ward 1 might learn to do.
Councillor Nisan publicly congratulated Stole for her efforts.
Related news story:
Ward 3 Councillor gives ward 4 Councillor a tough time
By Staff
July 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has announced that applications for building permits can now only be sent to the City electronically.
This new online feature will enhance customer service for anyone requiring a building permit and reduce the City’s carbon footprint.
 No more trundling down to city hall – building applications have to be submitted electronically. Applications which were processed before July 5, 2021 will continue to be processed in a hard copy format unless otherwise directed by Building and Bylaw Department staff. If you are unable to submit the application electronically, please contact the Building and Bylaw Department team at 905-335-7731, ext. 7470 or buildingpermits@burlington.ca.
To submit a building permit application online, go to burlington.ca/building.
The online system will make it easier and less time consuming for applicants as they will not need to courier, mail or drop off paper copies of the application.
For City staff, it will mean less printing and paper, improved review process and staff can access applications remotely.
Nick Anastasopoulos, City of Burlington Chief Building Official, commented that, “Throughout the pandemic, staff have been working very hard to get this new electronic system up and running. We’ve heard from residents and the industry that this was a high priority. Reducing our carbon footprint has been a key initiative of the Building and Bylaw Department and the introduction of electronic review will drive this initiative forward. We’re excited to have it in place so as to phase out paper submissions related to building permit applications.”
By Pepper Parr
July 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a level of civility that the members of city council strive to project. There are occasions when the veil gets lowered and a very serious discord reveals itself.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte had to struggle to get her motion on the Council table. Earlier this week Kelvin Galbraith, Chair of the Standing Committee that was meeting virtually, asked Councillor Nisan to move a motion that was calling for Council to waive a portion of the Procedural Bylaw to allow a motion that Councillor Stolte wanted to put forward.
Stolte had not sent the motion in ahead of time; a series of circumstances prevented her from doing so.
When the Chair asked Councillor Nisan to move the motion, Nisan said he wanted to know what the motion was about – he already knew what it was about but bobbed and weaved and squirmed to avoid moving the motion.
Councillor Kearns stepped up and said she would move the motion.
It is an accepted practice for council colleagues to support each other in moving the business of council smoothly with as little delay as possible.
The motion Councillor Stole wanted to put on the table was to debate the idea of opening up council meetings to the public rather than continue with the virtual process now being used.
There is plenty of room at the Council table for all the members of Council to meet the social distancing rules and there is more than enough space in the Council Chamber for some members (may as few as ten) to sit well spaced apart to listen and take part in the proceedings.
Kevin Arjoon, City Clerk mentioned at the close of the discussion that he had been asked by city manager Tim Commisso to prepare a report for Council on how the meeting might be opened up to the public.
 Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan The current city council is split into two camps – one controlled by the Mayor that includes Councillors Galbraith, Nisan and Bentivegna. Nisan is reported to be prepared to follow the Mayor wherever she goes.
Galbraith takes the position that he likes the Mayor and at this point he doesn’t seem to be prepared to confront her.
Galbraith has talked of aspirations to serve as Mayor at some future date.
Bentivegna is growing as a member of Council and he may at some point in the future oppose a position the Mayor has taken. He’s not there yet.
In the recent past there have been few delegations from people who want to comment on an issue before Council. Doing so virtually is not the same as doing so in person.
Council will begin debating the 2022 budget that has projections of a budget increase of more than 5%.
The matter of the Stolte motion got resolved by putting it on the agenda for the Standing Committee meeting that will take place on Thursday.
Nisan’s behaviour was petty and small.
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 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Hugo Breton wanted to set up a business in Canada, more specifically within the Region of Halton.
He had most of his plans in place and was ready to make the move from Latin America where he was the Head of Player Services and Operations for Riot Games.
 Hugo Breton – business coach Breton booked his travel to Ontario for March 2019, right when COVID-19 hit and travel restrictions were implemented. “My plan was to visit the Halton region, find office space, housing and begin networking, but everything was suddenly put on pause,” said Breton.
“Like everyone else, we’ve pivoted and had to be patient,” said Breton. “On June 8, we left Mexico City and finally arrived in Canada. We’ve completed our quarantine and now I’ve started my business coaching practice.”
Hugo has been hosting online business coaching events helping entrepreneurs in Halton navigate the pandemic using proven tools and systems.
With Step 2 of the Reopening Ontario plan coming into effect on June 30, Hugo feels now is the time to pivot, plan and prepare for a business boom.
“Because of the coronavirus, we have businesses in this region that are struggling to stay open or relaunch,” said Breton. “Business coaching was on the rise before the pandemic. Now, our business expertise and guidance has become more important than ever.”
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6 Steps to level-up your Business – Event kick-off details
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST
To register: https://halton.actioncoach.com/6steps/
By Pepper Parr
July 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Running for office with little in the way of a community profile is very hard – but it can be done.
Running for office with little in the way of money is very very hard – but it can be done.
At the federal level there is a tax break for those who donate to an election campaign. A portion of a donation can be deducted from your income tax return.
 Former City Clerk Angela Morgan signs the document that makes the election results official. There is, at this point, nothing similar at the municipal level, however the Municipal Act permits a municipality to put one in place. The Clerk sent Council a report that was discussed at considerable length earlier this week.
Campaign Contribution Rebate Program
The Act provides, but does not mandate, municipalities to pass a by-law to provide rebates to individuals who contributed to a Council candidate’s election campaign.
Rebates are funded through the general revenues of a municipality, in other words rebates would be a tax supported expense.
Municipal campaign contributions are not eligible for income tax rebates, as contributions to Provincial or Federal candidates.
The principle purpose of the program is to encourage participation in municipal elections by reducing the financial burden placed on candidates and campaign donors. A rebate program requires candidates to issue receipts to donors who would then apply for a rebate from the City.
 City Clerk Kevin Arjoon – understands the procedural process exceptionally well. Rebates would only be processed after the election, and after a candidate files their financial statements in compliance with the Act. Participation in the contribution rebate program by candidates is voluntary. A contribution rebate program enables a municipality to reimburse contributions made by individuals to a campaign of a candidate seeking election for Mayor or Councillor. A number of municipalities have implemented a contribution rebate program including the Cities of Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan, Whitby, Ajax and Oakville.
The criteria for eligibility and rebate formulas varies between municipalities. Likewise, the rebate payout amounts will vary greatly.
A municipal survey was conducted specifically to determine the collective scope and financial impact of contribution rebate programs across Ontario for the 2018 Municipal Election. The results of the survey (there were less than 300 people responding) will be set out in a separate news report.
Several factors should be considered prior to establishing a campaign contribution rebate program including:
Eligibility criteria for candidates to participate in the program
Whether it only applies to Mayor and Councillor candidates
Eligibility criteria for contributors
Whether the program should be limited to only residents of Burlington or open to all residents of Ontario
Minimum contribution amounts
A minimum contribution amount is required to be eligible for the program
Formula for rebate
Whether the formula should be consistent for all contributions or vary depending on the amount of the contribution Maximum rebate amounts
 Marianne Meed Ward filing her nomination papers for the 2014 municipal election while husband Pete photographs the occasion. A maximum rebate amount should be set
Administrative policies and procedures
Whether a candidate should be required to file an audited financial statement in order to be eligible for the program
Whether candidates must register in the program at the time of filing their nomination
Candidates requirement to keep meticulous records of all contributions received
The deadline to file all records and receipts with the City Clerk’s Office
Internal staffing resources required to support the program throughout the election period (before, during and after the election)
Administering a contribution rebate program will require staff resources for program administration, including analyzing financial statements, determining the eligibility of an application for rebate, and processing payment
 City Clerk Kevin Arjoon – surprised at a comment made. Financial impact on Election program and budget
Residents were asked to rate their understanding of how a campaign contribution rebate program works, with 9% responding they had an excellent understanding of the program, and 27% responding they had a good understanding of the program. The majority of the residents therefore indicated they did not have a good understanding of such a program.
Of the 287 contributors for the question, 276 responded whether or not they support for establishing a program.
61% reported they are not supportive of the program, and 39% reported they are supportive.
Reasons for not supporting the program cited include:
A contribution is a contribution and should not be regarded as a way to get a rebate;
It’s taxpayer subsidized;
It sounds very complicated and unnecessary;
Responsibility should be up to the candidate to rally support. The municipalities have greater need for the funds;
There are other ways for people to support candidates.
Needs more transparency, major contributors (and the individuals most likely to benefit from this rebate) are corporate entities/developers/construction firms;
I don’t like that it’s funded through the general revenues of the municipality;
Added cost to administer;
The city should not be involved in the election campaign at all;
We don’t have enough money as it is;
There are higher budget priorities;
Contributes in favour of candidates supported by wealthy voters;
Tax dollars could be going to someone for whom tax payers did not vote.
Reasons for supporting the program cited include:
It removes the financial barrier which definitely negatively affects individuals participating in the election process and increases participation;
A good idea to promote contributions;
Support but consider minimum and maximum values.
Many people think they already get a tax rebate for municipal, because they do for federal/provincial. This would allow consistency with other levels of government and help fundraising, especially for residents who can’t fully fund their own campaigns.
At this time staff is not recommending a campaign contribution rebate program as it’s administratively burdensome and has not definitively demonstrated that it has a greater impact on voter turnout or the number of candidates. Based on the jurisdictional scan, using Oakville as a direct comparator, the program could have a budget impact of approximately $100,000 (just issuing rebates to Burlington residents) which equates to about 20% of the current election budget.
If approved, the cost to administer this program and the rebate amounts would be applied to the tax base and result in a 2022 budget impact. In addition, it is recognized that school board elections are the avenue where many may enter as first-time political candidates. Creating a by-law will benefit Council and Mayoral candidates, which may create inequities with the school board candidates. Should Council wish to explore the possibility of establishing a contribution rebate program for the City of Burlington, it may direct staff to report back with options related to the above considerations.
The Mayor loved the idea – other members of council were a little more hesitant.
More on this when we publish the results of the 20 question survey that less than 300 people responded to – that is not a number on which policy should be based.
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