 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Conservative Party candidate did not participate in the Burlington debate.
The Halton Environmental Network held virtual debates last night for each of the ridings within the Regional boundaries.
While the focus was the environment the debate covered almost everything you could think of and then some.
Nick Page spoke eloquently and with more passion that usually seen in Burlington debates.
Chris Cullis did just as well for the Green Party.
MP Karina Gould had an incredible grasp on just what the Liberal government had done for the city. She was spitting out numbers at quite a pace.
Emily Brown didn’t make it to the debate. No word on why at this point.
The debates are well worth the time if yo need to think through where your vote should go.
When they are available online we’ll let you know
Statement from Burlington’s Community Leaders in Support & Protection of our Frontline Healthcare Staff &
First-Responders from Abuse & Harassment
Community leaders have spoken out strongly against the harmful messages, harassment and misinformation targeted against our medical and healthcare professionals.
In their statement they said:
“We would like to take a moment to thank our front-line hospital and health workers, physicians and first- responders for your sacrifices throughout this pandemic and going above and beyond every day to keep us safe. We stand with you, and know that in these times of increasing volatility, our healthcare professionals and first-responders need to see our community’s support once again.
“Recently, there have been protests held outside of the Joseph Brant Museum, adjacent to Joseph Brant Hospital, and other healthcare settings throughout the province and country, as well as at the private residences of elected officials. We support everyone’s right to peaceful protest, even when we do not agree on the subject matter; however, recent protests have included harmful messages that result in emotional distress and moral injury.”
In the past week the Gazette has received a number of Letters to the Editor that spew the kind of comments we are seeing on national and local television.
When we think the content qualifies as hate messaging we will forward them to the police along with the IP address the words came from.
We are all for free speech – but this kind of hate stuff is not acceptable.
We along with the community leaders condemn, in the strongest of terms, this targeted and misdirected abuse and harassment of healthcare workers that has occurred during these recent protests.
“To protestors: Please take your messages to the decision-makers at City Hall, Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill, and away from our hospitals and the private homes of our community leaders. We also ask you to be considerate of those who need access to our hospital for life-saving treatments and those visiting their loved ones.
Healthcare workers do not make policy.
“To our local hospital and healthcare professionals and first-responders: Please know there is an overwhelming majority in our community who support you and the enormous sacrifices you have made and continue to make during this pandemic. We’ve publicly shown our support and appreciation for your sacrifices by standing outside of our homes, on our balconies and on sidewalks applauding you through the FrontLine Clap; holding drive-by parades of emergency vehicles and elected leaders in front of Joseph Brant Hospital; lighting our pier blue and posting countless messages of support on social media.
“Additionally, the Burlington Pier will be lit blue tonight in support of our healthcare and frontline workers and the City of Burlington is planning for additional days later this month.”
“You have all gone above and beyond every day, putting yourselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. We are immeasurably grateful for your continued strength, perseverance, and commitment to caring for the people that you serve. Please know that we acknowledge and appreciate the positive difference that you are making in the lives of all your patients, their families and our community members.
“We thank you and we stand with you!”
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Are we ready for this?
 They will stand on Lakeshore Road between Brant and Elizabeth Streets. The required Pre-Application meeting took place virtually last night.
There was some expensive talent talking on behalf of the developer who wants to put up two towers: a 30 storey and a 24 story.
The plan is to have 23 studio apartments; 212 single bedroom apartments; 165 1 bedroom + den; 139 2 bedroom and some 3 bedroom. No mention of price.
The panel was asked if there would be any affordable units – really?
There will be a significant bike tails system – but they won’t extend out onto the Pier. – even thought they appear to do so in the report.
 View from the lake. Downtown Burlington will never be the same if this gets approved as it has been presented. During the presentation, given by people representing the developer, David Faletta attempted to convince viewers that the old Urban Growth Centre boundary would apply arguing that the Regional Official Plan affirmed the new boundary but that the Minister had yet to sign off on the Regional decision.
There is a lot more to this story. Stand by.
 By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will open online registration for fall swimming lessons and aquatic leadership programs beginning 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Programs will be viewable online at Burlington.ca/recreation on Friday, Sept. 10.
 A Burlington resident doing a well executed crawl. To register on Sept. 18, go to liveandplay.burlington.ca. There is no in-person registration.
Aquatic leadership programs are those that can lead a person to becoming a lifeguard:
• Airway Management
• Bronze Cross, Medallion and Star
• Swim Instructor
• National Lifeguard Certification
All City programs will continue to follow public health guidance, including physical distancing, capacity limits and wearing masks or face coverings. All swimming lessons are low ratio to ensure physical distancing. Caregiver support is required in the water for participants enrolled in Parent and Tot levels up to and including Swimmer 3.
Individuals participating in an in-person program will be required to fill out the mandatory health screening form at Burlington.ca/screening before each session.
• Individuals who have questions or require assistance can email liveandplay@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7738 between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
• Recreation fee assistance funding is available to resident individuals or families who need help to pay for City of Burlington recreation programs. For more information or to apply, visit burlington.ca/feeassistance. You can also leave a confidential voicemail message at 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 and staff will return your call to assist you.
 By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank believes that the best way to get the support you need is to create collaborative relationships.
He works with a number of organizations to source the food he needs to help people who need help. The pandemic changed the way Food Banks work.
The need is much higher – while there are some people who are not impacted financially by Covid19 – there are many who don’t have the money needed to put food on the table.
The Food Bank has been there week after week for more than 18 months – helping out those who need help.
 Tim Hortons restaurant in Burlington are donating 100% of proceeds from sales of Smile Cookies to the Burlington Food Bank.
This year in Burlington, local Tim Hortons restaurant owners and guests will be raising money to support the Burlington Food bank. Burlington Tim Hortons owners have been supporting the Burlington Food Bank for many years and this event is a major fundraiser raising $69, 249.00 during the 2020 campaign. The funds will be used to help with the snack program for school aged children in Burlington along with purchasing healthy nutritious food for individuals and families than need some help throughout the year.
“Everyone at the Burlington Food Bank is thankful for the incredible community support we receive through this great initiative and it allows us to serve our neighbours, thank you so much to all of the Burlington store owners and their customers!”
 By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Gazette has in the past few weeks turned to the Canadian Council for Policy Alternatives for an unbiased independent view and analysis of significant issues in the federal election.
Their analysis on Affordable Housing is instructive. The full report is HERE.
First, we bring you the good news: Canada’s political leaders are talking about affordable housing in this federal election. Given that housing is the #1 biggest cost most households face, affordable housing policy is mission critical.
Now for the bad news: Most of the political parties have nothing meaningful to say about creating and sustaining a rental housing stock that provides affordable, good quality, and stable homes for everyone who rents.
 Renting is not a phase. Close to 60% of tenant families make more than $32,000 and less than $108,000. According to our research, these families are likely to rent from for-profit providers for the long-term, which means they may spend too much in rent, live in inadequate housing, or feel insecurely housed for most or all of their lives.
CCPA Ontario Senior Researcher Ricardo Tranjan is analyzing all of the parties’ housing promises in this election. Here’s what’s missing:
• A plan to build large numbers of truly affordable rental housing every year, year after year, indeterminately¬¬—with or without private sector partnership.
• A plan to purchase and nationalize considerable parts of the existing stock to make or keep it affordable until we grow affordable rental housing capacity.
• National rent control policy.
“Parties continue to treat renting a home as a phase, as an undesirable
situation that people must overcome. This perspective is not only
out of touch with the reality of a large share of the population,
but it also thwarts a much-needed debate on how to
make renting a suitable alternative to home ownership.”
— Ricardo Tranjan
 By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Jennifer Smith, Chair of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce said earlier today: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Terry Caddo to the Chamber and I look forward to working with him as we continue our transformative journey aimed at bringing life to business in Burlington.”
Terry is a not-for-profit senior executive with extensive and award-winning experience in the attractions and tourism industry. Recently, Terry was the Executive Director of the Canada Blooms Horticulture Society. Prior to that, he had senior management roles in Marketing and Operations with the Royal Botanical Gardens and Ontario Place.
 Terry Caddo, incoming President and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce “I am honoured to be taking on this important leadership role with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. During my time with the Royal Botanical Gardens, I became acquainted with many local businesses in Burlington. I look forward to meeting more in my new capacity with the Chamber,” said Mr. Caddo.
“Advocating on behalf and maintaining the gold standard of support for Burlington businesses is my top priority, while ensuring that those same businesses have a place to thrive and grow.”
 By Pepper Parr
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a certain amount of satisfaction watching a political leader evolve.
They don’t all manage to grow into real leaders able to listen and to hear.
 Marianne Meed Ward was just a citizen when this picture was taken – now she is on the other side of the podium. committee. A number of years ago when Marianne Meed Ward was the council member for ward 2 she came to the realization that people were not aware of what was going on in their communities. A development was being proposed, notices were sent out but to a limited number of people. Meed Ward decided to do something about that and the practice now is to send notices to people within a 120 metre radius of a development.
During a meeting last night when there was a Statutory meeting about the Oval Court development a number of people complained that they had not received the notice of the meeting.
A staff member was asked if notices could be sent to a wider radius – he commented on possible limitations within the Planning Act.
Watching the web cast you could see the Mayor thinking it through – thinking perhaps about how she could arrange to have Statutory meeting notices sent to a larger area.
Watch for something like that in the months ahead.
Later in the same meeting as council members were preparing to wrap it up for the day – it was approaching 10:00 pm, the Mayor took a moment to comment on what things used to be like when development applications were filed..
There would be a Notice of a development application.
There was no such things as a pre-application meeting.
The application would be submitted and then things went quiet – not a word.
Then a Statutory meeting was called. The Planning Act required those meetings.
Council required a report from Staff with a recommendation on the development. They could say yes – it looks good or it is not a good development application and does not represent good planning.
What Meed Ward found amazing at the time was that the Staff Report would be submitted at the same time the Statutory meeting took place.
Whatever comments the public wanted to make during the Statutory meeting was irrelevant – the Staff report had already been written.
That said Meed Ward was the way things were done.
 Councillors had been away from the business of getting things done for six weeks – it was a slow start plagued by technical issues. Delegations to the Statutoy meeting were coming in at a surprising clip – getting the equipment to work was a challenge. Last night there was a Statutory meeting on the Oval Court development. There were some technical problems and it turned out that a lot of people wanted to delegate and found that they were not able to do so.
Again there were technical problems.
The Statutory meeting was very unsatisfactory to both the residents, staff and Council members.
But the meeting had taken place.
Mark Simeoni, Director of Community Planning, told Council that a Statutory meeting was mandated – a meeting must be held and it must be advertised and held in public.
He however added that there was nothing in the Act that said the city was limited to just one Statutory meeting.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: All the ideas, all the things she wanted to do while a member of Council can now be advanced as Mayor. Expect the lawyers who were watching the web cast to be searching through their copies of the Planning Act to see if that was true.
This is a different council, breaking the practices of the past and finding new more effective ways to get things done.
Mayor Meed Ward is far from perfect – she has a lot of growing to do yet – but it is interesting to watch her as she thinks something through, makes a note and comes back to it later on.
By Pepper Parr
September 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The election that few wanted does need attention – there are issues to be discerned.
The Halton Environment Network (HEN) and the Chamber of Commerce are hosting debates.
HEN is part of a North American event – for us in the Region of Halton the focus is on the federal election and a drill down into what the candidates have to say about climate change and the environment.
A panel has been created for each of the constituencies in the Region.
 For the Burlington people that includes the constituencies of Burlington, Oakville North Burlington and Milton – which includes the northern part of Burlington.
There are 120 communities across the country holding similar events in every constituency – which is quite an undertaking.
There is a youth group involved with different moderators for each constituency – actually there are two moderators for each constituency.
There are two questions that will be asked at each event; then there is a rapid fire set of questions followed up by questions from the audience.
The two core questions will be asked at all of the 120 communities taking part.
There will be live polls taking place during the two hour event
The only regrettable part of all this is that is takes place at the same time as the leaders debate.
The upside is that HEN will be posting their debates to the HEN YouTube page on their web site.
So you can go back at any time and listen to what the candidates in your riding have to say.
You can check out their web site for the details and register.
Please join Halton Environmental Network (HEN), CFUW Oakville, Sustainable Milton and CFUW Georgetown on Wednesday September 8th, 2021 at 8 pm for the Virtual Debates on the Environment.
Click here to register
 . Where do your candidates stand on YOUR issues? This is your opportunity to meet and listen to your Federal Election Candidates and engage with them virtually on the issues that matter most to you.
Submit your questions! Register for the riding you live in and settle in for what looks like a well organized event.
You can register for the debate in the following communities.
Burlington
Milton
Oakville
Oakville North-Burlington
Wellington-Halton Hills
By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
This is not Toronto. This is Burlington and these are the buildings that developers want to construct.
They won’t dot the skyline tomorrow but they are in the works.
 This is the oval Court development that is planned for the east end of the city. To be located on Fairview relatively close to the Fearmans pork processing plant. The 24 story tower in the right is planned for Brant Street south of the Brant Street Plaze – right next to Joe Dogs. How they build this tower and keep Joe Dogs open is more than a challenge.
 The location is very controversial. The area will be razed – Bank of Nova Scotia would go. No one had an answer on what they will do with the width of Brant Street as this point – it is currently a narrow two lane road.
Residents were not opposed to a development – they just didn’t like the idea of a 24 story building. The supermarket to the north will be moved closer to the street and will see a small park with a path along the edge of Rambo Creek.
There will be parking beneath the plaza.
John Street, which is to the east of Brant, will be extended north. Currently John is not classified as a street – it is a lane way.
 This is a Molinaro development planned for the Plains Road area on an odd shaped lot, If approved it will be done in two phases. It will be steps from Mapleview Mall. This is the view from the QEW
By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
You’ve got mail!
The Medical Officer of Health for the Region has issued an amended Letter of Instructions to workplaces to keep staff and patrons safe
The Class Order has also been revised to reflect Provincial directions for case and contact management
 Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani. Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani, has issued an amended Letter of Instructions to businesses and organizations to support their efforts to protect their staff and customers/patrons from COVID-19, preventing the spread in their workplaces and our community.
The amended Instructions will replace two existing sets of Instructions issued on May 8 and February 12, consolidating the information and making it easier for businesses and organizations to understand and implement these requirements and current Provincial Rules for Step 3.
The amended Instructions outline key public health measures that workplaces must take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and also provide guidance to workplaces on what to do if one or more of their workers has COVID-19 presenting the potential for a workplace outbreak.
New in the amended Instructions are requirements for businesses and organizations with 100 or more workers physically present at the workplace (including those working in the community) to:
• Establish, implement and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 safety plan
• Establish, implement and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 workplace vaccination policy
The amended Instructions also provide additional contact tracing measures in certain settings, including the collection and maintenance of customer/patron contact information for places where there is a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure through closer contact or lack of masking.
This will help Halton Region Public Health to achieve prompt contact tracing for high-risk COVID-19 exposures – essential to preventing further spread of the Delta variant, which we know to be highly transmissible and present greater risk for severe illness and hospitalization especially for the unvaccinated.
The amended Instructions are effective Friday, September 10, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
To read Dr. Meghani’s amended Instructions to businesses and organizations and for more information and guidance, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
Class Order updated to align with Provincial guidance for case and contact management
Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health has also amended Halton’s Class Order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Effective 12:01 a.m. on September 10, 2021 to reflect new Provincial directions for case and contact management of COVID-19.
Key amendments to Halton’s Class Order, which requires those with or exposed to COVID-19 to self-isolate to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, include:
• Updated guidance for how long people must self-isolate based on their symptoms
• Reducing the length of time people with high-risk exposures must self-isolate from 14 to 10 days
• Relieving people with high-risk exposures who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 infections of the requirement to self-isolate, at the discretion of Halton Region Public Health
By Staff
September 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has three people representing them in the House of Commons.
The maps below set out the boundaries for each.
The northern part of Burlington is part of the Milton constituency.
By Staff
September 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board wants ideas from the public on the renaming of Ryerson Public School.
The city wants idea from the public on renaming the park that abuts the school.
Could they not create a joint committee and come up with a single name ?
Not on your life – there is too much political upside for all the politicians to share this one.
 The school will be renamed – as will the park that abuts the property. The decision to dump the name of Egerton Ryerson was done very very quickly – basically on one delegation from an Indigenous parent.
 The statue of Ryerson was toppled shortly after it was splattered with paint. The head of the statue ended up on an Indigenous reserve at the end of a pole. There is tonnes of research on just what Ryerson did and didn’t do but those documents aren’t going to get much attention.
This is classic rush to judgement and lets pile on a good thing.
Community members are encouraged to submit a suggestion for the new name of the school by Sept. 24
In a media release the HDSB said: “Ryerson Public School was named after Egerton Ryerson for his contributions to the Ontario education system, however, Ryerson was also instrumental to the design of Canada’s residential school system.
Students, families and community members are encouraged to submit suggestions for a new name for the school between Sept. 7 – 24, 2021.
The HDSB recognizes the significance of naming a new school as an opportunity to:
• reflect the geography, history, local environment, culture or traditions of the community;
• consider equity, diversity and inclusion in the school community;
• name a renowned person of historical significance to the Halton community, or a real person whose contribution to society or humanity is recognized and valued across Canada.
Suggestions can be made:
• By completing the online form
• By fax — 905-335-4447
• By mail — Communications Dept., Halton District School Board,
PO Box 5005 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z2
Suggestions will be accepted until Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Each name that is submitted will be reviewed by a committee which will include parent/guardian representation. A shortlist of names will be prepared and presented to the Board of Trustees who will select the final name at one of the regularly scheduled Board meetings in November 2021.
The selected name for the school will be announced in a news release and posted on the HDSB website (www.hdsb.ca) and social media.
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 Pepper Parr
September 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Tomorrow morning when parents pack their children off to school or clear the dining room table and set them up for a virtual classroom they will begin the third years of living through a pandemic.
 Classroom experiences will be different. The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is as ready as it can be for the start of the school year.
Few fully appreciate that the HDSB has to comply with the guidance that comes from the province in terms of what they are required to deliver in the way of an education to the students.
The Board then has to coordinate with the Medical Officer of Health to ensure that the best practices are in place.
The province for their part seem to be always late getting out of the gate leaving the professionals who have to make it all work to continue to do “last minute” stuff
The Superintendents have to scramble to get the message down the line to the principals who will open the doors on Tuesday.
Board of Education cannot mandate that teachers need to be vaccinated – there is a mandatory vaccination disclosure policy.
That disclosure is confidential.
 Don’t ask. The Boards are required to advise the province how many people have been vaccinated, how many people are exempt and how many people chose not to be vaccinated and are being tested and going through an educational program.
The reporting to the province is done monthly. The first report will be sent in on September 10th.
The requirement to disclose applies to everyone: teachers, staff, volunteers, contract people working for the Board
The Rapid Tests those who chose not to be vaccinated are required to administer can be done at home and are paid for by the Board – they are not cheap.
The testing is to be done weekly.
The School boards report to the province and the province is understood to be publishing that information by September 10th – so we will know how many un-vaccinated people there are in the schools.
A teacher or teaching aide can choose not to be vaccinated. So we have a teacher who is vaccinated who may have to work beside a teaching aide who has chosen not to be vaccinated and doesn’t have to tell anyone – other than the Board and that information is confidential.
Those who choose not to be vaccinated do have to undergo regular tests once a week – the test can be administered at home.
The testing kits come in boxes of 25 units. The Board has to find a way to get those test units to those who chose not to be vaccinated without putting their personal private information at risk.
It might be like those sanitary napkin products that were wrapped in plain brown paper when I was a young man.
Councillor Shuttleworth wanted to know how long the Board would continue to pay for the testing kits – no one was able to give her an answer.
Milton Trustee Danielli wanted to know if a kindergarten teacher was vaccinated but the teaching aide was not vaccinated – did the teacher have to work with the unvaccinated person.
The rules are that no one is allowed to ask a person if they have been vaccinated.
Expect some blow back when this situation sinks into the minds of parents who are worried about what could happen to their child.
The Delta variant of Covid19 travels much more easily that previous variants. The most recent report from the province for Saturday, September 3rd was: 807 new infections – six deaths.
Of those infected 628 were not vaccinated.
The Public Health people believe that the province is into a fourth wave and the Science Table has reported that numbers will rise in October when people will be indoors much more.
To add to the issues that have to be managed are the school buses.
 Getting the buses out of the parking yard on time might be a bit of a problem the first couple of weeks. There are enough drivers trained and in place – the problem is getting buses out of the yard they are parked in overnight. First Student Transportation has their yard on Dundas where the Region is doing some major road work – there might be some delays in getting the buses out of the yard on time for them to make their rounds
By Ryan O’Dowd: Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
September 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Well past the halfway mark into the election campaign no one asked for, a number of issues have emerged.
Across Burlington, Milton (Parts of Burlington are in the Milton riding), and Oakville North-Burlington the Gazette has interviewed the three Liberal candidates, two NDP candidates, one Green Party candidate, and one Conservative candidate. Despite numerous attempts to interview Burlington Conservative ’s candidate Emily Brown she has not been able to find the time. decided she was not going to be interviewed by the Gazette.
 Hanan Rizkalla the Oakville-North Burlington Conservative candidate. The interview with Hanan Rizkalla the Oakville-North Burlington Conservative candidate is still being organized..
With – why are we having this election -nbeing the top question for most – the issues that were drawing attention, in no specific order were:
The Cost of Living
The cost of living was a primary concern for every candidate. Candidates from each major party discussed building housing and cracking down on foreign buyers in varying degrees to combat rent costs; the Liberal and NDP candidates proposed foreign buyer taxes on those who do not plan on moving to Canada, while the Conservatives propose an outright ban on such purchases.
Housing costs have skyrocketed with the average costs for buying a home reaching $660,000 from $425,000, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Those are national – the average cost in Ontario is $800,000.
 July housing sale results – the prices will lock out a significant number of people from the housing market. Milton Conservative candidate, Nadeem Akbar, spoke about the difficulties facing the housing market.
 Akbar: We have a plan, we’re going to build millions of houses. “People are saying the same things at the door, it will be difficult for the coming generation and currently, any new person entering the market, it is so hard for them to buy a house. We have a plan, we’re going to build millions of houses, we want to build 1 million houses in the next three years. We will keep foreign investors from buying homes who are not planning to move to Canada,” said Akbar.
While all parties agreed the cost of living was a primary concern the genesis of that concern is in some dispute. The Conservatives blame the Liberals while the incumbents pointed to investments made into housing. Burlington Liberal candidate, Karina Gould, pointed to the 2017 $40 billion National Housing strategy and echoed the party platform’s promises for further affordable housing.
The Liberal candidates also championed their $10 a day childcare program as not only helping affordability but also helping the economy by getting women back to work, Oakville/North Burlington Liberal incumbent, Pam Damoff, explains.
 Oakville North Burlington Liberal candidate Pam Damoff – “we know that childcare that costs $10 a day is not only good for the family but it’s good for the economy.” “I really want to see implement a national affordable childcare program, Ontario is one province where we don’t have an agreement. But we know that childcare that costs $10 a day is not only good for the family but it’s good for the economy. And it will allow women to fully participate in the economy, and it will increase our GDP. So it’s good for everyone,” said Damoff.
While all parties approached the cost of living by limiting expenses the NDP was the only party making a hard push toward a livable wage. The NDP is pushing a guaranteed livable income that establishes a baseline of earnings deemed “livable,” if someone is not meeting that baseline their income will be supplemented, this process would essentially expand on existing social safety nets. This differs from the idea of a universal basic income which would give a set figure to everyone regardless of their earnings to theoretically recycle funds into local businesses, this is not currently endorsed by any party but there are rumblings of support from NDP candidates, including by Nick Page in Burlington.
 Lenaee Dupuis – it’s all virtual with her campaign. Healthcare
Elsewhere the NDP led the charge for the most expansive health care program with both Burlington’s, Nick Page, and Oakville/North Burlington’s, Lenaee Dupuis, who both supported NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s proposed universal medicare and pharmacare which would see a move toward filling “gaps” in the healthcare system and cover dental, vision, mental health, and prescription.
“Right now you can go to the dentist if you have a good job but if you don’t have a good job you neither have dental coverage or the money to pay the dentist, so you’re screwed. If you don’t have a good job, you don’t have optometry coverage in Ontario. And so by decoupling those from jobs, from having a good job, you help everyone out,” said Page.
The Conservatives and Liberals both support the current plan. Conservative leader, Erin O’Toole, has voiced support for more private innovation in healthcare which led to controversy when Twitter pulled a misleading Liberal attack ad that framed O’Toole’s goal as a more comprehensive privatization of healthcare, a line of attack Trudeau has stood behind. The forefront of the Conservatives’ current health care pitch is mental health, among their investments is $1 billion of investment into Indigenous mental health programs over 5 years, where mental health issues and suicide are disproportionately rampant.
O’Toole’s Moderate Sensibilities
As Liberal support flails and a Conservative minority win looks increasingly possible questions have to be raised about what a Conservative minority would look like. Will the NDP join the Liberals in raising the threat of a coalition government as they have in previous races? Liberal candidates questioned what kind of agenda could O’Toole realistically make work possessing more moderate sensibilities than many in his party.
 Adam van Koeverden responding to calls from constituents. Milton Liberal incumbent, Adam van Koeverden, suggested O’Toole would be unable to square his rhetoric with action given dissent within the Conservative party. He said O’Toole voting pro-choice and in favour of banning conversion therapy matters little if the majority of his MPs vote differently.
“It’s not an all or nothing thing, just because O’Toole voted on a pro-choice level a couple of times to demonstrate that he’s pro-choice there’s a lot of gray area, and the gray area is going to far-right groups and social conservative groups to ask for their support and to tell them that he’ll act in their best interest, he’s talking outside of both of his both sides of his mouth,” van Koeverden said.
Speaking with the Gazette van Koeverden’s opponent Milton Conservative, Nadeem Akbar, dismissed these concerns but declined to provide a view on abortion or conversion therapy.
COVID-19 Recovery and Vaccine Passports
The parties have different views on how to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic that can be found detailed on the party platforms however, most of the candidate discussion was about the now contentious issue of vaccine passports. Burlington’s Gould made it clear there will be limitations on what the unvaccinated can do and pointed to the provincial Conservatives to suggest this would be a bipartisan issue, which remains to be seen federally.
 Burlington Liberal Karina Gould rallying her team before the go knocking on doors. “We’ve seen the Ontario Conservative Party saying, ‘if you’re not vaccinated, and you don’t have a legitimate medical reason, then you’re not part of our caucus.’ We saw one MPP, who was ejected from caucus on Thursday, said that if you’re not vaccinated without a legitimate medical reason, then you can’t come into work. So these are the kinds of questions that we’re asking ourselves,
“But we’ve seen that this is really becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. We put in a mandate at the federal level to have all federal employees vaccinated to say, ‘if you’re going to take a train or a plane, you know, where you are in close quarters with other people, you need to be vaccinated.’ It’s everybody’s choice at the end of the day, whether they want to get vaccinated or not. But there may be some things they might not be able to do because they might be putting other people at risk. And that’s not fair to those people who have really done everything they can to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Gould.
Economically, Akbar touted the Conservatives as the only party with a comprehensive plan since day one and the group to lead Canadians to a balanced budget and a secure future.
“From day one, we’re the only party who put a plan forward. Right after this pandemic, we are going to secure the country by securing jobs, securing accountability, securing mental health, and securing the economy,” said Akbar.
The Liberal representatives were happy to be judged on their pandemic response while the NDP frame themselves as the ones who pushed the Liberals toward COVID safety nets.
That an Election is Happening
That the election is happening at all has taken substantial criticism. Burlington survey results conducted by Gazette field reporters skewed negative and indifferent. “Power grab” was a phrase that came up often. NDP candidates interviewed bashed the Trudeau administration for his unwillingness to work with the NDP fueling the election call. Further NDP’s Dupuis is campaigning entirely virtually and criticized the call during a fourth wave and candidates running traditional door-knocking campaigns as dangerous to volunteers and constituents.
 Results of the 2019 federal election – the country ended up with a Liberal minority government.
““This is an unnecessary election so I think because of that there is a bit of apathy around it, when I’m talking to constituents a lot of them ask ‘why are we having this election?’ We’re going into a fourth wave of the pandemic,” said Dupuis “I feel that knocking on doors puts our volunteers at risk. It also puts our constituents at risk and I know if somebody were to knock on my door right now I wouldn’t answer it. I feel that it’s not necessarily the safest thing. I think people do not have the appetite for it right now and we are in a fourth wave and numbers are increasing.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal candidates defended the decision to call an election, branding the current moment as an important time for voters to weigh in.
“I actually do think it’s an important time to have an election. There’s been a lot that’s happened over the last two years that was not anticipated. When we went to the polls in 2019. We brought in a whole lot of new programs that no party ran on in 2019. And so it’s a moment to say to Canadians ‘okay, we’ve turned the corner and the pandemic, you know, we’re the most vaccinated country in the world, yes, we’re concerned about a fourth wave. But we also want to set ourselves up for recovery. And these are the plans that we’re putting forward for recovery. Is this what you agree with? Is this what you want us to be doing right now?’ And so those are the questions that we’re asking Canadians,” said Gould.
 Time is the one thing we do not have when it comes to changing the climate – some think it is already too late. Climate Change
The Trudeau administration has been criticized by local candidates for its actions on climate change. Dupuis proposed several small immediate changes that could be implemented to immediate results.
 Nick Cullis – Green Party candidate for Burlington. NDP candidate Page suggested revisiting Trudeau’s promise of electoral reform might be the solution to seeing necessary climate change action as it would lead to diversified government representation and seats at the table for the Green Party. For his part, Burlington Green Party candidate Chris Cullis hammered Trudeau’s climate change inconsistencies rather bluntly.
“The day after the International Panel on Climate Change issued a report saying that this is a crisis and code red for humanity the Liberal Minister for the Environment defended the purchase of an oil pipeline. Saying that we need that revenue to pay for climate change initiatives which to me is like finding yourself in a burning building and thinking, well if I throw gasoline everywhere and the building burns down faster I won’t be trapped in a burning building anymore,” said Cullis.
 By Pepper Parr
September 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Curtis Ennis started his new job as the Director of Education of the Halton District School Board on August 1st. There was a lot of work to be done and Ennis was confident that the staff he had was more than up to the job.
His job was to get to know them better and to get to know as much as he could about the Halton Region with its 2,934 elementary teachers, 1,373 secondary teachers and 2,500 non-teaching and support staff. Add to that the more than 200 principals and vice-principals that are on the front line.
 Curtis Ennis: From the largest school board in the country to the Director of Education at one of the highest ranking school boards in the province. Ennis came to Halton Region from the Toronto District School Board. His first career choice was not teaching – he studied business at Ryerson and spent more than a decade in the financial sector including a stint as an Assistant Manager with Bank of Nova Scotia.
It was when he found himself in front of students while volunteering in a school that he found his true calling. “The missing link in my life was waiting for me in those classrooms” explained Ennis.
He returned to the classroom – this time as a student at York University where he earned a degree and was ready for a classroom filled with students.
Ennis takes a welcoming approach to what he does. “I made everyone of my students feel welcome; that I wanted them in my classroom and that they knew I was there to help them.
“I said good morning to every student and good day when they left the classroom. They knew I was happy to see them.”
Curtis Ennis is a Jamaican. He was born on the northern part of the Island – has four brothers and a sister.
His cultural base is West Indian. That he was Black became evident when he came to Canada. ” I knew I was different; that awareness is something you learn to live with and adapt to as best you can.
“Yes it has an impact on you but I was fortunate to come out of it with an understanding that I was different but so were they”
“The big lesson for me was that what matters is that there be a sense of equity – that we are all born equal.
“That has been the driving force that guided me as a teacher and what I took with me when I moved into management with the Toronto District School Board.
“It is what guides me as I get the feel of the people of Halton.”
He is married with four daughters; all study at the undergraduate level. He and his wife Beverly; 29 years as a couple, face the challenges that every couple experience.
Heading up an organization that has more employees than the Ford motor plant in Oakville is not something you run into.
 What you see is what you get – at least at this point: a straight shooter with a well grounded philosophy on what the classroom is all about.. The approach Ennis takes is to know your people at the granular level – that takes time but if you are open and transparent and make it clear that you are there to listen you can lead and you will succeed.
The challenge for Ennis is just that much bigger as he, along with the rest of the province deal with having to operate while the 4th wave of the pandemic is dealt with; the predictions that by October the 4th wave will be worse then the third wave don’t make it easy.
Ennis leaves you with the impression that you take it all in stride.
During his Director’s Report at his first Board of Trustees meeting earlier this week we got a sense as to how he works with his people.
He delegates and follows through.
During the meeting we learned that the Halton District school Board is going to report a deficit for the third year in a row.
We don’t know yet what kind of a spender Ennis will be nor do we know what his big picture is. Right now he is working with a Multi Year Plan the trustees approved last year.
There are some big issues and still some emotional baggage from the closing of the two high schools.
We learned that the expansion of Nelson High School needed to handle the students from Bateman that now attend Nelson is not complete. The library is on the second floor and the second floor and the second elevator is not in place yet.
Curtis Ennis will-work his way through the problems; working with his team adapting to the pandemic problems. We will need a year to get a sense as to just how well he is working with the trustees.
Right now they are as proud as punch with the choice they made.
By Ika Elstone
September 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Prepare Your Luggage: Supersonic Commercial Flights Are Coming Back
After 20 years, United Airlines announced they would purchase 50 Boom Overture supersonic jets; their objective is to provide Supersonic flights by 2029.
 I was a magnificent jet plane – changed the world travel market. A disastrous crash in France brought an end to the Concorde. Concorde shut down the company in 2003 due to financial problems. Costs of supersonic flights were high, high fuel consumption and heavy maintenance costs were reflected in ticket prices that hit the roof.
United Airlines, the airline behind the plans is going to have to manage the problems Concorde had with modern solutions. Jet noise was another problem that banned supersonic aeroplanes. Concorde’s plane makes an overland sonic boom at 105 decibels. That kind of noise is not allowed to fly over land.
What Is the Reason for Supersonic Flights Relaunch?
With modern life needs and high demands for business travelling supersonic flights would be a great addition. The high speed of the supersonic Boom aeroplanes halves the time of travel. For example, if passengers wants to fly from London to Las Vegas, it would take in fastest terms 10 hours and 40 minutes for a distance of 5,222 miles (8,403 km) with Finnair. If United Airlines could provide a supersonic flight, a trip from London Heathrow to the Las Vegas McCarran airport would take about 5 hours and 20 minutes which is a significant difference. Almost 11 hours that plane ride is a whole day, and travellers would need one extra day to spend on a trip.
But, if a supersonic flight lasts around 5 hours, passengers could travel from London to Las Vegas and have an almost whole first day of the trip to spend sightseeing and playing games in a casino. We will need to wait some time to have breakfast in London, and till lunch come to Las Vegas, and play slot machines with cocktails on the side. Until then, we can spend hours on the plane preparing your a-game in Live Casino Roulette to warm you up before landing in Las Vegas. Thousands of people land in Las Vegas every day, and departure, shorter flights would speed up travelling energy and possibly result in higher revenue numbers. Imagine travelling to Las Vegas in just 5 hours. That is the time that you need to travel from London to Paris via road!
Updating Planes
 The Boom – longer, faster – will the market accept this latest supersonic jet ? Firstly, United Airlines needs to solve technical issues in the planes. Noise is the biggest problem that could get solved with some aerodynamic design. NASA has some techniques that could produce optimized air frame shapes that would reduce noise. New aerodynamics design would lower down sonic booms from 105 decibels to 75 decibels. In addition, a new aerodynamics design would allow changes in used materials on the planes. Modern materials are lightweight, and with that, they enable better weight ratios. The lighter weight would eliminate the need for afterburners in take-off moments.
Green Credentials
United Airlines will be a part of the collaborative development of aviation fuels. Their main goal is to establish supplies of sustainable aviation fuel. With the large amounts of fuel propellant that supersonic Boom aeroplanes need, greening with sustainable gas will impact the environment and the whole industry globally.
Just imagine how many hours, and days you could save with twice as short flights. This United Airlines announcement is exciting and will be a great travel possibility in the future.
By Staff
September 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
City of Burlington administrative services will be closed on Labour Day, Monday, September. 6.
*Important information regarding COVID-19: The information provided below is accurate as of Aug. 31, 2021. In the event of any changes made by the Province of Ontario to current COVID-19 public health measures the Gazette will report them.
City Service – Holiday Closure Information
Animal Services
The Animal Shelter at 2424 Industrial St. remains closed to the public due to COVID-19.
To report an animal control-related emergency, call 905-335-3030 or visit Burlington.ca/animal.
 The transit station on John Street WILL NOT be open. Burlington Transit
Burlington Transit will operate a Sunday schedule on Sept. 6. For real-time bus information and schedules, visit myride.burlingtontransit.ca.
The downtown terminal at 430 John St. and Specialized Dispatch will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.
City Hall
The Service Burlington counter at City Hall (426 Brant St.), will be closed to all appointments and walk-in service on Monday, Sept. 6. To submit a customer request to the City’s contact centre, please email city@burlington.ca.
Many service payments are available online at Burlington.ca/onlineservices.
Halton Court Services – Provincial Offences Office
Court administration counter services at 4085 Palladium Way will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.
With the exception of the Labour Day closure, telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. All in-person services are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday. Many services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or online at Halton Court Services.
 Parking enforcement officers will be out there – looking for you. Parking
Free parking is available downtown, on the street, in municipal lots and in the parking garage (414 Locust St.) on weekends and holidays, including Labour Day.
NOTE: The Waterfront parking lots (east and west at 1286 Lakeshore Rd.) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.
Paid parking, on weekends only, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Beachway Park (1100 Lakeshore Rd) is in effect, using HONK Mobile.
Residents of Halton Region can apply for 10 days of free parking at Burlington.ca/parkingexemption.
LaSalle Park Community Marina trailer parking fees are in effect on holidays.
Parking exemptions are required to park overnight on city streets and for longer than five hours. Visit Burlington.ca/parkingexemption.
Recreation Programs and Facilities
Drop-In Swimming and Skating
Drop-in swimming and skating times vary over the long weekend. Outdoor pools are open on Sept. 6 for the last day of the season, weather permitting.
Tim Hortons Free Summer Swimming
Tim Hortons presents free swimming for the community on the following dates:
– Friday, Sept. 3 at Tansley Woods Pool, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
– Saturday, Sept. 4 at Nelson Pool, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
– Sunday, Sept. 5 at Mountainside Pool, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Pre-registration for all swims is required. Online registration opens for residents 25 hours prior to the start of a swim. Visit Burlington.ca/dropinandplay.
Splash Pads
Cool off at one of the city’s splash pads. See locations at Burlington.ca/outdoorplay.
 Book your tee time on line Tyandaga Golf Course
Book your tee time at Tyandagagolf.com.
Follow @BurlingtonParksRec on Facebook and @Burl_ParksRec on Twitter for the latest updates.
Roads, Parks and Forestry
The administrative office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6. Essential services will be provided as required.
This morning, Friday September 3rd, the province reported there were 870 new infections of which 624 were people who had not been vaccinated.
We are in this 4th wave because people chose not to be vaccinated.
If you know people who have chosen not to get vaccinated – talk to them.
 By Karina Rybay
September 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Playing casino games is a great form of entertainment. Not only do you stand the chance of winning fantastic prizes, but you can also have fun playing the various games that are popular online. Canada is home to some top online casinos, like www.pinkcasino.com/en-ca/.
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 There are a number of quality on-line casino gambling locutions Check them out. Frank Casino
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Yeti Casino
Established in 2017, Yeti Casino offers a massive portfolio of fun casino games. You’ll find the best gaming developers on the list of game providers. Yeti Casino is available in English and French, and you can get support in both these languages. You can also play on both your desktop or mobile device.
Yako Casino
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Betsafe Casino
Betsafe Casino is a well-known brand among online casinos. With a track record for safety and security since 2006, Betsafe offers excellent games along with a sportsbook. Betsafe also provides incredibly high withdrawal limits of up to $50,000 per day, which you can make on any one of a long list of payment methods. Customer support is available in a variety of languages, however, French isn’t on the list.
You can have fun playing with any of these top online casinos. Each has a unique offering in terms of website design and feel. These online casinos also offer fun bonuses and promotions for loyal players, adding to the entertainment value. If you’re looking for a new hobby, give online casinos a try.
By Pepper Parr
September 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
So – there is going to be a vaccine passport. Took the Premier long enough to get a wiggle on. He is right however – why isn’t there a federally issued Covid19 Passport?
Being able to prove that you are vaccinated is critical. Getting everyone fully vaccinated is proving a little difficult but we are at close to 80% and with the need to have that passport to be able to get into a restaurant or an event will push the number to, ideally 95%.
Provision has been made for the exceptions.
For those who don’t want to get vaccinated there are limits to what they can do in a public setting.
The one that really galls me is this. I have to be able to show that I have been fully vaccinated but the person taking my order in a restaurant, but the person serving the food and the person cooking the food does not have to prove they are vaccinated.
I was in a restaurant in Guelph talking with the owner and he said that he could not ask his employees if they were vaccinated.
Really?
That restaurant owner wants me to have a meal in his restaurant but he isn’t prepared to ensure that his staff is Covid free.
I want to go to a restaurant that has the courage to put a sign on the front door saying all their staff are vaccinated.
Those that aren’t – tell them not to bother coming to work until they are vaccinated. What about their human rights? What about my right to stay alive?
There is something wrong with a set up that requires me to be vaccinated in order to be served but does not require the server to be vaccinated.
If the restaurants want our business, which many of us really want to give them, then let those restaurants step up and be bold enough to make it clear they are watching out for us.
Restaurants turned to the city for help and they were given help. A lot of taxpayer money was shoveled out the door to help the hospitality sector and most people were happy to see this done.
Our Council members urged us to support the hospitality sector and to begin shopping locally.
I’d like to see those in the hospitality sector looking out for me while I dine in their establishments.
I’d also like to see the Burlington Downtown Business Association counseling their members to care for the people that they want to attract.
There is a film crew using the third floor of the building my office is in. I rent office space on the third floor. Every member of the film crew is masked.
 Juliana Robertson Juliana Robertson, a paramedic by training, asked me to come to the table she had set up so that she could put a little stick up my nostril to ensure that I was not infected even though I told her I have been fully vaccinated.
Sorry she said – you have to do this. I surely had the right to go to my office and do my work. I decided not to challenge her right to “invade my privacy” She asked me to wait 10 minutes for the results and then told me I was good to go.
Robertson runs Reel Medics in Motion – her market is the film production companies doing their filming in Hamilton. She is the Medic/Covid Supervisor on the Ghosts of Christmas Past production. She does the Covid testing and is the first responder for anyone hurt on the film set.
It would be really nice if the hospitality sector was as conscientious.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
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