 By Ray Rivers
May 9th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
When the results are all tabulated sometime after June 2nd, Doug Ford will be back in power as Premier according to today’s poll numbers.
The 2022 election has just begun but already the consensus is that it’s Ford’s to lose. Mr. Ford has travelled a long and rocky road since he first became premier. Still while things look good now for his reelection, as others have found, in politics anything can happen.
 Poll positions the day the election started. Ford’s popularity dropped like a stone almost right after his 2018 election victory. His personal vendetta against Toronto city council, arbitrarily slashing their representation was petty and abusive. His cancellation of renewable energy and other environmental initiatives were irrational and costly. His war against teachers was mean and retrogressive. And his failed campaign against the revenue-neutral carbon tax was a complete waste of energy and tax payers’ money.
 Ford took the limelight in briefing Ontario about what needed to be done during the pandemic, The arrival of COVID saved Ford’s premiership. He took the limelight in briefing Ontario about what needed to be done during the pandemic, though he misplayed his hand on at least a couple occasions. Other premiers, like Alberta’s Jason Kenny, made Ford look good. And the pandemic forced Ford to work cooperatively with the federal government which ended up serving both of their interests. After all, the feds did the heavy lifting – provided the vaccines and massive subsidies to just about everyone. That federal support was largely responsible for keeping the province from falling into a huge deficit which would have made today’s economic recovery difficult.
Ontario’s jobless rate has fallen to 5.3%, even below what it was pre-pandemic. Strong economic growth is a good thing for a governing party at election time. And further driving that growth is the massive near $20 billion provincial deficit forecast for this year. It seems that Ford’s earlier preoccupation with deficit has been put on hold, or forgotten, these days. Still, with a bit of luck and good management he’ll be able to claim that the province in on track to balance its budget in a only a couple years from now.
Incumbency, particularly during the pandemic has been working for governments facing re-election. And the pandemic is not yet over. Besides voters tend to reward first term governments with a second term, unless they have been really bad to them. And you can’t be all bad when you’re handing out gifts, even if that means bribing people by giving them back their own money – cutting gas taxes and eliminating license plate fees. What’s not to like about getting back two year’s worth of licence fees?
 Andrea Horwath: the fourth and probably the last time, As for Ford’s opponents. Andrea Horwath is leading her party for the fourth and probably the last time, and it’s not apparent that she’s learned much from her previous losing campaigns. Her most recent attack ads, especially at her Liberal opponent, appear desperate. Clearly she’s just trying to hang on to those Liberal voters who supported her last time. But attack ads are more likely to turn them away.
And attack ads don’t replace a solid policy platform. In fact her policy cupboard is pretty scant and so yesterday, implementing two of her main planks, universal dental and pharmacare, will be redundant and probably a waste of money since the federal government is planning its own nation-wide programs before long. And her performance as opposition leader was barely noticed. She may be the most trusted political leader in Canada but she has been one of the least vocal opposition leaders over the last four years.
 Stephen Del Duca; a relative unknown with a swimming pool problem Stephen Del Duca is a relative unknown for most people. Having held a couple of ministerial posts under the Wynne government he lost his own seat in the last election and now leads a party which doesn’t even hold party status in the legislature – leading it from outside of the legislature. And he did himself no favour when he got into hot water with local authorities over building his backyard swimming pool. But unlike Horwath he has been taking political risks with his ongoing stream of policy pronouncements – though some, like re-introducing Grade 13, do not appear to have been well vetted.
Del Duca is a fighter In the game of politics, and he is willing to take risks which might get the public’s attention, for better or worse. Still, for an aspiring politician any news is good news. He provides a sharp contrast to the more cautious Horwath, something his rising poll numbers are beginning to reflect. Whatever he’s doing seems to be working.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner has been an effective and rational voice at Queen’s Park but nobody will put money on the Green Party winning anything but Mr. Schreiner’s own seat after the dust settles for June 2nd. The Green’s mainstay is protecting the environment, including climate change mitigation, but the other two opposition parties also claim that as one of their priorities. And that provides an alternative to Doug Ford’s conservatives, who have shown little regard for things environmental, climate change in particular.
The opposition parties all support carbon taxation of some sort, and Horwath has even mused about bringing back the emissions cap and trade program which Ford killed almost immediately after winning last time. They support subsidies for electric vehicles to make them more price competitive, so new car buyers will make the shift away from gas guzzlers. And for some reason education and health care have also become right/left issues, with the opposition parties wanting to see smaller class sizes in schools and the end of private, for-profit, long term care.
 The highway Doug Ford will build if he wins – because the Progressive Conservatives don’t think climate change is not a winning issue. Everybody is promising more affordable housing. But only Ford’s plan has some detail and that involves ramping up urban sprawl into the rural landscape in the GTA. Ford clearly sees the Greenbelt as a land reserve just waiting for new development, rather than a natural endowment for future generations. Consequently it should be no surprise that his proposed new highways projects would run through a good part of the Greenbelt.
As the campaign kicks off, the PCs with 35-40% of Ontario voters backing them, are almost 10 percentage points ahead of the second place Liberals. And when translated to seats that should produce a solid majority for Mr. Ford.
That means that the three main opposition parties will be competing for almost 60% of decided voters. Should the Tories stumble enough to lose that majority seat count, either the Liberals or NDP might be asked to form a minority government. But none of the opposition parties are interested in supporting a Ford minority.
Although there is always someone saying it’s time to unite the left, personalities and tribal party loyalty never allows that to happen. Horwath hopes that her attack ads against Del Duca might give her the edge. But this could backfire since attack ads often say more about the attacker than the victim. Besides all the NDP supporters I know would prefer to win by promoting what they stand for, and not just attacking the the other candidate. More more like Gandhi and less like Putin.
And if Del Duca were to respond to those ads in kind, the anti-Ford crowd might well decide that neither party deserves their support, and just stay home on voting day. And that would ensure another four years for Mr. Ford and his Progressive Conservatives.
Ray Rivers will be with us every Monday until May 30th.
 By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Today is the kind of day the boaters would have been out washing down the decks of their boats and preparing for the launch. Will there be a launch this year – not something anyone can be really certain about.
 The LaSalle Park Marina with a rendering of the wave break in place. Jim Thomson delegated before a Standing Committee and gave Councillors some background on the problems with insurance coverage for the LaSalle Park Marina.
 Jim Thomson – asks a lot of questions Thomson is not a boater, he is not a member of any of the associated clubs.
His only involvement with the marina was a complaint he made back in 2016 when he had a complaint about smells coming from the docks which in those days were hauled out of the water every year. The shellfish had accumulated – he called the city – got nothing and decided to call the health department – guess what – the city responded.
Jim was just as direct with Council. Thomson knew that the law suit that was impacting the renewal of an insurance policy was something the city knew about the day the claim was made – the city was originally a party to the claim.
Somehow the city got themselves removed from the claim but that doesn’t detract from the fact that they knew..
 Slip and falls tend to be in the $10,000 to $40,000 range – how do you spend $97,000 on legal fees and still not have a settlement? Thomson believes that the claim – a slip and fall event, has eaten up $97,000 in legal fees.
The only people who know who filed the claim is the LPMA Board and of course city hall.
Thomson said that slip and fall claims tend to be between $10,000 and $40,000 with few being at the high end.
The slip and fall claim was served early in 2019 – the most recent operating agreement with the city was signed later in the year.
Thomson wonders was the matter of the insurance was not brought up at that time – where is the proper due diligence Thomson asks.
If the city was able to get itself off the claim that would suggest the accident took place on one of the links between the rows of boat slips.
 Is this a pace city hall can work at? A lot of questions – not many answers at this point.
 City manager Tim Commisso – commenting during the Marina delegations. Thomson has an interview being set up with City Manager Tim Commisso – no date yet. It will be a telephone interview; tough to present an argument that way.
Thomson had an issue with an item being on the agenda with no report that people could read before taking part in the meeting. Burlington is at a point in its pandemic evolution where people can delegate in person. Thomson was very much in person.
He told Council it needed to “act instantly or boaters will lose their season.
He told Council that “Staff doesn’t know what’s to be done” and that “Staff has no idea of the problems”.
Thomson also said: It’s hard to delegate on a report that arrives late on the agenda adding that “a verbal update” doesn’t leave any room for community comment at the committee stage.
Where, Thomson wanted to know is where was ” the transparency we’ve all been hearing so much
Thomson filled in some of the information holes:
LPMA Claims history has caused current insurer to cancel.
Rick Craven, a former ward 1 Councillor identified two outstanding claims as slip-and-fall lawsuits.
Are there other claims that have been settled? Has the City reviewed the claims history?
 Is this where the slip and fall took place? Are the docks un-safe?
Do they need modification to reduce slips/falls?
Thomson quoting the the Burlington Boating and Sailing Club Commodore Scott Lowell: “It is now imperative that the City of Burlington assume direct management of what in the end is their marina (they own the wave- break and the docks) and move quickly to open the marina,”
Thomson doesn’t buy the imperative argument. “There is significant cost to the city running the marina; Not something the City should be rushing into
He added that the the City is in possession of a report on running the marina that would result in an operating loss of $196,750 for the year 2022
The data in the 2019 report assumed the city would already have been operating the marina for two years. It also assumed that the city would have about 9 month to plan the take-over.
Thomson left City Council with these thoughts”
 Is all the data, background information and history coming together to form a perfect storm? The lease on LaSalle Park is up at the end of the year.
What happens next year?
The City needs a Master Plan for LaSalle
If the City wants a Marina do it right
Council and staff need to stop improvising
A lot more to come on this file.
Stay tuned.
 By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington could be on the verge of losing the Marina it has had since the early 80’s
Note that I said “could”
 Sunsets and sailors – they are a culture unto themselves. What might bring it to an end is a clash of cultures – the tightly regulated city hall and the independent minded men and woman who take to the water in their boats.
Lorn Newton, who told Council last week that he has been the President of the LaSalle Park Marina Association for longer than he every expected.
He said:
The LaSalle Park Marina and related LaSalle Park Marina Association (LPMA) were established in 1981, by a group of local boaters. Since its inception the marina has been operated and managed by the LPMA. The current operational and management terms between the City of Burlington and the LPMA are dictated by way of a License and Operating Agreement signed by both parties.
LPMA is a not-for-profit organization consisting of a volunteer board of directors, an on-site manager, and seasonal labor. The marina provides 219 deep water berths for recreational boat owners. We have 165 paid owners,(75% occupancy), awaiting the outcome of this presentation.
We are the home for the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail Organization. LPMA operates from an office in a trailer located within LaSalle Park opposite the public boat-launch ramp. LPMA is responsible for all dockage of boats and the marina infrastructure.
The LaSalle Park Community Marina, newly improved by the Kropf Marine Wave-break, is in the water and ready to open. However, Our LPMA Commercial Liability Insurance expired at noon on April 30.
This policy is one of four mandated by our “License and Operating Agreement” with the City of Burlington. We have the others in place.
We were advised on March 22, 2022 that the policy would not be renewed. Since receiving the notice of non-renewal, our board has exhausted all avenues to obtain coverage. We met numerous times with the City, council members, our insurance broker. other insurance brokers, our lawyer, and BS&BC.
The proposal of BS&BC that they would assume the Marina operation under an expanded Club policy was not possible as the underwriting was not approved.
We have been advised by all brokerages contacted that they are unable to offer renewal terms due to claims history and changing market conditions.”
The claims history is for two ongoing lawsuits that have been brought against the LPMA and the City of Burlington in 2019, and a claim for motor theft in 2020.
The City of Burlington is the owner of the Wave-break, the Docks and the Wheel-Chair Accessible Entry Ramp.
Our previous “Joint Venture Agreement” and our present “Licence and Operating Agreement” define our responsibilities for maintenance and replacement of the marina structure.
The LaSalle Park Marina with the wave break in place. We believe there are two possibilities that will allow opening
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- the City appoints an Overwatch Manager for the existing Marina operation while extending their existing liability coverage to the marina The Marina Board continues to function, pays the City for the insurance coverage and pays, to the extent we can, for the city employee’s salary.
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- the Volunteer Board resigns and the City takes on the operation and management of the Marina.
We offer our whole hearted support and co-operation for any viable option for opening.
 Chris Glenn, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture During the Standing Committee meeting Chris Glenn, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture told Council that it was going to require some time to get a process and procedures in place for any kind of management change and added that the volunteers would have to be trained in the city’s processes, procedures and protocols.
That statement could be the kiss of death for the marina. Those sailors don’t take to processes, procedures and protocols all that well.
 By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Social media is one of the communication channels that gets a bad wrap.
The politicians will complain loud and publicly that social media is misused and abused and then do just that – exploit what can be done with Twitter and a Facebook account.
 These boats will stay where they are until the 17th – while the city scrambles to find a way to put insurance coverage in place. Former American president Donald Trump was an artist with the way he manipulated messages and created a following of millions until he was banned from Twitter.
Last week the city was presented with a really messy situation at the LaSalle Park Marina. Boats could not be put into the water because required insurance could not be put in place.
Burlington’s Mayor is heavily invested in the marina issue. She chose to support the installation of a needed wave break and convinced the rest of council to go along with pulling $4 million out of the Hydro Reserve Fund to pay for the wave break.
The insurance problem was something someone should have been on top of – but that is spilled milk
The boaters need a fast response which may not be something the city bureaucracy can deliver – municipal government just doesn’t work that way.
Mayor Meed Ward put out a note on social media saying:
 Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith needs all the help he can get in his re-election bid. The Mayor will support him – returning the favours he has done for her. That Tweet didn’t quite square with the recommendation that was debated at Council. Someone at city hall has put out a more moderate message.
 A more moderate message was posted about an hour later. What the public doesn’t need is politicians exploiting a serious problem.
Director of Parks Recreation and Culture Chris Glenn did a good job of managing the issue during the debate.
Staff from Legal set out what the insurance problem is and what will have to be done to get insurance coverage in place.
There is a very real chance that the boaters may lose their boating season.
There are reports that some members of the LPMA have pulled out and are looking for a place to locate their boat. The problem with that is – there isn’t that much capacity in the immediate area.
There are a lot of view points out there.
 By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Covering a provincial level election that is critical in terms of the leadership the province will have June 2nd while at the same time covering the municipal election that will take place in October is simmering in the background will certainly draw heavily on our limited resources
Our participation and coverage is going to be at the local level.
Jason Octavio will be doing interviews with people in Burlington to get a sense as to what people are thinking and what they want for the province.
 Ray Rivers – coming out of retirement Ray Rivers returns with his column that will appear on Monday’s for the next four weeks and will compliment what Jason reports on.
Our readers will do what they always do – comment at length and with enthusiasm.
All that starts on Monday.
 By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A Gazette reader wrote:
“Hi I’ve been looking down Green Street for more than six years hoping I’ll see a Window to the Lake pop up.
“I know Burlington doesn’t complete projects at the same pace as say Dubai.. But the pace on this project is glacial. I’ve heard all of the reasons high water, Canada 150 funding; I suppose now it’s COVID.
“I’d like to know if my neighbours are getting this long proposed park during our lifetime? Or will we be visiting Sweetgrass park learning about the Medicine wheel first? “
Our reader makes a good point. The Green Street Window on the Lake sort of got lost in the frantic shuffle that saw land along the edge of the lake shift from the hands of the city to three property owners who paid peanuts for the property and enhanced the value of their lots considerable – very considerably.
 This is the view the three families bought – it was once public property The blame for this crime and it was a crime does not rest with the people who bought the property. They saw an opportunity and went for it and out manoeuvred the city’s efforts which were pathetic.
There was a time when the city actually had a Waterfront Advisory Committee. One of the tasks they took on was to survey all the Windows on the Lake to determine just how many there were and what condition were they in.
 Gary Scobie, far right, was a member of the Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory Committee which was sunset by the city last December. Scobie went on to sit on the Ad Hoc Waterfront Committee. Nick Leblovic is on the right. Our reports on that work by a bunch of diligent volunteers appeared in the Gazette.
The Chair of the Advisory Committee at the time was Nicholas Leblovic, a friend of then Mayor Cam Jackson.
A lawyer by profession and said to be an expert in his field which was the leasing and ownership of aircraft and oil rigs.
These assets were often owned by investors and leased to oil drillers or air lines. Big business done at an international level and very lucrative.
Nick no longer practices law – he didn’t last all that long as Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee.
The Mayor wasn’t happy, some members of Council weren’t happy – a Staff report was ordered up and the conclusion was that the Advisory Committee should be sunset.
Leblovic is a political junkie – he loves the game and always wants to be at the table. He is reported to be a part of Mayor Meed Ward’s re-election committee.
 The St. Paul window above and the Market Street Window on the left.  The work the Advisory Committee did however worked its way into the agenda and in time a report came to council with some commendations on what to do wit two of the Windows on the Lake – they were at the bottom of Market Street and St. Paul
The options were:
Do nothing
Develop the Waterfront Trail a little further or
Sell the property.
It was never clear just who signed off on the report and let the Sell the Property be an option.
 All the land inside the yellow border was public. The city sold the piece in the middle and in the process took from the people of Burlington a gem. The option was just enough for the three property owners along the edge of the property to make an offer which was accepted and the land was then in private hands. It was owned jointly by the city and a provincial ministry.
 Peter Rusin did a superb job for the three property owners who bought up what was going to be part of the Waterfront Trail The family’s hired Peter Rusin, who went on to run for the office of Mayor, but before that put together a document that set out in considerable detail an argument for selling the property.
All that was sold was the land between the Windows on the Lake.
Today those two windows are publicly accessible and a really nice place to sit and read and while away part of a day.
Our Gazette reader wants to see the same thing happen to the window at the bottom of Green Avenue.
Be careful what you ask for
 By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is an unfortunate situation that could have and should have been looked into some time ago.
City Council and senior staff are working diligently to solve the problem – some comments and background at a later date.
 LaSalle Park – these boats might be stuck on the site for some time. The boat launch which was to take place on the 15th is now delayed – a new date has yet to be determined.
The delay is due to insurance renewal issues. The City is aware of the LaSalle Park Marina Association’s (LPMA) expired liability insurance and difficulties finding a replacement insurer. The City is working closely with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to open the marina.
At the May 5 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting, City Council gave a staff direction which includes doing due diligence to identify and fully address the financial, legal, human resource and operating risk exposures to the City in order to operate the LaSalle Park Community Marina on an interim basis for the 2022 season based on a target date for opening of no later than June 15.
A key component is the interim Marina operation must be at no cost to the taxpayers of Burlington inclusive of City reserve funds. Early in this term of Council they approved taking $4 million out of the hydro reserve fund to pay for the wave break that was desperately needed.
City staff will report back to City Council on May 17, 2022 and at the June 9, 2022 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee.
The community marina is a key feature that the City values and wants to keep open, as is evident by the $4 million investment in the floating wave break that was installed in 2020. Proper insurance is required for operation and options are being explored. The closure of the marina also means the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program cannot operate from the marina and the boat launch will remain closed.
About the LaSalle Park Community Marina
Through an agreement with the City, the marina has been has operated by the LPMA for 41 years. The City owns the wave break and the marina.
The wave break is in place – now insurance issues will keep the boats out of the water. The Marina is in a decent location. Parking is an issue and the site could use a decent restaurant. Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a new floating wave break that was installed in 2020.
The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
Without a solution the marina will not be able to open. As it is many of the boaters will want to look for a new location – and there aren’t many of them in the immediate area.
This could end up being a black day for a lot of people.
 Chris Glenn: Director of Parks and Recreation and Culture. Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture said during the Standing Committee earlier this week that: “The City of Burlington is committed to working with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to keep the marina open for residents and tourists. We know the marina is a key feature for many people. We are exploring multiple options to get it open for the 2022 boating season and beyond. Until a solution is found, the marina and boat launch will remain closed and further update will be shared with the public as available.”
By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Service Burlington counter that was on the main floor of city hall was moved to the second floor due to main level construction has now been closed ass of noon today.
Too much noise from the construction work.
  The city does have a heart – Service Burlington appointments booked today for marriage licenses will take place. If you have any questions, please call 905-335-7777.
A reminder that many service payments are available online at burlington.ca/onlineservices.
 More information about the temporary closure to walk-in customers will be provided early next week.
City Hall Modernization Project
The construction at City Hall is happening as part of the City Hall modernization project. The project is one of 22 recommendations from the Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force report and will create a more open, customer-facing area on the first floor of City Hall.
By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
After a decent day in a Standing Committee during which the city DID WHAt Council moved into a Special meeting of Council during which they passed a motion setting out the 2022 Tax Levy Bylaw
The bylaw allows the city to bill 2022 property taxes and set payment due dates for final tax bills on June 22 and Sept. 22, 2022.
Final tax bills will be mailed in late May.
The 2022 Tax Levy Bylaw reflects the budget processes of both the city and Halton Region. The province provides the education tax rates. The overall property tax increase is 2.84 per cent or $22.17 for each $100,000 of urban residential assessment.
COVID-19 Property Tax Relief
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact, on Jan. 11, 2022, Council approved a 2022 COVID-19 Property Tax Deferral Payment Plan program to provide relief to residents and businesses that continue to face financial hardship due to the pandemic. The application-based program allows eligible property owners who are unable to pay property taxes by the regularly scheduled tax due dates, to defer taxes under a pre-authorized payment plan.
Eligible property owners may include unpaid balances from March 1, 2020 onward in the deferral plan and they can choose which month they would like to start the monthly payments. The remaining options for start dates are June 1, or July 1.
Equal monthly withdrawals will be made that will allow for the property taxes to be paid in full by Dec. 1, 2022. Property owners enrolled in this payment plan will not be subject to penalty and interest charges as long as payments are made.
Quick Facts
• The City of Burlington collects property taxes for the city, Halton Region and the Halton district school boards. The total combined tax levy for all three entities is approximately $452.3 million. The city’s levy is $191.6 million; the city collects $144.6 million on behalf of Halton Region; and $116.1 million on behalf of the Halton district school boards. The taxes levied for Halton Region and the Halton district school boards are remitted to them.
• Customers who use the drop box at City Hall (426 Brant St.) to drop off their tax payments should note the drop box has moved to 390 Brant St. at the corner of Brant Street and Elgin Street– this is the same building where Coffee Culture is located. Residents can find the blue drop box at the Elgin Street entrance to 390 Brant St. Please see map attached.
By Pepper Parr
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has been given a gift of more than $1 million that will be spent on improving, adding to and upgrading parks in the city.
This grant is not the first the city has received from the Patrick J. McNally Foundation.
So who was Patrick McNally and where did the money come from?
 Patrick Jessett McNally Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Patrick was the benefactor of a small legacy that enabled him to attend Queen’s University where he studied mining engineering.
add in from the obit
Pat lived by the theme that anything is possible if you are lucky enough to have family to support you and education to guide you.
He was lucky himself: an ancestor left a small legacy that sent him to Queens’ University in the depth of the great depression . As a mining engineer, and drawing on his family’s background as home builders, he had a highly successful professional life, first in the hard rock mines of Northern Ontario, then in general construction in Montreal and the Maritimes, and ultimately as partner and chief engineer of S. McNally & Sons with his brothers.
He was a pioneering contractor who helped build the infrastructure of Southern Ontario, especially below ground, where his innovative mining techniques created the region’s most prominent tunnelling contractor.
 Astute investment by the Foundation has resulted in benefits for both Hamilton, Waterdown and Burlington. Pat retired in 1979 and spent the balance of his life as a successful investor, incessant benefactor to young people, and supporter of community needs. He was broadly generous but responded especially well to young people whose goals might pay back: business startups, growing families, and higher education were recurrent themes. He paid tuition for many young people and helped young families afford their first homes.
He was in various ways indispensable in the startups of Clappison Veterinary, C&M McNally Engineering, McNally Robinson Booksellers, QNX Software Systems and McNally Jackson Booksellers.
He was a long-time benefactor and volunteer with The Royal Botanical Gardens, Queen’s University, the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Rotary Club. In 2015 he set up a foundation to provide recreation for families, starting with a new skating oval in Memorial Park in Waterdown.
 Patrick McNally lived to the age of 101 Patrick married Anne Elizabeth (Libby) Powell in Montreal and together they raised four sons and a daughter. He was predeceased by Libby, by his second wife, Stewart Cranston, and by his six siblings.
He is remembered by sons John, Michael, , Paul, Christopher and daughter Joyce; 19 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
 By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is about to receive a very generous donation in the way of funding for us recreation and park infrastructure amenities that will be managed by the Parks and Recreation department.
The gift to the city is from the Patrick J McNally Foundation,.
 The McNally Foundation contributed to the development of this parkette. The City of Burlington and the Patrick J McNally Foundation have worked together in recent years and have partnered on the design and construction of various recreational facilities throughout the City.
In 2018, the Foundation funded a water service and splash pad for Bolus Park as part of the KABOOM! community project. They also financed a new water service for the Francis Road community garden.
Most recently the Foundation financed the reconstruction of Valley Inn pedestrian bridge and 100 sheets of artificial ice. Both contributions support year-round outdoor recreational opportunities. The artificial ice provided a much-needed outdoor activity during the pandemic.
The Foundation has now committed to donating $1.125 million over 2022 and 2023 for the design and construction of new park amenities.
2022 Projects
Central Park
$150,000 Accessible multi-user swing This multi-user swing will accommodate mobility devices and up to four people at once. No wheelchair transfer will be required. This will be the first in Ontario.
Sweetgrass Park
$60,000 Medicine Wheel/Healing Garden To coincide with the renaming of the park, work will include a park identification sign and interpretive signage. Details and scope of this project will be determined in consultation with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
 Leighland Park
$450,000 Ball hockey/basketball combination court
Fitness equipment loop
Shade structure w/picnic tables
The park amenities included here will be added to the larger park renewal project that is currently underway.
All these additions are requests from the public but could not be accommodated within the park capital program.
2023 Projects
Lansdown Park
$400,000 Splash pad
New water service This splash pad will be a new feature to the park and designed/constructed as part of the larger park renewal.
 Port Nelson Park Port Nelson Park
$65,000 New water service
Drinking fountain with bottle filler This feature will support this lake-side park and users of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, supporting active transportation.
The Foundation’s wanted to have the work done within the next 6 to 15 months. Current staff workload and the risk of building new park amenities without associated operating budget, the approach for the current funding is to enhance already active park revitalization projects. The new park amenities will have a positive community impact and associated operating budget can be captured in the 2023 budget process.
Staff considered other parks and needs in the community but given timing and existing workloads, it was decided to focus efforts on park projects currently underway to have most opportunity for success.
Staff also considered the option to not accept the donation. However, with a willing donor and strong community interest in parks and park amenities, staff felt it was important to pursue this opportunity.
Total donation to the City is:
• $660,000 in 2022
• $465,000 in 2023
Except for the proposed work at Sweetgrass Park, all of the proposed donations will be included in the larger capital revitalization projects currently underway.
Human Resources
Additional staffing is required to operate and maintain these amenities; particularly, the expansion of assets at Leighland Park. This work will require two seasonal staff, one temp and one student, which amounts to $46,500.
Utilities
The $30,000 listed for utilities is specifically related to the splash pad at Lansdown Park to cover this service.
Labour/Materials/Purchased Services
With new assets being installed, additional costs to maintain these items through the year are required. This includes work such as required inspections, litter/debris pickup, infrastructure repairs, keeping surfaces clean/safe, grass cutting/trimming and regular annual seasonal-specific maintenance.
Source of Funding
These estimated operating impacts will be phased in over the 2023 and 2024 budgets as the associated assets are slated to be completed. The City’s multi-year budget simulation will be updated to reflect these estimated impacts.
So who was Patrick McNally and where did the money come from? That is a separate and remarkable story that you can read HERE
By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With life getting back to normal you will want to know what is open and what the hours are.
The Freeman Station on Fairview has become a go to place, especially for parents with children who want to take them to places that are fun.
The display in the basement of the building, called a diorama, tells the story and the roll rail played in the city’s growth.
Parents will learn even more than the kids.
Related articles:
The model set up in the basement of Freeman Station
By Staff
May 5th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is not a good news story.
After using more than $4 million of Hydro reserve funds to complete the installation of the floating wave break.
The Marina operation has learned that they cannot get the insurance they need to open their operations.
The options are not all that good.
The option the LaSalle Park Marina Association hopes is chosen through the Environmental Assessment due March 2013. Community Marina.
Both LaSalle Park Marina Association (LPMA) and Burlington Sailing and Boating Club (BS&BC) have advised their members that LPMA is unable to get insurance for the upcoming boating season and that the opening of the Marina will be delayed as they look for options.
These boats may not be able to use the marina as there base this season. Since the boat storage area takes up the parking spaces reserved for boat trailers, the public boat launch will remain closed for trailered boats until this situation is resolved.
Canoes, kayaks, and other smaller portable items can still be launched.
Strategy/process
Staff are assessing a short-term option to open the Marina this summer which will allow staff and other stakeholders time to develop a long-term sustainable operating model for the Marina in the future.
Short-term options are high level and general in nature as staff are in the process of refining them. Staff will provide members of Council with a verbal update at the Committee meeting on May 5, 2022.
Options Considered
1. LPMA Operates the Marina:
If LPMA’s broker can secure insurance, the Marina will operate as usual. To date, the broker has not been able to secure coverage for the operation of the Marina.
2. BS&BC Operates the Marina:
Staff approached BS&BC about this option. BS&BC’s current insurance provider did not offer extended coverage for the operation of the Marina.
3. Other Marina Operators:
Staff reached out to the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority and Town of Oakville to see if they would consider taking over the operation of the Marina as part of their current marina operation. Staff have not heard back at this time.
 Boats may not be hoisted into the water and be able to operate out of the Burlington marina. They will have to look for another place to dock their boats, 4. City Operated:
Staff had initial discussions about taking over the operation of the Marina for this year and spoke to both LPMA and BS&BC to get an understanding of the operation. The City’s insurer has confirmed that insurance for the Marina can be included in our coverage.
5. Marina Closed for Season:
If LPMA is unable to secure insurance or another viable option cannot be found, the Marina will not open this season.
Related news story:
That hydro money used to complete the marina upgrade
Construction of wave brake to start
 By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
There are some things that were meant to be shared.
This came to us from Anne Marsden, who is an yet to be nominated for the Office of Mayor.
She want to delegate at Council in person tomorrow and is waiting for a response from the City Clerk.
 Anne and Dave Marsden Mr. Arjoon, a very pleasant clerk who I have never met or talked to before told me I would receive a confirmation of my inhouse delegation tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at around 11:30 a.m. today. I have never been so excited about something in a long time.
H said first she would be checking it to see if there were any questions. Have not received confirmation yet at 4:30 p.m. Wondering if it is the old excuse of you put two dd’s in our email address which you promised to correct years ago now. In case you did please confirm to anneandave@gmail.com that the Marsdens are delegating inhouse tomorrow at 9:30 am and let us know how we get into city hall with Anne’s mobility scooter as we understand there is construction underway. Thank you for a prompt reply before 6:00 pm if possible as we don’t want to prepare for a delegation we do not have.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
While it may be that the battle for saving the land that the Waterfront Hotel sits on the area that is known as the “football” is still very much at risk.
Nick Carnicelli put together plans for a structure that is nice enough from an architectural point of view – some just thought it was inappropriate for that space.
The site is at the eastern end of the football and would become the entrance to the downtown core – not something this council is prepared to do at this point.
 The city doesn’t feel design is appropriate for the location and they have not had a chance to prepare a staff report. Good arguments but will they be heard at the OLT The Carnicelli development went to the Ontario Land Tribunal for lack of a decision from the city. At the time the Urban Growth centre was put under an Interim Control bylaw which put a halt to all development in the UGC.
Council went into a Closed Session this afternoon to discuss this and then came out and delivered not only the address of the property they were talking about but what some of the issues were.
After that some of the council members chose to clap themselves on the back for making the change in the way they report out on Closed sessions.
The big big issue on how this development is treated at the OLT is the impact it will have on the football.
 Ignore the subject site notation. The development in question is at the right hand side of that football shape – where Old Lakeshore Road and Lakeshore Road meet. That land has not had the benefit of any really progressive thinking – the developers spotted the opportunity six years ago – bought up the land and came back with incredible developments. That use of the word incredible was not meant as a positive statement.
 This is a model of what the CORE Development Group wanted to build. There development is to the immediate west of the Carnicelli site – which is not shown in this model. Meed Ward based her first campaign on saving the waterfront. She hasn’t done all that well with Spencer Smith Park and the Waterfront Hotel site – perhaps she will pivot to the football and set out to save that.
 By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The one thing a politician cannot and should not even try to do is position themselves as an open, honest person and then do things that do not measure up to the image they set out.
Rory Nisan described himself as a diplomat during his campaign. He was not a diplomat. He was around diplomatic events and worked with very senior members of the government setting up meetings that involved senior people from other counties.
He had a good blue suit, took order and was polite.
The blue suit might still exist but the rest of the traits aren’t being seen these days.
Nisan decided that the health of his new child was at some risk if he attended council meetings.
He has chosen to work from home.
I personally disagree with the position he took – the Council Chamber is probably the safest place in town to be – but – if Rory Nisan thinks his child might be at risk he has the right to work from home – and to be fair, as a responsible parent he is doing the right thing.
What wasn’t so right however was an event that took place on May 2nd.
Nisan used some of the time to meet with his campaign team in an outdoor setting
 Rory Nisan with his campaign team on May 2nd, 2022 The optics don’t fit the image.
Most of his team is unmasked, as is Nisan.
That picture just does not jibe with the way Nisan has worked to portray himself.
Going to be interesting to hear what he has to say on some of the positions he has taken on matter of city business.
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
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A Burlington resident who is as solid as they gety when it comes to being fully informed sent me a long note.
Let me pass it along to you.
He called it “scary”.
Because we were at a border crossing community for medical reasons and because we were so close to the border, yours truly and his spouse thought we would slip over to have lunch and buy a few items at one of our favorite stores, “Trader Joes”. As well we were more than happy to be able to fill up with $1.20 C a litre gas.
 The border crossing – entering the US As required and prior to our return we completed the “ArriveCan” process. Upon returning we proceeded to the border where we were advised by the agent to proceed. Nothing was said to either of us about having to take a random molecular test.
Except on Monday May 2, three whole days later I received an email message from the Government of Canada (that I first thought was a scam) that indicated I had been chosen for random testing and was directed to a local supplier located in Mississauga ON.
As you will hopefully appreciate, I was taken aback as I had heard nothing about this at the border or in my email until this point. I immediately took an in-house test which indicated I was negative for COVID. I then went on to the Switch Health website (which is a disaster in the making) and arranged to have my test within the hour. I then jumped into my car and proceeded to travel to Mississauga.
As an aside Switch Health is the only testing company listed for Ontario. The email that I received from the Federal Government indicates they have 7 locations in all of Ontario (a complete joke and worthy of another story). The results of the Molecular test also indicated I was negative for COVID. As mentioned earlier I was not advised nor was I given a home test kit by the border agent. The test cost me $180 and the results were delivered within 30 minutes.
 This gets you home. We are avid mask wears and have had 4 vaccines so far. We could have attended a Raptor, Jays or Leaf’s Game along with tens of thousands of other un-masked residents and would not be required to take a random or any other molecular COVID test. But apparently the Government of Canada feels that spending an hour and a half in the United states with minimal exposure requires us to do so.
Here is the spooky part. As I was preparing to write this, I checked my e-mail folder for the email from the Government of Canada and it was nowhere to be found. I then checked my deleted items folder and the email in question was again nowhere to be found. My advice to anyone who receives such an email is to immediately print a copy.
The article in a local American newspaper speaks to these random tests and we as citizens should seriously question what on earth is going on where testing is concerned and is their use backed-up by science. Does this mean the protests in Ottawa, while poorly executed, and included some nutbars, may have been onto something? Perhaps Karina Gould should be asked to account for and to justify the governments approach on random testing.
I thought I would attach the news article from the Buffalo News outlet as well.
https://buffalonews.com/news/local/extra-random-covid-test-rankles-travelers-to-canada/article_ee505a72-4d3b-11ec-8ee5-778889e0f36b.html
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council is now meeting in a hybrid format – for the first time in years real people are able to appear in person to delegate.
 This is what a hybrid meeting of Council looks like. The delegator is shown in the upper left, the chair of the meeting in the lower left and the members of Council shown in the two panels on the right. Awkward – but it works. While the public can be in Chambers – not all members of Council make a point of showing up.
They choose to work from home – why? Except for ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan, none of the Councillor s have made a point of explaining why they were not at work.
 Councillor Nisan manages to chair a Standing Committee meeting from the comfort of home. Nisan’s issue is the health safety of his child – who is not yet a year old and cannot be vaccinated. He isn’t prepared to take what he sees as a significant risk.
They will say they are at work even if they are not in Council Chambers.
Delegations expect to be able to speak to the members of Council – doing so via the equivalent of Zoom is like getting a kiss without a hug.
It just isn’t the same.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Pam Damoff: During one of her early elections This is pure Pam Damoff.
She is the member of parliament for Oakville North Burlington.
She rose in the House of Commons yesterday and said the following.
This is who she is – this is what she is – and it doesn’t get much better than that.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that Canadians are weary, and I am happy to speak tonight about lowering the rhetoric. I do not think the member will be surprised to find out that I agree with most of what she has said. I find that we Canadians have forgotten how to be kind to each other, and how to listen and how to disagree in a respectful way.
The two of us were sent to this place from different provinces and with different priorities, but we were sent here with a shared calling. That calling prioritizes public service and collaboration. While it will surprise none of the hon. members in this place that we often disagree, it is really important that we disagree in a respectful and kind way. I want to thank the member for Calgary Nose Hill for always coming to this place in good faith with an eagerness to work with members of all parties and with a steadfast commitment to representing the interests of her constituents and Canadians.
 Pam Damoff speaking in the House of Commons I know that, like me, the hon. member has been subjected to threats and harassment due to the rising rhetoric, and that is just wrong.
The hon. member has told me before that our constituents have much more in common than they have differences, and she is right. It is why, on a day like today when news has broken about the United States rolling back a woman’s right to abortion, it is important that members from all parties stand up proudly to affirm that Canadian women have the right to choice, and that when access to reproductive health care is rolled back we are telling women their health and safety is less important than men’s health and safety. It is why I was happy to second the bill introduced by the member for Calgary Confederation to make it easier for all Canadians to become organ donors, and why I am happy to see that the member for St.
Albert—Edmonton has reintroduced his bill that would ensure that Canadians who serve on a jury can speak about the trauma associated with the experience when seeking mental health care. All of us who have the honour of being elected to this place have a responsibility to treat it with the reverence that it deserves.
We certainly saw things bubble to the surface in late January and early February, with protests in Ottawa, at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, in Coutts, Alberta, and eventually at crossings and other cities across the country. It is something that none of us wanted to see in Canada.
 Pam Damoff: speaking at a community event It is critical that we continue to speak to each other in a respectful way.
I agree with the hon. member that we need to be listening to each other and not just talking. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with the hon. member where we do disagree, and we disagree quite strongly.
How do we lower the temperature and the rhetoric in Canada and restore faith in democratic institutions? We need to show Canadians that we can work together on shared priorities. We need to condemn what we know is wrong, and when we work together to accomplish a shared goal, we need to do a much better job of sharing credit and telling Canadians about how, together, we were able to pass laws that will make our country a better and fairer place to live.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Things are definitely getting back to normal.
Bingo is coming back.
The games will be played at the Polish Hall.
 Polish Hall – new home for regular bingo games It took city council hours of listening to deletions from two bingo game operators, who both wanted the Burlington market, which was described as prime by one of the bingo game operators.
When there is more time to write we will explain the complexities of bingo game operations – which are charity based.
A bingo operator must have sponsors from the charitable sector.
How much do they charities get – they get 45% of the proceeds.
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