 By Pepper Parr
March 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
This was news to me.
Came to us from Brian Heagle, a former Burlington resident who, we think, practices law in Burlington.
Heagle was once a Tory, then tried to become a Liberal, Was never able to get the Tory nomination.
Heagle wrote:
 Brian Heagle “Where do you go for local news, opinion and gossip? Pepper Parr’s online “Burlington Gazette” was often the go-to place. I say “was” because the Gazette “is” no more – according to its latest headline…. https://burlingtongazette.ca/?p=44728 Regrettably, there’s no story beyond the terse message that “the Burlington Gazette is dead” – just readers speculating and […]”
The link Heagle passes along is valid. What Heagle didn’t catch was that it was a story published in February of 2016. Glad Heagle doesn’t do my legal work
Then there was an additional comment from Nick Leblovic, also a lawyer and understood to be deeply involved in Mayor Marianne Meed Ward’s re-election campaign. Nick is the penultimate political junkie.. The Gazette knows Leblovic very well. He once sued us for $1 million, which impressed my banker, he didn’t know I had that kind of money.
Leblovic comments:
 Nick Leblovic, former Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee – it was sunset, much to Leblovic’s chagrin. “Oh Pepper, Pepper, Pepper. Even though you don’t seem to have a “paper” any longer, you continue to shoot from the lip without doing the necessary fact checking. I suspect the reason that Brian did not reveal that his firm acted for Adi is because the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Upper Canada specifically state the following:
“Generally, unless the nature of the matter requires such disclosure, a lawyer should not disclose having been retained by a person about a particular matter.”
Perhaps this shows why you always seem to be in trouble..”
Leblovic served us with a Notice of Libel but didn’t do anything else. Those with vested interest who feel they aren’t getting the respect and attention the are due tend to issue libel notices hoping that the journalist will go away.
We are still hear Nick.
And to our loyal readers – we are very much alive and doing what newspaper are supposed to do: The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
In its early days – what you know as the Gazette was once known as Our Burlington
Related news stories:
Leblovic’s experience with the Waterfront Advisory Committee
Brian Heagle toyed at becoming a Liberal; really wanted the Tory provincial nomination
 By Pepper Parr
March 1st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Former Mayor Walter Mulkewich co-chaired the Advisory Committee that produced the Shape Burlington report. Burlington lost one of its most outstanding citizens yesterday.
Walter Mulkewich, a former Burlington mayor, passed away on Monday.
He served on city council from 1976 to 1997; as Mayor for the final six years.
The Gazette will report in more detail about the man, the manner in which he served and the mark he left on the community.
By Pepper Parr
March 1sr, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it as sneaky as Liberal Party leader Stephen Del Duca suggests?
 Liberal leader Stephen Del Duca points to the fine Premier Ford will not have to pay. The news was that “ Ontario Liberals were blowing the whistle on Doug Ford’s Conservatives for sneaking through a change that would save Ford and his Finance Minister $15,000 in combined financial penalties for failing to deliver Ontario’s 2022 Budget on time.
“Doug Ford has decided for purely political reasons to hide his budget until the last possible moment before the election. If he wants to play those political games, he should have to pay the fine, not change the law,” stated Ontario Liberal Leader, Steven Del Duca.
 Premier Ford includes section to forgive a fine he would have had to pay in a piece of legislation. The change of rules is part of his omnibus “red tape reduction” bill, allowing Ford to sneak the $15,000 in fine forgiveness through alongside a $120 rebate on license plate stickers. For every dollar he saves Ontarians, he has saved himself more than $75.
“Ontarians deserve a government that plays by the rules and doesn’t move the goalposts for their own gain,” added Del Duca. “Ontario Liberals will reinstate the March 31st deadline for a budget. Which is particularly important to allow time for the Auditor General’s pre-election report on Ontario’s finances.”
-30-
 Jeannie Lojstrup
March 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s safe to say that when people discuss tourism and Canada, they won’t mention the beautiful town of Burlington, Ontario. It’s simply not as spectacular as other destinations in Canada, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do or see there. As a matter of fact, Burlington is not supposed to be spectacular. At least not in a way most people are used to when it comes to spectacular things. If you didn’t know, Burlington is a quiet town located near the heart of the beautiful Lake Ontario. That means it has the unique ambiance and a soul of a lake town. If you’re planning a vacation in Burlington, you will experience a peaceful journey that will teach you to enjoy the little things. Here’s what to do and see in Burlington.
Spend A Wonderful Afternoon At Lowville Park
If you want to spend a peaceful day and enjoy the wonderful scenery Burlington has to offer, you should go to the Lowville Park and have a picnic with your loved one. There, you can enjoy fresh air, peace, and mild sounds of water. The beautiful nature at Lowville Park will heal your soul and you will feel like a new man or a woman at the end of the day.
 The Royal Botanical Gardens – splendid any time of year. Wander The Royal Botanical Gardens
For people who love flora, the Royal Botanical Gardens is definitely the best thing in Burlington. The wonderful site has both magical indoor and outdoor gardens and 27kms of nature trails you can explore. While you’re walking through the gardens you will have a chance to see 2,400 plant species. You have to admit, that’s a wonderful experience, especially for people who love plants. However, seeing many species of plants is not the only thing you can do at Royal Botanical Gardens. If you would like to try delicious local cuisine, you will be happy to know that there are two on-site restaurants with spectacular dishes made from vegetables and fruits from local farms. If you get tired on your walk, you should know that there is a teahouse where you can take a break and enjoy a cup of tea.
Eat Fresh And Delicious Food At Springridge Farm
If you’re looking for delicious local food, then you simply must visit the Springridge Farm. The heavenly farm is located just north of the city and it has a lot of fresh domestic produce to offer. The food is fresh because it’s seasonal. That means, if you want to eat fresh strawberries, you have to come during summer. The local men and women will tell you that the food is amazing, but that’s not the only thing this farm has. At the Springridge Farm, you can play games and experience the wonders of farm life.
 A quaint little spot in the downtown core with a couple of fine restaurants and a great cigar store Explore The Village Square
As we already said, Burlington is a small city and like most small towns, it has a beautiful and intimate village square. It’s safe to say that the square looks like it’s from another time. It’s like you strayed into a TV show that tells a story of an older and simpler life. If you want to have a peaceful afternoon you simply must go to the village square. Sit at one of the coffee shops, order a coffee, and simply breathe the wonderful ambient this town has. Admire the old buildings you won’t find anywhere else. The old houses will tell you the stories of the past life while you drink your delicious coffee.
Brant Street Pier
 The Pier – pride of the city on the edge of one of the largest lakes in Canada The most beautiful thing when it comes to Burlington has to be the Lake Ontario. The best way to experience the beautiful lake is to go to the Brant Street Pier. There, you can walk the peaceful beach and breathe the fresh air. The Brant Street Pier is beautiful any time of day, but if you want to see the spectacular beauty this town has to offer, you should go to the beach late in the afternoon. That will give you a chance to see the most beautiful sunset in your life. The best thing is, when the night comes, you don’t have to go home. There are a lot of events you can attend and a lot of fun things you can do at the beach at night.
Final Word
As we said, when people discuss Canada and tourism, they usually won’t mention Burlington town. That’s because Burlington is a small town and people simply don’t know what it has to offer. If you read the article, you saw that the town on the coast of Lake Ontario has a lot of beautiful things to offer people. If you plan on exploring Canada, make sure you go to Burlington and experience the wonders of a small lake town.
 By Pepper Parr
February 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council hires one person – the City Manager.
They direct the City Manager to hire people – just not who.
The City Manager sets the agenda for the administrative side of the corporation and in turn hires people for specific jobs.
Every City Manager brings a style and an approach to the job. Tim Commisso had worked for Burlington back in the late 1900’s and left Burlington to return to his home town, Thunder Bay where he was City Manager for seven years – 2008-2015.
 Delegates well – and has built a stronger leadership team – that job isn’t done yet. One of the first things Marianne Meed Ward did once she had the Chain of Office around her neck was to fire the then City Manager James Ridge and bring Tim Commisso in to serve as Interim City Manager and eventually made it a full time job.
For Commisso it must have been nice to return to a city he worked in for 20 years serving as General Manager positions in Community Services and Development and Infrastructure, Director of Parks and Recreation and Deputy City Treasurer.
There isn’t a lot of detail on just how Meed Ward decided that Tim was to be her City Manager other than that she invited him for coffee.
Commisso had no idea what he had let himself in for. It soon became evident that there were very serious Human Resources problems and that there were a number of senior positions that needed better qualified people.
The current Director of Human Resources delivered Commisso a whopper of a report in which she set out how deep and how serious the problems are in HR.
 A big list of promises. Two years later and Commisso reports that the HR issues are still his # 1 task.
A number of people have been brought in from other municipalities to head up departments: Planning got a re-org with Mark Simeoni being brought in from Oakville to get head up what is called Community Planning.
 In the several news reports that will follow we want to focus on the problems that Commisso sets as serious: HR is not his only concern.
The length of the contract Commisso signed was never revealed; they are usually for terms that run between five to sometimes seven years.
We will see a new Council in November – they aren’t all going to be re-elected. Will Commisso stay on? Is he happy? How tired is he? The pandemic has taken a lot out of him.
Human Resources – has Commisso got a grip on the critical changes he has to make? And then where is he on delivering the V2F (Vision to Focus) part of the Strategic Plan ?
The 2023-2027 Council will be reviewing and revising the Strategic Plan – that 25 year document the city creates to set out where and how they are going to grow. Given the huge influence the province has on growth decisions it is getting increasingly difficult to craft a Strategic Plan with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OTL) making most of the decisions.
In his report, it is on the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability agenda, Commisso said: “In addition to the existing City Manager led objectives that are embedded in V2F, (Vision to Focus) I am personally committed to the following overriding strategic objectives:
Improving Workplace Culture including Staff Engagement and Positive Attitudes
Achieving Job Market Wage and Salary Competitiveness
Improving Employee Retention and Attraction
Advancing Employee Health and Safety Program
Implementing an updated Performance Management Framework
NEW – Ongoing refinement and execution of Council’s 2040 Strategic Plan and 2018-2022 Vision to Focus Strategic Action Plan (V2F)
 That is a lot of boxes with tick marks.  Tim Commisso on the streets of Itabasi in Japan. Following the Mayor’s lead The concept of risk in a municipal setting is one that Commisso focused on almost from the day he started working.
He is well on his way to developing a top line management team. There are still a few senior positions that need new blood.
Right now the focus is on creating a different working environment at city hall and ensuring that the people needed are in place to handle the onslaught of development applications that have overtaken the Planning department.
 By Staff
February 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Lakeshore Football Officials Association is continuing its campaign to recruit individuals who have a passion for the game of football and are eager to stay engaged with the game.
 “We are reaching out to everyone, teens and adults who may be interested and have a passion for football. If you bring that passion, you will be mentored by some of the best football officials in the country,” commented Referee-in- Chief Murray Drinkwalter.
There are many reasons to Get Off the Sidelines and Into the Action – Be a Ref!
For the love of the Game
Maybe you want to stay engaged and be a part of the game you loved to play, or maybe you are looking to get more engaged in the game your kids are playing. Either way, being an official will give you access to, and an appreciation for, the rules and strategies of the games you officiate like nothing else can.
Earn extra money
There is no better part-time job or hobby for you to make a little extra money doing something you enjoy. It’s the perfect extra gig for anyone from a high school student, to a parent, to a retiree.
Give Back
Many officials like to pay it forward to football for what it has given them. Officiating is also a way to guide and enrich the lives of the athletes who are playing by teaching the value of sportsmanship and fair play.
Stay Active
Maintain a healthy lifestyle by engaging with a sport you love. Also, who does not like getting paid to exercise?
 It was raining, the ground was wet, slippery and football was hard to hang onto – but the game went on. High school football. Sense of Community
The fellowship and humour officials share with one another are incomparable. You will quickly realize there is no community like officials. Many of them will become your closest friends — lifelong friends.
Life skills
Officiating teaches independent thinking and the ability to see the big picture — a skill that translates outside of officiating. It also requires dedication, togetherness, and ability to work as a team that is important everywhere.
Opportunity
Football officials are often identified and associated with the sport and are known outside of officiating by coaches, players and fans. Even if people do not know you specifically, many people associate officiating with trustworthiness, impartiality, dedication and integrity – all qualities that can open doors for you in other areas of life.
Drinkwalter also pointed out; “The pandemic took a toll on our organization and a number of our members have retired from officiating for various reasons, and with the formation of the Ontario Community Football League, youth football in our areas will be very active this summer. Our organization is making a concerted effort to recruit individuals who have the availability during the summer weekends and also in the fall to officiate high school football from September to November, the busiest time for our organization.” High school football games are normally played Tuesday-Friday with most doubleheaders kicking off at noon, 1p.m. or 2:30 pm.
All new officials must complete a one-day Level 1 Football Canada Officials’ Certification Program. The first program of 2022 will be held locally, hopefully in April.
If you are looking to get involved with football officiating, make some extra money, enjoy some camaraderie, and get some exercise, then please visit www.lfoa.ca to learn more and see the links to social media.
Have more questions? E-mail info@lfoa.ca and someone will contact you.
About the Lakeshore Football Officials Association
The Lakeshore Football Officials’ Association, (LFOA) established in 1963, is responsible for officiating all community and high school tackle football in the regions of Halton, Peel, and Niagara. The organization offers Football Canada Certification Programs, rules and positioning clinics, and a personal mentoring program to assist in the development of all officials. Many of the organization’s officials are former or current members of the Canadian Football Lea
By Staff
February 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We pay them reasonably well.
Few people understand just how hard the job of being a City Councillor is, unfortunately some don’t deliver what is required.
The seven people who lead the city have two jobs for which they are paid. The city pays them a salary and benefits and the Region pays a salary.
They are all provided with cell phone and iPads. The Mayor is provided with a car.
The graph below sets out what the city paid. The Regional stipend is in the $50,000 annually range.
 The General Expenses for the Mayor look high – especially given that there was no travel due to the pandemic. The members of Council are certainly not overpaid
 By Keith Sundaram
February 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Mike Malott is a 24-year-old Featherweight contender.
Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Boxing, and finally MMA were all a part of Malott’s fighting experience that began in 2007. Dalhousie College in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia attracted Malott. In 2010, Malott began learning Muay Thai and Boxing at Titans Gym Academy, his personal gym.
 Since being active in combat sports, Malott has competed in Ufc, Grappling, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Judo, both as an enthusiast and a professional. As a result, he has an extremely diverse fighting style.
In May 2012, he made his professional MMA debut by submitting James Saunders in the first round. To pay for his opponent’s flight from Toronto to Trenton, Nova Scotia, Mike Imperato (3-0) forfeited his prize 6 weeks later. Mallot, competing for free, submitted Imperato by armbar in the second round. Malott stated this in an interview following the bout: “This fight was a freebie for me. This isn’t a job for me; it’s a hobby that I enjoy. I’d gladly pay for this experience, and I’ve already done so as an amateur.”
How Malott joining the competition will affect Canada’s UFC betting industry
UFC betting is gaining a lot of popularity in Canada thanks to a massive rise in viewership, having all these Canadian fighters join such a major global competition, Sports lovers from all across Canada are supporting their fellow local athletes as much as they can in an attempt to bring their nationality to the top of the leaderboards. Mike Malott is an incredible fighter and since he will debut in the UFC this April, we are sure to be seeing an upsurge in Canadian views on the UFC, as well as Canadians betting on the sport, since he will be deemed as the underdog by the oddsmakers, there will be a good chance for people who bet on him to make a significant profit.>
How to join in on the UFC betting action in Canada
For long-term success, it’s frequently more than simply fortune that is required. This is also true in the Octagon, where competitors rise to the challenge when the chips are down. Betting on the UFC, like other professional sports, might be challenging, particularly for those who are just casually interested in MMA. However, this does not rule out the possibility of profiting from UFC wagering. To learn more about the different MMA betting markets, get exclusive UFC betting tips, and how to earn a profit while betting on the world’s most intense contact sport, it’s ideal that players looking to have some wagering fun to turn to trustworthy sources of reliable information to learn all there is to know about the top trustworthy online sportsbooks for UFC events providing UFC betting odds, MMA betting odds for other mixed martial arts leagues, including Bellator fights.
Is it possible to profit from UFC betting?
You’ll have to put in some effort if you want to profit from any sports gambling possibility. Everybody would do it if it were simple, there would be no winners.
To be a good UFC bettor, you’ll need a variety of skills and information in addition to a basic understanding of the sport. Even the most ardent UFC fans might not have been the best bettors in the business.
An individual admires too much the favorite combatant. To put it another way, if you’re a big fan of Connor McGregor, you probably love seeing him compete.
However, you must be realistic and accept the possibility that he will lose. Even more so if the opponent he faces is well-matched against him.
There are five defeats on McGregor’s record as an example. A superb submission artist might put him in serious jeopardy, as four of his victories have come by submission thus far.
 Another approach to profit from UFC gambling is to select the sort of bet you want to put down. The most popular types of wagering include money lines, over/under round totals, and means of winning.
The Moneyline is a prediction of the winner of the bout. The number of rounds the fight will last before it is declared a draw is known as the “over/under” or “tallies” wager. After that comes a forecast of how you think the winner will be victorious, whether by knockout or submission.
In order to have a long-term winning streak and to place the greatest wagers, you must be able to decipher odds. So, let’s take a closer look at the UFC betting odds.
What formula is used to determine the UFC’s odds?
When a duel is scheduled, the gambling industry adjusts the worth of the boxers in the matchup.
A money line choice is the most typical type of line you’ll come across.The odds will shift somewhat in favor of specific combatants as more bets are placed on them. A sportsbook will modify the odds if too many people bet on one boxer, making it more enticing to gamble on the other.
 By Staff
February 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario is reporting 842 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 281 in ICU on Sunday. We have broken that 1000 hospitalizations barrier – which is a good sign.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns – isolating  Burlington Member of Parliament Karina Gould – isolating. At the same time Burlington’s ward 2 Councillor reported that she had COVID19 and was isolating. There is a report that MP Karina Gould has COVID19.
The province notes that not all hospitals report on weekends. There are also at least 2,001 new cases of COVID-19.
So it is out there and it is being transferred from people to people.
Gould and Kearns are committed mask wearers and are also in the public sphere.
On Tuesday March 1st, the province opens things up.
Another really important concern is the number of people who still believe this is all hokum and there is nothing to worry about.
 By Pepper Parr
February 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Some facts:
Municipal election results for Mayor of Burlington
Rick Goldring won with 21,797 votes. Goldring defeated Cam Jackson and Marianne Meed Ward ran and as a Councillor and won in ward 2. Anne Marsden was not a candidate in the 2010 election.
In 2014 Rick Goldring ran for re-election and won with 23,360 votes.
 Anne Marsden delegating at Burlington city council with her husband David Anne Marsden ran and got 3,043 votes.
In 2018 Marianne Meed Ward ran for Mayor and defeated Rick Goldring.
Meed Ward – 23,360 votes
Goldring – 16,781 votes
Anne Marsden ran against Gary Carr for Regional Chair
Gary Carr – 79,775 votes
Anne Marsden – 41,136 votes
The data above is all a matter of public record on either the city of Burlington web site or the Region of Halton web site.
On February 24th, Anne Marsden released the information set out below.
Marsden does not provide dates for the votes she lists. The amounts spent are a matter of public record.
The Goldring data is for the 2018 municipal election as is the data for Meed Ward.
The Marsden number represent the number of votes she got from the voters of Burlington who chose her as Regional Chair in 2018.
The data Marsden provides appears to be intended to convince people that Marsden is a credible candidate and can pull in a lot of votes without spending very much money.
We believe the numbers are misleading and were intended to mislead.
Anne Marsden has positioned herself as a person who hews to the truth and argues vociferously that she has the facts and that she is right.
She has on occasion done a good job of digging out facts – especially with the C. difficile outbreak at the Joseph Brant Hospital in 2009.
The virus overran the hospital from May 2006 to December 2007- the information was not released until 2009.
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
February 26th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We have learned that the Brant Plaza Postal Outlet located inside the Pharmasave in the No Frills plaza is closing.
 Pharmacy stays – post outlet due to close April 6th This was not a store decision. Canada Post issued the order effective April 6th.
A resident described it as a “Very sad as it’s a very busy outlet. An integral part of the downtown core. “
A grassroots campaign to save the outlet has started by with people texting 55555 with the words SURVEY or by going to canadapostsurvey.ca.
You have to use the outlets number 105314 when inputting the survey data. At the end they can put in a comment
A Canada Post outlet on Brant closed a number of months ago – that operation was shifted to the Bridgewater development. It is inside the tower on the east side – very small sign.
 By Pepper Parr
February 26th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The resumption of the paused Waterfront Hotel site study began on the 15th.
On balance is was a good first step – even though it was hobbled by the fact that there is an active development application before the city’s Planning department while the city studies what should be done long term with the property.
One of the things the public learned was that the city has the right to take a certain amount of land as park land dedication. Burlington, in the past, had accepted cash in lieu of land so often that the development community felt that it was the common practice.
 The two red X marks are parkland the city might take from the developer. The Planning Act permits a municipality to acquire a portion of the property as parkland. It is evident the city will be asking for what it is entitled to in the way of parkland dedication.
At this point the land the city appears to be going after is a 20 metre strip of land on the west side of the hotel running from the property boundary on Lakeshore Road and the southern boundary.
During the meeting city staff announced they had put together a survey that they wanted people to answer.
The Gazette look at the survey questions and found it very limited. There were two questions, along the lines of: ‘What do you think’ and ‘what is your postal code’.
We thought we might have gotten it wrong and we asked city staff the following:
I am doing a piece on the survey that came out of the most recent Waterfront Study meeting – finding that all they appear to want is your view on the site development and your postal code
Is that the extent of the survey?
The response was brief:
If the survey responses are going to guide where the Waterfront Site Study is going the answer may well be – not very far.
The survey closes Tuesday March 1st – link to the survey is HERE
Related news story”
Resumption of the Waterfront Hotel site study
By Staff
February 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will follow the direction from the Provincial government and will no longer require visitors to City recreational facilities to show proof of vaccination as of March 1.
 Masks, physical distancing and active screening are still required until further notice.
More information will be shared if there are additional impacts to recreation facilities or programs once the full regulations are released by the province.
Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture said: “Regardless of any changes, our staff will always work to providing the safest and highest quality programming we can offer. Please be patient with staff as we work through implementing any change and as we take cautious steps on the journey to fully reopening our facilities and programs.”
I wouldn’t throw out the card yet or delete it from my cell phone. Wait until the pandemic gets renamed to an endemic.
By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns is recovering from Covid19. There was a bit of a glitch in the web cast of the February 22nd, Standing Committee meeting at which there was a meeting on the resumption of the Waterfront Study.
What was available to the public did not include the first six to eight minutes of the meeting during which ward 2 Councillor Kearns announced she had contracted Covid 19 and was isolating at home.
She stayed on the web cast during which we did hear a bit from Councillor Kearns but not the usual robust on top of an issue Lisa.
A polite mention from the Mayor at the end of the web cast wishing Kearns a speedy recovery would have been nice.
Kearns advises us that the first few days were difficult but she is on her way to a full recovery.
 By Staff
February 25th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Some City web applications and online forms temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance March 3
 On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the following applications and forms will not be available starting at 10 p.m. until Friday, March 4 at 2 a.m.:
- Burlington calendar
- Application to search for City parks and facilities
- The City’s online job application platform
This maintenance work has been scheduled in the evening hours to limit the disruption.
By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Quiet, quaint, downtown Burlington may become a thing of the past.
The owners of the Waterfront Hotel have filed a development application to build two towers on the site; one at 35 storeys, the other at 30 storeys with both sitting on a five storey podium.
 This is what we have. Some development can be justified – but it has to be the right development for the city. There is a public that is opposed to a development of this size. Disturbingly there is also a city council that has been less than vocal in its views on the development.
During the Statutory meeting held earlier in the month the Mayor, the ward Councillor and one other member of council spoke out not totally against the development but certainly against the height the developer was asking for.
 The developer would like to make Lakeshore |Road 6 m narrower; they want to put up towers that will rise 40 storeys.  This is what the developer want to build. It is very good design, it could well win awards – it is the location that is wrong.  Of the limited number of delegations (there were six) the one that drove home just what the issue is came from Plan B, a group that has 500 supporters and 5000 people following them on the Facebook page – which you can find right HERE
There are two processes being handled at the same time which to many seems awkwardly odd. The city is processing a development application while at the same time the city is working its way through a Waterfront Study that will “inform” and guide the development of the area.
Part of the study is a survey that is asking people how they feel about some of the ideas that were put out during the Statutory meeting last week.
Confusing – true – the developers, their legal counsel and their planning consultants are quite comfortable with the confusion – they understand the issues and they have a tonne of money invested in the process.
For parents dealing with the fallout from Covid19, stressed and struggling to run households – finding time to respond to a survey about an issue of which they may not be fully informed, is a stretch.
 Two processes – out of which there will be only one result and it may not be made by the city council you elected.
The survey isn’t the easiest to navigate. They appear to be looking for responses from people who live in specific parts of the city. When you are asked to enter your postal code, you have to know what it is – you get a thank you for taking part.
We live in a time when there are serious decisions to be made – don’t leave it up to the people you elected unless they are fully transparent and prepared to be accountable for the decisions they make.
Are these three now mute? Do they not have a view of how the city should grow?
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte  Angelo Bentivegna ward 6. While members of Council are elected by the people in a specific ward the have a responsibility for the growth of the city as a single entity.  Kelvin Galbraith, ward 1. Based on the Statutory meeting last week Councillors Bentivegna, Stolte, and Galbraith have some explaining to do. And one might ask – where is the most experienced Councillor on this issue – other than his remarks on the failure to come up with a vision, Councillor Sharman hasn’t had much to say.
 By Pepper Parr
February 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Anne Marsden A few days ago Anne Marsden released a statement saying she was going to support Jane McKenna who announced she was running for the office of Regional chair.
Many thought Marsden might run for Regional chair – she had in the past and did remarkably well.
This afternoon Marsden threw another curve ball and announced she would run as Mayor of Burlington in the October election.
 She then provided some data on the top three candidates in the 2018 election.
The first reaction was – how embarrassing for Rick Goldring.
There are others who have an interest in being the Mayor of Burlington.
By Staff
February 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General’s has awarded the Halton Regional Police Service a Victim Support Grant
The $200,000 in funding, to be issued over a two-year period, will facilitate an expansion of supports offered to victims and survivors of intimate partner violence in Halton region through a multi-pronged strategy.
 Collectively, these complementary, victim-centric strategies focus on enhanced partnerships between police and non-police partners to better respond to the complex needs of survivors and help create safe places across our region for survivors to report violence and coercive and controlling behaviour.
A portion of the grant will be used to embed a dedicated violence against women (VAW) support worker from Halton Women’s Place* within the HRPS Intimate Partner Violence Offender Management Unit (IPV-OMU). As a result, the IPV-OMU will be better positioned to provide survivors safety support, community referrals, crisis, group and individual counseling, and advocacy, which will help mitigate risks to survivors.
 Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill To better meet the needs of our diverse community, the VAW worker will also work closely with the IPV-OMU and the Victim Services Unit of the HRPS to access their volunteer crisis workers who amongst them, speak 15 languages. Additionally, HMC Connections** would also provide consultation and support in terms of strategies for providing services and supports that are culturally appropriate and address the complexities faced by newcomers to Canada.
A portion of the grant will be used to provide enhanced intimate partner violence risk assessment training to Halton Women’s Place staff and HMC Connections staff.
Recognizing that victims and survivors of intimate partner violence may have more comfort accessing support through non-police agencies, this training will ensure that non-police partners who are dealing directly with survivors of intimate partner violence have access to the same risk assessment tools as police. This training will bolster their ability to identify and mitigate risk for their clients.
Intimate partner violence is an ever-present secret carried by far too many in our community. The HRPS, and our community partners, know and see the toll of violence on families. In 2020, the HRPS responded, on average, to more than ten intimate partner violence incidents a day in the community.
The true incidence of intimate partner violence may never be known, as we recognize that much of it goes unreported to police. While the complexities of survivors are unique, the commonality they share is the need for a safe place to report intimate partner violence. The strategies funded through this grant will provide a safer pathway forward for survivors, including through reporting.
The HRPS, Halton Women’s Place, and HMC Connections extend their gratitude to the Solicitor General for granting this funding for new intimate partner violence victim supports. These initiatives will support our steadfast commitment to ensure that Halton region is a place where every person can safely live, work and play without fear of violence.
“The Halton Regional Police Service believes it is the fundamental right of every person to live free from the threat of violence and to feel safe in our community,” says Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill. “This grant will help expand the reach of our collective efforts to ensure survivors know that they are not alone, that support is available, and ultimately help them begin their journey of healing.”
 “Halton Women’s Place is thrilled to expand on our partnership with the HRPS through this new initiative, which will provide women who have experienced violence with greater support and safety options,” says Laurie Hepburn, Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place. “This integrated approach with the placement of a VAW counsellor at the HRPS and support from HMC Connections will help build capacity and capabilities to best serve our community.”
“The risk assessment training is going to give our Settlement Specialists tools to identify people at risk and to make sure they now where and how to reach out for support,” says Kim Jenkinson, Executive Director of HMC Connections. “It is critical to get information to people early – they need to know they are not alone and there are people and systems that can help them. Being able to identify people at higher risk will also allow us to customize and tailor the information provided to the cultural needs of the client.”
By Staff
February 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Below is an invitation from Statistics Canada to participate in a crowdsourcing initiative to collect data on Canadians’ access to and experiences with COVID-19 testing. Everyone is encouraged to share their insights, especially parents and people living with children.
 In this new crowdsourcing initiative, we are seeking your experiences with testing for COVID-19, particularly with using rapid tests. This information will help assess the use of at-home COVID-19 testing, access to rapid testing kits in Canada and vaccination status.
Please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and feel free to forward this email to others—the more people that participate, the better the data.
Participating is easy and secure
Click HERE to participate:
This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, which guarantees that the information you provide will be kept confidential, and used only for statistical and research purposes.
 By Staff
February 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
From time to time a citizens group is formed that has a significant impact on decisions made at city hall. Plan B is one of those groups – it is small – less than five people; all retired or thought they were.
Their concerns started to take shape when they became aware of some of the plans that were being bandied about related to the re-development of the Waterfront Hotel site.
 The Plan B people have been at this for a long time – more than five years. They have not always been heard.. The group was solely focused on ensuring that any redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel :
Enhances the Brant Street gateway to Lake Ontario &
Extends the green/ open space of Spencer Smith Park
They acknowledge & respect the property owner’s right to profit from his investment, and that this will necessitate a “reasonable” amount of massing & building height. What tyey are looking for is a “Win Win Win” for all parties.
Emerging Plan B concept from Planning partnership gets close to what they wouldlike to see; it seeks to balance the Developer’s Current Concept with Plan B’s (the community’s) Concepts. The concept is premised on the following:
Achieves the Urban Design objectives for the Downtown
Achieves a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) that balances the base permissions of 5.0 with the Developer’s Current Concept which represents approx. 7.5 FAR
Buildings are located east of the ‘Thin Red Line’ , representing the view corridor south of Lakeshore Road, proposed by the Downtown Mobility Hub Study.
- A new significant open space defined by the ‘Thin Red Line’ located on the west portion of the property, contiguous with the waterfront park
- Buildings that provide a clear landmark visible from the park, Brant Street, John Street, Lakeshore Road and Lake Ontario
- A potential development yield that is viable and provides some incentive for redevelopment
Note: PLAN B neither supports nor objects to tower height
There are very significant difference between what the existing rules permit and what the developer is asking for.
 The Burlington Urban Design panel, made up of professionals who have no interest in the development put forward a number of recommendation. Few got anything more than the time of day. The Applicant’s Response to Community Input in Plan B’s Opinion
- Silent on/ Ignored most Public input & recommendations
– Waterfront Planning Study re: Key Policy Directives – June 2018
– Burlington Urban Design Advisory Committee – August 2021
– PLAN B – Thin Red Line
- The Application relies heavily on UGC/ MTSA designations downtown to justify intensification
– While the Complete Application was not submitted until December 17th grandfathering by the November 10th ROPA order is assumed
The Plan B people assume that the developer is prepared to let their case be determined by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
 The thin red line phrase came out of a meeting with city planners – The Plan B people took it and ran with it. Citizens’ PLAN B recommends:
- The Applicant’s proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) to eliminate the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study as a prerequisite for this application be REJECTED.
The Waterfront Hotel Planning Study will be completed within the statutory time frame of processing this application
The June 2018 Key Policy Directives already reflect key Community Feedback
Collaboration, good faith negotiations needed for a “Win Win Win”
Citizens’ PLAN B also recommends:
The Applicant’s proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment (ZBA) to fit it’s proposed application should be APPROVED with Modifications.
Key community feedback from the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study, Burlington Urban Design Advisory Committee, PLAN B must be reflected in the application’s modifications
Limit building heights to yield of FAR 6.0:1 (per EPC#3).
A “good faith” compromise between Base Permission of 5.0:1 and Applicant’s aggressive ask of 7.76:1
Plan B thinks this may avert acrimonious & lengthy legal debates before the OLT & an unpredictable outcome for both parties.
The city is seeking response to a survey that closes March 1. Link to that survey is set out below.
Link to the survey is HERE
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