 Young adults today face unemployment rates reminiscent of a recession as well as a housing crisis that leaves many unable to afford necessities. The Canadian economy is leaving many young people behind. Young adults today face unemployment rates reminiscent of a recession as well as a housing crisis that leaves many unable to afford necessities. Some 78 per cent of Canadians expect the next generation to be worse off than their parents. Growing wealth inequality has made young people even more pessimistic as they see mounting evidence that the economy is not working for them. They are earning less, saving less and face high barriers to owning assets unless they have help from family.
 We also know that Canada’s taxes and benefits are skewed heavily towards serving older people. It is estimated that government spending on those 65-plus is three to four times greater than on those under 45. While Old Age Security (OAS) has become more generous over the last 50 years, government transfers to younger Canadians remain unchanged. At the same time, many seniors pay little or no tax thanks to overly generous tax exclusions, deductions and credits.
Last fall’s budget extended small amounts of funding to various youth employment programs, but the overall numbers don’t lie. The budget includes an increase of $28.3 billion in OAS spending by 2029, but less than $1 billion in new youth employment spending. As our policymakers grapple with how to structure a broad policy response to changes in global economics and geopolitics, we need to address problems with our taxes and benefits as well.
A youth employment supplement (YES) to the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) would be a creative, scalable, cost-efficient way to motivate young people to get a job, as well as help those who are working but don’t make enough to save and invest. An early version of this model was proposed in a project by graduates Gabriel Blanc, Samuel De Grâce, Kiran Gill and Jacob Kates Rose from the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.
The Canada Workers Benefit
The CWB offers means-tested tax relief to lower-income working Canadians in the form of a refundable tax credit. All Canadians over 19, except those who are enrolled in post-secondary education or are incarcerated, become eligible for the benefit after the first $3,000 of employment income.
The refundable tax credit increases as income goes up. In 2025, it topped out at $1,633 for individuals and $2,813 for families. The CWB is gradually reduced once adjusted net income reaches a certain threshold. No benefit is received if net earnings are greater than $37,742 for individuals and $49,393 for families. Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut have different negotiated thresholds. Federal legislation allows provinces autonomy in how the CWB is structured.
 The CWB, which grew out of a similar benefit introduced in 2007, has had support across the political spectrum and has encouraged people to work and helped reduce poverty amongst those who are employed. However, young people are the group most likely to live in poverty and the workers benefit does not do enough for them.
How would a youth employment supplement work?
A youth employment supplement could be created through an amendment to the Income Tax Act that would double CWB payments for single workers between 19 and 29 years old to an additional maximum of $2,000. To ensure the YES were properly targeted, the supplement would be calculated using existing CWB phase-in and clawback rates. Based on 2024 tax data, the average YES benefit for singles would amount to $1,179.
The supplement would not place any administrative burden on recipients. The Canada Revenue Agency would be able to determine eligibility and disburse funds using existing tax data. Based on the current proportion of CWB recipients between the ages of 19 and 29, a YES could benefit close to two million Canadians. And, as the CRA expands automatic filing, even more young workers could seamlessly receive the benefit.
Expected impact
Young adults today face higher hurdles to economic security, home ownership and saving for retirement or emergencies than previous generations. And building assets requires disposable income to invest and save. A 2024 report from Statistics Canada found that 55 per cent of people between the ages of 25 and 44 had difficulty meeting day-to-day expenses. . And a rental survey last summer found that almost half of respondents between 18 and 24 were spending more than 50 per cent of their income on rent, while facing an increasingly insecure job market.
At the same time, young people are carrying growing debt that many are unable to pay off. These debts are increasingly to private credit services that charge extremely high interest rates. A YES would not only help young Canadians meet basic needs, but would also aid them in establishing a viable financial foundation.
Income support programs like this have been shown to improve post-secondary educational outcomes and workforce participation. Research also shows that programs like a YES encourage financial planning and help maintain a stable, consistent standard of living in the face of uncertain income patterns.
 Canada is facing significant economic transformation driven by climate change, technology and a rupture in North American and global trading and security. Canada is facing significant economic transformation driven by climate change, technology and a rupture in North American and global trading and security. Although the long-term trends are uncertain, we are already seeing reduced hiring, particularly for entry-level professional jobs. Our taxes and benefits need to provide more security and income support to younger workers.
Costing and potential funding sources
In the 2024 tax year, a YES for single adults, defined as those with no spouse or dependents, would cost $2.29 billion. This figure does not include the cost of any changes to the disability supplement (to the CWB) or a YES for couples. These would need to be designed differently and would have additional costs.
By encouraging young adults to work, the added supplement to the CWB would, over time, lead to workforce retention and increased employment rates. And due to its inherent flexibility, it could easily be scaled or altered. Additional income tax revenue from the YES would also offset some of the costs.
New targeted programs, such as a YES, could be funded by reforms to our taxes and benefits. Paul Kershaw, founder of and lead researcher at Generation Squeeze, estimates that modest changes to Old Age Security and age and pension income tax credits would save between $14 billion and $19 billion annually.
An agenda for young adults
 Canada is overdue for a broader debate on intergenerational fairness and how our taxes and benefits support — and exclude —different age groups. We continue to live with programs designed by baby boomers to provide security to seniors — even if they are well off. Yet young adults in our country face challenges entering the labour market, securing stable employment and saving to build some measure of economic security in the face of rising costs in almost every sector.
There is almost no government agenda to address this growing disparity. We need policies designed to make the economy work for younger Canadians and to show that Ottawa is responding to their needs. A youth employment supplement could help rebuild financial security and allow younger adults to buy homes, finance education for themselves or their children and save for the future.
Editor’s note: The authors would like to acknowledge Jennifer Robson, Paul Kershaw and Gillian Petit for their insightful comments.
Matthew Mendelsohn is the CEO of Social Capital Partners. He is a former deputy minister with the federal and Ontario governments and was a professor of political science at Queen’s University and director of the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto.
 By Laura Fuerte
February 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Across Canadian cities like Montreal and Calgary, card games such as Poker are woven into the fabric of local life. Across Canadian cities like Montreal and Calgary, card games such as Poker are woven into the fabric of local life in ways both traditional and unexpected. Neighborhoods build their own followings around dedicated card rooms, round-the-table home sessions, and, more and more, virtual spaces where hands are played without anyone leaving their living room.
Instead of a single national circuit, the country is knitted together by overlapping local collectives, each with its quirks, unofficial codes, and shared stories. Anyone who visits these scenes will see large gatherings, informal alliances, and meticulous coordination among regulars. As these places shift from crowded live venues to bustling group chats, the nature of the games—and the way people connect around them—keeps evolving.
Card rooms anchor local scenes
 A good room, the clatter of chips or the familiar faces – where you want to be to enjoy playing poker. There’s something grounding about a good room in Canada, maybe it’s the clatter of chips or the familiar faces, but these venues still set the pace for most local scenes. In Montreal, a city known for its sizeable events, you’ll run into expansive rooms with over 60 tables, plenty of noise, and a regular churn of players dropping in for a few hands or a full tournament. Calgary, for its part, holds its own, offering near round-the-clock card rooms where Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha get prime spots on the schedule. These locations provide a consistent setting where both experienced players and newcomers can sit down without much fuss.
Dependable scheduling seems to be half the story. Players know when to show up for a weekly freezeout or a bigger monthly event, and the details, buy-ins, prize guarantees, and game types are often posted and easy to find. Some monthly tournaments see prize pools hitting $10,000 or more, drawing travelers as well as regulars. Players seeking more detailed information about schedule transparency or online offerings often turn to resources such as Poker, which aim to centralize player networks and improve access to live or digital options. In the end, these rooms aren’t just about competition; they act as a clubhouse, somewhere to catch up and trade a story or two.
Local tournaments set the tone
In every city, tournaments have a way of bringing the community together; players gather for everything from structured weeknight hold’em to higher-stakes weekend showdowns. Calgary’s main rooms run tournaments with buy-ins generally starting around $300, and the format is sharply defined; blinds move up on schedule, players draw seats at random, and each event follows clear-cut house rules that don’t change just because someone new sits down. Every so often, larger tournament circuits swing through, national and provincial series that bounce from one city to the next, drawing a mix of local talent and hopefuls from out of town.
These events build bridges between groups who might otherwise never meet, while fueling a sense of competition that lasts long after the final hand is dealt. Getting things off the ground relies on local organizers and volunteers. With so many moving parts, from the registration desk to the leaderboard, it takes a village to keep tournaments running smoothly. For regulars and up-and-comers, these games quietly double as talent showcases, an unspoken audition for anyone looking to test themselves against a broader field.
Home tables and informal networks
 In the garage, in the kitchen; it doesn’t matter where the game is played – what matters is playing the game. Beyond official venues, the backbone of local often lies in home games. Friends, or sometimes complete strangers, gather in kitchens, garages, or rented spaces, improvising tournaments and cash nights with as much care as any big event. These home-based groups appeal for their casual spirit. Stakes tend to be lower, hosts rotate, and members use group chats to keep everyone in the loop about upcoming games and tweaks to house rules.
What’s really kept these networks alive, particularly in recent years, is a blend of old-fashioned hospitality and new tech. Messaging apps help coordinate seats, and city-focused sites help people find or set up their own games. Sometimes the night is even organized around a fundraiser or cause, giving things a different energy. Flexibility in both stakes and scheduling explains much of this side of the scene’s ongoing popularity.
Online spaces link everything together
If the pandemic taught communities anything, it’s that online spaces are no longer separate from real-life scenes; they’re stitched together. Virtual message boards, group chats, and web directories let players find new games, swap stories, or flag upcoming events right from their phone. Some city networks list tournaments and home games in nearly real time, giving first-timers and out-of-towners an easier entry. There are also regional online leagues and interest groups connecting people province to province. Whether it’s for sharing strategies, arranging charity games, or just staying current with the local scene, these digital threads help keep interactions lively and inclusive.
Mindful community standards
As these groups grow, both in numbers and complexity, conversations around responsible play have become central. Organizers and regulars alike talk openly about setting boundaries, posting clear buy-in limits, and sharing contacts for mutual support when needed. By encouraging balanced participation and respectful play, Canada’s circles seem focused on making sure anyone who steps in finds both fair competition and a welcoming, sustainable environment.
 By Pepper Parr
February 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s Friday afternoon. The city is heading into a long weekend – Family Day on Monday.
The agenda for the Council meeting is on line. Some people make a point of checking it out.
There are several reasons to at least glance at it.
There is an item on the agenda that, if passed, would have the city not collecting development charges.
 At 4:00 pm there isn’t a link in place that people can use to get the agenda. The practice is to post the agenda before the end of the day. By that time, it will be too late to register as a delegate and City Hall is closed Monday. The meeting agenda for this coming Tuesday’s Regular Meeting of Council has not been made available to the public.
People who want to delegate have to register by noon on the business day before the meeting. I
City Hall will close at the end of the day.
Quite why the City Clerk would let something happen is beyond understanding.
One would have thought that at least one Council member would have seen the problem and taken corrective action.
A decision not to collect Development Charges has the very real risk of costing the city a big bundle of money. And that money will eventually come out of the pockets of the taxpayers.
It didn’t have to be this way.
We will have a detailed report on just what the issues are.
It is complex.
With a bit of luck Council might decide to defer a decision until there is more in the way of a public understanding
 By Pepper Parr
February 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
At the beginning of each Council meeting, there is a Roll Call to make sure there are enough members of Council present to meet the quorum requirement, and then the Agenda has to be approved. Items can be withdrawn or added.
We often hear a Chair ASK: “Is there anyone who has a hard stop”, by which they mean, does anyone have to leave early.
Members of Council know when meetings are scheduled.
Their job is to be in the room or take part virtually for every meeting.
Attendance exceptions should be very very rare. Your Mother’s funeral would qualify.
It is time for Council members to always be present. Simple, do your jobs.
 This is what the public elected and this is what the public expects – every seat filled.
 By Gazette Staff
February 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 During the Family Day weekend, people across Ontario can fish for free from February 14 to 16 without purchasing a license or Outdoors Card.
Before heading out to ice fish, keep safety the top priority. Check conditions with local ice hut operators or anglers and remember that clear blue ice is strongest, while white or honeycombed ice is weaker.
Let someone know where you will be fishing and wear appropriate gear for warmth and safety.
Conservation Fishing Licence catch and possession limits continue to be in effect as do restrictions in sanctuaries and other fishing regulations.
Recreational fishing is a vital part of Ontario’s economy, contributing significantly to local tourism and jobs in communities across the province. Free fishing periods, such as Family Day weekend, encourage more people to discover the joy of fishing and help protect Ontario’s resource-based industry by promoting the many economic, social and environmental benefits that recreational anglers bring to the province.
By Pepper Parr
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Nathan Erskine Smith(Nate) is on his way to his next political adventure.
He is determined to become a significant political figure – becoming Premier of Ontario suits him just fine.
And goodness knows, Ontario desperately needs a new Premier. Doug Ford has boasted that he can and will run for a fourth term of office.
 Is Nate the man to beat Doug?
And should he manage to do that, what kind of a Premier would he become?
His political path up to this point has been bumpy.
He was Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities in former Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet.
He was Minister of Housing under the first government Mark Carney formed, but less than a year later, Nate was out.
Not much in the way of cabinet-level experience.
Nate has found a path that could get him to the point where he becomes the leader of the provincial Liberal Party.
When he held an online organizational meeting of the people who believed in him Wednesday night, he got, a surprise to him, 400 people who were ready to first make him the Liberal candidate for Scarborough West and then work to make him leader of the party and then campaign across the province to make him Premier of the province in the next provincial election.
Doug Ford is not going to make it easy for him.
Is Nathan Erskine Smith a great campaigner – not particularly.
Is he a nice guy – certainly believes he can make a difference.
 Nate Erskine Smith speaking to Burlington Liberals. Lisa Mayeski does the intro. What Ontario doesn’t know is – what kind of Ontario would he deliver?
The province is in a mess. Setting aside all the scandal that surrounds Doug Ford, and that is a stretch, there are very serious problems in every sector. The automotive sector is being decimated, health is in a shambles, education isn’t getting the financial support it needs.
Housing is not being built, workers are being laid off by the thousands and few people have any money to spend. Those who do have income that is disposable are keeping it in their bank accounts.
But the current Premier is able to sign a contract with an Austrian company to completely redesign Ontario Place and make it a carnival.
 Nathan Erskine Smith speaking in the House of Commons He killed the Science Centre.
All the public get to see is a man who comes up with one loopy idea after another. The tunnel beneath Highway 401 is something he is still spending money on; all while he awaits the delivery of an RCMP report on whether or not criminal charges can be laid on his scandals.
The Ford family created Ford Nation, which the majority of people in the province are prepared to live with.
The creation of Team Nate is the first step in creating the kind of momentum that leads to winning election campaigns.
What Ontario needs is a leader with the ideas and at least some charisma to catch the public’s attention at a time when nothing seems to be going right.
Is Nathan Erskine Smith that person?
Related news story:
Nate speaks to 400 people who are on his Team
 By Gazette Staff
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Chloe Richter, City Heritage Planner Urban sprawl and intensification have been advancing at increasing rates across Canada, particularly in Ontario. Urbanization, along with unchecked development, present a challenge that frequently poses a threat to the integrity of the heritage character of cities, towns, and villages, and often overlooks the delicate balance between growth and conservation. Architectural landmarks, historic streetscapes, and rich landscapes are vulnerable to expansion and are at risk of erasure of both built and natural heritage.
The conservation of these areas is not rooted in the desire to “halt” progress or development, rather, it is about establishing a framework to guide development in a way that integrates well with existing heritage resources, as well as with historic context. Formally recognizing and protecting these heritage assets is an important and powerful tool for maintaining and safeguarding the unique essence of our collective past, while also ensuring future enrichment of our communities
The report was to:
Direct the Director of Community Planning to retain a consultant to assess the eligibility of the following properties for potential heritage designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, consult the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee, and report back to Council with statements explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of qualifying properties prior to January 1, 2027:
 One of the genuine heritage structures in the city. 2137 Lakeshore Rd. (The Sewage Pumping Station aka 2137 Junction St.)
1419 Ontario St. (The O’Brien-Connell House)
2464 Dundas St. (St. John’s Anglican Church)
1264 Lemonville Rd. (A. Lemon Family Farmhouse)
5534 Guelph Ln. (The Thomas Colling Centennial Farmhouse)
1392 Ontario St. (The New George Allen House)
1454 Birch Ave. (The Edwin Thorpe Retirement House)
566 Locust St. (The Harry Blessinger Retirement House)
2187 Lakeshore Rd. (The Dalton-Bell House)
524 Hager Ave. (The Bamford House).
 Location of the properties to be assessed as to their eligibility for potential heritage designation.
 By Gazette Staff
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
iPolitics reports that:
Sure, it was symbolic but a rebuke of the White House’s tariff policy from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is turning heads.
The House voted Wednesday to slap back President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, with a few Republicans joining Democrats over the objections of GOP leadership.
The tally, 219-211, was among the first times the House, controlled by Republicans, has confronted the president over a signature policy, and drew instant recrimination from Trump himself.
The resolution seeks to end the national emergency Trump declared to impose the tariffs, though actually undoing the policy would require support from the president, which is highly unlikely. It next goes to the Senate.
 President of the United States: Donald J. Trump – for how much longer. Has the tariff matter reached a tipping point?
The US Supreme Court is city on a decision as to whether or not the tariffs were legal in the first place.
Ontario’s economy hangs on what happens in the next week or so.
 By Gazette Staff
February 12, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Chloe Richer, Senior Heritage Planner Chloe Richer, Senior Heritage Planner reported to Council that astudy and plan for the Lakeshore Road to Elgin Street art of the city will build on the detailed research completed during the recent “Downtown Heritage Study and Engagement Program.
The yearlong Downtown Heritage Study and Engagement Program evaluated six areas to determine if they met the definition of a “cultural heritage landscape” as well as eight individual properties for potential heritage
designation under Part IV of the OHA. After detailed research, site visits, public consultations, and spatial analysis were completed, five of the six areas were determined not to be cultural heritage landscapes. The Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road grouping, which consisted of the block of properties from Lakeshore Road to Elgin Street, was determined to meet the definition of a CHL.
While researching the area, heritage consultants ASI found that the section of Burlington Avenue between Elgin and Ontario Streets, as well as some properties on Ontario Street, had the same historical attributes as the block immediately south, and has recommended that both blocks be studied further for their potential as a heritage conservation district.
This Burlington Avenue-Ontario Street HCD Study will assess a study area comprising of 33 properties, to evaluate it for potential heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act and determine if the area qualifies as an Heritage Cultural District.
By Gazette Staff
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware
This article was picked up from The Guardian, a major British daily newspaper and global digital news organization known for its independent, liberal journalism, founded in 1821. Owned by the Scott Trust, it operates without commercial or political influence, focusing on international, US, and UK news, with a strong focus on investigations and environmental issues
The world is closer than thought to a “point of no return” after which runaway global heating cannot be stopped, scientists have said.
Continued global heating could trigger climate tipping points, leading to a cascade of further tipping points and feedback loops, they said. This would lock the world into a new and hellish “hothouse Earth” climate far worse than the 2-3C temperature rise the world is on track to reach. The climate would also be very different to the benign conditions of the past 11,000 years, during which the whole of human civilisation developed.
At just 1.3C of global heating in recent years, extreme weather is already taking lives and destroying livelihoods across the globe. At 3-4C, “the economy and society will cease to function as we know it”, scientists said last week, but a hothouse Earth would be even more fiery.
The public and politicians were largely unaware of the risk of passing the point of no return, the researchers said. The group said they were issuing their warning because while rapid and immediate cuts to fossil fuel burning were challenging, reversing course was likely to be impossible once on the path to a hothouse Earth, even if emissions were eventually slashed.
It was difficult to predict when climate tipping points would be triggered, making precaution vital, said Dr Christopher Wolf, a scientist at Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates in the US. Wolf is a member of a study team that includes Prof Johan Rockström at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.
“Crossing even some of the thresholds could commit the planet to a hothouse trajectory,” said Wolf. “Policymakers and the public remain largely unaware of the risks posed by what would effectively be a point-of-no-return transition.
“It’s likely that global temperatures are [already] as warm as, or warmer than, at any point in the last 125,000 years and that climate change is advancing faster than many scientists predicted.”
It is also likely that carbon dioxide levels are the highest they have been in at least 2m years.
Prof Tim Lenton, an expert on tipping points at the University of Exeter in the UK, said: “We know we are running profound risks on the current climate trajectory, which we can’t rule out could turn into a trajectory towards a much less habitable state of the climate for us. However, we don’t need to be heading towards a hothouse Earth for there to be profound risks to humanity and our societies – these will already be upon us if we continue to 3C global warming.”
The assessment, which was published in the journal One Earth, synthesised recent scientific findings on climate feedback loops and 16 tipping elements. The tipping elements include the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, mountain glaciers, polar sea ice, sub-Arctic forests and permafrost, the Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc), a system of ocean currents that strongly influences the global climate.
Tipping may already be happening in Greenland and west Antarctica, with permafrost, mountain glaciers and the Amazon rainforest appearing to be on the verge, the scientists said.
By Pepper Parr
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
More than 400 people took part in the Team Nate online event last night.
What is Team Nate?
 Nate Erskine Smith is currently the MP for Beaches East York, a Toronto area riding. Nathan Erskine Smith, currently the MP for Beaches East York has made it known that he wants to quit politics at the federal level and become a provincial MPP.
His first step is to get himself nominated as the candidate for the Scarborough South West provincial seat so that he can run in the by election for that seat that could take place next summer.
The date of the by election will be determined by Premier Doug Ford.
The Scarborough West by-election is necessary because Doly Begun gave up the seat as a provincial MPP and becames a federal MP and part of the Mark Carney government.
Yes, it is confusing.
But not for Nate.
He sees it all as a three-step jump.
Get nominated as the candidate for the Scarborough West seat first, then win the by election.
That makes him a provincial Liberal MPP, which is more than Bonnie Crombie was able to do when she was made leader of the Provincial Liberals.
Once this is done he is then in postion as an MPP to run for the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party and run against Doug Ford and become Premier of the province.
Nate is clear on what he thinks the province needs
He was a little thin on the changes he would make if he were to be made Premier.
He does use good language to let people know what kind of guy he is.
 Nate Erskine Smith with his wife and two sons. Married, father of two boys, he wants to bring smart, fair, and honest government to Queen’s Park.
He wants the 400 people who took part in the event last night to sign up at teamnate.ca so they can vote in this race and be part of building something better.
Joining the Ontario Liberal Party is free.
This, he explains, is how winning teams come together.
As Nate said Wednesday night, we deserve better than this tired, incompetent, and self-dealing Conservative government.
Better is possible for Ontario he said, and if you want better, the answer is participation.
Nate brings a bumpy background to his current challenge.
He announced in 2013 that he would be a candidate for Beaches East York and ran in the 2015 election that gave Canada the Justin Trudeau government.
In January of 202? Justin Trudeau resigned as Prime Minister after a caucus revolt made it clear he could not continue to govern.
When Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership, he made Nate a part of his Cabinet.
Nate Erskine Smith appearing before Burlington Liberals when he was running for the Liberal leadership the first time. Lisa Mayeski was the Burlington Provincial Party president at the time. When Carney then ran to become the Prime Minister, he dropped Nate from Cabinet; something Nate needed time to get over.
It was clear to him that he was going nowhere with the Carney government.
In 2023, he ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, but he was beaten by Bonnie Crombie and had to give a lot of thought to whether or not he had a political future.
When Crombie couldn’t get herself elected to office, she had to quit as leader.
That opened up a path for Nate that he is now trotting along at a hectic pace.
 By Pepper Parr
February 11th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Library has what they call Collections of Burlington Civic leaders in their Burlington Digital Library.
Included are the papers of former Mayor Roly Bird’s papers; last year they added former Councillor Joan Lougheed’s collection.
Ideally, they will be in touch with former Mayor Walter Mulkewich‘s family to see if his papers could be added to the collection.
Getting access to the papers and columns Joan Little left behind would surely be welcome.
Mayor Roly Bird’s papers: (https://digitalarchive.bpl.on.ca/browse-by-collection/list/collections/63)
Councillor Joan Lougheed’s collection (https://digitalarchive.bpl.on.ca/browse-by-collection/list/collections/81).
The Digital Library is extensive:
Click HERE to access
 By Gazette Staff
February 11th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
A new music experience is coming to communities across Canada. Today, The Nashville Takeover announced the 13 cities and towns selected to host its series of weekend-long, multi-venue cultural events, bringing Nashville’s storied songwriting culture to local stages in New Brunswick, Ontario, and British Columbia.
It will hit Burlington the week before the newly minted Lakeshore Music Festival (LMF) hits town next June
 The Nashville Takeover’s first weekend marks the start of this year’s spring-to-fall run of up-close performances, secret artist lineups, and behind-the-music moments. Tickets are on sale now at thenashvilletakeover.ca, with full weekend passes starting at $99.
From Friday to Sunday, breweries, patios, cafés, restaurants, and secret spaces in each city will transform into immersive listening rooms, intimate showcases, and late-night after-parties featuring a mix of established performers, breakout artists, and top songwriters from Canada and Nashville. For one weekend in each town, music won’t live on a single stage; it will move through each town, creating shared moments in every venue. All performances are surprise-only, with no lineup reveals or headliners, offering the closest thing to experiencing the essence of Nashville’s creative ecosystem without booking a flight.
“Live music is usually found at stadium shows and big festivals, often with long lines and steep ticket costs. We started The Nashville Takeover to give smaller communities something different: in-the-room moments with artists and songwriters from Canada and beyond,” said Scotty James, Founder, The Nashville Takeover. “What began in two towns last summer has grown into 13 this year. We’re excited to bring Canadian music fans a true backstage concert experience unlike anything else happening in the national music scene right now.”
The Nashville Takeover 2026 Dates & Locations
- Stratford, ON – April 10 to 12
- Essex-Windsor, ON – June 5 to 7
- Burlington, ON – June 12 to 14
- Port Stanley, ON – June 19 to 21
- Orangeville, ON – July 10 to 12
- Prince Edward County, ON (Picton) – July 17 to 19
- Kawartha Lakes, ON (Bobcaygeon; Fenelon Falls; Lindsay) – July 24 to 26
- The Kootenays, BC (Nelson; Trail; Castlegar) – August 21 to 23
- Orillia, ON – August 28 to 30
- To be announced – September 11 to 13
- Moncton, NB – September 18 to 20
- Chatham-Kent, ON – September 25 to 27
- Collingwood, ON – October 2 to 4
The full event schedule and venue details will be shared with ticket holders ahead of each event. To purchase tickets and learn more about The Nashville Takeover, visit thenashvilletakeover.ca and follow @thenashvilletakeover on Instagram.
About The Nashville Takeover
The Nashville Takeover is a multi-venue cultural experience that brings Nashville’s storied songwriting culture to select communities across Canada. Designed for music lovers who appreciate storytelling, originality, and discovery, each event transforms local gathering places into listening rooms, showcases, bar hops, and late-night hangs. Featuring a curated mix of established performers, breakout artists, and top songwriters from Canada and Nashville, the experience offers fans in-the-room moments with the artists behind the music. The Nashville Takeover is presented by Backyard Music Co.
 By Gazette Staff
February 11th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
City of Burlington administrative offices will be closed for Family Day, on Monday, Feb. 16. For a list of which City services and facilities are available on the long weekend, please see the summary below or visit burlington.ca.
Animal Services
The Animal Shelter at 2424 Industrial St. will be closed to appointments on Monday, Feb. 16. To report an animal control related emergency on a holiday, please call 905-335-7777.
Burlington Transit
Burlington Transit will operate on a holiday schedule on Monday, Feb. 16. Customer Service and Specialized Dispatch will be closed.
Find real-time arrival information and plan your trip using Google Maps. From a mobile phone, access Google Maps and click on your bus stop to see arrival times. From a computer, select your bus stop, then click on ‘See Departure Board’ to view arrival times.
City Hall
Service Burlington and the Building, Renovating and Licensing counter on the main floor of City Hall at 426 Brant St., will be closed to all appointments and walk-in service on Monday, Feb. 16.
Many service payments are available online at burlington.ca/onlineservices. If your request is urgent, call 905-335-7777 to connect with the City’s live answering service.
For online development services, MyFiles can be used by residents who have applied for Pre-Building Approval. Check the status of Pre Building Approval applications at burlington.ca/MyFiles.
Halton Court Services – Provincial Offences Office
Court administration counter services at 4085 Palladium Way will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16.
Except for the Family Day closure, telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. All in-person services are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Many services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or online at Halton Court Services. Payment of Provincial Offences fines is available 24/7 at paytickets.ca.
Parking
On Sunday, Feb. 15 and Monday, Feb. 16: Free parking is available downtown, on the street, in municipal lots and in the parking garage (414 Locust St.).
On Saturday, Feb. 14: Paid parking downtown is required in high-demand parking lots (Lots 1, 4 and 5) and all on-street metered parking spaces. A three-hour maximum is in effect for all on-street spaces. Free parking is available in the remaining municipal lots and the parking garage (414 Locust St.).
NOTE:
- The Waterfront parking lots (east and west at 1286 Lakeshore Rd.) do not provide free parking on holidays.
- Parking exemptions or City-Wide Parking Permits are required to park overnight on city streets and for longer than five hours. Visit bylaw.burlington.ca for parking exemptions.
Recreation Programs and Facilities
Drop-in recreation activities
Indoor pools, including Aldershot (50 Fairwood Pl W), Angela Coughlan (2425 Upper Middle Rd.), Centennial (5151 New St.), and Tansley Woods (1996 Itabashi Way) are open on Family Day Monday, Feb. 16 for swimming. Tansley Woods Community Centre offers a Family Day craft drop-in and free Fit For Fun multi-sport drop-ins; pre-registration is recommended for Fit For Fun. Robert Bateman Community Centre (5151 New St.) offers drop-in open family gym times on Family Day; pre-registration is required.
Drop-in adult programs, child, youth and family programs, as well as drop-in swimming and skating times vary for the long weekend. For all schedules, visit burlington.ca/dropinandplay.
Cogeco Skating at Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond
The outdoor rink at 1340 Lakeshore Rd. will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather and ice conditions permitting. Residents are encouraged to call the ice conditions hotline at 905-335-7738, ext. 8587 before leaving to make sure the pond is open. The free skate lending program at the Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond is available Monday to Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m., Friday 5 to 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Monday. For more information, visit burlington.ca/pond.
Cogeco Neighbourhood Rinks
The outdoor skating season is here. Find a Cogeco Neighbourhood Rink in your area at burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrinks. There are nine locations to choose from.
Outdoor Fun
Head outside and play in our parks with trails, disc golf at Tyandaga Golf Course (1265 Tyandaga Park Dr.), tobogganing and more. Explore all the options at burlington.ca/outdoorplay.
Customer Service
Recreation, Community and Culture customer service is available to assist you over the holiday weekend:
- In person at recreation facility counters during program times (Feb. 14, 15 and 16)
- By email at liveandplay@burlington.ca (Feb. 14 and 15)
- By phone at 905-335-7738 (Feb. 14 and 15)
- Phone and email service are closed on Feb. 16
Roads, Parks and Forestry
The administrative office will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16. Essential services, including winter control, will be provided as required.
 Burlington wants a Stage 2 designation.
 By Pepper Parr
February 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATED
Halton Regional Police have released the name of the person shot in the Burlington Centre parking lot last night.
Halton Regional Police confirmed 24-year-old Burlington resident Omer Niaz Muhammad, also known as rapper Lil OT, was killed last night in a shooting in the parking lot of Kelsey’s at Burlington Centre.
 The parking lot at the rear of Kelsey’s restaurant is part of the Burlington Central parking lot.  Omer Niaz Muhammad. Muhammad, who has released two albums since 2023, has more than 27,000 followers on Instagram. He had previously survived a drive-by shooting in 2023.
In a press conference Tuesday morning, Constable Jeff Dillon said police believe the shooting was targeted.
Omer Niaz Muhammad was pronounced dead at the Joseph Brant Hospital.
By Gazette Staff
February 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
New infrastructure and technology investments further modernize the passenger journey and support future growth
 John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (Hamilton International or the Airport) has made two significant milestones: the introduction of passenger jet bridges and major enhancements to its international arrivals processing experience.
The addition of two passenger jet bridges brings a new level of comfort and convenience to travellers by providing direct, weather-protected access between the terminal and aircraft. The bridges, which have been in operation since December, are a first for Hamilton International and a much-anticipated enhancement for passengers and airline partners alike.
Complementing the passenger jet bridges is Hamilton International’s modernized international arrivals area, featuring aesthetic enhancements and new technologies that support more efficient border processing. Travellers arriving from international and transborder destinations will benefit from new Primary Inspection Kiosks, enhanced wayfinding and a dedicated lane for NEXUS members, helping reduce wait times and improving the overall entry experience.
 Hamilton Airport was known for those brisk walks to the aircraft on cold and windy days. When it rained, you often got wet. The boarding bridges are a huge improvement. These most recent enhancements represent additional investment by Vantage Group and TradePort International Corporation, building on the previously completed multi-million-dollar passenger terminal enhancement program unveiled in June 2025. Together, these coordinated investments elevate passenger experience, improve operational efficiency, and ensure the Airport is well-positioned to support evolving airline service and future passenger growth.
 New kiosks “Today, we are proud to celebrate the continued growth and evolution of Hamilton International,” Ed Ratuski, Executive Managing Director, Hamilton International. “With passenger jet bridges now in service and a more modern, efficient international arrivals experience in place, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to invest in infrastructure that supports our airline partners, improves the guest experience, and positions the Airport for long-term, sustainable growth.”
Hamilton International has been described by Burlington Chamber of Commerce President Terry Caddo as “Burlington’s Airport”
 Entrance to the airport was upgraded. Hamilton International extends its appreciation to the many project partners who supported the successful planning and delivery of these enhancements and helped bring this next phase of the Airport’s modernization program to life, including Stantec, PCL Construction, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), YVR Airport Authority, CCXIT Computer Services, Hamilton Industrial Communications Ltd (Hicom) and S&G Electric Ltd.
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport is a growing international gateway for affordable travel and the largest overnight express freight airport in Canada. The Airport is owned by the City of Hamilton and managed under an agreement by TradePort International Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vantage Group – a global leader in airport and transportation investment, development, management, and advisory services. This allows Hamilton International to incorporate best-in-class practices from around the world into its operations. As an efficient facilitator of cargo and passenger operations, Hamilton International is an economic engine and responsible community partner. Its strategic location and uncongested 24/7 operations make it an attractive option for both passenger and cargo carriers looking to serve the Southern Ontario market.
 By Staff
February 10, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 All Beer Store retail locations will be closed for Family Day, Monday, February 16th, 2026. Stores will reopen with regular hours of operation on Tuesday, February 17th.
“I want to wish customers and our employees all the best for a safe and fun Family Day long weekend,” said Ozzie Ahmed, VP Retail. “We encourage customers to visit one of our locations to shop Ontario’s best selection of ice-cold beer and return empty alcohol containers so you can be long weekend ready.”
The Beer Store Customer Experience Centre is also closed for Family Day, reopening on Tuesday, February 17th.
NEW – Empty Return Locator
The Beer Store launched a new Empty Return Locator to make it easier than ever to find a Beer Store or alternative retailer that is accepting empties.
Consumers can find the locators on the Beer Store’s website. Visit www.thebeerstore.ca/where-to-return-empties. From the homepage of www.thebeerstore.ca, in the navigation bar select ‘Returning Empties’. This menu will drop down, then select ‘where to Return Empties’.
“We want to make empties easy for consumers. We know people want to return their empty alcohol containers for reuse, recycling and to get their deposit money back,” said Ozzie Ahmed, VP Retail TBS. “We’re making it simple and convenient to find Beer Store and other authorized locations.”
 Empty bottles do not go into the blue bins. Empty Returns
The Beer Store encourages customers to continue returning more than the 1.6 billion alcohol containers we process annually to one of our local TBS locations or an empty return dealer located close by. The following alcohol containers purchased in Ontario can be returned to collect your deposit back: beer, wine and spirits bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, tetra packs and kegs.
About The Beer Store
Owned by Ontario-based brewers and named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers 2025, the Beer Store is an integrated business including Ontario’s largest beer retailer, the convenient location for returning empty alcohol containers and leading beverage distributor. The TBS logistics division has 26 points of distribution strategically located across the province to meet the needs of customers.
The Beer Store proudly distributed over 3 million hectoliters of beer to over 13,000 retail and convenience customers in 2024. The Beer Store is deeply committed to responsible sales and not selling to minors or people who are intoxicated. More than 2.1 million customers were challenged in 2024. It is also one of the greenest retailers in the world, annually collecting for reuse and recycling approximately 1.6 billion beverage alcohol containers, including beer, wine and spirits. The Beer Store employs thousands of hard-working Ontarians with well-paying full and part-time jobs.
By Pepper Parr
February 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Council got to hear what MRGLive plans to do during the 2026 Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival.
Council didn’t get everything they wanted.
What was news was that the $150,000 the city had on the table won’t get paid out to MRGLive; they are a for-profit corporation, and the city is not permitted to give grants to corporations.
 Adam Vickers: “I want to give you a bit of an understanding of who we are and what we do. Adam Vickers: “I want to give you a bit of an understanding of who we are and what we do before we get into the details of the festival. We are the leading independent North American concert entertainment production company founded in 2008. We produce 1000 events annually, entertaining 4 million attendees in 2025 servicing emerging nine, owned, operated program venues and producing concerts across Canada, the US, with recent expansion into the UK and Australia. The mission is to be the leading partner for connecting talent to their audiences, focusing on developing and growing artists and markets, while never forgetting the importance of the fan experience.
“To give you some context of the size and scale of these events, cats on a street party happens in one day in July. We get the street at 5 am and we close down 10 blocks of a major street in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. We build seven stages, six beer gardens. We have 60 acts that perform throughout the course of the one day. And we have 175,000 people that come out to support the Festival, which we win multiple awards for every year. We build 60 mobile kitchens, and have representatives from 60 different countries come and cook their native food. On top of that, there’s a music festival, there’s a children’s section, there’s a midway,
“We are very, very proud to present the concept for Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival, which will be a free two day outdoor music and arts experience taking place Father’s Day weekend, June, 20 and 21st in Burlington’s iconic Spencer Smith Park. It will also extend along Brant Street and activating Burlington’s downtown core. Lakeshore will spotlight the best in Canadian music while celebrating local arts culture and most importantly, community.
“Lakeshore will feature nationally celebrated Canadian artists, alongside emerging artists and talent from Burlington’s backyard, complemented by engaging, family friendly programming, food trucks, and beverage gardens. We still have a few things to figure out. 2026 Given that we’re new and working on a relatively tight timeline, we want to keep some of the same elements of past events that have proven successful while looking to the future to find new ways to grow Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival year after year.
“Our focus this year is on building community partnerships. That means having conversations with key stakeholders, creating strong relationships with local suppliers, engaging existing partnerships and exploring new ones, working to understand what the people of Burlington and the Halton Region want, and building trust within the community.
“Our only objective in 2026 is deliver a great yet sustainable festival experience for this community, with its prime waterfront setting, broad audience appeal and strong cultural mandate, the Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival is positioned to become one of Ontario’s premier outdoor music events for years to come.
 Transforming Brant Street into a pedestrian paradise. “The festival elements: the main stage, which will be located at the east end of a Spencer Smith Park and will feature prominent Canadian acts and talent, talented emerging artists, keeping attendees entertained from start to finish. The secondary stage, located at the west end of Spencer Smith Park, the stage will combine notable Canadian programming, along with a diverse lineup of performers, we’re exploring different performance mediums, like dance.
“Brant street stage located at Brant and James, just outside of City Hall will feature acoustic style bands from the Burlington area and the GTA much like previous events, we’ll be looking through the local talent base to program that stage.
“Transforming Brant Street into a pedestrian paradise, where attendees can shop local artisan booths, eat local fare and enjoy a patio while taking an amazing local music and most importantly, supporting local business.
 The Family Zone, which will be located next to the playground in Spencer Smith Park, “The Family Zone, which will be located next to the playground in Spencer Smith Park, will include face painting, painting, Bubble artists, bouncy castles, arts and crafts and entertainment for kids of all ages, beverage garden, strategically placed within the park, festival goers can take a minute to enjoy beverage while listening to music, enjoying the view or taking a moment to laugh with friends.
“Food Trucks, which are very popular around here, Lakeshore, will feature the region’s best food trucks, allowing festival goers to refuel or just indulge every from crowd pleasing comfort food to global flavors and sweet treats. There’s something for everyone, every craving and dietary preference.
“We find the best of emerging Canadian talent and give them a platform to grow and reach new audiences local musicians. So we do this with some of our other festivals. We open up a music Submission section of the website where local bands can submit. We get six to 700 submissions a year, which we narrow down to the 60 bands that play. And so we want to give everybody, even if you’ve never released a song, you can send in your information and still get a chance to play in our lineup. It’s very talent based.
:\”We’re working very hard to build strong ties with the arts community here in Burlington and local arts organizations for the timeline next slide, February, we have decided on our branding. Our website and socials were launched this week. Vendor submissions will open, and music submissions that I just spoke to will open as well.
“In March, we’ll be announcing the public save the date, we’ll be continuing with community engagement and having key conversations with stakeholders. And our VIP tickets will go on sale.
 For 2026 we are focusing on only Canadian talent. “April, will finalize our site layout, confirm all vendors and complete all of our programming. May will announce our lineup. We’ll start a marketing par campaign around that lineup announcement, and we’ll finalize public safety planning. In June, we’ll have an ongoing marketing campaign, festival execution, and on June, 20 and 21st we will create some magic.
Some questions, the first coming from Mayor Mead Ward.
In terms of the acts, does that mean there will be no performances that are not Canadian on the stage,
Adam Vickers: For 2026 we are focusing on only Canadian talent.
Meed Ward: The previous festival had quite a contingent of volunteer help and, of course, support from businesses. What is your plan? Tell us how you’re going to weave that into your plans.
Adam Vickers: “We’ve started conversations with the Burlington Downtown Business Association, the Performing Arts people, the Art Gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, the Legion and Rotary,
 My hope is that we can figure out a scenario where members of the BDBA would be invited free of charge for space in in the market festival. “I’ve been put in touch with people that were involved in The Sound of Music. We’ve engaged personnel that were involved in past festivals, and one in particular was very intertwined with the volunteer base, and we’re hoping to tap into that. We’d also like to hire a local crew. We’re in the process of doing, they will be our boots on the ground here – giving jobs to the community.
Mayor Meed Ward: “Will you be doing a sort of a public call out for volunteers at all? Is there a way that we can assist in spreading the word?
Adam Vickers: “As part of the music submissions, we’ll have a volunteer form on our website that people can sign up to be a volunteer.
“My hope is that we can figure out a scenario where members of the BDBA would be invited free of charge for space in in the market festival. Obviously, when we, depending on where those conversations go, we would the brick and mortar businesses would have first right of refusal for the space in front, and then any other members of the BDBA or downtown businesses that are downtown would get a discounted rate.
“We would fill in the rest of the spots with artisan and commercial vendors. We figured from Lakeshore on Brandt to James, and then Pine and Elgin there are roughly about 130 booth spaces within that footprint.
Councillor Galbraith: “Along the same lines, will the bricks and mortar businesses captured within the pedestrianized portion of Brant Street, which is the site of the marketplace, be permitted to utilize the public space in front of their business, correct?
Adam Vickers: “We would provide a 10 by 20 footprint, if they decided that they wanted to expand beyond that, there would be an additional charge for space. But yes, the brick and mortar businesses would be allocated a 10 by 20 spot free of charge.
Meed Ward: “My question is around the application for the local acts. I think it’s open.”
Adam: “It’s not open yet. We, as a company, have a growing database of artists in BC and Ontario.
“We have a general submissions link that is open year round for artists. So they may have submitted to that, they may have, you know, gone a different route, if they have an agent or or a manager or something that’s, you know, gone directly to one of our buyers. But the music, the music submissions link, along with the vendor links, volunteer link, will be open this week.
 A curated food truck zone offering diverse cuisine options. Galbraith: My final question, the MRG brief, includes a notation about additional on site experiences will include a curated food truck zone offering diverse cuisine options and family friendly beverage gardens. So is it your intention that the food truck zone be located in the confines of Spencer Smith Park only?
 I wouldn’t want to step on toes of a local business. Adam: I don’t want to take away from any of the there’s so many great restaurants in the downtown core that are part of the BDBA, unless there was a conversation where we felt the need to subsidize and put additional food trucks in there so that there was more options and people could get something to eat a little quicker, we’d be open to that. But as of right now, I wouldn’t want to step on toes a local business.
Council loved what they heard. A lot of follow up to be done.
By James Stelco
February 10th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
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Slot Comparison Table
| Slot Name |
Provider |
Game Type |
Volatility |
RTP |
Best For |
| Wild Tiger |
Classic Studio |
Classic |
Medium |
96% |
Beginners |
| Book Of Dead |
Adventure Dev |
Video |
High |
96.20% |
Feature Hunters |
| Sweet Bonanza |
Pragmatic Play |
Video |
Medium |
96.50% |
Visual Enthusiasts |
| Big Bass Bonanza |
Pragmatic Play |
Video |
Medium |
96.70% |
Casual Sessions |
| Aviator |
Instant Studio |
Crash |
Variable |
97% |
Fast Decision Players |
| Spaceman |
PG SOFT |
Crash |
Variable |
96.50% |
Short Play Bursts |
| Mega Joker |
Retro Dev |
Classic |
High |
99%* |
Nostalgia Fans |
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FAQ
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No. Graphics affect engagement only. Mathematical structure determines outcomes.
 Bonuses: They extend playtime but include wagering rules. Reading conditions before claiming is essential. Are bonuses always beneficial?
They extend playtime but include wagering rules. Reading conditions before claiming is essential.
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By Gazette Staff
February 9th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario New Democrats issued a statement, after Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing announced a province-wide inspection into corruption and integrity in policing:
“We are encouraged that an inspection into Ontario’s police processes will take place, after this deeply disturbing incident.
“Trust in our province’s law enforcement institutions must be carefully maintained through transparency and unobstructed public oversight; particularly in Toronto, which should demand much of this inspection’s focus. No stone should be left unturned to ensure that Ontarians feel safe in their communities, and to restore accountability and public trust.”
Not much from the police on the continuing investigations. Nothing to tell us?
 Police Chiefs are under a lot of pressure.
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By Matthew Mendelsohn