 By Staff
November 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Pot holes and waste removal – the bane of every council member.
They get the call. Some are better than others at responding.
When Marianne Meed Ward was first elected in 2010 she got a call Christmas Day about garbage bags rolling down a wind blown street.
What did she do? Hoped in her van and went out and picked it up.
Now she knows who to call.
 It ain’t a pretty sight and it must smell. The resident who dropped us a line on this situation said: “I just thought this might be something for you to follow up on. It’s a Reddit post about public trash cans on school property — or at least on the edge of it — that are overflowing with bagged dog feces.
People are saying this is a city-wide problem. Is this a sign that our public infrastructure and city services are not keeping up with the increased population?
The following comments followed her post on Reddit.
I feel like the cost of a second trash bin here would be less than the extra time it must take staff to dispose of this every week.
There is a second bin less than 100 feet away. I don’t get it.
I haven’t been out walking as much lately, but I feel like all summer there were overflowing trash cans everywhere we went.
Happens all the time at a couple bins in the orchard as well.
We keep adding people, so some areas are gonna need more services. I’d like to see more green spaces as well.
Which ward is that in? Chat with your councillor about it. Mine’s always been awesome at getting these kinds of things attended to (and actually fixed long term, not just cleaned up for one week).
 By Staff
November 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Investigators with the Street Crime Unit in Burlington have made four arrests and laid nearly 30 charges after a month-long drug trafficking and property theft investigation.
On November 4, 2021, officers executed a pair of search warrants (one at a residence in Hamilton and the second at a residence in Burlington). As a result of these warrants, the following items were seized by police (see attached photo):
 • 28 grams of fentanyl
• $12,400 in counterfeit cash
• Stolen identification
• Stolen licence plate
• Stolen cheque book
• Replica revolver
• Stolen Ford Explorer
• Chevrolet Blazer
Investigators also arrested 4 people as a result of this investigation.
A 39 year-old male of Hamilton has been charged with:
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime
• Possession of Counterfeit Currency
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Breach Probation
A 28 year-old female of Hamilton has been charged with:
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime
• Possession of Counterfeit Currency
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Breach Release Order
A 30 year old male of Burlington has been charged with:
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Fentanyl)
• Weapons Dangerous
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (3 counts)
• Possession of Counterfeit Currency
• Drive Disqualified
• Breach Probation (4 counts)
• Theft of Motor Vehicle
A 29 year-old female of Burlington has been charged with:
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Fentanyl)
• Weapons Dangerous
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (3 counts)
• Possession of Counterfeit Currency
• Breach Release Order
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4777 ext. 2342
That might be a little on the difficult side – the police did not release the names of those arrested. This is the second time the Halton Regional Police have done this. We’ll check it out. Usually because there is another ongoing criminal investigation
 Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Pepper Parr
November 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Easing our way out of a pandemic has not been as simple as many had hoped.
We are now learning just how close to oblivion the world was in March when it was not at all certain the financial sector was going to be able to cope with the strain the pandemic had put on it.
That strain is now being felt at the local level.
 Ceramic Chocolate Cake Cup by Barb Taylor from Earthworks Pottery. Earth Works Pottery produces functional ceramic pieces for the modern kitchen. Hand made in Burlington, Ontario, by Barb Taylor, the chocolate cake cup is a chocolate lovers quick fix. Mix ingredients listed directly in the cake cup – microwave for 3 minutes and enjoy! Retailers are now telling us that they don’t expect to have many of the products they would like to have on their shelves during the Christmas Season.
Why? It all gets explained with the single word: logistics.
Many of the off shore companies are beginning to recover from the shutdowns and lockdowns they experienced.
There are problems all along the supply line which has resulted in decisions that will limit what can be manufactured and what can be shipped.
Shipping is proving to be a bottle neck. We understand that the ship that was wedged in the Suez canal and is now in Rotterdam has still not been unloaded. It is reported to have been carrying a lot of IKEA products.
Ships are anchored in harbours throughout North America waiting to unload. That has caused a shortage of the containers they carry.
The Port of Los Angeles has been put on 24/7 duty by the President of the United States.
 Handmade glass ornaments by Nancy Legassicke of Fusion Art. Nancy is a self-taught fused glass artist who has been experimenting with melting glass for over 40 years. The demand for trucks to move the containers from the loading docks to their destination has taken a hit as well.
Not enough trucks and a sudden shortage of drivers due to retirements and an unwillingness to work under Covid19 conditions.
What is all this leading to? Fewer products in retail outlets that may lead to some early binge shopping to ensure that people can buy the gifts they want.
For Burlingtonians – this isn’t the disaster it could be.
The Art Gallery has an Art Shoppe that has a very impressive product list and they aren’t going to run out of product.
 Hand built porcelain ceramic platter by Jennifer Graham from Stratford Ontario. Jennifer’s ceramics are inspired by traditional textiles and by the possibilities of porcelain. The AGB Art Shop supply chain is made up of artists across the country who have a lot of inventory they can ship quickly.
Set out are pictures and descriptions of just some of the items in the store and on sale today.
We will be telling you about more of the items in the Art Shop that is run on a day to day basis by Theo Roma, Manager of AGB Shop, Art Sales and Rentals.
Hours for the Art Shop are:
Tuesday to Friday: Noon to 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Masks are required. While the Art Shop has quite a bit of room should there be too many people and social distancing is not possible, management will look for ways to schedule people.
 By Pepper Parr
November 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Bad enough that the two witnesses from the city’s planning department were not on the same page; now we know that the city was fudging some of the material they were presenting and that they tried to argue that a media release, supposedly put out on June 15th amounted to policy.
Worse – the press release was really a transcript of what a planning staff member recalled understanding what the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is reported to have said.
We don’t make this stuff up – it comes out of the written decision released by the OLT Ontario Land Tribunal last week that gave Carriage Gate approval to build a 29 story tower. The decision, which appeared to have surprised Mayor Meed Ward when she said: This is a devastating and shocking decision imposed on our community, which completely disregards the vision of residents, council and staff for this area.
This decision completely dismisses the considerable feedback from residents in opposition to this file – and their valuable suggestions for what would be appropriate. This decision ignored over 100 people who took the time to attend a community meeting, delegate to council, and write pages of letters. There was no acknowledgement of our community’s voice in this decision.
The decision highlights the inappropriate application of Provincial Planning Policies to justify overdevelopment and underscores the importance of a speedy decision from the Minister to remove the Major Transit Station Area designation from downtown and adjust the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre to the Burlington GO Station, where this scale of development should be. We will continue to work to defend our plan and put growth where it belongs.
 Unless the city can pull a rabbit out of a hat – the building on the lefty is a done deal. The City had argued that on June 15, 2021, the Minister announced that he was moving the location of the Burlington Urban Growth Centre from its existing location to the area surrounding the Burlington GO Station. As a result, the City maintains that the Development is no longer within a UGC area.
The City originally submitted that an adjournment “is required to allow the Parties to provide supplemental witness statements in order for the Tribunal to have the opinions of the expert witnesses on the effect of the subject lands no longer being within a UGC at the time of the Tribunal’s eventual decision in this matter. Without this, the city argued, the Tribunal will not have expert opinion evidence that reflects the policy regime that must be applied to consideration of the applications.
The OLT decision said: “The position taken by counsel for the City and for the Region therefore wholly depends on the contention that a new policy regime was ushered in solely by the Minister’s June 15th oral announcement. This alleged policy pronouncement is claimed to have been captured in an informal transcript filed with the Tribunal – prepared by an unidentified person – of the Minister’s remarks made at the June 15th press conference.
“It appears conceded by the City that the ‘unofficial’ informal transcript that is attached as an exhibit to the sworn Affidavit of the City’s planning witness Mr. Plas is not a complete record of the Minister’s comments made on that occasion. An adequate explanation for this was not offered to the Tribunal.
“Despite the unusual evidentiary basis described above, there seems to be no controversy between the Parties about the main gist of the Minister’s remarks made at this press conference. However, Lakeshore’s (This is the Carriage Gate corporate name for the proposed development on the NE corner of Lakeshore Road and Pearl) counsel adamantly maintains that those verbal comments by the Minister did not and could not constitute the formal lawful introduction of new provincial planning policy.
 For marketing purposes it will be known as Beausoleil
During the time period leading up to the hearings, the Region of Halton adopted ROPA 48 (Regional Official Plan Amendment) on July 7, 2021, which, among other things, reflects the noted change in location of Burlington UGC that was apparently mentioned orally by the Minister on June 15th (although Ms. Yerxa for the Region points out that the prior process leading up to ROPA 48 was of considerable duration and reflected much work and consultation along the way, much of which is contained in the supporting Affidavit of Ms. Poad). ROPA 48 is apparently now before the Ministry for approval.
“However, beyond the remarks of counsel for the City and the Region, there was no evidence to demonstrate that the Ministry will approve it beyond a statement to that effect from Mr. Plas in his Affidavit tendered before the Tribunal. In the Tribunal’s view, this is not proper subject of opinion evidence – it is merely argument, which was repeated in more detail by counsel for the City and the Region at the Motion hearing.”
“In response, the Appellant filed an Affidavit from Mr. Smith, an experienced Planner who challenges the conclusions expressed by Mr. Plas about the effect of the press conference announcement from the Minister and also the allegation that the Minister’s oral announcement was “supportive of ROPA 48”. Again, in the Tribunal’s view, Mr. Smith’s statements are also not proper opinion evidence determinative of this particular issue.
“The Tribunal is unable to accept the contention that the oral remarks made by the Minister at the June 15th press conference, taken alone, constitute the promulgation of new Ontario planning policy by way of an ‘update’ or other ‘revision’ of the Growth Plan in terms of the location of the Burlington It is to be noted that the Minister’s remarks do not specify the precise boundary of this apparent location change, nor do they indicate the effective date of the change. In any event, the Tribunal was not convinced by the City counsel’s submission that no written statement or enactment of the change in the Burlington UGC location is required by law.
 Did the City of Burlington get screwed over by the Minister of Municipal Affairs or did he just plain forget what he said he would do? “Neither Counsel for the City or the Region could cite any jurisprudence specifically on this point to support this unique argument. Moreover, in the Tribunal’s view this notion seems counter-intuitive in light of the very detailed provincial planning regime currently in force. The Tribunal specifically disagrees that the Minister’s remarks described above can be treated as a lawful, formal issuance of Provincial policy within the meaning of s. 1, 2 and 3 of the Planning Act.
“The Tribunal also agrees with Lakeshore’s counsel that for the purposes of this appeal the relevant provincial policy provisions include those set out in the current Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and the current GP. The Tribunal thus rejects the contention that the current GP has somehow been changed or ‘updated’ in relation to the location of the Downtown Burlington UGC by reason either of the June 15, 2021 oral comments of the Minister or the content of the draft ROPA 48 which has not been approved by the Province.
“The Tribunal is of the opinion that the City’s proposition that a hearing should be adjourned to deal with anticipated possible future changes in provincial policy is:
(a) without foundation and without case law authority;
(b) amounts to a repudiation of long-established jurisprudence since it requires the evaluation of planning applications on the basis of alleged “emerging” policy intended to signal a new evolution of priorities for intensification in the City; and
(c) is highly unusual given that the very notion of modifying the UGC boundary in the City was not introduced until nearly 2 years after the Appellant’s applications were deemed complete by the City.
 This is the Urban Growth Boundary that Mayor Meed Ward fought hard to have changed. She thought she had – the Minister of Municipal Affairs said he would approve but had not yet signed the decision. So, legally it has not been changed and the Beausoleil development get the go ahead from the Ontario Land Tribunal  Nick Carnecelli had a stronger case and lawyers who knew what was acceptable in terms of evidence – something the city didn’t have . The Tribunal also agrees with the submission of counsel for the Appellant that:
“the press conference statement itself goes no further than suggesting the Minister “will be moving” the UGC, not that it already has been moved. This is a statement of possible future intention and nothing more. It provides no indication of how or when. It does not discuss implementation at all. There is no reference to ROPA 48 despite the statement of Mr. Plas. It refers to “long-term planning” as opposed to immediate effect”.
As a final matter, the Tribunal further disagrees with the argument of the City’s counsel that the purposes and policies underlying the Tribunal’s Rules of Practice and Procedure in any way require the granting of the City’s adjournment motion in the unique circumstances of this case, and the Tribunal declines to exercise its discretion to do so.
What does all this mean? First that the city is made to look like a couple of high school students screwing things up.
Secondly, it leaves the Mayor with a problem with the OLT decision, which, try as she might, is likely to hold.
 This piece of land and the site of the Waterfront Hotel will be the next battle ground. Then there is the north side of Lakeshore Road from Brant to Martha that will get the developer treatment. What impact is the decision going to have on the several development across the street in a piece of land known as the football where there are two developments working their way through the application process and at least two properties within the football that do not have any development activity ongoing.
Mayor Meed Ward had put everything on getting the Urban Growth Centre Boundary moved and she thought she had it done.
Both Planning and Legal are responsible for this one.
How many more like it are there out there?
Related news story.
City planner described as not an expert witness in OLT decision.
 By Pepper Parr
November 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
A reader sent in the following: It was in regard to the Heritage Advisory Committee and the recommendations it makes.
Sad to see the usual suspects piling on in this case.
As a person who has served on a number of voluntary community boards, I can only ask: would you not expect and welcome people with an interest in art to be on an art gallery board?
Or people with attachment to gathering artifacts to join a museum board? I could go on.
All governments depend on usually unpaid citizen groups to perform such roles, since the alternative is inexpert and uncommitted paid staff.
So it’s a win-win, as long as conflict of interest principles are well defined and managed, which seems to be the case here. Searches for absolute purity after the fact by self-appointed nitpickers will only discourage others from sharing their expertise.
The piling on is part of the way some people choose to express themselves. It happens.
Here is where I think the problem exists. It is my firm view that when people choose to serve they are there to serve the public not themselves.
And that, in my opinion is what has happened.
The people who serve on a heritage committee are advocates for protecting as much heritage as possible.
The people who are passionate about heritage tend to share a mind set: Alan Harrington is fierce when it comes to fighting for the preservation of our history. Rick Wilson brought to light a more complete story about the Burlington Races, a name used to tell part of the War of 1812 story. His efforts resulted in a plaque being erected, and hopefully in the fullness of time, a plaque being corrected.
It would be difficult for these two men, for whom I have the greatest of respect, to not recommend a grant for a house that is a superb example of what the city wants to ensure isn’t replaced by some ugly monster house.
What the Heritage Advisory Committee does not have is a clear set of guidelines or rules that prevent self serving.
The practice in Burlington is to have a member of Council sitting on each Advisory Committee: one would hope that Councillor would have a deeper understanding of what good governance is all about and explain it to the Committee members.
 This is what you don’t want happening at any level of city business. The thing you don’t want is a situation where there is a lot of wink, wink; nod, nod taking place when decisions are being made. That is not the case with the Barker recommendations.
That kind of behaviour is the first step to the slippery slope that lets corruption take place.
It is not about “absolute purity after the fact by self-appointed nitpickers.” It is about consistent good governance.
It is not enough to be on the right side of the rules; it is the spirit of the rules that matters.
It is clear to me that the rules need some tightening up. What perplexes me is that Council chose to let it pass. Staff advised the city that a previous grant had been given – that should have raised a red flag.
I recall a discussion taking place at Council when James Ridge was the City Manager and they were discussing what a Council member could accept in the way of a gift or a benefit. Ridge at the time said all you had to do was document everything: if someone else paid for your coffee, note it. At the time we had a member of council who saw someone one else paying for a golf game or a ticket to an event as quite acceptable. It wasn’t and it isn’t.
The rules need to be tightened.
Related news story:
An example of what strong advocacy can do.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
November 7, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s expanse of natural beauty, with mountains and glaciers, secluded lakes and forests, is almost unmatched around the world. But the charm of this country is not just the outdoors. The country has cosmopolitan cities, with a wealth of entertainment, such as online casino Canada and others, but at the same time, despite their global nature, they remain clean, safe, friendly, and multicultural. In fact, Canada has repeatedly been rated as one of the most livable countries in the world. Regardless of your preferences and interests, go to Canada and it will not disappoint you. That is why today we will tell you about one interesting place.
On the western shore of Lake Ontario, in the province of the same name in Canada, is the city of Burlington. Hamilton is not far from it, and the distance to the Canadian capital is 50 km. The city is part of Canada’s Golden Horseshoe industrial agglomeration. About 180,000 people live here.
Burlington History
 Back in 1798, Loyalist Joseph Brant was granted a 1,400-hectare tract of land on the Burlington Bay shore. It was the first and one of the most famous residents of the future city. In 1873 the village of Burlington was formed by the merger of the two settlements of Wellington-Square and Port Nelson, and it received city status in 1914.
It was used to handle cargoes such as timber and wheat that came to Port Nelson. In 1854, after the railroad was built, trade began to grow strongly. When the timber supplies ran out and ships began to dock at the big Toronto and Hamilton wharves, agriculture began to develop in Burlington. Gradually an ordinary once-populated town was transformed into a beautiful garden city.
Top 10 Sights to See in the City
Burlington is called the garden city for good reason. There are plenty of sights and beautiful parks to see and do:
The Royal Botanical Gardens
Considered one of the largest in all of Canada, it is part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. Founded in 1930, during the Great Depression, the botanical garden gradually grew and was inhabited by populations of various animals. Unique rock garden and rose garden, arboretum, and lilac park were created here.
Spencer Smith Park
 Located in the center of town, it is a great place to relax. You can stroll along the paths along the waterfront and enjoy the beautiful views of the lake, and many people picnic on the green lawns.
The Art Gallery of Burlington
It is located in the heart of the city and was opened in 1978. The gallery has a unique collection of ceramics and the work of ancient artisans.
Joseph Brant Museum
In this historic building, you can explore the heritage of the city. The museum has both permanent and traveling exhibitions.
Skyway Bridge
It consists of two parts, one built-in in 1958 and the smaller one in 1985. Its steel suspension structure connects the cities of Hamilton and Burlington, located on the banks of the canal. Burlington Bay. The bridge is 2,560 m long and the main span spans 151 m.
 Brant Street Pier
It is S-shaped and stretches 137 meters over Lake Ontario. It offers a great view of the city and the lake’s surface.
The Navy Seamen’s Memorial in Spencer-Smith Park
Its creator is the famous sculptor Andre Gauthier. A cast bronze sculpture of a Canadian World War II sailor is set on the shore of Lake Ontario.
Discovery Landing
This 4,328-square-meter building faces the lake. You can watch the weather from here. There is an observatory with an excellent panoramic view. Nearby is a century-old pond, which in winter turns into an ice rink.
 Some of the best berry picking in the province. Stonehaven Farm
Established back in 1904, today it is a large complex that includes, along with the agribusiness, a store selling homegrown fruits and vegetables, as well as a corn maze and amusement rides.
Indian Wells Golf Club
This 18-hole course is located at the foot of Mount Nemo. Lovers of the game have a great time here.
 By Pepper Parr
November 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The message asked: “Please don’t use my name because I have friends at all these institutions and look forward to going back to them one day.”
The request had to do with a piece we published on the services the city provides and what the delivery cost is. Our reader writes:
Unfortunately, I have been unable to use any of their fine services or enter their buildings for a year and a half.
However – all these institutions have been CLOSED SHUT or severely reduced in their operations for the past 20 months.
1) If they provide no service – why do they cost so much?
2) If we can survive without them – is there a way to do them for less?
3) I think each of them have a very strong volunteer support staff in place – so it isn’t staffing costs?
and if it WAS staff – then why were people not laid off and put on the CERB (or whatever is the right thing to do).
And the charts should show what each group earns (takes in) as revenue. This of course is during non-covid times.
Like …
 Riders cover the costs – if not don’t operate a transit service Parking, Transit, cemeteries should be self funded. Court services should be self supporting through fines they issue.
If we earn $100 from parking fees but spend $125 to collect it? Wouldn’t it be wiser to make parking free – or charge 25% for parking?
If these groups are not self sufficient – that falls on the management for that group to figure out how to make it work.
 Also as far as “dipping into reserves for a rainy day” 😮 – we have suffered 500 COVID rainy days running now.
This is the worst crisis since WWII. This IS the rainy day. 🌧🌂☔
It isn’t easy doing up a budget. Especially for government services at union dollar rates.
I am very happy with the things in our beautiful city of Burlington and hate to see services and amenities taken away.
When they started charging for parking to go to the waterfront – I just stopped going to the waterfront.
I say let the people in other towns (who pay lower taxes and therefore have more money to spend) come and pay for parking here and fund our revenue stream.
The story that resulted in the comment
By Pepper Parr
November 5th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Budget building is an art and a dance that involves Staff and the members of Council.
Staff understand how municipalities work. They don’t have a bottom line that they have to meet – they do strive to provide great service – but they need funds to do that – and they aren’t shy about asking.
Set out below are the services the city performs.
How much of your tax dollars go to each of the services. That data is also available. Do you feel you are getting value for the tax dollars spent delivering that service to you?
Notice that they talk in terms of millions of dollars
By Pepper Parr
November 5th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The park currently known as Ryerson Park at 565 Woodview Rd. will be renamed to reflect the City’s current naming policies for City assets.
 The park is tucked in behind the school. Between Aug. 24 and Sept. 11, residents were invited to suggest a new name consistent with today’s standards. The name submission portion of this project is now closed and a small working group of City staff, Indigenous Leaders and community stakeholders have created a short-list of names that residents can now vote on.
Staff will take the voting results and report back to Burlington City Council with a recommendation for a new name early in the new year.
Voting is open now at and will be open until Nov. 19, 2021.
Shortlist of Names
More than 500 names were submitted in phase 1.
The Shortlist Committee has considered all the names and chosen three names.
A fourth naming option has been added from Indigenous Elder Stephen Paquette after consulting an Indigenous linguist: Sweetgrass Park.
Sweetgrass is one of the sacred medicines to many First Nations. It is used as a purification medicine in ceremony to purify ourselves and to heal.
 For years the contribution Edgerton Ryerson made to the creation of the public educational system we have today was held in great esteem. Public sentiment changed when hundreds of graves were discovered at residential school sites, which were built long after Ryerson had passed on. His statue was defaced and then toppled. The proposed park names and rationale:
• Head of the Lake Park: This name was chosen to reflect the name of the current land agreement in place that allows settler communities to occupy the location of the park in question, as per the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
• Unity Park: When forms of hatred and attempts to divide people are on the rise we need to find ways of expressing what we think is important. Unity means that we embrace our differences, that we value other people’s experience and beliefs
• Truth and Reconciliation Park: To heal as a nation we need to speak the truth and reconcile our relationship with the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
• Sweetgrass Park: Sweetgrass is used as a purification medicine in ceremony to purify ourselves and to heal.
Why are we renaming Ryerson Park?
At the June 16, 2021 meeting of the Halton District School Board (HDSB), trustees unanimously approved a motion to rename Ryerson Public School on Woodview Road in Burlington, in accordance with the Board’s Naming and Renaming Schools Policy and Governance Procedure.
 Mayor Meed Ward meets with Andrea Grebenc, Chair of the Halton District School Board As part of the Board motion, the Chair of the Board sent a letter to inform the City of this decision. Burlington City Council then unanimously voted to rename Ryerson Park. This was done out of respect for Indigenous residents in our community, particularly following the recent discovery of mass graves at former residential schools.
Burlington’s Ryerson Public School, and adjacent Ryerson Park, are named after Egerton Ryerson for his contributions to the Ontario education system, however, Ryerson was also instrumental in the design of Canada’s residential school system. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous people.
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward explains: “Earlier this year, Burlington City Council unanimously voted to rename Ryerson Park, in line with the recent HDSB decision to rename the adjacent school. This was done out of respect for Indigenous residents in our community and visitors to our city — particularly following the recent discovery of mass graves at former residential schools.
By Staff
November 5th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Cogeco is adding to the senior staff.
Chris Burke has been brought in as Vice President, Digital and Analytics.
 Vice President, Digital and Analytics Burke has over 25 years of expertise in digital and analytics, in addition to his leadership experience in his previous roles. He will definitely be a great asset to the company. “I am confident that Chris will play a key role in the implementation of our growth strategy,” says Frédéric Perron, President of Cogeco Connexion.
He most recently served as Vice-President, Digital Technology at Manulife’s Global Wealth and Asset Management, where he was in charge of the evolution of the technology that powers Manulife’s Global Digital ambitions.
Prior to his role at Manulife, he was the Vice President, Digital Solutions and Sales Enablement at RBC. He was responsible for the definition, implementation, and evolution of global client and employee digital experiences across web, mobile, social media, and emerging channels for RBC Wealth Management and RBC Global Asset Management. Previously, he was the Practice Director, Web and Portal Solutions for TELUS National Application Solutions. Chris Burke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.
Cogeco Connexion regroups the Canadian cable operations of Cogeco Communications Inc. Cogeco Connexion is the second largest cable operator in Ontario and Québec based on the number of Internet service customers served. It provides its residential and small business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband cable networks.
 By Staff
November 5th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mainway, between Northside Road and Guelph Line will be closed nightly:
Nov. 4 to 6, 2021
7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
for resurfacing work.
Emergency vehicle access will be permitted, and local access will be maintained up to the closure points. Through traffic will be detoured as per map.
 By Pepper Parr
November 5th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Rendering of the proposed development.
We have been told they were coming and indeed they are coming.
Not all the development is taking place in the downtown core either.
Infinity Development is holding their required pre-application meeting on November 17th via Zoom.
Their proposal is for a 29 storey, mixed-use development, including 295 residential units within a tower portion and retail/commercial land uses on the ground level of a 4-storey podium. The remaining three (3) floors of the podium are proposed for above-grade parking area. A total of 320 parking spaces (and bicycle parking) are proposed in a combination of two levels of underground and podium level parking.
No comments are received by the City during the Pre-Application phase. Public comments may be directed to the applicant during this time. Once a complete application has been received the public will be notified, and comments will be received by City staff.
The planner on this development has, as in other developments it has presented in, been sparing in the amount of detail they choose to share. Listen closely and press them for details when you get the opportunity.
 The two houses on the left will come down. Not the kind of street that is safe for children. This development seems to be the cookie cutter of choice design that is being offered: Four level podium with a tower rising up to the 29th level.
This is a part of the city where development is being encouraged; it is within the Major Transit Service Area. What is missing is something in the way of public space; Waterdown is already a high traffic area – cars move along at quite a clip.
Check the ward 1 Councillor’s web site for zoom details. The Gazette will publish those details the day before the event.
By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
They told us there would be intensification.
And there is intensification.
The view is of The Gallery a 23 storey tower under construction on the north east corner of Brant and James Streets.
Is this close enough to the sidewalk for you?
The building comes right to the property lot line.
 The four storey podium has been completed. Tower will rise to 23 storeys – the new look for downtown Burlington.
 By David Barker
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Setting the record straight.
Are there problems with the way Heritage Fund grants are awarded? Should members of the Advisory Committee be eligible for the grants?
Notwithstanding the Gazette no longer permits me to post in its comment section to articles it publishes, it has allowed me this opportunity to respond to its article which was ostensibly about grants made available by the City to the owners of Designated Heritage properties, but was very much focused upon me, my designated heritage property, and the three heritage grants I have received over the years from the City’s Community Heritage Fund.
The Gazette‘s article has some inaccuracies and misconceptions. Here I shall try to set the record straight. To do that and provide context it is important to understand a bit about the designating of properties as Heritage, the City’s Community Heritage (grant) Fund, and the role of the Burlington Heritage Committee.
 The house is located in a part of the city where there are a number of designated homes. To qualify for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act a property must have “heritage attributes”. A heritage attribute is defined by the Province as a feature of the property which should be protected and preserved for the future. The Ontario government has set out a detailed process to be followed by municipalities when seeking to place a heritage designation status on a property. A critical part of that process is the requirement for a heritage assessment undertaken by an accredited third party. That assessment, amongst other things will identify any heritage attributes. Assuming the property is worthy of heritage designation, to bestow the designation status on the property the municipality must pass a bylaw which identifies the heritage attributes. The bylaw is placed on the title deed of the property.
The City, in common with many Ontario municipalities, has a heritage property grant program, known as the Community Heritage Fund. Here are some relevant excerpts from the City’s Community Heritage Fund Guidelines document.
OBJECTIVE
To encourage the preservation of buildings with identified cultural heritage value by providing financial assistance for the conservation of these buildings.
ELIGIBILITY
• Properties designated under part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Any work which conserves or enhances heritage attribute elements specified in by-law.
• Short-term, routine maintenance is not eligible: that includes minor repairs, general painting, repair of non-original siding or roofing or landscaping.
 The quality of the restoration work done is superb. • Conservation of heritage attributes important to the resource’s heritage value is eligible.
• Restoration of heritage attributes where the original from and materials can be clearly determined from documentary evidence.
• Work necessary to restore the building to structural soundness.
o Includes the correction of serious structural faults which threaten the building’s survival, but does not include routine maintenance.
o Structural work necessitated by modern renovation is not included
OK, so the owner of a designated heritage property determines to seek a heritage grant to help mitigate the cost of eligible work required on the property. The property owner files an application, which is reviewed by the City’s heritage planner, who assesses the application, provides a report to the Heritage Committee. The Heritage Committee discusses the application and makes a recommendation, for or against, to City Council. That recommendation is first sent to a standing committee of Council (most if not all members of council are members of the standing committee). The standing committee reviews the entire matter including the recommendations from both the Heritage Committee and from city staff. Should the standing committee determine to approve the grant applied for, the matter is sent to City Council as a consent item. So it’s not as if council members are seeing the item for the first time at the meeting of Council. Those members already saw it at the standing committee stage.
So you will note these grants are not awarded for general improvements to a property, such as building extensions or kitchen renovations, as implied in the article. Grants are awarded so as to mitigate the cost of maintaining or restoring heritage attributes or other non-regular maintenance items that safeguard the heritage property as a whole. Those costs are generally considerably of a higher magnitude than say a house in a modern sub-division.
Now to the specifics of the four items relating to my heritage property referenced in the Gazette’s article.
Please note the Gazette asked me to provide to it for each grant I received:- the date awarded, the amount awarded, and the scope of work that was undertaken. I willingly and in very short order voluntarily provided that information to the Gazette, along with links to the relevant Heritage Committee meeting minutes.
 The western part of the property was severed once the Heritage Advisory Committee said it had no objections. The Gazette is incorrect in its report that I have made application for four (4) heritage grants. I have applied for and received three (3). The fourth item referenced by the Gazette is with regard to my successful application to the City via the Committee of Adjustment to sever my property. Being a heritage designated property any alteration to the building exterior or to the property’s lot lines must be referred to the Heritage Committee for review and its recommendation to Council. I received no funds from the City in this regard. In fact the opposite is true. It cost me $50,000 in fees to the City to gain the severance, not to mention another $100,000 in professional fees
Two (2) of the three (3) grants awarded are in respect of work that was required so as to restore the front porch verandah, which is a heritage attribute cited in the heritage designation bylaw. The total awarded was $1,577.15. The first grant for the replacement of the verandah’s decking boards was awarded September 16, 2020 was not paid to me until May, 2021. Those decking boards are not the usual 1×6 white cedar generally used for decks. They are 2×6 BC red cedar. Way more expensive. The grant awarded September 7th, 2021 has not as yet been paid. Though the work, to repair and repaint the turned columns and decorative sun motif, clearly shown in the photographs in the Gazette’s article, was completed in June 2021.
The first grant awarded was in fact back in 2017, not 2019 as reported by the Gazette. At that time I was not a member of the Heritage Committee. That grant related to the cost of retrofitting weeping tiles and installing a sump pump to combat the rise in Lake Ontario’s water table which was causing ingress of water through the unfinished basement’s floor which jeopardized the building’s foundations.
Readers should note not all work is eligible for grant. For example the $15,000 cost to re shingle the roof in 2019 was not eligible. There is huge inconsistency and illogicality as to what work is eligible. For example the weeping tiles work was eligible because inaction would have imperiled the entire structure. The re shingling work was not eligible even though inaction would also have imperiled the entire structure. Should I have elected to re-roof with shakes the original material used in the 1890s at three times the cost, I would have been eligible for a grant.
The Gazette has correctly reported that in respect of the 2017 and 2021 grant applications I recused myself from participation in the consideration process by the Heritage Committee. And as respects the 2020 grant I was out of the country when the Committee considered the application.
I believe of the eleven resident committee members I (maybe one other) am the only one who actually owns a Designated Heritage property. If being a heritage property owner eligible to apply for heritage grants made one ineligible to serve on the committee, how would the committee be able to get an owner’s perspective of the unique issues owning a designated heritage property brings?
The Gazette states in its article:-
“Where we have an issue is with a member of an Advisory Committee benefiting financially as the result of a decision made by the committee.”
The Gazette is incorrect. The Heritage Committee is an “Advisory” body that has no decision making powers. It makes recommendations to Council. Council then makes the decision.
The Gazette also states:-
“Also, where was Council on this? The Staff report made mention that Barker had been given grants in the past.”
What’s the Gazette’s point here?
Under the terms of the grant program an owner of a designated property is entitled to receive one grant each year but only for eligible restoration or non-regular maintenance works. Receiving three grants during my 28 years of ownership of this designated heritage property does not seem to me like I’m milking the system.
 By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
During the days before the pandemic got a grip on the world some members of the public would gather in a public place and go over literature on the budget that was being proposed.
There was never an opportunity to change any of the numbers but there were lots of chances to ask questions.
 Carol Gottlob who was a candidate in ward 4 and Angelo Bentivenia a candidate in ward 6 – both lost the first time around – would show up for public budget meetings. Attendance at these budget Public Information events was sporadic. During those occasions when there was to be a municipal election the attendance was very good. People planning on running for council would all sit at the same table and busy themselves with how their candidate would manage the budget.
Those years when there wasn’t a municipal election coming attendance was sparse.
 It was a cold winter night, snow was falling. The city had called a budget presentation event. No one showed up except for a couple of people who had run for office and wanted to stay in the loop. The Mayor hung around for a while then left. Staff packed up their equipment and headed home. The event took place at the Mainway community centre. Less than 20 yards away the arena was close to packed with parents watching their kids play hockey. The budget that set out how much of their tax money would be spent on recreation services was something they didn’t appear to be of or concerned about.  One evening, it was snowing and except for two council hopefuls – nary a soul showed up. That evening right next door was a rink filled with parents watching their children playing hockey.
This time around the communications people are doing their best.
There were full day Council Workshops where Service Presentations were given by staff. They were intense and took place on September 22, 23, 28 & 30, 2021.
Today the Budget Overview took place. Staff set out what they saw as necessary and yes there were a number of asks as well.
A bit of discussion took place related to a position in the Clerk’s Office that was understood to be needed. Discussion on that job came to a quick end when City Manager Tim Commisso explained that the job had already been filled.
The FTE (Full time employee) number is going to grow by an additional 70 people during 2022. That’s above the 14+ that are going to be hired by the Planning department – those 14+ positions will be covered by fees paid by developers to have their applications approved.
There will be a Virtual Budget Townhall to be emceed by the Mayor on November 22, 2021.
The CSSRA Standing Committee will do a 2022 Budget Review & Approval on November 30 & December 2, 2021
It all goes to Council for Budget Approval on December 14, 2021.
There is one rather interesting change to the way members of Council can influence the budget directly. There was in the past a BAR form (Budget Action Request) that members of council would fill in setting out where they felt cuts could be made or additions made. Council members would use the BAR form to promote something they wanted to see done in their ward.
This year they are being asked to prepare and submit a memo setting out their rationale for proposed budget amendment(s). This was to increased transparency for the public. Those memorandums would be summed up reflecting all the proposed changes.
Those memorandums are due in the Finance Department by 4pm on November 23.
Not sure where the idea of the memorandums came from – it will certainly stretch the capacity of at least three current council members.
 By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette suspended the privilege David Barker had to comment in the Gazette’s Comments section.
We did so late in September. There are yards and yards of paper with comments and the back and fourth email from Barker.
A day or so after suspending Barker I received the following:
From: david barker [mailto:caboman09@gmail.com]
Sent: October 2, 2021 8:37 PM
To: Pepper publisher <publisher@bgzt.ca>
Subject: Re: WE no longer publish
Rookie
What a complete dork you are! Such a pompous old fart, unable to publish any criticism. Very self-important. You certainly live up to the nickname given to you by those at city hall. LOL.
Please investigate all you like the heritage grants were awarded to me by City Council. Another rookie mistake on your part. The advisory committee has no authority to approve or award heritage grants or loans. Only City Council has that power. I am 100% confident neither the committee nor I have done anything untoward. For the record, and as shown on the official record (meeting minutes) on two occasions I recused myself from any discussion; and on the third occasion I did not attend the meeting, being out of the country.
Rookie mistake after rookie mistake. Possible indications of onset of senility or just plain incompetence.
I shall be reporting a complaint against you personally and the Gazette corporately to the National NewsMedia Council relating to your inappropriate censorship and your harassing language via email.
I already have screenshot copies of the published editor’s notes to my comments going back more than a year. So delete away. But I suggest you keep copies because they will be called for by the National NewsMedia Council. You cannot delete your rude, abrasive and uncalled for language in emails I received from you.
Silly old man
I have no comment to make.
 David Barker is a retired insurance executive and a Member of the Heritage Advisory Committee and the owner of a fine house that has been designated as historically significant
By Staff
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Aldershot Food Collection Committee is having a Special INFANT FOOD Collection for ROCK’s Infant Food Pantry on SATURDAY, NOV. 13TH,11am to 3pm.
If you can help please do.
By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Municipalities cannot show a deficit. They can’t go broke either.
If their finances are suspect the province moves in and takes over.
What municipalities do is set aside money for those rainy days. Well run municipalities that are financially prudent, and the current finance leadership is prudent, as is the City Manager who struggles to impress upon Council the need to be more responsible when it comes to protecting the reserve accounts..
Early in the current council’s term of office at least two of the city reserve funds took a hit.
Four million was taken from the Hydro Reserve fund to pay for the wave break needed at the LaSalle Marina.
During the 2022 Budget Overview that took place Wednesday Council was shown the condition of the reserve funds
 These are not healthy numbers. The practice in Burlington has been to put10 to 15% of net revenues into Stabilization reserve accounts.
Currently the best the city has been able to do is set aside just 10.4%
Municipal old-timers like Tim Commisso and Joan Ford know all too well how foolish this practice is.
Councillor Paul Sharman has in the past refused to vote for budgets that chip away at reserve accounts.
The five newbies don’t have enough experience to fully realize how dangerous the approach the current Mayor has chosen to live with.
To be short $60 million in the Capital Reserve fund borders on recklessness.
There are no words for Councillors that do not put in place a long term plan to cover the shortfall of more than $70 million on corporate and other reserve funds.
One suspects that some members of this council assume that at some point all those high rise towers that they swore they didn’t want to see get approved would some day bring home all kinds of commercial and residential taxes that would solve all the problems.
And we elected them – didn’t we?
By Staff
November 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is expanding eligibility for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to additional groups of high-risk individuals starting November 6, 2021, providing them with an extra layer of protection against the Delta variant. Over the coming months, Ontario is also prepared to gradually roll out booster doses to all Ontarians aged 12 and over.
While the province continues to report one of the lowest rates of active cases in the country and continues to make steady progress in vaccinating more individuals, offering the extra layer of protection provided by a booster dose will contribute to the fight against COVID-19.
 “Keeping a low rate of infection in our communities and protecting our most vulnerable is how we can keep our schools, businesses and social settings as safe as possible while avoiding further lockdowns,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “To provide every individual the best protection while learning to live with the virus for the long-term, we are prepared to expand booster eligibility to all Ontarians pending clinical recommendations, with eligibility expanding this week to individuals who face a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.”
Based on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and in alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI) recent recommendation, the province will begin offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the following vulnerable populations if at least six months have passed since their last dose:
• Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier);
• Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers);
• Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine); and
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.
Booster doses are being offered to these groups based on evidence of gradual waning immunity six months after receiving their second dose and a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Starting on Saturday, November 6 at 8:00 a.m., eligible individuals will be able to book their booster dose appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, select pharmacies, and primary care settings.
Eligible individuals can book appointments at a Halton Region Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic through Halton’s online booking system, starting Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Hospital-based health care workers are encouraged to reach out to their hospital employer to get vaccinated directly through their hospital’s vaccination program.
Locations and timing for booster doses may vary by public health unit based on local planning and considerations.
In addition, Ontario is once again supporting northern and remote fly in First Nation communities by launching Operation Remote Immunity 3.0, this time through the co-development of plans with Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, to support Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, First Nation health organizations, to administer booster doses in their communities with transportation and vaccine supply assistance from Ornge and local public health units.
While the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective, the province is prepared to expand eligibility for a booster dose to all Ontarians over time. Based on Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout for first and second doses, expansion of eligibility for booster doses will be based on age and risk, with an interval of six to eight months from the second dose.
“Ontario is continuing the success of our vaccine rollout by expanding eligibility for a booster shot based on age and risk,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we continue rolling out our Last Mile Strategy to vaccinate as many Ontarians as possible, providing an extra layer of protection starting with our most vulnerable is critical as we continue to safely reopen and manage COVID-19 for the long-term.”
During the height of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, a large population of Ontarians received their first and second doses at a longer interval than indicated on the product monograph. This longer interval has now been shown to improve duration of protection, and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends an optimal interval of eight weeks between first and second doses.
“The expansion of eligibility for booster shots is one more step that our government is taking to protect Ontarians and keep our communities safe,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “As with the initial administration of COVID-19 vaccines, the phased rollout of booster shots ensures that vulnerable groups are prioritized and can easily access booster shots through pharmacies, clinics and health care providers.”
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for children aged five to 11 is subject to Health Canada approval. Ontario is working with public health units across the province to prepare to vaccinate children aged five to 11. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 is a distinct formulation at a lower dose and supply of vaccine that will be rolled out in parallel to booster doses.
 By Staff
November 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Budgets are a numbers game – for members of Council it is a real life situation that they have to deal with and then explain to the people that elected them.
In order to explain what they are faced with Council members have a series of visuals that set it all out.
On the left they list four factors that impact the budget and tell you (the orange ball) what the impact on the budget is.
On the right they do the same thing with four other factors and use that orange ball to tell you what the impact is on the budget.
 
Then they add another graphic to show what the tax increase is going to be to that point.
They aren’t done yet. Consideration has to be given to the risks involved in running a city. Three more factors are added and another orange ball to tell you what the impact is going to be on the budget.
 Add in the cost of risk mitigation factors. And there you have it – the final tax increase number. And with that you now know what the 2022 budget exercise is going to be all about.
What do you cut where to get a number Council can live with and still get re-elected and something the public will swallow.
No one seems to think that 5.45% increase will sit all that well with the voters.
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