 By Staff
October 3, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 What does it cost to get an office in this building? There are now six Third Party Advertisers.
Three more were added in the several hours since we published the first version of this report. Someone needs funding and this is how they are going to get it.
In addition to Jennifer Beleck there are now two numbered corporations on the list – note that the numbers are consecutive which suggests they were created very recently.
2657391 Ontario Limited
2657392 Ontario Limited
2657393 Ontario Limited
2657394 Ontario Limited
26573945 Ontario Limited
This is a very troubling issue.
Give us a day or two to research who the rascals are bind those corporations.
Rules that apply to Third Party Advertisers:
A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing a candidate in the election, or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.
A third party advertiser is any individual, corporation or trade union that causes an election campaign advertisement to appear.
A third party advertiser is required to register with the City Clerk of the municipality where they want to advertise.
 By Pepper Parr
October 3rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
What is believed to be the largest audience ever for a political debate in Burlington is now available on line.
Here is the link:
 Will crowds like this listening to the debates get out and vote. And will this election make a difference?  Standing room only The audience is estimated to be about 400 people – if the Fire Marshall had been aware of the event he might have shut it down – too many people in the space.
While there are forces in the city that have no time and will not traffic with ECoB _ Engaged Citizens of Burlington – the public clearly wants this level of engagement – city hall notwithsttanding.
 By Pepper Parr
October 2nd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In an email that we believe was sent to city hall staff by the city manager James Ridge had the following to say:
One of the reasons I applied to be Burlington’s City Manager almost four years ago is because of the stellar reputation Burlington has. It is known coast to coast as a city that for decades has been well governed, well managed, and blessed with professional and talented public servants (all of you). Nothing in my time here has changed my opinion, in fact I believe that even more powerfully now. This is an exceptional public service organization filled with exceptional people who I am proud to have as colleagues.
 City manager, James Ridge. We are, however, in the midst of a particularly nasty election campaign. While much of the campaign is respectful and focused on policy not personalities, there are sadly elements of the new wave of toxic populism that invariably includes attacks, not just on the institution the candidate wants to govern, but also on the professional public servants in that institution. The radioactive accelerant for this brand of populism are those corners of social media popular with people who are convinced they are smarter than everyone else, and who get some sort of twisted pleasure out of demeaning others.
I know in talking too many of you over the summer that you are feeling the impact of this, and I want to assure you personally and directly that we have your back. All of us on the Burlington Leadership Team are monitoring everything that is being said and written, as well as on social media. We will remain apolitical, but will address any candidates who demean or threaten staff, and we will file formal Media Council complaints where needed. If somebody comes after your reputation, or questions your integrity and professionalism, we will push back.
 Burlington city manager James Ridge with Hamilton city manager Chris Murray – before they met to negotiate the purchase of some water lots the city rents from Hamilton. Hamilton took a pass on the Burlington offer. Recently a candidate publicly committed to firing an entire department if elected. There are two important facts for you to remember: One member of Council can’t fire anyone, let alone a whole department. Even a majority of Council can fire only their one employee; me, and defending you when you can’t defend yourself is my most important responsibility. So please don’t lose a moment’s sleep worrying about this sort of empty posturing.
I ask you to keep on doing the excellent work you do, keep your heads up, be proud of the contributions you make to this community, and don’t let the nastiness get you down. We have your back.”
Our source gave us the the following comments:
“I have heard from a few different people that this went by email to all staff on September 26th from Burlington City Manager, James Ridge.
“I know several staff were concerned that this crosses the line between a neutral civil service and one that is partisan. I find this sort of behaviour to be both unacceptable and offensive. It is clearly targeted at a specific cadre of candidates.”
The Gazette asked Kwab Ako-Adjei | Senior Manager, Government Relations & Strategic Communications if the memo was actually sent to city staff. His reply was: “Yes, James sent that. If you do run the story we would hope that the memo is posted in its entirety so it’s not taken out of context.”
The Gazette has two other sources – all have asked to remain unidentified.
It is indeed a nasty election.
Halton Region Health Department confirms case of rabies in a bat found in Burlington
By Staff
October 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Region Health Department received test results confirming that a bat found in the area of Upper Middle Road and Appleby Line in Burlington had rabies. This is the first confirmed case of rabies in Halton this year.
 “The Health Department is reminding residents to avoid all contact with bats and other wild animals,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “Residents who may have had physical contact with a bat should see a physician immediately and contact the Health Department by calling 311.”
Rabies is a viral disease that causes severe damage to the brain and spinal cord, and if untreated before symptoms appear will lead to death. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually entering through a bite or scratch. Rabies illness in humans can be prevented after exposure to rabies by the use of rabies vaccine, which is extremely effective, but only if it is administered before symptoms occur.
It is not always possible to identify if a bat has rabies, however rabid bats may move slowly, lose the ability to fly, remain active during daylight hours or be unresponsive to loud noises.
There are a number of things you can do to protect your family and pets:
• Seek medical attention immediately if you come in contact with a raccoon, skunk, bat or other potentially rabid animal.
• Report all animal bites or scratches to the Halton Region Health Department.
• Warn your children to stay away from any wild, stray or aggressive animals.
• Do not feed or keep wild animals as pets.
• Do not touch dead or sick animals.
• Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
• Keep your pet on a leash when off your property.
• Have your pet seen by a veterinarian if it has come in contact with a raccoon or other wild animal.
For more information on rabies, visit halton.ca or call the Halton Region Health Department by calling 311.
 By Staff
October 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Herd, members of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) today announced that the team has been approved by the IBL to relocate to Welland, Ontario and Welland Stadium for the 2019 IBL season.
“At the end of every season we conduct a complete review of our operating structure. Although continued park improvement efforts spearheaded by the Herd through community initiatives improved the facility, the facilities current set up has made it obvious that the economics would not lend themselves to a sustainable business model for an ever-growing Intercounty Baseball League operation,” Herd majority owner Ryan Harrison said.
 Ryan Harrison “Through many meetings with key municipal officials, it was apparent that the complex we called home was not going to see many of the small upgrades that would be required to be successful and a tough decision had to be made.”
The Burlington Herd called Cosgrove Field home starting in 2011 when Elliot Kerr relocated the Twins from Mississauga. In the fall of 2017 Ryan Harrison, Jason McKay, Dan Pokoradi and Adam Harrison would take over ownership and rebranding to the Herd.
 Locating the team in Burlington was a business model that just didn’t work. Harrison continued, “We thank our corporate sponsors and dedicated fans for the support and partnerships we have had over the years. We also want to thank our employees and support staff who made the Herd experience among the best in the IBL. We’re excited about the future of our club and we’re dedicated to growing the Intercounty Baseball League brand into the Niagara Region.”
 By Ray Rivers
October 2nd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
We are left with a bad taste on our palates, leaving the question of where do we go from here?
Just as I predicted. President Trump had called NAFTA the worst trade deal in history – and now it is history. Well in name anyway, though it is essentially intact and newly re-minted as the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Some are calling this eleventh hour agreement a win-win-win. After all Canada has successfully fought off a pre-emptive strike on our time tested agricultural supply management system. Yes, we’ve lost some ground in the ability limit dairy and other sector imports, which will likely result in more American agricultural goods on our shelves. But then supply management was never about trade protectionism – it was about farm income stability.
 But even though we minimized the potential damage, Canada still took another hit to its economic and social sovereignty. And the US appears to won little and lost nothing, compared to where we all were in NAFTA. So we have no reason to be popping champagne corks on this side of the 49th. When the mouse and the elephant take each other to bed, we should understand how it is going to turn out.
But the biggest disappointment was with the process and the negotiating tactics of the other side in this last round. If the illegal tariffs on steel and aluminum were intended to scare us, they did. But the artificial deadlines, threats and verbal abuse were untoward and over the top.
The process came to an end because Trump ran out of time, given the upcoming congressional elections around the corner and so much else on his plate. Otherwise we’d still be in Washington, though never Ottawa nor Mexico City. And the irony is that the US Congress may not even approve the deal, particularly if the Democrats win the House. Though it appears Canada and Mexico will ratify the agreement, even if somewhat reluctantly.
 BFF – Best Friends Forever ? President Donald Trump sizing up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada and the USA are supposed to be best of friends with the longest undefended continuous land border anywhere. Our relationship has always been characterized by RESPECT. Even when Nixon was bombing the hell out of Vietnam and Trudeau the senior was criticizing him for that, and allowing American draft dodgers into this country. There was civility between our leaders – despite how they felt about each other in private.
At the end of the day there is no question that the economies of all three nations have benefited from the enhanced trade, if not real free trade, which resulted from NAFTA. Trump’s denial of that reality reflects his ignorance of these matters and is an outright falsehood. But then he lives in that never-never land he calls America First.
His style, behaviour, and his disregard of international diplomacy have cast a pall on what should be a glorious celebration of the renewal of, arguably, the second most successful trading partnership ever (after the EU). And his outlandish bullying of his two closest and natural trading partners has left a bad taste on all of our national palates, leaving the question of where do we go from here? When is the next surprise coming?
The military tactic of divide and conquer is how you fight a war, not re-negotiate a trade deal with your friends. It was an insult to both of his trading partners for them to be treated as vassals. Nobody needs to be told that America’s economy is large, but a breakdown of trade in autos even between Canada and the US would have hurt them too. Was this so-called disastrous NAFTA really that bad a deal for the US, that it survived the terms of three other presidents and has contributed to the current US economic boom?
In the end there will be little difference in the implementation between NAFTA and USMCA. The US gained little so all the fuss was much a do about not much. But Canada and Mexico will have a new perspective when it comes to dealing with their neighbour in the future, or at least the future until Trump is history himself. The America we used to know – the brand we admired for the last century has been damaged, though hopefully not forever.
 President Trump pauses while the world laughs at his comments at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. He wasn’t telling a joke – he was the joke. Our first trade agreement, the Canada-US deal was negotiated between friends singing about their smiling Irish eyes. But Trump doesn’t have friends. Men are seen as competitors and women as sex objects. It is jokingly said that his closest buddies are Colonel Sanders and Ronald McDonald, though one is dead and the other a cartoon character. But insulting the chief insulter is unhelpful. He doesn’t get it, as when the whole world laughed at him during the ridiculous presentation of his accomplishments at the UN last week.
It is doubtful anyone but North Korea’s Kim would have been able to do a better job than Freeland and Trudeau, negotiating almost thanklessly in that hard place. We didn’t win anything in our transition from NAFTA to USMCA, but at least we didn’t lose much. This entire exercise was about fulfilling a false campaign promise by an out-of-touch wanna-be who miraculously became the most powerful man on earth. For him it’ll always have to be a win-lose-lose.
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
USMCA – US View – Canadian Perspective –
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was certainly a full house.
An estimated 350 people filled the Burlington Baptist Church on New Street last night to hear the six candidates vying for the city council seat that has been vacated by Marianne Meed Ward who is running for Mayor.
 It was a full house – ward 2 all candidate debate. It was standing room only taking place on an evening when the weather was “inclement”. People were flowing into the church sanctuary well after the 7:00 pm start time.
 It was polite debate; there were no demonstrations; there was no disruptive behavior.
The Gazette will report at length on who said what and the audience response to the different candidates.
Every candidate tries to get their supporters to attend and applause vigorously at the right moment.
If applause is any measure of the way the audience was going then Lisa Kearns owned the room.
 The debate on the matter of cannabis being sold at retail locations in Burlington was the question that showed a clear division. It split almost evenly between those who wanted the city to wait and see what other municipalities decided to do and those who felt the city should vote for permitting the commercial outlets right away.
At one point during the meeting this reporter began to wonder if there were going to be questions on issues other than intensification.
The bulk of the applications for development are landing in ward 2 where there are some pretty strong views that feel there is just too much.
There were also a number of issues that indicated there is a lot of homework to be done on the part of the candidates.
 The six candidates running in ward 2. One of the six: Lisa Kearns, Roland Tanner, Michael Jones, Kimberly Calderback, Walter Wiebe or Gerard Shkuda will take the ward 2 seat on December 3rd when a new Council is sworn in.
By Staff
October 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In a statement on her web site Ward 2 city Councillor and Mayoralty candidate Marianne Meed Ward said:
 “The video in the September – October 2018 issue of City Talk featuring the current mayor who is running for re-election is a violation of city policy that is intended to ensure incumbents running for re-election do not benefit from city resources during an election period.
Meed Ward points to city policy: “Use of Corporate Resources during an Election” policy states (Page 3):
“From May 1 of a municipal election year until Election Day inclusive:
“City Talk issues will not include information or messages from any member of council nor photographs of any member of council.”
 Mayoralty candidate Marianne Meed Ward “The City Talk newsletter should be recalled, the member of council removed per policy, and the newsletter resent. Typically, during an election year, instead of featuring a member of council to promote a city initiative, city staff working on that initiative will be featured in promotional materials. That must also be the case here, to fairly and consistently follow policy.
“I have notified the elections office, city manager, deputy city manager (who is acting City Manager while the City Manager is out of the office), and the communications office, to request the change be made.”
Link to the policy:
Link to the Gazette’s original story.
 By Staff
October 1, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
An error was made in the location of the ward 2 debate this evening.
The event is taking place at the Baptist Church on New Street.
We regret the error and any confusion we caused.
 By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The short video mention in this article does not appear in a re-issued version of City Talk.
With what is proving to be a tight race for the office of Mayor one has to ask why the city would publish its most recent edition of City Talk and feature the Mayor in a video as the lead article.
If there was ever a reason to complain to the Elections Officer – this is it.
It is a very short video – 38 seconds but it will pull at the heart strings of those dedicated to the healthy city everyone wants.
Someone at city hall is either very stupid or there is a political game being played by the administration.
With most documents issued the final sign off is that of the City Manger. We understand he is currently out of the country. He might want to stay out of the country.
We are not providing a link to the article in City Talk – no one should add to the malfeasance.
Salt with Pepper are the opinions, reflections, observations and musings of the Gazette publisher.
October 1, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Mike Allen, the Gazette cartoonist took a hard look at the debate taking place between the ward 2 candidates this evening and tried to discern just what the issues are.
Is it traffic congestion, the possible loss of a divine cupcake shop; is it all about the kind of development that is taking place?
Many wonder – just who wants the development anyway. Mike has figured that out.
By Pepper Parr
October 1, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The city is in the bottom half of the ward level debates between the candidates running for a seat on City Council.
This evening there will be six people on the stage at the Burlington Baptist Church on New Street that moderator is going to have to manage in what is planned as a two hour event.
 Lisa Kearns  Kimberly Calderbank, Michael Jones, Lisa Kearns, Gerard Shkuda, Roland Tanner and Walter Wiebe are the nominated candidates.
 Roland Tanner There are some clear lines developing as to how candidates have aligned themselves with the top issues during the debate.
 Michael Jones with his daughter There are some very strong contenders; there are others that are struggling to create a profile and there are candidates the city has heard very little about.
Ward 2 has always been seen as the core of not only the geography of the city but where political activity has been rich at least ever since current council member Marianne Meed Ward became a member of council in 2010.
Meed Ward has taken a big political risk and thrown her hat into the ring and challenged the incumbent Mayor for the chain of office.
Will the energy she brought to the ward and city council become part of a new council or will she leave the political stage in Burlington and move on to something else?
 Walter Wiebe  Gerrard Shkuda And who in ward 2 will fill her two inch stilettos?
The city is about to hear what the six candidates have to say.
It could well be a defining debate for the city.
 The 2018 election is believed to be the first time there have been debates in every ward in the city. There are many who have chosen to see the really hard work done by ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington as somehow partisan and that they have somehow rigged the debates.
When the political history of the city is told someone is going to have to explain why the three incumbents running for re-election chose to avoid taking part in the debates. History will record if there is going to be a price paid for the decisions they made.
This evening we get to hear from the people who want to lead ward 2 at city council.
Related news content:
Mike Allen has figured out what the ward 2 issue is.
 By Staff
October 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
‘A Night on the Town’ with ‘Country Boy’ Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder, will be at the Performing Arts Centre om Tuesday, October 16 at 8pm.
The legendary bluegrass superstar brings his roots revival jamboree to Burlington for its only stop in Southern Ontario.
 Ricky Skaggs brings Kentucky Thunder to Burlington. Since he began playing music more than 50 years ago, Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and has performed thousands of live shows. He started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and has since released 12 consecutive GRAMMY®-nominated albums. His latest release, Hearts Like Ours, with his wife, celebrated artist Sharon White of The Whites features the couple dueting on handpicked country love songs.
Skaggs is due to be inducted into the revered Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2018 this fall. Skaggs was also inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame this September.
Earning 12 #1 hit singles, 15 GRAMMY® Awards, 13 IBMA Awards, nine ACM Awards, eight CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), two Dove Awards, the ASCAP Founders Award, three honorary Doctorate degrees, inductions into the Musicians Hall of Fame and GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the 2013 Artist-In-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in the Instrumentalist category along with countless other awards, Ricky Skaggs is truly a pioneer of Bluegrass and Country music.
Tickets can be purchased by telephone, online or in person:
905-681-6000, www.burlingtonpac.ca
440 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario
The full schedule of BPAC Events is available here:
news
By Pepper Parr
September 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The federal government has made it legal to sell cannabis to the public on October 17th.
You will be able to purchase up to 30 grams (close to one ounce) of dried recreational cannabis at one time for personal use.
The province gets to decide where the product is to be sold.
 Think Sound of Music – 2019 Heavy public use of cannabis could kill the event. As of October 17, 2018, the Ontario Cannabis Store website will be the only legal option for purchasing recreational cannabis. It will follow strict rules set by the federal government.
The Ford government has said it will launch a private retail store system for selling legal recreational marijuana on April 1, 2019, and it will give Ontario municipalities a one-time chance to opt out of having those physical shops within their boundaries.
 On cannabis – Meed Ward says sell it, regulate it and get some of the proceeds. Burlington Mayoralty candidate Marianne Meed Ward has said she “supports cannabis shops in Burlington, under strict location and distribution regulations. This is a legal, in some cases medically necessary, product and we have to make room for it. I do not support taking the easy way out with an opt-out. Many of our residents suffering from pain and other medical ailments deserve the opportunity to buy medical marijuana at convenient locations.
“A priority for the new council”, said Meed Ward, “ will be establishing rules for locations, licensing, zoning. Stores should not be near schools or in mixed-use residential buildings. They should be accessible by transit. These stores would be in plazas or stand-alone buildings that don’t conflict with nearby businesses.
“We need stronger bylaws on smoking in public spaces, to prevent residents from being exposed to second-hand cannabis, as well as tobacco (we don’t currently enforce the bylaw restricting tobacco use in parks).
Smoking cannabis shouldn’t be permitted near cannabis stores, especially those located in plazas with nearby businesses. I’m open to further input from residents on locations/ licensing rules.
“We need to ensure cannabis cannot be obtained by children or teenagers. I’ll approach the province for a share of revenue for enforcement costs.”
The Gazette knows of at least one ward level candidate who would prefer that the city wait.
Premier Ford has said municipalities will have until Jan. 22 to decide if they want to ban dispensaries from their territories. Cannabis shops will be allowed, once they are licensed, to open April 1st.
 Goldring – cautious on public sale of cannabis in Burlington  Mike Wallace – wants the public to have time to think about the public sale of cannabis. Mayor Goldring is reported to have said “the city should opt out and examine how other municipalities sort through the still-hazy provincial regulations.”
Mike Wallace also favours the opt out approach “but only temporarily.”
Greg Woodruff asks, with a wink of his eye, if the stuff isn’t already being sold in the city. Police reports on drug raids suggest there is a healthy market in Burlington. The hope is that making the sale public will drive the underground trade to the convenience stores.
 By Staff
September 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Terry Fox marker in Spencer Smith Park. The early numbers on the Terry Fox Run are in.
There were 941 runners, 115 volunteers, so far funds raised are about $75K
We consumed like 150 lbs of bananas and about 1000 litres of water. It was a hot day reports Craig Gardner, who drew our attention to the super heroes.
Final accounting for the event doesn’t get worked out until sometime next year.
 From the left: Craig Gardner, Regional Chair Gary Carr, Burlington MP Karina Gould and Mayor Goldring. There are a couple of super heroes tucked in there as well
By Staff
September 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the smoothest ECoB debate so far.
It had the largest turn out so far and for once the incumbent was in the room – even though he wasn’t running for re-election.
 The ward 3 candidates! A link to the ward 3 debate is HERE.
Ward 3 had five candidates on the stage – Peter Rusin, Gareth Williams, Lisa Cooper, Darcy Hutzel and Rory Nisan.
 Moderator Mark Carr with Penny Hersh whose energy, perseverance and refusal to give up made the seven debates possible. The event brought to the public candidates they knew very little about – there were some impressive performances.
The moderator mixed things up a little as well.
For the first time questions were put to a single candidate with responses from another candidate permitted.
The questions put to the candidates came from two sources: those sent in by email and those written out by people in the audience.
Several people attending brought questions typed out which they handed in
The questions from the audience were sorted into groups of similar contents – the question actually asked was chosen from a blind draw.
All the debate audiences so far have been exceptionally well behaved; what little disruption there was came from people representing candidates (the incumbents) who chose not to show up personally for a variety of reasons.
By Ray Rivers
September 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a 2004 provincial law on the books which mandates that the provincial auditor general (AG), an independent officer of the legislature, conduct a detailed audit prior to a provincial election in order that any incoming government should not have to do what Premier Ford has just done – commission his own financial review.
 Premier Ford with the budget. As it turns out Ford’s team, headed by former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell conceded that the AG’s audit was correct. There had been a $5 billion dollar dispute over deficit numbers between former premier Wynne and the provincial auditor. And Campbell determined that this was due to a change in accounting practices being demanded by the AG. The dispute centered on the AG wanting to change how pension surplus and costs borne by a crown corporation are accounted.
But there was no payola by the Libs to their friends. There was no sign of corruption committed by Liberal politicians with their sticky fingers in the public cookie jar. There was only one set of books and they hadn’t been cooked by the Premier’s folks. In short there was no wrongdoing. If there was any conspicuous money wasted it would have been by Ford conducting his own unnecessary review at public expense – but that is another story.
 Bonnie Lysyk, provincial auditor general. Of course, Kathleen Wynne was wrong. She should have listened to the AG, despite her own counsel and her obvious desire to minimize the deficit numbers for political advantage. It was the AG’s job to prepare the official audit and her results should have been the final ones. But as a consequence of the dispute the amount of the deficit became a distraction and allowed Wynne’s opponents to cast doubt and throw false aspersions on her and the entire Liberal financial record.
That turned out to be unfortunate for her and all those Liberal candidates who must have had doors slammed in their faces on the campaign trail. No question, that controversy helped propel Mr. Ford into office on a totally unjustified claim that the Liberals were dirty and crooked. Though he was on the road to winning anyway. And there was a huge deficit number to deal with for which none of the political leaders had a plan. So the NDP stuck with Wynne’s smaller numbers and Ford didn’t even bother developing a financial platform, his expensive promises were so obscene.
 $3 billion for thee 99 year lease on the 407 toll road Some folks would argue that Ontario has a spending problem, the conclusion of another study completed for Mr. Ford by consulting firm Ernst and Young. The solution, most likely dictated by Mr. Ford, himself, is the beginning of a season of fire-sales, selling off crown assets like the LCBO and maybe other infrastructure. That is an historical Tory practice. To balance his 1999 budget Mike Harris gave a 99 year lease for $3 billion on the 407 highway.
Others say we have an income problem. We don’t charge people enough for all the services we provide. And of course getting rid of the cap and trade carbon tax has just made it worse. Ernst and Young suggested that we need to drop universality of public programs – make those who can afford the services pay. But we already have a progressive income tax which means that those with an ability to pay do so in higher taxes.
For example our provincial health tax already addresses people’s fair contribution to the health care system. Perhaps we need to augment the progressivity to help pay for OHIP plus rather than just adding to debt, though. The Ernst and Young report notes that the biggest rise in costs over the last fifteen years has been in education and health services. These are ongoing and systemic variable costs. It is not clear how the one-time income from selling capital assets like the LCBO will secure future finding for these areas.
The one thing Ford’s studies and even the AG’s report confirmed is that there was no wrongdoing by the Liberals in their fifteen years of governance. That doesn’t mean there weren’t mistakes like the gas plant fiasco, but there was nothing criminal. That means that Doug Ford was wrong to accuse the Liberals of criminal wrong doing, as he seemed to do when he accused them of giving contracts to their Liberal friends.
And for all of that misinformation during the campaign and even afterwards, Ford owes the former premier and the people of Ontario an apology. Though instead of being contrite for his outrageous behaviour, Mr. Ford appears to be taking a page out of the US president’s playbook. Much like Trump, Ford is holding rallies, presumably to prolong his victory celebration and build his following. He won the election, Wynne lost, isn’t it time he moved on. Wynne is being a good loser, why can’t he be a good winner?
 Ford Fest – held in Vaughan this year. At his last rally, the so-called Ford-fest or Ford-stock, last weekend, with five thousand cheering fans on hand, rockstar Doug couldn’t help himself from going way over the top. He over-spoke that the previous government had committed the “largest financial cover-up in history”. And the response to that piece of hatred was predictable – his flash mob couldn’t restrain themselves from chanting an enthusiastic Trumpian “Lock her up”.
Seriously? What has happened to civility in this country, fair play and sense of justice? Didn’t Premier Ford just make a public statement on hate speech. Do the bullies in that Ford flash mob, and their leader, really think the former premier should get jail time for using an arguably inappropriate set of budgetary statistics in her campaign for re-election. It’s not like she was a drug dealer, crack cocaine addict or drunk driver.
Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Ernst and Young – Auditor General – Pre-election Report –
Ford-Fest – Hate Speech –
Mike Allen has come aboard as the house cartoonist.
He draws what he wants, when he wants – his only instructions from the Editor that the cartoons be in good taste.
There are no taboos, no sacred cows, the higher up you are on the totem pole you are the more likely Mike is going to take a shot at you.
Mike plays guitar, teaches music and is liking the look of the new commercial establishments that are going to pop up around the province with edible and puffables.
By Staff
September 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It can be confusing to keep up with everything the city’s Planning department is doing.
Everything comes under the GROW Bold initiative; something many people are not all that keen on.
Earlier in September the Gazette asked the Director of Transportation, Vito Tolone a number of questions:
When was Transpiration given Directions to conduct a study of the longer term transportation needs of the city?
If there was a budget amount attached to the Staff Direction what was that amount.
Have there been studies commissioned with consultants?
Are you able to say who the consultants are and what they have been asked to study or investigate?
Do you have a date for the next Transportation department report to a Standing Committee?
There has not been a response to date.
The report is pivotal for the city. With massive numbers of people expected to live in the city some way has to be found to let everyone move around. City hall talks about buses and bicycles.
Most people want to continue to use their cars and have city hall do something about grid lock.
A new official plan was pushed through city council and sent on to the Regional government where it waits for approval – no one is able to say just when that approval will take place.
A new Council will be elected late in October; it is certain that it will be a significantly different Council. Each of those Council members will also be a Regional Council. What appears to be a majority of the candidates want that Official Plan sent back to the city where changes can get made before the Region puts their stamp of approval on it.
City hall is telling citizens that over the next 25 years, Burlington is going to grow in its urban areas.
“With 193,000 people expected to live in Burlington by 2031, the city is planning for future population growth including how people will move through the city.
“Over the last 30 years, Burlington’s transportation network has accommodated growth by building more roadways. This strategy is no longer sustainable. The city does not have the space to build new roadways and the financial cost to maintain a larger network of roads is significant.
“A 21st century city is built around a different transportation model, one designed to provide people of all ages and abilities with more travel choices for things like walking, cycling and transit.
“Go Bold is Burlington’s Transportation Plan. The plan is built around eight new directions for the City of Burlington. When implemented, these directions will result in a new era of transportation.
In a Transportation study that seems to be talking ages to make it to a city council Sanding Committee the department explains that eight New Directions are being worked on.
The study will provide a wide range of options for getting around regardless of age, means or ability, including walking, cycling, public transit and automobiles.
Uses compact modes of travel like buses, bicycles and walking to efficiently move larger number of people
Is well connected to transportation systems in surrounding regions
Offers fast, reliable and more frequent transit
Features improved facilities and safety for cyclists and pedestrians
Fully Align Land Use and Transportation
Ensure all land use and transportation decisions made at City Hall, from policy-making to budgeting, are integrated and support walking, biking, transit.
There was a time when Lakeshore was known as Water Street and traffic was a little slower. But Burlington isn’t a sleepy little town anymore – traffic has to be controlled.
Rethink Streets
Creating more travel options for the community means thinking differently about how our city streets look and function. One of the ways to allow for more travel choice is to create complete streets. These are streets that are designed to be safe, comfortable and efficient for people of every age and ability including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers. They also easily connect people to the places they live, work and play.
In rural areas we, envision the potential for rural roads to serve more than just automobiles, but instead as key pieces of infrastructure that improve community interconnectivity and social interaction.
Reprioritize Mobility Choices
Reprioritize decision making at City Hall to support the creation of new facilities for walking, biking, transit that can compete with the automobile.
New Street when the Road Diet was thought to be a good idea.
 No New Street Capacity
Land use intensification with further auto-oriented design will only result in continued auto-dependency, expensive infrastructure and overall traffic failure.
Understanding that as the city grows, expanded mobility will be achieved by investing in walking, biking, and transit instead of building new roadways.
  Make Walking More Enjoyable
Walking is the foundation of the transportation system. Design streets that are safe, vibrant, active and easy to navigate.
  Make Biking More Enjoyable
Design streets with biking infrastructure that provides a safe, well connected system throughout the city. In the rural areas, encourage development of biking opportunities over time with infrastructure where strategically appropriate.
  Make Public Transit Enjoyable
Implement significant and strategic improvements to transit in order to improve experience and increase ridership. The result is a transit network that offers quick, reliable and more frequent transit service.
Vito Tolone – Director of Transportation
 “Walk the Talk” in the Follow Through
Dedicate energy and attention to ensuring the actions identified in GoBold are implemented. Align decision making and budgeting to support the new mobility hierarchy.
This is all “Phony baloney” according to ward 2 city council candidate Lisa Kearns. She explained to a small audience recently that the problem with all these studies is that they are never related to each other.
Another problem is that the results seem to have a time line that has a life of its own.
By Pepper Parr
September 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a very full week politically.
The world laughed at the President of the United States when he was addressing the United Nations; a nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States faced accusations from what appeared to me to be a credible witness who claimed he had been sexually assaulted when they were both teenagers.
New Brunswickers are now trying to determine who will lead the government with the Liberals desperately trying to hang on to power.
And in Burlington we have debates taking place in every ward, something Burlington has never experienced before, while all three incumbents at the ward level refuse to take part – a desperate attempt to hold power.
 Ward 5 candidates: From the left: Xin Yi Zhang, Daniel Roukema, Wendy Moraghan and Mary Alice St. James  Ward 5 incumbent Councillor Paul Sharman chose not to take part in the ward debate. Last week the ward debates in wards 5 and 6 took place: ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman said he did not trust the group that organized the debate.
The next day the ward 6 debate took place. Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster refused to take part because she believed the group that organized the event was biased and unfair to her. She also blamed the Gazette for a story it had published about her reasons for not taking part.
This week we watched the candidate in ward 4 sit on a stage by herself because the incumbent had not shown up on time – there was never any certainty that Councillor Jack Dennison was going to arrive. He did and used his 20+ years of experience to bob and weave his way through the questions put to him.
 The five candidates running in ward 3: From the left Peter Rusin, Gareth Williams, Lisa Cooper, Darcy xxx and Rory Nisan  Retiring ward 3 Councillor John Taylor In ward 3 we listened to five candidates who consistently thanked the incumbent John Taylor for his more than thirty years of public service – he got close to a standing ovation while the candidates for the ward seat agreed, for the most part, that term limits should be in place.
In ward 6, the four candidates took part in a debate arranged by a local church. The ward Councillor Blair Lancaster was comfortable participating in this debate.
It also included a debate between the Mayoralty candidates.
Citizens have the kind of opportunity they have never had before – they can sit at home and watch the debates and decide for themselves who they want to be members of city council.
This election is pivotal for Burlington. There are some major issues on the table.
Be informed and vote.
It is your city, your home, the place you chose to live and raise your children. The government you elect is the government that will determine the kind of services available to you and the taxes you will pay,
 This 24 story tower that will rise across the street from city hall has been approved by city Council. A second tower south of this one has been approved at 17 storeys – the developer has appealed asking for 24 stories. There is a lot at stake.
The ward 5 debate link is here.
The ward 6 ECoB debate is here.
The ward 6 debate at St. Georges Anglican Church is here.
The ward 4 debate is here.
The ward 3 debate will be available later today.
Next week there will be debates in wards 1 and 2 – the video of those debates will be made available.
There is also a debate on October 9th for all the Mayoralty candidates that will take place at Central high school.
Locations dates and times are set in the advertisements, which are on the right side of every page of this on line newspaper.
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