Average asking rents for all residential property types in Canada have reached a record high of $2,202 per month, with a 9.3% year-over-year increase in May.
This growth trend is consistent with the past three years, showing an average annual growth of 9.1%. The rental market is strong, with cities like Vancouver and Toronto stabilizing near record highs.
Key points:
– Average asking rents in Canada surpassed $2,200 in May, marking a 9.3% year-over-year increase.
– The rental market is entering the peak summer season with continued strength as Canadian interest rates begin to decrease.
– Vancouver and Toronto are stabilizing near record highs, while mid- and small-sized cities are seeing double-digit rent increases.
– All provinces in Canada recorded annual increases in apartment rents for purpose-built and condo rentals in May.
Two events sharing the main floor of city hall last night was a first I think.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns decided a number of months ago that people needed to know more about the services that were available to people who needed help and the people who were in place to help people needed to know how the public saw the service they were providing, to a large degree on a volunteer basis.
Kearns had taken part in Safety Forum and decided the format that event used could work for a Community Cares Forum.
There were tables spread all over city hall with people asking questions and staff and volunteers answering.
Sixteen organizations, some volunteer, some commercial, some Not for Profit took part in a Community Forum that was well attended.
There was some risk. Kearns had to reach out to the numerous organizations that provide services that run the gamut from how we feed people, how we care for people with various accessibility or mental health needs.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns doing an interview during a Community Cares Forum that went very well.
Woodview supports families with autistic children.
There are students that need help getting through school when the household income just doesn’t cover the expense?
Resident listening to the work that Goodwill does in the community.
Food4Life staff member listening carefully to a citizen. Food4Life is a Not for Profit organization that collects food and delivers it to thousand in the Region.
There are people in hospital about to be released and need help getting home.
There are households that cannot afford the food the family needs. That food has to be found and then delivered – not a small task.
Kearns and her administrative assistant knew how to use social media. The used every platform they could find.
Would it work? Would it all come together? It did.
Pickle Ball has become the rage for those who want exercise and fun with their friends.
The Burlington Pickel Ball Association is hosting an open house Learn to Play Pickleball drop-in for youth and their family members this summer! We invite ages 8 to 14 to come out and learn how to play the world’s fastest growing sport.
Paddles provided, but we encourage you to bring your own. All youth must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
The event is on July 14th, (yes this is early notice) at the Haber Community Centre in gyms 5/6 from 10:00 am through to noon.
Pickel ball isn’t as challenging as tennis.
Those between 8 to 14 are invited to to come out and learn how to play the world’s fastest growing sport.
Paddles provided, but we encourage you to bring your own.
All youth must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
An article in the New York Times provides some background on the growth of the sport.
Pickleball, often described as a combination of tennis, Ping-Pong and badminton, grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America’s fastest-growing sport.
The sport is now attracting younger people as well.
Joanne Miller picked up pickleball two years ago after a friend needed to round out a foursome. Now she plays twice a week and hopes to play even more once her backyard court is complete. “We know if we have people over and we have paddles, everyone can go out and hit the ball,” she said. “Not everyone’s going to put a swimsuit on at 60.”
The sport has trended older in the past — half of all serious pickleball players (those who play eight or more times a year) in 2021 were 55 and older, according to the USA Pickleball Association. But the vast majority of casual players are under 55, and the fastest-growing segment of all pickleball players are under 24.
How is the sport able to appeal to both retirees and younger devotees? And regardless of your age, can you actually work up a sweat? Here’s what the experts say.
Many municipalities are adding new pickel ball courts; Burlington finds that it can’t keep up with the demand.
Many racket sports have a steep learning curve, even at the beginner level. “In tennis, the balls are all over the place,” said Ernie Medina Jr., an assistant professor of public health at Loma Linda University and pickleball coach who was introduced to the game in 2016 by his mother.
Bigger paddle, shorter handle and a ball that does fly through the air as fast nor does it bounce all over the place.
“In pickleball, you’re hitting a plastic wiffle-like ball, so it’s less bouncy and doesn’t fly as fast through the air. And the paddle is much easier to handle because it’s shorter and lighter than a tennis racket.” You also serve underhand in pickleball, and underhand serves are easier to hit and return.
Besides being easier to learn than tennis, pickleball is also slower paced and there’s less ground to cover; you could almost fit four pickleball courts onto one tennis court, and most picklers play doubles. Some research suggests that it may be safer than tennis for people with heart issues as well.
There were two event at City Hall last night. One was about the building, City Hall, and the other about caring for the people in the city. Except for one exception, Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, who was the host of the Community event, there wasn’t a politician to be seen or heard.
This is really two separate stories that took place in the same space – so let’s do them separately.
There was an opportunity to talk to the people who did much of the early design work of Civic Square. They were not staff members – they are staff from Spruce Lab, a planning, landscape architecture and urban design consultancy that is Indigenous and women-owned.
Their services include landscape design and green infrastructure, urban design, urban and rural planning, engagement (Indigenous, community and stakeholder engagement), integrated project delivery (IPD), public art collaboration, and related education / training.
Gary Scobie talking to a staff member about the designs for Civic Square that were on display last night.
One of the designs suggests the Clock could be moved to Elgin Street
We will be doing more on how Spruce Lab worked with the Indigenous community and the impact that has had on the design work they are doing.
The development is at the reviewing what has been proposed so far.
There were some people, not really all that many – certainly not more than 50 taking part. Those who did take part got a solid briefing.
There are now three designs for public consideration: 1) the Canopy design; 2) the Portal design, 3) the Atrium design.
The canopy design would have the entrance to City Hall basically where it is off Brant Street with a canopy wrapped around part of the street level.
The Portal and the Atrium design would be from the Civic Square we have no one version would have an atrium built into the entrance, the other would not have the Atrium.
Citizens looking over the proposed designs while the consultant takes notes.
One of the Spruce Lab consultants taking several people through each of the three proposed designs.
Nothing has been determined. City Hall wants feedback. They have done a survey and made an interactive computer application that lets people move parts of one design to another.
One of the proposed designs would orient the entrance to city hall to the right hand side of the line shown.
For example one design moves the Clock to Elgin Street close to the entrance to City Hall. My personal view is that the Clock gets lost on Elgin.
A Spruce Lab consultant pointing to where the entrance to city hall would be located
One man suggested that wherever the entrance is located that it include an entrance for people who have accessibility issues and a different entrance for everyone else; they would be side by side.
How much of this will be reflected in the final design, hard to tell – but it was clear that a lot f notes were being taken.
There is nothing final about anything at this point. The city and the consultants want to hear what people think about what has been suggested. The turn out Wednesday evening was not impressive.
It is difficult for consultants to respond to what a community wants when so very few people show up.
While the Civic Square designs were being explained on one side of the main floor at city hall another group on the other side had four times as many people taking part in a Community Cares event.
Summer Reading Club runs June 22 to August 18 and is open to kids from birth to 18. It’s totally FREE—and you can earn prizes for reading!
Registration opens June 22
Sign up at any branch or online anytime starting June 22. Then, keep reading all summer long and check in with us every week to be entered into our weekly and end-of-summer prize draws.
Parents & caregivers, read our handy tips to help your kids have the best reading and learning experiences this summer, setting them up for a stellar start to the school year.
SRC Kick-Off Party
Blast-off on a reading adventure, get registered for SRC, and enjoy games and activities for the whole family! Join us on Saturday, June 22 from 1pm to 4pm at all BPL branches.
It is described as a tree walk in Millcroft – it could be described as the scene of the crime.
Beneath the golf course there is a irrigation system that has managed the flow of water – any additional development would disrupt that system with flooding a serious possibility.
The Millcroft community is now waiting for a Ontario Land Tribunal decision that is expected in about four months after the extensive hearing.
Those who watched the hearings came away with the view that the lawyers representing the community had the stronger argument and that the development proposed should not proceed. And so they wait.
The proposed development will add 90+ homes to the golf course and seriously disrupt the irrigation system in place. Two of the holes on the 18 hole course would be shortened.
In the meantime the MGA (Millcroft Greenspace Alliance has focused on the biggest concern: educating the public on just how vital trees are for their community.
They have organized a walk that will be led by City arborist, Kyle McLoughlin
When and Where: Thursday, June 6 from 10 – 11:30 am meet near the splash pad in Millcroft Park. The forecast for tomorrow is looking perfect for a tree walk; Bring your sunglasses and a friend for this community event.
The City’s trees are a critical aspect of our lives and climate adaptation. This is evidenced by the Government of Canada’s goal of planting 2 billion trees.
The Pump House and the pond beside it could be removed should the Tribunal approve the development.
Walk in the Millcroft Neighbourhood and connect with others to learn about the City’s urban forest and its management. McLoughlin will talk along the walk offering some of his incredible knowledge of our City’s trees and their importance in our Community. He will highlight various trees and their features and benefits as well as offering tips on tree care and the importance of trees on our private properties. This will be an interactive session where you can ask your questions.
Kyle will raffle off five trees, as part of the City’s reforestation efforts to reach our goal of 35% tree canopy.
Pre-register by emailing millcroftgreenspace@gmail.com space is limited.
I’ve come to hate flying, mostly all the hassles and, of course, the impact on our climate. But I have family spread across northern Ontario and into Manitoba and thought I should visit them while I had the chance. Plus I had just bought a new battery electric car (EV) with a driving range of over 400 kms, so why not?
I drove over 4400 kms in less than two weeks – visiting family in Thunder Bay, Ear Falls and Winnipeg. Driving in my new EV was sheer delight but re-charging the car was another matter. For one thing it takes time to re-charge. Instead of 10 or 15 minutes it can take a hour or more before hitting the road again. I used the charging time for well deserved bathroom and meal breaks and an occasional well deserved nod off after some three or four hours of driving. And fortunately I was always able to locate an empty charging station.
Eat Falls, Ontario – population of less than 1000
There were no commercial charging facilities when my voyage took me to Ear Falls, a small community of fewer than a thousand people near road’s end in northern Ontario. So I connected the portable charger which came with the car, plugging into my cousin’s 120 volt outlet. An overnight charge was enough to give me the 70 or 80 kms I needed to get me comfortably to the next high speed commercial charger.
There are three levels of charging for an EV. Besides the slow 120 volt mode I used in Ear Falls, my regular home charger operates on 240 volts, much like the plug you have for your clothes dryer. And then there are fast commercial chargers which require direct current and can offer various rates of fast charging. However, fast charging is not considered a battery’s best friend, so other than when I’m travelling, my home 240 volt unit is the way to go.
This is not my first rodeo with an EV. Before my Ford Mustang I had driven a Nissan Leaf, with a much more limited 240 km range, which gave me chronic range anxiety for all but local travel. Still, over those six years that Nissan was entirely trouble free with zero maintenance cost other than a cabin fresh air air filter and a set of windshield wipers. It was dependable, quiet and almost free driving. And though I charged it at home 95% of the time, I never noticed any change in my energy bill.
Tesla has the most complete and easiest charging system but uses its own connection system which automatically charges your credit card as well as your car.
Commercial charging is still problematic. Tesla has the most complete and easiest charging system but uses its own connection system which automatically charges your credit card as well as your car. This system is almost mindless and will most likely become the industry standard. There are two other high speed charging connection systems for the non-Tesla folks to complicate the picture. And there are a multitude of companies offering these charging services, almost all of which insist that drivers have an app and account and use an internet connection to connect. In my experience these systems are troublesome and a huge disincentive for the average driver.
Petro Canada was the exception and it became my favourite on-the-road charger. They advertise a Canada wide electrical charging highway and were mostly accurate in that claim. Just like the gas pumps, one only needs to swipe a credit card to activate and get charged up. Unlike the others, they charge by the minute rather than by the quantity of electricity delivered to your car, but in my experience Petro Can was comparable in overall charging cost to the other companies.
Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One have been given the On Route road side station concessions with their system, which is called IVY. Unfortunately their pumps, which look like they were installed 30 years ago, require one of those nasty online accounts and an app to activate it. I couldn’t help thinking that these are agencies of a government which ripped out all of the chargers the previous government had installed at Ontario’s GO stations. Once I receive the Tesla adaptor for my car I’ll be relying on Elon Musk or Suncor’s Petro Canada for my future on-the-road needs.
The magnificent views of the north shore of Lake Superior, the glorious mountains of granite and the verdant forests along the way made it a wonderful road trip.
It was a long journey and there were moments when I almost regretted not taking the plane, though I would have had to rent a car anyway to get to Ear Falls. And I would have missed those magnificent views of the north shore of Lake Superior, the glorious mountains of granite and the verdant forests along the way. The ride was quiet in the EV with only tire road noise to let you know you are travelling.
And these cars are almost perfectly reliable since they contain only 10 percent of the moving parts of a regular gas guzzler and so less likely to break down. Oh, and did I mention how fast all the EV’s are compared to their usual gas guzzler predecessors. Electric motors provide instant torque compared to guzzlers. This is something very useful should you need to pass a slower vehicle safely on a two lane highway.
I kept an eye on the gauge sporting my estimated driving range as I drove along and found, much as with gas powered cars, that staying within the posted speed limits and avoiding the temptation to race from point A to B, vastly improve driving range and mileage. And in addition slower driving made the long journey that much safer and more interesting. But when I needed to speed up, this car was a rocket.
There weren’t many other EV’s on the long road I took to Winnipeg and back. In fact I never had to wait my turn to use a charging station. But that could change once people better understand the value proposition of going electric. So even though commercial chargers were relatively rare on this trip locating a charging station was not really a problem. Shell has also started installing chargers and even ESSO, the global chief climate denier, has announced that it too will be moving in that direction. Hopefully they will take a page out of Petro Canada’s book and implement charging pay-at-the-pump.
When I needed to speed up, this car was a rocket.
It’s been a decade since EV’s have appeared in a showroom and two decades since the first hybrid electric made it’s debut. So I continue to be amazed at the ignorance of the general public on something so essential to our lives as the private automobile. Everywhere I went people were curious about the car and almost nobody knew what a charging station was or where I could find one.
When I ran the numbers on the cost of driving there and back I was a little disappointed, since I was used to essentially driving for next to nothing for the last six years. Driving back from Winnipeg cost me $242.99 in charging costs. By comparison a more modest gasoline car would have cost me twice as much in fuel alone. But then the commercial charging networks need to make money too. I’m still glad I decided to drive rather than fly but I’m unlikely to do that long a road trip again.
Lisa Kearns, ward 2 Councillor, is holding a Community Cares Forum event on Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the City Hall Atrium
Community Caring is a big deal.
You might want to make an evening of it and take part in the Civic Square renewal plans that are being shown on the main floor of city hall and then scoot up to the second floor and watch Lisa talk about the 20 some odd groups that are taking part in the event.
She knows her stuff and at times can be wickedly funny with some of her one-liners.
Community Caring is a big deal – there are people who need help and there are people who have a lot of time on their hands and want to help.
At this dynamic forum, local service organizations will present their services, engage directly with community members, and collaborate to collectively improve Burlington’s quality of life. Whether you’re looking for support, wanting to volunteer, or considering donating, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with the heart of our community.
Why Attend?
Connect with Local Organizations: Discover the range of services available in your community and learn how they can support you.
Engage and Network: Meet service oriented individuals and organizations passionate about enhancing Burlington’s well-being.
Support Your Community: Explore opportunities to support local organizations through volunteer or involvement efforts.
“We often receive inquiries about wellness and support services,” said Councillor Kearns. “This forum is designed to connect our residents with the valuable resources and support available right here in Burlington. Many residents are also looking to reconnect with community and seek out a meaningful cause to give of their time, talents and treasures – this forum will help them learn about all the great work being done right here in Burlington”
Don’t miss this opportunity to make valuable connections and learn more about the resources available in our community. Register now to secure your spot! Drop-in attendees are also welcome.
For further inquiries, please contact the Ward 2 office at Ward2@burlington.ca or call 905-208-7998.
Some stability is settling in at the Performing Arts Centre.
Ken Smithard, BPAC Board Chair,
Ken Smithard, Board Chair, said there will be an announcement “later this week on the new Board members; their Bio’s will be posted on the BPAC web site shortly.
“There will be an announcement later this week on the new Board members, and their Bio’s will be posted on the BPAC web site shortly.”
Smithhard also said “The search for a new Executive Director is underway” and confirmed that Tammy Fox tendered her resignation which was effective immediately.
Volunteer Halton has introduced VolunteerConnector, a cutting-edge tool that simplifies finding and managing volunteer opportunities.
This platform is now live, connecting volunteers with meaningful roles across the Halton region.
Volunteer Halton is a pillar program of Community Development Halton (CDH). Through research, community development, planning and promotion volunteerism, Community Development Halton and Volunteer Halton strive to improve the quality of life for all residents of Halton.
Why VolunteerConnector?
Easy to Use: Find and apply for volunteer positions that match your skills and interests.
Wide Variety: Access numerous opportunities from various local organizations.
Stay Updated: Get real-time updates on the latest volunteer needs and events.
Active volunteers results in a happier, healthier community.
We urge organizations and individuals to explore VolunteerConnector and enhance their community engagement.
Help Spread the Word: We need your help to inform the community. Share this announcement through your channels and support our mission to boost volunteerism in Halton.
To search for volunteer opportunities or create a personal or organizational profile, visit:
As of 2023, municipalities in Ontario prepare their budgets on a cash basis, while financial statements are prepared using the accrual-based accounting framework required by the Public Sector Accounting Standards, PSAS for all public sector entities.
Very few understood the budget when it was put forward, many felt the city was not transparent when they said what the tax increase amounted to
This is financial lingo that some may not fully understand. If the plans work out it should be easier to understand city budgets when they are put forward.
Accounting standards to require municipal budgets and financial statements to align and connect with each other
On January 11, 2021, the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) released 2 updates to public sector accounting standards for comment to respond to the need for understandable financial statements and improving accountability to the public, including the following changes:
Relocating the net debt indicator to its own statement, providing the opportunity to better explain it.
Separating liabilities into two categories: financial and non-financial. This would remove the liabilities that were muddying up the net debt indicator from the calculation and return the indicator to its original meaning – future financial resource requirements.
Restructuring the statement of financial position to have a more familiar look to the public, reporting all assets together and all liabilities together.
Removing the statement of change in net debt as a required statement, as it’s not well understood.
Allowing the option to present the change in net debt along with the calculation of net debt if it provides good accountability information and can be made understandable. An explanation of what net debt means is also required.
Requiring the budget amounts on the financial statements to be presented using the same basis of accounting, same accounting principles, for the same scope of activities, and using the same classifications as the actual amounts.
Requiring that the reconciliation of the budget numbers reported on the operating statement with the approved budget, be understandable, if the actual and budget numbers are not prepared using the same basis of accounting, same accounting principles, for the same scope of activities, and using the same classifications.
The city at one time held budget review meetings that drew 50 people at times. New rules should result in a more informed public.
PSAB also introduced new presentation concepts to promote the preparation of understandable financial statements, including:
presenting complex items, transactions and other events as simply as possible
demonstrating the relationship between different pieces of information
evaluating presentation choices based on whether they add to or support the accountability value of the financial statements
giving higher profile to matters of importance
providing information at the appropriate level of detail
Cash-based vs Accrual-based accounting
Early adoption of these standards is optional, or mandatory in 2026
They will become effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, but earlier adoption is optional.
There is science and chance behind succeeding in these games.
Slot machine games are found everywhere you look in the casino gambling world. Many think playing slots involves only pure-chance wins. However, these popular games of luck are not as random as you may think. There is science and chance behind succeeding in these games, and of course, like any other casino games, there are surefire ways to get the upper edge and payouts from them. This article will explore the tested tactics professional players use to their advantage in the odds, slot mechanics, and bankroll management that ensures optimal play.
The Operations of Slot Machines
The random number generator (RNG) in slot machines is an algorithm
The random number generator (RNG) in slot machines is an algorithm that runs through a list of hundreds and even thousands of randomly numbered combinations per second. When you hit the spin button, the RNG stops at any randomly predetermined combination, which is then converted into symbols that appear on the reels.
Payouts are determined by the winning combinations of reel symbols appearing in specific configurations. Because the RNG operates so rapidly and continuously, the outcome of every spin is independent of any other spin.
Although completely random, slot machines are configured by the house to pay out a certain percentage of money bet on them over the long term in regular play. This percentage is the return to player (RTP) rate and typically ranges between 90% and 98% for regulated online slots.
So, if a slot machine has an RTP of 95% for every $100 bet on it, it will pay out $95 in dividends over a sufficient period. This average payout rate, however, can change drastically over short runs when players experience runs of wins or losses. The RTP only reveals what to expect over tens of thousands, if not millions, of spins.
Paylines and Hit Frequency
Most, if not all, modern slot machines, such as those online slot games at BETMGM Casino, offer more than one pay line — the paths that qualifying symbols must land on to form a winning combination. Paylines directly influence hit frequency, which is the expectation of how often you can expect to hit a winning combination when you spin a particular slot machine.
The more paylines there are, the more ways to win on every single spin. This improves your chances of winning, thereby increasing hit frequency. The trade-off is that the more paylines there are, the more you bet to cover all paylines on every spin to take full advantage of the additional win ways. So, in proportion, paylines decrease payouts.
High and Low Variance Slots
Variance indicates how frequent and how large the payouts of a particular game will be.
Variance indicates how frequent and how large the payouts of a particular game will be. Low variance slot machines pay out smaller but more frequent dividends – you will encounter a decent hit rate of smaller winning combinations but fewer huge jackpot combinations. This allows you to play slots longer without burning through your bankroll.
High-variance slot machines pay out less frequently but are significantly bigger when they hit. With these machines, you can burn through your bankroll rather quickly while you wait for the big combination that may take many spins to hit.
Slot variance is a statistical element that should be part of the game’s rules, so check it out. Play low variance slots if you are the type that prefers to play consistently with more minor risks over more extended periods. Play high variance if you are eager to take on more significant risks while waiting for the combination that will eventually pay greater dividends.
Bet Size and Denomination Affect Payouts
In slot games, the machine’s bet size and denomination directly affect the payouts you will get as a winner. For example, a $1 slot machine will typically pay out proportionally double the payout amounts of a 50-cent slot machine, assuming all other parameters are the same.
Of course, you should always check these details on the particular game rules since RTP and hit frequency may vary according to the denomination and bet size. When you play slots for the big jackpots, you will typically need to activate all paylines and bet the maximum amount allowed, which will also determine higher-tiered payouts.
Employ Strategies To Increase Your Odds
Although randomly generated numbers determine a slot’s outcome, there are strategies you can use to maximize payouts. One of these tips is to practice responsible bankroll management. Decide how much you will gamble and adhere to this budget as tightly as possible. Limit your potential losses by walking away once this budget has been exhausted.
You can also check the variance — choose low-variance games that offer smaller but more frequent payouts and increase gameplay. Conversely, try your hand at high variance slots if you can wait for the combinations that eventually pay out the vast amounts. Take advantage of bonuses and promotions online gambling sites offer for additional funds that extend playing time. Finally, know when to quit – always cash out and stop playing once you have reached your set loss or win limit for any given session.
Some of the comments made by people who move their lips when they read are close to the most disgusting I have seen on this web site. There are serious problems that are going to take decades to resolve. Our practice has been to permit opposing views. Comments on this issue are not going to be published.
UPDATE: The spokesperson for the M.M. Robinson High School student group sent us the following statement after the article was first published.
” Our walkout is being put in place to call upon a ceasefire. We must make it clear that we are not pro terror, anti semitic, or otherwise. All we ask is for an end in the fighting, and the atrocities that have been committed since October 7th. We are here to support the innocent Palestinians being caught in the crossfire, and to call upon an end in this war.”
A student led team from M.M. Robinson High School will be holding a walk out on June 6th at 1:30 pm
The walk out is to support a pro-Palestinian position.
The walkout/protest will take place near the intersection of Guelph Line and Upper Middle. The high school is to the west of the intersection
A student spokesperson said: “This initiative has been carefully orchestrated by a large team, extremely passionate on defending and protecting human/Palestinian rights.
There have been numerous protests on university campuses across the country. This event is the first we have heard of in the Halton Region.
The note I got from the lawyers representing the seven members of the 2014 city council that I had sued was a note saying:
Although you have taken no steps to pursue the action you commenced against the City, your action remains technically alive. Given that there are no restrictions on you and there have not been for over 4.5 years, we request that you agree to a dismissal of the action on a without costs basis. We would be pleased to send a full and final release, consent and draft dismissal order for your review.
Interestingly, the note said the action was commenced against the city. The action was commenced against seven individuals who were not employees of the city; they were city council members.
Sometime in September 2017 City Council went into a CLOSED session to discuss a Human Resources matter related to a named individual. I was in the Council Chamber at the time and mentioned to Joan Little, the Hamilton Spectator columnist, who was with me in the Council Chamber as well, that I wondered who it was this time.
Little did I know it was me?
Members of the 2014-2018 City Council Just two of the seven were returned to office in the 2018 municipal election.
Complaints were said to have been made about my behaviour; an investigation done and the results in the hands of the city manager who took it to Council.
This was at a time when the #Metoo movement was close to its peak.
James Ridge, former City Manager, at a Council meeting.
It was also at a time when I did not have a very good working relationship with then City Manager James Ridge.
On or about September 20, Ridge asked to meet with me, which was unusual. I asked that he set out what the subject matter was to be. He wasn’t prepared to do that but said he would mail it to me. The subject matter was a Notice of Trespass which banned from me from attending events at City Hall.
I was effectively banned from City Hall for one year, if I chose to be in city hall, I was to be escorted by a security officer.
I was stunned. I know who I am; I know what I have done and not done. I spoke to a number of people for advice; sought advice from legal counsel and looked into what my legal options were.
The legal issue was “due process” which requires that legal matters be resolved according to established rules and principles and that individuals be treated fairly.
One of the rules is that you get to see the evidence that has been gathered. There was an investigation into the complaints the city said were made the Human Resources.
I was not interviewed by the investigators meaning they did not have my side of whatever story there was.
Dealing with and determining just what the issue was took time; – Given that by this time I was more than halfway through the 12 month banning, decided that I would wait the year out.
During that year I learned where at least a part of the complaint came from; that information has yet to be dealt with. It amounts to a Criminal Code offence that I have yet to move on. In Canada there are no statute of limitation on Criminal Code matters – so there is plenty of time to scrape together the funds to retain good criminal counsel.
At the end of the year I asked the local counsel I had at that time,what steps I should take. Do I just walk back into City Hall as if nothing had happened? The advice I was given was to wait and see what the city chose to do.
Before that could happen a second notice of Trespass was served on me. That Notice gave specific reasons for the ban, which when read, were ludicrous. The second Notice of Trespass was a forever ban The details of the second notice of trespass was a forever ban.
We were now into the 2018 election which resulted in Meed Ward being elected Mayor and Paul Sharman returned to office. Five new people were elected to office as well.
With the advice of Counsel I decided to sue the seven members of the 2014-2018 City Council, namely Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman, Blair Lancaster and Mayor Rick Goldring.
A Statement of Claim was prepared, filed with the Court House in Hamilton. I personally served the seven members of Council.
Matters of due process amount to what are referred to as Charter issues are complex and expensive to fight in court. There were not many lawyers in the community with experience in this field.
The woman representing me at that time had decided to move from Burlington to Northern Ontario which meant finding new legal counsel. That proved to be a daunting task.
I interviewed 23 different lawyers. Several weren’t at all interested. Five were – the lowest retainer required was $45,000. My tax return doesn’t have a figure of that size on it.
We thought we had something going with a law student organization at one of the universities was led by well qualified faculty who were members of the Law Society of Upper Canada; the administrator of the group decided a Charter issue case was not what the students needed.
In June of last year, 2023, I learned that those two Notices of Trespass the city issued in 2017 and 2018 were illegal. In order to issue a Notice of Trespass the city was required to have a bylaw in place. At the time there was no bylaw in place. The City Solicitor and the City Manager at the time either knew or should have known that there was no bylaw in place.
Learning that what the city had done was illegal didn’t help in getting the legal counsel we needed.
Earlier this year I did get a note from the lawyers (which you as taxpayers are paying for) representing the seven members of the 2024-2028 Council advising us that then City Manager Tim Commisso had sent us an email in 2019 saying I was allowed to return to city hall, adding, that that if there were any further complaints about my behaviour the city would issue another Notice of Trespass, which they could now do because there is a by law in place. Commisso also said the city could use the report they had, which I have yet to see, to support the issuing of any future Notice of Trespass.
The July 2019 note from Commisso was sent to me by email. I did not receive that email. For a matter as important as this the notice should have been sent to me by registered mail
Unfortunately for me the clock had run out on my Statement of Claim. These claims must be on the court calendar within five years from the date they have been served. That time is up and so I have to sign the Full and Final Release the lawyers have prepared. I managed to have several unacceptable clauses removed.
I was advised by the lawyers that if I have not signed and delivered the document by the end of today, June 3rd, they will seek an order requiring me to pay all the costs the city has incurred to date. They can do that.
James Ridge took the tweet down shortly after it was posted.
The city had directed the lawyer representing the 2014-2018 council to do whatever it takes to get rid of the Statement of Claim.
There is an upside to all this. The Mayor did get rid of the then City Manager James Ridge; she called a Special Meeting of Council to vote on her wish to fire Ridge. The ink had yet to dry on the business cards the new council members were handing out to everyone they knew. They had yet to see a pay cheque.
I am almost inclined to let that happen; that is the only way you, the public, will learn just how much the City has spent on a matter that was illegal, unfair and a violation of my rights under the Charter.
The following is the document prepared by the lawyers the city hired to defend the members of the 2014-2018 City Council.
FULL AND FINAL RELEASE
IN CONSIDERATION OF the consent to a dismissal on a without costs basis of the action which bears Court File No. 18-67591 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, I, W.H. Pepper Parr, the Plaintiff in the action on behalf of myself and my successors, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, servants and agents, hereby release and forever discharge Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster and their successors, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, servants and agents, from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, accounts, bonds, covenants, contracts, proceedings, complaints, claims, demands and rights whatsoever, whether or not known or anticipated, which I or my successors, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, servants and agents, or any of them, ever had, now have or may in the future have against Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster arising as a consequence of the matters relevant to the action as described above, including allegations which could have been raised in the action described above.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the above-described consideration is not an admission of liability on the part of Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster, and further, that such liability is expressly denied.
IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that I will not make any claim or take any proceeding, either in my own name or in names of entities I control, either directly or indirectly, against any person, corporation, partnership or other entity which may or does claim contribution or indemnity by statute or otherwise from Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster or their successors, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, servants and agents with respect to any of the matters to which this Release applies.
IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that in the event that I do make any claim or take any proceeding in violation of the paragraphs above, this Release may be raised as an estoppel to any such claim or proceeding, and I undertake and agree to indemnify Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster on a substantial indemnity basis in respect of any defence costs incurred by or on behalf of Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster in relation to such claim or proceeding.
AS PART OF THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED CONSIDERATION, I agree to keep all of the terms of this settlement and all documents disclosed to me in the action, including the terms of this Release, strictly confidential and not to voluntarily disclose any of them, except for the purpose of receiving confidential professional advice, or as may be required or authorized by laws or regulations or by compulsion of law, and I further acknowledge and agree that any voluntary breach of this agreement of confidentiality by me will result in the immediate forfeiture of any and all consideration given to me or on behalf of Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster under the terms of this Release.
IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that each of the paragraphs of the within Release is severable from the document and an action may be commenced upon individual clauses without altering the force and effect of the remaining clauses in the Release.
IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED that I have received, or have had the opportunity to receive, independent legal advice with respect to the terms of the settlement of the above-described action, including the terms of this Release.
IT IS FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED that I have read this Release carefully and have signed it voluntarily and freely and without any form of duress being exerted upon me by Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster, or anyone acting on their behalf and with the express purpose of making full and final compromise, adjustment and settlement with respect to all of the matters to which this Release applies.
I HEREBY DIRECT my lawyers to consent to the dismissal of the above-described action as against Rick Goldring, Rick Craven, Marianne Meed Ward, John Taylor, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and Blair Lancaster, and confirm that I am not a party under a disability.
From May 13 to October 31, 2024, Halton Region Public Health will be conducting a mosquito larviciding program under the direction of Dr. Deepika Lobo, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health, to reduce the incidence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton and the Town of Oakville.
Larviciding in standing water
The biological larvicide, VectoBac 200G (PCP# 18158, granular) or VectoBac 1200L (PCP# 21062, liquid), will be applied to affected standing water on public lands in urban areas, where monitoring indicates that mosquito larvae are present. Signs will be posted at each location indicating when and where the larvicide has been applied.
Larviciding in catch basins
Where monitoring indicates that mosquito larvae are present, the larvicide Altosid Pellets (PCP# 21809, pellet), *Altosid Granules (PCP # 22676), Altosid XR Briquets (PCP# 27694, ingot) or Vectolex WSP (PCP# 28009, pouch) will be placed by hand into catch basins.
All larvicides will be applied by Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks licensed applicators or technicians.
Bit of a twist to the piano looking for a new home story
Maggie has decided she wants to give away the Yamaha Piano her late husband used to play. Her hope is that there is a music student or enthusiast who may appreciate it.
Yamaha Baby Grand Piano GC1 model The dimension is “161cm by 149cm”.
If you, or someone you know, might be interested in receiving this instrument for free, please feel free to reach out to me.
You can reach Maggie at:
liyema.judge77@gmail.com>
Maggie adds:
I’m relocating to France next two weeks, and I don’t think my husband will be happy if I sell this piano, so I’m hoping to give it out to someone who is a passionate lover of the instrument, and you can have it if you want it or forward my email/pictures to anyone who’s interested in the instrument. I wasn’t going to leave it alone in an empty house.
The Piano is currently in storage in Calgary, Alberta with the movers I employed to move my properties from my house. I can forward you the movers’ contact details to enable you to contact them. The movers can deliver anywhere. I have attached pictures of the instrument for you. However, I will not be responsible for the cost of delivering the piano to you. However, the movers’ rates are reasonably affordable.
Joe has an opinion and an interpretation of some facts that he wants to share.
Regarding: “Residents wonder why tax bills appear more than the 6.58 per cent increase reported, City of Burlington encourages residents to compare 2023 to 2024 tax bills
The article in Burlington Today, published May 31,2024, states, “Some Burlington
residents are questioning their tax bills and wondering why it appears they’re paying 10
per cent more than last year.”
I can’t speak for other taxpayers in Burlington, but I am not one of the people
“wondering” about my tax bill.
However I am “questioning” why Burlington Council increased their portion of my tax Bill by 10.21%.
For those who are “wondering” how taxes are assessed, this information can be found by visiting the province of Ontario website, where they will find:
“Property tax is a levy based on the assessed value of property.
Property tax has two components: a municipal portion and an education portion.
• The rates for the municipal portion of the tax are established by each
municipality.
o In a two-tiered municipality, a component of the rate is set by the uppertier
and a component is set by the lower-tier municipality.
• The rates for the education portion of the tax are established by the Minister of
Finance and help to fund the elementary and secondary education system in
Ontario. Education tax rates are set in Ontario Regulation 400/98 under the
Education Act.
Comparing my 2023 to 2024 Final Bills here is what I found:
The total increase in my tax bill year over year was $383.93. 1. The Burlington portion of that increase was $291.28, or 75.87% of the increase. 2. The increase passed on by the Region was $36.98 or 9.63% of the increase. 3. The increase by the Police was $55.67 or $14.50% of the increase. 4. There was no increase in the Education levy in 2024.
Lori Jivan, City of Burlington manager budgets and policies
According to the article, “Lori Jivan, City of Burlington manager budgets and policies said the overall tax increase in 2024 is 6.58 per cent”. While this is factually correct, what we as citizens of Burlington should be concerned about is how Council are spending our money. They and they alone had the ability to, not increase our tax bill, increased it slightly, or increased it a lot.
In a year where many people are suffering Council increased the portion they have control over of by 10.21%.
According to StatsCan “The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.9% on an annual average basis in 2023”.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240116/dq240116b-eng.htm
All things being equal one would understand Council coming forward with a budget somewhere in the area of 4% or greater but not 10.21% greater. Many people delegated on the budget and thought that 10.21% was over the top.
Time will tell, but the early signals coming from Council indicate them doing a repeat for
the 2025 budget cycle.
For those who are interested in conducting their own analysis I have included a copy of
my spreadsheet.
Joe Gaetan spent 13 of his fifty years of uninterrupted employment as a small business owner. He operated a Laser Smoking Cessation business, treating over 5,000 during the the life of the business. He retired from that business in 2013. Prior to that he worked for a Fortune 100 company.
Canada now has some of the biggest iGaming markets.
Recent statistics suggest that at least 19.3 million Canadians are playing real money games online. So, it’s not surprising that the country has been penetrated by various online casino operators.
That includes crypto casinos which allow players to transact with popular digital coins like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and many more.
In this article, we’ll take a look at today’s best crypto casinos in Canada and why they can be worth signing up with. If you’re looking to have some fun with your cryptocurrencies and potentially make profits, then stick around.
Why Use Cryptocurrencies When Playing Real Money Casino Games?
If you’re already a crypto holder, then you’re most likely just looking for ways to grow or enjoy your coins. However, there are advantages to using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin when playing at online casinos. Here are some of them:
Privacy and Anonymity: Let’s face it, not everyone wants their bank statement shouting, “Blackjack champ!” Crypto transactions are more discreet than traditional payment methods. This way, you can play your favorite games without worrying about nosy neighbors or judgmental family members seeing your casino activity.
Faster Transactions: Crypto transactions are usually fast and processed in just a few minutes. That’s why at crypto casinos, you can deposit funds and withdraw your winnings in a jiffy.
Little To No Fees: Tired of those pesky transaction fees eating into your winnings? Crypto transactions often come with lower fees compared to traditional methods. Most casinos don’t even charge anything for crypto transactions.
Global Accessibility: Some online casinos may be restricted in certain countries. However, using cryptocurrencies can bypass these limitations. They can give you access to a wider range of casinos and games worldwide.
Bonuses and Promotions: Some crypto casinos offer exclusive bonuses and promotions for players who use cryptocurrencies. Generally, casinos also offer better bonuses to crypto players. In the business side of things, processing crypto payments is usually cheaper, and that’s why they can afford to give crypto players better rewards.
Best New Crypto Casinos in Canada Today
A quick search on crypto casinos in Canada will give a long list of choices. To some, the more options, the better. However, we also understand that choosing one can be overwhelming. Don’t worry, we’ve got some recommendations where you can get a solid gaming experience:
10Bet – Best Crypto Casino Overall
10Bet has been in the casino industry since 2003, and they’re some of the most trusted platforms in Canada. They offer casino games from software providers like Big Time Gaming, NetEnt, and Microgaming.
That alone should tell you that they offer high quality bitcoin casino games including slot machines and table games like roulette, blackjack, and video poker.
This Canadian online casino supports cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Tether, Tron, Ripple, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.
starz – Fastest Payouts
Bitstarz is a multi-awarded online casino where you can play over 5,000 titles. They also offer exclusive games since they are a software developer themselves. But aside from Bitstarz Originals, other software providers on board are Platipus, BGaming, and Amatic.
You can use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum at this online casino. They’re some of the fastest out there when it comes to processing payouts. On average, they can complete withdrawals in 10 minutes.
Neospin – Generous Bonuses
Many online casino players would prioritize bonuses when choosing an online casino. We understand why. A bankroll boost is always great to have. It simply means longer gameplay and more chances of winning.
If you’re all about scoring the best bonuses, then go for Neospin. The casino’s welcome bonus alone is impressive since you can get up to a C$10,000 deposit bonus. Aside from that, the casino will also give you a cashback on every deposit.
Neospin supports cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Tether, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Ripple.
MyStake – Wide Variety of Betting Options
Love playing casino games but also betting on your favorite sports? MyStake can give you the best of both worlds. They offer a massive casino game library with over 5,000 titles and a competitive sports betting market.
Their live dealer section is also worth checking out since they have plenty of tables with the most charming dealers.
MyStake accepts Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and plenty of other banking options that Canadian players will find convenient.
Conclusion
No matter what crypto casino you choose, make sure you gamble responsibly. If you’ve never used cryptocurrencies before, then make sure you take the time to understand how they work, especially their volatility.
Good luck on your gaming journey and most importantly, have fun!
It is close to the end of the Eagles Nest on-line auction.
It ends today at 8:00 pm today.
They have raised $8,414.00 of the $10,000 target; still time to reach the target.
Some of the items you can bid on.
What was really impressive about this community auction was the response from the community with the items they donated.
While in Waterdown on Friday I dropped into Pickwick Books to ask Marnie Mycroft, owner of the shop, why she took part. “Waterdown is a small almost country town. Some of the shops still close at noon on Wednesday.”, she said.
She explained that the size of the community is such that in the commercial sector we all know each other and want to ensure that the community and the people in it are taken care of – so they help out where they can.
The link to the list of what is being offered on the on-line auction is HERE.
A short article on what the funds being raised will be used for is shown below. This is community taking care of community – at its best.
Some people have asked – what is the Burlington Gazette doing so much to support a Waterdown based organization? I have two answers to that question. 1) many of the people who benefit from the service Eagles Nest offers are Burlington residents. 2) the work they do is one of the better examples I’ve seen of volunteers serving the community –
Finally their phrase Hope Restored – Lives Changed resonated with me.
There isn’t a day when we don’t hear or read something about the environment. From a world perspective it is the most important issue on the table.
Climate change leads the list of issues and how we handle waste is probably the next on the list.
Climate change is going to take place when we, as individuals, change the way we do things. Don’t let the car engine idle in cold weather and move to an electric vehicle.
Plastic waste is creating huge problems that we don’t have a handle on yet.
How we manage waste and the level of recycling is also very high on the list.
A poll done by a respected reliable public polling organization claims that 81% of people in Ontario want to be able to re-cycle–what – that number is up from 76% a year ago.
Environmental Defence, a not for profit organization that advocates on environmental issues said Ontarians want a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic beverage containers. The poll, conducted by Abacus Data, shows overwhelming public support for a better system to manage empties for drinks like pop, water and juice in the province.
The public has made its wishes known – the province hasn’t found a way to respond.
The recent announcement on plans to permit the sale of beer 24’s in convenience stores puts a different spin on how people will return their empty bottles.
That decision to sell beer at convenience stores will mean less beer being bought at the Beer stores which is expected to eventually mean fewer Beer Stores – the one place that people took their empties. If there are going to be fewer Beer Store location – well you can see the problem.
Environmental Defence has been on this story for years.
Environmental Defence said: “We appear to be at a point where more beer will be sold with fewer locations to return empty bottles. There is a solution that has to be made at the provincial level.
Karen Wirsig, Plastics Program Manager with Environmental Defence
According to Karen Wirsig, Plastics Program Manager with Environmental Defence, “the beverage industry is poised to introduce a pop bottle “tax” in Ontario to handle empties from non-alcoholic beverages. Does that mean we’re getting a new-and-improved program that will boost collection, refill and recycling while cutting litter? The answer – so far – is no.
“The beverage industry appears to want to keep the same ineffective system that we have today – recycling bins – even though we have proven year after year that deposit-return systems work.”
People will return the empties – they just need a place to take them to.
She adds: “People in Ontario are used to returning beer, wine and liquor bottles. In 2021, we took back 1.3 billion alcohol containers, including more than 340 million refillable beer bottles – a whopping 98 per cent of all the refillable beer bottles sold that year.
Changing the proven success of a deposit-return system makes the system we currently rely on for pop, water, juice, milk and iced tea all the more outrageous. History has taught us that Ontario’s curbside Blue Box program, with complementary recycling bins in parks and along sidewalks, is not as good as deposit-return for ensuring collection, reuse and recycling.
We know what the problem is – and we know what the possible solutions are – getting the government and the vested interest to listen is where the challenge lays.
By Staff
Key points:
