 By Staff
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government is investing $141 million to extend the temporary wage increase for personal support workers and direct support workers in publicly funded home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals, and social services sectors. This temporary wage increase will continue until August 23, 2021, and will help stabilize, attract and retain the workforce needed to provide a high level of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The province has been providing a temporary wage increase since October 1, 2020, to over 158,000 workers who deliver publicly funded personal support services, including:
• $3 per hour for approximately 38,000 eligible workers in home and community care;
• $3 per hour for approximately 50,000 eligible workers in long-term care;
• $2 per hour for approximately 10,000 eligible workers in public hospitals; and
• $3 per hour for approximately 60,000 eligible workers in children, community and social services providing personal direct support services for the activities of daily living.
This latest temporary wage increase builds on the government’s previous wage enhancement extension on March 18, 2021, which was set to expire on June 30, 2021. Since October 2020, Ontario has invested $841 million to support personal support workers and supportive care workers. The province will continue to review the wage increase to inform next steps after August 23, 2021.
 By Staff
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has many great parks, big and small, that residents and visitors enjoy throughout the year. From playgrounds and skate parks to large, green open or forested areas, there is a park for everyone.
Starting June 14, the City will be piloting the Park Customer Experience program. The Park Experience team will be in parks to educate, engage and communicate with residents and park users, with a customer service focus.
We encourage park visitors to have a conversation with a Park Experience team member – ask questions about City of Burlington projects and general City related inquiries, get help navigating our website with a tablet, or learn about City events happening in the community.
Park Experience staff are also happy to pass along a compliment or help direct an issue to the right City staff person.
The Park Experience team will be visiting parks around the city and will have an ongoing presence at some of the busier parks like Spencer Smith, Beachway, LaSalle, Burloak, Norton and Lowville parks, daily throughout the summer. All team members will carry identification and be wearing a blue golf shirt.
During a review of the changes Parks and Recreation wants to make, now that the province is permitting municipalities to open up, a number of issues were identified.
 There are limits on how the park space can be used during this first phase of the Re-Opening. Issues:
- During the pandemic there has been an increase of residents’ passive use of parks year round
- Pre-pandemic, Recreation, Community and Culture has consciously limited the number of bookings in parks, outside of sport fields, events, picnics and photography, so that parks are not over subscribed with organized groups and allow for passive use of residents
- The province is entering step 1 of the Roadmap to Re-open adding additional park use in the parks for sport and fitness
- Group size of 10, 3 m distancing
- The additional passive use in the parks has already put pressure on parks maintenance – garbage pick ups, washroom servicing, adding use will add pressure to this current
- Some parks are much busier than others especially all the lakefront parks
- Some times of day are busier than others – weeknight and weekends
Options
The following options were considered:
Assumption: all options are only applicable while under Step 1 of the Province’s Roadmap to Re-Opening
- Do not permit fitness classes in parks and retain only passive resident use – no cost
- Allow for fitness classes in open spaces in select locations, in select parks, and at select times, and charge the appropriate approved rental rate – revenue generation
- Council-approved rate
- Not for Profit with the 20% rate reduction already approved by Council – $9.97/hour plus HST
- Commercial with the 20% rate reduction already approved by Council – $14.51/hour plus HST
- Limit to weekday use
- No lake front parks
- Not on sport fields because of wear and tear issues and existing permitted use
- Similar to photography permit conditions, it is the responsibility of the permit holder and group to accommodate the community in the park and to work around the
- Allow for fitness classes as outlined in option 2 but at no charge – no cost
- Allow for fitness classes in all parks without limitations and charge the appropriate fee – revenue generation
- Council-approved rate
- Not for Profit with the 20% rate reduction already approved by Council – $9.97/hour plus HST
- Commercial with the 20% rate reduction already approved by Council – $14.51/hour plus HST
- Allow for fitness classes in all parks without limitations at no charge – no cost
Option 2 was chosen by the Leadership Team and approved by the Standing Committee
Decision:
Permit fitness classes in open spaces in select locations, in select parks, and at select times, and charge the appropriate approved rental rate.
- This decision supports:
- Staff’s ability to quickly communicate and act on requests given the possibility Step 1 of the Province’s Roadmap to Re- Opening will transition to Step 2 in or around July 2nd.
- Staff balancing locations and timings with the passive use of
- Staff’s ability to monitor how many groups are in the parks, when and where through the permitting
- Equity of treatment with other parties seeking permits to utilize park space
Enforcement:
- No by-law enforcement is required as the Parks By-Law allows for this type of use
- COVID compliance with step 1 will occur on a complaint basis, when and if staff are available to investigate
- Sport Ambassadors and Park Experience staff will observe use, mitigate onsite issues and report and follow up with supervisors and if required staff may need to re-assess a park location and timing of the permit
- The permit holder must comply with all the terms and conditions for facility rental contract (permit). Non- compliance could result in the termination of the
By Maria Logger
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
While there are many web hosting services available, finding the best hosting solution for your website is not always easy. There are many considerations you need to make to ensure your site gets the best support possible. Whether you have a personal blog or a small business, you need your website to be reliable, usable, and secure.
 A successful website can make or break your success. For many small organizations having a successful website can make or break their success. A good online presence will drive growth while an under-performing website will mean your business never reaches its potential. If the website is the house of your online output, think of hosting as the foundations of the house, which is why it is essential to find the best web hosting possible.
 The design is critical – work with people who understand you and your clients. Many small business owners will make some important mistakes when selecting web hosting. Firstly, they will often believe all the major hosting services were created equal and there is no difference between Provider A and Provider B. Secondly, business owners are often cost-conscious and will simply choose the most affordable hosting.
Sure, keeping prices down is a good thing and you should always look for the most cost-effective solution. However, you need to mix affordability with quality. There are also plenty of other tips to follow to ensure you choose the best web hosting service for you. Luckily, we have listed those things below:
Base Your Hosting on Your Needs
Before choosing a web hosting package, consider what type of website you want. There’s a big difference in resources between a simple blog-style website and one that has multiple videos, live streams, forums, and so on. Your hosting service should reflect the level of performance you require and be able to keep your site running optimally.
 How much bandwidth do you need – and what is bandwidth anyway? Which Type of Hosting?
Your site needs will tell you a lot about which hosting to get. If you have a resource intensive website, you should look for dedicated hosting, which means your site is held on its own server (more expensive). If you have a more basic resource need, considering the more common shared hosting, which means your website is hosted on a server with other sites (less expensive).
Read Reviews
If you have found a couple of hosting providers that meet your web needs at a price, you’re happy with, you now need to compare them. Perhaps the best way to do this is to read customer reviews. Find regulated review aggregators and check what people are saying about your chosen web hosting providers.
Choosing Bandwidth
Many people make the mistake of buying a package with enough bandwidth to suit their needs in that moment. They forget to consider growth if the site becomes successful and the number of visitors grows. It is more affordable to purchase more bandwidth when opening your hosting contract than to add more later.
 Make sure you have the level of security you need. Security is Important
We live in an age of cybersecurity where there is a constant risk of attack. Don’t make the mistake of thinking because your website is small threat actors are not interested in it. You need to ensure your site is properly secure. There are many things you can do to ensure security, but the best place to start is by choosing a web hosting service with a strong set of cyber protection features.
 By Staff
June 11th, 2021
Burlington, ON
When ya gotta – ya gotta.
 Lots of porta potties in the Beachway – none in the downtown core. City council expect hundreds of people to be out on the streets and the need for access to washrooms – well there aren’t enough of them.
There is one in the building at 414 Locust that house a restaurant, the Tourism office and access to the parking garage.
City hall has found a way to open that space up to the public.
Issues:
- Significant demand of existing City provided washrooms in downtown area resulting in line-ups for use
- Discovery Landing, City Hall, Beachway Park Pavilion+ Portable Washrooms, Spenser Smith Park Portable Washrooms (East Side)
- Pressure on local businesses for use of their washrooms by public
Decision:
- Open washrooms at 414 Locust for public use
- Existing COVID restrictions Only one person/family use of washroom at a time.
- Staff monitoring occupancy flow into the lobby
- Availability
- June 11 – July 25 including statutory holidays
– Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays – 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
 Washroom access in the tourism office.
 Sidney Adams
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
So much of life and leisure has moved online over the course of the last year. The coronavirus pandemic has shifted almost everything that possibly can be digitalized away from in-person and right on to the web – and gambling is no exception.
Some people have predicted that the vaccine rollout and the tentative easing of coronavirus restrictions might end up leading to a shift away from the institutions and places which have enjoyed a boost in success over the course of the pandemic. But the benefits of gambling and gaming online are clearly being felt – and there’s little sign of online casinos winding down any time soon. This article will delve into more detail about how and why this is the case.
The numbers
The evidence shows that online gambling is very much on the up. In-person casino firms have spent recent months making acquisitions that bolster their online gambling credentials: Caesars Entertainment, for example, has picked up the British firm William Hill in part in order to build out its web and mobile gambling provision.
In the UK, meanwhile, data from the Gambling Commission released during the early phase of the pandemic showed that those who were already gambling were upping their use of gambling services. Figures showed that just over two thirds of such people boosted either the amount of cash or time they spent gambling – suggesting that the established gambling community were firmly happy with the shift to online.
Privacy is key
 Some online gambling sites are offering cryptocurrency deposit options which don’t have an ownership record. It’s easy to see why online casinos remain so popular. For some, the privacy offered by being able to gamble at home is a real game-changer. And now that some online gambling sites are offering cryptocurrency deposit options which don’t have an ownership record thanks to their decentralized nature, it’s easier than ever to gamble in private.
It’s interesting to ask whether privacy concerns also exist with online gambling. However, the privacy concerns with online casinos are just different. While it’s possible that your Internet service provider or a government can track your online usage, it’s harder for your friends and family to get to know. And with services like browser history clearers or VPNs available, it’s possible to add extra security.
Ease of use
Online gambling sites are also easy to use, too. Once the requisite age and other checks have been performed, a gambler can get started with play straight away. With a physical casino, this isn’t the case – and depending on where you live, it can take even longer to get started if there’s a big distance involved.
And online casinos that you can find on sites such as Onlinecasinolistings.com can also offer the gamer another advantage – choice. Online casino games come jam-packed with all sorts of fun features and designs, and it’s possible to customize your online casino experience in a way that you can’t quite at an in-person gambling venue. In-person casinos might have a certain degree of excitement that a website can’t replicate – but they can’t offer the same sheer breadth of choice of table game, aesthetic or multimedia as a good online casino can.
Legal consequences?
Finally, it’s interesting to look at whether or not the increased shift towards online casinos – and the apparent staying power that they have – could have consequences when it comes to the law. In some parts of the world, countries still don’t have laws in favor of online gambling – and in some places, the practice is banned outright. Behind the scenes, many legislators and governors are working with stakeholders in their areas to unblock these sorts of logjams. But progress is slow.
 Online casinos are clearly now institutions. Given that online casinos don’t appear to be going anywhere fast, some are starting to wonder whether the apparent permanence of the institutions within the gambling community might be enough to push governments into making pro-gambling decisions. This could well be the case when the fiscal side of things is considered: the more online gamblers there are, the more potential tax revenue there is for governments. However, it is likely that only time will tell whether governments will come around.
Ultimately, online casinos are clearly now institutions. A long pandemic year of having fun online rather than in-person has entrenched these sites as part of the gambling community’s fabric – and that doesn’t look like it’s going to go away. What the long term effects of this will be (especially when it comes to the legal and regulatory frameworks), however, is what remains to be seen.
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Statement from the Mayor
The devastating loss of life that took place in London, Ontario earlier this week has affected us all and united us in heartbreak and grief, especially our Muslim friends and neighbours.
 Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward It is important that we take action to support our Muslim community and convey loud and clear that hate and violence will not be tolerated in our city, nor our country.
Our local Halton Mosque will be hosting a prayer service, open to the community, at Spencer Smith Park tomorrow afternoon between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
A traditional Muslim prayer service will take place first, where non-Muslims are welcome to observe. That service will be followed by a unifying prayer for the entire community.
We have confirmed with our Member of Provincial Parliament that under current provincial regulations, there is no limit on outdoor gatherings for religious services, other than what the outdoor space will accommodate with required physical distancing.
We ask everyone to stay 6 feet away from individuals or families you don’t live with, and wear a mask even outdoors if physical distancing is a challenge. The City of Burlington, including City Council, are supportive of this event and its intention to provide a way for our community to come together in support of the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
We have seen similar events take place already this week throughout many cities and towns, including London, Hamilton and Oakville.
Halton Regional Police Service will be on site at the event and fees for legal parking spaces in municipal parking lots, street spaces, and garages will be relaxed during that time frame.
 By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Parties of a thousand people will soon be held – but they are not here yet and they are not going to be held in this city this week said the Mayor.
The Mayor has been all over this one – in touch with HRPS, OPP, Fire department and the bylaw people.
The only thing that wasn’t done is call in the army.
 When they are needed the Region can flood an area with police officers. The Mayor had become aware that a large party was being planned – it was apparently picked up on social media.
At one point the Mayor said it looked like the party was going to show up in some other park – not Spencer Smith.
Then there was word that it could take place in some other community.
The event was all over social media and was being planned by a Burlingtonian.
Police have been in touch with that person and put the kibosh on that idea.
One can only wonder if the Mayor had suited up and was going to appear in battle fatigues.
Only in Burlington you say – best mid sized city in the country I’ll have you know.
Related news story;
Not in Burlington – thank you
By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Mosque is planning a Call to Prayer Service in Spencer Smith Park at 1:30 pm on Friday.
 Muslim Call to Prayer Service to take place Friday at 1:30 pm The occasion is to offer prayers and support to the Muslim Community and the family of those people tragically killed earlier this week.
Specifically where in Spenser Smith this will take place – details will follow.
City Hall staff have once again turned on a dime to make this event happen. Many people dropped whatever they were doing to figure out how to deal with the details.
By Staff
June 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward released the following comments to the public:
Last weekend, on Saturday night, we experienced a large gathering of youth at Beachway Park in Burlington, with approximately 1000 individuals congregating at the beach and surrounding parking lots.
Police responded on-site as many local residents reported their concerns relating to illegal gathering and crowding, public safety, use of the park after hours (the posted closure time is 11 p.m.), and the illegal use of fireworks and alcohol.
 Mayor has been made aware of efforts to organize a similar gathering this coming weekend. We have been made aware of efforts to organize a similar gathering this coming weekend and want to ensure the public is aware that the City of Burlington, including bylaw, roads and parks staff, is working in partnership with Burlington Fire and the Halton Regional Police to prevent this type of activity from recurring.
Our parks throughout Burlington are open to the public for responsible use so that our community can enjoy the amenities there and spend time outdoors. This is even more important during the current COVID-19 pandemic while indoor gatherings are still not permitted. Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will be permitted by the Province as of Friday, June 11.
We are committed to providing our community with safe and healthy outdoor environments to support their physical and mental well-being.
In an effort to deter activity that will put health and safety at risk, we will be closing access to Beachway Park, including adjacent parking lots, beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and limiting vehicle and pedestrian access on that area of Lakeshore Road. There will be an increased presence of police, bylaw officers and Burlington Fire personnel throughout all city parks over the weekend to monitor activity and keep our community safe and healthy.
Please use our parks as intended, safely and responsibly, so that everyone can continue to enjoy this valued outdoor space in these challenging times.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
We now know a little bit more about the survey that pulled in more than 4000 responses to the question: where would you like to see the next Rainbow Crosswalk.
The overwhelming response said put the Rainbow in front of the Catholic School Board.
The Gazette saw that as a little on the dicey side politically.
 Director of Communications for the city Kwab Ako-Adjei he survey was posted to the City’s Get Involved page and “promoted via our social accounts” said Director of Communications for the city Kwab Ako-Adjei who added that “Our office works with the department responsible for the survey to make changes or edits if needed. The survey ran from May 7-23.”
What Kwab Ako-Adjei does not say is the “department responsible” for the survey was the Office of the Mayor.
The Staff report said the “online public survey was prepared to expedite community consultation and respond to the community’s requests for additional locations…”
The intention appears to have been to catch the attention of the high school student cohort.
Mayor Meed Ward said during a Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday that she had written the survey.
All of the respondents were identified as anonymous.
None were identified by age or gender nor level of education
The vast majority of the respondents checked in the first two days the survey was online.
There were a few that responded to the survey on more than one occasion – but not enough to make much of a difference.
 The Get Involved web page on the city web site is a place where ideas and projects are posted and where people go for updates. The city tracks who takes part in the surveys and which issues they are following. Those that responded to the Rainbow Crosswalk survey were not part of the group that tends to follow the Get Involved web page. None of the 4295 aware and engaged respondents had ever interacted with the Get Involved web page before leading to the conclusion that they may never have heard of the page and were directed to it by their peers.
None of the Council members took issue with the Mayor preparing the survey; their concern was with the number of Rainbow Benches that were going to be placed in individual wards and wondering when a Rainbow Crosswalk could be painted in their ward.
Kelvin Galbraith said that painting a Crosswalk at the RBG would be a good way to tell people entering from Hamilton that Burlington was a 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Councillor Nisan wanted one in his ward and thought in front of he Art Centre would be a fine place.
Councillor Bentivegna didn’t appear to have a preference and Councilor Sharman knew there would be one in his ward in the fullness of time.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward taking part in a Standing Committee virtually What became evident as the debate progressed was that the Mayor put together a survey, the Communications people put it up on the Get Involved web page and then, sort of out of the blue 4000 + people responded.
With that moment the Mayor pressed for a decision to get Rainbow Crosswalks across the city saying speed is of the essence” and to “get it done quickly”
Councillor Sharman said it “strikes me as a bunch of folks got caught up” and that the information is not as objective as it might have been.”
Mayor Meed Ward described what was being done as a “made in Burlington” solution and then added that she could see “a Pride Parade” in the city’s future.
Just like Toronto?
By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
With the news that the public is about to leave the pandemic bondage we were put into most people focus on deciding where they will go to for their first drink in a public place in many months.
The people that toil away at city hall on our behalf now need to pivot once again and begin providing service to people directly.
The following is an Update on City services and outdoor facilities…
The City of will now open up more outdoor activities with smaller crowds where risk of transmission is lower. It will also allow more limited indoor settings to be open, all with restrictions in place.
Changes to City services and programs:
City Hall
City Hall will be open to the public for washroom access every weekend until Labour Day weekend. Washroom hours are: Fridays, 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Beginning Monday, June 14, the Service Burlington counter at City Hall, at 426 Brant St., will be open to the public to offer in-person payments for:
• Parking permits and tickets
• Property taxes
• Freedom of Information requests
• Garbage tags
• Dog licenses
• Property information requests
• Recreation services
The counter will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Service Burlington will continue to offer marriage licenses and commissioning services by appointment only. Please call Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 or start your booking online to schedule an appointment at burlington.ca/marriagelicences or burlington.ca/commissioning.
Anyone entering City Hall must wear a mask or face covering unless exempted from by the Mandatory Mask Bylaw. Residents are asked to bring and wear their own masks.
Payment methods accepted
Debit card payments and cheques are accepted for all payment types. Credit cards are accepted for all payment types except property taxes. If you would like to pay property taxes in cash, please visit your local bank to make the payment.
Customers are also welcome to use the drop box outside City Hall, located at the Locust Street entrance, to drop off cheque payments, letters, or small packages.
 Burlington Transit
Burlington Transit continues to operate on a modified schedule. For schedule and real-time bus information, visit myride.burlingtontransit.ca. Reduced Youth Summer passes and SPLIT passes are available to purchase at the Downtown Terminal, 430 John St.
Halton Court Services
In-person court administration counter services at 4085 Palladium Way are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday. Telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Many services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or online at Halton Court Services.
Patio Program
Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households, will be allowed. City staff have been installing sidewalk detours and patio set-up this week in support of local business owners under the City’s patio program. As long as public health measures allow, the patio program will run until Oct. 31, 2021.
Recreation Services, Parks, Amenities and Facilities
Sport Fields
Sport fields will open Saturday, June 12 for program user groups to hold skills and drills with a maximum of 10 people. Sport organizations will be contacted for scheduling.
 Outdoor Pools
Nelson and Mountainside Pool and Splash Parks will open on Saturday, June 12 for lap swimming and drop-in recreational swims, including Tim Hortons Free Summer Swimming days throughout the summer, from June 19 to Sept. 6.
LaSalle Splash Park will open later in June.
For all outdoor pools, registration is required 25-hours in advance at burlington.ca/dropinandplay, and all participants must fill out the pre-screening form one-hour before their pool time at burlington.ca/screening.
Rec-Summer Swim Passes and 30-day lap swim passes can also be purchased at liveandplayburlington.ca
For more information on pools, visit burlington.ca/swimming.
Outdoor Adult Drop-in Programs
Outdoor adult drop-in programs for wellness and fitness will start June 28. Pre-registration is required at burlington.ca/dropinandplay.
Roads, Parks and Forestry
Services provided by the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department will continue as needed. Residents with questions or concerns can email RPF@burlington.ca or call 905-333-6166.
This is the province’s three-step plan to safely lift public health measures based on provincewide vaccination and infection rates.
As the provincewide vaccination rate and key public health and health care indicators improve, and City staff receives and reviews updated orders from the Province of Ontario and more details under its Roadmap to Reopen, we will continue to comply and keep you up-to-date on available City services and what can open while keeping City of Burlington staff and residents safe.
 By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It is surprising the effect Burlington has on people who choose to live here.
 Julie Neal with her son Emmett and two Bottle Drive volunteers Julie Neal and her family have been in Burlington about three years. It was the community she and her husband chose to live in when circumstances required a move.
Her experience was like thousands of others – a Mom meets a Mom because their children seem to get along and they play together. Then another Mom is introduced and then there is a local event that the Moms help out on and before she knew it Julie was involved in a fund raising drive through a connection with Burlington Dads.
“ I had lived in Toronto for more than 15 years and was convinced I would be there for the rest of my life. I was an elementary school teacher and I loved my job. I ran a Scottish Dancing school which I tried to keep up after moving to Burlington.
“That didn’t work out. For the first number of months I would drive into Toronto regularly to meet up with friends but after a while I found I was putting down roots in Burlington and the trips to Toronto became fewer and fewer. It has been some time since I drove the QEW.
“My children have taken to Burlington – the youngest knows nothing about Toronto.
“I was asked by new friends if I could help out with a bottle drive fund raiser that took place four times a year and I jumped right in.
“The group raised $8000 which stunned me. The people of Burlington just turn up when there is a need.”
The pandemic however changed everything.
“There were a lot of people who needed help and I convinced the people that I started working with that we could do a one day event and really have an impact.
“The “one day” event is Saturday June 26th.
“The North Burlington Baptist Church let us use their driveway which will allow people to drive in and drive out and not have to look for a place to park during the last drive.
“We have arranged for cargo vans to take the bottles and cans to the collection centre in Stoney Creek. We have to bag the bottles and cans and add a tag stating how many items there are in each of the clear plastic bags.
“What is making the June event much more interesting is the support we are getting from the hospitality sector. More than 45 locations have given us Gift cards that we will be giving to people as prizes. Everyone who drops off bottles or cans or food items will be given a ticket that gets put into a draw.
 “The Gift Cards are at the $25 level for the most part. When I dropped into one retail operation and asked if they would like to take part they gave us eight cards.
Couple of differences this event explains Julie, “We are asking people to separate the bottles and the cans so that we can move them to the collection centre quickly. We expect the cargo vans will be used to make several trips.”
The funds raised through the bottle drive will go to the Compassion Society – the food will go to the Food Bank.
In the newspaper business we interview hundreds of people. A comment Julie made as we were ending the interview surprised us. She was talking about how much she was enjoying the work (and there is a lot of it) that has to be done and said: “Who am I? I’m just a nobody loving the community I now live in”.
A relative newcomer to the city making an incredible contribution. Make a point of taking those cans and bottles to the drive in on the 26th – they will operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Every bottle and can will be needed to reach that $8000 target.
 By Ray Rivers
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
“A global crisis has shocked the world. It is causing a tragic number of deaths, making people afraid to leave home, and leading to economic hardship not seen in many generations. Its effects are rippling across the world. ”
Obviously, I am talking about COVID-19. But in just a few decades, the same description will fit another global crisis: climate change. As awful as this pandemic is, climate change could be worse.” (Bill Gates – Aug 2020)
 Pipelines move natural gas. So, why would any government anywhere want to expand the carbon footprint of its residents? But that is exactly what the press conference this morning by Premier Ford and his ministers was all about, They are moving onto the second phase of their gas pipeline expansion plan to some 43 communities in northern and rural Ontario.
In total some 28 pipeline projects including well over a hundred kilometers of pipeline will be buried in order that Alberta based Enbridge and EPCOR can supply currently low cost natural gas even further into homes and businesses in the province.
The Ontario government is spending $234 million so the Alberta gas companies can sell more of their product in Ontario. And customers will pay back a dollar a month for being connected to the new gas supply system.
But even over ten years that would take almost 2 million new gas customers to pay off the subsidy to the gas companies. And that is unlikely since Enbridge, which is Canada’s largest gas distribution company, has barely four million existing customers in the province.
And what about the carbon tax? Currently set at $40 per tonne or 7.83 cents per cubic metre, it is set to more than quadruple by 2030. The entire premise underlying this government’s push to have Ontario residents use more natural gas is that it will help reduce their costs of living and for their businesses.
 Natural gas is the major source for heating homes. Solar has a lot of growing to do. But it seems Mr. Ford, having lost in the courts, has just decided to ignore that we really do have an ever increasing carbon tax in this country, and will, even if the federal government changes hands.
New gas furnaces last 15-20 years. We can only imagine where the carbon tax will be in twenty years and what that will do to the economics of having locked ourselves even more into natural gas. Investments in new capital infrastructure, like a new gas heating appliance, should include a risk analysis of the future operational costs as well as the gas price today.
Electricity is an alternative. Wind and solar are already the least costly ways of generating electricity today and they are becoming even less expensive. And advances in energy storage will make them more reliable into the future. Already, battery technology is bringing that to reality in places like Australia.
The press conference seemed well attended and there were a number of media questions, but nobody mentioned the carbon tax and its impact going forward. In fact nobody mentioned climate change and our carbon footprint and what this would mean for all of us and for those yet to come.
 BFF: Best friends forever. Doug Ford with Jason Kennedy. This may have been partly about Mr. Ford helping out his fellow premier in Alberta by marketing his gas here. And Mr. Ford may have genuinely been trying to help more Ontario residents lower their heating costs. There was also talk of 5000 jobs, but we know any kind of energy project results in jobs. In fact US President Biden has made jobs the centre piece of his natural gas phase out plan. Yet while the US is phasing out, Ontario is embracing gas.
And that is the other problem with this provincial program. Natural gas was the wonder fuel of the sixties and seventies, when Mr. Ford was still a baby. Today burning natural gas is one the biggest problems facing humanity. And if Mr. Ford doesn’t get that he’s really out of touch with reality.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly 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:
Bill Gates –
Phase 2 Gas Expansion –
Australia Energy Storage
By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The increase in the traffic in Spender Smith Park brought an issue to a head at the Standing Committee on Tuesday.
 Mayor did not take kindly to Kearns comments. Tempers flared just a little bit and the Mayor chose to ask to speak on a Point of Personal Privilege after Councilor Kearns made a comment about the Mayor needing to get out on the street and see for herself that people were not wearing face masks.
Kearns got kind of feisty with her remarks. She can at times be rather sharp with her words.
The item being debated was Options to increase physical distancing on Brant Street in response to Covid-19.
Recommendation:
Direct the Director of Transportation to proceed with one of the options the Transportation department had set out in their report.
A report which they put together on very short notice that called for them to work with the Burlington Downtown Business Improvement (BDBA) and the Ward 2 Councillor on soliciting input from downtown businesses on the approved option.
Earlier in the year, May 8, City Council Directed the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility and the Director of Transportation Services to explore options to increase the ability for physical distancing and safe passage in response to COVID-19 for the area of Brant Street (Caroline Street to Lakeshore Road) for Saturdays and Sundays, from July 3 – September 5, 2021; to come back a report and recommendation to the June 8, 2021 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meeting. (SD-10-21)
The current conditions on Brant Street from Lakeshore Road to Caroline Street includes a lane configuration consisting of one travel lane in each direction with curbside parking predominantly on both sides of the road. Truck loading and 20-minute curbside drop-off zones also exist within the curbside parking lane. During normal conditions, there is no charge for parking after 6 pm and on weekends.
A review of recent traffic studies available on Brant Street north of Caroline Street has revealed traffic volumes on Saturday and Sunday are approximately 1,000 vehicles per hour (both directions).
As part of the 2021 Temporary Patio Program, there are 4 establishments with applications pending approval to use portions of the public right-of-way along Brant Street.
Options Considered
The identification of options to provide physical distancing along Brant Street took into consideration the current lane configuration, the extent and type of traffic control devices required to maintain safety and potential impacts to residents, business and others utilizing the roadway. The focus in determining options was to seek additional space for people to comply with physical distancing guidelines while walking or waiting.
The options identified include the following:
Option 1 – Close the parking lanes to extend the sidewalk
This option involves closing the curbside parking where it exists on both sides of Brant Street. This space will become a pedestrian area and an extension to the sidewalk, as illustrated in Figure 1.
With this configuration, the pedestrian area is proposed to be separated from the traffic lanes by using freestanding movable delineators. These devices are weighted but portable and provide separation for the pedestrian area while capable of being placed and removed each Saturday and Sunday until September.
The existing curbside pick-up will require relocation and/or removal should this option be endorsed by Council.
 *Image courtesy of NACTO Streets for Pandemic Response & Recovery
Option 2 – Full closure of Brant Street from Lakeshore Road to Caroline Street
This option involves a full road closure on Saturdays and Sundays and provides the maximum available space for physical distancing.
 Parts of Brant Street have been closed in the past. The Hospital Bed Race takes over the street for close to half a day when it takes place. The traffic control required for this option involves the placement of barricades and road closed signs on Brant Street located at both Lakeshore Road and Caroline Street and at all intersecting roadways within this closed section. As a result, traffic on Lakeshore Road cannot turn onto Brant Street and traffic heading southbound on Brant Street towards Caroline Street will need to be directed east or west. In addition, the 6 streets intersecting with Brant Street would need to be signed, barricaded and closed to local access only.
While the full closure option provides the maximum space available for physical distancing on Brant Street, it has the following impacts:
• Displacement of non-local or through traffic onto adjacent streets.
• The current 20-minute curbside drop off areas would be inaccessible resulting in impacts to area businesses.
• The current loading zones will be inaccessible for trucks to load and unload if/when providing deliveries to local businesses on weekends.
• Restricts access to driveways, laneways and parking lots along Brant St.
• Impacts transit routes and requires buses to be re-routed around closed sections of road, in turn affecting bus schedules and potential customer confusion as transit re-routing would be limited to weekends only.
A variation of this option could include modifying the limits of the closure. For example, a possible change could include a full closure of Brant Street from Lakeshore Road to Elgin Street. While many of the issues related to a full closure still exist, they are lessened as a result of a shorter section of Brant Street being closed.
A number of municipalities have made the decision to close a street that was once a major thoroughfare. The response from the commercial/retail sector was seldom positive but when the change did take place business for most retail operations improved and different kinds of commercial moved in.
Closing Brant Street permanently from Caroline to Lakeshore was a long term dream of former Councillor John Taylor – perhaps the time for that idea has come
Option 3 – Status Quo/enhanced pedestrian delineation
Under existing conditions, pedestrian circulation can be, at times, challenging at key intersections and/or higher volume business entrances along Brant Street. In 2020, staff worked with the BDBA in developing and installing enhanced pedestrian queuing delineation and signage which helped to guide the public around locations that were identified as pinch points. This delineation will be re-installed and refreshed again for 2021.
Financial Matters:
The key costs to providing either option includes the traffic control materials to support the closures and the staff resources to set up and remove every Saturday and Sunday. Costs for each option have been estimated and summarized below.
 The associated costs will be identified as Covid19 related with the potential for these costs to be offset by Covid relief grant funds. Engagement Engagement Matters:
This report attempts to provide Council with options however due to the short turnaround to provide Council with a follow up report, staff have not engaged the community to date. Support from the Burlington Downtown Business Association (DBDA) and Downtown businesses is key for any of the described options to be successful. Following endorsement of a preferred option by Council, it is anticipated the Ward Councillor will lead the engagement of businesses and the BDBA with staff assistance as required.
 There are retailers that get it – and they are the ones that succeed. The shopping bag that lady is carrying isn’t empty. The folks that run Joelle’s understand retail. Council members were all over the map on this issue.
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith wanted the status quo – do nothing.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns was tough on this one. She argued that the city had not done a very good job of patterning Brant Street and that there were a lot of gaps that were more walk-in offices than traditional retail offices.
She said there was a “romanticized view” of just what the street did for the city suggesting some thought there would be “seniors frolicking ” in the street.
 Councillor Kearns spars with the Mayor who used a Point of Personal Privilege to admonish her fellow Council member Kearns said the city had reached a breaking point with congestion in the downtown core and that the congestion would only get worse as the city opened up.
Speaking for the retail community Kearns said they wanted to be able to use some of the street to boost their sales after a very financially hard 18 months.
Kearns then took a swipe at the Mayor suggesting that she get out and walk the streets and see for herself what was happening. remark to which the Mayor took offence and brought it up as a Point of Personal Privilege.
It didn’t strike this reporter as something that was out of order but the Mayor was clearly distressed.
Kearns, who was full of comments, pointed out that when things open up on Friday there will be lineups at the outdoor patios; there will be line ups outside the cannabis shop and crowding on the side walk.
The egress and ingress into those places where people are allowed to go was also problematic.
 Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association out advocating for the interests of the downtown merchants. Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan told Kearns and Stolte that he would love to have a chat about the issue but wanted them to take the idea of closing Brant off the table.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte was right beside Kearns, however when the issue came up she asked Council to defer any decision until the July meeting arguing that there were just too many unknowns and that this was not the best time to make a decision.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman liked the idea and was prepared to go along with Stolte and Kearns to defer for a month.
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna said that the interests of the business community were really important and that he wanted to hear what they had to say before he went along with any of the options. He also told his council colleagues that they had not done their homework.
Council was told that Brian Dean, top dog at the BDBA, was for the status quo. The idea of doing nothing gave the phrase “taking care of business” a whole new meaning.
 By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council met on Monday and Tuesday spending a lot of time debating population growth and the rate at which the population would rise in the Region.
The province sets a rate of growth and determines where they would like to see that growth take place.
A population allocation is given to each of the Regions that in turn determine what the growth will be in each municipality.
Burlington has no greenfields left to be developed.
Nothing is permitted north of Hwy 407 and Dundas except for small pockets in the settlements of Kilbride, Lowville and the Mt Nemo settlement area.
The growth in Burlington is going to be concentrated around the three GO stations: Burlington, Aldershot and Appleby.
The long term growth is long term – none of this will be taking place in the foreseeable future.
Changes planned today become communities in the next decade. In Burlington that future growth is up in the form of high rise development.
 Councillor Paul Sharman often takes numbers and turns them into something people can understand. The population growth for Burlington in the next three decades calls for 350 twenty storey towers. Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman has a way of grabbing a number and putting it in a context that makes the impact pretty clear.
Director of Planning Heather MacDonald was explaining that the growth number for Burlington between now and 2031 was 21,000 people or jobs. The growth number for 2031 to 2050 was 80,000 people or jobs. “Is that right?” asked Sharman. MacDonald agreed with him – Sharman then went on to put that number into a visual thought.
The two visuals below represent 14 towers that will probably make it through the planning process.
 This development has been in process for years now – it will rise again and become real. What we are looking at then, said Sharman, is 350 twenty storey condominiums between now and 2050; 82 between now and 2031 and 265 between 2031 and 2050.
With numbers like that we are looking at a much different Burlington that the one we have today, which is the point Sharman wanted to make.
 This development, recently named Holland Park is looking at a planned 7 tower project. The unique part of the site is that there is no limit to the height the developer can go.
June 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward issued the following statement on behalf of the citizens of Burlington,
 Last night many of us learned about the devastating and targeted killing of four members of a Muslim family in nearby London, Ontario on Sunday night.
They were out for a simple evening walk together and were targeted for this hate-filled and violent attack specifically because of their faith. Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother were intentionally hit and killed by the driver of a truck. Their nine-year-old son, Fayez Afzaal suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
I am heartbroken and angry at this news, as I know we all are. I have reached out to share my concern and condolences with leaders in our local Muslim community, and reiterate that we welcome and embrace people of all faiths and backgrounds in our city.
A few years ago, I had the honour or visiting the mosque and praying together. If was a beautiful and moving experience, and I’m so grateful for the warm welcome and sincere kindness I received. I know our Muslim community is shaken by this unspeakable act, and they are grieving together; they are also strong and resilient.
As I heard from one member of the Muslim community today: “we can’t allow fear to stop our lives, and our faith commands us to love and to continue to strive for social values.” I know that all of Burlington City Council stands with me, and with our Muslim community in Burlington and across Canada, in grieving this unfathomable loss and denouncing the hatred that is behind it. There is no room for hate of any kind in our country.
We are here to support all the members of our community who are affected by this act of violence in any way we can. Let us acknowledge that we, as Canadians, have work to do to ensure this never happens again. Burlington is a place where people of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.
Last year, Burlington City Council unanimously endorsed the Halton Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter, ensuring that our commitment is clear to our community that we support and encourage safe and welcoming communities that reflect the diversity of all residents.
I am heartened by the outpouring of support from across our nation, including the funds being raised online to support young Fayez, now over $500,000 and still going strong. I know all of Burlington joins me in sending our sincere grief and compassion to Mayor Ed Holder, Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan and all our friends in London as they hold a vigil tonight at the London Muslim Mosque. I have reached out to share my concern and condolences with Mayor Holder, on behalf of all residents of Burlington.
As he referenced in his own statement yesterday, we must all take action to condemn this act against our Muslim friends and neighbours, and join together in solidarity, kindness and love
 By Pepper Parr
June 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
During a Standing Committee on Monday City Manager Tim Commisso commented on the concerns that had been brought to the Mayor and members of Council related to the condition of streets and public places and the large gatherings of people who appeared to be ignoring the ask that masks be worn.
Burlington is still in a State of Emergency and is regulated in terms of the day to day business of the city by the Emergency Coordinating Group (ECG) which is made up of the Leadership Team and other senior staff including Fire Chief Karen Roche.
This group often meets several times a week and is able to make changes to practices and procedures quickly as long as they don’t have a negative impact on the budget.
The Mayor is a part of the ECG.
 City Manager Tim Commisso Commisso acknowledged that there are problems and added that he “had nothing to say” on Monday but expected to have things to say once he has met with staff.
Burlington has become a destination for many people who want to get out of their homes and be in places where they can meet with friends. There wasn’t very much that was open on the weekend.
This Friday the city opens up, albeit not to the point where there are no limitations. If past experience is any indicator the city is facing crowds that make demands on the resources and push many people beyond their comfort level when it comes to sharing what Burlington has to offer.
 It was people, people, people – for almost as far as the eye could see along the Beachway. There are some who feel the city parks, especially the Beachway, should be for use by Burlingtonians only. The fact is that the Beachway is a Regional Park managed by the city.
Burlingtonians are proud of the small town feel of the downtown core and want to retain that identity.
The city’s leadership has a difficult situation ahead of it that will require an ability to respond in a responsible way and at the same time educate the community and bring it to the point where the appreciation for the diversity that the city advocates and encourages becomes real.
During the Standing Committee Monday members of council wanted to know how many of the free parking passes were given to residents of Burlington and how many were given to residents of Oakville, Milton or Halton Hills.
This is not a metric that should matter.
There are some very challenging issues right in front of us that will require inspired leadership. We are about to find out if the challenge is going to be met.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
June 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette reader who sent us the photographs of the nonsense going on downtown on Saturday had been in touch with the Mayor who did get back to her with a lengthy response which we have published below
 It was a large group that had located at the lake side of the Waterfront Hotel. The Mayor wrote:
Thank you very much for reaching out and sharing your concerns and observations.
I’ll respond in this one email to both the emails you sent.
I do hope the information provided here will assist in explaining what we have done and will do, what residents can do to help, and give some clarity around provincial regulations (though I note you have copied MPP McKenna who can answer any questions you may have about provincial regulations).
Please do feel free to share this correspondence widely with all those you know who might also find the information helpful.
And please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you or they have further questions or observations. Mayor@burlington.ca
You have raised several issues, which I will address in turn: crowding in parks, vehicular noise and general noise, and garbage.
First, residents can be enormously helpful to us by letting staff know in real time of any issues – that helps us address them immediately while they are happening.
To report COVID violations, including gatherings, you can contact the COVID hotline which has been in effect for a year now: 905-825-4722 This line goes directly to police dispatch, who then connect with our bylaw officers. After bylaw hours, police will attend, though we have significantly added to our bylaw hours and resources (see below). Bylaw does work evenings and weekends.
To report garbage, please connect directly with our roads and parks maintenance staff at rpf@burlington.ca They are cc’d here
To report noise or other bylaw infractions, please connect directly with our bylaw team at building@burlington.ca They are cc’d here
Though our staff regularly patrol parks throughout the city, we do count on residents to also work with us, and by using the contact information above you can assist.
We do know that our parks are well used, especially during COVID with travel restrictions and more people staying at home for recreation. We do invite and encourage people to get outside for their physical and mental health, and to use our parks responsibly. For the most part, residents have done so, and I’m very grateful for these efforts. It’s one of the reasons that in Burlington, and Halton, infection rates have remained far below all other GTHA municipalities around us.
There are no limits on the number of people who can be in any of our parks at any one time. Organized gatherings of people who are not in the same household are currently limited to 5, with physical distancing. I understand it can be a challenge to keep on top of regulations that are changing. We’ve put together a handy resource on my webpage below. We know the regulations will continue to change as we move into further stages that will allow more businesses and services to reopen. We will continue to share information as we receive it.
I do appreciate the photos you have sent of the pier, playground, park and walkway.
While there are multiple people in the photos, it is impossible to tell how close people are together – cameras tend to flatten the view – or whether or not people are from the same household. Households can include children the same age (we have twins!), there are blended families with children the same age, there are multi-racial families, there are multi-generational families.
We do know that in some neighbourhoods in Burlington, there are multiple families and multiple generations living in the same household. What looks to be a large gathering may be a single family. I caution people drawing conclusions based on observation without any direct knowledge of that particular family makeup.
As noted, if you are concerned about a gathering you can contact the COVID-19 hotline and someone can check it out.
It is good to see people outside getting exercise and fresh air – this is good for their physical and mental health, and as noted the risk of the virus spreading outside is very low, according to medical experts.
When the pandemic first hit, and before we knew much about the virus, we blocked our parking lots to keep people in their neighbourhoods and manage crowds. The beach was fenced off. When the third wave hit, I called a special council meeting a few weeks ago to determine whether to take the same steps again regarding closing parking lots. In the end, staff and council chose not to do so. We know more about the virus now, and know that being outside is safe and healthy, and we encourage people to use our parks responsibly.
You mentioned your brother is mayor of another municipality. Our office would be happy to connect with him and hear about their experience, and whether they are facing the same issues we are and what might be relevant and useful for us. I’m in regular touch with mayors across Ontario, through chairing the Halton Mayors & Chair meetings, membership on the Large Urban Caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, membership in the Ontario Big City Mayors Caucus, and the Small & Mid-Sized GTHA mayors and other tables. We often share ideas, and face similar challenges, though there is no one size fits all for any community.
Generally the feedback has been supportive of how Burlington has managed the pandemic and its many challenges, and our collective efforts have led to low infection rates.
Regarding garbage issues: we have added staff to deal with this, and it’s a challenge at all of our major regional and destination parks. We’ve added multiple clean outs per day but at busy times the cans can fill in hours. We will review once again.
We have also mounted education campaigns to ask people to take their garbage with them. On a side note, when I visited Japan two years ago, they don’t have garbage cans anywhere in the city except inside restaurants. People are expected to look after their own garbage. And the cities are very clean. There is a culture of personal responsibility, rather than expecting someone else to pick up for you or others.
 Mayor explains: “Garbage in our parks on busy weekends is not new – but certainly has increased with more people being home due to COVID travel restrictions and restaurants remaining closed.” It is truly disturbing the lack of personal responsibility and care some show for our city and our parks. The vast majority do respect our spaces, but it only takes a few to mess up the park. Garbage in our parks on busy weekends is not new – but certainly has increased with more people being home due to COVID travel restrictions and restaurants remaining closed. I can recall helping to clean up the park voluntarily myself over the years, after large groups had been there, working side by side with other great volunteers – I’m sure you’ve done the same in your volunteering.
We know with hot weather, more people at home, restaurants closed so more people are eating in the park, that the volumes of people visiting are greater than we’ve ever had, and so is the garbage – though this should ease somewhat in a few weeks when people are able to once again visit our restaurants, and once we start to emerge from the pandemic and people can travel.
Regarding vehicular noise, police regularly patrol downtown and other hot spots in the city through their Project Noisemaker program, pulling over cars, trucks and motorcycles with modified mufflers. The program runs Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 2am. We are grateful for their work and partnership and, having participated in some of these blitzes in the past, I know how effective they are in getting these vehicles off the road and issuing tickets.
I have also begun exploring with staff whether additional bylaws would assist. Stay tuned for more on this. In addition, there is new technology for noise cameras, that would issue tickets similar to a red light camera. I’m working with staff to get information on this in time for budget, in case this is something we’d like to pursue at hot spots around the city. It’s not cheap – about $150,000 for each – but worth looking into.
Regarding general bylaw enforcement, of COVID regulations, noise, or other matters, we do have bylaw officers on duty throughout the city on weekends and evenings.
When bylaw are not available, police take the call. For several years in a row, starting with the previous council, we have continued to add more resources to our bylaw team, including an additional two officers earlier this year for COVID calls, with assistance from Halton Region. This has helped us respond to more issues, however the demand continues to grow. I expect we will again consider adding to bylaw staff during our upcoming 2022 budget discussions.
All calls by police and bylaw are triaged and responded to according to health and safety first. We have had an almost 200+ Percent increase in bylaw calls, and police have seen similar increases. There has been a devastating and significant increase in domestic violence calls, and they take priority – and often occur during the same hours of the night and weekend that other noise calls occur. There has also been an increase in breakins, and police have recently put out information for homeowners, and reported the arrest of an individual.
Regarding crowding at the Esso, and defecating/urinating downtown, we are aware that there are crowds waiting to use the washrooms. We have recently announced opening city hall evenings and weekends (starting this past weekend) to help ease the situation there, especially since restaurants are closed and those washrooms are not available. We have also added more port-a-potties in the park to deal with increased demand, and can reevaluate this again.
 Mayor response: “I hope the information from medical professionals about the low risk of transmission outside will be of some reassurance.” I hope that this background will help reassure you that we are taking steps to deal with the issues you have raised, and will continue to explore additional steps and options. I hope the information from medical professionals about the low risk of transmission outside will be of some reassurance.
 Mayor: “I love Burlington, and love serving our awesome residents. I have served this community for 10 years, and have seen firsthand the progress we have made together.” I am sorry to hear you say you are beginning to hate where you live. I love Burlington, and love serving our awesome residents. I have served this community for 10 years, and have seen firsthand the progress we have made together. We are getting better at addressing a whole range of issues, and more importantly properly resourcing them, including adding bylaw staff, and parks staff. I’m proud of the work of this current council on a whole range of matters, including downtown issues.
We have our challenges for sure, like any city, but we are all working together – police, bylaw, city staff, and members of council with our residents – to do everything we can to meet these challenges head on to ensure continued quality of life for everyone.
Additional ideas are always welcome.
The resident had written the Mayor saying: “I photographed my experience. I am really beginning to hate where I live.”
“We can’t have The Sound Of Music but this is all perfectly ok?
The Gazette was asked not to identify the resident.
 By Staff
June 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The police would like some help identifying a suspect in an assault that took place at a Canadian Tire located at 777 Guelph Line in Burlington 0n the morning of Sunday June 6th.
 The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) were contacted after a female employee was grabbed by the arm through a fence by an unknown male suspect.
The victim was able to free herself. She suffered a mild (physical) injury to her arm.
Police have learned this suspect attended the same Canadian Tire location the day prior to the assault (Saturday June 5).
The suspect was observed hanging around the store for several hours. He made multiple attempts to interact with the victim and pointed his phone towards her.
The male is described as white, in his 40s with an unkempt short beard and a noticeable goatee. He has greyish, black hair.
On June 5, the suspect was wearing a navy blue button up shirt with a collar, beige cargo pants, sandals, a camo baseball cap and sunglasses with blue lenses and black frames. The suspect hung around the Garden Centre at this Canadian Tire location between the hours of 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
On June 6, the same suspect was wearing a black athletic type shirt, grey khaki shorts, with the same camo hat and a blue surgical mask hanging from one ear. The assault took place at approximately 9:45 am.
 Anyone with information regarding this investigation or dash cam video of the area identified during these two time frames is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau – Detective Constable David Griffiths at 905 825-4777 ext. 2350 or ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Staff
June 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
On Friday we will be able to step away – just a bit – from the rules that have kept us safe for the past year and a half. Some people will be able to go back to work.
There are many for whom the jobs at are just not there yet. They are the ones that need help for a while yet.
St. Matthews Church on Plains Road holds a drive through every Wednesday from 10 am to 4 pm – help out if you can.
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