 By Pepper Parr
June 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
If you were a member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association you would have received a notice like the one below.
We put the information in the public domain so that citizens who will vote on the provincial government they want in June of 2022 understand how the Liberal candidate was chosen.
Important Notice – Action by you is required to vote. Please read carefully.
1. Register for voting no later than Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 5PM.
2. Cast your vote online or by telephone on Saturday, June 26, 2021 from 11AM-8PM.
Notice of Nomination Contest
Burlington
Notice is hereby given of the vote of the Nomination Contest to nominate the official candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party in the electoral district of Burlington.
Eligibility to Vote (Membership Cutoff)
You are eligible to vote in this contest if you are:
1. A resident of Burlington who was a member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association on Sunday, June 6, 2021 by 5 PM; or
2. A non-resident of Burlington who has been a member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association continuously since November 18, 2016.
Registration for Voting
Due to ongoing restrictions for large in-person gatherings, the voting for the nomination contest will be conducted electronically. To register to vote, you must reply to this email attaching a scan or a photo of your identification by June 13, 2021 at 5PM. Identification can be:
Option 1: ONE government issued ID with your photo, name and current address. (examples: driver’s license, Ontario photo card)
Option 2: TWO pieces of ID
• one issued by a widely recognized major institution (governments, financial institutions, or education institutions) showing your name (examples: birth certificate, passport, health card, band membership card, student card, credit card); AND
• one issued by a widely recognized major institution showing your name and your current address (e.g. bank or credit card statement, utility bill, tax assessment)
Alternative to email, you may send the IDs over WhatsApp to 437-237-3598. WhatsApp messages must be sent from a phone number registered to your membership record, or the membership record of another person in your household.
Please be assured that your identification will be deleted.
If you require assistance on registration, please email us by replying to this email.
Voting
Once you are registered for voting, you will receive an email with credentials, a PIN number and instruction to cast your ballot. You will be able to cast your ballot online or by telephone.
Voting will be open on June 26, 2021, between 11AM and 8PM. The vote will be conducted by preferential ballot. You will be able to rank your preference or simply vote for one candidate.
Candidate Presentation/Speeches
A live webcast will be held where you can hear speeches/presentations by the candidates for the nomination. A video of the webcast will be posted and available for viewing later.
Date: June 23, 2021
Time: 7 to 8 PM
To register for this live webcast, please visit:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6086705471716886798.
Getting nominees was certainly not a slam dunk for Liberals in Burlington.
The Gazette published extensively on the process that that took place. It was more like a public spectacle rather than a well organized process where the Liberal Party association in Burlington acted like adults and kept the public informed.
Related news stories:
Kearns announces: Want to be the Liberal candidate in 2021.
Kearns: decides she doesn’t want to be a nominee
Mariam Manaa
Andrea Grebenc
 By Staff
June 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Region put out a heat alert and then extended it for an additional day. When the Region announces a heat wave the municipalities open up locations that are cool.
When temperatures are expected to be at least 31°C and overnight temperatures are above 20°C for 2 days or the humidex is at least 40°C for 2 days a heat alert is issued.
It is that time of year again – this time however there are people who are going to be more hard hit than when circumstances are normal.
 One way news people tell the hot weather story is to ask if it is hot enough to fry an egg on a sidewalk. We aren’t there yet – but it is very uncomfortable for those in locations without conditioned air. The malls in the past have been open – they became a place people could go to to walk around in, a cool location.
Burlington will open Central Arena’s Auditorium located at 519 Drury Lane as a Cooling Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the heat warning.
Community members can use the facility for 1-hour increments and will be screened for COVID-19 when they arrive.
Measures will be in place to ensure physical distancing. Visitors must wear a non-medical face covering in the Cooling Centre. Please stay home if you are ill and always practice physical distancing (2m)
 By Staff
June 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was warm and the locals got a little restless.
A Burlington resident wrote saying the last she had heard was that ‘there was still a pandemic and there were some rules on social distancing and being out with crowds of people that were not immediate family.
“Last time I checked there was still a pandemic and provincial rules were still in effect.”
Our reader reports that on Saturday there was “a party in the park with well over 100 attendees.”
 “There was garbage and smashed beer bottles everywhere. Nearby residents had to listen to the pounding of their music well past the 11pm noise bylaw.
“No bylaw officers and no police attended. The park was all cleaned up this morning by city workers and this is what it looks like by 5pm.
“A downtown business owner caught someone defecating in between the buildings.
“We have found discarded Gatorade bottles filled with urine on our property. We are constantly being awoken at all hours of the night by the cars with the modified mufflers racing up Lakeshore.
 The Pier was packed – the breezes would make Covid19 concerns a little easier to live with. “There is never any enforcement by police or bylaw. Downtown is going downhill fast.
“We have sent numerous letters of complaint to the Mayor and Ward 2 Councillor.
“The people who live in this neighborhood are not very impressed.”
The Bylaw enforcement people do not patrol the city – they respond to specific complaints and they investigate.
The police do patrol and they do respond directly to complaints.
 The owners of this hospitality facility were fully aware of what the rules are – why they weren’t observed and enforced is something they will have to explain – to whom? The Mayor invites direct contact but is not always able to respond immediately. The ward 2 Councillor is involved in other interests.
People may hear from these two elected officials during the week we are into.
If this kind of behaviour becomes a pattern there is going to have to be an increase in the police presence.
 Can the demand for public space and a place to be outside be met in Spencer Smith Park?
By Staff
June 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
This isn’t the first time the Neal Family has done a bottle Drive. Each time they hold a drive the amount they raise increases.
The last one came in at $8000 and loads of food plus significant cash donations.
 Julie Neal with her son explaining how the bottle drive got started and then just grew. One person drove in from Kitchener with a load of bottles.
The volume has gotten to the point where they are asking people who drop off bottle to separate the cans from the bottles.
The drop off point this time is the North Burlington Baptist Church located at 1377 Walkers Line – just north of Forest Run Avenue
They open at 9 and will close it up at 4 pm.
It all takes place on Saturday June 26th.
They are hoping they can pass the $8000 mark they set last time. This is serious business.
 This is what they were dealing with last time.
By Staff
June 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette reported yesterday on the response to the question – where should the next Rainbow crosswalk be located.
There were more than 4000 responses – with 2813 wanting to see it located on Fairview near the Drury Street intersection which is the location of the Catholic District School Board.
One can see some differences of opinion when the matter gets to council on Tuesday. What comes first – the wishes of the supporters of the gay community or the wishes of a school board that decided not to permit the flying of the rainbow flag at Catholic schools.
Delicate.
The responses and the way the numbers broke down are set out below.
Some demographics on the people who responded.
It would have been useful to see some additional demographic data like age and gender. It will be interesting to hear what, if any, interpretation staff provide and what position council members take.
By Staff
June 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
City hall announced on Thursday that the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Martha would be closed while a construction crane was installed on the ADI construction site where the Nautique was being built.
Those cranes are complex pieces of equipment – assembling them is no simple task.
A local photographer was able to train his camera on the men and the work they were doing.
 The finished job. Now they begin to lift steel beams and concrete to the site as the building rises floor by floor.  With the upright section in place the riggers wait for the two side of the horizontal section gets lifted into place.  First piece of the horizontal section is hoisted into position with the riggers waiting to bolt it down.  The height doesn’t impact on the men doing the work. Their focus is on making sure everything is in place and done properly before inspectors sign off on the work. Imagine for a moment if a crane that tall were to topple.
 By Staff
June 6th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Easily cleaned up if there was someone people could call. No one wants the downtown streets to look like this.
Pictures were taken on the weekend and there is usually someone somewhere who can take a call and have the mess cleaned up.
Someone somewhere at city hall can do what it takes. So just do it.
If the city can spend $10,000 on a rainbow crosswalk – someone somewhere can find someone who is on duty during the weekends to handle situations likes this.
Create a phone number that is easy to remember and promote it on everything that gets published. People will remember the number and use it. Try 905- cleanup (253 2687)
By Staff
June 5, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Rainbow Crosswalk are now part of the Burlington streetscape.
The first was put in place across Lakeshore at Burlington Street, at a cost of $10,000.
Public response was very positive and there was appetite for other Rainbow crosswalks.
The city did a survey asking people where they thought the next cross walk should be.
The response to the survey was very high – the preferred location surprising.
Citizens chose to have the next Rainbow Crosswalk on Fairview, near Drury which would be basically in front of the Halton District Catholic School Board.
The report on the survey and the results will be going to Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee on Tuesday June 8th beginning at 9:30 a.m.
It will be interesting to see if there are any delegations.
The Halton District Catholic School Board chose recently to not permit the raising of Rainbow flags at Catholic schools.
 By Staff
June 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Those men and women who drive the school buses have a sense of humour. And like everyone else they have learned to pivot – rather well.
 School bus company pivots to reward drivers. They weren’t able to hold their annual Awards Banquet – they came up with a different idea.
This year they are holding a drive-through BBQ for the drivers and they are holding a charity dunk-the-staff-and-managers event for the drivers.
 Dunking senior management Every driver has been given a form to indicate which management and staff they want to dunk.
The drivers will pay $2 a ball or 3 balls for $5.
100% of the funds will be going to Food for Kids Halton.
We will get back to you on the where of this event.
 By Staff
June 4th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation has a fund raising initiative underway and has found willing supporters within the commercial sector.
 They are there when you need them. Be there for them when they need you. Using the tag line: This June, support local businesses and support local healthcare. The following have joined the J.
Factory Shoe Outlet
Joseph Tassoni Face Coverings
COBS Bakery – Maple Mews Location
Domenic’s Italian Eatery
AIM Insurance Good for You, Good for our Community
These are a few of the corporations that are taking part in the drive. Each has something unique in the way they donate – each supports the hospital.
Factory Shoe Outlet is over halfway to its fundraising goal of $40,000!
AIM will donate $5 to Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation.
 Jack is all in! When Jack Fernihough saw the We Love our Hospital lawn signs were popping back up around the city, he went to his garage and proudly added his sign from last year back onto the front lawn. But he had thrown away his old “We Joined” sign. So when the Foundation was delivering a sign to his neighbour, Jack asked if he could have the full set.
“It’s just something fun,” he said. “I think it’s important to support the hospital because a strong community needs a strong hospital. And Burlington is a top-notch city, and we need a top-notch hospital.”
To request a sign, please click here.
Signs will be delivered and installed by Foundation staff following all safety precautions with contactless delivery.
The plea from the Foundation is: We need you now more than ever.
 The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to Joseph Brant Hospital and we are working tirelessly to make sure that we’re here for you in the moments that matter.
Make this moment matter,
 By Pepper Parr
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In an earlier version of this story there was a headline that was inappropriate. It was revised. The production happens to be about sex being used as a weapon. The three members of council are part of the production. Apologies to anyone who was offended.
There was a time when radio is all there was. And it was great.
Radio captures the mind and lets the imagination run rampant.
There were those classic programs: Johnny Dollar the report of a private investigator and what he spent his fee on. There was Allan Mills and his program. There was that Bed Time story that CBC used to run.
Television was never able to do what radio does.
 The audience will be “out there” instead of these seats. The people at the Performing Arts Centre are taking us back to what radio was all about: words, tone and inflection all used to capture the imagination and build up a sense of what was being communicated.
Because The Show Must Go Online the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Presents Dangerous Liaisons Online
BPAC will stream a virtual reading of the classic play, Dangerous Liaisons (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) next Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12. Tickets for the stream cost $20 per household, or $15 for BPAC members and volunteers. To thank Burlington-area front-line healthcare workers for their sacrifices during this pandemic, they can contact the BPAC Box Office for complimentary tickets to the show.
 Three council members amongst the cast. Adapted to run approximately 60 minutes, this reading will be directed by Stratford Festival director Richard Ouzounian. The incredible cast features local artists and politicians, including Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Councillors Lisa Kearns and Rory Nisan, KooGle Theatre’s Leslie and Christopher Gray and others.
For those of you who remember the moment when the Mayor sang from the passenger seat of a Smart Car – you can once again hear the dulcet tones of a women who trained to sing opera. Listen to how she did.
“After such a long time without being able to entertain the people of Burlington, it is exciting to be back doing what we do best – and that is putting on a show,” said BPAC Executive Director Tammy Fox. “Working with a director the caliber of Richard Ouzounian and a cast that mixes talented performers and enthusiastic local leaders is fun, energizing and just the tip of the iceberg of what we can accomplish when we are able to welcome patrons back.”
Participating restaurants Paradiso and Pepperwood Bistro have prepared delicious prix fixe takeout meals to accompany a night at the online theatre, so patrons can make it a true dinner and a show experience. Hungry theatre patrons can find all the details about their tantalizing dinner options through the BPAC website.
About the Show
Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a 1985 play adapted from the 1782 novel of the same title by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. The plot focuses on the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, rivals who use sex as a weapon of humiliation and degradation, all the while enjoying their cruel games. Their targets are the virtuous (and married) Madame de Tourvel and Cécile de Volanges, a young girl who has fallen in love with her music tutor, the Chevalier Danceny. In order to gain their trust, Merteuil and Valmont pretend to help the secret lovers so they can use them later in their own treacherous schemes.
About the Cast
The Marquise de Merteuil – Leslie Gray
The Vicomte de Valmont – Christopher Gray
Madame de Tourvel – Councillor Lisa Kearns
Cécile Volanges – Arielle Nielsen
Madame Volanges – Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
The Chevalier Danceny – Councillor Rory Nisan
Madame de Rosemonde – Bev Mattson
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Virtual Play Reading of Dangerous Liaisons
June 11, 2021 & June 12, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.
Streamed from The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Tickets can be purchased online or by telephone:
905-681-6000 | https://burlingtonpac.ca/events/dangerous-liaisons/
Tickets per household (All-in): Regular $20 / Members $15
The full schedule of BPAC Presents events is available here:
burlingtonpac.ca/bpacpresents – Tickets and dinner choices
facebook.com/BurlingtonPAC | twitter.com/BurlingtonPAC | instagram.com/burlington_pac
 By Staff
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Lane Closures: Lakeshore Road at Martha Street, June 5, 2021
 A striking look – just in an awkward location. Lakeshore Road at Martha Street will have lane closures:
Saturday, June 5
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
One lane will remain open on Lakeshore Road for westbound traffic.
A section of Martha Street between Lakeshore Road and Pine Street will be closed:
Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Old Lakeshore Road.
The ADI Nautique condominium is past the just underground work.
They are now ready to install a crane to begin build floor by floor.
While the building itself has a lot going for it – ADI has always done good design – nothing boring about their product.
The site – at the corner of Martha and Lakeshore is small and in a very awkward location in terms of the impact on traffic.
 The ADI Group brought along a number of staff to a public meeting to explain the construction management plan they would put in place once construction began. They do have an an interesting and innovative construction management plan in place. But jammed up traffic is not an experience once looks at with a smile.
By Pepper Parr
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In a grand gesture yesterday the Premier announced that outdoor graduation events were going to be permitted.
That news came as a surprise to every high school principal in the province.
The Halton District School Board was taken by surprise when they heard the news.
 Bateman high school graduation in 2017 “At this point we don’t even know if we will be able to do it. Many Boards have already said they will not be doing it” said a news source.
“The Ministry has not given any direction, we haven’t spoken to Public health about it yet. It was a total surprise to us he announced it.
“Many schools have already planned their virtual events, which weren’t easy. Also don’t forget he said a celebration for every grade not just graduation.
The school board “will be going over this next week” – what they need is clear direction from the Ministry of Education. “… we have also yet to receive any written confirmation or direction from the Ministry.
The Premier said that there would be graduation events for every grade – which has not been the custom for Ontario schools. The long standing practice has been for high school students to graduate. More recently there have been graduation events for those completing elementary school.
By Staff
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Day trips to the Ontario Parks that are not too far a drive – Interesting way to get out of the house and enjoy being outdoors. List of the parks open for day trips.
 More than 17 provincial parks are open for day trips. Starting June 7, Ontario Parks will be offering a new service for day use; at 17 parks, visitors will be able to book their daily vehicle permit up to 5 days in advance of arrival.
This new permit booking system, piloting at popular parks, will allow visitors to guarantee their day use spot. Permits can be obtained online or by phone at 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).
Advance day use bookings will help visitors plan their trip ahead of time with greater certainty. As provincial parks become more popular, this service will help prevent overcrowding and line ups, and ensure a better visitor experience.
This program is attractively priced – cheaper than the parking fee in the Beachway – assuming you can find a parking spot.
Link to the page that has all the details.
Getting a permit – Click HERE
This is shaping up to be a busy summer at Ontario Parks, so we strongly recommend all visitors secure their daily vehicle permit in advance of each visit.
Learn more on our day use page, including which parks are participating and how to plan a day trip.
 This is your Ontario We’re counting on people to be responsible when enjoying our parks. Continue to follow public health advice including practicing physical distancing by keeping at least two metres from others, wearing a face covering where required, when physical distancing may be a challenge or not possible and when entering indoor public spaces, and wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Postpone your visit if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to isolate.
 By Pepper Parr
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
BurlingtonGreen was not going to totally lose the chance to have an impact even if the province put a kibosh on their annual CleanUp/GreenUp event.
 They had to announce on April 8th that the Community Clean Up has been temporarily postponed due to the stay-at-home order issued by the Province.
They did what everyone did – the pivoted and put together a program that helped people do things at home.
THE GREEN UP & TREE LOVING CARE (TLC)Ways that you can GREEN UP at home:
- Plant a native shrub, tree or pollinator perennial on your property.
Request a packet of FREE native plant seeds to support your Green Up activities at home, while quantities last.
You can find out more about native trees and which ones are best for Burlington using the Ontario Tree Atlas.
Consult the Tree Planting Guide to set your new tree up for success.
2. Remove invasive plant species from your property.
Learn more about Halton Invasive Species and Biodiversity from Conservation Halton.
Find out how you can tackle invasive species at home from the Ontario Invasive Plant Council.
3. Give some Tree Loving Care (TLC) to your trees
Maintaining and caring for them is important for their overall health and longevity.
4. Learn about the importance of trees, pollinators, native species and biodiversity
 The annual clean up event is seen by some as something for the younger crowd. While these woman are certainly young at heart – and they are doing their bit. Perks of Registering:
We have a limited supply of FREE NATIVE PLANT SEEDS available when you register for Green Up, while quantities last.
 Thousands of trees have been planted by BurlingtonGreen volunteers. When you register your Green Up participation, you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Burlington Centre. We are giving away 2 gift cards for those that register between now and October 31st.
We’ve got extra prizes for those that share their photos with us – so take photos of your Green Up and tag us on social media or e-mail them to us for EXTRA chances to win!
Note: Submission of photos provides permission to BurlingtonGreen to use your photos in print, or in digital materials including social media platforms with permission to edit, alter, copy, or distribute the photos for media advertising and marketing.
To take part in the program REGISTER
 By Ray Rivers
June 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON’
The previous provincial government closed all of the coal-fired power plants and permanently banned coal as a fuel for electricity production. That was one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in North America. More than 30 mega-tonnes of greenhouse gases annually were eliminated.
That is the equivalent to taking seven-million petroleum powered vehicles off our roads. In addition, closing the coal plants helped reduce the number of smog days in Ontario from 53 in 2005 to zero in 2015.
In 2005 coal-fired electricity still accounted for 19% of the utility bill. By 2015 when coal was gone, wind and solar energy had come from nowhere to account for 9%, even as electricity use in the province increased by another 3%. And while the costs of getting there were not inconsequential, solar and wind are today’s lowest cost sources of electrical energy.
 Wind turbines work exceptionally well if located in the right place. Of course wind and solar are intermittent sources of energy by their very nature. And while awaiting the development of backup energy storage systems, natural gas had been included in the mix to allow for those times when the sun was down or the wind had stopped blowing. Still, by 2018, the year the government changed political parties, natural gas accounted for only 3% of the energy mix.
Renewable energy accounts for a third of the electricity produced in Ontario. And a third of that comes from Ontario’s fleet of solar and wind installations. But after the 2018 election the Ontario government stopped approving and started cancelling new solar and wind projects. Still, even in 2020 wind and solar still generated over 11% of the provincial energy mix.
As a result Ontario’s electricity system is currently about 94 percent carbon free. However that is down from 97 percent under the former government, though still very respectable when compared to other jurisdictions like the USA, or even Alberta.
 Solar panels have proven to be very cost effective. Unfortunately the current provincial administration is allergic to naturally sourced renewable energy. In fact, the Premier has recently moved to de-prioritize renewable energy in an effort to allow increases in the carbon content of Ontario’s energy mix.
So it should not be surprising that this Ontario government, through its wholly owned Ontario Power Generation, has just spent three billion dollars purchasing three existing gas plants from TC Energy. It is easy to understand why TC Energy would want to unload these facilities which represent yesterday’s fossil fuel burning technology. But why would the Ontario government buy them?
The contrast with what we see happening in the US could not be clearer. US President Joe Biden is committed to eliminating natural gas electricity production within 15 years, replacing it with renewable energy. Canada has just announced new climate change targets for 2030 which would entail a 40-50% reduction in fossil fuel burning.
Recently 27 municipalities across Ontario, representing half of the province’s population, have demanded that Ontario phase-out natural gas electricity production. They are concerned about re-carbonizing Ontario’s energy mix and the potential smog pollution which would result. Converting Ontario’s vehicle fleet to electricity is hardly carbon free if recharging the cars’ batteries relies on carbon based electricity.
The province’s Independent Electrical System Operator (IESO),which manages Ontario’s power system, had begun a stakeholder engagement process to examine the feasibility of phasing-out natural gas. In response, the Ontario Energy Association (OEA,) which represents most large energy providers, quickly generated a report in defence of the gas plants.
 One of the three gas fired energy plants the province bought. The OEA report delivers what they term a ‘rough estimate’ of $60 billion over the next decade as a consequence of eliminating natural gas from electricity production. Rough estimate is a generous term for this sketchy effort at producing a large enough number to get everyone’s attention. And unsurprisingly, the imaginary number, intended to impress the reader, is based on heroic and incomplete assumptions – in short, shoddy work.
But this is not just about climate change and the environmental consequences of burning more fossil fuel. There have been huge economic costs associated with the direction this government has been taking us from the get-go. They gave away $3 billion when they dismantled Ontario’s cap and trade emission reduction system. Another $231 million was spent compensating approved new renewable energy projects which were cancelled by the government.
Then there were the millions, (initially $30 million) which were poured into the pointless effort to kill the national carbon tax. And now the Province is spending $3 billion to buy gas power plants which will have to be decommissioned in as little as a decade.
Meanwhile the government is paying $6 billion a year to subsidize our monthly electricity bill, a practice estimated by the Ontario Energy Association to possibly end up costing $228Billion over the next 25 years. And even so, the cost of electricity has actually increased since this government came to power, peaking just prior to the onset of the pandemic and the Premier’s decision to offer work-at-home rate relief during the crisis.
By any measure, economic or environmental, this is a troubling roadmap. And it is taking Ontario tax payers into the most ideologically driven and wrong-headed misadventure since a former premier broke up Ontario Hydro.
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Coal Power Plants – Ontario Energy Mix – Ontario Electricity Rates –
Municipal Pressure – OEA Study – TC Plants –
Today’s Energy Mix – Ratepayer Subsidy –
By Staff
June 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Another parking fee – this time at LaSalle Park – you pay to park the vehicle you used to tow your boat to the public launch.
The LaSalle Park Community Marina opened the public boat launch on June 1.
The same day the city began charging for parking.
 Trucks parked at LaSalle now have to pay for the parking. New Parking Fees
Anyone parking their boat trailer at the LaSalle Park Community Marina or in the upper parking lot will now be required to pay a trailer parking fee. Trailer parking payments are required seven days a week, including holidays. It is a daily flat rate of $20 for trailer parking; there is no fee to use the public boat launch.
The parking lot has often had traffic flow problems caused by too many trailers and/or improper parking. The new paid parking requirements are intended to create more order in the lots, improve traffic flow and reduce frustrations.
 Public ramp – at a time when the water was high and the winter ice had done a lot of damage. Residents and visitors can use the HonkMobile app or scan the QR code found on signage at the marina to search, pay for, and top-up parking payments directly from their smartphone, tablet or computer.
Dashboard tickets are not required as every payment is linked with a trailer licence plate number.
The Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a floating wave break. The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club (BS&BC) and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
.
By Pepper Parr
June 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Ooops!
The web site was off line, or to use our language – the presses stopped running early this morning. A monkey wrench got thrown into the works and we were responsible.
 Traffic increase to the Gazette had us moved to a different server. The company that hosts our site advised us recently that they were moving us to a different server due to an increase in our traffic.
That required us to make a number of changes in the back end of the system – which I personally never did understand.
 Monkey wrench was in the wrong place. One of the changes didn’t get made and something called a proxy server stopped serving.
We are back and apologize for the inconvenience.
 By Pepper Parr
June 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Where do the policy initiatives come from?
Where do the fresh ideas come from?
Are we to rely on those with vested interests or can we look to independent bodies that contribute initiatives and do the analysis needed to take what the data offers?
 We recently published a piece on a report on the working poor in the Region put out by Community Development Halton (CDH).
Put bluntly it was a regurgitation of information from Statistics Canada Tax-filer data, which was interesting and informative.
So what – the taxpayers in the Region put up at least half of the annual CDH budget for which the public has a right to expect more in the way of quality analysis.
 The numbers are useful – the analysis is vital and missing. Why does Burlington have fewer working poor than Milton or Oakville? Is it because it costs so much to rent in Burlington, if rental space can be found?
Is the lower level of working poor people one of the forces that is driving the development of high rise towers? We are talking structures that are well above twenty floors in some cases.
Development in Burlington has tended to be for those who can pay the millions for a view of the lake.
There are reasons for the geographical distribution of the working poor. Knowing what those reasons are would be a useful contribution and part of what social planning is about.
Something is missing from the material coming out of Community Development Halton.
Related news article.
Working poor lower in Burlington
By Staff
June 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There is now a road map to get us from where we are to where we want to be in the battle to prevent the further spread of Covid19 and its variants.
The Roadmap to Reopen, a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health care indicators.
Roadmap to Reopen outlines three steps to easing public health measures. Each step lasts for 21 days providing the criteria for moving to the next step are met.
 Burlingtonians understand social distancing Step One An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower, and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity.
 People got out and exercised. Step Two Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, overnight camps, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity.
Step Three Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits.
The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step:
Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
 As soon as 60% of the population is vaccinated we can move into Step One of the Roadmap to re-opening. The government expects to enter Step One of the Roadmap the week of June 14, 2021.
What the public is permitted to do between June 2nd and the 14th is not at all clear – other than to get out and get vaccinated.
Step One will permit the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized and will permit retail, all with restrictions in place, including but not limited to :
Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people;
Outdoor dining up to 4 people per table;
Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 people;
Essential retail at 25 per cent capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box);
Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity;
Retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance;
Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit 2 metres’ physical distancing;
Horse racing and motor speedways without spectators;
Outdoor horse riding;
Outdoor pools and wading pools with capacity limited to permit 2 metres’ physical distancing;
Outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limits;
Campsites, campgrounds and short-term rentals; and
Overnight camping at Ontario Parks.
The detail is dizzying.
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