 By Pepper Parr
May 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Council spent two hours listening to a report from Deloitte, an accounting firm that does survey work for some of its clients.
They have completed a significant survey of Burlington residents on what they like about the job the city is doing.
 65% did not like the taxation experience during this term of office. It came nowhere near matching taxation. There were 22 slides used in the presentation to explain what residents thought was working and what wasn’t working.
The range was vast – everything from taxation to snow clearing.
Did people feel they were engaged, and if they were, how did they feel they were listened?
Council members had a lot of questions.
In the next few days we are going to provide Gazette readers with some of the data and the comments made by the people who did the survey.
Going to start with an easy one: Taxation.
Elections are won and lost on what taxpayers have to pay each year.
 By Gazelle Staff
May 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington, MP Karina Gould will gather with the 42 people who will be presented with awards recognizing their contributions as volunteers at the Gould Volunteer Appreciation Awards night.
Gould puts out a call each year to local organizations to nominate exceptional volunteers for their selfless service in the community.
From food security to culture, environmental work to health supports, MP Gould will spotlight 42 dedicated volunteers who make Burlington the community it is. These volunteers were recognized for their unique talents and skills and the important impact they make through their service.
The Names of the Recognized Volunteers:
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- Advancement of Women Halton, Elizabeth Rennie
- African Caribbean Council of Halton, OreofeOluwa Dimeji
- AgeCare Brant, Barbara Gardiner
- Burlington Able Sail, Phil Taylor
- Burlington Aquatic Devilrays, Andy Newman
- Burlington Centaurs Rugby Club, Rob Piti
- Burlington Historical Society, Patricia Taylor
- Burlington Lions Club, Andrea Florian
- Burlington Masters Swim Club, Melanie Price
- Burlington Minor Lacrosse Association, Adam Kennedy
- Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club, Scot Cameron
- Burlington Terry Fox Run, Allison Webster
- Burlington Trampoline & Tumbling Inc., Catherine Bishop
- Burl-Oak Naval Veterans, Andrew Peter Barber
- Co-ed Adult Recreational Hockey League, Patte Beltrame
- Distress Centre Halton, Matthew Kowalchuk
- Extendicare Burloak Long Term Care, Barbara Vucinic
- Food for Life, Arf Darr
- Food4Kids Halton, Elaine Forbes
- Food4Kids Halton, Gary Forbes
- Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin, Katharine McKee
- Halton Children’s Aid Society, Joan Lewis
- Halton Food for Thought, Nancy Turingia
- LifeChurch, Vivian Dobb
- Our Kids Network, Hajra Saqib
- Paroisse Saint-Philippe, Chantal Larochelle
- Pride Halton, Brookelynn Dean
- Rolling Horse Community Cycle, Bugs Vanderzwaag
- Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore, Brent Paszt
- Rotary Club of Burlington North, Clinton Howell
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Deborah Harasym
- SAVIS of Halton, Suzanne Stolz
- Shaarei-Beth El Synagogue, Julia Appleton
- Shifra Homes, Wendy Thiessen
- Special Olympics Burlington, Greg Vagasky
- St Gabriel Parish, Raffaela Kapusty
- Raphael Parish, Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, Patrick Braganza
- Summit Housing & Outreach Programs, Jon Harrison
- The Art Gallery of Burlington, Christina Moskal
- The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Peter Van Dyk
- Vipers Wheelchair Basketball, Larissa McClellan
- Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services, Sherri Dockree
These are people you may meet on occasion – thank them for their service.
 By Pepper Parr
May 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
They have been doing it for more than 25 years, and they want to continue doing it – and at the same time adjust to changing times and circumstances. Every year Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance put…
They have been doing it for more than 25 years, and they want to continue doing it – and at the same time adjust to changing times and circumstances.
Every year Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance puts on a show at the Performing Arts Centre that is a Matinee Performance and an Evening show. There was a time when it was always a sold out event.
 A typical annual performance – the final curtain comes down this June. The annual Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance has, in the past, filled the stage at the Performing Arts Centre
While attendance is still strong Sue Pritchard, President of the organization that pulls it all together said recently that attendance is falling.
“We began to see it during Covid and it didn’t recover the way we thought it would.
“So we are holding two workshops to do a deep dive into what we have been doing, what we should be doing and looking at who we are serving.”
 In the meantime, the final performance of Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance as we have known it will take place on June 23rd.
It takes a lot of practice to get to the point where you are ready for the stage.
 It takes a lot of rehearsals to get to the stage – great exercise and a lot of fun. The annual performances are not just a local event. Tour buses from Kitchener arrive most years. “We draw a considerable audience from Hamilton, and a significant number of people from Toronto make the trip.
We are aware of the changing attendance patterns and have decided, as an organization, to pause, rethink, and perhaps rebrand what we have been doing.
Thus the Worshops, on at the Performing Arts Centre, September 16th and a follow-up at Brant Hills on September 27th.
They have been around for 25 years and are planning for the next 25.
 They have been doing this for 25 years – and are now Work shopping to determine what the next 25 years will look like. Up until now, the Footnotes have been seen as an “over 50 demographic,” explains Pritchard. We want to change that to an “18 and up” and we want to be more than an annual performance organization. Membership to the Footnotes is an annual $40 and $60 for a family.
While preparing for the annual event takes a lot of time there are social events sprinlked throughout the year.
There are classes in different types of dancing. “We have a class that teaches people how to do tap dancing while sitting in a chair” said Pritchard.
There is dancer on the stage this year who is 89.
Web site for the Footnotes is: https://www.burlingtonfootnotes.com
Check it out to learn more about taking part.
 By Gazette Staff
May 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
From a source that I consider as good as they get – we were told that Karina Gould is not going to run for Mayor of Burlington.
 Karina Gould isn’t leaving the House of Commons for City Hall The question was put to the source more than ten days ago – but at least we got an answer.
While her seat in the House of Commons is yards from the front row she once had – she is not leaving the premises.
Long term? She could well end up being the Prime Minister in the fullness of time.
 By Gazette Staff
May 7th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Civic Chorale!
They have been putting on concerts for the past 32 years.
You won’t be disappointed.
The May concert features works by various composers from William Byrd in the sixteenth century and W.A. Mozart in the eighteenth century to the contemporary American composers, Morten Lauridsen, Moses Hogan and Undine Smith Moore. Each composer set texts that were selected by two or more composers so the listener is offered differing interpretations of the same text. The music varies from the sacred liturgical to the modern spiritual.
By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Multi Family Garage Sale
Saturday May 16, 8:00 – 1:00
(Rain date Sunday May 17)
Corner Mountsberg & Glenron Roads
Huge Selection of Treasures
Cash Only
Please no early birds
By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It has taken longer than expected, but the public will get to hear what the developers have planned for the property at 1200 King Road.
 Rendering of the Alinea Development: Bound by King Road on the East; Aldershot GO station on the west; Highway 403 on the north, and the railway tracks on the south. The Alinea Group is proposing:
to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law for the lands located at 1200 King Road to permit a mixed use development consisting of 26 development blocks including: four mixed use development blocks, an entertainment block, three educational blocks, six residential blocks, a park block, two natural heritage system blocks, three blocks associated with Indian Creek, two storm-water management pond blocks, one landscape buffer block, two MTO property line blocks and one future development block.
- Official Plan Amendment: 505-03/26
- Zoning By-law Amendment: 520-04/26
Benjamin Kissner is the city planner on the file.
 Planned street locations and boundaries for the many development blocks that will be created.
The Statutory Public meeting will take place on June 9th, at City Hall
426 Brant St., Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
905-335-7777, ext. 7913
- Official Plan Amendment: 505-03/26
- Zoning By-law Amendment: 520-04/26
The renderings are conceptual at this point.
 By Pepper Parr
May 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
An update on who is running for office.
Slim pickings at this point – a lot of retreads from past elections
Running for Mayor:
Lisa Kearns
Rory Nisan
No firm word on what Mayor Meed Ward plans to do.
Running in Ward 1:
Kelvin Galbraith
2022 election results:
City and Regional Councillor- Ward 1
Name of Candidate Votes
Kelvin GALBRAITH 4155 Elected
Robert RADWAY 240
Radway has advised the Gazette that he has an appointment to meet with the City Clerk later this week. Radway ran against Gailbrath in 2022
Running in Ward 2
Masha Brar
Gary Carr
Running in Ward 3:
Tony Brecknock
Brecknock ran in ward 4 in the 2022 election
2022 Election results
City and Regional Councillor- Ward 4
Name of Candidate Votes
Tony BRECKNOCK 1833
Olivia DUKE 1748
Shawna STOLTE 3591 Elected
Eden WOOD 467
Running in Ward 4:
Chris Carter
Olivia Duke
Email: olivia@oliviaduke.ca
Website: oliviaduke.ca
Shawna Stolte did say she would be just a two-term Council member when she first ran in 2028. She has said that she plans to run in 2026 but has yet to actually file nomination papers.
Running in Ward 5:
Paul Sharman
Phone: 905-320-7467
Email: paul@paulsharman.ca
Running in Ward 6:
Osob Adus
No detail for this candidate
Angelo Bentivegna
Phone: 905-973-6923
Email: angelo.bentivegna@gmail.com
Rowen Fraser
Email: rowen@rowrowforcouncil.com
Website: rowrowforcouncil.com
By Pepper Parr
May 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Correction: The original headline was incorrect. It has been replaced.
It was an occasion for the students at MM Robinson High School to both share and hear the story about a former school principal, Melville Marks Robinson, popularly known as “Bobby”, who is recognized as the founder of the Commonwealth Games.
The students gathered in the gymnasium with more than 250 seated on the floor as the occasion began when a piper entered the gym.
 MMR students gather in the gymnasium to hear about the Games. The school is named after Melville Marks Robinson, the man who created the idea for the Games. They were told about two statements “Bobby” always pressed upon people:
 “Bobby” Robinson keeping a close eye on what is taking place. Believe in yourselves and believe in your dreams.
It was his dream that resulted in the first-ever games held in Hamilton in August of 1930. At that time, they were known as the British Empire Games.
There were six sports: athletics (track and field), boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming/diving, and wrestling.
Eleven countries took part in the 59 events that involved 400 athletes who were billeted in the Prince of Wales School next to the Civic stadium, where they slept two dozen to a classroom. The participant nations were Australia, Bermuda, British Guyana, Canada, England, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
The Hamilton Games ran at a cost of $97,973.00.
 Left: Crowds watching the games in rainy weather. Right: Some of the sports taking place. The podium used to present the medals was first used at the 1930 Games. It was later adopted as a practice in the Olympic Games.
 Claire Carver Dias Claire Carver Dias, current president of Commonwealth Sport Canada, has been active in the games both as a participant who won two gold medals in synchronized swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
She describes the games as friendly, focused on excellence, inclusion and human rights – Sports with a Social Purpose.
The Social Purpose is seen as an organization that is:
- First International Games to achieve Gender Equality, with more medaling events for women than men.
- First, and only, international Games to have a Reconciliation Action Plan, respecting and celebrating Aboriginal cultures and leaving a lasting and meaningful legacy through employment and training and procurement.
- First, and only, international Games to integrate a Para-Sport program as full medal status.
- First International Major Games franchise holder to embed Human Rights across all operations and programs
 Claire Carver Dias holding one of the jackets worn by officials at the 1930 and 1934 Games The Commonwealth Games are seen as a clean sport. There isn’t any negative comment about the Games. Athletes are not automatically awarded prize money for winning medals. Any monetary rewards are provided by individual countries, their National Commonwealth Games Associations, or governments, which vary significantly.
 Lou Frapporti Lou Frapporti was the Host and organizer of the event that took place at MMR on Tuesday and for the commemorative event that will take place on Wednesday at the Gazebo in Spencer Smith Park.. He was part of the group in Hamilton that worked to bring the 2030 games to the city. The provincial government chose to financially support the FIFA games, which meant the Commonwealth Games for 2030 will be held in India.
When asked: Why put so much personal time into commemorating what happened almost 100 years ago, Frapporti said: “To me it is about community. People see what has been done in the past and bring those values forward to become part of the society we have today. “Bobby” Robinson was a remarkable human being who made something happen. We can’t just let that history, his achievements, drift away.
 Melville Marks Robinson At the end of the day, as the students drifted back to their classrooms they knew a lot more about the man their school is named after. As a model of giving back to the larger community is all about is as good as it gets.
When students glance up at the painting high up on the wall overlooking the main foyer, they can reflect on what leadership is.
Is there a future for the Commonwealth Games?
The world certainly needs this kind of organization. The 74-member nations aren’t a United Nations but it is succeeding what it set out to do. The Games were always aligned with the British Monarchy, which didn’t look as if it had all that much hope when Prince Charles became King Charles III. He wasn’t seen as showing all that much promise until very recently, when he was in the United States and did a superb job of handling President Trump without creating a diplomatic incident.
Is there a future for the Commonwealth Games in Canada?
There is if Claire Carver Dias keeps doing what she is doing. Calgary expressed an interest. Could the Games return to Hamilton at some point? Expect Lou Frapporti to become the strongest advocate.
Something to keep in mind. There is a strong movement in Alberta to pull out of Confederation, and Quebec always seems to want to leave.
We will have a new Governor General soon. Louis Arbour might find that a slightly tighter relationship with the Monarchy could be something that helps keep the country together. Mark Carney and King Charles are close friends.
Having the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 2034 is something people will begin to think about.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you want to understand just how much damage social media can do – read on.
Writing in a column for the Toronto Star, Susan Delacourt said:
It could be easy to get complacent about a looming Alberta independence referendum — polls show that most Albertans prefer to remain in Canada and hey, we’ve had referendums before in Canada, including two on Quebec independence.
 The referendum in 1995 was a battle to keep Quebec in Canada but also to keep Canada a multicultural country. But those referendums were held before social media and other data-management technology paved the way for rampant disinformation and privacy compromises. They were also not held in the shadow of Donald Trump, whose own national security strategy, published earlier this year, claimed the right to interfere in politics of the Western Hemisphere to assert U.S. dominance even outside its borders.
Last week, CSIS reported that foreign interference in Canadian democracy is very much alive and growing ever more complex each year. The report didn’t flag anything substantial coming from the U.S., but is anyone ruling that out?
 The Alberta Separation referendum has given US President a wedge that he can use to achieve his 51st state dream. Earlier this year there was a flurry of attention to what Trump could get out of Alberta independence, when it was revealed that Alberta separatists had held meetings with people close to the White House and when U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said openly that Alberta is a “natural partner” for the United States.
But that attention kind of died down until late last week with the news of this data breach.
Carney is right to be deeply concerned. It has been said that Alberta independence was much on his mind when he embarked on what’s known as the memo of understanding on pipelines and climate with Premier Danielle Smith’s government.
We also shouldn’t forget that Carney lived through the Brexit drama when he headed the Bank of England, and saw how quickly a separation movement took off, even as people were saying Britain would never leave the European Union.
 The United Kingdom has yet to recover from the Brexit experience. Carney likely knows that an Alberta independence referendum, in this day and age, would bear more resemblance to Brexit than any of the Quebec sovereignty votes of the past century. He would also have some vivid memories of the role that data played in that vote, notably by the Cambridge Analytica firm (which also helped in Trump’s 2016 victory, for those who may have forgotten.)
Canada does have foreign influence watchdog now after the initiative was stalled for years. His name is Anton Boegman, and he’s a former chief electoral officer in British Columbia.
Earlier this year, Boegman told CBC News that he believed his mandate extended to provincial politics too, including referendums held there. Alberta could be the first big test for him and his office. And the Centurion leak, we can hope, is a big warning flag for what he — and this country’s unity — could be up against.
 By Gazette Staff
May 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is proud to recognize the success of 109 students at the 42nd annual Celebration of Student Excellence event at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School (3040 Tim Dobbie Dr, Burlington) on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. Each year, one student from each HDSB elementary and secondary school is honoured for their excellence in self-improvement, enhancing the school and/or local community, citizenship, student leadership, academics, vocational studies and specialized programs or extra-curricular activities.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate by viewing the livestream of the event which will be available on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca) on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. A recording of the event will remain online for families to view afterward.
For more information including a list of recipients, visit the Student Excellence Awards webpage.
“As we recognize the accomplishments of these 109 students during Education Week, we are reminded of the lasting impact a strong educational foundation has on a student’s future,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “Our Students of Excellence have demonstrated outstanding leadership, citizenship and academic achievement – qualities that will support them well into the future. It is inspiring to see our 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan come to life through the dedication and efforts of each recipient. The HDSB is proud to celebrate your achievements and the difference you are making in your schools and communities.”
The Elementary School Students recognized for their Excellence.
The Secondary School Students recognized for their Excellence.
As you peruse the faces of these students, you can see just how diverse the population of the city has become.
By Gazette Staff
May 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Current Regional Chair decides to run for a Burlington City Council seat. Gary Carr, the current Chair of the Halton Regional government, filed papers yesterday to run as a candidate for Ward 2 seat in Burlington.
Some might wonder why Gary would leave a higher level of government to serve in a lower level.
The reason is that the job he currently has is expected to disappear when the provincial government names new Directors to lead the Regional governments across the province.
There are different views on Carr serving at the municipal level. Should he win the Ward 2 seat he would bring a tremendous deapth of experience to the job.
 Brad Harness Brad Harness, publisher of the Burlington Independent was expected to file his nomination papers. No word yet on what he will do
Sean Campbell, Founder of Burlington Helping Burlington, was talking about running for the seat as well.
We will look to them for comment.
By Sadie Smith Smith
May 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
You already tap, transfer, and pay without thinking about it. Digital payments now handle most transactions in Canada, but the system behind them still runs on a mix of old and new. The gap between how people pay and how the system works is where things are changing fastest.
 Tap at the counter, send an e-transfer, pay a bill online; it has become routine for most people. Most payments in Canada now happen without cash. Tap at the counter, send an e-transfer, pay a bill online; it has become routine for most people. The scale is large. More than 23.3 billion transactions moved through the system last year, with total value reaching $12.7 trillion. In Burlington, it is just how things get paid for now, whether it is a coffee, splitting a bill, or sending money from a phone in a few seconds.
What People Are Actually Using Right Now
The numbers show where things stand. Credit cards account for about 34% of transaction volume, debit cards sit close to 30%, and account-to-account transfers make up roughly 15%, with cash now down near 12%. That mix matters because it shows there is no single system running the show. Cards still carry most of the load, but transfers have moved well past the point of being a backup option.
Interac e-Transfer has become part of daily use. Rent gets paid that way. Small business invoices get settled that way. People send money between each other without opening their wallets. That changes expectations. Speed is no longer a bonus; it is built into the way transactions work.
Local Services Start Following the Same Logic
City services are starting to move in the same direction. Burlington is planning a two-year on-demand transit pilot that leans on app-based booking, route adjustments, and real-time data to decide how vehicles move. The idea is simple: respond to what people are doing rather than forcing them into fixed routes.
That approach lines up with how payments already work. You do not wait for a batch process to clear or a system to catch up. The action happens first, and the system adjusts around it. Transit, billing, and payments are starting to operate on the same expectation, which is immediate response with minimal friction.
Businesses Still Run a Hybrid System
 The consumer side has moved fast, but the business side shows a more balanced picture. About 89% of Canadian businesses accept debit and credit cards, 63% accept Interac e-Transfer, and 49% take mobile payments, while 96% still accept cash. Cash has not disappeared, even if it shows up less often.
Most businesses are not planning to go fully cashless. The system stays mixed because different customers want different options, and businesses do not want to lose a sale over payment method. That keeps the infrastructure broad, even as behaviour leans heavily toward digital.
Choosing Where Transactions Happen
Paying is one part of the process. Deciding where to transact has become just as important. People compare platforms before they commit, whether they are paying a bill, booking a service, or using an online product. That comparison tends to centre on speed, reliability, and how quickly money moves in and out.
The detail behind that comparison has tightened up. Payment methods, processing times, and withdrawal windows are no longer background information; they sit right up front, and they influence decisions before any money moves. That is where newer platforms try to stand out, by making those details easier to see and quicker to act on. Casino.org has tested new online casinos and ranked them based on factors such as withdrawal speed and overall reliability. That kind of evaluation reflects a broader pattern: people expect clear information before they choose where to spend or move money, and platforms that meet those expectations stand out fast.
Digital payments dominate behaviour, but physical space has not gone anywhere. Construction has started on the new Civic Square in Burlington, with work expected to continue into early 2027. The project changes how people move through the downtown core and how they use public space.
That still matters because transactions do not only happen online. People meet, shop, and spend in physical locations, even if the payment itself is digital. The space forms the activity, and the payment method follows.
The two sit together, not in competition.
The System Has Settled Into Daily Use
 A quick tap and payment is made. The behaviour is already in place. People pay quickly, expect immediate confirmation, and move on. The underlying system is still catching up in parts, with a mix of older infrastructure and newer tools working side by side. That balance shows up in the numbers, in how businesses operate, and in how local services are being designed.
That gap between behaviour and infrastructure is where most of the pressure sits now, and it is what drives the next round of changes across the system.
Nothing about it looks experimental anymore. It is routine.
 By Natalie Mehra,
May 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
I’ve been thinking about our failure to stop the privatization of home & long-term care — a disaster that has contributed to death and suffering on a scale none of us ever imagined. We cannot let them do the same to our hospitals, nor our blood services, mental health & addictions, primary care, public health & the rest. We must find a way draw a line under this period of privatization and shift to rebuilding. And we must do it soon.
 If we don’t fight back they will not stop. Quite the opposite. In fact, we are now facing an emboldened set of well-financed and politically connected interests. It can feel overwhelming but we have to remember our own power. We outnumber them, by far. We need to inspire that mass of people who believe and care, make it visible, impossible to ignore, and as powerful as we can possibly be.
We have done it before and we won! Let’s show them what we are capable of doing together.
It was almost thirty years ago when the Mike Harris government started privatizing long-term care and home care. The 1995 budgets (federal and provincial) were the most regressive in Canadian history to that time.
Truthfully, at the time, we really didn’t know much about the privatization of the delivery of health care services. But we were about to learn.
 The balance of who owned long-term care and home care had fundamentally shifted. By 2003, when the Ontario Liberals won the election and the Conservative Harris/Eves government left, the balance of who owned long-term care and home care had fundamentally shifted. What was once a majority public and non-profit care became a majority private and for-profit. Ever since, the consequences have been suffered by people needing care, their families and the staff working to care for them.
What started as private “mom-and-pop shops” were bought up or pushed out as the for-profit chains moved in. Today, our health care landscape is dominated by large chain for-profit long-term and home care companies. Profits came from de-unionizing the workforce in home care and reducing wages and working conditions in both sectors. Also — and this is critical for people using those services — from reducing the number of care workers and thus the amount of care.
A study done by the Ontario Auditor General of home care showed that by 2015, the billing rates to the public purse for home care companies were double what the actual nurses and PSWs were paid. They charged the province double what they paid. On top of that, they took an additional 18% in administration. For their part, in 2003, the federal government tried to reverse their cuts but privatization by the provinces had already taken hold and funding — more and more — was being shunted off to profits.
In Ontario’s profit-dominated home care system, less than half of Ontario’s public home care funding actually makes it to the front-lines of care — from nursing to physio, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, and personal support.
In home care the consequences are hidden in individual homes. Often, the stories are never made public of people waiting for home care that never shows up due to perilous staffing shortages, of elderly people who have been pushed off home care rolls in favour of post-surgical patients being moved out more quickly to facilitate the hospital cuts, of the impossible cost of paying for private home care, of workers living in poverty and more.
The home care clients, as they call them, and the families of long-term care are near to my heart and will forever haunt my conscience.
In long-term care, the pandemic laid bare what turning long-term care into a profit-seeking industry actually means for human beings. The for-profits had far higher infection and death rates compared to publicly owned and non-profit long-term care homes. Those owned by chains and private equity firms had the highest death rates.
That horrific, reprehensible, tragic record — which exploded into the public eye in the pandemic — was not new, though the pandemic brought everything to a scale never before seen.
 The higher death rates were the case prior to the pandemic also.
It is no wonder. While the for-profits have taken their profits literally every month of every year. Even as their residents died in droves in conditions that would result in jail time if it were done to a pet, they didn’t provide the care residents needed. Residents who are human beings deserving of compassion, love, and care in the last months of their lives, were deprived of it. In those homes that are chronically understaffed, staff describe having to choose who is going to get care and who isn’t.
Over the years, the industry has intertwined with government leading to many close connections and lobbying power. They systematically push for more funding and less regulation — including required nurse to patient ratios, staffing levels, inspections and enforcement. Despite a lot of PR promises getting actual improvements in care levels has been very difficult to achieve.
 Natalie Mehra is the Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition.
The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-interest activist network of over 400 grassroots community organizations. It advocates for protecting and enhancing Ontario’s public healthcare system, strongly opposing the privatization of services and promoting the principles of the Canada Health Act, including universal and accessible care. Burlington is one of the few communities that does not have an OHC community organization.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
How can a political party without a leader poll higher than the political party that currently governs the province?
Only in Ontario.
 The leaderless Ontario Liberals have nudged in front of the Progressive Conservatives, according to a new poll released in the aftermath of the premier’s private jet reversal and changes to freedom-of-information laws.
 A Liaison Strategies survey put Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives at 36 per cent, just behind the Liberals, who were at 38 per cent. The distance between the two is within the margin of error.
The Ontario NDP, which sits as the official Opposition, were at 20 per cent and the Greens at four per cent.
David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies, suggested the Progressive Conservatives have seen their support dropping for some time.
“While the decay may have been slowed down by government advertising, the jet fiasco has pushed the PCs down even lower and they now find themselves in second place,” he wrote in a statement.
Has the public finally clued in?
How much lower do the Ford polling numbers have to go before Doug Ford pulls the plug and announces his plans to call a Leadership Convention and look for a replacement?
The Progressive Conservatives have enough time to find a new leader and begin to polish up the brand and be ready for the next election.
The Liberals will choose their new leader at an event in November.
Related news story:
Bains much more than a long shot to lead the provincial Liberals
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The lovely’s are going to rebrand. Rosemarie Maurice, Founder/Artistic Director of Gotta SING, Gotta DANCE announced today that the organization is taking a break to reflect on the success of the current production and evaluate our long term vision “We have made the thoughtful decision to pause with future productions while we undertake a rebranding process. This period will allow us to strengthen our organizational foundation and position ourselves for a more impactful future. Our goal is to return with a clearer identity, expanded opportunities for collaboration, and even a stronger platform for community engagement.
In this final show she added, “We have a mother/daughter dancing together in this show as well as a long-time member who is 89 and still kicking up her heels.”
By Pepper Parr
May 3rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman has announced that he will run for re-election on October 26th.
He has served as a Councillor since 2010.
In his announcement, he said he “would meet with people in their communities if that is what they want.”
There are a lot of questions that need asking.
Sharman has not been a public transit advocate, but in the recent past there appeared to be a change in his thinking.
Related news story:
Sharman speaks out on what Argo can do for Burlington
 By Pepper Parr
May 2nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
A Gazette reader commented yesterday that what Burlington needs on City Council is a lawyer and some businessmen.
The City has a lawyer to manage the legal problems.
A municipality is not a business. A business is owned by people who expect it to make a profit.
 Council members are elected to create policy and give Staff directions and to represent the interests of the people who elected them. Municipalities strive to ensure there is a surplus at the end of each fiscal year.
Municipal Councillors have one job: to serve their constituents. To know their constituents and to live in the ward they represent.
They are not elected to run the city. Staff are hired to do that
No personal agendas – they are there to listen and to lead – when it is appropriate.
 When we bow our heads and listen to the Last Post and Reveille, we are promising the men and women who gave their lives to protect the democracy we have that we will do the job. That is what you are expected to do on October 26th. When an individual casts a ballot, they are underlining what they feel on Remembrance Day: honouring the tens of thousands of men and women who died in the two World Wars to ensure that we could live in a democracy.
The citizens vote to ensure that the promise is kept by electing people who understand grassroots democracy.
On election day, voters give the power they have; their inalienable right to decide for themselves, to whichever government level they are electing and expect that person to represent them honestly.
It is as simple as that. When we wander off that path – well look to the south of us to see what can happen.
By Pepper Parr
May 2nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall was accepting nomination forms from those who wanted to be candidates in the October 26th municipal government.
Running for Mayor
City Hall was accepting nomination forms from those who wanted to be candidates in the October 26th municipal government on Friday.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns and Ward 3 Councilor Rory Nisan filed their forms on Monday.
Kearns has a very robust website and plans laid out for an active campaign.
 Kearns decided it was either to get elected as mayor or to leave politics entirely.  Rory Nisan, candidate for Mayor Nisan has a website with little in the way of content. His decision to run for Mayor did not come as a complete surprise.
Ward 1 candidate:
At this point, the only nominated candidate is Kelven Galbraith
Ward 2 candidate:
Nothing yet. There are two people who have said they will file papers: Brad Harness and Sean Cameron might be holding back until they learn what Regional Chair Gary Carr will do. He is rumoured to be interested. He attended the Ward 2 meeting that took place last week.
Ward 3 candidate:
Nothing yet. With current Ward 3 Councilor Rory Nisan throwing his hat in the ring to become Mayor the ward is wide open.
Ward 4 candidate:
This is where things have heated up. Current Councillor Shawna Stolte will face Oliva Duke who ran against her in 2022 and got 1748 votes; Stolte won the seat with 3591 votes. Chris Carter has also filed nomination papers and has a website in place.
 Current Ward 2 Councillor Shawna Stolte  Chris Carter, Ward 4 candidate  Olivia Duke, trying a second time to serve the residents of Ward 4 Ward 5 candidate:
Nothing yet. Everyone will be waiting to see what current Councillor Paul Sharman decides to do. His decision to run again is not a certainty.
Ward 6 candidate:
 Current Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna Angelo Bentivegna has filed his papers and is expected to have his van decorated again.
Some elections get very active, particularly when there is an electorate that is grumpy and unhappy. Names that are being talked about have Karina Gould reported to be considering a run for Mayor and Mayor Meed Ward taking a look at the federal seat, should Gold jump into municipal politics. Rumours like this have to be taken with a grain of salt. However, Gould is reported to have visited Marianne Meed Ward at her home.
By Pepper Parr
May 1st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the first things people need to know about Lisa Kearns is that Kearns Road was not named after the family.
Lisa comes from a very humble, working-class family that has strong Catholic roots. All her elementary and high school education took place in Catholic schools.
She had part-time jobs through high school and university.
All this information came out of a long interview on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Once it was clear that Kearns was going to run for Mayor I had asked Kearns to do a sit-down interview and tell me all about who she was, what the core values were, and where she had worked after graduating from university.
 I asked for pictures of her childhood days – she brought hundreds of them. “Just how much do you want” asked Kearns. “Everything” I said. She arrived for the interview with one of those expanding file folders stuffed with more than 100 photographs. “This is who I am” she said.
The I am consists of my Mother and Father, a brother and a sister.
 Lisa Kearns before starting school.  Grade two was great fun for Kearns This wasn’t a family that went to Florida – they were stay-at-home people who went camping and enjoyed fishing
Lisa had part-time after-school and weekend jobs at variety stores and a deli that were close to the family’s Hamilton home.
She was like any other normal child in what was a pretty solid household.
She did Halloween like any other child, had an entry in a Science Fair, and an award for being a good public speaker at the elementary level.
While at Western University she majored in political science, was part of the politcal science club.
Out of university an early job was selling billboard advertising space during an economy that was in trouble. Keeping clients during aneconomic downturn is what selling is all about. Kearns earned her bonus every year.
She moved on to Life Labs, where she was responsible for procurement. Left that company to become the ward 2 Councillor in 2018. There were great expectations back then. Kerns was one of five newbies on a seven-member council. Expecting some turnover from the previous ward Councillor, Kearns saw nothing but a pile of papers on the desk.
By the middle of her second term it was becoming clear to Kerns that council had become close to dysfunctional. It just wasn’t working – and had gotten confrontational.
 Running around during a Halloween party.  A Science Fair exhibit with a sense of humour  A Public Speaking award earned at the elementary school level. After sorting through the pictures and commenting on them I asked Lisa – “Why are you doing this – why are you running for the Office of Mayor.”
Her response was interesting.
“While it is very early in the 2026 election process, as I look back to where I am now, I don’t think I fully realized what I was stepping into.
“I know I can do a better job.”
“What we have now can’t be it.
“In my bones, I just know we can do a better job.
“Council has become very confrontational – and confrontation isn’t who I am.”
It is far too early in the municipal election process to have a really clear picture of what kind of mayor Kearns would be should she win. If what has been published elsewhere it looks like Councillor Nisan will also run for Mayor. Nothing on what current Mayor Mead Ward and what she plans to do.
A couple of weeks before the Saturday interview, I had asked Kearns, “What kind of Mayor do you want to be ?”
She didn’t understand the question right away, so I rephrased it. “Do you want to be a Rob MacIsaac or a Walter Mulkewich?” She said she didn’t know. But during the Saturday interview, she said she had thought about it and was very clear: She wanted to be a MacIsaac Mayor.
 Rob MacIsaac was the Mayor who brought the idea for the Pier to the Council table. He was a builder – Lisa Kearns wants to follow those footsteps. Rob MacIsaac put the idea for the Pier on the table, he was behind the move to tear down the old police station on Locust and have the Performing Arts Centre built. He was the force behind the creation of Team Burlington that put the Chamber of Commerce and the Burlington Economic Development Corporation in the new building that had several floors of parking above.
Rob MacIsaac was a builder who changed some of how the downtown core worked.
I am chasing down a tip I got from a usually solid source; and have reached out to someone who could confirm the information I have. If true, it will change the political landscape during the election we are now into.
This is going to be a very very interesting municipal election for Burlington. The second person I am reaching out to would have access to some information I picked up yesterday.
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