 By Pepper Parr
October 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier this week we wrote a short article attributing a statement made to Councillor Paul Sharman when in fact it was Jim Thompson who made the comment while delegating about the way the city was handling citizen engagement.
Sharman said: “I appreciate your your comments Jim. I will be sending out messages on Facebook and through my newsletter today with respect to the meeting in Ward five.
 Jim Thomson – expect to see a lot of this T-shirt The practice in Burlington is not to permit discussion between a delegation and a member of council so when the words: ” but why hasn’t the city sent out any notification of the changes? You’ve got a professional communication staff that’s failing to communicate” were said we thought it was Sharman continuing a sentence.
This was brought to our attention by Leah Bartolini who is now the Head of Corporate Affairs who thought it was important for the Gazette to make a correction and to apologize the Councillor Sharman.
And we do apologize to Councillor Sharman. The original article has been deleted from the Gazette
We see the error as minor and focus on the words that were used: “You’ve got a professional communication staff that’s failing to communicate” . Who said it isn’t really all that important – it is what was said that mattered.
Members of the Burlington Conservative party have been advised that the deadline to sell memberships is 11:59 PM Friday, October 18th.
 By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Who knew!
It did seem odd that so many people weren’t able to attend the Council meeting on Tuesday.
I wondered – but there was a good reason.
 Will CAO Basit do his fancy footwork while he is in Japan? Expect the Mayor to lead whatever parade there is. Mayor Meed Ward, Councilors Galbraith and Nisan and CAO Hassaan Basit were on their way to Japan.
Wonder why Councillor Bentivegna, who chaired the Council meeting, (he did get through it) chose not to announce where these people were.
This was deliberate – instructions may have given not to say a word. This is sleazy and it smells.
Feels like they had to sneak out of town.
 Councillor Galbraith  Councillor NIsan The public perception has not been all that good about the spending involved.
For Nisan – this is his second trip to one of our Twin Cities.
The trips to Burlington two Twin cities has been a tradition. It was budgeted for and the funds had been allocated.
Given the significant tax increases it might have been time for the city to change the frequency of the visits.
It will tale some diplomacy to make these once every five year visits – perhaps a small gift exchange each year.
 By Staff
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 British humour with outrageously inventive interactive elements.
Buckle your theatre seats, coming to Burlington and venues this holiday season is a production that is guaranteed to bring audiences of all ages pure joy and laughter: O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy.
Imagine the delightful absurdity of Monty Python, the physical comedy of Mr. Bean, and the whimsical charm of Dr. Seuss – all blended into one brilliant production by Canada’s beloved multi-award winning comedy duo James & Jamesy. O Christmas Tea is a festive masterpiece, combining clever British humor with outrageously inventive interactive elements. When a Christmas tea party spirals into chaos, flooding the world with tea, the audience is swept away on a hilariously whimsical adventure that celebrates friendship, imagination, and holiday cheer.
Critics can’t stop raving. With 5-star reviews from CBC, London Free Press, and Torontoist, O Christmas Tea has been praised as “complete and utter fun for all ages,” and “an ode to the idea that anything is possible.” Audiences across the globe have fallen in love with its heartfelt humor and wildly creative staging.
This isn’t your typical holiday show. O Christmas Tea stands out because it doesn’t just entertain – it actively engages. The audience becomes part of the story, which is packed with unexpected twists, delightful physical comedy, and laugh-out-loud moments. James & Jamesy’s chemistry on stage and their boundless imagination create a feel-good experience that’s perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking for a little magic this Christmas.
The show’s unique approach to blending British tradition with fresh, inventive comedy creates a feature-worthy story, offering a joyful break from the usual holiday programming. It’s a show designed to spark connection and leave everyone with a smile.
O Christmas Tea will be coming to Burlington Performing Arts Centre on 13th November at 3pm and 7.30pm.
By Staff
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We recently asked the city communications people if the loan the city made to Sound of Music last June had been repaid.
Our understanding was that the loan was $250,000 and was going to be repaid as soon as the revenue from the Sound of Music events was in hand.
 Entrance to the biggest free musical event in the province – perhaps in the country. That was mid-June.
The answer we got this morning was odd.
“Please connect with Sound of Music staff.”
The city loans money and doesn’t appear to be able to say if the loan has been repaid.
Getting through to anyone at Sound of Music is a challenge at the best of times.
 By Staff
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
What Insider Trading is all about click HERE-
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP —–Buy Quantity: 1,506,767 Average cost: $9.29 Total: $13,997,926.57 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-15-24 |
310,436 |
$9.30 |
$2,885,987.86 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-15-24 |
243,184 |
$9.30 |
$2,260,775.40 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-14-24 |
232,102 |
$9.26 |
$2,148,843.30 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-14-24 |
181,820 |
$9.26 |
$1,683,323.23 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
195,521 |
$9.32 |
$1,821,668.08 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
153,164 |
$9.32 |
$1,427,028.15 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
78,365 |
$9.31 |
$729,520.45 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
61,388 |
$9.31 |
$571,477.08 |
| Liberty 77 Capital L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
28,478 |
$9.24 |
$263,154.18 |
| Liberty 77 Fund International L.P. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
22,309 |
$9.24 |
$206,148.84 |
|
| Hamilton Thorne Ltd —–Buy Quantity: 2,349,000 Average cost: $1.76 Total: $4,127,624.98 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| AWM Investment Company, Inc. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
783,000 |
$1.56 |
$1,221,010.20 |
| Greenhouse, David |
6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
783,000 |
$1.56 |
$1,221,010.20 |
| Stettner, Adam |
6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
783,000 |
$2.15 |
$1,685,604.58 |
|
| Total Energy Services Inc —–Buy Quantity: 135,709 Average cost: $9.72 Total: $1,318,891.62 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Total Energy Services Inc |
1 – Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
134,854 |
$9.72 |
$1,310,416.77 |
| Total Energy Services Inc |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
10-11-24 |
-197,054 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Kirstine, Jessica A. |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
495 |
$9.95 |
$4,925.25 |
| Kirstine, Jessica A. |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
360 |
$9.86 |
$3,549.60 |
|
| Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc —–Buy Quantity: 16,500 Average cost: $73.98 Total: $1,220,686.50 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Madsen, Jørn |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6) |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
16,500 |
$73.98 |
$1,220,686.50 |
|
| Asante Gold Corporation —–Buy Quantity: 729,800 Average cost: $1.39 Total: $1,012,190.22 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Easah, Malik Mohammed |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
244,400 |
$1.40 |
$343,357.56 |
| Easah, Malik Mohammed |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
485,400 |
$1.38 |
$668,832.66 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| High Liner Foods Incorporated —–Sell Quantity: -800,000 Average cost: $13.60 Total: -$10,880,000.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
00 – Opening Balance-Initial SEDI Report |
10-10-24 |
0 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
-800,000 |
$13.60 |
-$10,880,000.00 |
| High Liner Foods Incorporated |
1 – Issuer |
38 – Redemption, retraction, cancellation, repurchase |
10-09-24 |
0 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
| Dollarama Inc —–Sell Quantity: -72,530 Average cost: $143.04 Total: -$10,374,868.70 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Di Pesa, Mark |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-530 |
$143.47 |
-$76,039.10 |
| Robillard, Geoffrey Peter |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-72,000 |
$143.04 |
-$10,298,829.60 |
|
| EQB Inc. (formerly Equitable Group Inc.) —–Sell Quantity: -8,000 Average cost: $105.05 Total: -$840,400.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Moor, Andrew |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
-8,000 |
$105.05 |
-$840,400.00 |
|
| Awale Resources Limited —–Sell Quantity: -923,500 Average cost: $0.46 Total: -$428,496.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Keshishian, Ardem |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
20,000 |
$0.46 |
$9,288.00 |
| Orecap Invest Corp. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
-943,500 |
$0.46 |
-$437,784.00 |
|
| AGF Management Limited —–Sell Quantity: -32,840 Average cost: $10.45 Total: -$343,178.00 Options Issued: 40,876 Average cost: $10.45 Total: $427,154.20 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| MCCREADIE, KEVIN ANDREW |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
10-09-24 |
40,876 |
$10.45 |
$427,154.20 |
| MCCREADIE, KEVIN ANDREW |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
-32,840 |
$10.45 |
-$343,178.00 |
 By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Environmental Defence, an environmental advocacy organization has kept a keen eye on what the province wants to do with the announced Hwy 413.
They recently acquired a 68-page trove of previously unreleased documents that they say reveals significant concerns about values that must be protected under federal jurisdiction as required by the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and the Duty to Consult under Section 35 of the Constitution.
“These new records further validate long-held concerns about this highway,” said Tim Gray, executive director at Environmental Defence. “The Ontario government is trying to recklessly push forward with Highway 413 in a way that harms species at risk and considers Indigenous consultation an afterthought.”
 Western Chorus Frog Federal departments communicated concerns about Ontario’s approach to species at risk including how data collection is being undertaken, the lack of protection for certain species and questionable proposals for the relocation of species at risk. The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) revealed that the largest remaining Western Chorus Frog critical habitat area lies in the direct path of the Highway 413 project. Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists flagged that the highway routing seemed to be pre-determined and that alternative route assessments were not completed for species at risk such as the Western Chorus Frog, Red-Headed Woodpecker and Rapids Clubtail.
 Red-Headed Woodpecker The ATIP release also highlighted apprehension from the federal government about the highway due to its potential impact to the navigable waters of the Credit River, Etobicoke Creek and Humber River due to changes in water infiltration and base-flow as a result of paving large sections of the headwaters for each of those rivers (ATIP, pg. 27-28). Other concerns include a lack of information on current Indigenous traditional uses, such as hunting, fishing or gathering, by Indigenous communities and the project team’s lack of engagement with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.
“The concerns identified in this ATIP clearly show that the federal government needs to immediately re-designate this risky and expensive highway for a full federal Impact Assessment,” said Gray.
 Many argue that turning 407 into a non toll highway would solve the problem that 413 is supposed to solve.
By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We know now that there is someone at the wheel.
Hassaan Bait didn’t take part in the Council meeting yesterday.
We were advised this morning that he will be away until the 23rd of October.
 Blake Hurley, Commissioner of Legal and Legislated Services will be acting CAO until October 16th and can be contacted at blake.hurley@burlington.ca
 Jacqueline Johnson, Commissioner of Community Services will be acting CAO from October 16-22 and can be contacted at Jacqueline.johnson@burlington.ca
By Staff
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Clive Thomas was riding northbound on King Road today for his swim class at Angela Coughlin and said he was “ almost clipped by a passing SUV while crossing the bridge on the 403 overpass.
“Those bridges are under Ontario rule. There is NO room to pass if there is oncoming traffic. Will a body have to be scraped off the road before safety measures are put in? I ride everywhere in Burlington and am livid with Ford.
 There is a marker on the right side of the photograph showing a bike lane – pretty small. Let’s see what MPP Natalie Pierre can do for Clive. “This is a life and death matter, and for a guy like Ford who never misses a meal and never rides a bike, this borders on madness.
“I want to call you on this matter. I almost bit the pavement today , and want clarity on this matter. I’ve cc’d the Gazette here for your information. Please let me know when you will able to take my call.”
 By StaffOctober 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 The proposed development consists of an 11-storey mixed-use building containing commercial and residential uses at-grade, and residential uses in its above-ground levels. The proposed concept provides vehicular parking in a surface parking area located along the south side of the building and below-grade in 3 underground levels. In total, approximately 316 vehicle parking spaces and 276 bicycle parking spaces are provided. The proposed concept provides a total of 255 residential units, consisting of 3 (1%) studio units, 162 (64%) one-bedroom units, 48 (19%) two-bedroom units, and 41 (16%) three-bedroom units. Approximately 1,273 m 2 of commercial space is also provided.
The site is at 84, 92 & 104 Plains Rd E & 990 Glenwood Dr
A completed application not yet been received by the Planning department
Hybrid Pre-Application Community Meeting
Oct. 30, 2024
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
126 Plains Rd East
St. Matthew on the Plains Anglican Church – Fireside Room
 By Pepper Parr
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
More changes to the city staff organization chart.
Leah Bortolotti, now the Head of Corporate Affairs, had her first council meeting responding to community engagement issues related to the Ward Boundary – Size of City Council issue.
Councillor Kearns:
“I have looked at it again in the actual report on engagement matters, which says that the product, the project, will involve extensive public engagement.
“We don’t always see that qualifier around public engagement. It says that there will be extensive engagement and that a communications plan is being finalized to ensure residents are aware of the review.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns: Asked questions that have not been asked before. “So what we’ve seen so far with the turnouts on the currently scheduled events is certainly not the type of turnout that I would hope we would have concerning such a serious matter that will be considered before the next election. So I’d like to hear from staff on what will we expect back although it’s an ongoing engagement and a plan is being finalized. When will we see that plan, and when will we know more about what we’re going to receive back in terms of engagement the staff member like to comment on that please.
 Leah Bortolotti: We are also putting together a communications kit for all council to use. Leah Bortolotti: “What we did so far on this was a blast out on September 23. We did a news release, social media, Get Involved Burlington, and we did continued updates on the website. We’re doing a full comms plan starting January, once the final kind of results come in to update everybody. We also are doing an update on social media tomorrow, on the two other dates. That was the plan. I apologize if it wasn’t soon enough for everybody. Given other initiatives for common engagement. We felt that was still timely enough to let people know about the two other engagement sessions.
“We are also putting together a communications kit for all council to use, and that should be coming this week as well, to communicate this to their constituents. I’m open to, obviously, if there’s a need for more communications on this to to respond to those needs or wants. But we feel, as it currently stands, that that plan was extensive for what we’re what current phase that we are in, there is a second phase in January. I mentioned, that we’ll have a bigger budget to do even more communications and engagement and to report back on the initial findings of Watson’s review.”
Kearns: “With the response that you’ve received thus far. How would you measure it against the efforts being put out by the city?”
Leah Bortolotti: “Being relatively new to the city, I can say that it seems like the response is low given our efforts. I don’t necessarily think it’s a lack of communication. I can’t speak to why residents aren’t more actively civically engaged on this, but I can say that we’ve been communicating publicly. I don’t know the respondent demographics when it comes to age, background – but what I can say is we can continue to communicate on social media. I’m not sure if you will see an influx in more respondents, but we’re happy to do so.
Kearns has a second set of questions – they are only permitted two at a time.
Kearns: “I think it’s fair to agree that we do need some robust engagement on this. How will staff get to the root cause of not having the engagement that we need to make the appropriate decisions? What will you do to find the root cause of this lack of engagement?”
 Leah Bortolotti: you think people will be very interested in a specific item, and they’re not. Leah Bortolotti: “Sorry, I don’t have an answer for you on that, because I don’t necessarily think that that’s a just a staff exercise. We can continue to communicate as much as we would like, and what is asked of us – we can’t hand-hold someone to these sessions and force them to respond or to respond online. The best we can do is to work with Watson to ensure that we are communicating as broadly as possible.
Bortolotti added – we don’t have just have this survey. We have two different sections where if people aren’t comfortable with responding to that, maybe the rigor of a survey or the structure is too much for some people – they can also put their feedback directly to those spots on the website. “We’re trying to be as accommodating and flexible as possible with that. I will say that at this point in time, I don’t have an answer for you on what the root cause is.
“I’ve seen this before, working provincially, you think that people will be very interested in a specific item, and they’re not. We’re happy to collaborate with Watson and and take feedback on maybe where there are gaps or opportunities. I don’t think that currently, anything that has been done right now would indicate that there’s not a for lack of trying, we definitely are working to ensure that as many people are responding to these questions and participating as possible.”
 City Solicitor Blake Hurley was sitting in as Interim CAO. Interim CAO Blake Hurley: “This is something that the city staff and our consultants are looking to get that engagement from the members of the public, and to answer your question about, what can we do to determine what the cause is of the out the turnout or lack of turnout so far at our sessions. That’s one of the benefits of working with our consultant who’s very experienced In this area. I think we can draw upon them to determine whether or not this is normal, or whether or not they’re used to seeing more engagement in other municipalities that they’ve done this work in and similar consultation, the advice we’ve heard so far from our consultant is that we have a robust engagement plan. I don’t want to draw a conclusion yet that it’s a communication plan issue, because our consultant has advised us that, yes, we are consulting appropriately and in line with what they’ve done before.
Tonight is our first online session for consultation on this matter that provides an alternative opportunity for members of the public to engage if for some reason, coming out to one of the sessions, I think we’ve had a few in the evening and one in the daytime. If those times have not worked for people, tonight’s online. Tonight’s online session may provide an additional opportunity that provides some more flexibility to them. I also want to make sure that it’s not lost on everyone that in order to provide comments, you don’t have to just attend one of these sessions. There is an opportunity to just write in to our staff and our consultant working on this and that feedback is more than welcome and welcome as much as feedback received in person. So, for those who find the time does not work for them for whatever reason in their personal lives, if they do want to comment, staff is very receptive to receiving those comments via email.
Council Kearns: “Sure, I appreciate that. There is a very significant difference between having a plan and having an outcome. I think we want to be outcome-driven on this approach. I think there’s also opportunity to continue the engagement and receive a report back through a council information report on any changes that are made or more enhancements that are made to the communication piece on this.
“I won’t table a motion. I’ll let you allow the next two sessions or more to unfold with a monitor on outcomes and getting those numbers up, we have just heard that it is lower than expected, so let’s at least get aligned which will be great. Maybe a council information package would be useful? Council information report would be helpful in the next month or so to see where we are.
“I didn’t want this to fall into consent at all. I think this is an important conversation. I won’t table a motion, but I’ll look for an information report. Is that fair?”
Bortolotti : Yeah, that’s absolutely fair.
Kearns: “I just want to make sure that we all have on record what currently has been done, just so we have that awareness.
“The initial report to council, came March 2024 and then the procurement happened. We did a soft launch at Food for Feedback in September and that received a lot of interest.
 Leah Bortolotti was direct when she said she did not have answers. That was a good first step. “We did media releases supporting social media, digital ads, posters all across the city’s facilities, five media articles to date, the reach was 876,000 based on circulation publication. The sentiment at that time, not currently, was 100% neutral for media stories, so not any interest either way.
“City Talk article was featured in 2020 June, there’s also one upcoming in December. We sent it out to 7000 plus subscribers at the Get Involved Burlington. We did an online survey. On October 7, we did a video launch, as well as a document library containing lots of reference material on the Get Involved Burlington page. We are more than happy to continue that push, and we will get a report on the engagement to you.”
And that was it.
A woman, Leah Bortolotti, new to the job was direct when she said she did not have answers. That was a good first step.
Now to get some people who understand communications around the table – think outside the box people.
By JimPortside
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The stock market is often called a voting machine. Some studies show at least 1 in 3 Canadians trade stocks. With an estimated 41,288,599 people living in Canada, well over 13 million people are voting.
 When enough people vote for; that is buy a stock, the laws of supply and demand dictate that the price goes up. We all know that when people are selling the price goes down. Realize that OMERS, CPP, and all the other retirement funds and money managers are also voting.
We outsiders, as individual investors are also voters.
Does insider trading data help individual investors vote for a winner?
Let’s start with where Insider Trading data comes from and whether we can trust the data.
The source of the Insider Trading data is the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders – www.sedi.ca – Canada’s on-line, browser-based service for filing and viewing insider reports as required by various provincial securities rules and regulations.
The following information is from https://www.securities-administrators.ca/about/
“Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is the umbrella organization of Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators whose objective is to improve, coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets
The reporting of insider trading serves two important investing functions:
It provides transparency and information to the market about the trading activity of directors, senior officers or significant shareholders of reporting issuers.
It deters insider trading on confidential information, since insiders know that they will be required to disclose their trades.”
Ok, insiders are required to disclose their trades, SEDI is an umbrella group for various provincial securities regulators. Now we know where the data comes from.
Do we trust the data? This is where things get complicated.
Let’s create a fictional company we will call FicCO and assume we are all insiders.
FicCO insiders know that if they start buying FicCO stock, they have to report the purchases on SEDI, where outsiders will see insiders buying stock and will consider joining the party. After all, insiders have the clearest view of a great earnings report, a new product in development, someone kicking tires on a takeover, the potential demise of a competitor – you name it, if anyone knows, the insiders know.
The fact that insiders know that others review their purchases may skew the reasons they purchase stock. Maybe FicCo’s CEO gets a bonus if the stock price hits a certain value. The stock price is not there, so he or she can make and report some large insider purchases, this may induce others to buy the stock, driving up the price. If the CEO doesn’t want to hold FicCo stock for the long term, they can sell small amounts over time, in a way that does not trigger an outsider to review their position in FicCo and also sell.
Another example is FicCo insiders know a great earnings report is on the way, a group of insiders sell large blocks over a day or two, triggering others to sell, then slowly buy back the shares over a few weeks, in a way that does not trigger others to buy.
I’m not saying any company does any of this, I’m just saying the possibility exists. In a perfect world insider buying should indicate it is safe for individual investors to buy. If only we lived in a perfect world.
More on Insider Trading to follow:
A description of the algorithm used to report the top five published in the Burlington Gazette
Some specific examples of how Insider Trading was used
Some study results that show how following insider trading works
Jim has lived in Burlington for much of his life and has watched the city change and grow over the years. With over 1,000 people working for the city there is a lot going on. As a now retired, successful business owner, Jim is interested in exploring and sharing some of what our local government is working on. You can reach Jim by emailing Jim.Portside@gmail.com
By Staff
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
After some rather awkward discussion related to how the city engages with the public mention was made that there was going to be a virtual Town Hall meeting THIS EVENING
 Current ward boundaries Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review is currently at this stage
Community Engagement Session
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83690753520?pwd=hgWxu8bajhD4aGCun8xx1AXx82UP8Z.1(External link)
Passcode: YK1xnb
Come speak to staff about council composition. Input gathered from the community will be used to help create recommendations about council composition that will go to City Council for their consideration in December 2024.
By Staff
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Insider Trading Data Filed Friday, October 11th to Monday, October 14th, 2024
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (formerly Quebec Silica Resources Corp.) —–Buy Quantity: 805,000 Average cost: $0.36 Total: $288,240.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Inwentash, Sheldon |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
202,500 |
$0.38 |
$77,760.00 |
| ThreeD Capital Inc. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
202,500 |
$0.38 |
$77,760.00 |
| Inwentash, Sheldon |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
200,000 |
$0.33 |
$66,360.00 |
| ThreeD Capital Inc. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
200,000 |
$0.33 |
$66,360.00 |
|
| Andean Precious Metals Corp —–Buy Quantity: 168,800 Average cost: $1.51 Total: $254,719.20 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| 2176423 Ontario Ltd. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-08-24 |
84,400 |
$1.51 |
$127,359.60 |
| Sprott, Eric |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-08-24 |
84,400 |
$1.51 |
$127,359.60 |
|
| Gold Reserve Ltd —–Buy Quantity: 67,049 Average cost: $3.45 Total: $231,579.80 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Camac Partners, LLC |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-14-24 |
119 |
$3.39 |
$402.84 |
| Camac Partners, LLC |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
66,930 |
$3.45 |
$231,176.96 |
|
| Greenridge Exploration Inc —–Buy Quantity: 150,000 Average cost: $0.80 Total: $119,700.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Starr, James Russell |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
150,000 |
$0.80 |
$119,700.00 |
|
| Sol Strategies Inc. (formerly, Cypherpunk Holdings Inc.) —–Buy Quantity: 301,000 Average cost: $0.33 Total: $97,845.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Guoga, Antanas (Tony) |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
301,000 |
$0.33 |
$97,845.00 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| Dollarama Inc —–Sell Quantity: -72,530 Average cost: $143.04 Total: -$10,374,868.70 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Di Pesa, Mark |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-530 |
$143.47 |
-$76,039.10 |
| Robillard, Geoffrey Peter |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-72,000 |
$143.04 |
-$10,298,829.60 |
|
| EQB Inc. (formerly Equitable Group Inc.) —–Sell Quantity: -8,000 Average cost: $105.05 Total: -$840,400.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Moor, Andrew |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
-8,000 |
$105.05 |
-$840,400.00 |
|
| Tucows Inc —–Sell Quantity: -6,000 Average cost: $26.30 Total: -$157,830.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Noss, Elliot Lawrence |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-09-24 |
-1,000 |
$26.52 |
-$26,520.00 |
| Noss, Elliot Lawrence |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
-2,100 |
$25.97 |
-$54,546.00 |
| Noss, Elliot Lawrence |
4 – Director of Issuer, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-2,900 |
$26.47 |
-$76,764.00 |
|
| Pan American Silver Corp —–Sell Quantity: -4,342 Average cost: $31.09 Total: -$135,012.90 Options Issued: 4,342 Average cost: $17.53 Total: $76,115.26 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Emerson, Christopher |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
10-10-24 |
2,342 |
$17.53 |
$41,055.26 |
| Emerson, Christopher |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
-2,342 |
$31.08 |
-$72,790.30 |
| Emerson, Christopher |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
10-11-24 |
2,000 |
$17.53 |
$35,060.00 |
| Emerson, Christopher |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-2,000 |
$31.11 |
-$62,222.60 |
|
| Equity Metals Corporation —–Sell Quantity: -300,000 Average cost: $0.22 Total: -$64,500.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Macdonald, Robert William John |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-10-24 |
-250,500 |
$0.22 |
-$53,857.50 |
| Macdonald, Robert William John |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
10-11-24 |
-49,500 |
$0.22 |
-$10,642.50 |
By Pepper Parr
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 Both Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith were absent this morning.
Councillor Bentivegna chaired the meeting.
There was a quorum – but just.
This situation is an example of why a seven-member Council is not really that viable.
By Pepper Parr
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
With all the provincial political parties tightening up – not certain that there will be a Spring provincial election but wanting to be ready if there is one – we are seeing possible candidates putting together teams to seek the nomination.
The current MPP for Burlington, Natalie Pierre would be expected to run for re-election.
 Oliver Parker – son of the city The Liberals were very quiet until Thursday of last week when Oliver Parker, currently a federal civil servant who works in the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) where he toils as a labour economist evaluating EI policy.
Parker’s parent moved to Burlington when he was very young. The family has been in Burlington for more than 20 years. He describes himself as a “son of the City. High school was at Notre Dame. When he graduated he went to Carleton University and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and then to Germany to complete a Masters degree at the University of Bayreuth where he focused on the economic history of productivity and trade between the two world wars.
Parker is currently enrolled in a Doctorate program at Queen’s University, Belfast. His PhD program is part time at this point.
Parker is fluent in French and German.
There isn’t much of a profile for Parker in the city – for the most part, he was at university studying.
He was part of the Safe Street group that has delegated at city hall.
Parker said he keeps abreast of the major developments – he argues that the parking part of the 2030 Caroline development is excessive – the city already has a traffic problem. More parking in the downtown area means more cars on the streets.
 Well-educated Notre Dame HS graduate in the process of earning a Doctorate seeks the Burlington Liberal nomination. He has two immediate tasks – plans to knock on every door in the city seeking the nomination and focus on advocating for more affordable housing. He maintains the city is missing its affordable housing targets.
Appreciate that Oliver Parker is seeking the nomination – he has to be nominated first – then he becomes the candidate.
Then he has to win the riding and become an MPP where he will join the 9 Liberals – assuming they are all elected. – their leader Bonnie Crombie will also be seeking a seat in the Legislature.
Andrea Grebenc sought the nomination for the Burlington seat in the last election. She lost to Mariam Manaa who then lost the election to Natalie Pierre. Grebenc announced late Monday that she will seek the nomination.
By Pepper Parr
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
I sent a note to Andrea Grebenc on Thanksgiving Day asking if she was in or out of the Provincial Liberal nomination race. Shortly before going to my evening bubble gum for the eyes routine (Netflix) there was a note from Grebenc: Hi Pepper, Yes, I’m in.
Here is her story:
 Andrea Grebenc: Serving as Chair of the HDSB during the pandemic. “As an experienced leader, dedicated community advocate, and lifelong resident of Burlington, I am thrilled to announce that I am seeking the Ontario Liberal Party nomination for the Burlington provincial riding. I invite you to join me in shaping a brighter future for this great city and Ontario.
“Burlington is more than just a place on the map—it’s where my father found refuge and where I grew up surrounded by the support and values that make this community truly unique. It’s where I’ve chosen to raise my family and invest in the future we all share. My commitment to serving Burlington has been unwavering, whether it’s through my role as a twice-elected School Board Trustee for the Halton District School Board, serving as Board Chair during the most challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, or stepping up to run for Halton Regional Chair in 2022, earning the trust and support of 20,000 voters.
“I believe in a Burlington where every resident has access to quality publicly-funded education, affordable housing, reliable publicly-funded healthcare, and efficient and effective transportation. I have been privileged to work alongside other community supporters on the City of Burlington’s Integrated Transportation Advisory Committee and as part of the Appleby Line Street Festival organizing committee. I feel honoured and humbled to have been recently recognized by Burlington’s SB Partners Chartered Accountants as a Burlington Community Champion. These experiences have only deepened my resolve to fight for policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of our community.
 Conferring with then HDSB Director of Education Stewart Miller “With experience in public speaking, debating, and media relations, and a track record of building strong relationships with local council members, provincial and federal politicians, and other community leaders, I am ready to be a strong voice for Burlington at Queen’s Park. My vision is grounded in practical solutions and guided by a passion for making a real difference in the lives of those around me.
“But I can’t do this alone. I need your support to secure the nomination and to build a campaign that truly represents the heart and spirit of Burlington. By joining the Ontario Liberal Party today at no cost and standing with me and trusting me with your vote at the soon-to-be-announced nomination meeting, you are choosing a candidate who understands the challenges we face and is committed to delivering results that matter.
“Together, let’s make Burlington an even better place to live, work, and raise our families. Let’s drive positive change, rooted in the values that have always made our community strong. Join me in this journey. Let’s build a future we can all be proud of.”
Oliver Parking announced his drive to seek the same nomination last Thursady.
A fair healthy nomination race is good for the democratic process and for the community at large.
For more information or to get involved in the Grebenc campaign:
Email: contact@andrea4burlington.ca
Phone: 905-510-4847
Website: https://Andrea4Burlington.ca
More on what Andrea Grebenc achieved when she was a school board trustee later.
By Staff
October 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall at its best.
A public holiday, great weather – and Spencer Smith Park is packed.
No surprises there.
 The tall structure is the Discovery Centre, to the left is Spencers restaurant. At the lower level, where the pond is located, there is a small shop that sells hot dogs and ice cream and soft drinks. It was apparently closed. Who is going to take responsibility for that decision? The surprise was that the public washrooms were closed.
The building that houses the washrooms closed. A notice advised that due to the holiday the building was closed.
Anne Marsden wrote the Ward Councillor and the Mayor (no surprise there) saying “We understand the reason City Hall washrooms are closed when City Hall is closed but why close the building that houses the public washrooms that are the only ones that serve Spencer Smith visitors?”
The building that houses the washrooms was closed. A notice advised that due to the holiday, the building was closed.
Indeed – why were the public washrooms closed?
By Pepper Parr
October 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Residents Action Group (BRAG) ran a very short survey soliciting views on the heat pump program the city is currently running.
 A large heat pump – they come in various sizes – depending on the size of the house you have. Homeowners can now apply for an interest-free loan of up to $10,000 for the purchase and installation of an air-source heat pump. Application is done through the City’s Better Homes Burlington Pilot program. Homes that are more energy efficient use less energy, save the homeowner money, and produce fewer greenhouse gases.
This was a pilot program in 2023; there is reason to believe that the program will be carried forward.
 Results of a BRAG survey on the city Better Homes Heat Pump program. The data shown was captured during the first 24 hours to survey was available. City staff were available to act as a support for homeowners to assist in finding rebates and grants from businesses and different levels of government for the purpose of improving home energy efficiencies.
The connection to city staff is: burlington.ca/betterhomes or email betterhomes@burlington.ca.
The “Better Homes Burlington” pilot program opened in September 2023 and provides interest-free loans up to $10,000.
The federal “Canada Greener Homes Loan” program started in January of 2024 and provides interest-free loans up to $40,000.
The Better Homes Burlington pilot program opened in September 2023, and accepted applications until January 2024. In March 2024, Council voted to extend the Better Homes Burlington pilot program for an additional application cycle. Applications will be accepted until the end of December 2024, or until the program is fully subscribed, whichever comes first.
We were very surprised to learn that a member of Council applied for and was apparently accepted for the program. Bad enough that this Councillor no longer lives in the ward he represents – but now appears to be able to dip into a program in which the number of loan possibilities is limited. Most people think Council members are more than adequately paid.
The Canada Greener Homes Loan program is administered through CMHC and provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000, repayable over 10 years, to Canadians for the same kinds of retrofits eligible under the Greener Homes Grant program. This low-cost financing option for home retrofits results in energy cost savings for Canadians that can then be used to help repay the loan over a 10-year time period. To qualify for the Greener Homes Loan program, a mandatory pre and post-retrofit evaluation by an energy auditor has been and will continue to be a requirement under the program.
What did residents think of the city program ? Not that much.
The survey was posted on a number of platforms.
Click HERE if you want to take the survey
 By James Daniels
October 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
What exactly do people spend so much time doing on their phones?
While this might include you, it’s easy to feel as though a lot of time is being spent on smartphones without a clear objective. To be sure that this isn’t a generalization, check through your phone settings the amount of time that you spend looking at your own phone. These breakdowns often come with information on where your time is spent, but that’s not something that can be applied to everyone.
Understanding the most popular uses for smartphones across the board can lead to possibly a better utilization of your own device.
Social Media
 People have almost lost the art of conversation – they spend free time on their cell phone. The most common answer that you’re going to get to this question is social media. People are scrolling through their feeds, messaging their friends or watching videos – all examples of content that is designed to keep people engaged, hence the amount of time spent looking at phones. This content is even embedded within itself – social media streams containing short-form video feeds that are designed to keep users as firmly within the loop as possible.
Much of the time, it’s these off-shoots of the social media platform itself that can keep people engaged. A news story might be shared that generates a lot of discussion. Not only do people follow this link to learn about the story, but then, they go back and read the comments to hear people’s thoughts and maybe even offer their own – it all feeds back in on itself.
Downloaded Games
 If a person has some free time to kill they will often take out their cell phone a play a game. A lot of the time, you might find that what people are doing on their phones is simply killing time. This might be done through scrolling, of course, but it might also be through something more targeted – more intentionally distracting. Games fit the bill, and mobile gaming is at a point where there’s a whole slew of games to choose from.
Browsing your app store can show you just how many different games are available for you to download, but that might not even give you the full picture. Online casinos don’t even need to be downloaded to be accessed, providing an even wider array.
Business and Investing
Of course, when there’s money to be made, people’s attention is going to be grabbed. As is the case on smartphones, with investment experts and apps available for anyone to access, it’s much easier than ever for people to get into it. This might even be related to the news stories that are shared throughout social media, where people are drawn into stories of how they can make money through their phones and then look into the relevant apps to find out how.
 Cells phone are part of an office set up: land line, fax and a cell phone plus a laptop. Alternatively, it might be that whatever they do for work is accessed through their phone – be it work emails, intranet apps, or their own business platforms that they need to repeatedly pay attention to. While running your own business can lead to a freeing schedule, it can also mean that it’s difficult to ever leave behind.
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