 The Gazette has invited residents for their thoughts on what the new city might try to achieve in its first 100 days. A lot of wishful thinking and some misunderstanding of how the city actually works. Interesting comments.
By Bryce Lee
November 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Have often thought the ward boundaries should shift, to accommodate two extra councillors account some wards are geographically larger than others. Even the load so to speak.
No more structures blocking the view of Lake Ontario.
The lake is perhaps the greatest asset this City has, do not lose it to developers!
No more fancy homes on Lakeshore east to Guelph Line.
 The issue is the portion shown as parkette. The city had three options: keep the land and develop it as a parkette, lease the land to adjoining property owners until the city decides on its long term use or sell the land. The city sold it. Over a long time that entire area should become a linear park. Selling those lots on Lakeshore Road between Market and St Paul to home owners was stupid and short sighted.
Let the council delegations be heard, good amplification is required; citizens must not be ignored. They voted the current Councillors in; they can just as easily be voted out in four years!
 Approved – all but impossible to change the decision  Developer is expected to appeal the council decision to keep the structure to 17 storeys – developer wants 24 – same as the approved building across the street. As to the planned monstrosities opposite the current city hall and elsewhere; the so-called Official Plan needs to be reviewed. Such tall buildings should be fronting the edge of Metrolinx railway line, not in the downtown area. Keep the downtown building height to six stories, set back from the new wider sidewalks.
Have affordable shops on perhaps the ground floor or even the second floor.
Motorized vehicle parking should be at the rear of said structures or below level; 1.5 vehicles per household please. Employees should also be afforded parking, below street level.
 We are an automobile based society We are an automobile based society regardless of the method of propulsion; make charging stations available payable by bank card. The car park with Elizabeth on the east and John Street on the west should be a many level parking garage with retail shops and professional offices on the ground floor and second level, shops to be fronted on the streets mentioned above.
Maintain, if possible, the residential areas of old Burlington below Ghent Avenue; homes constructed post WWII, and occupied for the most part by baby boomers.
Keeping those aforementioned residences allows residents to walk to most locations; The Brant Street No Frills plaza needs to be retained; grocery outlets are few and far between in this City unless one has suitable transportation.
City sponsored transportation should have free Sundays and free all the time to seniors.
Ensure all of the provincial subsidy is used; smaller electric powered (solar?) buses with frequent service is required.
And if the current Provincial Premier wants to merge Oakville and Burlington to Hamilton, tell him he too could be voted out of office, sooner than later!
 Mayor Elect Marianne Meed Ward My own thoughts on Meed-Ward: she will be a one term mayor, as were the two previous female mayors of Burlington.
She was wonderful as a Councillor however a mayor requires a whole different mindset. She will stumble and in four years be out of office.
As for the other newly elected Councillors; being a ward Councillor requires time; time far beyond what the incumbents know. A Councillor is a 7/24/365 job; no rest during the four years; while elected.
 By Staff
November 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Animal Shelter, located at 2424 Industrial Dr. will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
For urgent animal issues, please call 1-888-264-3135. All calls will be returned within 24 hours.
Animal Attacks
All bites or scratches from an animal that cause a break in skin must, by law, be reported immediately to the medical officer of health. If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, especially if rabies is suspected, contact your doctor or your local health department immediately.
If your dog or cat is injured from a fight and you believe it may have been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal:
Do not handle your pet. There may be fresh saliva from a rabid animal on its coat that may carry the rabies virus
Isolate your pet
Call your veterinarian and Animal Control right away
 By Staff
November 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Annual AGOG December Glass Show & Sale Reception is happening this Saturday December 1st.
Visit the studio, meet the artists, have some snacks and enjoy an afternoon of Glassing!
Five talented glass artists in two studios at 654 & 652 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington, Ontario L7T 1J2
 A piece of work by John Highley will be on display John Highley / Mosiac Glass
Siobhan Lynch / Copper Foil
Joe Speck / Fused Glass
John Martin / Painted Glass
Teresa Seaton / Copper Foil
 By Pepper Parr
November 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The people who are politically active in this city will want to be at the Performing Arts Centre on Monday December 3rd to celebrate the swearing in of a new city Council.
The City of Burlington has initiated the West Aldershot Erosion Control Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to address erosion concerns and produce detail design for erosion control works within the study area. This study is being completed as a ‘Schedule B’ project in compliance with the Municipal Engineers Association Class EA process.
The PIC is scheduled for December 3rd, between 6 and 8 PM at the Aldershot Pool, Community Room
 Area of erosion control study in Aldershot. One wonders then why the city would schedule a Public Information event on the erosion control work the same day as the swearing in.
Surely it wasn’t deliberate?
“A key component of the study will be consultation with interested stakeholders (public, landowners and regulatory agencies). Dates, times and locations of these Public Information Centres (PICs) will be advertised and posted here on the project study page. Those interested may subscribe to this page and will be alerted of future updates.
“A Public Information Centre (PIC) to review and discuss the EA Study, including improvement options, is scheduled for:
Date: Monday, Dec. 3, 2018; Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Aldershot Pool, Community Room
50 Fairwood Place West, Burlington, ON L7T 1E5
By Staff
November 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Lowville Festival, the festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us, is presenting a special fundraising concert on Saturday December 1st, 2018. Lowville Lit Up will feature a broad range of performers from Burlington and environs, all of whom will be donating their efforts in support of the Festival.
 Burlington folk singer-songwriter Andy Griffiths Featured artists include legendary Hamilton singer, Jude Johnson, who was born in Burlington; young Burlington country singer-songwriter Hayley Verrall; Kate Madden, a recent graduate of the Sheridan College Musical Theatre Program in Oakville; Toronto baritone Lawrence Cotton, who was featured in last summer’s Truth and Illusion; Burlington folk singer-songwriter Andy Griffiths; Burlington musical theatre performer Paul Mark, who has appeared on Broadway; and pianist Michael Mulrooney, a veteran of numerous theatrical productions across Canada, who is currently Music Director at Tansley United Church.
 Eric Trask with his wife Loretta Bailey doing a practice script reading. Lowville performers appearing in the concert include actor Eric Trask, who has appeared in presentations at a couple of past Lowville Festivals, including A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. Eric will be doing a reading from a story by the late great Canadian storyteller Stuart McLean. The Major 7th Band, comprised of musicians from Lowville and environs, who have also been featured in Festival performances, will bring their unique mix of Celtic and folk songs to the evening.
 Robert Missen and Lorretta Bailey, Founding Co-Artistic Directors of the Lowville Festival. Robert Missen and Lorretta Bailey, Founding Co-Artistic Directors of the Lowville Festival, will serve as Hosts. The concert will conclude with a number of popular singalong carols.
The concert takes place at St. George’s Anglican Church Hall, 7051 Guelph Line, north of Derry Road, at 7:30 pm on Saturday December 1st, 2018. Tickets for the concert are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and available at Different Drummer Books and by phone at 289 337 9520
LOWVILLE LIT UP
A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE LOWVILLE FESTIVAL
SATURDAY DECEMBER 1ST, 2018
7:30 PM
ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN HALL
7051 GUELPH LINE, LOWVILLE
TICKETS $25 in advance/$30 at the door
AVAILABLE AT DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS AND AT 289 337 9520
For more information contact Robert Missen at 905-632-6047 or rmissen@sympatico.ca .
By Gord Miller,
November 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is only one thing that matters and that is the environment.
The closing of a 100 year old auto manufacturing plant pales in comparison to the environment.
 Glaciers melting Climate warming is real – it is part of why the General Motors plant in Oshawa is being shut down. General Motors has come to the conclusion that the internal combustion engine has a very limited life span.
Electric cars are going to be the direction for the automotive industry.
When will the change in cars flip to all electric – no one really knows exactly when the tipping point will be reached but everyone knows that there will be a tipping point.
Ensuring that our governments understand this and react to the reality of climate change is easier said than done.
Gord Miller served as Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner of Ontario for three terms under four different Premiers. He currently resides in North Bay, Ontario. Here is his take and explanation of want is now happening with how we are protecting our environment.
“Like many jurisdictions with parliamentary traditions, the Legislature of Ontario appoints Legislative Officers (sometimes called Parliamentary officers) to oversee and review activities of government that warrant special concern. Their duties include regularly issuing public reports that critically evaluate government performance in specific areas.
“The Officers are chosen by an all-party Committee and report directly to the Legislature through the Speaker, not to the Premier and his/her government.
 Legislative Officers oversee and review activities of government that warrant special concern. They used to be safe from government influence – that feature of the job was dropped. “Tradition and current legislation says they are appointed for specific terms and cannot be removed during that time (unless they can no longer do their job or have committed a wrong-doing serious enough to give the Legislature “cause.”) This inherent security of their positions is necessary to protect the Officers from undue influence by the government they review, or from reprisal for revealing embarrassing information in their reports.
“Ontario has nine Legislative Officers and is intent on cutting that to six, by elimination of the Child Advocate, the French Language Services Commissioner and the Environmental Commissioner, through recently introduced Bill 57.
“But Bill 57 goes much further. Bill 57 fundamentally undermines the independence of Legislative Officers by allowing a party with a majority to suspend any Legislative Officer based merely on “the opinion the suspension is warranted.” Of course, there is no precedent, no test or limitation to guide that opinion.
 Premier Ford celebrating the erection of one of the several signs he had set up at Canadian – American border points. “This power to arbitrarily suspend Officers means the end of the era of independent Officers of the Legislature. Officers will now be “sitting ducks” to threats of retaliation by the governing party demanding a say in what the Officers reveal in their public reports to the Legislature.
“By failing to bend to the governing party’s wishes, Officers will risk their jobs, even though their jobs are explicitly to shine light on things gone wrong. And just to make sure the threat is clear, Bill 57 also removes the ability of eliminated Officers to seek compensation for their loss of income in the courts.
“Should you be so naive as to believe that such interference or retribution would be neither allowed or tolerated in Ontario, look no further than the current ECO Commissioner’s September 25, 2018 Greenhouse Gas Progress report (where she defended the merits of cap-and- trade). Then I invite you to read the response letter sent by the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks.
 Rod Phillips – Minister of the Environment being sworn in. “The Minister responded, in part, “I want to respectfully advise that any suggestion we should pursue policies that betray commitments we made to the people is not well taken.” The veiled threat made two months ago, was cloaked in the language of respect because of the protection of the independence that the Commissioner enjoyed at the time.
“Move ahead in time and read the sentence again, through the eyes of a Legislative Officer who can be summarily suspended because of the opinion of the governing party, and the threat emerges with great clarity.
“Bill 57 masquerades as an economic efficiency initiative, while it is a vehicle to dismantle an important parliamentary mechanism of government accountability. It is a shiny new tool for the governing party to stifle the criticism of parliamentary watchdogs using intimidation and threats. Is the Ontario public well-served by this development – I think not.”
 Gord Miller, former Ontario Environmental Commissioner met with Mayor Goldring on the Meridian Brick plant in Tayandaga. Not much came of the conversation.
 By Staff
November 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
See if you can find the news in this media release from the province.
Last week, Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued this statement in recognition of National Housing Day:
“Twenty years ago, National Housing Day was declared after municipalities, members of the public and community agencies across the country called on all levels of government to take action on housing – specifically community housing.
 Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing People said “What can we do to help those in need of a safe and affordable home?” Answering that question is something our government cares deeply about. And while the full answer is complex, at its core it’s simple: we need more housing.
Building more housing will help Ontario create good jobs across the province. Employees need affordable places to live and getting shovels in the ground will bring more construction jobs to Ontario.
But the road to building more housing has been challenging after a decade of mismanagement by the previous government. There is too much red tape that is choking the system – from complex approval requirements, to high costs and government fees. We need that to change.
Our government for the people promised we would remove the barriers to home ownership. My ministry in particular is taking concrete action, we are consulting with the people of Ontario about how the government can remove those barriers and build the right kind of housing in the right places. Their ideas will help us create a housing action plan to boost housing supply.
We know all housing is important. We also need to work together to sustain critical community housing, to repair and renew aging buildings and to maintain the financial viability of housing providers across Ontario.
On this National Housing Day, I want to stress to you as the Minister responsible, that we are committed to fixing the mess left by years of neglect.
 Part of the demand for more and better housing. National Housing Day began as a call for all levels of government to do more about housing. I agree – we need to work in partnership with our municipal and development partners. They are big financial contributors, and they are on the front lines, helping people every day. Our government is committed to making a difference. This commitment includes working collaboratively with my colleagues in other ministries.
However, the federal government needs to step up. Their National Housing Strategy barely maintains the status quo. I believe they must do more. If we are going to renew Ontario’s housing stock and provide the housing people across Ontario need, the federal government needs to invest more.
I believe we all have a role to play when it comes to maintaining and building more housing in our communities. Today, let’s reflect on how important it is to have housing that is affordable for the people of Ontario. Housing that meets their needs and offers more choice for their families. The people of Ontario should expect nothing less.”
Did I get the message in this provincial media release?
Housing is needed, more affordable housing as well and Ontario is waiting for the federal government to do something ?
Ontario has announced that it is going to take rent increase legislation off the books for any new houses that are built.
In December of 2017 Habitat for Humanity took part in the announcement of a National Housing Strategy.
At that time, Members of Parliament Pam Damoff and Karina Gould, as well as Andrew Balahura from Halton Region were in Habitat for Humanity’s Halton-Mississauga’s Burlington ReStore today to celebrate a historic initiative from our federal government.
All three, along with our affiliate’s CEO John Gerrard, spoke about what the NHS means for our community. MP Gould and Damoff both had a role in the development of the strategy, and were instrumental in broadcasting the message from our community – that a National Housing Strategy is of the utmost importance. This message sprouted from a roundtable hosted by our local MPs, and we believe has a lot to do with our country finally developing a National Housing Strategy of its own.
 From left to right: Habitat Halton CEO John Gerrard, Burlington MP Karina Gould, Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff and Halton Region’s Andrew Balahura
 By Staff
November 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
We still haven’t learned.
On November 19, 2018 just after 7:30 am, Halton Police officers initiated a traffic stop in area of New Street and Timber Lane in Burlington. As a result of an investigation, Paul Wybywanez (42) of Burlington was charged with driving over 80mgs.
 Being stopped isn’t a problem – being impaired and being stopped is a serious problem for the driver of a vehicle. On November 19, 2018 just after 9:30 am, Halton Police officers responded to a citizen-initiated complaint in the area of Harvester Road and Appleby Line in Burlington. As a result of an investigation, Avtar Khehra (60) of Burlington was charged with driving while ability impaired and fail or refuse to provide sample.
On November 19, 2018 just before 8:30 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a collision in the area of Trafalgar Road and Ceremonial Drive in Oakville. As a result of an investigation, Felicia Ryan (33) of Milton was charged with fail or refuse to provide sample.
On November 19, 2018 just after 8:30 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a citizen-initiated complaint in the area of Guelph Street and Hall Road in Halton Hills. As a result of an investigation, Gregory Fuller (84) of Halton Hills was charged with driving over 80mgs.
On November 21, 2018 just after 5:30 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a citizen-initiated complaint in the area of Main Street South and Maple Avenue in Halton Hills. As a result of an investigation, Daniel Duplantis (28) of Fergus was charged with care or control while ability impaired and care or control over 80mgs.
On November 21, 2018 just after 7:00 pm, Halton Police officers responded to a collision in the area of Derry Road and Trafalgar Road in Milton. As a result of an investigation, Colleen Connally (36) of Milton was charged with driving while ability impaired and driving over 80mgs.
Each of these incidents could have become fatal for anyone struck by the driver of the vehicle.
Drink if you wish, ingest or inhale anything that is legal – just don’t drive.
And impress upon you Member of Parliament how strong your feelings are on this issue. Bigger fines, longer license suspensions and an even deeper disgust on the part of the public can and will in time bring about a change.
Burlington’s MP is Karina Gould. Email – Karina.Gould@parl.gc.ca
The Oakville North Burlington MP is Pam Damoff. Email – Pam.Damoff@parl.gc.ca
Members of the public are reminded that driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
By Staff
November 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Royal Botanical Gardens’ (RBG) David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden has been transformed into a winter wonderland this holiday season, with Winter Lights at the Rock, an evening holiday experience (6pm to 9pm) taking place Thursday to Sunday from November 17 to December 30.
 As part of the Holiday Tradition, RBG’s annual holiday celebration, Winter Lights at the Rock leads visitors through a 1-kilometre trail of festive lights and Christmas melodies and includes admission to the Escarpment Train Exhibit. This unique holiday experience provides visitors with a special evening to capture those perfect holiday memories in the beauty of the picturesque Rock Garden.
 Highlights include nightly entertainment around the fire pit and a rotating menu of small snacks and warm drinks, including warm Bavarian pretzels, Belgian sugar waffles, cookies, hot chocolate and festive adult beverages. Select dates will feature local food trucks serving up popular street foods and snacks.
The Escarpment Train Exhibit is a “G scale” model train experience that depicts four seasons of whimsical Canadian landscapes while telling the story of how railroads shaped our history. The exhibit illustrates three eras of locomotion history including the steam engines of the late 1800s, the streamliners of the 1930s and the powerful modern diesels of the 1960s up to present day.
Tickets:
Regular Admission (online) $10
Member Admission (online) $9
Regular Admission (at the door) $15
Infant (age 0-2) FREE
Entertainment
Stick around and enjoy the sounds of the holiday season with entertainment in the beautifully lit Rock Garden throughout the evening.
November 17, December 1, 2, 8, 15, 16
Tanisha Boyd
November 22, 23, 25, 29
Michael Maguire
 High Five Quartet November 30
High Five Quartet
December 6, 13, 20
Lavish Quartet
December 9, 27, 28, 29, 30
Claudia Gennaccaro (duets with Caitlin Collingwood)
Throughout the Event
MollyCake Bakery Gingerbread Village
Food and Drink
Grab some festive sips and bites to enjoy as you wander the garden! The team at the Rock Garden Café will be serving a rotating menu of small snacks and warm drinks available for purchase.
Select dates will also feature local food trucks with warm snacks and meals for purchase:
November 17, 18, 25, December 9, 15, 21
Get Your Own Taters
November 22 and 23
Aegean Honey Balls
November 30, December 1, 2, 8
Spring Loaded
 Chocco Churros November 29, December 20
Chocco Churros
December 13, 16
Beaver Tails
December 22, 23, 27, 28, 29
Curbside Dogs
Winter Lights at the Rock is sponsored by Colliers Project Leaders.
 By Gary Scobie
November 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There are two major issues need repair at City Hall.
First up is respect. That would encompass respect by members of Council for one another as well as respect by Council for citizens that come to City Hall to delegate their concerns. It is not a small matter to appear at Council with a prepared delegation text. It takes time and thought to prepare an argument for or against a motion and hopefully allow a better solution if there is one. The standard “Thank you for coming” response is quite a de-motivator for most citizens to ever think of appearing a second time.
I’m hoping a near total refresh of Council will start off respecting themselves and others. Citizens will be watching.
Second up is the attitude by the current Council (henceforth referred to as the old Council) of eight years that the Province alone is to blame for the over-intensification of downtown Burlington. No, the Province didn’t mandate 20 plus storey high rises on Brant and Martha Streets. The Council of 2005 accepted without a whimper the designations of Urban Growth Centre and Anchor Mobility Hub downtown. They both designate density targets within these overlapping zones, but not height. It was the developers, the Planning Department and in end the old Council that translated density over an area into one-off high rise buildings that each over-intensified the lot they sat on. It was and is the cumulative affect of adding tall buildings, without adequate parking, expanded roadways or inviting transit that will clog our streets for decades to come if it is unchecked by the new Council.
The old Council looked at the downtown as an infill area to intensify beyond targets, beyond our current Official Plan and against the wishes of the current residents. The Planning Department aided and abetted. The developers cheered. Building only for future residents without keeping in mind current residents is not a recipe for success, especially if future residents realize what a transportation-restrictive neighbourhood they have bought into to now become current residents.
The rush to pass a flawed Official Plan before the election put the icing on the cake for over-intensification. Most of the new Council ran on platforms against the new Official Plan over-development.
The new Council can talk to the Province about the two designations, can talk to the Region about the Official Plan and can talk to (and hopefully listen to this time) citizens who will accept moderate intensification and no more.
It may take longer than 100 days, but these are the issues that I would like the new Council to tackle.
 Gary Scobie is a ward 3 resident who has delegated and usually gave more than he got from a Council that didn’t have much time for him He has served on Advisory Committees and has been active citizen by any standard. In this photograph he is seen delegating before city council.
 By Andrew Drummond
November 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On Nov 21, the Ontario Government led by Doug Ford passed Bill 47, the so-called “Making Ontario Open For Business Act”, which cuts a number of worker protections in Ontario. It specifically:
– Allows an employer to force an employee to get a sick note if they take an unpaid sick day. It also allows the employer to force an employee to get a doctor’s note to explain a leave day taken to care for an ill family member
– Repeals the inclusion of step-brothers, step-sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces as people for whom you can take family leave or bereavement.
– Repeals the section of the Employment Standards Act that requires employees be paid equally for doing the same work
– Repeals the minimum wage increase scheduled for January 1, 2019
– Repeals any entitlement for employees to paid sick leave
The stated purpose of this Act is to increase Ontario’s competitiveness to attract and keep business. Premier Ford stated “Businesses tell us that job growth starts with cutting the burdensome, job-killing red tape that drives investment and jobs out of Ontario.” However, the question needs to be asked: If Ontario business is prospering so well, why do we need these changes that will fall most heavily on the backs of low income workers? From January to September 2018, Ontario has gained 122,700 jobs. Ontario’s unemployment level in 2018 has hit its lowest level since 2000. Why then do we need to hurt working people to give the corporate sector more money?
As detailed in an article in the Gazette in October, the minimum wage increase to $15/hr did not need to be halted. Burlington businesses have coped well with the increase to $14/hr and many of the minimum wage employers we have in this city are thriving with new ones opening all the time. There is no crisis in Burlington that required this draconian action.
Another key article of the Act is to remove an employee’s entitlement to 2 paid leave days a year. The Retail Council of Canada pushed Ford to do this with evidence such as “One employer noted that, as of August 31, 2018 (66% of the way through the year, calendar-wise), 57% of the yearly paid PEL eligibility had already been used by employees.” So the argument is essentially that because people are using most of their sick days they shouldn’t have them. How does that make sense? People get sick. People have sick children to care for. Ensuring that a low income mother doesn’t suffer financially for being ill seems like it should be in everyone’s interest.
Beyond stripping the two paid leave days, the government has also moved to restrict people’s ability to take UNPAID leave. Now for any leave (bereavement, Caring for an ill family member, personal illness) an employer can demand proof that the leave was required (i.e. a doctor’s note). The Canadian Medical Association among others has attacked this portion of the bill. Dr. Gigi Osler, president of the CMA pointed out “Requiring sick notes can introduce unnecessary public health risks; patients who would have otherwise stayed home may spread viruses or infection while out to get a sick note,”
Also, consider the local impact. There are only 9 walk-in clinics in Burlington and the majority of those close by 7pm with limited weekend hours. During the day, wait times can exceed 2 hours as the clinics are overloaded with people who actually need care and not just a note. Adding new people unnecessarily to those lines will hurt everyone in the city and reduce the impact of health care services across Burlington.
Then there is the cost. A doctor’s note for illness usually costs between $20-$30 at a walk-in clinic. The people Bill 47 is targeted at are workers at or around minimum wage. They typically cannot afford the loss of income with taking an unpaid day off. Now under the new legislation they will need to not only forgo that day’s wages, but if their employer demands a note, they will actually have to pay to be sick. This is not the way to help people on low incomes.
The last provision that will cause considerable hardship is repealing the requirement that people be paid equally for the same work. The RCC argues “While this sounds fine in theory, these provisions have thrown off numerous issues. The first of these is that there are very significant cost implications for retailers.”
Retailers will need to absorb a cost for paying their part time workers the same as their full time ones however, there needs to be consideration for what is fair. People should be paid for what work they are doing, and the existing rules still allowed different pay by seniority. The previous law was only protecting employees from being underpaid by arbitrary means.
In January of this year, labour law came into effect that significantly improved the lives of low income workers in Ontario. Over the time it was in place, Ontario gained large numbers of jobs and our economy is currently incredibly strong with record lows in unemployment. Despite that the Ford government felt it is necessary to change the laws in the hopes to drive job growth. In Burlington it’s clear that companies providing low wage jobs were not in crisis.
So, the question has to be asked again: Why do we need to hurt working people to give the corporate sector more money?
 Andrew Drummond was the New Democratic candidate for the Burlington seat in the provincial legislature last June when Doug Ford was made Premier and Jane McKenna was elected in Burlington.
Related news story:
Minimum wage earners lost $1750.
 By Ray Rivers
November 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The only similarity between the federal economic statement and the one Ontario announced last week was that neither has a plan to deal with their growing deficits. Canada’s debt as a percentage of its GDP is the second lowest among G7 countries – higher than Germany but lower than the USA and less than half of Japan’s numbers.
 We cant just print the money we need. Despite all the alarm-ism during the last election, Ontario’s debt compared to its GDP is quite a bit lower than that of our national government. But unlike a provinces, which can only control its levels of taxation and spending, the federal government also controls and/or influences interest rates, currency exchange rates and the money supply, including printing our money.
When Donald Trump cut US business taxes Canada had to respond or run the risk of watching new business investment move to larger markets south of the border. Canada has long had lower effective corporate taxation rates than the USA but that competitive advantage has now mostly vanished. And cutting corporate taxes to restore that advantage would have added tens of billions more to the deficit, making it a non-starter.
 “America was no longer the fair-minded economic partner we had come to know.” But it was really Trump’s trade policies that made our government sit up and take notice. America was no longer the fair-minded economic partner we had come to know. The painful process of renewing NAFTA, the unwarranted and costly tariffs on steel and aluminum, and the US role in slashing the price of Alberta oil required a new strategy – one of trade diversification.
For those who lived through the government of the first Trudeau this is a bout of deja vu. Pierre, faced with an unfriendly Nixon administration, developed what was called the ‘Third Option’ – hoping to diversify our dependency on trade away from the US. The Third Option, which also gave us our domestic metric system, largely failed as a trade strategy.
Britain was joining Europe which was itself pre-occupied resolving internal trade barriers, Japan was struggling with its identity as an emerging economic powerhouse, and China turned the tables on us making us trade-subservient to them. Then Richard and Pierre were replaced by Ronnie and Brian who bonded beautifully, and they buried what was left of the third option. Canada and US agreed to lower trade barriers in a process that eventually included Mexico in NAFTA, and the rest is history.
 We are so tightly integrated to the American economy that it would be very difficult – if possible – to lessen that integration. So today we are even more closely integrated into the US economy with three quarters of our exports and a third of our GDP tied to US markets. After all it is so much simpler to just load a truck and drive it across the border than to be bothered shipping overseas to foreigners. We share a common culture and language (except for Quebec), and the US is a prime travel destination for Canadians looking to escape the cold, making us sometimes more American than the Americans.
But we do pay a price when it comes to national identity, and in the end we can find ourselves alone, being bullied by our major economic partner who thinks it has found its own third or fourth option – the nationalist cry of America First. We have since negotiated a number of other so-called free trade agreements, most importantly with Europe (CETA) and also Asia and the Antipodes (CPTPP,) so it is time we put our money where our mouths are on trade diversification.
But it will take some money to restructure our economy onto more of an export footing. The goal of boosting Canada’s overseas exports by 50 per cent by 2025, will not be met just by accelerated depreciation, but it is a good start. And the business community, manufacturing in particular, is besides itself with praise of this mini-budget. For once they are not complaining about a growing budgetary deficit.
Increased manufacturing would enable Canada to better diversify its exports beyond our current raw materials mix, and may also lead to greater import substitution – though that is not the stated goal. Almost as a footnote, companies investing in clean energy production also get this break.
And just to be fair, other businesses will also be entitled to an accelerated depreciation though at a lower rate. Depreciation rates will be raised from four to twelve percent for a pipeline company, for example. And where is our pipeline is the lament of the Alberta oil industry and its government?
 The Alberta government wants the federal government to help pay for oil tankers – Ottawa hasn’t said yes to that request. They were disappointed that the federal government didn’t pamper them by supporting the price of oil in this budget, or offer to pay for more rail cars – after it had already bought a pipeline company. Perhaps Mr. Trudeau was concerned that he’d be accused of starting a national energy program? And besides how could he reconcile a subsidy for oil when the government is imposing a carbon tax?
The federal government is also planning to redirect and speed up some of its planned funding for the national infrastructure program into marine ports, roads and railways to expedite overseas trading opportunities. And yes this throws last election’s deficit targets into the toilet not that Mr. Trudeau was on the road to balance the budget next year anyway.
There is no guarantee even if Trump is defeated in the next federal election that Democrats would not be just as protective when it come to trade. In fact there have already been rumblings from the new Congress-elect that they will want to re-examine USMCA. One has only to recall how the Canada-friendly Obama administration implemented a “Buy American” clause in the US stimulus package as he undertook to fight the 2008/2009 recession.
Conventional wisdom is that you run a deficit in a recession and a surplus in good times. The Liberals are making the case that, given the deficits in our economic infrastructure, there is no better time to invest than when the economy is booming and the money is rolling in. After all, how prudent would it be to balance our federal budget for the short run only to forego investing to make our economy viable for the longer run?
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Countries by Debt – Fall Economic Statement – Canada’s Economy –
Business Reaction – Third Option – 50% Export Growth –
Manufacturers Happy – Will it Work –
 By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police is holding Cram-A-Cruiser events across Halton Region next Saturday as part of the annual Toys for Tots – Miracle on Main Street toy drive.
Police officers and volunteers will be accepting new unwrapped toys, cash, gift cards (great for teens) or Canadian Tire money for the Toys for Tots – Miracle on Main Street initiative.
 Cramming a cruiser When:
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Where:
Canadian Tire – 5070 Appleby Line, Burlington (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Canadian Tire – 777 Guelph Line, Burlington (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Canadian Tire – 2510 Hyde Park Gate, Oakville (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Canadian Tire – 1100 Kerr Street, Oakville (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Canadian Tire – 1210 Steeles Avenue East, Milton (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Toronto Premium Outlets – 13850 Steeles Avenue West, Milton (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Woodbine Mohawk Park Racetrack – 9430 Guelph Line, Campbellville (5:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
Canadian Tire – 315 Guelph Street, Georgetown (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Georgetown Marketplace – 280 Guelph Street, Georgetown (11:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Follow the events on twitter throughout the day for updates at @HaltonPolice.
For further information regarding the event in your District please contact:
Milton/Georgetown: Constable Maureen Andrew (Maureen.Andrew@haltonpolice.ca)
Oakville: Constable Ashley Lilliman (Ashley.Lilliman@haltonpolice.ca)
Burlington: Constable Ann Robertson (Ann.Roberston@haltonpolice.ca)
As we enter the holiday season, our focus becomes the hustle and bustle of shopping, dinner parties and family gatherings. As joyous as this season is, there are many families in Halton Region who struggle to provide their children with that special gift on Christmas morning.
Please bring your children to meet our officers and tour a police cruiser! Help us fill as many cruisers as possible and put a toy under the tree for a needy child this Christmas.
By Staff
November 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There have been 130 reports of purse thefts made to the Halton Regional Police Service since the beginning of November 2017.
In these occurrences the suspects targeted female, older adults whose purses and/or wallets were stolen from their shopping carts while they were distracted in some fashion.
 Nicole Wereszczynska – arrested for purse snatching. On November 20th 2018 Nicole Wereszczynska (24-yrs) of Mississauga was arrested by members of Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau for a wallet theft that occurred on October 24th 2018 at Food Basics.
Halton Regional Police were assisted by our Retail loss prevention partners using the ‘Retail C.O.P.’ (Cameras on Patrol) program in identifying the accused.
Nicole Wereszczynska was released on a Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 19th 2018 for one count of theft under $5000.
 Unidentified purse snatching suspect Halton Regional Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the other male in the image who was with the accused and is involved in this wallet theft.
Halton Regional Police are reminding residents to be aware of their surroundings and stay alert for distraction type thefts when shopping in the grocery stores, malls and other retail business.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents or other purse thefts is asked to contact Detective Constable Derek Gray of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Vulnerable Persons and Seniors Liaison Team at 905-825-4747 ext. 2344.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
If you didn’t know it before – you know now.
You cannot get in to the Main Stage Theatre at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) on December 3rd to witness the Inauguration of the new city council without a ticket.
You get a ticket at the Performing Arts Centre Box office or by going on line.
The tickets were available on line at noon today.
 Without a ticket like this you will not get in to witness the Inauguration of the new city council Someone somewhere didn’t realize that the Performing Arts Centre was holding a Black Friday ticket Sale with good discounts.
No word yet if there were line up issues.
Going on line for tickets is very easy for regular theatre goers who have a BPAC account.
If you don’t have an account you have to create one on-line and then order your ticket.
The one good piece of news is that the tickets are free.
The Main Theatre has a capacity of about 720.
What happens if more than 720 citizens want to witness this Burlington history changing event?
 Without a ticket – you won’t get one of these seats. The tickets are free. There will be a reception in the Family Hall after the swearing in. Some food, provided by local caterers, will be available and the bar will be open for adult beverages.
There doesn’t appear to be a limit on the number of tickets you can order – someone might choose to get 50 and scalp the ones they don’t need.
 By Pepper Parr
November 22, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
In December of 2014, the city council that was first elected in 2010 sat behind a table on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre waiting to be sworn in. his was the first time the swearing in ceremony took place at that venue.
Trumpeters from the Burlington Teen Tour Band were in the gallery to the left of the stage; the sound of blaring trumpets heralded the event.
While the council being sworn on December 2014 was a repeat of what residents elected in 2010 there was still some electricity in the air.
As each member of Council was announced, after they had been sworn in, the applause for Marianne Meed Ward was just that much louder, lasted just that much longer than the applause for anyone else on that stage. If two people had stood up and shouted “bravo” and clapped loudly I swear she would have gotten a standing ovation.
 Mayor Elect Marianne Med Ward at the Polish Hall on election night Mayor Goldring may not have recognized what was going on but the 2018 election campaign had begun.
On Monday, December 3rd, Meed Ward will be recognized as Mayor and the trumpets will blare. The Meed Ward supporters will see this as the beginning of a new dawn.
It is far too early to tell if Marianne Meed Ward is going to grow into a great Mayor. There are still a lot of people out there that do not wish her well.
She is going to have to work with five people who have never served on anything that has had input into city policy considerations. Angelo Beneventigna is familiar with a lot of the people at city hall and has more in the way of understanding as to how the city works than most of the others.
What Beneventigna has to figure out and realize is that he wasn’t elected to be a “friend” of those who handle the day to affairs of the city but to assure that they are always accountable to council and to the wider public they serve.
Meed Ward will be something of a den mother for the first 18 months.
Paul Sharman, a man that Rick Goldring once said was the best strategic thinker he has ever met, will be sitting on the same stage.
 Councillor Sharman with his back to the camera debates with Councillor Meed Ward during the 2011 Strategy Planning sessions. Sharman will be the odd man out on this council. He brings a reputation for abrasiveness and a tendency to be abrupt with people. He is more comfortable getting his own way.
When he became BFF (Best Friends Forever) with Councillor Craven there was little hope of there being much in the way of collaboration. Sharman consistently referred to Meed Ward’s “ideology” which wasn’t one he shared. He was more comfortable with his own. The Gazette began to refer to Sharman as “Mr. Data”; he always wanted more data. Over time we realized that the request for more data meant that Sharman didn’t have to make a decision.
Goldring saw Sharman as the best strategic thinker he had ever met – We won’t test the veracity of that statement. However, Paul Sharman does come at what he does from a strategic perspective.
 Intense to the point of making delegations uncomfortable ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman does know how to drill down into the data and look for results. In 2010, to the surprise of many and shock to others, he fist nominated himself for Mayor. When Rick Goldring filed nomination papers for the office of Mayor, Sharman muffled his ambitions, withdrew the nomination for Mayor and nomination himself for the ward 5 council seat that Goldring was vacating.
Meed Ward needs Paul Sharman to get through the first 18 months. He is the only person on the new Council that can get a budget passed. He might even manage to somehow produce a budget with a 0% increase. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in city reserve accounts; – Sharman knows those accounts better than any of the newbies..
Could he find a way to loosen up some of that money?
 Funds to pay for the break water barrier were found – all the city had to do was raid the Hydro Reserve fund. If the outgoing council could find a way to use $4 million plus that was in the Hydro Reserve find for the breakwater facility at the LaSalle Park Marina – Paul Sharman can find a way to wiggle some funds out of other reserve accounts. This of course will drive the Director of Finance bananas – that department likes nice thick reserves earning solid interest for the city.
Many people are watching how Meed Ward handles herself in the first 18 months. The people she took political power from are quite willing to see her fall on her face.
The pressure will be immense, which will be nothing new to Meed Ward. The current council has bullied and harassed this woman for the past eight years. Some of the behaviour bordered on the kind of thing you report to authorities that can take corrective action and ensure that there is due process.
Her council colleagues were not the only level that harassed Meed Ward; the failures in the Clerk’s department are legion.
Meed Ward tried hard to establish a good working relationship with Mary Lou Tanner when she was first appointed as the Director of Planning. Her efforts didn’t take.
In the months ahead, expect Councillor Sharman to go into his “smarmy” mode and do his best to charm the newcomers. He has reached out to all of them.
He will sit and wait patiently and should Meed Ward not be up to the job she has taken on – Paul Sharman will try to convince the city that he can do the job – for he was the best strategic thinker Rick Goldring had ever met.
 The mandate is thin – the hope runs very deep. Meed Ward’s mandate is thin. However, she has the goodwill and high hopes of many of the people who want to see the core values that are Burlington be recognized, kept and built upon.
Too early to tell if the battle lines for the 2022 election are drawn.
For her fans, and her supporters – stop lauding and convincing yourselves she can walk on water. What Marianne Meed Ward needs is to be held accountable day in and day out.
In 2014 she asked people to trust her – they did and she changed the way the city operates.
She will need that trust going forward.
Related news stories:
The day city council beat up Marianne Meed Ward
By Staff
November 21, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The meeting room at the Lions Hall on John Street was full; area residents wanted to know more about a proposed 11 storey development that was yards away from an application for an 18 storey development. A 26 story development has been approved for the bottom of Martha street. The neighbourhood was getting crowded.
 Audience at the Lions Hall listening to details on a proposed Martha Street development. People were in the room to hear what the LDG group wanted to build on the east side of Martha Street south of New Street. The land they assembled backs onto Rambo Creek which has created some problems for the developer. The ownership of the creek and how the flood plain will be managed are problems that are still being worked on
The developers have yet to file an application with the city Planning department. The new rules for developments is the requirement that they meet with the public and get reaction from the community that is going to feel the impact.
And impact there is going to be on all of Martha south of New Street. Based on the developments that are planned 520 new residences are going to be created in a stretch of land that you could walk in less than ten minutes.
 11 storeys with a set back from the street of two metres – total of 132 units, five of which will be two story townhouses. The Adi development at Lakeshore, the Martha that will be on James (James Street and New Street cut through Martha Street).
LDG assembled six properties on which there are five houses.
The proposed development will have four levels of underground parking. There will be 135 parking stalls with an additional seven parking spaces for visitors. The current city parking requirement is for 1.25 parking spaces for each unit. It was not made clear if a parking spot was bundled into the sale price – prices have yet to be set.
The developers did tell the audience that the faster they get approval the lower the cost of the units. The audience chuckled at that comment.
There will be two elevators and the developers is looking for some way to include a ride sharing service..
There will be 80 indoor bicycle parking spots and six outdoor spots.
 Some of the units at the ground level will be two story townhouses. Rendering shows a setback from the street of two metres. The proposed LDG group development will have 132 condo units of which five will be two story townhouses with three bedrooms. These will be built into the street level of the building and have different cladding.
Those giving the presentation continued to point out that the development complied with all the current policies. This development has to comply with the existing Official Plan and not with the plan that was approved by city council and sent to the Regional government where it has to be approved.
While stressing that the proposed development meets all the current policy guidelines Marianne Meed Ward pointed out that a site with medium density should have 185 units per hectare.
 Open landscaped space at the rear of the proposed building will abut Rambo Creep. The design shown at the public meeting had pathways for the general public – the audience wasn’t all that keen on that idea. The developer will be asking for the right to build 413 units on each hectare; an increase of more than 200%.
The developers want to create as much outdoor space that can be used and are asking to have a set back from the street of just 2 metres; the bylaws currently call for a six metre set back.
Time line for this development? The developer said getting approval in principle should take about 18 months and two years to build.
Singe bedroom units will range between 650 to 900 sq. ft.
Two bedroom units will range between 850 sq. ft. to 1400 sq. ft. in size
The developers said they met with Mayor Goldring about the development.
 The LDG Group is currently building the six floor Saxony opposite the Performing Arts Centre on Elgin Street. That development was originally set at four storeys – council approved an application for an additional two storeys.
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It might have been a little confusing to Martha Street residents who attended a proposed development meeting at the Lions Hall earlier this week.
The room was full; representatives for the developer were on hand to explain what they proposed and get feedback from the area residents.
 Lisa Kearns – not waiting until she is sworn in to represent ward 2. Where it might have been confusing was: who was the ward council member? Lisa Kearns, elected to that job in October gets sworn in on December 3rd. She stood up and introduced herself to the audience as the council member and she was there to work for them.
Sitting on the other side of the room was the real ward Councillor, Marianne Meed Ward, who was also the Mayor Elect. Marianne was able to chuckle at the confusion.
In the past Meed Ward has called meetings when there was a new development being proposed in her ward.
 Marianne Meed Ward, current Councillor for ward 2 gets up-staged by Councillor elect at a ward meeting. Meed Ward did get to speak as the Mayor Elect. She would invite the community and the developer and chair the meeting.
The rules have changed. Meed Ward’s practice was made part of the development process. The Planning department will not accept an application until the developer has met with the community – that requires a developer to hold a public meeting. The developer chairs the meeting.
That left Meed Ward who is the ward Councillor and the Mayor Elect sitting at the back of the room waving her hand in the air to get heard.
At the end of the meeting Kearns stood by the exit door shaking people’s hands and thanking them for coming. Nothing shy about this woman.
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On Jan. 29, 2018, Burlington City Council approved the 2018 Operating Budget with a 4.36% city tax increase, resulting in a 2.64% overall tax increase.
Everything about that statement which appears on the city website is true.
However, the only number that the newly elected city council can do anything about is the city’s budget.
 Newly elected city Councillors Shawna Stolte (ward 4) and Lisa Kearns (ward 2) look over the budget book for 2018. They will get the budget book for 2019 later this year. The tax bill residents receive includes the city’s tax, the Board of Education tax and the tax levied by the Regional Council.
The city has absolutely no impact on the tax levy from the school board. All the city does is collect the money for the Boards of Education.
At the Regional level Burlington has 7 votes out of a total of 21 votes. We have influence but the Regional tax level which covers waste collection, social services, police, part of the water system and health services to name some of what the Region does are not decisions Burlington Regional Councillors make in isolation.
Something many people don’t realize is that half of a Burlington council member’s income comes from the Region.
That 2.64% that the city makes mention of is the result of averaging the three – Boards of Education, Region and the city tax levy.
It is convenient for the politicians to use the average number – it is lower, makes them look better.
Burlington has had annual increases that were either more than 4% or just under that level in each of the past seven years. It was only in the first year of the council that served from 2018 to 2014 when the tax increase over the previous year was 0%.
That feat was achieved for the most part by then newcomer to city council Paul Sharman who just pushed and pushed and pushed and made it happen.
It will be interesting to see if the five people elected to council for the first time will be honest, open and transparent about how much of your money they are going to collect
By Staff
November 20th,2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington’s online forms are scheduled for maintenance on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, starting at 9 p.m.
The following online forms will not be available during the maintenance:
• Business License Renewal
• Property Information Requests
• Marriage Licenses
• Senior Rebates application
• Dog Licenses
• Tax Assessment Lookup
These forms will be available again starting on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 at 9 a.m.
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