 By Pepper Parr
July 19th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Let’s take a look at three women who are part of the Burlington political world.
 Mayor Meed Ward once said she has 17 points of contact with her constituents – and she uses every one of them regularly. Marianne Meed Ward has served the city as a Councillor and as Mayor now in her second term. In 2026 she will have served the city for 16 years which will result in a very decent pension. Will she run again? Will she be opposed by a member of Council; two that we are aware of harbour hopes of wearing the chain of office.
Shawna Stolte has been the Councillor for ward 4 since 2018. Her Integrity Commissioner problems made her first term very difficult and many were not certain she would run again. But she did and was the Deputy Mayor for the Council meeting July 11th. Watching how she handled the meeting one got the sense that she liked the role; perhaps chairing Council meetings on a regular basis was even more appealing than when we had a conversation with her about wearing the Chain of Office.
Daintry Klein, the woman who advocates for green space and has been a tireless advocate for the Millcroft community and doing everything she can to prevent any future development on the golf course properties.
A recent community meeting was to urge resident of Millcroft to donate the funds needed to hire the experts that will get the organizations leads through the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing that is working its way through the bureaucracy.
 The shaded areas show where the 98 additional houses will be built. Klein did a good job of explaining why the funds were needed and how much was needed.
 Angelo Bentivegna – has no problem in ignoring groups in his ward. Was absent at the most recent meeting of Millcroft Green Alliance  The ward Councillor Angelo Bentivegna was absent – he appears to have decided to keep his distance from the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance.
What made the meeting awkward for Klein was that Mayor Meed Ward attended and told the audience that she didn’t want to see the case now at the OLT take place. She told the audience that she was going to work the telephones and get a decision from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to put an end to the development application.
Given that the Mayor now has Strong Mayor powers she could put a stop to it in minutes. Is that in the offing?
Last week, Klein delegated to a Statutory meeting on a development in the ward that she felt created some risk from an environmental perspective.
She learned to her surprise that the planner speaking for the people who owned the property told council that they did not yet have a client because the people they wanted to offer the property to needed more in the way of certainty on just what they could and could not do.
Despite the surprise Klein continued until Councillor Sharman, who was chairing the Statutory meeting, asked her to speak to the specific issue. Taken aback Kline did a quick pivot and talked about the need to keep environmental issues a close to the top issue when it came time to make a decision.
There was no strong reason for Klein to be doing a delegation other than to maintain the profile she has in the community.
A working relationship with ward Councillor Angelo Bentivegna hardly exists and Klein would not be taking all that much of a risk should decide she could do a better job as the Councillor for ward 6.
 Shawna Stolte has weathered everything the Mayor has thrown at her and has managed to hold her own. The dynamic between the three women is interesting. Stolte took a very unfair drubbing from Meed Ward when she attempted to revise a Council meeting agenda and force Stolte to issue a public apology who was once her administrative assistant. Stole did a fine job of turning the tables and calling out the Mayor for what really was atrocious behaviour. We once again share that behaviour – here is the link.
Mayor Meed Ward did herself no favours when she told the audience of a meeting Klein had called that there was no reason to raise funds because she, the Mayor, was going to do everything in her power to prevent the matter of developing some of the golf course lands – where the developer wants to build 98 high end houses on a very desirable location – even if they are shoe horning them in at some of the locations Those homes will sell just is as soon is as the developer knows his appeal to the OLT come out with a decision in their favour.
.
The Mayor does not have a strong working relationship with the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance and she certainly doesn’t have a quality working relationship with Stolte.
The interesting scenario is we have a Mayor who doesn’t have a strong, positive working relationship with at least one member of her council, has another member who isn’t interested in serving parts of his constituency and appears to be blunting the efforts of a community that needs all the help it can get to prevent a radical change.
 Daintry Klein has worked tirelessly to keep the interest of her community in the public eye. Is she ready to sit at the table where the decisions are made. She would be at positive addition. Daintry Kline has a strong background in the finance sector and has been more than diligent in working for her community. Does that translate into running for public office – Klein has said she has no interest – they all do that until they announce that they want to serve their community and would be honoured to do just that.
Stolte and Klein would get along well – the have that “community first” in their DNA.
Keep an eye on both of them.
As for the Mayor – she will let you know what she is up to.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
July 19th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green has had a significant and important impact during the past 15 years.
 A rendering of what the tower part of the Pier was to look like with the wind turbine. . Pressures from growth, climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and more, all require immediate and effective ACTION. A greener future needs a plan, a dedicated focus, leadership, and of course, contributions from everyone.
The development of their next 5-year strategic plan (2024-2028) is underway and they are inviting people to share their views to help the organization be a more effective organization. They would like you to help shape their future focus.
About the survey:
– It should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete, depending on your responses.
– The survey is anonymous and is accessible to anyone who would like to complete and submit it.
– Optional: All Halton residents that submit a survey may be entered into a draw for a chance to win a BG Eco-Prize Pack, that we will deliver to you (in Halton). After completing the survey, a link will be provided for you to share your contact information, so your survey feedback remains anonymous.
This is important – Burlington Green has standing in the community – they are respected is as an organization. The Gazette would like to see them holding the decision makers accountable. The leadership pride themselves on being non-partisan but are often on the timid side when it comes to hold special interests accountable.
 Burlington Green has a very strong following – they turn out for the Annual Clean Up – Green Up event – which is important. Right now Climate Change is the most important issue. In the 12 years I have been following the organization I have yet to hear them say a word about what the development community has done to the city.
Burlington Green personifies the Burlington trait of being polite. Ruffling feathers is not part of what they do.
 The original plan was to build the tower and put a wind turbine on the top. Without the turbine – there was no need for the tower – which would have saved close to a million dollars. What the public has now is a tower that with lights that can be programmed. When the pier was being built – it was supposed to have a small windmill on the top of the tower that would create energy to power the lights. The only reason the tower part of the Pier was built was to have the windmill. I recall so clearly the conversation Amy had with the Mayor at the time. He offered to put up some solar panels that would generate the power.
 Burlington Green Executive Director Amy Schnurr That never happened. It would have been so very useful had Amy expressed her disappointment.
Hearing her say: “Your Worship, I am truly disappointed that you have not understood the point we are trying to make.” That would have been enough – when they know they are going to be called to account – the decision makers tend to make better decisions.
Keep that in mind when you are doing the survey – You can access it HERE
 By Staff
July 19th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The work that has to be done on the Skyway Bridge is disrupting.
Here is the latest update.
 Closed to Skyway traffic most weekends through to at least mid-August On Saturday, July 22, one lane will be closed starting at 8:30 p.m., with full closure at 10 p.m.
The lanes will remain closed until Sunday, July 23 at 11:30 a.m.
Here is the full schedule:
Saturday, July 22
8:30 p.m. – one lane closed
10 p.m. – full closure
Sunday, July 23, 11:30 a.m. – all lanes reopen
Friday, July 28*
8:30 p.m. – one lane closed
10 p.m. – full closure
Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m. – all lanes reopen
*rain date – Saturday, July 29
Friday, Aug. 11*
8:30 p.m. – one lane closed
10 p.m. – full closure
Saturday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. – all lanes reopen
*rain date – Saturday, Aug. 12
Friday, Aug. 18*
8:30 p.m. – one lane closed
10 p.m. – full closure
Saturday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m. – all lanes reopen
*rain date – Saturday, Aug. 19
On ramps closed
At these times, the QEW Niagara bound on ramps at:
• Northshore Boulevard,
• Plains Road and
• Fairview Street
will be closed.
 By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington MP Karina Gould spoke today at the United Nations in New York.
She was speaking about Sustainable Development before a High Level Political Forum
 Burlington MP Karina Gould at the United Nations podium in New York City earlier today.
By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, David Piccini, issued the following statement on Healthy Parks Healthy People Day.
“On July 21, 2023, Ontario Parks is once again offering free day-use access to provincial parks to celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day.
This annual celebration is part of a global movement to promote the incredible health benefits of getting outside in nature. Studies show spending time in nature can improve our mental, physical, and social well-being, including lower blood pressure, increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety.
 This is a large part of what Ontario is all about. Ontario’s provincial parks have always been a place of comfort, relaxation and adventure for families, individuals and communities alike, making memories that last a lifetime. As the largest operator of outdoor recreational opportunities in the province, Ontario Parks offers programs and facilities to enjoy nature year-round, regardless of your outdoor experience. In most parks, you can go hiking, cycling, paddling, swimming and more! These activities promote physical health and contribute to our overall well-being and happiness.
I’m proud that Ontario Parks is a Healthy Parks Healthy People leader, offering numerous ways to engage with nature, including the following upcoming events:
The 30×30 Challenge to encourage people to spend 30 minutes in nature for 30 days during the month of August
Take a Hike Day on August 9, a brand-new event this year offering guided hikes at provincial parks around the province.
 First new all-season, full-service provincial park in over 40 years, located at Bigwind Lake Provincial Park near Bracebridge. Our government is also expanding recreational opportunities for families by creating the first new all-season, full-service provincial park in over 40 years, located at Bigwind Lake Provincial Park near Bracebridge. We are also exploring the creation of a new urban provincial park near Uxbridge and recently announced Ontario’s first new conservation reserve in over a decade.
As the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, I encourage all Ontarians to take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, immerse themselves in the splendour of nature, and experience first-hand the restorative power of our provincial parks.
I hope you’ll join us at Ontario Parks on July 21. See you out on the trails!”
Additional Resources
To guarantee access, visitors are strongly encouraged to obtain a daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance of the July 21 celebration at no charge for the 57 parks offering this service.
Visitors can join in on one of the many events happening across the province to celebrate spending time in nature.
Ontarians can comment on the design features for Ontario’s new operating park and share their thoughts and ideas on the proposed new urban park. Both surveys are available until September 4.
Learn more about the benefits of spending time in nature.
Use the Ontario Parks locator tool to find a provincial park near you.
 By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
What’s a nurdle? And what do you do with it should you find one?
Nurdles are small pellets that are the first step in the process of making any plastic thing. Your plastic containers, bags, and bottles were all once nurdles.
By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The plans Premier Ford had to move lands out of the Greenbelt and replaced by lands he would put into the Greenbelt are giving him grief galore.
Marit Stiles, leader of the Opposition at Queen’s Park asked the Auditor General to do a Value for Money investigation.
 Bonnie Lysyk, Ontario’s current Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk, Ontario’s current Auditor General thought about it and took on the task.
One of the things she wanted to do was interview Ontario developer Silvio De Gasperis of the TACC Group of companies that owns one of the properties.
In a controversial move by the Ford government, nearly 3,000 hectares of land were removed from Ontario’s Greenbelt — a two-million-acre stretch of protected farmland, forests, and wetlands in Southern Ontario — so that tens of thousands of homes could be built. The removal drew backlash from a variety of camps — those concerned over the environmental implications, and those raising an eyebrow at developers with connections to Ford having purchased now-freed-up Greenbelt land in the years immediately preceding its removal.
One such developer is TACC, who, in 2021, acquired a property in Vaughan with then-protected Greenbelt land for $50M. This was added to a growing collection of Greenbelt lands De Gasperis owned, which also included parcels of farmland in north Pickering that he previously tried to transform into subdivisions.
 Once protected Greenbelt Land – slated for housing developments. In January of this year, Lysyk announced an audit of the financial and environmental impacts of the Greenbelt lands removal, filing a summons on June 26 requiring De Gasperis to attend an examination. In a response filed with the court De Gasperis asks the court to quash the summons, which the documents note was not the Auditor General’s first attempt to obtain information from De Gasperis.
Ten days before the summons was filed, Lysyk sent a letter to De Gasperis requesting a meeting regarding TACC Group’s lands in the Duffins Rouges Agricultural Preserve in Pickering that were no longer subject to Greenbelt restrictions, court documents say. The letter reportedly noted an interest in discussing, among other topics, how the Ontario government identified TACC’s lands for removal from the Greenbelt.
The summons itself required De Gasperis to appear at the Auditor General’s office on June 30 and bring “any and all relevant records, correspondence, notes and documents in connection with the examination under oath regarding TACC Development’s properties removed from the Greater Toronto Area Greenbelt.”
De Gasperis’ response provides a laundry list of reasons for wanting to quash the summons, including a claim that Lysyk is seeking to examine De Gasperis “on matters on which he has no information beyond that of someone who is generally knowledgeable about the housing and development industry.”
The response also states De Gasperis “does not have relevant information to provide with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the Auditor general, whose mandate generally is to determine if government money has been well spent, rather than how Greenbelt boundaries were redrawn by the Ontario government.” It then goes on to call the summons an “abuse of process.”
Neil Wilson, Partner at Stevenson Whelton LLP and legal representative for De Gasperis, provided a statement on behalf of TACC, highlighting the developer’s issue with the Auditor General requesting “information on a number of very broad topic areas on planning and government process.”
 Rural Ontario as we know it today will be very different in a decade. The change begs the question – where is the food going to come from – are we going to truck it all in from California or from South America? “TACC is not the best source of information on these broad subject matters. However, as TACC appreciates that the Auditor General is attempting to understand a complex subject matter, we responded with a list of more appropriate and knowledgeable sources,” the statement reads. “At this point, the scope and goal of the Auditor General’s investigation are unclear.”
Wilson also notes that “the vast majority” of TACC’s Greenbelt land holdings “were acquired over twenty years ago prior to the existence of the Greenbelt and [the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act].” TACC believes the Auditor General is “considering clarifying to TACC what information is being sought.”
 The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has amended the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation to add 13 new Urban River Valley areas and lands in the Paris Galt Moraine in Wellington County and remove 15 areas of land. Add lands in the Paris Galt Moraine in Wellington County to the Greenbelt Area Remove or re designate 15 areas of land totalling approximately 7,400 acres from the edge of the Greenbelt Area that are serviced or adjacent to services and will be used to build housing in the near term. The investigative reporters want to learn more about who bought the lands that are being taken out of the Greenbelt and how much did they know before they bought ? It is more than just the TACC properties – the land involved, as identified in the image above, is extensive.
The Auditor General’s office confirmed that the results of the audit are expected to be released by September, although an exact release date has not yet been determined.
Bonnie Lysyk’s term of office comes to end on September 3rd.
Can you see the play that is taking place ?
Crafty folks they are indeed.
Related news stories:
Doug explains the plan.
By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This is an interesting service – good on the provincial government in making the service available. Fees are nominal – nothing over $50.
In the world we live in a lot of stuff is phony – Artificial Intelligence has made all kinds of mayhem possible.
The Ontario government is making it easier and more convenient for people and businesses to authenticate documents such as birth certificates, corporate powers of attorney and diplomas for use outside of Canada.
The province is expanding this vital service to four additional ServiceOntario locations across the province.
In-person document authentication services are now available in:
• Ottawa: 110 Laurier Avenue West
• Sault Ste. Marie: 101-420 Queen Street East
• Thunder Bay: 113-435 James Street South
• Windsor: 205-400 City Hall Square East
“Whether someone is preparing for a major life event, a new job or an adventure abroad, authenticating documents for international use is often a crucial and time-sensitive matter,” said Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery. “Expanding this service to four additional ServiceOntario locations across the province is yet another example of our government putting customers first and saving people time and money.”
When a public document is to be used in another country, proof of authentication for documents such as birth and marriage certificates, educational diplomas and corporate documents is often required for people doing business, studying, or travelling abroad, people applying for international visas or people participating in international adoptions.
This expansion of authentication services adds to the services already available in-person and by mail at the Official Documents Services office located at 222 Jarvis Street in Toronto, and helps better serve the millions of Ontarians who live outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
This change enables more individuals and businesses to have their documents authenticated via same-day service in addition to our standard mail-in options which often require up to 15 business days to complete.
Expanding services also lays the groundwork to respond to an anticipated surge of document authentication requests as a result of Canada joining the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024. Once the Convention comes into effect, the province will be solely responsible for authenticating Ontario-issued public documents.
Customers can use the online document authentication portal to check if their document is eligible for authentication at any in-person location or by mail before proceeding.
Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, the Official Documents Services office processed nearly 67,000 document authentications and served more than 29,000 in-person clients.
Additional Resources
Learn how to get an Ontario-issued public document authenticated for use abroad.
 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 For those who want a bite to eat – Curb Side will be there.
It is the best summer event deal in the city. Might not draw the mobs that Sound of Music pulls in but for a great entertainment day – ‘Jazz on the Plaza’ is tops
Highly anticipated annual community event, showcases a series of emerging and established Canadian musicians in an al fresco setting.
Tammy Fox, Executive Director of the operation has taken it all a step further with the inclusion of a Food Truck. Curbside will be on hand for those that want a little more than the bar offers.
The performers for each of the two day event are:
Saturday August 12th
 Elise LeGrow – a Canadian vocal powerhouse ELISE LEGROW
Sat Aug 12, 2023 at 2pm
With a raspy, spellbinding style and elegant, dynamic mystique, Elise LeGrow is the Canadian powerhouse defying pop culture chronology, wowing Questlove, Betty Wright, and a crew of R&B legends along the way.
 Heather Bambrick Sat Aug 12, 2023 at 4pm
Heather Bambrick, one of Canada’s top Jazz vocalists, has collaborated with some of the best around and has appeared as a guest performer with numerous Jazz ensembles. If you’re a CBC listener you will know her well
Sunday August 13th
 Ori Dagan ORI DAGAN
Sun Aug 13, 2023 at 2pm
Award-winning jazz singer-songwriter Ori Dagan has attracted a dedicated and growing audience, both in his native Toronto and internationally.
 Micah Barnes and Billy Newton Davis Micah Barnes and Billy Newton Davis: Former Nylons in Concert
Sun Aug 13, 2023 at 4pm
This show features Billy Newton Davis performing “Sammy & Me” about his real-life experience working with Sammy Davis Jr., and Micah Barnes taking you on the roller coaster ride of his career in “Micah at The Sands Hotel”!
By Staff
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith is inviting his constituents to drop by LaSalle Park on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm to share your thoughts with him about Ward 1 matters.
 Will Tom Muir be allowed to take part in the Pop Up in the Park? Our immediate question to the Councillor is – Will Tom Muir be allowed to attend and put questions to you? Recall that you advised Muir some months ago that your office would not be dealing with him in the future – going so far as to take him off your newsletter distribution.
We are hoping that some of the people who attend will ask where you stand on the development that is at the OLT right now but is expected to win its appeal. Given that it is directly across the two small Waterdown Road properties you own – you will most certainly be in a conflict. who will speak for the residents at Council meetings and in CLOSED sessions of Council.
Do understand Councillor; we have no problems with your land holdings – you’ve worked hard to get to where to you are – but there are something that just cannot be done at the same time.
The Pop Up in the Park is your occasion to be frank and direct with the people who put you in that Council seat.
Related news articles:
Integrity advises Councillor he is in a Conflict of Interest
Aldershot residents were not informed; the 19th is an opportunity to get informed and hold their Councillor accountable.
 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Healthy communities are places where people who need help are given the help they need. In Canada the organization that does that best is the United Way. Today the organization is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit fundraising affiliates.
In 1887, a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi got together… It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but they didn’t walk into a bar; what they did do was recognize the need to work together in new ways to make Denver a better place.
Every year local branches hold a fund raising drive – giving the average person an opportunity to share what they have with others who don’t have what they need.
It begins with a tug-of-war – your team pulling a 202,000 pound Airbus A300 fifty yards along the tarmac at the Hamilton International Airport.
The United Way Halton & Hamilton together with UPS®, invite you to the 5th Annual Plane Pull on September 16th, 2023.
How It Works
Each team will get one opportunity to pull the plane 50 feet across the tarmac in the shortest amount of time.
The team with the shortest combined time wins bragging rights and great prizes!
Prizes will be awarded to the three fastest teams, top team and individual fundraisers, and teams with the most spirit (costumes are encouraged!)
Bring your friends, colleagues and family!
Whether you are pulling the plane or cheering from the sidelines, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained including a face painting, bouncy castle, food trucks, and more!
Don’t think you have the muscles to pull the plane but still want to contribute? Join us as an event sponsor! Contact Sarah Hodgson -shodgson@uwhh.ca
First – Register on line – you can do that HERE; then start fund raising.
There is no registration fee; each team must fundraise at least $1,500 to be eligible for prizing. This counts towards your workplace campaign total.
Once you have registered, your individual fundraising page makes it easy to approach your friends, family, and neighbours to help you reach your goal. Tax receipts will be provided for donations over $25.
Participants will be asked to share their experience on social media: follow @UnitedWayHH using #LocalLove
Now you start the fund raising.
Send your custom fundraising page to your family and friends to help you reach your personal goal!
Each participant is encouraged to raise a minimum of $1,000 to help reach our collective goal of $225,000 to support those in need throughout our community .
Next step – Register is as an individual or is as a member of a team.
Everything has Rules and Regulations.
Maximum of 15 people per team, must be 18 or older to participate.
 The Royal Bank Team pulling the Airbus A300 at the Hamilton International Airport. Each team will get one opportunity to pull the plane 50 feet across the tarmac in the shortest amount of time. The team with the shortest combined time wins bragging rights and great prizes!
Prizes will be awarded to the three fastest teams, top team and individual fundraisers, and teams with the most spirit (costumes are encouraged!)
The United Way is a great community service organization. In the days ahead we will tell you all about what they do. who they help and – where the funds raised are spent.
A number of years ago all the local United Way organizations realized that there was strength in number – that resulted in the Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and Hamilton organizations merged and became UWHH – United Way Halton Hamilton with a goal of raising $11 million this year.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council went into a closed session July 11th and today released some of what was discussed.
The Ontario Land Tribunal has accepted the settlement agreed upon between Latch Residential Developments and the City of Burlington – all it took was a Presto card to make the two tower development a done deal.
 Development approved for the 1989 Appleby Line location The application proposes to replace the existing gas station use with the development of two 20-storey residential buildings connected by a shared 6-storey podium with retail at grade. This would result in a total of 475 residential units, 871m2 of at-grade retail space, 502 vehicular parking spaces, and 304 bicycle parking spaces. Vehicle access is proposed via two driveways: one on Appleby Line and one on Upper Middle Road. Amenity space is proposed at the 7th storey within two indoor spaces (275m2 in each tower) and one outdoor space (413m2) on the roof of the podium. The apartment building use is permitted, and the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments are requested for the proposed increases in density, Floor Area Ratio, height, as well as a reduction in parking.
At its meeting of July 11, 2023 Burlington City Council approved the recommendation to accept an offer to settle the issues in dispute between 1989 Appleby Latch Limited and the City with respect to the non-decision appeal currently before the Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”). As part of this approval, Council approved the recommendation that the planning analysis be released publicly and posted on the City’s webpage.
The settlement between the City and 1989 Appleby Latch Limited resolves the issues in dispute between the City and 1989 Appleby Latch Limited on the basis these parties will seek OLT approval of a revised development proposal and related Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments for the site. The revised development proposes the following:
 Site location. Traffic will be a challenge. ▪ Decreased number of residential units from 475 to 463;
▪ Decreased retail floor area from 871m2 to 786m2;
▪ Decreased Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 5.7:1 to 5.2:1;
▪ Decreased height of the east tower from 20 storeys to 17 storeys;
▪ Increased height of the west tower from 20 storeys to 22 storeys;
▪ Rotated west tower slightly so that it is parallel to the east tower rather than parallel to Appleby Line;
▪ An additional level of underground parking (for a total of 4 underground levels);
▪ Increased overall parking rate from 1.06 to 1.11 parking spaces per unit;
▪ Introduces 0.8m wide planting strip along north side of surface parking area adjacent to Hydro One corridor;
▪ Increased building setback from Appleby Line from 0m to 4.2m (ground floor); and
▪ Increased total amenity area from 9.03m2 to 9.28m2 per unit
Transportation Impacts
Impact on traffic in the Sheldon Creek neighbourhood was a common concern identified at the public meeting for this application. The revised proposal addresses transportation impacts through Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and traffic calming measures.
The TDM measures seek to minimize car dependence through a variety of means:
- prospective residents of the proposed development will be provided with information about transportation options, including transit and cycling;
- two on-site bicycle repair facilities will be provided for use by residents and visitors;
- bicycle parking and storage facilities will be provided in the amount of 272 long-term spaces and 48 short-term spaces;
- residents who do not purchase a parking space will receive a Presto card preloaded to allow for two years of travel; and,
- parking supply will be managed by unbundling parking space from residential unit so that each is purchased separately, allowing purchasers to adjust their unit purchase to reflect their parking needs, and limiting the sale of parking spaces to maximum one space per residential unit.
 Development site as it exists today.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Most of us got through last week – but not everyone fared well.
Mortgage rate increases are ruining some families; the heat that has become oppressive. The Climate change issue is now top of mind for the thousands that basically ignored it a year ago.
 Some serious thought has to be given to how city council wants to handle transit – free rides bump into the cost of converting to an electric fleet. One Gazette reader reported pointed out that Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said a traditional bus comes in at about $700,000 range, while the electric version come at about $1.5 million.
We know what the diesel buses do to the environment – but cutting over to electric buses can’t be done in the immediate future. And if it could will the public put up with the increase and at the same time make transit free for everyone?
Another Gazette reader took exception to our comment that there was a level of greed driving up rental rates – 20% plus increases – is hard to attribute to the rising costs for property owners.
Somewhere something has to give – and the one thing that can’t give is the environment.
Fires in western Canada have cost the country the lives of two firefighters, 100 families in an Ottawa suburb are looking for trades people to repair their homes.
There are parts of Burlington that understand what flooding did to their basements in 2014.
 City Treasurer Joan Ford has a very tough budget to craft – council will disappoint her with some of the decisions they make. Residents will see the beginnings of the budget in September – it isn’t going to be pretty.
Leadership at the federal and provincial levels has been terribly disappointing; does anyone want to ask how that $10 a day for daycare program is doing.
It took the federal government close to a year to get the agreement in place with the province – all the other jurisdictions already had their agreements completed.
Once the province has its agreement with the federal government – it then has to turn to Regional governments to determine how the daycare sector is going to become part of the funding plan and at the same time thousands of certified child care workers have to be found and trained.
 One of the few construction cranes to be erected in the city. The housing needed to accommodate the half a million people that are going to come to Canada has yet to be built – the development industry has realized that affordable housing is not a part of the industry that offers the profits that the high end condominiums offer.
Has anyone seen a crane going up on any one of the development sites that have been approved?
Far too many of the development applications are waiting for their Ontario Land Tribunal(OLT) hearings; the developers don’t like the Official Plan that was passed by the current City Council and are hoping some of the items they dislike can be changed.
The City has not done all that well at OLT hearings.
The problems, the pain and the grief are far from over.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Staff
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Heritage Advisory Committee invites you to take part in an exciting lineup of activities for Heritage Week, Aug. 5-12, 2023. In honour of Burlington’s 150th anniversary, a special week of heritage events are planned, focusing on sites that have shaped Burlington throughout its history.
A detailed schedule of all the events taking place during Heritage Week, including locations and how to register, is set out below:
Registration is open between July 10 to 28. All are welcome.
Schedule of events
Heritage Week is organized by the members of Heritage Burlington, in collaboration with the Burlington Historical Society, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington Public Library, Burlington Museums, Beach Canal Lighthouse, Freeman Station, Halton Black History Awareness Society, Heritage Services – Halton Region, and David Craig of History Pix, along with a growing list of other organizations.
 Michele Camacho, Chair, Heritage Burlington Michele Camacho, Chair, Heritage Burlington, one of the really good examples of what an Advisory Committee can achieve said: “Heritage Week is a time to celebrate the many aspects of Burlington’s various heritages. The celebrations are even more special this year, as Burlington celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary. Heritage Burlington is so glad to be able to welcome the community to take part in a fantastic lineup of events to mark this milestone. Thank you to our civic partners, community groups, and volunteers who make learning more about the history of our community interesting and fun. A special thanks to Marsha Paley, Co-Vice Chair of the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee for her leadership.”
 By Eva Johnson
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
After a major legislative update of Ontario online gambling laws in April 2022, Ontario became a place of rapid industry development as dozens of online casino operators acquired the local license for legal performance.
Already in a couple of months after the legislation update, the industry showed a major boost and Ontario became a successful case in Canada and globally.
This positive case allows us to make suggestions and predictions about the development of the online gambling industry in the province.
General Expectations for the Online Gambling Industry in the Province
 Canada has always been gambling-friendly. Canada has always been gambling-friendly, but Ontario has pioneered among other provinces by introducing its new legislation in 2022. Already in a couple of months, the Ontario gambling industry saw an increase in revenues, taxes, and positive competition.
Based on this fact alone, there are several predictions that can be made about the future of the industry and the licensed online casinos in Ontario.
Increased Revenue
The legalization and regulation of online gambling is already resulting in a significant increase in revenue for the province, as more people will be able to access and participate in Internet gambling activities legally.
Not only do Internet casino operators make more money because local players are more willing to try their casino sites out but also more taxes are paid to the province and charities.
Healthier Competition
With the legalization of online gambling, more companies will enter the market, resulting in increased competition. AGCO has already closed the transition period when operators could request the local license, so the number of Internet casinos in the province will not show unlimited growth.
However, the increased number of legal competitors will lead to better services and products for customers, as companies try to outdo one another.
 Good jobs in a safe environment are part of what makes gaming as attractive as it is in Canada More Jobs
According to the gambling statistics, the online gambling industry is likely to create more jobs in Ontario, as companies set up operations and hire staff to manage their Internet platforms. Of course, not much is needed to run an Internet casino locally because it only means access to the services while all the staff can be located elsewhere. However, legal online gambling means more control and supervision in the corresponding agencies that will hire staff.
Also, Live Dealer facilities may want to hire local Dealers for Ontario players, and so on. Who knows what new type of gambling entertainment will be invented next in a transparent and competitive market?
Enhanced Responsible Gambling Measures
With the legalization and regulation of Internet gambling, the government is likely to introduce more responsible gambling measures to protect players. This could include increased education on gambling addiction, self-exclusion programs, and limits on the amount of money players can spend.
AGCO and iGO have strict Responsible gambling policies and requirements that all operators must meet, and it is very likely that with time, these measures will become even more specific and elaborate.
Potential for Increased Gambling Addiction
While responsible gambling measures are likely to be introduced, there is a risk that the legalization of Internet gambling could result in an increase in gambling addiction. The government will need to be vigilant in monitoring the industry and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to prevent and treat addiction.
It is too early to provide any adequate statistical data about addictive gambling issues increased in Ontario since April 2022 but this seems to be a legit consequence of more available and affordable gambling entertainment.
 Technology has become a large part of the growth of gaming in Canada Technological Advancements
The Internet gambling industry is likely to continue to evolve and develop new technologies to enhance the user experience.
This could include virtual reality casinos, Live dealer games, and more. Interestingly, many technologies are developed as entertainment first because people are ready to pay for fun whereas they are not ready to pay for useful things.
Some streaming technologies, KYC and verification procedures, payment technologies, and other inventions for Internet casinos can eventually turn out useful in other niches.
Potential for Increased Tax Revenue
The legalization and regulation of online gambling could result in increased tax revenue for the province, which could be used to fund public services and infrastructure.
International Competition
Ontario’s online gambling industry could face competition from other jurisdictions, both within Canada and internationally. Of course, being the first, Ontario is now a dream-come-true province for all Canadian players.
However, as other provinces and states follow (which can really happen with time!) Internet casino operators may find other locations more attractive for licensed services, and Ontario will stop being a buzzword in the online gambling industry.
Final Thoughts
Ontario shows a positive example to all provinces in Canada and other jurisdictions that were reluctant to upgrade their gambling legislation and preferred to turn a blind eye to the gray zone in which gambling currently operates in the majority of countries. Therefore, it is easy to understand that Ontario is being watched closely to analyze its case.
However, the industry is rather unpredictable, and new inventions can create additional nuances in the near future – like the introduction of AI technologies did for many industries. Therefore, while Ontario seems to be managing well, it is still too early to state that its example will be followed massively.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor has finally jumped on the 150th Anniversary bandwagon.
It took more than one nudge to get her to where she is – you can always rely on our Mayor to recognize an opportunity to be at the front of the parade.
She recently said:
 In recognition and celebration of our Burlington 150+ anniversary this year, we’re launching a Time Capsule project!
We’re looking for 7 artefacts or objects to include in the time capsule – one item representing each ward and one that reflects our city.
Residents interested in making a suggestion for an item are asked to contact the Mayor’s Office with:
- A detailed description of an artefact/object OR a photo of an artefact/object they own and are willing to donate to the City of Burlington; and
- A line or two on why they feel this artefact/object best represents either the ward they live in OR the city, as a whole.
You can submit your suggestion either by emailing mayor@burlington.ca with subject line “Burlington 150+ Time Capsule”
 By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The picture first appeared on Instagram, no idea who put it up or who the boys are.
As a group they represent the social make up of the city and its current state of diversity.
They are also the guys that are eventually going to get the keys to the family car: how do you feel about that?
 They do make you smile don’t they?
 By Pepper Parr
July 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This article is about Twitter, Threads, social media, the Canadian Press and how literally everything about you is being used by social media to exploit you.
That sounds harsh – it just happen to be true.
Lets start with the Canadian Press: they are a Canadian national news agency headquartered in Toronto. Established in 1917 as a vehicle for Canadian newspapers to exchange news and information,
The article below, written by Tara Deschamps who is employed by the Canadian Press, sets out th explain what social media is doing to us. She begins with:
It knows when you’ve been online shopping, the last time you worked out and whether you’ve been lurking on your ex’s profile.
Meta’s new social media platform Threads is gobbling up massive amounts of sensitive data on its 100 million users and counting.
The specificity and quantity of information the text and multimedia platform can access poses a risk to most users, if it falls into the wrong hands or is used to target them, tech experts agree.
 Claudette McGowan CEO, Protexxa Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. “This is a hacker’s dream,” said Claudette McGowan, a longtime banking executive who founded Protexxa, a Toronto-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to rapidly identify and resolve cyber issues for employees.
“The more data you have sitting in a certain position (or) spot is going to get people really, really excited about getting access to it and being very creative about it.”
Threads falls under Meta’s wider privacy policy that covers its other social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. That policy details how Meta captures everything from the information you give it when you sign up for accounts, to what you click on or like, who you befriend online and what kind of phone, computer or tablet you use to access its products.
Meta is the company that owns Facebook and Instagram and recently launched Threads, an application that compete with Twitter.
It also keeps tabs on what you’re doing on your device, like whether the app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving, messages you send and receive and details on purchases you make, including credit card information.
Threads also has its own supplemental privacy policy, which says “we collect information about your activity on Threads, including the content you create, the types of content you view or interact with and how you interact with it, metadata about your content, the Threads features you use and how you use them, the hashtags you use, and the time, frequency, and duration of your activities on Threads.”
The privacy policy Threads has embedded in Apple’s app store shows it may collect, and link to your identity, data including your health and fitness, financial, browsing history, location and contact information, along with the broad category of “sensitive information.”
“It looks to me like it is a grab bag or a drift-net approach,” said Brett Caraway, a professor of media economics at the University of Toronto.
That approach is not unusual for social media services or other apps. It’s become “standard repertoire” for such companies to broker access to as much data as possible, he said.
 TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices or webcams. The app was launched in 2016 by the Chinese technology company ByteDance. The Canadian government banned TikTok on all government-issued mobile devices in late February, citing serious privacy and security risks for users. Music-centric social media app TikTok, for example, collects usernames, passwords, dates of birth, email addresses, telephone number, information disclosed in user profiles, photographs and videos. It also grabs preferences you set, content you upload, comments you make, websites you’ve visited, apps you’ve downloaded and purchases you have made.
Screen resolution, keystroke patterns, battery levels, audio settings and “your approximate location, including location information based on your SIM card and/or IP address” are also scooped up by TikTok.
Caraway often hears from students who wonder why they should care if social media companies access their data because they’re not high-profile and don’t use such apps for controversial activities.
“Just because you’re safe today doesn’t mean you’re safe tomorrow,” Caraway argues.
“We’re certainly seeing a situation in the U.S. where certain marginalized populations are under attack, at least rhetorically and sometimes legally, and you might find yourself as part of one of those marginalized populations.”
Regardless of what you do on social media, Caraway said these companies leave users “not in the position to bargain.”
“You just have to take what the platform gives you.”
Asked about the app’s privacy concerns, Meta referred The Canadian Press to Threads posts from its chief privacy officer Rob Sherman, where he argued its privacy measures “are similar to the rest of our social apps, including Instagram, in that our apps receive whatever information you share in the app — including the categories of data listed in the App Store.”
“People can choose to share different kinds of data,” he wrote.
Before signing up for Threads or any other service, McGowan recommends people go beyond a cursory glance at the privacy policy they are agreeing to and read it more thoroughly with how the data could be used in mind.
“People just don’t understand the value of the data,” said McGowan.
“They become the product. Things are being monetized that they don’t even envision and they’re thinking they’re making decisions and formulating opinions that really are being formed and decided for them.”
She also advises people to consider a company’s history.
“Do they have a track record of handling sensitive information with care?” she questioned.
“Do they have a track record of being transparent and open and honest with their user community?”
How dangerous can social media be ? In 2018 Facebook gave an application developer access to the personal information of about 87 million users; that personal info was used to target U.S. voters during the country’s presidential election that ended with Donald Trump in power.
In the case of Threads, its parent company Meta was infamously ensnared in privacy concerns in 2018, when it was revealed that consulting firm Cambridge Analytica paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million users.
The personal info was used to target U.S. voters during the country’s presidential election that ended with Donald Trump in power.
Threads has yet to launch in European Union, which has strict data privacy rules.
“We would have liked to offer Threads in the EU at the same time as other markets, and the app does meet General Data Protection Regulation requirements today,” Sherman has said on Threads.
“But building this offering against the backdrop of other regulatory requirements that have not yet been clarified would potentially take a lot longer, and in the face of this uncertainty, we prioritized offering this new product to as many people as possible.”
 This is what social media could be – without some form of government intervention it has become dangerous, If you’re having second thoughts about an account you’ve signed up for in light of such developments, most services offer tools that help you adjust settings, limiting access to some of your personal information.
“And you always have the option to disconnect,” McGowan added.
However, to dump your Threads profile, which is embedded in Instagram, you must also delete your Instagram account.
Canadian Press advised readers that Meta funds a limited number of fellowships that support emerging journalists at The Canadian Press.
By Tonisha Parra
July 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The digital age has been a wild west of online crime, with new scams popping up every day. Emails, phone calls, text messages, and even ads on social media can be disguised attempts to trick you out of your personal details (and your money). Our best weapon against this sea of scammers is a solid understanding of cyber security, and the ability to design and implement our own cyber security strategies.
But what is cyber security? It’s safe to say that cyber security is still a new word to most of us. So knowing whether or not you’re actually safe online can come with a bit of a learning curve.
Thankfully, it is easier to engage with the basics of cyber security. And that’s usually all that most everyday web users need.
To help out, we’ll be outlining some great ways to recognise potential scams online, and what to do if you ever come across something a little dubious online.
Read on to learn how to recognize a scam online:
 If you don’t recognize the email sender – best not to open it. Check the sender
Don’t click the links
Take your time
Look for bad grammar
Is the price too good to be true?
Don’t take your boss’ word for it
Report fraud wherever possible
1. Check the sender
When you get an odd text asking for your bank details, postage address, or any other tidbits of personal info, the easiest thing to do is just look to see if they’ve messaged you before. With emails, you should also always look at the sender’s email address in full. Most spammers and scammers can’t get at official email addresses, so their best is something that appears as legitimate but on second glance, is definitely not.
For example, @google.com may become @ongoogle.com, or @googlo.com, or simply complete gibberish. Or your sender could have a company name for their email address but could be emailing from a generic @gmail.com or @outlook.com account, rather than from a company email.
Taking a closer look at the sender’s name, or using an email checker is always a good first step towards ascertaining the reliability of a message. But it’s not foolproof! Remember that even a legitimate address can be hacked or spoofed.
2. Don’t click the links
If you’re an avid online shopper like me, chances are your inbox is filled with completely innocuous emails. These are things like shipping updates, or news alerts – messages that have no intention of gathering your personal info. But even seemingly harmless messages can be a front for a devilish hyperlink.
 Absent-mindedly clicking on a hyperlink could easily take you to a site that looks like an exact copy of Facebook, or anything else, that then asks you to login and confirm some details. The safest tactic is to avoid clicking on any link unnecessarily, and to just complete actions independently and through your own browser.
And if you do find a site you’re uncertain of, look for “https” (or the padlock symbol) in the URL bar of the pages you visit. The S stands for secure, and the padlock symbol also denotes a website with a secure SSL certificate.
3. Take your time
The best thing you can do for a scammer is to take things at face value. Scammers are masters at taking people by surprise, so it’s always better to maintain vigilance when assessing any digital communications.
Of course, staying vigilant and thinking critically about any message your way requires a little time to process what you’re reading. So scammers will also often try to put you under time pressure, just to ensure you don’t have the opportunity to think.
Scammers will often insert a call to action to get you to gloss over the less-than-reputable details in their communications. Phrases like Respond immediately, or your package will return to the depot. But how often does your bank, your mail service, or anything else online ask you for immediate action? Many institutions still run on snail mail, so half a minute of thought never hurts. Simply put, be wary of anybody asking you to ‘take action now’, because chances are they’re only requesting this urgency to lure you into a trap.
4. Look for bad grammar
Oddly enough, some scammers will purposefully add spelling mistakes and the like to their messages. They do this to filter out the keen-eyed readers, who will make for hard targets, allowing for them to focus on the more forgiving and innocent victims. It’s a cruel practice, but an effective one, especially if you’re tired. Whenever you see a misspelling, forgotten punctuation or notice strange wording from a supposed professional, you can bet it’s a scam – after all, reputable businesses triple check messages before sending them out.
And in some instances, scammers simply make mistakes. If you do find any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors in messages that are supposedly from your bank, your school, or your local toll road service, then chances are it’s not from these bodies at all. It could easily just be an offshore scammer masquerading as these legitimate agencies.
 5. Is the price too good to be true?
Finding a killer deal online is thrilling. And even when there’s no way they’re selling clothes, plane tickets, or a puppy for that price, you want to believe it, don’t you? That’s the very feeling digital thieves are trying to capitalize on.
But if the photos look unoriginal (try right-clicking, and “Search image with Google”), the site is new to you, or the details are strangely vague, then think again. It’s always best to do your due diligence when examining any offer online. Be sure to search for reviews and read through forums on other websites, just to see if people have been negatively affected by these offers, or the figure advertising these offers, in the past.
You should also ask for more details from the seller, and check whether the payment options are secure. PayPal, banks, and your credit cards will fight tooth and nail to keep from being ripped off.
6. Don’t take your boss’ word for it
One slimy trick is to find the names of business owners and their employees online, then pose as the employer to ask for a favor. Beware of messages that look just like this one:
Hey, Alex, we’ve got a client meeting in an hour, can you pick up $500 worth of Apple iTunes cards and send through the codes right quick, and I’ll pay you back after? Best, Joe Ceo.
You might not think that internet criminals would notice your small town medical practice, or target you at your accounting firm, but a specific target means they can trick you with real details. And real details will always increase their chances of success. Don’t let them win.
Be sure to ask for a phone call from ‘your boss’ or an email to confirm details. Chances are the scammer won’t be able to rise to this challenge and will move on to a more gullible target.
7. Report fraud whenever possible
Finally, even if you don’t fall victim to a cyber attack, it’s always best to report any cases you come across to your local cyber security authorities. One in twenty people will put in the time to report attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or other digital crimes to the Canadian Center for Cyber Security. This number needs to increase. By reporting to these security agencies, you can aid and inform their work, which will ensure these bodies are better equipped to respond to security threats as they happen.
 Your report can help prevent future cases, protecting your friends, neighbors, and all your fellow Canadian netizens. And if it’s only a minor incident or just a stray spam text, you can easily add a comment or a vote to online safety sites like spamcalls.net.
Remember – a cautious person is a scam artist’s worst enemy. So look closely, check with others, and hold your personal details close to your chest when accessing the web.
Every second spent learning and researching online, cripples your risk of being cheated out of your data and perhaps even your money. In short, a considerate approach to your cyber security is the most fierce protector you can have against online scams.
 By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
How could I not click on this? Doesn’t everyone think there is a long lost relative out there looking for me to claim what is mine?
This is what I got this morning.
Attn: Sir/Madam,
Greetings to you. There was a recent search conducted in our firm and your Surname / Last Name matched one of our deceased clients’ details.
Kindly get back to me with your full names to my private email: dr.andybailey@c2.hu confirm If you are the beneficiary prior to providing you with further communications.
Thank you.
Dr. Andrew Bailey
I decided to take a pass and save the little I have for a rainy day
The sum scammers are out there – they never quit – basically because there are still hundreds of foolish people who think that what looks to be unbelievable luck is just unbelievable.
|
|
