 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Last week, during a city council meeting, two members of Council spoke of personal safety issues.
Mayor Meed Ward said : “I had an individual threaten to set me on fire if I attended a public meeting related to a development application in my city. I was advised it may not be safe for me to attend. This is doing my job. This going to public meetings about matters that council has to make a decision on is my job. I was advised for a period of time that it was safer for me to drive to work. I live four blocks from work. I had a security detail for a number of months at every public meeting.”
 Mayor Meed Ward during a webcast from her City Hall office. Reprehensible is too kind a word to describe what happened to the Mayor.
Differences of opinion with elected officials is part of a democratic society.
Threatening to harm a person is, in our opinion, a criminal act and we trust that the police are involved in tracing the message sent to the Mayor.
There is an obligation on the part of the police to make events like this a priority and for the Crown Council to lay hate charges which can lead to long prison terms. A responsibility as well for the judiciary to hand out stiff sentences, and for media to ensure that the public is made aware of the penalties for what is a hate crime.
This just cannot be tolerated.
If you want to get rid of a politician, there is a place you can do just that – at the ballot box.
 Shawna Stolte: Needed security to keep Advisory Committee meetings civil. Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte required security at an Advisory Committee meeting. She explained that her personal safety was not the issue – saying that she needed security to prevent the members of the committee from going after each other.
We hope that the problem members of the committee have been removed.
During an interview in 1010Newstalk Mayor Meed Ward explained what she thought was happening:
“I think people got used to being keyboard warriors. I was hoping that the decline of decorum, that that we all saw and faced. You know, I was a city councilor for eight years, a mayor for about a year before COVID, and I had never seen anything like what we all experienced during COVID. And that’s when the death threats started to come. People threatening to hang me, people threatening to make a CITIZENS ARREST.
“I was given a little key fob on my phone. That is a, I call it a screamer. If somebody were to approach me and throw me in the back of the car, I could open, I could use this screamer to draw attention. I mean, just really unnerving things.
“Maybe it’s the isolation, maybe it’s the fact that we’re all behind a keyboard. We were not interacting as humans. We hoped that once COVID passed and we could see each other, that decorum would return, but, but it hasn’t. In fact, it’s gotten worse, and it’s been enabled by people in elected office.
“The Elect Respect Initiative came out of what I call my support group of elected representatives. We call ourselves HER – Halton Elected Representatives. We meet a couple of times a year to support each other, share stories. And at one meeting, someone asked: “Would you advise your daughter to enter politics?” And we were all kind of going, hmm, – I’d have to tell them about the risks. There are 25 – 30 of us – all had a story of receiving death threats. This is very widespread at all levels of government.
“Elected officials take a pledge to be respectful to each other, to the public, and call out and support each other when they see each other under attack.
“There is a similar pledge for the public to say, ‘I’m going to elect people that are going to be respectful and focus on policy debates, not personal attacks.”
 By Max Maddyson
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’re into Australian online pokies, chances are you’re not playing them on a desktop anymore. Mobile gambling with Lucky Green Casino lets you take your favourite games anywhere — from the couch to the beach to the back of an Uber. But what actually works, and what just sort of… exists? Let’s get into it.
What Works: Things That Actually Make You Go “Yep, That’s Good”
When you fire up Lucky Green on your phone, you want it to just work. Here’s where it delivers.
- It runs smoother than a new ute on fresh bitumen. The mobile site loads fast, even on dodgy Wi-Fi. It’s not clunky. It doesn’t freeze. The layout fits neatly on any screen — phone or tablet. Whether you’re team Android or iPhone, you won’t be stuck squinting or jabbing at unclickable buttons. That HTML5 backend really pulls its weight.
-
 Depositing and withdrawing on mobile is dead easy. Crypto? Sweet. E-wallets? Yep. Even classic card payments. The forms are clean, and you don’t have to tap through endless popups to find your preferred method. Fast in, fast out, and no nasty surprises. You get the full spread of games. Pokies, blackjack, roulette, live dealers — it’s all there. There’s no stripped-down “mobile lite” experience. What you see on desktop, you get on mobile. Including those progressive pokies that could, in theory, make you a millionaire during a toilet break. Not saying it will happen, but hey, the dream’s alive.
- Banking doesn’t make you want to chuck your phone. Depositing and withdrawing on mobile is dead easy. Crypto? Sweet. E-wallets? Yep. Even classic card payments. The forms are clean, and you don’t have to tap through endless popups to find your preferred method. Fast in, fast out, and no nasty surprises.
- Bonuses don’t disappear just because you’re on mobile. You’re not punished for using your phone. The full welcome package — up to AU$5,000 + 300 spins — is available on mobile too. Same goes for reloads, cashback, and the occasional cheeky freebie. The mobile version isn’t some sad cousin of the desktop site.
And yes, players have mentioned in chats and Reddit threads that mobile withdrawals sometimes hit their wallets faster than desktop ones. Could be coincidence. Could be a hidden perk. Either way, we’re not complaining.
All that makes mobile play at Lucky Green more than just passable — it’s genuinely good.
What Doesn’t: The Bits That Could Use a Bit of Elbow Grease
Mobile gambling isn’t perfect. A few bumps in the road could slow your ride.
-
 Old phones struggle. No app in the App Store. You won’t find Lucky Green in the Apple or Google app stores. If you want an app-like experience, you’ll need to download an APK or just stick with the mobile browser version. Which works well, but for folks who like neat icons and native push notifications, it’s a bit of a letdown.
- Tiny screens, tiny frustrations. Live dealer games can be a bit squishy on a small screen. Sure, the video is clear, and you can still bet easily, but the immersive vibe takes a hit. And if you’re a fat-fingered player, misclicks are bound to happen now and then.
- Old phones struggle. If you’re still rocking a Nokia or some creaky pre-2018 Android, you’ll notice lag. Newer devices fly through the interface. Older ones cough and wheeze if you try to load a live roulette table while Spotify and Instagram are open.
- You need to stay online. No internet, no play. There’s zero offline functionality. Lose signal on the train and say goodbye to your bonus round.
So yeah, it’s not flawless — but it’s still way more hit than miss.
Mobile vs Desktop: Which One Wins the Fight?
Here’s a quick comparison to show how mobile stacks up against desktop. If you’re trying to choose where to play, this’ll help clear things up.
| Feature |
Mobile |
Desktop |
| Game Access |
✅ Full access |
✅ Full access |
| Graphics |
Good |
Slightly better |
| Convenience |
Excellent |
Tied to location |
| UI/UX |
Touch-friendly |
More detailed |
| Banking |
✅ Fast |
✅ Fast |
| Live Dealers |
Works well |
Best experience |
In the end, mobile wins for convenience, but desktop still brings a bit more polish.
How to Squeeze the Best Out of Lucky Green on Mobile
A little prep goes a long way. Want smooth gameplay and fewer headaches? Do this.
 If you are Irish this might be just the site for you. Even if you aren’t Irish – it could be the site for you Before we get into the list, know that none of these require a tech degree. Anyone can do this in under a minute.
- Use decent Wi-Fi or 4G. Lag kills vibes.
- Close background apps before a long session.
- Turn your phone sideways. Landscape mode makes games look proper.
- If they ever offer an APK, grab it from the official site only. No shady links.
- Check for bonuses in your SMS or email. They often drop mobile-exclusive promos there.
Follow these tips, and your mobile experience will feel a whole lot slicker.
The Verdict
Mobile gambling with Lucky Green Casino delivers the goods. It’s fast, full-featured, and doesn’t feel like a watered-down version of the “real” casino. Sure, there are gaps — mainly the lack of an official app and the fiddliness of playing on a phone. But those are minor speedbumps.
If you’re the kind of player who’d rather spin reels on your lunch break than wait till you’re home, this setup suits you just fine.
FAQs
Is mobile gambling safe at Lucky Green Casino?
Yes. The mobile site uses the same encryption and login protections as the desktop version. Just don’t share your password with your housemate.
Can I play pokies on my phone at Lucky Green Casino?
Absolutely. You’ll find hundreds of them, including the big names and progressive jackpots.
Does Lucky Green Casino have a mobile app?
Not in app stores. But the browser version works great, and there might be an APK available through the official site.
Are the same bonuses available on mobile?
Yes, you get the full range — welcome bonus, reloads, free spins, all of it.
Which devices work best for Lucky Green’s mobile casino?
Modern Androids and iPhones run it smoothly. Older phones might lag, especially with live games.
How fast are mobile withdrawals at Lucky Green Casino?
They’re quick. E-wallets and crypto usually hit fastest, sometimes within the hour.
 By Ray Rivers
July 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“… the new caps [on steel imports] will help Canadian steelmakers “recapture domestic market.” (Catherine Cobden, president and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association)
One day on our farm in Ottawa a neighbour’s prized Charolais cattle broke through our fences and stampeded through our garden – munching and trampling as a heard of cattle will do. Our neighbour was as angry as we were, complaining that he might have lost some of his prized herd. After he had rounded up his herd I recall him telling me – “good fences make better neighbours”.
 To Trump, globalization is dead and free trade lies fragmented in the trash can of history. US president Trump, love him or hate him, is the most powerful leader that country has seen in over half a century. He believes in America first and that America doesn’t need the rest of the world to be successful. He believes in fences, such as his wall with Mexico, his immigration policy, and more recently his economic tariffs on imports.
Thanks in large part to Trump, globalization is dead and free trade lies fragmenting in the trash can of history. Trump’s world view is pure economic nationalism. Low-tariff trade has weakened rather than strengthened the US economy in his view.
His plan is to change all that through protectionist trading rules. And as the world’s largest economy goes, so will much of the rest of the planet. it’ll only be a matter of time before the other nations on this planet follow suit with their own protective economic tariffs.
This week, Canadian PM Carney came into stride with Trump. At a press conference in Hamilton, Carney laid out the beginning of Canada’s new international trade strategy. Quotas on foreign made steel are being introduced and all imports beyond those quotas will face a 50% tariff. In addition, steel originating from China, a nation long known for its unfair trade practices, will be penalized by a further 25%.
Meanwhile restrictions on imports from the US await negotiations between the two countries. But Carney has already signalled that any trade deal is unlikely to be tariff-free. Canada produces around 12 million tonnes of steel annually, exporting a good portion of that mainly to the US. But Canada is also a significant importer of foreign made product – an opportunity for import substitution.
 By making foreign steel more expensive, tariffs will encourage Canadian industry to use domestic rather than imported steel products. It is a promising first step in this brave new world before us. Trump’s 50% steel tariffs are already impacting our steel industry, so it is not too early to act. At stake are the livelihoods of 23,000 workers in the industry and another estimated 100,000 indirect spin off jobs. By making foreign steel more expensive, tariffs will encourage Canadian industry to use domestic rather than imported steel products. It is a promising first step in this brave new world before us.
The second step will be to create new opportunities for steel products. In addition to expanding the acquisition of military hardware the recently enacted Bill C-5 calls for big nation-wide projects, many of which will require steel. Carney’s announcement of new tariffs also sends a signal to Mr Trump that Canada ‘gets it’ – we’re not afraid of the tariff fence Mr. Trump is building and we will protect our economy.
When the first US-Can free trade deal was signed in 1988 Canada had been the 7th largest world economy, with an annual GDP growth rate of 5%. We have since slipped to ninth or tenth place and our manufacturing sector has been hollowed out by the elephant living next door and through the predatory trade practices of emerging Asian nations.
Mr. Trump’s shift in trade policy has come at lightening speed and many Canadians and Canadian companies have yet to wake up to the reality that their world has changed and they too need to change. Trump considers this period in history to be America’s golden age. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be Canada’s as well. And good fences will just make us all better neighbours.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly 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:
Carney Announcement –
 By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Few would see Burlington as a farming community.
 Vincent Sowa. Chair of the Burlington Agriculture and Rural Committee. Vincent Sowa, Chair of the Burlington Agriculture and Rural Committee started his delegation with: I want to thank you for prioritizing the development of the Burlington Agricultural Action Plan from our the delegation early in the spring.
Your leadership brought this work forward. Having said that, just reverting back to the why of all this. Burlington is often recognized for its vibrant downtown and waterfront. It is important to remember that nearly 50% of the city’s geography is rural.
We did some digging: In 2001 census reports had 73 operating farms in Burlington that generated over about $46 million in gross farmer receipts – this isn’t a fringe sector, it’s a key contributor to Burlington local economy and long term sustainability. More than that the rural area often represents the foundation for economic self sufficiency through either food production, land stewardship, opportunities for innovation and agribusiness tourism, and, you know, forms a big part of climate resilience, you know, with foliage cover and all of that.
 
The rural community faces some really unique and frustrating paradoxes, and despite being subject to some of the most restrictive land use controls in Ontario, from the Greenbelt and Niagara Government Authority, Burlington is ineligible for many provincial programs that support rural economic development.
The Burlington Agricultural Action Plan sets out ten core actions that the City can take to advance opportunities for economic growth, innovation and resiliency in the Rural Area. The actions are structured in a manner that aligns with the City’s commitment to conserving the character of the Rural Area and protecting and enhancing its natural environment, while also enabling the rural economy to evolve and change. By investing in this sector, the City will not only protect farmland but also foster a thriving rural economy, strengthen food security, and enhance climate resiliency.
The agricultural sector faces regulatory complexity, rural/urban land use conflicts, rising land costs, succession planning challenges and infrastructure gaps. The Burlington Agricultural Action Plan (the Plan) outlines a comprehensive strategy to strengthen and sustain the city’s agricultural sector while aligning with updated provincial policies. The
Plan emphasizes collaboration, streamlined development processes, economic development, infrastructure support, and public awareness through the following core
actions:
1. Review the rural and agriculture-related policies of the Official Plan to ensure
alignment with the updated provincial policy framework.
2. Develop a targeted economic development strategy to foster businesses needed
to support a healthy agricultural system.
3. Work with regulatory agencies to establish an expedited approval process for
rural development.
4. Develop an awareness program that informs the public about the benefits of local
agriculture.
5. With input from the rural community, develop and implement an infrastructure
plan required to support the agricultural system.
6. Assess leading agricultural and related sectors to quantify what they require to
thrive and how the City can assist.
7. Establish a system to track key components of the agricultural and rural system.
8. Encourage the implementation of progressive financial opportunities that support
agriculture.
9. Secure the long-term productive use of agricultural lands.
10. Coordinate policies for the natural heritage system and agricultural system to
ensure they are mutually supportive and enhance climate resilience.
The mismatch between policy and eligibility means Burlington rural sector is over-regulated and under-supported. We’re navigating near urban compatibility issues with access to the same funding that other rural areas would have. The plan before you, the Agricultural Action Plan, is timely and targeted; it includes 10 core priorities, from rural infrastructure and streamlined development approvals to economic development policy alignment and public awareness. It reflects extensive community input through food for feedback events that we’ve held over the last couple of years, staff collaboration and alignment with provincial planning changes that, of course, have occurred over the last couple of months or years.
 Rural Burlington has quite a few “pick your own” farms that are popular. They don’t do much in the way of adding to the number of people working in the sector. Most importantly, I think it’s actionable. It’s rooted in what Burlington can do now within our mandate and resources. I want to point out one very important point. You’ll notice that the plan does not yet include a detailed budget or a staffing model, and I want to address this head on This was an intentional and strategic decision. Rather than wait a couple of years for a fully staffed report that was dotted in every down lockdown 200% we thought it would be more important to focus on identifying quick wins and immediate next steps and provide a framework for action. The plan is a living document. There is no expectation that you approve this plan and everything is done tomorrow. The council doesn’t have that plan. I don’t think there’s any expectation that that is the case, but it provides that framework to say what is the next step, and the document to go back to a document to align to out of every four year census, you know, measurement to say how we progressed on these measures.
Why does approval matter? It demonstrates follow through on your behalf: Commitment to rural Burlington. It aligns with your goals already around crime and resilience, food security and holistic thriving Burlington. It shows leadership in responding to the loss of regional agricultural support services; by that, I mean planning being downloaded onto the city from, the Region.
This Action Plan allows us to re-engage with other local stakeholders, and other networks around the area. Our request this morning is that you approve the Burlington Agricultural Action Plan. We support the early implementation, particularly looking at things around rural infrastructure and economic development actions, and then ensure that there’s continued collaboration with the committee to monitor, adapt and bring the plan to life.
Councillor Bentivegna: The report reads very, very well. This is long overdue. You mentioned actionable items without funding. Can you expand on how we’re going to keep this living document going moving forward given that there is no funding for 2026?
 Farm properties do come up for sale – much of the land is already in the hands of developers who have taken a long-range approach – rent the land until they can develop it. Vince: If you read through those action items in the document, there are actually things that the committee can work through when we’re sitting together with city staff present, around some of the planning, some of the reporting, those types of things, we can start to put that framework together, and we can build that plan over the next couple of months, and then we can come back and present those budgets as staff has time to develop the facts and figures that are needed to support each one of those action items.
Having Economic Development sit in on the committee- that’s a really fast win. Yes, there’s an hour of time there, but that shouldn’t be a major impact to the city. We’re not asking for new staff , we are asking for a representative to sit with us. These are very small things that can be done; there are larger things that are going to take time. This provides the framework and a guide to get to those budgeting and resourcing.
Bentivegna: This goes to Council today – Tuesday July 15th – we will let you know what they decide to do with it.
 By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Heritage Advisory Committee has put together what they are calling an “exciting lineup of activities for Heritage Week, Aug. 2-9.”
With a theme this year of Living with Our Natural Heritage, Naturally, 18 special events are planned to celebrate our city’s history.
A full list of events is available at burlington.ca/heritageweek.
All events are free. Registration for events that require it are now open until July 31, or until capacity is reached.
When City Hall talks about heritage, some property owners shudder – they see it as finding that their homes have been designated as historically relevant, which sometimes means the owner is limited to what they can do with their property.
Some see a designation as valuable, but not all. During Heritage Week we will look into how messy and controversial a designation decision can become
By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
As the long-standing steward of the Canadian Wine Library (CWL), the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) is now expanding opportunities for special interest groups, scholars and members of the media to access and review the nation’s top vintages.
Housed within CCOVI’s 44,000-bottle cellar at Brock University, the newly relaunched CWL was developed to determine how Canadian wines age and provide producers with feedback based on results from scheduled tastings.
 The Wine Library is huge. “Canadian wines improve very well with age,” says Barb Tatarnic, Manager of Professional Studies and Outreach at CCOVI. “We believe this message is not as clear as it should be and so, accordingly, the vision of the CWL is to demonstrate the potential of cellaring premium Canadian wines.”
The CWL is a non-profit, revolving collection of the finest VQA and domestic wines grown and made in Canada. It evolved out of the Ontario Wine Library (OWL) via an agreement signed with Brock in 1998. The name was formally changed to the CWL in 2007.
Tatarnic says tasting groups, producers, educators and researchers can gain access to the library’s wines by submitting an application on CCOVI’s website.
“We want to help inform the consumer on what they can expect from Canada’s wines within the collection in regard to ageability and to serve as a resource for ongoing research in such areas as sensory evaluation, vintage variations and stylistic changes over time,” says Tatarnic.
Tony Aspler was an original member of the OWL’s board of directors and one of the most respected wine writers in Canada, with more than 50 years of experience covering the industry.
He says there are many benefits to this repository and, thanks to the selection of wines already in the collection, the CWL’s inventory is off to a great start.
“To have a permanent library of back vintages of Canadian wines is not only a treasured archive but an invaluable educational tool for winemakers, historians and enthusiasts alike,” he says.
“This collection — which grows annually with each vintage — represents the finest efforts of the Canadian wine industry and is curated under ideal conditions at Brock University.”
Nicholas Gizuk, Head Winemaker at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Inniskillin winery, agrees the CWL is an invaluable resource for the industry.
“To have a place for wines to be properly stored and made available for private and public tastings and educational purposes is so important to our industry,” he says. “Sometimes a great vintage will accidentally get sold out or they might get lost in a warehouse, but if they are put aside and kept separate in this library, it makes for unique opportunities down the road.”
By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Perhaps the biggest irritant for residents of the city is parking space – that comes right behind traffic congestion. Tax increases are in there somewhere.
The Burlington Downtown Parking Plan has now completed the second phase of the project. Read the Analysis of Future Parking Demand report which examines the relationship between existing land use patterns and current parking to forecast future demand levels, identify potential pressure on the parking supply due to planned development, and recommend corresponding management actions for municipal parking operations.
Key Findings
Baseline modelled demand calculations reinforce that the overall study area retains more than adequate parking capacity at all times of day. Findings anticipate an ability to accommodate future development that
generates both daytime and evening parking demand depending on its location relative to lightly utilized parking facilities.
 The timeline: If you have concerns, make sure you tell the people doing the study before decisions are made.
 The area being studied.
The city wants to know what you think. Take the survey today ; it closes this Friday July 18.
 By Tom Parkin
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Falling prices are welcome news for house buyers and renters, but the unchecked price surge from 2020 to 2022 created an affordability crisis and economic decline.
GTA real estate crash continues, house prices now down 22% from peak
There is no sign the downward slide in GTA house purchase prices is coming to an end, bringing the hope of affordability to those in the housing purchase and rental markets after the massive and unchecked price surge of 2020 to 2022.
The Canadian Real Estate Association’s June composite benchmark price for the Greater Toronto Area was under one million dollars for the first time since March 2021 and is now down 22 per cent from the February 2022 peak.
While restoring some housing market sanity is welcome news, the massive economic destruction caused by a massive 53 per cent price increase in 23 months is still being wrought, showing the cost of trust markets to self-correct even when clearly overheated and irrational.
Act 1: creating the crisis potential with zero interest rates
On January 2, the Bank’s policy rate sat at 1.75 per cent and its estimate of the average variable mortgage rate was 2.90 per cent, already low by historic standards.
Then on March 30, 2020, at its first meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, the Bank of Canada cut its policy interest rate to just 0.25 per cent, sending mortgage rates down. The Bank’s estimated average variable mortgage rate hit just 1.26 per cent on December 9, 2021 — almost free money.
Act 2: unchecked surge inflates prices 53% in 23 months
Lower rates qualified thousands of Canadians for bigger mortgages, bringing a surge of buyers to the market. But in Ontario, no action was taken to intervene in a obviously overheated real estate market and, in the 23 months from the Bank’s rate cut in March 2020 to the real estate peak in February 2022, the average GTA house price increased a massive 53 per cent.
While house prices in Vancouver also rose dramatically in a near-zero mortgage rate environment, from the March 2020 Bank rate cut to the Vancouver market’s price peak in March 2022, the average benchmark house price increased only 35 per cent. The B.C. government’s numerous market interventions included adding luxury taxes to high end properties, introducing a speculation tax, adding a foreign buyers tax and limiting the transition of property to short term rental use, such as through Airbnb.
Act 3: the affordability crisis hits consumer demand and tanks Ontario’s economy
Rising rents and mortgages rates — alongside grocery store inflation — put a squeeze on household budgets, putting consumers into retreat, as show by retail data.
After the real estate crash started, Statistics Canada reports retail sales in Toronto have fallen $280 million, or 2.4 per cent, from a peak in June 2022 to the most recent reported month. Vancouver retail sales have grown by $215 million, or 4.5 per cent.
In 2024, Ontario GDP lagged the national average while British Columbia’s economy grew fastest in Canada. June unemployment data from Statistics Canada reports an unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent in Vancouver and 8.7 per cent in Toronto.
Political leaders who do nothing while markets spin out of control have a heavy and lasting impact.
Retail sales from start of market crash to present
By Louie Rosella
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There’s some good news for discount shoppers in Burlington, which, these days, is everyone.
There’s a new Dollarama opening in the city.
 New Appleby Line location is not yet ready for customers. The Gazette has learned the popular Canadian dollar store retail chain will open its seventh location in the city on Appleby Line, just north of Dundas Street.
Dollarama spokesperson Lyla Radmanovich confirmed there will be a new store opening at 3091 Appleby Line in the coming months, but didn’t have a specific opening date as of yet.
“With this new location, customers can expect a product offering and shopping experience consistent with the other Dollarama stores in the neighborhood, and across Canada,” Radmanovich said. “We look forward to reaching new customers and to providing even more convenience to our existing customers in Burlington.”
Outside the location, vehicles are coming and going, and there’s Dollarama signage stretched across the glass, while the area above the storefront has been painted green.
Logan Barker, general manager of the recently-opened RUDY Resto, which is just a short walk away from the new Dollarama location, said the new discount store will be great for the neighbourhood.
Business is already booming at RUDY, Barker said.
Known for their simple and classic burgers with locations in Toronto and other parts of the GTA, RUDY will reap big benefits from the new Dollarama, Barker said.
“We’re extremely excited to see them (Dollarama) open up near us,” Barker told the Gazette. “Let’s be honest; there’s going to be a lot of people who are hungry after going shopping.”
 Typical Dollarama store set up. Just a few weeks ago, Dollarama reported its financial results for the first quarter that ended May 4, 2025.
Among many financial highlights, Dollarama reported sales increased by 8.2 per cent to $1.5 billion, compared to $1.4 billion for the same period last year.
“We are off to a strong start to fiscal 2026 as we successfully pursue our Canadian growth, with comparable store sales supported by sustained consumables demand and positive seasonal offering performance,” said Neil Rossy, president and CEO of Dollarama, in a statement.
Louie Rosella is a professor at Humber Polytechnic and a former journalist in the GTA.
By Pepper Parr
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – the fat is certainly in the fire now.
Focus Burlington, using data provided by Jim Thomson, who delegated at City Council earlier this week, published a piece from which we have excerpted the important stuff.
EXCERPT
“The City of Burlington issued two RFPs in 2025 related to renting pool time. The two RFPs were issued a little over a month apart. The same city staff member handled both RPFS, but the treatment of the groups that responded to the RFPs was very different.
RFP-25-203 “Competitive Adult Swimming – Program Provider” – March 14, 2025
Summary “the allotted amount of pool time (375 hours/year) that must be purchased from the City for the expressed purpose of delivering the Adult Swimming Programs as contemplated in this Request for Proposals.”
Cost: 375 hours at $134.00 per hour or $50,250 a year.
Overview: A swim club charges members a fee for coaching services and pool time. The club uses part of the fee to pay the City of Burlington $50,250 a year for pool time.
RFP-25-202 “Competitive Youth Swimming – Program Provider” – April 17, 2025
Summary “the allotted amount of pool time (2000 hours/year) that must be purchased from the City for the expressed purpose of delivering the Youth Competitive and Development Swimming Programs as contemplated in this Request for Proposals.”
Cost: 2,000 hours at $110.00 per hour or $220,000 a year.
Overview: A swim club charges members a fee for coaching services and pool time. The club uses part of the fee to pay the City of Burlington $220,000 a year for pool time.
“This adds up to $270,250 a year, money that swim clubs pay to the city for pool rentals. The swim clubs are customers, buying pool time from the city.
 Competitive swimmers in Burlington pools. “Two non-profit organizations submitted proposals for the youth program, Golden Horseshoe Aquatics Club (GHAC) and the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD).
 GHAC has advised the Gazette that these swimmers are members of their club. “It has been well publicized that Burlington has awarded the right to rent pool time for the youth program to GHAC. BAD’s bid was disqualified on what appears to be a technicality.
“The technicality was that BAD was unable to meet the bid requirements to provide a “Certificate of Incorporation”.
“Looking at the details of the RFP for the adult program, two groups submitted proposals GHAC and the Burlington Masters Swim Club.
“One of these two groups asked a question through the formal RFP process:
 If this information is true – then the city has to suspend the award given to GHAC and agree with BAD that a Judicial Review is now necessary.  Jim Thomson delegating: “something stinks” “Focus Burlington provided Jim Thomson with a copy of RFP-25-203 on July 14th.
“For the adult swim program RFP, issued on March 14th, groups submitting proposals did not have to provide a certificate of incorporation.
“For the youth swim program RPF, issued on April 17th, BAD was disqualified for not being able to produce a certificate of incorporation.
“The same city employee is managing both RPFs.
“Is there another layer to this disqualification?
“Is this why Councillor Kearns has called for an external audit of the process?”
Focus Burlington is currently the only community group keeping tabs on city hall.
Jim Thomson has done a fine piece of work making these details public.
Focus Burlington can be reached at: https://www.focusburlington.ca/
By Gazette Staff
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City released the following statement earlier today:
“Swimming plays a significant role in the lives of many young people in Burlington, offering opportunities for growth, achievement, and community connection. The City of Burlington is committed to engaging the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) and the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) in finding a path forward that supports all Burlington youth swimmers.
  “As we have heard over the past few weeks, recent discussions about the future of youth swimming have been difficult for many in our community. However, what has become clear over this time is that high quality competitive swim programming is a treasured aspect of life in Burlington – and one that our residents feel strongly about.
“At the City, we are also mindful of our responsibility to provide strong services and good value to taxpayers. We are committed to working closely with GHAC and BAD toward a balanced solution – one that meets the needs of athletes and families while making effective use of public facilities and resources.
“In the coming days, we will engage in open and constructive dialogue with both clubs, focusing on collaboration, fairness, and the best interests of Burlington’s youth.
“We look forward to sharing the results of this effort with the community in the near future and thank City Council for their support of this work.”
The only difference between this media release and the one rsent out late yesterday is – in this one, the intent to share the results of the deliberations is set out.
-30-
 By Pepper Parr
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council approved the 2026 Financial Forecast report on July 15, with a focus on limiting tax impacts for residents. The report marks the start of the annual budget process and provides a preliminary look at the economic pressures and service needs that will shape the 2026 city budget.
The projected total tax increase is currently 4.49%. As part of the budget process, Council endorsed a Mayoral Direction for City staff to prepare a proposed budget with a total tax increase in the order of 4.5 per cent. The total tax increase includes services delivered by Burlington, Halton Region (including Police Services), and the Boards of Education.
With rising costs and global uncertainty, the 2026 budget strives to maintain affordability while continuing the essential services that foster a vibrant, high quality of life in our city.
Join the conversation and take part in upcoming public engagement opportunities, starting in late August, including:
– an online survey (opens late August)
– Food for Feedback event on Sept. 13
– six in-person budget townhalls, led by Mayor Meed Ward, with participating Ward Councillors and city staff – Sept. 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, Oct. 2
– a telephone town hall on Nov. 5, from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
– Committee and Council meetings
There is also a huge social media push.
The problem is that what the city is shilling online doesn’t sync with what is being discussed at city council meetings.
 The early number was reported to be 5.84% increase over last year. At minute 53:03 of the Monday meeting, CFO Craig Milnar said: “A City of Burlington budget increase of 5.8% or less.”
References are made to the amount the Region will tax – the city collects the money for the Region – but has relatively little impact on what the final Regional tax levy will be.
Shown below is a screen grab of what the city is paying twitter (X) to get their story out. We wonder if this is paid for by the Mayor or the City; whichever, the numbers aren’t what CFO Craig Milnar is using at this point.
By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“The political process in this matter has ended” said Mayor Meed Ward in a statement yesterday. “…we now ask staff and the organizations to continue their conversation towards a solution.”
 Mayor Meed Ward: “We acknowledge that the past few weeks have included difficult conversations …” The politics that surround the mess over the allocation of swimming pool time and the process the city chose to use should not be over for the two swimming clubs, GHAC – Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club and BAD Burlington Aquatic Deveilrays – it was politics that kept the feet of the politicians to the flames.
GHAC wants in on the Burlington market and they will do as much as they can to make that happen. BAD just wants to be able to continue the programs it has offered for decades.
In the statement released by the Mayor also said:
“On behalf of all of Council, I want to share the following update regarding aquatics.
“We acknowledge that the past few weeks have included difficult conversations within the community and among our swimming organizations. While the perspectives have varied, what remains clear is a shared dedication to youth sport and to ensuring continued access to high-quality competitive swim programming in Burlington.
“Council has directed staff to work with both organizations to explore a resolution of the issue, and appreciates their willingness to have this conversation.
“The political process in this matter has ended, we now ask staff and the organizations to continue their conversation towards a solution.”
The Gazette observed that CAO Hassaan Basit was not at Council during two sessions; the city communications department advised that he was on earned vacation but did take part in some of the CLOSED sessions.
So Council should have a clear picture as to who did what, when and why and where the mistakes were made. And mistakes were made.
 The issue was a program for swimmers – council was elected to ensure that they have the pool time needed. The Council meeting on Tuesday was the last until September (Except for one meeting in August to attend to a development matter).
There is no opportunity for the public to be aware of what is taking place.
We doubt that Kimberly Calderbank will make any statements. The city cannot impose a gag order on anyone.
The disappointing point in all this is how little the individual members of Council chose to say. The sense we have is that they decided not to stand up for and represent the people who elected them
By Gazette Staff
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
For many, a home is the biggest and most important purchase they will make. Because of this, safety should be a top priority. While many buyers and sellers do their due diligence, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) recently conducted an investigation revealing potential safety risks from unpermitted electrical work.
 First – find out if you need a permit. City or Town Hall should be able to tell you. A recent investigation of 211 real estate listings across 11 Ontario municipalities, including Burlington, found 128 homes where electrical work was possibly performed, and of these, a staggering 62% of properties did not have an electrical permit filed for the work.
Unpermitted work can lead to serious consequences, including electrical shocks, fires or even fatalities, and result in costly repairs for unsuspecting homebuyers. To protect homebuyers current or future home, ESA reminds the Burlington community to:
Always check with the Electrical Safety Authority to confirm electrical permits were taken out and closed for any recent work done in your new home.
 Ask for a Certificate of Acceptance when the job is done (an important document for insurance and resale purposes). When considering any renovations, find or verify a Licensed Electrical Contractor for the work. By law, only Licensed Electrical Contractors (LEC) can be hired to do electrical work in your home in Ontario. They’re trained, insured and file ESA electrical permits to ensure safety and code compliance.
Make sure your LEC takes out an electrical permit from ESA.
Ask for a Certificate of Acceptance when the job is done (an important document for insurance and resale purposes).
Awareness is important. Once the homeowners of the properties investigated had a visit from an ESA inspector, 61% obtained an electrical permit for the work.
There is more on electrical work being done without a permit – part two will follow soon.
By Gazette Staff
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Curt Benson has been appointed Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Burlington effective Aug. 2, 2025
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Burlington City Council are pleased to announce Curt Benson’s appointment as the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, effective Aug. 2, 2025, through the current term of Council.
 Curt Benson appointed City’s Chief Administrative Officer, effective Aug. 2, 2025, Two interesting points: At the City Council meeting earlier today there was no mention of the Benson appointment. And we note that the appointment expires the day the current Council ends its term of office.
The Mayor chose not to appoint Benson as an Interim. Something to think about.
During the Council meeting today the Mayor was effusive in saying goodbye to Hassaan Basit who was equally as effusive in referring to the staff, many of whom he hired.
Curt Benson brings over two decades of public sector experience and a career grounded in strategic planning, intergovernmental relations, and results-driven leadership. Since joining the City of Burlington in August 2024 as Commissioner of Development and Growth Management, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of the City’s priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and has quickly built trust across Council, staff, and the community.
Curt’s career has been shaped by leadership roles that required balancing rapid population growth with environmental stewardship, infrastructure planning with fiscal responsibility, and economic development with community well-being. His ability to lead through complexity, bring people together, and deliver meaningful outcomes makes him well-positioned to guide Burlington into its next phase of growth and innovation. He is widely respected for his steady approach, collaborative leadership style, and strong commitment to public service.
Curt is a Registered Professional Planner and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining the City of Burlington, he held senior leadership roles at Halton Region and Niagara Region, leading high-impact initiatives related to servicing allocation, climate change response, and planning reform.
The City extends its sincere thanks to Hassaan Basit for his leadership and contributions. During his time as Burlington’s Chief Administrative Officer, Hassaan helped shape a culture of performance, innovation, and public trust, and leaves a strong foundation for the future.
By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Watd told Council members that “What we’re here today to discuss is based on a procedural perspective. We directed staff, particularly the City Solicitor, to proceed in accordance with the the instructions as directed by committee. And of course the public doesn’t know what committee directed staff to do because too was done in a Closed session.
That is as much as we have for you at this time.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kears asked: “Do you think any conversations around bringing this particular item or scenario to the audit committee for review”?
Mayor Meed Ward replied: “The matter that’s before you is the legal report in relation to potential litigation with respect to the procurement process. Any discussion with audit is a completely separate matter and not related to the litigation and the matter that’s before you in this report right now.
That was all the public got.
Council went into closed session and came out an hour later, saying city legal counsel was meeting with both swimming clubs to find a solution that did not result in litigation.
Shortly after that Council adjourned – they come back in mid August.
Nothing more than that.
 Cody Brandt, Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) Everyone has buttoned down, working secretly, in that the public doesn’t know what is going on and we suspect few of the swimmers and their parents know very much. Bits and pieces will get mentioned which further confuses the issue.
It’s messy.
Cody Brandt, Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) attended the Council meeting – he didn’t delegate. There was no one present from the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays
There will be a bit more to pass along tomorrow.
By Gazette Staff
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATE from MTO: roadwork is no longer scheduled for July 18-21, but there is now a planned one lane, overnight closure starting Friday, July 18 at 11 pm until Saturday, July 19 at 7 am.
The City of Burlington wanted more and better information from the Ministry of Transportation on the closing of the Skyway Bridge on weekends.
Lane closures are planned again this weekend for the Niagara-bound Burlington Skyway bridge.
 Weekend lane closures are for improvement work. Two Niagara-bound lanes of the Burlington Skyway along the QEW are scheduled to be closed from Friday, July 18 at 10 p.m. through to Monday, July 21 at 5 a.m.
Similar lane closures will also happen the following weekend (July 25 to 28).
The Ministry of Transportation notes that “closures depend on weather and work schedules, and may be postponed or changed throughout the project.”
Closures can be confirmed online at 511on.ca (as of Monday, the closures were still slated to happen).
The City of Burlington had asked the ministry to release the tentative dates for the weekend closures to provide better notice.
The Transportation Ministry has released this tentative schedule for the lane closures for the summer:
- July 18 to 21
- July 25 to 28
- Aug. 8 to 11
- Aug. 15 to 18
- Aug. 22 to 25
It also adds that “more closures may be required after August.”
By Tom Parkin
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If balancing the budget was his priority, cutting billions in revenue is funny way to go about it.
Cost of Carney tax cuts over five years (billions of dollars)
In just the first few months of his government, Mark Carney, Canada’s Bay Street businessman turned prime minister, has cut over $75 billion from public revenues over the next five years, according to an analysis by economist Angella MacEwan.
Without these significant revenue cuts of about $15 billion a year, Carney’s spending cuts, reported to be targeting $21.5 billion, would be largely unneeded.
Four major tax cuts massively adding to the deficit
If cutting the deficit is Carney’s goal, he’s going about it in a very strange way. MacEwan identifies four key tax moves by Carney that have massively added to the deficit:
- $19 billion over five years to give a tax break to investors earning more than $250,000 a year in capital gains
- $28 billion over five years for a tax break giving the maximum benefit to the highest income earners
- $6 billion over five years to big tech companies, at Donald Trump’s demand
- $22.5 billion lost over five years by agreeing to exempt U.S.-based companies from a global treaty being developed to require all companies to pay at least 15 per cent corporate tax
The total of $75.5 billion over five years is an average of about $15 billion a year.
Without his revenue cuts, Carney’s spending cuts would be largely unneeded
According to a Toronto Star report citing government sources, Carney has ordered ministers to implement a 15 per cent cut to operational expenditures over thee years, a cut of about $21.5 billion in 2028-29.
And because he also complied with Trump’s demand that Canada triple military spending, Carney’s program cuts in areas other than the military will need to be even deeper than 15 per cent.
Had Carney not reduced revenues, these cuts would be mostly unneeded.
According to MacEwan, the scale of Carney’s cuts will now be greater than those of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose seven per cent reduction resulted in 19,000 jobs lost. During the election Carney promised to cap, not cut, the public service.
The priority is cuts, not deficits
Carney has already slashed environmental reviews and, with Conservative help, passed a law allowing him to waive any law and intrude on provincial jurisdictions for a project he names. Shrinking the public sector to “unleash the private sector” has been a main economic strategy Canada and most other advanced economies for the best part of 40 years. The result has been slowing economic growth and widening class divisions.
Shrinking and weakening the public sector is a major power shift that should be concerning in a period when Canada faces a tariff war from Trump.
Loyalty to Canadian sovereignty isn’t for everyone
The top priority of CEOs will never be the defence of Canada’s sovereignty. And while there are certainly divisions in corporate responses to Trump trade war, major business lobby groups are more likely to urge compliance with Trump demands than Canadians, who’ve supported a more “elbows up” approach. For example, the MacDonald-Laurier Institute and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce opposed the digital services tax because it created a “trade irritant” — that is, Trump and his backers didn’t like it.
George Grant, the conservative public intellectual of the 1950s and 60s, argued no small nation can rely on the loyalty of its capitalist class against demands of an empire.
Mark Carney says public cuts and boosting corporate power is a defence against Trump.
In fact his strategy will strengthen political forces whose loyalty is to profit and weaken those whose loyalty is to the defence Canadian sovereignty.
By Gazette Staff
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Region has seen its first electric bus – Milton has converted a diesel bus to electic; it began operating on Route 1 today from Milton GO Station, a hub for local and regional connections.
The converted bus will run for approximately five hours each weekday as Milton Transit gathers real-world data on how passenger loads, weather, and traffic affect its battery capacity.
 The 12-metre electric bus – featuring a modern, sustainability-themed wrap. The service launch is a milestone in the innovative conversion project, a collaboration between the Town of Milton and Milton-based MTB Transit Solutions.
“As the world embraces cleaner sources of energy, this bus is a made-in-Milton solution that shows us what’s possible through local innovation and teamwork,” said Gara Hay, President of MTB Transit Solutions. “Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life.”
There is a very sound argument for converting existing diesel buses to electric-driven vehicles – while it takes six to 12 months to convert a bus, it takes as much as two years to buy one.
The bus running on the streets of Milton today is the very first conversation in Canada.
The MTB operation in Milton consists of sixty bays where buses are repaired and upgraded.
 It plus in like any other electric vehicle. The bus is distinctive inside and out. Its electric powertrain does not produce tailpipe emissions, operates with minimal noise, and delivers a smoother, quieter ride for passengers.
“This is a key step for the Town,” said Kristene Scott, Commissioner of Corporate Service. “It allows us to learn about the operation and maintenance of a converted electric bus and will help guide future transit investments to better serve Milton residents with a greener fleet.”
Milton Transit will closely monitor the pilot to inform plans as it transitions toward a fully electrified bus fleet.
“It’s very exciting to launch our new, converted battery-electric bus into service,” said Gord Krantz, Town of Milton Mayor. “This is a big step for the Town of Milton as we explore modern technologies that move us closer to our sustainability goals.”
 By Norm Coles
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The goal of blackjack is to have dealt cards with a total value that is higher than the dealer’s, or as close to 21 as possible without going over. Meaning that understanding the value of a blackjack card is a crucial step when starting your gaming.
So, don’t start playing blackjack until you’ve learnt the card values in blackjack, as it is the basis of the whole game. At any given point while playing, you should know how many total points you have in your hand and then choose the strategy to use accordingly.
This article provides you with a guide on the values of each blackjack card, explain more about the picture cards and show you the best way to play blackjack and win.
What Are Picture Cards in Blackjack?
 Picture cards, or ‘face cards,’ are all cards that do not have a number written on them. They are usually labeled J, Q, and K. They have the name ‘picture’ or ‘face cards’ because they all contain a drawing with a face. However, their suit is never of importance, since even if you have a ‘face’ instead of a number, the point value will always remain the same.
How Much Is a Picture Card in Blackjack?
In the most standard versions of blackjack, the picture card is worth 10 points. This means that if you are dealt a jack, queen or king as your first card, then you already have 10 points plus the value of the next card.
As a rule of thumb in blackjack, picture cards will always be 10 points, and aces will be counted as either 1 or 11, so it is best to go for the card that brings you closest to 21 without going over. However, there are a few variations that you may experience while playing blackjack.
For instance, some blackjack games allow you to split pairs of picture cards into two separate hands. This means that each new hand will receive one additional card that will be considered as an entirely separate hand with its value and potential winnings. You can split two different picture cards, such as:
Other blackjack variations will also allow you to double down. You place an additional bet on your original bet equal to your total wager and receive an extra card. You can apply these variations as tricks, especially when playing at casinos like OMG Casino which is coming soon, to improve your chances of winning.
Understanding Blackjack Card Values
In blackjack, the number cards, 2 through 10, are taken at face value. This means that whatever number appears on your screen while gaming will represent how many points it’s worth. The blackjack card values are as follows:
| Card Number |
Value |
| 2 |
2 |
| 3 |
3 |
| 4 |
4 |
| 5 |
5 |
| 6 |
6 |
| 7 |
7 |
| 8 |
8 |
| 9 |
9 |
| 10 |
10 |
| Jack |
10 |
| Queen |
10 |
| King |
10 |
| Ace |
1 or 11 |
How to Work out Your Hand Value
This is very easy. You just find the total of your hand value by adding the values of each card together. Say your initial two cards had a face value of 6 and 7; then you add the two numbers together to get 13.
But since 13 doesn’t bring you close enough to the dealer’s hand, you may need to draw another card. So if the next card turns out to be 7, then your total hand value will be 19.
Strategies to Leverage Picture Cards
Blackjack card values help you determine how many points you have in your hand and the best strategy to go by. Depending on the total value of your cards, the decision you make will continually change.
 Here is a list of some of the basic strategies to use:
- Always stand if you have 18 points or more.
- Remain standing if you have 17 points, but surrender if the dealer shows an ace
- You have three options if your total points are 16. You can decide to hit if the dealer’s card is 7 or 8; stand when the card is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; and surrender when it is 9,10 or Ace.
- If you have 11 points, always hit unless the dealer shows 4, 5, or 6.
Conclusion
Understanding card values is an essential skill, and we hope that from our guide, you are now well-equipped and can start playing blackjack at any time. All you have to remember is that all cards in blackjack are valued at their face value, except for the pictured blackjack and Ace. Pictured, a blackjack will always be 10, while an ace can count as either 1 or 11.
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