 By Pepper Parr
March 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In a democratic society the people can address those they elected to have their grievances or wishes heard in a public setting.
Katherine Henshell, a layer who ran for the ward 1 seat in the last municipal election has addressed city council with a grievance.
We set it out for you.
I would like to discuss Aldershot’s Solid Gold Strip Club.
I have brought my request to Councillor Craven’s Office on 3 separate occasions and each request has gone unanswered.
I suppose he does not have time for me as I have sought to petition the City of Burlington to turn his house into a park for ornithologists, and then, I ran against him in the City election.
It does not bother me that he chooses to not respond, although, I did take it personal when he tried to run my car off the road while he was bombing along Bayshore Boulevard. It wasn’t so much that I was driving the car – it was that I had my 12 day old daughter in the car and I had to swerve up into the neighbour’s yard to avoid getting hit. (By the way, I sought an apology but none was granted.)
Since November 2015, my new baby has kept me busy but it hasn’t stopped me from aggressively trying to expand my husband’s and my grocery store, and scope out and manage a new development of affordable housing for seniors. Of course, this is on top of running my law firm in downtown Burlington and managing my husband’s and my other real estate and business interests.
In any event, the issue with Solid Gold needs to be addressed. It is currently Aldershot’s largest commercial retail/service business west of Francis Street. That is embarrassing. A number of other factors are equally disturbing about this business.
1. It is located on Plains Road which is the busiest street in Aldershot;
2. It borders on 2 residential neighbourhoods;
3. It has 6 – 8 hotel room doors which open on Plains Road and across from a residential community;
4. It has the largest square footage of any retail service business in Aldershot west of Francis Street;
5. It is located within 550 metres of Aldershot High School;
6. Children from grades 7 – 12 walk past the strip club to and from school everyday;
7. Children from grades 7 – 12 walk past the strip club to go to Wendy’s for lunch everyday; and
8. It shouldn’t need to be said about the degradation of women and other issues which are additionally appalling about the operation of a strip club.
Additionally, I was driving home from Pizza Pizza (at King Road) one Friday evening with our family’s dinner and I noticed a few young children in girls’ soccer uniforms outside the Dairy Queen. It was a nice sight to see. Then I drive down Plains Road past the Strip Club and 3 – 4 strippers (wearing stripper’s outfits) were standing on the sidewalk on Plains Road waving the cars into the parking lot in broad daylight. I was immediately disturbed that those young soccer players might take the same route home and drive past the strippers as well. This shouldn’t happen in Burlington (or anywhere for that matter). (I telephoned the Halton Regional Police when I returned home and they indicated that they would look into it as they had also received other calls about the incident.)
In conclusion, Mr. Craven is well aware of the above issues as he and I travel the same route to work every day and he passes the Strip Club twice a day like I do. He has chosen to be non-responsive to my request for a decision of his position on the matter.
The children of Aldershot do not need a Strip Club, nor do they need to see a Strip Club, nor do they need to ask questions about a Strip Club too prematurely.
The destruction of the entire commercial sector in Aldershot has created Solid Gold to now stand out as it is the largest retail service building in Aldershot on a huge piece of land. It has become the centerpiece of Aldershot.
Giving birth to a 10 pound 15 ounce baby has not slowed me down – it has only given me more energy to “do the right thing” and that is to speak up against this Strip Club. The Village Vision of Aldershot does not need this landmark business to continue to be Solid Gold.
I humbly seek council to add a discussion of this issue to the agenda. I am certain that other parties will want to express their opinions on the matter as well.
Thanking you in advance for your attention to this matter.
 Henshell once played as goalie – she now plays defense. Now wants to run interference at city council Ms Henshell has been seeking a meeting with Councillor – to date a meeting has not taken place. In a recent email to the Councillor Ms Henshell had this to say.
I don’t know why I continue to email you as you continuously fail, refuse or neglect to return any type of correspondence sent by myself.
The fact remains that Solid Gold Strip Club is Aldershot’s largest retail/commercial services location.
Any concerned resident would be appalled at that fact.
You have taken no issue with the existence of Solid Gold Strip Club as you have done nothing in your entire sitting as Ward One Councillor.
The current facts of Solid Gold are as follows:
1. Location within 550 m from a primary/high school;
2. Adjacent to 2 residential neighbourhoods;
3. Strippers stand on the street and wave in cars;
4. By the hour hotel rooms for rent adjacent to a major street;
5. Largest retail business in Aldershot; and
6. Countless issues surrounding the entrapment and abuse of women in the sex trade industry.
 I write to advise that as a result of your inexcusable absence from the issue, you have forced me to reach out to my contacts and resources and bring this issue to light.
Please be advised that I will inform all my contacts and resources that you have been of NO ASSISTANCE to me in this issue and that you refuse to even respond to me.
I have given you every opportunity to be on the side of moral integrity, however, you have chosen otherwise.
I urge you to put this item on the agenda so that the City Councillors can have an open discussion about the issues surrounding Solid Gold Strip Club.
However, I already know that you will not reply as you just don’t care.
In the spirit of full disclosure we need to add that Ms Henshell is representing the Burlington Gazette in the claim for damages the Air Park is making in its allegation that we libeled them.
 By Staff
March 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is an organization in this city that meets every four months – always for less than an hour – before the meeting ends they will have raised somewhere between $5000 to $20,000 for a local charity
 Meet, chit chat – network and write a cheque for $100 and you are on your way home They are known as the 100 Women Who Care. It is a concept has been rapidly taking shape in communities all across North America. Launched in Burlington in January 2014, it appealed to women looking to give back to their communities in a meaningful way and network with like-minded women. Many women have favorite charities and 100 Women Who Care Burlington provides an opportunity to raise $10,000 for a cause that’s near to their hearts, in almost in the blink of an eye.
The process is simple yet the impact is very powerful. 100 women or more meet four times a year for 1 hour each time to choose a recipient from charities nominated by the members for consideration. At each meeting, members learn about 3 of the organizations nominated that were selected at random, narrowing down the list of options. They then cast their ballot for the charity they’d like to support. Each woman writes a $100 cheque for the charity that gets the winning vote. The goal is to raise a minimum of $40,000 annually ($10,000 x 4 meetings) in support of local initiatives.
The second meeting of 2015 will take place on Wednesday, March 18 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. The meeting will again be held at the Burlington Golf & Country Club at 422 North Shore Blvd. E., Burlington. Registration begins at 7:00 p.m. All interested women are invited to attend.
Since forming, 100 Women Who Care Burlington has raised over $18,000 for local organizations and initiatives, including ¬¬¬the Burlington Humane Society, Halton Women’s Place, Home Suite Hope, Food4Kids and more recently, The Carpenter Hospice.
Part of the appeal of 100 Women Who Care is that at each meeting the beneficiary of the last donation addresses the membership to thank the group and to share how the donation will have an immediate impact in our community. On March 18th, Karen Candy, Carpenter Hospice Executive Director will share how the groups $5,500 donation will make a difference for terminally ill individuals and their families.
 Marion Goard, Co-Founder of the Burlington chapter, said “the group is continually growing and we really do hope to reach our initial target of 100 members by our next meeting. We’re very inspired by chapters in other communities where membership exceeds several hundred women and there are some cities where 100 Men Who Give a Damn and 100 Kids Who Care groups have also formed. We’d love to see the same happen here in Burlington. This would have a huge impact for our local charities and the services they provide.”
For those interested in joining, membership forms can be found online at www.100womenwhocareburlington.com. Nominations for charities/organizations can also be filled out online ahead of the meeting¬ or submitted at the meeting.
 By Staff
March 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Monday March 9, 2015 at approximately 12:15pm, Halton Police and paramedics responded to a 911 call at the Wee Care Daycare in the City of Burlington, whereby a 14-month-old boy later died in hospital.
The Regional Coroner took over the investigation and conducted a post mortem today, Tuesday March 10, 2015.
This is a medical investigation being conducted by the Coroner’s office. No foul play is suspected.
 By Ray Rivers
March 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Is Bill C-51, Canada’s proposed new ‘anti-terrorism’ legislation, more onerous than the government’s Emergencies Act ( formerly War Measures Act)?
Some readers will recall the controversy when Former PM Trudeau introduced this instrument, back in 1970, to quell the terrorist threat posed by Quebec separatists. Well, at least one civil rights organization in the country is putting it in those terms.
 The question this new legislation begs is how many civil liberties are we prepared to surrender in the hope that the mitigative measures, specified in this bill, will prevent potential acts of terror. Yet perhaps the real question is whether these new measures will make much of a difference at all. Bluntly put, is moving towards a police state the most effective approach to dealing with the seeds and buds of the kind of discontent that motivates an individual, or group, to strike out violently against fellow Canadians?
Take Parliament shooter, Zehaf-Bibeau, whose actions have led to this bill, though it wasn’t the first time someone had tried to commit an act of terror on the Hill. Still, his gunfire did force a sitting PM, for the first time in history, to take refuge in a closet. And what about the hunting rifle he used? Nobody seems to know because the PM had abolished the long gun registry some years ago.
 The RCMP have defined Zehaf-Bibeau as a terrorist. Here he is seen running into the House of Commons where he was killed minutes later. Oh the sad irony of it all. First the government kills the registry over a few complaints concerning the right to gun owners’ privacy. And now, the government introduces draconian rules that reduce all of our civil liberties, because of a crime committed with an unregistered gun.
And would the police have been able to stop either Zehaf-Bibeau or Couture-Rouleau, (who ran down soldiers in Quebec) had they been equipped with the new powers given in C-51? Both of these men were already well-known to authorities. And yet neither could not be kept in detention forever, even with this new law.
Nobody said that building a multi-cultural society would be easy. Each new strand of diversity necessarily brings with it some baggage, whether that be an historic Irish Catholic/Orange squabble, anti-Semitism or Islamic terrorism. In the latter case, world events, and especially the emergence of this barbaric ISIS, who have created a creed of terror out of a religion of peace, has made Canadians wary.
So perhaps that is where the government should start the process of keeping us safe. But preventative measures such as education and the establishment of cross-cultural linkages are not on the cards in this bill or in anything else this government is considering. Instead we see greater powers of surveillance, police detention and censorship – the kind of restrictive measures we want to criticize other nations for deploying.
And greater censorship of the airways (internet) has broader implications, particularly when we observe the absence of any provision in the bill for meaningful oversight. It seems that judges and ministers of government, rather than Parliament, will call the shots and do the accounting. The executive excluding the legislative arm of government from oversight, in political lingo, is a dangerous departure for a free and open society.
 Queen Elizabeth II signing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Does one lone-wolf terrorist Justino the close to wholesale loss of basic rights without significant oversight? Or is this a ploy to frighten citizens and win an election? It’s been done before. The NDP would scrap this bill if elected and the Liberals, hoping to diffuse a potential Tory campaign issue, will support its passage. But Mr. Trudeau has promised, if elected, to alter the law to make it better subscribe to our Charter of Rights and less likely to suffer a challenge at the Supreme Court. But then, this PM and his minister of justice seem to dwell in their on-going irreverence for the highest court in the land. It is as if they, themselves, have subsumed that role.
In the end, the government will pass this law with or without the support of the other parties. And while everyone agrees that we need to do more to prevent the kinds of terrorist activities we’ve seen recently, the harshest criticism may be that just ramming in new police measures to quell terrorism is simply not doing enough to keep us safe.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Background links
War Measures Act Better? Anti-Terrorism Act Bill C-51 B.C. Concerns
Defending the Bill Totalitarianism? Censorship Big Data
Dangerous Legislation Parliament Shooter Soldier Attack
 By Staff
March 10, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This year’s well-celebrated St. Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday, March 17th. Halton Regional Police officers will be out on Tuesday ensuring those that clink glasses won’t clink cars.
 Don’t let the face of a police officer get into a picture like this. Recognizing that many Halton residents will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this Friday or Saturday night instead, motorists should expect to see several RIDE programs in effect and also note a higher uniform presence patrolling in licensed establishments over this weekend, educating the public about impaired driving and enforcing the laws to ensure everyone on our roads are safe.
This team will be also be focusing their efforts on conducting bar checks at licensed establishments and reminding the staff of their responsibilities under the Liquor License Act, and encouraging staff to call police should they suspect a patron is about to drive a motor vehicle while impaired.
 Don’t think this friend will qualify as your designated driver. Informative St. Patrick’s Day fliers will be handed out at RIDE checks across the Region in efforts to educate the public and spread the word about the consequences of impaired driving.
The Halton Regional Police Service wishes everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and encourage party-goers to celebrate responsibly. Don’t Press Your Luck!….Use a Designated Driver!
 By Pepper Parr
March 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag is an ongoing thing – Burlington is feeling the celebration with students at Pauline Johnson Public school singing their little hearts out while a voice recording technician captures it all. Children from different classes are paraded into the gym and get put into place and given instructions.
The recoding technicians does several takes – one that was going very well got cancelled when one of the boys had a very impressive sneeze
Another got scrubbed from the sound of a camera clicking – it was my camera
Alice Mary St. James, principal at Pauline Johnson is justifiably proud of the students – the pictures tell the story.
 They stayed this still during the four recordings of O Canada they did. Pauline Johnson Public School has a student population of 285 – it’s an older school; a place that gives you the sense it is well run. Like a comfortable pair of slippers.
Before each recording session the technician chats with the students: How old is the Canadian flag? Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada – no one got that one but when asked what Canada had before the Maple Leaf was adopted one boy knew every detail of what we used to call the Red Ensign.
 That young lady was not going to miss a word Another little girl in that halting voice only a grade four student can have, explained in almost excruciating detail why we have the Maple Leaf.
When all the recordings are done they will be merged into a single sound track that anyone can download.
Hint here to city hall – the recording of O Canada that is played before each city council meeting is just plain terrible. Someone in the Mayor’s office could get on the phone and arrange to get a copy of the recording.
The school is one of 79 across the country selected for this program
 Rapt attention to the recording technician – waiting for the cue to start  Everyone is paying close attention – well almost everyone; four takes and the singing session was a wrap. Part of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the first hoisting of the Canadian flag is to have a student at each participating school write an essay.
 Pauline Johnson Public School principal Mary Alice St. James Because Pauline Johnson Public school was named after the aboriginal poet, grade 6 student Avery Cline wrote a poem
Why I’m proud to be a Canadian
Waking up every morning
Knowing I a free
A peaceful day lies ahead of me
To believe, think, talk and ask as I please
The potential of all rising up like a seed
From PEI beaches to Yukon Mountains
Kindness from others flows like a fountain
We all pull together and work as a team
With blue skies above
While the sun beams collide
Our destinies forever abide.
The great four seasons we hold so dear
Their own special qualities
That bring so much cheer
Now I’ve laid it out clearly
Why Canada’s close to my heart
A love for our country
Set each day apart, fresh starts.
Principal St, James, nearing the end of a public school career, is one of the schools that has Core French starting at grade 4 – she wasn’t disappointed when Core French starting at Grade I was not offered to her school. “Some of these children are not quite ready for language instruction”she said. There is no doubt in the mind of St. James that French is essential – the pedagogical question for this principal is – when do you start?
 By Staff
March 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The province recently announced changes it wants to make to the Planning Act and the way Development charges are to be implemented.
Everything the city does in the Planning and Building department is impacted by these changes – getting the views of the Bruce Krushelnicki, the city’s director of |Planning then are useful – what does he think this is going to mean?
“Of course this is a Provincial legislative proposal and will be the subject of wide review and debate. This will I am sure, evoke an important conversation, one that has been expected for some time following the announcement last year that the Planning Act was undergoing a scoped review.
My initial comment is that there is a lot more detail necessary before we can understand the impact of the changes that are proposed. The note identifies a “stakeholder working group” that will assist in implementing some of these changes, so the details may be some time yet in coming.
The proposed changes that would enhance public engagement are welcomed and I look forward to some additional information about the proposed “community permit planning system”. Planning Advisory Committees – which can even now include citizen membership – have been part of the Planning Act for many years and I await the details regarding the changes that are proposed. It appears that when such committees are formed, citizen membership may be required.
 What will the revisions to the Planning Act mean to citizen input on what gets built? The change to a ten-year review requirement for Official Plans is very welcomed. When the Act was revised some time ago, the previously optional five year review was made a mandatory requirement. As Official Plans have become more complex, the five year review (including OMB appeals) was often scarcely completed when a new review would commence. Some in the planning profession expressed concerns that plans were almost constantly under review. Some argue that this has resulted in a lack of stability in the policy framework. This may be intended to address this concern.
Providing more stability over planning documents addresses the concern expressed by some that it is too easy to apply for amendments and if unsuccessful, too easy to appeal an Official Plan, even one that has been recently approved. The two year moratorium on private appeals as they are called – that is appeals lodged by persons when an private application for amendment is refused or ignored – means that councils can expect their plans to remain unchallenged for a period of time.
According to the proposal as described, a council will nevertheless be able to amend their Official Plan on their own initiative.
The proposal also seeks to remove the opportunity to appeal some issues to the OMB. Removing appeal opportunities cuts both ways. That is, appeals can be made by citizens against a decision of council and appeals can also be made by developers against a decision of council. How appeal opportunities for all parties will be affected will be important to learn as details become known.
 What will any Development Charge changes mean to the cost of housing? It is also proposed that more clarity will be provided in determining what constitutes a minor variance to the zoning by-law. Minor variances are decided by the Committee of Adjustment, an independent body appointed by council.
Currently there are four long standing “tests” for a minor variance. Presumably the criteria for approval by the Committee will be clarified by the stakeholder working group. This is yet another is area where much more information is need before the implications can be assessed.”
This process of revising two very significant pieces of legislation has clearly just begun.
 By Pepper Parr
March 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Site Planning co-coordinator Jamie Tellier explains what is going to be built whereon the JBH campus. The city planner on the file for the re-development of the Joseph Brant Hospital told the small audience meeting at the Art Gallery that it was just a matter of some technicalities before the city would be issuing a building permit and the ground would be broken for the start of construction that will be adding some 40,000 square feet of space and a little more height than some were expecting.
Originally planned as a seven storey structure an eighth floor got added and then there is the pent house. This is not going to be a small building. It will however be very much state of the art with rooms that are better than any hotel the city currently offers.
The event telling the story was hosted by ward 1 councillor Rick Craven who mistakenly said Burlington had donated $60 million to the hospital – Burlingtonians were taxed $60 million dollars – they are still being taxed.
The event was an occasion to manage the message and hype how fantastic the hospital is going to be. Parkin Architects certainly have the pedigree one would want to build a hospital for a community. They are doing the hospital in Oakville and did the Royal Ottawa hospital.
It is a very attractive looking building – the height will surprise people and the view of Lake Ontario for those in the line of sight to the lake will be upset.
But if the presentation was any indication it will be a fine structure. Burlington is going to get a state of the art hospital – it will have all the medical community could want.
Time will tell if the team that will run the medical side of things can overcome some of the past problems. Put in different words – can the Joseph Brant Hospital overcome a problematic past?
Perhaps taking the word Memorial out of the name of the hospital will make the difference.
 JBH president Eric Vandewall The senior management at the hospital, led by Eric Vandewall is close to as good as it gets. Vandewall has managed the relationship with the provincial government and overseen the creation of the team that is going to build the hospital.
The relationship between the city and the hospital corporation had to be massaged a little to get it to the point where the two are working together quite well.
The main highlights of the second phase of the project include:
- A new Emergency Department
- 172 acute inpatient beds
- 9 new Operating Rooms and a new post-anaesthetic care unit
- An expanded Diagnostic Imaging department and associated services
- Expanded medical, surgical and outpatient services
- An expanded cancer clinic
- An expanded Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and renovated Special Care Nursery – level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- An expanded and modernized laboratory
- 70 percent single-patient rooms across the hospital
 Rendering of a small operating room. When the city gulped and got used to the idea that they were going to have to tax their citizens to the tune of $60 million to pay for part of the construction of a badly needed update they were a little hesitant to send cheques directly to the hospital which wanted the cash to pay for the building of the parking garage. Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor wasn’t very keen on the idea of city money being used to pay for a parking garage and the hospital keeping the parking fees.
It took a little negotiating – much of that work was done by city general manager Scott Stewart and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Frank McKeown, but there is now a relationship that has the city sending money to the hospital to pay for equipment that has to be purchased.
The part of Lakeshore Road that dips down from Maple will be a bit of a traffic nightmare while construction takes place – how this is going to impact the Brant Museum hasn’t been figured out yet.
Lakeshore Road is going to get a significant upgrade – once the hospital reconstruction is complete Lakeshore Road is going to be raised and widened and given some landscaping as well. The Waterfront Trail that sits on what was once a set of railway tracks that brought trains into the city when Burlington was described as the produce garden for a large part of the world, will not be impacted.
 An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital which will now face the lake. The entrance will be off Lakeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital. Reconstruction of Lakeshore will go as far was the water treatment plant which is currently undergoing an upgrade as well.
The city and the Regional government are still working out details on what is going to be done with the Beachway community. That is an issue that is still simmering.
The Joseph Brant Hospital is the focal point – and it won’t be long before everyone who is anybody will be down on the site getting their picture taken. It will be a Grand Day – better than the day they opened the pier.
By Walter Byj
March 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board voted to expand the Core French program in September. The expansion was to be for not less than twelve additional schools but not more than fifteen.
 Tecumseh is one of five Burlington Public Schools to get Core French in September The Board announced that the following Burlington schools will have the Core French program in September.
King’s Road Public School
Paul A. Fisher Public School
Ryerson Public School
Tecumseh Public School
Alexander Public School
This will create a total of 39 elementary schools that will now carry this program as of September 2015. This represents slightly more than half of all elementary schools in Halton. The remaining schools should have the program, pending its success, within the next two years.
 Ryerson will have Core French for grade 1 students in September. These students will receive 40 minutes a week of Core French instruction starting in Grade 1 with instruction expanding to 200 minutes in grades 6-7-8.
The program will continue to be monitored and an interim report will be brought to the trustees in November 2015.
If this program continues to grow and is deemed to be successful, what pressure will it bring to the current French Immersion program and how will it affect schools that are both single and dual track French Immersion schools? Time will tell.
The expansion has five schools in the western part of the Region; five 5 in the east and five in the north providing core French in grade one.
By Pepper Parr
March 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
We elect them to make decisions on how the city will be run, which includes everything from hiring a city manager who runs the administrative side of things to approving a budget that will determine how we are taxed.
They meet as both members of two Standing Committees and as a city council where they approve everything done at the Standing committee level.
The seven members of the Burlington city council are also members of the Halton Regional Council.
 The seven members get paid something in the order of $60,000 for serving as members of city council. They get an additional amount for serving as members of the Regional Council.
Along with all the discussion and debate – these seven men and woman VOTE.
 City Council during a recorded vote. Meed Ward votes against a motion. It is only on recorded votes that the results of a vote are known. But you don’t know how they voted unless you are in the room or watch the proceedings on the web cast. And – even if you are in the room it is frequently difficult to see who has their hand up and who doesn’t.
The only time the public is certain as to how a member of council votes is when there is a recorded vote and they all have to stand up and actually be counted.
Recently the office of the city Clerk improved the quality of the minutes and the agenda so that we now know how a vote went – however all the document says is that the vote carried or lost – you don’t know who voted for or who voted against a motion.
In February of 2013 city council decided that recoding all the votes wasn’t necessary Here is the comment made at that time.
“With respect to recorded voting at standing committee meetings, members of Council on the review team expressed differing viewpoints. Acknowledging that recommendations from committee are intended to be a preliminary position on a matter, it was felt that recording a member’s vote at that stage of deliberation could inhibit a member from changing his or her position later at Council should new information become available.
It was also noted that recorded voting would slow the transaction of business at committee meetings. As the review team did not have consensus on the matter, a recommendation on recorded voting is not included within this report and would require direction from Council. Nonetheless, the sentiment of the review team was that if recorded votes were to be permitted at Committee, these would be restricted to the main motions (and main motions as amended) but would not be applied to amendments themselves or any secondary motions tabled.
 The Halton District school Board has a system that records all votes. Why doesn’t Burlington have one of these? Over at the Halton District School Board an automatic voting system was put in place. When a vote it to be taken the trustees press a key on a keypad and the results are flashed up on a screen.
The city of Burlington isn’t there – they don’t want to be there – many of them don’t want you to know how they voted on specific issues – because you can then hold them accountable.
Here is what the public now gets.
There is a report coming forward on the Air Park and the problems the city has been having getting the Air Park ownership to provide a site plan for the work they have done in the past and work they want to do in the future.
It took two court cases for Burlington to make clear that the city has the right to require a site plan.
The report is an important one – and it was to be brought forward in February but council decided to defer the report until the new city manager was in place.
James Ridge is due to report for duty March 23rd. Because this is a critically important report council wanted the new city manager at the table which meant deferring the report.
Here is how Council handled that matter:
REFERRAL OF REPORT PROVIDING AN UPDATE REGARDING THE BURLINGTON EXECUTIVE AIRPARK
The following amendment was moved by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Meed Ward:
Amend Item CW-6-15 of the Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting No. 2-15, by making the following change:
“Refer the report providing an update regarding the Burlington Executive Airpark to the March 30, 2015 Development & Infrastructure Committee meeting.”
AMENDMENT CARRIED
Was the vote unanimous? If it wasn’t how did members of council actually vote? The public report doesn’t tell you that.
There is a lot at stake with the air park decisions. It is one of the issues that will define the shape of the northern rural part of the city.
There are a significant number of people in ward 6 who are not certain their member of council is hearing what they have to say about the direction the city should take on this issue and they would dearly love to know how Blair Lancaster voted.
The public record doesn’t tell you how she voted. It doesn’t tell you how any of them voted – just that they did.
Related article:
Council decision on recorded votes.
 By Walter Byj
March 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It didn’t take long for the Halton District School Board to decide how it was going to handle the proposed new curriculum on sex education. They unanimously approved the motion by trustee Gray (Halton Hills) that the board send correspondence to the ministry requesting both funding and appropriate training for elementary and secondary teachers in reference to the new Health and Physical Education curriculum.
 The trustees acknowledged this could be a controversial bill and wanted assurance that the teachers in Halton have the resources and knowledge to teach the curriculum appropriately. Trustee Collard (Burlington) stressed that all teachers should be consistent in their training; this was echoed by the student trustee Sophie Schneider. There was no disapproval of the new curriculum by any of the trustees although they did acknowledge that it could be controversial. There are rumblings in the community – a lot of people are not comfortable with this change.
The board also approved the motion that the primary Core French program be extended with for September 2015 with a minimum of 12 new schools and no more than 15.
Although all trustees were impressed with the program to date, there was some question as to the continuation of the program to all schools in the board. Not so said trustee Harvey Hope (Oakville). This is not a pilot project, it is a go. This was reiterated by Associate Director of Education Miller. “Staff does not see this as a pilot program” he said. We are currently cautious only due to staffing issues.
 If an additional 15 schools are added this year, more than half of the schools would have the program this September with all schools on board within two years. The board will be forwarded the list of new schools for their review by Friday of this week.
The board then faced the issue of filling two current vacancies. Superintendent of Education Yaw Obeng is leaving for a higher position in Burlington, Vermont while David Eaule, Director of Education, announced his retirement effective August of this year.
Although hiring committees will be formed for both positions, both trustee Danielli (Milton) and Collard (Burlington) wanted as many trustees as possible involved in the hiring of the new Director of Education. This is a very detailed and complicated procedure and any experience gained through this process would prove to be beneficial in future hiring’s. The initial step would be to hire a search firm and this should be done by April.
With the upcoming elections of two student trustees by April 30th of this year, the current student trustees, Schneider and Sahi, forwarded a motion that the voting procedure should change.
They didn’t want to see voting become a popularity contest. The board will work with the student trustees to draft a new procedure by the next meeting.
 Beaudoin Public school is stuffed – no room left.  The Board is struggling with a situation where some schools are filled to capacity while others have room to spare. This is apparent at Charles R. Beaudoin public school; it is a triple track school – dual track English and French Immersion along with gifted self contained classes and is exceeding capacity.
Ryerson Public school has six empty classrooms Ryerson has six classrooms available. Superintendent of Education Zonneveld proposed that self-contained gifted classes include grades 3 to 8 at Charles R. Beaudoin while Ryerson would include grades 1 to 2. The self-contained classes would continue to expand over the coming years to include grades one to four while Beaudoin would have classes from five to eight.
Trustees expressed concern about students having to transition schools after grades four. There are parents who will express that concern as well.
Beaudoin has had problems with the size of its student population for some time.
 By Staff
March 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Is the end in sight?
Has anyone seen a robin yet?
Where are the rubber boots?
For the first time in a few days you can actually see the people out on the street – they are no longer bundled up behind scarves and hoods.
 Michelle Bennett was one of the people that brought community gardens to the city. There are now three in Burlington with plans in the works for possibly two more. Spring may not be here yet but it is certainly in the air and Daylight Saving time tells us something doesn’t it?
Did you get a chance on the weekend to sit in the sun and feel the warmth on your face?
And did you get out without a coat?
 The tough winter may have just loosened its grip on us.
Is it time to begin looking at seed catalogs and put away the brochures on the deals to go south?
Registration for one of the plots in the three community gardens: Amherst Park, Central Park and Francis Road bike trail will be accepted from March 16 to April 12.
 By Mark Gillies
March 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part three of a four part feature.
 This picture of the 13 Waldie children, Agnes, Marion, James, John, Lillian, Ida, Ernest, Frederick, Robert, Walter, Jessica, Charles and Mary was photographed around 1886 or 1887, after their mother had died in 1884. On the top left is John Waldie, the father, at about 52 years of age; and below John, is the children’s mother Mary Thompson Waldie at about 40 years of age. One of Canada’s greatest business leaders at the turn of the 20th century was John Waldie; a man with humble beginnings and amassed unbelievable wealth, and became one of Canada’s most powerful lumber barons was also a true philanthropist, a refined gentleman, and a man who was passionate about calling Burlington, his home.
John Waldie married twice. His first wife was Mary Ann Thompson. Mary was born in 1841, but died at the age of 43 in January 1884, just three weeks after giving birth to her 13th child Mollie. John’s second wife was Sarah Ann Jarvis from Milton, a young lady of 29, who married the 53 year old widower in December 1885. Sarah Ann, at the age of 61, suffered a stroke and died June 6, 1918.
 Sarah Ann Jarvis was a remarkable young lady. At 29 years of age, she entered into marriage with John Waldie who was 52 years of age; and then Sarah became a stepmother to John’s 13 children. John Waldie had 13 children, and their lives continued on with much diversity after John Waldie’s death in 1907. Some children had tragic endings, while some had successful careers, some married into wealthy families, while others played and lived the life of the rich and famous.
From eldest to youngest, the first born was in 1862, and the last born was in 1884; their names are in chronological order; Agnes, Marion, James, John, Lillian, Ida, Ernest, Frederick, Robert, Walter, Jessica, Charles and Mary.
Agnes Waldie was born in 1862. On June 22, 1882, Agnes married into the affluent Marlatt family of Oakville. Her husband was Cecil Gustavus Marlatt, a dashing young man, a yachting enthusiast, an industrialist, and one of Oakville’s favourite sons. The Marlatt family owned the local tannery which at the time was the largest employer with over 200 employees.
The couple had two children. Roy Waldie Marlatt died in 1885 from cholera, at the age of 5 months. Their second son Kenneth Dean Marlatt was born in 1888 and passed away in 1942. One month after Kenneth’s birth in November, Agnes died on December 22, 1888 from spinal meningitis.
 Agnes Waldie (L) married into one of Oakville’s wealthiest families. In 1882 Agnes married Cecil Gustavus Marlatt. It was Agnes who laid the cornerstone for the new Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville (C), a building mainly financed by the Marlatt family. Agnes and Cecil were members of Knox Presbyterian Church located on Lakeshore Road in downtown Oakville. It was Agnes who laid the cornerstone for the church in 1884. The Marlatt family financed the construction of Knox Presbyterian Church.
 Marion never married, preferring a life of world travel and high class living. Marion Waldie was born in 1864 in Wellington Square. Marion, the second eldest daughter never married. Preferring the single life, Marion lived most of her affluent life travelling around the world. On Aug 29, 1949 Marion passed away at the age of 85, in Toronto.
 John Edward Waldie’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 26 when he drowned in a canoeing accident on the French River. James William Waldie was the eldest son. William, as he was known, was born in 1867, at their home in Wellington Square. William followed in his father’s footsteps and became involved in the lumber business.
 William Waldie was the first son to follow in his father’s footsteps. William moved his own family to Castlegar, British Columbia, and began the west coast operation of the family’s massive lumber business. The Waldie’s expanded their business across Canada, and William went to Castlegar, British Columbia, and set up the William Waldie & Sons Lumber Company. This west coast business was highly successful and operated until 1961.
John Edward Waldie was born in 1868 in Wellington Square. John also followed his father and older brother into the lumber business, but in 1894, the family was devastated at the news of the sudden death of John Edward Waldie. At the age of 26, John drowned in a canoeing accident on the French River.
 Lillie, like her older sister Marion, never married. Lillie travelled the world and lived the life of luxury. At her Toronto home, she suffered a heart attack and died when she was only 68 years old .Eliza Lillian Waldie was born in 1870 in Wellington Square. Lillian, just like her older sister, never married. She too, preferred to travel around the world, living the life of the rich and famous. Two days after Christmas in 1938, Lillian suffered a heart attack at the age of 68, and died in her Toronto home.
 Fanny married Dr. Charles Temple. The wealthy Temple family were prominent surgeons in Toronto. Ida Frances Waldie was born in 1871 in Wellington Square. Ida was known as Fanny. In 1895, Fanny married Dr. Charles Algernon Deveser Temple, a surgeon. The Temple family were prominent Toronto doctors. In February of 1940, Ida Waldie Temple at the age of 69, died.
Ernest Tasker Waldie was born in 1873. Ernest had a difficult life. Apparently, he was dropped on his head as a baby, and suffered his entire life with mental disorders. Ernest lived most of his life at the “Orillia Asylum for Idiots”, tnhat was the original name of the institution. This same institution is now involved in a $2 billion dollar class action lawsuit with the Province of Ontario for alleged mistreatment of patients, which is scheduled for court in September 2015.
 Ernest Waldie suffered from medical conditions and spent most of his life at an institution once called the “Orillia Asylum for Idiots”, now called the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia. Heading up the class action, are two former residents from the psychiatric facility, who told how they had been beaten, sexually abused, held upside down in ice-cold water and medicated against their will at the Huronia Regional Centre (Orillia Asylum for Idiots). Ernest at 58, died from pneumonia and heart failure in 1931 while he was a patient at this same institution. There was a contributory cause of Ernest’s death listed on the Death Certificate. It was recorded as “Idiocy”.
Frederick Norval Waldie was the fourth eldest son of John Waldie. Fred was born in Burlington in 1875. After his father’s death in 1907, Fred became president of the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. At the age of 52, Fred died from heart disease in Shanty Bay, Ontario.
 Robert pursued law as a career and did not go into the lumber business. Robert Waldie became the President of the Imperial Bank of Canada, and also held the position of Vice-President with the Canada Bread Company. The fifth son was Robert Stanley Waldie, who was born in Burlington in 1877. Robert did not follow in his father’s footsteps and venture into the lumber business. Robert chose law as a profession. As a lawyer, Robert was successful in the business world, and rose to become the president of the Imperial Bank of Canada. The Imperial Bank merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1961; the largest merger of two chartered banks in Canadian history. Robert Waldie was also the vice-president of the Canada Bread Company. Robert Stanley Waldie died in 1966.
 Walter left the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company to join the military at the beginning of World War 1. While overseas, Walter died from influenza in 1919. His father-in-law was Sir Albert Edward Kemp (L), the Minister of Militia and Defence for Canada, in Sir Robert Borden’s Government Walter Scott Waldie was born in 1879 in Burlington. Walter like most of his brothers went into the lumber business. When World War 1 broke out, Walter enlisted into the military and went overseas. In 1919, while still in the service and located in Wales, Walter died from influenza on February 2, 1919. He left behind his wife Alice and 3 young children John, Alice and Ian. Mrs. Walter Waldie was the daughter of Sir Albert Edward Kemp. During World War 1, Sir Albert was the Minister of Militia and Defence, and the Minister of the Overseas Military Forces for Canada.
Jessica Waldie was the eleventh child born to Burlington’s Waldie family in 1880. Jessie had more of an ordinary married life, and one not so much wrapped around all of the wealth that the Waldie family enjoyed. In 1905 Jessie married Godfrey Edward Spragge. The Spragge family had four children, John, Edward, Elizabeth and Peter. John Godfrey Spragge, the eldest son born in 1907 chose a military career and rose in rank to become a Brigadier-General in World War II.
 Percy was the youngest son of John and Mary Waldie. He joined the war effort and died in battle, with the rank of Lieutenant, at Hulloch Village, Loos, France. Percy was just 33 years old. Charles Percival Waldie was John Waldie’s youngest son. Percy was born in 1882. When World War 1 came along, young Percy enlisted. The Great War was to claim his life, and on September 26, 1915 at the battle of Loos near Hulloch Village, France; 2nd Lieutenant Waldie was killed in action.
 John Waldie and his family all returned home to Burlington and are buried in the family plot in historic Greenwood Cemetery. The youngest child of John Waldie was Mary Waldie, and the family called her Mollie. Mollie was born in Burlington in 1884. Mollie enjoyed a privileged life. At the age of 21 in 1905, young Mollie married Robert Cecil Hamilton Cassels. The Cassels family were prominent lawyers in Toronto. Today, Cassels, Brock and Blackwell is one of the largest law firms in Canada, and has been established for over 125 years. Mollie at the age of 75, passed away June 16, 1959.
My next article, Part 4 of a 4 Part series, will be what the City of Burlington has done to recognize this great Canadian philanthropist, a one of a kind business leader, who was a distinguished local and federal politician, and was the “Father of Burlington”, plus the “Father of the Burlington Public Library”.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.
Mark will write a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
By Staff
March 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
While a larger community is gearing up for the review of the provinces ecologically parts of our environment BurlingtonGreen has announced its 2015 line up of award winning films for their 2015 Eco-film Festival which will start later this month – on March 25th.
The screenings will be at the Burlington Central Library (2331 New Street), followed by take action initiatives, guest speakers, and audience discussion on how individual and collective action can help the planet locally.
Doors open at 6:30pm with the film beginning at 7:00pm – $5.00 donations are welcome upon arrival to support event costs.
The eco-film festival line up includes:
Watermark (March 25th) An extraordinary awarding winning documentary by Canadian filmmakers that examines our relationship with water and how it shapes humanity.
 Surviving Progress (April 29th) Martin Scorsese’s provocative documentary that delves into concepts of progress focusing on technological advancement, economic development, and population increase in the modern world.
 Chasing Ice (June 3rd) An Academy Award winning film that details the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet.
Dirt! (September 23rd) An astonishing look at the glorious and unappreciated ground beneath our feet.
Journey of the Universe (November 4th) An epic story of cosmic, earth and human transformation from the Big Bang to today.
Complimentary refreshments will be available along with free eco-prize raffle draws at each event. BurlingtonGreen aims to host green events and asks that all guests walk, cycle, carpool or use public transit whenever possible, and bring their own mug for refreshments.
BurlingtonGreen is very grateful to local Burlington company O. C. Tanner for their continued support of the Eco-Film Festival. Event refreshments provided courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
Together they make a difference when we think global and act local
For those who may be new to Burlington and haven’t heard about BurlingtonGreen it was established in 2007. It is a citizen-led, not-for-profit environmental agency. Their mission is to protect the diversity of nature and to create a healthier environment, now and for the future. Through awareness, advocacy, and action they collaborate with all sectors of the community to protect the natural environment and to make Burlington a cleaner, greener, more environmentally responsible city.
 By Staff
March 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service in partnership with the Niagara Regional Police Service have concluded a short duration drug investigation titled Project Capital resulting in the arrest of a network of street level drug traffickers operating across the GTA.
On Thursday March 5, 2015, members of the Halton Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police and Hamilton Police Service, executed a total of ten Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants throughout the Regions of Halton, Hamilton and Niagara.
Four men have been arrested and charged with several drug related offences. Officers seized cocaine, marihuana and Fentanyl with a street value of approximately $25,000.
In addition, approximately $60,000 cash and a Dodge Ram pickup truck were seized.
Simon CHAMORRO , 37 years old from Hamilton has been charged with:
Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marihuana).
Salvatore LAMACCHIA , 35 years old from Welland has been charged with:
Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine),
Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marihuana)
Breach of Probation.
Timothy TOWNSEND, 46 years old from St. Catharines has been charged with:
Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl).
 By James Smith
March 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Sometimes, little noticed somewhat boring announcements by government are the ones that pack the biggest punch. Yesterday’s announcement by Minister Ted McMeekin that Ontario intends change to how we’ll plan, build, and pay for developing cities in Ontario is one such announcement.
The way Ontario is built and developed is about to change; I think this will be a very welcome. First let me declare my bias, I’m a Founding Member of BFast (Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit), and as a design consultant I often work on projects for both public and private developers. I feel the changes announced by Minister McMeekin yesterday may mean modestly more work for me and my clients.
If these changes live up to the billing, changes to Smart Growth, land use planning and development charges have the potential to be a seismic shift on how cities are built for years to come and this affects us all. The coming changes will radically impact how we go about urban growth in Ontario on a scale as large as the introduction, ten years ago, of The Green Belt. If the legislation lives up to the press release, the Province will put teeth into its Smart Growth policy and Municipalities will need to pull their weight.
So far Smart Growth is a policy many municipalities, including Burlington, give just lip service. Professional planners and drafters of Official Plans write elegant documents, but City and Town Councils frequently ignore their more lofty goals. With this legislation Minister McMeekin is saying Municipalities will be held to account, and will need to live up to the Goals of Smart Growth. Long overdue.
 This change is about the kind of building projects we’ll see built in Ontario and how we will pay for the stuff we build. I suspect that members of Burlington and other City councils who subscribe to the failed dogma of Libertarianism won’t like this legislation one bit. To them I say: “suck it up princess, the free ride is over”. Specifically these Planning Act Changes propose to:
• Ensure residents are better consulted at the beginning of the planning process for new developments.
• Encourage residents to provide feedback on the future of their communities.
• Help municipalities resolve potential planning disputes earlier, reducing involvement of the Ontario Municipal Board in local disputes.
• Extend the review of new municipal official plans to 10 years, instead of the current five-year cycle
• Providing municipalities with more control and stability over their planning documents. Once a municipality establishes a new official plan, it would be frozen and therefore not subject to new appeals for two years unless changes are initiated by the municipality. A community planning permit system once established by a municipality would not be subject to any appeals of private applications for five years.
• Clearly defining what constitutes a minor variance (a small change from a zoning bylaw).
Better consultation with residents early in the development process and getting their feedback are welcome, long overdue changes. The challenge will be to break down the walls of NIBYism; no small task. For at least seventy years North America has embraced suburban sprawl funded by, more sprawl.
Leigh Gallagher, in her book The End Of The Suburbs outlines how North Americans have the car-centric suburban landscape in their DNA and is our expectation of where we live. Both Gallagher and Smart Growth talk about breaking this unsustainable cycle. The proposed changes to the Act will have to help with this understanding of what Smart Growth means, so residents will need to understand this shift when proposals are brought forward. As, or more importantly, the development industry will have to change their business model too.
 Six houses identical to this one were torn down on land that was part of the Veterans Land program – the lots were assembled and the infill shown below built. Boilerplate infill projects will no longer be acceptable. Projects will more and more have to reflect an individual neighbourhood’s character and residents taste and long-term expectations for their community. Budgets for new projects will therefor need to change as removing the hated OMB from most planning disputes will mean more money being spent on public meetings and Architects’ fees and less time on Lawyers’ fees. In my experience, anytime more thought goes into a design and less time is spent on legal wrangling makes for a better project.
 Fifty eight units were built on land that previously had six homes on it. Tough to find a back yard in this infill project. The ten year cycle for Official Plans has potential positive benefits as it will reduce the time Cities and Towns spend on Official Plans and free up those staff resources. No only is limiting the involvement of the OMB of great news, these changes will mean fewer Municipalities, will do their city planning by Official Plan Amendments. Burlington specifically has for at least 25 years engaged in planning by Official Plan Amendments rather than relying on either the Regional or City’s Official Plan. Councils often are blinded by developments that have actually cost the Municipality money in the long run as the Official Plan Amendments often is at odds with the official plan, these changes will force the Development industry to do better planning, spend more on Designers and less on Lawyers.
Development Charges are set to be changed in the following fashion:
• Help municipalities recover costs for transit services and waste diversion.
• Create clear reporting requirements for capital projects municipalities financed though development charges, as well as section 37 of the Planning Act related to density bonusing and parkland dedication.
• Municipalities would be required to follow reporting requirements that reflect best practices and detail to the community how money from development charges is spent.
• The government would create better reporting requirements for municipalities collecting money under section 37 of the Planning Act related to density bonusing, and related to parkland dedications, which details how the funds are spent.
• Development charges would be payable at the time the first building permit was issued for a building so that developers could be certain of the cost.
• Municipalities would be required to better integrate how development charges fit with long-term planning, including local asset management plans.
• The government will help municipalities identify and share their best practices on using development charges to address local planning and financial objectives.
• There would be more stringent reporting and greater oversight of any funds or municipal charges on new developments that fall outside what is allowed in current legislation
Development Charges can be a useful tool to reflect the real capital costs of any building project on a municipality. Planner Pamela Blais in Perverse Cities clearly outlines that the real cost to the municipal taxpayer of urban sprawl is not presently accounted for in many North American jurisdictions. Development Charges attempt to make a project pay for the real cost of the capital costs a new project represents.
While Transit and Waste diversion were not specifically accounted for in the previous Act they can be funded under more general categories. Specifically calling these items out is a good step. The challenge will be to use Development Charges to limit Greenfield, or make it pay for the burden it puts on a Municipality while simultaneously not acting as a brake on positive and creative infill development.
So there needs to be the ability for Municipalities to bracket Development Charges accordingly.
By Staff
March 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The results of Project Viocurus (Latin for Master of the Roads) are in and they point to a significant reduction in personal injury and damage collisions within the Towns of Milton and Halton Hills.
Between February 5th and March 5th officers from 1 District proactively targeted the major east west commuter routes and collision “Hot Spots” within both Townships targeting the “Big 4” bad driving behaviours; aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving and failure to wear seat belts.
For the same period last year there were a total of 22 injury collisions. This year there were 11 injury collisions. The project had the same positive impact on property damage collisions with 186 being reported last year compared to 81 this year.
Officers continued to target those drivers who present a significant risk to the motoring community, focussing especially on those who are prohibited from driving and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. During the project a total of 10 drivers were arrested and charged for impaired driving and 38 drivers were charged with driving while under a suspension.
 During the project a total of 1130 Provincial Offence Notices were issued compared to 949 for the same period last year.
Halton Police would like to remind the public that we take traffic safety and enforcement extremely seriously and remain committed to working with our community partners to make our roads as safe as possible. If you suspect that a driver is impaired please treat this as a crime in progress and call 911.
If any member of the public wishes to report an incident involving dangerous and/or aggressive driving they can visit our website and file a Road Watch report.
The mission of the Halton Community ROAD WATCH Program is to reduce aggressive driving on the streets and highways of Halton Region. The Halton Community ROAD WATCH Program encourages the community to take responsibility for their driving behavior and attitudes.
By Ray Rivers
March 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario’s minister of the environment. Glen Murray, might have chosen a better winter. He has announced province-wide climate change consultations as a prelude to developing a new strategy. But after the coldest winter in ages he may well get a cool reception from folks who haven’t warmed up to the difference between weather and climate.
The Province has released a discussion paper as a starting point for consultations. This is one of those primers on the topic – a sort of ‘climate-change-for-dummies’. It is more style than substance, to be sure, but the paper does crawl up to a bottom line. A carbon tax is on the horizon for Ontario!
 There is a direct connection between this picture and the one on the right.  What does a person who cares about the environment and is prepared to pay to preserve the plant we live on do to keep the northern environment? Carbon taxes are anathema to our federal government. We recall how Mr. Harper shredded Liberal leader Dion for making a carbon tax the centerpiece of his election campaign a few years ago. And Harper, we know, had spent his earlier days as a climate change denier, though today, as PM, he has to give some lip service to the phenomenon. Besides he is the man who has never seen a tax he liked.
But that isn’t how the nation’s provincial jurisdictions see it. Gordon Campbell may have come from the same place as Harper when he first came into power in B.C. several years ago, but he quickly came to understand the issue. Performing an almost perfect 180 degree back-flip, his government became seriously committed to the environment, and climate change in particular. And the centerpiece of his program was a ‘revenue neutral’ carbon tax. In turn, the B.C. public has vindicated his decision and endorsed the tax by supporting the Liberals at the polls.
Quebec also has a carbon tax and Alberta has a ‘cap-and-trade’ emissions trading regime, which works as a kind-of carbon tax. Ontario has been toying with the idea of joining a couple of US state-led emissions trading initiatives, or starting its own emission trading program. But unlike some other provinces, Ontario is still standing by the water’s edge with one foot in the water in this regard.
Not that anyone should dare criticize Ontario for lack of action. The province didn’t need a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program to score the most impressive GHG reductions in North America. While emissions have increased in most of the other provinces, and soared in Alberta, Ontario’s emissions plummeted to 6% below its 1990 levels. Had every other province followed Ontario’s lead, Canada would have been able to meet its Kyoto international obligations instead of throwing up our hands and becoming the first nation to withdraw from the global treaty.
If you can’t get the puck into the net you might try moving the goal posts. That has been Canada’s approach to defending climate change inaction with this PM, who, in fact, has a book on hockey to his name. But moving the milestones to 2007 just makes Ontario’s performance look better with an impressive 17% reduction.
So if Ontario is already the most valuable player in the league, why do we need a carbon tax? Cynics might speculate that the provincial government is just looking for a new ‘cash cow’ to reduce the provincial deficit and debt. And as to a new tax – well it’s a bit like Molière’s ‘bourgeois gentilhomme’, who striving to become a gentleman and speak in prose, finally realizes that he’d been speaking it all his life.
For example, our healthy electricity rates reflect the shift away from lower cost dirty coal. Isn’t that a carbon tax by another name. And aren’t the HST and federal excise tax, charged per litre at the petrol pump, just a carbon tax by another name? How would a new carbon tax be any different? In the end B.C. and Quebec’s fancy carbon taxes amounted to not much more than jacking up consumer costs at the pump.
 It might be a nice photograph – but it is not by any stretch of the imagination a pretty picture. The theory behind the carbon tax is that it dis-incents the use of fossil fuels, and the consequent release of emissions. Sales taxes are consumption taxes. They discourage consumption so they are good tools from that perspective, as we have seen with declining tobacco sales. But sales taxes, like the HST, are not without their consequences.
It’s called the income effect. Consumption taxes hurt lower income tax payers more that those who are well endowed. This inequity has earned sales taxes, also called indirect taxes, the title of ‘regressive’ as opposed to ‘progressive’ – which is what economists call income or inheritance taxes. Progressive taxes are more socially equitable since one pays taxes in keeping with one’s ability to pay.
B.C.’s effort at ‘revenue neutrality’ trades off consumption taxes for income taxes and inevitably hurts lower income residents, notwithstanding its overall popularity. Those wondering why the wealth spread between the rich and the poor in this country has sky-rocketed over the last couple of decades need only to look at Brian Mulroney’s trade-off between introducing the GST and reducing progressive income taxation.
For a carbon tax to be effective, there need to be alternatives to fossil fuels. The public needs to have the means to shift to public transportation and/or afford and accept the myriad of emerging electric and hybrid vehicles. Further, any such tax has to be big enough to catch people’s attention, so they’ll seriously consider making the shift from the status quo. Otherwise they might as well continue driving that guzzler, grumbling about the high costs and voting for the other political party at the next election.
Having been cultured for over two decades on the evils of taxation, Ontario residents can be expected to resist the imposition of a new carbon tax. However B.C. has shown that making the the new tax revenue-neutral can induce public acceptance. And this acceptability can be enhanced by demonstrating that the proceeds of the tax have been applied to furthering emissions reductions, not simply taken as another tax grab to get dumped into the provincial treasury.
It is not everyday that a government anticipating a new tax, invites broad public participation in helping it make that decision. The links below include access to the discussion paper as well as other background. It behooves us to respond to this invitation by the Wynne government, a government that has shown itself to be inclined to action, rather than just philosophizing.
Climate change is a serious matter with potentially dangerous outcomes, regardless of how much today’s weather may have seduced us into inertia. We owe it to the next generation to participate.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Background links:
Climate Change Consultations Climate Change Paper Carbon Tax
Carbon Tax and Keystone Quebec’s Carbon Tax More Carbon Tax –
Fuel Taxes Moliere
By Edmund Anderson
March 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
For many sports and gambling enthusiasts, new games and new ways to win big are now being offered . In Ontario, betting and gambling are overseen by OLG and PlayOLG is the brand new official site where residents of this province can do all their online gambling including sports betting. It is secure and legal and perfect for those that want to gamble from the comfort of their own home.
OLG offers a number of online gambling options and they are set to add more in the future including peer-to-peer poker, bingo, sports betting and more. This brand new site opened its doors in early January 2015 and it provides the government with another opportunity to expand their revenue from gambling.
 By launching this brand new online gambling website, the OLG is hoping to tap into the estimated $400 million that Ontario gamblers are spending annually on international sites. They are hoping to secure up to $375 million in additional profits in the next five years. Ontario now joins British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and all of the Atlantic Provinces in offering online gambling and casino style games to their residents. Players at PlayOLG will be able to set their own wagering limits up to $9,999 per week. They must be at least 18 years of age and must be an Ontario resident and play within the province.
Sports Betting in Ontario
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is operated by the provincial government of Ontario and they offer the only legal Canadian based online sports gambling for residents of Ontario. Ontario is home to no less than four major league sports teams and Toronto is rumored to eventually be the host for Canada’s first ever NFL football team. The major sports teams are the Maple Leafs in the NHL, the Blue Jays in the MLB, The Raptors in the NBA, and the Toronto FC in the MLS. With this in mind, it is easy to see why sports betting is very popular in Ontario. The OLG has recently made Pro-Line betting services available online which is great news for sports betting fans who like to place their wagers online.
OLG’s Pro-Line online sports betting website is available to all Ontario residents over the age of 18 and here you will find all the days listed events, links to the sports offered and the lines for these events. The Pro-Line betting grid lists available betting options and you will need to make your selections and then print out your betting slip. The betting options available are very limited especially when you compare these to international online sports betting websites. The Pro-Line bets are comprised of picking 3-6 outcomes and that is it. They also offer Point Spread and Pro Picks but it still doesn’t compare to the international sites.
Canada’s Legal Sports betting Bill – C290
With current Canadian gambling laws, parlays are the only way that Canadian residents can place a wager. If you are a serious gambling this means you will be limited and it is why many sports betting fans choose to use international sites.
Here they can place whatever bets they want. The parlay rule has been subject to a lot of debate over recent years and many Canadians are hoping that the C290 bill will get passed. It has been tied up in the senate for a long time now and once passed this will remove the parlay wager rule and allow Canadians to bet on single game results and so much more. For sporting fans this will be a very welcome change as it will allow them to bet on single results such as the NFL final, football, and so much more.
So far we still don’t know when this bill will be passed or even if it will be passed and because of this, Canadians are doing their sports betting elsewhere and opting to use international websites that allow bets from Canadian gamblers. The downside to this, is that the government is losing out on massive revenues each year and this is the argument for the passing of the C290 bill as once passed, these revenues can be kept in Canada and pumped back into Ontario’s economy.
Legal betting and online gambling in Ontario is done through OLG and their provincially run website PlayOLG is for residents of this province only. There are advantages to this in that you know that everything you do is legal and the site is safe. The disadvantages of course are that you are only playing against residents of Ontario and the jackpots up for grabs aren’t as big as those offered by huge international websites. If you are planning on placing wagers on sporting events this year, including the NFL’s Superbowl final or this year’s Stanley Cup final, then like many others, you will be hoping the C290 bill issue is resolved sooner rather than later.
You can read about the NFL final predictions and what sites are offering the best odds so that you know where to place your wagers for the best return. There is also valuable information for those who will be placing parlay bets too.
By Tom Muir
March 6, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
Hard to disagree that the present delegation process isn’t much of an accountability mechanism, but nobody ever said it was easy. What you seem to suggest is giving up. Apathy is how we got to where we are.
The point is that you can delegate and say whatever you want, and demand answers in the Council chambers. You can raise an issue and target a Councillor or whoever as the wrongdoer. You can band together and make a louder noise. You can’t do that at any other level of government.
Keep in mind that a lot of Council business is repetitive and officially mandated by law. It’s not always a big deal that creates issues that arouse people.
 As a Standing Committee chair, Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven WAS as good as it gets. Handling delegations and accepting the ideas of other people – not as good. But he wins elections. Craven and Tom Muir tangle frequently. It’s these controversial issues where you can publicly call out the Mayor, Council, or Councillors, whoever you see as the guilty party. Gang up on them with your fellows.
What we really need is the major press and media to get involved in a bigger way. The Gazette here is really the only voice on what goes on at City Hall, in an otherwise large vacuum. The other media are part of the lack of accountability.
You either get in the citizen boat and row, or drown.
William James, the philosopher, once said, “Act as if what you are doing makes a difference – it does.”
Tom Muir is an Aldershot resident who has delegated frequently at city hall – he doesn’t back down. He commented on the delegation process in Burlington. Click on the link
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