 By Pepper Parr
October 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Will people gather to celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual holiday or will they gather on Sunday. My tribe: son, grandsons, and great-grandchildren will meet on Sunday.
My table contribution this year is the salad. I think I have the dressing just right. Mixing in some Dijon mustard is new to me.
What isn’t new is the conversation – and we are at a time when there is certainly a lot to talk about.
 One of the things that gets in my craw is the comment people make when I am interviewing them: “Don’t use my name please.” The most recent matter is the people in the swimming community who tell me they are under a gag order.
My follow up is – “Who told you that you were under a gag order? A city staff member?”
No member of city staff has the right to tell you that you cannot talk about the conversations you have with them.
There can be sections in an agreement where all parties agree that the details of a contract will not be made public. Statements like that really trash the “transparency” and accountability that is supposed to be the DNA of every municipality.
There are lawyers who will tell you that a gag order is very hard to defend in a courtroom.
 The Guilds have been holding All Guild Show for decades; they are the root of the Gallery. Something the current Gallery executive has forgotten. What surprises me is that people in Burlington are prepared to put up with this. What bothers me even more is that these people put up with this.
During an interview with a member of one of the Guilds at the Art Gallery I was asked not to mention a name.
During a conversation with an individual at the Art Gallery who was in a position to know told me that the Guilds would not be a part of the planned rebuild of the Art Gallery.
The Guilds existed before the Art Gallery became real.
This is what happens when people ask that there names not be used.
 By Gazette Staff
October 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Susan Delacourt, a columnist with the Toronto Star did a piece that has to be widely shared.
She asked: “… is the perfect time to ask what kind of friend the United States is to us now, or even if it’s a friend at all. Do real friends ask us to shut up and accept what’s being hurled in our direction — no matter what — with a smile? Is it real friendship when it has to be constantly couched in flattery and genuflection?
 U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: He was clearly talking with Trump’s consent. Lutnick was the president and chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald, a a global financial services firm that had offices on the 101st and 105th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He invested significantly in technology, establishing an electronic trading platform. In the September 11 attacks, Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees, including Howard’s brother, Gary. Lutnick decided to no longer pay salaries to families of deceased employees after the tower collapsed.. Several days before the column appeared U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered Canadians a glimpse into what this U.S. administration expects of this country, and it also could be summed up as: shut up and smile through whatever Trump is throwing this way.
Although Lutnick had been hoping his remarks would remain private, he was talking to a roomful of chatty people and the Star managed quickly to confirm his provocative words as they reverberated through the corridors of the conference.
“America is first, and Canada can be second,” Lutnick said at one point, also advising that this country should be braced to see its auto industry migrate south. Moreover, he said, Canada should just get used to the idea that the trade relationship of the past three decades is over.
“If you look at it where Canada was to where it will be, you’ll be disappointed.”
That, in sum, is where the Canada-U.S. relationship stands now under Trump — in an existential struggle to define how to manage what feels like an affront to the professional and the personal. It’s about where to draw the line.
Even Trump acknowledged that this line is in flux when he was sitting with Carney in the Oval Office. “It’s a complicated agreement, more complicated maybe than any other agreement we have, on trade because, you know, we have natural conflict,” he said. “We also have mutual love.”
 “I wore red for you,” “I wore red for you,” Carney told Trump at the White House.
For a man of Mark Carney’s stature to have to make a comment like that has to be humiliating, unless it is part of a strategy.
At a conference the day after the White House visit Carney repeatedly returned to this whole business of how Canada can be a friend and a business competitor to Trump’s America.
“We also understand it’s America first, not America alone. So the question is where does it go from there?”
“Nostalgia isn’t a strategy. Our relationship will never again be what it was. In terms of that aspect of it, that’s and that’s not a criticism,” he said. “It doesn’t lessen the ties between us as a people,” the prime minister said, but it does alter the economic ties, irreversibly.
That’s a pretty shaky ground on which to navigate a personal or a professional relationship, no matter what business you’re in, let alone the colossal and complicated ties between Canada and the United States. The audience at the Canada-U.S. summit was all ears when any speaker gave them glimpses into how Trump works. Little wonder. It’s ever-shifting terrain.
All over the country this weekend, Canadians will be sitting down with friends and family for Thanksgiving dinner. As often happens when people gather around the table, the conversation may take an unexpected turn. Someone may say something outrageous. Some may realize that a relationship they thought of one way has changed, maybe for the worse, maybe for the better. People will weigh whether to say things out loud or opt for diplomatic silence.
 Susan Delacourt, currently a 10-year veteran with the Toronto Star has worked for the National Post, a columnist and feature writer at the Ottawa Citizen and, for sixteen years, a parliamentary correspondent and editorial board member of The Globe and Mail. She is a graduate the University of Western Ontario (1982, majoring in Political Science). She is also a Masters student in the School of Political Studies at Carleton University. This week in Canada-U.S. relations has very much been an exercise in that same realm, unfolding in front of us at the top levels — Trump and Carney in Washington; top business leaders and players on the field of politics between the two nations, absorbing it all at the summit in Toronto.
It all comes back to one man — Trump, who reportedly just wants to make friends. But Canadians at all levels are asking whether the friendship even works any more and more importantly, what it is going to cost this country.
 By Pepper Parr
October 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Does the amount of time spent by a child watching TV have an impact on how well they do at school? Research suggest there is a link.
Recent research suggests there is a relationship between scores in reading, writing and mathematics and the amount of time spent watching TV or playing games on a cell phone.
In a study “Screen Time and Standardized Academic Achievement Tests in Elementary School, done by Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children the findings are pretty clear.
 Parent-reported total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement on standardized tests in elementary school. Question Is there an association between different types of screen time in young children and academic achievement in grades 3 and 6, as measured by standardized tests in reading, writing, and math?
Findings In this cohort study of 3322 grade 3 children and 2084 grade 6 children recruited from primary care settings in Ontario, Canada, between 2008 and 2023, higher parent-reported total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement on standardized tests in elementary school.
Meaning These findings suggest that early interventions to reduce screen time exposure should be developed and tested to promote healthy screen use habits and enhance academic achievement in elementary school.
Importance Few studies have investigated the longitudinal associations between different types of screen time in young children and academic achievement in elementary school.
Objective To examine whether there is an association between screen time in young children and standardized academic achievement tests in grades 3 and 6.
Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study was conducted among children participating in the TARGet Kids! primary care cohort in Ontario, Canada, between July 2008 and June 2023. Participant data were linked to annual grades 3 and 6 provincial standardized academic achievement test results.
Exposures Parent-reported child total screen time, TV and digital media time, and video gaming time. The screen time measurement closest before the outcome was used.
 Objective: To examine whether there is an association between screen time in young children and standardized academic achievement tests in grades 3 and 6. Main Outcomes and Measures Academic achievement levels on standardized tests in reading, writing, and math for grades 3 and 6 were classified as below, at, or above the Ontario provincial standard.
Conclusions and Relevance In this prospective cohort study of Canadian children recruited from primary care settings, high levels of total screen time and TV and digital media in young children were associated with lower achievement levels in reading and math on standardized tests in elementary school. Early interventions to reduce screen time exposure should be developed and tested to enhance academic achievement in elementary school.
In this prospective cohort study of Canadian children recruited from primary care settings, high levels of early total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement in elementary school. Our findings underscore the importance of developing and testing targeted early guidelines and interventions to reduce screen time and TV and digital media exposure, with the goal of improving academic achievement in elementary school.
Anything done by academics results in lengthy reports and pages of footnotes. For those who want to do a deep dive link to the full report:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2839927?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=101025#google_vignette
The concern for parents? Will your child make it to college or university or will they get a job flipping burgers?
 By Tom Parkin
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be pretty hard for Ontario PC Premier Doug Ford to today distract from 47,000 fewer jobs in Ontario in September, but he’ll come up with something. Or maybe hide until he makes his Thanksgiving pumpkin pie video.
 Opposition NDP leader Marit Stiles has routinely pivoted from Ford’s distractions to his jobs record. Ford has been under opposition attack for having no jobs plan despite an unemployment rate that has been on a steady rise since spring 2023. Opposition NDP leader Marit Stiles has routinely pivoted from Ford’s distractions to his jobs record, which has seen 172,000 jobs disappear in the past three months.
Stiles has also seized on recent comments from Ford when he told an elite downtown Toronto business luncheon club that workers just need to “look harder” to find a job.
 A classic Ford distraction. The premier has fought back by pouring out whiskey bottles, doing ice cream photo ops, reviving his fantasy tunnel plan, and picking a fight with municipalities over speed cameras, a tactic that seems to be backfiring. Ford has done everything but acknowledge the province has a severe jobs problem and workers are paying the price for no job creation strategy.
Ontario’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.9 per cent in September. While some may try to divert the discussion to Trump’s tariffs or immigrants taking jobs, neither fits the data.
Ontario’s unemployment rate has been steadily rising for more than two years, long before Trump’s election. And it now continues to rise even as Ontario’s population barely even rises, adding only 10,000 people over age 15 in September after adding just 7,000 people in August. Those are increases of just 0.07 and 0.06 per cent, respectively. Ontario’s total population increase thus far in Ontario has been just 0.77 per cent. Ontario’s population has essentially stopped growing this year.
Diversions aside, the problem is in Ontario’s sick economy, which has been hit by manufacturing and construction job losses. Two of eight Ontario vehicle assembly plants have not build a vehicle since 2023. And construction is down from the 2022 housing bubble bust. Those trends and a have rippled into the service economy, especially retail jobs as consumers pull back. And it’s all been deepened by Trump’s tariffs and a mood of malaise.
Ontario’s jobs gloom is showing up in the labour participation rate, the percentage of people 15 years or older who are employed or looking for work. In September a seasonally-adjusted 64.8 per cent of Ontarians were participating in the labour market, down from 66.0 per cent in April 2023.
In September, construction was down by 51,000 jobs since the peak in July 2023 and down 32,000 jobs since the same month in 2023.
In manufacturing, 44,000 jobs have been lost since its peak in July 2023 and down 7,000 jobs from the same month in 2023.
Retail jobs have nosedived, dropping 98,000 jobs since June, after finally climbing back above a jobs peak set back in May 2022, the month after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates from historic lows, busting the real estate bubble.
 By Pepper Parr
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a lot to grumble and grouse about?
Is there a level of government that is working the way you want it to work? Think hard – something will come to mind.
The situation in Gaza is looking a little better – but, if you are like me – I don’t trust the Prime Minister of Israel, and I have a lot of difficulty with the part of the Jewish political extreme right that wants to just take the Palestinian land.
 Fall colours are on display outside St. Likes Church Nor do I trust the American President; does anybody?
 Christmas 2024 – they will all be there this Sunday. But I do trust that the sun will shine during the holiday weekend and that the fall colours will astound us and that some will pause and give thanks for all we have been given.
The dinner tables will be full; the children will laugh and be totally unaware of the issues we face.
What more could we ask for?
Editorially – I’m going to let it be a slow weekend.
 By Pepper Parr
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region is widely recognized for its growing urban population and vibrant suburban communities. Yet beyond the cities and towns, approximately 2% of Halton’s residents—over 23,000 people—live in rural areas. These communities, though small in population, are rich in history, culture, and economic activity—particularly in agriculture.
 There are still some farms in the Region – very few. This Community Data Watch (CDW) Friday turns the spotlight on rural Halton, using data from the 2021 Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture to better understand its people, economy, and changing landscape. While most CDW publications have focused on the 98% of residents living in urban areas, this report answers a growing number of questions about the distinct needs and characteristics of rural population in Halton.
Join them to hear the highlights from this new Community Data Watch publication and share your insights into the changing nature of rural Halton.
Let them know you want to take part: Click HERE
By Gazette Staff
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
First published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
 It’s been a busy fall. As we move towards the weekend, let’s take a moment and give thanks for the fight we still have left in us…and for all you do to make a difference in your workplace and community, on picket lines and in the streets.
And let’s celebrate some of the things worth fighting for:
- Affordable housing—including rent.
- Decent work, including pay, benefits, and working conditions.
- Public services, like health care, dental care, child care, education, pharmacare, that gives us all a chance—accompanied by more progressive taxes.
- Public supports, including for people with disabilities, unemployed and precariously employed people, and everyone living in poverty.
- Reducing income inequality (and you know wealth equality follows).
- Urgent action on climate change—treat it like the crisis it is.
-
 The strength within us – and the fight we still have left in us. Canadian independence!
- Respect for human rights, international law, and an end to genocide.
Real progress is made with, and not at the expense of, each other. If we are truly in this together, Canada must move forward on reconciliation, address the ongoing scourge of racial and gender inequality, and provide certainty and security to future generations.
By Pepper Parr
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
At some point, the swimming pool allocation issues will get worked out.
Those are administrative details that have to be ironed out between the city and the swimming clubs BAD and GHAC. The city has, not officially said that the process was flawed- now all they have to do is the right thing for next year.
It is the swimmers that matter. The 400 boys and girls who were members of Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) take part in a sport that has a very significant role in the way they grow up and learn all social skills that are part of becoming a teenager. A set of values is also a big part of being a swimmer.
 A measure of the competitiveness. Hard work, determination, being able to lose a race and decide that working harder next time is what makes champions.
It isn’t a contact sport – no one gets hurt. It isn’t a team sport – it is between the swimmer, the water and the skills they have developed
 A statement Grace just had to make. Grace Leah Rylance, a 16 year old student at Dr. Frank J. Hayden High-school in Alton has been a member of BAD since she was seven years of age and is currently at the Seniors Performance level.
She is one of four children; at one time, all four were BAD club members.
Grace chose to focus on free-style swimming – she likes the backstroke – but it wasn’t where she felt she could be strongest. “When you are doing the back stroke, it is nice to be able to look up at the sunshine and watch the clouds float by.”
Grace has played hockey, soccer, ringette and did some ballet at one point.
One more year of high school and then university. McMaster, Queen’s and U of T are on her list. How much more swimming once she gets to university? – She would like to be on the swimming team and do some competitive events. “I can win some money at that level”
Grace thinks she would like to study the forensic sciences with a focus on law and psychology, but realizes that you have to get accepted as a university student first.
The regime swimmers follow is incredible.
 Early mornings, afternoons, evenings and every weekend – in the pool At the pool for 5:30 in the morning where they put in an hour, home for breakfast, then off to school.
After school, back to the pool for an hour of training and then into the gym for exercising.
That’s the Monday to Friday schedule – the weekends are just as demanding.
With so much pool time Grace makes mention of the effect the chlorine in the water has on their body odour -goes with the sport, she shrugs.
Swimmers aren’t muscular people – they have tightly toned bodies that, over time, gain a lot of muscle memory. Their bodies know how to react to what is needed to win.
 Grace talking to her intermediate-level swimming coach. For many swimmers the competitive part is not the most important part of the sport. Setting a goal and doing the hard work to achieve that goal is what keeps them going.
Grace uses the word “determination” Hearing that from a teenager in today’s world is the hope and prayer for many parents.
Where there are girls, there are boys. Grace has had friends who are boys, but you won’t see her clinging to a boy. This young woman does her own thing in her own way and has taken on a set of values that includes time reading Mind, Body and Soul.
Favourite movie? Fantastic Mr. Fox.
“When you are swimming” Grace explains, “you don’t want to overthink what you are doing. If you have trained hard enough and practiced often enough, your body will know what to do.
This from a 16-year-old.
There are some proud parents in the Alton Village household.
Evolution of a female swimmer
 The eyes were on the prize.
 Schedule of events – never going to miss one.  The medals mattered.  A mature swimmer – ready for competitive events.
 By Dmitriy Ig
October 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
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By Gazette Staff
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 New books for these shelves don’t arrive by Canada Post. Libraries created their own delivery service. What impact is the postal strike having on the delivery of books and magazine subscriptions having on the Burlington Public Library.
Not that much.
Media is reporting that “…the strategy is to see if the pressure that comes from not being paid starts to change the minds of the union and its members.
“It’s about getting the union to give up or to widen the divisions inside the union around taking a settlement now to try to contain the damage versus staying out and fighting for something that may never come.”
The federal government gave the union 45 days to come back with what they think a restructuring of the postal service could look like.
Staff at the library explained that libraries across the province have created a service that has book publishers and their distributors delivering directly to the libraries – Canada Post is not part of that set up.
Magazine subscriptions are another matter. The Burlington Library system has subscriptions to 140 magazines, and they arrive by mail.
The library receives approximately 150-200 books per month through inter-library loans, which are impacted by the strike.
The book suppliers are not impacted by the Canada Post strike – lots of new books are still coming weekly.
Delivery of BPL materials between branches is not affected as these deliveries are made by Library staff.
By Gazette Staff
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Night work at the intersection of Dundas and Appleby on October 9th, from 8 PM to 5:30 AM.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in all directions. Please plan ahead.
 By Gazette Staff
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Act one of this special evening is a musical sharing of The Secret Path, the Canadian multimedia storytelling project created by The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie and friends to promote awareness, education and thoughtful reconciliation.
Gord Downie began Secret Path as ten poems incited by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a twelve year-old boy who died on October 22, 1966, in flight from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, walking home to the family he was taken from over 400 miles away. Gord was introduced to Chanie Wenjack (miscalled “Charlie” by his teachers) by Mike Downie, his brother, who shared with him Ian Adams’ Maclean’s story from February 6, 1967, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack.”
The stories Gord’s poems tell were fleshed into the ten songs of Secret Path with producers Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin. Recording took place over two sessions at the Bathouse in Bath, Ontario, November and December 2013.
Local musician and producer Joe Lapinski has come on as Musical Director for a live sharing of The Secret Path. He has specially curated a band that includes the legendary Canadian drummer Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Woodshed Orchestra, and Gord Downie & The Country of Miracles), Ian de Souza on bass, Dr. Pee (Gord Downie & The Country of Miracles/ Dinner is Ruined) on piano and lead vocals/ ukulele shared by Laurel Minnes (Minuscule).
Act two will include a sharing of some of the Hip and Gord’s most beloved tunes, including special performances from community and guest artists: the Halton Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jarrod Haddock and Hayley Verrall, as well as performances from Minuscule, Dinner is Ruined and Tony Dekker (Great Lake Swimmers).
Representatives from the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund will also be present at this special annual fundraising event.
In Support of
Fri, Oct 10, 2025 | 7:30pm
Ticket Prices
Reg: $37.50 – $57.50
Mem $32.50 – $52.50
Buy Tickets
 By Pepper Parr
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Everyone uses a calendar – they are things we look at almost every day.
Advertisers have learned that calendars are great places to place their message.
Politicians have been a little slower to make use of a calendar as a place to keep their name in front of the people that are going to elect or re-elect them.
The city produced a calendar last year – there was an error in the first print run – they had to trash everything that was printed – the city didn’t produce any numbers on how many copies had been printed.
 Is a calendar printed and distributed by the city with the Mayor’s name all over it legal in an election year? For 2026 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has seen the advantage – she is publishing her own calendar. We had not heard about this idea – the Mayor’s office doesn’t send us very much in the way of information – unless there is something that she wants changed – but that is another story.
The Mayor is turning to the public for pictures that will be included in the calendar – prize money too.
We have a couple of questions about this calendar. Is it legal? Who is going to pay for the printing and distribution of the calendar?
2026 is an election year and there are tight limits on what Council members can use in their election campaigns. Mayor’s 2026 Calendar might be getting too close to the “you can’t do that” set of rules. The Municipal Act sets out all those rules.
We will reach out to the Integrity Commissioner and ask if the Mayor is crossing.
For the Gazette it is all about “transparency and accountability”.
 By Tom Parkin
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Charges under the Ontario law that sets minimum wage and job standards have fallen by 90 per cent over the past 10 years, according to court data obtained by the Ontario Federation of Labour and Data Shows.
The Employment Standards Act sets minimum wages and terms of work, such as prohibitions against wage theft, a ban on employers stealing tips, and limits before overtime must be paid. It sets out vacation pay and holidays. The ESA’s minimum standards are a floor under every individual or union employment contract.
 At too many restaurants, management requires serving staff to share the gratuities. “Doug Ford works hard at distraction, and we pay the price as working people,” said Ontario Federation of Labour president Laura Walton. “Ontario unions fought hard for workplace laws so that you get paid, you get vacation pay, and you get overtime.”
“It’s clear where his priorities are, and it’s not with workers – especially those working precarious jobs where wage theft is rampant,” said Walton.
And court data shows court enforcement of the Employment Standards Act, and the fines imposed on bad bosses who violate worker rights has virtually stopped.
Over 1,500 ESA charges were filed in court in 2016. But just 150 last year. And that’s up from only 56 charges in 2020 in Ontario, a province of about eight million workers.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour employs Standards Officers to enforce the Employment Standards Act, which gives them the authority to lay charges for breach of the the law’s requirements.
ESA charges are prosecuted by Crown Attorneys assigned to the Ministry of Labour (MOL) but employed by the Ministry of the Attorney-General (MAG). Charges are filed by crown prosecutors and heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, the source of this data.
The data very strongly suggest a policy decision of government, either within the MOL or MAG, in 2016 or 2017 directed officers or prosecutors to stop laying charges.
And even with just a paltry 150 charges to prosecute, Ontario’s overloaded courts last year withdrew 37 of the charges, or 25 per cent of those submitted to the court that year.
Data Shows yesterday on Monday detailed research from NDP Attorney-Genceral critic Kristyn Wong-Tam showing 338,000 Highway Traffic Act charges were dropped in 2024/25 including 42 per cent of charges for stunt driving and 31 per cent of dangerous driving charges. The number of dropped HTA charges have doubled since 2015.
Ontario courts are badly backlogged with even serious criminal charges, including murder charges, being withdrawn because trials cannot be carried out before constitutional time limits.
The Supreme Court set the Jordan limits in 2016, the year before employment standards offices stopped laying charges. The Jordan limits require that charges under the Employment Standards Act must come to trial within 18 months of charge.
In the minds of some group, it seems the solution to complying with the Supreme Court’s limits on delay to charge being tried is to stop laying charges.
 By Jennifer Sophia
October 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Digital currencies are reshaping the entire poker landscape. Remember when you had to jump through hoops just to play poker online? Those days are pretty much over. Crypto has crashed the party, and honestly, it’s changing everything about how we play poker.
I’ve been watching this transformation unfold, and it’s wild how fast things are moving. Digital currencies aren’t just some tech fad anymore–they’re reshaping the entire poker landscape. Let me break down the five biggest ways this is happening.
1. Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusion
Crypto has basically demolished the walls that kept so many people out of online poker.
Think about it. You’re sitting in a country where your bank won’t process gambling transactions, or maybe the fees are so ridiculous that it’s not worth playing. Crypto just… fixes that. No more waiting days for bank transfers. No more getting rejected because of where you live.
Sure, there are still some hurdles. Not everyone knows how to set up a crypto wallet yet. But once you do, you can literally play from anywhere with decent internet.
2. Improved Transaction Security
Let’s be real–getting your money stolen online sucks. Traditional payment methods are okay, but they’re not bulletproof.
Crypto transactions are different. Every single one gets locked into the blockchain permanently. You can’t fake it, you can’t reverse it without both parties agreeing, and you definitely can’t hack it easily.
The instant transfers are pretty sweet, too. No more waiting until Tuesday for your cash out to clear.
Just don’t be stupid about it–make sure the poker site you’re using is actually legit before you send any crypto their way.
3. Anonymity and Privacy for Players
Privacy matters. A lot.
 Maybe you don’t want your bank to see “POKER SITE DEPOSIT” on your statement. Maybe you live somewhere where online poker exists in a legal gray area. Or maybe you just value your privacy–which you should.
Crypto lets you play without broadcasting your business to the world. You can fund your account, play your games, and cash out without leaving a paper trail that screams “I PLAY POKER ONLINE.”
This is huge for the crypto poker community. Players can focus on their game instead of worrying about who’s watching their transactions. It’s created this whole new ecosystem of players who might not have participated otherwise.
The anonymity isn’t perfect–nothing is–but it’s miles better than traditional banking.
4. Decentralized Gaming Ecosystems
This one’s a bit more technical, but stick with me because it’s important.
 Traditional poker sites are basically black boxes. You deposit money, play games, and hope they’re being fair. You have to trust them completely.
Decentralized platforms flip that script. Smart contracts handle the games automatically. No house is taking extra cuts. No mysterious algorithms deciding who wins.
It’s like having a completely transparent dealer who can’t cheat even if they wanted to. Everything happens on the blockchain, where anyone can verify it.
These platforms are still pretty new, and honestly, some are rough around the edges. But the potential is massive. We’re talking about poker games where the code literally can’t lie to you.
5. Innovative Reward Structures
The reward systems crypto enables are genuinely creative. We’re not just talking about boring old cashback anymore.
 Some platforms issue their own tokens that you can earn through play. These might give you voting rights on platform changes, access to exclusive tournaments, or special bonuses. It’s like frequent flyer miles, but actually useful.
I’ve seen sites where regular players get rewarded with governance tokens. Suddenly, you’re not just a customer–you’re a stakeholder. That changes the whole dynamic.
The loyalty programs can get pretty sophisticated, too. Play more, earn more tokens, unlock better perks. It keeps things interesting beyond just winning and losing hands.
Conclusion
 Crypto poker isn’t perfect yet. There’s still a learning curve, and not every platform gets it right. But the direction we’re heading is pretty exciting.
The barriers that kept people out are crumbling. Security is getting better. Privacy is more protected. And the games themselves are becoming more transparent and fair.
If you’re still on the fence about trying crypto poker, I get it. Change can be intimidating.
But this isn’t just a trend–it’s the future of online poker taking shape right now.
The players and sites that adapt early are going to have a serious advantage. The ones that don’t? Well, they might find themselves playing catch-up for years.
 By Gazette Staff
October 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Most people recognize the initials and the words: AI -Alternative Intelligence.
 In a recently released Pew Research survey of American adults, half of the respondents said that they were more concerned than excited about the growing use of AI in daily life.
Canadian numbers would not be that much different than American numbers.
That’s a big jump from 2022, when 38 percent of people said the same thing. Probably not coincidentally, ChatGPT was made available to the public in late 2022.
In recent days, a Pew poll also that found people are lukewarm about the usefulness, and mistrustful of the information, in AI-generated web search summaries like Google’s AI Overviews. And a majority of Americans say that they’re more worried than hopeful about AI on the job, another Pew survey found this year.
There’s probably no single reason for the relatively sour public opinion about AI, and our views can quickly change. But the pessimism about AI may reflect a tug-of-war between wanting to benefit from AI but also feeling afraid of its downsides or being left behind if we don’t get on board. That’s how I feel.
If nothing else, the significant thread of AI pessimism calls for more candour and empathy from ourselves, technology executives, corporate bosses and public officials about our uneasiness with this technology that we keep being told is an unstoppable freight train.
Originally published in the Washington Post
By Gazette Staff
October 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The University of Toronto School of Cities has collected data on the impact American tariffs are having on Canadian corporations.
They have created an interactive map – that many will find useful as they struggle to gain an understanding of what it taking place and what steps they can take to limit the financial damage.
Link to the interactive map is HERE
Anyone can explore a colour-coded map that reveals communities most and least vulnerable to impacts, such as slowing sales and job losses, from rapidly changing taxes that Trump has imposed on U.S. businesses buying Canadian goods including steel and auto parts.
Users can search potential impacts on regional businesses, or on people by where they work, or on people by where they live, and isolate their vulnerability to Trump’s tariffs in specific impacted sectors including automobiles, aluminum, copper and lumber.
The researchers compared 41 city census areas based on their percentage of workers “directly exposed” to U.S. tariff impacts. Chilliwack, B.C., with many jobs in agriculture and manufacturing, had the highest share of vulnerable workers, at 17.5 per cent while St. John’s, N.L., had the lowest at 2.6 per cent.
By Tom Parkin
October 7th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Millions in lost fine revenue. Millions spent to process and prepare cases that never get decided — because of a backlogged court system. Guess who pays!
Total number of withdrawals has doubled
 Number of Ontario Highway Traffic Act charges withdrawn total, at trial and pre-trial, 2015-2025 Likely thousands of drivers charged with the most serious traffic safety violations are getting away without paying any fine only because backlogs are forcing courts to dropp charges, an analysis of Ontario Court data suggests.
Key data showing the cost of Doug Ford’s court backlog was today revealed at a press conference by NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam
And when you dig deeper into the traffic safety court data, it gets worse and worse.
Dropped road safety charges have doubled in 10 years
More than 338,000 road safety charges were withdrawn from Ontario’s courts between March 2024 and April 2025 (see chart, above). That number has doubled from the 163,000 charges dropped in 2015.
The number dropped at trial but without trial — that is, by court motion before the trial actually starts — has dropped slightly from 100,000 in 2015 to 85,000 between April 2024 and March 2025.
But charges withdrawn before trial has quadrupled from 63,000 in 2015 to 254,000 in the most recently reported period. Who exactly is dropping these charges and their legal reasons are open questions.
The massive number of dropped charges likely represents tens of millions of dollars in lost fine revenue other Ontarians will now pay in taxes, cuts or deficits.
Ontarians will pay and pay and pay for clogged courts
But Ontarians don’t just pay the fines of those who dodged accountability. They’ll pay twice.
They’ll pay for police officers writing up 338,000 charges that went nowhere. And court staff who scheduled trials and administered the charges, just to delete all their work. And for the crown prosecutors, justices of the peace and judges who called trials to order on 84,549 charges in 2024/25, only to let accused go before any evidence was ever heard in court.
Most serious charges among most likely to be dropped
From April 2024 to March 2025, the most serious traffic violations were the ones most frequently withdrawn.
42% of 12,920 stunt driving charges withdrawn
33% of 28,438 charges for driving under suspension, and
31% of 28,588 careless driving charges.
Only 6.4 per cent of speeding charges were withdrawn, the least likely of the categories tracked by Ontario Courts data.
Most serious violations among those most dropped
Percentage of various HTA charges dropped, Apr 2024-Mar 2025
Court backlog growing again
The Supreme Court has set time delay limits on lower courts, known as Jordan limits. While the Ontario Court data doesn’t show time from charge to trial, it does show year-end court backlogs are growing again.
In Ontario, some of the serious criminal charges, including murder, have exceed Jordan limits and been tossed. More about that in a future Data Shows.
The number of Highway Traffic Act charges in the court system at year end fell from from almost 250,000 in 2017 to under 100,000 in 2020. But despite the massive purge of charges in 2022, the number is rising again, now nearly doubling to 187,000 and maintaining the pressure to keep dropping serious traffic safety charges because of overwhelmed courts
Backlogs are growing again
 Number of HTA charges pending disposition at end of period
By Sadie Smith
October 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
When Ontario took the plunge and launched its regulated commercial gambling market, it had high hopes that it would be a success. However, what has happened in the province has exceeded the most ambitious expectations both in terms of revenue generated and moving people away from offshore operators. While Ontario was Canada’s lone wolf in how it chose to go about regulation, it has been watched carefully by lawmakers and industry lobbyists throughout the country. Now, with Alberta preparing to launch its regulated market later this year or in early 2026, it could be seen as a pack leader.
 We have to wonder why Canada’s igaming industry has been so wildly successful. Looking at Ontario alone, the Gross Gambling Revenue for the 2024 / 2025 period was US$2.3 billion – a third up on the previous year. The casino and casino games market for the entire country is expected to reach US$6.71 billion this year. Those are eye-wateringly large sums of money. We sat down with Casino.org’s expert, Martin Backhouse, to try to unpick why the industry is so successful there.
Is there something special about the Canadian iGaming market?
 Martin Backhouse “There is no denying the fact that the Canadian gaming market is unique and exciting. Given the size of the population, Canada’s gambling industry is impressive. Sixty percent of Canadians say they have spent money recently on gambling, and more than a third of the population as a whole play casino games. Unlike in the States, gambling is legal everywhere, and it is part of the cultural makeup of the country.”
 Was Covid19 the event that allowed the online gambling industry to grow rapidly? “Even with a deeply rooted connection to gambling, it is still surprising just how popular online casinos are, and the sector has been experiencing significant growth. It is down to a mix of factors, including changing customer preferences, access to technology, and the fact that the games are fun and easily accessible. There is no doubt that Covid-19 played its part, introducing people who were denied the chance to play in person to online options. Once they found how great the sites were, there was no turning back.
What is driving the success of the market?
“There are so many factors driving the success that it would be impossible to pinpoint just one. However, the availability of apps and mobile gaming sites has made it possible for people to ‘play on the go’. The whole market is safe and secure due to strict regulations and advanced encryption technology. Players can feel confident that their financial and personal data is not at risk, and this gives them the confidence to dabble in their favourite pastime.”
 Play alongside live players against a human dealer in real time. “It is a case of success breeds success. As the developers know that Canadians are keen online players, they invest in their platforms to make them as attractive as possible. One key trend is the availability and popularity of live dealer games. Immersive and interactive, they take players directly to the casino floor without needing any additional technology or peripherals. They play alongside live players against a human dealer in real time. They deliver the convenience of online gambling with the social aspect of being in a land-based casino.”
“However, it is not just the big established casinos that are driving the success; there are always new sites and apps launching, offering players even more choice. Casino.org ranks the best new online casinos in Canada to give exciting opportunities to our readers. Fresh casino sites offer the opportunity to try out the latest online games, new payment methods, and more.”
Isn’t it risky for players to try out new sites?
Why not just stick to the big, established brands?
“Well, without blowing our own trumpet too much, the benefit of using an online review site is that we are all about removing the risks. We do the hard work behind the scenes to ensure that we only recommend great sites. We are totally independent and are not paid to promote one website over another. We use a data-driven approach to rank and rate sites. That might sound a little dry, but it means we compare “apples with apples”. As we all enjoy playing on the sites too, we also bring subjective commentary to our reviews.”
“Once we have tried out sites and are confident that they are up to scratch, we curate a list of the best ones. Players can often claim more lucrative bonuses than they would find at established sites. New sites give players a chance to try out new casino slots from top developers and future rising stars. The latest sites and apps often deploy fresh technology and are more cutting-edge than legacy brands. Because the developers know that Canadians are keen gamblers, they invest in producing a superior gaming experience for the market.”
Are there any other factors driving the growth
 Cryptocurrencies are now a part of the equation. “We cannot ignore cryptocurrencies in the equation. So many people have invested in crypto and enjoyed watching their wallets go up (and suffered the agony of them going down, too). However, there are still limited outlets for using cryptocurrency, but many new online casinos accept it as a payment option. There is an increasing number of people using their crypto wallets to fund their favourite entertainment.
What can we expect next?
 If Alberta succeeds, the sky is the limit for players and operators alike. “Everyone is watching to see what happens in Alberta. Originally, it had been hoped that the commercial market would launch rapidly. At one point, it was supposed to be live before last Christmas. However, the province has realized that it is better to move forward slowly and steadily. The bill is making its way through the legislative process, and then the regulators will set up the Alberta iGaming Corporation. Things have been more complicated in Alberta than they were in Ontario, because there is an existing legal market in the form of PlayAlberta in place. What they want to do is tackle the grey market without cannibalising the existing government-run PlayAlberta site. If Alberta succeeds, the sky is the limit for players and operators alike. Many people are speculating that other provinces will then follow suit, but they are all holding their cards close to their chest for now.”
By Gazette Staff
October 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
First in a series of articles on how the Sound of Music as it has been known could be a thing of the past
City Council spent more than two hours deciding on what they wanted to do with the Sound of Music request for additional funding.
Several Sound of Music delegations followed.
To fully understand how things rolled out, one has to get a grip on what Staff were recommending and why: That follows. Later today, we will summarize the delegations and then get into the details on what Council eventually decided to send to Council that will meet next on October 14th. .
There was some very surprising news in the Performing Arts delegation and a bit of a hint on what they might do next.
The Staff report to Council meeting as a Standing Committee was to decline Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival Inc.’s 2026 funding request and discontinue municipal financial support due to ongoing financial instability and non-compliance with Agreement conditions.
 Jackie Johnson introduced what was a scathing Staff report that spelled the end of Sound of Music as it has been known. Staff also recommended the reallocation of $150,000—originally designated for Sound of Music in the 2026 Operating Budget—to the Community Investment Fund.
The report also asked that Council Direct staff to report back to Council on exploration of potential opportunities for a different form of music festival and/or a different operator of a music festival at Spencer Smith Park, following a call for expressions of interest from potential event organizers.
The report also suggested the removal of Council’s Ex Officio appointment from the Burlington Sound of Music Inc.
The Staff report was certainly a detailed review of the City’s financial and operational support for Sound of Music (SOM), a free annual waterfront event delivered by Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival Inc. (BSOM), a not-for-profit organization with over four decades of history in
Burlington.
“While the festival continues to attract large crowds, in recent years, it has faced persistent financial instability. Contributing factors include the loss of major sponsorships, escalating operational costs, and underperformance in key revenue areas.
Between 2024 and 2025, the City provided nearly $1 million in combined support to BSOM,
including direct financial contributions, in-kind assistance, short-term loans, enhanced logistical
support, annual grant funding, and a private donation facilitated through municipal channels.
During this period, BSOM received close to 80% of the City’s total event support budget—
substantially more than any other festival or event in Burlington.
 Emilie Cote handled much of the back-and-forth council member questions In addition to these more recent requests, a short-term loan of $200,000 was provided to BSOM in October 2022 (F-36-22). This loan was subsequently forgiven in 2023 through one-time funding as part of the approved 2023 operating budget (Business Case 2023-058). That same business case also included an increase to BSOM’s annual operating grant, raising it from $100,093 to $150,000.
To improve accountability in connection with the City’s grant to BSOM, a Grant Agreement was introduced in 2025, which included, among other terms, the following requirements:
- That BSOM submit a business plan, to the satisfaction of the City on or before June 1, 2025.
- That BSOM repay outstanding arrears on or before September 30, 2025, with the balance at that time estimated to be approximately $20,000.
In addition to this, in May 2025, BSOM signed a loan agreement with the City for $225,000.
The loan was expected to be paid back by September 1, 2025.
Although BSOM submitted a business plan, it did not meet the necessary standards for evaluation. Key financial details and strategic insights were lacking, making it difficult for the
City to fully assess BSOM’s long-term viability and alignment with its investment principles.
As stewards of public resources, the City remains committed to supporting initiatives that demonstrate sound financial planning, strategic clarity, and sustainable impact. The remaining
conditions of the agreements have not been fulfilled to date, and no substantial payments have been made toward the outstanding loan or arrears.
As of October 6, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting, following the final payment deadline of September 30, BSOM will continue to owe the City approximately $245,000, with additional 2025 service invoices still pending.
Despite efforts to restructure its Board and introduce measures aimed at improving its financial health, BSOM continues to operate in a deficit and has not resolved its outstanding financial obligations. A private donation of $200,000 was made to the City in support of BSOM and was applied directly to BSOM’s outstanding debt. While this contribution offered temporary relief, and allowed the 2025 festival to proceed, it did not address the deeper, systemic challenges impacting BSOM’s long-term financial sustainability.
In September 2025, BSOM submitted a new funding request, seeking:
Forgiveness of the $225,000 loan and $20,000 in arrears
A one-time emergency grant of $200,000 to cover unpaid vendor costs
An increase in annual municipal funding from $150,000 to $350,000
Given that the terms of the agreements will not be fulfilled by the September 30 deadline, and in light of the ongoing financial risk and the disproportionate level of municipal support allocated to BSOM, staff recommend that Council decline the 2026 funding request and discontinue any future financial support.
It is further recommended that Council look for ways to create opportunities to support a new music festival provider in 2026. This recommendation aligns with ongoing reviews of the Culture Plan and recreation grants, which emphasize the need for more balanced and inclusive event funding.
Preliminary community engagement confirms strong public interest in music festivals, and as such staff are planning on reporting back with options for continuing a music festival at Spencer Smith Park, , subsequent to the issuance of a call for interest targeting potential music event organizers.
 Will a scene like this ever be repeated in Burlington?
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