 By Staff
July 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
If you want to get it done you go to the guy everyone calls. The fellow that is busy, busy but who somehow always finds the time – and manages to keep his life sane at the same time. Guys like that have a sense of humour and they not only think outside the box – they live outside the box.
 At its annual general meeting, the Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) confirmed the appointment of Ron Foxcroft, Owner of Fox40 International Inc. and Owner of Fluke Transportation since 1982, and Haydn Northey, Vice President, Operations and Chief Privacy Officer, Pioneer Energy, to the board of directors.
2014 is a milestone year for BCF as it celebrates 15 years of strengthening Burlington. Chair Tim Dobbie said he was “ very pleased to welcome Ron to Burlington Community Foundation’s board during our anniversary year.”
Best known for inventing the internationally celebrated Fox 40 whistle – which is officially sanctioned by the NFL, CFL, NCAA and the NBA – Ron was a professional basketball official for three decades. Off the court, he’s also a legend among community supporters – recognized as the 1997 Hamilton Citizen of the Year, 2011 Burlington Entrepreneur of the Year and holds an Honorary Doctor of Law from McMaster University.
The BCF celebrates 15 years of service to Burlington and currently manages more than $8.4 million in assets. Since inception the BCF has provided over $2.7 million in grants to the community – that’s a lot of potential for good for every corner of our community. BCF responds to many of our city’s hidden needs and I’m proud to help advance BCF’s mission to strengthen Burlington, today and for the future.”
  Also joining the board is Haydn Northey, a 28-year veteran of the retail petroleum industry. Currently Vice President of Operations and Chief Privacy Officer at Pioneer Energy, Haydn held leadership roles with Texaco Canada, Imperial Oil and Suncor Energy (Sunoco). An avid hockey and lacrosse coach, Haydn shares, “I’m delighted to join BCF’s board of directors and help connect funds to vital needs across our great city. Each and every Burlington Community Foundation grant truly makes a difference to people’s lives.”
Established in 1999 as a centre for philanthropy, 2014 marks a celebration of Burlington Community Foundation’s 15 years of service to Burlington residents. BCF collaborates with donors to build endowments, address vital community needs and support areas of personal philanthropic interest. To learn more visit the BCF website.
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 By Pepper Parr
July 7, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Late in 2012 we ran a police drug bust story on a 24 year old Hamilton resident who was charged with Possession of Cannabis Resin for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Cannabis Marihuana over 30 grams, Possession of Psilocybin, Possession of Ecstasy, Production of Cannabis Marihuana, Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking.
This was a drug trafficker with a significant inventory. We did not follow up on this information to find out if there was a conviction.
Several days ago we got an email from the drug trafficker asking if we would remove the story because it was “causing trouble in my job career as people are Googling my name and I am having difficulty holding a job due to this. Can we please have this removed as I do not wish to pursue this legally and go through the court system as I’m sure you guys don’t wish to waste your time in the courts either.
 Some of the evidence gathered in a drug raid is truly scary – the weapons are very real. This photograph shows drugs in its early form – it gets refined and moved through the supply chain. And make no mistake about these drugs – there is a demand. “It has been over 2.5 year that this event occurred and it would be greatly appreciated if my name and the other names be removed or blanked out. If I don’t receive a reply within the next few days to weeks I will have no choice but to contact a lawyer and take this to court, again I really don’t wish to do this as it would just be a waste of time and money.” The writer provided us with an email address and we contacted him saying we would have our lawyers be in touch with him to arrange for the receipt of any claim for damages he might wish to serve on us.
The young man replied: “I didn’t mean to threaten you in any way, I just wish to have my life back in order. This is creating a huge burden for me, I just wish to have it removed with little work as possible (meaning no lawyers, judges and so on), it’s just a waste of time for everyone.”
There are a number of readers with very strong views on the damage the drug trade does. We sent this along to one of them who came back with:
Too bad buddy. Your name is out and you have to deal with the choices you made in your life; that is one of the consequences of criminal behaviour. Why make a potential employer Google your history; why not disclose your past and try being honest because that is your only hope to fix any damage you may have caused to yourself. Your threats for a potential damage claim are laughable. Drug dealers are the ones that cause all the damage.
I am a parent who has tried desperately to fight off drug dealers for many years in an attempt to save my children from the life destructing effects of the drug world. I hate drug dealers. Through my experience and ongoing education of how the drug world works, I can tell you that drug dealers cater to kids as young as 9 and 10 years old; that is very disturbing. My kid got fed cocaine from an adult drug dealer at the age of 14. That adult drug dealer now knows I know, and he carries that burden wherever he goes out in public and also where he lives; that type of constant feeling of being shadowed by a loving parent cannot be a good feeling, but, it is one of many consequences of being a drug dealer.
There are others, and I believe from personal experience that a parent’s efforts do not go unnoticed by all those active in the drug world. Dealers do not like publicity, so it is somewhat comforting to know that once in a while we get to know who these people are through media and police bulletins. Another method is to go to the courtroom and sit and witness all these idiots get processed through the system; this is all ultimately public knowledge. It is actually quite a pleasant feeling to watch as the names of dealers get exposed.
 When there is a major drug bust the police frequently lay out all the evidence to be photographed and then make the pictures available to the media. It is all part of the regular media work they do, which includes the name of the accused. But it is not easy to find who the drug dealers are and more importantly where the supply originates. I am one of those parents who likes to find out, because I want to know where and why tens of thousands of dollars of my money went as a direct result of these scumbag dealers that lurk amongst the rest of the people in society. It takes a long time to recover from the effects that these dealers bring upon the rest of the world; similar time as this goof now trying to get assistance to hide his past. This will take a long time buddy, and you deserve every minute of your struggle and waiting time. Accept your frustrations now as a bit of payback for your dealing actions. Your other option is to return to dealing; nobody will deny you that type of access to work; you can start today; no Google.
I want this information posted on a billboard at a busy intersection; names and pictures of all the drug dealers. It would be a very good deterrent. I will pay for the billboard. It can be a place where other parents, ones that may not be as active in the fight against this scum, can come to see who these people are that are killing our children. Parents have a right to know who is killing their children.
The writer of the above is a respected professional that we have met. It will be interesting to see if his views are shared by others.
As for the drug dealer – we think he has some work to do to convince the community that he deserves a second chance.
 By Pepper Parr
July 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
One evening after a city council meeting a number of months ago, a member of council asked me: “How are your relationships with the members of council?
I was a little taken aback by the comment, because I don’t see myself as having a relationship with any of the council members. I have, on occasion had lunch with several of them, a drink at the end of the day with others but these men and woman are not part of my social circle.
 They are all running for re-election: should they all be re-elected? That is a decision you make – but only if you vote. I serve as an observer of what the seven members of council do and report on the way they handle the city’s business. I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in on all of the 11 half day sessions when the seven of them, along with all the senior members of the administrative side of the city corporation, developed the Strategic Plan.
I talk to the city manager and the general managers frequently and observe how they do their work. A combination of my age, my experience as an observer and the fact that I am the only outside observer who has attended city council meetings, advisory board meetings and most of the workshops held by the city, I have a unique view of the seven people on council and the senior staff. Other journalists cover Standing Committee meetings but none cover the Advisory committee meetings regularly.
Due to a health issue – had to have a hip replaced – I have not taken in the Standing Committee meetings live for the past five weeks but I have watched the webcasts and worked from that footage. There is however nothing as good as being in the room and watching how staff react to a comment made by a council member or how one council member interacts with another.
 One of the most revealing off-camera events was when Councillor Craven slid into the Council chamber, seconds after the vote on a very significant development in his ward. It is very, very rare that Craven misses anything that relates to Aldershot. That just doesn’t happen, but it was politic for him not to be in the room for what is referred to as the Bridgeview development.
Like anyone else I have favorites and work at making sure the likes and the dislikes don’t get in the way of what I do. My objective, and the purpose of the Gazette when it was formed, is to get the very best people leading the city. The decision as to who leads, is made by the people who vote. My job is to inform them, and do so in a manner that includes reporting the facts, putting those facts in context and then analyzing all the material and explaining it in as much detail and as entertaining as possible.
 What used to be 1028-Lakeshore-Rd.-was-demolished-in-1989. Note the second row of cottages in the background, which are-located along the-beach. Will the Beachway decision, made at the Regional level, become an election issue in ward 1? Every time the amount we pay the members of council becomes a public issue, there is a howl about the amount they are paid. Good people are entitled to a decent income; they have no job security and while there are stretches of time, when there isn’t much work to do there are occasions, when these people work very long hours and are expected to make decisions on some pretty weak data.
The members of council have to raise the money to get themselves elected and be careful, just who offers to donate to a campaign. They end up using some of their own money to get the job.
There is a certain amount of ego involved in running for public office; there are those who abuse the authority they have, some spend far too many years serving as members of council, while others fail to realize they are just not cut out for public service and don’t know how to bow out gracefully.
The personal lives of the members of council take a hit. They are on duty 24 x 7 and many feel their member of council is supposed to solve all their problems. One council member was out picking up garbage bags on Christmas Day.
Burlington’s council members are not yet at the front of the pack, when it comes to involving their constituents. The idea that the voice of the community is like electricity – always on and always providing the light and the energy with which council members direct their actions and decisions, has yet to become the norm in Burlington, but we are getting there.
There are members of this council that just don’t like people and are too frequently rude and impolite. We have members of council, who are not advocates of some of the services the city provides, and while they may be necessary and vital to some people – some council members see their personal views as more relevant than those of the people they represent.
 Councillors Sharman and Lancaster – both elected to Council for the first time in 2010 and both members of the Shape Burlington group – have either of them advanced the cause of citizen participation all that much? Some council members have grown into their jobs – others have been in their jobs too long. Public life is hard work; there are no courses to take to learn to become a good council member. It is the community at large, that makes good council members by calling them to account and expecting them to represent the core values of the community and to strive to be consistent and do their very best.
 Was the decision to sell a short stretch of waterfront property owned by the city and the province a mistake? Mistakes do get made – it takes a strong person to admit that a mistake was made and then fix as much of the damage as possible, and learn the lesson the mistake offered. This council has yet to show that there is a common purpose that they are collectively working towards – and I have yet to hear the Mayor admit that something was a mistake – an honest one, but a mistake nevertheless.
In the months leading up to the municipal election, we will review and report on what the members of your council have done for you. We will also interview every person that is nominated for office and strive to set out what the issues are for each ward, and what the key issues are for the city over all.
 Has the city got a firm grip on the air park matter? They have won all the legal battles so far, but the decision to hold on invoking a new site plan bylaw, when they learned the air park owner is going to present a site plan, has some north Burlington people scratching their heads. Burlington has some very significant challenges ahead of it. While we a wealthy city with many advantages, we have some major problems in attracting new business to the city; we have an aging population that will require more in the way of funding, and we have an infrastructure that was not properly maintained by previous councils and now need millions to repair roads.
 Approving the six story Maranantha project on New Street was a bold move. Was it the right move? We have several developers, who own large swaths of land, who want to convert much of that land from employment uses to residential, which is much more profitable for the developer but expensive for the city.
By all the standard metrics Burlington should be an ideal place for those high paying, high tech jobs and there have been some brought to the city, but there haven’t been enough of them.
The city finally has a reconstituted economic development corporation, but it took more than 18 months to change the leadership of that organization and hire someone with the depth and understanding needed to entice corporations to make Burlington home.
 Does the word “vibrant” really apply to the downtown core? Is there a lot more hard thinking to be done, to get a core of the city that works? We have a city that cannot get out of the travel by car habit, and a city administration that has yet to come up with the solutions, that will get people on to public transit. This at a time, when gasoline prices climb daily and the province is providing some of the best public transit scheduling.
 Know your ward; know the candidates and make an informed decision – your taxes pay these people – and these people set the tax rate. In municipal elections most of the attention focuses on the election of a Mayor: does the public want the one they have and is there anything better being offered. This year it does not appear that the Mayor is going to be challenged; he should be – he needs to be called to account for some of his decisions and a tough election race will make him a better Mayor if he wins.
Some ward council seats get very competitive – ward 6 is an example this time out, with at least six people running for the seat Blair Lancaster currently holds.
Ward 4 is going to be an interesting race – there are some fundamental issues related to conflicts of interest and this city has to decide, what is acceptable in terms of looking after one’s personal interests before those of the city, as set out in its Official Plan. The community has to make clear, what the core value is.
 The waterfront and the pier were issues in the 2010 election. With the pier officially opened for more than a year – its cost is now the issue – will the voters ask for more in the way of accountability and at least some transparency on how the cost ballooned so much? In 2010 the attention was focused on ward 2, where Marianne Meed Ward wanted to bring her populist approach to city council. Meed Ward used the Save our Waterfront Committee to very good affect as the lance with which she went after then Mayor Cam Jackson. Meed Ward felt the waterfront was not getting the attention it deserved, and that the city has made a mess of its legal problems over the pier. She believed the city could have and should have settled with HSS, the original contractor.
There was a settlement, but not the one the public was told they were going to get.
Elections are about choices. Choices can get made, when people have information and not have to look at the ballot and put an X beside the name they recognize.
We will strive to provide you with in-depth balanced portraits, based on what we saw and heard, of each person running for public office. Your job then is to cast a ballot.
 By Pepper Parr
July 5, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
It was Council showing leadership and venturing into policy that it has not always been comfortable with.
We are hearing the phrase “big city amenities with a small town feel” which plays well into the mindset of most of the Burlington population.
The legal issues surrounding the air park are certainly big city – we don’t find ourselves in front of the Ontario Court of Appeal all that often.
The property in this photograph has been raised about seven feet – other parts of the air park property have been raised more than 30 feet – all without site plan approval. Last week council found itself being asked to support a Resolution that would have Burlington asking the province to get on with legislation that apparently has all party approval – it died on the Order paper when the election was called.
Should the province enact the legislation – it won’t mean a pinch of difference for the people who face legal claims by the air park and for the average resident who wants to ensure that the school their child will attend has the programs they need and that there will be room on the soccer team as well – the legislation is about as remote as the creation of a Caliphate in the Middle East. Less than 1% of Burlington’s population even knows what a Caliphate is.
But it is nevertheless important and it was time for Burlington to get behind the legislation.
The resolution debated at council last Monday was for the city to urge to province to pass legislation that would prevent SLAPP suits. A SLAPP suit is: “A meritless legal action brought to intimidate opponents, deplete their resources, reduce their ability to participate in public affairs, and deter others from participating in discussion on matters of public interest.”
Burlington had an opportunity to pass such a resolution in the 2008-2009 fiscal year – it chose not to do so.
The SLAPP legislation is a good thing; a very good thing. Ward 6 candidate Vanessa Warren delegated on the issue and gave one of the most stirring delegations I have heard in some time.
It is important enough for the Gazette to publish it in full. Stuff like this matters and Burlington is fortunate to have people like Warren who will fight the good fight.
That it might cost the city a bit of money to support this resolution – we’ve spent much more money for less worthy matters.
Here is what Vanessa Warren had to say:
 Vanessa Warren, one of the three libel suit defendants and perhaps the best delegater this city has seen at a city council meeting, is a candidate for the ward 6 seat – home of the air park. Citizen Advocates have played critical roles in environmental and social protection throughout the post-Kovachik history at the Airpark, and indeed all over our City. In 2008, local residents rallied to stop Vince Rossi’s proposal for an 8000 car auto-auction lot, and then regrouped to stop a 65 m high cell phone tower to be located next to their residences on Appleby Line.
You all know the very recent history at the Airpark, and I think you are also aware of the enormous amount of citizen advocacy that has contributed tireless hours to trying to bring appropriate oversight to the Airpark.
After Justice Murray’s ruling in October 2013 that the Airpark comply with environmental enforcements by the City and Province, there was no cooperation. The seemingly thin legal arguments that were the foundation of the Airpark’s appeal this month didn’t even get the Ontario Court of Appeal judges through to lunch.
That should have been the end of the story, but still, no compliance. Currently, for example, the Region of Halton has hired a consulting firm to investigate the repeated wash outs occurring after rain events on Appleby line, and they are having difficulty getting permission to access Airpark property to complete their review.
However, there is one set of laws that the Airpark does think are valid, and those are Ontario’s onerous libel laws.
 Vince Rossi, president of the Burlington Air Park Inc., and believed to be the sole shareholder of the private company, has sued three Burlington residents who spoke out against the development, which he did without the site plan approval the city said was needed. Rossi has since indicated he will seek site plan approval. On April 16th of this year, the Hamilton Spectator published an opinion piece by Vince Rossi, owner of the Airpark. It seemed almost delusional in its attempt to re brand and spin the grim history he had presided over, and was so misleading and insulting that it stuck in the craw of the community that had been under siege for the previous 5 years.
I published a response the following day on my own blog that addressed the information I believed to be specious, point by point. I felt then, as I do know, that the Airpark could not be allowed to advance a glib “business as usual” promotional policy with the wake of so much damage still rocking our Protected Countryside.
I have never lied, I have merely stood witness and tried to not allow a developer to operate in the absence of scrutiny, and as reward, I get to be a defendant in a lawsuit.
 Monte Dennis, one of the three libel suit defendants. David Donnelly of Donnelly Law, and Brian MacLeod Rogers, a leading libel lawyer and member of the Attorney General’s Anti-SLAPP Advisory Panel, are representing myself, Monte Dennis and the RBGC in this case, and they characterize this claim for libel as a SLAPP suit (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation). SLAPP suits are meritless legal actions brought to intimidate opponents, deplete their resources, reduce their ability to participate in public affairs, and deter others from participating in discussion on matters of public interest.
Ask yourself how many times you’ve seen advocacy bring about great change in Burlington – or prevent deleterious change. Ask yourself what Burlington looks like if SLAPP suits become a useful tool for developers to silence counterarguments. How could we hope to maintain our green space and our Rural North against development in that reality? How do we maintain our quality of life if we are not allowed to speak to it?
Ask yourself what you would do if a developer was trying to silence all-candidate dialogue on a project by gagging one candidate with a meritless suit?
How damaged does dialogue in the public realm become when discussion on critical issues is muzzled because it is ‘before the courts’?
This amounts to corporate censorship.
I am now faced with the real emotional and financial stress of a $100,000.00 claim. We will, of course, be vigorously defending the lawsuit, and I’m confident that we’ll ultimately be successful, but in the meantime my resources will be taken away from the public and political work that I should be focusing on – which is just what a SLAPP suit is intended to do.
 It is site changes like this – made without site plan approval, that upset rural Burlington residents who then found themselves facing libel claims for speaking out. It took some discussion for the city to decide to support legislation that would prevent such libel claims. The city hasn’t decided if it wants to ask for standing as a friend of the court when there is a trial – some ask – if there is a trial? This is a deeply destructive force, and it must not be allowed to silence other citizens. Quebec and 28 US States have passed anti-SLAPP legislation to protect their journalists and citizen advocates.
Anti-SLAPP legislation provides speedy redress for civil claims against people engaging in legitimate speech and public participation, as is certainly the case here.
Please unanimously support this resolution tonight so that we can send a clear message to the Province on the need for anti-SLAPP legislation. I would also ask that, as our 7 Regional representatives, you champion this type of resolution at the next possible Regional Council.
In addition to this resolution, I would ask that the City intervene in this lawsuit as Amicus Curiae or Friend of the Court. You, the City, are in a unique position to speak to the context of this case, having been engaged with the Airpark over the past 18 months. This does not require you become a party to the case, but it would help to frame the defense of fair public comment and it would send exactly the right message to your advocacy community, perhaps thawing the ‘libel chill’ that threatens public dialogue and engagement.
Just like in the Airpark dispute, I believe right and wrong are very clear here, and by passing this resolution, and becoming a friend of the court, you can take a strong position on this case, but more importantly, you can publicly acknowledge the role that our City’s great advocacy community plays in our mutual well-being.
 Pat Moyle, interim city manager put the rationale for passing a resolution that supported SLAPP legislation being passed by the province. At one point, in the discussion that followed the delegations, it looked as if there was going to be a little difficulty getting the resolution approved. But after interim city manager Pat Moyle spoke on two occasions, council began to come to the conclusion that this was a good thing to do. And it was – and it was passed unanimously on a recorded vote. There were a couple of Council members who may have had to hold their noses when they stood – but there was no way they were going to be on the wrong side of a Motherhood issue.
During the debate Monte Dennis, one of the defendants said there was fear in the minds of many in the community. Councillor Craven said that in his 14 years as a member of Council he had never heard of any intimidation in the community. The people in the Beachway would beg to differ on that score.
Warren has asked the city to consider participating in the libel court case when it takes place as an Amicus Curiae or Friend of the Court, which was another very good idea, but Councillor Dennison wasn’t comfortable with that idea. He wanted to hear what the city’s solicitor had to say – and that indeed would be interesting to hear. There are arguments for and against seeking standing in a court case as a “friend of the court”.
It would be very interesting to hear what solicitor Nancy Shea Nicol would have to say – it would give the public a sense as to the kind of legal mind she has; something that is not always clear, when she makes presentations – far too many of which get heard in closed sessions.
 By Pepper Parr
July 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Interim city manager Pat Moyle told council last week that the most important part of the resolution they passed – unanimously – was the direction for the Mayor to meet with the two newly elected Liberal MPP’s about the city’s desire to see some action from the province on the SLAPP legislation the province has been toying with for a couple of years.
 Mayor Rick Goldring met with the two MPP’s who represent different parts of Burlington. Gives them the Burlington story – but doesn’t buy them lunch. The Mayor got his instruction Monday night – and wham, bam alakazam – he has a meet with the two women on Friday.
 She celebrated a milestone birthday and a week or so later brought an end to seventy years of Tory rule in Burlington. Then she met with the Mayor – we don’t know what she did to him. Eleanor McMahon and Indira Naidoo – Harris both came to City Hall and met with the Mayor for about 90 minutes. The Mayor presented “The Burlington Story” followed by discussion about jobs and economic development; transportation, transit and transportation and where future residential growth will occur in Burlington.
The Mayor presented the resolution that Council passed. Mayor Goldring described the occasion as “ a great first meeting. I look forward to working with Eleanor, Indira and the whole provincial government in continuing to build a healthy, sustainable and prosperous Burlington.
It was indeed a good start. The previous occupant of the Burlington provincial seat managed to go close to a full term without ever appearing before council.
 By Ray Rivers
July 3, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
If his father had spent more time teaching the son to horseback ride instead of to paddle a canoe, would Albertans have taken more kindly to Justin’s Liberals in Alberta’s two federal by-elections?
 Pierre never taught the kid how to ride a horse. Tough to win in Alberta without that skill. Provincial and federal politics are inextricably linked in Alberta. Though AT ONE POINT governed by the Liberals, the province has chosen other parties since the 1920’s, eventually carving out a reputation as Canada’s most conservative province.
Even before the senior Trudeau’s National Energy Program, essentially a federal tax on oil, served to alienate them, Albertans had mostly decided on the Progressive Conservatives (PC) or Social Credit, a sort of pre-Tea Party political entity that can best be described as conflicted. Edmonton, sometimes called ‘Redmonton’, has been known to have sent Liberals to Ottawa.
So, despite Liberal hopes for a break-through in oil-sand country, the Trudeau Liberals came up empty-handed, and Mr. Harper’s Conservatives won both Macleod (68.8%) and Fort McMurray- Athabasca (46.3%). The NDP were barely visible in either race, though they clearly hurt the Liberals in the northern Alberta poll. That contest between the two major parties would have been much less clear cut had a preferential ballot been used (see my last posting).
 Oil and cowboys – two different demographics. But really low taxes in Alberta. The oil boom in northern Alberta has created a different demographic than that of cowboy country. If there is to be a Liberal or NDP breakthrough, other than cosmopolitan Edmonton, this is the most likely place for that to happen. Otherwise, the Conservatives (in one form or another) will continue to dominate the province. One might be excused for confusing Alberta politics with those of Cuba or even China. There too, the election results are forgone conclusions.
Ontario’s by-elections were a different story, with both wins going to the Trudeau Liberals, including Trinity-Spadina, which Layton’s widow, Olivia Chow, had vacated to run for the mayoralty in Toronto.
Ironically former Toronto Councillor Adam Vaughan ended up replacing her. This represents a significant loss for NDP leader Tom Mulcair, who was hoping to demonstrate national appeal beyond his powerful base in Quebec.
Liberal Arnold Chan cleaned up in Scarborough-Agincourt, in what had been promoted by the Tories as a test case of Trudeau’s marijuana legalization policy. Despite the aggressive Tory campaign on that issue, it appears the dopers were in the majority – or the voters just didn’t care about that issue. Will Mr. Harper finally get the message, one wonders?
 NDP took a huge hit in Ontario by elections. will the same thing happen with their big base in Quebec? By-elections are the best chance the public has to register discontent with a governing political party and its policies. This time around, nothing really changed in terms of the governing party. Liberals are playing well in Ontario but, despite their improved showing in Alberta, they have a long way to go before they can show results in the west. The by-elections indicate that Canadians may be drifting back to a two-party system with the NDP, Green, Libertarian and other parties safely in the back seat.
Quebec is still predominantly represented by the NDP, but will Quebecers shift back to their traditional first choice, the Liberals, if a Liberal government seems in the cards? Quebecers are perhaps the most strategic of Canadian voters, as they demonstrated in breaking tradition to help elect native son Brian Mulroney. They may just be parking their votes with the NDP.
One has to be careful in reading too much into these by-elections given that the PM deliberately called them on a summer-time Monday, the week school holidays started and the day before Canada Day. Why stick around to vote if you can head out to the cottage.
If Harper was hoping for low voter turnout to contain any damage, he got his wish. The best turnout was in Toronto (Scarborough-Agincourt at 27%) and the lowest in the tar sands (15%). In fact just 7% of eligible voters in Fort McMurray-Athabasca elected the MP there.
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 against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.
Background links:
Alberta General Elections By-election Results Chinese Politics By-elections
 By Pepper Parr
July 1, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
Hold on there cowboy – you missed one. Or did you just decide this wasn’t something you wanted to talk about?
 Councillor Jack Dennison has served as a member of city council for more than 20 years. In his summer Newsletter Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison listed all the things he had something to say about. They included:
Castleguard Crescent
Creeks
Fairview Street
Guelph Line and Fairview Street
Lakeshore Road
Lakeview Avenue
New Street
Washburn Reservoir
Wards 4/5 CAR-FREE STREET FESTIVAL
CITY-WIDE NEWS
Brant Street Pier
City Talk
Election 2014 – Voters’ List
Emerald Ash Borer
New Parking Rules
Online Service Requests
Snow Clearing
REGION OF HALTON
Compost Give Away
Online Tools – Waste Management
Special Waste Drop-off Days
NEWS of INTEREST
Art Gallery of Burlington
Union Gas – Dawn Parkway System Expansion
Summer Fun
Construction in Ward 4
Lakeshore Road – Ward 2 (at Ward 4 boundary)
Snow Clearing – Approval of Additional Services
Waste Management
Burlington Beach – To Swim or Not to Swim
Burlington Fire Department Safety Tips
Barbecuing on Balconies
Outdoor Water Use Program
West Nile Virus
THAT is an impressive list – makes one think that the member of Council is worth the $50,000 plus he gets paid for the city part of his job. Council members get an additional $50,000 (approximately) for the work they do at the Regional level..
 Dennison’s home on Lakeshore Road; a property he wants to sever a slice off of the east side to build a second residence. BUT – there is an item of pressing importance that you left off the list Councillor Dennison – that Ontario Municipal Board hearing related to the severance you couldn’t get at city council; the one that was turned down by the Committee of Adjustment – whose ruling you have appealed – which is your right.
 Committee of Adjustment members, who decided against a request from Councillor Jack Dennison to sever his Lakeshore Road property. It is a little awkward, when as a Council member you are appealing a city bylaw that you swore to uphold, when you were sworn in back in 2010.You appealed the Committee of Adjustment decision and somehow managed to get a date so far forward – May 29, 2014, that many wondered how you managed that – but the process of tribunals has a pace of its own.The members of the Roseland Community Association weren’t happy with the delay but at least the hearing was going to take place well enough before the October election that a decision would be available, before voters went to the polls.
Holy Hannah – what a stunner of a shock to those gathered in the city hall committee room on May 29, waiting for the hearing to begin, when someone from the Clerk’s office walked in to say that the hearing would not take place. The stunned audience asked why not? They were told that a witness was ill. Whose witness, they demanded to know? You guessed it – a Jack Dennison witness was not able to attend to testify.
There would appear to be an abuse of process here. Surely the OMB Commissioner would have been aware of and sensitive to the nature of the impact the hearing would have on the fall election. The Commissioner didn’t even show up – he just advised the city clerk that the hearing was delayed. Delayed to when? At this point we don’t know – but surely it will take place far enough before the election for the ruling of the commissioner to be available to the public? Maybe surely wasn’t the right word?
Background links:
Council member appeals Committee of adjustment decision.
Council member declares a conflict of interest.
Public doesn’t like the smell of a Committee of adjustment hearing
Dennison Committee of adjustment hearing cancelled – yet to be rescheduled
 By Staff
June 30th, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
They are doing it again. This time the identity thieves are using Amazon as the skirts they hide behind.
 We didn’t place this order. We got this notification of an order we are supposed to have placed – we didn’t place any such order. We now buy most of our books from A Different Drummer Book store.
However we have in the past purchased from Amazon and it is conceivable that I might have thought my wife placed an order and I would want to see what was bought.
The moment I click on that link – they have me. They then begin to suck information out of me and, if I am gullible enough, they might convince me to give them credit card and banking information. Once that happens you can almost hear the sound of their sucking money out of your accounts.
If it doesn’t look real – then it probably isn’t. That is especially the case with the internet.
Caution, always caution.
 By Pepper Parr
June 29, 2104
BURLINGTON, ON.
Not a lot being heard about what is happening at the Air Park these days. Other than the damage done to Appleby Line during the May rain storms where parts of the shoulder of the road were washed away there hasn’t been much news.
The Region went after the air park and wanted to know what was being done to manage the flow of water from a site that had been altered without site plan approval from the city. There are reasons for the city asking that a site plan be submitted when the contours and elevations of a property are changed.
 This is the drawing on the air park web site for a heli pad. They report that they are just waiting for potential tenants to sign on the dotted line. When the air park lost their appeal of the decision from a lower court their legal team had to review their options; one of which is to seek leave to appeal the appeal court decision to the Supreme Court. There is some scuttlebutt out there suggesting that Peter E. J. Wells and his colleague Glenn Grenier are no longer “on the case”.
 Glenn Grenier, second from the left, gets an earful from former city manager Jeff Fielding while city solicitor Nancy Shea Nicol and Blake Hurley look on. So now what?
Well if you go to the air park web site Vince Rossi has a notice of his plans for developing a heliport. The following appears on the air park web site:
If you’ve been out to the airport recently, you will notice work starting on the southwest portion of the filed. This area is predetermined as a dedicated heliport area and we’re excited about getting things going on that portion of the field.
Since we started advertising the plans for that phase 2 area, we have been fielding calls from interested tenants, and we are sure that there will be a few helicopters located there soon.
As things develop there, and we actually do secure some tenants we will do our best to keep all informed about traffic and the mix of fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
That is interesting news. The city has pulled together its legal team and is working through their options once the deadline for a Supreme Court appeal has passed.
Given what the city has invested in this file – it is reasonable to expect they will stay the course and do what should have been done five years ago when Rossi was peddling the “we are federally regulated” line that held water for a number of years at both the Regional and city level.
What should give the people of rural Burlington considerable comfort is that General manager Scott Stewart is on this file. Stewart is a bit of a bull dog, he earned his stripes in Hamilton where he was part of that city’s administration. He tends not to take prisoners. H e threw his hat in the ring when the city had to go looking for a new city manager after parting ways with former city manager Roman Martiuk. Scott wasn’t selected – council instead chose to hire Jeff Fielding and while Fielding certainly put a higher level of oxygen in the air at city hall he tended to be a 30,000 foot thinker and relied heavily on Scott Stewart to execute the big picture.
The two worked very well together. With Fielding in Calgary and Pat Moyle serving as interim city manager even more of the decision making falls on Stewart’s shoulders. Moyle will certainly understand the bigger picture and brings his six years as CAO at the Region to the table – but it is Stewart who knows where all the bones are buried.
Expect him to be very smart and very firm. The city probably still has Ian Blue on some form of retainer able to give sound advice.
It is going to be a different game once it is clear the case will not be going to the Supreme Court.
What can the public expect? Is Rossi going to be able to build a heliport that is less than 25 yards away from the driveway of a private residence?
 Is there some additional land assembly that should be done here? Where do the sound by laws come into play here? When Michael Lee Chin flies into his property on Kerns Road with his private helicopter city hall hears about it real quick if the noise is too loud and the necessary accommodations are worked it. The people of Appleby Line deserve the same treatment the good folks over at Tyendaga get.
Our sense is that Michael Lee Chin has a lot more clout than Vince Rossi and if Lee Chin can respect the rights of other, Vince Rossi can learn to do the same thing.
The Sheldon house was built in 1850 on what was then a 200 acres farm. At some point the land was severed into a nice rural lot and the house with a fed pond. The rest is now part of the air park.
The Sheldon house has been there much longer than the air park. If the air park wants to develop their property let them do what every other developer has to do – buy out those properties that are needed for expansion or to be able to comply with regional and municipal planning.
Rossi seems to have decided that he will harass and do work on his property that limits the ability of a property owner to enjoy the rights everyone else in Burlington has with the way they are able to enjoy peace and quiet.
The Rossi development has devalued the property at the edges of the air park. Rossi is doing what slum landlords do – damage the value of property to lower its price and then go in and buy it as a fire sale price.
There are three property owners on Appleby Line who need to be done right by. Let’s see how city hall fights for the rights of these property owners and what it does to ensure that air park development works for the city and not just a developer who has difficulty with the city’s bylaws.
 By Pepper Parr
June 30, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition (RBGC) has created a web site to raise funds for what they are calling the Burlington Airpark SLAPP Suit Defense Fund.
A SLAPP Suit (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) is a merit-less legal action brought to intimidate opponents, deplete their resources, reduce their ability to participate in public affairs, and deter others from participating in discussion on matters of public interest.
We, the Burlington Gazette and me, Pepper Parr seem to be a part of it – but until a colleague told us about this fund raising web site – we knew nothing about it other than there were plans to put up a web site to solicit funds to help with the legal costs to defend ourselves against the law suit that has been filed against us by the Burlington Executive Air Park Inc.
Support is certainly going to be needed but this is not the way to get it.
First, the web site focuses on what it calls a SLAPP suit, unfortunately in law there is no such thing at this point in time. There should be such a thing but in a court of law what should be and what is – are two very, very different things. Judges go on evidence and precedent.
There is no SLAPP suit; there are no such things as SLAPP suits. The legal counsel representing Vanessa Warren and Monte Dennis have a vested interests in promoting legislation that would prevent SLAPP suits – and good on them. What they are advocating is necessary; should have been done years ago.
David Donnelly of Donnelly Environmental Law, and Brian MacLeod Rogers, a leading libel lawyer and member of the Attorney General’s Anti-SLAPP Advisory Panel have been advocating for SLAPP legislation for some time. Both will become specialists in this niche market and do some good work. We assume some of the funds donated will go to Donnelly and Rogers.
Rogers represents both Warren and Dennis. Parr and the Gazette have different legal counsel and a different legal strategy. The word SLAPP will never leave our lips in our defence arguemts.
What the Gazette, Parr, Warren and Monte are facing is a libel suit where the plaintiff is seeking $100,000 in exemplary damages from the three of us. It’s a significant case and only fools try to pretend the case is something other than what it is.
At some point there may be anti SLAPP legislation. But we do not have that now. What we do have now is a court case – and some financial support fighting that case would be welcome. But from the Gazette’s point of view, not under the terms and conditions the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition is asking for donations.
The RBGC does not say what will be done with the funds; they do not say how any funds received will be distributed; they do not say they will be accountable to the donors and report on exactly where every nickel goes.
It is just a request for financial support – and I guess they are saying trust us. Neither the Gazette nor Pepper Parr will be accepting any funds you may choose to donate until there are solid rules in place for the accounting of funds.
It looks as if the funds are going to the RBGC – but that isn’t clear. Were it not for the fact that I know these people personally I would look upon this as one of the dozens of internet scams that show up in my email box every day.
I expect the highest possible level of transparency and accountability from the people mounting this fund raising campaign. The web site they have up right now is the equivalent of what a couple of high school students might do because they didn’t know any better.
RBGC should know better – the candidate for public office should know better; if this is the way Vanessa Warren is going to conduct herself as a member of city council – she will be worse than the incumbent. The city Clerk has a form available for those who feel they want to withdraw from the election.
The fund raising web site does an excellent job of setting out the problem and what the issues are about – they just lost their focus and are talking about something that doesn’t exist – yet.
The Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition fund raising web site .
 By Pepper Parr
June 29th
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be tens of thousands of people strolling along the promenade of Spencer Smith Park on Canada Day as we celebrate our 147 year of existence as a country.
And what a marvelous country we have. We are a wealthy country and we are a free country able to elect who we want to represent us and lead us. Two home grown examples are the seven candidates running in ward 6 and the decision of the voters in Burlington to end more than 70 years of Progressive Conservative rule – with a shot being fired from something as small as a pea shooter.
Contrast that to the hundreds, make that thousands, who are being killed, to day, now, in far off countries. There are a reported five million people in refugee camps in the Middle East because they cannot go home – there homes were destroyed or they face death if they do return.
 Spine of the classically bound book of Best Wishes for Prince George. Tuesday is expected to be a sunny day – so when you stroll along the edge of Lake Ontario – revel in how fortunate we are and realize that the freedom you have was earned by men and woman who paid the ultimate price.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the powers of the monarchy in Canada are limited by the Constitution. The Constitution is a set of basic principles, laws and rules that explain the powers and duties of the government and the rights and freedoms of the citizens. Our formal head of state is a monarch. Our monarch is now Elizabeth II, who is also the Queen of the United Kingdom.
 Seven foot banner that will be on the Spencer Smith Park promenade on Canada. It will be hard to miss. A group of Burlington citizens came up with the idea of creating a Book of Best Wishes that would be available for everyone to sign and convey their Best Wishes to the Prince on his birthday.
Thousands of citizens have already signed and provided a greeting. Monday evening, members of Council will sign the Book of Best Wishes. City staff will have an opportunity to sign the Book which will be at city hall during the day on Monday the 30th.
 Commemorative bookmark for those who sign the Book of Best Wishes.
On Canada Day the Book of Best Wishes will be set up in a booth on the waterfront where anyone passing by can sign. You won’t be able to miss the seven foot high banner. Everyone who signs the Book of Best Wishes will be given a commemorative bookmark.
When the pages have been bound the book will be taken by Burlington MP Mike Wallace to Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General who will have it transported to Kensington Palace, where the Prince currently lives with his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
 Cover of the leather bound 14 x 11 inch Book of Best Wishes that will be delivered to the Prince on his first birthday. The group that started this initiative will be organized as a trust – the Burlington Royal Reading Trust, that will exist until the day the Prince dies. Given the length of time his Great Great Grandmother lived Burlingtonians can expect to be signing a Book of Best Wished well into the next century. Queen Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI, known as the Queen Mother in her later years visited Canada many times. Canadians, can expect the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Canada frequently. When do you think the Prince and his parents will come to Burlington?
By Staff
June 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the scare of a life time.
Shortly before 5 PM, the Halton Regional Police along with fire and ambulance responded to an address on Hereford Crescent in Burlington; a 6 year old child had been pulled unconscious from a swimming pool.
 Adults at the home performed lifesaving efforts and successfully brought the child back to consciousness; she was transported to an area hospital for further evaluation.
The 6 year old child has been treated and released from hospital. She is in apparent good health.
This incident, police remind the public, should serve as a reminder to the community that with the arrival of hot weather and swimming comes the need for constant vigilance of young children in or near the water.
 By Ray Rivers
June 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Premier Wynne made a number of commitments during the recent Ontario election. Here are three more I think she needs to look at.
1: Improve Democracy
Traditionally the candidate with the highest number of electoral votes wins the election. This works well when there are only two political parties but not so well in our multiparty system. The last provincial election provides an example, where Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals won a majority government with 58 seats but with less than 40% of the vote. This vote splitting among the parties is pretty common place, as Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien also won majorities with less than 40% of the popular vote.
 Is the way we count the ballots working for us? Some jurisdictions have introduced proportional representation, a complicated system engineered to moderate the political advantage of vote splitting. However, voters in referenda recently in B.C., as well as Ontario rejected a move to that system.
Another option involves use of a preferential ballot whereby voters rank their electoral choices in priority. If no candidate gets 51% of the total vote, then the second ballot choices are counted until someone wins, etc. The federal Liberals passed a motion at one of their policy conventions to introduce this system should they form government.
With preferential balloting the winning candidate will always have the support of over half of the voters as their first or second priority choice. There should be fewer minority governments as a result, since the impact of third parties in splitting votes will be diminished. And policies may tend to become more moderate as parties opt to please a broad swath of the public rather than just their own partisan base.
The province also needs to consider implementing electronic voting via the internet to encourage greater voter participation. Less than 60% turnout in a general election is unhealthy for a nation and province that prides itself on government by the people. Australia makes voting compulsory with legal penalties for failing to exercise your franchise.
Electronic voting should also reduce the the high cost of elections and facilitate quicker results. Finally, government may find it useful to include referenda questions on delicate issues as guidance in policy setting, a practice rarely used in Canada. And as for trust-worthy, well, we trust the internet for our banking, don’t we?.
2. Make Public Education Truly Public
There is a condition in the Canadian constitution, originating from the British North America Act of 1867, which enables provinces to retain Catholic schools as part of their educational system. That clause was added at the insistence of Quebec, which ironically has now eliminated its own Catholic schools, as indeed has Newfoundland.
Somehow when the political parties in the last election talked about cost cutting the elephant in the room was our redundant Catholic education system. Duplication at the board level, under-utilized classrooms in older areas, four school buses when there could be two – these are just the most glaring examples of waste.
 Is a separate and a public education system something Ontario can afford? Doesn’t exist in most of the other provinces. Public education is a great equalizer in our society. We may not all be born equal but the class room is a wonderful place for children coming from income, ethnic and religiously diverse households to grow together, better understanding each other and each other’s point of view. Hopefully that provides a formula for a more tolerant, understanding and competitive future for our youth.
3. Raise Taxes to Stem the Red
Ontario has the lowest cost-of-services delivery of any jurisdiction in Canada. Yet we are still running a deficit and our debt is piling up. It’s obvious we need to fix the revenue side of the balance sheet. And that means taxes.
There has been lot of talk about carbon taxes. B.C. and Quebec generate revenue in addition to encouraging energy conservation, though these taxes. In the case of B.C. the tax is revenue-neutral, offset by reductions in other taxes. And revenue neutral is not going to help us with the bottom line, is it?
Road tolls have also been bandied about and the 407, though being the greatest rip-off ever invented by man, is a system that works. Applying that formula to all divided highways and charging a reasonable toll would bring in a lot of revenue, in addition to helping the motorist better understand the value of the time they spend commuting.
 Are inheritance taxes something the government wants to bring back? Great cry from the wealthy if that ever happens. Is it time to bring back inheritance taxes? It’s not like the deceased will complain about paying death taxes. Why is it that we don’t tax lottery and gaming winnings as income?
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 against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.
Background links:
Catholic Schools More Schools Even More Schools Even More
By Staff
June 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The two strongest philosophical liberals on city council have joined forces and put forward a resolution that should have come from the Mayor with the support of Regional Chair Garry Carr.
Meed Ward and Taylor want the province to revive a Private Members Bill that died on the order paper, when the provincial election was called.
 When media reported on this form of harassment – parking heavy equipment yards away from a private home; when private citizens commented publicly on what they honestly believed to be work being done at the air park that was damaging to the environment and the public interest and contrary to the city’s by laws and provincial regulation, they were sued for libel. Many believe the law suits were an attempt to intimidate. The resolution Meed Ward and Taylor put forward is as follows.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: PROTECTION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACT, 2014 (Bill 83);
WHEREAS Bill 83, Protection of Public Participation Act, 2014 being “An Act to amend the Courts of Justice Act, the Libel and Slander Act and the Statutory Powers of Procedure Act in order to protect expression on matters of public interest” was introduced into the Provincial Legislature in June 2013;
WHEREAS Bill 83 was introduced by the government out of concern that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), being lawsuits brought before the court by one party against another party or individual as a tactic for silencing or intimidating the other party, are having a chilling effect on public participation on contentious matters of public interest in Ontario;
WHEREAS Bill 83 is intended to protect persons from being subjected to legal proceedings that would stifle their ability to speak out on public issues or promote, in the public interest, action by the public or any level of government;
WHEREAS the ability to engage in public participation forums is the foundation of a democratic society;
WHEREAS there exist a number of high profile environmental issues in the City of Burlington that are of public interest and that have generated a great deal of debate in the community;
WHEREAS City Council is of the opinion that public participation in matters of public interest ought to be encouraged and not discouraged through tactics such as strategic lawsuits against public participation;
WHEREAS provision is made in Bill 83 to amend the Courts of Justice Act for such SLAPP legal proceeding to be dismissed at an early stage and for defendants subjected to such proceedings to be indemnified for incurred costs in such proceedings with the potential for additional damages to be awarded in appropriate circumstances;
WHEREAS provision is made in Bill 83 to amend the Libel and Slander Act to state that any qualified privilege that applies in respect of an oral or written communication on a matter of public interest between two or more persons who have a direct interest in the matter applies regardless of whether the communication is witnessed or reported on by media representatives or other persons;
WHEREAS provision is made in Bill 83 to amend the Statutory Powers Procedure Act to provide that submissions for a costs order in a proceeding must be made in writing, unless the tribunal determines that to do so is likely to cause a party to the proceeding significant prejudice;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Burlington advise the newly elected Premier of the Province of Ontario, the Honorable Kathleen Wynne and its local members of Provincial Legislative Assembly of its support for the Protection of Public Participation Act, 2014 (Bill 83) and request that the Bill be re-introduced forthwith in the Legislature;
THAT Mayor Goldring be requested to meet with Burlington’s newly elected Member of Provincial Parliament, Eleanor McMahon to encourage the Province to re-introduce the anti-SLAPP legislation; and
THAT the Association of Municipalities of Ontario be requested to support this resolution.
 Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor co-sponsored a resolution designed to protect the right of the public to speak on public issues.
It is a fine resolution and it will be interesting to see how this council handles it. The problem is that it will take months, perhaps years to get much in the way of traction on this at the provincial level, unless Eleanor McMahon, our newly elected MPP has all kinds of clout with the Premier.
The document also feels as if it was written by a lawyer; someone with a vested interest in the SLAPP legislation, which it was.
Anti-SLAPP legislation provides immunity from civil liability for people engaging in legitimate speech and public participation. It allows for early review and speedy processes to resolve SLAPP suits; reverses the onus so the initiator of the suit must prove, that inhibiting public participation is not the reason for the lawsuit; provides strong and effective disincentives – financial and otherwise – to dissuade potential SLAPP plaintiffs from initiating merit less claims; and suspends governmental spending and approval processes until alleged SLAPP suits are resolved (perhaps the strongest disincentive for property developers).
Related articles: Time for the good people to stand up
 By Staff
June 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Burlington’s Art in Action Studio Tour decided a number of years ago to create a scholarship for an art student in the Region and this year awarded the $1500 award to Sarah Tom, a Robert Bateman High School student who will be attending Sheridan College in September for Visual & Creative Studies.
Along with the scholarship is free admission as a participant in the Art in Action tour the first weekend of November
 Darlene Throop, on the right, presents Bateman High School students Sarah Tom with the 2014 Art in Action $1500. scholarship. The award was presented to Ms Tom at the Robert Bateman Commencement, June 26th where Darlene Throop ( Art in Action Scholarship Chair) handed out this year’s Scholarship.
There were seven talented applicants from four schools; two from the public sector and two from the separate sector – all pursuing an arts focused future.
 Sarah Tom uses an interesting approach to normal portrait work – reflects a generation that is more digital than their predecessors. The public is invited to take part in the fall at the Pre Tour Show on October 19th, at Teresa Seaton’s Studio & Gallery, 654 Spring Gardens Road.
Assante Wealth Management, TD Canada Trust, ICCC/Rustol, Just Cremations & Burial, Keith Strong, Sheri Sutherland, Royal LePage, Ardent Motor, Smiths Funeral Home, Rob McKichan at Royal LePAge, The Healing Path, Dr. Beth Nixon, Coulter Building Consultants Ltd, Corby Custom Framing and Burlington Toyota Scion were financial supporters of both he tour and the scholarship program.
By Staff June 27, 2014 BURLINGTON, ON. The Halton Regional Police have concluded their investigation into a series of graffiti ‘tags’ that were discovered in east Burlington during June 2014.
 Is it good art? The utility company didn’t think so. The pink and grey were a good contrast though.  Little doubt that these two “works of art” were done by the same person. Between June 1st and June 19th 2014, several community locations were damaged with spray paint (including a bell box, fence, mail box, decorative rocks). Police received information regarding the suspected source of the damage and on June 27th 2014, a Criminal Code Search warrant was executed at a Burlington residence. Officers discovered evidence relating to the graffiti incidents and arrested the occupant without incident. In addition, several prohibited knives and brass knuckles were also discovered and seized as a result of this investigation. Accused: Sonnie Benardi, 30 years, Burlington was released on a Promise to Appear in Milton Court – July 23rd 2014) He has been charged with: Mischief to Property (7 counts) Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (10 counts) Possession of a Controlled Substance (Contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act)
By Pepper Parr
June 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
We are unabashed fans of the Freeman Station project. Partly because we are history buffs, but more importantly, because this project showed how a group of citizens was able to save the city from itself.
The city screwed up this project from the get go. They couldn’t find a home for the structure, even though they had a bag of money from the federal government to restore the building.
They couldn’t agree on a place for the structure.
The best they were able to do was agree to run an advertisement and see if anyone would buy it for kindling.
 Jane Irwin and Les Armstrong – two of the strongest advocates for recognizing and saving the history of Burlington. Both passed away. It was the late Jane Irwin, the late Les Armstrong, the founding president of the Friends of Freeman Station, that pulled together a bunch of people and, after almost pleading with city council, they got some breathing room – and that saved the building.
Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster also got behind the project, and refused to let the rest of council kill the idea.
Mayor Goldring is reported to have said he didn’t want any city staff time spent on this project. Just as well – few in the city engineering department had much love for this idea.
 Should all the people in this picture be in this picture. Were they all true believers in the idea of saving and restoring the Freeman Station? The day the Freeman station is officially opened expect the politicians to be there with their faces ready for the cameras – they do that all the time. Those who know the true history of the effort to save the structure, will know that while Les and Jane will not be in the picture – they will be with them.
Meanwhile John Mellow, the Restoration Chairman is looking for volunteers to help with the restoration. John will need carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and painters. He can also use volunteers, who would like to help clean up the building, do minor repair work, pick up smaller building supplies, (a pick up or van would be useful), plus other small jobs that need to be done.
Straw boss on the site is John Mellow. You can reach him at donstn63@gmail.com to volunteer your services.
 By Pepper Parr
June 26, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Now that she is sworn in as the Member of the provincial legislature for Burlington, Eleanor McMahon can open her constituency office, get staff in place and be open for business locally. We look forward to hearing from her frequently and getting regular quarterly updates.
While getting the constituency office opened, Ms McMahon will also be getting her legislative agenda set up. We look forward to the day she gives her maiden speech.
All that stuff is in a day’s work – this Friday there is an evening’s fun to be had, as the Liberals gather somewhere in the city to hoot and holler; let their hair down and just have fun.
Had the Premier decided to make McMahon a Parliamentary assistant, we just might have seen McMahon dancing on the table tops.
The Liberals do have their work cut out for them. There is a public that remembers all too well, the profligate spending during the McGuinty era. One of their fears going into the election was that this pattern might continue.
There was a recent report on the way Premier Wynne handled the handing out of food cards, during the December ice storm. The process that was used proved to be less than effective. City of Toronto staff advised the Premier of several alternative approaches that could have been taken – the advice was apparently dismissed – rather quickly.
One can appreciate Wynne wanting to ensure that people had funds to buy food – putting a program like that in place was good public policy and also very good politics. That’s what the politicians are supposed to do – then they need to leave it to the bureaucrats to manage the program.
Premier Wynne needs to show the public that she is running a much more financially responsible government. She needs to not only be accountable, but to be seen to be accountable – and when someone screws up – and someone will – she needs to be decisive and direct in rooting out the problem.
Economic growth in both Quebec and Ontario are slower than the rest of Canada. Far more public money is spent in these two provinces than western Canada. The public needs to see benefits from that spending – and they need to see something soon.
The people of Ontario are generous; they believe that we need to take care of each other, to be considerate and compassionate – but realize that there is a financial score card that needs to be paid attention to.
By Pepper Parr
June 25, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
A number of months ago we did a piece on what the city needs in the way of solid candidates for the six council seats. We said then that serving the public was good for ones career. Many corporations want people, who have served at the municipal level, because they have an understanding of the process.
 Rob Narejko fits a large part of the bill we put forward. That does not mean Narejko will be a star candidate – the election process will tell the public, what this man is made of and if he can stay the course and undergo the kind of scrutiny every person who wants to serve the public should undergo.
Who is Robert Narejko? The latest candidate for ward 6, where there are now seven candidates seeking the seat currently held by Blair Lancaster.
Narejko has lived in Burlington, in the same house, for the past 26 years. He likes being close to the GO station and having access to the QEW, 403 and 407. Narejko adds that he likes being a short ride away from our unique rural areas and the green spaces that surround Burlington. His home is in ward six; something that cannot be said for all the nominated candidates.
Narejko met his wife in high school – they have two children – a boy 19 – a girl 16. He has worked in Information technology for the past 30 years both as an entrepreneur and in the large corporate sector.
He has worked with Royal Bank, IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers , always in the field of information technology, usually on large projects with multi-million dollar budgets and large teams of people assigned to a project, where he was responsible for creating and then managing both the strategic and tactical plans.
His citizen involvement has been mostly with the cycling world. Narejko is an ardent cyclist, who can be found frequently racing up Walkers Line. He also plays fast pitch baseball.
He was Chair of the City’s Cycling Committee, Chair of the inaugural Car Free Sunday events and Race Director of the 2011 Canadian Road Cycling Championships.
Narejko was nominated for Burlington’s Best – Community Service Award 2012.
What makes Narejko different?
He wants city hall to be more accountable. He was a key part of the team involved in bringing pre-Olympic trial bike racing to Burlington. The project failed – Narejko believes city hall just couldn’t make something that should have happened – actually happen.
He doesn’t understand why it took close to a year to complete a neighbourhood study.
Narejko wants to work to ensure Burlington has an increased presence at Regional Council.
Narejko wants people to feel they are getting value for their tax dollars; he adds to that – timely responses. When people go to the building permit counter, he wants them to leave with a document, that sets out every step that has to be taken and probable time lines as well as the name and telephone number of who to talk to if there are problems.
For Narejko – this is aligning words and deeds.
He also wants to see recorded votes for everything at council meetings. There is very simple technology that will let council members press a button to record a vote.
Why is he running for public office?
Narejko believes the City needs to be accountable for results to the people and there needs to be a sense of urgency, when city staff respond to people’s questions. The status quo of 12 month time lines is not acceptable in business and is not acceptable in the Public Sector.
“When the City is accountable to the people, it will attract business. Businesses will want to work with a City that wants to work with them, and when business moves in, it means economic activity, bringing in more job opportunities, which will reinvigorate Burlington”, said Narejko.
 Narejko points out that he has worked with many people at city hall over the years and has the utmost respect for them as people and professionals. The problem is the system they are working within. They work within a system that stifles initiative and independent thought. There is no incentive to be a high performing, customer centered employee.
Creating a strategy is very important as it defines your direction and provides guidelines for making decisions. Creating a strategic plan would take up to 2 months in the private sector – Burlington needed 12 months to create its Strategic Plan. For Narejko that just isn’t acceptable.
“It has taken more than 12 months to re-organize the Burlington Economic Development Corporation. Economic development is key to the future of Burlington and we needed a year to re-organize the people who are going to make that happen” asks Narejko.
 For Narejko it is all about community, streets where the road is shared Narejko points out that if you want to hold a new event in Burlington that brings in tourist dollars and drives the local economy by creating jobs, filling hotel rooms and restaurants, you need to have it registered 18 months in advance – whether it is a simple street party or a major national event. In Calgary you only need three months to register an event
In Toronto they can register a street festival with an on line application.
Narejko says he has seen staff at city hall create amazing plans, that work in record time, when they are enabled.
What will Narejko do for you?
He says he will ensure you get value for your tax dollar from the City and Region; make City Hall easier to do business with and get the results you need faster. He says he will work to implement efficiencies and compare our expenses to bench marks with comparable cities.
Narejko wants to engage citizens in meaningful discussions where there are transparent communications – no smoke blowing.
While not yet elected, Narejko has already determined what he wants to get done in his first year: instill a sense of urgency in making decisions, create a plan to handle the intensification of ‘Places to Grow’ without alienating current home owners and represent Burlington better at the Regional level.
This sounds like a driven man. Narejko points to his role models as examples on how one can get things done. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State (USA) and Chair, Joint Chiefs of Staff (US) is seen by Narejko as a thoughtful, inclusive, decisive, strong communicator . Sam Mercanti is another role model. The CEO CARSTAR Canada is a disciplined visionary and a lifelong learner. Narejko adds to these two – his parents who were caring , frugal and supportive.
Rob Narejko doesn’t walk on water – but he has an agenda. He likes the look of the chair the Mayor sits in and believes his skills, his experience and his focus will serve the city well. His plan is to get four years’ experience as a member of council, and then go for the brass ring.
This is a candidate that needs to be looked at very carefully. Does he have the right stuff? The pedigree looks pretty good, but the proof is always in the eating, isn’t it?
It will be interesting to see how Narejko goes up against Vanessa Warren, Jennifer Hlusko, two nominated candidates and incumbent Blair Lancaster.
Narejko’s web site: www.electrobn.com
Related article: Serving as a city Councillor
 By Pepper Parr
June 26, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Henry Schilthuis got his turn to tell the public what the Brant Street Pier settlement was all about. His picture was a little different than that of the Mayor and interim city manager Pat Moyle, who was acting as a spokesperson for the city.
“Quite frankly” said Schilthuis, in a prepared statement “ we believe this process could have and should have been avoided. We did what we had to do to protect our company, and feel vindicated in all we have done to achieve the settlement. We wish the people of Burlington much enjoyment of their waterfront.”
 Henry Schilthuis works from a nondescript office in Ancaster continuing the hard work, honest delivery approach of the 60 year old family firm. There were numerous occasions, when the dispute could have been settled. Former Mayor Jackson never liked the pier – it was a former Mayor Rob MacIsaac initiative, and anything that had MacIsaac’s finger prints on it, was not something Jackson could digest. He advised newly installed Mayor Goldring to tear the thing down in 2010
The settlement is complex, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the winner was in all this.
The city sued HSS for $10 million – they didn’t see a dime of that money – despite the Mayor assuring the public on several occasions that the city was going to get back every penny. There were a number of council members, who were adamant throughout the past three years, that the city had a strong case and would prevail.
Councillors Craven, Taylor and Dennison who were at the table, when the pier idea was first proposed, didn’t say all that much in public during the 2011 and 2012 council meetings. There were a number, far too many, closed sessions during which council and its legal advisers had long conversations behind closed doors.
 It was a much more professional team on the city side, when the second attempt to build the pier started. Nothing was left to chance and the hard questions were asked every step of the way. Here city manager Scott Stewart and Craig Stevens meet with the steel beam fabricators to ensure that the job gets done right. When the Post made a Freedom of Information request the city objected, but quickly saw the stupidity behind that move and relented – letting the public know, that they had spent $1.3 million on legal fees to date.
The city recovered $1.5 million and is going to be allowed to keep $500,000 in hold back funds it has. This is all the city will see from the three law suits it filed. They sought $10 million from AECOM their project managers; they sought $10 million from HSS and they sought $3.5 million from Zurich Insurance, the HSS bonding company.
The pool of funds set up to make payments, appears to have gone to just the city and HSS. The total amount the city will see is $2 million, while HSS will see $2.4 million, which is made up of the $1.75 million cash payment and a total of $650,000 that will be paid to HSS by other parties.
Besides the $1.75 million it will be paid, HSS will be given an additional $650,000 – for a total net benefit of $2.4 million for HSS.
“I am proud” said Schilthuis, “ of this entrepreneurial and family owned company. Our concerns about the challenges facing the pier guided us in our actions. We maintained our position with dignity and grace – simply because it was the right thing to do. The result of this settlement is proof of this.”
“I want to thank all of our staff and our community. You stuck with us the entire time despite the stress and burden of this onerous ordeal. We have remained true to our values as a 60 year old company and that makes it all worth it.”
A proud man who stuck to his principles and did what he believed to be right and feels the settlement supports his decision to walk off a project, that could not be built with the plans he was given.
The current city council might look to the way Schilthuis handled himself, throughout what he called a “long and arduous ordeal”. City staff had no problem working with Henry Schilthuis – it was the politicians that made a mess of this one. Hopefully council members will reflect on how this worked out and be honest with themselves – this was not their finest hour.
 The pier in December 2011 stripped of all the steel Schilthuis installed – with nothing but the caissons in place. The trestle to the right of the pier was used for construction equipment to lay down the new beams. During the summer when people talk about how they want to vote come October – they might be persistent and consistent in asking the incumbents, what went wrong.
The $6 million plus that was spent would have done a lot for our transit system and road maintenance work, that we are so far behind on. Hold their feet to the flames.
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