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August 1st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
August has always been a nice month for the Performing Arts Centre. Their now decade-old event improves year over year. The show goes on rain or shine – if it rains the event is moved inside The cash bar was a nice addition. A Friday performance has been added and xxx The lineup for the three-day event:
 It gets a little tight in terms of space 
August 1st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON Summer is a tough time to get anything done; the BBQ circuit is busy, but it’s mostly chit chat and getting caught up – maybe a little strategizing to see what might float. Thus, the surprise when we are told about a new “Voice”: (Vocal Ontario Integrity Coalition for Electeds). The are Council Members Opposed to Strong Mayor Powers They sent the following to:  Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – has Strong Mayor Powers that haven’t been used all that much; only when she has to, for the most part. To: All Ontario Municipal Council Members Dear Council Members, We write to you as a coalition of municipal council members from across Ontario, united under the banner of V.O.I.C.E. Our group formed out of growing concern over the expanding use of Strong Mayor Powers in this province. These powers grant disproportionate authority to a single elected official, undermining the democratic role of councils and the principle of collaborative governance. To date, over 130 municipalities, out of the 216 currently operating under Strong Mayor Powers have formally voiced their opposition. Momentum is building, but more voices are needed to safeguard local democracy. The time to act is now. We are pursuing a two-pronged strategy: Advocacy and Awareness at the 2025 AMO Conference We’ve secured dedicated space during the AMO Conference in Ottawa, taking place August 17–20, to spotlight this issue. We warmly invite you to attend: Monday, August 18th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Our keynote speaker, Councillor Mark Hunter of Stratford, an experienced municipal council member and practising lawyer will speak on the legal and democratic implications of Strong Mayor Powers and how councils can respond. This is your opportunity to connect with peers, ask questions, and strengthen our collective voice. No RSVP required, just come ready to engage. Municipal Resolutions and Coordinated Legal Action We urge councils to:
Why Collective Action Matters This issue is too critical for any municipality to face alone. Acting together provides:
 Ward 3 Councillor, currently living in ward 2, is expected to be one of the Councillors that will support the VOICE position.  Lisa Kearns, Ward 2 Councillor, will almost certainly vote to support the VOICE position. She might well lead the effort to get everyone onside. Let’s see if the VOICE can gain any traction. Will such a resolution get passed by the Burlington City Council? Could happen – the votes are there – someone has to spearhead this – Nisan and Kearns are the obvious two – maybe they could work together on this. Kearns would love to see it happen. Might she suggest to the Mayor that she has a conflict? Thank you for your continued dedication to your community and principled governance. We look forward to connecting with you in Ottawa.
August 1st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington isn’t exactly jumping this long weekend. However, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival will be taking place in Toronto, bringing with it an array of vibrant festivities located just steps away from the Exhibition GO Station. On August 2, GO Transit is increasing train service along Lakeshore West to help you get to and from the Grand Parade. Lakeshore West:
 The colour and the extravagance is stunning. You’ll never regret watching the event. While most of the parade is free to watch, you can save 20% off with PRESTO Perks on ALL Caribbean Carnival ticketed events. Customers can also take advantage of our $10 weekend day online passes that allow you to GO wherever you want, plus kids 12 and under can ride the GO for free! Riders can also transfer for free with One Fare between GO Transit and TTC. This year will mark the 58th anniversary of the Caribbean Carnival, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture and traditions, with more than one million participants expected to attend this year. Learn more about taking GO Transit to this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival HERE.
July 31st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Skyway Bridge lane closures. Thursday, July 31 at 11:00 PM to Friday, August 1 at 6:00 AM – Three right lanes (out of five) on the QEW Niagara Bound between Fairview Street and North Shore Boulevard will be closed for the installation of an overhead sign support structure. Both on-ramps from Fairview Street to the QEW Niagara Bound will also be closed during this time. Note: Due to the Civic Holiday long weekend, no lane closures will take place between noon Friday and midnight Monday.
July 31st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
We first learned about the bold decision to recruit young people to do survey work on what the 40 hours of volunteer community work meant to students and the impact that work was having on the community. The definition of community was the Halton Region.  This was the assignment the students set out for themselves. They defined the task and then wrote the questionnaire – then went into the field and gathered data. The students were to go out into the community and learn what other students thought of the requirement to put in 40 hours of volunteer work as a graduation requirement. The students first had to design the questionnaire and then decide how they would gather data.  Where was the data gathered? Postal codes were used to locate. Some of the students had concerns about personal privacy with the use of postal codes.. The data on the right has two elements: how the students surveyed rated their volunteer experience and how they balanced personal life and volunteering. It will be interesting to read their analysis when the project is completed next February. It was a one year project, funded by the Burlington Foundation. The report given last evening was part one – a sort of check in occasion to report on where they were. The project ends in February of 2026. To date there are 225 surveys completed We saw the first view of that work on Wednesday evening when the students gave a short report on what they had learned and how they gathered their data.  From left to right: Youth Engagement Research Team Members Dharmi Kambodi, Tumi Segun-Ajala, and Krisha Thakkar.  Iman Kaur, Community Planner and Youth Engagement Coordinator, Community Development Halton. Iman is the staff lead for the Youth Engagement Research Team. She is pursuing a Masters of Public Policy at McMaster University, with a focus on Housing Policy. One group used social media while another group went to skate parks and asked questions. What was impressive was the quality of the work done and how confident the students were. There was no stumbling over what they were saying and no difficulty with follow-up questions. This, at the halfway point, suggests there is going to be a solid report that will get passed on to the provincial government. Community Development Halton (CDH) is a much different organization under the direction of Executive Director Rishia Burke, who is very quick to tell you about the impressive and supportive Board of Directors she has in place. The organization serves to prime purposes: they operate a volunteer portal: a place where people can learn who is looking for volunteers and a place where people can register as volunteers. The second focus is community planning.  Heather Johnson: Director: Volunteer Halton  Rishia Burke: Executive Director
We will follow up on how these two initiatives work together to serve the people in the Region. CDH is seen as one of the more productive not-for-profit community organizations in the province. It is an unrecognized gem that has done solid work during the last decade and has been around for more than 40 years. You’d be lucky to find five people out of every thousand in Burlington that would know what CDH stood for.
July 31st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Milton did it again. A great idea – hopefully someone at City Hall will put in a call to the appropriate person in Milton to learn a little more and try this out – especially at Spencer Spencer Smith Park. Town pilots QR codes for park service requests  There is currently no easy way to report overflowing garbage bins. The Town of Milton has installed Quick Response (QR) codes in four municipal parks as part of a pilot project that allows residents to easily report full garbage cans, litter, or damaged park equipment. QR codes were installed on waste receptacles or nearby equipment in the pilot parks. QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that users can scan with a smartphone camera to access online content. This digital approach is part of a pilot project that runs until Nov. 30 and may expand to other locations and types of service requests. Users can select their park location, upload photos, and describe the issue. Operations staff receive the park location, issue details, and time of report, enabling a timely response. QR codes offer a sustainable and cost-effective way to collect and submit service information. Letting users submit real-time requests helps staff deliver on-demand service where it’s needed most. It also allows staff to track request types and frequency, improving service delivery and park maintenance over time. Go for it guys – and don’t take forever to make it happen.
July 31st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Every time I bump into Gary Carr, Chair of the Region of Halton, I usually have some questions for him But before I can get as much as a word in Gary will say: “Gee Pep, you’re looking great. And you’ve still got all your hair.” I try to squeeze in a question and Gary turns – I’m running late – gotta go – but keep in touch.  Gary Carr as a goal tender. You have to keep in mind that Gary was a hockey player – he stood between the pipes as the goalie and kept the puck out. On the few occasions that I got anything past Gary, it was usually a it was an easy question – seldom did I get anything substantive past him I’ll keep trying. I wanted to know why he let Regional Council go into a CLOSED session to discuss the shutting down of the Regional Heritage Services unit. To be fair to Gary, didn’t actually chair the meeting at which all this happened. He attended virtually and had a Council member serve as Chair. She did a good job. The Heritage Services unit doesn’t spend more than $750,000 a year; that’s less than peanuts for an organization with a $1.2 billion budget.  The last time I was able to talk to Gary Carr was at a Sound of Music event. Couldn’t get the time of day out of him. I’d like to ask him what the thinking was behind the move. The Staff report doesn’t answer that question – it just lists what the inventory is and how it wants to dispose of it all. Nothing wrong with that – but why in secret? Does it have anything to do with the land the building is on? The building is part of the Kelso Park operation which is a Conservation Halton operation that, until 16 months ago, was under the thumb of current Burlington CAO Hassaan Basit who is moving on to the provincial government on August 2nd. The job Basit walks into, didn’t exist before he was hired, is to oversee environmental issues.  The land the Heritage Services offices are on is believed to be owned by Conservation Halton. A request to the provincial Ombudsman might bring something to the surface, but there is a limited amount of time – the Region wants to get rid of everything by the end of the year.
July 31, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Has he decided to buy one? Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna test test-driving his newest form of transportation. Can it be described as a photo-op?
July 31st, 2025 BURLINGTON ON
Our world is a changing place. With the introduction of mental health destigmatization comes tough realities. This is one of many stories of a family changed by the devastating impacts of negative mental health. This is the story of my family. It was the end of the school year in 2020. I thought that I was just going to get a two-week break from school. While I enjoyed the time spent online, playing games with my friends, it never occurred to me that the adults and loved ones in my life were slowly beginning to feel more alone, more isolated from the world around them. With the virtual shift caused by the COVID-19 pandemic came job losses and a decline in communication with people who you loved. Sometimes a difference of opinion was enough to tear people apart at such a troubling time. I often come back to the pandemic when I think of the causes of the uptick in mental health problems lately, especially in more mature demographics. According to the World Health Organization, global levels of anxiety and depression increased twenty-five per cent in the first year of the pandemic. I wonder if perhaps the lack of in-person interaction was enough to cause some of the cases. I know that this certainly contributed to my story.
Due to hospital systems being overworked and overbooked, surgery continuously got pushed further. The longer we waited, the more it started to feel like we would never get the chance to see change. I think this is when my family member’s mental health began to dwindle. Losing hope by the minute, there seemed to be very little that could be done for our family. Other than occasional spinal injections that do little but numb the spine, mobility became even more of a challenge and limited this individual’s connection to the world.  Left: Eric Vandewall, president and CEO of Joseph Brant Hospital; Michael Paletta; launched the For All Minds campaign with a $5-million donation from Michael and Laura Paletta towards a $20-million community fundraising goal. It all came to a head when my family member was admitted to the hospital in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit. With all the physical strain that had not been resolved, a mental toll had ultimately overtaken the problems plaguing my family member. The first time we admitted him to the hospital, he only spent a night before he came home. I believe this was a mistake, as he had to return to the hospital no more than a week later. While the programs available in the hospital were helpful during his stay, we found little communication and follow-up after his visits, leading to a cycle of short stays at home, followed by the necessity to return to the hospital. We have finally, after more than five stays in the mental health unit, found a day program to assist the family member’s mental health. And still, to this day, he has not received any notice of available surgery for mobility complications. I do not place blame on the hospital systems; I know that staff have truly cared for my family and want to see my family member get better. If nothing, let my story serve as a reminder to spend time with your family, teach them new ways to interact with each other and stay active, and certainly don’t take any of your time together for granted.
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| Feature | Licensed Casino (e.g., AGCO) | Non-Licensed Casino |
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| Dispute Resolution | Regulator or third-party support | No formal process |
| Transparency of Terms | Clear and accessible | Often vague or misleading |
| Data Privacy Compliance | GDPR or equivalent standards | No guaranteed protections |
| Payout Reliability | Timely and regulated | Delays or refusal possible |
Assessing all these characteristics, you can understand that a licensed online casino is much better than unlicensed sites. When choosing, it is very important to conduct a thorough check to avoid the risk of running into scammers.
Choose a safe online casino
Choosing a safe online casino is a must for Canadian users who want to have a pleasant gambling experience. When choosing a site, pay attention to the following parameters:
Carefully check any available information in order to protect yourself and use safe gambling services.
To summarize, unlicensed online casinos often lure players with attractive conditions and effects. It is important to understand that without proper regulation, the site cannot provide a safe gaming environment. Canadian players should carefully check the selected casino and rely only on proven solutions.
By Pepper Parr
July 30, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There is an organization that spends all its time educating the people of Ontario about the government’s failures in the public health sector. It is The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) , a network of more than 500 grassroots community organizations representing virtually all areas of Ontario.
The Coalition has begun to make a difference.
They have been working for a number of years on a massive community outreach. They found that their efforts a couple of years ago to reach more than a million people with leaflets made a very significant difference. They explained why privatization is the destruction of our public health care and highlighted what the Ford government is doing. It took literally thousands of volunteers across the province to make this happen and you can see the results in the polls.
All across Canada, people oppose health care privatization but in Ontario the polls show that the support for public health care and opposition to its privatization are the highest in the country – by a significant margin. This is our collective effort and it is the most powerful bulwark against the erosion of our public health care that we can levy.
During the past year the OHC challenged themselves to set a goal of reaching two million Ontarians directly with leaflets opposing health care privatization. They managed to reach more than 900,000 last spring and more than 140,000 during the election period. They are continuing this effort by launching a petition campaign this summer calling on the Government of Canada to uphold and enforce the Canada Health Act and to stop the Ford government from violating it in the private clinics.
In the fall, they will issue a new leaflet with a goal of reaching every doctor, nurse, health professional and health care worker in Ontario. We will also have one for the general public. We know that the more people understand what is happening, the more they support the fightback.
As you know, this has been a tough government. They do what they can get away with. It is our job to create a political context such that it is impossible for them to dismantle and privatize our public health care. Now, with a new term and a majority government, that task is much more difficult. However, nothing is impossible.
The OHC held a Day of Action at the Legislature in May for those communities with small and rural hospitals at risk and demanded the government stop the closures of emergency departments and vital hospital service closures. We had more than 150 people filedl the Public Galleries at the Legislature, held meetings with politicians and joined a press conference. The Minister of Health was forced to answer non-stop questions in the Legislature, demanding that she take action on this issue.
The people of Ontario want to keep their public health care system – they need some help.
In June we got a major front-page media story in the Toronto Star featuring patients who have been extra-billed in private clinics illegally. We followed this with formal complaints from 50 patients, complete with receipts and proof of payment, to the federal and provincial government to get them to enforce the Canada Health Act in Ontario. We called on the Ontario government to reimburse patients charged for medically necessary services at the private clinics and we called on the federal government to uphold the Canada Health Act and enforce it against the Ford government. We will be following up on that work in the fall.
This is just a sample of what the OHC has done and will continue to do to ensure that this government is held accountable and feels the pressure to improve their record.
They are now asking people to consider making an automatic donation monthly. It doesn’t have to be a lot, everything makes a big difference. The OHC can only do what they can afford to do and that depends entirely on donations and memberships.
This is where you give your financial support;
By Pepper Parr
July 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The plot thickens.
In a CLOSED session, the Halton Region Council decided to close the Heritage Services Unit in January of 2026.
The Heritage people oversee a collection of 30,00 items.
About 18,400 “objects”: Tools, uniforms and clothing, furnishings, personal and medical items, communication devices, natural history specimens, archeological finds, and artworks.
About 3,100 photographs.
About 13,000 archival materials: Maps, documents and other materials.
Ground floor is used for meetings and events, museum is on the second floor.
The 2023 budget for Heritage Services $630,000; in 2024 it was $657,000, and in 2025 it was $682,000
These amounts were not a strain on a Regional budget of $1.2 billion.
There are three full-time Heritage staff members, and one vacant full-time position. There are no part time Heritage staff.
Other than the cost of storing the collection, there do not appear to be any other costs.
So why shut it down? And why do it in secret?
Bits and pieces of information are beginning to come in.
This is a story worth following.
Related news story:
Heritage Services to be shut down
By Pepper Parr
July 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There is some movement on the swimming pool front.
A Zoom call will take place tomorrow with two people from Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) on one end and city officials on the other.
On the same day, the BAD folks will open up registration for the 2025-26 season.
Let’s see if the city has figured out how to do the right thing.
This is what it is about – swimming, not two clubs battling it out over the use of city swimming pools.
By Gazette Staff
July 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATE: The price is $125 each (plus Eventbrite fee). They usually get close to the maximum number – so buy soon! It’s rain or shine – there are large tents for seating and eating and all vendors are under canvas too.
Sitting at a table in Spencer Smith Park on a sunny day, enjoying a fine meal is about as good as it gets.
Get your tickets HERE Take friends with you
By Gazette Staff
July 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON,
Canadian Blood Services is calling on all donors with O-negative type blood to donate as soon as they can. O-negative blood is vital in emergency care, because it is compatible with all blood types, and can be given to any patient. When seconds count, and there is no time to check blood types, hospital patients receive O-negative blood – the universal blood type.
Only 7 per cent of people in Canada have O-negative blood. This is a small percentage with a huge impact. That’s why it is so important that people with O-negative blood donate regularly, if they can.
If you know that your blood is O-negative, Canadian Blood Services is asking you to book an appointment or come to a donor centre today. It’s likely that someone in your family also has O-negative blood, so you can double your impact by inviting them to join you.
Hospitals have the blood they need today, but that could change if appointments aren’t filled. Demand is high for O-negative blood this summer, so O-negative donations are needed right away to keep the supply strong. Come to a donor centre today or book an appointment at your earliest opportunity. If you’ve already booked your appointment, please honour it, or rebook if your schedule changes.
While O-negative donors are especially needed right away, donors of all types are encouraged to make a plan to donate this summer. You will find out what your blood type is after your first donation.
Visit blood.ca or download the GiveBlood app to find a location near you. If you’ve never donated before, there is no better time to discover the profound sense of purpose and connection you feel when you donate blood.
Be part of something that matters and experience what you get when you give. Book now on blood.ca, use the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
By Pepper Parr
July 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
In a report that was CONFIDENTIAL and later made public the Region of Halton made it known that it would cease delivering heritage services as of January 1, 2026.
All this was done during a CLOSED session of Regional Council on July 9th.
There was nothing on the agenda about the matter, there is no mention in the minutes on this matter.
The Region is “deaccessioning: (their word, not mine) and dispersing items from the Region’s collection of 30,000 historical artifacts and archives.
The Collection consists of artifacts, archival materials, and photographs and includes artifacts like tools and equipment, uniforms and clothing, furniture, personal items, medical tools and equipment, communication tools and equipment, natural history specimens, archaeological materials, works of art, and other miscellaneous items.
Halton Region communications specialist Isabel Contin shared more details with CBC Hamilton about what the collection includes. She said there are:
About 18,400 “objects”: Tools, uniforms and clothing, furnishings, personal and medical items, communication devices, natural history specimens, archeological finds, and artworks.
About 3,100 photographs.
About 13,000 archival materials: Maps, documents and other materials.
The recommendations in Confidential Report directs Regional staff to:
Pending approval from Council to deaccession the Collection in its entirety, Regional staff will implement a process for dispersing the Collection – that is, removing these items from the Region’s ownership and responsibility.
In undertaking this work, Regional staff will make every effort to continue public ownership of the items and to keep the items located within Halton.
Dispersal approaches that result in Halton residents gaining greater access to and value from the Collection’s items will be prioritized.
A historical bicycle, seen here on display at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, is among the 30,000 items in the Halton Heritage Services collection that will need new homes. (Submitted by Meredith Leonard)
In undertaking this process, the Region will observe and adhere to all relevant ethical guidelines and accepted museum standards, practices, and procedures, including the Deaccessioning Guidelines produced by the Canadian Museums Association. Regional staff will also review and address all legal considerations related to deaccessioning, including undertaking due diligence to ensure no restrictions are in place for donated items. Thorough documentation and record-keeping will ensure transparency and accountability.
The approaches to dispersing items from the Collection, in order of priority/preference, are discussed below.
Transfer to Willing Organizations
The primary and preferred approach to dispersing items in the Collection will be transfer to a willing Local Municipality, institution, agency, or organization within Halton. This approach is consistent with the goals of maintaining public ownership and presence in Halton, and increasing the value provided to Halton residents.
As part of the review process, stakeholder interviews identified organizations with a potential interest in receiving items from the Collection. These were initial discussions, and no formal agreements were made. However, for illustrative purposes, potential partners could include Conservation Halton, the Halton Regional Police Service, Royal Botanical Gardens, Country Heritage Park, the Milton Historical Society, the Local Municipalities, and local libraries. Transfers to these organizations would be strictly voluntary and will differ based on the level of interest and how items from the Collection align with their individual mandate and capacity.
While transfer to a willing partner within Halton is the preferred approach, this may not always be necessary, appropriate, or possible. For example, there may be items that lack a clear connection to Halton’s heritage or that have a broader heritage value. In these cases, transfer to organizations outside Halton may be considered.
Halton Heritage Services staffers created this historical display for the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont., as part of their outreach work in Halton Region institutions. The department will be shuttered at the end of the year. (Submitted by Meredith Leonard)
In cases where an immediate opportunity for transfer is not identified, the dispersal approaches discussed below will also be considered. In some instances, the dispersal approaches below may not be suitable. This could occur where items have a clear connection or provide a unique or valuable representation of Halton’s heritage. While the ultimate intent is to remove all items in the Collection from the Region’s ownership and responsibility, there may be limited instances where these items require continued storage until such time as an appropriate recipient is identified. While Regional staff will work to minimize the scope and duration of any continued storage, continued stewardship and safeguarding of items of significant historical value to Halton will remain the first priority.
This will ensure a responsible and appropriate approach to dispersing items from the Collection is implemented.
Public Auction
As noted earlier in this report, there are objects in the Collection that do not have a clear value or direct relationship to Halton or its heritage. In these cases, public auction may be a valid method for dispersal. Where this approach is taken, advance public notice will be provided.
In accordance with relevant museum standards, practices, and procedures, any revenue realized from this approach would be used to support heritage in Halton. This could include providing funding to cultural heritage events supported by the Local Municipalities or to other organizations or efforts that support heritage in Halton. This approach presents another opportunity for the Collection to provide more value to Halton residents and ensures generating revenue for other non-heritage services does not become a driver for deaccessioning.
Disposal
Disposal will be used in instances where items pose a risk to the health and safety of individuals or have the potential to cause harm to other items in the Collection.
Disposal may also be used for items that are in poor condition or of poor quality and that cannot be placed through the other preferred methods described above. Expert advice will be sought as needed to ensure disposal is an appropriate approach and to manage risks in the case of hazardous items.
Indigenous
In parallel to the overall deaccessioning and dispersal process described above, a separate and distinct process will be undertaken in partnership with the Region’s Indigenous Relations team to address the Collection and its approximately 20 items identified as potential Indigenous belongings. These items were added to the Collection between approximately the late-1960s and early-1980s and include beaded objects, bark and quill boxes, footwear, and gloves, among other items.
The Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada included a call for funding for the Canadian Museums Association to undertake a national review of museum policies and best practices to determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”). In 2022, the Canadian Museums Association released “Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums”, which provides information and recommendations on dismantling the parts of museums that continue to perpetuate colonial harm. The process undertaken by the Region will be guided by these documents, and in particular their content on repatriation/rematriation and collections management.
Next Steps
Given the size of the Collection and the complexity of deaccessioning and dispersal processes, it is anticipated that this will be a significant undertaking with an extended timeline.
Pending Council’s approval, Regional staff will initiate implementation of the direction described above and will work with the Local Municipalities and local heritage organizations to address any impacts or opportunities resulting from these changes, including exploring opportunities for the transfer of items from the Region’s Collection and to address any impacts to existing in-kind support or financial contributions provided by the Region.
Updates will be provided to Regional Council on the implementation progress as required.
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The big question is: Why all the secrecy? Clearly, the Region didn’t want to continue spending taxpayers money on Heritage Services.
Why not just say so – and look to the public for ideas? That’s what public engagement is all about.
Lot of questions to be asked on this one.
We are indebted to Cheryl Hall for bring this story to our attention.
By Tom Parkin
July 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The number of Canadian-plated cars crossing into Canada from the United States is down everywhere, but not evenly, according to data from Statistics Canada released July 23.
The largest drop has been in BC where Canadian-plated cars crossing into Canada was down 45 per cent between May 2024 and May 2025, falling from 390,320 to 230,795 crossings.
The smallest drop has been at Ontario border crossings, where 26 per cent fewer Canadian-plated vehicles crossing into Canada in May 2025 than May 2024, falling from with 919,454 to 728,685 crossings.
Canadian-plated cars crossing into Quebec and New Brunswick, both declined 42 per cent. Crossings at Manitoba border points fell 32 per cent. Crossings at Alberta and Saskatchewan border points dropped 27 per cent.
Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador do not have any land crossing points with the United States.
The change in truck transborder traffic shows a generally similar trend, though with a much muted effect compared to cars, presumably because a large portion of truck traffic is based on commercial arrangement rather than personal choices.
Among Canada’s five busiest airport, the change in travel to the United States has also been uneven.
Flights to or from the United States from Toronto’s Island airport was down 32 in May 2025 from May 2024. Flights from or to Toronto or Montreal international airports was down mildly. Traffic from Vancouver International Airport was down the most.
The number of flights between Calgary International Airport and the United States bucked the anti-Trump trend, increasing by 12 per cent in May 2025 compared to one year earlier.
By Emily Miller
July 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Low-risk opportunities are choices that carry less chance of losing money or value. These options are typically associated with investments or actions known for their stability and reliability. People turn to low-risk paths when they want to protect what they have worked hard to earn.
Long-term growth occurs when something increases in value or size over a sustained period. It can involve saving money, building a business, or gradually improving skills. Often, this growth appears as small, incremental improvements that accumulate over time.
Selecting low-risk opportunities can significantly contribute to achieving these long-term goals. By avoiding large swings in value, people can plan more confidently for the future. Over time, this approach fosters a stronger sense of security and consistency.
A low-risk plan helps people feel confident about adding money regularly. When the chance of losing is slight, it feels easier to continue without second-guessing each decision. This habit can produce meaningful results in the long run.
If you consider the different ways people manage their money, the benefits of steady investing become clear. For instance, free bet blackjack is a variation of the traditional game where certain bets are offered at no initial cost, but with modified rules that can lead to more unpredictable outcomes. Put simply, this can lead to a greater potential reward for the player, but it also comes with higher risk.
In contrast, more conventional versions of blackjack follow established rules and strategies that some players find offer greater control and structure. While both involve an element of chance, these options offer a clearer, more dependable path that relies less on luck.
Data shared by HM Revenue & Customs shows that many savers choose Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) with lower-risk funds to build wealth. Consistent contributions, even in small amounts, help protect goals from unexpected events. Knowing their money is growing safely encourages many people to stay the course.
Contributing to an investment gradually also helps keep emotions out of the process. When savings grow slowly but steadily, it becomes easier to trust that the plan is working. This approach often feels more rewarding than trying to time the market perfectly.
Many people choose low-risk opportunities because they help protect against sudden losses. A steady option, such as a government bond, carries a much lower chance of failure compared to stocks or high-risk funds. For instance, UK gilts have a long record of paying investors reliably, according to the UK Debt Management Office.
Avoiding significant drops in value helps keep plans on track. It reduces the likelihood of panicked decisions, such as pulling money out at the wrong time. In a volatile market, a safer choice can act as a buffer.
Some families rely on these stable options to help cover essential costs later in life. Whether saving for a child’s education or a home deposit, knowing that funds are secure brings peace of mind. This safety net can make all the difference in reaching long-term goals without feeling pressure to take unnecessary risks.
It’s easy to believe that only big wins matter, but small, steady gains can be just as powerful over time. Even when progress feels slow, the impact compounds. Compound interest allows a modest investment to grow substantially over decades.
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) products demonstrate how steady interest rates, when left to compound, can accumulate into a significant sum. A person who saves a little each month will see their balance rise without taking major risks. This approach removes the need to guess when to buy or sell.
Regular, small contributions also encourage financial discipline. Setting up an automatic transfer to savings turns a financial goal into a routine habit. Over twenty or thirty years, these simple actions often produce more dependable outcomes than chasing quick gains.
Starting with safer investments helps people learn how money grows without the anxiety of sudden losses. Those who begin with low-risk choices often see progress without the stress of market volatility. This early experience makes it easier to make informed decisions later on.
Low-cost index funds are a popular choice for beginners. They spread risk across many companies and help avoid losses tied to any single share. The Financial Conduct Authority has noted that individuals who use these funds tend to remain invested for longer, resulting in better long-term outcomes.
Confidence grows not only from returns but also from understanding. As knowledge increases, many people feel more comfortable exploring additional options while maintaining a strong foundation in safer assets. This balanced approach can support long-term goals with greater stability.
Planning for the future becomes easier when returns are consistent and predictable. Clear expectations allow people to set goals for retirement, home ownership, or education with greater certainty. A steady approach reduces the pressure to make abrupt changes when the market shifts.
Pension funds often hold part of their investments in bonds and other low-risk assets. According to The Pensions Regulator, this strategy helps protect the value of savings as people near retirement. Even if other parts of the market fluctuate, safer investments continue to grow steadily.
Having a plan that balances growth with safety means that unexpected events are less likely to disrupt progress. For many, knowing that part of their savings is protected provides the confidence needed to stay committed over the long term. It’s this consistency that often makes long-term growth possible.
Strong plans don’t need to be complex to succeed. A simple mix of regular contributions and lower-risk choices often leads to lasting success. Those who stay patient usually achieve the results they hoped for in the end.
Choosing low-risk opportunities doesn’t mean giving up on growth. Instead, it offers a way to build wealth gradually, without feeling overwhelmed. With steady returns and fewer surprises, it becomes easier to trust the process. In the end, small, safe choices can help anyone reach their biggest goals with time and patience.
By Kevin Powers
July 28th, 2025
Burlington, ON
No Need for New Quarries? Tell That to the Free Market
Across southern Ontario, the battle over new quarries rages on. Local opponents—armed with “No Quarry” signs and cries of “No Need”—paint aggregate operators as reckless profiteers tearing up the land for no reason. They argue the province has more than enough gravel, sand, and stone to go around, so why approve more pits?
Here’s the flaw in their logic: they don’t understand the basic laws of supply and demand. No operator in their right mind spends millions chasing a new license and risking rejection, unless demand is there—and it is.
The signs are seen along rural roads. Few if any are seen in the urban areas.
Let’s break it down. Applying for an aggregate license under Ontario’s Aggregate Resources Act isn’t a weekend project. It’s a grueling, expensive slog—think at least $2 million or more for studies, site plans, and legal battles, often stretching five to ten years. Then there’s the gauntlet of public consultation, environmental hoops, and the very real chance of a “no” from regulators or a tribunal.
Look at Burlington’s Nelson Quarry: five years into an expansion bid, a family-run business is still tangled in the Ontario Land Tribunal, bleeding cash with no guarantee of approval. That’s not pocket change—it’s a calculated bet.
So why do it? Because operators aren’t digging for kicks—they’re digging because there’s a business case, and a business case only exists if there’s a need. Critics who say “there’s no need” didn’t take high school economics.
The Nelson quarry provided the aggregate that built Burlington.
Aggregate isn’t a vanity project; it’s the backbone of Ontario’s growth—highways, homes, schools. The Greater Golden Horseshoe’s population is set to hit 14.8 million by 2051, and Doug Ford’s plan for 1 million new homes by 2031 needs 235 million tonnes of the stuff. Close-to-market reserves—like those in the Greater Golden Horseshoe —are running thin, jacking up costs and emissions if we haul from farther away. Operators see the math: demand’s steady, supply’s tight, and new pits and quarries are the fix.
If there were an oversupply, you’d see it—prices crashing, pits shuttering, companies bailing. That’s not happening. The Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association pegs annual consumption at 164 million tonnes, and the number of licenses has dropped by 28 since 2013. Operators aren’t flooding the market; they’re scrambling to keep up. The free market doesn’t lie—businesses don’t risk millions on a hunch when gravel’s piling up unsold.
These buildings need aggregate – that’s the business case. The province needs to build a million new homes – the majority will be in high-rise towers.
Opponents might mean well, worried about dust, noise, or nature. Fair enough—nobody wants a quarry next door. But crying “no need” defies economic sense and assumes operators are either dumb or masochistic. They’re neither. They’re businesses, not charities, and they’ve got data—construction forecasts, infrastructure plans, population trends—telling them the juice is worth the squeeze. If they see demand drying up, they’re not going to risk millions of dollars trying to bring on new supply.
The irony? By stalling new quarries, critics could choke the very growth they take for granted—roads they drive, homes they live in. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is not swimming in aggregate; it’s rationing a shrinking stash.
The Aggregate Resources Act doesn’t ask for a “market need” test because it trusts the market to sort itself out. Maybe it’s time opponents did too. Operators aren’t the enemy here—they’re just reading the room. If there’s no need, they won’t dig. But the numbers say otherwise, and the free market’s already placing its bets.
Kevin Powers is an energy and infrastructure consultant
By Pepper Parr
July 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We published a piece early this morning about the two very demanding jobs Curt Benson will take on starting August 2nd.
Readership was brisk.
Curt Benson: Takes the helm as CAO on August 2nd.
Shortly after the noon hour, we received the following from the City Communications people:
We’re just writing to seek a correction in the article “Curt Benson takes on a back breaking job on August 2nd – will be both the CAO and Development Commissioner until November of 2026”
We wanted to confirm/clarify for you that the City is actually in the process of actively recruiting for Curt’s backfill for the Commissioner role, and we expect to be able to share more about the outcome of that process in the coming weeks.
What did they want corrected?
The city never said anything about “actively recruiting for Curt’s backfill for the Commissioner role” in the original media release – there was no correction to be made.
A little more in the way of “clarity” on the process the city is using.
Is the active recruiting for someone who will replace Curt Benson as Commissioner: Development and Growth? Or will the person fill in for some of the work Benson did as Commissioner?
We could find nothing in the way of a job posting on the city website – but that is not unusual – the city website has always been difficult to navigate. Putting a date on everything and then listing items in chronological order would be a very useful first step.
This suggestion will never make its way to the people who upgrade and maintain the website – in Burlington, the departments don’t talk to each other. That is partially due to the number of people who work virtually.
Final question is: Given that the Mayor has the power to appoint whoever she wants as the city Chief Administrative Officer, why bring Benson in until a new Council islsworn in November of 2026?
By Gazette Staff
By Pepper Parr
It wasn’t until a couple of years later that the problems for my family came to the surface. At this time, a member of my family had already been struggling with his physical health for several years. He had slipped a disc in his spine, a painful and debilitating injury. Through countless doctor’s visits, several neurology appointments, and seemingly endless surgeon consults, nothing had been done to change the situation this individual faced.
Aria Wilson will return to Carlton University in September to begin her second year as a journalism student
By Jeannie Løjstrup