 By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Word is that there are some professional pollsters taking the temperature of the voters in Burlington.
We weren`t one of the people called but a number of city hall staff were on the list of those automatic calls – sometimes referred to as Robo-calls – where you are asked a question and told to press a specific key on your telephone
 City Clerk Angela Morgan oversees the municipal election. She signs the document that makes the winners official. City hall became concerned that people would think it was the city doing the polling – Not us said the city Clerk. “In the City Clerk’s office, our goal is to run a fair and open election” said Angela Morgan, city clerk, and election lead for the city. “We would never ask voters to identify who they are supporting in the upcoming election.”
Some Burlington residents, including several city employees, have received a telephone call asking who they are voting for and asking them to identify issues.
Someone out there has money to spend – we might be able to identify who they are when the financial returns are filed.
One need only think about who could be in trouble and would want to test the waters. It isn`t in ward one or ward two – that`s for certain.
Care to guess who might be doing the polling?
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington got its first chance to see the three contenders for the office of Mayor last night when the Lion’s hosted a debate that got a little awkward at times but covered a lot of ground in a short period of time.
The evening was organized for the residents of ward two to get a look at those running for Regional chair, those running for the Mayor’s seat on Council and those running for the Council seat.
 Regional chair Gary Carr at a Burlington event. Carr never misses a chance to put on a hockey sweater. It is nigh unto impossible to beat Cary Garr who is the current Regional Chair. He has served as an MP, an MPP and as Regional chair where he has done a decent enough job. Carr trots out all the numbers and accomplishments and never fails to tell us that Halton is the safest Region not only in the province but in the country and that taxes have not increased in the last eight years.
Will Carr be able to say the same thing come March when we see the budget for the Region? And will Carr at some point explain where things went wrong with the water and sewage pipes in parts of Burlington?
Know this – Gary Carr is going to be re-elected as Regional Chair – and he has earned that job
The two contenders for the Regional chair face an uphill battle – getting name recognition throughout the Region is very difficult and expensive. Greg Woodruff spoke very well; he knew what he was talking about but wasn’t going to convince anyone that he should be Regional chair, when he shows up in a polo shirt looking as if he was heading for a shift at Wal-Mart.
This is a bright young man – there is a place for a mind like him at the city council table – but as he put it in a short conversation – Rick Craven can’t be beaten in Aldershot which is where Woodruff lives.
Sayed Ali Naqvi spoke very well and referred to a 24 point plan that is on his web site. It would be very difficult for someone with no experience at the municipal level to lead a Regional government. However Mr. Naqvi made some significant points that need a good look.
 Peter Rusin candidate for Mayor The public got its first look at Peter Rusin who was a very late entry into the race for the office of Mayor. He has his work cut out for him.
Rusin comes across as a very tough guy who gets things done but he needs to learn the art of politics. Rusin stood before the audience of less than 150 people for the first time and neglected to say who he was.
He does know how to hone in on a subject and scored points when he scoffed at the five units of affordable housing that will be part of the five structure Paradigm project the Molinaro’s are building next to the Burlington GO station. “Who negotiated that deal” he asked.
Rusin believes he can take $1 million out of the city hall budget while Mayor Goldring, who showed he knew how to fight back, told the audience that Service Based Budgeting would give the public more input into the budget making process. Goldring appears prepared to take credit for the introduction of Service Based Budgeting – an idea that came to Burlington with former city manager Jeff Fielding who left the city after less than 26 months of his 60 month contract.
 Mayor Rick Goldring speaking to environmentalists – he chose to speak on a street corner instead of at civic square Goldring talked of his success in protecting the integrity of neighbourhoods – check out what was done in the Queensway where eight homes were demolished and 50+ homes built. Significant increase in the population of what is an almost lost community – but nothing in the way of local amenities were added.
Rusin who frequently didn’t drill down far enough in his arguments to make his point – chose to cover a lot of ground lightly.
He had harsh words for the Pier mess and said the IKEA problem would not have happened on his watch. Rusin was promising more capable leadership – and for a short period of time there was a bit of a buzz in the room.
The third candidate for Mayor was Anne Marsden. Had Peter Rusin not filed nomination papers Ms Marsden would not be on the ballot; his being a candidate gave her the cover she needed to run.
 Anne Marsden, candidate for Mayor Ms Marsden is a tireless advocate for the disabled and a true champion for the democratic rights of the voters. She made a very strong necessary case for ensuring the public`s right to have input into the decisions made. The decision to hold a Special Meeting of Council on Monday was embarrassing and just plain wrong. Ms Marsden deserves credit for speaking out as forcefully as she did.
 Senior Regional Planner Stirling Todd talks with Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. At the ward level Marianne Meed Ward did what she does very well; she engaged the people of her ward and they responded. The woman that delegated at council in 2009 and 2010 has grown and probably cannot be beaten.
Kelly Arnott was on point – but didn’t offer anything that Meed Ward hasn’t already done. Andy Porecki was a late entry into the race for the ward seat. He would have had to start campaigning a year ago to lay a glove on Meed Ward. He does bring credible experience at the Regional level to municipal politics. He was probably the best informed person on affordable housing in the room – after Gary Carr.
Philip Papadopoulos has added $100 to the city’s coffers when he paid his nomination fee and that is about the limit of his contribution.
What Burlington is seeing is ward based events; a group in a ward sponsors an event and cover everything. Last night it was the Lions sponsoring a ward two event, next Wednesday the Roseland Community Organization will sponsor a debate for residents of ward four. The Gazette recently sponsored a debate for the residents of ward six.
The city needs a debate between just the candidates for the office of Mayor.
The Roseland Community Organization is sponsoring a debate at the Paletta Mansion on October 7th. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a debate on October 17 at the Golf and Country Club. This is a 7:30 am event.
 By Staff
October 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF)is thrilled to announce the “Pioneer Pledge Challenge”. Pioneer Energy announced it will match the next $25,000 donation to the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
 Tim Hogarth, CEO Pioneer Energy “We strongly believe it is important for successful businesses to give back to the communities in which we live, work and raise our families,” says Tim Hogarth, Chairman and CEO, Pioneer Energy. “The flood in Burlington was an unforeseen disaster that requires the entire community to rally together and support those in greatest need. We hope the Pioneer Pledge Challenge inspires others to join our efforts.”
As of noon today, the Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee has raised $665,000 – 33% of the $2 million target.
 “The potential of this creative gift by Pioneer Energy is simply outstanding,” says Ron Foxcroft, Chair, BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee. “We are so grateful that the Hogarth family is supporting our efforts with such leadership and hope it inspires others to take the Pioneer Pledge Challenge and pay it forward.”
 By Pepper Parr
October 1, 0214
BURLINGTON, ON.
Perception is often more relevant than reality – and that would appear to apply to the campaign Blair Lancaster is running in ward six where the Air Park issue is front and center for many.
 How many people are going to see this sign? Is it more of a political statement than a device to inform electors? Residents north of Dundas have for some time felt that Ms Lancaster is closer to representing the interest of the air park owners than she is the interests of the residents who have to live with the air park.
During the ward six debate the Gazette sponsored, Ms Lancaster did say that the development of the air park was important and that the interests of the people who owned the air park mattered as well. She took the position that she was in office to represent everyone – which is certainly not the way many of the people in rural Burlington saw her behaviour.
 Vince Rossi in the red shirt with Blair Lancaster to his left at a community meeting in the Warren barn on Bell School Line. When a community meeting took place in the barn of the Warren family property, which is one field away from the end of the air park runway, Ms Lancaster sat beside Vince Rossi, the owner of the Air Park. Ms Lancaster explained at the time that she had been in a minor car accident earlier in the day and needed a chair with a back – and the only one available was next to Vince Rossi. Several people suggested Ms Lancaster could have moved the chair she was sitting in.
During the court case at Superior Court in Burlington Ms Lancaster sat in the row directly behind Vince Rossi which many saw as quite inappropriate.
When that hearing ended Ms Lancaster was seen leaving the Court house with Mr. Rossi as they walked towards their cars in the parking lot.
 The Lancaster election signs are all around the air park site and on the air park site. Are small craft pilots funding the Lancaster election campaign? For many people this perception is so totally wrong – to their eyes they see Ms Lancaster as being in the Rossi camp and they can’t wait to see her election financial return to learn how much Rossi donated to her campaign.
The last straw for many was the Lancaster election signs spread around the air park. “What in heaven’s name is she doing” was the comment from a political operative, who does not live in Burlington and is not aligned with any Burlington candidates. “Pretty dumb thing to do” he added “unless Lancaster has data that indicates most of the people south of Dundas don’t care all that much about what happens at the air park.
 If you have a small plane at the air park – you are going to know that Lancaster wants your vote. The city itself certainly cares and has committed a significant amount of dollars and staff time – first trying to get Vince Rossi to comply with the city bylaws and then ensuring that he provides all the information the city believes it needs to approve any changes to the air park site that are not related to aviation and the operation of an air park.
The biggest problem has been getting a site plan from the air park. The city also wants to see something in the way of a business plan which many believe does not even exist
So far the city hasn’t gotten much from Vince Rossi. Ms Lancaster has gotten a place to put her re-election signs.
By Pepper Parr
October 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The forms needed to apply for financial assistance if your home was flooded on August 4th are now available on the Burlington Community Foundation web site.
During debate at a Council Standing Committee Mayor Goldring made the point that no one is going to be made whole with what they might get from the fund raising that has been done in the community.
Goldring pointed out that the funds are intended for people who were under-insured or un-insured.
That 48 inch colour TV screen is not going to be covered – but the furnace that was under three feet of water can be covered.
The city had previously outsourced the creation of a Flood Relief program to the Burlington Community Foundation because that is what the province required. Monday evening the city approved the appointment of the members of the Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
It’s an impressive committee and while it could not and should not include anyone who is likely to make a claim – there doesn’t appear to be anyone of limited means on the list: Catherine Brady; Kevin Brady; Susan Busby; John Chisholm; Ron Foxcroft; Steven Joyce; Jeff Paiken; Phil Reddon; Michael Shih; Steve Stipsits; Linda Davies; Keith Strong; Dorothy Borovich; Allan Pearson; Ed Hannah; Rick Burgess; Don Smith; Doug Leggat; Scott Barnard; Wayne Hussey and Jeff Valentin.
The list appears just a little too” white”; made up of the “entitled”. Who put this list together and is it reflective of the people of Burlington?
But those are the people in place – so be it.
 Ron Foxcroft, on the right, gives Mayor Goldring a close look during a discussion at the Burlington Community Foundation offices. When Ron Foxcroft was asked to take on leadership of the fund raising he set himself a 100 day target to raise $2 million from the community. The expectation was that Burlington would be given the $2 for every $1 raised in the community – which would make $6 million available for distribution.
As of noon today that figure was at $660,000 – 33% of the target with two banks waiting in the wings for their photo-op.
 The Red Cross reported that 531 homes were likely to need major help and that 271 of these were either un-insured or under insured. They also estimated that it was going to cost something in the order of an average of $18,000 to get homes to the point where they had the fundamentals in place – a furnace that works and washers and dryers.
Councillor Sharman, who can always be relied upon to run the numbers, told his colleagues that he wasn’t certain the numbers he was hearing would work. With 271 homes being given $18,000 that comes to a total of $4,878,000 which is well within the $6 million the city hopes to see available to the BCF for distribution.
The BCF is in the process of reviewing the short list for an insurance adjuster who be hired to review every claim.
Council authorized the Interim City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Burlington Community Foundation that will allow the city to cover the cost of support services to the Flood Disaster Relief Committee, including but without limiting services related to the design and implementation of the Flood Disaster Relief Program, fundraising, communications and claims adjudication and settlement.
The city expects it will recover any funds it passes along to the BCF from the provincial government. The city manager is to report back periodically to the Development and Infrastructure Committee as the work of the Flood Disaster Relief Committee and the Burlington Community Foundation progresses.
City council appears to believe that this program will be wrapped up by the end of the year.
There are people in this city who certainly hope so.
By Pepper Parr
October 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Burlington Lions Club is hosting an all candidates debate Wed. October 1, 7pm at the Lions Club at Pearl and James (471 Pearl St). Candidates for Regional Chair, Mayor, and Ward 2 Councillor will be on hand to talk about their platform, why they are running, and answer written questions from the floor, chosen by the moderator. Candidates for school board trustee will be on hand with information tables, but will not participate in the debate.
 It sounds like a pretty tame approach to getting a solid look at these candidates – adding the council members to the mix means Philip Papadopoulos will also be speaking; we heard from Papadopoulos when he ran for Mayor in 2010
Then adding candidates for the office of Regional Chair will mean an event that spreads the available time over too many people.
 Goldring winning in 2010. Burlingtonians want to hear Mayor Goldring defend his record and some of his controversial decisions and would like to hear if Peter Rusin has anything to bring to the table.
 Peter Rusin – running for the office of Mayor. Rusin is unknown, has never served in an elected office and has no record of any community involvement. Does he have “chops” – could he do the job?
The citizens need an opportunity to listen to these two men and make a decision.
The Lions are to be applauded for hosting the event – it looks as if the audience is going to get to listen to 11 people in one evening running for three levels of public office.
Four candidates running for the ward two Council seat; three candidates running for Mayor and four candidates running for Regional chair.
 By Pepper Parr
October 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
When the Performing Arts Centre was first opened there was deep concern amongst the smaller theatrical and performance groups that there would not be a place for them – and during the Heatherington regime – there wasn’t much in the way of “local” talent on that stage.
When Brian McCurdy took over and got some of the problems worked out he began to include local groups in the program.
 Trevor Copp, founder of Tottering Biped Theatre will perform at the Performing Arts Centre for a two week run. Thursday evening First Dance, a significant re-interpretation of that traditional first swing around the dance floor by a freshly wed bride and groom will be performed by Trevor Copp and dance partner Jeff Fox.
Copp is a fine performer, he doesn’t walk – he glides. He has tremendous control over his movements and is a delight to watch. I’ve not actually seen Trevor Copp dance – other than the occasion when he was declared one of Burlington’s BEST a number of years ago. On that occasion he floated out into the middle of the room and made his acceptance comments.
The Gazette will be doing a review of the First Dance – look for it on Friday when Lana Kamaric reports on the performance.
Copp was the person who appeared before city council about two years ago and asked why he, as an artist, could not earn his living in his community. We didn’t know it at the time but that delegation was the first peek at what is an energetic arts community that few knew about.
Following the Copp delegation we saw the creation of the Arts and Culture Collective that speaks on behalf of much of the art community.
 Trevor Copp talks with Angela Paparizo during the unveiling of the Spiral Stella at the Performing Arts Centre last year. That was followed by the first No Vacancy event at the Waterfront Hotel in 2013 – to be followed by a hugely successful second No Vacancy event at the Village Square.
And now Trevor Copp gets to dance on the Performing Arts Centre Stage telling the story about how, a man about to marry his male partner sets about devising their traditional First Dance. Through Ballroom dance and Theatre, the journey of a gay man is explored through the challenge of creating a dance for a ritual that has no history.
The dancing will be superb – what many will not get immediately is the political undertone of the performance. In our society men lead on the dance floor – how does that happen when both dancers are male? Our assumptions get challenged and we find we are facing a “cultural blind spot”.
As Copp was planning his own wedding (which has since ended) all the assumptions had to be deconstructed and a new approach created.
 Trevor Copp, the Burlington actor who mobilized the arts into a Collective makes a point on leadership while Executive Director of the Burlington Museum’s operation listens. This performance has “gay” stamped all over its marketing – a bold and quite unexpected step for Burlington. Would the performance attract the gay community from Toronto and Hamilton?
Copp wasn’t sure. He expects word of mouth will draw the audience and he is delighted that the Performing Arts Centre has given him a two week run. Something also unheard of in this city for a local group.
Copp has performed First Dance in Guelph, Kitchener and Hamilton and in the very near future he will be taking the production to Albania.
He has done between 25 and 30 performances of a production that undergoes constant change.
For those attending the event – there will be some wonderful dancing and a challenge to many of the assumptions we make about marriage and the roles each partner plays.
Copp takes his performance a couple of steps further and has added “Talk Back”; he works at getting into a dialogue with the audience after the performance. Copp has found in the past that people just blurt out a thought or a feeling.
This is tricky stuff – the performer has no idea what will come from the audience – perhaps nothing which makes for an awkward moment.
Copp doesn’t appear in the least deterred by something that might not work out.
This is new, exciting and bold stuff – Brian McCurdy deserves kudos for bringing First Dance to his stage.
October 2 through to the 5th and from the 9th to the 11th. Matinee performances are included. Moderately priced. Tickets can be booked on the Performing Arts web site. Box office 905-681-6000
By Staff
October 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Police have located the missing 74-year-old Brian MANN of Burlington. Brian was located in good health shortly after 6:30 a.m. by a member of the general public.
The Halton Regional Police Service would like the public to assist in locating a missing 74 year-old male, Brian MANN.
On Wednesday, October 1st, 2014, shortly before 3:00 a.m., police were notified that this male had left his residence on Itabashi Way, in the City of Burlington. He was last seen in the area of Atchison Drive at 2:00 a.m. There is concern for his well being.
He is described as male white, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a medium build and a bald head. He was wearing a dark green zip up pull over sweater, blue jeans and white runners.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the on-duty Staff Sergeant, in Burlington, at 9905) 825 4747 ext., 2310, or Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-22-TIPS (8477). Also, via the web, at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting ‘Tips201’ with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
September 30, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Here’s a rich one for you.
Three candidates for the public school board have signed a “pledge: to: “act with the highest level of integrity”.
Doesn’t one just do that when they run for public office?
 School board trustee candidates Joanne Oliver, Mary Dilly and Margo Shuttleworth hold a copy of the pledge they signed. It sounds like a groom saying to his bride at the altar that he won’t cheat on her.
Joanna Oliver, Mary Dilly and Margo Shuttleworth are all running for seats on the school board where the honorarium is at the $15,000 range. Dilly who has been a school board trustee in the past is using election signs asking people to “re-elect” her – a tactic which some see as mi sleading.
To sign a pledge to be transparent and act with integrity while demonstrating the opposite in their campaign does not set a good example to the students they are vying to represent.
“We’re hoping everyone keeps the best interests of kids in mind, and not their own agendas,” said Mary Dilly, a former trustee who is running again in Burlington. She created the Halton version of the pledge with Joanna Oliver, running in Oakville, and Margo Shuttleworth, vying for a seat to represent a different Burlington ward.
“We wanted to make the type of pledge that anyone who is running to be a trustee would want to sign, something open and transparent,” added Shuttleworth.
Looks like an advertising gimmick. Why not talk about the way you will represent the students and their parents should you get elected as a trustee.
There is a reason for calling these people trustees – you are supposed to be able to trust them.
 By Pepper Parr
September 30, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It turned out to be the last council meeting for the lot we elected in 2010 – they did not go out with much in way of glory or respect; they sort of slinked off into the night like people who wear masks and do things they shouldn’t be doing. .
In Burlington the usual process is for Council to meet as a Standing Committee – we have two of them – where Staff Reports are presented and matters debated. Monday evening the Development and Infrastructure Committee met. There was a very good debate and discussion related to the small development on Lakeshore Road where a large bungalow is to be replaced by four custom built homes.
The issue was what this development would have on the character of the community. The Gazette will report on this development later this week.
The discussion ran longer than expected. Burlington’s council has a procedural rule that has things ending at 10:30 pm unless there is a motion to extend for an additional half hour. After that the lights go out.
 Anne and Dave Marsden delegating at a city council meeting she thought should not have taken place. It was with some surprise that media learned there was to be a Special Council meeting immediately after the Standing Committee. This type of thing has been done in the past – usually because there is a pressing matter and the usual 10 day wait time between Standing Committee and Council meetings is waived.
There was nothing pressing about any of the matters covered at the Standing Committee meeting last night – so why the rush?
It turned out that this “Special” Council meeting would be the last for this term of office before the election.
It could have and should have been an occasion when Council members could have paused and reflected on what they had achieved. It has been an interesting four year term. There was quite a bit to be proud of and some hard lessons learned – but instead Council pulled what could be seen as a fast one and held a Council meeting at which they passed matters that had been discussed and debated a mere two and a half hours earlier.
 There was no opportunity for the public to inform themselves on what had taken place at the Standing Committee and appear before council to delegate if they wished.
Anne Marsden, a resident who delegates all too frequently and who has been denied the right to delegate at the Region because she tends to go off on tangents, did serve her city well when she scribbled out a note to the Clerk asking to delegate at this hastily called Special Council meeting.
Marsden is also a candidate for the Office of Mayor and you can bet the house on her haranguing on this issue at every debate during the next four weeks.
Mayor Goldring takes the chair when Council is in session and he advised Ms Marsden that she had five minutes to speak. This observer has seldom seen the Mayor as short and curt with a member of the public.
Anne Marsden – candidate for the Office of Mayor. Anne Marsden spoke, the Mayor asked Council if there were any questions, there were none and Ms Marsden moved on to her second five minute delegation during which she castigated council for the way it was behaving. And she was not wrong.
There was not a word from the two “liberals” on this council about the shoddy treatment the democratic process had been given. Neither John Taylor nor Marianne Meed Ward said a word.
There are good reasons for creating a period of time between the Standing Committee meetings and the Council meetings where the decisions are made and the bylaws passed. That time gives the public a chance to look at what the “rascals” have done and delegate to Council if there are concerns.
 Marsden was making a fundamental point. The wait period between the Standing Committee and the Council meeting is the only opportunity the public has to be informed and aware of what their elected representatives are doing – “it is a safeguard that belongs to the public” said Marsden. She added that she believed “this council is out of control”.
While some might see it as a stretch – conducting business this way is the thin edge of corrupt practices. Those who are comfortable bending the rules (and we have a couple of those on this Council ) use opportunities like this to let something slip by out of the bright lights of public review.
Council meetings are broadcast on the Cogeco cable TV network. With the Council meeting held so quickly was there an opportunity for Cogeco to know and arrange for the broadcast?
And – finally, who made the decision to re-schedule the Council decision, why was it re-scheduled and how was the public informed about the change?
 The meeting was the last before the public casts their ballots on October 27th – based on the Monday night performance there is little reason to return any of them. Go on line and watch the web cast – see how your Mayor treated a delegation. His appearance is at the very end of the broadcast.
You have a right to expect better than that.
By Pepper Parr
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
A month from now it will all be over.
You will know who your Mayor, your city council members and school board trustees are going to be.
Each of the candidates is now, for the most part, in full election mode dropping off literature and pushing signs into lawns.
This election has been slow to get some heat going – the announcement of a candidate for the office of Mayor smartened things up a little. The moment Peter Rusin announced he was in the race, perennial city hall delegator, Anne Marsden saw the opportunity and filed her nomination papers.
While late into the race, and he needs to explain why the late entry, Rusin will bring some energy to every level of the election.
Will there be some surprises? There usually are – the Cam Jackson loss to Goldring in 2010 was a surprise to many and coming third to Carol D’Amelio was a jolt.
Councillor Craven is running a crafty campaign – he is good at it – and unless there is a surge for Katherine Henshell – Craven is at the horse shoe for another term – but that race isn’t a done deal yet.
Ward two is clear – despite the efforts by people who can write big cheques getting behind Kelly Arnott, Marianne Meed Ward has this one locked up.
Ward three – no race there yet. Once again a candidate – Jeff Brooks – has come out very late in the race and has no name recognition and there is no strong reason to defeat John Taylor – other than it is time for a change,
Ward four could be a sleeper. Carol Gottlob is making ground – too soon to tell if she can make enough ground in the time left. Jack Dennison finally said he would take part in the debate that will be held at the Paletta Mansion October 7th. The debate will include the Mayoral candidates as well as the municipal candidates. Could be an interesting evening.
Ward five is a real race. James Smith came very close in 2010 with a much bigger field of candidates. An analysis of the 2010 numbers suggest the incumbent, Paul Sharman has his work cut out for him.
The tight race between Lancaster in ward six made the 2010 election interesting. It will be even more interesting in that ward this time around when there is a real city wide issue being decided in that ward. The Air Park is going to take up a lot of time at city hall and needs to be watched very carefully. Having nine other names on the ballot will make that race one to watch.
 This is the time for the voters to make sure their names are on the voters list – we are hearing stories of some screw up that we are looking into.
There is really no reason not to vote. The opportunity to vote electronically –it is perfectly safe – means you can do it on the way home while on the GO train.
Just don’t vote for the name you recall – the city provides the services you use on a daily basis – do your homework and choose wisely
 By Pepper Parr
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON,.
For the incumbents in wards four and five the August flood has become a campaign issue – one they are finding there isn’t all that much they can do about.
 The people whose homes were flooded need some information from their political leaders – has the municipal election made them all mute? The public isn’t seeing a lot of leadership from this lot. The flood certainly took place – and there are some very sad and serious situations – but Council members are restricted in what they can do by the Municipal Act and by the fact that the pipes that direct the water into homes are a Regional responsibility.
Worse – the Region has decided it is not going to meet with the Burlington residents that have serious problems until after the election.
Why is that?
In Burlington, city council has a regular meeting schedule but it can meet almost immediately, at any time at the call of the Mayor.
There are some technicalities – Council members have to be given some notice which can be waived if necessary.
One assumes that the same kind of rules would apply at the Regional level.
So why doesn’t the Regional Chair call a meeting?
Well the Chair isn’t being pressed to call a meeting – and Regional staff don’t appear to want a meeting – so there isn’t going to be a meeting at which the public can delegate.
 Mayor Goldring has recently taken to wearing his Chain of Office outside the Council chamber – will he soon begin to exercise the power and authority that goes with the Chain of Office? The situation for those people in this city whose homes were flooded appears to be close to leaderless.
There just doesn’t seem to be anyone elected to public office who wants to do anything.
Could Mayor Goldring not poll his council members and see if they would support him in a call for a Special meeting of the Regional government?
Could the Mayor not then call his colleague in Oakville, Mayor Rob Burton, and ask him to poll his members and see if they would support a Special Regional meeting.
And could they not deliver a document to the Regional Chair Gary Carr and ask –heck they should be demanding – that a Special meeting of Regional Council be called to tell the people of Burlington what went wrong and what they are doing and use the occasion to let the people of Burlington know what the governments they elected are doing for them.
 Gary Carr took some hard shots as a goal tender; time to take some hard shots as a Regional chair and act on behalf of all his constituents. Chair Gary Carr isn’t very keen on this type of meeting. People tend to get rowdy and noisy and that isn’t the Carr style.
Tough, Chairman Carr – you have a responsibility to let the people you serve know that you are fully aware of their concerns and that you are doing everything you possibly can for the people who pay you.
Time for some leadership.
Salt with Pepper is an infrequent column written by the publisher of the Gazette
By Staff
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Voter Identification Notices (VINs) have been mailed to each elector on the voters’ list for Burlington’s 2014 Municipal Election.
The notice provides eligible voters with their elector ID and information about dates, times and locations for voting, including how to vote online.
If there are errors on a Voter Identification Notice, or eligible electors need to be added to the list, citizens should:
Contact the Clerks Department at 905-335-7803 or,
Visit in person at Burlington City Hall, 426 Brant St. from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
There are three voting options for qualified voters:
1. Vote online from Oct. 2 to Oct. 19
2. Vote at an advance poll on Oct. 8 or 18
3. Vote on Election Day, Oct. 27
Eligible voters will be able to cast their ballot online for the 2014 municipal election. To vote online, use your Voter Identification Number to register at www.burlington.ca/election.
Once you have registered, you will receive a link by email to your online voter PIN and will be ready to vote. Online registration for internet voting will be available from Monday, Sept. 29 to Friday, Oct. 17.
Online voting can take place from Thursday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 19.
The city makes the process sound simple – but there are those who are having problems. One resident wrote to say:
After living here and voted in every election I just clicked to find out if I am registered to vote and to find the online voting tools.
I am not registered to vote! Nor my husband!
And the city site refers me to the documentation page.
Apparently I am not alone.
I smell BULLSHIT!
If I have to take one more day off work to verify I am a citizen of Burlington or my husband. I will simply blow my stack!
One more day at city hall to fill out useless forms… seriously…. it the city of Burlington a make work state?
Does this difficulty apply to anyone who has sent a nasty email to mayor”, asks Kennedy.
I will tell my neighbours…… will you tell yours?
Shortly after we published this piece we received an amail from the City Clerk, the person responsible for the administration of the 2014 election. It is set out below.
Mr. Kennedy, below are answers to your questions:
1. There are a number of explanations concerning the “Am I on the List” program. The program requires electors to enter the information exactly as it appears on the Voters List so if anything changed from one entry to another (i.e. spelling of name, street address, caps) you may come up as not on the list. In addition, the street name needs to be provided using the drop down menu so if this feature was not used the first time the system would indicate that you are not on the list. If anyone has questions regarding whether they are on the Voters List they may contact City Hall, or go to any City library.
2. Voter Information Notices were mailed last Thursday and electors should be receiving them today and definitely prior to the start of internet voting on October 2. Registration for Internet voting is available until Oct 17 and you can vote until Oct. 19.
3. Advance poll information has been added to our website and is outlined on all voter information notices. Advance voting will take place on both October 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and October 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All polls are city wide so you can vote at any of the 3 polls including the Burlington Senior’s Centre, Mapleview Mall and Haber Recreation Centre.
Thank you for bringing to our attention that the advance voting day information is not easily found on our website. We will ensure that this is fixed.
Angela Morgan, City Clerk, City of Burlington
If you are qualified to vote and your name is on the Voters’ List, you may vote before Election Day at an advance poll. City-wide advance voting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St.
Mapleview Shopping Centre, 900 Maple Ave.
Haber Recreation Centre, 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr.
All eligible Burlington voters can vote at any one of the city-wide advance poll locations.
Eligible voters are:
A Burlington resident or property owner, the spouse of an owner or resident.
A Canadian citizen, who is at least 18 years of age, and not prohibited from voting under any law.
By Staff
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
They’ve done it every year for the past 17 years. The cottage they live in and work out of is located on Beach Blvd in Hamilton – but because it is more like a part of Burlington than Hamilton (except for the taxes) they seem like local people.
 Cora Brittan was the calligraphist who did the work for the first Royal Reading presentation to Prince George on the occasion of his first birthday. Royal Reading was a collection of greetings from the people of Burlington.  They are both artists. She is petite, he has a pony tail. They winter in Mexico and usually rent their home while they are south.
They are not wealthy people – they just live their lives and do their art.
Cora has a well-developed calligraphy skill and did the inscriptions for Royal Reading, the presentation the Gazette made to Prince George on the occasion of his first birthday.
On a weekend in the middle of October – 18th and 19th – Cora and Eric Brittan will host their 17th annual Open House art sale. The event will run from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
 Much of Cora Brittan’s work has a light, whimsy, almost magical touch to it. Their home is next to what used to be the Bell Cairn Public school but is now the Training Centre for the Provincial Correctional Service located on Beach Blvd. Cross the canal and swing into Beach Blvd.
The neighbourhood has a rich history. There was a time when the Blvd was being used by heavy trucks – mothers blocked the road with their baby carriages to stop that kind of traffic.
They do things differently in Hamilton.
By Staff
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 Ishar Thiara left the stage last Wednesday evening shortly after delivering his opening remarks. He left his jacket on the back of the chair he was using. We assumed he was going to return shortly.
In a statement from family we were informed that: “Mr. Thiara has been advised by his medical provider that he needs to take some time to ensure fast recovery. At this time he will be resting until his health permits.”
We wish Mr. Thiara a speedy recovery.
By Carol Gottlob
September 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Each week, until the ballots are cast on October 27th, we are going to follow the tales and travails of a single candidate. We have chosen Carol Gottlob, running in ward 4 against a well entrenched incumbent. Gottlob has no experience in civic government, has never campaigned before. Following this candidate is not an endorsement; Gottlob will win on her own merit.
Zoning and intensification seem to be the buzz words to get citizens and developers fired up on both sides of the issue. Developers persistently remind us that Burlington has a provincial mandate to meet regarding intensification.
There is a growing Ontario population that needs options for places to live. We get that. The numbers: Current targets call for a minimum number of new housing units to be added to the built-up area between 2015 and 2031 as 8,300.
The intensification mandate also speaks to the intent of building responsibly vis a vis existing mature neighbourhoods, so it’s not a carte blanche to simply build out without thought to consequences of high density population, not to mention affordable housing. Consideration must be given to the impact a larger population would have on public transit, traffic and road infrastructure, and social services.
 Two tower project proposed for Appleby Mall location – 16 and 11 storey structures. That Official Plan is intended to protect, preserve and help Burlington grow responsibly. I believe one of the issue with our planning is the current zoning by-laws which are too large a zoning designation, too generalized a description and not sufficiently specific to reflect the needs of the prospective sub communities within current designated zones.
These by-laws are typically set as minimums that the developers are pushing and the reality is these minimums today do not accurately reflect these sub-communities’ neighbourhoods, their character, their streetscapes or setbacks. For this reason we are seeing a multitude of sub-communities within these ‘grand zones’ rise up against ‘Monster Home’ and ‘High Rise’ development.
When I am out talking to people I hear their stories and their fears: One example of such a conversation was relating to over building on lot sizes and the impact it has to the neighbourhood character. Potential requests for adjustment to by-law zones could be a change to the side lot setback- in other words how close to the property line a person could build.
Current bylaws stipulate no closer than 3 meters (9.8ft), but the request is to move a new dwelling to 2 meters (6ft). Seems minimal on face value, but when the houses in the immediate vicinity are actually on average 4.5 meters (15ft), the new home being so close to the existing property can be daunting.
The results become very drastic to privacy, notwithstanding the impact of precedence setting when bylaws are ‘excepted’. One can quickly appreciate what a Monster Home’s impact is to a neighbourhood adorned by smaller homes on larger treed lots. It also has long reaching implications of clear cutting in the absence of what one may feel are meaningful tree by-laws.
Clearly the citizens’ needs are not being met with generalized zoning minimums that don’t reflect their sub communities’ character, or their neighbourhood needs for responsible growth. I also don’t believe developers want to lose time and money investing with planners and representation and delays going to Committee of Adjustment hearings every time they want to build; it’s just bad business.
 Indian Point underwent a character study that was abandoned. Roseland waiting for its study to be completed. This past year council has been requested to participate in numerous neighbourhood character studies (Roseland, Indian Point, Shore Acres) in an effort to offset this imbalance in the current Official Plan and subsequent zoning bylaws. Citizens are screaming to address this with expedience but the process has been way too slow, without meaningful output for these neighbourhoods or the developers.
So the two parties continue to be at odds with the absence of reflective bylaws, and some developers leveraging the intensification needs as opportunities to build big, build out and, build often while they can. We need to do better for these communities. Until the rules by which all parties’ interests are best served and enforced with some sense of consistency, we will continue to see these disputes.
Burlington is also suffering a significant imbalance in its Citizen Tax Base. We are currently 75% residential and only 25% commercial. So while we are focused on building out residential to meet this provincial mandate, we are not keeping pace with the city’s need for commercial build out. We are hemorrhaging in our ability to meet the service needs of our community. Our transit services are failing with systemic issues that we are currently only addressing through route changes, or worse, route removals and no Transit Master Plan to resolve any of it. Our main thoroughfares are congested with traffic and getting around town is becoming more and more problematic.
 Carol Gottlob, an English as a Second language teachers looked at the candidates that had nominated themselves in ward four and came to the conclusion she could do the job as well if not better than any of them – and she had no time for the incumbent. with no experience at city hall, no community experience she filed her papers and is now running hard against a 20 year member of council. Of such races are legends made. I’m hearing you residents of ward 4, and I want you to know I’m ready to advocate for you. It’s time for change, time for an Official Plan that better reflects the needs of residents and still satisfies the provincial mandates; a plan to better address the Burlington of today as well as tomorrow, one that should be reflective of the attributes that continue to attract people to our city, and we should be wary of continuing to trade on these attributes for development projects.
We need a Transit Master Plan to address the growing population, the increase in traffic, and ensure we have a strategy to have sufficient support services. We have been developing our Residential Tax Base, but at what cost? Ignoring the rest of the things our city needs to support our growing Burlington?
On the cusp of our build out, one candidate in our ward is suggesting now we should “Build Up”, but how we move forward now matters more than ever if we are to preserve the values of our environment, our character, and our city’s culture. We need projects that make sense for our community, not just today, but long term.
Links:
Maranatha project has many opposed: council approves the project, Mayor believes it is the right thing to do.
Indian Point character study.
By Pepper Parr
September 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
You know what those geese do – don’t you?
 Geese on a church lawn getting ready for lunch. Now imagine a flock of geese who discover a large collection of apples that have fallen to the ground. And picture a spot where there is space for those geese to walk around and not be bothered by a lot of people. Is there anything safer for geese than a church lawn?
All this has come together at St. Christopher`s church on Guelph Line just south of Prospect. The church provides the lawn, the neighbouring apartment building provides the apple trees – and the geese think they have died and gone to heaven – what with all those apples to dine on.
The geese do leave a lot of gooey stuff on the driveway into the church and the superintendent of the apartment building has said he would like to cut the trees down.
That brought Melissa Tervit into the picture. Ms Tervit heads up Growing and Sharing Food in Halton and she wasn`t on for the cutting of trees just because the apples were following to the ground and providing lunch for the geese.
 All those “free fall” apples have attracted geese. Does that mean the trees have to come down? I had an “interesting” chat with the property manager of the apartment buildings beside St. Christopher’s Anglican church yesterday while I was harvesting the apples from the trees, said Ms Tervit. He informed me that he intends to have the trees cut down later this week since the windfall apples are attracting too many geese. I suggested that he perhaps pick up the windfalls which would remove the lure for the geese. He wasn’t too keen on that idea, feeling that it was the fault of the trees directly that the geese were camping out on the driveway. He asked me if I had any power to stop him from cutting down the trees. I replied that I did not, however he may find himself the topic of an article in the Gazette.
Tervit wasn`t going to be deterred. She has found a group of Girl Guides who will gather up the apples, wash them up and get them to the Food Bank.
Will this arrangement work out? We will let you know. We`re still trying to get to that superintendent. You can never find those guys when you want them.
By Doug Brown
Chair: Accessible Sustainable Transit
September 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
I wasn’t at the recent Ward 6 All-Candidates Meeting – but transit did come up as an issue.
I was very surprised at Councillor Blair Lancaster’s comment that “Council has made serious improvements in congestion and transit ridership, since the introduction of its transit master plan,”
Under this Council, we have seen service cut to northeast Burlington with one hour waits during weekdays between rush hours. Ridership is down and car congestion is up.
 Doug Brown, chair of Bfast, wants to see a bus schedule with routes that work for people and not the current bus route set up in place. It doesn’t work claims Brown. More puzzling still is her comment on the “introduction of the transit master plan” The City aborted the Transit Master Plan before it could be completed, so that the City of Burlington has been without a long-term transit plan.
For the past two years, staff and Council have made extensive arbitrary schedule changes, causing confusion to bus users, and resulting in service cuts to Ward 6 and Burlington’s northeastern communities.
 Blair Lancaster – almost holding court with her constituents at a corn roast at the Air Park. I don’t understand how Councillor Lancaster can talk of the “introduction of its master plan” as Councillor Lancaster was on the Steering Committee for the Transit Master Plan study and was present when staff dismissed the Steering Committee and aborted the study.
Councillor Lancaster also joined her fellow Councillors in voting for a $500,000 annual cut in transit’s share of the Provincial Gas Tax funding, and for the transit service cuts in the “Interim Transit Service Plan”
By Pepper Parr
September 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Story has been updated
The proposal is for a two tower structure on the north side the Appleby Village which is on the north-east corner of the New Street – Appleby Line intersection.
 First Capital did a total makeover of the Appleby mall site a number of years ago – they now want to add some residential to a part of the property. The site has undergone a major upgrade in the past two years and the developer wants to do some intensification. The two buildings would be situated on the north side of the property – fronting on Pinedale.
Anyone can take a building proposal to the city. The bigger developers know the rules; they know that studies have to be done and they know the process.
In this instance, First Capital, the developers, will have read the provincial government policies and be fully aware of the nuances of the provincial Places to Grow policy and they will have hired planners to write the justification reports so that when it is taken to the city hall staff will have a very clear idea as to what the developer proposes to do with their property.
 Artists rendering of the two tower apartment complex with one 16 storey and a second 11 storey building that will have underground parking. This development requires both a change to the current zoning and a change to the Official Plan – both tend to send citizens up a wall. Many don’t understand how a developer can ask for a change in an Official Plan.
Director of Planning Bruce Krushelnicki will explain, as he has done hundreds of times before, that the Official Plan is a dynamic document that is in place to set out what the city said it wants at a point in time.
Developers however are encouraged to bring ideas and proposals to the city. Burlington wants growth – the citizens say we need that growth. When a developer comes along with a proposal the response is often – “well we didn’t mean that kind of growth”.
Part of the process of getting these development ideas before city council for a decision is a Statutory Public Meeting which has been scheduled for November 18th 2014.
 Ward six candidate James Smith beleives the statutory public meeting should be moved back to a date when the new council can make the decision on this project. That’s a problem for ward five city council candidate James Smith. The new council will be sworn in on December 1st and he wants the Statutory meeting to take place after the new council is in place.
In his letter to Mr. Krushelnicki, Smith said: “As you know this proposed development represents a very large change to the design fabric of the site and the adjacent neighbourhood; to say that this proposal is controversial in our East End neighborhood’s is something of an understatement.”
Smith argues that tabling the Statutory meeting until early 2015 would facilitate important criteria of the City of Burlington’s Engagement Charter, especially when it comes to both Accountability, and Capacity Building.
Turns out candidate Smith didn’t have some of it right. The planner on this file contacted the Gazette and explained that
“we are just starting the required review. One thing that should be clarified is that the November 18 meeting we have scheduled at Robert Bateman High School is NOT the required statutory meeting under the Planning Act.
It is a neighbourhood meeting that the City is holding above and beyond the standard Planning Act requirements, but consistent with our policy to have a meeting for public discussion on major applications prior to any staff reports going to Committee/Council.
I only raise this because I don’t want people in the community to get confused and show up on Nov 18th with expectations that formal decisions are being made on the applications that night and/or that it is their only chance to provide input.
The statutory meeting will be scheduled for a later date, dependent on the file processing timelines and Planning Act requirements, and notification will be provided of this meeting.
In addition, in the case of these applications it is anticipated that staff will be presenting an information report to Committee/Council for consideration before coming back at an even later date with some type of recommendation report.
Smith points out that the City’s engagement charter states: “The City of Burlington will encourage the ability of its citizens and stakeholders to effectively participate in the development and implementation of engagement processes with respect to issues and decisions that affect their lives and their community”.
 An apartment complex to the east consists of three towers – each 11 storeys high. Smith also points out that the white signs that asks citizens to visit a website for a meeting in two months is not compliant with the ideal set out in the concept of either Clear Language or Early & Widespread Notification.
“I’m critical under the Clear Language provision, as information signs posted do not have a clear English explanation; only a legalese description; citizens should have both. Widespread notification is deficient, for three reasons: the poor location of information signs, – facing streets that have been under construction for some time, the lack of information signs available in the Plaza itself and lack of illustrations on the information signs.
Besides wanting the public meeting date changed Smith adds some comments on the development proposal. “The site plan as proposed further exacerbates the deficiencies of the present site as it pertains to Pedestrian, Bicycle, Transit and Vehicle traffic flow, nor does the plan address the lack of street frontage of the businesses on this site.”
 Public art is set at the north west corner of the Village. Goats. For the record, said Smith, I am a supporter of the Province’s Places To Grow policy and firmly believe we need to intensify some of our underused sites in Burlington. However; given the examples in the province’s policy guide and the fact that the City of Burlington does not have hard design guidelines for this kind of rezoning application or for so-called Transit Friendly Design, I believe we need to take some time, as a city, to produce such documents in collaboration with our citizens and the development industry.
This way we can get the kind of intensification our citizens can generally agree upon and avoid long, and costly protracted battles between citizens, the city and the development community.
 South elevation of the two proposed towers. The developer sets out details on the location: Appleby Village consists of seven (7) buildings with a variety of retail/service commercial/office uses, including a Fortinos grocery store, Home Hardware, Rexall Pharma Plus, LCBO and the Beer Store. The Gross Building Floor Area (“GBFA”) within Appleby Village is approximately 20,056 square metres (215,881 square feet).
The 6.6 hectare (16.3 acre) site is bound by, on the immediate north by Pinedale Avenue, where there are three condominium high-rise buildings known as Pinedale Estates which were built in 1989. The three buildings are each 12 storeys and provide a total of 338 dwelling units.
To the south and east of Pinedale Estates, there are two elementary schools (Ascension Catholic School and Frontenac Public School) Robert Bateman High School) with associated parkland.
 Smith would like to see storefront access to the street for those who walk – just about all the retail locations open out to the inner parking lot. The Provincial Policy Statement, Places to Grow, states: “it is in the interest of all communities to use land and resources wisely, to promote efficient development patterns, protect resources, promote green spaces, ensure effective use of infrastructure and public service facilities and minimize unnecessary public expenditures.” It is a key Provincial policy to promote land use
patterns that are transit-supportive and to accommodate a range of intensification opportunities.
Density is almost always an issue for the people of Burlington. Current targets call for a minimum number of new housing units to be added to the built-up area between 2015 and 2031 as 8,300.
The phasing for these units are: 2,525 by 2016; 2,758 between 2017 and 2021; 2,669 between 2022 and 2026 and finally 2,659 between 2027 and 2031 by which time we will all be looking at a much different Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
September 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
There are a couple of people in north Burlington who were delighted to learn that the provincial government is to re-introduce anti-SLAPP legislation.
In a statement issued yesterday the government said the Ministry of the Attorney General would pursue the re-introduction of legislation to protect the public from lawsuits intended to discourage public participation.
 From the right: Monte Dennis, Ken Woodruff, Vanessa Warren, Roger Goulet, city general manager Scott Stewart. Lawyer Ian Blue, who defended the city in the Air Park case and staff lawyer Blake Hurley SLAPP is a strategic lawsuit against public participation which is what Monte Dennis and Vanessa Warren believe Vince Rossi is doing to them with his $100,000 demand for exemplary damages for comments they made and words they wrote about the landfill dumping on the Air Park property and plans that may be made to the air park.
The provincial government wants to promote Fairness and Access to Justice by focusing on the delivery of legislative and systemic initiatives that promote fairness and access to the justice system for Ontarians.
For Dennis and Warren the matter has relevance. At this point in time there is no such thing as SLAPP legislation – they face a simple libel case.
Roger Goulet, a leading participant in the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition (RBGC) wants everyone to get behind this change. What difference new legislation will make in the Dennis, Warren case is not clear – unless the legislation is made retroactive – which is highly unlikely.
The Gazette and its publisher were also sued for libel – they are not relying on the SLAPP argument as a defence.
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