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November 16th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
 Amy Collard The good news coming out of the Halton District School Board is the decision the trustees made to appoint Amy Collard as the Chair. She is smart but also fearless and has experience in keeping Directors of Education on their toes and holding staff to account. We always thought Collard was ready for a seat at City Council – she once told us she was “interested” but it didn’t seem to go further than that.
November 15th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
A Living Wage – just pay it and adjust your prices (in the case of a municipality adjust the taxes). The wage paid will work its way into the economy giving people more in the way of money they can spend. The hospitality sector relies on the tips people pay to get away with less than a living wage.
 The question is: How many city of Burlington staff are being paid less than this living wage?  A decal like this on every city vehicle would make people proud of the city they live in. It is doable – something the City Manager could initiate – maybe? Make it his parting gift to the city. The Living Wage Network has a program that certifies employers who pay a Living Wage and provides decals for the employers vehicles. Is there any reason Burlington doesn’t apply for certification? That would put some meat on the bone the city keeps gnawing away at Burlington being the best mid-sized cities in Canada to live in. There is more to come on this issue
November 15, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Chugging along.  Signatures at noon on the 15th. Growing at about 50 a day. The petition asking Council to STOP the Proposed 2024 Property Tax Increase grows daily. Will it make a difference? It will be interesting to see what members of Council put forward in the way of Motions to change the budget Mayor Meed Ward put on the table. This story is going to be front page for awhile yet.
November 15th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has created its first Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) to guide how people and goods move in and through the city for the next 30 years. The Integrated Mobility Plan Final Report was presented and approved by Burlington City Council on Nov. 14 and approved unanimously. Several delegations spoke at the Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility (CPRM) Committee in support of the IMP on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The Integrated Mobility PlanThe IMP is a balance of innovative policies, active programs and capital projects that will guide how Burlington builds and operates a sustainable transportation system city-wide. Together, these initiatives will make getting around Burlington safe, accessible, sustainable, balanced and liveable. The plan has three key areas for action:
Key elements of the integrated network approach include:
The IMP provides the vision for the City’s future transportation network and outlines the policy, programs and capital projects needed to meet long-term mobility goals for the next three decades. Council will set and manage how the plan is implemented through the City’s annual capital and operating budgets, and as part of the Multi-year Community Investment Plan (MCIP). The IMP will be reviewed and refreshed on a 5-year cycle, incorporating updated population and employment forecasts, refining the strategic transportation demand model, and reporting on actual mode share usage and refining targets, where necessary. The IMP provides valuable guidance and input into the 5-year Transit Business Plan and will complement the transit planning. Anyone who lives in Burlington, or travels to or through Burlington, was encouraged to get involved in the numerous stages of the project on getinvolvedburlington.ca/imp. Resident feedback was used to confirm the IMP vision, values and goal statements. Those concepts generally define the desired transportation system for the Burlington of the future. Staff has also used public feedback to help identify what aspects of our current transportation systems are not in line with where we want to end up in the future. The project page outlines the key dates from the past three years.  When a traffic barrier is put in place on Lakeshore traffic is worse than at a crawl. It just isn’t possible to reduce traffic on this road and with the projected population growth – someone is going to have to find a solution. Burlington City Council has recognized that relying on a car-centric plan where streets are widened to add more room for cars is not the solution to solve traffic congestion. This creates a transportation network that does not offer other ways to get around, does not support the City’s growth strategy and has negative impacts on the environment and climate by adding to greenhouse gas levels. In 2019, Council directed staff to form the IMP so that there could be no new road widenings for cars. Instead, the City chose to adopt a sustainable and integrated approach to offer its residents choices in how they get around Burlington. For more information about Burlington’s Integrated Mobility Plan, please visit burlington.ca/IMP.  Kaylan Edgcumbe listening to a resident. Kaylan Edgcumbe, Manager, Integrated Mobility: “The Integrated Mobility Plan represents an innovative approach to integrated mobility planning and provides a framework for responding to future travel demand associated with intensification. It has been designed to meet the 2015-2040 Strategic Plan goals to enable ‘people and goods move through the city more efficiently and safely’ and provide ‘more mobility choice within the city and region through improved public transportation, active transportation and community-responsive growth management to allow more residents to get where they need to go more efficiently.’ “The plan sets a framework to re-balance the existing transportation network through adding people-carrying capacity by offering additional travel options to existing streets and replacing the traditional strategy of creating new auto capacity through road widenings. From conceptualization to implementation and operation, the IMP provides the city with a strategy for transforming mobility to 2051 and beyond.” The document that sets out the why of an Integrated Mobility Plan was 250 pages long. Did every member of Council read the report from end to end? How many residnets read the report? It is complex – and no matter what is done – there is only so much road space and the city can’t add any more  Not much traffic on the streets – this was before the Brant Museum underwent a major change. With 29,000 new resident expected by 2031 traffic will be much heavier.
November 15th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
At the November 14th City Council meeting a decision to issue a Notice of Intent to designate a property got a lot of discussion. The Queen’s Head, a popular watering hole, was getting a new tenant and there was concern that the property could change hands and that it would be wise to designate it as a Heritage property. While very unlikely, John O’Reilly, the Staff member who worked on Heritage issues (he has moved on to site planning) produced a report on the history of the building and its importance to the city and that designating it would be prudent..  What was a hotel in 1915 at the corner of Elgin and Brant street looking north. In comments he made to a citizen O’Reilly said: “Staff consider it urgent because of a high level of public interest in seeing the building receive more permanent heritage protection following closure of the Queens Head Pub and a high degree of uncertainty about the future of the building. Ever since the Queen’s Head closed, the public has been calling and emailing to confirm the building has heritage protection. Separately, the heritage committee recommended that the Council designate the building at their September meeting. The building has long been recognized in city planning documents as an important landmark and a significant piece of history. There is going to be a new tenant on the ground floor – the owner of the building, Sherwood Holdings, chose not to renew the lease that Ed Catly had on the property for more than 20 years. Owners have the right to determine who their commercial tenants will be.  A radial electric street car used to run along Elgin. Behind one of the rail cars is the location of Kelly’s Bake Shop. It is expected to disappear when a 17 storey tower goes up on the site. That 17 storeys might grow into 28. The space is currently undergoing a renovation and is said to reopen in April of next year. That event just might be worth a flag raising. There is a bigger opportunity here – given that the city is going to refurbish Civic Square and given that the north side of the Queen’s Head building faces the Square – why not take down the fence that separate the two properties – Civic Square and the Queen’s Head – and include what was once a hotel as part of the Square? The building is on the Registry but not designated. O’Reilly was advising that a Notice of Intent to designate 400 Brant – you know it is as the Queen’s Head. The city doesn’t want anyone tearing it down, a very unlikely event. At that the same time the city is looking for ways to make Civic Square a more inviting place – something that lets people use the space.  The North side of the Queen’s Head: Remove the fence, let the vehicles find a different place to park and a major piece of the city’s history could become part of Civic Square. The north side of the Queen’s Head faces Civic Square – there is a fence that separates the two properties. Is there a way to integrate the two – making a major piece of history part of a a Civic Square with a new look that wil include a new entrance to City Hall ? Related news stories:
November 15th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Much of the funding municipalities get comes from specific federal and provincial programs that a city can apply for. There is a Staff member whose full time job is to watch for all the opportunities that come up and to file an application if the city thinks it fits with the Strategic Plan and there is a benefit to the community. The federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP) Program – Community, Culture and Recreation Stream was a program Burlington sent an application in for funding to revitalize Civic Square.  The City has funding to refurbish and revitalize Civic Square It was a cost sharing program, between the Federal, Provincial and Municipal government. The cost share breakdown is Federal – 40%, Provincial – 33.33% and municipal 26.67%. The Government of Canada is investing $1,984,900. The Government of Ontario is providing $1,653,917.93, while the City of Burlington is investing $1,323,432.07. Burlington has to come up with that $1.3 million at a time when there is significant concern over the proposed tax rate from the city’s Finance Department who put out 7.8% as the increase over last year needed to keep the wheels turning at city hall.
It was interesting to note that all the work done to refurbish and revitalize the ground floor of city hall was done with zero input from the people who pay the bills. It is certainly a very different ground floor. On the two occasions I was in the building recently the place was barren. During one half hour session while I waited for someone to find the security officer – two people entered the building. Related news story Could the Queen’s Head be made part of Civic Square? Queen’s Head announces last call.
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Some follow up on that professional who had concerns with what wasn’t being talked about during the Mayor’s Telephone Call in.. “Yes I do fear retribution….although I tend not to work in Burlington these days as its “painful” working with any department and property investors know that. “I believe the mantra at city hall is “how can we put up a block wall for this person’s request” or “ how can I reject this proposal so I can work as little as possible” “Definitely not public service. “Also the Mayors “Red tape red carpet” has been an utter failure….its 10 years old and it has fizzled.” These are comments from a respected professional – not a person who would describe as a complainer. There is something going on out there. Don’t expect anyone to do any rooting any of this out. The City Manager is moving on and it will be months before whoever the city hires is in a position to do anything. Related news story:
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON Try this one on for size. While the Gazette’s punditry was pontificating about creating something, anything in the way of a committee that would look for a way to find the kind of person that would get elected and do things differently at city hall. We learned today that there is such an organization in place. It is called the Lakeshore Sovereign Assembly. What Is the Lakeshore Sovereign Assembly? “An Assembly is a gathering of men and women united to self govern within their community in accordance with common law values: act with honour, do no harm, cause no loss or trespass. Using the UCC and common law, the assembly acts from a sovereign standing above the corporate structures that operate under the colour of law. Your Government is supposed to be staffed by you. “The government IS YOU.  “An Assembly is a gathering of men and women united to self govern within their community in accordance with common law values. “It’s decisions are supposed to be made by you. It’s primary responsibility is to protect you and your property assets at all costs and against all comers. That’s why governments exist. Not for what they represent today. “The Sovereign Assemblies are setting basic framework and benchmarks to ensure that the Provincial Assemblies are correctly populated and that the Assembly Members are protected. “The Lakeshore Sovereign Assembly engages in the lawful and original jurisdiction to secure the rights of Ontarians, and stand together as a collective, cohesive body of conscious men and women. “We are a body of hundreds of men and women living in the Halton Region who have and continue to take action to defend our own freedoms, demand that those with a paid duty to uphold those freedoms perform said duty and assist one another in the defence of our unalienable rights. “A notice/declaration/letter/email from the Lakeshore Sovereign Assembly is made with consent of every man and woman in the assembly. All rights are reserved, without prejudice, in accordance with UCC 1-308. “For further reading and information, please feel free to visit www.tngalliance.com “ That was an invitation we couldn’t resist. We clicked on the link above. Scrolled through some of the pages and began to recognize the language. Think in terms of one of the candidates that ran in the last Halton District School Board by-election or try this link. We found this particular candidate very hard to deal with. I doubt that I will learn anything when and if we manage to get a response.
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
You really can’t have it both ways but Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will continue to try.
On June 16th Mayor Meed Ward said after the announcement that Strong Mayor powers were going to be given to 50 some odd mayors. These tools are not something I have requested. My focus has always been on building a strong city and a strong collaborative Council. At that time she also said: Each mayor will need to decide what is best for their community in meeting their housing pledge targets, and whether to use some, all, or none of these new tools. In correspondence from the Office of the Mayor constituents get mail with this sentence: “As part of new Provincial legislation, Mayors are now required to compile and present budgets for their municipalities.” Well which is it Marianne?
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
There are some people who find themselves in a very awkward position when they differ with an approach the city takes but are limited in what they can say because the work they do involves working with several city departments. A respected professional sent us the following:  We are hearing from a number of people who were frustrated with the way the Mayor’s Budget Telephone Call in went. More than 5000 people are reported to have been on the call. Several felt it was rigged. “I heard nothing last week on the Burlington Mayors budget telephone meeting about the fact that property tax assessment growth has only been hovering around 0.75% annually in the last 5 years…it does not take a financial genius to know that taxes will be increasing a lot in the near future to catch up to inflation. “This lack of growth is a direct result of the mayor’s control over development ( remember the interim control bylaw) and pandering to senior voters who care nothing about new housing……well the chickens will come to roost soon as those senior homeowners get the property tax hikes created by council stymieing development and having their foot on Planning policy and staff. ” There is a lot of this going around.
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Progress is not always a streak of lightening that dazzles and startles. It is a steady step by step game. The petition Wendy Fletcher put up for people to sign if they so wished has passed its first 2500 signatures and is working its way to 5000. The petition will be in place until the end of the year. If you want to be part of the effort to Stop the proposed 2024 tax increase click HERE Ms Fletcher tends to be a bit on the blunt side – speaks her mind. In a recent email she said: “They are lying. They put out a Budget Feedback Survey every year. Almost no one reads the budget bc it makes your eyes bleed. It took me 3-4 days. But 1 of those was also to learn all the back history on Skyway. And I also had to find the pertinent reports since they link to nothing. By their own data only 57 people read the budget. They did this last year. Said look at our results, people want us to do this. I decided, not this year, you’re not getting away with that again. “I have a strong ethical and moral base. So this is hard for me. I grew up here. I don’t expect it in my little city. Its still little by most standards. Its hard to swallow that they’re so selfish and care so little about taxpayer.” Fletcher has a problem with those city Council members who point to a survey that had just over 800 people responding to it but individually don’t want to even acknowledge a survey that now has more than 2500 signatures. That leaves the Budget Feedback Survey, which is the only feedback that should matter. If you aren’t going to use it, why waste people’s time? They used it last year. But they don’t like the results they got this year so they aren’t going to? I shouldn’t say that bc they are. They’re just changing them to what they want. They are not being honest with taxpayers. They are giving results they want to give to fit with their agenda. Question 6 is indisputable.
Expect to hear more from Fletcher on the city survey
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
November the 28th, the Festival of Lights go on – those sentry’s that guard parts of Lakeshore Road will be on until January 8th.  Guarding Spencer Smith Park The Christmas tree on Civic Square will be lit on November 26th at 6:00 pm followed by a Candle Light Stroll to Spencer Smith Park. There will be all kinds of things for people to do that evening. Joseph Brant museum will have roof top viewing; if you haven’t had that experience – look into it – well worth the time.
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
The Millcroft attempt to put a stop to any development in the golf course part of their community has been difficult for many to understand. There are two community group opposing the development. The names lead to a little confusion MGA – Millcroft Greenspace Alliance- their concern is the storm water problem and the environment. MAD Millcroft against Development does not want any development. Millcroft Greens wants to develop a portion of the golf course and put in 98 new homes – that will be pricey
Both are involved as parties in the OLT hearing that is working its way through the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled for November of 2024.
Mike Cloutier, a member of the MGA Board, spoke to the community last May explaining why MGA – Milton Greenspace Alliance was doing what it is doing. MAD Millcroft Against Development is the larger of the two and it appears to have the ear of the Mayor and the ward councillor Angelo Bentivegnia .  Daintry Klein has done more than 30 delegations on the Millcroft flooding issue. She is the president of the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance. In May Daintry Klein (SP) lead a community meeting explaining how much money was needed to pay for the professional people who would represent them at the OLT hearing. At that same public meeting Mayor Marianne Meed Ward told the audience that she was in direct contact with the province seeking a MZO (Ministerial Zoning Order) from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which if granted would, at the stroke of a pen, bring the development to a halt. The problem now is that the Ministry is a bit of a zoo with everyone scrambling to repair the damage done by former Minister Steve Clark who had staff from his office handing out changes to some properties that were within the Greenbelt boundary. The letters MZO had become something that was not used in polite company. It became difficult for Klein to ask for funds at a public meeting when the Mayor had just said she could wave a magic wand and make it all go away. Klein points out that to date both the City of Burlington and the Region of Halton have supported the opposition to the development – but there has been nothing from the province on the request for a MZO.. At a community meeting in May, Mike Cloutier, a businessman and a member of the MGA Board, set out to explain the difference in the MAD position and the MGA position – he was quite convincing when he spoke to the community saying “At the very beginning we had some movement that looked like there was an opportunity to work together, but as things evolved it became evident that it wasn’t going to work. “There were a couple of things that we felt were necessary to do.  Mike Cloutier, member of the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance “Our strategy has been different since the beginning: we had a two prong approach. Our first was to try and do everything we could to stop this development from moving to the OLT. We put a lot of resource and energy into what we felt was the route to take but that element of our strategy was not welcomed by the other group. “Secondarily, we also took a very focused and almost singular view of what the real issue here was: storm water and the environment. “We’ve never been opposed to the concept of development or meeting the needs that the province and the city had ensuring that people have a place to live. “We have a very real concern, a singular concern about the storm water and the environment, no other issue. Our tactical plan related to our strategy has always been about that we’ve we hundreds and 1000s of hours of research into that inserted us into the process purposely. “We understand everything that has taken place in similar marketplaces and we our tactical approach, reinforces the strategy that we’ve chosen – this is the road we’re going down. “We have reached out to MAD on a number of occasions, as recently as the last quarter, to try and find a way to bring people together related to the strategy that we believe is the winning strategy, but that hasn’t been successful. “There’s no animosity about what’s going on. Ultimately, we decided that if we are going to continue then two groups fighting for this, could have and should have value. We are determined and believe based on the history of what’s happened in other jurisdictions and the research we’ve done and the way we’ve inserted ourselves into the process are evident from the gains that we’re making in the process, that we’re on the right track. “I think if you were in those shoes, and if you had a commitment and a view towards what the right thing to do was and what would be most successful. I believe that you would join us and stick to the guns of what we believe. “We’re not opposed to any idea around joining forces or doing things, together but we will not water down the strategy that we’ve chosen. We have a tactical plan that we believe will win because there are historical precedents around why these things. So that’s why we’re committed to doing this; it is our belief, and we think this is the important cause and the right way to approach it.  These are the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance fund raising numbers – they have a long way to go. “We’re not suggesting that any other approach might not work, might not be important and might not be helpful, but we know what we’re doing is right. And we know it’s the approach that we believe will win the day and so that’s why we continue to press on with what we believe and hope that you’ll support that and join. You get to vote with your pen. You get to vote with your credit card, and you get to decide whether you want to be a part of this process. But I’m telling you that we firmly believe this is the right approach and the right way to go.” The MGA strategy has always been focused on stopping the proposed development before the OLT hearing, we believe our research and findings regarding the application by Millcroft Greens may need to be presented in the event that an MZO is not received. The next OLT meeting is in November of 2024 when witness selection will take place. There has been a meeting at which a Statement of Fact was put forward – there was some squabbling on that issue – MGA was concerned about too much focus on past legislation and not enough on the facts.  Sites A and B are thought to impact the communities due south – those residents have an interest in what happens in Millcroft. While the potential for serious damage to the Millcroft community is what keeps residents on edge the concerns with insurance coverage are heard more often. The Red Cross recently had people going door to door distributing pamphlets on how to handle things should there by serious flooding. Daintry Klein who has taken part in 30 delegations points out that while the focus is on Millcroft the communities due south are also at serious risk. Any water flow from the A and B developments will work its way south and impact houses in the Appleby Line part of the city have flood water. They too have an interest in how this works out. Another issue is the hard look the insurance industry is taking on flood coverage. Some communities may find that they can’t buy coverage.
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
The National Rent Report charts and analyzes of monthly, quarterly and annual rates and trends in the rental market on a national, provincial, and municipal level put together by Urbanation with data at Rentals.ca was released earlier today. Toronto finished third on the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom at $2,607 and second for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $3,424. Other Greater Toronto Area cities and areas include:
Year over year, average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom in Oakville was up 19.7% and up 23.5% for a two-bedroom. Mississauga came in fifth on the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom at $2,352 and $2,851 for a two-bedroom. Year over year, average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom in Mississauga was up 11.9 per cent and up 15.6 per cent for a two-bedroom. Richmond Hill came in sixth for average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom at $2,326 and $2,685 for a two bedroom. Year over year, the average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom in Richmond Hill was up 16.5 per cent and up 10.8% per cent for a two-bedroom. Etobicoke finished eighth on the list for average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom at $2,292 and fifth for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $2,909. Year over year, average monthly rent in October for a one-bedroom in Etobicoke was up 3.4 per cent and up 0.3 per cent for a two-bedroom.
For the sixth month in a row, average asking rents in Canada hit a new high, averaging $2,178 according to Rentals.ca and Urbanation’s latest National Rent Report. Over the past six months, average rents increased by 8.8%, equivalent to $175 per month. In October, the annual rate of rent growth in Canada stood at 9.9%, a modest slowing from the 11.1% annual pace in September. However, it marked the second-fastest annual increase over the past seven months. Additionally, average asking rents experienced a 1.4% month-over-month increase in October, showing somewhat slower growth than the monthly gains of 1.5% in September and 1.8% in August. This deceleration can be attributed to seasonal factors influencing the rental market. “While headline rent inflation for Canada continued to run hot in October, the slowing of rents in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver was significant, showing that affordability challenges are causing renters to shift into less expensive markets,” said Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation. For the first time, two-bedroom apartment rents surpassed $2,300 in October, registering at $2,311. One-bedroom apartments experienced the fastest annual growth, with rents increasing by 14.1%. With an average of $1,538, studio apartment asking rents rose by 12.0% compared to a year ago, while three-bedroom apartment rents increased annually by 8.9% to reach an average of $2,532. Alberta, Quebec, and Nova Scotia saw concentrated rent inflation driven by strong population growth and increased supply entering the market at higher rents. Alberta experienced a 16.4% year-over-year increase in average asking rents, leading the provinces in growth. In Nova Scotia, average asking rents for apartments increased 13.6% from a year ago to $2,097, with annual growth following close behind in Quebec at 13.3%, where average asking rents reached $1,977.
B.C. maintained the top spot on the list of the most expensive small- and medium-sized markets, with North Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Richmond leading the way. Côte Saint-Luc ( Montreal suburb) witnessed the highest annual growth among small- and mid-sized markets, with a staggering 36.6% increase. Listings for shared accommodations in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec increased by 42% from the previous year. Average asking rents for roommate rentals grew by 19%, reaching $964 per month. Rentals.ca Network data is analyzed and the report is written by Urbanation, a Toronto-based real estate research firm providing in-depth market analysis and consulting services since 1981. *The data includes single-detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, condominium apartments, rental apartments and basement apartments (outlier listings are removed, as are single-room rentals.)
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
A group of Canadian sport researchers, experts and advocates will address Canada’s safe sport crisis of athlete abuse and maltreatment at an upcoming forum organized by Brock University’s Centre for Sport Capacity. About time that some one other than the sports groups, who want to provide cover for their own and the politicians who are never going to do anything about what is a serious problem that comes very close, too close to destroying the lives of young people who have shown that they can be marvellous sports performers. Set to take place in person and online Friday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Safe Sport Forum: Can Sport Regulate Itself? will focus on the structure and governance design of the sport system. Discussions will include policy and rule development, monitoring and enforcement, self-regulation, athlete experiences with safe sport mechanisms and the changes needed to ensure safe environments for all participants.  Hilary Findlay member of the Centre for Sport Capacity Speakers include former Canadian Olympic skier Allison Forsyth; Brock Sport Management Associate Professor Curtis Fogel; viaSport CEO Charlene Krepiakevich; University of Ottawa Associate Professor Eric MacIntosh; University of Toronto Professor Emeritus Peter Donnelly; and sport law experts Marcus Mazzucco and Hilary Findlay. Findlay, who is a retired Brock Sport Management Associate Professor and current member of the Centre for Sport Capacity, said initiatives like the Safe Sport Forum are crucial in continuing to highlight the issues of abuse in sport and to discuss ways in which sport organizations can address systemic factors contributing to incidents. “Maltreatment and abuse in sport is not new — it has been an open secret of sport for decades,” she said. “What has become clear is that the sport system itself is broken and the prevalence of maltreatment is symptomatic of system-wide issues. “Certain characteristics of sport organizations can create an environment prone to maltreatment and also actively enable and perpetuate such treatment,” Findlay said. “This is not to diminish the damage done by an individual perpetrator, but rather to recognize the power of the organization in shaping the conduct of those in positions of authority and the culture operating within the organization.”  Former Canadian Olympic skier Allison Forsyth a victim of sexual abuse as an athlete. Unfortunately, sport organizations have not been able to address these systemic issues from within their current self-governing framework, she said. “We need a big rethink of how sport is governed to fully address the issue. Some of this work has begun both at the provincial/territorial level and national level of sport and will be highlighted as part of the forum’s agenda.” Everyone is welcome to attend the hybrid Safe Sport Forum. Registration includes on-demand, anytime access to recorded presentations and resources. More information, including registration, speaker topics, in-person event location and online access, can be found on the Centre for Sport Capacity website.
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Jim Thomson wanted to delegate at a Council meeting. He followed the rules and completed the appropriate form -part of that form is set out below.
 Jim Thomson getting ready to begin a delegation. Dear Jim Thomson, Thank you for requesting to appear as a delegate at the City Council (*New Information Only) on 11/14/2023. We are reviewing your request and will notify you as to the status. Your reference number is 2023-11-13-002. What’s to review? The man wants to delegate – let him speak. How about the Clerk sending a delegator a note thanking the person for wanting to talk to City Council and then setting out the rules, politely and letting them know that what they had to say will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Wendy Fletcher met her first target of 2500 signatures on her STOP the Proposed 2024 Property Tax Increase
There are two Councillors who have said publicly or to groups of people in their community that the public at large has no problem with the tax increase the Mayor has proposed which looks like it is going to be swallowed by the rest of City Council. Councillor Sharman, who is now a BFF to the Mayor (there was a time when he was focused on making her as ineffective as possible) and has convinced her that she is doing the right thing. Time will tell – if Council is wrong they will have hurt a lot of people financially – they know that but appear willing to take that chance. .
November 13th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
 Lawyers are required to wear robes when presenting a case. Criminal attorneys bear a heavy responsibility to their clients by representing them in cases that can have life-altering ramifications and fighting for justice on their behalf. Furthermore, their work contributes significantly to upholding the integrity of legal profession. They ensure that innocent individuals do not go to jail for crimes they did not commit and that those convicted receive appropriate sentences commensurate with their offenses, rather than overly severe ones based on passion or prejudice. Defending and Representing Clients in Court Criminal lawyers take their duty of defending clients facing criminal charges very seriously. After reviewing all available evidence to formulate their strategy and consulting with prosecutors on essential aspects of the case, criminal attorneys work tirelessly on their clients’ behalf. Client defence counsels also interview witnesses and prepare their client to testify, to ensure witness testimonies align with defence strategies and effectively challenge prosecution evidence. At trial, attorneys represent their client’s version of events while challenging any discrepancies or bias in witness testimony. Their ultimate aim is to protect innocent individuals from unfair convictions by making sure the state must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Criminal lawyers must always act ethically when representing their clients. For instance, if Sam were found guilty of murdering Lord Russell, their legal representation would need to explain why they weren’t able to convince a jury he did not commit this act – otherwise they risk disbarment for unethical behaviour. Collecting Evidence Mississauga criminal lawyers face one of the greatest challenges in questioning witnesses and challenging evidence collected by police, and making sure any material that might help clear up false accusations or reduce sentences is not altered or hidden from them.  Layout of a typical Canadian Courtroom. Criminal lawyers need to have comprehensive legal knowledge and experience, such as understanding state and local laws, court procedures, evidentiary rules and having strong interpersonal and critical thinking abilities. Criminal lawyers don’t typically face much danger in their day-to-day work despite popular perception. Their primary risk lies with working directly with clients who may threaten or abuse them during heated moments – this usually only ever involves verbal outbursts; more serious risks come with representing clients facing allegations with potentially life-altering implications, so it is imperative that criminal attorneys understand the rights and principles which protect clients against arbitrary state authority. Negotiating with the Prosecutor Criminal lawyers not only represent and defend clients in court, but they can also negotiate plea deals by emphasizing mitigating factors like mental health concerns, financial hardship or family circumstances as an attempt to convince prosecutors that their client has good reason to be let off the hook. Etobicoke lawyers also bear responsibility to testify at trials and ensure their clients do not commit further offenses in the future. When working on cases carrying harsh punishments such as prison time criminal lawyers must always remain mindful of how their actions could damage either their client’s reputation or integrity. Criminal Law can be both challenging and rewarding as a career path, necessitating strong research, investigative, and creative thinking skills as well as legal strategy development abilities to successfully litigate cases. Some criminal lawyers specialize in specific types of cases while others choose to become judges or politicians who affect change at higher levels. Representing Clients at Trial  Cameras are not permitted in Canadian Courtrooms. Judges always wear a robe with a scarlet red sash. Criminal lawyers focus their practice on representing and defending clients, which often requires explaining legal concepts in easily understandable language, conducting thorough investigations of cases, negotiating with prosecutors and vigorously representing client interests at trial if no out-of-court settlement can be achieved. Criminal lawyers also have an obligation to uphold the integrity of their profession by not misleading courts and adhering to the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Furthermore, they should feel at ease discussing sensitive information or viewing graphic evidence. Criminal lawyers’ role during jury selection is to engage potential jurors in professional yet friendly conversations in order to uncover any biases or prejudices which might negatively influence a case’s outcome. This process, known as voir dire, allows lawyers to question prospective jurors during trials. With their questions come opportunities to present an argument that challenges preconceived notions and shift jury opinions towards their client.
November 14th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
When you look at the gaming industry, do you see an organized, thriving society or chaos waiting to erupt? There must be a reason why online casino gameplay continues to thrill and excite players, even with the possibilities of fraud and the bad rep some sites have. Casino platforms fall under two categories. Gambling authorities license reputable casinos like mrbetcanada.com, while some others are the black sheep of the industry. They hang in the balance, luring players who may lose their hard-earned money. You can gamble virtually without fear because legit sites you play on are regulated. The authorities that provide these licenses ensure that all players under their jurisdiction are protected. Let’s learn more about the implementation of protective measures for safeguarding your gaming sessions. Understanding State RegulationLawlessness is the thief of joy! Every player will feel more confident to engage in gambling activities with the assurance that their information and money are in safe hands. Both the casino and the player benefit from safe gaming, as iGaming platforms will also get an influx of customers if fear isn’t a blocker. Most countries and states, as the case may be, establish organizations to protect their citizen’s rights. These bodies enforce rules and regulations on casinos that hold their licenses, guaranteeing players safe and fair gameplay. That’s why playing on a site governed by an organization that can speak on your behalf is important. They’ll audit casino offerings, settle disputes, and ensure top-notch security. Top gambling agencies include:
Impact on Industry PracticesWe cannot ignore the impact these policies have on the economy and other businesses. Modern iGaming sites generate revenue for the government under whose jurisdiction they preside. They made money from their constituents, so it’s only fair that they give back as well. Taxes are implemented on these companies and used to better society. Some of these monies may even go into providing gambling care for players who may be on the receiving end of the negative impacts of these sites. Player Protection and Fair Play Regardless of where you are, there are online casinos and sportsbooks ready to service you. What makes it possible is the vast array of online casino payment methods available for potential customers to use. The versatility of deposit and withdrawal methods that online casinos offer is what allows players worldwide to find a provider that suits them personally and play there. There are many ways in which state regulations safeguard gamblers. Let’s address them one after the other. In terms of online safety, casinos must integrate standard encryption features that enhance player security and prevent them from fraud and man-in-the-middle attacks. This umbrella also covers using proper payment processing partners that are equally licensed. They must also guarantee fair play by ensuring their software isn’t rigged. Another way they ensure player protection is by requiring responsible gaming features. Several governments limit casinos from advertising their markets, and those that permit them require that these ads are only shown to players above a specified age. Gambling sites must confirm player data and ensure that registered users meet the age requirement. Transparency and AccountabilityExploitation used to be a big way fraudulent casinos benefited from players, but that is all in the past. Casinos are required to be transparent about their terms, especially regarding bonuses. They must provide fair terms and also offer responsible gambling tools, including:
Power to the Players!Our governments have tried to provide safety measures for our gambling fun online. Now, it’s up to us to ensure we take advantage of these efforts. Don’t stroll casually into a random site to play. Do your due diligence and ensure the online casino holds a reputable license. You’ll be glad you did. So, have you ever encountered a sneaky casino online? What are your experiences? Share with us in the comments.Don’t stroll casually into a random site to play. Do your due diligence and ensure the online casino holds a reputable license.
Has Mayor Meed Ward lost her way - choosing to use a procedural bylaw rather than grace and civility
November 12th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON Perhaps it was because of the problems with the sound system that put the Mayor off her pace. “Do you want to use a different microphone? Testing testing, testing. Let’s get rid of the echo” she said as the audio visual staff struggled to get the council meeting online. “All right, I think we have addressed our sound situation.” When Mayor Marianne Meed Ward calls a meeting to order the National Anthem is traditionally played. Those members of Council in the Chamber stand and face a picture of the Monarch that hangs on the wall to the right of the Mayor. That didn’t happen at the November 2nd meeting of Council. The mayor proceeded to get the meeting started saying: “We do have rules of engagement and council meetings. We would ask everyone to please be respectful while others are speaking and listen while you as you would want to be listened to we do not permit derogatory language of any member of the public staff or council during our proceedings. A reminder to council members to proceed to adhere to the procedure Bylaw and limit your questions to two at a time and ask questions only for the purpose of obtaining facts relevant to the matter under discussion and necessary for a clearer understanding per our procedure bylaw.” “By way of introduction of our members our first order of business for today’s meeting is to conduct a roll call. I will now turn it to the city clerk who will take attendance of members present and confirm quorum Clerk please conduct the roll call. “Mayor we have a quorum.” The Mayor then did some Agenda management and advised Council that item 8.1, the mayor’s 2024 budget would be moved forward in the agenda and said: “We do have a number of delegations and we think they’d probably benefit from hearing that discussion sooner rather than later. “So I will first welcome Ann and Dave Marston who are in chambers with us to speak regarding Mayor’s budget 2024. Come on up to the podium you will have five minutes per council rules and stick around. There may be questions afterwards and we’ll get the clock started whenever you are ready to get going.” Before starting the delegation Ann said – “it’s an observation but where was O Canada? This is a regular council meeting.” Mayor Meed Ward responded: “You can go ahead and get started. We don’t take questions from delegations but one of us can certainly speak to that in our remarks later “Go ahead.” It was a sharp rebuke made to a person who had made an observation – nothing more. It was so unbecoming. Could this Mayor not have responded with something along these lines ? “I am sorry – you are right, we neglected to sing the National Anthem, my apologies. “Perhaps we should stand now and sing O Canada.” Something like this just wasn’t within the Mayor we have. Kindness, consideration, grace, an ability to admit when errors are made just don’t seem to be part of who this woman is and for that we are all the poorer. A Mayor sets the tone of meetings. Instead of spouting that transparent and accountable line that she has been using ever since she set her sights on becoming a politician Marianne has become a bit of a thug. Her atrocious behaviour when she went on a 14 minute rant and attempted to bully a council member into making a public apology (that in our view was not necessary) to a Staff member is what she will be remembered for. It didn’t have to be this way – but the pattern has been set and it looks as if it is going to be the approach she takes to getting the budget she keeps telling us is something she had to do. Balderdash – Mayor Meed Ward chose to use the Strong Mayor powers most Mayors were given last July. Guelph didn’t use them – a number of smaller municipalities chose to take a pass is as well Related news articles. Who used the Strong Mayor Powers to control the creating of a budget?
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Was that a wise decision to make at this point in time? City administration thought it was and asked people to send along any ideas they might have.
Oakville
Asking Rents in Canada Increased by $175 in the Past 6 Months
For the ninth straight month, Calgary was the leader in annual rent growth for apartments in Canada’s largest cities with a 14.7% annual increase. Montreal maintained the second spot with annual rent growth of 10.2%, which averaged $2,046 in October. Toronto however, witnessed a year-over-year decline of 0.8% in asking rents, the first annual decrease since August 2021.
The Office of the Clerks sent him the following:
And promptly set a new target of 5000.
By Lisa Clayton
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC);
By Pepper Parr
