 By Pepper Parr
February 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATED February 10th
Among the Directions the Mayor issued to staff on the matter of possible tariffs the Mayor included:
Staff to undertake research and provide advice to the head of Council on potential responses to the tariff threats, including attendance at Mayor’s Tariff Task Force meetings as required in a research and advisory capacity.
No mention is made of just who is on this Task Force and what its immediate objectives are.
 It looks like tariffs are real again. The tariffs that President Trump had put on hold for 30 days – that didn’t last. Before heading off to the Super Bowl Game in New Orleans Trump announced that he would announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs Monday; with more import duties coming.
This President has made monkeys out of the American media. He keeps flooding the media with announcement- which they take and run with. While media is chasing announcements the President gets on with what matters to him.
He needs his Cabinet in place and it appears he will do everything he can take get them there.
This is a completely different President – the rules do not matter to him. David Frum, a respected news analyst, has described Donald Trump as a predator who uses every tool and new outlet to get his message out.
He has taken away the security clearance former President Biden had; he has removed senior people from the FBI; he has removed Inspectors, the people who are in place to ensure a federal agency is doing the job it is supposed to do to protect the public interest. The President is required to advise Congress if he wants to do this. Trump doesn’t pay attention to rules.
 Time to look for better customers  All the while confusing everyone as to just what he plans to do.
This is the guy Doug Ford wanted to vote for – 1000% said Ford. Remember that 18 days from now when you cast your ballot for member of the provincial Legislature.
Canada has a lot of very strong options. Cut off the power they buy from Canada that keeps the lights on in New York City; stop selling them the oil they need.
Wear velvet gloves but make sure the Americans know that they need us as much as we need them. The threat of doing things like this is all that is needed – time to see the Canadian government showing that they have options – and in the meantime look for better customers.
The Mayor has yet to announce who the members of the Task Force will be.
 By Matt Harvey
February 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The threat of tariffs has the people of Burlington feeling unsure about what could happen.
I asked 26 people outside two of the Fortinos supermarkets about what they thought about the possibility of tariffs and how it would affect their households; there were different sentiments about the looming threat.
Continue reading Burlingtonians have views on the possible imposition of tariffs – many didn’t know quite what to say
 By Staff
February 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
What a day for a horse and sleigh!
A great Canadian winter.
 That umbrella gets used in the summertime – today it adds a splash of colour to the green of the fir trees dressed with a white covering. Winter! The kids will be out on the slopes with whatever they can get their hands on to slide down to the bottom, climb back up, and do it all over again.
Will it be sloppy when it melts – probably?
 The path to the lane that leads to the road will have to be cleared at some point.
By Staff
February 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Coldest Night of the Year! Feb 22, 4-7pm
For Eagles Neat, a registered charitable organization that helps adults, youth and children care for their mental health and learn new tools for healthy relationships, is located on the border of Hamilton and Burlington, Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is their biggest fundraiser.
Continue reading February 22nd – is the Coldest Night of the Year a time to
 By Nate Erskine Smith
February 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Nate Erskine Smith While the House of Comments isn’t meeting, the Prime Minister appears to be at his desk on occasion. Minister of Housing Nate Erskine Smith has made it very clear what he wants to do in the time that he has left:
Drive down the costs of home building, double down on our commitment to community housing, end homelessness, and treat housing as a home first and an investment second.
“I’ve been busy making transit and housing-related announcements across Ontario these last few weeks, and we’re set to travel across the country going forward. As a result, I’m a little behind on writing and sharing ideas.
Continue reading How Minister of Housing, Nate Erskine Smith is addressing Canada’s housing crisis
By Staff
February 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We have a 311 service, we have a 911 service and now there is a 211 service.
 The Halton Hamilton United Way (HHUW) was a founding partner of 211 service in Canada, providing funding and support for the program, and advocating to make its services available to all communities across Canada.
211 is the largest national database of community services and government programs in Canada. It plays a critical role in helping people navigate available local resources.
The service 211 connects people in Halton and Hamilton to essential social services, including housing support, mental health resources, and food security, through a free, 24/7 confidential service available in over 150 languages.
Continue reading Do you know what the 211 service is?
 By Staff
February 7th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
After meeting with the nation’s provincial leaders and the prime minister on Jan. 15, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that it was time to put Canada first, even ahead of provincial interests, in dealing with tariff threats from American President Donald Trump. By Jan. 29 the province had begun an election campaign, after Ford announced an early call in order to garner a stronger mandate over the next four years.
 Premier Doug Ford: Has he taken a political risk that he might regret? New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds residents not sold on the timing or motivation of the election. Four-in-five Ontario residents (78%) – and in fact three-in-five who currently say they’ll support Ford’s party – say that this election call was made to serve Ford’s interest and not those of the province. Seven-in-10 (68%) characterize the election as “unnecessary”.
Continue reading Four-in-five Ontario residents say this election call was made to serve Ford’s interest
By Staff
February 6th.2-25
BURLINGTON, ON
After careful consideration, the Burlington Teen Tour Band will not be travelling to Myrtle Beach to perform in the Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
 By Staff
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, Mayor Meed Ward issued a Mayoral Direction focused on supporting Canadian businesses, workers, and the broader Burlington community, aligning with provincial and federal efforts to bolster national economic resilience.
The Mayoral Direction issues the following directions to staff:
Continue reading Mayor Meed Ward: We have to Stand Up for Canadian Businesses and Burlington’s Future
By Staff
February 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Stretched to the limit: hospital union will be lining up gurneys outside Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington at 1:00 pm today to draw attention to the healthcare crisis
The province is in the midst of a provincial election that is to take place on February 27th.
Every self-interest group is struggling to get its story out while the political parties get close to reckless on how they would spend public money.
The hospital unions are raising concerns about access to care due to growing deficits across the hospital sector. Based on latest data, hospitals in Ontario faced a cumulative shortfall of $800 million in the first half of 2024-25.
 Joseph Brant Hospital operated at 94.2% capacity, well above the 85 per cent recommended maximum bed occupancy level. At Joseph Brant Hospital the shortfall was $1.8 million. The union warns that cutbacks are already happening at numerous hospitals, including Burlington, as they buckle under the weight of growing patient volumes and insufficient funding; pointing out that per-person hospital funding in Ontario is the lowest in Canada and that we have the fewest beds and hospital staff to population.
In the first half of 2024-25, Joseph Brant Hospital operated at 94.2% capacity, well above the 85 per cent recommended maximum bed occupancy level. According to analysis by OCHU-CUPE, Joseph Brant must add 32 beds to achieve safe occupancy levels.
Michael Hurley, president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) says it is not surprising to witness a record increase in hospital overcrowding. About 2,000 patients every day receive care on stretchers in unconventional spaces such as hallways and storage closets, an increase of 125 per cent since June 2018 when Ford got elected on the promise to end hallway health care.
Hurley says hospital overcrowding compromises patient and staff safety, causing delays in admitting patients, higher risk of nosocomial infections, and heavier workloads. Moreover, it robs patients of dignity as they are treated out in hallways without privacy.“There were 250,000 people on wait lists for surgeries last year,” Hurley says. “2,000 are on stretchers today, begging for a bed. Palliative patients die at home without painkillers. As a province, we must do so much better for our citizens.”“The next government must implement real solutions”
The union recommends the following solutions to address the healthcare crisis:
 Hospital union will take empty gurneys out onto Lakeshore Road to demonstrate how bad things are at the Joseph Brant Hospital. Improve hospital capacity to match the needs of an aging and growing population, by adding staffed hospital beds.
Address the staffing crisis by improving compensation and working conditions, and providing incentives such as free tuition to students in nursing and PSW programs
End private sector delivery of acute, long-term care and community health services
Ban agency nurses to reduce staffing costs, and invest that money in improving compensation and working conditions for in-house workers
Improving staffing in LTC to meet the 4-hours of daily care benchmark and expand capacity to reduce waitlists
End contracting out of services across health care, and run LTC and home care on a public, not-for-profit basis
Expand the use of nurse practitioners to lead primary care clinics.
Fast Facts:
- 1,860 people on stretchers in hospital hallways, up from 826 in June 2018 when the Premier promised to end hallway medicine.
- 2.5 million citizens without a family doctor
- Palliative homecare patients dying without painkillers and medical supplies
- 250,000 people waiting for surgeries
- Nearly 50,000 people waiting for long-term care
- Constant ER closures in small towns.
By Pepper Parr
February 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The properties bounded by James, Martha Lake Shore Road, and Pearle provide a snapshot of what is taking place in the downtown core.
In the picture below there is the Mattamy development on the corner of James and Martha. In the background, on the left is the ADI Nautique, and to the right the Beausejour.
South of the ADI and Beausoleil developments, in the football space between Lakeshore Road and Old Lakeshore, thereat are four skyscraper-level developments that are in various stages of development.
 Every square foot of the property inside the football has a development plan that is somewhere between the Planning Department, the OLT, and maybe even a building permit. The people who live north of Upper Middle Road have, for the most part, little in the way of understanding how the city is changing – downtown for them is Sound of Music, Ribfest and events that get them out to Spencer Smith Park which is now past capacity.
The small stretch of Martha, on the east side of the street just south of where James turns into New Street there is a patch of land that will see buildings that are in the six to eight-storey range.
Interesting how development has changed the downtown core and the Save the Waterfront group that Marianne Meed Ward used to get herself elected to Council in 2010 has managed to save the waterfront – if you can see it.
 The sales sign on the Nautique doesn’t represent the reality that most people deal with when looking at condo space.
In the beginning – when Rick Goldring was Mayor the then Waterfront Advisory Committee invited former Mayor David Crombie out to talk to the group. At the time Crombie urged the community to invite architects to come up with some ideas on what could be done with the football properties. At that time no one had begun to consolidate the 18+ lots.
That idea didn’t find any traction – what you see rising out of the five-level underground garages is what Burlington is going to look like well into the next century.
Pity
By TOM PARKIN
February 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Many school principals say lack of available teachers is a daily problem and many have had to tell a special needs student they can’t come to school.
In 2024, 46 percent of Ontario elementary school principals and 39 percent of secondary school principals had a shortage of teachers every week, according to a recent survey of over 1,000 Ontario school principals.
And it’s a daily problem at 24 percent of elementary schools and 35 percent of secondary schools, principals say.
Ontario universities are graduating about half the number of teachers as a decade ago, and the low number of available teachers is making it hard to ensure classrooms are staffed, principals report.
Teachers not available when principals needs to fill gaps
Starting in September 2015 the Ontario Liberal government expanded the teacher training program to two years from one year and cut admissions by half.
Between 2008 and 2011, before the change, there were 9,100 newly licensed teachers in an average year, according to the Transitions to Teaching report from the Ontario College of Teachers. That’s dropped to just 4,671 on average between 2019 and 2022.
The result has been a teacher shortage. In 2014, 34 percent of newly-licenced teachers were not full-time employed as a teacher in their first year. That number has dropped to just four percent in 2022, leaving principals in many areas unable to find teachers and fill gaps.
The annual report of principals shows that 42 percent of elementary principals and 46 percent of secondary school principals had a shortage of educational assistants every day.
Principals telling special needs students to not come to school
In 2018, 58 percent of elementary principals and 48 percent of secondary school principals had to tell special needs students to not come to school for the day. In 2024 it was 63 percent and 58 percent, respectively.
In 54 percent of cases, the principal told the special needs student to not come to school because necessary support was not available.
In Ontario, 16 percent of elementary and 28 percent of secondary students are supposed to receive some form of special education support, a proportion that has remained relatively steady over the last decade
Majority of schools in northern Ontario have no access to a school psychologist
In 2017, principals reported that 13 percent of elementary schools and 16 percent of secondary schools had no access to a school psychologist, either in-school or on-call. In 2024, that number has increased to 24 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
And the problem of no access to school psychologists is heavily geographically weighted.
Principals reported that only seven percent of schools in the Greater Toronto Area didn’t have access to a school psychologist. But there was no access for 20 percent of schools in southwest Ontario, 30 percent in eastern, 36 percent in central, and 59 percent in northern Ontario schools.
By Staff
February 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a whirlwind past week in Canada-U.S. relations, after announced tariffs on Canadian goods entering America – set to take effect on Tuesday – were delayed 30 days. This, after a call between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump, where Trump claimed victory but by many accounts received little.
 Continue reading Pride in Canada rebounds in face of Trump threat
By Staff
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump imposing a 10 percent levy against China and pressing a 30-day pause on proposed tariffs to Canada and Mexico, Martin Danahay reflects on the dangerous historical outcomes of past trade wars.
The Professor of English Language and Literature at Brock University specifically notes that the First Opium War, fought between China and the British Empire from 1839-1842, began as a trade imbalance.
 The Opium Ward were fierce and bloody. “When China blocked the British opium trade, British traders successfully lobbied their government to attack China, ultimately forcing the removal of the trade blockade through military action,” he says.
Danahay notes that while the current situation between the U.S. and Mexico/Canada is a reversal of that situation — imposing levies on imported goods to force action on the flow of illegal fentanyl into the U.S. from its two neighbouring countries — the use of tariffs and “belligerent” rhetoric can easily transition into military conflict.
Another notable example, Danahay says, are the British trade restrictions imposed on American ships during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s.
 During the Napoleon War, American seamen were conscripted to serve aboard Napoleons’ ships – much of this led to the War of 1812 “Along with forced conscription of American sailors into the British Navy, the trade restrictions led to the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States,” he says.
Trump’s use of trade war tactics forcing concessions from Mexico and Canada is especially concerning, Danahay says, since U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly shared that military force is still an option against Mexico.
While he says it is unlikely the U.S. will invade Mexico (or Canada), it is certainly possible that an invasion of a smaller country could result from a propensity to use trade wars and violent rhetoric as the basis for foreign relations.
Danahay says that Panama, in particular, seems vulnerable as various U.S. officials (including President Trump) have claimed that China is operating the Panama Canal, a key route in global trade.
“President Trump has also imposed tariffs on China ostensibly because of the production of the precursor chemicals for fentanyl, which is shipped to Mexico, processed and then smuggled into the U.S., where there is a widespread crisis of addiction to the synthetic opioid,” he says. “President Trump has openly expressed a desire to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland, showing an imperialist mindset that is reminiscent of the British Empire.
While many are of the opinion that Trump is unlikely to use military force, history shows that a combination of a trade war and military rhetoric can easily become the basis for war.”
 By Ray Rivers
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Donald Trump: Look carefully – he blinked. Trump bluffed and then he blinked after his bluff was called. Hardly the lame duck everyone thought he’d be, Justin Trudeau played his cards well in Mr. Trump’s game of chicken. Our PM brought all interests in the country together despite Trump’s intention to tear us apart by a lower tariff rate (10%) given to primarily the oil producing provinces.
Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers had argued that Canada should just lie down and take it. But Trudeau stood firm and showed Mr. Trump that we can return tough love back. In the end the PM was right – standing up for Canada was the right thing to do. Though he’ll be history as PM in a matter of weeks, history will likely record this as Trudeau’s finest moment.
It wasn’t just him though. Ontario’s Ford forcefully clamoured for a strong retaliation, as indeed did most of the other premiers. The normally boisterous Mr. Poilievre, on the other hand, was unusually silent, particularly in the earlier days. He presumably had not wanted to contradict his Alberta ally, so was waiting to see the outcome of Trudeau’s gambit.
 Poilievre – endorsed by Trump’s main man Elon Musk Poilievre stands apart as having been endorsed by Trump’s main man Elon Musk. This was happening even as Trump and his entire entourage, including Musk, were bad mouthing and trash talking Trudeau and Canada.
In the end, Mr. Trump delayed the tariffs for both Mexico and Canada by a month. The betting is that ‘The Donald’ has seen the light and will eventually drop his tariff plan entirely. His vision of returning to the anachronistic and protectionist America First, which he idolizes, would come with a huge price tag for the American consumer.
Still, Trump is nothing but inconsistent and volatile, so we’ll see how he feels about his would-be 51st state in thirty days. Now that his drug and migrant arguments have been exposed as the falsehoods they are, he has turned his sights to Canada’s banking system.
In the meantime his actions have already had consequences – for Mexico, Colombia and Canada at the least. He has given us here in Canada pause to appreciate what we have in this geographically diverse nation of 41 million people and to realize that we don’t want to lose it.
 The idea of Canada prevailed through to Quebec referendums. So we say to Mr. Trump, thanks but no thanks. We’re not interested in being your 51st state – especially if you would be our president and Mr. Musk would be pulling the strings.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Blinks – Tariffs Poilievre Won’t Back Retaliation – Poilievre is Vague – Is Poilievre Musk’s Puppet –
 By Staff
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Swimming is widely recognized as one of the most effective exercises for promoting health.
The Parks, Recreation and Culture Aquatics team offers several drop-in programs and Lifesaving First Aid courses designed to support your well-being
To register click HERE
By Pepper Parr
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We erred: Bonnie Crombie has said she will be running for the Mississauga East seat in the legislature.
The focused concern over what the threat of 25% tariffs would do to not only the economy but individual households has taken our eyes off the provincial election campaign that is now underway.
 Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Doug Ford put his foot in it when on the campaign trail Monday he was caught on a hot mic expressing frustration with the president.
“On election day, was I happy this guy won? One hundred per cent I was. Then the guy pulled out the knife and f—-ing yanked it in me,” said Ford.
That comment is going to haunt him throughout the balance of the campaign. The upside for Ford is that the election will have taken place before the 30-day hold on possible tariffs is reconsidered.
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said he hoped the situation with Trump “might be a little different,” despite Trump’s prior threats to levy tariffs on Canadian exports.
Ford was captured on video after a news conference Monday saying he was happy that Trump had won the most recent U.S. election — until Trump made threats of steep tariffs that could devastate Ontario’s economy.
“I can work with anyone, I don’t care who it is. I just thought things might be a little different,” Ford said Tuesday when asked why he was happy that Trump was elected, despite Trump’s history of trade threats during his first term.
While polling numbers show Ford with an impressive lead the campaigning taking place in constituencies across the province shows a different scenario.
 Marit Stiles in Quinte, a part of the province where the Progressive Conservatives have always done well. In Quinte, a constituency where political views have been decidedly conservative for a long long time the New Democrats have been pulling out good audiences.
The Liberals can’t seem to get much in the way of traction; party leader Bonnie Crombie has said she will be running for the Mississauga East seat in the legislature.
 Ontario Election to be Held on February 27
By Staff
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Announces a new strategic airline partner, Porter Airlines.
Porter will initiate service at Hamilton International beginning in early June 2025, introducing daily service from Hamilton to four popular domestic destinations: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and Vancouver.
The airport will move now on planned terminal upgrades that will begin immediately.
 The long-term collaborative partnership between the City and TradePort, in place since 1996, has positioned the airport as a critical driver of connectivity, economic growth, job creation, and community partnerships for Hamilton and the surrounding region. Under the new lease, efforts to expand air service, enhance the passenger experience, and deliver safe, sustainable, and efficient operations will continue – starting with planned terminal upgrades that will begin immediately.
Airport enhancements will include an updated exterior frontage with new and expanded canopies to improve curb operations, and a refresh of terminal interiors from check-in counters and passenger screening areas to gate seating and baggage claim. Integration of architectural elements and finishes inspired by the region’s natural geography will lend the airport a unique sense of place, while new digital signage and lighting upgrades will enhance the overall travel journey.
Additionally, future enhancements will include passenger jet bridges to connect the terminal directly to aircraft – a first for Hamilton International – and terminal infrastructure upgrades to position the airport for future expansion to accommodate expected air traffic growth
Airport enhancements will include an updated exterior frontage with new and expanded canopies to improve curb operations, and a refresh of terminal interiors from check-in counters and passenger screening areas to gate seating and baggage claim. Integration of architectural elements and finishes inspired by the region’s natural geography will lend the airport a unique sense of place. New digital signage and lighting upgrades will enhance the overall travel journey.
Future enhancements will include passenger jet bridges to connect the terminal directly to aircraft – a first for Hamilton International – and terminal infrastructure upgrades to position the airport for future expansion to accommodate expected air traffic growth.
 By Staff
February 4rg, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The 50th-anniversary event at the Art Gallery went very well.
 Jonathan Smith, a former curator at the Art Gallery attended.  The event drew a young crowd as well as the patrons who rarely miss a major event. Attendance was excellent and the mood was very upbeat.
The Ontario Art Council speaker told the audience that they have been a large part of the funding the Gallery receives for the past 50 years – they were there at year 1 – and that the Arts Council fully expected to continue supporting AGB.
That was the good news – the not-so-good news was the damage done by the postal strike. Donations that would have normally come in – didn’t. The postal strike meant cheques didn’t make it to the mailbox.
 Curator Suzanne Carte checks out the largest piece in the 50th anniversary exhibit. Suzanne Carte Art Gallery explained: “Back in November, we set an ambitious goal to raise funds to support impactful programs, events, and exhibitions at the AGB. We are thrilled to share we raised over $38,000, but with your help, there is still time to reach the $40,000 milestone!
The federal government has extended the donation deadline for the 2024 tax year. For AGB donors, this means you can still make a donation until February 28, 2025, and claim it on your 2024 taxes.
We are genuinely grateful for the incredible support we received in 2024. Your generosity means so much to our community.
Two things you can do: Send along whatever you can afford and make a point of taking in the Time Isn’t Real. It is mind-stretching and runs through to April 27th.
By Staff
February 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
What a news whirlwind yesterday.
A photographer took some time in the late afternoon to see what was happening at the LCBO outlets.
Some of the shelves were bare.
 Whiskey shelves were a lot more empty at the end of the day. A clerk at the LCBO said there was a bit of a rush during the day.
 The wines from California were almost cleaned out. With the 30-day hold on the imposition of any tariffs, life at LCBO outlets should return to normal – or will people stock up – fearing that Trump will at some point create huge damage to the economies of both Canada and the United States.
|
|
By Pepper Parr
All the while confusing everyone as to just what he plans to do.
