 By Staff
November 24th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Picodi Canada analyst team checked the price lists of 364 internet service providers in 85 countries worldwide and created a ranking of countries with the most and the least affordable internet access.
In this report, we included only offers with unlimited internet access without additional services such as TV or mobile plans.
Internet access is not going to get any cheaper – with four corporations dominating the market and public access to the internet.
The federal government continues to say they are going to do”something” – still waiting.
Where does Canada stand in the list of prices for access?
They are set out below.
By Staff
November 24th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
City Manager Tim Commisso sat on a detailed report about the serious problem the city was dealing with WHEN.
 City Manager sat on a report when the public needed some direction on a serious social problem. He didn’t make the report available to members of Council – he just kept it to himself. There was never an explanation.
In Burlington when you are the City Manager you can do what you want.
 That crisis has passed. We now have the Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee and the City of Burlington’s Animal Services staff are hosting an information session to help people learn about local wildlife and strategies to help you continue to live with the many animals that thrive in our city.
Topics to be covered include: the roles that wildlife play in cities, co-existing with wildlife in Burlington, and tips to reduce unwanted contact.
A question and answer period will follow.
- Nov. 30, 2023
- 7 p.m. start
- Online via Zoom
Register in advance for the free online session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar.
Related news story:
City sits on report
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Wendy Fletcher finally got to address City Council.
She used a lot of number which Councillor Bentivegna asked to have sent to him: “I’m better with a piece of paper in front of me”
 “The average income in Burlington is not as high as council believes. According to the 2021 Census by Stats Canada, there are only 17,355 people earning over 100K and 22,750 in the 60-100K range. That’s only 40,105 residents earning over 60K and some rent. There are 40,000 seniors and most probably not making over 60K. Further, the average income was determined to be 42K, which is less than the Ontario average of 56-60K.
“Putting undue financial strain on taxpayers two years in a row to have money in the bank for an increase in assets that occurred from the stroke of a pen is not taking the taxpayers appetite for risk or willingness to pay, into consideration. Reassessment of the assets wasn’t required until 2028 making this premature. Robust support was directed to the DIR fund in 2023. While further funding would always be nice, it isn’t a necessity and its not supported by the economics which have changed considerably since the May report. This is a nice to have, not a need to have. By exercising some patience for interest rates and inflation to drop, and scrapping this tax increase for 2024, it would drop the current budget by 0.97%.
Doing so would say to taxpayers that this council is hearing them.
There wasn’t very much in the way of follow up questions from members of Council.
Fletcher had more to say – we will cover that in the days ahead
You can sign the petition HERE
By Staff
November 23, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Bateman Naming Update
With the support of the Robert Bateman Naming Shortlist committee, the City is recommending to the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee (EICS) on Dec. 7 the name of Burlington’s newest community centre be “Robert Bateman Community Centre.”
 Robert Bateman now lives in British Columbia. When the submission deadline passed, a committee was formed to review the submissions and create a shortlist of names that aligned to the City’s naming policy and represented the community voice. This committee included representatives from the Advisory Committees of Heritage and Inclusion, City Council, the Indigenous Talking Circle, and City staff.
Survey results
- 221 names were received.
- 44 per cent were for Robert Bateman Community Centre (or a close variation).
- Pinedale was the second-place name with three per cent of the submissions.
The consensus of the committee was that the community has already overwhelmingly chosen the name Robert Bateman Community Centre and it would be disingenuous to poll the community again or put a short list to a vote.
Next Steps
Staff will submit a report with the name recommendation and rationale to the Environment, Infrastructure, and Community Services Committee meeting Dec. 7 and to City Council on Dec. 12, 2023.
 No word yet on where the new name will be placed.
By Pepper Parr
November 23, 2023
November 23, 2023
The Mayor said she would bring in a budget with the city portion of the total tax at 4.99%
After weeks of debate, two rambunctious meetings the Budget Standing Committee was able to bring it in at 4.88%
The public opposition was greater than I have seen it in the 12 years I have been covering budgets in Burlington.
It isn’t over yet – the Budget numbers are a recommendation from the Standing Committee – they go to Council on the 28th
This Council will see this as a win – there are a lot of people who won’t share that view.
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Why would someone want to screw around with a Council member’s Facebook page?
 Stolte on Facebook We got this message from Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte.
Our previous Facebook page has recently fallen victim to unauthorized access. We have had to create a new page to ensure the security of our community’s digital space. We understand the importance of staying connected, especially during these times, and we want to ensure that our residents can continue to engage with us online.
The corrected Facebook page is HERE
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
A budget meeting that heard several strongly worded delegations managed to shave a little off the proposed tax rate (4.99%) the Mayor put out when she released the budget she insists the province required her to produce.
A lot of detail to come – the news at this point is that the city portion of the tax bill that will be in your mailbox as soon as it gets through Council on the 28th.
 Complete document will be available when available.
 By Staff
November 23, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Members of the Aldershot Tennis Club met last weekend to celebrate the $135,500 Capital grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in November 2022.
All those Lottery tickets you bought and didn’t win on – that money went to the Ontario Trillium Foundation and transformed the physical landscape of the Aldershot Tennis Club, ensuring the safety of players and longevity of the facility,” said the MPP for Burlington. “The renovations have served as a catalyst for a renewed sense of community, well-being and recreation for tennis enthusiasts of all ages in Burlington.”
Roll the cursor over the photograph.
 Your Lottery ticket loses bring smiles to the faces of Aldershot Tennis Club members. The OTF Capital grant, awarded over 12 months, allowed the Tennis Club to address a community need by funding the resurfacing of the Club’s Tennis courts and the fixing of the exterior pavement for improved drainage to keep leaking water out of the bubble and reduce tripping hazards. As an added benefit, the renovations have also made the court area far more visually appealing.
“I cannot express just how positive the impact of this OTF grant was for the Club,” said Ron Gelens, President of the Aldershot Tennis Club. “This grant has guaranteed that members of the club will be able to enjoy the great game of tennis for years to come. The courts were getting worn down and needed to be upgraded. The club had saved enough money to replace the existing bubble for indoor tennis, but the Ontario Trillium Foundation funds allowed the board to replace outdated lighting and overhaul the courts. It’s almost like we have a brand new facility now!”.
Aldershot Tennis Club is a not-for-profit volunteer-run tennis facility for recreational and competitive players of all ages with four fully-lit Plexicushion surfaced courts for year-round play, enclosed by a heated bubble in the winter season. Professional lessons and clinics are available. Clubhouse facilities are provided for members’ and guests’ use. There is a full slate of leagues, round robins and ladder competitions and regular social events and tournaments are held. Summer memberships are available and a wait list is available for indoor winter tennis. Please visit https://www.aldershottennis.ca/# for more information.
 By Pepper Parr
November 23, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Councillor Stolte asked that we include the following in our report:
Wondering if you could clarify your article regarding my question of the delegate this morning.
I did not suggest an additional TAX on vehicles.
I was suggesting a possible USER FEE “in lieu of taxes” as the delegate was suggesting that the City should be charging individual residents more by way of User Fees rather than increase taxes.
This example of a $300. Per vehicle user fee could REPLACE the Infrastructure Levy and thereby reduce property taxes.
How would you feel about this one to lower taxes?
 Vera, a banker was delegating when Councillor Stolte asked her how she felt about a $300 tax on every vehicle registered to a Burlington address. Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte asked a delegation what she thought about the idea of putting in a $300 a year tax on every vehicle with a Burlington address.
The public would holler about being asked to pay that amount – that would be the same public that went for more than five years without a tax increase and as a result the city has an infrastructure deficit of around $5 million.
It would certainly not be a popular tax – but it is the kind of thing Burlington is going to have to do if they are to get a grip on their budgets.
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
They will convene at 9:30 on today (Thursday) and resume going through the 54 Motions that we put on the agenda.
When the Standing Committee recessed at 10:00 pm on Tuesday that had gone through 50 Motions, eight or nine were deferred and many withdrawn.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns ran a tight meeting and managed to stick handle competing motions. The Thursday meeting will be interesting. The meeting, for the most part went well. Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns was chair and kept the wheels on. When Kearns sheds her core anxiety she can be a) very efficient, b) very funny – cheeky and c) exhibits the skills that a good Chair needs.
There are a couple of issues that will need resolving. Mayor Meed Ward had a matter she wanted to proceed on (Manager for Organizational Development) but found she was unable to do so because three people who had Motions withdrew them and there was no way at that point that the Mayor could get them back on the table.
We were looking at a Mayor who was feeling very maligned with no idea what she would and could so next.
The city portion of the 2024 tax increase was set at 5.06%
It will be interesting to see how Kearns decides to get the meeting underway and how they manage the items that were deferred.
 By Pepper Parr
November 22, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
When Mayor Meed Ward announced that she was required to use the Strong Mayor Powers she was given by the province and would be putting a budget forward many took the position that Meed Ward was wrong.
 Councillor Sharman has become the lead on defending the Mayor’s use of Strong Mayor Powers to produce a budget. When delegating on Tuesday Ann Marsden challenged Council and said that there was no requirement for the Mayor to provide a budget.
Councillor Sharman said he was put the question to staff and later in the day he asked CFO Joan Ford:
 Joan Ford: Chief Financial Officer “Would you explain the process that we are under with respect to strong mayor’s legislation. And whether the mayor has the ability to not present a budget or to delegate that stuff.
“It was raised by several of the delegations and there seems to be some confusion about the process. So could you explain the process we’re in right now?
Ford responded: “Thank you very much for the questions. So under the strong mayor’s legislation, it does say that the head of council shall prepare a budget and provide that budget to council.
“It does further say that if the head of council does not propose a budget to council by February 1, then Council share shall prepare and adopt the budget for the municipality.”
Joan Ford might be correct when she uses the word “shall” – it depends on which version of the Strong Powers she is referring to.
There were two Strong Mayor Power decisions. Toronto and Ottawa were given strong powers; then, many months later, the rest of the municipalities were given the power.
However, they were not identical.
On July 1st, the rest of the municipalities were given Strong Mayor Powers; but several, Guelph is the best local example, did not chose not to use the Strong Mayor Powers.
For those who require more detail the following should satisfy them.
The Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, and associated regulations give the head of council (HOC) of certain municipalities strong mayor powers and duties. Currently, Toronto and Ottawa are the only municipalities where the HOC has strong mayor powers and duties.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is proposing amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 under the Municipal Act (MA) to expand the list of municipalities where the HOC has strong mayor powers and duties, to include certain single-tier and lower-tier municipalities that have committed to the province to move forward on shared provincial-municipal priorities and support the provincial priority to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
In addition, the Ministry is proposing to clarify that existing dual vacancies rules in the Municipal Act (i.e., the lower-tier municipality, not upper-tier, is required to fill the vacancy) also apply in municipalities where HOC has strong mayor powers and duties.
Proposing that amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 would come into effect on July 1, 2023. Other amendments to designate additional municipalities where HOC has strong mayor powers and duties may be made in the future.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
By amending this regulation, the strong mayor framework would apply to more municipalities. Currently the framework applies to two municipalities – the City of Toronto and City of Ottawa.
Local impacts will depend on how the heads of council (HOC) in designated municipalities choose to use these strong mayor powers and how the municipality will support the implementation of these powers and duties for the HOC.
There are no requirements in the regulations that would result in new administrative costs for municipalities. Municipalities may choose to update local processes and policies at any time, based on their local needs and circumstances.
Further Information:
Bill 3: Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022
Bill 39: Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022
O. Reg. 530/22 – Municipal Act
Did Joan Ford make a mistake and confuse the first piece of legislation (Bill 3) with the second(Bill 39) or did Councillor Sharman lead her into saying what he needed to cover the story he and the Mayor have been spouting for the past three months.
 Kicking off her campaign in 2014 Marianne Meed Ward asked for the trust of the people she wanted to represent. Or were they both fibbing?
There are those who are very angry with the Mayor’s insistence on sticking to her position that she is required to deliver a budget.
They maintain the Mayor is lying; knows that she is lying and will stick to her position – she is already putting together an information base on what she wants to put forward in the way of a budget for 2025.
During one of her election campaigns for the ward 2 Council seat Marianne Meed Ward said to a group of people gathered at the Art Gallery that while she wanted their vote – what she really wanted was their trust.
You can’t continue to tell less than the truth and expect to have the trust of the people you represent.
 By Staff
November 22, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
On the weekend of November 25-26, Lakeshore West rail service will be modified as follows:
 Service will be modified for two weekend days. Saturday, November 25:
- Trains will run every half-hour between Union Station and Oakville GO and hourly service between Oakville GO and West Harbour GO all day in both directions.
- Some eastbound and westbound trip times will be adjusted with some trains departing up to four minutes earlier.
Sunday, November 26:
We have created a special schedule to accommodate customers travelling to and from the Toronto Santa Clause parade that will also ensure our crews can perform work safely.
- Trains will run every half hour between Union Station and Oakville GO all day.
- Between approximately 11a.m. – 4:30p.m., there will be hourly service between Oakville GO and Aldershot GO.
- Some trips will be adjusted, with some trains departing up to 2 minutes earlier.
Niagara Falls trips will also be adjusted over the weekend, please plan ahead on our website to view up to date schedules for your trip.
Regular service will resume on Monday, November 27.
Riders are encouraged to use gotransit.com or triplinx.ca to plan their trips as schedules and connection times have changed for this weekend. Customers can also check the GO Transit Service Updates page for real-time details.
By Pepper Parr
November 22, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
After a twelve hour session during which Motions were withdrawn or deferred Council reported on what they had achieved. It was a 5.06% increase for the city’s portion; the blended rate came in at 6.74%.
But they weren’t done.
They will be back at it on Thursday when they expect to complete the budgeting exercise.
 Chief Information Officer Chad Macdonald For a bunch of important technical reasons the tax recommendation is expected to go to City Council on November 28th.
Mayor Meed Ward lost one battle on a project she dearly wanted. She appeared to have lost track of what had been deferred and what had been withdrawn. It will be interesting to see how the Mayor manages the process to get the item back on.
There were a number of technical jobs that are going to go unfilled. There were three in particular that Chief Information Officer Chad Macdonald wanted but didn’t get.
Both he and City Manager were not happy.
Commisso gave it a shrug as he looked toward Macdonald
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
To help with more housing options and supply throughout the City of Burlington, City Council approved a motion to declare its intention to allow four residential units per lot. This direction supports the City’s Housing Strategy to:
- help with a healthy supply of rental units and
- increase housing options.
This direction also builds on the City’s recent update to its Additional Residential Unit policies which now allow up to three residential units per urban residential lot. There will be community engagement on property criteria for ARUs and before more changes are made to the City’s Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow up to four units.
What are Additional Residential Units (ARUs)?
Additional Residential Units are self-contained living units with their own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas. They are on the same property as a primary home, including single detached homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses. They can be inside or attached to a primary home, or in a separate accessory building like a detached garage. Examples of ARUs are basement apartments, attached suites, tiny homes and coach houses. The Additional Residential Units page provides details about how to apply for an ARU on your property.
Get Involved
Residents will be invited to join staff in their work to change policies and regulations to allow four units per lot. Staff will also consult with the public in their review of the existing standards in the City’s current zoning bylaw for ARUs. This may include what might be allowed for the height of accessory buildings with ARUs, such as detached garages, or parking space requirements.
Updates and opportunities to get involved in 2024 will be posted on the Housing Strategy Get Involved page.
Quick Facts
- In November 2022, The Government of Ontario passed Bill 23. This included changes to the Planning Act, allowing two Additional Residential Units (ARUs) on an urban residential lot with a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse. Across Ontario, up to three residential units on a residential lot are now allowed.
- To comply with these provincial changes, the City updated its Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Additional Residential Unit policies. These updates are in alignment with the City’s Housing Strategy.
- In the 2022 federal budget, the Government of Canada created the Housing Accelerator Fund to provide incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply.
- In August 2023, the City of Burlington submitted its application to the Housing Accelerator Fund for approximately $40,000,000 and its approval is expected to be contingent on allowing four units-as-of-right on residential lots.
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Burlington City Council unanimously voted to allow four units as-of-right on any residential property. This is key to adding much-needed housing in our community. We know the City of Burlington has a role and opportunity to address providing affordable and attainable homes, and a wider variety of housing types. Our first ever Housing Strategy, released last June, emphasizes this commitment to realize our housing goals of 29,000 units by 2031. Allowing four units as-of-right will be pivotal in adding much-needed housing in our community through sensible development and growth.
“We will create a made-in Burlington solution to accommodate these units in an appropriate way in our city, with consultation with our community. Everyone who wants to live in Burlington deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Links and Resources
Additional Residential Units
Report PL-53-23
Housing Strategy Get Involved page
Housing Strategy
City Council Motion
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
At 1:10 PM – Council is close to totally confused.
The only thing we have learned after lunch is that the increase will be 6.68% – increase was due to a new budget from the Regional government.
 Mayor Meed Ward Photo from Gazette photo library The Mayor has just asked if there was a benefit to delaying the whole budget process to February, CFO Ford said that there was a benefit to setting a budget in order to get lower construction and supply costs.
If this keeps on going to way it has been going – there is going to be little in the way of satisfaction from the public. Understanding what Council is doing will be a challenge.
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Ann Marsden, a frequent delegator at City Council meeting was blunt and direct when she said:
Our delegation today means doing our best to ensure citizens of Burlington can access a budget process that meets all and we mean all the legislated requirements. It is after all, our budget, not the Mayor’s Strong Powers budget and not councils, and certainly not staffs, many of whom likely can’t afford to live in Burlington or hit traffic such as we now have an A grateful to get back to their communities.
We thought, but we’re obviously mistaken, that both the mayor and us we’re on the same page pre-election. No Strong Powers simply a strong council would set the budget. Bearing in mind taxpayers are at a breaking point when it comes to income versus expenses. No matter how carefully they have planned their family budget, something we are sure you will be hearing more about this morning from other delegates less fortunate than ourselves.
Many of us have expressed our opinions that the mayor’s position that she has no choice in following the strong mayor process for this budget is pure spin and not in line with transparency requirements. We don’t believe this is any way to get the community’s confidence when dealing with its very confusing process or that this process is better than what we had or will see effective decision making.
That is in the best interests of the community. We believe the mayor to be acting in accordance with we believe the man to be acting in accordance with legislation and the City of Burlington Code of Conduct must set the record straight that this budget and the ridiculous increase is her choice and not a requirement of the provincial government as she has so often stated.
Without their admission this process is not a process that will meet the needs of best interests of this city, we can guarantee there will be no appeasing those who believe transparency and public engagement are legislated requirements of the process.
We’re only going to make one comment on the budget change from Councillor Nisan.
In this financial environment I cannot understand why he would want to take $38,000 for a community garden program out of this budget.
The number of delegations alone should tell this committee that this community has had enough of the tax increases and will continue their support of those like Eric Stern and Lydia Thomas, who will be speaking today. Both, along with Wendy the petition organizer, have tried to make you understand – enough is enough.
You need to take an entirely different view of what taxpayers can and cannot afford to remain in their homes. Thank you for your attention to those of us who have captured we believe the majority public opinion which we believe you must be guided by is a true 0% city tax increase. Thank you very much for your time.
Councillor Sherman: First question I have is with respect to the strong mayor requirements of the province that has been placed on mayors around the province. Do you agree with the provinces decision that they should give strong their powers?
Marsden: I think the question is misleading. There is no requirement to have a strong mayor powers. The government offered them to those who wish to receive them and use them. Many municipalities, as you know, have turned them down. They said they will have nothing to do with strong powers. They want a strong counsel.
Sharman: I will ask Staff if your interpretation is correct.
Sharman: Are you suggesting that this council make that kind of decision that we’re going to cut off service to certain qualified people?
Marsden: No, I’m not.
Marsden was cut off before she could complete her answer.
By Pepper Parr
November 21st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Budget Committee Meeting that lifts off at 9:30 this morning will hear 10 people delegating on the budget. Based on the comments we are seeing in the Gazette this should be interesting.
We will report in depth on all of them.
There are also 50 pieces of correspondence on the 2024 Budget Review – that people will not hear and we suspect very few will take the time to dig into the web site and read letters written.
We wonder how many members of Council have taken the time to get the funny bone ticked and read what the people of the city have to say.
In the 12 years we have been covering city council we have never seen anything like this.
There are now 2898 signatures on the citizen based petition.
It will take some time to work through all the correspondence. Taken at random:
I oppose the 2024 tax increase. We believe there are many things in this budget that are not necessities and not required on an emergency basis.
It appears that this City government is spending money unnecessarily and it seems foolish given the fact that many can’t afford food, mortgage payments, utilities, etc. The spending should be much more controlled considering the economic climate we’re currently in.
Many things in our opinion should be scrapped or left for another more prosperous time.
Smart spending and no fluff.
There is something going on out there.
And if you are interested – the city is doing a Zoom on what would you like to see done with Civic Square.
Public engagement opportunities
By Staff
November 20th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Oanh Kasperski is the new Director of Corporate Communications and Engagement.
 With over 20 years of experience in communications and engagement leadership, Oanh has a proven track record of building strong reputations and fostering collaborative relationships.
Oanh’s most recent role was the Director of Marketing and Brand at the University of Waterloo. Her experience also extends to previous leadership roles at McMaster University, CBC, and Seneca College.
In her various roles, Oanh has provided strategic advice and leadership on communications and stakeholder engagement. This experience will be an asset for the City’s commitment to excellence in communications and engagement and strengthening community relationships.
Oanh will start in the role on December 11, 2023.
By Staff
November 20th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
On November 2nd, a new report, At what Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat to public health care confirmed the negative impact of the Ford government’s plans on Ontario’s public hospitals and patients.
Report author Andrew Longhurst of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) rebuts the government’s rationale for privatization by showing that sufficient funding for public hospitals can significantly improve surgical backlogs.
Among the report’s startling revelations is the massive difference in stated government expenditures on private clinics versus the actual spending.
 Days after the report was published, we learned that former Health Minister Christine Elliott, who gave private clinic Don Mills Surgical Unit a 278% funding increase while she was minister, is now a lobbyist for the clinic’s parent company, Clearpoint Health Network. Her official registration says her lobbying goals are to “engage the government in updating and increasing the base funding amount available to Clearpoint.”
A CBC investigation found that procedures at Don Mills Surgical are paid for by the government at double or triple the cost of procedures performed in public hospitals. These findings are the tip of the iceberg of the lack of accountability, higher costs, corruption and profiteering that the Ford government is unleashing with Bill 60.
The Ontario Health Coalition is holding an on-line forum on Tuesday November 28th at 7 pm eastern
If you are interested Please register and fill in the information here (you will receive the Zoom link by email after you register):
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdemrrzwtHNL1RXFYd_uZv7woAZRskSPf
Join them for this forum to hear from researchers and advocates about how Ford’s reckless policies can be exposed and defeated.
- Andrew Longhurst, research associate, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; author of the recently published report, ‘At What Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat to health care‘
- Pam Parks, nurse, co-chair, Durham Health Coalition
- Kevin Skerrett, Ottawa Health Coalition
- Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition
Co-Sponsored by: Brampton-Caledon Health Coalition, Durham Health Coalition, Grey-Bruce Health Coalition, Halton Health Coalition, Hamilton Health Coalition, Kingston Health Coalition, London Health Coalition, Mississauga Health Coalition, North Bay Health Coalition, Ottawa Health Coalition, Oxford Coalition for Social Justice, Peterborough Health Coalition, Port Dover Health Coalition, Renfrew County Health Coalition, Simcoe Health Coalition, Waterloo Health Coalition.
By Pepper Parr
November 20th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO
Tidbit of information we came across.
The subject matter was AI Artificial Intelligence;
 “Banks, for all their usual moaning about regulation, would be nowhere without legal requirements that they keep years of detailed customer records. “We’ve got 17 million clients, and I’ve got 16 petabytes of data,” says Martin Wildberger, executive vice president of innovation and technology at Royal Bank Canada, the country’s largest bank.
“Sixteen petabytes is roughly equivalent to 320 million tall filing cabinets stuffed with paper. It’s what allowed Wildberger’s team to create a model so deep it can show RBC the tiny variations in customer behavior that might signify fraud.
“An executive at another big bank told me his model can send an alert when a customer who frequently eats vegetarian charges a meal at a steakhouse.”
How does that make you feel about your personal privacy? Think about that for a minute.
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