 By Staff
June 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Urban Indigenous Community will be welcoming residents to a Solstice Ceremony in recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon at the west end of Spencer Smith Park.
 June 21 marks the summer solstice and is an opportunity for the community to gather in celebration of Indigenous culture, knowledge, and artistry.
The ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring presence, strength, and contributions of Indigenous People in our region.
Program Highlights:
 Intentions and Fire Ceremony with WhiteEagle Stonefish; Opening remarks with Stephen Paquette; Emcee: Kate Dickson
Live performances by Indigenous artists: Kate Dickson, Shannon Thunderbird, Amber Kakiishiway, Matt Bergman, and Jaimie Lindsay
Interactive activities: Smudging with Stephen Paquette, drumming on two big drums with Shannon Thunderbird, Indigenous-led dance instruction with Jaimie Lindsay, and children’s activities with Laura Suthers. Vendors, storytelling and lots of laughter
Location: Spencer Smith Park, west end
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a happy, fun-filled free event. All are welcome to join in the festivities.
 By Pepper Parr
June 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
That didn’t take very long.
The request that the Minister of Municipal Affairs issue a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) on lands that are being developed for a 98 high end housing project on lands that were formally part of the Millcroft Golf Course.
Mayor Meed Ward and ward Councilor Angelo Bentivegna sent the news to the residents in an Instagram.
Council will discuss the matter at the July Council meeting.
By that time, all the trees the developer needs to remove will be wood chips to be carted away.
 By Pepper Parr
June 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Is there something I’m missing?
The Mayor is playing fancy with a statement – Elect Respect.
She has taken the position that people have to respect those they elect and that civility is no longer part of public dialogue.
There is no doubt – there are a lot of people out there who are angry.
And well they should. This Mayor and the majority of her council members have forgotten that they were elected to serve the public that pays the taxes to run the city and pay each of them (with two exceptions) more than they have ever learned in their lives.
It is the Electors who deserve respect from the elected.
People in Burlington have given up on trying to influence and inform this Council.
The Mayor, in an almost shrill statement said that she would not be driven from office by people who threaten her personally.
Politicians are removed from office by the people who elected them in the first place.
As a member of Council way back in 2010, Marianne Meed Ward was a delight to watch. She wore the words “accountability” and “transparency” every day.
She did that for two terms as a member of Council and then ran for Mayor and won because she earned the respect of the people she had served.
 She was respected in 2010 and in 2014 – something changed when she was elected mayor. Something happened when the Chain of Office was placed around her neck – the words “accountability” and “transparency” were not real any more. She mouthed the words but didn’t walk the talk.
Now she chastises people for not seeing Elect Respect the way she does.
A self-described journalist who has yet to hold a media event and answer questions. Meed Ward graduated from Carleton University with a degree in journalism. She never practiced the trade – instead choosing to write opinion columns and sit on TV panel shows.
One doesn’t get respect when one gets elected. You work hard every day to earn that respect.
 By Pepper Parr
June 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
ROPA won’t mean very much to the average Burlington citizen
Regional Official Plan Amendment
ROPA 48 meant a lot to Burlington.
On November 10th, 2021, the Minister of Municipal Affairs announced a change in the Official Plan that moved the Urban Growth Centre further north.
 An Urban Centre Growth boundary with the three GO stations MTSA’s in blue. This was the plan that was going to save the downtown core from massive high-rise development. In a gushy statement Mayor Meed Ward told her citizens that the “Hon. Minister Steve Clark from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing delivered amazing news for our city at a press conference earlier this morning.”
“The Province has approved our request to adjust the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre (UGC), allowing us to move the designation that was once centered on our downtown core to focus instead on our Burlington GO Station and thereby direct future development with height and density to where it belongs: near mass transit.”
“This is a journey that started back in 2011 and saw many challenges over the years as our community repeatedly voiced their growing concerns that our Official Plan and the development they were seeing was not aligned with their vision for our city. They did not see the cherished character of our downtown and lakefront being protected and preserved. This is a big part of the reason Burlington elected a new mayor and five new members of council in 2018.
“We heard the call for change from across our city, and over the past two and a half years, we did the work to deliver for our community.
“Today’s announcement is a crucial step in the journey towards creating the community we envision.
“Burlington is open for business, and the downtown will continue to grow and evolve. By adjusting the boundaries of the UGC this way, we are in the driver’s seat, not the applicants and not the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).
“The UGC was often misused to justify overdevelopment, even though we’ve taken our share of growth and met (and will exceed) the UGC targets. This misuse has led to land speculation, pushing affordability out of reach. Adjusting the boundary of the UGC takes the pressure off and allows appropriately scaled growth to proceed.
 The Urban Growth boundary that allowed development in the downtown core. “This great outcome is grounded in extensive study, analysis, planning rationale and feedback, and from day one, there was unanimous support from all members of our city council this term for this change. Our Executive Director of Community Planning, Heather MacDonald, has provided clear and consistent professional planning advice to council to fully complete the necessary and substantive planning policy work to support the recommended UGC boundary adjustment. I am grateful for the diligent work she and her team has done throughout this process.
“We did not do this alone. This has been a truly collaborative process with our community, including residents, developers, partner agencies, your entire City Council, City and Regional staff, our Regional Chair and fellow Halton Mayors.
 On the left, MPP at the time Jane McKenna, Minister Clarke and Mayor Meed Ward on the right. “We know this was not an easy decision for Minister Clark, and we thank him for listening to the data, the planning rationale, the advocacy of our council, our fellow Halton mayors and Chair, our staff, and most importantly — the people of Burlington. With this decision, he has shown himself to be a friend of Burlington. I know he listened to all the feedback carefully, and ultimately was persuaded by the planning evidence and the community voice.
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet Minister Clark through my role on the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) and the Large Urban Caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). It’s a huge asset that he is a former mayor himself. He understands that local government knows our community’s needs best as we are the closest to the people. Whenever he has come to OBCM or AMO, he has listened, consulted, asked questions and heard our feedback to shape the best policy decisions. It’s been great to collaborate with him around those tables on a whole range of issues and we’ve seen our feedback translate into policy.
“One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the close relationship that has been forged with our office, and all our elected representatives at provincial and federal levels. We have worked side by side with MPP McKenna to serve the residents of our community, and that close working relationship will last well beyond the pandemic. She has shown herself to be a fighter and strong advocate for residents’ needs.
“There is more to come in the months ahead, as we provide input to the Region’s Official Plan Review that is currently underway. We have done a lot of work to get to this point, and we have a lot of exciting growth and development ahead of us that will help us build complete communities, accommodate the population growth that wants to live here, and ensure that as many of the characteristics that make Burlington so special are preserved and protected for our residents and businesses.”
One might ask in 2026: And how has that worked out for you?
 “Today’s announcement is a crucial step in the journey towards creating the community we envision.” Mayor Meed Ward
 By Staff
June 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Oakville puts on an annual Film Festival.
The event started on the 18th and runs through to the 25th.
 Why should an Oakville event matter to Burlington? Well, if you are a film buff – the Oakville event is the only thing taking place in the Region for the film aficionados
The news is that the 2026 Festival will take place in Burlington. Details are still being worked out. The main venue could be at the Performing Arts Centre or at the Cineplex site.
The Oakville Festivals of Film and Art sought a Trillium Grant to have the film event take place in different communities. Wendy Donnan, Executive Director, explained that the OFFA wanted to broaden the size and reach of the film festival – and it really is a festival with a WORDS
Schedule for the event is robust. Check it all out HERE. It is one of the better websites we’ve seen in some time.
 OFFA website is one of the best we have seen for some time. Some of the flicks scheduled. Donnan has a rich background in film. She got hooked on the genre when she saw Citizen Kane – she has no idea how many times she has watched the film. Academically, she has completed a MAsters and is working on her doctorate.
 Wendy Donnan She is both a film and TV producer and has taught at York University, Sheridan College and Laurier
The challenge for her with the Trillium grant in hand is to understand the market she wants to reach in each community.
Mississauga has a diversity that is radically different from that of Oakville with Burlington somewhere in between the two.
–
 By Pepper Parr
June 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a question that is being asked at almost every level of society.
 They are alienated, depressed, struggling to find a direction – they can’t get out of the circumstances they are in on their own. Can we reconnect a generation? A mental health crisis is gripping young people, with rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness rising. As social bonds fray and digital life deepens isolation, experts are sounding the alarm and demanding action.
Numerous organizations are beginning to explore the complex drivers of youth wellbeing, highlighting opportunities to rebuild social ties, foster resilience, and develop lasting strategies to improve the mental health of young people.
The Gazette would like to hear what people in Burlington feel about this issue and invite them to leave their views in our comments section, which you can access at the bottom of this story.
The politicians talk about it; it is hard to identify anything they have done that is making a difference.
Parents feel lost as they cope with children who have to deal with being left out – day in and day out.
 By Staff
June 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Performing Arts Centre loves our creative community, and are inviting local artists and musicians of all backgrounds to apply for a series of upcoming opportunities to share your work in our 25/26 Season and beyond.
Whether you’re a poet, musician, dancer, storyteller, or creator of any kind — we want you to be part of this growing community.
Apply now and we will be in touch if we find a good fit!
Apply HERE
By Staff
June 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Exciting changes are underway at Alton Branch of the Burlington Library.
A Maker Station—a brand-new drop-in creative space—starting July 24.
Designed for curious creators of all ages, Maker Station is a self-guided space equipped with a 3D printer, sewing machine, Cricut® cutting machine, and button maker.
How It Works
- Prepare your ideas and design files before you visit. Review the design specifications for the equipment on our website and prepare your design file before you come to the branch.
- Starting July 24, drop in any time during open hours at our Alton Branch. The equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis—no appointment necessary.
- Visit staff at the service desk to get started. You’ll need to sign a waiver, purchase any necessary materials, and receive instructional materials to review.
- Start creating! Print, sew, cut and create using one of the four pieces of equipment in the MakerStation.
The equipment is free to use, but you will need to purchase materials such as filament for the 3D printer, vinyl for the Cricut, and button materials for the button maker. We only charge for materials at cost. For the sewing machine, makers will need to bring their own suitable fabric.
You’re Invited to the Showcase
Want to see it in action? Join us for the MakerStation Showcase on Wednesday, July 23, from 6 to 8pm.
Check out live demos, explore the new equipment, get inspired by creative projects, and take home a small maker project
Whether you’re into crafting, designing, or just trying something new, MakerStation at Alton Branch is the place to make it happen!
 By Staff
June 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Paige Maylott’s award-winning book, My Body is Distant, is an electrifying and vulnerable memoir that invites readers into an intimate conversation about our digital and physical selves, gender, and belonging. Maylott writes about her life—both virtual and IRL—as she explores her authentic self and sexuality through dream-like virtual worlds. As she discovers the person she is meant to be, Paige contends with a cancer diagnosis and an imploding marriage while struggling to convert an online love story into reality. When a humiliation at work provides the necessary push to transition, Paige finds the freedom to explore her new self.
 Part coming-out story of a trans woman and part heartfelt romance, My Body Is Distant follows Paige from a childhood obsession with the 1980s game Zork, through a health crisis and divorce, to an ultimately affirming experience and self-love.
Paige Maylott is a Hamiltonian author, gamer, and accessibility specialist. Her memoir, My Body is Distant examines gender transition, critical illness, and digital identity. This work earned the 2024 Hamilton Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Gold IPPY Award for LGBTQ+ Non-Fiction, a spot on the Rakuten Kobo shortlist, and was one of Hamilton Review of Books’ Best Books of 2023. Praised by CBC Books, Publishers Weekly, Open Book, and the Whistler Writers Festival, among others. When not writing, Paige collects retro video games and blasts 80s hair metal—because sometimes the best plot twist is a guitar solo.
Takes place on June 30th, 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Central Library on New Street
At publication, there were just 12 seats available for this event.
To REGISTER click HERE
Presented in partnership with ECW Press.
Borrow My Body is Distant from our collection
Accessibility
If you need an accessibility accommodation during this program, please register early so we can confirm arrangements a few days before your visit.
 By Staff
June 18, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region Public Health was made aware of a confirmed case of measles that has led to a potential exposure in Halton on June 12.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air.
Individuals may have been exposed to the measles virus at the following location on the date listed below:
3075 Hospital Gate – Medical Building, Oakville (whole building) on Thursday June 12 from 2:10 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 Extremely contagious – get vaccinated! Visitors to this location between the times noted should:
- Check your immunization records to make sure you and any people who accompanied you have up to date measles vaccinations (two doses are recommended for anyone born on or after January 1, 1970). Your immunization record (yellow card) or your doctor can provide you with this information. If you are not immune and were potentially exposed, please contact Halton Region Public Health as you may benefit from post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Infants under one year of age, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems can get very ill with measles and should contact Halton Region Public Health or their health care professional immediately for further assessment.
- If you think you may have measles and need to see a doctor, you must call ahead to the doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or emergency department. This will allow health care staff to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and protect others visiting the office, clinic or hospital.
- Watch for symptoms of measles until 21 days after exposure.
Symptoms can appear 7 to 21 days after contact with someone with the measles virus. Measles symptoms may include:
- fever
- cough
- runny nose
- red eyes
- sleepiness
- irritability
- small, white spots on the inside of the mouth (Koplik Spots)
- a red blotchy rash that first starts on the face and spreads down the body, arms, and legs (this rash can last 4 to 7 days)
“Measles is a serious disease that can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. I encourage everyone to ensure their immunizations, including for measles, are up to date, particularly children who may have missed their routine shots during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Deepika Lobo, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.
By Staff
June 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Restoration work surpasses goal, reaching nearly 16 hectares—the equivalent of 30 football fields
A question that is asked of us frequently is who owns the 407 ETR?
407 International Inc. is the sole shareholder of 407 ETR and is owned by:
Cintra Global S.E. which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrovial S.A. (48.29%);
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and other institutional investors (44.20%); and
Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) (7.51%)
– In recognition of Pollinator Week, 407 ETR has announced that its pollinator conservation efforts with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) have surpassed the12-hectare goal of roadside restoration.
The initiative is on track to restore 15.8 hectares of habitat restoration—the equivalent of approximately 30 football fields. Today, there are 15 projects underway within local municipalities and conservation areas in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The restoration work includes Kingsford Gardens in Oakville; boulevard restorations in Toronto; roadside restorations in Halton Hills; and a roadside meadow plot in Keswick.
 Photographs that tell part of the 407 ETR story on roadside vegetation management to support the recovery of monarchs, bees, hummingbirds and other pollinator species. In 2023, the Company signed onto a three-year, $500,000 sponsorship with CWF to support its Rights-of-Way as Habitat Program. In addition to supporting the planting of native wildflowers and grasses, 407 ETR’s funding is helping CWF educate rights-of-way managers about best practices in roadside vegetation management to support the recovery of monarchs, bees, hummingbirds and other pollinator species.
“Our collaboration with 407 ETR enables restoration of native meadow habitat along rights-of-way in the GTA,” says Carolyn Callaghan, Senior Conservation Biologist, Terrestrial Wildlife at CWF. “By establishing thriving meadow ecosystems, we’re helping native pollinator species, like the monarch butterfly, flourish while also enhancing the natural pollination of flowering plants and increasing biodiversity on the landscape.”
The Pollinator Pathway expansion by Oakville Green Conservation Association, located by a roadside at Kingsford Gardens, in the path of monarch migration, is flourishing thanks to the collaboration. With additional native plants added in 2024, the site became more welcoming to pollinators and monarch butterflies were spotted in the fall of 2024.
The next few years will be critical for other meadow projects that are in their “creep phase” as the native seeds develop roots to grow into successful plant communities, supporting the monarch butterfly and other pollinators around the GTA.
 Access points to the 407 ETR “As stewards of a vital transportation corridor in the GTA, we recognize our responsibility to protect and enhance the biodiversity along our rights-of-way,” says Javier Tamargo, President & CEO, 407 ETR. “At 407 ETR, we want to be part of the solution by supporting land restoration efforts in the communities we serve, and it’s great to see these spaces turning into thriving ecosystems, contributing to a healthier environment for generations to come.”
There are over 200,000 kilometres of roadways in Ontario, representing tens of thousands of hectares of vegetated land.
Insect abundance has declined by 50 to 90% in North America and Europe.
Eight species of native bees are considered at risk in Canada and the population of the monarch butterfly has declined by 75% in North America.
GTA residents can support pollinators with native species for their gardens. Native plants have co-evolved with the wildlife of that area and are often their perfect food. They require less maintenance, are less susceptible to disease and pests, and many produce colourful blooms. Learn more at 407etr.com/biodiversity.
Since 2023, the Company has planted 30,000 native trees along Highway 407 ETR.
The Company is supporting Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Conservation Intern program with a three-year, $800,000 sponsorship. The program helps prepare the next generation of environmental leaders with real-world, skills-building opportunities to care for natural areas in Ontario.
Highway 407 ETR highway spans 108 kilometres from Burlington in the west to Pickering in the east.
 By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
On that tariff stuff – word is that they are still talking.
Or at least they were right up until President Trump announced that he had to leave right after dinner on Monday – he was needed back in Washington, where control over the war between Israel and Iran was getting out of hand.
Everyone is mouthing the words used to say basically nothing.
“both countries have agreed to keep the details of those talks private and to reconvene before the end of the week.”
“we’re making progress in coming to a deal that would be in the economic interest of both countries, but we’re not there yet,”
“agreed to pursue negotiations toward a deal within the coming 30 days.”
 President Trump with an illustration of the Golden Dome that is expected to protect North America from nuclear weapons. As he was leaving Kananaskis in Alberta, Trump said that Canada was going to pay for the Golden Dome – that is the stuff that is going to protect us from the nuclear warheads that might be coming our way from China, Russia or maybe the Iranians.
The price for the Golden Dome protection was $60 billion at first but that got ratcheted up to $71 billion. One had to notice that Trump did not say Canada had “agreed to pay” just that it was going to pay. He added that Canada wouldn’t have to pay a dime if it became the 51st state.
Trump does have a habit of rambling. Some suggest not bothering to listen to him.
On the tariff stuff, an American automotive research company said Ontario production of automobiles would be reduced by 56,000 this year.
Most of the 1.3 million cars manufactured in Ontario in 2024 went to the United States.
 Ford Motor plant in Oakville. Auto Forecast Solutions said there are questions about the future of assembly plants in Oshawa, Oakville and Ingersoll in addition to expected production cuts in Alliston.
Early in May, President Trump levied 25% tariffs on automobiles made in Canada and sold in the United States.
With those tariffs in place, the Canadian economy is in serious peril. There have already been layoffs in the automotive sector.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government have been working very hard to have those tariffs removed.
 By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna “This is now serious.”, said Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna as Council prepared to vote on a bylaw that will request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing through its zoning order framework process to issue a ministerial zoning order to restrict the uses permitted on the remainder of the Millcroft golf course to those currently permitted by the City of Burlington zoning by law, and be it further resolved that the clerk forward the resolution to the Honorable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Honorable Doug Downey, Attorney General, the Honorable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Honorable Todd McCarthy, Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks.
Send the request to Halton, MPPs, Halton, local municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for their information.
 Millcroft – a community in the middle of a golf course.  Trees have been cut down as the developer gets ready to build the 98 new homes on what has been golf course property. At this point, some of the damage the community feared has already been done.
The matter has gone to the Ontario Land Tribunal where the city lost their argument.
The approval given by the Tribunal had a number of conditions that have to be met. They are complex and difficult to understand.
The provincial legislature is in recess until the fall.
The City Tree bylaw is in place – no one is certain that the developer, Millcroft Greens, will adhere to that by law.
 Biggest community organization The two local community organizations, Millcroft Against Development (MAD) and the Millcroft Green Alliance may feel that the city is finally on their side.
 Community organization that took part in the Tribunal hearing.  The developer The opportunity to get an MZO in place existed a number of years ago – at this stage the province would be looking at a serious civil suit from the developer.
Issuing an MZO before the matter went to the Land Tribunal is what should have been done.
It was always messy – city council failed the residents of the community and may have destroyed what has been a lovely place to live.
 By Staff
June 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement Monday that would see the U.S. drop billions of dollars in import taxes on Canadian products despite what Carney called their “fantastic” meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
Instead, the two leaders instructed their negotiating teams to accelerate talks, and to meet again before the end of this week in an effort to land a deal within 30 days, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, which issued a late-day summary of the meeting.
Canadian officials held out hope they can still bridge the divide within that time, but Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, said, “we’re not there yet.”
 From left to right, clockwise, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attend a working session during the Group of Seven (G7) summit on June 16, 2025. Michael Kappeler/Pool/AFP TNS Meanwhile, the British and the Americans have signed a deal.
Carney appears to have thought it was a promising start to the G7 summit, but at this point it has not ended a promising note.
Trump abruptly left Kananaskis after the leaders’ dinner on global security to return to Washington. His press secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted he’d “had a great day” but that “because of what’s going on in the Middle East,” the president would cut his Canadian trip short.
 Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky expecting to take part in discussions on the war with Russia. Trump left the G7 meeting before Zelensky arrived. From Carney’s perspective, the summit loses its heavyweight player on the eve of sensitive talks about Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Whatever the Carney-Trump divide over a new deal is really about, only a handful of people know. It was clear however, that the question of tariffs — a foundational tool in Trump’s foreign and economic policy tool box — remains a sticking point. Carney has upped Canada’s defence spending, opened the door to Canadian participation in American-led missile defence, and underscored willingness to be a U.S. partner on energy security.
But it was all about tariffs — the import charges Trump is wielding as a weapon against all of America’s trading partners.
Trump suggested any new trade deal would include tariffs when he spoke to reporters after the two leaders met for about 30 minutes behind closed doors, before inviting their broader teams inside and letting the media catch a glimpse of their dynamics.
Trump said “it’s not so much holding up,” but that he and Carney have fundamentally “different concepts” about what an agreement should look like. Trump says Canada and the U.S. have “different concepts” about a potential trade deal.
“I have a tariff concept,” Trump replied. “Mark has a different concept, which is something that some people like, but we’re going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today. I’m a tariff person, I’ve always been a tariff (person) — it’s simple, it’s easy, it’s precise, and it just goes very quickly.
“And I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good. So we’re going to look at both, and we’re going to see what we’re going to come out with.” Trump said a deal is still within reach within days or weeks, “if both parties agree, sure.”
 Trump with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and a new signed executive order on a U.S.-U.K. tariff deal. That point was underscored later in the day when Trump met U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer before he signed new executive orders on a U.S.-U.K. tariff deal. Trump’s papers spilled to the ground and nearly blew away in the warm afternoon wind, but they still retained a chilly 10 per cent baseline tariff on most British exports to the U.S. The “deal” includes future reductions in steel and aluminum tariffs if Starmer’s promise to open up other sectors like pharmaceuticals is kept.
The president said the U.K. is “very well protected” from tariffs. “You know why? Because I like him, that’s why. That’s their ultimate protection.”
A White House official declined the Star’s request to provide more details on the Carney-Trump meeting.
Dominic LeBlanc, the cabinet minister leading trade talks, and Hillman, Carney’s ambassador in Washington, portrayed it as productive. Hillman said “our goal is to get tariffs off,” but added, “we are not there yet” and acknowledged that getting to zero tariffs will be hard.
“We have a president who is very convinced of the policy that he has around tariffs in order to achieve some of his policy goals,” she said. “We are very convinced that applying that policy to Canada is actually detrimental to his overall goals, and we are trying to get there with him and his officials, so that they understand our perspective.”
Both sides said they have agreed not to talk publicly about the details of what they are discussing. The Canadians also refused to say if Trump at any point repeated his view that Canada should become his country’s 51st state.
“We’re not going to go into the private details of the conversation,” added LeBlanc. “Our focus was on the economic opportunity of working with the United States, and that was the conversation that the prime minister had.”
Trump reciprocated, saying he and Carney have “developed a very good relationship.” On trade, he added, “I’m sure we can work something out.”
 “I have a tariff concept, Mark has a different concept, which is something that some people like, but we’re going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today. I’m a tariff person, I’ve always been a tariff (person) — it’s simple, it’s easy, it’s precise, and it just goes very quickly.” Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, said he believed their meeting telegraphed progress. Even the fact that few are talking, and none of Trump’s officials are “speaking out as a surrogate anymore,” suggests to Volpe “that means that the deal, whatever deal we think we’re going to get, is close.”
Trump, who has said he’s negotiating with 15 countries with which he hopes will reach agreements in the next few weeks, has long suggested tariffs are the new normal, with exemptions available for countries that want to grant the U.S. better access to their markets.
Carney has repeatedly said he is not interested in simply striking out one particular tariff or another. Instead, the prime minister wants to settle on a new comprehensive economic and security agreement to frame how Canada and the U.S. will move forward on defence co-operation, energy security and trade issues, as he seeks to diversify Canada’s alliances with other international partners. The Canadians believe broader trade talks should take place in the context of the 2026 review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal.
 By Jessica Bell
June 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Donald Trump’s escalating trade war and threats to our economy should be a wake-up call for Ontario’s Conservative government to bring a robust economic plan that puts Ontario and Canada first. Doug Ford didn’t give us that.
Ontarians want to do their part and support our country and province, and we need to make it easy for them to do so. But instead of a real strategy, the Conservatives proposed to recognize the last Friday of each June as “Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day.”
 Jessica Bell is the MPP for University–Rosedale and the NDP’s finance critic. Every day should be “Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day,” not just one day. That’s why the Ontario NDP introduced a law to mandate the labelling of Canadian-made products, including food, so Ontarians can visit the supermarket and choose to buy Canadian products, supporting local businesses and local job creation. The Conservatives put politics ahead of patriotism and voted our motion down.
The moment we are in calls for unity of purpose, to take good ideas from all sides of the political spectrum, so we can put our province first.
What a missed opportunity. According to Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic, even a modest shift in consumer spending toward Canadian goods could add $10 billion in value to the economy alone.
This legislative session, Ontario should have flexed its hefty purchasing muscle and made firm commitments to buy, build and invest in local projects, products and services.
Ontario is investing $200 billion in infrastructure projects, including hospitals, highways, transit, schools and child-care spots. These investments should be allocated to public agencies, and Ontario and Canadian businesses first, not foreign companies. The government should also mandate conditions to maximize these investments, such as requiring projects to use resources from our most trade-impacted sectors, such as steel, aluminum and lumber.
Ensuring more government dollars go to Canadian and Ontario businesses and workers has huge economic value. Every year, the Ontario government buys $29 billion in goods and services, but only $3 billion goes to Ontario-based businesses. That number should be much higher.
Over the past few months, trade associations, unions and businesses have been providing examples to the government on how exactly Ontario can support specific workers, public institutions and business sectors.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture recommended Ontario require institutions, like schools, hospitals and prisons, to prioritize buying locally grown food because it would help Ontario farms and strengthen local supply chains.
What the Conservatives have proposed instead is a new $35-million Ontario grape program to encourage wine producers to use Ontario-grown grapes. While support for our wine sector is welcome, our entire agricultural sector needs support to withstand the impact of the tariff war, not just the wine sector.
Canada’s largest private sector union, Unifor, joined our call for governments to harness our lumber resources and build affordable housing to fix our national housing crisis. This plan should include manufacturing housing in Ontario factories to create jobs, speed up housing construction and lower construction costs.
Unifor also called on Ontario to contract with Canadian companies to build new transit lines and increase the Canadian-content requirements for municipal and provincial purchases of streetcars, subway cars and buses, especially electric vehicles. Ontario has transit vehicle manufacturing plants in Thunder Bay and Kingston that are operating below capacity.
In Ontario, the standard requirement is that transit vehicles purchased with provincial funding must have at least 25 per cent Canadian content. The Conservatives relaxed this rule and allowed the massive Ontario Line subway project to be built by a U.S. company that was given the flexibility to meet a lower Canadian-content requirement of 10 per cent. That wasn’t a good move then, and it looks even worse now.
Ontarians want the Ontario government to have their back during this economically challenging time. Strong “buy local” and “build local” policies will help Ontario keep jobs in our province, keep small- and medium-sized businesses afloat, and help trade-impacted industries, like our manufacturing sector, weather Trump’s economic storm. What are we waiting for?
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University–Rosedale and the NDP’s finance critic.
By Staff
June 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Students from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) achieved outstanding success at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), held from June 1–6 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The CWSF is Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. For more than 60 years, the CWSF has united young thinkers from across Canada to present their research and innovations, compete for prestigious awards and engage with like-minded peers who are passionate about discovery and innovation.
This year, 11 students from HDSB elementary and secondary schools earned 40 awards across a range of categories, recognizing excellence in innovation and research. The following are the Burlington students.
Evan Budz, Grade 9 student at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School for Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI
- Best Project Award – Innovation
- The Beaty Centre for Species Discovery Award
- Excellence Award – Gold
- Challenge Award – Environment and Climate Change
- Youth Can Innovate Award
- European Union Contest for Young Scientists
- Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
- Western University Entrance Scholarship
Anish Rathod, Grade 12 student at Burlington Central High School for PIONEER: Pipe Inspection and Observation for Non-Destructive Evaluation and Environmental Review
- Engineering Innovation Award
- Excellence Award – Silver
- Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship
- Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
- University of New Brunswick Canada-Wide Science Fair Scholarship
- University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
- Western University Entrance Scholarship
Claire Marsh, Grade 11 student at M.M. Robinson High School for Autism Identification Tool: An AI Approach to Reducing Diagnostic Barriers
- Excellence Award – Bronze
- Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
- University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
- Western University Entrance Scholarship
The impressive results at the Canada-Wide Science Fair reflect the strength of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning across the HDSB. With students from a variety of schools represented, these achievements highlight how the HDSB fosters curiosity, encourages innovation and provides meaningful opportunities that help students develop their passions and deepen their learning.
By Staff
June 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Beachway and that little slip of a beach at the bottom of Brant Street are open for swimming.
Testing for E coli takes place regularly
Beachway Beach in Burlington (1094 Lakeshore Road) tested safe for swimming on June 11
 Lake Ontario is still quite cold – it tends to warm up nicely in August. Brant Street Beach in Burlington (Lakeshore Road and Brant Street) tested safe for swimming on June 12
 This mini-beach on the west shore side of the pier was created naturally by sands that came from as far away as the Scarborough bluffs. It was upgraded when Michelle Benoit, a local swimmer, attempted to swim from Port Dalhousie to Spencer Smith Park in 2012. Heavy waves brought the attempt to an early end.
 By Staff
June 16, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Originally published by Logic,
Mark Carney wants to “build, baby, build” to fix Canada’s housing crisis—but supply alone can’t fix affordability. Decades of underinvestment have left the federal government devoid of expertise on how to effectively fund housing, creating major challenges for a housing boom.
The numbers are daunting. The government plans to create a new federal housing entity to help construct 500,000 homes per year by 2035, and will spend $10 billion to finance organizations that build affordable homes.
The federal government wants to build an unprecedented 500,000 homes per year, but decades absent from the business of building means that expertise now lies with provinces and cities
Canada’s housing supply is overwhelmingly owned by the private sector, with a lack of social housing pushing up prices and dragging down productivity. To change that, experts say Carney must be strategic about what type of home—not just how many—are built.
Carney says the government wants to get “back into the business of building affordable homes.” That business peaked in the 1970s, when the government poured money and resources into boosting Canada’s housing market. In 1976, construction began on a record 273,203 homes—a number the country has never reached since, despite the population tripling. Back then, almost half of those housing starts benefited from some form of public funding.
 The building frenzy was overseen by the federal government’s housing Crown corporation, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The 1970s housing boom had two crucial factors that Carney is trying to revive: big federal funding and a lot of social housing developments.
The building frenzy was overseen by the federal government’s housing Crown corporation, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). By the 1980s, its presence was vast, with about 90 offices across the country. Steve Pomeroy, executive advisor and industry professor at McMaster University’s Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative adds that working relationships with social housing organizations also resulted in the construction of roughly 25,000 affordable homes per year from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.
 Steve Pomeroy, executive advisor and industry professor at McMaster University’s Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative. That changed in the mid-’80s when the federal government began shifting responsibility for housing to the provinces. In 1993, Canada’s federal budget removed all new funding for non-market homes—housing that’s not owned by the private sector, including co-ops and housing operated by non-profits or the government. Only B.C. and Quebec continued to provide funding for their non-market housing sectors.
CMHC staff either moved to the provincial level or out of the government-run housing business altogether. By the 1990s, there were 53 CMHC offices, and by the middle of the decade, federally funded affordable housing units dropped from roughly 43,000 per year in 1970 to under 5,000 units in 1995, where they stayed until 2016.
“The non-profit housing sector got quiet,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association. “Without investment from senior levels of government, affordability couldn’t be achieved.”
Atkey said expertise in the non-profit housing sector was eroded or outsourced because projects weren’t happening. As funding went down, so did the number of community housing units. Today, the CMHC has six offices—five regional ones and its headquarters in Ottawa.
Now, Carney wants to create a new federal entity: Build Canada Homes. The Liberals say it will act as both an affordable housing developer and financer, absorbing all relevant programs from the CMHC and building at least in part on public land.
But most of the expertise of how to finance affordable housing—and the local connections to do so—now lies with provinces and municipalities as the levels of government that have been responsible for housing for decades.
 Alexandra Flynn, director of the Housing Research Collaborative. “Municipalities are the knowledge keepers of non-profit and deeply affordable housing in their communities,” said Alexandra Flynn, director of the Housing Research Collaborative, a research hub based in Vancouver, and an associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s Peter A. Allard School of Law. These relationships, she said, have been forged through decades of work on zoning, building and funding.
And Carney’s plan to reassert the federal government’s place in housebuilding will fall short if it takes the same approach as his predecessor. The National Housing Strategy, launched by then-prime minister Justin Trudeau in 2017, was, according to Pomeroy, the equivalent of the government jumping into the deep end of a pool with no life jacket and then realizing it had forgotten how to swim.
One of the problems with the strategy was that most of its funding was delivered through new federal initiatives, with developers often waiting almost a year and a half to hear back from the CMHC about their application, let alone start building.
If the Trudeau government had built on provincial expertise, it would have been fine, Pomeroy said. In trying to take everything over, Ottawa revealed itself to be incapable and incompetent.
“There was certainly a huge amount of frustration from the folks that were trying to access those programs,” Pomeroy said, and many projects didn’t go through. Atkey said non-profits had to stack funding from various programs that weren’t designed to work together.
 Carney says building 500,000 homes a year will require “both the private and public sector,” and the prime minister has acknowledged the need to build more social housing. The government has yet to say much about how it will define and work with the “affordable home builders” set to receive billions of dollars of funding—whether they will be private sector, public or some kind of collaboration.
Right now, 95 per cent of Canada’s housing stock is built by the private sector, compared to just 3.5 per cent for social housing—less than the OECD average of 7 per cent. Ownership makes up a disproportionate share of the housing supply in Canada, with rental demand increasing as more and more people are priced out of buying a home.
Pomeroy’s research suggests that Canada spends huge sums subsidizing affordable home builds only to lose 11 low-rent units for every new one added. The cause, he said, is that rent hikes and demolitions remove affordable homes faster than they can be replaced.
“The model of investor-financed housing isn’t working, and I think we’re in a huge moment to change that,” said Cherise Burda, incoming director of the Ottawa Climate Action Fund and former executive director of Toronto Metropolitan University’s City Building Institute. Burda said there’s a role for private developers, but that, for too long, officials have been asking them to deliver affordable housing when it’s not their job to do so. “Let’s get shovels in the ground that aren’t dependent on that model,” she said.
 Are prefabricated homes the answer? Scaling up not-for-profit housing can help make housing more affordable for moderate- and middle-income families, she added. A 2023 study from Deloitte and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) found that building more community housing drives down real estate costs across the market and boosts productivity across the country.
The report found scaling Canada’s community housing sector to the size found in similar high-income countries would boost national productivity by 5.7 to 9.3 per cent and add $67 billion to $136 billion to Canada’s GDP. These economic boosts aren’t from one-off construction jobs, said CHRA executive director Ray Sullivan, but rather the effect of improved labour mobility, rises in disposable income and more. Sullivan said the analysis establishes that productivity goes up with the share of community homes, and vice versa—but only for non-profit housing, as the relationship “does not hold” for private-sector homes.
The report estimated it would take an additional 371,600 community housing units in Canada to reach that 7 per cent average. That number doesn’t have to be just new buildings—not-for-profit housing developers can purchase properties, and the Liberal plan has endorsed the “conversion of existing structures into affordable housing units.”
 Cherise Burda: incoming director of the Ottawa Climate Action Fund and former executive director of Toronto Metropolitan University’s City Building Institute. Rebuilding the non-profit housing sector may also be crucial to weathering the cost of trade instability, Burda said, since it is not subject to the same speculation as the for-profit housing market, and project costs are somewhat lower without a profit margin. And the sector is financed, meaning the government will get its money back from non-profit housing providers.
Tim Ross, CEO of Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, an organization representing more than 900 housing co-ops across the country, said the group’s research comparing private-sector rents and co-ops estimates upwards of $400 in savings on rent per month. He adds that his organization wants to get building sooner rather than later, as trade uncertainty complicates the business of importing building materials and components.
Carney has pledged to cut red tape to speed up building, including lowering municipal development fees and reducing zoning restrictions. Atkey said that whenever there is a non-profit element to a build, the applications are nearly 100 pages with strict oversight. She welcomes the scrutiny, but doesn’t see the same rigour applied to the private sector.
It’s not just a matter of supply, but what kind of people can actually access it. The 500,000 homes per year might help the upper rental market years down the line, Pomeroy said, “but it certainly wouldn’t get folks out of encampments, and it certainly wouldn’t help people in the middle.” Burda said big targets can result in big projects, but there’s a risk of ending up with a lot of housing that isn’t really affordable.
Case in point: Toronto. The closest Canada has come to its 1976 record for housing starts was in 2021, when the GTA’s investor-backed condo-building boom contributed to construction starting on 271,198 new projects across the country. Yet that boom was a mirage of sorts, with Canada’s condo financiers now fleeing as development charges surge and sales slump. The resulting condo ghost towns are a reminder of what can happen when “build, baby, build” goes wrong.
By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The criminal trial of the five hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman has ended.
The Crown has presented its case, and the Defence has put forward its arguments.
 Justice Carroccia Justice Carroccia will deliver a verdict on July 24th.
The public has heard far more than they wanted about the antics of boys who were headed for fame, celebrity and annual incomes in the millions, driven by their gonads.
Whatever the decision, it may well be appealed.
We know far too much about what they are accused of doing. As described during the trial – this was disgusting behaviour.
As I followed the trial, I found myself wondering – what do the parents and grandparents of these boys say to their friends and associates about the behaviour?
 We know that Hockey Canada, the national governing body for grassroots hockey in the country, used funds provided by parents to pay out hush money to women who filed complaints.
The outrage over that practice was so strong that the federal government cut off its Hockey Canada funding and sponsors walked away from the table.
Hockey Canada got a new board and cleaned up their act.
The remark that came from the National Hockey League about whether or not the five boys (now young men) would be able to play in the NHL even if they were found not guilty – reset what is acceptable behaviour and what isn’t.
The parties that took place were not something new. They had been going on for years – they were looked forward to as a sort of “coming out” in the hockey business. Young women were as involved as young men.
The question I found myself asking is – who is going to set the standards for the sport?
Could it be that the NHL will determine what the social values are determine what is acceptable?
In the Armed Services, there is a phrase: “prejudicial to good order and discipline” a catch-all provision, used to address misconduct not specifically covered by other offences.
Offences that are prejudicial to good order and discipline can result in disciplinary actions, including summary trials or courts-martial, and potentially lead to penalties such as dismissal with disgrace from Her Majesty’s service, fines, or imprisonment.
 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman In February of 2024 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he does not believe the NHL players facing charges will return to their NHL teams this season.
It appears that Bettman might be prepared to rule that the players never return to the league.
 By Nicolai Ryan Klausen
June 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Progressive jackpot slots breathe new life into online gambling. And when it comes to places where you enjoy such jackpots, Wildrobin casino offers its own selection of progressive slots, each with fresh designs and fun gameplay. Today, these dynamic jackpots are no longer limited to traditional slot machines. They’re now found in online slots, and even some video poker games, with prize pools shared across networks.
What are progressive slots?
Progressive slots are machines where the main prize, or jackpot, grows with each bet. When someone places a bet, a portion of this money is added to the jackpot. And it gets bigger and bigger until someone wins it.
Sometimes the jackpot can automatically “fall” when it reaches a certain amount. But more often it simply grows without limits, and you can win it at any time if you’re lucky.
 There are two types of such games: those where the jackpot is created specifically for this game; those that are connected to a common jackpot (the same prize for several slots).
Here’s what’s important to know about progressive slots before you go to play more than 50+ types of games in Wildrobin:
- Each bet has a small portion that goes into the common prize pool;
- This fund is visible on the screen: it is constantly updated so that everyone can see how big it is;
- When someone wins the jackpot, it starts over with a minimum amount;
- The jackpot itself is formed from the players’ money, not from the casino’s pocket. You all “collect” it together;
- Anyone can win, but usually it’s just one person, like in the lottery.
That’s it. A simple idea, but sometimes it brings someone a lot of money.
Different types of progressive slot
 Progressive jackpots have changed in recent years. Previously, jackpots were only in one game, but now they are collected from many casinos around the world. The more people play, the bigger the jackpots become and the more often someone wins them. For example, there is the Jackpot King feature from Blueprint Gaming. It shows three large jackpots at once, collected from many games at once.
Here are the common jackpots:
 Game jackpot. Some games, like Ozwin’s Jackpots, have their own jackpot. It is also formed by players from different casinos.
Network jackpot. This is when the jackpot is the same for more than 30 different slots. That is, you can play different games, and the winnings will be from one large fund.
Multi-level jackpots. Many games have several jackpots: small, medium, and large. Small ones can be won more often, and large ones, less often, but they are very large. This makes the game more interesting because there is always a chance to win.
Time-limited jackpots. Red Tiger has come up with jackpots that are guaranteed to be paid out by a certain time of day. This means that the prizes cannot accumulate for very long; they are paid out daily.
Canadian players try out two primary categories of jackpots at Wildrobin: hot and new.
Almost all game manufacturers now make progressive slots. But the biggest jackpots are given by big gaming companies like Games Global, NetEnt, and IGT.
To cap it all, progressive jackpots are not just ordinary games; they grow in value with every spin players make. It means the more people play, the bigger the prize becomes. It’s a feature that keeps players coming back, all hoping to hit that growing jackpot.
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