 By Pepper Parr
November 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
From time to time the Gazette has made reference to several well known quotes.
A favourite is that Lord Acton quote:
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
A week or so ago I came across another as I was reading my Sunday New York Times.
“Power reveals” Indeed is does.
A third one that strikes more than a chord:
“Politics changes politicians more than it changes society.”
Politics is power, used wisely it can and has brought about change.
Adapting to having power calls for more than the current city council has managed to display.
Few have taken to heart the words of Jim Young who said in a delegation that the power the Councillors had was given to them by those who voted. Young went further, adding that the power every voter has is given to those elected in trust and they are expected to be seen as trust worthy
 Burlington 2022 – 2026 City Council. Councillor Stolte did not take part: Covid19 complications There is still an opportunity for the seven to reflect and consider what they are doing and why.
By Pepper Parr
November 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
They did win – we have to give them that.
What we got out of the election exercise is a council where two members, Nisan and Galbraith, took a complaint against a third member, Stolte, to the Integrity Commissioner.
The Commissioner found against Stolte and docked her five days pay.
Then, Kearns “inadvertently”, spoke at a BDBA meeting about what has been budgeted for outside counsel to defend the city’s position on the redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel site.
Kierans was taking part in a Burlington Downtown Business Association meeting as the council liaison person.
Also taking part were two men who were candidates running against Kearns for the ward 2 council seat.
The Gazette has not been able to get a copy of the BDBA agenda and thus we do not know why the subject of the hotel redevelopment plans were discussed.
We do know that Kearns did say the city was budgeting $500,000 for legal expenses. One of the participants in the ZOOM call asked a question about the funds. Kearns panicked realizing that there were other people on the call during which she blabbed about how much the city has budgeted for outside counsel ($500,000.)
Knowing she was offside she ran to the city manager to explain the crime she had committed (speaking publicly about matters discussed in closed sessions of council is a Code of Conduct crime.)
She then apparently got herself in front of the Integrity Commissioner to tell her side of the story.
 Then, days before the votes are cast for the 2022 municipal election it comes to light that Galbraith (one of the two that fingered Stolte) is himself before the Integrity Commissioner,
Four of the seven members of council have spent some of their time either registering complaints about other members of council or dealing with complaints about their own behavior.
This is what 27% of the population elected on October 24th ?
The story gets better. This is as good as that Energizer bunny – it just doesn’t stop giving.
In the Friday edition of the Hamilton Spectator there was an opinion piece written by Mayor Meed Ward, Councillors Galbraith, Nisan and Sharman taking offence to a column written by Spectator columnist and former city councillor Joan Little.
Quite why Councillor Galbraith having his signature on a letter that relates directly to his issues with the Integrity Commissioner is seen as appropriate is hard to understand. What is very clear is that the Mayor and three Councillors are going to do everything they can to ensure that he remains a city councillor.
It was always my understanding that Councillors were in place to look after the interests of the public and not the interests of each other
 By Staff
November 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Burlington Staff member Michelle Dwyer, second from left with Roland Tanner, second from right discussing the role of advisory committee members. The City of Burlington is looking for community members to volunteer on a city committee or board. These volunteers play a key role in providing advice and feedback to City Council and staff on a variety of city issues. Applications are now being accepted online at burlington.ca/committees until Dec. 19, 2022.
Members of the public over 18 years of age, representing the diverse backgrounds of our community are encouraged to apply. Participating on a city committee provides a unique opportunity to:
 Table Talk – an exercise where residents talk to staff about ideas they have. Lend your voice and expertise to help shape decisions and services that impact our community
Expand your network and meet new people
Gain a broader understanding of how municipal government works.
Attend an information session Dec. 7
Individuals interested in learning more, can attend a virtual information session being held on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. To register, please email clerks@burlington.ca.
The City of Burlington has more than 18 boards and committees that play a key role in providing advice and feedback to City Council and staff on a variety of issues, including heritage, accessibility, diversity and the environment.
Council approved a new Public Appointment Policy in November of 2021. The new policy provides an outline for the process of public appointments to advisory committees and local boards at the City and introduces provisions for diversity and inclusion. View the new Public Appointment Policy.
By Pepper Parr
November 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
A reader brought to our attention what might be what the British call a sticky wicket.
A member of Council is the subject of a complaint to the city’s Integrity Commissioner.
In due course the Commissioner will issue a report that will go to Council.
A few days ago four members of Council sent a Letter to the Editor of the Hamilton Spectator complaining about a column that had been written by Joan Little, a long time columnist and a former Burlington city councilor.
The letter that was sent was signed by four members of Council. It had been presented to all members of council – three chose not to sign it.
 Councillors Stolte, Bentivegna and Kearns (on the right) chose not to sign a Letter to the Editor submitted to the Hamilton Spectator  Assuming the feelings and views the different members of council remain the same, when the Integrity Commissioner report goes to council and is voted on, there would be one of those traditional 4-3 votes – except that the Councillor who is the subject of the report, who also signed the letter, would not be able to vote and would have to recuse himself because he is the object of the report – which means there would be a 3-3 vote, which means it fails.
And nothing would be done.
Citizens could ask for a judicial review but that would call for people to come forward and bear the legal costs.
Not likely from a community where less than a third chose to bother to vote.
 By Ray Rivers
November 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a rare moment for a prime minister to appear before a judicial commission like the Emergencies Act Inquiry. But Trudeau and his father before him had been the only Canadian Prime Ministers in recent memory to have officially declared a national emergency. Justin’s father used the War Measures Act to quell a powerful separatist insurgency in Quebec.
That Act had only been previously employed during the two great wars. But the government of Quebec had requested this action and Trudeau had received near unanimous support in Parliament. Still, there were objectors and concerns sufficient that the next PM updated and renamed the Act in keeping with Canada’s patriated constitution and the Charter of Rights.
Pierre Trudeau had been fighting a Quebec based separatist insurrection. For Justin it was the western separatists, anti-vaccine/anti-maskers and white supremacists. These insurrectionists referred to themselves as truckers, though they in fact, represented a tiny minority of the Canadian trucking community. And, though the vaccine and masking mandates were their war cries, it was clear that their real issues were political disaffection with current federal policy, energy and efforts to mitigate our carbon footprint, in particular.
 Trucks descended on Ottawa from across the country The convoy leaders had arrived in Ottawa equipped with a manifesto of sorts, demanding the federal government dissolve and allow them to rule the country with the governor general. Though their manifesto was laughable their intent had been to effectively shut down the nation’s capital until the results of the last federal election could be reversed in their favour; that is, a Conservative government.
It is no surprise that the presumptive wannabe leader of the Conservatives, Mr. Poilievre, embraced these folks, posing for selfies and so on. They were ideological birds of a feather, something that has become even more evident after he has been properly crowned opposition leader. One can only wonder how he would have handled the occupation crisis had he been PM. But then the occupiers would have had little reason to paralyze the city were their man in the driving seat.
There was a lot of bitterness and vitriol among the occupiers, whose trucks and placards, carried their main message F*** Trudeau. But why were they so angry? Was it only because of the impatience of the 10% of cross border truckers who had to show their vaccination certificates on the Canadian as well as the US side? Or was it because Canada’s fractious partisan politics had turned cooperation among parliamentary leaders into conflict? And how had mis-information, alternate facts and outright lies folded into creating this unpleasant environment?
In the mind of the PM and his minions the occupation of Ottawa’s streets and the ongoing traffic disruptions at border crossings virtually across the country posed a sufficient threat to pubic order such that he should trigger the Act to resolve it. Everyday policing lacked either or both the tools and leadership to effectively restore and maintain public order. And in the case of Ottawa, ordinary citizens’ lives had effectively been held hostage by the invading occupiers.
 A large portion of downtown Ottawa was blocked by trucks from across the country. aWhile Ottawa police and the OPP had jurisdiction, their failure to act for the several weeks of the occupation left little choice for a federal government. Trudeau was under pressure from the citizens of Ottawa, the business community plagued by the effects of border disruptions and even the President of the United States.
The Emergencies Act mandated an inquiry once it had been actioned. And all eyes were on Justin, the last witness, as he was sworn in and settled into the witness box for almost an entire day of questioning. It was Trudeau who made the final decision to activate the Emergencies Act and he needed to tell his side of the story.
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testifying before Emergency Act inquiry. Trudeau answered all the questions put to him by both friendly and not so friendly intervenors. The responses were direct and friendly without any trace of rudeness or frustration. In short he defended his decision to invoke the Act without being defensive. He clarified the meaning of a public order emergency in the Act and justified it’s application.
Though a very credible testimony, he did stumble at one point, inadvertently appearing to conflate peaceful protest with occupation, before correcting himself. He explained away his refusal to meet the convoy leaders, in part because it was never clear who the leaders actually were. In any case, he had nothing to offer them and was not prepared to legislate on a public street instead of the halls of Parliament, and under threat of an illegal and potentially violent occupation – it would have set a powerful precedent.
 Protesters facing police line at Ottawa convoy The imposition of the Emergencies Act was sort lived. It compelled tow operators to respond to requests by the police. It froze funding for the insurrection and bank accounts for those supposedly leading the insurrection. Imposition of the Act removed the rights of the occupiers to freely leave the country. And it allowed the police to declare no-go zones so they could clear the riff-raff from the streets.
Most importantly once the streets were cleared of the rubbish, the good people of Ottawa could get back to business as usual. It was hardly a biggie in the overall scheme of life, and the rest of us might not have even noticed its implementation. The rights of the non-occupiers had not been diminished and our peaceful parliamentary democracy has been secured. The threat of insurrection and occupation is not how Canadians choose to settle political differences.
 By Staff
November 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The following is a column written by Joan Little for the Hamilton Spectator. Following the column is a response from the Mayor of Burlington and three members of Council. The two pieces are indicative of how messy things are at the city council level
By Joan Little
Burlington hosted a splendid inaugural meeting of the 2022 to 2026 council, re-elected en masse, hitting several highs. Good, especially because voter turnout was so low — 27.6 per cent. I called it the worst in 50 years, forgetting an even worse stretch in 2000 and 2003 at 22.7 and 16.5 respectively. Worth forgetting!
Indigenous leaders played significant roles in the opening meeting. Chief Stacey Laforme, of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, offered opening remarks, and Elder White Eagle Stonefish offered hers.
 The City council elected in October 2022. Shawna Stolte was self isolating. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward addressed the audience, which judging from the volume of applause, appeared sparse that cold night. She relayed promises kept, and issues facing council, including climate and budgetary ones, then zeroed in on planning. Burlington, she said, was on target to meet its growth allocations without the appointed OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal) — usually one appointed person — overriding the elected council’s position.
She noted that Halton, other municipalities, and AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) have tried to get the OLT disbanded or curtailed. The province says red tape is slowing housing construction. It is, but the red tape comes from the industry itself.
It totally disregards city standards (ours and others) applying for outrageous exemptions municipal planners decry. Then it appeals, costing cities millions to defend, and delays construction by years because the OLT’s schedule is so backlogged. That, dear readers, is where millions in our local taxes go since Doug Ford took office. There were always appeals, but his rule changes and affinity with developers dramatically escalated them.
In my last column I mentioned conflict of interest, musing that a page listing conflicts would have merit. An astute reader emailed that a page now exists. I also mentioned that a voter was questioning whether Ward 1’s Kelvin Galbraith, who owns developable property, was following all rules on conflict of interest. The citizen will know in a few weeks, having launched a complaint to the City’s (outside) Integrity Commissioner (IC). An IC’s report goes to council, usually with a recommendation, which council can accept or alter.
The response from the four
Regarding ‘No change on Burlington council’ (Oct. 26): We expect more from The Spectator than to simply repeat allegations without attempting to first verify whether they have merit.
In this column, Joan Little repeats an allegation levelled by a constituent about potential violations of Conflict of Interest against recently re-elected Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith. The Spectator amplified this allegation in their Tweet.
The councillor sought and received both verbal and written advice from the city’s Integrity Commissioner on the matters raised by the constituent. The councillor followed that advice.
This advice from the IC was provided to the constituent who raised the concern. It was available to Ms. Little had she asked before simply repeating the allegation.
Additionally, the City of Burlington has an online Conflict of Interest Registry which lists every conflict declared by any member of council for the term, including the items raised by the constituent. https://www.burlington.ca/en/council-and-city-administration/conflicts-of-interest-registry.aspx
It is fully transparent, public and easy to find if one simply does their homework. Our clerks is office is also willing to assist in furnishing this information.
The constituent has now filed a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner on the matters for which the Councillor has already sought, received and followed the IC advice. It appears the constituent takes issue with the advice the IC provided to the Councillor. The IC will respond in due course.
 Just what did the Integrity Commissioner give Councillor Galbraith in the way of advice and direction
The Gazette published the advice the Integrity Commissioner gave Councillor Galbraith six days before the election. It is our belief that had the public been aware of that advice the outcome of the election would have been quite different. We believe that Galbraith had a duty and a responsibility to make the information public when he got it back in March.
An Aldershot resident filed a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner that is now being investigated. The Gazette is aware of at least one additional complaint that is to be filed After what is certain t be a detailed response to the complaints the Integrity Commissioner will take a recommendation to Council. Council then has to decide what it wants to do with the recommendation
 Councillors Stolte and Bentivegna did not add their signatures to the Letter sent to the Spectator What has become quite evident is that Mayor Meed Ward is going to go to considerable length to protect Galbraith and has convinced two other Councillors to join her.
Combined the four members constitute a majority of Council, who, when the Integrity Commissioner does bring back a recommendation, will be in a position to disregard a recommendation.
Worth noting is that Councillors Kearns, Stolte and Bentivegna did not sign the Letter to the Editor sent to the Spectator
Related news:
The advice the Integrity Commissioner gave Councillor in March 2022
By Staff
November 25th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This document was released by the city at 4:45 this afternoon.
A comprehensive staff report for the redesign of the adaptive reuse of the recently acquired Robert Bateman High School (RBHS) incorporating the results of a recent cost estimate, prepared by a third-party cost surveyor, along with a multi-year capital financing plan will be presented to the City’s Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (EICS) committee on Dec. 8.
The City is repurposing the existing Robert Bateman High School into a multi-purpose community hub that will contribute significantly to the City’s major community facilities to accommodate future growth and will also help meet our objective of being net-zero carbon by 2040.
The reuse and conversion of the former secondary school will be completed via interior renovations, enhancements and minor site plan modifications as part of Phase 1.
The total gross estimated cost of construction for phase 1 is $72.75 million, with a breakdown of costs below.
 An aerial view of the site Base Building
Phase 1 Base Building Construction $41,700,000
Design and Engineering/Other Soft Costs $15,000,000
Total Base Building Construction Cost $56,700,000
Recommended Energy Reduction Incentives $5,250,000
Total Recommended Base Building 61,950,000
Optional Enhanced Energy Incentives (subject to confirmation of Senior Government funding application) $10,800,000
Total Gross Construction Estimated Cost $72,750,000
Along with the construction costs, staff will also present a financing plan.
The financing plan proposes approximately $46 million in tax supported debt financing, with the remainder coming from non-tax supported sources which includes contributions from tenants who will be paying rent annually, and possible funding to be confirmed from the federal government.
Proposed Net Capital Financing
Tenant Direct Capital Contributions (Cash). $7,100,000
Non-Tax Supported Debt Financing
Tenant recovery $11,750,000
Special Circumstance Debt (SCD) Financing $4,000,000
Tax Supported Debt Financing $45,900,000
Senior Government Funding (subject to confirmation by Senior Government) $4,000,000
Total Proposed Capital Financing $72,750,000
The existing building is a two-storey, 212,000 square foot, brick-clad structure that was built in 1969, with additions completed in 1973 and 2003. The building contains community space and the Burlington Centennial Pool, which was recently renovated and will remain accessible to the community throughout the renovation.
 What the conceptual thinking is about what will go where. This is a multi-phase major community investment, which will see infrastructure upgrades to build up to modern building code standards and implement net-zero carbon technologies, as well as providing space that will support future tenants on both the first and second floors. The project also will include a second phase which is the development of approximately 40,000 square feet of new City community centre space as well as new future space for community partners. The estimated cost of Phase 2 is $15 million to $20 million with the facility design to be brought back to Council following completion of public engagement.
Design features for Phase 1 include:
• Brock University educational classrooms and administration spaces.
• New expanded Burlington Library branch and programs
• New front entrance, open collaborative corridors and seating connecting the front to the rear of the facility.
• New central staircase and elevator
• Meeting room spaces
• Refreshed City operated triple gymnasium
• TechPlace Office spaces
• Halton District School Board adult program classrooms and administration spaces
Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback.
 By Staff
November 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
New research has revealed Canada’s greenest cities, with Prince Albert coming out on top.
The study by real estate site Calgary.com analyzed parkland data for Canadian cities and scored them based on how much parkland, green area and gardens they have.
The city of Prince Albert, located in Saskatchewan, came in first place. The city has 28.1 hectares of park per 1,000 people, and 20% of the city is made up of Parkland, which gives it a ‘Green Score’ of 100 out of 100. It’s built on a transition zone between the aspen parkland and a boreal forest, so the city is clearly embedded in nature.
 Coming in second place is the Albertan city of Edmonton. It scored 80.26 out of 100 on the Green Score. While it may only have 6.2 hectares of park per 1,000 people and 8% of parkland, the city boasts a whopping 104 community gardens, the most out of any city in the study.
The Quebec city of Gatineau takes third place on the list, with a green score of 76.98 out of 100. The city has 17.2 hectares of park per 1,000 people, and 15% of the city’s land is made up of parkland. Additionally, there are 20 community gardens in the city.
 Spencer Smith Park is very expansive but the city didn’t rank all that well with the amount of space and the size of the population Toronto comes in fourth place, receiving a green score of 74.57 out of 100. 13% of the city land is made up of parkland, as well as there are 79 community gardens. Due to the city’s larger population, however, there are only 2.7 hectares of park per 1,000 people.
Rounding out the top five is Calgary, coming in with a green score of 67.67 out of 100. This is due to there being 7 hectares of park per 1,000 people in the city, 11% of the city being parkland, and 59 community gardens.
Burlington didn’t make the list but Guelph did.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Calgary.com said: “It’s great to see that even some of Canada’s largest and most populated cities still maintain lots of parklands to keep the area greener, especially in the case of Toronto. Using percentages as a representation of green space also highlights the efforts smaller cities are doing to keep nature at no more than a stone’s throw away from residents.”
By Pepper Parr
November 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
There was nothing formal from the city. What we got was a screen shot of what a reader/reporter sent us
 Screen shot of a city announcement sent out via Twitter
What is surprising is that if the wearing of masks is vital – why an announcement on the 23rd for something that doesn’t become effective until the 28th?
And why not an announcement that gets out to everyone and not just those who follow Twitter?
And why nothing from any of the city Councillors?
Troubling indeed.
The number of people seriously ill and away from their jobs for 15 to 20 days is increasing.
How much trouble are we in?
 By Staff
November 22nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Exploring a classroom. Starting school is a big step for children and parents/guardians.
The Halton District School Board wants to make the transition to a classroom as smooth as possible when the first year of kindergarten approaches.
. This fall, the HDSB is welcoming future students and their families to a virtual Kindergarten experience to learn more about making the first school experience a happy one.
The HDSB has set up a part of its web site where three-year olds can explore a Kindergarten classroom to see what their future classroom might look like next September. There are videos to watch, pictures to view and fun activities for kids. Parents/guardians can learn about the Kindergarten program at the HDSB, play-based learning, community resources in Halton and before-and-after school care. Families can also sign-up to receive a welcome package from the HDSB including a free children’s book.
Registration for Kindergarten begins in January 2023 and will be by appointment only (in-person and/or virtual) through the school your child will attend.
Further information will be shared in the new year. To begin Kindergarten in September 2023, children must be four years old by Dec. 31, 2023 for Year 1 Kindergarten and must be five years old by Dec. 31, 2023 for Year 2 Kindergarten.
 By Pepper Parr
November 22. 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a cliff hanger of a game right up until the last few seconds.
Two teams that had played just once before in the season were on the field to decide who would take the Grey Cup home.
 Recognition that the football field was on traditional treaty lands was read by RoseAnne Archibald, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. In the middle of it all is the senior referee, Dave Foxcroft, supported by a crew of seven plus a number of people who are in instant communication with him – that bud in his ear and the microphone at his mouth make the smooth running of a game possible.
How long has Dave been doing this? He will tell you that he referees because he was never a very good player plus the money is pretty good.
His first job as a referee was back when he was a 14 year old student at M M Robinson high school and was paid $25 a game which was very good money for an hours work. He worked basketball to start and moved into football when an opportunity came his way.
His Dad, Ron Foxcroft was an internationally recognized basketball referee. Dave was getting great mentoring.
 Checking whether the coin to be tossed to determine who gets possession of the football first is something the players want to see first hand. Dave can still remember that first football game in 2000 – Calgary was playing Edmonton. In 2010 he was made the Head Referee. He has been at it ever since and last weekend ran the 109th Grey Cup game during which the only time he ever felt nervous was during the official coin toss that was done by Assembly of First Nations RoseAnne Archibald.
“The coin I was given was something I had never seen before. I wasn’t sure which was head and which was tail” said Foxcroft.
“Everyone in the country was watching. I decided which was which, the coin got tossed and the game began.. That was a ‘sweaten it’ moment for me.”
This was tight game from beginning to end”, said Foxcroft.
 A fumble and there is referee Dave Foxcroft right in the middle There were a couple of calls I had to make, one on a fumble and another on un-sportsman like conduct.
“What cannot be tolerated is any abusive behaviour. What the audience sees on the field is what they take away and apply in their own local leagues” said Foxcroft
Asked how the referee can control a game Foxcroft said: “You can’t – you have to let the game come to you. The biggest job is to be a calming influence and let the players know you are going to be fair and expect a high standard of behaviour from the players.
Foxcroft works at not letting the sport consume him. “I work hard not to become obsessive. I have a full time job with Fox 40 where I managing Fox 40’s Global Sales, Marketing and Operations and oversee the development of the company’s diverse, innovative product base and strategic acquisitions.
The CFL has been around for a long time and now has leadership that thinks in terms of growing into an international organization.
 The first Canadian to officiate at an NFL game “We have a very decent following in the United States. And we play a different game of football – in Canada the kicking game makes us very different.
Foxcroft has the distinction of being the first Canadian to officiate at an NFL game
.
During the games Foxcroft is getting reports from a number of people. Everyone is plugged into “refcom” – the communications system that ties everyone together.
There is the instant play team member; there is the player injury team member and there is the person who sees the game at a different level. I see the game from a down on the field level. During the Grey Cup game two of those people were working from Toronto.
The two teams on the field last Sunday had only played each other once before during the season.
While the CFL is a national organization – sports and referring is still small town stuff for Dave Foxcroft. While he was in high school he referred a game in which Josh Ross was playing. Ross was part of the half time entertainment during the 109th Grey Cup game.
Dave Foxcroft treasures moment like that.
When a season comes to an end there are all kinds of events for the winners. Parades, dinners and award events.
Will Foxcroft attend ? No he said the folks in Winnipeg would not take kindly to seeing me in a parade held for the Argonauts.
Photographs courtesy of the Canadian Football League
By Staff
November 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green was formed 15 years ago.
A snapshot of what they have done in that time.
Pretty good.
How far along are we in changing the way we work at trying to save the climate we have…
 A glacier breaking apart as the temperatures rise. There is more work to be done.
By Staff
November 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been billed as the “Hands Off the Greenbelt” Rally; one of more than a dozen rally’s taking place across the province in Friday November 25th to protest the provincial government’s Bill 23 and the development of the Greenbelt which will result in increased sprawl and taxes.
The provincial government announced Bill 23 (“More Homes Built Faster Act”), that 7,400 acres of protected land from the Greenbelt. was going to be available for development.
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 25. 2022, 11:30am – 12:30pm
WHERE: 74 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON, L6K 1J2, corner of Rebecca and Kerr
The event has been organized by Aki Tamaka, Sherry Ardell and Dorothy Dunlop
 Each of those symbols represents a community that has climate activists demonstrating and trying to get their government to change its mind. They are part of a grass-roots movement against Bill 23 and the proposed ‘grab’ of the Greenbelt. and have been holding demonstrations across the province.
Aki Tamaka is a climate activist in Oakville. A wife, mother of two and a grandmother who has lived in Oakville for 36 years. Born in Ottawa, went to high school there and studied Engineering at the University of Toronto. In 2019. She took Climate Reality Leader training with Al Gore. In 2019, she held a climate strike in front of Oakville Town Hall where, to her surprise, about 150 people attended. She then formed a Facebook group, Oakville Climate Action to keep people engaged. Since then,she has been organizing rallies / events on climate with Sherry, such as Stop the 413 and Stop Sprawl Halton. She is affiliated with the Oakville Climate Hub.
Sherry Ardell is a former Montrealer has lived in Oakville for 20 years. She got into climate activism because of her children and grandchild and found a portal through Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP).
Dorothy Dunlop has lived in Oakville for 33 years. She attended York, Western and Fanshawe where she studied education and law. Her last work experience included the fulfilling career of teaching children. She became a climate activist and joined Grand(m)others Act To Save The Planet (GASP) because “we need to preserve our natural heritage for our children, grandchildren and future generations.”
These three women are representative of the thousands of people who are gearing up to do everything they can to stop Bill 23 from becoming the law of the land.
 The issue is saving sensitive land – winter weather doesn’t stop them. They have seen what CUPE did for the education workers and know that if you press hard enough – Doug Ford will stand before the TV cameras and say he “doesn’t want to fight.”
Friday in Oakville – during the noon hour. . Try to be there.
Some suggested that the school boards might make this an event that students could include in their community service hours. Reach out to the trustees and see if they will make the phone calls for you.
 By Pepper Parr
November 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Ron Foxcroft led the ceremony that presents the referees and other people who are not playing the game but are nevertheless a critical part of what happens on the field with their Game Rings.
Son Dave Foxcroft is the game referee seen here with this Dad, brother Steve and wife Kelly.
 Grey Cup referee Dave Foxcroft with his wife Kelly, his Dad, Ron and brother Steve posing with the cup
By Staff
November 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Conservation Halton Foundation has found some financial support while the province hammers away at whittling down the role the Conservation Authority has in protecting the environment and the watersheds of the Region
Conservation Halton Foundation received a grant of $200,000 from RBC Tech for Nature for the Green Space Newcomer Youth Climate Forum.
 This grant will support the next two years of Green Space—a climate action pilot that Conservation Halton’s Education Team launched in 2021.
Through monthly workshops and climate action events, Green Space helps youth enhance their climate literacy, gain practical skills to fight climate change, build new social connections and develop the knowledge and confidence to take on leadership roles in local climate initiatives.
“Our program is aimed at empowering youth to find their voice in the climate action movement,” said Brenna Bartley, Education Manager at Conservation Halton. “We’re so grateful to have the renewed support of the RBC Foundation towards this outcome.”
Through the Tech for Nature program, the RBC Foundation provided a founding grant in 2021 that launched the three-year pilot. With this new announcement of funding and program reinvestment, Conservation Halton looks forward to reaching dozens more youth each year and to seeing past participants return as peer mentors. As part of the grant, the program team will also develop an online climate hub to share local monitoring data and promote community climate learning.
 “Climate change and the issues we’re facing connects us all as we work to build a better future,” says Jeff Bradley, Regional Vice President, Halton, RBC. “Through RBC Tech for Nature and our partnerships, we are committed to bringing the power of innovative technologies to address and scale solutions to face this crisis together.”
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Climate change is a challenge without a precedent. It can feel overwhelming, but youth can make a difference with their skills, knowledge and experience! Conservation Halton launched the Green Space: Newcomer Youth Climate Forum in 2021 in partnership with RBC Tech for Nature. The program helps youth aged 14-29 learn more about climate change, gain practical skills to help their community to fight climate change, and make new friends. From November 2022 to June 2023, participants will gain volunteer hours and the knowledge and skills needed to take on leadership roles in their local climate action initiatives through two monthly workshops. Participants will also be able to engage in projects designed to give them additional skills in environmental monitoring, technology and innovation.
The RBC Tech for Nature program has enabled more than 100 charitable partners to implement new ideas, technology and collaborations that address the planet’s most pressing needs.
“We are proud of our pilot’s ambitions and successes one-year in. We are giving our diverse cohort of youth the ecological and climate change-related skills and knowledge they need to champion positive change in our watershed,” said Hassaan Basit, President and CEO of Conservation Halton.
The pilot’s partners and collaborators include Halton Multicultural Connections and Grandmother’s Voice. More than a dozen Conservation Halton scientists, educators and community guest speakers are expected to participate in the program’s 2022/23 workshops and events, which will include a new innovation module to introduce youth to emerging and cutting-edge technologies in climate adaptation and mitigation.
Conservation Halton is the community-based environmental agency that protects, restores, and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a Board of Directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens.
 By Pepper Parr
November 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Central Park will be the home of new Seniors Exercise Stations and Social Space.
The exercise stations will have workout equipment that is built for seniors. In between gentle workouts, the seniors can rest and socialize at the seating benches under the shade of trees.
This project was made possible by a donation from the Burlington Seniors Community Programs and Services Inc. (BSCI). The BSCI donated the first Seniors Exercise Stations and Social Space in Burloak Waterfront Park in 2020. The success of that project prompted the decision by BSCI to build a second one in Central Park close to the Seniors Centre and the library.
 The shaded location, in view of the children’s play equipment, so seniors can watch their grandchildren while exercising themselves and is also strategically surrounded by the Library, Music Centre, Arena and especially important, the Seniors’ Centre. The Central Park project will take place in two stages:
Construction of the concrete pad space in November/early December 2022
Installation of the exercise stations in April 2023.
Connie Price, the lead on this initiative, said: “All of the equipment has been especially chosen for seniors, to help them maintain mobility, strength and balance, as well as assisting with rehabilitation after injuries or operations. Its benefits have been proven at Burloak Lakeside Park. by the amount of usage by the public visiting the park, as well as The Passion for Parkinsons Foundation relocating their weekly Parkinsons in the Park Exercise Program to be able include this equipment. The response from the Parkinsons patients and their Physiotherapist Team have been extremely positive.”
 Price added: ” I can’t say enough about how great it has been working with Peggy and the other City staff. After three years we finally got to where we are. She has been working so hard to get the pad installed before frost so that once cured, the three benches can be installed for winter use, which was her idea.”
In its media release the city said: “The City of Burlington is very grateful of the generous donation from the BSCI. It will be a huge contributor to helping the Burlington seniors stay active and healthy.”
This project came about due to the hard work put in by a few people who had to convince the Parks and Recreation people that this was a good idea. Despite being invited to the meetings to get this project going, Parks and Recreation staff never did attend.
It was when the group happened upon a Landscape Architect who worked for the city and saw the value in having recreational equipment geared to seniors that things began to happen.
 Connie Price Burlington Seniors Community Programs and Services Inc. (BSCI) is an interesting organization. At one time they ran The Bistro at the Seniors’ Centre and proved to be very efficient and profitable. The current executive includes:
Fred Hendriks- President
Penny Hersh – Vice-President
Connie Price- Treasurer
Mary-Lou Fenbow- Secretary
Jim Rennie- Director
Ralf Kuehnel – Director
When the group that was responsible for what happened to the BSCI funds found they couldn’t get any traction with Parks, Recreation and Culture they happened upon Peggy Lei, who is a Landscape Architect, overseeing Parks Design and Construction in the Engineering Department. The result is going to be an additional exercise equipment location
 Regional Chair Gary Carr and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward give the equipment a workout When the Parks and Recreation department decided to take over The Bistro the BSCI was told to pack up and took their profits with the m -some $180,000 which wasn’t exactly chump change.
 Burloak is a quieter park – a place to visit and reflect and have good conversations with friends. There is a very good playground as well The BSCI has used those funds to pay for recreational equipment intended for seniors. Their first step in this direction was paying for the exercise equipment at the east end Burloak Park – a location that equals what Spencer Smith provides.
The result is going to be an additional exercise equipment location.
AN OPEN LETTER
By e-mail and twitter.
November 20, 2022
Lisa Kearns
Burlington Ward 2 Councillor, Deputy Mayor
Dear Ms Kearns:
We know we have had our disagreements over the past term.
However, the majority of Ward 2 residents who voted entrusted you to contribute to decisions that support their well-being and best interests and we must, therefore, forget past differences to bring you identified issues that negatively impact such decisions.
During the election you were made aware we determined that the city had revised its web site with a version that inhibited public access to governance material.
 Anne and Dave Marsden ask Tim Commisso, Burlington City Manager and Deputy Mayor of Public Engagement Lisa Kearns, for the return of years of sets of minutes, agenda, reports and videos removed without notice from 2022 updated City of Burlington website. Prior to the 2022 Nomination opening date we had full access to minutes, agenda, reports before Committees and Council from January 2009 through to June, 2016. Videos, minutes, and attachments July 2016 to present were available.
This gave the public unfettered research capabilities for city decisions made by council from January 2009 on. We did not have to remember the exact date a decision was made and were able to turn up the supporting governance material, including public input, and how council dealt with the information provided.
After 2022 Nominations opened we learnt this was changing in that we now would have to contact staff for any minutes etc. dated Jan. 2009 -June, 2016.
Given we often did not have a date and used the city web site to research what the exact date was, it is now impossible to obtain the appropriate set of minutes and video without a great deal of staff input.
Further, there was no council review of the 2015 Retention By-law to determine if it required update. A process that has certainly occurred in other municipalities many of whom have recognized the value of permanent public access to minutes, agenda and videos.
We stand to be corrected Councillor Kearns and ask that you direct us to an agenda, video and minutes in 2022 that covers such opportunity to publicly engage with council prior to the city making such a huge change in access to governance materials January 2009-June 2016.
What has been even more shocking was the loss of access to close to at least 18 months of minutes, agendas videos and associated reports from July 2016 – present. This being contrary to the city’s commitment and absolutely no notice to the public.
After being assured by Mr. Kwab Ako-Adjei – Director, Corporate Communications & Engagement at City of Burlington (who we found as helpful as he was able to be) that there was a glitch and everything would be worked out and back up on the city web site, weeks and months have gone by without this happening.
There were multiple unanswered questions as to when we could have access restored to governance materials that resulted in offers to provide a copy of the particular set of minutes, and sometimes the video we were attempting to locate. This confirmed the minutes and videos 2009- 2022 were still available to the city but had been made inaccessible to the public, without any prior warning.
 November 17, 2022 Clerk Kevin Arjoon contradicts current city position since 2016 that Council/Committee minutes, agenda, reports and videos available for individual website access, claiming 2015 retention by-law requires removal from city website. November 17, 2022 in response to one of many emails to city staff that included the Clerk, Deputy Clerks and at times City Manager, Tim Commisso, Clerk Kevin Arjoon notified us by email:
“Currently there are no plans to restore agendas, minutes and videos to July 2016”, which contradicts the city’s position since 2016.
We will send you by email a letter to Mr. Commisso that was sent by e-mail and then personally hand delivered for his personal attention on Friday, November 18, 2022. We were assured that Mr. Commisso’s assistant Jen Knight was fully informed that this letter for Mr. Commisso had been placed on her desk on Friday not long after 12 noon.
The purpose of this open letter is to request that as Deputy Mayor you urge Mr. Commisso to immediately address the need for a meeting with us and yourself to receive the City Manager’s assurance that the Clerk is mistaken in terms of his November 17, 2022 statement. Further, that access can and will be returned to the 2009 -June 2016 governance materials removed from the city website that now requires already overwhelmed staff to assist in public access to city archived records, rather than being able to research on a website at their leisure.
 Appeal made to Tim Commisso, Burlington City Manager November 18, 2022, to return access to years of removed required governance material without further burdening Burlington staff. These letters to yourself and the City Manager are our attempts to have access returned to governance material to those who it belongs to, including the elected council members. Rather than access being limited to city staff who can delay access as long as they like claiming the material is archived and thus will take some time.
This is exactly what has occurred to Downtown Business Association minutes that were requested through you as the city Downtown Association Representative on October 28, 2022. Brian Dean, Executive Director, BDBA, claims he cannot be provided before December 1, 2022, when it should be simply a matter of going to the archived minute book/file, scanning what we need and forwarding it along with the last two sets of 2022 meeting minutes. No minute books of such a small organization as this association should be outside their ability to check in less than a week.
Please confirm to us at our email address below any action you intend to take as a result of this letter.
Pro Bono Health, Safety and Access Advocates 308-1425 Ghent Ave.
Burlington, L7S 1X5
905-467-2860, anneandave@gmail.com @LetVotersSpeak marsdens.ca
11Work for the well-being of the city to which I have sent you.” Jeremiah 29:7
Related content:
Part 1
By Staff
November 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
As part of the Greening the Landscape Consortium, the City of Burlington is partnering with industry leaders at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Lallemand Plant Care on a three-year study to assess the beneficial effects of fungi and bacteria that are added to the soil in a granular form of transplanted young trees.
 Burlington Green has always been heavily involved in the planting of trees and shrubs. The goal is to show the improved growth and survival rates of young, planted trees with fungi and soil supplements compared to trees planted without the fungi and bacteria soil supplements.
The study will be done on Tremineer Avenue and Juniper Avenue in south-east Burlington over a three-year timeframe.
Periodic updates will be posted to burlington.ca/youngtreestudy.
Why is this being done?
There is a common misconception that bigger trees grow faster and can survive a transplant better than smaller trees. This is not true.
 Getting new trees into the ground is what it is always about. Smaller trees that are transplanted recover from the stress of the transplanting faster than larger trees. This allows them to establish faster, often with higher rates of survival compared to large trees. By planting trees with beneficial organisms like bacteria and fungi, the likelihood of recovery from transplant stress is much higher, and so is the likelihood of success and rapid growth.
Planting trees that will survive means the City’s forestry section will not have to return to a recently transplanted area to remove a dead tree and replace it with another. This will save time and money and will help the city grow our tree canopy faster.
What is being added to the soil?
A mycorrhizal fungus and naturally occurring bacteria will be added to the planting area soil. Both additives are naturally found in the soil and not harmful to plants, animals, people or the environment.
The fungus, which can form a mutually beneficial relationship with the tree roots and expands the trees access to water, is naturally found in undisturbed, non-urban soils.
The bacteria help to unlock additional nutrients in the soil to help tree root development and recover from transplant shock.
About the Greening the Landscape Consortium
The Greening the Landscape Consortium is an inter-disciplinary group made of members from all different areas of the urban tree value chain, including nurseries who supply the trees for out planting, industry partners that develop soil amendments, municipalities who want to improve their urban forests, and industry groups, among others. The Consortium leads urban greening research by setting priorities reflecting industry needs and supporting economic success for plant growers, urban foresters, and plant healthcare professionals. As consortium members,
 Steve Robinson, Manager of Forestry Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will be responsible for ongoing tracking, statistical analysis, and communication of the study findings to other consortium members; Lallemand Plant Care will be providing the beneficial bacteria product for testing; and the City of Burlington will be responsible for site and species selection as well as act as an ongoing liaison with members of the local neighborhood.
Steve Robinson, Manager of Forestry explains the initiative this way: “Planting trees is an important part of any Urban Forestry program. Ensuring these trees survive the transplant process to become established is even more important. If this is successful, we will adopt this practice for all trees planted by the City. Ensuring our transplanted trees succeed will save us money and time, and help us establish strong, mature trees more quickly.”
Links and Resources
www.burlington.ca/youngtreestudy
www.vinelandresearch.com
www.lallemandplantcare.com/forestry
 By Staff
November 18th 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A regular Gazette reader saw the following in the Globe & Mail and passed it along.
Our observation is that those who are ill find that they are bedridden for more than a week.
The data available on the Covid19 portion of the Regional web site looks like this:
Many of the people with an infection are self isolating at home and may not be counted by the Region. The Gazette is aware of dozens of people who are at home and very very ill.
Wendy Moraghan, a retired Regional police officer, said, as she “lay in bed on day 12 of covid” that she cannot understand why “our Mayor still thinks it’s necessary to have a “media event” swearing in of the same council as last time. One of those CouncillorCovid herself ??boggles my mind.
Return of seasonal flu, RSV and other viruses could spell disaster for older Canadians.
At Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, emergency physician Don Melady, who specializes in the care of older adults, has not seen the same surge in respiratory infections that is overwhelming pediatric hospitals across the country – at least, not yet.
But since influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), tend to cause most severe illness among those at the opposite ends of the lifespan, Dr. Melady is concerned about how he and his emergency department colleagues will manage in the coming months with a potential influx of sick older patients.
“We are understaffed, burned out, tired, under-resourced. So I am worried about any additional strains on our health care system at this point,” Dr. Melady said. “Our best hope is just to have as fully vaccinated a population as we can have.”
As the return of seasonal respiratory viruses, which were suppressed early in the pandemic by COVID-19 control measures, has sent exceptionally high numbers of young children to hospital, some experts are bracing for a similar spike in older adults. Even before the pandemic, influenza caused an estimated 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths a year in Canada, with many of those deaths occurring among residents of long-term care.
Now, with fewer health care workers to look after the sick and the persistent risk of COVID-19, some anticipate this cold and flu season will be especially precarious for older Canadians.
“I think it will be a potential disaster,” said Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist at McGill University Health Network.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam told reporters on Thursday that cases of RSV and influenza have now risen above seasonal levels. Meanwhile, thelatest federal datashow nearly 300 COVID-19 deaths per week, and more than 6,000 hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients daily – roughly four times the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations a year ago.
Repeating her advice from earlier press conferences, Dr. Tam recommended that Canadians get their COVID-19 boosters and flu shots, wash their hands and wear masks indoors, and stay home if they have symptoms.
If preventative measures aren’t taken, Dr. Vinh foresees a disaster that unfolds in two parts. In the short term, he predicts a rise in viral respiratory infection-related deaths, and in the long term, a worsening backlog in the health care system. That’s because even when they recover from infection, older adults and those with underlying conditions who require hospitalization often become deconditioned, losing their strength and vitality. They may not be able to return home and will need to be placed in care, he said.
“If you require hospitalizations, you’re not just sitting in the bed and then as soon as you finish your infection, you stand up and out the door you go,” he said.
Typically, RSV season starts among children, Dr. Vinh said, spreading first through schools and child care centres before it’s transmitted within homes and to adults. It then spreads to older adults in long-term care, as people visit and take care of those residents, he said.
Dawn Bowdish, a professor and Canada Research Chair in aging and immunity at McMaster University, said she is particularly worried about the coming holiday season, since that tends to be a time when children and young people transmit viruses to older relatives.
The good news is that older Canadians have the highest levels of influenza vaccination uptake in the country, Dr. Bowdish said. And even though COVID-19 outbreaks continue to occur in long-term care, the fatality rate in these facilities has plunged from around 30 per cent early in the pandemic to less than 1 per cent, owing, in large part, to the timing of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, administered at the beginning of waves to maximize immune protection, she said.
However, Dr. Bowdish explained, unlike COVID-19 vaccines, which work in almost all older adults even with complex medical conditions, the flu vaccine tends to be “hit or miss.” This is why vaccinating the rest of the population, especially children, against the flu is critical for preventing further spread of the virus, she said.
Since there is no vaccine for RSV, masks are an important layer of protection, she added.
 Dr. Sinha, is also director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the National Institute on Aging think tank, said he does not anticipate the same level of devastation in long-term care that occurred during the first COVID-19 wave, when residents of these facilities and seniors’ homes accounted for more than 80 per cent of all reported COVID-19 deaths in the country. But, he said, staff shortages remain a problem, which worsen during outbreaks as infected workers are required to stay home, and in many places, long-term care residents still share rooms, allowing for viruses to spread among them.
In spite of the crisis early in the pandemic, “I don’t think things have fundamentally changed in our long-term care systems,” said Dr. Sinha, who is also director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto.
Dr. Sinha said he also worries that the thousands of deaths that occur in long-term care in a typical flu season have become “normalized,” which does not bode well for the months to come.
“So what are we in for?” he said. “I’m expecting a rough season ahead, particularly for older people.”
 By Pepper Parr
November 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Grey Cup for the Foxcroft Family is an all hands on deck event.
This year the family will gather in Regina, sit outside on classic cold Canadian winter day and take in the game.
 CFL referee Dave Foxcroft call a football game Ron Foxcroft who made fame and fortune on the basketball court and still does Replays and Coaches Challenges at NBA games. He worked the Miami Heat game before flying to Regina to take part in the presentation of Grey Cup Rings to the Grey Cup Game Referees.
Foxcroft said: “This is the 25th season I will present the Grey Cup Game Referees with their Grey Cup Rings.
 It all started with Ron and the whistle he invented Son Dave will be the Referee for the 109th Grey Cup game. This is his 21st season as a refer; his 343rd game and his 6th Grey Cup.
Son Steve is working the Chain Crew at the Bills Sunday
Burlington Residents Jason Maggio, and Dave Gatza are on the officiating crew. Jason 6th Grey Cup, Dave Gatza his 3rd Grey Cup.
The entire crew has refereed 174 CFL season games, worked 3,104 games, and 49 Grey Cup Games.
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