 By Pepper Parr
December 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
They are serious.
The city has put out Requests for Expressions of Interest for the renewal of Civic Square.
Public Art Plan (Phase 1) Civic Square Renewal. The City invites Canadian professional artists and artist-led teams to submit credentials and expressions of interest to create a Public Art Plan for the Civic Square
The City of Burlington will be refreshing the area surrounding City Hall. This includes Civic Square, City Hall’s Brant Street entrance and facade and the streetscapes of Brant Street and Elgin Street in the immediate area.
 City wants to “refresh” the look of Civic Square and add a nicer entrance to City Hall. The work is covered by finds from the federal and provincial governments and more than $1 million that is currently sitting in a reserve account. No “impact” on the taxpayers. The selected artist(s) will work directly with the City’s design and architecture teams to develop a Public Art Plan for integrated, permanent public artwork(s) to be installed in Civic Square. Click HERE to learn more and access the online application.
Deadline: Friday, February 2, 2024
Phase 1 Budget: $20,000
Phase 2 Budget: $150,000
Application Package: Civic Square Application Package (PDF)
The assignment is to refresh the area surrounding City Hall. This includes Civic Square, City Hall’s Brant Street entrance and facade and the streetscapes of Brant Street and Elgin Street in the immediate area.
Scope of Work: Phase 1 (Public Art Plan)
The selected artist(s) will work directly with the City’s design and architecture teams to develop a Public Art Plan for integrated, permanent public artwork(s) to be installed in Civic Square.
Key Deliverables (Phase 1)
Key deliverables include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Attend approximately 8-10 project meetings (scheduled between May –December 2024).
- Review background materials, public consultation results and preferred Civic Square design concept drawings and reports.
- Prepare a draft Public Art Plan outlining options for public art and conceptual approach to the project. Present the draft plan to the Civic Square team for feedback. Revise draft based on provided feedback.
- Prepare and present a final Public Art Plan with finalized design details including artwork design renderings, materials list, timeline, budget, proposed subcontractors (if applicable), etc. The artist is not expected to provide engineer/shop drawings at this stage.
- Provide ongoing project documentation and reports as required.
- Meet with Civic Square design team for review and approval of final design concept(s).
- The artist is not expected to supply any fabrication or installation services during Phase 1 of the project. A separate contract will be issued for Phase 2 (Artwork Fabrication and Installation).
Please note, Phase 1 of this project is for a Public Art Plan (preliminary design concept) only and does not include the engineering, fabrication, or installation of the artwork. The selected artist will prepare a Public Art Plan that identifies opportunities for integrated public art projects. This could include stand-alone artwork, functional artwork (i.e., seating, shade structures, etc.), surface treatments, etc. as well as helping to identify additional opportunities for temporary artwork and/or placemaking initiatives. Once the Public Art Plan has been approved, the artist will be expected to provide preliminary renderings of the approved public art project(s) and integrations.
The selected artist will be issued a separate contract for Phase 2 of the project (Artwork Fabrication and Installation). The approximate public art budget for Phase 2 is $150,000 (excluding below-grade foundations). Budget allocations will be determined according to the scope of work that is approved in Phase 1. It is anticipated that the artwork will be unveiled in the Summer/Fall of 2026.
How to Apply
Important! Please download the full Civic Square Application Package (PDF) as this contains important project information and application instructions. Applications may be submitted online via submittable. You will need to create a free account to access the online application form.
 By Pepper Parr
December 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
When the city decided that the Food Truck Festival wasn’t going to be allowed to host their event in Spencer Smith Park there was a hole in the schedule of events.
Who would use the space? – Whoever it is they would have to keep the BDBA happy. That organization managed to ensure that the hospitality sector was given every opportunity to re-build and recover from the Covid19 damage.
 A great park that is well managed. Determining the direction for the future is now before Council. The issue before Council was to approve:
Direct the Director of Recreation, Community and Culture to pause the allocation of additional events at Spencer Smith Park until the comprehensive development of a Festivals and Events Policy in 2024.
Every year, the Festivals & Events office receives numerous requests from organizers wanting to host new events in Spencer Smith Park (SSP). Due to recent discussions at the Council regarding events held downtown, there is currently no established policy to prioritize one event over another. For the upcoming 2024 event season, there are several requests for new events, and some existing events are also looking for space in Spencer Smith Park (SSP) to benefit from the amenities offered by this premium park space.
The current process for event approval relies on historical use of the space and the event organizer’s compliance with the Special Event Team (SET) annual review.
 Sandra Maxwell – Manager, Festivals & Events Approval is granted under Delegated Authority by the Manager of Festivals & Events, assuming the event continues without significant changes. However, new events with an attendance of over 1,000 or significant changes to existing events trigger a community consultation process. This process informs residents and stakeholders about expected impacts and provides them with the opportunity to voice concerns. These concerns are addressed in advance, in consultation with the local Ward Councillor.
Park recovery time is also considered when reviewing booking requests in SSP. Major festivals are not scheduled back-to-back to allow Roads, Parks & Forestry (RPF) staff to perform necessary maintenance or repair damage. Smaller, less invasive events, such as walks and runs, are scheduled between larger ones as they have minimal impact on the grounds and don’t require added time for park recovery.
In most years, this approval system means that no new events can be accommodated in SSP during the spring/summer season because the park is fully booked with existing events.
 Food Truck Festival drew good crowds – offering food and beverages that were comfortably priced. Burlington Restaurant Association felt the Food Trucks were taking business away from the brick and mortar operations. However, due to the removal of Burlington’s Food Truck Festival and the former Children’s Festival event delivered by the City, there are potentially two open weekends; the weekend of July 20th (Food Truck) and the weekend of August 17th (Children’s Festival) that could be considered. Criteria for allocating space in the future will be developed through a new Festivals and Events policy for Council’s endorsement planned for 2024.
In the meanwhile, we are presenting the new event applications received for 2024 to Council for their awareness.
The event applicants seeking space in SSP for 2024 are as follows:
Council has dedicated significant time to deliberating on events and expressing the goal of distributing them across the city. Spencer Smith Park (SSP) consistently stands out as the most coveted location for event organizers, thanks to its prime location and amenities, including hydro, water, parking, and, of course, its expansive open space.
Furthermore, through these discussions, Council has pinpointed specific criteria that are considered vital for the city, such as promoting multiculturalism and inclusivity.
The following options may be considered by Council:
Council may choose to support any of the new events from the 2024 listed applicants in this report, and prioritize decision-making based on community needs. Approval can be granted for the event to commence in 2024, with an understanding that the event will likely seek continuation in subsequent years.
Alternatively, Council may choose to pause the introduction of any new events in SSP until specific criteria and a policy are developed to guide future decision-making processes in 2024. This approach allows for a more strategic and informed allocation of space in the park.
Event organizers are financially responsible for events held on public property. This includes covering all costs associated with running the event, as well as any expenses related to the use of City resources that support their event.
Events held in Spencer Smith Park (SSP) usually generate a lasting positive effect on businesses in the downtown core. Visitors often explore the downtown area and nearby establishments, contributing tourism dollars to the region. Additionally, many events incorporate local fundraising initiatives that directly benefit the community. It’s worth noting that the City charges a rental fee for the space used in SSP, covering both set-up and tear-down days before and after each event, as applicable.
 RibFest fills the Park Events taking place in Spencer Smith Park (SSP) necessitate varying levels of support from the Roads, Parks & Forestry (RPF) staff, contingent on their size and scale. This support is determined through a work order initiated by the Parks Supervisor and might involve staff working overtime or additional personnel to assist with major festivals.
Additionally, substantial staff time and resources are allocated to restore park grounds after hosting a major festival.
The introduction of new events affects members of the City’s Special Events Team (SET), who are responsible for scrutinizing all elements, approving site plans, and considering every aspect of a new event. This process demands a considerable amount of time compared to existing events with a proven track record in hosting events in Burlington, as they already comply with established requirements and expectations.
Staff connected with new event applicants to help determine suitability of the space request and gauge whether another location in Burlington might be considered by the applicant if they potentially were not successful in securing space in SSP in 2024. The result of this consultation is outlined in each event’s description under the Background & Discussion section within this report.
The substantial demand from external event organizers wanting to host events in Spencer Smith Park has led to a supply and demand challenge. Historically, the park has been fully booked during the bustling summer season, leading to the rejection of new event requests. For the upcoming year, our team will concentrate on crafting a Festivals and Events policy, aiming to establish clear criteria for the approval and support of events in Burlington, outlining specific parameters related to their timing, location, and nature. Until such criteria are established, staff believe it is prudent to refrain from introducing new events to this venue, as detailed in this report.
Related news story:
Spencer Smith Park Schedule
 By Staff
December 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Daintry Klein was delegating on the Drainage By-law Amendment; one of those dry as toast subjects – until she revealed that the large stormwater storage tanks that are proposed to be privately owned by the new condo corporation. At that point the delegation became more about what could happen to the current Millbrook residents and not so much about the bylaw amendment,
Mayor, Council, Staff and Fellow Burlingtonians,
“We would like to thank the Engineering Department for its work in updating this drainage by-law. It acknowledges climate change and provides important updates to recognize the impacts of rainfall and groundwater in the potential for flooding. The report also refers to best practices. It seems that further work needs to be done and we look forward to the City, the Region, Conservation Halton and the Province to continue to address the rapidly evolving risks of Climate Change consistent with the work being done by the Federal Government and the insurance companies. Through their extensive work, they have recommended their own set of best practices.
 Yellow location are where developer Millcroft Greens want to build 98 homes. “As homeowners, we rely on our governments to keep us safe. To protect us from what many of us are unaware of in our daily lives as we go about our careers where our expertise is in other disciplines. As part of the planning and building process, grading and drainage is considered and clearance certificates are issued upon completion to ensure that properties are safe.
 Alliance is one of two community groups opposed to the development of additional homes on golf course property. “It has come to the attention of Millcroft Greenspace Alliance that other standards used by the City and Conservation Halton to evaluate the causes and risks of flooding also need updating. We were initially encouraged to know that Conservation Halton, an organization that “Protects the Natural Environment from the Escarpment to Lake Ontario” is engaged in the East Burlington Creeks Flood mapping study. As we read the most recent report, we learned that the analysis is not relied upon by insurance companies. This raised questions for us. Further investigation led us to learn that Public Safety Canada and the insurance companies rely on the same flood modelling as FEMA in the United States which is a newer, more complex computer program that includes the impacts of rainfall.
“A National flood insurance plan would be based on this type of modelling. Conservation Halton and the City use HEC-RAS, a 1D model that considers surface water with adjustments but doesn’t include rainfall. When we have made inquiries to Conservation Halton, they advise us that they only consider riverine flooding. So, as we understand it, after the creeks and natural drainage are altered and channelized and the new regulation limits are established, Conservation Halton no longer considers the impacts of the broader watershed in its development decisions.
 Klein: “The proposed update of this drainage by-law could be of particular interest to the homeowners in Millcroft. “The proposed update of this drainage by-law could be of particular interest to the homeowners in Millcroft. We are aware of the experience of infill development particularly in south Burlington.
“Argo Development Corp and Millcroft Greens have to-date refused to withdraw their proposed development application. The City and the Region have unanimously opposed and subsequently requested, that the Province step in and issue an MZO.”
It was at this point that Committee Chair Rory Nisan cut in and asked Ms Klein to stick to the subject which was the Drainage By-law Amendment. Klein explained that she was trying to put her delegation into context and what it would mean in practical terms to Millbrook residents; Klein continued. This wasn’t the last time Chair Nisan cut in.
“The City on September 26 and the Region of Halton on October 18 of this year for reference of the passage of time. We are still waiting for the Province to act. Although the Premier is on record saying that he will not allow building on floodplains, he still has not stopped this development application. Hundreds of emails have been sent.
“At issue, is the fact that the Millcroft Golf Course greenspace was designed to drain the adjacent properties and slow the flow of drainage from the Escarpment to Lake Ontario, protecting properties to the south. As of December 1st, the witness statements for their OLT appeal are in. Glen Wellings, the planner on the Millcroft Greens file, diligently details the process and dates of the application but forgets to mention the stormwater peer review or the Conservation Halton flood mapping. He refers to the 6th and 7th holes as gently rolling with some flat areas.
 The mill pond is a critical part of the infrastructure that has managed stormwater. “As Millcroft homeowners, we understand from the initial engineering reports that the topography is actually contoured berms and swales that direct water through the fairway open channels toward the stormwater catch basins that take the water through the stormwater easements to the Millpond. And the fact that our properties were designed to have the functional drains 2.5 meters above the bottom of the fairways is also very relevant. This is all documented in the original documents when the Millcroft subdivision was created.
“The developer is proposing to fill the fairways up with topsoil and reduce the grade to the 2% guidelines. This could disperse the water across the neighbourhood into the existing homeowner properties causing the type of flooding that this drainage by-law seeks to address.
“The large stormwater storage tanks that are proposed to be privately owned by the new condo corporation are designed to manage the ongoing stormwater flows for our neighbourhood. These will be maintained by our neighbours and we must look to them financially for failure? They are also detailing that the new homes will be equipped with sump pumps – something the existing homes were not designed for due to the existence of the grading to the bottom of the fairways from our rear lot lines. Not to mention the fact that the proposed new rear yards will have catch basins in their back yards that manage the stormwater for the neighbours – potentially the site of a pool or patio in the future or garden refuse. Topics this by-law seeks to address. And we note that the engineers of this proposed application accept no liability for their work? Relying on legal recourse against neighbours to protect our properties is contrary to the goal of community building.
 Klein: “We are not clear on the process to recover potential losses from the after effects of the proposed construction if it isn’t stopped by the Province. “We are not clear on the process to recover potential losses from the after effects of the proposed construction if it isn’t stopped by the Province. The by-law suggests that ultimately, the Property Owners will be liable. However, if allowed, Argo and Millcroft Greens will change the existing Millpond, watercourses, ditches and swales and other existing green infrastructure per their development plans. The unsuspecting new homeowners of the proposed condominium corporations could be left with the liability long after Argo has withdrawn all funds from the development corporation. Would it be reasonable for builders to share in the financial responsibility for potential impacts of their actions? Should they be required to own and fund the proposed infrastructure?
“Recognizing that the Millcroft golf course greenspace is actually a natural form of the City’s stormwater management system, we urge the City to take all necessary steps to ensure that Millcroft Greens is prevented from building homes on this land. Public Safety Canada in its report of August 2022 prescribes best practices to include natural infrastructure as method of mitigating flood risks. As taxpayers, we ask the City to mitigate our collective risk and protect this greenspace.”
Klein is of the view that she was interrupted by the chair because some of what we had to say may be uncomfortable.
“This City endured the 2014 flood with many residents incurring out of pocket expenses to repair damages. We believe many residents are unaware of the potential flooding impacts of proposed infill development. The Province does set guidelines on stormwater however they seem to be outdated relative to Public Safety Canada and the insurance companies. There may be options for the City to implement its own guidelines.
 Klein: Should the unsuspecting homeowners take on the liability? “Our comments highlight information from the East Burlington Creeks study and notes from the City which we believe could result in unintended consequences for homeowners in the future after homes are built and the developer is gone. Should the unsuspecting homeowners take on the liability?
“The City has the opportunity to solve the issue of the proposed development on the Golf Course greenspace. It is part of the stormwater infrastructure for the City and we are unaware of any other infrastructure of the City that is privately owned and controlled. After three years of study, we look forward to this coming to a positive ending for the community as a whole before the OLT.”
What Klein chose to be polite about and not mention the grandstanding the Mayor did at a community meeting a number of months ago saying she was working with the then Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about the issuing of a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) that would end the matter before it got to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Relayed new stories
Greenspace Alliance purpose
High end homes planned for Millcroft community
By Staff
December 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
What takes place in Spencer Smith Park ? Who decides what takes place?
Spencer Smith Park seen from the west. The circle in the forefront was the location of the famous Brant Inn. The calendar of events:
 RibFest: The length of the line-up told which ribs were most popular.  Sound of Music. The place is packed for the biggest free concert event in the country.
 By Trevor Hurry
December 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Sports gambling has been a contentious topic in Canada for many years, with its roots reaching back to the country’s early history. This article aims to explore the evolution of sports gambling in Canada, tracing its path from a frowned-upon activity to a widely accepted form of entertainment and a significant contributor to the economy.
Early Beginnings
 Slahal: More than just a recreational activity – it was a social event and a means of acquiring wealth, and it held deep cultural significance. The earliest known instance of gambling in Canada can be traced back to its indigenous tribes, who played a game of chance called Slahal. This game was more than just a recreational activity – it was a social event and a means of acquiring wealth, and it held deep cultural significance. However, with the arrival of the French and English colonizers, all forms of gambling, except for horse racing, were harshly restricted.
This restriction persisted for 77 years, with illegal gambling rings providing the only avenue for those wanting to try their luck. It wasn’t until 1969 that the Canadian government sanctioned provincial lotteries, with the caveat that the proceeds had to be given to charity. Recognizing the lucrative nature of gambling, the government eventually began amending the Criminal Code to permit more forms of gambling activities.
Legal Reform and Expansion
Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the Canadian government embarked on a series of legal reforms to expand the scope of sanctioned gambling activities. In 1985, an amendment to the Criminal Code transferred the control over gambling to individual provinces, allowing them to operate and license gambling establishments. This was a key step forward in the growth of sports gambling in Canada, as it enabled the establishment of province-run sports lotteries like Proline and Mise-O-Jeux.
However, these early attempts at regulated sports gambling were not without their limitations. The province-run systems were restrictive, allowing for only parlay bets within a lottery ticket format. This meant that to win, players had to accurately predict the outcome of at least three separate games. Additionally, the regulations varied greatly between provinces, adding another layer of complexity for players. Despite these challenges, Canadians were enthusiastic about the ability to legally place bets on sports events, marking a turning point in the acceptance of sports gambling in the country.
Transition to Online Gambling
 As the digital age advanced, so did the world of sports gambling. The 1990s marked the emergence of online casinos, creating a new sphere for gambling enthusiasts. Initially, the legality of these platforms operated in a gray area. However, as their popularity soared, the government could no longer ignore the burgeoning online gaming sector. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, established in 1996, was one of the first jurisdictions worldwide to realize the opportunities presented by the digital age, granting licenses to online gambling sites.
As Internet connectivity and technology evolved, the online gambling industry experienced exponential growth throughout the 2000s. The convenience and accessibility of online gambling platforms appealed to a broader audience, and the introduction of live betting added another dimension to sports gambling. Despite the availability of offshore online sportsbooks, the Criminal Code did not sanction single-event betting, which led to the loss of potential revenue for the Canadian government. This scenario paved the way for the push toward the legalization of single-game sports betting, culminating in the passing of Bill C-218 in 2021.
Current State of Sports Gambling in Canada
As of today, the sports gambling scene in Canada has undergone a transformational change. The passing of Bill C-218 in 2021 marked a significant milestone, as it legalized single-event sports betting, a much-awaited move that has opened up new avenues for both bettors and operators. This development is expected to bring significant taxable revenue, further supporting community needs, hospitals, and schools.
 Ontario, being the most densely populated province, has taken the lead by welcoming commercial operators, clearing $1 million within the first week of legalization. Despite the slow roll-out of commercial operations, scheduled to fully come into effect by March 2022, the excitement within the industry is palpable. Key industry players, keen to capitalize on this upswing, are setting their sights on Ontario as their next venture.
In this vibrant and dynamic market, platforms such as FanDuel Canada stand out, offering sophisticated content, publishing capabilities, and multiple live sports and betting odds feeds to engage players before, during, and after the games. Indeed, the current state of sports gambling in Canada represents a remarkable evolution from its early beginnings, and it continues to carve out its path into the future.
 By Staff
December 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
A test of Alert Burlington, Burlington’s public notification system for community emergencies will take place on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 11:45 a.m.
Subscribers will receive a test notification through the communication methods they have selected. This could be any combination of email, text or phone (voice).
The message will identify that it is a test and no action is required. Subscribers will not be asked to provide any personal information.
Unlike Alert Ready, Canada’s national public alerting system, Alert Burlington does not prompt an alert sound. Notification sounds and pop-ups are based on each devices alert settings.
The purpose of testing the Alert Burlington system is to:
- Increase awareness of the Alert Burlington system.
- Remind subscribers to check their account to ensure all information is up-to-date.
- Confirm the effectiveness and reliability of the alert system to ensure it operates as intended for administrators and users.
- Remind residents to create and maintain an emergency plan.
Alert Burlington is Burlington’s public notification system for community emergencies. The purpose of Alert Burlington is to keep you informed about local emergencies like floods, gas leaks, and accidents that could put you or your property at risk.
In case of an emergency, Alert Burlington will send you important messages through text, email and/or phone calls on whether individuals in the affected area(s) need to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
Since its launch in 2022, there hasn’t been a need to send out any emergency alerts. However, it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Sign up for this free community alert service by visiting www.burlington.ca/alertburlington. You’ll need to provide your name, address, and contact information.
Robyn Heibert, Community Emergency Management Specialist: “Annual testing of our local alert system is an important practice that ensures we’re prepared to communicate in a moments notice. We appreciate the cooperation of all of our Alert Burlington subscribers. For those who haven’t signed up for the platform yet, I encourage you to do so. It’s easy to sign up and will ensure that you receive timely instructions on what to do during large-scale emergencies or disasters.”
For information about Alert Burlington, or to subscribe to the free emergency alert service, visit www.burlington.ca/alertburlington
By Pepper Parr
December 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The land-use planning scandal that has rocked Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has revealed how the province utilized all manner of regulatory tools to force more housing on cities and towns – removing land from the protected area known as the Greenbelt, expanding urban boundaries and issuing special decrees known as minister’s zoning orders.
But a Globe and Mail analysis has uncovered a fourth, less discussed mechanism: re-writng municipal Official Plans.
The Ford government imposed two dozen policy changes on the city of Hamilton and the regions of Halton, Peel and York by rewriting their official plans – documents that guide what gets built and where. It altered local planning decisions by, among other things, making lands zoned for commercial use available for housing and foisting greater height limits on residential buildings, documents show.
Steve Clark, then the province’s housing minister, oversaw last year’s revisions of the official plans, including the policy changes.
As Minister of Municipal Affairs he signed off on ROPA 49, a document that has been very kind to Burlington FIX THIS He has since resigned, and his successor, Paul Calandra, has pledged to reverse the revisions. He asked mayors in October to tell him by Thursday what changes they want to keep.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Mayor Meed Ward will meet that deadline with the letter she is sending the Minister was recommended at a Standing Committee earlier this week.
Alexandru Cioban, a spokesman for Mr. Calandra, said municipalities are in the best position to understand the “unique needs and concerns of their communities.”
The documents the Globe and Mail dug out shed light on how directives from political staff converted just under 200 hectares of employment lands – areas set aside for commercial or industrial purposes – to residential use and rezoned small parcels to increase density and height limits.
Mr. Amato also met in October, 2022, with Lobbyist Nico FidaniDiker, a former aide to Premier DougFord, regarding another policy change to an official plan.
 Sandwiched in between the GO line on the left and Hwy 403 on the right the property is probably the most valuable pice of land in th city. Zoned as Employment lands that was changed in Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 49. Mr. Amato discussed “three or four properties in the Halton area” on behalf of Mr. Fidani-Diker’s client Penta Properties, now known as Alinea Group Holdings, the Integrity Commissioner’s report says.
Penta was seeking approvals to build housing on three of its properties in Burlington, including a 71.5-hectare swath of lands that the regional government had designated for employment and commercial purposes. Planning staff in Halton Region opposed the requests, citing concerns that reducing the supply of employment lands could jeopardize the city’s job-creation targets, according to the internal government records.
Mr. Clark’s office gave Penta the green light. Burlington councillors unanimously voted in November to retain the province’s changes.
The new Minister of Municipal Affairs wanted to give the Clark decision a second thought and asked foe their views.
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said in an interview that she supports the province’s move to bypass the regional council .“If you look at the kind of communities we foresee for the future, it is about mixed use ,” she said. “It’s about being able to come out the door of your house or your condo and walk to a community centre, to a park, to retail and to have jobs close by.”
This wasn’t a position held two years ago but times change.
Mayor Meed Ward is in the process of letting the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing know that she supports the decision. Her letter is appended below.
Dear Minister Calandra,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on Regional Official Plan Amendment 49. When these modifications were first announced, Burlington City Council unanimously endorsed them.
Our position remains the same, and council unanimously endorsed this letter at our committee meeting of Dec. 5. Specifically, Burlington City Council unanimously supports the following:
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- Maintaining the 2051 time horizon. The Burlington Official Plan, 2020, Targeted Realignment Exercise – Initial Work Plan and associated efforts will include technical study, planning analysis and engagement to clarify local growth Population and employment expectations are likely to be significantly higher than reflected in policy in Table 1 of the Halton Region Official Plan, as modified by the Minister.
- Maintaining the addition of two new Urban Areas, specifically Eagle Heights and Bridgeview. The policies of the Regional Official Plan provide sufficient guidance to undertake appropriate processes to confirm the nature of development in these two
- Maintaining the removal of the Employment Area overlay for Bronte Creek Meadows and 1200 King Road. Both areas are within the ROPA 38 Urban Boundary and may present key opportunities to explore and potentially leverage servicing priority through discussions with the Region of Halton.
The City of Burlington remains committed to meeting or exceeding our Housing Pledge of 29000 units, which council unanimously endorsed earlier this year. As noted in the City’s Housing Pledge, while there is sufficient land within our pre-ROPA 49 urban boundary to accommodate 29,000 housing units by 2031, the lands affected by the Minister’s changes to the Region’s urban structure provide near and longer term opportunities for the City to deliver on a number of Provincial, Regional and City objectives.
The City of Burlington will continue to work collaboratively with the respective ROPA 49 landowners and the public in advancing the City’s interests on these lands. Priority will be given to achieving the City’s community responsive growth management objectives and long-term community development goals related to achieving vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods inclusive of the following elements as outlined in our May 25, 2023 letter:
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- economic benefits including future employment targets that increase future property assessment growth.
- social benefits including affordable and attainable housing, public parks and greenspace and community facilities and amenities.
- environmental benefits including climate mitigation and adaption, natural heritage preservation and enhanced integrated mobility.
Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. We look forward to working together with the Province of Ontario, the public, and the development community on innovative solutions and partnerships to increase attainable housing options for residents at every stage of life.
Sincerely,
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward City of Burlington
Related news story:
 By Pepper Parr
December 7th,2023
BURLINGTON, ON
During the budget debates City Manager Tim Commisso said on more than one occasion that Burlington had zero tax increases for a number of years, making the point that during those zero tax years there wasn’t enough money being applied to the upkeep of the infrastructure.
Councillor Paul Sharman frequently talks about the several million dollar infrastructure deficit. That deficit is so high that they city had to put a special tax levy in place that was dedicated to infrastructure upkeep.
We find it interesting that Commisso would blame a previous Mayor for not collecting enough in the way of taxes while working in the Finance department – where he would have known just what the problems were.
 The size of the infrastructure deficit? It started growing during City Manager Tim Commisso was working in finance. Would he not have advised the Mayor at the time that more money had to be allocated to infrastructure upkeep?
Our source has Tim Commisso starting out in the Finance Dept. “ I assume he was hired by Bob Carrington but I can’t remember when he started. In the early 2000s after the retirement of Gary Goodman and the departure of Ed Sajecki to Mississauga.
“Commisso was successful in becoming one of three General Managers under Tim Dobbie (the other two being Bob Carrington and Leo DeLoyde).
“Tim’s General Manager responsibilities involved the Development Division (Planning, Engineering and Building). Given his involvement in finance, this involved a steep learning curve which he was able to surmount in good time.”
Perhaps the culture in the municipal sector is – you don’t speak up.
A reader sent us the following information on the amount of time Tim Commisso spent with the city before he moved to Thunder Bay:
City of Burlington
15 yrs 8 mos
General Manager
Oct 1999 – Sep 2008 · 9 yrs
Deputy Treasurer
Feb 1993 – Oct 1999 · 6 yrs 9 mos
 By Pepper Parr
December 6th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
We hear the news day in, day out.
How do we react to stuff like this?
Yesterday: A school where civilians were sheltering was bombed as Israel expanded its offensive in Khan Younis, the south’s largest city.
In Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a contentious meeting with families of hostages still held by Hamas, who accused him of not doing enough to return them.
We see the pictures of bodies wrapped in white cloth – dozens of them. Our part of the world doesn’t have experiences like this; how do we react?
 Gazans laying out the bodies readying for burial; a daily exercise that has seen more than 14,000 Gazans killed as the Israel Defence Force hunts the Hamas leadership. Many in Canada protest strongly for the Palestinian community demanding that their rights be recognized while almost is as many demonstrate for the Israeli’s who believe they have a right to be in Gaza to totally destroy Hamas, the political group that has been running the form of government that exists in Gaza and the terrorist group that sent men into Israel and murdered at least 1400 Israelis and took more than 200 prisoners, many of them still in the hands of Hamas who are trading them for Hamas fighters who are being held in Israeli prisons.
A Canadian, currently working at a university in the UK, has worked in Palestine for a number of years. Fluent in Arabic, she does a lot of translation from Arabic into English.
Set out below is some of her work:
By Pepper Parr
December 6th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Whenever there is competition in any sector of the economy the consumers is the winner.
When Staples took over Office Depot it didn’t take long for Staples to forget about the needs and interests of the customers.
RONA will celebrate the Grand Opening of the newly converted locations in Burlington and Milton with “board cutting” ceremonies to mark the reopening of the new RONA+ stores. These events will present a unique photo opportunity with the store teams and members of RONA inc.’s leadership team, as well as participating elected officials.
U can see the photo op already – Mayor Meed Ward with hard hat and goggles running a Skill saw through a 2×4
The conversion of the former Lowe’s store to the brand-new RONA+ banner is part of a wider plan aimed at redefining how Canadians shop for home improvement and represents a significant local investment. Through this process, the company is looking to build on the strong legacy of the RONA brand and build momentum for this Canadian-operated household name.
 There will be a new sign on the location by the time you get there. While RONA took over Lowe’s – there are other strong competitors in this sector,
From Thursday, December 7 to Monday, December 11, the RONA stores will offer the local community an array of special activities to celebrate the Grand Opening of the stores, including a big community event complete with kids’ workshops, food and entertainment on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RONA+ Burlington
What: Board cutting ceremony of the new Burlington RONA+ store
When: Thursday, December 7
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Who: Paul Faulds, Store Manager, RONA+ Burlington
Marc Macdonald, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, RONA inc.
Ashutosh Rai, Community Engagement Manager, on behalf of MP Pam Damoff
Where: 3270 Harrison Crescent, Burlington
Grand Opening activities
- Thursday, December 7, Friday, December 8 and Monday, December 11
- Pro event in stores from 6 to 9 a.m.
- Pro breakfast
- Vendors in store to meet Pros
- Free gifts for Pros (limited quantities)
- Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10
o Family event in stores from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Free food
- Kids’ workshop
- Raffle
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- Free bucket (first 200 customers)
- $25 gift card with the purchase of $100 or more.
 By Pepper Parr
December 6th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 Dave Amborski, a professor at the Centre for Urban Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson. Dave Amborski, a professor at the Centre for Urban Research at Toronto Ryerson delivered a lecture on the home building industry and how development finance works and ties into municipal finance. He has graduate degrees in both economics and planning. He teaches planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson, this is his 50th year. He started the Center for Urban Research and Land development.
We will publish the complete lecture once the transcription is complete.
Today we want to share the questions that Councillor Sharman asked. The answers may surprise you – they surprised us.
Sharman dropped this one on Amborski:
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman puts questions to a Toronto Metropolitan University lecturer. We have this little conundrum. Here in Burlington we’ve committed to build 29,000 units or have built 29,000 units by 2031. And we look at our official plan and what we see is that we’re going to have 82% of the of our development in the future to be high density 12% to be mid rise, mid density and 6% to be low density. And we live in a world defined by how interest rates and were built out. Do you have any suggestions on how we might accomplish 29,000 units in the next 10 years?
Amborski: Well, I haven’t looked very carefully at your official plan and your boundaries. That mix seems wrong to me; having too much high rise and not enough ground associated here. The data should tell us something about what some of the issues are. But it would seem that you would need more ground associated homes to meet the needs of your of your community if people want to live here because that seems to be what people are looking for.
Sharman later said to Dave Amborski:
We have 41,000 units presently in our planning pipeline. We know, we believe, that none of them or a lot of them cannot be built because of the need for pre-sales which at this point are just not there. This is the first time Sharman has said this publicly.
Sharman also asked:
And that other question is with respect to affordable housing, because one of my one of my colleagues online is terribly keen on this. We can’t figure out how to get affordable housing here in the province in a city where land is extremely valuable. And there’s no upper level government support because it’s not happening anymore and given what I’ve already told you about, you know, the mix of mix of development that’s in the plans.
By Pepper Parr
December 5th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
While Canadian teenagers score well on international math, reading and science tests — scores in all three subjects have declined over the past two decades, according to a new global ranking released Tuesday.
“While it is evident that some countries and economies are performing very well in education, the overall picture is more worrying,” wrote Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ( OECD) Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher in a report about the PISA 2022 test, which focused on math.
“In more than two decades of global PISA tests, the OECD average score has not changed drastically between consecutive assessments. But this cycle saw an unprecedented drop in performance.”
 OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher In media interviews Schleicher said while COVID-19 played a role, the downward trend in some countries, including Canada, started before the pandemic. Factors include a general decline in perceived teacher support and the “extensive use of technology for leisure.”
This is the first large-scale study to collect data on student performance, well-being and equity since the pandemic-related disruptions resulted in school closures and the pivot to online learning. The tests also reveal how Canadian teens fared in each province. Ontarians performed above the national average in reading and science, but not math. Alberta was the only province to score above the national average in all three subjects.
 Canada was above the OECD average in all subjects, ranking fourth in science and fifth in math and reading. When compared with all participants, Canada ranked in the top 10 in all subjects. Singapore was number one in all areas.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce, who is the chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, said “overall, it’s a very positive reflection” of what’s going on in classrooms across the country.
 Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce. Ontario, he added, is in the top 10 internationally, which shows the province’s back-to-basics strategy is working, along with investments in literacy and numeracy supports such as a math lead in every school board and early reading screening for primary schoolchildren starting in senior kindergarten.
“All of this, together, leads us to a better outcome,” Lecce said at Queen’s Park. “So it’s promising, but a recognition that we’ve got obviously more work to do to get these kids back on track.”
 Although Canada ranked high, its scores have trended downward, as have other countries’ around the globe. Compared with 2012, the proportion of students here scoring below baseline proficiency (Level 2) increased by seven percentage points in math, seven percentage points in reading, and four percentage points in science.
“If you do not reverse that, it’s just going to continue,” warned Schleicher, pointing out that Finland took top spot in 2000 and everyone looked to it as a model education system. “Now, (Finland) is an average performer. They have been very complacent.”
Schleicher added Canada could do better with “a curriculum that is more ambitious and has high expectations for students,” adding there has been a tendency in recent years to “sacrifice rigour” in order to please students. But he notes that “student well-being and academic rigour often go together.”
We have to just teach fewer things at greater depths,” he said. “In Canada, students often are good at the first layer of a problem, but they do not have the deep conceptual understanding” to get at the heart of a math problem.
Schleicher also recommended that teachers invest more time in their relationships with students so they feel supported. He was “surprised” that when kids switched to online learning due to school closures, just 13 per cent of Canadians reported being asked daily, by someone from the school, how they were feeling.
 “That’s a striking number,” he said. “During the pandemic, caring for your students was perhaps even more important than giving them homework.”
Ontario students were out of class and learning online, about 27 weeks, which was more than many students around the world.
By Pepper Parr
December 5th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
“If a seat presented itself that was logical, of course I would seek that seat,” Bonnie Crombie told Newstalk 1010 radio.
It hasn’t been announced yet – but expect to see Bonnie Crombie sitting in the Legislature making life difficult for Premier Doug Ford.
Which means we can expect to see her in the Legislature in the not too distant future. Which of the nine Liberal MPPs will give up their seat for Crombie shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. Crombie is also reported to have said: “a local Liberal candidate has been selected.”
The Premier has a period of time within which he has to meet with the Lieutenant Governor and arrange to have a by- election held.
The by election lasts 28 days.
Could she be in the provincial Legislature by Easter?
By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Jim Thompson was back before a Standing Committee to first remind them that when there are delegations speaking to a matter it cannot be on the Consent agenda.
Items on the Consent agenda are matters that the Clerk’s Office do not feel require debate. Any member of Council can pull an item from the Consent agenda and have it up for debate.
 Jim Thomson, appearing before the Standing Committee virtually. Thomson, took part in the meeting virtually – he hasn’t appeared in Council chambers since the meeting during which he was escorted out the door.
Okay, good morning. First, why is CL 22 Dash 23 still on the consent agenda? I am delegating on it. So it doesn’t meet the no delegations requirement of section 35.1 of the procedure bylaw.
Secondly, let me say that I approve of the way the changes to the notification policy are shown in the document. The old language is struck through and the new language is clearly shown in place. This should be the standard for all changes to bylaws. This is 1990s word processing technology that the clerk’s office should have adopted a long time before now.
Thirdly, with regards to changes necessary due to the loss of the Burlington Post. I don’t believe that Burlington is unique in no longer having print media. I saw nothing in the report that referenced other communities made in Burlington is expensive if other communities have already solved the problem. With specific regards to the Hamilton Spectator how many subscribers does it have in Burlington? Does it reach enough of the population to make it worthwhile placing ads in it?
Fourthly, I find it hard to believe that there are no climate implications to this change. For starters, there are going to be fewer dead trees. Going out all electronic means consuming more electricity. If we move everything to electricity, we’re going to have to have more clean energy electrics, more clean energy electric sources. This means more hydro or nuclear to increase the base-load coverage that makes up for the times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow Lastly, I noted the engagement matters the public wasn’t consulted.
Personally, I get my media electronically, but there is a significant portion of the population that isn’t on the net and or preferred to get paper copies. With regards to the policy itself, does the municipal act allow waiving the public notice procedure other than for the urgent or emergency situations as defined in objective nine of the policy?
How is Council held accountable? How is the city manager held accountable? Was the city clerk held accountable?
To be clear, what are the consequences of failure of any of those names, that they do not meet the responsibilities under the policy or in fact violate the notification policy? Thank you for your time. Are there any questions or will they just be ignored as usual?
Committee Chair: Are there any questions for Jim Thompson? Seeing none, thank you for your delegation today Jim.
By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
While 103,206 party members were eligible to vote across Ontario Nov. 25-26, only 22,827 actually bothered to cast ballots.
That is not a good number and something Bonnie Crombie is going to have to overcome is as she gets ready to take on the job fill time early in the New Year
 The big job for Bonnie Crombie and the provincial Liberals will begin after the holidays. The polling numbers, once she had the job in the bag were good – good enough?
Without her as leader, the Tories were at 42 per cent, the NDP at 24 per cent, the Liberals were at 23 per cent, and the Greens at seven per cent.
With Crombie, the Liberals jumped to 31 per cent, the Tories dropped to 39 per cent, the NDP slipped to 20 per cent and the Greens were at six per cent.
Crombie conceded the Liberals — who remain three seats short of official party status in the legislature and the additional funding and opportunities to ask questions of the government that come with it — face a daunting task with voters.
“Earning trust is a step-by-step process.”
Meanwhile Premier Doug Ford is going to have to get used to having questions put to him – something he hasn’t been very good at when it come to Bonnie Crombie.
During the leadership campaign, Crombie put forward a variety of policies she said would undo the damage of the Ford years, from bolstering the Greenbelt with a “water and food belt” of lands protected from development and clearing the surgical backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic without resorting to for-profit clinics.
 Crombie won the leadership job – that was expected. Now she has to pull a political party that has a massive job ahead of it. Calling climate change an “existential threat,” she pledged financial aid to help make homes emissions-free and resilient to threats caused by climate change, such as heavy rains and rising temperatures.
The new leader would also restore the role of a stand-alone environmental commissioner, which Ford scrapped in 2018, and repeal his controversial Bill 124 wage restraint legislation that capped most public sector workers to one per cent annual wage increases. A court found the law unconstitutional, but the PC government is appealing.
To improve health services, she unveiled a plan to pay personal support workers — who do the bulk of care for frail elderly residents in nursing homes, where there is high staff turnover — a minimum of $25 hourly and registered practical nurses at least $35.
She proposed a “bill of rights” for gig workers, indexing Ontario Works social assistance payments to inflation and doubling payouts under the Ontario Disability Support Plan, and to reinstate the basic income pilot project that Ford axed. As well, more rent controls would be phased in to give tenants increased protection.
Also on housing, Crombie would provide funding to municipalities for emergency rent banks to help tenants in crisis avoid eviction, levy a tax on vacant houses in urban areas and make it easier to convert vacant office buildings to mixed-use residential.
All good platform planks – but lurking behind is that 22,827 of the 103,206 eligible Liberals who were eligible to vote bothering to do so.
 By Ray Rivers
December 4th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario Liberals held a party to celebrate the crowning of their new leader last Saturday. Like the other political parties have done in their internal politics, the Liberals used a ranked ballot to ensure that the new leader would be a first or second choice of at least half of the delegates.
Ranked ballots lend themselves to electronic voting where once a voter’s choices are recorded on a computer spreadsheet, the outcome can be had with the flick of a switch in a matter of minutes. But the Liberals wanted to have a party. So instead of on-line voting, which had been discussed at one point, members had to show up at a polling station to cast their ballot. And then the vote counting was by hand, a tedious affair of recounting the same ballots each round as the lowest scoring candidates were eliminated.
 More than 1000 Liberals gathered at a Convention Centre to watch Bonnie Crombie win the Leadership on the third ballot. Apparently the party executives had decided that a celebratory party was as important as the leadership election process itself. And how else could they entice all those Ontario Liberals to gather together into one room when a simple press release announcing the results five minutes after the polling stations closed would suffice? It would have been somewhat anti-climatic after such a long campaign.
Clearly the party wanted to add some suspense to the process, so the assembled crowd waited patiently for the results after each of the three rounds of counting at the Toronto Convention Centre. It was nostalgic, hinting at the good old days of delegated conventions when backroom deal making by the candidates and their supporters was half the fun. This exhausting process was all for show. But then that is so much of what politics is about in the end – the show.
 Bonnie Crombie: No stranger to winning Suffice it to say that Mississauga Mayer, Bonnie Crombie, the front runner from day one, won handily over her three worthwhile opponents. It took three ballots but the betting was on Bonnie. And she is no stranger to winning. The people of Mississauga have elected her mayor three times, each with a greater plurality than in the previous election.
Crombie defined herself in the very early days, saying she was a right-of-centre Liberal, even daring to suggest that Greenbelt boundaries could be adjusted to some extent. That probably hurt her within the party but then she was speaking to appeal to the wider voting public. And she learned from that misstep, and saw the light, as the leadership campaign wore on. At the end she was singing from the same hymn book as the other candidates.
In any case, not all liberals are left-of-centre, however defined. And not all policies lend themselves to easy labelling as right or left. In today’s world the environment is seen as a left wing issue. Yet protecting the environment is largely a matter of conservation, preventing its deterioration by restricting urban sprawl and polluting transportation, for example.
I have never understood why those who consider themselves conservatives object to efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and to preserve natural habitat and farm land. One would expect conservation of the environment to be at the heart of sound conservative values? Certainly it was during the leadership of former Tory leaders like John Robarts and Bill Davis.
And yet progressive conservative premier Ford’s plans to open up the Green Belt to urban sprawl and building highway 413 across some of Ontario’s best farm land stand in stark contrast. His admission that he made a mistake came too late to save him. His justification for these policies was shown to be pure unadulterated hog wash. Breaking up the Greenbelt had nothing to do with building more affordable housing.
 Wait for results of the RCMP investigation to know to what extent Ford committed any criminal acts. And it wasn’t just the Greenbelt. Ford issued a succession of ministerial orders running roughshod over the proper planning process of municipalities almost everywhere. In too many cases it was about converting protected natural and farm land into more urban sprawl. We should wait for results of the RCMP investigation to know to what extent Ford committed any criminal acts, All the same, real conservatives must be shaking their heads.
The vast majority of Canadians understand that we have entered into a period of global heating, and yet federal delegates to a recent Conservative Party of Canada annual meeting refused to endorse former leader Erin O’Toole’s motion that climate change is real. Mr. O’Toole paid the price for his efforts to bring the party into reality by being replaced as leader by another, in the all too long line of climate deniers running that party.
What could be a more conservative value that protecting the planet from the danger of overheating? What could be more conservative than conserving the planet’s ecosystem for future generations? Is this what we call right wing politics?
In that case it is no surprise that Bonnie Crombie never talked about being right-of-centre again.
She gets it.
By Pepper Parr
December 3rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This item was placed as a Consent item on the Standing Committee Agenda – so it didn’t get discussed – unfortunately
Chad McDonald, Executive Director, Digital Service and Chief Information Officer was explaining to Council , before the budget was passed, that the city is committed to “reshaping its digital service delivery through strategic digital transformation that aligns seamlessly with our overarching business plans and goals.
 Chad McDonald, Executive Director, Digital Service and Chief Information Officer. “Our primary aim is to enhance the digital experiences of our citizens, businesses and visitors by offering intuitive services tailored to their needs. Internally, we’re driving towards more streamlined operations, aiming for efficiency and agility. With an eye in the future, we’re integrating sustainable environmentally conscious practices and tour operations as well.
“We’re on the brink of a profound shift for several core services. We’re not merely introducing new software, we are embarking on a comprehensive business transformation.
” The business transformation is set to re-calibrate our core functions of HR Finance, payroll and asset management into models of efficiency and effectiveness. The workday and cartographic platforms are instrumental of this change catalysts that will empower employees to work smarter, make better decisions and offer services that meet higher expectations of our community.
“However, this transformation is at a delicate juncture.
“Lacking experts to guide this process, we could encounter disruptions that reverberate throughout the organization. What we are setting out to do is reshape the organizational culture to be more innovative, more efficient and more attuned to the needs of the public we serve. It is the people behind these tools, who will ensure that the step is not a misstep, but a leap into the future.
 Chad MacDonald: “In conclusion, to bring this vision to fruition, we must embrace the full scope of the business transformation and the support it needs. “That’s it.” “In conclusion, to bring this vision to fruition, we must embrace the full scope of the business transformation and the support it needs. Without it, we stand to lose more than we gain not just in terms of capital, but in growth, efficiency and the trust of those we serve.
“That’s it.”
It was a sound presentation, backed by the experience of a very talented information technology executive.
But a significant number of people didn’t buy the argument which is proving to be very expensive.
Today, Monday the 4th, Chad will be back before Council to elaborate on what he believes he has to do.
He managed to get some of the people he needs as part of the 2024 budget.
Now he has to set out for Council, and a leery eyed group of people who just do not like the growth in Information Technology staffing, how he proposes to proceed.
While those opposed to significant spending have yet to adjust themselves to the tonne of money that is being spent (and Council is not being is as transparent is as it should be on this) a way has to be found to bring the public around to what well qualified staff are setting out to do.
Councillors are going to have to get off their high horses and help the public understand the needs – so fat they are failing.
The IT people describe what they are going to talk about is as: Update on Customer Centric Digital Architecture and CRM.
Some time ago, before Chad MacDonald was brought in as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) the city struggled to create a new Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) platform.
It didn’t work out very well and the roll out of what was in place was paused with Animal Services being the final department onboarded in June of 2023.
The contract with the current CRM vendor allows 5 one-year renewals. The City will renew the contract on a yearly basis until a new CRM platform is implemented.
Two streams of work are focused on the planning phase of the Customer Centric Digital Architecture blueprint implementation and the CRM re-platforming respectively.
Staff have planned and are recommending undertaking the following two platforms as the priority in fiscal 2024:
Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) platform;
Consolidated city portal and web form platform.
What they are going to make possible will be explained and debated later today.
By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
It is all just part of doing business.
Lines of credit are necessary, even for the City of Burlington.
  The City now works with two banks: Scotiabank and the Royal Bank.
Borrowing arrangements with the Royal Bank provide the City with a $5,000,000 line of credit at the prime-lending rate minus 3/4%.
At the current time, prime stands at 7.20%. It has not been necessary to access this credit line during 2023 or prior years nor is it anticipated to be needed for 2024. The by-law is prepared to meet the requirements of the banks.
The City also has borrowing arrangements with Scotiabank to provide a credit facility for administering the City’s purchase card program. In 2023 the limit of this credit facility was $2,000,000.
In 2024 the City will be launching an Automated Commercial Card Program in partnership with Scotiabank. The new solution allows for the secure delivery of automated Visa card payments to suppliers. Benefits to the City include reduction of costs from a streamlined payment process, improved supplier management, and an increase in the purchase card rebate received from Scotiabank.
Suppliers will also benefit from accelerated payment and improved cash flow. Scotiabank requires an increased credit facility of up to $5,000,000 to administer this program in addition to our existing purchase card program. It is anticipated that this expanded credit facility will be paid off monthly in 2024 as had been done in 2023 and prior years. This borrowing agreement does not require a security agreement
 By Staff
December 3rd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board will host the fifth annual Human Rights Symposium on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 to engage in vital conversations and challenge thinking.
The theme of this year’s event is Holistic Health: Our voices, our stories, our calls to action, and centres around holistic health (including physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social) as a human right regardless of age, background or socio-economic status. This year the symposium has been designed by students for students.
 The Human Rights Symposium will feature a speaking panel of students and will be a virtual event for HDSB students (Grade 7-12) and staff. Registration is not required and information on how to access the event will be shared with students and staff.
Throughout the week, students and staff are encouraged to share what they are learning on social media with the hashtag: #HDSBsymposium.
The HDSB Human Rights Symposium (Dec. 11, 2023) aligns with Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, which is observed annually to recognize the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The principles originally enshrined in the Declaration are still relevant today.
Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the HDSB explains: The Human Rights Symposium supports the HDSB’s Equity and Inclusion and Mental Health and Well-Being areas of focus in the HDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2020-2024 and our Human Rights Equity Action & Accountability Plan: The Way Forward, The annual Human Rights Symposium unites diverse voices in a shared commitment to addressing common issues. It is a standing reminder of the value of coming together to engage in collaborative dialogue and collective action.”
 Amy Collard Amy Collard, Chair of the HDSB asks students and staff to to engage, question and reflect on our traditional thinking regarding health and well-being.”
By Pepper Parr
December 2nd, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Bonnie Crombie takes the Liberal Leadership on the third ballot.
 First ballot votes
 Third ballot votes -with more than 50% Crombie became the leader.
 Crombie gave a barn burner of a speech – making it very clear what she was setting out to get done. Nate Erskine-Smith and Yasir Naqiv were both federal members and will continue their work in Ottawa. Ted Shu will end up with something in whatever Cabinet Crombie forms should she defeat Doug Ford.
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