 By Staff
May 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The hard news is that here will be lane restrictions on Lakeshore Rd from John Street to Martha Street between May 14 to 25, 2018
Monday, May 14 at 7 a.m. to Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
Please watch for signs and barricades.
That’s the news part. That news came from Doug Conway, Utility Coordinator, Capital Works.
 Somehow the transportation people didn’t get the message from the Utility coordinator. The Utility Coordinator is the person who keeps in constant touch with the utilities, (Hydro, Region, telephone, cable and gas companies) that have pipes or wires underneath the asphalt.
They talk to each other regularly, or they are supposed to – but somehow someone missed a meeting and wasn’t aware of the work the Region was doing on water main upgrades while the New Street Road Diet experiment was underway.
No one at city hall ever explained how that came about.
By Staff
May 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Work by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to rehabilitate the Burlington Skyway Bridge will result in a closure of all Toronto-bound QEW/Skyway Bridge lanes on Saturday, May 5 and Saturday, May 12.
QEW Niagara-bound traffic will not be affected by the construction.
 Toronto bound lanes of the Skyway Bridge to be closed for repairs. Closure Details:
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Beginning at 9 p.m., all Toronto-bound QEW/Skyway Bridge lanes will be closed.
All traffic will be detoured onto Eastport Drive.
This full lane closure will remain in effect until Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 10 a.m. All lanes will reopen by 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Beginning at 9 p.m., all Toronto-bound QEW/Skyway Bridge lanes will be closed.
All traffic will be detoured onto Eastport Drive.
This full lane closure will remain in effect until Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 10 a.m. All lanes will reopen by 2 p.m.
Traffic Detour:
To help assist the flow of traffic on Eastport Drive during the full lane closures, access to Beach Boulevard from Van Wagners Beach Road and Eastport Drive will be restricted to local traffic only. Police officers will be posted at these locations to assist with traffic control.
 By Pepper Parr
April 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There are more than 18,500 electric vehicles currently on the road in Ontario
More than 680,000 people in Ontario live in condominiums and more than 50 per cent of new homes being built in the province are condominiums.
With those two facts in hand it didn’t take the provincial government very long two put them together and come up with a program that would allow people to install charging station in the condominiums.
Some condominium boards do not permit he installation of an electric charging station.
 Province changed the rules – condo board cannot say no to electric charging stations. Starting May 1, 2018, new changes will be in effect to make it easier for condo residents to charge their electric vehicles at home as part of Ontario’s plan to fight climate change.
The new changes will:
• Reduce current requirements to make it easier for condo owners to get approval from their condo corporations to install an electric vehicle charging system in their condominium.
• Prevent condo boards from rejecting an owner’s application to install an electric vehicle charging system on condo property when the owner meets certain conditions.
These new rules to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging systems in condos will remove barriers to condo residents who own electric vehicles, or are thinking about purchasing one, by enabling them charge their vehicles where they live.
Ontario’s Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program has provided incentives worth approximately $2.5 million for the installation of almost 3,000 home charging stations since January 2013.
 Once the charging stations are installed – a way will have to be found to share the things fairly. The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market form the backbone of Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.The government will report on the plan’s implementation annually and review the plan at least every five years.
Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Government and Consumer Services pointed out that “One of the largest contributing factors that inhibits drivers from purchasing an electric vehicle is the fear of having nowhere to charge it. Condo owners have indicated they have faced challenges when trying to install charging systems on condo premises. Through these new laws, we will increase opportunities to install charging systems at condo properties in order to support residents who own or wish to purchase an electric vehicle.”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Read more on reforming Ontario’s Condo Law
Subscribe to ONCONDO to receive updates about condo law changes
 By Staff
April 16th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that the passage of the low pressure system that has brought the prolonged Freezing Rain/Ice pellets to the area has also brought very strong sustained winds and wind gusts (sustained winds >50 km/hr with wind gusts >70km/hr at Burlington).
 Storm waves These winds have been steady from the North-East, and therefore the region is experiencing surge wave heights of upwards of 3 to 4 metres. Winds and waves are forecasted to be high throughout the overnight period and into tomorrow morning, and will lessen with the passage of the low pressure centre. With these observed and forecasted wave heights and wind gusts, there is the potential for shoreline flooding and erosion hazards.
There have been reports from other jurisdictions in the western part of Lake Ontario of a combination of shoreline flooding and erosion. While Conservation Halton has not received any reports of shoreline flooding/erosion, municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should be on alert.
 Rogue waves breaching the break wall. Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from locations in proximity to the shoreline. Elevated water levels, high sustained winds and gusts, and the potential for rogue waves to overtop breakwalls and other shoreline structures continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor the open-water lake and weather conditions and will issue further messages as necessary.
This Flood Outlook Statement will be in effect through Tuesday April 17th, 2018.
Note: A Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook is issued as an early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecast of heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, ice jams, shoreline flooding or erosion.
 By Staff
April 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 A nomination meeting to elect the New Democratic candidate for the 2018 provincial election will be held Tuesday, 24 April 2018, 7pm – 9pm
Registration: 6:45pm – 7pm
Voting (if necessary): 8pm
Burlington Seniors Centre, 2285 New Street, Burlington
(This is an accessible facility)
Currently, the only confirmed nomination is Andrew Drummond. If no other nomination is confirmed, an election will not be necessary.
In order to vote in a nomination election, you must:
1. Be a member in good standing with the NDP 30 days (March 25th 2018) prior to the nomination meeting.
2. Live in the provincial riding of Burlington.
By Staff
April 14th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has declared an extreme weather event and is asking drivers not to park on the street from 9 a.m. Saturday until Monday morning as the city manages the impacts of potentially dangerous conditions caused by freezing rain today and Sunday.
 Vehicles parked on residential roads could be ticketed or towed—at the owner’s expense—to allow equipment to safely navigate the narrow streets. All vehicles parked on the street must be removed and parking exemptions are void. Keeping streets clear of vehicles will help city equipment clear the roads of ice or snow and manage local flooding.
Vehicles parked on residential roads could be ticketed or towed—at the owner’s expense—to allow equipment to safely navigate the narrow streets.
If you notice a vehicle parked on your street this weekend, kindly ask the owner to remove the vehicle or call Halton Regional Police Service at 905-878-5511. Ask for dispatch and police will send a parking officer.
Residents are asked for their patience as the city manages extreme weather impacts on 1,900 km of roads and 850 km of sidewalks.
During extreme weather, the city will provide updates at 9 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.
 Wind damage to tress s may be severe. Power outages are possible during freezing rain conditions. If there is power outage in your area, please contact Burlington Hydro at www.burlingtonhydro.com or call 1-877-310-4937.
Please only call 911 if you are injured or are in immediate danger.
Fallen limbs or trees can be reported to rpf@burlington.ca.
 By Staff
April 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is inviting people to a presentation with Jim Sweetlove, retired lawyer, Ross & McBride LLP.
 Jim Sweetlove, retired lawyer. Sweetlove will be answering some of the most common estate questions including:
 • Why is estate planning so important?
• What happens without a written will?
• What is probate and how does it work?
• What are powers of attorney and how do they work?
• What are the benefits of leaving a charitable bequest to a charity in my will?
The events take place at the Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room on Tuesday, April 17
Refreshments at 2:00 pm; Presentation at 2:30 pm
Please RSVP to Amanda Martin by phone at 905-632-3737 ext. 2041 or by email to amartin@josephbranthospital.ca.
By Staff
April 9th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
They are making improvements
 The city will be doing some maintenance to add a new service for our Marriage License online applications.
While we are making changes, please note that some online services will not be available on Monday, April 9 from 9 to 10 p.m.:
• Online business license renewal
• Online Property information requests
By Staff
March 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
This is funny – were it not so sad.
A regular Gazette reader got a notice from city hall advising her that a revised draft Official Plan was now available – and that copies were available at the library.
 Our citizen skipped along to the library to review a copy.
We will let her tell you what happened when she go to the library:
Yesterday I received an email from the City telling me that the Revised New Official Plan was available for residents to see. I understood this to be that I could get a copy of the revisions, at any City Library, City Hall, etc.
Today when I as at Burlington Central Library, I was told that there was one (1) copy that I could look at and I would have to provide I.D. Why would anyone need to provide identification to look at this document? Are printed copies available?
Now that is citizen engagement!
There was a time when city hall at least talked about citizen engagement. They created a xxx
In 2010 the then Mayor, Cam Jackson set up a task force to report on how well city hall was engaging with its citizens. The report, Shape Burlington, was written by the late John Boich and former Mayor Walter Mulkewich; – read the report for that full story.
Relevant background links:
A Charter Action Team was created to put the Community Engagement Plan into action.
Shape Burlington
 By Staff
February 27, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Early in the month branches of Scotia bank were being robbed; one in Burlington, another in Milton.
Police believed the robberies were linked and began doing what police do: investigate
Police have identified four suspects and laid multiple charges following several bank robberies across the Greater Toronto Region (GTA).
On February 1, 2018, at approximately 7:50 p.m., the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) was called to a Scotiabank located at 4519 Dundas Street, Burlington, following a report of an armed robbery. Three male suspects, one of whom was armed, obtained a quantity of cash and exited the bank, travelling southbound on foot. Two bank employees were assaulted and sustained minor injuries during the robbery.
On February 9, 2018, at approximately 8:00 p.m., HRPS was called to a Scotiabank located at 880 Main Street East, Milton, following a report of an armed robbery. Two masked male suspects, one of whom was armed, entered the bank shortly before closing and obtained a quantity of cash. A bank employee, who attempted to intervene, was assaulted by one of the suspects and sustained minor injuries.
On February 14, 2018 HRPS investigators began surveillance of persons of interest, who were suspected of being involved in the Milton and Burlington robberies. During this time, investigators observed a group of individuals in the area of a Scotiabank at the intersection of Rathburn Road and Renforth Drive, Toronto.
Police continued to monitor these individuals, who were observed to be engaging in activity consistent with a potential robbery of the financial institution. In the interest of public safety, police contacted the bank and ensured bank staff and clients were moved to a safe location and the doors of the bank were secured.
As two of the persons prepared to commit the bank robbery, plainclothes HRPS investigators were able to arrest them prior to entering the bank.
Based on the events that took place in the City of Toronto on February 14, 2018 the following individuals were charged by the Toronto Police Service:
Gareth BAUGH (19) of the City of Toronto
• Robbery
• Disguise with Intent to commit an indictable offence
Jazmyn ELIAS-WEIBL (18) of the City of Mississauga
• Robbery
• Disguise with Intent to commit an indictable offence
Young Offender (identity protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act)
Robbery
Disguise with Intent to commit and indictable offence
 Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah: “Robberies such as these have a deep impact on the involved bank employees, innocent bystanders and even their families. The blatant disregard for victims that these arrested persons demonstrated represent some of the greatest risk to community safety. Our investigators have worked tirelessly with partnering police agencies to identify and arrest them. We’re pleased to have put an end to these violent robberies.”
On February 15, 2018 HRPS investigators and K-9 services continued their investigation by executing a Criminal Code Search Warrant at the residence of Gareth BAUGH. Investigators seized a quantity of cash, a replica firearm and several pieces of clothing linked to the armed robberies throughout the GTA.
On February 22, 2018 HRPS investigators and Tactical Rescue Unit prepared to execute a Criminal Code Search Warrant at the Milton residence of the accused from a previous bank robbery in Milton. When arriving, police observed the suspect departing his home with several associates. A traffic stop was conducted and the male suspect was taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of several thousand dollars in Canadian currency.
On February 23, 2018, in the early morning, HRPS investigators and Tactical Rescue Unit executed a Criminal Code Search Warrant at the residence of the accused. During this search, a quantity of illegal drugs was seized along with various items of clothing believed to be linked to the robbery in Milton and other robberies throughout the GTA. A loaded .22 caliber handgun was also seized by police.
Based on the results of the search warrant from February 23, 2018 the following individual was charged by the Halton Regional Police Service:
Tyriq BROOKS (19) of the Town of Milton
• Robbery with a Firearm
• Point Firearm
• Wear Disguise with Intent
• Possession of a restricted firearm
• Possession of a weapon for the dangerous purpose
• Careless use of a firearm
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Fail to comply with recognizance (3 counts)
There are also outstanding arrest warrants for the accused from several police services in the province for Human Trafficking related charges.
The HRPS Criminal Investigations Bureau is in the process of linking the above individual(s) to the robberies in Milton and Burlington. It is anticipated that several criminal charges are pending.
Anonymous tips can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers; “See Something, Hear Something, Know Something — Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.crimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
February 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 Fernand Coderre and Heather Lareau half a football field away from where Meridian wants to mine shale. Heather Lareau is ticked – and Heather is not a woman one wants trifle with. She is a West Haven Drive resident whose home is one of those “too close for comfort” residences that is half a football field away from where Meridian Brick wants to begin mining for the shale that goes into the manufacturing of brick.
Meridian recently sent out a Newsletter that had her personal email as part of the content. Ouch!
We will let Ms Lareau vent on this one.
“It is unfortunate that my personal email has been shared with the community at large. However, since you have made this a public forum, as a “private” citizen and resident of Tyandaga, I would like to make some brief personal comments regarding your Newsletter where you make everything appear just peachy, for a lack of a better term. (Not to make matters worse, I have blind copied all the recipients from your email in order to protect their privacy)
“I would like to start with you statement regarding our health concerns.
 Imagine this thing digging away half a football field from your house – early in the morning? “The airborne emissions assessed from the facility were crystalline silica and particulate matter; specifically respirable, inhalable and total particulate matter and covered three time periods, a one year scenario, with the Centre Quarry only, a six–to-15-year scenario involving the Centre and East Quarries, and a 16–to-25 -year scenario affecting the East Quarry only. They are predicted to be less than accepted health-based benchmarks, even under worst-case conditions.
“A predication is a forecast of what should happen, not what could happen. Each Phase of the quarry brings the dust and noise closer to the residential area. Should there be an easterly wind, then WE predict there will be more dust and more noise and more health concerns.
 There are three quarries – the one on the left and the one in the center are close to being depleted. The quarry on the right is the one that concerns the West Haven residents. “Considering that you will eventually be excavating within a 1/2 of football field (50 m) from Westhaven Drive, combined with easterly winds which you don’t account for, your company is certainly underplaying the impact from the dust that we will continuously inhale and have to deal with on a daily basis. There are many families with young children in this area as well already compromised seniors who will be exposed to this dust on a daily basis. This said it affects ALL whether we work, live, go to school or play in the area
“You also say you will be monitoring the dust with a monitoring system which will produce reports for various government agencies and residents. Unless you place a monitor within 50 metres (1/2 a football field) of the operating quarry how will you know what level of dust we are dealing with? From what we have discovered, the closest fixed air monitoring system is 4 km away from the quarry. How accurate can this be?
“Will the public receive daily reports of the level of dust? Or will we have to fight for this information on a continuous basis?
“If the levels exceed the regulatory benchmark, does that mean you will immediately stop excavation. What would your next step be? Less excavation? Cover the quarry with a tarp? Increase your set-back?
“If the dust exceeds the acceptable level you say you will mitigate. What is your mitigation plan and what does that mean?
“Your comments regarding Salamanders. You state the area you are about to commence clear-cutting is not conducive to salamander habitat. Considering in the spring and fall, salamanders make their way across the neighbourhood into people’s swimming pools, (from an area not conducive to salamander habitat), this to us indicates the possibility of the endangered type salamanders
 The Jefferson salamander: He isn’t exactly pretty but nevertheless plays an important role in the local environment. Comes in different colours as well. existing in all areas of the future east quarry. One photograph taken by a resident in their pool, the salamander clearly appeared to be the dusky salamander; which is also on the endangered species list. Tail clippings from another drowned salamander was confirmed to be the asexual female type Jefferson Salamander
“Progressive Rehabilitation. You say you are taking earth from where you clear-cut and fill in where you have already excavated. How is this progressive? It will take decades, well beyond our life-time to rehabilitate this land to its current state. Bottom line, the Carolinian Forest is gone. If the West and central quarry is any indication of what your rehabilitation looks like, the chance of ever seeing a forest during our life-time is impossible and probably won’t exist for generations to come. Is this what we are bequeathing to our future generations? I promise to tell my great grandchildren how at one time Burlington was called Burlington Green and that the environment of this city was at one time lush and healthy.
“Noise is a great concern to this neighbourhood. Half of a football field, which again is only 50 feet (same as your original described setback). Having an operating quarry within 50 feet of home and schools will have a PREDICTABLE negative impact on the health of every resident on WHD and beyond. Please read the article from The Hamilton Spectator last week that stated constant noise can cause cardiac and mental health issues.
“Last point I would like to make is that all your studies and reports that you are referring to are produced by and paid for by YOU, Meridian. If you stand behind your results, please allow a peer review of all of your studies.
“I challenge the Mayor and Councillors to step up and do something to support and protect the tax paying citizens of Burlington. I have heard many times this is a Provincial Matter. Then represent us at the provincial level. You will have more influence than the many residents of Burlington who are spending their hard earned money and all their spare time trying to preserve the environment in YOUR city. Walk the talk.
 The Tyandaga Environmental Coalition (TEC) is not just a bunch of cranky seniors – it is a broadly based group of people who turn out for meetings and support the cost of the legal challenges. “I also challenge you, Meridian/Aldershot quarry to truly be a good neighbour and stay as far away as possible from the residential area. Half a football field away now or 30 years from now is inconceivable to this community. The destruction of 35 acres of forest and 9,000 trees certainly does not support an environmentally conscious sustainable program. I concur with all the environmentally concerned people of this city that the loss of the greenspace and the wildlife who habitat within, is heartbreaking. However, the protection of the health of the residents in this development MUST BE a priority as well.
“I encourage Meridian to consider other options for the complete Aldershot quarry while retaining the existing greenspace.”
 By Staff
February 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
When MetroLinx announced that internet access would be available throughout their network the Gazette didn’t see that as a big deal. They were just catching up to what many other transportation operations were doing.
We didn’t expect the other shoe to fall so quickly.
Loblaws, part of the George Weston operation, battling a price fixing matter, announced today that with internet access available to the tens of thousands of GO train commuters they would soon be able to use their cell phones to log into the Loblaws app and place food orders that they will be able to pick up at the GO station when they get off the train
Busy consumers will soon have one more way to avoid going to the grocery store as Canadian retailers ramp up their e-commerce offerings in an apparent effort to beat tech titan Amazon, which recently entered the country’s grocery market.
 Loblaws and Fortinos locations will be the pick up point for GO train commuters who decide to use the new service, Loblaw Companies Ltd. announced Monday it will launch a new service in the spring that allows commuters to order groceries online and pick them up at one of five Go Transit stations in the Greater Toronto Area the next day. None of the Burlington GO stations are part of the pilot operation.
Jeremy Pee, the company’s senior vice-president of e-commerce said “This is a logical extension of our increasingly popular e-commerce services, and the growing customer appeal for ordering groceries online and picking them up when it’s most convenient.”
The company partnered with Metrolinx, an Ontario government agency that co-ordinates and integrates transportation modes in the GTA and Hamilton area.
 Somewhere in this GO station people will be able to pick up groceries they ordered on line. Lot of logistics to get worked out – will people be able to drive their car right up to the pick up point? The partnership will initially start with stations in Bronte, Oakville, Rouge Hill, Whitby and Clarkson, with plans to expand to additional sites in the region.
Groceries will come from nearby Fortinos or Loblaws stores, and will be waiting in a special delivery truck, in lockers or in an enclosed kiosk.
The service is an extension of the company’s click-and-collect offering as it allows customers who travel on Go Transit a pick-up option that doesn’t require them to adjust their daily commute,
Loblaw launched click-and-collect in 2014 and now offers the online order, in-store pick up service at 300 of its stores. The company is rolling out that service at a rapid clip, with about one new store offering click-and-collect every day.
Amazing what competition will do. Why Burlington isn’t included in the first phase of the new service wasn’t explained. Apparently we are not as demographically svelte as Oakville. That hurts!
By Staff
February 24, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that the weather office is forecasting upwards of 15 mm of precipitation starting overnight with an additional 5 mm possible on Sunday.
 Based on the forecasted rainfall, increased flows and water levels in our creeks throughout Halton will remain higher than normal for the next several days. In addition, remaining ice may contribute to blockages at bridges and culverts and produce localized flooding concerns in low lying areas.
Widespread flooding is not currently anticipated. Our reservoirs are currently holding water above their normal operating and will continue to release water over the next week as they are brought back within regular operating levels for this time of year.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Condition Statement –Water Safety message as conditions warrant.
This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through Wednesday February 28th, 2018.
By Staff
February 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Get your car off the street – the city has declared Wednesday February 7, a “snow event”, beginning at 7 a.m.
All snow plows and salt trucks will be dispatched throughout the city.
Environment Canada is forecasting 10 cm of snow to fall Wednesday, Feb. 7.
As of 7 a.m., all vehicles parked on the street must be removed and parking exemptions are void. Failure to remove vehicles from residential roads could result in being ticketed or possibly towed to allow snow plows and other heavy machinery to safely navigate the narrow streets.
Cars will be towed at the owner’s expense.
 Tandem snow plows on Fairview If residents notice a vehicle on their street, they are encouraged to kindly ask the owner to remove the vehicle or call Parking Control during business hours at 905-335-7816 (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) or after-hours, Halton Regional Police Service at 905-878-5511. (Ask for “dispatch” and police will send a parking officer).
Residents are also asked for their patience as clearing all 1,900 km of roads can take up to 24 hours and 850 km of sidewalks can take up to 72 hours to clear.
Mark Adam, Manager of Road Operations said: “During a declared snow event, there is no parking allowed on the street and all exemptions are cancelled. Our crews need to get through our narrow residential streets or else we can’t complete the plowing.
“The city thanks all the residents in advance for their cooperation and patience during our snow clearing operations.”
By Staff
February 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a marked improvement on the quality of the snow removal being done by the city.
 Reporting on what has been done and where problems exist are much better and when there is a problem the city moves very quickly to resolve the problem.
Snow Update: February 4, 2018 11:00pm
Salters are currently out across the city.
Sidewalk salting will begin overnight.
Staff will continue to monitor road and weather conditions.
By Staff
January 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is declaring Jan. 30, 2018 a “snow event”, beginning at midnight. All snow plows and salt trucks will be dispatched throughout the city.
Environment Canada is forecasting 15 cm of snow to fall between Monday, Jan. 29 and Tuesday, Jan. 30.
As of midnight, and during the snow event, all vehicles parked on the street must be removed and parking exemptions are void. Failure to remove vehicles from residential roads could result in being ticketed or possibly towed to allow snow plows and other heavy machinery to safely navigate the narrow streets.
Cars will be towed at the owner’s expense.
If residents notice a vehicle on their street, they are encouraged to kindly ask the owner to remove the vehicle or call Parking Control during business hours at 905-335-7816 (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) or after-hours, Halton Regional Police Service at 905-878-5511. (Ask for “dispatch” and police will send a parking officer).
 Residents are also asked for their patience as clearing all 1,900 km of roads can take up to 24 hours and 850 km of sidewalks can take up to 72 hours to clear.
During a snowfall, the city will provide updates at 9 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. at burlington.ca/snow.
Mark Adam, Manager of Road Operations explains that “the city wants to ensure the safety of our drivers and pedestrians. Our biggest challenge is getting through the neighbourhoods, particularly in Alton Village and the Orchard.
“Our plows can’t get past many of the parked cars so we can’t plow your street properly or at all. Please, put your cars in a driveway or make arrangements to get them off the street. We appreciate your co-operation.”
By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Angela Coughlan Pool – Service Disruption
Angela Coughlan Leisure Swim on Thursday January 18 from 5:30-7:30pm has been cancelled due to a maintenance issue.
 Angela Coughlan Pool For alternative swim opportunities, please visit www.burlington.ca/play
 By Staff
January 12, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 With weather all over the map we plan for what we are told the weather is going to be during the day and know that it will probably change significantly before the end of the day.
A major dump of show on the weekend and rain three days later that washes much of the snow away.
One day you could have worn shorts and sat out on a patio and the next day you need those mitts.
The recent rain has added to the water flooding into the creeks creating safety concerns.
The Conservation Authority has issued a Watershed Conditions Statement advising that Environment Canada is forecasting rainfall that will continue into Friday. Expected amounts will range between 10 to 20 mm with higher amounts possible in localized areas.
 Not what you want children to be doing – especially if they are unsupervised. Caution. Based on the forecast of mild temperatures and rainfall, combined with the partial melt of our existing snowpack, we may experience an increase in flows and water levels in our creeks throughout Halton. In addition, the snowpack melt may contribute to blockages at bridges and culverts and produce localized flooding concerns in low lying areas.
Widespread flooding is not currently anticipated. Our reservoirs are currently at winter holding levels which allows for larger storage capacity for circumstances of this nature.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay off ice covered bodies of water and keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through to Saturday January 13, 2018.
 By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Update:
The Halton regional Police Service are pleased to report that the missing elderly female (Margaret McCormick) has been found in the City of Burlington.
At 6:45 pm, police located the missing female in a wooded area south of Highway 403 and east of Highway 6. Train personnel from CN rail reported observing a person near railway tracks in that area and provided a location for police to continue searching.
The missing female was carried out of the wooded area to an ambulance and is being treated for hypothermia. She was conscious at that time while being treated. She will be taken to hospital for further treatment.
Halton Police are trying to locate an elderly female who suffers from dementia; she walked away from a senior residence in Burlington (Aldershot) this afternoon at approximately 2:30pm.
 Margaret McCormick – missing in Aldershot The missing person is not dressed appropriately for the current outdoor temperature.
She has been identified as Margaret McCormick (78 yrs) and is described at female, white, 5′ 2″, very thin build, blond/silvery shoulder length hair, hat with a green stripe all around it, blue sweater, blue jeans, red mittens, boots and was seen carrying a white garbage bag.
Police are urgently requesting the public assistance in locating this party with exceptionally cold weather expected.
Residents are asked to check their properties and out buildings in the chance she has tried to seek shelter from the weather.
Anyone with information on this party’s whereabouts is asked to contact the on duty staff Sgt at 905 825 4747 ext 2310.
By Pepper Parr
December 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There are almost as many views on what Burlington should be doing in terms of its growth as there are people in the city.
 Citizens listening to the concerns community groups have over how developments in their neighbourhoods are handled by the Planning Department. The meeting was organized by the Engaged Citizens of Burlington – ECoB When Lisa Kearns, one of the ECoB organizers, stood at the lectern in the Burlington Baptist Church she told the 150+ audience that they had to do their homework and then hoisted a three in loose-leaf binder up and told the audience the information they need is out there – but you do have to work to find it and then offered to share what she had with anyone interested. We didn’t see anyone asking to borrow the binder.
Many of the people involved in what is a complex subject are reluctant to identify themselves publicly. One of those wrote in and said: “Seems that this group is questioning the “Urban Growth Centre” designation in Downtown Burlington. The answer is really, really simple – all people have to do is go back to and look at the original Places to Grow document from 2006 – Schedule 2. The designation is right there. No municipal approval is required. The Province says “this is it” now “do it”. All of this talk about evidentiary materials is a complete waste of time.
“People must also consider “The Big Move” which designates the mobility hub in the downtown as an “Anchor Mobility Hub”. Anchor Mobility Hubs are focal points with the potential to transform urban structure and improve transit. In other words … big changes are expected.
“There is an Appendix B which indicates that the downtown mobility hub is expected to accommodate 2,900 boarding per day. The question should be “why is the City not planning for this?” not is it really a hub.
“This same Appendix B includes a population target for the downtown anchor hub of greater than 25,000 people and jobs by 2031. The City is not even close to being able to accommodate this target.
“Most importantly, some people selectively ignore the fact that City Council unanimously approved its Strategic Plan that identifies the downtown as an area where intensification and redevelopment is to be directed.”
Joe Gaetan, a frequent contributor to the Gazette explains that the 2017 Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, was prepared and approved under the Places to Grow Act, 2005 to take effect on July 1, 2017.
Section 2, entitled, Where and How to Grow, contains S, 2.2 Policies for Where and How to Grow, and S 2.2.3 entitled, Urban Growth Centres and contains the following:
“Urban growth centres will be planned to achieve, by 2031 or earlier, a minimum density target of:
b)400 residents and jobs combined per hectare for each of the urban growth centres in the City of Toronto;
200 residents and jobs combined per hectare for each of the Downtown Brampton, Downtown Burlington, Downtown Hamilton, Downtown Milton, Markham Centre, Downtown Mississauga, Newmarket Centre, Midtown Oakville, Downtown Oshawa, Downtown Pickering, Richmond Hill Centre/Langstaff Gateway, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Downtown Kitchener, and Uptown Waterloo urban growth centres;”
Oakville took an approach that attached more importance to Employment and Commerce. Their Livable Oakville committee produced a very detailed report – something Burlington might want t56o at least review.
 The Sims building across from city hall is the only office building in the core of the city – the city of Burlington is the largest tenant. Burlington has never succeeded in attracting commercial operations into the downtown core – parking space wasn’t possible – thus the major concentrations of corporate offices are along the north and south corridors.
“The Burlington Official Plan appears to be mostly silent on job creation or preservation of work land or spaces.
“This should be a concern to all and one more reason why our Official Plan process must be stopped in its tracks.”
Background material:
Where to download a copy of the Places to Grow legislation.
The Big Move – what it is and where to get a copy of the document.
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