 By Pepper Parr
December 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
We received the following this morning:
The article published in this morning’s Gazette titled “Major organizational moves by the city manager seem to be out of focus” is wholly inaccurate for the following reasons:
Parks & Recreation has NOT been merged into Roads, Parks & Forestry (RPF). Parks & Recreation continues to be a separate department headed by Chris Glenn
There has been no reorganization undertaken by the city manager, except the creation of a deputy city manager position and changes to department names only.
Council was fully briefed and aware of the creation of a deputy city manager position, to say so otherwise in incorrect.
Mary Lou Tanner will continue to lead the Official Plan and the Mobility Hub initiatives as deputy city manager; a competition to hire a new Director of Planning will begin in January.
Ms Tanner’s appointment as the deputy city manager was in no way a demotion and as previously stated was a result of a comprehensive internal competition
On November 9th, the City Manager, James Ridge announced a renaming of departments at city hall and moving responsibilities into the newly named departments under the people who were to head them up.
The renaming of the departments in the city was to more accurately reflect the services that are provided to residents.
 As of Jan. 1, 2018 Roads and Parks Maintenance will become the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department; with Mary Battaglia as lead.
Planning and Building will become the Department of City Building – Planning, Building and Culture with Mary Lou Tanner as lead.
Then on December 9th, Ridge announced that he had appointed Mary Lou Tanner as the deputy city manager after a comprehensive internal competition.
There is something about this picture that is out of focus.
If it was a “comprehensive internal competition”, and we will take the city manager’s word that it was – the competition had to be announced, those wanting to go after the job had to prepare their application, fine tune it, submit it and then let the Director of Human Resources and the City Manager review what they had.
The Director of Human Resources may well have been one of the applicants for the new position; we will let that slide.
 Newly minted Deputy City Manager Mary Lou Tanner Re-org November 9th, Tanner made deputy city manager December 9th – All this got done in less than a month?
What does the appointing of Tanner as Deputy City Manager do to the absolutely critical work being done on the planning side?
As of the 21st of this month the city doesn’t have a Planner. Tanner, the woman who was doing the job is now the “city’s representative for all Agencies, Boards and Commissions; acting in an advisory and liaison capacity for each organization and helping plan and coordinate major capital projects.”
Not much in the way of executive authority there
“Being responsible for the diversity and inclusivity portfolio; ensuring a strategy is developed, and implemented across the organization for all services and programs.”
Important but not the same level of influence as the Director of Planning
“Overseeing the Project Management Office, ensuring the priorities of this office are aligned with the Strategic Plan and corporate work plans and work with the Senior Leadership team to identify and establish priorities across the organization.”
 City Manager James Ridge – now has a Deputy to aid the important work he does, Tanner was a part of the Senior Leadership Team – now she “works with them”. Will Tanner have any clout? Will she be making decisions or does everything she does slide up to the desk of the City Manager?
There is going to be a “transition plan including an acting Director of City Building will be announced in the near future; however in the meantime Tanner will continue to lead the work on the completion of the city’s new Official Plan.”
How much of this were the city Councillors fully aware of? The City Manager is responsible for the administration of all city staff and serves at the pleasure of city council. Is Council pleased?
The time line for the approval of the Official Plan has been stretched out to April of 2018 from the original end of January 2018 date.
None of this looks very encouraging – we are changing horses in the middle of a fast flowing stream.
Troubling.
 Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Glenn There some additional concerns. Parks and Recreation is now merged in intro Roads Parks and Forestry under the direction of Mary Battaglia who is a Director. She now has Chris Glenn, also a Director working under her?
Transportation doesn’t seem to have a home at a time when there are several significant studies being done on just how people are going to get around the city given all the intensification that is to take place.
Where does Capital Works fit into the new organization?
On Friday, the 8th of December we had occasion to be at the Fire department following up part on a news story and met with a deputy fire chief who advised us that the Fire Chief was still on the site of the blaze that shut down the Paletta operation in the south-east of the city.
That’s where a Fire Chief is supposed to be – where the problems are. The fire was basically out – with some hot spots that needed a close watch to ensure that they didn’t flare up.
 Is the apparent senior staff reorganization a good one or is it a picture out of focus. The city has a problem – getting the new Official Plan in place and helping the citizens understand the mobility hubs. It is seen as a “hot spot” to hundreds of informed and involved people in Burlington. This is not a time to have senior staff fully immersed in the work they are in place to do.
Being made Deputy City Manager doesn’t look like a promotion – looks like the City Manager just got someone out of the way
And that is very troubling.
Links to related news stories:
Appointment of Deputy city manager.
Renaming of city departments.
 By Staff
December 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Lowville Festival, Burlington’s festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us, is presenting a special Yuletide concert in collaboration with St. George’s Church Lowville.
 Dylan-Thomas A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, the beloved recollections of fabled Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, will be the featured work in a fundraising concert that will feature songs and stories of the festive season in Wales and around the globe.
The main artists in the concert- legendary Toronto publicist and actor Vivienne Muhling; soprano Gaynor Jones, formerly of the Canadian Opera Company; Robert Missen, Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Lowville Festival; and pianist David Low, one of the region’s most distinguished keyboard artists- have been performing Welsh-themed concerts in Toronto and region for several years. Both Ms. Muhling and Ms. Jones hail from Wales.
This concert will be launched on Tuesday December 12th at the Performing Arts Lodge in downtown Toronto. In addition to the Thomas work, there will be a selection of Welsh and other nations’ hymns, songs and carols, as well as readings from other Thomas poems, and a special rendition by Lowville Festival Co-Artistic Director Robert Missen of A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
 St Georges Anglican Church For the December 17th concert, which will take place in the seasonally bedecked sanctuary of St. George’s Anglican Church, a beautiful Edwardian stone edifice in north Lowville, this quartet will be joined by a number of local performers, including Lowville Festival Founder and Co- Artistic Director Lorretta Bailey, the well-known Canadian musical theatre performer; and Major 7th Band, a Lowville ensemble with a Celtic flair, which has come to prominence in the last short while. A couple of Special Guest Artists will be announced shortly.
All of the artists are donating their services to the concert. Proceeds will benefit both the Lowville Festival, which will be presented on June 8-10, 2018, and St. George’s Anglican Church.
The Festival has been delighted to collaborate with St. George’s on a number of Festival events since the Festival’s inception in 2015.
For more information and tickets contact Robert Missen at 905-632-6047.
TICKETS $25/GENERAL ADMISSION
Available at DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS and at the CHURCH OFFICE
Or by phone at 905-632-6047
Online at SNAPD TICKETS BURLINGTON
 By Staff
December 5th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A part of Longmeadow Road will be closed on December 6, 2017
Longmeadow Road, between Deerwood Drive and Winding Way, will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for emergency sewer work.
Signs and barricades will be up and through traffic will be detoured on Deerwood Drive. Access to homes where the work is being done will be maintained at all times.
 Be prepared to deal with road barriers on parts of Longmeadow. For more information, contact Florin Patrau at 905-335-7671, ext. 7838
 By Pepper Parr
December 4th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 It was a meeting where no one got what they wanted – the gap between the Meridian Brick company and the TEC – Tyandaga Environmental Coalition was far too wide.
Meridian Brick was not giving an inch and the residents remained steadfast; they wanted their homes protected from what they were certain was going to be environmental and health damage.
It was a lengthy meeting – more than two and a half hours during which the brick company went through report after report on the progress of various issues – noise, human health, PM and silica monitoring, a species at risk report, an Archaeological study and a Salamander study. Most, but not all, delivered by people who could not have been more boring.
The evening was moderated by a brick company representative who would not let the microphone out if his hands. It was humiliating to those people who stood to speak.
The company continually talks of “ Being a good neighbour” which they say means “doing our part to keep you informed about what’s happening with Aldershot East, the third phase of the Aldershot Quarry.” Drives the residents crazy.
 The red line is the boundary for the third quarry that Meridian Brick wants to prepare for excavation work – which will require the clearing of all the trees. During the meeting the company let it be known that they were very close to doing a clear cut of the wooded area in the eastern part of the property – which is yards away from the homes on West Haven Drive.
The residents pressed for a date – not a word from the company – who are just issuing reports that are mind numbing while city and provincial elected officials stand by muttering but doing nothing.
The MPP, doesn’t seem to be able to get the meeting the TEC people want with the Minister of NAtural Resources and Forestry and the Mayor has yet to realize that he can actually do something.
It was a depressing meeting.
 How do you lesson the noise from a piece of equipment like this?  Expect a lot of noise from this equipment. There was a report on managing the noise – the audience was assured that there was a plan for that as well. How they are going to manage noise from the heavy duty excavation equipment will be interesting.
In one of the presentations the audience was told that two documents govern pits and quarry operations: the license and a site plan.
Many feel that the license issued in 1972 doesn’t reflect the environmental changes that have taken place since 1972.
The requirement for a site plan put this right smack in the middle of the city’s domain. The whole Air Park mess was about the need to file a site plan.
The city hasn’t said a word about whether or not Meridian Brick is in compliance with the site plan requirement. Watch for some push from the environmental lawyer representing the West Haven residents.
Meridian Brick has set out a timeline for the excavation work they plan to do. There was the hint that they were saying to the residents that they didn’t have to worry – a lot of the work was 10, 12, 15 and 20 years out.
Most of the residents will have moved on – this isn’t a young family community.
 West Haven looking toward lake. And while that may be true – the value of any homes that are put on the market is going to be a lot less than the value today. An appraiser report suggests that values decline by between 10% to as high as 40% when a quarry is opened close by. The maps in this story show just how close that quarry is to the high end homes.
Activities in the north corner will not take place until late in the site’s life – approximately 15 to 20 years in the future.
The entire east quarry site will be progressively rehabilitated and reforested as the site is extracted.
Meridian Brick said the complete initial mitigation plan will be completed in the fall of 2017.
An access corridor to the west area of the site and initial tree clearing is to begin in 2017/2018 winter.
In 2019 to 2023 site preparation stripping of stage 1 and continuing rehabilitation of the center quarry.
2023-2033 – Stage 2 preparation and excavation.
2033-2038— Stage 3preparation and excavation.
 Map shows the link between the center quarry that is being worked now and the eastern site that the company wants to begin working in 2018. The Archeological study that was done to determine if there was any land that was used by the aboriginal community. There was some evidence found, enough to call for further study – but not enough to be able to say that there actually was an aboriginal community on the property.
Interesting however is the mention that the report has t6o be sent to the Minister of Tourism and Culture and Sport who happens to be none of the than Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon. The rport read out to the audience says: “This report is submitted to the Minister of Tourism and Culture and Sport as a condition of licensing in accordance with Part VI of the Ontario Heritage Act, RSO1990, c 0.18.
 Minister McMahon has a duty to approve at least one of the reports that Meridian Brick issued. No comment from her office so far. “The report is reviewed to ensure that it complies with the standards and guidelines that are issued by the Minister, and that the archaeological field work and report recommendations ensure the conservation, preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of Ontario. When all matters relating to archaeological sites within the project area of a development proposal have been addressed to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Sport, a letter will be issued by the ministry stating that there are no further concerns with regard to alterations to archaeological sites by the proposed development.”
Is the Minister going to issue such a letter – without meeting with the TEC people?
There are issues that the TEC people can follow up on – but they do so at their expense. So far the city hasn’t lifted a finger in the way of support for the residents.
They are hoeing rough ground over on West Haven Drive.
 By Staff
November 28, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Eva Amos is pleased and happy knowing that she did her bit to prevent the New Street diet from becoming a fact that would have changed the way traffic moved along one of the more important roadways in the city.
“My biggest complaint” said Amos “was with the stats. The comment I kept hearing over and over again was there was an increase of 33% in cyclists from 60 pre diet to 80 post.
 “Do 80 cyclists warrant changing the road configuration for 15,000 to 20,000 drivers?” This is now. What will the vehicular traffic be when all the intensification is complete. Had there been 10 cyclist’s pre diet and then 20 post would we say the cyclists have doubled?
“Also there was little mention of the cyclists on the sidewalk. How many were actually on the road or crossing from the Centennial path?”
“I guess the numbers made a difference – our numbers. The 3282 signatures on the online petition with accompanying comments. The 675 signatures on a hard copy of a petition.
Articles in the papers, letters to the editors and the calls to Council members made a difference. And the hour long television feature on The Issue helped.
“Maybe numbers in the end did win out.”, said Amos
By Pepper Parr
November 27th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
For all of December you will be able to park your car at a city parking meter in the downtown core FREE.
City hall seems to feel that is the benefit.
The real benefit is we won’t have to squint into that little screen to read the instructions when the sun makes it all but impossible to reads the instructions.
It is a Free P – in downtown Burlington for the fifth year
The parking is free in city lots and on-street parking spaces.
 Parking meter wrapped for the month of December – parking is free for the month.  Brian Dean with Councillor Marianne Meed Ward the day the new parking meters were installed. Free P allows vehicles to park in on-street parking spaces for free for up to three hours. For vehicles parked in municipal parking lots or the parking garage at 414 Locust St., there is no maximum time limit. Overnight parking in municipal lots is also allowed.
Motorists with downtown parking permits are reminded to continue to park in their assigned parking lot throughout the month of December in order to maximize the number of parking spaces available for visitors.
The City of Burlington provides 1,500 municipal parking spaces in downtown Burlington and offers free parking year-round in the downtown Monday to Friday after 6 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Brian Dean, Executive Director of the Burlington Downtown Business Association and Chair of the Downtown Parking Committee explains that the “goal is to keep downtown’s unique shopping and dining experiences top of mind for residents and visitors this holiday season. We want to encourage patrons to explore even more of the services downtown by removing a parking fee from the equation this December.”
 By Staff
November 4th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement regarding a low pressure system that will be moving through Southern Ontario starting tonight and extending through Sunday. Appreciable amounts of rain are likely in many areas especially Sunday and Sunday night with forecasted amounts ranging between 25 to 40 mm.
Riverine flooding is not anticipated, however potential rainfall amounts combined with saturated ground conditions may result in higher than normal water levels and flows in local streams.
 Water levels in watershed creeks will rise significantly during the weekend. Caution around the edges of creeks – especially with children. Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay away 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 Conditions Statement – Water Safety will be in effect through Monday November 6, 2017. Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will provide updates as required.
 By Staff
November 4th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 It’s a small, independent bookstore that has been in business for more than forty years and continues to draw top level authors. offers A Different Drummer Books has put together a program that anyone interested in how authors create the books they write will be interested in attending.
Robyn Harding and Roz Nay will be in conversation with Linda Simmons on Friday November 17 – 7pm at A Different Drummer Books
Admission is free – they do want you to register.
 Robyn Harding wrote The Party – a powerful novel of family tragedy and harrowing social descent. Roz Nay, wrote Our Little Secret, a stunning, taut and adroitly designed thriller.
Lynda Simmons, an accomplished novelist and creative writing instructor, will lead her fellow authors in a discussion of their books and the writer’s art.
Sounds like something worth the time
Please register at diffdrum@mac.com
Put Please reserve a place for me on November 17. in the subject line.
By Staff
November 3, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The clocks go back an hour – which means an additional hour of snooze time for you on Sunday.
It is amazing just how many of us forget or neglect to make the change – thankfully our computers make the change automatically for us.
 There are easier ways to move the hands of a clock.
By Staff
November 3rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Prospect Street, from Guelph Line to Regency Court will be closed nightly from November 6 to 25, between 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
 From Guelph line west to Regency Court – road closures.
By Staff
November 1st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There is maintenance work to be done to the city’s online services.
 It will take place on Monday, November. 6 at 10 p.m. and it is expected to take at least an hour.
Online services:
• Online business license renewal
• Online Property information requests
will be unavailable during maintenance service on
 By Staff
October 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
New provincial rules ban city council candidates from accepting corporate and union donations, change the maximum allowable gifts, and regulate third-party interventions in next fall’s municipal elections. There is also a restriction on how much can be spent on post-election gifts and parties.
The new rules limit the length of the campaign. It will start on May first instead of the traditional January 1, and nominations will not be accepted after July 27 rather than the former late September deadline. The election will take place on October 22.
 Pete Ward photographing his wife when she filed her nomination papers last time around. Will Marianne Meed Ward be filing nomination papers on May 1, 2018. The elimination of corporate and union monies from the coffers of candidates could assist challengers who in past elections have been financially out-matched by well-established incumbents.
The new rules approved earlier this year increase the maximum individual donation to a candidate to $1200 giving extra power to wealthier donors. The previous maximum was $750. However total allowable donations by an individual to two or more candidates remains at $5000.
That’s also the maximum that a third party can spend in advertising on behalf of one or more candidates.
“A third party advertisement is a message in any medium (billboard, newspaper, radio, etc.) that supports or opposes a candidate or a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on a question on the ballot,” explains the provincial government website on the new rules. “Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising so groups that do public outreach can continue their issued-based advocacy work throughout the municipal election period.”
 Jack Dennison has always been very very coy about whether or not he is going to run again – wild horses couldn’t hold him back. Who funds his campaign is another matter altogether. Corporations and unions as well as individuals can register as third party participants in the municipal election campaign, but their ads must identify the funder. That allows corporate and union monies to continue to influence the election outcomes but who is backing who will be evident before election day, rather than the previous system where voters only found out when campaign financial reports were filed months after voting day.
“Third party advertising must be done independently of candidates, who are not able to direct a third party advertiser,” warns the provincial government. “Candidates are not able to register as third party advertisers.”
Candidates will still be allowed to pour large amounts of their own monies into their campaign.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward held her campaign announcement at the Art Gallery and was told by the City Clerk that her supporters could not wear their campaign T-shirts on city property. An asinine interpretation of the Municipal Act. A candidate for mayor can contribute $7,500 plus 20 cents for each elector entitled to vote for the office or $25,000, whichever is less.
A candidate for council can contribute $5,000 plus 20 cents for each elector entitled to vote for the office or $25,000, which is less.”
We are indebted to CATCH xxx for this information
By Staff
October 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The southbound lane on Brant Street, just south of Victoria Avenue, will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for road paving.
 One side of Brant Street to be paved on Saturday Southbound traffic will be detoured to the west, down Locust Street.
Northbound traffic will be maintained.
Signs and barricades will be up and Halton Regional Police Services will be on site to help with the detour.
Access to properties along Brant Street will be maintained at all times.
For more information, contact Florin Patrau at 905-335-7671
By Staff
October 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison asked: “How fortunate we are to live in a city which provides Leaf Collection?”
And then he hands out a “thank you” to city staff for “the tremendous efforts” of the city’s Roads & Parks Maintenance (RPM) team who coordinate and carry out this service. Based on last year’s collection schedule RPM staff revised this year’s Leaf Collection as follows:
 Specific dates have not yet been determined. The RPM are going to be more cautious this year. Collection will start the week of Nov. 6, 2017, with the last collection scheduled for the week of Dec. 11, 2017. A reminder that after the last pick updates, there will be no further collection from the city. For more details including guidelines to ensure a smooth-running pick-up, visit Leaf Collection.
 Leaf pick zone boundaries. Last year the people with trees on their property were very upset – with very few good words for city staff.
It was brutal. One south Burlington resident said:
“Who is responsible for this lack of proper planning/scheduling? I do understand that scheduling must be done in advance but surely City Hall has access to the same long-term weather reports as I do?
“And I assume city staff responsible are capable of looking outside to see how much of the leaf fall has occurred? None of this has happened with the consequent poor results. What is the City going to do to rectify this?”
Related article:
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington that many people want to stay just the same as it was thirty years ago have just a few days to enjoy an ice cream cone at Easterbrook’s on New Street.
Word from staff at the location is that the property has been sold.
 Easterbrook’s as it is today.
Someone will be getting bold and asking the city to give them height and density the city needs.
Times they are a changing indeed.
 This is what the city planners think the Guelph Line – New Street plaza COULD look like.  This is what the Guelph Line – New Street plaza looks like today. The Guelph Line New Street location isn’t part of one of the mobility hubs but the planners have high hopes and great expectations that something van be done with the plaza on the east side of Guelph Line – adding residential to the mix of that commercial site.
By Staff
September 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
On Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., there will be several road closures due to the CIBC Run for the Cure, which will affect Burlington Transit Routes 3, 4 and 10.
 There are some routes that will not have bus service on October 1st Route 3 will not service Guelph Line south of Woodward Avenue, or Lakeshore Road between Guelph Line and the John Street Terminal. Instead, Route 3 will use Woodward Avenue, Drury Lane and New Street
Route 4 will not service Teen Tour Way. Instead, it will use Drury Lane.
Route 10 will not service New Street between Drury Lane and Woodview Road. Instead, it will use Drury Lane, Prospect Street, Cumberland Avenue, Rexway Drive and Woodview Road.
By Staff
September 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Spring Gardens Road, near Valley Inn Road, will be closed for road work from Monday, September 25 to Friday, November 17, 2017.
For more information, contact Frank Vuk
frank.vuk@burlington.ca
 By Staff
September 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) will be hosting the 10th Annual Parent Engagement Conference on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Craig Kielburger Secondary School in Milton (1151 Ferguson Drive). The theme of the conference, held from 8:15 a.m. – 2:40 p.m., will be, 21st Century Student Success: Creating a Culture of Equity, Inclusion & Well-Being. Registration is open.
This year’s conference features keynote speaker Candy Palmater (Canadian activist, comedian and award-winning TV and CBC radio personality) on ‘The Road Less Travelled: Educational Leadership in a Diverse World’.
 Candy Palmater, social activist and a great entertainer. She is worth the drive to Milton From student council president in a small rural high school and valedictorian of her law school class to obtaining a Master of Education and appearing in a national TV show, Palmater’s accomplishments are unique and inspiring. She has made strides in public service at the federal and provincial level, delving into issues around self-acceptance and diversity in her motivational talks and comedy routines. She will, through words of guidance and personal stories, share her passionate perspective on equity, self- acceptance and inclusivity.
The theme of this year’s PIC conference will provide a variety of engaging workshops that address topics such as mathematics, literacy, promoting positive mental health for students, career pathways, diversity and healthy friendships.
 The Halton District School Board recognizes the important role parents play in the development of their children and in their success at school. The annual PIC conference provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to network, share ideas, offer input and enjoy informative presentations on various education related topics throughout the school year.
No mention in the media release on how parents can protect the schools they have in their neighbourhoods
Registration form
By Pepper Parr
September 1st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The material that gets pumped out of the constituency offices of the federal and provincial politician’s is usually about an opportunity to take their picture,
We seldom see a document that has information that is focused and informative.
 Oakville Burlington North Member of Parliament Pam Damoff. Pam Damoff, the federal member for Oakville Burlington North sent out both a comment and a document that many of the professional class who have incorporated their operations for tax purposes and most of the small business who have questions about changes in the tax act will find useful and interesting.
Damoff refers to an announced set of proposals aimed at reforming the tax planning options available for private corporations. Since the changes were released Damoff reports she has heard from a number of incorporated professionals, and small and medium sized business owners in Oakville and Burlington.
The proposed changes will bring reform to rules that have been unaltered since the 1970s and people rightly have a lot of questions about how these changes will affect their businesses. The proposed changes are complex, and Damoff believes there is misinformation that has been circulating.
The document she refers to can be found at;
Damoff believes the document will help to set the record straight.
The first thing Damoff wants people to do is inform themselves and learn how these changes will affect them personally or their business. She claims that once they did this, they discovered that the proposed changes do not have any impact on them at all.
 She was a replacement nominee who had no plans to run for a federal seat – she was content with being a member of Oakville town council. The document compiled by the Department lays out the current tax planning strategies that corporations are currently using, some problematic elements found in these current strategies and the rationale for why new legislative measures are needed.
You can read the document in full by clicking on this link;
Damoff encourages constructive and actionable feedback: The consultation will be open until October 2nd .
Within the newly proposed rules corporations will continue to be able to take advantage of the lower corporate tax rate to expand their offices, hire more staff, and purchase more equipment. Additionally, the government has no intention of going back in time.
The proposals would only be applied going forward. All existing savings will be unaffected. Small and mediums sized business owners can continue to use all available, tax-sheltered savings plans such as pension plans, RRSPs and TFSAs. Less than 3% of wealthy individuals max out their RRSP, TFSAs and pensions.
The proposed adjustments to the tax laws that allow unlimited tax-sheltered accounts within a business over and above the limits that apply to everyone.
 Pam Damoff letting a senior explain to her how a piece of equipment works. Damoff says that: “If you own a business and are saving against a possible downturn or to invest in your business, these changes will not affect you. As I mentioned above, changes will only be applied on a go-forward basis – all existing savings for personal use in a business will be unaffected. Our proposals will only impact a business owner if the savings are used for personal use moving forward.”
Damoff points to a Special Employment Insurance Benefits that since 2010 have been made available to people self-employed on a voluntary basis. Prior to 2010 the self-employed were not eligible for any EI benefits. Now, however, for individuals on maternity leave (including small business owners), EI provides a 55% replacement rate on employment income, up to a maximum salary of $51,300.
Damoff encourages those who have questions to reach out to her office at pam.damoff@parl.gc.ca or at 905-847-4043.
 By Pepper Parr
August 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
We lost one of the really good ones.
 A really special team – Casey Cosgrove and his supporters. Casey Cosgrove passed away at Carpenter Hospice where he was taken into their care on Monday.
Those of us who communicated with Casey on his Caring Bridge page knew the end was near when Bryna sent out the most recent message.
She said at that time: “For those of you who follow this blog regularly, you may remember that we were told many years ago that the average life span of someone with his diagnosis was 18-24 months…and that was 6 years ago. We are truly thankful for not only all that extra time that we had to laugh with him, but that he was remarkably healthy and active for almost all of it.
 The boys won the bet – the daughter got a kiss and a pink mustache of her own. “We will take these days ahead to spend time together as a family and reflect and enjoy the moments we have with each other with as much positivity as we can.”
Much love…Bryna
This is the time to grieve the loss – tomorrow we can celebrate one of the really good ones.
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