 By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The city manager sits in on every Standing Committee meeting as well as Council meetings.
The City manager is the only person that Council hires. The city manager runs the administrative side of the city delegating the authority he got from Council to his team.
Members of Council chair the Standing Committees – as Chair they make decisions on how the procedural manual is to be interpreted and remind speakers if they have run out of time or if they are wandering from the subject matter.
Earlier this week, for the first time in the ten years I have been covering city council Tim Commisso, the City Manager caught the eye of the Chair and said the following.
 City manager Tim Commisso at Standing Committee earlier this week. “I think it’s one of the things we’re very fortunate yo have which is a great relationship with the Chief, but I would just caution council, I don’t know if it’s fair for the delegation to be talking in depth about operations.
I’d be honest with you, I think certainly perspective on NFPA. You know, and that I just think you’re going to hear from the on the presentation on the master plan in front of the chief.
So I just suggest that the in depth nature of fire operations and I know, Mr. Vanderlelie is more than capable of speaking about it, but I think it’s really questions that are directed, I think in conjunction with the Master Fire Plan.
Finally, the other thing that raises and it’s a very good point is the growth intensification comes with certainly a set of questions is whether we need to be in a position to fund something like a new station downtown in advance or once we see that growth in the tech space so I just I would just suggest it through the chair. The questions really don’t focus on operations so much.
Thank you.”
For the City Manager to suggest that a Fire Service Captain should not delve into operations when he was specifically asked by a Council member to do just that is a bit more than surprising.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
June 5th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With the Ontario election over and Doug Ford in place until 2026, running the province with little in the way of an opposition party, our eyes turn to the municipal election in October.
Look for a move on the part of Councillor Sharman to indicate that he will run for the office of Mayor.
 Jane McKenna, MPP when the photo was taken, at a Freeman Station event with a friend. A comment made, at a Joseph Brant Museum event last week, by someone who would know, that Mayor Meed Ward might consider (is considering) running for the office of Regional Chair where she would be running against Jane McKenna who gave up her seat at Queen’s Park to run for the office that Gary Carr doesn’t appear to want any more.
Carr moved from Milton into downtown Burlington recently.
Meed Ward has let the very strong support she had when she became mayor dwindle away; it will take more than we think this Mayor has to pull that support back.
Meed Ward has changed the way municipal government works in Burlington – too many, the changes were not all that beneficial.
The biggest thing Meed Ward brought was hope – and then she dashed that hope by making herself the focal point.
 As a Councillor for ward 2 between 2010 and 2014 Marianne Med Ward made a significant difference – she brought hope to the hearts of those who wanted to keep the Burlington they had. Politics is both an art and a science. The better politicians have a strong survival instinct – Meed Ward may have figured out that her political life can be extended by moving to the Regional level and then on to the provincial level where she has always wanted to end up.
By Pepper Parr
May 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
What will the province look like on Friday June 3rd?
Put a different way – How bad could it be?
 Has Doug Ford changed? And if he has – how much? Building the 413 is not a change – its the same old Doug. Province wide the polls say that Doug Ford will be returned as Premier.
Who will form the Opposition?
The polls again suggest that the New Democrats will continue to be the Opposition
What the polls are also telling us is that Steve Del Duca may not win his own seat.
 Wishful thinking? The New Democrats will be deeply disappointed about not being able to form a government and will need to think about their leadership.
Leadership for the Liberals will have to come out of whatever they have in the way of members sitting in the Legislature.
 There is a better than even chance that Del Duca will lose his seat. Will this happen?
Polls are never accurate – but they are an indicator.
The challenge for the people of Ontario is to find some way to limit how much damage Doug Ford can do. A Progressive Conservative government would serve Ontario well.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 In an earlier news report we asked: Why did the Burlington Chamber of Commerce decide the Burlington candidate for the New Blue Party would not be permitted to take part in the Chamber’s Question and Answer session on May 19th?
We now know why.
They were told that they did not poll at least 5% of the vote in the last election. True – they didn’t exist in the last election.
 They do not have a member sitting in the Legislature – not completely true. The New Party is represented in the Legislature by Belinda Karahalios who was at one point a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.
Belinda Karahalios was elected as the MPP for Cambridge. In July of 2020 she was expelled from the PC caucus after she voted against Bill 195.
The bill was in its third reading, and would allow the government of Premier Doug Ford to extend or amend some emergency orders a month at a time for up to two years without consulting the legislature.
When she was booted out of the PC party, Karahalios crossed the floor of the Legislature and declared herself a member representing the New Blue Party. Crossing the floor is nothing knew – it happens federally and provincially.
The spirit of a democratic society is to accept a party that is representative of the community; the New Blue party has 124 people nominated and running election campaigns across the province. To put it more bluntly – the New Blue have a candidate running in every riding in the province as do the New Democrats and the Progressive Conservatives. The Liberal Party has 122 candidates.
 Allison McKenzie: New Blue candidate for Burlington, The Burlington Chamber of Commerce needs to take another hard look at the decision they have made and welcome Allison McKenzie, candidate as the candidate for the New Blue Party in Burlington.
Personally, I am not a fan of the party and most of the positions they have taken.
I am a fan and a strong believer in fairness and openness. The New Blue belong at the table.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Pepper Parr
May 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The 2022-23 Performing Arts season will be announced on May 31st. The demand for tickets hits a peak the week after – everone knows will be on stage and they want tickets.
 The stage curtains will open May 31 and the season will begin. The Performing Arts Centre in Burlington has a unique ticket sales plan.
You can buy a ticket for an event anytime you want – the unique part of their approach is that once a year they hold an event at which they announce their program for the coming season.
In order to attend that event you have to be a member. An opportunity to buy a membership is set out below.
Immediately after the Season announcement people take their programs and head to the ticket booths to place their orders.
It is an approach that works.
On May 31st, they will be holding their Season Launch. A new season of concerts, theatre, dance, comedy, variety, illusion, and family programming will be promoted and explained – you might even get a taste of what is scheduled.
. There is only one way to be invited to the 22/23 season launch May 31 – be a BPAC member. Click HERE
 A dark theatre is not what Tammy Fox had in mind – at the end of the month she will announce what we can all look forward to. BPAC Executive Director Tammy Fox explains what she has planned. “After not being able to host a full, in-person season launch in three years, it is such a thrill to be back hosting our members again in our space.
“Next Season’s lineup has something for everyone, from famous faces to exciting concerts, to one-of-a-kind spectacles and intimate performances.”
“This is the best time to become a member or renew your membership, so you can be here for all the excitement on Season Launch night, May 31.”
“Burlington’s hottest ticket of the season will be hosted by none other than award-winning comedian and BPAC favourite Seán Cullen.
To unveil its newest Season of entertainment.
 Sean Cullen – he will take the Season announcements through a lively night of its all about show business. Having Cullen on the stage will be an improvement over some of the really dismal and disappointing season launch events in the past. None of the Tammy Fox events were bummers – her decision to call in Cullen was a smart move.
Membership Benefits
Only BPAC Members are invited to our amazing 22/23 Season Launch. Members also enjoy other benefits such as advance notice and front-of-line ticket access, discounts on all ‘BPAC Presents’ tickets, exclusive access to our Members’ Lounge, free ticket offers to select performances, recognition in our playbill, discounts from local business partners in downtown Burlington, and more!
 Two Performing Arts members going through the catalogue for a season and deciding what they want to attend. Sales are brisk Announcement night. With four membership levels to choose from, there is a BPAC membership for every budget.
Become a BPAC Member or renew your Membership today to receive an invitation to the 22/23 Season Launch and exclusive front-of-the-line ticketing access to the 22/23 Season!
Join as a Platinum or Gold Member and reserve your preferred tickets before the Launch to ensure you are enjoying each show from your favourite seat in the House!
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The one thing a politician cannot and should not even try to do is position themselves as an open, honest person and then do things that do not measure up to the image they set out.
Rory Nisan described himself as a diplomat during his campaign. He was not a diplomat. He was around diplomatic events and worked with very senior members of the government setting up meetings that involved senior people from other counties.
He had a good blue suit, took order and was polite.
The blue suit might still exist but the rest of the traits aren’t being seen these days.
Nisan decided that the health of his new child was at some risk if he attended council meetings.
He has chosen to work from home.
I personally disagree with the position he took – the Council Chamber is probably the safest place in town to be – but – if Rory Nisan thinks his child might be at risk he has the right to work from home – and to be fair, as a responsible parent he is doing the right thing.
What wasn’t so right however was an event that took place on May 2nd.
Nisan used some of the time to meet with his campaign team in an outdoor setting
 Rory Nisan with his campaign team on May 2nd, 2022 The optics don’t fit the image.
Most of his team is unmasked, as is Nisan.
That picture just does not jibe with the way Nisan has worked to portray himself.
Going to be interesting to hear what he has to say on some of the positions he has taken on matter of city business.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
April 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The players in the provincial election that will begin on Wednesday are moving into the campaign offices during the weekend.
Burlington is caught up in the mini scandal over a Council member giving away information discussed in a Closed Session of Council and being sanctioned for her behaviour.
The attention being given the Integrity Commission report is going to have to be directed to the election of the next provincial government – where there are very real and very critical decisions to be made.
The manner in which the province has handled the pandemic and the approach they are taking to climate change are troubling. In the past, Conservative parties have hidden their candidates and relied on their membership base to keep them in office.
 Natalie Pierre – appointed not nominated but the Progressive Conservative candidate nevertheless. This time around Natalie Pierre will be seen and heard today as the Progressive Conservatives open their campaign office. How much the public sees and hears from her after that is questionable.
The same gang that managed the campaign of Emily Brown, is running the Natalie Pierre campaign.
In Brown they had a candidate who could have given Karina Gould a much more serious run – but the campaign directors wouldn’t let the public see or hear her – other than at political party events and the Chamber of Commerce debate.
 Mariam Manaa – the Liberal candidate who won the nomination race to be the candidate. However, there is a change taking place in Burlington that may well put Mariam Manaa, the Liberal candidate into a seat in the Legislature.
What is not yet clear is just how many Muslims there are in Burlington.
Manaa defeated Andrea Grebenc for the nomination to the surprise of many. The number of votes the winner of a nomination receives is never made public so we don’t know just how many more votes Manaa got.
Statistics Canada has released new population numbers. I expect that they will show a significant increase in the number of Muslims – those will all be Manaa votes.
Burlington has for a long time been a Conservative and a conservative city. That day may be gone. Karina Gould showed that Liberals can win and get re-elected as well.
Putting a Liberal in at Queen’s Park is the first step to getting Ontario the government it needs.
Don’t take that to mean that the province needs a Liberal government. My view is that Stephen Del Duca would have difficulty putting together a government – is he going to win his own seat? and Andrea Horwath would not know how to lead a government.
 Andrew Drummond – NDP candidate running for the third time. Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate in Burlington would be a fine MPP.
The choice for Ontario in my view is a minority Progressive Conservative government. Doug Ford is his own worst enemy. With a hobble on his ankle his government will get the province through two to three years during which the New Democrats can find the leader they need and the public can get a look at what kind of talent the Liberals were able to get elected.
It is going to be a short campaign, probably pretty rough as well. Power is not easily taken away from those who hold it and there are a lot of wealthy vested interests that will do whatever they think is necessary to keep what they have.
We are in a time when huge changes are taking place. Covid has whacked our economy; the hospitality sector came close to being wiped out. The way organizations and corporations manage their employees is going through a change and the most recent climate change prediction talked in terms of years not decades.
How different Ontario looks on the morning of June 3rd is something that will get decided by the people in the province who think about what we are up against and then get out and vote.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
April 26th 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Reports that are going to Council meeting as a Standing Committee are always published about 10 days before the meeting.
The report on the comments from a Closed Meeting Investigation were put on the city web site sometime after 7:00 pm on Friday. Bad optics but optics are no longer a concern for this council or this administration.
The respected law firm, Aird and Berlis were brought in because someone filed a request with the city Clerk asking for an investigation – basically to determine if the city was following the rules about going into a Closes session.
The four dates that were investigated related to those occasions when the Integrity Commissioner was asked by Councillors Nisan and Galbraith to determine of Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct.
Few would argue that she did not – she certainly did and has accepted the consequences of her decision.
What the public wants to know is – did the city tell its citizens enough about why they went into CLosed and what they talked about during the meetings.
The Integrity commented that the could improve on what it tells the public.
The public will get an answer to that question; it may not be as fulsome as they expected and would like to see.
In their report Air & Berlus conclude that on each of the four occasions complaints were based on the city met the rules as set out in the Municipal Act – and they site chapter and verse to back up their conclusions.
It goes before Council on May 4th as a Receive and File Report . All Aird and Berlis were asked to do is advise on whether or not they had the right to go into Closed.
Getting that answer, which we already know has cost the taxpayers $15,000.
 Marianne Meed Ward in September of 2018 asking the public to trust her During the discussion on the Integrity Commissions report Councillor Galbraith made this statement. He said Staff can submit a report and ask that it be discussed in a Closed session of Council. He added that it is Council that determines whether or not they actually go into Closed. They have to vote on that – each time.
Burlington’s city council is beginning to look foolish, incompetent and lacking a clear sense of direction.
Mayor Meed Ward said in a lengthy Statement she released on her tweet account that trust in this council has to be maintained. She could not have been more right.
In the 2014 election Marianne Meed Ward asked citizens not for their vote – but for their trust. And they gave it to her and were impressed enough to make her Mayor.
She has lost that trust – the skills. the integrity and the spunk to win it back do not appear to exist.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Pepper Parr
April 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a sticky situation.
The cost of a house has sky rocketed.
The inventory of houses for sale is low.
Two groups are currently looking into the housing problem.
And a Housing Working group that was brought into being due to the persistent efforts of ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte.
And she is about to get a public spanking on Tuesday for telling the public about some of the things being said in Closed sessions of Council about property that is being redeveloped by public agencies to benefit the public.
Go figure.
Having said that, the city planners are doing some solid work; gathering the information on which to base the strategy that is needed to find a way to provide housing for the thousands of people who are going to move to Burlington in the next two decades.
 Expect the work that City Council has approved on the housing file to become a major election issue. Will it get the Mayor re-elected? The people who will benefit have yet to move to the city. There is the common ground established that housing is a basic human right, and there is a collective civic responsibility to ensure that the supply of housing available within a community can accommodate the varying needs of residents throughout their lifetime, including financial needs.
 Working Group on Housing, made up of both volunteers and people steeped in the business of housing has met virtually for a number of months. Burlington has initiated a project to develop an Innovative Housing Strategy that sets out policies, tools, identifies partnerships, and actions to address residents’ current and future housing needs. The consulting team of Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) and SHS Consulting (SHS) were retained by the City to carry out this work, in partnership with the City’s Housing Strategy Project team, Housing Strategy Working Group, and Housing Strategy Steering Committee.
Housing: what can Burlington do and how do they go about doing it.
While there has been a lot of effort and emphasis on improving housing opportunities in the City, this Housing Strategy project provides an opportunity for a focused approach. The principal objective is to develop an innovative Housing Strategy for the City of Burlington that sets out policies, tools, and actions to address residents’ housing needs, identifies opportunities for partnerships, and redefines Burlington’s role in meeting local housing needs, now and in the future.
What is the biggest issue? Affordability or inventory?
There are many different ways of defining affordable housing. Definitions that exist in provincial laws, may differ from definitions used in federal housing programs. For many people, there is also a very personal definition of affordability based on their own income.
Affordable Housing
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) defines affordable housing as housing with a price for purchase or rent where households spend no more than 30 percent of their gross household income on housing.
In the case of ownership housing, the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) defines affordable housing as, the least expensive of:
- Housing for which the purchase price results in annual accommodation costs which do not exceed 30 percent of gross annual housing income for low and moderate income households; or
- Housing for which the purchase price is at least 10 percent below the average purchase price of a resale unit in the regional market area;
In the case of rental housing, the PPS defines affordable housing as, the least expensive of:
- A unit for which the rent does not exceed 30 percent of grow annual housing income for low and moderate income households; or
- A unit for which the rent is at or below the average market rent of a unit in the regional market area.
In Halton Region’s Official Plan, affordable housing is defined as:
“housing with a market price (or rent that is affordable to households of low and moderate income, spending no more than 30 percent of their gross income.
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- a) Affordable rental housing should meet the demand of households at the low end, as described in Halton’s annual State of Housing Report, pursuant to Section 86(7). Such households would be able to afford at least three out of ten rental units on the market.
- b) Affordable ownership housing should meet the demand of households at the high end, as identified in Halton’s annual State of Housing Report. Such households would have sufficient income left, after housing expenses, to sustain the basic standard of living.”
Attainable Housing
While there is no universal definition of attainable housing, it is often used to refer to rental or ownership housing without any subsidies which is affordable to workforce households or households with moderate incomes. In the US, it is defined as non-subsidized, for-sale housing that is affordable to households with incomes between 80 and 120 percent of the area median income.
Using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), to bring the 2016 incomes to 2021 values, the estimated average household income in Burlington for 2021 is $159,083 and the estimated median household income is $124,154.
Based on research conducted as part of this report, findings indicate the following 2021 average ownership prices in Burlington:
 This development at 2100 Brant sold out before the sales office was opened. Single-detached: $1,398,357
Semi-detached: $901,963
Townhouse: $894,997
Condominium townhouse: $575,299
Condominium apartments: $575,299
This means that, within the context of Burlington, ownership options are only affordable to households earning $164,016 or more on an annual basis, unless they had a down payment greater than 5% or spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
With respect to rental tenure, the research conducted as part of this report indicates the following average monthly rents in the primary rental market in Burlington9:
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 Some of these units at the Burlington GO station will be rentals. Bachelor: $1,229
- One bedroom: $1,577
- Two bedroom: $1,641
- Three+ bedroom: $1,658
This means that, within the context of Burlington, rental options within the primary rental market are only affordable to households earning $60,072 or more on an annual basis. This is further complicated by the low vacancy rates for rental housing in the City, which has remained below 3% since 2010.
Within the Burlington Context, where the cost of all tenures of housing is high, there are very few “affordable” housing options for households within low and moderate income deciles when applying the Federal and Provincial government’s definition of “affordable”.
Given the City’s stated objective for the Housing Strategy to provide a toolkit with options to address housing needs across the entire housing continuum, the strategy will need to provide tools to address both housing “affordability” and “attainability” throughout Burlington to best position itself as an inclusive and complete community that provides housing options for all.
When “affordable housing” is used within the context of this report it is meant to encapsulate the definition of affordable as set out in the Halton Region Official Plan and does not mean government- assisted housing or subsidized housing.
 These two developments; one at the Burlington GO station and the other in the east end are part of the inventory that will come on line at some point. The GO station development has most of the approvals it needs. What isn’t know – how much will the rents be?  Burlington’s role in housing.
Through the work completed to date, it was determined that the biggest impact the City of Burlington can make, as a lower-tier municipality, is to provide innovative solutions to address housing affordability and attainability for middle-income earners. Increasingly, middle-income households are struggling to find housing that is appropriate for their needs and income level in Burlington with the high cost of housing posing significant challenges for middle-income working households.
Providing support to these households insures that they can remain housed in Burlington.
It is in addressing the middle income needs where the City can make the biggest moves.
By Pepper Parr
April 14th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
A matter of major significance is now going to be discussed in public at city council on Tuesday the 19th.
Getting it on the table has not been easy – there were far too many people at both the Council level and the administration level who wanted the Integrity Commissioner’s report discussed in a Closed Session of Council.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte Councillor Stolte, the subject of the Integrity report, has to be recognized for taking the high road and setting out her position and the why of what she did. There are numerous concerns.
How will Council handle the report? The Integrity Commissioner will present the document and be on hand to answer questions.
Will the Councillors ask any questions?
And there are a lot of questions to be asked.
 Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan above and ward 1 Councillor Kelven Galbraith  Of the two council members who filed the report: who approached who? Did Nisan call Galbraith or was it vice versa? Realize that Councillor Nisan doesn’t want to leave his home – Covid19 fears.
Councillors are seldom at their office in city hall this past year – so there is no opportunity for the kind of casual conversation and the open exchange of views and collaboration that Stolte sees as vital.
There is concern over an email that Stolte sent to a constituent – how did Nisan and Galbraith get their hands on that email?
Who influenced who at City Hall? What role did the City Manager play?
What role did the City Clerk play? What was the level of collusion between the Mayor and the City manager ?
Will there be public delegations?
Who is going to ask the hard questions?
There is an investigation underway by the Investigator of Closed meetings about the practices used in Burlington.
Does that report not have a bearing on what has taken place?
The meeting on the 19th is scheduled as a virtual meeting – which is unfortunate.
The calendar doesn’t’ work and permit genuine public participation. City Hall is closed Friday and Monday. The public saw the report for the first time at 6:00 am this morning.
It will take time to digest and understand what the issue is – and there is an issue.
People don’t gather as much as they used to – the current Covid19 wave is impacting a lot of people. Councillor Sharman is reported to have become infected.
The concern that many have is that the Integrity report will be read into the record and no one will ask any questions – hoping that is Council and the administration go mute and that this will then all just go away.
Democracy doesn’t work that way.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
April 11th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We published a three part interview with ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte.
 The earning curve was the steepest Stolte had ever experienced. This has not been an easy council to interview. It has been difficult to get a clear sense as to how well they work together and the kind of leadership that has been available to the newcomers.
One said to us early in the term of office that he had been told “not to talk to you” – this one has always been easily swayed.
The five newcomers are certainly a mixed bag – each of them has struggled with the size of the job they got elected to – every one of them will tell you – if they are honest with themselves, that they are way in over their heads – but they work hard and do their best.
A situation has arisen that has the potential to tear this council apart. It should break in a few days; it is expected to be on the city council agenda for April 19th. It might be on the agenda as a Closed session item because it relates to the behavior of a person that we are choosing not to name at this point.
 Councillors Stolte and Kearns tend to work together and support the positions each takes. The collegiality that Councillor Stolte thought existed does not exist. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has turned out to be a very divisive Mayor – who has not been able to create a council, made up of people new to the game, and turn them into independent operators who buy into the big picture and work as a team to end up with a city that is going to see massive population growth requiring literally hundreds of high rise towers.
Meed Ward has chosen the photo op and social media route. A woman who consistently talks up her background as a journalist has yet to hold an open press conference.
She favours situations, such as her perch at CHML where she is never pressed on serious issues or Cogeco where she has a program of her own.
Posing as a journalist is just plain phony – she knows better but up until recently Meed Ward has had a tribe of supporters who believe she can do no wrong.
 Marianne Meed Ward didn’t do all that much to mentor the new members to Council I was once a fan; she was a strong council member who really knew how to go for the juggler. She taught former Councillor and former Mayor Rick Goldring a tough lesson during the last meeting of that council. She was the best choice for the city in 2018
There is a lot in what Shawna Stolte said during our interview – she was always careful to ensure that she didn’t talk about natters that were debated in Closed sessions – she did say that she has very strong views on the way the city chooses to slip into a Closed session.
Teaching the members of this council that they have an obligation to communicate with their constituents has not been easy. Most feel that their Newsletter is how they can speak to their constituents – the obligation is to open themselves up to media that can ask informed questions.
Stole has taken a first bold step. Her Father would be proud.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
March 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Getting any information about what takes place in a CLOSED session of Council is a little like squeezing that last little bit of toothpaste out of the tube.
You run your fingers along the sides and squeeze to get the toothpaste to the top of the tube and onto the tooth brush.
 City Solicitor Nancy Shea Nicol That was the image that came to mind as I listened to Nancy Shea Nicol, City Solicitor, as she explained to Council that she would have a report to them on what came out of the closes session on Tuesday.
Someone somewhere in city hall has decided that this going into CLOSED session on almost any matter had to come to an end – the public had a right to know what was taking up so much time in the legal department.
Nancy Shea Nicol is an old school lawyer – say nothing or at least as little as possible.
There are occasions when a CLOSED session is required for a property matter.
 Ward 4 Councillor Lisa Kearns – wants a more transparent approach to CLOSED sessions of Council Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns wanted to know why the public could not at least have the address of the property that was being discussed.
There appear to be changes in the wind. It would really be nice if the Mayor made a statement explaining that a change was necessary and setting out what the public had a right to know what the business of the city was about.
The city is in the process of buying the old Bateman High School property.
The School Board has said they want to sell because they have no use for the space. They do however want to rent some of the space from the purchaser.
Brock University has been talking to the city about renting some of the space to set up a teacher training program.
The city wants to put some of the space to use as well; library and something for the seniors in the east end of the city.
These are all public organizations – why all the secrecy?
Old habits? It was just the way things were done?
A fresh wind appears to be blowing through the legal department.
About time.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
March 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The next Halton District School Board (HDSB) Director’s Panel Series on Identity, Inclusion & Human Rights will take place on March 29th at 6:00 pm
The working title for the event is Two Spirit & Transgender Awareness: Beyond Bathrooms.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board HDSB families, staff and community members are invited to the Director’s Panel Series on Identity, Inclusion & Human Rights to raise awareness on historical and contemporary issues of identity, inclusion and human rights. The next session in the panel series will be:
Two Spirit & Transgender Awareness: Beyond Bathrooms
Tuesday, March 29 at 6 – 7:30 p.m.
This will be a virtual event, with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (www.hdsb.ca).
Registration is not required.
Panel speakers include:
• Dani Araya, Coordinator, Trans Youth Mentor Program, The 519
• Andie Davis, HDSB Grade 11 student
• Lyndon George, Indigenous Justice Coordinator, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
• Eliot Newton, Education Program Coordinator, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, at the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
• Stella, HDSB Grade 8 student
• Phi Trân Trinh, Program Coordinator, Positive Space Network
• Dinaly Tran, Nonbinary BIPOC Program Coordinator, Planned Parenthood Toronto
Those interested in attending the event can submit a question to the panel before or during the panel discussion through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/L5AxQvpErhR9wpkG9
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board explains: “Each session in the series will explore how issues of identity and inclusion intersect with education,”
“This provides an opportunity to create awareness of multiple perspectives of insight and analysis on how individual identities can be reflected and engaged in the broader HDSB community. This panel series aligns with the Board’s commitment to raise awareness of diverse community perspectives and the need to broaden resources to support inclusion and student achievement, as reflected in the HDSB’s Multi-Year Plan 2020-2024 and the Human Rights Equity Action & Accountability Plan – The Way Forward.”
Future sessions in the series include:
• Indigenous Perspectives on Decolonizing Education and Land (Tuesday, April 26 at 6 – 7:30 p.m.)
• Perspectives on Islam and Islamophobia (Tuesday, May 31 at 6 – 7:30 p.m.)
Previous panel sessions include Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred (Feb. 7) and Black Excellence: Today and Every Day (Feb. 28). Full recordings of these panel discussions are available to view on the Director’s Panel Series on Identity, Inclusion and Human Rights webpage.
By Pepper Parr
March 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Ontario’s fixed-date election law sets voting day as June 2, 2022, and the formal start of the campaign period as next May 4.
Burlington now has nominated candidates for the three mainline political parties.
 NDP candidate Andrew Drummond get a visit from Liberal candidate Mariam Manaa while she was doing her door to door thing. The New Democrats nominated Andrew Drummond, the Liberals actually made a contest of their nomination and chose Mariam Manaa as their candidate.
The Progressive Conservatives appointed Natalie Pierre as their candidate.
The Greens nominated Kyle Hutton.
There may be others.
While there is all kinds of political maneuvering taking place at the party leadership level, the fight at the ground level will become fierce starting May 4th.
Drummond is well known, he has run before and has acquitted himself quite well. Were he to be elected he would be a creditable legislator once he has learned the basics of being an MPP.
 Andrea Horwath on the campaign trail The problem with the Ontario New Democrats is their leader – Andrea Horwath isn’t seen as a leader; there isn’t all that much bench strength in the party – she would have difficulty forming a government and the even more difficulty governing.
Bob Rae who brought tonnes of credibility to the job of party leader had difficulty find the talent he needed to appoint solid members to his Cabinet.
Burlington does have a small but solid community of followers – enough to win? There was a real chance last time out – not sure that chance exists this time around,
Manaa has no experience in government but some knowledge of the way politicians serve their communities having worked as an intern with two federal MP’s.
No one is sure just where her support came from. If the Muslim community is large enough she could take the seat.; what is not clear is just how many Muslim’s in the riding there are. The most recent Stats Canada data is not yet available. The Muslim community will vote for their candidate.
The team teaching Mariam how to campaign is solid. If she has the capacity to develop into a credible candidate she could surprise a lot of people.
 Aldershot resident Greg Woodruff, right, talking to Stephen Del Duca, provincial Liberal party leader, while he was in Burlington as the then Minister of Transport for the province. The Liberals have not been blessed with a gifted party leader. Steve Del Duca comes across as flailing about looking for an issue that he can use to get the foothold he desperately needs. Not having a seat in the Legislature doesn’t help. .
The Progressive Conservatives in Burlington have struggled to develop really solid candidates. Cam Jackson served as the MPP for years. One would be challenged to point to anything significant he achieved while in office.
Jane McKenna was nominated at a meeting where she was the only candidate; zip in the way of political experience and a one of the thinnest public profiles ever seen for a person running for public office. She was fortunate in having some very savvy political players guiding and directing her. It was one of Keith Strong’s better initiatives.
There has always been something suspect with PC nomination meetings.
McKenna decided there was an even greener pasture for her at the Regional level and she announced she would not run again as the MPP fr Burlington.
There was no immediate identifiable replacement candidate; we would get notes from people asking if we knew who the PC candidate was going to be.
 Natalie Pierre, PC appointed candidate for Burlington It is not known yet how, when or where the appointed candidate Natalie Pierre was found.
No experience other than having lived in Burlington for 30 years.
The PC party made the appointment on March 4th and informed the public on We were copied on an email in which McKenna appeared to be taking all the credit for finding Pierre.
Since that announcement – not a word.
Burlington has solid deep Conservative roots. As a society it tends to be conservative.
The federal candidate the Conservatives put forward was wrapped in a bubble, said next to nothing and was the poster girl for the gun club lobby.
The challenge for every political party and its candidate is to create profile – get the candidate out in front of people.
To date we have seen nothing on Natalie Pierre.
Are the PC’s going to rely on the strength thay have always has in Burlington. A sort of “she is one of us – vote for her” campaign?
 Doug Ford casting a ballot The problem the PC’s have is with their leader. He has not exactly proven to be a rock star for the way he handled the pandemic; Ontario has yet to formalize an agreement with the federal government on the new child care program.
It is hard to fathom the PC position on climate change but very easy to grasp what they want to do in terms of building new roads rather that focus on and look for different ways to move people from place to place.
The Bradford Bypass and the Hwy 413 extension are really not needed.
Doug Ford has a small business mentality – he genuinely feels the pain of the small business person who had to close their doors during the lock-downs,
 Ford understand the small business community – he genuinely cares about the problems they have had to face. He is prepared to put at risk the health and welfare on students who would be well served with a masking policy for another two weeks until we learn what WORD are going to be as a result of the Spring Break.
What is proving to be very interesting is the number of parents who have decided they will stay with a masking protocol for the immediate future and wait for new virus infection results.
Doug Ford wants to hope that the reports are minimal and that we may have cleared the mist recent wave. Let us hope as well that the numbers that do exists don’t get fudged.
 Kyle Hutton Green Part candidate What the province needs at this point in its growth is a well thought out vision – something a bit more than Doug Ford’s Open for Business position.
Burlington now has three candidates; two who are credible – the third too unknown at this point to be able to make a comment.
The Greens have a candidate – thin on real experience but quite a bite of on the ground electing candidates which he learned while working to get Karina Gould elected.
There are tough choices to be made. A minority Progressive Conservative government would serve the province best,
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
March 2, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Three months from now we will be marking our ballots and choosing who we want to lead us in Ontario going forward.
 The Ford government is sitting at Queen’s Park passing legislation. Yesterday we learned that there was a section in a piece of legislation that forgave a significant fine the Premier was required to pay for not getting a budget before the public by a specific date.
The government has delayed publishing the budget which was due March 31st. The new date is sometime in late April
We learn today that the government announced an advertising program that will focus on how well the economy is doing.
While important, critically important the province is slowly coming out of pandemic driven restrictions that has ticket sales of Raptors games at the Scotiabank Arena close to sold out.
People need some relief.
World news is horrific; we are in the middle of something that doesn’t impact on most of us – but the news we read about what is happening in Ukraine is going to impact every one of us in the very near future.
 Premier Ford in the Legislature Inflation is beginning to play havoc on what happens to us daily. Have you been to the supermarket; have you looked at the price of a good steak ?
Supply chain issues are still not resolved
With all this going on we have a provincial government shuffling the cards and dealing themselves a stronger hand.
Keep an eye on the rascals.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
February 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Yesterday Premier Doug Ford said: he’s “eager to get these mandates moving.”
 It has always been about business for Doug Ford. “I hate as a government telling anyone what to do. We’ve just got to get moving forward and get out of this and protect the jobs,” Mr. Ford said at a manufacturing announcement in Hamilton.
“The world’s done with it, so let’s just move forward.”
The government intends to fully lift capacity limits on businesses and social gatherings on March 1. Its vaccine-certificate policy – which requires certain businesses only admit vaccinated patrons – is set to end the same day.
Mr. Ford said Tuesday that he was “never sold” on the proof-of-vaccination policy, but that he introduced it on the advice of the province’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore.
 “Dr. Moore’s phenomenal, but you know something, he’s reasonable, too. He’s reasonable, he gets it, he understands the economy,” Mr. Ford said. “Thank God, on March 1, we’re moving forward out of this … I just can’t wait.”
And there you have a Premier doing a Class A hissy fit in public. The 1500 plus new infections Ontario is experiencing each day is a clear sign that we are not “done with it” yet.
 Apparently his heart was never in the fight to conquer. The comments made by the Premier are so irresponsible. He has never understood that it really isn’t all about jobs – it is about the health of the people he serves. The thousands of deaths recorded so far are a testament on just how serious this has been.
There is hope however, early in June the people of the province can decide with their votes if they are done with Doug Ford.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
February 2nd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
City staff and Councilors are getting prepared for the fall municipal election.
Two items on the council agenda today are reviewing the election sign by-law and a Staff Direction for the City \Manager to include in a March report a review of the city’s closed session meeting policies and procedures and report back on options and recommendations to ensure the development of updated best practices.
 How does on prevent this kind of clutter? You don’t – they are a foundational part of the democratic process. Let’s take the election signs issue. Several members of Council would ban election signs completely; they already have the name recognition they need.
For those looking for a way to gain some name recognition signs on lawns are critical.
It will be interesting to see how Council reacts to what is put on the table.
As for Closed sessions of council there is nothing but shame for this Council; they have held more closed sessions in this term that in any other in the past decade.
Admittedly, there are development issues, especially those related to Ontario Land Tribunal matters that have to be in closed.
The City Manager has advised of his intent to bring forward a report to the March 2002 CSSRA meeting regarding enhancing the alignment and effectiveness of the City of Burlington’s governance related business processes, practices and policies.
The impetus for the report is tied to the need to issue a new RFP for the upcoming renewal of the five-year contract for the City’s independent Integrity Commissioner.
There have been issues raised over the past 12 months in regard to the procedures and processes by which matters before Council are dealt with in Open versus Closed Session Meetings which have substantiated the timely need to review, update and properly define these best practices and procedures and to utilize the findings from this
assessment to support the development of an updated Closed Meeting Protocol.
 When Council meetings resume normal operations will we see as much of this? It will be interesting to learn just what the City Manager thinks a best practice is.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
January 31st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
During her State of the City address on Thursday the Mayor would not declare that she is going to run for office again – she said she would declare in May (why the wait) but added that she loved the job.
A majority of the current council have indicated that they will run again; there are a couple that should re-think that decision.
But before we get our heads around deciding whether or not members of the current city council deserve to be re-elected we have to make some decisions on the current provincial government.
Do we re-elect Doug Ford? Personally I wouldn’t. In my view the smartest thing we can do, if we must, is return the Conservatives as a minority government.
I’ve not been impressed with the way Ford has handled the pandemic and his Highway 13 plans would be a disaster.
Doug Ford is a business man – that is what he understands – even if he isn’t all that good at it.
He once made the comment that he “detests” closing down the commercial sector – but that is what had to be done to limit the new Omicron variant from spreading.
Many had taken the position that this most recent variant wasn’t all that bad – failing to realize that more people died of Covid19 during January of this year than at any other time during this now two year pandemic – save one month.
We had children who were being infected.
On Thursday we had genuine nut cases lining the overpasses along major highways cheering on the Freedom Convoy – truckers who said vaccination mandate did not respect their rights; forgetting that not being vaccinated infringed on the rights of others.
 There they were – by the hundreds at overpasses across the GTA. Which part of the solution to bringing the pandemic to an end didn’t they understand? And which part of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms do they not understand? The rank stupidity and level of ignorance is stunning; the crowds that cheered on the truckers to be so uninformed is disturbing – and dangerous. Those who drive a truck for a living have the right to refuse to be vaccinated – but unless they are vaccinated they can’t drive a truck across the Canada \US border.
There are people at city hall who have been told they cannot report for work if they are not vaccinated.
I’ve never had the feeling that this provincial government has a solid grip on the pandemic. The way they have jerked parents with children in school is a real shame.
I am of the belief that Andrea Horvath, the NDP leader would have difficulty forming a government in the very unlikely event that she won a majority.
And Stephen Del Duca has just not inspired me – he is trying to create a profile and get some traction. I like the look of John Fraser, the current Liberal leader in the legislature.
I think the provincial Liberals need a major conference at which they could flesh out just who they are and what their policies will be. Until they do something to let the public know what they will do differently they are wandering in the political wilderness.
Times have changed. The pandemic has brought a lot of the changes to the surface.
 One of the issues governments have failed to effectively address is homelessness and Long Term Care. Housing that is affordable; solving the homeless problem; get a grip on what oxycodin is doing to people – the number who die of this drug when they overdose has to be curtailed.
Learning how we as a society take care of the elderly and ensure that their “golden years” have dignity and the services they need. The long term care problems are far from resolution.
Mental Health – a new health issue brought on by the pandemic with no programs that can come close to meeting the need. More importantly – understanding the need.
Re-thinking the way we are educating our young people. Is what we are doing now the best we can do?
How we allocate the tax money collected needs a much bigger deep think – and it is the public that will have to do that thinking – don’t trust the politicians to do it for you.
With a provincial election less than six months away – it is time to move beyond partisan positions and think about what we as a society need at every level and then decide how we are going to make it happen.
Burlington is going to have three candidates that are very very different.
 While canvassing a neighbourhood Manaa found herself on the doorstep of NDP candidate Andrew Drummond. He took the literature but did not invite her in for coffee. Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate, is at that point in his political career where he has to do much better or look for a different career choice.
 Manaa gained some valuable experience working as a volunteer with Oakville North Burlington Liberal Pam Damoff and Burlington MP, Cabinet Minister Karina Gould. Mariam Manaa, a young Muslim women about whom we don’t know enough – the question with this candidate (she is running as a Liberal) is this: Are there enough Muslims to give this candidate the support she needs and are there enough voters in Burlington who can get beyond any level of racism they might have to elect her to office?
The current MPP, Jane McKenna will come out of hiding at some point. Don’t expect her to have very much to say – hopefully she will give up on that really stupid speech she made in the legislature that the pandemic was over-rated.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Pepper Parr
January 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 Later this week we expect to be able to show you some of the subtle changes to the look and feel of what we deliver.
We have developed a more efficient way to get the news in front of you.
There are going to be different editions of the paper:
A Morning Edition, an Afternoon Edition and a Breaking News Edition.
 The Morning and Afternoon editions go out at specific times. The top three stories are a click away – the rest of the paper is just as easy to get to.
Breaking News goes out the moment there is critical news. When there was a Covid19 outbreak at the Joseph Brant Hospital – that was Breaking News. We pride ourselves on getting news out very quickly – especially when it matters a lot.
 Each issue arrives in your email once you’ve subscribed. There is no subscription fee. You can cancel anytime and go back to logging in the way tens of thousands do daily.
And of course you can go to the web site anytime and look at everything including the archives which hold everything we ever published.
Changes have been tested; staff is now being trained. There will be a separate news story during the week explaining how easy it is to sign up. You can also unsubscribe anytime you decide you don’t like us any more.
Best of all the news is FREE!
By Pepper Parr
January 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, 0N
Ontario today reported 4,114 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 590 in the ICU and 64 deaths; is this what the Minister of Health meant by a “glimmer of hope”?
 Yesterday Premier Doug Ford announced when and how he would open up the province and return to normal business.
January 31st
restrictions would be reduced.
February 21st restrictions would be reduced even further.
March 14th restrictions would disappear.
Setting out information like this might be good politics but it is bad public health practice.
Once again the Premier got it wrong.
What he needed to say was that when hospitalizations are at ??? and ICU patients are at ??? THEN restrictions will be lowered.
It is decisions made by individuals that will bring down the number of people infected and the number of hospitalizations.
Stop the bromides Mr. Premier. Let people take responsibility and when the data indicates that people are being responsible, then lift the restrictions. I, too, want to go out to a restaurant for dinner – but I don’t want to compromise my health.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
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