 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON October 23, 2012 It was a good crowd. As many, if not more, than the 600 that showed up December 2010 when the Region was advised that the province wanted some arrows placed on the Region’s Official Plan to show where a possible highway through the Escarpment might go.
That was the first anyone had heard about an actual location for any road being built across the Escarpment. There was an arrow placed on a map way back in 2002 that crossed Guelph Line north of Dundas Street and south of No. 1 Side road, bringing a potential highway down a more gentle (and less populated) slope of the escarpment.
 Councillor John Taylor, war horse on Escarpment issues got a round of applause before he said a word at the community meeting, held to voice once again Burlington’s opposition to a highway through any part of the Escarpment. John Taylor, the politician who has been fighting any highway for longer than anyone else, took the standing room only audience back 40 years when the battle we are fighting today began. Twenty years ago it was the 403; in the 90’s it was the 407. That allowed the creation of Alton, a community of 10,000 people. Now they want another road that eats into the Escarpment – and we have to tell them that just is not on.
 Regional Chair Gary Carr, Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring and Councillors Blair Lancaster and John Taylor all spoke to an audience of more than 600 people at the Mainway Recreation centre – on an evening when it rained. When the event at the Mainway Recreational Centre was planned Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring and Regional Chair Gary Carr had an appointment with the Minister of Transportation (MTO) to impress upon him just how opposed both the Region and most particularly Burlington was to any kind of highway going through the Flamborough – Burlington part of the province.
At that time, just over six weeks ago, the government was keeping everyone in the Legislature to fight off any sudden vote that would bring down the minority Liberal government. The meeting kept being put off. Then the Premier resigns and all the rules change.
The Minister of Transportation was supposed to see Carr and Goldring on Monday, but that got pushed back to Thursday. One keeps wondering why these meetings keep getting pushed back.
Assuming Carr and Goldring meet with Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation, they will be able to point to a room that was packed with people, every seat taken and all the walls lined with people standing as well as a couple sitting on the floor at the front of the room.
 There wasn’t a seat to be had in the meeting room. Standing room only. If what people think and feel matters – this was a crowd that politicians have to pay some attention to.
Gary Carr, Regional Chair spoke and then played a 5 minute video that is on the Regional web site.
Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring spoke.
Director of Transportation Services for Burlington, Bruce Zvaniga spoke and laid out the issues from a transportation perspective.
Pete Zuzek, spokesperson for Stop Escarpment Highway Coalition, gave the strongest presentation of the evening.
Burlington’s Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster spoke.
John Taylor, Councillor for Ward 3 rose to speak to a great round of applause and provided some of the history that went back 40 years. This is indeed a long fight.
Ted Chudleigh, provincial PC member for Halton spoke – forcefully one might add with not a word of notes.
Jane McKenna, provincial PC member for Burlington spoke, read from notes and released her correspondence to the Minister of Transportation.
While Tim Hudak, leader of the PC opposition at Queen’s Park is on record as being FOR a highway because he believes the issue is about jobs – both Chudleigh and McKenna were very clear that they were opposed to any highway going through Burlington. Would that opposition still be evident if a vote that could bring down the minority Liberal government was being held.
 They hunched over tables as they signed the petition opposing any kind of road through the Escarpment. Zvaniga set out where the province is in their deliberations. He laid out what had been done, when it was done, why it was done and what the next steps are going to be. Zvaniga had to give the technical overview because the province declined to send anyone to the meeting.
The MOT people have a job to do, part of which is to advise the government on what future transportation needs are likely to be. Part of the problem with this approach was brought to light when former Minister of Transportation, Kathleen Wynne explained to the Mayor of Burlington, during the last provincial election, that transportation engineers and planners don’t know how to think beyond the car and highways. At the time she said the province has one of the best highway building departments in the country – and that was the problem – they don’t know how to think outside that highway box. Which is a point the SEHC people are trying very hard to get across to the public.
There are more people on the roads and there will always be more people on the roads if we keep building roads. I had occasion to be at Pearson airport on Monday to pick up my wife returning from a visit with her Mother in Denmark. The flight was due at 3:00 pm, which I knew meant fighting rush hour traffic. It turned out to be a pretty quick trip – because we were able to use the HOV lane. There were very few cars in that HOV lane, but there were three lanes plugged solid on our right, bumper to bumper, with a single passenger in the car.
 None of these people want to sit in their cars with bumper to bumper traffic on the QEW. But of the 600 people in the room less than ten took the bus to the meeting. Why anyone would sit in that traffic, when they could be in a faster lane was something I couldn’t understand. Of course they needed an additional passenger in their car – why is that so hard to set up. Most of those people are driving to or from work, where there are surely people in their offices who live near them. Why are there not more people going on line to look for a person near them, that can share that drive? There is a smart phone app for people who want a lift (we used to call it hitch hiking) and are prepared to share the cost. It’s all done on line.
It was also pointed out that while rail isn’t being given the consideration it needs, a large part of that is because the federal government is not at the table. This is a provincial matter the government argues, while SEHC argues that it is a social matter and that we need to look at transportation issues at a much higher level and not focus on just what’s going on in Burlington.
SEHC believes people need to understand that we must look at transportation a lot differently and that we are going to have to get out of our cars. They point to global warming, the damage to the environment and the impact of commuting more than an hour to get to work and another hour to get home. Driving our cars is a habit we haven’t managed to break – and like smoking, it may eventually kill us.
Gary Carr finally got around to publicly thanking the people of PERL, Protect Escarpment and Rural Lands, for the hard fight they fought to win the Nelson Aggregate battle in North Burlington where Nelson had applied for a second aggregate mining permit. That application was denied – the first time anyone can remember such an application being turned down. It is perhaps a good omen. Carr, quite rightly, pointed out that were it not for organizations like PERL “we wouldn’t be this far without them”. Hopefully Carr will come through with some form of support for PERL – they are suffering from battle fatigue and they are hurting.
Carr pointed out that the Region has a population of 520,000 now and will have an expected 780,000 by 2031 and those people are going to have some way to get around. “This is a fight” declared Carr “that is going to last for decades. Fundamental changes are going to have to be made in the way we transport ourselves or a new highway will be needed. Somehow we have to get the cars off the road”.
But it is about more than just getting cars off the road; we have an agricultural economy in the Region and west into Flamborough.
Mayor Goldring pointed out again that the city has a 50/50 split between rural and urban settings and that any highway through the Escarpment will be the beginning of the end for the north Burlington we know today.
 The land identified by the red borders was made available for development when the 407 highway was completed. The northern edge of developable land is south of the 407. Prior to 407 the boundary was Dundas – a highway through the Escarpment would move the rural-urban boundary even further north – as high as Lowville? Taylor told of the Alton community that came into being when the 407was put through. The urban rural boundary used to be Dundas but the 407 created a piece of land that became available to developers and today we have a new community of 10,000 people.
GO got a solid mention – if the Lakeshore West line is electrified, that will result in GO trains every five minutes during peak travel times and every 20 minutes during the off peak. THAT kind of scheduling would take a lot of traffic off the QEW.
There were half a dozen speakers but they weren’t all politicians. Pete Zuzek, spokesperson for SEHC, the Stop Escarpment Highway Coalition, a group made up of 14 communities, grass roots level organizations with more than 15,000 members, gave a very clear presentation on what he felt was wrong with the approach the provincial government was taking to deciding if a highway was needed.
The Environmental Assessment is currently in Phase 1 – where they look at 1) Optimizing what we have, making better use of the roads we have; 2) expand the non- roads options; 3) widen the existing roads and 4) if none of those will provide the future means of getting around the MOT thinks we need – then look at new corridors.
One of those corridors would come though Burlington. It would swoop in at around Cedar Springs Road and drop down into that land on the North side of Dundas and joining up with the 407.
Pete Zuzek doesn’t want the province to get as far as that Phase 2. SEHC points out that building such a corridor will do very little for the traffic congestion down on the QEW.
What Pete Zuzek made clear was the immediate objective is to convince the MOT people that Phase 2 isn’t necessary – that there are more than enough sensible, environmentally sound options within the Phase 1 level.
The fear SEHC has is that should the province decide that Phase 2 is the direction to go in – then the planners and the engineers begin drawing lines on maps and thinking about expropriating property and the developers begin to plan for new housing developments. Some of the golf clubs along Walkers and Guelph Line will begin to get offers and before you know it – there goes the neighbourhood.
 Pete Zuzek argued that SEHC – Stop Escarpment Highway Coalition was the only independent set of eyes watching what the government was doing – and they didn’t like what they were seeing. Zuzek said there was no peer review and that the work being done for a project that would cost as much as $5 billion was both flawed and limited. Pete Zuzek wants the province to forget about a possible Phase 2 and he explained why – the work being done on the Phase 1 part is flawed and limited. “There is no independent peer review” explained Zuzek ” yet the want to spend $6 billion without a second set of eyes looking at their recommendations.”
What are the next steps? Keeping informed is the biggest part of it. Our Burlington has been on top of this story since the newest assault on the Escarpment by the provincial government became clear back in 2010. We have covered the creation of the SEHC – we were in the room when the deal between the city of Burlington and SEHC was worked out and when they came up with the SEHC name. Back then Burlington said it would support SEHC as advocates who would be able to say and do things the city couldn’t say and do. While the SEHC and city of Burlington relationship gets strained at times – it does work. At one Public Information Centre more than 1200 people turned out to protest. At that session there was an “open mike” segment that heard some very powerful statements. John Taylor, with his impish grin, advised that “they don’t do open mikes anymore.
Whatever the team doing the Environmental Assessment passes on to the government in the way of recommendations, they have to be put those recommendations before the public. And the EA team has to record every objection as part of their final report.
PERL fought the application for a second mine on the Escarpment for more than seven years – and they won. The fight to keep a highway out of the Escarpment will take far more than seven years. Back in the days when Bill Davis was Premier of Ontario he put a stop to an expressway that was planned to run right into the center of Toronto. Governments can make smart decisions – they just have to be nudged in the right direction. Last night at the arena on Mainway, 600 + Burlingtonians gave a bit more than a nudge.
Janet Turpin Myers on her blog put it the way Garry Carr wanted to put it: – “We need to get loud.”
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON July 25, 2012 Aldershot High School took the cash – $1000 donated by Burlington Mall, which was the prize for the school with the best Eco-Club. The cash goes to the high school`s Eco-Club – each of the Youth Ambassadors at Aldershot got $100 gift cards.
This is the second year in a row that Aldershot High has taken the prize.
The BT-YA program launched in September 2011 with two ambassadors from three participating high schools; Aldershot, Bateman and Nelson. The BT-YA program, in partnership with BurlingtonGreen and its youth network, is designed to help promote environmental messages and lead transit awareness through local high schools. The ambassadors are in charge of promoting environmental messages, leading in transit awareness and running events in their high schools, in exchange for rewards like gift cards, movie passes or PRESTO cards, as well as cash rewards to their school Eco-club initiatives. The program helps youth build leadership skills and expand their knowledge of promotion and marketing.
 From the left: Kale Black, BurlingtonGreen; Sandra Maxwell, Burlington Transit marketing coordinator, Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven, Billi Krochuk, Aldershot Highschool BT-YA; Donna Shepherd, Burlington Transit director; Paul Carvalho, Burlington Mall operations manager. “The BT-YA program is all about being eco-friendly and having youth lead in creating a better future. Our young people, including leaders like the BT-YAs have played a valuable role in fulfilling our future goals of creating a green Burlington by promoting transit in their high schools and through events such as World Car-Free Day,” said Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven.
 Cut line revised August 3, 2012
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 25, 2012 Donna Shepherd, Director of Transit, was quite prepared to ride off into the sunset but the city finds they need her skill set and understanding of how the bus system actually works and have asked Ms Shepherd to continue to work, part-time – three days each week, out of City Hall and the Transit Operations Centre for six months on select transit and corporate priority projects to assist the City in achieving its objectives.
Mike Spicer will be acting Director as of August 1st. The city expects a new Director will be in place by year-end.
Donna Shepherd joined the city in 1975 and since that time she has served the City well in leading the City in various roles, her most recent being Director of Transit & Traffic over a 12 year period from 1998 and Director of Transit over the last 2 years.
 Just where was the problems with transit? Senior levels at city hall want Shepherd to stay and help through the transition to a new Director. Was the relationship between the Council member and the Director part of the problem?
“ The really senior “poobahs” at city hall speak very positively and proudly of the contribution Shepherd made while running transit. Her “contributions will continue to have an enduring and positive impact on the City in areas such as the expansion and renovation of the Transit Operations Centre, the introduction of Transit Priority Measures and traffic safety programs, the implementation of the downtown parking financial strategy, various continuous improvement systems and programs, the PRESTO fare card and Metrolinx Joint Vehicle and Inventory Procurement projects and the creation of innovative transit promotion and ridership growth strategies.”
Donna’s leadership in excellence in customer service will provide a strong foundation for Burlington Transit going forward.” Sounds like a pretty strong reference letter to me.
What then was the problem at transit that brought Shepherd to the point where she decided she had had enough and was going to pack it in? Sexism is a very distinct possibility, being bullied a bit could go into the mix as well
The senior people at city hall weren’t cheap in their praise: General Manager Scott Stewart said: “On behalf of all staff and Council, I would like to thank Donna for her strong leadership and management in growing and operating the Burlington Transit system. She has provided persistent commitment to keeping Transit at the forefront of our discussions during the last decade as our City has grown almost to its limits. Council and senior staff truly appreciate the contributions that Donna has made over the years.
I think the city is going to have the steering wheel of a bus bronzed and presented to Donna at her retirement party.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 21, 2012 During a city Community Services committee meeting last night, Councillor Paul Sharman casually mentioned an email from the city manager, in which the retirement of Director of Transit Donna Shepherd was announced. No date for the retirement was given.
Community Services was discussing some additional data on transit fare options Sharman felt was needed. After some back and forth debate on the question as to whether or not transit staff had time to do the work the committee decided they did indeed have the time.
 Councillor Sharman and Director of Transit Donna Shepherd working through a budget document Ms Shepherd has been with the city for some time, and has been at transit since at least 1991 where she came up through the ranks to become Director. “She was always very pleasant to work with” commented former Mayor Walter Mulkewich. Shepherd also spent a short period of time with Human Resources.
There was no other detail available at the Wednesday evening meeting.
Councillor Sharman and Ms Shepherd did not work particularly well together. Sharman has very strong views on transit which are considerably different than those of Bfast, a Burlington based transit advocacy group that wants to see ridership increased and routes extended.
 Sharman and Shepherd never did have a close working relationship. Did this contribute to her retirement? The Director of Transit was paid $173,820 according to the last “sunshine list”, a government report that sets out all civil servants that are paid more than $100,00
Shepherd struggled with the delivery of the details on the plan when it was introduced at committee and has had some difficulty as well with public meetings.
Public transit in Burlington is going through very significant changes and it will be some time before there is a clear direction. The retirement of the Director suggests that new leadership was needed.
Does the retirement signify a level of dissatisfaction with Shepherd in the office of the city manager or has Ms Shepherd decided that this would be a good time to retire?
 Revised and corrected June 12, 2012
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 BFAST has asked the city to stop cuts to transit service. BFAST (Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit) has submitted a detailed report to the City of Burlington asking the city to stop the cuts proposed in the City’s Interim Transit Plan.
BFAST points out that the proposed cuts to transit service mostly impact northeast and southeast Burlington which the group feels is unfair to parts of the city where the service is being cut.
Cuts to transit in northeast and southeast Burlington will not build transit use in these growth areas of Burlington. These areas require stability in transit routes and future improvements, not cuts, to encourage transit use. Cuts ignore the City’s recently approved Strategic Plan and Halton’s Transportation Plan which both call for increased transit use.
 Burlington Transit getting new buses - to deliver less service. BFAST proposes that the city reallocate money from the City transportation budget or overall City budget to implement the proposed service enhancements for west and central Burlington to avoid cuts in north east and south east Burlington.
The transit people have been looking for ways to drive down there costs and get some financial stability into the transit service and feel that the route changes as well as the changes to the levels of service is the approach they want to take for a period of about 20 months.
At the end of that period of time the transit people feel they will have the data they need to make decisions and will have tried a few service changes and see how they work.
Burlington transit did get approval at a Council meeting Monday evening to purchase six replacement busses at a cost of $2,844,454.83 The busses will be 12 metre diesel powered low floor transit vehicles bought from New Flyer Industries in Winnipeg. These additions to the fleet are badly needed. Some of the buses in the fleet have been in service more than 20 years and cost as much as $8,500 each month to keep in service.
The city is taking the position that they will not make large radical changes to the transit service until the Official Plan review is completed.
It will be difficult to convince this Council to change the decision that has been made – unless the response from the community public information sessions are resoundingly strong. Given that very few people knew about the events, it is doubtful there will be a change in the city.
Bfast held its first public meeting with former city of Toronto planner Paul Bedford speaking. The event had more attendees than the transit public consultation meetings got. Why would that be?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 6th, 2012 – Advocacy is getting a little bit slicker in Burlington. The people that want to make it a better world and do it on their own dime are now sporting flashy corporate logo and getting their proceedings on cable television. – and bringing in some heavy hitters when it comes to speakers.
If Burlington is going to see any real change in the transit service it offers – the crowd behind Bfast, – Burlington for Accessible Transit is going to need all the clout it can muster. At the Public session on the new “interim” routes transit is going to try for a period of about 18 months, our people in the field tell us that not a single politician appeared. In Aldershot the ward Councillor did appear but other than a student who we think might have been lost there was no public.
 Former Planning chief for Toronto and a past director of Metrolinx, Paul Bedford will speak to transit advocates at the Public Library June 11. BFAST has invited former Toronto Chief Planner and director of Metrolinx, Paul Bedford to talk about how transit can be adequately funded. Council is meeting at the same time and so will miss the presentation. However it will be on Cogeco Cable – they can catch it there.
Takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7.00 p.m. in the Centennial Room at the Burlington Central Public Library, 2331 New Street. He will speak on transit issues in urban areas, the GTA and funding the Metrolinx Big Move.
 BFAST will provide information about its mission, the current issues with Burlington transit, especially the proposed cuts to service in the proposed Burlington Transit Interim Transit Plan.
BFAST is a new citizens group in Burlington. It is a coalition of interested individuals and organizations whose purpose is “To make transit better for Burlington residents and businesses.” You can contact this new group at BFASTransit@gmail.com
While Burlington fusses over its 54 bus fleet and people complain about empty buses driving by their homes the province looks at a much bigger picture and searches for a way to integrate transportation between the various communities stretching through what is referred to as the GTHA – The Greater Toronto Hamilton Area – and Burlington is part of the west end of that reach into Hamilton.
 The solution the province came up with was a document called The Big Move that was put together to a significant degree by former Burlington Mayor Rob MacIsaac. It’s the $50 billion transportation plan the Toronto region can’t afford not to build. But where the money will come from still has to be figured out.
With 100 specific projects in the plan, the Metrolinx proposals will add 1,150 kilometres of new transit lines over the next 25 years.
Titled The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the recommendations would ensure that 75 per cent of residents find themselves living within 2 kilometres of a dedicated rapid transit line, up from 42 per cent now.
 Paul Bedford, transit advocate who will speak to Burlington Bfast types, has some well developed opinions on transit. should be a good listen. Although the car would remain the dominant mode of transport in the large region under the Metrolinx vision, the percentage of trips taken on transit would increase to about 26 per cent, up from 16.5. Greenhouse gas emissions from cars would decline to 1.5 tonnes from 2.4 tonnes today.
Metrolinx hopes to spend $500 million on building 7,500 kilometres of on- and off-road bike lanes. It also wants a series of transportation hubs around the region to make it easy to transfer from one mode of transportation to another.
That’s the bigger picture – Burlington meanwhile is looking for ways to stop the bleeding on the financial side of its transit system by moving service levels to the routes that have decent ridership.
We have some distance to go on getting transit right in this city.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 9, 2012 If the team overseeing the review of the city’s Official Plan thought they were going to be able to give transit a once over – they learned Monday that Walter Mulkewich, a former Mayor, was not going to let that happen.
The city may have a Transit Advisory Committee and Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward might have a group in her community taking a close look at transit as well, but Mulkewich and his crowd are going to be sure that the city fully understands the link between transit and the social welfare of the city.
 Walter Mulkewich will bring years of experience and a committement to social justice will be brought to bear on how transit is treated in the Official Plan Review. Being a former Mayor won't hurt either. Mulkewich delegated to the Special Council meeting held to hear delegations on the Official Plan Review
The committee has some of the best citizen transit thinkers in the city and they fully intend to ensure the Official Plan review gets a full ear on transit matters
Mulkewich was there to speak for an Interim Steering Committee, which is a group of citizens who are in the process of organizing a broad based coalition to advocate for better transit as a apart of the Burlington transportation system.
This is a group that is citizen based, that has people with a solid background in transit and the ability to not only lay their hands on the data that tells what is happening with the transit system but also the ability as well to do the analysis and draw conclusions from which evidence based decisions can be made.
 Transit is more than just busses - some people would be delighted if bus transit got the attention and the funding it needs. Mulkewich set out the premise the group is working from when he said “we support the significant point in the staff report that a long-term view of the city’s transportation system is a necessary part of the Official Plan. Our hope and expectation” he added, “ would be that the parallel Transportation Plan would include all modes of transportation, including transit, walking and cycling as well as automobile and truck transportation.
Mulkewich noted with interest that all six major topic areas that staff has identified to date will require a consideration of a significant role of transit.
The six major topics Mulkewich refers to are those that the team leading the Official Plan review think need attention. The six Neighbourhoods; Downtown; Nodes and Corridors; Metrolinx and Mobility Hubs; Movement and Connectivity and Community Infrastructure. We will expand on each of these in some detail later in the process and follow each for the two years (mercy) the city expects to require for the full review of the Official Plan.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON March 24, 2012 Every year the provincial government requires municipalities to publish the names of those people who earn more than $100,000 during a year, along with whatever supplementary amounts are paid, usually travel or training amounts.
Former city Manager Roman Martiuk is on the list because, believe it or not, he is still on the city payroll. Figure that one out.
Burlington has a very expensive fire department, partly because the firefighters are required to put in a significant amount of overtime.
During the last budget cycle Council did not give the Fire Chief authority to hire the additional four fire fighters he said he needed for the new #8 fire station. He now has to juggle the staff he has and pay a significant amount of overtime.
Some of the amounts being paid raise more than an eyebrow. Some of the increases paid over the previous year almost make one gulp. We did not have access to our figures for last year, but next year we will lay in a year to year comparison.
Disclosure for 2011 under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996: Municipalities and Services
Those in the private sector will look at the salaries being paid and look at what they pay their staff and, in some office there will be some head shaking.
 General Manager Scott Stewart doesn`t miss much. One of the most highly paid civil servants in Burlington – worth every dime we give him There will be those at city hall who will see their name on the list for the first time and be quite proud of the achievement – and they should be. Breaking the $100,000 salary level is significant. There are a lot of people at city hall who earn every dollar we pay them. General Managers Kim Phillips and Scott Stewart carried the senior level of administration for the four months we were without a city manager. Burlington doesn’t have a bonus system or give merit pay, had we had such a policy they would have been at the top of that list.
 General Manager Kim Phillips, along with Scott Stewart, carried the administrative load while the city was between city managers. Well paid with taxpayers getting value for money. There are salary levels on the list that quite frankly surprise us – several that stun me. The value for money just isn’t there – some perhaps will not be on the list next year.
Council members don’t appear on the list because a large part of their income comes from the Region and that is a different list. We covered those salaries in a separate story.
For some reason, none of the people at the Economic Development Corporation don`t appear on the list nor is the Librarian. No one from the Performing Arts Centre or the Burlington Art Gallery. we will dig into that when people are at their desks on Monday.
What is clear from this list is that public sector jobs pay very well
 There is a reason for calling the civil servant salary listing the Sunshine List. It was created by the Mike Harris government in 2006. Read carefully in every municipality.
Here it is – THE list.
ALDHAM Judy Field Serv. Supervisor $109,088.86 $1,672.81
ALLDRIDGE, Brian Platoon Chief $114,318.08 $628.68
ANSELL, Daniel T Captain $109,417.89 $577.68
ANTONIOW, Phil Manager $104,156.19 $579.59
BAKOS, Michael Captain $107,309.72 $563.58
BARRY, Phillip Captain $104,788.32 $566.01
BAVOTA, Deputy Fire Chief $129,670.30 $2,165.36
BAYLOR, Mark Captain $109,718.32 $563.58
BAYNTON, Steve T . Captain $109,719.33 $585.84
BEATTY, David . Deputy Fire Chief $122,285.21 $2,130.54
BEDINI, Chris District Supervisor $103,966.34 $642.78
BENNETT, Randy Manager of I T $112,435.50 $622.74
BENNITT, James District Supervisor $101,829.73 $791.25
BIELSKI, Bianca Manager $131,727.94 $735.30
BIRCH, Charles . Captain $114,620.31 $577.68
BOYD, Laura Manager HR $101,698.11 $560.70
CAUGHLIN, Deborah Manager $101,018.52 $561.37
CHOLEWKA, Chris Captain $101,795.79 $535.26
COULSON, Anne Marie Manager $118,422.63 $637.20
CRASS, John Manager $107,364.79 $596.55
DI PIETRO, Manager $117,961.02 $648.48
DONATI, Derrick K Firefighter $105,870.45 $475.50
DOWD, Timothy Captain $109,267.69 $564.69
DUNCAN, John Manager $116,221.86 $1,593.16
EICHENBAUM, T Director $161,136.28 $883.56
EVANS, Frances Manager $106,505.20 $577.68
FORD, Joan Deputy Treasurer $149,695.03 $778.80
GLENN, Christopher Director $130,710.51 $639.54
GLOBE, Darren Captain $104,130.69 $557.34
GOLDRING, Rick Mayor $159,645.38 $3,401.86
GOTTSCHLING, Fred Coordinator $101,499.64 $572.10
GRISON, Gregory Captain $107,255.05 $577.68
HAMILTON, Scott Manager $109,050.72 $589.90
HAYES, Dennis Captain $108,213.16 $563.58
HEBNER, Peter Captain $111,039.78 $577.68
HURLEY, Blake Solicitor $132,139.12 $622.21
JONES, Sheila City Auditor $114,217.17 $645.72
JURK, Robert Project Leader $105,971.50 $585.45
KELL, Donna Manager $114,812.92 $608.10
KELLY, John Captain $107,762.39 $563.58
KOEVOETS, Matt District Supervisor $108,527.14 $1,362.95
KRUSHELNICKI, B Director $159,662.99 $888.04
KUBOTA, Erika Solicitor $136,966.60 $640.76
LAING, Bruce Captain $109,417.88 $585.09
LAPORTE, Jason Captain $100,008.70 $459.54
LASELVA, John Supervisor $104,929.73 $567.72
LONG, Mark Captain $107,106.03 $563.58
MACDONALD, Gary Captain $109,417.87 $577.68
MACKAY, Michael J Captain $109,417.88 $591.58
MAGI, Allan Ex Dir $176,238.07 $960.06
MALE, Roy Executive Director $176,560.52 $985.50
MARTIUK, Roman City Manager $223,221.17 $2,575.63
MCGUIRE, Chris District Supervisor $105,115.55 $598.10
MCNAMARA, Michael Captain $114,223.52 $586.07
MERCANTI, Cindy Manager $104,306.52 $557.88
MINTZ, Shayne Fire Chief $149,779.99 $6,172.98
MONTEITH, Ross Platoon Chief $125,082.15 $642.90
MORGAN, Angela City Clerk $128,022.39 $674.04
MYERS, Peter Captain $109,417.88 $577.68
NICELIU, Kenneth Firefighter $100,832.37 $489.90
NICHOLSON, Alan Captain $110,738.74 $577.68
O’REILLY, Sandra Coordinator $104,015.69 $563.58
PEACHEY, Robert Manager $108,917.26 $609.33
PHILLIPS, Kim General Manager $196,500.29 $9,132.78
POLIZIANI, Matthew Captain $100,608.90 $499.02
POWELL, Lynn District Supervisor $100,902.29 $526.28
REILLY, Peter Captain $106,811.82 $563.58
ROBERTSON, C Director $142,056.62 $1,264.58
ROCK, Jeffrey Captain $106,811.82 $563.58
SCHMIDT-SHOUKRI, J Manager $133,555.64 $713.05
SHAHZAD, Arif Engineer $101,492.56 $555.12
SHEA NICOL, Nancy City Solicitor $161,722.85 $784.50
SHEPHERD, Donna Director of Transit $156,382.79 $880.74
SHIELDS, Lisa Solicitor $108,597.68 $627.93
SLACK, Craig D Platoon Chief $125,082.17 $642.90
SMITH, Clint Platoon Chief $122,658.32 $642.90
SPICER, Mike Transit Manager $115,644.78 $646.50
STEIGINGA, Ron Manager $111,791.58 $614.52
STEVENS, Craig Supervisor $100,806.65 $516.54
STEWART, Scott General Manager $197,697.29 $10,199.63
SWANCE, Jeffrey Captain $109,417.88 $584.30
SWENOR, Christine Director $154,679.63 $840.18
TAGGART, David Manager $113,845.03 $586.08
WEBER, Jeff Deputy Fire Chief $130,247.96 $9,288.98
WEIR, Kenneth Supervisor $103,473.76 $474.21
WHEATLEY, Ryan Captain $101,388.82 $483.15
WIGNALL, Mark Firefighter $111,196.08 $505.46
WONG, Betty Controller- $129,804.94 $716.42
WOODS, Douglas Captain $109,417.88 $577.68
ZORBAS, Steve Executive Dir. $193,149.38 $6,839.64
ZVANIGA, Bruce Director $135,711.05 $764.64
 By Pepper Parr
REVISED
BURLINGTON, ON March 22, 2012 A little dis-jointed would be stretching the way the meeting went. Out of the loop for the most part would be another observation of the Burlington Transit Advisory Committee. They were apparently unaware that the city`s budget committee had actively debated a fare increase but that the motion had not passed. They just don’t know what is happening at the Council level to whom they are supposed to be advisers.
 Lots of talent at the BTAC meeting; Eric Pilon, on the left, former Director of Transit for Oakville has worked with Burlington's Mike Spicer who is heading up the public participation part of the Master Transit Plan. Mike Spicer, Transit Manager for Burlington Transit sits in on BTAC meetings and commented that “Transit very much wanted a committee like BTAC in place to give us feedback”, however the committee’s role is not to provide feedback to the transit people but to advise city council on transit matter. This Committee seems to have lost touch with its mandate and doesn’t appear to have any sense of “Mission`. They don’t seem to know what they are supposed to do or even how to do their job.
The mandate is pretty clear and its set out on part of the city`s web site.
Provide input to Council and staff on initiatives and strategies affecting public transportation services ….
Review the city`s Accessibility Plan on an Annual basis …
Encourage and establish partnerships that assist with improving accessible transit service and decreasing gaps in service with agencies such as Halton Peel District Health Council … local taxi services
Consider matters related to Dedicated Gas Tax Funds.
These are just a few of the 10 points set out in the BTAC Mandate. Taxi rates are up for discussion at the Community Development Committee this week – (March 26th if anyone at BTAC wants to attend) How the city is going to manage the use of the Gas Tax Refunds from the federal government was part of the vigorous Budget Committee debate but the subject didn’t get a single word of mention at the BTAC meeting – that`s what you call being out of touch.
 Sparsely attended Transit Advisory meeting - staff talent shows up - members appeared to have missed the bus. The committee did go through a significant membership shuffle – three out of 12 members were returned to the committee last February. The biggest problem seems to be getting a quorum and holding meetings regularly. Prior to the March 20th meeting the committee had not met for five months – unacceptable by any standard and what had committee member Kevin Rahmer voicing opinions that were a little tough for Chair Joanne Vassell-Pittman to handle. Other members of the committee – there were just five of them in attendance at the meeting – repeatedly had to ask Rahmer to be more positive and not keep rehashing old issues.
There was apparently an occasion when Rahmer was to address the committee at some length but he failed to appear – which seems to be an ongoing problem for this committee.
BTAC has a new clerk who is more “den mother” than committee Clerk; that description is intended as a compliment. Danielle Pitoscia is one of the best Clerks the city has – I’d go so far as to say THE best Committee Clerk. The BTAC crowd are going to need a lot of help if they are ever to get to the point where they are relevant and know how to operate as a committee and be able to provide city council with useful advice. Right now it seems to be a place where people meet to talk about transit but seldom have a quorum and can`t do anything.
Scheduled to meet once a month, the Committee met last in September and didn’t have a quorum at that time. The twelve member committee has six appointed members and six members from the stakeholder groups. The committee is currently looking for new members – if you’ve a yen for transit matters and you have experience with a re-growing a committee that needs direction badly – this is a place for you.
At least one new Advisory committee member had not seen the Term of Reference for the committee, which is sort of like wanting to drive a car but not having a driver’s license. It didn’t appear as if the committee was fully aware of the scope of their Terms of Reference and the opportunities they had to inform the policy side of transit in the city.
During the last round of serious concern over member participation all the committee members said they wanted to continue serving – then they don`t show up and meetings don’t take place.
Smart thing to do with this one is shut it down – they do have a representative on the Transit Master Plan Steering Committee but Peggy Russell didn’t attend the meeting and was unable to report.
The BTAC didn’t delegate to the Budget Committee on things transit. Other than bicker at their meetings – it`s hard to see what they actually do.
Eric Pilon, a former Director with Oakville Transit sits on the committee; Burlington Transit always send their top people. At times both the Transit Director, Donna Sheppard and Mike Spicer the Transit Manager take part in the meetings. It is the Committee members who aren’t pulling their weight. Joanne Vassell-Pittman, Chair, runs a decent meeting – she doesn’t have a vice chair, that`s vacant. The student representative hasn’t been replaced either.
 Kevin Rahmer, who certainly knows the transit file very well, doesn't make it easy for a chair to run a meeting. Vassell-Pittman is a practiced chair, who is ready now to move on, and has advised her Board that she will not stand for re-election as chair but will finish her term. During the Tuesday meeting she struggled to keep Rahmer under some control; he certainly knows the transit file, but has great difficulty staying focused and disciplining himself. He had to be reminded several times that his comments were disrespectful of the chair.
Peggy Russell, Maureen Van Ravens along with Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven are on the committee – all missed the bus.
There is a public out there that wants a good, well operated efficient transit service and they have opinions. Having an Advisory Committee that can collect and marshal those opinions and take them to Council would be effective community engagement. BTAC’s not there yet.
 By Doug Brown
BURLINGTON, ON March 7, 2012 There are five parts to the vision that Doug Brown, probably the best informed citizen on transit matters the city has, which he sets out below.
Every citizen would have access to good transit service. This means that everyone would be within a short walk of a bus stop, and that Burlington’s bus routes and schedules would enable everyone to get to their destination in a reasonable amount of time and at a reasonable cost.
That transit along with walking, cycling, and other active modes of transportation become the favoured modes of travel thus reducing car traffic resulting in reduced expenditures on parking and roads, and less traffic accidents, cleaner air, and a healthier community.
While reaching this state will involve some public investment in improving our transit system, it will lead to significant savings in public expenditures on roads (Halton Region has approved over $2 Billion on road expenditures over the next 20 years); and additional parking spaces (at an average cost of $30,000 per space).
 Doug Brown wants an affordable, frequent, reliable transit service. Is the city prepared to pay for it? My vision is that we become a caring and inclusive city that provides good transit for those that are very dependent on the system. This includes the young and the old, the disabled, and those that cannot afford the high cost of car ownership. Currently, the City of Burlington spends considerably less on transit per capita than other communities of its size. This is true not just for conventional transit – but for handi-van service as well. Underfunding has led to lower service levels and consequently lower ridership. Burlington citizens, who are dependent on transit, or want to use transit, deserve at least the same service levels as other communities.
My vision is already largely set out in Burlington’s principle planning documents. Our Official Plan requires that Burlington quadruple its transit use by 2030 in order that we can accommodate further growth through intensification.
Our Strategic Plan calls for an “increase the number of people who cycle, walk and use public transit for recreation and transportation. What will it look like?
– There are fewer cars on the road because more people are using public transit, walking or cycling” The Strategic Plan’s expected results include “a common vision and co-ordinated plan to decrease reliance on vehicles; public awareness of, and support for, the vision; and “more people are using public transit, walking or cycling”
The Strategic Plan sets out the following expectations for the current Transit Master Plan update:
– improved transit service
– more use of Burlington Transit
– better mobility in and out of the city
We have adopted the vision in words – let’s now take the action needed to transform our city.
Editors Note: And that of course is where the rub is. The city has not and will not “walk its talk”
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON February 17, 2012 Burlington has a practice of taking its budget proposals out into the community to both explain the document and get feedback from the community. The city holds information sessions at different locations. There were about 30 people at one of the city sessions.
 Councillor Dennison explaining the budget to a constituent at his Ward meeting. Jack Dennison, Ward 4 Councillor held a session and got a turnout of 14 people. It is reported that Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman got a turnout of 5 people and John Taylor got a zero turn out. We were not able to get a response from Councillors Lancaster or Craven. Of the six Council members Taylor has the most loyal following, spends the least on getting elected knows as much as anyone about the budget numbers.
Meed Ward has a dedicated Ward Advisory Committee she will have briefed fully. She gave them the workbooks handed out at the public meetings to take home and fill out. She adds: “I encouraged residents to attend the open budget meeting held in Ward 2 at the BAC.”
Dennison’s ward event was held at his office on Cumberland. I’ve never quite understood why these aren’t held at a more neutral location. I don’t think a constituent should have to go to the council members commercial office for a meeting. What if you were an unhappy customer at the Cedar Springs Sports and Racquet Club? The setting was nice enough and the gas fireplace in the Heritage Room made it pleasant – but methinks there’s something wrong with using a commercial location. Dennison however has never stayed all that close to the rules and the proprietaries of things.
For the most part Jack Dennison knew his numbers and his penchant for repairing the roads came through loud and clear. The city does have a problem digging out the money it needs to keep the roads in an acceptable state of repair and as Dennison continually tells people – “if we don’t do the repairs now we will have to do them later and it will cost us more”. He focuses on the “shave and pave” approach – a way to manage the maintenance of roads that is cost effective. Burlington’s problem is that the city is so far behind – some $17 million a year behind – and getting caught up means taking money from something else. Jack took his audience through his solutions.
The federal gas tax, the funds municipalities get from the federal government share of gasoline taxes – Dennison wants to change the way this is split. Currently 70% goes to roads and 30% to transit. Dennison wants that shifted to an 80/20 split which will move $500,000 into roads. Don’t expect the transit advocates to buy this one, especially with a major transit revue about to take place.
Take money out of the Land acquisition fund. Dennison sees $400,000 coming from that source.
 Jack Dennison speaking to "his people" Dennison wants to see $1 million scrounged out of the different departments and applied to the road repair deficit. His task now is to convince his fellow Council members.
His audience, mostly seniors or very close to being a senior, were certainly aware of the issues and while there were differences of opinion this crowd knew what they wanted. The city’s plans for an “egov” service would not be in the budget for this crowd – $600,000 plus saved there in this budget. Dennison wanted the $2.3 million that is scheduled to cost spread out over five years but he explained that $600,000 has to go in during the first year. This is one project that has a better than even chance of getting pushed back a year.
Dennison thinks less money should be put into the Land Reserve Fund but he was OK with the 2% increase that would be given to local boards: The Art Centre, Tourism and the Performing Arts Centre. He was even comfortable with the $500,000 losses the Art Centre and the Performing Arts Centre rack up each year.
 Ward 4 residents at community meeting working through their differences. Dennison is not a big fan of the arts – don’t get him going on the “orchids” on Upper Middle Road and if you come up with a cheap way to get rid of the Joseph Brant Museum – Jack wants to hear from you.
Council instructed staff to come up with a tax increase of between 2% and 3.5% – they came back with a suggested 3.4% increase. Dennison wants that walked back to less than 2% and he set out how he would do it.
One constituents wanted to know why the city was hiring firemen at $107,000. a year; another wondered why the city is re-developing the hospital and also why the words Phase 1 was on the sign – Is there a phase 2, he wanted to know. Another felt the new hospital in Oakville could serve Burlington’s needs very well – they have all kinds of room to grow but Burlington has very little if any room to grow and the property is prime for residential development. “Turn the existing hospital into a long term care facility” was his recommendation.”
These comments all make their way to the Council chamber where you can bet the mortgage payment that Jack Dennison will make mention of them. Council members look to their community for input and comment. One council member is fond of the phrase “the word on the street is” but there is no sense of how many people are talking to her.
Dennison has always had a thing for the two parking lots in the downtown core – the lot off Brant and the lot next to the bus terminal. He sees selling that land and using the money to build a parking lot as a big benefit for the city and has been promoting the idea of curtailing the length of John Street and getting some class A office space into that part of town. Dennison has been pushing this one for more than ten years.
 It may have been Councillor Dennison's meeting but the Mayor worked the room. Mayor Goldring popped into the room for part of the meeting and would join the conversation to clarify or make an important point. An issue that came up a number of times was the salaries, benefits and pensions paid to civil servants at city hall. Tough to talk about how much you’re paying the people that run the city but Goldring is pretty consistent in his comments. He points out that municipalities just can’t afford what they are currently required to put up.
OMERS, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, has a “defined benefits” program which sets out what an employee is going to get paid come pension time. If the investment fund, which is made up of employer and employee contributions, doesn’t produce enough income to meet the pension obligations, OMERS goes to the municipalities to pony up the difference which for Burlington is going to be $600,000 for 2012 $600,000 for 2013 and $1.8 million for 2014. Ouch!
The investment program OMERS runs, requires an annual return of 7% if they are going to meet their payout schedule – do you know anyone getting that kind of a return, regularly? When the investment portfolio doesn’t deliver that level of return – OMERS turns to the municipalities and requires them to top up – for Burlington that has means, Mayor Goldring points out that this just isn’t financially sustainable nor does he see it as equitable. But, as he points out “there isn’t much an individual Mayor can do”. However, there is strength in numbers and Goldring is meeting with an association of other mayors to discuss what some of their options are. Goldring did explained to the audience that the rules that govern the OMERS plan are up for review in 2013 – bet on the municipalities concern being raised to a howl.
The 2008 recession is still dragging down the economy of many small municipalities. Taxpayers are unhappy with a situation where their taxes support a retirement program that is much, much better than the retirement programs most people have. Goldring expects to play a leading role in the effort to bring about changes. It’s financially complex but Goldring’s financial planning background will serve him well.
The low ridership on the transit service took the usual hit – “I often see just one person on the bus” is a standard comment which Mayor Goldring corrected when he explain that in the Quality of Service survey the city had done 25% of the population uses the bus service; not every day but the service is used. There is a major transit study in hand with three public information session planned for the next few weeks.
The Pier – hardly a mention. One could almost hear the sigh of relief from Goldring on that one.
It was a friendly evening but there was an interesting point raised by Dennison: five to six years ago the attendance was closer to 45 people. Why the drop off?
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON., September 22, 2011 – Coming to a high school near you: keen, environmentally conscious Burlington Transit Youth Ambassadors prepared to wean a generation of students off the car and convince them to get on the bus.
 Burlington Transit Youth Ambassadors gather in a bus shelter. Front row: YAs Benoit, Shaan, Billi and Harrison. Back row, BT’s Sandra Maxwell, YA Kayla and Burlington Green advisor Kale. “Today’s youth are sensitive to the environment and know that to preserve the planet for generations to come we need to change behaviours today,” said Donna Shepherd, director of Burlington Transit. “Our Youth Ambassadors are the keenest of the keen. They know how important reducing our carbon footprint is, and they’re ready to spread the word.”
Known as BT YAs, five young ambassadors recently attended their first orientation session at BT headquarters, and there are more to come. To date, the program has three schools signed on – M.M. Robinson High School, Aldershot High School and Robert Bateman High School – with the aim of spreading the program into the remaining Burlington high schools this fall and winter.
 Teaching students that QEW traffic can be avoided? A totally different lifestyle change would be needed to make that happen – and that is what the Ambassadors are setting out to do.
The BT YAs will spend the school year organizing and running transit promotions in their schools in a peer-to-peer approach designed to give the YAs flexibility and control over their events. “We encourage them to take ownership of the program and to really throw themselves into,” said Sandra Maxwell, BT’s marketing co-coordinator. “For this to work, it really has to be students talking honestly to students. We need to keep it real.”
“A sustainable environment is a major part of Burlington’s plan for the future,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “It is encouraging to see young people picking up the sustainability banner and working hard to convince their peers to use active transportation alternatives and to think twice before relying on the car.”
One of the first BTYA events was in support of World Car-Free Day. They were out in force on September 22, asking students, teachers and parents to leave the car at home.
By Pepper Parr
 BURLINGTON, ON August 10, 2011 Taken the bus in Burlington recently? Not that many people do take the bus. Students use public transit because they have to; seniors sometimes have to because they don’t drive and people on limited incomes just can’t afford a car – so it’s public transit for them.
 New bus cuts through a ribbon at the opening of the new Transit Operations Centre. Lot of city hall talent on hand to cut a ribbon. How much did it cost to have them all there to get their picture taken? Did they take the bus or did they drive individual cars? Burlington is a car city – most houses have two cars in the garage or driveway. If you want to get around Burlington quickly – you drive. The city gives its employees the choice of a transit pass or free parking. Guess which most choose ?
The city spends a lot of money on its transit system and many feel the busses we have on the road aren’t effectively used. Council member Paul Sharman got himself electe4d on a transit issue and he is the most forceful member when it comes to talking about transit at Council and committee meetings.
Burlington decided a number of months ago that a detailed study of what we have in the way of transit service and brought in a consulting form to finds out who uses the transit service and what the public feels they should have in the way of transit services.
Mayor Rick Goldring is a big advocate for greater use of public transit but he drives a car provided by the city and says that he uses his bicycle but I’ve never seen even a picture of him on his bicycle. If asked when they last used public transit very few, if any, members of Council would tell you they use the public transit system.
The city wants to develop a Transit Master Plan. The consulting that will precede the development of a Plan is being called The Road ahead. When the proposals for the consulting contract came in Council members later said they knew almost instantly which firm they were going to go with. The details and ideas in the proposal from Dillon Consulting were so far superior to all the others that it was a pretty simple exercise to choose who to go with.
 The John Street terminal can get really busy at rush hours – yes there are actually rush hours at this location. Advertising pulls in some revenue for the city. There will be significant public input – and that means the public gets to make comments. Think about what we need in the way of transit; what would it take to get you to use transit ? Do you know what the bus routes are in your community? Does public transit even matter to you?
Burlington as a city is now much more attuned to public engagement – city hall staff (not all of them yet) are learning to listen and to go out to the community for comment and ideas. The public needs to get better at responding to these opportunities to participate in the decision making process.
The purpose of the Transit Master Plan is to attempt to get a sense as to what the public will want in the way of public transit – and with gas well above $1.25 a litre transit has to get at least a look. The purpose of the plan is to conduct a comprehensive review of Burlington’s conventional transit services and to develop a Transit Master Plan covering the period 2012 – 2021.
The main objectives of study is to provide recommendations that will significantly increase the use of transit, improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of transit service in Burlington, develop technology and marketing plans and review options for the downtown terminal.
The Route Ahead will include an implementation plan that will lead Burlington Transit to the next level of ridership growth. A key component of this study will involve consultation with transit customers, community groups/organizations, and the public at large to determine their views of the Burlington Transit system and obtain input on strategic directions.
The first of the several methods of getting involved in this study and providing input will be the Let’s Talk Transit” Drop in Centre that will hold two sessions on August 24th. One at the Burlington Seniors Centre from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Deputations will begin at 2:30 pm. The second session will take place at City Hall in the evening from 6:00 to 9:00 pm Room 247
Dillon Consulting will be hold a series of Focus Groups in September and October with residents and stakeholders that have an interest in transit services. These two sessions will be facilitated discussions focused on the overall vision for Burlington Transit, key markets for increasing ridership and strategic directions for moving forward. Participants are not required to be transit users; only to have an interest in the future of Burlington Transit.
If you would like to participate, send an e-mail under the subject of “Focus Group” to TheRouteAhead@burlington.ca and provide a brief description of your interest in this study. Participation is voluntary and numbers will be limited.
In mid September, there will be an Onboard Transit User Survey. Passengers will be able to complete a survey that will probe key information on demographics, trip making characteristics and attitudes concerning transit.
A Public Information Session will be held in the late fall to present consultation results, study findings and potential directions and obtain feedback from the public prior to finalizing study recommendations.
The Study is expected to take approximately six months to complete. The presentation of the study recommendations to council is scheduled to occur in mid December 2011.
Comments from the public are both welcomed and encouraged. I would add they are expected.
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By Pepper Parr
 BURLINGTON, ON March 7, 20100 – Perhaps the best comment made at the last of the public input meeting on the 2011 City of Burlington budget was made by a woman who said: “Everyone who writes a letter should have to attend these meeting.” Some 50 people were in the room at the Burlington Arts Centre with at least a quarter of the crowd made up of city staff who presented and then led workshops at which people discussed and commented in detail on their view of the spending plan for the city in fiscal 2011.
Four tables were set up with a staff person facilitating while people used a workbook the city had prepared. At the end of the hour session as a group, each reported back to everyone attending on what their views were.
There wasn’t a huge complaint over the level of taxes. The concerns heard that Saturday morning were transit and culture. The people in the room seemed to be saying that they understood money was needed to pay for services and that all they really wanted was to have the tax money spent wisely.
While many people in the room had a special interest it wasn’t a noisy crowd; they were there to listen and then to share there views with other citizens. A typical well behaved, thoughtful Burlington audience.
 Citizens gathered into workgroups and were led through a workbook with a staff facilitator. One concern that was suggested was that the city spend less on roads and more on transit which suggested there was not a clear understanding of what the city is faced with in terms of the shortfall in funding to pay for road maintenance. The current operating budget provides just 68% of the money the city staff feel they need to keep the roads we have in decent condition.
Some might argue that the standard the roads department works to is a bit too high but the fact remains is that the roads are there and the city can’t shut down or decommission a road – people live on those streets. So to spend less on roads and more on transit as a suggestion was a bit difficulty to understand.
The session was ably led by Acting Director of Finance Joan Ford and her staff with a few other senior staff on hand. The Mayor Goldring was also in attendance and moving from table to table to get a sense of the way the discussions were going. Rick Goldring probably left the room pleased with the way the 2011 budget was being accepted. Now to get it to his full council where the competing interests of the community come into play and council members debate what should stay in the budget and what should be cut.
 Mayor Rick Goldring listens from the side lines as citizens discuss the budget he has to get through his council. It is interesting to note that there was no talk of actual budget cuts or mention of facilities that the city staff have suggested be de-commissioned.
Of note also is the fact that both public sessions were held in the more populated parts of the city. The first at Tansley Woods on Upper Middle Road and the second at the Burlington Arts Centre on Lake shore road. Many, if not all of the Council members will hold public sessions in their Wards and staff will attend these.
The city is going to spend $190 million on its day to day operations with the bulk of that money going to pay salaries and benefits. One person wanted to city to explain the impact of what the spending was. ‘We need to be educated on what the sending is going to do to us or for us rather than be give just the number of dollars or a percentage.”
The city has provided the following to help understand where the money they spend comes from and then what they do with that money when they get it. The lady who made the Letter to the Editor comment was more to the point than she may have realized.
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 By Ray Rivers
March 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
My opponent, Pierre Poilievre, is a lifelong politician who worships at the altar of the free market, despite never having earned a paycheque or made a payroll. His reflex is always to cut and destroy. (Mark Carney)
It was an impressive victory for Canada’s new PM designate on Sunday. All four candidates were clearly qualified for the job but Liberals voted overwhelmingly (86%) for Carney. After all, these are troubled times. Canadians are feeling threatened and insecure because of the economic and political assault from south of the border.
In a crisis, the public generally prefers electoral stability and the status quo. And that tends to work for incumbents. It’s why Doug Ford, who has a miserable record in managing the province but cast himself as captain Canada, won his election so convincingly. And he has not disappointed in his defence of the province and country.
 Churchill became British PM as WWII was underway and Roosevelt was elected for an unprecedented third term when it became clear that the US was about to enter the war. What Canada needs now is competence and experience, not a political attack dog, as it navigates the path we’ve been forced onto. Globalization is dead, and so is USMCA/NAFTA. Canada needs to rebuild our national economy and that will require public as well as private investment as we strive to once again make and buy Canadian.
 Brian Mulroney Blame Brian Mulroney for selling out our industries in the hope that some kind of free trade deal with the US would make us better off. But that deal was made some forty years ago and most Canadians believe it had been working – until now. But that experiment in the economic theory of comparative advantage hollowed out our manufacturing sector, leaving us little choice but to become as reliant on trade in raw materials as were our forefathers – hewers of wood, and drawers of oil.
Surrendering our once robust manufacturing sector has made us vulnerable to the vagaries of international markets, as we saw with the supply issues and the ensuing inflation during the pandemic. The US and Europe have also realized this, perhaps one of the reasons all EU members have still not ratified the Canada/EU trade agreement.
And now Trump is completely overturning the gaming table and tearing up USMCA, all the while whistling America first. But this is not a game. Trump is determined to end non-tariff access to US markets, in the interest of returning manufacturing jobs to America and using tariff revenue to finance his promised income tax cuts.
The US president is not likely to change course now and has already warned the US public to expect inflation and a recession as they experience this transition. And Canada’s transition threatens to be even worse without proper guidance. Then there is all the other nonsense pouring out of the Donald’s mouth – the hostility and the expansionist threats that is unnerving Canadians and all of America’s one time friends and allies.
 It was a happy night for everyone – will we see a repeat in the next 60 to 90 days? So over 150,000 Liberals cast their votes for a new leader in response to the public’s demand for a change from Mr. Trudeau. And they put their fate in the hands of someone with impeccable credentials and very credible skills at a time when this country needs exactly that kind of leadership. As Carney said in his victory speech, Canada needs a strategic plan to deal with the inevitable fallout from the end of free trade, not political slogans.
Trudeau gave one of his best speeches as he stepped down. He was positive, gracious and passionate and sat emotionless as he watched the new leader designate promise to end Trudeau’s signature carbon tax. Still, Trudeau’s best moments came in his two recent addresses to Canadians outlining Canada’s immediate responses to Trump’s 25% tariffs. I have never been prouder to be a Canadian as I watched our prime minister stand up for Canada in no uncertain terms.
Canadians will likely be in an election in a matter of weeks. Some will complain about having an election in the midst of a crisis. But we survived a federal election in the midst of the pandemic and the recent Ontario election was held in one of the coldest and snowy winters in recent memory. And given the political temperature on Parliament Hill, we should expect the federal election closer to April than its October due date.
 Kim Campbell  John Turner Kim Campbell and John Turner provide a case study of the perils for a governing party changing horses at the last minute before a horse race. Hopefully Carney will learn from their mistakes. Canadians demanded turning the page on its PM and his priorities for the country – and the Liberal Party has responded.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Tariff War – Trudeau on Tariffs
 By Staff
March 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Starting this Friday in the late evening until end of service Sunday, March 9, Lakeshore West rail service will be temporarily modified to accommodate critical track work that will bring faster, more frequent service across the network.
During this time, there will be no train service between Oakville and West Harbour GO stations. Regular GO Train service will continue between Union Station and Oakville GO only.
On Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9:
- There will be no GO Transit service at Appleby or Bronte GO stations; however, existing early morning and late-night route 18 GO buses will continue to serve Appleby and Bronte GO stations.
- Trips to Niagara will run between Aldershot GO and Niagara Falls GO only.
- The following replacement GO Buses will be in service:
- 18E will run between Oakville, Burlington, Aldershot, Hamilton and West Harbour GO.
- 18P will run between Oakville, Burlington and Aldershot GO.
- 18Y will run between Oakville and Burlington GO.
- 18Z will run between Oakville and Aldershot GO.
GO Bus Routes 12, 15 and 18 connection times will be modified. GO Bus connection times will also be adjusted and customers can expect longer than usual wait times. Please check schedules before travelling as trip times could depart earlier or later than usual.
More information about Lakeshore West service adjustments and alternate route options is available HERE.
Regular service will resume on Monday, March 10.
Riders can transfer for free with One Fare between GO Transit and most local agencies, including the TTC. Customers are encouraged to use gotransit.com to plan their trips. You can also check the GO Transit Service Updates page for real-time details.
By Ray Rivers
February 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The clock is ticking for Liberals to vote in a ranked ballot online starting February 28th to select Canada’s next PM. Among the finalists will be the two current members of Parliament, Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould. Both of these candidates, as former Finance Minister and former Government House Leader respectively, can share some of the credit and/or accept blame for the governing Liberal record going back to 2015.
Freeland’s platform now disowns some of that record though she had served as Trudeau’s number two. She would axe the carbon tax and cancel the increase in capital gains taxation. Freeland also proposes imposing a 100% tariff on Tesla electric cars and bribing Canadian doctors and nurses to return here to work. Burlington’s Gould is promising to cut the GST to 4% for one year, enhance employment insurance and initiate a guaranteed income program.
Former MP Ruby Dhalla was disqualified as a candidate for the leadership of the party on a unanimous vote by the leadership and expense committees to drop her from the contest.
Dhalla served with Paul Martin and pivots to the ‘right’ of the party, proposing to deport ‘illegal immigrants’ and slamming drug users with life sentences. Baylis, a Montreal businessman, would limit senators and MP’s to 10 years in office. And among other ideas he’s also keen on recognizing a Palestinian state.
 Mark Carney speaking to Liberals in Hamilton. But the heavy betting is on former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. Carney played a key role in navigating Canada through the 2008 global economic downturn and as Bank of England Governor helped that nation through its Brexit transition. He held a UN post as climate envoy and had previously served as special advisor to Mr. Trudeau. However, Carney sees himself as an outsider, never having held a parliamentary seat. But he has brought a breath of fresh air to the Party, which as the polls tell us was in critical need of a re-set.
Carney has racked up the greatest number of Liberal Cabinet endorsements to date. Recent polls indicate that as leader he could bring the Liberals back from a double digit lag to a dead heat with Mr. Poilievre’s opposition Tories. That is something that has brought fear and panic into the Conservative camp which had been ever so keen to capitalize on Trudeau’s plummeting popularity. And that means Carney needs to watch out for dirty tricks. In that vein social media trolls falsely posted that Carney’s recent meet and greet of Liberals in Vancouver was AI doctored to create the illusion that the crowd was bigger.
Carney is an economist but he knows the campaign of disinformation and lies about carbon pricing has poisoned that economic instrument, so it is destined for the history books. He plans to introduce a middle income tax cut to compensate for loss of the carbon tax rebate, however. Carney plans to run a balanced budget regarding government spending though he has not ruled out borrowing for infrastructure projects which would benefit future generations.
Mostly Mr. Carney needs to attribute the climate of economic uncertainty Canadians are now facing for much of his growing popularity. US president Trump’s economic war on Canada starting with tariffs on some of our most important exports has this country on the defence. And Canadians would prefer to see an experienced professional at the helm rather than someone like Mr. Poilievre, who has almost never held a real job outside of working for the Conservative Party.
 Rivers, upper right (where the red dot is) covering Mark Carney during a speech he gave in Hamilton earlier this week. I was invited to one of Mr. Carney’s meet and greet meetings in Hamilton recently. He addressed the crowd in a soft spoken, sincere tone, without bashing his opponents. I found that a refreshing change from the dynamics of what we’ve seen too often in Ottawa politics. Let’s hope it continues.
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Liberal Leadership – Carney – Karina Gould – Dhalla –
 By Staff
February 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council will meet at 9:30 this morning and work its way through a reasonable sized agenda. How snow removal, while not on the agenda, will certainly be discussed
Council will review the recommendations from Standing Committees starting with the Committee of the Whole meeting of February 10 and 11, 2025
There will be an update of all the Staff Directions that have been issued but not fully acted upon. The findings and the proposed path forward for managing outstanding staff directions.
There have been occasions in the past when Council became aware of Directions issued that were no longer relevant and Directions that were just plain forgotten. It will be interesting to see what comes up and how Council reacts. It’s a sort of mini report card on how the administration has been getting things done.
 Pilot project that will cost the city $700,000 in lost revenue to provide free service for youth is on Council meeting agenda. The Fare-Free Transit for Youth – Summer 2025 Pilot will be on the table. There is a Direction to “Authorize the Director of Transit to implement Fare-Free Transit for youth in July and August 2025 as a pilot project.
Much of the discussion will be on “Authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to draw on the Ontario Provincial Gas Tax to fund the revenue loss of approximately $70,000, into the 2025 operating budget.
Appointments to the Advisory Committees (Committee of Adjustment and Mundialization Committee) are to be announced.
Council is finally getting to correspondence from the Ontario Ombudsman regarding Integrity Commissioner.
 Curt Benson stick handles the major development issues. Housing Accelerator Fund implementation update. This relates to funds from the federal government that have to be spent within a specific period of time. This get to Council through the Development and Growth Management Report (DGM)
More on the 2026 Municipal Election preparation and selection of alternative voting methods. Online voting on election day was not going to be used but people would be able to vote online for the advanced polls.
Motion memorandum regarding increasing childcare spaces in Burlington. The intention is to direct staff to provide a report for Committee of the Whole on opportunities to use policy and city assets, as well as other opportunities to increase the number of childcare spaces in Burlington.
Council will receive information from Legal and Legislative Services regarding an update on staff monitoring and review of recent municipal responses and considerations to the regulation of the delivery of graphic images and non-peaceful demonstrations.
A potentially disturbing discussion will take place on monitoring and reviewing municipal responses regarding graphic images and non-peaceful demonstrations. It is part of a review that was requested of recent municipal responses and considerations to the regulation of the delivery of graphic images and non-peaceful demonstrations.
The disturbing part is who determines just what a non-peaceful demonstrations is?
A Burlington Lands Partnership update regarding city-owned lands that have potential for partnership development. There is apparently a considerable amount of city owned land that could be used for development. At this point the city isn’t prepared to say how much land there is and where it is located.
All the public is getting at this point is a report on city-owned lands that have potential for partnership development.
When it comes to land city Council and the administration keep all the cards very close to their chests.
 The development was the object of a very robust discussion that may have resulted in a totally different orientation and possibly several three bedroom units. The development proposal at 2169-2175 Ghent Ave., will be getting a lot of attention.
Council heard a very refreshing delegation on this development. More to come on that event.
In a Confidential triannual litigation update report Council will learn who is suing the city and who the city might be suing. A lot of taxpayers money changes hands as a result of these meetings.
Council will get a Confidential status report on the Contingency Reserve – January 28, 2025
If past meetings are any guide – Council will get all this done and adjourn but not before members of Council report on what is taking place in their wards.
By Pepper Parr
February 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Council will discuss a staff report on the Burlington Lands Partnership and look at Partnership Potential for City-Owned Lands.
There are 277 City-owned properties that are part of the initial inventory. Preliminary internal staff engagement has identified the 13 potential opportunities with partnership potential.
Land exchange opportunity to facilitate amenities and housing in Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) – 2 potential opportunities
Redevelopment opportunity for mixed-use (public uses and amenities) in Burlington Downtown – 5 potential opportunities
Affordable housing opportunity – 6 potential opportunities
The locations were listed in a confidential report
In order to make existing city-owned sites available for partnerships, there are opportunity costs involved to define workplans to advance partnership arrangements and for the potential movement/replacement of current uses into new or other locations. In addition, if sites are to be released by the City for partnership development, these will need to be declared surplus. This report represents important initial step in mobilizing development on underutilized City-owned lands.
The assessment of city-owned sites will be integrated into the 2025 Burlington Lands Partnership (BLP) work plan and coordinated with other departments as applicable. Initial steps to continue exploring these and other opportunities will be pursued as described in this report.
Engagement: As specific land-related opportunities evolve, Council and staff will endeavor to make information on land opportunities available publicly at the appropriate time both for purposes of information and engagement and prior to final decisions where possible.
The analysis considered several high-level factors, including:
- Site location and suitability for partnerships
- Proximity to transit and vacant or developable land nearby
- Existing development interest in adjacent or nearby parcels
- Site servicing and constraints
- Proximity to parkland and public amenities
The potential opportunities outlined in this report have been verified through a desktop review exercise. The feasibility of any development or redevelopment of these sites has not been assessed yet and will be completed. Some of this work has been accommodated as part of the 2025 Budget. There may be additional resource requirements identified as some of these opportunities are pursued. These will be brought forward in future updates to Council as necessary.
Key Considerations
The City does not have any developable vacant land that has been declared surplus. There are undefined opportunity costs associated with making city owned lands available for partnerships. The cost to move/replace current uses into new or other locations must be studied. The financial implication of utilizing and/or intensifying City lands is unknown at this time. All real estate transactions will be managed by the Realty Services department in accordance with the City’s Sale of Land Policy.
Ticking off the boxes
[X] Designing and delivering complete communities
[X] Providing the best services and experiences
[X] Protecting and improving the natural environment and taking action on climate change
[X] Driving organizational performance
| Type of Opportunity |
Potential Work Plan |
| 6.0 Land exchange opportunity to facilitate amenities and housing in Major Transit Station Area (MTSAs) |
6.1 Business case
6.2 Council update on business case
6.3 Public engagement (external)
6.4 Council request for support/budget/declaration to partner |
| 7.0 Redevelopment opportunity for mixed use (public uses and amenities) in Burlington Downtown |
7.1 Request for public interest for partner
7.2 Partner recruitment, due diligence, and selection
7.3 Council Update on public interest/selected process
7.4 Development of a joint business case with the city and partner
7.5 Council update on business case with selected partner
7.6 Public engagement (external)
7.7 Council request for support/budget/declaration to partner |
| 8.0 Affordable housing opportunity |
8.1 Request for public interest for partner
8.2 Partner recruitment, due diligence, and selection
8.3 Council update on public interest/selection process
8.4 Development of a joint business case with the city and partner
8.5 Council update on business case with selected partner
8.6 Public engagement (external)
8.7 Council request for support/budget/declaration to partner |
 Station West in Ward 1 houses several thousand families with next to nothing in the way of park and recreational space. The Station West development in Ward 1 has next to nothing in the way of park space. If the city owns any of the land in that area they might give some thought to adding parkland that the developer got away with having to provide when the development was approved. Mention in the report of: Land exchange opportunity to facilitate amenities and housing in Major Transit Station Area (MTSAs) opens a door for such an opportunity/
 By Lyall Gillies
February 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
As more people are recently choosing internet platforms for leisure and enjoyment, Burlington’s entertainment scene has changed dramatically. Daily life now mainly revolves around digital entertainment, which includes movie streaming, video game playing, virtual event participation, and online casino exploration. With advancing technologies and a better internet connection, there is a change in the leisure activity choices of the citizens of Burlington.
Top Digital Entertainment Trends in Burlington
Here are some of the most vital online entertainment trends of the city with the rise of Bitcoin casinos and the growing attraction of e-sports.
Online gaming and cryptocasinos growth
 Players can compete with each other. Online gaming has been one of the major developments in the field of entertainment in Burlington. In particular, the most pervasive activities to spend time with friends or simply unwind include:
- Multi-player video games.
- Mobile apps.
- Online casino platforms.
- Digital games.
Since the emergence of online gaming, numerous developments have been recorded. One of these is the introduction of crypto casinos. From intensive research, it is claimed that these casinos are characterized by safety and reliability. Moreover, players tend to enjoy incredible security, swiftness, and anonymity when it comes to serious financial transactions. So if you are an ardent online casino player who seeks the top crypto gambling platforms that can guarantee several jawbreaking features, you may want to visit https://cryptocasinos-ca.ca/.
Streaming services dominate digital entertainment
Households in Burlington have made a shift towards streaming services as the on-demand nature has made them the default choice for entertainment. With all manner of movies, TV shows, and original content, the menus offered by companies like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime just keep on getting bigger and better. Niche streaming sites handling sports, documentaries, and independent films are also gaining traction. More importantly, Burlington locals who would choose online access to NHL, NBA, and international sports leagues over paying subscription to traditional cable have found great popularity with live sports streaming. Besides, local artists and content creators use platforms like YouTube and Twitch to grow larger audiences, which makes this a very lively digital entertainment ecosystem.
Virtual events and online socialization
 The whole family can take pat in an online game Virtual events have been a great tool in altering the very nature of concerts, comedy shows, and cultural gatherings for the people of Burlington. With the transition into digital performances, people can enjoy live events now from the comfort of home while interacting with others through either the chat or video feature. Virtual reality meetups and interactive chat rooms are becoming the norm in online social spaces, especially on Discord and Clubhouse.
E-sports and competitive online gaming
The popularity of competitive gaming and e-sports is rapidly rising, drawing in gamers and viewers alike. Burlington’s gamer community is tuning in to world tournaments featuring blockbuster titles such as Fortnite, League of Legends, and Call of Duty. Local gaming communities and e-sports leagues give beginners a chance to practice and improve. Online competitive gaming is part of mainstream entertainment options; streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming now show live coverage of major e-sporting events.
Digital casinos and the future of online gambling
Online gambling in Canada just keeps rolling, and Burlingtonians show increased interest in the digital form of casino. While the classics in online casinos aren’t going to lose their popularity, blockchain integration into them and new cryptocurrency exchange options are gradually changing the face of gaming. Cryptocasinos offer an extra layer of security, faster payout options, and a level of anonymity not offered by traditional online gambling. With Canadian law constantly changing regarding online gaming, Burlington players increasingly look toward sites that bring them innovation and reward-laden experiences in gaming.
Evolution of online shopping and entertainment subscriptions
E-commerce and digital entertainment go together as Burlington seeks convenience and personalized experiences in entertainment. Equally common are subscription-based services for video games like Xbox Game and PlayStation Plus as well as, music including Spotify and Apple Music. With those boundaries blurred between retail and entertainment, especially on the likes of Instagram and TikTok Live Shopping, offering consumers an opportunity to interact with influencers and brand ambassadors.
The future of online entertainment in Burlington
 Online entertainment in Burlington is only going to diversify further with the steps in technology. It’s going to continue offering inhabitants of the city more and more alternatives, considering that virtual reality and blockchain-based gaming will rise, alongside the tailoring of streaming services. Websites like CryptoCasinos-CA are shaping the future of digital entertainment with innovative and secure ways to enjoy online gaming, including gaming, streaming, virtual events, and interactive social platforms. Thus, the digital entertainment landscape in Burlington takes new shapes to respond to the desires of a tech-savvy audience.
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