 By Gazette Staff
January 30th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Premier Ford’s Progressive Conservatives confirmed this week that no media will be permitted to attend any portion of the party’s three-day convention at the Toronto Congress Centre, an unusual decision that is already drawing criticism from political observers.
 There is something pugnacious about Doug Ford. Premier Ford has a number of reasons for not wanting any media at his event.
He is still able to get away with practices like this. The public has yet to arrive at a clear understanding as to what Doug Ford has done during his several terms of office.
The Greenbelt scandal – when the public became aware of it the Premier said he made a mistake.
Using private personal cell phones to conduct government business.
The Skill Development fund scandal.
The Highway 413 decision
Failed to come anywhere near close in meeting the number of new homes needed.
Failing to support public health care while pushing for private medicine to meet the demand.
The public is still in a Ford Nation mode.
 There will come a time when the public clues in. There will come a time when the public clues in – then the slide will be downhill and quick.
The report the public expects from the RCMP investigation would help the public see the man in a different light.
No word on the Mounties on when the report will be made public.
Soon soon maybe?
By Pepper Parr
December 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It was at the very end of the Council meeting that took place yesterday.
Mayor Meed Ward said the following:
“We do not engage in debate, but if anyone has any questions about how this meeting was conducted, I’d be happy to answer questions from public or media offline outside of this meeting.”
 A citizen delegating at a meeting of City Council. One interesting point that the Mayor didn’t make perfectly clear and a statement the Gazette has not heard even once during Meed Ward’s term of office as Mayor relates to her saying:
When she said “we do not engae in debate” she was saying that during Council meeting the public can delegate and answer any questions from members of Council. But they cannot debate with Council during the delegation.
Frequently,after a delegation has been completed the questions from Councillors will turn into an exchange of views on an issue. It doesn’t happen very often – but it does happen.
What has never happened is the Mayor saying she was prepared to meet with the public and media .
As Mayor, Meed Ward has never called a media event. A Carlton University graduate with a degree in journalism Meed Ward has frequently referred to herself as a journalist – that’s not quite true. Marianne has been an editor, a spokesperson, a panel member on a television show but she has never worked as a reporter covering a beat or doing an in-depth interview that we are aware of.
 Mayor Meed Ward on TVO ‘s The Agenda It is worth noting that Meed Ward is often very good on panels. She loves the camera and the camera loves her.
This shift – making herself available to media is new – and a positive sign. Some people have been pressuring the Mayor to be more open and available and act as the Mayor and not just as someone available for every photo-op imaginable.
Is the pressure working ? – keep it up. This shift could be because there is an election less than a year away and the Mayor is fully aware that she will face a credible candidate who wants to wear the Chain of Office.
 By Pepper Parr
December 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
At a recent council meeting, during which how city councillors are to be compensated, Ward 1 Councillor Kelven Galbraith said: “With no print newspaper left in Burlington”, he relies on flyers to reach residents. He noted that the current budget only allows him to do so once a year.
Galbraith needs some help; There are four online newspapers that serve the city:
Burlington Gazette, which is the oldest online newspaper: 12 years
Burlington Today – a relative newcomer that has a strong readership.
The Burlington Post which converted to an online paper when Metroland Media killed all their weekly papers, and stiffed their reporting staff at the same time.
The Bay Observer and Insauga.
 
The five online newspapers are active, growing and serving the news and entertainment that are part of every city.
Advertising support from the city, precious little. The Bay Observer has managed to convince some of its city Councillors to advertise. In Burlington, both the federal and provincial elected representatives have advertising budgets. Not much of that money makes its way to the media.
 The Bay Observer manages to get some advertising from members of Hamilton City Council. In Burlington media gets invitations to photo ops where the Mayor might tear up or a Council member is cutting a ribbon at a new retail location. 
Media is in place to keep those that serve the public transparent and accountable. They all read the media – we know that because when there is something that they think is wrong – we hear from them.
By Gazette Staff
October 27th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
George Will, a respected opinion writr with the Washington Post said recently that: “The waning of newsprint is about cultural changes more momentous than digital publishing’s arrival.’ He was commenting on the death of yet another major newspaper, giving up on print and becoming an online newspaper.
 New York Times getting a final check before the presses role. “Turning trees into paper, marking it with ink, trucking it to people who deliver it to readers — soon this laboriousness might be as forgotten as men with tongs lugging large slabs of ice for home iceboxes. The waning of the 400-year era of newspapers is, however, about cultural changes more momentous than the efficiency and convenience of written words presented digitally.
“The Economist reports that the share of American adults who read for pleasure has fallen 40 percent in 20 years, and students’ ability to read in quantity, with comprehension, is in parallel decline. An Oxford professor of English says students “struggle to get through one novel in three weeks.” Students lack, another professor says, “habits of application and concentration.”
“The sentences that are being read are shorter and simpler. The Economist says an analysis of hundreds of New York Times bestsellers “found that sentences in popular books have contracted by almost a third since the 1930s.” Readers, if they can be called such, who are mentally wired for driblets of 280 characters cannot cope with Charles Dickens’s “Bleak House” (1.9 million characters). Can people unable to decipher sophisticated prose manage sophisticated political ideas?
“But sophistication is not in the repertoire of journalism devoted to what Andrey Mir, a Canadian, calls the retribalizing of society. In his epigrammatic 2020 book “Postjournalism and the death of newspapers,” Mir, a self-described “media ecologist,” says the media lost agenda-setting power when the internet enabled crowdsourced agenda-setting.
“As advertising dollars migrated to the internet, newspapers, which hitherto were funded from above by selling readers to advertisers, became funded from below by selling themselves to readers. Newspapers encouraged readers to think of subscriptions as donations to political causes. Subscribers enjoy their “slactivism,” outsourcing their activism through “donscriptions” — subscriptions thought of as donations.
 There are still millions of people reading newspapers – the content however, is a lot different. “Mir says “the last newspaper generation” was born in the early 1980s. It came of age as the internet did. Soon journalism stopped being about informing people to make them citizens, and began to be about making them agitated.
The new business model depends on polarization, amplifying readers’ irritations and frustrations. “A newspaper,” wrote Vladimir Lenin, “is not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organiser.”
“Americans,” Mir says, “consume media 12 hours per day. Counting weekends, this is twice as much as a full-time job.” Because there is insufficient news to fill the time, emphasis has shifted to “expertise, commentaries, and opinions.”
“Prestige newspapers’ membership models make them function, Mir says, as validators. Readers value the newspapers’ attitudes toward events, not the news that readers already know about events. Readers must be financially able and emotionally inclined to make donscriptions. The work of reader-driven newspapers is to justify the readers’ agenda and inculcate it in others, who will become donors.
What Mir calls the “commodification of the Trump scare” has completed journalism’s transition from “making happy customers” for department stores and other advertisers, to “making angry citizens.” For what Mir calls postjournalism, the next challenge is to find a successor scare.
“The shift from rationality to emotionality and peddling intensities” has, Mir says, made negativity mandatory. Hence this from the New York Times website on May 14, 2020:
“Almost 3 million U.S. workers filed for unemployment last week. Although the weekly tally has been declining since late March, experts are warning of a long struggle ahead.”
“There should be a key on the contemporary journalist’s computer that prints the phrase “experts are warning of.” Mir writes, “The trendsetting emotional tone is easy to read even on the faces of TV hosts”:
“In the 1970s, TV anchors had to wear smiles; now, they are obliged to wear an anxious grimace. Today’s news anchors make a kind of ‘basset face’ that would have looked unprofessional on 1970s TV. In return, an anchor with a ‘corgi face’ from the 1970s would look like an idiot on today’s news show.”
 Fewer and fewer. “Time flies. Until the 1840s, information could move at about 35 miles per hour — as a fast as a train. Today, information matters less relative to opinions, and opinions are distilled to attitudes. These are performative, and they compete for attention with upwardly spiralling shrillness.
Hence this distinctively 21st-century achievement: the velocity of stupidity.
 By Pepper Parr
October 15th,2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
City Council killed the current iteration of Sound of Music; a musical festival that entertained millions during the decades; they put on a great show that was free.
When it was evident that the city was going to put the boots to the ask submitted by the Sound of Music (give us more money and forgive our debts) I was a bit surprised when the city said they would put out a Request for Expressions of Interest; first thing that came to mind was: Is the fix already in?
In a media release, the city announced that:
 The City of Burlington is taking steps to ensure that a community-focused music festival remains part of Burlington’s waterfront experience. In the coming weeks, the City will issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting event organizers to deliver a refreshed festival at Spencer Smith Park beginning in 2026 — one that continues to bring people together while reflecting the evolving needs and values of our community.
This next step is about renewal and continuity — building on a long-standing tradition while ensuring future events are inclusive, sustainable, and reflective of Burlington’s priorities. The City’s goal is to see a waterfront music festival continue to thrive in a way that evolves with the community and continues to bring people together for years to come.
The city put out a survey – the usual and expected questions were asked. The city said the feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of music programming in Burlington and ensuring it continues to celebrate community, creativity, and connection.
To complete the survey, visit GetInvolvedBurlington.ca/MusicFestival. The survey will be open until Nov. 17, 2025.
The lingering question for me was: Who is there out there that could pull together a decent event for June of 2026 – eight months away?
If you think about it – and there are people both on Council and within the community, who have done a lot of thinking about this. While the EOI has yet to be released, there are people already talking to people about who could do what.
Does whoever comes forward have to be a not-for-profit? It would have more flexibility if it were an Ontario Business Corporation.
If there were experienced business people holding the equity, expect much better business decisions. People with money are not in the habit of losing money.
The Sound of Music was always terrible at governance.
Deciding if the city is going to do business with a new organization is not something the public should expect anything in the way of public engagement.
My take: The fix is already in.
 By Ray Rivers
September 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
We laugh with a comedian and laugh at a clown but there is nothing funny about a fool.
Ontario’s premier Ford has flip-flopped on speed cameras. Perhaps one of his family or friends got a ticket? In all fairness there have been rumours of abuse – people claiming they were billed $100 for going 3 kms over the limit. But rather than fix that abuse, he’s decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater and just ban municipal speed cameras all together.
 Speed Cameras: They are resource efficient, indisputably accurate, corruption-proof, and non-invasive, – People who know speed will tell you that cameras work. They are resource efficient, indisputably accurate, corruption-proof, and non-invasive, – only the license plate appears on the ticket. Your ticket doesn’t affect your driving record, only your pocket book.
To defend the ban Ford is claiming speed cameras don’t work – in the face of ample evidence that they do, slowing traffic by almost 50% in one study. His solution is to pepper our city streets with even more of those dreaded speed bumps. You know the ones that can blow out your shocks, scrape your car’s undercarriage and exhaust system and so on. So you’ll pay for speeding one way or another it seems – a speeding ticket or a car repair.
And what about life saving fire-engines and ambulances which will now have to slow down as they bounce over miles of these new Ford bumps. Of course Hamilton with the worst roads in Ontario is well ahead of Mr. Ford’s new policy because pot holes the size of giant Halloween pumpkins work just as well. Speed bumps may be called traffic calming. They are anything but calming – I bounce over these obstructions in getting to where I want to be.
And since speed bumps slow traffic on city streets, don’t be surprised if the genius running this province decides to place them on highways as well. After all, that is where most fatalities actually happen. Ironically, Mr. Ford normally seems to want us to drive faster. He’s been taking out bike lanes, building new highways, increasing speed limits – so one has to wonder what is driving Ford.
 How pouring prime Canadian whiskey on the ground protects Ontario is hard to understand. Colbert and Kimmel are comedians and Doug Ford’s brother Rob was an unfortunate clown. But Doug Ford, still the most popular Ontario political leader, is just a fool when it comes to speed cameras. So what does that make the rest of us?
 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:
Ford Popular Speed Cameras Camera’s Work 45% Reduction How They Work Speed Bump Damage
By Pepper Parr
September 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The New Appleby Line branch of the Burlington Library system is officially open.
 First person to enter the new library – greeted by James Dekens, Manager Neighborhood Branches  First child to return books.  First person to use a monitor. The first thing that strikes you when you walk through the doors is all the space.
It’s also very bright – lots of natural light seeps in.
The library and the classrooms on the second level are the only part of the Bateman Community Centre that are operating.
The project is one of those developments that limped its way to completion. It was a Tom Commisso idea that had difficulty – almost from day one.
But this story is not about Bateman – it is about the library and the leadership that got it to the point where a truly splendid library is now operating.
 This was Lita Barrie’s day. She and the team she led had much to be proud of.
Lita Barrie has headed up the library for six years now. She came to Burlington from Hamilton, and as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), she pulled together a very strong team.
It is beyond a doubt in my mind that the library system is the best there is in the city operationally.
They continually come up with new ideas; existing programs are upgraded, and excellent use is made of technology.
The Maker Studio in several branches of the library took a little time to catch on; the technology that is employed with the “aquarium” in the New Appleby Branch will delight the children.
Barrie brought some very strong technology credentials with her when she came on Board as the CAO
When people first walk through the 16,000 sq. ft. of space, they have a sense of Wow!
 The amount of space – 16,000 sq. ft., and all the natural light. will please many.  Meeting places are all over the 16,000 sq. ft library.  The ‘aquarium’, not yet fully operational, is set up so that when children draw a picture of a fish, it will appear on the screen. The library makes extensive use of technology.  One of two fully equipped media rooms.  Just inside the front doors of the library there are three daily newspapers. A few feet away there is a small meeting room. Two of the early arrivals, a couple, set themselves up in the Meeting room – each reading a newspaper.  Bare at the moment – the room will be where young children are gathered for story telling.  The hoarding behind Councillor Sharman will be in place for a while yet. The portion of the Bateman Community Centre that will include Tech Place is not complete – may not be for some time. No mention of a coffee shop so far.
 By Gazette Staff
September 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
While getting the Bateman Community hub to the point where the public can use the space has moved at glacial speed, the folks at the library have their act together.
 Getting the books on the right shelves. Construction is almost complete on the relocated New Appleby Branch. Library staff are busy shelving books, creating displays, and preparing the branch for its upcoming opening day.
A note on the name of the newest library. It is on New Street but it isn’t named New.
The library ranch that is being replaced was known as the Appleby Branch.
The addition to the library service that will be part of the Bateman Community Centre will be known as the New Appleby Branch
September 15 is the first day of operations at the new branch at 5151 New Street. The branch will open at 9am, and you can enter through the front door of the community centre to access the library space.
Starting October 1, the branch Program Room will be available to rent for interested individuals, non-profits, community groups or businesses.
Check Out These Features
- Browse a large collection of fiction, non-fiction, magazines, and other materials to borrow.
- Get cozy with our comfortable seating and study space.
- Host a meeting by booking one of three free meeting rooms.
- Access services like our printer/copier, 3D printer and public computers.
- Book time to work on your multimedia project in our free sound-proof digital media rooms for recording and editing audio.
- Have fun in our children’s area with books, colouring, and digital games for learning!
Sneak Peek!
 Row upon row  Book shelves clearly marked. We’re working hard to get the branch ready for opening day. Here’s a taste of what’s to come!
Mark your calendar to visit New Appleby Branch starting Monday, September 15—we can’t wait to show you around your new neighbourhood branch!
By Joseph Gaetan
July 7th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Having followed the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting this morning, it was impossible to ignore the emotional weight carried by the young swimmers in attendance. Their long, sad faces told a story that no statistics or procurement policy can truly convey. The decision by the City of Burlington to deny the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) pool time has had a tangible and heartbreaking impact.
 Members of BAD – not looking very pleased with what they were hearing. Beyond the procedural and legal questions, the human cost of this decision is quickly becoming irreparable. BAD is home to approximately 400 swimmers, with an additional 100 on a waiting list. These are not just numbers—they represent children, families, and years of commitment to a sport that thrives on stability and community. With the shift to Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC), many of these young athletes now face uncertainty, possible exclusion, and disrupted athletic development.
GHAC’s model appears to depend on absorbing swimmers from BAD in order to fulfill contract requirements. This has led to a situation that one councillor aptly described as a ‘zero-sum game’—where one club’s gain is another’s loss, and in this case, the most immediate and vulnerable losers are the children. Some families have already begun to exit BAD simply because they can’t wait for clarity. That is the real damage, and it is already happening.
It also remains unclear whether the Request for Proposals (RFP) approach was appropriate for this type of community service. There were hints from many that a negotiated process might better serve the community. As it stands, staff have entered into what appears to be a binding agreement with GHAC, while BAD may well have a legal basis for judicial review in Superior Court. If the City can find a resolution outside of court, it would likely result in fewer losers and a faster path to healing.
Key questions remain unanswered:
-
- Why was the RFP process used instead of a negotiated renewal?
- Would renewing BAD’s contract have caused less disruption and harm to swimmers?
- Will the GHAC model result in significantly higher program fees for families?
- Most importantly: if BAD’s application was never opened, how could the City disqualify the bid based solely on a document that does not exist under Ontario’s nonprofit regulations?
 Kimberly Calderbank This last question strikes at the core of the issue. If the rejection was based on a misinterpreted or impossible requirement, it suggests a critical failure in process and oversight. BAD submitted a valid Certificate of Status—the only up-to-date, official proof of incorporation available. Still, their application was dismissed out of hand.
What is at stake is not just pool time, but trust—between the city and its residents, between young athletes and their mentors, and between elected officials and the community. Rebuilding that trust will take time, humility, and, most importantly, action.
The city must act quickly and decisively to mitigate harm and restore confidence in its leadership.
 By Staff
June 18, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region Public Health was made aware of a confirmed case of measles that has led to a potential exposure in Halton on June 12.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air.
Individuals may have been exposed to the measles virus at the following location on the date listed below:
3075 Hospital Gate – Medical Building, Oakville (whole building) on Thursday June 12 from 2:10 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 Extremely contagious – get vaccinated! Visitors to this location between the times noted should:
- Check your immunization records to make sure you and any people who accompanied you have up to date measles vaccinations (two doses are recommended for anyone born on or after January 1, 1970). Your immunization record (yellow card) or your doctor can provide you with this information. If you are not immune and were potentially exposed, please contact Halton Region Public Health as you may benefit from post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Infants under one year of age, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems can get very ill with measles and should contact Halton Region Public Health or their health care professional immediately for further assessment.
- If you think you may have measles and need to see a doctor, you must call ahead to the doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or emergency department. This will allow health care staff to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and protect others visiting the office, clinic or hospital.
- Watch for symptoms of measles until 21 days after exposure.
Symptoms can appear 7 to 21 days after contact with someone with the measles virus. Measles symptoms may include:
- fever
- cough
- runny nose
- red eyes
- sleepiness
- irritability
- small, white spots on the inside of the mouth (Koplik Spots)
- a red blotchy rash that first starts on the face and spreads down the body, arms, and legs (this rash can last 4 to 7 days)
“Measles is a serious disease that can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. I encourage everyone to ensure their immunizations, including for measles, are up to date, particularly children who may have missed their routine shots during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Deepika Lobo, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.
25
 By Staff
May 26th, 2029
BURLINGTON, ON
Exploring the Randle Reef Project with featured guest speakers Roger Santiago from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Sara Yonson from the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
Thursday, June 5, 2025 @ 5:30PM
 Site of the contamination. Randle Reef—once the largest and most contaminated site in the Canadian Great Lakes is in the southwest corner of Hamilton Harbour
Cleaning up Randle Reef is one of the biggest steps to remediate the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern, and it is now in its final stages.
The third and final stage to remove sediment at Randle Reef is underway.
The $150-million project is cleaning up of the once-most contaminated site on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
Randle Reef had over 615,000 cubic metres of sediment — enough to fill a hockey rink three times over. The contamination dates back to the 1800s, after years of industrial pollution.
The clean up started in 2016 and was originally set to be done by 2022 but the pandemic resulted in some delays.
The last step involves removing and treating the remaining water from the container before releasing it back into the harbour and installing the final capping of the container.
The project, now expected to be completed by 2025. The Great Lakes are an essential to the health and well being of millions of Canadians, our ecosystems and the economy. Pollution has been putting all this at risk.
An opportunity to learn about the Randle Reef problem, and one of the largest sediment cleanups in Canada and how they decided to solve the problem.
 Steel pilings were driven into the floor of the harbour. This multi-year, multi-million dollar project ($150 million) is a joint initiative involving the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, City of Hamilton, Halton Region, City of Burlington, Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority and Stelco.
Register for free by clicking the link below.
This event is presented by the HHRAP and hosted by Conservation Halton.
Click HERE to register
 By Richard K. Howarder
April 21st, 2029
BURLINGTON, ON
 Social media is not only a source of fun or entertainment. It can also help teachers and students study. It makes education accessible and learning fun and easy.
In this article, we will discuss five simple ways to use social media for education. Let’s have a look!
Live streaming lectures
 Live streaming is used to show lessons or presentations. One of the best ways to use social media for education is live-streaming lectures. Live streaming helps a teacher show different ideas and concepts clearly.
They can use live streaming tools to show lessons or presentations. It also helps students to learn from home or anywhere. Students can also ask questions and participate fully in the lectures.
Moreover, taking short breaks during online learning can help students improve their concentration and focus.
Playing simple games like I Love Solitaire can help students relax. Solitaire is a fun, classic card game that allows them to refresh their minds.
Create a Class Blog
Another simple way to use social media is by creating a class blog. A teacher or a group of students can start a blog to share education-related news, homework, and tasks. It will keep everyone informed.
Moreover, creating a blog is easy to set up and update. Students can read the blog anytime, leave comments, and ask questions.
Connect with Students via Facebook Groups
Facebook groups can also be used for educational purposes. It is a great tool to connect with students. Facebook groups help students connect and share education-related news, updates, and material.
A teacher can create a class group and post reminders about homework and other tests. Students can also share their work and ask for help when needed.
Digital Storytelling with Instagram
 Digital storytelling with Instagram is another easy way to use social media for education. Students and teachers can use Instagram to share their ideas and concepts with pictures and short videos.
This makes it easier to learn new things. Moreover, the simple design of Instagram makes it a good tool for visual learning.
Q&A sessions on Twitter
Last but not least, Twitter Q&A sessions help students solve their queries. Students can ask anything anytime, and teachers can also use Twitter to ask questions.
This type of session is quick and easy and allows students to share ideas and learn from each other. Teachers can also use Twitter to give short tips and quick reminders.
 By Donald J. Hicks
April 7th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Canadian online gaming enthusiasts have a compelling new option with the official launch of Catch.bet, a platform combining a comprehensive sportsbook with a full-featured online casino. This Canadian-focused gaming destination arrives at a time when player expectations are higher than ever, bringing several notable advantages for local players.
Canadian-Centric Design
Catchbet distinguishes itself immediately through its dedicated focus on Canadian preferences. The platform operates entirely in Canadian dollars, eliminating the currency conversion headaches that plague many international sites. This seemingly simple feature significantly improves the player experience by providing clarity on exact stakes, winnings, and bonus values.
The platform’s payment system integrates seamlessly with Canada’s most popular financial services, including Interac e-Transfer, major Canadian bank cards, and several e-wallet options popular in the region. These integrations result in faster processing times for both deposits and withdrawals compared to platforms that primarily serve other markets.
Comprehensive Sports Coverage
 CFL and the Blue Jays – couldn’t ask for much more – but there is more.  For sports betting enthusiasts, Catchbet offers remarkable depth in markets that matter to Canadian players. NHL coverage is particularly robust, with extensive pre-game and live betting options for every matchup. Beyond hockey, the platform provides exceptional coverage of:
- CFL football with player props and team specials
- Toronto Raptors and NBA basketball
- Toronto Blue Jays and MLB baseball
- Canadian Championship soccer
- UFC/MMA events featuring Canadian fighters
This sports selection reflects actual Canadian interests rather than forcing players to adapt to European-centric offerings common on international platforms.
Casino Experience
The casino section complements the sportsbook with a carefully curated game selection from top providers. Rather than overwhelming players with thousands of identical slots, Catchbet focuses on quality and variety:
 Live dealers in your time zone. Classic and video slots from premier developers
Table games including multiple blackjack and roulette variations
Live dealer options operated during peak Canadian hours
Video poker and specialty games
The casino interface prioritizes intuitive navigation and quick loading times, with thoughtful categorization making it easy to find games that match personal preferences.
Responsible Gaming Commitment
Catchbet launches with robust responsible gaming features that go beyond industry standards. Players can set deposit limits, wagering limits, and session time restrictions directly from their account dashboard. The platform also provides easy access to self-assessment tools and connections to Canadian support resources.
What This Means for Canadian Players
Catchbet’s entry into the market represents a shift toward more localized gaming experiences for Canadian players. Rather than adapting to platforms designed primarily for other regions, Canadians can now enjoy an experience built specifically for their preferences and needs.
 A destination that truly understands Canadian preferences. The platform’s combination of Canadian-friendly payment options, regionally relevant sports markets, and intuitive design addresses many common frustrations experienced by Canadian players on international sites. For players seeking a gaming destination that truly understands Canadian preferences, Catchbet offers a refreshing alternative to generic international platforms.
As the Canadian online gaming market continues to evolve, Catchbet’s focus on local relevance sets a new standard for what players should expect from gaming platforms operating in the country.
Catch.bet, a platform combining a comprehensive sportsbook with a full-featured online casino.
 By Staff
March 14th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued the following statement:
“Over the last several weeks, we have seen the number of new measles cases rise to 173 bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Ontario to 350 since 2024, including 31 hospitalizations. This is the most measles cases Ontario has seen in over a decade. It is critical we work together to mitigate further spread of this vaccine-preventable disease.
Over 96 per cent of cases in Ontario are among individuals who are unimmunized, or have unknown immunization status, and were exposed in their community or while travelling. A majority of Ontario’s cases are concentrated in southwestern Ontario among unvaccinated people.
 Vaccination is the most effective way to limit the spread of measles. Vaccination is the most effective way to limit the spread of measles and protect yourself and your loved ones. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been in use for more than 50 years and is proven to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines available. All Ontarians should ensure themselves, and their children, are up to date on their vaccinations. Children who are fully immunized with two doses of the measles vaccine are nearly 100 per cent protected, with one dose estimated to be up to 95 per cent protective.
As part of routine vaccination schedules, children should receive two doses of the measles vaccine, their first at 12 months and a second when they are between four to six years old. If you are not sure about your immunization status, please contact your health care provider or your local public health unit.
 Measles spreads easily among those who aren’t vaccinated and can lead to serious health issues including pneumonia, respiratory failure, swelling of the brain, and in rare cases, death. Measles spreads easily among those who aren’t vaccinated and can lead to serious health issues including pneumonia, respiratory failure, swelling of the brain, and in rare cases, death. If you think you or a family member has been exposed to measles, please contact your health care provider immediately. Before any visit, be sure to call ahead to let them know that you are coming and that you suspect that you may have measles so appropriate precautions can be taken.
We will continue to work alongside our public health partners to respond to measles and to ensure the health and safety of communities across the province.
By Farooq Azam
January 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Combined these are two of the best tools available. Social media advertising is a powerful tool for reaching your target audience and achieving marketing goals, but without proper allocation and optimization, it’s easy to overspend with minimal results. To get the most out of your budget, it’s essential to choose the right platforms, refine your targeting, and continually optimize your campaigns. Here’s how to allocate and optimize your ad spend across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok to achieve the best results.
Understand Your Target Audience
Before allocating your budget, you need a clear understanding of your target audience. Each platform attracts different demographics:
- Facebook: Ideal for reaching a broad audience, including older demographics and diverse interest groups.
- Instagram: Popular among younger users, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, and excels at visual storytelling.
- LinkedIn: Best for B2B marketing and professional services, with an audience of decision-makers and industry professionals.
- TikTok: A favorite among Gen Z and younger Millennials, perfect for brands with creative, fun, and engaging content.
By understanding where your audience spends their time and how they interact with content, you can allocate your budget to platforms that align with your campaign objectives.
Allocate Budget Across Platforms Strategically
Effective budget allocation for social media advertising is multi-layered; it’s important to divide it proportionally across platforms based on their potential ROI for your business. Here’s a general guideline:
- Facebook and Instagram: Allocate a significant portion of your budget here, especially if you’re targeting a broad audience or running e-commerce campaigns. Their advanced targeting options and visual formats are highly effective for most businesses.
- LinkedIn: Set aside a higher cost-per-click (CPC) budget if you’re targeting professionals, as LinkedIn ads tend to be pricier but deliver high-quality leads for B2B campaigns.
- TikTok: Dedicate a smaller portion of your budget to TikTok for experimental or creative campaigns that require engaging, short-form content.
Always leave room for testing, especially if you’re exploring a new platform.
Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Define what you want to achieve with your social media advertising. Common goals include:
 Increasing brand awareness.- Driving website traffic.
- Generating leads.
- Boosting sales or conversions.
Your goals will influence your ad format, targeting strategy, and budget allocation. For example, if your goal is lead generation, LinkedIn’s Lead Gen Forms might be a better investment than TikTok’s short-form videos.
Optimize Ad Formats and Creative Content
Each platform has unique ad formats, so tailor your content accordingly:
- Facebook and Instagram: Use carousel ads, video ads, and Stories to engage your audience. High-quality visuals and compelling captions are crucial.
- LinkedIn: Focus on Sponsored Content, InMail ads, and thought leadership pieces. Highlight industry expertise and actionable insights.
- TikTok: Create short, engaging videos that align with trending sounds or challenges. Authenticity and creativity are key to success on this platform.
Ensure your ad creative aligns with your brand identity while resonating with the platform’s audience.
Refine Targeting and Audience Segmentation
Targeting the right audience ensures your budget is spent efficiently. Use these strategies:
- Custom Audiences: Retarget website visitors or engage with existing customers using custom audiences on Facebook and Instagram.
- Lookalike Audiences: Find new prospects similar to your best customers by creating lookalike audiences.
- Interest and Behavior Targeting: Focus on users’ interests, job titles, or behaviors, especially on LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Geographic Targeting: Narrow down your audience based on location to avoid wasting ad spend on irrelevant users.
Continuously monitor your audience performance and make adjustments as needed.
Test and Measure Campaign Performance
Regular testing and optimization are crucial for maximizing your social media advertising budget. Use A/B testing to experiment with different ad formats, headlines and captions, and targeting options.
Track metrics like click-through rates (CTR), cost per click (CPC), cost per acquisition (CPA), and return on ad spend (ROAS) to identify which campaigns deliver the best results. Platforms like Facebook Ads Manager and LinkedIn Campaign Manager offer robust analytics tools to help you measure performance.
Focus on Retargeting and Remarketing
 Retargeting ads allow you to re-engage users Retargeting ads allow you to re-engage users who have already interacted with your brand. These campaigns are often more cost-effective and yield higher conversion rates. Use retargeting to:
- Remind visitors about abandoned carts (e-commerce).
- Nurture leads who have downloaded a resource (B2B).
- Promote time-sensitive offers to recent website visitors.
 Keep up to date with new tools that help you do a better job. Stay Up-to-Date with Platform Trends
Social media platforms are constantly evolving. Stay informed about new ad formats, algorithm changes, and emerging trends to ensure your strategy remains effective. For instance, TikTok’s shoppable ads or Instagram’s interactive Stories features could offer unique opportunities to reach your audience.
Keys to Effective Budget Allocation for Social Media Advertising
Maximizing your advertising budget requires strategic planning, creative execution, and continuous optimization. By understanding your audience, setting clear objectives, and tailoring your approach to each platform, you can achieve better ROI and drive meaningful results. Regularly analyze performance and adapt your strategy to ensure every dollar spent contributes to your business goals. With the right approach, social media advertising can be one of the most impactful tools in your marketing arsenal.
By Pepper Parr
January 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you want to know just how much trouble media is in North America try this on for size.
 Jeff Bezos with his second wife Laura Sanchez The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, who owns the Amazon organization told the Post editorial staff they were not to endorse any candidate during the election.
The Post was said to be getting ready to endorse Kamala Harris.
The Post had a tag line, Democracy Dies in Darkness, that was always published under the title of the newspaper.
Continue reading Just how much trouble is North American media in?
 By Staff
January 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This could be embarrassing!
 Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP,is absolutely delighted with the Information & Privacy Commissioner’s ruling that details about Doug Ford’s use of a personal phone to conduct government business will be made available to the public.
She said – “Today is a step towards transparency and accountability in Ontario. We have seen this government use every trick in the book to keep things hidden from the public – from secret code words to “accidental” data wipes . Today’s IPC decision means there’s one less place for them to hide.”
“People in Ontario deserve better than a Premier that doesn’t want you to know who he’s talking to or what he’s saying. Doug Ford likes to say his personal phone is open to anyone – but it’s just another way to for him to give preferential treatment to powerful lobbyists and personal friends.”
Continue reading New Democrats expect to get their hands on details about Doug Ford’s use of a personal phone for government business.
 By Eric Stern
January 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Think globally, act locally.
 I’ve owned a Tesla Model 3 since 2019 and have over 140,000 km on the odometer. In 2019, Elon Musk was a visionary, it’s odd how quickly things change.
How does charging an EV work and how do you make it work for you? Don’t depend on the city to do that for you.
There are two scenarios for charging.
Continue reading On EV charging stations: council has to decide is it photo ops & social media, or money in people’s pockets so they can act locally
 By Natalie Mehra
December 24th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 As I sit down to write a holiday message to you that I hope has some meaning, I am thinking about a couple of ground shaking events that have happened in the last few weeks, one in the U.S. and one here.
In the United States, Luigi Mangione has been charged with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. The assassination-style killing has provoked an outpouring from the American public. MEMEs (internet graphics) and videos abound. All over the internet are new folk songs written about Luigi. People have taken to inserting Luigi into photos at their work, school, or home, to provide him with an alibi. Photos have been altered to look like stills from Mission Impossible: there’s Luigi, alert, svelte, young, almost impossibly tidy in his orange jumpsuit, highlit against a phalanx of police escorting him out of a helicopter overlaid with a soundtrack of pumping hip-hop.
Luigi has become a cultural hero.
It is no wonder. Forbes reported that UnitedHealthcare denies more claims than other health insurance companies in the U.S. — rejecting up to one-third of claims the magazine says. Similar reports have gone viral. (The company denies them.) Thompson — the CEO who was killed — made of $10.2 million annually, including salary, bonus and stock options. UnitedHealthcare, part of the giant conglomerate UnitedHealth Group, reported more than $16 billion in operating profits last year. That’s $16,000,000,000 in profits. Making millions (or billions) from denying health care to people has them angry. Beyond angry. This week’s events have tapped a vein of seething fury in America, uniting people across political lines in a country that is deeply divided.
In the United States, medical costs are the number one reason for bankruptcy. Fifty-six million people struggle with medical debt each year. That’s more than the entire population of Canada. Ninety percent of them took out a second mortgage on their home to pay their medical bills. Eleven million people last year ran up high interest debt on their credit cards to pay medical bills. The cost of (usurious) interest on those cards will leave them in a cycle of debt for years, if not for life.
Last week the public outcry resulted in Anthem Blue Shield reverse a decision to limit coverage for anesthesia during surgeries and other procedures. Their plan was to cease insurance coverage after a recommended duration of time for that type of surgery. Connecticut’s Democratic Senator Chris Murphy expressed the outrage of his constituents: “Saddling patients with thousands of dollars in surprise additional medical debt. And for what? Just to boost corporate profits?….Reverse this decision immediately.”
Here in Canada, we watched the explosive resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland after a dispute with the Prime Minister’s Office. Reportedly, Freeland and the PMO disagreed over what she described as the HST tax holiday gimmick in the face of an economic statement that reported a $61.9 billion deficit. Leaked to the Globe and Mail was another claim that the Prime Minister’s people were of the opinion that Freeland was unable to articulate the government’s economic plans effectively. Whether it is the fault of the Finance Minister, the Prime Minister ( and/or the media, the opposition parties, the silent social movements in Canada…) it is definitely worrisome to me that Canadians do not have a clear picture of the economic choices ahead of us.
The government reports about $20 billion of that deficit is one-time spending for Indigenous land and other claims currently in court and special COVID payments. After these, the deficit will be in the $40 billion range. I note this in particular because a few years ago I was writing a report and I remember looking back at the Harper years in government, and trying to calculate the total of his corporate and income tax cuts. Bottom line? Harper’s tax cuts took $41 billion per year out of federal revenues as of 2015. That is per year, each year then and since. It is even more per year in today’s dollars.
Lest you think that you benefited from those tax cuts, let’s take a closer look at the actual evidence.
Corporate tax cuts are usually justified as attracting business investment and funding productivity gains, but in fact these tax cuts have resulted in more than $700 billion in corporate “dead money” not going to anything that benefits the public. In fact, Harper’s record was the worst since prior to World War II on key economic indicators including job creation and corporate investment.
Furthermore, income tax cuts virtually always benefit the highest income earners. Remember, income taxes are indexed. That means, the highest income earners pay the most and the rate of tax goes down as the level of income is less. Income taxes redistribute money from the highest income to the middle class and poorest. Under analysis, almost 80 percent of the Harper government income tax cuts went to the highest 15 percent of income earners.
Years ago, economists Richard Shillington and Hugh Mackenzie calculated the value of public services to the median (dead in the middle) income household. They found the value to that household to be $41,000 (in 2009). In today’s dollars that would be more than $60,000 per year for each household. Their point? Funding public services is a net gain to most of us, not a take away.
You may be wondering what this has to do with health care. The answer is taxes have everything to do with health care. Canada created our public health insurance for all in the 1960s because people couldn’t afford health care on their own. As Justice Emmett Hall famously said:
 Justice Emmett Hall “As a society, [we] are aware that the trauma of illness, the pain of surgery, the slow decline to death, are burdens enough for the human being to bear without the added burden of medical or hospital bills penalizing the patient at the moment of vulnerability. The Canadian people determined that they should band together to pay medical bills and hospital bills when they were well and income earning. Health services [are] a fundamental need, like education, which Canadians could meet collectively and pay for through taxes.” Justice Emmett Hall, was the Chair of the Royal Commission on Medical Services that resulted in the 1968 passage of the Medical Care Act.
The Canada Health Act, passed in 1984, banned extra user fees on patients for medically needed hospital and physician services. We do not have millions of people going bankrupt to pay medical bills because we have public health insurance – paid by taxes. We do not have profiteering insurance companies denying claims to make billions in profit from the sick and the dying.
At the Ontario Health Coalition we are not partisan. We don’t tell people how to vote and we don’t favour one political party over another.That does not mean that we shy away from telling people the truth about the various parties’ positions and records on health care and we will fight any party or government that threatens our health care.
 The federal government floated the entire country in the pandemic. The truth is this. The federal government floated the entire country in the pandemic. They brought in three new social programs: child care, the beginning baby steps of pharmacare and dental care for seniors.
Every new social program is an income transfer — from the highest income earners whose incomes have skyrocketed over the last generation — to everyone else. They mitigate the income inequality dished out by the private marketplace and support people to live to their human potential. Public health care means that we live without the risk of financial ruin if we have an accident or fall ill.
When politicians like Pierre Poilievre say they are going to reverse those social programs, like the new dental care program for seniors, in whose interests are they acting? (Remember, Mr. Poilievre was in Stephen Harper’s cabinet — a key decision maker in that government.)
Again, this is not partisan and it absolutely is not an endorsement of any political party. I am writing this because I’m worried about what is missing in the debate about the deficit. Costs are already crushing for most of us. Building & expanding our public services are a key way to reduce costs for people. Cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy (which most tax cuts over the last generation have done) increase inequality and costs for most of us. The toxic combination of budget constraints while privateers have moved in and are taking money out of our healthcare system that has been devastating. It has to stop.
In the debate about our choices going forward over the upcoming months in Canada, let us please remember that.
Let us also remember that what we do changes public policy. As we end this year, let’s celebrate the incredible job that we do as a Health Coalition, founded to safeguard our public medicare for all. We have shifted public opinion in our province in a way that is unmatched in Canada. Polls show that the opposition to privatization and support for public health care is far higher in Ontario than anywhere else in the country.
That is our work. The slight wins we have had in long-term care — some fines for terrible operators, reinstatement of inspections — have been are due to our relentless efforts together. We still have public hospitals despite Doug Ford’s attempts to privatize them, and the growth in private clinics has not been as robust as his budget plans indicate. That too is our work. We have been featured in literally hundreds of media stories this year, effectively setting the key issues and holding the Ford government’s feet to the fire.
 Much more is needed and we have much more planned, but as we head into the winter break, I just wanted you to know that we — together — are exceptional. The work we do is vitally important. Thank you to the local coalitions across the province, who are our backbone. You have my heart. You are the best of people and I love working with you. Thank you to the Ontario Health Coalition Board of Directors, a dedicated group of thoughtful people whose commitment to the cause deserves our deepest gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the tens of thousands of volunteers out there who have leafletted, come to protests, organized events, helped to research, put out social media posts, written letters, attended meetings and every other thing you do to make our movement one of the most effective and unique in Canada. Thank you to those of you who have donated to help in our common cause. We could not do it without you.
I hope you are proud of our work. It is the privilege of my life to dedicate myself to the principles of equity and compassion that are foundational to our public health care for all. As we head into this season of light, let us keep the light of those beautiful principles burning for all.
Natalie Mehra is the Executive Director of the Ontario Hospital Coalition
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