 By Pepper Parr
February 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It isn’t all that much money but put in the right hands it can be very productive and useful.
The federal government set up a fund with $31 million in it. That money was made available to a number of the community foundations who then look for places in their individual communities where it can be put to use.
The funds are to be used transforming public spaces in response to COVID19. I don’t think this was meant to put plastic shields up so we don’t bump into people when we are outdoors.
 An organization that goes under the title of the The Golden Horseshoe Hub in Southern Ontario announced today they will work together to distribute $1,840,190 to transform public spaces The funding will flow over two application rounds.
The Hub is led by the Oakville Community Foundation and includes: Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation, Brant County Community Foundation, Burlington Foundation, Community Foundation of Halton North, Hamilton Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Mississauga and Niagara Community Foundation.
The money comes from the federal government and their Healthy Communities Initiative and will support community-led organizations in developing local, small-scale infrastructure projects that respond to the immediate needs arising from COVID-19, while building towards a more pandemic-resilient future.
 When people work together sharing ideas and collaborating on what they decide to do – the wider community benefits. Starting today, organizations are invited to apply for funding between $5,000 and $250,000 to lead projects that help create safe and vibrant public spaces, improve mobility options, and provide digital solutions to help their neighbourhoods or communities navigate the pandemic and look to build back better in the COVID-19 recovery.
This could include projects that adapt crosswalks and access to public transport to allow for safe physical distancing, the creation of community gardens, and art installations, and free wifi in targeted public spaces. A variety of community-led organizations are eligible to apply, including local governments, charities, Indigenous communities, and registered non-profit organizations.
Organizations can apply for First Round funding from February 9, 2021 until March 9, 2021, at 8:00 PM EST.
A second application period for funding will start in May 2021.
Application forms and background information can be found HERE
Colleen Mulholland, President of the Burlington Foundation adds that: “Burlington Foundation is pleased to partner with seven community foundations located across Southern Ontario, forming The Golden Horseshoe Hub, to provide just over $1.8M to a variety of locally-lead infrastructure projects that respond to needs resulting from this pandemic. Transforming public spaces through the addition of new community gardens, ensuring free WIFI is available in open spaces, and adapting our crosswalks, are just a few examples of how we can adapt to support immediate needs while also ensuring long-term community resiliency. This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s new $31M Healthy Communities Initiative.
Applications are now open. Visit our website for details: https://burlingtonfoundation.org/about/leadership-initiatives/canada-healthy-communities-initiative/
The Burlington Foundation expects to announce their 4th round of financing for projects. Should be able to tell you more around the middle of the month. These will be above and beyond funding from the federal government.
“The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” (Article 2 of the Olympic Charter)
 By Ray Rivers
February 10th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There is an open letter signed by parliamentarians from all of Canada’s political parties, indigenous leaders and human rights organizations demanding that, given China’s record of human rights abuses, the 2022 Olympic Winter Games must be relocated away from China.
Those abuses are so significant that the former and current US governments have labelled China’s actions with its minority Uighur population as genocide.
 Hitler hijacked the 1936 Olympic Games – would China do the same in 2022 Not relocating the games would be an unfortunate case of history repeating itself. The 1936 Olympics were hijacked by Adolf Hitler. Opponents of the Berlin games argued that allowing the Nazi regime to host the games would just embolden Hitler and allow him a propaganda victory. Showcasing the international games would demonstrate to the German people that the rest of the world was OK with his policies of second class citizenship, ethnic cleansing and ultimately genocide (eventually) for Germany’s Jewish population.
In addition to the Canadian effort, there is group of 180 international human rights associations calling for a complete boycott of the games. Boycotts are problematic, as history has shown, and they rarely work. For example, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan most western nations boycotted the 1980 Olympics which were being held in Moscow. The games still went ahead; the Soviets continued to occupy Afghanistan for a decade thereafter; and the western athletes, whose careers were on the line, suffered the most.
 Coal being shoveled off rail cars in China for use in generating plants There is a long list of grievances which China’s president for life, Xi Jinping, has been ramping up over recent years. Of course China has a terrible human rights record with respect to its treatment of the Uighur, Falun Gong, Hong Kong and Tibetan populations. China has also replaced the US as the leading source of climate change emissions, and despite participating in the Paris climate agreement, the country is building more new coal burning power plants than the rest of the world combined.
The nation has been developing its military at break neck speed. And with its now powerful navy has claimed sovereignty over the South China Sea which puts it on a collision course with any number of it neighbours and the USA. And of course there is a long simmering cold war with India over their mountainous shared border.
China has threatened war and forced occupation of Taiwan, an island of 24 million people with a democratic government, and which has been independent since 1949. And its history before that, except for a brief period post WWII, had been as a colony of Japan. The USA may have no formal security treaty with Taiwan but has 30,000 troops stationed there. So it is doubtful that the US would stand by and allow the Chinese to invade without a fight.
 Patrons at a wet market in Wuhan, China It has been a year since we first heard of COVID, but World Health Organization (WHO) inspectors have finally been allowed to visit the birthplace of the virus which caused COVID 19. Though, nobody really expects them to discover how this pandemic actually got started. Chinese officials have sanitized the wet (seafood) market which they claim have been location zero. And all of the Chinese citizens or officials who could have shed light on the situation have either been kept out of sight or been velcro-lipped.
The theories propagated by Chinese authorities are that the virus arrived in Wuhan aboard a load of American frozen food or that SARS-CoV-2 originated from a bat virus which transited through an infected pangolin to complete a zoonotic leap into the respiratory tract of an unsuspecting shopper in Wuhan’s extensive wet market.
But neither theory holds water. For one thing neither bats nor pangolins were on sale at the Wuhan wet market at the time. The closest candidate bat would have been a 7 hour train ride away but was probably too busy hanging upside down in its bat cave to make the journey.
Another theory, once advanced by former president Donald Trump, and largely dismissed because of that, is that there was an accidental leakage of the virus from the Wuhan Virology Laboratory. Located just up the street from the wet market, this is China’s only Level 4 bio-safety laboratory with a mandate to study and experiment with these kinds of viruses. And located behind its walls is the greatest collection of dangerous bat viruses ever assembled in one place.
The Chinese obviously deny this lab leak theory. And the team of visiting WHO inspectors say it’s a long shot. But this would not be the first time that WHO has been pressured by the Chinese. And given the lack of transparency and all the secrecy, can one be sure all the inspectors have seen is a really thorough cover-up of the evidence?
For Canada there is another reason to avoid the games in China. Just ask our two Michaels who have been held in miserable captivity for over two years. Their crimes were that they were valuable hostages which China’s strongman thought would make good trading fare for their Huawei executive whom we, in turn, continue to detain. Australia has recently updated its travel advice for China to warn that authorities have detained foreigners on alleged national security grounds and that Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention.
 The Canadian Olympic Team at Winter Olympic Games The choice for Canada is pretty clear. We need to work with other nations to convince the international Olympic committee to either cancel the games or shift the location to a more appropriate venue in keeping with the mandate, goals and the spirit of the Olympics. Unless that happens Canada should boycott the games in Beijing and seek alternate venues and exhibitions for our athletes.
The last thing Canadians need to see on their television sets next February are our proud athletes marching through Beijing sporting a large maple leaf flag as they pass by prison cell holding one of our Michaels.
As a postscript China is now claiming it will sanction any nation which boycotts the games. Seriously?
What would they do if the games are moved to a more acceptable location?
 Ray Rivers, born in Ontario earned an economics degree at the University of Western Ontario and a Master’s degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office. Rivers is active in his community; has run for municipal and provincial office.
Background links:
About the Olympics – Olympic Charter – Wuhan Lab –
A Lab Leak – Was it the Lab – More Lab Leaks –
US and Wuhan Lab – A Leak? – Move the Games –
Human Rights Groups – All Parties Call for Moving Olympics –
 By Pepper
February 9th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
A regular eagle eyed reader who follows the Mayor on Twitter brought this to our attention.
He points out that the flag used in the tweet is not the correct version
He then adds that we cannot use his name saying “I don’t want to be in her bad books.” adding that “errors are errors.”
The unfortunate part of this is that there are people who feel they will be in the “bad books” of an elected official if they call them out on something. This is really unhealthy for a democratic society.
What, though, if we have a Mayor who is spiteful with a vengeful streak?
What do you do then?
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
February 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Being in lock-down mode and being asked to “stay at home” leads to some interesting results.
One Burlington resident, known for catching our typos, decided to learn what Wikipedia had to say about his home town.
The author of the following has asked to remain anonymous; could it be that he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the city?
Do read on.
Many school age Burlington students are forced by this prolonged pandemic to get their information online; their Go-To source for instant information is Wikipedia.
The best mid-size city in Canada is Burlington (as everyone already knows) and researchers will Google us to find: Wikipedia. Burlington Ontario.
Let us examine what Wikipedia says about Burlington. Our: History, Elected officials, Economy, Media, Shopping.
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington is a city in the Regional Municipality of Halton at the northwestern end of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. Along with Milton to the north, Burlington forms the west end of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also part of the Hamilton metropolitan census area. Burlington lies between Lake Ontario’s north shore and the Niagara Escarpment.
That truly boring descriptive tells readers we are “at the west end of Toronto alongside Milton”.
What else can we learn?
History. By 1906, the town boasted its own newspaper—the Burlington Gazette—as well as a town library and a local rail line that connected Burlington to nearby Hamilton.
Allow us to update – The Original Burlington Gazette ran 1899-1956 and by 1906 – Burlington was already on its third railway station at Freeman. The “local Rail Line” was an integral part of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, at that time the LONGEST railway in the world.
Who are we?
Wikipedia says people who live here are either: Burlingtonians or Burlingtonites.
Only the first name sounds familiar, maybe it’s for day use?
Then Wikipedia shows us this image of our flag:
 …but wait, that’s NOT our flag.
 This is our flag – with a full three masted schooner – not some puny rowboat.
Burly, our beautiful moo-cow, should grace the upper left corner of the shield not a My Little Pony Bridled Unicorn. Nay I say. Wikipedia must fix this immediately.
Let us keep going to “print media”,
The following publications are either published in or around Burlington, or have Burlington as one of their main subjects:
• Burlington Post
• Snap Burlington
• Burlington News
• View Magazine
• Burlington Gazette
A closer inspection of these five:
 This is what the original Burlington Gazette office on Brant Street used to look like. • Burlington Post – we know (and love)
• Snap Burlington – Is that Snap’d Burlington – (let’s let Snap’d fix their own listing)
• What is this “Burlington News”??? Clicking on Wiki’s link reveals “nothing found”there
• View Magazine. This paper is out of Hamilton and what does VIEW Magazine’s search engine say about Burlington…?
View’s latest article dated Feb 1 2020 tells us:
Burlington’s Shane Wright lives up to ‘exceptional’ status in OHL and is averaging over a point per game in first year with Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League.
Shane’s a good Burlington boy – he’s a beauty – and a pretty good hockey player up there in Kingston, eh?
• Last but not least – it is good to see our own Burlington Gazette listed. Perhaps they could add a link.
• Remove “Burlington News” and add Hamilton Spectator instead.
• Also add “The Bay Observer”
Elected officials
Moving on to Wikipedia’s section on our elected officials and most of this public record is right – well, except…
• Oakville North-Burlington (the area bounded by Highway 407 to the north, Dundas Street to the south, Guelph Line to the west and Oakville to the east): Pam Damoff (Liberal).
 The MP for Oakville North Burlington would be very surprised to what Wikipedia thinks her constituency boundaries are. What kind of crazy is this?
Wikipedia has removed 90% of Pam Damoff’s riding constituents, including everyone living between Dundas and the QEW? Certainly this needs to be fixed even if just for the integrity of our elections.
Shopping
COVID’s impact notwithstanding, according to Wikipedia, there are only two shopping areas in town: Mapleview Mall and Burlington Mall.
Breaking news: Burlington Mall’s name was changed to Burlington Centre years ago.
Their picture shows a jam-packed frenzy of shoppers doing their Xmas shopping at the Old Mall. Methinks it is time for a new photo.
And by the way, there are plenty of other shopping areas in town. Big box stores, strip plazas, power marts, and so on. Wikipedia could mention those.
Economy
How about the economy? Who are Burlington’s main employers – the “big-name heavy hitters” according to Wikipedia?
The top five private sector employers in Burlington are Fearmans Pork Inc, Cogeco Cable, Evertz Microsystems, Boehringer Ingelheim and EMC2.
Yes – those are some of the biggies? Who are the other notable businesses??
Other notable businesses include The EBF Group, ARGO Land Development, and The Sunshine Doughnut Company.
 Wait – what? Hold the phone. The Sunshine Doughnut Company makes top 10?
Voortman Cookies didn’t make the cut?
Nor did Samuel Steel, Pinty’s Foods, Thermo-Fisher, Pollard Windows?
This donut photo is NOT on Wikipedia – instead they have posted these drab glamour shots of Burlington doing its best impression of Tombstone Arizona.
Let’s look in greater detail next week – and not just bring problems but bring solutions.
 By Staff
February 7th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Several of Canada’s finest instrumental jazz musicians, will be on-line February 10th – 7pm via Zoom – not to be missed.
Thanks to a generous grant from the City of Burlington’s Community Support Fund, a special program created to support Burlington artists during the pandemic, One Burlington has commissioned Joe Sealy and his colleague Paul Novotny to create a special 25-minute video version of Africville Stories to be launched in Burlington at 7 pm on Wednesday February 10th , 2021.
Joe Sealy and Paul Novotny will be available for a Q&A immediately after the showing. The video will subsequently be provided to both Burlington school boards for telecasts during the week of February 15th.
 Africville was seen as a slum – but it was home to a small but very robust black community that was forgotten until the city of Halifax wanted to develop the land. Joe Sealy is one of Canada’s premier jazz pianists and composers. His Africville Suite won a Juno Award as Best Jazz Recording of 1996. Joe Sealy subsequently created an attraction called Africville Stories, which relates the stories behind the various musical selections in the Suite. He wrote several additional songs for the great Canadian jazz/gospel/blues singer Jackie Richardson, who serves as Narrator for the 75-minute work. Africville Stories also features several of Canada’s finest instrumental jazz musicians, including saxophonist Alison Young, bassist Paul Novotny and percussionist Daniel Barnes.
Africville is a community on the outskirts of Halifax that had little, if anything, in the way of municipal services. The residents of that community were treated terribly.
One Burlington, Burlington’s organization dedicated to the celebration of faith and culture in the City of Burlington, is planning an event in commemoration of Black History Month.
Africville Stories is Joe Sealy’s musical tribute to the Halifax community of Africville, a neighbourhood built by generations of Black immigrants to Nova Scotia subsequent to their arrival from post-Revolutionary America. The community was razed to the ground in 1960 as part of a Halifax urban renewal project. Joe Sealy’s mother was born and raised there.
 Paul Novotny Africville Stories fit well into One Burlington’s mandate to celebrate the cultural diversity of its citizenry, and especially those communities that are under-served, and to provide insights into the often difficult histories of these multicultural communities. We stand proud in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Joe Sealy’s Africville Stories, featuring Jackie Richardson and Paul Novotny.
Wednesday February 10th, 2021 at 7 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.usj8507806860?pwd=MFVlKzZsTnBEbWZCNCt5MkkyWGd1UT09
Meeting ID: 885 0780 6860
Passcode: 231098
If that link doesn’t work, please go to zoom.us and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode to get in that way!
For more information contact Robert Missen at 905-632-6047 or rmissen@sympatico.ca
By Pepper Parr
February 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It was one of those walk-on items; a piece of city business that wasn’t on the agenda.
It came from the Mayor who did not appear to have consulted with her peers before the meeting.
There was a certain awkward silence, which is hard to pick up on when the meeting is virtual and you can’t always see all the players at the same time.
It was short; set out as a Staff Direction it read:
Direct the Executive Director of Legal Services to undertake a detailed review of the feasibility of enacting a city wide health protection bylaw to be funded from the Contingency Reserve fund and report back by Q2 of 2021.
My first reaction was – what is this all about? Don’t we have a Public Health Unit at the Region that focuses on public Health?
The motion wasn’t actually ready – Council took a few minutes break while the short paragraph was typed up and put up on the screen.
 Kelven Galbraith, Chair of a Standing Committee waiting for the Mayor to complete the writing of a Staff Direction Kelvin Galbraith who was chair of the meeting asked if there were any questions. Rory Nisan, who seems to be the person that automatically supports whatever the mayor puts forward said he was very interested to see where this could go.
Angelo Bentivegna was next with his standard “two quick questions” approach. He wanted to know more especially about the “detailed” part and just how much of the Contingency Reserve fund was going to be used. He asked “how far are we going to get into this” and added that at this point he could not support the Staff Direction.
Council had just come out of a two hour CLOSED session on the Meridian Aldershot Quarry and were scheduled to do a hard stop at noon – with that hour just minutes away.
They needed to take a lunch break after which City Manager Tim Commisso spoke saying he felt that Bentivegna deserved a more detailed answer to his concerns.
Commisso pointed out that the Legal Services budget was not public. He seemed to be aware of what it was the Mayor wanted to bring forward and pointed out that Council can do whatever it wants to do.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman said he had concerns over the scope of what was before Council. He wanted to know who will do the actual work and noted that there is a Public Health Unit at the Region adding that he was not clear on just what was being done.
 Nancy Shea Nicol, Executive Director Legal Services At that point the Executive Director of Legal Services spoke saying she could put together a Terms of Reference document.
Commisso then said that this was something that was dealt with in the CLOSED session. Which CLOSED session?
 City Manager Tim Commisso Commisso was referring to the CLOSED session that had taken place earlier in the day relating to the Meridian Aldershot Quarry where Air Quality issues were part of the discussion.
We were aware that the city had included outside legal counsel with a background in environmental matters.
Commisso said there would be a specific lead role and that “Nancy will provide executive guidance that would provide a “consolidated approach”.
A muddy picture was getting muddier.
Councillor Stolte then spoke saying she wanted more information. She would later vote to move the matter to Council later in the month at which time the City Solicitor would have more information for them.
Councillor Kearns wanted to see a more honed in approach to whatever it was the Mayor wanted done. Reference was made to where this fit into the V2F document (Vision to Focus) by Kearns but not before she could say that she thought the city was lucky to have Nancy Shea Nicol on Staff (she is the Executive Director of Legal Services) because she was “an amazing person.”
Kearns wanted to know if this was an internal look at public health; did it include audio, smells – adding that the wording was obtuse and needed fine tuning and could be the equivalent to opening a Pandora’s box.
She wanted the matter deferred to Council.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Meed Ward then spoke saying that “we are constrained” about what we can say and that the public will not know what we are talking about and what can be shared with the public.
Withholding information is the beginning of a slippery slope that leads to deliberately hiding information from the public.
What the Mayor did not share when she spoke was that previously the Executive Director of Legal Services had been asked to find lawyers with environmental experience.
Those lawyers are what we at the Gazette believe were speaking to Council in that CLOSED session.
In the fullness of time all the facts will come out. What we don’t want to hear is that the approach the Mayor has taken was what was best for the city.
Weeks before the 2018 election took place we said that of the three candidates running for the Office of Mayor Meed Ward was the only real choice.
And she is certainly in the process of making her mark on the city. She is also creating a profile of being bold and courageous and doing good things.
What is also being left is the view that she always knows best – this is not a view that is shared by most of her colleagues. The collaboration and a collective will of Council is not as evident as the Mayor would like it to be.
A Gazette reader recently made a comment that this Mayor wants everyone to know that She Is in Charge – democracies don’t work that way Your Worship.
What we will learn in the fullness of time is that Council will try and pass a city wide health protection bylaw that will relate to the quality of the air and what corporations will not be able to do when their product or the work they do releases pollutants into the environment.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
February 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Intimate Partner Violence is the dark under belly part of our society.
We don’t want to hear about it, however it is going on all around us.
 9-1-1 call from an individual reporting that a male was assaulting a female in a residence, and that help was urgently needed. The Halton Regional Police Service report that if the current trend continues, officers will attend more than 4,000 intimate partner violence incidents by the end of this year.
Last month, the HRPS received an early morning 911 call.
Officers were dispatched and arrived at the residence. Nothing could be seen or heard from the house which was in total darkness. Officers gained entry to the house and soon located a male, as well as his common-law partner who had multiple red marks and bruising on her upper body.
Officers learned that the male party had been drinking for several hours during the evening. Two children in the home reported hearing slapping, yelling and loud noises throughout the remainder of the night until police intervened.
The male was arrested soon after and subsequently transported to Central Lock Up. Thereafter, the HRPS Intimate Partner Violence Unit took carriage of the investigation. The accused was charged with Assault, Assault Causing Bodily Harm (Choking), and Forcible Confinement.
The female party was admitted to hospital for her injuries and was referred to the Halton Regional Police Service Victim Services Unit.
The Victim Services Unit connects victims to appropriate support services in the community, assists with victim care, and, through the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP+), can provide immediate short-term financial support toward essential expenses for victims of violent crime.
Last month, our officers fielded 343 calls regarding intimate partner violence (IPV), compared with 279 calls in January 2020. In the same time period, we made 83 IPV arrests, compared with 51 IPV arrests in January 2020. A total of 206 IPV-related charges were laid in January 2021, compared with 85 IPV-related charges in January 2020 (an increase of 142 per cent).
Tragically, January is not an anomaly. Our analyses indicate that this is a continuation of a trend of an increasing frequency and severity of intimate partner violence incidents in the community over the course of the pandemic. What is particularly concerning is that we recognize that all forms of family violence are under-reported.
 An increase of 142 per cent year over year for the month of January. If you see something, say something. Someone’s life may depend on it.
Every person has the right to feel safe in our community.
Victims of intimate partner violence or sexual assault and witnesses are encouraged to contact the Halton Regional Police Service.
The following is a list of support services and resources in Halton Region for victims of intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence:
• Halton Regional Police Service Victim Services Unit 905-825-4777
• Halton Women’s Place 905-878-8555 (north) or 905-332-7892 (24-hour crisis line)
• Halton Children’s Aid Society 905-333-4441 or 1-866-607-5437
• Nina’s Place Sexual Assault and Domestic Assault Care Centre 905-336-4116 or 905-681-4880
• Thrive Counselling 905-637-5256 or 905-845-3811
• Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) 905-875-1555 (24-hour crisis line)
 By Pepper Parr
January 31srt, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Full page advertisement in the weekend Toronto Star
The good people of Milton don’t see the federal government decision to allow the inter-modal hub that CN Rail has planned for the Town of Milton.
While the direct and immediate damage is focused on Milton the damage the truck traffic will do to the northern part of Burlington is significant and will never end as long as there are freight trains using the rail lines that will lead into the inter-modal hub.
There will be a reported 1600 trucks a day coming and going and while they all won’t pour onto the north Burlington roads – there will likely be more than the roads were built to withstand.
CN is of course delighted and they convinced all their friends at many of the local Chambers of Commerce organizations to take part in the sponsoring of a full page advertisement in the weekend edition of the Toronto Star thanking the federal government.
What seems to have been forgotten is that while the Chambers of Commerce represent the business interests in a community those very business interests stand to suffer and lose once the inter-modal hub is operational.
Tractor-trailer traffic in the community will increase, housing developments will suffer – the value of the homes in the immediate locale of the inter-modal hub will be assessed at a lower value than they would have been if the inter-modal hub was built somewhere else
By Pepper Parr
January 29th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff in full election mode Pam Damoff, the MP for Oakville North Burlington will be holding an on-line Town Hall on the federal budget.
The event is part of the federal government’s pre-budget consultations and will take place on Thursday, February 11, 2021, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm.
All residents of Oakville North-Burlington are welcome to attend. To register for the virtual Town Hall and for additional details about the discussion please click here.
At this point in time the federal government is throwing billions into the economy to keep things as stable as possible while everyone works at beating the COVID19 virus which keeps sprouting variants which makes the job very difficult.
Damoff explains that “when COVID-19 is under control, our government has a plan to make smart, targeted investments to jump start our economic recovery, restore growth, create jobs, build a greener, more competitive, inclusive and resilient economy and repair the damage done by the pandemic.”
Over the coming weeks, the government will host virtual round tables with diverse groups of people from a range of regions, sectors and industries, including those hardest hit by the pandemic, to allow our government to hear the best ideas from Canadians and experts across the country about how Budget 2021 can best support Canadians through the pandemic and help us build back better. The round tables are an opportunity to discuss the very real challenges Canadians are facing and listen to the ways that the government can ensure a robust recovery that leaves no one behind.
Participants will be able to share their ideas and priorities about how the government can best invest to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and build a greener, more competitive, more inclusive, more innovative, and more resilient economy.
Pam Damoff: “After the virtual Community Town Hall, my office will compile a report detailing the suggestions from Oakville North-Burlington residents to submit to the office of Federal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Chrystia Freeland. The number of participants is capped at 100 and priority registration will be given to residents of Oakville North-Burlington.
“All Canadians are invited to share their ideas through an online questionnaire at LetsTalkBudget2021.ca, which will be available until February 19, 2021.
“In last year’s 2020 Fall Economic Statement, our government committed major federal transfers to the Provinces. Below, I have outlined the federal transfers to Ontario for reference.
“In Ontario:
• $16.2 billion through the Canada Health Transfer, an increase of $616 million from the previous year; and
• $5.8 billion through the Canada Social Transfer, an increase of $182 million from the previous year.
• $5.1 billion for Ontario through the Safe Restart Agreement:
o $1.2 billion support with the costs of increasing testing capacity, perform contact tracing, and share public health data that will help fight the pandemic;
o $466.0 million to support health care system capacity to respond to surges in COVID-19 cases and to support and protect people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, or homelessness;
o $287.4 million to address immediate needs and gaps in supportive care and provide health and social supports for other vulnerable groups;
o $776.6 million to support municipalities with COVID-19 operating costs
o $1 billion to ensure critical transit services are maintained;
o $1.2 billion to ensure health and non-health workers have access to the personal protective equipment that they need; and
o $234.6 million to address the reduced availability of childcare spaces and the unique needs stemming from the pandemic.
• Up to $763.3 million available through the Safe Return to Class Fund
• $1.1 billion through the Essential Workers Support Fund
Pillars of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan by the Numbers in Ontario:
• Canada Emergency Business Account: as of January 21, 323,617 loans provided to businesses, worth a total of $16.35 billion.
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: as of January 10, 791,810 applications, for a total of over $23.32 billion in subsidies paid out, helping protect 1.72 million jobs.
• Canada Emergency Response Benefit: as of October 4, over 3.5 million Ontarians supported. In a population of 14.7 million, this is nearly 1 out of every 4 people.
• Canada Recovery Benefit: as of January 10, $3.3 billion provided to 682,080 Ontarians.
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit: as of January 10, $94 million provided to 110,220 Ontarians.
• Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit: as of January 10, $375.2 million provided to 106,690 Ontarians.
By Pepper Parr
January 27th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
When I saw the media release I didn’t know what a Growler was. Interesting approach to the delivery of craft beers.
The media release announced that on January 1st, Beertown Public House was among the first set of restaurants in Ontario to successfully launch a Growler Program – offering freshly poured local craft beer for guests to take home, bring back, re-fill, and repeat.
 64 and 32 ounce sizes of your favourite craft beer that you can’t get at the supermarket or the LCBO The program, they say, celebrates the most recent amendments to Ontario’s liquor laws which permits licensees to sell premixed cocktails and growlers. Beertown is offering Howlers (32oz half growlers) to foster the joy of discovery and promote a “keep cool, drink fresh” mentality.
The province still requires “some” food be provided with the brew; Beertown tosses in a handful of nibley food to cover that base.
Guests can choose from an ever-changing selection of Ontario Craft beers, quirky imports, and kegged cocktails. Once finished, they can bring back their empty glass growler to refill, and exchange it for a freshly sanitized one.
The Growler program has allowed the Beertown to continue to support Ontario Craft Breweries during this unique time, and curate a “Beertown experience” for their guests right at home. It has become a popular choice in the Beertown Bottle Shop – a series of retail pop-up shops that sell consignment wines, cocktail kits and 6-packs that cannot be found at your local LCBO or grocery store.
 Craft beer – they have more than 100 on their list and mixed cocktails: curb side service as well. The Growler Program is available at all Charcoal Group Restaurant locations across Ontario, including: Beertown Public House, Sociable Kitchen and Tavern, The Bauer Kitchen, and Wildcraft Grill and Long Bar.
Where did the name Growler come from? The term likely dates from the late 19th century when fresh beer was carried from the local pub to one’s home by means of a small galvanized pail. It is claimed the sound that the carbon dioxide made when it escaped from the lid as the beer sloshed around sounded like a growl.
Who knew?
Beertown offers an impressive take out menu. You can find it on line.
 By Pepper Parr
January 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Chief catches a break.
The Halton Police Board Resolved that;
The Halton Police Board has full and unequivocal confidence in Chief Stephen Tanner to remain the Halton Regional Police Service Chief;
The Board expresses its disappointment in both the former Chair, Mayor Rob Burton, for granting permission to Chief Tanner to travel to the United States, for not obtaining the consent of, nor notifying, the Board and in Chief Tanner for his decision to ask for permission and for travelling to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding his property-related issues in Florida;
The Board accepts Chief Tanner’s apology for his decision to travel and will take no further action;
The Board accepts former Chair, Mayor Rob Burton’s apology and thanks him for his service to the Board and the Service;
The Board commits to reviewing its policies related to vacations, leave, continuity of leadership and the pandemic, especially international travel guidelines, and directs the CAO to subsequently develop and present amendment proposals for consideration at the earliest possible opportunity;
And to be transparent, the Board directs the Secretary to immediately release minutes of the special meetings held on January 15, 16 and 21, 2021, to the public.
- Halton Police Board and Halton Regional Police Services remain committed to Community Safety and Well-Being.
- Halton has retained its distinction as Canada’s safest regional municipality with a population of 100,000 or more for the eighth straight year.
- Halton has the lowest Crime Severity Index* (CSI), Violent Crime Severity Index, and Non-Violent Crime Severity Index when compared to Ontario’s “Big 12” police services;
- Had the lowest overall crime rate, violent crime rate, and property crime rate among Ontario’s “Big 12” police services;
- Had the highest weighted clearance rate (49.8 percent) of the same “Big 12.”
With a stronger and more transparent process in place, the Halton Police Board remains steadfast in our commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.
The Halton Police Board is a seven-member civilian Board that provides strategic oversight to the Halton Regional Police Service. Under the Police Services Act, the Board has legislated responsibility for the Police Service’s operating and capital budgets; strategic planning; policies, and priorities. The Police Board’s fundamental responsibility is to ensure that adequate and effective police services are provided to the citizens of Halton Region.
The Halton Police Service released the following Statement from Chief Tanner:
 Chief of Halton Regional Police Service Steve Tanner I sincerely appreciate the full and unequivocal confidence the Halton Police Board has placed in me as Chief of Police. I will continue to lead our police service in the exemplary manner the Board has come to expect, and will always do my very best for our members, citizens and for the community that I am sworn to protect.
Regardless of the personal property related reasons for which I travelled recently, or the permission that I sought and obtained for that travel, I am remorseful for that decision. I have previously apologized openly to all of our members and to the public. I also regret the impact that this has had on Mayor (Chair) Burton who has stepped down from the Halton Police Board as a result of his decision to support my travel.
I look forward to continuing my service and to providing leadership to our community and to our police service members to the very best of my ability throughout the years to come.
By Pepper Parr
January 20th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Clarification:
Mayor Burton resigned from the Halton Police Services Board on January 11, 2021. The Police
Services Act, provides that the Head of Council is to be one of the members of
the Board unless he chooses not to serve. Regional Chair, Gary Carr has decided to assume the
vacant position. This is effective immediately upon swearing- in and does not require confirmation
by Council. The term is for the remainder of this term of Council, to expire November 14, 2022 or
when a successor is appointed.
There is probably going to be a change in the way the police services for the Region are going to be managed and led.
The Police Services Board has held 15 hours of meetings so far to determine what, if anything, they want to do with the current police chief who was out the country with the permission of Oakville Mayor Rob Burton who was the Chair of the Police Services Board.
 Oakville Mayor Rob Burton Burton resigned as the Chair last week but is still a member of the Board.
There has been considerable public reaction to the decision the Chief made in asking for permission and then actually leaving the jurisdiction when the province was under a lock down.
Burton realized he was in a difficult position and had to resign as Chair. His political future is something that we will look at later.
What to do with the Chief. There are clearly some differences within the Board – fire him? – how, when he had permission.
 Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner talks with Sgt Davies, the man who heads up the accident reconstruction unit. One of the options is to find a way to settle with the Chief – that will turn out to be an expensive option and one that will be hidden from the public. There will be a statement about thanking the Chief for his service and wishing him well in the future.
If the Board decides to fire the Chief he will most certainly sue for wrongful dismissal. That law suit will be public and that’s something the Region does not want.
The rank and file police are not happy people. Their Chief was not there for them when they needed him.
Clayton Gillis, the president of the Halton Regional Police Association, said Saturday he has heard claims made by a whistle blower on Twitter. He said he doesn’t engage in the social media platform.
“From my conversation with the Chief and the statement he released yesterday, I know that he has described his travels as ‘personal business matters’ and a ‘property matter.’ I don’t know any other details or if the rumours … are accurate,” he said.
“We will be seeking a more transparent, fulsome answer to why he travelled beyond what’s been given as an answer thus far,” Gillis added.
The Police Services Board will be holding another meeting on Thursday (January 21st) that will like the previous two, in a CLOSED session.
What will be different is that Halton Region Chair Gary Carr will be attending. His decision to become involved suggests that a decision will be made.
Don’t expect whatever decision is made to be made public on Thursday.
The decision made will be released to the public at a meeting that is open to the public on January 28th. There will be a Special meeting on Thursday the 21st. It will have one item on the agenda – electing a Chair and a Vice Chair for the 2101 term. There may be other items discussed but they will be done in a Closed session.
There are two options before the Police Services Board. Fire the chief or accept his resignation. If the Board fires Tanner it will result in a legal claim for a lot of money. Any claim would be made public and be messy – the optics will not be good.
The best in the way of optics is to carve out a deal with Tanner to pay him to just go away. The Board will not make whatever payment there might be public. It will get buried somewhere in the Regional Budget.
Tanner was a good police Chief; he was one of the police officers who earned a degree in psychology at the University of Guelph. He was a strong supporter of promoting women and putting them in positions where they could gain the experience to become leaders.
When he returned to Halton from Kingston where he was Chief it was a homecoming event. He was given his old police badge, returning to a community that was both fond of and proud of the man,
He made the wrong decision and a series of circumstances may result in a career coming to an end. This is the hard part of being transparent and accountable.
As for Burton – his future prospects are cloudy at best. The result of the 2018 election for the office of Mayor are set out below.
The people who run election campaigns will tell you that Burton can be beaten.
The first column is the election day vote, the second is the advance vote, the third is the total and the fourth is the percentage
| Rob Burton |
19,236 |
3,682 |
22,918 |
49.64 % |
| Julia Hanna |
16,565 |
2,866 |
19,431 |
42.09 % |
| John McLaughlin |
3,345 |
471 |
3,816 |
8.27 % |
Rob Burton could be toast as Mayor of Oakville as well.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Staff
January 18th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Last week the Burlington Food Bank reached a high point in the number of families that took delivery of food baskets – 58 delivered and 16 picked up in the evening,
Staff was stretched a bit but they came through,’
 Throughout the week – the volunteers show up and get the job done. When the Food Bank says staff they mean a team of volunteers who come through day after day.
This week looks like it is going to be just as busy.
Robin Bailey, Executive Director, is taking part in a virtual meeting of the Feed Ontario Advocacy Committee meeting that is trying to have a voice and impact with the Ontario government and try to determine how we can support families better – especially those who are on social assistance – they really can’t survive on what they’re given right now.
 From time to time the Food Bank gets a delivery of fresh milk. 60% of the Food Bank clients are women; this breakdown of clients is consistent across the province.
The Food Bank is a small yet powerful impact organization that works on several levels.
Sourcing food wherever they can, raising funds to buy the food at wholesale prices to bring in what they need and at the same time advocating for a change in the way those who need help are served by the community.
The organization doesn’t see a dime from any level of government. The Region, the people who are responsible for social services, don’t contribute to the Food Bank budget.
 This crew -no names – just showed up with the food they had collected in their neighbourhood. This is one of those organizations that learns where the need is and finds a way to fill the need.
Every media event they send out end with:
If you are in need or know of someone who could use our help PLEASE have them email us at info@burlingtonfoodbank.ca or call 905-637-2273 to make arrangements to have food dropped at their door or make arrangements to pick it up through our curb-side pickup option. If you live in Burlington, we are here to help. Don’t struggle – give us a call.
By Staff
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In a media release sent out by City Hall we learn the following:
Earlier this week, the Province announced a State of Emergency, with additional restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19. The State of Emergency began Thursday, Jan. 14 at 12:01 a.m., including a Stay-at-Home Order in place for all regions of Ontario, including Halton Region, for at least 28 days.
Impacts to City services and programs
City Hall
 City Hall, located at 426 Brant St., remains open for in-person service by appointment only for commissioning services and marriage licences. Walk-ins are not permitted.
Please visit burlington.ca/commissioning, burlington.ca/marriage or call 905-335-7777 to book your appointment. Residents can also visit burlington.ca/onlineservices to access a variety of City services online.
Service Burlington is available to answer questions by phone during regular business hours, at 905-335-7777 and city@burlington.ca.
Building staff are processing building permit applications. Anyone wanting to apply for a building permit or follow up on an existing building permit application can email building@burlington.ca. Staff are responding to requests and are assisting applicants with the building permit process. For more information, visit burlington.ca/building.
Burlington Transit
Burlington Transit will continue to run as scheduled including specialized transit. The transit terminal at 430 John St. will remain open to provide PRESTO services including SPLIT passes. Presto services are available at Shoppers Drug Mart or online at prestocard.ca. Transit schedules are available online at burlingtontransit.ca to download and print, via Google Maps, Apple Maps and using myride.burlingtontransit.ca.
Halton Court Services – Provincial Offences Office
Halton POA administration counter services are currently closed. Telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Many online services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or by visiting www.haltoncourtservices@burlington.ca
Recreation, Community & Culture Services and Facilities
Leaving your home for outdoor exercise is allowed under the current provincial regulations, as long as 2 metres of physical distancing is maintained at all times from anyone outside of your household. Exercise is an essential need for everyone. It is important to stay active for both physical and mental health.
Outdoor recreational parks and open spaces that are allowed to stay open include City-sanctioned toboggan hills, neighbourhood rinks, multiuse courts, playgrounds, trails, Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond and parks. Equipment lending (curbside pick-up) can continue.
Please cooperate with others using the outdoor space and follow all public health measures and posted signage.
Outdoor Skating
 The Rotary Centennial Pond at 1340 Lakeshore Rd. is open for skating daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents wishing to use the rink must pre-register and complete the online screening at burlington.ca/screening. Capacity on this rink is 35 people and meets the provincial regulations.
A new artificial outdoor rink at Hidden Valley Park, 1137 Hidden Valley Rd. is open for skating daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All users must pre-register and complete the online screening at burlington.ca/screening. Capacity on this rink is 10 people and meets the provincial regulations.
For both skating rinks, as per new provincial regulations, additional measures are in place for outdoor activities that require the use of masks. Visitors must wear masks while standing in line and it is highly recommended during skating. For more information, follow @Burl_ParksRec and visit burlington.ca/pond for updates.
Outdoor Winter Play Challenge
Residents can also take the Outdoor Winter Play Challenge and see how many free activities they can complete by Feb. 19, 2021. Learn more at burlington.ca/playoutside.
Active at Home
Options to stay active at home are available online at burlington.ca/activeathome, including a series of virtual activities from fitness to crafts for everyone to enjoy. All videos are free and new videos are added frequently. Follow @BurlingtonParksRec on Facebook and @Burl_parksandrec on Twitter for the latest updates and videos.
Roads, Parks and Forestry
Services provided by the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department will continue as needed. Residents with questions or issues can email RPF@burlington.ca or call 905-333-6166.
By Staff
January 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
At a time when information is critical there seems to be a paucity of it.
The Halton Region Public Health Unit released the following information:
“Halton Region is currently focused on transporting and administering the vaccine to residents and staff in long-term care and retirement homes.
“We are working closely with Directors of Care to provide regular communications with all long-term care and retirement homes, including administrators, staff, residents and caregivers about when the vaccine will be available in each home.
“Right now our primary method of communications is through our dedicated COVID-19 Vaccines webpage, which provides residents with information about:
Health Canada authorized vaccines Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech;
“The status of Halton’s vaccination program in Halton (including where we are at and information on planning for future phases as part of the Province’s vaccine implementation plan);
“We are also communicating through Halton Region social media (Twitter, Facebook), HaltonParents social media (Twitter) and our 311/Access Halton service continues to provide answers and information to residents.
“We also continue to be in regular communications with our partners to keep each other updated and ensure we are delivering a coordinated and consistent message to the community.
“We are also actively working with our partners on a communication strategy to effectively communicate to all residents about the vaccine program, with specific focus on priority groups as they are eligible. This will include social and digital media outreach and more targeted communications to ensure all audiences and groups are aware of when, where and how to get their vaccination.
“We know that many residents are very eager to get their vaccine and this is such welcome news. We continue to ask for patience as we vaccinate priority populations and we will communicate to residents when it is their turn, ensuring that the information is easy to understand and accessible. “
The Gazette is tracking the work being done by the city and the manner in which it will set up facilities once the vaccines are available for innoculations.
The effort at this point is working out which facilities will be used and ensuring that all the support needed is available.
This is not a simple task; it is complex and has to be done right the first time.
Stay tuned.
By Staff
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Breaking news?
“The Burlington Economic Development Corporation, also known as BEDC, announced today that effective immediately it will be revising its name to Burlington Economic Development and will drop the use of an acronym. When needed, Burlington EcDev will be used as the abbreviated name. The revised name will allow Burlington Economic Development to better represent their value proposition and provide a stronger, more obvious connection to the city it represents.
 “The acronym BEDC does not resonate with our audience because there is no explicit connection to Burlington. The change will also help minimize confusion with private-sector companies using similar acronyms, a challenge we have experienced in the past,” explained Anita Cassidy, Executive Director of Burlington Economic Development.
This comes across as much ado about nothing. Don’t they have better things to do?
“In November 2020, Burlington Economic Development launched the brand new InvestBurlington.ca website. With a focus on storytelling and user experience, the new website features dedicated pages for Burlington’s key sectors and easy to navigate tools and resources that provide all of the qualitative and quantitative information businesses and investors need to locate or grow a business in Burlington.
“The site also features a number of success stories and testimonials from businesses that call Burlington home. The evolution of the name is a natural next step in building awareness of Burlington Economic Development, and its role in attracting new investment to Burlington, as well as in supporting Burlington’s existing business community.”
Not to be picky – but in in orderto be identified as a separate legal entity does the organization not require either Inc., or Ltd., or Limited, or Corporation as part of its name?
By Pepper Parr
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Police Services Board will meet on Friday in a closed session.
The former Chair of the Board, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, gave up the Chair but is thought to still be a member of the Board.
Jeff Knoll, an Oakville Councillor and a member of the Police Services Board will serve as acting Chair during a meeting that will have legal counsel on hand to advise.
On December 21st, Premier Ford announced a lock-down to take effect Dec 26.
On December 22nd, Police Chief Stephen Tanner asked the then Chair Rob Burton for permission to leave the jurisdiction to travel to Florida on a private matter.
Burton gave permission and said at the time that he didn’t have a problem with the Chief being away.
On December 26th, Chief Tanner left for the United States.
On December 26th, the province invoked a shut down for 28 days.
There has been considerable demand for the Chief to be fired.
He asked for and was given permission to travel.
Can he be fired?
In order to lead a leader has to have the confidence and respect of the people being led.
The rank and file of the Halton Police Service are said to be “outraged”.
Driving their feelings is the fact that the Chief was not on hand to meet with the family of a Detective Constable who died while on an observation assignment in Burlington.
One of the Deputy Chiefs met with the officer’s family.
 Oakville Mayor Rob Burton  Chief of Police Steve Tanner It is a messy situation created when a foolish decision was made by Burton.
Can the mess be cleaned up?
The retirement of the Chief and the former Chair will resolve the problems.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Ray Rivers
January 13th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It seems that watching TV is about all there is to do during this lockdown. I was looking for something exciting to watch on the channels last Wednesday and boy did I find it. In fact I could swear I was only picking up one of those action movies on Netflix.
 Americans had never seen anything like this before. It was pretty fast moving though I kept thinking that I could probably have done a better job on the script and with the staging. Those police characters were getting walked over by the mob. Where was the army? After all, the last time the US Capitol got attacked it was by invading British troops in 1814.
And the invading squad seemed pretty authentic except for that nutter with the bull horns costume on his head. And where was the superhero who also shows up at times like these? I almost expected to see an Adam Schiff or Nancy Pelosi grab those invading bums by the scruff (or horns) and single handedly Sock!!! Pow!!! and Wham!!! them until they cried out UNCLE.
 Rioter seen frequently on TV screens. Will be seen in a Court House in the near future -minus the horns. And the script was America classic. I mean by the time the army (National Guard) showed up, dressed to the nines in riot gear with gas masks, and everything you’d expect but armoured personal carriers, it was all but over. Some of the clowns hung around thinking there might be a second scene to this movie – or maybe to give out autographs, but this movie, ‘insurrection’ was over.
The reality is that this attempted coup was far more serious than it seemed when sitting two metres from the TV screen. For one thing it’s pretty clear it had been premeditated. For his part Trump had primed his fans and this particular mob for weeks with his lies about the election. He and his pal Rudy actually told them to march to the Capitol building and fight for him. And there was something fishy about how long it took for federal troops to arrive.
The rioters were prepared for a serious occupation of the legislative building. They brought an assortment of assault weapons, Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs for distraction, wrist-tie straps for the hostages, and instruments to enable breaching the entrances. This had to be a planned invasion of the Congress, a takeover of the government and a plan to capture the political representatives as hostages – or did they always carry this kind of weaponry with them when they travelled.
These people – the Proud Boys, Q-Anon and other right wing extremist and conspiracy theorists – were looking for trouble. They were violent and aggressive. Four people died in the melee including one police officer and a rioter whose laser weapon accidentally nuked his family jewels. How do his kids explain to their classmates how their daddy died?
 The troops were not on hand at the beginning. The capital police force was outnumbered eight to one and over 50 officers suffered serious injuries and beatings. Their call for assistance from the DC National Guard was ignored by Trump’s hand picked military leaders until the fighting was pretty much over. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives had to be sequestered for safety in a crowded room and mostly without face masks. One 75 year old congresswomen has since been diagnosed with COVID as a result.
There was something about what I saw that made me think it could be a 1950’s movie. Most of the folks on the screen were white, especially those in the mob. Recall the way which the mostly peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations last summer were handled by the authorities. There was no shortage of military uniforms and tear gas on parade back then.
Of course the BLM protesters were neither armed nor were they trying to occupy the Congress. They were just asking not to be killed wantonly by the police. If ever anyone doubted white privilege, they’d just need to review the tape of the assault on the US legislation by the president’s men.
 Trump speaking to the rioters before they marched on the Capital Trump tried and he failed. Whether he is impeached or not, his future in US politics is over, and so is that of his family. The House of Representatives is charging him with inciting an insurrection against the legislative branch of the US government. It is very likely that he will have to face judgement in the US criminal system as well.
Trump may yet avoid judgement for this sedition or his tax evasion and other crimes. Perhaps he’ll seek asylum somewhere in a nation more friendly to him. There was an unsubstantiated report that a rioters who was arrested had requested a Russian translator – that should make anyone wonder about who this mob really was.
The FBI has warned more violence is likely on the way for inauguration day. One can only wonder what Trump really meant when he promised to make America great again. It certainly hasn’t improved television viewing.
Ray Rivers was born and raised in Ontario and earned a degree in economics at the University of Ontario. He taught at a university in New Zealand for a period of time and then earned a Masters degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office.
After leaving the federal government he consulted for private sector and government clients. Ray became Executive Director for an organic farm certification organization and then executive director of Clean Air Canada, an environmental emissions trading company.
Rivers completed his first historical novel The End of September in 2012. This story about what might have happened had Quebecers voted for sovereignty association in that first referendum in 1980 is set in Ottawa and Montreal.
He has been active in his community including ratepayers groups, a food bank, environmental organizations, community journalism, policing and community associations and service clubs, churches, boy scouts, and community theatre.
Background links:
Capital Police – White Lies Matter More – Trump Limits Guard Role –
Trump Lies Trump and White Males
Russian Translator – Trump’s Team – Trumps Incitement –
National Guard and Trump –
By Staff
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor issued the following statement a few minutes ago.
For full transparency and accountability, I have not travelled outside the country or province in more than a year and have not left the City of Burlington since before the Provincial shutdown.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward being sworn in as Mayor I am just as troubled and frustrated as the community about continued news of travel outside the country or province by elected representatives, health officials or community leaders. This erodes public trust at a time we need to work with the community to defeat COVID-19.
I immediately spoke to Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) Chief Stephen Tanner, when I learned today (from the media) that he had travelled outside the country to attend to a property, with the permission of the Chair of the HRPS Board, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. I expressed my concern about the travel. I appreciate that Chief Tanner has now apologized and said it was a poor decision and one he deeply regrets.
I encourage those with properties outside the province to consider local property management companies and continue to avoid non-essential travel. I have heard from constituents who also have properties outside the province who are not travelling to those properties, and they expect the same from their community leaders.
Clearly, as community leaders, we need to hold ourselves not only to the same standards we expect from the public, but a higher standard of accountability, transparency and behaviour. We are in a public health emergency when all non-essential travel is being discouraged by our public health officials and provincial and federal governments.
Accountability starts in our own backyard. My expectations are that no senior City staff or Council members will be travelling outside the province for non-essential trips during the shutdown. I can confirm that no senior staff at Burlington City Hall has travelled outside the province since the province-wide shutdown. I also asked and have received confirmation from all City Council members that none of them have travelled outside of the province since the shutdown.
As a new measure during virtual City of Burlington Committee and Council meetings, and other public meetings, I will be voluntarily disclosing where I am calling in from. I have asked all of my City Council colleagues to do the same.
Additionally, I have put on the agenda of our upcoming Emergency Control Group a discussion of what further measures are warranted to ensure our staff and council walk the talk, lead by example and hold ourselves to the same and higher standard than we expect of the community.
We are in the worst of this pandemic. It is all hands on deck. We need to trust each other and work together. To do that, we all need to make the same commitments and sacrifices to beat this deadly virus.
We need to work to restore trust when it has been broken, as it has recently with many announcements of travel by health, elected and community leaders.
I have a question: Why does saying “it was a poor decision and one he deeply regrets” close the matter. That’s just not right.
 By Mildred Austria
January 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
‘Who says you can’t have fun and earn a living at the same time? Brian Christopher from Burlington, Ontario, proves that it is possible to take gambling to a level that is more enviable than having a lucky streak. From classic to progressive slots, gambling has been more than enjoyable for the 39-year-old gambling enthusiast.
 Christopher is not making money directly from winning at slot machines, although he occasionally earns some from them. He is having slots as his “full-time job” by being a YouTube who plays slots. He is now one of the leading YouTubers who specialize in videos about wagering.
Christopher did not plan any of his YouTube fame and money-making. It was in April 2016 when he posted his first ever video on the video sharing platform. He thought only his family and friends would consider giving his video the views. However, in around a month after posting his first video, he noticed his followers were growing rapidly. This led to him getting an invite to be part of YouTube’s partner program, allowing him to monetize the content he posts.
He said he decided he would record some of the instances he was enjoying slots after seeing others doing the same. It would be fun, he thought, and he was not seriously considering giving it a lot of effort. It was just about him filming for fun.
After seeing the growth of his channel and making money out of the videos he used to post without any thought of monetization, Christopher decided to make it his full-time job. He eventually planned trips to casinos where he can create his unique content. He also thought of posting videos daily since nobody playing slots was doing it at that pace.
Christopher thinks that his channel grew further because of the frequency he was posting videos. He was not doing something that is in a very narrow niche. It’s not the same as the content produced by many of the top YouTubers around. However, he managed to attract regular viewers of his videos because he was doing it daily, so he had something new to offer to his subscribers every time they visit his channel.
In an interview with The Star, the successful YouTuber expressed elation over doing something he enjoys. He said being a gaming-focused YouTuber is so much fun. He unapologetic ally professed his fondness for gambling and his desire to entertain people, two things he is able to do and make money from by being a YouTube video blogger.
On average, YouTuber content creators earn in the range of $3 to $5 for every 1,000 views their videos get. A single video with a million views in a month can already generate a hefty amount to pay for living expenses.
Christopher’s channel averages 207,000 views per day. Many of his videos are already above the 1 million view mark. As of January 6, 2021, his channel has already accumulated more than 201 million views and 314,000 subscribers.
Mildred Austria tracks and analyzes the any ways social media is used by several sectors.
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