 By Staffer
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
In today’s digital age, online casinos have gained immense popularity, providing players with the convenience and excitement of gambling from the comfort of their own homes. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, but can you play slots canada online there?
Understanding the Regulatory Framework for Online Gambling in Ontario
 Online casinos are regulated in Canada by the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario. Online gambling in Ontario is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The AGCO oversees the province’s gaming industry and set guidelines to ensure fair play, player protection, and responsible gambling practices. Online gambling is legal in Ontario, allowing residents to partake in various casino games through licensed online platforms.
The AGCO ensures that online casinos operating in Ontario meet specific criteria, including secure and fair gaming systems, responsible gambling measures, and the protection of player funds. By adhering to these regulations, licensed online casinos provide a safe and trustworthy environment for players to enjoy their favourite games.
The Benefits of Playing in Legal Online Casinos in Ontario
Playing in legal online casinos in Ontario offers several advantages for players. Firstly, it provides a convenient and accessible way to enjoy casino games. With just a few clicks, players can access their preferred online casino platforms from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need to travel to physical casino locations.
 Bonuses reward long term players and add some excitement to the experience. Moreover, legal online casinos in Ontario often offer enticing bonuses and promotions to attract new players and reward loyal customers. These bonuses can enhance the gaming experience and provide additional opportunities to win. Additionally, licensed online casinos adhere to responsible gambling practices, providing tools and resources to help players maintain control over their gambling activities.
One of the other benefits is that you don’t need to comply with a vestiment-code, nor do you have to endure the cold weather in the Winter. So, even if playing in a land-based casino can be a very interesting and exciting experience, there are a few advantages about playing in online casinos that you have to keep in mind. But, if you want to have a safe experience, it’s very important that you play only in licensed casinos.
The Importance of Choosing Licensed Online Casinos
 Do your homework and know who you are dealing with in the casino world. While online gambling is legal in Ontario, it is crucial for players to choose licensed online casinos to ensure a safe and secure gaming experience. Licensed online casinos operate under the regulatory oversight of the AGCO, guaranteeing fair play, the protection of personal information, and secure financial transactions. Players should always verify the licensing and certifications of an online casino before engaging in real money gambling to ensure they are playing on a reputable platform.
It is important for players to do their due diligence and select licensed online casinos to ensure they are engaging in legal and secure gambling activities. By making informed choices and adhering to responsible gambling practices, players can enjoy the excitement and entertainment of online casinos while maintaining control over their gaming experiences.
By Sheldon McGrath
September 12th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Discover why playing at a Canadian-specific online casino like PinUp Casino offers a more tailored and enjoyable gaming experience. Explore optimized gameplay, necessary certifications, and exceptional customer support for Canadian players.
Why is it good to use a version of an online casino built specifically for the country you are living in?
 Providing specific support services for people with different needs and requirements – language being an important one. No one is going to deny the fact that online casinos have shifted the gambling industry because they opened up a door for a whole new audience of players. Thanks to the brands, like Pin Up Casino , it has become much easier for gamblers to access their favourite games, no matter where they are. But it is important to admit that at first, people were frustrated with such websites because they were not adapted for a specific market. It means there were only international versions of online casinos, but now, Canadian players can play games with the local variant of their favourite brand. There are a lot of reasons why it is good to do so.
Reasons to use a local version of online casino
There are several good reasons why the Canadian version of the PinUp Casino is better for local players. Here they are:Well Optimized For A Region. One of the first things people will admit about the Canadian version of the site – it is well-optimized for a specific region. This means people will find games, payment methods, and special rewards that were selected according to the statistics of the country and there are going to be boundaries in terms of the way people are able to play online. All promotions and payment methods will work clockwise.
 The Canadian version of the Pin Up, it is a Curaçao license. All The Necessary Certifications. For the online casino to operate in a specific country, it is very important to be regulated by the correct organizations. In the case of the Canadian version of the Pin Up, it is a Curaçao license. This is important for the best experience of players, as it means the website will work correctly, and it is an indicator that all games are fair and updated to the latest version of the software.
High-Quality Customer Support. Local online casinos often provide customer support services that are more attuned to the needs and preferences of local players. Players can expect to communicate with support agents who understand your language and are familiar with the specific challenges and inquiries you may have. Having access to dedicated customer support can be a game-changer when Canadian players encounter issues or have questions about the platform. Quick and effective support can enhance your overall experience and resolve any problems promptly.
These reasons alone should be motivational enough for people to register an account at PinUp and start playing without any restrictions. But it is important to admit that age restrictions are applied, depending on the specific province, where the player currently lives.
 Pin-Up brand designed for the country you live and play in. The best way to experience online casinos
People who are looking for a decent way of playing games online should start with a local version of the Pin-Up brand. Such casinos are designed to cater to the specific needs of Canadian players. So, the next time people look for an online casino, they should consider choosing one that is built specifically for the country they are living in to enjoy a more personalized and enjoyable gaming experience.
 By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra The province may not move forward with a review of six regions with both upper- and lower-tier municipal governments. In a statement released earlier today Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said he will be reviewing the move announced by his predecessor to appoint facilitators to assess regional governments in Durham, Halton, Waterloo, York and Niagara regions and Simcoe County.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said today that he “wants to ensure the province’s approach supports the goal of getting homes built quickly in those fast-growing areas.
The previous minister, Steve Clark, said last month that the facilitators in the six regions would be appointed by today, but the change in plans comes a week after
Clark resigned amid the fallout of two scathing reports on Greenbelt land swaps.
Burlington City Council had an item on a Standing Committee agenda with considerable detail and how the process of determining if administrative efficiencies could be achieved.
 City Manager Tim Commisso – might not have to undergo a review of what his working relationship with the Region is going to be. The overall framework and approach being recommended for developing a regional review strategy and resultant City of Burlington submission to the regional facilitator is based on the consideration of service delivery options or categories.
This may never come to pass which would make the We Love Burlington group happy. They opposed the idea when it was before the public back in 2019
Related news story:
We Love Burlington
 By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Council Standing Committee news will be a little slower getting to the press room today. The city kept running into technical problems. The communications systems must have gone rusty while council had all of August without any council meetings.
They started late and weren’t really back on line with both voice and video until pretty close to 11:00 am.
We contact the City Clerk and advised him – twice – there was no response.
 Councillor Paul Sharman We sent along a note to Councillor Sharman who is prompt just about all the time and he did get back to us.
The following is the email traffic between Sharman and the Gazette
10:14 Gazette to Sharman: There is no sound. I have confirmed it with two other people.
10:27 Sharman to the Gazette: The technical problem is a disappointment. The meeting needs to proceed because there is important work to be done. It is being recorded and that will be published with the minutes as soon as possible.
10:40: Gazette to Sharman: That’s not acceptable.
The back and forth is a critical part of understanding the debate. You were doing quite a bit of chatter with Laura Boyd
I will take a formal complaint to the City Ombudsman.
This borders on being recklessly irresponsible.
The meeting needs to be adjourned until the problem is resolved.
With the issues on this agenda – one would think there is something being hidden.
TIME Sharman back to the Gazette
As you wish Pepper.
Council chambers are open to the public and interested members are welcome to attend.
I appreciate that members of the public have become dependent on technology to listen in, however it was not regulated that technical difficulties should cause a meeting to be delayed. Schedules are already made and need to be maintained.
Personal attendance is more reliable. But, nothing is perfect.
At just after 9:30 the video portion was being broadcast – a nervous looking Chair kept glancing left and right. An unhappy looking city manager said nothing. The City Clerk was never seen until the very end.
During the difficult phase we would see messages on the screen:
It is our view that if voices cannot be heard then the City Clerk should have called for a recess until the technical problems had been resolved.
There have been consistent technical problems ever since the city moved to a hybrid format a the start of the pandemic.
The only way to describe the repeated technical problems is poor maintenance of the service being used by the city or just rank incompetence.
Quite why the City Manager has not ordered that the system be made fool proof – technical staff had all of August to repair, revise and test – is beyond any reason we can think of – he tends to delegate but this has become ridiculous.
Given the number of problems with the service one would think that the technical people would do a short test before the start of every meting.
During the meting there were a number of matters that are critical – the change in the way the budget is going to be debated and delivered now comes under the Mayor Strong Powers: it is no longer a council budget – it is the Mayor’s’ budget. And given the difficulty Meed Ward has with financial statements and the tendency to spend the clearest possible public understanding is vital.
 City Clerk Kevin Arjoon When Councillor Sharman says “there is important work to be done” he is absolutely correct – which is all the more reason to ensure that the public is able to see and hear what is said.
When someone wants to take a complaint to the City level Ombudsman they must first put the concern before the City Clerk – we can then take the complaint to the Ombudsman.
We are waiting for a response from the City Clerk.
By Staff
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington provincial Liberals have now had an opportunity to listen to all five candidates for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
 The final leadership candidate, Adil Shamji, spoke to the group on Sunday. His web site at HERE
 Adil Shamji addressing Liberals in Burlington Getting to the point where the election of the new leader takes place moves now into the debate stage.
Today, Monday September the 11th at 6:00 pm is the final opportunity to become a member of the Ontario Liberal party and be able to vote in the ranked ballot that will take place late in November.
The Ontario Liberal Party has an open membership – there is no fee, you must be at least 14 years of age and reside in the province.
To register – use this link
Related news story:
Being part of making a difference.
By Staff
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward announces the appointment of Marie Nash as her new Chief of Staff.
 Marie Nash: New Chief of Staff for Mayor Meed Ward Marie has been a leader of more than 12 years in communications, public policy, and community engagement. She brings with her a strong business background, extensive knowledge of the functions of municipal governments and experience working with government stakeholders. These skills will serve our goal of promoting Burlington as open for business and are especially needed at a time when collaboration between all government levels is crucially important.
Marie was most recently the Chief Operating Officer at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, where she worked to further elevate the institution’s operations, communications, advocacy efforts, value proposition and engagement with all members of the business community, large and small. Working directly with the CEO and Board of Directors in developing and executing the organization’s overall short- and long-term strategies, she ensured the relevancy and longevity of the 178-year-old institution.
During the pandemic, Marie successfully created and executed programs and policies that addressed critical issues, such as the creation of Hamilton’s COVID-19 Concierge program, Ontario’s Vaccine Support Council, and the Rapid Testing for Business program. She also led the creation of multiple research projects and reports that resulted in significant recommendations on issues — such as women in the workforce, labour shortages and childcare — leading to measurable improvements in the community’s quality of life.
Marie also chairs and sits on multiple boards and committees, including Tourism Hamilton’s Music Advisory Committee, the City of Hamilton’s Physician Recruitment and Retention Steering Committee,
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Premier Doug Ford has a promise for young people in Ontario: an affordable home for under $500,000.
He has certainly gone out on a limb: Speaking to a Kitchener crowd on Friday during his “carnival-style FordFest”, the premier finished his speech with a promise of building 1,600 square-foot houses across the province similar to the wartime homes — also known as the Strawberry box houses — built across Canada after the Second World War.
 Built for veterans returning from WW II – thousands were built on large lots across the country. Beginning in 1941, a federal crown corporation called Wartime Housing Limited (WHL) built almost 26,000 rental housing units for war workers and veterans. It was a successful yet temporary phenomenon. Six years later, Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) absorbed and dismantled the wartime company. The houses will have finished basements that owners can rent out, backyards with fences, paved driveways, and will be built on land made available through partnerships with municipalities, Ford said
And the total sum: under $500,000.
One can only imagine the reaction within the developer sector – never mind the gulps heard in Planning departments across the province.
For continued: “You can’t find a home for under $500,000 anywhere in this province, but as sure as I am standing here, we’re going to make that available to young people, people that are renting right now that have a dream of home ownership,” he said.
The fifteen minute speech was about housing with some divisive comments on how young people choose to identify themselves. It was the Premier take a shot at the province’s school boards, deciding to wade into a national debate about parental involvement.
“Most important is the parents’ rights to listen and make sure they are informed when their children make a decision. It’s not up to the teachers, it’s not up to the school boards to indoctrinate our kids,” he said.
 By Pepper Parr
September 10th,2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 Surprisingly, no one guessed the correct number of phishing emails that are sent out every day.
The actual number, as determined by Maleware Byte, an anti-malware software for Microsoft Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS that finds and removes malware, is 3.4 BILLION. With that kind of an onslaught the average person has to be very very vigilant.
By Pepper Parr
September 10th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
After a decent summer break City Council gets back to the grind with Standing Committee meetings on two days of the week.
 Approved at a recent OLT hearing for 27 storeys. Traffic will enter the underground parking from John. One item that will get discussed is the 26 story tower that was approved at a recent Ontario Land Tribunal meeting recently.
It will have a major impact on one of the more popular watering holes in the city.
The NoFrills Plaza on the North side of the site will get developed at some point. The thinking has been to move to supermarket closer to Brant Street with underground parking, some resident at the rear and a pathway along Rambo Creek which is on the eastern side of the site.
Mark Bales, the tough guy for most of the Carriage Gate developments is on the OLT appeal as representing Carriage Gate.
The development contemplates a mixed use development, including a 27-storey mixed use building (inclusive of a mechanical penthouse and elevator machine room) and a maximum of 259 residential units. The development includes retail / commercial / office uses on the ground floor and a maximum permitted height of 90 metres
 This part of the city will look a lot different in five years. Someone will pick up the Joe Dogs site, it is owned by a pharmacist in Brampton whose interests are in renting properties – not in developing. The tower will rise to the north of Joe Dogs – how they will manage to operate with construction taking place – not yards but literally inches away will be interesting.
 Never one to miss a photo op, ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns lives a block to the west of the development site. It’s a ward two development which will have Councillor Lisa Kearns all over the decision. Kearns sees that is as her turf – it will be interesting to hear what she has to say.
John Street, at the rear of the development, is not actually a street – officially it is a lane that some want to see pushed north right up to Victoria.
 The two red lines show the boundary of the development. Joe Dogs isn’t inside those two red lines.
 By Staff
September 9th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Doug Ford government is doing every thing it can to convince the public that Greenbelt lands might be needed to achieve the 1.5 million new homes by 2031.
The public accepts that 1.5 million homes are needed – but they don’t buy into using Greenbelt lands to make it happen.
There isn’t an opportunity to cast a ballot until 2026 but there are opportunities galore to protest.
And protest they did:
 This is not a rag tag crowd – this is one of those occasions where size does matter. Some of the locations where demonstrations are taking place are set out below:
Tuesday, Sept. 12th
Barrie – Grace United Church – 7:00-8:30 PM
Featuring special guest speakers: David Crombie, former mayor of Toronto and former chair of Greenbelt Council; Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada; Margaret Prophet, SCGC; Franz Hartman, Alliance for a Liveable Ontario.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uniting-for-a-sustainable-future-public-forum-on-the-greenbelt-tickets-699659128287?aff=new
Thursday, Sept. 14th
Ancaster – Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre – 5:30-8:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16th
Toronto – Queen’s Park – 11:00 AM
This rally is part of a globally coordinated action to demand that governments end fossil fuels – fast, fair, and forever.
Sunday, Sept. 17th
Newmarket – Intersection Yonge and Mulock – 11:00 AM – 1:00pm
Marching to MPP Gallagher Murphy’s office to deliver letters and petition for government to take better action to stop climate change.
Saturday, Sept. 23rd
Richmond Hill – Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park – 1:00-3:00 PM
Facebook Event Page:
 ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The call it phishing.
A process that has someone trying to trick you into giving them some of your personal data and getting you to open an email that will do you nothing but harm.
How many of these do you get – and do you recognize them for what they are.
There is now some data on just how many of these things get sent out.
Malware Bytes, a service that we use to protect the Gazette web site.
Phishing is a type of cybercrime where hackers and cybercriminals trick others by pretending to be trustworthy sources to steal sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. They do this through fake emails, websites, or messages that look real.
Phishing uses tricks to manipulate people into sharing private information. To stay safe, it’s important to be aware of phishing tactics and verify requests to avoid falling for scams.
Send your guess to: publisher@bgzt.ca (that my address at the Gazette). I’ll tally the answers and report back to you on Sunday. The BGZT domain is an abbreviation for Burlington Gazette
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Wham, wham, wham, and wham and wham again.
Auditor General’s report
Integrity Commissioner’s Report
Premier and his Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing stand tough.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing resigns
And the continued drip, drip, drip from the media is as they look for a Mr. X.
What does it all mean to Burlington? Immediately not all that much – the City Planning department could use a solid definition of just what affordable housing is and what is meant by attainable ? With that information some thinking and whatever creativity there is at Planning, Council and within the community can emerge.
None of the 15 sites that were taken out of the Greenbelt were within Burlington boundaries. However, there are a number of sites in Burlington that are cleared for development – but there isn’t a shovel with in a kilometre of a GO station – which is where this City Council wants to see the growth taking place.
In what the Mayor calls he Pipeline to Permits collection of data she said:
Burlington is committed to doing our share to meet the challenges of the housing crisis – so young people, newcomers, families, seniors, and everyone can call our fine city home. Burlington has an unprecedented 38,219 units in our development pipeline — everything from pre-consultation with developers for their land, up to approved units. Of note: there are currently 3,642 approved units, with another 3,112 waiting for site plan applications from builders. There are an additional 7,948 tied up at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Currently, the City of Burlington has under active building permit review, a total of 1,863 housing units.
 Does the number of appeals at the OLT add up to a good excuse for the delay in developments seeing shovels in the ground? The CSL site to the west of the Burlington GO station has some small site plan issues that need resolving.
 There were no Official Plan problems with the application – no zoning issues either. Site plan differences are supposedly holding this one up. The Molinaro development at the intersection of Brant and Ghent has yet to see any equipment on any of the properties.
Will the need for housing result in any movement on the Eagle Height opportunity?
What about the Bronte Meadows site where Upper Middle Road become Burloak Road – will there be any movement on that site?
Will the Emshie property at Guelph Line and Harvester Road be looked at differently? Dr. Shie has been looking for a way to develop that site for a long time. We wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t already held a meeting with his planning consultants to consider what there might be in the way of options now that the Premier and his new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has said this is a crisis and we are determined to build that 1.5 million homes by 2031.
 Premier Ford with Mayor Meed Ward: He did say she was a good person but that the City’s development record was dismal. Burlington was singled out by the Premier for its dismal development performance. The Mayor and the Premier were going to have a conversation – no word on how that went from Mayor Meed Ward.
All the players are saying that going forward decisions will be based on planning principles – not politics. Development in Ontario is now a political issue – that has to be resolved if Doug Ford expects a third term in office.
Will the changes that are going to take place give Mayor Meed Ward an opportunity to reshape her public profile and find a way to depend less on photo ops and be in a position to make announcements that can polish and restore the image ?
 Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing wants to see development now so that the 2031 target of 1.5 million new homes can be met. Can Burlington help? After listening to Paul Calandra, the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing did a Q&A with Queen’s Park media one couldn’t help with the sense that any idea that is reasonable will be warmly welcomed and whatever rules or regulations are holding things up – will get a more than a hug from the province.
The provincial government needs a couple of wins and Burlington just might be where that win takes place.
In one of her statements Meed Ward said: “This is the reality on the ground in Burlington that isn’t reflected in the housing permit numbers from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Developers are investing in Burlington in record numbers. We’ll do our part to ensure planning and permits are in place so they can build.
“Council has unanimously adopted the Province’s housing pledge of 29,000 units by 2031, and I have no doubt that we will be able to issue permits for that amount, given what’s in our pipeline.
“We’re developing a plan to accelerate our permits. We’ll have more details to come on that.”
 By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Next Saturday the United Way will hold their Big Pull – it’s the Kick Off event for the 2023-24 fund raising campaign.
At this point there are 15 groups registered for the event that has each group pulling a 200,000 lbs Airbus 50 yards along the tarmac at the Hamilton International Airport.
 Brad Park, President & CEO OF United Way Halton & Hamilton. Brad Park, President & CEO OF United Way Halton & Hamilton and his team are geared up for what will be a multi-month fund raising drive.
Brad points out that one in every six people in the Region have used a United Way service; that amount to 143,000 people who have had their lives impacted in some way by a United Way service.
Everyone knows about the United Way – it is almost taken for granted – which is part of the problem. Is as recognized is as the organization it – the funds that are needed to deliver those services don’t just fall off the back of a truck.
United Way is seen is as the service that holds communities together.
Seven years ago a decision was made to merge all the local United Way groups in the Halton Region – Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and Hamilton into what is now known is as UWHH – United Way Hamilton Halton.
Pulling all these individual units together into one large organization meant that the back end services were combined: payroll, basic administration, grant distribution were now one – that resulted in lower costs and in the end better administration.
Park said that at first he wasn’t sure the amalgamation was the best opportunity to streamline the services. At the time he headed up the then Oakville United Way. It didn’t take Park long to realize the upside benefits with relatively few downside problems.
 Brad Park, left, with Milton Mayor Gord Krantz Park now heads up that single administrative organization – he is working within a much bigger picture. The problems in Burlington are not the same is as those in Milton – but the solutions are much the same. Resources from a bigger organization can be moved from community to community with a focus on just where they are needed.
The smaller administrative units didn’t always have the skill sets they needed. With the one organization – there is now much more depth.
“Scale has made a difference” said Park who has been part of United Way in some shape or form for 28 years. He started out giving his Mother a hand – she was part of United Way when he was a boy. “I was stuffing envelopes at the age of 10” he said.
Park did an Arts degree at Guelph University – majored in economics and expected to work somewhere in the corporate sector. Finding a job when he graduated was not is as easy is as he expected. His Mother suggested he help her out and he never left.
He started out in 1995 at the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries; spent a good decade as Campaign Director and went on to lead the Brant United Way as Executive Director in 2010 for two years, then took on the CEO of United Way Oakville in 2012, prior to amalgamation. In 2017, an amalgamation brought Milton, Halton Hills, Burlington, Oakville and Hamilton into one United Way. Park was appointed CEO of that entity in 2017. “So currently, this is my 29th year with United Way. Between my mother and I, there is almost 70 years of service to the community through United Way.”
Coming out of a pandemic “the UWHH is at the threshold of a new chapter in the community’s journey as they approach the launch of the 2023-2024 Campaign.”
 Fifteen people need to pull the plane 50 yards. The Plane Pull event symbolizes the collective strength and determination as teams come together to pull an airplane. Cogeco Inc. and TD are sponsors of the event this year.
Park said that “Through the 106 local programs and services, we have touched the lives of over 143,562 families and neighbours, providing crucial support and guidance. By focusing on local needs and basing our strategies on evidence, we mobilize our partners to create coordinated, connected, and seamless programs and services that address needs at their source.
 “The crucial social services and resources across our local communities have been stretched beyond capacity with ever-increasing demand. we need your support and partnership to make a lasting difference.
“With every dollar raised this year, we create a ripple effect of positive change, improving the lives of those in need and ensuring a more equitable and thriving future for all.”
 By Staff
September 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a little different.
Register HERE
They’ve chosen the largest open space at the Performing Arts Centre – the paid bar makes the event attractive to some.
Performing Arts Centre Executive Director Tammy Fox explains what she has put together this way: “I am always thinking of new ways to engage the community, to support causes that are important to the social fabric of our society and to increase awareness of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre and our incredible line-up of performers. Imagine my excitement in launching a brand-new initiative that accomplishes all three goals at once!
The Dare to be Youth people have a laudable mission message.
We will follow up with group and learn more about their what and why.
Tickets to the event are free: Register HERE
By Staff
September 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington MP Karina Gould has a few words for her constituents:
Dear friends,
I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and while the return to school and parliament are on the horizon, I was pleased to get to spend so much time in Burlington the past couple of months. I was delighted to host my annual Seniors Symposium, welcoming over 100 seniors in Burlington to share their thoughts on issues that matter to them as well as hear from experts and engage with community partners.
 Burlington MP Karina Gould on her way to the Swearing in ceremony where she was named Government House Leader in the House of Commons. I am very pleased to confirm that the Electoral Boundaries Commission listened to the voices of Burlingtonians and will not be changing the boundaries of our riding in the next election. Good work, Burlington and thank you to all who spoke up and participated!
With inflation and affordability on everyone’s mind these days, I’m pleased to share two important initiatives from the Federal Government that helped ease the burden on households in our community: the one-time Grocery Rebate, up to $467 for a family of four that went out on July 5th and the increase to the Canada Child Benefit that took effect on July 20th.
This year, eligible families can receive up to $7,437 per child under that age of 6. I understand these are difficult and anxious times, and while inflation is impacting the whole world, the Federal government is acting to help with the high costs of living for Canadians right now.
July also saw a job change for me! While I adored my time as Minister of Families, Children and Social Development – and couldn’t be prouder of delivering affordable childcare for Canadians – the Prime Minister has asked me to take on a new role as the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. This will see me focused on delivering the Government’s legislative agenda and continuing to improve the lives, livelihoods and well-being of Canadians through legislation.
I hope to see you around town over the coming weeks with lots of community events in September. Please stop by to say hi and share your thoughts with me.
Karina announced earlier this year that she is pregnant with a second child – due sometime in January.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
With a 35-5-1 on the season the Burlington Bulls were certainly doing something right.
They played just is as well – even better – when they got to the Ontario Baseball Championships played out during the Labour Day weekend.
 This is a group of boys that deserve to be watched. Great scoring record this season. OBAs are the best 16 teams in Ontario competing for the championship. Played in Toronto all Labour Day weekend.
They beat Kitchener 8-5 in the final
The Bulls are A Triple A baseball team – 7 and 8 year old kids(2015 birth years) coached by 21 year old non-parent coach Phill Jankulovski
The team won all 3 tournaments they played in(including the OBAs)
Clearly a team to watch.
By Staff
September 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
In early November, 2022, the provincial government announced Bill 23 (“More Homes Built Faster Act”), the rollback of forward-thinking municipal plans in Halton and Hamilton, and the removal of 7,400 acres of protected land from the Greenbelt to build sprawl.
Public opposition to these attacks on Ontario’s environment is surging. Following the revelations by Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner, and those of the Auditor General earlier this month, activists across the province began organizing another round of rallies to emphasize the urgency for protecting Ontario’s forests, farms and wetlands.
Local Activists will hold a rally during Ford Fest on Friday, September 8th to loudly voice opposition to removals of land from the Greenbelt and other issues. More rallies in the province will take place in the days following this action, with a full list below. Interviews can be arranged with local activists upon request.
 WHAT: A series of “Hands Off The Greenbelt” rallies across the province, including the Premier’s Ford Fest in Kitchener, Queen’s Park in Toronto and MPP Christine Hogarth’s Office in Etobicoke. New events are being registered every day.
WHERE: A map of all events, with additional information about each event, is available here: https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/
WHEN: September 8th-23rd. Exact times and dates vary by location.
Friday, Sept. 8th
Kitchener – 425 Bingemans Centre Drive – 4:00 PM
Greenbelt Rally: Unions, teachers, nurses, political parties, health coalitions and environmental groups will be there.
Saturday, Sept. 9th
Etobicoke – MPP Christine Hogarth’s Office – 2:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 12th
Barrie – Grace United Church – 7:00-8:30 PM
Featuring special guest speakers: David Crombie, former mayor of Toronto and former chair of Greenbelt Council; Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada; Margaret Prophet, SCGC; Franz Hartman, Alliance for a Liveable Ontario.
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uniting-for-a-sustainable-future-public-forum-on-the-greenbelt-tickets-699659128287?aff=new
Thursday, Sept. 14th
Ancaster – Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre – 5:30-8:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16th
Toronto – Queen’s Park – 11:00 AM
This rally is part of a globally coordinated action to demand that governments end fossil fuels – fast, fair, and forever.
Sunday, Sept. 17th
Newmarket – Intersection Yonge and Mulock – 11:00 AM – 1:00pm
Marching to MPP Gallagher Murphy’s office to deliver letters and petition for government to take better action to stop climate change.
Saturday, Sept. 23rd
Richmond Hill – Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park – 1:00-3:00 PM
Facebook Event Page:
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
By Pepper Parr
September 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
We have now heard from the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – he used to be the Minister of Long Term Care.
New Minister – Paul Calandra – During his media event yesterday – no one asked a question about how well he did at Long Term Care. Coroner’s report suggests he did a terrible job. How well did he do at that job.
Leader of the Opposition Marit Stiles wasn’t impressed and shared the following:
The Ford government failed Ontario’s seniors during the pandemic; the latest Ombudsman report confirms, finding that Ontario’s Long-Term Care inspection system “collapsed during the deadly first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls riding), NDP critic for Long-Term Care (LTC), released the following statement:
“Ford’s absolute failure to protect seniors during the pandemic contributed to an unconscionable wave of deaths in Long-Term Care. Today, we learned that many of these deaths were preventable.
“The safeguards meant to protect seniors failed entirely. Under this government’s watch, inspectors did little or nothing to hold these homes accountable. And thousands of our friends, parents and grandparents died.
“Make no mistake – the Ford Conservatives axed the level of LTC inspections when they took office, leaving the system already strained when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. They failed to respond to the clear crisis with the appropriate level of urgency and commitment. They also passed legislation to protect LTC operators from facing consequences.”
Paul Calandra was the Long Term Care Minister at the time.
The Ombudsman found that 4335 residents and 13 LTC staff died between March 2020 and April 2022.
Read the Ombudsman’s report on LTC here.
The Ombudsman’s report found that the Ministry of Long-Term Care:
During this crisis, Ford passed the LTC file like a hot potato from Merrilee Fullerton to Rod Phillips, and finally to Paul Calandra (who has just been promoted to Housing Minister). None of them were able to work on serious solutions.
A quick peak at how Calandra was depicted by media:
Paul Calandra as the new Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs – a critically important file in the middle of a housing crisis with little in the way of relevant experience other than being infamous for misdirection.
Calandra’s qualifications as deflector-in-chief include:
- In 2012, he was Stephen Harper’s shield from the Senate Scandal (Calandra’s non-answers gained so much notoriety they inspired a joke generator of meaningless talking points)
- In 2014, he refused to answer so many questions about Canada’s involvement in Iraq, the Globe and Mail’s exasperated response was: “to call Mr. Calandra a clown is to do a disservice to the ancient profession of painted-face buffoonery”
- In 2015, CBC’s Peter Mansbridge coined Calandra’s non-answers as ‘The Full Calandra’, following an interview about Mike Duffy’s trial
By Staff
September 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
As children head back to school this week, Danielle Sirianni Molnar says it’s important to ensure they have more than just the proper school supplies.
The Brock University Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies and Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth says the changes that come with returning to school can lead to varying outcomes for children’s mental health.
 A close watch on changes in a child’s behaviour helps parents understand when a child is having a difficult time. “For some kids, back to school impacts them in a positive way, as they enjoy school, its routines and seeing their friends and teachers,” she says. “However, for others adjusting to being back in school is difficult and can negatively impact their mental health, especially for children who may not feel comfortable with their peers, have difficulties meeting the school’s academic expectations or have pre-existing mental health problems such as anxiety or depression that can hamper the ability to adapt to significant changes in their lives.”
For children who find the return to school more challenging, Sirianni Molnar says there is a key strategy they can use to maintain their mental health during the school year.
“One important strategy kids can use is to create routines that work for them that include eating healthy meals at regular intervals throughout the day, maintaining a healthy and consistent sleep schedule and scheduling consistent times for extracurricular activities and homework,” she says. “Routines are important for all kids because it gives them a sense of security, but they are particularly helpful for kids who are experiencing anxiety because routines reduce uncertainty, which fuels anxiety.”
While children are encouraged to pay attention to their routines, Sirianni Molnar says parents also play a critical role in providing positive mental health support by looking for changes in their children’s behaviour for a sustained period of time, including alterations in eating, sleeping and physical activity levels, or if they are engaging less with friends, family or activities they were once passionate about.
“It is especially important to recognize if these changes are affecting their academics, relationships with family and friends or their participation in their extracurricular activities,” she says. “Parents should also be on the lookout for pronounced increases in irritability, sadness, worry or anger as these may be a signal that a child is struggling with their mental health.”
Along with identifying if their child is struggling, the second step parents can take is regular communication, though this can be uncomfortable at first, Sirianni Molnar says.
“One suggestion for parents is to try and lessen the directness of the conversation by bringing up the topic of mental health when engaged in another activity,” she says.
For example, rather than sitting down face to face and having a formal discussion at the table, it may make the child feel less self-conscious by talking while going out for a hike, doing a household chore like folding laundry or for young children, playing with toys.
 Playing with a child creates an opportunity to ask questions in a round about way to draw out any concerns, fears, issues the child might have at school. “It is key that parents are approachable and ensure their children know that they are cared for and that they matter at all times,” she says. “Often, parents want to solve all of their children’s problems for them, but sometimes it is important for parents to simply listen and validate their children’s concerns.”
With these strategies in mind, Sirianni Molnar says a final step is for parents and kids to always seek additional help when it is needed.
“If parents have urgent concerns about their child’s mental health, they should reach out for professional help as soon as possible, such as local health-care providers or hospitals to ensure the safety of their children,” she says.
 Danielle Sirianni Molnar Danielle Sirianni Molnar, Brock University Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies and Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth.
By Pepper Parr
September 7th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Paul Calandra told a group of media that: In fact as the premier stated yesterday, we’ve seen more home starts, new home starts over the last two years than we had seen in 30 years.
It was quickly evident that Calandra was going to follow the lead the Premier set the day before: home, home, home – 1.5 million if you were asking.
 Calandra: “The Premier has directed me to begin a further review of the Greenbelt that was scheduled for a review by 2025. As the newly appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Calandra said “It is a very important commitment that we’ve made to build 1.5 million homes across the province of Ontario by 2031. It is something that the premier has reiterated to me before I took the job. He also said to me that it is important that all of the work that we do is done in a manner that maintains the public trust.
“The Premier has directed me to begin a further review of the Greenbelt that was scheduled for a review by 2025 as part of the legislation that was put in place when it was created.
“We will begin that review very soon. I’ve spoke to my deputy minister yesterday and asked her to put in place a fulsome review of the Greenbelt to give me options for that review to ensure that it is a public open and accountable process. Once I have that I will be coming to you – that review will start very, very soon.
“The review will include the 14 parcels of land that were removed from the Greenbelt. AgainI reiterated my commitment to ensuring that we get shovels in the ground, but also to ensuring that on the 14 sitesthe facilitator will continue her work – that work must include significant community benefits.
“Community developments have to include roads, schools, community centers, hospitals, and a protection of any natural heritage features within those sites. Once that work is completed – I’m hoping to have it completed by the end of the year – we will make that public. We will ensure that you have access to what it is that we are considering on those sites. And that will then be fed into the full review of the Greenbelt that will be underway by that point.
“So it’s two levels of accountability. At the same time, I will be moving to ensure that there are additional accountability measures moving forward.
“I’ve asked the Department to give me recommendations and options to revise the ministerial zoning order policy (MZO).
“I want to be able to restrict the transfer or sale of lands and make this retroactive to 2018. I want to ensure that any lands that have been rezoned using an MZO for the purpose of meeting our goals of building 1.5 million homes are used for that purpose.
“At the same time and speaking with a number of our municipal partners. I have heard more than once as I’m sure many of you have the need to look at a new policy. Have a use it or lose it. We have heard far too often how the really the extraordinary good work that our municipal partners do and their time and resources that they spend in moving forward on development proposals, only to have developers sit on those allocations of water and sewage.
“I’m working with my department and I’ve instructed them to bring forward a use it or lose it policy. The Premier has said and all of us have acknowledged we are in a housing crisis. We have to put shovels in the ground and we are relying on our partners in the development industry to get those shovels in the ground faster.
“I will also be looking at further options for speculation and cancellation penalties that will be implemented through the fall economic statement. I also want to work with the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery to look at additional consumer protections. I’m looking at options for increased penalties for cancellation of purchase agreements and increased penalties for extortion of purchase agreement and I also want to work with the Minister of Finance to potentially increase the non resident speculation tax
“We already have the highest tax in Canada, but we’re looking to see if we can make that even fair. So these are a whole suite of measures that that we are bringing in place to ensure not only the highest level of accountability in the process to re to build public trust, but at the same time to be able to live up to our commitment of building 1.5 million homes across the province of Ontario working with our municipal partners to respect the work they are doing and putting the development community on notice that bad actors will not be tolerated.
“Our intention to build is to build homes for the people of the province; all types of homes. We expect shovels in the ground and want our partners to work with us to get that done. And with that I’m pleased to take any questions.”
 Reporters awaiting the arrival of the newly appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Reporter: Not much has been said about what the actual parameters the actual criteria for this review. Will be one review could be where I build housing everywhere we’re in a crisis, one review might be one criteria might be let’s look at the original goals of the Greenbelt environmental sensitivity and all that. We don’t know much about that.
And when you also haven’t mentioned the 800 applications that the premier mentioned yesterday, several times existing many long standing applicants was to remove that he said they’d all be looked at so this review actually where else can we chop up the Greenbelt review or what is it?
Minister: Well, look, it’s a mandatory review that had to take place as we said by 2025 accelerating that to to begin almost immediately. I will ask the department to give me a full suite of recommendations how that review can take place. As I said it will be a full open and accountable process it will look at the entirety of the Greenbelt. There really might be lands that need to be added to the Greenbelt there may be some some lands that are removed but it will be a fair and open process that will live up to the spirit of the original intent of the Greenbelt.
Reporter: That review will say these 14 sites, some of them don’t make the kind of 100% back in … and that you’re committing now?
Calandra: I’ve asked the facilitator to complete her work by the by the end of the year. Minister: I want to I want to be clear on this. So the provincial facilitator, I’ve given the provincial facilitator a clear mandate as to what I expect to happen with these these 14 sites – it’s very, very clear.
We’re building communities I expect significant community benefits on these lands. I expect the natural heritage and the natural heritage features on these lands to be protected. I will make that public. Her work. I will make it public when it is completed and then I will feed that work into the review of the Greenbelt that will be commenced sooner rather than later.
Reporter: The Rouge lands should have been left as agriculture as they had been for decades.
Minister: Look, I’m not going to I’m not going to presuppose what the work of the review is. What’s important is that we come up with a framework that is open and accountable. that respects the intention of of what we want to accomplish both not only in building 1.5 million homes, but also in preserving our natural heritage.
Reporter: Sorry, you’re saying that even if there is some significant construction on these lands, and your review process then determines that these lands should have been in the Greenbelt? What happened is that would you stop construction and revert the lands? Yeah.
Minister: Good question. Look, the reality is that I’ve asked the facilitator to complete her work by the by the end of the year. At that point, I will certainly make the results of her work. Shovels in the ground by 2025 is what my expectation is on those sites, but if they don’t meet the requirements under the Greenbelt review, as well, as I said that the mandated Greenbelt review, then they will not proceed and we will remove those lands from the Greenbelt at the same at the same time, as we said, on MZO on speculation, we will not hesitate to remove lands whether it’s an MZO if they do not meet our goals of building 1.5 million homes. We will take action on both on those developers and on the on the on the process of language.
 Reporters putting questions to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Reporter: Can you tell us what kind of screens you have put in your office to ensure that no one in your office has any direct communications or contacts or receives any kind of USB keys or packages from members of the development community?
Is there a hard cinder block wall now between your office and developers ?
Minister: The Premier was extraordinarily clear to me on what his expectations were. It took some time to read some of the recommendations in the auditor general’s report. And I will ensure by working with my deputy and in my team at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing that we have a process that is public, that is open that is meets the highest ethical standards – that includes myself and my office.
Reporter: Are you implementing any kind of wall here? Is there any instruction from you to your staff to not have any communications with developers. The chief of staff was named in the integrity commissioners report as having dinner with those in the development community. How are you going to prevent that from happening? What policies are you putting in place?
Minister: Once I undertake the review of the Greenbelt I will ask the Department to give me recommendations on how that review should proceed. And I will follow what the department has put in place at the same time. I expect everybody, my colleagues, myself reach out to the Integrity Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are met. It’s been the way I’ve governed myself and that’s the way I continue to govern myself and have the exact same expectations of people that work with me.
Reporter: Are instructions you’re giving to municipalities contradictory here because on the one hand, I understand from mayors and local planning conditionals, that the province is negotiating community benefits, that they’re still going forward with planning the urban Boundary Expansion, some of which, which does go into land and the Greenbelt. And now you’re also doing the review. Isn’t that creating a greater degree of uncertainty for freedom municipality, and a lot more work for them to do down the line?
Minister: No, I think just the opposite – local municipalities that are assisting us with the provincial facilitators work right now have been very cooperative with us. But we have heard that if we are going to be building 1.5 million homes across the province of Ontario we have to get this work underway. Look, we’ve done a lot of work in the lead up to this with, you know, transit oriented communities or housing supply action plans every single year to move to move the obstacles to route to remove obstacles and help us facilitate our desire to build these 1.5 million homes by reviewing the Greenbelt.
Moving it up sooner helps to alleviate some of the pressures that might have been built up in the system. So I actually think it is it is the right time to do it. And we can gather all of that information from our municipal partners at the same time. I think they all share the same goal. I don’t think anybody has disagreed that we need to build homes across the province of Ontario. I think we’re all unified on that. My municipal partners are unified when I’m out in my community. People are saying we need more homes. People are nervous about it. I think we can do it in a way that rebuilds public trust. But the ultimate goal is to build homes for people, and we will work with our partners and we will get that done.
Reporter: There’s an overwhelming sense that people don’t want building on the Greenbelt, your government is down in the polls. Why not follow that 15th recommendation for the Auditor General the premier didn’t mention yesterday and at least return these 14-15 sites to the Greenbelt. Now.
Minister: To be clear, what we are doing is we’re moving forward with the provincial facilitator and have asked her to continue her work that she has started, and I will submit her work after making it public.
I will submit her work to the Greenbelt review that will be underway by the ministry. I’ve asked the ministry to give me options for how that review would take place. It should be open and public. And it should allow us to have the highest accountability and public input as possible. So not only will that work continue with the provincial facilitator, but it will also then be submitted to the Greenbelt review that we are undertaking.
Reporter: Is the government committing right now to not issue any of those until that review is done.
Minister: I want to have a review. I want to make sure that the MZOs that were issued for the purposes that we’ve established them to do.
When I was Minister of Long Term Care I asked for an MZO to help me build a long term care home where I ran into obstacles with municipal partners who just didn’t want long term care home for one reason or another. I’ve asked for a municipal zoning order so to help me on that way so no, they’re still an important tool but when it comes to our progress to building 1.5 million homes, I think we are very clear to our partners in the development industry when we issue an EMS it is used to help us gain makeup ground on building those 1.5 million homes.
That’s what they’re issued for. And that’s what we expect our partners to use them for at the same time. I think equally important I’ve heard it constantly from our municipal partners how much work they put into this, when they when they take the plans from from developers, the allocations of sewer and water and then the developer does nothing with the permit and sits on that and then thereby restricting other developments down the line. That is not acceptable to us. It is a waste of of taxpayers money is a waste of resources and does nothing to help us build 1.5 million homes. So we are putting the development community on notice as well. That we will be moving with a use it or lose it policy. At the same time that we have it we have a goal we want to build these homes. We’re going to build the homes. We will meet our targets and we will make progress on this.
Reporter: Is it possible more lands could be opened up for development during this review ?
Minister: I’m not going to presuppose, I’m agnostic on what the final resolution will be. I think the outer agenda was very clear that politics should be removed from the process; that a thorough review should be undertaken. That was the mandate of the legislation when it was introduced. And that was what the tenure review is all about. We will put a fair open process in place to provide the accountability but and public participation in the process. And we will remove it in terms of being political decisions to one that are made with the support and assistance of our of the public service but more importantly, with people and rebuilds public trust in the process
Reporter: Who is responsible for the collapse of public trust in this process. He’s at fault for what has happened here
Minister: As I said in my opening, opening remarks, Minister Clark has put forward proposals to help us alleviate the pressures that we’re seeing on building across the province of Ontario, where there’s transit oriented communities each and every year a housing supply action plan that we as a government we as a cabinet and as a caucus have always supported.
We are in an incredible challenge right now. We have to build homes in every part of this province. And he has done remarkable work on that having said that, having said that it is very clear that the process that was undertaken for the initial 14 sites was not one that can be supported. And is not one that that builds public trust.
 Calandra: I have to be honest with you I will not be stopped on our mission and building 1.5 million homes – this is a priority for us. That is why we’re undertaking the the review of the Greenbelt. Now that is why the work of the provincial facilitator just to be clear, the work of the provincial facilitator right now will be made public and will be then further subject to the Greenbelt review.
But I will not be stopped I have to be honest with you I will not be stopped on our mission and building 1.5 million homes – this is a priority for us. And we will remove obstacles and we’ll find ways to do it. But we will do it in a way that ensures that we retain the public trust every single step and acknowledge that he is responsible for what has happened.
Reporter: How can we trust that you will do anything differently than he has done?
Minister: Look, I have the benefit of an auditor general recommendations. The premier has given me a clear direction on what his expectations are of me: first and foremost, to build, 1.5 million homes to ensure that the height of that we rebuild public trust where it is required, but at the same time to ensure that we conduct that we hold everybody accountable. We’re going to hold developers accountable for the work that they’re committing to do for us whether it’s through EMS or whether it’s through the planning process. We are going to ensure that any changes that are made to the Greenbelt are done in an open and accountable way. This is this is an opportunity for us across the province to to really start to make even more significant headway and helping reach our goal of 1.5 million homes.
I’m actually quite optimistic of what we can do. We’re listening to our municipal partners who look at moi heard this constantly. You know, we, you we do all of this work. We put significant resources into getting permits, and then a developer will sit on that allocation for years and not get anything done. And then you we as provincial government come to them and say, move on. Let’s get it going. Let’s get it going. Let’s let’s build more homes.
We are responding to that today by putting the developers on notice that we’re gonna do that we can always have better processes. Absolutely. But that’s why I think they review the Greenbelt right now. Makes sense, right so that I can put those 14 parcels that were removed already, under the microscope, have a review as well, both in terms of what we are wanting to accomplish. And both in terms of what the Greenbelt review would do.
Reporter: You mentioned a number of things you’re having to speed up home, use it or lose it but there’s still so much stuff in the housing affordability Task Force, whether it be four storeys on every street, six to 11 on transit routes, limited by the major transit areas. Why isn’t that?
Minister: Look, I don’t disagree. There’s more work to be done on that. And an undertaking to review that as well and and I will, I will be happy to come back to you with some of the progress in the near future that we release it. I’ll go with you.
 Reporters from media across the province take part in these sessions where questions are asked often with follow up questions. If one reporter doesn’t get the answer they were looking for a different reporter follows up. Reporter: When you sat in cabinet and these 15 sites were brought to you did you have any questions?
Minister: To be completely clear, I was very supportive of removing lands for the purposes of meeting our goal of building 1.5 million homes. I think we can accomplish the goal of building 1.5 million homes while respecting our natural heritage at the same time. I’m very familiar with this. The site obviously it’s it’s in my backyard. I was a federal Member of Parliament in that area.
When we brought in the Rouge National Urban Park I was a federal member, the very same parties that are now there’s screaming and hollering about this all voted against the creation of the Rouge national urban park because they wanted to reforest the area. In fact, the provincial government at the time refused to transfer the lands into the Rouge National Urban urban park. The Liberals when they were in office were the only government that that evicted farmers from my riding.
 Rouge National Urban Park It’s unacceptable to me frankly. My own daughter thinks she will never have the chance to buy or rent a home that it’s out of reach. I think we can we can manage both right? I really do. I think we can manage both. I’m very optimistic about where we can go on this. I think we can manage our natural heritage while meeting the goals of building 1.5 million homes.
I thank you all thank you very much for being here today. Appreciate it.
And with that the Minister left the podium.
While Calandra put on a decent presentation and held his own with the media the New Democrat leader at Queen’s Park wasn’t impresed. Maritt Stiles sets out part of the Calandra record of achievement:
Paul Calandra as the new Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs – a critically important file in the middle of a housing crisis with little in the way of relevant experience other than being infamous for misdirection.
Calandra’s qualifications as deflector-in-chief include:
- In 2012, he was Stephen Harper’s shield from the Senate Scandal (Calandra’s non-answers gained so much notoriety they inspired a joke generator of meaningless talking points)
- In 2014, he refused to answer so many questions about Canada’s involvement in Iraq, the Globe and Mail’s exasperated response was: “to call Mr. Calandra a clown is to do a disservice to the ancient profession of painted-face buffoonery”
- In 2015, CBC’s Peter Mansbridge coined Calandra’s non-answers as ‘The Full Calandra’, following an interview about Mike Duffy’s trial
Stiles said: “Ford is playing games and shuffling the deck chairs because he is cynical, and he thinks Ontarians are too. But Ontarians are smarter than that – they’re engaged and angry at Ford’s government. And they won’t be distracted by these cheap tricks meant to obfuscate and distract. “
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