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July 24th, 2026 BURLINGTON, ON
Here is a stunner for you. One of the places downtown that is actually vibrant will close after more than twenty years of great customer service – the Queen’s Head Pub will close.
We are following up for more detail. 
 By StaffJuly 24th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
In early 2022, the Government of Ontario very publicly pledged to build 1.5M new homes across the province by 2031. Roughly a year-and-a-half in, many municipalities are already falling far behind the monthly targets that would indicate they’re keeping pace with overall housing goals.  Mike Moffatt Economist and Assistant Professor at Ivey Business School Dr. Mike Moffatt has compiled recently-released data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that shows a dozen cities already well off the necessary rate of production required to meet their provincially-imposed housing targets. Moffatt’s data presents housing completions and units under construction in 29 Ontario cities between January 2022 and May 2023, as well as each figure as a percentage of the municipality’s 10-year goal. And, while the 17-month timeframe puts Ontario 14% of the way through its 10-year target, 12 cities within the province are currently sitting under that 14% mark of progress toward their goal. Based on the number of completions and units under construction, Burlington is just 4.4% of the way towards its goal of building some 29,000 new homes by 2031. Between January 2022 and May 2023, the city built just 333 new homes, and has fewer than 1,000 more currently under constriction. Brampton is only slightly further along, at 5.4% of its goal, but it also has a higher overall target of 113,000 total homes. Ajax, meanwhile, is a meagre 6.3% of the way towards its goal of building 17,000 homes by 2031.  A Molinaro development in the west end of the city will eventually be completed. Of the 12 Ontario cities that are falling behind the province’s overall pace — which also include Newmarket (8.0%), Guelph (8.7%), and St. Catharines (11.0%) — Mississauga has the highest housing target, at 120,000. As of May, it has completed just over 2,000 homes and has another 11,000 under construction, putting it 10.9% of the way towards its goal. “We’re frustrated at the lack of progress across the province,” Moffatt, who is also the Founding Director of the PLACE Centre, told STOREYS. “The data really isn’t moving in the right direction.” “It is certainly possible that the cities catch up — we are only 14% of the way through this 10-year period, so there is still time — but it’s going to take a wartime-scale effort. We need to start making pretty drastic changes in the province, especially in the 905 areas that are particularly lagging.” In contrast to their suburban neighbours, some Ontario cities are making notable progress towards their goals. Kingston is leading the way, having progressed 34.6% of the way towards its 8,000 housing target. Toronto, with its 285,000 housing goal, follows, at 29.9%. As of May, Toronto has completed more than 25,500 units, and has another 85,000 under construction. Vaughan (26.6%), Pickering (26.3%), and Brantford (25.0%) are also making good headway.  The best mid-sized Canadian city to live in may not have room for those who would like to move to Burlington.
July 24th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON OPINION The city of Toronto now has a new Court House – it is a 17 floor structure with 73 courtrooms and a design that approaches the description stunning.  Colour dominates the entrance – doesn’t have the look of a Court House which was intentional. It is a very good example of what architects can do when the get creative which begs the question: Is there any truly unique design in the buildings that are now under construction and will there be anything memorable in the 50 plus buildings that have to go up to accommodate the population growth that the city has to accommodate? Are architects responsible to just the developers who pay their fees or do they have an obligation to the people who will live in the city for the 50, maybe 75 years the high rise towers will stand? The social scientists and the architects know that people need space to live in and to keep their stuff in; storage space for linens, closets for clothing, a spot for the few tools that are kept in apartments. What we are seeing now are units that are is as small is as 450 sq ft. There are very few three bedroom units and I doubt there isn’t one four bedroom unit being built.  Under construction on Guelph Line where the Black Bull was once located the building has taken the place of storage space that used to be part of where you lived. What we do see are storage companies that will rent you space to put you bike in or your golf clubs during the winter. What used to be home, the place were are your stuff, was now a place where there are space limitations. Burlington does have an Urban Design committee that gets to opine on the design of a development that is going through the application stage. Without casting aspersions on the group – they are the same people that are designing the building that are before the Planning department.  The “Marilyns”, a pair of condos that have held their value and went for premium prices when they were first on the market. People wanted unique design. There are examples of some fascination buildings in and around the GTA. The “Marilyns” in Mississauga with their curvy design sell at a premium because people want to live in distinct building and will pay extra for the privilege. There was a developer who took a different approach to a series of building along the southern end of Woodbine where the race track used to be in the Toronto Beach commuity. Some of his peers thought he was in the process of making an expensive mistake. The developer was described is as someone nearing the end of his career and wanted to do something that would be remember. What has Burlington got coming its way? While the ADI group has a well earned reputation related to some of their business practices – their designs are, to this writer some of the best we have seem. Their Nautique is good, their four storey condo on Guelph Line was very well done; their Link development on Dundas brought a much different look to a community that was boring at best.  Nick Carnicelli, principal of the Carriage Gate firm, has a thing about height. This project is his idea of what will be seen as the entrance to the city as you travel along Lakeshore Road from the east. Carriage Gate has chosen to earn the reputation for the highest building – something that looms over the space it takes.  The two towers in the middle in the original design had curves that left the impression of a welcoming gate to the downtown core. For reasons unknown the design was changed. The Molinaro Group had an exceptional design for three of the four corners at Ghent and Guelph Line. Towers on either side of Brant were originally designed to serve is as an entrance into the northern part of the downtown core – but for reason that were never clear they changed the design. An opportunity lost.  A rendering of how the high rise tower planned for Lakeshore and Brant on the north east side could look like – the vision was created by the city planning department. Owners of the property didn’t see it quite the same way. They have a chance to make amends when it comes time to develop their holdings on Lakeshore Road between Brant and John Street. A rendering of what could be done on those lands appeared – turns out the rendering wasn’t prepared by the Molinaro people – someone in the city planning department had it done and put it out.  The Bridgewater development had a rough ride getting to the point where there were shovels in the ground. When it opened it turned out to be well worth the wait. It is a destination for pricey events. The Molinaro’s were not impressed but decided at the time to make a comment. The development in the east end _find out which it is – is mammoth. It will dwarf everything around it and unless all the residents use bicycles – the traffic jams will be something they will have to get used to dealing with. The Bridgewater development was designed by the owners of the property – New Horizons was brought in to build it.
July 24th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
While July isn’t over yet, most people are looking forward to the next holiday weekend that begins August 5th.  MP Karina Gould: Is she in line for a different Cabinet role? By that time many people expect the Prime Minister to have announced what his Cabinet is going to look like. Will Burlington MP Karina Gould be moved to a new Ministry; she is currently the Minister of Families. Is she ready for a front bench seat? We should know by the end of the week. City Council will be sitting during part of August – traditionally the month is holiday time except for the few days they attend the AMO conference which this year is in London from the 20th to the 23rd. The rest of us get to just enjoy the month and celebrate Burlington’s history during Heritage Week Aug. 5 to 12, 2023.  St. Luke’s Anglican Church built on land given to Joseph Brant A sub-committee of Heritage Burlington is established each year to work in conjunction with the Burlington Historical Society, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington Public Library, Burlington Museums, Friends of Freeman Station, Burlington Halton Black History Awareness Society, Beach Canal Lighthouse and David Craig of History Pix, along with a growing list of other area organizations. All events are free. Events that require registration will open for registration from July 10 to 28 or until events reach limit capacity. Burlington celebrates its 150th – referred to as its Sesquicentennial year. The week will begin with an event at the 1834 St. Luke’s Anglican Church property with Indigenous Spiritual Healer White Eagle and Town Crier David Vollick taking active parts. A quartet from the Burlington Symphony Orchestra will be playing music. The orchestra is celebrating its 50th anniversary. At the close of the opening ceremonies Alan Harrington of the Burlington Heritage Society will provide a memorable walking tour of the historic area surrounding St. Luke’s. The tour will highlight places of interest and the stories of several Burlington’s residents who left a lasting legacy with the community. The church was built on land that was part of the land grant given to Joseph Brant for his service to Canada during the a war in the United States.
Open doors has a number of locations that will be open to the public on August 12th. We will list them all closer to the 12th, Among the events taking place during the week are;
 Currently, the Burlington Model Railway Club (BMRC) — established in the early 1980s — owns and operates model railways in three different scales. The club includes men, women and families from Burlington and the surrounding area who share a common interest of model railroading — in N scale, HO scale, and/or G scale — with skill levels varying from “beginner” to “expert.” The club is located at 1137 Hidden Valley Road. It will be open to the public on August 12th from 10 am to 2:00 pm on August 12th
July 24th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
City has announced dates for visioning exercises on the redesign of the adaptive reuse of the recently acquired Robert Bateman High School. The events are being called Community Visioning Workshops. Dates are August 22, Appelby Ice Centre 7:00 -9:00 August 23, LaSalle Park 1:00- 300 Don’t expect to see council members at the event unless they are going to drive back to Burlington from London where most are expected to take part in the three day annual AMO conference.  The city now owns the property- they have rented out much of the space to the HAlton District School Board and Brock University. The city has asked people to register to attend: use – getinvolved@burlington.ca to register Additional events are scheduled for October 18, Tansley Woods 7:00-9:00 and a Zoom events October 19 at 7:00 pm An alert Gazette reader points out that community engagement was expected to take place in Q2 2023. The reader added that Phase 1 of the project was expected to be complete in September 2024 not September 2025.
July 23rd, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that approximately 20 to 35 mm of rain has fallen over the past couple hours in the upper reaches of our watershed along Highway 401. Environment Canada has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Halton Hills and Milton, citing that nickel size hail and torrential rainfall with totals between 50-80 mm is possible.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers. Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Condition Statement –Water Safety message as conditions warrant. This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through Tuesday July 25, 2023.
July 23rd, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON We were advised today that there is a fifth candidate: Dr. Adil Shamji. Our apologies for missing that. The campaign for a new Ontario Liberal party leader reached Burlington on the weekend. Ted Hsu, currently the MPP for Kingston and the Islands, wants to lead the party and is crisscrossing the province to meet people who will be part of the process when a leadership convention takes place early in December. Voting for the new leader will be a ranked ballot event instead of a convention at which the delegates choose.  Ted Hsu, one of four candidates for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party Ted Hsu has been the MPP for Kingston and the Islands since the 2022 Ontario provincial election. He formerly served as federal Liberal MP for the Kingston and the Islands riding from 2011 to 2015, but chose not to run for re-election so he could spend more time with his family. Hsu officially launched his Liberal leadership campaign late in May. He was joined on stage by guitarist Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip. In a telephone interview Hsu took me though his views on key issues: energy, long term health care, protecting the Greenbelt and ensuring the homes that are going to be needed are built. Hsu takes a strong policy view to running the province if he gets the opportunity but is realistic enough to know that policy doesn’t get you very far when it comes to votes. He knows that getting in front of people and pressing the flesh is the way elections are won. He doesn’t have a quickly recognized profile that he can rely upon. The group he met with in Burlington was small, it’s summer time, people want to enjoy the weather and do family events. Hsu said he thinks we are going to have to rely more on nuclear for the energy the province needs and that Ontario needs to “marshal the resources it has” and make the tools and technology that is in place available to the private sector who will create the jobs needed to grow the economy. Hsu was very firm on the creation of gas plants – “We need to avoid going that route – fossil fuels are not a solution – they are the problem.  Ted Hsu with Ancilla Ho Young and local party president Lisa Mayeski Hsu takes the approach that voters are going to have to trust the people they choose to lead them. He spoke of the ‘Ring of Fire’, a northern area 540 km northeast of Thunder Bay Ontario where the unproven mineral deposits lie underneath the carbon-rich peatlands of the James Bay Lowlands. Mining that part of the province was an issue in the 2022 election. There are outstanding questions about the Ring of Fire that that Hsu believes have to resolved first with the Indigenous community who Hsu said have a veto. Hsu said he feels people elected to office need to bring a level of humility to the work they do and to constantly check on the work they do. “We need to be constantly testing and checking the impact of the decisions they make. Asked if he thought the Ontario Liberals need to do what the federal Liberals did in the 60’s when they held a national conference in Kingston on what the country needed in the way of a social policy. Few would argue that Ontario desperately needs a distinct social policy; Hsu was non-committal on such an approach but he certainly knew what the 60’s event was all about and the role it played in creating many of the federal government programs in place today. Re-earning the trust of voters was a phrase Hsu used often – “let them ask the hard questions, Hsu wanted the public to be able to poke and prod, he said he felt politicians had to be bold and fearless and risk losing some votes. “We have to work at changing the culture” he said. Ted Hsu was born in Bartsville, Oklahoma and moved to Canada when his father got a job teaching at Queen’s University. He graduated from Queen’s and pursued graduate studies at Princeton University, where he completed his PhD in physics in 1989. Hsu worked as a researcher and trader in Paris and Philadelphia for Banque Nationale de Paris, and as an executive director in the Tokyo office of Morgan Stanley, a global investment bank. There are currently four people running for the leadership: Ted Hsu, Yasir Naqvi, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Bonnie Crombie and Dr. Adil Shamji  Ted Hsu meeting with local Liberals: Answering questions – building trust September 5 is the deadline for the Ontario Liberals leadership candidate registration. Candidates must have an entry fee of $100,000 and a refundable $25,000 deposit. September 11is the final day for new members to join the party and be eligible to vote in the leadership election, except for members of student clubs, who have until September 26. November 25 to 26 Party members will cast their votes by ranked ballot. The Liberal members voted to scrap the party’s use of delegated conventions and instead use direct voting with a ranked ballot. December 2 the Ontario Liberals will announce the round-by-round results.
July 22nd, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Tough future ahead for the group that owns Joe Dogs – the buildings next door are going to disappear and be replaced by a 26 storey structure that will have 226 units The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) decided that the development could proceed. Getting to this point was messy. The developer, Renimmob Properties, chose not to work with the city’s Planning department and took their case directly to the OLT.  Rendering of site with Brant Street in the foreground, the public parking lot shown in green and the parking space in front of the No Frills on the right.  Rendering of the eastern side of the proposed development with the public parking lot in green and the No Frills parking space on the right. Site address is 535 Brant.
No word at this point on when shovels will be put into the ground. The barber shop, the convenience store, the tire replacement location and the branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia will be demolished to clear the site for development.  A development to the north, on the opposite side of the street gives a view of how Brant Street will change The statement that jumps out during a casual skim of the decision is this: The Tribunal finds that it would be an inexcusable error to evaluate and base its decision on the Applications using the policies or vision of the ineffectual and non- operative 2020 OP. The Applications are subject to, and must be evaluated against, the policies of the in-force COP. The Applicant, Renimmob Properties, advised the Tribunal that the Applications were modified in December 2022 to address comments resulting from a peer review of the Applications conducted by Mr. Hannay. The revisions include: a. A relocated vehicular access from Brant Street to John Street that allows for a continuous active frontage along Brant Street; b. Road widenings of 3.55 m and 2.50 m provided along Brant Street and John Street, respectively; c. A reduced tower floorplate from 797 m2 to 749.4 m2; d. An increased tower stepback from the podium to a minimum of 4.28 m along John Street and 5.57 m along Brant Street; e. A 12.73 m tower setback from the west property line and 13.18 m tower setback from the east property line; f. A reduced underground parking footprint to accommodate the proposed road widenings; g. An overall reduction in vehicular parking from 253 spaces to 226 spaces; and h. An overall increase in bicycle parking from 36 spaces to 88 spaces. The Applications were submitted and subsequently revised to facilitate the development of a 26-storey residential apartment with retail on the ground floor on lands municipally known as 535-551 Brant Street Since the initial application was filed in December 2020, the pattern of heights in the Downtown area, particularly along Brant Street, has continued to transition, including many existing, approved, and proposed developments. Some examples are: an 18-storey mixed use development, with ground floor commercial uses and residential uses above, at 409 Brant Street (approved by the Tribunal); a 23-storey mixed use building, with ground floor commercial uses, office uses on the second floor and residential uses above, at 421-431 Brant Street (approved by City Council); a mixed-use development, with two towers of 18 and 25 storeys with ground floor commercial uses and residential uses above, at 774-782 Brant Street (under City review); a 31-storey mixed use development, with ground floor commercial uses and residential uses above, at 789-795 Brant Street (under City review); an existing mixed-use development of 22 storeys, with ground floor commercial uses, and residential uses and hotel suites above, at 2042-2054 Lakeshore Road; a 26-storey mixed use building under construction at 374 Martha Street (approved by the Ontario Municipal Board); and a 29-storey mixed use building, with ground floor commercial uses and residential uses above, at 2069-2079 Lakeshore Road and 383-385 Pearl Street (approved by the Tribunal). With all this development is there a place for what Joe Dogs brings to the city?  Winter never did much for Joe Dogs.  Summer – ah a great opportunity for a photo op that ward 2 Councillor takes advantage of. Will she be on hand when the site closes? Central to the submissions by the City was City Council’s adoption of a new official plan in 2018 that was modified by the City in September 2020 and approved by the Region in November 2020 (“2020 OP”). The 2020 OP was subsequently appealed to the Tribunal by 48 appellants and is not currently in effect. Nevertheless, it is the City’s position, and the opinion of their witnesses, that the Tribunal ought to give significant weight to the 2020 OP in evaluating the Proposed Development given the considerable public input and studies that led to its adoption. Notwithstanding the 2020 OP provisions for the Subject Property requiring a maximum height of 11 storeys and a tower setback of 20 m from Brant Street, both Mr. Lowes and Ms. Jay proffered that a 17-storey building with a 17.32 m tower setback from Brant Street would be appropriate for the Subject Property. The Tribunal found this position conflicting. On the one hand, the City’s witnesses urged the Tribunal to rely on the provisions of the 2020 OP given the significant efforts that led to its adoption and the risk of setting a precedent for the area that was not consistent with the new policies. On the other hand, they also opined that deviating from the 2020 OP policies on the Subject Property was appropriate. The Tribunal finds that it would be an inexcusable error to evaluate and base its decision on the Applications using the policies or vision of the ineffectual and non- operative 2020 OP. The Applications are subject to, and must be evaluated against, the policies of the in-force COP. While the 2020 OP may assist the Tribunal in understanding the City’s vision for the Downtown, it is not a determinative policy document. This is supported by the opinions provided by the City’s witnesses suggesting that certain policies of the 2020 OP need not be adhered to in this instance. Further, it should also be noted that the appeals of the 2020 OP may lead to modifications of the prescribed policies or revocation of the stated provisions for development. The Panel, having regard for the evidence and submissions presented by the Parties, notes that there is no real dispute that intensification and development of the underutilized Subject Property are appropriate. The main issues at hand relate to the appropriate height and built form of development on the Subject Property, and specifically: 1. What height is appropriate for the Subject Property? The upshot was …  The outdoor space at Joe Dogs. It will be tough to relax and enjoy a brew with construction taking place next door What’s next: The developer gets on with construction, determining of course when the market will be ready for what the developer will offer. And the group that owns Joe Dogs has to decide if they should stay where the are and find a way to operate while the construction of a 26 storey tower takes place yards to the north of the property they rent. To the immediate south of Joe Dogs is Culaccino Bar & Kitchen, to the south of that is a branch of the Bank of Montreal. At some point those properties will be assembled (if that hasn’t already taken place and another 26 story tower (perhaps two) will rise on the east side of Brant Street.  Joe Dogs will never be the same. Is that location and the other two shown going to be the next development on the east side of Brant?
July 22nd, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
The Canadian Blood Service is asking donors to book and keep their appointments – inventory has reached levels of concern They are asking Canadians to come together this weekend and book appointments to donate blood.  Giving back in a very real way – donations are needed now – inventory is low. The latest blood inventory levels going into the weekend are concerning, and many blood types are needed, especially O-Negative, O-Positive, B-Negative, A-Negative and A-Positive. Current inventory levels can be tracked on www.blood.ca. The need for blood products never stops, and we’re asking Canadians to make all the difference by booking and keeping lifesaving appointments to donate blood. Ontario currently needs to fill 5,000 appointments to meet sufficient inventory levels for the rest of July. Cancer patients, accident victims, and people with immunodeficiency, autoimmune and neurological disorders rely on blood, platelets, and plasma donations every day. Appointments are required. Same day appointments are available every day at many donor centres and community events across the country. Book now on blood.ca, use the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283). New and returning donors are asked to book and keep their donation appointments. If you are unable to make it to your appointment, please cancel it so that someone can take your place or re-book into the following month.
July 21st, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
There are two things to look for and be aware of during the coming weekend.  This ramp, along with others, will be closed for the weekend. The full closure of Niagara-bound traffic on the QEW Burlington Skyway for critical repairs, beginning Saturday, July 22 at 10 p.m. to Sunday, July 23 at 11:30 a.m. Advance signing and notification will be provided to motorists so they can plan an alternate route. Travellers can visit http://511on.ca/ or @511Ontario for updates on work and traffic impacts. The QEW Burlington Skyway will remain open during the August long weekend.  Expect good crowds at the Food Trucks set up in Spencer Smith Park this weekend. Then – there are 30 Food Trucks that will set up in Spencer Smith Park this weekend. Burlington Food Truck Festival is BACK FOR 3 DAYS! 30 Food Trucks will be serving up some of the best food from the country, this is a festival you won’t want to miss! Show some of your Burlington love by bringing your friends and family. Oh and don’t forget, there will be FREE ADMISSION, cold beer, delicious food, and local performers. Jul 21: 5pm – 10pm
July 21st, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
 Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, calls for support for the eight known emergency rooms (ERs) being forced to temporarily close or limit services this weekend across the province due to the Ford Conservative’s staffing crisis. “We’ve seen closure after closure of Ontario’s emergency rooms this year. This weekend is no exception,” said Stiles. “From Durham to Nipigon to Walkerton, this week, there will be eight ERs across Ontario that will need to close or limit services due to a lack of resources. That’s eight communities and thousands of people that may be left with limited access to timely, nearby care. That’s completely unacceptable—but Ford wants you to think its normal.” Emergency rooms that are facing temporary closures or limitations this weekend include: • Chesley ER CLOSED Thursday, July 20—Monday, July 24 The Ford government’s systemic starving of the public health care system is leading to longer wait times for emergency rooms and ambulance offload times. In May, just 28% of Ontario patients were admitted within an 8-hour target time. In Ottawa, ambulance code zeroes (no ambulances available) more than doubled in 2022. Essex County declared a state of emergency in 2022 over no ambulances available. “We are calling on the Ford government to stop privatizing our health care and to instead invest in the public system,” said France Gelinas (Nickel Belt), NDP Health critic. “Our dedicated health care workers are overwhelmed and burnt out. They’re doing their best to keep the lights on, but the situation is just not sustainable.”  Wow! What a stretch. Incredible statement. Among the Ontario NDP’s solutions to reduce wait times and keep ERs fully resourced: • Stabilize the workforce by stopping the appeal repealing Bill 124 Yesterday, Ford’s Conservatives announced $44 million for 165 high-volume and smaller emergency departments—break it down, and that’s an average of less than $267,000 per hospital. “That’s a drop in a very leaky bucket,” Stiles said. “Ford’s stashed away $22 billion in ‘excess funds’—public money—while denying Ontarians access to the health care they need.”
July 21st, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
As people we seem to have problems discussing and facing issues that we find uncomfortable. There are four that I want to put in front of you – The Mounties Nothing pretty about any of them. In Easter Canada we applaud the RCMP when they perform their musical ride and show up in the thousands when watch the Sunset Ceremony; The time-honoured tradition features an impressive flag lowering ceremony at sunset, and a participatory singing of the national anthem.  RCMP Musical Ride on its way to Parliament Hill. The 32 member cavalry perform the Music Ride at events across the country. In western Canada where the RCMP serve as the provincial police the picture is very different. The municipality of Surrey, BC is planning on creating its own police service and dumping the Mounties. And far too many female RCMP officers report sexual assaults and harassment that involved officers from the highest ranks of the RCMP, including the GET THIS Halton Regional Deputy Chief Wilkie told a city Council meeting that every time he mentions Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)his social media the readership drops off. No one wants to talk about the women who get punched in the face by their husbands. Those women have in the past not gone to the police – fearing that nothing will happen – and they will end up getting punched in the face again. Polite society doesn’t want to talk about stuff like this. Premier Ford chose not to declare an IPV Emergency and do something. Toronto’s new Mayor Olivia Chow chose to be very public and talked about the violence her father rained down on her mother that didn’t come to an end until Chow was able to move her mother into the basement apartment she had. Men have to begin talking to men who are violent and push them into therapy where they can come to terms with their violent behaviour.  The sign is a crying out – while governments squabble over who will pick up the cost. Did your heart not cry out when you heard family members say publicly she didn’t think children should have to stand at the edge of a garbage dump to visit and pay their respects to their mothers. The Premier of Manitoba said digging through those dumps to see if there are bodies buried there was too expensive. So much for the Truth and Reconciliation deal we have with the Indigenous people – we aren’t prepared to help them respectfully bury their dead. When Air India Flight 182 crashed into the Atlantic in 1985 with 268 Canadians aboard $130 million was spent on investigations and prosecutions that lasted almost twenty years. It was the most expensive trial in Canadian history, Why are the Indigenous people not getting the same level of care, concern and understanding?  They came to Canada looking for a better life – we need them to fill the jobs that will be created as we build a million and a half new homes – it hasn’t been a particularly warm welcome. Lastly, do you remember the pictures of the Prime Minister greeting refugees from Syria that Canada accepted? There was the Prime Minister with toys and winter coats and hugs for all of them. It made for a great photo op. Those refugees camped out in downtown Toronto with nothing but green garbage bags to protect them from the rain didn’t get much in the way of help until it became public. Is this who we are? Apparently.
July 20th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
It takes time, patience, and perseverance to build money, but the road is worthwhile in the end. It is mainly something people with children constantly think about and try to achieve. However, it takes a lot of discipline to achieve this, from sacrificing that cup of coffee to controlling your moments of impulse buying. The duration required to reach a stage where you witness the rewards relies on your income and your proficiency in the endeavour. Below is a concise compilation of actions that can aid in wealth accumulation and attaining financial stability.  Setting and reviewing goals Set Financial Goals Reduce Expenses  It is imperative that you ensure timely payments for your credit card and mortgage – have a back up access to cash. Plan for Possible Late Payments Establishing a strategy can be advantageous in promptly repaying debts while awaiting your paycheck. One clever method to achieve this is to have a location where you can apply for a payday loan, like My Canada Payday, but you must be eligible. This means that you must have a good online banking record, an income so they can plan for it, and the required documents. Invest What You Save
You can stand out from the competition by making an investment in the creation of your content. With a solid strategy, compelling content, and superior video quality, you can captivate subscribers and accumulate views, eventually leading to substantial returns within a few years. One simple hack to break into the industry is creating content on something you know well. Endnote
July 21st, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
We don’t hear about problems in ensuring that public school children are not properly fed a breakfast each day. However, Burlington MP Karina Gould, who is also the Minister of Families, appears to be having problems with the Breakfast Club of Canada  Burlington MP Karina Gould with Breakfast Clubs of Canada leadership “We are hoping to maintain that rhythm for the rest of the year,” said Judith Barry co-founder and director of government relations for the Breakfast Club of Canada. “What we’ve been discussing so far, since January, is really the need for the federal government to not only advance the development of a national school food policy, but invest in the … program implementation for that policy.” The Breakfast Club of Canada, which co-ordinates approximately 3,500 school nutrition programs across the country, took the top spot as the most active organization in federal lobbying between January and June. During that time, the club filed 228 communication reports, based on a search of the federal lobbyists’ registry on July 20. That number of communication reports nearly reaches the club’s total for all of 2022, which was 233. Driving the heavy lobbying activity for the club is a push for the federal government to follow through on a promise to implement a pan-Canadian policy to help more children receive nutritious food at school. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) made a commitment in the 2021 federal election campaign to invest $1-billion over five years towards a national school nutritious meal program, but the Liberals “still haven’t invested anything,” according to Barry.  Breakfast being readied for students at a Burlington public school. We have not seen, or heard of any problems in Burlington, let’s see what the Gazette readership has to say. Related news story: Kids are getting good breakfasts
July 21st, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday of this week I sent a note to Blake Hurley, the newly minted City Solicitor. I had some concerns with just how a very draconian by law was passed without a Staff report on the document and nothing in the way of questions from members of Council. I wrote:  City Solicitor Blake Hurley The Trespass Act gives school boards the right to issue Trespass notices. It also gives the City of Toronto the right to issue Trespass notices on Nathan Phillips Square, which is land I believe is held in Trust by the City of Toronto. Did the province ever give Burlington the right to issue Trespass Notices, and if it did, when was that right given? Also, when the Public Conduct Policy bylaw was before the Corporate Services Strategy Risk and Accountability Standing Committee on June 26th Staff did not make a presentation. While the report came out of the Clerk’s Office, it was written by a member of your department. Is there a reason why there was no public presentation of the bylaw? Finally, as Corporate counsel, did you review a draft of the bylaw before it was passed along to the City Clerk? Pepper Parr, Publisher Burlington Gazette We didn’t get a response from Hurley but we did get a response from the Communications department. Kwab said  Kwab Ako- Adjei Director of Communications and Community Engagement Pepper – Report CL-08-23 that recommends approval of the Public Conduct Policy and Trespass By-law was a report written by the City Clerk, not City Legal staff, and was on the regular agenda and approved by Committee and Council in public session. However, all reports are reviewed by Legal Services. And not all reports have staff presentations. Kwab is correct – it was on the June 26th Standing Committee Agenda where it got less than three minutes of air time. When it got to the City Council meeting on July 11th, it was listed as a Consent item and not a word was said. It was passed along with a number of other items. What both the Communications people, that being Kwab Ako- Adjei and the Legal department, now under the command of Blake Hurley were not aware of is that at the June 26th Standing Committee City Clerk Kevin Arjoon said:  Burlington City Clerk Kevin Arjoon “ I just want to say that clerk’s office has six reports on this agenda. We outsource this one. So Robert Ryan in legal services, he’s one of the solicitors there, did a lot of the drafting for this. a lot of the work, a lot of the consultation internally with staff as well. He’s done a lot of great work and you can see that in this report. So I just want to take a shout out for Robert. He did the balance of the most of those reports. So it wasn’t clerks really but just want to clarify that. Thank you, Robert. We reported recently on just what that bylaw does. A link to that report is set out below as well as a scathing delegation by Anne Marsden. Say what you will about Marsden, she has been on more than one occasion been very right in the past. Related news stories: Marsden delegates – scathing comments. What does the Public Conduct Policy mean ?
July 20, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
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July 20th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
With all day free transit for seniors starting August 1st, people will need to get a Presto card. Here is how you do that:
The terminal is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Adult and child PRESTO cards are available for $6. Customers should bring ID so staff can give them the correct PRESTO card with the right age category assigned to it. PRESTO cards are available for children, youth, adults and seniors for $6 at: • all Shopper’s Drug Mart locations in Burlington  Tap the card – that’s all it takes To use the PRESTO card, tap the PRESTO card as you board the bus, the same way you would tap a credit or debit card. Burlington Transit bus drivers are able to help if passengers have any questions. For new riders, Burlington Transit is partnering with the Burlington Public Library to offer Learn to Ride sessions at various library branches this fall. Watch for information about those sessions soon.
July 19th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Now I think we know what it is Council chose to discuss in a closed session of both a Standing Committee and Council. At the time the only information the public was given was that one of the items was related to a known name working for the city or one of its agencies. Council met on the 11th and Rob Bennett Managing Director of the Burlington Teen Tour Band was let go on the 14th.  Burlington Teen Tour Band Managing Director during better days is seen with Mayor Meed Ward receiving a key to the city. On July 14th Burlington Teen Tour Band members and staff received an email advising them that Bennett was no longer a member of staff. Bennett was described as “an extremely hard-working individual, despite his sometimes intimidating demeanour he was loved and cherished by all band members.” He joined the Peanuts band in 1977, then moving up to Teen Tour’s percussion section in 1979. After his retirement as a band member in 1989, Rob was still involved in the band, as he took up the position of a band instructor. In 1998 he was appointed to the position of full-time Managing Director of the Band and Music Programs Manager for the City of Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department. Bennett held his position as Managing director for 25 years.
July 19th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON OPINION Let’s take a look at three women who are part of the Burlington political world.  Mayor Meed Ward once said she has 17 points of contact with her constituents – and she uses every one of them regularly. Marianne Meed Ward has served the city as a Councillor and as Mayor now in her second term. In 2026 she will have served the city for 16 years which will result in a very decent pension. Will she run again? Will she be opposed by a member of Council; two that we are aware of harbour hopes of wearing the chain of office. Shawna Stolte has been the Councillor for ward 4 since 2018. Her Integrity Commissioner problems made her first term very difficult and many were not certain she would run again. But she did and was the Deputy Mayor for the Council meeting July 11th. Watching how she handled the meeting one got the sense that she liked the role; perhaps chairing Council meetings on a regular basis was even more appealing than when we had a conversation with her about wearing the Chain of Office. Daintry Klein, the woman who advocates for green space and has been a tireless advocate for the Millcroft community and doing everything she can to prevent any future development on the golf course properties. A recent community meeting was to urge resident of Millcroft to donate the funds needed to hire the experts that will get the organizations leads through the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing that is working its way through the bureaucracy.  The shaded areas show where the 98 additional houses will be built. Klein did a good job of explaining why the funds were needed and how much was needed.  Angelo Bentivegna – has no problem in ignoring groups in his ward. Was absent at the most recent meeting of Millcroft Green Alliance
What made the meeting awkward for Klein was that Mayor Meed Ward attended and told the audience that she didn’t want to see the case now at the OLT take place. She told the audience that she was going to work the telephones and get a decision from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to put an end to the development application. Given that the Mayor now has Strong Mayor powers she could put a stop to it in minutes. Is that in the offing? Last week, Klein delegated to a Statutory meeting on a development in the ward that she felt created some risk from an environmental perspective. She learned to her surprise that the planner speaking for the people who owned the property told council that they did not yet have a client because the people they wanted to offer the property to needed more in the way of certainty on just what they could and could not do. Despite the surprise Klein continued until Councillor Sharman, who was chairing the Statutory meeting, asked her to speak to the specific issue. Taken aback Kline did a quick pivot and talked about the need to keep environmental issues a close to the top issue when it came time to make a decision. There was no strong reason for Klein to be doing a delegation other than to maintain the profile she has in the community. A working relationship with ward Councillor Angelo Bentivegna hardly exists and Klein would not be taking all that much of a risk should decide she could do a better job as the Councillor for ward 6.  Shawna Stolte has weathered everything the Mayor has thrown at her and has managed to hold her own. The dynamic between the three women is interesting. Stolte took a very unfair drubbing from Meed Ward when she attempted to revise a Council meeting agenda and force Stolte to issue a public apology who was once her administrative assistant. Stole did a fine job of turning the tables and calling out the Mayor for what really was atrocious behaviour. We once again share that behaviour – here is the link. Mayor Meed Ward did herself no favours when she told the audience of a meeting Klein had called that there was no reason to raise funds because she, the Mayor, was going to do everything in her power to prevent the matter of developing some of the golf course lands – where the developer wants to build 98 high end houses on a very desirable location – even if they are shoe horning them in at some of the locations Those homes will sell just is as soon is as the developer knows his appeal to the OLT come out with a decision in their favour. The interesting scenario is we have a Mayor who doesn’t have a strong, positive working relationship with at least one member of her council, has another member who isn’t interested in serving parts of his constituency and appears to be blunting the efforts of a community that needs all the help it can get to prevent a radical change.  Daintry Klein has worked tirelessly to keep the interest of her community in the public eye. Is she ready to sit at the table where the decisions are made. She would be at positive addition. Daintry Kline has a strong background in the finance sector and has been more than diligent in working for her community. Does that translate into running for public office – Klein has said she has no interest – they all do that until they announce that they want to serve their community and would be honoured to do just that. Stolte and Klein would get along well – the have that “community first” in their DNA. Keep an eye on both of them. As for the Mayor – she will let you know what she is up to. 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.
July 19th, 2023 BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green has had a significant and important impact during the past 15 years.  A rendering of what the tower part of the Pier was to look like with the wind turbine. . Pressures from growth, climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and more, all require immediate and effective ACTION. A greener future needs a plan, a dedicated focus, leadership, and of course, contributions from everyone. The development of their next 5-year strategic plan (2024-2028) is underway and they are inviting people to share their views to help the organization be a more effective organization. They would like you to help shape their future focus. About the survey: – The survey is anonymous and is accessible to anyone who would like to complete and submit it. This is important – Burlington Green has standing in the community – they are respected is as an organization. The Gazette would like to see them holding the decision makers accountable. The leadership pride themselves on being non-partisan but are often on the timid side when it comes to hold special interests accountable.  Burlington Green has a very strong following – they turn out for the Annual Clean Up – Green Up event – which is important. Right now Climate Change is the most important issue. In the 12 years I have been following the organization I have yet to hear them say a word about what the development community has done to the city.  The original plan was to build the tower and put a wind turbine on the top. Without the turbine – there was no need for the tower – which would have saved close to a million dollars. What the public has now is a tower that with lights that can be programmed. When the pier was being built – it was supposed to have a small windmill on the top of the tower that would create energy to power the lights. The only reason the tower part of the Pier was built was to have the windmill. I recall so clearly the conversation Amy had with the Mayor at the time. He offered to put up some solar panels that would generate the power.  Burlington Green Executive Director Amy Schnurr That never happened. It would have been so very useful had Amy expressed her disappointment. Hearing her say: “Your Worship, I am truly disappointed that you have not understood the point we are trying to make.” That would have been enough – when they know they are going to be called to account – the decision makers tend to make better decisions. Keep that in mind when you are doing the survey – You can access it HERE
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By Pepper Parr
Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas and natural floodplains may be expected.
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Besides being a destination for events and running an active programs for young people the Burlington Museum offers a series of courses, taking place at Ireland House on things you might find interesting.
Burlington Transit is giving Seniors 65+ and youth 13-19 free PRESTO cards while supplies last. The cards can be picked up and activated at the Downtown Transit Terminal, 430 John St.
The ward Councillor Angelo Bentivegna was absent – he appears to have decided to keep his distance from the Millcroft Greenspace Alliance. 