 By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
When a media release comes out any time after 2:00 pm on a Friday – look it over very carefully.
Should it come out after 2:00 pm on a long holiday weekend – you know that trouble is coming your way.
Today, after 2:00 pm in our part of the world, the weather is wonderful. Who wants to be in the office or even at the keyboard if you are at home.
Here is what the provincial government slipped into thousands of email boxes.
Ontario is expected to grow by more than two million people by 2031, with approximately 1.5 million of those new residents in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. This growth was recently confirmed by the federal government’s newly released immigration targets. To accommodate that growth and support the building of more homes, our government is proposing to remove 15 areas of land totalling approximately 7,400 acres from the edge of the Greenbelt area.
 Nothing in Burlington that is threatened. At the same time, we are proposing to add an additional 9,400 acres to the Greenbelt, including a portion of the Paris Galt Moraine and 13 urban river valleys in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, for an overall Greenbelt expansion of approximately 2,000 acres.
These proposed changes to the Greenbelt meet the following criteria, all of which must be met before a property is given consideration:
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- Greater than 1:1 offset must be achieved to ensure overall Greenbelt expansion
- Affected areas must have the potential for homes to be built in the near future
- Affected areas must be adjacent to the existing Greenbelt boundaries
- Affected areas must be adjacent to an existing urban area
- Affected areas must be on or near readily serviceable land, with local infrastructure upgrades needed to service the projects to be funded entirely by the proponents
Should these lands be removed from the Greenbelt, the landowners will be expected to develop detailed plans to build housing quickly. It is the government’s expectation that new home construction will begin on these lands by no later than 2025, and that significant progress on approvals and implementation must be achieved by the end of 2023. If these conditions are not met, the government will return these properties to the Greenbelt.
These changes are an important part of our government’s balanced strategy to build a stronger Ontario by protecting environmentally important lands while tackling Ontario’s housing supply crisis. We are fulfilling our commitment to get more homes built faster so more Ontarians can find a home that meets their needs and budget.
There is nothing in the current greenspace incursion that is going to take place that has an immediate and direct impact on Burlington.
Hamilton has a number of areas that will create a lot of concern
Know that the development community is poring over their holdings and figuring out just where the opportunity is for them.
Who is going to be looking after the public interest.
There is a lot of very useful information in the link below. If you want to know what is involved and look at the maps
Comments on these proposals are welcome through the Environmental Registry of Ontario by December 5, 2022.”
Peter Tabuns, Interim Ontario NDP Leader and Climate Crisis critic, released the following statement in response to the Ford government’s latest scheme to remove protected land from the Greenbelt:
“It’s disturbing that Doug Ford is taking another run at punching holes in the Greenbelt.
 By Staff
November 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Changes in managers at the Parks, Recreation and Culture department were announced.
 Denise Beard Chris Glenn retired at the end of October which resulted in an:
Effective immediately announcement
Denise Beard, Manager of Community Development
Emilie Cote – Manager of Recreation Services.
The City Communications people explain: “The structure has not changed. The managers will each rotate being ‘Acting Director’ until the recruitment is complete for a new Director.
Is this an opportunity for Parks, Recreation and Culture to bring in someone who can do a really deep think about just the department might do going forward?
Those who use the Seniors’ Centre apparently want a different approach to the services offered.
 By Staff
November 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Brock University has made strides in its plans to transition to more modern facilities in the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville corridor.
As the University prepares to relocate its Hamilton Campus to Burlington, it will temporarily operate out of the former Lester B. Pearson High School site for the duration of the 2023-24 academic year. This was made possible through an agreement with the Halton District School Board.
The University will continue operating in Hamilton until the end of the 2022-23 academic year in April.
 Brock has sold its Hamilton Campus site and as previously announced, will relocate to the future City of Burlington community hub on New Street — the former Robert Bateman High School site — once work on the property is completed.
The City of Burlington announced Nov. 1 that it has completed a purchase agreement and land exchange transaction with the Halton District School Board involving the former Robert Bateman property.
Work can now begin to ready the site for its new uses, including a Brock campus.
The HAlton District School Board announced that:
The Halton District School Board is entering into an agreement with Brock University, to utilize a portion of the former Lester B. Pearson High School facility, beginning in April 2023. This request from Brock University serves as a temporary accommodation for the university, until their permanent location is ready at the future City of Burlington community hub on New Street (the former Robert Bateman High School site).
As previously announced, the Burlington Gary Allan Learning Centre will also relocate to the site of the future City of Burlington community hub. The Board is pleased to collaborate and assist Brock University, as one of its future co-tenants at the Burlington community hub, as they transition toward their permanent campus at this location.
This provides a responsible use of the school facilities until the Halton District School Board determines the future use of the school property according to Ontario Regulation 444/98. The agreement for Brock University to use a portion of this school property aligns with the Board’s Community Planning and Partnerships process, in offering space to community partners.
You heard all this first from the Gazette
 By Katelyn Goodwin
November 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Our daylight-saving time ends this coming Sunday on November 6th at 2:00 AM when the clocks are turned back one hour.
There is a phrase that people use to remember which way the time is changed. Spring forward, fall back. I have not always remembered that phrase.
 Sir Sanford Fleming, Changing of the clocks has been a practised in Canada for more than a hundred years, yet many do not know the reason as to why we do it. I was one of those people until very recently. So why do we do it? Today, it’s mostly to benefit the environment by saving energy, making better use of daylight, and reduce traffic accidents by providing more daylight during times of high traffic during rush hour but there’s a bit more too it than that.
‘What do you mean?’ you may ask. The answer can be traced back to Sir Sanford Fleming, who is known as the ‘Father of Standard Time’. Fleming was a Scottish Canadian civil engineer who founded the Royal Canadian Institute in Toronto. He lived from 1827 to 1915 and mainly worked as a railway engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Ironically, the creation of our current standard time system, as well as hourly variations according to established time zones was inspired by Fleming after he missed a train in Ireland due to confusion over time of departure. I suppose it goes to show that not even somebody who lived and breathed trains was perfect when it came to knowing exactly when to be on time.
He first advocated for the adoption of the current time system to the Royal Canadian Institute in 1879. In 1884 he convened the International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington at which the system of international standard time in use today was officially adopted.
The modern standard time system with the changing of the clocks established by Fleming is still an issue. Some parts of Canada don’t use Daylight Savings time. They are: Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, some locations in Québec east of 63° westerly longitude (e.g. Blanc-Sablon), Southampton Island, and some areas in British Columbia don’t use DST and stay on standard time all year.
How people in those parts of the country get to the train on time is something I just don’t know.
And to think it all stemmed from a railway engineer missing a train. Now why can’t my time related inconveniences have such an effect?
 Donald Alexander Smith (Lord Strathcona) driving the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie, British Columbia, on November 7, 1885, with Fleming standing behind him (photo: Wikipedia)
 By Staff
November 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Parks, Culture and Recreation is now accepting applications for the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund (NCMF).
Approved community group-led projects could receive 50 per cent of their funding up to $10,000. The neighbourhood or community group must match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of:
• Volunteer hours
• Donated services
• Donated materials and supplies
• Other funds raised, such as cash donations
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 28, 2023.
The fund is to inspire community-led projects with a goal of improving neighbourhoods through creating a sense of belonging, community pride and building meaningful connections.
 Bales of straw were brought in to create spaces where different produce could be grown. Burlington residents are encouraged to submit community-led project with a focus on small projects within parks, gardens, buildings on public lands or on lands that are accessible to the public. Projects can increase walkability, promote beautification, encourage recreational activity, build social connections and improve safety or accessibility. These projects are to be planned, led and implemented by the community in a public setting.
Residents interested in applying for funds are encouraged to visit burlington.ca/matchingfund to learn more about the application process, guidelines and past projects.
Burlington citizens have come up with some amazing and innovative ideas for their communities.
In the past the following projects were funded:
 Produce from the Orchard Park Community Garden Grow for Change Urban Farm Community Therapeutic Programs provides the community with access to a new temporary green space near Brant Street and Ghent Street, as well as therapeutic horticulture programming for adults and youth, to promote positive social and mental health.
The Orchard Community Garden Project was a brand-new community learning garden at the Trail Head Parkette (5401 Redstone St.), that included eight large garden boxes with fruits and vegetables and native pollinating flowers and plants. Food and plants harvested from the garden were shared with the community and donated to the local food banks.
A Community Garden in Roseland will be an accessible space for relaxation, reflection or a neighbourhood meeting. The space will feature numerous seating areas; herbs; perennials that support and encourage the pollinator population; and a ‘Peace Pole,’ an internationally recognized symbol of hopes and dreams that stands for peace on earth.
 By Staff
November 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
South Service Road between Century Drive and Harvester Road (near Appleby Line) will be closed on Nov. 5 for paving from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 This is not the South Service Road. Just a nice paving machine
 By Pepper Parr
November 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A national charity established by His Majesty The King, launches its 7th annual “Buy Veteran” awareness campaign to encourage people in Canada to celebrate and support Veterans by buying from and hiring Veteran-owned businesses.
It is a signature initiative of Prince’s Trust Canada ( PTC’s0 Operation Entrepreneur (OE) program that includes 680 businesses that are proudly Veteran owned and is searchable by province, city, category of goods and services, and includes an icon to identify sustainable businesses and products that operate using socially responsible and greener practices.
 A Burlington resident, Vincent Sowa – Owner, Backed by Bees participates in the program.
After serving in the Navy (He means the Senior Service) for 15 years, Vincent launched Backed by Bees in 2019. Having grown up immersed in the outdoors of rural Ontario, he knew he wanted to bring a sustainable product to the market. He now operates 700 beehives in Halton Region to produce sustainable mead and non-alcoholic, honey-based beverages and also runs a subscription food box service, delivering farm fresh goods throughout the region.
The farm is located on Appleby Line
Link to the web site is HERE
By Staff
November 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON. ON
Now they are going to make it official.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward after being sworn in December 2018: it’s all in the body language isn’t it? On November 15th, the re-elected council will troop out onto the stage at the Performing Arts Centre and prepare to be sworn in.
Details
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022
Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St.
Time:
• 5:30 p.m. – doors open
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. – musical entertainment and refreshments
• 6:30 p.m. – meeting starts, with reception to follow
You are encouraged to get tickets for admission in advance from the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Tickets will be available starting Nov. 4 at noon. To get your free ticket, contact the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Box Office:
• in person, Tuesday to Saturday, between noon and 4 p.m., including at the door on the day of the event
• by phone at 905-681-6000
• online at burlingtonpac.ca
The four-year term of office for the elected representatives is Nov. 15, 2022 to Nov. 14, 2026
This year 2022, 27.6 per cent of eligible voters in Burlington voted in the municipal election.
In the 2018 municipal election, 39.79 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.
Mayor-Elect, Marianne Meed Ward claims she has “delivered on your priorities – and did so while supporting our residents and businesses through an unprecedented global pandemic and two-year State of Emergency.”
People can watch a livestream of City Council meetings online at burlington.ca/calendar.
An interesting thought> The voter turnout was significant in 2018 and the attendance at the Performing Arts Centre was respectful.
What if the turnout this time is as bad as the voter turnout. Awkward
By Pepper Parr
November 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
So – there is a deal.
For reason that are not clear at this point the information was posted on the Get Involved portion of the city web site – where you could stumble upon it.
We will come back to that.
The city has signed a deal with the Halton District School Board to purchase the Bateman High School site.
 The Bateman site is now owned by the city. What will it be named? The transaction with the HDSB would see the City transfer ownership of approximately five acres of City owned land to the HDSB as a component of a land exchange for the Robert Bateman site. The City owned land in question is located near Central High School and includes the high school football field and running track.
The City has completed a purchase agreement and land exchange transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) involving the Robert Bateman High School property. In the agreement, the City purchased the Bateman property for $29.6 million, while the HDSB purchased a City owned property near Burlington Central High School, which includes the high school football field and running track, for $21.7 million. The difference in price of $7.9 million will be debt financed, with annual debt payments recovered from the City’s capital reserve funds.
Both leases at Bateman are expected to be long term leases not to exceed 25 years.
This acquisition would push forward key objectives laid out in the City of Burlington’s 25-year strategic plan. Key pillars of this Plan include making Burlington a City that grows through attracting talent, good jobs and economic opportunity to the community.
Within the Bateman space, the HDSB will retain a long-term interest at the school to accommodate the Gary Allan Learning Centre. And as previously announced, Brock University will offer their Teachers Education and Applied Disabilities Studies Programs and will be developing professional and continuing studies specifically to the needs of Burlington.
In addition to the partnership with the HDSB and Brock University, the City has partnered with other institutions, ensuring that there is an adaptive reuse strategy for the Bateman site and to create a sustainable community hub which will include community rooms, a triple gym and the existing City pool.
The Burlington Public Library will relocate its Appleby Line branch to this location to develop a place for learning and education.
TechPlace will be located to the site.
 How far beyond the concept has the thinking gone? The city is now looking for residents’ feedback on a proposed land transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and leasing arrangements with the HDSB and Brock University for the City’s planned acquisition of the Robert Bateman High School building and property.
Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback on possible uses for the remaining space.
Feedback will also be sought on securing leases with the HDSB and Brock University for portions of the Bateman Site. The HDSB intends on leasing space back at Bateman for educational purposes. Brock University also seeks to lease space at Bateman for their long-term educational needs.
The Halton District School Board said in a media release that: “Securing the lands near Central High School in HDSB ownership has been consistent with the HDSB’s long term intention to continue operating Central as a school. This land exchange component will advance the City’s efforts to secure the Robert Bateman site in continued public ownership, ensuring that the Robert Bateman site is available for continued educational and community-oriented us
Back to the way the information was released to the public. Normally the city issues a media release and within hours the Mayor has a Statement lauding the decision that was made.
Recall that the decision to purchase the site was to be made public on September 30th. Why the delay to today? Because it might become an election issue?
There are some questions:
How much of the gymnasiums and the swimming pool time will be made available to the Brock University students?
Are the sports/recreational facilities going to be operated by the Parks, Recreation and Culture department?
Where did the $50 million price tag that Councillor Stolte revealed come from? The media release states that the difference after the land swaps is $7.9 million. Did Stolte just make up the $50 million number. Highly unlikely.
Which of the city’s capital reserve funds is going to be raided to get the $7.9 million. All we know is that taxpayers will replace the money.
And why was the news announced on the Get Involved portion of the city web site.
Now that the properties have changed hands – when do the renovations start – will the work be done in time to get the Brock University students in classrooms on the planned schedule. And by the way – what is that schedule?
 By Michael Leach
November 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s overdose crisis is fueled by fentanyl. It worsened during the pandemic and continues to create a wave of post-pandemic destruction.
The problem is directly connected to a toxic drug supply as fentanyl finds its way into Canada through illegal imports, local production within illegal labs, and the theft of medical fentanyl products.
Fentanyl is cheap for drug dealers to produce, yet they have no way of knowing how much fentanyl ends up in each illegally produced pill or powder.
 The pandemic and the lockdowns were the cause for the increased toxic drug supply as it impacted regular supply routes, and addicts were left using whatever they could find. “There was a significant increase in the number of people needing help over the pandemic,” said Marcel Gemme of drugrehab.ca. “Drug rehab providers were struggling to keep up with the increased demand, and overdoses were killing people before they could get help.”
Unfortunately, drug dealers add fentanyl to other illicit drugs to maximize profits, which is why drug overdose has spiked.
According to most law firms, finding a fentanyl drug dealer criminally responsible for an overdose death is complicated. Yet, it has occurred where drug dealers have been found guilty of criminal negligence, causing death.
Most fentanyl drug dealers in Canadian cities are not large-scale drug traffickers. Many of these individuals are addicts, suffer from mental health issues, and sell drugs to fuel an addiction. It can also be challenging to trace the sources of drugs to which one caused the overdose.
Finally, punishing people who lack criminal intent or mens rea (guilty mind) is not always appropriate, which refers to the mental state that must generally accompany a prohibited act before it can legally be considered a crime.
The primary reason why charges are not always pursued is the difficulty of making a charge of manslaughter stick and getting a conviction. Yet, it has happened; in 2021, for the first time in London, ON, a fentanyl dealer was charged with manslaughter.
Police are constantly exploring new strategic ways to achieve stricter sentences for the people selling deadly drugs, but the results are mixed. The complexity of cases makes it difficult to prosecute drug dealers.
 Opioid overdose deaths continue to increase. The fentanyl crisis continues to be a tidal wave of destruction across the country. Health Canada says street drugs have become tainted with potent opioids like fentanyl. Fake pills are being produced using unknown amounts of fentanyl, and some drugs become contaminated with fentanyl unknowingly.
Moreover, prescription opioids also contribute to this crisis, as high rates of opioid prescribing mean more people are exposed to a drug that creates a dangerous physical dependence.
In 2018, almost one in eight people were prescribed opioids, and as of 2020, prescription opioid pain medication is used by 11.8% of the population, which has remained unchanged for some time. Opioid overdose deaths continue to increase.
During the first two years of the pandemic, there was a 91% increase in opioid-related toxicity deaths. Between January 2016 and March 2022, 30,843 opioid overdose deaths occurred.
Early intervention and drug rehabilitation remain the best options to help people. This includes more access to substance use treatment and programs designed to treat opioid addiction. In addition, long-term aftercare support helps people maintain sobriety and learn to live a life without drugs.
 Michael Leach has spent most of his career as a healthcare professional specializing in Substance Use Disorder and addiction recovery. He is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, and contributor to the healthcare website Recovery Begins.
 By Staff
November 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
There was a time when the sound from big big bands floated across the lake from the Brant Inn.
Big name stars would arrive by train, spend a day, sometimes a full weekend in town.
At the time the community was dry – no alcohol was sold.
The Gazette once heard from a reader who put himself through university selling liquor from the trunk of his car.
It was certainly a different town then.
The big band sound will return for a day later in November
By Pepper Parr
November 1, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional government wants to know what you think about the idea of a potential vacant homes tax
The survey for feedback will be in place until the end of November.
 Link to the survey is HERE
If you have any questions or require this survey in an alternate format, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311, 905-825-6000, toll-free 1-866-442-5866 or TTY 905-827-9833.
Regional Council directed staff to develop a proposed framework for a potential tax on vacant homes as a way to encourage owners to sell or rent out unoccupied homes, helping to increase the number of homes available in Halton.
“Finding a home can be challenging for individuals and families who want to live in our growing community,” said Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. “One way we’re addressing this issue is by studying how a vacant homes tax could help increase housing supply. If you currently own or rent a home in Halton, or if you hope to do so one day, I encourage you to take our survey or attend a virtual public meeting to tell us what you think.”
A potential vacant homes tax would only affect unoccupied homes in Halton, and the cost would be based on a percentage of the home’s current value assessment (CVA). This type of tax is commonly implemented in communities with high housing prices and a low supply of homes for sale or rent.
There will be Zoom meetings on the following dates where people can learn more.
• Tuesday, November 15, 2022 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 23, 2022 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.mZoom link data:
The community input will help inform key features of a potential vacant homes tax, such as how long a home must be vacant before it is taxed, the level of taxation, how to identify vacant homes and exemptions, as well as the overall level of public support. The Region is conducting this study in partnership with the City of Burlington and the Towns of Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.
By Staff
November 2, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Remembrance Day Service at 11 a.m. is in-person and will also be broadcast online. Everyone is welcome to attend the events.
Burl-Oak Naval Veterans Remembrance Day Service, 9 a.m.
This 30-minute ceremony takes place at the Naval Ships Memorial Monument in Spencer Smith Park. For more information, contact the Burl-Oak Veterans at 905-318-0236 or visit burloaknavalveterans.org.
 Remembrance Day Procession, 10:30 a.m.
The procession will begin at Central School on Baldwin Street, travelling down Brant Street to Elgin Street, Locust Street, Ontario Street and ending at the Cenotaph in Veteran Square, 426 Brant St.
The streets noted above will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60, Remembrance Day Service, 11 a.m.
This 45-60-minute ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph in Veteran Square, on the north side of City Hall and will be live-streamed for those who cannot physically attend.
The ceremony will include a colour guard, two minutes of silence, music performed by some members of the Burlington Teen Tour Band, reading of In Flanders Fields along with the laying of the wreaths.
For more information or to access the live-stream link, please visit Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 website burlingtonlegion.com.
The photo graph below is of troops marching four abreast from Niagara to different parts of the province. It came from an article in the Historical Society Newsletter. Close to 10,000 men made the march – some went as far as Toronto.
 The Thirty-Seventh regiment of about twelve hundred men left Niagara Camp on Monday, October 25, 1915 and passed though Nelson Township at noon on Thursday, October 28. Apparently they were tired and down-hearted. On Friday, October 29 the Fifty-Eighth Regiment of eleven hundred and sixty men, an educated, refined, well-trained battalion, with an excellent band, passed here. On Saturday, October 29 the Seventy-Fourth Battalion of more than eleven hundred men marched through. On November 1, the Seventy Fifth Battalion of more than a thousand, the majority elderly men, passed. On November 2 the Artillery of the Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Fortieth Battalions of nearly nine hundred men passed. These were accompanied by bodies of September’s Recruits and a Company of Highlanders. November 3, the Eighty Third Battalion, consisting of about eleven hundred men passed. Rain delayed all the soldiers on Thursday, November 4. November 5 about a thousand of the Ninety-Second Highlanders and some of the Forty Eighth passed. We had more music that day. November 6th the Eighty-First Battalion of twelve hundred men passed. Monday, November 8, the Eighty-Fourth Battalion was divided in Hamilton and only 400 went to Toronto. The Eighty-Sixth Battalion came to Hamilton to winter there. Wednesday November 10 a train load of about twelve hundred went to Orillia.
By Staff
November 1st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Haber Recreation is expected to be impacted if the unions strike On the off chance that CUPE, a union, takes strike action school facilities may not be available.
The City has received notice that some evening and weekend community rentals for HDSB and HCDSB school gyms and rooms may be cancelled until further notice.
Impacted organizations are being contacted by City staff as soon as the schools notify us of their plans. All City-run programs and community rentals at school board shared facilities will run as scheduled.
School board shared facilities include Aldershot Pool, Angela Coughlan Pool, Haber Community Centre.
 By Tom Muir
November 1st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Rick Goldring, living in the past, is telling the landslide re-elected Mayor Meed Ward, that she and City residents are doing development all wrong. He says the Mayor should ease up, and take a new approach. Council should not fight development anymore, but “embrace” it. And if we do that our residents will be winners.
 Nautique: A controversial project from its start. This is coming from the man, who, when Mayor himself, introduced us to Grow Bold, and the Growth Plan. Its entry into Burlington came with a bungled development at the Martha St. – Lakeshore Road intersection: The Adi Group Nautique project.
Mr. Goldring and Senior staff seemed to purposely mismanage the mandated timeline to make a recommendation on the Adi development. The staff refusal report was a couple of days late which was enough for Adi to appeal the city decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) – where they won. The development is currently under construction.
That really worked great don’t you think? This looks like a Premier Ford plan supported by Mr. Goldring who is now calling for more of the same.
The Nautique development has been controversial from the beginning. Adi recently began cancelling early buyer purchase agreements and were asking for an additional $200,000 to $300,000 more from those early buyers.
Those residents are real winners right? This is what Mr. Goldring thinks the Mayor and Council should embrace.
The City lost the Adi appeal at OLT, appealed to the Courts and lost at that level as well. Those results alerted developers that the Province was going to make it even easier to get developments approved without City planning, and empowered at the OLT who would deliver decisions for whatever they wanted – anything, anywhere; the City has to accept any and every application and respond to it.
The developers want a decision that gives them property rights, and don’t always care if they build anything. The property, with the new rights gets flipped to another developer
 Marianne Meed Ward while she was a Council member; Goldring was Mayor She beat him in the 2018 election – he is now telling her she has it all wrong. The cheek! . This is what Mayor Meed Ward inherited. She did make mistakes, and peed off some former supporters, but I can tell you that the Mayor did try to shape it and form it, from what I saw and read repeatedly. This meant there was an empowered Growth Plan with OLT as the enforcement agency giving developers the opportunity to cripple the City and Mayor.
Meed Ward wants to get rid of or reform OLT, and work collaboratively on solutions with planning and technical staff, and Council, who know best what is needed and where. That approach has to date been in vain.
What has happened is the OLT became a dagger in the heart of planning. When an appeal goes to OLT, City planning and public participation ceases, it all goes to the legal people leading the process that is funnelled through the OLT system.
Everything proposed now takes years to get through the OLT process. Burlington is not responsible for this, Ford is, confusing Plans with Planning. The result is that planning itself is confused with the Growth Plan and is subverted.
The developers not only crippled the New adopted but not in force Official Plan with 48 appeals, so we can’t use it. That gave the developers an incentive to submit applications everywhere they wanted that were designed to go to OLT. So now we have stalled building, creating long costly delays and it certainly does not work.
No one, not even the Mayor, with her perceived strength in the defeat of Goldring, and in 2018 an almost full new Council, could have anticipated what the Ford government had in store in its increasing war on independent Planning in Ontario. It has seemed that Burlington was targeted.
Mr. Ford and Mr Clarke, Minister of Housing, are taking this far beyond even the steady crippling. What they want to do is give the OLT absolute power to dismiss proceedings, and making regulations requiring the Tribunal to prioritize the resolution of certain proceedings chosen by the Minister.
Planning will be eliminated in many cases – no need for planning applications; arbitrary setting of higher density; no by-law amendments needed; give more by-right permissions; shorten decision/permission timelines, eliminate Development Charges in some cases. All this elimination of good planning is being sold under the rubric of “stop doing things that aren’t working.”
There is no mention of eliminating OLT or revisions to their span of power. The OLT appeal process puts results years away, and meantime nothing gets done, and nothing gets built. How does this stop doing things that aren’t working?
In the last six years in Aldershot (Ward 1), projects appealed and settled at OLT include:
 2100 Brant: Construction has started.
 1085 Clearview: Working its way through the OLT process.
35 Plains Rd E (72 units);
92 Plains Rd. E (50 units);
484 Plains RD E (386 units);
1084 Clearview Ave (164 units);
and 2100 Brant St (212 units).
Despite these 884 units being approved over the last six years, there have been no shovels in the ground for four of them, and little sign of imminent construction for another. Nothing has been built despite the dire need for “affordable housing” that is politically trashing planning in Burlington.
Rather than housing units built we have a speculative gain in property value and density rights that is just growing as prices inflate. It is possible that no housing at all will be built by the applicant developers who can reap gains by flipping the building rights.
 Premier Ford and Minister Clarke telling the Toronto Board of Trade about new legislation. The bill was tabled right after the meeting. Ford, Clarke, and Goldring seem to have forgotten the difference between Plans and Planning. Churchill once said: “Plans are useless, but planning is invaluable”.
The Growth Plan’s latest version is another insane attempt at doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result. Now Ford ups the Plan that is not working, and wants to gut the planning need and controls.
 Mayor Meed Ward with what is believed to have been her first formal meeting with the Premier. They met at the Joseph Brant Hospital. Instead we have provincial marching orders and a central control Growth Plan for 1.5 million “homes” in 10 years. This is not much different than a plan for climbing Everest where you stupidly cripple the only work force and leadership authority that is capable of organizing and fixing the route needed to get to the top, and then to maintain the feasibility of the route as things change.
What possible workable Growth Plan would tell the Region and municipalities that it has to spend the next 30 years effectively doubling their population, adding all the accoutrements of life to support the needs of 500,000 people? It’s telling us that we have to focus our community to serve this goal without exception, so it will become the most important thing we have to do, regardless, with the cost ignored.
This will not work. Guess who gets blamed when it fails?
Tom Muir, an Aldershot resident who has been described as an acerbic personality, writes frequently on development issues.
By Staff
November 1st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The online casino world is a multi-billion dollar industry that has grown enormously in the past few years and it only keeps on growing. But with the growth of online gambling, there is a need for greater security in the industry, that is where the blockchain comes in. What the blockchain does is offer a more secure way to store data, which is one of the most important things when gambling online, and casinos can use that data to analyze players’ behavior and preferences.
Furthermore, with the information the data provides, they can make promotional campaigns. A Casino welcome bonus is one form of those promotions to attract new players.
 The security level with Block Chain is unsurpassed The Changes and The Benefits
The first change and benefit that comes with this new era of iGaming is that the blockchain gives more transparency to online gambling. Most casinos operate with a system that randomly generates numbers to ensure that there are fair odds for everyone involved. This transparency that comes with the blockchain means that you can see the way that the transactions are processed and you can also see where your money is going. This means that players don’t have to worry about a casino being rigged or whether it is fair or not.
One of the biggest benefits for the player is that they are able to access their winnings much sooner. Often you have to wait a couple of days to be able to access your winnings because they have to go through a bank, but with the blockchain, this process is sped up. And another thing that comes with banks not being involved is that you do not have any additional fees once you receive your winnings.
 The privacy is absolute with Block Chain – fewer people are involved in the transaction. Another benefit is the privacy that comes with the incorporation of the blockchain into online casinos. One of the most important things when playing at a casino is privacy, and with crypto wallets being anonymous you have the full benefit of privacy.
The most important thing when gambling online is security and this is exactly what blockchain technology is offering. Blockchains are anonymous and they are decentralized and that is what has started making the technology appealing as the fact that it is so secure. The entire transaction between the casino and the player is encrypted and that means that nobody can get a hold of the data and it can not be compromised. This security and anonymity are what benefit both the player and the casino.
Is it The Future?
The blockchain has changed the way the internet operates and this is just the start, there are many places where this technology could be incorporated and it is exciting to see how it will evolve in the future.
With all the benefits that come with blockchain technology, it could be the future of online gambling. With this new technology different types of games could be introduced. It also makes the world of online gambling more accessible with the fact that there is nobody in the middle, it is a direct transaction between you and the casinos. This makes the entire transaction cheaper for the player and more secure.
 The fundamentals behind Block Chain delivery a level of security that is unsurpassed. The main reason that this technology could be the future of iGaming is that it is more beneficial to both the player and the casino. It is a much more efficient way of online gambling, and the fact is that with the evolution and growth of the crypto market, the online casino industry grows with it. It is amazing to see how much the world can change in just a couple of years. Every industry advances or stays where it is and the same goes for the online casino industry, it has advanced massively in a short amount of time and it will keep advancing as the technology advances. It is early to say for certain if the blockchain is the future, but it sure points toward it and it is an exciting thing to see what will happen in the future.
 By Staff
October 31st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s annual Local Artist Program has once again commissioned six local artists to create a collection of small-scale artworks throughout the community.
The City has just installed their designs on traffic control signal boxes throughout the city.
Artists were encouraged to submit thought-provoking artwork that focused on inspiring and uplifting the Burlington community. This artwork forms an urban art gallery that can be experienced by residents while they go about their day.
The locations are:
| New Street & Shoreacres Road |
| New Street & Appleby Line |
| Lakeshore Road at the entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital Parking Garage |
| Prospect Street & Pearson Street |
| Upper Middle Road & Cavendish Drive |
| Walkers Line & Thomas Alton Boulevard |
Artwork Descriptions
 Teadio, Love is everywhere (Beware)
“Love is everywhere (Beware)” is based on street artist Bansky’s work. It is construed as a comradely comeback to his “Love is in the bin” intervention art, which in turn is based on another piece of his own art, “Girl with balloon.” In my work, by filling the scene with balloons (some sprouting out of soil, others already released). I want to strengthen the “there is always hope” thought and help downhearted onlookers visualize hope and its rhythm. The girl in my image borrows Canadian attributes, wearing a winter jacket as opposed to a summer dress. She looks down, focused on the new hope that germinates out of ground, as opposed to looking up to balloons take wing.
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Lara Kirschner, Energized
Staying focused on the positive these days can be easier said than done. Every time I get out for a walk in the forest there is something about the smells of cedars and forest vegetation, the light and the fresh air in my lungs that makes it so much easier to see things with a healthier perspective. It’s so inspiring I often come home full of artistic energy and paint something I’ve seen on a walk. My design reflects the importance of having accessible natural settings for the community to reset, reflect and recharge emotionally. Forests well represent community support and teamwork, which we need to thrive right now.
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Hope Flynn, Summer Breeze
When you think of Burlington, the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is the Burlington Waterfront. In my opinion one of the most beautiful sceneries in Ontario. The dog exploring the park represents people exploring Burlington events such as Sound of Music, Ribfest, etc. There is always something new to explore in Burlington. Summer Breeze represents the hope that we can explore the beauty of Burlington, enjoy life and appreciate the moment we have on earth.
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Elizabeth Videka-Beaulieu, Kindness 
The last few years have been trying for both individuals and communities. While it can become blindingly overwhelming at times to focus on the strife, I have found it crucial to recognize and celebrate the ways in which we have come together. “Kindness” is a visual representation of some of the quiet moments of unity I have witnessed in the Burlington community. The hope is that the images throughout the mural will remind those who view it, that no act of kindness is ever too small.
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Darlene Duncan, Always on the Lookout
The mural concept stems from my love of birdwatching, bird photography and painting and sketching birds. For many years, especially the last 2 years during the pandemic, I’ve been watching birds around my neighbourhood. In the winter months birdwatching is something I can do from inside my home and during the rest of the year it can be done in my own neighbourhood. In Burlington we’re fortunate to have many parks and easy access to green space.
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Andres Soto, Equilibrium
The bicycle is part of the road and of our city, it is not just a vehicle, it is a way of life. Equilibrium is the relationship that balance has as a fundamental axis to move forward – not only on the bicycle but also in life. Balance as a way of life.
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 By Pepper Parr
October 31st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The election in wards 2, 4 and 5 were somewhat different than they were in 1, 3 and 6 – where there was thought to be a turnover.
Turned out that not one of them turned over – the incumbents got back with solid pluralities.
In wards 2 and five there was little doubt that the incumbent would hold the seat.
 Lisa Kearns, Councillor for ward 2. Don’t ask what she is handing out. One of the photo ops – that’s all you need to know. Despite Lisa Kearns’ “inadvertent” blurting out of information that was seen as highly confidential she did very well. Paul Sharman was never in doubt – he should have been acclaimed and saved everyone the bother.
The candidates that ran against him were poorly organized and didn’t manage to get any traction.
Ward 4 was a different situation. The incumbent was at risk but the polling numbers show that the three candidates did not catch any of the public imagination in the ward.
Stolte is back as the ward Councillor. The dynamics of future council meetings will be different. The shameful behaviour on the part of the Mayor and the way the rest of Council lost their tongues is not something that is going to be forgotten.
This last year of their term of office for the outgoing council was nothing to be proud of. There were failures at several levels on the administrative side – this is just not the way a civilized city council operates.
The little bit that has been heard about what might have changed is not encouraging.
The Gazette has said all it has to say about Stolte and the Integrity issues. The degree to which is impacted the opinion of those who voted.
The 73% of the voters that decided not to bother voting is not healthy; the result is they now have a council they may not have wanted once they see what things look like in a year.
 Mayor Meed Ward with what is probably the last diesel bus the city will take delivery of – the future is not known yet – electrical or hydrogen? There will be a lot of bad news, some expensive news. It is going to take a council that works as a team to get through the changes the provincial government threw at them the day after the election. It is going to take a lot of faith when the public learns how big an increase they are going to have to bear.
Transit faces some major issues. Diesel is out; is it going to be electric or hydrogen.
All the public has heard from the Mayor is that she wants to work a deal with Hamilton over the LaSalle Park property. Just extend the lease and wait for a better day to resolve an issue that isn’t going to make as much as a pinch of difference to anyone in the city.
Dealing with an Ontario Land Tribunal that is going to be given a different set of rules – none appear to offer any benefit to the municipal sector.
The beating the Conservation Authorities are taking is troubling. Does Burlington face the risk of seeing the urban boundary moved north of Hwy 5 (Dundas) and the 407?
The 25 year Strategic Plan is due for an update as well
 There was never any doubt that Lisa Kearns was going to be returned. The question is – will it be a new and improved Lisa or the same old.  The vote that Shawna Stolte had held. Olivia Duke could have done much better, perhaps run, if she had started more than a year ago. Why Burlington is made up of people who think they can put together a campaign six months before an election and win defies understanding. What is going to be carefully watched is how the relationship between the Mayor and Stolte works out.  How do you explain the results: The candidates didn’t stand a chance. Sharman can be beaten by not by last minute candidates who put up a poor campaign with no team in place. Related new story
What were the numbers like at the Mayoralty level
By Pepper Parr
October 31st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Where did the votes come from at the ward level.
With just over 27% of the xx voters showing up to vote at one of the 24 polling stations one has to wonder, first where did the ballots get cast and why was the turnout so low.
Weather wasn’t a factor; the concern over the Mayoralty level race – there really weren’t candidates who were up to the job other than the current Mayor.
The breakdown of the results for wards 1, 3 and 6 are set out below.
The results for 2, 4 and 5 will follow in a separate article.
 Some thought that Robert Radway had at least a chance. A small group were fed up with the poor engagement with the community but they didn’t have all that much in the way of traction. It wasn’t until that the incumbent Kelvin Galbraith’s meetings with the Integrity Commissioner became public that the nature of the race changed,. The publication of that news became public seven days before election day – it wasn’t enough time for Radway to capitalize on the news. Galbraith took it in a walk – now he has to deal with the Integrity Commissioner.
 Incumbent Rory Nisan was seen as unpopular. Some felt that the ward needed a better council member. Jennifer Hounslow had a solid pedigree and was thought to have an experienced campaign team. They apparently didn’t deliver. Hounslow id said to be dedicated and committed to a run in 2026.  For a guy who won the seat by less than 50 votes in 2018 Angelo Bentivegna has come a long way. His win can only be called a landslide. Bentivegna has clearly done what had to be done at the constituency level – they liked him and they returned him. Asking Bentivegna to tell the public just what he had accomplished – we were referred to his Facebook page. However, with numbers like this – Bentivegna can do whatever he wants Can one blame the incumbents for the poor voter turn out ?
If new candidates didn’t put in the work needed to run a decent campaign; if they waited too long before they went to the public – they have only themselves to blame.
Municipal politics is as close to the public as a candidate can get. Bentivegna certainly made that point. He wasn’t and is never going to be the most effective Councillor but he asks solid questions frequently and has learned that he doesn’t have to be a puppet for the Mayor. It will be interesting to see how he handles himself this term.
Don’t expect any change from Nisan. He may never show up at a Council meeting, preferring to take part virtually from his home. He has all the support he is ever going to get from the Mayor and that appears to be enough for him. That he didn’t really deliver all that much – does a splash pad count – but if that was enough for his constituents then they have what they wanted.
Luke McEachern came into the ward 3 race very late and much of what he had to say did not appear to align with the voters.
Mr Galbraith now has to deal with whatever the Integrity Commissioner decides to do with the complaints that are being sent to him. One has been delivered, another is in the works and a third is believed to be underway.
Our reading of the role Integrity Commissioners is that they do have the power to declare a seat vacant
By Pepper Parr
October 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday’s and Friday the Regional Medical Officer of Health releases a report on the status of the Covid19 cases in the Region.
People are behaving as if the virus is no longer a major health issue.
No one wants to wear a mask and at some of the larger gatherings the masks are hardly in site.
 Even if you look hard – you’re not likely to see any masks. More than 500 people took part in a Chamber of Commerce event. Mayor was on hand – days later she announced that she had been infected. She either picked it up at the Chamber event or shared it with people she met. But it is still be passed from person to person – the Mayor told the public that she was infected and had to isolate herself on the night she was reelected.
The Medical Officer of Health data is consistent – the number of infections are down but they are not gone.
Staffing is now a problem. The nurses and the care givers are exhausted – they need now to care for themselves. Many have decided to leave the health sector which exacerbates the problem.
The new outbreaks are taking place at retirement homes and long term care centres.
 The infections get taken to these locations. The most vulnerable.
The hospital stay levels keep bouncing back up – with the cold weather almost upon us there is every reason to believe that infections will increase.
The continuing evolution of the Covid19 virus doesn’t help.
While many have convinced themselves that the pandemic is over – and no one has said it is – the personal protection we have to take wavers. That’s what caught the Mayor off-guard.
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