There’s more news out there besides COVID-19

Burlingtonians owe thanks to resident Gary Scobie for tireless work

There is other news besides COVID-19.

My last column told of a settlement between Burlington and National Homes, who had bought land west of Brant Street zoned for singles and semis, and proposed 233 townhouses. Neighbours spent time and money fighting the overdevelopment at LPAT and saw this as a sellout by the new council. The previous council had offered to settle for 212 towns. The new agreement accepts 210, plus a 0.76 acre park (0.3 ha). A neighbour pointed out that this small park had been part of the first settlement proposal — not something extra.

That column also identified added costs to city taxpayers resulting from Provincial Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choices Act. Now, both Toronto and Mississauga are also predicting millions in shortfalls to buy parks, and municipalities are uniting to urge Ontario to rethink what they’re calling a “windfall” to developers.

And there is news on another urgent matter. Burlingtonians owe thanks to resident Gary Scobie for pursuing this relentlessly. He claimed that our tiny John Street bus terminal (no more than a kiosk) was wrongly designated provincially as a Major Transit Station Area.

This carries huge implications. Every developer identifies the “need” for increased height and density to satisfy that designation. City staff has no idea how the province came up with it, nor is there a record of consultation with anyone at the City.

Recently, through MPP Jane McKenna, a Ministerial letter was received that said it was not necessary, nor was a “Mobility Hub” designation. Now, the City and Region are scrambling to undo them. This could be a game-changer downtown!

Burlingtonians have been enchanted by the brightly painted rocks containing whimsical art, magically appearing along Centennial Bikeway and in other park-type areas. Recently a city employee was seen removing some from turf areas. The question was, “What happens to them?” A rumour circulated that they might be displayed at a new location, but a call last week to the recreation director seeking confirmation was not returned.

More good news. Peregrine falcons, Ossie and Lily, who nest on the 18th floor ledge of Hamilton’s Sheraton Hotel, hatched two chicks this year. Many enjoy watching them grow, practising “helicoptering” as they prepare to fly, and then often wobbly first flights. Banding will occur at noon Saturday. Watch live as their captor rappels down the building, and sends them up for weighing, sexing and naming at http://falcons.hamiltonnature.org/.

There’s been disturbing health news around COVID-19, and on our pulverized economy, but some good changes are emerging.

Uppermost is that governments are now sensitized to how unacceptably run nursing and retirement homes can be. Provincial premiers Doug Ford and François Legault both ran on improved access and quality of elder care, but so far, just talk.

Both now promise big changes. Bacterial and viral infections are no strangers to these facilities. Shutdowns occur seasonally in Burlington for Norwalk virus and the flu. Newer homes are less susceptible because they’re less crowded. Old ones often have wards with shared accommodation.

Worst of all, personal support workers are poorly paid, and work short shifts, necessitating second jobs to earn a living — often in other facilities — a surefire recipe for cross-contamination. Some employers try to avoid providing fringe benefits by using part-timers. That’s wrong for those caring for those too unstable or frail for most families to care for. If new regulations aren’t implemented, and soon, expect voters to remember this COVID-19 promise.

Another big change is that many condos are owned by people who had planned to rent them out short term, at tourist rates, and are now facing no income because of the virus. As a result, many units are entering the supply of regular rentals. Realtors say this is adding competition and easing rents in the GTA.

There’s an added benefit too. It alleviates headaches for many condo owners who bought their homes in good faith, never expecting noisy temporary commercial neighbours.

Sometimes there are silver linings!