Thursday, March 6th, 2008 ::: The 905: Burlington

In Illegal in the 905: Pattison Erects Six Pillars in Downtown Burlington Municipal Parking Lots we showed you the six pillars that Pattison Outdoor illegally built in downtown Burlington. In City of Burlington Orders Pattison to “Dismantle” Pillars on Municipal Lots by February 4, 2008 we showed you that the pillars were ordered removed by early last month. Those pillars are still there, but we do expect them gone.

Downtown parking lots are not the only places in Burlington Ontario where Pattison Outdoor has been building illegally. This is a photograph of Patttison Outdoor’s illegal billboard at 2011 Plains Road East in Burlington, Ontario:

On December 21, 2006 Burlington By-Law Enforcement Officer Dave McLellan observed Pattison Outdoor building this illegal billboard. He then sent this e-mail to James Riddell, the property owner:

On January 15, 2007, this Notice of By-Law Contravention was issued to Pattison Outdoor and James Riddell of 1371048 Ontario Limited:

The City of Burlington has now laid charges in connection with this illegal sign. Here is Dave McLellan’s notes on this case:

The notes indicate that James Riddell told McLellan on January 17, 2007 that he “has left numerous messages for pattison signs to have sign removed.” Pattison Outdoor’s Steve McGregor then advised McLellan that Pattison would by applying for a variance. On February 16, 2007, McLellan left a message for McGregor regarding the variance application. On April 3, 2007 McLellan spoke with Sid Catalano of Pattison who informed him that the variance application would “be made by next wed. or a letter would be sent.” On May 8, 2007, McLellan left a message for Sid Catalano informing him that “charges would be laid if variance were not applied for by weeks end”. Charges were then laid. There is another court date scheduled for this month.

Sid Catalano and Steve McGregor. Why should anyone trust a word that these two pathetic, pathologically relentless lawbreakers have to say? We don’t know. What we do know is that whatever Jim Pattison is paying Sid Catalano and Steve McGregor, it is manifestly more than enough to squelch whatever natural instincts they have to obey the law.