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Peter Bursztyn

Peter Bursztyn is a former university academic who taught and carried out research at universities in Africa, Britain and Canada. Now retired, he refers to himself as a “recovering scientist" and has had a lifelong passion for “energy," including how societies obtain the power to function. On a personal level, he has brought energy efficiency into almost every aspect of his life. Modest energy consumption allows Peter and his wife to live well on a small budget. A founding member of Environmental Action Barrie (now Living Green Barrie) and a member of several other environmental groups, he was a member of the City of Barrie’s environmental advisory committee for eight years and chairperson for four. Peter is also a member of the Barrie Rowing Club and has been a Rowing Canada umpire for more than 20 years. Peter has also been a volunteer porter at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and is a member of the BarrieToday community advisory board. Peter and his wife have two adult daughters, one who teaches university geology and the other who is an ophthalmologist.

Recent Work by Peter

OPINION: How economics work despite Trump's 'monumental ignorance'

OPINION: How economics work despite Trump's 'monumental ignorance'

'It is clear that no professional economist was involved (in the U.S. tariff plan) ... Policy appears to be made not in the Oval Office but from the seat of a golf cart,' says columnist
OPINION: Canada must change, stop being 'nice' amid threats

OPINION: Canada must change, stop being 'nice' amid threats

'There is one benefit to be pulled out from under Trump’s wrecking ball. It is forcing Canadians to examine our place in the world and force our economy to become more robust,' says columnist
OPINION: Politicians 'twist themselves into knots' assigning blame

OPINION: Politicians 'twist themselves into knots' assigning blame

'Misinformation like this has weakened democracies everywhere,' says opinion columnist
OPINION: Poilievre shouldn't bag on Trudeau for rising grocery costs

OPINION: Poilievre shouldn't bag on Trudeau for rising grocery costs

From Russia-Ukraine war to Red Sea rebels and terrorism, columnist says there are other global factors that contribute to food costs in Canada
OPINION: It's time for Ontario to mandate winter tires

OPINION: It's time for Ontario to mandate winter tires

Relying on road salt to pave way for safe conditions isn't sustainable, columnist says
OPINION: Trump's base could be hit hardest with tariffs

OPINION: Trump's base could be hit hardest with tariffs

'Applying tariffs to imported products would just raise American prices, lower sales, and hurt both American retailers and citizens,' says columnist
OPINION: Something needs to change with Canadian elections

OPINION: Something needs to change with Canadian elections

'Objectors often point to Italy and Israel as examples of proportional representation leading to unstable governments,' says columnist
OPINION: There are ways to fix GTA's 'serious' traffic problem

OPINION: There are ways to fix GTA's 'serious' traffic problem

From buying back Highway 407 to making public transit faster and 400-series tolls to 'true' Toronto bypass, columnist Peter Bursztyn offers several ideas
OPINION: Hwy. 401 tunnel has echoes of Chunnel

OPINION: Hwy. 401 tunnel has echoes of Chunnel

'Construction is guaranteed to disrupt traffic flow — don't try to con us into believing it won't,' says columnist
OPINION: Why does vehicle size matter? Profit margin is one reason

OPINION: Why does vehicle size matter? Profit margin is one reason

If one vehicle weighs 500 kg more than another, the occupants of the smaller car are 47 per cent more likely to die than if the two vehicles are the same size, says columnist
More work by Peter >