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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

COLUMN: Trump's economic boasts show 'monumental ignorance'

COLUMN: Trump's economic boasts show '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
COLUMN: Sailing around New Zealand and what could have been

COLUMN: Sailing around New Zealand and what could have been

'Had I gone to Wellington, my life would have been very different,' says columnist, who was offered academic post at capital's Victoria University more than 50 years ago
COLUMN: Poilievre shouldn't bag on Trudeau for rising grocery costs

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

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

Relying on road salt to pave way for safe conditions isn't sustainable, columnist says
COLUMN: Something needs to change with Canadian elections

COLUMN: 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
COLUMN: Americans electing Trump like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving

COLUMN: Americans electing Trump like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving

'Canadians cannot be complacent. We have Trumpish wannabes who stand ready to upend our lives,' says columnist
COLUMN: Some ways to fix Toronto's 'serious' traffic problem

COLUMN: Some ways to fix Toronto'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
COLUMN: Health care (and cuisine!) would suffer without immigrants

COLUMN: Health care (and cuisine!) would suffer without immigrants

'One pharmacist at my local pharmacy is Indian, the other Russian. My family doctor is Nigerian. His locum is Indian, from Kenya,' says columnist
COLUMN: Why does vehicle size matter? Profit margin is one reason

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

'Why should we care? Well, the larger, thirstier vehicles thundering along our 400-series highways emit more greenhouse gases,' says columnist
COLUMN: Hwy. 401 tunnel has echoes of Chunnel

COLUMN: 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
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