Month: March 2011

The Legislature voted yesterday by a lopsided 68 to 9 to ban public transit strikes in Toronto. The union was furious. So be it. They may recall, as we do, that the last stoppage in 2008 occurred without the requisite 48 hours notice because the union said it was afraid members of the public would be angry with the drivers. So the strike occurred on 90 minutes notice, stranding people all over the city. Nice. Now no such fears will haunt the transit chiefs because no stoppage will threaten the patience of the public. A win-win for sure.

Plans have been approved by the provincial government to bury the Eglinton LRT from end to end. The idea of a totally subterranean transit line was the signature concept of Mayor Rob Ford’s new transit scheme for Toronto. The original plan called for above ground sections at either end of the line. The east end, most affecting South Bayview, would have been above ground east of Leslie. As we have said in previous posts, the underground plan will probably cause much less traffic disruption during the long construction period. The LRT is not fully approved as yet. The proposal also includes an extension of the Sheppard subway line in both directions and the funding for that – an estimated $4.2 billion – is contingent upon on public-private partnership. The total cost of the plan is $12.4 billion. Locally, the LRT plan calls for stations at Laird, Bayview and Mount Pleasant. More.

The story of Percy’s recovery is one of extraordinary luck. The shop dog for Sleuth of Baker Street ran away from his owners while in the country near the tiny community of Havelock, east of Peterborough. It’s a land of lakes, rivers and small islands. Percy was being a dog when he took after some deer. But then he was gone and didn’t return. The word went out but no one was able to spot Percy.After some eight days, he was spied by two boys out on a hike. But he was across a river from them on a small island. What could they do. Percy would not swim to them and they wisely did not try to swim to him. They left. Now that extraordinary luck we mentioned. On their way, the boys met a local mail deliverer on her rounds. They told the woman they had seen what must be soneone’s dog. “You’re right,” she said and figured she knew just who. She had the story in her notes and owner Marion’s contact information. Marion drove to the scene where a ford to the island was found. Thus was Percy rescued, quite a few pounds lighter than when he disappeared but alive. There are wolves in the area who might like to feast on a lost and domesticated dog.

Two Canadian law firms have proposed a class action suit which accuses Visa, MasterCard and the major banks of fixing charges on credit cards. News release here. The specifics of the filing mirror closely the complaints of merchants and their associations, such as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The principal accusation is that the parties require merchants as an absolute condition to accept all levels of cards, including so-called premium cards with high fees. And, that the card companies forbid merchants from charging a higher price for goods sold on premium cards as a way of recovering the additional fee expense. The news releaase linked above also solicits those who might wish to be part of the class action.

From the TPS crime reports: A resident of Blythdale Road reports that between 2100 hours, March 13, 2011 and 0700 hours, March 14, 2011 unknown suspect(s) entered the premises by unknown means. Removed was four Porsche rims.