If jogging to campaign events translates directly into votes, Premier Wynne is on her way to a landslide. Today she and supporters bounded into Ontario Place where Ms.Wynne made “an announcement” about the future as she saw it for the now-dormant waterfront park. He remarks were more of a quick flip through the gospel of good feelings. The Premier said she saw a 12-month-a-year music and entertainment venue and quite specifically “no residential development” at Ontario Place That seems okay but it prompted members of NoJetsTO to flood Twitter with questions as to why it was useful to save the waterfront from homes but not jet planes. Laura Cooper is a frequent No Jets voice who observed that “if you stand up for a waterfront for everyone and no condos, will you stand up for no jets on our waterfront?” She drew responses from Murray Kibler that “jets are a done deal”. Many may wonder whether this is sadly so by the barely heard mention of this issue in the municipal campaign. The jets issue is alive in Trinity Spadina (and possibly elsewhere) where NDP veteran Rosario Marchese, MPP for Trinity-Spadina, was tweeting about it today. In that little part of Toronto there are three (3!!) elections going on. Marchese is glad to give NDP federal byelection warrior Joe Cressy a hand by trying to embarrass Cressy’s opponent Adam Vaughan on the issue. A tweet today suggested that Vaughan had belatedly said, yes, he was against jets. But the candidates for mayor seem to be avoiding the issue. This is true even of Olivia Chow, from whom it seemed we might see a David Miller-like onslaught against this defiling of the Toronto Island park lands. So far, not so much.
Central Leaside sore at 27 Fleming Crescent
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This Victoria Day saw residents of Leaside’s Fleming Crescent and nearby standing around outside 27 Fleming Crescent, the unfinished house now under a stop-work order. The horror stories told by neighbors, including lawyer Robert Ellis, include the enormous bulk of the place. They flagged it at City Hall but nothing stopped the ballooning place. There was a curious meeting with Committee of Adjustment in the early going of this construction. They say the builder just forget to tell the committee he was planning a three story-house. Unusual that. The two-year story of the sale, demolition and construction (so far) of 27 Fleming is part of the inspiration for a move by John Parker (Ward 22) to have a large part of Leaside nominated as a Heritage Conservation District. But to hear Mr. Ellis tell it, the problem isn’t legislation as much as the slow-poke and no-show performance of the City when there are legitimate and well documented issues. He and his neighbors want the wrecking ball taken to 27 Fleming. They say the mud underneath it alone, given appreciation, ensures none of the investors will lose money. A date for the return to Committee of Adjustment is pending. We’ll keep you informed. The Bulldog is here daily and often.
“Gardiner” the deer tranquilized, taken to safety
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All lanes of the Gardiner Expressway are reopened by 2:30 p.m. Monday (Vic Day) after being closed for the morning and beyond. Police contained the deer in some green space on the north side of the westbound lanes while waiting for animal services to arrive with tranquilizers (inset). The animal was taken to the Toronto Zoo. The road was shut down mid-morning when the lanes were closed near Park Lawn Road, while police officers and others tried to steer the deer away from danger. At one point, the animal sprinted across the blocked road before it sat down in the grass next to the expressway. Earlier pictures from traffic cameras show an officer chasing the creature across the highway. This job is not seen in police manuals or known to naturalists. The Star quoted PC Joe McDougall as saying the concern is that if the deer decides to bolt across the highway while cars are moving at regular speeds, somebody could be seriously injured. “That’s why we want to keep traffic moving as slowly as we can until police can push the deer to a green area,” he is quoted. Police closed down lanes on Park Lawn Rd. until they can get the deer to safety.
Rowe Farms open on Bayview Ave Victoria Day
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Rowe Farms Meats at 1617 Bayview Ave is open today (Victoria Day) until 7 p.m. There will be smattering of places open on our favorite high street but not the valu mart. Probably worth a walk up those wide sidewalks this lovely day. Don’t forget that the Esso station at Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Merton St. is closed for five days for renovations and repairs beginning tomorrow. There is gas today, however.
AstraZeneca turns down Pfizer’s sweetened offer
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Pfizer was offering $118 billion in U.S. cash for AstraZeneca in an offer it said was a take-it-or-leave-it deal. But as in politics, it is rarely really over when big business must live or die by growing. At AstraZeneca, and the places where they have factories, like the UK and Sweden, there was concern expressed about whether Pfizer would eliminate jobs. And yet, the AstraZeneca board was saying that if Pfizer just paid a bit more, they might have a deal. AstraZeneca makes such well-known products as Nexium, Plavix and Crestor. Reuters
Drawing shows old brick home on Molson St.
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Plans for the severance of the lot at 92 Roxborough St.W. at the corner of Molson Street have now been submitted at City Hall in advance of Tuesday’s scheduled meeting to discuss the proposal. As posted earlier a developer, Constantine Enterprises Inc., wants to move the building at 119 Isabella Street and re-build it on a newly-created lot on Molson Street. The home existed on Isabella for decades as the residence for the employees of a privileged family across the street. It is on property where a new facility will be built for the hospice Casey House. Councillor Wong-Tam made the home a news story when she announced that it was available free to anyone who would pay to move it. That’s exactly what Constantine wishes to do. Inset is one of a number of drawings, this one shows the eastern elevation of the old home as it would sit on Molson. The full file is here. The meeting is Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor, Committee Room 2 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..“Mobile player” drives AT&T move on DirecTV
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AT&T Inc plans to pay $48.5 billion to buy DirecTV, in the latest sign that the wireless industry and the U.S. television market are set to converge as customers consume more video on their mobile devices. Reuters
Doug Ford stands by remarks about group home
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Doug Ford is standing by his remarks that a group home for autistic and emotionally unstable children should be moved from an Etobicoke neighborhood. The home opened at 22 Jeffcoat Drive about three weeks ago. Mr. Ford calls it a “nightmare” for residents. He has told CP24 that his “heart goes out” to families with autistic children, but he said this issue is about kids in the residential home who have “violent tendencies.” “I’ve been a Rotarian for 25 years helping kids with challenges, but you can’t disrupt the neighbourhood like that,” Ford said. “Anyone who wants to criticize, I’d be more than happy to take their address and we’ll put the house right next door to them and see how they like it.” . Canada
29 kids sick at DJ event at Rogers Centre
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While a 24 year old Swedish DJ known as Avicii was performing at the Rogers Centre last night, EMS and first aid workers were trying to deal with what appears to have been an alcohol or drug poisoning epidemic that sent 29 people to hospital. This type of thing is not unknown but Rogers officials thought they could handle care of the kids who keeled over during the show. But they couldn’t. Rogers specially hired medics at the sold out, all-ages concert were soon overwhelmed. They called in Toronto EMS. “Unfortunately we have a few kids … excessive alcohol and partying and they can’t handle it,” EMS commander Peter Rotolo told CTV. One person was arrested by police. Five people were in serious condition but everyone is expected to make a full recovery, paramedics told CP24. The concert is an electronic music and light show with the human focus being the DJ known as Avicii. He is Tim Bergling (upper right in 2011) who is described on Wikipedia as a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. Avicii ranked 3rd on DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJs in 2011, 2012 and 2013.Just 183 sold last year, goodbye Nissan Cube
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Anguish, anger over “mental health” home
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Griffin Centre recently purchased and renovated the house at 22 Jeffcoat Dr. in Etbicoke where four challenged youth, some with autism, have lived for the past two months. All have learning issues and emotional problems, which include anxiety, depression, explosive anger and complicated family situations that prevent them from living at home. Tamara Sheppard InsideToronto
Gen Y wondering where the money will come from
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As the average price of a home in Canada soars past $400,000, the question often heard is how on earth Generation Y (those between 14 and 34) will ever be able to buy one. The answer, to a considerable extent, is the same way previous generations have. They will look to parents and grandparents to loan them much of the money. It’s not so crazy when you realize, as a Vancouver analyst says, senior baby boomers and those even older are sitting on close to $175 billion in debt-free real estate. Those wonderful forbears also already provide deposits for 40% of today’s first-time home buyers. It is also said that the “Y” people are earning more in standardized dollars than any generation before them. It should not be hard for hard-working couples to put away something. Many people are counting on a housing slowdown sparked mainly by an increase in interest rates. There is no hint from government however and the average price of a home in Canada has climbed 7.6 per cent in a year. If there is a near-term decline most are expecting a soft landing. One prediction is notable: properties in most markets are overvalued by 15 per cent or less, says Moody economist Mark Hopkins, whose view compares to the 10-per-cent over-valuation pegged by Toronto-Dominion Bank.