Ford’s lawyer denies crack tale, cops “monitoring”
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A lawyer for Mayor Ford says the accusation that Mr. Ford is seen on video smoking crack cocaine is “false and defamtory” Dennis S. Morris, whose practice is on John Street, made the declaration in response to the Toronto Star story today (Friday, May 17, 2013) in which two well known reporters. Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan, write that they have screened a cellphone video shown to them by men who are apparently traffickers in crack. A photograph showing someone who looks like the mayor is published with the Star story. The Star says that it was asked to pay a million dollars and other sums of money for the video. It says it paid nothing. On the tape the mayor is said to utter a number of vulgarities and to be clearly impaired. The mayor himself has called the video “ridiculous” and yet another attempt by the Toronto Star to discredit him. He did not comment on the appearance of the story first in the gossip online publication Gawker. The Gawkter story, written by John Cook, is very vitriolic and the writer is conducting a campaign to solicit a sum of $200,000 to buy the video. Mr. Cook observes that the owner of the video may wish to leave town for fear of retribution. As he hustled through City Hall today Mr Ford was hectored by reporters: “Is the video a fake, Mr Ford?” “Why would someone make a fake video?” and similar questions. One of the Mayor’s allies on council, Doug Holyday, said that he did not know what to say except that drug traffickers cannot be trusted. CP24 quotes police spokesman Tony Vella as saying that the department is “monitoring” the situation but PC Vella had no more to say about what that meant. Many commentators are suggesting the video represents a fatal turn in the mayor’s career from which he may not be able to recover. .
Storefront in Millwood Rd. mall is finally for rent
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HERO burger to locate at 1627 Bayview Ave.
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Signs have now gone up at 1627 Bayview Ave. that the location will soon be a HERO burger place. This is the premises previously housing Jus de Vie which unfortunately closed at the beginning of the month after about a year in business.
Minor earthquake felt — or not — in Toronto
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An earthquake centred northwest of Ottawa has been felt across a wide area of Ontario and Quebec according to media reports. There are reports from around the GTA of a tremble. It appears equally true that the earthquake was not felt by many others. Earthquakes Canada has revised its original report, saying it registered a 5.1-magnitude temblor with an epicentre located about 21 kilometres northeast of Shawville, Que., about an hour’s drive outside the national capital. There has been no damage reported.
Star says video shows mayor smoking crack
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| Toronto Star’s story |
The Toronto Star has published a story which says that two of its reporters have seen a cellphone video of Mayor Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine. The story describes in detail not only the circumstances of how the reporters came to know about the tape and view it, but also the quite disturbing things that are seen and heard on the video. The person identified as the mayor makes a number of vulgar remarks, all apparently while under the influence of the narcotic. The mayor’s staff is said to be refusing to comment. The story seems to say that the Star’s reporters have necessarily seen or talked to people who are drug traffickers. Whatever this video may portend for the mayor, it might seem that an early call to the police would be in order.
Useful planning guide for home fireworks
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| Moore and Bayview |
The fireworks fun on the May long-weekend is also a time to make sure kids (and others) don’t get hurt. Merchants are pushing fireworks this year in a way not previously seen. The city has a useful guide available online on what to look for and avoid. It is short and simple. The City regulates fireworks sales and specifices that fireworkls may be sold at retail “only during one or more of the following time periods: (a) Victoria Day and the seven days immediately before Victoria Day; (b) Canada Day and the seven days immediately before Canada Day;” Guide
No strike at LCBO union, management announce
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There will no strike at the LCBO. Union spokesperson Warren “Smokey” Thomas made the announcement shortly after 10 p.m. and it was quickly confirmed by the liquor board spokeswoman. The deal comes ahead of a midnight deadline. LCBO stores will be open tomorrow (Friday, May 17, 2013).
Duffy “pushed out” of Conservative Caucus: CTV
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CTV News is reporting tonight that Sen. Mike Duffy has been effectively pushed out of the Conservative Caucus in the Senate. Duffy said in a statement: “It is clear the public controversy surrounding me and the repayment of my Senate expenses has become a significant distraction to my caucus colleagues, and to the government. The network quotes its Ottawa correspondent Robert Fife as saying that Duffy was pushed out of the caucus because of the growing questions surrounding his conduct. CTV
Wynne fires Paul Godfrey as chairman of OLG
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Paul Godfrey has been fired by Premier Wynne as the head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation with a decision by the Ontario government to head in a different direction on gaming. The cabinet secretary Peter Wallace has been appointed interim chairman. It appears that the eight-member board of directors at the OLG has resigned in solidarity with Paul Godfrey. At a news conference this evening, Mr Godfrey, 74, told reporters that the chemistry between himself and the premier was just not right. Mr. Godfrey said that he knows the premier is not comfortable with gaming (gambling) but there is no way Ontario can do without it because of the money that is generated. It seems apparent however that the Premier’s distaste for big-time gambling, including its impact on the horse racing industry, will now require a completely new structure at the OLG. As fallout from the Godfrey dismissal, Mayor Ford has cancelled a meeting for Tuesday at which council would have debated the casino issue. The mayor said the matter is now dead. Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said he spoke to Godfrey Thursday afternoon and thanked him for his service. “Mr. Godfrey led a significant turnaround in the operations of the OLG. Based on his extensive career in public office and in the private sector, Mr. Godfrey brought seasoned leadership and deep commitment to his role as Chair of OLG,” Sousa said in a statement. “The Government of Ontario appreciates the commitment that Mr. Godfrey has made as Chair of OLG, and thanks him for the significant accomplishments made during this period,” he added.
Panda exhibit set to open Friday at Zoo
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| Click for Video Page |
The much-awaited Panda exhibit will open this weekend (Friday) at the Toronto Zoo. There was a VIP reception today and only one of the two panda deigned to come and chew bamboo. That was the male, Da Mao (inset). Er Shun, his mate designate, stayed inside. The zoo has said it expects the pandas will draw an estimated 300,000 visitors during their first year in Toronto. After their time in Toronto, Er Shun and Da Mao will be heading to Calgary for the final half of their Canadian visit. The Toronto Zoo has not hosted giant pandas in almost three decades, the last time being a months-long stay in 1985. Harper announced that the pandas were coming to Canada while he was on a trip to China last year. Originally, Er Shun was supposed to come to Canada with a different panda named Ji Li. But that changed when testing revealed that both were female. That’s why Da Mao ended up coming to Canada instead. CBC Video
Couple narrowly escapes Bayview-York Mills fire
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A harrowing escape for a man and woman in a fire about 1 a.m. in a house at 157 Gordon Road in the Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road area A woman 65-year-old woman was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and man was found collapsed on the lawn. “We had a report of a woman trapped. We started (an) immediate rescue protocol,” District Chief Kaarel Betlem with Toronto Fire Services told CP24. Betlem said three firefighters searching . They found the woman and got her out. The woman and her husband, who police say was found on the front lawn of the residence suffering severe burns to his upper body, were both taken to hospital. In phone records the home is said to be occupied by B Antheunis. Picture shows burned out rear of the home through the front door