Stephen LeClair, the civil service budget watchdog, says it is unlikely that Ontario will achieve a balanced budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Indeed, LeClair said it looks as though the deficit could approach $3.5 billion, partly because of lower than anticipated tax revenues. He suggests revenues could be off by approximately $1 billion because of slower economic growth. The provincial debt is closing in on $293 billion and costs taxpayers $10 billion just to pay the interest.  Finance Minister Charles Sousa said he and the government “remain committed to balancing the budget by 2017-18.”

 

The replacement of the bridges on Dunn Ave. and Dowling Ave. in the west end will remove two busy access routes to the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Rd. The bridges cross the main line to the west and will be removed later this month for an undetermined period until new structures are built. The work is part of a formal renewal project needed because the present structures are at the end of their functional life.  City of Toronto 

Police operations has flashed a tweet that a utility pole is down with a bus stuck at wires at the northbound . Bayview ramp from Lawrence Ave E.

Dr. Bradley Lands surveys 105 lbs. of candy he netted with his innovative candy buy back scheme. He accepted cast off Halloween candy from South Bayview kids and their parents at a $5 a lb. and then matched it with $5 of his own. The proceeds go to the playground renovation project at Trace Manes Park in memory of Georgia Walsh. Dr. Lands is on Bayview Ave. in his own practice, Midtown Orthodontics. Candy buy back to aid Trace Manes project  What the new splashpad might look like

Kraft Heinz will close its plant in St. Marys by 2017 as part of a wider contraction.  Kraft recently merged with Heinz. About 200 will lose their jobs at St. Marys, a town of about 6,500 south of Stratford.

The former Postal Station R at 2 Laird has now been demolished. The work began a few days ago. It will be the site of the much disputed Upper House condominium. The red brick post office building (inset) served for 50 years as Postal Station R. The developer purchased it for $3,050,000 in 2011. The land was purchased by the federal government in 1959 for $115,000.

It had to happen. The apparent non-stop frenzy of condo development in Toronto continues to inspire names the builders hope will engender a pride and affection among prospective buyers. So it is that the new condominium at 1401 O’Connor Drive will be named The Lanes, Residences at O’Connor Bowl. It seems at least as sensible a name in this upright working class neighborhood as The Art Shoppe Condos and Lofts, a Yonge Street address where it will cost a bit more than “the 200’s” advertised by The Lanes. Beloved O’Connor Bowl to close for good this week

The first definitive government statement based on the accumulating evidence comes from the U.S.

Torstar today announced it will cut its dividend in half after revenue fell and losses mounted in the third quarter on weaker print advertising. The publisher of the Toronto Star and other daily and community papers in Ontario reported a loss of $164.3 million for the quarter or $2.05 per share.

 

University Rosedale MP Chrystia Freeland has been appointed Minister of International Trade in the new Trudeau cabinet. St. Paul’s member Carolyn Bennett was appointed Minister of Northern and Indiginous Affairs. She was not expected to be in cabinet. Toronto-Centre MP Bill Morneau is the new Finance MInister.

NO BILL BLAIR, ADAM VAUGHAN

Surprising in their absence from cabinet are Bill Blair and Adam Vaughan. The anti-police tweets were giddy with pleasure at Blair’s deletion, comparing him to Julian Fantino. It is a shot that would hurt a sensitive man. Trudeau has an excess of riches which may account for the absence of Mr. Vaughan. But then, Blair and Vaughan or both men as well. Don’t forget the cabinet had to be exactly 15 women and 15 women.

OLD FACES TOO

Veteran MPs like Stephane Dion, Ralph Goodale, Marc Garneau, Scott Brison, Dominic LeBlanc, Kirsty Duncan, Lawrence MacAulay and John McCallum are all in the new cabinet.