The Bulldog

Canada “blind-sided” by forced buyback of 500,000 pickups

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The United States government has slapped a $105 million fine on Fiat-Chrysler for not following through on a recall of fire-prone Jeeps and RAM pickup trucks. The company must buy back 500,000 of the vehicles and the move has left Canada “blindsided”. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said she still doesn’t know the impact on Canada of the recall of Fiat-Chrysler vehicles. “I simply was left blindsided on this issue,” Raitt told CBC News.  The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined the Italian-American automaker a record $105 million for poorly executing 23 vehicle safety recalls covering more than 11 million defective vehicles over several years. As part of that deal, Fiat-Chrysler has been ordered to fix or buy back 500,000 Ram pickup trucks and 1.5 million Jeeps that might be vulnerable in rear-end collisions.

 

Mayor of Boston says no to open-ended Olympic liability

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Did someone say Boston was already bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games? Well guess what. Mayor Martin Walsh said today (Monday, July 27, 2015) that he will not give in to pressure from the U.S. Olympic Committee to sign an open-ended contract that would make taxpayers there responsible for any unpaid bills when the party’s over. Said Walsh: “If committing to sign a guarantee today is what’s required to move forward, then Boston is no longer pursuing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” The linked story reveals sagging support for an Olympic bid as taxpayers get wind of the cost. Boston Globe 

TD Bank Moore and Bayview robbed as doors unlocked

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It appears a bank robber was waiting outside for the doors to be unlocked this morning at the T-D Bank at Moore and Bayview Ave. Employees of other tenants in the plaza say the bandit passed a note to a teller. The note read  “Good morning, please pass along $2,000 and no one will get hurt.” The suspect received money in a clear plastic bag and fled towards Loblaws. He is described as white, standing five-foot-eight or five-foot-nine, with short balding hair, wearing black sunglasses and a black t-shirt. He is approximately 25 years old. The bank is now closed as police search for forensic evidence and the main entrance to the strip of businesses is blocked for the time being. But the Rexall pharmacy and the cleaning store are doing business as usual. Shoppers might have to enter by the driveway off Mallory Crescent or drive across Pottery Road from the Loblaws parking lot. This crime does not follow the pattern of Friday afternoon bank robberies and is thus less expected.

No business: Gov’t closes pregnancy clinic in Thorncliffe

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The Government has made a decision to close the Thorncliffe Park Pregnancy Clinic after only five months in business. In fact, it appears there has been very little business. Some 15 women have sought the services of the clinic since February when it was opened to much fanfare by the Premier. The health and community workers who supported the clinic say they are at a loss to explain why more women have not come to the clinic. There do not, however, seem to be known cases of hardship or distress in this area which have not been addressed by other services. The clinic was in the building at Leaside Park Drive where the Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office and a community mid-wives clinic are also housed.

Cycling world in orbit as motorized doping fears hit Tour

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The professional cycling world is in orbit this weekend in the wake of an astonishing — and many say absurd claim from three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond — that cyclists participating in this year’s competition are using electric motors to get an edge on other riders. It seems beyond belief but as one reads the news stories, and the comments from cyclists, it’s clear there are some who are prepared to believe it. Says one reader: “They (the motors) fit inside the seat frame bar below the seat post. They are essentially invisible and provide continuous power to the rear wheel.” But another rider says “absolutely no pro team would allow such a device near one of their frames; and that means no mechanic would be caught dead installing or servicing one either. LeMond is on drugs.” Wall Street Journal