Former Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders will run as the Progressive Conservative candidate against Liberal newcomer Stephanie Bowman in Don Valley West in the Spring general election. The riding was held against all comers by former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. In 2009 she defeated John Tory, then PC leader, when she was still just Education Minister. Wynne will not seek reelection in June. Ms. Bowman is a long-time financial services executive, management consultant, and board member. Saunders was a career member of the Toronto Police and served as chief from 2015 to 2020. Irwin Elman will represent the NDP. CTV
Putin claim Ukraine has chemical arms hints he’ll use them
by
•It’s three weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine and with Putin’s army more or less stalled there’s concern that he might resort to chemical weapons. It hardly seems thinkable but ominously he is accusing others of getting ready to do it. It’s how he justifies his aggression to the Russian people. Tuesday the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Moscow and Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war
How NATO has grown since the fall of USSR
Some say NATO threatens Russia but most of those countries that have sought NATO membership since 1990 did so because they had just been freed from being run by the Kremlin. They don’t want that to happen again.
NDP will “support” the Liberals til 2025
NDP support for a minority Liberal government hardly seems like stop-press news but it’s today’s news. And there will be a reason why the NDP says it will support the Trudeau government. Any guesses about as-yet-unannounced policy?
Time of the year for ice rescue training seen here at Acton
by
•It’s odds-on that misguided ice fishermen and snowmobilers will court trouble on thin ice at this time of year. Graham Paine caught the Halton Hills Fire Service training for such a possibility on Fairy Lake in Acton.
ICE RESCUE TRAINING: @HaltonHillsFD crews honing their ice/cold water rescue skills — utilizing drysuits and RDC while training out on Fairy Lake #Acton. Remember NO ice is safe, especially this time of year! @ChiefRehill pic.twitter.com/ndmmf5xjdX
— Graham Paine (@GPmedia_24) March 21, 2022
142 posts and still scribbling about masks at Davisville FB
by
•It’s regrettable to see the bitterness in some of the sharp exchanges at the Davisville Parents page about whether kids should be back in the class with or without masks. There are 142 comments so far reflecting pretty much all points of view. FB
CP Rail train employees back to work Tues after arbitration
by
•Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and the union representing 3,000 conductors, engineers and train and yard workers say they have agreed to final and binding arbitration to end a work stoppage. Workers will return to the job at noon local time Tuesday. In a statement issued early Tuesday morning, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference spokesperson Dave Fulton said while arbitration was not the preferred method, TCRC was able to negotiate terms and conditions that were in the best interest of its members, with wages and pensions still stumbling blocks.
Teamsters strike at CP Rail will threaten food supply chain
by
•It’s Day Two of the Teamsters Union national strike against CP Rail. Negotiations have been underway since September. Engineers at CP Rail earn a tidy average annual salary of nearly $120,000.
Some high school kids will protest mask removal decision
by
•Students at some high schools say they will walk out of school Monday over the decision to lift the mandatory mask rule. Of course, it’s always fun to walk out of school.
Smile! Monday sees the end of most masking across Ontario
by
•The government has released specifics of where masks will still be required Monday even after the burdensome Covid requirement heads officially into history. The most widespread continuation will be on the TCC and in taxis and Uber. As well, most health care settings, long-term care and retirement homes, shelters and jails will still require masks. Otherwise, many people will look forward to shopping without a mask. An interesting business angle as masks are discarded is the mask manufacturing business. During the pandemic, it blossomed into both a gigantic mass-production industry as well as countless boutique firms.
Ukraine summary with focus on Xi and Biden two-hour talk
by
•White House backroom boys must have had a snicker or two when President Xi of China told Joe Biden that sanctions against China would only hurt people. No doubt the bombs and rockets now raining down on Ukraine are doing the same. The two men talked for two hours Friday. They are said to have agreed that peace in that democratic country would be a good thing. In the meantime, civilian men in Odessa are learning how to shoot at Russians.
Recurring cloudy tap water triggers long series of comments
by
•Recurring cloudy water is the subject of a long series of comments at Leslieville Facebook. It’s something seen across the City from time to time and apparently harmless but it seems useful to report it just in case. FB
Summerhill Market to make new site after US ransom-hack
by
•Summerhill Market intends to carry on with a new online presentation after the firm was ransom-hacked by jerks in Chicago of all places. Typical of self-satisfied Internet criminals, the hackers presented their demand in a cutesy yet derisive way. “Oh dear,” they chirp. “We have your Instagram account and we will give it back for $600”. In fact, the grocer paid the $600 but was then told to pay another $400. It refused and will simply abandon the hacked site replacing it with a new one.
To our loyal #toronto #foodie community, we appreciate any support in helping us to rebuild our following. Tons of exciting things coming up! #foodto #grocery #torontofood https://t.co/SikMqhGZxw
— Summerhill Market (@summerhillmkt) March 18, 2022
Woman pedestrian, 78, hurt in collision on Thorncliffe Park
by
•A woman pedestrian aged 78 has been struck by a vehicle and badly injured on the western stretch of Thorncliffe Park Drive east of Overlea Blvd Wednesday evening at about 7.30. The circumstances as outlined are unclear. The driver, 22, remained at the scene. Police are asking residents, businesses and drivers, who may have security or dash-camera footage of the area or incident, to contact investigators.