The Bulldog

Black tie wingnut wreaks office havoc in 11 p.m. attack

Police are being coy about just where it happened but they are looking for a man in what looks like black tie who broke into a downtown office near King and York Sts and caused massive mayhem. This evening-wear wingnut struck December 9 when he forced a second floor office door. He broke several windows, broke several bottles, opened a can of paint, and poured it throughout the office, damaging furniture and other property inside. The man is described as 5’10”, 19-25, medium build, with short red hair. At the time of the offence, he was wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a dark bow tie. When he left the building he was covered in grey paint.

Dope task force favours minimum age of 18 for legal use

The task force appointed by the federal government to study the legalization of marijuana said Tuesday cannabis sales should be restricted to those 18 and older with a personal possession limit of 30 grams. The Canadian Medical Association had recommended setting the age at 21 — with strict limits on quantity and potency until 25 — but the task force said that higher age limits would simply drive young consumers into the hands of the black market, something the government hopes to actively discourage with its push to legalize. The report is said to suggest that provinces wishing to make marijuana use the same as that for alcohol — in Ontario that’s 19 — be permitted to do so. — CBC

Tough times in political popularity for Ontario premier

Premier Wynne is the least popular premier (16 percent) and Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall (58 percent) the most popular one, according to an Angus Reid poll in the Globe and Mail.

Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson named new U.S. Secretary of State

President elect Donald Trump tweeted away last night that he has officially named Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil, as the next Secretary of State of the U.S. Interestingly, Tillerson is endorsed by James Baker, a former Secretary of State, and Robert Gates, a former Defense Secretary.

$2.5 million in fines outstanding from poor snow clearing

Companies which are contracted to clear the highways in Ontario sometimes fall short of whatever standard is expected. When they fail, they are fined. And while there are no examples cited in media reports of exactly how they fell short, contractors owe as much as $2.5 million in fines for poor performance last winter, according to Mike Crawley, the CBC’s Queen’s Park reporter. The process is saddled with an appeal process that apparently takes many months. Crawley writes: “The province levied $3.25 million in fines against its highway maintenance contractors during the winter of 2015-16, but has so far only collected $693,000.” . The ministry says five contractors owing $2.56 million in fines from last winter are involved in the appeal process, which can be followed by mediation, then arbitration or litigation.

Woman struck by her own car in Cabbagetown car-jack

Woman seriously injured when car slams into pole

A woman was seriously injured when her Toyota sedan slammed into a utility pole on Lake Shore Boulevard east of Parkside Drive Monday night. The victim was perhaps 30, police said. Witnesses tried to assist the woman. They said she was unconscious and bleeding from the head before slowing regaining consciousness. Roads were slick as they are all over the City.

O’Leary waits for attrition in CP leadership before jumping

Kevin O’Leary is waiting to enter the Conservative leadership race — or not enter. The dot-com millionaire says he has time to wait before deciding to run. He would like to see a smaller field than the present 14. And he says he may not run. The deadline for entry is February 24, 2017. Global News  CTV News

Lowes re-brands Rona stores to Lowes even in Quebec

Ten months after paying a whopping $3.2 billion for the Canadian hardware chain Rona, Lowe’s Canada says it will begin rebranding most of the Rona stores, even tn those in Quebec, It has been a long journey from the 2012 rejection of Lowes as a suitor for Rona because of Quebec nationalist feeling to the decision to change the name of the stores.  The Quebec change will occur in 2019 once Lowes adopts a new French-language information technology system that will then be rolled out to existing Lowe’s stores. Lowes promises to keep the Rona name on many of its products.  Rona says the change is being made to eliminate shopper confusion about what is sold at its various store formats. Lowes also owns the Ace Hardware brand in the U.S.

Indoor cycling studio near opening at 1860 Bayview

An indoor cycling studio called Cyclebar is opening soon at the “Whole Foods” complex at Bayview and Broadway Aves (1860 Bayview).

Leaside United Church photographed in evening snow

Toronto Zoo video of snow-play day for Pandas