Let’s see if anything sticks as executive committee reviews whittled down SmartTrack plan. CBC

 

 

The South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association will hold a two-hour seminar this evening at Greenwood College School on the challenges and solutions related to renovations. It begins at 6.45 p.m. at the school which is at 445 Mt. Pleasant Rd. at Davisville  Ave. Details.

George Martin has died in the United Kingdon at age 90. He is widely-credited with giving the recordings of the Beatles, especially the early ones, the infectious musicality which vaulted the group to world-wide fame.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is said by Canadian Press to be a man looking for a woman to be featured on a new bank note starting in 2018. Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau are marking International Women’s Day by announcing the search for a new face for the currency. The bank is asking the public to nominate women deserving of the recognition. Submissions can be made on the bank’s website between now and April 15. Following the practice with men, nominees will have to have been deceased for at least 25 years The custom tends to blunt political considerations and permit an assessment of the candidate’s entire life. The nominee must be a Canadian woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement or distinction in any field, benefiting the people of Canada, or in the service of Canada. Jeanne Sauve (1922-1993) was a dignified and effective governor general and might make a nationally acceptable choice.

 

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has commented on the dismissal  of a City employee who claimed to be on jury duty for 44 days even though the jury was not sitting and the employee should have been at work. Because employees get paid while on jury duty the taxpayer forked out $11,000 for nothing. Matlow told the City’s audit committee that people “people can disappear around here and there’s no accountability for where they went and when they’re coming back.”  The 44 days worth of paid hooky were reported in the auditor’s report along with another case in which a worker was terminated for having falsified time logs, resulting in more than 800 hours of time theft at a cost of around $40,000.

THESE ARE THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT

The cases raise the quality of reasonable supervision in City offices. They also bring to mind the special psychology related to the use of OPM (other people’s money) by both the honest and the not so honest. It is a little-discussed reality that is deeply rooted in human nature. These cases were identified somehow but not before the money was gone and the nature of “accountability”  reasonably remains an issue for the Councillor.  .

The Fraser Institute, a Conservative think tank, says it sees no end to Ontario’s growing debt and it estimates that nine cents of every tax dollar collected goes to pay interest on the $300 billion owing. Fraser says that between 2003/04 and 2015/16. Ontario’s debt level increased more than any other province. Per capita debt has now reached about $21,000 for every man, woman and child.

 

Jon Burnside (Ward 26) is holding a Thorncliffe Community Town Hall meeting tonight (Tuesday, March 8, 2016) which will see many public representatives available to answer questions. It will begin at 7 p.m. at the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office  in the LINK Room at 1 Leaside Park Dr.  A release sent out yesterday says that  representatives from 53 Division, Municipal Licensing Standards, Transportation, Parks & Recreation, Costco, Community Crisis Response Team, and Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office will be in attendance. It says that this is an opportunity to voice concerns and ask questions. Anyone with questions is invited to call  the Councillor’s office at 416-392-0215 or councillor_burnside@toronto.ca.

 

A loveable Toronto Bassett Hound has gathered more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and become a modest source of income for his owners. Advertisers are apparently eager to pay to have their name associated with Dean, as he is known. But his owner, Carly Bright, says Dean does not yet pay for himself which seems like one expensive Bassett Hound. Animal love.

Danier Leather Store will begin the company’s liquidation sale today (Tuesday, March 8, 2016) at its 76 stores across Canada. That includes the Danier stores at Eaton Centre and Yorkdale. The liquidators say in addition to their current inventory, the stores are receiving new shipments from warehouses. The store fixtures, furniture and equipment are also for sale.

 

The International Beauty Show has opened in New York with more than 500 exhibitors showing new products and techniques like smudge-free glitter lips. Must be like kissing confetti

Reaction to stories that the Government is thinking about selling the 250 LCBO locations where it owns the real estate was sharply critical today  Some readers say Ontario is selling its furniture to pay the credit card. One said it is the province’s grandchildren who are selling the furniture so their grandparents will have a roof.. Either way, this surprising revelation related to spending and debt broke Monday at Queen’s Park where PC critic Vic Fedeli demanded to know if there will be closures and job losses. The Minister, Mr. Sousa, was slippery — he said the sales, if they happen — would not reduce service  At the LCBO there was a statement that it would continue with the same complement as always,. Many in South Bayview will be scratching their heads to think of an LCBO location that is actually owned by the Government. Smart Centre, Bayview and Millwood, Yonge and Major — and any others that come to mind are rented.