Let’s see, taxis, schools, air traffic controllers, civil servants, hospital staff (that’s a good one) and others all on strike in France because of the state of things. NDTV
FOUND: Lost tale of Beatrix Potter’s “Kitty in Boots”
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This is a charming story that will thrill adults who grew up with Peter Rabbit. Now a new tale to enchant generations to come. Eli Glasner of the CBC.
Wynne-Trudeau political love affair could not expand CPP
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It was one of the most divisive issues of the recent federal election campaign. It was the stubborn stinginess of the miserly Stephen Harper to deny more money for an expanded Canada Pension Plan so that Ontario, in its own judgment, would not have to start a provincial plan. If only the Liberals were in power in Ottawa. The Premier was glad to say there would be no need for an Ontario Plan, much feared by employers as just another tax on business, if only Mr. Trudeau were in power. Today however, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa had to say that it has so far proven too difficult to get the necessary agreement required among Canada’s provinces to expand the CPP. “We advocated strongly for a CPP enhancement, as did the federal government, but the consensus was not to be had,” Sousa told reporters. Thus, during a news conference in a coffee shop, Ms. Wynne and ministers Mr. Sousa and the Associate Minister of Finance (and political boss of Scarborough) Mitzi Hunter announced that the ORPP is plunging forward even though they weren’t able to say how much it will cost. But in echoes of notorious pensions that legislated Greece into a basket case, the ORPP will provide payouts to survivors, perhaps a daughter or son, when the pensioner dies. More here
Rare midweek game as Wildcats tackle Toronto Aeros
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The Leaside Wildcats will face off against the Toronto Aeros in a rare midweek game at York University Arena Wednesday night. It could be a good game with the eighth place Aeros looking to prove something against a Leaside team newly-installed in fourth place in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. The puck drops at 6.30 at York.
Bayview Whole Foods store set to open in dismal downturn
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New Whole Foods expected to be open by April
The new Whole Foods at Bayview and Broadway Aves is expected to open no later than April and it’s sailing into a barrage of lousy economics and cranky consumerism. For one thing, Whole Foods stock is valued at half of what it was less than two years ago. What happened? According to CNN Money, things like the New York overpricing furore and lower same store sales are hurting the specialty food retailer. Into the bargain comes a Wall Street analyst downgrade based on a 1,000 shopper survey which concluded that prices were too high (The Whole Pay Cheque thing has stuck). There is a sore point even with people who have money. Are they paying too much for produce because is has been labelled organic. The New York consumers said they felt Whole Foods was inflating prices based on not much. There is no doubt that Whole Foods is a pleasant experience in the store but in South Bayview that’s pretty much the norm. Time will tell.
Iran Ayatollah visits Pope Francis and asks “pray for me”
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Pope Francis met Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani in the Vatican Tuesday. Rouhani is described by Iranians as a junior Ayatollah. The Pope urged Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East. In a scene seldom-imagined the two men met and smiled they discussed Rouhani’s gift of a fine Persian carpet. In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Iran’s important role to promote, together with other countries, “adequate political solutions” to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat. Rouhani took a leaf from the Pope’s book and asked the Pontiff to pray for him.
Matlow breaks silence on revised Scarborough transit
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Josh Matlow
Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has broken an apparent dead silence on the revised plans to add an LRT element to Scarborough transit. Many transit laymen are unable to see the value in what seems like an expensive subway that runs almost nonstop to the Scarborough Town Centre. But this plan replaces the badly misguided one cooked up by transportation minister Glen Murray that left so many people flabbergasted. Now Mr. Matlow tells the Toronto Star that he feels “neither a grand sense of jubilation nor the frustration and angst I’ve experienced over the past four years.”
AS QUOTED IN THE STAR
Matlow lauds Tory for listening to expert advice to get to an “admittedly imperfect but perfectly workable” result, while saying the actions of the Fords — and others — were no credit to Toronto transit planning. “This journey has seen so many people lied to, so many tax dollars wasted, so much time wasted, while residents have been desperately waiting for the service that they need,” Matlow says. “I can’t say we’ve arrived at an absolutely evidence-based process that is free of people’s political and financial interests, but I can see we can still try to get there.” Matlow motion reveals deeply divided City Council Toronto Star story with nice picture of the Mayor standing on some tracks.
Inspiring adventure of 4 women who rowed the Pacific
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Four British women have rowed 8,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Cairns, Australia in an inspiring adventure to raise money for U-K charities. They are Laura Penhaul, Natalia Cohen, Emma Mitchell and Meg Dyos and they must be friends. They spent nine months on a boat, rowing two-hour shifts all day, seven days a week, without a toilet and with only an hour-and-a-half nap at a time.:Lynda Kinkade reports.
EU police office warns of ISIS “training camps” in Europe
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Europol, the central police office of the European Union, is warning that ISIS has set up secret training camps across Europe to prepare fighters to carry out “special forces style” attacks in the UK or other EU countries. The police office said the camps provide survival training and sports activities to help jihadists prepare for “combat and interrogation resistance”. And ISIS could look to recruit refugees who have fled to Europe to launch terror attacks in the countries that have given them shelter, the agency said. Europol refused to say in which countries the camps were suspected to have been set up but security and police sources last night said they were not aware of any in the UK.
Police respond to report of break-in at McRae, Heather Rd.
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Police were called to the vicinity of McRae Drive and Heather Rd. Monday midday to investigate a report of a break and enter. The caller believed that the burglar was in the home. Many police arrived and they had a dog with them. There was a search but the outcome is unknown.
Torstar-owned Guelph Mercury to end printed edition
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The Guelph Mercury, founded in 1867, will cease printing its paper edition with Friday’s issue. The decision,. made by owners Torstar, will cost 23 full-time jobs and three-part time. The Mercury management said stopping the expensive print process was the only option to the paper’s losing business endeavor. The Guelph Mercury will continue to publish online.
Some Syrian refugees want to go back to middle east
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It looks from this story that the rather over-ambitious scheme for mass immigration is showing the strain CBC