Canadians will see the deficit balloon to at least $18.4 billion next year, additional debt that is nearly five times projections from just three months ago. It is much more than the $10-billion limit promised by the new Liberal government. Canadian Press
CUPE president Maguire defends “extra duties” charade
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CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire has spoken on the CBC about “extra duties” — potentially thousands of different things — that may become forbidden work as his members go on a work-to-rule campaign They include, he says, things like shovelling the snow or fixing a broken photocopier. Mr Maguire says: “They will still get paid, but they won’t be working for free.” Taxpayers will surely agree that CUPE workers are getting paid. Work-to-rule is a charade: A series of undefined but limitless tasks that members of the public supposedly wont notice (but maybe they will) and either way are apparently important enough for the union to go on strike about. The reality is that the secret negotiations about “extra duties” deal with ever more carefully-defined job descriptions. Maybe an employee can shovel snow in the playground but not the walkway. A different employee would be required for that. A cheeky example maybe but it makes the City’s point that it wishes to keep some flexibility in the workplace. Tell us we’re wrong. CBC
Snow. possibly freezing rain, expected here Wednesday
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Snow and or freezing rain expected Wednesday, Thursday. CBC Weather Network
Bank robber “poses” for security camera photograph
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This stick-up felon robbed a bank on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at 11:15 a.m. at Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue area. The security camera capture is so detailed he might as well have posed for it. At the time, he was dressed in a yellow high-visibility coat with two chest patches cut out He passed the bank teller a note indicating he had a gun and demanded money If you know him, call police immediately.
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Trustee Sheila Ward obituary published Februay 20, 2016
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TDSB trustee Sheila Ward obituary was published February 20, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 and 360 camera revealed in Barcelona
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For weeks the speculation surrounding Samsung was that the South Korean electronics giant would trot out Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones just as the Mobile World Congress tech confab was about to begin. Samsung delivered right on cue Sunday. USA Today
Is this work-to-rule threat about who gets the coffee?
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Tim Maguire, head of CUPE Inside Workers Local 79
CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire is threatening to haul the City’s inside workers onto a work-to-rule on Monday if there is no settlement. The mayor, bless him, says he regrets that kind of inflammatory (our word) talk. And as usual, it is very hard to know just what issues of life and death cause this distress. We hear of “duties outside of their jobs descriptions” for one. Is this about who will get the coffee? How about “skipped breaks.” That’s a deal breaker for sure. However, the good news is the talks continue tonight.
MISGUIDED SECRECY
Decades of misguided practice have built a wall of secrecy that is abused by both sides. Yes, negotiations should not take place in public but when union officials offer feeble excuses for working to rule or half-baked strikes, it is more than fair for people to demand to know why This very day has seen CUPE say absurd things. They don’t want to inconvenience the public just the employer. Can you process that? You are the employer.
JOSH MATLOW MESSAGE
Josh Matlow (Ward 22) sent a message to constituents Sunday night in which he said City workers will complete their job obligations but refuse to do any extra duties as are often requested. He says that if one relies on services provided by CUPE 79 workers, such as City of Toronto child care, they should not be affected. Services would be affected if the union eventually decides to strike or the City decides to lock them out.
Patrick Rocca named Agnes Macphail Award winner
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Patrick Rocca
Well-known realtor and community supporter Patrick Rocca has been chosen the 2016 winner of the Agnes Macphail Award. The award was established by the Borough of East York and continues as an annual event to recognize an outstanding volunteer who lives within the boundaries of the former borough. The Agnes Macphail Selection Committee met, as established in the selection process, on Wednesday February 3, 2016 to examine the nominations received and to select this years award recipient. The committee voted to nominate Mr Patrick Rocca as the 2016 Agnes Macphail Award recipient. The award will be presented on March 24, 2016 which is the anniversary of Agnes Macphail’s birth. This will take place in the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave beginning at 7 p.m.
Wildcats fall 4-2 to Aeros as regular PWHL season ends
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Toronto Aero’s defeated the Leaside Wildcats 4-2 as both teams played their final game (#38) in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League regular season. The game was played at Mattamy Arena in the Ryerson sports complex above Maple Leaf Gardens rather than at Leaside Gardens because of the uncertainty created by negotiations with CUPE. It was a penalty-filled match with Leaside taking six trips to the box. They paid a big price in goals as the Aeros capitalized on two power plays. The Aeros had two penalties. The measure of the teams may best be seen in the shots on goal Danielle Toland faced 34 while the Aeros Stephanie Neatby saw but 14 come her way. Final standings will depend on the outcome of afternoon games Sunday but it is certain the Wildcats will gain a playoff berth.
PLAYOFF SERIES
Teams finishing among the top 16 will be in the playoffs. Durham West Lightning will take on the 16th ranked team Etobicoke. And so it goes down the list of contenders. It seem likely that Leaside (#6) will meet London (#11) in a best of five series. The semi-finals will follow a similar pattern..
Police have nothing to say about Beyonce, thanks a lot
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The Toronto police union says it will not be joining other police groups which plan to boycott Beyonce’s upcoming tour dates. This from Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack. He is right. Beyonce may be a schnook but it isn’t the job of the police service to organize boycotts. Beyonce’s half time show at the Super Bowl was radically black beyond reasonableness for some.
Parkarr app designed to help you find a parking space
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A new app called Parkarr is intended to match up people seeking a street parking space with those who are leaving. It will work if departing drivers take the trouble to alert the system that they are leaving. Parkarr was created by a New York woman, Robyn Gerber, who got the idea from her father. He puts a piece of paper on the dash showing a smiley face if he is leaving that day, a frown if he isn’t. Parkarr shows parking spaces within a 20-block radius with the forthcoming vacant space — as indicated by departing driver — in turquoise. No car information is exchanged until both drivers accept, and the app works on an honor system. As you pull into a spot, the person pulling in has to say if it was successful or not. So far, 1,000 people have signed up for the app in New york. But what if several drivers arrive looking for the same spot?
B.C. ticket a $22 million winner of Lotto 6-49 jackpot
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There is a $22-million jackpot in British Colmbia for Saturday night’s Lotto 6-49 draw. The lottery’s grand prize was last won Jan. 30, when a ticket worth $18.3-million was held by someone in Ontario The jackpot for the next Lotto 6-49 draw on Wednesday night will be $5-million.