Discovery of Hailey’s body brings a crushing end to search
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A crushing end to the search for Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette.as her remains are found close to the town where she lived. A man has been arrested in Blairmore, Alberta in connection with the girl’s death and the death of her father 27-year-old Terry Blanchette, whose body was found inside the family home. The accused in 22.
Jaye Robinson skeptical of report on non-union collection
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City staff has recommended that no change be made to the present union collection (CUPE 144) of garbage east of Yonge Street. John Tory made a firm promise during the election campaign that he would extend privatization across the full city. The saving west of Yonge Street, where collection is done by a private contractor, is said to be $11 million annually. Speaking to Steven LeDrew on CP24 Jaye Robinson, chair of the public works committee, said she questions the numbers produced by waste management staff in the report, which was released late Tuesday morning. The Toronto Sun story linked is detailed but does not offer compelling information from staff as to why a similar saving would be not be a net advantage to the city. The report says things like: “A blend of in-house and private sector provision also manages operational and financial risk and provides flexibility for the curbside waste collection system to adapt to changes.” It seems vague. The report goes to Robinson’s committee. Toronto Sun
Harvest Fair on Mt. Pleasant Saturday, September 26
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The sixth annual Harvest Fair organized by the merchants of Mount Pleasant Village will take place on Saturday, September 26. It is a varied and entertaining family event which always fills the sidewalks. Among the most enterprising features is the petting zoo, staged by the Ken-Jen Petting Zoo of Oshawa. As usual merchants will have food and goods on the street. For those who dare, there will be an apple pie eating contest for all ages. The pumpkin carving contest may be more most people’s speed. In addition, all Mount Pleasant Village shoppers will have an opportunity to win one of five $100 Mount Pleasant Village gift certificates.
Can Star Touch put 123-year old company in the black?
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The Toronto Star has launched a tablet format to be known as Star Touch as it struggles to make money in the digital age. Star Touch is inspired by the La Presse tablet app, which is regarded as a worldwide leader in ease of use. The Star chiefs are talking dramatic change with Star Touch and this may be the case. Ads will also be interactive on Star Touch which presumably means that they can be played with. The one-time dominant source of want ads in Toronto has seen an enormous loss of revenue in the early years of the 21st Century. Now it continues to lose display advertising. .
CRAZY PLACE: Bayview-Eglinton is construction central
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There’s a perfect storm of construction at Eglinton Ave and Bayview Ave Tuesday (September 15, 2015) as a large part of the Metro parking lot is fenced off while backhoes rip up pavement. It must be re-paving because Metrolinx insists that this work has nothing to do with the LRT secondary entrance which will sit just about where the work is going on. Over on the east side of Bayview (below) westbound Eglinton traffic has a sort of “pick your poison” option as contractors vacuum the underworld to see where utilities are buried. Such fun. Cars, buses and trucks must go either right or left to get around this mess.
Unattended candles suspected in 2-alarm East York fire
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Neighbors sent pictures to Twitter Tuesday morning
Fire crews have extinguished a fire on Torrens Ave in East York Tuesday morning. It appears that candles left burning may have ignited the two-alarm fire in the Pape Avenue and O’Connor Drive area.
Toronto will not bid for Olympics Mayor Tory to announce
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Peace to John Tory this morning for he has brought peace to much of the City by deciding that Toronto will not be bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The news is in the Toronto Star. An announcement will be made later today. It was not Mr. Tory’s decision alone by any means. He knew just how much resistance there was at City Council to this risky act of civic hubris. It is so wise to have put aside the silly shouts that Toronto needed to be put on the map. What rubbish.
Sign battle brewing at Bayview-Broadway for Whole Foods
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This is an undated concept drawing of 1860 Bayview
Neighbors in north Leaside and the adjoining bits of Sherwood Park across Bayview Ave are apparently organizing to object to signage planned for the Whole Foods development at 1860 Bayview. The notice of a variance to signage on the corner has gone out. According to neighbor Geeta Thomas the sign facing Bayview will be more than double the permitted size. Then there is the question of night-time lighting. The property is in Ward 25 (Jaye Robinson) but across the street to the east and a block south are the wards of Jon Burnside (Ward 26) and Josh Matlow (Ward 22). The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 25, 2015
City staff suggest tolls on the Gardiner, Don Valley Parkway
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City staff has released detailing idea for collecting tolls on the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway. Staff was assigned in June to set out toll possibilities as a revenue source after council approved the “hybrid” proposal for the east Gardiner. The report looks at a flat-fee toll $1.25 and $3.25 for a single trip with trucks paying double those amounts. It also examined a per kilometre toll like that on the 407. Staff suggested between 10 cents and 35 cents for each kilometre travelled, with trucks paying double. Staff estimate the 30-year cost of the Gardiner, including rebuilding the elevated link to the DVP, at $3.8 billion. Costs for the at-grade DVP are $200 million. The 30-year cost of the toll system is estimated at $1.7 billion, for a grand total of $5.7 billion. On balance, the report is optimistic about genrating enough cash to pay for the toll system plus the highways and possibly have money left for other purposes. The report will go to Mayor John Tory’s executive committee, which next meets on September 21, 2015
Feds balance books one year early, post $1.9B surplus
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Ritual mock distress as teachers, government burn time
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Talks to get a negotiated settlement in the elementary teachers dispute saw what seems like ritualized mock distress on both sides today, but no apparent progress. The government yesterday handed union head Sam Hammond a proposed contract which it says is complete in every way. Just like the other unions signed, says the education minister Liz Sandals. More like a “cookie cutter” says Hammond. That’s cute but it says nothing about the deal nor even how well he has looked at it. As usual, the people know nothing. The decades of protocol built up when big unions battle big employers must be observed, no matter how it abuses the public interest Parents looking in from the outside may well wonder who is looking after their children’s interests, and indeed, where their ownership of the school system went.