Court finds Canada Post can put boxes where it likes

An Ontario court has found that Canada Post’s authority to place mailboxes where they want trumps the jurisdiction of municipalities to have a say in the matter.. It is an old federal rule dating from the days when the mail was more important than anything the government did. And before mail boxes turned into super mailboxes, many of which are the size of a bus shelter. None of this mattered however to the judge who found that Canada Post was “entitled to make decisions which go to the benefit of its survival.” Hamilton and other cities across the country have been fighting the placement of these large installations under pressure from homeowners.

Mayor’s hybrid highway passes City Council by 24 to 21

Tory

Mayor John Tory has won a vote which paves the way for a so-called hybrid version of the Gardiner Expressway. Council was deeply split and the final division of 24 to 21 appears to reveal a downtown vs suburban split. The hybrid road requires a realignment of the roadway east of Jarvis Street to re-join the eastern portion of the expressway which leads to Scarborough. Most of the opposition to a Hybrid was in favour of removing the eastern piece of the Gardiner and building a “boulevard” and developed amenities. The version generally summoned up by this was gentrified commercial activity. This was the option favored by City Planner Jennifer Keesmaat. a vote on the boulevard  option failed 26 to 19. Analysis suggests that some supporters of the hybrid were not keen about but it voted to prevent further congestion — a  fearsome word at City Hall. There is nothing imminent about any of this. It may quite a few years before work begins on any option.

Mayor said to have support for hybrid Gardiner vote

See later post

High court gives high sign to high cuisine with Mary Jane

The Supreme Court of Canada says its legal to consume marijuana for your health by way of home cooking as well as by smoking it  Like Brownies. Brownies are a sure cure for anything. As it stood,  the government had said that the use of the drug was legal only if it was smoked. The court took seriously the concern that smoking marijuana was not good for the lungs. Did the justices worry at all that marijuana Blondies or Lemon Squares may start to show up church fairs?  If they did, their ruminations are not recorded. Globe and Mail 

Northlea School students protest teacher work-to-rule

northlea

Northlea Public School students protesting Thursday, June 11, 2015

Students at Northlea Public School on Rumsey Road were protesting the elementary teachers work-to-rule outside the school today (Thursday, June 11,2015). The elementary teachers are refusing to prepare report cards and as a result parents will be denied a detailed description of how their kids did during the year. Instead, it appears they will receive a “pass or fail” letter. Twitter 

Parents applaud quick tweets that students were safe

bedford bus-2-w tweet Fast news can be good news, and tweets from the principal that your son or daughter is okay, is really good news. Parents of the 26 Bedford Park Public school kids on that New York excursion have expressed their appreciation to principal Kevin Battaglia for sending word back so quickly that everybody aboard their bus was okay. Battaglia and two teachers have the 26 in their care on a sightseeing tour of New York. The Guelph University Gryphons bus was rear-ended in the Lincoln Tunnel about 9.30 EDT., the same hour in both cities. After a quick check, Mr. Battaglia tweeted that there had been “a little excitement” on the bus. He explained the situation and kept the updates going. Parent Henda Bilhan tweeted her thanks. And Sandra Kalnins said: “Thank you Mr. B for keeping us informed and to both you and Mr. Norris for keeping the kids safe.”

Road to nowhere? Gardiner grandstand drama grinds on

There has been no conclusion reached and no vote taken on the future of the Gardiner Expressway. City Council has debated the matter all day. Demolish, Hybrid, Boulevard, Tunnel or keep it the same. There are large groups of Councillors supporting each of the Hybrid and Boulevard ideas. They seem to be weighted suburbs vs downtown respectively. There has been a lot grandstanding too with Councillors supporting one or none of the concepts wanting to score a point or two on the mayor. They do it again Thursday. All leads

Law student asks court to declare carding unconstitutional

Globe and Mail 

Bayview extension is open after dinner hour flooding

The Bayview Ave. extension is open after earlier flooding during dinner hour. The Rosedale Valley Road remains closed this evening however for unspecified cleanup.

West Coast Kids readying to move in at Moms-to-be site

west coast

Signs are up at the former Moms-to-be-and-more site at Bayview Ave. and Manor Rd. telling of the arrival of West Coast Kids. The chain of Canadian children’s stores will open its first shop in eastern Canada at this location. It is a  plus for shoppers and a boost for South Bayview.  An added plus will be the presence of Karen Becker, owner of Moms-to-be, as the manager of the new West Coast Kids location.  Karen Becker to run West Coast Kids on Bayview

The rains came: Thunder, lightning across South Bayview


Weather Network

Bedford Park kids all safe in New York bus collision

The principal of a Toronto school is tweeting from New York’s Lincoln Tunnel where an excursion bus with 25 Grade Eight students from Bedford Park Public School was rear-ended. Everyone is okay. The principal is Kevin Battaglia @kevinbattaglia1 on Twitter and in his first message called the rear end accident “a little excitement.” Bedford Park School is at 81 Ranleigh Ave. Ryan Bird of the Toronto and District School Board confirmed these facts and said it appears the Bedford-leased bus is quite operable and will be on its way shortly.  Mr. Battalgia is being swamped by media tweets requesting interviews as can be seen by checking his account above. His report does not agree with information from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which operates the tunnel. This body is saying that as many as 18 people were hurt, but not in a serious way. These injuries may have been on the New Jersey transit bus which hit the Bedford bus.