An earthquake centred northwest of Ottawa has been felt across a wide area of Ontario and Quebec according to media reports. There are reports from around the GTA of a tremble. It appears equally true that the earthquake was not felt by many others. Earthquakes Canada has revised its original report, saying it registered a 5.1-magnitude temblor with an epicentre located about 21 kilometres northeast of Shawville, Que., about an hour’s drive outside the national capital. There has been no damage reported.
Star says video shows mayor smoking crack
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| Toronto Star’s story |
The Toronto Star has published a story which says that two of its reporters have seen a cellphone video of Mayor Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine. The story describes in detail not only the circumstances of how the reporters came to know about the tape and view it, but also the quite disturbing things that are seen and heard on the video. The person identified as the mayor makes a number of vulgar remarks, all apparently while under the influence of the narcotic. The mayor’s staff is said to be refusing to comment. The story seems to say that the Star’s reporters have necessarily seen or talked to people who are drug traffickers. Whatever this video may portend for the mayor, it might seem that an early call to the police would be in order.
Useful planning guide for home fireworks
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| Moore and Bayview |
The fireworks fun on the May long-weekend is also a time to make sure kids (and others) don’t get hurt. Merchants are pushing fireworks this year in a way not previously seen. The city has a useful guide available online on what to look for and avoid. It is short and simple. The City regulates fireworks sales and specifices that fireworkls may be sold at retail “only during one or more of the following time periods: (a) Victoria Day and the seven days immediately before Victoria Day; (b) Canada Day and the seven days immediately before Canada Day;” Guide
No strike at LCBO union, management announce
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There will no strike at the LCBO. Union spokesperson Warren “Smokey” Thomas made the announcement shortly after 10 p.m. and it was quickly confirmed by the liquor board spokeswoman. The deal comes ahead of a midnight deadline. LCBO stores will be open tomorrow (Friday, May 17, 2013).
Duffy “pushed out” of Conservative Caucus: CTV
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CTV News is reporting tonight that Sen. Mike Duffy has been effectively pushed out of the Conservative Caucus in the Senate. Duffy said in a statement: “It is clear the public controversy surrounding me and the repayment of my Senate expenses has become a significant distraction to my caucus colleagues, and to the government. The network quotes its Ottawa correspondent Robert Fife as saying that Duffy was pushed out of the caucus because of the growing questions surrounding his conduct. CTV
Wynne fires Paul Godfrey as chairman of OLG
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Paul Godfrey has been fired by Premier Wynne as the head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation with a decision by the Ontario government to head in a different direction on gaming. The cabinet secretary Peter Wallace has been appointed interim chairman. It appears that the eight-member board of directors at the OLG has resigned in solidarity with Paul Godfrey. At a news conference this evening, Mr Godfrey, 74, told reporters that the chemistry between himself and the premier was just not right. Mr. Godfrey said that he knows the premier is not comfortable with gaming (gambling) but there is no way Ontario can do without it because of the money that is generated. It seems apparent however that the Premier’s distaste for big-time gambling, including its impact on the horse racing industry, will now require a completely new structure at the OLG. As fallout from the Godfrey dismissal, Mayor Ford has cancelled a meeting for Tuesday at which council would have debated the casino issue. The mayor said the matter is now dead. Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said he spoke to Godfrey Thursday afternoon and thanked him for his service. “Mr. Godfrey led a significant turnaround in the operations of the OLG. Based on his extensive career in public office and in the private sector, Mr. Godfrey brought seasoned leadership and deep commitment to his role as Chair of OLG,” Sousa said in a statement. “The Government of Ontario appreciates the commitment that Mr. Godfrey has made as Chair of OLG, and thanks him for the significant accomplishments made during this period,” he added.
Couple narrowly escapes Bayview-York Mills fire
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A harrowing escape for a man and woman in a fire about 1 a.m. in a house at 157 Gordon Road in the Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road area A woman 65-year-old woman was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and man was found collapsed on the lawn. “We had a report of a woman trapped. We started (an) immediate rescue protocol,” District Chief Kaarel Betlem with Toronto Fire Services told CP24. Betlem said three firefighters searching . They found the woman and got her out. The woman and her husband, who police say was found on the front lawn of the residence suffering severe burns to his upper body, were both taken to hospital. In phone records the home is said to be occupied by B Antheunis. Picture shows burned out rear of the home through the front door
Toronto home sales down 9.7%, condos down 13%
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Toronto home sales sank 9.7 per cent in the first two weeks of May from levels of a year earlier, marking a setback at this point from April’s better showing. Globe and Mail
Omg, that is so CUTE! Study on female adjective
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Cute!
Maple Leafs say thank you for fan support
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Maple Leafs have posted this video by way of thanking fans for their support this season. Nice.
Northern Dancer Pavilion will grace Bayview Ave.
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Many notables were at the earth-turning for the Northern Dancer Pavilion at the Canadian Film Centre at 2489 Bayview Avenue south of York Mills Rd today (Wednesday, May 15, 2013). The CFC is housed in the former Windfields Estates, once the home of industrialist and horse racing legend E.P. Taylor. The home later became the genesis of the CFC when the organization was founded by filmmaker Norman Jewison. Now governments at all levels have contributed to the planned construction of the Northern Dancer Pavilion. It will provide a spacious addition to the CFC campus and permit the centre to expand its film, television, digital media, screen acting and music program activities. There will also be additional event space for the centre and surrounding community. The provincial and federal governments each contributed up to $3.25 million. The City of Toronto invested $1 million and CFC provided the remaining $1.5 million toward the total eligible project cost, bringing the total investment to $9 million. The building is named after E.P. Taylor’s famed Canadian thoroughbred Northern Dancer (1961-1990). His fabulous racing career started with low expectations because he was so small. But then Northern Dancer began to win, and win and win. With jockey Bill Hartak aboard, Northern Dancer won the Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby, Queen’s Plate, Preakness Stakes and finished third in the Belmont Stakes. In his two years of racing, Northern Dancer won 14 of the 16 races he ran and never finished worse than third. At the earth-turning we see in the picture above (l-r) Slawko Klymkiw, CEO, Canadian Film Centre, Hon. Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, Lucille Roch, Vice-Chair of the Board for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Nancy Lockhart, (Chair of the CFC Building Fund), Lynne St. David Jewison, Norman Jewison, Founder and Chair Emeritus, CFC, Councillor David Shiner, Donald Ross, Gretchen Ross, and Christina Jennings, Co-Chair of the CFC Board of Directors and Chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury. Photo by Tom Sandler.
NDP takes Wynne to wall with unknown demands
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It’s all about doing things publicly, according NDP leader Andrea Horwarth. Of course, Ms. Horwath was not at all open about what passed between herself and the Premier today (Wednesday, May 15, 2013). The tone of her remarks after a mid-day meeting sounded a little bit like she had just disciplined a naughty school girl who also happened to be Premier of Ontario. Reporters responded in disbelief as Ms. Horwath denied outright that she gave the Premier an ultimatum for NDP support of the Liberal budget. But nothing in Ms. Horwath’s school-marm act could hide the obvious. She has taken the Premier to the wall with demands that will be very hard for the Premier to accept — except and unless Ms. Wynne will do anything to avoid a general election. After the meeting, Liberal sources said that contrary to Ms. Horwath’s claim the ball is in the Premier’s court, it is really in the court of the NDP. In fact, the game is poker, not tennis. Let’s see who calls who’s bluff.