“Weak vote” endorses casino at city executive

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Jaye Robinson (Ward 25)

The city’s executive committee voted 9 to 4 in favour of allowing a casino to operate downtown. As described by reporter Katie Simpson, the split is being called a “weak vote” because the committee normally votes solidly with the mayor. Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) was a notable opponent. The full break down: Opposed, Jaye Robinson, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-wong and Paul Ainslie. In favour, Mayor Rob Ford, Michael Thompson, David Shiner, Cesar Palacio, Doug Holyday, Norm Kelly, Frank Di Giorgio, Vincent Crisanti and Gary Crawford. The matter will now go to full council where it is believed to face considerable opposition. 

Yonge-Montgomery post office would stay intact

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The 1936 heritage building known as Postal Station K has been depicted in drawings as a fully refurbished and intact centrepiece of a development to be known as Montgomery Square. The name acknowledges the site at Yonge Street and Montgomery Avenue as the location of Montgomery Tavern, a meeting place for rebellious Upper Canadians during the insurrection of 1837. The plans come forward from the Rockport Group, a 50 year old Toronto area developer which began by building single family homes in the Guildwood area of Scarborough. The Rockport plan for Postal Station K calls for the demolition of a brick distribution centre which sits behind the limestone heritage building.  The president of Rockport, Jack Winberg, is quoted by writer Eric Emin Wood in My Town Crier as saying the limestone postal station will be restored to its original architectural flavour. Rockport will build a 26-storey residential tower on the site of the demolished distribution centre and attach the new structure to the heritage building with a four-storey glass atrium. Karen Stintz (Ward 16) has said that the city has expressed its intention to designate the building as historically significant and the developer has accepted that intent. Ms Stintz also said that the building will continue to operate as a post office until a new postal facility is constructed by Rockport in a development known as the Wicksteed Business Park now being planned in Leaside. 

MLS-access case thrown out on technicality

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The closely watched case seeking public access to the MLS listings from the Toronto Real Estate Board has been thrown out because it was initiated under the wrong section of the Competition Act.  Susan Pigg,

Andy Elder’s Grilltime a barbecue essential

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Andy Elder
Affable Andy Elder will happily serve you some of his delectable smoked brisket. Or some crunchy fresh salad. His Grilltime meat shop at 62 Laird Drive (at Kenrae Road) is a magnet for chefs or lunch seekers with a taste for the barbecue. Along with choice cuts of beef and poultry for the grill, Andy keeps a line of  sauces and accessories for garden cooking that will dazzle weekend barbecue warriors. But you are just as likely to see Andy catering your fundraising event or as a rooting patron of your kid’s hockey team. And you will find Andy catering the buffet planned for the Leaside 100 Gala  on Saturday April 27. The sold out event at All Canada Storage will feature a signature beef tenderloin carving station and other choice dishes. A visit to Grilltime is a rewarding adventure all by itself but one of the  best parts is swapping greetings and local gossip with your host. Andy is a resident of Leaside of more than two decades and  a lifelong veteran of the food service business.  He opened Grilltime in 2008 and battled through the recession and start-up blues to achieve his present acceptance as an essential stop for the right cut of meat and barbecue accessory. Grilltime is open Tuesday to Friday 10 to 7, Saturday and Sunday 11 to 6.  (416) 467-4745. Closed Monday.  Meet Bill Grill 

Black boxes tell “who did what” in car accident

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The inclusion of so-called black boxes in more and more cars has caused a bit of privacy rights issue. In the U.S., the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration wants to see these devices as standard in all cars in 2014. And really, it’s hard to argue. It doesn’t seem to be an invasion of privacy when you insist that your foot was on the brake but the box says you were pressing the gas pedal. Automotive “black boxes” are now built into more than 90 percent of new cars

Break-in at Bayview Shoppers targets cosmetics

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Shoppers Drug Mart on South Bayview was broken into shortly after closing on the morning of Friday, April 12, 2013. The entry occurred about 1 a.m.  Whoever it was went straight for the cosmetics and perfumes.  An unstated amount of merchandise was removed.

Weekend theft from home on Burkebrook Place

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Toronto Police Service report: A resident of Burkebrook Place, reports that between 1414 hours, April 14, 2013 and 1700 hours, April 12, 2013, a quantity of jewellery, cash and a purse containing personal identification was removed from the premises.

Chiarelli dodges apology for wasted money

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Energy minister Bob Chiarelli will say only that the government accepts the Auditor General’s damning report on the  cost of closing the gas powered electric generation plant in Mississauga. But, under pressure from reporters today, Mr Chiarelli avoided saying that the government would apologize for the enormous mismanagement of public money. It has been a recurring criticism of the government and Premier Wynne that no apology has been offered for the decision to cancel the plant for political reasons in conditions that made the public vulnerable to these costs. 

Shocking: One power plant for the price of two

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What can only be called shocking mismanagement of the public’s money has been revealed by Auditor General Jim McCarter that it will cost $275 million to close the Mississauga gas power plant. This is $85 million more than the government has estimated. The project was cancelled by the Liberal government a few  days before the last provincial election in order to save a handful of seats for the party. The plant was moved to Lambton. The AG concluded that the cancellation costs are actually more than it would have cost to finish the Mississauga plant. That cost, plus the expense of building the plant at Lambton will, he said, mean that the public will get one plant for the price of two. Global. 

How to celebrate the Centennial of Leaside

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There’s a wonderful series of events being held this month and next to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Leaside. Take a look here and plan to attend.

Not a newspaper, not a book — an eRead

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“Not a newspaper. Not a book.  Star Dispatches is the new weekly eReads subscription program from the Toronto Star newsroom,” says its web page. “Each week,   a new perspective on a news story is available for your tablet, eReader, or computer for only $1/week.”   Link

Trudeau campaign rolls to huge party victory

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Quickly updated website thanks party members 

The Justin Trudeau steamroller flattened all opposition in its path today as the 41-year-old MP won 80 percent of the votes to become the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.  “My fellow Liberals, it is with great respect for those who have stood in this place before me and great resolve to do the hard work that is required in front of us that I accept with great humility the confidence you have placed in me,” Trudeau told a cheering crowd at the Ottawa Westin Hotel. Observers said the new leader spoke with poise and confidence, rewarding those who hope to see him as prime minister after the 2015 general election. It was a nearly pre-ordained victory for Mr. Trudeau, who many analysts feel has grown during the campaign.  Others say his more polished appearance and utterances would be an easy cram in the midst of a leadership love fest. Tonight’s victory revealed both seasoned party loyalists and giddy newcomers cheering their new leader. It is, as must be expected, all about winning. Just how many people will vote Liberal in 2015 because they have a crush on Mr. Trudeau cannot be specified. But it will be an element. In today’s voting Vancouver MP Joyce Murray came a distant second, with her call for co-operation with the NDP and Greens in the next election, followed by former MP Martha Hall Findlay. Reporters wondering how Mr. Trudeau “plans to  rescue his party from the brink of extinction” may already have seen his secret weapon. In a statement, the Conservative party said “Justin Trudeau may have a famous last name, but in a time of global economic uncertainty, he doesn’t have the judgement or experience to be Prime Minister.”