McGuinty testimony makes you want to cry

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The linked CBC story is headlined McGuinty admits moving gas plants was his decision  Really. What a surprise. Did he say he was sorry?  The former premier said the closure cost more than he would have liked.  You can bet the house on it.  Too bad he couldn’t contain himself.  He would still be premier and the public would still have the money. CBC

How can Bell-Astral deal possibly benefit Canada?

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Several consumer groups will tell the CRTC Tuesday that it is against the national interest for BCE to absorb Astral Media.  They say the proposed transaction would eliminate the largest remaining independent broadcaster and further concentrate an already heavily concentrated Canadian media market in the hands of a few large vertically integrated players (Bell, Rogers, Shaw).  In particular, the groups noted that the proposed transaction, if approved, would allow Bell to control 59.2% of revenues in the French-language pay and specialty television market. Broadcaster

Bayview-Moore Petro pumps being replaced

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The Petro-Canada station at Bayview  and Moore Aves. is in the middle of a renovation and right now there’s no way to pump gas. Crews were busy ripping out pumps, service docks and signs today for the change-over. Sources report that the renovated station will sell both diesel fuel and the top-end gasoline produced by Sun Oil, Ultra 94. Petro Canada is owned by Suncor of Alberta. Sun Oil says that Ultra 94 high octane formula surpasses the CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) performance requirements for super premium gasoline.  Over on Laird Drive meanwhile road and sidewalk work had Esandar Drive down to one narrow lane. Long lines of cars and trucks pulled up in front of Leaside village waiting to enter via Esandar. One lone copper tried to keep order. 

Corriere Canadese ceased publication on Saturday

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The late Dan Iannuzzi

Corriere Canadese, the Italian-language newspaper published in Toronto for over 58 years, has announced  it has suspended operations. “Corriere” was launched on June 2, 1954 by the late Dan Iannuzzi — a third-generation Canadian who later went on to found the multilingual TV station CFMT, now known as OMNI. “Fiercely Canadian and Proudly Italian” was Iannuzzi’s personal motto which was printed on the masthead of each edition. The publisher died a few months after his newspaper celebrated its 50th anniversary. Current editor Paola Bernardini posted a note in Italian on Saturday that explained the economic reasons behind the decision which included the fact that the Italian government decided in 2010 to reduce the grants it provided to six international publications including the “Canadian Courier.” An annual subsidy of $2.8-million, which had been provided since 1994, was cut in half as the government under prime minister Silvio Berlusconi sought to slash cultural spending. The newspaper cut its publishing schedule last year from six to five days a week — which meant that its popular weekend soccer coverage was delayed until Tuesday.

Live map of TTC’s 88 route is worth examining

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Map shows eastbound 88 at Lumley
Residents of the neighborhoods to the south of the South Bayview business district may continue to hold out hope that a way may be found to provide a service up to this preferred destination for so many residents who live north of the CP line. The 88 and 88A routes pass through Moore Park, Bennington Heights and very near streets like Leacrest Road, home of the Crestview Apartments. It seems likely as well that merchants on South Bayview would certainly welcome this assist to their businesses. There is no solution at present and the TTC has undertaken only to look at what might be done. The linked Live Map on the GPS site Nextbus.com is informative as to the number of vehicles on the route at different hours. Nextbus.com, for those who are not aware of it, is a service used by many transit companies to predict when a bus will be at your stop. There may be knowledge in this remarkable application that will lead to the South Bayview service so many would like to see. Take a look at the live map and if you have any thoughts, send them along to us at the address in the Contact section.  Live Map 

Leaside soccer girls down North Toronto 9-3

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Writer Perry King has a good account in My Town Crier on the rain-soaked meeting of the Leaside Lancers and the North Toronto Norsewomen in senior girls soccer a week ago today. The final was 9-3 and King suggests the score probably doesn’t do the Norsewomen credit. The game was played in the rain at the North Toronto pitch and there were many acts of heroics on both sides. King mentions Leaside’s Krystal Henry-Mathieu who scored the first marker in the second half for the trialing Lancers. The team followed up with four more goals to cinch the game for Leaside.  Perry King 

Marathon will cross Rosedale Valley to Bayview

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Tomorrow (Sunday, May 5, 2013) will see the complex running of the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon, although the name should be in the plural. Some 12,000 runners will take part in four events:  two of them, the full Marathon and the Half-marathon will come down Yonge Street. The Marathon will find its way down Rosedale Valley Road to Bayview Ave. (map). A heads up for anyone likely to be driving down that way. The police seem to have thrown a wide net of warning across the city with the possibility of  “lane restrictions” all the way from Etobicoke in the west to Bayview Ave. in the east. Let’s hope it is not as serious as it sounds. Two other events,  the Mel Lastman 5K and the Ontario Place Relay, occur on the Lakeshore. The DVParkway Bayview/Bloor off-ramp to southbound Bayview Avenue will be closed Road closures will also be in effect this weekend in Mississauga for that city’s marathon and related events.  Race Maps