Events today in Florida have made this morning’s excitment about a so-called International Driving Permit quite inconsequential. It seems the state was rather intimidated by the media blitz over this document which was said to permit the translation of licenses into ten languages. They now say this would somehow violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (of all things). Actually, it would violate the Traffic Stops for Dummies Manual too because Canadian licenses are published in English and Florida police speak — duh — English.
RioCan set to buy 1860 Bayview at Broadway
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The large Canadian commercial real estate owner and manager RioCan has announced this morning that it has “waived conditions pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement” for 1860 Bayview Ave. at Broadway Ave. This is the old Brennan’s Pontiac site which is now being developed by Kingsett and Trinity Devleopments as a commercial site anchored by Whole Foods grocery store. The release says that RioCan, which owns both the Sunnybrook Plaza and the Leaside Centre on Laird Drive, will be acquiring the completed site at 1860 Bayview on a forward purchase basis at an expected purchase price of $58 million. The Whole foods store is said to be planned at 50,220 square feet.
“International” permit required to drive in Florida
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This post has been updated — see above. A new law has come into effect in Florida which requires Canadians to have an what is known as an International Driving Permit to drive in that state. You have to buy it Canada at the CAA and although the Florida government is all very sorry about the inconvenience to its Canadian friends, you have got to have it. It comes as a large case of “Who Knew” to millions of snow birds but the legislation was effective in Florida on Jan. 1, 2013. The document apparently permits an easy translation of the license into ten languages. The CAA says it will try to get the state to suspend the rule for Canadians which would seem to be a no-brainer because the common language is English. The CAA is urging drivers to get the permit if they are heading to Florida for the March Break.
Concierge condom service leads the 4-pack flicks
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Time once again for the South Bayview Bulldog’s eclectic four-pack pick of video flicks. We begin with sex (but not much) and the tale of New York University student Kyle McCabe and his concierge condom service. Heading clockwise, an update on the Princess Triumph cruise ship which is now heading back to port with many of the washrooms out of service after an engine room fire. The company says things are not as bad as the media is making out but it looks like another case of cruise ship megolomania — the ship is carriyng 4,000 souls. Bottom right is an exquisitely beautiful look back to this month’s Vienna Philharmonic Ball, part of the Vienna Carnival. Lush Life on the Danube. And finally, this is what happens when eggs meet art. The result is an entertaining fundraising event in the British capital. Videos Page
Upload transit, highways to Metrolinx: Hudak
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Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak says he is all for building subways in Toronto but he doesn’t see being able to pay for it until the Ontario Government is made much more efficient. Speaking at the Toronto Board of Trade today, Mr. Hudak said Toronto taxpayers should not asked to pay new fees or taxes for subway and highways until waste in the system is eliminated. The PC leader also said: “The first step in financing these projects is to root out the waste in government, strive to find efficiencies and savings in every facet of government.” Premier Kathleen Wynne has called for a conversation about revenue tools to pay for new transit. Congestion fees, a regional sales tax and road tolls have all been suggested. Hudak said that conversation is premature because the current system needs fixing. First, says Hudak, the provincial government needs to upload subways and LRTs, and then regional highways including the Don Valley Parkway to Metrolinx, the provincial body charged with planning transit. New phone codes 437 and 365 coming in March
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Beginning March 25, 2013 Toronto and its suburbs will have additional new telephone area codes. Toronto phone numbers will add with 437 to the established 416 and 647. In the areas currently served by 905 and 289, phones will be assigned numbers starting with 365.
Solar cell at Sandy Bruce Park monitors water
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Toronto Hydro has installed a wireless and solar-operated Data Collection Centre in Sandy Bruce Park on Moore Avenue at the top of Pottery Road. The DCC contains a cell phone which receives data on water usage from the smart metre in your basement and then re-sends it to Toronto Hydro. The DCC on Moore Ave collects data from homes all over South Bayview to a radius of approximately 2 kilometres of its location. There are some 300 such DCC in Toronto and this is said to be the only community in Canada using this wireless method of delivery for water data.
Grab bag of ideas for the LRT at the Don Valley
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Linked below is a Toronto Star story by Tess Kalinowski which contains a grab bag of ideas from various people on how to configure the Scarborough LRT. The ever-present Geoff Kettel of the Leaside Property Owners Association is quite upset about the decision to eliminate Leslie station. Among other things Mr. Kettel floated with Ms. Kalinowski the idea of a viaduct across the Don Valley on Eglinton. Presumably a station for Leslie would be built at viaduct grade level and passengers would somehow find their way down to the ground. Whatever. You may well guess that residents of the flossy units in the Scenic on Eglinton complex would not like the idea of looking out their windows at a viaduct. Also quoted in the story is Ward 26 Councillor John Parker who allowed it was a blue-sky thought that if the LRT were in fact a subway between Black Creek and Don Mills, the much-hoped for Downtown Relief Line could connect directly into it. The idea is appealing but of course the new Stintz-inspired TTC executive wants nothing to do with a subway on Eglinton. Pity. This is an important issue for the community but it is equally true that the elimination of the Leslie Street station will not trouble the vast majority of residents in the area. That’s our guess, at any rate. And Metrolinx has a powerful argument when it says the station would have been among the most expensive to build but lightly-used on the line. Tess Kalinowski
Frankly, we fib a lot about saving for RRSPs
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We all say we want the truth. With apologies to Jack Nicholson, you may not be able to handle the truth. The truth is, according to the CIBC, we tell terrible whoppers about how we’re going to save money for our RRSPs. We don’t. Toronto Sun
South Bayview power brokers in Wynne cabinet
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| L to R Premier Wynne, Dr Eric Hoskins, Mr Glen Murray and Mr. Michael Coteau |
Premier Wynne’s new cabinet features three MPPs from her home turf of South Bayivew. She represents Don Valley West. Her colleagues and convention supporters Eric Hoskins (St. Paul’s) Glen Murray (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) and Michael Coteau (Don Valley East) join Wynne in cabinet. L to R, Dr Hoskins holds economic development trade and employment, Mr. Murray, infrastructure and transportation and Mr. Coteau, citizenship and immigration, The new Premier has built a cabinet that is slightly larger than the McGuinty cabinet. The full list is here.
Canadian Cardinal a contender for Papacy
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| Cardinal Marc Oulette |
The surprising announcement that Pope Benedict will resign the papacy on February 24, 2013 because of failing health has brought forward a number of possible successors, including a Canadian, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the archbishop of Quebec City. He is said to have “the best odds of replacing Pope Benedict XVI according to an Irish betting site, at 11 to 4. In London, it’s said bookies are making Cardinal Oulette a 3-1 favorite for election to the papacy. No doubt such gaming references in this field will shock some at the Vatican and elsewhere. Cardinal Ouellet, 68, is the head of the Congregation for Bishops, essentially the Vatican’s top staff director. He was once quoted as saying being the pope “would be a nightmare.” He also told Quebec City’s Le Soleil newspaper that a pope’s duties “are perhaps not very enviable.” National Post
Wynne to appoint all-new back bench cabinet
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Okay, we know that South Bayview’s very own Premier, Kathleen Wynne, has cleaned out the big offices at Queen’s Park and that her cabinet, to be named tomorrow, will contain many relatively unknown people. We know that Sandy at Cobs Bread was hoping for something high-minded like Environment Minister, but — well don’t give up your bread job Sandy. Seriously, we can only wish the Premier well with her clean slate approach. There is a ton of stuff that needs doing. Wish we could get back some of those millions lost on shutting down that power plant, Here is the best the CBC can guess published Sunday night. CBC.