Three Divisional Court judges will spend a week or ten days considering their decision on whether Mayor Ford should be re-instated as Toronto’s Chief Magistrate. Key to their finding will a determination of the argument of Ford’s counsel Alan Lenczner that city counsel had no authority to require the Mayor to re-pay some $3,100 he solicited for a kids sports charity using certain resources of his office. The court panel is comprised of f Regional Senior Justice Edward Then, Justice Lynne Leitch, and Justice Katherine Swinton. CP24
“Council had no authority to make mayor pay”
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Is it possible that there was no authority in law to remove Mayor Ford from office? That is what his lawyer Alan Lenzcner will argue. City council acted outside its jurisdiction when it ordered Mr. Ford to repay the money, therefore rendering all actions after it “a nullity”, according to counsel It’s unlikely there will be any decision from the Divisional Court panel today after today’s hearing at Osgoode Hall. National Post
National map shows severity of influenza activity
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For flu sufferers across South Bayview there is little comfort in the knowledge that this season’s flu shot seems to have been a pretty good match for the strain that is currently infecting so many Canadians. The shot is no guarantee against getting the flu, but it’s a solid defense. Here in Toronto the activity level of the influenza outbreak is described by the Public Health Agency of Canada at “localized”. That’s the most common status as the country deals with one of the worst outbreaks in years. In all provinces there were between 3,500 and 4,000 confirmed cases as the New Year began. The Health Canada map above shows the most severe areas of the outbreak in dark blue (widespread) in areas of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, Western Newfoundland and Central and Southern Alberta.
Sonia Day to speak to the Leaside Garden Society
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Linda Wickland of the Leaside Garden Society has kindly sent along information on the society’s meeting next Thursday where well-known gardening authority Sonia Day will speak. Meetings of the society are held in the community room of Leaside Library, 165 McRae Drive. The date and time: Thursday., January 10th at 7:30 p.m. There will be refreshments offered at 7:00 p.m. Sonia Day will do a presentation on Incredible Edibles — fun things to grow in a city garden. Visitors and new members are welcome. Memberships: single $25 or family $30. (18 years +). Ms Days website is soniaday.com
Repro-Victorian house has “Victorian garage”
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Re-visiting the corner of Laird Drive and Broadway Ave. to check on the progress of the “Victorian” home being built there is a lot of fun. The brick and stone work is all in place and so are the leaded windows. They add a very elegant feeling. But it is the corner watch tower that offers a commanding view on the northeast corner of the home that is so strongly reminiscent of the 19th Century. Wait. Around back is a Victorian garage with a round window over the door (inset). Well, they didn’t have garages in the 19th century but this is what they might have looked like if there had been any. The further progress of this property will be interesting to watch.
One year later, Airdrie Road is quiet
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| Lise Lebitka |
A year later, life goes on along quiet Airdrie Road, just west of Laird Drive. The row of semi-detached houses on the east side of the tree-lined street are all occupied, including the one in which Lise Lebitka lost her life on New Year’s Day 2012. The brick semis that sit between Lea Ave. and Heath Street E are in contrast to the higher-scale semi-detached homes on the west side and a noticeable contrast to the many well-maintained middle class single families homes to see going either direction on Airdrie. Neighbors say there isn’t too much talk about the fateful events of that day. One woman recalled conversation occasionally turns to just when her boyfriend, Paul Hindle, will stand trial for Lise’s death. Some of the neighbors were friendly with the attractive 45-year-old mother of three. After her death, the stories about her relationship with Mr. Hindle suggested that she hoped to change him. In the days following Hindle’s arrest, neighbors began a blue ribbon campaign that saw many trees on the street decorated with this symbol of remembrance. There’s nothing like that to be seen today.
Shark fin seizures as woman feigns soup tantrum
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Two interesting videos in light of City Council’s determination to have a municipal ban on shark fin soup. The City Solicitor has filed a notice of intent to appeal a court decision last month ruling the city’s ban on shark fins was illegal. Council must decide if all this effort is worth it but Scarborough Centre Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker has said that support among councillors for banning the fins remains strong. Above, on the left, a woman renders a bravura performance as she throws what is said to be mock tantrum when denied a bowl of shark fin soup because of environmental concerns. You decide, if you can, just how real this is. On the right, is a video from the BBC reporting on seizures in Hong Kong of both ivory and shark fins. Well reported.
MasterCard to jump rates in Canada by 20%
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Small business and their customers will be absorbing an estimated 20% increase in transaction fee to be imposed by MasterCard this year. MasterCard has announced it will increase the fees, paid for by businesses when they swipe your card, now set generally between 1.7 to 3.5 per cent of the cost of each purchase. These rates already are the second highest rate in the world. Richard Truscott of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is quoted as saying it will be the consumers who bear the brunt of the increase. “Consumers should realize the businesses pay those fees but they will pass it along to clients and consumers in the form of higher prices,” says Truscott. “So the public is paying for those fees in large measure.”
Olivia Chow, Rob Ford and Jose Canseco
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Toronto MP Olivia Chow is dealing with a facial spasm near her mouth caused by a disorder known as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Type II. It is a nerve condition which has partially impeded her ability to smile and make some facial expressions. Ms. Chow, the NDP transport critic, said she was diagnosed with the syndrome after waking up with some discomfort on the left side of her face over the holidays. The virus causing the disorder has been taken out of her system completely, she said, adding she is no longer taking medication and is not in any pain. In other news, Mayor Ford will hear Monday whether his appeal to stay in office has been granted. Mr. Ford’s lawyer Alan Lenczner will try to persuade a panel of three Divisional Court judges to overturn the ruling that he must vacate his office. That decision stunned many people and was judged by some to be excessive. And finally, out of nowhere comes a whimsical offer by former Blue Jay Jose Canseco to serve as our chief magistrate. There is a wrinkle. Mr. Canseco seems to understand. In an email to the Toronto Star the 48-year-old said it is unlikely he will be able to solve the obstacle of his citizenship, which is American, not Canadian.
Northern Secondary debut in Carrie is delayed
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The re-make of the movie Carrie, largely shot at Northern Secondary School in the summer of 2012, has been delayed in release for reasons unstated. Carrie, starring Chloe Grace, has been bumped by MGM some seven months over to October 18, 2013. Carrie had been timed to coincide with the Spring prom season. All of Carrie’s vengeful blood and gore occurred at the prom. In the move that is. Another Chloe Grace film made in Toronto last summer, Kick Ass 2, was shot in part on Airdrie Road. That movie will be seen this summer.
Prime Minister will meet aboriginal chiefs
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Stephen Harper will meet with aboriginal chiefs January 11, 2013, a week from today, to discuss their grievances. Ottawa Citizen
Few independent shops left at Sunnybrook Plaza
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Sunnybrook Plaza is down to three or four independent, one-store operators One of those few, gift card and wrapping paper store Wrap-it-up, is about to close after 30 years at the corner of Bayview and Eglinton. “It was just that the rent was too high,” said a clerk today about her boss’s decision to pack it up. And it’s true that the capacity of a stand-alone business to weather bad conditions is not as great as a chain. But there’s also the viability of each business for its own time. In the past, the sale of cards, paper and little china gifts could sustain a large space like that occupied by Wrap-it-up. Now retailers have ever more specialized fare and are misers when it comes to paying for space. The reliable post office in Wrap-it-up will also leave the plaza. All postal services in South Bayview will be consolidated at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Bayview Ave. As for Sunnybrook itself, this is an end-of-lease departure which so far seems to have no new tenant waiting in the wings. Indeed, the eviction of Mountain Bean Coffee over unpaid rent has left a multi-month vacancy at the other end of the plaza for owners RioCan. The Wrap-it-up location is a prime one however, sitting between two important anchors, CIBC and Pharma-Plus.