The South Bayview Bulldog

A dramatic new charge for the use of credit cards is about to begin in the U.S. They’re calling it a checkout fee and it can legally run to as much as four per cent of the value of the purchase if you pay with a  Visa or MasteCard. This charge comes about as the result of a settlement between the card companies the U.S. government over the fees being collected for the use of so-called premium cards. Those are the ones that carry a higher transaction fee for retailers.  It has been an issue in Canada where the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has been fighting to give retailers the same freedom to off set the added “swipe charge” of the growing number of premium cards. For more than a year, Visa and MasterCard  have been calculating ways to get more from retailers so they can offer their card holders “gifts” and “premiums”.  Of course nothing is really free and sooner or later the consumer is going to pay for those alleged freebies either through a checkout charge similar to those now effective in the U.S., or in higher prices. In Canada, credit card companies have been successful in fighting off demands by retailers to charge consumers selectively more for  premium cards. As it stands, if a merchant signs on to accept Visa, he must charge whatever the card company says, and no more.

Toronto lawyer Clay Ruby says he will seek leave to appeal today’s decision restoring Mayor to office to the Supreme Court of Canada.  Seeking leave to appeal means that Mr. Ruby. and his client Paul Magder, will  have to persuade the Supreme Court that this case is of sufficient importance and interest, having not just a local impact but implications for broader law, that they should be granted the opportunity to appeal it. They have no automatic right of appeal.

A three-judge panel of Ontario Divisional Court has granted the appeal of Mayor Rob Ford of the lower court judgement which had ordered him from office. Thus Mayor Ford is restored to the office of chief magistrate and will serve out his term to the next election. The court found that Judge Hackland erred in his original decision and that decision is dismissed   The 15-page decision, with no dissent, indicates that there was no conflict of interest because the mayor had no pecuniary interest in the outcome of the council decision. The judges in the appeal were Regional Senior Justice Edward Then, Justice Lynne Leitch, and Justice Katherine Swinton.  CBC

Giorgio Mammoliti  (Ward 7 York West) has made statements which suggest a criminal conspiracy intended to discredit him and others. It appears however that so far, at least, Mr Mammoliti has the most feeble of cases to support such a concern. He says “when I can prove it, I’ll be going to the police.”  There may well be many people interested in discrediting the city councillor. He has clearly identified political opponents who play hardball — maybe even a little dirty. The issue however is whether anyone is committing a crime.  Mr. Mammoliti refers to phone tapping and people following him. But he is unable to prove it. Tapping phones is clearly illegal.  Surveillance is frequently ripe for prosecution as harassment. His  opponents at City Hall are laughing at Mr. Mammoliti.  This sadly is what you get for raising such concerns without any proof.  

Are  some German-made cars more prone to engine problems?  A study from a U.K. warranty service provider claims German powerhouses Audi, BMW and Volkswagen all finished in the bottom 10 of 36 European-market brands. Honda was shown to be among the most reliable. Auto Express.