Supreme Court off in all directions on niqab

by  • 

The Supreme Court of Canada has delivered an unusual split decision — coming down all over the place as to whether a woman should be able to conceal her face in court with the Muslim draping known as the niqab. The court did render a majority decision, but many may call it not very useful. The four justice majority, including Chief Justice Madam Beverley McLachlin, said the matter must be decided on each occasion by the court facing the issue. Others in this majority were Madam Justice Marie Deschamps, Mr. Justice Morris Fish and Mr. Justice Thomas Cromwell. Two judges, Mr Justice Marshall Rothstein and Mr. Justice Louiis Lebel concluded that such covering should never be permitted on a witness in court. Madam Justice Rosalie Abella, on the other hand, said the niqab might be worn by any woman witness so long as her identity was not in doubt. The issue of establishing identity to an absolute certainty however was an open question.   Barbara Kay excellent analysis

Life, liberty and the pursuit of bananas

by  • 

A judge will decide tomorrow on whether Yasmin Nakhuda can have the monkey back. The real estate broker was in court today arguing she should have the little creature returned to her. It’s not legal to have a monkey in Toronto, nor in many other places in Canada. Outside court, her relatives carried  signs saying “Free Darwin Now!” Darwin seems headed to become a celebrity incarcerated deserving public elevation to a  persona like the “Ikea One” or some similar appeal to concepts of injustice.

Schools close in Detroit citing Doomsday panic

by  • 

Parents in Ontario can take some solace that school shutdowns here aren’t related to widespread fears among students. Thousands of students in the Detroit area are out of school because at least two Michigan counties decided to cancel classes because of talk surrounding the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and rumors connected to the Mayan calendar predicting the end of the world. Five districts in Lapeer County and 20 districts in Genesee County posted announcements Wednesday evening cancelling classes Thursday and Friday. “Given the recent events in Connecticut, there have been numerous rumors circulating in our district, and in neighboring districts, about potential threats of violence against students. Additionally, rumors connected to the Mayan calendar predicted end of the world on Friday have also surfaced,” a letter from Matt Wandrie, Superintendent of Lapeer Community Schools said.

700 Ont. teachers filled “incomplete” report cards

by  • 

The issue of incomplete report cards has been brewing under the surface of the teacher’s dispute for weeks. Now the Globe and Mail says some 700 teachers have been identified by their principals for not submitting complete report cards. The Globe says the teachers are accused of insubordination for the incomplete cards, even though they were following their union’s orders. Principals asked teachers who only wrote one line on report cards, to elaborate further. Those that didn’t, could receive a permanent letter of discipline which will make it tougher for them to move between schools, or into a higher ranking position.

Sweet! Cupcake Girls land on Laird Drive

by  • 

There is a kind of be-still-my-heart quality to the excitement building over the imminent arrival of the Cupecake Girls shop at the Leaside Village on Laird Drive. Two attractive, successful businesswomen with a giggly product, a syndicated cable television program and so much fun in their hearts that the cupcakes may not even have to be good. But they are, we’re certain. The above video recounts the collaboration of Victoria, B.C. schoolgirl pals   Lori Joyce and Heather White who just decided one day to throw over everything and make cupcakes. You got to love it. Along the way they employed a promotional flare that is admirable. One video opening shows Heather bopping Lori in the face with a cupcake. Did we say they loved fun? Now, the building is almost finished over at Leaside Village. It’s the place just across the main entrance from the CIBC.    It will be open in the New Year.

Artisan Bakery opens at Yonge and St. Clair

by  • 

The Artisan Baker at Yonge and St. Clair is profiled in the Toronto Life blog. It’s the passion owner and chef Bruno Beaudoin. Toronto Life 

Stunning non-surgical procedure at Sunnybrook

by  • 

A non-surgical brain procedure performed this very day at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has eliminated tremors that have cursed the life of a Canadian engineer for more than ten years. It is an inspiring story revealing once again the amazing advances being made in internal medicine without the use of a scalpel.  National Post 

“Rouge” is Air Canada’s new discount carrier

by  • 

Air Canada held a news conference this morning to announce the creation of a new discount carrier named Rouge.  The new carrier will  focus on holiday destinations in Europe, the U.S. and the Caribbean. The first flights aboard Rouge will take place next July 1, 2013 with two Boeing 767s and two Airbus A319s borrowed from Air Canada’s main fleet. More destinations will be added later. Eventually, Rouge will expand to 50 planes as Air Canada begins to take delivery of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2014. Reuters

Toronto public elementary teachers strike day

by  • 

Teachers picketed public schools throughout South Bayview today. Most of the contingents were a small representation of the total staff.  About a dozen teachers carried signs outside Rolph Road Elementary School for example. Elsewhere pickets said they were glad to be fighting for bargaining rights but some also said they would be happy to return to class tomorrow. At the office of former cabinet minister and Liberal leadership candidate Kathleen Wynne (inset) on Eglinton Ave E just west of Laird Dr a large group of noisy pickets heard speeches and waved to drivers who honked support. Notices on elementary school websites are commiserating with parents. This is the text of the notice on the  Maurice Cody site:
 Dear families of Maurice Cody, 
There have been many questions regarding the impending one day strike/walkout by Elementary Teachers of Toronto. The local media reported last night that Tuesday, December 18, 2013 schools in the Toronto District School Board will be closed to all students. Please go to the TDSB website for additional information regarding the one day strike. Many thanks for your patience and understanding through the labour action. Happy holidays to all and warm wishes for a very healthy and Happy New year.  

Why not send urgent medical records by 9-1-1?

by  • 

The federal body that regulates smart phones and  myriad other linked devices is holding a hearing in Ottawa this week to plan how to make 9-1-1 emergency services function in all the applications of the digital present.  Can 9-1-1 service be enhanced so that it will transmit useful emergency information to police, fire or EMO staff? Many people think so. The prospect that an iPhone for example might be able to send emergency medical records to EMO staff using the patient’s own phone seems quite likely.

City budget headed for a 2% increase: writer

by  • 

Paul Moloney writing Monday night in the Toronto Star says that Toronto’s property taxes are going to rise a bit more than earlier proposed, to add a few spending items and account for the impacts of reassessment and council tax policy. He writes that after originally pegging the increase at 1.95 per cent, the budget committee Monday boosted that to an even 2 percent. The difference is enough to raise an extra $1.15 million that will provide:
 • $500,000 in increased grants to community service agencies.
 • $300,000 more to local arts organizations.
 • $75,000 to Toronto Botanical Gdns, which ended 2011 $198,000 in the red. 
 • $30,000 to help lawn bowling clubs.
 • $17,800 extra for student nutrition.
 • $227,200 still to be allocated.

Abducted kids returned from Zimbabwe

by  • 

A mom has finally been re-united with her two children after they were apparently abducted by a relative of her husband while they were on a vacation trip to Zimbabwe in April. Today Biatra Muzabazi, the children’s mother, appeared at a Toronto Police Service news conference and thanked all those who assisted in the return of the children, Rene, 7 and Shane, 4. Many Canadian agencies assisted in the international effort to return the children and the story is told in the police video at the right taken at the news conference.