Judge gives Toronto 14 days to decide what to do

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It’s not a lot of time, but the City of  Toronto has been given 14 days before the Mayor is removed from office to decide how to replace him. Justice Charles Hackland (right) said he would suspend his order to remove the mayor for this period of time.  Prior to the decision, the Deputy Mayor Douglas Holyday (left) said he preferred a by-election to choose a new mayor. Holyday himself would normally be expected to be in the running. It would be a conventional move for the council to elect Mr. Holyday to the mayor’s chair to serve the remainder of the term until October 2014.  All Rob Stories on Google

Mayor hit for his “stubborn sense of entitlement”

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In finding that Mayor Rob Ford must be removed from office, Justice Charles Hackland has scored the Mayor for what he called his “stubborn sense of entitlement” and a “dismissive and confrontational attitude” toward the Toronto’s integrity commissioner. There was just too much information to the contrary for Mr. Ford to maintain that he had made an inadvertent error in speaking at the conflict of interest hearing at City Council earlier this year, the judge said. At issue was Ford’s participation in a Council vote on repaying money he had solicited for a private purpose using City letterhead when he was a councillor. The judge disqualified Ford from running again during this term of office and put his declaration on hold for 14 days to give the city time to make plans to deal with the situation. The Mayor can appeal the ruling.

Will voters hold their noses and elect Ford again?

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Mayor Rob Ford has been ordered out of office but will be permitted to run again in the election in 2014.  Does he have a chance of making such a return? In 2010 Ford relied on the support of at least two groups of voters. There were those who loved him for his ordinary man approach to business and were at peace with his rather rough manner. But the Mayor also gained support from many who did not admire him for his odd unfinished behaviour. They were uneasy about him but they recognized in Mr. Ford someone who would take care of their money. It required these electors to overlook a lot but some will feel that their compromises were worth it. Now Ford is gone from office. But he can run again in 2014. As one of his colleagues has said, if the mayor is to save himself and achieve re-election he must stop leading with his chin. His prospective opponents at the next election include people like Olivia Chow. She is, no doubt, a very nice person. But there seems little doubt that her administration would return Toronto to the spineless days of previous mayors in which it was impossible to say no to any union demand or costly distraction.    

LHS grad Mike Bradwell plays in 100th Grey Cup

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Loyal fans will be rooting for Leaside High School graduate Mike Bradwell when he takes to the field with the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th edition of the Grey Cup Tournament. Bradwell is a 26 year old wide receiver  and three year veteran with the Argos.  He caught fire with the Lancers in his graduating year at LHS and then went on to McMaster University. A highly detailed 2009 profile of Mike is contained n the article linked below. Mike is a pretty well rounded guy who enjoys watching movies and golfing in his free time and is a strong supporter of the Sian Bradwell Fund For Children With Cancer. Mike has two older siblings, Dave, a PhD graduate from M.I.T., and Suzanne, an emergency room doctor in St. Catharines. He majored in civil engineering at McMaster and works as a field co-op student with PCL Constructors during the off-season.  2009 Profile 

Stubborn farmer won’t sell home no matter what

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 A stubborn farmer from eastern China has become an online sensation after he refused to leave his home to make way for a new road, and ended up in the middle of it. Most of the over 1,000 residents of Xiayangzhang village in Zhejiang province moved out four years ago to allow construction of the new road. But 67-year-old farmer Luo Baogen refused to budge, saying the 260,000 yuan (£26,000) compensation offered would not afford him anything like his current five-story house, where he lives with his wife. Luo’s home has become what Chinese people call a ‘nail house,’ a building that stands on after others have been demolished, and is almost certainly hammered down in the end. Luo says he is prepared to hold his ground until the bitter end. Telegraph London

Grey Cup morning busy on South Bayview

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Grey Cup morning on South Bayview is usually busy and this one was no exception as shoppers got their chores done early.  It was a case of having to wait for parking, with no readily available spots to be seen. In COBS, business was brisk and clerks said the buns served with Chili were going quickly. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. EST.   Go  you Argos!