The South Bayview Bulldog

The Bank of Canada slashed interest rates for the third time in a matter of weeks and announced what appears to be a large scale asset purchase program to help shield the nation’s economy from coronavirus fallout. BNN

Other news

• After years of hoarding housing supply, Toronto Airbnb hosts are panicking
• Business as usual in Chinatown despite state of emergency

O’Connor Drive southbound at Sunrise Ave.

A man of 57 has been struck and critically injured at O’Connor Drive and Sunrise Ave. Wednesday as he crossed against the light, say police. The accident occurred before dawn and saw the victim crossing O’Connor from east to west when he was struck by a southbound car. The driver remained at the scene. Police are asking residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dash-camera footage of the area or incident to contact investigators at (416) 808-1900.

City Council with 47 members

SCOC 2019

The Supreme Court of Canda will hear the City of Toronto’s appeal against the Ontario Government’s decision to cut the number of City wards from 47 to 25 two years ago. The decision will make legislative history either way. If the SCC should accept the arguments that Councillors’ constitutional rights were violated by the reduction, it seems likely to open the door to huge challenges in the power of provinces to control the fate of municipalities. That’s a power enshrined in the constitution since Confederation.

Narrowly upheld by Court of Appeal

Challenges to the 2018 legislation, named the Better Local Government Act, have so far seen an early victory for Councillors when Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba found the law unconstitutional. He also said it violated the rights of politicians in the middle of a campaign and ran afoul of the rights of voters by stopping them from casting a ballot that could provide effective representation. But later the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned Belobaba’s ruling with a narrow 3-2 decision saying the sudden legislation did not interfere with either candidates’ or voters’ ability to express themselves freely. Free speech is not the same as effective free speech, the majority found.

The Ontario Ministry of Health has announced the confirmation of 170 new cases of COVID-19 infection in the province Thursday. That brings the number of active cases to 837. It appears that 22 of the new cases are in Toronto, many among seniors. Three patients are in their 60s, one in her 80e and two in their 90s. The other Toronto cases are among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. It is the highest number of cases reported since the infection appeared here on January 25. Stringent distancing and closure rules were not implemented until about ten days ago. Several weeks appear to gave have been lost in the process. Ministry of Health

Deserted financial district

Mayor de Blasio has issued a dire warning to New Yorkers. He’s predicting a surge in coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, sound trucks roll down streets blaring a plea for people to observe social distancing.

Loblaws, Sobey and others install plexiglass screens/Aldergrove Star (BC),

Grocery stores across Canada have begun installing plexiglass screens at checkout counters as a means of making the necessary job of shopping safer from the coronavirus. This is a shot from a Loblaws in Langley, BC. City News report.

The Ontario Ministry of Health has announced that Wednesday morning’s count of additional COVID-19 cases is 100. It brings the total of confirmed active cases in the province to 671.

LRT workers at Black Creek positive for virus

The Black Creek LRT site known as West Portal One has been shut down temporarily after three workers tested positive for COVID-19. One employee is confirmed to have the virus and two others are presumptive positive but are waiting for official confirmation from the national lab in Winnipeg.

Public transit a perilous place

Evidence that public transit is a perilous place was revealed again Wednesday when Peel Region Transit revealed that a bus driver had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he had worked on four routes in recent days. Peel Region Health has said that riders on these routes are not believed to be at any “additional risk” of contracting the virus but the rationale here isn’t clear. They say that the driver is currently self-isolating at home. Earlier in March, it was revealed that a man who had recently returned from Egypt and then proven positive had ridden the Hamilton-Toronto GO bus several days in a row.

A two-year-old boy has been fatally injured outside the front door of an apartment at Richview Rd and Scarlett Rd. The tragic events unfolded Tuesday afternoon as the driver, 25, waited outside the apartment for a passenger. Once aboard, he put the car in reverse and struck a mother and her boy who were also exiting the apartment. The accident recalls the life-saving nature of backup signals on cars. Police are asking local residents, businesses, and drivers, who may have security or dash-camera footage of the area or incident, to contact investigators at (416) 808-1900.

Absurd bitcoin scam goes on virus or no virus

Police are warning of ongoing attempts to swindle people and get away with it by using the anonymous bitcoin currency. In reality, the untraceable bitcoin has become one of the best friends ever found by criminal minds. This time victims are told their social insurance number has been compromised and asked to convert their cash to bitcoin to protect their assets. It’s an absurd idea but of course sooner or later someone falls for it.

Canadians and people everywhere may find some hope in the imminent defeat of the COVID-19 virus in China. The country will have been in lockdown for 76 days when travel restrictions are lifted on April 8. If this report is correct, community transmission has been reduced to nothing. Some 78 cases were detected Monday, almost all attributable to travellers arriving from Europe and elsewhere.

Leaders are making daily announcements during the COVID-19 crisis. Premier Ford announced has reduced hydro rates applying for a minimum of 45 days.