The South Bayview Bulldog

Intersection is closed/@PatMorrell_CBC

Chased by police/ @PatMorrell_CBC

Three treated at hospital/@PatMorrell_CBC

A stolen car containing three people, two teen boys and a young woman, was chased through west end streets Wednesday morning. The chase ended when the vehicle plowed into track replacement machinery at the closed intersection of Dundas St. and Lansdowne Ave. about 2.45 a.m. The occupants were treated for minor injuries.

MOTORCYCLE INTO FG WAY GUARDRAIL

A man is in serious condition after his motorcycle hit a guardrail on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway at the noon hour. Police said the man, who is young, was conscious and breathing upon their arrival.

Release from Hamilton police with inset of VW Golf Alltrack by Bulldog

Hamilton Police have released surveillance video from the killing on Sunflower Cres. in Ancaster showing a suspect vehicle which they say is a “light-coloured SUV or crossover-type vehicle.” But a reader of the City News website chimes in that the surveillance picture tells him that the vehicle shown is almost certainly a VW Golf Alltrack. The reader, WD69, says: “You don’t have to be a car expert to know that this is a VW Golf Alltrack in Pure White (a wagon), a very unique car. There aren’t too many around so it should be quite easy to figure out who’s it is… unless it was reported stolen prior to the shooting. This might help rule out any ‘other SUV or crossover-type’ vehicles.” A real estate agent, Albert Iavarone, was ambushed in front of his home. Police say he has mob associates.  Police are probing Iavarone’s “entrepreneurial adventures”

Aubrey Drake Graham is taking legal action after he says an Instagram model he met on tour in 2017 tried to extort money from him on the premise that she was pregnant. Layla Lace and Drake crossed paths during his Boy Meets World tour in England and from the sounds of this story, according to Alissa Heidman in the online publication Narcity.  There is video on the site of Lace on SiriusXM station Shade 45 declaring: “I know who I sleep with unprotected, period. It’s one hundred percent [for] sure [Drake’s child], he knows it.” 

Drake and Layla

Toronto envoy

• Elton John buys vinyl at Sonic Boom on Spadina
• Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber are definitely married: Alec Baldwin

Streetcar derailed in collision with ambulance

A streetcar collided with an ambulance Wednesday on Queen’s Quay in the new multi-lane bike, car, streetcar and pedestrian traffic complex. Some say the street is so confusing it is a virtual no-man’s-land.

Police in Guelph say a woman sat in the rear seat of a car and apparently filmed a child of 8 or 10 years trying to drive the vehicle. It was driven into another car at a skating arena Tuesday. A man sat in the passenger seat as this occurred. Following the collision, the adults took control of the car and left.

Associate Chief Justice Alexnadra Hoy

Justice Edward Belobaba

Premier Ford

Ontario’s Court of Appeal has issued a stay putting a lower court’s ruling striking down Bill 5 on hold. Bill 5, which slashed the size of Toronto council to 25 wards, is now in effect pending appeal.  This decision by the panel of three judges means that City staff will immediately begin preparing for a 25-ward election, to be held on Oct. 22. As tweeted below, the appeal court took issue with Superior Court Judge Edward Belobaba’s finding that freedom of expression was related in some way to the size of municipal wards. The appeal court panel was composed of Associate Chief Justice Alexandra Hoy, Justice Robert Sharpe and Justice Gary Trotter. The judges found that while Toronto City Council candidates had a “reasonable expectation” they would be contesting a 47-ward election, they are not  guaranteed this outcome by the Charter of Rights. They also say that changing rules after campaign began may be unfair, but “unfairness alone does not establish a charter breach.” The appeal court again makes a distinction between fairness and a violation of the constitution. “The question for the courts is not whether Bill 5 is unfair but whether it is unconstitutional. […] [W]e have concluded that there is a strong likelihood that application judge erred in law and that the AG’s appeal to this court will succeed.”

Strong words here from the court of appeal judges, slamming Belobaba's earlier ruling: "It is not in the public interest to permit the impending election to proceed on the basis of a dubious ruling that invalidates legislation duly passed by the Legislature."

— Lauren Pelley (@LaurenPelley) September 19, 2018

Metro Inc, Loblaws and Empire (owner of Sobeys) were weeping tears of apparent sadness Tuesday as they cited rising minimum wages and new trade tariffs at the US-Canada border for increased prices now and in the near future. “Exactly when and how — it’s all about competitive dynamics. Everybody is competitive. Nobody wants to lose any share. So, let’s see how things play out,” said Metro Inc. boss Eric La Fleche. The executives met at Scotiabank’s back-to-school conference in Toronto. National Post

Saliva test for concussion

Yusaku Maezawa

Twin Town Brazil

The scourge of concussion may be much easier to diagnose and treat quickly as a result of research into a simple saliva test. Remarkable. Then, say hello to Japanese billionaire and artist Yusaku Maezawa, 43, who will be the first revenue service rider on a trip around the moon in 2023. Below that, the mysterious abundance of twins in Cândido Godói, Brazil. It is a village of 7,000 inhabitants populated by descendents of German immigrants and scientists say, not surprisingly, that it must be in the genes. Finally, the Ontario Court of Appeal will decide tomorrow if Doug Ford has violated the rights of Ontarians or merely enacted legislation to make Toronto Council smaller.

Doug Ford drove a tractor Tuesday as did NDP leader Andrea Horwath. They’re seen in the City News video below. Both leaders seem to have brought home the bacon as they worked the land. Premier Ford was talking tough about trade. There should be no compromises on agricultural supply management he said. “If you’re asking me, don’t compromise,” he said. “We have to protect the farmers. We have to protect the auto workers. We have to protect everyone in Ontario.” The Ontario Plowing Match is in Chatham-Kent.

Tuesday at Cleveland St. and Belsize Ave.

Same place recently

The Bulldog is noticing fresh paint in the form of zebra stripe crosswalks on Cleveland St. and elsewhere in South Bayview Tuesday. It appears to be part of the City’s Vision Zero road-marking plan to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

Christine Blasey Ford then

Brett Kavanaugh

Christine Blasey Ford now

Palo Alto University professor Christine Blasey Ford has come forward and says she is ready to testify before Congress. She will tell members that Brett Kavanaugh, a nominee for appointment to the US Supreme Court, groped her over her clothes, ground his body against hers and clumsily attempted to pull off her one-piece bathing suit and the clothing she wore over it. This occurred on a summer night at a party sometime during or before 1983. Kavanaugh vehemently denies the allegation. A letter has gone out from 65 women who say they knew Kavanaugh in high school and have stayed in touch. “For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect,” they say. Letter written by Christine Ford

A Mainstreet Research poll in Toronto, where the PC Party won just seven ridings in the June election, contains a sampling of some 800 people who are opposed to the use of the notwithstanding clause by 65 percent. The poll also reveals that 55 percent oppose a smaller City Council except in North York where a narrow majority supports the reduction. Mainstreet does not break out the minority numbers and those with no opinion. The poll also shows that some 61.8 percent of respondents support John Tory’s re-election as mayor. The poll says 25.6 percent support former planner Jenifer Keesmaat. Candidate FaithGoldy is said to have 6 percent support.