The South Bayview Bulldog

The recreation activities along Bremner Blvd — CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium and Rogers Centre — appear to have been the target of a threat which police have so far refused to make public. In addressing increased police presence in the heavily-barriered area, police have said there is a threat but refused to discuss what it is. This  has caused annoyance among some who feel the public has a right to know the nature of such things. The likely reason for police caution is the fear of inspiring additional misfits to perhaps actually execute a threat. The use of a truck to hit crowds of people comes to mind.

The three large firms contracted to build the Eglinton Crosstown LRT are suing the provincial transit authority,  Metrolinx, for breach of contract over the original deadline for completion of the project. The companies, Aecon, EllisDon and SNC-Lavalin (Crosslinx), say circumstances have made it difficult, or impossible, for them to finish the LRT by the previously agreed deadline of 2021. Metrolinx has 30 days to respond to the notice of motion filed at the Ontario Superior Court. The contractors are saying that work by “utility companies” took longer than scheduled and that there were delays in the issuance of “permits, licenses and approvals.” In a statement provided to CP24 on Thursday, Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said that the transit agency has been “working closely” with the Crosslinx consortium over the last several months “on their alleged reasons for a claim” but have not yet arrived at a solution. “As with any contract, claims are considered and reviewed thoroughly and we continue to work with Crosslinx to reach an outcome that fairly addresses the challenges that they have encountered on Eglinton,” she said. The Eglinton Crosstown had been scheduled for completion by 2020 which was later pushed back to September 2021.

Is he a big mouth? Yep. But hey, he’s also a pushy big mouth. That’s the part that tells you Donald Trump really does not like those Europeans. Then to Mississauga where Croatian fans live. They look forward to the thrill of a ding-dong battle with France for the World Cup. Then, it’s 1997 all over including sex tuition at the TDSB. Is this the meaning of doing what comes naturally? Finally, a City News visit to a $80,000 tree cleanup in Leslieville from May.

A news conference will be held Thursday at 8 a.m. in the media gallery at police headquarters to announce a new Gun Violence Reduction Plan. Chief Mark and Mayor Tory to make public details of the program. It will be live-streamed The news conference will be available on the TOC and will be live-streamed at this address.

Hydro One’s CEO is retiring as part of an agreement between the Ontario government and the utility company that will also see the replacement of the entire board. The deal, whatever else it may include, means Mayo Schmidt will receive a retirement sum of about $400,000 instead of the $10 million firing bonus he might have received if he had been dismissed. Wednesday night there is much speculation about possible unknowns attached to the deal. CTV says many want to know “what the government had to give up” to persuade Schmidt to retire.

The Bank of Canada is apparently staying calm about the widely-feared impact of Donald Trump trader tariffs both known and unknown. BOC jumped its rate a quarter point to 1.5 percent, a signal to all lenders that they too can charge more for borrowed money. It was the bank’s fourth increase over the last 12 months and the first time the rate has been this high since December 2008. It said it expects the negative blow of the trade policies recently put in place to be largely offset by the positives for Canada from higher oil prices, which are above US$73 per barrel, and the stronger US economy. Maybe someday there will be pipelines to move the oil.

• Canada to lead new training mission in Iraq
• Ted Arnott elected Speaker of the Legislature
• CN Rail to spend $315M to upgrade Ontario operations

Video has been released showing both the rescued Thai soccer boys in hospital, as well as shots taken during the rescue. The boys were sedated and effectively asleep as they were brought out. Rescuers feared there might be panic. In the event, it was a huge success and the boys are all said to be doing well in hospital.

The Honda Indy is a wonderful driving exhibition but no place for the family Accord, says Carl Hanske.

Fire: Laird Dr/ Eglinton Ave.. Vehicle on fire. Occupant is out of the vehicle. Reports that one lane is now blocked. No info on which roadway/lane is impacted. Units responding. #GO1261795^adc

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 11, 2018

Donald Trump says a pipeline project has made Germany a “captive to Russia.” He launched his remarks during a combative breakfast Wednesday that began what was already expected to be a bumpy NATO summit. Trump scolded NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about how the US protects Germany even as the European nation makes deals with Russia. CBC

Durham Polce are digging into the activities of an Oshawa man in connection with the death of Rori Hache and the discovery of DNA belonging to Kandis Fitzpatrick. Both women are traced to the same home. Then, joyous success by international rescuers in the safe delivery of 12 young soccer players and their coach in Thailand. Speaking of soccer, it will be either Croatia or England against France in competition for the World Cup. France beat Belgium 1-0 Tuesday and the Croatia-England game is Wednesday at 2 p.m. France is favoured against either team. Finally, excited commercialism to be sure but Travis Pastrana has matched the Evel Knievel motorcycle jump.

Heroes honoured by TTC/Mayor Tory photo

Mayor Tory has tweeted pictures and expressed his pleasure at being able to personally thank the heroes of the Broadview subway station rescue June 28. A blind man who had fallen to the tracks was pulled to safety by the men. They are Kyle Busquine, Julio Cabrera and Jehangir Faisal, seen at the centre of the group photo at Tuesday’s TTC board meeting. The men were given free passes to the transit system for a year.  Hero leaps onto tracks to save blind man stranded below

ALSO AT THE TTC

The TTC board has appointed Rick Leary as CEO, a job he has been doing on an interim basis since Andy Byford left the agency more than six months ago. Leary is a railway man through and through, having begun his career as a train attendant with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in 1984 and risen through the ranks, eventually becoming the Chief Operating Officer of that system.

BOMBARDIER TRANSIT PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES

It hardly seems enough but the transit president of Bombardier, Benoit Brossoit, has apologized for the appalling performance of his company with respect to delayed delivery and massively slipshod work on Toronto’s new streetcars. Bombardier confirmed last week that it would have to recall 67 of the 89 streetcars already delivered to the TTC because to a “welding defect” that could impact the guaranteed 30-year lifespan of the vehicles. Brossoit appeared before the TTC board to say he “understands and shares the disappointment” of TTC riders and “truly apologizes” for the issue. Bombardier is doing everything it can to “make it right” and deliver on its commitments to Toronto. If Bombardier made dishwasher soap it would be out of business by now.