Two in random attack on Bloor shoppers with pepper spray

by  • 

Police say seven or eight people were randomly attacked with pepper spray Friday night and four were taken to hospital for treatment. This occurred on the concourse level of 2 Bloor East at Yonge St. about 8 p.m. Two suspects are sought and one is said to be a white man with dark hair a red baseball cap with a red tank top and a black backpack. The other is a woman with dark hair who was wearing white glasses and a tank top.

Man in bad shape flown to hospital from Hwy 401/Pickering

by  • 

A man has been airlifted to hospital in critical condition from a collision in Pickering on Friday afternoon. The crash occurred at around 5 p.m. on Highway 401 at Brock Rd. Two vehicles were involved in the incident, according to OPP.

Canadian cops within law to find killers with private DNA

by  • 

Golden State killer was caught using familial DNA tracing

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has told Canadian Press that direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies are subject to federal and provincial private-sector privacy laws, if they are based in the country or have a real and substantial link to Canada and are engaged in commercial activities. Generally speaking, says CP, Canadian police would have lawful authority to pursue an action such as trying to identify suspects with DNA information held by private companies under those laws, the office said. It also noted, however, that the DNA Identification Act, which introduced the National DNA Data Bank in 1998, does not allow for familial searching. “Our view is that DNA constitutes highly sensitive personal information. While DNA profiles can help solve cold cases … and bring emotional closure to victims and families, their collection and retention must respect the highest possible standards of fair balance between security and privacy,” it said in an emailed statement.

Trump goes on the offensive as G7 meeting opens in Quebec

by  • 

Donald Trump is firing back at Canada Friday morning over what he says are unfair trade practices as he prepares to head to the G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec. The latest series of tweets by Trump follow posts he made last night — including his accusation that the Prime Minister is being “indignant.” Among his shots is criticism of Canada for unfairly charging tariffs on dairy products shipped to the US. This is in fact a long-time and unfair practice of Canada and one which, according to commentator John Ivison, of the National Post, Canada has agreed to modify in discussions already completed. The other sensitive issue for the US is Canadian lumber. The heart of that dispute is the claim that the Canadian lumber industry is unfairly subsidized by federal and provincial governments, as most timber in Canada is owned by the provincial governments. Wikipedia

CNN: Anthony Bourdain is dead at 61, an apparent suicide

by  • 

American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has been found dead in his hotel room in France while working on his CNN series. He was 61. CNN confirmed the death, saying in a statement he was found unresponsive Friday morning by friend and chef Eric Ripert, and calling it a suicide. CNN said Bourdain was in Strasbourg filming an upcoming segment in his series Parts Unknown, which airs on the network.




Blue, orange and candid thumbnails as the sun rises Friday

by  • 

Ontario has awakened Friday to a political map that makes it look like three provinces. Downtown Toronto is NDP orange while the rest of the province below Sudbury is largely Conservative blue. The enormous northern hinterland up to the Manitoba border and Hudson Bay is orange as well. A man from Etobicoke is the premier-elect. He is the not very smooth-talking brother of one of the most problematic mayors that Toronto has ever endured. Many say the PC victory would have been even larger if the party had been led by Christine Elliott. The new premier is viewed by many as a right-wing renegade. Whatever his impulses however, he seems to possess some capacity for restraint when his utterances backfire.

NDP, LIBERALS

His opponent as leader of the Opposition is a woman from Hamilton who many fear as a socialist radical. Her popularity in the NDP has remained solid in spite of her consistent support for the Wynne minority government throughout the hideous gas plant scandal. There is no money she would leave unspent. The Ontario Liberal Party is reduced to a political rump of merely seven seats. This would seem to be a long-overdue rejection of policies pursued through five years by a self-avowed activist. For good or ill, Kathleen Wynne pursued energy policies that both infuriated and terrified many. There were hints the Liberals might even eliminate natural gas as a home heating fuel. Most of all, the government cost taxpayers billions. But the ever well-intentioned Wynne was and is a political figure of human titanium. A charming person to meet, some will add that she is also wily beyond belief. She won Don Valley West by 181 votes.

The night Ontario’s political landscape changed completely

by  • 






Jays busy winning 5-4 in overtime as voters make history

by  • 

PC Party elects majority to form next Ontario Government

by  • 

Kathleen Wynne has won the riding of Don Valley West over a strong opponent, Jon Kieran, as the PC Party forged to electoral victory in a landmark election. In tearful remarks Thursday night, Wynne resigned as Liberal leader. The Progressive Conservatives will have a majority that comes close to doubling opposition strength in the Legislature. The Liberal Party, in losing power after 15 years, has been reduced to seven seats, too few for recognized party status. The NDP proved a strong force in Midtown Toronto and across the City south of Eglinton Ave. It won both Toronto St. Paul’s and the new socially diverse riding of University Rosedale. The Liberals came second in both. UR in particular seemed like a replay of voting patterns in the old Toronto Centre.. The NDP won Toronto Centre, Toronto Danforth, Don Valley East and Davenport. The PCs won Don Valley North.

Moore Park votes rapidly counted despite odd grumble

by  • 

Voters at the polling station in the gym of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Garfield Ave. saw their votes rapidly counted Thursday morning. Two grumbles about a preference for “paper ballots” were heard but in fact the marking of ballots remains as old-fashioned as time. An ink marker is provided to make an X on the traditional alphabetical list printed on white paper. A cardboard envelope permits confidentiality as the voter hands the ballot over to the counting machine operator. The machine latches into the ballet and pulls it into the counter. The printed portion is face down so no one can see how the vote was cast.

SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES

A report from Elections Ontario at midday revealed what were called technical issues at a handful of locations. According to a spokesperson, 99.57 percent of technology-enabled polls are up and running. It’s not known how many polls are represented by three percent. The process in such cases can fall back on hand counting if necessary. The CBC said there were reports of electronic vote tabulators not working, errors in electronic databases, internet connectivity outages, and staff who were not well versed in the new machines giving long explanations on how to use ballots. It said reports of such slowdowns were received from Toronto, Ottawa, London and Tillsonburg. CBC

Electoral system of the free commands you to cast a ballot

by  • 

Polls are open and will remain so until 9 p.m. in Ontario. Find time to vote. It is a terrible dereliction of civic duty to say none of the above deserves your vote. Some candidates may be unpalatable and many will be plain wrong. But the great process by which we remain free commands you to keep it working. All election leads.

16 boaters adrift off Sunnyside rescued by TPS marine unit

by  • 

Police marine personnel and EMS rescued and treated 16 people from the waters of Lake Ontario off Sunnyside Park Wednesday night when a dragon boat practice went wrong. The vessel capsized, throwing all on board into the chilly water. Paramedics say the boaters suffered minor hypothermia. The rowers were a pickup crew apparently brought together by a commercial dragon boat operation, As such, it was a challenge for police to make sure everyone was found and rescued. In the end, all  are accounted for and safe.