The South Bayview Bulldog

NDP Leader John Horgan will be the next premier of British Columbia and have the opportunity to test the confidence of the house with a planned NDP-Green alliance. Horgan made the announcement to reporters at Government House at about the same time as lieutenant-governor Judith Guichon issued a statement: “I have met with Premier Clark and will accept her resignation. I have asked Mr. Horgan to form a government, he having assured me that he can form a government which will have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly”  Post-election deals to defeat the party with the largest number of seats in the Legislature are typically frowned on in Canada. The federal Liberals and NDP decided not to try it against the last Conservative minority. The argument that neither Liberal nor NDP voters had cast a ballot for a backroom deal carried the day.  Guichon had the alternative of calling another election. Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals gained 43 seats in the May 9 election against a combined NDP-Green opposition of 44. Tight.

Roads have re-opened at the scene of a collision between a TTC bus and minivan in Etobicoke that injured eight people. One person on the bus is said to have received a serious head injury. The accident occurred near The West Mall and Rathburn Rd.

Sophia Harris of the CBC finds Tim Horton’s Canada Day strategy totally upside down — like much of the world these days. They will offer a poutine special in the US only. Photos reveal triumph of Canada 150 marketing. CBC

Sgt Kerry Schmidt recorded this Facebook Live video from Yonge Dundas Square today, where MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) and safety partners are sharing words of caution for motorists and thrill-seekers as we head into the Canada Day long weekend. Have a look inside OPP and TPS vehicles, chat with paramedics and have your picture taken getting handcuffed! Their messages could save a life. Be smart. #NeverDriveImpaired

Leaside High School Commencement Wednesday marked that timeless end and beginning of youthful experience. MP Rob Oliphant spoke and right, Danielle, is congratulated online by Gavin Dac Bang. Davisville Kitchens was showing us Drake’s modest Post Road home and giggling that they are ready to give him a hand fixing it up. Nice try. And then, it’s nearly time for the 60th Annual East York Canada Day Parade. The bike contingent hopes to say hello at Dieppe Park.

Anyone who ever attended university as a youth may recall how the kids all thought the same and really believed that they had discovered God’s truth about everything. It may be more of a problem when lecturers and profs join the group-think. A meeting at the Chestnut Conference Centre at 89 Chestnut Street was held last night to decry many conventional points of view which apparently demand that you be quiet if you disagree. City News was there.

 

Picasso’s Femme Ecrivant (Woman Writing) has sold at auction in London for €39,570,000 (C$58,741,665). It is a portrait of his dearest love, a woman of 17 who he met when he was 45 in the early 1930s. It was painted in 1934. The work has never been at auction before. Picasso held onto it until 1961 and finally sold it to a private owner whose estate put it up for auction. To the right, that’s an ISIS bullet hitting the wall beside a Kurdish woman sniper as she and her comrades close in on what’s left of the blood-thirsty mob at the City of Raqqa. They say she laughed and maybe that’s all anyone could do. Lastly, WWII Luftwaffe ace Hugo Broch, 95, got to meet the enemy close up Wednesday as air enthusiasts in Kent, England gave him a ride in a Spitfire.

New signs have been papered across the windows at 1580 Bayview Ave indicating that an establishment called Mayrik will be opening soon. They will serve Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine. This is the location of the former Vero Trattoria. Previous

Ontario has published suggested changes to legislation that would make it illegal for sales representatives to represent both the seller and buyer in a given transaction. The Liberal government has been at work on proposals since the government brought in its surcharge on foreign speculators in real estate. One of the proposals is to ban — with some limited exceptions — salespeople from representing both the buyer and seller or more than one potential buyer in a trade. The proposals are set out for public discussion.

WATERFRONT FLOOD PROTECTION

Prime Minister Trudeau was at the waterfront Wednesday with the Premier and Mayor to say that the three levels of government will spend a combined $1.2 billion to improve flood protection on the City’s lakefront. The money will go to Waterfront Toronto, the organization that administers the Toronto Port Lands Flood Protection Project. Many would have preferred to hear Mr. Trudeau announce the abolition of Waterfront Toronto, a hangover from the days of the Harbour Commission. WT permits Ottawa to continue to control the City’s waterfront to no apparent purpose except power.

KEN PAGAN

Ken Pagan, the man who tossed a beer can onto the Rogers Centre field during Toronto Blue Jays wild card playoff game last year was given a conditional discharge on Wednesday but sentenced to 12 months of probation for mischief. Mr. Pagan, who pleaded guilty to mischief under $5,000 on May 30, will not have a criminal conviction, but he will be required to perform 100 hours of community service. He has also been banned from all MLB games for 12 months and has to stay 500 metres away from the Rogers Centre.

Work is underway to replace the 90-year-old water main on Randolph Rd and the work has demonstrated stark reasons for the fashionable fabric placed under every sewer lid. These iron lids de rigueur are intended to keep rubble from clogging the sewers..And then, a single rose tucked into the top of a rubber pylon. Who said these bruisers had no soul.

The federal government is trying to calm some fears about the security of Canada Day celebrations after reports say ISIS has named Canada and the US as potential targets following the Manchester bombing late last month. In an email statement, the public safety minister’s office says it doesn’t comment on specific threats but adds the government is unwavering in its commitment to protect Canadians and will continue to take appropriate action to counter terrorist threats. It is a reminder of the brief attention span of the general public perhaps that Canada has been mentioned many times by ISIS as it invites any misfit to commit violence. RCMP Superintendent Mike O’Beirne also didn’t directly answer when asked about any known threats for Canada Day. “Our assessment is continuous, both domestically and internationally and I can tell you constantly in contact with our partners in that regard.”