2nd tier Ontario Liberal ministers move to new desks

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Premier Wynne has appointed Marie-France Lalonde (Ottawa-Orleans) Corrections Minister. Now former minister David Orazietti resigned last month to spend more time with family. Corrections has become the focus of a furious Toronto Star crusade targeting solitary confinement. Sadly, it is sometimes needed to simply protect an inmate from others, or vice versa.  Lalonde had been government and consumer services minister, a post that will now be filled by Tracy MacCharles, who also keeps her role as minister responsible for accessibility. MacCharles had also been minister responsible for women’s issues, a portfolio that is now transferred to Indira Naidoo-Harris, who retains responsibility for Early Years and Child Care. Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal gets a new job added, also assuming a new portfolio as minister responsible for small business. Does anyone remember when the Premier herself was Agriculture Minister?

Invitation issued for Doc Pashby event Thursday, Jan. 19

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You’re invited
Tom Pashby and friend
His good work

The Leaside Sports Hall of fame is tweeting an invitation to the evening January 19, 2017 at the William Lea Room. It will celebrate the gift of $500,000 to the Leaside Memorial Community Arena. Thanks so much.

CP24 weather guy Coulter a client at Bayview clothier

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Home prices continue to rise but not as quickly right here

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Statistics from the fourth quarter of 2016 suggest that Midtown re-sale home prices are feeling the pressure from buyers looking elsewhere. Prices were up everywhere but less so in the priciest part of the the GTA.  The average price of a home in the City of Toronto in the final months of 2016 was $720,029, which represents a 12.4 per cent increase from the same time period in 2015. CBC

 

Leaside-EY Federation of University Women meet MP

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Twins together for first time since adoption in China

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The photo that revealed all
Packers vs Seahawks
Tears of Joy

Ten-year-old Chinese twin sisters separated by adoption as babies have met for the first time in person this week in a deeply touching moment broadcast live on the ABC program Good Morning America. Both girls — Audrey Doering from Wausau, Wisconsin and Gracie Rainsberry of Richland, Washington — wept tears of joy. They might never have found each other except for the curiosity of Audrey’s mom. Through adoption sources in China she found a photo of them as babies with their foster mother. She realized they were twins. She went to work trying to locate her daughter’s sister and found Gracie in the same country, albeit 1,500 miles away. They’re sameness is remarkable, the more so because ABC arranged to dress them identically for their meeting. Both girls wear glasses naturally.

Rain, fog predicted overnight and into Thursday

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Environment Canada has issued a statement warning of 15 to 25 mm of rain tonight into early Thursday. An area of rain is approaching from the central states.  Fog patches are also expected overnight giving local reduced visibilities. Some rain is forecast at times during the day on Thursday, however further amounts should be light. Caution is advised near creeks. Ponding of water may occur on some roads.

Girl reunited with Teddy lost in airport shooting chaos

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A Canadian girl, Courtney Gelina, is reunited with bear, lost during the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting. It was a gift from her late grandfather as a child and she and the bear were inseparable before she lost it. Her mom, Kim Lariviere talked to CNN.

Sunnybrook closure may be boon for South Bayview

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Now that agreement has been reached between the City and RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) on how to rebuild Sunnybrook Plaza, tenants ranging from the Source to the UPS store are looking at their options. For some, the choice may be to look south to the South Bayview business district where there are lots of empty locations. But as in all things, timing will be critical.

TOWERS 11 AND 16 FLOORS

Yes, the parties have agreed that the towers of Sunnybrook Plaza will go just so high and no further. The deal struck late last year at the Ontario Municipal Board set the height at 11 and 16 floors. But wait, the tenants of Sunnybrook Plaza have leases. And some, including heavy-hitters like Rexall Pharma Plus and Home Hardware, are thought to extend nearly to or beyond 2020. If they are kicked out now, RioCan will pay a pricey penalty.

FINAL APPROVALS MAY WAIT

The lease factor, plus a concern on the part of the Ontario government (Metrolinx) that construction on private developments should not interfere with LRT progress, may delay final approvals for Sunnybrook. In the end, the  closure of the 1951 plaza may be a boost for the South Bayview business district to the south as tenants seek locations near Bayview Ave. and Millwood Rd. Sunnybrook Plaza deal calls for towers 11 and 16 storeys 

Trump denies Russians have compromising information

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President-elect, Donald Trump on Wednesday has denied any relations with Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies leaked whispers that the Russians possess compromising information on him. The indignant Trump said: “Are we living in Nazi Germany?” Euronews

MUSLIM GIRLS MUST SWIM WITH BOYS

Another hot topic Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled that Swiss Muslim girls must swim with boys. It rejected the appeal of two Swiss citizens, originally from Turkey, who cited their Muslim faith in seeking to keep their two prepubescent daughters out of a mixed, mandatory swimming class. Euronews

Davisville School JK Open House set for February 7

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Open House – Feb 7th

They’re tweeting a big Woo-Hoo from Davisville Public School office Wednesday to herald the forthcoming Junior Kindergarten Open House.  It’s 6.30 to 7.30 February 7, 2017.

Liberal ads: What do you think of Canada’s democracy?

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Electoral reform ad – Canada.ca

Ads asking “What do you think of Canada’s democracy” are appearing today on websites like The South Bayview Bulldog. It is part of the Liberal government’s sly back-down from thoroughgoing reform of the venerable first-past-the-post rule (or ranked ballots) promised by Mr. Trudeau during the election campaign. It also permits a quiet bypass of proportional voting, a means by which one-issue parties could get more representation in the House of Commons. Traditionalists tend to reject proportionality somewhat more strongly than they do the idea of ranked ballots. Write to us if you have an informed opinion.