The South Bayview Bulldog

You may say what you like about Dollarama, but the people have spoken. Opening day at the new dollar store on Mt. Pleasant was a beep-beep-beep kind of the cash experience. Listen to the code reader go.

We always wish to be careful with such reports, but a post on the Sunnybrook Dog Park Association Facebook page today says that a coyote was seen at Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Roxborough East side heading up David Balfour Ravine. Yes, that’s open country. The poster says the sighting occurred at 12:45 Tuesday.

According to the City of Toronto’s Coyotes webpage: “Coyotes have become a natural part of the urban landscape in Toronto and are an important part of the ecosystem as they control rodent and rabbit populations. They thrive in urban areas because of the abundance of food and shelter available to them. However, residents should always exercise caution around coyotes.

Remember: Coyotes are naturally timid animals and will flee when confronted with aggression.

• Be Big: stand up and raise your arms in the air. Appear as large and threatening as possible
• Be Loud: stomp your feet, clap your hands, and yell “Go Away Coyote” to alert people nearby
• Be Threatening: throw a tennis ball or a small pebble or stick at the coyote, but only to show the coyote who is boss – not to injure!

Most importantly: NEVER RUN AWAY FROM A COTE. Like dogs, coyotes may give chase if you run. If you see a coyote, continue to exaggerate the techniques listed above. Avoid turning your back, maintain eye contact and slowly back away toward an area of increased activity.These actions teach coyotes to be afraid of humans and will help to minimize conflicts.

If you see a coyote doing the following, call 311:

• approaching dogs or people
• exploring a home or building far from a large park or open area
• limping or staggering or with paralyzed hind legs
• acting confused around non-living objects
• biting pets

You should also call 311 if you find an abandoned pup or an injured or sick coyote. When injured, wild animals are frightened and in pain. Always remember: do not handle coyotes!”

Police are being coy about just where it happened but they are looking for a man in what looks like black tie who broke into a downtown office near King and York Sts and caused massive mayhem. This evening-wear wingnut struck December 9 when he forced a second floor office door. He broke several windows, broke several bottles, opened a can of paint, and poured it throughout the office, damaging furniture and other property inside. The man is described as 5’10”, 19-25, medium build, with short red hair. At the time of the offence, he was wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a dark bow tie. When he left the building he was covered in grey paint.

The task force appointed by the federal government to study the legalization of marijuana said Tuesday cannabis sales should be restricted to those 18 and older with a personal possession limit of 30 grams. The Canadian Medical Association had recommended setting the age at 21 — with strict limits on quantity and potency until 25 — but the task force said that higher age limits would simply drive young consumers into the hands of the black market, something the government hopes to actively discourage with its push to legalize. The report is said to suggest that provinces wishing to make marijuana use the same as that for alcohol — in Ontario that’s 19 — be permitted to do so. — CBC

Premier Wynne is the least popular premier (16 percent) and Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall (58 percent) the most popular one, according to an Angus Reid poll in the Globe and Mail.

President elect Donald Trump tweeted away last night that he has officially named Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil, as the next Secretary of State of the U.S. Interestingly, Tillerson is endorsed by James Baker, a former Secretary of State, and Robert Gates, a former Defense Secretary.

Companies which are contracted to clear the highways in Ontario sometimes fall short of whatever standard is expected. When they fail, they are fined. And while there are no examples cited in media reports of exactly how they fell short, contractors owe as much as $2.5 million in fines for poor performance last winter, according to Mike Crawley, the CBC’s Queen’s Park reporter. The process is saddled with an appeal process that apparently takes many months. Crawley writes: “The province levied $3.25 million in fines against its highway maintenance contractors during the winter of 2015-16, but has so far only collected $693,000.” . The ministry says five contractors owing $2.56 million in fines from last winter are involved in the appeal process, which can be followed by mediation, then arbitration or litigation.

Car Theft: Female in her 60's struck when suspect fled scene in her black 2001 Volvo. Suspect is a male in his 40's who appeared dishevelled pic.twitter.com/PskWiTJIF7

— Tony Smyth (@LateNightCam) December 13, 2016

A woman was seriously injured when her Toyota sedan slammed into a utility pole on Lake Shore Boulevard east of Parkside Drive Monday night. The victim was perhaps 30, police said. Witnesses tried to assist the woman. They said she was unconscious and bleeding from the head before slowing regaining consciousness. Roads were slick as they are all over the City.

Kevin O’Leary is waiting to enter the Conservative leadership race — or not enter. The dot-com millionaire says he has time to wait before deciding to run. He would like to see a smaller field than the present 14. And he says he may not run. The deadline for entry is February 24, 2017. Global News  CTV News

Ten months after paying a whopping $3.2 billion for the Canadian hardware chain Rona, Lowe’s Canada says it will begin rebranding most of the Rona stores, even tn those in Quebec, It has been a long journey from the 2012 rejection of Lowes as a suitor for Rona because of Quebec nationalist feeling to the decision to change the name of the stores.  The Quebec change will occur in 2019 once Lowes adopts a new French-language information technology system that will then be rolled out to existing Lowe’s stores. Lowes promises to keep the Rona name on many of its products.  Rona says the change is being made to eliminate shopper confusion about what is sold at its various store formats. Lowes also owns the Ace Hardware brand in the U.S.