Bombardier is solemnly promising to have the essential first LRT car delivered to Metrolinx by next month. The first car was supposed to be ready by 2014 for testing. It is a measure of how little confidence the Ontario government has in Canada’s premier aircraft and train builder that it has sent a breach of contract notice to Bombardier. The notice is a precursor to legal action. The notice of default was sent last week. And really, who would not wish to get ready for legal action after the appalling failure of Bombardier to deliver not just LRT cars, but also streetcars to the TTC. The Star says that a source with knowledge of discussions between the two parties confirms the default notice. Bombardier has yet to deliver a single LRT car as part of the order. Meantime, ordinary taxpayers ponder the prospect of empty LRT tunnels and stations while Metrolinx waits for Bombardier, or looks for another supplier. Metrolinx placed the $770-million order in 2010 for vehicles to serve provincially-funded LRT lines that include Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown, Finch Ave. West, and Sheppard Ave. East projects. The Eglinton LRT is scheduled to open in 2021 but with Bombardier more than two years overdue who knows what awaits the City.
Grandstanding kids make video of “Pokemon problems”
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Some grandstanding young people have posted a video which presumably is supposed to warn others about the dangers of having your nose parked in your phone for Pokemon Go. In particular, a scene in which a youth ventures onto subway tracks has been denounced by the TTC. Other stunts, like walking into a pole, are clearly staged. It’s not clear if the lark where the young man is nearly hit by a truck is a set-up or a near fatal. The video was produced by the Noodle Boys
Leaside on alert for parole violator Thomas Campbell
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Mary Chong and other members of Leaside Facebook groups like Community and Chat Chat are alerting South Bayview to the presence of Thomas Campbell, 55, described as a repeat offender who appears to be hanging around Leaside. Ms Chong says he stole a red Revelo bicycle from her home and that 53 Division (Officer Mark) has been alerted. If you spot him call police at (416) 427-7334. A publication called Ontario Police Reports calls Campbell a repeat offender and parole enforcement subject. He is described as an aboriginal male, 5’8”, 150 lbs with a scar on his left hand and right wrist. He also has a tattoo of a Wizard on his right upper arm, an Eagle on his right forearm, and a Skull on his left forearm. He is serving a 6 year, 2 month sentence for Break & Enter, Theft over $5,000 and Theft under $5,000. Laura Bulman in Leaside Community said she thinks she saw him at Bayview and Millwood Tuesday. Watch for him and call police.
Raging fire on patio deck helped along by dry planters
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Toronto Fire officials are warning homeowners about dry peat moss and other such material in planters as they investigate this startling fire on a deck at Dundas St W. and Montrose Ave. They’re not saying the fire was spontaneous but dry material may have helped it to get going.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHz6UAfjcL6/
East York Collegiate pals are two best students in the City
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Kenneth Wong and Sailesh Nankani are the two top students in the Toronto and District School Board system. Remarkably, they are pals who go to the same school, East York Collegiate Institute at 650 Cosburn Ave. Wong achieved 99.8 per cent and Nankani a 99.7 per cent average. They are the best of the 27,448 Grade 12 graduates of the TDSB, Canada’s largest school board. Ken Wong was born in Canada of Chinese parents while Sailesh Nankani has been in the country only three years with his parents, immigrants from Pakistan. Both young men have a very competitive turn of mind which seems to reject any result that isn’t perfect. Good work gentlemen.
Congrats to our top scholars Kenneth Wong and Sailesh Nankani and best of luck to you both in your future studies! pic.twitter.com/MVEK4YEcj2
— Toronto District School Board (@tdsb) July 14, 2016
Active St. Cuthbert’s member Ellen Hall dead at age 88
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A reception for friends and admirers of Ellen Hall will take place next Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at Humphrey Funeral Home at 1403 Bayview Ave. Ellen Hall was a longtime and active member of St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church. She died suddenly at the age of 88 on July 2, 2016 at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay near the Kawartha cottage that she loved. Predeceased by her beloved husband of 48 years, Jack. Cherished mother of Mary Ellen (Bob Gribble), Wendy, Douglas (Barb), and John. Special Grandma of Ashleigh and Matthew Heller. Grandma Ellen to Abby and Sarah Gribble. Mother-in-law of the late Doug Heller. A funeral service will be held at St. Cuthbert’s 1399 Bayview Avenue at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 28th. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Cuthbert’s Church or the Arthritis Society of Canada would be appreciated.
2 homeless fight at Front and Jarvis, 1 dies in hospital
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We may never know what two homeless men were fighting about at the corner of Front Street East and Jarvis Street last night but when it was over one was dead in hospital. The deceased man is Paul Crombie, 50, while the accused (manslaughter) is Levon Jolen Gammon, 43.
Vicious attack apparently for fun caught on camera
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A camera in Brooklyn Heights New York was recording when a young man chose a 65-year-old man who ambush with a sucker punch.
Chief accountant says Ontario facing a $350 billion debt
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Financial accountability officer Stephen LeClair has pretty much shredded the rosy picture presented yesterday by Premier Wynne and Finance MInister Sousa by declaring that Ontario’s debt will grow to $350 billion in the next four years. At $300 billion, Ontario already shoulders the largest non-sovereign debt in the world, bigger than California, a jurisdiction with maybe 40 million people compared to Ontario’s 14 million souls. The FAO says the net debt will keep growing largely because of the Liberal government’s $160-billion, 12-year plan to invest in infrastructure and public transit projects. And, considering that it requires nearly $12 billion a year just to carry the debt, his predictions are not surprising. The debt is no zero-interest car loan. The government’s happy report Monday featured the growth of the Ontario economy and prediction that the deficit will be zero on 2017. But LeClair say Ontario plans to go right back to deficit spending in 2018 and 2019. We’re going backwards in effect.
Pearson fliers now see X-ray first, U.S. immigration second
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Toronto Pearson Airport security has been re-arranged to place Canadian security (with baggage x-ray and shoe inspection) now taking place ahead of the often perfunctory discussion with U.S. immigration personnel. The revamped Security in Advance or SIA protocol is already in place elsewhere and was urgently put forward by the Americans in talks with the federal authorities. To a layman it is not necessarily clear how this arrangement makes travel safer but seem to amount to the same thing at the very least. Security officials say it is more likely to avoid people sneaking through to the departure lounge. The switch is also said to open up travel to American destinations where local airports don’t have a customs set-up.
Salad dressing truck rolls over on DVP ramp to 401
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Sick Children’s ask Pokemon Go players to go away
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Please don’t drop #PokemonGo lures inside or outside @SickKidsNews. Read our message: pic.twitter.com/lNqCFBQBjB
— The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (@SickKidsNews) July 18, 2016




