Morning Brew: Coun. Minnan-Wong has a new tax plan, Mike Del Grande hospitalized, Hudak floats TTC-GO merger, SIU looks at Queen St. crash, and Harlem Shake
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong has an alternative idea to Rob Ford's proposed land transfer tax cut. The executive committee member is suggesting council cap the tax and reduce or increase it each year to ensure it always generates the same amount. Would you prefer that to a straight cut? Should council leave the land trasnfer tax alone?
Coun. Mike Del Grande has been hospitalized with an unknown illness. The former budget chief, who resigned his post in Jan., was active over the weekend helping constituents clear snow-blocked driveways. He was treated for a benign brain tumor in the 1990s but there's no evidence his current illness is connected to any previous health concerns.
Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak says merging Toronto's subways and LRTs with GO Transit is one of the ways the GTHA can improve the quality of its transit. TTC chair Karen Stintz re-iterated her stance that GO would need to absorb all, not just parts, of the Commission. Would you like to see the subways and LRTs run by Metrolinx and the rest left to the city?
Adam Vaughan won't be rubbing shoulders with Rob Ford at executive committee meetings any time soon. The city's striking committee recommend coun. Vince Crisanti fill the spot recently vacated by coun. Mike Del Grande instead.
The Special Investigations Unit has been called to investigate after a cyclist was struck and pinned between a car and a newspaper box at Queen and Augusta yesterday. The crash occurred during a police pursuit, bystanders say. The cyclist, a woman thought to be in her 30s, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. SIU investigates police incidents that involve death or serious injury.
In case you missed it yesterday, we at blogTO have released our new Toronto bars, pubs, late night eats iPhone app. It's free on the App Store and is your go-to guide for a night out. Like our patio guide and as the name suggests, it finds nearby bars, pubs and late night eats using your phone's GPS. Results include photos, beer lists, opening hours, and more. You know what to do.
The Ottawa Senators don't want Maple Leafs fans packing out their stadium anymore. The team is taking measures to prevent supporters visiting from Toronto and Montreal cheering too loud for the away team. "We want to make sure the competition stays on the ice," said a spokesman.
Finally, so far, this has been a Harlem Shake free zone. Not any more. Here's the Smoke's Poutinerie version of the viral dance craze that's sweeping the planet.
IN BRIEF:
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "C911" by AshtonPal/blogTO Flickr pool.
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