The blue ribbon panel aimed at assessing problems with, and devising solutions for, customer service at the TTC has been announced. I'm impressed by the diversity, proven track records, and skill sets represented by the panel, which includes Tyson Matheson of WestJet Airlines, Matt Blackett from Spacing Magazine, along with other recruits that have ties to the student population and/or have extensive marketing experience. The panel will explore issues related to employee training and hiring criteria, the commission's complaint process, and a customer charter of rights.

People taking their dogs for walks at dusk or dawn, especially in areas on the fringes of the city or near forested areas, should be prepared to encounter coyotes - and they should be considered hungry. Yet another case of a pet being attacked (and in this case, likely eaten) has been reported in Pickering.

A public consultation session at City Hall on Monday night, pertaining to the city's 2010 operating budget, got rather out of hand when councilor Paula Fletcher let her temper get the better of her. She's since apologized for her actions. See video of her shouting match, in which she accuses a participant of being a plant from a Newstalk 1010 radio show hosted by John Tory, below.

Oakville residents don't want a power plant in their backyard. Somewhere between 500 and 1000 demonstrators showed up at Queen's Park to call for the province to cancel plans to build a 900-megawatt gas-fired plant in an area within 350m of affluent areas with residential homes and a school. McGuinty says it's safe, but they're not convinced.

Passengers traveling between Toronto and Montreal by train may see delays continue into today, after a freight train derailed yesterday afternoon. 26 cars jumped the tracks near Morrisburg, and thankfully no casualties were reported.

And the struggling Maple Leafs made one trade of note before the NHL trade deadline, sending Alexei Ponikarovsky to Pittsburgh in exchange for forward Luca Caputi and defenceman Martin Skoula. Who got the better in the deal?

Photo: "Snoww" by AshtonPal, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.