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Morning Brew: Jordan Manners Case Underway, Toronto Grace Hospital to Stay Open, By-Election Today, Are these Dogs Pit Bulls?, Ice Time in Toronto, Mayor McCallion on Wine, Raptors Win, Leafs and TFC Too?

Posted by Joshua / February 4, 2010

Branch IcePhoto: "Branchcicles" by Paul Henman, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

The case of Jordan Manners' shooting death is underway. We learned that Manners lay, dying, for 45 minutes in a school hallway, that the shooting was "planned and deliberate," and also that much of the evidence the Crown plans to present will be unpleasant. Of course, I'm not sure in what shooting death case the evidence would be "pleasant."

The Province and the Salvation Army reached an agreement to keep Toronto's Grace Hospital open for business. Was the Health Minister moved by today's by-election in the hospital's riding? Or just by the opportunity patients of Grace have to die in comfort and with dignity?

Speaking of the by-election, the NDP's Cathy Crowe is pushing hard to claim the seat while Glen Murray works just as hard to keep the seat Liberal red. And then there's the PC's Pamela Taylor, running strongest in the riding's north where Rosedale residents lean blue. So if geography rules the race, does that mean Murray has the edge as he's the most competitive from top to bottom of the riding? Or are Toronto Centre voters fed up with the Liberals?

Are Rambo & Brittany's days numbered? That all depends on whether or not a judge agrees with Animal Services' assessment that the pair of dogs are, indeed, pit bulls. I don't know if they right or not, but I do know Animal Services is going to sound like the bad guy in this case.

Want ice time and a city arena? Better brush up on your calculus to figure out where you fit in scheduling requirements. And if you're part of a girls hockey association, be prepared to fight for your time. A dispute over time at the North Toronto Memorial Arena led to a day-long "presentation" at city hall yesterday. Passions ran high and just about the only thing everybody agrees upon: it shouldn't have gotten to this point.

Longtime Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion is about to be 'immortalized' on wine labels. Joseph's Estate Winery is set to release Hazel's Heritage Reserve with two different private labels, one featuring the hockey playing mayor and the other a fisherwoman mayor. The bobblehead versions of the mayor.

In sports news, the Raptors won (just), the Leafs lose Komisarek for the season (but newcomer Phaneuf says build the bandwagon anyway) and new TFC coach 'Preki' says forget about the past.

Discussion

24 Comments

David Toronto / February 4, 2010 at 08:52 am
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I live in Toronto Centre and I'm torn between
Glen Murray and Cathy Crowe. Both are excellent
people and it's hard to choose where to put the 'X'.

I've met Cathy many times and I know her work very well.
Glen Murray was quite a good mayor for Winnipeg. I've
read many of his articles and I notice he always has
something to bring to every discussion or article he writes.

Ryan / February 4, 2010 at 09:45 am
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Don't understand the pit bull thing. It's possible to do DNA tests on dogs, even cross-breeds, now. The pit bull ban itself is really stupid, but besides that point, they can actually figure it out if they want to.
Mark / February 4, 2010 at 09:56 am
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From what the owners say the dogs are 75 per cent boxer and 25 per cent american bull dog. Neither of these dogs are on the list of banned pit bull varieties. The city seems to be unable to understand its own mistake. The father of the two dogs was mistakenly registered by the city as a pit bull, which shouldn't have happened because this was apparently well after the pit bull ban. The city has refused to accept the opinion of the dogs' vet, who says that they're boxer-bull dog mix. Seems like the city's just being stubborn and refusing to admit a mistake. Unfortunately it could lead to this family losing two beloved pets. Shameful.
John / February 4, 2010 at 09:56 am
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I won't be voting for Cathy Crowe. For the past 3 days I've come home to find spam automated voice mails from her campaign on my phone. I hate this sort of thing, so I called the number from my call display and asked them very nicely to remove my number from their system which they said they would do.

Two hours later I get a call from the Cathy Crowe campaign wanting to know if they can count on my support. Ugh no, you can't.
Alison replying to a comment from Ryan / February 4, 2010 at 10:00 am
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Those poor dogs. Breed bans don't work, they just kill a lot of innocent dogs, like Rambo and Brittney. The key to bite prevention/dog safety is responsible owners.
MrPotato / February 4, 2010 at 10:04 am
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I think you forgot to mention that the father of the dogs is a pit bull.
james / February 4, 2010 at 10:15 am
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No, the father wasn't a pit bull. He was an American Bulldog. Read the story. The father was mistakenly registered as a pit bull. Just look at the mother. She obviously isn't a pit bull. The licencing officer clearly confused American Bulldog with pit bull on the licencing papers. The dogs weren't even taken after a complaint or an attack, or any kind of transgressive behaviour. It will be a horrible shame if this family loses their pets due to a clerical error.
nitroMiner replying to a comment from John / February 4, 2010 at 10:26 am
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If you're wondering why politicians suck - it's the people who 'vote' for their candidate so judiciously.

Admit it, John, either you already had your mind made up or you're petty.
hendrix / February 4, 2010 at 10:30 am
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who cares if they kill a dog? one less stinky, panting, barking, shitting freeloading animal in my neighbourhood.
canice / February 4, 2010 at 10:40 am
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Ryan:

A DNA test on a "pit bull" would be useless as there is no such thing as a pit bull. There are pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American bulldogs, bull terriers (caveat: these are not banned; thanks Don Cherry!), boxer mixes and any number of other dogs that look similar have been homogenized into a single, non-existent breed.

Though some were originally used for fighting, others never historically were (such as the American bulldog, a working and livestock dog). After bull/bear-baiting and dogfighting were outlawed, these breeds were were adapted to other roles such as ratting and other pest control, livestock, working dogs or simply companions.

In its own words, the Ontario pit bull ban proves itself to be full of holes. They have a caveat that the aforementioned dogs OR any dog that LOOKS like a pit bull can be enforced under the ban. How fucked up is that? It is scientifically a joke.

— Owner of two very happy, well-adjusted dogs (one of which is a "Hey miss, that's a really nice pit bull you've got there" bull terrier.
BitMedler replying to a comment from John / February 4, 2010 at 10:41 am
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I'm sorry to say that I'm also leaning away from Cathy today after weeks of very heavy handed campaigning which - maybe naively - I don't expect from someone so seemingly rooted in the community. Every day I've come home to massive amounts of unsolicited campaign materials strewn about the front of my building, jammed under the door, filling our "no junk mail" posted mailbox. Almost seems desperate. In addition to this, there's something kind of gross about the addition to her campaign signs this week - an added smaller blue card stuck in the top of the standard sign that reads on one side "Local Icon" and the other "Street Nurse".

If I agreed with the statement I though it would be funny to add to the other candidates signs, "All 'round nice person", "great listener", "loves pets" and "good with kids".
Joel M replying to a comment from hendrix / February 4, 2010 at 10:55 am
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Damn freeloading dogs! I pay my taxes why can't they?
Get a job you bums!

Let the blind use their sticks for all I care!
mr hate / February 4, 2010 at 11:15 am
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pitbull ban = stupid

A dog's demeanor and aggressiveness is the direct byproduct of how the owner raises it.
Yan replying to a comment from hendrix / February 4, 2010 at 11:16 am
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Who cares if they kill a hendrix? one less stinky, ignorant, arrogant, idiotic beast in my neighbourhood.
leigh replying to a comment from Ryan / February 4, 2010 at 11:19 am
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hey ryan - you're correct that DNA tests can be done, but unfortunately the way the law is structured, even if you get a DNA test proving your dog isn't a "pit bull" (which, as canice states, isn't even a real breed), the law covers "A dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs.".
this means that american bulldogs, boxers, lab mixes, cane corso, mastiffs, and MANY other dogs that look like they might be a pit bull can be seized and destroyed by animal control anywhere in the province.
the only way to fight this is to join Parkdale MPP Cheri DiNovo in fighting, with her bill 222. below is a link to a facebook group for more information.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168292380876&;ref=nf
leigh replying to a comment from Ryan / February 4, 2010 at 11:27 am
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hey ryan - you're correct that DNA tests can be done, but unfortunately the way the law is structured, even if you get a DNA test proving your dog isn't a "pit bull" (which, as canice states, isn't even a real breed), the law covers "A dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs.".
this means that american bulldogs, boxers, lab mixes, cane corso, mastiffs, and MANY other dogs that look like they might be a pit bull can be seized and destroyed by animal control anywhere in the province.
the only way to fight this is to join Parkdale MPP Cheri DiNovo in fighting, with her bill 222. below is a link to a facebook group for more information.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168292380876&;ref=nf
Jonathan / February 4, 2010 at 12:31 pm
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In a related story:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2010/02/03/12721681-reuters.html
Dan / February 4, 2010 at 02:25 pm
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So John and Bit because a candidate tried to contact you too often you won't vote for them? That makes sense. Usually I vote based on what the candidate and their party is offering to do. But to each their own I guess!
John / February 4, 2010 at 06:37 pm
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Well Nitro and Dan, thanks for attacking me personally because I don't like to be harassed. I feel the exact same way about charities that use aggressive marketing techniques as well. I am not affiliated with any particular party and today I voted Conservative for the 1st time in over 10 years.
selwyn marock replying to a comment from hendrix / February 5, 2010 at 06:30 am
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The beginning of your article you refer to amurder,My first thought was Michael Bryant the "Cyclist Killer",can anyone tell me if he has been charged yet or has he bought a judge or 2 and been exonerated.

smarock10@yahoo.com
selwyn marock replying to a comment from canice / February 5, 2010 at 06:43 am
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A bigger joke is that Adolph Mçguinty'2 main advisors of this Heinous and Evil Ban are no longer around,Michael Bryant is on Murder charges,he got bored murdering dogs so he changed his fettish to going after Cyclists,hope to G-D he gets what he deserves,may he share a cell with a serial-rapist who is gay.The "other advisor" Tom Skeldon EX Dog-Warden of Lucas County has at last been FIRED for excessive force.So it would be interesting to see if there was another court-case, where Mçguinty would pull his next bunch of criminals to advise him on the dangers of pitbulls.smarock10@yahoo.com
Fran C. / February 5, 2010 at 10:50 am
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Dalton McGunity said when asked about Cheri Di Novo's Bill 222, repealing the breed specific aspects of Ontario's Dog Owners Liaibility Act, "It's about public safety, we got the BEST advice we could".

WELL REALLY? Dalton then FORGOT to add "and WE tthen totally IGNORED that BEST advise and put a ban in place anyway!".

There were 43 real credible experts that testified against the ban Dalton. The one expert Michael (AKA:Mr. Road Rage) Bryant got to testify for the ban was a lowly dog walking company from his former riding.

Bill 132; A Concise Summary of the Public Hearings can be found at the stopcanineprofiling web site. While Dalton's statement might not be called a bold faced lie, it was another delibrately misleading statement from Premier Pinocchio.



selwyn marock / February 6, 2010 at 12:43 am
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Adolph Mçguinty should be criminally charged, these Scumbags regrettably had the capability of buying judges and the media.I do recall one judges remark in the handling of a case against Lawyer Clayton Ruby regarding Hitler's BSL law "The Law does not have to be fair" after that remarkable statement she should have resigned from the bench and lived off the envelopes that she received from Bryant and Mçguinty.
smarock10@yahoo.com
selwyn marock / February 6, 2010 at 02:16 am
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Come Canadians show some fighting spirit,demand from that Public Servant Mçguinty who actually were his advisors,it is not good enough "the best advice possible" he is ducking and diving as the 2 foremost advisors were Michael Bryant (Dog Murderer and Cyclist Killer) and Ex-Dog-Warden Tom Skeldon(Dog-Murderer and Puppy-Killer)who has at last been removed thanks to the good work of Ben Konop a Councillor in Toleda.
MçGuinty is obligated to disclose this info to the constituents.
If as many of you as possible request this info the better maybe copies to the media.
"Evil can only succeed when Decent Human Beings Do Nothing"-Edwin Burke
smarock10@yahoo.com

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