Morning Brew: More questions regarding Layton leak, details emerge about the TTC's crackdown on texting on the job, new integrated bylaw isn't cutting it, UFC was pretty epic, and it's election day
Who was the leak? That's what people want to know as new questions emerge over who spilled the beans on the Jack Layton massage parlour story. National Post columnist Jonathan Kay and political consultant Warren Kinsella have recently said they were also leaked the story years ago. Kay tweeted he was approached by a "Liberal fixer" with the story days before the 2008 federal election. Kinsella blogged he also came upon the story two years ago but he chose not to pursue it further. "If the story ever saw the light of day, I told this person, it would hurt the source more than it would hurt the target," wrote Kinsella. "Right now, there isn't a voter in Canada who doesn't think a political party was wrapped up in this somehow."
The TTC was quick to act on those found texting on the job this past winter, having launched over 70 investigations in a crackdown that resulted in vehicle operators punished for everything from reading newspapers to listening to iPods. Of the more than 70 investigations, 27 drivers were suspended. All but one of the offending drivers returned to their job, but the Star reports that a "final notice letter" has been placed in their personnel files, which means any re-offence will result in immediate termination.
The City may proceed with plans to scrap the new bylaw system that some say does more harm than good. The bylaw was intended as a integration of various bylaws for residents in different areas of the city. But the by-law, that covers everything from parking tickets to building permits, has already caused more than 700 appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board. City staff they are working to amend the bylaw in hopes of fixing all of the problems that it's caused.
Where were you Saturday? More than likely watching UFC, I bet. More than 50,000 fans watched UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre, the biggest UFC pay-per-view event in North America. There were twelve fights, with seven Canadians winning their matches (unfortunately Mark Hominick, who ended up looking like Frankenstein at the end of his, was not one of them). UFC President Dana White said of the night: "I am pretty proud of what we did and I love this place. The fans here are incredible. It has been a great experience."
More than 400 people, as well as officers from the RCMP and Canadian and American police, gathered yesterday at Queen's Park to commemorate police officers who were killed in the line of duty. The annual ceremony of remembrance included fallen officer, Sergeant Ryan Russell. The CN Tower was even lit up blue to mark the event the occasion.
IN BRIEF:
Photo by thru the night in the blogTO Flickr pool.
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