Morning Brew: The CNE seeks independence from the City, today is Queen's York Rangers Day, audit ordered on Mam's election expenses, Augimeri on LRT

The CNE is looking to split from the city of the Toronto. The operators of the country's oldest fair say it struck a deal with the CNE Association and the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place that will see them pay the city a higher rent at Exhibition Place, but now will be allowed to retain any profits and reinvest them in the future. The deal still has to go before city council in March. But don't worry — the CNE's new found independence won't affect ticket prices.

Toronto has declared today "Queen's York Rangers Day" as part of celebrations to kick off the War of 1812's bicentennial. The Queen's York Rangers helped build Fort York and are credited with fighting most of the War of 1812's battles. The annual Toronto Officers Garrison Ball tonight is apparently going to be grander than usual and the CN Tower will be lit with their colours of purple and green.

Yesterday, a city committee ordered a forensic audit on councillor Giorgio Mammoliti's 2010 election expenses. The request for the audit was put forth by David DePoe, a retired teacher, who received an anonymous tip to look further into the councillor's expenses. This DePoe must have a thing for audits: he unsuccessfully filed a compliance audit request for Mayor Rob Ford last year. Mams says he did nothing wrong.

City councillor Maria Augimeri took to her website's blog yesterday endorse LRT as a viable option for Toronto transit expansion. In a lengthy entry, backed by links and factoids, Augimeri dismisses a lot of what the mayor has stated about choosing a subway line over the LRT, including that the mayor's subway plan "does not and will not pay for its own operation for decades". She also encourages Torontonians to get involved with the transit expansion plans.

IN BRIEF:

• Raptors lose to Nuggets
• Ontario Liberals being called control freaks over cuts
• A list of literary works involving Toronto

Photo by twurdeman in the blogTO Flickr pool