Toronto's 5-cent bag fee could be chopped if Rob Ford gets his way. Currently, retailers pull in over $5.4 million from the nickel charge - none of which they are obliged to donate to the city. Councillor Michelle Berardinetti - a member of the Executive Committee who will discuss the charge later today - wants to find a way to divert those funds to protect the city trees vulnerable to invasive species and disease. Since 2009, the charge has halved the number of bags handed out by retailers. Should we tweak the bag fee to benefit the city (thereby making it a tax) or cut it completely?

The OLG should look to Singapore's Marina Bay Sands complex when planning to build a casino resort in Toronto, according to an editorial in today's Globe and Mail. The piece argues that a large, multi-use facility is the best way to maximize the success of the project. The Marina Bay Sands looks like this by the way. In other casino news, Doug Holyday wants to ban the lobbyists from city hall and billionaires love the idea! The National Post also outlines the five hurdles the casino must clear to get the green light.

We're going to get our first real idea of how the Eglinton LRT will affect the local neighborhoods when a two-year city planning process begins on Thursday. When complete, the study will recommend new buildings, zoning laws and public spaces for the entire 26-kilometre line. Speaking to The Star, Mike Colle, MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence, says the installation of the light-rail line will bring development and investment to a street that "for decades nobody ever paid attention to." Overstate things much, Mike?

It seems royalty prefers surface transit. Prince Charles will ride a TTC bus during his visit to Toronto later this month, according to an itinerary announcement made Friday. The Yonge Street Mission and Distillery are also on the list for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. The TTC says it won't charge a fare for the ride.

The famous Ned Hanlan tugboat currently stored at the CNE grounds will make its way to a location more suited to its name at Hanlan's Point this month, according to Mike Filey in the Toronto Sun. The boat was once famous for its speed and ice-breaking capabilities in Toronto harbor.

We're heading back in time to enjoy a Safety Association of Ontario PSA courtesy of Retrontario this week. This series of videos terrified many budding builders out of ever picking up a hammer in the name of home improvement, or for any other reason for that matter. This is actually one of the tamer videos - shards of metal in the eye is too much for a Monday morning.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Twins' Diamond shuts down Blue Jays [Globe and Mail]
• Queen East road work causing traffic headaches [CBC]
• Man dies after falling from Scarborough Bluffs [CTV]
• Newmarket father back in Polish court seeking return of abducted sons [The Star]
• Off-duty nurse revives woman who collapsed during Sporting Life 10K Run [The Star]

FROM THE WEEKEND:

• The top stores to buy running shoes in Toronto
• That time the subway went from anywhere, to anywhere
• Get to know a barista: Josh Flear of Sam James
• What to See at CONTACT 2012: Something Romanticized, The Dark Room, Photographie
• The Neighbourhood Mixtape: You're A Target
• Behind the boarding at the Canada Linseed Oil Factory
• Aids Wolf bloody eardrums for the last time
• The top 10 running clinics in Toronto
• This Week in Theatre: Dance Marathon, Panamerican Routes, Home, Luba, Simply Luba, You're Fired
• This Week In Comedy: House of Tsang, Don't Get Bored Of Us And Leave, Adam Richmond, Jamie Lissow feat. Ted Bisaillon, and Throne of Games

Photo: "2012 Sporting Life 10k" by PLTam in the BlogTO Flickr pool.