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Morning Brew: Ontario likes bag ban (just), Vaughan's bullet ban criticized, Fort York seeks reno funding, Wonderland on acid, and Spadina transit trouble looms

Posted by Chris Bateman / June 14, 2012

toronto speed limit signMore than half of Canadians think that banning single use plastic bags is a good idea,according to a poll by Angus Reid for the National Post. 59 per cent of the 1,019 polled were in favor of ditching plastic bags in favor of reusable or paper containers. Interestingly, the lowest support for the idea comes from Ontario (Atlantic Canada is highest) with 54 per cent agreeing with the impending ban in Toronto. Should city council have consulted the public on this issue or do these stats back up last week's surprise action?

Off the back of Councillor Adam Vaughan's suggestion that Toronto ban the sale of bullets, the Toronto Sun has polled its readers on the topic, with somewhat predictable results. Earlier yesterday, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews called the idea "misguided." So far there's been mixed reaction to the idea.

Fort York will launch a major fundraising campaign to help pay for a new $25-million glass and steel visitors' centre designed to emulate the bluffs that once stood between the historic military site and Lake Ontario. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has already pledged $1 million to the cause, but staff hope to drum up an extra $7-million through donations.

How would you improve Allen Road? The City of Toronto wants your suggestions so it can find ways of making the street better for everyone. The Grid has a few ideas to get you started.

There was a close call at St. Michael's Hospital yesterday when a two alarm fire broke out in a rooftop generator. Workers performing routine maintenance nearby attempted to fight the blaze but had to call in firefighters when the flames proved too strong. No patients had to be evacuated.

Here's one for you - a VICE reporter took his girlfriend to Canada's Wonderland, gave her acid in the parking lot and documented the whole thing. Yeah... what?

And finally, Spadina streetcar riders beware: curbside busses will replace normal service for five months between Queens Quay and Spadina station from June 18 to November 18 to adapt the track and station platforms for the new LRT streetcars. You know what that means!

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Discussion

15 Comments

mike in parkdale / June 14, 2012 at 08:44 am
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wait.... coming down from acid after 4 hours? I thought Vice magazine would have some hookups to the good stuff.
Bob / June 14, 2012 at 08:47 am
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Adam Vaughan, if you're going to offer forth stupid, stupid, stupid ideas like bullet bans it's going to hurt your chances to become mayor. Smarten the F up.
Sean / June 14, 2012 at 09:04 am
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Adam Vaughan knows he'll never be mayor because of his ongoing brainless "blah, blah, blah" limitations. He always talks about his daddy Colin but his father was smarter. For now, Adam will get the publicity he oh-so craves and is willing to say anything for attention. Sure wish the media would ignore him when he talks stupid.
No / June 14, 2012 at 09:18 am
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Smoking joints in Wonderland? I'm calling fiction on that one.
iSkyscraper / June 14, 2012 at 09:29 am
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Are Sun editors stupid or just xenophobic? Do they not realize that Toronto is not the only city in the universe? How about asking "Hmmmn, do other cities in North America ban ammunition sales? What are the results on crime, economic data, tourism, etc." No, they just knee-jerk their way into Tea Party North.

And by the way, there is data out there. LA, for example, bans ammunition sales at certain times of the year. New York pretty much bans ammunition sales period unless you're in law enforcement. Do these work? I don't know, but I'm not the one being paid to be a reporter.
Vaughanthecookoo / June 14, 2012 at 09:29 am
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Adam Vaughan will never be mayor, he will never get the burbs vote, we think he is an idiot. And will never get my vote. The left better get a decent candidate or Ford will win again.
arahman71 replying to a comment from Sean / June 14, 2012 at 09:47 am
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Well, Ford had been known to throw tantrums if anything didn't go his way. And now he's the mayor.

All Vaughan needs to do is come up with a catchy slogan come election.
Bob replying to a comment from arahman71 / June 14, 2012 at 10:17 am
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All Vaughan needs is some smart, hard hitting ads, a great slogan and some good stunts, and he'll sail into office. We can paint him toward the centre, and we can eviscerate Ford with his own words and deeds. Vaughan certainly needs some grooming, but he's got time.
keven replying to a comment from No / June 14, 2012 at 10:19 am
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Why? I do it whenever I go there
james / June 14, 2012 at 10:48 am
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I think Ford is going to be surprised in the next election. Sure he'll still have his base of unconditional lovers in the suburbs and he'll pander to their irrational hate of the downtown elite, but he has alienated and infuriated a lot of people. I guarantee many people will go out to vote who didn't last time just to ensure that clown doesn't make it back into office.
Mike replying to a comment from james / June 14, 2012 at 11:27 am
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You would hope, but that still doesn't mean that a solid, centrist/left candidate isn't needed. I don't think Vaughan's the guy.
michael / June 14, 2012 at 11:34 am
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I am a Liberal and i would never vote for Vaughan - yes he keeps coming up with STUPID ideas- He lost me when he wanted to put a Tax on people waiting in lines to get into clubs and bars - what about Movie theaters- Apple stores when a new Iphone comes out- Much Music when Teeny boppers fill the sidewalks for a glimpse of their "Idols" Etc.
Alex replying to a comment from james / June 14, 2012 at 11:49 am
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Someone who has no chance of winning, but who doesn't want Ford to win, should run and basically just use Ford's slogan's and ideas with slight variations. It will split the vote and hopefully someone with at least half a brain will get elected this time.
Steve replying to a comment from Alex / June 14, 2012 at 01:46 pm
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That's so funny, what a comedy it would be. The pages of the Sun would be a must read.
adamvaughn / June 14, 2012 at 03:48 pm
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Next on the list of things Toronto will be banning this year: Drugs. Because when something is made illegal, it ceases to exist.

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