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Morning Brew: OneCity takes its first knocks, Rob Ford keeps mum over TTC incident, Spanish fans celebrate on College, and Toronto's bag fee is dead

Posted by Chris Bateman / July 2, 2012

toronto skyline ago university avenueKaren Stintz and Glenn De Baeremaeker are taking the first knocks to their OneCity transit plan on the chin, saying they will keep fighting for the enormous transit expansion project despite an unfavourable reception from the province. Although a recent poll suggests roughly 80% of people are in favor of the new subway, LRT, streetcar, and bus lines, Ontario's transit and infrastructure minister Bob Chiarelli rejected several key aspects of the plan.

The head of the TTC union, Bob Kinnear, says Rob Ford should explain his side of the incident that caused a streetcar driver to leave his seat last week. According to Kinnear, Ford drove past open streetcar doors, a traffic offense punishable with a $109 fine, and exchanged words with the vehicle's driver. There's been no comment so far from the mayor's office. Should Rob Ford publicly acknowledge the incident or would it be making a mountain out of a molehill?

Elsewhere, Spain beat Italy 4-0 to clinch the Euro 2012 title. At the final whistle, College Street was temporarily closed as crowds spilled from bars into the street to celebrate and commiserate.

Speaking of the mayor, seems like the family tradition of a weekend at the cottage isn't as mandatory as Rob Ford claims. The Grid has pictures of Ford marching in the 2010 East York Canada Day parade, an event that should have clashed with his regular cottage time. The mayor has skipped out on the traditional mayoral march in the Pride parade the last two years to go to his holiday home.

Toronto officially trashed its mandatory five-cent plastic bag fee yesterday but it looks like most large retailers will stick to charging customers until the outright ban comes in next year. Shoppers are being encouraged to switch to paper or reusable bags.

To celebrate Canada Day, the UK National Archives has released hundreds images of Canada, including numerous shots of Toronto. Check them out on Flickr.

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Photo: "overlook" by Fion N. in the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Discussion

25 Comments

S / July 2, 2012 at 09:24 am
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Endorse only the businesses that supply bags when you shop.
James / July 2, 2012 at 09:59 am
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Banks and phone companies rob us blind with service fees, and the response is largely . Stores charge 5 cents for a plastic bag and it's all-out revolt, take-your-business-elsewhere, punish-the-greedy-SOBs. Incredible.
James / July 2, 2012 at 10:00 am
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- the response is largely shrug -
Paul / July 2, 2012 at 10:03 am
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Does the mayor hate Canada?

It's not as if there's a shortage of Canada Day events in Toronto not linked to Pride for him to participate in.
W. K. Lis / July 2, 2012 at 10:03 am
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Instructions to everybody and anyone who sees Rob Ford allegedly commit a traffic violation or other supposedly illegality, behave like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8105U1WY9ro
Al / July 2, 2012 at 10:12 am
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Rob Ford is the one who reported the incident in the first place. He phoned the TTC to complain that the driver had the audacity to tell him off.
steve replying to a comment from Paul / July 2, 2012 at 10:22 am
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He was at the East York Canada parade, campaigning. He lied about going to the family cottage, a tradition since he was a young boy.
Find it pretty amazing how his supporters are falling over themselves to defend his lies. They are the first ones that scream about the lies purported by the 'left'
Talk about gravy, 165k a year to campaign.
Terry / July 2, 2012 at 11:02 am
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There are certain elements of the OneCity plan which need further study/debate, but overall it's a great step forward - I'll put my money where my mouth is and pay/support the property tax difference, if it goes specifically to TTC infrastructure.
Jacob / July 2, 2012 at 11:23 am
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But you see, Rob Ford was *trying to get elected* in 2010. For the good of the people. He was sacrificing his family tradition so he could save the city! We should all be grateful!
Bob replying to a comment from Jacob / July 2, 2012 at 11:38 am
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You should be grateful to have a great mayor like rob ford.
Johnny Tronno replying to a comment from Paul / July 2, 2012 at 12:09 pm
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The Mayor skipped last year's Pride festivities because he says it's a family tradition. It was proven shortly after during a she-she reception in his mommy's back yard later that summer when the PM showed up, he admitted to being out on the lake fishing with the PM and boasting about catching a larger fish.

He attended the 2010 Canada Day parade to campaign for his run for Mayor.

Clearly he sets his schedule to how it benefits him personally and his career aspirations to always get ahead and then lies about it when pressured by his public.
Duh replying to a comment from Johnny Tronno / July 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm
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He is mainly just using the words 'family' and 'tradition' to let the gays know where he stands. He isn't showing up because he doesn't like them.
iSkyscraper / July 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm
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It's fascinating to watch Rob Ford's handlers try to manage the tornado in their care. I think they've finally learned that when Ford does something wrong, and especially when he does something factually and evidentially wrong, there is literally nothing he might say that will make the situation better. If allowed to speak he will just show off his rudeness, his lack of education, his lack of intelligence and overall lack of Mayorness, etc. etc. Michael Bloomberg he is not.

So when something like the streetcar-door issue comes up, they clearly are telling Ford to make no comment, say nothing, make no public appearances, and just wait until the next incident pops up to distract people. And in Rob Ford's Toronto, the next firestorm can only be a week or so away.

Bravo, Ford Disaster Management Team. Bravo.
the lemur replying to a comment from W. K. Lis / July 2, 2012 at 12:38 pm
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6EaoPMANQM
Mark / July 2, 2012 at 01:57 pm
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A lot of stupid people here and especially in the media. Let's see in 2010, Canada Day fell on a Thursday. Most people would have the day off and may have to work Friday if they didn't have it off. Or they would go to the cottage for the weekend starting on Friday. So of course he would have time to go to the Canada Day parade if it was on a weekday and not a weekend when he traditionally goes to the cottage. But hey, stupid people will see him at an event on Canada Day and not be able to put 2 and 2 together so its a good attempt to attack the mayor and score your petty points. Good job morons.
JeffR replying to a comment from Bob / July 2, 2012 at 02:14 pm
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I'll be grateful if he hasn't ruined the city beyond repair before he gets his ass removed from office.
someonefindtheleftiesbrainsforme replying to a comment from Mark / July 2, 2012 at 03:01 pm
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Lefties use their brains, since when?
steve replying to a comment from Mark / July 2, 2012 at 03:36 pm
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My calendar says Canada Day was on Sunday this year. He said he would at the cottage. He was not scheduled to be in East York, no one expected him to be there. He was there campaigning. He lied, he is a habitual liar, he lied to get in office, he lies while in office, he lies when he is working, he lies when he is not working.
It takes a moron to defend him.
Simon Tarses replying to a comment from Mark / July 2, 2012 at 03:46 pm
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The only 'stupid' people are you, someonefindtheleftiesbrainsforme, and everybody else that voted for this clown to be mayor of Toronto. I hope that you all are happy with the way he's making Toronto into a joke worldwide.
Mark replying to a comment from steve / July 2, 2012 at 04:22 pm
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Perhaps some remedial reading comprehension courses are due for you this summer steve. The article clearly says he attended in 2010. This year is 2012. Canada Day in 2010, the year Ford attended the parade was on a Thursday. Quit being stupid and learn to read.
Mark replying to a comment from Simon Tarses / July 2, 2012 at 04:23 pm
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Mostly happy, some mis-steps but overall a good run so far. Looking forward to another 6 years.
steve replying to a comment from Mark / July 2, 2012 at 04:59 pm
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He attended the East York event this past Sunday. Maybe getting the news you need would be good for you.
Mark replying to a comment from steve / July 2, 2012 at 06:44 pm
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Really Steve? That would be big news and spiteful reporters at the Star would be sure to publish such facts. Care to point me to some proof?
leftistliars replying to a comment from steve / July 2, 2012 at 11:05 pm
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more leftist lies, not one news source says he was there.
agentsmith replying to a comment from Johnny Tronno / July 3, 2012 at 09:25 am
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"Clearly he sets his schedule to how it benefits him personally and his career aspirations to always get ahead and then lies about it when pressured by his public."
And this is different from other politicians how?

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