Morning Brew: Ontario Place, Port Lands projects hit snags, councillors mull ranked voting, Kensington gate woes, a chair lift for the CNE, and time-lapse lightning

The new plan for Ontario Place, which includes a large city park and residential developments, is coming under fire for its lack of secure transit funding. The redevelopment plan, unveiled last week, calls for an LRT line, streetcar loop, and new bus service to service the area, all to be paid for by one of those elusive public-private partnerships. Time for a re-think?

Also in troublesome waterfront developments, the Globe and Mail reports existing Port Lands land owners are scuppering plans for that area's revitalization. A cement factory and other privately-owned industries that require access to the water have killed off some of the features originally proposed by Waterfront Toronto, including a promontory park at the mouth of the Don.

Toronto's city council could vote later this year on whether to switch to a different election system in 2018, reports The Star. Ranked ballots, which give voters the chance to put their list of desired candidates in order of preference, would prevent unpopular councillors returning due to a split vote. Under the system, if one candidate gets more than half of the first choices, they are declared the winner. Does this sound like a good idea?

Some Kensington Market store owners aren't jazzed about new car barriers unveiled Friday that stop vehicles accessing the neighbourhood's streets during Pedestrian Sundays. Quoted in the National Post, Ossie Pavao, owner of Casa Acoreana, says "Any business that isn't a restaurant doesn't want them."

The Alpine Way chair lift is coming back to the CNE this summer, albeit with a different name. The Sky Ride, expected to open this August, will ferry visitors across the exhibition grounds 13 metres in the air in ski-resort-style chairs. The popular Apline Way ride was dismantled in 1994 to make way for what is now the Direct Energy Centre.

And finally, here's a beautiful time-lapse video of last week's thunderstorm shot by Seth and Lise, a pair of traveling photographers. Bad weather never looked so good. (via Reddit)

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Peralta, Fister shine as Tigers down Jays to avoid sweep [CBC]
• Toronto FC streak ends, Impact beat Red Bulls [CBC]
• SIU identifies woman killed in funeral procession crash [CBC]
• City departments voice concerns over plans to fill in lake near Billy Bishop airport [National Post]
• Media training for Scarborough residents a waste of taxpayer dollars, cllr says [Globe and Mail]
• Toronto's other crime problem [The Grid]

GOOD STUFF YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:

• Toronto Blue Jays fall to Detroit Tigers 4-1 in series finale [The Star]
• Chad VanGaalen headlines standout Mod Club lineup
• Parkdale brunch spot plates pork belly and pancakes
• Get to know a Baker: Kyle Marsh, Clafouti
• A brief history of the Don Valley Brick Works
• Street Style: summer styles at the Queer Beer Festival
• Beaches Jazz Fest 2012 brings a crowd to Queen East
• Archery in and around Toronto
• Where to eat breakfast 7 days a week on St. Clair West
• Shuffle Demons put on a Cluster Funk at Lula Lounge
• Highlights from the 2012 Toronto Festival of Beer
• Comedy: ALTdot Comedy Lounge, TrueLoves Comedy Hour, Freddy Proia and Comedy Hostel
• Theatre: Dusk Dances, The Sunshine Boys, A History of Forgetting, Beirut, The Fatal Gazogene
• Sunday Supplement: A look back at Ontario Place, Rob Ford's new SUV, glory days at the El Mo, Parkdale in Super 8, and what we learned this week

Photo: "Remember" by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool.