Morning Brew: Toronto needs casinos, casinos, casinos, Doug Ford doesn't want top budget job, "thundersnow," big freeze coming, and an Air Canada jet loses a wheel

Rob Ford knows what Toronto wants, and it's not subways, subways, subways. Speaking on his weekly radio show, Ford wondered how Torontonians could possibly say no to a casino given all the joy, wonder, and untold riches a major gambling facility would bring. "This is all about creating jobs, folks," he declared. Public consultations on the matter will wrap up later this week.

Don't panic. He might be acting chair of Toronto's budget committee but Doug Ford says he's got no plans to keep the job. Cllr. Ford took over from cllr. Mike Del Grande, the engineer of this year's budget, on Friday. Who do you think should take over the job?

Also in appointments, Sun-Ann Levy thinks Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday should be made mayor if Rob Ford is removed from office in the next couple of weeks. Levy says simply making the Ford's deputy the mayor would save the city the cost of a by-election which could be upwards of $7 million. Is that the best way to round out the current term of council?

Toronto saw a freak "thundersnow" weather system Saturday night that brought high winds, snow flurries, and the occasional flash of lighting blasting through the city. Trees fell on Rosedale Valley Road and University Avenue and several thousand hydro customers were left without power in the east end. Do you have pictures? Link them in the comments section.

Also in weather, this week is supposed to be bitterly cold with temperatures expected to stay several degrees below zero at least until after the weekend. Stay warm.

Passengers on an Air Canada Jazz flight had a bumpy ending to their flight from North Bay yesterday. A wheel on the front landing gear fell off the plane on the way to the terminal, prompting emergency vehicles to scramble to the plane. No-one was injured but the airline has launched an investigation.

Finally, in Mississauga, police were called to a figure skating celebration that "got out of hand" Sunday morning. One man's cheek was cut when a scuffle broke out between team members at the Delta Meadowvale hotel, but cops said the incident wasn't criminal in nature.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto homicide squad investigate Christie Pits death [The Star]
• Toronto man charged with first-degree murder in death of woman found lying on street [The Star]
• Homicide investigators search Regent Park 'crime scene' [CBC]
• Joffrey Lupul signs 5-year extension with Maple Leafs [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Photo: "Stephen B. Roman" by Subjective Art/blogTO Flickr pool.