toronto whiteout

Morning Brew: TTC to investigate rules for strollers, city approves e-bingo, plastic explosive on a plane, extreme cold alert for city, and Leafs drop puck from outer space

The TTC is looking at ways to better incorporate strollers - especially in groups - onto busses and streetcars after a request by a concerned rider at last night's Commission meeting. Elsa La Rosa, 61, told the meeting the TTC should charge each stroller a $2 fare during peak times, an idea that was met with a lukewarm response by CEO Andy Byford. Would an extra fare solve overcrowding?

It might not be a casino, but Toronto is one step closer to the white-knuckle thrill ride of e-bingo. City council's government management committee yesterday backed the idea of the traditional pencil-and-paper game being played on electronic devices as a way for struggling bingo halls to re-invent their businesses for the modern era.

There might, just might, be plastic explosive on an Air Canada jet right now. According to the CBC, a Metro Vancouver police officer forgot to remove a package of semtex at the end of a training exercise in BC and allowed the plane to return to Toronto. Despite multiple searches, the material was never found. Staff assume, and hope, the explosive was simply thrown out by cleaning crews. Yikes.

So it's pretty cold out there this morning; -13 with a wind chill factor of around -25. Remember the rules of Canadian cold, though; if the temperature is lower somewhere else in the country, complaining about low temperatures is not allowed. Stay toasty, my friends.

First Jack Layton now local rockers Blue Rodeo are getting a street named in their honour in Riverdale. Blue Rodeo Drive will run parallel to Broadview Avenue on the redeveloped Bridgepoint Health grounds and connect with the street named for the late NDP leader. The band has a studio and agent in the neighbourhood.

Finally, while last night's home opener might not have gone entirely to plan, the Leafs did manage an impressive pre-game show for their first game back Toronto since the lock-out. A special ceremonial puck-drop that initiated by Commander Chris "The First Member of Leafs Nation in Space" Hadfield in the International Space Station. Check it out.

IN BRIEF:

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

Photo: "Suddenly, Whiteout!" by I can't believe it's Fabio/blogTO Flickr pool.


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