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Morning Brew: Ford scolded over Don Bosco comments, Olivia Chow says maybe, TDSB approves job cuts, TTC wants police power back, and fire in Kensington Market
Rob Ford could be in trouble at the high school where he coaches football over comments he made in an interview with Sun News. In a letter signed anonymously by teachers at Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School, staff say Ford's suggestion the school is hive of gang activity controlled only by the football team he leads is "disgusting" and "filled with untruths." Ford arrived at Don Bosco after being asked to vacate coaching duties at another school over a confrontation with a player.
In the endless will she, won't she of Olivia Chow's potential 2014 mayoral run it seems right now the NDP MP is leaning towards taking on Rob Ford at the polls. Chow said she is "considering" running, which is a break from her usual stock responses on the matter. Polls conducted in the past have shown Chow would be likely to beat Ford in a straight race. When should Chow decide?
Hundreds of Toronto teachers could be let go shortly after the local school board approved $28 million in staff cuts late last night, a figure that equates to roughly 248 positions. The Toronto District School Board is trying to work around a $55 million deficit.
A second Metrolinx board member is a registered casino lobbyist with the city. Doug Turnbull, who's also vice-chairman of TD Securities, was forced to declare a conflict of interest over his role with MGM. Both he and Metrolinx chair Robert Prichard have excused themselves from discussions over GO expansion at MGM's proposed CNE resort.
TTC chair Karen Stintz wants transit enforcement officers to be special constables again once Presto arrives. Right now the TTC's 40-person team responsible for enforcing payment do not have powers of arrest, the right to transfer people under the Mental Health Act, or the ability to force fare-jumpers to provide an address when caught. The officers' status was revoked by the police a few years ago. Should TTC officers be given new powers to ensure more fines are paid?
A fire in a Kensington Market apartment building last night has left several people without a place to stay. The blaze started on Oxford Street around 4 am in a semi-detached home containing 5 units. No injuries were reported.
Finally, who needs enemies when you've got friends? A man struck by a van on Victoria Park Avenue on Tuesday evening was left in the street by his two companions while they went into a nearby Beer Store. The man suffered severe head trauma and is listed in a critical condition.
IN BRIEF:
- Plaza lost parking after Mammoliti relatives sold, owners say [CBC]
- Oakwood Collegiate teacher fired over jokes [Toronto Star]
- Etobicoke superjail sits empty because province can't staff it, union says [Toronto Star]
- Toronto woman speaks out against cyberbullies on Reddit [CBC]
- Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77 [CBC]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "Southbound" by Lychee_Aloe/blogTO Flickr pool.
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It's Hockey Night tonight;
Tension grows, the whistle blows,
And the puck goes down the ice.
The goalie jumps, and the players bump,
And the fans all go insane;
Someone roars, "Bobby scores!"
At the good old hockey game.
Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!
[spoken] "Second period...."
Where players dash with skates a-flash,
The home team trails behind;
But they grab the puck and go bursting up,
And they're down across the line.
They storm the crease like bumble bees,
They travel like a burning flame;
We see them slide the puck inside,
It's a one-one hockey game.
Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!
[spoken] "Third period! Last game in the playoffs, too!"
Oh, take me where the hockey players
Face-off down the rink;
And the Stanley Cup is all filled up,
For the champs who win the drink.
Now the final flick of a hockey stick,
And the one gigantic scream:
"The puck is in" - The home team wins
The good old hockey game!
Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!
Also #DRAFTCHOW2014
Their job is to write tickets and maintain the peace. TTC never should've had "special constables" to begin with. They have the right to hold while the actual police are called, and that's about all they need.
Knowing the TTC's track record with anything, If this does happen it will be another PR mess for the TTC.
I could see it already... "TTC Special Constables abuse power"
Weren't some of these constables suspended just a few weeks ago for lying about the job they were doing? Something about staying home and issuing fake tickets?
Yeah, I really have faith that the TTC Special constables would be anything but honorable.
Extra powers are the last thing these people need.
Taking the TTC for many many years almost everyday on Queen Street, I am yet to see any one of these goofs checking fares on the Queen line...
i'm shocked.
Kudos to The SUN for reporting the REAL story.
I don't want it to sound as if he's a bad guy for coaching football. It's a good thing he does - hell, I wish he would do it full time and leave the rest of the City alone. But I do take issue with his need to tear down that school and community in a vain effort to make himself look better, and I'm glad that someone is finally speaking up.
Far too many people in this City buy whole Ford narrative, hook, line and sinker, without a second thought as to its legitimacy. He's not a bad human being (a terrible Mayor, but not necessarily a bad human being), but he's hardly the one keeping kids on the straight and narrow. He's basically a lazy rich kid who really, really likes football, and happened to land at Bosco, which was a school that needed a coach. There was no "higher meaning" behind this.
I know Rob Ford has had the cops called on him more than once for alleged domestic abuse.
I know Rob Ford got scared of a woman dressed in a viking outfit and called 911 on her.
Is this the kind of "record with women" you're on about? Yeah, he sure betters Miller there.
You obviously don't know much about Bay St if you think any serious company would give Ford the time of day once he left the Mayor's office. He's considered an oafish clown on Bay St, not someone the corporate world would ever take seriously. No reputable law firm would touch him with a 10 foot pole, if for no other reason than the man has no filter and speaks without thinking. Not exactly qualities you want at law firms or corporate boards. His Mayoral experience won't count for as much as you think, since he has few "real" allies at City Hall, and doesn't appear to know much about how the place works.
Don't kid yourselves - Once Ford leaves office, he'll probably wind up working for Doug at Deco, if he works at all.
http://fivebucksonbytor.blogspot.ca/2006/11/al-harris.html
Hee...sounds like most of the work coming out of Robbo's office!
I know it hurts, but the mayor and his brother are hot commodities. True, they aren't of the rank-and-file mold, but that's why the people love them, because they are originals and they don't bow down to artsyfartsy special interest groups intent on bankrupting the City. They get results, and by the only metric that matters to taxpayers: reducing the oceans of gravy left behind by Mill-liar.
I know it burns your butt now, and will even moreso when he sweeps to a 2nd term, but once this City is back on its' feet, you'll be sorry you didn't vote for him, too.