Your morning news roundup for Friday March 23rd, 2007:

The provincial budget calls for lots of trees but makes no mention of money for transit. Miller's not happy. The budget also does nothing to relieve the burden on Toronto for social services, and Miller's pissed off about that too. No one can say he isn't trying though.

The city will unveil long-term environmental plans which might include incentives for retrofitting homes with green technology, a plan for increasing tree canopy, and if we're so lucky, taxing Gardiner use and parking lots.

According to Toronto Police, the number of hate crimes against Black people and Jewish people were up last year compared to 2005 and arrests were too. For a city that's touted as one of the most multicultural cities in the world, this news is always unsettling.

CTV will still go ahead and air a controversial episode of W-Five tomorrow, despite a request by Toronto police to consider not airing it due to concerns over legal implications and interference with investigations. The show involves men coming to a house for sex with `underage girl' they met online, and is sure to shock viewers.

(photo: blogTO Flickr pooler andyscamera)