You can't say the Fords don't like to keep it all in the family. Apparently, at the beginning of Rob Ford's mayor campaign, the family-owned company known as Doug Ford Holdings spent close to a hundred thousand dollars for early election expenses--thanks to a unique interpretation of provincial election laws. While the corporation, whose directors include Rob and his brother Doug, submitted invoices to the Ford campaign, they don't specify whether they were paid promptly. This has some wondering whether these advances could be seen as corporate contributions--which is a cause for concern. True to form, Ford's office declined requests by the Globe and Mail to answer questions and provide documents indicating when the campaign organization reimbursed Doug Ford Holdings.

In a move that is "no surprise" to housing advocates, the TCHC's lone ranger, Case Ootes, will consider this morning a proposal to sell off 22 properties in need of desperate repair. Located on some of the most lucrative real estate properties in the city, the houses could net up to $15.7 million. The move would also replace seven rent-geared-to-income units with rent supplements. After a report in the Star described the plight of widow facing eviction from her home in the Beaches, the TCHC offered a statement yesterday saying it would honour previous commitments like that of a . A city motion in 2001 granted her permission to live there indefinitely because of her age. Councillor Doug Ford sympathized with the woman's situation, but also said "Nothing is fair. It's not fair to the taxpayers that she's living in a million home, too. I feel sorry for her, my heart goes out to her, but I could take that million dollars and build four other homes and house four other families."

Don't be surprised when your regular medium-sized coffee costs a bit more at Timmy's next week. Tim Hortons says it will raise the price on some of their items next Monday--but won't specify which items. This might have to do with the price of wholesale coffee doubling, thanks to fungus that killed most of the coffee crop in Columbia.

It was fun while it lasted, but most of us knew it was a pipe dream. The Toronto Maple Leafs were officially knocked out of the playoffs last night after losing to to Washington in a shootout. As much as merely making the playoffs shouldn't be the goal of any team, this last ditch effort might be a sign that for the first time in years, there's reason for optimism at this team's future prospects.

IN BRIEF:

• Aretha to play free concert at TD Jazz Fest
• Harper to target GTA ridings today

Photo by ronnie.yip in the blogTO Flickr pool.