tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62776385769302220092024-02-07T00:20:05.817-05:00Andy LehrerNews and views from TorontoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-85472547782604927522021-07-29T15:48:00.001-04:002021-07-29T15:49:39.341-04:00Time to reclaim the Sunnyside Bus Terminal: Toronto's forgotten bus stationThe Toronto Coach Terminal's <a href="https://www.andylehrer.org/2021/07/the-last-bus-final-coach-leaves-toronto.html">closure earlier this month</a> was a reminder that the TTC used to operate an intercity bus service called Gray Coach, until it was sold off in 1990. Much like the GO Bus system today, Gray Coach served much of southern Ontario (as far west as London) and even had a route to North Bay. The Toronto Coach Terminal, known for years as the Grey Coach Terminal, was owned and operated by Gray Coach and when the bus line was sold, the TTC retained ownership of the station (ownership was transferred to the City of Toronto on July 8, 2021, days after the terminal's last bus departed.
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However, what isn't generally known is that the TTC retains ownership of a second former Gray Coach Terminal at the intersection of the Queensway, Roncesvales, and Queen in Toronto's west end.
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The Sunnyside Bus Terminal opened in 1936 and remained in operation until 1992 - two years after the TTC sold Gray Coach. Like its sister station on Bay Street, Sunnyside was designed in the Art Deco style and just as the Bay terminal had the Ford Hotel operating across the street, Sunnyside had the equally seedy Edgewater Hotel operating next door.
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Sunnyside was originally a popular destination due to its proximity to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnyside_Amusement_Park">Sunnyside Amusement Park and Bathing Pavillion</a> as well as providing a convenient transfer to the CNR via the Sunnyside Train Station across the street. The station also served as a second Toronto stop on Gray Coach's routes between the Bay Street terminal and Niagara Falls and Buffalo.
Passenger use of Sunnyside declined with the closure of Sunnyside Amusement Park in 1955 to make way for the Gardiner Expressway. With the construction of the Bloor-Danforth subway in the 1960s, Islington Station replaced Sunnyside as a stop on Gray Coach's route to Kitchener and London, Ontario In 1967, GO Transit opened and took over CN's Toronto-Hamilton route choosing to bypass the Sunnyside rail station, ending Sunnyside Bus Terminal's role as a transfer point between Grey Coach and the rail system.
The station remained in service until 1992 when Gray Coach was sold to Greyhound and was ended as a seperate bus line. The TTC retained the building, which is adjacent to the Roncesvalles streetcar yard. The former bus terminal was rented out as a donut shop for several years and is now used as a McDonalds.
It's a shame though. It's a charming building and could be used as a public building and rented out to, say, the West End Food Co-op which has been homeless for several years, or as a public market. Stalls could be rented out to individuals or local groups to sell food, or to farmers to sell produce, or to members of the community to sell other goods and services. It would be good if the TTC transferred ownership of the property to the city, as it has done with the Bay Street terminal, and if the city then put the building to a better community use than its present role serving Big Macs and fries. The question is, though, what are the terms of McDonald's lease with the TTC. If it's one of those 50 or 99-year leases that the city sometimes commits itself to, it may be sometime before the property could be reclaimed for public use.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-59917755093097707052021-07-04T00:57:00.002-04:002021-07-04T00:59:41.582-04:00The last bus - final coach leaves the Toronto Coach TerminalThe Toronto Coach Terminal, formerly known as the Gray Coach Terminal, has come to the end of its life as a bus depot after 90 years of operation. Last night at 11:30 pm, Ontario Northland 799 trundled out of the terminal heading for North Bay. Ontario Northland was the last bus line still using the Toronto Coach Terminal, tomorrow the service will be using the new Toronto Union Bus Terminal as its Toronto terminus, joining Canada Coach which made the move on June 8th. TCT's third tenant, Greyhound Lines, suspended its service in May 2020 due to the pandemic and announced on May 13, 2021 that they were permanently ending Canadian operations. The terminal building and bus opened on December 19, 1931 though the lot itself had been used as an open air terminal since 1927. The terminal was built and has always been owned by the TTC, originally through its Gray Coach Lines subsidiary - an intercity bus line that served southern Ontario and replaced the earlier interurban radial (streetcar) service that used to connect Toronto with communities around Lake Ontario and the Niagara Peninnsula and north to Lake Simcoe. The TTC sold off Gray Coach in 1990 but kept the terminal, operating it under a TTC subsidiary - Toronto Coach Terminals Inc. On Thursday, the property's ownership transfers to the City of Toronto which, in 2019, identified the Bay and Elizabeth Street terminal properties as an asset that is underutilized, "with an opportunity to unlock value and address City needs and City building objectives, such as affordable housing, employment uses and community infrastructure.
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<br>Northland coach 5332, travelling on route 799, pulls out of the station while a small crowd of bus enthusiasts watch across the street.
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Here's the terminal earlier in the day.
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A few shots of the coach waiting to leave.
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An old fishbowl bus with Hamilton Lakeshore destination sign idles in bus bay 1. This isn't a scheduled bus but was chartered, I believe, by the small group of bus enthusiasts who came to the terminal to watch the last coach roll out. I guess technically *this* may be the last bus to use the terminal.<br>The terminal building itself has been closed since Coach Canada left on June 8th. When I heard their departure was imminent, I went through the terminal (at least the parts that were still open) and took some pictures. (the lower level and tunnel to the Atrium have beeon closed since 2020, as is the upstairs level).
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padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaXb4gNHzrnQfPgQ3Rkswtw7jxC9bQZUINd97EmtHzp-PT4lOi4oTltmewXnOGEyTSTkq9O35wGGQsb8UsSYNF8XwYSvA25mzrl_FUaX7RL_eC3tgyd1vmqjz8RZERGRhAVKBZj7ECTZV/s320/coach4.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFHhHHamn8-waxssFz7QgeXsHuUU_PWSdPJU-gfLyOHsGrM3rWuWc-1VAFp2haat5yy4ztoDiVDIp4ucJwP3sXOKipKtTidIw26d4b3Xhto4LI7d1BxrwnA4C7WxWcmcSwxgdRsNcrkto/s960/coach5.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFHhHHamn8-waxssFz7QgeXsHuUU_PWSdPJU-gfLyOHsGrM3rWuWc-1VAFp2haat5yy4ztoDiVDIp4ucJwP3sXOKipKtTidIw26d4b3Xhto4LI7d1BxrwnA4C7WxWcmcSwxgdRsNcrkto/s320/coach5.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK_7_HtIgRP3z9dgLnwrbTRuNvo0EPzszY5WBLcXjxLv6ucWAxqKcifCyzYlEKudPde9HtBbkboksAbBwkqcc44kBDPfiLbdfHjC1mdyGdQjwRfKtxUGQ4LOEEu5I7LWphyphenhyphenDiw3a4-c1a/s960/coach6.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcK_7_HtIgRP3z9dgLnwrbTRuNvo0EPzszY5WBLcXjxLv6ucWAxqKcifCyzYlEKudPde9HtBbkboksAbBwkqcc44kBDPfiLbdfHjC1mdyGdQjwRfKtxUGQ4LOEEu5I7LWphyphenhyphenDiw3a4-c1a/s320/coach6.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0n4Fq8BNNKeYbWwY5sbuVOrPh6PxEiZYj9c4CXmu4DRLvIycX6hzLT9P9TMtOzvddPJUJAZ6rNOVPgJpYcJz054LBOHFyrMUHJPbZ7LVdHc3OI4xSN8U52abFbN2OSISd45cidEu7CRO/s960/coach7.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0n4Fq8BNNKeYbWwY5sbuVOrPh6PxEiZYj9c4CXmu4DRLvIycX6hzLT9P9TMtOzvddPJUJAZ6rNOVPgJpYcJz054LBOHFyrMUHJPbZ7LVdHc3OI4xSN8U52abFbN2OSISd45cidEu7CRO/s320/coach7.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygpIEVB6mQ5fzKAhRYIQfOclAa_wlSnl8dSogdo-F8gyx0oCUIeThjSJMNcrV-RgdLVN5f56CLyzPEWuZ6-opEOn7I7_alAC4iSHS-rZvXqr-YaSyC649SBcJBF5nCBC_A1NVb_jEJVQE/s960/coach8.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygpIEVB6mQ5fzKAhRYIQfOclAa_wlSnl8dSogdo-F8gyx0oCUIeThjSJMNcrV-RgdLVN5f56CLyzPEWuZ6-opEOn7I7_alAC4iSHS-rZvXqr-YaSyC649SBcJBF5nCBC_A1NVb_jEJVQE/s320/coach8.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu50BUjkI4AF_l3OJrwrzRVqHHK8WbwtIa3pc5nhpP8SWgym2CfJETDfybaIf9acVr-X7-rzJ5IrGEMyM-G0XhVYlMMLlKkNqxBuHG4UYLaP_lfHTSH80Wmc0K-YsUVd6F7YkaWX_DxVT7/s960/coach9.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu50BUjkI4AF_l3OJrwrzRVqHHK8WbwtIa3pc5nhpP8SWgym2CfJETDfybaIf9acVr-X7-rzJ5IrGEMyM-G0XhVYlMMLlKkNqxBuHG4UYLaP_lfHTSH80Wmc0K-YsUVd6F7YkaWX_DxVT7/s320/coach9.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASrVfj2QEFODImiZE8PqVZe8m5KisY2SHIbJbNSCnTDsxWq0OWovDgrShnt0EM6ACIorsaUtibXBFaWAZaG4Ii4zsMX7IYMg7pfQeHP_BIDPH0EHUig2J1A5130nb8nkcwBYqzB7_T5Xz/s960/coach10.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASrVfj2QEFODImiZE8PqVZe8m5KisY2SHIbJbNSCnTDsxWq0OWovDgrShnt0EM6ACIorsaUtibXBFaWAZaG4Ii4zsMX7IYMg7pfQeHP_BIDPH0EHUig2J1A5130nb8nkcwBYqzB7_T5Xz/s320/coach10.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqk7Zch7XUZPfQlAIY-ltk-27IQDnM3j1fWsrOHqTohvmQGmd3V3fFzDnF7Y17ulIESOHXz8tlgxoE04c-KiQ4vtPvd0dHxm7R3R6qAzJPLe_hDA0v4fcizUWhnMBcUem-KgpLahX6IPZ/s1084/coach12.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1084" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqk7Zch7XUZPfQlAIY-ltk-27IQDnM3j1fWsrOHqTohvmQGmd3V3fFzDnF7Y17ulIESOHXz8tlgxoE04c-KiQ4vtPvd0dHxm7R3R6qAzJPLe_hDA0v4fcizUWhnMBcUem-KgpLahX6IPZ/s320/coach12.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbr_PVjdSEpI-onYcqBIKqZsCjNvLcyhZsVCDOSdlDQ0-tl_MCJC9DI11Z7F3RzmaWK2Z-ONwHHqlFjmYM1lZsGA7j4W7ihgUqw5xN3JOSx_plgDPGLSPIHzZcmT5XkHl4aNtVW7Bafr1/s1084/coach13.jpg" style="display: block; 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padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3vjSVH7VQSEdBJAr3zlCHVkNdEdZgqBH7XAZb6kr2WaxZLJ2uJId3hLMtqNA_nH7o5DP7iGwUPt3UO4HeAL-cF3sko6jbk9S5QAcQM6srHJUGTTIOE4cc2DbMFfOpvdEJq6DGFXl1geO/s320/coach2.jpg"/></a></div>
Greyhound and Coach Canada Toronto Operations Ltd. (GACCTO) have leased the terminal from the Toronto Coach Terminal Inc (a subsidiary of the TTC) since 2012. The lease ends on July 7, 2021 and the next day control of the terminal reverts to the TTC. The next day ownership of the property transfers to the City of Toronto due to a vote by the TCTI board last month. What will the city do with the property?
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-90045272478921640182020-12-30T21:05:00.001-05:002020-12-30T21:05:32.390-05:00Mystery of the missing macaroni - solved! <a href="https://www.grubstreet.com/2020/12/2020-bucatini-shortage-investigation.html">What the Hole Is Going On? The very real, totally bizarre bucatini shortage of 2020.</a>
Rachel Handler gets to the bottom of the mystery that has been troubling Americans all year- why has bucatini - the tasty tube-like spaghetti - disappeared from store shelves?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-76283018129292087402016-01-02T19:28:00.001-05:002020-09-03T16:14:51.831-04:00 "Actually, it's about ethics in galactic domination"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2015/12/23/11/kylo-ren-vanity-fair-driver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2015/12/23/11/kylo-ren-vanity-fair-driver.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style=font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">No wonder MRAs and the manosphere hate Force Awakens so much - Kylo Ren is an embodiment of Gamergate and the MRA.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/geek-male-identity-has-been-reduced-to-kylo-ren-impotently-thrashing-a-computer-with-his-sword-this-a6790401.html">Geek male identity has been reduced to Kylo Ren impotently thrashing a computer with his sword</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-89847315264821867492015-04-05T13:40:00.001-04:002020-09-03T16:15:15.749-04:00Quote of the day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"I can't give you a brain but I can give you a diploma"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> -- The Wizard of Oz</span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-15986663026992514302015-03-30T20:00:00.003-04:002020-09-03T16:15:21.720-04:00Quote of the day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are two types of people <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">those who divide people into two types, and those who don't.</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">-- Edward A. Murphy, Jr.</span></span></h2>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-15577336552431949972012-08-08T23:15:00.011-04:002020-12-30T22:16:23.626-05:00CFRC: A debate on community radio in Kingston <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorgA5U7gPLhpRJImXLGvxhcg6f1e5c6VI0clKGis8mapKx3lREiMP4I-yaS5VPiloTD86LvCotGroKvOZqCvKyUZvTZAVpqzRuiiFOlBqzTTvXUsFUZUwMNlITcNXWOX44sWH8MSDuFx4/s1600/cfrc.gif" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="208" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorgA5U7gPLhpRJImXLGvxhcg6f1e5c6VI0clKGis8mapKx3lREiMP4I-yaS5VPiloTD86LvCotGroKvOZqCvKyUZvTZAVpqzRuiiFOlBqzTTvXUsFUZUwMNlITcNXWOX44sWH8MSDuFx4/s400/cfrc.gif" /></a><br />
<br />
This past February, I wrote an article for the <i>Queen's Journal</i> on a proposal by the the AMS Board of Directors (the student government body at Queen's University) to restructure the radio station and impose on it essentially the same management and employment structure and rules that other services operate under. As a former member of the AMS Board of Directors who had played a role in having CFRC transferred from direct university ownership and control to student ownership and as someone who had also been on the board of CKLN in Toronto which lost its license in 2011, I felt I had some insights to contribute. <br />
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My "No" article arguing against the AMS' proposals was paired with a "Yes" article by the (then) current chair of the Board. <br />
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<a href="http://queensjournal.ca/story/2012-02-16/opinions/cfrc-structure-perspective/"><b>CFRC structure in perspective</b></a><br />
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Among other things, I pointed out that the AMS' attempt to impose a new management structure and staff policy directly without consultation with CFRC was a violation of CRTC regulations requiring the station to be managed by its own board, one that reflects all its stakeholders (including volunteers and the community). The AMS ultimately agreed and on March 1, 2012, the AMS abandoned its restructuring proposal. However, subsequently things headed in the opposite direction:<br />
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<a href="http://queensjournal.ca/story/2012-05-02/news/radio-stations-separation-finalized/"><b>Radio station's separation finalized</b></a><br />
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CFRC has become independent of the AMS. On the one hand, the AMS was not interested in having a service that it did not completely manage, on the other CFRC wanted to be independent, particularly in light of the restructuring attempt. Independence, however, is a bit of a risky strategy. For one thing, the station's student fee is $4.93. While that would be sufficient at a large university such as U of T or York, Queen's only had 15,792 full-time undergraduate students in 2011/2012 meaning that the total yielded by the fee was just under $78,000. While half the station's budget has come from fundraising, advertising and other sources there has been a budget shortfall of about $10,000 a year which has been covered out of the AMS' budget in addition to student interest fee revenue. That arrangement will end after a transition period and CFRC is now seeking an increase in its student fee. Queen's students, however, have been very reluctant to approve any fee increases in recent years and CFRC specifically has been unsuccessful in several past referenda attempts to increase the fee. Moreover, as CFRC is no longer an AMS service but an "external service", its fee will be up for triennial review meaning it could be lost in its entirety in the future. The mandatory fee review will, however, keep CFRC accountable since it will have to not only continue to provide volunteer opportunities for hundreds of students but will also have to maintain a good relationship with the student body as a whole if it is to maintain its fee. <br />
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CFRC remains dependent on a certain degree of goodwill on the parts of both the university and the student body. The station's studios and officers in Carruthers Hall are provided rent free by Queen's and, of course, the student fee represents 40% of the station's budget - a figure which will rise to 50% if the student interest fee increase is attained. CFRC can't afford to allow independence to go to its head. CFRC needs to maintain and enhance it's relationship with students and faculty so that they have a real stake in the radio station's survival and success.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-79052564373788128772011-07-01T08:34:00.003-04:002021-01-04T09:30:30.313-05:00Stupid Quote of the DayThis gem comes from an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/world/americas/01canada.html?_r=1">interview with Robert Finch</a>, Dominion Chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada in today's New York Times:<br />
<blockquote>“The fact that the queen can’t change her hairstyle because she has to look like the person on her money, that’s an example of a big sacrifice,” Mr. Finch said. <br />
</blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj2xZ0fK7jlR6uvq1900B8CluhniQ0pZI0AWZe8MRKS8PtZplPYXiWSm7Uc-0BVAR7H51GdS79VEgc2nySx1Ia3JSvPwPjcDhuAX8rQh6jL_H90EoVgT6v5c13Q1oa0WW7GxjtzlpyMtH/s1600/facepalm_picard_riker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="256" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj2xZ0fK7jlR6uvq1900B8CluhniQ0pZI0AWZe8MRKS8PtZplPYXiWSm7Uc-0BVAR7H51GdS79VEgc2nySx1Ia3JSvPwPjcDhuAX8rQh6jL_H90EoVgT6v5c13Q1oa0WW7GxjtzlpyMtH/s400/facepalm_picard_riker.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-7127644841848105352010-10-05T14:55:00.003-04:002021-01-04T09:31:18.435-05:00The Toronto Sun is now officially a propaganda sheet.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S80YFiDsjceeOqHkahTmHam-iF4QspxQccTk7qVlYVgM8YFO70jlqOmxq5dHdcWduSk4Imz9EguQQB2EIUe_Wlepvi0O0QOTiIzdzbPGBMROKFJaZisnE4EehBPjL5FLinXVhQAjig3A/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-10-05-at-8.54.46-AM-925x1024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S80YFiDsjceeOqHkahTmHam-iF4QspxQccTk7qVlYVgM8YFO70jlqOmxq5dHdcWduSk4Imz9EguQQB2EIUe_Wlepvi0O0QOTiIzdzbPGBMROKFJaZisnE4EehBPjL5FLinXVhQAjig3A/s320/Screen-shot-2010-10-05-at-8.54.46-AM-925x1024.png" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>During the 1984 federal election campaign, the Globe and Mail ran a photo of Liberal leader John Turner speaking to the Empire Club or some such group. The picture was taken at such an angle, however, that the part of the backdrop that appeared behind Turner's head made it look as if the Liberal leader had devil's horns. The picture was roundly condemned even though most people who saw it probably didn't notice the offending part of the image until they'd had their attention drawn to it and despite the fact that it's quite possible the photographer and editors didn't see it until angry Liberals pointed it out. Nevertheless, the incident stained the Globe and Mail's image as an objective newspaper, at least for a short time. <br />
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Well, there's no such ambiguity or benefit of the doubt possible with the Toronto Sun's cover this morning which literally depicts mayoral candidate George Smitherman as the devil with horns, goatee and Snidely Whiplash mustache drawn on, a red background and the headline "Bedevilled" screaming above George's head. It's not that much of a surprise to find the Sun demonizing someone but do they have to do it so literally?<br />
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Now, I'm not a fan of George Smitherman and I've told him so to his face but this has to be a new low in journalism. What could the editors of the Toronto Sun possibly be thinking as they pumped out a pure, unadulterated example of propaganda the likes of which we haven't seen in Toronto since 1949 when the Toronto Daily Star attempted to smear the Tories by claiming that George Drew had secretly agreed that if he won the election, he would appoint to cabinet as his Quebec lieutenant none other than Montreal mayor Camillien Houde - whose opposition to World War II had seen him interned during the war. On the Saturday before election day 1949, the Star's campaign reached its peak with the banner front page headline: <br />
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<blockquote><b>KEEP CANADA BRITISH<br />
DESTROY DREW'S HOUDE<br />
GOD SAVE THE KING</b> </blockquote><blockquote>(this third line was changed to <b>"VOTE ST. LAURENT"</b> in later editions)</blockquote><br />
If the Sun depicts its political target as the Devil incarnate three weeks before election day you have to wonder what they'll be doing on October 24th and 25th.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-71700027067479397902010-02-09T14:34:00.000-05:002010-02-09T16:04:33.492-05:00Adam's fallSo this is what I can piece together.<br />
<br />
NOW magazine writes a glowing <a href="http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=173063">article</a> on Giambrone and erroneously claims he's gay.<br />
<br />
Giambrone "<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/744841--giambrone-laughs-over-outing-in-magazine">laughs over</a>" the story, light-heartedly corrects the record but then goes a step further and makes public the fact that he's in a relationship with a woman named Sarah. Until this point no one had known, or particularly cared, who if anyone Giambrone was seeing.<br />
<br />
Days later, Giambrone stages romantic dinner with Sarah at a restaurant and arranges for a Toronto Sun photographer to<a href="http://dailystream.mondoville.com/flavoured-with-mystery-adam-giambrone-and-gir"> take their picture for the next day's paper</a>. In doing so, he misses his date with his other girlfriend and messages her to check out the Sun the next day.<br />
<br />
At his campaign launch Giambrone stereotypically announces his candidacy <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontomayoralrace/article/759034--hip-hop-and-squeals-greet-adam-giambrone">with his "life partner" Sarah at his side</a>. Hurt and humiliated his other girlfriend eventually goes to the Star.<br />
<br />
This is Giambrone's own fault for cynically trying to use his relationship with Sarah McQuarrie (contrived or not) for image purposes... or <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontomayoralrace/article/762532">as he told Lucas in a *text message*</a> on Dec 27, "You know I will be announcing I have a partner... It is someone named Sarah, who I've been involved with in the past. It is important for the campaign."<br />
<br />
Really? Why exactly was it "important for the campaign"? Either Giambrone felt so insecure about being called gay that he needed to put the spotlight on the fact that he has a girlfriend (or pretend McQuarrie was his girlfriend, whether he was lying when he told Lucas that her relationship with McQuarrie was pretend or lying when he says it's real, I don't know and don't particularly care) or he saw some sort of political advantage in contrasting his relationship with a woman against Smitherman's relationship with a man. Either way, fairly sorry stuff. (And really, what classier way is there to announce to one girlfriend that you're going to be telling the world that you're seeing someone else than through a text message?)<br />
<br />
And of course had Giambrone not been driven either by insecurity or cynicism to create a public image of himself as a guy in a committed relationship with a female "life partner" then his second girlfriend wouldn't have found out about his first and Giambrone's sleaziness towards women would have remained a private matter.<br />
<br />
While I still don't really see why this is a news story I can't muster any sympathy for Giambrone. He's brought this onto himself.<br />
<br />
ADDITION: A friend of mine thinks Giambrone decided it was important for his campaign to be seen in coupledom with Sarah McQuarrie so that people would view him as a grown-up. If that's the case his high school style relationship and breakup with a 19 year old has put to rest any lingering doubts about Giambrone's maturity level. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-4434068718814040522010-01-03T18:19:00.001-05:002010-01-03T18:20:51.684-05:00David Irving "taken out" by John Safran<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0rBCst4hph0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0rBCst4hph0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-28541376825910586992009-12-28T15:07:00.000-05:002009-12-30T10:47:45.434-05:00Who will succeed Kyle Rae?Longtime Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/737919">announced earlier this month</a> that he will not be running for re-election in 2010. Rae was originally elected in 1991 after beating <s>Adonica Huggins</s> Sherona Hall for the NDP nomination in what is now Toronto Centre Ward 27. Rae filled an opening created by then city councillor Jack Layton's decision to run for mayor. Rae left the NDP in <s>1993</s> 1994 to protest the Bob Rae government's decision to not whip his caucus to vote for same-sex benefits and allow a free vote instead - which failed due to several NDP MPPs voting with the Opposition. Since then, he's essentially been a Liberal in all but name supporting Liberal candidates such as George Smitherman, Bill Graham and, ironically, Bob Rae. Kyle has also been a general disappointment by supporting the closure of homeless shelters in his ward, backing policing against homeless people sleeping in parks, supporting the creation of Dundas Square as a privatized, commercial playground rather than a genuine public square and holding swank fundraising parties at College Park's exclusive Eaton Auditorium.<br /><br />Despite his background as Executive Director of the 519 Community Centre in the 1980s, Rae has been, in practice, a city councillor for Rosedale and downtown condos rather than the poorer tenants of his ward.<br /><br />The NDP has largely withdrawn from being an organized entity in municipal politics and will not be holding a meeting to nominate an NDP candidate in Ward 27.<br /><br />So far, four individuals have emerged as likely candidates in next year's contest;<br /><br />*<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Kennedy">Helen Kennedy</a> is a former East York councillor and was subsequently Olivia Chow's longtime executive assistant when she was city councillor in Ward 20 (Trinity Spadina). When Chow moved to federal politics, Kennedy won a bitter contest against Tam Goosen for the NDP nomination to succeed Chow in the 2006 municipal election and went on to lose an equally bitter contest against Adam Vaughan. She is now executive director of Egale Canada, a national GLBT rights organization.<br />*<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El-Farouk_Khaki">El-Farouk Khaki</a>, a lawyer, human rights activist, 2009 Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade and past NDP candidate in Toronto Centre, says his candidacy is not likely but that <a href="http://kscheuer.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/who-will-replace-kyle-rae/">he's not closed the door to the possibility</a>.<br />*Chris Phibbs is a senior advisor to David Miller and was executive assistant to Kyle Rae from 1992 to 2003 when she ran and lost as a candidate in Riverdale in the 2003 municipal election against NDPer Paula Fletcher. <a href="http://kscheuer.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/who-will-replace-kyle-rae/">She has reportedly ruled herself out of the race</a>.<br />*<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enza_Anderson">Enza "Supermodel" Anderson</a> is a transgendered activist and media personality who ran for mayor in 2000 as a novelty candidate and came in third with 13,000 votes. She ran against Rae in 2003 and won 15% of the vote. She was grand marshall of the 2008 Pride Parade.<br />*Susan Gapka is also a transgendered activist and a representative of the Ontario NDP's LGBT caucus on the party's provincial executive. She ran against Rae in 2006 winning 4.8% of the vote.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-59762934621267432942009-04-30T07:53:00.000-04:002010-01-03T18:22:20.340-05:00Tell me why (I don't like Mondays)Or "<span style="font-style: italic;">National Post deathwatch part 23</span>"<br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">try {globalNav($("header"));}catch(err</script><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090429.wnatpoststaff0429/BNStory/Business/home">National Post stops Monday editions in summer</a></span><br />
<br />
As CanWest sinks further and further into debt and tries desperately to stave off its creditors the company has announced that its flagship newspaper will not be publishing on Mondays through the summer. Think of this as the Aspers' version of "Rae Days".<br />
<br />
Post publishers Paul Godfrey and Gordon Fisher are trying to put the best face they can on this move stating in their <a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1547340">Note to Readers</a> that<span style="font-style: italic;"> "this change is in some respects simply a return to what used to be the norm. Financial Post, the 102-year-old heart of our newspaper, prospered for years as a Tuesday-to-Saturday publication."</span> Somehow, I think most Post employees and readers don't see this retreat as a nod to nostalgia.<br />
<br />
As CanWest tries to sell of non core assets and dead weight in an attempt to remain solvent the Aspers will have to, sooner rather than later, decide the ultimate fate of the National Post which has never once returned a profit in its ten year history. Chances are that by the end of the summer it won't be just Mondays on which the Post won't be publishing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-40008161451442629532009-04-09T14:19:00.000-04:002010-01-03T18:22:41.385-05:00Order of Canada revoked from disgraced recipient<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hgf6NJrZahcSdgOT2mqy59yVMyTh0uEjmOPsQA8_qYRsR7A81tmWVMYCExmHVs5hZ3X4F-MPN26zGh0EJNQ1C-i6Lx2casI2KOQsdmwvtTYUasnJ8ex-tAxpnf7CmWjJVBvUbSs-GoTK/s1600-h/black.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hgf6NJrZahcSdgOT2mqy59yVMyTh0uEjmOPsQA8_qYRsR7A81tmWVMYCExmHVs5hZ3X4F-MPN26zGh0EJNQ1C-i6Lx2casI2KOQsdmwvtTYUasnJ8ex-tAxpnf7CmWjJVBvUbSs-GoTK/s400/black.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322763050475739554" /></a><br />
No, convicted felon Conrad Black still has his gong. <br />
<br />
The disgraced figure who has been stripped of his Order of Canada is T. Sher Singh, a prominent Guelph lawyer who was appointed to the order in 2001. Singh was expelled from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2007 after he <a href="http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/614753">"failed to serve clients, mishandled trust funds, misappropriated $2,000 from a client and continued to practise after being suspended in November 2005."</a> The Toronto Star reported earlier this week that Singh's Order of Canada was revoked in December 2008 <a href="http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/614753">"pursuant to the Law Society of Upper Canada finding Mr. Singh guilty of professional misconduct and revoking his licence to practise law."</a><br />
<br />
There is no indication that Singh was either criminally charged or convicted for his misdeeds. <br />
<br />
So here's the question, if someone can have their Order of Canada taken away as a result of being disciplined by a professional body for misconduct then why does Conrad Black still have his Order when he has been rendered a much more severe judgment by a criminal court? <br />
<br />
If you are no longer deemed worthy of an honour for having misappropriated $2,000 and being expelled from the Law Society of Upper Canada, then certainly committing a $6.1 million fraud and being sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison is automatic cause for being de-orderized?<br />
<br />
Conrad Black has lost every appeal and the Supreme Court of the United States appears to have passed up its option to consider Black's case a month ago. So why does Black still have the Order of Canada?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-66042483019823930722009-03-20T18:59:00.000-04:002010-01-03T18:29:27.403-05:00Kenney vs VelshiReading the <a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/canada-bars-infandous-british-politician-journalists-reach-for-dictionaries">New York Times' lexicological take</a> on Canada's decision to bar British anti-war MP George Galloway from entering our fair land, I'm left wondering about the dynamics in the relationship between Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney and his aide Alykhan Velshi. It's quite clear who the brains is in the outfit. Velshi reaches back three centuries to find what he feels is the right word to describe Galloway as an "infandous street corner Cromwell." Infandous, which according to the Oxford English Dictionary hasn't been used in English since 1708, means something approximating 'unspeakable' or 'too odious to be mentioned'. Meanwhile Kenney, in an <a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1184614595/bctid17065456001">interview with Channel 4 News</a> in Britain was somewhat less articulate telling the presenter that he isn't going to let Galloway "pee on our carpet". Kenney's language better reflects the actual thought processes of the government as the decision to bar Galloway from entry is infantile. Of course, we shouldn't assume that Velshi's seeming ability to find just the right arcane word is a result of a love of language - it may be the product of a love of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/infandous">death metal</a> which, given our government's ideology, is not out of the question.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-23562960461452003922009-03-07T19:28:00.001-05:002010-02-02T13:16:09.663-05:00NDP Convention: 3rd ballot - Horwath wins<span style="font-weight: bold;">Third Ballot</span><br />
<br />
Andrea Horwath 6732.34 (60.4%)<br />
<br />
Peter Tabuns 4420.66 (39.6%)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-81709430681483770982009-03-07T18:08:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:15:59.572-05:00NDP convention: second ballot<p>Second ballot results</p><p>horwath 5259.06 votes - 43.6%</p><p>tabuns 3819.82 votes - 31.7 %</p><p>Bisson 2988.12 votes 24.8% </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-40286289344933006132009-03-07T16:53:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:15:49.458-05:00NDP convention: First ballot resultstotal weighted vote and percent<br />
Horwath 4625.29 votes, 37.1%<br />
Tabuns 3437.93 votes, 27.6%<br />
Bisson 2954.23 votes, 23.7%<br />
Prue 1438.44 votes, 11.5%<br />
<br />
Prue just went to BissonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-56068458040853551232009-03-07T14:44:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:15:36.264-05:00NDP Convention (5): HorwathMarie Kelly from Steel nominates Horwath. Andrea understands how important it is to stand up for working people and keep good jobs in Ontario. Now more than ever we need a strong leader who can protect the interests of working people and the right to join a union, who will pass anti-scab laws, cares about working people. It's time for Andrea.<br />
<br />
Tyler Downie of SEIU seconds nomination. This will be the most important decision we make as NDPers. we must take community organizing to a new level, engage young people, communities. it takes a commitment to on the ground organizing and andrea can engage and bring people together. we don't need another politician, we need an organizer.<br />
<br />
Chris Charlton, MP: I've known Andrea for 20 years, we've been on picket lines together, fought for housing, pensions... she has enthusiaism to get the job done. she was cochair of hamilton days of action and succeeded in bringing 50,000 workers out. succeeded in getting on city council and in the legislature. now is the time.<br />
<br />
Kormos introduces Horwath [sorry I lost my notes of what he said due to a technical glitch]<br />
<br />
[video]<br />
<br />
[drum band walks Horwath in]<br />
<br />
Horwath: thank you so much. There is no other place i would rather be than right here with you because i believe the people in this room hold the seed for ontario's future. great change started in rooms like this. people like you decided that every child deserves an education... this room is filled with real people who work in hospitals, day care centres, factories... we are students, retirees... but we all came here because we are committed to change. we may not be rich but we are powerful. we believe in building a better world. you can knock us down, ignore us, write our political obituaries but we are the people who will keep on going. knock us down and we will get up again because we are new democrats. like every ontarian we are experiencing change. a week ago the steel mills in the skyline represented work. now they represent people out of work, an economy ripped apart by neo-liberalism. an economy with a gutted industrial base. those mills represent steel no longer made but also autos no longer made in windsor, a devestated forestry sector... when we look we see all of ontario. i was a caw brat. i went to university because my father had a good job. i would not be here today if it wasn't for my father's well paid union job. this economic and social crisis will effect everyone of us. when good jobs disappear how many children lose their future? when we lose child care how many families become working poor.<br />
<br />
look at the difference a year has made. the middle class is disappearing and the working class is largely unemployed. we could accept this and adjust, that's what the other parties say, but adjust to what, growing unemployment lines and growing food bank lines, adjust to this growing . discrepency. adjust so that those who stole our money can get more of it? We refuse to adjust!<br />
<br />
we'll invest in ourselves, our workplaces. it's our money we will demand an equity stake. it's our money. smart investments, targeted investments in products of the future. light rail. we'll build green cars. we will produce once again and we will buy our own products. we'll buy farm products grown in ontario.<br />
<br />
we'll put light rail systems in our cities and invest in our work by making ontario a transit hub. we'll make every job a good job. we will make sure minimum wage is a living wage. we'll get rid of scab labour. we will make sure part time, casual and migrant workers are all treated like the real workers that they are and we will bring our workforce back to health. we will stop eating away at our public system. we will expand our public system. let's make child care and post secondary education fully public.<br />
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the neo liberal experiment has exploded. the invisible hand doesn't work. it never existed and we should not trust invisible hands to take care of us.<br />
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we won't adjust to the growing misery. we will change. we will think for ourselves and won't trust a few greedy individuals to take care of us.<br />
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i'm a community organizer and i trust people but it's not a blind trust. i've seen what people can accomplish together like the days of action. when i think about our climate crisis i do so with the mind of an organizer. people want a cleaner environment and i trust people will make the changes they need to make to get that. we must help them by making environementalism affordable with loans for [environmental retrofits]<br />
<br />
we won't check our socialism at the door when it comes to building a better future. let's do for the environment what we did for health care 50 years ago. let's make environemtalism universal.<br />
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we owe people a real choice. we have to be ready to change ourselves. we have to set internal goals for our party that seem impossible. we must double our party membership by 2011. we must reflect ontario with more women, young people, diverse communities. we must work in communities like organizing by listening and working together on issues that are relevent. let's be truly representative as a party. put regional organizers on the ground. change the financial relationship between ridings and the parties. make ridings vibrant. i will spend half my time on the road to make us vibrant. it's time for us to believe in ourselves again. we can make this province a better, fairer place where the avg working woman gets the child care she needs and McGuinty gets the pink slip he deservces and that is what we owe the people in ontario in 2011.<br />
<br />
things aren't working at queen's park. it's time for new voices, change. it's time for the NDP, in 2011 we will bring change to queen's park and i am the woman to do it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-70758910995738685642009-03-07T14:14:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:15:28.842-05:00NDP convention (4): TabunsCheri DiNovo introduces Tabuns, mentioned "democratic socialism" in her review of party history. Tabuns represents the best of the NDP's traditition. he has an industrial economic vision, zeal for a prosperous province, represents new direction and our founding values, feminist, unionist, environmentalist, democratic socialist Peter Tabuns.<br />
<br />
Ravi Joshi: I support Tabuns because he has the best grasp of the solutions we need. Passionate and hardworking. Inspiring.<br />
<br />
Emily Watkins: Peter has passion and energy that I admiare. Connects the jobs of tomorrow with the fight against climate change, he's an infatigable candidate. he's travelled throughout Ontario for the party. Energy and ideas. I am proud to nominate Peter Tabuns.<br />
<br />
Irene Mathysson: I want an engaging, forward looking person, ahead of the curve, someone who believes in communities and building good teams. Party needs change and Ontarians want change.<br />
<br />
Ontario VP of CEP: Our members need a leader who understands and believes in the importance of unions and workers rights. a leader who knows how important good wages are to workers and their families. someone who understands that this province must invest in good jobs and work hard to keep them here. Peter Tabuns is a friend of workers with a long track record. I've seen the new energy economy work and we need to see more of it in Ontario. CEP members and workers from across Ontario know we need a new economic vision, one that breaks down old walls and builds new bridges. Peter has that vision and a plan to make it reality. We can save good jobs and create new ones with the new energy economy. I ask you to join me in supporting today's leader and tomorrow's premier, peter tabuns.<br />
<br />
[video]<br />
<br />
Tabuns: In these past few months i've visited communities across this province and spoken to many people and something links us [namechecks cities] something moves us whether it's auto workers in windsor who want green jobs or steel workers who want wind turbines. something inspires us.<br />
<br />
I grew up in Hamilton, I watched my parents, immigrants, struggle to build new lives in this country.<br />
<br />
We need change - Stelco closing - we can't stay with the status quo but need to change and show people that the progressive party they need is here in this room today.<br />
<br />
we have to show that we get it, not that we talk about the need to get it but that we show that we get it. i ask for the priviledge to rebuild, reshape and renew our party.<br />
<br />
there's a clamour to get serious about the century ahead. if we need any proof of why think about the changes in this province since the leadership campaign began. soaring energy prices, then stock market collapse and this week hamilton, windsor, sudbury hammered by layoffs. we're losing jobs across the province all with a backdrop of an environmental challenge.<br />
<br />
ontario is staring a rust belt future in the face. if we don't rise to the challenge with a leader who is ready our future is at risk. should we talk about internal structures? That won't cut it in a province with a job crisis. or will we just claim we're ready to govern? That won't cut it in a province facing a crisis. Ontarians are ready to connect crises with solutions. they know the price of handsoff government because they live it and they know ontario is behind the global path. denmark, germany are leading in renewable energy. Michigan is helping auto plants diversify, california is builidng the world's largest solar plant. it's the new energy economy embraced by governments who see what's coming. But you can look in Ontario and you can barely find it because the new energy econony is passing us by. We need to build jobs tomorrow by acting on environment today. in the twilight years of casino capitalism government has a role to play making good change occur and regulating against dangers. it takes more than saying we want to govern. to change our party and province for the better we need to be ready to go starting tomorrow.<br />
<br />
looking forward, not back, to the challenges of tomorrow not rhetoric of yesterday. we can't pit north vs south, environmentalists vs workers. i reject the notion that if you support workers you oppose environmental progress. the best thing for construction workers is retrofitting homes across the province. I want cities to have public transit and those transit vehicles to be built in thunder bay. i want greener cares made in oshawa, brampton, oakville and windsor with tech from waterloo and ottawa.<br />
<br />
i want cities to use more wind energy produced in urban, rural and northern ontario using steel made in ontario.<br />
<br />
we don't need to pit regions or intersts against each other. we need to work for equity and fairness and acknowledge that we're in here together. the days of cobbling together enough seats for official party status need to end. these ideas don't cost much, they don't end the partnerships that fought to increase the minimum wage, they build new alliances.<br />
<br />
with the need for smart governemnt so clear we shouldn't settle for the empty words and timid actions of Dalton McGuinty who fought increasing the minimum wage and gave money to GM to move their truckline to Mexico.<br />
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Now is the time for us in this party to force mcguinty to deliver by creating more jobs, cutting emissions and helping resource sector flourish.<br />
<br />
let's have an election on how to create new jobs while cutting emissions, on helping working families, on putting people to work building a hydro system for the 21st century. let's start that debate with a new ndp with better communications and organizations. a party that gets out of queen's park and into the communities and which invites ontarians to join with solutions they see work.<br />
<br />
in 3o years i've seen it work by bringing construction workers into energy efficiency projects. i've seen it work at city hall where we protected health and safety by banning smoking at work places. i've seen it at greenpeace where we and the caw pushed for green cars years ago. i've seen it at queen's park with the fight to raise the minimum wage.<br />
<br />
you are eager to put solutions into actions. i've seen you in your homes, in church basements, you're not throwing in the towel. you're filled with the same energy as me. you want a province that accepts the need to catch up with a changing world. today is the day to choose, do we move forward or do we take a bigger risk and look backward and inward. I choose to move forward and today i ask for your support as leader so we can move forward together.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-17288922291546550152009-03-07T13:41:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:15:18.651-05:00NDP Convention (3): PrueVideo presentation - shots of Regent Park with voiceover by Prue on growing up in a poor neighbourhood and the importance of making sure children have opportunity.<br />
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Talks about his success as mayor of East York, building community centres and daycare, paying down the debt without raising taxes.<br />
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I'm a consensus builder and have a plan involving the cities and towns of the province that will bring economic prosperity.<br />
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I've won 8 elections in a row including in places such as Leaside where New Dems haven't won before.<br />
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Have travelled the length and breadth of this province. I can represent all of the people of this great province and I will do so as Premier.<br />
<br />
(Video ends)<br />
<br />
Music and light show -<br />
<br />
Prue comes to podium<br />
<br />
Begins in French, not as loudly as Bisson.<br />
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It's taken me a lifetime to get here from Regent Park.<br />
<br />
Tumultuous times for our province and party.<br />
<br />
70 percent share our values but only 15 percent vote for us because they don't think we can win or manage the economy. But if we make the right choices we can matter again. If I'm leader we'll regain confidence, I will rejuvenate the party and make it into one that will win.<br />
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Separate out the rhetoric from the substance being presented.<br />
<br />
3 qualifications needed - 1 proven leadership in governing. 2 Ability to attract support from a broad range of people. 3 Comprehensive and believable economic plan.<br />
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leader needs to know from experience what to do now. can't wait for someone to grow into the job (jab at Horwath?)<br />
<br />
I won every poll as mayor of East York at a time when provincial NDP government deeply unpopular because a broad range of people were impressed by me. I filled vacant factories, had 5 balanced budgets, paid down the debt and never raised taxes. Built daycare and community centres.<br />
<br />
Times demanded a leader of action with an economic plan and I did it with the rest of council, not one of whom was an NDPer.<br />
<br />
We have that opportunity again today. I have a comprehensive economic plan.<br />
1) direct investment that will accelerate recovery<br />
2) Buy Ontario plan<br />
3) Cities power region plans that will make us more competitive.<br />
<br />
The past few days have been devestating to working families in Niagara and Windsor. I watched reaction of Steelworkers as they stared at prospect of lost jobs and crushed hopes. they are looking for answers and solutions and we can provide them.<br />
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It's essential that provincial governemnt play a role in critical industries. my plan recognizes the enormity of the task. we will provide the money but we demand shares in the companies, seats on the board of directors to protect jobs and direct recovery and significant role for unions.<br />
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Buy Ontario plan gives option to councils to award contracts to local suppliers provided the bid is within 10% of lowest tender. We must give this opportunity to Municipalities, Universities, Hospitals. Does not violate trade agreements.<br />
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We will give cities and towns tools and resources to build their own success. Eliminate OMB to restore municipal control of planning. give larger cities same powers as City of Toronto. Alternative to property tax is needed. These changes will give cities ability to build infrastructure - give Windsor option to build tunnel instead of highway. Give Toronto ability to build light transit and Thunder Bay ability to build new facilities for wood products.<br />
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Every town and city will be free to make strategic decisions to foster growth in target economic sectors.<br />
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This will generate tax base needed to do what we've dreamt with, eliminated economy, greening society, relief to students and justice for first nations.<br />
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Coming from Regent Park and being a proud trade unionist i've always dreamt of eliminating poverty. End clawback against the disabled. someone born with Down's syndrome is not given a fair shake in life, but Ontario claws back half of everything they earn. that's a disgrace. I will end that practice and allow people on ODSP to keep first $8,000 they earn so they can be above the poverty line.<br />
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Must shift to greener healthier province. I worked with Sheila Basra. We forged first anti smoking bylaw. we established the Toronto anti-smoking bylaw that was later adopted by the province. we were the first to ban pesticides. we stopped Toronto from dumping its garbage in Adams Mine. I will continue that fight as leader and as Premier i will stop construction of energy plants not being built with smart tech to reduce carbon emissions. will encourage use of biomass and create a renewable energy institute to develop new tech. i will give all municipalities the tools to go green and i will give assistance to homeowners to retrofit homes for alternative power.<br />
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to do this we need to win. Beginning tomorrow i will lead a 10 person caucus but i want our party to regain our confidence and allow us to form the next government. i have a detailed plan to revitalize party.<br />
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we must learn from Obama's 50 state strategy. we must not cede any ridings to other parties and run strong campaigns in all 107 ridings. we spent $4 million in last campaign but I want to ensure each riding has $10K so they can run strong campaigns. we can't just run in 20 0r 30 ridings and win 10, we have to run strong campaigns in every riding.<br />
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we need to change the funding formula. even in my riding we have no money in our treasury to do ordinary things like sponsor a kids baseball team or participate in local parades. if that's happening in beaches it's happening across the province and we need to change that. the current revenue formula is a disincentive to fundraising.<br />
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We need to bring in new faces. I will increase grant to ONDY and provide seed money for each campus club. we need an internship program for youth to bring the best and brightest to queen's park and party hq.<br />
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i will convince new canadians to join NDP, will reach out to their leaders.<br />
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I will bring unions like the CAW back into the NDP and unions that have never affiliated into the party.<br />
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I have experience in leading a government, managing an economy, attracting business and creating jobs. I couldn't have done that without the ability to attract votes from all places and classes.<br />
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If I could do that in east york i can do that across the province in 2011.<br />
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you have a choice - change that can bring results. i'm the only candidate with proven governmetn experience. i have run an economy during a recession without losing jobs. I am the candidate for poverty reduction and green energy. I have convinced non NDPers to vote for me in the past. I can revitalize the party and I'm the only candidate with a concrete plan to transform the party.<br />
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with your vote we can have results that we've never had before.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-6538234060148546522009-03-07T13:23:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:14:58.482-05:00NDP convention 2 Bisson speechBisson is being nominated by France Gelinas and by a spokesperson for UFCW Canada. Third nominator is an activist for an anti-homelessness group - missed her name, but she's emphasizing that Bisson has raised the most money of any of the candidates (and thus can raise money for the party) and that the's the only NDP MPP to have increased his share of the vote in 1995.<br />
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Video presentation (pretty slick) of Bisson at various demonstrations and meetings and news clippings.<br />
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Charlie Angus, MP, speaking now saying Bisson built the NDP in the north and suggesting he's largely responsible for the NDP winning 7 of 9 northern Ontario federally. Angus introduces Bisson.<br />
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Bisson: Thanks his nominators. Namechecks the Steelworkers (who are heavily represented at convention). Argues that there's nothing wrong with having a second leader from northern Ontario - mentions northern MPPs and MPs who have been elected. "What's wrong with northern Ontario? It's a question not of where the leader comes from but what he has to offer."<br />
Talks about lessons of Rae government. Praises NDP government's accomplishments, keeping plants open that were threatened with closure - saved jobs. "We passed anti-scab legislation... we need to aim for government".<br />
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How do we get there? Must move from politics of opposition to politics of proposition. Propose what needs to be done around economy, environment and crime.<br />
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We need to make needed changes to the party. We're $4 million in debt and need to pay it off so we can have the money we need to win. We need revenue sharing with the riding associations so they can run full campaigns across the province.<br />
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We're social democrats and understand this needs to be done together. Revenue sharing should only apply to new members, not to existing funds, so as not to starve the centre.<br />
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I can put a team made up of people from all the leadership camps.<br />
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We sold more memberships than any other leadership campaign. We've raised the most amount of money of any campaign. I have the experience, the passion, the drive, the leadership ability to get the job done. We start by taking Hamilton and then we take Queen's Park.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-6964837900240355702009-03-07T13:19:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:14:49.540-05:00NDP conventionLiveblogging from the NDP convention.<br />
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Bisson has raised the most amount of money followed by Tabuns, Horwath and Prue. We'll see the relationship between money and votes soon.<br />
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My prediction is that Horwath will win since her significant lead in the labour vote will give her a boost overall. Steel makes up more than 2/3 of the labour vote (which is allotted 25% of the final outcome) and Horwath has the backing of the Steel leadership and of most Steel locals outside of Toronto, where Tabuns leads and a few northern locals that are going for Bisson. She also has the backing of SEIU and is the second choice of UFCW after Bisson (UFCW being 8% of the labour vote).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-43325295479729379232009-02-06T13:02:00.000-05:002010-02-02T13:14:37.540-05:00Kormos endorses Horwath<a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/06/c6326.html">This</a> comes as a bit of a surprise.<br />
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See also this <a href="http://canadian-firebrand.blogspot.com/2009/01/ontario-ndp-leadership-endorsement.html">earlier (and now revised) post</a> for a roundupUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277638576930222009.post-59338436040301528912009-02-03T22:39:00.001-05:002010-02-02T13:14:29.539-05:00Bisson bags the northAn update to my earlier look at <a href="http://canadian-firebrand.blogspot.com/2009/01/ontario-ndp-leadership-endorsement.html">endorsements</a> of the NDP leadership candidates: an additional four northern Ontario MPs have endorsed Gilles Bisson meaning he has the unanimous support of the NDP's 7 federal Members of Parliament from northern Ontario.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0