Soooooooooo...when do we start a difficult conversation about disbanding the Ottawa Police Service? Their credibility has been destroyed and their complicity with the convoy is impossible to ignore. Even if you're pro-police, I can't imagine you're pro *these* police.
15,000 out of 160,000 of Ontario teachers make over $100K.
4,876 out of 7465 Toronto Police Service employees make over $100K.
9% of teachers vs. 65% of cops.
BREAKING: Nearly 15,000 Ontario teachers on the 2019 sunshine list (earning a salary over $100,000 per year), marks a 46% increase from the year prior.
#onpoli
#onted
Read my release:
@CanadianPacific
Turns out the conductor
@CanadianPacific
fired for taking bathing suit photos spends her free time fixing bikes and giving them away to children.
BREAKING: The Ontario Science Centre is closing for good today after an engineering report found the roof is in danger of collapsing, the
@TorontoStar
has learned.
#onpoli
#topoli
CP Rail fires conductor over her social media posts, claim they violate code of ethics.
How do bathing suit pics damage the reputation of a railroad?
@CanadianPacific
seems committed to treating this woman poorly.
Stephanie Katelnikoff was fired after a derailment in Banff, but was cleared of fault and reinstated.
CP Rail then fired her again, this time over her social media posts.
What is Canada offering young people that's worthy of celebration? Degraded versions of the services their parents and grandparents enjoyed. Stagnant wages. Overpriced housing. Inaccessible childcare. Little prospect of a comfortable retirement.
The saddest part for me in the dismal findings in our Canada Day poll for
@globalnews
is the negative views of younger Canadians. If the next generation of leaders, etc don’t believe Canada is worth celebrating, what kind of future will we have?
The Toronto Police Service budget in 1999 was $535.9 million. This year, Chief Demkiw has asked for $1.186 billion and suggested grim consequences if the service isn't awarded every penny.
The budget increased by $650M since 1999 and we only have 37 more cops!?!
Did you know Toronto has only 37 more police officers than in 1999, despite population growth of more than 600,000 and a 35% increase in emergency calls.
#SupportYourTPS
Animal activists returned to protest at Antler Kitchen and Bar on Saturday, a few days after owner
@TheHunterChef
allegedly cut and ate meat in front of their demonstration.
Hahaha. Giant retailers put in self-checkout so they can fire cashiers and save money, but it leads to increased theft which presumably costs more than they’re saving on personnel. The conclusion is clear: shoplifting is pro labour.
The Ford government says they had to close the Ontario Science Centre because it's unsafe and too difficult to fix. But on May 9, 2024, a permit application was submitted to the City of Toronto for a “museum” at 770 Don Mills Road…
...to fix the roof.
Province pushing for above ground garage at Ontario Place due to cost, says head of CNE.
The CEO of the CNE said he was told by the province that an underground parking garage could cost $800 million.
There should never be a parade as big as the Raptors’ parade in 2019. Poorly planned and poorly executed, the parade was 10 hours spent on a knife’s edge of disaster. People have no idea.
The timing of this release couldn’t be more suspicious. We have a government that simply will not tell us the truth about anything ever. Science Centre, Crosstown, Greenbelt…a staggering run of dishonesty.
I live in a neighbourhood that's been plagued by auto theft. They mostly occur in the middle of the night and involve multiple individuals and lookout cars. Short of hovering over my house all night, randomly pointing a spotlight at every car, how will a helicopter help?
One of the best features of Presto is the anxiety that’s built in to every transaction.
Will the card work? Will the reader work? If the reader doesn’t work, will fare inspectors get you? Did you run out of funds last night? Did you add funds? Was it 24 hours ago? Was it 23?
In the thick of a housing crisis, there is suddenly a record number of homes for sale in Toronto that nobody wants.
“The condo market right now is a ghost town. I have zero action.”
Last night Justin Trudeau refused to answer questions about returning ISIS fighters. Is he secretly planning to bring terrorists back to Canada? Share this video to stop Trudeau.
#NotAsAdvertised
#cdnpoli
#elxn43
I don’t think it’ll be unfair to question why Bradford got so much press and Brown got so little. Despite placing 3rd last year, the Star neither invited her to debate nor did a profile. Bradford, who only narrowly beat Chris Sky, got both.
Having spent a fruitless year looking for affordable office space, I can say with some authority that landlords would much rather whine and lobby for government bailouts than even attempt to be competitive.
Big shout out to
@Kathleen_Wynne
and
@Dalton_McGuinty
for allowing the Ontario Science Centre to fall into such a state of disrepair during their 15 years in government that Doug Ford could close it on a whim and rob Ontario of a major cultural and educational institution.
@CanadianPacific
Katelnikoff had to go to arbitration when she was wrongfully fired over the Banff derailment (which was caused by faulty equipment) and she plans to keep fighting for her job.
I’m on my knees, begging
@MayorOliviaChow
to end this contract, remove every single one of these bins from our streets, buy a proven off-the-shelf design, and clean up this city.
Of course the people who live on the Toronto Islands don’t want a bridge. That isn’t news and it sure as hell isn’t a compelling argument against building one. Let the rest of us enjoy the park and they can go back to running inheritance schemes and gaming the lottery system.
@AntlerKitchen
This latest interview with animal rights activists features some real doozies. Again, they're not trying to damage Antler's business, but...
A 24 of Canadian is $45.95 today at the Beer Store, or $1.91 per bottle. So Doug Ford is forgoing $200M in revenue to save consumers $0.09 on a bottle of beer that they'll likely never notice or appreciate.
NEW: The Ford government is freezing the beer tax for 2 years, until just before the next election.
The tax was slated to increase by 4.6% on Mar 1.
It means $200 million in forgone tax revenue for the province.
#onpoli
After careful reflection, I’ve concluded that John Tory achieved NOTHING in his terms as Mayor. Nothing. Not one thing. 10 completely wasted years. He didn’t even try.
*deeeeeep breath*
This motherfucker right here GUTTED Veterans Affairs. Tore it to shreds. And when he got called out by his own Ombudsman, he fired the Ombudsman and made MORE cuts. His ministers insulted veterans to their faces. Fuck this guy completely. Fuck right off.
I am proud to lend my name to
@TWSFoundationCA
, an organization aimed at recognizing the incredible sacrifices made by the families of our beloved
@CanadianForces
. Join Laureen and me in honouring them:
Folks, I’m a bit steamed...
The City of Toronto had weeks to come up with a plan to address the certainty that people, however well intentioned or well behaved they might be, would start leaving their homes more often when the weather improved.
I'm so angry about the Toronto Police PR officer who got busted for drunk driving and gets to sit at home with full pay that I went back to see how many times he'd tweeted sanctimoniously about drunk driving. It was...very often.
This is the funniest thing of all time. To protect his identity as a City employee, this maniac put another hat on top of the City of Toronto uniform ball cap he’s wearing. Y’know…instead of just changing hats!!!
The Ontario Science Centre is a special place that sparks imagination and curiosity.
Today's closure is a painful loss for the city.
See my statement below:
And I understand how, to the average Canadian ear, the idea of disbanding the entire police force of the nation's capital probably sounds insane. But how else do you root out the rot in an armed institution when you can't trust the leadership or the rank and file?
A serious city would take the Queen/Yonge closure head on. More subway service, make bike share free, ban Ubers from the core, put a lock on delivery times, aggressive traffic enforcement, etc etc.
Toronto plays everything like it’s hands are tied.
The only acceptable answer is Science Centre Station. We should be forced to stare at that name forever. We should have to explain it to every lost tourist. There’s no reason to free us of the shame.
Proposals for a new name for Science Centre Station. Remember this a future station on the Ontario Line as well. And no, Don Mills South is not acceptable. Don Mills Eglinton could work but is unwieldy.
Don Station could work. Other suggestions?
No one keeps to 100km/h today and no one will keep to 110 km/h tomorrow. The only difference will be that instead of speeding at 120, people will get comfortable at 140.
Under the leadership of
@fordnation
, our government continues to stand up for drivers.
Starting July 12, speed limits are increasing to 110 km/h on nine sections of provincial highways!
Learn more:
Police horses trampling a garden in the park they’re supposedly “restoring” is the least awful thing happening there today but it nicely illustrates how this whole mess is entirely counterproductive.
With the prospect of a TTC strike looming this Friday, I'd like to thank the neverending weekend service suspensions, reduced bus service, terrible route management, and frequent interruptions for adequately preparing me to cope with a system-wide shutdown.
It really, really can’t be overstated how badly the Ford and Tory administrations, with — at least in Tory’s case — the full backing of every pillar of the Toronto establishment, beat this city into hammered dog shit.
Waited approx 30 minutes for an Ossington bus at Dupont. Absolutely slammed. Made it to the station and it’s so jammed with people there are 3 buses full of people waiting. 12 years of Conservative rule in Toronto.
@ttcriders
Toronto No. 1 huckster, who's spent the last 4 years building his personal brand and voting against any community initiative that's come through Council, is suddenly interested in action and results.
Can’t believe the city I love is unraveling before my eyes because of the actions of a few sick people. No more thoughts and prayers. Action and results, now.
#TorontoStrong
The existing Science Centre is 568,000 sqft
The Ontario Place proposal is 260,000 sqft
The temporary location could be as small as 50,000 sqft
We're being asked to spend an awful lot of money on a series of downgrades.
Ontario is searching for a temporary home for the Ontario Science Centre at a fraction of the size of the building the province abruptly closed last week due to structural concerns.
#onpoli
The City turned film studios into prisons during the G20, but can’t figure out how to add more shelter space during the coldest week in a generation. Shame.
The disregard for the interests of the 46% of Torontonians who rent is so goddamn depressing. Average rents in Toronto are up 40% in the last 2 years and there’s little stopping income property owners from passing every penny of this tax increase on to tenants.
Toronto homeowners may soon have to pay an extra average of more than $370 in property taxes every year.
Here's everything you need to know about property taxes as Toronto homeowners stare down a proposed double-digit increase.
The same parts of Toronto that flooded 10 years ago are flooding now. Please remember that when John Tory's next hand-picked supposedly centrist candidate (probably Bailão again) registers to run for Mayor in a couple years. Also, let's turf most of Council.
I’ll vote for anyone who’ll tell the TTC they can’t close the entire east end of the city off from the subway on a busy June weekend. The kind of Mayor who’ll throw ‘em out of the office for even suggesting it.
Over a BILLION dollars a year so Toronto Police can deliver super duper advice like, “Make it easier for people to steal your car.”
Total, ground-up police reform NOW.
"Toronto Police advise the public to reduce the risk of home invasions aimed at car theft by placing their key fobs near the front door. This strategy is suggested because culprits are primarily entering homes to access cars, not to steal other items." 👇🏽
Toronto is about to elect a far-left activist mayor who will:
- defund police
- take down a chunk of the Gardiner Expressway &
- raise taxes to fund social housing so that people who don’t work can live downtown while the rest of us face longer commutes.
We can't just have a recovery for downtown Toronto, that's why I'm talking to businesses and workers across Northern Ontario to secure an economic recovery for everyone.
Canada Day celebrations in Nathan Phillips Square hold special meaning to many Torontonians. We can’t let City Hall take that away from residents.
I’m disappointed by City Hall’s decision and, as Mayor, I would immediately reverse it.
Kouvalis’ line, that everything the public has hated about Ontario’s pandemic response has been the fault of public health and the science table is a concept PC back room folks were floating last spring after Ford’s disastrous press conference. Makes me wonder what’s coming.
Prediction: Ford Fest will break every single one of the City's rules barring political events in city parks during a campaign, someone will file a complaint, and a year from now a City official will present a mildly scolding report.
I walked around the U of T encampment last night, and whoever is managing it appears to know what they're doing. I have a lot of experience in public events and was impressed with the security, planning, cleanliness, and layout.
My thought is most basement apartments are black holes that extract one’s will to live and we should not try to fix the housing crisis with more of them.
This is a recently constructed 4-unit building in Ottawa.
Some might call it a 4-plex, I call it a back-to-back duplex (long-semi) with with 2 basement suites. Rear facade is same as front, all units independently accessible.
Thoughts?
It's no surprise that the Toronto Star is endorsing Ana Bailão. But it worrying to see Toronto's paper of record so out of step with the city it serves.
I certainly didn't have "supposedly leftie Mayor meets with bank CEOs to encourage them to force you back to working downtown" on my Olivia Chow bingo card.
I present, edited for your enjoyment, John Tory's deliciously awkward appearance on Breakfast Television in which he's asked about his Valentine's Day plans.
2022 proposal for block 13, west don lands. red and yellow brick, colourful and interesting
WaterfrontTO: "too much colour"
2024 redesign, more boring and two shades of grey
toronto's ambitions summed up
A police service with a budget well over $1.1B which can't maintain safety in the city because of a dispute over $12M should be torn down and rebuilt. Their premise is laughable.
There are lots of reasons to want the pandemic to end, but one of them is definitely so we can stop hearing about the plight of the friggin' snowbirds.
Yes, Doug will probably land a lifetime of cushy board appointments and then have a 10-year retrospective interview with Steve Paikin in which none of his many crimes will be discussed.
Anyone who believes Doug Ford will come to Toronto's rescue is not being honest with you.
We need to get our own house in order. And that means being honest with residents about what it will take to improve our quality of life.
What an incredible logical backflip. If photo radar is a cash cow, it's because we are so addicted to speeding we don't care about the possible financial impact. A reasonable person would then conclude:
1) there should be more cameras
2) the fines are far too low
In 2006 I warned at Queen’s Park that photo radar was a slippery slope. While well intentioned to reduce speeding they would ultimately become a cash cow for municipalities. Case in point 👇 and in addition, as with any revenue to any government at any given time, the proceeds go
If you’re thinking about supporting
@JoshMatlow
, do it. This election isn’t over and front runners get surprised all the time. And looking long term, we benefit from rewarding people who campaign on clear, thoughtful ideas.
The Toronto Police Service is the largest item in the City’s budget and the only one whose management and internal processes cannot be publicly questioned, never mind audited. As a result, it’s both badly run and unassailable.
According to
@TorontoPolice
:
• Between September 2022 and 2023, emergency calls for service went up 18% and it takes, on average, 22 minutes to respond to the highest priority call
• The wait time is longer in 18 of 25 municipal wards
It is hard to believe there's anyone living in Toronto who doesn't accept that the city is in decline and that the past 13 years of fiscal "management" at the hands of Rob Ford and John Tory carries much of the blame. Must we do one more pointless audit looking for phantom waste?
So, Chow must argue she's not the agent of any of these tax hikes - that she's just inherited the shit assignment of handing them out because Tory and Ford and Miller etc. failed to tax responsibly. And it's Trudeau, not Chow, forcing additional taxes to shelter refugees, etc.
Chief Demkiw's irresponsible comments could create the best opportunity in a generation for civilian police oversight in Toronto to take charge. But it can only happen if Mayor Chow is willing to lead. It's now or never.
Again, the pods at Ontario Place are derelict. It is simply impossible that they’re in better shape than the current Science Centre facilities. This plan makes absolutely no sense. This is a gross misuse of public money and public land.
The government says the current Science centre will be demolished.
The province says a business case determined it would be cheaper to bring the science centre to Ontario place rather than repair it.
#onpoli
Does anyone remember when Canada could actually balance a budget and not have to pay higher taxes, higher prices, and higher inflation?
It wasn't like this before Trudeau and it won't be like this after him.
Thank you, Jim Flaherty & Stephen Harper.
#cdnpoli
#Budget2024
This is an appropriate increase. It’s neither excessive nor ruinous. If we weren’t raising the police budget, it should still be 10%. If you think this increase could be controlled through better management, I’m sorry but that’s simply wrong. The bill has come due.
How long until we learn about some connection between Ford or a Ford cabinet minister and Sycamore Partners, the US-based private equity owner of Staples?
The Ford government is closing some ServiceOntario centres and adding new locations in Staples stores.
ServiceOntario employees at centres that are closing will be given opportunities to continue their employment with Staples, said a govt spokesperson.👇
I've been saying for months that, just like the Greenbelt, the only thing that can kill the Therme deal is transparency, either from the ongoing efforts of journalists or from the AG. Every time a bright light is directed at one of Doug Ford's plans it starts to melt.
2 years (and counting) to fix a couple kilometres of the Lower Don trail. The City cites “poor soil”, but I ride Bayview regularly and the bigger problem may be the apparent absence of workers and equipment.