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Toronto’s transportation woes hit ‘tipping point’

OVER EASY

LISA QUEEN lqueen@insidetoronto.com

Staff photo/DAN PEARCE

FIRST-PLACE FINISH: Cameron Bruce takes first place in the boys 15 and under high jump event at the Royal Canadian Indoor Championships Saturday at the Metro Track Centre. See more photos on page 3.

While no tax would be popular, Geordie Graham and Richard De Gaetano discussed the least objectionable way to come up with the $2 billion a year needed to solve crippling transportation challenges facing the Greater Toronto Area.

At first, Graham leaned exclusively toward taxes imposed on drivers, such as a fuel tax and highway tolls, which he felt would persuade drivers to take public transit.

But De Gaetano argued increasing personal income and corporate taxes is fairer because they are the least regressive of all taxes.

When it comes to solving the transportation woes of the GTA, the economic engine of Ontario, he would rather see the discussion focus on how we collaboratively build the city we want rather than how do we make the “bad people” (drivers) pay.

Overall, Graham agreed with that approach, although he still sees room for tolls or levies that help change behaviour.

“You use a big carrot and a few little sticks,” he said. >>>FERRIES, page 3

Three North York MPPs promoted to Wynne cabinet LISA QUEEN lqueen@insidetoronto.com When Aboriginal drummers performed at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony of Premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet, Willowdale

MPP David Zimmer, Ontario’s new Aboriginal affairs minister, admits he had tears in his eyes.

“One of the most moving things was at the end, for the first time (at a swearing-in ceremony at the legislature), they had, it was Aboriginal

women drummers and singers (who) played and sang the most moving songs,” he told The Mirror.

“It’s a beautiful thing to listen to.

It was haunting.”

The performance signalled the importance Wynne’s government

will dedicate to issues related to the Aboriginal community, Zimmer said, Concerns of the community have taken on prominence in recent weeks through the Idle No More movement.

Zimmer is one of three North York MPPs that Wynne, MPP for Don Valley West, elevated to cabinet positions.

Don Valley East MPP Michael Coteau is citizenship and immigra>>>ZIMMER, page 6

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NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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Community

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Ferries, tolls, taxes posed as solutions to congestion

Taking a shot at the Canada Cup

Staff photo/Dan Pearce

having a ball: Hundreds of hockey players gathered to participate in Canada Cup 3 on 3 Ball Hockey Tournament Sunday at Downsview Park.

and they’re off... on track: At left, Cynthia Cadena flies through the air in the long jump event at the Royal Canadian Indoor Championships Saturday at the Metro Track Centre. Above, heats in the 60m hurdles event.

Staff photos/Dan Pearce

>>>from page 1 Graham, who moved to Toronto four months ago and lives in the area of Sheppard Avenue and Yonge Street, and De Gaetano, a resident of the Jane Street-Finch Avenue neighbourhood, were among five dozen residents who took part in a session of Feeling Congested? at the North York Civic Centre Monday.

The forum was one of eight being held by the city to get people talking about future transportation priorities and how to fund them.

Normally, the idea of implementing tax hikes, tolls and levies would meet with fierce resistance.

And while potential transportation options have been batted around endlessly for years, we seem to be at a “tipping point” where people recognize the pressing need for solutions and acknowledge we are going to have to foot the bill, said Jennifer Keesmaat, the city’s chief planner.

The average Toronto resident already spends 260 hours a year caught in traffic congestion and the GTA will add another three million people by 2036. Social and economic costs of congestion in the GTA have been estimated at $6 billion a year, according to the city.

Feeling Congested? participants are asked to select their top transportation priorities.

For example, should transportation decisions concentrate on providing commuters with a wide range of travel options in an integrated network or should affordability rule any improvements?

And once those priorities are set, how do we pay for them? Options include income, property and sales taxes, toll roads, vehicle registration fees, development charges and fees on utility bills.

Rachel Harper, who lives in the area of Yonge and Eglinton Avenue, and Janice Keil,

‘I think we have to get more cars off the roads. I know everyone wants the other guy to pay. There are no easy answers.’

– Catharine Mills who lives in the Yonge and Sheppard neighbourhood, sat at the same table as Graham and De Gaetano.

They want to see an emphasis on travel experience, meaning improving capacity in the transportation system to ease congestion, reducing travel times and making travel more reliable, safe and enjoyable.

Leaders must be more creative in looking for solutions, they said.

For example, ferries could be used in Lake Ontario to get people around from Scarborough to Etobicoke, De Gaetano said.

Catharine Mills, from the area of Avenue Road and Wilson Avenue, said taxes and tolls are inevitable to solve the region’s transportation woes.

“I think we have to get more cars off the roads,” she said.

“I know everyone wants the other guy to pay. There are no easy answers.”

Harry Ort, who lives in the area of Bayview and Finch Avenues, said the fastest way to raise taxes is through the HST sales tax because it’s already in place, as opposed to toll roads, for example.

Most importantly, it’s time to finally stop burying our heads in the sand by really addressing our transportation challenges and funding options, he said.

Peter Barton, who lives in the Yonge and Lawrence area, is primarily concerned with getting cars off the roads. He wants to see a congestion tax for motorists for entering the downtown core.

| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

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NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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Opinion The North York Mirror is published every Thursday and Friday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2, by Toronto Community News, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Paul Futhey Warren Elder Angela Carruthers Debra Weller Mike Banville

nym@insidetoronto.com

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City’s needs must be taken seriously at Queen’s Park

W

ith the swearing-in of Premier Kathleen Wynne earlier this week and the naming of her new cabinet, Torontonians are right to expect the stars are well-aligned for the needs of our city to be taken seriously at the our view highest levels of Ontario’s government.

Wynne, the MPP for Don Valley West since 2003 and before that a Toronto District School Board trustee, is the first Ontario premier from Toronto since the NDP’s Bob Rae in 1990. Local residents may remember it was Rae’s government that proposed subway lines for both Eglinton and Sheppard avenues – a plan killed by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris, which was elected in 1995.

Maybe this time things will be different.

Wynne’s cabinet is a large one with 27 members, five more than there were when Dalton McGuinty prorogued the provincial legislature in October of last year. And the representation from Toronto is significant with nine of its members representing Toronto ridings. Adding in another five from the surrounding 905 municipalities, that’s a strong voice at the cabinet table for the Greater Toronto Area.

Wynne, who served as both an education and transportation minister in McGuinty’s governments, has first-hand knowledge of both those files and we can expect her to make both of them priorities.

While the education issue is province-wide, transit is at the top of Toronto’s list. Wynne has recognized that by naming Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray as minister of both transportation and infrastructure. They understand intimately just how important Toronto’s transit is to the GTA and to the economic health and success of the province, and we’re expecting results.

And those results start with funding.

Metrolinx must present a report to the premier later this year on how to pay for the $50-billion Big Move transit improvements planned for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Metrolinx is holding consultations with residents as is the City of Toronto’s Feeling Congested meetings, the last of which took place last night (Wednesday, Feb. 13) at Metro Hall. At the Metrolinx meeting in North York recently, attendees said they wanted construction started and were willing to pay more if that’s what it took. See our story at http://bit.ly/XtlAKq Wynne and her cabinet need to hear that message and have the courage to put Toronto first.

Cabinet posts reason for optimism

newsroom

Write us The North York Mirror welcomes letters of 400 words or less. All submissions must include name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes.

We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Copyright in letters remains with the author but the publisher and affiliates may freely reproduce them in

print, electronic or other forms.

Letters can be sent to letters@ insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The North York Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

I would encourage every taxpayer in Toronto to get involved with the Feeling Congested campaign asking for public input on the future of transit in Toronto.

We must speak up to make sure that special interest groups and lobbyists do not deflect the burden entirely on to the lowly citizen taxpayer.

Let’s make sure all those with interests in the city pay their full share.

Torontonians have always been paying for transit. Not only with our property tax increases, but every time we use the transit system.

It is now the turn of the 905 area residents who get to use our public facilities for free to step up and be counted. Currently, the only way this can be achieved is through provincial taxation and adequate funding for the TTC. So go online and make yourself heard.

Chris Belfontaine

Weather prognostications for a holiday Monday

T

his just in from Environment Toronto: the exclusive forecast for Family Day. Mom will be mostly sunny throughout the morning and afternoon despite three days of intense cooking activity leading up to the annual fest and the gloomy extended outlook of massive post-party clean-up on the horizon.

Dad will be a sweltering, hot air mass prone to regular outbursts of, “Honey, where did you put my socks?” “Sweetie, do you know where my shirt is?”

“Darling, where the heck are my pants?”

And Grandma and Grandpa will be subject to intermittent visibility on the laptop or tablet live from Miami due to the di rigueur interruptions on Skype.

Daughter Melissa will be a whirlwind on Facebook.

Sister Stacie will be texting up a storm. Brothers Tyler

but seriously

jamie wayne

and Cameron will be in a dense fog when asked to remove their hockey bags from the front lobby.

And there will be a strong advisory of heavy gusts coming from a panting Rover who will also be drooling over everybody’s feet as he circulates around the room like a cyclone in the desperate search for crumbs from fallen Rice Krispies Squares.

A slight disturbance emanating from both the north and the south is expected during the early afternoon as next-door neighbours Donna and Janet race over to borrow some butter or sugar for their family get-

togethers.

And a severe warning will follow when their hubbies, Bert and Max, respectively, come blustering in right behind in a mad dash to hijack the sports section from the daily newspaper and then see if they can outmaneuver Rover for some of those yummy crumbs.

Meanwhile, as usual, the relative – ahem – humility index will be zero. Looking at that radar screen we see a very icy reception for Aunt Wilma from Aunt Louise – and vice versa. No chances of a thaw between them any time soon.

And a volcano, which has been rumbling beneath the surface since the early ’90s whenever cousins Victor and Arnold are in the same room, will finally erupt.

There will be a warm front for those lucky enough to be seated next to the fireplace. There will be a cold front for those unlucky

enough to be in the basement next to the broken furnace.

And there will be a stationary front directly across from the big-screen TV during the airing of The Young and the Restless.

There will be constant flurry to the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms to check out the party soaps.

And finally, a depression will set in at the end of the evening after the quadruple chocolate fudge swirl supreme explosion ice cream has been inhaled and all that is left on the dessert tray is the diet, low-fat, skim, plain soy yogurt left over from last Family Day. Film – and yet even more texting from Stacie – at 11. n Jamie Wayne is a lifelong columnist, who takes writing very seriously.

The topics? Not so much.

His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at jamie.wayne@sympatico.ca

416-493-4400 | distribution ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-495-6524 | display advertising ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-495-6629 | classifieds ph: 416-493-4660 fax: 416-495-6629 | administration ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-495-6629

Police

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Jane Street

Police have charged a teenager with manslaughter after a 15-year-old boy was shot to death Monday.

Police found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso at a Turf Grassway home around 10:30 p.m. He was taken to hospital where he died.

The victim’s name cannot be published under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police laid the charge Wednesday against a 17-yearold boy.

A man and another juvenile have also been charged but their charges are unrelated to the investigation.

None of those charged can be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. To r o n t o Co m m u n i t y Housing president and CEO Gene Jones issued a statement Tuesday, noting the social housing provider is working closely with police in the investigation.

“We are deeply saddened by last night’s shooting,” the statement issued by Jones and board chair Bud Purves said.

“Our thoughts and prayers

Finch Avenue

Firgrove Crescent

Turf Grassway

are with the family of the victim and the residents of the Firgrove Crescent community. Toronto Community Housing is working closely with Toronto Police Service to assist them with their investigations. Staff are in the community working alongside the city’s crisis team to assist residents who require support.

Acts of violence like this affect everyone in the community and the city. They remind us of the need to continue Toronto Community Housing’s work with the police, the city, local agencies, partners and our residents to find solutions to keep our communities safe.”

Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow also issued a statement Tuesday, calling on the fed-

eral government to improve employment opportunity for young people and implementation of the Youth Action Plan.

“Sadly, he is the third youth killed by guns in Toronto this year,” she said. “To prevent youth violence, we must do more. We can give hope and create more opportunities for youth. I call on the federal government to make the Canada Summer Jobs program yearround, and make the Youth Gang Program permanent instead of project based.

We can better support our police with a national witness protection program, and improve the markings on imported firearms so they can trace illegal guns. And we can implement Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling’s Youth Action Plan by putting more prosecutors in Ontario’s guns and gangs task-force and anti-gunsmuggling border initiative.

We can reduce violent crime if we take action.”

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-2228477.

Police issue murder warrant for man believed to be in Philippines A first-degree murder warrant has been issued for a man who is believed to have returned to his native Philippines in connection with the death of an elderly North York woman last fall, according to Toronto police.

Manijeh Bostani-Khamsi, 78, was found murdered in her Wynford Drive apartment near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue on Nov. 17 at about 9:15 a.m.

She had suffered obvious trauma and was declared dead at the scene, police said.

A warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for Fernando De Castro, 46, of the Philippines, investigators said Monday.

According to police, De Castro and his wife, Melpa De Castro, arrived in Canada in 2007 as visitors.

They rented several apartments in Toronto and worked as house cleaners. Fernando De Castro also worked as a

Police have issued a warrant for Fernando De Castro, left, in the death of Manijeh Bostani-Khamsi, right.

health care provider for elderly clients, police said.

Bostani-Khamsi hired the couple to clean her home and became well-known to them, police alleged.

On Nov. 16, Fernando De Castro went to BostaniKhamsi’s apartment at 11:50 a.m., police alleged.

On Nov. 20, he and his wife left Canada and are believed to be in the Philippines, they

added.

Investigators want to talk to anyone who had contact with Fernando De Castro or has any knowledge of his whereabouts during the early afternoon hours of Nov. 16.

If you have information, contact police at 416-8087400 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 416-222TIPS (416-222-8477) or online at www.222tips.com

| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

Charge laid in North York townhouse shooting

NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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Community

Zimmer, Coteau, Sergio given posts >>>from page 1 tion minister and York West MPP Mario Sergio is minister responsible for seniors.

Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) president Gary Lipinski, who attended Monday’s ceremony, applauded the appointment of Zimmer, who served for many years as parliamentary assistant to the minister of Aboriginal affairs.

“Among our key priorities are insuring Métis children and youth have every opportunity available to be the best they can be. Ensuring our youth have the necessary tools to succeed is a win-win for both our governments and something we are deeply committed to,” he said in a statement.

Zimmer, an early supporter of Wynne’s leadership bid, said he was thrilled to get a call from the premier Sunday offering him the cabinet post, his first since being elected in 2003.

“I was just delighted. It’s a ministry I’m very interested in so I was delighted and, frankly, a little surprised to be invited,” he said, adding Wynne has made it clear her

Staff photo/Nick Perry

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne receives congratulations after being sworn in at Queen’s Park Monday afternoon.

government will focus on social justice issues and economic prudence.

“To have that (position) on my shoulders is an honour. It’s a responsibility. If I can deliver, I will have a happy premier, I will have a happy caucus, I will have a happy Aboriginal community and I will be happy.”

Coteau, a former school trustee, is also excited about his new job, saying a top priority will be organizing a meeting with immigrants to

learn about their experiences coming to Ontario and the issues they face, including barriers to employment.

“I’m humbled by it (my appointment). To be able to work with the new premier and a fantastic group of people is an incredible honour and I look forward to really delivering on the portfolio,” he said.

“It’s a listening and learning exercise. I’m reaching out to stakeholders to find where

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they are.”

Coteau is hoping this session of the legislature will be less fractious than the last and all parties will work for the benefit of voters, who he believes don’t want an election.

Similar to Zimmer, who was parliamentary assistant to the minister of Aboriginal affairs before taking over the helm, Sergio has been parliamentary assistant to the minister responsible for seniors before taking over the reins.

“I’m excited to get to work on the file,” he said. “Seniors want to live a more independent life, a happier life. I care so much for them.”

Sergio praised the province’s new premier.

“She has a wonderful social/ political conscience that I think is going to come out. Her heart is in the right place. She has a big challenge, of course, but she has shown willingness to make this government work.

I’m very confident she will be a great premier,” he said.

– with files from Fannie Sunshine

Toronto libraries team up with local artists Toronto Public Library invites artists to submit work for a possible month-long exhibition at one of 13 Toronto Public Library branches during the 2013/2014 exhibit season.

An art selection committee will consider works prepared for hanging in all media, including photography. No sculptures will be accepted.

New this season, selected artists or groups of artists will pay a $20 plus HST exhibit fee at time of installation. The submission deadline is April 5.

Details may be found at www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ programs-and-classes/exhibits/art-exhibit-space.jsp or by contacting the Arts Exhibits Office at 416-393-7224.

The following branches have art exhibition space (North York branches in black): n Deer Park Branch 40 St. Clair Ave. E. n Don Mills Branch 888 Lawrence Ave. E. n Fairview District Branch

(reopening in the fall) 35 Fairview Mall Dr. n Leaside Branch 165 McRae Dr. n Mimico Centennial Branch 47 Station Rd. n North York Central Library 5120 Yonge St. n Northern District Branch 40 Orchard View Blvd. n Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre 341 Oakwood Ave. n Richview Branch 1806 Islington Ave. n Runnymede Branch 2178 Bloor St. W. n S. Walter Stewart Branch 170 Memorial Park Ave. n Woodside Square Branch 1571 Sandhurst Cir. n Yorkville Branch 22 Yorkville Ave.

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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City News

If not term limits, then what for council?

O

n Monday, Willowdale Councillor John Filion gave up what for him had been something of a calling – the chairmanship of the Toronto Board of Health. Save for three years, he’s been the face of public health since amalgamation.

And there’s no reason he shouldn’t; aside from a notable gaffe involving food carts, he’s done a pretty good job. And it’s not against the rules.

But what if it were? And what if it were against the rules for Filion to even be on council as long as he has?

Both are questions that have come up recently around city hall – not about Filion in particular, but about councillors in general.

Should councillors be able to sit on boards and committees, term after term after term? Should councillors be allowed to sit on council for as long as they can get elected?

Toronto’s Executive Committee voted to look into the former, and two first-term councillors are

THE CITY

DAVID NICKLE

hoping to convince their colleagues to look at the latter.

The Executive Committee question might get answered. But it’s unlikely the motion coming forward from Mary-Margaret McMahon and Jaye Robinson to look at a threeterm limit for councillors will pass. There are rather too many councillors in Filion’s position. If they voted for term limits, they’d be voting themselves out of a job next election.

It’s too bad, because the heart of the McMahon/ Robinson motion is not an ageist attack on long-inthe-tooth politicians. What it is, is a recognition – and repudiation – of a sad reality: that Toronto Council has become a Balkanized mess, where old political feuds routinely drown out intel-

ligent debate on important issues.

Wiping the slate clean of those old feuds by removing all those old politicians would undeniably be effective. As with many effective plans, it would also be a little anti-democratic.

But democracy in municipal politics has always been an imperfect thing – and Toronto Council has turned into a very exclusive club.

There are advantages to that exclusivity. Over the years, career councillors have become formidably skilled in seeing through policies and projects that make the city better.

But council needs to have a long talk about how to both open the doors a bit wider to membership, and raise the level of debate beyond that of a grudge match. If the solution is not term limits – all right. But if not that, then what?

■ David Nickle is The Mirror’s City Hall reporter.

His column appears every Thursday. He can be reached at dnickle@insidetoronto. com

Second Toronto health report still thumbs-down on casino DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com A casino would be bad for Toronto’s health.

That was the blunt assessment by Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, as he delivered the second of two reports on the health impacts of casino gambling to the Toronto Board of Health Monday afternoon.

“Overall, I would suggest we can conclude that a new casino will have greater adverse impacts than beneficial impacts,” said McKeown.

“From a public health point of view, a casino is not good for your health.”

McKeown’s report followed up on a November report, detailing the health risks associated with problem gambling. That report found that problem gambling presented a significant public health concern.

The second report looked at the community health impacts of a casino – the potential positives of creating employment and economic development, as well as the

impacts on crime, neighbourhoods and the social safety net.

The report brought together studies from various jurisdictions and found that while there could be small benefits in terms of job creation, the problems a casino would bring in the form of encouraging problem gambling and possibly increasing crime and traffic.

“The evidence is inconclusive concerning the potential impact of a new casino on crime and local economic development,” wrote McKeown.

“As concluded in the previous report, increases in problem gambling are the most important health impact of a new casino in Toronto.”

McKeown’s findings were refuted by the Canadian Gaming Association.

In a news release, the association said the report is “fundamentally flawed” because it doesn’t deal with the fact casino-style gaming has been easy for Torontonians to access for the past decade.

McKeown responded to the criticism by pointing

out Toronto has some of the lowest levels of access to gaming than any other jurisdiction across the country. “ We h a ve a f e w s l o t machines. But our nearest casino is 80 kilometers away,” he said. “When you increase the levels of access there’s more problem gambling that happens.”

Pa r k d a l e - H i g h Pa r k Councillor Gord Perks, a vocal casino opponent, said McKeown’s report should help solidify opposition when the question of whether to allow a casino in downtown Toronto comes to council later this winter.

“I think over the last two or three weeks it’s been clear that a casino would be bad for the economy of Toronto,” he said.

“It looks like the only reason to support a casino is to bring in money, and there are ways to bring in money that don’t make people sicker.

I can’t see a casino ever being put in the City of Toronto and I think having a respected professional like Dr. McKeown come out is really the finishing touch.”

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

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NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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Transportation

Big Conversation roundtable shares views on transit More than 100 attend North York meeting RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com When it comes to transit Stephen Shang prefers the system “the way it is.”

That may come as a surprise to transit riders faced with daily overcrowding and congestion-related delays, but the 34-year-old financial services analyst, who lives near Bayview and Finch Avenues, insists he likes the way his local transportation hub Finch station integrates TTC, GO and Viva service.

Shang’s positive review for local transit was not shared by resident Val Capuani, who like Shang was at Metrolinx’s Big Conversation transit roundtable at the North York Central Library auditorium, the latest in the planning agency’s series of public consultations taking place in February throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

More than 100 people attended the event, divided into smaller working groups there to discuss various transit issues.

“Just build the system for the love of God,” exhorted Capuani to

the group of 10 residents gathered around a table covered in a large Metrolinx Big Move map, and a “conversation kit”, containing information on future transit projects to serve as nuggets for a passionate transit discussion facilitated by a green polo shirt-clad Metrolinx staffer.

“I think everyone here is willing to pay more,” she continued.

After the meeting, Capuani, a daily TTC user and sometimes driver said she trekked north from the Annex to give her opinions to Metrolinx, which is polling residents as part of its investment strategy for funding its Big Move plan to be presented to the premier June 1.

“We’re over capacity and most of us are willing to a pay a little more,” said Capuani.

She said she preferred a payroll tax increase to pay for transit since “everybody works.”

Alex Krolik, a board member of the Eglinton 2020 community engagement group, which has consulted in the past with Metrolinx on the Eglinton-Scaborough Crosstown light rail transit line currently under

construction, said there was no question residents need to pay more.

“At this point, I don’t think we have a choice,” said Krolik, who identified himself as a conservative. “Transit is urgently needed because our region is growing at a very fast rate.”

really important role making that happen.”

Paul, who didn’t want his last name to be used, said he was in favour of expanding transit with tax money, but felt transit fares are lower than other areas and more revenue should be derived from them for transit.

‘At this point, I don’t think we have a choice.

Transit is urgently needed because our region is growing at a very fast rate.’

– Alex Krolik Cycling advocate Jared Kolb said he was disappointed Metrolinx had not prepared any discussion items pertaining to the role of cycling in the Big Move.

“There’s no doubt cycling will be part of the solution when it comes to enabling people to get out of their cars to fight congestion,” said Kolb, who is the director of campaigns and membership for awareness group Cycle Toronto.

“Cycling needs to be at the forefront throughout those discussions and Metrolinx could play a

“Frankly, people don’t pay enough for transit,” he said.

After the session, Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig said the meeting was one of the “most engaged and intense” of the roundtables which have already taken place.

A second Toronto date took place last Saturday at Metro Hall downtown.

City councillor Shelley Carroll was also at the meeting.

For more information about the Metrolinx Big Conversation roundtables visit www.bigmove.ca

About • Metrolinx is hosting the Big Conversation, a series of public roundtables about its Big Move plan.

• The North York meeting was the seventh of 12 meetings being held across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The meetings wrap up Feb. 19.

• You can also host your own Big Conversation: To request one or more boxed copies of the kit to host with a full size map and playing cards, please write to connect@bigmove.ca or download the kit at www.bigmove.ca/roundtable – Metrolinx

Remaining Roundtables • Feb. 16 – Dundas: Dundas Town Hall, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Feb. 19 – Richmond Hill: Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, Plaza Suite, 6 to 8 p.m.

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

NORTH YORK MIRROR s | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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Is your loved one having difficulty hearing?

Residents invited to have their say on the future design of Eglinton

81% of spouses say:

“I am glad that my partner wears a hearing aid.”* *”Hearing is Living” A Study by Hear the World. January 2012.

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Metrolinx is inviting the residents of North York to take part in a public workshop to provide feedback on its preliminary designs for stations, LRT surface stops and alignments for Eglinton Avenue.

According to an announcement from Metrolinx, the Kennedy Mobility Hub and

parts of that line will not be a part of the workshop as this is still under review.

The workshop will be Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Dr., between 5:30 and 9 p.m.

People are invited to drop by anytime between those hours.

The meeting is one of

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three taking place across the city. A workshop in the west takes place Feb. 19 at York Memorial Collegiate, 2690 Eglinton Ave. W., at Keele. A workshop in midtown takes place Feb. 28 at Forest Hill Collegiate, 730 Eglinton Ave. W., at Chaplin.

For more information, visit www.thecrosstown.ca

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR s | Thursday, February 14, 2013

NORTH YORK MIRROR s | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

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It’s a sign that you should get out of your lease.

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Arts & Entertainment

15 | NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

organic exhibit solo show: At left, gallery curator Rosa Graci, left, and Shelli Seaton take a closer look at the work of artist Ian Alter during the opening reception last Thursday of his solo exhibition on display at the Columbus Centre’s Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery through March 4. Above, Alter displays his exhibition, titled organic alternations, featuring 174 original paintings. The gallery is located at 901 Lawrence Ave. W. Photos/Peter C. McCusker

Mini Pop Kids hold auditions in Toronto ERIN HATFIELD ehatfield@insidetoronto.com

D

oes your tween twinkle? If so, they could be part of the next Mini Pop Kids album.

Young singers and dancers have a chance to shine and audition for the singing group’s upcoming

album.

Samantha Kives, a Mini Pop Kids team member, explained they are looking for young people, aged 11 to 14, for an album of popular pop song covers.

“If there is a kid a bit younger or older that really shines, we are open to that,” Kives said, adding

auditions are open to kids across Toronto and beyond.

The first step is a video submission due by Feb. 17.

Applicants are asked to make a YouTube video, two minutes or less, and email the link along with a photo and contact information to the Mini Pop Kids team.

Photo/COURTESY

Mini Pop Kids is accepting auditions via YouTube until Feb. 17.

This is the first time the Mini Pop team has held auditions over YouTube.

“Since kids are always on YouTube and playing with that medium, they (Mini Pop) wanted to take advantage of that,” Kives said.

Once the team views the videos, a selection of youth will be offered a live audition time.

That leads to Step 2. On Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Lower Ossington Theatre on Ossington Avenue in West Queen West, singers, dancers and rappers chosen from the YouTube videos will audition live for a chance to be chosen for the next Mini Pop Kids

album.

There will be six to nine kids chosen for the album, which will be recorded in Toronto this spring.

Kives said she expects the album will feature covers of songs by Taylor Swift, The Lumineers, Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen.

But even the kids who aren’t picked for the album will have a chance to be featured on the Mini Pop Kids website, Kives explained.

“If they are great kids, but just don’t quite make it as a Mini Pop this year, they can still share their singing and dancing on our

website because we will do links to those videos on our website,” Kives said, adding kids who don’t want their video shared can still audition without making the video public.

The Mini Pop Kids mission is to empower kids to feel confident, provide kidfriendly versions of today’s pop songs and to encourage kids to sing, dance and have fun.

K-tel first launched the original Mini Pops in the 1980s and sold millions of albums. The group was relaunched in 2004 with new kids and new songs.

The albums are recorded and produced in Canada.

NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

City News

Minnan-Wong asks why snow emergency not called Friday’s storm dropped 30 cm of snow on Toronto DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com Toronto’s public works and infrastructure committee chair Denzil Minnan-Wong is asking for a detailed post-mortem report on how the city fared dealing with last week’s snow storm, including an answer as to why the city didn’t declare the 30-centimetre snowfall a snow emergency.

If it had, Minnan-Wong said, the city could have more aggressively towed the numerous cars that were parked so as to block streetcars moving through the downtown.

“The thing I’m concerned about the most is those stoppages on our streetcar routes,” said MinnanWong.

“That’s not acceptable to me and those individuals who were selfish and did that – they should be punished and fined.”

Minnan-Wong suggested the snowfall, which dropped 30 centimetres of snow on Toronto over the course of a single day Friday, might have been enough to warrant invoking Toronto’s snow emergency bylaw.

Part of the report he’s asking for will be looking into ways to beef up the bylaw, which allows the city to declare a snow emergency if more than five centimeters of snow falls

City releases annual Fraud and Waste Hotline report Auditor General estimates loss of $500,000 DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com

Staff photo/Dan Pearce

Toronto Firefighters and pedestrians help out a stuck motorist at Finch Avenue East and Don Mills Road Friday after snow plows went through the intersection leaving large snow banks.

and the city’s chief transportation official deems it necessary.

The bylaw was last invoked in 1999, when Mayor Mel Lastman famously called in the army to help the city dig out from under the combined accumulation of a series of walloping winter storms.

This time, city officials didn’t invoke the bylaw because the forecast indicated there would be only one storm, and it would be followed by a thaw.

It allows the city to tow cars that are parked in such a way that they block snow removal efforts, and prohibit parking along streetcar routes.

Minnan-Wong said the city’s decision not to declare a snow emergency

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had nothing to do with the possible embarrassment of reminding the rest of the country of the time Lastman called in the army.

But he did say that using the term “emergency” in the bylaw’s name did make it more provocative than it had to be.

“I think there’s some value in calling it something less than snow emergency,” he said.

“Emergency is a pretty strong word.

If we could find some language that conveys the importance of keeping the streets clear without thinking we’re going to have tanks rolling through the city... I think there’s a middle ground there.”

City workers should keep their smut surfing activities at home, said Mayor Rob Ford, following a report from the auditor general that a city employee was fired for looking at pornography online while working.

“We can’t have employees getting paid to sit there and watch porn,” Ford told reporters last Thursday.

“Do that in private time, but not during working hours. I wouldn’t have any time or willingness to tolerate that nonsense.”

Ford was responding to the findings in Toronto’s annual Fraud and Waste Hotline report from the city’s auditor general’s office.

As it does every year, the report offers a litany of skullduggery and wastefulness among city employees ranging from the porn-surfing city worker to other workers who used private information to enrich their business and a lawyer who falsified land transfer tax rebates.

The report detailed 774 complaints that had been received, and the auditor referred 333 of those to city divisions. Fifty were substantiated in 2012.

The most frequently substantiated complaints involved conflicts of interest, eligibility of employees on long term disability and conflict of interest.

Auditor General Jeffrey Griffiths estimated the city has lost $500,000 due to the cumulative effect of

fraud and waste in 2012. In total, the city lost about $2.1 million for all complaints received in the last five years.

Here is a run-down of some of the complaints.

The auditor found seven members of the public were receiving subsidies as a result of fraudulent claims, resulting in $80,000 in losses to the city. Another city employee was fired for submitting phony employee health benefit claims to the tune of $25,000.

An employee of a vendor working with the city was caught for making and pocketing fraudulent claims against the city, to the tune of $225,000. The city has been reimbursed by the vendor, and police have been informed.

The auditor general caught an employee taking a city vehicle home for personal use, removing city decals in so doing. The employee resigned from the city.

Another employee was fired for using confidential and proprietary city information to further the employee’s own business.

An employee was fired for defrauding a city-sponsored charitable organization and various vendors of nearly $50,000.

The employee has left the city, and the city is attempting to recover the full amount of money through litigation.

A lawyer, meanwhile, was caught making fraudulent provincial and municipal Land Transfer Tax rebate claims through various real estate transactions.

As a result of the investigation, the lawyer has been charged under the Land Transfer Tax Act, and the city is attempting to recover more than $137.000.

And an employee was fired for using a city computer to view pornographic material.

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

18

Active

Athletes invited to Muslim Track and Field Championship Event will be held May 25 at York University

A Muslim Track and Field Championship is set for later this spring, May 25, at

the Toronto Track and Field Centre at York University’s Keele campus.

The event is open to participants of all faiths, boys and girls, between the ages of 10 and 20.

Events planned include 200 metre, 400m, 1200m,

1500m, 200m relay, shotput, running long jump, high jump and triple jump.

Participants can register online at www.eventbrite.ca/ event/5052841184?nomo=1 The event is being hosted

by Leading Out Loud (LOL) Enterprises Incorporated.

Holding on to toP spot SMASHING THE SHIELD: Seneca College Sting’s Vadim Hamilov splits the Cambrian Golden Shield defence during OCAA men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Seneca College. The Sting defeated the Golden Shield 97-62 to remain on top of the East Division. Left, Seneca’s D’Andre Hospedvales gets around Cambrian’s Chance Goulet. Seneca, 15-2 has a pivotal matchup Friday on the road against second place Algonquin (14-3).

The Sting then wrap up the regular season with a road game Saturday against La Cite, and a home tilt Tuesday against Centennial.

Staff photos/Dan Pearce

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| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

20

City News

Undocumented workers ‘trapped’, city committee told Thousands of ‘non-status residents in Toronto fear for their future MIKE ADLER madler@insidetoronto.com Wilson Gutierrez is a man without much of a future in Toronto, but he is still here.

A Honduran who came to Canada to work on a two-year renewable temporary permit outside the city, Gutierrez said his employer turned out not to have enough work for him.

Still hoping to earn money, Gutierrez went to Toronto, joining a large pool of “non-status” and “undocumented” residents which, advocates for newcomers told city councillors last Friday, is about to

get larger.

The “closed” nature of his work permit – limited to his one employer – and his lack of English are making it difficult for Gutierrez to live in the city, he told a meeting of the community development and recreation committee.

“I feel trapped. I don’t know what I can do, really,” he said, his Spanish deputation translated

by Tzazna Miranda Leal, a worker at Parkdale Community Legal Services.

“I can’t work, I can’t study, I can’t get housing.”

It’s hard to know how many people are living in Toronto without legal status. Many are visitors, temporary workers, students or failed refugee claimants who stay after Canada expects them to leave, and the country has no exit controls, so the number staying is unknown, a report to the committee noted.

One estimate for Toronto is 200,000

residents living underground, said Macdonald Scott, a licensed immigration consultant with the Law Union of Ontario, but he added “this is a community that for obvious reasons doesn’t want to come forward and be counted.”

More people are coming to Canada on temporary work permits, but a federal policy known as Four In, Four Out requires them to leave after four years.

It’s inevitable many will choose not to leave starting in April 2015, when the provision kicks in, said Audrey Macklin, a University of Toronto law professor speaking to the committee.

“What you have then is a law that manufactures illegality,” said Macklin, adding people who lose legal status in other provinces are likely to come to Toronto, “because if

immigration status won’t report a crime.

Through his translator, Gutierrez said he knows people – Wilson Gutierrez who called police and were turned over to immithey’re going to live in the gration authorities and shadows, they’re going deported. to do it in a place where Gina Csanyi-Robah they’re least likely to be of Toronto’s Roma detected.”

Community Centre said As the number of thousands of Hungarian residents with “precarious Roma who arrived in immigration status” rises Toronto in 2009 are still in the city, the advocates waiting to be accepted or warned, wages will be rejected as refugees, knowdriven down and condiing they could face three tions at some workplaces to eight months between will worsen. rejection and removal Recent changes to from Canada. health care coverage for With Hungary on a refugee claimants have newly published Safe already divided the city Country list for refugee into “the deserving and claimants, Roma have undeserving sick,” and been told they will have confusion is rising about acceptance hearings in 15 who is able to get care, days instead of three years, Macklin said. she said.

She also warned people Groups such as No who are afraid to call One Is Illegal want to see police because of their the city adopt a policy

‘I feel trapped. I don’t know what I can do, really...I can’t work, I can’t study, I can’t get housing.’

of “access without fear” for non-status residents seeking services, suggesting organizations who want city funds should be required to follow the policy and train their staff on it.

Davenport Councillor Ana Bailão said she’s heard families visiting Toronto without permanent residency status are being asked to pay $10,000 (the international student rate) to place children in public schools. Then, after staying at home six months, the children are undocumented but taken into schools without charge, she said.

The committee asked city staff to conduct a community consultation and review opportunities to “improve access without fear” to city services, as well as “a public education strategy to inform Torontonians of our policy.”

A report to the committee on the results is expected this fall.

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No purchase necessary.The Contest is open to residents of North York, Ontario 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.Two (2) grand prizes will be awarded. Approximate retail value of grand prizes is approx $500. Entrants must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing question to be declared a winner. Contest closes March 15, 2013 at 11:59pm.To enter online and for complete contest rules visit www.insidetoronto.com and click on CONTESTS under Local Interest.

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General Help

General Help

CONTRACTORS WANTED Toronto Community News has areas available for distribution of our local Community Newspapers and advertiser flyers. Deliveries consist of picking up our Newspapers and flyers at our North York location and distribute them to our carrier force. (Please see map of area coverage) Area’s Available: M1B, M1C, M1E, M1G, M1H, M1J, M1K, M1L, M1M, M1N, M1P, M1R, M1S, M1T, M1V, M1W, M1X M2H, M2J, M2K, M2L, M2M, M2N, M2P, M2R, M3A, M3B, M3C, M3H, M3J, M3K, M3L, M3M, M3N, M4A, M4B, M4C, M4E, M4G, M4H, M4J, M4K, M4L, M4M, M4N, M4P, M4R, M4S, M4T, M4V, M4W, M4X, M4Y, M5A, M5B, M5C, M5E, M5G, M5M, M5N, M5P, M5R, M5S, M5T, M5V, M6A, M6B, M6C, M6E, M6G, M6H, M6J, M6K, M6L, M6M, M6N, M6P, M6R, M6S, M8V, M8W, M8X, M8Y, M8Z, M9A, M9B, M9C, M9P, M9L, M9M, M9N, M9P, M9R, M9V, M9W Contracts commence on Monday, March 4th, 2013.

To apply for this area and submit your pricing, please come into either of our offices listed below. Fill out the bid packages. A vehicle is required for this distribution. Please contact Jeff Therrien 416-774-2299 or Arlene Del Rosario 416-774-2389 regarding questions for pricing.

Bid packages are available at the reception at 175 Gordon Baker Road Toronto On M2H 0A2 Tender due date: Friday, February 21st, 2013.

By 5 pm To the attention of: Arlene Del Rosario Distribution Department Lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted.

Technical/ Skilled Trades

Technical/ Skilled Trades

Forklift Mechanic Needed Experience is required. Flexible hours, independent fast-paced environment & competitive wages. Must own vehicle & have a valid driver’s license.

Please forward your resume to snmautomotive2002@gmail.com Real Estate Misc./Services CANCEL YOUR TIMESHARE. NO RISK program. STOP Mortgage & Maintenance Payments Today.

100% Money Back Guarantee. Free Consultation.

Call us Now. We can Help!

1-888-356-5248

Apartments & Flats for Rent

BROWNS LINE AND LAKESHORE Apartment, 2 bedrooms 1 bathrooms, newly renovated includes 1 prkg. No pets/ smoking.

Close to TTC and GO. Hydro extra. Avail. March 1st. $1,100 Per Month 416-729-7650

Business Opportunities

Articles Wanted

ANTIQUES

$294.00 DAILY MAILING POSTCARDS! Guaranteed Legit Work. Register Online! www.

ThePostcardGuru.com ZNZ Referral Agents Needed! $20-$95/Hr! www.

FreeJobPosition.com Multiple $100 Payments To Your Bank! www.

S u p e r C a s h D a i l y. c o m More Amazing Opportunities @ www.LegitCashJobs.com HELP WANTED!!! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home!

FREE Supplies! Helping Home-Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity! No experience required. Start Immediately! www.mailing-ca.com

Mortgages/Loans $$MONEY$$ CONSOLIDATE Debts Mortgages to 90% No income, Bad credit OK! Better Option Mortgage #10969 1-800-282-1169 www.mortgage ontario.com

Legal Services CRIMINAL RECORD? Don’t let your past limit your career plans! Since 1989 Confidential, Fast Affordable - A+ BBB Rating EMPLOYMENT & TRAVEL FREEDOM Call for FREE INFO BOOKLET 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366) www.RemoveYour Record.com CRIMINAL RECORD? Don’t let your past limit your career plans!

Since 1989 Confidential, Fast Affordable A+ BBB Rating EMPLOYMENT & TRAVEL FREEDOM Call for FREE INFO BOOKLET 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366) www.RemoveYour Record.com

Business Services HAVE YOU BEEN DENIED Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits?

The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help.

Contact Allison Schmidt at:1-877-793-3222 www.dcac.ca

Travel & Vacations $449 CABO SAN LUCAS, ALL INCLUSIVE SPECIAL! Stay 6 Days in a Luxury Beachfront Resort with Meals & Drinks!

For $449! www.luxurycabohotel.com 888-481-9660

& Collectibles Wanted Cash for Older: Coins, Jewelry, Military, Watches, Toys, Barbies, Silver, Gold, Records, Guitars, Old Pens, Lighters & Old Advertising etc.

25 years experience.

Richard & Janet 416-431-7180 416-566-7373 Travel & Vacations CANCEL YOUR TIMESHARE. NO Risk Program STOP Mortgage & Maintenance Payments Today.

100% Money Back Guarantee. FREE Consultation.

Call Us NOW. We Can Help!

1-888-356-5248

Nannies/Live In/Out FILIPINO LIVE-IN Caregivers or Nannies available.

Call 416-924-5727 www.platinum-care.ca

Astrology/Psychics TRUE PSYCHICS 4 Answers CALL NOW 24/7 Toll FREE 1-877-342-3032 Mobile: #4486 www.truepsychics.ca

Articles for Sale

Butcher Supplies, Leather + Craft Supplies and Animal Control Products. Get your Halfords 128 page FREE CATALOG. 1-800-353-7864 or Email: order@halfordhide.com.

Visit our Web Store:

www.halfords mailorder.com

HOT TUB (SPA) Covers Best Price, Best Quality.

All shapes & Colours Available.

Call 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/ newspaper HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best Price, Best Quality. All Shapes & Colors Available.

Call 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/ newspaper PERFECT CONDITION sofa $99. 6 piece oak dining set $299. Black 3 piece wall unit & more.

Call 416-299-7879

Vehicles Wanted/Wrecking WE BUY ALL CARS! Running or Not, we will buy it! Cars/Trucks/vans.

Sell ANY Car today with ONE FREE Phone call to: 1-800-551-8647

Home Renovations AFFORDABLE HANDYMAN CONTRACTOR Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Tiling, Drywall, Painting Bathrooms, Kitchens Basements, Counters, Closets, Flooring, Windows/Doors, Fences, Decks, Additions Lester 416-223-0226 BUILDER/ GENERAL CONTRACTORS RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL. Finished basements.

Painting.

Bathrooms. Ceramic tiles.

Flat roofs. Leaking basements. Brick/chimney repairs. House additions 9 0 5 - 7 6 4 - 6 6 6 7 , 416-823-5120 CEILINGS repaired.

Spray textures, plaster designs, stucco, drywall, paint. We fix them all! www.mrstucco.ca 416-242-8863 DICK’S HOME Improvements. Reliable, experienced, top quality service.

Renovate an entire home or room.

Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, ceramic, painting...(416)816-6219, anytime.

Waste Removal PETER’S DEPENDABLE JUNK REMOVAL From home or business, including furniture/ appliances, construction waste.

Quick & careful!

416-677-3818 Rock Bottom Rates!

Plumbing

EMERGENCY? Clogged drain, camera inspection Leaky pipes Reasonable price, 25 years experience Licensed/ Insured credit card accepted

Free estimate James Chen

647-519-9506

Moving & Storage APPLE MOVING and Storage.

Residential/ office moving. Packing services. In business 30 years. Reliable & courteous. Insured & licensed. 416-533-4162

MOVING

LOCAL, long distance Packing service, FREE boxes.

www.toromovers.ca

416-844-6683

Flooring & Carpeting HARDWOOD FLOOR Specialists. Installations, Resanding, Stains. For estimate call Jim 416-284-6243 or 416-561-9502 MAINLY FLOORS Carpet, hardwood, tile from $1.29/sq.ft. installed.

Free estimate in GTA. February Special!

Call 416-873-8043 E: megafloors@live.com

Appliance Repairs/ Installation #1 APPLIANCES Licensed Refrigeration Contractor, 28 Years Experience, FREE ESTIMATE, 2 YEARS WARRANTY Refrigerator/ Stove/ Washer/ Dryer/ Hot Water Tank/ Furnace/ Air conditioning Robin: 416-418-1821 Professional Repairs of all brands of: Refrigeration, Stoves, Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioning, & Heating.

Free Estimates.

Warranty, Credit cards accepted.

Seniors discount.

416-616-0388

Adult Personals LOCAL HOOKUPS BROWSE4FREE 1-888-628-6790 or #7878 Mobile HOT LOCAL CHAT 1-877-290-0553 Mobile: #5015 Find Your Favourite CALL NOW 1-866-732-0070 1-888-544-0199 18+

HOME RENOVATIONS

GAS FURNACES CENTRAL AIR Sales, Service, Installations.

www.airflexltd.com 416-439-7155 metro lic. #H16265

ELECTRICAL

Burton Electric Inc. 416 419-1772

Knob and tube replacement LED Lighting Aluminum wire reconditioning Permits and inspections

Pot lights Service upgrades Breakers/Panels FREE ESTIMATES

Master Electrician * License # 7001220 * Insured www.burtonelectric.ca mark.burton@burtonelectric.ca

24 HOUR SERVICE

FURNACE CLEANING OR SERVICE

We Service All Makes & Models

6999

$

AND we do ALL Gas Piping Jobs & Custom Duct Work (BBQ hook-ups, Stove Hook-ups, Dryers, Fireplaces, pools, etc.)

Larry’s Air Care

Heating & Air Conditioning

416-706-9861

.

VICE..

T SER GREA

UNIVERSAL

...LOW

PRICE

S

Furnace From $1450 installed!

BEST PRICES IN TOWN!!!

Tune-up & Clean Furnaces or A/C Plus 22pt. Check List Carbon Monoxide CO Levels $

69.95

• INSTALL TANKLESS HOT WATER & BOILER • LOWEST PRICE – WE DO ALL PROCESSES TO GET MAXIMUM REBATE •LICENSED & INSURED TECHNICIANS RATED A+ IN BBB 15 YEARS OF SERVICE ~ 24/7

416-445-1718

www.universalhc.ca Metro License – H23605

PAINTING & DECORATING

call

416-798-7284

Master Lic.# 20557

www.idealplumbingdrain.com SASHA 416-371-7137 ALI 416-828-6611

!

HEATING AND COOLING BIGGEST SALE EVER! SAVE $1,000

*10 Year Warranty

Home I m p rove m e n t Business

IDEAL PLUMBING

· 24 Hour Emergency Service · Plugged Drain Repair •Backflow Prevention · Service Specialist · Flat Rates · Fully Insured · No Extra Charge for Evening & Weekends

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES

To h i g h l i g h t yo u r

23

PLUMBING

HEATING & COOLING SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

CERTIFIED MASTER Electrician. Troubleshooting, new wiring, upgrades, lighting, receptacles, timers. ESA# 7004236, Call Leo 416-821-2153

HOME IMPROVEMENT DIRECTORY

Electrical

NESO FLOORING Carpet installation starting from $1.29/ sq.ft.

Hardwood, laminate at low prices.

26 yrs experience.

Free Estimates.

Best Price!

647-400-8198

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

RENOS & Repairs Carpentry/ Drywall/ Painting/ Tiles. Fair and Honest Mark 416-937-0693

Flooring & Carpeting

DOUG ELLIOTT & SON PAINTING & DECORATING

WALLPAPERING SERVICES 30 YEARS OF SERVICE Reasonable Rates • Courteous • Free Estimates

416.281.9667

ROOFING

CANADIAN

ROOF

MASTERS

• Shingles • Flat Roofs • Skylights • Chimneys • Eavestroughs • Repairs • Free Estimates

Save UP TO 15% OFF Lic. # B21358

Fully Licensed & Insured

416-626-0777

www.canadianroofmasters.com

Want to get your business noticed?

Call 416-798-7284 to plan your advertising campaign today!

| NORTH YORK MIRROR | Thursday, February 14, 2013

Handy Person

NORTH YORK MIRROR s | Thursday, February 14, 2013 |

24

Grades

7-12

Currently interviewing forFor September 2011 and JanuaryYear 2012 the 2013-2014 Academic know educators attitude can profoundly profoundly We Know educators with with the right attitude impact a student’s entire life. If your child isn’t being encouraged encouraged and challenged challenged at his or her current current school, make an appointment appointmentto tospeak speakwith withus. us.