November 29

Serving WESTON, MOUNT DENNIS, OAKWOOD-VAUGHAN, EGLINTON WEST and CALEDONIA-FAIRBANK

thurs nov 29, 2012

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Ford removal: ‘a sad day’ but the right decision: Mihevc

O T N O TOR L I C N U CO

FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com

HALF-WAY XT E N E H T O T ELECTION

A SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 6

Reaction was mixed from a pair of local councillors to a judge’s order to remove Mayor Rob Ford from office.

St. Paul’s Councillor Joe Mihevc said removing Ford from office for breaching provincial conflict of interest laws is a sad day for Toronto, but the right decision.

“I think in many ways it’s a sad day for Toronto when the chief magistrate gets kicked out of office,” the left-leaning councillor said.

“However, at the same time, justice has been served. The right thing happened. In short form, the judge has said no one is above the law.”

In a ruling Monday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles

‘The right thing happened. In short form, the judge has said no one is above the law.’

– Councillor Joe Mihevc Hackland found Ford guilty of breaching the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, a provincial law, and ordered him removed from office in 14 days.

The case centred around Ford’s decision to participate in a February council debate on whether he should be forced to repay $3,150 to lobbyists whose donations to his football foundation he accepted. >>>FORD, page 16

Santa Claus to headline Weston parade Sunday A 2 p.m. start at Weston and Church

YORK COUNCILLORS LOOK AT PROGRESS SINCE THE LAST ELECTION AND WHAT THE REMAINDER OF TORONTO COUNCIL’S TERM HOLDS

FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com The big man in red will be heading to Weston Sunday for the annual Weston Santa Claus Parade.

The rain or shine parade, organized by the Weston Village Business Improvement Area, will get underway at 2 p.m. at Weston Road and Church Street, proceeding south on Weston Road and ending at Sidney Belsey Crescent.

Bands, floats, clowns and Santa himself will grace the route, while

non-perishable food donations will be collected during the parade for the Weston Area Emergency Support Food Bank.

New this year will be Mickey and Minnie Mouse riding a rickshaw, a Buzz Lightyear character, parade participants dressed as Christmas tree ornaments, greyhounds dressed as elves and a silver Elvis riding in a yellow car, said Marion O’Sullivan, co-ordinator of the BIA and parade.

The 67 entries will include some >>>PARADE, page 16

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

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Community

Food bank seeks 240,000 pounds of donations With a demand increase of almost 20 per cent, North York Harvest Food Bank (NYHFB) will kick off its Winter Food Drive today at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt at York Mills and Don Mills roads.

The food bank, which also serves the York community, is facing a 19 per cent increase in demand, which closely reflects post-recession levels of 2008.

The drive will launch at 865 York

Mills Rd. from 12:30 to 2 p.m., with food and cash donations accepted.

Ten per cent of all frozen yogurt sales will be donated to NYHFB. The food bank’s catchment area is bounded by Steeles Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue, St. Clair Avenue/Eglinton Avenue and Hwy. 27.

For a list of suggested food donations, visit www.northyorkharvest.com/donate-food

Man charged in witchcraft probe Police say speed A self-described “healer” is facing and charged with fraud over $5,000, factor in crash a witchcraft charge after a woman pretending to practice witchcraft, paid thousands of dollars to have a false pretenses over $5,000 and poscurse removed. session of proceeds of crime. on Scarlett Road Police said a 56-year-old woman Police said Gomez publishes a sought the accused’s assistance for ongoing health ailments.

Using spells and rituals, the accused convinced the woman she and her family were cursed and the curse could be removed through payment, police said.

The woman handed over $14,000 for various services, police said.

Gustavo Valencia Gomez, 40, of Mississauga, was arrested Tuesday

Spanish language newspaper el Negocia Redondo, advertising his services at 2019A Dufferin St., north of Rogers Road, and also in London and Montreal.

Police believe there may be more victims in Ontario and Quebec.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-1370 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−8477.

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Christi Olson battling genetic disorder

phone sex operator.

She also does freelance writing where she can, though much of her time is taken up with doctor’s appointments.

Olson’s Cream of Comedy win – in particular the $5,000 Tim Sims Encouragement Fund portion thereof – was welcome, given her expenses.

She has seen specialists in the United States and faces $90,000

JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

F

or Weston resident and stand-up comedian Christi Olson, winning the prestigious Cream of Comedy is no laughing matter.

Olson, who has been performing stand-up for about a year and a half, beat out a slate of talented up-and-coming comics and acts to take home the $5,000 grand prize and a scholarship to the Second City Training Centre.

While the funds often go toward boosting the winner’s comedy career, Olson will spend hers on something far more vital – her health.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome “I saw over 20 doctors before I was finally diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called EhlersDanlos syndrome,” she said.

“It’s a connective tissue disorder where my body doesn’t produce collagen properly, so my joints dislocate on their own.”

The diagnosis has certainly shaped her material, which is often very dark. She admits that some of her material does not resonate with a lot of the audi-

‘Right now, I’m hoping to find a combination of medications that will let me headline.’

Christi Olson

Staff photo/Dan Pearce

Christi Olson recently won the Cream of Comedy competition, which recognizes the best up-and-coming comics and acts.

ence, but that suits her well.

“I tend to prefer stunned silence over applause,” she said.

The disorder has hampered Olson’s ability to perform on stage but, as evidenced by her recent win, has not put a hitch in her talent level. Because of her condition, she cannot do shows two days in a row or headline a major show of her own.

“I can spend about 10 minutes under the stage lights before I

either throw up or pass out,” she said. “ Right now, I’m hoping to find a combination of medications that will let me headline.”

While she cannot spend as much time on stage as many comedians – she averages roughly one show per week – the downtime gives her a chance to hone her material, much of which revolves around her illness or her one-time job as a

in expenses for surgery, the costs of which are not covered by OHIP. Olson is trying to put together a comedy fundraiser to help her cover those costs while raising awareness for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

She is moving forward with those plans even as she sometimes receives frightening prognoses from doctors.

“The word ‘wheelchair’ is coming up a lot more than I’d like it to,” she said. “My hips are dislocating every day when I wake up.”

Olson keeps people up to date on her life on her Twitter feed (@christiolson) or on her www. christiolson.tumblr.com site.

minor hockey action

Staff photos/Nick Perry

ice time in weston: At left, Dominik Puskas chases the puck for the White team as they face the Gold team in Weston Minor Hockey novice league action Saturday afternoon at the Weston Arena. At right, Andrew Stekar moves the puck for the Gold team.

ykg@insidetoronto.com

Coalition ponders appeal after losing diesel court battle RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com The Clean Train Coalition is mulling an appeal after losing a legal bid to re-open a decision to run diesel trains along the air rail link (ARL).

The west-end residents’ group had sought a judicial review of a decision by Metrolinx to purchase 18 diesel trains from manufacturer Sumitomo Corporation of America last year on the grounds the provincial transit planning agency “exceeded its jurisdiction” by not first conducting a feasibility study for electrifying the link.

But a panel of three Ontario Superior Court judges hearing the case disagreed with the coalition saying in a four-page judgement Metrolinx was required by statute to accept direction from the province - which set the deadline of 2015 for the ARL’s completion and mandated running of diesel trains.

The panel, made up of justices Katherine Swinton, Frances Kitely and Renee Pomerance, also ordered Clean Train to pay Metrolinx legal costs of $30,000 as well as additional court costs of $3,500.

Following the judgement, Clean Train chair Rick Ciccarelli said the group was considering appealing the verdict.

“We are disappointed with this bad decision. But the matter is not settled, far from it. We will consider our right to appeal to a higher court,” he wrote in an email sent Nov. 21.

He said the group would factor in legal costs before deciding to file an appeal.

Metrolinx also released a statement welcoming the verdict.

The decision came just two days after the group presented its case in a downtown courtroom.

“What we are asking is for Metrolinx to go back and do a thorough analysis for electric, as well as diesel, and make a decision,” said Ciccarelli at the time.

Metrolinx was requested by the province to coordinate construction of a 3.3 kilometre rail spur to Terminal 1 of Pearson International Airport which will connect via the Georgetown South GO rail corridor to Union Station downtown. The project is part of the province’s Big Move transportation plan.

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

Community Weston comic wins prize for stand-up act

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

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Opinion Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Paul Futhey Warren Elder Jamie Munoz

ykg@insidetoronto.com

Your View

Publisher General Manager Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Regional Dir. of Advertising Director of Distribution

Keep treated woods out of fireplace

The York Guardian is published every Thursday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON M2H 0A2, by Toronto Community News, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.

Council needs to re-set priorities at halfway point

T

oronto City Council reached the halfway point of its mandate in spectacular fashion this week.

Monday’s decision by Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ordering Mayor Rob Ford be removed from office due to his violation of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act will take effect on Dec. 10. The judge gave council 14 days from Monday to deal with his ruling. That possible date of removal comes just three days after council reaches the twoyear anniversary of its four-year our view term.

The situation on Ford is constantly changing. Council was Councillors examining its legal options at this week’s meeting. At the moment, must still focus it appears council has the choice on community of either appointing a caretaker mayor for the remaining two years of this term, or calling for a mayoral byelection. City solicitor Anna Kinastowski said it’s going to be a long process, much of it dependent on other court rulings which could stay Ford’s removal or keep him in office if he wins his appeal.

If or when the time comes for council to make a decision on replacing Ford, we strongly favour the appointment route. Calling a byelection will cost an estimated $7 million.

It will also likely cause a mess of a domino effect as councillors abandon their wards to run for mayor. And that’s the last thing Toronto needs, distracted councillors furthering their own political careers during a byelection while ignoring the needs of the wards they were elected to represent in 2010.

As our stories in today’s paper on Council at The Halfway Point show, councillors must fully focus on the important work of representing their communities.

This has to remain their priority.

We also ask that the appointee be from Ford’s side of the political spectrum. He was elected on a mandate of fiscal responsiblity and concern for taxpayers, and that should be respected.

The halfway point of a council’s mandate is an artificial line for council members to reflect on what’s gone right and what’s gone wrong during the first two years of office.

Unfortunately, this time it’s a harder line in the sand.

It’s a re-set point for every civic politician and every civic official. There are no longer any rookie councillors – everyone has two years of experience.

Understand that the pure pleasure and advantage of local politics is in moving forward carrying the interests of your constituency beyond an agenda of a perceived political left or right vision.

Toronto Community News is a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. The Guardian is a member of the Ontario Press Council. Visit ontpress.com newsroom

Write us The York Guardian 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 York Guardian, 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

To the editor: Re: ‘What are you putting in your fireplace?’

Letters, Oct. 25.

Nothing is more pleasant than the smell of a wood-burning fire, providing the dry wood is free of chemicals.

Unfortunately, in this day of pressure- and surface-treated woods, many are unaware of the hazards contained in this wood.

Burning can release harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, that protect wood from insects but are toxic to human health.

Smelling and inhaling are not mutually exclusive. When these toxic chemicals are released on burning, they do enter our systems, causing illness.

If in doubt about the wood, do not burn it in your fireplace but dispose of it according to your municipality’s waste regulations.

Stella Kryzanowski

Rink B deserves a solid A-plus in my book

A

s I write this, I’m staring at something I’d long since given up hope of ever seeing again in the neighbourhood – a brand spanking new outdoor hockey rink. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

But it is an outdoor rink here in Cedarvale, alright.

And it’s almost ready for action. The only thing missing is the ice and and that little detail will be taken care of in short order. The grand opening date, weather permitting, is Sunday, which, like the rink, is just around the corner.

Since the weather these days often has a way of not permitting, the historic debut could be pushed back a bit. If so, I’m OK with that.

I’ve waited decades for such a rink. A few extra days won’t matter a bit.

And when it does open, I’ll be there with bells on.

Some players wear the jersey of their favourite

but seriously

jamie wayne

player, others wear a jersey from a team of their youth.

I prefer bells. It’s not just an on-ice fashion statement.

It’s very practical, too. The jingling drowns out the huffing and puffing around me.

Anyhow, when the puck drops to christen the rink I’ll be thinking about two rinks I used to frequent in days of yore. The first is the now defunct ice surface at the not defunct West Prep, my old public school, about a mile-and-half away. That rink is where my hockey career, such as it is, began.

I wasn’t involved in serious hockey at the start. My parents didn’t chauffeur me all over the GTA to rinks six days a week. I played house

league at Memorial Arena in Forest Hill. One game a week, no practices. That’s it.

Ah, but at West Prep, I could be on the ice every day. It didn’t get any better than that. I didn’t dream of being in the NHL. I dreamed only of playing at West Prep.

The second rink I’ll be reminiscing about is an indoor facility that still exists. It’s located just five feet from this one – the venerable Phil White Arena, aka venerable Cedarvale Arena.

I played there during my formative 20-something, 30-something and etc.something hockey years.

This new outdoor arena, going only by the name of Rink B, sits in the formerly unused parking lot right behind it.

Those Cedarvale games were some of my all-time faves. There was no shinny or pleasure skating schedule available at press time, so that possibility still exists.

As I await the grand open-

ing, I can’t get a hit song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell out of my head. It’s titled Big Yellow Taxi. It was about not realizing how good you have things until it’s too late.

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” she sings.

Another memorable line in it, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Well, as for the former, I never took outdoor shinny for granted. I cherished every moment. I still do. As for the latter? Lo and behold, they paved the parking lot and put up a hockey rink.

Oh, I know it’s not the paradise she was referring to, but for a Canadian kid like me, it’s pretty darn close. 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

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Community

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To the editor: Re: “Infrastructure funding must become priority,” Editorial, Nov. 15.

Your editorial correctly identifies the challenge facing Canadians and their governments regarding our crumbling infrastructure.

As Toronto Board of Trade CEO Carol Wilding said so well: “Toronto’s problems of gridlock and poor transit

Letter to the editor connectivity are among the worst of any major urban centre in the world.” I agree.

The facts are that Canada’s mounting infrastructure crisis of crumbling bridges, potholes and traffic gridlock is costing more than $10 billion in lost productivity every year.

Investing in core infrastructure will enhance our productivity and competitiveness, will create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs, and grow the economy as well – a win-win-win.

You ask residents to ask their MPs on where they stand and what they are going to do.

For me and my New Democrat colleagues this

is an issue that we, along with municipalities across Canada, have been pressing ever since the recent Canada Infrastructure Program came to an end.

For us there is no doubt whatsoever that this should be a priority for the Federal Government – you can count on us.

Mike Sullivan, MP, York South-Weston

id announcement

Albanese supports Pupatello for Liberal leadership York South-Weston MPP Laura Albanese is backing Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello.

Albanese announced her support after Pupatello joined her in the riding Friday.

“Sandra has placed a high priority on jobs and economic development, which are consistent with the needs of the communities I represent in York South-Weston,” she said. “Jobs and meaningful employment are essential ingredients of strong communities. Employment is one of the key strategies that lead to economic revitalization and

Photo/RADEY BARRACK

Caterina Abballe, left, meets with Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello and York South-Weston MPP Laura Albanese Friday at Rustic Bakery.

safer communities and those are my priorities.”

Pupatello echoed Albanese’s

interest in job creation.

“The best way to secure the future for every Ontario family, and for generations to come, is to build an economy on a foundation of stable, wellpaying jobs,” she said.

“Laura has told me that employment as well as skills training and development are of paramount importance in York South-Weston.

If elected leader and premier, my number one priority will be creating and retaining jobs here and across the province.”

Pupatello is one of seven candidates vying for the

leadership to replace Premier Dalton McGuinty. Others include Don Valley West MPP Kathleen Wynne, St. Paul’s MPP Eric Hoskins, Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray and former Parkdale-High Park MPP Gerard Kennedy.

Pupatello served as a Windsor MPP for 16 years, holding six cabinet positions including economic trade and development, community and social services and education.

She did not run in the October 2011 provincial election.

The leadership convention will be held in Toronto Jan. 25 to 27.

Photo/Peter C. McCusker

provincial card: MPP Michael Colle, left, and Reubin Cipin take part in the announcement Tuesday at the Service Ontario office on Dufferin Street of the new legal identification card document. The card is available at all Service Ontario outlets and is good for people who don’t have a provincial driver’s licence.

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

Infrastructure must be a federal priority

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

6

Special Report

ykg@insidetoronto.com

Parks & Rec, housing & retail:

it’s happening in york FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com

I

n a few short days, residents of St. Paul’s will be able to lace up skates and glide onto the ice of an outdoor skating rink for the first time in the ward.

“We have indoor rinks but this is the first of its kind,” said St. Paul’s Councillor Joe Mihevc.

The outdoor skating rink at Cedarvale Park will have its official opening Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., complete with a free skate.

“The community has been wanting this for a while and it’s now happening,” he said.

The outdoor rink is one highlight of what’s been accomplished in the ward during the first two years into the council term, with Dec. 7 marking the halfway point.

Equipment at Suydan Park is being restored, and Arlington Parkette and Wells Hill Park will soon boast upgrades, Mihevc said.

St. Paul’s will soon look significantly different as condominium applications have been submitted for major arterial roads such as Eglinton Avenue, St. Clair Avenue and Bathurst Street, he said.

‘We will be welcoming a lot of new people. These are significant developments in the ward.’

– Joe Mihevc “We have a lot of development applications,” Mihevc said. “We will be welcoming a lot of new people.

These are significant developments in the ward. Our community has always been changing and will continue to change.”

Mihevc credits development interest in his ward to construction of the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT which, while technically not a ward-specific project, was approved during the first half of the council term and will play a significant role for Mihevc’s constituents, he said.

“The biggest thing we accomplished during the last two years, on a city level, is reintroducing the LRT,” Mihevc said.

“Construction is basically starting now, tunnels are being dug, it’s going to be under and above ground. The mayor did not support that project and it’s to the credit of council that the project is proceeding. It’s a major piece of infrastructure being done despite the mayor’s opposition.”

Staff photo/Dan Pearce

Construction at St. Clair Avenue and Weston Road, just one of the ways York is growing two years into Toronto Council’s four-year term.

The councillor credits the LRT to development interest in his ward, noting an easily accessible public transit system is a draw.

“One of the biggest frustrations in Toronto is mobility,” he said. “If people have the opportunity to move quickly because of a dedicated LRT or streetcar, they want to live there.”

Mihevc’s ward isn’t the only one in York undergoing significant change.

W h i l e Yo rk - So u t h We s t o n Councillor Frances Nunziata is pleased with the infrastructure investment in her ward over the past few years, she acknowledged the area could always use more.

“We are very much in need of revitalization,” she said.

The Weston GO station at Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue has moved south of Lawrence Avenue, a condominium is set for Wilby

‘We are very much in need of revitalization.’

– Frances Nunziata Crescent, the Mount Dennis library is undergoing redevelopment and is set for opening in 2013, a groundbreaking for a much needed community centre at Eglinton Avenue and Black Creek Drive is set for the coming months and, notably, the first Target store to be built in Canada will be located in the Stockyards, a new development under construction at St. Clair Avenue and Weston

Road, Nunziata said.

The Weston Lions Park is home to an artificial soccer field, which has been taken advantage of by many sports fans, she said.

As for the future, Nunziata said she’s working to bring a YMCA to Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue and noted condominiums are set to be built on the Cruickshank Motors site in the same area.

She’s also pushing for the portion of the Eglinton LRT between Black Creek Drive and Jane Street to be underground, a decision that hasn’t been declared by Metrolinx yet.

Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Josh Colle has had a busy two years.

The rookie politician said the two biggest issues in his ward over the first half of the council term are undertaking the Lawrence Heights redevelopment and fighting for an Oakwood stop along the EglintonScarborough Crosstown LRT line, which has been approved.

“It’s a very tough file to handle,” he said of the Lawrence Heights project.

“There were significant changes to the plan because of the local input I gathered.”

The 20-year redevelopment plan calls for replacing the 1,208 cityowned housing units at Allen Road and Lawrence Avenue and adding 6,300 new market-value ones. The project will bring an estimated 16,000 new residents to the area bounded by Hwy. 401, Bathurst Street, Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street.

Plans for the mixed-income neighbourhood include trail networks, parks and open space, a com-

munity centre and, perhaps most importantly, a connection to other neighbourhoods, which is currently lacking due to the Allen Expressway corridor.

Colle said he’s made a point over the past two years to connect

‘I will continue to try to see investments made in parks and roads.’

– Josh Colle with constituents who haven’t felt engaged, visiting highrises and talking about local issues.

Transit is always a hot topic and Colle said he plans to focus on improved quality of service.

“I will continue to try to see investments made in parks and roads,” he said. “There hasn’t been a lot of investment in my ward. We have limited green space but I hope to see money flow into Yorkdale Park, Caledonia Park and Fairbank (Memorial) Park.”

While the halfway point of the council term is Dec. 7, Monday’s ruling of the removal of Mayor Rob Ford due to conflict of interest charges would take effect three days later, Dec. 10.

ONLINE MAYORAL MATTERS: Ongoing coverage of the what happens next at City Hall Check it out online: www.yorkguardian.com

Ford started strong, ended in controversy

M

ayor Rob Ford has had a colourful first two years in office: starting from the moment he announced that Transit City was “dead,” then handed off the limelight in his swearing-in ceremony to a red-baiting Don Cherry.

As he reaches the second anniversary of his mayoralty on Dec. 7, Ford’s political career in municipal politics could well be over. Superior Court Judge Charles Hackland has ordered Ford removed from office on Monday over a conflict of interest he failed to declare, when he asked council to forgive him having to pay $3,150 of money donated to a football charity.

That matter was one of many black eyes Ford has inflicted on his own mayoralty.

But what about policy? After two years in the mayor’s chair, what has Rob Ford done to change the face of Toronto?

Initially, it seemed like he had accomplished quite a bit. He convinced Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Metrolinx to stop work on the Sheppard LRT and let the city attempt to build a subway there instead. He convinced Toronto Council to scrap the $60 vehicle registration fee, and using surpluses left by the previous administration, froze property taxes in 2011. Toronto councillors’ office budgets were slashed in half. He convinced council to contract out garbage collection in the area west of Yonge Street. He and Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday were able to win major concessions from the city’s remaining unionized workers, with only a short public library strike.

In the service of his promise to cut the “gravy” at city hall, he implemented a core services review, which enabled council and the public to decide what services the city should or should not be providing.

These exercises found little to cut. The fallout from the process arguably led Toronto Council to take a firmer hand with the mayor in 2012, which saw many of his promises undone. Council resurrected Transit City and turned around the 2012 budget to restore some key services.

What’s to come? Well, if Ford is successful in appealing Hackland’s ruling, there are a couple of outstanding promises. Ford has promised to start cutting the land transfer tax on real estate transactions. And he is aiming at a 1.75 per cent property tax increase for 2013.

And he has made it clear since the spring, when council shut down his subway dream: Rob Ford is already campaigning for re-election in 2014.

– David Nickle

7

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| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

8

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9 | YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

10

City Hall

Ford’s ouster: City Hall in turmoil DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com The decision by Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland to remove Mayor Rob Ford from office in 14 days has thrown City Hall into turmoil.

The decision has left councillors unclear as to how the city will be governed, and already led to splinters in the mayor’s inner circle.

Ford, meanwhile, has made it clear he will be appealing the decision, which could prevent him from running for office until the 2014 election, and blamed the decision on a left-wing conspiracy to remove him from office.

“This has come down to left wing politics,” Ford told reporters Monday morning, just over an hour after the decision was released.

“They’re going to do anything to get me out and I’m going to fight tooth and nail to hold onto my job. And if they do for some reason get me out, I’ll be running back at them in a byelection.”

That may not be possible, however. According to city

lawyer Anna Kinastowski, the decision prohibits the mayor from seeking office again until 2014, the next general election.

it came to council, he begged councillors not to compel him to do so.

That, according to the Hackland decision, was a

‘Rob Ford did this to Rob Ford. It could have so easily been avoided. ‘ – Clayton Ruby And the move already has some of Ford’s former allies suggesting that until the appeal is heard he should step aside and allow Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday to take over.

Ford has said he would be launching an appeal.

At issue was a decision

by Ford to speak on his own behalf as council was considering a report from the city’s integrity commissioner. The report recommended council compel Ford to repay $3,150 he had accepted from lobbyists for his football charity. Ford had as a councillor solicited those funds using his councillor’s letterhead, which was a violation of council’s code of conduct.

Ford had repeatedly refused to repay the money, and when

violation of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, which requires that politicians refrain from speaking or voting on matters in which they have a financial interest.

Hackland rejected arguments made by Ford’s defence, suggesting he had made an error in judgement on the matter – one of the few acceptable mitigating factors in COI violations.

“In the view of the respondent’s leadership role in ensuring integrity in municipal government, it is difficult to accept an error in judgement defence based essentially on a stubborn sense of entitlement (concerning his football foundation) and a dismissive and confrontational attitude to the Integrity Commissioner and

the Code of Conduct,” wrote Hackland. “In my opinion, the respondent’s actions were characterized by an ignorance of the law and a lack of diligence in securing professional advice, amounting to willful blindness.”

Clayton Ruby, the lawyer who prosecuted the case for citizen Paul Magder, said he and his client were pleased with the victory, but saddened by the situation.

“It is tragic that the elected mayor of a great city should bring himself to this,” he said.

“And I use this language advisedly. Rob Ford did this to Rob Ford. It could have so easily been avoided. It could have been avoided if Rob Ford had used a bit of common sense, and he had played by the rules.”

W h e n Fo rd a s k s f o r an appeal to the Ontario Divisional Court, he will also ask that his removal be stayed until that appeal is resolved.

Un t i l t h a t h a p p e n s , Kinastowski told council there is nothing else that council can do in deciding whether to appoint or hold a byelection.

City lawyer: Ford not eligible for byelection bid: Toronto’s solicitor Anna Kinastowski said it’s her legal opinion that Mayor Rob Ford would be prohibited from running in any byelection prior to the 2014 general municipal election.

Kinastowski made the statement during a brief question-and-answer session with Toronto Council Tuesday.

Kinastowski was clarifying implications of the ruling by Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland, which found Ford guilty of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The sentence – removing Ford from office and barring him from running until the next term – has been open to interpretation. Ford and his lawyers believe it means he can run in a byelection, because his term of office would effectively end when and if he is finally removed from it.

But Kinastowski said her – and the city legal department’s – reading of the decision suggests otherwise.

“It is my opinion that the word ‘term’ means 2010 to 2014. That is our interpreta-

tion of that particular fact.

If down the road there is a byelection and Mr. Ford does not agree, he can take action to get a judicial interpretation at that time.”

Ford has announced he will appeal the decision to Divisional Court, and ask for a stay of Hackland’s decision, which would have Ford out of office 14 days after the decision was released.

The stay would mean that Ford would remain in office until the decision was rendered by the three-judge panel at Divisional Court.

At that point, the court could either uphold Hackland’s decision, strike it down, or order a new trial.

Whatever the decision, council can do nothing until that happens. If Ford is finally removed from office, council will have 60 days to decide whether to appoint a caretaker mayor, or hold a byelection.

A byelection would cost approximately $7 million, and would be held over just 45 days.

– David Nickle

ADVERTORIAL

Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal In York South-Weston In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, Mike Sullivan, Member of Parliament for York South-Weston, is pleased to honour these distinguished York South-Weston community builders with a Queen`s Diamond Jubilee Medal: Liliana Angarita for human rights advocacy

Moe Irshad for promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding

Mary Louise Ashbourne for protecting the history and heritage of Weston

Steven Levasseur for leadership in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets

Norman Baker for dedicated voluntary service

Ronald McCuaig for philanthropy

Domenico Barbieri for leadership in the Italian-Canadian community

Ernest McMullan for leadership in community service

Barbara Bisgrove for leadership in community service

Sam Meghji for leadership in the local small business community

Gary Bonnell for three decades of service to Cadets Canada

Maria Meyers for promoting Caribbean culture

Mavis Breckenridge for dedicated voluntary service

Odesia President for leadership in community safety

Sam Chopra for promoting South Asian culture in Canada

Carol Sip for dedicated voluntary service

Gayle Christie for public service in the City of York

Bella Jane Smith for dedicated service to seniors

Bob Churchill for leadership in community service

Gail Stacey for service to the York Lions and the York Lions Steel Band

Mark DeMontis for being a role model for youth with physical disabilities

Diana Stapleton for leadership in combating hunger

Odoardo Di Santo for defending the rights of injured workers

Donald Stewart for dedicated service to Canada’s veterans

Val Esposito for dedication to youth

Charlcie Stickley for service to the Royal Canadian Legion

John Gell for chronicling the history of Lambton Park

Barb Stone for community leadership in Mount Dennis

Cherri Hurst for heritage preservation advocacy

Suri Weinberg-Linsky for dedicated service to the community

Mike Sullivan

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City Hall

11

David Nickle dnickle@inisdetoronto.com Mayor Rob Ford has apologized to “everyone who believes I should have done this differently,” for the behaviour that led to a Superior Court judge to throw him out of office two weeks from now.

“Looking back, maybe I could have expressed myself in a different way,” said Ford at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

“Everyone who believes I should have done this differently, I sincerely apologize.”

The contrite Ford made the statements just a day after the decision from Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland was released, in the conflict of interest case that Toronto citizen Paul Magder and lawyer Clayton Ruby brought to court in September.

Ford has been ordered to be removed from office within two weeks of the ruling, and not to run again until the end of the term.

On Tuesday, Ford’s press secretary revealed that Ford’s

lawyers would be seeking a stay of the order to vacate the seat at a hearing Dec. 5; the Divisional Court hearing will take place Jan. 7.

Ford reiterated his defence on the stand, saying he believed he had done nothing wrong and had no conflict.

“I respect the courts and the decision that was released yesterday,” he said.

“My decision to appeal is not a criticism of the court.

But I feel that it is important to go through the appeal system so I can continue to do the work I was elected to do for the taxpayers of this city. This entire matter began because I love to help kids play football. When this came to council for a vote I felt it was important to answer the accusations that had been made against me. I was focussed on raising money to help under-privileged youth.

I never believed there was a conflict of interest because I had nothing to gain and the city had nothing to lose.”

Ford did not take any questions, because, he said, the matter is before the courts.

Ford situation leads to council paralysis

‘R

ob Ford did this to Rob Ford.”

No truer words were spoken about our third (amalgamated city) mayor, than the sound-bite-ready quip from lawyer Clayton Ruby, who led the legal challenge to Mayor Rob Ford’s legitimacy to hold the office to which he was elected two years ago.

Ford is facing what can only be counted as a disgrace: ordered removed from office not by disgruntled voters or his own lifechoices, but a court of law, for violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. There will be an appeal of the decision by Justice Charles Hackland.

Perhaps the mayor will prevail on appeal, and be able to remain in office.

But in the course of getting there, he will hear the verdict in the libel lawsuit from the owner of the Boardwalk Cafe in the Beach.

And before the end of the year, the result of a compliance audit on his election expenses will be released.

THE CITY

david nickle

Depending on how badly that goes, he could well be faced with removal from office a second time, as well as a second restriction on when next he can run for election.

And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of other situations he’s been connected to including the displacing commuters on Finch Avenue to bring buses to ferry the high school football team he coaches back to their home school and engaging senior city staff regarding repairs to the road outside his family’s labelmaking business.

Ford has already surrendered the moral authority to lead the city. The courts are now in the process of taking legal authority from him.

Some have suggested

that the punishment meted one would hope, would out by Hackland – and reflect the complex will of prescribed in the Municipal the electorate. It will have Conflict of Interest Act – to deal with the continued outstrips the nature of the implementation of a transcrime. Hackland admitted portation plan. as much in his decision: that It will have to decide what Ford’s decision to speak on to do about revenue sources his own behalf, when faced like the land transfer tax. with a report One might demanding argue Ford’s he repay The huge uncertainty presence $3,150 in has been of Ford’s potential donations to diminishing his football to departure creates relevance charity, all of this, as wasn’t a could throw (council) council has matter of its entirely off the rails. chosen corruption, own route. and the violaBut the tion of the act instability was merely technical. over the next few months But Ford is by all accounts will all but guarantee a a wealthy man. The injury level of legislative paralysis he suffers in losing his job Toronto hasn’t seen since is paltry compared to the the early days of amalgamainjury the city suffers in the tion. wake of that. Council is a To paraphrase Ruby: Rob fragile body at the best of Ford did this to us. times. The huge uncertainty n David Nickle is The Ford’s potential departure Guardian’s City Hall creates could throw it columnist. His column entirely off the rails. appears every Thursday.

Toronto Council will need Contact him at dnickle@ to pass a budget, which, insidetoronto.com

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

Contrite Ford apologizes

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

12

It’s Happening in York ■ Friday, Nov. 30

yorkguardian.com

Shchuka Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. CONTACT: 416-394-1000 COST: Free Local artist Rabin uses trees as his subject in his photography to create a memory of our Canadian landscape.

He will be on hand to discuss common threats facing the trees in our city and surrounding areas. Call to register.

Seniors Information and Active Living Fair WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. WHERE: St. Clair West Services for Seniors, 2652 Eglinton Ave. W CONTACT: Linda Ncube, 416-787-2114, ext. 238, lindan@ servicesforseniors.ca COST: Free A public education initiative featuring organizations such as Toronto Public Health, the Ministry of Finance, the CAH, the Distress Centre of Toronto, the Canadian Hearing Society, Toronto Police, Emery Keelesdale Nurse Practitioner Clinic and more. There will be presentations, performances and exercise sessions.

■ Tuesday, Dec. 4

■ Saturday, Dec. 1

Baby Time (0 to 18 months) WHEN: 10:30 to 11 a.m. WHERE: Maria A. Shchuka Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. CONTACT: 416-394-1000 COST: Free Babies enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes with their parents and caregivers.

Drop-in.

Christmas Gifts and Crafts Fair WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Mount Dennis Legion, 1050 Weston Rd. CONTACT: 416-767-0231, www.facebook. com/mountdennislegion, legionbr31@ yahoo.com COST: Free Silent auction and more than 40 vendors.

Job Finding Skills at the Library WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. WHERE: Maria A. Shchuka Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. CONTACT: 416-394-1000 COST: Free Free workshop on interview and resume help. Learn where to find job ads online.

Call to register.

■ Monday, Dec. 3

Festive Open House and AGM WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Humber Community Seniors’ Services, 1167 Weston Rd. CONTACT: Cecilia, 416-249-7946, info@humberseniors.org

Urban Forest: A Photographic Look at Our Cities’ Trees WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Maria A.

COST: Free Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; AGM starts at 6 p.m. Live music and refreshments will be served.

■ Wednesday, Dec. 5

Weston Historical Society’s Christmas Carol and Hymn Sing WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: St. John’s Anglican Church Weston, 2125 Weston Rd. CONTACT: Mary Louise Ashbourne, 416-249-6663, westonhistoricalsociety@rogers.com COST: Free Join us for a night of song and recollection. Refreshments will be served in the hall.

■ Thursday, Dec. 6

Family Time WHEN: 10:30 to 11 a.m. WHERE: Maria A. Shchuka Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. CONTACT: 416-394-1000 COST: Free Storytime fun for the whole family.

Drop-in. Weekly to Dec. 13.

■ Friday, Dec. 7

Christmas Shopping Trip to Sherway Gardens WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: York West Active Living Centre, 1901 Weston Rd. CONTACT: Rita Orellana, 416-245-

4395, ext. 223, rita@yorkwestactivelivingcentre.ca COST: $12/$15

■ Saturday, Dec. 8

Christmas Party at Silverthorn Legion WHEN: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. WHERE: Silverthorn Legion Branch 57, 605 Rogers Rd. CONTACT: 416-653-6757, branch57@ gmail.com COST: Free An evening of fun and good cheer.

Secret Kris Kringle with gift maximum of $10. Music with DJ Rob Martin.

Everyone welcome.

■ Monday, Dec. 10

The State of the Environment: Documentary Series WHEN: 1 to 3:30 p.m. WHERE: Maria A. Shchuka Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. CONTACT: 416-394-1000, COST: Free Learn about environmental issues through popular documentaries. Participate in lively discussion about the state of our environment. Call to register.

■ Friday, Dec. 14

Karaoke WHEN: 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. WHERE: Mount Dennis Legion, 1050 Weston Rd. CONTACT: 416-767-0231, www.

Real estate

facebook.com/mountdennislegion, legionbr31@yahoo.com COST: Free Weekly barbecue from 6 till 7:30 p.m.

Cash bar. All 19 and older welcome.

■ Ongoing

Weekly Barbecue WHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays WHERE: Mount Dennis Legion, 1050 Weston Rd. CONTACT: 416-767-0231, legionbr31@ yahoo.com All 19 and older are welcome. Cash bar.

Weekly Seniors Club WHEN: Noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays WHERE: Mount Dennis Legion, 1050 Weston Rd. CONTACT: 416-767-0231, legionbr31@yahoo.com Enjoy a light lunch ($2) and meet new friends. We have snooker, pool, darts, euchre, cribbage, dominoes, table shuffleboard or just good conversation.

All 55 and older are welcome. Cash bar.

■ Volunteers

York West Active Living Centre WHERE: 1901 Weston Rd. CONTACT: Monica Sanmiguel, 416-245-4395, ext.

233, monica@yorkwestactivelivingcentre.ca, www.yorkwestactivelivingcentre. ca

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

14

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Situated on a quiet court location. Mississauga/Etobicoke border. Backing onto ravine, totally renovated detached 2 storey 4+1 bedroom is simply amazing, gorgeous gourmet kitchen, s.s appliances, Granite countertop, main flr family room gas fireplace, formal living & dining room, prof finished basement. Backyard paradise, heated inground saltwater pool, jacuzzi, pattern concrete patio, solarium plus much more only $949,000

Fabulous design, great curb appeal, Large 4 bdrm with 4 washrooms, finished basement.

Stunning classic combination of hardwood, marble & ceramic floors, high ceilings, skylight, Oak stairs, family size kitchen with breakfast area, granite countertop, centre island, stainless steel appliances & many extras for $888,800!!

BACKING ONTO GOLF COURSE!!!

Large detached 4 bdrm 2 storey, finished basement, huge 50’ x 199’ lot! Located close to all conveniences, quick access to Hwys, many upgrades thru-out, Well maintained home Must be seen for $799,900!!

KEELE & 401!!

Fabulous detached 4+1 bdrm 2 storey, double garage, interlock, large verandah, double door entry, centre hall plan, 4 washrooms, combined living and dining rm, cathedral ceiling, gas fireplace, gleaming hardwood floors in family rm, wonderful family size kitchen, w/o to large deck & heated inground pool, gorgeous prof. landscaped lot, finished bsmnt and many extras for only $799,000!!

Gorgeous 4+2 bdrm 2 storey, beautiful custom kitchen, granite countertops, s.s appliances, gleaming hardwood floors, 9’ ceilings, crown moulding, California shutters, gas fireplace, main flr. laundry, huge master with 5 pc ensuite and professionally finished basement, ideal for In-law suite, + much more for $785,900!!

FABULOUS VELLORE VILLAGE OPPORTUNITY!!

THE VICTORIAN! 2790 sq ft classic custom built 2 storey all brick semi detached luxury homes. Located in the Long Branch area, Newly built, select your luxurious finishes starting from $799,000

BURNHAMTHORPE/PONYTRAIL!!

Rare 5 bdrm 2 storey on a beautiful lot. Just steps to Gametwood Park along the Etobicoke boarder. Gorgeous family rm with w/o to private fenced lot 20’x40’, inground pool. Huge bedrooms and principal rooms, renovated baths, fabulous country kitchen with s.s appliances and breakfast area, large finished basement 2nd kitchen & 2 bedrooms, gleaming hardwood flrs. and much more. $739,000

SHERIDAN HOMELANDS!

Incredible totally renovated 4 bdrm, 2 storey, gleaming hardwood floors, spacious principle rms, gourmet kitchen, granite countertop s.s appliances, large family rm addition, walkout to amazing prof. landscaped lot, interlock, inground salt water heated pool, patio, stupendous perennial garden, plus finished basement. Simply must be seen only $649,900!!

80 X 150 FT LOT!

Detached 3 bedroom bungalow with gorgeous brick & stone exterior, on a huge premium lot in Royal York/Dixon area, long private double driveway with garage. Large open concept living and dining room, 2 renovated bathrooms, walk-out to spacious serene back yard, huge workshop, fabulous opportunity only $639,900.

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Incredible luxury condo, great location close to Vaughan Mills shopping centre, Canada’s Wonderland, restaurants, and all conveniences.

Fabulous gated community, 24hr concierge, Fantastic facilities, spacious 2 bdrm condo, stainless steel appl. Granite countertop, gleaming ceramic & hardwood flrs thru-out. A must see for $619,900!!

KIPLING/RATHBURN!!

Totally renovated Etobicoke beauty, gorgeous stone exterior finish & curb appeal. Custom kitchen, granite counter top, stainless steel appliances, skylight, gleaming hardwood flrs, prof. finished basement with separate in-law suite, garage, large back yard only $589,900!!

Charming 2+3 bdrm bungalow, large 40’ x 133’ lot, thousands spent on upgrades, new kitchen, prof. finished basement with separate entrance to in-law suite, second kitchen, 3 bdrms, and large living room. Great location close to schools, transit and all conveniences, hardwood floors and many extras.

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In the heart of Woodbridge quiet enclave, steps to Market Lane. Totally renovated open concept living room, gleaming hardwood flr, walkout to patio, formal dining, amazing custom kitchen granite countertop, stainless steel appliances, California shutters, potlights, finished basement, truly a masterpiece, must be seen only $499,900!!

Wonderful detached 3 bdrm raised bungalow with pie shaped lot, quiet court location, in East Mississauga.

Fabulous potential In-law suite, finished basement with separate entrance. Upgraded family size kitchen with s.s. appl., huge combined Living & dining rm with walk out to balcony, renovated bsmnt with fireplace and w/o to yard, gleaming hardwood flrs & much more for only $499,000

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Wonderful detached brick 2 storey full of charm and character. This home has been totally renovated, new electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, nicely finished trim & hardwood thru-out! Finished basement with bar, new roof(2011), new windows(2011) furnace(2009) fully fenced yard with Gazebo, and many extras for only $499,000!!

BAY & DUNDAS CONDO!!

Live in downtown Toronto without compromising on space. Completely renovated, designer finishes thruout, this spacious 2 bdrm corner unit features gorgeous kitchen with Quartz countertop, gleaming hardwood, and many extras just steps to Subway, Dundas square, Eatons Centre, Hospitals, & all amenities.

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THE JAMES CLUB!!

PRIME DEVELOPMENT LAND!!

Surrounded by Thistletown Plaza, 3+1 bedroom Semi-detached bungalow on a 35’x183’ lot (3 adjacent lots also) providing over 20,000 sq ft for all kinds of development potential, $449,900!!

OAKWOOD & VAUGHAN!!

Prime Kingsway/Edenbridge neighbourhood.

Fabulous layout, 2+1 bedroom suite, open concept living and dining rm, w/o to private balcony/terrace, thousands spent on upgrades, granite countertop, breakfast bar, high ceilings, steps to transit, Humbertown Plaza, & amenities only $469,900

HE R T O N A OL D S INVESTMENT PROPERTY!!

Multiple unit property in The Junction, Main floor store with 3 apartments 4 separate meters, 2 bachelor suites and a 1 bedroom suite. St. Clair & Runnymede, Opportunity knocks. Call to view only $449,000!!!

WESTON RD/BUTTONWOOD!!

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Luxurious Tridel built, immaculate 1 bedroom plus den, bright open concept layout, French doors, laminate floors, W/O to balcony, modern kitchen granite countertop, breakfast bar, 24 hr concierge, world class amenities, steps to Subway and Go Train, only $289,900!!

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Long driveway only $379,900!!

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Previously a convenience store, 4 car parking & lrg basement, high traffic area, great central location, close to all conveniences & transportation for $349,000!!

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Beautiful Dufferin/King 2+1 bdrm condo townhouse, open concept living & dining rm with fireplace, gleaming laminate floor, separate Den, w/o balcony from mstr bedroom, great view of the city. Fabulous location the best of city living, close to all conveniences for only $334,900!!

MAVIS/DUNDAS!!

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Huge 3+1 bdrm Condo, approximately 1500 sf. ft. Well maintained with locker & parking spot, 2 full washrooms, great central location, close to all conveniences, fabulous opportunity for only $229,000!!

Fabulous 2 bedroom suite over 1000 sq. ft, open concept living & dining room, walkout to large balcony. Updated kitchen ceramic floor, renovated bathroom, spacious bedrooms, includes parking & locker only $165,000!!

JANE/WILSON!!

Impressive 2 bdrm condo townhouse, absolutely immaculate home, nicely renovated. Large Bleached Oak kitchen, spacious open concept living and dining room, with w/o to large balcony, great lower level suite for only $274,900!!

(L (L

I I

O O

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N N) )

5 4 6 6

SEE MORE PHOTOS : www.GetLeo.com Not intended to solicit persons under contract. *Certain Conditions May Apply. ReMax West Realty Inc. does not guarantee the sale of your home. Exclusively offered by Frank Leo.

Copyright© 2009 Frank Leo

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

SELL Your Home FASTER and for MORE MONEY!

15

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

16

Community

Ford plans to appeal following ruling >>>from page 1 The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act states members of council cannot speak or vote on issues in which they have a financial interest.

In March, Toronto resident Paul Magder, aided by pro bono lawyer Clayton Ruby, filed a lawsuit alleging Ford broke the law.

Ford, a seasoned councillor before becoming mayor in late 2010, testified he never read the Conflict of Interest Act or the councillor orientation handbook and didn’t attend councillor training sessions that covered conflicts of interest.

Ford is appealing the ruling and is seeking an order allowing him to stay in office until the appeals process is done.

If the Divisional Court refuses to “stay” the removal order within the 14 days, council will either appoint a caretaker mayor until the

end of the term in December 2014 or hold a $7-million byelection.

Yo r k S o u t h - We s t Councillor Frances Nunziata, considered a Ford ally, said she was surprised by the judge’s decision, adding her office has received numerous emails and messages from residents outraged over the punishment. “What (Ford) did, he didn’t benefit at all,” she said. “The only people who benefitted were the kids.”

A fine might have been more appropriate than a removal from office, Nunziata said, adding it’s business as usual at City Hall.

“In view of the respond e n t’s l e a d e r s h i p r o l e in ensuring integrity in municipal government, it is difficult to accept an error in judgment defence based essentially on a stubborn sense of entitlement (concerning his football founda-

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tion) and a dismissive and confrontational attitude to the Integrity Commissioner and the Code of Conduct,” Hackland wrote. “In my opinion, the respondent’s actions were characterized by ignorance of the law and a lack of diligence in securing professional advice, amounting to wilful blindness. As such, I find his actions are incompatible with an error in judgment.”

Mihevc said he’s not surprised by the judge’s ruling, noting it could have gone either way. “(Ford) thought he was above the law,” he said.

“If you’re found in conflict of interest you’re out, period.

The judge called it willful blindness. (Ford’s) been around long enough to know (what constitutes conflict of interest). If I go through a stop sign and say I didn’t know the sign was meant for me, I’m still charged.”

Parade organizers plan new additions >>>from page 1 50 floats, she said, adding participants in upside-down clown costumes and a British double decker bus will be seen along the route.

“We add things every year, we don’t want the same thing year after year,” said O’Sullivan, adding she expects a large crowd to come out for the parade, expected to last an hour and a half to two hours.

Sidewalk repair on Weston

166 BI-WEEKLY

AT

be finished Dec. 7. They are doing the sidewalk first and then the road to be respectful of the parade.”

Parade parking is available at Weston Lions Arena at Lawrence Avenue, just east of Weston Road; the Green P parking lot on John Street, just east of Weston Road; and St. John the Evangelist Catholic School at 23 George St. For information, visit www. westonvillagebia.com/santaparade

Local schools at girls’ OFSAA hoops championships The high school fall sports season has come to a close with the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) provincial championship tournaments wrapping up last weekend in boys volleyball and girls basketball.

Two local schools were involved, both in girls basketball: York Memorial Collegiate in the 3A tournament in Belle River, and Oakwood Collegiate in the 2A tournament in Sault Ste. Marie.

Neither team was able to advance past the quarter-final round.

$0 DOWN PAYMENT

$

Road, north of Lawrence Avenue, began Monday and will wrap up before parade day, said York SouthWeston Councillor Frances Nunziata.

Patchwork was done years ago and now walkways need to be levelled, she said, adding work is being done now before winter settles in.

“It’s going to be finished by the end of the week,” Nunziata said. “Road work will then be done after the parade and will

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York Memorial, ranked 15th of 16 teams, lost 54-24 to fifthranked Governor Simcoe of St. Catharines and 60-19 to second-ranked Holy Cross from Kingston before bowing out in the consolation quarterfinal 44-30 to 10th-ranked North Park from Brantford.

At their city level, York Memorial had a great season, only losing one game – 59-45 to North York’s Downsview in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) 3A championship.

Oakwood, ranked 12th of 18 teams, bowed out in

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Oakwood advanced with a 30-27 upset win over sixthranked La Salle from Kingston after losing their opening match 44-30 to number one ranked General Amherst from Amherstburg.

At their city level, Oakwood went 4-4 in a tough division that included city 4A champion Eastern Commerce and 4A city finalist Northern Secondary. They then jumped into the 2A playdowns at the city level.

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Finance Offers exclude registration, insurance, PPSA and license fees. Delivery and destination charge includes freight, P.D.E., dealer admin fees and a full tank of gas. Financing example: 2013 Sonata GL Auto for $22,450 at 0%per annum equals $432 bi-weekly for 24 months for a total obligation of $22,450. Cash price is $22,450. Cost of Borrowing is $0. Example price includes Delivery and Destination of $1,565, fees, levies, and all applicable charges (excluding HST). Example price excludes registration, insurance, PPSA and license fees.▼Fuel consumption for 2013 Elantra Sedan L 6-Speed Manual (HWY 5.2L/100KM; City 7.1L/100KM)/2013 Elantra GT GL 6-Speed Manual (HWY 5.3L/100KM; City 7.8L/100KM)/2013 Sonata GL Auto (HWY 5.6L/100KM; City 8.7L/100KM)/2013 Santa Fe 2.4L FWDAuto (HWY 6.7L/100KM, City 10.1L/100KM) are based on Manufacturer vTesting. Actual fuel efficiency may vary based on driving conditions and the addition of certain vehicle accessories. Fuel economy figures are used for comparison purposes only. †♦Friends & Family prices for models shown: 2013 Elantra Limited/Sonata Limited/Santa Fe 2.0T Limited AWDis $23,080/$27,475/$39,145. Prices include Delivery and Destination charges of $1,495/$1,565/$1,760, fees, levies, and all applicable charges (excluding HST).Prices exclude registration, insurance,PPSA and license fees. ♦Friends & Family Selling Prices are calculated against the selling price less all factory to dealer price adjustments (including Friends & Family price adjustments). Friends & Family Selling Prices include Delivery and Destination, fees, levies, and all applicable charges (excluding HST), and exclude registration, insurance, PPSA and license fees. ‡Factory to dealer price adjustments (including Friends & Family price adjustments) are calculated against the vehicle’s starting price.

Factory to Dealer Price adjustments of $1,750/$3,250/$1,150 available on 2013 Elantra L 6-Speed Manual/Sonata GLAuto/Santa Fe 2.4LFWDAuto includes Friends & Family price adjustments. Factory to dealer price adjustments are applied before taxes. Offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other available offers. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be assigned. No vehicle trade-in required. †♦‡Offers available for a limited time, and subject to change or cancellation without notice. See dealer for complete details. Inventory is limited, dealer order may be required. �Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. National HighwayTraffic SafetyAdministration’s (NHTSA’s) NewCar Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). ††Hyundai’s Comprehensive LimitedWarranty coverage covers most vehicle components against defects in workmanship under normal use and maintenance conditions.

17 | YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

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mobilicity.ca Taxes are extra. Handset prices are while quantities last. Dealer may sell handsets for less. Discount offer valid only at participating locations. 50% off offer is available for a limited time and valid for new activations only. Receive 50% off $25/$35 regular rate plans for 6 months or $45/$55 regular rate plans for 12 months while customer is on automatic monthly payments (preauthorized credit/ debit payment). Restrictions may apply on combining offers with other offers or promotions. Additional terms and conditions apply. Subject to change without notice. © 2012 Mobilicity. ‘Mobilicity’, ‘Now that’s smart’, the Mobilicity designs and the Mobilicity logo are trademarks of Mobilicity. Other trademarks shown may be held by their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Mobilicity Stores Toronto 1209 Bloor St W 104 Dundas St E 672 Gerrard St E 1484 Queen St W 1887 Queen St E 1267 St. Clair Ave W 542 Yonge St 1004 Pape Ave 2032 Weston Rd

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Brampton 370 Main St Unit 25A 252 Queen St E Shoppers World Bramalea City Centre Markham First Markham Place, Unit 118 Pacific Mall, Unit D56

Scarborough Agincourt Mall, Unit 0570 5981 Steeles Ave E, Unit 106 Bridlewood Mall Scarborough Town Centre, Section C Chartwell Shopping Centre

1885 Kennedy Rd 2667 Eglinton Ave E, Unit 1

City Hall

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

18

Participate in the City’s 2013 Budget Process How City Council establishes the City’s budget and priorities directly affects the quality of life for every resident. The Operating Budget determines what programs and services the City will offer and how much the City will raise and spend within a year and in the immediate future. The Capital Budget and Plan provides funding for the facilities and infrastructure required to deliver those services.

A Staff Recommended 2013 Tax Supported Operating Budget and 2013-2022 Capital Budget and Plan are now being considered by the Budget Committee for recommendation to the Mayor and his Executive Committee and then to City Council.

If you want to make your views about the 2013 Budget known there are several ways to do so.

1. Make a public presentation to the Budget Committee at its Budget Hearing.

2013 Operating Budget and 2013-2022 Capital Budget and Plan Hearing: Budget Committee December 10, 2012 Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Committee Room 1, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West Please contact the Budget Committee at 416-338-5851 or 416-392-7445, or e-mail buc@toronto.ca no later than 4 p.m. on December 7, 2012 if you intend to make a public presentation. Please register to ensure that your name is placed on the speakers list. There will be a five-minute presentation time limit, unless the Committee decides otherwise. The Committee will hear speakers starting at 9:30 a.m. on December 10, 2012 and if necessary, the Committee will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on December 11, 2012 to hear remaining speakers on the speakers list.

Toronto Board of Health urges council to reject casino DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com Toronto Council should flatout reject any attempts to locate a casino in Toronto on strict public health grounds, Toronto’s Board of Health has recommended.

The board voted last week to refuse the casino after considering a report from Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, looking at the public health impacts of locating a gambling casino in Toronto.

The report is one of two major reports council will be considering as it decides whether to invite the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to establish a casino in Toronto.

The report from McKeown recommended that any casino be subject to 10 conditions, to mitigate the significant health problems surrounding problem gambling.

The recommendations including limiting the hours of operation, restricting the

number of slot machines, eliminating loyalty programs, keeping ATMs off the gambling floor, prohibiting casino credit, mandating a maximum daily loss and reducing the maximum bet size, banning alcohol service on the casino floor, and issuing monthly statements so players can rate their losses.

‘The overall evidence is that an increase in availability of gambling leads to more problem gambling.’

– Dr. David McKeown McKeown told the board that problem gambling could grow into a significant public health problem as casinos become easier to access.

“The overall evidence is that an increase in availability of gambling leads to more problem gambling,” said McKeown.

He said that currently, about 0.2 per cent of the population are severe problem gamblers.

In the Greater Toronto Area, that translates to 11,000 people.

Problem gambling tends to hit men, young people and lower-income people more than others, and can lead to other public health problems.

And according to the report, just one per cent of problem gamblers enter treatment programs.

The board also decided to recommend scuttling any overtures to build a casino here.

“This report leads to a very simple conclusion and that is we should not allow the expansion of gaming in the city,” said St. Paul’s Councillor Joe Mihevc, a committee member.

“Well, we should say it. That should be our input to the city, speaking as a body interested in public health.”

It’s expected council will vote on whether to bet on casinos in late winter.

Make donating a holiday tradition.

2. Submit a written presentation to: Budget Committee Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West 10th floor, WestTower Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Fax: 416-392-1879 E-mail: buc@toronto.ca 3. Send a letter or e-mail to your local City Councillor.

For information on how to contact your City Councillor, please call 3-1-1.

Toronto City Council will review and approve the final 2013 Operating Budget and 2013-2022 Capital Budget and Plan at the Council meeting on January 15-17, 2013.

For more information about the City Budget and the 2013 Budget process please visit our website: www.toronto.ca/budget2013 or toronto.ca/council.

Notice: If you write or make a presentation to the Budget Committee, we will collect and use your personal information in accordance with applicable laws. We also videotape meetings and make recordings publicly available on request. For more information about the collection and use of your personal information, please visit: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/privacy.html

Value Village pays local nonprofits every time you donate.

Drop off at a Community Donation Centre located at Value Village!

605 Rogers Rd, #C1, Toronto (416) 247-7372 Mon. - Sat. 9am - 9pm, Sun. 10am - 6pm

Donations benefit:

Opinion

19

M

aybe the memo about the slowing pace of highrise development in Toronto’s core hasn’t yet reached the development community.

Last month, one of the largest proposals ever in North America was unveiled, showing an expanded convention centre, hotel, plus additional retail, offices and residential towers along Front Street.

Just steps away, another vision promises to transform part of King Street with three residential towers, each of which could be more than 80 storeys.

During the summer there were almost 200 condo projects already underway in Toronto, which would bring another 50,000 units to market.

All of this activity must be profitable for developers or they would not be risking their capital. And although sales for new units are slowing, there are still thousands of willing buyers every month.

For all of the complaints about highrise development, it is the most efficient way for people to live together. In Toronto’s core, higher density residential construction produces a virtuous circle: additional people bring retailers, cultural attractions and jobs, which in turn creates further demand for homes.

Service-based companies are already moving back downtown, to be closer to their workers. These downtowners are examples of urban living: they are knowledge workers in clean offices, they take transit when they don’t walk or cycle to work. With their higher average incomes, they enhance the vibrancy of our retail and cultural sectors.

While many projects in Toronto’s core bring benefits, it’s a fair question to ask if redevelopment in general is good for our city.

It’s easy to see the negatives, most of which centre on overburdened infrastructure: crowded transit, gridlock, few parks downtown and the like.

The big challenge is to channel the incredible amount of funding and activity from development projects to build better transit, ease gridlock and create more green space.

It’s a shame that council has the means to do so, but is not using its financial tools as well as it can.

Under provincial law, Toronto is entitled to charge new development the equivalent amount that new residents will burden our city infrastructure.

Every term of council, consultants forecast how much each form of development will cost the city across the entire range of municipal services. For example, the additional burden caused by a household moving into a new two-bedroom condominium will be about $13,000, including about $3,800 for transit, about $2,300 for roads and about $1,800 for parks. This amount is usually recovered from buyers in the purchase price.

As you can imagine, when council considers development charges, every major developer and their advocates argue that charging the maximum will cause higher housing prices, lower employment and depress the Toronto economy. Council then levies rates at less than recovery cost.

At present, it charges about $2,500 less than allowed for a twobedroom unit.

There are problems with council’s position.

The first is that these development charges are not for what would be nice to have, but are estimates of how much those new households will cost for current levels of service.

Charging less than full cost means that present residents subsidize new purchasers. Doing basic arithmetic shows

Beyond the headlines

david soknacki

a gap well in excess of $100 million.

We all recognize crumbling infrastructure is a problem. That council is not recovering funds available for that purpose just makes the situation worse.

Allegations that higher development charges would make Toronto uncompetitive are wrong.

Neighbouring municipalities to our west and north charge from double to almost triple Toronto’s levies. Even Oshawa, with all of its challenges, charges far more.

Many of the plans for development in Toronto’s core will be great for our

future. But let’s make sure they pay their own way. n Guest columnist David Soknacki is a former City of Toronto councillor and budget chief. Contact him at www.soknacki.com

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

Toronto’s development: Council must recover funds to offset costs

City Hall

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

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Toronto snow crews not betting on mild winter DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com

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Toronto got off easy last winter, with mild temperatures and very little snowfall.

And while Toronto’s works department is hoping for more of the same this winter, they’re not betting on it.

“We’re hoping for another mild winter but we’re ready if we have a heavy snowfall,” said public works and infrastructure committee chair Denzil Minnan-Wong Nov. 17 as the city unveiled its 2012-2013 winter snow clearing plan.

The mild winter past has left the city with a $20-million surplus on top of its annual $86-million snow clearing budget, but that surplus could evaporate if the rest of November and December prove more blustery.

To that end, the city has readied its fleet of 1,100 snow clearing vehicles to keep the roads and sidewalks clear: 600 snow plows, 300 sidewalk plows and 200 salt trucks.

They’ll be deployed to various types of roadways depending on the severity of the storm.

Once snow begins, the city sends out salt trucks to main roads and expressways.

When the snow reaches 2.5 centimetres, snow clearing starts on expressways; at five centimetres, arterial roads

Photo/Janek Lowe

Toronto transportation services director Peter Noehammer, right, and Don Valley East Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong discuss the city’s winter preparedness Nov. 20 at the Eastern Avenue Toronto Works Yard.

will be cleared. When it hits eight centimetres, local roads will get ploughed.

“Some people think that once a few centimetres fall on the ground you should be on my street. Well, that’s the standard,” Minnan-Wong said.

He said the city is ready to deal with most snowfalls, but admitted that if the city gets hit with an unusually large snowfall – such as the one in 1999 that caused then-Mayor Mel Lastman to call in the army to clear snow and make the city the butt of jokes – it would be a challenge.

“We’re ready for winter,” he said. “I don’t think anyone was ready for 1999. We’ve got

enough resources but in the case of a 1999 storm, if that were to happen all over again everybody would be challenged to deal with it.”

The city is also asking residents in downtown neighbourhoods to clear the snow on sidewalks in front of their houses, but elsewhere the city will endeavour to clear sidewalk snow itself.

The city is also getting ready to deal with another bane of winter: frozen water mains. The city is continuing to replace aging water mains, but crews are on call 24/7 to repair any that break.

Anyone seeing a broken water main is advised to call 311 to report it.

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Transit

21

RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com

Photo/DEREK STRYLAND

The new TTC streetcar was unveiled during a media conference held Nov. 15 at the TTC’s Hillcrest complex. The new vehicles are scheduled to go into operation along the city’s 11 streetcar routes, including St. Clair Avenue West, in early 2014.

New TTC streetcars longer, can carry more passengers RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com

‘The vehicle can now move off more quickly from a stop so that the vehicle behind doesn’t catch up, and that’s when we get into situations like bunching and gapping.’

They won’t be ready to ride until 2014, but for one day at least the TTC unveiled the first of the new sleek modern light rail vehicles to replace the city’s aging streetcar fleet.

Representatives from all three levels of government were on hand at a press conference earlier this month at the TTC’s Hillcrest complex to tour the new streetcar.

The new low-floor Bombardier LRVs will be 25 feet longer than their articulated predecessors, allowing for 68 more passengers.

The interior of the vehicle will contain no steps, allowing riders with mobility issues to board with ease according to a fact sheet provided by the TTC. The new vehicles, which have a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour, are fully air-conditioned and provide space for bicycles as well as designated areas for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said the new streetcars will run on the Presto fare system. Each vehicle will have Presto card

readers riders can tap, as well as two automated ticket dispensers which will issue receipts that double as transfers.

Having a proof of payment system (POP) in place will improve service and reliability, said Ross.

“The vehicle can now move off more quickly from a stop so that the vehicle behind doesn’t catch up, and that’s when we get into situations like bunching and gapping,” said Ross on Nov. 15.

It will still be over one year before the public will get a chance to ride the new streetcar, but Ross said the TTC will make the test model it unveiled this week available for people to board.

He said the vehicle will be on the streets in 2013 – but only for testing purposes.

If all goes well, the new vehicles could be in service in early2014, but nothing is confirmed as of yet, said Ross.

He said both the 510 Spadina and the 504 King routes could be the first lines the new streetcars run on, which are expected to run on all 11 of the city’s existing streetcar lines.

Of the $1.2-billion price tag for the cars, two-thirds of the cost will be covered by the city and the TTC while the remaining third comes from the province.

The TTC has also allocated a share of the federal gas tax fund – $108-million – toward the order of 204 vehicles to be manufactured at Bombardier’s Thunder Bay plant.

Follow transit reporter Rahul Gupta on Twitter @TOintransit

FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE

FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE

FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER On the November 23 flyer, wrap page 7, the Black Weekend Online Sale time zone was incorrectly advertised. Please be advised that this sale on futureshop.ca starts on Thursday, November 22, 2012 at midnight PST.

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER On the November 23 flyer, page 6, this product: HP Laptop Featuring AMD E-300 Accelerated Processor (WebCode: 10225636) was advertised with an incorrect specification. Please be advised that the laptop features a 320GB Hard Drive, NOT 500GB as previously advertised.

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER Please be advised that Mad Men Season 5 Limited Edition and The Mentalist Season 3 (WebID: M2200252/M2191725), advertised in the November 23 flyer, page 21, were shown with the incorrect price of $9.99 each. The correct pricing of these products is $19.99 for Mad Men and $14.99 for The Mentalist.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

–Brad Ross, TTC

Best Buy CORRECTION NOTICE

Best Buy CORRECTION NOTICE

Best Buy CORRECTION NOTICE

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE BEST BUY NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER We would like to clarify that the correct price for the Apple iPod touch 16GB (ME178C/A & ME179C/A) (WebCode: 10219768/10219769) advertised in the November 23 flyer, page 12, is $194.99 NOT $164.99, as previously advertised.

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE BEST BUY NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER On page 23 of the November 23 flyer, the Samsung LN46E550 46” 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (WebCode: 10201530) was advertised with incorrect specifications. Please be advised that this TV is 46” LCD, not LED.

NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE BEST BUY NOVEMBER 23 CORPORATE FLYER On page 3 of the November 23 flyer, the Acer 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processor (V5-571P6627) (WebCode: 10223559) was advertised with an incorrect specification. Please be advised that the laptop features a 15.6” screen, NOT 17.3” as previously advertised. As well, on page 12, the Apple iPod touch 16GB (ME178C/A & ME179C/A) (WebCode: 10219768/10219769) is limited in quantity, with no rainchecks available. Customers may purchase item only until supplies last.

Finally, on page 23, the Samsung LN46E550 46” 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (WebCode: 10201530) was advertised with incorrect specifications. Please be advised that this TV is 46” LCD, not LED.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

It’s about to get more expensive to ride the TTC. At its monthly meeting on Nov. 21, the transit agency’s board of commissioners voted to approve the 2013 operating, capital and WheelTrans budgets and also approved an increase in the price of all fares, excluding cash, to take effect starting Jan. 1.

As a result of the increase, tokens will go up by five cents to $2.65, while a monthly Metropass will rise to $128.50, an increase of $2.50.

Cash fares would remain at $3 per ride.

TTC chair Karen Stintz said the fare increase was at the level of inflation and necessary for balancing the 2013 operating budget.

“We don’t want to raise fares if we don’t have to, there’s no question,” said Stintz to reporters following the conclusion of the meeting at Toronto City Hall.

“We understand the impact.

Those who rely on the system most are most affected by fare increases.”

She also said a similar inflationary fare hike was in store for 2014.

“If ridership continues to grow and our costs continue to grow there will likely be an inflationary fare increase next year,” she said.

Stintz said the TTC had already

approached city manager Joe Pennachetti regarding an increase in the subsidy it receives from the city for its operations.

“Those discussions are underway and I expect that next year we will see an increase to our subsidy,” she said.

But that came as little solace to Franz Hartmann of the TTCriders advocacy group who pointed out that at 87 cents per rider, Toronto has the lowest amount of subsidy for transit than anywhere else in North America despite record ridership.

“Essentially what the board has done is to penalize people for using public transit,” said Hartmann following the decision.

Hartmann, who made a co-presentation to the TTC board opposing the fare hike, said he understood the TTC’s burden in ensuring its budgets remain balanced, but said it was unfair to rely on ridership to meet the fiscal imbalance.

“Transit riders keep on being penalized for doing the right thing,” said Hartmann. “Everyone else who benefits from transit is not paying any more.”

The decision was expected following a decision by the board to agree in principle to a fare increase back at the Sept. 27 meeting. Formal approval for the increase was required to ensure the increases could take effect at the beginning of next year.

Now you can recycle more plastic stuff – like fruit and vegetable containers, clear takeout containers, molded bakery trays, plastic egg cartons, disposable plastic plates and cups, empty CD cases and more.

So listen to Chuck and Vince and fill up your Blue Bin, not the landfill.

Need a bigger Blue Bin? Call 311 to upsize it for free.

For more information, go to WeWantIt.ca

Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support waste diversion programs.

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

TTC board officially approves fare hike

City Hall

Ombudsman critical of How are we doing? parking ticket procedures Your feedback matters to us!

416-774-2284

The York Guardian is dedicated to delivering a positive experience to our customers!

If you want to fight a parking ticket at Toronto City Hall, you might be surprised to find it’s easier than you think.

And that’s not a good thing, according to a report from Toronto’s ombudsman, Fiona Crean, looking into the way the city handles disputed parking tickets.

Crean’s report came as a result of “a sizeable number of complaints” from parking ticket recipients.

They complained the dispute process doesn’t give recipients adequate information about ways to cancel a parking ticket or dispute it, unfairly requires recipients to attend in person to request a trial, and that service at parking tag offices is inadequate and trials untimely.

“Complainants stated that the parking infraction dispute process seemed designed to encourage payment and dis-

courage those with disputes from pursuing them,” she wrote.

The investigation took place over 11 months – and according to Crean, found some merit to the complaints. While she wrote that the process provides reasonable services to recipients given resources and demand, she agreed the information provided to recipients seemed tailored to discourage anything but promptly paying a ticket.

“The information that appears on the parking infraction notice downplays the trial option and gives no indication that tickets are in some cases cancellable without attendance in court,” she wrote.

“The information on the city’s website highlights the payment option over the trial option and does not provide adequate information about other avenues through which recipients’ concerns may be raised.”

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The city does have guidelines that explain how tickets can be cancelled. But they’re not accessible to the general public, wrote Crean.

And she said that while staff at parking tag offices are aware of those rules and are authorized to cancel tickets, “unless they are directly asked, staff do not offer any advice prior to filling the recipient’s trial request on whether the ticket is one that is covered by the Cancellation guidelines.”

Crean noted the city has made an effort to improve the dispute system. But she has recommended five measures the city could take to improve service to parking ticket recipients: ■ Expanding and clarifying the information on challenging a ticket that’s on the infraction notice, the city website and parking tag offices; ■ Expanding the use of telephone, email and fax contact for dealing with ticket issues where an in-person appearance isn’t needed; ■ Requiring staff at parking tag offices to identify and help recipients whose ticket cancellation might not require a court appearance; ■ Looking at initiatives that would reduce court appearances, such as creating a fixed fine system and a delivery parking permit; ■ Asking the Attorney General to refer the issue of creating an administrative penalty – which would remove parking tickets from the courts – to the Court of Appeal for a final ruling. Currently, the city believes that implementing such a measure would be vulnerable to legal challenge.

23

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

24

Business

Flaherty at board of trade: sticking with the plan DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com The plan, according to Canada’s Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, “is to stick to our plan.”

Flaherty made the blunt staythe-course promise at a luncheon with the Toronto Board of Trade in a downtown hotel last Thursday in a speech sketching out both the state of the economy and the federal Conservative government’s plans for the country’s financial future for the remainder of the term of office.

“We will not engage in large new spending schemes, we will not engage in spending that will increase deficits,” Flaherty told the crowd.

“The pressure to spend more is always there; I get many cards and letters at this time of year...many with interesting proposals for spending tax dollars. Many projects are good ideas but we have to keep our eye on the ball.”

In his speech, Flaherty referred several times to Canada’s strong economic position relative to other G7 countries. He said that indicated the Conservative government’s economic policies so far have been effective. He pointed out that Canada has recovered “all of

the economic output lost during the recession,” and also increased employment beyond the losses from the 2008-2009 downturn.

‘Many projects are good ideas but we have to keep our eye on the ball.’

– Jim Flaherty He said that employment has increased since July 2009 by more than 820,000 jobs – 390,000 over its pre-recession high.

“This is a volatile and uncertain global environment and the government is completely focussed on the economy, the creation of jobs and the creation of economic growth,” he said.

As a result, he said that “Canada is positioned relatively better than many of our peers in the industrial world,” he said. “I don’t say that to boast, but to say that our policies have worked and our positioning is good and we’re on the right track.

We’re in a relatively good position.”

Flaherty said that Canada’s rela-

Staff photo/David Nickle

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty speaks to members of the Toronto Board of Trade during a luncheon last Thursday.

tively sound fiscal situation has made it flexible enough to deal with external problems that might come its way – notably, the U.S. “fiscal cliff” of national debt that is so far stuck in a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats, and the European fiscal crisis.

“The threats are clear, and the most imminent threat is the socalled fiscal cliff in the U.S.,” said

Flaherty.

“We’re not shy about making our position clear; the United States really needs to move forward with a medium-term plan to deal with deficits and the accumulated public debt. The consequences are a four per cent drop in real gross domestic product over the year – and that would have a continuing consequence for Canada and hurt our

GDP. So we encourage them to move along, as well as wishing everyone there a happy Thanksgiving.”

If things do go poorly, however, Flaherty said the federal government should be agile enough to protect Canadians’ interests.

“You want to be in the position of having room to move if bad times happen,” he said. “That’s why we did pay down that public debt. We did have to make a decision of running up the deficit in 2009 and 2010 but as part of the Economic Action Plan we always built in a plan to get back to balanced budgets and we’re on track to do that. We’ve gone from a $50-billion deficit to less than half of that, and it should get us back to a balanced budget during the current parliamentary term and certainly before the next election.”

Flaherty said the government won’t cut transfer payments to the provinces for health, education and equalization payments – and won’t cut payments to individuals. Rather, efficiencies will be sought through various direct programs offered by the federal government.

Flaherty and the Conservatives are launching budget consultations across Canada next week, to find out from Canadians what priorities they might like to see.

IF YOU WORK IN ONTARIO, THIS IS YOUR FIGHT. On September 11, 2012, the Ontario Liberal government passed Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act, 2012.

Bill 115 is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and unprecedented.

• It takes away the democratic rights of teachers and education professionals to bargain collectively.

• It places the government beyond the reach of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Labour Relations Act, and even the courts.

• It takes local decision-making away from school boards and puts it in the hands of the provincial government.

That’s why we’re standing against Bill 115. It sets a dangerous precedent for all Ontarians. In fact, the government has already threatened other public sector workers with similar legislation.

As teachers, we teach your children to stand up for their principles. Today, we ask you to do the same.

What can you do to help?

Join us in standing up for democratic rights. Let your MPP know that Bill 115 must be repealed.

StopBill115.ca

This message brought to you by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Directory HOMEIMPROVEMENT

call: 416

Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Telephone Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Cash & Interac Transactions: 9 am - 5 pm

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YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012 |

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Directory

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Bricks & Chimneys Repaired and rebuilt Bricks + mortar colour match House-front, pillars, bricks repaired or replaced Chris Jemmett Masonry

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Last week’s answers

How to do it: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 by 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

n See answers to this week’s puzzles in next Thursday’s edition

| YORK GUARDIAN | Thursday, November 29, 2012

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