Former Toronto and Ontario Officer of Medical Health Dr. Sheela Basrur died yesterday of a rare form of cancer. Basrur was a calm and reassuring voice to a nervous city during the SARS crisis of 2003, and spearheaded numerous health initiatives during her career in public service. She'll be missed.

GM will today announce the permanent closure of its truck plant in Oshawa, sending a thousand workers to the unemployment line while executives execute on their long-term strategy of hunkering down in Detroit and waiting for the return of tail fins and 50¢-per-gallon gas.

The Conservative government won several non-confidence votes yesterday in Ottawa on a budget bill that included controversial changes to immigration law. The Liberals followed their standard non-confidence vote process, which is to rail impotently against whatever the Tories are trying to do, while at the same time ensuring that the government doesn't lose and force an election.

Sir, may I see your licence, registration, and iPod? In another bid for broad public acclaim, the Tories are considering a bill that would slap users with a $500 fine for any illegally downloaded files. That sounds enforceable.

In proof that it doesn't take all kinds, three members of an Oshawa family have been arrested for taking advantage of the CIBC Run For The Cure to raise hundreds of dollars that were never donated.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have found a head coach in the form of Ron Wilson, fired last month by the San Jose Sharks. A front office spokesperson said that talks were underway but nothing had been confirmed, adding, "What do we care? We could hire a dancing bear as head coach, and Toronto fans would still show up for the games."

Photo courtesy of the Government of Ontario.