Newsstand: May 1, 2009

Tougher Ontario drunk-driving laws kick off today (Globe and Mail): "Ontario's tough new impaired driving laws take effect today. As of May 1, a driver caught with a blood alcohol level from 0.05 to 0.08—known as the 'warn range'—will have their licence suspended for three days."

Liberals out of debt, united, 'ready to fight' (National Post): "Michael Ignatieff declared yesterday that federal Liberals are united, out of debt and 'basically ready to fight an election' if an impasse is reached in Parliament... He spoke as more than 1,500 delegates gathered for a national convention this weekend that is focused on reforms aimed at rebuilding dwindled party membership, filling an empty campaign war chest and confirming Mr. Ignatieff's leadership."

Recession's fast grip appears to be easing (Globe and Mail): "It certainly is far from over, and there are bound to be some rough times ahead, but Canada's recession appears—finally—to be letting up. Economic output fell 0.1 per cent in February, the seventh successive month of contraction but a far cry from the 0.7-per-cent decline in January and the 1-per-cent drop in December."

New poll highlights Canada's negative outlook (CBC): "Canadians believe the country's standard of living is on a downward slide and will not recover any time soon, says a new poll released Thursday. The Economic Club of Canada, a Toronto-based business discussion forum, said three-quarters of Canadians are reducing their expectations regarding how their lives will rebound as the economy improves."

Hard times don't hurt McGuinty, poll finds (Toronto Star): "Ontario's Liberal government is so far weathering the storm over the recession and the harmonized sales tax, a poll released today suggests."

Councillors debate own security (National Post): "Toronto councillors expressed concern about their safety yesterday as they debated a security plan for city facilities that some complained neglects a crucial component—their offices."

Flap over street name zipped up—for now (Globe and Mail): "Toronto City Council yesterday put off a final decision about whether or not to name a new North York street 'OMB Folly' to protest the Ontario Municipal Board, which approved the development over city objections." [Previous coverage on Torontoist: Hell Hath No Fury....]

Cars moving, but Tamil protest questioned (Globe and Mail): "Traffic flowed on University Avenue yesterday for the first time since Tamil protesters forced its closing five days ago. But even with cars moving again, politicians and people working in the area wondered why the disturbance was allowed to continue for as long as it did." [Previous coverage on Torontoist: "Canada, Help Us." and Despite "Scuffles," Tamil Protest Continues.]

Angry tenants fed up with cockroaches, rodents, cracks, filth (Toronto Star): "A group of tenants from 170 Chalkfarm Dr. greeted a team of city inspectors yesterday with a list of grievances almost as tall as the 23-storey highrise itself. The team was there to examine a cluster of four highrises along Chalkfarm Dr., deemed by the city to be among Toronto's 186 most dilapidated residential buildings."

The meteorite hunt is on (Globe and Mail): "The hunt is on for meteorites that blazed to Earth last month and landed on rural land north of Newmarket, Ont. The Royal Ontario Museum and University of Western Ontario have identified a 100-square-kilometre zone as the most likely debris range, stretching south-east of Mt. Albert to the edge of South Wynhurst, on the shores of Lake Simcoe."