Newsstand: July 9, 2009

City union vows to stand its ground (Toronto Star): "The union representing the city's 6,200 striking outside workers has made it clear that a proposed pay freeze this year and 1 per cent hike next year won't fly, according to an email message to city councillors obtained by the Star."

Kensington Market shrugs off drug arrests (National Post): "Kensington Market largely shrugged yesterday after a major drug bust that targeted the market and other gentrifying west-end neighbourhoods. Undercover Toronto police officers arrested 76 mainly street-level drug dealers, concentrating on certain areas in Kensington, Queen Street West, King Street West and Dundas Street West, said Detective Karen Chapman."

Queen bookend (Now): "If you were planning to buy all your art textbooks at Pages in September, you might want to push your purchase plans forward a few weeks." [Previous coverage on Torontoist: Last Page.]

Federal money for Pride parade may have led to minister's duties being chopped (CP24): "Industry Minister Tony Clement has taken over a key funding program—a move one Tory MP says came as a result of another minister awarding $400,000 to the Toronto Gay Pride parade and allegedly shocking many in the Tory caucus."

Rouge Valley Health System bilked of $2M (Toronto Sun): "Toronto Police are hunting for one part of a two man team that bilked Rouge Valley Health System out of $2 million. The fraud squad says the alleged false invoice scheme stretches from April Fool's Day 1999 to Feb. 28, 2007."

A flag, smile and a bow greet Japan's Emperor and Empress (Globe and Mail): "With a small Japanese flag in his hand and a beaming smile on his crinkled face, Toke Suyama yesterday welcomed Japan's royal couple to the city he has proudly called home since 1946."