Results tagged “government”

Suaad Hagi Mohamud, the 31-year-old Toronto woman who was stranded in Kenya for three months due to a dustup with customs officials, is now suing the Canadian government for $2.5 million and asking for an inquiry and public apology. After allegedly denying a request for a bribe by an airline official on her way home from the Nairobi airport, Mohamud was tossed into Langata Women's Prison for a week on the charge of passport fraud, because the officer claimed her lips looked different than in her four-year-old passport photo. Trapped in immigration limbo, it took the Canada Border Services Agency a staggering two-and-a-half months to confirm her identity using a DNA test, even though Mohamud had been vouched for by her family, volunteered a cross-check on her fingerprints, and was carrying at least five pieces of valid identification, including an Ontario health card and driver's licence. (CORRECTION: A previous version of the story incorrectly indicated that it was an immigration official that solicited a bribe; it was a KLM airline official.)

PARTY: Toronto celebrates the banner year of one hundred and seventy-five with a plethora of fun both inside and outside City Hall. Highlights include the Lit City activities (see below); "360-extended," a huge interactive project of personal Toronto stories; and Toronto's emergency personnel performing virile demonstrations such as rappelling and "auto extrication" (and if that isn't a euphemism, we don't know what is). Our favourite event by far is the pair of improvisations curated by R.H. Thomson: Eric Peterson (of Billy Bishop Goes to War fame) plays William Lyon McKenzie, first facing off with Toronto's first council as played by students (12:30–2:30 p.m.), then later debating politics with current mayor David Miller (6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.). The day's festivities open and close with traditional First Nation ceremonies. Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West), 12–9 p.m., FREE.

Photo by jcbear2.

Torontoist is officially in election mode. In the run-up to the big day, we'll be profiling some of the most closely contested ridings in the GTA, looking for the bellwethers and offering snapshots of electoral districts in transition.

So, your buddy just flew in from his exotic, six-month trek throughout Thailand. You're at work when he lands, so you send your older sister to go pick him up (she owes you a favour, as per usual). She drives to the airport, picks him up, and he returns, full of coconut curry and stories of full-moon parties. He doesn't bring back any drugs, or snakeskin shoes, but on the ride back he buys your sister a coffee to say thanks. He's definitely just done something illegal. Can you spot the crime? We sure don't. And neither does PickupPal.

That’s right! Ontario Power Generation, that ever-so-lovable corporation owned by the Government of Ontario (responsible, according to their Wikipedia page, for 70% of Ontario’s electricity) are being forced to change their name by Prince, after he noticed that “Ontario Power Generation” (founded in 1999) is suspiciously close to the name of his backing band, the New Power Generation

Government fires head of Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Linda Keen. However, it is understandable, considering that Ms. Keen went public about government interference in her job and threats of being fired if she shut down the Chalk River reactor for being potentially unsafe. We mean, you can't say she wasn't warned that her bosses were mendacious assholes, is our point.

Bad news if you're a lacrosse fan: the 2008 National Lacrosse League season has been cancelled. Pick your joke: 1) "I'm sure all three of you are very disappointed"; 2) "Players are refusing to play until they get reimbursed for their bus tickets"; 3) "My God, this is the national sport we're talking about here! Why isn't Stephen Harper doing something, for the love of God?"; 4) "So, why are the Toronto Rock still offering season tickets for sale on their website?"

To no one's surprise, yesterday's Ontario election (read our liveblog of the results here) was a big victory for the status quo, with voters giving the Liberals another majority and soundly rejecting Mixed Member Proportional voting. Dalton McGuinty was pleased, having given his acceptance speech the day before the election, while John Tory, having lost bids to become mayor of Toronto and Premier of Ontario, needs only an unsuccessful run at the PM-ship to complete the trifecta of Canadian political failure.

Actor Darryl Pring is a big guy (you might recognize him as the farmer on the bouncing tractor from the "Milk Rap" ads). Pring is also a funny guy who has written and produced a play called Fatty, which will be touring Fringe Festivals (including the Toronto Fringe ) across Canada this summer.

First incandescent light bulbs, now toilets: at the recommendation of David Miller, the Ontario government will consider banning conventional toilets to promote low-flush toilets. Low-flushies use only 6 litres of water per flush, while regular toilets will use anywhere from 13-25 litres to flush. Not only would the ban save Toronto 26 million litres of water per day, it would eliminate the need for $60 million in water and sewage-treatment capacity. Here's a ban everyone can feel good about, except Dave Barry.

Morris Panych shows abound in this city. In the past few years alone, we've had Vigil, The Dishwashers, The Government Inspector, Habeas Corpus, Take Me Out, Amadeus, Sweeny Todd and The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl. After What Lies Before Us, The Overcoat is his second Canstage show of the year - and it's only February! He has become a theatre artist of a very divisive nature - some people love his whimsical physicality and often over-the-top sensibilities, and some can't stand it. But if you have to see (and enjoy) one Morris Panych show, The Overcoat is surely that show.

But all agreed one thing: "Liberals, we need to get back to power as soon as possible."

Every five years, Canadians are required to disclose their information to the Federal Government. Lucky citizens are thrilled to fill out an eight-question form and the less fortunate among us must spend a bit more time at answering 53 questions. Many of us have received the questionnaire in the mail and others will have found a letter in the mailbox asking them to fill in the blanks online.

Mr. Speaker, can the Prime Minister please explain why the newly redesigned Government of Canada website very much resembles the Conservative Party of Canada website? Why does the new Government of Canada website also share press releases from the CPC site? And can the Prime Minister also explain why the colour blue - a very Conservative hue of blue - now appears on the publicly-funded site?

The last time the Toronto Blue Jays touched post-season turf Jean Chretien was two days away from his first Majority Government, Aerosmith's Get a Grip was Billboard's #1 album and the Adorable Sports Writer was likely sporting an undershave. Sadly it's been one partially locked-out and ten full seasons since Joe Carter hit one of baseball's most memorable home runs. However during that span, some pretty decent teams have filled the Skydome/Rogers Centre's home dugout. Four Cy-Young's have been awarded to Jays pitching and Carlos Delgado was robbed of an MVP trophy in 2003. Unfortunately that's life in the American League East, where competition has consisted of All-World New York Yankee lineups and extremely strong Boston Red Sox teams.

Torontoist nearly spat out his coffee this morning after reading this story on the Spacing Wire. It turns out that the Ontario Government somehow might find the money to help fund the extension of the subway from Downsview all the way up to York University. That's right, the York Subway, that long-held Toronto dream might just become a reality.

A couple interesting flip-flops in the new government today - namely a crossing of the floor and an unelected senator and Minister of Public Works and Government Service.

Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, extraordinary renditions, security certificates, Maher Arar, enemy combatants, torture, all of them erosions of democracy and symptoms of a larger problem. Government abuse of power isn't anything new, and as the sole holder of power and force in most societies, our elected "representatives" can often do so with impunity.

Belinda, the Good Minister of the Government Side, killed off her wicked counterpart when she rode her broomstick across the floor last spring. And what a breathetaking view it was to watch her do it! With her mix of power and finesse, Ms Stronach could even be inspiration for a new hip-hop dance move entitled "Cross the Floor." It would go something like this: First, perfect a finishing school strut across the dance floor (or a walk in place), making sure to stop to the beat. Then, keeping with the rhythm, wave goodbye to Vic Toews with your right hand and hello to Ujjal Dosanjh with your left hand -- all the while chanting, "Cross the floor / cross that floor baby / cross the floor!" (To the tune of Missy Elliot's "Pass that Dutch").

Thank goodness the city mixes valid observance days with silly, public relations days, because if we had only 'official gingivitis prevention days' to make light of, we'd start to wonder about the proclamations issuing forth from City Hall. Oh wait, Multiculturism Day is a Government of Canada proclamation. Perhaps the Feds take on the 'real' days, and leave the salad ones to local crats. In any event, this newish day (Officially proclaimed as such in November 2002) warrants a party, and a vast consortium of music and media types are getting together to throw one. It's an all ages show at the Opera House, and tickets are free. The party is also the official launch of the 411 Initiative for Change as a National organization. We feel a proclamation coming on.

TOist has no problem with soy milk, or the promotion thereof, but is this really necessary? Isn't Dundas Square tacky enough without embarrasing milk promotions? It's not so good, and what's not so good is bad.