Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman has caused a furor with his comment that he'd be willing to test-drive an adult diaper to see if being left in soiled diapers for hours on end is really all that bad. Critics say he isn't taking the issue of sub-standard care in nursing homes seriously, which seems a bit harsh, since there can't be too many politicians who'd be willing to spend a day crouched in their own......

If you've ever lamented the absence of business-savvy and hygiene-obsessed superheroes at your local community barbecue, today is your lucky day. From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. this afternoon, the Clean Freak Patrol will be on duty in Allan Gardens, making sure attendees of Health Minister George Smitherman's barbecue "spread the word, not the germs." What word do they want us to be spreading? A look at their ironically cluttered website explains it all.......

Kids think that food in a McDonald's wrapper tastes better than the same food not in the wrapper, study shows. This study confirms what many of us have long believed: namely, that children are stupid. Reason #6147 Toronto is better than Montreal: our gonorrhea rate isn't exploding upwards. The article even points out that Montreal gonorrhea is tougher and more antibiotic-resistant than Toronto gonorrhea—that's how bad their gonorrhea problem is! Former SCTV actor Tony Rosato......

Every week (or so), two Torontoist staffers square off to debate an issue that's important to our city. We invite our readers to join the debate in the comments section following the post. Last week, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman acknowledged that the idea of banning smoking in apartment buildings probably merits some kind of public discussion. While the election-conscious Smitherman didn’t venture any real opinion on the subject, much less suggest specifics on the......

Starting today, you must have a passport to fly from Canada to the U.S. If you're dead set on clearing customs, it might be best to leave your anti-Bush shirts at home. After years of anticipation, the Robert Pickton trial is shaping up to be just as horrific as everyone imagined. The trial is expected to carry on for a year, giving the winged fire demons enough time to furnish Pickton's own special place......

The police admit that they've been protecting witnesses and sources to the Jane Creba shooting. They've put up a $50,000 reward and got 20 investigators working on it. Here's hoping they close the case soon. Natalie Novak, the Ryerson student allegedly murdered by her estranged boyfriend apparently had a rocky past with her ex-beau. He was even convicted of assaulting her and barred from seeing her. Finally a baby and mom narrowly missed getting shot......

Torontoist was visiting Dora Keogh's pub for the first monthly CommonPlaces drinks night, when he noticed a sign for the Ben Chin Meet and Greet. It seems that everybody's favourite Liberal candidate was going to be having a minor campaign event. Torontoist would have to say that Chin was an absolute gentleman, he even spoke to us about how impressed he was with his riding association, "one that couldn't put together an event for 15......

Not to start any 'end-of-the-world' type panic, but Health Minister George Smitherman thinks you'd better get your vaccination at some point. Also known as German measles, around 90 cases of rubella have been reported in the town of Norwich, Ontario. Rubella spreads by contact with an infected person through coughing, sneezing or talking to them. It can also be spread by contact with the saliva of infected people. To make an internet diagnosis and find......

Yesterday, our PM with the same initials admits he needs to focus more on specific issues for the upcoming year. In contrast, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman admits nothing. It seems Smitherman and the Ontario Liberals could use the same help with focus, as they plan to toughen up their tough anti-smoking laws in the midst of greater health crisis. Within the next 18 months, the Ontario government is planning to ban all smoking in......

Dude, it used to be that you could rely on the legion for communal smoking, and a good roast beef raffle every now and then. But Health Minister George Smitherman says that may soon be no more - the smoking that is, not the beef. Despite the GTA-wide smoking ban, an exemption had been in place for private clubs. But Smithy says the new legislation will outlaw smoking in any building that's not a private......