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Newsstand: February 26, 2010
Illustration by Roxanne Ignatius/Torontoist.
In a clear example of what can happen when you do your job too well, Dalton McGuinty has chosen not to renew the contracts of two of his most outspoken critics, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin and Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller. With only a few weeks left in their five-year contracts, McGuinty says their jobs are now open for “new blood” to take over. Ontarians are lamenting their loss, while other commissioners, like Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian, have been re-appointed without pause. Miller’s last report brought the province’s lack of greenhouse gas reductions to light, and Marin has a roster of righted-wrongs, spewing headlines Torontoist wishes we had written. Both reportedly intend on applying for a second term, but McGuinty reps are implying they don’t want these snitches watchdogs back on the playground at Queen’s Park.
With their absence, the Ontario government may not be as open over the next five years. But McGuinty’s new Open Ontario program was the main component of a five-year plan he teased about at a benefit dinner last night. Details on the plan, focusing on chromite mining, increasing international university students, and stimulating job growth, will come in his throne speech on March 8.
Canada may have a new political dynasty—Michael Layton, son of NDP leader Jack Layton, is running to fill mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone’s empty City Hall seat in Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina. The thirty-one-year-old environmentalist has been making the rounds with local community groups, and will officially announce his candidacy on March 5.
Giorgio Mammoliti officially entered the mayoral race last night, joining Pantalone and several others. The Star charts out the top five, their platforms, and their pitfalls.
The City seems to be poo-pooing our parties all over the city—first it was Ossington Avenue, then Harbord Street’s bar scene, more recently Dufferin Grove Park’s community utopia, and now Friends of Christie Pits Park’s pizza nights. Is charging volunteer community members upwards of four hundred dollars a month just to enjoy some crusty, cheesy comfort the kind of “hard truths” Shelley Carroll was talking about?
If you’re reading this upon arriving at the office, congratulations! And if you are just about to start your commute, good luck. Environment Canada is calling for plenty of snow and strong winds from this morning until Sunday. Fortunately positive temperatures next week will make quick work of the white stuff, and when it goes, most likely so will the worst of this year’s winter.
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is not only a hero to her city, but now to the viral world. The eighty-nine-year-old’s segment on the Rick Mercer Report is now the #1 link on Reddit.com. The title says it all: “HUGE CITY DEBT FREE–Run by 88 Year Old Mayor with 92% approval-elected over, and, over again- over 800 million in reserves-31 years in office / 11 terms-This is Epic..” The video was made a year ago, so there is no mention of the conflict-of-interest inquiry she and her son are currently undergoing. Residents of Mississauga, however, are as loyal as ever. And with dance moves like hers, who can blame them?