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Newsstand: November 21, 2011
Brush that relaxed weekend feeling off your shoulders and let them creep back up to your ears. It's Monday! In today's news: a tipping point for Occupy Toronto, a (potentially) broken glass ceiling, Toronto news makes international headlines, U of T's collection pots just got a bit bigger, and Toronto city council didn't make the grade.
It’s decision day for the Occupy Toronto movement. At 9 a.m., Justice David Brown will present his ruling about whether or not City officials have the authority to evict protesters’ tents from St. James Park park and impose an evening curfew. Last week Justice Brown questioned the movement’s right to indefinitely occupy the park, citing neighbourhood noise complaints and thousands of dollars in damage to the park space. However, even if they do get the boot, protestors have made it clear that they won’t leave without a (peaceful) fight. One strategy is to link arms and “go limp” if police try to remove them with force. Another is to capitalize on the good will of the church. Occupiers called a news conference Sunday afternoon with new information about a land transfer document they hope will allow the church to provide sanctuary in the event of eviction.
History might be made later this afternoon in Queen’s Park if predictions are correct and Etobicoke-Centre Liberal MPP Donna Cansfield becomes Ontario’s first woman Speaker of the Legislature. Not only is this a gig with pretty sweet perks (an annual salary of $153,000, an apartment at the Ontario legislature, a portrait on the walls of the Legislature along with one of the Premier), but with a minority government in session it is a particularly important role. The Speaker can be called upon to break a tied vote, which could be critical, as the Liberals hold 53 seats while the opposition combined control 54. The election will begin around 2 p.m., when candidates will officially be nominated and then eliminated through a series of votes and ballots.
First it was our mayor who put us in the international spotlight, then it was a pair of ill-fated love birds, this time it’s our balls—or lack thereof. Last week’s ball ban at Earl Beatty Public School made headlines this weekend as a topic of conversation for our friends south of the border. This was discussed on Rush Limbaugh’s show, as well as on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update with Seth Meyers. Give yourself a hand, Toronto. Two SNL mentions in one year! Last March Meyers mentioned the drug raid on Pizza Gigi, after the pizza parlour made news for allegedly selling drugs through its delivery service. Looks like we gained, and then quickly lost, our street cred.
With a $2-billion target, the University of Toronto has launched the largest university fundraising campaign in Canadian history. Funds will go towards improving the student experience, bricks and mortar projects, new research programs, and other priorities. Ahem, hear that UBC? You thought your $1.5 billion target was a lofty goal? In. Your. Face.
Speaking of school, if the whole world were just one giant academic institution our city would not be getting into a grad program. The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition gave city council a C+ when it comes to respecting taxpayers. Mayor Rob Ford Ford earned a B based on the group’s grading criteria, with points against him for not holding up his campaign promise to eliminate the municipal land transfer tax, while many of his left-leaning foe received Fs. A compete list can be found here.