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Weekend Newsstand: November 26, 2011
It's the day you've been waiting for. It's Saturday! Now sleep through it and forget it ever happened. In today's news: more reasons to curse the TTC, the truck sideguard conversation continues, raw milk stays off the menu, and good news for Toronto sports fans.
Brace yourself for snugger, more expensive transit rides this New Year. In another move that shows riders the love, the TTC, after announcing major service reductions and cuts, is holding firm on a 2012 10 cent fare hike, according to TTC Chair Karen Stintz. Cut by 10 per cent, raise by 10 cents — it could make a rather nice jingle for the Ford administration! Oh, and while you’re all worked up about the @#$%! TTC, now’s a good time to remind you about this weekend’s closure of Bay station. Happy travels!
The truck sideguard debate is heading to City Hall. On Tuesday, city councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre) will present a motion to city council urging them to consider fitting all City-operated trucks with sideguards, and drafting a policy under which the City would favour doing business with corporations that also install the simple safety features on their vehicles. Since the death of Toronto’s Jenna Morrison, this topic has been back in the news as advocates of these guards (including Olivia Chow) say that they could have helped in preventing the pregnant mother’s death.
Raw milk farmer and crusader (what a title!) Michael Schmidt has been fined and put on probation following Friday’s ruling after an Ontario court battle concerning charges related to the sale and distribution of raw milk. Schmidt was fined $9,150 (which he’s said he can’t afford to pay), given one year of probation (on a Milk Act conviction), and a separate year of probation concurrent with seven Health Protection and Promotion Act convictions for offenses dating back to 2006. Canada is the only G8 country that does not allow the sale or distribution of any raw milk, a change that Schmidt has been fighting for.
Raptors fans’ first gift of the season is in. In a made-for-TV holiday movie move, a deal has been struck between NBA players and owners that has saved Christmas the basketball season – which will commence on Christmas Day. The 10-year deal came after a 15-hour bargaining session held Friday and spilling over into the wee weekend hours in New York. There’s something really heart-warming and Christmas-y about the oodles of money making its way into the hot little hands of everyone involved. ‘Tis the season!
The good news for Toronto sports fans just keeps coming. Maple Leafs suckers fans will be happy to know that Toronto’s most loved/hated sports team is safe and sound at home in the Big Smoke (for now). After eight months on the market (and an asking price of $1.5 billion) the majority owner of the team, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, ended its quest to sell the team, though they may revisit this idea in the future. They say they have had a number of offers but will not disclose any details, although a floating thought bubble with an image of Jim Balsillie twirling his Movember ‘stache and counting stacks of money can be seen over their heads.