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Weekend Newsstand: February 25, 2012
Just in case you have woken up and haven't realized what day it is, let us help ease you out of your panicked rush to get ready—it's Saturday! Turn off that alarm clock, turn on the coffeemaker, and ease into some nice weekend news: poll findings show a lack of support for Mayor Rob Ford; U of T's TAs continue to report to work (for now); a plane lands at Pearson (yet all is not well?); and tracking murder stats in Toronto—yay!
Another day, another poll. According to the Toronto Star, survey findings reveal that Torontonians want to expand transit with subways. But also with light rail. It’s a tie! Hurray? The poll also found that Toronto residents are not keen on road tolls or other new fees to fund subways, and that there is more trust in city council to handle transit issues more than in Mayor Rob Ford. In non-transit related findings, less that one-third said they approve of Ford’s general performance in office, and opinions about the mayor’s performance seem to be on the decline. More than half (53 per cent) said their opinion of Ford had worsened over the past three months, while 34 per cent said it has stayed the same and 10 per cent said their opinion improved. Luckily for the mayor, his Saturday will not be interrupted with the news, given the source. He can just keep on pretending this particular media outlet simply doesn’t exist.
If it’s not poll results, it’s strike news. Another day, another union making headlines. This time it’s the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902, which represents university teaching assistants, with news that a strike has been averted at the University of Toronto after its teaching assistants reached a tentative deal Friday morning. The 4,200 union members have agreed to send the deal to a ratification vote, which will take place Wednesday. Yes, U of T students, mid-terms are still on.
Have you ever complained that the media doesn’t report on good news? That you never see headlines that read “Plane lands” and other positive updates? Well good news, today’s that day! A plane did land (and safely, too!) at Pearson, though rumours have been flying (pun intended) about the nature of the unscheduled landing (so close, good news seekers, so very close). While video footage captured by CP24 shows what appears to be flames shooting out from the wing of the plane, officials from both the Greater Toronto Aiport Authority and Sunwing Tour Operations say the plane was not on fire at any time and that the light seen in the video was likely a reflection of the landing light. They also deny reports that there were fuel issues, and say that the plane was simply diverted to Toronto because of weather issues in Montreal. But, either way, it did land safely, so let’s just give this point to the glass-is-half-full side.
Here’s a quick pop quiz for you: if it’s a Sunday in July and you are between the ages of 18–36 and you are facing an untimely death at the hands of another, what’s the murder weapon at hand? Why the killer will (likely) use a gun! Nice work playing the modern, Toronto-based version of Clue. For more fun murder facts, check out the National Post‘s infograph titled Where are Toronto’s murders happening?