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Newsstand: March 19, 2012
We told you this would happen, and it did. Monday's back. Today: librarians are officially off the job, and other indoor workers might soon follow; Toronto-Danforth likely to stay awash in orange; the High Park community rallies around playground rebuilding efforts; March Break vacationers face a tough trip home; and Toronto residents say, "You don't like us? We don't like you!" (Or, so say two polls that are in no way connected, but fun to compare, anyway.)
Bad news, book borrowers (and anyone else who makes use of the free community space that our libraries offer), in case you missed our update yesterday, Toronto’s library workers are on strike. After months of negotiations, including last-minute talks, the Toronto Public Library workers’ union announced at 5 p.m. that it would be going on strike, effective immediately. For the first time since the City amalgamated in 1998 all branches and book drops will be closed, so borrowers are asked to hold onto their books until the strike is over. Silver liner–seekers, rejoice! No late fees FTW!
Not to be left out of all the strike excitement, CUPE Local 79, the union representing Toronto’s indoor workers, has scheduled a strike vote for tomorrow. The City’s daycare workers, social services workers, cleaners, clerks, court services staff, and planners could be off of the job as of 12:01 a.m. next Saturday. if these workers do walk off (or are locked out of) the job, this means the closure of all City-run daycares, community centres, museums, swimming pools, and non-emergency public health programs. It also means the cancellation of permits for parks, tennis courts and sports fields, no processing of building permits and rezoning applications, and limited access to City buildings. Hmmm. These silver linings are getting harder to find.
It looks like the riding that Jack built is likely to stay orange. It’s by-election day in Toronto-Danforth, as voters choose an MP to succeed Jack Layton, and many believe that the NDP’s Craig Scott will easily take the vote. Scott, a human rights lawyer and law professor, will share the ballot with Liberal candidate Grant Gordon, an advertising executive; Conservative candidate Andrew Keyes, a communications consultant; and nine other candidates, including three independents. (Want to get to know a few of those running? Check out our coverage.) Polls are open until 8:30 p.m.
Community volunteers built High Park’s Jamie Bell Adventure Playground back in 1998, and nearly a decade and a half later, it looks like they will be rebuilding it, too. City Councillor Sarah Doucette (Ward 13, Parkdale-High Park) says that the plan is to restore the beloved park in way that stays true to its original wooden form by using the same materials, unique in a world of plastic and metal playgrounds. While no formal restoration plan is in place yet, Doucette has been flooded with calls from the community with offers to donate labour and cash. Hopefully this time the park’s castles won’t go up in flames. Those anti-monarchists are really getting out of hand.
Getting stranded in a vacation destination doesn’t sound all that bad, although the people stranded without flights back to Pearson and other airports across Canada might disagree. Due to bad weather, “sick” pilots, and a fire at Pearson, there were several delays and cancellations Sunday, a peak travel day for many Canadians at the end of March Break. How quickly does the vacation relaxation wear off if you spend two days in an airport waiting to board a flight? Was it even worth the vacation? Find a sunburned, disheveled looking person emerging from the airport today and ask them. Let us know how it goes.
Is it revenge? A just-published poll about how Albertans are perceived elsewhere in Canada finds that Torontonians (and Vancouverites, snobs!) think that Albertans are “smug” and “condescending,” and that people living in Calgary and Edmonton are right-leaning conservatives that lack compassion and open-mindedness. Ouch. Oh well, guess that’s the kind of attitude you should expect from Canada’s “least liked” city. Humph.