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Newsstand: February 26, 2013
Keep those winter boots out, folks. In the news: Making more money might help you get a doctor; the TTC could get sued; Toronto's getting new federal ridings; a teachers' union wants contract changes; and watch out for more snow.
Don’t have a family doctor? Try to get a job with a higher salary. A study done by St. Michael’s Hospital, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that doctors in the city were 50 per cent more likely to give appointments to researchers who called posing as bank employees than to those posing as welfare recipients. The researchers also found that doctors were more likely to give an initial appointment to someone identifying themselves as a diabetic with lower back pain than to someone who claimed no health problems, indicating that patients with a chronic condition may have an easier time finding a physician.
The TTC could face legal action if they rescind on a lease agreement that has become politically controversial. The operator of Gateway Newsstands is threatening to sue the TTC if the commission votes to go back on a contract extension already approved for Tobmar Investments International Inc., which has operated newsstands, bakeries, and lottery terminals in the TTC for years. TTC Chair Karen Stintz already warned that going back on the deal could cost the TTC millions, and the price tag could go up more still if Tobmar successfully sues for damages, as it threatened to do in a letter sent to the TTC yesterday.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission tabled their recommendations before the House of Commons yesterday, after visiting Ontario last fall to determine how to best put 15 new electoral districts into the province. The result for the GTA? One new riding (University-Rosedale) will appear in the 416 area, covering parts of Toronto Centre and Trinity Spadina. Major changes were also made to ridings in York, Peel, and Durham regions.
The union for Ontario’s high-school teachers wants changes made to the contract imposed by the provincial government, as they return to talks. The provincial government has said that it will not rip up contracts, but public elementary and high-school teachers could try to get changes inserted through regulation. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation announced on Friday that they’d end their protest action that had shut down extracurricular activities in schools across the province.
Been enjoying the milder temperatures over the past few days? Then you won’t be thrilled about this next update. Environment Canada issued a warning for up to 15 cm of snow between tonight and tomorrow morning. Keep your shovel handy.