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Newsstand: January 7, 2015
So long, Randy Carlyle, it has been a slice. In the news: Bill Blair suspends carding, the public works and infrastructure committee discusses the future of garbage privatization, Air Canada might bid adieu to Billy Bishop Airport, and the Liberty Village Express is back.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has suspended the practice of carding “until further notice.” While police have defended the controversial practice as an effective tool in crime prevention, it has been denounced as racial profiling that unfairly targets predominantly black Torontonians within the Jane and Finch area. According to Toronto Police spokesperson Mark Pugash, Chief Blair will not be offering further comment on the issue until he addresses the Toronto Police Services Board at its January 21 meeting.
Toronto’s public works and infrastructure committee is looking into the viability of private garbage collection east of Yonge Street. Public works chair Jaye Robinson (Ward 25, Don Valley West) brought forth the motion on Tuesday that was passed unanimously, asking staff to explore cost-saving garbage collection options and report back in April. Robinson was reticent to commit to privatization as the way of the future, saying that while it was a high-profile election issue, there is no point in moving forward with it if it will not be cost effective. Mayor John Tory was similarly unwilling to hop on the private garbage-collection bandwagon immediately, even if he vowed to make it happen during his election campaign. “I stand in favour of saying to the people of Toronto that we have examined all the facts, that we have done what we need to do to make sure the garbage is being collected in the way that gives people the best service for the least amount of money possible,” said Mayor Tory.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Air Canada said that it is mulling over whether or not operations at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will continue. The airline is currently assessing terminal rates and terms to determine its future at the downtown airport, though it would not elaborate on these terms publicly. If Air Canada does ship out of Billy Bishop, the move would come after the airline saw an increase in passenger traffic through the airport in 2014. Rival airline Porter would not be altogether sad to see Air Canada go, saying in an email statement that it would gladly fill any spots that became available at Billy Bishop in order to expand service.
After a successful pilot run in the fall, the Liberty Village Express is gearing up to once again offer regular rush-hour shuttle service as an alternative to the 504 King streetcar. LineSix Transit OS says that it will reinstate service on January 19, offering five trips between Liberty Village and Union Station during both morning and afternoon rush periods. At a cost of $4.25 per trip, commuters will also be able to buy monthly passes for the shuttle. As service resumes, LineSix Transit OS says it will also offer an additional stop on the line at the Toronto Carpet Factory, due to growing demand.