Newsstand: May 12, 2015

Ah, the morning after the first real spring rain of the season! And now time for the news: Rob Ford completes his surgery, Captain John's is scheduled to ship out, and elementary teachers continue their work-to-rule campaign.

By David Hains

Yesterday, city councillor Rob Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumour from his abdomen. The procedure was long and difficult—it required four surgeons—but early signs are positive. The councillor has been instructed to rest each for the next couple of months as he recovers from the surgery.

Captain John’s restaurant may finally see the last chapter in her long saga by the end of the month. The beleaguered former waterfront eatery has been mired in legal challenges over the past few years, as owner John Letnik owes more than $1 million in back taxes. The ship is reportedly filled with asbestos, oily water, and other unsavoury materials, making moving it out of the harbour for demolition all the more challenging.

More than 76,000 Ontario English elementary public-school board teachers are on a work-to-rule campaign, and negotiations are off to a rough start. The two sides were called back by a mediator to continue talks, but according to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, those ended quickly when the Province appeared unwilling to change its initial offer. The work-to-rule campaign is incremental, and representatives for the ETFO say the efforts will increase until their demands are met. The ETFO, which has been involved in contract negotiations for the past eight months, says its priority issue is working conditions for teachers.