Newsstand: June 22, 2015

Today in Toronto news: a lawyer uses some choice language in calling out his colleagues, John Tory will attend Pride, and Loblaws workers may end up on strike in the near future.

By Tannara Yelland

Toronto lawyer Paul Robson says the curse words and video of a cat pretending to be dead (among other things) that he sent to the Law Society of Upper Canada were intended to make the point that the society should be more focused on ensuring the accessibility of justice than on disciplining members. Robson was almost disbarred over a failure to disclose $1.4 million in assets during a bankruptcy declaration, though the decision to disbar him was overturned. Robson even accused the society of being accessories to murder in the case of Zahra Abdillie, who was murdered, along with her two young sons, while fighting for sole custody. Many lawyers questioned agreed with Robson’s point, but felt his tactics were beyond the pale.

For the first time in several years, the mayor of Toronto will be part of in the city’s Pride festival. John Tory will do what Rob Ford refused to, and when asked why his decision was newsworthy, he responded with a terse, “It shouldn’t be.” He added, “It takes two hours out of your day, out of your year, to come to the parade and be a visible part of it. We are all for one and one for all here.”

The union representing Loblaws workers says those workers have rejected a deal and are now preparing to strike. They rejected a deal offered earlier this month.