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Weekend Newsstand: June 27, 2015
Today in the news: Jagmeet Singh violated parliamentary procedure but won't be penalized, a bike shop is searching for an expensive stolen bike, Neil Bantleman's mother wants more done to bring her son home, and SmartTrack might not bring all the transit solutions we want.
Jagmeet Singh, new deputy leader of the provincial NDP, has been found to have violated parliamentary convention, but should not be penalized, according to Ontario’s integrity commissioner. While she found that Singh used constituency resources for political ends and tried to raise money through a constituency website, commissioner Lynn Morrison said his behaviour was due to “errors, lack of oversight and lack of training.” Singh will not face any penalties.
Evolution Cycles in Richmond Hills is trying to find the person who stole a $15,000 bike from the shop floor. Store owner Mike Horlick says it’s not just about getting the bike itself back, but about “catching the people responsible.”
Corrine Bantleman, mother of jailed teacher Neil Bantleman, says Stephen Harper and the federal Conservative government have failed to respond appropriately to her son’s incarceration. Neil was jailed in April in Indonesia on charges of raping three boys, and he was convicted during a closed-door trial. He is now serving a ten-year sentence. Lynne Yelich, minister of state for foreign and consular affairs, said in a statement that “Canadian consular officials will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr. Bantleman. Canadian officials will continue to monitor Mr. Bantleman’s health and safety while detained, as per the consular mandate.”
A study by Metrolinx has found that even with relief for Yonge St. subway riders, the overcrowding will return within 15 years. That relief is set to come from Mayor John Tory’s SmartTrack plan, which would add more express rail space around Toronto, and which is expected to reduce demand on the subway system. However, that won’t be enough for the increasing ridership in coming years, as additional pressures are projected for Toronto’s strained transit system. There are a number of ideas for partial relief of the congested downtown subway lines, including the much-discussed downtown relief line, but no long-term solutions have been accepted and implemented.