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Newsstand: October 19, 2015
Today is a huge day: the conclusion of a long and tiresome federal election campaign *and* Game 3 of the Blue Jays' first playoff run in over 20 years. Take in some news before you head out to enjoy your momentous day. The police budget is set to increase next year, what voters need to know, and threats against Ontario universities are part of online pranking "echo chambers."
Amid a climate of both municipal and provincial belt-tightening, the Toronto Police Service has already been granted a reprieve—Mayor John Tory has said the city’s police budget will rise next year in spite of his request that every department find “at least” 2 per cent in budgetary savings. TPS’ budget is over 90 per cent salaries, and those have risen more than 20 per cent over the last seven years in a city where so many people live on precarious, low-wage work. The Toronto Police Accountability Coalition has also taken TPS to task for not releasing its budget requests to the public to be analyzed and discussed, which is a customary practice.
Election day is finally here! For anyone following the campaign or who has felt marginalized, pandered to, or pushed out of this long, hard slog of an election race, rejoice, it’s almost time to rest. CBC has listed some things Toronto voters need to know, perhaps chief among which is that as polls will be open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.–you can easily vote before the Blue Jays begin Game 3 against the Royals. One thing the CBC story doesn’t mention is that you are legally allowed three consecutive hours in which to vote, which means if your work schedule doesn’t permit that, you must be given an appropriate amount of time off with pay. Democracy can be fun!
Threats posted online regarding both Wilfrid Laurier and McMaster universities were considered credible and are part of an online “echo chamber” that encourages one-upmanship, according to experts CTV spoke to. Both threats were posted on 4chan, long known as one of the Internet’s least endearing forums. A 22-year-old in London, England, was allegedly arrested in connection with the Laurier threat, although that has yet to be confirmed. An investigation into the McMaster threat is still ongoing.