Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti says the $200,000 loan he received from real-estate investors did not conflict with his role as a councillor. Mammoliti pushed for billboard approvals for the company's involved before the transaction. The North York rep called the CBC story "in bad taste" for discussing his business dealings and ex-wife. Does he have a point or should our elected officials expect to be scrutinized?
Fake Metropasses and tokens cost the Toronto Transit Commission $2 million last year, according to the latest figures released by its enforcement unit. Counterfeiters have cracked the company's hologram security and managed to forge the size, weight, and appearance of tokens. Fraudulent fares aren't new, the FBI busted an even bigger token racket based Stateside in 2006.
The news is a little old but we haven't had a chance to discuss it here yet. Rob Ford says he's adamantly against new taxes or tolls of any kind to pay for new transit, and he's shared that opinion with new Premier Kathleen Wynne. The mayor made the remarks at the Canadian Auto Show on Friday, where he posed for the cameras inside a McLaren sportscar. Should Ford be more flexible if he wants new subways?
A baby born on a freezing sidewalk over the weekend and pronounced dead at Humber River Hospital is now feeling much better. Medical staff worked on the child, who was taken to the emergency room by ambulance, but were unable to detect vital signs. With the coroner en route, staff noticed the baby was moving under a sheet. The lazarus child is in now listed a stable condition.
Two Air Canada flights were stranded on the tarmac at Pearson for over 8 hours this weekend. A plane bound for Cancun waited hours for a gate to unload a disruptive passenger while another ran dangerously low on fuel in the long de-icing line up. A separate Lufthansa flight had to be evacuated after smoke was spotted by ground crew.
Plans to bring a Loblaws supermarket to the Kensington Market neighbourhood were met with protest this weekend. The company wants to open an food outlet on the second floor of a condo in development at College and Spadina. Are concerns the company will drive out local business justified?
If the giant asteroid that narrowly missed the Earth Friday had slammed into Toronto, the fallout would have, like, totally made a mess of Ontario. Just for the masochists, the National Post has a map with a big red death circle on it.
IN BRIEF:
- Boy, 15, dies in west-end shooting [CBC]
- Police called in to shift protesters camped out in front of Mayor Rob Ford's office [Toronto Star]
- Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne thanks historic gay-positive church [Toronto Star]
- Jays batting practice cap features jumbo Maple Leaf [CTV]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "Snow" by AshtonPal/blogTO Flickr pool.