Karen Stintz is stepping down as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission. In an email to councillors, Stintz said she would remain a member of the TTC board but quit the role ahead of her run for mayor. "I look forward to her resignation because she's done a terrible job as chair of the TTC," said Doug Ford, ever classy. Josh Colle and Maria Augimeri are two councillors being tipped to take over the job.
Rob Ford busted a move over the weekend at a North York church. The mayor was filmed by a member of the congregation at the West Toronto Church of God on Sunday afternoon standing in front of the choir, shaking his body and clapping his hands to a lively song. In November, Ford told the CBC's Peter Mansbridge he had had a "come to Jesus moment."
Conrad Black says the Toronto Star is a "menace to democracy." In column printed Saturday, the convicted fraudster accused the paper of using Daniel Dale's libel suit to wage more war on Rob Ford. "The voters control this city, not the Toronto Star. And the attempt to end-run the electoral system is dishonest and a menace to democracy," he wrote.
Rob Ford's supporters are raising money for the embattled mayor's legal bills. An indiegogo crowd funding campaign is aiming to raise $50,000 to help Ford battle legal challenges by "special interests and big media organizations." At time of writing, $2,556 has been pledged by supporters. "It's time for Torontonians to stand up and say enough is enough," the page reads.
Last night, protestors burned an effigy of a pig in protest at Friday's police shooting at Queen station. Around 60 people marched down Yonge St. in response to news that four police officers may have fired their weapons during the confrontation. The Special Investigations Unit's Carm Piro said nine officers responded to a call about a suspicious person on a train. He said the man was armed, though it's not clear how. An 18-year-old man is in a stable condition in hospital.
Lawrence station is still closed this morning due to flooding from a broken water main. Earlier, the Bloor-Danforth line was closed east of Broadview due to mechanical problems on board a train.
Finally, here's that video:
FROM THE WEEKEND:
- Santas in speedos take to the snowy Toronto streets
- The top 10 vegan non-vegan restaurants in Toronto
- Where to find clothes that are cool, chic and Canadian
- It's so long (but not goodbye) for Alternative Grounds
- Charles Bradley puts the flame on Kool Haus
- Winter running events in Toronto
- The time Toronto was buried under half a metre of snow
- Where to find freedom from factory-made goods
IN BRIEF:
- Student dies in frat house accident [Toronto Sun]
- Toronto's Canada Goose sets sights on markets overseas [CBC News]
- Ticketing scheme for minor offences could save police cash [CBC News]
- MLSE workers set up picket line at Air Canada Centre after rejecting deal [National Post]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: mcdux/blogTO Flickr pool.