Sitting MP's along the rail corridor went down to defeat and Clean Trains and better transit played a part. Bet your bottom dollar that Dalton McGuinty is taking a second look at electrification of the Georgetown corridor today. Dont let up on the pressure folks it is finally paying some dividends.
Andrew Cash's numbers are pretty staggering. I thought that he would win from day one as to me Silva had lost interest and seemed bored with us at meetings. Midway I realized that all I heard was people talking about being excited about Andrew and nothing but disdain (some of it unfounded) about Mario. Andrew is a passionate and hard working guy so hopefully there will be more engagement and a fresher take. Finally this riding has come out of its autopilot Liberal coma.
This may be a good thing for the Liberals as something dramatic has to happen or they will be toast. Badboy Liberal wonk Warren Kinsella has been writing for some time that the Liberal party has been coasting for the last 10 years, being defined by others and confusing strategic voting with actual enthusiasm for their ideas. In a way they can clear house; remember that the popular Mulroney was run out of town leaving Campbell to win a mere 2 seats and they came back (although not at PC's).Most analysts think that the Conservatives gain votes from right leaning Liberals (there is such a thing) who did not want an NDP government and switched when they realized that the Liberals were in trouble.Those people may come back.
I am not a fan of the Green "party" but I do salute Wayne Scott who too brought energy and ideas to the debate that at least made people think.
The BONEHEAD award though has to go to poor Gerard Kennedy in the riding next door who seems to lost his mojo and moved from wonder boy to polarizing figure. When he started attacking the Clean Train Coalition you had to wonder how he thought attacking a group that was fighting for clean air and better transit was a good idea. The next day "electric trains now" signs started popping up on Nash's signs and his goose was cooked. When you consider that Mike Sullivan, the head of the Clean Train Coalition won for the NDP in the riding north where Kennedy actually lives you realize how out of touch Kennedy was. Kennedy had a chance to seize the issue and run with it looking like his own man but instead he let opportunity slip away. I know Gerard and like him but I think it is time for him to move on, he has lost the passion too.
Like others I hope he and the NDP will do better for Davenport!
I hope that all take note of the % the PC got in Davenport.No small numbers.
To new times in Davenport.
I thought it'd be a much closer race. Andrew Cash did spectacularly. I wonder if they had a sense of how well they were going to perform. I feel like the Liberals have been coasting in this riding. Hopefully the NDP do more for the riding (and Toronto).
I oppose him and am never voting for conservatives anymore as in Harper they are as genocidal, forcing me to fund their demonic abortion genocide with my tax money) and antichrist (arresting/confiscating propery of/ Christians under Marxist Antichrist pro perversion thought crimes laws.) as the NDP hypocrite nihilist marxists.
Christian Heritage Party is the only conservative party left in toronto.
The main theme that Harper keeps returning to himself is the fiscal record. Yet this is the main reason to get rid of him. Our economic strength, such as it is, is the result of Chretien and Martin being stingy. Harper also supported the bank mergers which would have increased their leverage so they would be more comparable to Citibank. Harper never tires of taking credit for their strength, something he contributed nothing to. Remember bank bailouts have come with a stupefying price tag in many countries. Even in terms of basic fiscal discipline the G20 spending exposed Harper's absolute incompetence.
My grandfather always supported the conservatives. He understood the critical value of science, education, and independent media. It deeply saddens me to see a "Conservative" government appoint a science minister who thinks evolution is a matter of religion; allow universities to languish while building prisons; and push to allow the media to knowingly report false news.
Your blogger - source might not have had much interest in the local race, but this neighbourhood carries a bit of a concern about being overlooked. It is important for us that our representatives make a strong effort to represent local concerns. It is unacceptable that the local candidate would skip the all candidates meeting. It is outrageous that a candidate would be involved in a scandal where funds raised locally were funneled to more important ridings and then have the gall to run again. Please send a message to your party and vote for someone else!
You talk about your posts and your discussions but I have no idea who you are. I have vigorously defended continuing to allow people to post anonymously, but the mechanism has severe inherent limitations. The only way to use it effectively is to make short clear arguments with very strong references. Remember you have no identity therefore no credibility and everything you say must be carried by your references. It is contemptuous to expect real people to have conversations with blank walls. As is, you can't be distinguished from somebody reposting vapid blog entries. The conversational style you seem to want to use can only be meaningful in developing community if you sign up and sign in when you post.
I certainly understand why you might want to post anonymously as I am strongly motivated to do so myself. What point is there risking my reputation in an arguments where many players seems to have no integrity?
There is a minimum of 400 million tax dollars from Ottawa involved in this project so MP's do in fact have a direct interest in the project. Originally the Federal Transportation Department said there was no Federal money involved so there did not have to be a more extensive EA. So right off the bat we had no MP around to go back and say "wait a minute this is incorrect ". Our MP was nowhere to be found and despite many letters and calls and even letters from the City Mario was nowhere to be seen when it counted.
Further in my direct dealings with Mario he never followed up and never said what HE was going to do, it was always about how we could write more letters to Dalton. Thats when he looked up from his Blackberry. My personal experience with him was that he brought nothing and did nothing. Ask any of the other people who went (finally) with Mario to meet Metrolinx. Ask them how they feel Mario's performance was and you will hear the same story.
Any issue that effects a huge number of people in a given area should be the concern of all three levels of government. Here, the City has spoken loud and clear about going electric. But judging on what I have seen Tony and Mario do on this issue one has to come to the conclusion that a vote for the NDP is a vote for electric trains. As Dalton frets we have a rare chance to send a message to Ottawa and Queens Park at the same time.
Warren, it's good to hear that your experience has been different than mine. The only reason I am discussing Mario's involvement in electrification is because he has sighted this as an area where he was very involved.
In my post I did not mention that I expected him to support any sort of a campaign. I do, however, expect political leaders to provide leadership for issues that concern residents, and that includes getting out and talking with people who are concerned with the same issue that you claim to be concerned with.
***If I haven't made it clear, this is just my opinion, based on my experiences. I am currently not a member of any political party -- I just care about issues affecting the health and well-being of my community. Like most folks, I have limited time, and I commit time to issues that I believe are critical to the future of our neighborhood.
Wow another cut and paste job originally written by a right wing wing blogger named Judi McLeaod who has appeared on Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck's show among others. Her blogs headline is "Without America there is no free world" and her sight features all sorts of nutbar Tea Party Birther conspiracies. A news source you can trust. Interesting that a "local" would be quoting pro Tea Party right wingers as if it had any relevance to Davenport or reality for that matter. The opinions you can trust as being legitimate are the ones that have names.
Toronto Star Article from April 30th says, "The party now believes Davenport is locked down for NDP candidate Andrew Cash, who is ready to take the seat from Liberal Mario Silva, and while NDP Peggy Nash still faces a tough fight against Liberal incumbent Gerard Kennedy in Parkdale—High Park, campaign officials are starting to dream about some other seats they never expected."
The name on Canadian NDP (read Socialist) leader Jack Layton’s birth certificate is ‘John’. And the only way voters ever got to know that was because Layton was a literal John when Toronto police found him naked as a jaybird in a ‘massage parlour’ in Toronto’s Chinatown. (Exercising says his NDP politician wife Olivia Chow).
Until the Toronto Sun drummed it back up, that was 15 years ago and he wasn’t charged by police but sent back home on his signature bicycle.
Jack Layton is proponent Numero Uno, Caviar Socialist Number 1, in the story of How the Left Was Won to become the ugly underbelly that all but dominates Canadian politics.
Far more important than the ‘massage’ which Smilin’ Jack—now ‘surging’ at the polls as likely Opposition Leader in Monday’s federal election—is the little discussed fact that Layton has milked the Canadian taxpayer for generations.
Like proverbial fleas on the backside of a dog, Layton, his family and friends, have lived on the avails of the Canadian public purse for most of their lives.
Layton, who spent his salad days as a radical Toronto city councillor, is married to Olivia Chow, former school board trustee and city councillor before being elected to serve as a Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina.
Until the feisty Toronto Sun unearthed the Layton ‘Massage Parlour’ story this weekend, it was something police joked about, the day when, standing there in his birthday suit, Layton had to admit to an investigating officer that John and Jack Layton were “one and the same”.
But the story of Jack Layton scandals goes well beyond being caught sans culottes in a ‘massage’ parlour.
Layton and Chow were caught living in the taxpayer-subsidized Hazelburn Co-op in the early ‘90s. A group of single mothers who picketed the co-op every day with ghetto blasters playing the song, Hit the Road Jack forced the issue long enough to drive him out, though Smilin’ Jack will contend that he left voluntarily.
When the Conservative provincial government of the day was debating who should rightfully be living in taxpayer-subsidized co-ops, the rally call was changed to “Housing for the Needy, Not the Greedy”, something that has stuck to Smiling Jack tar-and-feather-fashion for those who never forgot the hypocrisy of Hazelburn.
When they were living in the co-op with Chow’s mother, the combined annual income of Layton and Chow was $120,000. The rent on their 3-bedroom apartment was $880 per month.
The total salary of Canada’s most notorious couple is $369,156, a combination of Layton’s $211,425 salary as NDP leader and wife Olivia’s $157,731 as an MP. Both Laytons also collect municipal pensions from their days as councillors.
For Canada, this has been an unending family affair. Layton’s son, Michael was elected as a Toronto councillor last December.
Toronto’s only communist councillor, Paula Fletcher, re-elected in December, rode Layton’s coat-tails in the 2003 municipal election.
These days the Toronto Star-dubbed “Ottawa’s million-dollar couple” lives in a $2,000-a-month apartment just steps from Parliament Hill.
“Like other MPs from outside the National Capital Region, the couple is entitled to charge for their accommodation, meals while traveling and maintaining a constituency office. Chow’s expenses tallied $530,304.73 and Layton’s was $628,913.68.”
Like the far left who long ago seized the moral high ground to lecture the masses, Jack Layton has long been a progressive hypocrite.
When Our Toronto, the forerunner to Canada Free Press (CFP), launched its premier issue back in 1991, it featured a front page cartoon of Layton climbing into a chauffeur-driven city limousine with the bicycle he always used for photo ops strapped to the limo’s back. The cartoon limo’s license plate read: “Caviar Socialist No. 1”.
Anti-American to the core, Layton once led a protest against the Toronto docking of the USS Oliver Hazard Perry because as then Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton said, it was equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
Jack of all trades and Master of Publicity, Layton was an expert in communication long before the Internet.
Cheering Layton on election night will be Barack Obama. Both Layton and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff (media dubbed “Iggy”) relate to Obama. Ignatieff was only trained by Obama former economic advisor Larry Summers and calls Samantha Power married to Obama czar Cass Sunstein, friend, while Layton basks in the handle of “the Obama of Canada”.
During the last time Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper was preparing to call an election, Smilin’ Jack was in Denver.
“Democrats here are talking about the same kind of change we’re talking about in Canada,” said Layton. “Whether it’s real action on climate change, forging trade policies that work for working families or standing up for jobs and better health care, there’s a real desire here to put the concerns of the kitchen table ahead of the boardroom table.”
It’s ironic that until Layton surged ahead in this election that the majority of Canadians could afford to ignore him.
Ignoring the low-in-polls Socialist was so obvious even to his own party, that one of the NDP’s Quebec candidates was vacationing in Las Vegas instead of campaigning, another was spending last week in the Caribbean and yet another was planning to be in France on election day. (Les MacPherson, The StarPhoenix, April 30, 2011).
Layton’s surge in the polls does prove a few good things—most especially that Summers and Powers notwithstanding, Liberal Ignatieff has plummeted down, down, down.
Now that Canadians are being forced to take Layton seriously rather than make fun of him, Jack Layton stands before them—stark naked
It really does depend on how you want to spin things. This list is a copy and paste from a conservative blogger who was the communications consultant for Mike Harris.
Some things on this list like Haiti relief and canceling debt would have happened no matter who was in power.
Some items like military expenditures for new cargo planes would have happened no matter who was in power.
The links are not working but in the original document all the links go to government or conservative party press releases. For that reason, the lowering of the GST, (lowering taxes is always popular) was roundly condemned by economics experts as being bad policy and directly lead to an increased deficit. You wont read in press releases that most economists credit the work of Paul Martin and the Liberals for fostering a strong regulated banking system and getting the governments finances in order which in turn spared Canada from the worst of the mortgage recession. I think the Liberals are out of gas in the ideas department but they were right on that front.
The list also leaves out a lot of other small details like defunding immigrant settlement services, defunding family planning, defunding Canadian cultural export grants. The list doesnt mention firing people in the middle of the night or blocking access to public documents. If I actually thought about it I could come up with a list 5 times that length of undemocratic actions the Harper government has done. It all depends on how you want to spin things. And then there is the honesty issue which I think is well expressed here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/anyone-but-harper-a-dissent...
And by the way I dont see much in that list for Toronto, the "latte drinking elites" as John Baird called us. But I thank the poster for posting since there does not seem to be a conservative candidate in this riding running a campaign.
Just a reminder to everyone: Please stay on-topic. Disagreement is, of course, allow and encouraged. Unsubstantiated accusations, name-calling, and other nonsense are not.
Anonymous comments are under stricter moderation. If you have something strong to say, have some guts and sign your name to it.
It's all in the way you spin things, I guess. Some things sound good on the surface, but if you dig deeper, they don't. For instance, the idea of $1200 a year going to every child under age six is ridiculous, in my opinion, given all the people who don't need it and probably barely notice their monthly $100 cheques. Certainly not a childcare solution. Even though I myself benefited from it, I knew it wasn't in the best interest of the whole. That's what bothers me about the Conservative philosophy, it's inherently selfish, a "my-back-pocket" kind of approach that makes my blood boil. I think Harper's "accomplishments" are better summed up here: http://shitharperdid.ca.nyud.net/
Harper will be lucky if he gets another minority. A majority is not even a hope. Once the election is over and he continues to be the minority man the knives will be out for him in his own party. I predict he'll be gone by the end of the year.
Given all the federal election speculation at the moment now is obviously the time to remind all Canadians, regardless of their political affiliation, some of what the Harper government has accomplished over the last five years. To do that, I would refer visitors to the list of Harper government accomplishments below or here. There is also speculation, given the negative behaviour of Liberal/NDP and Bloc coalition MPs in the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs Committee this past week, that the expected federal election campaign is going to be very nasty.
The Harper Gov’t Record:
(1) African Development Fund Replenished – Instituted in 1972, the Conservative government replenished the fund as promised at the G20 conference in Toronto in 2010 (Link)
(2) Age of Consent Legislation — Raised from 14 to 16 effective May 1, 2008 (Link)
(3) Agent Orange Compensation Package of $96 Million –$20,000 to all veterans and civilians who lived within 5 kilometers of CFB Gagetown in N.B.when Agent Orange was sprayed over a seven day period in 1966 and 1967 (Link)
(4) Air India Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry — PM Harper apologies to the friends and relatives of all those who died in that disaster (Link)
(5) Apology to Native People — By the Government of Canada on June 11, 2008 for residential school abuses (Link)
(6) Arctic Research Station Announced – The feasibility study started in 2007 was completed in August 2010 with the announcement that it will be built over the next five years in Cambridge Bay, Nanavut (Link)
(7) Auto Theft and Property Crime Bill — Legislation passed that would crack down on auto theft and trafficking in property that is obtained by crime (Link)
(8) Canada Employment Credit — Of $1000.00 (Link)
(9) Child Tax Credit — $2000 for every child under eighteen (Link to all the family tax credits)
(10) China Signs New Initiatives– PM Harper and President Hu Jintao signed a new initiative that built on December 09 Joint Statement — such as re-opening the Chinese market to Canadian beef products (Link)
(11) Chinese Head Tax Apology– By the government on June 22, 2006 (Link) (Link)
(12) Chinese Immigrant Provision – Of $20,000 to every individual and/or surviving spouses who paid the head tax plus $24 million towards an “historical recognition program”(Link)
(13) Columbia Free Trade Agreement — Signed at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Lima, November 21, 2008 (Link)
(14) Consumer Product Safety Legislation — To strengthen Canada’s product safety laws and better protect Canadian consumers and their families. (Link)
(15) Criminal Code Amended (Bill C-14 ) — Measures against organized crime, with 25 years for murder without eligibility for parole — passed on June 23rd, 2009, coming into effect October 2, 2009 (Link)
(16) Disability Savings Plan — Part of the 2007 budget, it was fully implemented in December, 2008 (Link)
(17) Doer, Gary, former NDP Manitoba Premier, appointed — The Ambassador to the United States on August 28, 2009 (Link) — an accomplishment because it is a concrete example how the Conservative government can be bi-partisan
(18) Economic Action Plan, Phase One — First phase of the 12,000 “stimulus” projects approved across the country, with 8,000 already started (Link)
(19) Economic Action Plan, Phase Two — Second phase based on measures outlined in the 2010 federal budget. (Link)
(20) Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario – Officially launched on August 13th, 2009 in Kitchener- Waterloo, Canada’s fifth such regional organization (Link)
(21) European Free Trade Association – Canada Agreement — Signed on July 2, 2009 — between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (Link)
(22) Food Labelling Initiative — to clarify and modernize labelling on food products, including “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” claims (Link) (Link)
(23) Gender Equity in Indian Registration — Legislation that addresses a court ruling on gender discrimination in the Indian Act (Link)
(24) GIS — Guaranteed Income Supplement Improvements — For seniors, changed to allow for higher earned income – (Link) (Link)
(25) Governor General– David Johnson was just named as the next GG. He is a lawyer and academic and was chosen following a length and by-partisan advisory process, thus making it a gov’t accomplishment (Link)
(26) GST — Goods & Services Tax Cut — From 7% to 6% and then to 5% (Link)
(27) Haitian Earthquake Response — (Link)
(28) Haiti’s Debt to Canada Cancelled — On June 25, 2010, at the G8 meeting in Huntsville, PM Harper announced that Haiti’s debt to Canada was eliminated (Link)
(29) Harper Government the longest serving minority — since Lester Pearson (Link)
(30) Hep C compensation Redressed – For latest court rulings that clear the way for national $1 billion package (Link), as well as how to apply for compensation (Link)
(31) Identity Theft Legislation– (Bill S-4) — Received Royal Assent on October 27, 2009 — for obtaining and possessing identity information, trafficking in that information or unlawfully possessing or trafficking in gov’t documents (Link)
(32) Income Splitting for Canadian Seniors — A change to the Income Tax Act for pensioners (Link)
(33) India-Canada Nuclear Co-Operation Agreement– PM Harper and Indian PM Manmohan Singh sign a memoranda of understanding that lays foundation for future bilateral trade negotiations (Link)
(34) Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement — Signed (Link)
(35) Internet Spam Protection — Signed December 15, 2010 to protect consumers and business from the most harmful and misleading forms of online threats (Link)
(36) Jordan Free Trade Agreement — Signed by Canadian and Jordanian government officials and reported on June 28, 2009 (Link)
(37) Kid’s sport tax credit — up to $500 per child (Link)
(38) Kuwait Foreign Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (FIPA) — Completed in April 2009 (Link)
(39) Land Claim Agreements — Five-point plan for Aboriginal Canadians (Link) — to compare the years the Conservatives have been in power to previous years (Link) — 256 claims since the gov’t came into power, with 623 remaining (Link)
(40) Lobbying Act — Passed July 2, 2008 (Link)
(41) Manley Report — Approved (Report) (Link)
(42) Marquee Tourism Events Program — Part of the 2009 Harper government budget, it is intended to provide timely economic stimulus now and in the next 24 months. (Link) (See also the example of the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which received $2.1 million dollars)
(43) Mental Health Commission of Canada — Established and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in March of 2007 (Link)
(44) Military Equipment Purchases – As we discovered at the time of the Haiti earthquake, the Conservative government has purchased four C-17 Globemaster Heavy Lifting Aircraft, 17 C-130 Hercules, new battle tanks and German patrol cars, as well as several thousand trucks (Link)
(45) Northern Regional Development Economic Agency — Announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 in Iqaluit, Nunavut (Link)
(46) Nunavik Inuit Land Claims — Agreement (Link)
(47) Old Age Security legislation — To eliminate the payment of Old Age Security benefits from prisoners. (Link)
(48) Ombudsman for Victims of Crime — Established (Link)
(49) Open Access to Gov’t – the expansion of an initiative to provide all Canadians with more data, information and opportunities to dialogue (Link to March 18, 2011 Media Release)
(50) Panama-Canada Free Trade Agreement — Signed in Panama on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 (but still to be ratified by Parliament) (Link) Ratified on May 15, 2010 (Link)
(51) Peru – Canada Free Trade Agreement — Adopted by Parliament June 18, 2009 (Link)
(52) Poland — Youth Mobility Agreement — Signed on July 14, 2008 that allows youth from either country to work and travel for up to one year (Link)
(53) Protecting Victims from Sexual Offenders – Signed on December 15, 2010 to protect children against sexual predators (Link)
(54) Public transit tax credits (Link)
(55) Quebecois as a nation — A motion to confirm Quebec within a united Canada (Link)
(56) Red Tape Reduction Commission – Announced on January 13, 2011 to greatly reduce bureaucratic administration for small and medium sized businesses that have a clear and detrimental effect on growth, competitiveness and innovation (Link)
(57) Savings Account that is tax free (Link)
(58) Self-employ Fairness Act – (Bill C-56) — Provides special benefits to the self employed on a volunteer basis (Link)
(59) Seniors Day — A law in the fall of 2010 that recognizes the contributions seniors make to their families, communities and workplaces (Link)
(60) Softwood Lumber Agreement (Bill C-24) (Link)
(61) Street racing crack down (Link)
(62) Students exempted from taxation for scholarships, bursaries and fellowships (Link)
(63) Tackling Violent Crime Act (Link) (Link)
(64) Taxpayers Bill of Rights (Link)
(65) Taxpayers Ombudsman (Link)
(66) Tax Treaties with Columbia, Greece and Turkey — A law was finalized to recognize these tax treaties on December 15, 2010 (Link)
(67) Truth in Sentencing Act – Bill C25 received Royal Assent on October 23, 2009 — ending the two for one credit for time served in pre-trial custody (Link)
(68) Ukraine-Canada Youth Agreement — Signed that would allow youth in both countries to experience freer movement (Link)
(69) Ukrainian & Eastern European immigrants — $10 million to educate Canadians about the internment in Canadian work camps during WWI (Link)
(70) UN Global Fund contribution for mothers, newborns and young children — $540 million pledged by PM Harper at the UN on September 21st, 2010 – when added to the $1.5 billion already promised at the G8 summit in Muskoka and G20 in Toronto, it is the largest contribution ever made by Canada to an international health institution (Link)
(71) Universal Child Care Benefit — $1,200.00 per year for every child under age six
Nice to see Councillor Bailao there this early in the process. Great of the developer to be there early in the process and to quickly let locals have a say instead of the usual snow job that developers give.
Everything presented was preliminary and has not even been submitted to planning yet so there could be many changes down the road.
Overall I like the direction they are going and welcome more neighbours next to me and life and energy it will bring to the area. Density within reason is a good thing and having the church walls and towers remain helps keep some of the history of the area. Density always means more, building new homes like the ones built in 1913 would be a bad environmental idea and is not economically viable. Here are a few points that crossed my mind.
--The new 4 story building in the north Parking lot seems a bit large, especially for the people directly north. I think setting back the top floors on the west and north side would reduce the obvious effects on the people next door.
--The church roof would be replaced by 2 stories of glass floors. I like the look but am a bit concerned that these floors will be looking into a lot of backyards. Maybe a reduction of a floor and a setback will help. This would also be a sizable change in the church motif which I think is something that people would not want.
--The parking will be underground but not enough for all units. The idea of promoting units without parking for a car free lifestyle (there would be two zipcar spots) is a trend in North America right now BUT if it is true that there may be a change in the municipal law that would allow the units without cars to buy on street parking then that would be an issue for two reasons. One there will already be reduced parking because all of the people who have been freeloading by using the church parking will in theory now have to park on the street day and night. 2. You are now also adding a further number of church resident cars and their visitors to the mix. This could make the Perth Wallace corner very congested.
--Some people at the meeting went on about how bad parking is in the area at this time and frankly thats a load of baloney. For some reason people always think things are worse than they are.Despite Not having a garage or alley I have never experienced any problem parking anytime (except church day) in 10 years. Rarely do I have to park more than 4 spaces away from my front door and often over night there are 5 or 6 spaces at Perth and Wallace. This could change a bit because of allowing church residents to get street parking and I warn everyone that if this law changes then the people at 351 Wallace and at the future development on the north side will be asking for the same thing. There needs to be real clarification on how this will play out. I dont think parking is an issue right now but I wonder how bad it could become. Remember too....what will the impact be on parking closer to Bloor when the Metrolinx "mobility Hub" is completed? I can see part of Perth becoming one way and there being i hour daytime parking for non permitees to control traffic and parking.
--Visitor Parking is 4 spaces if I read the map correct and that is not enough. With 351 Wallace we got them to expand visitor parking and there is still not enough. My experience has been that traffic planners live in a dream world. I think they need more visitor parking and a method to stop residents from using it (which is an issue at 351).I think they could squeeze a few more parking spots in the underground. We all know how many the church got in there so I think there is definitely room for improvement.
--Some people thought the units were too small but they are very similar to the sizes in other condos that I have seen. I dont think there is any issue with this considering that many homes in our area have 3 units, each the same size as the smaller condo sizes. Housing diversity is a good thing and over time its not just young people who live in small condos. Many urban people retire and downsize into small condos. Some people worried about families but this area has been undergoing a boom of new families over the last 5 years and some of the housing stock is reverting to single units; I dont think we will run out of families soon. The development on the north side of Wallace when that happens could be a better place to insist on some family size units (although that does not mean that families will live in them).
--Some people had issues with the use of the alley to enter the building. I think its a great idea because it will reduce cars on Perth and provide more green space on Perth. With the developer giving up some land to widen the alley as needed I dont see any issues, it would be where it should be, at the back of the building where all the other garages are.
To Councillor Bailao I have suggested to the city for a few years that the sidewalk at Perth and Wallace should be changed to the narrower cutout style that you see in the east end. I have really noticed a massive increase in speeding traffic and cars not stopping at all at the PW corner. A cutout would be safer for walkers and slow traffic down.I think we have an opportunity to actually work with the developer to make the entire intersection more green and safer.
Again this is all early and the developer has said he will come back and meet again as the process develops so I encourage people to submit their thoughts and be part of it.
I updated this post with information about TTC diversions for the 168 Symington bus and the Bloor night bus. Set aside some extra time if you plan to use either of these buses on the weekend.
Sitting MP's along the rail corridor went down to defeat and Clean Trains and better transit played a part. Bet your bottom dollar that Dalton McGuinty is taking a second look at electrification of the Georgetown corridor today. Dont let up on the pressure folks it is finally paying some dividends.
Andrew Cash's numbers are pretty staggering. I thought that he would win from day one as to me Silva had lost interest and seemed bored with us at meetings. Midway I realized that all I heard was people talking about being excited about Andrew and nothing but disdain (some of it unfounded) about Mario. Andrew is a passionate and hard working guy so hopefully there will be more engagement and a fresher take. Finally this riding has come out of its autopilot Liberal coma.
This may be a good thing for the Liberals as something dramatic has to happen or they will be toast. Badboy Liberal wonk Warren Kinsella has been writing for some time that the Liberal party has been coasting for the last 10 years, being defined by others and confusing strategic voting with actual enthusiasm for their ideas. In a way they can clear house; remember that the popular Mulroney was run out of town leaving Campbell to win a mere 2 seats and they came back (although not at PC's).Most analysts think that the Conservatives gain votes from right leaning Liberals (there is such a thing) who did not want an NDP government and switched when they realized that the Liberals were in trouble.Those people may come back.
I am not a fan of the Green "party" but I do salute Wayne Scott who too brought energy and ideas to the debate that at least made people think.
The BONEHEAD award though has to go to poor Gerard Kennedy in the riding next door who seems to lost his mojo and moved from wonder boy to polarizing figure. When he started attacking the Clean Train Coalition you had to wonder how he thought attacking a group that was fighting for clean air and better transit was a good idea. The next day "electric trains now" signs started popping up on Nash's signs and his goose was cooked. When you consider that Mike Sullivan, the head of the Clean Train Coalition won for the NDP in the riding north where Kennedy actually lives you realize how out of touch Kennedy was. Kennedy had a chance to seize the issue and run with it looking like his own man but instead he let opportunity slip away. I know Gerard and like him but I think it is time for him to move on, he has lost the passion too.
Congrads to Mr Cash,
Like others I hope he and the NDP will do better for Davenport!
I hope that all take note of the % the PC got in Davenport.No small numbers.
To new times in Davenport.
I thought it'd be a much closer race. Andrew Cash did spectacularly. I wonder if they had a sense of how well they were going to perform. I feel like the Liberals have been coasting in this riding. Hopefully the NDP do more for the riding (and Toronto).
Sorry, I forgot to sign off. I believe we met at the Railpath clean up day. - Joanna
I oppose him and am never voting for conservatives anymore as in Harper they are as genocidal, forcing me to fund their demonic abortion genocide with my tax money) and antichrist (arresting/confiscating propery of/ Christians under Marxist Antichrist pro perversion thought crimes laws.) as the NDP hypocrite nihilist marxists.
Christian Heritage Party is the only conservative party left in toronto.
The main theme that Harper keeps returning to himself is the fiscal record. Yet this is the main reason to get rid of him. Our economic strength, such as it is, is the result of Chretien and Martin being stingy. Harper also supported the bank mergers which would have increased their leverage so they would be more comparable to Citibank. Harper never tires of taking credit for their strength, something he contributed nothing to. Remember bank bailouts have come with a stupefying price tag in many countries. Even in terms of basic fiscal discipline the G20 spending exposed Harper's absolute incompetence.
My grandfather always supported the conservatives. He understood the critical value of science, education, and independent media. It deeply saddens me to see a "Conservative" government appoint a science minister who thinks evolution is a matter of religion; allow universities to languish while building prisons; and push to allow the media to knowingly report false news.
Your blogger - source might not have had much interest in the local race, but this neighbourhood carries a bit of a concern about being overlooked. It is important for us that our representatives make a strong effort to represent local concerns. It is unacceptable that the local candidate would skip the all candidates meeting. It is outrageous that a candidate would be involved in a scandal where funds raised locally were funneled to more important ridings and then have the gall to run again. Please send a message to your party and vote for someone else!
You talk about your posts and your discussions but I have no idea who you are. I have vigorously defended continuing to allow people to post anonymously, but the mechanism has severe inherent limitations. The only way to use it effectively is to make short clear arguments with very strong references. Remember you have no identity therefore no credibility and everything you say must be carried by your references. It is contemptuous to expect real people to have conversations with blank walls. As is, you can't be distinguished from somebody reposting vapid blog entries. The conversational style you seem to want to use can only be meaningful in developing community if you sign up and sign in when you post.
I certainly understand why you might want to post anonymously as I am strongly motivated to do so myself. What point is there risking my reputation in an arguments where many players seems to have no integrity?
Isn't Judi McLeod the same writer who plagiarized an article from "The Onion" without realizing it was satire?
There is a minimum of 400 million tax dollars from Ottawa involved in this project so MP's do in fact have a direct interest in the project. Originally the Federal Transportation Department said there was no Federal money involved so there did not have to be a more extensive EA. So right off the bat we had no MP around to go back and say "wait a minute this is incorrect ". Our MP was nowhere to be found and despite many letters and calls and even letters from the City Mario was nowhere to be seen when it counted.
Further in my direct dealings with Mario he never followed up and never said what HE was going to do, it was always about how we could write more letters to Dalton. Thats when he looked up from his Blackberry. My personal experience with him was that he brought nothing and did nothing. Ask any of the other people who went (finally) with Mario to meet Metrolinx. Ask them how they feel Mario's performance was and you will hear the same story.
Any issue that effects a huge number of people in a given area should be the concern of all three levels of government. Here, the City has spoken loud and clear about going electric. But judging on what I have seen Tony and Mario do on this issue one has to come to the conclusion that a vote for the NDP is a vote for electric trains. As Dalton frets we have a rare chance to send a message to Ottawa and Queens Park at the same time.
Warren, it's good to hear that your experience has been different than mine. The only reason I am discussing Mario's involvement in electrification is because he has sighted this as an area where he was very involved.
In my post I did not mention that I expected him to support any sort of a campaign. I do, however, expect political leaders to provide leadership for issues that concern residents, and that includes getting out and talking with people who are concerned with the same issue that you claim to be concerned with.
***If I haven't made it clear, this is just my opinion, based on my experiences. I am currently not a member of any political party -- I just care about issues affecting the health and well-being of my community. Like most folks, I have limited time, and I commit time to issues that I believe are critical to the future of our neighborhood.
Wow another cut and paste job originally written by a right wing wing blogger named Judi McLeaod who has appeared on Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck's show among others. Her blogs headline is "Without America there is no free world" and her sight features all sorts of nutbar Tea Party Birther conspiracies. A news source you can trust. Interesting that a "local" would be quoting pro Tea Party right wingers as if it had any relevance to Davenport or reality for that matter. The opinions you can trust as being legitimate are the ones that have names.
Next.
Toronto Star Article from April 30th says, "The party now believes Davenport is locked down for NDP candidate Andrew Cash, who is ready to take the seat from Liberal Mario Silva, and while NDP Peggy Nash still faces a tough fight against Liberal incumbent Gerard Kennedy in Parkdale—High Park, campaign officials are starting to dream about some other seats they never expected."
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/983503--ndp-poised-f...
Thanks for that reliable and well-documented info. GO JACK GO!!!
The Real Jack Layton—with or without his clothes
-Saturday, April 30, 2011
The name on Canadian NDP (read Socialist) leader Jack Layton’s birth certificate is ‘John’. And the only way voters ever got to know that was because Layton was a literal John when Toronto police found him naked as a jaybird in a ‘massage parlour’ in Toronto’s Chinatown. (Exercising says his NDP politician wife Olivia Chow).
Until the Toronto Sun drummed it back up, that was 15 years ago and he wasn’t charged by police but sent back home on his signature bicycle.
Jack Layton is proponent Numero Uno, Caviar Socialist Number 1, in the story of How the Left Was Won to become the ugly underbelly that all but dominates Canadian politics.
Far more important than the ‘massage’ which Smilin’ Jack—now ‘surging’ at the polls as likely Opposition Leader in Monday’s federal election—is the little discussed fact that Layton has milked the Canadian taxpayer for generations.
Like proverbial fleas on the backside of a dog, Layton, his family and friends, have lived on the avails of the Canadian public purse for most of their lives.
Layton, who spent his salad days as a radical Toronto city councillor, is married to Olivia Chow, former school board trustee and city councillor before being elected to serve as a Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina.
Until the feisty Toronto Sun unearthed the Layton ‘Massage Parlour’ story this weekend, it was something police joked about, the day when, standing there in his birthday suit, Layton had to admit to an investigating officer that John and Jack Layton were “one and the same”.
But the story of Jack Layton scandals goes well beyond being caught sans culottes in a ‘massage’ parlour.
Layton and Chow were caught living in the taxpayer-subsidized Hazelburn Co-op in the early ‘90s. A group of single mothers who picketed the co-op every day with ghetto blasters playing the song, Hit the Road Jack forced the issue long enough to drive him out, though Smilin’ Jack will contend that he left voluntarily.
When the Conservative provincial government of the day was debating who should rightfully be living in taxpayer-subsidized co-ops, the rally call was changed to “Housing for the Needy, Not the Greedy”, something that has stuck to Smiling Jack tar-and-feather-fashion for those who never forgot the hypocrisy of Hazelburn.
When they were living in the co-op with Chow’s mother, the combined annual income of Layton and Chow was $120,000. The rent on their 3-bedroom apartment was $880 per month.
The total salary of Canada’s most notorious couple is $369,156, a combination of Layton’s $211,425 salary as NDP leader and wife Olivia’s $157,731 as an MP. Both Laytons also collect municipal pensions from their days as councillors.
For Canada, this has been an unending family affair. Layton’s son, Michael was elected as a Toronto councillor last December.
Toronto’s only communist councillor, Paula Fletcher, re-elected in December, rode Layton’s coat-tails in the 2003 municipal election.
These days the Toronto Star-dubbed “Ottawa’s million-dollar couple” lives in a $2,000-a-month apartment just steps from Parliament Hill.
“Like other MPs from outside the National Capital Region, the couple is entitled to charge for their accommodation, meals while traveling and maintaining a constituency office. Chow’s expenses tallied $530,304.73 and Layton’s was $628,913.68.”
Like the far left who long ago seized the moral high ground to lecture the masses, Jack Layton has long been a progressive hypocrite.
When Our Toronto, the forerunner to Canada Free Press (CFP), launched its premier issue back in 1991, it featured a front page cartoon of Layton climbing into a chauffeur-driven city limousine with the bicycle he always used for photo ops strapped to the limo’s back. The cartoon limo’s license plate read: “Caviar Socialist No. 1”.
Anti-American to the core, Layton once led a protest against the Toronto docking of the USS Oliver Hazard Perry because as then Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton said, it was equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
Jack of all trades and Master of Publicity, Layton was an expert in communication long before the Internet.
Cheering Layton on election night will be Barack Obama. Both Layton and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff (media dubbed “Iggy”) relate to Obama. Ignatieff was only trained by Obama former economic advisor Larry Summers and calls Samantha Power married to Obama czar Cass Sunstein, friend, while Layton basks in the handle of “the Obama of Canada”.
During the last time Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper was preparing to call an election, Smilin’ Jack was in Denver.
“Democrats here are talking about the same kind of change we’re talking about in Canada,” said Layton. “Whether it’s real action on climate change, forging trade policies that work for working families or standing up for jobs and better health care, there’s a real desire here to put the concerns of the kitchen table ahead of the boardroom table.”
It’s ironic that until Layton surged ahead in this election that the majority of Canadians could afford to ignore him.
Ignoring the low-in-polls Socialist was so obvious even to his own party, that one of the NDP’s Quebec candidates was vacationing in Las Vegas instead of campaigning, another was spending last week in the Caribbean and yet another was planning to be in France on election day. (Les MacPherson, The StarPhoenix, April 30, 2011).
Layton’s surge in the polls does prove a few good things—most especially that Summers and Powers notwithstanding, Liberal Ignatieff has plummeted down, down, down.
Now that Canadians are being forced to take Layton seriously rather than make fun of him, Jack Layton stands before them—stark naked
It really does depend on how you want to spin things. This list is a copy and paste from a conservative blogger who was the communications consultant for Mike Harris.
Some things on this list like Haiti relief and canceling debt would have happened no matter who was in power.
Some items like military expenditures for new cargo planes would have happened no matter who was in power.
The links are not working but in the original document all the links go to government or conservative party press releases. For that reason, the lowering of the GST, (lowering taxes is always popular) was roundly condemned by economics experts as being bad policy and directly lead to an increased deficit. You wont read in press releases that most economists credit the work of Paul Martin and the Liberals for fostering a strong regulated banking system and getting the governments finances in order which in turn spared Canada from the worst of the mortgage recession. I think the Liberals are out of gas in the ideas department but they were right on that front.
The list also leaves out a lot of other small details like defunding immigrant settlement services, defunding family planning, defunding Canadian cultural export grants. The list doesnt mention firing people in the middle of the night or blocking access to public documents. If I actually thought about it I could come up with a list 5 times that length of undemocratic actions the Harper government has done. It all depends on how you want to spin things. And then there is the honesty issue which I think is well expressed here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/anyone-but-harper-a-dissent...
And by the way I dont see much in that list for Toronto, the "latte drinking elites" as John Baird called us. But I thank the poster for posting since there does not seem to be a conservative candidate in this riding running a campaign.
Just a reminder to everyone: Please stay on-topic. Disagreement is, of course, allow and encouraged. Unsubstantiated accusations, name-calling, and other nonsense are not.
Anonymous comments are under stricter moderation. If you have something strong to say, have some guts and sign your name to it.
Please read the website code of conduct.
It's all in the way you spin things, I guess. Some things sound good on the surface, but if you dig deeper, they don't. For instance, the idea of $1200 a year going to every child under age six is ridiculous, in my opinion, given all the people who don't need it and probably barely notice their monthly $100 cheques. Certainly not a childcare solution. Even though I myself benefited from it, I knew it wasn't in the best interest of the whole. That's what bothers me about the Conservative philosophy, it's inherently selfish, a "my-back-pocket" kind of approach that makes my blood boil. I think Harper's "accomplishments" are better summed up here: http://shitharperdid.ca.nyud.net/
Harper will be lucky if he gets another minority. A majority is not even a hope. Once the election is over and he continues to be the minority man the knives will be out for him in his own party. I predict he'll be gone by the end of the year.
A reminder what Harper gov’t has accomplished
Given all the federal election speculation at the moment now is obviously the time to remind all Canadians, regardless of their political affiliation, some of what the Harper government has accomplished over the last five years. To do that, I would refer visitors to the list of Harper government accomplishments below or here. There is also speculation, given the negative behaviour of Liberal/NDP and Bloc coalition MPs in the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs Committee this past week, that the expected federal election campaign is going to be very nasty.
The Harper Gov’t Record:
(1) African Development Fund Replenished – Instituted in 1972, the Conservative government replenished the fund as promised at the G20 conference in Toronto in 2010 (Link)
(2) Age of Consent Legislation — Raised from 14 to 16 effective May 1, 2008 (Link)
(3) Agent Orange Compensation Package of $96 Million –$20,000 to all veterans and civilians who lived within 5 kilometers of CFB Gagetown in N.B.when Agent Orange was sprayed over a seven day period in 1966 and 1967 (Link)
(4) Air India Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry — PM Harper apologies to the friends and relatives of all those who died in that disaster (Link)
(5) Apology to Native People — By the Government of Canada on June 11, 2008 for residential school abuses (Link)
(6) Arctic Research Station Announced – The feasibility study started in 2007 was completed in August 2010 with the announcement that it will be built over the next five years in Cambridge Bay, Nanavut (Link)
(7) Auto Theft and Property Crime Bill — Legislation passed that would crack down on auto theft and trafficking in property that is obtained by crime (Link)
(8) Canada Employment Credit — Of $1000.00 (Link)
(9) Child Tax Credit — $2000 for every child under eighteen (Link to all the family tax credits)
(10) China Signs New Initiatives– PM Harper and President Hu Jintao signed a new initiative that built on December 09 Joint Statement — such as re-opening the Chinese market to Canadian beef products (Link)
(11) Chinese Head Tax Apology– By the government on June 22, 2006 (Link) (Link)
(12) Chinese Immigrant Provision – Of $20,000 to every individual and/or surviving spouses who paid the head tax plus $24 million towards an “historical recognition program”(Link)
(13) Columbia Free Trade Agreement — Signed at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Lima, November 21, 2008 (Link)
(14) Consumer Product Safety Legislation — To strengthen Canada’s product safety laws and better protect Canadian consumers and their families. (Link)
(15) Criminal Code Amended (Bill C-14 ) — Measures against organized crime, with 25 years for murder without eligibility for parole — passed on June 23rd, 2009, coming into effect October 2, 2009 (Link)
(16) Disability Savings Plan — Part of the 2007 budget, it was fully implemented in December, 2008 (Link)
(17) Doer, Gary, former NDP Manitoba Premier, appointed — The Ambassador to the United States on August 28, 2009 (Link) — an accomplishment because it is a concrete example how the Conservative government can be bi-partisan
(18) Economic Action Plan, Phase One — First phase of the 12,000 “stimulus” projects approved across the country, with 8,000 already started (Link)
(19) Economic Action Plan, Phase Two — Second phase based on measures outlined in the 2010 federal budget. (Link)
(20) Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario – Officially launched on August 13th, 2009 in Kitchener- Waterloo, Canada’s fifth such regional organization (Link)
(21) European Free Trade Association – Canada Agreement — Signed on July 2, 2009 — between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (Link)
(22) Food Labelling Initiative — to clarify and modernize labelling on food products, including “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” claims (Link) (Link)
(23) Gender Equity in Indian Registration — Legislation that addresses a court ruling on gender discrimination in the Indian Act (Link)
(24) GIS — Guaranteed Income Supplement Improvements — For seniors, changed to allow for higher earned income – (Link) (Link)
(25) Governor General– David Johnson was just named as the next GG. He is a lawyer and academic and was chosen following a length and by-partisan advisory process, thus making it a gov’t accomplishment (Link)
(26) GST — Goods & Services Tax Cut — From 7% to 6% and then to 5% (Link)
(27) Haitian Earthquake Response — (Link)
(28) Haiti’s Debt to Canada Cancelled — On June 25, 2010, at the G8 meeting in Huntsville, PM Harper announced that Haiti’s debt to Canada was eliminated (Link)
(29) Harper Government the longest serving minority — since Lester Pearson (Link)
(30) Hep C compensation Redressed – For latest court rulings that clear the way for national $1 billion package (Link), as well as how to apply for compensation (Link)
(31) Identity Theft Legislation– (Bill S-4) — Received Royal Assent on October 27, 2009 — for obtaining and possessing identity information, trafficking in that information or unlawfully possessing or trafficking in gov’t documents (Link)
(32) Income Splitting for Canadian Seniors — A change to the Income Tax Act for pensioners (Link)
(33) India-Canada Nuclear Co-Operation Agreement– PM Harper and Indian PM Manmohan Singh sign a memoranda of understanding that lays foundation for future bilateral trade negotiations (Link)
(34) Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement — Signed (Link)
(35) Internet Spam Protection — Signed December 15, 2010 to protect consumers and business from the most harmful and misleading forms of online threats (Link)
(36) Jordan Free Trade Agreement — Signed by Canadian and Jordanian government officials and reported on June 28, 2009 (Link)
(37) Kid’s sport tax credit — up to $500 per child (Link)
(38) Kuwait Foreign Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (FIPA) — Completed in April 2009 (Link)
(39) Land Claim Agreements — Five-point plan for Aboriginal Canadians (Link) — to compare the years the Conservatives have been in power to previous years (Link) — 256 claims since the gov’t came into power, with 623 remaining (Link)
(40) Lobbying Act — Passed July 2, 2008 (Link)
(41) Manley Report — Approved (Report) (Link)
(42) Marquee Tourism Events Program — Part of the 2009 Harper government budget, it is intended to provide timely economic stimulus now and in the next 24 months. (Link) (See also the example of the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which received $2.1 million dollars)
(43) Mental Health Commission of Canada — Established and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in March of 2007 (Link)
(44) Military Equipment Purchases – As we discovered at the time of the Haiti earthquake, the Conservative government has purchased four C-17 Globemaster Heavy Lifting Aircraft, 17 C-130 Hercules, new battle tanks and German patrol cars, as well as several thousand trucks (Link)
(45) Northern Regional Development Economic Agency — Announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 in Iqaluit, Nunavut (Link)
(46) Nunavik Inuit Land Claims — Agreement (Link)
(47) Old Age Security legislation — To eliminate the payment of Old Age Security benefits from prisoners. (Link)
(48) Ombudsman for Victims of Crime — Established (Link)
(49) Open Access to Gov’t – the expansion of an initiative to provide all Canadians with more data, information and opportunities to dialogue (Link to March 18, 2011 Media Release)
(50) Panama-Canada Free Trade Agreement — Signed in Panama on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 (but still to be ratified by Parliament) (Link) Ratified on May 15, 2010 (Link)
(51) Peru – Canada Free Trade Agreement — Adopted by Parliament June 18, 2009 (Link)
(52) Poland — Youth Mobility Agreement — Signed on July 14, 2008 that allows youth from either country to work and travel for up to one year (Link)
(53) Protecting Victims from Sexual Offenders – Signed on December 15, 2010 to protect children against sexual predators (Link)
(54) Public transit tax credits (Link)
(55) Quebecois as a nation — A motion to confirm Quebec within a united Canada (Link)
(56) Red Tape Reduction Commission – Announced on January 13, 2011 to greatly reduce bureaucratic administration for small and medium sized businesses that have a clear and detrimental effect on growth, competitiveness and innovation (Link)
(57) Savings Account that is tax free (Link)
(58) Self-employ Fairness Act – (Bill C-56) — Provides special benefits to the self employed on a volunteer basis (Link)
(59) Seniors Day — A law in the fall of 2010 that recognizes the contributions seniors make to their families, communities and workplaces (Link)
(60) Softwood Lumber Agreement (Bill C-24) (Link)
(61) Street racing crack down (Link)
(62) Students exempted from taxation for scholarships, bursaries and fellowships (Link)
(63) Tackling Violent Crime Act (Link) (Link)
(64) Taxpayers Bill of Rights (Link)
(65) Taxpayers Ombudsman (Link)
(66) Tax Treaties with Columbia, Greece and Turkey — A law was finalized to recognize these tax treaties on December 15, 2010 (Link)
(67) Truth in Sentencing Act – Bill C25 received Royal Assent on October 23, 2009 — ending the two for one credit for time served in pre-trial custody (Link)
(68) Ukraine-Canada Youth Agreement — Signed that would allow youth in both countries to experience freer movement (Link)
(69) Ukrainian & Eastern European immigrants — $10 million to educate Canadians about the internment in Canadian work camps during WWI (Link)
(70) UN Global Fund contribution for mothers, newborns and young children — $540 million pledged by PM Harper at the UN on September 21st, 2010 – when added to the $1.5 billion already promised at the G8 summit in Muskoka and G20 in Toronto, it is the largest contribution ever made by Canada to an international health institution (Link)
(71) Universal Child Care Benefit — $1,200.00 per year for every child under age six
Tories poised to win election, despite NDP surge
http://www.globaltoronto.com/decisioncanada/story.html?id=4699763
Nice to see Councillor Bailao there this early in the process. Great of the developer to be there early in the process and to quickly let locals have a say instead of the usual snow job that developers give.
Everything presented was preliminary and has not even been submitted to planning yet so there could be many changes down the road.
Overall I like the direction they are going and welcome more neighbours next to me and life and energy it will bring to the area. Density within reason is a good thing and having the church walls and towers remain helps keep some of the history of the area. Density always means more, building new homes like the ones built in 1913 would be a bad environmental idea and is not economically viable. Here are a few points that crossed my mind.
--The new 4 story building in the north Parking lot seems a bit large, especially for the people directly north. I think setting back the top floors on the west and north side would reduce the obvious effects on the people next door.
--The church roof would be replaced by 2 stories of glass floors. I like the look but am a bit concerned that these floors will be looking into a lot of backyards. Maybe a reduction of a floor and a setback will help. This would also be a sizable change in the church motif which I think is something that people would not want.
--The parking will be underground but not enough for all units. The idea of promoting units without parking for a car free lifestyle (there would be two zipcar spots) is a trend in North America right now BUT if it is true that there may be a change in the municipal law that would allow the units without cars to buy on street parking then that would be an issue for two reasons. One there will already be reduced parking because all of the people who have been freeloading by using the church parking will in theory now have to park on the street day and night. 2. You are now also adding a further number of church resident cars and their visitors to the mix. This could make the Perth Wallace corner very congested.
--Some people at the meeting went on about how bad parking is in the area at this time and frankly thats a load of baloney. For some reason people always think things are worse than they are.Despite Not having a garage or alley I have never experienced any problem parking anytime (except church day) in 10 years. Rarely do I have to park more than 4 spaces away from my front door and often over night there are 5 or 6 spaces at Perth and Wallace. This could change a bit because of allowing church residents to get street parking and I warn everyone that if this law changes then the people at 351 Wallace and at the future development on the north side will be asking for the same thing. There needs to be real clarification on how this will play out. I dont think parking is an issue right now but I wonder how bad it could become. Remember too....what will the impact be on parking closer to Bloor when the Metrolinx "mobility Hub" is completed? I can see part of Perth becoming one way and there being i hour daytime parking for non permitees to control traffic and parking.
--Visitor Parking is 4 spaces if I read the map correct and that is not enough. With 351 Wallace we got them to expand visitor parking and there is still not enough. My experience has been that traffic planners live in a dream world. I think they need more visitor parking and a method to stop residents from using it (which is an issue at 351).I think they could squeeze a few more parking spots in the underground. We all know how many the church got in there so I think there is definitely room for improvement.
--Some people thought the units were too small but they are very similar to the sizes in other condos that I have seen. I dont think there is any issue with this considering that many homes in our area have 3 units, each the same size as the smaller condo sizes. Housing diversity is a good thing and over time its not just young people who live in small condos. Many urban people retire and downsize into small condos. Some people worried about families but this area has been undergoing a boom of new families over the last 5 years and some of the housing stock is reverting to single units; I dont think we will run out of families soon. The development on the north side of Wallace when that happens could be a better place to insist on some family size units (although that does not mean that families will live in them).
--Some people had issues with the use of the alley to enter the building. I think its a great idea because it will reduce cars on Perth and provide more green space on Perth. With the developer giving up some land to widen the alley as needed I dont see any issues, it would be where it should be, at the back of the building where all the other garages are.
To Councillor Bailao I have suggested to the city for a few years that the sidewalk at Perth and Wallace should be changed to the narrower cutout style that you see in the east end. I have really noticed a massive increase in speeding traffic and cars not stopping at all at the PW corner. A cutout would be safer for walkers and slow traffic down.I think we have an opportunity to actually work with the developer to make the entire intersection more green and safer.
Again this is all early and the developer has said he will come back and meet again as the process develops so I encourage people to submit their thoughts and be part of it.
Interesting to watch the daily polls get posted on http://www.projectdemocracy.ca/davenport
Cash has been creeping up on Silva, and a couple of recent polls put Cash slightly ahead. Looks like it will be a close finish.
Curious to hear peoples' comments, especially those that might be directly affected by it due to close proximity.
I didn't take notes, but I'll post a few thoughts soon.
-Vic
I updated this post with information about TTC diversions for the 168 Symington bus and the Bloor night bus. Set aside some extra time if you plan to use either of these buses on the weekend.