The issue of a new casino in Toronto being debated at special council meeting
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
The debate over whether or not Toronto council supports a casino in the city will get going once again. Councillors will weigh in on the issue Tuesday at a special meeting and are expected to hold a vote. Last week, Mayor Rob Ford threatened to kill plans for a new casino, unless the province agreed to give the city $100 million a year in hosting fees. The government says a new formula would give Toronto nearly $54 million a year, far below expectations.
Yahoo buying Tumblr for $1.1-billion
May 20th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Some big business news has made headlines, Monday morning. Yahoo is buying online blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion. CEO Marissa Mayer says she’s trying to rejuvenate Yahoo – the Internet icon she feels has fallen behind the times. The deal is Mayer’s boldest move since she left Google 10 months ago to lead Yahoo’s latest comeback attempt. It marks Yahoo’s most expensive acquisition since the California company bought online search engine Overture a decade ago for $1.3 billion in cash and stock. The online blogging site will be independently operated, and to remain a separate business with David Karp staying on as its CEO.
Strike averted at the LCBO ahead of the Victoria Day long-weekend
May 17th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Alcohol will be flowing across Ontario over the long-weekend after all. The LCBO and OPSEU reached a tentative agreement just before a midnight strike deadline. A walkout in advance of the Victoria Day long-weekend would have been the first in the agency’s 87-year history. No details have been released pending ratification from both sides. LCBO spokesperson Heather McGregor says the agreement is fair to taxpayers and the 6,700 employees. Head of the union’s bargaining team, Denise Davis, says the deal meets workers’ expectations and is recommending they accept it.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford threatens to kill plans for a new casino in the city
May 17th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The casino debate in Toronto could have just come to an abrupt ending. Mayor Rob Ford, frustrated with the provincial government’s refusal to divulge information, says if the province doesn’t agree to $100 million in hosting fees, the “deal is dead.” The comments were made after the government said a new formula would give Toronto nearly $54 million a year. The OLG had to revise the formula after Premier Kathleen Wynne made it clear in march that she didn’t want Toronto to get a special deal.
Union representing LCBO employees has started opening strike headquarters as Friday deadline looms
May 14th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Anyone in need of a trip to the LCBO ahead of the long weekend might want to start thinking about doing it soon. Management is urging people to stock up before the weekend hits as a precaution. OPSEU has begun opening strike headquarters as a Friday deadline creeps near. A walkout would be the first in the 87-year history of the LCBO. The union says a major issue in the dispute is the pay disparity between full- and part-time employees.
Big three North American automakers claw back some of the market share in April
May 13th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The big three North American automakers continued to claw back some of the market share. According to the figures released by Desrosiers Automotive Consultants, GM, Chrysler and Ford combined for just under 46 per cent of sales in April, which was an increase of nearly two per cent over the same time in 2012. General Motors led the way with a nearly 19 per cent year-over-year increase, while Ford sold the most vehicles with just under 28,000. Chrysler had the smallest increase, but was still ahead five per cent.
Four-year collective agreement ratified by more than 400 workers at the Toronto Zoo
April 30th, 2013 | Comments (0)
A new four-year collective agreement has been ratified by more than 400 workers at the Toronto Zoo. According to CUPE Local 1600, the deal has modest improvements to wages in each year, and most of the concessions demanded by zoo management were withdrawn. A strike or lockout at the zoo would have jeopardized the May 18th unveiling of an exhibit starring two giant pandas on loan from China. Employees covered by the new contract include: zookeepers, horticulturalists, tradespeople and ride operators.
Tentative deal reached between the Toronto Zoo and CUPE
April 26th, 2013 | Comments (0)
A tentative deal has been reached between the Toronto Zoo and a union representing 400 workers. Zoo officials and representatives from CUPE Local 1600 stayed at the bargaining table past the 12:01 a.m. deadline and managed to come to terms early Friday morning. No details have been released but the union had said cuts to sick pay and benefits, job security and bereavement leave were among the key issues during negotiations. The union has not yet said when a ratification vote will be held. Any type of job action would have impacted a highly-anticipated exhibit featuring two pandas on loan from China. That exhibit is supposed to be unveiled next month.
OPSEU files application for strike deadline for more than 7,000 LCBO workers
April 24th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Strike action continues to loom at the LCBO. Unionized employees say they’re prepared to walk off the job next month if no deal is reached. An application with the Ministry of Labour has been filed for an May 17th deadline. The employees’ four-year contract ended in March and the union says very little progress has been made at the bargaining table. Earlier this month, the employees voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike mandate. At the time, OPSEU President Warren Thomas had said there were no plans for any job action, but in a statement released tuesday, he said the union has “no choice” but to prepare for a walkout. The union says key issues include boosting part-time wages and upgrades to health and safety standards.
New report shows a job boom underway in Toronto
April 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
A new report has painted a rosy picture of Toronto’s job market. The Toronto Employment Survey was presented to the Economic Development Committee on Monday and showed more than 1.3 million people were employed in full-time and part-time positions in the city last year. That figure is the highest employment number since 1990.
Solid fourth-quarter in terms of OLG revenue for Ajax
April 20th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Town of Ajax has received a cheque for over $1.6-million in the fourth quarter from the OLG. To date, Ajax has been given more than $39-million in non-tax gaming revenue for hosting the slots at Ajax Downs. The corporation launched a modernization plan back in March and it’s expected the effort will increase revenues and create more jobs. Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa says the money allows municipalities to make significant investments in all local priorities.
Flaherty makes pitch for Washington to support Keystone XL pipeline
April 19th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Canadian politicians are continuing to lobby their American counterparts to support the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The latest to speak out is Finance Minister and Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty, who told new U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew that the project is vital to the economies of both countries. Flaherty made the pitch while in Washington attending G20 meetings.