Whitby to fight election sign clutter
April 30th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The town of Whitby is trying to combat the clutter caused by election signs by implementing stricter rules. Mayor Pat Perkins says they want to set up restrictions on the size of signs and where they can be placed. Perkins says they set up an online survey to get public feedback on the proposed changes. A link to it can be found by clicking here.
Minority Liberals vow to invest $300 million over two years to fight youth unemployment
April 29th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The minority Liberal government is making another play for support in their upcoming budget. Premier Kathleen Wynne has promised to invest $300 million over two years to fight youth unemployment. Wynne says four funds will be created to create jobs, support young entrepreneurs and better develop work skills. The Liberals need at least one vote from the NDP or Progress Conservatives to pass the budget, which comes to a vote on Thursday. The Tories have already said they will not support the document.
PC’s introduce non-confidence motion against Ontario’s Liberal government
April 29th, 2013 | Comments (0)
PC leader Tim Hudak has introduced a motion of non-confidence in the minority liberal government in Ontario’s legislature Monday. He says the liberals crossed the line into corruption by cancelling gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga to save seats in the 2011 election, and then tried to cover up information. But Premier Kathleen Wynne says the Tories might as well wait for Thursday’s budget vote — which will automatically be a confidence motion. As for Hudak’s motion, the rules state the government would have to consent before any non-confidence motion could be called for a vote — and that’s not likely to happen.
Canadians shouldn’t worry about a possible fee to cross the U.S. border
April 29th, 2013 | Comments (0)
“It ain’t gonna happen”. That was a quote from a U.S. Congressman in regards to the ongoing discussion of a new fee to cross the border. Brian Higgins, who represents Buffalo, New York, said in an interview on Sunday that he has a lot of allies in Congress that would stop any legislation that includes a fee. There has been some nervousness for Canadians, after word the Homeland Security budget for 2014 calls for a feasibility study on a possible border fee.
Ontario Liberals want to target cellphone ‘bill shock’
April 25th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Ontario’s consumer affairs minister says she will soon bring forward legislation to protect consumers from cellphone bill shock. Tracy MacCharles says the bill would require contracts to be written in plain language, making them easy to understand. She says it would also require consent before a fixed-term contract could be changed and would ensure people don’t pay more than 50 dollars if they cancel their contract. The minority Liberals will need support from either the NDP or the Tories if the bill is to pass.
House of Commons passes anti-terror legislation
April 25th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The House of Commons has pushed through a bill that contains certain anti-terror measures. The Conservatives and Liberals both supported the legislation, which brings back a pair of steps that were originally brought in by the Chretien government following the 9/11 attacks. Under the new bill, someone can be held for up to three days without charges on suspicion of being involved in terrorism and suspects are now forced to answer questions if they’re suspected of knowing of a terrorist act.
Following alleged terror plot, security on passenger trains a hot topic at Queen’s Park
April 24th, 2013 | Comments (1)
Security on passenger trains is a hot topic at Queen’s Park. The Ontario government wants to talk to Ottawa about improving security in light of the alleged terror plot to attack a Via Rail train. Ontario Attorney General John Gerretson says airport security has been getting all the attention and that might need to change. Gerretson says trains could benefit from some of the same security measures used on planes but not all experts agree. Many claim that type security would not be effective or practical.
RCMP make two arrests in alleged al-Qaida supported terrorist plot
April 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
The R.C.M.P say they have arrested two people who were allegedly plotting to carry out an Al-Qaida supported terrorist attack against a Via Rail passenger train. The suspects are identified as non-Canadian citizens Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser . They were arrested Monday morning in Montreal and Toronto. R.C.M.P Assistant Commissioner James Malizia says that while the suspects had the capacity and intent to carry out an attack, there was no imminent threat to the general public, rail employees, train passengers or infrastructure. The R.C.M.P. investigation, named project smooth, was part of a cross-border operation involving Canadian law enforcement agencies, the F.B.I and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They have reportedly been under surveillance for more than a year. The plot invloved blowing up a train en route to Toronto from New York City as it crossed the border at the Niagara River.
Progressive Conservatives to move non-confidence motion against the minority Liberal government
April 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
The cancellation of gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga might send Ontarians to the polls. According to a new report, the Opposition Tories plan to move a motion of non-confidence in the minority Liberal government over the issue. A party source the motion comes because of the Liberals continued attempts to mislead the public about the costs associated with the cancellations. The Liberals were off by about $85 million in their estimate on halting the project in Mississauga. The auditor general says the cost will be $275 million. The NDP says all three parties must agree to have the motion called for a vote, something they predict the Liberals will never do.
GO Transit to start running trains every 30 minutes on Lakeshore lines
April 19th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Great news for commuters who use the GO Train, as it will soon be easier to travel the Lakeshore lines. GO Trains that currently run hourly between Aldershot and Oshawa will run every 30 minutes, seven days a week beginning on June 29th. According to Transportation Minister Glen Murray, the change will add 263 new train trips each week. GO carries about 200,000 passengers each weekday and has the fifth highest commuter train ridership in North America.
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.
Public high school teachers and support staff vote 84 per cent in favour of new deal with the province
April 19th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Public high school teachers and support staff have overwhelming voted in support with a newly negotiated deal with the provincial government. According to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, members voted 84 per cent in favour of the agreement which will give teachers improved maternity leave and sick day benefits, as well as fewer unpaid days off. Premier Kathleen Wynne has said no additional money will be spent to improve the contract, but Tory education critic Lisa MacLeod estimates the deal will cost $114 million.