Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dropped as volunteer coach of high school football team
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Things just keep getting worse for Rob Ford. Toronto’s mayor has been let go as volunteer coach of the Don Bosco Eagles football team in a decision made by the Toronto District Catholic School Board. The board simply said that it wanted to go in a new direction and made no mention to the crack cocaine allegations that have made headlines internationally. Ford continues to stay silent about the allegations, while his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, says the mayor would let the media know if and when he had anything to say.
The Prime Minister unhappy with senate expense scandal
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Prime Minister Harper is weighing in on the Senate expense scandal, saying it has left him “extremely angry.” He says he was unaware that former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright gave $90,000 to Senator Mike Duffy for wrongly-claimed housing allowances. The prime minister says had he known the cheque was about to be handed over, he would have blocked it. Harper, who is on a trade mission to South America, says the reimbursement was wrong, adding that’s why Wright resigned last weekend.
Audit continues for a Senators housing allowance
May 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Liberal Senators have been blocked in their attempt to have police investigate Senator Mike Duffy‘s improperly-claimed housing allowances, which totaled $90,000. The Liberals claim the Senate committee on internal economy has no credibility because it whitewashed its first review of the case. However, the Conservative majority in the Upper Chamber voted to have the case sent back to the committee for a second review.
Toronto council votes against downtown casino
May 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Toronto city council has rejected a proposed downtown casino. They voted 40-4 against the proposal on Tuesday afternoon, essentially putting an end to the possibility of a downtown location in the near future. Mayor Rob Ford said during the debate that he would not support it after the province said the city’s share would be just 53 million dollars a year… not the 100 million they were hoping for. The mayor had previously been pushing for the casino, saying it would result in 10,000 jobs for the city. Council also voted 24-20 against expanding slots at Woodbine race track.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath says her party will ensure the passage of the provincial budget
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
After much consideration, NDP leader Andrea Horwath says she will ensure the passage of the provincial budget. The announcement means Ontarians will be spared an election. Horwath says her party did its best to make sure the people of the province have a more accountable government. Last week, Premier Kathleen Wynne agreed to Horwath’s extra demand for a financial accountability office, modelled on the parliamentary budget office in Ottawa. Horwath says the government has also agreed to bring plans for new tolls on car-pool lanes back to the legislature for a vote.
Harper says he will be tightening the rules in the upper chamber
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
Prime Minister Harper told his caucus morning that if any of them wants to use public office for their own benefit they should make other plans or better yet leave the room. Harper Said Tuesday morning that he will tighten the rules in the upper chamber after the recent Senate expense scandals. He told the caucus he was very upset about the conduct of some people and the conduct of his own office.
Toronto city hall will be watching Mayor Rob Ford’s camp for a response to crack cocaine video allegations
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
Some light could be shed on Tuesday about reports of a video allegedly showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The mayor’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, told a Vancouver radio station over the weekend that he would respond to the reports. The alleged footage made headlines last week after it was reported by the Toronto Star and the U.S.-based website Gawker.com. Ford calls the entire ordeal ridiculous and a smear job, while his lawyer called the reports false and defamatory.
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.
Replacement named, after PM’s Chief of Staff resigns over Senate expense scandal
May 19th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff has resigned. This comes after the growing scandal into Senate expense claims. In a statement issued Sunday morning, Nigel Wright says Stephen Harper has accepted his resignation. The PM’s office said earlier this week, Wright personally paid off $90,000 in inappropriately claimed housing expenses for Senator Mike Duffy. Even though the news comes during a long weekend, his replacement has already been named. Long-time Harper confidant Ray Novak will be stepping in as the PM’s new Chief of Staff. Wright says his actions were intended “solely to secure the repayment of funds,” and he considered it to be in public interest. In separate statement Harper said he accepted the resignation with “great regret.”
Harper government buying ads to promote job program that doesn’t exist yet
May 19th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Federal government is spending thousands of dollars promoting a program that doesn’t even exist yet. Prime-time ads began airing this week during NHL playoff games, promoting a new Canada jobs grant for training workers. But the newly announced program is still only a concept and hasn’t been negotiated with provincial governments. Also, legislation to create the federal training grant is still months away from even being considered by parliament – so that’s why the TV ads note in fine print that the program is “subject to parliamentary approval.”
Website raising funds to buy, publish alleged video of Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine
May 18th, 2013 | Comments (0)
It’s a story that has gripped media across the country and down south … Toronto Police say they’re monitoring the situation closely — but they’re saying little else about a video that allegedly shows Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The Toronto Star says two of its reporters have watched the cellphone video that a drug dealer is selling for at least $100,000. Right now, Gawker.com is trying to raise money to buy the video. Their site reads, “$200,000. That’s what the owners of the video want. That sounds like a lot of money. The good people at Indiegogo believe that, with the appropriate amount of virality, that goal is achievable.” Gawker says if the transaction goes bad, they will donate the funds to a Canadian non-profit that helps people suffering from addiction and its consequences. Meanwhile, Ford is dismissing the allegations as ridiculous, suggesting it’s just another attack on him.
Oshawa councillors aren’t releasing name of e-mail leaker
May 17th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Oshawa Councillors have now found out who leaked a confidential e-mail that found its way onto Facebook, but that information will not be released to the public. Last week, the city’s IT department searched through councillors’ e-mails, trying to find out who shared the message, which contained information about the termination of a city staffer. Councillor John Neal was not on the committee that voted on the issue, but says Thursday’s debate was a waste of time, and only resulted in finger pointing. He says the city needs to focus on other issues like local economy and taxes.