The 2010 shooting death of a father by his son using a crossbow at Main Street library was raised Thursday during the Toronto budget debate at City Hall. Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon referenced the murder of Si Cheng in response to an unsuccessful money-saving proposal by Mayor Rob Ford to cut security guards at libraries.
The debate for the 2014 budget started on Wednesday at Toronto City Hall with the approval of a 2.71 per cent property tax hike. But there were protests and security guards had to be called in to remove rowdy members of the public.
After two days of budget talks at City Hall, council approved a budget that includes a 2.23 per cent residential tax increase. But the 2014 capital and operating budgets, approved Jan. 30, also include a tax cut for many residents.
More than 50 reporters and camera persons swarmed the outside of Mayor Rob Ford’s office Thursday afternoon, after Toronto police Chief Bill Blair’s announcement that the mayor was, in fact, under investigation and that police were in possession of the video which allegedly depicts Ford smoking crack.
Coun. Paul Ainslie’s ongoing differences with Mayor Rob Ford blew wide open during the Oct. 9 city council vote on the Scarborough subway, but the councillor says he will not be “bullied” by the mayor.
“I have never tolerated bullies and I have always taught my three children to do the same,” he said.
A panda was spotted outside Toronto City Hall last Thursday. The cold, windy and wet weather didn’t seem to bother him much. He had more important things to worry about.
A Toronto Zoo worker, who was wearing a panda costume, was there to support his fellow co-workers. They could be locked out of their jobs at the end of April.
Toronto’s Executive Committee met with around 100 different residents Monday April 15, with wildly differing opinions on the potential casino for downtown Toronto.
Dozens of activists and concerned citizens crowded a tiny committee room at Toronto city halls all day to present their arguments for and against the casino.
Helen Aspiotis used to have frequent problems with graffiti. Since her store was painted with a mural of a young man’s face and bright purple roses, Aspiotis’ graffiti problems have stopped. She’s appealed to the city to keep the mural.
Toronto’s Licencing and Standards Committee has proposed amendments to the “no-touch” rule, municipal licencing for exotic dancers and new regulations governing to the use of security camerasthe construction and design of private dance rooms at local strip clubs.
One by one, sports league organizers, coaches, players and parents stood up to express their anger and frustration with the city’s newly introduced sports field permit fees to the city councillors who were willing to listen.