Morning Brew: G20 narratives continue to unfold, why we need road tolls now, remembering the mayoral race, Leaf signings, Annex fire, Casa Loma feud and the importance of Pride
The G20 remains entrenched in our collective consciousness, with more and more stories coming to light of wrongful detentions and pointless vandalism. To date, however, this has not swayed the powers that be to initiate a public inquiry. It's impossible to resist thinking that this resistance is indicative of the degree to which the parties involved are worried that they'll come out looking bad.
In other news -- believe it or not, there is other news -- the Toronto City Summit Alliance is set to release a report that argues strongly for the need to implement tolls on GTA highways. As the title of the report indicates, this is some serious stuff. With a toll of 10 to 20 cents per kilometre on 400-series highways, drivers could be forking out 15 bucks every 100 kilometers. Ouch. That seems high, but it doesn't end there. The report includes 11 other funding schemes, including a regional gas tax and special fees for driving in certain areas (like, say, downtown Toronto).
Wondering what the mayoral candidates have been up to? Here's a nice roundup of what they're currently spinning / working on. What's somewhat surprising to me is how mum this group has been on the G20 and its toll on Toronto. It strikes me that though it might make future management of the police force a bit tricky, one of these candidates could demonstrate their putative leadership skills by asking some tough questions about what went on here last weekend rather than following Mayor Miller's instructions to stay quiet.
In brief:
The Maple Leafs have re-signed Nikolai Kulemin and John Mitchell. That's good news regarding the former and not so good news regarding the latter.
A women is dead after a fire broke out in an Annex rooming house yesterday. In what's sure to be a developing story, witnesses on the scene report that her throat was slashed. Homicide police are investigating.
There's a battle brewing at Casa Loma over who will manage it in the years to come. Run by the Kiwanis Club since 1937, the relationship between the charitable organization and the City has been marred by numerous disputes over how to maintain the property.
And, finally, it's great to see that Pride can now be conceived as an antidote to violence and civil unrest. Let's not trivialize the event, however, by forgetting that the parade is as much a protest for equal rights as it is a celebration of the LGBT community.
Photo: "R.O.M" by jonathancastellino, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
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