Toronto Mayor Rob Ford

Today the crowd at the flag raising for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia at Queen’s Park had a surprise guest. Mayor Rob Ford, known for being a no-show at Pride events, came out with his staff to take part.

Today’s event was the first time since Mayor Ford took office that he has been to a gay event. It may be a sign that Ford is changing and working to represent all of Toronto, not just those who live in the suburbs.

At previous events concerning Toronto’s gay community the mayor has sent City Councillors to represent City Hall to read proclamations. Councillor Gord Perks told the crowd today that today Ford would be the one reading the proclamation.

Ford had told the organizers  of the event last month that he was not able to attend but at the last minute changed his mind. CBC quoted Ford, “Toronto is a society open to everyone including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two-spirit and transsexual LGBT community, who are an important part of this city’s diversity.”

Opening gay City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam tweeted, “Thank you to the 19 city councillors & @TOMayorFord who came out to support PFLAG & commemorate #IDAHO! #TOpoli #canqueer”.

Today’s arrival by the Toronto mayor is a good first step. He was treated as a hero when he appeared. It will be interesting to see if Ford will keep up a positive image on June 25 when the Pride Flag goes up at City Hall. Ford has already stated that he will be at his family cottage during the Pride Parade.

A man who is dressing up as a Brinks Security Guard has hit two places, escaping with money from one. At the first location he left after being asked for identification. The second location gave him their cash.

On Saturday December 31, 2011, a man walked into a WalMart on St. Clair Avenue West, fully dressed as a Brinks armoured guard, including a firearm, and advised an employee he was there for the money pick up. The employee asked for ID, when he didn’t have the information he left the store.

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, the same man as in the previous incident, again in a full Brinks armoured guard uniform, including a firearm, walked into a supermarket on Birchmount Road where he was given the money bag. He left the store through the front doors.

Staff Inspector Mike Earl, Hold Up Squad, said during a media conference that this man has done his homework. He knows when the stores are expecting the truck.

The man could be a past Brinks employee.

The suspect has not pulled the gun in the robberies, wearing it on his gear belt. The uniform is an exact of the Brinks company.

The suspect is described as white, 30-35, 5’8″-5’10″, 150lbs.-175lbs., medium build, with short brown hair. The suspect was wearing a blue Brinks uniform, with a blue Brinks baseball-style hat, black shoes, and black duty belt and armed with a firearm. The suspect has a wide gait.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.

The international bond credit rating firm Moody’s Investors Service has reaffirmed the City of Toronto’s credit rating of Aa1 with a stable outlook for the 10th consecutive year.

The rating confirms that City bonds represent excellent value based upon the City’s positive operating results, its fiscal discipline, and its diverse and strong local economy.

“This rating and report shows that the City is on track to building a sustainable, affordable and well-managed city,” said Budget Committee Chair Mike Del Grande (Ward 39 Scarborough-Agincourt). “Despite this past year of many challenges and achievements, our efforts to find expenditure savings and/or increased revenue must continue in order to secure a permanent solution to the City’s structural deficit and deliver the best value to taxpayers.”

“Toronto’s rating relative to other Canadian municipalities reflects a low debt burden and high levels of liquidity, balanced by operating budget challenges typically not experienced elsewhere,” was noted in a report from Moody’s on May 16. “The high investment-grade rating also reflects a large and diversified economy, which remains a source of credit strength, providing access to a broad tax base.”

Also included in the report is a statement on how the City’s credit rating can be upgraded by Moody’s.

“Continued fiscal discipline, including a permanent solution to the existing operating budget pressures, along with a continued strengthening in financial position, could exert upward pressure on Toronto’s rating,” the report notes. “A loss of fiscal discipline leading to a significant increase in the city’s debt burden could apply downward pressure on the city’s rating.”

On an annual basis, credit rating agencies assess the City’s financial condition by comparing it with other cities and regions in quality of management, strength of economy, level of reserves, condition of assets and debt levels. The agencies provide ratings to global investors and are the main factor in investment decisions.

“The City of Toronto is recognized as an important participant in global financial markets,” said Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Cam Weldon. “The maintenance of a high quality credit rating enables the City to borrow at a lower cost and offer its debt to a wider market. The rating means that the City has a strong ability to make payments on its debt now and in the future.”

The City’s current credit ratings are:
o Aa1 – Moody’s (one level below AAA)
o AA – Standard and Poor’s (two levels below AAA)
o AA – DBRS (two levels below AAA)

For more information and to view the Moody’s report, visit: http://www.toronto.ca/finance

On May 18, internationally acclaimed Toronto artist Luis Jacob will be joined by Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park) and Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport) to dedicate his new Dufferin Street Underpass public art project “Spirits of the Grotto” to the city.

The public is also invited to this dedication event, which takes place at 5 p.m. at the Dufferin Amphitheatre parkette at 1266 Queen St. W. The Dufferin Street Underpass (formerly the Dufferin Jog) runs from south of Queen Street to north of Peel Avenue.

“Spirits of the Grotto” consists of 34 perforated-metal panels bearing colourful, mosaic eye-shaped designs that gaze down on passing cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Jacob, a long-time Parkdale resident, intended his open eye-shaped designs to evoke the presence of spirits who observe alertly and full of neighbourly care. Arranged in two rows facing one another across the underpass, these guardian spirits animate the space as a place alive with curiosity, respect for the heritage of our past, and caring alertness towards the future.

Jacob has become one of Canada’s most prominent contemporary visual artists. Since showing his work at Germany’s prestigious Documenta exhibition in 2007, he has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout Europe and North America. More information about the him is available at http://www.ccca.ca/artists.

Financing for this project came from the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division and City Planning Urban Design. More information  about the City of Toronto’s Public Art program is available at http://www.toronto.ca/culture/public_art.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The City of Toronto’s Fire Services reminds Torontonians that attention is needed for the safe use of fireworks and sparklers at Victoria Day celebrations this weekend.

Fire Services advises that fireworks have the potential to cause serious injury. If you plan to host your own display, make sure responsible adults supervise. Take the time to plan, prepare, protect and prevent: plan and prepare for a safe display, protect all participants/viewers and prevent a fireworks-related accident.

In Toronto, fireworks displays/discharges must comply with the City of Toronto fireworks bylaw (Bylaw 1422-2007, Municipal Code 466).

Fire Services prefers that families visit a community fireworks presentation conducted by a professional fireworks display company. The following list of safety tips is for adults who are considering hosting their own backyard fireworks event. Note that City parks may not be used for personal fireworks displays.

Plan:
o Fireworks may only be used without a permit on designated holidays (such as Victoria Day).
o Purchase fireworks from a retailer displaying a City-issued fireworks vendor permit.
o Always read and follow the label directions.

Prepare:
o Before fireworks and sparklers are used, they should be kept out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard or drawer.
o Discharge the fireworks a safe distance from combustible materials such as buildings and trees.
o Before they are ignited, fireworks should be buried at least half their length into a bucket of sand or earth (if portable firing bases are not available). Plant the fireworks directly into the sand/ground to make sure each piece is firmly supported and aimed straight up.

Protect:
o Light the fireworks at arm’s length, stand back and keep your face turned away. If a firework fails to ignite, do not attempt to re-light it. Let it sit in the base for 10 to 15 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water.
o The adult igniting the fireworks should wear eye protection and avoid having any part of his or her body over the firework.
o Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
o Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
o Never discharge fireworks in metal or glass containers.
o Never discharge fireworks indoors.
o If someone does suffer a burn, run cool water over it for a few minutes and consider further treatment.

Prevent:
o In order to prevent an accident or injury, sparklers should be doused with water, or allowed to cool in a safe place away from children playing. The ends of sparklers continue to stay hot for some time and will easily burn a child’s skin, clothing or other nearby combustible material.
o Do not allow sparklers to be used indoors.
o Children make a great audience but they should never be permitted to light fireworks. Adults are responsible for handling the fireworks materials while spectators watch the display from a safe distance.
o One designated adult should ignite the fireworks.
o Ignited fireworks should never be hand-held.
o Light only one firework item at a time.
o Always have water on hand – a garden hose and bucket of water – to soak fireworks after they have fired.

More information about fire safety is available at http://www.toronto.ca/fire.

OTTAWA, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, and Ryan Leef, the Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that Canadian residents will be able to bring a rental vehicle into Canada from the United States. They were joined by fellow border Members of Parliament John Williamson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest; Russ Hiebert, MP for South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale; and, Guy Lauzon, MP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

A revision to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) will allow Canadian residents to temporarily import a U.S.-based rental vehicle for non-commercial purposes for a period up to 30 days.  To facilitate access to Canadian tourism destinations and provide more flexibility for travellers, Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012 will also eliminate taxes on these vehicles for Canadians who have been outside of Canada for at least 48 hours, effective June 1, 2012.

“Our government is making cross-border travel easier for Canadians,” said Minister Nicholson. “For example, a Canadian taking a cruise from San Francisco to Seattle can now rent a car in Seattle and drive it across the border to visit Vancouver; or, when a Canadian is visiting the U.S. and their car breaks down or they experience a last-minute flight cancellation, they now can rent a U.S. vehicle and return home safely.”

“This important change will provide more options for Canadian travellers and benefit the tourism industry,” said Minister of State Bernier. “Our government’s top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, and what’s good for tourism is good for Canada’s economy.”

“The inability of Canadian residents to bring rental vehicles into Canada has been a long-standing irritant to Yukon’s tourism industry,” added MP Leef. “This change is great news for Yukon – it will improve access to our tourism destinations, encourage new visitors and benefit the local economy.”

The Government of Yukon Territory has been particularly concerned about this issue, noting that this prohibition has been an impediment to tourism. For example, when Canadians take Alaskan cruises, they are unable to enter Canada from Alaska in U.S. rental vehicles. Transport Canada has received many requests for this change from Canadians, and the new amendment addresses this concern in an effective way.

Today’s announcement is another example of the Government of Canada’s commitment to building partnerships and strengthening Canada’s tourism sector as outlined in the Federal Tourism Strategy (FTS). For more information on the FTS, please visit our website at www.tourism.gc.ca

OTTAWA, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ – As we mark National Lifejacket Day on May 17, the Canadian Red Cross is urging Canadians to wear their lifejackets. Each year, more than 160 Canadians drown while boating. Nearly 90 per cent are not properly wearing lifejackets.

“Almost 40 per cent of boating fatalities occur when a lifejacket is present but not worn,” says Rick Caissie, national director of Injury Prevention programming with the Canadian Red Cross. “A lifejacket cannot protect you unless you are wearing it correctly.”

Since 1991, the percentage of drowning incidents involving lifejackets on board a boat but not worn has doubled. Recent polling shows that despite significant water safety education and awareness programming, there is still a gap in the behaviour of Canadians when it comes to lifejackets. Fewer than half of Canadians who use boats say they and other adult passengers always wear lifejackets while boating.

“It is troubling that although 82 per cent of Canadians think there is a legal requirement to wear a lifejacket when boating, fewer than half of those who own a boat wear them,” adds Caissie.

Yesterday on Parliament Hill, Members of Parliament donned lifejackets in support of water safety awareness.

“We are extremely grateful to the Members of Parliament who came out in support of yesterday’s event,” said Caissie. “On National Lifejacket Day and throughout the season, the Red Cross encourages all boaters, of all skill levels, to wear their lifejacket when in a boat and to ensure it is properly secured.”

The Canadian Red Cross has been helping to keep Canadians safe in, on and around water since 1946. For more information about Red Cross swimming and water safety programs, or for safety tips, visit www.redcross.ca/swim.

TORONTO, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ – The frequency and intensity of mental health issues is increasing on campuses across Ontario. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are amongst a variety of mental health illnesses that are becoming more visible on post-secondary campuses. The College Student Alliance (CSA) policy paper, Mental Health In Ontario’s Post-secondary Education System, make recommendations to improve the awareness of mental health, build additional support mechanisms and create a better understanding of what it means to be mentally healthy. It is imperative to students, institutions, and communities to fully understand the significance of mental health and the socioeconomic impact it has on individuals at large.

“Mental health affects all of us whether we suffer from a mental health illness or not,” stated Brian Costantini, President of the CSA. “Far too often those suffering from mental health go unnoticed because individuals do not know how to recognize the signs: this needs to change.”

Post-secondary students are amongst those most likely to suffer from mental illnesses. Within the CSA’s policy paper, Mental Health In Ontario’s Post-secondary Education System, the challenges faced by students and institutions, and counselling centres are described in concerning detail. As part of the thirteen recommendations in the CSA Mental Health document it is recommended that a post-secondary education (PSE) framework be adopted by the province, that PSE and mental health stakeholders collaborate more with one another, and that the Ontario Special Bursary Program be reinstated.

“Efforts to increase awareness of mental health issues are paramount to the short and long term success of creating healthier minds on college campuses across Ontario,” replied Jim Robeson, Director of Advocacy of the CSA. He added, “The Focus On Mental Health Conference, is one of the many venues that are stimulating the conversation around mental health in Ontario.”

With stakeholders working together and government recognizing the importance of healthy minds, both on and off campuses, students who suffer from mental health issues can achieve success on every level. The CSA looks forward to continuing its work with the provincial government and its stakeholders to put sustainable measures in place and create a healthy environment for all students. To view the policy paper, Mental Health In Ontario’s Post-secondary Education System, please visit collegestudentalliance.ca

The College Student Alliance (CSA) is a member-driven advocacy organization that has been proudly serving Ontario’s college and college-university students since 1975. The CSA currently represents students from 16 colleges and 23 student associations with over 130,000 full-time student members throughout the province.

But for many Boomers, the numbers won’t add up without a detailed budget

TORONTO, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Most (71 per cent) Boomers can’t wait to spend their time as they wish in retirement, but four-in-10 (42 per cent) of those not-yet-retired expect managing cash flow in retirement to be more difficult and 37 per cent are worried they do not have enough money to do what they want, according to the third annual RBC Retirement Myths and Realities Poll.

“It’s understandable to have concerns about money management in retirement and that’s where planning can help alleviate this anxiety,” said Amalia Costa, head, Retirement Strategies, RBC. “Seeking financial advice and working with an advisor will help you to determine the lifestyle you want in retirement, to understand the financial implications and to develop the corresponding financial plan and budget.”

Only half (52 per cent) of those expecting to retire within a year have a detailed budget as part of a financial plan. Furthermore, the survey found that retired Boomers require a higher percentage (60 per cent) of their annual pre-retirement income (up from 56 per cent in 2011 and 2010).

“When your retirement is years away, you are primarily focused on growing your retirement savings. Then when your actual retirement date nears, you need to get much more specific on two fronts,” advises Costa. “First, you need to understand what your spending will be in this new phase of your life, including how much of this is for living expenses and how much is for more flexible lifestyle expenses. Then, you need to figure out how to most effectively use those accumulated savings, along with your other retirement resources to create a new pay cheque for yourself – one that aligns to your spending requirements.”

Costa noted that the poll results show that only half of those within a year of retirement have created a detailed budget. This first step, along with working with a financial advisor to create a retirement income plan, can go a long way towards providing Canadians with a greater sense of control and certainty – translating into less anxiety and more enjoyment in retirement.

About the RBC Myths & Realities Poll

The third Annual RBC Retirement Myths & Realities Poll, which examines Canadians’ expectations and experiences in retirement, was conducted by Ipsos Reid from February 24 to March 12, 2012. For this survey, a national sample of 2,833 adults aged 50 and over with household assets of at least $100,000 from Ipsos’ Canadian online panel was interviewed online. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of ±2 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, coverage error and measurement error.

About RBC’s financial planning advice, resources and interactive tools

The RBC Advice Centre offers free online advice, resources and tools regarding retirement and estate planning https://www.rbcadvicecentre.com/saving_and_investing/retirement_and_estate_planning]. In addition, RBC’s myFinanceTracker, a comprehensive online financial management tool, offers all personal RBC online banking clients the ability, at no cost, to create a set budget and track their spending habits and to access H&R Block tax-related apps in the new myTax Centre, to help manage and plan their taxes.

Brian Iler, Chair of CommunityAIR:  A flurry of activity over the past two weeks has resulted in Toronto and East York Community Council yesterday adopting significant measures to address traffic chaos caused by Island Airport traffic.

“It took the combined resources of angry parents and an impressively responsive Toronto District School Board, working closely with Councillor Adam Vaughan and City staff, to force the TPA to take community concerns seriously.” said Brian Iler, Chair, CommunityAIR.

“If the TPA had any willingness to listen to the community’s concerns it would have long ago constrained its aggressive airport expansion until sufficient measures were in place to protect the community. These actions should not have been necessary. – and may very well be insufficient.” he added.

A City safety review of this intersection, tabled at that meeting confirmed what parents have been worrying aobut:

• pedestrian conflicts with vehicles related to vehicle turning movements at the intersection
• taxi drivers queuing through the intersection, blocking pedestrian crosswalks, and performing aggressive manoeuvres such as
  1. northbound right turns on red from the northbound left-turn lane,
  2. running the red/amber light,
  3. U turns, and
  4. northbound and westbound left turns with pedestrians in the crosswalk.
  5. parking for student pickup/dropoff interfered with the northbound approach to the intersection, forcing through and right-turning traffic into the northbound left-turn lane.

Over the three-year period ending December 31, 2011 there were nine collisions at this intersection. But since April 7 there have been three   a cyclist was struck by a car that day and taken to hospital. On April 23 young woman was struck by a car at Bathurst and Queens Quay. She left in an ambulance. A third accident between two cars occurred just last Friday.

The Council decided to:

• Prohibit northbound left turns from Eireann Quay to Queens Quay West at all times,
• Prohibit northbound right turns from Eireann Quay to Queens Quay West when the traffic control signal shows red,
• Prohibit eastbound right turns from Queens Quay West to Eireann Quay when the traffic control signal shows red
• Modify the pavement markings at the intersection of Queens Quay West and Eireann Quay/Bathurst Street by
  1. installing zebra markings on all four crosswalks,
  2. improving the bicycle lane markings on the westbound approach,
  3. installing any additional guide lines required to assist motorists through the centre of the intersection, and
  4. delineating a new school bus loading zone immediately south of the intersection
• Prohibit northbound left turns from Stadium Road to Lake Shore Boulevard West, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except Public Holidays.
• Prohibit eastbound right turns from Lake Shore Boulevard West to Stadium Road, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, except Public Holidays.
• Prohibit heavy trucks at all times on Stadium Road, between Lake Shore Boulevard West and the south end of Stadium Road
• Install a red light camera at the Bathurst Street/Queen’s Quay/Eireann Quay intersection