Thinking Ahead to 2014: Taking a Critical Look at Local Elections

An evening of exploring options to make municipal elections more relevant, fair and participatory sponsored by Better Ballots, a non partisan group —Fair Vote is a member of this group and is advocating for a proportional system for Canada’s largest city. 
Wayne Smith, Executive Director of Fair Vote Canada will be one of the eight speakers. See below.
Wednesday, November 23 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Oakham House, Ryerson University63 Gould StreetToronto, ON

• Alan Broadbent, Maytree Foundation
• Paul Farrelly, Vote Toronto
• Sarah Lambert, Ranked Ballot Initiative
• William Molls, VoteTO16
• Rob Newman, Better Ballots Campaign
• Wayne Smith Fair Vote Canada
• Kristyn Wong-Tam, Toronto City Councillor
• Leonardo Zuniga, iVoteToronto

For more details:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=231958223534955

Community Consultation Meeting for St. Jamestown N. Lanterrra Development

St. Jamestown North Development Proposal.

After attending the Community Consultation Meeting on November 7th at St. Simon's on Bloor St. E. I have the following concerns regarding the proposed development.

1. Although the consideration of privately owned, public space seems on the surface to be a move in the right direction, I have reservations around the security and upkeep ...of the space and if it will indeed be seen by the general public to be that of a regular park, or would the condo security personnel be employed to limit public accessibility and usage? Would local residents be able to walk dogs there? Would they have access in the evening or nighttime hours?

2. The idea of the double row of trees along Howard and Bloor streets seems initially impressive, however, I have concerns regarding who would ultimately be responsible for the care and maintenance of these trees? Would the condo corporation, or would the cost be transferred to general taxpayers? If it is the latter, when would such a transfer of responsibility take place?

3. I have concerns with the current and future state of the Glen Road TTC entrance, which by most accounts is unsafe and dangerous. Does the development proposal include and security improvements for this TTC access point? How would the TTC handle the increase in ridership that would undoubtedly occur?

4. There seems to be no consideration for alternative housing options such as rent to own, or subsidized housing. In fact, the only mention of anything for the community was one space that "could be used for the community". I feel this is a missed opportunity. This development is a great opportunity to bridge the neighborhoods of Rosedale and St. Jamestown and is missing the mark.

5. I would like to see this development incorporate an higher than normal number of 2 and 3 bedroom units in order to encourage families to live within the development.

6. With regards to height concerns, I am STRONGLY opposed to the current proposed tower heights of; 48, 49, 43 and 53 stories. The current zoning does not allow for structures of this height, in fact, the current zoning doesn't allow for the height of the proposed podium along Howard St. (see image above). I do believe there is a place for population intensification, however, the current proposal is far to outlandish and unacceptable. I propose the tallest tower should be no more that 25 stories. I'm also concerned with the effects the current proposal would have on wind and sunlight in the area.

7. I am concerned with the proposed demolition of 76 Howard St. and would be opposed to this facet of the proposal. I would like to see this building utilized and possibly moved, if necessary.

8. There is much concern with the construction process with regards to security, cleanliness, noise and potential damage to existing structures in the neighborhood.

9. Finally, what I have seen of the general designs so far is uninspired, boring, tedius and considering Lanterra Development's record, potentially dangerous.

Adi Braun at the Homesmith Bar at the Old Mill

Toronto jazz vocalist Adi Braun featuring Jordan Klapman on piano and Henry Heillig on bass.  No cover charge. $20 food minimum. Full menu, free parking. Old mill subway station.
www.oldmilltoronto.ca
www.adibraun.ca

160 Girls Fundraiser

Click image to view full size.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
hosted by Fasken Martineau
Suite 2400, 333 Bay Street
The Bay Adelaide Centre, Toronto 


RSVP: rsvp@theequalityeffect.org
info: 416-720-7359 or visit theEqualityEffect.org

Support 160 girls who have been raped in their fight for justice – and insist that
the law protect all girls and women.

Featuring:

Sally Armstrong internationally acclaimed journalist and human rights activist

Dr. Elizabeth Archampong, Vice-Dean of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University, Ghana
Launch of a mini-documentary on the 160 Girls by award-winning filmmaker Andrea Dorfman.

Silent auction

Free Adi Braun Concert at the Canadian Opera Company

Wed. November 2, 2011
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
145 Queen. St. W., Toronto
Adi Braun Quartet
Adi Braun, vocals
Jordan Klapman, piano
George Koller, bass
Daniel Barnes, drums

Noir
Adi Braun invites you to an hour of delicious and dangerous music from the era of the film noir. Let Marlene Dietrich wrap you in the arms of “The Blue Angel” (1931), Doris Day sing of Ruth Etting’s woes in “Love Me or Leave Me” (1955), be seduced by the haunting beauty of David Raksin’s melody “Laura” (1944), and taste the bittersweet reality of life in “Blues in the Night” (1941). Noir is filled with songs and repartee from this truly unique period in film-making where, as Fay Helm said in “Phantom Lady,” there are “no names, no addresses – just companions for the evening.”

Earthsharing Conference

Earthsharing Conference 
Dominican University College, Ottawa
96 Empress Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1R 7G3
November 4-5, 2011 

Earthsharing Canada
Incorporated by federal Letters Patent, July 8, 2011

To promote and foster the recapture of economic rent for the furtherance of sustain-
able economic justice among all Canadians;
To encourage the removal of obstacles to efficiency in the Canadian economy by
shifting taxation off labour and capital; and
To foster public interest in and awareness of economic issues and a sound philoso-
phy of economics.

Conference Schedule

November 4, 2011 – Friday
Albert le Grand Hall

2:00-3:00 pm.   Frank de Jong, Past Green Party of Ontario Leader, “Earthsharing and 
                         Public Policy: Problems and Perspectives”
3:00-3:15          Break
3:15-4:00          Jeff Dean, NDP BC. “Earthsharing and the Tasks of Democracy
                          in the 21st  Century” 
4:00-4:15          Break
4:15-4:45          Book launches
 Francis K. Peddle and  Amy Gordon, eds, The Poverty Paradox
 Maxime Allard, O.P., et al., Échos d’une mutation sociale. Anthologie des
textes du Père Georges-Henri Lévesque, O.P. Précurseur de la révolution
tranquille
5:00     Film: “The Killing Fields”  (in Albert le Grand)   
    Hors-d’oeuvre/refreshments in hall adjoining Albert le Grand
6:00     Dinner on your own
November 5, 2011 – Saturday
Albert le Grand Hall

8:30-9:00 am.  Coffee & pastries
9:00-9:50         Francis K. Peddle, Dominican University College, Ottawa
                        “From Financial Crisis through Fiscal Repression to Economic 
                         Redemption”
10:00-10:50     Brendan Hennigan,  Director, Ontario School of Economic Science
                        “Media Aspects of Economics and Philosophy”
11:00-11:50      Susan Murphy,  Algonquin College
                         “Social Media and Economics Presentations”
12:00-2:00 pm.    Chinatown Ottawa lunch

2:00-3:00           Cay Hehner, Director, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, NYC
                          Introduction to a roundtable discussion:
                          “Occupy Wall Street, Reform Agendas, and Fraternité”.

3:15-4:30           Business meeting, Earthsharing Canada  

Clover Leaf Kills More Than Just Tuna

A message from anonymous to the 99%

Sign the petition: Hands off our CBC

Only you can stop devastating Conservative cuts to our cherished public broadcaster

The Conservative government has begun a campaign against the CBC. 

Consider this pattern of behavior. 

It starts with a broken promise:

Heritage Minister James Moore recently announced upcoming cuts of up to $110 Million to the CBC.

This is completely contrary to the promises he made prior to the election. “We made a simple, specific promise to Canadians in the last election to maintain or increase funding to the CBC,” Mr. Moore said in February. It didn’t take him long to break his promise to Canadians. Last month he announced a 5% cut to CBC’s budget, this month he is announcing it’s 10%. Who knows how much further Harper’s Conservatives will go.

Click here to sign the petition!

 

Foodstock: Support Your Local Farmer

 

Sunday, October 16, 2011 - 11:00 - 18:00

 

JOIN 20,000 PEOPLE & 70 CANADIAN CHEFS to taste the bounty of land threatened by the mega-Quarry in Melancthon Township, Ontario.

Honeywood, Ontario Highway 124 and on 4 farms that refused to sell out!

Admission: Pay what you can to support the cost of fighting the Quarry!

Read more at Canadian Chefs' Congress