Marcus McGee makes a nice attempt at an ode to Toronto as opposed to the idea of Ford Nation: “Toronto isn’t Rob Ford. Toronto is more than that”. Unfortunately, I think he missed the point of why there is dissatisfaction in some parts of the city. All his anecdotes refer
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THE CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE: Democracy Watch files integrity complaint against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
National watchdog organization Democracy Watch has filed a complaint with the Toronto Integrity Commissioner about inside lobbying by Rob Ford and Doug Ford on behalf of companies with ties to their family company. The post Democracy Watch files integrity complaint against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford appeared first on THE CANADIAN
Continue readingCarbon49 - Sustainability for Canadian businesses: Telus Launch Green Rooftop with Community Garden
Office building green roofs tend to be a ‘spectator sport’: look but don’t touch. Telus, one of the Big-Three telecom in Canada, launch their participatory rooftop garden in their downtown Toronto building where staff are encouraged to seed, water, weed, and harvest the vegetables. I talk to Sameer Panjwani, National
Continue readingOlivia Chow is the Best Choice for a Bike-Friendly Mayor of Toronto
On October 27th of this year, Toronto will have the opportunity to elect a new Mayor who will commit to improving transportation in our city. For those who want a bike-friendly mayor who understands the importance of all modes of transportation, Olivia Chow is the best choice.
Continue readingThings Are Good: Bank: Toronto’s Trees Worth $7 Billion
One of Canada’s largest banks has announced that their economic research has concluded that in Toronto alone the tree canopy is worth $7 Billion (CAD). The non-monetary value of trees is obvious to most people and usually that’s enough to justify keeping trees around. However, there are people who only
Continue readingOntario Election: Evaluating Voter Engagement In My Riding Of Parkdale-High Park
Obviously some of the onus is on voters to research candidates, platforms, and issues, and to think for themselves about who and what they want to cast their ballot for. That being said, the opportunity to engage with a candidate one-on-one can have a tremendous impact on voter intention –
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Open Letter To Council Requesting Affirmation Of Toronto As A Sanctuary City
Dear Deputy Mayor, Councillors and city staff. My name is Joe Fantauzzi. I’m a resident of Toronto and first generation Canadian. My family immigrated to this country from Italy in 1957, fleeing a region of that nation torn by the Second World War. My family was lucky. Low-skilled urban labour was
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Open Letter To Council Requesting Affirmation Of Toronto As A Sanctuary City
Dear Deputy Mayor, Councillors and city staff. My name is Joe Fantauzzi. I’m a resident of Toronto and first generation Canadian. My family immigrated to this country from Italy in 1957, fleeing a region of that nation torn by the Second World War. My family was lucky. Low-skilled urban labour was
Continue readingArt Threat: Engaging and Enraging: A Review of The Secret Trial 5
The Secret Trial 5, director Amar Wala’s first feature, is an engaging and enraging look at five men labelled security risks by the Canadian government and detained without trial for a combined total of 30 years in prison, and another 20 years (and counting) under strict house arrest. Shot over
Continue readingEh Types: Group Homes Are People’s Homes
I could write about how Doug Ford’s comments on a group home showed he was ignorant, selfish, and a shameless liar. I might as well write water is wet. Doug’s comments were despicable and the worst kind of populist fear mongering. In other words, exactly what you would expect to
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Toronto Councillor Doug Ford Confirms His Fear of Children With Autism
Dear Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford, as the father of a son with severe autism disorder, my son Conor pictured above, I want to reassure you that you needn’t be so afraid of autistic kids. If you actually get to know any you may find they can even bring a
Continue readingMaple-Flavoured Politics: Is there such a thing as too much democracy (in Toronto)?
I’m unique. I don’t mean that in an airy-fairy, sickeningly sentimental, we’re all individuals, be yourself sort of way. I mean it specifically in the sense that I live in Toronto (I’ve lived here all my life), but I’m not running for mayor. Alright, I exaggerated a tad in saying
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Supervised Injection In Toronto: The Canadian Taboo
Supervised injection is an emerging school of urban policy. At Illuminated By Street Lamps, I have posted a paper I wrote on the subject, which focuses on Toronto, and points the finger at the Conservative federal government and police for halting the discussion about this harm reduction technique. What is
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Supervised Injection In Toronto: The Canadian Taboo
Supervised injection is an emerging school of urban policy. At Illuminated By Street Lamps, I have posted a paper I wrote on the subject, which focuses on Toronto, and points the finger at the Conservative federal government and police for halting the discussion about this harm reduction technique. What is
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: Supervised Injection In Toronto: Why The Discussion Has Screeched To A Halt
By Joe Fantauzzi @jjfantauzzi Drug use is a multifaceted issue in urban life. Addiction can take an enormous toll on individuals and can leave the municipalities in which those people live struggling to adequately service their needs as well as the needs of the community. Supervised injection facilities, in which
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: Temporary Foreign Workers: What Canada Must Do To Protect A Vulnerable Labour Class
By Joe Fantauzzi @jjfantauzziKey Findings and Recommendations:– Between 2003 and 2012, the number of temporary foreign workers admitted to Canada jumped from 102,932 to 213,573 — a difference of 107.5%.– Inquests are mandatory in Ontario when an on-the-job accident kills a worker employed at “a construction project, mining plant or mine, including
Continue readingArt Threat: A visceral, jarring work: A review of Children 404
“Children like me simply don’t exist for them.” With these ominous words, spoken over a crackling telephone connection, Children 404 draws to a close; its unsettling conclusion signaled by an image of the Russian landscape fading into obscurity, scrubbed out by a layer of broken cloud seen from above, through
Continue readingArt Threat: Hot Docs 2014 preview: politically punchy program, diversity festival gap still needs work
It’s springtime in Toronto and that means Canada’s premiere documentary showcase is back for another jam-packed ten day event that will deliver the world of doc to eager local audiences and international festivalgoers. This is Hot Docs‘s first year with new Executive Director Brett Hendrie steering the ship (Chris McDonald
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: More on the At Home/Chez Soi Study
Earlier this month, I blogged about the At Home/Chez Soi homelessness study prior to the release of its final report. Today I’ve blogged again, this time about the contents of the final report itself. This second blog post, being rather long and nuanced, was written for the Homeless Hub. It
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Ontario’s neoliberalism: Coercive, Intense
Do you ever wonder why policing budgets rise in Ontario when the crime rate falls? At Illuminated By Street Lamps, I argue Ontario has been, and remains, among the jurisdictions at the forefront of a business-friendly neoliberal agenda in Canada, despite rising structural unemployment, major challenges in the core manufacturing sector
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