Who is clamouring so much for beer and wine in corner stores and at every grocer that the province feels compelled to exit its deal with The Beer Store early? The financial penalty to leave the contract now is between $225 million and $1 billion depending on whose numbers you buy. The current arrangement with The Beer Store (TBS) is set to expire in 16 months, with no penalty from Ontario taxpayers. Could it be that Premier Doug Ford is planning an early election, wants to get this campaign promise fulfilled ahead of time, and doesn’t mind a bit wasting taxpayers’ dollars to check that box?  Read more

City council working through the summer

By Dianne Saxe

Thank you to everyone who turned out for our two Environment Days in May and June at Central Technical School and Fred Hamilton Park! I hope you have also enjoyed our first long weekends as we kick off the summer weather. I have managed to plant some cherry tomatoes and herbs in pots this year; so far they are withstanding the hungry rabbits.  Read more

Elections, housing, and schools are the hot topics

By Jessica Bell

Is it election time? 

The Conservatives closed the legislature a week early and extended our return date to Oct. 21.   Read more

Albert Koehl launches first book

By Meredith Poirier 

The groovy L’Espresso Bar Mecurio, a bright Italian cafe at the intersection of Bloor and St. George streets hosted Albert Koehl’s book launch on May 27.   Read more

READ MORE:  Read more

• SPORTS: A whole new ball game (Apr. 2024)
• SPORTS: Baseball in full bloom at the Pits (Summer 2023)

Land trust aims to preserve affordability of unique neigbourhood

By Merideth Poirier

At Cafe Pamenar, located in the heart of Kensington Market, community members came out in droves to support the Kensington Community Bond Campaign.   Read more

Vape World on Bloor parks itself on pathway to Central Technical High School 

By Ammara Khan and Meredith Poirier  Read more

Early vaccine for diphtheria developed in local laneway

By Mia Keskinen   Read more

Local man, asset afficianado

SEE MORE EDITORIAL CARTOONS:  Read more

• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice: NIMBYism 101 (Apr. 2024)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: Why can’t they get along??? (Mar. 2024)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How to drive in Toronto (Feb. 2024)
• EDITORIAL CARTON: “Someone’s getting rich!” (Dec. 2023)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Fall 2023)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Summer 2023)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (May/June 2023)

RE: Offended in the Annex

I live in the east Annex. I find it offensive to receive such a biased, one-sided “newspaper” delivered to my house.

If you are going to provide an unsolicited tabloid camouflaged as news, I would urge you to take a balanced approach.  Read more

The competing notions of treating illicit drug use as a health issue versus a criminal one is at the heart of a divide between the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario. The city wants to decriminalize and help people who are addicted and the province thinks it can arrest its way out of the problem.  Read more

Booze in parks gets green light, revamp of recycling on the horizon

By Dianne Saxe

Spring arrived early this year with turbulent weather in April and sunshine in May. It’s also been an eventful season: I hope you had a chance to enjoy the total solar eclipse, the Easter parades, Earth Day’s 45th anniversary, Toronto’s luscious bounty of cherry blossoms, and holiday meals with friends and family.  Read more

Underfunding schools, justice system, and interference at colleges & universities

By Jessica Bell

It’s been a very busy period at Queen’s Park. Here are the highlights. 

Parents stand up to pending school budget cuts

On May 8, I joined parents, students, teachers, and residents outside Kensington School for a rally to demand better funding for our public schools.  Read more