TABIA argues for tax fairness across Ontario By John J. Kiru In 1998, Ontario took over school boards’ authority to set property tax rates. Residential education rates were immediately equalized across the province and an advisory panel recommended moving quickly to equalize business education tax rates as well. It is now 19 years later and […]

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Building diverse and sustainable cities By Mike Layton Our city is changing. In some Toronto neighbourhoods, the pace of change is difficult to manage, and even more difficult to get ahead of, because it is so rapid. Of growing concern is that the character of many communities can be overwhelmed by an influx of chain […]

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More how nice!: EDITORIAL CARTOON (APRIL 2017): The GRAND TORY by blamb (April 2017) EDITORIAL CARTOON: A second chance! by Brett Lamb 2037 (February 2017) EDITORIAL CARTOON: Not really! It’s actually nice! by Stumpy the Subway (January 2017) The stages of voting reform! by Joe Proportion (December 2016) Previously rejected police car designs! by Designed Without Public […]

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Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is contributing little of use to the debate over how best to deal with the hundreds of refugees walking across the Canada-US border through fields and forests. Thanks to Donald Trump’s barrage of rashly conceived executive orders, immigrants to the United States seeking to stay there have become increasingly nervous that […]

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More how nice! EDITORIAL CARTOON (JANUARY 2017): Not really! It’s actually nice! by Stumpy the Subway The stages of voting reform! by Joe Proportion (December 2016) Previously rejected police car designs! by Designed Without Public Consultation (November 2016) The sincerest form of flattery! by Dow Indepols (October 2016) A warm carbon blanket! By Hock Estique (September 2016)

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Canadian cities receive only 10 cents for each tax dollar they pay By Mike Layton With all the talk about tolls and taxes, I feel I need to admit something: I don’t mind paying taxes. The reason I don’t mind paying taxes is simple — taxes are the price we pay for living in a […]

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Protecting heritage doesn’t mean freezing areas in time By Joe Cressy As is often said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. In comparison, Toronto may be a relatively young city, but that doesn’t mean we have no history to speak of — far from it. Preserving our city’s heritage is critical. It tells us something […]

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Bloor Street citizens have their say By Geremy Bordonaro The December 22 shutdown of Pacifico Life had us wondering: what do people think of having a marijuana dispensary in their neighbourhood? So, we hit Bloor Street on January 12, not too far from where Pacifico Life had been, to find out. We asked people what […]

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Travels with daughter enable fresh look at community By Mike Layton Growing up in our neighbourhood, I thought I knew it inside and out, but I’ve spent the last year seeing it through a new set of eyes. Joined by my daughter, Phoebe, I have developed a new understanding of our community. You may have […]

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Favourites include carol singing, winter solstice We asked our local representatives how they spend the holidays. Councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) and Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), Toronto District School Board Trustee Ausma Malik (Ward 10, Trinity-Spadina), and our MPP Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina) shared their favourite traditions, their proudest achievement of the year, and […]

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MORE how nice!: The sincerest form of flattery! by Dow Indepols (October 2016) A warm carbon blanket! By Hock Estique (September 2016) A clear path! by Dot Tedline (August 2016) Planning! by Train Waits (July 2016)  

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Protecting the intangible along with the tangible By Joe Cressy Ward 20 is home to some of our city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods — communities characterized by unique and diverse groups of neighbours, businesses, physical structures, contemporary public art, and iconic cultural destinations. And, neighbourhoods that are actively working on initiatives to transform forgotten laneways and […]

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