And this month in Ontario politics: Premier Doug Ford, yet again summons the experts for their advice, and pledges to follow their lead. And yet again, once advice is received, promptly goes off in a wildly different direction. This month, the experts told Ford it was safe to re-open schools for the month of June. They told him schools need to be opened not just for the sake of education, but for the sake of mental health. Yet here we are, with schools closed until September.  Read more

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The good, the bad, and the ugly of a government run amok on planning policy

By Jessica Bell

Since becoming premier, the Doug Ford government has rewritten many of the laws and regulations that decide how we build and what we build. These developer-friendly changes help Doug Ford’s donor base reap record profits, but their impact on people, the environment, democracy and our affordable housing goals is mixed. And I’m being nice here.  Read more

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The lack of affordable housing is the other crisis of our time

By Mike Layton

When asked to name the single biggest issue that is facing Torontonians, the most common answer is how hard it is to find affordable housing.   Read more

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It’s time to give pedestrians their due

By Terri Chu

Steven’s Grocery is easily my favourite corner of our neighbourhood. Helen’s flowers are always a welcome sight as we walk by, but the one thing I HATE about that corner is the beg button.   Read more

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From ‘park and bark’ to click and stream – opera is evolving locally

By James McLean  Read more

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Construction on first Green Line initiative set for 2022

By Mary An

One of the first initiatives within the Green Line is underway. As chronicled in the Annex Gleaner’s February edition, the Green Line will be a five kilometre-long park running along the hydro-electric corridor north of Dupont Street.   Read more

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Critics see government’s “protections” as toothless 

By Nicole Stoffman

Seven percent of Ontario tenants, or 98,000 families, can’t pay their full rent because of pandemic-related job loss. They are accumulating rent arrears that many will never be able to repay, according to the Federation of Rental Providers of Ontario (FRPO). In the Annex alone, 16 eviction applications have been made since November.   Read more

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BIA pays homage to its many food establishments during COVID

By Mary An   Read more

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Rainbows, sparkles and onesies, it turns out, are no match for a global pandemic. That’s what Lien Nguyen and her business partner found out after COVID-19 forced numerous strategic pivots just to stay alive. Their enterprise, the Unicorn Café, opened up in January of 2020 at 561 Bloor Street W., and attempted to continue running via Uber Eats. Like many businesses, the Unicorn Café entered the mask trade and in that, found some hope.  Read more

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The Tarragon Theatre has stayed afloat through the third wave of this pandemic by bringing theatre lovers a full season of audio dramas. This art form enjoyed its golden age in the 40s and had been enjoying a rebirth which has boomed with the pandemic. Theatres have been discovering its usefulness as a cheaper and more reliable way to deliver shows than filmed productions or Zoom plays. Actors record their parts remotely, which are combined by the producers who then add in the sound design.  Read more

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Interactive green space to accompany development at Bloor and Bathurst

By Nabahat Hussain   Read more

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The Doug Ford wipeout!

SEE MORE BY BRETT LAMB:  Read more

• EDITORIAL CARTOON: Pandemic Response (Mar. 2021)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Feb. 2021)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Jan. 2021)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice! (Dec. 2020)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Nov. 2020)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Oct. 2020)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Aug. 2020)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (July 2020)
• EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Apr. 2020)

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