New projections warn that the new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus could result in Ontario seeing 40,000 new infections per day in February. Meanwhile, the province has announced a state of emergency allowing the government, with the support of cabinet, to introduce new public health orders more quickly. This could be a good thing, depending on how the powers are used. It’s hard to be hopeful, though, when the province is led by a premier who seems so determined to deliver mixed messages and sweeping regulations riddled with enormous loopholes.  Read more

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Plans for a futuristic condo at 361 Davenport unsettled

By Tanya Ielyseieva

A unique 7-storey mixed-used building from the developer Bianca Pollak is set to rise for 361 Davenport Rd., near Dupont.   Read more

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As the federal government adopts a bold plan to surpass its 2030 climate plan targets by dramatically hiking carbon taxes, spending billions to help Canadians retrofit homes, and provide massive incentives to carbon heavy industries to change their ways, the Ontario premier appears to be headed in the opposite direction. According to the auditor general’s recent update, this province is not even going to meet its miserly 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels.   Read more

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According to the City of Toronto, over 60,000 cars, on average, are caught driving  over the speed limit on Avenue Road every week. The sidewalks between Bloor Street West to St. Clair Avenue West do not meet the accessibility standards requiring a minimum width of 152.5 cm, and local groups want improvements to start immediately. With the support of councillors Mike Layton and Josh Matlow, they have requested the launch of a Pedestrian Safety Improvement Pilot Project that would replace a lane on both sides of the road with a temporary barrier.  Read more

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A team of Indigenous workers are bringing Paul Martel Park back to life

By Tanya Ielyseieva  Read more

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Bells on Bloor asks for enforcement of bike lane rules

Over a six week period, the Gleaner photographed active daytime deliveries along Bloor St. West in order to give a snapshot of which companies respect the bike lanes and which don’t. Most do. Some Sysco truck drivers obey bike lane rules, while others do not. Brinks trucks must deliver via the front door of their customers, and seem to actively ignore the rules while doing so.  Read more

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Entrepreneur invests in community on a wing and a prayer

By Mary An  Read more

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It’s a plan created by experts, and teachers need to step-up. That’s what Premier Ford and his ministers are saying about their back-to-school plan for Ontario students. The plan, which deserves some praise for permitting some two dozen school boards across the province to have their high school students take half their courses online, effectively reduces class sizes. The elementary school strategy, however, has garnered a less than enthusiastic response from school boards, teachers, parents, and – experts. Five hundred new nurses, and thirteen hundred additional custodians are being hired, but this will do nothing to reduce direct transmission between students or between students and staff. Let’s take a closer look.  Read more

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One of the strangest things to happen over the course of this very strange spring was the apparent transformation of Premier Doug Ford into to a caring, compassionate leader. This illusion is fading quickly, as his government rams Bill 184 through the Ontario legislature. The new law will almost surely result in mass residential evictions of tenants who were unable to pay full rent during the COVID-19 lockdown.  Read more

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The twenty-four room Annex Hotel at 296 Brunswick Avenue has re-opened its doors to accommodate Toronto healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more

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Huron Street resident and artist Lynne Dalgleish crafted this sign of hope to help neighbours and passers-by alike summon positive thoughts. Click here for the full story from the artist. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS

READ MORE LOCAL COVID-19 COVERAGE:  Read more

• NEWS: Keep Your Rent campaign emerges (Apr. 2020)

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A message from the artist

By Lynne Dalgleish

I had read about the “Andrà tutto bene” (everything will be alright) rainbow drawings that the people of Italy were putting in their windows to boost morale and delight children.  Read more

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