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The Toronto Islands

the lemur said:
Are you talking about his cycling map? The one that suggested we could bike from the mainland to one end of the island, across the island and back onto the mainland?
Click to expand...

Nobody I have spoken too has been able to recollect anything about this "promise" - but I'm hoping they do ;)
 
I can't seem to find the map online, but there was definitely a map that suggested you'd be able to bike over and back - not that he ever said anything to that effect though.
 
Peepers said:
Just adding to my last post here is a sample Menu for Beasley's "Carousel Restaurant"

http://www.centreisland.ca/images/restaurants/Carousel_Menu_April_27.pdf

Onion Rings: $7.00!

A can of pop : $3.00!

A Vegetable Spring Roll served with Thai sauce : $8.00!

Why have the citizens of Toronto put up with this massive RIP-OFF for all these years?

Check out the pathetic "attractions" : http://www.centreisland.ca/rides-and-attractions.aspx

Many families that visit the Islands are low-income - for them the Islands are their only refuge from the city (they don't have cottage's in the Muskoka's to escape to). How can they afford these prices?
Click to expand...

Is this connected to the fact that if you want to bring your own alcohol to the islands you need to buy a permit?
 
the lemur said:
Is this connected to the fact that if you want to bring your own alcohol to the islands you need to buy a permit?
Click to expand...

Actually anytime you have alcohol in a public park you are supposed to have a permit - unless you are in a private premise.
 
themarc said:
@nfitz - can you find me a link to that campaign promise?
Click to expand...
It was in his transportation plan that he released on September 7, 2010. www.robfordformayor.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Transportation-Plan4.pdf - all traces of which appear to have vanished from the Internet. Someone must have saved a copy.

You can however, see it on his video that he released with his transportation plan. You can see it at 5 minutes and 43 seconds:
[video=youtube;_xfsIj6gYAw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xfsIj6gYAw#t=05m43s[/video]

Here's a screenshot from the video:
fordcycleplan.jpg


As you can see, there are two proposed bicycle trails from the mainland to the Islands. One at the airport ferry crossing (which I guess could be tunnel or ferry). And the other from Cherry Beach to Wards Island. I'd think this could only be some pedestrian/bicycle bridge. I look forward to our mayor fulfilling this great promise!
 
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the lemur said:
Wait, I was thinking of something else - you can't bring your own alcohol because you have to buy it from Centreville Amusements instead:

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/picnic-permit.htm
Click to expand...

Ah. This would be an LLBO assignment as they have the license for the island. In this light it is no different than bringing your own beer into a pub. I highly doubt anyone has ever gone over for a picnic and had the Carousel Cafe drop over a few glasses of wine - but if you wanted to have your wedding reception in a tent on the island then Beasely holds the license and would be the regulated and LLBO approved handlers of the alcohol.
 
themarc said:
Ah. This would be an LLBO assignment as they have the license for the island. In this light it is no different than bringing your own beer into a pub. I highly doubt anyone has ever gone over for a picnic and had the Carousel Cafe drop over a few glasses of wine - but if you wanted to have your wedding reception in a tent on the island then Beasely holds the license and would be the regulated and LLBO approved handlers of the alcohol.
Click to expand...

This is actually further proof of the stranglehold monopoly that the city has granted Beasley Amusements. The LLBO is not in the business of granting monopolies but the city has made it impossible to avoid doing business with Beasley if you want to serve alcohol at a large event.

If for example you want to arrange a special event on the Island you are forbidden from bringing your own catering company. You are forced to use Centre Island Amusements. If you could bring an outside caterer to an event on the Island, most caterers are licensed to serve alcohol.

http://www.agco.on.ca/en/whatwedo/licence_endorsement_cater.aspx

In other City of Toronto Parks - special event organizers can serve alcohol if they obtain a "special event license" Why doesn't it work that way on the Islands?

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/permits/events/outdoor.htm

http://www.agco.on.ca/forms/en/1575_a.pdf

The way that things are being played out - I am afraid that the city is getting ready to award another multi-year monopoly for food concessions on the Islands.

It may not be Beasley who ends up with the lucrative contract, but I can see it happening!

According to latest reports Pam McConnell is trying to "bundle" the "Far Enough" farm in any new contract. Of course there is no money to be made operating a free petting zoo. The reward will be the granting of a complete monopoly for all food and beverage sales on all the Islands.

So in order to save a few union jobs at the Farm, Pam McConnell is prepared to condemn the city of Toronto to another 10 -20 years of overpriced garbage food on the Islands.

I wish people would wake up and see what is going on!

http://torontoist.com/2012/06/toronto-island-farm-could-be-saved-by-a-big-donation/

"McConnell’s office has been working to find a private operator for the farm, in order to take it off the City’s books altogether. Her staffers have been trying to accomplish that feat by bundling the farm with the Centreville concession, which is up for renewal. Beasley operates the amusement park under lease to the City, and will have to apply for a new contract as part of that renewal process."
 
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Peepers said:
This is actually further proof of the stranglehold monopoly that the city has granted Beasley Amusements. The LLBO is not in the business of granting monopolies but the city has made it impossible to avoid doing business with Beasley if you want to serve alcohol at a large event.

If for example you want to arrange a special event on the Island you are forbidden from bringing your own catering company. You are forced to use Centre Island Amusements. If you could bring an outside caterer to an event on the Island, most caterers are licensed to serve alcohol.

http://www.agco.on.ca/en/whatwedo/licence_endorsement_cater.aspx

In other City of Toronto Parks - special event organizers can serve alcohol if they obtain a "special event license" Why doesn't it work that way on the Islands?

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/permits/events/outdoor.htm

http://www.agco.on.ca/forms/en/1575_a.pdf

The way that things are being played out - I am afraid that the city is getting ready to award another multi-year monopoly for food concessions on the Islands.

It may not be Beasley who ends up with the lucrative contract, but I can see it happening!

According to latest reports Pam McConnell is trying to "bundle" the "Far Enough" farm in any new contract. Of course there is no money to be made operating a free petting zoo. The reward will be the granting of a complete monopoly for all food and beverage sales on all the Islands.

So in order to save a few union jobs at the Farm, Pam McConnell is prepared to condemn the city of Toronto to another 10 -20 years of overpriced garbage food on the Islands.

I wish people would wake up and see what is going on!

http://torontoist.com/2012/06/toronto-island-farm-could-be-saved-by-a-big-donation/

"McConnell’s office has been working to find a private operator for the farm, in order to take it off the City’s books altogether. Her staffers have been trying to accomplish that feat by bundling the farm with the Centreville concession, which is up for renewal. Beasley operates the amusement park under lease to the City, and will have to apply for a new contract as part of that renewal process."
Click to expand...

I would agree with all this - makes a very good point.
 
nfitz said:
It was in his transportation plan that he released on September 7, 2010. www.robfordformayor.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Transportation-Plan4.pdf - all traces of which appear to have vanished from the Internet. Someone must have saved a copy.


As you can see, there are two proposed bicycle trails from the mainland to the Islands. One at the airport ferry crossing (which I guess could be tunnel or ferry). And the other from Cherry Beach to Wards Island. I'd think this could only be some pedestrian/bicycle bridge. I look forward to our mayor fulfilling this great promise!
Click to expand...

It looks like Ford copied and pasted his "Transportation Plan" from "Get Toronto Moving" - James Alcock and the "Toronto Party" people. (Is Ford going to resume the 400 Extension too?)
http://www.gettorontomoving.ca/Bicycles.html
 
Monopolies on selling food in both the Beaches and on the Islands strikes me as alarmingly provincial.
 
Now we know why the food is so bad, yet way overpriced. I NEVER buy food on the islands. I eat before I go and wait to get back to the mainland to eat again or I bring my own food. I hate feeling ripped off.
 
ShonTron said:
It looks like Ford copied and pasted his "Transportation Plan" from "Get Toronto Moving" - James Alcock and the "Toronto Party" people. (Is Ford going to resume the 400 Extension too?)
http://www.gettorontomoving.ca/Bicycles.html
Click to expand...
Interesting ... though there are subtle differences, particularly in southern Etobicoke. It's certainly the inspiration. Would be nice to hear from Rob Ford how this plan is going ... building some of these cycle links might be the one thing council might let him do.
 
But he IS building his plan. PWIC approved the new off-road bike plan last month.

new_connections_map_600.gif


Well, of course that's just the first step. As we discovered with the last bike plan, drawing lines on a map is easy. Getting capital funding and dealing with NIMBYs is another.
 
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