I don't always watch it either but I certainly know who Mary Walsh is. I suspect that the mayor has no clue about Canadian tv programming; he is probably fixated on the NFL game and that would be about all.
Mary Walsh's Marg is legendary in Canada, albeit not on the level of say, Margaret Atwood. I'll give Ford this one though, I don't believe anyone should be pulling pranks or media stints at his home. But to call 9-1-1 because his daughter was scared? Come on...
On another topic, as we all know that yesterday was Ford's one year anniversary as "Mayor" and the media snippets I saw tonight basically all ran the same thing, he gives himself high marks, he says he'd do nothing differently and has no regrets - not one. I notice he blinks a lot and looks down when I believe he's not telling the truth, he was doing a lot of that while summarizing his first year in office. This guy is truly delusional.
The Globe says that Toronto Hydro paid out about $25 million in dividends last year, which was half of its earnings. The article says utilities generally are worth about 16-20 times earnings, but is unsure whether "earnings" here should include the reinvested earnings, or just the dividend. (ANSWER: It depends on whether the reinvestment is likely to contribute to earnings growth.)
Either way, this ratio implies a return of 5-6%. At the moment, governments can borrow money on a ten-year term at an interest rate of just over 2 percent. Five is greater than two.
By selling part of Toronto Hydro to avoid new debt, the City will be giving up a return of 5-6% in order to avoid paying 2% interest on the debt.
Toronto Hydro should only be sold with the condition that they must phase out overhead wires for good in Toronto. Maybe it shouldn't be sold after all. Rather, perhaps an organization should be created like in Montreal charged with burying all overhead wires and maintaining the conduits.
Toronto Hydro should only be sold with the condition that they must phase out overhead wires for good in Toronto. Maybe it shouldn't be sold after all. Rather, perhaps an organization should be created like in Montreal charged with burying all overhead wires and maintaining the conduits.
More on the 22 Minutes fiasco. News reports on CBC are saying that Ford called 911 a second time, wanting to know when police would get there. 911 operators are saying he "took out his anger" on them, saying, "Do you know who I am? I'm Rob f-ing Ford, and I'm the f-ing mayor of this city"
I'm not familiar with the legalities around this, but is there the potential that he could be charged and at least fined for needlessly calling 911 and endangering lives?
Why would we be surprised that this mayor has no respect for emergency services in this city, by not only using the system for a non-emergency, but verbally abusing the operators?
Isn't this the same guy who suggested that the public should use 911 to report graffiti?
This mayor should not be at 100 Queen Street West.....he should be at 1001 Queen Street West.
I missed that comment. Doesn't seem a bad idea, if you observe a vandal in progress. I can't imagine he would suggest it for simply reporting it after the fact.
I think you are missing the point. Emergency services are a limited resource and is supposed to be saving lives and other, you know.....serious sh*t.
Now how is this supposed to work if every minor "crime" or bylaw infraction is called in to 911?
Now, you can report these things if you think it's going to do any good, but you don't have to call 911. Yea....spray painting on public or private property is indeed a "crime"....as is the lady who let her poodle crap on my lawn and not pick it up. Or say, a guy with a fat, red face driving a minivan while talking on a cell phone (and giving other motorists the finger).
It's called being irresponsible. And Toronto has a poster boy for irresponsible behaviour....the MAYOR!!
