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Artists are workers too

When George Mammoliti ran out of things to say during the fixed link debate, he showed council a Bombardier union promo video. The goofy feel gooder featured dozens of workers giving hearty thumbs up but did nothing to sway the bridge debate. But it did feature Queen and David Bowie singing Under Pressure. The union got permission to use the song in the video for internal use only. Once bright light Mammoliti showed it to council, and even worse, on television, he exposed the union to potentially hefty rights fees, which the rights holders are pursuing. Mammoliti can’t be reached for questions since he’s one of the only councilors to have already shut down his office for Christmas.

Nice question, now shut up

Great to see the provincial Liberals discussing ways to open up the province’s democratic process including proportional representation and fixed election dates. Too bad they shut down Ontario New Democratic (We Are Too A) Party leader Howard Hampton when he questioned their plans. Howie got his first question and when he tried to ask a supplementary about the grand plans he was told to button it. Can we assume, like so many election promises, this open Ontario tomorrow is just more Gliberal bullshit?

Blue Jays jerk seniors

The Blue Jays are trying for a tougher image with their nastier new logo but do the owners have to be such pricks? Paul Godfrey, smarting from his eliminated role as city hall’s non-elected leader, continues to block the building of affordable seniors housing near the SkyDome. The Jays claim there will be parking issues even though low-income seniors are not known for their garages full of Buicks. Nearby condo dwellers and the Sky Dome owners have agreed to rezoning some commercial land as residential for the first construction of affordable seniors housing in years. Godfrey had no problem using public funds to build his concrete colossus or to push his objections through an appeals process. But how about actually using government funding to help old folks. Come on big guy, play ball.

Star’s oldies but goodies

Like all dailies, the Toronto Star is on an unending, and apparently hopeless, search for young readers. Their latest effort is something called I.D. the newest in a never-ending re-branding of their daily entertainment section. Is the latest incomprehensible effort pulling in the young stuff? A look at this week’s Tuesday offering features interviews with teenagers and a profile of Canadian Idol Ryan Malcolm and, oh yeah, a full page ad on the back from the Bay promoting 15 per cent discounts for seniors.

Christie crawl away now

Can we at least be assured that school board usurper and one time politico Paul Christie will crawl in a hole, never to be heard from again? It cost an extra $1-million to have the budget slashing bully replace elected board trustees for a year and administer Ernie Eve’s heartless hatchet on Toronto’s school board. Christie had the nerve to cut classes and force classroom helpers into early retirement while he pocketed $248,000 a year with another $237,000 for a special adviser. Gee how hard is it to spell c-u-t?

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