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“My constituents think I’m underpaid. They can’t believe I’m doing the job at this wage.”
City councillor Kyle Rae shows no lack of confidence despite having bumbled Dundas Square and Maple Leaf Gardens preservation on his watch.
Paul and Jack and Belinda and… ?
PM Paul Martin morphs from Mr. Dithers into astute dealmaker, seducing Jack Layton and now Belinda Stronach. Fun to watch journalists giggle through the press conference announcing Martin’s master stroke. We love minority governments and the flexibility and innovation they force. Best? Nasty Texas governor wannabe Stephen Harper accusing Stronach of blind ambition while invoking her love life in his bitter response. Blind ambition? Whaddaya call a faltering leader trying to impose an election nobody wants?
Tim Hortons stale idea
Like many, we at Upfront happily operate under the delusion that 48 Timbits miraculously have fewer calories than one donut. But a better use must be found for Cabbagetown’s landmark Winchester Hotel than yet another Tim Hortons. We need to look further than day-old donuts in a city with few historic buildings. Councillor Pam McConnell should work with Heritage Toronto to ensure the building’s owner gets more creative in preserving this east-end gem.
Music Hall of Fame site a hit
We usually blast Dundas Square, but great decision by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science to place the Canadian Music Hall of Fame there. Yonge and Dundas has long been a mecca for music-buying, so the long-delayed Metropolis complex is a great locale – as long as someone finally builds the thing. Now, will the city allow Hall of Fame organizers to help program music in Dundas Square without charging them for the privilege? Oops, there we go, slagging again.
Stinky promo idea
The stink from Toronto newsrooms is not just generated by foul goings-on being reported from Ottawa. In one of the stupidest promo stunts ever, publicists for the DownHome Maritimes expo next weekend at Exhibition Place sent out a pair of live crabs with their press releases this week. The cacking crustaceans reached NOW late Friday afternoon in an unmarked bag and spent the weekend slowly dying in our offices before an unlucky package opener cracked the smelly bag Monday. Might have been wise to affix a “Live Crabs” label to the package, or better yet, go with a nice fake plastic lobster and leave the shell dwellers alone.
