Toronto upset after Ontario halts funding for safe injection sites

Ontario has left some safe injection sites in limbo this weekend as their funding was cut and they now have to turn to public donation. 

Amid a growing opioid epidemic that killed 1,200 Ontarians in 2017 alone, the Ford government announced it would only fund six injection sites in the city, leaving three currently in operation without approval. 

Closing safe injections sites will put people at risk of death. The decision by the Ford government to close three sites in Toronto is cruel & disgraceful. The people responsible for this decision should be ashamed, but I doubt they have the capacity to feel shame.#topoli #onpoli

— Alan Harris 🇨🇦 (@AlanWharris) March 29, 2019

In response, the federal government stepped in to give a one-month reprieve to two of the sites. However, following the end of that one-month period, they will have to rely on public donation. A third site is without reprieve.

The province approved 15 sites across Ontario, including six in Toronto. This leaves six in the province without funding and facing a forced closure. 

Critics and public health officials have decried the move, outraged that the sites are closing amid a health crisis. 

Things I wish were April's Fools jokes in Ontario:
- defunding of safe injection sites
- provincial opposition to any meaningful climate action
- lack of meaningful action re: mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows, Wabasemoong & Wabauskang
- gutting of Ontario education system

— Ian Mosbγ (@Ian_Mosby) April 1, 2019

Many harm reduction workers and healthcare workers have been quick to point out that the opioid epidemic is reaching crisis levels, and the province should be opening new safe injection sites, not closing or capping the existing ones. 

We are in the midst of the defining health crisis of our time. Our message to Premier Ford and Minister Elliott – overdose deaths are preventable. Closing these essential health services will result in more deaths. We need to scale up these services, not cut them. pic.twitter.com/4bE3kTkxOd

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) April 1, 2019

City councillors like Kristyn Wong-Tam called the move "wrong," and former mayor David Miller had a stronger choice of words.

not just wrong. Evil. https://t.co/Le3aiAAyKL

— David Miller T.O. (@iamdavidmiller) March 30, 2019

Data and several studies show that safe injection sites work to prevent overdoses, reducing the number of deaths. The most recent reports show the first half of 2018 seeing 600 deaths in Ontario, well on track to match or surpass 2017. 

About 900 people EACH week, visit just one of Toronto's Safe Injection Sites #publichealth #HarmReduction #OntarioPublicHealth #ontariohealth #Toronto #Ontario #warondrugsnotworking #addiction https://t.co/7ZtWQSckBf

— Jeff Faulkner (@FaulknerJeff) March 29, 2019

by Staff via blogTO

Vegans try to save cows found wandering on Toronto highway

Animal rights activists are furious in the wake of a highway crash that killed 12 cows and saw roughly a dozen more escape their cattle carrier, only to be rounded back up for slaughter.

The incident took place around 11:30 p.m. on Friday night after a transport truck hit a cement barrier on the 401 near Hurontario Street in Mississauga.

Police say the collision split open one side of the truck's trailer, allowing about 12 animals to get loose and block traffic on the busy highway.

#hwy401 westbound Express lanes closed at Hurontario St for collision involving a caddle carrier. Cows loose on Hwy401 in Mississauga. #Mississauga #Collision #HeavyRescue401 #CowsLooseOnTheHighway pic.twitter.com/A6Ol6SCbqx

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) March 30, 2019

The driver, a 36-year-old Mount Forest man who has since been charged with careless driving, sustained only minor injuries in the crash.

His passengers (or cargo, as it were) did not get so lucky.

Ontario Provincial Police and Mississauga firefighters arrived to find a herd of terrified cows running free, some of them injured, and closed down a portion of the 401 in both directions to round them up.

Cattle being rounded up off #hwy401 after collision involving a cattle carrier collided with the cement barrier around 11:30 p.m. last night. Unfortunately 12 cows were found deceased inside the trailer as a result of thr collision.#Farming#CowsLooseOnTheHighway #Mississauga pic.twitter.com/bo1ninkMqU

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) March 30, 2019

It took crews several hours to corral the cattle back into a crate as onlookers snapped photos.

One onlooker,  Jessii Mascarin, live streamed video footage from the scene on Facebook while trying to help one of the injured cows.

"All right vegans, I need your f**king help," she starts. "I'm on the 401... there's a cow in the middle of the highway... I'm not wearing safety gear, I hope I don't get in trouble."

"It's a baby! It's a baby," says Mascarin as she approaches an injured cow, pleading with police officers to call a vet and get medical attention for the bleeding calf.

Officers escorted the young woman back to her car where she started another live stream.

"These cows were meant to be veal, and chances are, are still going to be veal," said Mascarin in that video. "These cows were in a car accident, there is one up the road who has a broken foot and half of his tongue hanging out. These animals are going to die because of society's choices." 

Prominent animal rights activist Jenny McQueen later actions, noting that the vegan bystander "spoke with the drivers around her" and "distributed vegan literature to the onlookers."

"Many hearts and minds will be changed by her actions," wrote McQueen in a release sent to media.

"This is the brutal reality of Canadian animal agriculture. Slaughter trucks going too fast, being involved in accidents, injured animals being killed or even taken to the slaughterhouse without any concern for their wellbeing."

McQueen and others who support the Save Movement called police, the OSPCA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in an attempt to rescue at least one cow and send it to a sanctuary.

Their efforts, thus far, have been unsuccessful.

One of McQueen's followers said that she did get a reply from the OPP, but that she was told that "the remaining cows are with their owner."

"Animals feel pain, just like us, and deserve better," says McQueen. "[I've] secured a sanctuary space for the injured cow, why wouldn't they let us save one?"

Likely because cows and all other animals are considered property, as opposed to autonomous beings, under the law.

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Toronto's first legal cannabis store draws massive lineup

Happy white market weed day, Toronto!

This morning, six-and-a-half months after Canada's federal government officially legalized recreational marijuana, Ontario finally joins every other province and territory across the country (except for Nunavut) in allowing brick-and-mortar cannabis retail stores to operate.

There’s already a big lineup outside The Hunny Pot before it opens as #Toronto’s first legal cannabis store #QueenWest pic.twitter.com/oWttBL3x4P

— blogTO (@blogTO) April 1, 2019

The AGCO has authorized only 10 stores to open in Ontario out of an expected 25 as of April 1, all of them chosen earlier this year through Doug Ford's controversial lottery system. 

It remains unclear, however, how many of those stores will open today.

In Toronto, where five of the province's 25 total license applications were awarded, only two stores have been approved for launch by the government—and only one of those two stores actually opened its doors this morning: The Hunny Pot at 202 Queen St. W.

Customers say they arrived as early as 24 hours in advance to ensure they'd be one of the first to "make history" by purchasing legal weed from a store in Toronto. Photo by blogTO.

You can find The Hunny Pot in what was once New Era's Flagship store on Queen near University, but good luck getting inside to buy anything.

News of the Hunny Pot's early market dominance has spread fast and far in recent days, prompting some eager customers to camp out in front of the store all night in anticipation of its 9 a.m. launch.

Now open, the lineup is squirreling down the sidewalk and around the corner of St. Patrick street.

Security guards are stationed outside The Hunny Pot amidst dozens of waiting potential consumers. Photo by blogTO.

Interested Toronto buyers can either bundle up and wait outside the Hunny Pot or hit the Ontario government's own website to legally purchase cannabis right now.

Four other stores set to open in the city this spring: Ameri in Yorkville, Nova Cannabis at the old American Apparel in Queen West, a Tokyo Smoke in the former HMV near Yonge-Dundas Square and Canna Cabana at Yonge and College.

Ameri is the only retail cannabis store that has been authorized to open in the city so far, aside from Hunny Pot, though a sign on the Yorkville shop's door specifies that it won't be open on April 1.

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Toronto can't believe Doug Ford wants to change Ontario license plate slogan

A lot of changes are coming to Ontario under the new PC government, some bad, some good. 

However, some seem to be completely out of nowhere. Reports have surfaced that the provincial government plans to redesign Ontario's license plates. 

According to documents retrieved by Global, there are plans in the works to redesign the plates. If the reports are accurate, the proposal will go before cabinet next week and implemented later this year. 

Alternative Ontario license plate slogans for your consideration... #onpoli pic.twitter.com/1bVvLojIsG

— Leanne (@leanne_losingit) March 30, 2019

"A source" told Global that the PC government's slogan "Open for Business" will replace the current "Yours to Discover." This would be in line with several billboards around the province as well. 

As a woman, I would not feel comfortable driving around with a license plate displaying ‘Open for Business’. WTF.

Ontario licence plate redesign in the works https://t.co/QB5TaMpA8i

— cjp (@millennialmaman) March 30, 2019

In a statement from the NDP, MPP Catherine Fife referred to the plan as "self-serving electioneering," and a "colossal waste of money." 

"This is a bizarre ego-driven attempt to turn every licence plate into a Ford vanity plate." 

Doug Ford really wants to change the “Yours to Discover” to “Open for Business” on the Ontario license plates 😒 pic.twitter.com/luCaftnu8f

— Samreet (@itssamreet) March 31, 2019

As of now, the "Yours to Discover" slogan has been on Ontario plates since the mid-1980s, and intends to boast Ontario's natural beauty. 

What would be a better slogan for Ontario license plates than “Open For Business”? #onpoli

— Richard Feren (@RichardFeren) March 30, 2019

by Staff via blogTO

The Rolling Stones have postponed their summer concert in Ontario

To the chagrin of many classic rock lovers across the province, the Rolling Stones have postponed their much-anticipated summer concert. 

The Rolling Stones have postponed the entirety of this summer's No Filter tour of North America. Mick Jagger's health is the reason. Hold onto these existing tickets, as they will be valid for the rescheduled dates, which will be announced shortly. pic.twitter.com/mhMFuXooVT

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) March 30, 2019

The band announced that the entirety of their No Filter summer tour across North America was postponed, citing Mick Jagger's health. The iconic rock frontman will be receiving medical attention for an unstated issue, but is expected to make a full recovery.

I’m so sorry to all our fans in America & Canada with tickets. I really hate letting you down like this.
I’m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can. Once again, huge apologies to everyone.

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) March 30, 2019

Part of the tour included a stop just outside Barrie at Burl's Creek Event Grounds, the only Ontario stop on the tour. It was set for June 29. 

No new dates have yet been given for the new show, but fans have been told to hang on to their tickets as they'll be valid for the next show. Tickets were still for sale on the Ticketmaster website on Monday.

by Staff via blogTO

TTC announces test pilot for 24-hour subway system

Toronto will finally join such world class cities as London and New York in boasting a 24-hour subway system, according to public transit officials.

In a rare TTC Board meeting late Sunday at City Hall, staff put forward a report recommending that the city test new subway service hours for a period of three months as part of a pilot project.

The motion passed in a 17-8 vote, meaning that we should start seeing night subways as soon as this August.

Exact details are still being worked out, but the report suggests that, instead of starting at 6 a.m. each morning Monday through Saturday (8 a.m. on Sundays) and closing down at 1:30 a.m., the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line would instead run 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of the pilot. 

Costs for the pilot project would come out of the TTC's 2019 operating budget and total approximately $800,000.

TTC spokesperson Stella Redd credits new, more efficient maintenance procedures as one of the main reasons why after so many years of people asking for late-night subway service, the TTC is finally ready to move forward.

"Staff typically use the hours between 2 and 6 a.m. for routine maintenance," said Redd in a statement issued Sunday night. "For the duration of the pilot, maintenance will take place alongside major repairs during scheduled closures."

The pilot project will begin on the Yonge-University-Spadina line, but if the service proves popular enough to sustain, it could be expanded to the rest of the system.

Without modification, the plan would see 24/7 subway service on Line 1 from August 1 until October 31, with Halloween serving as the final night of service.

Staff will then compile a report based on ridership and other data to argue for or against making 24/7 subway service in Toronto permanent to accommodate the city's fast-growing and highly mobile population.

by Staff via blogTO

15 things to do in Toronto this week

Events in Toronto this week offer some relief from the everyday grind as thing start to warm up and welcome spring. Ariana Grande and Earl Sweatshirt are both dropping by and the Human Rights Film Festival is on. There's plenty of food events happening and lots of free stuff, too.

Events you might want to check out:

I Ain't No Joke (April 1 @ Toronto Reference Library)
Taking a look at the evolution of hip-hop in Toronto, this talk explores the Caribbean connection, emergence of DJ and crews, Turntablism and more.
Blac Rabbit (April 2 @ The Drake Hotel)
Sonic sounds arrive by way of Queens psych rockers Blac Rabbit that take from the trippy tunes of the 60's and work in a high-fi indie vibe.
Riverside Wine & Craft Beer Fest (April 2-6 @ Multiple Venues)
The Riverside community is opening its doors for a week-long celebration of wine, craft beer and bites from local spots all over the neighbourhood.
Ariana Grande (April 3 @ Scotiabank Arena)
Coming off a hugely successful year, Ariana Grande gets raw on her Sweetener tour and sings about the ups and downs she has faced.
Hello Korea (April 3 @ Revival)
All-things Korean culture are getting a mini-festival with a night of K-pop music and beauty, performances, dance, games, food and more.
Human Rights Watch Film Festival (April 3-10 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Taking a look at global crisis and celebrating the power of the human spirit, this film festival uncovers stories about humans rights all over the world.
Giro d'Italia (April 4-14 @ Multiple Venues)
Pasta lovers, rejoice! Giro d'Italia returns at restaurants all over the city with special menus and items focusing on Italian cuisine.
Earl Sweatshirt (April 5 @ Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Staying true to his roots, Earl Sweatshirt's unique raps maintain the flavour and sound of his Odd Future pals but with a style of his own.
Lemon Bucket Orkestra (April 5 @ The Opera House)
The last thing you want to do is miss the eclectic and energetic sounds of this Toronto orchestra collective before they embark on a U.S. tour.
The Geeky Craftorium (April 6 @ See Scape)
Locally made odds and ends of the nerdy persuasion are on at this mini-market with 3D printing, dice drilling, mod podge, riveting, crochet and more.
Chronologic (April 6 @ The Garrison)
The return of this huge dance party is back with Goin' Steady DJs spinning all the best pop and anti-pop through the ages and into the night.
Celebration (April 6 @ Fox Theatre)
The Canadian premiere of Olivier Meyrou's film is here to tell the story of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and his design process.
Thorrablót (April 6 @ Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre)
Traditional Icelandic fare is on as Thorrablót returns with a full day of Icelandic food, music and a big silent auction.
Middleditch and Schwartz (April 7 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
The dynamic duo Thomas Middleditch from Silicon Valley and Ben Schwartz of Parks and Recreation are bring the goofball laughs to Toronto.
Toronto Art Crawl (April 7 @ The Great Hall)
A day of local shopping is on as over 50 artist vendors drop by to feature works of t of all kind, plus music, demos, activities and more.

by Lisa Power via blogTO