Toronto is congested. Does King Street hold the solution?
A Toronto city councillor is calling for construction at the intersection of King Street E. and Church Street to be halted and reopened for cars. CBC's Dale Manucdoc explains why.
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CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Victoria passes 1st hurdle to approve community safety and well-being plan
Social Sharing City councillors in Victoria have voted to endorse a 79-page plan that aims to address issues around public disorder and a "diminished sense of community safety and well-being." "[This plan] will set us off on a course of activity that I believe will change the experience of living in Victoria," Mayor Marianne Alto said at Monday's committee of the whole meeting. "This is a profoundly complex and comprehensive system change." Alto said voting on the plan was a "watershed moment" for councillors, adding that residents had clearly expressed their concerns about social disorder. The plan will need to be addressed at a regular council meeting for final approval. Dozens of recommendations Staff began to develop the plan in 2023 as part of the city's 2023-2026 strategic plan, under direction from council. The report said it was a result of 18 months of public engagement, data mining, debate and discussion. The plan includes more than 100 recommendations under eight main categories: Housing. Health care. Service delivery. Downtown. Residents. Commerce. Policing and justice. City's community safety and well-being services. Recommendations include creating more housing for people who are homeless, attracting more family doctors and piloting a universal basic income system. Other motions related to the plan include directing city staff to assess and identify the plan's budget implications and required policy changes, and directing the mayor to engage with city partners and other levels of government on the plan's components. Those motions also passed. Concerns about 'aspirational' scope The plan comes on the heels of a report from the Downtown Victoria Business Association that claimed hundreds of business owners would consider leaving the city's core if they weren't tied to their lease due in large part to issues with crime and social disorder related to drugs and mental health-related issues. In their remarks prior to voting on the city plan, several councillors noted that many of the recommendations fall outside the scope of the municipality's jurisdiction. Speaking with On The Island host Gregor Craigie earlier this week, Coun. Stephen Hammond said he generally endorsed the plan but was worried about the expectations it might set for residents. "The difficulty is that people are expecting us to do things in which the province and the feds have the ability to spend and go into debt for," Hammond said, referring to issues like housing, mental health and recruiting family physicians. "There's lots of good things that are aspirational. And then it's just a matter of, can we get the province and the federal government to go along?" Coun. Marg Gardiner, who voted against the motion to endorse the plan, specifically expressed concerns about the effects of drug and health policies from Island Health and the province "They are worse than a hurdle. They could scuttle the whole [plan]," Gardiner said at the meeting. "There is a misunderstanding of the root cause of disorder on our street. The root cause is drug addiction and the failure to provide rehabilitation." Gardiner said she didn't want to give false hope that the city and the safety plan would resolve those key issues. At the meeting, Alto acknowledged those concerns. She said what she and many municipal leaders across B.C. have said repeatedly — that the responsibility of many of the problems plaguing parts of Victoria lies with higher levels of government. Alto said the city intends to continue working with the province and the federal government on those issues, but it is time to set a precedent. "We cannot wait any longer, we have a responsibility to Victorians to take action." No quick fix Sandra Severs, president of the Downtown Victoria Residents Association and a member of the 10-person community leaders panel that helped shape the plan, said the recommendations may be lofty but they provide a roadmap to work from. "The solution to many of the problems that we're facing in the city are not simple problems to solve," she told All Point West guest host Liz McArthur. Severs said safety isn't just about crime and social disorder — it's also about things like access to a family physician and a definition of what it means to feel safe in the place where people live. Victoria's safety and wellness plan serves as an opportunity to offer solutions, Severs said, instead of just reacting to problems, and to provide leadership for other municipalities dealing with similar issues.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Liberals show no signs of limiting MAID despite 'extremely concerned' UN report
OTTAWA — Ottawa is giving no sign that it intends to amend existing legislation on medical assistance in dying — something a UN committee called for earlier this spring. Article content The federal minister responsible for disabilities spoke at a hearing of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities last week, about two months after the committee called on Canada to repeal the 2021 law that expanded eligibility for assisted dying to those whose deaths were not reasonably foreseeable. Article content Article content Article content Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu gave a speech at the UN last Tuesday to mark 15 years since Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article content Article content 'It's about, for me, making relationships in this space and making sure that I have a really strong connection with the community, which I think is really important to be a good minister,' she said in an interview after the speech. The report said the committee is 'extremely concerned' about Canada's policy on track 2 medical assistance in dying. Article content '(T)he concept of 'choice' creates a false dichotomy, setting up the premise that if persons with disabilities are suffering, it is valid for (Canada) to enable their death without providing safeguards that guarantee the provision of support,' the report said. Article content In a written statement, a spokesperson for Hajdu said the government thanks the committee for its report. Article content Article content 'MAID is a deeply personal choice. We will make sure that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld and protected,' said Jennifer Kozelj. Article content Article content Disability rights groups in Canada have argued the law singles out people with disabilities who are suffering because they're unable to access proper support. Article content Last September, Inclusion Canada was among a group of organizations that filed a Charter of Rights challenge against what's known as track 2 MAID. Article content 'It was crystal clear — the United Nations said they need to repeal track 2 medical assistance in dying,' she said. Article content Garnett Genuis, the Conservative employment critic, said he came away from the UN event worried about Canada's international reputation being harmed by what he called Ottawa's 'failures to uphold our obligations to protect the rights of people with living with disabilities.'
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
NDP asks RCMP to investigate B.C. Conservative blackmail claims
Social Sharing The B.C. NDP is asking the RCMP to investigate allegations made by B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad that three MLAs who left the party have tried to blackmail their former colleagues. The allegations were revealed in an undated letter written by Rustad, leaked to media on Monday. "In the letter John Rustad says the word blackmail 14 times and alleges criminal activity," said NDP caucus chair Stephanie Higginson. That's why she sent a letter to the B.C. RCMP's top commander calling for an investigation. WATCH | John Rustad alleges blackmail: B.C. Conservative leader's letter alleges blackmail by ex-members 2 days ago Duration 10:04 In a letter leaked to media on Monday, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad alleges that a group of legislators who left his party are threatening to release texts and messages to intimidate members of his caucus. It comes after two Conservative defectors formed the OneBC party. Tim Thielmann, the chief of staff for the OneBC leader, called the allegations a desperate attempt by Rustad to cling to power. Rustad alleged in his letter that the three MLAs and their staff threatened to release text messages and secret recordings, using that to blackmail some B.C. Conservative caucus staff into quitting and working for them. "They are attempting to blackmail individuals into taking jobs or contracts with them while simultaneously attempting to force them to do or say certain things in order to prevent blackmail materials from being leaked," Rustad wrote in the letter. In the letter, Rustad described the behaviour as "unethical, abusive, and potentially criminal." Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie was kicked out of the Conservative caucus in March for her statements about residential schools. Tara Armstrong of Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream and Jordan Kealy of Peace River North left the party shortly after in solidarity. All three have denied that they engaged in blackmail, pointing out that Rustad has not produced any evidence to support his claims. Higginson sent a letter to B.C. RCMP Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald on Thursday asking the police force to investigate. "There is a significant public interest in determining the facts of this matter," the letter reads. "Blackmail is a serious crime. If any MLA or their legislative staff are engaged in it, British Columbians deserve to know, and any perpetrators should be prosecuted. British Columbians also deserve to know if Mr. Rustad, the Leader of the Official Opposition, is not in possession of evidence to support his accusations." RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Vanessa Munn said in a statement that the agency had received the letter. "The matter is under review and assessment," she said. Higginson's letter follows comments from Premier David Eby on Tuesday about the allegations. "Mr. Rustad needs to explain to the public what's happening," Eby said. "He needs to bring the information he has to the police. These are very serious allegations. And if he fails to bring them to the police, for whatever reason, then we will bring them to the police to make sure this is properly and thoroughly investigated." Since leaving the B.C. Conservative caucus in March, Brodie, Armstrong and Kealy have sat as Independents. Last week, Brodie and Armstrong announced their new political party, called One B.C. Kealy did not join the party. WATCH | 2 MLAs launch OneBC: 2 Independent MLAs launch new political party 7 days ago Duration 2:13 One MLA who was kicked out of the B.C. Conservative caucus and another who left in solidarity are forming a new political party. Katie DeRosa has more on what the party stands for and what it means for the official opposition. Brodie's chief of staff, Tim Thielmann, called the NDP's letter to the RCMP a "perversion of our justice system." "By David Eby's own admission, that he doesn't have any evidence upon which to initiate this police investigation," Thielmann said. "When John Rustad has been asked to produce evidence of his allegation, he has been unable to do so." Kealy said in a statement the allegations are false. "This is what a desperate man looks like. John Rustad is losing control, so he lashes out. He lies. He manipulates. He throws wild accusations into the wind hoping they'll stick. "Let the RCMP look into it. I have absolutely nothing to hide." Hamish Telford, a political scientist from the University of the Fraser Valley, said the NDP is trying to capitalize on dissension within the Conservative ranks. "I think the NDP is stirring the pot," Telford said. Higginson denies that her letter to the RCMP was politically motivated. "The easiest thing for me as the caucus chair, and perhaps even for the NDP, to do right now is to sit back and watch this internal mudslinging that's happening," she said. "But these are very serious allegations."
