Smoking Ban in High-Rise Apartments?

Smoking Ban in Apartments???

Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman floating the Idea of opening a Debate of whether smoking should be banned in "some" high rise apartments or Not. Growing pressure to curb the deadly effect of second hand smoke and the fact that many public places already declared smoke free and all work places are now have a designated smoking areas or some are no smoking at all.

While Smitherman said he would rather see market forces drive landlords to declare their buildings smoke-free, he acknowledged it would be worth having the discussion about whether legislation would be necessary to back up any ban.

"We’ve got to look at it from a regulatory standpoint," he said. "We sure will do that. There will be a good discussion. But there is a lot of power in the hands of the people."

Now here are what all the other parties have to say about the Health Minister's Idea of a Debate on this Issue:

Premier Dalton Mcquinty (Il Supremo) said:

Who previously ruled out banning smoking in cars where present of children saying it is a slippery slope, doesn’t like the Idea of his Health Minister "That’s not something we’re considering, no," he said when asked whether anti-smoking laws should be extended to apartment buildings.

Irene Gallagher of the Ontario Free Tobacco-Network said:
that "two polls conducted last year for the network suggest that people want the choice of living in a smoke-free building."

Some 64 per cent of respondents to the poll said they would prefer a smoke-free building over one where smoking was permitted, while 46 per cent of apartment dwellers said smoke from their neighbours had seeped into their units.

"If they want to open up this debate in the legislature, that’s good," Gallagher said:
"It would get people talking. We need the industry to respond to market demand by offering some choice".

Vince Brescia, president and CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario said:

"Landlords can’t evict a tenant who has a pet, let alone enforce a smoking ban", Brescia said.
"We agree with the concept of choice . . . but we’re prevented from providing that choice by Ontario law".

Hilary Short, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association said:

" if the province can do something to mitigate the harmful impact of second-hand smoke, it should act. I think it’s very well worth a debate," she said. "Any reduction in people’s exposure to second-hand smoke would be very positive. I think it’s a great idea."

And from the Two Opposition Parties:

New Democrat Shelley Martel said:

" the province can’t duck this issue for long."
"The yardsticks have moved a long way," said Martel, noting many critics didn’t think it would be possible to impose a ban on smoking in workplaces — something that’s now commonplace.

Tory (Conservative) Leader John Tory said: (notice the leader's name and the party are the same)

" it’s not worth talking about regulating what people do in the privacy of their own apartments. The province would be better off improving the building code to stop smoke from drifting from unit to unit than legislating their behaviour, he said.
"People have a refuge, which is their home," he said:
"Where does it stop? What do you start telling people what they can and can’t do in their homes?

There you have folks. The Minister of Health floating the idea to start the debate. The important personalities already said their pieces and now it’s the turn of the others that matter most, the tenants of high rise apartments, the landlords of high-rises and the taxpayers and voters of this province. Let the debate starts....

links: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/196459

Charter Challenge on Prostitution Filed..

Constitutional Challenge Against Prostitution Filed in Superior Court of Ontario...
A charter challenge against a three specific sections of the Criminal Code relating to Prostitution has been filed by the Three Sex Trade Workers on behalf of all sex trade workers in Ontario and Canada.

The Act of Prostitution in Canada is Legal in Fact, but the three Provisions in Criminal Code deny the Worker the safe Legal Option which to safely conduct the business of Prostitution which is Legal in the first Place.

The Criminal Code Sections - Keeping a Common Bawdy House, Living on the Avail and Communication for the Purpose of Prostitution Violates the Rights and Freedoms of the sex workers by depriving them their right to liberty and security in a manner that is not in Accordance with the Principles of Fundamental Justice.

One-time dominatrix Terri Jean Bedford, along with Valerie Scott, a former sex worker and executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada, and Amy Lebovitch, a current sex worker, launched the challenge on behalf of all Canadian sex workers.

The case is being handled by an Osgoode Law Professor Alan Young and a Team of law professors and students who all believe that the law violates the women’s rights by the ever-present danger they face in the streets.

Alan young pointed to the on-going trial of Robert Pickton, a pig farmer from British Columbia who was charged of the Murder of dozens of Street workers in his Farm. And Young noted that this horrific story is just the tip of the Iceberg, there are thousands of women who face the danger of assault and murder as the work the streets every night and day.

If the challenge is successful and the three sections of the criminal code are struck down, it will open the way to have the prostitution to become organized, regulated industry, even unionized and can even go on strike and maybe we can get rid of the Pimps as well...


But before I go, Section one of the same Charter has this to say:

Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms
Rights and freedoms in Canada

1 - The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Now it's up for the good professor and his team to argue that those limitations on the rights of our sex trade workers are indeed not justified. My take, they are not justified and they law should be struck down, they are archaic laws and make no sense, because prostitutions in fact is Legal, these limitations only hinder the conduct of business that is legal, and make people criminals doing things that are non-criminal in the first place. This country has matured and evolved to the point that we can handle another progressive move forward...

Household Hazardous Waste..What are they and how to dispose of them Safely

Today, March 22, got hold of the City Circular titled WASTE WATCH and it again reminds All City Residents of proper disposal of all different categories of waste properly and this time it focuses on Household Hazardous Waste.

We all know that our environment is deteriorating badly more than we want. Our water supply are becoming not only scarce, but in some instances and in some specific locations become Unsafe for consumption.

We may already know that household hazardous waste includes items such as pesticides, engine oil, batteries and electronics devices. But it’s what we may not know that can hurt our environment. For example, are we all aware that household hazardous waste also includes unused Medications?

Medications are serious Business and require careful and special handling. Making sure that unused medications are disposed of properly is just as important as properly taking and storing them. Old and unused Medication, prescription and over the counter, is Toxic, disposed improperly could enter the environment and contaminate our lakes, rivers, groundwater and soil and eventually affect every one of us.

Cough medication, pain killers, birth control pills and most prescriptions are a few examples of the household hazardous waste that should be kept out of the Garbage and Recycling, and NEVER poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet.

So how do we disposed of properly our unwanted medications? Simply gather them in their original packaging and drop them off to the Your Local Hazardous Waste Depot or check with your Local Drug Stores if they have a Program of proper disposal of unwanted medications. Check with your Local Authorities for their Hazardous waste programs.

For Toronto Residents: if you have 10 letters of more of Hazardous Waste call this number for a Toxic Taxi for a Free Pick up - 416-392-4330 or go to www.toronto.ca/hhw to find a drop off location nearest you..

For used syringes, needles and medical waste, put them in tightly sealed and labeled container and drop them off at your local Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Depot.
Remember, we are not just saving this planet for the future generations, we do, for ourselves...

A very Happy Man named Lucky - Newest Canadian Millionaire

Friends call him Lucky and Saturday He hit a Big One..

For six years, labourer had been working 2 jobs to bring wife, sons from Sri Lanka.

Today, he’s Canada’s newest millionaire after picking up his $18 millions Tax Free Loto 6/49 jackpot for Saturday St. Patrick’s Day draw.

Since moving to Canada from Sri Lanka six years ago, he'd been playing the lottery and working to bring his wife and two sons, ages 10 and 7, to live with him.

"Shocked," he said of his wife's reaction to the news.

He said his family would be coming "very soon" and then they'd have a big celebration.
He said he'll be buying a house for his family with the winnings.

Luckyrajah Paramanathan, whose first language is Tamil, landed his winning ticket at a Sunny Convenience Store at Eglinton Ave. E. in Scarborough on a free play from a previously purchased ticket.

He said he hadn't decided as yet whether to quit his two jobs – cleaning swimming pools on contract for the city of Toronto and as an apartment maintenance worker.

He'd been earning about $48,000 a year and sharing an apartment in Scarborough with a friend

Links: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/194249
Lucky Indeed....

Mass Transit...Where do we need them?

The dedicated electric rail mass transit system, though very effecient are not universally accepted, especially by the local merchants who claim that they are killing businesses along their routes...

links: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/193052

The City of Toronto announcement of a l5- year $6 Billion plan to add 120 kilometres of electric light-rail transit lines along seven corridors through Toronto and carry 175 million riders a year is workable in every levels in Theory, but for most skeptics and critiques it is but a pipe dream.

First there is no Capital funding for the Transit Authority in the City’s Capital budget for such project and secondly, it needs a firm commitment from the Provincial and Federal Governments for funding such a Huge project.

It is to be acknowledged that Toronto is the Economic Engine of Canada. And the People who power that engine, majority of whom live outside the city and commute by different modes, by trains, by driving or by buses. So it doesn’t make sense to have a very efficient Transit System inside the city when most of the people working in the city can’t even get to the city in time because of the jammed highways, and not equally efficient regional transit systems.

As we are getting aware of our environment and the damage the vehicles emission cause to it, and the long range program of Mass Transit is a very attractive alternative to our Love Affairs with our Cars and Gas Guzzlers SUVs and CrossOvers. But the program should be regional and national in scope to get the most benefits and returns from the substantial capital outlays for its implementations. An Electric Bus or Streetcar or Train carrying 100s of passengers is always environmentally friendly than a car with a driver only passenger..

Black is Black (Black Noir)

Baron Black of Crossharbour, the fallen Media Mogul, finally has his day in court.


The Long awaited Trial of Media Baron Lord Conrad Black of Crossharbour for what the layman’s term as the Crime of Milking his own Business for personal wealth along with other three officers of the Company will start today with Jury Selection at Chicago Criminal Court.

A little back ground about Lord Black. He was a very successful businessman, and also an accomplished writer of Novels and Biographer of famous personalities including Napoleon and FDR. He is also known for his pompous attitudes and for so many his superlative arrogance. He once sue Prime Minister Jean Chretien for thwarting his acceptance of British peerage offered by the Queen at the advice of PM Tony Blair, by citing the Nickel Resolution of 1919, by which the House of Commons resolve that the Monarch should not confide Titular Honours to Canadians as it is not compatible in a democratic society.

But Black being Black and vain as he is, renounced his citizenship when the court ruled against his lawsuit. Now, he wants his citizenship back, just in case, to avail the exchange prisoner program, where Canadians may serve their sentences in Canadian penitentiary if they chooses to. I doubt if he will be ever granted his citizenship back, but nobody underestimate Lord Black, he is a fighter and he is even confident that the U.S. has no case against him.

He is defended by one of Canada’s top defense lawyers, Eddie Greenspan and in the U.S. side by Eddie Grenson, also the top gun defense lawyer from Chicago land.

On the prosecution side, a team of four Asst. U.S. attorneys headed by Lead Prosecutor Eric Sussman, and under the direction of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the same Prosecutor who directed the case against Martha Stewart and most other high profile business crime cases.

Excerpt from the Toronto Star Article:

The case against Conrad Black, which is factually a case against four defendants, three of whom are oft forgotten, can be told simply in three parts. Like a play.

Act I was the rising up of shareholder activists resulting in the raining down of a report by the so-called "special committee," which documented the alleged looting of the corporate treasury by Black and others. The "kleptocracy," as the report's authors famously said, was driven by insiders as they "ravenously" siphoned cash from the corporation and into their own pockets.

Act II was the indictment – or rather indictments – brought by United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who alleged that payments "disguised as non-competition fees" enriched insiders who "made it their job to steal and conceal."

Act III will be the trial itself, pitting the U.S. Department of Justice against Black, Jack Boultbee, Mark Kipnis and Peter Atkinson.
Propelling the action between the acts has been Conrad Black's long-time partner, David Radler, who, in September 2005, pleaded guilty to a single count of mail fraud, thus ensuring for himself a prison sentence and, via his co-operation with prosecutors, enabling the scriptwriting of Acts II and III.

Black himself is predicting a Shakespearean extension to the drama, in which there will be an Act IV: redemption. In recent weeks he has availed himself of unobstructed air time as he set about his campaign of self-exoneration, most of which coverage.

Details and more articles on Lord Black visit the link:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/190540