Two weeks ago, I had to switch desks at work. My new desk limits my internet access because of the location, but on the bright side, I have an almost new computer with a built-in speaker. I listen to CBC Radio One from Toronto every day now. In fact, I think I know more about what was going on in Canada last week than the US.

So, last week:

--There was an uproar by fans over the departure of Ron MacLean from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. A contract was reached...things are now back to normal.

--Queen Elizabeth is hanging out in Canada for the next week or so. She arrived Friday in Nunavut, made a speech in Iqaluit (Nunavut's capital), and then headed to British Columbia.

--A BC pig farmer is apparently suspected of killing several women in downtown Vancouver.

--Canada backs the US's stance on the new Iraqi inspection agreement (that it's not tough enough).

--Toronto is considering using its Centre City Airport (which IIRC, is on an island in Lake Ontario, just off the mainland) for commercial flights of 900 km or less. Two US cities would be included: Boston and *thinks* Detroit.

Nic, how did I do? :)

WOW.

Syc, you're certainly not going to be caught off-guard by those CBC interviewers who got Bush really good, on-air.

I can even spell the PM's last name--Chretien. :)

Chretien has made his Bushisms, too.

Like this one in a public meeting with Bush:

emphasis added by me.

I think he was referring to himself and Chretien.

Questions for the sake of further learning
 

Now Nic, IIRC, several of Toronto's suburbs became part of the city proper about 3-4 years ago, right?

Given that that merger quadrupled Toronto's population, has it changed the city as a whole much (i.e. strains on city services, higher crime)? Also, did it piss Montreal off that Toronto took over as Canada's largest city? :)

Megacity
 

http://themegacity.com/images/skyline.gif

How Toronto became "The Megacity"

The City of Toronto Act in 1996 incorporated a new municipality known as The City of Toronto. This amalgamation of the Borough of East York along with the Cities of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto, and York became known as The Megacity, and home to TheMegacity.Com!

Since 1953 the area now called a megacity had been governed by two tiers of government: the regional government level of Metro Toronto and the local government level of Toronto and the surrounding 5 local boroughs and cities. The purpose of the amalgamation in 1996 was essentially to eliminate the redundant local government councils. So, not much has changed, really.

Economically, Toronto has for many years functioned as the GTA or Greater Toronto Area, which includes many large appurtenant municipalities such as Mississauga (includes Toronto's Pearson International Airport) York Region and Durham Region. In practical terms, when we say Toronto most people are referring to the Greater Toronto Area.

All the details are included in The Virtual Toronto Website.

The importance of cities in Canada is covered in canadascities.ca

Toronto is a great place to live ... and to visit. I give great tour, if any Cellar dwellers are ever in T.O.

What's the economy like there now? Are you guys hurting like most of the US is?
Is it safe to assume that a mega city like that is fairly keen on technology and schooling?
It sounds like a great place to live, except for the winter. :D

Toronto is a major North American tech center.

Our economy follows the USA. They say that when the US economy gets a sniffle ... Canada's catches a cold.

As far as winter is concerned ... this isn't Buffalo! I don't own a snow shovel. ;)

Temperature is moderated by Lake Ontario but we don't see the lake-effect snow our American friends get on the south shore.

Toronto is further south than many American cities:

Latitude: 43 degrees, 40 minutes north
Longitude: 79 degrees, 38 minutes west

Temperatures aren't too bad.

Cowboy Legislator not OK with Toronto area voters
 

Ontario Premier Ernie Eves says there's not much he can do about a government backbencher who spends a good chunk of time at his Oklahoma ranch rather than at the legislature.

Snobelen, who earns about $83,000 as a member of the legislature, said he's still able to keep up his political duties by receiving faxes and e-mails while at the ranch.

Voters in his Toronto-area riding of Mississauga West were incensed by the comments and even Eves said he wished his colleague would show up for work more frequently.

Unfortunately, I didn't catch much on Radio One last week, as I only listened to it on Monday. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday listening to WTOP in Washington (sniper stuff) and was gone the rest of the week. I will try harder this week to keep myself up on Canadian happenings. :)

Syc, maybe you could get a job as a member of the Ontario Legislature. ;)

Edmund Fitzgerald
 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...gerald_dt6.jpg

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Now, that's not a Toronto story except for the fact that Canadian music legend, Gordon Lightfoot, who wrote The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, makes his home here. He's in the hospital now, recovering from a sudden health failure. Get well, Gordie.

They've been hawking his "Best of" CD on TV a lot lately...there were some songs on there that I did not know he wrote...interesting.

He's a favorite of mine.

You probably have the Best of Bread too, right Griff? ;)

Quit it, You! :)

Not to be confused with "The rectum of Ella Fitzgerald".

Sorry. :)

Very bad mental picture, bad warch, bad.

Toronto-born Frank Gehry will design landmark
 

The Art Gallery of Ontario is moving ahead with a $500-million transformation, thanks to an "unparalleled" financial and artistic contribution from billionaire businessman and art collector Kenneth Thomson, Canada's richest.

Groundbreaking for an expansion designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry is set for early 2005, and the project is expected to be completed by 2007. I'm looking forward to the new AGO.

I heard about that on Radio One today...that sounds awesome.

Hey Nic...what's this about Ontario possibly becoming the first province to take blood samples from people arrested on certain crimes? (Remember, Radio One is in the background...might not have heard the info correctly.)

Now I'm looking forward to the new AGO too! Gehry will do something amazing.