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City News

Does Rob Ford have secret plans to fire half of Toronto’s librarians? Probably not

Librarians may be bad at chanting, but they’re pretty good with alarmist rhetoric, according to the Globe and Mail’ s Marcus...

The Argument: the only Shrek with any life is the rampaging anti-hero of the brilliantly nasty book that started it all

The Argument: the only Shrek with any life is the rampaging anti-hero of the brilliantly nasty book that started it all

Shrek has lost his mojo. He has become a shadow of his formerly fearsome self, forced to bare his lopsided grin in a series of...

NDP holds on to Jack Layton's former seat (despite all of Justin Trudeau's efforts)

NDP holds on to Jack Layton’s former seat (despite all of Justin Trudeau’s efforts)

Not even Justin Trudeau’ s impassioned video plea for the Liberals could stop the NDP from cruising to an easy win in...

Stephen Marche: an unflinching assessment of Jack Layton’s dubious legacy

Stephen Marche: an unflinching assessment of Jack Layton’s dubious legacy

The next NDP leader will be obligated to adopt Jack Layton’s Toronto-born brand of socialism—childlike, sentimental, and...

QUOTED: Josh Colle wonders about Rob Ford's subway funding plans (and gives a thumbs-up to pie charts)

QUOTED: Josh Colle wonders about Rob Ford’s subway funding plans (and gives a thumbs-up to pie charts)

–Councillor Josh Colle, describing the kind of subway funding information he’d like from Rob Ford before tomorrow’s council...

Inside the Latest Issue

The July issue of Toronto Life features the monster cottages of Muskoka versus the resistance. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

The Hunger Games red carpet draws celebrities and hyperventilating teens

The Hunger Games red carpet draws celebrities and hyperventilating teens

Yesterday afternoon, at the Scotiabank Theatre, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Alexander Ludwig walked the red carpet for the...

Rob Ford may not have subway financing plans, but he does have photos of LRT crashes

Rob Ford may not have subway financing plans, but he does have photos of LRT crashes

Only a day until the meeting that will determine Sheppard Avenue’s transit future, and councillors with crucial swing votes are...

Rob Ford–themed art show is billed as non-partisan (but features a portrait of Ford as a pig)

Rob Ford–themed art show is billed as non-partisan (but features a portrait of Ford as a pig)

Rob Ford isn’t known for supporting the arts, but he sure gets his fair share of portraits (and operas!). Anyone who's looking...

Rob Ford pledges to block LRT construction—even if council votes for it

Rob Ford pledges to block LRT construction—even if council votes for it

Fed up with know-it-all panels with their “data” and “facts,” Rob Ford has pledged to block the construction of an LRT on...

Reason to Love Toronto: yoga classes at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Reason to Love Toronto: yoga classes at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Of all the developments during Toronto’s oughties-era flurry of new architecture, Frank Gehry–redesigned Art Gallery of...

Fittingly, the first strike of Rob Ford’s administration affects libraries

Citing threats to job security (and perhaps still stinging from that whole Tim Hortons thing), 2,300 library workers have walked...

Rob Granatstein: how city hall tries—and fails—to tackle the systemically screwed-up Toronto taxi industry

Rob Granatstein: how city hall tries—and fails—to tackle the systemically screwed-up Toronto taxi industry

Toronto’s taxi industry has been a mess for more than 50 years. As a passenger, you feel it as soon as you slide your bum onto...

QUOTED: Normally conciliatory transit expert Eric Miller takes aim at Rob Ford

–Eric Miller, University of Toronto transit expert and member of Rob Ford’ s most hated transit panel, with an unequivocal...

Exclusive golf clubs are actually going to pay their taxes...soonish

Exclusive golf clubs are actually going to pay their taxes...soonish

Just in time for pseudo-summer, today’s Toronto Star returns to a strange tax situation involving nine exclusive country clubs...

A wily Rob Ford finds the upside of being sued

A wily Rob Ford finds the upside of being sued

Asked yesterday about Clayton Ruby’ s push to have him thrown out of office, Rob Ford demonstrated some shrewd...

Rob Ford’s newest enemy: expert transit panels

Rob Ford’s newest enemy: expert transit panels

Even after all his AstroTurfing and truth bending (or whatever you want to call this), things look bad for Rob Ford’ s subway...

Jesse Brown: Why the latest multi-purpose e-readers are great for everything but reading books

Jesse Brown: Why the latest multi-purpose e-readers are great for everything but reading books

The smell of an old book. The heft of a thick novel. The sensation of turning the last page of a ripping yarn with a freshly...

GMP, Bay Street’s (struggling) version of Goldman Sachs, cuts salaries and charitable giving

With Canada’s biggest banks becoming ever more dominant, Bay Street’s independent brokerages are finding it harder to keep...

Current Obsession: cartoonist Junko Mizuno twists Hello Kitty–style art into something seductively nightmarish

Current Obsession: cartoonist Junko Mizuno twists Hello Kitty–style art into something seductively nightmarish

In Japanese culture, Kawaii is the blanket term for the alternately beguiling and disturbing brand of Hello Kitty cutesiness in...

Smart phone app hails luxury cars for rich people frustrated by Toronto's transit options

Smart phone app hails luxury cars for rich people frustrated by Toronto’s transit options

With Torontonians annoyed by a troubled taxi industry and public transit mayhem, San Francisco start-up Uber Technologies thought...

Is lawyer Clayton Ruby wrong to go after Rob Ford for a “technicality”?

Is lawyer Clayton Ruby wrong to go after Rob Ford for a “technicality”?

Frustrated citizens who want Rob Ford out of office shouldn’t rely on “technicalities,” writes the Globe and Mail’ s...

TTC boss (and clean freak) Andy Byford shows off some shiny new washrooms

TTC boss (and clean freak) Andy Byford shows off some shiny new washrooms

With all the recent drama at the TTC, the commission may have found a new PR tactic to (briefly) redirect public attention:...

Former TCHC exec Gordon Chu got the city to pay for his car—twice

While Rob Ford wants to sell off Toronto Community Housing homes to raise money for repairs, the TCHC could probably find cash...

QUOTED: New TTC CEO Andy Byford declares he’ll speak up when necessary (despite what happened to Gary Webster)

—New TTC CEO Andy Byford on whether the fact that Gary Webster was sacked for supporting LRTs will dissuade him from speaking up...

Cost of Living

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

These North York points enthusiasts earn $370,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“We try to maximize our rewards by using various credit cards plus PC Optimum”

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

This 22-year-old venture capitalist is on track to make $180,000 this year. How does he spend it?

“I love a good bargain, so I shop at No Frills”

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

This globetrotting couple earns a combined $287,000 a year. How do they spend it?

“Groceries are our biggest monthly expense after rent”

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This Doctors Without Borders marketer earns $100,000 a year. How does she spend it?

Manpreet Badyal moved from Delhi to Vancouver to Toronto in search of success

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

How a Gen Z finance enthusiast in Forest Hill spends her money

Business analyst and budding TikTok investment guru Chaeeun Lee hopes to visit 50 countries before she turns 30

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This policy analyst and stand-up comedian makes $83,000 a year. How does she spend it?

“Investing in mental health is important. I have an unlimited membership at Othership in Yorkville”

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

This entrepreneur is on track to make $23,000 this year. How does she spend it?

“It was hard to accept financial aid from my parents, but it actually brought us closer together”

Urban Diplomat

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

Dear Urban Diplomat: My family takes Mother’s Day more seriously than Father’s Day

She gets flowers, gifts and breakfast in bed; I get a lousy grill brush. Am I wrong to feel slighted?

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat: What’s the etiquette for EV charging?

Dear Urban Diplomat , What’s the etiquette for EV charging? A few weeks ago, I finally found a spot in my neighbourhood to juice...

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I'm a hoarder, but I'm a collector

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband thinks I’m a hoarder, but I’m a collector

He’s started quoting Marie Kondo and insisting that I get rid of my “emotional support tchotchkes.” How can I get him to back off?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

Dear Urban Diplomat: My condo building has zero tolerance for the slightest noise

They’ve asked us not to shower after 11 p.m. because of “pipe whistling.” Is this normal?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My husband bought us a pass to skip the line at the ski hill. Why do I feel guilty for using it?

I can’t help being embarrassed every time I sheepishly walk past the eye rollers in the regular queue

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

Dear Urban Diplomat: My brother is lying online about Dry January

He’s preaching the virtues of sobriety on TikTok but still crushing six-packs every weekend, and the hypocrisy is getting on my nerves. Should I call him out?

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

Dear Urban Diplomat: My co-workers have forgotten how to behave in an office

I actually don’t mind the return-to-office mandate, but it seems like so much working from home has caused my fellow employees’ self-awareness to atrophy