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City News

Perhaps Conrad Black was just not loved enough

With a mere two weeks to go before his scheduled self-surrender, Conrad Black could take solace of a sort in the words of three...

Five reasons Queen’s Park should take over the TTC

Councillor Karen Stintz must be enjoying the catbird seat today. Back in October , she was the first to say that the city should...

Convict him of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity!

At various stages throughout Conrad Black’s trial I was fortunate to correspond with an august British author and pillar of The...

Face it, Toronto: it snows here

For the past two weeks, I have tried to resist blogging about snow, snowstorms, icy sidewalks and uncleared roads. To me, writing...

Ken Whyte, Conrad Black and a conflict of interest

On a day when the Hollinger three filed joint papers with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in a final effort to delay their...

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.

In Toronto, users pay—but for what?

Now that the hysteria over recreation fees has subsided—a 21 per cent increase for city programs reduced to eight per...

The Toronto Lexicon, entry no. 6

Snow (sno:) 1. Frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent hexagonal ice crystals presenting as soft white...

The moral and political trappings of pet ownership

Church organizations have spoken out against bottled water. One city councillor has proposed a tax on the bottles. It’s bad for...

Babs goes batty

The opening sentence of Barbara Amiel’s latest offering in Maclean’s proves beyond a shadow of a shadow of a doubt...

The fag-end days for Black et al.

Now are frayed fag-end days for Conrad Black et al. Having decided to roll together their appellate court applications for...

When every home is a waste-transfer station

I was wondering when someone was going to complain about these . A city that prides itself on its high density, and on its...

Irony’s alive and well at the Sun-Times

“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” Marx said it. Now it’s safe to say Conrad Black et al. are...

Raise property taxes all you want…

…but don’t mess with hockey. I am at home recovering from the flu, so I missed yesterday’s storm at city hall—but even...

A Bone to chew on

After his Lordship’s repudiation last Thursday, the weekend’s coverage dwindled away to almost nothing. One happy exception...

Municipal parties: cast your vote!

My column in the February issue of Toronto Life argued that it was time to introduce a party system to city hall. You gotta buy...

Denied!

As I suspected, and suggested as a possibility yesterday, given his sudden appearance on the Bureau of Prisons Web site, Lord...

A call from Shelley Carroll

I got a call from Shelley Carroll’s office earlier this week, telling me I overlooked some key items in this year’s...

Prisoner #18330-424

As of 9:16 p.m. on January 30, 2008, Conrad M. Black’s name and prison number were available for public scrutiny on the Federal...

David Frum’s laughable defence

Predictably, the U.S. government renounced Conrad Black’s arguments in favour of his remaining free on bail pending appeal. As...

Segregation Schmegregation

I hate to bring it up, but… If this works—which is to say, if it produces a decline in dropout rates among Caribbean-born...

Lines Written on the Imprisonment of Lord Black

In the interregnum between Lord Black’s plea to remain free on bail and the government’s response, I thought I might share the...

Remember the toilet (or, Changing the budget tune)

Mayor David Miller and Budget Chief Shelley Carroll—whose name is increasingly whispered whenever talk turns to the issue of...

Fewer and farther between

A selection of random trailings from late last week. A Bloomberg wire service story reported that: U.S. prosecutors charged 11...

Rating Toronto’s Daycares

Earlier this week, the city posted quality ratings on their Web site for 650 daycare centres across the city. The ratings are...

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