Subscribe

City News

How not to handle a political hot potato

If a government wants to introduce new taxes, it helps to manufacture a crisis. You have to make it seem as if there is no choice...

Cesar’s Palacio

[UPDATED] What other name could the city possibly give to the casino proposed by the councillor for Ward 17 – Davenport, if they...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

A couple more thoughts on the weekend’s coverage before I turn my attention to today and the run-up to the bail hearing on...

Black Watch: The Weekend’s Top Stories

The barrage of Conrad Black stories over the weekend makes the ink spilled on VE Day look like coverage of the 48th Highlander...

Black Day in July

It was the sort of bracing gust of reality that leaves hardly any room for description. At 9:30 this morning, Amy St. Eve marched...

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.

Guilty

Conrad Black has been found guilty on four charges, including mail fraudand obstruction of justice. Peter Atkinson, Mark Kipnis...

We have a verdict”

Came the announcement from Amy St. Eve this morning. Conrad Black—beleaguered and beloafered though he may be—is on the verge...

A Whole Lot of Nothing

Things are really turning upside down here: the Brits have started playing euchre, and I had a pleasant chat with Judge Amy...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

This morning, it was the same old same old. Speculation abounds: there’s the one-angry-white-guy theory (a male juror who always...

Against my own self-interest

Talk radio has been going nuts all week over the city’s proposed land transfer tax. Adam Vaughan, though he’s not among the...

Two strikes against the bohemian city

Two strikes against the bohemian city

Everyone’s been aflutter since the weekend over the news that creative-cities guru Richard Florida, who encourages cities to...

No News is Annoying

This afternoon, the jury headed home 10 minutes early without so much as a backwards glance, leaving a general air of confusion...

All Hands on Decks

After yesterday’s sudden whirl of activity, the journos were back in the second floor canteen using the free WiFi or camped out...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

If nothing else, today’s coverage demonstrates many different ways of saying the jury can’t make up its mind. “Stalemate,”...

Cut Off at the Impasse

High drama as the defendants gathered before Amy St. Eve to hear a note from the jury. In a voice perhaps better suited to a PTA...

A Cry For Help

The jury, now into its ninth day of deliberations, sent Amy St. Eve a note this afternoon saying they were at an impasse. We have...

Yet another argument against congestion pricing

…can be found in this report , which will go before Budget Committee today. You can’t price the roads as an incentive to take...

Act Up, where are you?

Today, when the Board of Health meets at city hall, on the agenda is a report recommending that the city ask Queen’s Park...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Whatever else there might be to say about Conrad Black (and sometime over the next week to 10 days or so there will be rather a...

The Suspense Mounts

After all the “excitement” this morning, something of an anticlimax as the jury beetled out at two this afternoon without a...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

This morning, word has it that Times man James Bone is offering even money that there will be a verdict today. This is based on a...

Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

It was a surreal scene this morning as the lawyers met before Amy St. Eve to argue the potentially moot point of what Black et...

Dogs have no rights

Dogs have no rights

Quick reaction to today’s news : owning a pet in the city is a privilege that comes with many responsibilities and no rights...

The Floating Rocket Lives! Maybe!

Not along the Don or the Humber, as I foolishly suggested , but on Lake Ontario , from Bluffer’s Park and Humber Bay Park. Just...

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