I’m out of my sickbed just in time to see a story I’ve been waiting two years to read.
asserted
I → ’m → story
I was at City Hall in December 2024 when Mayor Olivia Chow casually mentioned to reporters that she had a group chat with the other big-city Ontario mayors.
asserted
she → mention → mayors
“I’d love to see that chat,” a few of us said.
asserted
few → love → us
Ben Cohen didn’t just say it, he filed the paperwork to let us see the WhatsApp thread.
asserted
us → say → thread
It’s not quite as gossipy as some of the chats I’m in, but it has its moments of drama.
asserted
it → ’ → drama
Here are six things to know going into the weekend:
asserted
things → know → weekend
- Mark Carney officially designated the Pacific Link pipeline his government’s first use of its contentious new fast-track powers.
asserted
Carney → designate → powers
- A leaked Canada-EU summit document doesn’t mention “associate membership,” but still has lots in it to anger Trump.
asserted
document → leak → Trump
- People are talking about Carney winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
asserted
Carney → talk → Prize
- Strategist Warren Kinsella has left his role as senior advisor to Brad Bradford’s mayoral campaign.
asserted
Kinsella → leave → campaign
- Good: Don Valley Station opened last February.
asserted
Station → open → ?
Bad: A new elevator there wasn’t scheduled to open until 2032.
asserted
elevator → schedule → 2032
Better: After the Star asked about it, it’s open now.
asserted
it → ask → it
Worse: It’s going to close again.
asserted
It → go → ?
“It does feel weird,” Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk said from orbit shortly after blasting off.
asserted
Kutryk → feel → orbit
He’s on a six-month mission to the International Space Station.
asserted
He → ’ → Station
But before we can think about partying among the art all night, we have some reading to do today.
asserted
we → think → reading
Announcing the decision flanked by oilsands workers in Fort McMurray, Alta., Carney touted the newly branded “Pacific Link” pipeline project as an economic boon that will rake in billions of dollars for federal coffers and create 140,000 jobs during construction.
asserted
that → announce → construction
The project faces stiff resistance from environmentalists and Indigenous groups and deepens Carney’s co-operation with the Alberta government just weeks ahead of the province’s separation-themed referendum.
asserted
project → face → referendum
Alex Ballingall and Ryan Tumilty have the story.
asserted
Ballingall → have → story
Carney’s push to expedite construction of a major oil pipeline to the West Coast could set up a potential legal fight with Indigenous communities.
uncertain
push → expedite → communities
- Susan Delacourt’s take: The pipeline announcement this week is Carney’s version of a unity rally, speaking in the language of projects and money.
asserted
announcement → speak → projects
- What Canadians think: Polling on Carney’s big projects shows support for them, but it depends on what is built, where and when, David Coletto and Ashley Csanady write.
asserted
Coletto → think → them
Education
- “Can’t believe I just got in and this may not exist anymore”: George Brown says no new students will be admitted to its jewelry and gemmology program in 2027-28.
uncertain
students → believe → 2027
- Officials in Brampton refuse to release records on Mayor Patrick Brown’s extensive home renovations, saying that doing so would endanger an unnamed individual.
asserted
doing → refuse → individual
- Star columnist Adam Radwanski moderated a panel Thursday on how Toronto’s next mayor can help the city compete in the future.
asserted
city → moderate → future
Elissa Mendes gives us the highlights.
asserted
Mendes → give → highlights
- Mississauga mayoral candidates admitted their debate got “out of control” on Thursday night.
asserted
debate → admit → night
Here’s what happened and some key takeaways.
asserted
happened → ’ → ?
- Even Brad Bradford’s supporters find him weird and intense.
asserted
him → find → ?
Richard Warnica asked him about it over breakfast on the Danforth.
asserted
Warnica → ask → Danforth
Politics
- The world’s largest federation of trade unions is urging Mark Carney to back down on proposed labour law changes it says put Canadians’ right to strike at risk.
asserted
it → urge → risk
Our supercomputer-powered poll aggregator suggests Carney’s Liberals would secure even more seats than they currently hold if an election were held today.
uncertain
election → power → seats
The Alto high-speed rail line, linking Toronto and Quebec City, could cost as much as $113 billion, significantly higher than Ottawa’s previous $90-billion estimate.
uncertain
line → link → estimate
Crime
- A sexual assault case against “Trailer Park Boys” actor Mike Smith was dismissed Thursday after Crown lawyers said they would not be presenting any evidence.
asserted
they → dismiss → evidence
- A man arrested after an arson at Scarborough MP Salma Zahid’s home has now been charged over a separate incident in Ajax.
asserted
man → arrest → Ajax
When I was younger, every year the CNE would end with a riot.
asserted
CNE → end → riot
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was a commonly known and accepted fact among people who worked there that on Labour Day, the fair would fill with young hooligans in the afternoon and early evening.
asserted
fair → know → afternoon
At some point, everyone would start running wild, grabbing toys and money from the booths, smashing things, fist fighting and, ultimately, clashing with police.
asserted
everyone → start → police
Then one year it stopped happening.
asserted
it → stop → ?
…and 40 more, not listed.
The Aporia
.jpg?trim=0,51,0,51&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
