Author Archives: vancouver

Toronto’s city council is debating a host of key measures over the next two days, but Monday's meeting was overshadowed by a looming transit showdown.

The council session began Monday morning. But before it began, Coun. Karen Stintz introduced a petition for a special council meeting to reconsider Transit City, which Mayor Rob Ford has all but killed. She and 23 councillors signed a petition calling for a special meeting Wednesday to debate light rail transit (LRT).

At the start of the two-day council meeting, councillors approved a proposal to remove Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) jurisdiction, and set up a local appeal body. The city will also ask the province to abolish the OMB.

“I don’t know any letters that rile my constituents more than OMB,” Coun. David Shiner said.

The OMB oversees planning and development in Ontario, and has been widely criticized for catering to developers.

The province can just “push off” those decisions that allow condominiums and go against the wishes of city council, Shiner argued.

“If you want respect for taxpayers, take away the OMB’s authority, because they do not have respect for taxpayers."

Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam introduced the motion last year and Tweeted that "Mississauga unanimously voted for land use planning autonomy."

"If the OMB were abolished ... would there still be an appeal process?" Coun. Norm Kelly asked Monday.

"Yes, it would be an appeal to the courts. ... It might be a slower process, but not necessarily, " city solicitor Anna Kinastowski said.

Coun. Raymond Cho asked if abolishing the OMB could end up costing the city more money in the long run.

"It's a possibility," Kinastowski said.

Deputy mayor Doug Holyday suggested preparing a staff report, and questioned why there hadn’t been one requested in the first place.

“This is a major change,” Holyday said.

He introduced a motion asking for the city's chief planner and executive director to consider the proposal.

Coun. Peter Milczyn asked council to oppose Holyday's motion. The motion was denied.

Earlier, Coun. Mike del Grande, a Ford ally, tried to add a motion without prior notice to the agenda regarding councillors’ salaries. But it fell three votes shy of the 30 that was needed to get the motion added to the agenda.

Last week, it was reported that the mayor and councillors are due for a two per cent salary increase this year. The increase, built into the 2012 operating budget passed last month, is about $2,000 per councillor and is based on Statistics Canada’s consumer price index for Toronto.

At the time, Coun. Doug Ford said a motion would be put forward to refuse the raise and freeze salaries.

The mayor, who earned $167,770 last year, said he would not take the increase. Councillors earn $99,620 a year.

City council approved a proposal to close a section of Gould and Victoria streets, near Ryerson University, to vehicle traffic. The area had been closed to traffic as part of a pilot project for several months.

Councillors also approved, with amendments, a plan to allocate federal and provincial funding for affordable housing, as well as approved sign variance bylaws and filling vacant positions.

The city will also debate asking the province’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for money to fight bed bugs. A strategy is expected to be in place by April 1.

Click here to see the meeting agenda.

To view a live stream of the meeting, click here.

Read this article:
Toronto council debates OMB, affordable housing funding & other issues

25-01-2012 22:24 You might have bed bugs? Or other pest issues like roaches, rats, mice, ants, bees? Get a free inspection of your Commercial or Residential property. Call us today to schedule your free estimate! Our removal specialists are Insured -- Licensed CALL 213-928-7849 NOW. losangelesbedbugremoval.com Los Angeles Metro area including Agoura Hills, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Alhambra, Bel Air Estates, Bellflower, Beverly Glen, Beverly Hills, Box Canyon, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Castaic, Century City, Chatsworth, Cheviot Hills, Culver City, Eagle Rock, Encino, Flintridge, Glendale, Gardena, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Hidden Hills, Highland Park, Hollywood, Holmby Hills, La Canada, La Crescenta, Lake Sherwood, Lakeview Terrace, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Long Beach, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Mission Hills, Monterey Park. Monrovia, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Newhall Ranch, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Oak Park, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Panorama City, Park La Brea, Pasadena, Playa Del Rey, Porter Ranch, Rancho Park, Reseda, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Santa Monica, Saugus, Sherman Oaks, Silverlake, Simi Valley, Stevenson Ranch, Studio City, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Topanga ,Torrance, Tujunga, Universal City, Valencia, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Ventura, Venice, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Westwood, Woodland Hills all ...

See the article here:
Bed bug removal long Beach, 213-928-7849, Bed bug inspections long Beach,Bed bug service long Beach, - Video

06-02-2012 14:43 Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm, and can live several months without a blood meal. Bed bugs are found across the globe from North and South America, to Africa, Asia and Europe. Although the presence of bed bugs has traditionally been seen as a problem in developing countries, it has recently been spreading rapidly in parts of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found.

Visit link:
Bed Bugs: What You Need to Know - Video