November 19,2009: Toronto to host G20 ?
Toronto may host the G20 conference in 2010, instead of the Town of Huntsville (a cottage town located about a 2 hour drive from Toronto).
Huntsville (population 18,000) is already slated to host the G8 conference. However, concerns about the the size of the town, have prompted government officials to consider an alternative location.
One of the concerns, is that with the large amount of staff accompanying G20 participants, there are not enough hotel rooms or temporary housing facilities to accommodate the number of guests that the G20 would bring in.
If Toronto were to hold the G20 meeting in 2010, no doubt it would inject a lot of dollars into hotel and tourism for Toronto, but would also bring the protests that come with it.
November 18,2009: Toronto Transit fares to increase in the new year.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) voted yesterday to increase Toronto transit fares by $0.25 starting in the new year (2010).
A cash fare will increase from $2.75 to $3.00, a token fare (a minimum five purchased) will increase from $2.25 to $2.50, and a monthly metro pass will increase from $109 to $121.
Over the past few weeks, TTC riders have been hoarding tokens in anticipation of the looming fare hike. The TTC responded by first placing a 10 token limit purchase for customers, and more recently a 5 token limit.
Despite their efforts, TTC tokens have often sold out from fare booths across Toronto. Lineups during commuting hours are often deep, both as a result of hoarding, and as a result of the limitations imposed (5 tokens will only last a commuter 2 1/2 days).
Unlike other major metropolitan cities, Toronto does not have a automatic card system which would prevent such a scenario.
June 04,2007: Canadian Dollar forecasted to be at par with US Dollar
CIBC World Markets economists have forecasted that the Canadian dollar will be at par with the US dollar by the end of the year, reports the Canadian Press (CP).
The Canadian dollar has hit a 30 year high versus the American dollar, with the current exchange rate hovering at $.09448. The last time the Canadian dollar was worth as much as the US dollar was back in November, 1976.
While the stronger dollar benefits the purchasing power of Canadian consumers, tourism (from the US) and the manufacturing sector are struggling with the weaker US currency.
The Canadian dollar has hit a 30 year high versus the American dollar, with the current exchange rate hovering at $.09448. The last time the Canadian dollar was worth as much as the US dollar was back in November, 1976.
While the stronger dollar benefits the purchasing power of Canadian consumers, tourism (from the US) and the manufacturing sector are struggling with the weaker US currency.
February 13,2007: Ferry ride to the Toronto City Centre Airport
Our latest video, described as one of the shortest ferry rides in the world, shows the ferry ride from the waterfront of downtown Toronto to the Toronto City Centre Airpot (also known as the Toronto Island Airport). The ferry rides takes just over a minute long!
Currently, Porter Airlines flies out of the Toronto City Centre Airport to Ottawa and Montreal.
Special thanks our videographer, Sam W!
January 05,2007: Canada's unemployment rate hits 30 year low
Canada's unemployment rate has hit a 30 year low, falling to 6.1%, according to the Canadian Press.
It was the 14th consecutive year of job growth. Year 2006 created 345,000 new positions.
For the month of December, Toronto's jobless rate fell from 6.9% to 6.7%. Calgary lead all Canadian cities with a 2.6% unemployment rate in December.
Canada's economy continues to boom.
It was the 14th consecutive year of job growth. Year 2006 created 345,000 new positions.
For the month of December, Toronto's jobless rate fell from 6.9% to 6.7%. Calgary lead all Canadian cities with a 2.6% unemployment rate in December.
Canada's economy continues to boom.
December 11,2006: Porter Airlines begins flights to Montreal from Toronto Island Airport
Porter Airlines have begun flights to Montreal from Toronto's Island Airport, also known as the Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA).
Montreal is the second destination from the Toronto Island Airport. Porter began flights to Ottawa in October 2006.
Porter currently flies 10 daily flights to Ottawa and 4 daily flights to Montreal, and hope to expand to 9 daily flights to Montreal with the arrival of Porters' fourth plane on January 8, 2007.
Montreal is the second destination from the Toronto Island Airport. Porter began flights to Ottawa in October 2006.
Porter currently flies 10 daily flights to Ottawa and 4 daily flights to Montreal, and hope to expand to 9 daily flights to Montreal with the arrival of Porters' fourth plane on January 8, 2007.
December 08,2006: Toronto Trump Hotel/Condominium announces construction date
The Globe and Mail today reports that the Toronto Trump Hotel & Condominium has announced a construction start date of Spring 2007.
The 70 story hotel and condominium, with 291 hotel suites and 147 condo units, will be the tallest residential building in Canada. The hotel will operate a similar investing plan as One King West, with owners able to rent out their fully furnished units into the hotel rental program.
The Globe quotes Barry Landsberg, Toronto director of marketing for Trump International saying "There's no turning back".
The Trump announcement comes on the heels of some key developments within the core:
- the completed deconstruction of the Bay Adelaide Centre to make way for a large new multi tower office complex. The Bay Adelaide Centre is located directly across the street from the Trump Hotel and Condo site.
- the ground breaking of the Ritz Carlton Hotel/Condominium the entertainment district
- the construction of a sales office for the Four Seasons hotel in Yorkville
- the completion of the skeletal body of the Metropolis shopping complex in Dundas Square.
Back in May 2006, in our Article Toronto 2010: Part 1, Hospitality and Hotels, we mentioned at the time that many of the proposed five star hotels were not sure things.
Half a year later, three of the four hotels have made significant progress and are on track to open in 2010, with only one, Shangri-La, still in the proposal phase.
November 14,2006: Toronto re-elects Mayor David Miller
Incumbent Mayor of Toronto David Miller has won re-election. Miller defeated challenger Jane Pitfield by 57% of the vote to 32%.
Miller was first elected into the Mayoral office in 2003, and will now serve for a four year term through to 2010.
Miller was first elected into the Mayoral office in 2003, and will now serve for a four year term through to 2010.
October 31,2006: Concord Adex purchases 16 hectares of land for Condominiums
Concord Adex, developer of CityPlace in downtown Toronto, has purchased 16 hectares of land from Canadian Tire for $149.7 million.
The land which was previously owned by Canadian automotive and hardware retailer Canadian Tire, is located by Leslie St and Sheppard Avenue beside highway 401 in North York, a suburb of Toronto, but still considered part of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Concord Adex plans to develop 20 residential condominium towers, making it one of the largest condominium developments in Canada and the will be the largest in Greater Toronto Area.
Cityplace, located by the former rail lands beside Toronto's CN Tower, is currently the largest condominium development in downtown Toronto.
For more information:
Bloomberg
Reuters
Toronto Star
The land which was previously owned by Canadian automotive and hardware retailer Canadian Tire, is located by Leslie St and Sheppard Avenue beside highway 401 in North York, a suburb of Toronto, but still considered part of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Concord Adex plans to develop 20 residential condominium towers, making it one of the largest condominium developments in Canada and the will be the largest in Greater Toronto Area.
Cityplace, located by the former rail lands beside Toronto's CN Tower, is currently the largest condominium development in downtown Toronto.
For more information:
Bloomberg
Reuters
Toronto Star
October 23,2006: Porter Airlines flies from Toronto Island Airport
After much controversy, the first flight from new carrier Porter Airlines departed from the Toronto Island Airport to Ottawa this morning at 7:00AM.
The Toronto Island Aiport, also known as the Toronto Centre City Airport is located on an island minutes away from the downtown core.
Its proponents point to the convenience of the location of the airport. The island airport saves downtown central business commuters time and hassles versus the congested, and suburban located Pearson International Airport, which is the main airport of Toronto.
Its opponents point to the environmental impact, noise, and safety issues with having an airport so close to the waterfront of downtown.
In a recent mayoral election, David Miller campaigned against the airport, specifically against the creation of a fixed link from the island to the mainland. David Miller won partly on his opposition against the airport.
More about the history of the Toronto City Centre Airport from Wiki.
News Releases..
Globe and Mail
Ottawa Citizen
Toronto Star
October 20,2006: Wal-Mart in Downtown Toronto?
Will Toronto Film Studios be redeveloped into a Wal-Mart bigbox super store? The first of it's kind in the core of Toronto?
According to the Toronto Star, that is what soon could happen if developer Mitch Goldar has his way.
Toronto Film Studios is located in the heart of the studio district in downtown Toronto, minutes away from the Don Valley Parkway (the major north-south highway servicing downtown Toronto to the northern suburbs).
Last year, Toronto Film Studios, the largest film studio in Toronto, won a bid to build a mega studio called the Filmport on derilict and contaminated port lands, located lakeside in east downtown Toronto.
When the Filmport is completed, Toronto Film Studios will leave behind 7.4 hectares of prime industrial land ideally located in downtown Toronto.
Mitch Goldar who first brought Walmart to Canada has recently purchased a 50% stake in the "old" Toronto Film Studios land, hoping to re-develop it into a superstore with mixed residental when Toronto Film Studios vacates the property.
September 26,2006: Canada records budget surplus of $13.2 billion for 2006
Canada recorded it's ninth straight budget surplus, the only G8 nation to currently to do so, with a budget surplus of $13.2 billion for fiscal year 2005/2006.
The budget surpluses started with the Liberal government nine years ago. The Conservatives took power in 2006, and aim to continue fiscal responsibility. However, the Conversatives hope to cut high taxes and forecast budgets that are closer to the bottom line.
Canada's federal debt is now at $481.5 billion (from $494.7 billion in 2005), 35.1% of the gross domestic product, its lowest ratio since 1981-82, the government said.
The budget surpluses started with the Liberal government nine years ago. The Conservatives took power in 2006, and aim to continue fiscal responsibility. However, the Conversatives hope to cut high taxes and forecast budgets that are closer to the bottom line.
Canada's federal debt is now at $481.5 billion (from $494.7 billion in 2005), 35.1% of the gross domestic product, its lowest ratio since 1981-82, the government said.
May 13,2006: Water: The source of life?
The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) announced yesterday the five finalists in a design competition to re-design Toronto's Central waterfront.
The finalist will be chosen on May 31, in just a little over two weeks time.
The long neglected land stretching 3.5 kilometres along the shores of Lake Ontario brims with potential that as of yet has not been realized.
Swathes of waterfront land remain underdeveloped with little pedestrian traffic, commercial storefronts or much else that make the waterfront a destination of choice (the few exceptions being the Island Ferries and Queens Quay).
Another challenge is the seperation of the waterfront from the core of the city by the Gardiner Expressway. Pedestrians must pass underneath a highway and across the wide busy Lakeshore Blvd to get to the waterfront.
Despite all this, Toronto still manages to be a beautiful city filled with multiculturalism, a thriving theatre district and entertainment district, international cuisine, and a cleanliness that most cities cannot compare to.
Just imagine if the city does embrace an intimate relationship with its waterfront. Imagine if the city decides to harness the potential,beauty and fortune to be nestled beside one of the Great Lakes. Imagine what the city would be like then.
Imagine like this:
"..a series of 100-metre-tall weather masts that sway in the water and change colour with the weather.. "
-by P.O.R.T. (Project On Revitalizing Toronto)
The finalist will be chosen on May 31, in just a little over two weeks time.
The long neglected land stretching 3.5 kilometres along the shores of Lake Ontario brims with potential that as of yet has not been realized.
Swathes of waterfront land remain underdeveloped with little pedestrian traffic, commercial storefronts or much else that make the waterfront a destination of choice (the few exceptions being the Island Ferries and Queens Quay).
Another challenge is the seperation of the waterfront from the core of the city by the Gardiner Expressway. Pedestrians must pass underneath a highway and across the wide busy Lakeshore Blvd to get to the waterfront.
Despite all this, Toronto still manages to be a beautiful city filled with multiculturalism, a thriving theatre district and entertainment district, international cuisine, and a cleanliness that most cities cannot compare to.
Just imagine if the city does embrace an intimate relationship with its waterfront. Imagine if the city decides to harness the potential,beauty and fortune to be nestled beside one of the Great Lakes. Imagine what the city would be like then.
Imagine like this:
"..a series of 100-metre-tall weather masts that sway in the water and change colour with the weather.. "
-by P.O.R.T. (Project On Revitalizing Toronto)
May 10,2006: Zipcar coming to Toronto
 | Zipcar announced today that they have begun offering their car share program in Toronto. To read the press release, click here. National Post Article, click here. |
This is great news for Toronto! Toronto now has two choices for car share programs, Autoshare.ca and Zipcar.com.
I rode the Zipcar service dozens of times in Boston while there on assignment, and can personally testify that it provides tremendous convenience.