I understand there are several empty storefronts on King St., between Bathurst and Jarvis Sts. Despite Thompsons large margin of victory last election, some voters say they have been ready for a change in leadership for years. endstream endobj 896 0 obj <. But if Thompson does win again, Daniel says, it will be because of voter apathy, and not because voters are overwhelmingly excited about another four years of Thompson representing them. When fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and a rival paramilitary group known as the RSF, Wajan Mohamed feared for her sister's safety. We are able to provide our award-winning journalism at no cost thanks to the generous support of readers like you. Ian Lord, a specialist in municipal planning law, took home $106,792 for his efforts last year. |. Grand River Transit workers are on strike as of Monday. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services is now deeming a fire that broke out inside the Kitsilano Showboat last weekend suspicious. His close ties with Thompson were the reason for his resignation from the case, saying he would not be objective enough to carry out his duties as a lawyer. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. The mayors tab for the same trip was $2,084. Several more daily maximum temperature records were broken around B.C. Thompson has denied the allegations and his lawyers have said that Thompson will plead not guilty. His lawyer says Thompson will plead not guilty to the charges. The lawyer representing a Toronto city councillor who is facing sexual assault charges has stepped away from the case, one day after the allegations came to light. Nobody wants him, says Daniel. (Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia), Councillor Michael Thompson (L) huddles with Mayor John Tory at a March 7 committee meeting. The charges come just weeks before the Oct. 24 municipal election. Experts in municipal law have told the Star that a criminal conviction doesnt disqualify someone from serving as a councillor although a prison sentence would. 2023 Im not a career politician. But Cheung knows that because other candidates dont have the same name recognition as Thompson, defeating him will be an uphill climb. Im not looking for a career, Im looking for change in my community.. The web summit was from April 30-May 3. Thompson will be fighting the case vigorously, Barry said, adding the allegations were made by two women. The Melt Report: 7 Fascinating Facts About Melting Ice Cream. So, it would require significant financial and human resources to unseat a city councillor at the best of times, but to unseat somebody with such a wide margin of victory would almost be impossible.. Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, Stay up to date on the latest, breaking news, Queen Street closure for nearly 5 years starts today. You have permission to edit this article. For people like me, voting often feels like an easy political act that changes little. Thats what I say. While the SCSU has met with other candidates and incumbents in Scarborough, like Jennifer McKelvie, Cynthia Lai, and Gary Crawford, Higashihara says they had yet to meet with anyone from Ward 21. He was first elected to city council in 2003. Pick up 2 cartons of Signature SELECT Ice Cream for just $1.49 each with a new Just for U Digital Coupon this weekend only through May 24th. 2020 was emblazoned with tragedies, heartache, anxiety and fear. The name Selecta is a misnomer. Thompson denies the allegations, which have not been tested in court. Michael Thompson, 69, was arrested Monday in Lake County. We taste-tested 50 store-bought flavors, from chocolate ice cream to caramel cookie crunch, in the GH Test Kitchen to pick the best ice creams for dessert. According to his council biography, hes the recipient of the African Achievement Award for Excellence in Politics, the York University International Award and the Bob Marley Lifetime Achievement Award. Regulators seized troubled First Republic Bank early Monday and sold all of its deposits and most of its assets to JPMorgan Chase Bank in a bid to head off further banking turmoil in the U.S. Wilson Garcia, whose son and wife were among the five people killed by their neighbour in rural Texas, says the gunman seemed intent on killing everyone. To bring and share happiness to everyone through one scoop or a tub of ice cream. His lawyer says Thompson will plead not guilty to the charges. I feel that we are so close as friends that I may not be objective enough, Barry wrote. 2022-09-29. Now the by-election in Viamonde Ward 3 Centre has a crowded slate of eager candidates and an increase in voter enrollment. Lawyer Calvin Barry speaks to CTV News Toronto about Councillor Michael Thompson's sexual assault case. Thompson was a member of Tory's executive committee and the chair of Toronto's Economic and Community Development Committee. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Almost half of Canadians reported that they didn't use all their vacation days in 2022, with more than half reporting that they feel deprived of vacation time, according to a new report. Thompson is currently Torontos only Black councillor. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. The amount Is I think he might have a few percentage points knocked off, but I still think hes going to win by a majority.. He also chaired the citys economic and community development committee. A Vancouver woman claims she was the target of a rental scam and is sharing her story to help others avoid being duped. That is my strategy., Im not a career politician. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. CP24 has reached out to Thompson for comment but has not heard back. According to Barry, the complaints were made by two women, and the alleged incident happened back at the beginning of July. Thompson was one of the deputy mayors and a member of Mayor John Torys executive committee. Coun. An independent magazine exploring urban health and social issues in Toronto. LEVY: Councillor Michael Thompson hit by the travel bug on your dime, DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced by big-name star on 'American Idol', SIMMONS ON MAPLE LEAFS: Firing Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe? Im a citizen, says Vadivelu. Save up to 18% on Selecta Philippines products when you shop with iPrice! According to the 2016 census, close to 70 percent of the ward population is made up of visible minorities, with South Asian, Filipino, and Black residents rounding out the top three. A state of local emergency has been declared in Parkland County as a result of two separate wildfires burning in the area. group home operator facing $60M proposed class-action lawsuit, WestJet cancels some flights in and out of Toronto Pearson International Airport as winter storm hits city, Hamilton, Ont. Edward Gainey defeated incumbent Bill Peduto, Tony Moreno, and Michael Thompson in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Pittsburgh on May 18, 2021. Last week, Thompson, 62, easily recaptured Scarborough Centre (Ward 21), winning more votes (9,977) than the combined total (8,080) of the five other candidates. With the councillor facing charges, five low-profile challengers in Ward 21 Scarborough Centre are hoping to break through the inertia of incumbency. Thompson was first elected in 2003, and for the past eight years has been an ally of Mayor John Tory. We understand that you have bills to pay and families to feed; however our circumstances are unbearable and beyond our control at the moment, Vadivelu wrote in a letter to his superintendent asking about the possibility of a repayment plan in April 2020. The force is asking for anyone who has information related to the investigation to come forward. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. That trip cost taxpayers $5,230. After 22 years of representation by the Ford family, Ward 1 has the chance to elect a new voice. Fire officials confirmed the fire started in the garage and spread partially to the home. The Councillor also did not respond to The Locals request for comment, and has remained tight-lipped about the allegations, telling CP24 that his legal team advised him not to speak on the matter. After a complaint was filed in September, police began Selecta Philippines. Hes been around for such a long time, and the fact that I cant really put my finger on stuff that he has done, it kind of made me feel, Lets give somebody else a shot.. Ontario Provincial Police have laid a charge in the crash which sent CTV News Kitchener reporter Stephanie Villella to hospital with life-threatening injuries earlier this year. After news of the charges broke on Thursday, Tory released a statement saying Thompson had agreed to step down as chair of councils economic development committee, a role that has seen him travel the world to attract business to the city, and to relinquish the title of deputy mayor, a largely ceremonial position. With the coronation of King Charles III only days away, the Royal Family has released new photographs giving a glimpse at the ceremonial robes that will be worn by the King and Queen Consort the historical event. Thompson will be fighting the case "vigorously," Barry said, adding the allegations were made by two women. Toronto Councillor Michael Thompson, shown in 2013, is no longer pursuing legal action over a complaint against him by fellow members of the citys police board. In July, Thompson was staying at the property when a woman claims the councillor sexually assaulted her. City councillor Michael Thompson is in need of a new defence lawyer as he faces sexual assualt allegations. And during this campaigns, he does the same thing. Selecta Ice Cream has a moreish, surprising history. Thompsons accusers are said to be two adult women. More rain is in the forecast for Ottawa as water levels on the Ottawa River remain high. They say, Why would I bother to go and vote in this election at all? Start shopping with Instacart now to get products, on-demand. He noted that 62-year-old Thompson has a court date on Nov. 1 in Bracebridge. When she found work in Canada, Mr. Thompson and his siblings met her in Scarborough, where they planted roots and he and his wife now raise their family. Mission. The organizations didnt immediately return a request for comment last Friday. To order copies of Find out how we went from sausages to iconic ice creams and ice lollies. Two weeks ago, Vadivelus campaign wasnt on anybodys political radar. In March 2020, when the pandemic hit, Kiri Vadivelu lost his job. After an investigation, the Muskoka Crime Unit of the OPP charged Thompson, 62, with two counts of sexual assault. He and co-defendant Eric Hutchins, 45, are accused of taking advantage of at least 16 people last year as the state Employment Development Department was handing out money to help those whose jobs were lost because of business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ben Spurr has been the Toronto Star's transportation reporter since April 2016. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he personally favors his country becoming a republic, but it's not a change he intends to push for as leader. Lawyer Calvin Barry, acting on behalf of Cheung, who most recently provided administrative support for a wine and spirits importer, says the councillor is often in the news for his role as ambassador for the night economy or larger city events, and not issues that are specific to the ward. Its ice cream so, you really cant go wrong. The role of deputy mayor is largely ceremonial. #WilmarHeightsBaptist #Scarborough #Toronto #Canada 23 When asked about his strategy to court voters, Hansie says hes simply advocating for new blood for Ward 21, even if it isnt his. Not anymore, LILLEY: Three years after Trudeau's gun ban, nothing has changed, Councillor Michael Thompson in Toronto on Friday, July 27, 2018. A new study concludes a few pregnant women in Canada are passing HIV to their babies, despite the fact that this country has all the tools needed to stop it from happening. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said they charged the 62-year-old councillor in connection with alleged sexual assaults that occurred at a private residence in Muskoka. Our ice cream simply tastes better because its made better. A founding member of the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Tim Bachman, has died. 917 0 obj <>stream expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto By then, his wife was pregnant, and the threat of being homeless with a newborn weighed heavily on him. This episode was made in response to the arrest of Michael Thompson. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Toronto city councillor is charged with two counts of sexual assault By Ben Spurr, Betsy Powell Toronto Star Oct 4, 2022 The lawyer representing a Toronto city councillor who is facing sexual assault charges has stepped away from the case, one day after the allegations came to light. He says the citys current approach to the housing crisis has been reactive. Addressing a crowd of his supporters after being re-elected as councillor in Scarborough Centre on Monday, Michael Thompson acknowledged his family as his rock during difficult and challenging times. Having already served as city councillor for 19 years, he has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation in the Muskoka region, with his next court date coming up in November. Please try again. For Vadivelu, who came to Canada at 16 years old as a refugee following civil unrest in Sri Lanka, housing is one of the first things on his agenda. He was first elected in the 2003 Toronto municipal election. Much cooler temperatures with chance of showers most of the week.