U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan told the court Marc Emery made millions of dollars by shipping seeds into the United States and now he’s paying the price for being part of the illegal drug trade.

“Marc Emery decided that U.S. laws did not apply to him, but he was wrong,” Durkan said in a news release Friday.

“Emery put his personal profits above the law . . . He sold to anyone who would pay him — with no regard for the age or criminal activities of his customers.

“Now, Emery is paying the price for being part of the illegal drug trade that damages lives, homes and the environment.”

You can read the entire article on thestar.com

“We will not cross your line and if you want us to leave the hotel we will,” Sheen told the cheering picketers on behalf of himself and his son, actor and director Emilio Estevez.

Wearing a sign reading “On strike for justice Unite Here,” Sheen told the Star: “I’ve been a union member all my adult life. I’ve been involved in labour struggles all my adult life and I support it.”

Sheen walked with each of the three pickets around the entrances to the landmark downtown hotel which has been hit by a one-day walkout at the start of the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I know it can get very difficult with labour struggles,” Sheen, a long-time social activist, told the strikers.

“I’m here to remind you that lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for.”

Sheen stayed with the pickets for about 20 minutes. He stars in his son’s film The Way, which was scheduled to premiere at the festival Friday afternoon.

credits : thestar.com

I always knew Martin Sheen was a cool guy, this just makes him even cooler –> ( is this even a word? ) lol … need more star power down there at the Royal York Hotel !

Two men, one armed with a gun and another with a sledgehammer are wanted after a TTC collector was robbed over the weekend.

Toronto Police say the armed robbers struck around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Wilson TTC station.

One of the men used a sledgehammer to break the glass of the collector’s booth then reached inside and opened the door, police said. The second suspect pointed a handgun at the collector.

The duo grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the Wilson Ave. station.

Both men are described as black, 5’6″ to 5’8″ with thin builds.

Toronto’s proposed 2010 budget includes a property tax hike of four per cent as well as new user fees meant to narrow its $382-million shortfall.

The tax hike matches last year’s four per cent increase.

It means a home worth $407,374, the average price in Toronto, will be hit with an extra $93 in property taxes.

Property taxes make up 39 per cent of the revenue for the city’s $9-billion budget.

Mayor David Miller notes that despite the rate jump, Toronto still pays the lowest property taxes of any other municipality in the 905 region.

But critics say a house in the suburbs will likely be situated on a much larger property.

Aside from the property tax hike, the city also wants to increase user fees and impose new costs for city-run services and facilities.

That includes a one-time charge of $50 per family to sign up for recreation programs.

While Premier Dalton McGuinty has suggested in the past he was open to the idea, he now says bringing ultimate fighting to the province is not a priority.

MMA fighting has a strong fan base in Ontario, but has long been banned in the province because it’s considered to be “prize fighting” and is thereby illegal under the federal Criminal Code.

It can be licensed by provincial athletics commissions however – something that has happened in various provinces and U.S. states.

MMA is one of the world’s fastest-growing spectator sports and the UFC has claimed an event in Toronto could generate $4 million in tax revenue.

But while McGuinty insists creating jobs and strengthening the economy are his key priorities, he says he’d rather do that through tax reforms, infrastructure investments and early learning.

McGuinty is now at the top of my IDIOT list !!

Giambrone apologized but could not finish his prepared statement.

“There are weeks that change your life and this one has certainly changed mine,” Giambrone said.

“This searing experience has taught me, I hope permanently, that a public career of integrity cannot survive deceit in your private life.”

Giambrone’s executive assistant came out shortly afterward and said he would abandon his mayoral run but will stay on as chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission.

Giambrone said he’s sorry for the hurt he’s caused to everyone in his life, including Sarah McQuarrie, his partner of several years.

This week a 20-year-old university student came forward saying she had been having an affair with 32-year-old Giambrone.

Giambrone then admitted to having “intimate relations” with women other than his partner.

The relationship and Giambrone’s further admission of multiple affairs came to light in the Toronto Star.

I think his career is over do you ?

A female pedestrian was killed Wednesday morning in the GTA’s 10th road death of a person on foot in the past eight days.

A bloody tarp lay on Dufferin St. where the woman, believed to be in her mid-30s, was hit by a minivan just before dawn.

The driver of the minivan, a blue Honda Odyssey, and the driver of a white dump truck sat in separate police vehicles, answering questions.

thestar.com

Citytv is cutting shows, production staff and on-air talent including veteran CityNews at Six anchor Anne Mroczkowski.

In a statement, Leslie Sole, chief executive of Citytv parent company Rogers Media Television, said the changes “are necessary to align our operations with the economic and regulatory realities of our industry.”

According to Koreen Ott, director of marketing and public relations for Rogers Media Television, in Toronto, the noon news program, CityNews at 5 and weekend newscasts have all been cancelled.

A Mississauga man was killed in a hit-and-run
A teenager in Vaughan
A young mother in Etobicoke
A senior citizen in the city’s west end
A 24-year-old woman was killed by a Brampton transit bus
A man taking a shortcut was hit by a GO train
A father walking with his wife and 4-year-old son was run over by a tow truck.
A 60-year-old woman was killed by a TTC bus.

Is it even safe on our streets anymore ? Soo many pedestrian deaths you have to be alert when walking our streets.

Oh my i dont know how they do it ..it is hard to get me to go outside whrn its winter time in toronto good luck getting me to bathe in icy water !

Michel Villeneuve simply said “Bye-bye” in a message left on his employer’s answering machine.

Thats it ! I was expecting something like …

an F bomb ..
I Quit …
Asta Lavista Baby..
Suck It ..

But “Bye-bye” .. come on now .

What would you say to your boss if you won the lottery ?

According to Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation.

“Our government is prepared to match their contributions dollar for dollar,” up to a maximum of $50 million.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will hand out these funds to Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations.

The death toll from Haiti’s earthquake could be between 45,000 and 50,000, with a further 3 million people hurt or homeless in an increasingly desperate country, a senior Haitian Red Cross official said Thursday.

At least 1,500 bodies were stacked inside and outside the morgue of Port-au-Prince’s General Hospital Thursday before noon, as pick-up trucks continued to deliver the dead from Tuesday’s earthquake, the hospital’s director said.

thestar.com

The following is a list of reputable aid organizations currently seeking cash donations for relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Donations can be made at the web pages or by calling the appropriate phone numbers.

OneXOne (Rogers/Fido customers)

Text “HELP” or “Donate” to 1291. Reply to confirmation request with ‘yes.’ You will receive a thank you message that confirms the donation and $5 will be added to your next Wireless invoice.

Rogers will forward 100 per cent of the SMS revenues to OneXOne. In addition, Rogers Communications and the Rogers family will donate $250,000 in funds and goods to Partners In Health: Haiti and other relief organizations in the country.

Canadian Red Cross
Toll free: 1-800-418-1111

cbm Canada
Toll-free: 1-800-567-2264

Humanitarian Coalition (CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Save the Children Canada)

to see the entire list of organizations you can donate to visit citynews.ca

It all seems like a never story .. one disaster after another.

Sadly, a nurse from Elmira, Ont., was confirmed dead by Lou Geense, the director of global initiatives with the Emmanuel Missionary Church of Canada.

The Red Cross estimates as many as 3 million people have been affected by the quake. But with continued aftershocks and power and phone service spotty at best, it may take a day or two to determine the full extent of the destruction.

Haiti is the most impoverished nation in the Western hemisphere and the earthquake has only made the situation there more dire. you can visit The Canadian Red Cross online at www.redcross.ca to donate. You can also donate by calling 1-800-418-1111

“I prayed to God a lot,” William Hastie, 71, said at the Ontario Lottery prize office.

“I asked, ‘could you let me win’?”

Well looks like God finally answered his prayers with a $16,668,274 pay check .. i wonder if it will take 43 years for God to answer my prayers to win the lottery ? The way thing shas been going for me lately i can use the money

Well this is why toronto is the best city in the world !

While some wore their usual briefs, others went that extra mile accenting their legs by wearing fancy footwear or more formal attire everywhere but below the belt.

One man, wearing a suit jacket and tie, even brought a hanger to hang his pants from the overhead handrail .

Have you been outside today and feel how cold it was .. i must say these guys are surely crazy, i had on 3 layers of clothing while these guys were walking around toronto hallf naked ! brrrrrr …

For full story including pictures visit Toronto Sun

Everything these days seems to be about social networking,twitter and texting .. i cannot text to save my live.. ha ! i hardly ever use my cellphone i guess i am old school when it comes to the latest technology.. with all these tech-savvy teens where does an old school guy like me fit into today’s society ?

I didn’t even know there is such a thing as a texting championship that is how old school i am but this young lady will be representing canada in the Mobile World Cup that LG stages Wednesday and Thursday in New York.She must top texters from 13 countries to win the cup and $100,000.

A world title in texting wow .. we have come a long way

we asked the question whether he was guilty or not guilty .

eric tillman guilty or not guilty ?

He has now resigned as Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager four days after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a 16-year-old babysitter .

Tillman’s defence lawyer, Aaron Fox argued Tillman’s behaviour was fuelled by a bad combination of sleeping pills and muscle relaxants to combat a sore back.

Judge Murray Hinds gave Tillman an absolute discharge, calling the behaviour that day

“out of character for him and that no further steps are required to deter or rebilitate (him) to protect society.”

Wow you mean after all these months thats what it came down to ? Would i have gotten the same sentence ?

The new security measures, which also include security checks and tougher rules on board, were introduced after a failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit by a Nigerian man, who allegedly tried to ignite an explosive substance hidden in his pants.

The U.S. Transport Security Administration, a body formed after 9/11 to oversee security for American transportation systems, immediately issued the measures. Transport Canada “mirrored” the rules right away, said spokesman Patrick Charette.

But the communiques about the new security regulations were only sent to airport authorities late Christmas Day – leaving airport officials scrambling to comply with the rules and inform passengers on the busiest flying weekend of the year.

source thestar.com

What will it take for the leafs to win ??

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Dwayne De Rosario and Amado Guevara scored three minutes apart as TFC picked up its first-ever win against New England in six tries.

It was the first time all season Toronto, 4-3-4, has scored more than one goal at home.

With the win, Toronto vaults back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings of Major League Soccer. It’s likely a short stay, however, with a host of games tonight.

They were out scored in the series 15-5

Tue. 05/19: BOS 2, TOR 1
Wed. 05/20: BOS 8, TOR 3
Thu. 05/21: BOS 5, TOR 1

“We’re in first place,” Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar said after the club’s 5-1 loss in Boston on Thursday night. “The positive is we’re in first place. We were coming out of here in first place regardless.”

Toronto is still listed at the top of the American League East standings .. should we be panicking .. is this a sign of things to come ?

In this series the bats were quiet and the pitching wasnt that good either and The Toronto Blue Jays have already made some changes by recalling pitcher Casey Janssen and utility infielder Joe Inglett effective today. The club announced it will also recall rookie right-hander Ricky Romero in time to make his scheduled start next Tuesday.

Ricky Romero

Joe Inglett

Casey Janssen

Sure they had a nice little run at the end of the season but as is usually the case with those Raptors its too little too late ..

Can they do it ? I certainly think so …

If its anything like The Da Vinci Code i will definitely die from boredom …I need a good excuse to avoid going to see this movie..

Update well i saw the movie and it was shit ! thats a wasted $23 at a time when the economy is bad !!I was hoping this movie would correct the mistakes of the da vinci code .. but it did the opposite .. ah well .

Protestors are expected to gather and form a long line from Bloor to Yonge, around Front and Union Station and up University Ave.

I am not sure what they expected to gain from this move .. do you know ?

Who wants to join me ?

This subject is more popular than ever with politicians and celebrities voicing their opinions on the subject.The idea is to introduce laws that would treat marijuana like alcohol ,then tax it to raise revenues.

Legislation was recently introduced in Canada proposing to decriminalize marijuana possession of less than 15 grams. The bill would remove criminal liability from anyone in possession of up to 15 grams and the offense would then only draw a fine

I am not a big fan of weed smoking or any form of drug use .

Marijuana and the Brain
THC is a very potent chemical compared to other psychoactive drugs. An intravenous (IV) dose of only 1 milligram can produce serious mental and psychological effects. Once in your bloodstream, THC typically reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled and begins to go to work.

Marijuana users often describe the experience of smoking marijuana as initially relaxing and mellow, creating a feeling of haziness and light-headedness. The user’s eyes may dilate, causing colors to appear more intense, and other senses may be enhanced. Later, feelings of a paranoia and panic may be felt by the user. The interaction of the THC with the brain is what causes these feelings

I know there are alot of undercover weed heads out there .. so what do you think about this ?

Nicole Richie
Cost of Engagement Ring $10,000
would feed 200 starving african children a year

Fergie
Cost of Engagement Ring $75,000
would feed 1500 starving african children a year

Eva Longoria
Cost of Engagement Ring $500,000
would feed 10,000 starving african children a year

Kate Hudson
Cost of Engagement Ring $600,000
would feed 12,000 starving african children a year

Mariah Carey
Cost of Engagement Ring $2,500,000
would feed 50,000 starving african children a year

Jennifer Lopez
Cost of Engagement Ring $1,000,000 (mark anthony) $3,000,000 (ben affleck)
would feed 80,000 starving african children a year

Paris Hilton
Cost of Engagement Ring $4,700,000
would feed 90,000 starving african children a year

Beyonce Knowles
Cost of Engagement Ring $5,000,000
would feed 100,000 starving african children a year

These are just a few and we haven’t even talked about those artist in the hiphop culture .. who waste their money on jewelry and cars !!

I know its their money and they can spend it however they want .. im just saying..

What if celebrity used their status to make the world a better place ?

cant wait to see something like this on the streets of toronto.

TTC officials said ..The first of the cars are scheduled to be in the city for testing in 2011 and will be in service by 2012.

Do you like this new look ?

Toronto police allege two young men from Stoney Creek were sitting in the stands at BMO Field during the TFC-Chivas USA game when they each ignited a flare torch and threw them toward the soccer pitch.

“One flare landed on a woman’s thigh, burning through her pants and causing a burn to her thigh,” said a news release issued Thursday. “The second torch landed on the artificial turf, causing a section to ignite, causing approximately $2,000 damage.”

After the incident, which happened in the second half of Toronto’s 1-0 victory, “the two accused attempted to flee but were apprehended by police and security officers assigned to the game,” according to the news release.

While play continued, fans identified the two young men and appeared to even help restrain them, leading to a quick arrest.

Andjelo Franjic, 18, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, face four charges:

- possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;

- assault with a weapon;

- assault causing bodily harm;

- mischief under $5,000.

Send them to jail thats what i say … we dont want any football holligans in the tdot ..

Too many kids ..
Too many crappy widgets..

Each time i log onto facebook i stare at the screen and ask myself what next .. 2 minutes later i log out .. so i ask you these questions

why are you on facebook ?
what keeps you going back ?

help me understand this facebook craze.

Tillman, 51, has been on paid administrative leave from the Canadian Football League club.

He was charged earlier this year after a complaint by a 16-year-old girl who alleges he sexually assaulted her last summer.

Tillman helped lead the Riders to the Grey Cup championship in 2007.

The Crown has opted to proceed summarily against him, meaning the allegations are considered less serious.

what do you think .. guilty or not guilty ?