CITY - Friday, May 24, 2024 - 06:00 p.m. (ET) - Segment #1

>> We get so much support. We've talked to nearby B.I.A.s. We've talked to other artistic organizations in toronto and we're getting more and more letters of support. >> Afua: the harbourfront centre selling neuss the busker program has not been cancelled but instead paused for the 2020-25 season adding this strategy is intended to enhance our visitors' experience and address noise concerns from our waterfront natures. Positively contributes to the overall experience at harbourfront centre." but kyle says he has never received any noise plaints and for buskers like him the pause means another year without a source of income and without connecting with the waterfront communities. >> I was so excited about riding my bike down here and doing all kinds of work. Actually for the last four years since I've moved here I haven't been able to use the space at all. >> One year more feels five too late. >> Afua: another popular spat, yonge-dundas square. >> Basically every artist who wants to busk in toronto is fighting for one space. So the more spaces that we have, the easier it is for all of us to get the work that we need. >> Afua: and since there are rules in toronto on busking including not being allowed to perform in certain spaces without a permit, options are razor thin. >> What I would like is if they gave aus letter between the busker community and their campus security to say that they won't impede any busking activities down here. >> Afua: now some of the buskers including kyle are hoping for some form of collaboration with the centre in order for busking to return here. The centre also reaching out -- reaching out to us telling us that they are hopeful the 2026-27 season the budget for that time hopefully they'll have the necessary resources for this program to return. In toronto, afua baah, "CityNews." >> The monopoly with the three big breweries, they're done. They're gone. >> Cynthia: tonight in toronto, the province is fast-tracking the sale of alcohol at corner stores but at a big cost to taxpayers. >> This is not an offer. This is an ultimatum. >> Cynthia: pro-palestinian demonstrators refuse to leave the u of t campus. Could they soon be forcibly removed? And how a major transit project could force students out of their toronto school. >> Announcer: this is "citynews," everywhere. >> Cynthia: good evening and welcome to "CityNews." you will soon be able to buy booze in corner stores, but even if you don't drink, you'll certainly be paying for it. Tina yazdani joins us now. Tina, premier doug ford has been promising this for years but a significant amount of taxpayer money is now being spent to make it happen. >> Tina: and that's right, cynthia. The ford government will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to fast track its plan to get booze into corner stores. This will mark a significant change to the alcohol market here in ontario that has looked relatively the same for decades. >> After having a monopoly in 97 years, almost 100 years, only jurisdiction in the entire world you can't walk into a grocery store, a retail, a convenience store and pick up a case of beer or wine. We're bringing -- we're moving it forward. >> Tina: the ford government moving it forward almost two years ahead of schedule. Beer, cider, wine and ready-made cocktails will be available in convenience, grocery, big box and corner stores as well as gas stations by the end of october dramatically earlier than the expected 2026 start date. It will give ontarians an estimated 8,500 new stores across the province to buy booze. >> We're going to make sure it's convenient for people and be treated like everyone else in the country. >> Tina: but it comes at a cost to taxpayers. The ford government will give the beer store $225 million over the next 19 months to support the transition and protect jobs, money that may not have been paid had this been rolled out on the original 2026 time line. This is about passing public money, our money off to the private sector. This is our worst nightmare come true. >> Tina: the union representing lcbo employees is demanding answers about why public funds are paying for a rushed policy. >> I'm concerned about convenience when I go to an emergency room and I have to wait 12 hours to see somebody. That's not convenient. I don't care about where to get the booze. >> It's overwhelmingly popular, overwhelmingly. I've never seen numbers this high before. >> Tina: while he calls it popular, there is mixed reaction to the news. >> I don't think it's necessary. >> I think it's a terrible idea. >> It's too accessible. It just -- we're trying to cut down on the amount of impaired driving out there. >> Tina: the announcement comes just one week after the ford government said it is toughening impaired

driving penalties in response to a rise in impaired driving charges. >> The research is pretty clear that, when you increase alcohol availability, you also increase alcohol related harms, one of which is impaired driving. It also includes violence, domestic violence as well as the health effects of alcohol. >> Tina: spirits will still exclusively be sold at the lcbo but there are still concerns about losses, especially since corner stores will soon be able to set their own prices for alcohol. As for the beer store na statement they say they are prepared for the government's accelerated time line the cynthia? >> Cynthia: ok, tina. Thank you. Our "CityNews" copper is flying above the university of toronto's downtown campus this hour, where a pro-palestinian encampment remains in place. The chances that those demonstrators could be forcibly removed appears to be growing by the day. It has been 24 hours since the school made an offer of resolution, but the students living in those tents appear to be digging in their heels tonight. Shauna hunt joins us live from the campus. Shauna, another deadline has been given and there's a feeling that this standoff could soon come to a head. >> This is not an offer. This is an ultimatum. >> Shauna: the encampment here as grown over the last 23 days with nearly 200 tents now erected in king's college circle, and after more than three weeks of protest, the university is planning legal action after the first and final offer was rejected by student organizers. >> This document is a farce. This document is nothing but a summary of their already existing procedure on divestment and disclosure, with a few minor tweaks to bait us into thinking that we are getting a good deal out of this. >> Shauna: the school says it will not cut ties with israeli universities but invited students to take part in committees and working groups to consider options for disclosure and increased transparency of investments. >> Our offer is fair and reasonable. >> Shauna: for the first time since the encampment began, u of T's president called a news conference on thursday, giving protesters 24 hours to accept the deal or face the consequences. >> The patience of our community I think is wearing thin. We have allowed one group to occupy a piece of the campus, a very prominent piece of the campus, to demonstrate and protest. But in doing so, they have denied others the use of this piece of land, which is much enjoyed by many members of our community normally. We are, at this point, not eliminating any options. We are pursuing all legal options available to us if or as necessary. >> Shauna: something protesters are preparing for. >> We are here currently, students have been here for 23 days. We will continue to demand divestment. This is, you know, an ongoing and active movement. >> Shauna: so since protesters rejected the school's latest first -- latest offer, rather, trespassing notices were handed out about two hours ago. They basically are telling protesters that they have until monday at 8 a.m. To clear out the circle or, you know, legal action will escalate. You know, these notices, u of t is also warning students could be suspended and faculty could be fired if they do not follow through and clear out by that deadline as I mentioned. Cynthia, of course toronto police could be a part of this equation if campers refuse to leave. >> Cynthia: shauna, even those notices have been issued, both sides are still talking. What are you hearing from them? >> Shauna: yes. So while student protesters rejected the offer, they did come back with a counter-proposal. While they did not stop these notices from going out, cynthia, the administration has agreed to a meeting. So talks between the two sides will continue. That meeting is scheduled for sunday evening, really just hours before that deadline to clear out on monday morning so there is more to come from here but the situation is certainly escalating. Back to you. >> Cynthia: ok, shauna. Thank you. Many parents celebrated the announcement of a federal $10-a-day child care but centres that opted into the program say they are now in danger of going out of business. That includes sunnyside garden day care, which has been operating for 40 years now just a few blocks from high park. >> And at the end of this year, if we do not get an urgent influx of cash, we are faced with two terrible options. We're either going to have to withdraw from the $10-a-day program, which provides much needed affordable fees to families in this community, or we're going to have to close our operations. >> Cynthia: the ford government recently delayed

the announcement of a new funding formula for childcare centres until 2025. That has the N.D.P. calling on the province to provide immediate emergency bridge funding to facilities like sunnyside garden. They also want the government to give childcare operators an advance look at the funding model so they can plan accordingly. A major subway project could ironically force hundreds of students to take a longer walk to school. Mark McALLISTER with how construction could prompt their school to close its doors. >> Mark: this small school in riverdale is right in line with the ontario line and the chaos from construction is expected to last for years. As a result, these school kids may end up at a different facility quite a distance up the road. >> Our kids have enough on the go that, you know, adding another layer of disruption isn't ideal. >> Mark: the signs of disruption have already started. The large concrete blocks and fencing surrounding the playground equipment at pape junior school is blocking early works for the ontario line. Now word from a recent community meeting and letter to parents that 330 students from senior kindergarten to grade 6 could be moving next year. >> I'd like to learn more information. I want to hear from the tdsb what exactly makes our school unsafe and unhealthy to send our kids there. >> Mark: the ontario line path and construction means the move would possibly have students going to what is now the jones adult learning centre. A 10 to 15-minute walk to the northeast. >> In the end, if we are to relocate, is it entirely because it is not safe to stay on the school property? Or is it safe to stay on the existing school property but accessing the building -- it's very complicated and complex. Constant changes. >> Mark: the school on jones just went through a renovation after a fire a few years ago, but if it's decided that pape students need to move, more alterations will have to take place to create new classrooms, for example. Even if it's still only a possibility, all of it adds up to the reality that the ontario line is now starting to set in. >> We've had some change of traffic flow and drop-off zone has changed and so now parents are starting to, you know, wake up and maybe pay a little bit more attention to what's happening. >> Mark: a statement sent to "CityNews" says metrolinx' construction plans assume the continued operation of the school in its current location. Any decision to relocate the school's students and staff is up to the toronto district school board. The transit agency says it has already developed a health and safety plan, including paid-duty police officers and crossing guards, installing signage, and building that large concrete noise wall with monitoring equipment. The tdsb has said this will be a collective decision that will take place in the fall once some initial feedback is gathered. Mark McALLISTER, "CityNews." >> Cynthia: and the clock continues to tick down on a potential strike that could cripple T.T.C. service across the city. [ Traffic din ] the union representing 12,000 workers has set a june 7th as a deadline for a new deal to be reached. A spokesperson claims the two sides remain far apart on issues like job security, wages and benefits. T.T.C. C.E.O. rick leary admits a labour interruption would lead to service impacts, but it's still unclear how big the disruption would be and whether an entire system shutdown is a possibility. The chair of the t.t.c., councillor jamaal myers, wants to see the two sides keep talking. Myers issued a statement that reads in part, "i encourage both A.T.U. local 113 and the T.T.C. negotiating teams to continue talking to achieve a fair deal that values transit workers and provides a fair deal. I continue to receive regular updates on the negotiations and I'm confident of a fair confident both sides are working in good faith to reach a fair agreement. There will be some inconvenience, though, in the meantime for subway riders this weekend. Trains will not be running between woodbine and kennedy stations on saturday and sunday. Those are the final five eastern stations on line 2. Shuttle buses will be available, and if you're heading out tonight, line 1 service between St. Clair and sheppard yonge will end at 11 p.m. Due to track work. And this could throw a wrench into your summer travel plans. More than 9,000 border services workers have voted in favour of taking job action. Many of those union members are considered essential

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