SOPRANOS’ JAMES GANDOLFINI DIES OF CARDIAC ARREST, SAY ROME HOSPITAL OFFICIALS

Sopranos creator David Chase says James Gandolfini was a genius.  Best known for playing Tony Soprano on the hit television series, James Gandolfini died yesterday while vacationing in Italy. He was only 51.  Hospital officials in Rome say he suffered … read more

MUSIC ED WINS OUT AS TRUSTEES PASS BUDGET WHICH CALLS FOR $10.5 MILLION THROUGH IN YEAR SAVINGS

Supporters of instrumental music programs are celebrating a move by Toronto District School Board trustees to pass a budget without cuts to music education.  After a two hour debate last night, trustees voted to save instrumental music programs and not … read more

NEW BANK OF CANADA GOVERNOR URGES BUSINESS TO SPEND

The Bank of Canada will focus squarely on keeping inflation in check. That promise comes from new governor Stephen Poloz -  in his first major speech  since he took over the job from Mark Carney. Poloz described the bank’s two per cent inflation … read more

OBESITY NOW CLASSIFIED AS A DISEASE IN US

  It’s now classified as disease by the the American Medical Association. In order to fight what it described as an obesity epidemic the AMA  voted at its annual meeting in Chicago to recognize obesity as a disease  and recommended … read more

CANADA SENDING SOLDIERS TO HAITI

  Defence Minister Peter MacKay has announced a six-month deployment of Canadian troops to Haiti to take part in peacekeeping operations there. The 34 soldiers will be drawn from the Royal 22 Regiment, based in Valcartier, Quebec. There are roughly … read more

BOB RAE SAYS GOODBYE TO POLITICS

Bob Rae is leaving  politics. The former interim Liberal leader and one-time NDP premier of Ontario is stepping down as an MP, wrapping up a political career stretching  over 35 years and two parties. Rae is leaving in order to focus on his new … read more

ONTARIO NDP TO UNVEIL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT GAS PLANT SCANDAL

The Ontario New Democrats say they have new information about the McGuinty administration’s decision to delete emails and other documents related to the cancelled gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga. NDP Energy critic Peter Tabuns will hold a news conference … read more

CANADIAN STARBUCKS CUSTOMERS WON’T SEE CALORIES ON MENU BOARD LIKE AMERICAN COFFEE LOVERS

While Starbucks plans to post calories on menu boards in American stores, Canadian customers will still have to rely on the chain’s brochures, website and app for nutritional information.  Starting next week, U.S. customers at Starbucks will be able to … read more

ALICE MUNRO WINS TRILLIUM BOOK AWARD

Another award for Canadian author Alice Munro. The native of Wingham, Ontario, has won the Trillium Book Award in English for Dear Life: Stories. It’s a collection of stories set in the area around Lake Huron, which has been the … read more

CANADIAN SOLDIERS PREPARE TO BEGIN PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN HAITI

As  900 Canadian soldiers make their way to Afghanistan for our last training mission there,  a formal announcement is expected today from Defence Minister Peter McKay that some Canadian troops will be heading to Haiti for a peacekeeping operation. According … read more