Pakistani man allegedly plotted Toronto attacks

Toronto Sun

SHAWN JEFFORDS and ANDREW MCINTOSHI, QMI Agency

A Pakistani man arrested Monday on allegations he plotted to blow up several Toronto buildings including the U.S. Consulate was interviewed several times by officials from Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, QMI Agency has learned.

The authorities interest in Jhanzab Malik, 34, grew substantially after he returned to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in April 2013.

Malik came to Canada on a student visa in 2004 and became a permanent resident five years later after a marriage that has now ended.

The authorities gathered evidence that links Malik directly to violent extremism, its promotion and further evidence emerged that he was planning a violent terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate building in Toronto.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board Wednesday afternoon, Malik was allegedly a self-proclaimed supporter of the Islamic State and al Qaida. He allegedly planned to attack the U.S. consulate in Toronto and other targets in the city's financial district, an immigration review body heard on Wednesday.

He allegedly planned to carry out the attack using remote controlled bombs.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is seeking his continued detention until he can be deported. The IRB ordered Malik's continued detention at a hearing Wednesday because he is considered a security and flight risk.

The CBSA said Malik told an undercover police officer he had attended weapons, combat and landmine training in Libya, and sought to build an explosive device for use in Toronto, the reports said.

He also claimed to have been a personal friend of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born spokesman for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, who was killed in a CIA drone strike in 2011.

The accusations have not been proven. A CBSA investigation into the matter is still on-going.

Court records confirm Malik has faced assault and fraud charges in the past.

Those charges have been dealt with, according to a court clerk at Old City Hall, but the outcome was not immediately known.

Malik has no criminal matters currently before the courts.

The Canadian government is seeking to deport Malik as a security threat and the hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board on Wednesday was held to determine whether he should be detained during the deportation process, which can take months.

Another Pakistani man suspected of militant links, Muhammad Aqeeq Ansari, is being held awaiting possible deportation.

Malik is expected to appear before the IRB next on March 16.

-- With files from Chris Doucette, Reuters​

Famous Canadian Astronaut's spacesuit turns up in Toronto thrift shop for $40

CBC News

A flight suit once worn by astronaut Chris Hadfield is apparently now the property of a Toronto doctor who found it in — of all places — a local thrift store. 

"I thought, wow, what is a flight suit like that doing up there?" Dr. Julielynn Wong told CBC News, recalling how she stumbled upon the bright blue jumpsuit in one of the many second-hand stores on Queen Street West. 

Then she saw the name stitched on the left-hand side: Chris Hadfield.  

"My jaw just dropped. I said, 'I can't believe it.'" 

She says she bought it for $40, marked down from $80.

The suit looks just like the one the former commander of the International Space Station is seen wearing on the back cover of his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. 

More >>

Llega a Miami gimnasta cubano que desertó en Canadá

martinoticias

El gimnasta cubano Ernesto Vila campeón en los Juegos Mundial de Gimnasia Sigapur 2010 en la categoría manos libres, llegó hoy a Miami procedente de Canadá donde desertó.

En declaraciones a Martí Noticias Vila explica que la intención de cumplir sus sueños es una de las razones que lo llevaron a tomar la decisión de desertar.

El padre del atleta, Ernesto Vila aseguró en horas de la mañana que su hijo luego de cruzar la frontera abordó un vuelo en Chicago con rumbo a Miami.

Según el padre una vez que este llegó a Canadá le informó que tomó la decisión de quedarse en ese país y buscar la forma de llegar hasta los Estados Unidos.

Vila participaba en Toronto en el Campeonato Panamericano de Gimnasia, clasificatorio para los Panamericanos del 2015. La selección cubana estaba en la subdivisión 3 junto a los equipos de Canadá, México y un grupo mixto de República Dominicana, Honduras y Uruguay.

En agosto de 2013 Cuba asistió al Campeonato Panamericano de Gimnasia Artística en San Juan, Puerto Rico y el equipo estuvo liderado por el campeón olímpico juvenil de manos libres, Ernesto Vila.

En esa ocasión el cubano Vila clasificó en la final en anilllas y según la publicación cubana Cubadebate "no reportó medallas, pero igual constituyó un buen resultado, pues el evento tuvo nivel mundial".

El sábado en horas de la tarde, el padre del atleta conversó con Martinoticias sobre la decisión del jóven para abandonar la selección cubana en Canadá. 

"Me dijo que en Estados Unidos puede trabajar duro para lograr sueños y alzanzar metas que como deportista en Cuba nunca podría lograr", declaró el padre.

Toronto cancels permit for 15th annual Jesus parade

By Arthur Weinreb

If organizers are insistent in holding the event they could always agree to march in the nude or carry “Death to Israel!” signs. That should do it for the city once known as 'Toronto the Good'. Toronto cancels permit for 15th annual Jesus parade 

Update: After meeting with Rob Ford and the bureaucrats, the parade is back on on a different route.

With less than a month to go before the parade expected to draw thousands of participants, Toronto bureaucrats told the organizers of the annual event that it could not be held. Although excuses were given, there is no other logical explanation other than the cancellation of the event, held without incident for the past 14 years, was nothing more than Christian-bashing.

More at canadafreepress >>

David Letterman - Ken Burns' "The Statement" by Rob Ford

Late Show with David Letterman

Why Toronto Can't Fire 'Crack Mayor' Rob Ford

Business Insider

Pamela Engel

REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has made international headlines with his crazy antics this month — he's admitted to smoking crack cocaine in a "drunken stupor," made lewd remarks about oral sex at a press conference, and apologized for going on a bizarre, "extremely inebriated" rant about wanting to murder someone.

It's mind-boggling that he's still in office and refusing to step down or take a leave, but there's really not much the city can do to remove him.

In fact, Toronto has already tried once before to toss Ford from office because of conflict of interest issues, but he won on appeal and was able to keep his job.

Unlike many municipalities in the U.S., Toronto does not have a recall process. Voters don't have the option to gather signatures on a petition and launch a special election to oust officials who have behaved badly.

The Atlantic Wire points out that there are only three circumstances that would make Ford ineligible for office: being convicted of a crime and imprisoned, missing three consecutive months of city council meetings, or violating conflict of interest rules.

Considering that the next election is in 2014, it's unlikely that Ford will be convicted of a crime and jailed before then. And he's still desperately clinging to office despite repeated calls for his resignation.

It seems that the only option left for the city council is to let Ford keep his position but render it completely worthless by taking away his power.

NOW magazine in Toronto has a pretty good breakdown of what that would look like. The council has already begun to slowly strip Ford of his authority. If they continue in this vein, which they plan to, most of Ford's duties could be transferred to the deputy mayor and he could lose his budget.

The province of Ontario could also step in and create a law declaring the mayor's office vacant, but the provincial government is reluctant to interfere in municipal affairs unless specifically asked by the city council. And the council isn't keen on asking a higher government to step in, because that might make it seem like the city can't handle its own affairs.

At this point, the city just has to sit and wait.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-toronto-cant-fire-crack-mayor-rob-ford-2013-11#ixzz2kkySOnzU

Jon Jones at Blue Jays

UFC

Toronto police shoot teen nine times [Graphic content]

Marko G

Toronto: Shocking police video

GlobalToronto

Toronto: Costo de Vida

www.seetorontonow.es

Tomado de: http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/spanish/Torontocosto.asp

POPULATION IN 2011: 5,583,064 (StatsCan)

PRIVATE DWELLINGS (occupied by usual residents): 1,989,705 (StatsCan)

PRECIOS DE VIVIENDA
 

Tipo	Precio	Ingreso Requerido
Casa sola de dos pisos	$618,000	$129,800
Casa sola de un piso	$530,400	$110,700
Condominio	$332,400	$71,200
* Basado en un enganche de 25% y un préstamo a 25-años a una tasa fija de cinco años -no incluye cuotas de mantenimiento. Source: RBC. Mayo 2012

Type	March 2011	March 2012
Casa o condominio horizontal terminado no absorbido	$924,856	$833,256
Source: CMHC. Abril 2012

RENTAS PROMEDIO (DEPARTAMENTO)
 

Bach Studio	Una Recámara	Dos Recámaras	Tres Recamaras
$819	$977	$1,149	$1,349
Source: CMHC. Octubre 2011

GASTO PROMEDIO DE UN HOGAR EN 2008
 

Concept	Amount ($)
Personal taxes	18,488
Shelter	17,185
Transportation	10,676
Food	8,132
Personal insurance payments and pension contributions	5,734
Recreation	3,549
Household operation	4,053
Health care	1,824
Education	2,435
Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages	1,331
Source: StatCan 2011

TRANSPORTE PUBLICO
 

	Boleto	Pase mensual
Regular	$3.00	$126.00
Anciano/estudiante	$2.00	$104.00
Tarifas especiales para ancianos, niños y estudiantes & horas especiales
Fuente: Toronto Transit Commission. 2012

SEGURO PARA AUTO
 

Automóvil	Seguro Anual
2010, JEEP, WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA 4DR 4WD
Desjardins General Insurance	$1,397
Belairdirect	$1,445
Dominion of Canada	$1,740
Source: Kinetix.ca  August 2010

SALARIO MINIMO EN 2012

• $10.25 por hora

SALARIOS GOBIERNO DE ONTARIO

• In 2010, 2,601 burocratas ganaron mas de $100,000.00.

Puesto	Salario anual	Rank
Canadian Blood Services Chief Executive Officer	$685,646.42	1st
Ontario Power Authority Chief Executive Officer	$573,500.99	2nd
Canadian Red Cross Chief Executive Officer	$268,240.92	60th
COSTI Immigrant Services Executive Director	$151,336.35	512th
Crown Corporations
Ontario Pension Board	$632,613.68	1st
Liquour Control Board President & CEO	$431,402.54	14th
Ontario Lottery & Gambling Chief Financial Officer	$298,022.87	44th
Ministries
Community Safety & Correctional Services Chief Coroner	$412,205.64	1st
Source: Ontario Finance

INGRESO FAMILIAR
 

Tipo de Familia	Median Family Income
	2000	2005
No inmigrante	$90,569	$92,453
Imigrante	$68,565	$66,377
Diferencia	$22,004	$26,076
Source: Statistics Canada, 2008.

IMPUESTOS SOBRE BIENES Y SERVICIOS
 

• En Toronto, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is 13%.
   

IMPUESTONS FEDERALES SOBRE EL INGRESO EN 2012
 

Income	Tax Rate
On the first $42,707 of taxable income, +	15%
On the next $42,707 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $42,707 and $85,414), +	22%
On the next $46,992 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $85,414 and $132,406), +	26%
Taxable income over $132,406.	29%
Source: Canada Revenue Agency. 2012.

IMPUESTOS PROVINCIALES SOBRE EL INGRESO EN 2012

Ingreso	Impuesto
Basic Personal Amount	0%
On the first $39,020 of taxable income, +	5.05%
On the next $39,023, +	9.15%
On the amount over $78,043	11.16%
Source: Ontario Government. 2012.

ONTARIO: CRIMENES REPORTADOS A LA POLICIA 2009
 

Crime	Number
Homicide	178
Serious Assault	15,684
Robbery	12,210
Total Violent Crime	131,437
Total Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000)	1,006
Source: Statistics Canada 2010

CANADIAN POLICE SAY SUSPECTS WERE PLANNING TO ATTACK PASSENGER TRAIN IN TORONTO AREA

TORONTO: Sharia-compliant public pool barred a father from watching his daughter’s swim class because Muslim women were in the pool

barenakedislam 
When a single dad signed up his nine-year-old daughter for female-only swim lessons in a public pool, he didn’t realize he would be forced to submit to the rules of sharia law, which forbid any man from looking at Muslim women in a pool, even though Muslim women wear full body bags for swimming. 

Toronto Sun (h/t Susan K) Chris (who didn’t want his last name published) was shocked when he had the blinds to the viewing area of the Dennis R. Timbrell Recreation Centre pool in Flemingdon Park shut on him and then was told by staffers it was for “religious reasons.” “I spoke to a staff member and she told me that it’s because of Muslim women, that we’re not allowed to look at them or whatever,” Chris, 38, told the Toronto Sun Friday. “I don’t think religion has a role to play in a public pool.”

Nowhere on the form did it mention that males could not watch the lessons. So, when he showed up with his child at the pool on March 28 and again on Thursday night, he was confused when told he wasn’t allowed to watch.

“She doesn’t have a lot of friends and I wanted her to swim with girls,” Chris explained. “I don’t know what parent wouldn’t want to watch their child participate. There were other fathers there who weren’t too happy.”

Local Councillor John Parker hadn’t heard of the particular case until the Sun contacted him Friday, but said the dad’s point is a “legitimate one” and raises a “fair issue.”

Female-only swim programs began 20 years ago on the basis of “accommodating (Muslim) cultural and religious practices and requirements,” confirmed city aquatics manager Anne Jackson.

“Without a female-only program, there would be Muslim women that wouldn’t be able to participate in swimming,” Jackson said. “This is the way it needs to be in order to accommodate the programs. We’re not opening the door to one cultural group only — this is all females we’re accommodating.”

Late last month, Dennis R. Timbrell began a male-only swim course where only men could watch from the sidelines — no moms. The program bred from the same Muslim religious/cultural reasons, Jackson said.

If any parents wish to watch their child who is enrolled in a female or male-only swim class, they would have to move them to a mixed boys/girls class that runs three days a week. There are currently nine pools across Toronto that run the female-only swim program. All pools follow the same sharia-compliant policy of not allowing people of the other sex to watch practices, Jackson said.

Gerard Kennedy campaigns in Toronto

Video: http://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=837734&binId=1.814368

Serena Williams panics at CN Tower [Toronto]

Rihanna holds surprise concert at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall

GlobalToronto Thu, Nov 15: Pop superstar Rihanna holds a surprise concert at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. Rob Malcolm reports.

Libya claims stake in Saadi Gaddafi’s $1.6M Toronto condo

Tyler Anderson/ The condo building at 10 Navy Wharf Cr. that houses the condo owned by Saadi Gaddafi.

National Post

Saadi Gadhafi speaks during a press conference in Tripoli, 2010. The Libyan government has set its eyes on a deluxe apartment in the Toronto skyline.

A lavish lakefront condo owned by the son of toppled despot Muammar Gadhafi has been claimed by Lybian authorities that assumed control of the North African nation following an uprising that deposed the government last year.

The National Post reports the Libyan government has filed an application with Ontario's land registry office claiming ownership of the condo owned by Saadi Gadhafi.

With the help of the United Nations, Lybia has been moving to reclaim the Gadhafi family's billions of dollars worth of international assets, claiming they are the rightful property of the Libyan people.

Tim Wimborne-Reuters/Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of Muammar Gaddafi, in 2005.

Saadi's Toronto condo had apparently went unnoticed until the National Post's Stewart Bell reported on it in December.

Saadi, the former leader of Libya's Special Forces and once-footballer, has already been ordered to turn over the keys of an eight-bedroom British mansion reportedly purchased with Libyan oil funds.

According to BBC, Saadi, considered the playboy and black sheep of the Gadhafi clan, was granted asylum in Niger after his family's government was toppled last year. An effort to smuggle him into Mexico was stopped by that government in December.

Michael Lamb, a real estate law professor at the University of Western Ontario, told the Post that Gadhafi cannot sell the Toronto condo until the Libyan government's claim has been dealt with in court.

He was probably waiting for the housing market to turn around, anyway.

Toronto among best places to live

a piece of paper holds everything you put on it

GlobalToronto Thu, Oct 11: Toronto ranks 3rd as a good place to live and work according to an annual report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

Mafia's Ontario reach

Toronto Star/

Quebecers have been getting daily lessons in how deeply organized crime has become embedded in their province’s construction industry. At the Charbonneau commission hearings into the industry, they’ve heard allegations that the Mafia routinely took a cut of municipal contracts. Even the mayor of Montreal has been tarnished by testimony that kickbacks were paid to his party. The scandal threatens to spread throughout the province — and possibly to Ottawa.

Ontarians watching this unseemly spectacle should not be complacent — especially those tempted to assume that Quebec is somehow more prone than other provinces to this sort of thing. The evidence is quickly mounting that we have a bigger problem than we thought right under our own noses.

At the Quebec inquiry, a police Mafia expert let it drop that Peel Regional Police may be investigating government contracts awarded to organized crime groups. More disturbing still, an ongoing investigation by the Star and Radio-Canada finds that police here and in Italy are concerned that Ontario has become a haven — a comfortable “penal colony,” according to some — for alleged Italian crime figures associated with the Calabrian syndicate known as the ’Ndrangheta. Senior RCMP investigators and Mafia hunters in Italy tell Star reporters that the ’Ndrangheta uses the province as a major base for money laundering and, possibly, political corruption.

That’s certainly alarming. But it also appears that Canadian and Italian police are stuck in a pattern of finger-pointing and mutual distrust that has let this situation fester for far too long. The Italians complain they have sent information about wanted criminals who have taken refuge in Canada, but get no action from Canadian police. The Canadians, in turn, say they can’t act on charges under Italy’s sweeping law forbidding “Mafia association,” but need evidence of specific crimes under Canadian law.

Italy has been fighting the Mafia under its various guises for generations, so it’s understandable that it has special laws targeting those linked to these outfits. Canada isn’t about to go down that path, but it could do better with the laws already on the books. The Canadian law on criminal organizations has been used against biker gangs, but not against Mafia groups. That should change.

Police forces also need to keep their focus on the Mafia. Kevin Harrison, superintendent of the RCMP’s Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit in Toronto, acknowledged to the Star’s investigative team that at one point police let their attention drift away from what they officially call “traditional organized crime.” Their intelligence got “stale,” he said, and “it’s a big hill to climb to get back to where we need to be.”

That can’t happen again, given the troubling new evidence of how pervasive mob influence may well be in this province. At this point there’s no smoking gun we know of in the form of evidence about specific crimes or corruption. But that should be cold comfort, given the pattern of events next door in Quebec.

For a long time, the crime headlines there were dominated by wars among rival biker gangs. But as testimony at the Charbonneau commission is showing, old-style Mafia groups were burrowing deeper into the life of the province and quite likely corrupting public officials. Ontario must not stand by and risk the same thing happening here.

Vito Rizzuto, "Former" Mob boss released from U.S. prison [coming back to Canada]

CBC.ca 

Vito Rizzuto, the erstwhile head of the Sicilian Mafia in Canada and once the most powerful figure in Montreal's underworld, has been released from a U.S. prison in Colorado and is thought to be on his way home, possibly to Toronto.

He was released around 10 a.m. and taken into custody by U.S. immigration agents, who will be deporting him from the country, presumably back to Canada.

Rizzuto completed his sentence for his role in the 1981 murders of three captains of the Bonanno crime family, one of New York's five big Sicilian Mafia clans.

He was arrested in Montreal in 2004 and extradited to the United States, then sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to racketeering charges in 2007 stemming from the crime. With credit for time served during his extradition process, Rizzuto was eligible for statutory early release on Friday.

It is believed he will head to Toronto, where he has family.