CITY HALL
• Council divided on Miller’s push for more power [ Globe and Mail ]
• Mayor still off to China [ Toronto Sun ]
• China trip defended [ Globe and Mail ]
• Tax hike worse than expected [ Toronto Star ]
TRANSIT
• Ontario to put $1B into roads, transit [ Toronto Star ]
• Preem drops $1B surprise [ Toronto Sun ]
• McGuinty promises $1B for infrastructure, transit [ CBC.ca ]
• Now you can legally ride high [ Toronto Sun ]
• In an attempt to show its value, the TTC unwittingly provided ammunition to be declared an essential service [ Toronto Sun ]
• Canadian content rules set for transit [ Globe and Mail ]
• TTC takedown [ Toronto Sun ]
• Three face charges in TTC robberies [ Globe and Mail ]
• Three charged with subway robberies [ CBC.ca ]
MISCELLANEOUS
• An E.T. invasion for a cause [ Toronto Star ]
• Ramping up political correctness at Osgoode Hall [ Toronto Star ]
3 comments
Hume is a bit confused. Accessibility is not political correctness, it is a right, especially for a building that represents equal justice for all citizens.
Hume says ” Extreme voices on both sides underscore the need for consultation.” Well using “political correctness” in his story shows he is one of the extreme voices.
I don’t agree with calling it a right. Government should be required to provide access to all who could want to come in, but ‘right’ is far too strong a word. Rights don’t require someone else give something up. My right to expression doesn’t require you to listen (it doesn’t require this blog to host my comments either, although I’m glad it does). My right to choose my religion does not require you to share it (or even like it)
Rights often create an obligation. The right to vote doesn’t work if we stop holding elections; the right to a fair trial loses its meaning if we lay off all the judges.
Osgoode Hall is an active courthouse, and section 15.1 of the Charter says “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability”. I’d say that implies someone in a wheelchair has a right to enter Osgoode Hall to attend a trial held there.
That said, Hume’s column is a jumble. Why is the East entrance no longer good enough? He complains about political correctness but mentions security concerns — they’re very different things. And he falls into the trap of having one person in a wheelchair speak for everyone with disabilites.
He’s right that it’s easy to botch a nice building with a bad ramp, but that doesn’t seem to be happening here. Is he just incapable of writing a column that doesn’t reinforce his theme of Toronto slowly sliding to the depths of mediocrity?