The Toronto Blue Jays have sent struggling first baseman Adam Lind to the minors.

The Jays demoted Lind to triple-A Las Vegas and promoted catcher Yan Gomes.

Lind is batting just .186 with six doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI in 34 games.

The six-foot-two, 212-pounder has just six hits in 13 games this month.

Gomes meanwhile is batting .359 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI in Las Vegas.

Gomes, who is set to become the first Brazilian born player to appear in a major league game, has also played at first and third base this season.

(The Canadian Press)

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford won cheers Thursday as he made an unexpected appearance at a rainbow flag-raising marking International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The group behind the event (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) had initially said Ford had declined their invitation to the ceremony, a move they saw as a lost opportunity for the mayor.

But in a surprise showing, Ford appeared just as the ceremony got underway and took to the podium to read a proclamation against homophobia.

"Toronto is a society open to everyone,'' said the mayor, "including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two sprit and transsexual LGBT community, who are an important part of this city's diversity.''

With a rainbow flag flying overhead, Ford added that Toronto was an active participant in the fight for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and was committed to equal treatment of all people.

He then ...

The NDP is accusing the Liberal government of changing its gaming law in secret, paving the way for the province to build casinos without referendums.

Finance Critic Michael Prue says when 1999's Ontario Lottery and Gaming Act expired recently, it was replaced in secret by a much vaguer document on May 14th.

The old Act clearly states that if a community or reserve wants a casino it must have a referendum where the majority of residents vote in favour of one. The new document shows they would only need to seek public input and local council must pass a resolution on  issue.

NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue equates what he calls the backroom nature of this to the drafting of the secret G20 security law.

The province says it wants to make gaming more accessible to people, not pit community against community.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan say some people driving up to 30 km to go to a gaming facility that's far removed from the population.

Duncan says areas like Toronto and Ottawa are underserviced markets when it comes to gaming. And while the finance minister says building more casinos will increase revenue to the province they will also affect how many people go to already excisting facilities nearby.

PC Economic Development and Innovation Critic Monte McNaughton says he wants the OLG to slow down and let local voices be heard through a referendum. NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue says this push for upscale gamling facilities will just get people into gambling more all while the province rakes in more money.

This comes as the OLG identified 29 zones as places it is willing to ...

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie has rescinded his appeal of his four-game suspension.

Lawrie was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount `for his aggressive actions'' after hitting an umpire with his
helmet Tuesday night.

Lawrie has apologized to home plate umpire Bill Miller.

The Langley, B.C., native was tossed after arguing strike calls then bouncing his helmet off the turf into Miller in a 4-3 loss to
Tampa Bay.

Lawrie was eligible to suit up for the Jays' 8-1 rout of the Yankees' Wednesday night, but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

(Canadian Press)

A man wanted in connection with an armed robbery investigation dating back to November 2011, has turned himself in.

27-year-old Leigh Ming walked into 42 division and has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Ming was the man who allegedly held the gun to a security guards head while several men stole the money from an armoured car.  6 men have already been charged in the heist.

Police say they are still looking for a man who rented the U-Haul van that was used during the robbery.

If you have information that could help police in this case, you are being asked to call police at 416-808-7350.

Police in Peel region have elevated charges against a man and woman who were arrested in the death of their son.

31-year-old Garfield Boothe and his wife, and the victim's step-mother Nichelle Boothe-Row were initially charged with 2nd degree murder and manslaughter respectively.

This after 10-year-old Shakeil Boothe was found dead last May in his Brampton residence.

Thursday, the parties appeared before the court for the start of their Preliminary Hearing, and were formally charged with First Degree Murder.