http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/home.aspxFriendly Fire co-host John Downs offers a commentary that pits complacency against common sense. John is able to see past the issues at hand and look at the bigger picture and how it's going to affect youen-usCopyright 2013, CFRB-AMThu, 23 May 2013 16:13:25 GMTThu, 16 May 2013 21:38:45 GMT1http://emmisinteractive.comA Parti Québécois minister says it's time to remove special parking perks for members of Montreal's Jewish Orthodox community. For years, parking signs in the city have been covered to accommodate residents unable to move their cars for street sweeping over a high holiday. The minister is tasked with developing the province's secularism charter, so he is no stranger to controversy surrounding religion. That said, his argument that accommodating one religion requires us to accommodate all is a valid one. A former PC candidate in Ontario (and current talk-show host) made a similar argument. John Tory pledged to extend religious educational funding beyond the Catholic boards. It marked his defeat. But why? It may come as a surprise to some that Toronto city council operates around some Jewish holidays and adjourns early when meetings fall on Yom Kippur. Should council not consider similar provisions if counsellors or staff of other ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10545752jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10545752Thu, 16 May 2013 21:38:45 GMTThe provincial Liberals have jumped the transit funding shark. Motorists in the province will soon be able to use high-occupancy lanes on the 400 series highways even if they're driving solo. Those who support the move believe it's a no-brainer. (And, clearly, the idea has garnered government approval from someone who is cerebellum-deficient.) Proponents argue that the lanes are underused - so why not allow motorists to pay for the perk of having access? It doesn't take a statistician or an infrastructure engineer to figure out that more cars in the lanes means more traffic and a slower drive.  It also doesn't take an expert in vehicular incentives to recognize the hypocrisy of allowing a driver to pay for a lane that was meant for the exclusive use of carpoolers. This is a direct slap in the face to the people who have made the effort to coordinate lifts with ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10539023jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10539023Wed, 01 May 2013 21:34:45 GMTSo a very ballsy Robert Deluce has announced plans to expand his airline, along with a runway, at the island airport. No consultation with the city. No neighbourhood input. Just a whole lot of speculation that everyone will get on board. Opponents of the plan have come out swinging – although they haven't yet figured out which of their arguments will be most effective. While there are both technical and practical reasons to oppose the expansion, they're not all one and the same. First, the pros. The expanded airline will mean more jobs and more direct and indirect revenue for the city. More routes on offer will create competition for Air Canada and WestJet, driving airfares down. Anyone who has flown out of Billy Bishop has experienced the convenience. Fewer cars and cabs driving out to Pearson will alleviate at least some of the traffic on the Gardiner. And now ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10529328jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10529328Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:30:33 GMTJust a few years ago it would have sounded unimaginable. A 32" flat screen TV for just $279! You put your shoes on, grab the raincoat and head out the door to your favourite big box retailer. You walk through the sliding doors and dart to the pile of stacked glossy boxes. Pride in your impending victory bursting from your body, you lay down your credit card, enter your pin, and grab the receipt and... Wait. Well 13% HST. Well, you knew that was coming. But what's this other charge of nearly $40??? Well, you wanted to do your part to save the world. But is this recycling fee, equal to 14% of your purchase price, for real?? Death and taxes. All that's certain in this world. But a levy put on any service or product should always be proportional to the value of the service or product. In this ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10526670jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10526670Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:23:05 GMTA woman stumbles upon two men engaged in hand-to-hand combat. One of the men connects and breaks the other’s nose ­– blood begins pouring from his face, but the punches continue. The woman calls police. After the fight is eventually broken up, two officers arrive on the scene and investigate whether charges should be laid. At least, that’s what you would expect to happen. But that’s not always the way things go. Not when the fight occurs on an ice rink in an arena full of 20,000 cheering fans. On the flip side, Ontario Provincial Police say they are looking into whether to lay charges after a brawl erupted in the stands of a municipal arena in Tweed, a small town north of Belleville. As capture in a video now on YouTube, the conflict begins with a little trash talk. Then it escalates to face-to-face threats before finally exploding into ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10522258jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10522258Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:33:11 GMTWe have a new pope! Well, Catholics have a new pope. And for the some reason even non-Catholics are treating the election of Francis I as a joyous occasion. It's reminiscent of the election of an American president. Except presidential elections are seen as celebrations because they're reminders of democratic principles and the democratic process. Seeing as the papal election is hardly democratic, let's look at why this is actually an occasion to be derided. Democracy denotes that the people have a say. Rank-and-file Catholics have absolutely no say when it comes to the election of the head of state of Vatican City (internationally recognized as an independent state). Democracy also assumes a level of equality when it comes to eligible leaders. Considering only men can get the job, the Catholic Church is technically less progressive than Rwanda and Pakistan. Although a two-thirds majority is required for election, we'll never ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10516934jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10516934Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:29:43 GMT Rob Ford sends out a mass e-mail soliciting support for his football foundation. The address list includes several lobbyists. The mayor receives a ton of heat. Asking lobbyists for cash is considered inappropriate because lobbyists might be seen as being pressured into giving, in exchange for future decisions in their favour. Meanwhile, a dinner is thrown by a group of energy-related bigwigs in the province. For the price of $5,000, other leaders in the sector are told they'll get a chance to bend the ears of Premier Kathleen Wynne and Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli. The cash raised will go toward the Liberal campaign. While the two scenarios are similar as far as conflicts of interest go, one startling difference stands out: The scenario involving the Premier – currently neck-deep in the power-plant scandal – is, technically, above board. Additionally bewildering? Ford’s indiscretion was probably not deliberate. It is a little ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10511787jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10511787Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:46:16 GMTThe actions by Rob Ford that led to the lawsuit against him are the fault of Rob Ford. The law is clear that a councillor is not permitted to vote on an issue when the income will have a direct impact on his or her personal interests. This means that Paul Magder was within his rights to take Ford to court. He should not be responsible for covering more than $100,000 of the Mayor's legal fees. The truth is, this lawsuit had little to do with the integrity of our political system. It was a cynical ploy by a man who felt Rob Ford was either unqualified and/or unsuitable for the office of Mayor. So concerned that Ford would destroy the public service and progressive direction of this city, the Mayor’s enemies hinged their bets that a technicality could get him booted from office. Ironically, it was a technicality that ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10507752jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10507752Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:27:31 GMTHere's a little something to think about over your Family Day long weekend: While you're tobogganing with the kids, or baking cookies together ­– or doing whatever it was Dalton McGuinty intended for this made-up holiday – in a blink of an eye, it could all be over. Yes, a cheery consideration in the dead of winter. But also an accurate one. For a few bright seconds this morning, residents of a central Russian city didn’t know what the hell was going on. Was a shoddily built Soviet-era passenger aircraft disintegrating on final approach? Was someone belatedly celebrating Chinese New Year? Did that punk North Korean kid with the bad haircut accidentally aim one of his new toys in the wrong direction? If that flaming meteor and its glistening white tail weren’t awesome enough, the sonic boom that shook the city – breaking windows and toppling walls – certainly managed ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10504875jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10504875Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:24:34 GMTIt's been a bad streak for federal Conservatives. One senator is arrested and kicked out of caucus under a cloud of allegations. Another is seen scurrying through a hotel kitchen, refusing to answer questions over his work-related fiscal actions. But the really notable news is that the scrutiny and criticism is coming from all sides, regardless of personal political leanings. A refreshing pattern is emerging. Incoming premier Kathleen Wynne knows the simmering anger over cancelled power plants is not going to go away, even though Dalton McGuinty has. Her predecessor’s excuse that they “got a couple of them wrong” was never going to leave the ground. Now it's Wynne who has no choice but to send out the search party for the doomed mission. At the local level, both the mayor and a flip-flopping ally have been called to the mat over campaign finance issues. The mayor will likely get ...http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10501098jdowns@astral.com (John Downs)http://www.newstalk1010.com/shows/downsdispatch/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10501098Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:30:06 GMT