Ben Spurr

@BenSpurr

Toronto Star city hall bureau chief. If you've got a story, email me at [email protected], or call 416 869-4547.

Toronto, ON

Joined March 2009

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19KFollowers

Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 24

From @bcohenn: Council also approved the appointment of a new medical officer of health thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

BenSpurr's tweet card. City council on Wednesday approved the appointment of Dr. Michelle Murti as the city’s new medical officer of health, replacing Dr. Eileen de Villa, who stepped down in December.

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 24

Meanwhile, Ottawa issued a warning to Mayor Olivia Chow that Toronto's federal housing funding could be at risk over council's refusal to legalize sixplexes city-wide, but gave the mayor six months to sort it out thestar.com/news/gta/no-co…

BenSpurr's tweet card. Housing Minister Gregor Robertson expressed his “disappointment” with city council’s decision last month to not allow sixplexes citywide in a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow.

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 24

In a politically charged moment at city hall yesterday, council dredged up a report that found former mayor John Tory violated ethics rules over a World Cup vote and his relationship with his former staffer. Tory is considering running for mayor again. thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

BenSpurr's tweet card. Toronto’s auditor general found a lack of transparency around the World Cup bid could have put the city at financial risk.

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 24

From @mahdishabibinia and me: ‘It looks bad’: Toronto council can meet virtually. Does the city suffer when councillors skip in-person sessions? thestar.com/news/gta/it-lo…

BenSpurr's tweet card. Some say remote meetings have been a boon to overstretched councillors, while others say they are a distraction that has led to bad policy being made.

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 23

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote thestar.com/news/gta/no-co…

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 22

"Four babies have died in the last few weeks in this hospital – not from bombs or bullets, but from starvation." theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

BenSpurr's tweet card. A permanent ceasefire, the free and safe flow of aid, and the lifting of the blockade are needed now – all could be achieved with political will, says UK surgeon Nick Maynard

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 17

The city stopped this bistro from opening its patio after two neighbours objected. A Toronto councillor wants to stop that from happening again thestar.com/news/gta/the-c…

BenSpurr's tweet card. Coun. Brad Bradford wants the city to make it easier for businesses to open side street patios by raising the bar on the number of objections needed to stop them.

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Mahdis Habibinia@mahdishabibinia · Jul 16

From @andy_takagi: Controversial bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin may get extended after all thestar.com/news/gta/contr… via @TorontoStar

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Ben Spurr@BenSpurr · Jul 12

Olivia Chow became mayor of Toronto two years ago today. I spoke to city hall watchers about the highs and lows of her administration so far, and what she may have to do in her third year to convince Torontonians she deserves another term thestar.com/news/gta/olivi…

BenSpurr's tweet card. After two years in office, Toronto’s mayor is pleading for patience as she works to deliver on the promise of her administration to invest in neglected public services in the city.

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Ben Spurr Retweeted

Robert Benzie@robertbenzie · Jul 9

Congratulations to @krushowy on her new role as senior writer at the @TorontoStar with a focus on education. As part of the Star’s expanded #onted coverage, Kris will still be a familiar face at Queen’s Park. And welcome @MoiraWelsh to the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau. #onpoli

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