Torontonians tired of rules only applying to those who pay the bills

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People are becoming as fed up with the double standards in Toronto as they are with the ‘No Fun Police’ who seem selective in their enforcement.

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The City of Toronto is investigating why a snow removal tractor went through a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters on a sidewalk Tuesday but won’t investigate why some of the same people blocked and hit the the tractor with protest signs during a practice snow run.

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Same goes for why authorities turned off a man’s boombox playing O Canada but often turn a blind eye to people using the same amplification process to push anti-Canadian or anti-Jewish agendas. And now there are residents told to remove their basketball or hockey nets to meet bylaw requirements when drug addicts can take over any park or university campus at will.

In Toronto, media who cover people breaking the rules face more scrutiny than those violating the rules.

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TORONTO THE NOT-SO-GOOD

Strange times. It’s ideologically driven now. The incident with the snow removal tractor is just the latest example.

Mayor Olivia Chow and the Toronto she leads has started an investigation into what happened with this Kubota tractor that was doing an organized mock run of clearing the sidewalk of snow.

Videos show the tractor moving through the sidewalk filled with pro-Palestinian protesters outside the U.S. Consulate on University Ave. – no one was hurt but the potential was there.

“We are aware of a troubling incident where a sidewalk plow recently drove through a group of people standing on a sidewalk in downtown Toronto. The plow, which is under contract to the City and was driven by a contractor, was conducting a dry run ahead of the winter season,” Russell Baker, director of Media Relations and Issues Management for the City of Toronto, said a statement.

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“The behaviour displayed is completely unacceptable and falls short of the standards we expect from contractors operating on behalf of the City of Toronto,” Baker said. “This conduct does not reflect the City’s values and expectations.”

He added: “We have launched an immediate and comprehensive investigation and will ensure steps are taken to help prevent anything like this from happening again.”

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LOOKING FOR A CRIME THAT POLICE SAY WAS NOT THERE

This comes days after Toronto Police already determined there was no crime there.

“Nothing has changed on our end,” Toronto Police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer said. “Police reviewed the incident and do not believe there was any criminal intent.”

Witnesses said police stopped and talked with the female tractor driver and her crew mates but let her go.

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“We have no victim or complainant – no one has come forward to make a report to police,” Sayer said. “Without that, there is no basis for further investigation. If someone wishes to report the incident to police, that could change. There were no arrests made and no injuries reported.”

With reports of a middle finger being thrown and people checking past social media, there is a sense some want to keep this case alive.

NO ONE CAN SHUT ANYONE UP ON PUBLIC SQUARE

The same sort of thing happened with people trying to identify the police officer who shut off the recording of O Canada at the Palestinian flag raising event. The Toronto Police Association did not like  this – reminding she was merely following an order to shut off the sound system while the national anthem was being played.

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“We appreciate how frustrating and confusing this situation must’ve been for everyone. However, we will not allow our members to be the focus of criticism,” the TPA said in a social media post. “Questions about these decisions should be directed at the chief and his command. Better yet, someone from @torontopolice leadership should be communicating – in advance – to the public and our members what the rules of engagement are at events and protests.”

TPA President Clayton Campbell said he spoke to Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and made him aware of his concerns.

“Consistent and clear direction would be welcomed by everyone,” Campbell said.

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But the Chief’s spokesperson doesn’t agree.

“To be honest, Joe, I’m not sure what the TPA is referring to here,” Sayer said. “The City set the rules for its event – including a ban on amplification devices. The individual was told this and chose not to comply, so the speaker was turned off. Another person using a megaphone was also directed to stop, and they did. Those were the rules.”

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She added: “The officers understood their authorities and enforced them appropriately. They were doing their jobs, and they did so professionally. That’s what the TPA should have posted.”

On the basketball and hockey net case, it’s the same sort of drawing lines in the sand mentality. Instead of trying to calmly work together to find a good compromise, it comes back down to the state being the boss and the people who pay the bills must do what they are told.

We don’t need lawyers and high-cost civil servants to fix all of this.

If someone is coming by on a municipal machine on the sidewalk, people can move out of the way and the person driving can slow down to give them time to do so. No need for a fight. When it comes to playing O Canada, you can’t ask people to turn something down on public Nathan Phillips Square while letting most everything else go there.

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And when you are telling kids they can’t play hockey or basketball over some stupid rule but you can get smack needles or crack pipes and camp there instead, you create mayhem and madness.

What is needed is some common sense. Treat everybody equally. No one is more important than anyone else. Selective enforcement is not working and people are getting tired of it.

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HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS FROM REGULAR TORONTONIANS

“Your story on bylaw enforcement for basketball and other nets needing to be removed struck a nerve with me.

Our City’s priorities are way off. Example – numerous times I have contacted bylaw enforcement to have garbage removed from streets in my neighborhood. Renters in homes frequently dump their garbage on the road allowance weeks before scheduled pick up.

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I have had to give lists of what’s in the pile before bylaw will even talk to me. Then I’m told they are too busy. I have asked the councillor and Bylaw (Enforcement) to issue a proactive blitz warning and advising when garbage may be placed at the curb.

Everyone agrees it’s a good idea but nothing has been done.

With home owners renting out their dwellings with no oversight, neighbours and non-renters are left living with looking at the garbage frequently. No bylaw oversight anymore. City is looking trashy, dirty and it’s getting worse.

We need people back at the city who care!”

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Anne Marra

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Kenny Butcher

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Retired Toronto Police detective Wilf Townley

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