Dave Gray-Donald

NEW: Global Affairs Canada met with a Canadian subsidiary of Israeli arms giant Elbit Systems 3 days before Parliament voted on a motion calling for an end to arms exports to Israel. The Liberal government then pushed to water down the motion and did not initially apply restrictions to existing military exports. readthemaple.com/global-affairs…

The Maple has been barred from covering this arms fair and despite multiple follow ups the organizers have refused to provide an explanation. Are they afraid someone might do journalism?

🚨I asked a senior Iranian official for comment on the current state of the Iran war negotiations. They sent the following statement: “We are very close to reaching and signing an agreement to end the war, and today’s constructive negotiating approach has made the prospect of peace in the region highly attainable. “We recognize that President Trump is now faced with an important political decision — one that must balance the interests of the United States, regional countries, and respect for Iran’s fundamental rights. Should this agreement ultimately be achieved, the international community will commend all negotiating parties for their role in advancing stability and peace. “At the same time, Israel is currently undertaking its final extensive efforts and applying considerable pressure to disrupt the formation of this agreement. We hope that the U.S. administration will make its decision independently of external influence and in favor of the broader collective interests of all parties involved.”

outside of a very loose warning to companies that invest in the region, this is once again a nothingburger of a statement that offers no tangible action or consequences to the Israeli government for the continued contravention of a wide variety of laws, and human rights abuses

All three, now named, by sources of CTV and CP24 - Evan Glennie, Rich Rand and Caglar Yigit are on the sunshine list and make over $160,000+ a year - one a 10+ year veteran is listed as a "training constable", another a 15+ veteran - suspended with pay x.com/ciastationchie…

Spanish news El Periódico, which broke the story on the arrest of the Toronto Police officers, has more details on what occurred - the incident itself - one of the officers fled from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, etc (translated) www-elperiodico-com.translate.goog/es/sucesos/202… x.com/siomoCTV/statu…

"The secrecy around the tool is so extreme that the Crown may abandon the prosecution rather than reveal the vendor’s identity and details of the ODITs capabilities and limitations, according to a court document filed in Windsor Superior Court."

Do you want to be able to vote on the future of the island airport? This week, Toronto City Council will debate whether to push for that to be a ballot question in October. Airport neighbour Toby Heaps argues council should go for it. thegrindmag.ca/opinion-toront…

The apartment building at 75 Spencer Avenue in Parkdale has been sold amid tenants’ ongoing rent strike. On May 4, the building was purchased for $15.5 million by a federally registered numbered corporation controlled by an out-of-province owner based in Quebec

Three Toronto Police constables face charges in connection with an alleged incident while on vacation. TPS didn't proactively disclose this. CTV/CP24 approached the service with Spanish media reports of violence against a sex worker in Barcelona ctvnews.ca/toronto/articl…

There's still time to get ads in for our next issue, out at the end of May. Tens of thousands of copies go out free free around Toronto: in the TTC, the pictured publication boxes and tons of shops. Ads are due May 22. Email ads[at]thegrindmag[dot]ca

Toronto councillor asked for ‘considerable’ money to move developments forward: source allegations ctvnews.ca/toronto/articl…

Today marks four years since my aunt, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed by an Israeli sniper in Jenin. An iconic journalist, and one of the most empathetic and sweetest people. This is who they killed. She loved life, but they stole hers from her.

The new doc True North plays tonight as part of @MayworksToronto. It's about much more than just the 1969 Sir George Williams affair, impressively weaving together that famous moment with the broader Black internationalist movement, writes @dgrdon. thegrindmag.ca/review-true-no…

The Ontario Land Tribunal has for years rubber-stamped luxury condo projects after they were rejected by municipal governments. Faced with a rigged legal system, housing organizers are now shifting strategies to directly confront developers and capital. thegrindmag.ca/how-ontarios-l…

Yet another youth has been charged with a bunch of offences related to the March synagogue shootings in Toronto, but no hate-motivation tps.to/65853

New: Metrolinx told neighbours of the future Bloor-Lansdowne GO station not to worry about noise as it will be serviced by "quieter, electrified trains." Leaked documents suggest there is no timeline for the line's electrification. #onpoli thetrillium.ca/news/municipal…

Lake filling a jet runway will hugely impair water circulation through the Inner Harbour, doubling water residence time, causing stagnation & concentrating pollution. Why undo billions spent to improve Toronto's water quality? See TPA's own EA on 2013 Porter Proposal for proof.

The new @TenantsUnionTO is challenging the myth that Canada’s housing crisis is just a supply problem. As governments rescue developers and investors, tenants are organizing around a simple reality: housing is about power, class & who cities are built for. canadiandimension.com/articles/view/…

Update: I got into the Israel real estate event at Park East Synagogue. Inside I saw at least one table advertising properties in the West Bank, including Kfar Eldad and Karnei Shomron.