TORONTO - The chief of staff to Toronto's embattled mayor is no longer in the job.

Mark Towhey left city hall a short while ago escorted by security.

He did not say why he was no longer Ford's chief of staff, but said it followed discussions earlier in the day with the mayor.

He said his leaving did not come as a shock.

Towhey refused to say what advice he had given Ford about an alleged videotape that apparently shows the mayor smoking crack cocaine.

Ford has been dogged by the allegations for almost a week, but has said little about them, beyond calling them “ridiculous.”

(The Canadian Press)

By Brian Donlevy

A 13th name has been added to the Oxford County Agriculture Hall of Fame. 
John DeBruyn was part of an extra special ceremony. 
Not only was DeBruyn being inducted into the Hall, he was part of the ceremony at the Oxford County building that will house the Hall. 
Pictures and plaques will now adorn a wall as a permanent recognition of the recipients.  

Debruyn, from South West Oxford Township says he probably feels no different than the other inductees into the hall. 

DeBruyn is proud of the permanent home for the hall.  He hopes that someone seeing the hall will understand the importance of being involved in the community and takes the steps to do so.

Documents obtained by the Committee studying the Liberals’ gas plant scandal make it explicitly clear that the Liberal government knew that the cancelled Oakville and Mississauga gas plants could cost $900 million, PC MPP Vic Fedeli said today.

“Documents from the Ministry of Finance demonstrate that the government was aware that the gas plant cancellations would cost upwards of a billion dollars,” said Fedeli. “The Ministry of Finance knew. Cabinet knew. The Treasury Board knew. Everyone knew that the costs were going to be significantly higher than the $230 million originally cited by the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals.”

Fedeli added that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals attempted to cover-up that they were willing to spend $900 million to make this gas plant scandal go away. “The documents obtained are clearly redacted and further demonstrate that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals will do anything to hide the truth from taxpayers.” 

This latest redaction makes it clear: the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals don’t feel that Ontarians deserve honest and truthful answers, continued Fedeli. “The Ontario PCs disagree and feel that the Liberals and NDP need to bring forward the PC’s vote of non-confidence to the Legislature. Ontarians deserve to have the opportunity to express their confidence in the Liberals.”

Fedeli concluded, “The Liberals have the most to lose and will do anything to protect their political power. I hope that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals will stop lying and come clean about when they knew that the costs could be as high as $900 million.”

 The lawyer for a second suspect charged in the death of a Hamilton father who disappeared after going for a test drive says they will be defending the case vigorously.

Twenty-five-year-old Mark Smich (schmick) was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tim Bosma when he appeared in court today in Hamilton.

Lawyer Tom Dungey says Smich will plead not guilty.

Smich's next court appearance on the murder charge is set for June 13th, the same day the other suspect in the case is to appear.

Twenty-seven-year-old Dellen Millard is charged with first-degree murder as well as forcible confinement and theft of a vehicle.

His lawyer has said his client will also plead not guilty.

Police allege the suspects are the two men Bosma took for a test drive on May 6th.

He never returned and his remains were found about a week later.

Court records show Smich has five previous convictions, including two for drug possession in 2005 and 2006.

He is also facing a charge of mischief for allegedly spray-painting a highway overpass with graffiti.

(The Canadian Press