City council to give Pride funding; condemn “Israeli apartheid”
In a unanimous vote, complete with a threat from the deputy mayor, city council has voted to once again give funding to Pride Toronto.
City councillors approved a grant of around $124, 000 on Thursday, which will come to roughly eight per cent of Pride’s $1.6-million budget. However, as part of the discussion, councillors also voted to condemn the term, “Israeli apartheid.” Deputy mayor Doug Holyday promised to say, “no funding ever” for any politically-charged groups who could cause problems in the future.
On a similar note, councillor James Pasternak called the decision a “risk and a leap of faith,” about the idea that Pride organizers would ban Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from marching.
Bob Rae to likely run for Liberal leadership
With the Liberal leadership race on the horizon, Bob Rae, the party’s interim leader, may throw his name into the ring – if he gets the approval of the party.
The Liberal Party of Canada executive will decide whether to allow Rae to enter the race, after vying for the role in the 2006 leadership vote, ultimately losing to Stéphane Dion. The party’s approval is particularly imperative in this case, as Rae, a former Ontario premier, became the interim leader after vowing not to run in the eventual leadership race.
The Toronto Star reports that if Rae were to get the green light from the Liberals, he would need to resign as interim leader, and declare his candidacy by the end of June.
Angelina Jolie approached to direct Fifty Shades of Grey movie?
Image: JoBlo
Rumours are swirling about the possibility that Angelina Jolie is being considered to direct the movie version of the steamy, hot-button romance novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.
The Hollywood Reporter says the buzz could have started with an informal conversation with movie executives at the Focus Features studio, something the film house denies. Known for her strong female voice and alpha-dog role selection, Jolie could indeed be a top contender for the gig. The actress-turned-filmmaker directed her first feature, In the Land of Blood and Honey, last year.
The racy novel has sold over 10 million copies in just a couple of months, making it a publishing phenomenon.
Earlier this year, two studios, Universal Pictures and Focus, engaged in a $5-million bidding war for the rights to the book, by E L James. To coincide with that, public discussions, and campaigning, have catapulted Amanda Seyfried and Kristen Stewart into the race for the eventual female lead
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Joanna Adams is the online and social media editor for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at†@nowstarringTO.
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