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Taking sexy back

There has been a push to cut out the “sex” in Middlesex.
The municipality’s current email address — with the suffix @county.middlesex.on.ca — is being shortened to @mdlsx.ca to help avoid spam filters.
The problem was first noticed a couple of years ago when provincial officials noted they were not receiving emails from the municipality.
It soon became evident that recipients’ email filters were blocking many Middlesex emails, mistaking them for email addresses from adult websites selling sex aids.
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Rayburn estimated 15 to 20 per cent of outgoing mail was subject to problems because of the address suffix.
While Middlesex felt the problem was large enough to be dealt with, other municipalities with similar suffixes have not felt the need to take action.
According to Cathy Saunders, CAO of the Middlesex Center, the township of Essex has not had any trouble. While it has encountered some similar difficulties, the problem does not demand a name change.
“We’ve had problems from time to time,” Saunders said. “But it’s never been an issue.”
“We generally just advise people to check their junk mail. If it were to become an issue, we might consider changing the email — but so far it hasn’t.”
—Meagan Kashty

Council approves landlords self-regulation

London City Council has made the decision to allow landlords or owners of residential rental properties to regulate their own activities.
Specifically at task was the bylaw requiring owners of property with less than five units to be licensed with the city.
“Self-regulation of any industry is asinine,” Stephen Orser, Ward 4 councillor, said regarding the bylaw. “I am completely against [the decision].”
Orser, one of the few councillors to oppose the bylaw, believes tenants should be given more clout in matters of safety and security of the residence just as in any other industry or profession. He citied the example of cab drivers who must ensure their vehicles are safe by taking them to a certified mechanic.
Additionally, the new agreement reduced the cost of licensing a four-unit building for a year from $120 to $25.
Despite Orser’s opposition of the decision, when asked of what would safeguard against the possibility of landlord dishonesty he gave the following response: “The threat of criminal prosecution at the act of uttering false contractual statements.”
—Abid-Aziz Ladhani

City councillor threatens to take York to court

York University is facing scrutiny for its strict policy regarding unpaid parking tickets.
While the institution maintained it had the right to issue parking tickets on campus, Toronto City Councillor Howard Moscoe told York students to refuse payment. He insisted that parking tickets can only be issued by the City of Toronto and that those issued by the university are illegal.
“We operate under what is called the York University Act that gives us control over the road,” Keith Marnoch, associate director of media relations at York University said. “The idea behind that is that our land is private property and we have the responsibility to manage the traffic flow and roadways.”
Moscoe warned York that he will take the case to court if they continue to issue fines. York, however, is standing by its policy to withhold the transcripts of students who refuse to pay.
“Obviously we disagree with Mr. Moscoe’s concerns,” Marnoch said. “It’s not a new issue.”
While Moscoe said there is no opportunity to appeal the parking tickets, Marnoch noted there is in fact the opportunity for students to appeal and the university will do its best to accommodate.
—Meagan Kashty

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