“Am I doing everything I can to serve my country and work for real change for Canadians?” Leona Alleslev, the MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, asked herself that question before announcing her decision to cross the floor from the Liberals to the Conservatives. Her speech also provided weighty fodder to revive the CPC meme machine:

Toronto lacks fans of the notwithstanding clause. Mainstreet Research’s poll found 65 per cent of locals oppose exploiting the constitution to cut the size of city council. Still, the premier's strong-arm tactics have some fans at the Fraser Institute.

First mayoral debate heralds little-heard challengers. ArtsVote Toronto's mayoral debate on September 24 will feature John Tory and Jennifer Keesmaat, plus at least two of the 33 other contenders: lawyer Saron Gebresellassi, and the LinkedIn-loving “change catalyst” Gautam Nath.

Bruno Mars concert exposes Ticketmaster as a trickster. Data journalists monitored seven months of sales and concluded that Ticketmaster prices would change at any time, not all tickets went on sale initially, and some double-dipping on service fees. (The new provincial government recently shelved a bill to clamp down on that reselling.)

There’s clearly not enough nostalgia for Chick ’N’ Deli. The pub at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton was long synonymous with the term “cougar bar.” But it changed hands and became Seven44, until the locks were changed. Contrary to the revival efforts at other venues, though, the space’s new occupant is aiming for this more understated midtown branding:

Serpentine Pavilion is the new Infinity Mirrors. The development firm Westbank imported 1,802 stacked fibreglass squares from London, England's Serpentine Galleries to promote some local residential projects under the banner of Unzipped Toronto. The stunt plays into a widespread compulsion to put oneself in every picture:

CBC Kids News plays to every expected stereotype. Current-events content for tweens debuted with a one-sided look at Ontario rolling back its sex-ed curriculum. There’s also a generally enthusiastic look at cannabis legalization, delivered by a 15-year-old correspondent who’s already well versed in the ways of social media influencing.