Ottawa

Big Yellow Taxi

Today in unflattering, if unfair, but also fun and vaguely instructive, comparisons.

Washington PostPresident Obama today signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus plan that he said begins “the essential work of keeping the American dream alive in our time.” In a speech and signing ceremony in Denver, Obama said the new law is aimed at creating millions of jobs and halting the U.S. economy’s downward spiral … Obama said the legislation will save or create 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, pulling the nation back from the brink of what he has called a potential economic catastrophe. The measure aims to spur job growth through massive new investments in energy, transportation, education and health-care projects, while reviving social safety-net programs.

National PostPrime Minister Stephen Harper touched down in Toronto this morning. He and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty rode into a GO train maintenance shed aboard a special GO train to announce $500-million in new money for GO. Of the money, $173-million will add about 5,000 more parking spaces at 12 GO train stations around greater Toronto. Another $75.5-million goes to the Hamilton Junction Project, a job to rebuild the rails in downtown Hamilton so that more trains can leave Hamilton every day for Toronto … The parking structures he is funding are all in the 905 region, including $30.5-million for a new GO parking structure in Cooksville (downtown Mississauga) and $30-million for a structure in Erindale (also Mississauga.). The third big parking garage is a $30.5-million job in Oakville.

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