Niagara regional chair backs away from proposal to explore amalgamations
Niagara's regional chair has backed away from a proposal that included possible amalgamations.
Allison Jones
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Niagara councillors vote to slow regional chair's governance consultations
A move by the Niagara regional chair to review municipal governance with an eye to possible amalgamations appears to have hit a snag after an at-times testy council meeting.
Ontario family health teams urge funding to retain nurses, health professionals
TORONTO -- Ontario is working toward attaching everyone in the province to a primary care provider, but family health teams are warning that as the government has its sights set on that laudable goal, the foundation of primary care is crumbling.
Company countersues Ontario government, alleging reputational harm
TORONTO -- A mental health company being sued by the Ontario government over alleged fraudulent misrepresentation has filed a statement of defence and a counterclaim against the province, alleging it has damaged the company's reputation.
Ontario lifting post-secondary tuition freeze, boosting funding
TORONTO -- Ontario is giving colleges and universities billions in new funding, while lifting a seven-year tuition fee freeze and cutting back on the amount of student assistance grants.
NDP MPP jumps to federal Liberals as Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith eyes provincial seat and leadership
The resignation of longtime MP Bill Blair has triggered a potential round of political musical chairs, as the federal Liberals poach a provincial NDP representative to run for his seat and a Liberal MP looks to fill that provincial void. The Liberals named Ontario NDP member of provincial parliament Doly Begum as their candidate Tuesday for Scarborough Southwest following Blair's...
Nuclear refurbishment done and under budget at Ontario's Darlington plant: minister
A nuclear refurbishment at the Darlington power plant is now complete and the unit is set to soon return to service.
Advocates call for federal, provincial governments to strengthen child-care system
Child-care advocates are calling on the federal and provincial governments to commit today to strengthening the $10-a-day system, as the ministers responsible meet in Ottawa.
Ontario Liberal caucus names John Fraser as pick for interim leader
TORONTO -- The Ontario Liberal caucus has named John Fraser as their pick for interim leader, a role he is poised to hold for a third time.
Ontario proposes to pause rule that lets cities require affordable housing units
TORONTO -- Ontario is proposing to temporarily ban three major cities from requiring a certain percentage of affordable units in new buildings near transit stations, citing a downturn in the housing market.
Bonnie Crombie resigns as leader of Ontario Liberal Party, effective immediately
Bonnie Crombie resigned Wednesday as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, months after saying she would leave following a tepid leadership vote in the fall. She initially said she would stay until a successor is chosen, but has now decided on an early exit. "As we begin a new year, I believe this is the right moment for me and...
Ontario marks progress in attaching everyone in the province to primary care
TORONTO -- Ontario's health minister says the province is on track to connect all Ontarians to a primary care provider by 2029, thanks in part to mostly clearing a wait list backlog.
Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year
TORONTO -- Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year, with several changes to the alcohol marketplace set to take effect.
Ontario-appointed supervisor fires TDSB director of education amid board shakeups
TORONTO -- A provincially appointed supervisor has fired the director of education at Ontario's largest school board, amid a shakeup of board governance by the education minister.
Ontario legislature to take 14-week winter break, following 19-week summer break
TORONTO -- Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break.
Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the funding his government gave to a company now under police investigation after the province identified "irregularities." The government asked the Ontario Provincial Police last month to look at the results of an audit on Keel Digital Solutions and the police said Monday that they have now launched an investigation. The company has been...
Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the funding his government gave to a company now under police investigation after the province identified "irregularities."
OPP probing company that received Ontario government payments
TORONTO -- The Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation into a company connected to the Skills Development Fund after the province found "suspicious activity" relating to payments it received from a different branch of government.
Plan for changes to role of trustees in Ontario coming early next year: minister
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said Friday he will make a final decision early in the new year on what changes to make to the role of trustees in the school system, but he signalled he is inclined to largely eliminate it.
Ontario government spending $112M on advertising, more than ever before: auditor
TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general says the provincial government spent the highest recorded amount on advertising last year.
Ontario auditor general finds province not properly overseeing doctor billings
TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general has found that the province is not properly overseeing doctors' billings, including in a few cases of physicians billing for more than 24 hours in a day or working 365 days in a year.
Ontario auditor general to release annual report, with focus on health care
TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general is set to release her annual report today, with a major focus on health care.
Ontario exempting training centres from municipal and planning laws
TORONTO -- Companies and unions building worker training centres using money from Ontario's embattled Skills Development Fund could soon bypass planning laws, raising "significant concerns" for the province's municipalities and opposition parties.
Deal reached to allow grocers to avoid accepting beer and wine empties
TORONTO -- Ontario grocers and The Beer Store have reached an agreement-in-principle on alcohol recycling that will allow the retailers to avoid collecting empties at their stores and gives a renewed role to the brewers, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ontario forges ahead with $26.8B nuclear refurbishment in Pickering
Ontario's energy minister is announcing that a plan to refurbish four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station to get nearly four decades more service out of them will cost $26.8 billion.
Ontario to strengthen dangerous driving laws in honour of father killed this year
TORONTO -- Dangerous driving penalties are set to soon be strengthened in Ontario, as the government has tabled a bill in honour of a father of three who was killed by an alleged dangerous driver.
Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister
The leader of Ontario's NDP is asking the province's integrity commissioner to investigate the labour minister, alleging he has breached ethics rules in handing out skills training funding. Labour Minister David Piccini has come under fire for his handling of the Skills Development Fund, after an auditor general report found his office has been selecting funding recipients over the advice...
Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister
TORONTO -- The leader of Ontario's NDP is asking the province's integrity commissioner to investigate the labour minister, alleging he has breached ethics rules in handing out skills training funding.
EQAO standardized test results to be released next week after delay, minister says
TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says standardized testing results are set to be made public next week after he delayed their release, and he's suggesting changes may be coming.
Ontario education minister eyes more possible board takeovers with now-passed bill
TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says a newly passed bill granting him more powers to take control of school boards is a start, but not the end, of changes to education governance.
Ford mulls public sex offender registry, would use notwithstanding clause 'in a heartbeat'
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is looking at making some information on the sex offender registry public, in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision on child pornography sentences.
Doug Ford mulls public sex offender registry for Ontario
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government is looking at making some information on the sex offender registry public, in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision on child pornography sentences.
Ford defends system of skills-development funding, won't axe minister under fire
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills-development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police.
Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police. Labour Minister David Piccini has come under sustained fire from opposition parties calling for his resignation since an auditor general's report found his office has...
Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police.
Ontario to set up school board support offices, starting with those under supervision
TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra has announced that the province is establishing offices within school boards for parents to escalate issues beyond their school -- starting with five boards currently under supervision.
Ontario, feds agree to 1-year child-care extension; average fee to stay $19/day
TORONTO -- Ontario has secured a one-year extension with the federal government for the national $10-a-day child-care program, giving parents reassurance their fees won't rise for at least 12 more months, but with much hard work still to be done.
From 1.5 million to 'as many homes as we can': Ontario faces home building realities
TORONTO -- Ontario is lowering projections for new home construction levels in its fall economic statement, putting the government further away from building 1.5 million homes in 10 years -- a goal the finance minister said is now a "soft" target.
Projections for new home construction in Ontario slowing yet again
TORONTO -- Ontario is lowering projections for new home construction levels in its fall economic statement, putting the government further away from its goal of building 1.5 million homes in 10 years.
Ontario eyes challenging labour market amid tariffs, lower population growth
TORONTO -- Ontario's deficit projection is shrinking in its fall fiscal update, but so are the province's expectations for the labour market as U.S. tariffs are expected to continue hitting the economy.
Ontario to provide financial update amid tariff impacts
TORONTO -- Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy is set to table a fall fiscal update today, with a look at how the province's books are faring amid the impacts of U.S. tariffs.
Ontario fiscal update may focus on infrastructure, jobs
TORONTO -- Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy is highlighting infrastructure spending and protecting jobs from the impacts of U.S. tariffs as two areas in which the federal budget falls short.
Ontario avoids public hearings on bills; one would boost education minister's powers
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is limiting debate and skipping public hearings on an education bill that would make it easier for the minister to take control of school boards and a housing bill critics say will make life harder for renters.
Carney asked Ford 'a couple of times' to pull anti-tariff ad, premier says
Prime Minister Mark Carney called Doug Ford "a couple of times" from Asia to ask him to pull an ad campaign that's being blamed for ending trade talks with the United States, the Ontario premier said Monday. Carney said this weekend that he told Ford he didn't think the province should run the ad that featured clips of former U.S...
Carney asked Ford 'a couple of times' to pull anti-tariff ad, premier says
Toronto -- Prime Minister Mark Carney called Doug Ford "a couple of times" from Asia to ask him to pull an ad campaign that's being blamed for ending trade talks with the United States, the Ontario premier said Monday.
Education minister orders northern Ontario school board to resolve dysfunction
TORONTO -- Ontario's education minister has ordered a North Bay area school board to take immediate steps to resolve what a report described as overwhelming dysfunction or he will take "further action."
Ontario to consolidate conservation authorities, create new oversight agency
TORONTO -- Ontario is proposing to consolidate its 36 conservation authorities into seven, a move the environment minister insists will improve services and result in no job losses.
Wait for core Ontario autism services tops 5 years: advocates
TORONTO -- When Ashley Ferreira's five-year-old son was diagnosed with autism in 2020 she never imagined that a five-year wait lay ahead for him to get access to government-funded core therapies.
U.S. ambassador should apologize to Ontario rep over reported tirade: Ford
Toronto -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the U.S. ambassador to Canada to apologize to Ontario's representative in Washington after sources say the ambassador shouted profanely about the province's anti-tariff ad.
U.S. ambassador should apologize to Ontario rep over reported tirade: Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the U.S. ambassador to Canada to apologize to Ontario's representative in Washington after sources say the ambassador shouted profanely about the province's anti-tariff ad. Sources who spoke to trade representative David Paterson after the incident at an event Monday in Ottawa but were not authorized to speak about it publicly told The Canadian...
Premier Ford calls fixed date election rules enacted by Liberals a 'fake law'
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls a fixed election date rule his government is proposing to get rid of "a fake law."
Ford government to limit debate, skip public hearings on bill to scrap speed cameras
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is proposing to limit debate and avoid public input on three pieces of legislation, including one that would end the province's speed camera program.
Ontario proposes to rebate HST for some first-time homebuyers
TORONTO -- Some first-time homebuyers in Ontario could soon save tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of a home under a proposal from the provincial government to rebate the HST.
Ontario to scrap fixed election dates, raise donation limit to $5,000 under new bill
Ontario's attorney general is proposing to get rid of fixed election dates in the province, in a bill that would also see the limit for political donations raised to $5,000 and make public funding for political parties permanent. Doug Downey introduced legislation today to do away with what he calls "American-style" fixed election dates.
Ontario to scrap fixed election dates, raise donation limit to $5,000 under new bill
TORONTO -- Ontario's attorney general is proposing to get rid of fixed election dates in the province, in a bill that would also see the limit for political donations raised to $5,000 and make public funding for political parties permanent.
Ontario to boost home care funding by $1 billion
TORONTO -- Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has announced that as part of the upcoming fall economic statement, the province will be increasing home care funding by $1 billion over three years.
Ontario trustee who education minister sought to fire resigns, tied to Italy art trip
TORONTO -- An Ontario school trustee who the province's education minister sought to fire through legislation has now resigned.
Trump 'afraid' to make a World Series bet, Carney jokes at Blue Jays' practice
Prime Minister Mark Carney says U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be afraid to make a World Series bet with him as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I think he's afraid to make a bet. He doesn't like to lose," Carney joked Thursday when reporters asked him about a possible wager as he stopped by...
Trump 'afraid' to make a World Series bet, Carney jokes at Blue Jays' practice
Prime Minister Mark Carney says U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be afraid to make a World Series bet with him as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Blue Jays will win World Series in six games, Carney and Ford predict
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are both predicting the Toronto Blue Jays will win the World Series in six games, though so far neither has plans to attend in person.