Allison Jones and Liam Casey

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Allison Jones and Liam Casey.

Ontario taking control of four school boards, including TDSB

Ontario taking control of four school boards, including TDSB

TORONTO -- Ontario has taken control of four more school boards due to "mismanagement," the education minister announced Friday while saying it's time for a broader rethink of board governance.

No decision on temporary Ontario Science Centre location, minister says

No decision on temporary Ontario Science Centre location, minister says

TORONTO -- Ontario's infrastructure minister says the government has not decided whether there will be a temporary science centre while a new one is being built at Ontario Place.

'The biggest betrayal': A year on, staff grieve Ontario Science Centre's snap closure

'The biggest betrayal': A year on, staff grieve Ontario Science Centre's snap closure

TORONTO -- In the year since the abrupt closure of the Ontario Science Centre, the cost of a new site at Ontario Place has escalated, its opening date has been pushed back, there is no sign of a temporary location - and the old building's roof that was said to be at risk of collapse appears to be intact.

Masked men tried to steal vehicle from Ontario Premier Doug Ford's home, he says

Masked men tried to steal vehicle from Ontario Premier Doug Ford's home, he says

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says masked men tried to steal a vehicle from his home overnight.

Hundreds of First Nations members protest Ontario mining bill at Queen's Park

Hundreds of First Nations members protest Ontario mining bill at Queen's Park

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is pushing through a controversial mining bill despite the protests of several hundred First Nations members who came from the far north to the front lawn of Queen's Park on Monday.

Hoarding covering Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen's Park to be removed

Hoarding covering Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen's Park to be removed

TORONTO -- Hoarding that has covered a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald on the grounds of the Ontario legislature for the past five years is set to soon be removed.

Four small modular reactors at Darlington to cost $21 billion to build

Four small modular reactors at Darlington to cost $21 billion to build

Ontario is set to spend nearly $21 billion to build four small modular reactors east of Toronto.

Ontario eyes involuntary addiction treatment for people in jail, on parole, probation

Ontario eyes involuntary addiction treatment for people in jail, on parole, probation

TORONTO -- Ontario is set to study how it can introduce involuntary addictions treatment for people involved in the correctional system.

Doug Ford says he is focused on post-election unity, after MP accuses him of sabotage

Doug Ford says he is focused on post-election unity, after MP accuses him of sabotage

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to focus on unity the day after the federal election, refusing to shoot back at comments from a Conservative MP calling the premier a "problem" and an opportunist.

LCBO removing U.S. alcohol from its shelves in response to tariffs

LCBO removing U.S. alcohol from its shelves in response to tariffs

TORONTO -- Ontario's main liquor store has begun removing U.S. alcohol from its shelves and website in response to tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Doug Ford's PCs win third majority government in snap Ontario election

Doug Ford's PCs win third majority government in snap Ontario election

TORONTO -- Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives chugged to a third majority government Thursday, propelled by his visible crusade against economic uncertainty emanating from the U.S., though falling short of the increased majority he urged.

Icy stairs and snow bank signs: campaigning in Ontario's winter election

Icy stairs and snow bank signs: campaigning in Ontario's winter election

Falling down stairs, pushing stuck cars out of snow banks and cancelling events are just some of the challenges candidates have faced on the winter campaign trail, but Sol Mamakwa may have them all beat.

Ontario NDP, Liberals release election platforms, promise billions in new spending

Ontario NDP, Liberals release election platforms, promise billions in new spending

TORONTO -- Ontario's NDP and Liberals are both pledging tens of billions of dollars in new spending to pay for their campaign promises, but are taking different approaches to the other side of the ledger, with the NDP proposing wealth taxes and the Liberals eyeing "efficiencies."

Ontario Liberals make $65B in new promises, pledge to find $28B in savings

Ontario Liberals make $65B in new promises, pledge to find $28B in savings

TORONTO -- Ontario's Liberals are promising $65 billion in new spending over four years, along with finding more than $28 billion in efficiencies, in a platform they say contains no new taxes or tax increases.

Other party leaders attack Ford on affordability, health in Ontario election debate

Other party leaders attack Ford on affordability, health in Ontario election debate

TORONTO -- Ontario's main political party leaders debated the weighty provincial issues of health care, affordability and housing Monday in a provincial election debate injected with a few moments of levity.

Ontario party leaders talk affordability, health in provincial election debate

Ontario party leaders talk affordability, health in provincial election debate

TORONTO -- Ontario's main political party leaders debated the weighty provincial issues of health care, affordability and housing Monday in a provincial election debate injected with a few moments of levity.

Ontario party leaders talk affordability in provincial election debate

Ontario party leaders talk affordability in provincial election debate

TORONTO -- The leaders of Ontario's main political parties are sparring on the provincial debate stage tonight, trying to position themselves as the best person to tackle affordability in the province.

Opposition pounces on Ford over suit alleging ex-staffers involved in rezoning scheme

Opposition pounces on Ford over suit alleging ex-staffers involved in rezoning scheme

Opposition leaders accused Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford on Thursday of being partially responsible for the behaviour of two former staffers alleged to have used their contacts in a real-estate rezoning scheme.

Crombie pounces on Ford over lawsuit alleging ex-staffers involved in rezoning scheme

Crombie pounces on Ford over lawsuit alleging ex-staffers involved in rezoning scheme

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie says Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is partially responsible for the behaviour of two former staffers alleged to have used their contacts in a real-estate rezoning scheme.

Encampments, disability payments, highway tolls: Ontario parties talk affordability

Encampments, disability payments, highway tolls: Ontario parties talk affordability

Ontario's main political parties pivoted to affordability measures Wednesday, as the threat of U.S. tariffs took a back seat on the campaign trail.

Ontario PCs pledge billions in stimulus that would flow after election if tariffs hit

Ontario PCs pledge billions in stimulus that would flow after election if tariffs hit

Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is defending simultaneously wearing two hats -- campaigning in a snap election he called and taking anti-tariff actions as premier.

Ontario PCs pledge billions in stimulus that would flow after election

Ontario PCs pledge billions in stimulus that would flow after election

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives are promising tens of billions of dollars of spending in response to tariffs from the United States, but the stimulus wouldn't be in place for at least several weeks, with the province in the midst of an election campaign.

Ford defends dual roles as Ontario election campaigner and premier fighting tariffs

Ford defends dual roles as Ontario election campaigner and premier fighting tariffs

TORONTO -- Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is defending simultaneously wearing two hats, campaigning in a snap election he called and taking anti-tariff actions as premier.

Ford's decision to speed up alcohol sales expansion will cost province $612M: report

Ford's decision to speed up alcohol sales expansion will cost province $612M: report

TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford's decision to speed up the rollout of alcohol sales in corner stores - which first sparked early election speculation last spring - will cost the province more than $600 million, Ontario's budget watchdog said Monday.

Snap Ontario election call kicks parties' planning into high gear

Snap Ontario election call kicks parties' planning into high gear

TORONTO -- Ontario's political parties have been preparing for months for the possibility of an early election, but next week's snap election call has pushed planning to a fever pitch.

Doug Ford signals early election may be top of mind: 'We need a clear mandate'

Doug Ford signals early election may be top of mind: 'We need a clear mandate'

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he needs a new mandate in order to deal with four years of a Donald Trump presidency in the United States.

Auditor general slams Ontario Place redevelopment process as unfair, subjective

Auditor general slams Ontario Place redevelopment process as unfair, subjective

TORONTO -- A European company developing a spa and waterpark at Ontario Place got special access to provincial executives during a submission process that was not fair or transparent, Ontario's auditor general said Tuesday in her annual report.

Ontario auditor general to release reports on Ontario Place, opioids

Ontario auditor general to release reports on Ontario Place, opioids

TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general is set to release her annual report today, with sections on the redevelopment of Ontario Place and on the province's opioid strategy likely to garner a lot of attention.

Ontario sets table to balance the books ahead of possible early election

Ontario sets table to balance the books ahead of possible early election

TORONTO -- Ontario has sharply lowered its projected deficit for next year, setting the stage for the government to easily be able to present a balanced budget ahead of a possible spring election.

Ford says $200 cheques will be mailed to each Ontario taxpayer at a cost of $3B

Ford says $200 cheques will be mailed to each Ontario taxpayer at a cost of $3B

TORONTO -- Ontario taxpayers are set to receive $200 cheques in the mail early next year, a $3-billion plan the premier suggests is not tied to a possible early election -- though the opposition leaders have their doubts.

Ontario tables legislation that includes ban on some bike lanes across the province

Ontario tables legislation that includes ban on some bike lanes across the province

TORONTO -- Ontario has tabled its first bill as a new legislative sitting gets underway today, which would give the province the power to stop cities from constructing some new bike lanes.

Ontario legislature returns from 19-week break with announcements, protests

Ontario legislature returns from 19-week break with announcements, protests

TORONTO -- Ontario's provincial parliament will be a hive of activity today, as the legislature resumes sitting following a 19-week summer break.

The Ontario legislature is back Monday. Critics say Ford is keener on electioneering

The Ontario legislature is back Monday. Critics say Ford is keener on electioneering

TORONTO -- Ontario's legislature will resume sitting Monday after an unusually long summer break, and returns in the midst of intense speculation that Premier Doug Ford will call an early election.