Ontario to standardize truck driver training after scathing auditor general report
TORONTO -- Ontario is introducing standardized entry-level training for commercial truck drivers.
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 Liam Casey.
Third Marineland beluga dies after moves, this time in Spain
A third beluga that was a part of a massive move of whales from Marineland has died.
Ontario minister pledges better communication during wildfire season
Ontario's natural resources minister has pledged better communication on wildfires going forward.
Ontario Science Centre laying off entire science department
The Ontario Science Centre has laid off 30 workers including the entire science department, The Canadian Press has learned. Science centre CEO Paul Kortenaar told employees at a meeting today that the organization is being restructured. The science centre is eliminating the live ex
Ontario Science Centre laying off entire science department
TORONTO -- The Ontario Science Centre has laid off 30 workers including the entire science department, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he's open to idea of involuntary addiction treatment
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he's open to the idea of involuntary addiction treatment.
Ford shuffles cabinet, including moving embattled labour minister
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made several changes to his cabinet today, including moving embattled minister David Piccini from the labour portfolio to infrastructure. Piccini is under investigation by the integrity commissioner after the auditor general raised questions about his handling of the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund. Ford has defended Piccini and the success of the fund.
CP NewsAlert: PCs projected to hold on to York-Simcoe seat in Ontario byelection
TORONTO -- Progressive Conservative Susan Lahey is projected to win the provincial byelection in the riding of York-Simcoe.
Progressive Conservatives, NDP hold on to their seats in Ontario byelections
Little has changed at Queen's Park after Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives and the Opposition New Democrats held on to their seats in three byelections Thursday. Progressive Conservative Jeff Beattie, a longtime Hamilton city councillor, won the riding of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek after capturing nearly 39 per cent of the vote over NDP candidate Monique Taylor's 33 per cent...
Progressive Conservatives, NDP set to hold on to their seats in Ontario byelections
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats are both set to hold on to their seats in two ridings while votes trickle in a third race in today's provincial byelections.
Progressive Conservatives, NDP hold on to their seats in Ontario byelections
TORONTO -- Little has changed at Queen's Park after Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives and the Opposition New Democrats held on to their seats in three byelections Thursday.
CP NewsAlert: PC's Jeff Beattie projected to win Hamilton East-Stoney Creek race
TORONTO -- Progressive Conservative Jeff Beattie is projected to win the Ontario provincial byelection in the riding of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.
CP NewsAlert: NDP's Fatima Shaban projected to win Scarborough Southwest byelection
TORONTO -- New Democrat Fatima Shaban is projected to win the Ontario provincial byelection race in the riding of Scarborough Southwest.
Polls close in three Ontario byelections, at least one tight race expected
TORONTO -- Polls have closed tonight in three Ontario provincial byelections, with at least one race set to be tight.
Voters head to polls today in three Ontario byelections
Voters head to the polls today in three Ontario provincial byelections, with at least one race set to be tight. Candidates say long-standing provincial concerns such as health care, education and affordability came up often as they knocked on doors, but the trade war with the United States is also a worry for voters. Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives are...
Voters head to polls today in three Ontario byelections
TORONTO -- Voters head to the polls today in three Ontario provincial byelections, with at least one race set to be tight.
Two whales die in Chicago aquarium after moves, including one from Marineland
TORONTO -- Shedd Aquarium in Chicago says two whales have died after it took in 10 beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.
CP NewsAlert: Two whales die in Chicago aquarium, including one from Marineland
TORONTO -- Shedd Aquarium in Chicago says two whales have died after it took in several beluga whales from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Trade war with United States looms large over Ontario byelections
The escalating trade war with the United States looms large over three upcoming provincial byelections in Ontario. Candidates say a variety of provincial issues has popped up during campaigning, but U.S. President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs and a spat over Lake Ontario's name have raised fresh concern for voters.
Trade war with United States looms large over Ontario byelections
TORONTO -- The escalating trade war with the United States looms large over three upcoming provincial byelections in Ontario.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford tones down rhetoric in war of words with Donald Trump
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has toned down his rhetoric in the war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ford says on CNN that it is better to bring the temperature down between the two countries as the trade war escalates. Ford says he wants a deal that will bring the cost of living down on both sides of the...
U.S. should feel pain in tariff war, Premier Doug Ford says as he calls Trump 'loser'
The United States needs to feel the pain in response to Donald Trump's latest tariff war escalation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday as he and the president traded insults. Ford had earlier said on Toronto radio that Trump should "kiss my ass" after the president threatened further tariffs on the auto and steel sectors that could come into play...
Premier Doug Ford's eastern Ontario caucus questioning high-speed rail project
Eleven members of Premier Doug Ford's caucus say eastern Ontario voices are not being heard on the federal government's proposed high-speed rail project. Sources say the province is reconsidering its support for Alto, the federal government's proposed high-speed passenger train service between Quebec City and Toronto. The sources were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to share internal discussions.
Premier Doug Ford's eastern Ontario caucus questioning high-speed rail project
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's caucus is openly questioning the viability of Prime Minister Mark Carney's proposed high-speed rail line as senior provincial government sources say Ford is reconsidering his support for the project after Ottawa nixed plans to expand the Toronto island airport.
Toronto island airport expansion killed by 'fringe group,' Ontario minister says
TORONTO -- Ottawa gave in to the demands of a "fringe group" when it rejected a pitch to expand Toronto's island airport, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Tuesday.
Toronto island airport expansion killed by 'fringe group': Ontario minister
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria vows to forge ahead on expanding Toronto's island airport despite the federal government's rejection of the plan. Sarkaria says the province was disappointed by the federal government's decision to nix Premier Doug Ford's proposed expansion of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to allow jets to land and take off from it. Sarkaria says the...
Toronto island airport expansion killed by 'fringe group': Ontario minister
TORONTO -- Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria vows to forge ahead on expanding Toronto's island airport despite the federal government's rejection of the plan.
Toronto mayor asks province to return island land after feds block airport expansion
TORONTO -- Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wants the land from the city's islands back.
Six Marineland belugas now swimming in new U.S. homes
NIAGARA FALLS -- Six captive belugas from Canada are now swimming in the waters of their new homes in the United States.
U.S. approves 'emergency rescue' plan to import Marineland's whales and dolphins
TORONTO -- A U.S. consortium of aquariums says the American government has approved an "emergency rescue" to import Marineland's whales and dolphins, the last such captive animals in Canada.
Ontario jail guards ask for help after coroner's report on suicides in corrections
TORONTO -- Ontario's jail guards are asking for more help after a coroner's report detailed a suicide crisis among correctional workers and made more than two dozen recommendations to the provincial government.
Northern Ontario First Nation begins building road to the Ring of Fire mining region
Construction has begun on one Ontario First Nation's road to the Ring of Fire mining region.
Ontario raising speed limits on more highway sections across province
TORONTO -- Ontario is raising speed limits on more sections of highways across the province.
Several First Nations sign deal with Ottawa, Ontario to own part of a nuclear reactor
Several Ontario First Nations are set to become owners of a new nuclear reactor after striking a commercial partnership with the federal and provincial governments. Ottawa and Ontario are providing loan guarantees of $700 million to the seven Williams Treaties First Nations east of Toronto that will turn into equity for one of the four small modular reactors that are...
Several First Nations sign deal with Ottawa, Ontario to own part of a nuclear reactor
Several Ontario First Nations are set to become owners of a new nuclear reactor after striking a commercial partnership with the federal and provincial governments.
Housing advocate Eric Lombardi enters Ontario Liberal leadership race
TORONTO -- A housing advocate has entered the Ontario Liberal Party leadership race.
Ottawa endorses plan to move Marineland's whales to U.S. and Spain
TORONTO -- Ottawa has endorsed a plan to move Canada's last remaining captive whales to aquariums in the U.S. and Spain.
Ontario Liberal caucus member Rob Cerjanec enters party leadership race
Ontario Liberal caucus member Rob Cerjanec has tossed his hat into the party's leadership race.?? The rookie legislator who won the Ajax riding in 2025 will be running under the slogan "Let's Build Ontario" and he pledges to rebuild the party.? Cerjanec says he will focus on affordability measures and improving the education and health-care systems.
Ontario Liberal caucus member Rob Cerjanec enters party leadership race
TORONTO -- Ontario Liberal caucus member Rob Cerjanec has tossed his hat into the party's leadership race.??
Ontario's solicitor general defends new powers to direct police boards
TORONTO -- Ontario's solicitor general is defending the new powers he is giving himself to direct police boards to follow provincial priorities.
Former federal cabinet member Navdeep Bains enters Ontario Liberal leadership race
TORONTO -- Former federal cabinet member Navdeep Bains has entered the Ontario Liberal leadership race.
Former federal cabinet member Navdeep Bains enters Ontario Liberal leadership race
Former federal cabinet member Navdeep Bains has entered the Ontario Liberal leadership race. Bains worked as a science and industry minister in Justin Trudeau's government before leaving politics in 2021. He recently resigned as an executive from Rogers in order to explore a provincial Liberal leadership bid. Bains has released a 16-second video on social media that shows him walking...
Ontario to name high-risk offenders on new website launching next year
TORONTO -- Ontario Provincial Police are set to launch a website next year that will name high-risk offenders.
Judge's ruling on Ontario encampment 'cockamamie,' Premier Doug Ford says
Premier Doug Ford says an Ontario judge's recent decision barring the Region of Waterloo from removing people from a homeless encampment is "cockamamie."
Island airport expansion will cost up to $5 billion, Toronto Port Authority says
TORONTO -- The Toronto Port Authority says the proposed island airport expansion will cost up to $5 billion.
Toronto island airport expansion would lead to severe traffic, committee hears
TORONTO -- Toronto's waterfront secretariat says the province's plans to redevelop Ontario Place and expand the airport on the Toronto Islands will create severe traffic and transit congestion and could lead to degradation of the water quality in the harbour.
Ontario to expand jail capacity by 2,500 beds over 10 years at a cost of $3 billion
TORONTO -- Ontario's solicitor general says the province will expand its jails by 2,500 beds over the next 10 years at a cost of $3 billion to the taxpayers.
Ontario spent nearly $200k in aviation-related costs for returned private jet: docs
TORONTO -- Ontario taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $200,000 over Premier Doug Ford's flip-flop on a $28.9-million private jet purchase, newly released documents from the premier's office show.
Ontario inspecting commercial truck driver colleges after scathing audit: minister
TORONTO -- Ontario's minister of colleges and universities says all of the career colleges that offer commercial truck driver training will be inspected in the next six weeks.
Ontario auditor general finds problems with medical AI transcription tool
TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general says the province's new artificial intelligence transcription services for doctors are at risk of providing inaccurate information and outright hallucinations.
Commercial trucker training and licensing problematic in Ontario: auditor general
TORONTO -- Ontario is not effectively monitoring commercial truck driver training and licensing regimes, leading to many unqualified drivers on the roads, the province's auditor general found in a special report released Tuesday.
Ontario Liberal MPP Lee Fairclough enters party's nascent leadership race
TORONTO -- Ontario Liberal legislator Lee Fairclough has announced her bid for the party's leadership.
Ontario will not take over entirety of Toronto Islands: transportation minister
TORONTO -- The province says it will not take over the entirety of the Toronto Islands despite the language of its proposed legislation.
Six mistakenly released inmates still at large, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says
TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford says six inmates mistakenly released from Ontario's jails remain at large.
Ontario's solicitor general sorry for saying improperly released inmates were caught
TORONTO -- Ontario's solicitor general and his No. 2 have apologized for "inadvertently" saying officials apprehended all 157 criminals who were mistakenly released from the province's jails over the past five years.
'Gravy plane': Ontario buys used $28.9-million jet for Premier Doug Ford
Ontario taxpayers are footing the bill for a $29-million private jet for Premier Doug Ford's use, a purchase opposition leaders say is a waste of money. The premier's office said the province purchased a used 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 jet for $28.9 million. It will operate out of Toronto's Pearson International Airport. "As part of the job of being premier...
'Gravy plane': Ontario buys used $28.9-million jet for Premier Doug Ford
TORONTO -- Ontario taxpayers are footing the bill for a $29-million private jet for Premier Doug Ford's use, a purchase opposition leaders say is a waste of money.
Ontario buys used $28.9-million jet for Premier Doug Ford
TORONTO -- Ontario has bought an almost $29-million private jet for Premier Doug Ford's use.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford defends plan to increase jail capacity by thousands
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended his government's plan to build many more jails, saying the billions in cost will be worth it.
Ontario plans massive jail expansion, internal government documents show
TORONTO -- Ontario is planning a massive expansion of jails over the next few decades, The Canadian Press has learned.