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.
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.
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.
Environmental groups launch constitutional challenge over Ontario's special economic zones
TORONTO -- Several environmental groups have launched a constitutional challenge seeking to kill an Ontario law that allows cabinet to suspend other laws.
Ontario delays path to balance, pumps billions into research and innovation in budget
Ontario is delaying a path to balance once more, as one of several shock absorbers meant to ease the province down a potentially bumpy economic road ahead, though it is currently faring better than previously feared in the face of U.S. tariffs. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy is for the third year in a row delaying a surplus, now projecting black...
Ontario to unveil budget amid global economic uncertainty
Ontario's finance minister will unveil the province's budget today, which is not expected to have any tax increases. Peter Bethlenfalvy has signalled Ontarians must plan for tougher times ahead as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war continues and global conflicts push strong headwinds against Ontario's economy. Ontario's deficit earlier this year stood at $13.4 billion and its overall debt as...
Premier Doug Ford, health minister defend supervised consumption site closures
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his health minister are defending the decision to shutter more supervised drug consumption sites.
Ontario's payout to Elon Musk over cancelled Starlink contract to remain secret
TORONTO -- Ontario's payout to Elon Musk's SpaceX over a cancelled Starlink contract will remain a secret after the two sides agreed to a confidential settlement, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ontario to make premier, cabinet ministers' records secret as it tightens FOI laws
Ontario is set to make Premier Doug Ford and cabinet members' records secret as it "modernizes" freedom-of-information laws. Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford says the province is also updating its cybersecurity protections. Crawford says the changes will help protect cabinet confidentiality. He says the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act has not been...
Ontario's payout to Elon Musk over cancelled Starlink contract to remain secret
Ontario's payout to Elon Musk's SpaceX over a cancelled Starlink contract will remain a secret after the two sides agreed to a confidential settlement, The Canadian Press has learned. The province said the kill fee for what was set to be a $100-million deal is "significantly less than the contract value," and the amount paid out was part of a...
NDP politicians set off on road trip to highlight northern Ontario road dangers
TORONTO -- Three Ontario New Democrats have set off on a road trip from Toronto to the Manitoba border and back to highlight the dangers of northern roads.
Ring of Fire roads to be complete by 2031, ahead of schedule: Ford
TORONTO -- Construction on the roads to the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario should start this year and be completed by 2031, the province announced Monday.
Proposed Ring of Fire mine in northern Ontario clears another regulatory hurdle
TORONTO -- A proposed mine in Ontario's Ring of Fire region has cleared another regulatory hurdle despite a First Nation's protest.
Doug Ford defends decision to cut post-secondary student grants
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's decision to cut back on the amount of financial assistance for post-secondary students.
Ontario PCs reverse course on media ban, will let reporters cover Doug Ford's speech at party convention
TORONTO -- Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has reversed course on a media ban at its upcoming convention.
Marineland has solid plan to move whales and dolphins to U.S., minister says
TORONTO -- Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says Marineland's plan to move Canada's last remaining captive whales and dolphins to several parks in the United States is a solid one.
Ottawa gives conditional approval for Marineland to export remaining belugas to U.S.
Marineland's belugas have cleared a significant hurdle after federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson conditionally approved the export of the theme park's whales to the United States.
American aquariums say they are working to provide future for Marineland's belugas
TORONTO -- American aquariums say they visited Marineland last week with the goal of providing hope and a future for 30 beluga whales that face euthanasia should they not be moved.
Marineland now seeking permits to ship remaining belugas to U.S.: sources
TORONTO -- Marineland has presented a plan to the federal government to ship the last remaining captive whales and dolphins in Canada to several institutions in the United States, The Canadian Press has learned.
Toronto hospital to double housing program that reduces ER visits
TORONTO -- A Toronto hospital network will double its unique permanent housing program for homeless people who frequently visit emergency departments that has seen great success.
Rift surfaces between Doug Ford and Mark Carney over EV deal with China
Premier Doug Ford says Prime Minister Mark Carney's deal with China on electric vehicles has hurt Ontarians and the two have not spoken since. Ford says he was disappointed Carney did not give him a heads-up about a potential deal before the prime minister's trip to China last week. Carney struck a deal with China last week to allow up...
Rift surfaces between Doug Ford and Mark Carney over EV deal with China
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he's "ticked off" at Prime Minister Mark Carney over his deal with China on electric vehicles, and the two have not spoken since.
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...
As Ontario civil servants return to office full time, union calls order 'ridiculous'
TORONTO -- Ontario government employees are expected to return to the office five days per week starting Monday, despite objections from public sector unions.
As Ontario civil servants return to office full time, union calls order 'ridiculous'
TORONTO -- Ontario government employees are expected to return to the office five days per week starting Monday, despite objections from public sector unions.
Ontario's integrity commissioner opens probe into Labour Minister David Piccini
TORONTO -- Ontario's integrity commissioner has launched an investigation into Labour Minister David Piccini over the provincial Skills Development Fund.
Feds, Ontario to sign deal reducing regulatory burden on Ring of Fire, other projects
Ottawa and Ontario are set to sign a deal Thursday that will reduce the regulatory burden on large projects, including the road to the Ring of Fire, The Canadian Press has learned. Provincial and federal government sources who are not allowed to speak publicly say Ottawa has agreed to eliminate any duplicative work on its impact assessments on large projects...
Feds, Ontario to sign deal reducing regulatory burden on Ring of Fire, other projects
TORONTO -- Ottawa and Ontario are set to sign a deal Thursday that will reduce the regulatory burden on large projects, including the road to the Ring of Fire, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ontario Liberals push province to sell off stored U.S. booze for charity
TORONTO -- Ontario's Liberals are pushing Doug Ford's government to sell the province's stockpile of U.S. booze that is sitting in storage.
Inside the Ring of Fire: A tale of two First Nations and a road that could change everything
WEBEQUIE AND NESKANTAGA FIRST NATIONS -- This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
Ontario wrote off $1.4 billion of personal protective equipment, auditor finds
TORONTO -- Ontario wrote off more than one billion items of personal protective equipment at a cost of $1.4 billion since 2021, the province's auditor general found.
Ontario signs deal with Marten Falls First Nation to fast track road to Ring of Fire
TORONTO -- Another northern Ontario First Nation has signed a partnership deal with the province to fast track construction on the road to the mineral-rich Ring of Fire.
Passage of housing bill sparks protest, clearing of Queen's Park public gallery
TORONTO -- Shouts and chants rained down upon politicians at the Ontario legislature Monday as the government passed a housing bill that critics say makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants.
Vianode to build $3.2-billion graphite plant for EVs in southwestern Ontario
A Norwegian company is investing $3.2 billion to build a synthetic graphite plant in southwestern Ontario.
Ontario NDP leader kicked out of question period after calling Ford government 'corrupt'
The leader of Ontario's official Opposition was kicked out of question period this morning after calling Premier Doug Ford's government "corrupt." NDP Leader Marit Stiles made the comment as the opposition continued to hammer Labour Minister David Piccini over the scandal-plagued Skills Development Fund. The auditor general found his office has been heavily involved in selecting projects under the $2.5-billion...
Ontario NDP leader kicked out of question period after calling Ford government 'corrupt'
TORONTO -- The leader of Ontario's official Opposition was kicked out of question period this morning after calling Premier Doug Ford's government "corrupt."
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.
Short, intense session set for Queen's Park after 137-day break
Premier Doug Ford's government returns to Queen's Park Monday for what promises to be a short but intense seven-week sitting that opposition parties say they fear is becoming a new and undemocratic norm. A lingering trade war with the United States, a consequential downturn in the economy with about 700,000 Ontarians looking for work, increasing inflation and a crashing housing...
Premier Doug Ford says he threatened to beat up Home Depot shoplifter
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he threatened to beat up a Home Depot shoplifter over the summer. Ford told an audience at the Empire Club in Toronto that bail needs to be strengthened because criminals have become emboldened. The premier relayed a story from the summer when he said he ditched his police detail to go to Home Depot to...
Premier Doug Ford says he threatened to beat up Home Depot shoplifter
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he threatened to beat up a Home Depot shoplifter over the summer.
'We need to get them out': Beluga trainer fired by Marineland speaks out
TORONTO -- Marineland's crumbling infrastructure, staffing shortage and lack of resources have created dangerous conditions for its belugas and they should be moved immediately, a fired beluga trainer says.
Ottawa, Ontario urge each other to help Marineland's belugas amid euthanasia threat
TORONTO -- The federal and Ontario governments are urging each other to help 30 belugas at Marineland, which has threatened to euthanize the whales if the park does not receive emergency funds from Ottawa.
Marineland's request for federal funds to care for belugas 'inappropriate': minister
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says Marineland's request for emergency funding, in a letter that warned 30 belugas at the park will otherwise be euthanized, is "inappropriate."
Marineland asks Ottawa for emergency cash to feed whales -- or euthanasia imminent
Marineland has asked Ottawa for emergency funding to feed and care for its whales, saying euthanasia is otherwise imminent.
Toronto hospital housing model 'a gift' to residents as ER visits reduced by half
TORONTO -- Every time Jason Miles walked out of prison, he would be bigger, stronger and meaner.
Marineland decries Ottawa decision to bar export of remaining beluga whales to China
TORONTO -- Marineland says it is "profoundly" disappointed by the federal government's decision to deny its request to ship 30 belugas to China.
Ottawa denies Marineland request to export its remaining beluga whales to China
Ottawa has denied a request from Marineland to send its remaining beluga whales to China, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said Wednesday
Ontario ends 2024-25 with lower deficit than predicted, enacts agency hiring freeze
TORONTO -- Ontario wrapped up the 2024-25 fiscal year with a significantly lower deficit than initially projected in the budget, yet the province will implement a modified hiring freeze in an effort to control ballooning agencies, Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney said Friday.
'It's just terrible over there,' Premier Doug Ford says of Marineland
VAUGHAN -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the situation at Marineland is "terrible" for the 30 belugas that remain there, the last captive whales in Canada.
Ontario set to begin building road to the Ring of Fire
TORONTO -- Ontario is set to begin building the road to the Ring of Fire.
Eglinton Crosstown light rail project in Toronto delayed again
TORONTO -- A major transit project in Toronto has been delayed yet again.
Another beluga and a seal have died at Marineland. The deaths caught Doug Ford's attention
Another beluga whale and a harbour seal have died at Marineland, and those deaths have caught the attention of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ford to maintain U.S. booze ban until tariffs removed or new trade deal reached
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will maintain his ban on American booze despite Canada dropping some retaliatory tariffs in the ongoing trade war with the United States. Ford says he will drop the ban on selling U.S. alcohol at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario when U.S. President Donald Trump removes tariffs placed on Canadian goods or when the...
Ford to maintain U.S. booze ban until tariffs removed or new trade deal reached
CALEDON -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will maintain his ban on American booze despite Canada dropping some retaliatory tariffs in the ongoing trade war with the United States.