What locals say Honda's historic $15B investment means for Alliston, Ont. | CBC News
Honda's $15-billion investment in Ontario for creating an electric vehicle supply chain will generate over 1,000 well-paying jobs, boost local business, and secure future prosperity for residents. [ more ]
Ontario reaches deal with teachers in French-language public system | CBC News
Ontario has reached a deal with teachers in the French-language public system, ensuring no province-wide job actions or strikes in the next three years.
The deal is similar to agreements with other teachers' unions, sending outstanding matters such as salary to binding arbitration. [ more ]
Ontario repeals Bill 124, wage restraint law twice found unconstitutional | CBC News
Ontario's wage-restraint law, Bill 124, twice declared unconstitutional, is now repealed.
The law, capping salary increases at 1% for public sector workers, sparked a health-care staffing crisis and violated collective bargaining rights. [ more ]
Measures like wage restraint should be up to governments, not the courts, Ford says | CBC News
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has agreed to repeal a law imposing wage restraint on public sector workers after an Appeal Court ruling declared it unconstitutional.
Ford believes that measures like this should be decided by governments, not the courts, but he respects the ruling. [ more ]
Ontario teachers awarded additional pay to compensate for Bill 124 | CBC News
Public high school teachers and elementary teachers in Ontario will receive additional retroactive salary increases to compensate for constrained wages under Bill 124.
The arbitrator has awarded an additional 2.75% salary increase for the third year, on top of the 0.75% increase in each of the first two years.
The Ontario court has declared Bill 124 unconstitutional, but the government has appealed and a ruling is expected on Monday. [ more ]
Court of Appeal for Ontario set to release Bill 124 ruling on Monday | CBC News
Ontario's Appeal Court is set to release its ruling on wage restraint law Bill 124 on Monday.
The law capped salary increases for public sector workers to one percent a year for three years.
Labour groups and unions challenged the law, which was found unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court. The government appealed the decision. [ more ]
Ontario student nutrition programs ask for double the funding as they grapple with 'limitless need' | CBC News
Student nutrition programs in Ontario are struggling with insufficient funding, leading to portions being cut in half.
Demand for student nutrition programs is rising due to the effects of COVID, food inflation, and an increase in new immigrants across the province. [ more ]
What the cap on international students means for Doug Ford's government | CBC News
Ontario's colleges and universities face a reduction in funding as Ottawa plans to cut the number of international students allowed into Canada.
The province's post-secondary sector has become increasingly reliant on tuition fees paid by foreign students, with an estimated $3.3 billion in revenue expected from international student fees this year. [ more ]
A Special Olympics festival for Milton school kids with special needs is bigger than ever | CBC News
The three-day sports festival for school kids with special needs in Milton, Ont. is growing in popularity and has seen an increase in the number of students participating each year.
The festival, organized by Special Olympics Ontario and the Halton District School Board, allows elementary students with special needs to try different Special Olympics events and provides them an opportunity to participate in sports like their peers. [ more ]
Ontario clamps down on public-private college partnerships amid cap on student permits | CBC News
Ontario is imposing a moratorium on new public-private college partnerships to protect students and improve the integrity of post-secondary education.
The province plans to review programs at post-secondary schools with a significant number of international students and require colleges and universities to guarantee housing options for incoming international students.
The move comes in response to challenges, such as predatory practices by recruiters and inadequate housing for students, resulting from a recent spike in international student enrollment in Canada. [ more ]
Ontario should end the post-secondary tuition freeze and increase per-student funding to universities and colleges.
The freeze on tuition has forced institutions to rely more on international student tuition.
The Council of Ontario Universities has stated that institutions in Ontario receive the lowest amount of operating grant funding per student compared to other provinces. [ more ]
Ontario secures more natural gas, battery storage for electricity supply | CBC News
Ontario secures new power supply until the 2030s with a mix of battery storage and natural gas facilities, aiming to meet surging electricity demand. [ more ]
Ontario to spend $1B extending life of biggest hydroelectric dams | CBC News
The Ontario Energy Minister announced a $1 billion plan to refurbish hydroelectric dams, increasing renewable energy supply and preparing for future electricity demand growth. [ more ]
Driver killed in crash with commercial vehicle in Caledon: OPP | CBC News
A 58-year-old driver died in a car accident in Caledon after rear-ending a commercial vehicle. The driver was airlifted to a trauma center but later pronounced dead. [ more ]
Here are the top 10 most stolen vehicles Ontario in 2022 | CBC News
Auto theft increased by 48% in Ontario and 50% in Quebec in 2022, reaching historical highs.
The Honda CR-V, Lexus RX Series, and Dodge RAM 1500 Series are the top three most stolen vehicles in Ontario and in Canada.
Auto theft in Canada is being carried out by both domestic and international criminal organizations, with proceeds funding drug trafficking and international terrorism. [ more ]
Ontario to increase health coverage for wildland firefighters | CBC News
Ontario extends health coverage to wildland firefighters for cancer, heart, and PTSD, aligning with municipal firefighters. Skin cancer now included with reduced service time. [ more ]
Ontario will give 96% of international study permits to public colleges, universities | CBC News
Ontario prioritizes post-secondary institutions offering in-demand programs for international student study permits.
Province sees significant financial impact due to slashed international student permits and seeks to support colleges and universities financially. [ more ]
This newborn waited 8 hours for a doctor. Experts say Ontario's ER wait times have never been worse | CBC News
Long wait times in Ontario emergency rooms are becoming commonplace, leaving patients with potentially serious conditions waiting for hours to be seen.
The worsening trend of strained hospitals in Ontario is making it nearly impossible to meet national healthcare standards. [ more ]
Ontario's EV battery plants will need nickel. This company says it can help meet that demand | CBC News
Canada Nickel Co. plans to build a nickel processing plant and a stainless-steel and alloy production facility in Ontario to support the growing electric vehicle industry.
The company's CEO believes that these processing facilities will fill the missing link in the province's plans for developing an electric vehicle supply chain. [ more ]
Court hears challenge of Ontario law banning 'aggressive' panhandling | CBC News
An Ontario court is hearing a constitutional challenge to the Safe Streets Act, which prohibits aggressive panhandling and soliciting a captive audience.
Advocates argue that the law infringes on the rights of vulnerable individuals and imposes disproportionate fines and imprisonment. [ more ]
Ontario public servants awarded 6.5% pay hike in wake of Bill 124 ruling | CBC News
Ontario public servants have won a 6.5% pay increase due to a clause in their contract that was subject to an unconstitutional wage restraint law.
Several groups of workers, including teachers, nurses, and college faculty, have also received retroactive pay due to similar clauses in their contracts. [ more ]
New sugar refinery to be built in Hamilton will be Canada's largest, says company | CBC News
Canada's largest sugar refinery is set to open in Hamilton's port lands in 2025, with the capacity to produce 4,000 tonnes of refined sugar per day.
The refinery will use the previously contaminated Randle Reef as part of its operation, signaling the pending end of the clean-up project and its handover to the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA).
The new refinery is expected to create 50 to 75 new jobs and could have a $1-billion ripple effect on Ontario's economy. [ more ]
Ontario ombudsman launches investigation into province's payouts to parents | CBC News
Ontario's ombudsman is investigating complaints about the Ministry of Education's direct payment programs for parents and students.
The investigation will examine how the ministry processed applications for payments and evaluate the overall administration of these programs. [ more ]
Some Ontario education workers getting retroactive salary bumps as remedy to Bill 124, union says | CBC News
55,000 Ontario education workers will receive retroactive salary increases as a result of an agreement with the province.
The deal compensates workers for constrained wages under Bill 124 and includes wage increases for 2021-2022 and increased wage rates in future collective agreements.
Bill 124, which capped salary increases for public sector workers, has been declared unconstitutional by an Ontario court. [ more ]