Author: Sophie Mitchell

SUDBURY, Ontario, October 8, 2026 — The Ontario government has announced nearly $13 million in funding to expand specialized dementia care across the province, extending support to approximately 1,300 additional long-term care residents and funding up to 153 specialized behavioural care beds. The investment will expand the Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP) to 13 additional long-term care homes while increasing access to behavioural specialized units (BSUs) at five facilities. The initiative aims to improve residents’ quality of life, strengthen staff training and reduce reliance on hospital-based care. Ontario Expands Improving Dementia Care Program to 30 Homes The province is allocating…

NORTHERN ONTARIO, October 8, 2026 — The Ontario government has announced more than $6.1 million in funding for 14 agricultural projects across northern Ontario, aimed at expanding productive farmland, improving crop yields and supporting long-term economic growth in the region. The investment, delivered through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), will help farmers, agricultural businesses and industry organizations improve infrastructure, address farmland drainage challenges and increase production capacity. The province says the funding is part of its broader strategy to strengthen domestic food production, protect agricultural employment and improve economic resilience amid U.S. tariffs and international trade disruptions. Major…

OTTAWA, October 9, 2026 — The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) is set to present arguments before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case examining the relationship between religious freedom, personal information rights and the legal standards used to assess potential violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The organization is intervening in Vabuolas v. Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, a dispute involving two former Jehovah’s Witnesses who sought access to personal information retained by their former religious congregations. The case raises broader constitutional questions about how courts should review administrative decisions affecting Charter-protected rights,…

GUELPH, Ontario, October 7, 2026 — The Ontario government is investing $176 million to fund 6,269 additional student seats at the University of Guelph, expanding access to postsecondary education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and skilled trades programs. The funding forms part of a provincewide $1.7 billion initiative to create more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats in high-demand fields, including health care, education, STEM and trades. The expansion is intended to address labour shortages, strengthen workforce development and support Ontario’s long-term economic competitiveness. Students could begin enrolling in the newly funded programs as early as the fall 2026 academic…

TORONTO, October 7, 2026 — The Ontario government has launched a new Emergency Department Action Team (EDAT), backed by more than $47 million in funding over four years, to reduce emergency room wait times and improve patient care at 26 hospital sites across the province. The initiative will focus on improving hospital operations, addressing delays in emergency care and helping patients move more efficiently through assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge. The investment forms part of Ontario’s broader efforts to improve health-care delivery as hospitals continue to manage patient demand and operational pressures. Ontario Targets Emergency Department Delays at 26 Hospitals…

Ontario has started construction on a new poultry research facility in Elora, backed by more than $24 million in provincial funding and designed to strengthen research capacity for thousands of chicken, turkey and egg producers across the province. The Ontario Poultry Research Centre is expected to be completed by summer 2028 and will support more than 220 construction jobs. Once operational, the facility will focus on areas including animal welfare, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, biosecurity, meat quality and food safety. The province said the centre will support more than 1,500 chicken and turkey producers as well as approximately 500 egg and…

TORONTO — Ontario has amended a regulation governing public funding for out-of-country drug treatments, formalizing a policy the province says has been in place since 2011 and is necessary to protect access to medications while limiting potentially billions of dollars in additional health-care costs. The provincial government said the amendment aligns Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act with its longstanding out-of-country drug funding policy. Under the approach, public funding is limited to certain treatments that would normally be funded in Ontario but are temporarily unavailable and subject to a medically unacceptable delay. Ontario estimates that failing to clarify the…

BritBox has released the first images from The Cadburys, an upcoming six-episode historical drama exploring the family behind one of the world’s best-known chocolate brands and the early business challenges that shaped the Cadbury confectionery company. Inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book Chocolate Wars, the series is set in Birmingham, England, during the 1860s and follows siblings Richard, George and Maria Cadbury. Filming recently concluded in Birmingham, with the series scheduled to stream on BritBox in 2027. Toby Regbo stars as Richard Cadbury, Harry Gilby plays George Cadbury and Jessica Barden portrays their sister Maria. ‘The Cadburys’ Explores the Family Behind…

Hamilton roots-rock band Junkhouse has released “Hot Hot Sun,” its first new single of 2026, as the veteran Canadian group prepares for a headline performance at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls on Nov. 21. Released through High Or Hurtin, the track marks another step in the band’s renewed activity after a series of anniversary performances and live appearances during the 2020s. Frontman Tom Wilson leads the current lineup, which combines founding members with a younger generation of musicians. The Fallsview Casino concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will give the group a major Ontario stage…

Canadian New Wave veterans Men Without Hats are returning to stages across North America with an extensive tour supporting their new album On the Moon, extending a career that began in Montreal nearly five decades ago. The “You Can Dance If You Want Tour” is scheduled to begin Nov. 27 in Mount Dora, Florida, before travelling through the U.S. East Coast and Midwest. The band will then move into a substantial Canadian run in January and February 2027, followed by Australian dates beginning in May. The tour follows the release of On the Moon and renewed online attention for the…