Author: Sophie Mitchell

Ontario’s largest municipalities are renewing calls for the provincial government to take stronger action on homelessness, mental health and addictions, arguing that conditions in communities have deteriorated since municipal leaders launched a coordinated advocacy campaign two years ago. Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) held a press conference in Ottawa on August 16 to highlight its Solve the Crisis campaign and press the province to move beyond short-term responses toward policies focused on recovery, treatment, housing and long-term community support. Municipal Leaders Renew Solve the Crisis Campaign The Solve the Crisis campaign was first launched in 2024 as Ontario municipalities faced…

The governments of Ontario and Canada are committing $1 billion to help municipalities that do not levy development charges build and renew infrastructure needed to support new housing, including roads, bridges and water systems. The funding will be delivered through a new Non-Development Charge Municipalities Stream under the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. The initiative is aimed particularly at smaller, rural and northern communities that face significant infrastructure costs but do not collect development charges from new construction. Ontario and Canada Split $1 Billion Infrastructure Investment The funding will be divided equally between the two governments. Ontario will provide $500 million…

Ontario is introducing new bail requirements aimed at increasing compliance with court orders, strengthening the collection of forfeited bail money and improving accountability for accused individuals and their sureties. The measures take effect August 17, 2026, as part of the provincial government’s broader bail strategy. The changes include mandatory cash security deposits in certain cases, updated identification requirements for sureties and expanded collection powers for outstanding bail debts. The province says the reforms are intended to make bail conditions more consequential while supporting efforts to address violent and repeat offending. “For too long, gaps in the bail system have allowed…

Ontario is committing $35 million annually to help long-term care homes provide specialized care for residents with increasingly complex health needs, as the province looks to reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays. The funding will flow through the Local Priorities Fund (LPF), which supports staffing, specialized equipment and services designed to help residents receive appropriate care within long-term care settings. The province says the investment is intended to strengthen transitions from hospitals into long-term care while improving access to treatment closer to residents’ homes. Ontario Expands Local Priorities Fund for Long-Term Care The Local Priorities Fund was launched…

Ontario is expanding access to family doctors, nurse practitioners and team-based health services in Kitchener-Waterloo as part of a $3.4-billion provincial strategy aimed at connecting every resident with primary care by 2029. Premier Doug Ford highlighted the initiative during a visit to Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo, one of nearly 200 teams receiving funding through Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan. The organization received more than $1 million through the 2025–26 funding round and began attaching patients to care in August 2025. Since then, Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo has connected nearly 3,000 patients, reaching almost 140 per cent of its original target of 2,115.…

Toronto vocalist Noah Kosta is bringing the traditions of big-band jazz and classic pop to a younger audience with his debut album, Right Here. At 22, the Canadian singer is building on seven years of live performance experience with a seven-track collection combining original material, carefully selected covers and arrangements rooted in the classic jazz-pop songbook. Raised listening to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack at his grandfather’s home, Kosta has developed a vocal approach influenced by that era while seeking to establish his own identity. His style has also drawn comparisons to Canadian jazz-pop singers Michael Bublé and Matt…

Ontario is investing $800,000 to expand access to community sport and recreation programs for nearly 6,000 children and youth, with funding directed toward baseball, organized sport, swimming and basketball officiating programs across the province. The provincial funding will flow through Ontario’s Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program and support three organizations: Jays Care Foundation, KidSport Ontario and Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network. The government says the funding is intended to reduce financial barriers, increase participation and help young people build confidence, leadership skills and long-term connections to physical activity. “Every child deserves the opportunity to play, build confidence and reach their full…

TORONTO — Ontario is maintaining its $13.8-billion deficit forecast for 2026–27 as the provincial government navigates slower economic growth, global uncertainty and the effects of U.S. tariffs, according to its latest quarterly fiscal update. The province released its 2026–27 First Quarter Finances on Aug. 14, providing the first update to Ontario’s economic and fiscal outlook since the 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario. Despite changing economic conditions, the government’s key fiscal projections remain largely in line with those presented in the budget. Revenue is now forecast at $232 billion, while program spending is projected to reach $227.1 billion.…

Montreal — Extreme metal band Narcotic Wasteland has released a new single, “Fentanyl Zombie Apocalypse,” as the group moves through a U.S. tour featuring a rotating lineup of supporting acts throughout August. Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade, formerly of technical death metal band Nile, Narcotic Wasteland is using the new track to address the fentanyl epidemic and its broader social consequences. The release coincides with the band’s “FENTANYL ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE TOUR,” which began Aug. 12 in Columbus, Ohio, and is scheduled to continue through Aug. 30. Support on select dates comes from Visitant, Monochromatic Black, IATT and Yotuma,…

The City of Prince Albert has pleaded guilty to a workplace health and safety violation stemming from a July 2024 incident in which an employee was struck by concrete blocks that fell from a raised dump truck box. The municipality entered the guilty plea in Provincial Court under Saskatchewan health and safety legislation and accepted a fine of $92,857. It will also pay a court surcharge of $37,142, bringing the total financial penalty to $129,999. The case highlights the financial and operational consequences employers can face following serious workplace incidents, while prompting the City to introduce additional safety procedures, training…