Author: Sophie Mitchell

The Ontario government is moving ahead with sweeping procurement changes aimed at prioritizing goods and services produced in the province, a shift officials say will shield local businesses and workers from global trade uncertainty while anchoring long-term economic growth. The government is set to introduce the Buy Ontario Act, 2025, legislation that would require public-sector organizations — including ministries, agencies, municipalities, and their contractors — to give preference first to Ontario-made products and services, and then to Canadian alternatives. The rules would apply across the province’s more than $30-billion annual procurement portfolio and support Ontario’s broader $220-billion infrastructure plan. The…

IEA report shows improvement in primary energy intensity but warns progress still lags COP28 targets Global progress on energy efficiency is set to accelerate in 2025, marking a welcome shift after several years of sluggish improvement, according to new analysis released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The findings point to renewed momentum in government policy action as countries attempt to bolster energy security, reduce emissions, and improve economic competitiveness. In its annual Energy Efficiency 2025 update published on November 20, the IEA reports that global primary energy intensity — the main metric used to assess energy efficiency — is…

Channell and Clarke to Lead Senior Team into 2026 Olympic Push CALGARY — Canada’s national skeleton program is accelerating into the 2025–26 Olympic season with a newly named roster, an expanding talent pipeline, and renewed confidence in a team-first, high-performance culture. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) confirmed its senior and development lineups just days before competition begins, setting the tone for a season the organization describes as pivotal to rebuilding the sport’s national presence and competitiveness on the world stage. Two-time Olympian Jane Channell and reigning world champion Hallie Clarke will anchor the Senior Skeleton Team as the athletes begin their…

Ontario is strengthening its economic ties with the State of Maryland through a renewed and expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at boosting cooperation across key high-growth sectors, including life sciences, information technology and clean energy. The agreement, announced Wednesday, is part of the province’s broader strategy to position Ontario as the most resilient and competitive economy in the G7. Provincial officials say the renewed MOU will deepen cross-border collaboration at a time when global economic uncertainty is prompting governments to diversify partnerships and remove barriers to trade. The agreement builds on an existing MOU signed in 2020 and is…

Ontario is expanding its suite of energy efficiency programs with new rebates for households and increased incentives for industrial, municipal, institutional, and health-care organizations—measures the government says will help lower energy bills, reduce demand on the electricity grid, and support economic competitiveness across the province. Announced in North York, the latest updates form part of Ontario’s 12-year, $10.9-billion Energy Efficiency Framework, the largest investment in energy-efficiency programming in Canadian history. The initiatives also align with Energy for Generations, Ontario’s first integrated energy plan, designed to support affordability while meeting rising electricity demand. “With electricity demand rising, keeping more money in…

The International Energy Agency (IEA) will publish its flagship Energy Efficiency 2025 report on Thursday, 20 November, offering governments and industry a timely assessment of how efficiency improvements can help strengthen energy security, cut emissions, and support global economic resilience. The report, which will be released at 7 a.m. Paris time, arrives as countries continue to grapple with volatile energy markets and rising policy pressure to accelerate the transition toward cleaner systems. Energy Efficiency 2025 is the latest installment of the IEA’s annual analysis tracking global trends in energy intensity, demand, investment, and technological progress. According to the agency, this…

TORONTO — Massey Hall is set to welcome GRAMMY Award–winning Cuban Canadian musician Alex Cuba to TD Music Hall early next year, marking the celebrated artist’s return to the Toronto stage as he promotes his latest studio album. The performance, scheduled for February 5, 2026, will showcase work from Índole, Cuba’s eleventh album, released earlier this month. Tickets go on sale November 20 at 10 a.m. ET through the TD Music Hall website or the Massey Hall box office. The announcement adds momentum to a milestone year for Cuba, whose decades-long career has earned him broad international recognition for blending…

As respiratory illness season intensifies across British Columbia, Fraser Health is urging parents to plan ahead and understand the range of care options available for sick children—a move the health authority says can ease pressure on emergency departments while reducing stress for families. In a statement issued this week, Fraser Health highlighted the predictable annual surge in respiratory infections and the uncertainty many parents feel when symptoms appear in their children. The authority says the goal this season is to help families “skip the guesswork” by knowing when at-home care is appropriate and when to seek professional support. “We know…

The Ontario government is expanding clinical training for long-term care workers with a new $3.74-million investment aimed at improving the detection and treatment of skin and wound issues among seniors — a leading cause of preventable hospital visits in the sector. The funding will support training for 1,100 staff across the province and is intended to reduce pressure on hospitals while improving residents’ quality of life. Announced Tuesday in Markham, the initiative adds a fourth training stream to a previously launched education program delivered by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) and Wounds Canada. The new funding…

The Ontario government is preparing legislation that could require impaired drivers convicted of killing a parent or guardian to provide ongoing child-support payments to surviving children — a move officials say is aimed at strengthening accountability and easing the financial strain families face after tragic road collisions. The proposal, still in development, is expected to form part of a broader legislative package focused on victims’ rights and criminal accountability. It would expand on measures adopted in the Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024, which introduced tougher penalties for impaired driving, including lifetime licence suspensions for those convicted of impaired driving…