Author: Sophie Mitchell

New rules aim to support festivals, small businesses and community events The Ontario government is expanding its “bring-your-own” alcohol permit framework to a broader range of outdoor public events, a move aimed at strengthening local tourism, reducing costs for organizers and supporting small businesses across the province. Announced by the Ministry of the Attorney General, the policy change will allow attendees at municipally designated cultural and community events — including farmers’ markets, outdoor film screenings, art exhibitions and neighbourhood festivals — to bring their own alcoholic beverages for consumption in designated areas. The initiative builds on existing permitting rules that…

Export Dependence Highlights Urgency of Reliable Shipping ARLINGTON, VA — The U.S. dairy industry is urging lawmakers to address persistent weaknesses in the maritime supply chain, warning that ongoing disruptions threaten export growth and farm incomes across the sector. Tony Rice, Senior Director of Trade Policy at the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, delivered testimony Tuesday before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust. His remarks outlined structural challenges facing dairy exporters, particularly their reliance on a limited number of foreign-owned ocean carriers. The stakes are significant. The U.S. dairy…

EnerQuest expansion to create and protect nearly 280 jobs in Southwestern Ontario Provincial funding supports reshoring efforts and domestic supply chain growth The Ontario government is backing a nearly $15.8-million manufacturing investment in Essex County, as EnerQuest Technologies Solutions Inc. moves to expand its Harrow facility and bring production operations back to Canada. The investment is expected to create 125 new jobs and retain an additional 154 positions, strengthening the region’s manufacturing base while reducing reliance on U.S.-based operations. The province is contributing $1.5 million through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, part of its broader Regional Development Program (RDP). Government…

Plan aims to ease congestion and improve travel times across provincial highways Public consultation underway as province targets implementation before end of 2026 The Ontario government is moving to expand access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, proposing to allow single-occupant vehicles to use them during off-peak hours in an effort to reduce gridlock and improve traffic flow across the province’s highway network. Announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Transportation, the proposal would require a regulatory amendment to the Highway Traffic Act. If approved, the change could come into effect before the end of 2026 following a period of public…

Coroner’s office to examine circumstances surrounding 2019 custodial death The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Justin Fiddler, an 18-year-old who died in custody in 2019, marking a renewed step toward examining oversight and accountability within the province’s youth correctional system. The announcement was made March 16, 2026, by Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner for the North Region in Thunder Bay. The inquest will focus on the circumstances leading to Fiddler’s death and is expected to contribute to broader discussions around custodial care standards and risk prevention…

Province issues RFQ as part of broader correctional expansion strategy The Ontario government has taken a key step forward in its plan to expand correctional capacity, issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the construction of the Brockville Correctional Complex and the expansion of the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre. Announced March 16, 2026, by the Premier’s Office, the project is expected to add 295 new beds in Eastern Ontario and forms part of a wider provincial initiative to add 1,436 correctional beds by 2032. The move reflects growing pressure on Ontario’s correctional system and aligns with the…

Two-night festival highlights growth of Montreal’s extreme music scene Montreal’s underground music economy is set to receive a significant boost this spring as PIRANHA PIT FEST III returns with its most ambitious lineup to date, underscoring the city’s continued relevance as a hub for heavy music culture. The two-day festival, scheduled for May 1–2, 2026, at Piranha Bar in downtown Montreal, will feature an international roster of death metal, thrash, and traditional heavy metal acts. Organized by Piranha Bar and Dungeonworks Productions, the event is expected to draw both local and visiting fans, contributing to the city’s live entertainment sector.…

Province shifts focus toward treatment and recovery as part of addiction strategy TORONTO — The Ontario government is ending provincial funding for seven supervised drug injection sites located in communities that already host Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, a move the province says will strengthen its focus on treatment and long-term recovery while addressing local public safety concerns. The announcement, made Monday by the Ministry of Health, is part of the province’s broader strategy to address addiction and homelessness through treatment-oriented services rather than continuing to fund supervised drug consumption facilities. The sites affected are located in Toronto,…

Oakland musician Jeff Corso returns with a four-song EP rooted in Bay Area punk history OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland musician Jeff Corso is revisiting the raw spirit of 1990s punk and melodic alternative rock with the release of Elevate, a new four-song EP under his solo project Lethal Limits, arriving March 13, 2026. The EP marks the latest chapter for Corso, a long-time figure in the Bay Area punk and hardcore underground whose musical upbringing was shaped by the region’s independent venues, skate culture and tightly knit DIY scene. With Elevate, Corso delivers a concise release built around fast-moving hooks,…

All Day and East Hill routes running hourly; Core Express temporarily suspended Prince Albert Transit has announced adjustments to its bus operations for March 13, 2026, with several routes operating on modified schedules while others continue to run as planned. According to the transit service, the All Day and East Hill routes will both operate on hourly schedules departing from the downtown transfer station at different times throughout the hour. The Core Express bus service, however, will not operate for the day. The changes affect two of the system’s primary routes serving passengers travelling through the city’s downtown hub. The…