Author: Sam Allcock

Toronto — The Ontario government is hailing a federal regulator’s decision to grant a historic 20-year licence extension for the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, a move officials say will secure clean energy supply, medical isotope production, and thousands of jobs for decades to come. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) application to continue operating the station through 2045. The decision marks the longest operating licence ever issued by the federal nuclear regulator. A Cornerstone of Ontario’s Energy Plan “Ontario has a proud legacy of operating the safest and most reliable nuclear facilities in the…

Toronto — The Ontario government is rolling out a $9-million initiative over the next three years aimed at improving care for long-term care residents living with dementia. The new Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP) will expand access to emotion-based models of care while providing training and resources for staff and support for families. The province announced Thursday that the program will serve approximately 1,800 residents in its first year and is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the long-term care system. More than 60 per cent of Ontario’s long-term care residents live with dementia, and the number of Ontarians…

VAUGHAN, Ont. — The Ontario government is preparing to introduce legislation that would ban municipal automated speed enforcement cameras, replacing them with a provincial fund to support alternative traffic-calming measures. Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday that the bill, expected next month, will immediately end the use of municipal speed cameras across the province if passed, with the aim of eliminating what the government calls a “cash grab” approach to road safety. “At a time when governments at all levels should be doing everything they can to lower costs and make life more affordable, too many municipalities are using speed cameras…

TORONTO — Ontario’s government marked Franco-Ontarian Day with renewed commitments to cultural and economic development, announcing a $1 million investment to support Francophone events and initiatives across the province. Premier Doug Ford and Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs, issued a joint statement on Thursday highlighting the significance of the day and the enduring contributions of the province’s Francophone community. “On September 25, we proudly celebrate Ontario’s Francophone community and all their contributions to this land over 400 years,” Ford and Mulroney said. “Through its language and culture, the Franco-Ontarian community continues to enrich our province and contribute to its…

NELSON, B.C. — The Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS), in partnership with Living Lakes Canada, is calling on residents to roll up their sleeves for a streamside cleanup of Cottonwood Creek in celebration of BC Rivers Day. The event, scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., will bring volunteers together at Cottonwood Falls Park for a hands-on initiative aimed at restoring one of Nelson’s best-known urban waterways. Expanding Community Stewardship This year’s cleanup marks the second annual effort at Cottonwood Creek, part of the ongoing Cottonwood Creek Revival Project led by Living Lakes Canada.…

SURREY, B.C. — Patients in the Fraser Valley are set to benefit from enhanced access to diagnosis and treatment as Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre embarks on a major modernization of its interventional radiology suite. The upgrade, which involves replacing aging medical equipment and renovating the surrounding clinical space, is expected to be completed by early 2026. The project will allow the hospital to deliver more advanced minimally invasive procedures, improving outcomes and reducing recovery times for patients across the region. “These equipment upgrades will improve access to care for patients in the Fraser Valley,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister…

Oakville, Ont. — The Town of Oakville has secured $13.2 million in provincial funding after exceeding its housing target under Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced Wednesday. The award, part of the program’s second round of funding, recognizes municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing goals. Oakville surpassed expectations in 2024 by breaking ground on 3,679 new homes — 134 per cent of its assigned target. The funding is intended to support housing-related infrastructure and help municipalities keep pace with Ontario’s rapid growth. Province Highlights Housing Push Rob…

Cambridge, Ont. — The long-anticipated grand opening of the Preston Memorial Auditorium will not go ahead as planned this weekend after the City of Cambridge announced construction delays have forced the event’s postponement. Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, the official unveiling of the new community facility has been delayed until occupancy permits are secured and the site is deemed ready for public use. The city said it is committed to ensuring the project is fully complete before welcoming residents. “While we are eager to celebrate this outstanding new space with the community, our first priority is to deliver a…

Kingston, Ont. — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner will convene inquests into the deaths of five men who died while in custody or following transfer from Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, according to an announcement by Dr. Paul Dungey, Regional Supervising Coroner for the East Region, Kingston Office. The inquests will examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Shimon Abrahams, 41; Quinn Borde, 39; Shane Gammie, 35; Christopher Sipes, 51; and Qin Long (Qinlong) Xue, 26. Each of the men died between 2018 and 2022 while serving time at the medium-security federal facility or shortly after being taken to hospital…

Montreal,  A major investment in Canadian brain research is set to bring the country its first ultra-high-sensitivity whole-body PET/CT scanner, a tool that researchers say could transform the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, known as The Neuro, has received a $10-million grant from the Weston Family Foundation to fund a new project led by Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto of McGill University. The award marks a significant portion of a $20-million funding initiative under the foundation’s Healthy Aging Strategy, which also includes the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative. Addressing a Growing Health Crisis Alzheimer’s disease…