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cc_multi_2021-1_en

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"2021-01-28T19:40:18"

"2021-01-28T14:11:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a 43-year-old Markham, Ont. woman in Jamaica last week.\nLatoya Alcindor was found dead on Jan. 21 in an apartment complex she was renting in Runaway Bay, a town on the north coast of Jamaica. At the time, police confirmed that her death was being investigated as a homicide, but did not provide further details about the case.\nOn Thursday, the Jamaica Constabulary Force confirmed that Alcindor’s body was found around 4:30 a.m. when the other occupants of the apartment “noticed an anomaly” in her room and called police.\nInvestigators said the body was found in a “pool of blood with stab wounds.”\nPolice also confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the incident.\n“Detectives have collected several statements and are in the final stages of preparing the case file,” police said in a statement. “However, the suspect’s identity is being withheld.”\n“Investigations are ongoing.”\nNo information has been provided regarding charges in connection with the death.\nAlcindor has been described by friends as a caring mother and a prominent member of the Caribbean community in Toronto.\n\"She promoted Caribbean culture her entire life, and she was always a part of the Caribana parade since she was a young child,” her god-sister and friend Tashia Antoine told CTV News Toronto.\nFamily confirmed that Alcindor travelled to Jamaica on Dec. 27. Antoine added that she went there to pursue some business opportunities and met a friend “who she was seeing.”", "Arrest made in murder of Markham, Ont. resident in Jamaica", "An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a 43-year-old Markham, Ont. woman in Jamaica last week." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T21:36:57"

"2021-01-15T14:09:00"

"2021-01-15T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Voters are heading to the polls in Ward 22 today to select a new city councillor in the first Toronto election held during a lockdown.\nPolls opened across Scarborough-Agioncourt at 10 a.m. and will be running until 8 p.m.\nWhile at least one candidate called for the byelection to be postponed due to a provincial stay-at-home order and emergency declaration that came into effect this week, the city said that the election was essential and would proceed as planned.\n“Government services, including elections, are essential for the continuity of government. Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt has been without representation since September 24, 2020, and it is important that the electors are able to exercise their democratic right to vote,” the city said in a statement earlier this week.\nIn a tweet Friday morning shortly after the polls opened, the city said that it is “confident that the voting place health & safety measures will keep electors, candidates, scrutineers & election staff safe.”\nVoters are being asked to wear masks, maintain physical distance from others and follow other health measures in place at voting stations.\nThere are 27 candidates running to fill the seat left vacant when former councillor Jim Karygiannis was removed from office over campaign expenses.\nMore than 2,200 people have already cast a ballot in advance voting that was held last week and more than 4,000 mail-in ballots were requested.", "Voters head to polls in Scarborough-Agincourt byelection", "Voters are heading to the polls in Ward 22 today to select a new city councillor in the first Toronto election held during a lockdown." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T02:42:41"

"2021-01-11T19:13:00"

"2021-01-11T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- It’s the biggest gathering of new tech products in the world, but this year the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is a virtual event.\n“A lot of companies were concerned, not just if attendees would show up in Las Vegas, but there were also concerns from employees, there was a lot of anxiety,\" Gary Shapiro, the CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, said.\nDespite the COVID-19 pandemic, many tech companies did well in 2020 as people bought laptops, headphones and big screen TVs to work and self-isolate at home.\nIn 2021, many companies are looking to showcase new products that are related to curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, which have to do with sanitizing, air filtration and killing germs.\nDespite being a virtual show, organizers were able to get 2,000 different companies to take part in online events.\n5G will continue to get a lot of attention because the higher speeds will open up new doors of innovation for entertainment, smart home technology and telemedicine.\nThe pandemic is also influencing some products with more touchless technology, germ killing UV lighting and built-in sanitizing.\nSamsung is showcasing a new refrigerator that as well as being loaded with technology has different coloured panels available to match your kitchen or allow you to change the colour if you renovate.\nSamsung also released a new robotic smart vacuum that can tell them difference between certain objects so it can decide if it should try to get as close to them as it can or avoid them entirely.\nLG has a new smartphone with an rollable display. It can go from a 6.7 inch to 7.8 inch with simple tap of a finger. The company also unveiled a scrolling display product that can unroll and retract.\nTech experts like Paul Gray said there is a lot to check out, but it will really depend on what consumers want in the long-term.\n“Of course, what we've got to work out is what consumers really want out of these things. What's the gimmick? What sticks?\" Gray said.\nWhen it comes to face masks LG has also unveiled a mask that comes with wearable air purifier technology.\nThe company claims it is “designed for personal protection and peace of mind wherever you go.\"\nShow organizers say they're not sure what next year holds, but they're already saying it could be a hybrid event. People could still travel to Las Vegas to show case products in person, but many others products could be unveiled online.", "New tech products featured at this year's virtual Consumer Electronics Show", "It's the biggest gathering of new tech products in the world, but this year the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is a virtual event." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T13:51:16"

"2021-01-27T22:16:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government is considering issuing a directive that would require all international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson airport to get tested for COVID-19.\nA government source told CP24 Wednesday evening that Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, is looking into issuing a section 22 order under the Health Promotion and Protection Act to mandate testing for travellers arriving from outside the country.\nPremier Doug Ford has repeatedly called on Ottawa to implement mandatory testing at the airport as new variants of the novel coronavirus emerged in other countries.\nThe federal government's slow response on the issue has led Ontario to consider taking action, the source said.\nThe premier also wants the federal government to impose a temporary ban on direct flights from countries where the variants are found as well as flights with multiple stops in countries with a known variant.\n\"While we've made steady progress through this pilot program, thousands of people continue to pass through Pearson every week without being tested, creating a real risk to all Ontarians,\" Ford said on Tuesday.\n\"That's why, in addition to pre-departure testing, we're asking the federal government to adopt mandatory testing upon arrival for all international travellers and impose a temporary ban on flights coming from countries where new COVID-19 strains are being detected.\"\nAs of Wednesday afternoon, Public Health Ontario said there have 51 cases of the UK variant in Ontario.\nThe province also provided an update on its voluntary COVID-19 testing pilot project at the airport on Tuesday. Of the 6,580 tests conducted, 146 came back positive, including four that have been screened as potential UK variants.\nAccording to the federal government, at least 156 flights have landed in Canada between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 that had passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the country. Seventy-six of those flights landed in Toronto.\nInternational travel has been linked to 1.8 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in Ontario, according to the recent data from the province.\nMayors and chairs of the 11 municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area echoed Ford calling for stricter travel measures.\nOn Wednesday, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said mandatory testing would add an extra layer of community protection.\n\"What's clear is that we haven't come close to exhausting all the tools we have in the fight against COVID-19,\" Crombie said at a news conference.\nPrime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians Tuesday to avoid non-essential travel abroad as new travel restrictions will be announced in the coming days.\nExisting measures include requiring international air travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure and a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.\n- with files from CTV News and CP24 staff", "Ontario mulls mandatory COVID-19 testing for all international travellers at Pearson airport", "The Ontario government is considering issuing a directive that would require all international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson airport to get tested for COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T04:38:47"

"2021-01-27T20:37:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TAMPA, FLA -- Kyle Lowry became the third player to reach the 10,000-point milestone as a Raptor, scoring on Toronto's second shot attempt against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.\nLowry sank a three-pointer from 24 feet just 51 seconds into the game after a steal by Fred VanVleet.\nDeMar DeRozan (13,296) and Chris Bosh (10,275) are the only others to score 10,000 in Raptors colours.\nLowry actually came into the game with 13,730 points, having scored 1,217 in two-plus seasons with Memphis and 2,515 in three-plus campaigns with Houston.\n\"He's had a heck of career and this is another landmark,\" Raptors coach Nick Nurse said before the game at Amalie Arena.\n\"I think he's made himself into a heck of a player and the scoring part of it is what he's worked on,\" he added. \"He's improved his shooting going both ways. He's improved the depth of it. He's improved his finishing at the rim. And that all adds up to him getting to a special landmark of 10,000 (points).\n\"A hell of a player in a Raptors jersey, that's for sure.\"\nThe 34-year-old guard from Philadelphia is already Toronto's all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,425), assists (4,032) and steals (842). Lowry, in his 15th NBA season, came to the Raptors in a July 2012 trade that sent Gary Forbes and a 2013 first-round pick to Houston.\nGolden State's Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, Portland's Damian Lillard, Washington's Bradley Beal and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only active players with 10,000 points with their current team.\nThe 26-year-old Antetokounmpo reached 11,000 points for his career on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming just the sixth player in Milwaukee franchise history to reach 11,000 points.\nAntetokounmpo came into Wednesday's game with 11,007 points.\nLowry had been ejected in the dying seconds of the Raptors' previous game, a 129-114 loss in Indiana on Monday. The six-time all-star had missed the two games before that with a foot injury,\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2021", "Kyle Lowry becomes third player to reach 10,000-point plateau as a Toronto Raptor", "Kyle Lowry became the third player to reach the 10,000-point milestone as a Raptor, scoring on Toronto's second shot attempt against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday." ]

[ "Nicole Thompson" ]

"2021-01-09T22:28:51"

"2021-01-09T14:04:00"

"2021-01-09T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Every day, Jessy Duncombe has to figure out how to put food on the table, help her two school-aged kids navigate the complexities of online learning, and keep her three-year-old daughter occupied and out of trouble.\nAnd that's all before lunch.\nAs a single parent with three kids at home all day, there's no way for her to go to work as a chef, she said, so she's been forced to turn down job offers and manage her household on her recovery benefit cheques alone.\n\"I sometimes feel hopeless, but because I know the kids are looking up to me, I try to keep a smiling face,\" she said. \"I keep a good attitude around them, but when I get by myself, it's like, 'what am I supposed to do?' It's really tough.\"\nThe government's move to extend online learning for at least another two weeks across southern Ontario has added to her workload, she said, as her middle child -- a 10-year-old girl -- needs to be supervised for about half the school day, and her three-year-old daughter isn't exactly self-sufficient.\nHer eldest, aged 17, is more or less able to manage on his own, but she said that's far from ideal.\n\"He needs more of me than he's getting,\" she said, but feels she's given everything she has.\nDuncombe said she has been in Canada for several years on a work visa and doesn't have family here to help with child-care.\nSending her two youngest to her home country of the Bahamas like she did during the pandemic's first wave is no longer an option.\nGetting them back was a logistical nightmare that lasted months, and ended only in December when she scrounged up the money for a round trip to collect them and bring them home to Vaughan, Ont.\nShe said she couldn't bear to be apart from her girls any longer. Her older daughter had to celebrate her tenth birthday without her mom.\nAs for finances, she said she's getting by on the $2,000 and change she gets each month from the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit and other child tax benefits.\nSome temporary rent relief from her landlord is easing the crunch for now, but Duncombe notes that rent will still need to be repaid further down the line.\nThe Ontario government announced the two-week extension to online schooling on Thursday, hours after Premier Doug Ford said he'd learned about troubling rates of COVID-19 among school-aged children.\nOne in five who were tested towards the end of the winter holiday were COVID-19-positive, he said, making classrooms a potential danger zone.\n\"The number one priority is not to put our kids in jeopardy and I will never do that, especially at the rates we're seeing,\" Ford said during an appearance at a Toronto hospital.\nBut the current system is putting single parents -- predominantly women such as Duncombe -- in precarious situations, said Beyhan Farhadi, a postdoctoral visitor at York University's faculty of education.\n\"The impact on women is something I think about a lot,\" she said. \"A lot of the labor that's taking place right now and over the next two weeks and beyond is going to be disproportionately borne by women.\"\nFarhadi said the current model of online learning places too much emphasis on synchronous learning, during which a teacher delivers a live lesson to students over video chat.\nThat one-size-fits-all approach means there's little flexibility for parents who need to be around to help their kids manage the technology and stay on task.\n\"The younger the child, the more the teacher relies on a an adult in the home to support the learner,\" she said.\nFarhadi is also concerned that some kids will suffer academically as they struggle to adapt to remote learning. \"It's important to remember that in March of last year there was explicit direction from the province that the work that a student produces cannot lower their grade,\" she said, referring to a provision that was lifted for the current academic year. \"So there was a very, very different scene taking place.\"\nFarhadi said she's experiencing these changes up close. Her two kids are in elementary school, and she needs to be with them almost all the time.\n\"We're well-resourced, privileged, I have expertise in online learning, and I have a flexible work schedule. And I still struggle,\" she said.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2021.", "Ontario's mandatory online learning leaves some single parents with impossible choice", "Every day, Jessy Duncombe has to figure out how to put food on the table, help her two school-aged kids navigate the complexities of online learning, and keep her three-year-old daughter occupied and out of trouble." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T03:24:12"

"2021-01-12T18:59:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- As some front-line health-care workers and long-term care home residents await their COVID-19 vaccinations, critics are decrying the fact that some non-front-line staff, including those who have been working from home, are rolling up their sleeves for a shot.\n“It is an absolute gong show,” Mount Sinai’s Director of Geriatrics Samir Sinha said Tuesday.\nIn an internal email, the University Health Network invited researchers to get vaccinated; the William Osler health system, meanwhile, invited any team member to get a vaccination, writing “this includes any back-office/administrative staff or volunteer.”\nWilliam Osler said in a statement \"with considerable progress made, Osler has begun to administer vaccinations to hospital staff and physicians as well as volunteers who spend time within hospital facilities.\"\nMichael Garron Hospital, meanwhile, said that it initially only vaccinated “patient-facing” staff, and that it has now vaccinated all long-term care home residents under its jurisdiction. It is now offering the vaccine to non-frontline staff.\n“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our best defense against this deadly virus has been to operate with speed, not perfection,” Dr. Ian Fraser, Chief of Staff at Michael Garron Hospital, told CTV News Toronto in a statement.\nThe provincial guidelines, according to Fraser, allow for the vaccination of “any regulated health professionals and any staff member, contract workers, student/trainee, registered volunteer, or other essential caregiver currently working in a health care organization, including workers in non-direct patient care roles such as cleaning staff, food services staff, information technology staff, security, research staff, and other administrative staff.”\nDr. Jennifer Kwan, a family physician in Burlington, said many of her colleagues were “rightfully frustrated.”\n“I’m hearing from so many frontline healthcare workers who have not heard about when they will be able to get access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” she said. “So it’s very disheartening to hear that people who are not working on the frontlines, who are lower-risk, for example, in an administrative role, are being given the vaccination.”\nSinha, meanwhile, questioned the decision to vaccinate health-care workers—especially non-frontline ones—before all long-term care home residents.\n“It boggles my mind, because frankly by allowing this to happen, we are participating in allowing seniors to unnecessarily die and that sickens me greatly,” Sinha said. “We need precision when we don’t have enough vaccines, and precision to get the vaccines into the right arms, not just any arms.”\nThe Ministry of Health did not respond to CTV News Toronto’s request for comment Tuesday. The province has vowed to immunize all health care workers and long-term care residents and staff in the four priority regions by Jan. 21.", "'An absolute gong show': Employees working from home get COVID-19 shot ahead of Toronto doctors, front-line workers", "As some front-line health-care workers and long-term care home residents await their COVID-19 vaccinations, critics are decrying the fact that some non-front-line staff, including those who have been working from home, are rolling up their sleeves for a shot." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T01:00:46"

"2021-01-28T18:02:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Canada's Wonderland says its plans to reopen in May as scheduled if the Ontario government gives them the green light.\nThe amusement park released a statement on Thursday saying they are scheduled to open on May 14 and will continue to monitor the province’s COVID-19 guidelines.\n“We continue to monitor provincial guidelines and work with industry and government officials to ensure our reopening plan meets all required health and safety regulations,” the park said in a statement. “Further details will be announced this spring.”\nDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amusement park was closed for its 2020 season, which resulted in the cancelation of the park’s Halloween Haunt and Winterfest events.\nIn August, Wonderland officials spoke publicly about it’s disappointment in the Ontario government’s decision to keep amusement parks closed.\nA spokesperson for the Toronto-area theme park said at the time that they submitted “a comprehensive reopening plan” to the provincial government on several occasions and that they were “disappointed” to hear they hadn’t received approval.", "Canada's Wonderland says it plans to reopen for May if province allows", "Canada's Wonderland says its plans to reopen in May as scheduled if the Ontario government gives them the green light." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T15:34:02"

"2021-01-18T10:16:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario is reporting a single-day drop in new COVID-19 case numbers.\nHealth officials logged 2,578 infections of the novel coronavirus Monday after recording more than 2,900 cases daily for most of the month of January.\nMonday’s report marks the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario since Jan. 1 when 2,476 were logged.\nAnother 24 deaths related to the disease were documented across the province in the last 24-hour period and 2,826 other cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health.\nOntario’s COVID-19 case total now stands at 240,364, including 5,433 deaths and 206,310 recoveries.\nThere are currently 28,621 active cases of the virus in Ontario.\nMeanwhile, 40,301 tests for COVID-19 were processed in the previous day pushing the province’s positivity rate to 6.6 per cent.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come.", "Ontario reports single-day drop in new COVID-19 cases with fewer than 2,600 infections logged", "Ontario is reporting a single-day drop in new COVID-19 case numbers." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T00:13:47"

"2021-01-29T17:41:00"

"2021-01-29T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- This week, the Toronto Police Service issued body-worn cameras and began training officers in four divisions as it continues to roll out the service-wide program.\n“In this day and age it’s so vital that we work as a service to have that relationship with our communities, and that trust. And this is something that shows transparency towards beginning that,” said Sgt. Chris McCann from 52 Division.\nThe service took the further step of publicly releasing its internal procedures, saying it’s the first force in Canada to do so. The lengthy 13-page document explains rationale, context of recording, retention of video, and penalties for non-compliant service members.\n“It will assist those that may have police lawsuits in the future to come, especially on the civil side,” said barrister and solicitor Rocco Achampong. “More often than not, they are not entitled to police disclosure, unless by third-party motion, and that’s an added layer and added cost.”\nAccording to the document, officers are to advise a member of the public their body-worn camera is recording, and that they’re being recorded. They’re also to provide someone in a private place the opportunity to refuse to be recorded.\nIn addition, service members are advised to start recording at the earliest opportunity, prior to contact with a member of the public, “where that contact is for an investigative or enforcement purpose.” Beyond that, when the camera is recording, it is not to be “stopped, muted or deliberately re-positioned until the event has concluded.”\n“It’s pretty comprehensive,” said criminology PhD candidate Erick Lamping, who specializes in police use of force, oversight and accountability.\n“They’ve covered a lot of the most important points and they’ve made it easily digestible and consumable for the public to take in. Because a lot of policies that exist include a lot of legal lingo that makes no sense to people. So I do commend the policy makers here to do it in an easy fashion.”\nWhen the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is not involved, the Chief of Police may release recordings if he or she sees a compelling public interest; for example, “where there are allegations of discreditable conduct, misconduct or excessive or improper use of force by Service Members.”\n“That’s a great benefit, I think, on the body cams,” said Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid. “What experience we’ve had, so far, is they do reduce complaints for our officers. You know, this day and age has cameras everywhere. And this way allows our officers and TPS to provide a full picture of what has actually transpired.”\nOfficers are to be trained and equipped with the cameras for 60 calendar days before they can receive any punishment for non-compliance, which could include a minimum eight-hour penalty.\n“It’s a new process and a new system, and we’ll have to kind of deal with things as they unfold on a case-by-case basis,” said Reid.\nAll recordings are to be retained for a minimum of two years plus one day. And all actions (ie. recording, viewing, copying or deleting) will be logged and auditable. Audit logs will be retained “indefinitely.”", "Toronto Police Service says it's the first in Canada to publicly unveil body camera procedures", "This week, the Toronto Police Service issued body-worn cameras and began training officers in four divisions as it continues to roll out the service-wide program." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T23:53:39"

"2021-01-07T18:19:00"

"2021-01-07T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- With fitness clubs closed due to COVID-19 many people are investing in workout equipment for their home and if you want one of the most popular connected fitness bikes you could be waiting months to get it.\n“It's an expensive item and my biggest frustration is they are not communicating with me,” Elizabeth Staples of Grimsby, Ont. said.\nStaples has been trying to stay healthy and keep in shape during the pandemic and while she uses an elliptical, in October she purchased a Peloton bike, which cost her almost $3,000.\nShe was told the bike would be delivered in December, but when the delivery date came the bike wasn't available. Staples was then told it would be delivered in February unless there is another delay.\n\"They are promoting the sale of the bikes, but not letting people know about the expected delivery date delays and what customers can expect after paying for such a big ticket item,” Staples said.\nIt's not just Peloton bikes, sales of ellipticals, treadmills, free weights and other exercise equipment are in high demand as more people create home gyms.\nPeloton has seen a massive increase in sales and has become a billion dollars business with almost four million clients who pay a monthly subscription fee to workout with trainers or celebrities.\nCTV News Toronto reached out to Peloton to ask about the delays in shipping bikes to its customers.\n\"The unexpected rise in demand for our products has led to increases in delivery times,” a Peloton spokesperson said. \"Our goal is to continue to scale production and be able to deliver bikes to as many people as possible.”\"\nStaples said she wanted others to know if they order a Peloton bike they may not receive it for three to four months.\n\"It's not fair. I want others to know because you don't know about the delays until you give them your money,\" Staples said.\nPeloton has just purchased the fitness company Precor to help it manufacturer the exercise bikes. It's planning to build them in the U.S. by the end of the year to be closer to American and Canadian customers.", "Peloton bike deliveries months behind schedule as demand surges due to pandemic", "With fitness clubs closed due to COVID-19 many people are investing in workout equipment for their home and if you want one of the most popular connected fitness bikes you could be waiting months to get it." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T02:01:02"

"2021-01-05T20:42:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- If you bought a PC between 1998 and 2010, chances are it came with Microsoft products already installed. And if it did, you could be eligible to get back hundreds of dollars without proof of purchase.\nA class-action lawsuit alleges that Microsoft and Microsoft Canada inflated prices and were engaged in anti-competitive behavior.\nAs a result, Canadians are now eligible to get back up to $250, without a receipt, for PC versions of Microsoft software they purchased individually or that came pre-installed on computers.\n“It almost sounds too good to be true, but it is legit,” said Carmi Levy, a tech expert and director with Info-Tech Research Group of London, Ont.\nThe class-action that began in Canada 15 years ago has settled with Microsoft agreeing to pay an amount capped at $517 million with more than $400 million available for Canadians.\nLevy said “the allegation is that Microsoft drove prices up and reduced consumer choice.\"\n“The company admits no wrong doing here, but is paying the amount to avoid long-term litigation and just wants this chapter to be over with,” said Levy.\nThe eligible software includes Windows, Office, Word, Excel, Works Suite, Home Essentials and MS-DOS, among others.\nNaomi Kovak, a lawyer for Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP, one of the firms handling the settlement, said more than 150,000 Canadians have filed claims against Microsoft since the lawsuit’s application period opened.\n“We know that most people don't have the proof of purchase for the products, so you can make a claim of up to $250 without receipts,\" Novak said.\nCompanies that bought Microsoft software licences in bulk for multiple employees can file claims of up to $650 without receipts, but any claim above that number must include proof of purchase.\nTo make a claim, go to the website www.thatsuitemoney.ca.\nAfter providing your contact information click on the products you purchased between December 23, 1998 and March 11, 2010.\n“I would just like to encourage people to go to the website and make their claims,\" said Novak.\nClaimants must swear the information is accurate. Levy says if you owned a computer at that time, it's worth checking.\n“If you bought a computer in that 12 year span you may as well take a look,\" said Levy.\nCanadians have until Sept. 23, 2021 to submit a claim, but the law firm say the claims process will not be completed until early 2022.\nAfter the end of the claims period, some K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions in Canada will be eligible to claim vouchers to purchase software if there are settlement funds remaining.\nWith files from CTV's Brooklyn Neustaeter", "Did you buy Microsoft PC software between 1998 and 2010? You could be eligible to claim up to $250", "If you bought a PC between 1998 and 2010, chances are it came with Microsoft products already installed. And if it did, you could be eligible to get back hundreds of dollars without proof of purchase." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T22:28:29"

"2021-01-18T16:13:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials say the U.K. variant of COVID-19 “could very well become the predominant strain” as a new case unrelated to travel is confirmed in the province.\nThe new case was found in London, Ont., Ontario’s Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe confirmed at a news conference held Monday afternoon.\n“We are now reporting a total of 15 cases of the U.K. variant, or B.1.1.7 COVID-19 in Ontario,” Yaffe said. “The most recent case reported residents in London, Ontario and has no history of travel outside of Canada.”\n“We do expect more cases to be identified in the weeks to follow, as there is evidence now of community transmission.”\nYaffe added that the new case is “concerning” as the B.1.1.7 strain appears to be much more easily transmittable than other variants.\nModelling data presented to the public last week indicates that if the variant spreads in the community, the number of infections in Ontario could start doubling every 10 days by March.\n“It could very well become the predominant strain, we don’t know,” Yaffe said, adding that labs are doing more genomic sequencing and reporting on new COVID-19 variants. “We’re going to do our best to avoid that.”\nAs of Monday, health officials say that anyone with a travel history or who has a connection to a travel case has been tested for the U.K. variant. Officials are also testing for the strain as it relates to “super spreader events” and are analyzing some tests by random.\nPublic Health Ontario is conducting genomic sequencing on about 500 to 600 samples per week to look for new variants, officials said previously.\nAs it stands, no other variants have been confirmed in Ontario.\nOn Monday, the province logged 2,578 infections of the novel coronavirus, the lowest number of new cases in Ontario since Jan. 1 when 2,476 were logged.", "New case of U.K. COVID-19 variant confirmed in London, Ont. linked to community transmission", "Ontario health officials say the U.K. variant of COVID-19 “could very well become the predominant strain” as a new case unrelated to travel is confirmed in the province." ]

[]

"2021-01-10T16:14:10"

"2021-01-10T10:16:00"

"2021-01-10T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are recording another record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases in the province as they report more than 3,900 new infections.\nThe province confirmed 3,945 cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, which breaks the previous provincial daily case count record of 3,799 new cases reported on Friday.\nThe province had actually reported 4,249 new infections on Friday, but clarified that 450 of those cases were due to a data backlog and there were actually 3,799 new case, which was still a record-breaking number at the time.\nThe province saw daily case counts climb above the 3,000 mark over the past six days.\nHealth officials also reported on Sunday that 61 more people have died due to COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 4,983.\nThere were 62,308 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period.\nThe province’s test positivity rate now stands at about 6.2 per cent, according to health officials.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come...", "Ontario reports record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases with more than 3,900 new cases", "Ontario health officials are recording more than 3,900 new COVID-19 cases in the province, as well as 61 more deaths due to the disease." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T03:19:17"

"2021-01-14T22:01:00"

"2021-01-14T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Two men have been transported to a trauma centre with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a stabbing took place in Scarborough on Thursday night.\nThe incident occurred in the area of Midland and Sheppard avenues just after 9 p.m., officials said.\nThe two adult males were taken from the scene to hospital for treatment, Toronto paramedics said. Their exact ages have not been released by officials.\nToronto police confirmed one person has been taken into custody in connection with the incident.\nNo further information has been released by officials at this time.", "Two men in hospital after stabbing in Scarborough", "Two men have been transported to a trauma centre with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a stabbing took place in Scarborough on Thursday night." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T16:19:37"

"2021-01-08T07:26:00"

"2021-01-08T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels.\nHe said that if basic public health measures “continue to be ignored” in the province, the consequences “will be dire.”\n“The shutdown won’t end at the end of January, and we will have to look at more extreme measures,” he said.\n“This is the most serious situation we’ve ever been in since the beginning of the pandemic.”\nThe premier made the comments while saying that new COVID-19 modelling would be released on Monday or Tuesday of next week and that the data would be so shocking, residents will “fall off their chair” upon its release.\n“Everything is on the table right now. There will be further measures, because this is getting out of control and we have to do whatever it takes,” Ford said.\n\"We are in a crisis. It it is scary. And we need to work together.\"\nOntario shattered its COVID-19 record Friday as more than 4,200 cases were logged, citing a data backlog that accounts for about 450 of the new infections. However, even if those 450 cases were removed from Friday’s total there would still be a record 3,799 new infections logged.\nFord stopped short of saying which public health restrictions his government is considering, but has said that a curfew, similar to the one imposed in Quebec earlier this week, is an option.\nAssociate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said that the current spread of COVID-19 in the province has forced health officials to consider the more stringent measures and that such restrictions could resemble those seen in the spring.\n\"Today's numbers, to be frank, are scary,\" she said, while underscoring that hospitals across the province are struggling to provide care for both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients.\n\"The hospitals are starting to have to cut back on elective surgeries and other very important procedures that require ICU care.\"\nIn a memo obtained by CTV News Toronto on Thursday, Ontario Health’s President and CEO Matthew Anderson told hospitals to prepare to accept COVID-19 patients from across the province as space in intensive care reaches capacity.\nMore to come.", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford says 'more extreme measures' needed as COVID-19 situation worsens", "Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T21:43:07"

"2021-01-21T13:19:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Metrolinx says it is making some service adjustments to respond to plummeting ridership numbers amid a stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.\nIn a statement Thursday, Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney’s office said ridership on GO Transit and UP Express has dropped off by more than 90 per cent because of the pandemic.\nA stay-at-home order came into effect for Ontario on Jan. 14, two days after a new state of emergency was declared due to soaring rates of COVID-19.\nThe service changes will come into effect on Jan. 23.\nBuses will replace trains along the Barrie, Stouffville and Kitchener lines on weekday evenings and on weekend periods.\nService will also be reduced for UP Express during non-peak times. Service hours will be reduced and trains will run hourly during less busy times.\nBetween Monday and Friday, UP trains will run hourly in the midday and late evening hours, with the last trains departing Union Station at 10 p.m. and from Pearson at 10:27 p.m.\nOn weekends, UP trains will operate hourly in the mornings and evenings, with the first train departing at 6 a.m. and the last trains departing from Union at 10 p.m. and from Pearson at 10:27 p.m.\nIn an email to CP24.com, Metrolinx spokesperson Anne-Marie Aikins said the agency doesn’t believe crowding will be a problem, but they have taken measures to make sure that there is proper distancing.\n“Ridership is below 10 per cent so we expect there will be plenty of room for customers. However we are closely monitoring,” Aikins said.\nShe said the agency will be checking in with drivers, station staff and CCTV live feeds to ensure there are no crowds and that additional buses and drivers will be on standby in case they need to be deployed to accommodate extra riders.\n“We have also put barriers between seats on buses and trains so that also helps protect customers and we have good compliance with wearing of masks,” Aikins said.\nShe said the drop in ridership does not come as a surprise and is the result of people heeding the orders.\n“We’ve been asking customers since before the holidays to stay home except for essential travel only,” Aikins said. “We don’t require special documentation but frankly we know people are staying at home. Many of our coaches are empty. Our goal is to keep both our staff and our customers safe. And we’re confident when it is safe customers will come back.”\nIn a statement, NDP Transportation Critic Jessica Bell took aim at the Ford government for reducing service.\n“Our essential workers who can’t work from home, including health care workers, PSWS and first responders, rely on public transit. They are going to work to help our province get through this crisis, and we need to do everything possible to keep them safe and prevent the virus spreading in our communities,” Bell said.\nShe called on Premier Doug Ford to maintain GO Transit at current service levels to ensure there is no crowding.", "Metrolinx to replace some GO trains with buses and reducing UP service as ridership plummets", "Metrolinx says it is making some service adjustments to respond to plummeting ridership numbers amid a stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T16:32:26"

"2021-01-19T10:18:00"

"2021-01-19T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- COVID-19 infection numbers in Ontario dropped to levels unseen in weeks Tuesday though the province says there is likely an “underreporting of cases today” due to a technical issue at Toronto Public Health.\nOf the 1,913 new infections reported only 550 were found in Toronto.\n“For your reference, over the past several days Toronto has reported 815, 1035 and 903 cases,” the Ministry of Health said in an email.\nToronto Public Health has regularly reported the most COVID-19 infections per day in Ontario throughout the pandemic.\nAt the same time, testing for COVID-19 has fallen well below the province’s capacity with only 34,531 tests processed in the last 24 hours. The last time testing was this low was back on Dec. 29 when only 34,112 tests were completed.\nThis brings Ontario’s COVID-19 positivity rate to 6.8 per cent.\nThe province's COVID-19 case total now sits at 242,277, including deaths and recoveries.\nForty-six deaths related to COVID-19 occurred in the previous day. At least 20 of those who died were residents of a long-term care home which pushes Ontario's COVID-19 death toll to 5,479.\nAs well, 2,873 more cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 209,183 people previously infected with the virus have recovered.\nWhere are the new COVID-19 cases?\nCase numbers were generally low across Ontario Tuesday, though the Ministry of Health said it is not aware of any other reporting issues in regions of the province, with the exception of Toronto.\nFor example, Niagara Region reported just 52 cases a day after reporting 151 infections. Meanwhile, Peel Region reported 346 infections, far lower than the 507 cases logged a day earlier.\nConversely, 235 cases were found in York Region, marking a sharp increase over the 151 reported on Monday.\nThere are currently 1,626 patients in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 400 patients are being treated in intensive care and 292 are breathing with the assistance of a ventialltor.\nThis marks the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that the province has reported 400 patients in intensive care.\nThe province has previously said that when there are more than 300 patients in the ICU, non-COVID-19-related care becomes impossible to facilitate.\nOn Monday, the government announced the addition of 500 ICU beds to relieve the strain on the province’s hospital network.\nAt least 35 of those beds will go online on Feb. 7 following the opening of Mackenzie Health's new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.\nIt’s unclear when the remaining 465 beds will be open for patients or where they will be housed.", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases, cites technical issue in Toronto", "COVID-19 infection numbers in Ontario dropped to levels unseen in weeks Tuesday though the province says there is likely an 'underreporting of cases today' due to a technical issue at Toronto Public Health." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T17:21:20"

"2021-01-08T07:26:00"

"2021-01-08T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels.\nHe said that if basic public health measures “continue to be ignored” in the province, the consequences “will be dire.”\n“The shutdown won’t end at the end of January, and we will have to look at more extreme measures,” he said.\n“This is the most serious situation we’ve ever been in since the beginning of the pandemic.”\nThe premier made the comments while saying that new COVID-19 modelling would be released on Monday or Tuesday of next week and that the data would be so shocking, residents will “fall off their chair” upon its release.\n“Everything is on the table right now. There will be further measures, because this is getting out of control and we have to do whatever it takes,” Ford said.\n\"We are in a crisis. It it is scary. And we need to work together.\"\nOntario shattered its COVID-19 record Friday as more than 4,200 cases were logged, citing a data backlog that accounts for about 450 of the new infections. However, even if those 450 cases were removed from Friday’s total there would still be a record 3,799 new infections logged.\nFord stopped short of saying which public health restrictions his government is considering, but has said that a curfew, similar to the one imposed in Quebec earlier this week, is an option.\nAssociate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said that the current spread of COVID-19 in the province has forced health officials to consider the more stringent measures and that such restrictions could resemble those seen in the spring.\n\"Today's numbers, to be frank, are scary,\" she said, while underscoring that hospitals across the province are struggling to provide care for both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients.\n\"The hospitals are starting to have to cut back on elective surgeries and other very important procedures that require ICU care.\"\nIn a memo obtained by CTV News Toronto on Thursday, Ontario Health’s President and CEO Matthew Anderson told hospitals to prepare to accept COVID-19 patients from across the province as space in intensive care reaches capacity.\nOntario 'quickly running out' of COVID-19 vaccines\nMeanwhile, Ford addressed the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario and said that the supply coming into the province is drying up.\n“Every single day, we’re getting more and more needles into people’s arms and protecting more and more of our front-line health-care workers, long-term care residents and most vulnerable,” he said.\n“But, we’re quickly running out.”\nMore than 87,500 doses have been administered since inoculations began last month, the most in the country, Ford said.\n“Dr. Kevin Smith, at UHN [University Health Network], has said he’ll exhaust his supply today. Southlake [Regional Health Centre ] in York Region, the Ottawa Hospital and others told us they will do the same by the end of the week.”\nAt the current rate, Ford believes that all of Ontario will be out of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by the end of next week.\nFord explained that he is hopeful that the federal government will procure more vaccines for the province in the coming days, otherwise hospitals will have to begin cancelling appointments to administer the shots.\n“All the progress we’ve made, getting out daily vaccine numbers up, will be lost as clinics standby waiting for vaccines from the feds.”\nEarlier this week, Retired Gen. Rick Hillier announced that all long-term care residents, workers and essential caregivers in COVID-19 hot spots would be vaccinated by Jan. 21.\nIn fact, Hillier doubled down on that deadline while speaking to CTV News Toronto on Wednesday, saying that those 161 high-risk long-term care homes would get the shots ahead of schedule\nIt’s unclear if that timeline has changed given Ford’s comments today.", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford warns 'more extreme measures' needed as COVID-19 situation worsens", "Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T15:39:35"

"2021-01-21T10:17:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario reported more than 2,600 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, but health officials say that number includes infections from previous days due to a technical issue.\nThe province logged 2,632 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, but officials said 102 of those cases were supposed to be reported on Tuesday. They were not added at that time due to a technical issue, which has now been resolved.\nWith more than 70,000 tests completed in the past 24 hours, the province’s positivity rate has dropped to 4.3 per cent, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health.\nHealth officials reported that 46 more people have died due to COVID-19, including 33 people who were residents in long-term care homes.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come...", "Ontario reports more than 2,600 new COVID-19 cases, cites technical issue in Toronto", "Ontario reported more than 2,600 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, but health officials say that number includes infections from previous days due to a technical issue." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T17:59:15"

"2021-01-21T11:12:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Halton Police Board will meet behind closed doors again today to discuss a decision by Chief Steve Tanner to go to Florida over the holidays despite public health officials warning against non-essential travel.\nTanner has said that he sought the approval of Oakville mayor and police board chair Rob Burton before travelling south to attend to a “property matter.”\nBut Burton resigned as chair of the board on Jan. 11 as criticism of the trip grew, noting that he was “deeply regretful” for his decision to authorize it.\nThe board then met for a total of 15 hours over the course of Friday and Saturday to discuss the matter but were unable to come to a decision.\nTanner, for his part, has said travelling in “light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation was a poor decision but he told CP24 earlier this month that he took the trip “for essential reasons, and with prior approval.”\n“I look forward to continuing to lead our organization in the years ahead and continuing to make this the very best and most professional police service possible while looking after the needs of our members and the citizens we serve,” he said at the time.\nSeveral politicians and public officials, including former Ontario finance minister Rod Phillips and the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System, have already been forced to resign after it came to light that they travelled outside the country amid a global pandemic.\nThe Halton Regional Police Association has not called for Tanner’s resignation at this point, though president Clay Gillis has said that some members have told him that they believe it is necessary.", "Halton Police Board holds special meeting to discuss Chief Steve Tanner's trip to Florida", "The Halton Police Board will meet behind closed doors again today to discuss a decision by Chief Steve Tanner to go to Florida over the holidays despite public health officials warning against non-essential travel." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T00:37:37"

"2021-01-18T15:33:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Flower shops report business is growing steadily during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributing the sales boost to people wanting to brighten up their homes.\n\"Everybody's home, everybody is working from home and they want to see nice things, when they come by that's what they tell me,\" Kathy Ninaka, owner of The Kingston Road Flower Market, said.\nThe want to brighten up the home comes as many people are now working from home.\nDavid Gonzalez picked up a bouquet to cheer up his partner. He says they now regularly buy flowers for their place.\n\"I'm working from home now, and I have a nice bouquet in front of me, it's really nice, it helps with the mental health and being stuck inside all the time.”\nThe Kingston Flower Market buys it product from the Ontario Flower Grower (OFG) at its regular Tuesday auction. Farmers bring their product to the Mississauga warehouse where the flowers are distributed to independent flower shops around the GTA.\nThe OFG's general manager says he is \"kind of surprised, we didn't think it was going to go so well.”\nJack Vandermass says he was expecting the worst when the province shut down.\n\"We didn't think this was going to happen because a lot of the events did not go ahead like weddings and funerals, and that's our main business basically.\"\nHe says it is the independent flower shops and their loyal local customers who are behind the sales surge.\nThen there is a whole in generation showing interest.\n\"Millennials are finally buying plants. It took a pandemic to do it,” Paul Gellatly, of The Toronto Botanical Garden, said.\nHe said they are even growing plants in their homes and selling them online, \"a way for them to make money\" while off work during the pandemic.", "Business is blooming at flower shops amid pandemic, retailers say", "Flower shops report business is growing steadily during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributing the sales boost to people wanting to brighten up their homes." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T03:53:55"

"2021-01-21T20:03:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The employment status of a Durham, Ont. doctor who tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19 is under review at two long-term homes where she has worked after she was charged with allegedly misleading public health officials about how she may have caught the highly-contagious strain.\nDr. Martina Weir, a physician with privileges at Lakeridge Hospital, the Fairview Lodge and Hillsdale Terraces long-term care homes, has been charged with provincial offences under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Her husband Brian Weir, who works for Toronto Paramedic Service in a non-patient facing role, has also been charged.\nThe couple each face two counts of \"failing to provide accurate information on all persons that the defendant may have had contact with during their period of communicability for COVID-19” and one count of obstruction “by providing false information to the Durham Region Associate Medical Officer of Health in relation to contact tracing involving the UK variant strain of COVID-19.”\nThe Weirs were diagnosed with Ontario’s first two cases of the highly-contagious UK variant in December, and provincial officials originally said the couple had no known exposure to the virus. However, they later learned that the Weirs had been in close contact with someone who had recently arrived in Canada from the UK—and alleged the couple had withheld that information during contact tracing interviews.\nMartina Weir was on site at the Whitby’s Fairview Lodge long-term care home as recently as Wednesday, but the Regional Municipality of Durham, which operates the facility, said she had not worked there between Dec. 11 and Jan. 17, which included her self-isolation period. Dr. Weir was also absent from Oshawa’s Hillsdale Terraces site during that time, and the operator said there was no risk to patients.\nSouthlake Hospital, meanwhile, said that Dr. Weir did not provide patient care during the month of December. Every physician undergoes a screening process upon entry, said a spokesperson, which involves confirming whether they had had contact with anyone who had travelled outside the country.\nThe College of Physicians and Surgeons told CTV News Toronto in a statement that “countering public health best practices at anytime–including during a pandemic–represents a risk to the public and is not acceptable behaviour.”\nThe Regional Muncipality of Durham said that Dr. Weir would not be working at any of its long-term care homes until its internal review was complete.\nNone of the allegations has been proven in court. The Weirs are expected to appear in court Mar. 10.", "Doctor diagnosed with UK variant under review by LTC homes following provincial offence charges", "The employment status of a Durham, Ont. doctor who tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19 is under review at two long-term homes where she has worked after she was charged with allegedly misleading public health officials about how she may have caught the highly-contagious strain." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T17:17:37"

"2021-01-07T10:30:00"

"2021-01-07T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the province will make an announcement Thursday afternoon about whether students will return to in-person learning amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.\nFord made the comment on Thursday after sources told CTV News Toronto new provincial data has raised \"significant concerns\" about the spread of COVID-19 among school-aged children over the Christmas holidays.\nFord said the announcement will come from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, who is scheduled to speak to reporters via teleconference at 3 p.m. The education minister is not scheduled to attend the briefing.\nAs of now, elementary students province-wide are scheduled to return to the classroom on Jan. 11. Secondary students in southern Ontario aren’t slated to return until Jan. 25, while students in northern Ontario are expected to return Jan. 11.\n\"The chief medical officer will be announcing his decision today, but I support the chief medical officer, as I always have,\" Ford said. \"The number one priority is not to put our kids in jeopardy, and I will never do that.\"\n\"Young kids under 13, the positivity rate is up towards 20 per cent.\"\nFord blamed the increased positivity rates in children is a result of people getting together over the holidays.\nSources told CTV News Toronto that new data currently being reviewed by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health shows the positivity rate among children aged 12 to 13 quadrupled over the course of December, building the case for an extended closure of in-school learning.\nA senior government source told CTV News Toronto the dramatic increase in the positivity rate is \"alarming\" and has \"raised significant concerns about kids returning to school next week.\"\n\"Most troubling, the positivity rate for kids aged 12-13 years old increased from 5.44 per cent in late-November, early December to nearly 20 per cent in the early new year,\" the source told CTV News Toronto.\nThe data under review shows a steady increase in the number of positive cases and the positivity rate among elementary students over the course of December.\nDuring the week of Nov. 29, the positivity rate among children between the ages of four and 11 was 5.22 per cent, after 580 children tested positive for COVID-19. By the week of Dec. 27, the province recorded a 116 per cent increase in the positivity rate among the same age group, jumping up to 15.66 per cent, with 720 positive cases.\nSimilarly, during the week of Nov. 29, 187 children aged 12 to 13 tested positive for COVID-19 in the province putting the group's positivity rate at 5.22 per cent. By the week of Dec. 27, there was a 98 per cent increase in the positivity rate among that age group, up to 19.78 per cent after 284 children tested positive.\nThe Ford government continues to insist that schools are not a source of transmission, despite the increase in positivity rates taking place while students were still in school.\nOn Wednesday, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario penned an open letter to the premier, minister of education and provincial health officials asking for an extension of virtual learning amid a rapid rise of COVID-19 cases in the community.\n\"We have taken the extraordinary step to ask Public Health Units to use their authority to reconsider the decision to resume in-person learning for elementary students on Jan. 11, particularly in communities where the rate of community transmission is high and where other extreme public health measures have been deemed necessary,\" the letter reads.\n\"We ask that you reconsider your decision to resume in-person learning for elementary students on January 11.\"", "Ontario will announce this afternoon whether students will return to in-person learning amid 'significant concerns' about spread of COVID-19", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the province will make an announcement Thursday afternoon about whether students will return to in-person learning amid a surge in COVID-19 cases." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T20:02:06"

"2021-01-08T11:50:00"

"2021-01-08T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Alicia Cuzner of Ontario Virtual School covers how families can switch to online learning and how they’re supporting staff and students.\nMore from Ontario Virtual School here.", "How to get the most out of online learning", "Alicia Cuzner of Ontario Virtual School covers how families can switch to online learning and how they’re supporting staff and students." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T20:55:04"

"2021-01-14T15:24:00"

"2021-01-14T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- As new emergency orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 come into effect across Ontario, TTC riders and operators are expressing concern that more measures may be needed to keep transit safe.\nSpeaking with CP24 Thursday, Shelagh Pizey-Allen of the group TTCRiders said that transit users in the city are concerned about crowding, inadequate mask use among riders and the resumption of TTC fare inspections.\n“Transit is safe if everyone is wearing a mask and it's not too crowded, but as people have been reporting, not everyone is wearing a mask and people have some crowding on routes,” Pizey-Allen said.\nShe said in the early days of the pandemic, the TTC made transit safer by distributing masks, implementing rear-door boarding and pausing fare inspections. She said she'd like to see some of those measures re-introduced.\n“The biggest concern we're hearing about is that not everybody is wearing a mask and so people do get too crowded, and that's a concern,” Pizey-Allen said.\nTransit operators have also been expressing concern that many people are not wearing masks as prescribed while using the TTC.\n“Our customers are getting on vehicles and many of them are not wearing masks or when they are wearing masks they're putting it below their nose, and reading a book or something,” Carlos Santos of ATU local 113, which represents TTC operators, told CP24. “What we want is to make sure that customers that are wearing masks, keep that mask on. We're also getting lots of photos of overcrowded vehicles.”\nSantos said the union also wants to see rear-door boarding, proper blocking of the seats closest to operators, another pause on cash fares and transfers and better education and enforcement around mask use.\n“We've been asking for the same safety precautions that we had back in March last year, and it's just absurd that the TTC and (CEO) Rick Leary would not re-implement the same safety precautions that we had a year ago or 10 months ago, when we had 300 cases a day in Ontario and now we're at, you know we're averaging 3,000, which is 10 times the amount.”\nHe said drivers are frustrated that they face close scrutiny over their mask wearing while they look around to see many customers not wearing masks properly or not wearing masks at all.\nHe said there should be physical distancing audits of TTC Spaces rather than audits of TTC employees.\nSpeaking with CP24, TTC Spokesperson Stuart Green said the commission has been working to keep the system safe and there is no indication that current practices are contributing to the spread of the virus.\n“We also work with Toronto Public Health and if they were giving us any indication that our practices are contributing to spread, we would absolutely change them,” Green said. “But we’ve been very fortunate. There's no link to the TTC, riding the TTC and transmission of the COVID virus. That's very good news. We're not taking that for granted but we continue to work to keep the system safe for our employees and our customers.”\nHe said all-door boarding of vehicles helps to increase airflow and to reduce customer bunching. The TTC also continues to distribute masks to customers, he said.\nIn terms of crowding, Green said the latest TTC figures indicate that around 96 per cent of all bus trips have fewer than 25 people on them.\nHe said when buses do get crowded, the TTC faces a choice between letting on a few more people or leaving people at their stops, somethings they don't want to do.\n“So we've only got about four per cent of our bus trips that have more than that number. Our aim obviously is to keep that number as low as humanly possible,” Green said. “We've put extra buses out, our budget this year increases the amount of bus service over last year. As well, we're retraining operators right now so we'll have even more bus service out there in the coming weeks and months.”\n- With files from CP24 Reporter Jee-Yun Lee", "TTC facing calls from riders, operators for better safety measures", "As new emergency orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 come into effect across Ontario, TTC riders and operators are expressing concern that more measures may be needed to keep transit safe." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T01:00:41"

"2021-01-28T18:17:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Coach bus companies across the country have been forced to hit the brakes during the pandemic, shedding revenue and jobs, and threatening some of the country’s transportation infrastructure.\nThe industry says existing COVID-19 government aid isn’t enough to stop hundreds of job losses and buses repossessed by banks already, hoping that federal relief can jump-start the ailing business.\n“We are struggling to hold things together,” said Larry Hundt, the co-ower of Great Canadian Coaches in Kitchener, Ontario. “COVID has basically shut our operations down.”\nThere have been almost no passengers on Great Canadian Coaches since the pandemic began in March. The company has laid off nine-tenths of their workers, Hundt said. What was a $28 million business just last year is making almost no money, he said.\nIt’s the same story across the country at Wilson’s Bus in B.C. Operator John Wilson said at least four of his $600,000 buses have been repossessed.\n“It’s reached a crisis point. Financial institutions are coming for buses that payments can’t be made on,” Wilson said.\nTwenty-one Canadian senators from the Maritimes have urged the federal government to provide financial assistance to Maritime Bus, worried that a company that provides essential service won’t last through the pandemic without drastic changes.\nIndustry representatives say a major company has all but shut down its Mississauga operations, shedding over 100 jobs that won’t be coming back for years, even after the pandemic is over.\nThe bus companies have almost no revenue so there’s no point in keeping workers despite the wage subsidy, representatives said. And other measures, including joint provincial-federal funding that has helped public transit service, don’t apply because these are private companies.\nNevertheless, they are an important part of a sustainable transportation system that could disappear if nothing is done, including asking banks to stop seizing assets if loan payments aren’t made, said Green Party MP Elizabeth May.\n“An entire part of our transportation infrastructure is at risk of falling apart, imminently,” May said as part of a question in Question Period in the House of Commons to the Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra.\nThe minister agreed with her, while pointing out that the bus industry itself is regulated by the provinces.\n“She is right. The passenger bus service has been hit very hard by the pandemic,” he said. “It’s important to our cities and our provinces therefore we will continue to monitor the situation and work with her on ideas we can work together on.\"\nThe crashing bus industry is making tourism operators worried, said Beth Potter, the President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. Attractions in Niagra could see major drops without a functioning bus service, as could the Stratford Festival, she said.\n“The charter bus system is incredibly important not for just moving people to attractions and group tours but locally moving students on field trips, and sport tourism,” Potter said. “Those are very important and contribute to the tourism economy overall.”\nOntario’s Ministry of Transportation said it had made available $10 billion in support for people and businesses through tax and other deferrals, a spokesperson said. He pointed to a bill that would largely deregulate the intercity bus sector as something that could help the province’s struggling bus industry.\n“Deregulating…will provide more opportunities for carriers to access markets across the province and make it easier for carriers to address service gaps for passengers, as Ontario recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesperson said.\nThe challenge for Great Canadian Coaches is to last that long, said Hundt.\n“It’s still going to be a long time before we come out of this,” he said.", "Bus companies on the verge of collapse amid COVID-19 pandemic, industry says", "Coach bus companies across the country have been forced to hit the brakes during the pandemic, shedding revenue and jobs, and threatening some of the country’s transportation infrastructure." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T20:09:53"

"2021-01-16T11:42:00"

"2021-01-16T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Provincial Police say they've charged three of their own veteran officers and suspended four others over allegations of corruption related to the province's tow truck industry.\nThe force alleges the accused officers provided preferential treatment to towing companies within the Greater Toronto Area.\nThe charges and suspensions stemmed from an investigation first launched in October 2019.\nThe officers facing charges all have at least 20 years of service with the OPP and served with either its Highway Safety Division or the Toronto detachment.\nConst. Simon Bridle and Const. Mohammed Ali Hussain were both arrested this past week, while a warrant is out for the arrest of Const. Bindo Showan who is believed to be out of the province.\nAll three are charged with secret commissions and breach of trust, while Bridle faces an additional charge of obtaining sexual services for consideration.\nOPP says the four other officers remain under investigation, but are not currently facing any criminal charges.", "OPP charges three officers, suspends four others over towing industry allegations", "Ontario Provincial Police say they've charged three of their own veteran officers and suspended four others over allegations of corruption related to the province's tow truck industry." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T13:01:44"

"2021-01-07T07:38:00"

"2021-01-07T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The trial of Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard, who is facing three sex-related charges, has been pushed back three months.\nEarlier this week, Crown Attorney Jill Witkin confirmed the trial will now begin on April 12 “at the request of Hoggard who has changed counsel.”\nHoggard’s Toronto trial was expected to begin on Monday.\nIn the summer of 2018, Hoggard was arrested and charged after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, suggesting inappropriate encounters with young fans.\nThe 35-year-old, whose career started on the reality show Canadian Idol, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm and one count of sexual interference. He has previously denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual behaviour, but said, in the past, he has acted in a way that objectified women.\nPolice said the charges are related to three separate incidents involving a woman and a girl under the age of 16 that allegedly occurred in the Toronto area in 2016.\nHoggard has opted to be tried by a jury rather than a judge alone.\nLast month, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice suspended jury trials in most parts of the province, including Toronto, until February.\nHedley has been on an indefinite hiatus since March 2018. The band, which is based in Vancouver, was dropped by its management teams and banned from multiple radio stations in the wake of the allegations against Hoggard.", "Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard, who faces sex-related charges, will now stand trial in April", "The trial of Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard, who is facing three sex-related charges, has been pushed back three months." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T23:52:32"

"2021-01-16T16:35:00"

"2021-01-16T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Police broke up large gatherings connected to an anti-lockdown demonstration in downtown Toronto on Saturday and arrested the organizers as authorities step up enforcement of gathering restrictions and the provincial stay-at-home order.\nVideos posted on social media show hundreds of demonstrators marching through the streets, condemning public health measures and denouncing the COVID-19 pandemic. The protest, which has been happening weekly since the fall, is in contravention with the new restrictions prohibiting outdoor public gatherings and social gatherings of more than five people.\n\"At this time we can confirm that the Toronto Police Service dispersed crowds at two large gatherings,\" Toronto police Const. Karoline de Kloet said in e-mail to CP24.\nVideo captured at Yonge-Dundas Square by CTV News Toronto appears to show police taking several protesters away with at least one person in handcuffs.\nThe gathering limit came into effect earlier this week, as is a stay-at-home order requiring residents only to leave their homes for essential purposes. The province also declared a second state of emergency.\nAhead of the protest, Toronto police issued a statement posted to Twitter and said they would be present and prepared to respond.\n“The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a public health issue; it is a public safety issue,” police said.\n“Participating in large gatherings, including protests, is not just in contravention of these orders but also puts attendees and the broader community at risk.”\nA few hours later, and as the protest went underway, police issued another statement, saying that they are enhancing their enforcement when it comes to gatherings. Police said they would be dispersing attendees and issuing tickets and summonses when there is evidence of non-compliance.\nIn a news release, police said 49-year-old Lamont Daigle was arrested at Nathan Phillips Square while 38-year-old Kelly Anne Farkus was arrested at Yonge-Dundas Square.\nBoth have been charged with common nuisance.\nToronto Public Health reported 975 new COVID-19 cases and 25 more deaths on Saturday.", "Police make arrests, disperse big crowd of anti-lockdown protesters in downtown Toronto", "Police made arrests and broke up large gatherings connected to an anti-lockdown demonstration in downtown Toronto on Saturday as authorities step up enforcement of gathering restrictions and the provincial stay-at-home order." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T00:52:14"

"2021-01-27T19:24:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- As the province continues to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care residents and staff, there are concerns that other vulnerable residents in congregate care settings and the workers who care for them are being forgotten.\nUnder the province’s framework for the vaccine rollout, group homes are included in the second phase, but the executive director of Participation House in Markham argues their facilities should be included in the first phase.\n“We serve some of the most at-risk, vulnerable individuals in society, with our population largely comprised of high-risk seniors with serious disabilities, resulting in extremely high personal and medical care needs 24/7,” Shelley Brillinger told CTV News Toronto.\n“COVID-19 poses an incredible ongoing threat to the health and well-being of our residents and clients, who share all of the risk factors identified for those living in LTC.”\nParticipation House experienced a deadly outbreak at its Markham group home during the first wave of the pandemic, resulting in six deaths and nearly every resident being infected with the virus.\n“With new viral variants, the prospects of new outbreak events is all too real,” Brillinger said. “Our dedicated staff, who provide care for our residents and clients should be vaccinated, as indicated in Phase 1, to ensure their health and prevent any unwanted spread from the community into our vulnerable congregate settings.”\nWith confirmation of variants of the virus in Ontario, the wait for the vaccine is worrisome for Leea Nutson, whose 40 year-old daughter Berge lives at Participation House group home.\n“This particular sector of society is always overlooked, so is their life less valuable less viable because they are disabled,” Nutson said.\nThe group home Bergen has lived at for 12 years experienced an outbreak in November, but fortunately Bergen did not test positive.\nNutson believes vulnerable residents like her daughter should be included in the first phase.\n“The virus is spreading in congregate care settings.”\nThe Ministry of Health says “due to limited supply, the province initially focused on vaccinating those who are at highest risk, including long-term care and retirement home residents and the staff who provide care to these groups.”\nComplicating matters is the current delay of the Pfizer vaccine as the company has been upgrading its manufacturing plant in Europe.\n“In response to the significant reduction in allocations by the federal government as well as significant uncertainty regarding future shipments, the province and vaccination sites have worked together to develop a plan to accelerate vaccination of the province’s most vulnerable and continue to administer second doses based on availability of supply provided by the federal government,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.\nYork Region Public Health had planned to start rolling out the vaccine to congregate care settings including Participation House, on Jan.20 after immunizing long-term care residents and staff. However, that plan was halted due to the vaccine shortage and direction from the province with long-term care remaining the priority.\n“The province has have to have some line of sight on any potential vaccine doses that it can reallocate to health units where they have insufficient doses,” said Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s medical officer of health. “When vaccine supplies get restricted and many health units haven't immunized all their long term care residents we have to with other health units.”\nYork Region Public Health continues to work on a plan to rollout the vaccine to congregate care settings, but Dr. Kurji says that will depend on shipments and supply and may not be available until late February or March.\n“I don't see any great movement occurring until after the province gets some reassurance the Pfizer supplies they are now being promised in mid February will be here,” Dr. Kurji said. “ It is our intention at the earliest opportunity to immunize the congregate settings that are high risk.”", "'Is their life less valuable?': Staff question why group homes won't get the COVID-19 vaccine until Phase 2", "As the province continues to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care residents and staff, there are concerns that other vulnerable residents in congregate care settings and the workers who care for them are being forgotten." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T23:45:40"

"2021-01-18T17:32:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- After playing the same lottery numbers for 20 years that came to her husband in a dream, a 57-year-old Toronto woman is $60 million richer.\n“All the hardship is over now,” Deng Pravatoudom said through a translator while accepting her giant cheque on Monday.\nPravatoudom immigrated to Canada from Laos in 1980, along with her 14 siblings.\n“My family was sponsored by a local church and because we had nothing, I am thankful for the great support they provided us over the years,” she said.\n“My husband and I have worked long hours as general labourers for over 40 years, trying to save what we could for our family.”\nAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, the mother of two adult children and grandmother to two grandchildren was laid off from her job last spring.\nWhile unemployed and praying her luck would turn around, Pravatoudom continued to play the same lottery numbers she had been for the past two decades, which she said came to her husband one night in a dream.\nThen, one day after leaving her temple she went to a nearby mall on Yonge Street in North York for some errands and checked her latest Lotto Max ticket. She found out she had won a “Free Play” ticket and decided to add “Encore.”\n“I couldn’t believe a few days later that free ticket would be worth $60 million,” she said.\nAnd, it was her husband who got to tell her the great news.\n“I went to line up at the bank. I gave the ticket to my husband to check. After I came out to the car, that’s when he told me,” she said.\nPravatoudom said she was “ecstatically happy and crying at the same time\" when she found out she won the $60-million jackpot from the Dec. 1, 2020 draw.\n“I have always prayed for a blessing that my family would be taken care of.”\nWith the big winnings, Pravatoudom said her and her husband plan to move out of their apartment and buy a house, pay off some bills, help out their family, and travel once it is safe to do so.\n“With this money I will be capable of helping my children out more, whatever they want I will be able to buy it for them, a car and new clothes,” she said, adding “not like before when I was unable to help them out as much.”\nAs a special treat, Pravatoudom added she will also be buying herself some diamonds.", "Toronto woman wins $60-million Lotto Max jackpot with numbers husband dreamt of 20 years ago", "After playing the same lottery numbers for 20 years that came to her husband in a dream, a 57-year-old Toronto woman is $60 million richer." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T16:25:11"

"2021-01-22T10:13:00"

"2021-01-22T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting less than 2,700 new cases of COVID-19 as the province’s positivity rate dropped for the third day in a row.\nThe province logged 2,662 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, as well as 87 more deaths related to the disease.\nWith more than 71,000 COVID-19 tests conducted, Ontario Ministry of Health said the positivity rate for the province dropped to 3.3 per cent on Friday, the lowest seen since Dec. 12 when it stood at 3.2 per cent.\nThe province’s seven-day average for the number of infections recorded is now 2,702, down from 3,273 one week ago.\nOf the 87 COVID-19-related deaths reported on Friday, health officials said that 43 were residents in long-term care homes.\nIn total, the province has recorded 5,701 deaths related the disease.\nOfficials reported that 1,512 people are currently in hospital due to the disease. Of those patients, more than 383 are in intensive care, and 291 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nHealth-care workers have said some hospitals are currently struggling to provide medical care not related to COVID-19 to patients due to the volumes of people battling the disease in intensive care units.\nThe province warned that when more than 300 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care, medical care in hospitals not related to the disease becomes nearly impossible to handle.\nThe province also deemed 3,375 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Friday, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 219,262.\nFriday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 250,226, including deaths and recoveries.\nWhere are the COVID-19 cases in Ontario?\nOf the 2,662 cases reported on Friday, health officials said that 779 were in Toronto, 542 were in Peel Region and 228 were in York Region.\nSeveral other regions in Ontario reported COVID-19 cases numbers in the triple digits, including Waterloo (128), Windsor-Essex (118) and Halton Region (102).\nOntario Premier Doug Ford implemented a stay-at-home order for the province on Jan. 14. The order will remain in effect for at least 28 days.\nEarlier this week, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said the number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily should be “around or below 1,000” before the lockdown orders can be lifted.\nThere were 71,750 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period. There are 41,819 COVID-19 tests under investigation.\nIn total, Ontario has processed more than 9.1 million tests since the pandemic began in January.\nAs of 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 264,985 initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario, including 11,168 doses administered in the past 24 hours. The vaccine requires a booster shot and, as such, 49,292 complete vaccinations have been completed as of Friday.", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,700 new cases of COVID-19 as positivity rate continues to drop", "Ontario health officials are reporting fewer than 2,700 new cases of COVID-19 as the province’s positivity rate dropped for the third day in a row." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-06T20:36:07"

"2021-01-06T07:18:00"

"2021-01-06T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government has launched a voluntary and free COVID-19 testing program for international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport.\nPremier Doug Ford announced the new testing program on Wednesday, which he calls as a \"game changer\" in regards to the early detection of COVID-19 in people arriving into the province from overseas.\n\"This is a critical step,\" Ford said at the airport on Wednesday. \"Travellers coming into Pearson will be able to take a free and voluntary test.\"\nTravellers who receive a negative COVID-19 test will still be required to self-isolate for 14 days, but Ford said he is \"actively working to further enhance the program.\"\nOntario’s Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the next stage of the program would be modifying the 14-day quarantine period for people who test negative.\nAccording to the government, eligible travellers will be able to pre-register for the program or proceed to get tested when they arrive at the airport. Those who chose to participate in the program will be given a test that will be self-administered with the guidance of a health-care provider.\nThe test results will be reported within 48 hours and local public health units will follow up on all positive tests.\n\"This pilot program is in addition to the new Government of Canada requirements for travellers coming to Canada to have a negative COVID-19 test that will act as another layer of protection for our community,\" Elliott said.\nAccording to the provincial government, more than 60,000 international travellers are arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport each week despite the ongoing pandemic.\nFord has previously slammed the federal government for not testing international travellers when they arrive back in Canada.\nIn late December, he vowed to begin testing people at Toronto Pearson International Airport with or without the federal government’s support.\nThe premier said at the time that more than 64,000 people are going \"basically unchecked\" through the airport every week. He claimed that almost no travellers coming into the country are following the 14-day quarantine rules.\n\"These folks are roaming the streets and we're letting it happen,\" Ford said.\nThe Canadian government has strongly discouraged international travel since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to do so.\nFormer Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigned from his key role in cabinet last week after it was revealed he took a secret vacation to a luxurious Caribbean island.", "Ford announces 'game changer' COVID-19 testing program for international travellers. Here's how it will work", "The Ontario government has launched a voluntary and free COVID-19 testing program for international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T00:07:47"

"2021-01-26T17:15:00"

"2021-01-26T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- At the start of the pandemic, Heather Eldebs had been working with her doctor towards weaning herself off her depression medication.\n“We kind of looked at this whole adjustment we were having. Being at home, managing the schooling and having my son home, and she and I decided it probably wasn't the right time so we’d wait until things stabilized,” Eldebs told CTV News Toronto.\nLike many parents during the pandemic, Eldebs struggled with working from home, parenting a four year old and 1 year old, while also home schooling them. And she missed the social supports she had had in the past.\n“Playdates, mommy groups, you know just going over to friends for dinner while the other kids play and you have adult time.”\nDr. Simone Vigod, Chief of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital, echoes her sentiments saying gathering with family, friends and even home visits from a public health nurse, all supported the mental health of new moms. Now she’s helping to create virtual supports to fill the gaps.\nFor example, the decision whether to continue medications for depression during pregnancy is one faced by tens of thousands of women in Canada each year.\n“There are many types of conditions, chronic conditions where people have to take medication during pregnancy and you can never say anything is zero risk during pregnancy,” Vigod said.\nBut an online tool to help women at risk of depression weigh the many factors involved in using medication is proving to be very successful.\n“In our clinic, the tool performed just as well as a psychiatrist in terms of women reducing their decisional conflict,” Vigod said.\nTheir next step will be to follow these women and study if easing their minds during the decision-making will improve outcomes with their babies.\nAnother support they’re developing is a form of group therapy. Women’s College has been using a secure electronic medical record system called EPIC for one-on-one doctor-patient appointments. They’ve now created a secure Zoom style set-up for new moms, one of the first in North America.\nEldebs said group discussions have been a vital coping tool for her, especially with other mothers who have also experienced depression. She’s continuing those and says sharing her story has helped others deal with their struggles.\nAnd she urges mothers who are having difficulty during the pandemic to reach out for professional help, saying “The one thing I never believed at the time was this will get better But it has.”", "Women's College Hospital developing virtual support for new mothers", "At the start of the pandemic, Heather Eldebs had been working with her doctor towards weaning herself off her depression medication." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T17:24:09"

"2021-01-19T08:36:00"

"2021-01-19T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford will be in Queen’s Park on Tuesday to make an announcement regarding the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.\nHealth Minister Christine Elliott and Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton will join the premier for the announcement. Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and General Rick Hillier, chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, will also join him.\nThe premier and his team are expected to provide an update on the vaccination plan following Pfizer's decision to reduce Canada's vaccine deliveries over the next month.\nOntario's Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams said on Saturday that his province would delay giving the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine to 42 days, instead of the advised 21 days.\nThe province also announced on Monday that a pilot COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre would pause vaccinations on Friday because of a shortage of supply in the province.\nSo far, COVID-19 vaccines have only been administered at long-term care homes and at 19 hospital sites across Ontario. The province has administered 209,788 doses of the vaccine, and has completed 21,752 vaccinations by administering the second dose.\nCTVNewsToronto.ca will stream the announcement live at 1 p.m.", "Ontario premier to provide update on COVID-19 vaccination plan amid shortage", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford will be in Queen’s Park on Tuesday to make an announcement regarding the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T16:59:50"

"2021-01-13T07:40:00"

"2021-01-13T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to provide an update on the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan one day after new modelling data indicated that despite vaccination efforts, the health system could be overwhelmed and mortality could double if further action isn't taken.\nThe government first started administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the end of December, focusing on four target groups of people: residents, essential caregivers and staff of congregate setting for seniors, health-care workers, adults in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations, and adult recipients of chronic home health care.\nLast week, the government said they hoped to vaccinate all long-term care residents, health-care workers and essential caregivers in the province’s four COVID-19 hot spots by Jan. 21, with retired General Rick Hillier, who is leading the vaccine task force, hinting that he thinks they could complete the task earlier.\nBoth the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require a second dose be provided either 21 days or 28 days after the first shot is administered.\nAs of Tuesday, a little more than 6,000 people in Ontario have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.\nThe update comes one day after officials released grim modelling data indicating the daily COVID-19 mortality rate in the province is expected to double from 50 deaths per day to about 100 deaths per day between mid-January and the end of February.\nOfficials also mentioned that the UK COVID-19 variant, known as Novel-SARS-CoV-2: B.1.1.7. was already spreading in the province and that three of the 14 cases confirmed Tuesday could not be traced back to travel.\nOntario Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said that while they believe the COVID-19 vaccine will be effective against the new variant, it will still take too long to establish a herd immunity against it.\n“We believe in order to get what we call herd immunity, we probably need 60 to 70 per cent of the general population vaccinated. That won't happen for many months,” she said.\n“And at this point, as I said, three of our cases we don't have a travel history. If that is confirmed, we have evidence of community transmission and that is a very serious concern that the vaccine will not be able to address quickly enough.”\nAccording to the modelling, if the COVID-19 variant spreads in the community, the number of infections in Ontario could start doubling every 10 days by March.\nThe premier will provide an update on the province’s vaccination efforts Hillier, Health Minister Christine Elliott and Solicitor Sylvia Jones.\nCTVNewsToronto.ca will stream Doug Ford's update live at 1 p.m.", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford to provide update on COVID-19 vaccination plan", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to provide an update on the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan one day after new modelling data indicated that despite vaccination efforts, the health system could be overwhelmed and mortality could double." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T13:38:18"

"2021-01-21T07:23:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after investigators say a man tried to force his way into an apartment in Parkdale and allegedly threatened to sexually assault a woman inside.\nPolice say the incident occurred on Wednesday at an apartment complex in the area of Jameson Avenue and Leopold Street, near Queen Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.\nAfter loitering outside of an apartment building in the area, police say, a man was able to gain entry to the building and made his way to the door of one of the units inside.\nAccording to investigators, the suspect tried opening the apartment door but it was locked.\nHe began to knock, police said, and when a woman started to open the door, he tried to force his way into the unit.\nPolice said the man allegedly told the woman he was going to sexually assault her.\nThe female was able to close her door and call 911, police said, and the suspect fled the scene.\nThe man, who is believed to be in his 30s, has been described by police as five-foot-seven to five-foot-ten, with a medium build and a black moustache.\nHe was last seen wearing a navy blue toque, a black and white checkered scarf, a brown leather jacket, black pants, and black running shoes.\nInvestigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to call police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.", "Police issue public safety alert after man allegedly tries to force his way into Toronto apartment", "Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after investigators say a man tried to force his way into an apartment in Parkdale and allegedly threatened to sexually assault a woman inside." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T17:21:17"

"2021-01-12T19:23:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- New cars are packed with technology keeping us safe and tracking our every move, but they're also transmitting data in real time back to car manufacturers.\nIndependent repair shops and companies that sell after market parts say that's giving dealerships an unfair advantage.\n“We believe it's going to negatively impact the capacity of consumers to choose where and how they get their car serviced,” Jean-Francois Champagne, the president of Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA), said.\nThe association says there are 500,000 jobs in Canada related to the aftermarket auto parts and auto service market.\nAIA has started a right to choose campaign along with a petition that says Canadians should have access and control of their car's data.\nAIA is calling on the federal government to acknowledge the importance of vehicle data ownership. The group says independent shops will be effectively shut out from repairing newer cars without the proper data.\n“If they don't have that information they can not safely and properly fix your car\" said Champagne.\nBy next year, about 80 per cent of new vehicles will be using wireless technology to transmit data in real time back to the manufacturer.\nMichael Rutherford with OK Tire said if only dealers have the information it will limit where consumers can get their cars repaired.\n“Most of the public doesn't realize that so much information is being collected and sent back to the OEM (original equipment manufacturer)” said Rutherford.\nMany car owners use the services of a dealership when a vehicle is new and under warranty, but the aftermarket industry says as a car gets older more consumers choose independent shops.\nRutherford said they want a level playing field when it comes to repairing vehicles.\n“We firmly believe it's your vehicle and you should get to chose where that data goes. If you have a regular service provider that you trust that you've known for a long time and you want your data to go there that's where it should go\" said Rutherford.\nThe aftermarket industry says if consumers have fewer choices it will lead to higher prices to get vehicles repaired.\nThe Privacy Act is currently under review by the federal government. Right to repair is not just an issue with cars, but also with phones, appliances and other items.\nAdvocates say consumers should have more options to repair products and not less.", "Your car knows a lot about you. Who owns that data?", "New cars are packed with technology keeping us safe and tracking our every move, but they're also transmitting data in real time back to car manufacturers." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T20:54:49"

"2021-01-14T14:30:00"

"2021-01-14T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A high-level taekwondo coach gradually took control of a teenage student's life, abusing his position of trust as he began a years-long stretch of escalating sexual assaults that culminated in rape, a Toronto judge ruled Thursday.\nShin Wook Lim was found guilty of 10 charges, including sexual assault and sexual interference, in connection with a series of incidents involving an elite athlete who trained with him at the Black Belt World martial arts studio in Toronto.\nThe incidents took place in a number of locations, including training camps in South Korea, between 2015 and 2017, Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy said in her ruling.\nBut she noted Lim, also a former Taekwondo Canada coach, began behaving inappropriately towards the girl before then: sending \"suggestive\" text messages and instructing her to delete them, commenting on how beautiful she was, and hugging her in his office.\n\"Bit by bit, Mr. Lim took control over all aspects of her life, deliberately excluding her mother, and directing (the teen) to keep information away from her. He built a culture of secrecy, not just one of trust. Then he began the precursors to sexual assault,\" Molloy wrote.\n\"When the sexual assaults started to happen, they came in small increments, progressing from long hugs to kissing, and then to touching above the clothes, and then under the clothes, then penetration, and finally rape,\" she said.\nWith each escalation, the girl, now 21, \"accepted this small change as her 'new normal,\"' the judge said.\nLim, who is in his 40s, did not testify at his trial, but court heard from another witness that he proclaimed his innocence and dismissed the allegations as lies when speaking to a group of friends.\nMolloy addressed this in her ruling, saying Lim's \"bald denial to friends in a social setting\" did not cause her to have a reasonable doubt as to his guilt.\nDefence lawyers had also questioned the complainant's credibility and reliability, flagging more than a dozen inconsistencies in her account of the incidents and suggesting her memory may have been tainted by a paper she wrote for a university criminology course after leaving the sport.\nIn that paper, the complainant analyzed the case of a Winnipeg taekwondo coach convicted of sexually assaulting a number of his students, court heard.\nDuring her testimony, the complainant said she had \"never really processed\" what happened to her and neither researching nor writing the paper stirred up any new insights into her experiences. Instead, the epiphany that she had been sexually assaulted came later, when she was listening to a lecture in that same course, she told the court.\nWhile it \"may seem odd\" that the complainant didn't make that connection earlier, particularly when writing the paper, that does not make her account untrue, nor does it render her memories unreliable, the judge wrote.\nIt does not appear that the incidents reported by the complainant resemble the details of what happened in the other case, \"except in superficial ways common to most victims of assault at the hands of an authority figure,\" Molloy said.\nFurthermore, the inconsistencies highlighted by the defence do not undermine her credibility or reliability as to the core of the charges, she said.\nThe complainant joined the elite training program in 2013, after obtaining her first-degree black belt, according to the ruling. She also attended an annual, two-week summer training camp in South Korea from 2014 to 2017, it said.\nThe first sexual assault took place in May 2015, when the complainant was 15, she testified. While in his office, Lim asked her to kiss him and when she walked away, he pulled her back, pressed her against a wall and kissed her, she said. The coach told her this would make her more comfortable with him and she should trust him, she said.\nThough she tried to avoid him after that, he stressed the need for them to be close and \"the kissing sessions continued,\" the document said.\nCAUTION: The following paragraphs contain graphic content some readers may find disturbing.\nThe complainant told the court that Lim then progressed to other sexual acts, including digital penetration. Similar incidents took place at the studio's office in Vaughan, Ont., and at Lim's apartment as other students waited downstairs, she testified.\nDuring a summer training camp in Muju, South Korea, in 2015, Lim called her to his hotel room and performed oral sex on her as she lay \"frozen,\" trying to keep her legs together, the complainant testified. Afterwards, he put her hand down his pants and made her touch his genitals, she said.\nThere were many similar incidents of \"kissing and touching\" that fall through 2017 at his Toronto office, court heard.\nAnother incident took place at her home, and one at a training camp in Gurye, South Korea, in 2016, where she testified that Lim made her masturbate him.\nThe final sexual assault took place at a training camp in South Korea the following summer, when she was 17, court heard. She testified that Lim made her perform oral sex on him and then penetrated her. The complainant said she didn't know what was going on because she had never had sexual intercourse before.\n\"She described herself as being in a 'brainwashed state' in which she would never challenge Mr. Lim's authority,\" the judge wrote.\n\"It was only after turning 18, starting university, and being away from taekwondo for a while that she started thinking for herself and questioning what had gone on before,\" Molloy said, adding she found it a plausible explanation for why the complainant didn't report the incidents until 2018.\nThe court is set to hear submissions next week on whether some of the charges Lim was convicted on Thursday should be stayed because they overlap with each other.\nHe also faces another five charges related to sex offences against another teen student, which are set to be tried separately later this year.\nNeither complainant can be identified due to a publication ban.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan. 14, 2021.", "Former Taekwondo Canada coach found guilty of sex-related offences involving student", "A high-level taekwondo coach gradually took control of a teenage student's life, abusing his position of trust as he began a years-long stretch of escalating sexual assaults that culminated in rape, a Toronto judge ruled Thursday." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T17:40:25"

"2021-01-20T12:29:00"

"2021-01-20T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto Mayor John Tory says the city will be prepared to resume vaccinations against COVID-19 at Ontario’s first major inoculation site, pending supply, a day after the clinic was prematurely closed due to a shortage of doses across the country.\n“We will be ready as a city,” Tory said at a news conference Wednesday morning.\nOpened on Monday, the clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was slated to run for at least six weeks with a goal of administering 250 shots a day. However, due to a recent announcement regarding expansion plans at its European manufacturing plant, Pfizer, who produces one of the COVID-19 vaccines, said Canada would not be receiving any shipments of vaccine doses next week.\nAs a result, the clinic, which both municipal and provincial officials had hoped would work as a blueprint for how vaccines could be administered in non-medical settings as soon as this spring, was forced to close less than 48 hours after it opened.\n“We didn’t learn all the lessons that we had to learn because of the premature closure of this proof-of-concept clinic due to a lack of supply, but we will continue to learn as soon as that supply is available,” Tory said.\nOn Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford slammed the pharmaceutical giant for the delays and appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden, who was sworn in on Wednesday, to share a million doses of the Pfizer shot from a production facility in Michigan.\n“We're the third largest trading partner (to the United States),” he said. “The least you could do in Kalamazoo where the Pfizer plant is, great relationship-building, give us a million vaccines,” Ford said emphatically.\nIn the meantime, Canada will continue to experience a “temporary” delay in shipments resulting in an average weekly reduction of 50 per cent of incoming doses.\nAs of Wednesday morning, 237,918 doses have been administered across Ontario. In total, 32,361 residents have received both their initial shot and a booster shot and are considered to be fully vaccinated.", "Tory says Toronto 'will be ready' to administer vaccinations following premature closure of Ontario's first major COVID-19 inoculation site", "Toronto Mayor John Tory says the city will be prepared to resume vaccinations against COVID-19 at Ontario’s first major inoculation site, pending supply, a day after the clinic was prematurely closed due to a shortage of doses across the country." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T04:38:52"

"2021-01-27T22:16:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government is considering issuing an order that would require all travellers arriving at Pearson airport to get tested for COVID-19.\nA government source told CP24 Wednesday evening that Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, is looking into issuing a section 22 order under the Health Promotion and Protection Act to mandate testing for international travellers.\nPremier Doug Ford has repeatedly called Ottawa to implement mandatory testing at the airport as new variants of the virus emerged in other countries.\nThe federal government's slow response on the issue has led Ontario to consider taking action, the source said.\nThe premier also wants the federal government to impose a temporary ban on direct flights from countries where the variants are found as well as flights with multiple stops in countries with a known variant.\n\"While we've made steady progress through this pilot program, thousands of people continue to pass through Pearson every week without being tested, creating a real risk to all Ontarians,\" Ford said on Tuesday.\n\"That's why, in addition to pre-departure testing, we're asking the federal government to adopt mandatory testing upon arrival for all international travellers and impose a temporary ban on flights coming from countries where new COVID-19 strains are being detected.\"\nAs of Wednesday afternoon, Public Health Ontario said there have 51 cases of the UK variant in Ontario.\nThe province also provided an update on its voluntary COVID-19 testing pilot project at the airport on Tuesday. Of the 6,580 tests conducted, 146 came back positive, including four that have been screened as potential UK variants.\nAccording to the federal government, at least 156 flights have landed in Canada between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 that had passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the country. Seventy-six of those flights landed in Toronto.\nInternational travel has been linked to 1.8 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in Ontario, according to the recent data from the province.\nMayors and chairs of the 11 municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area echoed Ford calling for stricter travel measures.\nOn Wednesday, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said mandatory testing would add an extra layer of community protection.\n\"What's clear is that we haven't come close to exhausting all the tools we have in the fight against COVID-19,\" Crombie said at a news conference.\nPrime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians Tuesday to avoid non-essential travel abroad as new travel restrictions will be announced in the coming days.\nExisting measures include requiring international air travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure and a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.\n- with files from CTV News and CP24 staff", "Ontario considers mandatory COVID-19 testing for all international travellers at Pearson airport", "The Ontario government is looking into requiring all international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson airport to be tested for COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T03:24:27"

"2021-01-12T20:44:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A decision by the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to remove a website from its resource page has frustrated some in the LGBTQ+ community.\n\"Frankly I'm just tired of how often queer communities have to prove that it's OK for kids to know about us, and that we're not trying to like, we're not trying to harm them,\" Berkha Gupta said.\nGupta is the executive director of LGBT Youth Line. They have been active for 25 years and include a website and hotline aimed at supporting youth who may feel isolated about their sexuality.\nLast Friday, Gupta received an email from a representative at the TCDSB saying there is a section of the LGBT Youth Line website “that had inappropriate material” and that the school board “had to take a link out of our website.”\nGupta said \"the link is about sexual health information,\" adding \"my assumption is that it's related to the sexual content or the level of knowledge that is being given around sexual relationships.\"\nThe email also linked out to a publication called Coririere Canadese, with an article written by Joe Volpe.\nThe article says LGBT Youth Line “is a smut site” and that “It is a recruitment site operated by a self-professed LGBTQ+ umbrella organization to attract children that operates province-wide.”\nGupta said \"yes, we recruit youth all year round to develop skills, strengthen their sense of self, and become peer leaders in their communities, but I think that Joe was going for something else there.\"\nA representative from the TCDSB said that they have known about the content since the Christmas break, and wanted to open a conversation.\n\"We wanted an opportunity to connect with staff about the content and so it was removed in order for us to have that conversation,\" Shazia Vlahos, communications director for the TCDSB, said.\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Gupta says LGBT Youth Line's traffic has seen a large increase in youth seeking help. Some LGBTQ+ activists say that to remove the site, simply sends the wrong message.\nTristan Coolman, from PFLAG York Region said \"to take the content down, is to admit fault and to say that there's something wrong with the content and there's nothing wrong with the content. There's nothing wrong with talking about sexual health.\"\nThe TCDSB says they plan to engage with LGBT Youth Line with the purpose of eventually returning the website to their resource page, but Gupta said \"they need to find a way to make sure that they're recognizing and taking accountability for the fact that they've indirectly supported homophobic, transphobic, racists rhetoric.\"\nGupta says LGBT Youth Line will engage in the conversation, but they will not be making any changes to their website.", "Toronto’s Catholic school board faces criticism after removing LGBTQ+ website from resource page", "A decision by the Toronto Catholic District School Board to remove a website from its resource page has frustrated some in the LGBTQ+ community." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-14T19:02:25"

"2021-01-13T11:57:00"

"2021-01-13T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Since the start of 2021, more than 30 international flights have landed in Toronto with a passenger who later tested positive for COVID-19.\nAccording to data publicly released by the federal government, the flights touched down between Jan. 1 and Jan 9.\nThey arrived from various destinations around the world, some of which include the United States, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland, Brazil and Mexico.\nDespite some airlines and travel companies still promoting international travel, the federal government is strongly advising Canadians against leaving the country.\nFor those who do, it is mandatory to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. International travellers also now require a negative COVID-19 test before arriving in Canada.\nEarlier this month, Premier Doug Ford announced a free and voluntary testing program for international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport.\n\"This is a critical step,\" Ford said at the airport on Jan. 6. \"Travellers coming into Pearson will be able to take a free and voluntary test.\"\nTravellers who receive a negative COVID-19 test will still be required to self-isolate for 14 days, but Ford said he is \"actively working to further enhance the program.\"\nOntario's Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the next stage of the program would be modifying the 14-day quarantine period for people who test negative.\nEligible travellers are able pre-register for the program or proceed to get tested when they arrive at the airport. Those who choose to participate in the program will be given a test that will be self-administered with the guidance of a health-care provider.\nThe test results will be reported within 48 hours and local public health units will follow up with each person who tested positive.\nAccording to the provincial government, more than 60,000 international travellers are arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport each week despite the ongoing pandemic.\nFord has previously slammed the federal government for not testing international travellers when they arrive back in Canada.\nIn late December, he vowed to begin testing people at Toronto Pearson International Airport with or without the federal government's support.\nThe premier said at the time that more than 64,000 people are going \"basically unchecked\" through the airport every week. He claimed that almost no travellers coming into the country are following the 14-day quarantine rules.\nThe international flights since Jan. 1 with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19 include:", "More than 30 international flights land in Toronto since start of 2021 with a passenger who later tested positive for COVID-19", "Since the start of 2021, more than 30 international flights have landed in Toronto with a passenger who later tested positive for COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T19:46:47"

"2021-01-13T14:27:00"

"2021-01-13T00:00:00"

[ "TAMPA, FLA. -- Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse says he has to do a better job of keeping his mask on during games.\nDuring the NBA team's first 10 games, Nurse often has been seen on television with his mask pulled down under his nose and mouth.\nNBA coaches are being told to wear masks at all times during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nNurse says players have had trouble hearing him during breaks, causing him to pull down his mask.\nThe coach says it has been difficult to keep it on, but he says he must improve going forward.\nWith more teams dealing with virus-related issues, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association enacted additional rules Tuesday in the hope of keeping the season going safely.", "Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse says he must keep mask on during games", "Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse says he has to do a better job of keeping his mask on during games." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T14:06:52"

"2021-01-07T08:22:00"

"2021-01-07T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Twenty-eight Crosslinx employees and subcontracted staff working on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks.\nA spokesperson for Crosslinx- which is overseeing the construction of Toronto’s new rail line- confirmed the cases in a statement to CP24 Thursday morning.\nThe 28 infected employees work at eight different sites and tested positive over the last 14 days.\nSeventeen of the cases are believed to be community acquired, while 10 were infected at work and one has yet to be determined, Crosslinx said.\n“Right now, there are about 70 Crosslinx employees and subcontracted workers who are self-isolating because of a potential exposure,” the statement read.\nCrosslinx was hired by Ontario’s transportation agency, Metrolinx, to build the 25-stop LRT that is expected to provide a midtown connection between east and west Toronto.\nMetrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said Crosslinx is responsible for running safe work sites to minimize COVID-19 transmission.\n“We are monitoring the situation on Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) sites closely to ensure they remain accountable to the requirements of our contract. The Ministry of Labour will also act independently within its authority, to make sure CTS lives up to its obligations to provide a safe environment both on and around their construction sites,”Aikins said in a statement to CP24.\nHoping for a full recovery for all Crosslinx workers. Constructors are entrusted with a critical responsibility to run a safe site – this includes ensuring protections are in place (and followed) for their employees to minimize transmission of COVID-19. https://t.co/K395HSUadD — Anne Marie Aikins (@AMAwithAMA) January 7, 2021\nSince the pandemic began in March 2020, 65 people who work at one of Crosslinx’s 24 construction sites between Black Creek Drive and Kennedy Road have tested positive for the virus, Crosslinx said.\nThere are roughly 1,500 people working on sites at any given time but individual workers can change depending on work activities, Crosslinx said.\nThe construction and design consortium said it has been reporting cases to Toronto Public Health since last March.\nCrosslinx also said that their construction sites have been visited 27 times by the Ministry of Labour (MOL) between Mar. and Dec. 2020. Twenty-three orders were issued during this time, including more hot water at wash stations, cleaning wash facilities, wearing masks when not socially distanced and social distancing on breaks.\nThe cases at Crosslinx sites come as the city copes with increasing cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus amid a provincewide lockdown that began on Dec. 26.\nOn Wednesday, Toronto Public Health reported 837 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths.\nCrosslinx said it is coping with “significant delays” on LRT construction due to the global pandemic.\nIn Oct., Crosslinx initiated legal action against Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario in response to “their refusal to declare COVID-19 an emergency” and recognize the impacts the pandemic is having on the project.\n“The extent of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the project schedule is yet to be determined. This requires extensive consultation with Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario, and our legal action is one step in that process,” the statement read.\nAikins said “there is no doubt” that there have been impacts from COVID-19 on the project but Metrolinx disputes Crosslinx’s claims.\n“The matter between the parties is specific to their claim for compensation being inconsistent with what’s entitled under the contract. There are many businesses who have had to shoulder their part of getting through the pandemic and CTS is no different,” she said.\nMetrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario awarded the LRT contract to Crosslinx in July 2015 and the line was set to be completed by 2022.", "28 people working on Eglinton Crosstown LRT test positive for COVID-19", "Twenty-eight Crosslinx employees and subcontracted staff working on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T16:37:45"

"2021-01-28T10:21:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- COVID-19 infections in Ontario have shot back up past the 2,000 mark following three days of declining case numbers.\nThe 2,093 cases are up from the 1,670 reported on Wednesday and the 1,740 logged a day before that. On Monday, the province logged 1,958 new infections and 2,417 on Sunday.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of infections recorded now stands at 2,128, down from the 2,751 a week earlier.\nThursday’s report brings Ontario’s lab-confirmed COVID-19 case total to 262,463, including deaths and recoveries.\nFifty-six of those deaths occurred in the last 24 hours and 31 of them involved a resident of a long-term care home. Since the pandemic began, the province has recorded 6,014 deaths related to COVID-19.\nAt the same time, 2,491 more cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health, pushing the total number of COVID-19 recoveries in Ontario to 234,971.\nAnd with 64,664 tests processed in the previous day, Ontario’s COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 3.3 per cent, which is the lowest it’s been since Jan. 22.\nWhere are the new COVID-19 cases?\nMost of the cases reported Thursday were found in just a handful of regions across Ontario.\nThe province reported 700 cases in Toronto, a sharp increase over Wednesday’s total of 450. Another 331 infections were found in Peel Region and 228 in York Region. There were 123 cases in Niagara Region while Hamilton and Durham Region reported 94 and 85 infections, respectively.\nThere are currently 1,338 patients in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 358 are in the ICU and 276 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nUpdate on vaccinations\nThe Ontario government admitted Thursday that health officials had “misinterpreted the ‘total vaccinations completed’ category,” on the province’s COVID-19 vaccine tracker web page resulting in an error in the total number of people who are considered to be fully vaccinated against the virus.\n“As a result, the number of people who have been fully vaccinated is half of what is currently listed,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said in an email.\nThe province says that only 55,286 people are actually considered fully vaccinated, a far cry from the 96,459 reported a day earlier.\nAt least 317,240 shots have been administered since inoculations began last month. Nearly 12,000 shots were given out in the last 24 hours.", "COVID-19 Ontario: Cases shoot back up to more than 2,000 following three-day decline", "COVID-19 infections in Ontario have shot back up past the 2,000 mark following three days of declining case numbers." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T18:39:40"

"2021-01-27T11:42:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A Canada Post employee infected with COVID-19 during an outbreak that has impacted 224 workers at a Mississauga, Ont., facility died over the weekend, the union representing workers said.\nCanadian Union of Postal Workers Toronto local president Qaiser Maroof told CP24 the employee at the Gateway East plant died on Monday.\nHe said the man worked nights on “Shift 1” at the Gateway East plant.\nHe was tested on Jan. 19 and isolated at home after his test.\nBetween the start of January and today, 224 workers at the facility have tested positive for coronavirus infection.\nThe spread at the 4,500-worker facility got so bad this month that 100 Canada Border Services Agency guards assigned to inspect packages at the facility were instructed to stay away.\nMore than 350 workers – an entire shift of workers in one area of the facility - were sent home to self-isolate last week as Peel Public Health sought to slow the spread of infection in the facility.\nMaroof said the deceased employee was not part of the shift sent home to self-isolate, and sought out testing on his own.\nHe did not show symptoms prior to his test and was upset that he was not offered a test as a proactive measure, Maroof recalled.\n“It is an unnecessary loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends,” Maroof said in a statement. “This tragedy underscores why we have been insisting to the government that the postal workers are indeed frontline workers.”\nEmployees told CP24 news of death was shared informally with some workers on Tuesday.\nChief Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region Dr. Lawrence Loh would not comment on the death when asked Wednesday.\nHe said that rapid tests were used to detect cases at Gateway East.\nMaroof said he did not know whether the man was hospitalized prior to his death or where in the GTA he passed away.\nThe man’s wife also works for Canada Post, at a Toronto facility on Eastern Avenue.\nCanada Post did not comment on the death when asked Wednesday, only saying that the outbreak was impacting parcel processing speeds at the facility.", "Canada Post employee dies after contracting COVID-19 amid major outbreak at Mississauga facility", "A Canada Post employee infected with COVID-19 during an outbreak that has impacted 224 workers at a Mississauga, Ont., facility died over the weekend, the union representing workers said." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T23:26:47"

"2021-01-21T17:09:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Nearly 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Toronto identified with a racialized group in November, according to the city.\nOn Thursday, Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa discussed new data on ethno-racialized groups affected by the virus during a city media briefing.\nThe data shows that racialized groups continue to make up a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases, as they have throughout the pandemic.\nIn November, 79 per cent of reported cases of the novel coronavirus in Toronto were among those who identified with a racialized group. This is higher than the proportion of the city’s population who identify as belonging to a racialized group (52 per cent.)\nMeanwhile, 21 per cent of cases were among people who identified as white, while 48 per cent of Toronto’s population identifies as white.\nIn addition, 71 per cent of people who were hospitalized for the virus in November identified as coming from a racialized group.\n“This overrepresentation is consistent with the higher overall case rates in these groups. It does not suggest racialized groups are more likely to become hospitalized if infected,” de Villa said.\nThe city gathered population data from the 2016 census.\nThe ethno-racialized groups over-represented in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations include Arab, Middle Eastern or West Asian, Black, East Asian, Latin American, South Asian or Indo-Carribbean and Southeast Asian.\nWhereas, East Asian and white people are under-represented in cases and hospitalizations, according to the city’s data.\n“South Asian and Indo-Caribbean people now make up the highest proportion of cases amongst ethno-racial groups overall at 27 per cent of cases while comprising 13 per cent of the population,” de Villa said.\nIn November, the COVID-19 infection rate among people in Toronto was higher for those identifying with racialized groups (1,372 per 100,000 people), compared to white people (397 per 100,000 people_. The city’s overall infection rate was 905.\nThe novel coronavirus also disproportionately affects households with a lower income.\nNearly half of COVID-19 cases in November were among those living in households that could be considered lower income, compared to 30 per cent of the population that met the same definition.\nMeanwhile, 54 per cent of people who were hospitalized with the virus were living in low income households.\nA household earning less than $30,000 roughly aligns with low income measures for one person households, while households with two to four people earning less than $50,000 also meet those measures, according to the city.\n“While COVID-19 is a threat to everyone, it is plainly imposing real and disproportionate burdens on racialized communities and lower income groups. It is important to acknowledge how people’s living and working conditions are contributing to these inequities” de Villa said.\nIn November, the infection rate was higher among people who are considered low income (808 per 100,000 people), than it was among those living in higher income households (356 per 100,000 people). The city’s overall rate was 492.\nDe Villa noted that racialized communities are more likely to work on the frontlines putting them at more risk of getting infected.\n“Many workers and lower wage frontline jobs do not get paid if they call in sick. This is a significant barrier to our pandemic management efforts and reinforces the need for effective income supports for working people suffering from COVID-19, in particular paid sick days,” she said.\nWhile discussing the city’s latest COVID-19 numbers, de Villa noted that the city’s effective reproductive number, which represents the expected number of cases generated from one case, dipped below one to 0.86, marking a trend in the right direction that hasn’t been witnessed for a few months.\n“This means that overall each new case of COVID-19 is resulting in less than one additional new infection. Practically speaking, it means that we have a slight advantage over the virus rather than the virus having the advantage over us,” she said.\nThe seven-day rolling average of new cases also dropped to 730 compared to 772 a week ago.\nBut de Villa warned that “a consistent pattern” needs to be witnessed before the decline in numbers can be called a trend.\nOn Thursday, the city reported 986 new cases and 10 more deaths. But Toronto Public Health said 102 cases were added to today’s numbers due to a data backlog that has now been resolved.", "Nearly 80% of COVID-19 cases in Toronto were among racialized groups in November", "Nearly 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Toronto identified with a racialized group in November, according to the city." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T04:56:16"

"2021-01-05T15:38:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in following a police-involved shooting in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Tuesday afternoon that left a man dead.\nNiagara Regional Police said officers were called to the area of Lundy’s Lane and Corwin Avenue near Niagara Falls at approximately 1:30 p.m. for a report of a suspected impaired driver.\nPolice said the vehicle was located less than an hour later near Line 3 and the Niagara River Parkway.\nAn interaction followed between the officers and an adult male and he was subsequently shot by police, according to a news release issued by police on Tuesday evening.\nPolice said the man was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries where we was later pronounced deceased.\nRoads are closed in the area of Line 3 at Concession 1 as well as the Niagara Parkway at Line 2 and Line 4 as the investigation gets underway.\nDetectives from Niagara Regional Police Service will also be investigating the incident.\nAnyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information relating to the investigation is asked to contact the SIU at 1 (800) 787-8529 or the Niagara Regional Police Service at (905) 688-4111 ext. 1009134.", "Man shot dead by police after pursuit in Niagara-on-the-Lake", "The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in following a police-involved shooting in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Tuesday afternoon that left a man dead." ]

[]

"2021-01-25T22:07:59"

"2021-01-25T15:57:00"

"2021-01-25T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- One male has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a crash in Mississauga this afternoon.\nThe two-vehicle crash happened near Dixie Road and Winding Trail at around 2:45 p.m.\nPolice say a male victim suffered critical injuries and has been taken to a trauma centre for treatment.\nDixie Road is closed in both directions between Burnhamthorpe Road East and Winding Trail.\nPolice are asking drivers to avoid the area.", "Male critically injured after two-vehicle crash in Mississauga", "One male has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a crash in Mississauga this afternoon." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T02:01:07"

"2021-01-05T19:56:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Residents and staff members at the City of Toronto’s 10 long-term care homes will be vaccinated against COVID-19 every day this week and into the weekend, a city spokesperson tells CTV News Toronto.\nDr. Brian Hodges is the Chief Medical Officer of University Health Network (UHN) and has been on the front lines of the vaccine rollout in several of those facilities.\nHe told CTV News Toronto that he’s been making his way through homes in the downtown core since Dec. 31, vaccinating one home in the morning, and then another in the afternoon.\n“We’re going very, very well,” Hodges said. ”It will be within days that we will finish our homes. UHN has 15 long-term care home partners. And we’re on track to finish those this week,” he added.\nHodges showed CTV News Toronto the clinic as staff waved to the camera. Over the loud speaker, a man could be heard congratulating everyone at the home who received the shot.\nHodges says members from Women’s College Hospital and Mount Sinai have been shadowing his team to vaccinate more of the vulnerable soon.\n“It’s actually incredibly moving work. There have been some dark times in health-care and long-term care and it’s a moment of joy and excitement for us, and the gratitude is palpable,” he said.\nSlow rollout of vaccines in long-term care homes criticized\nThere has been growing criticism over the number of vaccines available and how many are going into the arms of the most vulnerable. The province said Tuesday it can’t tally just yet when all residents will be vaccinated.\nThe province said it received 53,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in December, which is easier to transport compared to the ultra-cold storage requirements of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, of which the Ontario government is expecting another 56,000 doses.\nThe province said Tuesday 3,000 Moderna doses went to 24 homes and another 4,000 is planned to be used in 26 homes by Wednesday.\nIt also said 26,000 health-care workers in long-term care and retirement homes received Pfizer-BioNTech shots, along with 1,000 residents.\nSome advocates say with more than one-third of homes in Ontario dealing with an outbreak, vaccination numbers are not high enough.\n“We know that if it’s not ramped up rapidly, more people are going to die, everyday,” said CanAge CEO Laura Tamblyn Watts, a national advocacy group for seniors.\n“Many long term care homes have no clear understanding when the vaccine would come into their home, how it would be deployed. Family members who are trying to better understand if their loved ones are safe, can’t get the information.”\nThe City of Toronto said last week, 600 residents at Castleview Wychwood Towers, Bendale Acres and Fudger house received the vaccine and inoculations are continuing this week.\nA city spokesperson said some staff members at the city operated homes are receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine this week.\nRet. General Rick Hillier, who is leading Ontario’s vaccine task force, said Tuesday that it will take about 55,000 doses of vaccine to inoculate long-term care residents and staff in the province’s COVID-19 hot spots (Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex) by Jan. 21", "Front-line doctor describes COVID-19 vaccination effort in Toronto long-term care homes", "Residents and staff members at the City of Toronto’s 10 long-term care homes will be vaccinated against COVID-19 every day this week and into the weekend, a city spokesperson tells CTV News Toronto." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T17:21:12"

"2021-01-13T11:16:00"

"2021-01-13T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have signed team president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro to a five-year contract extension.\nTeam owner Rogers Communications confirmed the signing in a post on Twitter.\nRogers chairman Edward Rogers says Shapiro's leadership and commitment over the last five years have been critical to the team's growth and development.\nThe Blue Jays returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016.\nToronto posted a 32-28 record in the pandemic-shortened campaign to earn a wild-card spot in the expanded playoffs.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2021.", "Toronto Blue Jays sign president and CEO Mark Shapiro to five-year contract extension", "The Toronto Blue Jays have signed team president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro to a five-year contract extension." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T13:05:58"

"2021-01-19T07:48:00"

"2021-01-19T00:00:00"

[ "TAMPA, FLA. -- After a rough start to the season, the Toronto Raptors appear to be finding their way.\nKyle Lowry set the tone with 23 points Monday and the Toronto defence held Mavericks star Luka Doncic in check as the Raptors defeated Dallas 116-93 for their third straight win.\n“I think we're just getting better,” said Lowry. “I think we're just getting more confident in ourselves. I think we're getting more comfortable with what we're trying to do offensively and defensively.”\nToronto (5-8) held Doncic to 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Dallas (6-7) suffered its third straight loss. Doncic, who made 4-of-11 shots, appeared upset about the attention he was getting from Toronto, with an elbow thrown in the direction of Stanley Johnson in the fourth quarter.\n“I thought he was frustrated. Everybody has a tough night. It happens to everybody,” said Johnson.\nFred VanVleet objected to Doncic's swinging elbow, earning a technical for defending his teammate. While Johnson appreciated the gesture, he seemed unfazed by the incident.\n“We're playing basketball,” said Johnson. “We're not going to give each other hugs. (Doncic) got me. It didn't hurt. I just get on with it.”\nDoncic came into Monday's game fourth in the league in scoring (28.3) and second in assists (9.4).\nJohnson and OG Anunoby defended Doncic for much of the night.\n“I give those guys, both of them, a lot of credit,” said Toronto coach Nick Nurse. “OG and Stanley, I thought, took the challenge and worked at it. They really worked at it all night. They were just constantly there applying pressure … I thought they both played with tremendous desire on (Doncic).”\nJohnson said it was a team effort.\n“It's pretty easy when you go out there and you're playing one guy with five guys,” he said.\nLowry added nine rebounds and seven assists.\n“He really had a good one going tonight,” said Nurse.\n“I think he was just kind of in that zone where he was attacking at the right time, shooting at the right time and finishing,” he added. “He shot 9-of-12. That's super-efficient.”\nChris Boucher had 21 points, marking the sixth straight game - and eighth this season - that he has scored 15-plus points off the Toronto bench.\nPascal Siakam, who became more influential in the second half, had 19 points. Norm Powell added 17 points as the Toronto bench accounted for 55 points on the night.\nToronto's defence stifled Dallas as the second half wore on and the Raptors pulled away after leading by nine going into the fourth quarter. It marked the first time in nine games Toronto had held the opposition to under 100 points.\nKristaps Porzingis led Dallas with 23 points.\nThe Mavericks, playing their second game in as many days, were missing Canadian Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber and Josh Richardson, all out due to the league's COVID-19 “health and safety protocols.” On the plus side, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jalen Brunson both returned to the starting lineup - Hardaway after a one-game absence due to a groin strain and Brunson after missing four games due to health and safety protocols.\nNorm Powell delivered a pre-game message on Martin Luther King Day thanking TV viewers “for tuning in to celebrate this amazing man's life.” There were no fans allowed into Amalie Arena.\nMavericks coach Rick Carlisle didn't last long. Irate at the officiating, he was ejected with 58.4 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Jamahl Mosley took over for him.\nThanks to a late 7-0 run, Toronto led 22-18 after a sloppy first quarter that saw both teams shoot 1-of-10 from three-point range. Porzingis (eight points) and Doncic (six) accounted for 14 of 18 points for Dallas in the quarter.\nThe Raptors built the lead to as many as 10 at 41-31 in the second quarter before Dallas reeled off a 16-6 run to tie it at 47-47 at the half. Toronto was 2-of-17 from distance. but had success in the paint, with 34 points in the first half.\nDoncic had nine points, five assists and seven rebounds in the half.\nToronto's defence stiffened in the third, helping trigger a 20-6 run. Siakam found his rhythm, combining with Lowry for 21 points in the quarter, as the Raptors led 81-72 going into the fourth quarter.\nThe Raptors shot 44-of-88 overall - including 12-of-33 from three-point range. Dallas shot 31-of-82 (37.8 per cent), including 9-of-36 from distance.\nToronto entered the game ranked first in the league in three-pointers made (16.4) and attempted (43.9).\nThe Raptors, in the middle of a five-game stretch at Amalie Arena, were coming off consecutive three-point victories against the Charlotte Hornets, both of which went down to the wire.\nThe 21-year-old Doncic was coming off a 36-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist performance in a 117-101 loss Sunday to the visiting Chicago Bulls. It marked only the eighth 35-15-15 game in NBA history, joining Oscar Robertson (who did it five times), Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden.\nIt was also the 29th career triple-double for the third-year NBA pro from Slovenia, moving him past Michael Jordan into 15th on the league's all-time list.\nMonday marked the halfway point of six games in nine days for Dallas with Carlisle calling it “the most difficult scheduling of games in Mavericks history,” according to the Dallas Morning News. That stretch includes trips to Milwaukee, Indiana and San Antonio as well as Toronto's temporary Florida home.\nThe Raptors host the Miami Heat on Wednesday and Friday before heading to Indiana for Sunday and Monday games.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2021", "Lowry leads the way as Raptors down the Mavericks for their third straight win", "After a rough start to the season, the Toronto Raptors appear to be finding their way. Kyle Lowry set the tone with 23 points Monday and the Toronto defence held Mavericks star Luka Doncic in check as the Raptors defeated Dallas 116-93 for their third straight win." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T15:47:24"

"2021-01-18T10:16:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario is reporting a single-day drop in new COVID-19 case numbers as testing for the disease slumps.\nHealth officials logged 2,578 infections of the novel coronavirus Monday after recording more than 2,900 cases daily for most of the month of January.\nMonday’s report marks the lowest number of new cases in Ontario since Jan. 1 when 2,476 were logged. And with only 40,301 COVID-19 tests processed in the previous day, the province’s positivity rate has climbed to 6.6 per cent.\nThe last time test numbers fell below the 40,000 mark was on Jan. 5 when just over 35,000 swabs were processed.\nMeanwhile, 24 deaths related to the disease were documented across the province in the last 24-hour period and 2,826 other cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health.\nOntario’s COVID-19 case total now stands at 240,364, including 5,433 deaths and 206,310 recoveries.\nThere are currently 28,621 active cases of the virus in Ontario.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come.", "Fewer than 2,600 COVID-19 infections logged in Ontario as testing slumps", "Ontario is reporting a single-day drop in new COVID-19 case numbers as testing for the disease slumps." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T13:56:36"

"2021-01-12T07:16:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are expected to release new modelling data on Tuesday as the province grapples with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nPremier Doug Ford hinted at the modelling last week, saying the data will make people “fall off their chair.”\nThe last time modelling data was released to the public was in mid-December ahead of the holiday season. At the time, officials predicted that if cases increased by an average of three per cent per day, the province would generate around 5,000 cases per day by the end of the month.\nOfficials said that “daily mortality is increasing and based on forecasting will continue to increase,” adding that under the “maximum likelihood estimate” the province would see a little under 50 deaths a day by February.\nIt also predicted that under any scenario, Ontario would surpass the 300 benchmark of COVID-19 patients in intensive care, making it nearly impossible to provide care not related to the disease.\nThe modelling is being presented hours before the premier is expected to announce new measures in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.\nMultiple sources confirmed to CTV News that invoking a state of emergency is under active consideration.\nThe modelling data is expected to be released publicly around 11:30 a.m.", "Ontario expected to release new modelling data Tuesday amid rising COVID-19 cases", "Ontario health officials are expected to release new modelling data on Tuesday as the province grapples with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T15:50:08"

"2021-01-11T10:15:00"

"2021-01-11T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- More than 5,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, officials confirmed as they logged more than 3,000 cases for the eighth day in a row.\nHealth officials logged 3,338 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, marking a decrease from the record-breaking 3,945 infections the previous day.\nThere were 3,433 cases recorded on Saturday, 3,799 on Friday (not including an extra 450 cases added due to a backlog) and 3,519 on Thursday.\nOfficials also recorded 29 additional deaths related to the disease, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in Ontario to 5,012.\nMore than 1,500 people are currently being treated for COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals. According to a Critical Care Report obtained by CP24, at least 409 of those patients are being cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU).\nThe province says there are at least 268 people in the ICU who require a ventilator to breath.\nOfficials have said that once the number of ICU patients with COVID-19 exceeds the 300 mark it becomes nearly impossible to provide care not related to the disease.\nThe total number of lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Ontario now stands at 219,120, including deaths and recoveries.\nWhere are the COVID-19 cases?\n\"Locally, there are 931 new cases in Toronto, 531 in Peel, 241 in York Region, 168 in Niagara and 165 in Waterloo,\" Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted on Monday.\nAccording to the Ministry of Health, 46,403 COVID-19 tests were processed in the last 24 hours, which they say brings the province’s positivity rate to about 7.7 per cent.\nThe new infections come as Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet meets to discuss new COVID-19 lockdown measures in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.\n“We worked all weekend, basically all weekend until late hours last night. We will be going to cabinet with recommendations will make an announcement tomorrow,” the premier told reporters on Monday.\nGovernment officials have also confirmed that new modelling data will be released on Tuesday. Last week, Ford hinted that Ontario residents will “fall off their chair” after hearing the news.\nThe entire province has been under a lockdown order since Dec. 26.\nThis is a developing news story. More to come.", "Ontario's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 5,000, more than 3,300 new cases logged", "More than 5,000 people have died after contracting COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, officials confirmed as they logged more than 3,000 cases for the eighth day in a row." ]

[ "Katherine Declerq" ]

"2021-01-02T16:26:47"

"2021-01-02T10:20:00"

"2021-01-02T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- More than 5,800 new COVID-19 infections and nearly 100 deaths related to the disease were logged in Ontario over the past two days as the province smashed their previous record for most cases reported in a single day.\nData released Saturday shows that 3,363 cases of the novel coronavirus were logged this morning and another 2,476 cases were reported on Friday.\nThe province did not release any COVID-19 data on New Year’s Day.\nThe previous single-day record of COVID-19 cases was 3,328, recorded on Thursday.\nThe Ministry of Health noted that the increase in cases for Saturday may have been the result of over-reported numbers due to a “data issue” by one local public health unit.\n“Due to a data issue, cases for Toronto Public Health were underreported on December 31 and overreported on January 1,” a spokesperson said.\nOntario’s death toll has now reached 4,626, with a combined 95 deaths reported in the last two days.\nOf those deaths 95 deaths, 37 were residents in long-term care homes.\nIn total since the pandemic was declared, more than 3,000 people over the age of 80 have died in Ontario after contracting COVID-19, despite only making up about a little over seven per cent of all cases.\nOf the combined 5,839 cases reported Saturday, 338 infections were reported in people over the age of 80, while 2,123 were logged in people between the ages of 20 and 39 and at least 1,727 were found in people between the ages of 40 and 50.\nThere were 877 new cases of COVID-19 in people between the ages of 60 and 79.\nAs of Saturday, more than 1,000 people are being treated for COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals, with at least 322 of those patients in the intensive care unit. (ICU). Two-hundred-and-twenty of those ICU patients are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nHowever, according to the government, more than 10 per cent of hospitals did not submit data on COVID-19 patients.\n“We anticipate the number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases,” officials said on their website.\nWhere are the COVID-19 cases?\nOf the cases recorded on Saturday, the majority appear to be in the Greater Toronto Area.\nThere were 700 cases logged in Toronto, 713 in Peel Region, 395 in York Region, 115 in Durham Region, 152 in Halton Region and 171 in Hamilton.\nOther public health units reporting more than 50 COVD-19 cases include Ottawa (81), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (53), Simcoe-Muskoka (58), Windsor-Essex (226), Middlesex-London (94), Southwestern Public Health (56), Niagara Region (166), Waterloo (58) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (55).\nIn the last two days, the province processed more than 130,000 COVID-19 tests, logging a new record on Friday with 70,570 tests completed in the 24-hour period.\nAccording to the ministry, the positivity rate in Ontario now stands at about six per cent as of Saturday.\nThe total number of lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Ontario is 187,998, including deaths and recoveries.", "Ontario logs more than 5,800 new COVID-19 infections over two days, sets new single-day record", "More than 5,800 new COVID-19 infections and nearly 100 deaths related to the disease were logged in Ontario over the last two days as the province smashed their previous record for most cases reported in a single day." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T00:37:39"

"2021-01-18T19:19:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario’s top doctor has said the number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily should be “around or below 1,000” before the lockdown orders can be lifted.\nSpeaking at a news conference on Monday afternoon, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said that officials would have to be able to guarantee hospital capacity could be protected before changing public health measures in Ontario.\n“If you do that knowing the different numbers and per cents that usually get admitted to hospital and how many of those end up in the (intensive care unit) ICU you get a general sense that you have to get somewhere around or below 1,000 new cases a day,” he said.\n“It was only a few months ago, the end of October that we were there, and we can get back there I believe.”\nWilliams added that the number of people being treated in Ontario intensive care units (ICU) for COVID-19 would also have to be reduced from 400 to about 150.\nThe province said that it becomes harder to support non-COVID-19 needs when the number of ICU patients with the novel coronavirus exceeds 150.\nIt becomes “impossible” to handle once it exceeds 350 people.\nAs of Monday, there are currently 1,571 patients in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, at least 394 patients are being treated in the ICU and 303 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nOntario Premier Doug Ford issued a province-wide lockdown on Dec. 26 that shuttered all non-essential businesses and prohibited in-person dining at bars and restaurants.\nAs the number of COVID-19 cases neared 4,000 a day in early January, Ford declared a state of emergency and issued a stay-at home order.\nUnder this order, residents are required to stay at home with the exception for essential reasons.\nOntario’s COVID-19 case total now stands at 240,364, including 5,433 deaths and 206,310 recoveries.", "Ontario's top doctor says daily COVID-19 cases will have to fall to around 1,000 to lift lockdown", "Ontario’s top doctor has said the number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily should be “around or below 1,000” before the lockdown orders can be lifted." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-14T22:13:25"

"2021-01-14T07:08:00"

"2021-01-14T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario's stay-at-home order is now in effect for the province but the government said police don't have the authority to randomly stop residents on the street to make sure their trip is essential.\nThe stay-at-home order began at 12:01 on Thursday morning and was put in place by the Ford government to help curb the spread of COVID-19 as it threatens to overwhelm the province’s healthcare system.\nThe order requires residents to stay home except for essential outings, such as accessing health care, shopping for groceries, or outdoor exercise. The province has said there's no set definition for what is \"essential\" because everyone has their own unique circumstances and regional considerations.\nA spokesman for Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said the order doesn't give police the power to enter homes or stop vehicles solely to check if the measure is being followed.\nResidents travelling to work are also not required to have proof from their boss that they are doing so.\n\"On its own, being outside is not sufficient evidence of a failure to comply with the stay-at-home order,\" spokesman Stephen Warner said.\nCritics have called the order unclear but Premier Doug Ford has asked residents to use their \"best judgment\" in deciding whether to go out.\nOn Thursday morning, the Ontario government issued an emergency alert to all cellphones, televisions and radios warning that the province's stay-at-home order is now in effect.\nThe alert was issued at 10 a.m. on Thursday by Jones.\n\"A stay-at-home order is in effect. Only leave home for essential purposes such as food, healthcare, exercise or work. It’s the law. Stay home, stay safe, save lives,\" the alert read.\nSeveral police forces said they were still reviewing the details of the measure. The province sent police services a memo on enforcing the order but refused to make it public.\nA spokeswoman for Peel Regional Police said the service planned to respond to complaints about violations of the order but would not be stopping drivers and pedestrians to see where they are going.\nToronto's police chief said his force would release more details later and asked residents to do their part and stay home.\nOntarians caught violating the stay-at-home order could face a fine and prosecution under the Reopening Ontario Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Emergency Management (EMPCA).\nPenalties for breaking the stay-at-home order could include up to a year in jail, according to Jones.\nWith files from The Canadian Press.", "With Ontario's stay-at-home order in effect, can police randomly stop you?", "Ontario's stay-at-home order is now in effect for the province but the government said police don’t have the authority to randomly stop residents on the street to make sure their trip is essential." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T16:23:17"

"2021-01-04T11:01:00"

"2021-01-04T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto officials will be announcing new measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces during a briefing Monday afternoon, Mayor John Tory confirms.\nWorkplaces currently account for the second highest number of known outbreaks outside of healthcare institutions.\nThere have been 302 community and workplace outbreaks in Toronto, including six new ones since Dec. 30.\nIn an interview with CP24 on Monday morning Tory said that the measures being announced today will be aimed at imposing additional safety requirements for essential workplaces as well as additional reporting requirements.\nCurrently, workplaces are under no obligation to report COVID-19 outbreaks publicly and the statistics provided by the province only lump outbreaks into larger categories.\n“There will be more public reporting and transparency and this is on the theory that information is power,” Tory said. “Information is power for the public but more importantly for the workers themselves to ensure they are kept safe.”\nToronto’s Board of Health did ask Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa to begin publicly releasing information about workplace outbreaks back in September.\nAt the time, de Villa said that she would be “exploring” the proposal, though she also said that it was important to balance the need to release as much information as possible with privacy concerns.\n“At the end of the day the fundamental goal of public health is to improve the health status of the population and to reduce any inequities in that health status and in so far as the sharing of relevant information supports that, that is what we seek to do every day,” she said.\nToday’s briefing is scheduled for 2 p.m.", "New measures aimed at curbing spread of COVID-19 in Toronto workplaces to be announced this afternoon", "Toronto officials will be announcing new measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces during a briefing Monday afternoon, Mayor John Tory confirms." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T01:20:44"

"2021-01-28T07:32:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Peel police said a man who was barricaded inside a Mississauga home has been taken into custody, ending a nearly 13-hour long negotiation.\nShortly before 7 a.m. on Thursday, police responded to reports of a domestic call at Lundene Drive and Cramer Street.\nPolice said a 27-year-old man has barricaded inside the home with a knife and has threatened to harm himself.\nThe family living at the residence safely left the home before officers arrived, police said.\nThe situation was contained to the residence, and police said there was no danger to the community.\nJust before 5:30 p.m., police said crisis negotiators continue to communicate with the man to facilitate a peaceful surrender.\nPolice announced shortly after 7:30 p.m. that the incident was resolved, and the man has been arrested.\nNo injuries were reported.", "Man taken into custody after barricading inside Mississauga home", "Peel police said a man who was barricaded inside a Mississauga home has been taken into custody, ending a nearly 13-hour long negotiation." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T13:17:16"

"2021-01-05T07:44:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police made nearly 90 impaired related arrests during this year’s holiday RIDE program.\nThe annual checks were launched across the city by the service on Nov. 21.\nThere were 344 holiday RIDE programs deployed in total this year.\nAs a result of these checks, 87 impaired related arrests were made, police said on Tuesday. Of those arrests, 65 were related to alcohol and 22 were related to drugs.\nAccording to police, 60 drivers were issued three-day licence suspensions during the checks.\nLast year, Toronto police arrested 122 people for impaired driving during the holiday RIDE program and suspended the licences of 51 drivers.\nDrivers’ licences are suspended for three days if they have a blood alcohol content reading in the “warn” range of between 0.05 and 0.08 per cent.", "Nearly 90 impaired related arrests made during this year's holiday RIDE program, Toronto police say", "Toronto police made nearly 90 impaired related arrests during this year’s holiday RIDE program." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-28T17:42:04"

"2021-01-28T10:32:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government says it has only fully vaccinated half the people it had originally reported due to a government data error.\nAccording to the Ministry of Health, rather than providing data on the number of people who have been fully vaccinated, which would require two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, officials \"inadvertently provided data on the number of doses administered to achieve full vaccination.\"\n\"As a result, the number of people who have been fully vaccinated is half of what is currently listed,\" a statement from the Ministry of Health said.\nThe government has updated since updated the online vaccine data to reflect the accurate total number people fully vaccinated, which as of Thursday morning is 55,286.\nOn Wednesday, the government was reporting the number of fully vaccinated people was more than 96,000.", "Ontario COVID-19 vaccinations only half of what was reported because of government data error", "The Ontario government says it has only fully vaccinated half the people it had originally reported due to a government data error." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T04:22:12"

"2021-01-05T22:42:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario hospital CEO who serves on the province’s COVID-19 science table has been booted from his advisory role after it was revealed that he vacationed in the Dominican Republic as Ontario went into a province-wide lockdown over the holidays.\nIn a statement Tuesday evening, St. Joseph’s Health System confirmed that its CEO, Dr. Tom Stewart, was out of the country on vacation from Dec. 18 - Jan.5.\n“We recognize and value the efforts of all our staff who have been working tirelessly and with great dedication. We encourage and support our staff taking vacation time while following public health advice,” St. Joseph’s Senior Vice President Brian Guest said in the statement.\nThe statement also included an apology from Stewart.\n“I regret this non-essential travel and I’m sorry,” Stewart said. “I recognize everyone should be avoiding non-essential travel now, including me.\n“As a health system leader, my actions in no way reflect the tireless dedication and commitment of the staff at St. Joseph’s Health System, who continue to live the legacy of our organization every day.”\nLate Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said Stewart is no longer on the advisory table.\n“Helen Angus, Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Health, has accepted Dr. Tom Stewart’s resignation from the Health Coordination Table, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, and the LTC Incident Management System Table,” the ministry said in a statement. “The people of Ontario have made countless sacrifices during the pandemic and it remains critically important that everyone continues to follow public health advice. We all have a part to play to stop the spread of COVID-19.”\nStewart is also President and CEO of Niagara Health.\nHe is the latest public official to be caught vacationing abroad despite public health advice against it because of the pandemic.\nLast week MPP Rod Phillips resigned as Ontario's minister of finance after it was discovered that he had taken off on a vacation to the Caribbean island of St. Bart’s on Dec. 13.\nOther politicians and officials from various parties across the country have since faced scrutiny about their recent trips abroad.\nThe trips come at a time when public officials have instituted lockdowns and other drastic measures to keep people from moving about unnecessarily in order to try and contain the virus, and have sparked outrage and charges of hypocrisy.\nThe federal government has been advising all Canadians against non-essential travel outside of the country for months because of the pandemic and the risk of either inadvertently carrying the virus abroad or bringing it home from somewhere else.\nOntario has recently confirmed six cases of the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus — all of them either directly or indirectly linked to travel. The new variant is thought to be more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus and has sparked concerns about new strains of the virus travelling the globe.\nGuest said Stewart will be self-isolating for 14 days, as per protocol for returning travelers.", "Member of Ontario’s COVID-19 advisory table booted from role after vacationing in Dominican over holidays", "An Ontario hospital CEO who serves on the province’s COVID-19 science table has been booted from his advisory role after it was revealed that he vacationed in the Dominican Republic as Ontario went into a province-wide lockdown over the holidays." ]

[]

"2021-01-02T05:23:00"

"2021-01-01T23:19:00"

"2021-01-01T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after bottles containing hazardous substances were found in a park in Scarborough Friday afternoon.\nTwo plastic bottles containing a white substance were found near a park in the area of McCowan Road and Eglinton Avenue East just after 1 p.m., police say.\nThe Explosive Disposal Unit attended the scene and removed the bottles, police say. The area was taped off while police investigated.\n“The contents of the bottles are combustible, considered hazardous and should not be touched,” police said in a news release Friday evening.\nThey are advising anyone who locates suspicious bottles to contact them immediately.", "Police issue public safety alert after bottles containing hazardous substances found at Scarborough park", "Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after bottles containing hazardous substances were found in a park in Scarborough Friday afternoon." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-15T21:36:42"

"2021-01-15T13:59:00"

"2021-01-15T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The owners of a Toronto restaurant said they huddled inside their office as shots rang out near the front door of the store on Thursday evening.\nThe province’s police watchdog was called in to investigate after a man was shot during an interaction with Toronto police in Scarborough. At around 8 p.m., police encountered a vehicle of interest in the parking lot of Church’s Chicken, in the area of Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East.\nAs officers attempted to block in the vehicle, the vehicle rammed into the police vehicles, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said in a statement.\nThere was an interaction and an officer discharged their firearm and struck one of two people they were investigating, Insp. Andy Singh told reporters Thursday evening. The two individuals were later taken into custody, police said.\n“We stayed inside and we locked the front door and then the back one,” owner of Church’s Chicken, Sohail Chowdhary, told CTV News Toronto on Friday. He said a delivery person, who was in the store at the time, also hid with them in the office.\nChowdhary said they spent about 15 to 20 minutes in the office before a police officer came into the restaurant and asked them to close and leave the parking. They were not injured during the shooting.\nPolice said 31-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Two police officers were also taken to hospital with unknown injuries, the SIU said.\nThree investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.\nThe SIU investigates incidents involving police officers where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.\nOn Wednesday evening, a 25-year-old American man was fatally stabbed inside a building in the same area. Toronto police have not connected the two incidents.\nThe SIU is asking anyone with information to contact 1-800-787-8529. The unit is also asking anyone with video evidence related to this incident to upload it through the SIU website.\nWith files from CP24's Bryann Aguilar.", "Owners of Toronto restaurant huddled inside office as shots rang out in front of their store", "The owners of a Toronto restaurant said they huddled inside their office as shots rang out near the front door of the store on Thursday evening." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T22:55:15"

"2021-01-04T17:35:00"

"2021-01-04T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- It’s been an ongoing mission to feed the city for Carmen Leung and her team at Hand Up Toronto.\n“In the beginning of COVID, we started a program to support families who are affected by the school closures,” she tells CTV News Toronto. “We realized that a lot of families who relied on school programs for the majority of their meals were now having to support all of their children.”\nThrough the summer, the organization was able to help 16,000 families. They relaunched the ‘Family Support Program’ in November.\n“We committed to serve families for the duration of six months,” Leung explains. “We thought that bringing a more sustainable program to help fight food insecurity was a better approach.”\nHand Up Toronto is currently serving more than 250 families with emergency food hampers personally delivered to their door.\n“The packages that we provide are full of dried goods that last an average family of four around two to three weeks,” says Leung. “We do deliveries every two weeks, and it’s completely contactless.”\n“They took the same volunteer and matched them with a family,” Rahul Singh, executive director of Global Medic, says of Hand Up Toronto’s delivery program. “In addition to getting food aid out, it actually builds community because the volunteer is actually interacting with the same family a couple of times a month.”\nIt’s that same drive to build a community that led Hand Up Toronto and Global Medic to work together to get the food out to families in need.\n“For months now, their volunteers have joined us, they’ve been helping us pack food aid,” explains Singh. “In addition to the 20,000 plus food kits that we’ve distributed through them, we’ve put out a million pounds of food now into the food bank system to help families across the country. And it’s a lot of their volunteers and our volunteers that are packing it, so it’s pretty cool.”\nHand Up Toronto is currently fundraising in order to help more people over a long period of time.\n“Families are really grateful,” Leung says. “Over 50 per cent of these families have no income at all. They are not employed currently. There’s just an enormous need.”\nSingh adds that the work of his volunteers, and those at Hand Up Toronto, are helping bring the city together.\n“This is what he should be doing,” he says. “This is how communities come together to help.”", "'This is how communities come together': Hand Up Toronto continues to feed the city with emergency hampers", "It’s been an ongoing mission to feed the city for Carmen Leung and her team at Hand Up Toronto." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T15:30:49"

"2021-01-27T07:15:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and a chorus of doctors are sounding an alarm over a statement issued by Premier Doug Ford’s office casting doubt on the integrity of a an epidemiologist who has been critical of the Ford government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.\n“It’s beyond concerning to see attacks like this on experts who are bringing critical attention to the importance of safeguarding the health and well-being of students, education workers, and the community, by extension,” ETFO President Sam Hammond said in a statement obtained by CP24 late Tuesday night.\nHammond’s comment followed a statement issued by Premier Doug Ford’s office Tuesday evening which sounded concern over a “potential conflict” on the part of Dr. David Fisman, an epidemiologist at UofT’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.\nThe concern in the premier’s office was triggered by an article in the Toronto Sun that same night suggesting that paid work Fisman had done for ETFO might constitute a conflict with his role as a member of Ontario’s science table, particularly when it comes to the table’s advice to the government on school closures.\nThe statement issued by Ford’s office hours after the article was published called the piece “deeply concerning” and said “we learned about this matter through the media. Neither the Premier nor his cabinet were aware of this potential conflict.”\nFord’s office said it expects any members of the volunteer-composed COVID-19 Science Advisory Table to disclose “any actual or potential conflicts of interest.”\nFisman told the paper that members of the table are required to disclose potential conflicts every six months and that his paid work for ETFO had fallen outside of that period. He said the newest published disclosures would include the work.\nHe added that he offered to not be paid at all, and the rate for the consulting they eventually agreed on was lower than what he normally charged\nHe also questioned what the concern was about, because all that ETFO asked him to do was to give them the best possible advice on the latest research.\n“My service to ETFO included reviewing evidence on kids and COVID-19, and the importance of ventilation and aerosol transmission,” Fisman wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night.\nBut Ford said through his office that accepting ETFO money generated the appearance of “bias.”\n“Ontarians have put their trust in us to make difficult decisions based on sound, impartial public health advice. Our expectation is that anyone involved in providing advice to the government in this capacity would do so absent of agenda or bias, and therefore this paid relationship raises legitimate concerns,” Ford’s office said.\nIn addition to practicing doctors and academics, the table also includes bureaucrats whose salaries are paid by the government.\nHammond said Fisman’s work for ETFO was always a matter of public record.\n“In Summer 2020, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) retained medical and scientific experts as part of a legal proceeding; Dr. David Fisman was one of those experts. He was compensated for his involvement, which was public. The provincial government was certainly aware of the experts with whom we were working,” Hammond said in his statement.\n“Since then, ETFO has consulted with Dr. Fisman on the health and safety impacts of COVID-19 as it relates to schools. Dr. Fisman has not been compensated for this guidance and the consultation has been done transparently; he’s been quoted in ETFO statements and in letters to Premier Ford.”\nHammond said Ford should have known about Fisman’s work with ETFO and questioned why he is choosing to express concern now.\n“Perhaps the Ford government is becoming increasingly afraid of being called out by the science community for their failures in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario,” Hammond said.\nFisman also said Tuesday that he had asked one of the chairs of the Science Table whether he should step down in light of the Sun story, and was told he should not.\nColleagues sound support\nA chorus of doctors took to social media to express support for Fisman Tuesday night and by early Wednesday morning, the hash tag, #ThankyouDavidFisman was trending on Twitter.\nA number of them suggested he was facing retribution from the government for speaking out against their handling of the pandemic.\n“#ThankYouDavidFisman for educating us on infectious disease epidemiology with facts & memes, despite facing constant threats & harassment,” family physician Dr. Jennifer Kwan wrote. “#NoThanks to those who attack/silence physicians & scientists for speaking the truth & trying to save lives in a pandemic.”\nInfectious disease doctor Ilan Schwartz also chimed in.\n“Dr. @DFisman is an exemplary physician & epidemiologist, & he's a mensch. His impassioned science communication & tireless advocacy is informed only by data & driven by concern for others. His integrity is unimpeachable. He is a provincial & national treasure.”\nThe Ford government has faced criticism from medical professionals over its handling of the pandemic on a number of fronts, including schools and long-term care homes and preventing workplace outbreaks.\nAfter initially insisting that schools would not take an extended winter break, the government eventually heeded calls from health experts to hold kids back from in-person learning as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed.\nOn Tuesday a group called Doctors for Justice in LTC released a letter signed by hundreds of physicians calling the situation in the province’s long-term care homes a “humanitarian crisis.”", "Doctors, teachers' union sound support for physician questioned over 'possible conflict'", "The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario and a chorus of doctors are sounding an alarm over a statement issued by Premier Doug Ford's office casting doubt on the integrity of a an epidemiologist who has been critical of the Ford government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T23:28:23"

"2021-01-15T16:14:00"

"2021-01-15T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has articulated how they will enforce the provincial government’s stay-at-home order a day after the new rules went into effect.\nIn a news release, the OPP asked residents to “voluntarily comply” with the enhanced public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the province while explaining how officers will carry out the orders.\nPrimarily, the OPP says officers will focus on non-compliance in businesses and restaurants, complaints from the public and outdoor gatherings of more than five people.\nOperating under the province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) and the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA), the OPP says officers can disperse and ticket individuals found to be in contravention with the acts.\n“Fines are $750 for failing to comply with an order and/or $1,000 for preventing others (including individuals, employees or other workers) from following an order,” the news release reads.\n“Maximum fines for individuals are up $100,000 and $10 million for a corporation. Failure to follow the rules can result in prosecution or jail time.”\nThose fines aren’t new, but the powers of those who distribute them are.\nEarlier this week, when the order was first announced, Premier Doug Ford said that all enforcement and provincial offences officers, including the OPP, local police forces, bylaw officers, and provincial workplace inspectors, would now have the authority to issue to tickets as they see fit.\nConfusion followed the release of those measures, with many wondering if the order meant police could now randomly stop residents who they felt were breaking the rules.\nHowever, a spokesperson for Solicitor General Sylvia Jones later confirmed to CTV News Toronto that the order does not give police the power to enter homes or stop vehicles solely to check if the measure is being followed.\nFollowing the province’s lead, police in Toronto and Peel Region said yesterday that their goal would be to enforce the order based on complaints while advising residents to remain at home.\nREAD MORE: Ontario addresses confusion about new stay-at-home rules. These are the answers to your top questions\nThe OPP doubled down on that messaging, underscoring that “officers will not arbitrarily stop an individual or a vehicle or enter a dwelling for the singular purpose of checking compliance with the order.”\n“Individuals are not expected to provide proof of essential work. Officers can ask an individual to identify themselves if they have reasonable grounds to believe the individual is violating an act,” the OPP said.\nAt the same time, the OPP asked residents with questions related to the stay-at-home order to visit covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions instead of calling 911.\nThe request comes a day after Peel Regional Police said they were \"being overwhelmed with 911 calls asking about the stay-at-home orders\" and reminded people the emergency line shouldn’t be used for COVID-19-related questions.", "OPP reveals how it will enforce Ontario's stay-at-home order", "The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has articulated how they will enforce the provincial government’s stay-at-home order a day after the new rules went into effect." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T19:46:42"

"2021-01-12T18:22:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario's stay-at-home order, which goes into effect 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, has left many residents confused about what is, and what isn't, considered essential.\nCTV News Toronto was flooded with questions from readers, receiving more than 2,300 messages within hours, asking for more specifics about that they are allowed to do when the order comes into effect.\nPremier Doug Ford announced the stay-at-home order on Tuesday, saying that everyone will be required to remain at home, with the exception of essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store, pharmacy, accessing health-care services, exercising, or essential work.\nThe stay-at-home order will remain in effect for at least 28 days. Unless an outing is considered essential, Ontario residents are being ordered to stay home at all hours.\nThe confusion surrounding the rules also prompted the provincial government on Wednesday to release a list of answers to the most-asked questions they have received.\n\"A common theme is recognizing government's inability to implement a single set of restrictions that are perfectly responsive to the unique circumstances of every single Ontarian,\" a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday. \"How someone in downtown Toronto adheres to the stay-at-home order, where there is easy and immediate access to online shopping or a big-box retailer, will look very different than someone in a rural or remote area who relies on smaller, independent retailers, many of which are limited to curb-side pickup or delivery.\"\n\"As such, and as we have from the very outset of this pandemic, we will continue to rely on the best judgment of Ontarians as they stay at home as much as possible and only leave their homes for essential purposes.\"\nHere are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about the stay-at-home order:\nWhat is considered an essential trip?\nThe Ontario government admitted they can't determine what is essential for every person in the province, but provided a list of categories people should consider before leaving their home, which include food, health-care services (including medication), exercise, or work when someone’s job can’t be done at home.\nIs there a limit on the number of times someone can leave their home in a day?\nNo, but all trips should be considered essential.\nIs there a time limit for how long people can leave their homes?\nNo, but the government said people should spend as little time as possible outdoors.\nWhy can people still gather in groups of five outdoors?\nThe province said the outdoor gathering limit of five is in recognition of the fact that some people live alone and may require the company or support of others for their mental and physical well-being. People gathering outside are expected to adhere to physical distancing measures and are being strongly urged to wear a mask.\nWhat is considered essential work?\nThe stay-at-home order does not define what work or jobs are essential, the government said. Rather, it now mandates that anyone who can work from home must now do so.\nWhy hasn't the province defined who can or should work from home?\nThe Ontario government said it can’t review millions of job descriptions to determine who can work from home. They said they are relying on the “best judgement and common sense of employers” to make those decisions. If an employee believes they should be working from home, they can contact the Ministry of Labour to file a health and safety complaint.\nWhy is the province issuing a stay-at-home order while also permitting curbside pickup?\nThe government said that this question assumes every single personin Ontario has easy access to online shopping or that there is a big-box retailer in their community. \"This isn't the case for many Ontarians who live in rural and remote areas,\" Ford's spokesperson said.\n\"We've learned a lot over the past year responding to this pandemic, including the fact that what may be essential to someone in Timmins and how they buy that item may not be essential to someone in downtown Toronto, who can easily buy items online for delivery. The Government of Ontario determining what retailers may be considered essential risks cutting off many Ontarians who don’t live in Toronto or an urban centre from access to necessary goods.\"\nCan people leave home to exercise? Can I go to my local playground or basketball court?\nYes, exercise is considered an essential reason for leaving your home. What that means will be unique to each individual Ontarian, the government said. \"Some may wish to go for a walk around the block, while others may wish to go to a local basketball court with their household to shoot some hoops.\"\nOntarians are recommended to consult their local public health unit or municipality to understand what recreational amenities are open in their community.\nHow will the government know who is out for legitimate reasons and who isn't?\nThe province said that residents will have a duty to identify themselves when a police officer has \"reasonable and probable grounds\" that there has been a breach of the orders made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.\nAre ski hills closed?\nYes. Ski hills are closed.\nIs a housekeeper still allowed in my home?\nYes. Domestic services like housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services are allowed but only to support children, seniors and vulnerable persons.\nWhat about real estate showings?\nReal estate showings, including pre-sale construction, are only available by appointment. Open houses are prohibited.\nAre restaurants still open for takeout and delivery?\nRestaurants and bars aren't affected by the new rules and can remain open for take out, drive-thru, and delivery only.\nCan I get my car serviced or buy a new vehicle?\nAccording to the government, vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services are available by appointment only. The same applies to the sale of all motor vehicles.\nCan I still attend my in-person driving instruction?\nNo. In-person driving instruction is not permitted, except for instruction for drivers of commercial motor vehicles.\nCan I go outside for a walk or go skating at a public rink?\nGoing outside for exercise is permitted, including walking your dog, running and ice skating at a public rink. However, the government says it prefers if residents would remain home.\nCan I go to my cottage or secondary residence?\nNo. The government says that because it is asking residents to stay home, trips to a cottage or secondary residence should be avoided, unless it is for an essential purpose like emergency maintenance.\nI booked a short-term rental getaway. Can I still go?\nNo. The province says that pre-arranged bookings for short-term rentals at hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts are prohibited, with exceptions for housing requirements.\nAre cannabis dispensaries still open?\nYes. Cannabis dispensaries are open for curbside pick-up or delivery only, but only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As well, an item can only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises.\nWhat about alcohol sales?\nYou can still purchase alcohol at a licensed retailer, but only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.\nWhen do the measures end?\nThe measures announced Tuesday are scheduled to be in place until at least Feb. 11.\nAre places of worship allowed to operate?\nThe government says that religious services, rites or ceremonies, as well as wedding and funeral services, are permitted so long as face coverings are worn and physical distancing can be maintained. Capacity must be capped at 10 people both indoors and outdoors, regardless of the size of the venue.\nDrive-in services, rites or ceremonies are also permitted, subject to certain conditions. Virtual services are also permitted.\nMy significant other and I live in separate houses, but usually stay over with each other, are we still going to be able to do this?\nIndividuals who live alone, as well as single parents, can have \"exclusive, close contact\" with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation, the government says.\nCan you go fishing for the day?\nWhile the government has not provided specific guidance on fishing, it says that exercise is considered an essential reason for leaving your home.\n“What that means will be unique to each individual Ontarian,” a government official said in an email.\nThe government suggests that Ontarians consult their local public health unit or municipality to understand what recreational amenities are open in their community.\nBusinesses that produce agricultural products by hunting and fishing remain open.\nI work in London, Ont. Monday to Friday through the week and return home on weekends. Can I go home on the weekends or do I have to stay in London?\nThe government is not recommending intra-provincial travel at this time.\nWhat if I'm moving from one city to another? It’s been planned for months now, will this be an issue?\nWhile intra-provincial travel is not recommended, courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services remain open, according to the government.\nCan I go see a movie at the drive-in?\nConcert venues, theatres and cinemas are closed, including drive-in or drive-through events.\nWe usually go for late-night drives to get out of our house for a bit. I am assuming this is still allowed since it says drive-through and take out still is?\nWhile there’s no guidance on leisurely driving, the government says it “cannot determine what is essential for every person in this province, each with their own unique circumstances and regional considerations.”\nThat said, intra-provincial travel is not recommended.\nAre dentists considered essential in this lockdown, I do not mean for emergencies, just a cleaning?\nDentists may continue to see patients for emergency and non-emergency appointments. Members of the public are only also permitted to enter a shopping mall that house a dental office or pharmacy.\nWhat about massages?\nRegistered massage therapists are regulated health professionals in Ontario and remain open, with reduced capacity, during the stay-at-home order.\nCan I go snowmobiling? Tobogganing?\nSnowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, snow-shoe, skating trails and tobogganing hills are permitted to open, subject to conditions.\nA sector-specific breakdown of the province's new public health measures can be found here.\nHave a question about Ontario’s stay-at-home order? You can ask us here.", "Ontario addresses confusion about new stay-at-home rules. These are the answers to your top questions", "News of enhanced public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario may have some residents wondering what is, and what isn’t, considered essential under the provincial government’s new regulations." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T20:08:04"

"2021-01-18T14:41:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford says that there is “no reason” for the province to “jump in” and introduce its own paid sick leave program, even amid mounting criticism from advocates who say that an existing federal program doesn’t do enough to protect workers.\nFord made the comment to reporters during a news conference in Vaughan on Monday afternoon, just hours after Toronto’s board of health voted unanimously in favour of a motion asking his government to step in and ensure workers have access to 10 paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic.\n“If the system is not working and that's what I'm hearing from the media, we're having conversations as we speak and over the last little while (with the federal government). If people don’t feel they are getting it quick enough than we need to change the program and if they need to top it up a little more because $500 a week isn’t feasible then we change it” Ford said. “But let's be very, very clear there's no reason for the province to jump in there when less than 27 per cent of the overall program hasn't been taken up.”\nThe federal government introduced a recovery sickness benefit earlier in the pandemic, which provides people with $500 per week for up to two weeks if they are unable to attend work due to illness.\nSome advocates have, however, said that the program is insufficient because payments can sometimes take weeks to process and the benefit does not provide any job security to those who elect to apply for it.\nLast week, Ontario’s Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe even added her voice to the cause, telling reporters that paid sick leave could be an important factor in reducing community spread.\nSpeaking with reporters on Monday, Ford seemed to acknowledge that there are some problems with the federal paid sick leave program but he said that the Ontario government should not be responsible for introducing its own program.\n“Sure, it needs to be changed and we're working with the federal government but there's no reason for us to duplicate the $1.1 billion (that the federal government has allotted to the program) and I know the federal government is going to be reviewing it and hopefully we'll have an answer in a very short time here,” he said.\nThe report considered by Toronto’s Board of Health today stated that only 42 per cent of working Canadians currently have access to paid sick leave, and among low-wage and front-line workers that number is about 10 per cent.", "Doug Ford says there is 'no reason' for Ontario to offer paid sick leave program despite criticsim", "Premier Doug Ford says that there is “no reason” for the province to “jump in” and introduce its own paid sick leave program, even amid mounting criticism from advocates who say that an existing federal program doesn’t do enough to protect workers." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T19:34:12"

"2021-01-19T08:36:00"

"2021-01-19T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’s deeply troubled by the recently-announced Pfizer vaccine shortage, and is changing the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan to ensure the most vulnerable are given their necessary second dose.\nThe premier made the announcement on Tuesday during a news conference shortly after Pfizer revealed its decision to slow down production resulting in reduced vaccine deliveries to Canada over the next month.\n“It’s troubling. It’s a massive concern ... because this vaccine is the difference between life and death for the most vulnerable,” Ford said. “We're emptying the freezers on what we've received so far, getting needles into people's arms and we're focusing on our most vulnerable.”\nThe Pfizer vaccine is administered in two doses. After the first dose is given, the patient gets their booster shot 21 to 27 days later in order to complete the vaccination.\nThe province says it has administered over 224,000 doses across Ontario so far. Only 25,000 of those people have had their second shot and are fully vaccinated.\nHealth officials say the province will now “protect” the second doses of the Pfizer vaccine through “careful week-by-week” allocation and by extending the length of time people are going to have to wait to get the second dose.\nPeople living in long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes will receive their second dose of the vaccine as scheduled, the province said. Health officials said this is because the elderly population has a weaker immune response, and risks should not be taken.\nThose who got their first dose already and are not connected to high-risk settings may receive their second dose of the vaccine anywhere between 21 and 42 days after the first shot.\nFord said the federal government reported on Tuesday that the country will not get any new vaccines from Pfizer next week and will get very limited amounts in the coming weeks.\n\"It makes me very very angry, and I want to make something clear, I'm not angry at the prime minister or deputy prime minister. We've been working collaboratively, I'm just angry at the situation that other countries are getting it,\" Ford said.\n“We have to be on those guys [at Pfizer] like a blanket. I would be outside that guy’s house. Every time he moves, I would be saying, ‘where’s our vaccines' ... I'd be on that phone call every single day. I'd be up that guy's yin yang so far with a firecracker he wouldn't know what hit him.\"\n“Other people are getting them; the European Union is getting them. Why not Canada? That’s my question to Pfizer.”\nWhile all long-term care homes in Ontario's COVID-19 hot spots have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, all of the first new doses that do come in will be administered in long-term care and high-risk retirement homes in other regions, as well as northern fly-in First Nation communities.", "Ontario premier blasts Pfizer following news of COVID-19 vaccine shortage", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’s deeply troubled by the recently-announced Pfizer vaccine shortage, and is changing the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan to ensure the most vulnerable are given their necessary second dose." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T22:44:38"

"2021-01-04T11:01:00"

"2021-01-04T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The City of Toronto will now publicly identify the location of some COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces as it seeks to improve transparency amid a surge in infections.\nMedical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa announced the change on Monday afternoon, as she reported an additional 974 new cases of COVID-19 in the city over the last 24 hours.\nShe said that starting today Toronto Public Health will release the location of workplace outbreaks on a weekly basis in circumstances where there is “sustained transmission” and “the workplace is large enough that the risk of privacy concerns are mitigated.”\nShe said that Toronto Public Health will also be providing more detailed information about the sectors where outbreaks are being reported.\nPreviously Toronto Public Health grouped all workplaces together but going forward it will put them into 11 different categories, including grocery stores, pharmacies, food processing sites, warehousing, shipping and distribution, construction and manufacturing.\nThere are currently 28 active outbreaks in Toronto workplaces.\n“I believe this kind of transparency and public accountability will help encourage employers to do everything they can to protect their workers and it will help give everyone a better indication of where the COVID-19 virus is spreading in our community,” she said in making the announcement.\nToronto’s Board of Health first asked de Villa to consider positing the location of workplace outbreaks back in September.\nAt the time she said that she would explore the idea but she also spoke of a need to ensure that the privacy of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 is protected.\nThat meant that it was left up to individual employers to report outbreaks and some either never came to light publicly or were only confirmed after the fact, such as one at a industrial bakery with 180 cases in the spring.\nSpeaking with reporters on Monday, de Villa said that releasing more information about the location of workplace outbreaks where appropriate is “the right thing to do” but she said Torontonians shouldn’t forget that COVID-19 is spreading everywhere right now.\n“Whatever the specific figures at this point in the pandemic COVID-19 infection can be acquired anywhere and should be thought about as such,” she said. “In Toronto more than half of infections are resulting from close contact with a confirmed cases. If COVID-19 gets into your home it is very likely it will spread through our home so the best thing we can do is to act to prevent it from getting there in the first place.”\nIn addition to the new reporting rules around outbreaks, Toronto Public Health is also releasing a series of new recommendations for essential workplaces that are continuing to operate amid the provincewide lockdown.\nThose recommendations are as follows:", "Toronto announces new measures aimed at curbing spread of COVID-19 in workplaces", "The City of Toronto will now publicly identify the location of some COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces as it seeks to improve transparency amid a surge in infections." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T19:11:45"

"2021-01-27T13:48:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to ask sexual assault complainants irrelevant questions about their sexual history or discipline them for violating an institution’s drug and alcohol policy.\n“These amendments will help reduce potential re-traumatization and encourage more survivors to come forward,” Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues Jill Dunlop said in a news release issued by the Ontario government on Wednesday.\nGovernment officials are proposing these changes to sexual violence and harassment policies at post-secondary intuitions based on recommendations from the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA).\nThese proposed changes, the government said, are meant to increase campus safety and reduce fear and stigma for students who are coming forward with an allegation of sexual violence or harassment.\nUnder these amendments, students coming forward with a complaint will not face irrelevant questions about their sexual history and will not be subject to disciplinary actions for violations of an institution’s drug and alcohol use policies at the time the alleged sexual violence took place.\n“We know that many instances of sexual violence and harassment on and around campuses go unreported, and often this is because students are afraid of reprisal or concerned that they will not be taken seriously,” Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano said.\n“Even one incident of sexual assault, harassment, or any other forms of violence in our communities is one too many. That is why it is so important that there are policies in place that let those affected know they can come forward without fear of reprisal.”\nThe president of the OUSA, Julia Pereira, said these changes are “one of the many steps necessary to protect and support students who have experienced gender-based violence.”\nThe requirements for Ontario colleges and universities to adhere to are set out in O. Reg. 131/16, which was first introduced in January 2017. This regulation sets out parameters respecting the content of sexual violence policies at publicly assisted post-secondary institutions.\nConsultations on the changes are being held online through March 15 and cover public institutions, as well as private colleges.", "Disciplining sexual assault complainants for violating alcohol policy will no longer be allowed at Ontario colleges and universities", "Ontario colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to ask sexual assault complainants irrelevant questions about their sexual history or discipline them for violating an institution's drug and alcohol policy." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T21:11:54"

"2021-01-08T07:26:00"

"2021-01-08T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels.\nHe said that if basic public health measures “continue to be ignored” in the province, the consequences “will be dire.”\n“The shutdown won’t end at the end of January, and we will have to look at more extreme measures,” he said.\n“This is the most serious situation we’ve ever been in since the beginning of the pandemic.”\nThe premier made the comments while saying that new COVID-19 modelling would be released on Monday or Tuesday of next week and that the data would be so shocking, residents will “fall off their chair” upon its release.\n“Everything is on the table right now. There will be further measures, because this is getting out of control and we have to do whatever it takes,” Ford said.\n\"We are in a crisis. It it is scary. And we need to work together.\"\nREAD MORE: Ford slammed by opposition for 'game show tactics'\nOntario shattered its COVID-19 record Friday as more than 4,200 cases were logged, citing a data backlog that accounts for about 450 of the new infections. However, even if those 450 cases were removed from Friday’s total there would still be a record 3,799 new infections logged.\nFord stopped short of saying which public health restrictions his government is considering, but has said that a curfew, similar to the one imposed in Quebec earlier this week, is an option.\nAssociate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said that the current spread of COVID-19 in the province has forced health officials to consider the more stringent measures and that such restrictions could resemble those seen in the spring.\n\"Today's numbers, to be frank, are scary,\" she said, while underscoring that hospitals across the province are struggling to provide care for both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients.\n\"The hospitals are starting to have to cut back on elective surgeries and other very important procedures that require ICU care.\"\nIn a memo obtained by CTV News Toronto on Thursday, Ontario Health’s President and CEO Matthew Anderson told hospitals to prepare to accept COVID-19 patients from across the province as space in intensive care reaches capacity.\nOntario 'quickly running out' of COVID-19 vaccines\nMeanwhile, Ford addressed the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario and said that the supply coming into the province is drying up.\n“Every single day, we’re getting more and more needles into people’s arms and protecting more and more of our front-line health-care workers, long-term care residents and most vulnerable,” he said.\n“But, we’re quickly running out.”\nMore than 87,500 doses have been administered since inoculations began last month, the most in the country, Ford said.\n“Dr. Kevin Smith, at UHN [University Health Network], has said he’ll exhaust his supply today. Southlake [Regional Health Centre ] in York Region, the Ottawa Hospital and others told us they will do the same by the end of the week.”\nAt the current rate, Ford believes that all of Ontario will be out of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by the end of next week.\nFord explained that he is hopeful that the federal government will procure more vaccines for the province in the coming days, otherwise hospitals will have to begin cancelling appointments to administer the shots.\n“All the progress we’ve made, getting out daily vaccine numbers up, will be lost as clinics standby waiting for vaccines from the feds.”\nEarlier this week, Retired Gen. Rick Hillier announced that all long-term care residents, workers and essential caregivers in COVID-19 hot spots would be vaccinated by Jan. 21.\nIn fact, Hillier doubled down on that deadline while speaking to CTV News Toronto on Wednesday, saying that those 161 high-risk long-term care homes would get the shots ahead of schedule\nIt’s unclear if that timeline has changed given Ford’s comments today.", "Ontario premier warns 'more extreme measures' will be needed to curb rapid spread of COVID-19", "Premier Doug Ford delivered a grim warning Friday as COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to unprecedented levels." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T20:07:44"

"2021-01-18T08:04:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- More than 500 critical care beds will be added to hospitals with high rates of COVID-19 transmission, the Ontario government announced Monday.\nAt least 35 of those beds will go to the Mackenzie Health's new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, which is scheduled to open on Feb. 7 and will act as a province-wide resource for hospitals facing capacity issues.\n“It’s like reinforcements coming over the hill,” Premier Doug Ford said of the first newly-built hospital in Ontario in more than 30 years.\n“With many of our hospital ICUs approaching full capacity or beyond, this new hospital is relief, its added capacity for all those heroes who are stretched to the limit right now.”\nOnce opened, the government says that the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will also house 150 general medicine beds to support other hospitals to alleviate capacity pressure, with plans to provide care to patients across the western York Region once COVID-19 hospitalizations have stabilized.\nThe announcement comes less than two weeks after Ontario Health told hospitals across the province to be ready to accept COVID-19 patients from the hardest-hit regions.\nMatthew Anderson , President and CEO of Ontario Health, made the call on Jan. 7 while outlining the steps hospitals must take “immediately” to provide care for all patients in the province, whether they are infected with the novel coronavirus or not.\nHe said at the time that hospitals must reserve approximately one-third of their unoccupied adult ICU beds for transfers from other hospitals in Ontario that are exceeding their own capacity.\nIt’s unclear if the additional hospital beds announced today will be reserved exclusively for COVID-19 patients.\nAccording to data released by the province on Monday, there are currently 1,571 patients in hospital with COVID-19 throughout Ontario. Of those, 394 patients are being treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) and 303 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nHealth officials have long said that when there are more than 300 patients in the ICU province-wide, non-COVID-19-related care becomes almost impossible to facilitate.\nThe government says that the beds announced today are in addition to the more than 3,100 beds funded by the province as part of its COVID-19 response.", "Ontario looks to expand critical care capacity with addition of more than 500 hospital beds", "More than 500 critical care beds will be added to hospitals with high rates of COVID-19 transmission, the Ontario government announced Monday." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T19:35:51"

"2021-01-12T13:03:00"

"2021-01-12T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Hamilton, Ont., police say they have charged two organizers of an anti-mask protest group for holding events that allegedly violated public health rules.\nPolice say the events were held in downtown Hamilton on Jan. 3 and Jan. 10.\nThe force alleges that 40 people attended first event and 60 attended the second.\nCurrent provincial restrictions limit gatherings to a maximum of 10 people outdoors.\nPolice say they informed the \"Hugs Over Masks\" organizers that the planned Jan. 10 gathering would result in charges, but they went ahead with the event.\nThey say a 27-year-old man and 38-year-old woman are facing charges under the Reopening Ontario Act that carry a minimum fine of $10,000 if convicted.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2021.", "Hamilton police charge 'Hugs Over Masks' protest organizers in two separate events", "Hamilton, Ont., police say they have charged two organizers of an anti-mask protest group for holding events that allegedly violated public health rules." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T20:07:49"

"2021-01-18T14:12:00"

"2021-01-18T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A Toronto-area police officer accused in a drugs and corruption probe has pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges.\nRichard Senior, a constable with York Regional Police, entered his plea today on the first day of this trial, which is being conducted by videoconference.\nHe is being tried on 14 charges, including breach of trust, possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing an offence, and trafficking in both cocaine and testosterone.\nSenior, a veteran of the force, was arrested in 2018 after investigators alleged he was involved in a number of illegal enterprises.\nHe was initially charged with 30 offences.\nThe trial is expected to hear from undercover officers whose identities are protected under a publication ban.", "Toronto-area cop accused in drugs and corruption probe pleads not guilty to 14 charges", "A Toronto-area police officer accused in a drugs and corruption probe has pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T21:58:47"

"2021-01-11T15:58:00"

"2021-01-11T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is considering whether to declare a second provincial state of emergency, CTV News and CP24 have learned, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm the province's health care system.\nMultiple sources confirmed to CTV News and CP24 that invoking a state of emergency is under active consideration as the premier meets with his cabinet on Monday -- giving the government the power to enact new measures beyond the current province-wide lockdown.\nArriving at Queen's Park on Monday morning, Premier Doug Ford said that his cabinet will review new COVID-19 lockdown measures today and that they will be announced publicly tomorrow.\n\"We worked all weekend, right until late hours last night, we'll be going to cabinet with recommendations tonight and we will make an announcement tomorrow,\" he said.\nLast week, Ford issued a dire warning to the province about the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, saying that \"extreme measures\" will be needed to bring down the number of new infections.\nThe government has not indicated what any of those measures could be, but has stressed that a province-wide curfew is no longer one of the measures under consideration.\nThe declaration of the state of emergency would give the premier the powers to unilaterally impose and enforce restrictions such as the further closure of businesses, the prohibition of events and gatherings and legally compel people to remain at home.\nWhile the province ruled out a curfew, similar to the one imposed in Quebec, sources said the state of emergency declaration would give the province the power to create and introduce new enhanced public health measures designed to curb the second wave.\nThe measures would go beyond the second wave lockdown that was imposed on Dec. 26.\n\"It's not going to be an easy few weeks,\" said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's Associate Medical Officer of Health. \"What these trends demonstrate is that further actions are necessary.\"\nYaffe pointed to workplaces, such as manufacturing and warehouses, as a source of infections as a result of staff taking breaks together without masks and carpooling to work.\nOntario first declared a state of emergency on Mar. 17, 2020 amid the first wave of COVID-19, which led to the immediate shut down of a wide swath of the province's economy, the closure of schools and child care facilities and the restriction of public gatherings.\nAs the state of the pandemic improved during the summer, the state of emergency officially was ended in July, after the Ford government passed the Reopening Ontario Act, legislation that critics argued gave the government unprecedented powers.\nMany of the measures included in the state of emergency -- from the closure of indoor dining and non-essential businesses -- were allowed to continue under the Reopening Ontario Act, with the caveat that the province could only extend or amend existing measures.\nThe orders under the Reopening Ontario Act have to be extended every 30 days, as opposed to ever 15 days under the state of emergency.", "Ontario considers declaring second state of emergency, sources say", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is considering whether to declare a second provincial state of emergency, CTV News and CP24 have learned, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm the province's health care system." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T19:02:15"

"2021-01-14T11:14:00"

"2021-01-14T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- An employee at Etobicoke General Hospital has died after contracting COVID-19, a spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed Thursday.\nFew details have been provided about the deceased, who the union says was a member.\nThe employee’s name has not yet been released.\nThe worker was a patient at a Toronto hospital when they died, CUPE added, but it is unclear exactly when they passed away.", "Etobicoke General Hospital employee dies after contracting COVID-19", "An employee at Etobicoke General Hospital has died after contracting COVID-19, a spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed Thursday." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T22:18:50"

"2021-01-06T15:27:00"

"2021-01-06T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario Tim Hortons worker set to receive a large payout thanks to a community crowdfunding effort says he plans on sharing some of the funds with his teammates and donating some to others in need.\nHundreds of people have contributed to a GoFundMe campaign set up in honour of a drive-thru window operator named Vishnugopan (Vishnu) Sothilingam, who works at a Tim Horton’s near Bathurst Street and Rutherford Road in Vaughan, Ont.\n“If you’re having a crummy day, just go and get a cup of coffee from him and he’ll make you smile,” Matthew Shulman, the creator of the campaign, told CTV News Toronto.\n“He just makes everybody feel happy and it just shows that there are good people out there who go above and beyond.”\nSothilingam’s positive attitude, silly jokes and fist bumps captured the attention of numerous regular Tim Hortons customers, including Shulman, who decided to create the crowdfunding campaign after hearing that Sothilingam supported his family and had to leave school for financial reasons.\nThe goal for the GoFundMe page was originally set at $10,000, but as of Wednesday more than $21,000 has been raised. Shulman told CTV News Toronto that he posted the website to a community group and quickly about $8,000 in donations poured in.\nAfter that, Shulman said, media reports gave it a bit more exposure.\n“All of a sudden, we were getting donations from all over the world,” he said.\nSothilingam, who has worked at Tim Hortons for more than 10 years—or most of his life as he put it—told CTV News Toronto that he was shocked to hear of the community fundraising efforts.\n“Honestly, I just do my job,” he said. “I'm pleased and happy to see them every morning and they give me a great vibe and I try to keep that energy back to them.”\n“A smile doesn’t cost. It’s pretty free.”\nThe 28-year-old added that it helps he is doing a job he loves, talking to people he finds inspiring and kind.\n“It's nothing extraordinary, just doing my thing and I was enjoying it.”\nSothilingam said that while he doesn’t know what he is going to use all the money for, he hopes to be able to share some with his co-workers.\n“My team plays a big role in making me into who I am,” Sothilingam said. “I'm definitely going to share some sort of money and then keep the rest for somebody whose going to be really in need.”\nSothilingam said he would like to help those in his parents’ home country of Sri Lanka get education or contribute in some way to make a difference in people’s lives.\nOnly after that and helping take care of his parents does Sothilingam say he would consider paying for his own schooling or doing something for himself.\n“I have all the things I need here,” he said, adding that he is going to continue to do the job he loves. “A lot of people don't have this.”\nAs for Shulman, he said he is thrilled that more than 500 people have contributing to the GoFundMe campaign and hopes more will come.\n“The more money we raise, the happier it makes me for him,” he said.", "'A smile doesn't cost': Ontario Tim Hortons worker shocked community raised over $20K for him", "An Ontario Tim Hortons worker set to receive a large payout thanks to a community crowdfunding effort says he plans on sharing some of the funds with his teammates and donating some to others in need." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T17:34:42"

"2021-01-11T08:27:00"

"2021-01-11T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ford cabinet will consider a raft of new measures to combat coronavirus spread in Ontario at a meeting tonight, after health officials worked through the weekend to develop a new strategy.\nA government source told CP24 that work to develop new measures is still ongoing, and the final package of measures will be considered at a cabinet meeting tonight, before they are announced publicly on Tuesday morning.\nPremier Doug Ford confirmed as much as he walked into his office at Queen's Park on Monday morning.\n\"Well we worked all weekend, right until late hours last night, we'll be going to cabinet with recommendations tonight and we will make an announcement tomorrow,\" he said.\nSenior government sources told CTV News Toronto that a curfew is not part of the new group of measures being presented to cabinet after public health officials discounted it.\nMeanwhile, Toronto Mayor John Tory said for the first time he could support a curfew as part of the new effort, but urged the province to consider narrowing the list of businesses deemed essential to keep more people at home.\n\"I don't rule a curfew out, but I really question whether it will be the most effective. If you have a curfew, can we enforce it?\" Tory told CP24 on Monday.\n\"If you said to me that short of a curfew you had to put more hours of restrictions on when you could get food, I would be perfectly comfortable with that,\" he said.\nOntario reported 3,945 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, setting a new record, with Toronto seeing 1,160 on its own.\nNearly 400 people are in hospital in the city, with another 1,000+ hospitalized elsewhere in Ontario.\nThe case growth prompted the Ford government last week to postpone the reopening of schools in southern Ontario for most of the month, and a further pledge to release modelling and greater public health measures on Tuesday.\nTory reiterated his call Monday for the province to just get on it with it.\n\"Every day puts more strain on the health-care system and frankly gets more people sick.\"\nThe Ford government has been criticized repeatedly this fall and winter for spending days pondering new public health measures, or announcing new measures but having them take effect days after they are announced.\nIn December, Ford announced a provincewide lockdown on Dec. 21, only to have it take effect five days later.\nOntario Vaccine Distribution Task Force member and epidemiologist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CP24 the latest provincial modelling predicts daily case growth of 6,000 cases per day by Jan. 30 without further public health measures.\nHe said he would not be surprised if the province enacted what Quebec has done, which includes a strict curfew.\n\"I wouldn't be surprised if they look east and just cut and paste what Quebec's doing. Quebec's has shut down a few others industries. Quebec has imposed a curfew. I honestly have no idea what they are going to do but if you think about what other levers you can pull, those are other levers you can pull.\"\nOn Monday, Ontario added another 3,338 COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths. Hospitalizations hit their highest point yet in the pandemic at 1,563.\nMeanwhile, Tory repeated what he has said since December, that Ontario needed to undergo a second full lockdown, similar to what was done in the spring, in order to get COVID-19 spread under control.\n\"I think we need to go through a period where pretty much everything is closed like the spring. I wasn’t happy but we got through it and it worked because people stayed home because everything was closed.\"\nHe said that he thinks there are businesses operating under the current lockdown rules that could be closed.\n\"Number one are big box stores,\" Tory said. \"I never understood for the life of me that if we were going to close down small retail, and say you couldn’t go in those stores and they couldn’t be open except for curbside pickup, and thank heavens for at least that, I never understood that. If we’re going to say retail is closed, then it is closed.\"\nHe said that banks, which were shutdown in the early spring, could also be closed to the public given the capabilities of electronic banking.", "Ontario not considering curfew for province, new COVID-19 lockdown restrictions will be announced tomorrow", "Ontario's cabinet will consider a raft of new measures to combat coronavirus spread in the province at a meeting tonight, after health officials worked through the weekend to develop a new strategy." ]

[ "Adina Bresge" ]

"2021-01-26T20:55:54"

"2021-01-26T14:52:00"

"2021-01-26T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A Canadian clothing line is helping transgender kids feel confident at the beach or pool with bathing suits designed to maximize comfort without compromising style.\nJamie and Ruby Alexander are the Toronto father-daughter duo behind Rubies, a fledgling fashion business that specializes in form-fitting clothing for trans and non-binary girls.\nRuby says she's proud to see how the brand is allowing other trans kids to take part in the same activities as their friends without worrying about what they're wearing.\n\"A lot of trans kids just stopped doing what they love to do, because they don't feel comfortable,\" Ruby, 12, said in an interview.\n\"We wanted to change the kids' lives, and we're happy to do that.\"\nSince Ruby came out as transgender at nine years old, Jamie Alexander said fashion has been an important part of how she expresses her identity. But it hasn't always been easy to balance style against concerns for her safety.\nAt first, Ruby wore baggy boardshorts and sweatpants to athletic activities such as swimming, gymnastics and dance, Alexander said. Eventually, Ruby wanted to wear a bikini like her friends, so they got her one at a department store.\nBut as they were getting ready for a vacation in Central America in 2019, Alexander started to worry about what Ruby should wear to the beach in a place where there may not be the same cultural awareness of transgender identity.\nHe looked online for a swimsuit that would allow her to safely have fun in the sun, but the limited options he could find didn't seem age-appropriate.\nAlexander knew that other families must be dealing with similar struggles, so he set out to launch a company that would offer a solution.\nHe teamed up with Ryerson University's Fashion Zone to design prototypes for bathing suit bottoms that uses a soft compression to provide a worry-free fit.\nAfter getting in touch with other parents online, Alexander biked around Toronto to deliver samples, so transgender kids could try them on and give feedback.\nSome families said their kids hadn't had much exposure to other transgender children, Alexander said, and it soon became clear that Ruby had a gift for connecting with customers.\n\"To say, 'hey, there's someone else out there just like you that understands you and understands what you're going through' is a really powerful thing,\" Alexander said.\n\"It's really touching to hear the impact Ruby and I can have with these families.\"\nAlexander partnered with a Toronto clothing manufacturer to gear up for a launch last spring, but production was set back by the COVID-19 pandemic.\nStill, Rubies has managed to sell roughly 1,000 swimsuits in its first year, Alexander said.\nRuby writes a personal message to accompany every shipment, which for some customers seems to be just as valuable as the product itself, said Alexander.\n\"We've gotten feedback that said some kids will put these postcards under their pillows, like it's this special treasure,\" he said.\nAlexander also launched a crowdfunding campaign so Rubies could donate swimsuits to families who many not be able to spend $57 on bikini bottoms.\nThe brand has also expanded its offerings to include T-shirts, and recently started accepting preorders for a line of underwear.\nAlexander said Ruby has been involved in every step of getting the business off the ground, helping her father keep up with the latest trends on top of the usual demands of homework and chores.\nWhile it can be hard to juggle her duties as Grade 7 student and fashion maven, Ruby said it's worth it to see the impact that Rubies is having on kids like her across the globe.\n\"There's other trans kids in the world who need help, and I'm happy to see them smile, and I'm proud to be the person who I am,\" she said. @\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2021.", "Toronto father and daughter design swimsuit tailored to transgender children", "A Canadian clothing line is helping transgender kids feel confident at the beach or pool with bathing suits designed to maximize comfort without compromising style." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T20:40:12"

"2021-01-01T13:30:00"

"2021-01-01T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A mysterious metallic monolith along Toronto’s shoreline was seemingly vandalized sometime between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day—but it hasn’t stopped people from flocking to the area in order to snap a photograph of the odd structure.\nThe monolith popped up sometime prior to Thursday morning in the city’s Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood.\nThe structure—which resembles others that have been found around the world, including the Utah desert and Romania in recent months—became an instant hit in the community, with a large number of residents searching scouring the area in order to post a picture on social media.\nMost of the visitors appeared to be bewildered by the monolith, calling it “rogue art” and marvelling at how it sparked uplifting conversations not related to the pandemic.\nBut residents visiting the structure on Friday morning got a different view.\nThe roughly 3.5 metre-monolith, once gleaming and pristine, now appears to be covered in red graffiti.\nAnd yet – the crowds have continued to flock to Humber Bay Shores. Dozens of people were seen on Friday posing and taking pictures with the vandalized structure, as if nothing had happened.\nA day earlier the city said it was aware of the structure, but had no knowledge of how, when, or who installed it.\n“At this time, we do not believe it poses a public safety risk; as such (it) will not be removed immediately,” a spokesperson said.\n“We will assess further over the weekend into the next week and take further action, as necessary.”\nSimilar monoliths have been spotted in a few locations across Canada, including British Columbia and Manitoba.", "Toronto's mysterious monolith that popped up on New Year's Eve appears to have been vandalized", "A mysterious metallic monolith along Toronto’s shoreline was seemingly vandalized sometime between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day—but it hasn’t stopped people from flocking to the area in order to snap a photograph of the odd structure." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T19:11:55"

"2021-01-27T12:11:00"

"2021-01-27T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario’s Minister of Labour is calling for changes to be made to a federal sick leave program amid criticism from some advocates who say that the Ford government should be the ones to step in to fill the gaps.\nMonte McNaughton sent an open letter to his federal counterpart on Wednesday identifying a myriad of issues with the Canada recovery sickness benefit, which provides employees who have to miss work due to illness or mandated self-isolation with up to $500 per week for up to two weeks.\nIn the letter, McNaughton said that his government believes that “maximizing” the program and “not duplicating efforts” is the best way to support workers. But he said that “there are important issues that need to be resolved.”\nSpecifically, McNaughton called on the feds to do “everything possible to get money into people's pockets faster.”\nHe also criticized the current requirement for workers to lose 50 per cent of their work week to qualify, which he said “does not align with advice for workers to stay home when they are first feeling sick or awaiting test results.”\nHe also said that a rule prohibiting people from receiving money from the program more than once should be removed as “workers sometimes experience multiple COVID-19 scares that require taking tim off work to test and/or quarantine.”\n“I understand that you are amending the legislation to close the loophole of paid quarantine for those who choose to travel internationally. This is the perfect opportunity to improve the program for those making the right choice to quarantine to protect others,” he wrote. “By working together, we continue to protect the health and economic well-being of the people of Ontario, and I am confident we will defeat this deadly virus.”\nThe Progressive Conservative government has faced sustained criticism for not introducing its own paid sick leave program during the COVID-19 pandemic but Premier Doug Ford has said that he sees “no reason” to “jump in” when the federal program already exists.\nSpeaking with reporters at a briefing last week, Toronto Mayor John Tory said that “it doesn’t really matter which government resolves” the issues with the sick leave program so long as they are addressed.\n“It is time for it to happen. I can’t even count how many times I have sat here and said this is an urgent issue that is causing people to go to work sick,” he said at the time. “It is not right and we should fix it.”\nThe Ontario government did previously have its own paid sick leave program but it was eliminated in 2018.", "Ontario's labour minister calls for changes to federal sick leave program", "Ontario’s Minister of Labour is calling for changes to be made to a federal sick leave program amid criticism from some advocates who say that the Ford government should be the ones to step in to fill the gaps." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T23:26:42"

"2021-01-21T16:48:00"

"2021-01-21T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Residents of Ontario long-term care homes described the devastating impact of the prolonged isolation brought on by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as they testified before an independent commission earlier this month.\nA group of residents spoke to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission through video conference on Jan. 13, laying out the intense loneliness and deteriorating mental health experienced by them and their peers.\nSome characterized the conditions, which they said have kept them with minimal human contact for weeks or months at a time, as \"inhumane.\"\nOne resident identified as Maria S. said the home she lives in had no COVID-19 cases until November, but then the virus \"spread like wildfire.\"\nThe facility is separated into eight sections, each housing 25 people, and two of those sections had no cases at all, she said. Still, the entire facility was closed off and everyone had to isolate for at least eight weeks, she said.\n\"You weren't able to talk to anybody, to see anyone... Through Christmas and New Year's, we sat in our rooms,\" with only one essential worker allowed, she told the commission.\n\"It is inhumane to leave people in their rooms without any contact with anyone for that long a period of time,\" she said. \"So it has been a long haul of loneliness and no interaction except with your staff, and again, that is limited interaction.\"\nAnother resident, identified as Ann D., said she feels like she is \"in jail,\" and has noticed a change in her fellow residents as well.\n\"You can see the life is just draining out of their faces,\" she said.\n\"Every day it is getting worse and worse... and they are just not the same person they were two weeks ago, and they are not the same as they were two months ago.\"\nOthers described the cumulative harm of the pandemic over the last year, comparing themselves to animals locked up in cages.\nA resident identified as Robert K. said he lost 20 pounds after the \"mental and physical isolation\" robbed him of his appetite.\nUnable to see his wife due to \"draconian\" rules, and no longer able to read or write due to an eye condition, Robert said he is \"very limited in recreational activities,\" particularly when volunteers aren't allowed in homes.\n\"I feel like my brain is in a straight jacket,\" he said. \"I feel like I want to break out, and I don't know how.\"\nTheir testimony came after another group of residents appeared before the commission in the fall, urging the government to address the issue of isolation before the second wave of the pandemic took hold.\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has carved a deadly path through Ontario's long-term care system, killing more than 3,250 residents and 10 staff members since the start of the global health crisis.\nThe commission, led by Superior Court Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco, was convened to investigate how the virus spread in the system, and issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar outcomes in the future.\nIt has heard that shortages in staff and personal protective equipment, as well as other factors, contributed to the outbreaks.\nCurrently, 251 of the province's 626 long-term care homes are reporting an outbreak of COVID-19.\nLast year, the province loosened visitation rules a few months into the pandemic, but the commission has heard many homes continued with a lockdown.\nAdditional restrictions were later imposed on homes in hot spot regions, limiting visitors to staff, essential visitors and caregivers.\nA directive issued earlier this month states that long-term care homes in regions designated as green or yellow under the province's pandemic management plan can allow caregivers and support workers who have had a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the past two weeks and attest to not testing positive later, or who have a negative antigen test the day of their visit.\nHomes in those regions can also admit visitors provided they meet the same criteria.\nCaregivers can visit facilities in regions deemed orange, red or grey zones if they have had a negative PCR test in the previous week, or a negative antigen test that day. But no visitors are otherwise allowed in homes in those regions.\nThe province has rolled out vaccinations in long-term care homes, vowing to administer a first dose in all facilities by mid-February.\nThe commission's hearings aren't open to the public but transcripts are posted online, typically in the days that follow.\nIt is expected to submit its final report to the provincial government on April 30.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2020.", "Long-term care residents told commission prolonged isolation is 'inhumane'", "Residents of Ontario long-term care homes described the devastating impact of the prolonged isolation brought on by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as they testified before an independent commission earlier this month." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T22:19:00"

"2021-01-06T16:52:00"

"2021-01-06T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto’s medical officer of health says that there was a “concerning” increase in people with COVID-19 who reported attending gatherings with individuals outside of their households over the holidays despite pleas from public health officials urging people to stay apart.\nDr. Eileen de Villa made the comment during a briefing at city hall on Wednesday afternoon as she reported another 837 new cases of COVID-19 in the city.\nShe said that nearly 32 per cent of respondents to Toronto Public Health’s online source of infection survey admitted to gathering with people outside of their households between Dec. 22 and Jan. 4 compared to about 21 per cent of respondents in “the weeks prior.” She said that the portion of positive COVID-19 cases who reported close contact with a non-household member also increased from 30 per cent to 44 per cent over the holiday period.\n“The outcome of these decisions will emerge over the next days and weeks. If they manifest as COVID-19 cases the implications are plain to see,” she warned.\nPublic health officials, including de Villa, spent weeks urging people to avoid attending holiday gatherings and to instead get together virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic.\nBut the early data appears to suggest that many Torontonians didn’t heed those warnings.\nSpeaking with reporters, De Villa said that the hospital system locally is already under “enormous” pressure with 87 per cent of ICU beds now occupied and that there is “little reason to expect that the case counts will decline anytime soon.”\nAt the same time, she said that she is becoming increasingly concerned about a rise in infections among younger Torontonians. On Wednesday those between the ages of 20 and 29 accounted for 181 of the 837 new cases reported, the highest number among any age group.\n“Today the youngest person amongst those newly hospitalized is 23. I understand from discussions with my hospital colleagues that admissions of younger people are reaching noticeable levels,” de Villa said.\nTory won't rule out curfew\nThe number of COVID-19 infections in Ontario has risen rapidly in recent weeks and on Wednesday the total number of lab-confirmed cases surpassed 200,000 for the first time.\nDe Villa was asked about whether she thinks elementary school students returning to the classroom on Monday is a good idea given the high level of community infection and conceded that she does “have some concerns.”\nShe said that she has “registered those concerns with our provincial counterparts” and that there continues to be active discussions on that front.\nMeanwhile, Mayor John Tory said Wednesday that he would be open to enhanced measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 if deemed necessary by public health experts, including a potential curfew.\nHis comment came after Premier Doug Ford told reporters that he would have a conversation with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams about whether there is now a need for additional restrictions.\n“If somebody said that some kind of a restriction on when people could come and go would significantly increase our effectiveness in wrestling this virus to the ground then I wouldn’t rule it out. But as of this moment there has been more mention of it in media questions than there has been in official circles,” Tory said.", "Nearly a third of Torontonians who recently tested positive for COVID-19 attended gatherings over the holidays: survey", "Toronto’s medical officer of health says that there was a “concerning” increase in people with COVID-19 who reported attending gatherings with individuals outside of their households over the holidays despite pleas from public health officials urging people to stay apart." ]

[]

"2021-01-10T00:13:23"

"2021-01-09T17:06:00"

"2021-01-09T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A year after Jamal Francique was fatally shot in an interaction with Peel Regional Police, his parents say they are still desperate for answers—and accountability.\n“It hurts so much not having him around, and it’s just the fact of how he was taken from us,” Francique’s mother Anne Marie White told CTV News Toronto Saturday. “It’s unbearable.”\nFrancique was shot on January 7, 2020, after an officer fired multiple shots at a vehicle in the area of Southampton Dr. and Aquinas Ave. in Mississauga. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) reported that police were in the neighbourhood to make an arrest and located a person of interest. Francique later died in hospital.\n“He was so beautiful. And they don’t understand what they’ve done to this family,” White said.\nFrancique’s parents were among several dozen who gathered Saturday near the scene of the shooting to pay tribute to the 28-year-old—and demand more information about his death.\n“There are definitely questions still, and we await answers,” Derek Francique, Jamal’s father, said. “And we’re still waiting.”\nThe family wants to know which officers were involved and why the police response ended so violently.\nThe SIU said in July that its investigators had interviewed the subject officer, eight witness officers, and one civilian witness. No video footage was available. The case file is now in the hands of the director for review, a spokesperson reported Saturday.\nFrancique’s family’s lawyer says they are eager to see the findings so they can scrutinize the process.\n“Families are always put in a situation where they are left in the dark,” Knia Singh told CTV News Toronto. “And being left in the dark is almost as painful as losing a loved one because when you have unanswered questions, you can’t rectify what went wrong.”\nThe SIU was unable to provide a timeline to CTV News Toronto on how long the director’s review would take. Peel Regional Police, meanwhile, said they were unable to comment as long as the case remained before the SIU.\nFrancique’s father vowed Saturday that a year after his death, he would not rest until he achieved justice for his son.\n“My son, to my whole entire family, was a prince,” Derek Francique said. “He was a very, very special person—and he’s still my prince.\"", "‘It’s unbearable:’ Jamal Francique’s family demands justice one year after he was killed in police interaction", "A year after Jamal Francique was fatally shot in an interaction with Peel Regional Police, his parents say they are still desperate for answers—and accountability." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T14:21:55"

"2021-01-08T07:26:00"

"2021-01-08T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to provide an update on the province’s response to the rapid spread of COVID-19 on Friday morning.\nAt his Toronto news conference, the premier will be joined by Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe.\nThe news conference is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CTVNewsToronto.ca will stream it live as soon as it begins.\nFord’s update comes one day after the return for students in southern Ontario to in-person learning was pushed back.\nElementary schools in the southern part of the province (south of Sudbury) will now remain closed until Jan. 25, which is two weeks later than the original return date.\nIn-person learning will still resume in northern Ontario for elementary students on Jan. 11.\nAll secondary students are still slated to return to the classroom on Jan. 25.\nThe province also announced on Thursday that the lockdown in northern Ontario will be extended until Jan. 25, aligning with the end of lockdown for the rest of the province.\nThe provincial government said they made these decisions after receiving new data indicating COVID-19 positivity rates among children had been increasing at alarming rates.\nOntario broke two COVID-19 records on Thursday with more than 3,500 new cases logged and 89 more deaths confirmed.\nThe province has seen the daily case count climb above 3,100 for four days now.", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford to provide update on COVID-19 response this morning", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to provide an update on the province’s response to the rapid spread of COVID-19 on Friday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T22:16:16"

"2021-01-07T14:04:00"

"2021-01-07T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- William Osler Health System is temporarily redirecting paediatric inpatients requiring hospital admission to SickKids as their facilities are facing overwhelming COVID-19 hospitalizations.\nAny children requiring hospitalization at Etobicoke General and Brampton Civic hospitals will be transferred to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital, according to a memorandum obtained by CTV News Toronto on Thursday.\nThe GTA Hospital Incident Management System first issued an order for the temporary redirection of paediatric inpatients at Etobicoke General on Dec. 23, and then another order at Brampton Civic on Jan. 5, due to “Osler’s growing and urgent capacity needs.”\n“Osler continues to serve paediatric patients at both sites through our various programs (e.g. children’s mental health, outpatient clinics, etc.). If a child needs to be admitted, they will be referred under the usual process, seen by a paediatrician, and transferred to SickKids,” the memo read.\nThe hospital network said the orders will be reassessed in four weeks.\nCTV News Toronto has reached out to SickKids for a comment.\nSimilar to what occurred at Etobicoke General late last month, the paediatric unit at Brampton Civic will be repurposed “exclusively for medicine capacity.”\nOsler said it is working to prepare staff for redeployment to other areas across its health system in an effort to support its COVID-19 response.\n“We are partnering with Professional Practice to ensure there is a safe mixed model of nurses with appropriate training and upskilling to care for adult medicine patients,” according to the memo.\nOsler also noted that the orders will not affect the birthing unit at either hospital and that the urgent paediatric assessment clinic will remain open at both sites.\nThe temporary changes come as the province logged a record 3,518 new COVID-19 cases and a single-day high of 89 deaths on Thursday.\nOf those new cases, Toronto recorded 891 new infections and Peel Region reported 586, according to provincial health officials.\nThe latest provincial data, which lags behind more up-to-date numbers reported by local public health units, said 1,472 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday, up from 1,235 one week ago. Of those hospitalizations, 363 are in intensive care units, up from 337 last Thursday.", "Some GTA hospitals redirecting children to SickKids to make room for COVID-19 patients", "William Osler Health System is temporarily redirecting paediatric inpatients requiring hospital admission to SickKids as their facilities are facing overwhelming COVID-19 hospitalizations." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T13:42:09"

"2021-01-06T08:08:00"

"2021-01-06T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- As Ontario ramps up it’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, the province’s Liberal party is calling for military support to help speed up the rate of inoculations.\nLiberal Leader Steven Del Duca wants doctors and nurses with the Canadian Armed Forces to be deployed on the front lines of Ontario’s vaccination delivery system to help the province achieve its goal of 10,000 shots per day.\n“I am urging the premier to request immediate assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who are well-positioned to provide important logistical leadership and support,” Del Duca said in a statement.\nPremier Doug Ford tapped retired CAF General Rick Hillier to lead his vaccination distribution task force, which has suffered a few setbacks at the outset of the plan.\nHillier suggested on Tuesday that holding back 35,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine contributed to the slow roll out, and acknowledged that pausing vaccinations during Christmas was a mistake.\nHillier, however, promised to speed up the vaccine roll out by administering 55,000 doses to residents and staff in 161 long-term care homes in Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex, by Jan. 21.\nThe retired general also said the remaining supply of the Pfizer vaccine would be exhausted by the end of the week and promised to administer the incoming doses soon after they arrive in Ontario.\nCalling this an “all-hands-on-deck” moment for the province, Del Duca said military aid in transporting and administering the vaccine would help the province “regain control [and] distribute vaccinations rapidly.”\nDel Duca said the government should also request military assistance in long-term care homes struggling under the weight of COVID-19.\nThe pandemic’s second wave has seen the virus spreading to more nursing homes than the initial wave of the COVID-19, despite the premier's assurances of an “iron ring” around the sector.\nWhile the province has relied on the Red Cross, hospitals and private management entities to assist homes struggling with outbreaks, Del Duca believes the military could bring the same stabilizing effect it did during the first wave.\nSo far, more than 2,800 elderly residents in nursing homes have succumbed to the virus, while 11,500 residents and 4,400 staff are currently ill.", "Ontario Liberals call for military assistance in COVID-19 vaccine rollout", "As Ontario ramps up it’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, the province’s Liberal party is calling for military support to help speed up the rate of inoculations." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T13:09:43"

"2021-01-26T07:58:00"

"2021-01-26T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to receive an update on the province’s COVID-19 voluntary testing pilot project as he visits Toronto Pearson International Airport this afternoon.\nThe premier and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott are scheduled to visit the country’s largest airport at 1 p.m.\nA photo opportunity, as well as a brief question and answer period with members of the media, is expected to take place at this time, according to a statement from the premier's office.\nFord is expected to reiterate his government’s calls to the feds for mandatory testing for all travellers arriving from outside the country.\n“I can’t stress this enough. We have to test every person that comes in to Pearson, and any other land crossing. It’s absolutely critical. We need to put barriers up every which way we can,” the premier said during a news conference on Monday.\n“Every time I look up in the sky I’m thinking how many cases are coming in. This has to stop.”\nAccording to the federal government, at least 156 flights have landed in Canada between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 that had passengers who tested positive for the novel coronavirus after arriving in the country. Of the flights, 76 landed in Toronto.\nThere were also 70 domestic flights that had a passenger later test positive for the disease.\nEarlier this month, Ford announced a pilot program out of Pearson International Airport earlier this month that offers voluntary testing for the disease to any international travellers.\nIt’s not yet known how many people have used the program.\nThe Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, with the latest extension set to expire on Feb. 21. Travellers must show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their travel date and must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford to visit Toronto Pearson Airport this afternoon", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to receive an update on the province's COVID-19 voluntary testing pilot project as he visits Toronto Pearson International Airport this afternoon." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T18:22:58"

"2021-01-05T12:18:00"

"2021-01-05T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government hopes to vaccinate all long-term care residents, health-care workers and essential caregivers in the province’s four COVID-19 hot spots by mid-January.\nOn Tuesday, government officials released some firm deadlines for the rollout of the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in Ontario.\nAs part of the plan, the government hopes to have the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine administered to all long-term care residents and staff in Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex by Jan. 21.\nThese four regions were the first to be placed into lockdown during the second-wave of the pandemic, an act that shuttered most non-essential businesses and prohibited in-person dining at restaurants and bars.\nThe province has also said the first COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario Indigenous communities are scheduled to be administered later this week. Officials say they are working to begin vaccinations in northern fly-in communities, starting with the most vulnerable populations.\n“We are getting the vaccine to those who need it most as quickly as possible,” retired General Rick Hillier, who is the chair of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force, said in a statement issued Tuesday.\n“Every vaccination has the potential to save a life. Our focus is on getting the vaccines to the most vulnerable, as well as to the outstanding men and women who serve and care for our long-term care residents.”\nAs of Jan. 3, nearly 3,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered at 24 long-term care homes in Ontario, the government said, and about 4,000 more doses are expected to be administered by Jan. 6.\nAbout 50,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered so far, including more than 20,700 health-care workers, 26,000 health-care workers in long-term care and nearly 1,000 residents in long-term care or retirement homes.\nThe province administered the first second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to five health-care workers on Monday.\nOntario is still in Phase 1 of the vaccine rollout, and officials said they hope to move to Phase 2 around April.\nOfficials working to deliver Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to LTC homes\nThe Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been administered at specific facilities with the ability to provide ultra-cold freezers that store the doses at a temperature of at least -70 C.\nThe Moderna vaccine has been transported for use at long-term care homes in Ontario as it does not require the same freezer storage capabilities.\nThe province received 53,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in December and expects to receive another 56,000 doses on Jan. 11. The delivery of these vaccines, which has been widely used in Ontario long-term care homes, are expected every three weeks.\nHowever, provincial officials said on Tuesday they are developing protocols to safely move the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A pilot program has already begun in Ottawa, officials said.\nThe province expects much larger batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. About 96,000 doses have already been received, and officials expect another 50,000 doses this week and 80,000 doses each following week in January.\nBoth vaccines require a second dose by provided either 21 days or 28 days after the first shot is administered.\nThis is a developing news story. More to come.", "Ontario hopes to vaccinate all long-term care residents and staff in 4 COVID-19 hot spots by Jan. 21", "The Ontario government hopes to vaccinate all long-term care residents, health-care workers and essential caregivers in the province’s four COVID-19 hot spots by mid-January." ]

[]

"2021-01-02T20:10:16"

"2021-01-02T14:31:00"

"2021-01-02T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Peel police have arrested three men after a delivery driver was seriously injured during a carjacking in Brampton earlier this week.\nOn Dec. 30, police responded to reports of an assault and car theft in the area of Emstead Court and Timberlane Drive just after 5 p.m.\nA courier driver reported that he was delivering packages when he was accosted by a man and punched, police said.\nThe man then allegedly entered the victim’s vehicle and attempted to steal it.\nIn an effort to prevent the theft, the victim grabbed onto the vehicle and was dragged almost 800 meters before losing his grip, police said.\nThe victim sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. He was treated at a local hospital and later released.\nSeveral hours after the incident, the vehicle was located in Mississauga and three men were arrested in connection with the incident, police said.\nA large portion of the packages contained in the vehicle were also recovered and will be delivered to their final destinations, according to police.\nOn Saturday, police identified the suspects and the charges that they’re facing.\nBrampton resident Jaideep Singh, 22, is charged with robbery, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to comply with a release order. Gurdip Singh, 28, of Mississauga, is facing possession of property obtained by crime and failure to comply with a release order charges, and 42-year-old Brampton resident Rupinder Brar is charged with possession of property obtained by crime and breach of probation.\nThe charges have not been proven in court.\nPolice are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).", "Charges laid after delivery driver punched, dragged for 800m in Brampton carjacking", "Peel police have arrested three men after a delivery driver was seriously injured during a carjacking in Brampton earlier this week." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T21:36:32"

"2021-01-15T16:15:00"

"2021-01-15T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario is considering whether to delay administering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, ahead of a potential shortage of doses in Canada.\nHealth Minister Christine Elliott confirmed to CTV News Toronto on Friday that the province is looking at extending the full immunization window from three weeks up to 42 days, allowing the province to distribute initial doses to as many people as possible.\n\"The National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) has said up to 42 days between the doses is acceptable and is safe,\" Elliott said. \"It would be within Ontario's power to extend the doses up to that time.\"\nWhile the advisory council lists 19 to 28 days as the ideal interval between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, it allows provinces to delay the final injection by up to 42 days for maximum effect.\n\"Some jurisdictions considering vaccine delivery logistics, current epidemiological status and projections, and healthcare system capacity may maximize the number of individuals benefiting from a first dose of vaccine by delaying the second dose,\" the council's recommendations on the COVID-19 vaccine states.\nThe consideration comes after the federal government announced a \"temporary\" delay of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shipments due to expansions of the company's European manufacturing facility -- resulting in a 50 per cent cut in shipment in January.\nOntario was expecting to receive more than 160,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the final two weeks of January, according to the federal government, a delivery schedule that's now in doubt.\nElliott says the province is awaiting further details on the \"the exact allocations\" and the \"timing of those allocations\" but said the province is once again reserving vials of the vaccine to ensure second doses are administered.\n\"We have some in reserve to make sure that we are going to be able to do the second doses in the appropriate period of time. So no one needs to worry about whether they will get their second dose or not.\nSo far, Ontario has administered 174,630 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, with 17,094 people receiving both doses.", "Ontario considers delaying second COVID-19 doses ahead of potential vaccine shortage", "Ontario is considering whether to delay administering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, ahead of a potential shortage of doses in Canada." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T15:45:11"

"2021-01-04T10:14:00"

"2021-01-04T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario has logged more than 3,200 new COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths linked to the disease.\nOn Monday, provincial health officials logged 3,270 new infections of the novel coronavirus, marking the third time Ontario’s daily case count has climbed above the 3,000 mark.\nThe highest number of cases reported in a single day in Ontario was seen on Saturday when 3,363 infections were recorded. Before that, the previous record was set on Thursday when 3,328 cases were logged.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of cases recorded is now 2,617, up from 2,186 one week ago.\nThere were 39,121 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period.\nThe province’s test positivity rate now stands at about 9.7 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health, which is a tie for the highest positivity rate ever reported in Ontario.\nOf the new patients logged on Monday, 917 are in Toronto, 581 are in Peel Region, 389 are in York Region, 246 are in Windsor-Essex County, 131 are in Ottawa, 126 are in Waterloo Region, and 122 are in Durham Region.\nOther areas that recorded more than 50 cases of the disease on Monday include Eastern Ontario (55), Simcoe Muskoka (54), Lambton (77), Middlesex-London (98), Hamilton (94), Halton Region (70), and Niagara Region (86).\nMonday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 194,232, including deaths and recoveries.\nWith the 29 new deaths confirmed by health officials on Monday, the province’s death toll is now 4,679. Of the deaths confirmed Monday, 14 were residents of long-term care homes.\nHealth officials deemed 2,074 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Monday, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 164,775.\nThere are currently 24,778 active cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario.\nAccording to the province, there are at least 1,190 patients infected with COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals. Of those patients, 333 are in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 194 of those 333 patients are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nThe province has said that when more than 300 COVID-19 patients are in the ICU, medical care not related to the disease becomes nearly impossible to handle.\nIn an effort to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, all of Ontario entered strict lockdown on Boxing Day. The lockdown measures are scheduled to last until Jan. 23 in the southern parts of the province (south of Sudbury) and until Jan. 9 in the northern parts.", "Ontario logs more than 3,200 new COVID-19 cases, 29 more deaths", "Ontario has logged more than 3,200 new COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths linked to the disease." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-28T17:07:34"

"2021-01-28T10:32:00"

"2021-01-28T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government says it has only fully vaccinated half the people it has been originally been reporting due to a government data error.\nAccording to the Ministry of Health, rather than providing data on the number of people who have been fully vaccinated, which would require two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, officials \"inadvertently provided data on the number of doses administered to achieve full vaccination.\"\n\"As a result, the number of people who have been fully vaccinated is half of what is currently listed,\" a statement from the Ministry of Health said.\nThe government has updated since updated the online vaccine data to reflect the accurate total number people fully vaccinated, which as of Thursday morning is 55,286.\nOn Wednesday, the government was reporting the number of fully vaccinated people was more than 96,000.", "Ontario COVID-19 vaccines only half of what was reported because of government data error", "The Ontario government says it has only fully vaccinated half the people it has been originally been reporting due to a government data error." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T03:51:22"

"2021-01-04T20:22:00"

"2021-01-04T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- At training camp, the Toronto Maple Leafs top line has an interesting look, with veteran Joe Thornton joining Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.\n\"They're two special guys and really fun to be around and obviously really talented players so to start with these guys is pretty special,” Thorton says of his new line mates.\nThe gap in age between Thornton and his teammates, is remarkable.\nWhen Thornton was taken first overall in the 1997 NHL entry draft, Mitch Marner, was just six weeks old. His other new line mate, Auston Matthews, wouldn't be born until September of that year.\nThornton says, \"Just being around this youthful energy, I think it's gets me excited and they got a lot of it here.\"\nThornton has already had a great chance to get to know some of his new teammates, recently in quarantine for 14 days with line mate Auston Matthews, also Rasmus Sandin, Mac Hollowell, and William Nylander.\nNylander relished the chance to get to know his new teammate, saying \"he was unbelievable. I mean you can tell why, spending two weeks with a hall of famer is pretty special.\"\nThrough his career, 41-year-old Thornton has been one of the best in the game. He has been the league’s leading scorer and MVP, winning the World Cup and Olympic gold. Leaf teammates say they are excited to have that experience.\nWinger Zach Hyman says, \"He’s definitely a larger than life figure I think in the room, you can, you know when he's in a room and he brings a great presence.\"\nThe one thing that has alluded Thornton is the Stanley Cup - and joining a team that has is desperate for playoff success, pressure could be heavy, but that doesn’t seem to be phasing the veteran centre.\nThornton says, \"I got no stress man honestly. You know I feel good, I feel comfortable but you know I tend to play with no stress, smile on my face, stay hungry.\"\nBridging a gap in age, for a common goal.", "When new Leaf Joe Thornton was drafted one of his linemates hadn't been born", "At training camp, the Toronto Maple Leafs top line has an interesting look, with veteran Joe Thornton joining Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T16:09:57"

"2021-01-20T10:20:00"

"2021-01-20T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting a hike in the number of COVID-19 cases as the province increases testing for the disease following a two-day slump.\nThe province confirmed 2,655 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday and reported that 89 more people have died due to the disease. The last time the province logged that many deaths was on Jan. 7 when another 89 deaths were recorded.\nThe Ontario Ministry of Health also reported the province’s positivity rate dropped to 4.6 per cent on Wednesday. The province completed 54,307 tests over the past 24 hours after two days of testing numbers below lab capacity.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come...", "Ontario reports rise in deaths and more than 2,600 new cases of COVID-19", "Ontario health officials are reporting a hike in the number of COVID-19 cases as the province increases testing for the disease following a two-day slump." ]