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cc_multi_2021-1_en

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[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-16T15:53:00"

"2021-01-16T10:14:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario has recorded more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, as well as 51 more deaths related to the disease.\nHealth officials reports 3,056 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 234,364. The new cases on Saturday is a slight increase over Friday when 2,998 infections were logged.\nThe 51 new COVID-19-related deaths bring the total number of fatalities to 5,340.\nThe province completed 73,875 COVID-19 tests in the previous 24-hour period. According to the government, Saturday’s positivity rate 4.9 per cent.\nThere are 903 new cases in Toronto, 639 in Peel Region, 283 in York Region, 162 in Durham and 152 in Ottawa.\nThis is a developing news story. More information to come.", "Ontario reports more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, 51 additional deaths", "Ontario has recorded more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, as well as 51 more deaths related to the disease." ]

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"2021-01-22T21:23:59"

"2021-01-22T09:19:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Brenda Hollingsworth of Auger Hollingsworth joins us with tips and when you should consider contacting a lawyer if you experience a slip and fall.\nMore from Auger Hollingsworth here.", "What to do if you experience a slip and fall", "Brenda Hollingsworth of Auger Hollingsworth joins us with tips and when you should consider contacting a lawyer if you experience a slip and fall." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T17:34:47"

"2021-01-11T09:06:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An 80-year-old man hit by a car last week in Hamilton, Ont., has died from his injuries.\nHamilton Police say the man was hit while in a city crosswalk just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 9.\nPolice say he did not have the right of way when he was crossing.\nThe man was taken to hospital and died Sunday.\nOfficers from the collision reconstruction unit are leading the investigation.\nPolice say the driver is co-operating.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2021.", "Pedestrian dies from injuries after being hit by car in Hamilton, Ont.", "An 80-year-old man hit by a car last week in Hamilton, Ont., has died from his injuries." ]

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"2021-01-03T02:29:04"

"2021-01-02T19:59:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police are investigating a shooting in Scarborough Saturday night that left two men injured.\nShortly after 6 p.m., two men suffering from gunshot wounds walked into a local hospital. Police say their injuries appear to be serious.\nPolice believe the shooting occurred near Beran Drive and Palacky Street, in the area of Lawrence Avenue East and Markham Road.\nThere is no suspect information at this time.\n“Because we’re working backwards in this investigation, we’re going to appeal to the community,” Insp. Kelly Skinner said.\n“If they have any information to please call us at 416-808-2222 and to check your backyards if you’re in this area and to check your surveillance cameras to see if you have any footage.”", "Shooting in Scarborough leaves two men seriously injured", "Toronto police are investigating a shooting in Scarborough Saturday night that left two men injured." ]

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"2021-01-08T05:12:10"

"2021-01-07T09:52:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police say a 51-year-old man who was wanted in an attempted murder investigation has been arrested on Thursday.\nOn Jan. 5, the suspect allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old man with who he had a disagreement earlier in the day.\nPolice said the victim sustained stab wounds to his chest and abdomen and was taken to hospital. His injuries are considered non-life-threatening.\nOn Thursday morning, police issued a news release asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect, identified as Roger Xie. He was last seen in the area of University Avenue and Wellington Street West at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.\nHours later, police said Xie had been arrested. He was charged with assault, attempted murder, aggravated assault, dangerous weapons and carrying a concealed weapon.\nHe is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.\nPolice are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).", "Toronto police arrest 51-year-old man wanted in attempted murder probe", "Toronto police say a 51-year-old man who was wanted in an attempted murder investigation has been arrested on Thursday." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T01:00:56"

"2021-01-28T17:36:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Paulette Walker’s life could have gone in either direction. She could have ended up in jail, but instead she found treatment – and a whole new life thanks to the Toronto Drug Treatment Court.\nWalker says she didn’t realize it at the time, but childhood trauma set her on a self-destructive path.\nShe had family who loved her, but she says there was also “sexual and physical abuse, verbal abuse, a sense of loss, abandonment.”\nShe became a successful makeup artist in her 20s but things fell apart for her one night in 1985. She went partying after wrapping up work on a televised awards show and on the eve of starting a new job with a major Canadian women’s magazine.\n“I ended up in a crack house for two weeks,” she said.\nShe says crack cocaine crept into her life gradually. Once in a while turned into once a month, once a week and then more. She lost her job, lost her home and eventually, after years of struggling, she was arrested in a drug bust and brought before Judge Paul Bentley.\n“He says “Do you want to stop using drugs?” she recalled. “And in that moment, I said ‘Yeah I do but I don’t know how.’”\nIn 1998, Bentley had introduced the Toronto Drug Treatment Court, which diverts non-violent people from the criminal justice system and puts them into treatment for problematic substance abuse. It’s a model that’s since been adopted in several Canadian cities.\n“In those days we called it addiction,” said Justice Mary Hogan, who took over the program after Judge Bentley passed away.\n“I think our court has tried to evolve with what we know now about problematic substance abuse as opposed to what we knew in 1998” says Hogan. “I would say we’ve become more harm-reduction focused.”\nShe calls the program a unique collaboration between the criminal justice system and the health-care system. Clients spend a minimum of a year in the program with counselling and treatment, working with CAMH therapists, and the legal team at Old City Hall courts tries to build a supportive and friendly relationship with clients.\nSuccess viewed in many ways, but reduction in substance use or dependence is typical.\n“They’ve achieved a sense of dignity, self-worth and they’ve been able to reintegrate into the community. And they often have re-established their ties with family,” Hogan said.\nHogan says the program has been hit hard by the pandemic. It’s not at the top of the list for funding to convert to online services. Restrictions on the number of people allowed to congregate have hampered the way treatment decisions are made and many clients lack access to things like Zoom.\nWalker successfully completed the program years ago and went on to become a chef, and later a peer counsellor for CAMH. She was invited by Bentley to speak at the United Nations and now she works at CAMH as a counsellor for the Toronto Drug Treatment Court.\n“I never thought in a million years that my life would change as much as it has,” she said, while thanking Bentley, who she keeps a photo of on her wall as a reminder and an inspiration.\n“He saved my life and gave me a fresh start and a sense of community.”", "Toronto woman credits encounter with judge for turning her life around", "Paulette Walker’s life could have gone in either direction. She could have ended up in jail, but instead she found treatment – and a whole new life thanks to the Toronto Drug Treatment Court." ]

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"2021-01-30T03:46:13"

"2021-01-29T22:27:00"

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

[ "TAMPA, FLA. -- Harrison Barnes scored 26 points to lift to Sacramento Kings to a 126-124 victory over the shorthanded Toronto Raptors on Friday.\nPascal Siakam had 32 points to top the Raptors (7-12), who rallied from an 18-point deficit down the stretch before losing their third straight.\nFred VanVleet added 26 points, while Kyle Lowry scored 17 points before being ejected with four seconds to play. Terence Davis and Yuta Watanabe chipped in with 12 points apiece.\nThe Kings (8-10) snapped a seven-game losing streak against Toronto and avenged an ugly loss to the Raptors on their home floor three weeks earlier.\nThe Raptors, who have used six different starting lineups in their last six games, were missing OG Anunoby for the second straight night (calf strain), and Norman Powell, who sat out with a knee contusion he suffered in Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee.\nEarlier in the month in Sacramento, the Raptors roared back from a 19-point deficit to beat the Kings 144-123, recording a franchise best in points.\nBut down two key players, there weren't quite the same late-game heroics for the Raptors on Friday. After an early two-point lead, the Raptors trailed the rest of the way. A 17-point deficit in the second quarter became 18 points late in the third, and Toronto trailed 104-91 with one quarter left to play.\nThe Raptors made things interesting in the dying minutes. Watanabe connected on a three-pointer then grabbed a big rebound that led to a Lowry bucket to cap an 8-0 run that sliced Sacramento's lead to 112-105 with 5:21 to play.\nVanVleet zig-zagged through the defence to score, then Watanabe connected on a jumper to pull Toronto to within a point with 1:08 to play. Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton replied with a three-pointer. Lowry's short jumper cut it to two again, but Sacramento free throws put the game away.\nBarnes was a perfect 3-for-3 from distance in the first quarter and his long bomb at the buzzer capped a 12-2 Kings run that had the visitors up 36-24 to start the second.\nThe Kings stretched their lead to 17 points early in the second quarter, but the Raptors replied with a 14-4 run to make it a seven-point game. The Raptors would pull to within seven three more times in the quarter, but trailed 68-58 at the halftime break.\nThe Kings maintained a double-digit lead through the third quarter, and a layup by former Raptor and Canadian Cory Joseph had the visitors up by 18 late in the frame.\nThe Raptors host Orlando on Sunday to cap their three-game homestand.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2021.", "Undermanned Raptors drop a 126-124 decision to Kings for third straight loss", "Harrison Barnes scored 26 points to lift to Sacramento Kings to a 126-124 victory over the shorthanded Toronto Raptors on Friday." ]

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"2021-01-29T20:13:16"

"2021-01-29T07:15:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Kirsten Cooney of Red Door Family Shelter joins us to talk about how they’re supporting families in need and what you can do to help.\nMore from Red Door Family Shelter here.", "Red Door Family Shelter helps families in need", "Kirsten Cooney of Red Door Family Shelter joins us to talk about how they’re supporting families in need and what you can do to help." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T20:40:02"

"2021-01-01T11:43:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police say a driver with only a G2 license was spotted going more than 200 kilometres an hour in a Lamborghini SUV on the Don Valley Parkway on Friday morning.\nDet. Const. Scott Matthews said the yellow quarter-million dollar Lamborghini Urus SUV was spotted going 203 km/h on the highway sometime early this morning.\nThe driver, who Matthews said was a 25-year-old with a G2 license, was charged criminally with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act.\nThe vehicle was impounded and will be held for seven days and his license was suspended as well.", "Lamborghini driver with G2 license goes 110 km/h over limit on Toronto highway", "Toronto police say a driver with only a G2 license was spotted going more than 200 kilometres an hour in a Lamborghini SUV on the Don Valley Parkway on Friday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T20:24:09"

"2021-01-05T13:49:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- As Ontario continues to see surging levels of COVID-19 transmission, one epidemiologist is raising concerns that outdoor activities may not be the safe refuge from the virus that they were in the summer.\nColin Furness, who is a professor at the University of Toronto, tells CP24 that while being outside continues to be “much better” than being indoors it is a “little less safe” than it was in the summer due to the way virus behave in colder, dryer air.\nHe says that when the air is hot and humid droplets” get heavier not lighter and they sink to the ground,” meaning that you would have to be extremely close to someone with COVID-19 to be exposed to the virus.\nBut he says that when the temperature drops and the air gets dryer the droplets tend to remain airborne for longer periods of time.\nHe says that the mucus membranes in our nose, mouth and throats also dry out in colder weather “and don’t work nearly as well at filtering out the pathogens.”\n“There is a good reason why we have flu season and cold season in the winter. In cold, dry air when the virus leaves your mouth when you exhale it doesn’t start to die right away like it does in hot weather; it stays very much alive,” he said.\n“In cold, dry weather when you exhale and you can see your breath you are seeing those droplets and the droplets disappear in an instance, meaning the water evaporates so those very live virus particles are floating in the air.”\nPublic health officials and epidemiologists have long said that individuals are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 when indoors and the province has largely taken this into account, choosing to first allow patio service to reopen in the summer before also allowing indoor dining.\nSpeaking with CP24, Furness said that being outside still offers benefits because the breeze can help to blow droplets away compared to indoor settings where the air is ‘recycled.”\nBut he said that people should nonetheless be aware of the fact that the virus “behaves very differently in the winter” and take precautions to avoid crowd scenes when they are out and about.\n“Shared air without masks is what makes people sick,” he said.", "Expert warns that risk of transmitting COVID-19 outdoors during the winter is higher", "As Ontario continues to see surging levels of COVID-19 transmission, one epidemiologist is raising concerns that outdoor activities may not be the safe refuge from the virus that they were in the summer." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T14:52:07"

"2021-01-18T07:28:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The first COVID-19 vaccination site not hosted in an Ontario hospital or long-term care home opens today at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.\nUntil now COVID-19 vaccines have only been administered at 19 hospital sites across Ontario but the city has agreed to open a clinic inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in order to help develop a blueprint for how shots could be administered in non-medical settings as soon as this spring.\nWith an aim of administering at least 250 shots per day, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said last week the facility would be “scale-able” and capable of increasing output with little notice.\nThe site will run for at least six weeks and will inform how to host vaccination drives in larger settings.\n\"The whole idea here is to have a clinic that can vaccinate front-line health-care workers and in the process learn the lessons that have to be learned so when they roll out 50 or even 100 of these mass vaccination clinics around the province all the sort of bugs have been worked out of the system,\" Mayor John Tory told CP24 on Monday.\nOntario Premier Doug Ford and Tory toured the site at MTCC’s North Building on Sunday.\nIt is not clear how delays in vaccine delivery over the next month due to retooling efforts at Pfizer will impact the pace of vaccinations at the facility.\nOntario aims to begin vaccinating seniors living in the community, essential workers, those living with complex chronic conditions and those from historical marginalized groups staring in April.", "Ontario's first major COVID-19 vaccination site opens at Metro Toronto Convention Centre", "The first COVID-19 vaccination site not hosted in an Ontario hospital or long-term care home opens today at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre." ]

[]

"2021-01-25T01:18:22"

"2021-01-24T16:46:00"

"2021-01-24T00:00:00"

[ "INDIANAPOLIS -- OG Anunoby scored a season-high 30 points and made three free throws in the final minute to break a tie and help the surging Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 107-102 on Sunday.\nThe Raptors have won two straight and five of their last six, including this one without injured All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam.\nMyles Turner had 25 points and six blocks to lead the Pacers, who have lost three of four.\nToronto took control midway through the second quarter and extended the lead to 58-47 at the half. After Indiana cut the deficit to 77-75 following three quarters, the Pacers took two brief leads early in the fourth.\nBut the Raptors broke an 82-all tie with an 8-0 run. Indiana tied the score again with 1:07 to play, but Anunoby made three of four free throws and the Raptors scored the final five points.\nAnunoby extended his streak of consecutive double-figure scoring games to eight. He also made four 3s, giving him 27 in the last eight. Fred VanVleet scored 21 points and has made at least one 3-pointer in a franchise-record 48 consecutive games. Toronto forced 13 turnovers and went 10 of 18 on 3s in the first half. Norman Powell added 20 points.\nThe Pacers' Domantas Sabonis had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone for his 16th consecutive double-double to open the season. It's the longest streak of his career and the longest in Indiana's NBA era. He finished with 10 points, 19 rebounds and five assists. Justin Holiday had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jeremy Lamb scored 13 points and has 42 in three games since returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.\nWhile Lowry had been listed as a game-time decision on Toronto's injury report because of a sore right foot, Siakam was a surprise inactive with swelling in his left knee. It's unclear whether either will be available for Monday night's rematch.\nIndiana welcomed fans back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday. Team officials announced previously they would cap attendance at 1,000. After Monday night, they will consider increasing the capacity. Local and state officials have said the Pacers can have as many as 4,500 fans inside the arena.", "Anunoby's hot hand helps short-handed Raptors beat Pacers", "OG Anunoby scored a season-high 30 points and made three free throws in the final minute to break a tie and help the surging Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 107-102 on Sunday." ]

[]

"2021-01-09T22:28:52"

"2021-01-09T15:14:00"

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

[ "TAMPA, FLA. -- The Toronto Raptors won't have fans at home games at Tampa's Amalie Arena for now.\nVinik Sports Group, which owns the Tampa Bay Lightning and Amalie Arena, announced Saturday that the organization wouldn't admit fans as “COVID-19 numbers across west central Florida have risen sharply in recent days.”\nNo fans will be permitted in the building until at least Feb. 5.\nFlorida has been a hotspot for COVID-19, and reported nearly 20,000 new cases on Friday as the global pandemic continues to surge there.\nThe state has recorded more than 1.4 million cases since the pandemic began.\n“Our health care agency partners and the local governments have helped ensure that Amalie Arena is as safe and healthy as possible. But because of the increasing numbers and the rising positivity rates, we are not comfortable bringing large numbers of fans indoors to watch hockey or basketball right now,” said Steve Griggs, CEO for Vinik Sports Group and the Lightning.\n“We are hopeful to reopen the arena soon after we see declining rates and better overall numbers.”\nThe Raptors were one of about a half dozen NBA teams to permit a limited number of fans at home games, with 3,800 tickets available for each game at Amalie Arena.\nBecause of Canada's border restrictions and rising COVID-19 cases, the Raptors were forced to play their home games out of Tampa for at least the first half of the season.\nThe Raptors had offered tickets for the first 11 games of the team's home schedule, with three games having been played. Tickets sold for the other eight games will be refunded.\nAmalie Arena hasn't felt like home court for the Raptors, with many fans in attendance supporting the visiting teams.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2021.", "Raptors won't have fans at Amalie Arena due to rising COVID-19 cases in western Florida", "The Toronto Raptors won't have fans at home games at Tampa's Amalie Arena for now." ]

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"2021-01-12T19:35:54"

"2021-01-12T14:14:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto's mayor is asking the federal and provincial governments for money to help Canadian cities through a second fiscal year of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nMayor John Tory addressed the Empire Club of Canada this afternoon, giving a preview of Toronto's 2021 budget.\nThe budget will be brought before Toronto city council on Thursday.\nTory had advocated for a \"Safe Restart agreement\" for municipalities across the country in 2020, which federal and provincial governments agreed to last year.\nHe is now calling for a Safe Restart 2.0 agreement as the pandemic stretches into its second fiscal year.\nTory says that if the higher levels of government don't come through with renewed funding Toronto will have to cut up to $860 million of capital spending.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2021.", "Toronto mayor asks for more funding from federal and provincial governments for 2021", "Toronto's mayor is asking the federal and provincial governments for money to help Canadian cities through a second fiscal year of the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-17T04:04:06"

"2021-01-16T21:55:00"

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

[ "OTTAWA -- Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre.\nThe victory gave the Maple Leafs (2-1-0) a split of the back-to-back set in the nation's capital. The Senators (1-1-0) opened their regular season with a 5-3 win over Toronto a night earlier.\nJoe Thornton and Auston Matthews had a goal and assist apiece for Toronto. Nick Paul and Tim Stutzle scored for Ottawa.\nMatt Murray returned to the Ottawa net while the Maple Leafs gave backup goaltender Jack Campbell his first start of the young season.\nToronto, looking to set the tone after a mediocre showing on Friday, came out flying in the early going. Ottawa withstood the early pressure and opened the scoring at 10:55.\nNikita Zaitsev fired a rising shot from the point that hit Paul's mid-section in the slot. The puck landed at Paul's feet and he slapped it past Campbell for his first goal of the year.\nToronto pulled even moments later as Marner made a nice back pass to Thornton, who snapped the puck past Murray from the faceoff circle.\nIt was the first goal of the season for the 41-year-old forward, who signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs in the off-season.\nMarner made it a 2-1 game at 1:10 of the second period. He grabbed a loose puck off the faceoff and wired a shot that deflected off Erik Gudbranson and past Murray.\nMarner was at his flashy best again in the third period as he set up Auston Matthews at 2:42.\nWith Toronto on the power play, Marner dropped the puck between his legs and his linemate blasted a one-timer for his first goal of the year.\nStutzle, selected with the third overall pick in last year's draft, scored his first career NHL goal in style. The 19-year-old German showed great timing by connecting with an arching puck after it hit the ice, beating Campbell on the short side.\nHowever, Stutzle took a tripping penalty with 2:49 left in regulation. Ottawa pulled the goalie for an extra attacker in the final minute but couldn't pull even despite some late pressure.\nThe Maple Leafs outshot the Senators 40-19.\nBoth teams made lineup changes as Colin White replaced Artem Anisimov for Ottawa. Nick Robertson got the nod for Toronto ahead of Alexander Barabanov.\nRobertson played just two minutes 20 seconds before leaving the game with an apparent knee injury.\nThe Maple Leafs opened the season Wednesday with a 5-4 overtime victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens.\nThe Senators will continue their four-game homestand Tuesday with the first of two straight games against Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs will return home to play the Jets on Monday night.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2021.", "Mitch Marner has goal and two assists as Maple Leafs edge Senators 3-2", "Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre." ]

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"2021-01-13T16:26:00"

"2021-01-13T10:17:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting fewer than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second day in row, as well as 74 more deaths related to the disease.\nThe province confirmed 2,961 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday after a drop in infection numbers just the day before when 2,903 cases were added. This comes after several days of record-breaking case numbers over the 3,000 mark.\nWhile the cases numbers have dropped, the positivity rates remain high. With just over 50,000 tests completed on Wednesday, the Ontario Ministry of health said the positivity rate now stands at about six per cent.\nOn Tuesday, with just over 40,000 tests completed, that positivity rate was about 7.8.\nThe province said that among the 74 people reported to have died due to COVID-19, one of them was a staff member at a long-term care home. Thirty-six long-term care residents were also among the deceased.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come...", "Ontario reports increase in COVID-19-related deaths and fewer than 3,000 new cases", "Ontario health officials are reporting fewer than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second day in row, as well as 74 more deaths related to the disease." ]

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"2021-01-23T01:41:42"

"2021-01-22T17:30:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A youth group leader from a Brampton, Ont. church has been charged in connection with a historical sexual exploitation and sexual assault investigation.\nAccording to police, the incidents occurred between 1998 and 2003 and involved three teenagers.\nNo further details have been provided by police regarding the incidents, however investigators say the victims did not sustain any physical injuries.\nMississauga resident Daryl Holliday, 43, has been charged with three counts of sexual exploitation and three counts of sexual assault in connection with the investigation.\nThe charges have not been proven in court.\nPolice believe there may be additional victims and are encouraging anyone with information to contact their special victims unit at 905-453-2121 ext. 3460 or to reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.", "Brampton church youth group leader charged in sexual exploitation, sex assault investigation", "A youth group leader from a Brampton, Ont. church has been charged in connection with a historical sexual exploitation and sexual assault investigation." ]

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"2021-01-07T20:04:19"

"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.\nWatch the announcement live in the player above at 3 p.m.\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 to announce whether students will return to in-person learning", "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." ]

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"2021-01-12T15:30:38"

"2021-01-12T07:40:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce new COVID-19 lockdown measures on Tuesday afternoon, one day after the total death toll in the province related to the disease surpassed 5,000.\nOn Monday multiple sources confirmed to CTV News that invoking a state of emergency was under active consideration.\nSome of the measures that were considered by cabinet include lowering the limit for outdoor gatherings from 10 people to five; limiting permitted hours for shopping to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., limiting office spaces to either no workers or only essential workers and further restrictions on the construction industry, sources said.\nThe existing rules for health-care services, dental offices, physiotherapy and chiropractors would remain the same, sources with direct knowledge of the recommendations say.\nA province-wide curfew is no longer one of the measures under consideration.\nThe premier will be joined on Tuesday by Health Minister Christine Elliott, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, and co-chair of the province’s COVID-19 science table Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown.\nCTVNewsToronto.ca will stream the announcement at 1 p.m. You can watch Doug Ford's announcement live in the player above.\nThe news will come a few hours after provincial health officials release new modelling data that the premier has said will make people “fall off their chair.”\nWith files from CTV News Toronto’s Colin D’Mello", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford to announce new COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce new COVID-19 lockdown measures on Tuesday afternoon, one day after the total death toll in the province related to the disease surpassed 5,000." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T18:49:09"

"2021-01-12T10:15:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting a one-day drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases with fewer than 3,000 reported, but the positivity rate remains high.\nThe province confirmed 2,903 cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday after eight consecutive days of case numbers over the 3,000 mark. Health officials logged 3,338 new infections on Monday, and a record-breaking number of 3,945 on Sunday.\nWhile the province has reported a drop in cases Tuesday, with just over 40,000 COVID-19 tests completed, the positivity rate of 7.8 is higher that what it was on the previous five days.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of infections recorded is now 3,523, up from 2,646 one week ago.\nThe Ontario Ministry of Health also reported on Tuesday that the province now has eight additional cases of the more-contagious COVID-19 variant first discovered in the U.K. Fourteen cases of the new strain have been found in Ontario to date.\nOfficials also reported on Tuesday that 41 more people have died due to the disease, including 23 people who were residents of long-term care homes. The province’s death toll now stands at 5,053.\nThe province also deemed 3,353 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Tuesday, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 186,829.\nTuesday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 222,023, including deaths and recoveries.\nOntario health officials reported a jump in the number of people in hospital due to COVID-19 with 1,701 people currently receiving care.\nThe province said that 385 of those patients are in intensive care, and 262 of them are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. According to a report by Critical Care Services Ontario, there are more than 400 people in the province’s intensive care units with COVID-19.\nHealth officials have said 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.\nWhere are the COVID-19 cases in Ontario?\nOf the 3,945 cases reported on Tuesday, health officials said that 837 were in Toronto, 545 were in Peel Region and 249 were in York Region.\nSeveral other regions in Ontario reported COVID-19 cases numbers in the triple digits, including Windsor-Essex (158), Niagara Region (246) and Waterloo (166).\nIn an effort to help curb the spread of the disease, the provincial government ordered a 28-day Ontario-wide lockdown on Dec. 26. Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce further restriction on Tuesday in order to curb the spread of the disease.\nThere were 44,802 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period. There are 43,154 COVID-19 tests still under investigation. In total, Ontario has processed more than 8.5 million tests since the pandemic began in January.\nAs of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 133,553 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario, including 11,448 doses administered in the past 24 hours. The vaccine requires two doses. In Ontario, 6,046 total vaccinations have been completed as of Tuesday.", "COVID-19 Ontario: Province reports single-day drop in new COVID-19 cases, but positivity rate remains high", "Ontario health officials are reporting a one-day drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases with fewer than 3,000 reported, but the positivity rate remains high." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T20:36:12"

"2021-01-06T14:56:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford is slamming the federal government’s decision to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to some inmates before inoculating all long-term care home residents, as part of a pilot program starting this week.\nFord made the remarks on Wednesday during his first COVID-19 press conference of the year at Pearson Airport.\n“Let's not give the most dangerous criminals in our country the vaccine before we give it to our long-term care patients, most vulnerable and other elderly people,” Ford said.\n“I encourage the federal government, I encourage the Prime Minister, stop it. It is not good,” he added.\nFord’s comments come after the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO) announced that, starting Friday, hundreds of federal inmates will receive vaccines as part of a pilot project.\nAccording to UCCO, 1,200 doses of the vaccine will be delivered to prisons across the country, thus allowing 600 inmates to receive the necessary two doses of the vaccine for full immunization.\nIt is unknown whether the inmates will receive the Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.\nThrough the pilot, doses will be sent to five prisons, including federal institutions in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and the West Coast.\nThe union said it does not know which specific institutions will receive the vaccines.\nAccording to the union, sick and elderly prisoners will be given first access to the shots but prison officers and employees are not a part of the pilot program.\nFord said when he first heard the news, he “didn’t believe” that the “most dangerous criminals in the country” would be getting the vaccine before all nursing home residents.\n“How do you square this? How do you put them [inmates] ahead of long-term care patients? How do you put them in front of all the most vulnerable and we're scraping every vaccine we can get. I imagine whoever the minister is in charge of that has dropped the ball majorly,” Ford said.\nOntario’s Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, who joined Ford at his press conference, said the government’s priority still remains to inoculate those in long-term care home settings.\n“In terms of moving forward as we continue to vaccinate, certainly group homes, homes that have developmental disability, adults and children, and congregate living like our corrections facilities will be in the queue, but right now our priority continues to be long-term care residents,” she said.\nConservative leader Erin O’Toole also reacted to the news tweeting that “not one criminal should be vaccinated ahead of any vulnerable Canadian or front line health worker.”\nPublic Safety Minister Bill Blair responded to Ford and O’Toole’s comments at a virtual news conference on Wednesday and said the government is following the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).\n“I would also simply remind the premier and the conservative leader that frankly the language of resentment and fear really has no place in this discussion. It really needs to be based on the advice of our public health authorities,” he said.\nHowever, NACI- which provides Ottawa with advice and guidance around prioritization of vaccines- has suggested that long-term care home residents and staff should be among the first phase of vaccinations.\nNACI has advised that residents and staff of correctional facilities should be prioritized in the second phase of immunizations.\nAs of Wednesday afternoon, 1,146 among inmates across the country have been infected with the virus since the pandemic started in January, and three inmates have died.\n-With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello, Kimberley Johnson and Ted Raymond", "Ontario premier slams feds over pilot program that will start inoculating inmates with COVID-19 vaccine", "Premier Doug Ford is slamming the federal government’s decision to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to some inmates before inoculating all long-term care home residents, as part of a pilot program starting this week." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T22:36:06"

"2021-01-05T15:37:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at a paramedics station in Hamilton after three different employees tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.\nThe outbreak at Hamilton Paramedic Service – Limeridge Base was first declared by Hamilton Public Health Services on Monday.\nIn a news release issued on Tuesday afternoon, the City of Hamilton said that the employees last worked between December 28 and January 1.\n“Although the employees followed all proper usage for personal protective equipment (PPE) and there is not believed to be any unprotected contact with the public, the city is advising residents out of an abundance of caution,” the news release states. “Hamilton Public Health Services will connect directly with anyone who is considered a close contact of these cases as part of their contact tracing.”\nOfficials say that a deep clean of the premises will be conducted and that there will be no interruption to operations.", "COVID-19 outbreak reported at Hamilton paramedics station after three positive cases", "A COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at a paramedics station in Hamilton after three different employees tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T00:13:42"

"2021-01-29T17:53:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- After making complaints throughout the pandemic about possible travellers breaking quarantine rules in her downtown condo building, Dimitra Doufekes says she isn’t clear who’s really responsible for monitoring potential quarantine breaches.\nDoufekas said she’s observed people with luggage without masks and recently a man getting two COVID-19 tests in the hall across from her unit.\nShe said she tried getting answers from health officials, the city and police.\n“I just felt like there was no enforcement at all,” she said. “I’m calling everywhere and everybody is telling me to call someone else and in the end, nothing is getting done.”\nDoufekas said she wants confidence if travellers break the rules, authorities will step in.\n“I contacted 311. They confirmed he was from California, he had come here and he was going to stay here short term,” she said.\n“I’m not super afraid of getting COVID, but at the same time when you see a test done outside your doorway, it’s really very uncomfortable and you start to wonder what else is going on here? What else have they been exposed to?”\nUnder the upcoming stringent federal rules, after a traveller arrives in Canada and receives a negative result from a new mandatory test to be done at the airport — the traveller will be able to leave a government-approved hotel after three days and isolate.\n“Those with negative test results will then be able to quarantine at home under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.\nA City of Toronto spokesperson said the Federal Quarantine Act enforcement in the city is within the purview of Toronto Police Service, and that all returning travellers must self-isolate under a quarantine order from the Public Health Agency of Canada.\n“The federal government enforces this by following up and conducting spot checks to verify compliance,” the spokesperson said.\nTo report non-compliance the city said people can contact Toronto’s Police’s non-emergency phone number at 416-808-2222 or the online.\nCTV News has reached out to the federal government about what the increased surveillance and enforcement will look like moving forward compared to enforcement in the past.\n“We are increasing the number of calls we're making from the federal government, we're hiring private security firms to help with those follow up and of course there will be a particular focus given on returning travelers who've gone through the process of the three day test results when they come back,” Trudeau said on Friday.\nA spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada also said new screening officers will visit travellers’ quarantine locations to establish contact, confirm identity and confirm travellers are at the place of quarantine they identified to ensure compliance.\nThe visits start in Toronto and Montreal on Friday, Jan. 29.\n“[They] may provide compliance education or issue verbal warnings, as required. Any cases that warrant a stronger enforcement action will be referred to PHAC, and PHAC will refer the case to law enforcement for follow-up.”", "Toronto-area woman concerned about how officials enforce 14-day quarantine rule", "After making complaints throughout the pandemic about possible travellers breaking quarantine rules in her downtown condo building, Dimitra Doufekes says she isn’t clear who’s really responsible for monitoring potential quarantine breaches." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T15:33:45"

"2021-01-29T10:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario dropped Friday following a single-day increase reported a day earlier.\nThe 1,837 new cases represent a decrease over Thursday’s total when 2,093 were confirmed.\nFriday’s report pushes the province’s lab-confirmed case total to 264,300, including 6,072 deaths and 237,871 recoveries. At least 58 of those deaths occurred in the last 24 hours.\nThe province said it completed 69,040 COVID-19 tests in the previous day but did not provide a positivity rate.\nOntario’s seven-day average for number of infections recorded sits at 2,010, down from the 2,702 a week ago.\nThis is a breaking news story, more to come.", "Ontario reports more than 1,800 new COVID-19 cases following single-day spike", "COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario dropped Friday following a single-day increase reported a day earlier." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T22:36:16"

"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 Line 3 and the Niagara Parkway for an active investigation and that road closures are in effect.\nA spokesperson for Ornge originally told CP24 that an air ambulance was on its way to a call in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a patient who may have been involved in a shooting.\nInvestigators did not provide any information on victims or injuries at the time.\nHowever, in a tweet published by the SIU just after 4:30 p.m., investigators said that a man had died after an “interaction involving police.”\nPolice are asking members of the public to avoid the area.", "SIU investigating deadly police-involved shooting 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." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T19:43:35"

"2021-01-04T14:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Police have arrested one of two men who allegedly stole a suitcase full of meat from a west-end store and then fled the scene in a vehicle hired through a ridersharing app.\nPolice say that two suspects entered the store in the Keele Street and Dundas Street West area on Dec. 7 and began placing meat products into a suitcase that they had brought with them.\nWhen the men tried to leave the store with the meat they were confronted by an employee. Police say that one of the suspects then produced a knife and began making threats.\nThe men then fled the store and got into a vehicle that they had hired through a ridesharing app.\nIn a news release issued on Monday, police said that they have since taken one of the suspects into custody and have determined that he was also involved in “multiple previous retail store thefts.”\nKevin Errol Plummer, 45, of Toronto, has been charged with 13 counts of theft under, 11 counts of failing to comply with probation, robbery with an offensive weapon and disguise with intent.\nPolice are continuing to appeal for information that may lead to the identification of the second suspect.", "Suspect taken into custody after allegedly stealing suitcase full of meat from Toronto store", "Police have arrested one of two men who allegedly stole a suitcase full of meat from a west-end store and then fled the scene in a vehicle hired through a ridersharing app." ]

[]

"2021-01-25T18:05:04"

"2021-01-25T10:19:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario is reporting fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases Monday as the province marks the anniversary of detecting its first infection.\nThe 1,958 cases mark a decrease from Sunday’s report when 2,417 were logged.\nWith 35,968 tests for the disease processed in the last 24-hour period, Ontario's COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 5.5 per cent.\nMonday’s report brings the province’s lab-confirmed case total to 256,960, including 5,846 deaths and 227,494 recoveries.\nForty-three of those deaths occurred in the previous day, 27 of which were residents of a long-term care home.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of cases reported is 2,370, down significantly from the 3,034 reported the same time last week. There are currently 23,620 active cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario.\nA year ago today, Ontario confirmed its first case of COVID-19 after a 56-year-old man arrived at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto with what appeared to be a mild case of pneumonia.\nDoctors made the decision to admit him due to an unusual X-ray and his recent travel to China.\nOntario health officials would confirm its first case of the “Wuhan Novel Coronavirus” on Jan. 25, 2020.\nREAD MORE: One year of COVID-19 in Ontario: Where are we now?\nA number of public health measures took effect in the months that followed, namely mask wearing, social distancing and some form of lockdown in the province.\nOn Dec. 26, Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a province-wide lockdown that shuttered all non-essential businesses and prohibited in-person dining at bars and restaurants.\nThen, as 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 set to last a minimum of 28 days.\nLast week, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said the province would need to see daily COVID-19 cases fall to the 1,000 mark before the lockdown orders can be lifted.\nWhere are the new COVID-19 cases?\nMost of the new infections were found in Ontario’s COVID-19 hot spots.\nAccording to data provided by the province, 727 cases were found in Toronto, 365 were found in Peel Region and 157 in York Region.\nA handful of other public health units reported case numbers in the medium to high double digits, including Windsor-Essex (85), Niagara (82) and Durham Region (62).\nRight now, there are 1,398 patients in hospital with COVID-19, though more than 10 per cent of hospitals usually don’t report a daily bed census on Mondays. Of those patients, the province says that 397 are being treated in an intensive care unit and 283 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nUpdate on vaccinations\nSo far, 286,110 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered throughout Ontario.\nAt least 5,537 of those shots were administered in the previous day.\nThe province says that 71,256 people have received their required first and second shots and are considered fully vaccinated at this point.\nFord is set to provide an update on the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan this afternoon.\nWith files from Katherine DeClerq", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases on anniversary of first infection", "Ontario is reporting fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases Monday as the province marks the anniversary of detecting its first infection." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T17:34:54"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials have said that without a “significant reductions in contacts,” the health system will be overwhelmed amid a rising number of COVID-19 infections and mortality will exceed the first wave totals, even with their vaccination efforts.\nIn modelling data released late Tuesday morning, officials said they expect the daily COVID-19 mortality rate in the province to double from 50 deaths per day to about 100 deaths per day between mid-January and the end of February.\nThe predictions represent an increase from the previous data released in December, which suggested that under the “maximum likelihood estimate” Ontario would see a little under 50 deaths daily by next month.\nSpeaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Epidemiologist Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s COVID-19 science table, said that that the new data indicates the novel coronavirus could be in competition for the single greatest cause of mortality on a daily basis.”\n“Potentially larger than cancer and heart disease, it's already larger than virtually every other cause that we look at,” he said.\n“To give you an idea of this in relationship to other causes of mortality, this would really put COVID-19 into competition for being the single greatest cause of mortality on a daily basis.”\nOfficials also predicted that if the rate of infections grows by one per cent, Ontario hospital intensive care units could see occupancy related to the novel coronavirus jump to 500.\nIf the rate of infections grows to three per cent, officials say ICU COVID-19 occupancy could soar over 1,000. The government said this could occur in “more severe, but realistic scenarios.”\nOntario is currently reporting a COVID-19 infection growth rate of 1.2.\nThe government has previously said that once the number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU exceeds 300, it becomes nearly impossible for health-care workers to provide care not related to the disease.\nAs it stands now, there are more than 400 people being treated in the ICU for COVID-19. Officials said Tuesday that one quarter of hospitals in Ontario have no ICU beds free, while another quarter only have a handful of beds available.\nHospitalizations due to COVID-19 have increased by 72.1 per cent over the last four weeks, officials said, while the number of patients in the ICU has increased by 61.2 per cent.\n\"I want to be clear, the impact on our health system is already greater today than we've ever seen in Ontario's History,” Brown said.\n“If we look at just one community as an example, Scarborough has already had many times more emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and in an entire bad flu season, and we're now only a few months into this second wave.”\nBrown added that as the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care grows, doctors will have to make choices “no family ever wants to hear.”\n\"There will be choices about who will get the are they need and who will not. They will be choices about who receives oxygen or is transported to hospital. Decisions we are already seeing being forced on ambulance crews in California where the virus has spread widely,\" he said.\n\"The choices will affect all patients needing intensive care, whether it is patients who have a heart attack, who have been in a motor-vehicle accident, who have COVID-19 or any other cause. This also means care for thousands of patients waiting for surgery will be delayed or cancelled while we add more patients to this wait list.”\n\"Simply put, delays kill.\"\nIn long-term care homes, the situation appears to be just as dire.\nSince Jan. 1, 198 long-term care home residents have died of COVID-19, as well as two staff members.\nUnder the government’s worst-case scenario, the province could see the total long-term care death toll in the second wave surpass 2,500 by February. There were about 1,815 deaths in long-term care homes reported in the first wave of the pandemic, officials said.\nAccording to the modelling data, 252 long-term care homes—40 per cent of all facilities in Ontario—are experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19.\nThirty-seven of those homes are located in “priority vaccination areas,” which includes Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex. These four areas were the first regions in the province to be placed under a lockdown order in the second wave of the pandemic.\nMultiple variants of COVID-19 being seen in Ontario\nAs of Tuesday, Ontario officials say there are now 14 cases of a COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in the U.K. in the province.\nThe variant, officially known as Novel-SARS-CoV-2 (B117), appears to be much more easily transmittable, although officials say there is no increase in severity among those who contract it.\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.\nOfficials say the COVID-19 vaccine is likely still effective against the variant.\nThe modelling also forecasted that if the number of infections continues at a growth rate of one per cent, the province could see more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases daily by the end of February. That number increases to about 10,000 cases if the infection rate is three per cent.\nOfficials said that in the worst-case scenario, with a growth rate of between five and seven per cent, that number could jump to between 20,000 and 40,000 cases daily.\nThe modelling was released just a few 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.\nThis is a developing news story. More to come.", "Ontario daily COVID-19 deaths expected to double in February, overwhelm health system: modelling", "Ontario health officials have said that without a “significant reductions in contacts,” the health system will be overwhelmed amid a rising number of COVID-19 infections and mortality will exceed the first wave totals, even with their vaccination efforts." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T15:55:53"

"2021-01-01T09:29:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Meet the Hulfords—a father-daughter swimming duo who had to find a way to continue training with all the local pools closed due to the pandemic. Their solution: Lake Ontario.\n“We’re comfortable swimming in the lake. And we decided let’s train in the lake,” explained Steve Hulford, who is also a Masters swimmer.\nKate, who is hoping to crack the Canadian Olympic swim team, needed to continue her training and the pandemic wasn’t going to stop her.\n“I’m not doing it only for competition, it’s also to make me happy. And it’s fun spending time with my dad.”\nThe swimming duo have already covered over 150 kilometres with a target of 200 kilometres.\nThey’ve enjoyed it so much, they plan on making it an annual family event.", "Father, daughter swimming duo take to the lake due to pool closures", "Meet the Hulfords—a father-daughter swimming duo who had to find a way to continue training with all the local pools closed due to the pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T15:03:22"

"2021-01-07T09:52:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in an attempted murder investigation.\nOn Jan. 5, 51-year-old Roger Xie was last seen in the area of University Avenue and Wellington Street West at around 3:30 p.m.\nPolice said Xie is wanted for assault, attempted murder, aggravated assault, dangerous weapons and carrying a concealed weapon.\nXie is described as standing at five feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds, with short hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket, beige khaki pants, a white T-shirt and carrying a black satchel bag.\nXie is considered dangerous, investigators said.\n“If located, please do not approach and contact police immediately,” police said in a press release.\nPolice are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).", "Toronto police search for man wanted in attempted murder investigation", "Toronto police are asking for the public's help in locating a man wanted in an attempted murder investigation." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T00:13:22"

"2021-01-29T11:03:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario judge has ruled that the province cannot proceed with the demolition of a group of heritage buildings in Toronto’s West Don Lands pending a decision next month.\n“Friends of the Foundry are very relieved that today’s decision by J. Corbett of the Ontario Divisional Court will protect the Dominion Foundry buildings from further damage at least until a full hearing at the end of February,” community group Friends of the Foundry said in a statement Friday evening.\nThe buildings at 153-185 Eastern Avenue are on the former site of the Dominion Wheel and Foundries Company (known locally as the Foundry site).\nThey are owned by the Province of Ontario but have been designated heritage properties since 2004.\nIn October, the province quietly issued a ministerial zoning order for the site, a power that allows the housing minister to override heritage laws as well as local planning regulations when the province deems it necessary.\nIn Friday’s decision, the judge ruled that the demolition is “in contravention of the Heritage Act, and in breach of Ontario’s obligations under a subdivision agreement between Ontario and the City of Toronto.”\n“Infrastructure Ontario decided to demolish the heritage buildings without first providing a Heritage Assessment Report to Toronto in accordance with the subdivision agreement, did not disclose publicly its intention to demolish the buildings, did not disclose publicly the Heritage Assessment Report written by one of its employees, and did not undertake any “public engagement” respecting demolition of the buildings,” the judge wrote.\nThe judge did note that the events likely happened by mistake and that the province did not deliberately flout the Act and its contractual obligations.\nThe judge wrote, “someone responsible for the process leading to a decision to demolish the buildings simply forgot or overlooked the requirements that must be followed for heritage buildings. The record before me did not make it clear how this mistake was made.”\nCommunity members who say they have long-tried to engage the province about possible creative uses for the site, only learned about the demolition from someone who happened to be walking by about two weeks ago and noticed construction equipment.\nLast week, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark said he would pause demolition as a \"good faith\" gesture pending a legal challenge on the properties.\nClark said the province needs to tear down the building so that it can put up affordable housing on the site.\nHowever Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who represents the area, said she has recently learned from the city planning department that just 30 per cent of one of three planned towers for the site will be set aside for affordable housing. The rest, according to Wong-Tam, is slated to be market-price condos.\nCommunity activists have also questioned why the heritage properties cannot be incorporated into any new structure on the site.\nIn a statement Friday, Clark ‘s office called the judge’s decision “disappointing.”\n“As we’ve stated, a Heritage Impact Assessment was completed, which determined that the buildings require demolition to facilitate full environmental remediation of the site,” the statement read. “We had paused demolition as a good faith gesture towards the City. It is disappointing that the City of Toronto is slowing down environmental remediation, and the construction of new much-needed affordable housing and community space in the West Don Lands.”\nHowever, local activists praised the decision.\n“The interim order validates the decision of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association to bring the defence of our built heritage to the Court on behalf of the community” SLNA Development Committee Chair Suzanne Kavanagh said in a statement. “But the burden on our association is tremendous.”\nThe group has had to raise funds online for the legal challenge, but has managed to collect $21,000 so far.\nIn a statement, Mayor John Tory said he hopes the decision can pave the way for the province to work with the community.\n“It is my hope that we can use this time to resolve this situation with the Government of Ontario,” Tory said. “I believe a path forward can be found that gets more affordable housing built and at the same time addresses community concerns around heritage and public consultation. I want to thank the community for standing with the City to help protect this site.\"\nAhead of the decision, community members turned out at the site Friday afternoon with signs and placards calling the province’s plan “an abuse of power.”", "Court says province has to hold off on demolition of heritage buildings at Toronto's Foundry site", "An Ontario judge has ruled that the province cannot proceed with the demolition of a group of heritage buildings in Toronto’s West Don Lands pending a decision next month." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T23:18:38"

"2021-01-19T18:08:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A pilot COVID-19 immunization site in Toronto that was meant to be a “playbook for mass vaccination clinics” will stop administering shots after just two days in operation due to a Canada-wide shortage in doses.\nThe proof-of-concept clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre opened on Monday morning with the goal of administering about 250 doses a day. Officials have said the facility is meant to act as a blueprint for how the shots can be administered to the masses later this year once priority groups such as long-term care residents, health-care workers and seniors receive the vaccine.\nHowever, on Monday afternoon, Ontario officials directed the clinic to pause vaccinations on Jan. 22 because of a shortage of vaccine supply in the province.\nThat deadline was moved up to Tuesday evening about 24 hours later, according to Toronto officials.\nIn a news release, officials said they are now being directed to stop vaccinations at the end of the day, meaning that anyone who booked an appointment to get a shot on Wednesday will no longer be able to get one.\nIt is not clear if the clinic will reopen next week.\nThe federal government has said that Canada will not be receiving any shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses next week as the company deals with a production issue in Belgium.\nAccording to the province, Ontario’s weekly deliveries of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be cut by as much as 80 per cent over the next month as a result.\nSpeaking to reporters at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was deeply troubled by the production delays at Pfizer and the lack of doses being sent to Canada.\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.'\"\nToronto officials have said that while the immunization clinic is closed, they will continue planning for a city-wide immunization clinic roll out and “will continue to work with the province to determine next steps once vaccine supply is re-established.”\nThe site had been expected to run for at least six weeks.", "Ontario’s first major COVID-19 vaccine site will stop administering shots immediately", "A pilot COVID-19 immunization site in Toronto that was meant to be a “playbook for mass vaccination clinics” will stop administering shots after just two days in operation due to a Canada-wide shortage in doses." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T23:20:51"

"2021-01-05T17:38:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Warning: This story contains extremely graphic language that may be upsetting to some readers.\nIndigenous communities in Ontario are speaking out against the nomination of former premier Mike Harris to the Order of Ontario, saying it is a step back in reconciliation.\nThe province recently named the controversial former premier as one of 25 people nominated for Ontario’s highest honour, which recognizes excellence and achievement in any chosen field.\nJoel Abram, the Grand Chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI), a group that represents seven Ontario First Nations, told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday that the news came as a shock.\n“If Ontario is seeking reconciliation and a positive relationship with First Nations people, this is not a good move towards that,” Abram said on Tuesday. “It almost feels like you're saying we agree with Mike Harris' opinions on Indigenous people, which is we're not valued very much.”\nBetween 1995 and 2002, Harris was premier during some of the province’s most notorious scandals in recent history, including the shooting death of Indigenous protester Dudley George in 1995 and the Walkerton water crisis five years after.\nIn September 1995, provincial police moved in on unarmed protesters who were occupying the former Ipperwash Provincial Park due to a dispute over Indigenous land. The OPP presence grew in the area as the provincial government exerted pressure on police to act.\nIt was during the protests that police shot and killed the 38-year-old unarmed community member, Dudley George, on Sept. 6, 1995, which led to the formation of the Ipperwash Inquiry.\nDuring the inquiry, former attorney-general Charles Harnick testified that he heard then-premier Harris say, during a meeting several hours before the death, that he wanted the “fucking Indians out of the park.\"\nHarris denied he made the statement, but the inquiry’s final report concluded that Harnick's testimony was credible and the former premier did make the remarks.\nIn the final report, former justice Sidney Linden said that the racist comment at the meeting and the speed in which the former premier wanted to end the protests created “an atmosphere that unduly narrowed the scope of the government’s response” and closed off doors to a peaceful resolution.\n“We think his legacy is more damaging than positive so we're kind of dumbstruck why he would be included in the order,” Abram said. “We feel it’s our duty to speak out on behalf of Indigenous people who had to live through the Mike Harris era.”\nThe AIAI issued a news release on Monday condemning the nomination and also highlighting Harris’ connection to the deaths of seven people during the E. coli outbreak that engulfed Walkerton in May, 2,000.\nAn inquiry into the tragedy found the cost-cutting government of the former Tory premier contributed to the events by privatizing water testing and axing ministry of environment jobs.\n“He is directly and indirectly responsible for many deaths and that alone should disqualify him from being recognized as anything, but one of the worst Premiers Ontario has ever had,” the news release stated.\n“His appointment to the order needs to be taken back and cancelled or it will be obvious that racism and demagoguery is alive, well, and even celebrated.”\n“It is a slap in the face to the Indigenous people in Ontario and a big neon sign saying that reconciliation is a farce.”\nMore than 37,000 people have signed an online petition to have Harris removed from the Order of Ontario’s nominee list. Harris, who is now chair of Chartwell Retirement Residences, has also received criticism for the company’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.\nCTV News Toronto has reached out to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, which is responsible for the award, but has not yet heard back.\nPeople nominated for the Order of Ontario award are based on recommendations from the public and must include a summary explaining why the person is worthy of the award, as well as testimonials from two or more people.\nThe province says that an advisory council reviews the nominations and recommends candidates to the lieutenant governor. The advisory council includes the chief justice of Ontario, the speaker of the legislative assembly, the secretary of the cabinet and up to six additional members appointed to the council by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.\n– With files from the Canadian Press", "'A slap in the face': Indigenous communities shocked by Mike Harris' nomination to the Order of Ontario", "Indigenous communities in Ontario are speaking out against the nomination of former premier Mike Harris to the Order of Ontario, saying it is a step back in reconciliation." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T16:09:47"

"2021-01-19T17:08:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Some front-line health-care workers in Ontario say they aren’t being paid while self-isolating following exposure to a positive case of COVID-19.\nPresident of the Ontario Nurses Association Vicki McKenna says that she has heard the complaint from a number of members across the province who have been ordered to stay home by a local public health unit.\n“If they have no symptoms, they have no access to sick benefits,” she said while speaking to CTV News Toronto on Tuesday.\nShe says that although front-line workers have been celebrated for their sacrifices throughout the pandemic, the absence of a province-wide policy on the matter has them feeling “not really important” and that “it's really all talk.”\n“What nurses and health professionals have told me is it makes them feel disposable,” she said.\nInstead, McKenna says it’s up to individual employers to decide whether or not they will cover an employee’s pay during the 14-day quarantine.\nAnd the problem is not unique to hospital workers.\nAccording to paramedic Jason Fraser, who happens to be chair of the CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario, EMS workers might also be feeling the pinch.\n“They may pay, up and to the point that they have a negative COVID result, but if public health is still requiring them to further isolate, the employer won't continue to pay that,” he said.\nBoth Fraser and McKenna say that employers were more likely to pay front-line staff who were forced to self-isolate in the first wave of the pandemic, but that in the second wave, things changed.\n“It is not uniform,” McKenna said. “We need it to be uniform across the province.”\nFor the government’s part, they said in a statement issued to CTV News Toronto that the $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement, which was negotiated between the province and the federal government, dedicated more than $1 billion to the funding and implementation of paid sick days, which the affected workers \"should\" qualify for.\nHowever, McKenna argues that a health-care worker’s eligibility shouldn’t be in question.\n“We're in a pandemic, the first in a century, lets look after the people who are caring for Ontarians,” she said.\nWith files from CTV News Toronto's Sean Leathong.", "Frontline workers in parts of Ontario aren't getting paid while self-isolating following COVID-19 exposure", "Some front-line health-care workers in Ontario say they aren’t being paid while self-isolating following exposure to a positive case of COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-25T18:17:23"

"2021-01-25T11:34:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A police pursuit that started in Halton Region and ended in Hamilton has led to 13 charges being laid against a 44-year-old man and Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) invoking its mandate.\nShortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday, officers in Halton Region were alerted of a vehicle failing to stop for Ontario Provincial Police officers on the Queen Elizabeth Way, a news release issued by the Halton Regional Police Service on Monday said.\nThe vehicle was later observed by Halton police officers “driving in a dangerous manner” in Oakville and Burlington, the news release said.\nAccording to the news release, as officers attempted to bring the vehicle to a stop, “it made contact with at least one Halton police cruiser” before ending up in a ditch in Hamilton along Highway 5, west of Highway 6.\nHalton police said no officers were physically injured as a result of the incident.\nA 44-year-old man, who has not been identified by officials, is now facing several charges in connection with the incident, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police.\n“Additional charges may be pending,” Halton police said in the news release, adding the province’s police watchdog has been notified of the incident and has invoked its mandate.\n“As required by law, no further information can be provided by the Halton Regional Police Service at this time,” the news release said.\nCTV News Toronto has reached out to the SIU for further comment on the matter.\nThe SIU is an arm’s length agency called in to investigate whenever Ontario police officers are involved in a death, serious injury or allegation of sexual assault.", "Police pursuit in Halton Region and Hamilton leads to 13 charges; SIU investigating", "A police pursuit that started in Halton Region and ended in Hamilton has led to 13 charges being laid against a 44-year-old man and Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) invoking its mandate." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T05:52:10"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Nick Mantas has won the byelection for Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt, filling the vacant seat previously held by his previous boss Jim Karygiannis who was removed as councillor over his 2018 election campaign expenses.\nWith 41 of the 41 polls reporting, Mantas, who served as Karygiannis’ chief of staff, has the lead with 26.98 per cent of the vote, according to the city’s election result wesbite. He is followed by Toronto District School Board trustee Manna Wong with 25.13 per cent.\nToronto Mayor John Tory congratulated Mantas late Friday evening, saying he is looking forward to working with the councillor-elect.\n\"This is a crucial time for our city as we continue to face the challenge of COVID-19. I know Councillor-elect Mantas is committed to helping our efforts as a City government to confront this virus and make sure the residents and businesses of Scarborough-Agincourt get through these extremely tough times.\n\"I also look forward to working with Mr. Mantas on the prudent management of the City's finances and on the maintenance of strong partnerships with the other governments,\" Tory said in a statement.\nAccording to his website, Mantas, who also worked as a federal constituency assistant and a policy advisor to the Senate, has lived in the neighbourhood for 20 years.\n“I have worked in our community for the last 15 years, serving our community,” Mantas said in an interview with Scarborough Civic Action Network before the election.\n“I’m aware of the issues of the community and try now to take the step further and work with our community and our neighbours to make Scarborough-Agincourt a better place to live, play and work.”\nAccording to the unofficial results, more than 12,000 votes were counted on Friday, which accounts for nearly 18 per cent of the registered voters. More than 2,200 people cast their ballot in advance voting that was held last week, and more than 4,000 mail-in ballots were requested.\nThe byelection was called following the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in September not to hear Karygiannis’ case, removing him permanently from his council seat. In October, councillors voted unanimously in favour of sending voters to the polls to elect a new councillor for the ward.\nTwenty-seven candidates ran to replace Karygiannis in the city’s first election during a lockdown.\nWhile at least one candidate called for the byelection to be postponed due to a provincial stay-at-home order and an 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 were asked to wear masks, maintain physical distance from others and follow other health measures in place at voting stations.\nThe city clerk will make the result official on Monday.", "Nick Mantas, Karygiannis’ former chief of staff, wins Scarborough-Agincourt byelection", "Nick Mantas has won the byelection for Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt, filling the vacant seat previously held by his previous boss Jim Karygiannis who was removed as councillor over his 2018 election campaign expenses." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T03:19:07"

"2021-01-14T20:35:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The province’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate after a man was shot during an interaction with Toronto police in Scarborough Thursday evening.\nInsp. Andy Singh told reporters that police were conducting an investigation in the area of Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East just before 8 p.m.\nAt the time, an officer discharged their firearm and struck one of two people they were investigating, Singh said.\nThe two individuals were later taken into custody. The man shot was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.\nSingh said he could not provide further details about the incident as the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate.\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.", "Ontario's police watchdog investigating after man shot in Scarborough", "The province's police watchdog has been called in to investigate after a man was shot during an interaction with Toronto police in Scarborough Thursday evening." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T22:49:52"

"2021-01-08T16:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- With some GTA hospitals now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, the incoming executive vice president of Ontario Health is warning that “we need to be prepared for the possibility that people may need to be quite far from home to get the care that they need.”\nDr. Chris Simpson, who will formally assume his new role on Feb. 1, made the comment during an interview with CP24 on Friday afternoon.\nSimpson said that while he recognizes that it is important for patients to be close to their families, it may not always possible to accommodate as officials embark on an “unprecedented effort” to free up capacity in overwhelmed hospitals that are largely located in the GTA.\nHis comments come one day after the President and CEO of Ontario Health sent a memo to all Ontario hospitals asking them set aside one-third of their available ICU beds for transfers from other hospitals that are at capacity.\nSeveral Toronto area hospitals also announced on Thursday that they are temporarily transferring paediatric patients to SickKids hospital to create additional bed spaces for COVID-19 patients.\n“Everybody wants to be close to their family and family wants to be close to patients so it will be really important for our clinical teams to exercise their renowned compassion and wherever possible we will be trying to move people not too far,” Simpson told CP24. “But I think we need to be prepared for the possibility, especially as the pandemic progresses, that people may need to be quite far from home to get the care that they need.”\nAccording to the Critical Care Services Ontario report, there were a total of 383 COVID-19 patients in ICU units as of late last night.\nThat represents more than one in five ICU patients across Ontario but the impact is not being equally felt.\nIn the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), which includes many of the hardest hit hospitals in Peel and York regions, nearly half (75) of the 160 patients in the ICU as of yesterday had COVID and some hospitals like Humber River have regularly had more patients in their ICU than beds available for weeks now.\nMeanwhile, more than 40 per cent of the intensive care beds in northern Ontario remain open and there are only a handful of COVID-19 patients receiving that level of care.\n“We have this extreme asymmetry in Ontario where COVID has disproportionately struck areas like Toronto, Peel, Durham, York Region, Windsor and others and there are other areas in the province that have capacity,” Simpson said. “We have a responsibility collectively to take care all of these patients. That is why we are embarking collectively on this unprecedented effort to do this load sharing as best as we can.”\nSimpson said that he expects that there will probably be hundreds of patients that will be transferred over the next couple months in an effort to free up capacity.\nHe said that hospitals are also being asked to have plans in place to put some elective care on hold.", "Incoming VP of Ontario Health says 'people may need to be quite far from home' to get care", "With some GTA hospitals now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, the incoming executive vice president of Ontario Health is warning that “we need to be prepared for the possibility that people may need to be quite far from home to get the care that they need.”" ]

[]

"2021-01-10T22:33:19"

"2021-01-10T17:07:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A protest was held outside a long-term care home in the Annex where a COVID-19 outbreak has led to the deaths of more than a dozen residents.\nMaureen McDermott said she organized the protest to show solidarity with the residents and staff of St. George Care Community and to call on the government to take action and send help to assist in controlling the outbreak.\nThe facility has one of the worst outbreaks in the province.\n“We are screaming for Merrilee Fullerton (Minister of Long-Term Care) to get back to work. Doug Ford to get back to work, get your $12 billion and start spending it,” McDermott said.\n“There’s barely any staff left in here. Staff are not coming into work. Staff are sick, and the ones that are in here are absolutely burnt out.”\nThis their fourth protest at the home in the past eight days, and McDermott vowed that they will continue to hold demonstrations until their pleas are heard, and residents get the help they need.\n“We need the military. We need just able bodies to get in here, and hundreds of others across Ontario and it has to happen,” she said.\n“I ask you, everybody watching, what would you do if it was your mum? You wouldn’t stop either.”\nSince the outbreak was declared in early December at the facility, a total of 156 residents had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. As of Sunday, 45 residents remain infected.\nAccording to the data from the province, 14 residents have died after contracting COVID-19.\nMeanwhile, there are 28 active cases among staff members.\nThe University Health Network has temporarily taken over the management of the home from Sienna Living.\nAccording to the ministry, there have been no new resident cases at the home since Jan. 3.\n“We are confident in the ability of the University Health Network to continue to manage and stabilize the home. We will continue to work closely with our health care sector partners to return the home to normal operations,” a spokesperson for Minister Fullerton said in an e-mail to CP24.\nThe ministry also said nine residents of the home have been moved to the province’s Specialized Care Centre, which was created to provide care for residents who must be temporarily relocated because of the situation in their homes.\nThere are active outbreaks of COVID-19 in 248 of the province’s 626 long-term care homes as of Sunday.\n‘Please help’\nAn emotional Green Party Leader, Annamie Paul, was at the protest to show her support. Paul shared that her father was a resident at St. George and died during the first wave of the pandemic. While her father’s death was not due to COVID-19, she said it was because of the “perfect storm of conditions.”\n“The perfect storm is that we have facilities that are understaffed, already before the pandemic hit. The pandemic hits, and those understaffed, overworked, low paid racialized women who take care valiantly of the people in these facilities have to deal with COVID cases, at the same time, as they’re dealing with people like my father, who have had strokes who have dementia, who have Alzheimer’s who have very profound needs,” Paul said.\n“What we saw in the first wave, and what we’re seeing in the second wave is that people are dying. This is a plea. This is a plea on behalf of every single person who has someone who is still alive in these facilities, and every single person who has lost someone in these facilities -- please help.”\nPaul is urging all levels of governments to have a political will to do what needs to be done to protect seniors at these facilities because she said what’s happening is a “humanitarian crisis” – a phrase she noted she does not use lightly.\nThe Green Party leader said she is anguished that the protective measures many experts pushed for to avoid a repeat of what happened during the first wave were not put in place at long-term care homes before the second wave hit.\n“I will be here in the name of my father, in the name of their loved ones, and in the name of every single person that knows that we can do better,” Paul said.\n“This is not the Canada that we believe in. These are not our values. We are not going to abandon those who have worked and lived in this country their entire lives and contributed to it and are at the end of their lives. We are not going to abandon them to the fate of a lonely, terrifying, avoidable death.”\nPaul is calling on the federal government to intervene and protect long-term care residents.\n“The Prime Minister cannot hide behind a federal jurisdiction. He cannot simply say I’m ready to act if I’m invited to act. Every single person who is a resident of Ontario is a Canadian resident as well, and they deserve the protection of their federal government,” Paul said.\n“The first job of a federal government is to ensure the security of its citizens. And in this case, they are not doing that.”\nNDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who was also at the demonstration, said what’s happening at long-term care facilities are heartbreaking, wrong and inexcusable.\nHe said the pandemic has shown that long-term care homes need to be non-profit.\n“I want to make it really clear one of the solutions that all the experts agree, the military pointed this out as well, is that because of for-profit long-term care, the seniors were getting less care,” Singh said.\n“Profit has been killing seniors, so we’re making a very clear demand. We need to get profit out of long-term care.”\nSingh said there is no excuse that a country like Canada, which has been able to secure millions of doses, has not vaccinated long-term care residents.\n“We are a developed nation with incredible resources and know how we can get this done. It has to be done,” he said.\n“This is a problem. We have to have a clear plan. We need to know what that is, and we need to see it put in place so that seniors are vaccinated, vulnerable people are vaccinated and we are saving people’s lives.”", "'Please help': Protest held outside Toronto long-term care home with deadly outbreak", "A protest was held outside a long-term care home in the Annex where a COVID-19 outbreak has led to the deaths of more than a dozen residents." ]

[ "Liam Casey" ]

"2021-01-19T21:17:06"

"2021-01-19T14:17:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario plans to implement a digital evidence management system for police that it says will allow officers to focus on crimes and prevention rather than pushing paper.\nSolicitor General Sylvia Jones said the cloud-based system will allow police to securely capture, store, manage and share digital evidence.\n\"With this new system in place, more time will be given to core police work because less time will be spent administering the evidentiary paper trail,\" Jones said in a virtual news conference on Tuesday.\nAxon Public Safety Canada, which makes body cameras and Tasers, won the contract for the project, Jones said, although she declined to say how much it is going to cost.\nThe evidence system will allow easy storage and sharing of large audio files, videos and photographs that can be securely sent to Crown attorneys and other police forces, she said.\nGone will be the days of handing off USB sticks and DVDs to the courts, Jones said.\nThe program will be made available to provincial enforcement agencies including the Ontario Provincial Police, First Nations police, and the Correctional Services Oversight and Investigations unit.\nTwo Ontario forces, Peel Regional Police and Toronto police, already use a digital management system from Axon that will be compatible with the provincial one, Jones said.\nPeel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the digital evidence system has reduced \"tremendous amounts of administrative work\" for officers.\n\"The benefits from modernizing our digital systems include a seamless and efficient and secure exchange of files in evidence from the police service to our partners in court,\" Duraiappah said.\nFive years ago, as Toronto police began looking into the use of body-worn cameras, concerns were raised about storing evidence on the cloud while the physical servers were located elsewhere.\nIt proved a particularly thorny issue if those servers were located in the U.S. due to that country's Patriot Act, which allows American authorities to access data that is stored in their country.\nJones said the new evidence management system would be based in the province.\n\"We have assurances and we made sure the cloud-based (system) is Ontario-based,\" Jones said.\nVishal Dhir, a managing director of Axon, said the infrastructure used is based in Canada.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021.", "Ontario to implement digital evidence management system for police", "Ontario plans to implement a digital evidence management system for police that it says will allow officers to focus on crimes and prevention rather than pushing paper." ]

[ "Nicole Thompson" ]

"2021-01-29T20:13:06"

"2021-01-29T14:33:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A fire that claimed the lives of four people and injured several others in east-end Toronto early Friday is shining a spotlight on issues of fire safety.\nAs of Jan. 18, there had been 14 fire-related deaths in Ontario in 2021, according to data from the province's fire marshal. Friday's fire brings that number to at least 18, outpacing the 14 recorded in all of January 2020.\nLast year, the province recorded 114 fire deaths, compared to an average of about 84 between 2009 and 2018.\nKristy Denette, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Fire Marshal, said it's important to be prepared for a potential house fire. Here are some of her tips on fire safety.\nWhat are the leading causes of fatal house fires?\nHouse fires most often originate in the kitchen, Denette said.\n\"Typically because cooking is left unattended,\" she said. \"People get distracted by the TV or the phone and simply forget about what's cooking on the stove. And once distracted, it takes no time at all for the oils heating a pan to become so hot, the fire starts and spreads to other parts of the kitchen.\"\nFire victims are often surprised by how devastating kitchen fires can be, she said.\n\"It can basically destroy your whole kitchen in a matter of moments, and even injure or kill someone,\" she said.\nWhat can people do to prepare for a fire?\nEveryone should check at least once a month that their smoke alarms are working, Denette said.\n\"Smoke alarms can be the difference between living or dying in a fire,\" she said.\n\"Fire spreads so quickly that you may have less than 60 seconds to escape a fire in your home, so that means you need to be alerted to the fire as soon as possible.\"\nBy law, she noted, there needs to be a smoke alarm on every floor of a house and outside all sleeping areas.\nPeople should also be cognizant of heating safety, she said. Most fatal fires happen in the wintertime, when furnaces and fireplaces are more likely to be running.\nResidents should have all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually, and make sure chimneys and exhaust vents for furnaces are free of debris.\nAshes from the fireplace should be allowed to cool before they're emptied into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, which should be kept outside, she said.\nPeople should also develop a fire escape plan, Denette said, ideally with at least two ways out of each room.\nSomeone should also be in charge of helping young kids, older adults and people with disabilities safely out of the home, she said.\nPeople should also designate a meeting area outside the home where everyone can be accounted for, and someone should be in charge of calling 911, she said.\nWhat should people do if a fire breaks out?\nIn addition to following the escape plan, Denette said it's important that people don't try to fight the fire themselves.\nFor instance, Denette said, if a pan catches fire in the kitchen, don't try to take that pan outside. That can lead to severe burns, which can be fatal.\n\"Just get everyone out of the house and let the professionals do it,\" she said. \"Call 911 in an emergency.\"\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2021.", "Here are some tips on preventing house fires and how to react if they happen", "A fire that claimed the lives of four people and injured several others in east-end Toronto early Friday is shining a spotlight on issues of fire safety." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T17:21:02"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials say they expect to begin mass delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine to select groups of people in April as part of the second distribution phase of their vaccination plan.\nThe province released new deadlines and criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.\nAccording to officials, the government expects to move into the second phase of their vaccination plan by mid-April, allowing older adults and members of vulnerable populations outside of congregate settings to receive their shots.\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.\nThose within these groups are being prioritized based on a “risk matrix,” the government said, which weighs risk of exposure by patient population and health-care setting. It also takes into account the position a worker holds and whether there is enough resources should that person fall ill.\nThere could be overlap between Phase 1 and Phase 2, officials say, depending on the number of vaccines available.\nWho will be vaccinated under Phase 2?\nOfficials listed five groups who will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2 of their distribution plan.\nThose who will be able to get the vaccine include:\nSeniors over the age of 80. Officials say that they will decrease the age eligibility marker by five years throughout Phase 2\nThose living and working in other high-risk congregate settings\nEssential workers, beginning with front-line essential workers\nIndividuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers\nOther populations and communities “facing barriers related to the determinants of health” who are at a greater COVID-19 risk. This can include racialized communities.\nOfficials provided a few examples of essential workers, including first responders, teachers, and members of the food and construction industry, but said that work still needs to be done to sub-prioritize this category.\nThe government anticipates Phase 3 to begin in August. Under this phase, “remaining eligible Ontarians” will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.\nMore than 8,000 Ontarians fully immunized\nOfficials say more than 144,000 shots have been administered so far, with over 8,000 Ontarians fully immunized with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.\nThere were about 77,000 health-care workers, 45,000 health-care workers in long-term care and retirement homes, and more than 13,000 long-term care home and retirement home residents who have been given the COVID-19 vaccine so far.\nAn additional 20,000 long-term care staff, residents and essential caregivers have specifically received the Moderna vaccine, the government added.\nLast week, officials vowed to vaccinate all long-term care homes in the province’s hot spots—Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Windsor-Essex—by Jan. 21.\nOn Wednesday, the government added a new deadline for the remaining long-term care homes and retirement homes in Ontario.\nOfficials now said they hope to administer the first dose of the vaccine to residents, staff and essential workers at Ontario long-term care homes and “high risk retirement homes” no later than Feb. 15.\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.\nOntario Premier Doug Ford is expected to comment on the province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan at Queen’s Park at 1 p.m. alongside retired General Rick Hillier, who is leading the vaccine task force.\nCTVNewsToronto.ca will stream the news conference live at 1 p.m.\nThis is a developing news story. More to come.", "Ontario releases list of those eligible for COVID-19 vaccine under Phase 2", "Ontario health officials say they expect to begin mass delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine to select groups of people in April as part of the second distribution phase of their vaccination plan." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T13:42:24"

"2021-01-06T08:25:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Toronto Real Estate Board says the average price of a home sold last year hit a new record as the number of sales climbed 8.4 per cent compared with 2019.\nThe board says the average selling price in Greater Toronto was $929,699 in 2020, up 13.5 per cent from $819,279 compared with 2019.\nThe number of homes sold in 2020 in the Greater Toronto Area totalled 95,151, up from 87,751 in 2019, and the third-best year on record, according to the board.\nThe board says after a steep drop in the spring due to the pandemic, the market took off in the second half of the year.\nThe results for the full year came as the Toronto board reported home sales in December soared to 7,180 compared with 4,364 in the final month of 2019.\nThe average price of a home sold in December was $932,222, up from $838,662.", "Toronto home prices hit new record in 2020 as sales climbed 8.4 per cent", "The Toronto Real Estate Board says the average price of a home sold last year hit a new record as the number of sales climbed 8.4 per cent compared with 2019." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T13:42:12"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- 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.\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.\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.”\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.”\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 cabinet considering new COVID-19 lockdown measures Monday", "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." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T20:13:11"

"2021-01-29T07:22:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Brent Bishop of Think Fitness Studios gives us tips on how to make an at-home workout effective and enjoyable.\nMore from Think Fitness Studios here.", "How to get the most out of an at-home workout", "Brent Bishop of Think Fitness Studios gives us tips on how to make an at-home workout effective and enjoyable." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T20:36:47"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto’s ActiveTO program could be expanding to other neighbourhoods this spring to provide more space for people to safely enjoy the outdoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.\nThe initiative launched last May and closed major roads in the city’s core to provide pedestrians and cyclists more space to physically distance to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.\nActiveTO closures happened along Lake Shore Boulevard and Bayview Avenue from May to October.\nMayor John Tory said he hopes ActiveTO will be scaled up and expanded to more areas of the city this year after a successful rollout last year.\n“I think if anything my objective would be to scale it up. By saying that, I'm talking about what I've asked of the staff which is that they look at opportunities to have an ActiveTO corridor, if I can call it that, in other parts of the city,” Tory said to reporters on Wednesday.\n“We had it downtown last year. It was a huge success and it drew people from all over the city and so there's no reason why we can't at least look at a place we can do it in East York, North York and Scarborough if the local people want it,” he added.\nLast summer, ActiveTO road closures occurred on Lake Shore Boulevard (between Windermere Avenue and Stadium Road), Lake Shore Boulevard East (between Leslie Street and Woodbine Avenue) and Bayview Avenue (between Front Street East and Rosedale Valley Road and including River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue).\nThe program also expanded to include Yonge Street for two Sundays in September.\nCity data showed that the most popular ActiveTO location was along Lake Shore Boulevard West where an average of 18,000 cyclists and 4,000 pedestrians used the space each weekend last summer.\nTory noted that one hurdle city staff will have to consider when preparing ActiveTO for this summer is the amount of construction happening in the city.\n“The other thing that we had to take account of was very significant construction occurring in particular in the west end of the downtown of the city, and how that would affect Lake Shore West in particular. So we're examining that from the standpoint of whether it means Lake Shore West can be used at all, which I don't think would be the case, or maybe would be able to be used at some times and not others,” he said.\nTory said city staff are expected to release a report soon on ActiveTO guidelines this year.", "Toronto considers expanding ActiveTO road closures to other parts of the city this summer", "Toronto’s ActiveTO program could be expanding to other neighbourhoods this spring to provide more space for people to safely enjoy the outdoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T13:58:30"

"2021-01-29T07:59:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A government source has told CP24 that Premier Doug Ford will announce mandatory COVID-19 testing at Ontario’s airports and border crossings Friday to prevent the spread of new variants of the novel coronavirus.\nFord has been calling on the feds to implement the measure, namely at Pearson International Airport, in recent weeks as more cases of variants are reported by the province.\nThe federal government's slow response on the issue led Ontario to first consider taking the action, the source said Wednesday.\nMeanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce new measures to restrict travel abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic later today.\nIn new COVID-19 modelling released Thursday, Ontario health officials suggested that the highly-contagious U.K. variant will likely be the dominant strain in the province by March.\n\"The new variants give us less room to relax and less room for error,” Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province's COVID-19 science table, said at the time.\nThe advisory table went on to say that current evidence shows that the U.K. variant, also known as VOC B.1.1.7, may be associated with an “increased risk of death” compared to infection with non-VOC viruses.\nAnd while Brown said that the COVID-19 vaccines will likely still be effective against the U.K. strain of the disease he added, “it’s important to note that these are not the only variants that will emerge as the disease continues to spread.\"\nAt least 51 cases of the variant have been recorded in Ontario so far.\nFord will be joined by Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.\nCTVNewsToronto.ca will stream the announcement live at 3 p.m.", "Ontario premier to announce mandatory COVID-19 testing at airports and border crossings: source", "A government source has told CP24 that Premier Doug Ford will announce mandatory COVID-19 testing at Ontario’s airports and border crossings Friday to prevent the spread of new variants of the novel coronavirus." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T13:51:21"

"2021-01-28T07:56:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- It was in 2014 that Toronto resident Mark Farrant was called to serve as a juror for a very graphic murder trial. But in carrying out his civic duty, he paid a terrible price. He developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.\n“You saw autopsy photos, detailed photos of the victim, of the crime scene. Very detailed photos of the wounds and this was a very violent homicide,” says Farrant.\nHe thought his mental distress would decline after the trial but it only accelerated. And he found himself becoming suicidal, believing the world would be better off without him.\nThe problem was that jurors are sworn to secrecy. And that included talking to medical professionals about what they experienced in a trial.\n“I started to reach out, even to my own family physician,” he recalls. “Door after door after door kept closing.”\nIn 2014, jurors could only get mental health treatment if it was authorized by the trial judge themselves.\nFarrant began advocating for traumatized jurors like himself. And he found an ally in retired justice Patrick Lesage, who presided over the Paul Bernardo trial in 1995.\nLesage had recognized that the graphic nature of the testimony could pose a long-term difficulty for jurors who are not trained to handle extremely violent material. He issued an order to offer mental health help for all jurors in the Bernardo trial.\nIn 2017, Ontario did finally approve offering mental health services for jurors. Farrant had already found treatment but paid for it out of pocket.\nHe continues to advocate for jurors at risk of developing PTSD and says while some provinces offer treatment, not all do. He has also been working with the Not Suicide, Not Today campaign by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).\nCAMH researcher and clinician Dr Juveria Zaheer says that while the conversation about mental health has been opening up over the past decade, suicide is still largely unaddressed. And she fears the pandemic may be a new risk factor.\nShe says, “Some of the risk factors associated with suicide -- social isolation, financial stress, difficulty accessing services, trauma, is what we're seeing in the pandemic.”\nEvery day in Canada, an average of 10 people die by suicide. And while international suicide figures were reported to be slightly lower at the beginning of the pandemic, she says those figures often lag.\nShe also says calls to distress lines have risen significantly.\n“I think what is happening now is that we know suicide is a preventable outcome,'' says Zaheer.\nFor Farrant, he says not being able to talk about his mental health struggles compounded his problems.\nThat’s why he says the Bell Let’s Talk message is so important.\nDr. Zaheer’s message? “We’re going to take this really dark topic and make it public,” she says. “We’re going to say, ‘What is the best we can do to solve this problem together.’”\nIf you are in crisis, here are some service you can reach out to for help.\nKids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT 686868\nWellness Together Canada: visit ca.portal.gs or text WELLNESS to 741741\nBlack Youth Helpline: Toll Free 1-833-294-8650 (9am to 10pm ET)\nFirst Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310\nCanadian Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566, Québec Residents: 1-866-277-3553", "Toronto juror who suffered PTSD pushes for changes in Ontario's court system", "It was in 2014 that Toronto resident Mark Farrant was called to serve as a juror for a very graphic murder trial. But in carrying out his civic duty, he paid a terrible price. He developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T13:51:06"

"2021-01-28T08:22:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The impact of COVID-19 on intensive care units remains \"alarming\" despite a recent steadying of the number of patients treated there, says a group representing Ontario's hospitals.\nAnthony Dale, president of the Ontario Hospital Association, said there are, on average, 25 new COVID-19 patients being admitted to ICUs every day.\n\"This apparent stabilization masks the fact that capacity is actually being freed up as patients either leave ICU as they get better, or pass away from COVID-19 or another very serious condition,\" Dale said.\nOver the last week, up to 416 patients with COVID-19 have been treated in ICUs, according to data provided by the Ontario Hospital Association.\nOn Jan. 15, Ontario recorded an all-time high of 420 patients with COVID-19 in ICUs - about a quarter of all intensive care patients.\n\"The rate of transmission appears to be decelerating, but we cannot declare victory,\" Dale said. \"We must remain extremely cautious and keep up the fight against community spread to keep up our progress and prevent a third wave, especially when we see the new variant's impacts in the United Kingdom.\"\nThe province warned at the outset of the most recent lockdown that ICUs were on the verge of being overrun with COVID-19 patients, at which point physicians would be in the difficult position to choose who received critical care and who did not.\nThere were 595 patients transferred out of the worst-hit regions from November 2020 to January 2021, the association said. There were nearly 200 transfers planned for last week.\nMany Toronto-area hospital ICUs are at or above capacity and have been transferring patients for months.\nOrnge, the not-for-profit organization providing air ambulance and critical care transport services in Ontario, has taken the lead on transfers along with help from local paramedic services.\nThere have been 188 patients transferred by Ornge from ICUs to create capacity between Dec. 1, and Jan. 24. They are also transferring ICU patients between regions for the first time, sending some patients from Toronto as far as Kingston, Ont.\n\"It's busy, it's non-stop,\" said Dr. Bruce Sawadsky, chief medical officer of health for Ornge.\n\"Ornge has performed a significant increase in ICU-to-ICU transports over the last two weeks to support hospital ICUs at capacity.\"\nBut Sawadsky said the volume of patient transports has decreased over the last five days as ICU admission rates have decreased\nThe province has said a new hospital in Vaughan, Ont., set to open in February, will be able to help ease the burden by adding 35 ICU beds, with the ability to add 24 more.\nMuch has changed for Ornge during the pandemic.\nAndrew Burns, a critical care paramedic for the organization, said he is doing a lot of things for the first time because of COVID-19.\nJust last week, for example, Burns said he transported his first intubated COVID-19 patient face down in his land ambulance. It's a relatively new approach to treat the most severely affected COVID-19 patients, to allow for better oxygenation.\nBut it also makes for trickier patient transfers.\n\"That's a very new thing for us, we would have never done that before,\" Burns says.\n\"Everything in medicine has always been designed for the patient to be on their back. Our stretcher is designed to be on your back, the ventilators are designed to be on your back, all the monitoring equipment ... so when we flip people onto their stomach, it brings a whole risk of challenges.\"\nBurns said over five shifts last week, he and his partner transferred nine critical care patients, largely from the Toronto area, to more outlying areas. Eight of those patients had COVID and the other was moved to make room for a patient with the disease, he said.\n\"Back in April, it seemed like all the regular calls that we were doing kind of disappeared,\" Burns says.\n\"COVID really became, not the only thing we were seeing, but very close to the only thing that we were seeing.\"\nBack then, most of the transports of COVID-19 patients came from outlying areas to the big hospitals in Toronto, he said. Now, it's going the opposite way.\nThe pace is frantic.\n\"It's not uncommon for us to be in an ICU now and as we're taking a patient out of there to make room, they're wheeling the next patient in,\" Burns said.\nDespite working with hundreds of patients with the disease, only one Ornge employee has had COVID-19, Sawadsky said.\nThey've implemented strict personal protective equipment protocols and the paramedics clean the trucks and helicopters down after each transfer, he said.\nBurns is waiting for the pandemic to ease.\n\"I'd like for one day to go into an ICU and take a patient out and the nurses say there is nobody coming to fill this bed right away,\" he said.\n\"Unfortunately that's not the case right now.\"\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2021.", "'It's non-stop': Ornge takes lead on moving COVID-19 patients as Ontario ICUs fill up", "The impact of COVID-19 on intensive care units remains \"alarming\" despite a recent steadying of the number of patients treated there, says a group representing Ontario's hospitals." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T00:06:44"

"2021-01-06T17:51:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- One person is fighting for their life after a fire broke out at a residence in North York on Wednesday evening, paramedics say.\nToronto fire said they received a call about the blaze near Norfinch Drive and Steeles Avenue West at approximately 5 p.m. When emergency crews arrived on scene, they said they observed smoke coming from inside the front and the side of the house.\nCrews were able to force their way through the front door and found one person inside with vital signs absent, according to Toronto police.\nToronto Paramedic Services told CP24 that they are on scene of the fire and are performing life-saving measures on the patient.\nNo information regarding the patient’s age or gender has been released by officials.\nFirefighters are still working to put out the fire, police said.\nThis is developing story. More to come.", "Fire at North York residence leaves one person with life-threatening injuries: paramedics", "One person is fighting for their life after a fire broke out at a residence in North York on Wednesday evening, paramedics say." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T01:25:43"

"2021-01-25T17:11:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials say there is evidence to suggest that the U.K. variant of COVID-19 may cause more severe illness in some people.\nDr. Vanessa Allen, chief of microbiology and laboratory science at Public Health Ontario, made the remark at a news conference on Monday after reporting that the province has already seen 34 cases of the U.K. variant so far.\n“There is some initial data that suggests that it's both more transmissible … and now there is more recent evidence to suggest that it might cause more severe disease in some individuals,” she told reporters.\nOfficials said there are three primary variants of concern, including the U.K. variant, the South African variant and the variant from Brazil. The latter two have not been detected in Ontario to date, officials said on Monday.\nOntario reported 1,958 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday as the province marked the anniversary of detecting its first infection. The fewer than 2,000 cases is a decrease from Sunday’s report when 2,417 were logged.\nDespite the decrease in new cases, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said people should remain vigilant as experts learn more about the new COVID-19 variants and their presence in the province.\n“With the aggressive nature of the U.K. variant in particular, and it's now in our presence among our different health units, the reasons for being cautious, the reasons for being careful about masking and distancing has to be enhanced even further because it can be spread with breaches to those protocols in a very short period of time,” Williams said on Monday during the news conference.\n“We are going to have to be on guard. But the same measures that protect you from the other strain of COVID-19 will protect you from this one but you have to do it consistently.”\nOfficials said the province is trying to do everything they can to contain \"every single case” of the variant found and increase their capacity to find them.\n“We were aware that the U.K. variant been around for a while. We probably assumed it was coming into our province back in December,” Williams said.\n“You watch the U.K. and the Ireland rendition it just took off exponentially. We haven’t seen that yet. That gives me some reassurance that our measures are holding it.”\n“But we have to be vigilant, we have to be careful, and keep our measures up and we have to keep doing the testing and looking forward and identifying and see if we can keep weathering this one out.”", "Ontario confirms U.K. COVID-19 variant could result in more severe illness as 34 cases reported", "Ontario health officials say there is evidence to suggest that the U.K. variant of COVID-19 may cause more severe illness in some people." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T22:36:11"

"2021-01-05T15:23:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Several Ontario school boards are warning students and staff that internet outages are affecting online classes today.\nBoards in Kingston, the Windsor area, Halton Region and the Ottawa area all issued notices on social media today, flagging potential problems with remote schooling as a result of a number of outages.\nThey say multiple internet providers, including Cogeco, are reporting their services are down.\nThe boards are asking students and staff to be patient as the companies work to restore service.\nThe outages come as students across the province are logging on for online-only classes, part of the Ontario government's efforts to curb the spread COVID-19.\nThe shift to remote learning is part of a provincial lockdown that began on Boxing Day and is set to last until Jan. 9 in northern Ontario and Jan. 23 in southern Ontario.\nStudents in northern Ontario and elementary students in southern Ontario will resume in-person classes next week, while high schoolers in southern Ontario will continue online learning until Jan. 25.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2021.", "School boards warn internet outages affecting online learning in Ontario", "Several Ontario school boards are warning students and staff that internet outages are affecting online classes today." ]

[ "Brett Martel" ]

"2021-01-03T07:22:05"

"2021-01-02T22:35:00"

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

[ "NEW ORLEANS -- NEW ORLEANS - Eric Bledsoe capped a 19-point, 10-assist performance with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, and the New Orleans Pelicans held on for a 120-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.\nBrandon Ingram added 31 points, capped by four free throws in the last 13 seconds to seal the victory. Zion Williamson scored 21 points, highlighted by a pair of driving spin moves in the lane to set up left-handed leaners off the glass.\nThe Pelicans lost a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, briefly falling behind in the final four minutes, but were able clamp down defensively and limit the Raptors to just one point during the final 2:47 of regulation.\nFred VanVleet scored 27 points and Chris Boucher added 24 for Toronto, which has opened the season by losing four of its first five games. Pascal Siakam scored 10 points, but fouled out with 8:30 remaining.\nThe Pelicans led 101-89 when Josh Hart made a free throw just after Siakam fouled out.\nBut Kyle Lowry quickly responded with a 3, igniting a 22-9 run that ended with 3s by OG Anunoby, Powell and VanVleet to make it 111-110 with 3:16 to go.\nIngram's free throws tied it at 113 with 1:08 left. And after Toronto lost the ball out of bounds, Bledsoe hit his pivotal left-wing 3 with 41.6 seconds left.\nIngram scored 17 of his points in the first half, when he made three 3s and helped the Pelicans maintain a slim lead for most of the first two quarters despite shooting 36.7% (18 of 49) through the first 24 minutes.\nVanVleet scored 11 of his 21 first-half points during the last seven minutes of the second period to push Toronto in front late in the half. Lowry added a 3 from 30 feet away to put the Raptors up 60-50 before a 3 by Lonzo Ball and Steven Adams' putback dunk trimmed it to 60-55 at halftime.\nTIP-INS\nRaptors: Toronto went 26 of 27 from the free throw line. ... The Raptors came in having won five straight in New Orleans and eight of the previous 10 meetings overall. ... VanVleet has made at least one 3-pointer in 37 straight games. ... Toronto got 38 points from its bench, the majority coming from Boucher. ... Lowry was called for a flagrant-1 foul in the second half when he fell backward while guarding Bledsoe on the dribble, then while lying on the floor reached across Beldsoe's legs as the Pelicans guard began to drive and wound up hitting the floor flat on his front side.\nPelicans: Adams and Ball each scored 13 points and Adams added nine rebounds to just miss a double-double. ... The Pelicans outrebounded Toronto 51-39. ... The Pelicans attempted 47 free throws, the second-most in franchise history, but missed 11. ... New Orleans improved to 2-0 at home.\nUP NEXT\nRaptors: Host Boston on Monday before embarking on a four-game road trip to Phoenix and the West Coast.\nPelicans: Host Indiana on Monday in the second of four straight home games.", "Raptors fall to 1-4 on the season after losing to Pelicans", "Eric Bledsoe capped a 19-point, 10-assist performance with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, and the New Orleans Pelicans held on for a 120-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T20:01:45"

"2021-01-08T14:50:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The mayor of Oakville says he “had no objection” when Halton’s police chief informed him that he intended to travel to Florida over the holidays to “attend to a property matter.”\n“Chief Steve Tanner informed me in advance of his travel to tend to a property matter. I had no objection. Chief Tanner continues to have my full confidence,” Rob Burton, the mayor of Oakville, said in a statement sent to CP24. “The chief leads our police service in an exemplary manner and will continue to do so.”\nBurton joins a growing list of politicians and public officials who went against provincial guidance and travelled outside the country over the holiday break.\nSeveral politicians, including Finance Minister Rod Phillips, were forced to resign as a result of their holiday conduct.\nDr. Thomas Stewart, the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System, was forced to step down from his role after going on holiday in the Caribbean.\nThe province and federal government urged people to stay put over the holidays and only celebrate with members of their immediate household in an effort to slow community transmission of COVID-19.\nIn a statement sent to its members, the Halton Regional Police Association said Tanner’s absence came at a time when members learned of the passing of one of the police service’s officers.\n“Several members have spoken to me personally and other members of our board to display their frustration and disgust for a decision to travel during a global pandemic and provincial lockdown,” Clay Gillis, president of the police union, wrote.\n“I am sending this note to advise that the association has had the concerns, met as a board, and will be formally addressing our concerns with the police services board.”\nThis is not the first time Tanner’s conduct has attracted negative attention from some members of the public.\nTanner previously came under fire for his reaction to comments NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made about the police response when a man allegedly broke into the grounds of Rideau Hall carrying four guns.\nSingh suggested that the suspect may not have survived had he not been white.\nTanner took to Twitter to criticize Singh’s comments. In a series of posts, Tanner called the NDP leader’s comments “politics at an all-time low.”\n“He’s a political leader. He could also have commended the RCMP officers involved and say that he wished all instances were more like this one,” Tanner wrote.", "Halton’s police chief travelled to Florida over holidays to deal with 'property matter'", "The mayor of Oakville says he “had no objection” when Halton’s police chief informed him that he intended to travel to Florida over the holidays to “attend to a property matter.”" ]

[]

"2021-01-13T17:20:42"

"2021-01-13T08:41:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ford government has some explaining to do when it comes to the finer points of its new stay-at-home order, Toronto Mayor John Tory said Wednesday, saying the new rules do not make clear whether outdoor amenities like skating rinks or tobogganing hills should be shut down or curtailed.\nAs part of Ontario’s new second state of emergency, to take effect tomorrow, the province released new rules for outdoor gatherings, reducing their size to five, but also making a reference to closing outdoor amenities, without specifically naming any.\n“It says right here that no person is permitted to use an indoor or outdoor recreational amenity that is required to be closed,” Tory told CP24 on Wednesday. “But it says skating rinks can be open – we have 54 skating rinks or some number like that, and so the question becomes are they supposed to be open or closed?”\nCity spokesperson Brad Ross told CP24 they are reviewing the provincial legislation and will have more to say about how it impacts outdoor activities this afternoon.\nThe legislative interpretation excitement and confusion for Ontario’s municipal leaders today will also include how to interpret the new five-person limit on outdoor gatherings.\n“It also says organized public gatherings and social events are limited to five people,” Tory said. “So is a skating rink an organized social or public event, or is it not? We have a limit of 25 people on those rinks.”\nTory said he welcomes the additional clarification coming down from the Ford government today, saying ordinary folks shouldn’t have to parse through lengthy documents to figure out how they can live their lives.\n“The public shouldn’t be expected to do what I am doing here which is reading a 40 page document. The Government of Ontario, which is putting forward these regulations, should be explaining exactly what these regulations are meant to achieve.”\nOntario officials are expected to clarify points about the new stay at home order and state of emergency on Wednesday.\nGroups such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association expressed concern about the move to give peace officers “wider discretion” to ticket individuals who are out for non-essential reasons, and whether the homeless will be disproportionately targeted.\nHousing advocates are demanding the province freeze residential evictions, which the province says could be coming in “days.”", "Are skating rinks an outdoor gathering? Toronto mayor says new emergency COVID-19 rules not clear", "The Ford government has some explaining to do when it comes to the finer points of its new stay-at-home order, Toronto Mayor John Tory said Wednesday, saying the new rules do not make clear whether outdoor amenities like skating rinks or tobogganing hills should be shut down or curtailed." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T22:56:09"

"2021-01-13T14:46:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The head of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination task force says that COVID-19 vaccines were given to non-front-line staff, including people who work from home, because hospitals didn’t want to waste doses.\nSpeaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ret. Gen. Rick Hillier said there were some challenges in getting essential health-care workers to vaccination sites in late December and early January.\n“Because once we had opened those Pfizer vaccines and we could not move them at that stage, we did not want to waste them obviously,” he said. “We started vaccinating the health-care workers, in some cases, those who were probably further down the queue, as you articulated, got vaccinated before others.”\n“Each site has been working to make sure that that happens in kind of small numbers as possible, but it will continue to occur when you’re vaccinating 165,000 people to millions of people.”\nThe comments come after three hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area offered vaccines this month to back-office administrative staff, volunteers, clinical researchers and information technology staff.\nIn an internal email obtained by CTV News, the University Health Network invited researchers to get the vaccine while the William Osler health system said that any team member could get the shot, including “any back-office/administrative staff or volunteer.”\nProvincial officials speaking on background said they provide a “risk matrix” to help determine who should be prioritized for the vaccine. The matrix weighs risk of exposure by patient population and health-care setting. It also takes into account the position a worker holds and whether there is enough resources should that person fall ill.\nEach vaccine site is given this matrix, as well as an ethical framework, but may have made alternative decisions in order to use up doses of the vaccine.\n“It’s not ideal, an operation of this size is not going to be and we are not going to apologize for that because we want to vaccinate folks in an incredible hurry,” Hillier said. “Speed trumps perfection.”\n“We want to get those done as fast as we can.”\nEarlier in the day, the Ontario government released a timeline for Phase 2 of the province’s vaccination plan, as well as a list of those who would be eligible for the shot. Among the five groups listed were seniors over the age of 80 and essential workers outside of the health-care system.", "'We did not want to waste them': Top Ontario vaccine official says after non-front-line staff get shot", "The head of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination task force says that COVID-19 vaccines were given to non-front-line staff, including people who work from home, because hospitals didn’t want to waste doses." ]

[ "Rob Gillies" ]

"2021-01-27T02:33:54"

"2021-01-26T21:08:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Shortstop Marcus Semien agreed to an $18 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.\nThe person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.\nSemien will become the second star and fourth free agent added by the Blue Jays during a slow off-season amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.\nToronto gave outfielder George Springer a $150 million, six-year deal. Toronto also agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers Kirby Yates ($5.5 million) and Tyler Chatwood ($3 million) and re-signed left-hander Robbie Ray to an $8 million, one-year contract.\nSemien hit .223 with seven homers, 23 RBIs and .679 OPS in 53 games last season, his sixth with Oakland. He earned $4,814,815 in prorated pay from a $13 million salary.\nSemien finished third in AL MVP voting in 2019, when he hit 33 homers with 92 RBIs with an .892 OPS.\nToronto went 32-28 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, finishing third in the AL East behind Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees and qualifying for the expanded post-season despite behind forced to play home games in Buffalo, New York, due to Canadian government restrictions on travel. The Blue Jays were swept in two games by the AL champion Rays in a first-round series.\nThey have an emerging young core and are adding major contracts while younger players such as Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. relatively low salaries because they remain shy of eligibility for arbitration.\nIt is not clear where the Blue Jays will play home games when the 2021 season starts.", "Shortstop Marcus Semien, Blue Jays agree to $18M, 1-year contract: AP source", "Shortstop Marcus Semien agreed to an $18 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T02:01:13"

"2021-01-05T18:55:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A Brampton, Ont. man is facing charges after he was caught allegedly stealing a package from a home on Monday and then got stuck in the snow as he was trying to flee the scene.\nIt happened in Mississauga at approximately 2:40 p.m. in the area of Churchill Meadows and Erin Centre Boulevard, Peel Regional Police told CTV News Toronto.\nVideo of the incident appeared on Reddit.com Tuesday and appears to show the 33-year-old suspect attempting to make off with the package before the home’s front door swings open and the person filming can be heard saying, “That’s done. You’re done.”\nThe suspect then hops in his car and attempts to flee the scene, before backing up into a snowbank and getting stuck.\nThe man can then be seen getting in and out of the car trying to remove the snow and free his front wheels to no avail as the camera keeps rolling.\nPolice eventually arrived and arrested the man.\nHe has been charged with one count of fraud under $5,000 and one count of theft under $5,000.\nPeel Police said he was released on conditions and will appear in court on a later date.", "Would-be porch pirate gets stuck in the snow following attempted theft in Mississauga, Ont.", "A Brampton, Ont. man is facing charges after he was caught allegedly stealing a package from a home on Monday and then got stuck in the snow as he was trying to flee the scene." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T17:23:54"

"2021-01-19T10:22:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The demolition of several heritage buildings in the West Don Lands is continuing today despite widespread community opposition.\nCrews began tearing down the old Dominion Wheel and Foundries Company buildings located at 153-185 Eastern Ave on Monday evening, months after the Ford Government issued a ministerial zoning order that allowed it to sidestep the local planning process and go ahead with the development of high-rise residential towers on three provincially owned sites, including 153-185 Eastern Avenue.\nCity officials have pled with the province to reconsider the demolition of the Dominion Wheel and Foundries Company buildings, which are listed on Toronto’s heritage inventory.\nMore than 8,000 people have also signed a petition calling on the province to halt the demolition to allow for community input.\n“What you see here is an act of vandalism,” Toronto Centre Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam told CP24 on Monday night. “These are assets that belong to the people of Ontario. Doug Ford doesn’t own these buildings, they (the province) hold them in trust and this isn’t what we want them to do.”\nDozens of protesters showed up to the West Don Lands site on Monday when news that demolition had begun first began circulating.\nThe protesters were then back at the site early Tuesday morning.\n“We are for development but the thing is you have to have development with transparency,” one of the protesters, Asif, told CP24. “The Ford government has never consulted a single person here. We have been writing to them since October. (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) Steve Clark, Doug Ford, their offices have received letters from us since the fall and not a single person has received a response. They have completely frozen us out from the discussion and have brought bulldozers into our community without talking to anyone. That is not how you build a community.”\nThe city’s Chief Planner Greg Lintern wrote a letter to the Ford government over the weekend noting that conservation of the heritage value of the site should be “fully considered” before demolition takes place.\nBut in a statement provided to CP24 a spokesperson for Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said that a heritage impact assessment was conducted on the site and that it determined that it is “not of provincial significance.”\nThe spokesperson said that alternatives to demolition were considered but it was ultimately determined that those would not be feasible “due in part to the contamination of the property, requiring full remediation.”\n“The Foundry site has been in a state of bad repair and largely abandoned for over 40 years,” the statement reads. “The government has determined that the site would be best used to provide affordable housing and new community space.”\nThe Dominion Wheel and Foundries Company buildings were all constructed between 1917 and 1929 and were added to the city’s heritage inventory in 2004.\nThey were owned by Canadian Northern Railway and were used to produce rail equipment.", "Demolition of Toronto heritage buildings by Ontario government continues despite protest", "The demolition of several heritage buildings in the West Don Lands is continuing today despite widespread community opposition." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T19:02:10"

"2021-01-14T11:57:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government is warning of an inspection blitz on big box stores in the Greater Toronto Area this weekend in an effort to ensure they are complying with COVID-19 lockdown regulations.\nIn a news release issued Thursday, the government said that about 50 ministry inspectors, as well as local bylaw and police officers, will visit big box stores in the regions of Toronto, Hamilton, Peel, York and Durham on Saturday and Sunday.\n\"We know most businesses are operating responsibly and taking the necessary steps to protect their workers and customers, and I want to thank them for their efforts,\" said Minister of Labour, Monte McNaughton said in a statement.\n\"Where we find an employer who has been acting in bad faith, we won't hesitate to take action by immediately slapping them with a ticket and a fine. There will be real consequences for those who break the rules.\"\nA stay-at-home order came into effect across Ontario on Thursday. Under the order, small and medium-sized retailers are allowed to operate between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. for curbside pickup or delivery only.\nBig box stores like Walmart and Costco, on the other hand, can continue to operate with their hours unaffected along with grocery stores with capacity restrictions.\nThe inspection campaign announced Thursday will target workplaces with “heightened risks,” including facilities in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution centres, food processing, and essential publicly accessible workplaces such as grocery stores.\nWorkplace health and safety inspectors will have the authority to ticket supervisors, employees and patrons not complying with COVID-19 regulations. They may also temporarily close a premises and disperse groups of more than five people, the government said.\nBusinesses and individuals found not to be following the rules can be fined $750, or $1,000 for preventing others from following the protocols.\nMaximum fines are set at up to $100,000 for an individual or $10 million for a corporation. It could also result in prosecution or a year in jail.", "COVID-19 inspection blitz to take place at big box stores in GTA amid lockdown", "The Ontario government is warning of an inspection blitz on big box stores in the Greater Toronto Area this weekend in an effort to ensure they are complying with COVID-19 lockdown regulations." ]

[]

"2021-01-24T20:51:11"

"2021-01-24T12:18:00"

"2021-01-24T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Dr. Jamie Spiegelman at first refused the COVID-19 vaccine.\nAs a critical care doctor at Humber River Hospital in northwest Toronto, one of the worst COVID-ravaged regions in the country, he meets the definition of a front-line worker.\nBut he thought there were others, from nurses to respiratory therapists, who needed it first. Besides, he says, he probably contracted the novel coronavirus in the first wave, among the 50 per cent of the population who show no symptoms.\nOne day last month the hospital's CEO called telling him there were leftovers from the clinic that day that would go to waste if not used.\nSo he relented.\nLooking back over the last year, Spiegelman feels like he's needed his entire life's training to fight COVID-19.\nHe's treated about 150 patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. About half of those have died.\n\"This disease has really solidified in my mind that the training that I put in, the reason why I went into medicine, has really paid off at this point because of this disease,\" he tells The Canadian Press over the phone.\nThe hospital's ICU has been full for months, to the point where they've created an additional room with six beds to treat non-COVID patients. The hospital has been steadily transferring patients out to make room for others, sending them as far afield as Kingston, Ont.\nSpiegelman has seen healthy patients in their 30s and 40s succumb to the disease.\n\"We've had some young people die no matter what we did for them,\" he says. \"Unfortunately, it's a disease that we don't completely understand and some patients just crash.\"\nYet Spiegelman remains hopeful.\n\"You have to look at the positives and we're going to survive it as a society,\" he says.\nHugging his wife and three kids after a tough day helps. And he still tries to laugh.\n\"Obviously, we have job security, that's another thing that we've learned from this,\" he says. \"No one's going to kick us out.\"\nHe's learned a lot about the disease in the past year, and the damage it causes to many parts of the human body other than the lungs - mostly due to cardiac arrests and encephalitis.\nFailing kidneys are an ominous sign that a patient is going to die, he says, and when a patient needs kidney dialysis, mortality skyrockets.\nSpiegelman says he always tells people COVID-19 is like the movie \"Avengers: Endgame,\" where some superheroes die and others survive.\nFrom his own experience in the ICU as well as hospital data, about half of the people with COVID-19 tested at Humber River are fine and have no symptoms. About 35 per cent have a flu-like illness that does not require hospitalization.\nRoughly 12 per cent, he says, of COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, but do not need critical care.\nHis job is to help the three per cent who are critically sick.\n\"You don't want to fall into that three per cent category,\" Spiegelman says.\nThey've seen some trends, but it's unclear if it's causal or correlational at this point. But he's noticed young, obese people fare worse with the disease and he's also seen patients with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease and asthma in the ICU.\nPregnant women are also at higher risk, according to the literature, but Spiegelman says they've yet to see a single pregnant woman with COVID-19 in the ICU at Humber River.\nHe also believes there's a genetic component at play that somehow contributes to the severity of the illness.\nThere have been several cases where multiple family members come in critically ill with COVID-19 while other family members of a different ethnicity have not been that sick, he says.\n\"What we learned with the first and going into the second wave is all these patients are so, so sick, their lungs are so damaged from COVID-19, that they're very, very difficult to manage from an oxygen standpoint,\" he says.\nThey've found some success.\nThey give everyone steroids, which has reduced mortality by about 25 per cent, he says.\nPure oxygen also helps about a quarter of the patients in the ICU. The other 75 per cent in the unit go on ventilators, he says.\nAt that point, things can turn bad fast.\nBefore COVID, Spiegelman says they've never seen patients' oxygen levels plummet so quickly. In some cases, patients oxygen levels have fallen so fast that after 30 seconds they go into cardiac arrest.\nThey've learned to act quicker, to intubate faster, he says.\nLooking ahead, he thinks COVID-19 is not going away.\n\"I think it's going to be kind of like the flu eventually, a yearly thing,\" he says. \"It's just going to be part of what we have to deal with, I think, going forward.\"\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.", "'You don't want to fall into that three per cent category': Toronto ICU doctor reflects on year of treating COVID-19 patients", "Looking back over the last year, Dr. Jamie Spiegelman feels like he's needed his entire life's training to fight COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T17:35:02"

"2021-01-11T11:46:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto’s medical officer of health is asking the Ontario government to ensure workers have access to 10 paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nThe city’s top doctor, Eileen de Villa, made the request in a report to the Toronto Board of Health released on Monday, saying workers need to feel safe and not burdened by financial pressures when taking time off work in order to curb the spread of the disease.\n“It has become increasingly evident that paid sick leave provisions are essential to protect the health of individual workers, their workplaces, and the broader community,” de Villa said in the report.\nThe board of health report states 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.\nPremier Doug Ford’s government cancelled paid sick days in 2018 and made it so that most employees in Ontario have the right to take up to three days of unpaid job-protected sick leave each calendar year.\nHis government extended the policy amid the pandemic so that workers could take an unspecified number of days to isolate without pay until July 3.\nThe report issued by de Villa found that workers without paid sick leave, particularity low-wage essential workers, experience financial pressures to work even when ill.\n“Not only do they face an immediate loss of much needed income if they do not work, but the tenuousness of their employment status also sometimes means that taking time off work when ill could jeopardize their \"standing\" with their employer or future earnings,” de Villa said.\nOntario and Toronto health officials have said that workplaces are major areas of concern for the spread of COVID-19. Earlier this month, the City of Toronto began publicly identifying the location of some COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces to deal with the issue.\nCouncillor Joe Cressy, who is also the chair of the Toronto Board of Health, said that 60 per cent of Toronto’s recorded workplace outbreaks have been in front-line settings.\n“Our essential workers are at increased risk of infection … Our front-line heroes are bearing the brunt of this pandemic,” Cressy said on Monday.\n“Workers – especially the essential and frontline workers we rely on every day – need to be able to stay home and self-isolate when they are ill, but many simply can't afford to.\n“We know that we can't beat COVID until we stop workplace transmission and we won't stop workplace transmission until we have paid sick leave for all workers.\"\nWe won't beat COVID until we make it possible for workers to stay home & self-isolate when they are ill. Sick leave — it's long overdue.\nA new Board of Health report is calling on the Province to mandate 10 paid sick days for workers during the pandemic.https://t.co/Qjitr5M2rK — Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) January 11, 2021\nThe board of health said that due to the “health risk” posed by workplace transmission, it has been calling on the province since May 2020 to ensure workers have access to paid sick leave.\nThe board said the federal government’s recovery sickness benefit, which provides people with $500 per week, for up to two weeks, is an important step but not “adequate on its own.”\n“The benefit pays less than a full-time minimum wage job, has processing delays of up to four weeks, and does not provide job security for workers seeking to use it,” the board said in a statement.\nThe board and de Villa are asking the province to provide support for employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the vent of “declare infectious disease emergency” such as the COVID-19 pandemic.\nIn addition, it is asking the province to require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers after three month of employment.", "Toronto’s top doctor calls on provincial government to implement 10-day emergency paid sick leave", "Toronto’s medical officer of health is asking the Ontario government to ensure workers have access to 10 paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T13:17:11"

"2021-01-05T07:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A man is fighting for his life in hospital after two tractor trailers collided on Highway 401 in Toronto early on Tuesday morning.\nThe OPP says that sometime before 3 a.m. two tractor trailers struck each other in the eastbound express lanes and struck the Allen Road overpass, with one of the two vehicle briefly catching fire.\nActing Sgt. Tim Dunnah said one of tractor trailers was pulled over on the shoulder, just east of the ramp to the collector lanes, when a second tractor trailer struck a nearby barrier and debris from that crash hit the first tractor trailer, knocking it sideways.\nFirefighters had to extricate one driver whose leg was pinned inside his cab.\nHe was removed without vital signs and rushed to Sunnybrook hospital for treatment where he remains in critical condition.\nThe OPP said the Highway 401 eastbound express lanes are closed from east of Highway 400 to Allen Road.\nDunnah said Ministry of Transportation officials are working to assess the structural strength of the Allen overpass.\nThey say cleanup may last well into the morning rush hour.\n“We don’t want to rush and lose any potential evidence but we will get it done as quickly as we can,” Dunnah said.", "Highway 401 crash in Toronto leaves man critically injured", "A man is fighting for his life in hospital after two tractor trailers collided on Highway 401 in Toronto early on Tuesday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T22:21:22"

"2021-01-28T12:29:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- City bylaws that mandate the wearing of masks in indoor public spaces and require that residents keep two metres apart while out and about are likely to be extended into at least June.\nMedical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa is recommending that city council extend all five bylaws that have been adopted amid the COVID-19 pandemic until their June meeting, though she says that she will nonetheless continue to “conduct a monthly assessment” on the need to keep each bylaw in place.\nThe bylaws were previously scheduled to expire at the conclusion of next week’s city council meeting after last being extended in September.\n\"We took action, based on public health advice, to implement the mandatory mask bylaw and others last year to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our city. Once again, our public health officials have made it clear these measures need to be extended in order to keep up our fight against the virus,” Mayor John Tory said in a news release issued following the publication of de Villa’s latest recommendations.\n“Thank you to everyone who continues to follow the public health advice. This is the right thing to do. Your actions, wearing a mask, keeping your distance from others, avoiding gatherings with people outside your household, and washing your hands, will help keep you healthy, protect your family and loved ones, and help save lives.\"\nDaily case counts in Toronto have been on the decline for weeks and the city’s reproductive number recently dipped below one to 0.86, meaning that transmission is on the wane.\nDe Villa, however, pointed out in a report that will be considered by council next week that “COVID-19 continues to spread in Toronto” and that the bylaws are still a “necessary response to the ongoing pandemic.”\n“SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, is present and circulating to a significant extent in Toronto and therefore poses a risk to the health of the residents of the city,” the report notes.\nThe bylaws that will be considered by council next week also cover additional infection control measures at currently shuttered bars and restaurants and in the common areas of apartment and condominium buildings.", "Toronto to likely extend COVID-19 masking, distancing rules until at least June", "City bylaws that mandate the wearing of masks in indoor public spaces and require that residents keep two metres apart while out and about are likely to be extended into at least June." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T17:24:29"

"2021-01-19T07:36:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An undercover police officer says he first heard a Toronto-area constable might be selling steroids about a month after he started investigating the man.\nThe undercover officer, who cannot be identified under a publication ban, testified earlier this week he was assigned to look into Const. Richard Senior in June 2018.\nBack before a virtual court today, he says a supervisor mentioned the possible involvement of steroids in late July\nThe undercover officer says he was arranging to work out with Senior on a regular basis to \"continue to build rapport\" and started making inquiries about steroids.\nAt the same time, the undercover officer says he began to engage in \"suspicious behaviour\" to suggest he also may be involved in criminal activity.\nSenior, a veteran of the York Regional Police, has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including breach of trust and trafficking cocaine and steroids, in connection with a corruption investigation.\nHe was arrested in October 2018 and initially charged with 30 offences, but the remaining 16 charges were withdrawn as the trial began.\nProsecutors allege Senior planned to rob a fictitious drug warehouse after hearing about it from a second undercover officer posing as an informant, and offered to sell the drugs to two men he knew.\nThey also allege he sold steroids to the undercover officer who is currently testifying and another officer; stole money he was given to pay informants; and inappropriately accessed a police database and disclosed confidential information.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021.", "Undercover officer continues testimony at police corruption trial", "An undercover police officer says he first heard a Toronto-area constable might be selling steroids about a month after he started investigating the man." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T01:24:19"

"2021-01-04T18:24:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario couple decided when they retired they would sell their home and travel the world, but then came COVID-19.\n\"Our plan was to start travelling and see the world, but the pandemic came along and changed everything,\" Patricia Bartkiw told CTV News Toronto.\nPatricia and her husband Myron now rent a home in Whitby, Ont. and decided last fall since they can't travel they would buy another home.\nWhen they went to the bank to get a mortgage, they were denied because they were told Patricia had a zero credit score or not available credit score.\nThe couple say they were shocked.\nIn July 2017, Patricia's credit score was 771 and in May 2020 it was 670. In October, when they went to buy a home it was zero.\n\"Everything is paid off, our cars are paid off and we are paying rent so that automatically gets paid through the bank each month,\" Patricia Bartkiw said.\n\"We've never been in debt, we have never owed anything and we have never missed a payment,\" Myron added.\nA credit score is a number that is assigned to an individual by credit bureaus to help banks and other lenders decide if you're a good credit risk. Scores usually range 300 and 900, with a higher score meaning you’re a better risk.\nThe couple said while they could still buy a home without a mortgage they don't want to use up all their equity.\n\"We are sitting in limbo and we can't buy anything,\" Myron said, adding “it makes no sense at all.\"\nWhen CTV News Toronto reached out to Equifax, a spokesperson said that credit scores are calculated in different ways and there needs to be activity to generate one.\n“While there is no such thing as a score of zero…consumers may not be aware after a period of no credit activity their credit files may become 'unscoreable,'\" Equifax said.\nIn Patricia’s case Equifax said \"The individual's credit file was not scoreable due to a lack of reported credit activity.\"\nEquifax reviewed her file and said while it was in order at the time, recent activity helped generate a credit score of 700.\nWith a credit score, Patricia and her husband can now show lenders she is a good credit risk and she and her husband can now get a mortgage to buy a new home.\n\"I feel pretty good and it shows that I now exist,\" she said.\nIf you're planning to buy a house, a car or some other large purchase you may want to check your credit score beforehand to make sure there are no mistakes.\nYou may also have to generate some credit activity to make sure you have a credit score.", "Ontario woman who wanted to buy a house shocked to learn she had zero credit score", "An Ontario woman who wanted to buy a house was left shocked after she was denied a mortgage because she had a zero credit score." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T04:26:33"

"2021-01-25T21:25:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Like so many segments of society, the mental health of young people has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nA study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry last October found almost 40 per cent of youth met the screening criteria for illnesses such as anxiety, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and among young people, who were already dealing with mental health problems, the number was even greater, just over 68 per cent.\nCentre for Addiction and Mental Health Joanna Henderson is the executive director of Ontario Youth Wellness Hubs. They provided free mental health support program even before the pandemic and last spring began the switch to online services but found it wasn’t easy.\nSome youth were concerned about confidentiality or about having to talk about their problems from home, where they may not have felt safe to speak openly. Others may have had difficulty just getting the computer equipment or internet services.\nAaron Sanqui says one of the main concerns he heard from youth clients of the North Simcoe Youth Wellness Hub was that they didn’t know what to do at the start of the pandemic.\n“Youth and students were just sitting at home trying to figure out what to do,” said the 22-year old youth ambassador. “They couldn’t go out and socialize like they’d normally do.”\nHenderson says teenage years have a unique importance in a person’s development.\n“You’re working on things like autonomy, you’re moving outside of your home and family to connect with more peers. You may be getting your first job and getting that first taste of financial independence.” She said the restrictions associated with the pandemic have a deep impact on that.\nShe said the hubs planned for the change to virtual services with input from health experts, community partners and especially from the young people themselves.\nAn emphasis was placed on using social media to build up communications between peer counsellors and clients. At the North Simcoe location, the “Red Couch Podcast” offers tips on coping mechanisms from youth with lived experience as well as healthcare professionals.\nA popular cooking group has also developed. Instructors send out food baskets with all the ingredients and then demonstrate how to cook them from the kitchen of a local food bank.\nThe emphasis is on creating healthy food and the teens create a meal for their whole family. It teaches them a practical skill, offers them fun and camaraderie and addresses food insecurity, which clients may also be facing.\nOther free programs developed in response to the pandemic include virtual drop-ins, employment coaching and “Feel Good Fridays.”\n“We always hear about how this pandemic is really taking a toll on people’s mental health and youth especially,” Sanqui said. “We want to make sure that they’re well-supported during this time.”", "Initiatives help young people struggling with mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic", "Like so many segments of society, the mental health of young people has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T19:11:40"

"2021-01-27T13:42:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- One of Canada’s biggest airlines has announced it will suspend all flights out of Toronto for the rest of the winter season.\nAir Transat confirmed the news in an email to CTV News Toronto while citing the “numerous measures imposed by the federal government” to curb the spread of COVID-19 as the reason.\n“We must, therefore, revise our winter flight schedule, as we have been doing since the beginning of the pandemic, based on the evolution of the situation and demand,” a spokesperson said in the email.\nThe news comes exactly three weeks after the federal government’s order that everyone flying into Canada is now required to provide proof of a recent negative test result for COVID-19 went into effect.\nThe Montreal-based airline says that travellers affected by the flight cancellations will receive a full refund without having to contact the company.\nAir Transat goes on to say that passengers who are currently abroad and affected by the policy change will be automatically rebooked on another flight back home and that a new travel itinerary will be sent to them directly.\nFlights from Montreal to six international destinations—Cancun (Mexico), Holguin (Cuba), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Punta Cana and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), and Paris (France)—will continue to operate as normal, the company says.", "Air Transat suspends all flights out of Toronto for remainder of winter season", "One of Canada’s biggest airlines has announced it will suspend all flights out of Toronto for the rest of the winter season." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T12:35:26"

"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 response to rapid spread of COVID-19 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." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T00:06:59"

"2021-01-06T17:46:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario's police watchdog has identified a man fatally shot by police in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont..\nThe Special Investigations Unit says 27-year-old Martin Gordyn of the Niagara Region died Tuesday, and an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.\nThe agency says a Niagara Regional Police Service officer has been designated as the subject of its investigation.\nMore than two dozen others -- 23 Niagara police officers, five provincual police officers and three parks officers -- are considered witnesses.\nThe SIU says the incident took place near a trail and two cyclists are believed to have witnessed it.\nThe agency is urging those cyclists to come forward and speak to investigators.", "SIU identifies 27-year-old killed by police in Niagara-on-the-Lake", "Ontario's police watchdog has identified a man fatally shot by police in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-15T15:27:20"

"2021-01-15T09:52:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario MPP who sent Premier Doug Ford a two-page letter calling the provincial lockdown \"deadlier than COVID\" has been kicked out of caucus for his \"irresponsible\" comments.\nProgressive Conservative MPP Roman Baber issued a public letter to Ford on Friday morning, saying that the lockdown isn't working and that they cause \"an avalanche of suicides, bankruptcies, divorces, and takes an immense toll on our children.\"\nHis letter was sent one day after a stay-at-home order was put into effect for the province. In addition to the stay-at-home order, which requires people by law to only leave their house for essential reasons, nearly all non-essential businesses have been forced to close.\n\"The lockdowns aren't working,\" Baber wrote. \"They are killing lives instead of saving lives. I plead with you to accept this reality and end the lockdown.\"\nBaber calls for Ford to end the lockdown and \"let Ontarians go back to normal life.\"\nIn a statement released on Friday morning, Ford said that \"effective immediately Mr. Baber will no longer be sitting as a member of the PC Caucus.\"\nHe will also not be permitted to seek re-election as a Progressive Conservative member, Ford said.\n\"Mr. Baber’s comments are irresponsible,\" Ford said. \"By spreading misinformation he is undermining the tireless efforts of our front-line health-care workers at this critical time, and he is putting people at risk. I will not jeopardize a single Ontarian's life by ignoring public health advice.\"\n\"There is no room for political ideology in our fight against COVID-19–rather, our response has been and will always be driven by evidence and data. Furthermore, Mr. Baber has put himself ahead of his PC Caucus team, who have worked around the clock for months to support and protect the people of Ontario through this public health crisis.\"\nIn a post to Twitter on Friday morning, Baber called the decision to remove him from caucus \"regretful.\"\n\"I don't regret speaking out for millions of lives and livelihoods decimated by public health, I serve the public,\" he wrote. \"The lockdown is grounded in false public health narrative, poor planning and bad data … I couldn't watch the suffering anymore.\"\nI was removed from the @OntarioPCParty caucus. It's a regretful decision since many colleagues agree with me, incl @fordnation in large part. I don't regret speaking out for millions of lives & livelihoods decimated by Public Health, I serve the public. 1/2 #onpoli. pic.twitter.com/2qwJvTWHym — Roman Baber (@Roman_Baber) January 15, 2021\nBaber also came under fire in October, after he told someone on Twitter waiting for the results of their COVID-19 test that they should see their elderly parents.\nIn a statement provided to CTV News Toronto in October, Baber's executive assistant said the MPP’s comment was of a \"general nature about the importance of family and mental health.\"\n\"He quickly clarified that if tested, one 'should wait for negative diagnosis and after that exercise good judgment.'\"\nHowever, Baber’s twitter profile showed that he made the comment at around 10 p.m. on a Monday and only began clarifying the statement on Tuesday morning.\nHe has never removed the original tweet.", "Ontario premier kicks MPP who called lockdown 'deadlier than COVID' out of PC caucus", "An Ontario MPP who sent Premier Doug Ford a two-page letter calling the provincial lockdown \"deadlier than COVID\" has been kicked out of caucus for his \"irresponsible\" comments." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T16:27:56"

"2021-01-26T10:14:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- For the first time since December, Ontario is reporting fewer than 1,800 new cases of COVID-19 as the number of tests performed falls well below provincial lab capacity.\nThe 1,740 infections reported on Tuesday represent a drop from the 1,958 on Monday and are down further from the 2,417 cases logged on Sunday. The last time new case numbers were that low was on Dec. 13 when 1,677 cases were added.\nHowever, with only 30,717 tests processed in the last 24 hours, Ontario's COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 5.9 per cent. The province has previously said that labs across the province can process up to 70,000 tests per day.\nTuesday’s report brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario to 258,700, including deaths and recoveries.\nAt least 63 COVID-19-related deaths occurred in the previous day -- 35 of which were in residents of a long-term care home -- pushing the province's death toll to 5,909.\nAs well, 2,261 more cases are now considered to be resolved. Since the pandemic began, 229,755 previously infected patients have recovered.\nThe province's seven-day average for number of cases reported is 2,346. This time last week, that number was 2,893.\nThere are currently 23,036 active cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario.\nThe news comes a day after the provincial government officially extended its state of emergency and all orders associated with it, including the stay-at-home order, for an additional 14 days.\nThe state of emergency, that was declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) on Jan. 12, and the stay-at-home order is set to expire on Feb. 9, the government said.\nThe announcement of the extension was expected after Premier Doug Ford said on Jan. 12 that the state of emergency would be in effect for 28 days. A state of emergency in Ontario must be legally extended by the government 14 days after it comes into effect.\nMeanwhile, provincial health officials said Monday that the U.K. coronavirus variant may cause more severe illness in some people as the total number of those infected with the strain in Ontario reached 43.\n“There is some initial data that suggests that it's both more transmissible … and now there is more recent evidence to suggest that it might cause more severe disease in some individuals,” Dr. Vanessa Allen, chief of microbiology and laboratory science at Public Health Ontario, told reporters.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come.\nWith files from Sean Davidson and Miriam Katawazi.", "Ontario records fewer than 1,800 new COVID-19 cases for first time in weeks as testing drops", "For the first time since December, Ontario is reporting fewer than 1,800 new cases of COVID-19 as the number of tests performed falls well below provincial lab capacity." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T23:59:57"

"2021-01-11T11:46:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto’s mayor and medical officer of health are calling on the Ontario government to ensure workers have access to 10 paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nToronto's top doctor Eileen de Villa and Mayor John Tory made the request at a news conference on Monday following a report to the Toronto Board of Health on the issue, saying workers need to feel safe and not burdened by financial pressures when taking time off work in order to curb the spread of the disease.\n\"It's been identified to me by our health people as being important to getting more people tested and wrestling this virus to the ground,\" Tory told reporters on Monday.\n\"So let's just get on with it. I'm optimistic that will now happen maybe because myself and the other mayors are speaking even more forcefully about this [as] it's become more urgent.\"\nThe board of health report states 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.\nPremier Doug Ford’s government cancelled paid sick days in 2018 and made it so that most employees in Ontario have the right to take up to three days of unpaid job-protected sick leave each calendar year.\nHis government extended the policy amid the pandemic so that workers could take an unspecified number of days to isolate without pay until July 3.\nThe Toronto Board of Health said the federal government’s recovery sickness benefit, which provides people with $500 per week, for up to two weeks, is an important step but not “adequate on its own.”\n“The benefit pays less than a full-time minimum wage job, has processing delays of up to four weeks, and does not provide job security for workers seeking to use it,” the board said in a statement.\nTory said on Monday both the federal and provincial governments have not been taking the issue of paid sick leave as seriously as they need to.\n\"It's my impression they're playing a bit of ping pong with each other,\" he said. \"A ping pong game is always interesting and entertaining except when it has to do with the health of people who live in our city and who are contracting COVID-19 and who, in many cases, are the people least able to speak for themselves.\"\nThe report issued by de Villa found that workers without paid sick leave, particularity low-wage essential workers, experience financial pressures to work even when ill.\n“Not only do they face an immediate loss of much needed income if they do not work, but the tenuousness of their employment status also sometimes means that taking time off work when ill could jeopardize their ‘standing’ with their employer or future earnings,” de Villa said.\nTory said he is aware that some people are worried about losing their paycheque and feel pressured to attend work even when sick. He said he is also aware of cases were employees are encouraged to attend work when ill. He said that due to the pressure many people decide not to get tested or self-isolate.\n\"This is a real source of fear and concern out there. It is just beyond comprehension, that no one has come forward and clearly stated, yes, we will look after you and your families during that period of time,” Tory said.\nOntario and Toronto health officials have said that workplaces are major areas of concern for the spread of COVID-19. Earlier this month, the City of Toronto began publicly identifying the location of some COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces to deal with the issue.\nCouncillor Joe Cressy, who is also the chair of the Toronto Board of Health, said that 60 per cent of Toronto’s recorded workplace outbreaks have been in front-line settings.\n“Our essential workers are at increased risk of infection… Our front-line heroes are bearing the brunt of this pandemic,” Cressy said on Monday.\n“Workers – especially the essential and front-line workers we rely on every day – need to be able to stay home and self-isolate when they are ill, but many simply can't afford to.\n“We know that we can't beat COVID until we stop workplace transmission and we won't stop workplace transmission until we have paid sick leave for all workers.\n“We won't beat COVID until we make it possible for workers to stay home and self-isolate when they are ill. Sick leave — it's long overdue.”\nWe won't beat COVID until we make it possible for workers to stay home & self-isolate when they are ill. Sick leave — it's long overdue.\nA new Board of Health report is calling on the Province to mandate 10 paid sick days for workers during the pandemic.https://t.co/Qjitr5M2rK — Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) January 11, 2021\nThe board and de Villa are asking the province to provide support for employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the vent of “declare infectious disease emergency” such as the COVID-19 pandemic.\nIn addition, it is asking the province to require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers after three month of employment.", "Toronto’s top doctor, mayor call on provincial government to implement 10-day emergency paid sick leave", "Toronto’s mayor and medical officer of health are calling on the Ontario government to ensure workers have access to 10 paid sick days during the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T15:52:50"

"2021-01-16T07:53:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- One person is dead following a fire at a home in Scarborough on Friday morning, according to Toronto fire.\nShortly after 8 a.m., fire crews responded to a blaze at an apartment building on Carabob Court, near Birchmount Road and Sheppard Avenue.\nCrews found that there had been a small fire in the bathroom and that the fire was out by the time they arrived, according to Toronto fire.\nOne person was found deceased on scene, Toronto fire said.\nThe cause of the fire and death is under investigation.", "One person dead after apartment fire in Toronto", "One person is dead following a fire at a home in Scarborough on Friday morning, according to Toronto fire." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-21T21:43:12"

"2021-01-21T14:08:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario barbershop has reopened during the provincial lockdown using a loophole that the owner claims allows them to operate legally.\nCrome Artistic Barber in St. Catharines is cutting hair again after they said they revamped their salon to become a production and film studio.\nOwner Alicia Hirter set up cameras, lights and microphones in her shop and said people who come in for haircuts are now auditioning for a part in a future TV show or podcast.\nUnder Ontario's provincial lockdown laws, which came into effect on Dec. 26, film and television productions are allowed to continue operating.\n\"We're not offering haircut appointments, we're offering full auditions,\" Hirter told CTV News Toronto on Thursday.\nAccording to their website, clients can book adult auditions or child auditions. The booking details say the guests will receive a \"complete haircut, neck shave, blow-dry and style all while candidly discussing life, its ups and downs and all in between.\"\n\"Auditions will be recorded for intent (if chosen) to later use in a podcast and/or documentary format.\"\nHirter said when guests arrive for their appointment, they must sign a talent release form and undergo a COVID-19 screening test. Guests are also required to wash their hands when arriving.\nShe said that clients are not required to wear masks while receiving their haircut because the government rules say performers are exempt.\nHirter said she needed to keep her business, which she has operated for 18 years, open because she could not survive another extended closure.\n\"I'm a single mom, I’m not about to move into low income property with my son,” she said. “As a business owner and a mother, I had to make my own call … I’m not a criminal.”\nShe said she's also furious that big-box stores in the province are allowed to continue operating when her business should have closed.\n\"You're telling me Walmart can sell bananas that 17 people have touched but I’m not allowed to operate? It’s morally wrong. You can't expect us to shut down.\"\nShe said she doesn't consider the move to stay open a \"dirty loophole\" and added it \"took a lot of preparation and money to get this started.\"\nIn an e-mail to CTV News Toronto, Director of Planning and Building Services for St. Catharine's Tami Kitay said an investigation has been launched into Chrome Artistic Barbering.\n\"We appreciate that these are challenging times; however, businesses that do not comply with the Provincial Orders and Regulations will be investigated and can anticipate consequences,\" Kitay said in a statement.\nNiagara Region Public Health told CTV News Toronto they are also aware of the situation and opened an investigation.\n\"Our staff are working in close collaboration with our counterparts at the City of St. Catharines and other agencies to ensure we continue to enforce the Provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and the Reopening Ontario Act in a consistent and fair manner.\"\nHirter said that while her business has not been shut down, city officials have told her she could soon face charges.\n\"I will continue to operate,\" she said. \"I will take the fines.\"", "Ontario barbershop reopens despite provincial lockdown using loophole", "An Ontario barbershop has reopened during the provincial lockdown using a loophole that the owner claims allows them to operate legally." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T22:44:33"

"2021-01-04T16:49:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- For months now, Torontonians have been asked to leave their homes for essential activities only, like grocery shopping.\nBut, as new cases of COVID-19 continue to surge across the city, even a trip to the grocery store might not feel as safe as it used to.\nThat’s why CTV News Toronto has created a portal that will show you the grocery stores and pharmacies in the city that are reporting a positive case of the disease.\nThe portal includes stores operated by Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, No Frills), Metro Inc. (Metro, Food Basics) and Sobeys Inc. (Sobeys, Freshco, Foodland, Farm Boy) and provides the date the positive case was reported and when the employee last worked at the affected location:\nFor COVID-19 cases found at stores operated by Loblaw Companies Limited, click here.\nFor COVID-19 cases found at stores operated by Metro Inc., click here.\nFor COVID-19 cases found at stores operated by Sobeys Inc., click here.\nThe respective organizations have been posting the up-to-date information to their own websites in an effort to provide transparency for their customers.\nOn Monday, the City of Toronto announced it would 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.\nWith files from CP24's Chris Fox.", "How to check if your Toronto grocery store has a case of COVID-19", "For months now, Torontonians have been asked to leave their homes for essential activities only, like grocery shopping." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T20:36:37"

"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 sex-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." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T16:25:26"

"2021-01-22T10:35:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An elite taekwondo coach convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage student has pleaded guilty to two more sex-related charges involving a second student.\nShin Wook Lim entered his plea in virtual court this morning.\nAnother three charges related to the second student have been withdrawn.\nThe charges were set to be tried separately from the ones he was convicted on last week.\nLim was found guilty last week of 10 charges, including sexual assault and sexual interference, in connection with a series of incidents involving a high-level athlete who trained with him at the Black Belt World martial arts studio in Toronto.\nNeither complainant can be identified due to a publication ban.\nThis is a developing news story. More information to come.", "Taekwondo Canada coach convicted of sex assault pleads guilty to two more counts", "An elite taekwondo coach convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage student has pleaded guilty to two more sex-related charges involving a second student." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T01:25:40"

"2021-01-20T17:58:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Two females who were found dead at a residence in Fort Erie, Ont. on Tuesday morning were attending a gathering at a short-term rental accommodation prior to their deaths, police confirmed.\nAccording to the Niagara Regional Police Service, emergency crews were called to a residence on Niagara Parkway around 4:15 a.m. after receiving a report “regarding a disturbance, possibly involving a firearm.”\nOfficers discovered the bodies of two females at the home. Police say both victims sustained “obvious trauma to their bodies.”\nNo information has been provided thus far regarding the ages or relation of the victims, but on Wednesday police said the victims were part of a group of people attending a short-term rental accommodation that night.\nSome of the visitors were from outside the Niagara Region, police said.\nInvestigators say that at some point in the evening a firearm was discharged. By the time officers arrived at the scene, everyone had fled.\n“Evidence at the scene suggests that there were multiple people at the house,” police said in a news release issued Wednesday. “Detectives are attempting to determine the identity of everyone who was present or in the house before and when the incident occurred.”\n“The investigation remains in preliminary stages, however, at this time detectives do not have reason to believe there is an imminent threat to public safety.”\nMedia Release - Homicide – NRPS Detectives are Investigating an Incident in Fort Erie – Update 1 https://t.co/hXI1kQ4JhQ pic.twitter.com/95VAtTDueC — NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) January 20, 2021\nPolice say that officers are searching the surrounding area on foot and will also be conducting searches of the nearby Niagara River. They are urging members of the public to avoid the area and to contact investigators if they have any information about the incident.", "Two females killed while visiting short-term rental accommodation in Fort Erie, police say", "Two females who were found dead at a residence in Fort Erie, Ont. on Tuesday morning were attending a gathering at a short-term rental accommodation prior to their deaths, police confirmed." ]

[]

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

"2021-01-22T08:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- New data released by the City of Toronto shows that traffic volumes are now at their lowest levels in several months following the province's lockdown announcement in late November.\nAccording to the traffic data, which was released on Friday, ‘Watch Your Speed’ signs in the city’s school zones showed that traffic volumes during 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the afternoon peak, dropped to 68 per cent of normal volumes during the spring lockdown, climbed to as high as 87 per cent in the early fall, and have now dropped back down to 73 per cent.\nThe speed signs registered a similar pattern during the morning peak from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. During the spring lockdown, volumes dropped to 44 per cent of normal conditions, increased to about 80 per cent in the early fall when schools reopened, and have since dropped down to 52 per cent as schools in southern parts of the province remain closed.\n“While the signs are not representative of traffic on all roads, they do provide a snapshot of changes in neighbourhoods across Toronto,” a news release issued by city staff read.\nTechnology used to measure traffic volumes downtown showed that during the spring lockdown, daily vehicle traffic dropped to 44 per cent of typical volumes, shot up to 73 per cent by the fall, and have dropped to 63 per cent since new public health measures were introduced by the province.\n“It (the traffic data) just suggests we are not doing quite as well as we did in the spring but that there has certainly been a big change since the fall,” Mayor John Tory told CP24 on Friday morning. “We are going to be monitoring this every week, same with the phone data.”\nThe recent phone data, Tory said, indicates that 82 per cent of people are staying home compared to 87 per cent in the spring.\n“That suggests that again in the spring there were more people staying home so I just hope people heed the message, which is stay home, keep your distance, wear a mask,” he said.\nIt should be noted that there are considerably more businesses that are permitted to be open during the current lockdown than during the first few months of the spring lockdown.\nNon-essential retail stores were not permitted to open for curbside pickup until May and all film and television production was halted during the spring lockdown.\nPedestrian traffic also appears to have declined from levels reported during the summer and fall. During the first lockdown, pedestrian traffic dropped to 17 per cent of typical volumes, climbed to 30 per cent by the fall, and is now back down to 21 per cent since the new lockdown was implemented.\n“We are understanding of the fact... that you need to have some exercise, you need some fresh air,” Tory said. “A lot of the time you just need to get out if you live in an apartment or condo, but we are asking you obviously do that only with people you live with.\"", "Downtown Toronto traffic dips to 63 per cent of normal volumes after new restrictions implemented", "New data released by the City of Toronto shows that traffic volumes are now at their lowest levels in several months following the province's lockdown announcement in late November." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T18:15:09"

"2021-01-15T08:26:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Nathalie Karvonen of the Toronto Wildlife Centre tells us more about the work they do and shares information on how you can help wild animals.\nMore from the Toronto Wildlife Centre here.", "Help wild animals this winter", "Nathalie Karvonen of the Toronto Wildlife Centre tells us more about the work they do and shares information on how you can help wild animals." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T20:01:56"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- George Pappas of Pappas Law outlines upcoming changes to family court proceedings and restrictions in place due to COVID-19.\nMore from Pappas Law here.", "Family court proceedings and current restrictions", "George Pappas of Pappas Law outlines upcoming changes to family court proceedings and restrictions in place due to COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T20:32:05"

"2021-01-07T14:54:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Peel Regional Police Board has been ordered by Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal to pay $35,000 in damages after a six-year-old Black girl was handcuffed by officers at her Mississauga school more than four years ago.\n“In handcuffing the applicant’s hands behind her back and holding her on her stomach with her ankles handcuffed for at least 28 minutes, the officers violated the applicant’s rights under Sec. 1 of the Human Rights Code to equal treatment in the provision of services by treating her in a way they would not have treated a white child,” tribunal adjudicator Brenda Bowlby wrote in her decision rendered on Dec. 31, 2020.\nOn Sept. 30, 2016, two officers with Peel Regional Police responded to a 911 call from a Peel District School Board elementary school.\nIt was the fourth time police were called by the school for assistance with the child that month.\nFollowing multiple hearings regarding the encounter that took place on that day between the girl, who weighed 48 pounds at the time, and the two cops, who were both six-feet tall and 190-200 pounds, Bowlby found the officers’ actions to be “shocking” and “punitive.”\nBowlby also noted that the child became fearful of police, suffered teasing, withdrew from friends and felt humiliation, shame and guilt as a result of the incident.\n“The applicant was frightened by the manner in which she was treated by the officers during the incident,” Bowlby said in her decision. “I find that this incident has caused the applicant to view the police as a source of punishment and that she is now apprehensive of police officers.”\n“This is very concerning since all children should be able to have confidence that police are there to protect them, not punish them.”\nBowlby went on to state that the fact the child experienced anti-Black racism at “such a young age” is “alarming.”\n“It is clear that, because of this incident, she became aware that as a Black person, she may be subject to different treatment than a white child.”\n“There is a risk of future impacts that are not known because of the age of the applicant,” Bowlby added.\nThe application to the Human Rights Tribunal was filed on Sept. 27, 2017 by the child and her mother, who were represented by Human Rights Legal Support Centre, a service that provides free legal assistance to people in Ontario who have experienced discrimination contrary to the province’s Human Rights Code. Their identities are protected under a publication ban.\nThe application alleged discrimination by the respondent, the Peel Regional Police Board, with respect to services on the basis of race, colour, ethnic origin, or ancestry contrary to the Human Rights Code.\nThe applicant was seeking monetary compensation for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect in the amount of $150,000, as well as approximately $20,000 for two years of psychological and trauma counselling.\nIn the tribunal’s decision, the applicant was awarded monetary compensation of $30,000 and $5,000 to be used to pay the costs of counselling with an accredited psychotherapist.\nIn a news release issued by Human Rights Legal Support Centre on Thursday, the child’s mother, who is identified only as J.B., said she is “happy this rather lengthy and difficult chapter is finally over” and will now focus on “what lies ahead, which is making my daughter whole.”\n“This decision gives my community hope where we often feel there’s no recourse,” she said.\nThe respondent argued that no monetary compensation was required in this case as Peel Region’s police service had voluntarily entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ontario Human Rights Commission.\nThe commitments of the MOU include substantial changes to the way in which Peel police officers provide services to children under the age of 12. The service and its board also agreed to develop legally binding remedies to address systemic racism in policing.\nJ.B., who was asking the tribunal to implement further measures regarding officers at schools, including ordering revised training, said she hopes the MOU “isn’t just smartly worded and celebrated while police officers continue to have harmful interactions with Black bodies on the ground – with little risk of even professional consequences.”\n“I hope it’s a meaningful step toward trusting police to be protectors of our community,” she said. “These policy changes need to affect our daily lives.”\nCTV News Toronto has reached out to the Peel Regional Police Board for comment but has not received a response as of Thursday afternoon.", "Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal orders Peel police board to pay $35K after six-year-old Black girl handcuffed at school", "The Peel Regional Police Board has been ordered by Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal to pay $35,000 in damages after a six-year-old Black girl was handcuffed by officers at her Mississauga school more than four years ago." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-28T16:37:50"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government has announced it has been reporting an incorrect number of people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, blaming a misinterpretation of the data.\nThe government said Thursday that only half the people they have been reporting are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.\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 government says it has been incorrectly reporting some COVID-19 vaccine data", "The Ontario government has announced it has been reporting an incorrect number of people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, blaming a misinterpretation of the data." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T15:30:54"

"2021-01-27T09:32:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A sexual exploitation charge has been laid against a former Toronto youth pastor after a report dating back more than 15 years ago surfaced.\nIn October 2020, officers at 41 Division began investigating after receiving information of historical sexual exploitation at a North York church.\nAccording to investigators, a man was a volunteer youth pastor at the Spring Garden Baptist Church, located near Doris and Sheppard avenues, between 2002 and 2005 and during this time he “established a rapport with a young female parishioner.”\n“They engaged in online conversations where the man made inappropriate sexual comments,” a news release issued by police on Wednesday said, adding the man allegedly sent the girl “explicit videos and invited her to engage in sexual activity with him.”\nAn arrest was made in the investigation on Jan. 25. A charge of sexual exploitation has now been laid against 42-year-old Kieran Naidoo.\nHe is scheduled to appear in court on March 2.\nOfficers said they believe there may be other victims and encourage anyone with further information to contact police at 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).", "Former Toronto youth pastor charged in historical sexual exploitation investigation", "A sexual exploitation charge has been laid against a former Toronto youth pastor after a report dating back more than 15 years ago surfaced." ]

[]

"2021-01-24T15:27:57"

"2021-01-24T10:15:00"

"2021-01-24T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario is reporting more than 2,400 new cases of COVID-19 and 50 additional deaths related to the disease.\nThe 2,417 new infections mark an increase over Saturday’s total when 2,359 cases were logged. This brings Ontario’s COVID-19 case count to 255,002, including 5,803 deaths and 225,046 recoveries.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of cases reported is 2,459. Right now, there are 24,153 active cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come.", "Ontario reports more than 2,400 new cases of COVID-19, another 50 deaths", "Ontario is reporting more than 2,400 new cases of COVID-19 and 50 additional deaths related to the disease." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T04:39:03"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- A recent survey by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada found that Canadians are playing more video games during the pandemic to stay entertained and connected.\nBut if you have a new Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5), there is a chance it could have a technical problem.\nStephen Draper of Brantford, Ont. says he was excited when his wife surprised him with the new PS5 gaming console for Christmas.\n“My wife happened to be lucky enough to get her hands on one,” Draper said.\nWhen Draper went to use the console with the new Spiderman Miles Morales video game, it didn’t work.\n“It froze up for a minute and then I ended up seeing an error code up on the PlayStation itself” said Draper.\nDraper saw in online forums other PlayStation owners had similar issues with error codes and glitches and when he contacted Sony they suggested patches that didn't help.\n“I went through all the trouble shooting options that came from PlayStation and nothing worked,” he said.\nThe PlayStation 5 has been selling out in stores and online since its release in November 2020 and sells for between $500 to $700 depending on the version your purchase.\nThe new console has better hardware allowing for faster, smoother and more detailed graphics. It’s so hard to find that some third party sellers are reselling the PS5 on Kijiji and Craigslist for $1,100 or more.\nWhen CTV News contacted Sony, a spokesperson said that, “PlayStation 5 has a high bar for fan satisfaction. If customers are experiencing issues we want to fix them. Please reach out to our customer service team for support and resolution.\"\n“PlayStation Support offers information on how to take full advantage of PS5’s features, how to troubleshoot error codes, or to speak with a live agent,\" the spokesperson added.\nTechnology and gaming expert Marc Saltzman said it’s not uncommon for a new gaming console to have glitches when it's being rolled out especially when it involves millions of consoles being sold globally.\n“There’s always going to be a small percentage that will be defective. It could be the software or it could be the hardware,\" Saltzman said.\nSaltzman said problems can often be fixed with patches or software downloads. He said it they can’t then you may have to return the unit for another one.\n“When all else fails, it’s why you never get rid of your box and hold on to your receipt. Contact the company with a description of what's going on and there is no doubt they are going to help you right the wrong,\" Saltzman said.\nDraper has been without a working console for more than a month, but after CTV News contacted Sony the company said it would exchange Draper's unit for a new one.\nIf you're still trying to find a PS5, Saltzman says be careful buying one through a third party. It will likely cost you more and if you get one with a problem it could be harder to have it repaired or replaced without a receipt.", "Some new PlayStation 5 users reporting error codes or technical glitches", "A recent survey by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada found that Canadians are playing more video games during the pandemic to stay entertained and connected." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T20:29:05"

"2021-01-11T13:52:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Police have released surveillance camera images of three men sought after a 79-year-old man was pushed off of a streetcar and robbed in Toronto last week.\nToronto police say that at 6:45 p.m. on Jan. 5, three male suspects boarded a streetcar at St. Clair Avenue West and Spadina Road.\nA 79-year-old male victim who uses a walker boarded the streetcar a few stops to the east.\nWhen the streetcar arrived at St. Clair Station, the victim began to leave the vehicle when one of the three suspects allegedly pushed the man out of the streetcar and onto the pavement below.\nThe three suspects then allegedly robbed the elderly man of items including his jewellery.\nImages of the men were released to the public on Monday.\nAnyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-5300.", "Elderly man using walker pushed off streetcar, robbed in Toronto", "Police have released surveillance camera images of three men sought after a 79-year-old man was pushed off of a streetcar and robbed in Toronto last week." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T20:13:22"

"2021-01-29T07:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Dolf DeJong of The Toronto Zoo tell us about their new virtual programming options and highlights the need for support through their Zoo Food for Life campaign.\nMore from the Toronto Zoo here.", "Toronto Zoo is closed but still caring for animals", "Dolf DeJong of The Toronto Zoo tell us about their new virtual programming options and highlights the need for support through their Zoo Food for Life campaign." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T00:07:52"

"2021-01-26T17:27:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Nearly two dozen support staff at a downtown school that serves students with developmental and physical disabilities are refusing to work for a second consecutive day due to concerns about their safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.\nThe Toronto District School Board says that 22 educational assistants at Beverley School remain off the job today amid a myriad of health and safety concerns, including challenges they have faced in preventing students from removing their masks.\nThe board says that it has brought in administrators from nearby schools as a “temporary solution” and is actively working to address the workers concerns through ongoing conversations with their union.\n“Right now to make sure that the kids are safe we have administrators from local schools who are here helping out,” TDSB spokesperson Sherry Schwartz-Maltz told reporters.\n“For a more long- term solution we have a lot of the resources at the board - speech pathologists, behavioural therapists and health and safety – and all those additional central resources are being taped in to work with the kids and to work on the learning situations, the behavioural plans, to try to make the situation better.”\nWhile in-person learning is suspended at most schools in the GTA because of the surge in COVID-19 cases, education continues in-person at some schools which cater to students with special needs.\nThe TDSB has confirmed that there have been a total of five positive COVID-19 cases at Beverly School, one involving a student, one involving a staff member and three involving bus drivers.\nThe board, however, says that all of those cases have been resolved and that there are not any active cases right now.\nNonetheless, the union that represents the educational assistants says that it has concerns over the Ford government’s refusal to tailor its health and safety policies to special education.\nJohn Weatherup, who is the president of CUPE Local 4400, told reporters on Tuesday that his members have frequently had their masks ripped off while assisting students with special needs.\nHe said that while it is important to note that the students have disabilities and “are not doing anything wrong,” there is a need for new protocols to help protect the health and safety of everyone.\n“There is a whole range of resources we have been suggesting and they (the ministry) have always treated it like all COVID is the same so the masks they wear are the same (as other schools), all the things they do are the same. They give them gowns and that sort of thing but if a child pees on your gown for lack of a better term you have to change it so then you need (more) staff because you can’t just walk away from a child with special needs,” he said.\nWeatherup said that he believes many of the concerns identified by educational assistants can be addressed by additional staffing.\nFor example, he said that if a worker is escorting a student with a disability to the washroom, there should be another staff member on hand “to make sure the child can’t raise their hand” and remove the staff member’s mask.\n“It is as simple as putting a child on a toiler or feeding when they don’t like you wearing a mask. You have to get close enough to do that but sometimes they just want to see your face and they are not doing it because they are trying to be vengeful or whatever. These are students that have behavioural issues that they have no control over,” he said\nSpeaking with reporters outside the school on Tuesday morning, Maltz said that she understands it is a “time of high anxiety” and that it is important that all staff feel “safe and secure.”\nTo that end, she said that conversations have been taking place all day to determine how to best address the workers concerns.\n“We just need to listen and we need to find a solution together,” she said.", "Work refusal continues at downtown school for students with special needs amid COVID-19 concerns", "Nearly two dozen support staff at a downtown school that serves students with developmental and physical disabilities are refusing to work for a second consecutive day due to concerns about their safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T23:45:35"

"2021-01-18T18:26:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario personal support worker says she feels “devalued” after receiving easily torn medical gowns that feel like “tissue paper” to wear while seeing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nMargo Frey, a community PSW in the Peterborough, Ont. area, told CTV News Toronto on Monday that she recently received a new shipment of personal protective equipment and that the quality of the medical gowns is “really poor.”\n“This new gown that we got is so thin that I think if somebody spit on me it would go through,” she said. “We're not going to be properly protected. It's like a false sense of security.”\nFrey said she and her coworkers have noticed that the gowns tear easily and are itchy. She said she has been told to assume every patient she helps has COVID-19 and to change her PPE after seeing each person.\n“It's scary. We feel devalued because we're doing what we think is an important job, but obviously, the government doesn't think that we're important enough to have made any moves over the past year,” she said.\n“These feel more like a tissue, a thin, thin tissue or tissue paper almost. Every gown that I've worn has ripped. If you pull on it, or you try to put it on, it rips on the arms.”\nThe Ontario government says it has spent nearly $1.1 billion on PPE including masks, gloves, medical gowns and face shields.\n“All PPE distributed from the pandemic stockpile is medical grade and compliant with appropriate standards,” Ontario’s Ministry of Health said in a statement. “Public hospitals and long-term care homes must assess the available supply of PPE on an ongoing basis and continue to make appropriate PPE available to front-line staff.”\nAccording to the Government of Canada website, there are four different levels of approved medical gowns, each with different material integrity.\nInfectious disease expert Dr. Anna Benerjee said that while there are different grades of medical gowns, their main purpose is to prevent body secretions from falling on a person or a person’s clothing, and that the quality should be the same across the board during a pandemic.\n“If someone’s coughing or vomiting, that gown is supposed to keep a barrier between the individual and the clothes they’re wearing,” she told CTV News Toronto.\n“If there are tears in the gown and someone doesn’t recognize it, then the virus can get onto someone’s clothing or on their skin, and then someone’s more likely to self-contaminate themselves and get infected.”\nSharleen Stewart, president of SEIU Healthcare, a union representing more than 60,000 workers in Ontario, said she is now asking all of its health-care units to start looking at their PPE to determine if the medical gowns were a bad batch or if the quality has simply dropped.\n“We cannot fight COVID on the cheap. We cannot cut corners anywhere, we have to ensure that they are protected,” Stewart said.\nFrey has said she has made a formal complaint with her company and is awaiting a response.\nWith files from CTV News Toronto's Rahim Ladhani", "'It feels like tissue paper': Personal support worker shocked at thin and easily torn medical gowns", "An Ontario personal support worker says she feels “devalued” after receiving easily torn medical gowns that feel like “tissue paper” to wear while seeing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T04:26:48"

"2021-01-25T20:49:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- It’s been more than a year and a half since a shooting took place inside the crowd of thousands gathered along Queen Street to celebrate the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship. But for those emotionally traumatized by the events, the scars are still apparent.\n“I feel like with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder it kind of stays with you no matter how healed you are,” Shreya Patel told CTV News Toronto. “Because it’s part of you, and you have to accept that.”\nCTV News Toronto first met Patel last January in Nathan Phillips Square just steps from the shooting site. At the time, she admitted that sleeping was difficult, and that she was triggered by large crowds or groups of people running.\nAs part of her recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder, the filmmaker left Toronto to spend time with her family in Sarnia, Ont. It’s where she has spent most of the pandemic. She says she’s found comfort in long walks, meditation, and talking openly about mental health with her family and friends.\n“A lot of my friends were feeling really lonely, especially people who did not have families in the country and they were by themselves and they were feeling … alone and all these things and that was triggering around the world and not just in our country,” she said.\nLast year, Patel, decided to remotely film a documentary, in the hopes of illustrating the human spirit during a global pandemic.\nThe film, called “Unity- #Lovespreads faster than a virus,” features interviews with people from 66 different countries on six continents. Among the interviews, people discuss how they’re dealing with mental health challenges that have been brought on by a global pandemic.\n“In all of these countries everyone is going through the same thing so you are not alone. We’re all in this together. So mental health was a huge part of last year and it continues to be this year as well.”", "Woman shares experience with PTSD after shooting at crowded Toronto Raptors celebration", "It’s been more than a year and a half since a shooting took place inside the crowd of thousands gathered along Queen Street to celebrate the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship. But for those emotionally traumatized by the events, the scars are still apparent." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T21:09:30"

"2021-01-20T15:32:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Eight people not on the priority list were mistakenly given a COVID-19 vaccine at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this week after an online registration link to book appointments was \"erroneously shared.\"\nMayor John Tory confirmed the mix-up while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.\nHe said that the individuals who ended up being vaccinated when they should not have were people who “by and large work in the healthcare area” but were not among the select group of frontline healthcare workers who were supposed to receive their vaccines at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre site.\n“This is one of the lessons learned in the two days (that the clinic was operating), you know that there should have been and there will now be going forward some protection like a password so the link can’t be shared,” Tory said. “I don’t blame the people who got the link and somebody said ‘You have this link and now you can go sign up for an appointment.’ How would they necessarily know any better?”\nThe vaccination clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was the first such facility outside of a hospital setting in Ontario and was supposed to be used as a so-called “proof of concept” exercise, so other municipalities could open similar sites.\nThe clinic, however, was ordered to close after just 48 hours due to a shortage of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.\nSpeaking with reporters, Tory said that the city did “react immediately” upon becoming aware of the issue and disabled the link.\nCity spokesperson Brad Ross also told Newstalk1010 that another six people who were able to book appointments were turned away after it was determined that they were not on the priority list.\n“These are the lessons we learned and I think we are going to have to be really explicit in communicating who is getting vaccinated when and make sure that when you go to the link to make an appointment that there has to be some sort of password or other security measure,” Tory said. “But I can tell you that when we learned about this we moved very quickly to address and I think if we had the rest of the weeks or even the six weeks to run the clinic we would have found that that wasn’t the case.”\nThe Ontario Dental Association did send out a bulletin to its members on Tuesday after learning that the link was circulating.\nIn it they said that the “the site was not meant to be accessed by dentists, nor many other community-based health care workers who also tried to access” it.", "Eight people mistakenly given COVID-19 vaccine at Toronto clinic despite not being on priority list", "Eight people not on the priority list were mistakenly given a COVID-19 vaccine at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this week after an online registration link to book appointments was \"erroneously shared.\"" ]

[]

"2021-01-10T03:12:31"

"2021-01-09T21:35:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- One person is dead, and another has been injured in a collision in Mississauga Saturday night.\nEmergency crews were called to Erin Centre Boulevard near Glen Erin Drive just before 9 p.m.\nPeel police say one person was pronounced dead on the scene. Another person was taken to hospital. There is no word on their condition.\nThe cause of the crash is unknown.\nThere are road closures in the area while police investigate.", "One person killed in collision in Mississauga", "One person is dead, and another has been injured in a collision in Mississauga Saturday night." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T04:04:06"

"2021-01-28T22:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Pickering’s deputy mayor is stepping down from his post after travelling outside the country over the holiday break to visit his son’s ashes, and a city councillor is apologizing for flying to Costa Rica to supervise the construction of his retirement home.\nKevin Ashe, the regional councillor for Ward 1, announced his decision on Thursday. It comes after he and his family travelled abroad in December to visit his son Alex’s ashes “and deal with our ongoing grief.” Ashe said his son died by suicide.\n“In making this decision, I believed it was a necessary one for the mental well-being of our family. But I am also aware of how this appears, recognizing that we have all been urged to stay home in an effort to contain COVID-19,” he said in a statement.\nAshe said he did not want his trip to detract from the important work the city council does and apologized to the mayor and his fellow councillors.\nHe also made the decision last week to not continue as the chair of the Durham Police Services Board because Ashe said that he did not want to be a “distraction.”\n“I also recognize that the pandemic and resulting social isolation have negatively impacted the mental health of many in our community. And as such, I fully accept the criticism of myself and my efforts to heal abroad, because your struggles over the past year, as well as your efforts to stay safe at home are not lost on me.\n“I have heard you. I acknowledge your feelings of frustration and anger; and I am truly sorry for my actions,” Ashe said.\nAnother Pickering councillor, Bill McLean, also released a statement on Thursday, revealing that he is currently in Costa Rica with his wife.\nMcLean said he travelled to the Central American country “to finalize the construction of our eventual retirement home.”\nMcLean, the regional councillor for Ward 2, insisted that he thinks his trip is essential but acknowledged that he disappointed his constituents in his decision to travel.\n“My intent was never to hide this fact and I want to take this opportunity to explain my decision to travel and express my apologies and regret for the unnecessary distractions to our council and the residents of Durham,” McLean said.\nIn the statement, he noted that they had postponed a couple of trips since the pandemic began in March. However, McLean said he found in November that it was becoming “critical to be on site to finalize our project.”\nMcLean said he booked the trip before the provincewide lockdown went into effect on Dec. 26.\n“I made sure to have the proper infrastructure in place so that I could continue to serve my constituents and actively participate in council meetings for the duration of my travel,” he said. “I share these details not as an excuse, but instead to present the facts that led to my decision making.”\nAshe and McLean join the list of politicians and other high-profile officials who are facing criticism for travelling abroad despite public health guidance to avoid non-essential trips.\nAjax MPP Rod Phillips resigned as Ontario’s finance minister after his trip to the Caribbean. Dr. Tom Stewart, the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System, also stepped down after it was revealed that he went on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Halton’s police chief also received backlash for travelling to Florida to tend to his property.", "Pickering's deputy mayor steps down from post after travelling abroad to visit son's ashes", "Pickering’s deputy mayor is stepping down from his post after travelling outside the country over the holiday break to visit his son’s ashes, and a city councillor is apologizing for flying to Costa Rica to supervise the construction of his retirement home." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T18:21:02"

"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 provides 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." ]

[]

"2021-01-09T02:51:28"

"2021-01-08T19:57:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Residents living on a small street in the heart of downtown Toronto say they have been plagued by an incredibly loud and squeaky TTC streetcar.\nSince Sunday, residents say the noise has been non-stop. Streetcars are being diverted off of Queen Street and through the McCaul loop, located Grange Park, due to construction.\n“It sounds like nails on a chalkboard, times like a thousand,” William Lam, a resident living on McCaul Street, told CTV News Toronto.\n“It's high piercing. It just gets right through in the earplugs you're wearing while trying to sleep, into your meetings while you're trying to work,” Lam added. “I work at home … and for the people living above the actual tracks and the turnaround I don't know how they can actually deal with it.”\nResidents say they’ve complained to the TTC about the noise and that it’s driving them up the wall.\n“It sounds like a car crash that's about to come into your apartment,” resident Jaclyn Kuo said.\nA TTC spokesperson told CTV News they are aware of the issue and are taking steps to address it.\n“We're going to go in there twice a day and do lubricating,” Stuart Green said. We've got some engineering work that we're going to do to mitigate that noise and we're going to continue to notify the community of the steps that we're taking.”\nThe diversion is due to construction aroung King and Queen Streets, and residents say they are concerned the construction project could last up to a year, forcing them to consider alternatives.\n“I'm honestly considering disobeying the lockdown and moving back to my parents place because I can't stay here and work,” Kuo said.", "'Nails on a chalkboard': Residents complain about squeaky TTC streetcar", "Residents living on a small street in the heart of downtown Toronto say they have been plagued by an incredibly loud and squeaky TTC streetcar." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-12T19:35:50"

"2021-01-12T10:08:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A dirty and rundown home located in Toronto has hit the market for nearly $1 million.\nAccording to the listing for the home, which located at 68 Scarborough Heights Boulevard, the property comes in \"as is condition\" but has a large lot with \"opportunity to renovate and build your forever home.\"\nThe selling price for the property, which is located \"in the demand neighbourhood of Cliffcrest,\" is $999,000.\nThe home has three bedrooms, one bathroom and has an detached garage.\nThe listing photos for the property are sure to turn some people away. They show dirty rooms that are still filled with garbage and other personal belongings.\nSome of the bedrooms still have old beds in them, along with what appears to be old blankets.\nProperty taxes for the new owner will cost approximately $4,389.\nLast year, a tiny Toronto home on the other side of the city took people by surprise after hitting the market for $1 million.\nThe two-bedroom, one bathroom home located on Euclid Street in Little Italy went up for sale in July and received lots of attention for its high asking price.\nIt eventually sold for $800,000 over asking.\nThe house on Euclid Street, like the one now selling on Scarborough Heights Boulevard, are targeted at buyers who want to build their own home from scratch.\nThe Toronto Real Estate Board said last week the average price of a home sold last year hit a new record.\nThe board said the average selling price in Greater Toronto was $929,699 in 2020, up 13.5 per cent from $819,279 compared with 2019.\nThe number of homes sold in 2020 in the Greater Toronto Area totalled 95,151, up from 87,751 in 2019, and the third-best year on record, according to the board.\nThe board says after a steep drop in the spring due to the pandemic, the market took off in the second half of the year.\nThe results for the full year came as the Toronto board reported home sales in December soared to 7,180 compared with 4,364 in the final month of 2019.\nThe average price of a home sold in December was $932,222, up from $838,662.\nWith files from The Canadian Press.", "Dirty Toronto house hits the market for a whopping $1 million", "A dirty and rundown home located in Toronto has hit the market for nearly $1 million." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T21:09:07"

"2021-01-07T15:36:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A long-term care home in Toronto has hit 71 COVID-19 deaths after three more residents succumbed.\nTendercare Living Centre in the city's east end now has one of the worst records in the province.\nNevertheless, the provincial government says it is confident North York General Hospital can manage the outbreak.\nThe province says the hospital has offered assurances that the needs of Tendercare residents are being met.\nDozens of other residents are still fighting the disease.\nThe province said last month North York General would help stabilize the situation.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2021.", "COVID-19 deaths at Toronto long-term care home hits 71", "Find breaking Toronto & COVID-19 news, live coverage, weather, traffic, in-depth reporting, sports, local events and video." ]

[ "Donna Spencer" ]

"2021-01-25T01:18:17"

"2021-01-24T19:02:00"

"2021-01-24T00:00:00"

[ "CALGARY -- The Toronto Maple Leafs enjoyed puck luck scoring three goals off deflections in a 3-2 win Sunday over the host Calgary Flames.\nWayne Simmonds scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf, Jake Muzzin earned his first of the season and Auston Matthews also scored for Toronto (5-2-0) in an afternoon matinee.\nToronto defenceman Morgan Reilly assisted on three goals, Mitch Marner had two assists and Jack Campbell turned away 31 of 33 shots for his second win in as many starts this season.\nThe Maple Leafs played their seventh game in 12 days after travelling Saturday to Calgary.\nSean Monahan and Elias Lindholm countered for the Flames (2-1-1), who were coming off a five-day break without a game.\nJacob Markstrom turned away 29 of 32 shots in the loss.\nTwo Toronto goals caromed off Flames bodies and another off a Leaf skate.\n“It was a pretty ugly game to be honest for us,” Matthews said. “I think there was a lot of things we could have done better.\n“Obviously a couple of solid, lucky bounces that went our way.”\nMatthews returned to the lineup after sitting out Friday's 4-2 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers with a hand injury.\n“I'll obviously have to take care of it in the next couple of weeks, but it feels a lot better and feels more than good enough to play and good enough to go out there and contribute,” Matthews said.\nDown 3-2, Calgary pulled Markstrom for an extra attacker with 1:49 remaining. The Flames also called a timeout with 37 seconds to play, but couldn't produce the equalizer.\n“That's hockey. Bounces go each way throughout a game,” Monahan said. “We've got to clean up a few areas and I think we've got to be around their net a little bit more to get those bounces.”\nCampbell appeared to be in some pain in the final minute after Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk landed on him in a goal-mouth scrum.\n“I was just really focused on trying to get out of this place with two points,” Toronto's goalie said.\nBoth teams scored one power-play goal on four chances.\nWith Tkachuk providing a screen, Lindholm's wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle beat Campbell short side for a power-play goal at 6:33 of the third period.\nMatthews was in the slot waiting for a play to develop when the puck deflected off him and Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson for the eventual game winner at 2:42.\nSimmonds, who signed with Toronto as a free agent in October, earned his 500th career NHL point and gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead late in the second period.\nSimmonds was parked in front of Markstrom when what appeared to be his between-the-legs backhand pass deflected off the inside of his right skate for a power-play goal 32 seconds before the second-period buzzer.\nCalgary drew even at 1-1 when Monahan on Campbell's right had time to bank his own rebound off the goaltender's back and into the net at 12:53.\nMuzzin's long snapshot from just inside the blue-line deflected off Flames forward Dominik Simon and by Markstrom's glove at 7:16 of the first period.\n“We had some unlucky bounces, but I think we're playing good,” Markstrom said.\n“If you keep working hard in practice, and keep working hard in games and doing the right things, hopefully these bounces are going to stop. Just got to work a little bit harder and create your own luck.”\nMarner circling down low fed the puck up to Muzzin to collect his 300th career NHL point in his 307th game with the assist.\nToronto defenceman T.J. Brodie, who was a Flame for a decade before signing with Toronto in the off-season, faced his former club for the first time Sunday.\nAfter a gentle schedule to open their season, the Flames will play at least every second day for two weeks, including back-to-back road games in Winnipeg next week against the Jets.\nThe Maple Leafs remain in Calgary for Tuesday's rematch before heading to Edmonton on a four-game road trip.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2021.", "A little luck propels Toronto Maple Leafs to 3-2 win over Calgary Flames", "The Toronto Maple Leafs enjoyed puck luck scoring three goals off deflections in a 3-2 win Sunday over the host Calgary Flames." ]