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cc_multi_2021-1_en

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"2021-01-18T14:51:56"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario Provincial Police are looking into an incident on Highway 404 where an object was allegedly thrown from an overpass and hit a vehicle on Sunday morning.\nThe driver of the vehicle told CP24 that he was travelling south on the highway on his way to work shortly before 10:30 a.m. As he approached the John Street overpass, north of Steeles Avenue, he said he saw someone on the bridge.\n\"As I passed underneath, I heard a loud smashing sound,\" he said. \"As I looked at my roof, I saw that my glass is broken.\"\nHe alleged that the individual on the bridge threw an unknown object that hit the top of his vehicle and smashed a hole in the sunroof.\n\"Luckily, I don't have any children or any other passengers with me. So, it was just me. So luckily, no one was hurt,\" he said.\n\"You know, it's on the highway. Things happen so quickly. I was just driving and then suddenly it just happened, and I didn't even think that it could happen to me.\"\nHe said he distinctly remembers the person on the bridge wearing a green Canada Goose jacket.\nThe incident could have resulted in tragedy, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in an interview with CP24.\n\"When you're travelling at 100 kilometres per hour, and something as a small rock hits your windshield, it's going to smash your windshield. And if it's anything bigger, it's going to come right through and can cause very serious injury,\" he said.\n\"So, this is a very serious matter that we're looking into.\"\nWhen officers arrived at the scene, they were not able to locate anyone on the overpass, Schmidt said. He is appealing to anyone who was travelling on the highway at the time and has dashcam footage to contact police.\n\"The driver here is lucky, really lucky to be alive,\" Schmidt said.", "Driver 'lucky to be alive' after vehicle hit by object allegedly thrown from Ontario highway overpass", "The Ontario Provincial Police are looking into an incident on Highway 404 where an object was allegedly thrown from an overpass and hit a vehicle on Sunday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T03:24:17"

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

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

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

[]

"2021-01-11T20:29:25"

"2021-01-11T13:47:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Police say they have arrested a Toronto daycare employee in connection with the sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.\nPolice allege that between April 12, 2018 and Dec. 18, 2020, a man employed as an early childhood educator by Not Your Average Daycare (NYAC) repeatedly sexually assaulted a child in his care.\nThe suspect, who was most recently employed at the daycare's Donwood location, was arrested by police on Jan. 4.\nHe has been identified by investigators as 45-year-old Ta-Hath Martin, of Toronto.\nPolice say Martin faces one count of sexual interference and one count of sexual assault and is scheduled to appear in court on March 5.\nMartin, police say, has been employed by NYAD since 2003 and has worked at multiple locations, including its daycares on Corvette Avenue, Midland Avenue, Livingston Road, Luella Street, and Progress Avenue.\n\"Anyone with any information is urged to contact officers,\" Toronto police said in a news release issued Monday.", "Toronto daycare employee arrested in connection with sex assault of child, police say", "Police say they have arrested a Toronto daycare employee in connection with the sexual assault of a child under the age of 16." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T23:59:55"

"2021-01-11T17:35:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A man who pushed a stranger in front of a moving subway train in downtown Toronto more than two years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.\nOn the morning of June 18, 2018, Yosuke Hayahara was waiting for an eastbound train at Bloor-Yonge Station when he was shoved into the path of an oncoming train.\nAt the time, police called the attack unprovoked.\nThe 73-year-old was rushed from the scene to hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.\nJohn Reszetnik was taken into police custody at street level shortly after the incident took place.\nThe then-53-year-old was charged with first-degree murder.\nA spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed Reszetnik’s guilty plea to CTV News Toronto following a virtual court appearance held on Monday.\nReszetnik’s case was expected to go to trial on Jan. 18, the spokesperson said.\nA conviction of second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence but parole ineligibility is set by the judge between 10 and 25 years.\nReszetnik is scheduled to appear in court next on Jan. 28.", "Man who pushed stranger in front of Toronto subway train in 2018 pleads guilty to second-degree murder", "A man who pushed a stranger in front of a moving subway train in downtown Toronto more than two years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T14:52:12"

"2021-01-18T07:33:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A woman is in hospital after she was struck with the butt of a gun during a failed carjacking attempt in Brampton late on Sunday night.\nPeel Regional Police say they were called to Bonnie Braes Drive and Kimborough Hollow, north of James Potter Road, at 11:45 p.m. Sunday.\nInvestigators said a woman was in her driveway when she was approached by at least one suspect.\nHe allegedly struck her with the butt end of a firearm and tried to steal her car.\nHe then fled the scene in the company of several other male suspects driving a dark coloured Nissan SUV.\nThe suspects are described as three Black males wearing hooded sweatshirts.\nThe woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries,\nAnyone with information is asked to call police at 905-453-2121, ext. 3402.", "Woman struck with butt of gun during failed Brampton carjacking", "A woman is in hospital after she was struck with the butt of a gun during a failed carjacking attempt in Brampton late on Sunday night." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T00:03:42"

"2021-01-20T07:36:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government has announced that students in seven public health units will be returning to the classroom on Monday, but online learning will remain in place for the rest of southern Ontario schools until further notice.\nIn a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education confirmed that students in the following public health units will resume in-class learning on Jan. 25:\n• Grey Bruce Health Unit\n• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit\n• Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit\n• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit\n• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit\n• Peterborough Public Health\n• Renfrew County and District Health Unit\nSome school boards that span across multiple public health units may have some schools that resume in-person learning on Jan. 25 and others that will continue to teach virtually, the government said.\nNo information was provided regarding the return dates for students in the 15 other southern Ontario public health units not listed above.\nParents in the regions of Toronto, Peel, York, Windsor-Essex and Hamilton were previously told their children would not be returning to the classroom until at least Feb. 10, while schools in northern Ontario reopened for in-person instruction on Jan. 11.\nIn a statement released on Wednesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said that getting students back into class is the government’s top priority, and that more than 100,000 kids will be returning to in-person learning on Monday.\n“According to Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and leading medical and scientific experts, including the Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario’s schools are safe places for learning,” he said.\n“To ensure schools remain safe, the government is introducing additional measures including province-wide targeted asymptomatic testing, enhanced screening, mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3.\"\nLecce also said that masks will be worn outdoors when physical distancing isn’t possible.\nBetween mid-September and Dec. 21, the province reported 5,103 cases of COVID-19 in students and 1,094 cases among school staff. At least 1,095 additional cases of the novel coronavirus were logged in “individuals not identified,” which could include parents or family members of school-related cases.\nAt least one education worker died after contracting the disease.\nNine-hundred and seventy-six of Ontario’s 4,828 schools reported a case of COVID-19 within that four-month period.\nEarlier this month, when the government announced an extended closure of schools in southern Ontario, the province’s chief medical officer of health said they were trying to find the “right balance” in order to ensure that once schools open—they stay open.\n“Our methods that we put in place before in the fall, in my mind, have to be enhanced especially around areas of surveillance and monitoring and promptness and readiness. These aren’t simple things where you turn a switch on. You have to put a lot of things in place and we are working on that at this time.”\nThe government did not go into detail about what enhanced measures they would like to see in schools before they reopened to the public.\nOntario has allocated about $840 million to reduce class sizes, increase ventilation, hire more custodians and set up public health nurses at schools.\nThe government also accepted $381 million from the federal government.", "Schools in 7 southern Ontario regions will reopen Monday, rest will remain closed", "The Ontario government has announced that students in seven public health units will be returning to the classroom on Monday, but online learning will remain in place for the rest of southern Ontario schools until further notice." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T19:02:40"

"2021-01-14T12:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- At least two school boards in the Greater Toronto Area have said they are experiencing technical difficulties with an element of their virtual learning platform.\nBoth the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Peel District School Board posted on social media saying they were having difficulties with Google Meet and Google Classroom.\n“We are aware that many teachers and students are having issues with Google Meet this morning. While we work to resolve this problem, please use Zoom as an alternative,” the TDSB said on Twitter.\nA spokesperson the TDSB said they are working with Google to determine when the issue will be resolved for staff and students.\n\"At this point, it’s not known how widespread the issue is,\" Ryan Bird told CTV News Toronto in a statement. \"In fact, I just saw a tweet that Peel DSB is experiencing issues as well. Educators can use Zoom as an alternative if possible and we’ll continue to provide updates.\"\nThe Peel District School Board took to social media Thursday morning to say they have also been hearing reports of technical issues and are working to resolve the problem.\n“We have reached out to Google and they are investigating the issue. Educators who are experiencing issues with Google Meet or Google Classroom can switch to Brightspace or Microsoft Teams as an alternative,” the school board said.\nStudents in southern Ontario have been learning virtually since the beginning of 2021. While some kids will return to class on Jan. 25, those in Toronto, York Region, Hamilton, Peel Region and Windsor-Essex will continue to learn virtually until Feb. 10.\nThis is a developing news story. More to come.", "Some Toronto-area school boards experiencing technical difficulties with remote learning", "At least two school boards in the Greater Toronto Area have said they are experiencing technical difficulties with an element of their virtual learning platform." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-28T00:52:09"

"2021-01-27T11:46:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Two women killed in a crash on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Burlington, Ont. on Tuesday morning are being remembered by family and friends as happy, kind and genuine human beings.\nCeara Publuske from Kitchener and Courtney Duguay from Owen Sound were killed on Tuesday morning after the Mitsubishi Lancer they were travelling in crossed over from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes on the QEW and struck two other vehicles at Brant Street.\nTheir vehicle struck an Acura and a Ford pickup truck, while a fourth vehicle rolled into the ditch, police said.\nPubluske, aged 23, was driving the Mitsubishi Lancer, while Duguay was a passenger, police said. Both women were both pronounced dead at the scene, while three other people were taken to hospital suffering from various injuries.\nPubluske’s cousin, Tyler Publuske, launched a GoFundMe page on Tuesday, which he says will help to cover funeral expenses.\n\"My cousin, Ceara Publuske, was sadly killed in a devastating motor vehicle accident involving several cars,\" Tyler Publuske wrote. \"She was a happy-go-lucky kind of girl, always smiling, and was always quick with the witty jokes. She loved the ones around her to her fullest capacity.\"\n\"We received the worst possible news anyone can get … No one ever plans for this.\"\nThe GoFundMe page has raised more than $3,000 in the past 17 hours.\nA friend told CTV News Toronto that the news of Duguay’s death still doesn’t feel real.\n“Courtney was only 24, and everybody she met, or even passed, she would show all the love she could,” Agella Kodopulos said. “She believed that every day she was growing, evolving, and learning new things about herself and life. She never stopped being happy and wanting to spread joy.”\nKodopulos said that Duguay wanted to become an aesthetician and was saving up money to attend school. According to Kodopulos, Duguay had moved to Toronto in June 2020.\n“She has a tattoo that says ‘tomorrow is never promised’ and that’s been hitting me all day. I’m planning on getting the same one. She’s truly one of the most genuine, happiest, true, kind, trustworthy and enthusiastic people I’ve ever met,” Kodopulos said.\n“If ‘heart of gold’ has a definition, it would be her.”\nThe highway was closed in both directions for most of the day following the collision. The Niagara-bound lanes reopened at Brant Street just before 3 p.m. and the Toronto-bound lanes reopened just after 4 p.m.\nThe Toronto-bound lanes then reopened just after 4 p.m.", "QEW crash: Women killed in Burlington, Ont. collision remembered by family and friends", "Two women killed in a crash on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Burlington, Ont. on Tuesday morning are being remembered by family and friends as happy, kind and genuine human beings." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T21:24:04"

"2021-01-22T16:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs will be missing two forwards in Friday night's rematch against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.\nMaple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe says star centre Auston Matthews will sit out because of upper-body soreness.\nMeanwhile, veteran forward Joe Thornton will miss at least four weeks with a rib fracture.\nThornton was hurt in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Oilers. He has been placed on long-term injured reserve, a move that helps the Leafs' salary-cap situation.\nMatthews left the ice before the formal practice session on Thursday, with Keefe saying he wasn't feeling well coming out of the loss to Edmonton.\nThe Leafs (3-2) are tied for second with the Winnipeg Jets in the North Division, two points behind the Montreal Canadiens. The Oilers (2-3) are tied for fifth with the Vancouver Canucks.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021", "Toronto Maple Leafs won't have Auston Matthews, Joe Thornton against Edmonton Oilers", "The Toronto Maple Leafs will be missing two forwards in Friday night's rematch against the visiting Edmonton Oilers." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T01:25:28"

"2021-01-25T19:04:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- There is no “lemon law” in Canada when it comes to buying a new vehicle that turns out to have problems.\nHowever, if you bought a new car, truck or SUV with issues that can’t be repaired over the past 25 years, Canadians have gone to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan, known as CAMVAP.\nBut now Chrysler Fiat Automobiles is no longer part of the program.\nBrandon Lawson, who lives near Saint John, N.B., bought a 2020 a Dodge Ram EcoDiesel last summer.\nLawson claims the $80,000 pick-up truck has had ongoing problems with it's ABS brakes, starter and onboard computer.\n“CAMVAP is good, or would have been a good middleman,” Lawson said. “The truck has been in the shop off and on since I bought it. They can't figure out what's wrong with it and are saying it's 90 per cent software related.\"\nCAMVAP is a free service for consumers that is funded by the auto manufacturers to settle disputes between car buyers and auto makers. Vehicles must be less than five years old and have fewer then 160,000 kilometres on their odometer.\nStephen Moody, the general manger of CAMVAP, said that “Chrysler was in the program from the beginning. They were one of our founding members.\"\nCAMVAP’s website now states “FCA Canada ltd. (Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram trucks) left CAMVAP effective Dec. 31, 2020. Claim applications for FCA vehicle cases will no longer be accepted.\"\nIn arbitration cases CAMVAP could order a manufacturer to buy back a vehicle, repair it or pay for out of pocket expenses.\n“They made a businesses decision that it was time for them to leave CAMVAP. The decision they made is one they can make as we are a voluntary program,” Moody said of FCA.\nLouAnn Gosselin, head of communications with FCA Canada said it a statement to CTV News Toronto that in Sept. 2020, FCA Canada informed CAMVAP of its decision to withdraw from the national program effective Dec. 31.\n“While FCA Canada recognizes the value of a voluntary arbitration program that is able to efficiently and effectively resolve disputes between consumers and manufacturers, the company remains of the view that the improvements required to carry out the full spirit and intent of CAMVAP have not been realized,” Gosselin said.\nMoody said if someone has problems with a new vehicle that is not covered under the CAMVAP program, they should try to work with the manufacture and dealer before going to court.\nAfter Lawson contacted CTV News Toronto he said he was able to negotiate a deal with his dealership and they got him into another Ram pickup truck that was one year newer.\n“I'm happy with the dealership that they did pull through, but I think that they (FCA Canada) should think twice and be back in the CAMVAP program,” Lawson said.\nThe majority of Canada’s major automakers remain in the CAMVAP program. Moody said if arbitration is not needed to settle a complaint the group sided with the consumer about 70 per cent of the time.", "Fiat Chrysler Automobiles pulls out of consumer arbitration plan to help customers", "There is no “lemon law” in Canada when it comes to buying a new vehicle that turns out to have problems." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T19:19:40"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to take further action when it comes to border control, pushing for mandatory COVID-19 testing and a temporary ban on direct flights from countries where new strains of the disease have been found.\nFord made these pleas on Tuesday afternoon while providing an update on the province’s recently launched voluntary COVID-19 testing pilot project at Toronto International Pearson Airport.\nAccording to the province, 6,580 tests for the novel coronavirus have been conducted as part of the pilot project. Of those tests, 146 came back positive and of those positive results, four have been screened as potential U.K. variant and will undergo further investigation.\nThe test positivity rate for the project is about 2.26 per cent.\nThe program, which launched on Jan. 6, offers voluntary testing for COVID-19 to any international travellers staying in Ontario for at least 14 days. Participants receive their test results within 24 to 48 hours.\nRecent data shows that 1.8 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in Ontario are related to international travel, the province said Tuesday.\nThe first case of the U.K. variant in Ontario was confirmed last month and was due to international travel, the government has said.\nAmid other new variants being detected globally, Ford said he is calling on the feds to implement mandatory testing for all travellers arriving from outside the country and impose a temporary ban on direct flights from countries where new strains of COVID-19 are found, including Brazil and Portugal.\n“It’s absolutely critical to protect our borders,” he said.\n“This is simple folks, no politics, no nothing, you land in Toronto, or other areas, you have to be tested, simple as that. We aren’t the first country to require this and we won’t be the last. So, again, I can’t figure out for the life of me why we aren’t testing every single person that comes through this airport, in Ottawa as well, and land crossings, we have to lockdown.”\nEarlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said new measures will be announced in the coming days.\n“One just has to remember that we are reliant on supply chains from around the world for foods, for goods, for essential medications and we do not want measures that we are brining in to further restrict non-essential travel, to have an impact on those essential supply chains,” Trudeau said.\n“That is why we’re working very carefully and very diligently on the new measures we will be bringing forward in the coming days to make sure we are further discouraging non-essential travel, that we are further keeping Canadians safe, but we are not brining in hardship around our supply lines.”\nAccording to the federal government, at least 156 flights have landed in Canada between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 that had passengers who tested positive for the novel coronavirus after arriving in the country. Of the flights, 76 landed in Toronto.\nThere were also 70 domestic flights that had a passenger later test positive for the disease.\nThe Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, with the latest extension set to expire on Feb. 21. Travellers must show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their travel date and must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.\nU.S. President Joe Biden is expected to impose a ban starting Saturday on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa in a bid to contact the spread of a COVID-19 variant found there.\nHe is also reimposing an entry ban on nearly all non-U.S. travellers who have been in Brazil, the U.K. and Ireland, as well as 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders.", "Premier Doug Ford calls on feds to impose temporary ban on direct flights from countries with new COVID-19 strains", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to take further action when it comes to border control, pushing for mandatory COVID-19 testing and a temporary ban on direct flights from countries where new strains of the disease have been found." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T15:30:53"

"2021-01-30T10:16:00"

"2021-01-30T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario has recorded more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases and 73 more deaths.\nOn Saturday, provincial health officials logged 2,063 novel coronavirus infections, marking a slight increase from the 1,837 cases recorded on Friday.\nBefore that, there were 2,093 cases logged on Thursday, 1,670 on Wednesday and 1,740 on Tuesday.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of cases recorded is now 1,968.\nThere were 59,594 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period.\nThe province’s test positive rate now stands at about 3.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health.\nOf the new cases logged Saturday, 713 are in Toronto, 379 are in Peel Region and 178 are in York Region.\nSaturday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 266,363, including deaths and recoveries. The province’s death toll is now 6,145.\nThis is a breaking news story. More details to come.", "Ontario logs more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases, 73 more deaths", "Ontario has recorded more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases and 73 more deaths." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T15:34:25"

"2021-01-08T07:32:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Advance polls open today in a by-election being held to choose a new local councillor for Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt following the ouster of Jim Karygiannis.\nKarygiannis was removed from office halfway through his second council term over campaign expenses from the 2018 election.\nIn council’s previous term, the area was represented by Karygiannis and former councillor Norm Kelly.\nVoters heading to the polls today have a wide range of choices, with 27 registered candidates and no incumbent.\nWhile there are too many candidates to examine in detail, many have provided links to their online platforms and community group Scarborough Civic Action Network filmed interviews with more than half of them.\nA diverse, fast-growing area\nWhoever wins will represent a diverse and fast-growing part of the city.\nThere are 105,000 residents in the ward, according to 2016 census records. The ward was about half the size prior to 2018 when the Ford government used its power to redraw local ward boundaries in Toronto, cutting council in half.\nThe current amalgamated ward is bounded by Highway 401 to the south, Steeles Avenue to the north, Victoria Park to the west and Midland Avenue to the east.\nThe fast-growing area is more densely populated than average for Toronto and saw population growth of 9.1 per cent (compared to a city average of 1.2 per cent) between 2006 and 2016.\nAbout 68,620 residents (around 70 per cent of the ward) are first-generation immigrants, with most having arrived since the 90s. Immigrants from China and Hong Kong account for about a third of the ward’s population.\nMore than 80 per cent belong to a visible minority.\nA glance at the candidates’ various platforms give a sense of some of the issues that matter most to voters. Among them are transit, affordability, road and school safety, the Sheppard subway extension, the effects of COVID-19 on the community and rebuilding from the pandemic.\nHealth measures in place for voting\nA number of measures are in place to prevent infection as voters head to the polls. They include physical distancing, line control, capacity limits and masking.\nResidents are also being encouraged to vote during non-peak times if possible, with voting expected to be busiest from 5 p.m. to closing.\nAdvance Polls open today and will be open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Jan. 10. Election Day is Jan. 15.\nRegistration for mail-in voting closed on Jan. 4. Those sending ballots by mail have to make sure their voting package is received by the city by 6 p.m. on Jan. 15.\nMore information about where and how to vote can be found on the city’s website.", "Scarborough-Agincourt byelection: Advance polls open Friday", "Advance polls open today in a by-election being held to choose a new local councillor for Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt following the ouster of Jim Karygiannis." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T15:55:58"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- A male victim is in hospital after he was shot in Toronto’s Corso Italia neighbourhood on New Year’s Day.\nPolice said they were called to Dufferin Street and St. Clair Avenue West sometime after midnight for reports that someone was shot.\nThey found shell casings, but no victim at the scene.\nA short time later, the victim showed up a hospital in the city requiring treatment for unknown injuries.\nAnyone with information is asked to call 13 Division at 416-808-1300.", "One person injured in Toronto shooting on New Year's Day", "A male victim is in hospital after he was shot in Toronto’s Corso Italia neighbourhood on New Year’s Day." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T15:30:59"

"2021-01-27T10:16:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario have dropped to levels unseen in more than two months with fewer than 1,700 infections reported Wednesday.\nThe 1,670 new cases are down from the 1,740 reported by the province a day earlier.\nMoreover, case growth in Ontario appears to be trending downward in recent days with 1,958 infections logged on Monday and 2,417 on Sunday.\nThe province's seven-day average for number of cases reported is 2,205. That number was as high as 2,849 one week ago today. Two weeks ago, that number reached 3,479.\nWednesday’s data marks the lowest daily case number reported in Ontario since Nov. 26, when 1,478 infections were added.\nThe province’s COVID-19 case total now stands at 260,370, including deaths and recoveries.\nForty-nine of those deaths occurred in the last 24 hours, and at least 25 involved residents of a long-term care home, pushing Ontario’s death toll to 5,958.\nAnother 2,725 cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health. Since the pandemic began, 232,480 people previously infected with the novel coronavirus have recovered.\nAnd with 55,191 tests processed in the previous day, the province's COVID-19 positivity rate is at 4 per cent. There are currently 21,932 active cases of COVID-19 in Ontario.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come.", "Ontario records lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in more than two months with fewer than 1,700 infections", "COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario have dropped to levels unseen in more than two months with fewer than 1,700 infections reported Wednesday." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T00:07:42"

"2021-01-26T18:49:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Impaired driving charges have dropped across the Greater Toronto Area since the pandemic began beyond what would be in line with the reduced traffic on the roads, according to figures reviewed by CTV News Toronto.\nIt’s not entirely clear why, though possible explanations range from genuinely safer streets thanks to a stay-at-home order that discourages visits to bars and restaurants, to challenges prosecuting impaired driving charges in a pandemic.\n“More and more people are staying home and can consume at home, which is certainly a factor that points to a reduction in impaired driving,” Peel police Const. Akhil Mooken said.\nMooken said officers have donned masks and personal protective equipment for their R.I.D.E. checkstops, and altered the way they approach potentially impaired drivers to avoid exposure.\n“Certainly the pandemic and the concerns surrounding COVID-19 have changed how officers conduct business, especially when trying to detect the odor of alcoholic breath on someone. Really, that’s not feasible anymore,” he said.\nAccording to figures released by Peel police, officers stopped 24,334 people in December 2020 R.I.D.E. stop – about 15 per cent fewer than 2019.\nBut impaired driving charges dropped some 36 per cent to 33, and excess blood alcohol charges dropped about 35 per cent to 83 – proportionally, a bigger drop.\nOver in Durham Region, the effect was more pronounced: officers stopped 8,464 cars in December 2020, down about 56 per cent from the same month in 2019. The number of breath tests they administered dropped 77 per cent to 175.\nIn Toronto, the number of checkpoints actually increased by about 12 per cent. But the force made almost 30 per cent fewer arrests.\nIt could be hopeful news, said Andrew Murie of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. But he worried that it’s a sign that police aren’t using mandatory roadside screening as much as they could – because it would put them in close contact with a driver.\n“We started to see an upsurge in roadside screening and COVID sent that spiral going the other way,” Murie said.\nDefence lawyer Calvin Barry told CTV News Toronto he believes one factor could be the recent directive by the provincial government to reduce a court backlog by reducing some impaired charges to Highway Traffic Act violations if there is no death, crash or injury.\n“If they know a lot of those matters are not going to court and there’s no ‘oomph’ they’re finding they’re reluctant to lay charges in this environment,” he said.\nMooken said Peel police are regularly using the roadside screening device, and officers see a reduction in the number of charges as still as sign there is more work to do.\n“We will continue to be out there. We do have a commitment to road safety. We want to know that roads are safe,” he said.", "Impaired driving charges have dropped across the Greater Toronto Area since the pandemic began", "Impaired driving charges have dropped across the Greater Toronto Area since the pandemic began beyond what would be in line with the reduced traffic on the roads, according to figures reviewed by CTV News Toronto." ]

[ "John Chidley-Hill" ]

"2021-01-21T13:38:13"

"2021-01-21T07:33:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario's plan to vaccinate the populations of its most remote First Nations communities against COVID-19 faces many challenges, but Indigenous leaders say that earning the trust of the people must be a priority.\nGrand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political organization that represents 49 of Ontario's 123 First Nations, said that the most obvious hurdle of Operation Remote Immunity is geography, as those remote communities may not have an airstrip and must have their winter roads built in time for the vaccine to be delivered. But he said that even more important than the physical logistics of delivering the vaccine is ensuring that Indigenous people are willing to accept it.\n\"Making sure that communities are aware of the vaccine, that they understand the vaccine and why it's important so they can consent to getting the vaccine is part of the challenge,\" said Fiddler.\nAll 31 remote First Nations that are participating in Operation Remote Immunity are part of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, so Fiddler and his staff have been working with Ontario's vaccine task force as a liaison between the individual communities and the government.\nCommunication has had to flow both ways before the vaccines start arriving on Feb. 1.\n\"We're creating material for distribution with our health authorities, creating pamphlets and social media, making sure everything is translated into Ojibway, Ojicree and Cree,\" said Fiddler. \"So our elders can really understand the information that's being sent to them.\n\"Once they do understand it they can give it serious consideration before giving their consent.\"\nFiddler said that making sure everyone understands what's in the vaccine and why it's important to take it is necessary for First Nations people who are living with the trauma of Canada's colonial history.\n\"It's not just the vaccine itself, it's the whole history of the sad, sometimes tragic past of health care and how it's been delivered in our communities,\" said Fiddler, adding that historically there has been a two-tiered system where Indigenous people received inferior health care.\n\"That's what we're up against. It's a massive undertaking and it's a challenge we know that we have to address as part of this rollout.\"\nOntario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald, who is on the province's vaccine task force, said she was also aware of some reluctance by First Nations people to take the vaccine. She pointed to a history of medical experiments being performed on Indigenous people from the 1930s to the 1970s.\n\"We do know that in the past vaccines were tested in First Nations communities,\" said Archibald, who added there is no mechanism for polling First Nations populations about things like vaccine hesitancy.\n\"The trauma and experiences from residential schools have left our communities in a state of hesitancy when it comes to trusting Canada.\"\nA spokesman for Ontario's Ministry of Indigenous Affairs said that the administration of vaccines has already begun in Ontario's larger First Nations communities, starting with long-term care homes in Six Nations of the Grand River, Mohawks of Akwesasne, Oneida Nations of the Thames, and Wikwemikong Unceded Territory.\nVaccinations have also begun at the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, with a focus on hospital and long-term care and chronic care staff and residents.\nSpokesman Alex Puddifant said Ornge, the province's air ambulance corporation, is leading the operations for the 31 fly-in First Nation communities, transporting the vaccine from hub cities in Northern Ontario to the reserves. Partner organizations including, Northern School of Ontario Medicine and Queens University, will help provide nurses and paramedics to administer the doses.\nFiddler said that NAN is playing a supporting role, ensuring that communities are ready when the vaccines arrive with interpreters, drivers, and a co-ordinator to make sure that all of the residents in a territory consent to the vaccination and receive their dose.\nDr. Sarita Verma, the dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, said that she and her team know they'll have to build trust with patients who are, or are directly related to, residential school survivors.\n\"Taking a patient-centred approach that's different in Northern Ontario with First Nations communities will be important,\" said Verma.\nIndigenous Services Canada reported on Tuesday that there were 428 active cases of COVID-19 among Ontario's First Nations.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021.", "Consent at heart of Ontario's vaccination plan for remote First Nations communities", "Ontario's plan to vaccinate the populations of its most remote First Nations communities against COVID-19 faces many challenges, but Indigenous leaders say that earning the trust of the people must be a priority." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T19:43:30"

"2021-01-04T12:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario’s New Democratic Party is calling on the Progressive Conservative government to restart the legislature immediately in order to address the deadly COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes.\nNDP Leader Andrea Horwath made the request formally in a news release sent on Monday, asking members of provincial parliament to return to Queen’s Park despite the two-month winter break that started in early December.\n“Long-term care homes are in a humanitarian crisis. Seniors are being forced to cry out to beg for food and water, while they’re left vulnerable to deadly infection,” Horwath said in her statement.\n“All MPPs need to return to the legislature. We are facing a longer, deeper lockdown because [Premier] Doug Ford keeps choosing to do too little too late.”\nOntario reported 3,200 new cases of COVID-19 and 29 more deaths related to the disease. There are currently outbreaks at 233 long-term care homes. More than 1,160 residents and more than 1,140 staff at the homes are infected.\nMPPs are slated to return to Queen’s Park for a new session on Feb. 16, but Horwath said there are “concrete actions” the legislature can take now that could help slow down the spread of the virus and save lives.\nShe echoed the requests from families of some long-term care residents, who have called on the province repeatedly to bring the military into nursing homes dealing with mass outbreaks.\nScarborough’s Tendercare Living Centre, which is struggling amid a deadly COVID-19 outbreak, has had protesters outside its facilities on numerous occasions for days demanding better care for their family members and military support.\nDuring the first wave of the pandemic, the Ontario government brought the military into several long-term care homes, a move that helped save lives and stabilized facilities facing large numbers of infections and deaths.\nThe Official Opposition also requested that the legislature return to make decisions on unspent COVID-19 funds, including recent federal funding for Red Cross deployments.\nIn addition, Horwath has called on the government to overhaul the current “lethargic” COVID-19 vaccine program in order to quicken the process.\n“The province is lagging far behind the country on vaccinations, and doesn’t appear to have a plan to ramp up,” she said. “Doug Ford has been resistant to spending, and resistant to action.\n“The suffering, the loss and the anguish doesn’t have to continue on this scale if we make different choices.”\nCTV News Toronto reached out to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office about the NDP's request on Monday, but has not yet received a response on whether or not the legislature return date will change.", "Ontario's NDP calls for immediate return of legislature to address deadly outbreaks at long-term care homes", "Ontario’s New Democratic Party is calling on the Progressive Conservative government to restart the legislature immediately in order to address the deadly COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T04:18:04"

"2020-12-31T20:02:00"

"2020-12-31T00:00:00"

[ "TAMPA, FLA -- The Toronto Raptors finally have their first victory of the season, putting an end to their worst start in 15 years.\nFred VanVleet had 25 points, while Kyle Lowry had 20 and the Raptors pulled away to beat the New York Knicks 100-83 on Thursday.\nOn a night coach Nick Nurse benched all-star Pascal Siakam reportedly for disciplinary reasons, Norman Powell started in his place to finish with 17 points and Alex Len had 11 off the bench.\nJulius Randle and Kevin Knox had 16 points apiece to top the Knicks. RJ Barrett, one of 18 Canadians on NBA opening-night rosters, had a tough night. The sophomore from Mississauga, Ont., who's averaging 16.3 points a night, had 12 and eight rebounds.\nThe Raptors went winless in their first three games -- collapsing down the stretch in each loss to the angst of Raptors fans -- going 0-3 for just the second time in franchise history. They pointed to the new look roster and the shortened pre-season as causes.\nBut on Thursday, the Raptors --finally -- played with the confidence and late-game toughness that they've made their cornerstone the past few seasons, to pull away and win, ending 2020 on a high note.\nToronto saw an early 11-point lead disappear at Amalie Arena, but battled back in the third and when VanVleet connected on a pair of free throws late in the frame, the Raptors went back up by eight. A three-pointer by Len sent the Raptors into the fourth up 71-64.\nLowry found Chris Boucher under the net for a dunk, then VanVleet nailed a three-pointer to cap an 11-0 run and the Raptors were up by 11 with 5:27 to play. A Raptors steal led to a VanVleet bucket with 2:58 to go, and Nurse subbed in five bench players to close out the win.\nSiakam, who watched the game in street clothes, was reportedly benched for his unsportsmanlike behaviour at the end of the Tuesday's loss at Philadelphia. Siakam fouled out in the dying seconds, and angrily made a beeline for the locker-room. After a solid start to the game, he fizzled in the second half -- an issue in all three of his games this season.\nSiakam wasn't the only Raptor that had been feeling frustration.\n\"It's definitely tension in the locker-room,\" Len said after the morning shootaround. \"Nobody likes losing. Right now, we're trying to figure it out, get in the right direction, trying to swing the momentum.\"\nPowell got the start in Siakam's place and set an energetic tone early. He scored on a driving layup a minute into the game and had seven points in the first quarter. The Raptors led by as many as 11 points and took a 22-18 lead into the second quarter.\nBarrett dribbled around Aron Baynes and Terence Davis to slice the Raptors' lead to a point midway through the second. A fadeaway jumper from Julius Randle gave the Knicks the lead, but OG Anunoby's put back dunk tied the 42-42 at the halftime break.\nThe Raptors are at New Orleans on Saturday.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2020.", "VanVleet, Lowry combine for 45 points to earn Raptors first win of season", "The Toronto Raptors finally have their first victory of the season, putting an end to their worst start in 15 years." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T15:44:57"

"2021-01-08T10:10:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario has shattered a COVID-19 record as health officials logged more than 4,200 cases on Friday, citing a data backlog that accounts for about 450 of the new infections.\nAs the first week of 2021 comes to an end, the province recorded 4,249 novel coronavirus infections and confirmed 26 more deaths related to the disease.\nAccording to the Ministry of Health, there was a data upload delay at Toronto Public Health and therefore approximately 450 additional cases were included in Friday’s count. These cases were primarily from Jan. 5 and 6.\nIf those 450 cases were removed from Friday’s total there would still be 3,799 new infections logged, which is a record for the province.\nThe province saw daily case counts climb above the 3,000 mark over the past four days with a previous record of 3,519 infections logged on Thursday.\nThere were 3,266 cases of the disease recorded on Jan. 6 and 3,128 on Jan. 5.\nThe province’s seven-day average for number of cases recorded is now 3,394, up from 2,480 one week ago.\nThere were 71,481 COVID-19 tests completed in the province in the last-recorded 24-hour period.\nThe province’s test positivity rate now stands at about 6.2 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health.\nOf the new infections logged on Friday, 1,382 are in Toronto, 691 are in Peel Region, 427 are in York Region, 213 are in Niagara, 154 are in Ottawa, 170 are in Durham Region, 184 are in Windsor-Essex, 176 are in Hamilton, 134 are in Halton Region, and 147 are in Waterloo Region.\nOther areas that recorded more than 50 cases of the disease on Friday include Simcoe Muskoka (75), Lambton (56) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (85).\nFriday’s case count brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 208,394, including deaths and recoveries.\nWith the 26 new deaths confirmed by health officials on Friday, the province’s death toll is now 4,882. Of the new deaths, 15 were residents of long-term care homes.\nAccording to the province, there are at least 1,446 patients infected with COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals.\nOf those patients, 369 are in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 250 of those 369 patients are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nOn Friday, health officials deemed 2,738 more cases of the disease to be resolved, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 175,309.\nThere are currently 28,203 active cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario.\nIn an effort to help curb the spread of the disease, all of Ontario is currently under lockdown until Jan. 25.\nThus far, 87,563 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario, including 14,932 doses administered in the previous day. The vaccine requires two doses. In Ontario, 4,053 total vaccinations have been completed as of Friday.", "Ontario shatters COVID-19 record with more than 4,200 new cases, cites data backlog", "Ontario has shattered a COVID-19 record as health officials logged more than 4,200 cases on Friday, citing a data backlog that accounts for about 450 of the new infections." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T00:07:04"

"2021-01-06T18:20:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- At the height of the pandemic, insurance companies promised $1 billion in relief to drivers but new statistics show that rates still went up.\nAccording to Ratesdot.ca, the average Ontario auto insurance premium in December 2018 was $1,473. In December 2020, it rose to $1,616. That’s an increase in two years of 9.7 per cent.\n\"The cost of car insurance in the Greater Toronto Area remains the highest in the province,\" Liam Lahey with Ratesdot.ca told CTV News Toronto.\nThe most expensive city to own a car remains Brampton, where the average premium is $2,698. The four most expensive cities after that in order are Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.\nThe cheapest place to own a car in Ontario is in Kingston, Nappanee, Port Hope, Cobourg and Brockville, which all have average annual premiums of $1,103.\nWhile Brampton remains the most expensive city in Ontario to own a vehicle, the four most expensive postal codes to own a car are in Scarborough, where the average premium is $3,000 a year.\nThe rates quoted in the statistics are for a 35 year old, with a good driving record owning a 2017 Honda Civic.\nThe Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, which represents accident victims, said the insurance system needs to be more transparent so it's clear just how much profit is being made.\n“We know that due to COVID collisions are down, traffic is down and yet rates continue to climb,\" Kris Bonn, president elect for the Ontario Trail Lawyers Association, said.\n“It's another example of insurance companies taking advantage of the system to increase the rates of regular drivers while also reducing the payout for innocent injured accident victims,” Bonn said.\nAuto theft, fraud and the high cost to replace and repair vehicles are also driving up costs.\nLahey with Ratesdot.ca said if you feel you're paying too much for insurance it makes sense to shop around.\n“Whether your auto policy is up soon or you don't like the rates your paying checking ratesdot.ca and compare. You may be able to find a lower rate,” Lahey said.\nThe rates quoted in the statistics are the average premiums for a good driver, so anyone who has had an accident or tickets could be paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more.", "The list of most expensive places in Ontario for car insurance has been revealed", "At the height of the pandemic, insurance companies promised $1 billion in relief to drivers but new statistics show that rates still went up." ]

[]

"2021-01-19T23:18:23"

"2021-01-19T16:40:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Dog walking services are allowed to operate across the province right now despite confusion among pet owners.\nOn Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed to CP24 that dog walkers are indeed permitted to work while a provincewide stay-at-home order is in effect and southern Ontario remains under lockdown.\n“Pet walkers are permitted to operate under O. Reg. 82/20 - for services that are necessary for the immediate health and welfare of the animal only, or provided through curb side pick-up and drop-off of the animal,” states the Reopening Ontario Act.\nThe clarification comes after a growing petition surfaced online calling on the Ford government to make dog walking services essential.\nNicola Smith started the petition a week ago and said it would be cruel not to let high-energy dogs and puppies outside for walking breaks if their owners are unable to.\n“If you have one dog walker that has four dogs or five dogs, whatever the company restrictions are, that’s four less people on the streets so we’re helping,” Nicola Smith told CP24.\nAs of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had more than 5,000 signatures.\nOntario entered a provincewide lockdown on Dec. 26, 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The lockdown ended for northern Ontario on Jan. 9 but continues for Southern Ontario until at least Jan. 23. While in lockdown, non-essential services are forced to closed including gyms, movie theatres and indoor dining at resaturants.\nUnder the Reopening Ontario Act, it states that veterinary services are permited along with \"other businesses that provide services to animals that are necessary for their health and welfare, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities.\" The act did not specfically say if dog walkers were allowed.\nWith cases, hospitalizations and deaths still on the rise, the government also implemented a provincewide stay-at-home order The order came into effect on Jan.14 for at least 28 days.\nUnder the order, Ontarians are encouraged to stay home unless they need to go out for essential reasons, including getting groceries, medical appointments and exercising.\nOn Tuesday, the province logged 1,913 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest number of infections reported in a single day in Ontario in over a month. However, only 34,000 tests were processed in the past 24 hours and the province said the numbers from Toronto Public Health are likely low due to a technical issue.", "Dog walkers are allowed to work under Ontario lockdown", "Dog walking services are allowed to operate across the province right now despite confusion among pet owners." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T00:13:27"

"2021-01-29T18:39:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Online shopping in Canada more than doubled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one item people love to buy but can’t seem to get the right fit is shoes.\nNormally when you buy shoes, you go to a store and try on several pairs trying to find a comfortable fit. Now, due to the pandemic retailers are closed and people are buying shoes online.\nMany shoppers are currently ordering several pairs at once, seeing what fits and sending the ones that don't back.\nToronto resident James McVicar told CTV News Toronto that’s what he does.\n“I normally order either a size 9 or 9 1/2 or if there are no half sizes I order a size 9 and 10 and return whichever one doesn't fit,\" McVicar said.\nIt’s a hassle for the customer and the store and so a Toronto start-up company created an app called the Xesto Fit which is helping online shoppers get the perfect fit every time.\nCEO and co-founder Sophie Howe says the app started as a research project at the faculty of applied science and engineering at the University of Toronto three years ago and launched as an app in November of last year.\n“The shopper will take five photos of both of their feet and create a 3D model of their foot,\" Howe said.\nThe Xesto Fit app uses an IPhone's true depth camera to accurately measure the size of your feet. With an iPhone 10, 11 or 12 you take photos from various angles and it calculates the proper size within one and a half millimeters.\nThere is a data base of 150 shoe brands it compares your foot to and it can make a size recommendation.\nThe app is free for consumers and the company is working with shoe retailers and hopes to incorporate the app into their websites.\nHowe says if a customer uses the technology to get the correct size online, the retailer would pay Xesto Fit a small fee. It could be worth it for retailers who would then have to deal with fewer returns.\n“What we are doing is incorporating it into a companies website and charging them on a recommendation basis. It will always be free for consumers\" said Howe.\nThe Xesto Fit app is already being downloaded and used around the world and 10,000 people have tried it to get the correct size of their feet and a comfortable pair of shoes.\nMcVicar said he tried the app and had success getting the right sizes for two pairs of shoes.\n“I ordered a pair of Asics running shoes size 9 ½ and they fit perfectly no issues. I then got a pair of Birkenstocks and I had to order a size down based on the recommendation of the app,\" McVicar said.", "Free app helps people find the perfect sized shoes for their feet", "Online shopping in Canada more than doubled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one item people love to buy but can’t seem to get the right fit is shoes." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T14:11:12"

"2021-01-29T06:28:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Four people are dead following a 3-alarm fire involving at least two houses in the Toronto’s east end Friday morning.\nShortly before 5 a.m., fire crews responded to a structure fire at a home at 95 Gainsborough Road, near Coxwell Avenue and Eastwood Road.\nThe second floor of the house was fully engulfed.\nThe fire jumped to one neighbouring home and houses on both sides of the initial fire were evacuated.\nOne occupant of the home was seen exiting through a window, Toronto Fire Services District Chief Stephan Powell told CP24.\nSix occupants were removed from the home and four were pronounced deceased, Toronto Fire Services Deputy Chief Jim Jessop said from the scene.\nThe victims have not been identified.\nTwo people were sent to hospital with unknown conditions, Jessop said.\nAll victims were removed from the initial house fire.\nA number of firefighters were also injured at the scene.\n\"Their injures are non-critical and non-life threatening. I have spoken to them and I expect them back to duty in the coming weeks,\" Jessop said.\nThe cause of the fire is unknown and the Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified.\n\"This was a significant fire. The conditions that the women and men of Toronto Fire that entered that building and are still going and conducting primary and secondary searches now were extreme. The fire was venting out, it was free burning,\" Jessop said.\nThe fire has since been knocked down.\nPowell said the cold weather conditions made it difficult to put out the blaze.\n\"Cold weather is always an issue fighting fires. Water and some freezing temperatures make very slippery working conditions. Wind, it was quite windy this morning, helps to fuel fire. So the conditions are quite tough for our firefighters,\" he said.\nToronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg tweeted his condolences \"to family, friends and all those impacted by the tragic fatal fire.\"\nA TTC bus is at the scene to provide shelter for community members.", "Four people dead, several injured after 3-alarm house fire in Toronto's east end", "Four people are dead following a 3-alarm fire involving at least two houses in the Toronto’s east end Friday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T17:34:59"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford will 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 announces new COVID-19 lockdown restrictions", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford will 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." ]

[]

"2021-01-28T19:04:02"

"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's COVID-19 bylaws should be extended into June, top health official says", "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." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T22:28:34"

"2021-01-18T16:33:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Patients with the greatest chance of survival beyond 12 months should be prioritized for critical care in the event that overwhelmed Ontario hospitals need to begin rationing life-saving treatments, the provincial government said in a document sent to hospitals earlier this month.\nThe province’s triage protocol guidance states that patients should be assessed and placed in a colour-coded framework based on their risk of short-term mortality, which is defined as survival beyond 12 months after the onset of critical illness.\n“In the context of a major surge in demand for critical care resources, where the demand actually exceeds the number who can be safely managed with available resources (including ventilators, supplies and trained staff), it is inevitable that some who may have otherwise benefited from critical care will not receive it, and as a result, some will die who would otherwise have lived,” reads the province’s triage protocol document, dated Jan. 13, 2021.\n“In such a context, an emergency standard of care is appropriate in order to mitigate the worst effects of this surge. This document represents an emergency standard of care that aims to reduce preventable deaths to the degree possible.”\nAccording to the document, patients with a short-term mortality risk of 80 to 99 per cent should be labelled “red,” those with a 50 to 79 per cent risk should be labelled “purple.” Those with a short-term mortality risk of 30 to 49 should be categorized as “yellow” and patients with a risk of 1 to 29 should be labelled “green.”\nThe province states that in a “level 1 triage scenario,” patients who have a greater than 20 per cent chance of surviving twelve months should be prioritized and in a “level 2 scenario,” those with a greater than 50 per cent chance should be prioritized for care.\n“Under a Level 2 triage, the hospital and regional authorities should continue to coordinate transportation of patients and resources to optimize the utilization of all critical care resources before initiating a level 3 triage,” the document reads.\nIn a “level 3 triage scenario,” those with a greater than 70 per cent chance of surviving 12 months should be prioritized for critical care.\n“At level 3 triage patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest will be deprioritized for critical care, as their predicted mortality is greater than 30 (per cent). Thus, Code Blue may no longer be called for cardiac arrest, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests may not be transferred to hospitals in Level 3 triage,” the document states.\nAll patients being considered for critical care treatment must be assessed by two physicians and if a consensus about the patient’s mortality risk is not reached, the more optimistic prognosis will be selected.\n“If demand for critical care continues to exceed available resources at Level 3, there may be little clinical evidence to guide triage decisions on the basis of predicted short term mortality. As a result, triage decisions must appeal to procedural fairness,” the document concludes.\n“If triage decisions must be made between multiple patients who cannot be distinguished on the basis of predicted short term mortality, a system of random selection among eligible and not-yet-admitted patients should be implemented by an administrator on call.”\nPatients should be assessed “on an ongoing basis,” according to the document.\n“ICU physicians should also reassess patients admitted to ICU at regular intervals, and consider withdrawal of life support through a shared decision-making process with SDMs (substitute decision-makers) if a patient does not appear to be improving despite receiving critical care,” the document continues.\nThe province has not said at what point hospitals will have to implement the triage protocol but speaking to CP24 last week, Dr. Michael Warner, the medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital, said with around 400 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units around the province, that day could soon be coming.\n\"Once we get to the 550 number, which we will exceed for sure, that is where a potential triage protocol could be implemented whereby patients who are more likely to survive their COVID-19 or other illness will be given life support preferentially over others if those resources are not available for everybody,\" he said.\nThe chair of the province’s science table said last week that about 25 per cent of all Ontario hospitals have no available ICU beds while another 25 per cent only have one or two remaining.\nThe province’s latest modelling released last Tuesday indicated that with three per cent case growth, Ontario hospitals could see 1,000 COVID-19 patients in intensive care by early February.\nIt should be noted that over the past week, COVID-19 case growth in Ontario has significantly slowed.\n“We are at a dangerous point,” epidemiologist Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s COVID-19 science table, said while releasing the modelling last week.\n\"As we climb closer to 1,000 intensive care beds, about half of our capacity filled with COVID-19 patients in February, we will have to confront choices that no doctor ever wants to make and no family ever wants to hear.”\nOntario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath accused the Ford government of keeping the triage protocol document “secret.”\n“This document shows us all that we are on the path to heart-wrenching choices and devastating loss if we don’t make this lockdown count with stronger measures — paid sick days, more help in long-term care, and in-workplace and in-school testing,” Horwath said in a written statement released Monday.\n“People that are loved dearly — people that need medical help the most — could be left to die if we do not make the choice to throw everything we’ve got at this virus.”\nThe Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODA Alliance) also released a statement on Monday, outlining “dire concerns” they have about the protocol’s impact on those living with disabilities.\nThe group said setting a patient’s 12-month likely survival as the benchmark risks further discrimination against those living with disabilities.\n“People with disabilities have been disproportionately exposed to the risk of getting COVID-19, and of suffering its most serious impacts,” David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, said in a written statement.\n“Compounding this cruel reality, this secret document shows that some patients with disabilities now risk being de-prioritized in access to life-saving critical care that they will disproportionately need if Ontario hospitals, now near the breaking point, cannot provide life-saving critical medical care to all patients needing it.”\nThe document sent to hospitals stresses the need to consider Ontario’s Human Rights Code when considering decisions on prioritizing care.\nSpeaking about the triage guidance at a news conference on Monday, Dr. David Williams, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said provincial officials hope that the protocol never has to be implemented.\n“You don’t want to think of it in the heat of it, you want to lay these things out ahead of time. So I think they’ve done that with the hope of saying, we hope to never have to use this,” Williams said.\n“I think that they are moving it around to look at because you want to have all of the different ones weigh in with their commentary... It’s hard to get a group of doctors in a room together to agree on everything and it is better if you socialize that and get the input and the collective knowledge and wisdom in a worse-case scenario hoping that it’s not something you are going to pull off the shelf.”\nHe said the province remains in a “precarious” position when it comes to ICU capacity.\n“That is just one of the many things that is being done throughout the whole sector to prepare for... different scenarios that we are going to have to face as now our ICU beds are over that 400,” he said.\nHe noted that the province hopes to eventually bring the number of COVID-19 patients in ICU down below 150.\n“That’s where the modellers said we could get back to doing all of the other procedures at the same time. That is a target to head for. I think we can get there,” he said.\n“But it’s uncertain... we are plateauing but that doesn’t mean we can’t jump up again because places like the UK, and others, plateaued and then went up very rapidly when the UK variant took off.”", "Ontario patients to be ranked for life-saving care should ICUs become full, documents show", "Patients with the greatest chance of survival beyond 12 months should be prioritized for critical care in the event that overwhelmed Ontario hospitals need to begin rationing life-saving treatments, the provincial government said in a document sent to hospitals earlier this month." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T20:36:57"

"2021-01-27T12:21:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police are looking for a woman they say was involved in a hate-motivated incident near Yonge-Dundas Square last year.\nPolice say officers responded to a call for an assault near Yonge and Dundas streets on Nov. 14 at approximately 11:30 a.m.\nIn a news release, police said a 48-year-old man and his friend were in the area when they were approached by an unknown woman.\nThe woman yelled at the 48-year-old man and punched him in the head “a number of times,” police allege.\nShe then grabbed a religious item from the man’s hand causing it to fall and break, police said.\nShe is described by police as standing five-foot-seven inches tall with long dark hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a green winter jacket, black tights, a black sweater and a maroon toque.\nA photo of the suspect was released by police Wednesday in hopes of identifying her.\nPolice say that when suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to the police, the investigation will be led by a divisional investigator.\n“The Hate Crime Unit will be made aware and specialized officers from that unit will support the investigation as needed,” the release reads.\nIf it is alleged that a criminal offence was committed and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, police say that the officer in-charge will consult with the Crown.\n“If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.”\nAnyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.", "Woman sought by Toronto police in 'hate-motivated' assault near Yonge-Dundas Square", "Toronto police are looking for a woman they say was involved in a hate-motivated incident near Yonge-Dundas Square last year." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T03:19:12"

"2021-01-14T19:48:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) has reinstated a website to its resource page following criticism from some members of the LGBTQ+ community.\nOn Monday, the executive director of LGBT Youth Line issued a statement saying the TCDSB had removed the organization’s website from its online list of resources for students.\nFollowing a meeting with the TCDSB trustee on Wednesday, Berkha Gupta said the school board amended its decision.\nLGBT Youth Line has been active for 25 years and aims to support youth who may feel isolated about their sexuality.\nThe organization’s website was originally removed from the TCDSB’s list after Gupta received an email from the school board saying there was a section that included “inappropriate material.”\nGupta said “the link is about sexual health information,” adding “my assumption is that it’s related to the sexual content or the level of knowledge that is being given around sexual relationships.”\nThe email also linked out to a publication called Coririere Canadese, with an article written by Joe Volpe.\nThe article says LGBT Youth Line “is a smut site” and that “It is a recruitment site operated by a self-professed LGBTQ+ umbrella organization to attract children that operates province-wide.”\nGupta said \"yes, we recruit youth all year round to develop skills, strengthen their sense of self, and become peer leaders in their communities, but I think that Joe was going for something else there.\"\nOn Tuesday, a spokesperson for the TCDSB said they had known about the content since the Christmas break and wanted to open a conversation.\n\"We wanted an opportunity to connect with staff about the content and so it was removed in order for us to have that conversation,\" Shazia Vlahos, communications director for the TCDSB, said.\nFollowing that conversation and the reinstatement of the organization’s website to the TCDSB’s list of resources, Gupta said “these are great starting points” but more needs to be done.\n“This last week highlighted major gaps in supports for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Catholic schools across Ontario,” Gupta said. “Unfortunately, it often takes a negative moment like this to shed light and gain momentum to fix gaps in support.”\nOn Thursday, Vlahos reiterated that staff at the TCDSB “wanted an opportunity to connect with Youth Line to better understand their resources.”\n“Following a meeting that took place yesterday with Youth Line the link was reposted and further engagement with Youth Line will continue to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ students.”", "Toronto's Catholic school board reinstates LGBTQ+ website to resource page following criticism", "The Toronto Catholic District School Board has reinstated a website to its resource page following criticism from some members of the LGBTQ+ community." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T16:25:16"

"2021-01-22T08:04:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Refocusing Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine rollout to prioritize long-term care residents would prevent a projected 115 deaths and hundreds more cases, a new report says.\nThe brief published Thursday from experts advising the government on COVID-19 predicts that administering a first dose to all long-term care residents by Jan. 31 would save lives.\nIt says the January date would prevent 600 cases compared with the government's current plan to vaccinate all long-term care residents by Feb. 15.\nThe Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table made the forecasts by modelling best and worst outcomes from three vaccine rollout scenarios.\nIt says further accelerating the rollout to care home residents would prevent even more deaths and infections.\nIf vaccine supply is limited, the report says it's likely beneficial to send first doses to care home residents rather than health-care workers outside the sector waiting for second doses.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021.", "Speeding up Ontario vaccine rollout in long-term care would prevent deaths, cases, advisory group says", "Refocusing Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine rollout to prioritize long-term care residents would prevent a projected 115 deaths and hundreds more cases, a new report says." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T18:13:32"

"2021-01-07T20:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto has surpassed 2,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 after the city reported on Thursday 29 more people dying from the disease.\nThe grim milestone comes more than six months after the city recorded its 1,000th death.\nMayor John Tory said in a statement that it is a sobering reminder that residents must continue observing public health protocols to protect everyone from the deadly virus.\n“We mourn all the innocent lives lost to COVID-19 with their families, friends, colleagues, and neighbours,” Tory said.\n“The best way we can honour the memory of those lost and pay tribute to those continuing to work on the frontlines of healthcare to protect us is to keep staying home as much as possible right now, wearing a mask when we go out, and avoiding gathering with people we don’t live with.”\nToronto Public Health reported 941 new cases on Thursday with 37 more people in hospital.\nThe province posted a lower number of new infections for Toronto with 891 cases due to the different cut-off times for data collection.\n“Today, we reached a tragic milestone with 2,017 lives lost to COVID-19 in Toronto. These losses in our community aren’t just numbers, they represent people who were cared for and loved. Each of these deaths represents a unique life, and someone’s family, friend or colleague,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, said in a statement.\n“Please keep staying home as much as possible, and do everything you can to protect your health, the health of those around you, and save lives at this critical time. On behalf of everyone at Toronto Public Health, we offer our sincerest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19.”\nOn Wednesday, de Villa expressed her concerns after early data revealed people attending gatherings with individuals outside their households over the holidays despite pleas from public health officials to avoid such activities.\n“The outcome of these decisions will emerge over the next days and weeks. If they manifest as COVID-19 cases, the implications are plain to see,” de Villa said.\nOn Thursday, Ontario also recorded a single-day high for the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.\nIt was a year ago on Thursday that TPH released its first statement about the COVID-19.\nOn Jan. 7, 2020, the local public health unit said it was actively monitoring “cases of undiagnosed viral pneumonia” in Wuhan, China.\nAt the time, TPH noted that the overall risk to residents was “very low,” adding that the city had a well-developed plan should the situation change.\nMore than two weeks later, the first case of COVID-19 in Canada was reported in Toronto.\nThis is the full statement from Toronto Public Health dated Jan. 7 2020:\nToronto Public Health has recently been informed of cases of undiagnosed viral pneumonia being investigated by health authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China, associated with a local live seafood market. Chinese authorities have engaged the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist with the investigation of this cluster of illness.\nCurrently, Toronto Pubic Health is not aware of any reported cases of this illness in Canada, and the overall risk to residents is considered very low. Given that Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international travel hub, Toronto Public Health is actively monitoring this situation, along with provincial and national health agencies.\nThis cluster of unknown respiratory illness has been identified at the same time as local circulation of influenza is common in Toronto. As a reminder, influenza, also known as the flu, can spread to others before symptoms even appear. Typical flu symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, chills, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. Other common symptoms include headache, loss of appetite and feeling tired. Recovering from the flu usually takes a week to 10 days, but for some people it can worsen pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, or develop into more serious health problems such as pneumonia and, in rare circumstances, can be fatal.\nMembers of the public are advised to take the usual measures to reduce the risk of transmission of the flu and respiratory illness. These measures include:\nget a yearly influenza vaccination, available from clinics and pharmacies\nwash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-hand sanitizer\ncover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze\nif you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm\nstay home if you are ill.\nResidents who return from recent international travel and become ill with respiratory signs and symptoms such as cough and fever are reminded to report their travel history to any health professional, or an emergency room, when they visit.", "This is the first statement Toronto Public Health released about 'undiagnosed viral pneumonia' one year ago", "Toronto has surpassed 2,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 after the city reported on Thursday 29 more people dying from the disease." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T17:34:52"

"2021-01-11T11:27:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Porter Airlines has extended its temporarily flight suspension yet again and says it hopes to restart operations at the end of March—about a year after it first halted service.\nIn a news release issued Monday, the Toronto-based airline said the decision was made based on the rise in COVID-19 cases as well as the lockdown measures in place across the province.\nThe airline, which is headquartered at Billy Bishop Airport, said it hopes to resume flights on March 29.\nPorter Airlines first suspended flights on March 21, 2020 as the Canadian and United States governments banned non-essential travel between their countries. Since then, the flight suspension, which was originally slated for June 2020, has been extended numerous times.\n“With the introduction of vaccines, we are more optimistic about determining a date in the near-term to reintroduce flights than at any point since the pandemic began,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “More time is needed to assess the vaccine’s influence on current travel restrictions and when it is appropriate to begin operations again. We expect to establish a timeline for this to happen in the first part of 2021.”\nThe airline expects to provide another update later in the winter “based on the status of the pandemic and the evolution of government measures that may promote greater freedom to travel.”\nThe restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border are set to expire on Jan. 21, pending another extension.", "Porter Airlines extends temporary flight suspension, marking a year since service halted due to COVID-19", "Porter Airlines has extended its temporarily flight suspension yet again and says it hopes to restart operations at the end of March—about a year after it first halted service." ]

[]

"2021-01-07T00:38:09"

"2021-01-06T18:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- It was an idea born in the kitchen, and one that Karen Ferguson hopes will connect her community further.\n“Some of us love to cook, and we have nobody to cook for,” she tells CTV News Toronto. “So my job in all of this is to connect those people that really enjoy cooking with those people that would really enjoy receiving a meal.”\nIn November, the Lindsay, Ont. resident started ‘You Got a Friend’ – a project where members of the community who could use a little help are able to request a meal from generous volunteer cooks in the neighbourhood.\nFerguson says she was inspired after seeing how much food was leftover when she and her husband would prepare their favouite meals.\n“We all know how expensive it is to pick up a roast to feed a family with a couple kids,” she said. “And it’s hard to prepare things that you enjoy cooking, like big pans of lasagna and big pots of stew or homemade soup, for one or two people.”\nNot wanting any food to go to waste, Ferguson called upon friends to volunteer to donate one of their favourite homemade meals a month.\n“When Karen came to me about it, I thought it was wonderful,” says Trista Brown, a volunteer with ‘You Got a Friend.’\n“It’s actually preparing something from the heart with my own two hands in my kitchen, and hopefully yeah everybody gets satisfaction from it.”\nFerguson says the process is completely confidential, and that she has a Facebook page and an email address for anyone who would like to be the recipient of a meal. Volunteers then connect with the recipient to schedule a time for a contactless delivery drop-off.\n“You reach out to the person that’s on your list and you prepare a nice hot, home-cooked meal and you deliver it to them once a month for six months,” Ferguson adds.\nBrown says that this ‘families helping families’ project has brought the town of Lindsay even closer together.\n“We have a very close-knit community,” she tells CTV News Toronto. “And so with me being in the kitchen every day cooking for my family, it was just one more meal, one more house, once a month.”\n“We all realize that these are tough times for everybody,” Ferguson adds. “We’re just trying to help out a friend.”\nYou can find out more about You Got a Friend here.\nVolunteers Victoria Stewart (left) and Ruby Lockhart are seen preparing meals as part of the ‘You Got a Friend’ initiative.", "'We're just trying to help out a friend': Project in Lindsay, Ont. has volunteers cooking meals for families in need", "In November, the Lindsay, Ont. resident started ‘You Got a Friend’ – a project where members of the community who could use a little help are able to request a meal from generous volunteer cooks in the neighbourhood." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T02:48:52"

"2021-01-07T20:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto has surpassed 2,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 after the city reported on Thursday 29 more people dying from the disease.\nThe grim milestone comes more than six months after the city recorded its 1,000th death.\nMayor John Tory said in a statement that it is a sobering reminder that residents must continue observing public health protocols to protect everyone from the deadly virus.\n“We mourn all the innocent lives lost to COVID-19 with their families, friends, colleagues, and neighbours,” Tory said.\n“The best way we can honour the memory of those lost and pay tribute to those continuing to work on the frontlines of healthcare to protect us is to keep staying home as much as possible right now, wearing a mask when we go out, and avoiding gathering with people we don’t live with.”\nToronto Public Health reported 941 new cases on Thursday with 37 more people in hospital.\nThe province posted a lower number of new infections for Toronto with 891 cases due to the different cut-off times for data collection.\n“Today, we reached a tragic milestone with 2,017 lives lost to COVID-19 in Toronto. These losses in our community aren’t just numbers, they represent people who were cared for and loved. Each of these deaths represents a unique life, and someone’s family, friend or colleague,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, said in a statement.\n“Please keep staying home as much as possible, and do everything you can to protect your health, the health of those around you, and save lives at this critical time. On behalf of everyone at Toronto Public Health, we offer our sincerest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19.”\nOn Wednesday, de Villa expressed her concerns after early data revealed people attending gatherings with individuals outside their households over the holidays despite pleas from public health officials to avoid such activities.\n“The outcome of these decisions will emerge over the next days and weeks. If they manifest as COVID-19 cases, the implications are plain to see,” de Villa said.\nOn Thursday, Ontario also recorded a single-day high for the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.\nIt was a year ago on Thursday that TPH released its first statement about the COVID-19.\nOn Jan. 7, 2020, the local public health unit said it was actively monitoring “cases of undiagnosed viral pneumonia” in Wuhan, China.\nAt the time, TPH noted that the overall risk to residents was “very low,” adding that the city had a well-developed plan should the situation change.\nMore than two weeks later, the first case of COVID-19 in Canada was reported in Toronto.", "Toronto Public Health reports 2,000th COVID-19 death one year after making first comments on mystery virus", "Toronto has surpassed 2,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 after the city reported on Thursday 29 more people dying from the disease." ]

[]

"2021-01-01T15:56:03"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- The phrase “amid the COVID-19 pandemic “could easily have fit into just about any story that was told over the past year.\nSome stories are just too big to fit into a round-up. COVID-19 is undoubtedly one of them. But there were other things that happened this year, some of them inspiring, some of them tragic.\nWhile the pandemic will likely continue to shape our lives for months to come, so will other forces. Here’s a look back at some of the other stories that shaped the life of the city in 2020.\nFlight PS752\nThe year started off in tragedy for many people around the GTA and in Canada. Amid sabre rattling between Washington and Tehran, a Ukrainian jet liner was shot down by a surface to air missile on January 8 2020.\nOf the 176 people who died in the crash of Flight PS752, 138 were travelling to Canada. Among them were 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and many others who were studying in Canada on students visas or visiting family here. Many of those who died lived in the GTA.\nAmong the dead were school children, newlyweds, graduate students, doctors and engineers. The tragedy set off mourning in the GTA and other parts of Canada — as well as a search for answers.\nOn Dec. 15, Special Envoy Ralph Goodale released a report summarizing the tragedy and Canada’s response to it. While work continues to support the families of the victims, Iran has so far been uncooperative in negotiating compensation for the families and providing transparency in the investigation. As the year drew to a close, Iran said it would provide $150,000 USD to each of the victims’ families.\nSchlatter found guilty in Tess Richey’s murder\nIn March, nearly three years after 22-year-old Tess Richey was found dead in the city’s gay village, a jury found Kalen Schlatter guilty of first-degree murder in her death.\nDuring the trial, the Crown alleged that Schlatter stalked Richey and later killed her when he refused to have sex with her.\nJurors deliberated for three days before reaching their verdict. The conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.\nSchlatter, 23 at the time of his conviction, will be 48 before he is eligible for parole. He is seeking leave to appeal his conviction.\nIn June, Richey’s family – who found her body themselves after police failed to – filed a $20 million lawsuit against Toronto police and Schlatter for the unnecessary anguish they suffered following her death.\nRegis Korchinski-Paquet\nOn May 27, police received multiple calls from three family members to attend an apartment at 100 High Park Avenue for a family dispute.\nRegis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old Black and Indigenous woman, had suffered a seizure earlier in the day, which sometimes affected her mood. She and her brother had subsequently become involved in a violent fight.\nPolice responded to the home to break up the dispute and were with Korchinski-Paquet outside of the apartment when several officers returned to the apartment with her. A short time later, the young woman fell to her death from the balcony.\nA public outcry ensued, with some family members alleging that police had pushed her.\nIn August, a lengthy SIU report concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to charge any of the officers involved in the call.\nThe family has rejected the report’s conclusions and on Dec. 10, they filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), alleging misconduct and neglect of duty.\nBlack Lives Matter protests\nThe killing of George Floyd on May 25 shook the world. In a gut-wrenching video posted online for the world to see, a white police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for around nine minutes until he was dead.\nThe reverberations were felt in Toronto as well. As in many place in the U.S. and around the world, Floyd’s death became a lightning rod for pent-up frustrations over racial inequalities that have persisted for years, particularly when it comes to how people of colour are treated by police.\nThe protests in Toronto drew thousands of marchers calling for racial justice around the world, but in the GTA as well. Despite businesses around the city boarding up windows for fear that the protests might turn violent, they remained peaceful.\nWhile there is plenty of work to be done, the protests helped bring awareness to the need for more active and ongoing work to help end systemic inequalities. As a start, a number of major businesses committed to hiring more BIPOC people and social media campaigns sprang up encouraging people to support Black-owned businesses.\nThere have also been calls to defund police services and put some of the money toward community programs that would help prevent crime. While Toronto City Council has agreed to fund community programs, implement body-worn cameras, and to shift some job functions away from officers, it has resisted calls to slash the police budget.\nThe waterfront and parks became a lifeline\nToronto’s outdoor parks have never been poorly attended spaces in the warmer months. But this year they became a lifeline. As lockdown restrictions gradually began lifting in the springtime, the city implemented regular road closures along the waterfront to allow more space for pedestrians, cyclists and runners. While such programs had been occasionally implemented in the past, they were expanded for a population starved of activities outside of their four walls.\nToronto’s parks also saw throngs of residents gathering from the wee hours until late into the night for outdoor birthday parties, weddings and get-togethers. While the city occasionally had to draw crop circles to make sure that people maintained physical distancing, most people seemed to get the hang of the rules eventually and Torontonians reconnected with their city’s green spaces as never before.\nBrampton crash\nIt was a sunny afternoon in June when first responders were called to attend the scene of a collision at Countryside Drive and Torbram Road in Brampton. They arrived the find the sort of scene they hope never to be called to.\nKarolina Ciasullo, 37, was driving her three daughters – Klara, 6, Lilianna, 3, and Mila, 1 when their Volkswagen Atlas SUV was struck by a blue Infiniti G35 travelling at a high rate of speed. Ciasullo and her three daughters — properly buckled in car seats in the back — all died in the crash.\nThe 20-year-old driver of the Infiniti was subsequently arrested. Brady Robertson now faces four counts of dangerous driving causing death in connection with the crash.\nIn September Peel police further charged Robertson with four counts of impaired operation causing death by drugs in connection with the crash.\nHe remains in custody at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton as he awaits trial.\nTheriault brothers trial\nIt was an assault whose violence shocked the GTA. Four years ago on Dec. 28, 2016, Dafonte Miller was in an Oshawa neighbourhood when he encountered Michael Theriault, an off-duty cop, and his brother Christian Theriault. Both sides gave differing accounts of why they had any interaction at all. But when the encounter was over, Miller had sustained a life-altering injury, eventually losing his left eye. Still, Miller — a then 19-year-old Black man — was the one who found himself handcuffed.\nThe brothers were charged with aggravated assault in 2019. A trial followed and on June 26 this year, Michael was convicted of the lesser charge of assault and was subsequently sentenced to nine months in jail. An Ontario court found Michael Theriault guilty of beating Miller with a metal pipe as he tried to run away from the brothers to seek help. Christian Theriault was found not guilty in the incident.\nMichael Theriault is appealing his conviction and is pleading not guilty to a separate charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.\nIn the meantime, interim Toronto Police Chief James Ramer has issued Miller a public apology on behalf of the force and has vowed that they will do better.\nToronto Puppy boom\nWith thousands of people spending more time at home than they ever thought possible, pet adoptions and purchases in the city have skyrocketed. One need only take a walk to you nearest park to see throngs of fluffy new puppies learning the ropes of urban living.\nThe rise in demand for furry companions has also given rise to an alarming increase in gunpoint dog-nappings this year.\nChief Saunders steps down\nIn June, with five months left on his contract, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announced that he would step down from his role at the end of July to spend more time with his family.\nSaunders stepped into the role in 2015, becoming the city’s first Black police chief.\nHe also oversaw the service as it responded to major incidents such as the Danforth shooting and the Yonge Street van attack and investigated high-profile cases such as the murder of billionaire couple Honey and Barry Sherman.\nSaunders stepped down at the end of July and Interim Police Chief James Ramer has been at the helm of the police force since then. A search remains underway to find a permanent new chief.\nThe legal odyssey of chair girl comes to a close\nMarcella Zoia, dubbed chair girl for hurling a chair off a downtown high-rise to the busy Gardiner Expressway below in Feb. 2019, finally learned her fate this year after pleading guilty to mischief in 2019.\nOn July 21, Zoia was sentenced to two years of probation, a $2,000 fine and 150 hours of community service.\nWhile she has managed to stay out of further legal entanglements so far, it’s unlikely we’ve heard the last from Zoia, who cropped up in a Drake video and was then edited out. She also posted pictures from a crowded King Street West bar patio with no distancing over the summer.\nFord nixes ranked ballot voting\nA pandemic seems like an odd time to fixate on local voting choices. But tucked into the bottom of a press release about COVID-19 restrictions on Oct. 20 was a quiet declaration from the province that ranked ballot elections for municipalities were dead.\nWhile local activists have been fighting for municipal elections to be held with ranked balloting for years, arguing that it makes voting more representative and inclusive, the government said the timing was \"not right” for allowing different types of voting systems. This, despite the fact that London, Ont. had already switched over to the system and successfully used it to pick their last mayor and council, and that other municipalities – including Toronto – were moving toward the system as well.\nCritics have charged that the Progressive Conservative government killed local ranked ballot elections for fear that they might eventually make their way into provincial politics, where it would make it harder for Progressive Conservative candidates to get elected.\nKarygiannis booted from council\nFollowing a long legal odyssey, Jim Karygiannis, was booted from Toronto City Council in September for a campaign violation he maintains was a clerical error.\nThe former Scarborough-Agincourt councillor was first removed from office in November 2019 when then City Clerk Ulli Watkiss said a review found that he overspent on his 2018 campaign by nearly $26,000, most of it related to a post-election party for donors at Santorini Grill in Thornhill.\nA court then returned him to office in Nov. 2019. An appeal court then booted him again in June 2020. Then in August another judge allowed him to return to council pending an effort to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.\n(Confused yet? Just one more step)\nIn September, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, meaning that the previous appeal court ruling booting him from office stands.\nThe city has called a by-election for Jan. 15, 2020 to fill the vacant seat. Voters can cast their ballots in-person or by mail.\nOntario Line now expected three years later\nWith TTC ridership at record lows, one could almost forget that when Toronto is not in the throes of a once-in-a-generation pandemic event, transit is one of the top issues in the city.\nAnd one of the most closely watched projects is the Ontario Line, the provincial reinvention of the downtown relief line. While the province said they could build transit faster when they pried the project away from city hands, the latest plans for the line estimate it will be ready in 2030, three years later than originally envisioned.\nIn the meantime, the expected cost of the Eglinton East LRT has also ballooned to $4 billion instead of $2 billion.\nMinassian trial\nIn November, a judge-alone trial began via videoconference for Alek Minassian, the man accused of mowing down pedestrians on Yonge Street with a rented van in April of 2018.\nMinassian stands charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder in connection with the grizzly attack.\nMinassian has admitted to planning and carrying out the attack, but his lawyer argued in court that he is not criminally responsible due to his autism spectrum disorder.\nThe Crown argued that he was a lonely man, scared of failing at his job and never having a relationship with a woman and that he was obsessed with mass murder and achieving notoriety.\nThe six-week trial wrapped up on Dec. 18.\nJustice Anne Molloy is expected to deliver her verdict on March 3.\nConviction would carry an automatic life sentence without the chance of parole for 25 years. Minassian could also face consecutive periods of parole intelligibility due to the number of victims.\nCOVID-19 (Because you can’t explain 2020 without it)\nHow do you put a period on a story that is still unfolding? Especially when that story happens to be the most consequential, far-reaching, global crisis many of us have seen in our lifetimes. Simply put, you cannot.\nCOVID-19 has reshaped our lives: The way we eat, work, learn and interact with one another.\nFrom the milestones of life — birth, death, marriage, divorce — to the mundane tasks of everyday living.\nIt has brought tragedy, such as the crisis that has played out in our long-term care homes, and heroics, such as that of the health-care workers and other frontline staff who have gone above and beyond to meet the crisis head-on, to help us preserve our humanity and our sanity amid the turmoil.\nWe are still struggling to describe how this virus continues to change our lives, but some of its effects are clearly visible in our city.\nMainstreet businesses that were already concerned about high rent have been decimated, as the proliferating number of ‘for rent’ signs downtown attest.\nWith the added constraint of spacing, the city’s shelter system has struggled to keep up with demand, causing many of those experiencing homelessness to flock to encampments in parks and other public spaces.\nCity revenues — usually buoyed by steady ridership on the jam-packed TTC, parking enforcement and a breakneck pace of development and real estate transactions — are suddenly hundreds of millions of dollars short.\nIt is bizarre to see subway platforms empty and malls and tourist attractions all but abandoned in what is normally a bustling and vibrant city.\nWhile the restrictions have been difficult, Torontonians have been resilient, adapting however they can to the changing circumstances.\nPatio dining, online shopping and porch visits were just some of the ways we adapted to pandemic life in 2020.\nWith the virus spreading and a lockdown in place for the province, it is likely that further adaptations will be needed in 2021. But the city has shown that it can rise to the challenge. We have no other choice.", "Some of the stories that shaped Toronto in 2020 aside from COVID-19", "The phrase “amid the COVID-19 pandemic “could easily have fit into just about any story that was told over the past year." ]

[]

"2021-01-25T18:17:18"

"2021-01-25T09:50:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- As schools remain shuttered and online learning continues across much of southern Ontario, the provincial government is further expanding its list of eligible workers who qualify for free emergency child-care.\nThe government announced on Monday that the following workers will qualify for the program on as of Wednesday:\nIndividuals working in fuel distribution and oil refineries\nEducation staff who are required to report to work in person while their children continue with remote learning\nGrocery store workers\nPharmacy workers\nTruck drivers\nFarmers and those who support food or agricultural product supply chains\nIndividuals involved in the collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste\nIndividuals working in the manufacturing and distribution of disinfectants and sanitizers\nSpeaking on Monday, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said these individuals are “making a difference in our economy and keeping food on our tables and the lights on.”\n“Today, we are expanding and enhancing access to emergency child-care that’s for those folks who are front-line workers and have to continue to work,” he told CP24. “We want to make sure that they have access to free dependable and safe child-care in Ontario.”\nSchools in seven public health units across southern Ontario reopened for in-person classes on Monday, but the rest remain closed amid surging COVID-19 case counts. Classes resumed in the northern part of the province on Jan. 11.\nWhile the province’s chief medical officer of health keeps a close eye on the COVID-19 situation in public health regions where schools remain closed, officials have previously said that five hot spot regions – Windsor-Essex, Peel, York, Toronto, and Hamilton – will not see in-person learning resume until at least Feb. 10.\nThe targeted emergency child-care program is intended to support essential workers and their families with child-care options at no cost where students continue to learn remotely.\nThe list of essential workers qualifying for the program was last expanded on Jan. 9, including postal workers, RCMP officers, homeless shelter staff and others.\nAt the time, Lecce said 2,200 families had enrolled in the program thus far. The program’s capacity is roughly 20,000, he said.", "Ontario expands list of essential workers who qualify for free emergency child-care", "As schools remain shuttered and online learning continues across much of southern Ontario, the provincial government is further expanding its list of eligible workers who qualify for free emergency child-care." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T20:09:43"

"2021-01-16T11:53:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Human remains have been found in Lake Ontario in Oshawa on Saturday morning, according to Durham police.\nShortly after 10:30 a.m., police responded to reports of human remains located in the water.\nPolice said the investigation is ongoing but it “does not appear to be suspicious at this time.”\nThe next of kin is being notified and a post-mortem examination will be conducted.", "Human remains discovered in Lake Ontario in Oshawa, police say", "Human remains have been found in Lake Ontario in Oshawa on Saturday morning, according to Durham police." ]

[]

"2021-01-12T15:52:46"

"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 with fewer than 3,000 new cases, 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 two days.\nOfficials also reported that 41 more people have died due to the disease, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in Ontario to 5,053.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come...", "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 with fewer than 3,000 new cases, but the positivity rate remains high." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T20:36:32"

"2021-01-27T14:16:00"

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

[ "NEWS -- If you were on the lookout for a Greater Toronto Area condo or apartment to rent or own late last year, new data from the region's real estate board shows you might have had an edge in negotiations.\nThe number of condos listed for sale or rent in the area in the fourth quarter of 2020 were up by double and sometimes triple digits from the year before, while prices were down, according to two reports released by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board on Wednesday.\n\"The increase in supply...resulted in much more choice and bargaining power for buyers and a moderate decline in average selling prices,\" TRREB president Lisa Patel said in a statement.\nPatel also noticed the market tipped in favour of renters, who had plenty of properties that sat on the market for weeks or months to choose from.\nHer observations encompass the last few months of 2020 -- a period when the Greater Toronto Area was staring down tougher COVID-19 lockdowns, the looming possibility of a tax on vacant units and a softening of the short-term rental market triggered by travel bans and work from home orders.\nTRREB said condo and apartment sales in the quarter reached 6,469, up 20.7 per cent compared to 5,358 in 2019. New listings climbed by almost 92 per cent to hit 12,298, up from 6,407 in the year prior, while active listings doubled to reach 4,294.\nThe average selling price fell 1.1 per cent to reach $610,044 in the quarter, down from $616,771 a year earlier. Average selling prices in the city of Toronto decreased 2.4 per cent to $644,516.\nDavelle Morrison, a Toronto broker with Bosley Real Estate Ltd., noticed the period was a reversal from the usually sleepy December holiday season.\n\"Towards the end of December people just decided to start snapping up what they could,\" she said.\n\"One of the reasons why December is usually so dead is because everybody's at Christmas parties and shopping for Christmas gifts, but now, because of COVID, you're not doing any of those things, so all they were doing is looking at real estate.\"\nMeanwhile, demand for condo rental was reaching record highs, Patel said. TRREB's new data showed 12,584 condos were rented in the quarter, up by about 86 per cent from the 6,756 rentals in the same period last year. The number listed for rent soared by 131.6 per cent, rising from 33,280 and 14,371.\n\"Growth in the number of available units far outstripped growth in rental transactions, as many investors chose to make their units available due to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism and the short-term rental market,\" said Patel.\nThose who offered places for rent ended up charging less for rent than they would have a year ago. The average one-bedroom condo rent unit was down by 16.5 per cent year over year to $1,845 compared to $2,209. The average two-bedroom condo rent was down by 14.5 per cent over the same time period to $2,453 compared to $2,868.\nThat pattern seems to be continuing in 2021, Morrison said,\n\"I have a few clients right now where their properties are vacant because we just can't even get tenants in them,\" she said.\n\"It's on my to do list to try to get to take another price cut.\"\nBut her clients on the market for houses are having a harder time.\nPrices are soaring and people are scrambling to make offers.\nMorrison has heard of houses in Mississauga getting 70 offers, ones in Durham Region getting 30 offers, and places in Toronto getting 18 offers.\nBully offers are becoming common too, she said.\nShe believes the time to buy houses was when the pandemic first hit and sellers were feeling skittish about the uncertain times, but condo buyers still have a window of opportunity.\n\"If you want to buy a condo you should have bought it in December, but really now is the absolute time to get in there and buy something because I think the second that the borders open up and people get vaccinated, the condo market is going to take off again.\"\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2021.", "Buying or renting a condo in Toronto? Experts say the market has tipped in your favour", "If you were on the lookout for a Greater Toronto Area condo or apartment to rent or own late last year, new data from the region's real estate board shows you might have had an edge in negotiations." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T16:25:31"

"2021-01-22T10:56:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The homicide unit is investigating after a woman was found dead in an apartment building near York University in Toronto last night.\nOn Thursday, police responded to a medical call at Murray Ross Parkway and Sentinel Road at around 9:40 p.m.\nA woman was located in an apartment with injuries, police said.\nShe was pronounced deceased at the scene and her cause of death has not been confirmed by investigators.\nIt is unknown if the woman is a student at York University.\nThe homicide unit has taken over the investigation.\nThis is a developing news story. More information to come.", "Woman found dead in apartment building near York University", "The homicide unit is investigating after a woman was found dead in an apartment building near York University in Toronto last night." ]

[ "Paola Loriggio" ]

"2021-01-19T21:17:11"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- A Toronto-area constable under investigation for corruption told an undercover officer he wanted to file an intelligence report about his mistress's alleged involvement in the drug trade after their affair was revealed, his trial heard Tuesday.\nThe undercover officer, who cannot be identified under a publication ban, is testifying for a second day at the trial of Richard Senior, a longtime constable with the York Regional Police.\nHe told a virtual court Tuesday that roughly two months after he began secretly investigating Senior, the constable mentioned having an extramarital affair with a woman who at one point allegedly sold cocaine, hash and heroin and whose family was allegedly connected to organized crime.\n\"He told me that he wanted to do an intel report on this girl\" to disclose her involvement in the drug business, and talked about how \"he was exposed in regards to the cheating,\" the undercover officer testified.\nIn an exchange of texts read to the court, the undercover officer told Senior he had some ideas on how he could file such a report and still \"insulate\" himself from the information.\nBut the undercover officer testified he never ended up sharing those ideas with the constable.\nSenior 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, among other things, that Senior filed an intelligence report about his former flame and falsely attributed it to an informant, who was in fact one of his friends using an alias.\nThey further allege the officer 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.\nIn an opening statement earlier this week, the Crown also alleged Senior 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.\nThe undercover officer has said he was assigned to investigate Senior for corruption and breach of trust in June 2018, but wasn't told at the time what kind of offences the officer was suspected of.\nHe testified Tuesday that a supervisor mentioned the possible involvement of steroids in late July.\nPart of the undercover officer's objectives was to set up regular workouts with Senior to \"continue to build rapport,\" and he eventually started making inquiries about steroids.\nIn late July, Senior acknowledged he \"used to know some meatheads\" who had access to steroids but suggested the undercover officer get on a good diet plan first and take some supplements, court heard.\nAt one point, the undercover officer asked Senior how much it would cost for a cycle of steroids, and the constable replied, \"how should I know?\" the undercover officer testified.\nIn the following days, they exchanged texts about diet plans and supplements, court heard.\nAt the same time, the undercover officer said he began to engage in \"suspicious behaviour\" to suggest he also may be involved in criminal activity.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021.", "Toronto-area cop wanted to file report on mistress after affair exposed, court hears", "A Toronto-area constable under investigation for corruption told an undercover officer he wanted to file an intelligence report about his mistress's alleged involvement in the drug trade after their affair was revealed, his trial heard Tuesday." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T15:16:35"

"2021-01-13T07:07:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government is expected to provide more details today regarding its newly issued stay-at-home order, which takes effect tomorrow.\nThe province says it will publish the \"legal parameters\" for the order online today and offer more clarification on the measure.\nAs of tomorrow, residents will have to stay home except for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, accessing health care and exercising.\nThe province says police and bylaw officers will have the power to enforce the stay-at-home order and issue tickets to rule-breakers, but hasn't given details on how that will play out.\nThe order was announced yesterday as the province declared a state of emergency -- its second of the COVID-19 pandemic -- and unveiled a series of new restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus.\nThey include prolonging the pause on in-person learning in schools in five southern Ontario hot spots -- Toronto, Hamilton, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex -- to Feb. 10.\nChild-care centres for kids not yet in school will remain open, however.\nThe government has also restricted hours of operation for non-essential retailers currently offering delivery and curbside pickup to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and imposed a five-person cap on outdoor social gatherings.\nWearing a mask is also now recommended outdoors when physical distancing is difficult.\nThe new restrictions were announced hours after the province released projections that show the virus is on track to overwhelm Ontario's health-care system.\nOne of the experts behind the projections said that if the province's COVID-19 positivity rate is at five per cent, there will be more than 20,000 new cases reported each day by the middle of next month.\nIf the rate climbs to seven per cent, that means the province will see 40,000 new daily cases.\nThe projections also indicate deaths from COVID-19 will surpass those in the pandemic's first wave unless people dramatically reduce their contact with others.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2021.", "Ontario to explain how they will enforce new emergency stay-at-home order", "The Ontario government is expected to provide more details today regarding its newly issued stay-at-home order, which takes effect tomorrow." ]

[ "Mia Rabson" ]

"2021-01-06T13:42:04"

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

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

[ "OTTAWA -- The head of the Ontario Medical Association says the risk COVID-19 poses to pregnant and breastfeeding women is higher than the risk of taking a vaccine against the virus that causes it.\nDr. Samantha Hill, a cardiac surgeon in Toronto, says because pregnant and breastfeeding women haven't been included in clinical trials yet she is worried the message many pregnant women are getting is to not get vaccinated.\nShe echoes concerns raised last month by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, and reiterated in a statement from the Ontario Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Tuesday.\nAll say women who are pregnant or breastfeeding might be at higher risk of serious illness if they get COVID-19 and that particularly for women at high risk of exposure to the virus, the risks of not getting the vaccine outweigh the unknown risks of getting vaccinated.\nHill says she is still breastfeeding her youngest child and won't hesitate to get a vaccine when her turn comes, and also would get the vaccine if she were pregnant.\nShe says pregnancy already puts stress on the body's immune system and vascular system, and COVID-19 could pose great risk to a pregnant woman or her fetus.\n“We don't have the choice of living in a COVID-free society,” Hill said, in an interview with The Canadian Press. “We have the choice of accepting the risk of the vaccine, or accepting the risk of COVID and the risk of the vaccine certainly seems a lot lower to me than the risk of COVID.”\nStatistics suggest between eight and 11 per cent of pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 ended up in hospital, and between two and four per cent needed intensive care. That compares to about eight per cent of all COVID patients who have needed hospitalization and about 1.5 per cent who needed intensive care.\nThe national society of obstetricians says pregnant women with COVID-19 have an increased risk of needing to be placed on ventilators compared to other women of the same age, and that the risk of severe illness are greater for pregnant women who have other risk factors including asthma, obesity, non-pregnancy related diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.\nWomen are overrepresented in many of the occupations at highest risk of COVID-19 exposure including in health care.\nThe National Advisory Committee on Immunization in December recommended against giving the vaccine to populations who were not included in clinical trials unless the benefits of being vaccinated are deemed to outweigh the potential risk of the vaccine.\nHill says pregnant and breastfeeding women are never included in the clinical trials of new drugs or vaccines until the risks to non-pregnant individuals are known.\nBut she notes that 12 women who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during its large Phase 3 trial reported pregnancies during the trial and had no adverse outcomes from taking the vaccine.\nThe national society says the overall evidence for the vaccine and pregnancy is scant.\n“What is known, however, is that an unvaccinated pregnant individual remains at risk of COVID-19 infection and remains at heightened risk of severe morbidity if infected compared to non-pregnant counterparts,” the statement says. “Severe infection with COVID-19 carries risks to both maternal and fetal health”\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2021.", "Ontario doctors urge high-risk pregnant, breastfeeding women to get access to COVID-19 vaccines", "The head of the Ontario Medical Association says the risk COVID-19 poses to pregnant and breastfeeding women is higher than the risk of taking a vaccine against the virus that causes it." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T17:59:20"

"2021-01-21T12:47:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A group of medical experts that have been advising the Ford government on the safe operation of schools say that the suspension of in-person learning should be “a last resort for pandemic control” given the “significant negative impact” that last year’s prolonged closure had on children.\nThe advice is contained in an updated guidance document released by The Hospital for Sick Children on Thursday.\nIn it, the experts say that the delay in reopening schools for in-person learning “must be as time-limited as possible” given that it will “inevitably further exacerbate the harms to children and the inequities” already caused by school closures.\n“In considering decisions about ongoing regional closure of schools for in-person learning, it is important to balance the health risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and their role as potential transmitters of SARS-CoV-2 with the significant harms of school closure on children’s physical health, developmental health, mental health and learning,” the document states. “Given the significant negative impact that the initial prolonged school closure (to in-person learning) had on children and youth, it is our strong opinion that an in-person school model with robust application of the recommended risk mitigation interventions is the best option from an overall health and learning perspective for children of all ages allowing for consistency, stability and equity.”\nExperts don’t recommend widespread asymptomatic testing\nThe Ford government allowed schools in northern Ontario to reopen on Jan. 11 and has said that schools in another seven regions, mostly clustered in eastern Ontario, will be allowed to resume in-person instruction on Monday.\nSchools, however, will remain closed in 20 of Ontario’s 34 public health units for the time being and the Ford government has said that students in the five hotspot regions – Toronto, York, Peel, Hamilton and Windsor-Essex – won’t return to classrooms until at least Feb. 10.\nThe new SickKids report says that in order to keep schools open even in regions in which community transmission is high there must be “robust testing and contact tracing” alongside infection prevention and control measures.\nThe report says that any child who is exposed to a student or staff members with a positive case of COVID-19 should be tested themselves, even if they are asymptomatic.\nBut the report stops short of recommending widespread surveillance testing, which the Ford government has promised to expand across the province as part of the eventual reopening of schools.\nInstead, it says that surveillance testing should only be done in “moderate to high prevalence settings and in schools with outbreaks identified.”\nIt also notes that the “identification of cases though surveillance testing is expected and should not, by itself, be a reason to close schools.”\n“Any surveillance program needs to include a clear communication strategy to all stakeholders that includes the purpose of the surveillance,” the report states. “Uptake of voluntary surveillance testing will be improved if families know they understand the rationale for the surveillance testing and are supported on how to manage a positive test result.”\nCohorting rather than physical distancing for younger children\nThe panel of SickKids experts last updated their guidance over the summer, prior to the reopening of schools in the fall.\nSince then there have been more than 7,300 cases reported in Ontario schools, including more than 5,000 that involved students.\nIn the updated guidance released on Thursday, the experts say that some combination of cohorting and masking should now be “strongly considered” as a replacement for physical distancing in younger grades, which they say is “likely detrimental” to the well-being of children.\nThey said that cohort sizes should be based on local trends with the resources required for smaller classes being preserved for regions with higher levels of community transmission.\nMeanwhile, the experts were split on whether to recommend the use of masks for all elementary school students but agreed that the policy does make sense in regions with higher levels of transmission.\nThe Ford government previously extended its mask mandate for schools to include all students in Grade 1-3, whom were previously exempted. Kindergarten students are now the only ones not required to wear masks indoors.", "School closures should be 'last resort for pandemic control,' updated SickKids report says", "A group of medical experts that have been advising the Ford government on the safe operation of schools say that the suspension of in-person learning should be \"a last resort for pandemic control\" given the \"significant negative impact\" that last year's prolonged closure had on children." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T05:34:50"

"2021-01-10T23:35:00"

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

[ "SAN FRANCISCO -- Damion Lee converted the tying and go-ahead free throws with 3.3 seconds left and the Golden State Warriors withstood a rough fourth quarter to hold off the Toronto Raptors 106-105 on Sunday night despite uncharacteristic struggles by Stephen Curry.\nPascal Siakam missed a jumper as the buzzer sounded but finished with 25 points, and Fred VanVleet scored 21 for Toronto in a rematch of the 2019 NBA Finals won in six games by the Raptors.\nThe Raptors challenged a foul call on Kyle Lowry beyond the right side of the arc that originally would have given Lee three shots. It was determined on review the foul was before the shot - the third play that went to replay in the final 34.4 seconds. All three calls were confirmed.\nAndrew Wiggins had 17 points and matched his career high with four blocked shots as Golden State nearly squandered away a game it led by 17.\nCurry shot 2 of 16 and missed nine of his 10 3s for 11 points after scoring 143 over his previous four games, including a career-high 62 one week earlier against Portland.\nKent Bazemore made a go-ahead lay-in with 1:06 to play for Golden State before VanVleet knocked down a jumper on the other end.\nCurry turned the ball over with 34.4 seconds remaining and that went to review. Lowry missed a 3-point try and Golden State got one more chance with 7.6 ticks on the clock - another review that stood determining it was Warriors ball.\nLowry missed Friday's game for personal reasons but returned and contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. His layup with 7:13 remaining pulled the Raptors within 94-90. VanVleet's basket at 4:05 made it a one-point game before Kelly Oubre Jr. hit his first 3-pointer of the night moments later.\nWarriors rookie James Wiseman made 5 of 7 shots and added 10 points and seven rebounds. Eric Paschall scored 15 points off the bench on a night the reserves produced 46 points. Lee had 13 with three 3s.\nLate in the third, Golden State's defence showed just how much it is doing for the Warriors: drawing a 24-second violation by Toronto one possession then Yuta Watanabe stepped out of bounds the next. Toronto committed another shot-clock turnover in the fourth.\nCurry didn't take his first shot until sinking a 12-foot jumper with 2:50 left in the first.\nThe Warriors' starters are still working to get in sync with so many new faces added to the mix.\n“If I play better, that lineup will play better,” Green said of Golden State's starting five finding a groove.\nHe added 10 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.\nToronto had won three straight in the series, most recently beating the Warriors to clinch a playoff berth in March 2020.\nHonouring EDUCATORS\nFor their “Educators Night,” the Warriors hosted 50 fans from the Oakland and San Francisco Unified School Districts to watch from their virtual fan section at Chase Center, recognizing them for their essential work. Kaiser Permanente donated $40,000 to be split evenly between districts.\nTIP-INS\nRaptors: Chris Boucher had six blocks before fouling out against his former team. ... Toronto missed its first nine shots and initial five 3s. ... The Raptors are 1-5 on the road.\nWarriors: Wiggins didn't practice in Saturday's light shootaround session but was probable despite a sore left quad - and Wiggins has still scored in double figures every game.\nQUOTEABLE\n“I spilled a little spaghetti sauce on my box-and-1 sweatshirt today in pregame so out of luck there,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of defending Curry.\nUP NEXT\nRaptors: At Portland on Monday in Toronto's first set of back-to-back games.\nWarriors: Host Pacers on Wednesday to conclude a season-long seven-game homestand over 12 days.", "Warriors hold off Raptors 106-105 on off night by Curry", "Damion Lee converted the tying and go-ahead free throws with 3.3 seconds left and the Golden State Warriors withstood a rough fourth quarter to hold off the Toronto Raptors 106-105 on Sunday night despite uncharacteristic struggles by Stephen Curry." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T02:43:35"

"2021-01-04T20:58:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The City of Toronto says that four positive cases of COVID-19 have been found at a child-care centre in North York, forcing the closure of the facility.\nIn a news release issued Monday evening, officials say that that two of the cases at the city-operated facility were found in employees and two cases were found in children enrolled at Flemingdon Early Learning Child Care Centre, located near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East.\nThe centre is now temporarily closed as a result while staff members and children self-isolate for symptoms as a precaution, the city said.\nThere are currently 23 children enrolled at the centre and their parents and guardians were informed of the precautions on Jan. 2.\nThe centre currently runs programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, with up to 18 full and part-time child-care staff members assigned to the centre.\nThe city says that the centre will now undergo a thorough cleaning and sanitization process and will reopen following advice from Toronto Public Health. It is not one of the designated emergency child-care centres for essential workers, the city said.", "Toronto child-care centre closes after four COVID-19 cases reported", "The City of Toronto says that four positive cases of COVID-19 have been found at a child-care centre in North York, forcing the closure of the facility." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T12:33:15"

"2021-01-04T07:24:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ending over policing of Black and Indigenous residents, sending civilians to respond to homelessness, drug use and mental health crises and triaging 911 calls so that only serious ones meet a police response could lead to lower overall social costs and reduce Toronto police spending by 25 per cent, according to a new report.\nThe new report, from Black Lives Matter Toronto, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, YWCA, Family Services Toronto, Neighbourhood Legal Services and 17 other groups says taking an approach where separate services for drug use, mental health crises and homelessness are set up to replace the role of police could lead to better outcomes.\nIn Rethinking Community Safety, a way forward for Toronto, those groups argue a system where police are only called in extreme situations, could alleviate pressure on courts, emergency rooms in hospitals.\n“More appropriate interventions are available—at a lower cost, with better outcomes—when we send support workers to address issues with vulnerable people instead of sending police,” the report states.\nThe report comes as the disparities in police treatment of racial minorities grows clearer, especially after two decades of government and press reporting on subjects such as carding, use of force and incarceration.\nIn Toronto, Black residents are involved in 29 per cent of Toronto police use of force incidents but make up less than 9 per cent of the city’s population, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) found earlier this year.\nBlack people in Toronto are nearly four times more likely than white people to be charged with a crime, the OHRC found, and if they are charged, they are nearly five times more likely to be charged with obstruction of justice than white people.\nRecent statistics show that twice as many Black people in Canada are imprisoned compared with their share of the population, and five times as many Indigenous people are imprisoned versus their share of the population.\nThe report proposes setting up or growing existing civilian services to respond to most calls about homelessness, drug use and mental health crises.\nIn homelessness, the report found police interact with the homeless in Toronto up to 360,000 times per year, issuing 16,000 tickets, most of which are never paid.\nBut they say reducing police involvement with the homeless and replacing it with civilian outreach, as has been done in major U.S. cities and Australia, could lead to more homeless people securing housing, fewer arrests, less jail time and fewer emergency room visits.\nToronto police respond to 30,000 mental health calls per year, and 40 per cent of the service’s Taser use involves subjects who have mental health issues.\nThe report says that replacing police with civilians trained to death with mental health crises could save city taxpayers by expanding existing services that connect with and temporarily house and support those suffering from mental health crises.\nThe groups behind the report also want a triage system employed to determine whether each 911 call actually warrants a police response.\nIn 2018, nearly 60 per cent of calls to 911 did not require a police response.\n“The areas of activity outlined here provide an immediate opportunity to begin to move to models that better serve marginalized communities—real-locating resources to support vulnerable people, improve community safety, and produce better outcomes in the short and long term,” authors of the report wrote.\nThe cuts to police called for in the report represent $340 million of the total $1.209 billion police budget in Toronto this year.\nA motion to reallocate 10 per cent of the police budget to alternative service providers was defeated at Toronto city council this year, with Mayor John Tory opposed.", "Adding civilian services could defund Toronto police by 25 per cent, report finds", "Ending over policing of Black and Indigenous residents, sending civilians to respond to homelessness, drug use and mental health crises and triaging 911 calls so that only serious ones meet a police response could lead to lower overall social costs and reduce Toronto police spending by 25 per cent, according to a new report." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T03:39:13"

"2021-01-13T18:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Every year thousands of Canadians are hurt after slipping on icy stairs, steps and sidewalks. Now if it happens in Ontario you’ll have a lot less time to sue for damages.\nIf you have a bad fall on ice and want to file an insurance claim you used to have two years to do so, but that is about to be changed to just 60 days.\nOntario's Bill 118, the Act to amend the Occupier’s Liability Act, recently passed and will soon become law.\nThe changes mean if you slip and fall on private property you must serve the owner with written notice within 60 days. On municipal property it must be done within 10 days.\nRajiv Haté a personal injury lawyer with Kotak Personal Injury Law feels in some cases 60 days may not be enough time to file a claim.\n“This could lead to the barring of a number of legitimate claims,\" Haté said, adding \"being able to identify the appropriate parties that need to be put on notice within 60 days is not always possible.”\nThe change in the law comes as good news for many in the snow clearing business.\nSnow plow operators have been complaining that even one slip and fall accident can cause their insurance premiums to triple.\nDave Fraser, president of DHF Contracting in Oshawa has 20 employees plowing commercial properties and school parking lots. He says last year his insurance premiums jumped from $16,000 to $60,000 for the same coverage.\nFraser believes two years is too long to allow someone to sue and says 60 days will bring more fairness into the system.\n“One slip and fall claim nowadays will get your insurance canceled. They just don't want to be bothered anymore, it's just too much risk,” Fraser said.\nFraser said that often many slip and falls claims are served on a company just weeks before the two years is up.\n”It was right at the last minute and that's the lawyer's tactic hoping we have no paperwork and then they would have a field day with us. With 60 days that allows us to better prepare,\" Fraser said.\nProperty owners must make an effort to keep their walkways and parking lots in a reasonably safe condition. Fraser says the reduced time to sue will help some snow plow operators remain in business.\n“It does make me feel better that we're not going to get hammered two years later with something that may or may not have happened,\" Fraser said.\nIf you do slip on private property and get hurt you're advised to note the address and the time and take photos of the ice and your footwear.\nIf you do plan to seek compensation for your injuries realize that now instead of two years, you'll only have two months to file a claim.", "New Ontario law will allow only 60 days for possible slip and fall claim", "Every year thousands of Canadians are hurt after slipping on icy stairs, steps and sidewalks. Now if it happens in Ontario you’ll have a lot less time to sue for damages." ]

[]

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

"2021-01-13T10:10:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca is tapping two of his leadership rivals to spearhead the effort to build the party's 2022 election platform, which could seek to reverse many funding decisions made by the Progressive Conservative government.\nMichael Coteau and Kate Graham have been appointed as the party's Platform Co-chairs, tasked with canvassing grassroots members of the Liberal Party across the province and developing the policies and promises ahead of the next general election.\n“It’s my sincere commitment to ensure that each member has a chance to participate in a meaningful process where their ideas are heard and reflected in our platform.,\" Del Duca said in a statement.\nThe party highlighted four pillars that will form the spine of the platform including: growing the economy that ensures \"prosperity and dignity\"; education; pharmacare, mental health and elder care; and climate change.\nCoteau and Graham came in second and third during the March 2020 leadership campaign, won by Del Duca, and emerged as powerhouses within the party.\nCoteau, who was one of the few Liberal MPPs who retained his seat during the 2018 election, said in a statement the platform will focus on \"ideas not slogans\"\nGraham, a party candidate in London North Centre, has been critical of the Liberal's top down approach to party politics said her goal is to ensure the platform is written by grassroots members.\n\"For the first time in a long time, we’re simply going to listen,\" Graham said.", "'Ideas not slogans' to drive Ontario Liberal election platform", "Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca is tapping two of his leadership rivals to spearhead the effort to build party's 2022 election platform, that could seek to reverse many funding decisions made by the Progressive Conservative government." ]

[]

"2021-01-23T17:55:49"

"2021-01-23T12:30:00"

"2021-01-23T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A male pedestrian has life-threatening injuries following a collision in the city Saturday morning.\nAt around 10 a.m., Toronto police responded to reports of a collision on Bayview Avenue, north of Queen Street East.\nA man in his 30s was taken to a trauma centre in critical condition, Toronto paramedics said.\nDetails of the collision are unknown.\nBayview Avenue will be closed southbound from River Street and northbound from Queen Street East as police investigate.", "Pedestrian in critical condition following collision in Toronto", "A male pedestrian has life-threatening injuries following a collision in the city Saturday morning." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T20:08:09"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Most outdoor activities and events have shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but skating in Toronto remains open to allow residents to get some exercise and enjoy some fresh air while social distancing.\nOnly a maximum of 25 skaters are allowed on the ice at a time to ensure physical distancing and mask/face coverings are required while on and off the ice.\nThe City of Toronto is advising people to register for a spot on the rinks beforehand, and says a small number of spots will be available for those not able to make a reservation online. Most of the city’s rinks are open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.\nCTV News Toronto has compiled a list of skating rinks in Toronto that remain open during the pandemic.\nDowntown Toronto\nSherbourne Common – 5 Lower Sherbourne Street\nNathan Phillips Square –100 Queen West Street\nRegent Park Athletic Grounds – 480 Shuter Street\nRyerson Community Park – 50 Gould Street\nCollege Park – 420 Yonge Street\nAlexandra Park (Bathurst/Dundas) – 275 Bathurst Street\nTrinity Bellwoods Park – 790 Queen W Street\nChristie Pits Park – 750 Bloor West Street\nRamsden Park – 1020 Yonge Street\nHigh Park – 1873 Bloor W Street\nRennie Park – 1 Rennie Terrace\nDufferin Grove Park – 875 Dufferin Street\nWallace Emerson Park – 1260 Dufferin Street\nCampbell Avenue Playground – 225 Campbell Avenue\nRosedale Park – 20 Scholfield Avenue\nRamsden Park – 1020 Yonge Street\nHodgson Public School – 276 Davisville Avenue\nGreenwood Park – 150 Greenwood Avenue\nKew Gardens – 2075 Queen East Street\nJimmie Simpson Park – 870 Queen E Street\nYork\nCedarvale Park – 443 Arlington Avenue\nGiovanni Caboto Rink – 1367 St Clair West Avenue\nNorth York\nGlen Long Community Centre – 35 Glen Long Avenue\nNorth Toronto Memorial Community Centre – 200 Eglinton W Avenue\nOtter Creek Centre – 140 Cheritan Avenue\nLedbury Park – 160 Ledbury Street\nEthennonnhawahstihnen Park – 80 Mcmahon East Drive\nMel Lastman Square – 5100 Yonge Street\nIrving W Chapley Community Centre – 205 Wilmington Avenue\nVan Horne Park – 561 Van Horne Avenue\nBroadlands Community Centre – 19 Castlegrove Boulevard\nEtobicoke\nJoseph Bannon Park – 65 Mary Chapman Boulevard\nSummerlea Rink – 2 Arcot Boulevard\nSunnydale Acres Rink – 50 Amoro Drive\nRoyalcrest Rink – 50 Cabernet Circle\nLambton - Kingsway Park – 37 Marquis Avenue\nButtonwood Park – 30 Mulham Place\nValleyfield Park – 35 The Westway\nWestway - Outdoor Rink – 175 The Westway\nWestgrove Park – 15 Redgrave Drive\nHumber Valley Rink – 50 Anglesey Boulevard\nWest Deane Park – 19 Sedgebrook Crescent\nWest Mall Rink – 370 The West Mall\nQueensway Rink – 8 Avon Park Drive\nSir Adam Beck Park – 55 Eltham Drive\nColonel Samuel Smith Park – 3145 Lake Shore W Boulevard\nPrince of Wales Rink – 1 Third Street\nWedgewood Park – 15 Swan Avenue\nEast York\nMonarch Park – 115 Felstead Avenue\nWithrow Park – 725 Logan Avenue\nRiverdale Park East – 550 Broadview Avenue\nDieppe Park – 455 Cosburn Avenue\nScarborough", "Here's where you can go skating amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto", "Most outdoor activities and events have shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but skating in Toronto remains open to allow residents to get some exercise and enjoy some fresh air while social distancing." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T03:42:12"

"2021-01-03T22:17:00"

"2021-01-03T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A fire that broke out at a store in Etobicoke Sunday evening is being investigated as suspicious, Toronto police say.\nEmergency crews were called to a building on The Queensway, east of Royal York Road, shortly after 9 p.m.\nWhen firefighters arrived, flames were seen inside the business located on the first floor of the building. Toronto Fire said received a call that someone had broken the window of the store and started a fire.\nThe bulk of the fire was quickly knocked down. A mother and her two children who were residing in a unit above safely made their way out.\nToronto Fire said primary and secondary searches have been conducted, and no injuries are reported.\nA suspect fled the scene in a grey SUV last seen southbound on Milton Street, police said.\nNo suspect description has been released.\nA Toronto Fire investigator has been called to the scene. There are road closures in the area while police investigate.", "Police search for suspect after Etobicoke store set on fire", "A fire that broke out at a store in Etobicoke Sunday evening is being investigated as suspicious, Toronto police say." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T00:36:24"

"2021-01-19T19:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ajax, Ont. man has become an artistic internet sensation, thanks to his TikTok and Instagram accounts called ‘Paint with Jeff.’\nJeff Mitsuo’s process and paintings are featured in the video clips, which have been viewed millions of times on the social media platforms. It’s an ongoing project for Mitsuo, made possible with the help of his friend, Jake Stevens.\n“Jeff and I went to high school together,” Stevens told CTV News Toronto. “I was assigned to work in his special needs class and we’ve just been friends ever since.”\nMitsuo was born with Cerebral Palsy and a developmental delay. Stevens says there are often limitations when it comes to what activities they can do together, and that painting was a new discovery for them this past year.\n“Once the pandemic started, I wanted to find new activities that we could do inside,” explained Stevens. “So we ended up trying painting together!”\nStevens captured videos of Mitsuo painting to show his parents how much their son was enjoying it. He says the videos were so joyful that they decided to share them on TikTok. From there, Mitsuo’s ‘Paint With Jeff’ account took off.\n“It started to blow up,” Stevens said. “He had like 20,000 views on a video, and it just snowballed into one million, two million and then a couple videos hit 16 million.”\nStevens admits that he was nervous exposing his friend online, but that the overwhelming reaction to ‘Paint with Jeff’ has been positive.\n“[Jeff] personally enjoys when I share the comments with him,” Stevens said. “I’ll like read them, like, ‘oh Jeff you’re a famous artist now and people all over the world love you’. They love his art, and that makes it all worth it.”\nMitsuo’s art has had so much exposure that followers on his accounts began asking if they could purchase his paintings. Stevens set up an Etsy account, and before long Mitsuo had sold more than 3,000 pieces to buyers from around the world.\n“It just brings a smile to [Jeff’s] face that people are buying his art, so it’s pretty cool,” Stevens added.\nStevens is now a teacher at R.S. McLaughlin CVI in Oshawa, and turned to a special needs class at the school for help packaging all of Mitsuo’s painting orders. He says the students love it, and it’s been a fun way to make the whole process one done by people with special needs.\nNow, Mitsuo and Stevens are using some of the money from the art sales to give back.\n“We went to Pickering high school together and what we’ve done is we created a bursary for students who have special needs at high school, at least for the next 10 years,” Stevens said. “We’ve donated to the Federation for Cerebral Palsy, this year we’re going to donate to the Niagara Junior Ice Dogs.”\nFor Mitsuo, painting has become a new way to express himself. While being interviewed by CTV News Toronto, he says his favourite colour is blue and that his favourite painting is a recent one of a tree and a starry night.\nStevens says he hopes ‘Paint with Jeff’ is the kind of project that will inspire others to find their passions, and their people who will support them.\n“The thing that I really try to promote with these videos is making art accessible for everybody,” he said. “So regardless of a disability, or fine motor skills, finding ways or tools or techniques or whatever it might be to benefit or enjoy art, I try to have one or two ways of creating something that otherwise might not be possible.”\nHe adds that Mitsuo will continue painting and sharing his process with his million followers on TikTok and thousands of followers on Instagram.\n“We’re just having fun and it’s just another day for us and people can watch the process, which is really cool,” said Stevens. “So for me, it’s just continuing to grow off that and find things that he enjoys.”", "Ontario man’s ‘Paint with Jeff’ goes viral on TikTok, helps special needs community", "An Ajax, Ont. man has become an artistic internet sensation, thanks to his TikTok and Instagram accounts called ‘Paint with Jeff.’" ]

[]

"2021-01-03T19:34:43"

"2021-01-03T14:09:00"

"2021-01-03T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- One person has been rushed to a trauma centre after a collision involving a pickup truck and a transport truck in Brampton, Ont. Sunday afternoon.\nEmergency crews were called to the area of Queen Street and Cherrycrest Drive, near McVean Drive, around 1 p.m. after receiving a report of a crash.\nPolice say an adult male driver of a pickup truck sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a trauma centre for treatment. No other injuries were reported.\nBoth vehicles remained at the scene, police added.\nRoads in the area remain closed while the major collision bureau investigates the incident.", "One person rushed to trauma centre after Brampton crash involving transport truck", "One person has been rushed to a trauma centre after a collision involving a pickup truck and a transport truck in Brampton, Ont. Sunday afternoon." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T13:36:26"

"2021-01-04T07:48:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The first five health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ontario 21 days ago are set to receive their second dose on Monday.\nOn Dec. 14, personal support worker Anita Quidangen was the first person in Ontario to receive the initial dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.\nLucky Aguila, Derek Thompson, Cecile Lasco, and Collette Cameron followed.\nNow, the five, who all work at The Rekai Centre on Sherbourne Street, are set to receive their second dose of the vaccine at Toronto’s University Health Network on Monday.\nThe final doses of the vaccine are expected to be administered to the five health-care workers at 11:30 a.m.\nPremier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott are expected to be in attendance.\nAs of Sunday evening, the provincial government says 37,551 initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.", "First health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ontario set to receive second dose today", "The first five health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ontario 21 days ago are set to receive their second dose on Monday." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T12:29:31"

"2021-01-14T10:21:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto’s proposed budget for 2021 relies on nearly $900 million in assumed funding from other levels of government as the city’s finances continue to be ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.\nStaff say that they embarked upon this year’s budget process facing a staggering $2.2 billion shortfall but were able to reduce that number after finding $573 million in efficiencies, including tens of millions of dollars from freezing the salaries of non-unionized employees.\nThey say that the remaining $1.6 billion in financial pressures related to the pandemic can be offset through $740 million in Safe Restart funding that has already been secured and another $856 million in assumed funding that the city hopes to receive from other levels of government in 2021.\nThe city is also assuming that the federal government will come to the table with $61 million in funding to help cover the cost of providing shelter for refugees and that the province will provide it with an additional $16 million in funding for supportive housing.\nIn total, the shortfall equates to nearly seven per cent of the $13.95 billion operating budget released publicly for the first time on Thursday morning.\nStaff say that if the federal and provincial governments don’t come to the table to help fill the hole, the “backstop” would be a combination of cancelling or deferring capital projects and borrowing from reserve funds.\nThe city is required by law to balance its budget and cannot borrow money to finance its operating budget.\n“Very clearly our strategy is to balance the budget by asking for further financial assistance,” City Manager Chris Murray said during a budget committee meeting. “The alternative to this is to look very directly at our reserves and our capital program and take that kind of money from those areas. That also doesn’t rule out the possibility of higher taxation and other measures that might be needed if we are not able to get the provincial and federal governments to support us.”\nThe city faced $1.8 billion in operating pressures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to fully cover that loss through $534 million in savings that it found on its own and funding from a $19 billion federal fund to help provinces and municipalities restart their economies.\nStaff say that in 2021 the TTC alone will face an additional $796 million in financial pressures due to the pandemic. The city will also have to fork out an addition $281 million in order to help maintain phsyical distancing in its shelter system.\n“I don't have to stress with what has happened over the last year that this will be probably our toughest budget season we have seen or many of us have seen in recent memory,” Budget Chief Gary Crawford warned at the outset of Thursday’s meeting. “A lot of work has been done to make sure we are holding the line on tax increases while at the same time preserving services that our residents rely on.”\nInflation-based tax hike\nThe proposed budget for 2021 includes $56 million in new investments, including money to pay for the continuation of the city’s ActiveTO and CafeTO programs and expand the eligibility for the TTC fare pass program.\nThe budget also includes an inflation-based 0.7 per cent residential tax increase, which would be the smallest tax hike passed during Mayor John Tory’s tenure.\nIt should, however, be noted that the increase goes up to 2.2 per cent when you tack on a 1.5 per cent hike to the city building levy that was approved back in 2019.\nStaff say that as a result the owner of an average priced home valued at $698,000 will pay an additional $69 in 2021. The average property tax bill would total $3,201.\nStaff say that the property tax hike will raise an additional $23 million and another $41 million will be added to the city’s coffers through property tax assessment growth.\nMeanwhile, the budget warns of financial challenges that are likely to continue into 2022 due to COVID-19, even with the expected widespread vaccination of Torontonians.\nStaff say that they are expecting an opening shortfall of between $1.1 and $1.8 billion in the city’s 2022 budget, including a minimum $387 million operating pressure faced by the TTC that could go as high as $796 million.\n“We are experiencing a challenge right now which will not just end abruptly,” Murray said during Thursday’s presentation. “It will continue to present challenges for us. But I you are going to bet on a city in this country and in the world I would be betting on Toronto.”\nThe city has relied on assumed funding from others level of government to balance its budget before, most recently in 2020 when it passed its budget despite an outstanding request to the federal government for $77 million to help cover the cost of resettling refugees.\nIn that case, the money was eventually received.\nPublic consultations on the budget will take place on January 25 and 26. It will then go to city council as a whole for final approval on Feb. 18.\nCTV News Toronto will provide live coverage below:", "2021 Toronto budget process begins with proposed 0.7 per cent property tax hike", "Toronto’s proposed budget for 2021 relies on nearly $900 million in assumed funding from other levels of government as the city’s finances continue to be ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic." ]

[]

"2021-01-27T02:33:44"

"2021-01-26T20:53:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating after one person died in a fire in Acton Tuesday.\nThe fire broke out near 4th Line and Highway 7 Tuesday afternoon, the Halton Hills Fire Department said in a tweet.\nA picture from the scene shared by the fire department showed visible flames in a garage structure.\nAt around 6:20 p.m., firefighters said the blaze had been knocked down.\nNo information has been provided so far about the person who died.\nIt is not yet clear how the fire started.\nThe fire marshal’s office said it will be investigating the origin and cause of the fire.", "Fire officials investigate after one person dies in Acton, Ont. fire", "Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating after one person died in a fire in Acton Tuesday." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T01:25:48"

"2021-01-25T19:11:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Support staff concerned about the adequacy of COVID-19 safety precautions have begun a work stoppage at a downtown public school that serves students with a developmental and or physical disability.\nIn a letter sent to parents on Monday and shared by the Toronto District School Board, the school’s principal said a work refusal process began today at Beverley School.\n“This process involves the TDSB and the Ministry of Labour discussing concerns with the impacted staff to come to a resolution,” Principal Danjela Malobabic said in the letter. “In this particular situation, there are concerns about COVID-19.”\nTeachers remain in classes while the discussions are ongoing and administrators from neighbouring schools have been brought in to ensure that there are sufficient staff onsite, Malobabic said.\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.\n“I want to assure you that the health and safety of our students is a top priority. Currently, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in our school which, as per the Ministry of Education, remains open to provide in-person learning in cases where students with special education needs cannot be accommodated with remote learning,” Malobabic said to parents in the letter.\nShe said the school continues to follow “stringent” health and safety protocols from the TDSB.\nHowever she did say an early dismissal could happen as early as Tuesday if there are concerns about adequate supervision of students. She said parents or guardians will be contacted if that is the case.\nThe workers in question are represented by CUPE. Their local could not immediately be reached for comment.\nHowever there have been growing calls for weeks to better support in-person special education workers.\nLast week the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) called on the Ford government to provide emergency funding to increase safety measures for special education programs.\n“For some students with complex special education needs, there are no viable alternatives to the highly specialized in-person programs they currently attend. However, their safety, and that of the educators and other school-based staff that support them, should not be compromised,” ETFO said in a statement.\nThe union called for risk assessments for every classroom where students are learning in person; higher-grade personal protective equipment (PPE); enhanced and more frequent cleaning protocols in in-person classrooms; portable air purification units and carbon dioxide monitors for all classrooms that are open; evidence of completion of a COVID-19 screener and reduced class sizes.\nETFO also called for all education workers required to deliver in-person special education programs to be given a vaccine as soon as possible.", "Support staff concerned about COVID-19 begin work refusal process at Toronto special needs school", "Support staff concerned about the adequacy of COVID-19 safety precautions have begun a work stoppage at a downtown public school that serves students with a developmental and or physical disability." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-07T20:21:41"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Students in southern Ontario will not return to the classroom on Monday for in-person learning amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the province.\nElementary schools in the southern part of the province (south of Sudbury) will remain closed until Jan. 25, which is two weeks later than the original reopening date.\nIn-person learning will still resume in northern Ontario for elementary students on Monday.\nSecondary students are still slated to return to in-person learning on Jan. 25.\nThe province also announced that the lockdown in northern Ontario will be extended until Jan. 25, which aligns with the end of the lockdown for the rest of the province.\nThis is a developing new story. More to come.", "Students in southern Ontario will not return to class for in-person learning until Jan. 25", "Students in southern Ontario will not return to the classroom on Monday for in-person learning amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the province." ]

[]

"2021-01-23T00:58:32"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Two TTC special constables who were involved in an altercation with a streetcar passenger nearly a year ago have been fired, their union said Friday.\nCUPE 5089, which represents more than 180 TTC special constables, fare inspectors, and protective service guards, confirmed the news in a statement posted to Twitter. The union said it is disappointed in the transit agency's decision.\nThe officers' termination comes more than a month after an investigation into the Feb. 7 incident on a 501 streetcar found that the officer's use of force against a passenger was \"unnecessary\" and \"discriminatory.\"\nA short video captured part of the incident and was posted online. In the video, two TTC special constables are seen subduing a man. One of them pins him to a streetcar seat, while the other deploys a pepper spray on him.\nThe TTC retained an independent workplace investigation firm to probe the incident after the video garnered the attention of the public and city officials who called it \"very disconcerting\" and \"unacceptable.\"\nAccording to the report released on Dec. 12, two special constables and a fare inspector used unnecessary force during the altercation. The investigator also found that the use of force by the special constables \"was impacted by their perception\" of the passenger's mental health, which was discriminatory.\nThe report made several recommendations, including improving training regarding mental health and more clarity regarding fare inspectors' use of force. The firing of those involved was not in the report's list of recommendations.\nToronto's ombudsman called on the TTC to overhaul how it oversees its special constables and fare enforcement officers following the release of the report.\nThe union disputed the report and said it was \"politically motivated and failed to take into consideration any of the relevant legal, procedural, or factual evidence.\"\nCUPE 5089 maintains that the actions of the constables were reasonable. The union noted that the officers were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Toronto Police Professional Standards a month after the incident.\n\"As we have done from the beginning, we will continue to fully support the actions of our members,\" the union said.\n\"The only positive that has come from this unfortunate incident is that the level of violence occurring almost daily towards customers and staff on Toronto Transit Commission has finally been brought to the public's attention.\"\nCUPE 5089 said they have filed a grievance with the TTC and expect the constables to be reinstated.\nIn a statement, TTC spokesperson Stuart Green confirmed the news but said the agency will not comment further as the union has indicated the matter is still active.", "TTC fires special constables involved in violent streetcar incident last February", "Two TTC special constables who were involved in an altercation with a streetcar passenger nearly a year ago have been fired, their union said Friday." ]

[]

"2021-01-23T23:49:21"

"2021-01-23T17:15:00"

"2021-01-23T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- A group of employees who work the same shift at a Canada Post facility in Mississauga have been sent home and advised to isolate to prevent further spread of COVID-19 as the number of cases at the site continues to climb.\nThe Crown corporation said 350 employees and contractors who worked on the afternoon shift (shift 3) in Gateway East were instructed to leave the Dixie Road location Friday evening and told to self-isolate for 14 days.\n\"This precautionary measure was recommended by Peel Public Health late Friday, January 22 as the most effective way to control further spread at this stage,\" Canada Post said in a statement.\nShift 3 workers who were not working Friday are also being told not to return to the facility for two weeks from the last day they were in the facility.\nPublic health officials conducted rapid testing of shift 3 workers earlier this week, which resulted in 42 positive tests. So far, a total of 190 workers have tested positive for COVID-19.\n\"Given the significance of the Gateway facility within our processing network, we are evaluating and adapting our existing contingency plans to manage the impact on customers,\" said the Crown corporation.\nWhen asked if mail or parcel delivery could be affected, a spokesperson for Canada Post said customers should track their packages online or on its app.\nCanada Post noted that rapid on-site testing will also begin next week for employees working on shift 2. Those who refused to be tested will need to self-isolate for 14 days.\nEnforcement of safety protocols will continue at the facility, Canada Post said, with an increased focus on washrooms, lunchrooms and locker rooms.\nMeanwhile, the Canada Border Services Agency said its officers working at the facility had been moved to the main floor to the upstairs mezzanine area to limit contact with Canada Post employees.\n\"International mail continues to be processed by CBSA officers at the CPC satellite facility located at Toronto Pearson International airport,\" a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement.\nThere are no known COVID-19 cases among officers linked to the outbreak, and there have been no positive cases among CBSA staff at the facility since November 2020, the agency said.\nMore than 4,500 employees work in mail processing, technical services, transportation, casual and administration at the facility.", "350 Canada Post employees at Mississauga, Ont. facility sent home to self-isolate as cases continue to rise", "A group of employees who work the same shift at a Canada Post facility in Mississauga have been sent home and advised to isolate to prevent further spread of COVID-19 as the number of cases at the site continues to climb." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T21:23:49"

"2021-01-22T09:28:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Todd Barclay of Restaurants Canada tells us more about the dire situation many restaurants are facing and ways we can help them stay afloat.\nMore from Restaurants Canada here.", "How to help restaurants survive the pandemic", "Todd Barclay of Restaurants Canada tells us more about the dire situation many restaurants are facing and ways we can help them stay afloat." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T18:35:44"

"2021-01-04T12:16:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A four-year-old dog, who remains missing, was forcefully stolen from a female while she was walking in Whitby last week, police in Durham Region said.\nThe incident, which police are calling a street-level robbery, took place at around 11 p.m. on Dec. 30 in the area of Ash and Mary streets.\nAt the time, the female victim was walking her two dogs and was approached by two suspects, investigators said in a news release issued on Monday afternoon.\nPolice said the suspects took one of the two dogs before fleeing the area westbound in a waiting white SUV.\nA female bystander witnessed the incident, according to police, and attempted to assist but was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance.\nBoth female victims sustained minor physical injuries in the robbery, police said.\nThe stolen dog has been described by officers as a brown and white mixed bulldog named Nina. A photograph of Nina has been released by police as she has not yet been located.\nOne arrest has been made in the investigation thus far, but police are continuing to search for a second suspect.\nPickering resident Ali Habeib, 28, has been charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and administer a noxious thing.\nPolice have described the second suspect as a Black man who is tall and has a heavy build. Officers said he has orange/blonde hair and goes by the name Deebo.\nAnyone with further information regarding this incident or Nina’s whereabouts is asked to contact police at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 1835 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).", "Dog forcefully stolen from female remains missing, Durham Regional Police say", "A four-year-old dog, who remains missing, was forcefully stolen from a female while she was walking in Whitby last week, police in Durham Region said." ]

[]

"2021-01-18T20:08:19"

"2021-01-18T12:14:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Toronto police have identified a 20-year-old Brampton man who was shot and killed in North York over the weekend.\nJust before 6 p.m. on Sunday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting at 25 Duncanwoods Drive, located near Finch Avenue West and Islington Avenue.\nUpon arrival at the scene, officers spotted a man fleeing the area on foot, as well as another man suffering from a gunshot wound.\nThe wounded man was pronounced dead at the scene.\nOn Monday, investigators identified him as Tyjjuan Kidd-Bailey.\nOfficials have not released any suspect description in the case thus far.\n“Investigators are requesting residents, business owners, or anyone who was in the area, to check their security cameras or dash-cams for footage that may assist in this investigation,” officers said in a news release.\nAnyone with further information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).", "Police identify 20-year-old Brampton man fatally shot in Toronto", "Toronto police have identified a 20-year-old Brampton man who was shot and killed in North York over the weekend." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T20:29:10"

"2021-01-11T15:17:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A laboratory in Hamilton has apologized after 31 people received incorrect COVID-19 test results because of what it called a processing error.\nThe Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program says everyone who received incorrect results has been contacted and the error has been addressed.\nHamilton Health Services, which operates the lab with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, says 16 people who tested positive initially received a negative result.\nAnd it says 15 people who didn't have COVID-19 were told they had tested positive.\nThe tests processed at the lab were collected in Hamilton, Burlington, Ont., and other surrounding areas on Dec. 30 and 31.\nHamilton's public health unit says the error in its daily case counts has since been altered to reflect the accurate information.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2021.", "Hamilton lab apologizes after 31 people receive incorrect COVID-19 test results", "A laboratory in Hamilton has apologized after 31 people received incorrect COVID-19 test results because of what it called a processing error." ]

[]

"2021-01-21T21:43:17"

"2021-01-21T16:33:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A popular bakery in Etobicoke will close for two weeks after a number of employees tested positive for COVID-19.\nAccording to a social media post, SanRemo Bakery and Cafe will close its doors on Jan. 22 and reopen on Feb. 6. On Thursday, the bakery appeared to still be open to customers.\n“Some of our employees in the baking department have tested positive for COVID-19. Our father has also tested positive,” the bakery said on social media. “We need to take some time to ensure it is not spread any further, deep clean the bakery and focus on the health of our family and employees.”\nThe bakery said the last employee who tested positive worked on Jan. 16, and added that all staff wear masks and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.\n“The employees who tested positive from the back did not have any interaction with the public and anyone who was possibly in contact is in isolation.”\nThe bakery says it is working with Toronto Public Health and will be following their advice on how to move forward.\n“This is not an easy time for us. It’s tough operating during a pandemic and we are heartbroken right now.”\nThe family-owned bakery, located near Royal York Boulevard and Simpson Avenue, has operated in the city for more than 50 years and is known for its Italian-inspired dishes and desserts.", "Popular Etobicoke bakery closes for two weeks after employees test positive for COVID-19", "A popular bakery in Etobicoke will close for two weeks after a number of employees tested positive for COVID-19." ]

[]

"2021-01-16T03:21:41"

"2021-01-15T22:08:00"

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

[ "OTTAWA -- Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, Matt Murray made 20 saves in his Ottawa debut, and the Senators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Friday in their first game in more than 10 months.\nThomas Chabot, Austin Watson, Derek Stepan and Chris Tierney also scored for Ottawa. Josh Norris, with his first NHL points, Drake Batherson and Nikita Zaitsev added two assists each in the first of nine meetings between the Ontario rivals in the pandemic-shortened season.\nJohn Tavares, with a goal and an assist, Zach Hyman and Alexander Kerfoot replied for the Leafs . Frederik Andersen stopped 19 shots for Toronto, which will look to rebound when the teams play the rematch Saturday back inside an empty Canadian Tire Centre because of COVID-19 restrictions.\nFriday's tilt marked the Senators' first game in 310 days after they unknowingly took part in the final contest of the 2019-20 regular season March 11 in Los Angeles against the Kings. The league suspended its schedule the following day because of the widening coronavirus pandemic, and 30th-ranked Ottawa was among the seven clubs not included in the 24-team summer restart.\nPlaying their first home game since March 5 - a stretch of 316 days - the rebuilding Senators unveiled an off-season roster remake that includes No. 3 overall pick Tim Stutzle, who celebrated both his NHL debut and 19th birthday, Murray in goal, defencemen Erik Gudbranson, Josh Brown and Braydon Coburn, as well as Stepan, Watson, Evgenii Dadonov and Cedric Paquette up front.\nThe Leafs , Senators and Canada's other five NHL franchises have been grouped together in the one-time-only North Division for the abbreviated 56-game 2020-21 campaign to avoid cross-border travel into the U.S.\nTied 1-1 after 20 minutes, the Leafs went ahead at 9:15 of the second when Kerfoot fired a shot through traffic past Murray, who was playing his first game with Ottawa after an off-season trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.\nBut the Senators got back even 1:13 later when Tkachuk outmuscled T.J. Brodie in front of Andersen to tip Zaitsev's shot home. Watson then got in on the action at 12:32, taking a drop pass from Braydon Coburn after some nice work by Nick Paul, and ripping a shot in off the crossbar to give Ottawa its first lead.\nTierney then made it 4-2 at 15:03 when he swatted at a loose puck that deflected in off Brodie as the Leafs , who beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in overtime on Wednesday in their season opener, were once again soft in coverage in front of Andersen.\nBrodie's miserable night continued when he gave the puck away behind the Toronto net to Stepan. Batherson's stick broke on his shot attempt, but the puck dribbled to Stepan, who swept Ottawa's 5-2 goal past Andersen at 6:15 of the third.\nThe Leafs got a power play not long after that, and Tavares snapped his second of the season in off the post just 52 seconds later for Toronto's second power-play goal of the night and fourth already in 2021.\nAndersen kept his team within two with a great stop on a pinching Gudbranson with about eight minutes to go and then also robbed Paquette from in tight a couple shifts later, but the Leafs were unable to get any closer.\nToronto opened the scoring at 9:59 of the first when Hyman batted a puck out of midair on a power play after Murray, who was playing in the 200th regular-season game of his career, made the initial save. The sequence went to video review for a possible high stick, but the call on the ice stood.\nWearing rebranded black jerseys featuring a return to the two-dimensional centurion logo used by the franchise from 1992 through 2007, the Senators equalized on a 5-on-3 man advantage when Batherson found Chabot for a one-timer with 43.5 seconds left in the period.\nNotes: There was a pre-game moment of silence in honour of former “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek and former Senators general manager John Muckler. Trebek, who died Nov. 8 at age 80, was a graduate of the University of Ottawa and announced the pick when the Senators selected Stutzle third overall at October's NHL draft. Muckler, who died Jan. 4 at age 86, served as Ottawa's general manager from 2001 to 2007... Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the morning skate backup goalie Jack Campbell will start Saturday.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021.", "Tkachuk, Senators down Maple Leafs 5-3 in 1st game in 10 months", "Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, Matt Murray made 20 saves in his Ottawa debut, and the Senators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Friday in their first game in more than 10 months." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T22:44:43"

"2021-01-04T15:41:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- An Ontario hospital network will be temporarily taking over a long-term care home in Toronto plagued by a COVID-19 outbreak.\nSt. George Care Community, a long-term care facility in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, has been struggling to control an outbreak of the novel coronavirus since Dec. 4, 2020.\nAs of Monday, 94 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed among residents and 59 additional cases were found in staff.\nSix residents of the long-term care home have died after contracting COVID-19, according to provincial data.\nOn Monday, the Ontario government said that a 90-day voluntary contract was agreed to allowing the University Health Network to “provide enhanced support” to the home.\nThe government said the contract can be extended if necessary.\n“This arrangement will help address the current spread of COVID-19 in the home, help stabilize the situation and return the home to normal operations,” the news release said.\nThe provincial government has issued seven mandatory management orders and approved 24 voluntary management contracts between Ontario hospitals and long-term care homes struggling with outbreaks.\nThere are 233 outbreaks at Ontario long-term care homes as of Monday. More than 2,800 of the 4,676 people who have died after contracting COVID-19 have been residents of long-term care homes.", "University Health Network takes over Toronto long-term care home battling deadly COVID-19 outbreak", "An Ontario hospital network will be temporarily taking over a long-term care home in Toronto plagued by a COVID-19 outbreak." ]

[]

"2021-01-09T02:51:23"

"2021-01-08T20:15:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The owners of Yang’s Sushi are confused and say they’re possibly out of approximately $60,000 in sales.\nThe Unionville restaurant, which offers sushi platters, partnered with online food service company DoorDash just over two weeks ago.\nAndy Li speaks for the business and claims DoorDash is holding back money from in-store pickup orders because it can’t prove they were real.\n“We were shocked by this,” said Li. “If we don’t receive the money, because we paid a lot of money on the labour and ingredients especially over the Christmas season. it’s going to be hard for us to survive.”\nIn a statement to CTV News, DoorDash said it always works to ensure the highest quality of service and protect merchants.\n“Upon further investigation, we identified fraudulent activity associated with this account, and are actively working with the merchant to resolve the issue. We hope to find a solution quickly and remain committed to supporting our community,” said a spokesperson.\nLi said the company asked for proof of some orders, but says the receipts generated from DoorDash aren’t accepted.\nLi says instead the company wants at least one image of a customer physically picking up an order from a list of orders. Some of the orders don’t show a first or last name.\nDoorDash tells CTV News asking for an image is one way it verifies orders but Yang said he can’t provide the evidence.\n“DoorDash is a big a platform and we totally trust it,” said Li. “We just didn’t know it would come to this. We’re hoping we can work together and figure this out together.”\nDoordash said it’s working to get to the bottom of the issue. Neither party said they’ve contacted police.", "Markham, Ont. restaurant out about $60K in sales after DoorDash questions some orders", "A GTA restaurant claims DoorDash is holding back money from in-store pickup orders because it can’t prove they were real." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T18:16:29"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- A judge is expected to render a decision today as to whether the province can proceed with the demolition of a group of heritage buildings in the West Don Lands.\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.\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 tweet, the group “Friends of the Foundry” called for supporters to come out and demonstrate at the site at noon as they await the judge’s decision.", "Court decision expected today on demolition of Toronto's Foundry site heritage properties", "A judge is expected to render a decision today as to whether the province can proceed with the demolition of a group of heritage buildings in the West Don Lands." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T17:05:13"

"2021-01-05T11:51:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Police have released surveillance camera images of a suspect wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.\nPolice say that the victim was in the Fort York Boulevard and Spadina Avenue area at around 1 a.m. on Dec. 6 when she was approached by the suspect.\nThey say that the suspect befriended the girl and they spent some time together. He is then alleged to have sexually assaulted her at some point during that time.\nThe suspect is described as brown, about five-foot-six and in his early 20s with a thin build, black-shoulder-length hair and a beard.\nHe was last seen wearing a brown jacket and dark pants.", "Police release images of suspect in sexual assault of 12-year-old girl", "Police have released surveillance camera images of a suspect wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl." ]

[]

"2021-01-08T01:35:42"

"2021-01-07T20:23:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Hospitals in Ontario are now being instructed to prepare to accept COVID-19 patients from across the province as case numbers spike and space in intensive care reaches capacity.\nOntario Health’s President and CEO Matthew Anderson made the call Thursday while outlining the steps hospitals must take “immediately” to provide care for all patients in the province, whether they are infected with the novel coronavirus or not.\n“To meet these needs, we must continue to do more to work as a single, seamless hospital system,” Anderson wrote in a memo obtained by CTV News Toronto.\nAnderson said hospitals with unoccupied adult ICU beds must reserve approximately one-third of their space for transfers from other hospitals that are exceeding their own capacity, regardless of where that patient was being treated originally.\n“This includes accepting patients from other hospitals in and outside your regions, sharing resources, and prioritizing—so we can continue to provide safe, effective care to both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients across the province.”\nThe memo goes onto say that Ontario Health is working with the Ontario Critical Care COVID-19 Command Centre to provide hospitals with instructions on the beds that need to be reserved.\nAs well, the memo states that hospitals in areas of community transmission should have a plan in place to “appropriately defer non-time-sensitive care, if required.”\nFacilities in those areas are being instructed to continue all surgical, procedural, and other non-COVID-19 in-person care “without delay” if it is considered time-sensitive.\nAs of Thursday, there are a record 1,472 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals across Ontario. Of those patients, 363 are being treated in intensive care.\nThe province has long said that when there are more than 300 COVID-19 patients in the ICU, medical care not related to the disease becomes nearly impossible to handle.\nAccording to Anderson, the province will see more than 500 COVID-19 related patients in the ICU by Jan. 24 and over 1,700 hospitalizations.\n“We need to work as a provincial system at a level never required before,” Anderson wrote.\n“What we do together in the next few days and weeks will set the stage for our ability to meet escalating and anticipated hospital capacity demands.”", "Ontario Health tells hospitals to be ready to accept COVID-19 patients from hardest-hit regions", "Hospitals in Ontario are now being instructed to prepare to accept COVID-19 patients from across the province as case numbers spike and space in intensive care reaches capacity." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T12:50:50"

"2021-01-26T07:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Two people are dead and three others were injured after a major multi-vehicle crash that closed all lanes of the QEW in Burlington on Tuesday morning, local paramedics said.\nThe Ministry of Transportation said sometime before 6 a.m. Tuesday multiple cars collided on the ramp from Brant Street in Burlington to the Toronto-bound QEW.\nHalton Paramedics told CP24 that two people were pronounced dead at the scene, one other person was taken to a trauma centre in critical condition and two others were taken to local hospitals.\nPolice also later closed the Fort Erie-bound lanes at Guelph Line.\nAs many as five vehicles may have been involved.", "Burlington crash on QEW leaves two people dead, three others injured", "Two people are dead and three others were injured after a major multi-vehicle crash that closed all lanes of the QEW in Burlington on Tuesday morning, local paramedics said." ]

[ "Gregory Strong" ]

"2021-01-10T22:33:14"

"2021-01-10T16:25:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A picturesque scene of a few dozen ducks navigating the icy sun-splashed river along Fairy Lake Park in Newmarket was interrupted by the sudden arrival of the southern Ontario town's newest celebrity.\n\"Eddie,\" a mandarin duck who recently escaped from his owner's nearby farm, plunged into the chilly waters to join some local mallards for a dip. His landing provided an instant boost to the local buzz that had been building after some recent sightings and social media posts.\nEddie didn't disappoint, fluttering his wings and showing off his dazzling colours to oohs and ahhs from youngsters and adults alike.\n\"I thought, 'Wow, that is a spectacular duck,\"' said local resident Judie Rollins.\nWith a thin sheet of ice covering most of the river, a small section of flowing water by a park bridge proved to be an ideal spot for a frolic. Eddie even tried gingerly strutting on the ice before settling back in the water to the delight of onlookers.\nKids from the nearby toboggan hill noticed the commotion and ran over to catch a glimpse. Photographers stationed along the snow-packed riverbank vigorously snapped away. Families out for a stroll on the adjoining nature trail peered through the brush to get a view.\n\"It's a beautiful day and I needed to go for a little walk and get some exercise and some fresh air,\" said Rollins. \"I was not expecting to see him at all. I was pleasantly surprised.\"\nThe duck's owner, Tracey Harpley, has been frequenting the area south of Newmarket's main drag hoping to catch Eddie. She has left some seed in a small pen nearby, hoping he'll remember his usual routine and settle inside.\n\"I'm glad people got to enjoy him,\" she said. \"But now I think it's best he comes home.\"\nHarpley, who volunteers for wildlife rehabilitation centres, cares for several small rescue animals. She said her 11-year-old daughter helps take care of their domestic ducks, who live on a large pond on their property.\nEddie took off one evening after being spooked by a flock of geese, Harpley said. He has been spotted at some other ponds but has yet to return.\n\"He's quite friendly, which makes him a little bit saucy,\" she said. \"That's why he's kind of holding his own (out) there.\"\nPrimarily found in Asia and Europe, the mandarin duck has an exotic look with brilliant orange feathers at the back. White crescents by the eyes are split by an unusual slicked mohawk-like look featuring red, green and black tones.\nHarpley plans to work with animal control officers over the coming days to try to get Eddie back in her possession.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2021.", "Mandarin duck escapes Newmarket, Ont. farm, becomes hit in town", "A picturesque scene of a few dozen ducks navigating the icy sun-splashed river along Fairy Lake Park in Newmarket was interrupted by the sudden arrival of the southern Ontario town's newest celebrity." ]

[ "Katherine Declerq" ]

"2021-01-07T16:16:54"

"2021-01-07T10:20:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario has broken two COVID-19 records with more than 3,500 new cases logged and 89 more deaths confirmed.\nHealth officials confirmed 3,519 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a significant increase from the 3,266 infections logged a day earlier. They also logged 89 more deaths related to the disease, surpassing the province's all-time record of 86 deaths recorded on April 30.\nAt least 43 of the deaths confirmed on Thursday were residents at Ontario long-term care homes.\nThe death toll related to COVID-19 in the province now stands at 4,856.\nOf those deaths, 3,347 were reported in people over the age of 80. At least 1,299 of the deceased were between the ages of 60 and 79 while 187 deaths were reported in people between the ages of 40 and 59.\nTwenty-one people between the ages of 20 and 39 have died after contracting COVID-19.\nThis is the fourth day in a row in which the daily COVID-19 case count has been above 3,100 and the first time the number has surpassed the 3,500 mark since the beginning of the pandemic.\nAccording to the province’s epidemiology report, the majority of cases continue to be found in people under the age of 60. Of Thursday’s 3,519 infections, 2,340 were between the ages of 20 and 59.\nThere were 514 cases in people between the ages of 60 and 79, and 208 in seniors over the age of 80.\nOfficials also reported 448 COVID-19 cases in people under the age of 20.\nThe number of hospitalizations due to the disease continues to rise, with a record-breaking 1,472 people being treated for COVID-19 at Ontario facilities. Of those patients, 363 are in the intensive care unit, with 242 breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.\nOntario reached a new milestone on Wednesday as it surpassed the 200,000 COVID-19 infection mark since the beginning of the pandemic—a record that was reached just 47 days after the province recorded 100,000 cases.\nWhere are the COVID-19 cases?\nThe majority of infections continue to be found in southern Ontario.\nThere were 892 cases in Toronto, 568 in Peel Region, 457 in York Region, 208 in Windsor-Essex, 175 in the region of Waterloo, 174 in Durham Region, 164 in Ottawa, 115 in Middlesex-London and 112 in Niagara.\nOther public health units reporting more than 50 infections include Halton Region (95), Simcoe-Muskoka (78) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (90).\nThe province processed more than 65,700 COVID-19 tests in the last 24 hours. The Ministry of Health says Ontario’s positivity rate now stands at about 6.1 per cent.\nOntario has been under a province-wide lockdown since Dec. 26, which forces non-essential businesses to close and prohibits in-person dining at restaurants and bars. The lockdown measures are scheduled to be lifted on Jan. 9 in northern Ontario and Jan. 23 in southern Ontario.\nPublicly-funded elementary schools in Ontario are scheduled to resume in-person learning on Jan. 11.\nIn northern Ontario, secondary school students will be able to attend class on Jan. 11 as well. In southern Ontario, those students will remain at home and continue classes virtually until at least Jan. 25.", "Ontario breaks COVID-19 records with more than 3,500 new cases, 89 deaths", "Ontario has broken two COVID-19 records with more than 3,500 new cases logged and 89 more deaths confirmed." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T03:24:22"

"2021-01-12T19:36:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Rexdale.\nIt happened at around 7 p.m. at the intersection of Kipling Avenue and Finch Avenue West, Toronto police said.\nThe man was found unresponsive and was rushed to hospital via emergency run, police said.\nLocal roads have been closed as traffic services investigates the incident.\nThe driver of the vehicle remained at the scene, police said.", "Pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries in Rexdale crash", "A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Rexdale." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T15:27:25"

"2021-01-15T10:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are recording a spike in the number of people who have died due to COVID-19, as the province reports just over 2,900 new cases of the disease.\nThe province reported on Friday that 100 more people have died due to the novel coronavirus, but officials said 46 of those deaths recorded by Middlesex-London Health Unit occurred earlier in the pandemic but were just reported now.\nHealth officials confirmed another 2,998 infections on Friday, after a jump in case numbers just the day before when the province reported 3,326 new cases. Before that jump, less than 3,000 new cases were reported on Wednesday and Tuesday.\nWith a record-breaking 76,472 tests completed, the province positivity rate on Friday also fell to 4.6 per cent, the lowest rate seen since Dec. 26.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come…", "Ontario records 100 more COVID-19-related deaths, just under 3,000 new infections", "Ontario health officials are recording a spike in the number of people who have died due to COVID-19, as the province reports just over 2,900 new cases of the disease." ]

[]

"2021-01-30T03:15:49"

"2021-01-29T20:31:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A man is dead and a woman is in critical condition following a shooting in the city’s Summerhill neighbourhood.\nEmergency crews were called to the area of Yonge Street and Summerhill Avenue Friday evening following reports of shots fired.\nToronto paramedics said a woman and a man were located suffering from life-threatening injuries.\nThe man was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. The woman has been transported to a trauma centre via an emergency run.\nThe suspect fled the area in a vehicle, police said. No description has been released.", "Man dead, woman in critical condition after shooting in Toronto's Summerhill neighbourhood", "A man is dead and a woman is in critical condition following a shooting in the city’s Summerhill neighbourhood." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T22:18:55"

"2021-01-06T16:22:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The head of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout says he hopes to vaccinate residents and staff at long-term care homes in hot spots ahead of the mid-January deadline, adding that distribution of the shots can only go as fast as the supply.\nRet. Gen. Rick Hillier said the premier has asked the vaccination task force to complete vaccinations at 161 homes in the high-risk areas of Toronto, Windsor-Essex, Peel and York regions by Jan. 21.\n“We believe we’re actually going to be completed before that, in part, because of the great work of people like right here,” said Hillier, as he visited St. Clair O’Connor Community Centre, a long-term care home in Toronto.\nHillier was at the home Wednesday to witness two residents get a shot of the Moderna vaccine. They are among the last of 2,500 residents in long-term care and retirement homes in East Toronto to receive the vaccine within the last four days.\n“We’re going to beat that challenge date by a few days,” said Hillier. “That’s what our Moderna [vaccine] is reserved to do, and we are going to do all of those 161 homes, that’s a lot of homes to go into prior to the 21st of January.”\nJohn Coburn, 84, and his wife, Beverley, 90, live at the home, which had a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in the spring. Both expressed relief while receiving the vaccination.\n“I think it’s really important. I’ve been waiting for it, because my husband and I hope to go on a cruise ... It’s pretty ridiculous to not get it when you can,” said Beverley.\n“Very happy. I was surprised when I saw that we were going to do it here,” added John.\nDr. Jeff Powis is the medical director of infection prevention and control at Michael Garron Hospital who oversaw the rollout of the vaccines at 22 at-risk facilities. He said part of the team’s success was setting an aggressive target.\n“We’ve been in the trenches with these homes for the last nine months to keep every resident safe from COVID-19, and so when we knew of this opportunity we had to get it done as quick as possible,” Powis said.\nHillier added that he wants the vaccine rollout to extend to other long-term care homes in other regions as soon as possible. He said he couldn’t give a date as to when all homes would be completed because he doesn’t know when some doses of the vaccine are arriving in Ontario.\n“Right now, we are facing a little bit of a conundrum where the vaccines that we have coming in are increasingly being taken over by the second shots that are needed to complete the vaccination program. And, therefore, we have a smaller bubble at the top where we have vaccines to start the new the programs.\n“We are moving as fast as we have vaccines. We will run out of vaccines this coming week.”\nHiller said that Tuesday was the first day of the vaccination program which saw 10, 000 vaccinations distributed. He said all vaccines that were previously delivered will be used up by the end of this weekend. In fact, he said the shipment that arrived yesterday will be gone by later this week.\n“Just think of that: 10, 000 needles into the arms of 10, 000 people who have been held hostage through that terrible virus. In part, because they are in places like this, and therefore can’t move and leave when the virus strikes.”\n“We are rolling through the vaccines faster than we can get them.”", "Head of Ontario's vaccination rollout says 161 high-risk long-term care homes will get shots ahead of schedule", "The head of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout says he hopes to vaccinate residents and staff at long-term care homes in hot spots ahead of the mid-January deadline, adding that distribution of the shots can only go as fast as the supply." ]

[]

"2021-01-04T18:35:59"

"2021-01-04T12:44:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Ontario’s New Democratic Party is calling on the Progressive Conservative government to restart the legislature immediately in order to address the deadly COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes.\nNDP Leader Andrea Horwath made the request formally in a news release sent on Monday, asking members of provincial parliament to return to Queen’s Park despite the two-month winter break that started in early December.\n“Long-term care homes are in a humanitarian crisis. Seniors are being forced to cry out to beg for food and water, while they’re left vulnerable to deadly infection,” Horwath said in her statement.\n“All MPPs need to return to the legislature. We are facing a longer, deeper lockdown because [Premier] Doug Ford keeps choosing to do too little too late.”\nOntario reported 3,200 new cases of COVID-19 and 29 more deaths related to the disease. There are currently outbreaks at 233 long-term care homes. More than 1,160 residents and more than 1,140 staff at the homes are infected.\nMPPs are slated to return to Queen’s Park for a new session on Feb. 16, but Horwath said there are “concrete actions” the legislature can take now that could help slow down the spread of the virus and save lives.\nShe echoed the requests from families of some long-term care residents, who have called on the province repeatedly to bring the military into nursing homes dealing with mass outbreaks.\nScarborough’s Tendercare Living Centre, which is struggling amid a deadly COVID-19 outbreak, has had protesters outside its facilities on numerous occasions for days demanding better care for their family members and military support.\nDuring the first wave of the pandemic, the Ontario government brought the military into several long-term care homes, a move that helped save lives and stabilized facilities facing large numbers of infections and deaths.\nThe Official Opposition also requested that the legislature return to make decisions on unspent COVID-19 funds, including recent federal funding for Red Cross deployments.\nIn addition, Horwath has called on the government to overhaul the current “lethargic” COVID-19 vaccine program in order to quicken the process.\n“The province is lagging far behind the country on vaccinations, and doesn’t appear to have a plan to ramp up,” she said. “Doug Ford has been resistant to spending, and resistant to action.\n“The suffering, the loss and the anguish doesn’t have to continue on this scale if we make different choices.”\nCTV News Toronto reached out to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office about the NDP's request on Monday, but has not yet received a response.", "Ontario's NDP calls for immediate legislature resumption to address deadly outbreaks at long-term care homes", "Ontario’s New Democratic Party is calling on the Progressive Conservative government to restart the legislature immediately in order to address the deadly COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes." ]

[]

"2021-01-22T16:25:06"

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

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

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

[]

"2021-01-19T00:37:38"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- Most outdoor activities and events have shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but skating in Toronto remains open to allow residents to get some exercise and enjoy some fresh air while social distancing.\nOnly a maximum of 25 skaters are allowed on the ice at a time to ensure physical distancing and mask/face coverings are required while on and off the ice.\nThe City of Toronto is advising people to register for a spot on the rinks beforehand, and says a small number of spots will be available for those not able to make a reservation online. Most of the city’s rinks are open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.\nCTV News Toronto has compiled a list of skating rinks in Toronto that remain open during the pandemic.\nDowntown Toronto\nSherbourne Common – 5 Lower Sherbourne Street\nNathan Phillips Square –100 Queen West Street\nRegent Park Athletic Grounds – 480 Shuter Street\nRyerson Community Park – 50 Gould Street\nCollege Park – 420 Yonge Street\nAlexandra Park (Bathurst/Dundas) – 275 Bathurst Street\nTrinity Bellwoods Park – 790 Queen W Street\nChristie Pits Park – 750 Bloor West Street\nRamsden Park – 1020 Yonge Street\nHigh Park – 1873 Bloor W Street\nRennie Park – 1 Rennie Terrace\nDufferin Grove Park – 875 Dufferin Street\nWallace Emerson Park – 1260 Dufferin Street\nCampbell Avenue Playground – 225 Campbell Avenue\nRosedale Park – 20 Scholfield Avenue\nRamsden Park – 1020 Yonge Street\nHodgson Public School – 276 Davisville Avenue\nGreenwood Park – 150 Greenwood Avenue\nKew Gardens – 2075 Queen East Street\nJimmie Simpson Park – 870 Queen E Street\nYork\nCedarvale Park – 443 Arlington Avenue\nGiovanni Caboto Rink – 1367 St Clair West Avenue\nNorth York\nGlen Long Community Centre – 35 Glen Long Avenue\nNorth Toronto Memorial Community Centre – 200 Eglinton W Avenue\nOtter Creek Centre – 140 Cheritan Avenue\nLedbury Park – 160 Ledbury Street\nEthennonnhawahstihnen Park – 80 Mcmahon East Drive\nMel Lastman Square – 5100 Yonge Street\nIrving W Chapley Community Centre – 205 Wilmington Avenue\nVan Horne Park – 561 Van Horne Avenue\nBroadlands Community Centre – 19 Castlegrove Boulevard\nEtobicoke\nJoseph Bannon Park – 65 Mary Chapman Boulevard\nSummerlea Rink – 2 Arcot Boulevard\nSunnydale Acres Rink – 50 Amoro Drive\nRoyalcrest Rink – 50 Cabernet Circle\nLambton - Kingsway Park – 37 Marquis Avenue\nButtonwood Park – 30 Mulham Place\nValleyfield Park – 35 The Westway\nWestway - Outdoor Rink – 175 The Westway\nWestgrove Park – 15 Redgrave Drive\nHumber Valley Rink – 50 Anglesey Boulevard\nWest Deane Park – 19 Sedgebrook Crescent\nWest Mall Rink – 370 The West Mall\nQueensway Rink – 8 Avon Park Drive\nSir Adam Beck Park – 55 Eltham Drive\nColonel Samuel Smith Park – 3145 Lake Shore W Boulevard\nPrince of Wales Rink – 1 Third Street\nWedgewood Park – 15 Swan Avenue\nEast York\nMonarch Park – 115 Felstead Avenue\nWithrow Park – 725 Logan Avenue\nRiverdale Park East – 550 Broadview Avenue\nDieppe Park – 455 Cosburn Avenue\nScarborough", "Here's where you can go skating in Toronto amid the COVID-19 pandemic", "Most outdoor activities and events have shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but skating in Toronto remains open to allow residents to get some exercise and enjoy some fresh air while social distancing." ]

[ "Paola Loriggio" ]

"2021-01-30T00:13:37"

"2021-01-29T08:51:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Warning: The following article contains graphic language that may be disturbing to some readers.\nA vice-principal at a renowned Toronto private school told an Ontario court Friday he was able to identify a teenage boy accused of sexually assaulting two fellow students in a video of one of the incidents.\nEmile John said he first saw the video of the Nov. 7, 2018, incident nearly a week after it happened, as he and other officials at St. Michael's College School tried to figure out who was involved.\nJohn said he recognized the accused as one of the people holding down the arms of the victim, he said, while coaches with one the school's football teams later identified some players. None of them could identify the victim at the time, though they eventually learned his name from other students, he said.\nThe vice-principal said he struggled to watch the entire clip that day. \"I had to walk away initially, because it was pretty graphic and pretty disturbing,\" he told the court.\nThe accused teen has pleaded not guilty to two counts each of gang sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon and assault with a weapon related to two incidents in which students were sexually assaulted with a broom handle.\nThe incidents, which involved different complainants, took place in October and November 2018.\nTaking the stand Friday, John said he and then-principal Gregory Reeves had just dealt with an incident of bullying at the school when Reeves received the video.\nIn the bullying case, a group of students had put another student into a sink in only his underwear, John said. That incident culminated in the expulsion of some students and a call to police on Nov. 12, 2018, he said.\nHe and Reeves watched the video of the sexual assault on Nov. 13, and consulted the coaches that same day, he said. They did not immediately call police, though they planned to do so eventually, instead choosing to first conduct their own investigation by interviewing some of the students involved, he said.\nHe acknowledged knowing about other unspecified incidents at the school, though said he was not aware of several specific occurrences named by the defence.\n\"There was bullying happening at St. Mike's, absolutely,\" he said.\nEarlier Friday, one of the football coaches testified he was not aware of any incidents of violence or bullying at the school until he saw the video of the November incident.\nUnder cross-examination, Daniel Lumsden, who also teaches accounting at the school, denied previously hearing about or seeing a video or image of an incident in October in which a player was sexually assaulted.\nHe also denied allegations that he instructed students during study hall to delete that image or video from their phones.\n\"That's a lie,\" the coach said. \"It never occurred, that never happened in study hall, no.\"\nIn December, court viewed two videos in which one of the complainants recounted the incidents to a police investigator.\nIn one video, he described being sexually assaulted with a broom handle by a group of students in the school's locker room in October 2018.\nIn the second recording, he recalled seeing a group sexually assault another student in a similar way the following month, also in the locker room.\nThe complainant did not mention the accused when discussing the October incident, but alleged the teen held back the arms of the victim in the November assault.\nThe teen who testified was initially one of the suspects in the November 2018 incident, but the charges against him were dropped.\nThree teens have pleaded guilty to sexual assault with a weapon and assault with a weapon for their roles in the incidents and have been sentenced to two years of probation.\nOne of them also pleaded guilty to making child pornography for recording one of the sex assaults in a video that was then widely distributed.\nAnother student received a two-year probationary sentence with no jail time after pleading guilty. The charges against another student, aside from the one who testified, were withdrawn.\nNone of the teens involved in the case -- which includes the accused, the complainants and some of the witnesses -- can be identified because they were underage at the time.\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2021.", "'There was bullying happening at St. Mike's,' vice-principal tells sex assault trial", "A vice-principal at a renowned Toronto private school told an Ontario court Friday he was able to identify a teenage boy accused of sexually assaulting two fellow students in a video of one of the incidents." ]

[]

"2021-01-15T21:36:47"

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

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

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

[]

"2021-01-19T17:24:04"

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

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

[ "TORONTO -- A man injured in an industrial accident in Toronto’s Humber Summit neighbourhood this morning has been taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.\nThe incident occurred in the area of Milvan and Millwick drives, near Islington Avenue and Steeles Avenue West, at around 8:15 a.m.\nPolice say a male in his 50s came into contact with a vehicle in the area and officers later learned that the victim had been involved in an industrial accident.\nHe was rushed to a trauma centre for treatment in critical condition.\nThe Ministry of Labour has been notified.", "Man in critical condition after industrial accident in Toronto's Humber Summit neighbourhood", "A man injured in an industrial accident in Toronto’s Humber Summit neighbourhood this morning has been taken to hospital in life-threatening condition." ]

[]

"2021-01-05T23:20:56"

"2021-01-05T18:03:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- For many, the winter season will feel a little warmer now in the GTA, thanks to the fundraising efforts of some young people in York Region.\nThe group, called Kids Who Care International, have been taking on \"caring missions\" to help their neighbours during the pandemic. The latest was a winter coat drive.\n“We received a request from Syme Woolner [Neighbourhood and Family Centre] for warm clothing for kids age 12 and up, because there’s a lot of parents out there who have found themselves in a hard time,” says Fatima Molu, organizer of Kids Who Care International. “And, because of COVID they requested new items, so we had to raise the funds in order to purchase the items.”\nIt was up to the kids to find their own creative ways to fundraise. Some baked cookies, while others made and sold bracelets.\n11 year-old Ammar decided to host virtual bingo games for his fundraising.\n“Instead of sitting around and saying ‘I’m bored,’ we could actually do something and help people in the GTA,” he tells CTV News Toronto about his motivation.\nOver the course of a few weeks, the kids collected close to 7,000 dollars in donations. Together, they made a donation drop-off at Syme Woolner.\n“I had no idea that they’d be able to raise that level of funding, and bring that amount of clothing,” says Sharmini Fernando, executive director of Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre. “And I think, especially when children are involved, it does feel extremely gratifying and hopeful.”\nIt’s not the first time this group of young people has made a difference in their community. In summer 2020, they held a bicycle drive for a local women’s shelter, and collected baby items for the Weston King Neighbourhood Centre.\nThose involved in Kids Who Care International say they’re pleased to be doing their part during the pandemic.\n“I feel so proud and happy about myself that I get to take part,” says Asiyah, who is eight years old.\n“It makes me feel happy to help the people who are not able to afford the kind of stuff that they need,” adds Inaayah, also eight years old.\nMolu says there was never a monetary goal with this particular ‘caring mission,’ but that she’s proud of what the kids have accomplished.\n“For me, it was about seeing these children putting in their effort to produce something and raise a little bit of money and be able to donate it, whether it was 5 dollars, or whether it was 1500 dollars,” she says. “These children have done such wonderful work. It’s been a very bonding experience. It’s just an all-around good feeling for everybody.”\nYou can find out more about Kids Who Care International here.", "'Kids Who Care' group raises nearly $7,000 for new winter coats for GTA community centre", "For many, the winter season will feel a little warmer now in the GTA, thanks to the fundraising efforts of some young people in York Region." ]

[]

"2021-01-29T20:13:27"

"2021-01-29T07:09:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Lior Samfiru of Samfiru Tamarkin LLP shares information on employment rights and severance pay during the pandemic.\nMore from Samfiru Tamarkin LLP here.", "Your employment rights during COVID-19", "Lior Samfiru of Samfiru Tamarkin LLP shares information on employment rights and severance pay during the pandemic." ]

[]

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

"2021-01-19T07:26:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Police have released surveillance camera images of an outstanding suspect in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man in Toronto’s Lawrence Manor neighbourhood this past fall.\nPolice say that 33-year-old Shane Stanford was returning home from work as a personal trainer at the Central YMCA downtown when he was fatally shot while seated behind the wheel of his car.\nThey say that the shooting took place in the Bathurst Street and Ranee Avenue near where Stanford lived.\nOne suspect, identified as 27-year-old Raheem McLaughlin, was arrested a few weeks later and charged with first-degree murder in the case. But police have been continuing to look for a second man, who they believe was with McLaughlin that night.\nDuring a news conference on Tuesday, police released several surveillance camera images of that man as well as images of a vehicle that they say was used in the shooting but was sold days later.\nThe vehicle was in the possession of McLaughlin at the time of the homicide.\nIt is described as a white, four-door, 2005-2006 Nissan Infiniti G35 with a sunroof and tinted windows, gold coloured rims and gold trim under the driver and passenger doors. It also has scratches rear of the right bumper.\n“The vehicle was sold after the offence occurred and it is very good possibility that this person has no knowledge that this vehicle was involved in an offence,” Detective Michael McGinn told reporters. “We could glean a lot of information from recovering this vehicle.”\nMcGinn said that Stanford was “a good person and a valuable member of his community” whose death was a “tragic loss” for those who knew and loved him.\nHe said that investigators don’t believe Stanford was specifically targeted, though he said it is possible that they “are still open to the possibility that it was in relation to the area.”\n“Mr. Stanford was a very good man,” he said. “It is a tragic loss.”\nThe outstanding suspect is described about five-foot-ten, in his mid 20s, with a light brown complexion and a thin build.\nHe was wearing a dark coloured jacket with maroon coloured Kappa track pants and black shoes.", "Suspect vehicle in fatal Toronto shooting was sold within days of incident: police", "Police have released surveillance camera images of an outstanding suspect in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man in Toronto’s Lawrence Manor neighbourhood this past fall" ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-17T20:34:02"

"2021-01-17T13:40:00"

"2021-01-17T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Safety inspectors found more than 30 businesses violating COVID-19 safety rules during a big-box blitz across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development said Sunday.\nThe ministry said that inspectors visited 110 stores on Saturday and found 31 stores in violation of provincial orders, which is equal to about 70 per cent compliance.\nThe government said 11 formal warnings and 11 tickets were issued on Saturday as a result of the blitz.\nFive additional stores were found violating health orders on Sunday, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton told CP24. He said that on Saturday there were five box-box corporations slapped with fines.\nThe ministry did not name the stores they said were found violating the orders.\nMore than 34,000 COVID-19-related workplace inspections have happened since the beginning of the pandemic.\nLabour Minister Monte McNaughton has said inspectors are focusing on compliance with masking and physical distancing rules, as well as other health guidelines. He said they have the authority to temporarily shut down facilities found to be breaching the rules, and to disperse groups of more than five people.\nPremier Doug Ford, who has faced criticism for allowing big-box stores to remain open for on-site shopping while smaller businesses are restricted to curbside pickup or online sales, vowed this week to crack down on big lineups and other infractions at large retailers.\nThe weekend blitz comes days after the province enacted an order requiring residents to stay at home for all but essential purposes, such as shopping for groceries or accessing health care.", "Ontario inspectors find 36 stores violating COVID-19 rules during big-box safety blitz", "Safety inspectors found more than 30 businesses violating COVID-19 safety rules during a big-box blitz across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development said Sunday." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-20T16:09:52"

"2021-01-20T08:42:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The Ontario government is expanding its workplace inspection campaign after a weekend blitz of big-box stores found that 76 businesses were violating safety measures.\nStarting Wednesday, more than 300 officers will be supporting the expanded blitz, which will now target retail establishments, restaurants providing takeout, essential service-sector establishments, and farming operations.\nThe Ministry of Labor, Training and Skill Development said Wednesday that inspectors visited 240 big-box stores over the weekend in the Greater Toronto Area and found 76 contraventions.\nMinister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton emphasized on Wednesday though that the \"vast majority\" of Ontario businesses are following COVID-19 regulations.\nThe government has conducted more than 34,000 workplace safety inspections since the start of the pandemic in March.\nCorporations can be fined $1,000 for failing to comply with the orders under the Reopening Ontario Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. All individuals, including employees and patrons, can also be fined $750 for failing to comply with orders under the acts.\nThe government said if a violation is more serious, a person can be charged with failing to comply with an order. If convicted, the court can impose fines as high as $100,000 for individuals, and directors and officers of a corporation can be fined up to $500,000. Both could also receive terms of imprisonment of up to one year.\nMeanwhile, York Region shared a list of retailers fined over the last week for violations of Ontario's Reopening Ontario Act, among them major pharmacy and grocery locations.\nRetailers are facing $880 individual fines for infractions that include not having a safety plan, inadequate cleaning, improper mask-wearing by employees and failing to post signage about the rules.\nWalmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys and Costco locations are among those ticketed.\nPremier Doug Ford, who has faced criticism for allowing big-box stores to remain open for on-site shopping while smaller businesses are restricted to curbside pickup or online sales, vowed last week to crack down on big lineups and other infractions at large retailers.", "Ontario discovers 76 violations during safety blitz of big-box stores, expands list of workplaces to be targeted", "The Ontario government is expanding its workplace inspection campaign after a weekend blitz of big-box stores found that 76 businesses were violating safety measures." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-15T21:36:37"

"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\nOntario's Ministry of Health also released a fact sheet onFriday, disputing the claims Baber made in his pubilc letter to the Ford government. The full release from the government has been included at the bottom of the article.\nMoreover, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) called out the MPP after he \"mischaracterized\" their research regarding recent \"thoughts or feelings of suicide\" among residents throughout the pandemic.\n\"The data shows that suicidal ideation has increased but that's due to the overall impact of the pandemic,\" CMHA CEO Camille Quenneville wrote in a scathing news release issued Friday.\nAccording to the CMHA, Baber falsely claimed that the lockdown measures, not the pandemic, had caused 10 per cent of Canadian adults in September to report recent thoughts or feelings of suicide.\n\"At a time when so many Ontarians are struggling, we are disappointed that the MPP has for political purposes misconstrued statistics about the sensitive subject of suicidal ideation,\" Quenneville continued.\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 MPP kicked out of PC caucus for calling lockdown 'deadlier than COVID'", "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." ]

[]

"2021-01-13T22:55:54"

"2021-01-13T07:07:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A stay-at-home order will formally take effect at midnight tonight but Toronto officials say they won’t be undertaking any enforcement action until they have had a chance to review the regulations at length.\nThe Ford government announced the stay-at-home order on Tuesday afternoon, warning of hefty fines for anyone caught venturing outside for a non-essential purpose.\nBut the government has not yet released the detailed regulations that will guide enforcement efforts by law enforcement agencies and isn’t expected to do so until tonight.\nThat, in turn, has led to some confusion with city officials saying that they still can’t comment on what enforcement might look like, even though the order now takes effect in a matter of hours.\n“I can tell you that we convened our team yesterday afternoon immediately following the announcement by the province and had conversations with a number of our teams today but like we've said until we see the regulations, until they can be accurately and thoroughly assessed by legal services, by our municipal law enforcement teams, by our Toronto Public Health Inspection teams, and of course our Toronto Police Service, we will have no choice but to wait (on enforcement),” Chief Matthew Pegg, who is leading Toronto’s COVID-19 response, said when asked about the order during a briefing on Wednesday afternoon.\nThe province has said that people can continue to go outside for essential purposes, such as obtaining food, getting exercise or going to or from work when their job cannot be done at home.\nBut it has released few specifics about the stay-at-home order itself.\nIn an explainer provided to reporters on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the premier’s office said that the “Government of Ontario cannot determine what is essential for every person in this province, each with their own unique circumstances and regional considerations.”\nThe spokesperson also that the government won’t make a determination on what qualifies as an essential item, as doing so would “risk cutting people off from goods that may legitimately be necessary for their health, well-being and safety.”\nFor his part, Pegg told reporters that officials will work at “war time speed” to review the regulations once they have them in hand but he hinted that there could be a grace period of sorts, in which enforcement isn’t actually taking effect.\n“Until such time as we see those regulations and a number of professionals can review that we simply don’t know the answers. So accordingly none of our coordinated enforcement team will commence any type of enforcement related to what we believe and what we understand to be the situation until such time as we have seen the regulations,” he said.\nFord has defended order\nPremier Doug Ford did defend the stay-at-home order during a news conference at Queen’s Park earlier on Wednesday, telling reporters that people should \"use their best judgment\" to determine if they need to leave their home.\nCritics, however, have expressed concerns about the fact that the grounds to enforce the order haven’t been clearly laid out.\nAt Wednesday’s briefing Mayor John Tory said that he is seeking clarity on a number of issues, including whether the city’s outdoor skating rinks comply with the new regulations.\nIn the interim, he said that residents should just stay home as much possible.\n“If people would just default always, not just today when its not yet clear but tomorrow and the day after that, to staying home when there is any doubt in their minds that would go a long way to dealing with the COVID situation,” he said.", "Ontario's stay-at-home order takes effect at midnight but officials say they still haven't seen legal regulations", "A stay-at-home order will formally take effect at midnight tonight but Toronto officials say they won’t be undertaking any enforcement action until they have had a chance to review the regulations at length." ]

[]

"2021-01-20T03:32:22"

"2021-01-19T19:52:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A 59-year-old man who was rushed to hospital following a collision in Rexdale Tuesday has died of his injuries.\nAt around 1:50 p.m., Toronto police said they were responding to a multi-vehicle collision at Kipling Avenue and Belfield Road.\nAccording to police, a blue 2019 Volkswagen Jetta struck a 2015 Toyota Rav4, and subsequently crashed into a 2017 cargo van.\nThe driver of the Volkswagen Jetta sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital by Toronto Paramedic Services. He later died of his injuries in hospital, police said Tuesday evening.\nA 64-year-old occupant of the Volkswagen suffered non-live threatening injuries, police said, while the drivers of the two other vehicles sustained minor injuries.\nTraffic Services is investigating the fatal collision.\nAnyone with information is being asked to contact police or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.", "Man dies after three-vehicle collision in Rexdale", "A man who was rushed to hospital following a collision in Rexdale Tuesday has died of his injuries." ]

[]

"2021-01-14T23:28:10"

"2021-01-14T14:24:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A restaurant in Toronto’s east-end is offering up free burgers to seniors and those experiencing homelessness as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on across the city.\n“I just thought it was the right thing to do,” Fearless Meat owner David Brown tells CTV News Toronto.\nBrown, who has been working with meat for almost 50 years, explains that butchers have a long tradition of giving back to their communities. He says that this act of charity announced earlier this month is just one way of keeping that legacy alive.\n“And it's a tradition that I've always taken very seriously. In fact, in the days before they had food banks butchers were the local food banks. So, I strongly believe in giving back to the community.”\nThe promotion is simple: seniors, pensioners, the homeless and the hungry are entitled to a free 6oz. Certified Angus “Beach Burger,” no questions asked.\nThe catch? There isn’t one.\n“I want people when they come into our restaurant for a free burger, I want them to feel welcomed and respected.”\nIt’s unclear just how many burgers have been handed out since the campaign began at the beginning of January, mostly because Brown admits he doesn’t keep track.\n“It’s been all over the map. Anywhere from a few a day to a hundred a day.”\nBrown says this isn’t the first charitable act he and his company have been involved in and that it surely won’t be the last.\nFEARLESS MEAT COMMUNITY UPDATE As we approach our 3rd anniversary, I wish to thank everyone for their tremendous... Posted by Fearless Meat on Sunday, 3 January 2021\nAs Fearless Meat approaches its third anniversary on Jan. 19, Brown says he feels fortunate to still be in business amid the pandemic and is encouraging other restaurants as lucky as him to give back if they can.\n“I'm hoping that what we're doing here is an inspiration to other restaurants or businesses to help out the vulnerable communities,” he said.", "Toronto restaurant offering free burgers to seniors and the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic", "A restaurant in Toronto’s east-end is offering up free burgers to seniors and those experiencing homelessness as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on across the city." ]

[]

"2021-01-17T23:32:54"

"2021-01-17T16:42:00"

"2021-01-17T00:00:00"

[ "TORONTO -- Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old man in Scarborough last week.\nOn Jan. 13, police responded to a stabbing inside a building in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Midland Avenue just after 5 p.m.\nOfficers located a male victim with stab wounds to his neck and back. He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.\nPolice identified the victim as 25-year-old Mohamed Jeylani from Minnesota.\nHe is the city’s first homicide victim of the year. Police previously said the incident appears to be targeted.\nOn Sunday, police released a photo of the suspect, who they identified as 24-year-old Guled Mohamad, of Toronto.\nHe is wanted for second-degree murder.\n“He is believed to be armed and dangerous. If located, do not approach. Call 911 immediately,” police said.\nAnyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.", "Police search for man wanted in connection with fatal stabbing in Scarborough apartment building", "Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old man in Scarborough last week." ]

[]

"2021-01-23T00:58:27"

"2021-01-22T17:37:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A COVID-19 outbreak at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton has resulted in at least 90 positive cases and the union that represents workers at the jail is now calling for a pause on the admission of new inmates.\nOPSEU Local 234 President Peter Figliola, whose union represents correctional workers at the jail, tells CP24 that there have been at least 20 positive cases among staff and at least 70 positive cases among inmates since the outbreak was first declared on Tuesday.\nHe said that dozens of other staff members are also at home self-isolating.\nFigliola says that given the size of the outbreak, the union wants there to be a pause on the admission of any new inmates for the time being.\nIn the meantime, Figliola says that asymptomatic workers at the facility are being tested for COVID-19.\nThe Ministry of the Solicitor-General is reporting a slightly lower number of inmate cases with 68.\n“Any inmate that tests positive for COVID-19 is placed under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care,” a spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement.\nThe correctional facility has been locked down to allow contact tracing and prevent further spread of the virus, the ministry said. However, inmates are still allowed to use showers and telephones.\nThe outbreak comes just weeks after another outbreak at Toronto South Detention Centre resulted in 61 positive cases.\nThere were also 20 active cases at Thunder Bay Jail as of Tuesday.", "There are at least 90 COVID-19 cases at Milton, Ont. correctional facility, union confirms", "A COVID-19 outbreak at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton has resulted in at least 90 positive cases and the union that represents workers at the jail is now calling for a pause on the admission of new inmates." ]

[]

"2021-01-06T15:49:00"

"2021-01-06T10:13:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- The total tally of lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario has now surpassed 200,000 as officials log more than 3,000 new infections for the fifth time in seven days.\nThe province confirmed 3,266 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, and reported that 37 more people have died due to the disease.\nOntario doubled its COVID-19 case count in just 47 days, underscoring the rapid spread of the virus during the second wave of the pandemic.\nDuring the span of one month and 17 days, the province saw its numbers grow from 100,790 on Nov. 20 to 200,626 on Jan. 6.\nIt took the province 297 days – between Jan. 28, 2020 and Nov. 20, 2020 – to mark the first 100,000 cases of COVID-19, largely owing to the first wave lockdown successfully slowing the growth of the deadly disease.\nHowever as the resurgence of the virus took hold and Ontario saw a rapid growth in its daily case count, the province doubled the total number of cases in just 47 days.\nThe province also reported a record-breaking number of hospitalizations on Wednesday with 1.463 people seeking medical care in these facilities.\nThis is a breaking news story. More to come…\n-- With files from CTV News Toronto’s Colin D’Mello", "Ontario surpasses 200,000 COVID-19 cases since beginning of pandemic as hospitalizations surge", "The total tally of lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario has now surpassed 200,000 as officials log more than 3,000 new infections for the fifth time in seven days." ]

[ "Sean Davidson" ]

"2021-01-16T05:52:15"

"2021-01-15T14:14:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- One person who was barricaded inside a home in Oakville, Ont. has been taken into custody Friday evening, ending a nearly 10-hour long standoff.\nResidents of a neighbourhood in Oakville, near Lakeshore Road West and Fourth Line, were told to immediately shelter in their basement due to an ongoing active situation just after 2 p.m. on Friday.\nPolice said they received a call for possible gunshots just before 1:20 p.m. They later added that the situation, which involved at least two barricaded people, was currently contained to a residence on Lakeshore Road West.\nThe person who is still inside the home is talking with crisis negotiators, Halton Police Const. Ryan Anderson told reporters near the scene Friday afternoon.\nAnderson would not confirm the relationship between the person who was removed from the home and the person who remains inside.\n\"I can confirm that they (crisis negotiators) have been in contact with the person who is in the home,\" Anderson said. \"Everybody is doing all they can to ensure this comes to a peaceful resolution for everybody involved. At this point we don’t have any indication that anybody has been injured and it is our hope that that continues to be the case.\"\nJust before 9 p.m., Anderson provided an update to reporters about the ongoing situation, saying one individual remains in the home and officers are continuing to work towards a peaceful resolution.\n“We’re concerned for the safety of the individual, we’re concerned for the safety of the immediate residences (in the area) and we have evacuated them out of an abundance of caution and we’re working to a safe resolution for everybody involved,” he said.\n“Our goal is just to get everyone out safely.”\nAnderson added investigators have “reason to believe there may have been gas released in the home so utilities have been cut off to the home, utilities that would have affected nine homes in the area.”\nJust after 10:30 p.m., Halton police posted to Twitter that the situation has been resolved and the person inside the home has been arrested.\n“We know it has been a long and stressful day for area neighbours, and we can’t thank you enough for your support and patience,” police tweeted.\nNearby Appleby College was in a hold and secure on Friday and road closures in the area remain in effect into the evening.", "Police arrest person who barricaded inside Oakville, Ont. home", "One person who was barricaded inside a home in Oakville, Ont. has been taken into custody Friday evening, ending a nearly 10-hour long standoff." ]

[]

"2021-01-26T16:27:51"

"2021-01-26T07:18:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- Two women are dead and three others were injured after a major multi-vehicle crash that closed all lanes of the QEW in Burlington on Tuesday morning, local paramedics said.\nThe Ministry of Transportation said sometime before 6 a.m. Tuesday multiple cars collided on the ramp from Brant Street in Burlington to the Toronto-bound QEW.\n“A motor vehicle crossed over from the westbound lanes into the eastbound lanes where was a significant collision,” OPP Const. Kevin Westhead said.\nHalton Paramedics told CP24 that two people were pronounced dead at the scene, one other person was taken to a trauma centre in critical condition and two others were taken to local hospitals.\nWesthead said the two deaths involved women who were in the vehicle that crossed through a wide ditch separating westbound and eastbound lanes.\nTheir vehicle, believed to be a Mitsubishi, was mangled beyond recognition.\nPolice also later closed the Fort Erie-bound lanes at Guelph Line.\nThe OPP said that four vehicles were involved in the crash and the highway would remain closed for six to eight hours.\nWesthead said the investigators were working to get as much of the investigation done as possible before an expected snowfall.", "Burlington crash on QEW leaves two women dead, three others injured", "Two women are dead and three others were injured after a major multi-vehicle crash that closed all lanes of the QEW in Burlington on Tuesday morning, local paramedics said." ]

[]

"2021-01-11T23:59:54"

"2021-01-11T16:02:00"

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

[ "TORONTO -- A large COVID-19 vaccination clinic will open up inside a downtown convention centre next week as officials step up their efforts to prepare for the mass vaccinations that are slated to take place at multiple sites across the city this spring.\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 on Jan. 18 in order to help develop a blueprint for how shots could be administered in non-medical settings as soon as this spring.\nFire Chief Matthew Pegg, who is the city’s COVID-19 incident commander, said that 250 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at the clinic each day but he pointed out that the facility will be “scaleable” and that “the scope of operations can be increased quickly” should the availability of the vaccine improve.\nPegg said that the plan right now is for the clinic to operate for at least six weeks, at which point officials will use the lessons learned from the experience to create a “playbook” that will inform efforts to open additional mass vaccination facilities.\n“This is critical work that must be completed in order for COVID-19 immunization clinics to be launched both across Toronto and across the province moving forward,” he said during a briefing at city hall on Monday afternoon.\nThe province has struggled to vaccinate 10,000 people per day so far but retired general Rick Hiller, who leads Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine task force, has said that he believes that number could increase to 150,000 people per day in the spring.\nThat, in turn, would create the need for a series of mass vaccination sites like the one proposed for the MTCC.\nPegg said that there will eventually be multiple sites at “large public facilities” across the city and that work is ongoing right now “to finalize” the location.\nHe said that there are also plans for mobile clinics and “priority neighbourhood response teams as part of the city’s broader vaccination strategy.\n“Developing, launching and operating an immunization campaign of this scope and magnitude is a massive undertaking. This includes numerous facilities and logistics plans, staffing plans, security and safety plans and all of the operating procedures and medical oversight that are required,” he said in explaining the need to open the MTCC facility now, weeks ahead of schedule.\nNearly 1,000 new cases in Toronto\nNews of the opening of the city’s first mass vaccination clinic comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the city.\nOn Monday, Toronto Public Health reported another 978 new cases of COVID-10 as well as another 14 deaths. There are also 433 in hospital with the virus, including 115 in the ICU.\n“We have some hard truths to face. Our data shows us that COVID-19 is now spreading at levels so serious that it is hard to describe,” Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa said during a briefing at city hall. “What we are seeing now is the consequence of too many people spending too much time together in December and particularly during the holidays. It is not fair that someone should die from COVID because the rest of us didn’t try hard enough to avoid it.”\nThe city has said that the vaccination clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.\nIt will focus on vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, including those working in the city’s shelter system and as harm reduction workers.", "COVID-19 vaccination clinic coming to downtown Toronto convention centre", "A large COVID-19 vaccination clinic will open up inside a downtown convention centre next week as officials step up their efforts to prepare for the mass vaccinations that are slated to take place at multiple sites across the city this spring." ]