Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, will investigate a case where an officer may have fired his gun during a Bourget shooting incident last week. Three officers were shot at when they responded to a call for a disturbance, which left Sgt. Eric Mueller dead, and two other officers injured. The SIU is investigating the police firearm discharge during the incident. A 39-year-old man faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the case.
Canada's Innovation Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, is urging the Ontario government to help end the subsidy stalemate that has halted construction of Canada's first electric-vehicle battery plant. Automaker Stellantis NV and battery maker LG Energy Solution have threatened to move their joint $5bn project to the US, unless the incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act are matched in Canada, following the example of a similar project built by Volkswagen. Champagne urged Ontario to contribute an unspecified "fair share" of the incentives, however, the province said it is up to the federal government to honour its commitments.
Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator has revealed plans to purchase 739 MW of energy storage capacity from seven new battery storage projects and to expand two existing gas-fired power plants as it seeks to address an expected shortfall in energy capacity due to the retirement of a nuclear fleet. Most of the storage will be purchased from two proposed battery facilities in Hagersville and Napanee, Ontario, so the new projects increase the province's energy storage capacity by more than four times.
Stellantis could cancel its plans to build an electric-vehicle battery plant in Ontario if the company doesn't receive the subsidies it applied for, however, Ottawa and Queen's Park are willing to pay the extra billions needed. The Canadian government broke the bank for Volkswagen with a promise of up to $13bn in production tax credits plus $700m in upfront construction costs, hailed as the German automaker's first battery plant outside Europe. But the incentives could become a race to the bottom and be consumed in higher after-tax corporate profits and higher costs of production, with little or no benefit to workers overall.
"Canada's Got Talent" has announced that its top prize for the competition's third season will be $1m, the largest cash prize in Canadian television history. In addition, six Golden Buzzer acts will be awarded $25,000 each by CIBC.
Canadian federal government has introduced legislation to make it harder for repeat violent offenders to be released on bail. This changes comes just four years after the governing Liberals made it easier to obtain bail, and is in response to concerns raised by premiers after the killing of a police officer in Ontario and a number of violent attacks. The biggest change in Bill C-48 would put the onus on certain accused people to show why they should be granted bail, rather than require the prosecution to justify why they shouldn’t. Known as a reverse onus, the measure already applies to certain firearms offences.
The CEO of car manufacturer Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, has said they are unhappy that rival car manufacturer Volkswagen received $13bn in funding from the Canadian government. Speaking to the Globe and Mail, CEO T.S. Ramsay said: “I don’t blame the company for wanting equal treatment.” Stellantis is currently suspended indefinitely from constructing its EV battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, while the company continues to negotiate with the Canadian and Ontario governments for financial assistance. Despite once being one of the biggest car manufacturers in Canada, Stellantis received no public funding to modernise its operations in the country. The issue is complicated by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s opposition to any sort of public funding for car companies.
The Canadian government has converted its delayed Africa strategy into a framework, arguing the change helps better reflect the policy’s original purpose. The Liberal Party had promised a strategy since last year to formulate the national approach to African countries, and take advantage of opportunities to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area, a tariff project operating across 45 nations. Critics regard the recasting of the policy as evidence that Canada is treating Africa less seriously than it does other areas of the world. A formal approach to Africa is now expected to be presented to cabinet by autumn 2023.
WestJet’s CEO has admitted that there is a “massive gap” between the airline’s offer to pilots and the counter-proposal from the Air Line Pilots Association. As round-the-clock negotiations continued ahead of a Friday strike deadline, WestJet was forced to issue a lockout notice to maintain “control” over its planes after pilots announced their intention to hold a walkout. Bernard Lewall, who leads the WestJet pilots’ union, said pay, scheduling and job security were the sticking points, while the airport maintains a third of Canada’s domestic market, with Air Canada having half. The move has already affected bookings for the May long weekend and beyond.
Building permits in Ottawa fall amid weak office demand
CBC
23-05-17 08:00
Avison Young Ottawa's managing director, Michael Church, stated that new building permits are down in Ottawa due to the federal government's slow return to in-person work, as it appears to be dampening the city's office market. Despite an uptick provincewide, Statistics Canada noted that building permits were down 13.8% from the same time last year in Ottawa. Meanwhile, building permits and non-residential permits have shot up 3% and 55% province-wide, respectively. However, non-residential building permits are down approximately 17% in Ottawa over the past 12 months compared with the previous 12 months. Plans are underway to have federal public servants return to in-person work for at least two or three days a week by the end of March, according to a December 2021 announcement. Church said that both the private sector and the public sector are struggling to figure out what returning to the office looks like post-pandemic.
How this hide tanning camp brings good medicine to Fort William First Nation
CBC
23-05-17 08:00
Fort William First Nation in northwestern Ontario held its fourth annual hide tanning camp in late August, an event which brings together people of all ages and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to participate in the tanning of hides from animals including moose, deer and beaver. Participants learned about all stages of hide tanning from preparing the animal to skinning it, preparing the hide, and smoking the finished product. The event provided much-needed space to share knowledge of traditional culture and healing methods, according to instructor Jean Marshall. The camp is hoping to expand to include neighbouring First Nations and hopes to see Indigenous youth become adept at hide tanning as part of the process of rediscovering traditional Indigenous practices.
'Vexatious litigant' John 'The Engineer' chugs along after losing world record 106 elections
CBC
23-05-17 11:54
John Turmel, 72, has unsuccessfully contested 106 Canadian political elections over 40 years, earning him a Guinness World Record. Brantford mayoral candidate Turmel lost out in recent polls with 343 votes, but he remains best known for his legal crusade to rid Canada of interest on credit, as well as lockdown and cannabis prohibition. Justice Simon Fothergill last year labelled Turmel a “vexatious litigant” who owed thousands of dollars in unpaid court costs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has gone back on a five-year commitment to protect the Greenbelt, an area of protected farmland and natural space in Toronto, and has instead allowed for housing developments to take place. The U-turn has seen Ford label the Greenbelt a “failed policy.” Initially, he had committed to “unequivocally” preserving the land, even stating his government intended to expand it. Now, suspicion has arisen that Ford was originally duplicitous when he claimed before winning office that he would allow developers to open up the Greenbelt.
'We're underfunded and we're overwhelmed,' violence a problem in northeastern Ontario classrooms, say teachers
CBC
23-05-17 10:00
A survey by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) found 77% of its members personally experienced or witnessed violence in the classroom, while this figure rose to 86% among special education teachers. Rob Hammond, president of the Near North Teachers Local with ETFO, blamed under-resourcing for the issue and suggested increased support staff and separate spaces could address the problem. Hammond also said violence had become worse over the past decade, with levels increasing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said $24m of funding had been made available to reduce school violence.
Widening Winnipeg's Kenaston Boulevard, Chief Peguis Trail not worth the cost: sustainability expert
CBC
23-05-17 10:00
Winnipeg risks an unnecessary financial burden by proceeding with two large transportation projects, according to sustainable engineering technologist Ken Klassen. In particular, Klassen opposes the widening of Kenaston Boulevard and the extension of Chief Peguis Trail, saying new data analyses the costs of each initiative as outweighing any potential benefits. Despite Mayor Scott Gillingham pledging to incorporate fresh data analysis before applying to federal and provincial authorities for financing, Klassen warns of the potential for a 14% increase in taxpayers' annual payments if the initiatives proceed.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has revealed plans for 33 highway closures in Toronto on 17 May 2023, affecting routes such 400, 401, 427 and the Queen Elizabeth Way. The plan for roadworks was uploaded onto Ontario 511, a website that provides real-time information about traffic situations, road closures, and detours in the province. The planned roadworks, which may result in disruptions to traffic, vary in length and will be carried out for emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways throughout the region.
The Toronto District School Board has reported that more than 300 students have been involved in violence on school property this academic year. A total of 323 students have been involved in violence on school premises between September and April. The board suggests this is on track to reach a new high since the data started being collected in 2000. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario commissioned a survey of its members earlier this year and found that 42% of its members have had a physical injury, illness or psychological injury or illness as a result of workplace violence against them this school year.
The Miami Heat are expected to cover the spread against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to a same-game parlay pick from NorthStar Bets. The Heat are favoured at +10.5 with Jaylen Brown projected to score more than 25.5 points and Kyle Lowry tipped to hit over 1.5 threes. Miami is backing an impressive 7-2 record against the spread during its last nine games and beat Boston in two regular season meetings. The game takes place tonight.
Canada's main stock index fell by 52.97 points to 20,189.10 in late-morning trading on 17 May, weighed down by losses across the utility, industrial and telecommunication sectors. In contrast, US stock markets were higher with the Dow Jones up 107.83 points at 33,119.97, while the S&P 500 climbed by 16.38 points to 4,126.28 and the Nasdaq composite rose 45.56 points to 12,388.61. The Canadian dollar traded for 74.20 cents US versus 74.32 cents US the day before, while crude and gold prices reacted differently.
Uber has started allowing children aged between 13 and 17 to create passenger accounts as part of its growth strategy in Canada. Teen accounts will be launched first in Western Canada and Quebec, then in Ontario and Nova Scotia over the summer. The move represents a U-turn on a previous policy which prohibited under-18s from holding an Uber account or ordering a ride for an underage passenger unaccompanied by an adult. The company's Pin Verification and GPS will also allow for safe use of the service by teenagers.
