Author: Emmett Wallace

There are a myriad of reasons that could go into one’s decision as to whether they would prefer to have presents under a real or fake tree over the Christmas holidays. Among the reasons to choose a fake tree might be allergies or maintenance, while those that prefer real trees might simply like the smell a fir, pine or spruce tree will add to their home.But if you are making your choice for environmental reasons, it might be surprising for some to learn that a real Christmas tree is the way to go.Kelsey Leonard of the University of Waterloo’s Christmas…

Ontario legislation aimed at helping municipalities clear homeless encampments out of public parks will include stronger trespass laws and fines or jail time for illegal drug use in public, Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday. Families should be able to enjoy parks and people facing homelessness, addiction or mental-health challenges should be supported in the right settings, Ford said.“These encampments are taking over public spaces, with illegal drug use happening out in the open, creating huge safety risks for people and communities,” he said at a press conference. “Enough is enough. This has to stop, and it will stop.”The bill is set…

Toronto’s move to deny refugee claimants certain shelter beds and redirect them to federal programs two years ago was a “failure of process” that had “profound real-life consequences” Those remarks from the city’s ombudsman, Kwame Addo, come after he released a blistering rebuke of the city’s 2022 policy, a move he characterizes as “unfair and harmful.”And despite offering recommendations in his report, released Thursday, the city manager has apparently refused to accept recommendations, it said.“The city’s refusal to act on these findings is troubling,” Addo said in a news release.“Accountability is a cornerstone of good governance, and addressing these issues…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Cutting off power to 1.5 million Americans, restricting imports of U.S.-made alcohol, and limiting exports of Canadian critical minerals are among the list of measures the Ford government is considering if a looming trade war with the incoming Trump administration escalates in the new year. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford, along with other Canadian premiers, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian imports.After the meeting, Ford, who now believes there is a “100 per cent”…

Almost a year after the number of international students coming to Canada was capped, resulting in a drop of almost 50 per cent for Ontario, colleges in the province have started to make deep cuts as the sector goes through a “rebalancing.” Several colleges have announced massive changes and suspended programs, blaming the moves on the reduction in international students, which they relied heavily upon for funding.Internal government documents obtained by Global News also lay out just how dependent the sector was on international students — with more foreign than domestic learners at colleges last year.The same documents show last…

British soldier Craig Gibson spoke to a jury Wednesday through a thick Scottish accent, recalling his visit to Toronto in August 2023 which ended in tragedy when he got into a fight with Brett Sheffield, a stranger he met in a bar. “I was certain he had a knife. I saw his hand go back and up, he took his jacket off, I was certain,” said Gibson, who testified he was acting in self-defence when he struck the 38-year-old business man from Winnipeg twice with his elbow to Sheffield’s head.Gibson, who is on trial for manslaughter, has pleaded not guilty.The…

An Ontario labour tribunal has concluded the Ford government did not illegally lock out striking engineers when it warned some they could not return to work until a new collective agreement was signed or the province gave them permission. The union representing striking government engineers had complained on Nov. 2 that the province had effectively locked out members who had withdrawn their labour from key projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.In a decision released Wednesday, the Ontario Labour Relations Board ruled it was “not satisfied that the (province) unlawfully locked out any bargaining unit employees or that it…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size While cottage country and other areas of the province continue to dig out from massive recent snowfalls, the Greater Toronto Area is expected to see its first snowfall of the season on Wednesday. Environment Canada has issued a weather travel advisory for the area which says Toronto and the surrounding regions could see snowfall accumulations of up to 5 cm.The agency says that a low pressure system will cause snow to begin falling in the morning which is expected to taper off in the afternoon. Get daily National news Get the day’s…

After waiting more than a year, the City of Toronto has finally received confirmation from both the provincial and federal governments that they’ll help shoulder the massive cost of replacing a fleet of subway trains. On Friday, the federal government announced it will give Toronto $758 million to buy new subway cars, signing on to a commitment the provincial government made last year as part of its new deal for Toronto.“Our government knows improving public transit is essential to ensuring our economy reaches its full potential,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. “The TTC needs new subway cars…

A councilor in Sarnia, Ont., was tossed from budget deliberations on Tuesday after repeatedly berating fellow councillors and staff while using some explosive language. Coun. Bill Dennis began to get heated at the meeting on Tuesday as he was questioning city staff over the amount being spent on consultants.He was then asked to table a motion before he went off, saying to others on the Zoom call, “you are a joke. You’re nothing but a bunch of sellouts.”When fellow councillor Adam Kilner, who is a pastor, attempted to intervene, Dennis responded with, “You’re a joke, as a, as a, as…