Ontario health minister defends province's approach amid worsening measles outbreak
Health Minister Sylvia Jones is defending the province's record against measles as new infections rise sharply.
Liam Casey
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Liam Casey.
Faqiri family demands answers on implementing coroner inquest recommendations
TORONTO -- The family of a mentally ill man who died in a provincial jail is demanding to know if the Ontario government has implemented any recommendations that came out of a coroner's inquest, saying they believe nothing has been done.
Ontario to spend $750 million on STEM programs at universities, colleges
TORONTO -- Ontario says it will invest $750 million to boost funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at colleges and universities across the province.
'Go Leafs go!' Doug Ford says as Maple Leafs, Senators set to battle in NHL playoffs
TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he hopes a Canadian team wins the Stanley Cup, but he really wants the Maple Leafs do it.
Ontario open to compromise with Toronto on bike lane removals
TORONTO -- Ontario is open to a compromise with the City of Toronto on plans to remove three bicycle lanes, the transportation minister's office said.
Ontario judge seeking clarity on facts in supervised consumption site legal challenge
TORONTO -- The Ontario judge overseeing the legal challenge of the province's ban on supervised consumption sites that are within 200 metres of schools and daycares says he's concerned he does not have all the facts to decide the case.
Ontario judge recalls lawyers in supervised consumption site case
TORONTO -- In an unexpected move, an Ontario judge has asked lawyers to return to court today in the challenge to a new provincial law that bans supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of schools or daycares.
Ontario to spend $35M to help rebuild Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre
TORONTO -- Ontario will spend $35 million to help the Shaw Festival rebuild the Royal George Theatre.
Nine Ontario supervised consumption sites to close despite injunction, minister says
TORONTO -- The Ontario provincial government says nine supervised consumption sites will close Tuesday as planned, despite a recent court injunction allowing them to remain open temporarily.
Ontario consumption sites free to relocate, court hears, but minister says otherwise
TORONTO -- Ontario's new law on supervised consumption sites does not ban them entirely and those deemed too close to schools and daycares are free to relocate farther away, government lawyers argued Tuesday as a court considers a Charter challenge of the legislation.
Ontario consumption sites free to relocate, court hears, contrary to past statements
TORONTO -- Lawyers for the province say Ontario's new law on supervised consumption sites does not ban them entirely and those deemed too close to schools and daycares are free to relocate farther away.
Toronto supervised consumption site challenging Ontario law that will close 10 sites
TORONTO -- Dozens of supporters packed a Toronto courtroom - and two overflow rooms - on Monday as a supervised consumption site challenged the legality of a new provincial law that will soon shut down 10 such sites and prevent new ones from opening.
Ontario court to hear Charter challenge on supervised consumption site law
TORONTO -- An Ontario court will hear arguments Monday from a Toronto supervised consumption site challenging the legality of a new provincial law that will soon shut down 10 such sites and prevent new ones from opening.
Top court finds Ontario spending limits on third-party election ads unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of Canada has found an Ontario law that limits spending on third-party election advertising violates the constitutional right to vote.
Canada's top court to decide case about Ontario election advertising rules
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to release its decision today about third-party election advertising rules in Ontario that limit spending.
Ford claims 'stronger mandate' after election victory despite winning fewer seats
TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford says he has a stronger mandate after last week's election despite winning fewer seats than in 2022.
Doug Ford says he wants to be Ontario premier 'forever,' as his rivals urge change
Ontario's political party leaders are making their final pitches to voters a day before the province heads to the polls, with Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford saying he wants to be premier "forever" and his rivals asking Ontarians to choose change.
Doug Ford says he wants to be Ontario premier 'forever,' as his rivals urge change
Ontario's Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford says he wants to be premier "forever" as he looks to secure a third consecutive majority government in Thursday's election.
Doug Ford has big goals but cares about small stuff. It's how he wins, colleagues say
Doug Ford is a man of things. Things he can see, things he can touch and most importantly, things he can build.
Progressive Conservatives gunning for Windsor West, the only NDP seat west of London
Lisa Gretzky is the last New Democrat standing west of London, Ont., surrounded by a sea of Progressive Conservative blue.
Marineland succeeds in bid to sever property so it can raise money to move animals
The City of Niagara Falls has approved an application by Marineland to sever its property so it can raise money to move its animals and operate the park.
Leaders of Ontario Liberals, New Democrats promise to help young people
Two Ontario leaders have laid out plans on the campaign trail to help young people deal with the affordability crisis.
Ontario's party leaders pledge to help whales at Marineland
The leaders of Ontario's main political parties pledged Monday to help the remaining animals at Marineland should they win the election.
Ontario's main party leaders pledge to help whales at Marineland
The leaders of Ontario's main political parties are pledging to help the remaining animals at Marineland should they win the election.
Marineland euthanizes seven-year-old beluga whale after medical struggles
Marineland has euthanized a seven-year-old beluga whale after a long battle with several different medical conditions, making it the 18th such whale to die at the Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction since 2019.
Marineland euthanizes seven-year-old beluga after medical struggles
Marineland says it has euthanized a seven-year-old beluga whale after a long battle with several different medical conditions.
Snap election doesn't leave Ontario vulnerable amid trade war, Doug Ford insists
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford insists Ontario is not vulnerable during a snap election campaign he called as a trade war with the United States looms, but opposition leaders say he's abandoned the province at a crucial time.
Snap election doesn't leave Ontario vulnerable amid tariff threat, Doug Ford insists
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford insists Ontario is not vulnerable during a snap election campaign he called as a possible trade war with the United States looms.
Crombie unveils plan to address safety concerns on Toronto transit system
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie is pledging to install platform barriers at all Toronto subway stations, increase crisis intervention teams and hire more constables for transit services across the province.
PC Leader Ford to honour Ontario's EV commitment, Crombie and Stiles less definitive
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said Thursday he will honour Ontario's commitment to the burgeoning electric vehicle sector if re-elected, while his main political rivals were less definitive.
PC Leader Doug Ford says he'll honour Ontario's electric vehicle commitment
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford says if re-elected, he will honour the province's commitment to the electric vehicle sector should U.S. President Donald Trump end a subsidy program.
Original Toronto safe consumption site gets temporary reprieve after lease extension
TORONTO -- Temporary relief has washed over users of Toronto's original supervised consumption site after learning the place will not close when the building's lease expires in the spring, though its long-term prospects are bleak.
Toronto to see more emergency calls after supervised consumption sites close: top doc
TORONTO -- Toronto's acting medical officer of health says emergency services will see an increase in calls after new provincial laws shutter five supervised drug consumption sites in the city this spring.
More than 80,000 people in Ontario were homeless in 2024, new report finds
TORONTO -- A new report by Ontario's municipalities says more than 80,000 people were homeless last year.
Ontario launches border-strengthening operation as Trump tariff threat looms
TORONTO -- Ontario will beef up security along its border with the United States as part of its response to tariff threats from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday.
After sustained pressure on Marineland probe, Ontario animal welfare body opens up
TORONTO -- Ontario's little-known team of taxpayer-funded animal cruelty investigators recently issued its first-ever news release, years after launching in 2020.
Province warns dog owners in Windsor, Ont., of deadly parvovirus
TORONTO -- Ontario is warning dog owners in downtown Windsor about a viral outbreak that has left more than a dozen pets dead.
Niche dog sport divided Doug Ford's caucus as expansion plan killed, then resurrected
TORONTO -- A decision over whether to expand an obscure dog sport in Ontario sparked division within Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative caucus that saw the premier agree to cancel a new licensing regime before later resurrecting it, The Canadian Press has learned.
Ontario government is not unlawfully locking out provincial engineers: labour board
TORONTO -- The Ontario Labour Relations Board says the government is not unlawfully locking out provincial engineers who are taking part in rotating strikes.
'Insulting': Intimate partner violence study cut short as Ontario eyes early election
TORONTO -- Victims of intimate partner violence and their supporters are upset after early election speculation forced an Ontario legislative committee to cut short what was supposed to be an exhaustive study of the issue.
Ontario's ministerial zoning order process needs overhaul, auditor general says
TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general says the province's ministerial zoning order process needs to be overhauled.
Feds announce $758 million to help TTC buy new subway trains
TORONTO -- Ottawa says it will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to help Toronto buy new subway trains for its aging fleet.
Ontario won't support making Truth and Reconciliation Day a holiday for now: minister
TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford's government will not support a New Democrat's bill to make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a statutory holiday in the province, the Indigenous affairs minister said Thursday.
Ontario MPP renews push to make Truth and Reconciliation day a statutory holiday
TORONTO -- Ontario's only First Nation representative at Queen's Park is calling on the government to support his private member's bill to declare the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a statutory holiday in the province.
Ontario supports Ottawa's GST holiday, will not ask for lost revenue back
TORONTO -- Ontario says Ottawa's tax holiday will cost the province $1 billion, but it will support the GST break for consumers.
'It's an optimistic space:' Inside Toronto's new drug withdrawal centre
TORONTO -- Joshua Orson sits on the edge of a bed in a bright, clean room, thinking about his journey from addict to health-care worker.
Ontario First Nation declares state of emergency over gang and addiction crises
TORONTO -- A northern Ontario First Nation declared a state of emergency Tuesday over concurrent crises involving crime, gang activity, addiction and mental health problems that have plagued the community for years.
Ontario tables bill that bans supervised consumption sites near schools, daycares
TORONTO -- Ontario has tabled a bill that aims to shutter 10 supervised consumption sites the government deems are too close to schools and daycares.
Ontario to ban name changes for sex offenders, solicitor general says
Ontario plans to ban registered sex offenders from changing their names.
Ontario signs $100M deal with Elon Musk's Starlink system
Premier Doug Ford's government has signed a $100-million deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX to deliver high-speed internet to remote residents in rural and northern Ontario.
Workers say goodbye to an almost-empty Ontario Science Centre as repairs get underway
TORONTO -- As the sun shone on an unusually warm day at the end of October, Emma Meadley Dunphy took one final, emotional stroll through the Ontario Science Centre.
Decorated Canadian veteran warns of Russian dangers in High Arctic
TORONTO -- Canada must defend itself against an emerging Russia in the High Arctic, says one of Canada's most decorated veterans, a man who helped defeat Germany in the Second World War.
Crowds gather in Toronto to honour veterans, fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day
TORONTO -- Several hundred people gathered outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto to honour veterans and remember those who died fighting for their country.
Another beluga whale dies at Marineland, Ontario says water quality is 'acceptable'
TORONTO -- Three weeks after the death of another beluga whale at Marineland, the Ontario government is speaking publicly about its ongoing investigation of the park, saying water troubles are under control after a recent investment.
Hundreds will lose access to safe consumption when some Toronto sites close: study
TORONTO -- Hundreds of people will lose access to supervised consumption sites in Toronto when the province closes five of them next year, which will likely mean more public drug use and more overdoses, a new study suggests.
Ontario lacks a health-care plan for alcohol harms as sales expand: health coalition
TORONTO -- A coalition of prominent health institutions says Premier Doug Ford's government has no strategy to mitigate problems that could result from the province's newly liberalized alcohol sales rules, warning that more death, cancer diagnoses and emergency department strains may occur.
Ontario vision of Niagara as northern Las Vegas may not include Marineland: minister
TORONTO -- A major amusement park is part of Ontario's grand vision to turn the Niagara region into Las Vegas north, but Marineland may not fit the bill, the provincial tourism minister says.
Ontario tables bill that would give province power to veto, eliminate some bike lanes
TORONTO -- Ontario tabled its first bill of the fall legislative sitting on Monday, in a bid to give the province veto power over some bike lanes, accelerate highway construction projects and ease environmental assessments for new highways.
Ontario mayors ask for mental-health law reviews in wake of opioid, encampment crisis
Ontario Big City Mayors are asking the province to review mental-health laws and whether to expand the scope of involuntary treatment for people who are addicted to drugs and live on the streets.
'Significant overreach': Cities slam Ontario on bike lanes as Ford vows to go further
TORONTO -- Upcoming legislation that would require cities to get provincial approval for some bike lanes is a "significant overreach" of power, Ontario municipalities say, while Premier Doug Ford vowed Thursday to go even further and remove existing lanes.