Ontario

Local news from Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo and Niagara. Visit nationaltimesmedia.com for local Ontario coverage today.

India-Canada Partnership in AI Holds Immense Promise, Says University of Waterloo President

India-Canada Partnership in AI Holds Immense Promise, Says University of Waterloo President

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Collaboration between India and Canada in the field of artificial intelligence could unlock significant benefits for both nations, according to the head of one of Canada’s premier science and technology institutions. Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo, described the growing engagement between the two countries as a “remarkable opportunity,” highlighting how their respective strengths can complement each other in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Speaking ahead of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where he is scheduled to participate alongside Canada’s AI Minister Evan Solomon, Goel emphasised that combining Canada’s expertise…
Read More
Ontario Launches New Succession Planning Hub to Help Small Businesses Navigate Ownership Transitions

Ontario Launches New Succession Planning Hub to Help Small Businesses Navigate Ownership Transitions

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario government has announced an investment of nearly $2 million to create the province’s first centralized business succession planning hub, an initiative designed to help entrepreneurs prepare for ownership changes while safeguarding jobs and community-based enterprises. The funding will be used to roll out Succession Ontario, a digital platform led by the Kingston Economic Development Corporation. The hub will offer practical guidance, planning tools and educational resources to business owners considering retirement, sale or transfer of their enterprises. In addition, Small Business Enterprise Centres across the province will be equipped with new training and materials, enabling…
Read More
Nine Toronto Officers Charged in Probe Linked to Tow-Industry Violence: Sources

Nine Toronto Officers Charged in Probe Linked to Tow-Industry Violence: Sources

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Multiple Toronto police officers have been charged following a sweeping investigation into violent activity connected to the tow-truck sector in the Greater Toronto Area, according to sources familiar with the case. Sources told CBC News that nine officers are accused of serious criminal conduct, including involvement in organized crime, unlawfully sharing sensitive information such as residential addresses, and passing details allegedly used to facilitate targeted violence. Investigators are also examining claims of a plot to assassinate a senior official at the Toronto South Detention Centre. Because the sources are not authorized to speak publicly, they requested anonymity.…
Read More
Ontario Judge Steps Down After Misconduct Finding, Avoids Disciplinary Sanctions

Ontario Judge Steps Down After Misconduct Finding, Avoids Disciplinary Sanctions

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): An Ontario judge found to have committed judicial misconduct in connection with allegations of sexual assault has retired from the bench, bringing disciplinary proceedings against him to an abrupt end. The Ontario Judicial Council confirmed on its website that Justice Paul Currie has officially retired from the Ontario Court of Justice, effective Friday. As a result, the council said it no longer has the authority to continue proceedings related to the complaint against him. Earlier this month, on January 13, a hearing panel of the council ruled that the majority of allegations raised in a formal complaint…
Read More
Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Felt Across Southern and Central Ontario Late Tuesday

Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Felt Across Southern and Central Ontario Late Tuesday

Ontario (Gaganjot Singh): Thousands of residents across southern and central Ontario reported feeling an earthquake late Tuesday night, according to Natural Resources Canada. Earthquakes Canada said a magnitude 3.7 tremor was recorded just before 11 p.m. ET, approximately 99 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The quake was described as “lightly felt” and was centred about 23 kilometres southeast of Orillia, Ont., at a depth of five kilometres. Natural Resources Canada seismologist Marikah Adams said around 2,600 people had reported experiencing the shaking, with reports coming in from a wide area stretching from Kingston to Kitchener. She added that additional reports were…
Read More
Up to 50 Vehicles Involved in Highway 401 Crashes as Snow Squall Hits Eastern Ontario

Up to 50 Vehicles Involved in Highway 401 Crashes as Snow Squall Hits Eastern Ontario

Ontario (Gaganjot Singh): Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say as many as 50 vehicles were involved in multiple collisions on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario on Tuesday amid dangerous winter weather conditions. A snow squall warning remains in effect for the region, with blowing snow and near-zero visibility expected at times. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) reported snow-covered lanes and significantly reduced visibility along Highway 401 between Quinte West and Napanee. As a result of the collisions, the MTO said eastbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed at County Road 30 in Brighton, west of Trenton, while westbound lanes were shut…
Read More
Toronto Struggles to Recover After Record-Breaking Snowfall

Toronto Struggles to Recover After Record-Breaking Snowfall

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Toronto is working to recover from the heaviest snowfall in its history, with city officials warning that clearing the streets and infrastructure could take several days. Some areas of Canada’s largest city were buried under nearly 60 cm (about 23 inches) of snow, forcing the cancellation of over 500 flights at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sunday. The airport has already recorded more than 88.2 cm of snowfall this month, making it the snowiest January and the snowiest month on record since 1937. The weekend storm, which affected much of North America, led several school boards to…
Read More
Canadian Prime Minister Likely to Travel to India in Early March, Trade and Technology on Agenda

Canadian Prime Minister Likely to Travel to India in Early March, Trade and Technology on Agenda

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in the first week of March, according to media reports citing diplomatic sources. The visit, if confirmed, is anticipated to mark a significant step in strengthening economic and strategic engagement between the two countries. Reports indicate that the proposed visit could lead to multiple agreements spanning sectors such as uranium supply, clean energy, critical minerals and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, was quoted as saying that discussions are also underway for cooperation in nuclear energy, oil and gas, environmental initiatives,…
Read More
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts School Operations Across Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area

Heavy Snowfall Disrupts School Operations Across Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The after-effects of a powerful winter storm that swept through southern Ontario on Sunday prompted widespread school closures across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) on Monday, as authorities worked to clear snow and restore safe travel conditions. The Toronto District School Board confirmed that all its schools, administrative offices, learning sites and childcare centres would remain shut for the day to support ongoing snow-clearing efforts and in response to the severe weather alert issued by the city. Soon after, the Toronto Catholic District School Board announced similar closures, adding that examinations scheduled for Monday have…
Read More
Toronto Police Urge Residents to Stay Home After 43 cm of Snow Buries City, Wind Chills Set to Plunge to –25°C

Toronto Police Urge Residents to Stay Home After 43 cm of Snow Buries City, Wind Chills Set to Plunge to –25°C

Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): Toronto is grappling with a massive cleanup effort after a powerful winter storm dumped 43 centimetres of snow across the city, forcing plows and emergency crews into a multi-day operation to restore roads and transit service. Major arteries were prioritized on Monday, while many residential streets remained partially blocked under deep snowbanks. Environment Canada said Monday’s forecast will bring a mix of sun and clouds with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of –8°C, but wind chills will make it feel closer to –22°C in the morning and…
Read More