Ontario

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

Massive Winter Storm Cancels Over 10,500 Flights Across U.S., Disrupts Toronto Pearson and Major Hubs

Massive Winter Storm Cancels Over 10,500 Flights Across U.S., Disrupts Toronto Pearson and Major Hubs

Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): A powerful winter storm sweeping across large parts of North America caused unprecedented disruption to air travel on Sunday, January 25, 2026, forcing the cancellation of more than 10,500 flights within, into, or out of the United States making it one of the worst single-day aviation shutdowns since the COVID-19 pandemic. Heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and strong winds crippled operations at major U.S. hubs including Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and airports across the New York City region. The storm’s impact extended into Canada, with Toronto Pearson International Airport…
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Senator pushes for Canadian-run airport fast-track program to replace reliance on Nexus

Senator pushes for Canadian-run airport fast-track program to replace reliance on Nexus

OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): With fewer Canadians flying south of the border, a senator from Alberta is urging Ottawa to develop a homegrown airport screening fast-pass program that would allow travellers to bypass long security lines without relying on a U.S.-run system. Sen. Paula Simons introduced a motion in the Senate last fall calling for the creation of a Canadian-controlled trusted traveller initiative. The proposal aims to provide quicker security clearance at domestic airports while removing dependence on the binational Nexus program. “It’s rare for a country to hand over such a critical part of its airport screening process to another…
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Mark Carney charts packed global travel agenda in 2026 to expand Canada’s trade footprint

Mark Carney charts packed global travel agenda in 2026 to expand Canada’s trade footprint

OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing for an exceptionally busy year of international travel as his government pushes to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States and broaden economic ties worldwide. Since taking office, Carney has already logged thousands of air miles aboard government aircraft, visiting countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His office says overseas engagement will remain central to his strategy of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade and attracting fresh foreign investment. In January alone, the prime minister made stops in France, China, Qatar, and Switzerland, signaling an aggressive start…
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U.S. hunters penalized $27,500 for unlawful moose kills in remote Ontario wilderness

U.S. hunters penalized $27,500 for unlawful moose kills in remote Ontario wilderness

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Three American hunters have been handed significant fines and long-term hunting prohibitions in Ontario after conservation officers uncovered multiple illegal moose hunting incidents in a remote region of northwestern Ontario. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the violations came to light following a targeted aerial patrol over the Skinner Lake area, located north of Pickle Lake, in late September 2023. The surveillance operation was launched amid growing concerns about unlawful activity at isolated hunting outposts. Investigators found that on September 29, two of the men — Zach Droessler and Ben Droessler — fatally shot a bull…
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Fatal late-night collision in West Nipissing leaves one dead, four hospitalized

Fatal late-night collision in West Nipissing leaves one dead, four hospitalized

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): A serious two-vehicle crash in northern Ontario has claimed one life and sent four others to hospital, prompting an ongoing police investigation and temporary road closures in West Nipissing. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to the scene on Nipissing Street late Saturday night, shortly before midnight. Emergency responders arrived to find extensive damage involving two vehicles and multiple injured occupants. In a statement released Sunday, police confirmed that a 62-year-old woman from Sudbury, who was travelling as a passenger in one of the vehicles, died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts. Paramedics, along with air ambulance…
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Ontario launches fast-track program to shorten waits for critical cancer treatments

Ontario launches fast-track program to shorten waits for critical cancer treatments

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Cancer patients in Ontario are beginning to benefit from quicker access to advanced drug therapies as the provincial government rolls out a new initiative aimed at cutting lengthy approval delays for publicly funded medications. The Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program, introduced last year, is now being implemented across the province. Health officials say it is already helping patients obtain life-prolonging cancer drugs months earlier than the conventional approval pathway, which can stretch close to three years. Under the new system, six innovative treatments covering a range of cancers — including lung, prostate, leukemia, lymphoma, colorectal…
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Major snowstorm expected to batter Toronto and eastern regions as deep freeze continues

Major snowstorm expected to batter Toronto and eastern regions as deep freeze continues

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Large parts of Eastern Canada, including Toronto, are preparing for another round of severe winter weather, with meteorologists warning of intense snowfall, strong winds and continued bitter cold through Sunday. Environment Canada has forecast that Toronto could receive as much as 40 centimetres of snow over the course of the day, raising concerns about hazardous travel and widespread disruptions. An orange-level winter storm warning has been issued across much of the Greater Toronto Area, signalling the likelihood of significant impacts to daily life, infrastructure and public safety. According to the national weather agency, heavy snowfall combined with…
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Canada rules out free trade pact with China amid tariff warning from Donald Trump

Canada rules out free trade pact with China amid tariff warning from Donald Trump

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday clarified that Ottawa has no plans to pursue a formal free trade agreement with China, responding to sharp warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump over deepening economic ties between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said recent discussions with Beijing were aimed at resolving trade imbalances and addressing market access challenges rather than forging a broader trade pact. He pointed to ongoing negotiations related to Chinese electric vehicles, agricultural commodities and seafood exports as part of efforts to stabilise bilateral commerce. Carney also underlined Canada’s obligations under…
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Deep freeze grips Canada, straining power grids and grounding flights nationwide

Deep freeze grips Canada, straining power grids and grounding flights nationwide

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A sweeping blast of Arctic air has tightened its grip across much of Canada, putting immense pressure on power utilities and disrupting air travel, as temperatures plunged to dangerous lows on Saturday. From the eastern seaboard to the Prairie provinces, communities braced for brutal wind chills and extreme cold, with meteorologists warning that some Prairie regions could experience conditions equivalent to –55°C. The prolonged cold spell has forced residents indoors and triggered emergency responses in several cities. In Ontario, frigid winds pushed “feels-like” temperatures in Toronto and Ottawa beyond –30°C, prompting municipalities to expand operations at warming…
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Mark Carney urges Canadians to back homegrown industry after Donald Trump’s tariff warning

Mark Carney urges Canadians to back homegrown industry after Donald Trump’s tariff warning

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on citizens to rally behind domestic producers and workers, unveiling a sweeping “Buy Canadian” drive just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened steep trade penalties over Ottawa’s growing engagement with China. In a video message shared online, Carney said the new policy reflects a strategic shift aimed at insulating Canada’s economy from mounting external pressures. He encouraged consumers, businesses and public institutions to prioritise Canadian-made goods and services, presenting the move as both an economic and national resilience measure. “With rising uncertainty in global markets, Canadians are choosing to…
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