Ontario-Update
Written by The Canadian Press on March 30, 2026
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(Housing-Funding)
The federal and Ontario governments say they’ll match billions of dollars in local infrastructure spending to help cities cut costly development fees and get more homes built.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is with Premier Doug Ford in Toronto today unveiling a plan that would see Ottawa and the province cost-match 8.8-billion-dollars in spending on housing-related infrastructure over the next 10 years.
The funding deal is the first announced through the federal government’s Build Communities Strong Fund and is meant to help municipalities cut development fees by 50 per cent over the next three years. (The Canadian Press)
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(Air-Canada-Employee-Charged)
The R-C-M-P says an Air Canada employee is facing charges after allegedly trying to export more than 60 kilograms of cannabis out of Toronto’s Pearson airport by using suitcases tagged with the names of two unsuspecting passengers.
The Canada Border Services Agency contacted the R-C-M-P last month after they found about 33 kilograms of cannabis in each checked bag of two German citizens scheduled to depart on a flight to Germany.
The R-C-M-P allege an Air Canada employee working in the baggage room had placed luggage tags with the passengers’ names onto those suitcases.
Police say the 32-year-old from Mississauga has been charged with possessing cannabis for the purpose of export and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. (The Canadian Press)
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(First-Nations-Child-Welfare) WATCH FOR DATING
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is expected to release a decision today on a landmark First Nations child welfare deal reached between chiefs in Ontario and the federal government.
The decision could bring an end to a nearly 20-year dispute that began in 2007.
In 20-16 the tribunal concluded the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare system and ordered reforms.
That work came to a halt when First Nations twice rejected a 47.8-billion-dollar federal deal in 20-24.
Chiefs in Ontario voted in favour of a separate deal last year, saying they couldn’t wait for a national agreement while children continued to experience the harms of the child welfare system. (The Canadian Press)
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(Ont-Cocaine-Charges)
Halton regional police say a Burlington man is facing multiple charges after allegedly shipping a package of cocaine through Canada Post.
Police say they began their investigation last month after learning of the shipment and that led to the arrest of the 42-year-old suspect who was on a statutory release on other charges.
Police say they seized cocaine, approximately 70-thousand illegal cigarettes, a crossbow and a stolen pickup truck as part of their investigation.
Charges against the suspect include trafficking cocaine, possession of property obtained by crime and trafficking contraband tobacco. (The Canadian Press)
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(Ont-Trespassing-Crane)
Police say three young men are facing charges after being spotted on top of a construction crane in Kitchener yesterday afternoon.
It happened at a construction site on King Street East near Ottawa Street.
Police say officers searched the highrise and eventually found three men around 4:40 p-m, hiding in a portable toilet on the 22nd floor.
The suspects have since been identified as a 20-year-old from St. Catharines, a 20-year-old from Waterdown and a 16-year-old from Hamilton, and all three are facing trespassing charges. (CityNews)
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(BBO-Blue-Jays-Jimenez)
Infielder Leo Jimenez is headed for Miami after the Toronto Blue Jays completed a deal yesterday to acquire infielder Dub Gleed and international signing bonus pool space.
The 24-year-old Jimenez played 18 games with the Jays last season, and 19 at triple-A Buffalo where he hit four doubles and four R-B-Is and a 15.5 per cent walk rate.
The right-handed hitter from Chitre, Panama was signed by the Jays as an international free agent in 20-17.
In total he played 81 games with the Blue Jays, hitting 11 doubles and five home runs. (The Canadian Press)
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(Ontario Update by The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press