105.9 The Region

OTTAWA — The message Canada’s premiers sent to Ottawa last year was unanimous: the federal government needed to pay its fair share to contain the ballooning cost of health care. Before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put a 10-year, $196-billion deal on the table, they insisted federal contributions to health spending had slowly slackened over time. […]

OTTAWA — A look at provincial health spending and federal health transfers between 2005 and 2023. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation. Total provincial spending on health care: 2004-05: $86.2 billion 2022-23: $221.9 billion Total federal health transfers (share of total spending): 2004-05: $15.1 billion (17.5 per cent) 2022-23: $47.1 billion (21.2 per […]

OTTAWA — Despite castigation from provincial premiers over lagging federal contributions to health spending, an analysis of 20 years of health funding data shows that federal transfers have mostly outpaced increases to provincial health budgets. In 2023, federal health transfers amounted to $47.1 billion, a 212 per cent increase over 2005, when the transfers were […]

New rules that ban the use of cellphones in class are taking effect at schools across Ontario this week, but critics say they’re unsure how the regulations will be enforced or how effective they will be. In April, the Ontario government announced a plan to standardize measures on cellphone use in classrooms, saying it wanted […]

TORONTO — A sex-work comedy, a Tragically Hip documentary and a wartime family drama are among the Canadian titles premiering at the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival. After Hollywood strikes dampened last year’s event, the festival returns Thursday with 59 homegrown films from established and emerging directors. The Canadian Press caught up with five […]

HAMILTON — It’s an anniversary Scott Milanovich would much rather forget. On Monday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will host the archrival Toronto Argonauts in the annual Labour Day clash. The contest will mark the 10th anniversary of the club’s first-ever game at Tim Hortons Field. The Ticats opened the venue with a 13-12 Labour Day victory […]

TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Rate decision The Bank of Canada will announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday. The central bank’s key interest rate target sits at 4.5 per cent after quarter-point cuts in June and July. Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to […]

TORONTO — One man is dead after an early morning shooting in Toronto. Police say officers responded to a call in the area of Times Road and Eglington Ave West in the York neighbourhood at 6:19 a.m. Upon arrival, they located a man with injuries, initially thought to be caused by a stabbing. Police say […]

OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s decision to reel in the temporary foreign worker program after loosening the rules to help businesses find workers after the pandemic is sparking a contentious debate about whether governments should even try to address labour shortages. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that his government is bringing back stricter […]

TORONTO — The photos are grainy, poorly lit or pixelated. The flash has washed out the subjects or illuminated only a portion of the scene. There may be a tiny orange time stamp in the bottom right-hand corner. But the photographers don’t mind; it’s what they’re going for, said 20-year-old Anya Chigak. “It captures the […]