News

TORONTO — Ontario is speeding up its expansion of alcohol sales in the province, and the move comes with up to $225 million in public money for The Beer Store. Premier Doug Ford announced late last year that sales of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails would be allowed in convenience stores and all grocery […]

BARRIE, Ont. — Police say a toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. Investigators say the collision took place around 12:45 p.m. Thursday. They say a 23-month-old boy was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to a Toronto-area hospital. They say he was being treated for life-threatening […]

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2 per cent to $66.4 billion in March, weighed down by lower sales at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers. Looking ahead, the agency also says its early estimate for April points to a drop of 0.7 per cent for that month. Statistics Canada says the […]

OTTAWA — Federal Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says she had “deep concerns” about the lack of limits Toronto put on its now-rejected pitch to decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs — and the city health agency’s refusal to make any changes. Earlier this month, Saks told reporters that Toronto Public Health’s long-standing application was “dormant,” […]

TORONTO — Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson swooped in as surprise performers at the Gordon Lightfoot tribute concert. The former Rush bandmates arrived late in the star-studded show at Toronto’s Massey Hall as unannounced guests, joining Blue Rodeo to perform “The Way I Feel.” It’s one of few moments where Lee and Lifeson have played […]

TORONTO — The University of Toronto, where students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment weeks ago, has given protesters 24 hours to consider its offer to end the demonstration. The offer includes forming a working group to consider options for the disclosure of the school’s investments, but the university says it will not end any partnerships […]

OTTAWA — Canadian Olympic swimmer Ruslan Gaziev has been suspended 18 months for anti-doping rule violations. The 24-year-old from Toronto failed to provide drug testers with a quarterly outline of his schedule and provide a 60-minute period each day when he would be available for out-of-competition testing. Gaziev had three confirmed “whereabouts failures” over a […]

TORONTO — CBCs upcoming scripted lineup showcases diversity and familiar faces, with Indigenous hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids, writer-actor Allan Hawco and comedy collaborators Jennifer Whalen and Meredith MacNeill debuting new series. The public broadcaster announced a fall and winter slate Thursday that includes the half-hour scripted show “Snotty Nose Rez Kids,” bound for […]

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index lost almost 150 points Thursday, led by weakness in utilities and base metals, while U.S. stock markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 145.97 points at 22,200.79. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 605.78 points at 39,065.26. The S&P 500 index was down […]

TORONTO — The arrival of a professional women’s basketball team to the Toronto sports landscape creates new opportunities to capitalize on long pent-up demand from local fans, say experts who study the business of sports. The WNBA announced Thursday that Toronto’s new team — the first in Canada — will tip off in 2026, playing […]