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Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Complete Ontario-wide results of February's election won't be ready until October
Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives were re-elected last winter — it was in all the papers. But those looking to Elections Ontario for the complete results of the Feb. 27 vote are out of luck until this fall in spite its promises of 'transparency' to the public. That's because the non-partisan, arm's length agency is only publishing individual vote tallies for each of the 124 ridings contested five months ago in a snap election that cost $189 million. While Elections Ontario's website did briefly display province-wide results on Feb. 28 — when 8,073 of 8,079 polls had reported in — no such information is currently available. Instead, visitors to the site are directed to Microsoft Excel and PDF documents with poll-by-poll tallies for each of Ontario's 124 provincial ridings. Depending upon how many polling stations are in the ridings, there are three to nine PDF pages of results featuring the name of each candidate in tiny agate type but not their party affiliation. That's in sharp contrast to the website of its national counterpart, Elections Canada, which shows 'preliminary results' from the April 28 federal vote that are easy for users to find and to understand. The federal agency's site allows people to view overall national results, tallies by the 343 national electoral districts, by province and territory, and by 42 'major centres' across the country, 16 of which are in Ontario. As well, there are tabs listing how the 14 federal party leaders did in their respective ridings, as well as the four judicial recounts that were held in close races, two in Ontario, one in Quebec and another in Newfoundland and Labrador. But Elections Ontario has no plans to update its site with final results or any additional information for several more months. 'After the official tabulation is complete, Elections Ontario carries out a multi-step process to verify, reconcile, and certify every vote before publishing and tabling the Official Election Results with the Legislature,' Laura Sylvis, the agency's team lead for media relations, said in an email. 'This rigorous approach helps ensure the integrity, transparency and public confidence in Ontario's democratic process,' wrote Sylvis. 'Official results for all 124 electoral districts in the 2025 Ontario General Election are now available on Elections Ontario's website,' she continued. 'A more detailed breakdown will be included when we table the Official Election Results in October, once the Legislature reconvenes.' Given that the house resumes Oct. 20, that means people unable or unwilling to sift through the results of 124 ridings will have had to wait at least 235 days — or seven months and three weeks — to find out province-wide tallies. Sylvis emphasized that 'after each general election, we conduct a detailed lessons learned review to assess what worked well and where improvements can be made. 'As part of that process, we welcome feedback from the public, media, and other stakeholders — including the feedback you have shared about the posting of official results — which will help guide those improvements for future elections,' she said. Greg Essensa, Elections Ontario's chief electoral officer, was not available for comment. According to the Feb. 28 preliminary tally that has since vanished from Elections Ontario's website, Ford's Tories received 2,158,452 votes and 42.97 per cent of the popular vote. That compared with 1,504,688 votes and 29.95 per cent of the popular vote for Bonnie Crombie's Liberals and 931,796 votes and 18.55 per cent for Marit Stiles's New Democrats and 242,822 votes and 4.83 per cent for Mike Schreiner's Greens.
Toronto Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Ontario launching $260M round of funding for skills development
This is the sixth iteration of the skills development fund from Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government. Published Jul 29, 2025 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 1 minute read Labour and Immigration Minister David Piccini speaks at Queen's Park on July 28, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun Ontario has opened up applications for a $260-million round of funding to train workers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Labour Minister David Piccini says the funds can be used for innovative projects in health care, manufacturing, construction and the automotive sector, among other skilled trades. This is the sixth iteration of the skills development fund from Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government. Piccini says the province plans to keep building as it continues its infrastructure push, with numerous highway, hospital and long-term care projects in the works. Piccini has also announced the recipients of a $20-million investment that was part of the last round of skills funding, which includes money for youth, manufacturing and hospitality workers as well as for health care workers such as nurses. Ford has pitched even more infrastructure projects going forward as a way to offset an economic downturn created by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. MLB Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays World
Ottawa Citizen
12 hours ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Denley: This plan to save Perth trades school deserves full support
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Algonquin College will shut down its building trades program in the Eastern Ontario town, but a local entrepreneur has pitched a better version. Doug Ford should clear the path to make it happen. Toby Shannan is a life-long Perth resident willing to put his money where his mouth is in order to save the building trades program in his community. Photo by Megan Tysick Thanks to the vision and financial clout of a Perth entrepreneur, the heritage trades program in the Eastern Ontario town could be saved, but it's going to take some quick and creative action by the Doug Ford government. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Since 1989, Algonquin College has operated the trades program at its Perth campus. Now, facing a $60-million deficit in 2025-26, the college has decided to close the campus and transfer the program to Ottawa. Algonquin is going through the required provincial process of offering the Perth campus to other public organizations, but it's doubtful that any of them will take it up. The college has already engaged a real estate company and expects the campus to be listed soon. Selling might make sense for Algonquin, but it will be a multi-million-dollar loss to Perth's economy and to taxpayers. The federal and provincial governments gave $10 million in 2009 to build the heritage carpentry facility in Perth. Toby Shannan, former chief operating officer of tech firm Shopify, says the campus is 'a very small part of Algonquin, but a very big part of Perth.' Campus salaries alone inject more than $3 million into the local economy, he says. Shannan is trying to save the local trades program because he's a life-long Perth resident who wants the best for his community. His father, son and son-in-law are all builders, so he understands the need. Shannan has a plan to save the Perth campus and its local program with his own money. If necessary, he is willing to buy the campus for market value, which he estimates is between $10 million and $15 million. He would create a non-profit corporation to run the trade school, endowing it with enough money to guarantee its success. Shannan would maintain the heritage trades training, but expand the schools offerings so it can train other tradespeople and upgrade the skills of those already in the trades. Shannan's plan faces obstacles, such as competition from Algonquin itself, once it moves its government-subsidized heritage trades training back to Ottawa. Shannan's school would need to charge a higher tuition because it would have no government support. Shannan says he's not afraid of the competition because there is ample student demand and he believes that he can offer a premium program with better work opportunities and stronger links to industry. As he puts it, 'You have to be smarter, more agile and more connected to industry.' This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To make it happen, the Ford government will have to rethink a system that's focused on process, not results. The property is Algonquin's to dispose of. The provincial government's only formal role is to ensure that the proceeds are reinvested in another capital project. It's not a recipe for the best outcome. Local politicians are behind Shannan's plan. He has met with political leaders at Queen's Park at least a half-dozen times and received some interest, but no action yet. It would be hard to imagine a project more in the Progressive Conservative wheelhouse. Ford's government has been aggressive in expanding skilled trades training, supports regional economic development, and generally favours private sector involvement. Let's put this in a somewhat larger context. The provincial government and Ontario's community colleges have undermined what was a good training system. The Ford government gives colleges the lowest per capita student support in the country. Colleges made up the gap with over-reliance on foreign students and their high tuition. Now that the federal government has slowed the foreign student flow, community colleges across the province are facing deficits. That's how we got to a position where a community asset like the Perth campus, paid for by taxpayers, has become something Algonquin can no longer afford to operate. That despite the fact that training Ontario students for work is the college system's core responsibility. It's an easy problem to fix. The Ford government should take over the Perth campus, lease it to Shannan and direct the lease money to Algonquin. Everyone wins. How do you say no to a plan like that? Randall Denley is an Ottawa journalist and author. Contact him at randalldenley1@
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Provincial deficits to narrow in coming years despite trade war: report
The Conference Board of Canada expects provincial budgets to trim their deficits in the coming years. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, top centre, speaks during the meeting of Canada's premiers in Huntsville, Ont., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette OTTAWA — Under pressure from the U.S. trade war and a slowing economy, Canada's provinces are all expected to run fiscal deficits this year — but a Conference Board of Canada report predicts those deficits will narrow in the coming years. The report released Tuesday paints a picture of provinces struggling to balance their books. Not long after emerging from a pandemic that caused deficits to balloon, Canada's provinces are now staring down the barrel of a trade war. Most provinces have put up contingency funds in this year's budgets to support workers and critical industries through the tariff dispute. Many are also aligning with the federal government to push forward major infrastructure projects in the coming years, putting pressure on capital spending. Just as provinces are drawing down their coffers, they're also bracing for a hit to the economy. 'When we see a slowdown in economic activity, that leads to less job creation, less spending, less incomes and less corporate profits,' said Richard Forbes, principal economist at the Conference Board. 'And these are … major drivers of provincial revenues.' Also hampering provincial revenues is a slowdown in population growth as Ottawa tamps down on the flow of immigration. Many provinces are also facing demographic woes due to an aging population and baby boomers exiting the workforce — another drag on income tax revenue. A growing number of retirees also drives up demand for health-care spending. Forbes said that with the federal government's new immigration caps, population growth is likely to hit a wall in the coming years. That would limit any relief newcomers offer the labour market as older Canadians exit the workforce. The Conference Board report cites the example of Newfoundland and Labrador, which it says is expected to see its population shrink by 10,000 over the next five years. Quebec and most of the Maritimes are also expected to feel the 'sting' of an aging population, the report said. Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, is experiencing the strongest population growth of any province in recent years. A 25-per cent increase in population over 10 years has helped to lower P.E.I.'s median age by 2.6 years, the report said. The Conference Board's forecast assumes the economy contracted in the second quarter of the year as tariffs and uncertainty sank manufacturing activity. The think tank predicts a modest return to growth through the rest of the year. At the tail end of the provinces' planning horizons, the Conference Board report sees governments reining in spending, which is expected to narrow those deficits by the end of the decade. The federal government has announced plans to balance the operating side of its budget over the next three years. Forbes said he expects to see similar trimming by the provinces in areas such as public administration. 'Speaking broadly, of course, we are seeing provinces showing more prudence when it comes to their spending plans over the last couple of years,' he said. Some provinces, including Saskatchewan and Alberta, are forecast to return to annual budget surpluses before 2030. The Conference Board says Canada's Prairie provinces are in relatively secure fiscal positions, thanks in part to younger demographics and some insulation from tariffs. Provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to pivot their economies towards renewable energy in the years ahead, but Forbes noted that prospects for the oil and gas sector will continue to weigh heavily on the fiscal outlooks in those provinces. Ontario is also expected to see a balanced budget by the end of the decade. The Conference Board says accelerated infrastructure spending will drive up debt in the short term but planned moderation in health care and education expenditures will support deficit elimination. Quebec is in a 'difficult position,' the report says, with the province particularly penned in by weak demographic momentum, heightened economic uncertainty and growing demand for health-care and education spending. But the Conference Board says Quebec can find its way back to a modest surplus by 2029 if the province can deliver on spending restraint. British Columbia also faces a steep deficit, the Conference Board says, but a slowdown in spending and rising natural gas royalties are expected to help it climb out of that fiscal hole in the coming years. The federal government's infrastructure agenda could also be a boon for the province, the report notes. While New Brunswick is praised in the report for its displays of fiscal restraint in recent years, the Conference Board points to an aging population and the forestry industry's tariff exposure as serious revenue challenges. Nova Scotia is also expected to face challenges tied to a slowing economy, particularly as a lack of private sector investment and housing activity weigh on growth. Forbes said that while the Conference Board's forecast assumes trade uncertainty will diminish next year, the provinces' fiscal pictures could deteriorate further if Canada's tariff dispute with the United States persists. Part of the value of the Conference Board's exercise is that it puts all provincial budget plans through a uniform scenario, he said — unlike the various hypotheticals that underpin each individual province's spending plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: Ford changes tune on call for asylum seekers to get work permits
WARMINGTON: Driver allegedly almost runs over cops and public but released without bail hearing Two fans seemingly caught in sex act at Yankee Stadium in viral video LILLEY: Ford changes tune on call for asylum seekers to get work permits Article content Doug Ford both walked back and doubled down on his call for asylum seekers to get work permits. Last week, Ontario's Premier said that he would not wait around for the federal government and would start issuing provincial work permits for asylum seekers. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content Under Sec. 95, of the Constitution Act, any province has the ability to pass legislation in this area, but few provinces do. Last week, Ford said that he was willing to start issuing such work permits despite the high unemployment rate in the province. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or LILLEY: Ford changes tune on call for asylum seekers to get work permits Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content On Monday, Ford was less strident. 'I don't want to take the responsibility off the federal government, but in saying that, if you have a pulse and you're healthy, you need to be working,' Ford said. His viewpoint on this is understandable even if it is wrong. Ford's view is that the federal government is letting people into the country, including thousands who claim asylum under questionable circumstances. He'd rather see them working than drawing on the welfare or social services system. Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content In Toronto, more than 50% of the 9,000 plus beds in the city's shelter system are taken up by asylum seekers. There are thousands more in hotel rooms across the GTA, in Hamilton, Niagara, and in Ottawa. Still, Ford's plan announced last week would only lead to more people making illegal and illegitimate asylum claims in the hope of getting a work permit. 'I don't want to take the responsibility off the federal government, but in saying that, if you have a pulse and you're healthy, you need to be working,' Ford said. Recommended video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video That's an understandable point of view, especially for an MPP who represents an area where many of these asylum seekers are housed in hotels. Ford interacts with people stuck in these federal hotels on a regular basis in his riding. Despite his compassion for these people, Ford is wrong to want to start issuing provincial work permits to these people. Over the last decade, most of those claiming asylum are actually economic immigrants looking to game the system. 'We've got to protect our workers,' Ford Minister for Labour and Immigration David Piccini said. 'That means having systems with integrity.' Piccini noted that he was the grandson of immigrants from Italy but that today, the system is too often abused. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Doug Ford's idea of handing out provincial work permits to more than 100,000 asylum seekers may seem compassionate, his heart may be in the right place but... It's a horrible idea that must be stopped. Here's — Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) July 28, 2025 'We want Ontario to succeed; we want this economy to succeed. To do it, you've got to ensure that people are working, and people are contributing to the economy,' Piccini said. Ford pushed back against claims that the federal government issues work permits within 45 days of people arriving. 'Go up Airport Rd., pull over at the Tim Hortons by the Congress Centre, start talking to people, ask them how long they've been there. Ask them if they want to work. They all want to work, but instead we're paying them to sit in a hotel room,' Ford said. 'I just want people working if they're here.' It's an understandable position, but it is also the wrong position. If people can work it is better than them drawing on welfare, but making it standard operating procedure that asylum seekers will get a hotel room, money for food and a work permit will only see more people arrive in this country illegally. The policy Ford is putting forward will only make things worse, not better in the long run. Thankfully, he is quietly walking this idea back; while still saying the people the federal government allows into the country should be able to work rather than just draw welfare. We need to clamp down on our out-of-control immigration system rather than making things worse. Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
