🏛️ Government & Politics
- Province signals multi‑year deficits ahead, projects $35 billion in shortfalls through 2035. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the Ford government expects continued deficit spending while warning of possible service cuts if federal transfers are reduced; the Financial Accountability Office projects the province will need billions more to maintain current service levels.
- Treasury board president refuses to disclose Starlink cancellation cost after $100M deal was scrapped. King Surma said the cost paid to cancel the Elon Musk deal is “significantly less than the contract value” but directed reporters to the infrastructure minister for specifics as public accounts show rural broadband rollout was affected.
- Bonnie Crombie proposes extending TTC Line 2 from Kipling into downtown Mississauga. Crombie, running for Mississauga mayor, pitched a Line 2 extension to Square One via Sherway Gardens and pointed to existing Toronto planning work and TTC storage‑facility planning as groundwork for the plan.
- Peel Paramedic Services launches medical drone pilot delivering AEDs, epinephrine and medications this month. The pilot will dispatch drones to 911 callers based on location, timing and weather so trained dispatchers can guide bystanders to use delivered devices while crews travel, Peel says the program supports rural and remote response times.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
- Man who died after Belleville synagogue gunfight had sued military for $1M over vaccine dismissal. Court records show Sean Ward, identified by police as the gunman in the Yom Kippur attack, sued the Canadian Armed Forces in 2023 claiming $140,000 in losses and asking $1 million after being discharged for refusing COVID‑19 vaccination.
- Two Toronto police officers injured when a fleeing vehicle collided with their cruiser at Islington and Elmhurst around 2:29 a.m. Police say both officers were taken to hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries; the vehicle’s driver was arrested and also taken to hospital while a second fleeing vehicle remains outstanding.
🎨 Community & Culture
- Toronto will host the inaugural PWHL all‑star game on March 7, 2027. The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced Toronto as the March 7 host city for its first all‑star event, marking a major league showcase in the city’s women’s hockey calendar.
- Raptors GM Bobby Webster says the team always believed the Kawhi Leonard trade would close. Webster told reporters Toronto remained confident through the NBA’s salary‑cap probe; Leonard, 35, signed a two‑year extension after averaging 27.9 points and 6.3 rebounds with the Clippers last season.
📰 Also Today
- 3‑day memorial run from Toronto to Ottawa honours seven fallen police officers.
- Raptors GM publicly backs confidence in securing Kawhi Leonard trade and extension.
- Ontario posts $13B deficit, slightly better than earlier projection.
- Belleville police say synagogue shooting was a deliberate hate attack.
- Durham police chief publicly denounces two alleged hate‑related offences in the region.
- Peel police probe suspected arson after two tow‑truck fires in Mississauga.
- Day two of Kenneth Law sentencing hears testimonies on families affected by online sales.
- FAO warns Ontario health and education need more spending or service levels will fall.
- First Nation chief demands remediation after decades of mercury poisoning.
- Marineland dolphin deaths continue; another dolphin dies after transfer to Spain.
- Convicted businessman out on bail accused in new $17,500 scam.
- Synagogue shooting suspect’s online username reportedly referenced killing Jews weeks earlier.
- New Mark Carney plan could affect Pearson travellers, details under review.
- Overview of Toronto mayoral debate focuses on affordability and property taxes.
- Blue Jays eliminated from playoff contention after another weak offensive game.
- Milton mayoral candidates Gord Krantz and Zainab Azim call for clean campaigning together.
- Poll: Majority of Ontarians unfamiliar with five Ontario Liberal leadership contenders.
- Echo, a 30‑year‑old dolphin moved from Marineland, dies at Oceanogràfic Valencia.
