Ottawa Daily Digest — Jan 29, 2026

Shock at an Oshawa courthouse: Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says it is not currently investigating allegations that Durham Regional Police assaulted lawyer Sudine Riley after being notified on Tuesday; the SIU only takes cases involving serious injury, death, sexual assault or an officer firing a gun. Riley’s counsel and defence lawyer Neha Chugh allege officers slammed Riley’s head into a desk last Friday, put knees on her back and neck, dragged her out in handcuffs, ripped off her headscarf and raised her skirt; Durham police say they’re investigating and legal groups want an independent probe.

Bundle up — extreme cold warning: Environment Canada issued yellow cold-weather alerts across southern Ontario (Windsor to Ottawa) for Thursday night into early Friday morning, with wind chills making it feel like -30 to -35°C in the Toronto area and -33 to -38°C further north and east. The agency warns frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin and reminds people that if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for pets.

Blue Jays boost Rogers’ bottom line: Rogers says the Blue Jays’ run to Game 7 of the World Series helped media revenue surge to $1.24 billion in Q4, lifting net income to $743 million ($1.37 per share) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $558 million a year earlier. Rogers reported average audiences of 10.9 million for Game 7 and 7.5 million for the whole Series (23 million Canadians tuned in at some point), and plans to buy the remaining 25% of MLSE by July to fold its sports assets together.

Major Ontario crime bust: Project Alias led by OPP and London police seized 31 guns (sourced from U.S. states) and 12.5 kg of fentanyl plus 4.5 kg of cocaine — drugs police estimate worth more than $2 million — after Jan. 14 search warrants in London and Toronto. Eleven people in their 20s face 214 charges; police warn 12.5 kg of fentanyl could represent about 125,000 lethal street doses, and two suspects remain outstanding.

Barrie buried under record snow: The City of Barrie has been in a continuous “significant weather event” since Dec. 28, 2025 — the longest in its history — and has gotten about 300 cm (more than 9.5 feet) of snow from Nov. 1, 2025 to Jan. 28, 2026. Crews are still clearing narrowed roads and bike lanes, the high alert stays in effect until those are fixed, and overnight on-street parking rules (Dec. 1–Mar. 31) remain in force.

Small police forces struggle with new training costs: Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act (263 sections) took effect in April 2025 and raised training and equipment standards but came with no new dedicated funding, leaving small forces like Owen Sound (pop. ~22,000; ~40 officers) wrestling with extra costs and travel for courses. Municipal leaders want stable, targeted provincial funding instead of one-off grants, while the government says operating costs are a municipal responsibility.

Manitoba urges Diageo to give Ontario a way forward: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says Diageo should provide a “path forward” to resolve the dispute after Diageo announced the Amherstburg, Ont., Crown Royal plant would close and move to the U.S.; the LCBO ban threatened by Ontario could take effect at the end of February. Diageo says it still employs more than 500 people in Canada (including 100+ in Ontario), has struck a closure agreement for Amherstburg workers and put the 110 St. Arnaud St. property up for sale; premiers are pressing for solutions to protect jobs.

Raptors ‘let one slip away’: Toronto lost 119–92 to the New York Knicks after leading by 12, getting outscored 35–19 in the third quarter; Brandon Ingram had 27 points, six rebounds and three steals while Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 30 points. The loss dropped the Raptors to 29–20 (they’re 0–8 vs. the Knicks since the Dec. 30, 2023 trade) and snapped a four-game win streak.