Toronto Daily Digest — Feb 5, 2026

Exciting win: Brandon Ingram celebrated the one-year anniversary of joining the Raptors by scoring 33 points in a 123-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 5, 2026, lifting Toronto to a 31-22 record. All five starters scored in double figures (Immanuel Quickley 24, Collin Murray-Boyles 17, Scottie Barnes 13, Ja’Kobe Walter 12) while RJ Barrett rested and Jakob Poeltl missed his 23rd straight game with a back strain.

Smart deadline moves: GM Bobby Webster said the Raptors dodged the luxury tax and added frontcourt depth by completing trades that briefly brought Chris Paul to Toronto (three-team deal with Clippers and Nets) and acquired centre Trayce Jackson-Davis from Golden State for a 2026 second-round pick. Webster expects Paul to be waived when appropriate and hopes Jackson-Davis helps while Jakob Poeltl continues ramping up his comeback.

Mortgage stress rising: CMHC says Toronto and Vancouver show the biggest signs of mortgage strain, especially among pandemic-era first-time buyers, with missed payments forecast to climb even though current missed-payment rates remain at historic lows. More than 1.5 million households have renewed at higher rates and another million are expected to renew soon; many borrowers are lengthening amortizations to lower monthly payments.

Police chief lashes out: Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw condemned several officers charged in a York Regional Police organized-crime probe, saying the allegations are "painful and unsettling" and don’t represent the force’s 8,000+ members. Seven current officers and one retired member face charges including bribery, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking, and Demkiw has asked the Inspector General of Policing, Ryan Teschner, to launch an independent review.

Leaks tied to violence, investigators say: York Regional Police say Project South (started June 2025) alleges seven Toronto officers and one retired officer unlawfully accessed and leaked confidential information to criminal networks, which investigators link to shootings (seven in York Region), drug trafficking and robberies. Names and allegations include Const. Timothy Barnhardt, alleged links to Brian DaCosta’s drug operation, and 19 other suspects charged alongside the officers.

New auto plan and EV rebates: Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a five-point auto strategy including a $2.3-billion Electric Vehicle Affordability Program that offers up to $5,000 rebates for battery-electric/fuel-cell vehicles and $2,500 for plug-in hybrids priced up to $50,000 (cap exempt for Canadian-made EVs). Carney also said Ottawa will repeal the EV mandate, set stronger emissions standards, spend more than $1 billion on charging infrastructure and roll out tax incentives to attract manufacturing investment.

Stay application in Stronach trial: Defence lawyer Leora Shemesh says she has filed an abuse-of-process stay application in Frank Stronach’s Toronto trial, alleging witnesses may have been coached after "voluminous" late disclosure; she questioned Peel officer Gabe DiNardo in court. The judge adjourned the trial to Feb. 12; the 93-year-old Stronach faces a dozen charges in this Toronto trial, with a separate Newmarket case to follow.

Finch West LRT launch sparks fixes for streetcars: The bumpy Finch West LRT debut — trains delayed, stuck at lights and slower than expected — pushed Mayor Olivia Chow to order more aggressive signal priority and a review of the above-ground network. Streetcars are now only about 55% on time (vs. buses 73% and subways 82%); experts say smarter traffic signals and small road changes could quickly and cheaply improve reliability.

Raptors stumble before the deadline: Toronto blew a 24-minute dominant stretch and lost 128-126 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 4–5, 2026, despite Brandon Ingram’s 25 points and Scottie Barnes’ double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists). The loss came as turnover problems resurfaced (nine turnovers in the second half) and media reported the earlier three-team trade that briefly moved Chris Paul to Toronto — though Paul was not expected to report.