Toronto Daily Digest — Feb 9, 2026

Big confrontation: On Feb. 9, 2026 former U.S. President Donald Trump warned he would block the opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge (Windsor–Detroit) unless the U.S. is “compensated,” even pushing for U.S. ownership of “at least one half” of the asset. The Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority says major construction is complete and testing is underway for this year’s opening; about one-third of Canada-U.S. trade moves through that corridor.

Cold snap easing — but winter’s not over: Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell says the coldest Arctic air is moving away and Ontario can expect milder, above-freezing daytime highs around Family Day and the next 10 days (Toronto’s average high was -1 C). Farnell warns this is only a break — more snow and cold are likely later in February and into March.

Sad news on cause of death: Catherine O’Hara, 71, died Jan. 30; her death certificate lists a pulmonary embolism with rectal cancer as an underlying cause, and she was cremated in Santa Monica. The beloved SCTV and Schitt’s Creek star drew global tributes from colleagues like Eugene and Dan Levy, Macaulay Culkin and Seth Rogen.

Government ad during Super Bowl draws heat: Ontario’s one-minute "Protect Ontario" commercial — aired during the Super Bowl — promotes the Ford government’s vision but officials won’t say how much it cost. Critics (including MPP Stephanie Bowman and the NDP) call it self-promotional spending; the PCs previously spent a record $111.9 million on government advertising in the run-up to last year’s snap election.

Good news for renters: National asking rents hit a 31-month low in January at an average $2,057 (down 2% year-over-year), according to Rentals.ca and Urbanation. Toronto rents fell 4.6% to $2,495 (a 44-month low) and Vancouver dropped 9.2% to $2,630; shrinking unit sizes and more rental supply are helping push prices down.

TTC questioned over consultant bills in a tight budget year: Freedom-of-information records show about $3.5 million in ongoing communications and marketing consulting commitments, including a $2.7-million upper-limit marketing deal. The TTC plans to withdraw $35 million from its rainy-day fund in 2026 to offset lower fare revenue, and officials say they’re reviewing communications spending.

Laurentian faculty strike ends after three weeks: The Laurentian University Faculty Association says a majority voted to ratify a new collective agreement, ending a strike that began Jan. 19 and halted classes, labs and seminars. Union president Fabrice Colin called the deal a "small step toward fairness" after years of cuts and wage rollbacks.

Provincewide police probe ordered after Toronto fallout: Ontario’s inspector general of policing, Ryan Teschner, launched a provincewide inspection focused on supervision, vetting, database access, evidence management and fitness for duty after Project South charges (announced Feb. 5) accused seven active Toronto officers and one retired officer of crimes including bribery and obstruction. Teschner named an external inspector to run the probe and said any findings and directions will be made public.

Students brave the cold to race concrete sleds: About 20 university teams gathered Feb. 7 at Boler Mountain in London, Ont., for the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, where UBC Okanagan’s 22-person team (captain Owen Kirk) won King of the Hill. Toboggans must weigh under ~160 kg and races test speed, steering and durability — and the event is big on teamwork and engineering learning.

Tories push for lower taxes on GM severance pay: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and colleagues urged Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to cut withholding taxes on lump-sum severances for more than 1,000 workers laid off at GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll. The letter arrives as GM also cuts shifts in Oshawa (about 500 layoffs) and after federal moves on auto strategy and EV policy stirred debate.