1. Big nuclear plan in Port Hope: Ontario Power Generation signed an agreement with Port Hope to build a new large reactor that Energy Minister Stephen Lecce says would create about 1,700 local jobs and more than 10,000 across Ontario, and could power up to 10 million homes; OPG filed an initial project description with the Impact Assessment Agency on Jan. 12 and the province is already investing heavily in nearby nuclear projects (Darlington refurb was $12.8 billion).
2. Major contraband tobacco bust on Six Nations: Police seized over 25,000 kg of contraband tobacco (and 1,360+ lb of illicit cannabis) after Project Panda began in Feb. 2025; eight people were arrested Jan. 20–26, 2026 and face 48 charges, with court dates set for March 5–6 — investigators allege profits didn’t benefit the community.
3. Automatic refunds after GO derailment chaos: Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said fares will be automatically refunded for passengers on Feb. 2–3 (and some Feb. 4 trips) after a derailment knocked out four Union Station platforms; investigators blamed an incorrectly secured track (nine ties let a rail move 1⅛ inch) and admitted communications during the disruption fell short.
4. Officer cleared in courtroom shooting, SIU flags first-aid delay: The SIU found a provincial officer’s use of force justified after a July 31, 2025 courtroom shooting in Wapekeka First Nation (the attacker was a 23-year-old man with a knife), but the director says there’s evidence the officer unnecessarily delayed giving first aid and will refer that matter to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.
5. Hilary Duff’s Lucky Me World Tour coming to Canada: Duff announced a world tour starting June 22, 2026 and will play nine Canadian cities (Toronto Aug. 12, 2026; Vancouver Jan. 22, 2027; Calgary Jan. 26, 2027; Edmonton Jan. 27; Winnipeg Jan. 30; Hamilton Feb. 2, 2027; Ottawa Feb. 4, 2027; Montreal Feb. 5; Halifax Feb. 7), with La Roux and Jade LeMac opening 2026 dates and an album out Feb. 20.
6. Delta plane crash probe still under way a year later: The TSB says the investigation into Delta/Endeavor Air flight 4819’s Feb. 17 crash-landing at Toronto Pearson (80 people aboard, 21 taken to hospital, 22 Canadians among passengers) is in an "examination and analysis" phase — wreckage tests, recorders and weather analysis are done but no final report date yet.
7. Ontario ends tuition freeze, boosts post‑secondary funding: Starting this September colleges and universities can raise tuition by 2% a year for three years (then inflation‑informed or 2%), while the province adds $6.4 billion in core funding over four years (raising operating funding to about $7 billion/year) to create 70,000 new seats — but OSAP grants will fall to a max of 25% of funding, a move critics say shifts costs to students.
8. Homicide probe in Ottawa south end: Ottawa police responded just before 4:30 p.m. to a shooting at Bankfield Rd. and Prince of Wales Dr. on Wednesday; one man died, two suspects are in custody, there’s no ongoing public risk and police ask anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
9. Clerk acquitted after bat-wielding robber incident: A jury found 24‑year‑old Tejeshwar Kalia not guilty of aggravated assault for his actions during a Jan. 5, 2024 robbery in Peterborough; surveillance showed he struck a masked robber (later identified as 37‑year‑old Jonathan Handel) with a bat, the robber pleaded guilty to robbery with violence and got 18 months, and Kalia said he acted in self‑defence.
10. Ontario’s auto strategy under pressure as projects pause: Big EV-era promises (including $2.5B for Honda, $425M for Umicore, $295M for Ford, $513M for Stellantis) have stalled or been postponed amid weak EV demand and U.S. tariffs — many projects were delayed or canceled — but Ontario insists its approach hasn’t changed and the auto sector still employs about 100,000 people.
11. Olympic hockey doubleheader lifted fans’ spirits: On Feb. 12, 2026 Canada’s women beat Finland 5–0 (Emily Clark scored twice) and the men beat Czechia 5–0 (goals from Macklin Celebrini, Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon, Nick Suzuki), giving fans across Toronto lively watch parties and a boost for local bars and community pride.