Toronto Daily Digest — Feb 16, 2026

Heads-up for students: Ontario will cut OSAP grants from about 85% of aid to a maximum 25% this fall and lift a seven-year tuition freeze, allowing colleges and universities to raise fees up to 2% a year for three years. Alex Stratas (U Ottawa) and Husam Morra (U Windsor) warn this will push already-struggling students into more debt, even though the government pledged an extra $6.4 billion for post-secondary over four years.

A small rebound in homebuilding: Ontario saw a 12% increase in housing starts in January 2026 versus January 2025, led by 3,905 multi-residential units and 550 single-detached starts. Housing Minister Rob Flack points to policy fixes like Bill 17 and DC deferrals to spur construction, but the province is far from its 1.5 million homes by 2031 goal (2024 hit about 80% of a 125,000 target).

Safety at a protest: Toronto police made two arrests after a weekend North York rally supporting Iran protesters — a 56-year-old Burlington man charged with uttering threats and a 26-year-old Toronto man charged with a hate-motivated assault and wearing a disguise. Police say an online threat surfaced Friday and hundreds of thousands took part in Saturday’s march calling for an end to repression in Iran.

Government flexing LCBO buying power: After a dispute with Diageo that ended in a reported $23 million deal (including $1M for Windsor/Amherstburg and $5M for Ontario marketing), Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the government will use the LCBO’s "clout" again if companies threaten to leave. Critics call the tactic "economic blackmail," and NDP and Liberal MPPs question whether the move actually saved about 200 local jobs.

Flood risk as snow melts: Conservation authorities warned parts of southern Ontario (Grand River area — Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford; Halton — Oakville, Burlington, Milton; and Catfish Creek south of London) of rising water and ice-jam risk as warmer weather and some rain arrive. Authorities say watch rivers and low-lying areas — a sudden thaw like last year’s big storm can cause basement floods; insurers said that event caused over $160 million in insured damage.

Beware the online blame game: Experts warn that rushing to ID suspects online after tragedies can ruin innocent lives — the RCMP had to correct false accusations against an Ontario woman after the Tumbler Ridge shooter was identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar. Academics Ahmed Al‑Rawi and Heidi Tworek say social media speeds misidentifications and fuels harassment; families like Krista Strang’s report serious harm to relatives wrongly named.

New EV rebates start, but dealers want last program paid: The federal EV rebate relaunched today offering up to $5,000 for new EVs under $50,000 (and $2,500 for plug-in hybrids), but some dealers say they’re still owed reimbursements from the old program — Dean Woods says his Grimsby Kia is short about $20,000. Dealers worry the government’s reimbursement portal won’t open until April, even though Ottawa set aside $2.3 billion for the incentive.

Crash anniversary still painful: One year after the Feb. 17, 2025 Delta/Endeavor flight 4819 crash at Pearson — when all 76 passengers and 4 crew survived but 21 were hospitalized — survivors like John Nelson and Nate Richie describe lasting physical and mental scars. Families and lawyers say Delta’s $30,000 offers aren’t enough; U.S. lawsuits and a TSB investigation (including metallurgical and flight-data analysis) continue as victims seek answers and compensation.