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Big change for homebuilding costs: Ontario Housing Minister Rob Flack is pushing to create municipal services corporations to build water and sewage infrastructure, starting with a pilot in the Region of Peel. The public utilities-style bodies could issue debt, attract investors and amortize projects over 50–70 years to ease rising development charges that builders say are making new homes unaffordable.
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New weapon against extortion: Peel Region saw 476 reported extortion cases last year (190 targeted businesses), and federal Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne announced that Fintrac financial-crime experts will embed with Peel police to help "follow the money." Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said the move aims to cut the high-reward, low-risk appeal of extortion, though officials didn’t spell out new funding.
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Danger on the ice: A Toronto man fell through Lake Ontario harbour ice in a video circulating online but self-rescued and was uninjured — police warned this is one of many recent risky incidents. The Toronto Police Marine Unit stressed "no ice is safe ice," noting harbour ice is especially dangerous because of ice-breaking, ferry routes and shifting temperatures; people should stay back and help from shore if someone falls in.
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School-time hockey watch parties: Premier Doug Ford told Education Minister Paul Calandra to have school boards stream Team Canada Olympic hockey games during class so students can "rally together." The women play the USA in the gold-medal game at 1:10 p.m. Thursday and the men play Finland in a semi at 10:40 a.m. Friday; the Winter Olympics end Feb. 22.
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Review clears hospital on dog testing: An independent review found St. Joseph’s/Lawson Research met regulatory and ethical standards and saw no evidence of "secrecy" after public outcry over dog experiments that led the hospital to stop the work in August. The panel did flag governance and communication gaps between the hospital, Lawson and Western University, and the hospital says it’s working on fixes — while critics still call for broader ethical scrutiny.
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Students push back on OSAP changes: The Ford government is shifting OSAP away from mostly grants (about 85% previously) toward loans, limiting grants to a maximum of 25% starting this fall and allowing colleges/universities to raise tuition by 2% a year. Opposition and student groups — including Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and the College Student Alliance — launched a "Save OSAP" campaign, saying thousands have already contacted MPPs to protest higher student debt.
Ottawa Daily Digest — Feb 19, 2026
Source Articles (6)
Ontario moving ahead with public corporations to fund wastewater
The new municipal service corporations would help move costs from development charges into public companies that could issue debt to build water and wastewater infrastructure.
Ontario police force welcomes financial experts to help battle extortion crimes
Last year alone, there were 476 reported cases — of which 190 targeted businesses — and that only reflects incidents where the victims have come forward.
Police renew warning to avoid Lake Ontario after man falls in icy waters
Toronto police are renewing warnings about dangerous ice conditions after a video showing a man falling into freezing cold waters has been circulating on social media.
Ontario government directs schools to let students watch Team Canada matches
Doug Ford announced the idea in a social media post on Wednesday evening, saying he had told Education Minister Paul Calandra to work out how schools could make it possible.
No evidence of ‘secrecy’ over dog testing at London, Ont. hospital: report
A review into controversial dog testing at a London, Ont., hospital that irked Premier Doug Ford found it was ethical with no evidence of 'secrecy.'
‘Save OSAP’ campaign launched asking Ford government to reverse student loan changes
As part of a push to sustain the struggling post-secondary sector, the province will inject new cash into colleges and universities and allow them to raise tuition fees.