Toronto Daily Digest — Feb 23, 2026

Students hit with a big change: Premier Doug Ford is standing by OSAP reforms announced on Feb. 12 that unfreeze tuition (allowing colleges and universities to raise fees by 2% a year) and shift student aid from about 85% grants/15% loans to a system where students will receive at most 25% of funding as grants starting this fall. This means more loan debt for students, critics like Adaeze Mbalaja and NDP Leader Marit Stiles warn — especially with youth unemployment at 15.6% (ages 15–24) versus 7% for ages 25–54, which could make it harder to repay loans.

Police sending drones as first responders: Durham Regional Police Service is piloting remotely‑piloted drones to respond to unknown‑risk or high‑risk 911 calls, missing‑person searches, disasters and other emergencies; the drones can get on scene in roughly 60 seconds and the force will hold a public info night on Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Durham says the program follows Transport Canada rules, won’t use facial recognition, will publish footage and data to show privacy protections, and will study response times and safety.

Graphic testimony in Stronach trial: The fifth complainant in the criminal trial of 93‑year‑old Frank Stronach gave tearful testimony about an alleged sexual assault decades ago; prosecutors say Stronach faces about a dozen charges involving seven complainants, with incidents dating back to the 1970s. The witness — now 71 — told the court she contacted police in June 2024 after seeing news of the charges; a publication ban protects complainants’ identities and one accuser, Jane Boon, was barred from watching proceedings as a potential witness.

Tariff news keeps Ontario on edge: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs but left Section 232 measures untouched — steel, aluminum and copper face 50% duties, autos/heavy trucks/parts 25%, and softwood lumber saw an extra 10% — moves that have paused some vehicle investments and led Algoma Steel to lay off more than 1,000 workers. Premier Doug Ford, who’s been pressing the U.S. on trade (he appeared on CNN and canceled a Starlink contract), says he’s watching Section 232 closely and is hoping the U.S. midterms will change the picture.

Bus rollover on Hwy 401 injures eight: Ontario Provincial Police say a bus carrying 47 passengers plus the driver went into the ditch and rolled over in the eastbound lanes near Old Wilton Road, east of Napanee, on Sunday (Feb. 22) at about 7:15 p.m.; eight people suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries (cuts, broken bones and dislocations) and were taken to two local hospitals. Highway 401 eastbound was closed for about four hours while police investigate the cause.