Toronto Daily Digest — March 4, 2026

Big policy, small waste: A year after Premier Doug Ford ordered the LCBO to remove U.S.-made alcohol on March 4, 2025, the province says about $2 million worth of American booze has expired or will expire — mostly beer, ready-to-drink drinks and wine. Ontario imported roughly $965 million of U.S. alcohol before the ban, and the government says Ontario-made sales rose about 22% (craft up 35%, VQA wines up 52%), while officials refuse to auction expiring stock and have kept many details secret.

Troubling mix in the street supply: Medetomidine — a veterinary tranquilizer — is increasingly being found mixed with fentanyl across Canada, Toronto’s Drug Check Services says (they’ve seen it in roughly 80% of some samples). The sedative can cause hallucinations, low blood pressure and slow pulse, doesn’t respond to naloxone on its own, and health officials urge calling 911 for overdoses while still using naloxone as needed; Canada’s opioid death rate was 13.5 per 100,000 (Jan–Jun 2025), down from a 2023 peak of 20 per 100,000.

From grocery run to big winner: Francois Masse of Hawkesbury, Ont., says winning a $55-million Lotto Max jackpot (from the Jan. 9 draw) felt like an “out-of-body experience.” He used a free play and ENCORE, collected the prize at the OLG Prize Centre, plans family trips and legacy plans, and says the win will put his family first.

Major fentanyl seizure across provinces: Project OLLIE, led by the OPP’s Border Drug Interdiction Task Force, uncovered an interprovincial trafficking network and seized 18 kg of suspected fentanyl (about 180,000 potentially lethal doses) on Feb. 10 in Brampton — police estimate the street value at more than $2.3 million. Three people are arrested and charged (conspiracy, trafficking, possession for trafficking), a fourth person remains wanted, and multiple police agencies assisted.

Trial drama for Frank Stronach: Defence counsel plans directed-verdict motions on two counts in the 93-year-old Stronach’s Toronto sexual-assault case, arguing timing and legal definitions (one alleged 1977 incident and another that might have occurred in 1982 when the charge didn’t exist until 1983). The Crown finished its evidence March 4 after seven complainants testified since the trial began Feb. 12, and the defence is expected to present its case next week.

New advisers to probe low math scores: Education Minister Paul Calandra tapped Bill Robson (C.D. Howe Institute) and David R. Johnson (Wilfrid Laurier University) to review EQAO testing after results showed 51% of Grade 6 students and 58% of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standard in 2024–25. The two-member panel will look for root causes and recommend supports for teachers, parents and students; critics say the real issue is classroom resources.

City fines for stray carts: Brampton council approved a $100 fee for retailers when shopping carts are found abandoned on municipal property (parks, transit stops, waterways) and create hazards or pollution, with the rule tied to clearly identifiable carts. The fee is meant to recover staff time and costs; council also asked staff to report back in Q1 2026 on whether to require locking/GPS tech (Walmart currently doesn’t use cart-lock tech in Brampton).

Leafs’ veteran Tanev done for season: Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, 36, had successful core muscle surgery in New York and will miss the rest of the season after playing just 11 games (last played Dec. 28). He’s expected to be ready for training camp in September and leaves a career total of 210 points in 878 NHL games.

Family wants answers after missing woman ruled a homicide: Peel police now consider Mezhgan ("Sara") Aini’s disappearance a homicide after relatives in Afghanistan reported her missing in June 2025; investigators say there were no signs of life since about 2022. Her husband, Mohammad Yama Aini (a former U.N. diplomat), is co-operating but police say a suspect has been identified; the family is asking for tips and wants justice.

Toronto police chief launches anti-corruption plan: Chief Myron Demkiw announced a two-year project to “prevent, detect and respond” to corruption after seven serving officers were arrested in Project South. The plan tightens supervision, vetting, database access and evidence handling, creates inspection and anti-corruption teams, and comes amid a provincewide inspector-general probe and calls from Mayor Olivia Chow to rebuild trust.

$75M Lotto Max winner in Toronto: The single winning $75-million Lotto Max ticket for the March 3 draw was sold somewhere in Toronto, OLG says, along with two $1-million Maxmillion prizes (one online, one sold in Toronto); exact retail locations haven’t been confirmed yet.

Pump prices jump after Middle East violence: Fuel prices climbed after a flare-up in the Iran conflict, leaving national average gas near $1.38.1 per litre (five-day snapshot) while British Columbia drivers paid about $1.61.9 and P.E.I. about $1.54.2. Analysts warn the Strait of Hormuz risks and supply disruptions could push oil and pump prices higher (WTI ~US$74.30/barrel, WCS ~US$62.21) and that prolonged conflict could add many cents per litre for motorists.

Toronto pauses school vaccine suspensions for the year: Toronto Public Health is not suspending students for missing vaccine records for the rest of the 2025–26 school year to reduce disruption, effective immediately; more than 50,000 records were incomplete at the school year’s start and about 30,000 remain outstanding. The ISPA vaccine requirements still stand (ages 4–17); TPH will offer community clinics, multilingual resources and nurse support to help families update records.

Priest charged in historical sexual-assault case: York Regional Police arrested Michelle (Michael) Shafik, 47, a Coptic Church priest from East Gwillimbury, on Feb. 26 and charged them with sexual assault and sexual interference for alleged incidents between 1996 and 1999 involving a minor. Police released a photo hoping others who may be victims will come forward; there’s no statute of limitations on sexual offences.

Rural backlash to Toronto–Québec City high-speed rail: Farmers and small-town residents are organizing against a planned 1,000-km high-speed rail line (Alto) that could cost $60–$90 billion and run up to 300 km/h, with construction for the Montreal–Ottawa leg expected in 2029–2030. Concerns include hundreds of expropriations, severed fields, water and wildlife impacts, and uncertainty that’s already affecting local planning and farm investments.

Two arrests at OSAP protest at Queen’s Park: Hundreds of students protested the Ford government’s OSAP shake-up (moving from about 85% grants to a maximum of 25% grants), chanting “hands off our education”; two people were arrested and charged with mischief, assaulting an officer and obstructing police. Students and the NDP warn the changes will push more young people into debt and say 350,000 students are being left out of the conversation.

Raptors still learning from tough losses: The Toronto Raptors (35–26) lost 111–95 to the New York Knicks as Brandon Ingram scored 31, and the team keeps falling short versus top-10 squads (4–16 record vs teams ahead of them). Coach Darko Rajakovic and players say the team is learning about fourth-quarter execution while missing key pieces (rookie Collin Murray-Boyles sat with a thumb sprain).