Ottawa Daily Digest — March 13, 2026

Big fourth-quarter push turns the game: RJ Barrett scored 22 points (nine in the fourth) as the Toronto Raptors rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 122-115 on March 13, 2026, helping Toronto (37-29) in the East. Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 36, Jalen Green had 34 (eight 3s), and Barrett’s go-ahead 23-foot three with 3:35 left was the key play.

Devastating injury for Leafs’ captain: Auston Matthews, 28, will miss the rest of the season with a Grade 3 MCL tear and a bruised quadriceps after a hit by Radko Gudas on March 12; Gudas was suspended five games. Matthews had 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) this season and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Hate-motivated harassment charges in Toronto: A 27-year-old man is charged after allegedly banging on a complainant’s door, making racist and antisemitic remarks and playing an Adolf Hitler speech from his phone between Feb. 28 and March 6. He faces two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of mischief and one count of causing a disturbance; the hate-crime unit is investigating and he’s due in court June 1.

Raptors vow to protect each other after on-court taunt: Following New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray looming over Jamal Shead in Toronto’s 122-111 loss, coach Darko Rajakovic said the team held a meeting and agreed it won’t let a player be disrespected again. Immanuel Quickley was the only player who immediately confronted Murray during the game, and the club says it’ll handle such situations differently.

School bus driver gets 60 days after fatal crosswalk crash: Anthony Phillips, 61, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 22-year-old Rachel Turner and was sentenced to 60 days jail (intermittent weekends) plus a two-year driving suspension after an Oct. 8, 2024 crash. Turner died four days later; the judge noted Phillips had many past traffic convictions but described the collision as a momentary lapse.

Ontario seeks injunction to block Al‑Quds Day rally in Toronto: Premier Doug Ford ordered Attorney General Doug Downey to try to stop a planned Al‑Quds Day protest outside the U.S. consulate set for Saturday, calling it a "breeding ground for hate." Organizers call the event a global day of solidarity with Palestinians; the Canadian Civil Liberties Association warned the move risks curbing free expression.

Settlement keeps Ontario’s Starlink payout to Musk secret: Ontario and SpaceX agreed to a confidential settlement over a cancelled Starlink contract billed at $100 million; the province says the kill fee was "significantly less than the contract value." The deal had aimed to reach 15,000 northern and rural households, and critics want taxpayers told how much was paid.

Sudden snow system causes crashes across southern Ontario: A short, heavy snowfall (Environment Canada warned 5–8 cm) on March 13 left roads slippery and led to multiple collisions, including an eastbound Highway 401 closure near Guelph and a King City multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus (no injuries). Authorities warned motorists to slow down; Pearson Airport also reported delays.

Conservatives name Scarborough byelection candidate: The Tories picked middle-school teacher Diana Filipova to run in Scarborough Southwest, a seat left vacant when Liberal Bill Blair became Canada’s high commissioner to the U.K. Three byelections are set for April 13, including University—Rosedale and Terrebonne.

Wrong turn at border leads to forged-passport bust: At the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, officers found six forged Canadian passports, equipment to make fake documents, about $24,000, and 84 payment cards after three people were pulled for a wrong turn. Three residents (ages 51, 40 and 33) were charged with possession of forged documents, possession of credit cards obtained by crime and fraud over $5,000.

Police ran out of printer paper after ticketing 26 drivers: Brantford officers ticketed 26 motorists who drove the wrong way on a one-way on-ramp to dodge Highway 403 traffic — 24 wrong-way charges, two for backing up and one for driving without a licence. The wrong-way fine is $110 plus three demerit points, and police reminded drivers that shortcuts can be dangerous.

Ford government moves to shield ministers’ records from public view: A proposed law would exempt messages and records held by the premier, cabinet ministers and political staff from freedom-of-information rules, potentially keeping Doug Ford’s phone records secret. Minister Stephen Crawford says the law updates old rules, but information commissioner Patricia Kosseim and opposition leaders called the change an attack on accountability.

39 overdoses in 24 hours in London, Ont.; suspect handed out substance: London emergency services responded to 39 overdose-related calls between 8 a.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday after someone allegedly handed out a free substance downtown. Police are investigating, urging people not to use the substance, to carry naloxone, and to share video that could help identify the suspect.

Experts warn melting snow piles full of road salt could harm water: Researchers say huge snow piles with concentrated road salt (sodium chloride) are melting into streams and Lake Ontario, risking aquatic life and even drinking water; University of Toronto’s Don Jackson and University of Waterloo studies warn salt persists in the environment. Toronto uses about 130,000–150,000 tonnes of salt a year, and removing salt from water is costly.

Local star breaks Wilt Chamberlain’s long-standing streak: Hamilton-born Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander extended his run of 20-plus point games to 127, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 126-game mark, finishing with 35 points and nine assists as Oklahoma City beat Boston 104-102. He stressed team success matters most, and the streak has coincided with big team wins.

Brampton considers LED-in-road lights to slow drivers after camera ban: Councillor Rowena Santos is exploring embedded LED road lights to warn speeding drivers in school zones after speed cameras were removed; DNG Group says such lights can cut speeds 60–70%. Cost estimates range from $60,000 to $160,000 per location and Brampton has 185 community safety zones; the city hopes provincial funds could help.

Questions raised about fast timeline to cut conservation authorities: Ontario plans to merge 36 conservation authorities into nine by early 2027, Minister Todd McCarthy says, but local leaders — like Grey Sauble CAO Tim Lanthier — call that timetable ambitious. Critics, including NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, worry local needs and watershed differences could be lost during the big restructuring.