Toronto — Daily Digest (2026-03-25)

Nine years later, a family waits for justice — Mila Barberi, a veterinary technician killed while waiting outside an SUV in Vaughan on March 14, 2017, is being remembered as police work to extradite suspect Daniel Tomassetti, arrested in Mexico in August 2025. Tomassetti faces two counts of first‑degree murder, one attempted murder and three conspiracy counts; the family has asked to see him when he arrives and the case is adjourned until April.

A Markham hit‑and‑run left a pedestrian seriously hurt — on Feb. 19 at about 3:41 p.m. near Denison St. and Featherstone Ave., a woman was struck, carried about 50 metres on a car hood and is now in serious condition. On March 20 York police arrested 29‑year‑old Nathan Kumar Persaud of Oshawa; investigators executed warrants in Richmond Hill, Oshawa and Toronto, seized the vehicle and alleged he tried to conceal repairs and faces multiple charges including dangerous operation and drug trafficking offences.

Ford government stands by closures of supervised consumption sites — Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say they won’t reverse a decision to cut funding to seven sites (set to close by mid‑June) and are pushing HART hubs instead. Critics point to data showing an 82% jump in suspected opioid overdose calls in Toronto (160 in April 2025 to 350 in Jan. 2026) and warn the move could cost lives; former mayors, the mayor of Toronto and health advocates disagree with the plan.

Humber Polytechnic to lay off staff after voluntary exits fell short — Humber’s Voluntary Employee Exit Program, which closed to applicants on March 9, didn’t plug the fiscal gap for 2026–27, CEO Ann Marie Vaughan says, so involuntary reductions moved ahead. The cuts reflect wider strain at Ontario colleges from falling international student revenue, rising costs and a freeze on domestic tuition; other schools have closed campuses or cut programs.

Most Ontarians oppose FOI changes, new poll finds — an Abacus Data poll for CUPE shows 60% oppose the Ford government’s plan to shield the premier, cabinet ministers and staff from freedom‑of‑information oversight (24% support), and 73% oppose making the change retroactive. The move follows a legal fight over Premier Doug Ford’s personal phone and has drawn criticism from the Information and Privacy Commissioner and opposition parties.

Pilot who died in Air Canada crash remembered by local café — Mackenzie Gunther, a former Seneca student and first officer on the Air Canada Jazz flight that struck a LaGuardia fire truck, is recalled as kind and a coffee lover by Rapids End Coffee Roastery co‑owner Daniel Biro. The March crash killed Gunther and captain Antoine Forest, injured more than 40 people and involved 72 passengers and four crew.

Ontario misses April 1 nurse‑practitioner funding deadline — Health Minister Sylvia Jones says Ontario will align with new federal guidance but will miss the April 1 deadline (penalties not due until April 2027). Jones had asked Ottawa two years ago to close a perceived loophole that let some NP clinics charge patients; the province had funded 25 NP‑led clinics in 2011 and added seven more recently.

Owen Sound council may bill anglers rescued from Georgian Bay ice shelf — Deputy Mayor Scott Greig plans a motion for the April 13 meeting to have staff prepare a report and proportional invoices after a March 8 incident where dozens were airlifted to safety by two OPP helicopters. One fisherman, Kevin Fox, warns billing could deter people from calling for help; the city cites a Collingwood precedent where a rescue bill was about $15,000.

OHL eyes expansion — commissioner pitches new teams if cities build arenas — OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford told Chatham‑Kent councillors the 20‑team league, fresh off a record 3.2 million attendance season, will consider "a couple of teams" if municipalities commit to modern ~5,000‑seat arenas (costs of $150–$200 million). The league hasn’t expanded since 1998 and says appropriate facilities and time (several years) are essential.

Unknown person found dead after Mississauga house fire — crews responded around 10:40 p.m. Monday to a home at Mirage Place and Select Court that was fully engulfed; callers reported an explosion and one person was found dead inside. The Office of the Fire Marshal and the coroner are investigating origin and cause; known residents were out of the country and accounted for.

Ontario likely to waive provincial HST on new homes for one year — sources say the Ford government will announce on March 26 a one‑year waiver of the provincial portion of HST for newly built homes to jump‑start construction, replacing an earlier $470‑million, three‑year plan for first‑time buyers. The broader one‑year plan could cost up to $2 billion, comes as housing starts fell to 62,561 in 2025, and will be unveiled in the provincial budget on March 26.