Toronto Daily Digest — March 26, 2026

Heads-up: Ontario is adding $1.1 billion more to home health care after its 2026 budget — but it now admits it likely won’t hit the goal of 58,000 new long-term care beds by 2028; Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy projects a $13.8 billion deficit and says about 26,000 beds are open, under construction or approved as of February. This means the province will pivot to roughly $6 billion in home care over the next few years to hire nurses and PSWs and ease pressure on hospitals and long-term care homes — a big shift that matters if you care for aging relatives at home.

Quick take: Ontario’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes looks farther away as private forecasts cut starts — the 2025–28 projection fell from 315,000 to 276,900 in the 2026 budget, with 2026 starts revised to 64,800. The province is also temporarily waiving HST on new builds for a year (costing about $1.4 billion) to try to jump-start sales, but experts warn construction will stay subdued amid economic uncertainty.

Short and important: Modernizing the LCBO (including $200 million in markup cuts) is shrinking public revenue — the 2025-26 LCBO take is now $1.7 billion (down from earlier $1.9 billion forecasts) and alcohol tax revenue has plunged to $262 million from $593 million in 2023-24. Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy says the changes level the playing field for Ontario producers, while NDP Leader Marit Stiles warns the province is losing a reliable revenue source for services like health care.

Curious item: The government plans to repeal the 2002 SkyDome Act (Bus Parking) for the parcel at 305 Bremner Blvd. south of the Rogers Centre so it can change development restrictions — but officials haven’t said what they’ll do with the prime downtown land, and selling it is on the table, Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy says. It’s mainly being described as a housekeeping move, but keep an eye on possible redevelopment.

Spring watch: High Park’s cherry blossoms are still in “brown bud” stage as of mid-March, with peak bloom usually arriving in late April or May and lasting 4–10 days when about 70% are open. Officials urge patience, remind visitors the grove (a 1959 gift from Japan) will be vehicle-free at peak and ask people to protect trees and wildlife — you might even spot tiny turtle hatchlings, so call the Turtle Protectors Hotline if you see one.

Tough sentence: Samir Abdelgadir, 45, was sentenced to 11½ years for the March 4, 2020 kidnapping of a 14-year-old Toronto boy tied to a half-brother’s stolen 90 kg cocaine debt; Justice Sandra Nishikawa described Abdelgadir as an integral player who drove a backup vehicle. After credit for pre-sentence custody and house arrest, he has about 9.5 years left to serve; the Crown had sought 16 years while the defence asked for five.

Breaking: Toronto police are probing a fatal stabbing at Gamble Ave. and Donlands Ave. around 9:35 p.m. Wednesday that left 27-year-old Ahmed Hassan Asif dead — a white vehicle believed linked to the case has been seized and officers say the suspect fled. Det. Sgt. Sajeev Nair urged the person to turn themself in; this is Toronto’s fifth homicide of 2026.

Watchlist: OPP’s Nottawasaga detachment wants help IDing a suspect in an interprovincial identity-fraud case that began with a Nov. 27, 2025 report of fake ID. Police say the fraudulent ID was used to open a credit card in New Tecumseth and then on Dec. 1, 2025 to buy a luxury vehicle in Surrey, B.C.; anyone with info is asked to contact investigators.

Sports preview: Four European playoff paths open — Italy vs. Northern Ireland and Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina are among March semifinals whose winners meet in finals next week, with the ultimate victor set to play Canada at Toronto Stadium on June 12. Sixteen teams are competing for four World Cup spots; Italy is under pressure after missing previous tournaments.

Leafs win, Rangers out: The New York Rangers (28-35-9) were officially eliminated from the NHL playoffs after a 4-3 loss in Toronto, ending hopes despite new coach Mike Sullivan and stars like Igor Shesterkin; Mika Zibanejad scored twice to reach 32 goals. Toronto’s John Tavares had the winner, and the game was part of a March 25, 2026 stretch that Maple Leafs players called a morale boost.

Big picture: Ontario’s 2026 budget deepens the deficit to $13.8 billion and delays balance plans — the province now expects a $6.1 billion deficit in 2027-28 and a $600 million surplus in 2028-29, with total spending up to $244.2 billion (health $101.2B, education $40.8B). Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced a temporary small-business tax cut (3.2% to 2.2% for three years, costing $1.1B and helping about 375,000 businesses), a $3 billion reserve, and a refocus of $4 billion from the Protect Ontario fund into an investment vehicle for future industries.