Daily Digest — Toronto (Mar 30, 2026)

Big change at the rink: The Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving on March 30, 2026, hours before a game in Anaheim as the club sits 31-30-13 and teeters on playoff elimination after captain Auston Matthews had season-ending knee surgery. Treliving was hired May 31, 2023, compiled a 139-92-27 record in Toronto (10-10 in playoffs) and was praised by MLSE CEO Keith Pelley, but the team says it needs new leadership.

Food banks are stretched like never before: Across Canada some food banks are cutting visits or portions after demand surged — Moose Jaw reports a 150% rise in visitors versus four years ago and Food Banks Alberta says 132,402 people got help this month (36% are children). Feed Ontario found more than 1 million people used food banks in 2025 with 8.7 million visits, and Food Banks Canada says 52% of banks gave less food and 23% ran out — officials urge anyone in need to still seek help.

Queen’s Park rolls out another housing bill: Ontario introduced the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act with measures on official plans, the building code and transit, plus consultations on adding development charges to purchase agreements. Housing Minister Rob Flack said “it all adds up,” but government figures show projected housing starts fell from 315,000 to 276,900 (2025–28), making the 1.5 million-by-2031 goal unrealistic; the bill also bans some municipal green building rules and hikes GO Transit fare-dodging fines.

Waterfront LRT gets funding and the go-ahead: Toronto, Ontario and the federal government each pledged $1 billion to build the Waterfront East LRT, a 3.8 km line from Union Station east to Villiers Island designed to serve more than 150,000 people and about 50,000 daily trips. The city will lead construction and will be responsible for any cost overruns, and the route will connect with existing streetcars around the Distillery District.

Watch out for World Cup scams: The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and police warn about fake tickets, shady short-term rentals and counterfeit goods as the FIFA World Cup hosted by Canada/US/Mexico starts June 11, 2026. The tournament has 48 teams and 13 matches in Canada (six in Toronto, seven in Vancouver); officials advise buying only from official FIFA sources and verifying rentals.

Airport worker charged after 66 kg of cannabis found: On Feb. 19 CBSA found about 66 kilograms of cannabis (roughly 33 kg in each of two identical suitcases) at Pearson; investigators say an Air Canada baggage-room employee swapped tags to frame two German passengers. The passengers were released and the employee was arrested March 12, charged with possession for export and conspiracy, and is due in Brampton court April 10.

Ottawa and Ontario pledge $8.8 billion to cut development charges: Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford announced a Canada–Ontario deal worth $8.8 billion over a decade to help cities cut development charges by up to 50% over three years, aiming to lower home-building costs. Municipalities must cooperate to get funding, and the province also recently waived HST on eligible new homes for a year.

Man charged in human trafficking probe: Toronto police arrested a 27-year-old in late March, accusing him of coercing a woman into selling sexual services, advertising her online, taking her earnings and supplying drugs. He faces multiple charges including forcible confinement and assault.

Top college presidents still paid half-a-million amid layoffs: The top five Ontario college presidents averaged about $507,000 in 2025 despite sector pain after a 2024 cap on international students; Conestoga’s John Tibbits topped the list at $601,684 and Fleming’s Maureen Adamson earned $512,428. Colleges have cut programs and laid off roughly 8,000 staff since the cap, and some leaders received five-figure taxable benefits.

Cost of Premier Doug Ford’s office rose 11% in 2025: Fifty staff in the premier’s office earned a combined $8.1 million in 2025 (average about $162,000), a 10.9% increase over 2024 and well above 2025 inflation of 2.1%. Opposition politicians criticized the growth and flagged discrepancies between Sunshine List figures and government budget lines.