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Richard Southern

Queen’s Park reporter

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Parents raise concerns after 3 grades combined into one at Toronto elementary school
Parents raise concerns after 3 grades combined into one at Toronto elementary school

Parents are raising concerns after a Toronto elementary school announced plans to combine several grades into one classroom with just one teacher. The principal at Kensington Community School informed...
Group claims Ontario Place redevelopment will use millions of taxpayer dollars for new spa
Group claims Ontario Place redevelopment will use millions of taxpayer dollars for new spa

A grassroots organization opposing the Ford government's redevelopment of Ontario Place contends that the mega spa slated for the site must rely on millions of public dollars. In 2023, the Ford...
'He needs to sit down with us:' Ford calls on Trudeau to hold first ministers meeting on carbon tax
'He needs to sit down with us:' Ford calls on Trudeau to hold first ministers meeting on carbon tax

Premier Doug Ford has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for an urgent first minister's meeting on the federal carbon tax. In the two-page letter, Ford points out that the recent 23 per...
Feds, Ford government reach deal to proceed with building controversial Hwy. 413
Feds, Ford government reach deal to proceed with building controversial Hwy. 413

It looks like the federal Liberals are giving in to the Ford government when it comes to building Highway 413. Ontario had applied to the Federal Court for a judicial review after the federal government...
NDP says its uncovered potential phase 2 plans for Ontario Place redevelopment
NDP says its uncovered potential phase 2 plans for Ontario Place redevelopment

Internal government documents obtained by the NDP show the Ford government is looking at a potential phase II to the controversial Ontario Place redevelopment plan that would involve filling in part of...
Metrolinx to ban certain e-bike batteries from its trains starting April 9
Metrolinx to ban certain e-bike batteries from its trains starting April 9

Metrolinx will ban certain e-bike batteries starting next month to lessen the potential for fire hazards aboard its trains. The provincial transit agency says starting April 9, e-bike batteries will...
Ford government gives sole-sourced $26M contract to accounting firm to develop software
Ford government gives sole-sourced $26M contract to accounting firm to develop software

An international accounting firm was given a sole-sourced contract by the Ford government to create a digital tribunal system, CityNews has learned, with a price tag that sources say has ballooned from...
ServiceOntario savings come from government no longer paying leasing costs: minister
ServiceOntario savings come from government no longer paying leasing costs: minister

The Ford government says the purported cost savings from moving nine ServiceOntario locations into Staples Canada stores comes from the government no longer paying leasing costs for independent owners...
Staples Canada lays off head office staff, company takes $1.75M of taxpayer money for ServiceOntario retrofit
Staples Canada lays off head office staff, company takes $1.75M of taxpayer money for ServiceOntario retrofit

Staples Canada laid off an unspecified number of head office staff this week as the U.S.-owned chain takes $1.75 million Ontario taxpayer dollars for store retrofits to install ServiceOntario outlets. Six...