The top 10 worst roads in Ontario
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Government of Canada Invests to Modernize Ontario's Electricity Grid -- Ensuring More Reliable Power for Ontarians
MARKHAM, ON, Aug. 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada's energy security and economic strength depend on our ability to scale up clean, reliable and affordable power. That means advancing next-generation solutions like hydrogen, nuclear, renewables, geothermal and biofuels and integrating our electricity systems so that energy can move seamlessly and efficiently across provincial borders. We're getting more reliable clean energy to market, cutting emissions and delivering for Canadians. To that end, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced today over $13 million in federal funding to support five clean energy projects in Ontario that will help modernize existing electricity systems. Funded through the Energy Innovation Program – Smart Grids Demonstration Call for Proposals, these projects will advance clean electricity generation in Ontario, and allow customer-owned devices such as solar panels and batteries to access and benefit from electricity markets, by generating and selling energy. This will drive down energy costs for Canadians while ensuring our grids are smarter, more sustainable, more resilient and ready for the economy of the future. Quotes "This is how Canada becomes an energy superpower — by working with partners and by investing in the modernization and optimization of our electricity system. These efforts are essential to creating a more reliable and resilient network and reducing electricity bills for Canadians." The Honourable Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "We're proud to partner with NRCan on Centricity to help shape the future of Ontario's electricity system. This initiative supports a more resilient, responsive and customer-focused grid, modernizing our planning and control room operations and enabling new markets for our customers as we move from limited distribution system operator (DSO) trials to full-scale implementation." Brian Bentz President and Chief Executive Officer, Alectra Inc. "We're excited that this federal support for our distributed energy resources project in Ontario will provide real benefits to our customers, including lower energy costs and greater flexibility in how they manage power. As load growth continues to outpace supply and with large generation assets still many years away, the need for flexible DER solutions has never been greater. This project funding from Natural Resources Canada is a crucial step in creating a cleaner, more-resilient grid while reducing costs for consumers." Derek Lim Soo CEO, Peak Power Inc. "We are excited to be collaborating with GridS2, an Ontario-based cleantech startup, and partnering with Natural Resources Canada on this initiative. This project will enhance Enova's ability to plan and optimize the distribution system through AI-based tools. It will also lay the foundation for local energy procurement and unlock the potential of distributed energy resources for our customers — supporting Enova in creating the electricity system of the future." President and Chief Executive Officer, Enova Power Corp. Quick Facts The Energy Innovation Program (EIP) advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada maintain a competitive, reliable and affordable energy system while transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The EIP – Smart Grid Demonstration Call for Proposals provides support to projects that demonstrate innovation in smart grid technologies/solutions and in market or contract mechanisms (innovations may be jurisdiction-specific). The objectives include accelerating grid modernization; improving customer accessibility of grid-integrated solutions; sufficiently representing a given electricity system to meaningfully inform future deployment considerations; addressing well-defined market gaps to build business solutions; and advancing inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) in the electricity sector. One project was also selected for a grant under Mission Innovation's (MI) Green-Powered Future Mission (GPFM), which aims to demonstrate that power systems in different geographies and climates can effectively integrate up to 100-percent variable renewable energy in their generation mix by 2030 while maintaining a cost-efficient, secure and resilient system. The MI GPFM International Collaboration Grant supports proponents engaging stakeholders internationally on the successes and learnings of their EIP – Smart Grid Demonstration project. This is Canada's contribution to the "five demonstrations in five continents" flagship project, representing both Canada and the North American continent. Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn.
Globe and Mail
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CoCo Bubble Tea Expands Deeper into North America with Focus on Smaller Cities
New store openings in Canada and Texas reflect CoCo's deepening market presence and robust long-term relationships with franchise partners TORONTO and LOS ANGELES , Aug. 15, 2025 /CNW/ -- Leading boba tea brand CoCo Bubble Tea today announced a series of key expansion milestones across North America , with a new focus on smaller Canadian cities and continued momentum in the U.S. market. These openings reflect the brand's sustained popularity, cultural integration, and robust support for its franchise network. "As bubble tea becomes a staple refreshment in North America , we see significant potential for growth outside of major cities," commented Kody Wong , Director of Business Development at CoCo Bubble Tea. "From Alberta to Texas , CoCo's franchise partners are bringing our brand to new communities and increasing access to authentic bubble tea for millions of North American consumers. We are immensely grateful to our partners for the passion and commitment it has taken to accomplish this." Canada : Going beyond the big cities Already a top-three brand in Toronto with over 120 stores nationwide, CoCo is now reaching new heights of market penetration: Recently opened: Lethbridge , Grand Prairie , Red Deer — bringing authentic CoCo bubble tea to new communities across Alberta . Coming soon in 2025: Saskatoon, as the brand extends its footprint deeper into the Canadian Prairie provinces. U.S. expansion driven by Texas CoCo opened its first overseas store in the United States in 2011, establishing itself as one of the pioneering new tea brands to expand globally. In 2025, CoCo has identified Texas as a key priority market in its U.S. growth strategy: Dallas : Store opened in April 2025 Upcoming franchise activities CoCo will exhibit at two upcoming major franchise expos in the region: Franchise Expo West 2025 Los Angeles Convention Center | Booth #525 September 5–6, 10AM–4PM Toronto Fall Franchise Show The International Centre | Booth #148 September 13–14, 11AM–5PM Culture and community powering success CoCo's approach to franchising is rooted in trust, support, and building long-term relationships with partners. In Canada , the same franchise partners have been with CoCo for 11 years; in New York City , partners have grown alongside the brand for 14 years — both a testament to CoCo's value-driven model and collaborative culture. To further spread pearl milk tea culture globally, the brand focuses on harnessing the popularity of the refreshment among younger consumers through social media. Also, employees and partners are referred to as " Boba Squad", a name embodying the resilience and vibrancy of the brand. In Canada , CoCo has invested heavily in synergies with local cultures. The brand has transformed fan-favorite drinks like its passionfruit series into popsicles now sold in T&T Supermarket locations across the country. In a collaboration with Barbie, CoCo brought "Strawberry Dreamer" drinks to over 100 stores across North America . This further showcases how the brand continues to innovate with purpose and reach younger audiences through pop culture. Empowering partners To support franchise partners, CoCo provides robust support tailored to its North American network, including: Dedicated logistics and supply chain for the region Local operations and consulting teams offering in-person support and business strategy Regional training programs Product R&D and adaptation for local tastes A single-store program that empowers individual entrepreneurs to build community-driven success stories For franchise inquiries in North America , visit: About CoCo Bubble Tea CoCo Bubble Tea aims to create a diverse and sustainable community for its consumers by providing visually refreshing products. We continue to be one of the fastest-growing companies and are looking for enterprising partners to join the CoCo Bubble Tea franchise networks. Check CoCo Bubble Tea's official website and start your application now. For more information, please visit
CBC
5 minutes ago
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Toronto pursuing sole-sourced deal for new TTC trains in wake of U.S. tariffs
The TTC is pursuing a sole-source contract with train-builder Alstom to deliver new subway cars for Toronto's subway system, the city announced Friday. The bulk of the new cars will run on Line 2. Alstom has facilities in both Thunder Bay and Kingston, Ont. In a news release issued Friday morning, officials said both the federal and provincial governments, alongside the city, gave the TTC the go-ahead to pursue a single-source contract "in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty" in order to support Ontario workers. "Torontonians need fast and reliable transit. With our Line 2 subway cars coming to the end of their lifespan, we're partnering with Provincial and Federal governments to buy new trains to keep TTC riders moving," Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement. "Together, we're building a better transit system and supporting Canadian workers and jobs in this challenging trade climate." Bidders have been notified that the competitive process for the train contract has been cancelled, according to the news release. Officials say the base procurement is for 70 six-car train sets in total — 55 to replace aging trains on Line 2, and 15 trains for the Yonge North and Scarborough extensions. The contract also includes options to buy additional trains if more funding is committed and "subject to Alstom's performance," according to the news release. "The TTC is working diligently to ensure the aging Line 2 fleet operates safely and reliably until new trains arrive," the news release goes on to say. It is expected that negotiations will occur over the next few months with a report back to the TTC board on the status of negotiations by the end of the year. The Ford government had expressed its desire to see the train cars built in the province amid the ongoing trade war with the U.S. All three levels of government have committed money to buy the new rolling stock, which is expected to cost some $2.3 billion. "Our government is proud to protect Ontario from U.S tariffs by ensuring the TTC's Line 2 subway trains will be made in Ontario, by Ontario workers," said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria in a statement. The current, almost 30-year-old trains, as regular commuters will tell you, are nearing the end of their lifespan and are vastly different from the Toronto Rocket trains that service Line 1. Those trains were built in Thunder Bay by Bombardier, before that company's train-making division was purchased by Alstom, a French company that operates in 63 different countries. Chow previously said new subway cars would support new signals and technology that will allow them to arrive more frequently. In total, the TTC runs 143 trains on its subway system, which sees 1.1 million customer boardings per weekday, according to the transit agency CEO's latest report. As of March, Line 2 accounted for some 419,000 of those boardings. That figure is expected to top 661,000 daily boardings by 2041, according to Chow's office. The Gardiner, in comparison, has capacity for some 140,000 vehicles per day.
