Toronto has a congestion crisis. Here's 5 things that could fix it
Part 2 of CBC Toronto's three-part series, Gridlocked: The Way Out, explains why congestion is so bad in Toronto and how experts say implementing a combination of several solutions in tandem could make things better.
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CBC
31-05-2025
- CBC
Missing child found in critical condition in Mississauga
Peel police say a child that was reported missing in Mississauga has been rushed to hospital critical condition Saturday. Officers told CBC Toronto they responded to a call for a missing young child in the area of Mississauga Road and Dundas Street just after 3:30 p.m. In a post to X, police said the child had "wandered off" but was located by first responders. Peel paramedics said they attended the scene alongside police and Mississauga Fire for reports of a person in the water, and transported one paediatric patient in critical, life-threatening condition to a local hospital. Police are asking the public to avoid the Erindale Park area.
CBC
08-03-2025
- CBC
Women in trades push for change in Ontario, saying isolation, discrimination still a problem
Social Sharing Women in construction and trades say they continue to face isolation, discrimination and other barriers that must be addressed if the industry and the province want more of them in the field. Despite efforts by the province of Ontario and the industry to recruit more women and fill labour gaps, workers and advocates say women still face many challenges on the job, including social isolation, a lack of mentorship, scarce childcare options, inadequate bathrooms and harassment. Samara Sampson, co-founder of Women on Site (WOS), a networking and community group for women and underrepresented groups in the trades, says she sees more women on work sites than when she first started in the field, but not enough is being done to support them. Once, Sampson says she walked onto a job site and someone remarked, "'It's a little bit early on in the project to have the cleaners come to the site' — when I'm wearing a tool belt, I've got a shirt on that says 'sheet metal worker,'" she said. "A cleaner is an important job on site, but it's not the title that I hold." In recent years, the province has introduced initiatives specifically for women in the trades, including earmarking money for training programs and requiring women-only bathrooms on larger work sites in 2023. But with the final day of Women in Construction Week coinciding with International Women's Day, Sampson and others say there's an opportunity to recognize that more should be done. For example, while there are now more women-designated washrooms, Sampson says they're sometimes too far away from work sites. And when it comes to smaller projects, there are often not enough porta-potties for the number of workers and "they are not cleaned frequently enough." Brampton millwright and WOS member Cheryl Rowe says there's a "vast difference" in the attitudes and work conditions that exist now than in the past. Still, she says, more must be done if the industry wants to capitalize on an "untapped resource." "You want to feel comfortable and safe where you're working... a lot of us are just so burnt out," Rowe said. In a statement to CBC Toronto, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini said the province is removing barriers for women and "cracking down on virtual harassment, improving clean washroom standards, and requiring properly fitted protective equipment. "We've also introduced a new 16-week job-protected parental leave for adoptive parents and parents through surrogacy because you shouldn't have to choose between being a worker and a parent." Overcoming isolation through mentorship According to the Canadian Association of Women in Construction, women make up about five per cent of construction workers on-site nationally, despite industry efforts to hire more women. Mulisius Joe, the regional project coordinator with the Carpenters' Regional Council's Apprentice Integration and Development program, says mentorship is critical to retaining women in trades and helping them succeed. "Mentoring helps to encourage women to keep going, especially when they're having a difficult day or dealing with a difficult situation on site." Sampson says many women are the only ones on their job site and end up feeling like they don't belong there either because of coworkers' direct or indirect actions. She describes it as "1,000 little paper cuts." Rowe says she joined Sampson's group because it was important to have people "who understand what you're going through." During her apprenticeship, some men told her she didn't belong there, and now she's the only woman out of over 150 millwrights where she works. "A lot of the girls who are part of [WOS] are still apprentices," Rowe said. "It's great to be able to give them support and be like, 'Look, you can do this. Don't let these bad attitudes keep you from making a six-figure income.'" The ministry says anyone who has experienced workplace violence, harassment or discrimination should report their concerns by calling its health and safety contact centre at 1-877-202-0008.
CBC
07-02-2025
- CBC
TTC asks city for 10 extra outreach workers to help people using transit for shelter
The TTC is asking the City of Toronto to provide funding for 10 additional outreach workers to help support unhoused individuals using the transit system for shelter. Since 2020, the city has partnered with the TTC to provide outreach workers through its Streets to Homes program. But advocates like Lorraine Lam with the Shelter and Housing Justice Network told CBC Toronto that adding more outreach workers is a "Band-Aid solution" to a much larger issue. "There's not existing shelter beds that we could take people from the streetcar to — the hospitals are jammed up," Lam said. "So sure, fund more outreach workers, but you're asking outreach workers to essentially do a job that's also impossible." In January, the TTC board approved TTC staff's 2025 operating budget, which includes the proposal to add 10 street outreach workers to downtown streetcar lines, focusing on overnight routes. The proposal is included in Mayor Olivia Chow's final budget, which goes to city council on Feb. 11. "The safety of our customers and operators is our top concern and use of outreach workers is one of the many initiatives we've used to improve that," TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said in a statement. Twenty Streets to Homes staff were employed in 2024 "to support people in need across the transit network, focusing on hotspots, to help individuals connect to shelter, housing and wrap-around supports," a city spokesperson said via email. Streets to Homes also provides harm reduction counselling and referrals when necessary. According to city data, 7,844 TTC site visits were made by Streets to Homes workers in 2023, with 517 resulting in a shelter referral. In 2024, 9,179 TTC site visits were made, with only 122 resulting in a shelter referral. In some cases, city workers refer people to LOFT Community Services, an agency that's provided case management to individuals in partnership with the city since 2023. "I certainly see the need for more outreach to engage individuals, whether they're outdoors, whether on the TTC, whether they're on the shelter or hotel system," said Ryan White, a program manager with LOFT, who welcomed the push for more outreach workers. "We certainly do need more engagement with the vulnerable population," he said. WATCH | 135 unhoused people died in first half of 2024: 135 homeless deaths reported in Toronto during first half of 2024: report 2 days ago Duration 2:18 More outreach won't fix lack of shelter beds, advocates say But adding more outreach workers won't help much if there's still nowhere for people to go, Lam says. The city has struggled with shelter capacity in recent years. In October, city staff said around 200 people are turned away from shelters every night. City data shows that number dropped to an average of 114 people a night in December 2024. "One of the worst things to have to do is basically like in the dead of winter, hand somebody a sleeping bag and say, 'sorry, this is the best thing I've got … I hope you don't freeze to death tonight and I'll see you tomorrow,'" Lam said. Diana Chan McNally, a Toronto community worker and expert in harm reduction, agreed and said the city and the TTC need to think bigger. "Any increase in the number of outreach workers also has to come with a request — whether that comes from the TTC or whoever — that we also need to increase indoor space available for people," Chan McNally said.
