Ontario public servants required to go back to office five days a week by January
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Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney said in a press release that the province has been monitoring in-workplace standards across the public and private sectors, and the decision 'represents the current workforce landscape.'
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She said employees who have been going into the office for a minimum of three days a week will increase their attendance to four days a week starting on Oct. 20. with a gradual transition to five days a week in the office by Jan. 5, 2026.
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Premier Doug Ford said he believes employees are more productive when they work in-person.
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'How do you mentor someone over a phone? You can't. You've got to look at them eye to eye,' Ford said at an unrelated press conference Thursday morning.
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Thursday's announcement comes after some private sector companies, including several Canadian banks, announced that employees would be required to spend more time at the office.
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CTV News
22 minutes ago
- CTV News
BC Greens leadership to take youthful turn, with contenders' average age of 30
B.C. Green Party Leadership candidates Emily Lowan, left to right, Jonathan Kerr and Adam Bremner-Akins are shown in a composite image of three undated handout photos. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — B.C. Green Party (Mandatory Credit) VICTORIA — Stuart Parker was 21 when he became the leader of the B.C. Greens in 1993 after campaigning against McDonald's use of ozone-damaging foam packaging. He said youth alone won't be enough to sustain the next leader of the Greens, in a race where the average age of the contenders is just 30. 'So yes, I got in as the young, radical urbanite, but I maintained my leadership of that party for seven years by spending my time on the road,' said Parker, who has also run for the New Democrats and more recently has worked for the B.C. Conservatives. Parker said he campaigned not on his age, but by shaking as many hands as possible, and meeting and listening to people. The Greens' leadership contest, with a voting period from Sept. 13 to 23, features 24 year-old Emily Lowan, who is an organizer with Climate Action Network Canada, 23-year-old student Adam Bremner-Akins, and family doctor Jonathan Kerr, the elder of the group at 44. By comparison, the last two Green leaders, Sonia Furstenau and Andrew Weaver, were 54 and 59 respectively when they stood down. Lowan and Bremner-Akins have no doubts that they are experienced enough to lead. 'I absolutely think I am, and I don't think that is just arrogance,' Lowan said, adding she has a 'decade of extremely relevant experience as a movement-builder, as a campaigner and a policy researcher.' Bremner-Akins, meanwhile, pointed to his experience on the party's provincial council and two runs as candidate for the party. 'It's not always used on the younger end of the spectrum, but age is just a number,' Bremner-Akins said. 'Whether you are in your 60s, 70s 80s or 20s — it is just a number, and I have been through a lot. If people want to know, I'm seasoned. I have been fired for union organizing. I have taken on roles inside the party. I have run for election.' UBC political science lecturer Stewart Prest said having two candidates in their 20s offered a 'silver lining' for the party, because it was a chance for renewal and to distinguish the party from rivals. But there were also risks. 'At same time, it makes it that much harder to make the claim that they're a party ready to govern, that they are ready to compete and offer an alternative both to the NDP and to the Conservatives,' he added. 'So, I don't know that there is a single personnel choice here available to the Greens to turn things around.' Whoever wins, the B.C. Greens are leaning into the youth movement, both rhetorically and logistically. The party's website describes the contest as 'an opportunity for a bold new vision, fresh energy, and renewed commitment to building a sustainable, just, and prosperous British Columbia.' And party membership is free for everyone aged 14 to 29. Party members as young as 16 can vote in the contest. That emphasis isn't solely the Greens' domain. The NDP's 2022 leadership contest let members as young as 12 vote, while the Conservatives' 2023 race set the age limit at 14. Neither of the Greens' two MLAs, Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote, who is the interim leader, are seeking the leadership. The Greens may have maintained a presence in the legislature after last year's election, but the party's vote share dropped from about 15 per cent to just above eight per cent, amid an increasingly polarized political environment. Prest added that 'barring a change in the electoral system ... there's only so much the Greens can do here to remain relevant.' He said the Greens should instead focus on a regional strategy. Kerr, a twice-elected municipal councillor in Comox on Vancouver Island and vice-chair of the Comox Valley Regional District, disagreed. He said his leadership campaign tour across B.C. showed 'there is Green support everywhere,' including in northern and central B.C., where voters want to see forestry practices that focus on conservation, selective logging, and value-added production to keep mills open. 'People care and see what we've been doing isn't working,' he said. 'I am focused on the environment and climate. That is how I got involved with the Greens. But I'm equally focused on creating a clean economy, a new economy that's better.' When asked whether young party members should take a flyer from a 44-year-old, Kerr chuckled. 'Isn't that funny?' he said. 'I'm the old guy in the race.' Lowan said she was running because the party needed a 'true organizer to bring this party back to life,' so it can 'be a strong thorn in the side of the governing party.' Over the years, the party had lost its youth base and connection to social and climate movements, she said. She said she wanted 'to challenge the oligarchs that really run the show in the premier's office,' as well as projects she said were jeopardizing the climate and affordability. She said the Greens need to move in 'lockstep' with social and climate movements, with young people, workers, renters and Indigenous communities for the party to have a future. 'In this moment of time, the Greens have a real crossroads, between fading into the background, or choosing to be a bold, galvanizing party,' she said. Bremner-Akins said the party needed a leader 'who lives with the problems we're facing in the province, whether that's housing affordability, the rising cost of living, the existential threat of climate change we're facing,' he said. He added that people 'need someone who isn't just passionate about issues' but 'lives with them and is motivated to deal with them because people are frustrated' by the lack of 'relative urgency' from governments. Kerr said both Lowan and Bremner-Akins were 'great young leaders' with much to offer, saying as leader he would work to get them elected as MLAs alongside him. Prest cautioned that there was no guarantee the next leader of the Greens would win a seat in the legislature, let alone the two other candidates. But he said the two younger candidates' presence in the race pointed to an 'area of potential growth for the Greens'- young, progressive voters disenchanted with the NDP on issues including the environment and energy, after nearly a decade in office. Parker, who also led the B.C. Ecosocialist party before resigning in 2020 over comments that critics called transphobic, said the Greens were currently 'incapable of being relevant' in B.C. politics. But he had some advice. 'If you are a radical party, people are supposed to be offended by your opinions,' Parker said. 'If you are not offending anybody, you are doing it wrong.' The result of the leadership contest will be announced Sept. 24. This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published August 14, 2025.
Globe and Mail
22 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Zoomex Officially Registers with AUSTRAC, Australia
Victoria, Seychelles--(Newsfile Corp. - August 16, 2025) - Global crypto exchange Zoomex is pleased to announce its official registration with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). Following its acquisition of MSB (Money Services Business) licenses in both the United States and Canada, as well as registration with the U.S. National Futures Association (NFA), Zoomex's compliance footprint now spans several key markets-providing users worldwide with a safer, more transparent, and highly compliant digital asset trading experience. At Zoomex, we always stay true to our user-first philosophy, aiming to deliver a crypto trading platform that is simple to use, secure, compliant, and trustworthy. As we continue to expand our global service coverage, we firmly believe that compliance is not a barrier to user freedom, but a fundamental pillar for building a sustainable ecosystem and safeguarding user rights. Core Licenses and Certifications - Regulatory + Technical Dual Safeguards Zoomex has now obtained the following key compliance and security credentials: AU AUSTRAC Registration (Australia): Formally registered under Australia's AML/CFT framework, fully authorized to operate legally in the region US MSB License (USA): Registered with FinCEN, authorized to conduct fiat-related transactions within the U.S. market US NFA Registration (U.S. National Futures Association): Enhances regulatory compliance for derivative products on the platform CA MSB License (Canada): Legally authorized to provide digital asset-related financial services in Canada ✓ Hacken Security Certification: Audited by leading cybersecurity firm Hacken, ensuring platform and user asset safety Beyond regulatory compliance, Zoomex also places great emphasis on technological security and risk control capabilities. The platform adopts multi-layer encryption and cold-hot wallet segregation, supported by a professional risk management system that continuously monitors suspicious activities - all to build a robust, transparent, and trustworthy trading environment for our users. As global crypto asset regulation continues to mature, Zoomex chooses to take a high-standard, globally-aligned approach to compliance. We are committed to strengthening localized service capabilities while acting as a vital bridge between global investors and the Web3 world. We recognize that compliance is not just a reflection of strong corporate governance - it's also the cornerstone of user trust and long-term platform growth. Completing the AUSTRAC registration marks another key milestone in Zoomex's global compliance strategy. We will continue to enhance platform stability, improve transparency, and strengthen risk control through third-party security audits and robust compliance mechanisms - all to provide you with a safe, reliable trading experience. About Zoomex Founded in 2021, Zoomex is a global cryptocurrency trading platform built on the core principles of Simplicity × Usability × Speed. We are committed to delivering a high-performance, low-barrier trading experience. The platform is designed with dual optimization in mind - combining millisecond-level order execution with an intuitive interface for seamless user interaction. With flexible identity verification and an open trading model, Zoomex is building a faster, safer, and more accessible digital asset trading environment for users around the world.
CTV News
37 minutes ago
- CTV News
Ontario Christmas tree farmers gather for education day in Listowel
Christmas tree farmers from across Ontario gathered in Listowel, Ont. Saturday for their annual field and education day The event, hosted by Outback Tree Farm, brought together growers for networking, workshops and hands-on demonstrations. Organized by the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario (CTFO), the day is designed to highlight new technologies, research and best practices in the industry. The non-profit association, funded by Ontario growers, supports both producers and consumers by promoting locally grown trees and encouraging sustainable practices. The CTFO says gatherings like this are a chance for farmers to share knowledge while adapting to a changing agricultural landscape. The organization adds that buying a real Christmas tree also helps preserve local ecosystems and supports family-run farms across the province.
