Latest news with #H-135
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Province says it will fund training and maintenance for Windsor police helicopter
The province has disclosed some more details about a helicopter the government is buying for Windsor police amid questions from city officials about the aircraft's cost to local taxpayers and stated border security mandate. On May 15, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government unveiled its 2025 budget, which includes $57 million to purchase two new Airbus H-135 helicopters — one for Niagara regional police, and one for Windsor police. The aircraft are meant to help municipal law enforcement "with increased patrols, security, and enforcement at key entry points at the U.S. border," according to the budget. On Monday, the province told CBC Windsor that it will be covering some of the costs associated with the new equipment. "Our government is ensuring police services have the tools they need to protect our borders and keep our communities safe — This includes supporting the Windsor Police Service with a new H-135 helicopter," wrote Dakota Moniz, director of communications for Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. "In addition to the new helicopter, we will provide funding to the police service to hire and train tactical flight officers, and support the Ontario Provincial Police, who will provide maintenance for the helicopter upon its arrival in 2027," Moniz stated. As Monday evening, Moniz had not responded to follow-up questions regarding how much the province would be providing, and whether those amounts are included in the original $57-million investment. Windsor city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, who chairs the Windsor Police Services Board, has expressed concerns about the costs associated with operating and maintaining a helicopter. "I think for the people of Windsor to have to assume the cost of operating a helicopter is naturally concerning," Gignac told CBC after the announcement. WATCH: Ontario budget promises new police helicopter for Windsor After a meeting of the Windsor Police Services Board last week, Gignac said the city was still awaiting details from the province about the helicopter. "We still don't have the information that we need to be able to sign an agreement in terms of that tool," Gignac said. "And it is a tool. It's a tool that I appreciate the premier has thought that it might be a positive thing." There have also been questions whether it's the role of a municipal police service to patrol the international border — which is normally a federal responsibility. "It's just getting to the point where downloading of different responsibilities that were never part of our municipal responsibilities are coming left and right," Gignac said. "And so we have to be very careful." Both the Canadian and Ontario governments have implemented new border security measures in response to criticisms from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has claimed that fentanyl smuggling from Canada justifies imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods — despite data showing that the vast majority of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Mexico. In an effort to appease Trump, Ottawa announced in December that it would spend $1.3 billion on beefing up border security — which includes having the RCMP patrol the border with leased Black Hawk helicopters. The Windsor detachment of the RCMP declined an interview request on Monday and did not respond to questions about coordinating with the coming Windsor police helicopter patrol. There's some precedent for the province's new police helicopters. Ford's government previously said it was spending $134 million on five helicopters for police in Ottawa and the Toronto area. The latest announcement "builds on" that investment, the budget says, adding that the new aircraft "will help protect Ontario's borders and keep highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing, and impaired driving."
Toronto Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Ten things you should know about Ontario's budget
From choppers for cops to new teacher spots, the record-breaking $232.5 billion Ontario budget unveiled Thursday also features a number of programs to help tariff-battered businesses and workers. As a point of national pride, the province is also introducing a new 'buy' day to promote Ontario and Canadian-made products. Here are the highlights: A $5 billion 'Protecting Ontario Account' to help businesses withstand the impact from U.S tariffs. Two new H-135 helicopters at a cost of $57 million — one each for the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Windsor Police Service — for increased border patrols and security. Last year, the province spent $135 million for five helicopters for the Toronto-area and Ottawa, bringing the total number of 'Joint Air Support Unit' choppers to seven. A $1 billion training and skilled trades investment for programs run by unions or other businesses and associations, plus a new $20 million fund for retraining and supports for laid off workers, including those who lose their jobs because of U.S. tariffs. An additional $40 million 'Trade Impacted Communities Program' is intended for struggling municipalities. The last Friday in June will be designated a 'Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day' — just before Canada Day on July 1 — to encourage purchases from local businesses and workers as part of a broader push by Premier Doug Ford to boost interprovincial trade. A $175 million Ontario Grape Support Program to help fruit farmers and wineries to double the percentage of Ontario grapes in blended wine. Up to $35 million will be available each year over five years. Weed grown and processed in the province will be marked with a new 'Ontario Grown,' intended for cannabis products with at least 75 per cent Ontario content. An additional $92 million — for a total of more than $180 million — to increase EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure, including more public charging stations with a focus on underserved areas, as part of Ontario's EV ChargeOn program. Amid a province-wide teacher shortage, $55.8 million over two years to train 2,600 new educators. Victim Services Toronto Reclaim Project, which works with banks and other agencies to help survivors of human trafficking erase fraudulent and coerced debt, will receive $1 million over three years. In 2023, the province amended the Consumer Reporting Act to outlaw collection of any such debt following a successful application. Such debt can include loans, cellphone purchases and hotel room bills. The final item in the 232-page budget is a new bill that will allow cabinet ministers to continue to use and be referred to as 'Honourable,' even after they leave office. Currently, in Canada, provincial ministers typically use the term while in office, while prime ministers, senators and chief justices can be referred to as 'Right Honourable' for life. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
CBC
09-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ontario NDP promise grocery rebate while PC leader Ford touts border security measures
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford touted his party's border security measures amid the threat of U.S. tariffs, as the NDP focused on pocketbook issues Saturday with the promise of a monthly grocery rebate for millions of people. Ford continued to hammer home his campaign message about protecting Ontario's economy, saying that even though U.S. President Donald Trump has put off his tariff threats until early March, "an unprecedented economic risk" still looms. "The simple truth is, as long as Donald Trump is president, the risk of tariffs will never go away," Ford said during a campaign stop at a regional airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Trump has been threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods unless Canada improves security at the border. Ford said his government's Operation Deterrence, announced last month as part of Ontario's response to the tariff threats, has so far intercepted eight illegal border crossings and led to the seizure of 21 illegal firearms and 624 kilograms of cocaine. If re-elected, Ford promised to spend $50 million to expand the Ontario Provincial Police's Joint-Air Support Unit with two new H-135 helicopters to support the Niagara Regional Police and the Windsor Police Service with increased border patrols, security and enforcement. Opposition parties have slammed Ford's claim that he needs an even larger electoral mandate to deal with four years of Trump, and have said the election campaign must focus on provincial health-care and affordability issues. NDP promise to introduce grocery rebate NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the rising cost of living is top of mind for Ontarians and that's why an NDP government would introduce a monthly grocery rebate for lower and middle-income households. Stiles said up to four million households would benefit from the program and a family of four could get up to $122 per month to help offset the cost of groceries. "That's over $1,400 per year," Stiles said at a campaign stop in Toronto on Saturday. "What I hear from people as I'm criss-crossing Ontario is that everybody is fed up with paying too much for basics like bread, rice and vegetables," she said. The tax-free rebate amount would be based on how much the cost of grocery staples has increased over the last several years and tied to the recipients' annual income and household size. The NDP said families and individuals with a net income of up to $65,000 would get the full credit, and the rebate would decrease for households earning between $65,000 and $100,000. The party said the program would cost about $409 million per month. A report by researchers at several Canadian universities released in December concluded that a Canadian family of four can expect to spend more than $16,800 on food in 2025 — and increase of about $800 from last year. If her party forms government, Stiles said it would also introduce measures to prevent co-ordinated price hikes among Ontario grocers and install a consumer protection watchdog. Meanwhile, the Liberal party made a pledge Saturday to appoint a special investigator to look into various moves by the Ford government, including the closure of the Ontario Science Centre and the now-reversed plan to develop land in the protected Greenbelt. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie had made a similar promise last June, long before Ford called the Feb. 27 snap election. Opening up the Greenbelt sparked a public outcry that hit a fever pitch in the summer of 2023 and led to an RCMP investigation that's still ongoing. Ford has denied any wrongdoing and said last week that he has not been interviewed by the RCMP in its Greenbelt probe, but he does not know if any of his staffers have been questioned.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A running list of Ontario election promises in campaign for snap Feb. 27 vote
TORONTO — A running list of election promises announced by the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens in the province's snap election campaign. The vote is set for Feb. 27. Progressive Conservatives Feb. 8 on security: Spend $50 million to expand the Ontario Provincial Police's Joint-Air Support Unit with two new H-135 helicopters to support the Niagara Regional Police and the Windsor Police Service with increased border patrols, security and enforcement. Feb. 7 on transportation: Build a tunnel under Highway 401 from Mississauga in the west to the Markham area in the east, at an unknown cost. Feb. 6 on transit: Seek to build a freight rail bypass along the Highway 407 corridor in Peel Region. Feb. 5 on affordability: Take tolls off Highway 407 East, the provincially owned portion of the highway. Permanently cut the provincial gas tax by 5.7 cents a litre, which the PC government has already done on a temporary basis since July 2022. Feb. 4 on transit: Upload the Ottawa LRT and integrate its operations under provincial transit agency Metrolinx, taking costs off the city's books to the tune of about $4 billion over a few decades. Feb. 3 on tariffs: Spend $10 billion toward support for employers through a six-month deferral of provincially administered taxes on Ontario businesses and $3 billion toward payroll tax and premium relief, $600 million in a fund aimed at attracting investments, and $300 million to expand an Ontario manufacturing tax credit. Jan. 31 on infrastructure: Spend $15 billion over three years to speed up capital projects including widening the Queen Elizabeth Way between Burlington and St. Catharines. Add $5 billion to the Building Ontario Fund. Add $2 billion to the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. Add $300 million to the Community Sport and Recreation Fund. Jan. 30 on electric vehicles: Commit to deals with Stellantis and Volkswagen for their battery plants regardless of what happens with U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs and rip up electric vehicle tax credits. Jan. 30 on tariffs: Invest $1 billion in a skills development fund for autoworkers to transition to a different trade and another $100 million for an employment fund to help workers who are vulnerable to trade disputes transition to "in-demand" jobs. Jan. 29 on infrastructure: Spend $1 billion to build a new police college. No further details were provided. NDP Feb. 8 on affordability: Create a monthly grocery rebate for lower- and middle-income Ontarians, linked to inflation, with a family of four able to get up to $122 per month. Create a provincial consumer watchdog office. Establish a Corporate Crime and Competition Bureau. Force large retailers to publicly post when they raise prices more than two per cent in a week. Feb. 7 on health care: Ensure every Ontarian has access to a family doctor by recruiting and supporting 3,500 new doctors, reduce administrative burden on doctors, introduce more family health teams and shorter specialist wait times, and increase the number of internationally trained doctors, at a total cost of $4 billion. Feb. 6 on housing: End a loophole that exempts rental units built after 2018 from rent control. Crack down on renovictions and demovictions. Allow fourplexes as of right in all neighbourhoods and allow midrise apartments along transit corridors as of right. Limit short-term rentals like AirBnB's to primary residences. Build or acquire at least 300,000 affordable rental homes. Feb. 5 on homelessness: End encampments and tackle chronic homelessness by creating 60,000 supportive housing units, having the province pay for shelter costs instead of municipalities and doubling social assistance rates. Feb. 4 on education: Spend an additional $830 million to repair schools. Hire more school staff. Create a universal school food program. Support students with disabilities. Invest in French education. Feb. 3 on tariffs: Implement a federal-provincial income support program, direct agencies to procure locally and create new supply chains for trade-exposed industries. The NDP did not say how much this would cost, only that it would work in lockstep with the federal government to deliver the stimulus. Jan. 27 on affordability: Get rid of tolls for all drivers on Highway 407, on both the government-owned portion and the privately owned part, named the 407 ETR. The party also pledged to buy that part back. Liberals Feb. 8 on accountability: Appoint a special investigator to look into various plans and deals under Doug Ford, including the $612 million cost of speeding up the availability of alcohol in corner stores by one year, the sudden closure of the Ontario Science Centre and the now-reversed Greenbelt land swap, also under RCMP criminal investigation. Feb. 5 on affordability: Double Ontario Disability Support Program benefits. The boost would be pegged to inflation and phased in over two years. Feb. 3 on tariffs: Offer a $150,000 bonus to Canadian doctors and nurses working in the U.S. if they come back here to work, establish a "fight tariff fund" giving Ontario businesses lower interest rates, and eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Also pledged to phase in rent control. No costing for the plan was included. Jan. 31 on transit: Boost transit safety by hiring 300 special constables, doubling investment in mobile crisis intervention teams, giving transit services an unspecified amount of money for safety equipment such as cameras, and installing platform doors in all Toronto subway stations. Jan. 31 on affordability: Cut middle income tax bracket by 22 per cent and take HST off home heating and hydro bills. Jan. 30 on electric vehicles: Bring back consumer rebates for electric-vehicle purchases in an effort to help slumping sales. Jan. 29 on health care: Give all Ontarians access to a family doctor within four years by significantly expanding the health team network and recruiting thousands of new domestically and internationally trained family doctors. Greens Feb. 7 on affordability: Cut income taxes for people making under $65,000 a year and raise taxes on people in the top tax bracket. Feb. 6 on affordability: Immediately double Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works rates and tie future increases to inflation. Build 310,000 affordable non-profit and co-op homes, including 60,000 supportive homes. Feb. 5 on agriculture: Expand business risk management programs by $150 million annually. Develop local procurement guidelines for public sector food purchases. Create an AgTech Innovation Fund for the food and farming sector. Mandate permanent protection of farmland. Feb. 4 on local priorities: advocate for new hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge. Safeguard the watershed and work with Indigenous communities to conserve 30 per cent of natural areas by 2030. Feb. 3 on housing: Allow fourplexes across the province and homes with six units in large cities, and mid-rise buildings of six to 11 storeys on transit corridors and main streets. The Greens also pledged to remove development charges on homes under 2,000 square feet and remove the land transfer tax for first-time homebuyers. Jan. 31 on tariffs: Create a tariff task force, create an investment tax credit, develop a Buy Ontario strategy, create a Protect Ontario Fund for businesses disproportionately impacted, diversify trade partners and work to remove interprovincial trade barriers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario NDP pledges grocery rebate as PC leader Ford touts border security measures
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford touted his party's border security measures amid the threat of U.S. tariffs, as the NDP focused on pocketbook issues Saturday with the promise of a monthly grocery rebate for millions of people. Ford continued to hammer home his campaign message about protecting Ontario's economy, saying that even though U.S. President Donald Trump has put off his tariff threats until early March, "an unprecedented economic risk" still looms. "The simple truth is, as long as Donald Trump is president, the risk of tariffs will never go away," Ford said during a campaign stop at a regional airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Trump has been threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods unless Canada improves security at the border. Ford said his government's Operation Deterrence, announced last month as part of Ontario's response to the tariff threats, has so far intercepted eight illegal border crossings and led to the seizure of 21 illegal firearms and 624 kilograms of cocaine. If re-elected, Ford promised to spend $50 million to expand the Ontario Provincial Police's Joint-Air Support Unit with two new H-135 helicopters to support the Niagara Regional Police and the Windsor Police Service with increased border patrols, security and enforcement. Opposition parties have slammed Ford's claim that he needs an even larger electoral mandate to deal with four years of Trump, and have said the election campaign must focus on provincial health-care and affordability issues. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the rising cost of living is top of mind for Ontarians and that's why an NDP government would introduce a monthly grocery rebate for lower and middle-income households. Stiles said up to four million households would benefit from the program and a family of four could get up to $122 per month to help offset the cost of groceries. "That's over $1,400 per year," Stiles said at a campaign stop in Toronto on Saturday. "What I hear from people as I'm criss-crossing Ontario is that everybody is fed up with paying too much for basics like bread, rice and vegetables," she said. The tax-free rebate amount would be based on how much the cost of grocery staples has increased over the last several years and tied to the recipients' annual income and household size. The NDP said families and individuals with a net income of up to $65,000 would get the full credit, and the rebate would decrease for households earning between $65,000 and $100,000. The party said the program would cost about $409 million per month. A report by researchers at several Canadian universities released in December concluded that a Canadian family of four can expect to spend more than $16,800 on food in 2025 – and increase of about $800 from last year. If her party forms government, Stiles said it would also introduce measures to prevent co-ordinated price hikes among Ontario grocers and install a consumer protection watchdog. Meanwhile, the Liberal party made a pledge Saturday to appoint a special investigator to look into various moves by the Ford government, including the closure of the Ontario Science Centre and the now-reversed plan to develop land in the protected Greenbelt. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie had made a similar promise last June, long before Ford called the Feb. 27 snap election. Opening up the Greenbelt sparked a public outcry that hit a fever pitch in the summer of 2023 and led to an RCMP investigation that's still ongoing. Ford has denied any wrongdoing and said last week that he has not been interviewed by the RCMP in its Greenbelt probe, but he does not know if any of his staffers have been questioned. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2025. Sonja Puzic, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
