Latest news with #Ontarians
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Beer store locations open on the Civic Holiday, here's where
With the Civic Holiday just around the corner, The Beer Store wants to help Ontarians prepare for their long weekend. Whether you're heading to the cottage, hosting friends, or relaxing at home and want keep your cooler stocked with cold drinks, here are a few things you should know. 'The Beer Store is open at select locations across Ontario so you can be ready for the long weekend,' said Ozzie Ahmed, VP retail TBS. 'We know customers appreciate the convenience of The Beer Store – cold beer and an efficient empty alcohol container return system that gets people their money back.' The Beer Store wants you to remember to return your empty alcohol containers to get a deposit back. On Mon., August 5, these Beer Store locations across the region will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Alliston – 161 Yonge Street. Barrie -30 Anne Street, south - 531 Bayfield Street.- 640 Yonge Street. Collingwood – 415 First Street. Huntsville – 18 Hanes Road. (Drive-Thru Only) Orangeville – 270 Broadway Street. Orillia – 275 Atherly Road. Owen Sound – 1155 First Avenue, east. Wasaga Beach – 100 Mosely Street. Newmarket – 1100 Davis Drive. Midland – 9350 Hwy. #93 For a full list of locations across the province and holiday hours, click here.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Why Doug Ford's controversial law to fast-track development is focused on the Ring of Fire
The story In the beginning, when it was still called Kawana 'bi 'kag, no one imagined that the 5,000 square kilometres near James Bay might one day save Canada from economic warfare launched by an American president named Donald Trump. There's nothing like an existential crisis, it seems, to focus a country's attention on unearthing billions of dollars worth of critical minerals. Amid First Nations protests and legal challenges, Premier Doug Ford passed Bill 5, creating sweeping new powers to fast-track development and in the north, that means brushing past years of delay on the land now known as the Ring of Fire. It holds what the world craves: nickel, chromite (for chromium), cobalt and more, all needed for global security or green energy. And all often in short supply, threatening economic devastation from supply chain disruption. Ford wants jobs for Ontarians. Prime Minister Mark Carney needs economic prosperity independent of America and its mercurial president. Now, nearly 20 years after the minerals were first discovered, the Ring of Fire may be entering its prime time. Although, as First Nations leaders recently observed, Trump will be out of office long before the mining roads are built, so why the 'unconstitutional' rush? Here is an explainer on the remote north, a place of conundrums. The earth You may ask, what makes these minerals critical? In short, the digital and green economies of the future — including massive new infrastructure needed to support artificial intelligence — will not exist without them. 'There is no energy transition without critical minerals: no batteries, no electric cars, no wind turbines and no solar panels,' a federal minerals strategy once said. Depending on market fluctuations, minerals hold immense value. The Democratic Republic of Congo provides 70 per cent of the world's cobalt. Indonesia supplies 40 per cent of nickel. And China is the largest processor of minerals, a dominance that has, on occasion, led to disruptive trade practices and price swings, according to a recent Public Policy Forum report. Deposits locked under the Ring of Fire include: Nickel: It is used in the production of stainless steel and is increasingly valued in advanced technologies, particularly in batteries for electric vehicles. Cobalt: Considered essential for the production of military equipment, it is used to produce superalloys used to make jet engines, missiles and submarines. Copper: Used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar power panels, and battery energy storage systems, it is also considered essential for the creation of data centres that will support artificial intelligence. Chromite: This is the ore from which chromium is extracted. Chromium is essential to the manufacture of stainless steel. Platinum: A metal that plays a vital role in autocatalysts, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle tailpipes. Palladium: A 'platinum group element,' it is used in electronics and in vehicle emission reductions. The timeline As modern mining lore has it, speculators in the Hudson Bay lowlands discovered its chromite in 2007. Depending on the loquaciousness of the storyteller, one or several prospectors were Johnny Cash fans and so inspired, quickly named the lands around their discovery the Ring of Fire, launching years of environmental assessments, ownership changes and new mining claims. The Ring of Fire was included in Ontario's 2010 speech from the throne and in the ensuing years, premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne raved over its potential, although Sudbury already mines critical minerals. And in 2018, along came Doug Ford. Running for the premier's job, he promised to build roads to the untouched minerals, which were in a distant region of the province accessible only by airplanes or (melting) ice highways. 'If I have to hop on a bulldozer myself, we're going to start building roads to the Ring of Fire,' Ford tweeted. This did not impress the First Nations who make Kawana 'bi 'kag their home. Today, seven years and two elections later, with no roads built, Trump's antics inspired new laws rushed through the Ontario legislature and the House of Commons: Ford's Bill 5, the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing the Economy Act' and Carney's Bill C-5, the 'One Canadian Economy Act.' Before Carney met with First Nations leaders on July 17, he promised 'Indigenous equity and full participation' in Canada's new economy. When the meeting ended, the chiefs' were not convinced. The constitutionality of both laws faces a legal challenge by nine First Nations chiefs, who called Ontario's law a massive overreach that gives the government unlimited development powers across the province. As one said, Ontarians should be worried. The request for an injunction, the chiefs' lawyer said, will likely be heard within a year. The miners In the world of prospecting, ownership is known to change hands. Australia-based Wyloo acquired Noront in 2022 and with it, the Ring of Fire's 'Eagle's Nest' project. While Juno Corp. appears to have the most mining claims in the region, Wyloo says its development progress is the most advanced, in terms of passing government hurdles. Wyloo's footprint, its corporate documents say, will cover just one square kilometre. Instead of an open pit, Eagle's Nest will be vertical, plunging 1,600 metres into the ground, with below-surface space to store tailings, the leftover materials. The company's current projections say it will annually produce 15,000 tonnes of nickel, 6,000 tonnes of copper, 70,000 ounces of palladium, 22,000 ounces of platinum and 340 tonnes of cobalt. And as for the fragile peatlands across the region? Wyloo's mine, its document says, will mainly be built on 'uplands' and not the low-lying peatlands. But there is a different threat: road construction. The ecosystem The Ring of Fire is rich with watery peatlands, a fragile, living entity of decaying plant matter that traps carbon equal to many decades of greenhouse gas emissions. And yet the earth here also holds minerals needed to build the energy-saving solar panels and electric cars of the future. This is an environmental predicament. If new mining roads disturb the peatlands by as little as three per cent, Wildlands League's Anna Baggio says data shows that the equivalent of 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be released. Climate change is already threatening peatlands, from nearby wildfires to melting permafrost. So it was not surprising to see 'peatland' cited 113 times in a 2025 draft environmental assessment for a proposal by Marten Falls First Nations to build and maintain an all-season access road. Marten Falls chief says the road would connect the remote community to health supports and economic opportunities. A separate proposal would link a series of new roads to the Ring of Fire mines. Last week, Marten Falls First Nation said it held a joint ceremony with Webequie First Nation, (which is has filed a proposal to build another road) and together, took down a ceremonial teepee erected last year. It symbolized, the Marten Falls news release said, the 'joint and mutually respectful process required between the First Nations and development proponents.' First Nation communities on the Treaty 9 land have expressed concern about environmental risk, noting the age-old relationship between peatlands, water systems and wildlife. But much like Marten Falls, many also say they want development — and a seat at the decision-makers' table. Ford's Bill 5, some say, killed the opportunity for government discussions, forcing protests or legal action. Eabametoong Chief Solomon Atlookan leads one of many First Nations communities in the region. In June, Atlookan wrote a letter to Ford and Carney, warning their new laws could leave governments tied up in court challenges or worse, create dangerous confrontations on the land. 'Cranking up the legislative bulldozer,' Atlookan wrote, 'will not yield positive outcomes.'
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario reported new measles cases in 4 areas this past week — here's where
Ontario reported 22 new measles cases related to a multi-jurisdictional outbreak over the past week. The 22 new cases were reported in four areas of the province: Grand Erie, Huron Perth, Chatham-Kent and Middlesex-London public health unit areas. The latest figures bring Ontario's total measles case count connected to a multi-jurisdictional and a travel-related outbreak first reported in New Brunswick on Oct. 18 to 2,298 (1,984 confirmed, 314 probable). Public Health Ontario released the information on July 24 in its enhanced epidemiological summary, which includes information up to July 22 at 7 a.m. So far in 2025, there have been 2,301 measles cases (2,013 confirmed, 288 probable) reported in Ontario — 40 of which weren't linked to the multi-jurisdictional outbreak and are not included in the outbreak numbers. The latest summary shows among all outbreak cases, 73.6 per cent were infants, children and adolescents and 25.8 per cent were adults. the age of the remaining patients is unknown. Among the infants, children and adolescents, 95.9 per cent were unimmunized, while 68.9 per cent of the adult cases were among people who were not immunized. There were 162 people hospitalized, 153 of whom were not immunized, including 119 children. Twelve people were admitted to the intensive care unit. One person, an infant with a congenital case of measles and other underlying medical conditions, has died this year . There have been 49 outbreak cases among pregnant people and nine cases of congenital measles (measles diagnosed within the first 10 days of life). The Ontario summary includes the total number of outbreak-related cases since Oct. 18, 2024, reported by each public health unit. The case count and the number of new cases this week, as of July 22, was as follows: Ontarians can check the Public Health Ontario website to see potential exposure locations, including the time and date of possible exposure. U.S.-based National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said measles is the most contagious virus known to humans. Each infected person can potentially infect 18 people, each of whom can go on to infect another 18 people. It estimates 90 per cent of unvaccinated people who are exposed will get measles. Measles is a contagious viral illness, spread through airborne particles. Initial symptoms include fever, red runny eyes, runny nose and cough, followed by a red rash that starts on the face and then moves to the rest of the body, said the Public Health Agency of Canada. Diarrhea, pneumonia and ear infections are also common. Measles can lead to swelling of the brain, respiratory failure, blindness, deafness or death. Diagnosing measles is done through a nasal swab, blood or urine test. Most people with measles recover at home within two to three weeks by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. There are no specific antiviral treatments for a measles infection, but people with severe symptoms may require hospitalization. If you think you may have measles, do not go to a health-care facility or office without calling ahead first, Health Canada said. Ensure the facility knows you might have measles, so they can take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread to others as soon as you arrive. If you want to inquire about a measles vaccination, consult with a health-care provider or your local health unit. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. 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. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Lambton County awarded 2027 International Plowing Match
Rain impedes the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Pain Court, Ont., on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Courtesy Municipality of Chatham-Kent) The 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) has been awarded to Lambton County. The Ontario Plowmen's Association announced Thursday that the Bridgen fairgrounds will host the event from September 21 to 27. Lambton last hosted the IPM in 1991. More than fifty committees have been established to ensure the event generates its anticipated $25 million economic impact. Given Lambton's proximity to the US border, organizers are hopeful Americans will join thousands of Ontarians. 'We think we've got lots of great agriculture that takes place in Lambton, that it is diversified, with various types of agriculture. We think we're a great place to be,' explained Dennis Bryson, the chairperson of the event. 072425 - Lambton County Dennis Bryson, chairperson of 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM). (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) 'At the end of the day, we hope to have 100,000 plus people, and we think it will be a great match if we can accomplish that.' Southwestern Ontario is also home to the 2026 IPM set to take place in Bruce County, west of Walkerton. This year's edition is at the West Niagara Agricultural Centre from September 16-20.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
As Donald Trump's trade war grinds on, support for Doug Ford's PCs hits new high, poll suggests
Premier Doug Ford is flying high. In fact, Ford's three-term Progressive Conservatives have never been higher in Abacus Data's tracking poll . Conversely, Marit Stiles's New Democrats are at an all-time low in the research firm's monthly survey. The Tories, re-elected Feb. 27 with 43 per cent of the popular vote , sat at 50 per cent support in the poll, ahead of Bonnie Crombie's Liberals at 28 per cent while Stiles' NDP languished at 13 per cent and Mike Schreiner's Greens were at six per cent. 'It's all good news here for the premier and the PC government right now,' Abacus president David Coletto said in an interview Thursday. Coletto noted the ongoing trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump is helping Ford's political fortunes, much as the tariff tiff has boosted Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal Liberals. 'Because Premier Ford has been so focused on responding to Trump from day one … he's really come to be seen as this stable force that's giving enough people in the province confidence that he's focused on the things they want him to be focused on,' he said. 'Despite concerns around the health system or affordability, they aren't blaming him or his government for those pain points in their life.' Abacus surveyed 1,000 Ontarians from July 10 through July 15 using online panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. While opt-in polls cannot be assigned a margin of error, for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have one of plus or minus 3.09 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. It was conducted before Ford hosted Carney and the premiers at the annual Council of the Federation summit in Huntsville , which dominated the domestic news earlier this week. Much was made of the fact that the rookie prime minister, who is also performing well in public-opinion polls, stayed over at the premier's Muskoka cottage Monday night . 'There's an alignment that clearly exists in how both Ottawa and Queen's Park are viewing this moment. In a crisis, Canadians are looking to their leaders. People are looking for stability in a world of uncertainty' said Coletto. That can make for difficult political terrain for opposition leaders like Crombie, who faces a Liberal leadership review in September , and Stiles to navigate. 'At 28 per cent, the Liberals under Crombie are where they were at last month. That's a little bit lower than (the 30 per cent of votes) they got in the election,' said the pollster. 'These numbers aren't great news, but they're not bad news. They show that she's making progress and her impressions are improving,' he added, pointing out the party is 'holding its support and it has as large as an accessible pool of voters as the Conservatives do.' That's a reference to 54 per cent of respondents saying they would consider voting Liberal while 53 per cent would look at the Tories and 40 per cent would think about casting a ballot for the NDP. 'Even though (Crombie is) not the leader of the opposition, she's certainly attracts more attention and is more well known in the province (than Stiles).' The provincial New Democrats are the Official Opposition in the legislature despite finishing with 18.5 per cent of the popular vote in February. At 13 per cent, the NDP is down from its previous low of 14 per cent last month . 'If the Ontario Liberals have benefited from a halo effect from Carney, then the provincial NDP has had the opposite. The anchor of the federal NDP collapse has continued to pull that party down,' he said. 'It's not that Marit Stiles is personally any more disliked than she was. It's just the NDP is receding in a lot of Ontarians minds, and so that that's going to be a real challenge for the provincial party, unless the federal one gets its act together,' said Coletto. In terms of personal popularity, Ford was at 46 per cent positive, 33 per cent negative for a plus 13 per cent favourability rating with 19 per cent of respondents neutral and two per cent unsure. Stiles was at 28 per cent positive, 24 per cent negative for plus four per cent with 30 per cent neutral and 18 per cent uncertain. Schreiner was at 25 per cent positive and 21 per cent negative for plus four per cent with 34 per cent neutral and 21 per cent unsure. Crombie was at 33 per cent positive and 32 per cent negative for plus one per cent with 24 per cent neutral and 11 per cent uncertain.
