Latest news with #Pickering
CTV News
an hour ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ford government officially lifts tolls on stretch of Hwy. 407 East, saving drivers $7,200 a year
Premier Doug Ford is making good on a key election promise, with tolls officially lifted today on the stretch of provincially owned Highway 407 East. The move completes Ford's pledge to remove tolls from the Ontario-owned portion of Highway 407 between Brock Road in Pickering and Highway 35/115 in Clarington. . 'This is one of our campaign commitments that premier Ford made early on,' Ontario's Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, told CP24. 'It follows the trend of this government removing tools that were put in place by previous governments. First, we started with the 412, 418… and now this was the last remaining public toll in the province of Ontario, as of today, we are getting rid of it.' While the privately owned portion of the highway will still charge tolls, the change marks the end of tolls on any provincially owned highways in Ontario — a milestone that the government is touting as both economic relief and a way to ease traffic on the heavily congested Highway 401. The province estimates that daily commuters using the newly free section of 407 will save as much as $7,200 a annually. Ford, in a social media post, said: 'As of today, we've taken tolls off Highway 407 East, saving daily commuters $7,200 each year. That means that there isn't a single publicly-owned tolled highway anywhere in Ontario—and under our government, there never will be again.' As of today, we've taken tolls off Highway 407 East, saving daily commuters $7,200 each year. That means that there isn't a single publicly-owned tolled highway anywhere in Ontario - and under our government, there never will be again. — Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 1, 2025 The removal of tolls aligns with Ford's broader affordability agenda, which includes the permanent cut to Ontario's gas tax. In a previous news release, Ford said, 'I know that families and business owners are worried about rising costs, especially as U.S. tariffs threaten to raise the price of everyday essentials. That's why we're cutting the gas tax permanently and taking tolls off Highway 407 East, and that's why we'll always keep looking for ways to put more money back into the pockets of Ontario families.' In 2024, the government passed legislation banning the introduction of new tolls on provincial highways, effectively ensuring this approach remains in place long-term. 'We have to recognize… the 401 is a significant economic corridor for all of us,' said Sarkaria. 'Ultimately, we want to see people using more of our highways in a way that doesn't put any pressure or cost on that.' However, some experts argue that the most effective way to manage gridlock is not toll removal but rather congestion pricing — charging drivers more to use major routes like the 401 during peak times. A feasibility study on the tunnel beneath the 401 is also underway. 'The tunnel is something that we're moving forward with,' Sarkaria emphasized. 'We actually just issued the RFP on it a couple of weeks ago to understand the feasibility of it as well.' The government has teased that the tunnel could include transit options and help move people and goods more efficiently through the corridor. 'We're exploring an express tunnel, and that would be to move traffic as quickly as possible, with the possibility of transit underneath as well,' Sarkaria said. 'We know that in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years, travel times on the 401 will almost double. We're going to see significant population growth, and we need to be prepared for the future.' Sarkaria added, 'we need to think outside the box.'
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Video footage appears to show person matching description of teen suspect in deadly Pickering stabbing
The individual was captured walking through a Pickering neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon moments prior to the deadly stabbing New video appears to show a male matching the description of the suspect in a deadly Pickering stabbing walking through the neighbourhood moments before an elderly woman was stabbed multiple times outside her nearby home. The victim, who was described by neighbours as a friendly, retired kindergarten teacher in her 80s, was rushed to a Toronto-area trauma centre where she died of her injuries a short time later. A 14-year-old boy was arrested a few hours later following a city-wide manhunt and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the brazen incident. Durham police have said that the fatal stabbing appears to have been an unprovoked 'random attack' and that there is nothing at this point to suggest that the victim knew her attacker. Investigators are still working to determine a motive for this incident and won't say if a weapon was recovered. Investigation May 29 Pickering murder An investigation is now underway following a May 29 murder in Pickering. In the footage captured by a nearby surveillance camera, an individual, whose face has been obscured, is observed passing by a house a few blocks up from the murder scene on Lynn Heights Drive about 10 minutes before the incident, which occurred just after 3 p.m. He is seen wearing black gloves, a long, dark, trench coat, and carrying what appears to be a soft-structured briefcase. At 3:02 p.m., the same individual re-appears on camera returning from where he came from. He's seen stopping and fiddling around with his briefcase, before continuing past the house again. CTV News Toronto has spoken to the person whose cameras captured the video. He declined to speak on camera, but confirmed the videos were taken yesterday at around the time of the incident. Another viewer video, also obtained by CTV News Toronto, shows Durham police a few hours later in the backyard of a home that is about an hour away from the crime scene on foot. 'We saw the helicopters and all police, some action from last night,' he said. The man's home backs onto the house in question. He described a 14-year-old boy who lived there. 'He was always wearing dark clothing, nothing really out of the ordinary,' he said, calling the murder 'shocking.' Earlier on Friday, one neighbour told CP24 that she also spotted a strange person walking in the area who was wearing black gloves and a trench coat. 'He stood out,' Shedia Serrao-Fredericks said. 'It is not normal at 2:30 or whatever time it was in the afternoon to be dressed like that.' Prior to the arrest, police said the suspect was seen wearing a surgical mask, a long, black jacket and was carrying a black bag. Investigation May 29 murder Pickering An investigation is underway following a May 29 murder in Pickering. Several neighbours said they saw police in the area last night, but did not go outside to see what was going on as they were told to shelter in place. Today, people in the community are reeling from what has happened, saying that the accused has lived nearby for a number of years. One woman said she saw the teen just a few days before the murder coming out of his house. 'I think he was wearing a tuxedo and I just saw him walking down this street. … I thought he was going to a job interview or something, but he looked a bit too young,' she said. Meanwhile, rumours are swirling at a nearby school that the accused may have been a student there. 'I've heard that this kid was from this school,' one parent told CTV News Toronto. 'I was expecting the school to provide me with some information.' Accused due back in court on June 20 CTV News Toronto was in court this morning when the teen appeared via video. Few details can be released about the case due to a publication ban, except to say that the accused was wearing a dark sweater and that his right hand appeared to be bandaged in white gauze. When spoken to, he replied in a soft voice and looked downcast. There were no family members present in the court room. The accused is scheduled to be back in court on June. 20. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information, include video from the area, is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously. With files from CTV News Toronto's Janice Golding
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
14-year-old charged after elderly woman killed in Pickering, Ont.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder after an elderly woman was stabbed to death in her front yard in Pickering, Ont., east of Toronto.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Video appears to show person matching description of suspect in Pickering stabbing
Video The individual was captured walking through a Pickering neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon moments prior to the deadly stabbing
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
'You wouldn't find a better person': Pickering community mourns elderly woman killed in stabbing
Community members placed flowers outside the home where an elderly woman was allegedly killed by a 14-year-old boy in Pickering on Thursday. CBC's Talia Ricci explains what we know about the retired teacher.
