Two decades after Ontario drew a line around its farmland and forests with the creation of the Greenbelt, The Pointer spoke with Victor Doyle, the plan’s chief architect, about how the landmark policy first came together to protect the province’s most fertile farmland and fragile watersheds.
Why is it still one of the province’s most important safeguards? Doyle fears the Ford government’s stalling on the Greenbelt’s long-overdue second review might be part of a plan to weaken Ontario’s most critical piece of environmental legislation.
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Data show Automated Speed Enforcement cameras significantly reduce speeding in school and community safety zones across Brampton. The effort by officials to curb the city’s infamous dangerous driving is now at risk as Premier Doug Ford is determined to scrap the cameras, calling them a “cash grab”.
Brampton drivers already struggle with the highest auto insurance rates in Ontario, which could get even worse if the calming effect of speed cameras is removed.
Property records and court documents reveal troubling new information in the saga of the former General Motors site in downtown St. Catharines. More than $2 million in liens could pause development of the contaminated site indefinitely; but the City’s revocation of demolition permits presents an opportunity for the municipality to finally clean up the dangerous industrial lands in the heart of the city.
Canadians rallied across the country earlier this month in an effort to ‘draw the line’ against government policies that are harming marginalized groups and the environment.
In Niagara, improving the temporary foreign worker system for thousands of critical employees across the region was a main priority.
Leaving the final decision to remove a councillor found guilty of harassment or other bad behaviour in the hands of their fellow elected officials was widely criticized during a set of roundtables hosted by the provincial government this summer.
For experts, it represents a critical flaw in the proposed bill 9, which aims to tighten accountability of municipal officials, ensuring any new legislation will rarely be used. So far, the Ford PCs have refused to make any changes.
Thousands gathered last weekend at Queen’s Park, uniting their voices against government moves that threaten the environment, Indigenous rights and democratic values.
Why, they ask, are the country’s two most powerful politicians sabotaging the future of younger Canadians?
Several months ago, the City of St. Catharines promised to release details about the expenses of Mayor Mat Siscoe. What has been shared in recent weeks offers taxpayers a vague look at how the mayor uses their money, and falls well short of what is disclosed in the name of transparency by other Ontario municipalities. The opacity allows violations of the expense policy to go unchecked, The Pointer has found.
The Carden Alvar is recognized as a globally rare ecosystem. One of the last remaining strongholds for many threatened and endangered bird and plant species, naturalists and advocates have worked for decades to preserve it.
Now, a Quebec company wants to construct a massive renewable energy project on the alvar.
After men preyed on Cassandra Harvey, trapping her in their criminal sex trafficking ring, they piled thousands of dollars of debt onto the young woman, forcibly taking control of her assets. Despite clear evidence, testimony and the recognition of financial institutions that confirmed the debts were fraudulent, subsequently erasing them, the Canada Revenue Agency has failed to follow suit, causing ongoing trauma to Harvey and preventing her from moving on with her life.
When Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his bold new Major Projects Office on September 11, he promised to make Canada “the strongest economy in the G7” and shield Canada from escalating trade wars and tariffs with plans to double LNG exports and build a carbon capture project, moves critics say risk locking in more emissions, not less.
Canada’s housing crisis has reached a breaking point, and the federal government is finally stepping in. On September 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency aiming to deliver 500,000 new homes annually and restore affordability to a housing market increasingly out of reach for Canadians.
Climate leaders, builders and advocates are urging the government to build smarter and greener by prioritizing factory-built, all-electric homes powered by technologies like heat pumps and designed to last a century without major retrofits.
As global EV adoption races ahead, Canada is pumping the brakes. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s 60-day pause on the country’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate has sparked fierce debate, leaving consumers confused, automakers divided and climate advocates alarmed.
Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a Brampton resident and Sikh activist demanding the Indian government recognize the autonomy of his faith, has received a fresh wave of dire warnings from the RCMP.
He was recently told his life is in imminent danger, part of the Indian government’s alleged transnational campaign that has targeted Sikh advocates in Canada and the U.S..
The PCs’ move to eliminate school trustees and centralize authority over public education in Ontario continues to spur more backlash.
Parents, politicians and disability advocates fear the move will remove stakeholders from their traditional decision making roles, with no mechanisms to hold the government accountable.
As Canada’s pension system boasts record-breaking assets and promises of long-term stability, climate change is quietly testing those assurances.
Environmental groups Shift and Ecojustice have written to the Office of the Chief Actuary, warning that its reports dangerously underplay the financial risks global warming poses to the Canada Pension Plan and other public funds, putting the retirement security of millions at risk.
A nightmare is playing out in Welland following a deeply disturbing sexual assault of a child.
The incident has inflamed concerns about how the justice system handles repeat offenders and comes as Niagara Police are grappling with a startling rise in many types of sexual crimes across Niagara.
Truck horns blared and STOPTHE413 signs lined the roadsides as Premier Doug Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria declared the “beginning” of Highway 413 construction in Caledon on August 27.
Despite the fanfare, what’s actually underway isn’t the highway itself — just a few “early works”.
After the 26-minute press conference, The Pointer fact-checked statements made by Ford, Sarkaria and Caledon Mayor Annette Groves, uncovering repeated exaggerations and misleading claims.
As climate pressures mount and urban landscapes expand, Ontario’s cities are starting to see nature not just as green spaces but as critical infrastructure.
The Greenbelt Foundation’s new report on Natural Asset Management urges municipalities to recognize and manage natural ecosystems like forests and wetlands alongside traditional infrastructure.
The controversy surrounding Donald Trump and the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein has made it clear that the unchecked abuse of women, and politicians who don’t seem to care has the ability to galvanize public opposition. If Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an 81 percent cut to the department responsible for ending gender-based violence in Canada, which is what’s being projected, frontline service providers are already preparing a similar backlash.
The firing of a CAO in Haldimand County has drawn widespread criticism against the municipality's mayor. Shelley Ann Bentley first refused to accept the provincial powers, then did so behind her council’s back, two months after an independent investigation launched by the CAO implicated her in the leaking of confidential information. Shortly after the popular CAO’s actions to ensure accountability, she was fired.
The fiasco has ignited debate about the PCs’ strong mayor legislation that has been criticized as undemocratic. A recent report has revealed it’s not achieving its goal of helping facilitate housing development.
During the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, Premier Doug Ford announced a funding increase to help the province’s cities and towns build new housing. But stakeholders say the amount falls far short of what is needed in Peel, and hundreds of other municipalities across Ontario.
Regional councillors have denied a $40 million grant request from a developer looking to build a luxury housing project in Welland.
The warnings about the financial strain it would place on the upper-tier municipality, and the lack of affordable housing options included in the project did not stop staunch council supporters from attempting delay tactics to keep the grant request alive.
As Ottawa prepares for fiscal belt tightening under Prime Minister Mark Carney, leaked internal messages reveal the newly minted Canada Water Agency may be next on the chopping block, just months after it was established to protect Canada’s lakes and rivers.
With freshwater ecosystems already under siege from development and GHGs, experts and advocates warn that slashing the agency’s funding could unravel years of progress and repeat the environmental austerity mistakes of the past.
As concerns over Canada’s poorly managed immigration system continue to spread, Brampton-based Gandhi Immigration Limited serves as an example of abuse that has plagued the sector.
The director of the firm was, according to Ontario’s Attorney General, responsible for wrongdoing that led to a $40,000 fine for wilfully misrepresenting two immigration files by adding fake work experience to the applications of clients hoping to settle in Canada. The PCs have tabled tough new legislation to combat chronic problems in the immigration consulting sector.
After approving a controversial plan to dump construction fill into Swan Lake, a protected Greenbelt water body, Caledon Council is now pushing a new Site Alteration Bylaw that could make such decisions more common in the future.
Residents and environmental advocates fear the bylaw will open the door to widespread dumping below the water table across rural Caledon, putting groundwater and the Credit River watershed at risk. The legality of the highly controversial move under existing federal environmental law has not yet been tested.
In a surprise move, Niagara regional councillors have rejected a $40 million grant request for luxury homes in Welland. While the vote sends a message to the supporters of these questionable grant programs which have provided millions of Niagara taxpayer dollars to developers, another vote on the matter will return to council on August 28 for a final decision.
Infrastructure failures have drastic consequences for communities big and small. They require rapid, coordinated action from local elected officials.
But what happens when this responsibility is ignored? Where do residents turn?
Community advocates in one northern Ontario municipality are desperate for answers after a bridge closure has been drawn out for months, with no end in sight.
Some of Ontario’s favourite camping spots, nestled near habitats home to many endangered and at-risk species, are facing development pressures under plans by the provincial government. The PC move to transfer parts of Wasaga Beach to municipal control for tourism development has raised red flags; the risk of commercialization could forever alter the park’s delicate ecosystem.
A few hours north, the government's proposal to widen Highway 69 threatens portions of Grundy Lake and French River provincial parks, where even small land removals for development could disrupt fragile habitats and wildlife corridors.
When Niagara Falls Councillor Mike Strange attempted to rally members of the Falls View Hose Brigade to block “that women’s group” from sitting in the council chambers, the scheme drew widespread condemnation.
Now, the actions of the embattled politician, who is also facing a criminal intimate partner violence charge, are being investigated by the City’s integrity commissioner.
Data released by the City of Niagara Falls has exposed a disturbing trend. As property taxes have increased under the current council led by Mayor Jim Diodati, the number of properties in tax arrears has spiked.
The trend reveals the troubling impact of council decision making disconnected from the needs of residents facing significant affordability pressures.
With the rapid erosion of accountability in the municipal government sector, sped up by Doug Ford’s determination to hand even more power to mayors, proposed provincial legislation to protect residents from abusive municipal elected officials is needed now more than ever.
Ontario’s municipal taxpayers also desperately need updated legislation to overhaul woefully inadequate accountability mechanisms meant to keep local elected representatives in check. The current system has created a dire situation for residents whose tax dollars are open to widespread abuse in the province’s municipal government sector.
As the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference begins, nearly half of Ontario’s municipalities have already signed onto the cause promoted by The Women of Ontario Say No. Founder Emily McIntosh is determined to make Bill 9 stronger—so local elected officials who behave abusively are held accountable.
Once thought of as a distant danger, wildfires are now igniting in southern Ontario’s backyard, fuelled by record heat, drought and a changing climate. Fire seasons are stretching longer across the country with increasingly volatile conditions and open-fire bans across much of Southern Ontario due to extremely hot, dry conditions.
In Kawartha Lakes, known for its serene cottages, August brought multiple blazes that spread through parched forests. Experts warn that more Ontario communities, like other parts of the country that have been forced to evacuate, will face increased risks in the future.
After a year of stalled negotiations with the Region of Peel over pay disparity, mental health support and chronic underfunding, Peel Paramedics reached a tentative deal late July, achieving key gains in some areas including wages, while other issues are still unresolved.
The cost of the new South Niagara Hospital is not the only issue many residents have drawn attention to. Outside Niagara Falls, where the facility is being constructed, many are voicing anger over the loss of community-based healthcare in favour of more regional coverage out of the new hospital. Across Niagara, residents are rallying to save local services including facilities slated for closure.
Following controversy over recent years around taxpayer subsidies to developers, who expect the public to cover a range of costs to maximize their own profits, Welland is now facing a similar demand. And Mayor Frank Campion has gotten behind the request, which could see taxpayers cover a total of $80 million so the builder in question can avoid paying various costs to get its project to market.
As Canada stands at a critical point between fossil-fuel dependence and a clean energy future, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first few months in office have revealed a balancing act between climate ambition and industry appeasement. From scrapping the federal consumer carbon tax to hinting at new oil pipelines— while touting renewable growth—his policies have sparked debate over whether Canada will help lead the global energy transition or cling to a carbon-based future.
As Ontario faces another extreme heat warning once again this weekend, the difference between those who can stay cool and those who can’t is becoming a life-threatening crisis. Seniors and renters, especially in aging buildings across southern Ontario, are trapped without reliable air conditioning as heatwaves grow more intense. A recent UN report warns extreme heat disproportionately harms the elderly and low-income groups worldwide. Yet in Ontario, outdated laws and lack of enforcement leave many vulnerable to dangerous conditions. Advocates argue that access to cooling must be treated as an essential human right, not a luxury.
Despite her failure to show up for two scheduled court dates, the charges against Carly Young in relation to the tragic death of Dakota, her German shepherd, will go to trial on September 18.
Animal advocates worry the ongoing reluctance by the police and justice system to file criminal charges for animal cruelty allows abusers to avoid accountability.
The Lake Ontario shoreline, once protected against erosion by concrete barriers, is now grappling with the intensified impacts of climate change. Rather than relying on more concrete, a groundbreaking initiative is looking to nature for answers.
The Lake Ontario Coastal Resilience Pilot Project, launched by three conservation authorities, is exploring innovative, nature-based solutions to tackle rising waters and shifting landscapes. With a science-driven, collaborative approach, the project unites conservationists, municipalities, and communities to reshape the future of the coastline, offering a sustainable and resilient path forward for both the environment and the people who rely on it.
Inconsistencies in provincial grant funding are putting pressure on critical investigative work carried out by the Niagara Police.
At the same time, the police services board is signalling it simply can not meet the demand by regional council to cut back next year’s budget request, which a report from the Chief is equating to “defunding the police”.
As home insurance premiums soar across Ontario, an advocacy group is raising concerns over the lack of transparency in the insurance industry regarding the financial impacts of climate change. They fear governments are failing to protect homeowners by allowing insurance companies to quietly hike premiums as a result of an increasingly unpredictable climate, without disclosing exactly how they are determining the final numbers handed to customers on their bills.
The concern is that these hidden costs could push premiums beyond what many can afford, all while keeping the public in the dark about the real risks involved.
After weeks of controversy inside City Hall, including the arrest of three peaceful demonstrators, procedural barriers are preventing residents from filing complaints against what they see as biased and unethical conduct by their elected officials.
In a groundbreaking decision years in the making, the International Court of Justice has declared that climate inaction isn’t just reckless, it’s illegal. For the first time, the world’s highest court has confirmed that states have binding legal obligations to curb greenhouse gas emissions, including from fossil fuel production, or risk violating international law and facing consequences. The ruling could transform climate lawsuits from long-shot battles to powerful tools for justice.
The decision comes as the Ontario government has unveiled its latest energy plan which is continuing to push the province away from renewable energy, compromising vital emission reduction targets.
SafeHope Home in Durham Region is one of the few residential programs for human trafficking survivors in the country, and the only one to offer a long-term, wraparound support system. Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the fire, but now the organization must work tirelessly to find a new space and limit the disruption to these women who are trying to rebuild their lives after escaping one of the most heinous forms of exploitation.
The organization is currently fundraising to help support the purchase of a new location.
As fossil fuel giants flood screens with misleading net-zero claims, a UN special rapporteur is calling for urgent legal action to ban false advertising, end fossil fuel subsidies and phase out oil, gas and coal by 2030 after the industry’s six-decade campaign of climate denial and delay.
Canada’s federal government recently made changes to the Competition Act to fight greenwashing but relentless lobbying and resistance from the oil and gas sector have set Ottawa behind as the push to criminalize fossil fuel misinformation takes off elsewhere.
The municipal storm sewer south of Chippawa Parkway has intermittently spewed an unknown chemical substance into the Welland River since July of last year.
Despite efforts from City and provincial officials, the origin of the black, oily substance has not been identified. Frustrated residents fear there simply is not enough political will to track down the source—which appears to be somewhere inside the Stanley Business Park.
Patrick Brown is pushing for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be added to Canada’s terror watch list. But the Brampton Mayor, who is constantly in the media speaking on issues outside his municipal jurisdiction, has remained silent on a key piece of the narrative surrounding the gang and its implication in Peel’s troubling organized crime landscape. Various sources have publicly stated that the Bishnoi gang is used as a “proxy” by the Indian government to target Sikhs in Canada.
Despite his close connections to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brown continues to ignore the connection between Modi’s government and the harassment of Sikhs in Canada.
The Canadian Constitution Foundation is taking the City of Niagara Falls to court over its doubling down on a controversial “decorum” policy that bans the holding of signs inside the council chambers. The organization, which is launching a new initiative aimed directly at rogue municipalities, says legal precedent and the Constitution protect this type of expression. It criticizes the City’s senior staff for what appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution.
Women’s rights activists were recently arrested for trying to draw attention to a proposed new provincial law aimed at holding municipal politicians accountable for harassment and assault.
After his son was attacked at school, Anwar Knight says the Peel District School Board lied to him and attempted to cover up the incident. The experience led him to launch Hold Schools Accountable, an effort to reform the Education Act and ensure no parents are forced to deal with what he and his family had to go through.
A coalition of nine First Nations is taking Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, challenging Bills 5 and C-5 on constitutional grounds. They argue these laws concentrate sweeping powers in the Cabinet, bypass Indigenous consultation and weaken environmental protections on traditional lands, infringing on their rights and sovereignty.
Participating First Nations seek to halt enforcement of the new laws until the courts review their constitutionality.
