New study shows Ford government putting Ontario on course for higher energy prices 

New study shows Ford government putting Ontario on course for higher energy prices 

A recent study commissioned by The Atmospheric Fund has exposed the impacts of the PC government’s actions.

While it buys up new environmentally harmful natural gas resources as part of its energy plan, the report shows clean solutions are viable, affordable and reliable alternatives, and the time to act is now. 



Bonnie Crombie pushes back after Doug Ford attacks her for criticizing developer driven housing Bill

Bonnie Crombie pushes back after Doug Ford attacks her for criticizing developer driven housing Bill

Closing remarks by the Premier following a transportation announcement in Brampton Wednesday morning strayed from the topic as Doug Ford launched into an attack on Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, described as misogynistic by many on social media.

She has criticized the PC government's housing plan under Bill 23, which could force the construction of 120,000 new homes in Mississauga by 2031, with property taxpayers on the hook to cover certain infrastructure related costs previously paid by developers. Crombie has decried Ford’s loyalty to powerful builders while ignoring property taxpayers. 



Auditor General finds PCs’ Bill 23 could put Ontarians at increased risk of flood disasters

Auditor General finds PCs’ Bill 23 could put Ontarians at increased risk of flood disasters

Ontario’s Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has published a stinging audit that determined the Doug Ford PC government is doing very little to fund stormwater infrastructure and provide necessary data for flood mapping, both of which are critical to protecting the province’s 444 municipalities from the increasing risk of flooding due to climate change—a risk that will be exacerbated by the PCs’ misguided housing strategy which will make it easier to destroy wetlands and build subdivisions in floodplains. 



PCs’ Bill 7 constitutionally challenged for charging hospital patients $400 daily when refusing involuntary transfers 

PCs’ Bill 7 constitutionally challenged for charging hospital patients $400 daily when refusing involuntary transfers 

Bill 7, The More Beds, Better Care Act, is being constitutionally challenged by the Ontario Health Coalition and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, who argue the purpose of the legislation is to intimidate and coerce older adults into giving up their hospital bed.



A battle is brewing over the PC government’s plan to destroy the Greenbelt for development

A battle is brewing over the PC government’s plan to destroy the Greenbelt for development

The Ford government’s plan to carve out certain parcels of land from the Greenbelt is facing scrutiny from a range of stakeholders.

Two MPPs have asked for an investigation by both the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner into lobbying actions by developers who bought up land in the Greenbelt, then saw the PCs identify those properties for future subdivisions.



Broken promises: A family sold cherished greenspace to the City of Welland for preservation; it’s now been sold for development 

Broken promises: A family sold cherished greenspace to the City of Welland for preservation; it’s now been sold for development 

An environmentally significant forest in Welland is at risk of being destroyed by a developer, after the municipality broke its commitment to preserve the land for future generations. The proposal for a three-storey condominium is the latest threat to the area's oasis of greenery and wildlife. 

Neighbourhood residents are now fighting back.



‘It’s very colonial for Ontario to abuse their power’: Bill 23 latest example of Ford government trampling on constitutionally protected rights of First Nations 

‘It’s very colonial for Ontario to abuse their power’: Bill 23 latest example of Ford government trampling on constitutionally protected rights of First Nations 

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act is yet another example of the Ford government violating Indigenous and Treaty rights with destructive legislation that has been reported to benefit the developers or land owners involved. Countless First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples have come forward in the last few years alone making statements citing disrespect and lack of consultation by the PC government, leading to legal battles.

The Chiefs of Ontario and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation are the latest to speak out against Bill 23, citing clear violations and blatant disregard for rights over their ancestral and traditional territories.



A dark day for Ontario: Bill 23 passes, dooms climate change strategies across the GTHA, locks in a future of urban sprawl

A dark day for Ontario: Bill 23 passes, dooms climate change strategies across the GTHA, locks in a future of urban sprawl

The PC’s controversial housing legislation has passed at Queen’s Park, mandating urban sprawl onto Ontario’s largest municipalities, compromising climate change goals and threatening vital greenspace. 

It also opens the PCs to significant liability, following a lack of consultation, and the possibility of legal challenges.



International Emissions Gap Report urges stronger political action to address climate change; all three levels of government push destructive policies  

International Emissions Gap Report urges stronger political action to address climate change; all three levels of government push destructive policies  

The 2022 Emissions Gap Report shows targets set in the Paris Agreement are not supported by policies around the world. In Canada, governments on all levels have a responsibility to take swift climate action to prevent further harm to the planet.

While the Region of Peel has a climate action plan in place, its recent decisions have pushed it further from its goals. Ottawa and Queen’s Park have also pursued policies contrary to their climate commitments. 



‘Alarming in the extreme’: PCs’ developer driven housing plan sparks unprecedented backlash 

‘Alarming in the extreme’: PCs’ developer driven housing plan sparks unprecedented backlash 

A massive collection of stakeholders across the province has mobilized to fight the Doug Ford PC government and its development industry backers. Their proposed Bill 23 would push the construction of 1.5 million new homes, mostly in the GTHA, in just eight years.

From destroying Southern Ontario’s protected ecosystems and crippling municipalities with unmanageable costs for infrastructure to leaving future residents without services such as healthcare and education, the Bill is being described as the height of reckless decision making. 



Mississauga rapper Avalanche the Architect’s treatment by the justice system exposes lack of accountability

Mississauga rapper Avalanche the Architect’s treatment by the justice system exposes lack of accountability

Crown attorneys are a pillar of the justice system, yet they work with a startling lack of oversight.

Mississauga rapper Avalanche the Architect says the Crown involved in his 2014 trial for uttering threats in connection to his music lost a key piece of evidence that could have swung the ruling in his favour. 

The provincial government does not track complaints against Crown attorneys, despite repeated recommendations from the auditor general and professional bodies to do so.



Peel is warming twice as fast as the global average; how will a strained health system handle a population made increasingly sick by climate change?

Peel is warming twice as fast as the global average; how will a strained health system handle a population made increasingly sick by climate change?

A warming world is a breeding ground for sickness and a playground for vector borne diseases.

As the climate warms at an increasing rate, there may be no stopping these threats to our health from arriving. From our drinking water to impacts on air quality that affect our breathing to mental health, and the cascading risks caused by natural hazards, one particular question researchers in our warming world are asking is fundamental to our future well being: is our healthcare system prepared for the fight? 



Ford readies to topple the domino that could fell the world’s largest protected Greenbelt  

Ford readies to topple the domino that could fell the world’s largest protected Greenbelt  

Premier Doug Ford is backtracking on a promise to not touch Ontario’s protected Greenbelt. A proposed plan could remove 7,400 acres within the lungs that pump fresh air across Southern Ontario.

Ecologically, the PC pledge to “expand” the Greenbelt elsewhere makes no sense, experts say. Meanwhile, the headwaters that arc above the GTA will be devastated if developers are allowed to erase the Greenbelt, one piece at a time.  



Report shows GTHA emissions moving in wrong direction; PC plan for electricity production will make things even worse

Report shows GTHA emissions moving in wrong direction; PC plan for electricity production will make things even worse

The PC government’s decision to increase natural gas use for electricity production comes as emissions across most of Southern Ontario make climate targets virtually impossible.

A new report by The Atmospheric Fund shows the province and its municipalities need to dramatically reduce emissions in order to avoid catastrophic impacts. 



How a council report card helped sway an election: Caledon’s Kathleen Wilson and the power of citizenship

How a council report card helped sway an election: Caledon’s Kathleen Wilson and the power of citizenship

A long-time resident of Caledon, Kathleen Wilson, decided to create and widely circulate a report card detailing the votes taken by Caledon council members prior to the October 24 municipal election. Her work drew widespread attention across the town with some fully supporting her, and others going out of their way to discredit everything she has done. Wilson is an anomaly, a citizen who believes one person can take a stand to protect the values held by many. 



Doug Ford’s More Homes Built Faster Act is a Trojan Horse

Doug Ford’s More Homes Built Faster Act is a Trojan Horse

The architect of Ontario’s Greenbelt Plan, Victor Doyle, writes that sweeping changes to the management of Southern Ontario’s growth under Bill 23 were never mentioned during Doug Ford’s provincial election campaign. Despite its profound impact on climate change, the way we move and work and the financial burden shifted to home buyers and property taxpayers, the PC government has neglected to mention the numerous negative consequences its proposed legislation will have on all Ontarians.



Peel organizations express concern over Bill 23—Ford’s radical housing plan

Peel organizations express concern over Bill 23—Ford’s radical housing plan

The destruction of critical greenspace, higher property taxes and the reduction of future affordable housing were issues of concern raised by key stakeholders in Peel Thursday. They told the provincial government that if left unchanged its proposed Bill 23 will create widespread problems across Ontario.



Why does the PC government undervalue certain types of work?

Why does the PC government undervalue certain types of work?

The CUPE strike has ended and schools have reopened but the Doug Ford government is still at an impasse over how the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ 55,000 education workers should be treated. The PCs have repeatedly cited their motive to protect the well being of students, but residents want to know why this government seems to care so little about the well being of employees who look after those students. 



‘Only higher income earners benefit’: Expert skeptical about Ford’s torqued housing plan for Brampton—where are the hospitals & schools?

‘Only higher income earners benefit’: Expert skeptical about Ford’s torqued housing plan for Brampton—where are the hospitals & schools?

Announced by the PC government, under the recently proposed Bill 23, the new provincial housing target for Brampton is 113,000 units by 2031, a stark increase to the City’s own Draft Official Plan which forecasts 102,000 housing units by 2051. If passed, the legislation would diminish affordable housing goals; and there is no indication of how provincial services and infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and GO Trains, would be funded to support the massive build-out.



Bill 23 will allow developers to profit from the destruction of critical waterways and greenspaces

Bill 23 will allow developers to profit from the destruction of critical waterways and greenspaces

Doug Ford’s PC government is about to gut environmental regulations and the province’s conservation authorities, stripping away safeguards meant to protect the most important natural spaces in Ontario.

The public has been shut out of the process, but the head of the Ontario Headwaters Institute writes that far too much is at stake. Citizens, he says, have to stand up against profit-seeking developers; otherwise the environmental agenda will be destroyed.  



Ford’s Bill 23 is ‘ecological insanity’, implodes sustainable urban planning in unhinged give over to sprawl developers

Ford’s Bill 23 is ‘ecological insanity’, implodes sustainable urban planning in unhinged give over to sprawl developers

The PC government’s new housing Bill is receiving major backlash from politicians, environmental and housing activists alike.

It cuts environmental roadblocks meant to govern development, more proof that Doug Ford and his party do not prioritize the preservation of our natural surroundings. 



New report exposes dire threat Hwy 413 poses to endangered species: PCs have ignored the risks; will Ottawa listen?

New report exposes dire threat Hwy 413 poses to endangered species: PCs have ignored the risks; will Ottawa listen?

A study released by Environmental Defence has found, at minimum, close to 30 at-risk species will face dire consequences if Highway 413 is constructed—confirming the results of an investigation completed by The Pointer in 2021. 

With the PC government under Premier Doug Ford continuing to show its unwillingness to prioritize environmental action, the advocacy group is turning to the federal government, demanding the project be designated for a full impact assessment, something that could see the project cancelled for good. 



Judge awards $64K to The Pointer for legal costs following lawsuit by Brampton doctor who shared anti-vaccine views online 

Judge awards $64K to The Pointer for legal costs following lawsuit by Brampton doctor who shared anti-vaccine views online 

After the case was dismissed in February, an Ontario Justice has now awarded The Pointer over $64,000 in legal costs following a $12 million lawsuit brought by a Brampton doctor after reporting showed she spread anti-vaccine information on social media. 



Ottawa gives international students more earning power to help prevent exploitation, but experts say system is still broken 

Ottawa gives international students more earning power to help prevent exploitation, but experts say system is still broken 

The financial demands of learning in a new country, and restrictions on the amount of time an international student is allowed to work, leave many of these newcomers vulnerable to labour and sexual exploitation. 

New changes by the federal government could help alleviate some of the pressure, but advocates say Ottawa needs to do more to protect international students. 



Part One: Controversial Erin wastewater facility, which poses severe environmental risks, surrounded by questionable dealings

Part One: Controversial Erin wastewater facility, which poses severe environmental risks, surrounded by questionable dealings

After a decade of ‘planning’ – including closed in-camera council sessions, questionable land sales, and rushed consulting and construction – the build for Erin’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is underway and predicted to be fully operational by 2028, dumping 7.2 million litres of effluent into the sensitive Missinnihe, or west Credit River, daily.

Hooked up in phases, the Town of Erin and the private sector partner have stated new developments will be connected initially, leaving current residents at the end of the line. After selling the lands for the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) to the Town for just $2, Solmar Development Corp. is one of three builders that will be serviced first.



Mike Britton has an ambitious climate plan but he needs to become St. Catharines’ new mayor first

Mike Britton has an ambitious climate plan but he needs to become St. Catharines’ new mayor first

With the decision of Walter Sendzik to step down from his mayor’s seat, three candidates are vying for the position in the upcoming municipal election.

One of them, Mike Britton, has a slew of green policies he plans to roll out, if he’s elected.



St. Catharines’ mayor and senior staff put the development of the contaminated former GM lands ahead of your health

St. Catharines’ mayor and senior staff put the development of the contaminated former GM lands ahead of your health

A recent article in The Pointer Niagara detailed Freedom of Information documents that exposed the extent of backroom activity between mayor Walter Sendzik, developers and senior staff who tried to push a major mixed-use community on the contaminated former GM lands, with little regard for the public’s health. They need to be held accountable for how they have mishandled the project.



‘Past tipping points’: New study maps dangerous course for GTHA if Ford’s agenda of urban sprawl prevails 

‘Past tipping points’: New study maps dangerous course for GTHA if Ford’s agenda of urban sprawl prevails 

With the population expected to grow by about 50 percent by 2051, urban growth is inevitable across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This will put immense pressure on our land, wildlife and watersheds.

A new tool developed by the Ontario Headwaters Institute provides a glimpse into the future of our province—for better or worse. 



Impaired driving increasing across the GTHA: new MADD study shows deadly misconceptions still exist 

Impaired driving increasing across the GTHA: new MADD study shows deadly misconceptions still exist 

Impaired driving is on the rise across many of Ontario’s large urban centres, and a new survey from MADD Canada shows that young males are largely to blame. 



National Chief says Canada 40 years from change after Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Take a virtual walk of reflection

National Chief says Canada 40 years from change after Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Take a virtual walk of reflection

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission delivered its final report to Ottawa in 2015, after eight years of work. The 94 “calls to action” are crucial to the wellbeing of First Nations communities and other Indigenous peoples who have endured centuries of trauma caused intentionally by governments across the country and historically by the British and French.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald has stressed the need for immediate action to implement these desperately needed changes. But she says at the pace the government is moving, following decades of criminal-like behaviour, it will take 40 years before any real benefits of so-called reconciliation are seen.

The Pointer’s Alexis Wright has created a virtual walk of reflection to consider our collective obligation to First Nations communities and other Indigenous peoples.



Advocates fear federal ban on imports of dogs and other animals from countries on rabies list will dramatically impact rescues 

Advocates fear federal ban on imports of dogs and other animals from countries on rabies list will dramatically impact rescues 

The dead of a Canadian winter is an unforgiving time for dogs not made for the harsh climate. But more and more have been forced to the streets in recent years, often abandoned or escaped. Many end up starving and succumbing to the cold, dying in horrendous conditions.

Rescue organizations across the globe have taken on the responsibility of saving these animals. Advocates in Canada, a major importer of rescue animals, fear the just instituted ‘blanket ban’ on animals from certain countries where rabies is a risk only hurts those following all the precautions in the first place, to ensure a safer future. 



Great Lakes Forum in Niagara Falls to discuss climate change, a serious threat to the basin

Great Lakes Forum in Niagara Falls to discuss climate change, a serious threat to the basin

The Great Lakes Forum in Niagara Falls getting underway this week will bring together scientists, government officials and interested citizens from Canada and the United States to discuss the current state, and the ongoing threats to the Great Lakes Basin.

The warming climate and its impact on the lakes—present and future—will be a key topic of discussion as climate change adds to ongoing challenges faced by the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. 



Niagara police handed grant to battle post-pandemic surge in gang activity 

Niagara police handed grant to battle post-pandemic surge in gang activity 

An “alarming” increase in drug and human trafficking has the Niagara Regional Police Service looking for new tools to fight gang activity that is increasingly spilling over from the GTA. 

A provincial grant approved earlier this month will help fund a new set of CCTV cameras to help make Niagara “unwelcoming” to these transient gangs who arrive in the region to commit their criminal acts before fleeing. 



FOI documents reveal backroom dealings between St. Catharines mayor, developer to build homes on contaminated GM lands despite public safety concerns

FOI documents reveal backroom dealings between St. Catharines mayor, developer to build homes on contaminated GM lands despite public safety concerns

Documents obtained by The Pointer show a developer trying to build a mixed-use residential project on the contaminated former GM site in St. Catharines was working with Mayor Walter Sendzik and senior staff two years ago, to “pressure” the local conservation authority for help, while the City claimed it was committed to protecting the public and before the extent of contamination was even known.

The documents also show the developer, mayor and senior staff were secretly working to have residents cover some of the builder’s costs, possibly millions of dollars, after taxpayers had previously been on the hook for the original developer’s property taxes.



‘This behaviour is more than enough for us to withdraw our support’: Still no answers after Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation withdrew support from Niagara Canada Summer Games

‘This behaviour is more than enough for us to withdraw our support’: Still no answers after Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation withdrew support from Niagara Canada Summer Games

Many governing bodies of what we now know as Canada – originally named Turtle Island – have claimed to begin or continue work reconciling relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and respect for Treaty agreements signed decades ago. The federal government in particular is responsible for leading the way. Yet, even through affiliation, it has been shown time and again that these displays of apologeticness may be rooted in performance rather than action. The Niagara Canada Summer Games is the latest example.  



‘It’s immoral on every level’: Health advocates, MPPs decry PC plan to charge patients $400 a day for refusing hospital transfers

‘It’s immoral on every level’: Health advocates, MPPs decry PC plan to charge patients $400 a day for refusing hospital transfers

Ontario hospitals, battered by nearly three years of COVID, are in crisis. The PC government says it is trying to help, passing legislation that will force hospitals to charge patients $400 a day if they refuse a transfer to a long-term care facility—even if they did not choose the facility which could be 150 kilometres away from their home. 

Passed with limited debate or public consultation, legal experts say Bill 7 will be a disaster for Ontario. 



‘It’s really shameful’: PC government cites climate change denier’s pro-carbon claims in legal battle against youth fighting for a sustainable future  

‘It’s really shameful’: PC government cites climate change denier’s pro-carbon claims in legal battle against youth fighting for a sustainable future  

Following similar lawsuits undertaken in Europe and South America, seven youth from across Ontario have banded together to sue the provincial government under Premier Doug Ford for stripping down legislation meant to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions.

The landmark case could force stricter emissions targets into climate legislation. 



The NPCA is still plagued by outside interests; Niagara’s ecosystems are suffering the consequences

The NPCA is still plagued by outside interests; Niagara’s ecosystems are suffering the consequences

Four years ago, a citizen-led effort to remove many locally elected officials brought hope that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority would return to its mandate of protecting the most sensitive natural spaces throughout the region. Four years later, another municipal election might be the only way to force the NPCA to do its job.



Niagara Region is at a watershed—strong local journalism is needed now more than ever

Niagara Region is at a watershed—strong local journalism is needed now more than ever

The past few years have shown the power of civic action; and what happens without it. At this crucial juncture in Niagara Region’s history, the most powerful institutions and elected officials need to be held accountable by the people they are supposed to represent. Welcome to The Pointer Niagara, led by three dedicated board members who have seen firsthand the need for an engaged citizenry.



Taxpayer-funded incentives promised to spark urban renewal in Niagara, now a ‘total giveaway’ to luxury condo developers

Taxpayer-funded incentives promised to spark urban renewal in Niagara, now a ‘total giveaway’ to luxury condo developers

Questions are being raised about the value of municipal funding schemes paid by taxpayers across Niagara Region, meant to create economic growth. Regional Council has been told by KPMG that after 20 years of these programs, there is little evidence to show they work. Now, as St. Catharines adds another condo development to the list of projects receiving millions in taxpayer support, some councillors are calling for reform. 



Ahead of the October municipal election ‘green’ candidates need to break through

Ahead of the October municipal election ‘green’ candidates need to break through

Environmental issues still don’t capture the attention of voters the way economic and public safety concerns do. They are not directly linked to the immediate interests of residents, even though climate change is increasingly impacting the well-being of more and more Canadians. Green candidates have brought plenty of passion to the election trail; now they have to take off the gloves as our times need politicians, like Mike Schreiner, who will fight for the planet.  



With the Pickering plant set to close in 2025 nuclear power needs a way forward

With the Pickering plant set to close in 2025 nuclear power needs a way forward

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created even more instability around energy supply. Nuclear power has been hotly debated for decades.

Some see it as the only feasible way to shift from carbon; a goal linked directly to climate change mitigation, and the need to break the global dependence on bad actors like Russia. But the risks associated with nuclear power still loom like the radioactive clouds of past disasters. 



Part 2: Urban fox population illustrates need to protect Ontario’s ecosystems

Part 2: Urban fox population illustrates need to protect Ontario’s ecosystems

The City of Toronto has adopted protocols to prevent conflicts between humans and foxes. These increasingly common interactions are the result of increased habitat loss, driving more and more animals out of the natural spaces where they thrive. Thanks to rescue operations many species threatened by human activity have been rehabilitated which helps maintain their population, but because of constant threats like habitat loss due to urban development, a multitude of species – at risk or not – are still in rapid decline.



How 0.1% of Ontario’s budget could trigger a province-wide environmental restoration

How 0.1% of Ontario’s budget could trigger a province-wide environmental restoration

Conservation experts and environmental advocates are manufacturing mini miracles across Ontario using small doses of funding doled out by the provincial government. 

These projects create a bulwark against a biodiversity crisis that is threatening the vast majority of the world’s species with extinction. If elected officials decided to dedicate just a minuscule amount of increased annual funding to conservation efforts the outcomes could be remarkable. 



Part 1: Wildlife rescues provide invaluable support to Ontario’s ecosystems

Part 1: Wildlife rescues provide invaluable support to Ontario’s ecosystems

The critically sensitive ecosystem we are all a part of has countless features that are all interdependent; if even one is affected, the entire system has the potential to collapse. Scientists have warned of what happens when one species goes extinct – human factors being the most prominent recent cause – and what this means for life as we know it. Thanks to rescue operations many species have been rehabilitated which helps maintain their population, but because of constant threats like habitat loss due to urban development, a multitude of species – at risk or not – are still in rapid decline.



Slow, salty death: how our love for road salt is killing the environment 

Slow, salty death: how our love for road salt is killing the environment 

An analysis by The Pointer of chloride concentrations in Peel waterways has uncovered a troubling reality. Many of the creeks, streams and rivers that flow through the region are starting to have more in common with a salt water ocean than a freshwater ecosystem. 

This poses a serious threat to aquatic life in Peel, and with a new study showing these harms can be triggered at levels lower than what governments have deemed safe, it demands increased urgency from municipalities and provincial officials to find new solutions for winter safety.



Can outdoor learning create the next generation of eco-warriors?

Can outdoor learning create the next generation of eco-warriors?

Younger generations are spending more time indoors and many are plagued with worry about a future where the natural world has turned aggressive, morphed by the impacts of climate change. 

The creation of new outdoor learning standards could be the antidote for this anxiety, and spark a passion for nature in countless young minds. It’s a mindset that will be incredibly valuable in future decision-makers as the world stares down our changing climate. 



What 7 years of data tells us about the disturbing rise of online child exploitation in Canada

What 7 years of data tells us about the disturbing rise of online child exploitation in Canada

Data released by Statistics Canada has provided one of the most comprehensive looks to date of the incessant increase of online child exploitation in the country. 

It sheds new light on who is being impacted the most, how police are handling the problem—and how so much more needs to be done to stop it. 



From trains to trails; what is the best use for Ontario’s aging rail corridors? 

From trains to trails; what is the best use for Ontario’s aging rail corridors? 

The Region of Peel has purchased a rail corridor connecting Brampton and Orangeville with plans to convert it into a system of hiking trails. 

While additional opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors are crucial for a growing population, the plan has created questions for transit advocates who claim the railway would be better utilized as a future transportation corridor.



Endangered designation for monarch reignites conservation efforts, but Ontario remains hostile ground 

Endangered designation for monarch reignites conservation efforts, but Ontario remains hostile ground 

Population numbers for the monarch butterfly have been dwindling for decades. A recent endangered designation by a global conservation union is the latest signal of the dire position this incredible butterfly finds itself in.

Many hope the decision will signal increased protection, but in Ontario, where the provincial government has been hostile to species at risk, there may be little help for this critical pollinator.