Ontario politics

Environmental assessments are often a major factor in deciding which projects get approved. Critics say the Ontario premier’s planned changes to that system, done through a COVID-19 economic recovery bill, could undermine environmental oversight and maybe even slow down the system.

For several months, the Doug Ford government suspended environmental protections and transparency requirements, citing COVID-19. On Thursday, the premier committed to releasing a full accounting of environmental changes made during that period.

Bill 156 was opposed by journalistic organizations, animal rights groups and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Critics warn it could target journalists and whistleblowers.

The Ontario premier said earlier this week that "we’re different than the United States," then reversed course to acknowledge systemic racism in Ontario. Critics say the new anti-racism council is an attempt at damage control, pointing to Doug Ford's history of statements and actions that they say shows a fundamental lack of understanding of racism and its causes. 

Environment Minister Jeff Yurek lacked the legal authority to cancel the Nation Rise wind farm and either ignored or misunderstood key evidence, the Ontario Superior Court ruled. “This decision does not meet the requirements of transparency, justification and intelligibility," the decision said.

The Ontario premier previously took responsibility — on April 8 — for Ontario's COVID-19 testing issues. But on Tuesday, he said half of the province's public health units need to "pick your socks up and start doing testing.” 

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario says it assembled a list of about 200 nurses who were ready and willing to help in long-term care, but the Ontario government waited weeks to deploy them.

“Mr. Ford, the ball is in your court. If you believe this decision is not a waste of public money, and you did not use bogus evidence to justify it, let the auditor general prove it,” Horwath said.

As the new year begins, the Ford government now faces a serious choice: double down and put its chance of re-election in 2022 in jeopardy, or pivot and risk alienating a shrinking base that cheers inaction.

Earlier this month, the Ontario government cancelled the half-built Nation Rise Wind Farm, citing concerns about local bats. The company behind the project says that claim isn’t rooted in science.

The Progressive Conservatives had promised the move wouldn't cost taxpayers a cent.

Two of three Ontario Superior Court judges determined the Ford government acted illegally when it killed the province’s cap-and-trade carbon price without doing legally mandated public consultations.

Ontario's premier used to give out his cellphone number, but has disconnected it after the line was flooded with automated calls.

Students worry that the Doug Ford government's cuts to student financial aid will have short-term impacts — increasing student drop-out rates — but also long-term impacts — more part-time students in post-secondary education who will work and study simultaneously. They worry that this will result in a crisis in student mental health. 

Conservative house leader Todd Smith said they had "achieved so much."