Ontario

The pandemic has been a lesson in how governments can be effective, or completely incompetent during a crisis. It has also been a big example of the need to balance rights and responsibilities. The past few days have made that apparent, as we are seeing the number of cases increase in the southern and western part of the United States.

Following the many protests around the world against racism and police brutality in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protests have also gained momentum to remove names and symbols associated with slavery or racism in history, and it has been having an impact in two eastern Ontario counties.

Ontario's Niagara Region is included in areas of Ontario that will move on to Phase Two of the province's economic reopening plan this Friday. They will join the 24 regions that moved to Phase Two last Friday, which allow hair salons, malls, restaurant outdoor patios and other amenities to reopen. But singing is another story.

Ontario is loosening some more of its COVID-19 restrictions.

Four of the five Ontario long-term care homes that were the subject of a Canadian Armed Forces report detailing cockroach infestations, aggressive feeding and bleeding infections are being taken over by the provincial government.

A new poll from one of Canada's leading mental health organizations says Ontario residents are bracing for a mental health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across Canada this week, provincial governments will begin to relax the restrictions from the COVID-19 lockdown. Ontario is allowing some businesses to reopen Monday.

Ontario's elementary teachers have ratified their new contract with the provincial government.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has released a three-stage framework to gradually ease some of the restrictions imposed to suppress the coronavirus.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office confirms his 95-year-old mother-in-law -- who is in a long-term care home -- has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ontario health officials say the community spread of COVID-19 in Ontario appears to have peaked. They say restrictions such as physical distancing have moved up the peak to now, rather than in May, as predicted in earlier modelling.

Ontario has extended its state of emergency for another 28 days. The order closes non-essential businesses and child-care centers until May 12. Premier Doug Ford says Ontario's schools will not re-open on May 4.