Ontario

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is coming. On Wednesday, Ford unveiled the first steps in his plan to prepare for it.

A spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Ontario is leading some experts to say the province is close to a second wave of the pandemic. The upward trend began more than a week ago and the Ontario government is scrambling to introduce measures to combat the spread, including hefty fines for people who refuse to follow the health guidelines.

While the State of New York continues attempts to reduce the number of prisons, Ontario is increasing the size and number of correctional facilities in the eastern region of the province, neighboring New York.

The Ontario government has unveiled its plan for how it will handle a possible COVID-19 outbreak in schools. Premier Doug Ford said his government is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect children.

Canada’s largest school board has released plans for students returning in September. But there are concerns about the provincial government’s decision to keep classes the same size.

Ontario is set to introduce new legislation to enable the extension of some pandemic emergency orders over the next year.

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.