Oil prices fell sharply Wednesday morning amid news Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of its two-week-long ceasefire with the United States.

But when that will translate to price drops at Canadian gas pumps remains unclear as shipping companies scramble to get their products to market.

Benchmark U.S. crude sank US$16.47 to US$96.48 a barrel Wednesday morning; Brent crude, the international standard, dropped US$13.79 to US$95.48 a barrel.

The national average for regular, unleaded gas in Canada was $1.82.4 per litre Wednesday morning – an increase of two cents from Tuesday, CAA data showed.

The drops reversed some of the rise in oil prices, following the start of the war in late February, which had effectively blocked passage through the strait that’s a crucial route for global supplies.

Late Tuesday, Trump said he was holding off on his threatened attacks on Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets. Iran’s foreign minister said passage through the strait would be allowed for the next two weeks under Iranian military management.

Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, told The Associated Press the development has sparked “cautious optimism” rather than “outright celebration.”

“The ceasefire is only two weeks long, and markets will be watching closely to see whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes as promised and whether the fragile truce can pave the way for a more durable peace agreement,” he added.

1:51
Canadian farmers face soaring diesel, fertilizer costs amid Iran war

Trump acknowledged late Tuesday a 10-point proposal from Iran on ending the war, which he called “a workable basis on which to negotiate” a long-term peace deal despite rejecting it a day earlier. Iran’s clauses included an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of sanctions and reconstruction.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Wednesday that Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran but that the deal doesn’t cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

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His office said Israel also supports U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear or missile threat.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not meet his deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern to agree to a deal with the U.S. and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday morning, 12 hours ahead of his deadline.

However, he added that there was potential for something “wonderful” to happen in Tehran.

“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” he added.

1:21
Carney urges ‘all parties’ in Iran war to ‘respect international laws’

Iranian officials had vowed “an unforgettable hit” and “immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures” if Trump carried through with his threats. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took to social media on Tuesday to announce that he had registered for military service, along with 14 million Iranians.

Pakistan, which was working towards mediating a ceasefire, urged Trump to extend his deadline and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s threat against Iran’s civilization came after he vowed to bomb every Iranian power plant and bridge over the weekend unless Iran, and dismissed concerns that such actions could amount to a war crime.

Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, called Trump’s latest threats “sickening” in a statement.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Canada “expects all parties in this conflict” to respect international law.

“That means not targeting, certainly, civilians or civilian infrastructure. And we urge all parties in this war to follow those responsibilities as a point we’ve made publicly and privately,” he said.

Trump’s shifting deadlines for the conflict had raised uncertainty over where the conflict was headed as it entered its second month.

2:42
Iran war’s impact spreads through Middle East

On March 21, Trump issued his first ultimatum to Tehran, giving them 48 hours to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had blocked in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Trump posted on Truth Social that if Iran doesn’t “FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS.”

Iran had until the evening of March 23.

However, 12 hours before that deadline, Trump took to Truth Social again to announce that he had decided to postpone the strikes against Iran.

“I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD,” he wrote, adding that was subject to the success of the discussions.

That pushed the deadline out to the end of that week.

On March 26, just before the deadline, Trump first doubled down on his threats, adding that there was “NO TURNING BACK.”

Later that day, however, he postponed his deadline another 10 days to April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

On March 30, Trump put celebrating progress in the talks with Iran while also expanding his threatened bombing if a deal wasn’t “shortly reached,” adding that “it probably will be.”

“We will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!),” he wrote.

On Easter Sunday, in an expletive-laden post on Truth Social, Trump threatened Iran’s power plants and bridges if they did not open the Strait – and extended his deadline once again for 24 hours.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump said, warning Iranians to “open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!”

Shortly after that, he simply posted: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”

He confirmed to reporters Monday that the time referred to his final deadline.

— with files from Reggie Cecchini and the Associated Press and Reuters

Iranian-Canadian communities in Vancouver and Toronto say a temporary ceasefire has brought some relief, but deep concern remains for loved ones in Iran following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Trump’s latest warnings raised alarms internationally.

Human rights advocate Soushiant Zanganehpour said the rhetoric marked a sharp escalation.

1:21
Carney urges ‘all parties’ in Iran war to ‘respect international laws’

“He has not dealt with an adversary this unmanageable … to threaten the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure … and then to ratchet up those threats to the level of the eradication of the civilization — this is genocidal,” he said.

On social media, Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die” unless Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz, setting a Tuesday evening deadline.

Across Iran, people formed human chains around power plants, while hundreds gathered on bridges holding flags.

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In Vancouver, members of the region’s large Iranian community reacted with a mix of skepticism and fear.

One Iranian resident told Global News the threats were unlikely to be carried out, describing Iran as a vast country with a long history that cannot be destroyed.

Another Iranian resident said people in Iran have long endured a brutal regime, but warned the situation could worsen without a clear plan.

In Toronto, Iranian-Canadians said the developments have made an already emotional situation more stressful.

2:42
Iran war’s impact spreads through Middle East

Rogina Aselfallah said she had been on edge while following the latest developments, worried about her family members in her home country.

She said the last-minute decision to suspend attacks about 90 minutes before a deadline brought temporary relief, but also uncertainty.

“I’m very happy that power and water aren’t going to go out for two weeks, but then (what) after the two weeks? That’s scary too,” she said.

Babak Zamani said it is difficult to know what his family is experiencing. “Every night they are scared to just sleep. We are hoping to end the war as soon as possible,” he told Global. He described the situation as painful and conflicted, with people caught between calls for political change and fears about further destruction.

Sam Fayaz, who owns an Iranian grocery store in Toronto, said many in the community want to see change in Iran’s government, but were alarmed by Trump’s comments.

“(We) were very concerned, extremely saddened by his comments (about) destroying the entire civilization. That’s really not what we want,” he said.

Fayaz added many Iranian-Canadians feel a responsibility to speak out.

“People have no voice (there) and it’s our job here to be their voice,” he said.

Many say they are now hoping the ceasefire will give both sides time to reach a longer-term resolution. Zanganehpour said the uncertainty has left people searching for answers.

“The fact that we don’t have answers, we’re all on the sidelines trying to make sense of unprecedented things. I hope it does bring us a little bit together, because we’re all we have,” he said.

2:03
Iranian-Canadians worry about Trump’s threats

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An apparent dispute between the City of Kelowna, B.C., and a hotel owner is delaying public access to a popular waterfront boardwalk.

“This is a lovely walkway to go through and enjoy the waterfront,” said Raymond Wiebe, who lives in the Lower Mission area.

Last July, the city announced the temporary closure of the roughly half-kilometre boardwalk in front of the Eldorado and Manteo resorts for repairs.

In its public service announcement on July 14, the city stated, “the boardwalk is anticipated to reopen in September.”

“It hasn’t reopened since then,” Wiebe said.

Nor have any repairs taken place.

“I think it’s too bad,” said Kim Thompson, another concerned Kelowna resident. “I think everyone would enjoy that part of the lake and to access it.”

Wiebe says he’s sent multiple messages to the city, which replied it’s being denied access to do the work.

In an email to Wiebe last month, the city stated, ““Hotel management continues to restrict access to the site – including access for construction crews to do the repair work that was identified last year.”

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It also added, “Based on direction from the City’s legal team, we have decided not to remedy via self-help (i.e. unilaterally cutting locks, removing gates, etc.)”

The city declined to comment to Global News, saying there is nothing new to add to the response it sent Wiebe.

“I don’t really know what it is, what they are wanting to achieve by denying access to the city to come in and do the work,” Wiebe said.

Global’s messages to Argus went unanswered Tuesday.

1:53
Judge rules on legal spat between City of Kelowna and Eldorado

The decades-old public right-of-way agreement was made with previous hotel owners and came to a head in 2020 under Argus’ ownership when the boardwalk was closed to the public.

Among the reasons for the closure given by Argus was for crowd control and physical distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The issue ended up in court, with Argus arguing the agreement wasn’t legally valid or enforceable.

The city argued closing the boardwalk was a breech of conditions.

In the end, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled the agreement was valid and the boardwalk must remain accessible to the public.

The boardwalk did reopened for a couple of years until last September, when it closed to accommodate the repairs.

However, with the city not taking any action at this point, it’s not known if or when the repairs will happen or when and if the boardwalk will reopen to the public.

“This doesn’t make us feel like we have a very good neighbour,” Wiebe said.

2:18
City of Kelowna buys prime real estate for ‘world class hotel’

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Saskatchewan residents are being urged to register as organ donors as the province marks the seventh annual Green Shirt Day.

The day is a national campaign recognizing the legacy of 21-year-old Logan Boulet, who was killed eight years ago in the Humboldt Broncos crash, along with 15 others.

Boulet died the day after the crash, which was also around a month after becoming an organ donor.

Green Shirt Day organizers say Boulet’s decision helped save six lives.

At Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital on Tuesday, organizers set up a Green Shirt Day booth to share information on how to become an organ donor.

“We do need to have that larger pool of people who are open, so that when we assess and when we find opportunities, we have more people to be able to pull from,” said Lindy Brown, Saskatchewan Health Association organ and tissue donation coordinator.

Brown says that over 4,000 Canadians are waiting for a life-saving transplant.

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Saskatchewan’s health ministry says it has seen a 27 per cent increase in organ donors since 2017.

The number of donors took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Brown, adding that awareness in the last few years has been helping.

“Since that time, as it went down, things are climbing back up again. So we’re about where we were pre-COVID, but with the trajectory going up. So things are looking really good,” she said.

Kim Groff was born with lattice corneal dystrophy, a rare eye disorder that causes painful erosions on the cornea.

“When I had them, it was basically lying in the dark for five or six days until it healed, and then away we go,” he said.

As his vision started to worsen, Groff said his doctor recommended that he get a cornea transplant — something he followed through with around 30 years ago.

“The opportunity to have a donation and regain my sight definitely improved my life. Otherwise, I would probably be basically blind by now.”

For Groff, Green Shirt Day is one to remember Boulet.

“We have to honour his legacy and what he did and how that can only help move the availability of organs forward,” said Groff.

In Saskatchewan, anyone over 16 can register to become an organ or tissue donor after death.

“On Green Shirt Day, we honour Logan Boulet and the powerful legacy of organ and tissue donation,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Tuesday on social media.

But registering is just the first step, with sharing your decision with your family the next one.

“So they’re aware when tragedy does come, what your hopes would be.”

–with files from The Canadian Press

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A retired Mountie and a group representing Alberta’s defence lawyers are both calling for a third-party investigation into possible criminal behaviour by the Edmonton Police Service chief and his top departmental lawyer.

The Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association (CTLA) says Chief Warren Driechel and EPS legal and regulatory services director Megan Hankowich need to be investigated for statements made over the recent manslaughter case involving the 2023 death of eight-year-old Nina Napope.

The call came in a letter to Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery from Edmonton lawyer Tom Engel on behalf of the association. The letter was also made public Tuesday.

The association is asking  Amery to direct the Police Review Commission to examine whether there is enough evidence to pursue charges.

Engel said their behaviour merits examination for possible criminal violations, including extortion, obstruction of justice and intimidation of a justice system participant.

“Police made criminal threats against the Crown that they have to do something, set aside a plea bargain — or else,” said Tom Engel, an Edmonton lawyer and chair of the CTLA policing committee.

“When the police cross the line like they did here, it undermines the administration of the criminal justice system in Canada — and that has to be jealously guarded.”

Former RCMP homicide detective and security professional Neil LeMay also filed a separate, second complaint, asking the Edmonton Police Commission and Amery to launch a formal investigation for the same reasons.

The letters are the latest chapter in a controversy that challenged the firewall between police — who investigate and can either recommend or lay charges — and prosecutors, who decide in the public interest how the case and the charges are handled in court.

The CTLA and LeMay were referring to public comments made last fall by police warning that prosecutors were willing to accept a sentencing deal it suggested was too lenient and a “miscarriage of justice.”

In September, Driechel and Hankewich took the highly unusual step of publicly intervening in the sentencing of Ashley Rattlesnake in Nina’s death, after saying they had learned the Crown was poised to accept an eight-year manslaughter sentence in the case that initially prompted first-degree murder charges.

EPS warned if the Crown did not change course, police would release their own details of the case so it can be judged in the court of public opinion.

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The issue sparked a public debate on the firewall.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith weighed in at the time, backing the EPS concerns and stating the public needs to understand why Crown prosecutors make their decisions.

No deal was finalized, but in February, an Edmonton judge sentenced Ashley Rattlesnake to eight years in prison for manslaughter. The Crown had asked for a nine-year prison sentence, while the defence had requested seven years.

In his decision, Justice Jody Fraser called police comments surrounding the sentencing “reprehensible,” and suggested their “veiled threat” may have obstructed justice.

He also cited the comments as a “somewhat” mitigating factor in sentencing.

The Rattlesnake case contained disturbing details of the child’s final hours.

2:08
Family outraged over manslaughter sentence for woman who killed Edmonton child

Napope was living with Rattlesnake in west Edmonton at her incarcerated father’s request when she died of blunt impact trauma.

Court heard Rattlesnake was drinking alcohol and using methamphetamine the night Nina was killed. The girl was found lying on the floor bleeding next to a hole in the wall, but it isn’t known how she sustained her fatal head injury and who may have struck the fatal blow(s).

Rattlesnake didn’t call 911 and instead asked acquaintances for help. Four others were charged in the case. Nina was found dead in a hockey bag in the back of a truck a few days later on Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, and her death was confirmed to be a homicide.

An autopsy showed she had multiple broken bones and injuries, some which had previously healed. She also had sepsis because of an infected tooth that was left untreated. Court heard the blood infection reduced her chances of survival.

LeMay said on Tuesday those convicted of murder should face justice, but the legal process must also remain lawful, independent, and visibly fair to maintain public confidence.

“The public should remember that justice requires consideration of all relevant circumstances, not only the crime itself, but also the fairness of the prosecution, the integrity of the proceedings, and the rule-of-law principles that must govern every serious case,” LeMay said.

“Police investigations are not a perfect science. Mistakes are made. Witnesses change their stories. Under cross-examination, evidence that once looked powerful can be weakened to the point that it carries little or no weight at all. All too often, murder cases go off the rails and no one is ever convicted.”

LeMay added in his experience, that is why the old saying about a bird-in-the-hand has real force here.

“When a lawful conviction is secured, the justice system, including the police, must be careful not to jeopardize it in pursuit of something more emotionally satisfying but far less certain.

“Justice must be done carefully, properly, and in a way that can be seen to be fair.”

2:04
Publication ban lifted as sentencing begins in case of Edmonton girl found dead in hockey bag

The Edmonton Police Service declined to comment on the letter while Alberta Justice said it was reviewing it and unable to comment at this time.

The Edmonton Police Commission said it had not received the complaint, but noted since Dec. 1, 2025, complaints about police officers are made through the Police Review Commission.

The PRC, created by the province late last year to replace the “current patchwork of police investigating police,” is an independent, centralized, civilian-led body that looks into complaints about the conduct of police officers, and is the banner under which ASIRT operates.

The PRC told Global News it was aware of the matter but as of Tuesday afternoon, there was “no active investigation.”

In a follow-up message later Tuesday afternoon, the PRC said Section 42.2 of the Police Act sets out the provisions for making a complaint to the Police Review Commission. To summarize the key parts here:

• Members of the public can make a submission to the PRC
• The CEO of the PRC or the chief of the involved police service could initiate a complaint in the absence of a submission from the public
• The minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services could refer a matter to the PRC if deemed in the public interest

—with files from Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

It’s like Master Chef Canada, with eight culinary students and alumni from Saskatchewan Polytechnic competing for the win.

The Prairie Fire Culinary Challenge is on and bringing chefs from popular Saskatoon restaurants like Prairie Sun Brewery, The Old Stone Inn, Hearth Restaurant and Odla to mentor young chefs.

“They have to work together as a team, the two of them, and there’s really a big part of mentorship involved in what they’re doing today,” said Chef Anthony McCarthy, founder of Prairie Fire.

“They have to prepare an amuse, which came from the black box you saw revealed a short while ago. And then from there they have to prepare a three-course meal. That three-course meal consists of an appetizer, a main, and a dessert.”

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Ahead of the competition, chefs were able to collaborate and decide what they would be making for their three main courses.

But they went in blind and not knowing what their main ingredient for the amuse would be, coming from the black box.

Once revealed, they had 20 minutes to decide what they would be making.

“We have no idea what we’re getting ourselves into,” said Pacey Jones, a young chef and Sous Chef at Loqui.

Jones says this fast-paced setting helps her expand her skills. “They help with time management, building menus, especially for young chefs it’s something that can be harder,” she says.

“So, this has been really helpful for me, especially, especially learning from a new chef.”

Each team is making a total of 45 plates, and the winner will be competing in the Culinary Federation National Conference in Ontario.

Watch above for more on what the next wave of culinary talent were dishing up.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The federal government will address infrastructure gaps across Canada with billions of dollars in funding over the coming decade, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday at a news conference in Brampton, Ont.

Carney used the event to break down how his government plans to dole out $51 billion in the Liberals’ Build Communities Strong Fund. The new pot of money was first announced in the 2025 budget, which became law last month.

Ottawa plans to nearly double the rate of infrastructure investment in Canada over the next eight years compared with the previous eight years, Carney said.

He teased that future announcements are coming on initiatives for skills training and apprenticeships, and urged youth to consider a career to support the infrastructure agenda.

“The next 25, 30 years is going to be a great time to be in the trades, to be an electrician, to be pipe fitter, to be welder, to a plumber, a carpenter and beyond, because we are literally going to build this country,” Carney said.

The Build Communities Strong Fund includes $27.8 billion over the next 10 years for infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and $6 billion for other major local projects like building retrofits and community centres.

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Carney’s first announcement under this local stream was $64 million for a new recreation centre and park in Brampton. The federal government announced $300 million in funding for 13 total projects later in the day, more than a third of which will go toward water and wastewater systems underpinning new housing developments in Iqaluit.

The federal government launched a web page Tuesday allowing municipalities and other organizations to apply for new project funding under this stream.

1:53
Halifax construction project will be receiving a financial boost from federal government

The remaining $17.2 billion in the fund is to be matched by provinces and territories and used to reduce the cost of building new infrastructure and housing. That includes $5 billion over three years to build out health-care facilities such as new emergency departments.

With $6 billion set aside for the province, Ontario will receive the biggest share from the provincial and territorial stream. Quebec will receive $3.6 billion, British Columbia will get $2.2 billion and Alberta will receive $1.9 billion, with hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for the remaining provinces and territories.

Provinces and territories are required to allocate 20 per cent of their funding to rural, Northern and Indigenous communities. Ten per cent of funding through the $6-billion “direct delivery” stream must go to Indigenous-led projects.

The federal government announced an agreement with Ontario last week for a total of $8.8 billion in matching funds to encourage cities to cut development charges. Ontario and Ottawa will also waive the sales taxes on eligible new homes for the next year as part of a total $1.7 billion in funding to provinces and territories to lower homebuilding costs as they see fit.

British Columbia MP Dan Albas, the Conservative critic for transport, criticized the infrastructure fund rollout as “another reannouncement” in a statement Tuesday.

“Conservatives want our infrastructure, homes and health to grow and improve, but the Carney Liberals need to get out of the way and scrap their anti-development laws and unaffordable taxes,” Albas said.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says there will be staffing cuts among teachers in the upcoming school year, but says the number will be lower than what the unions representing elementary and secondary school educators are saying.

The Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) and Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF Toronto) said on Tuesday that numbers released by the TDSB show a total of 607 teaching staff would be cut.

But a spokesperson for TDSB told Global News in a statement the number of cuts is expected to be slightly less than 300. Spokesperson Ryan Bird said the cuts are a result of nearly 5,000 fewer students expected in the upcoming school year.

“When compared to the current number of elementary and secondary teachers in the TDSB, we anticipate approximately 289 fewer teaching positions,” Bird said in a statement. “It’s important to note that staffing continues to fluctuate right up until the new school year, so these numbers are not final.”

The number is stark from what ETT and OSSTF Toronto outlined, with about 483.5 elementary positions cut and 123.5 full-time equivalent secondary school roles to be eliminated.

According to numbers provided to Global News by ETT, about 254 of those roles proposed to be cut are elementary classroom teachers. Another 72 are those teaching students where English is their second language (ESL). OSSTF said there are 23 ESL staff being cut.

Another 145 elementary teachers will be cut from the board’s learning opportunities or “model school” program, which receives added staff supports, with 30 secondary teachers also eliminated. These schools are often found in lower-income neighbourhoods, but also can include First Nations, Inuit and Metis alternative schools.

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“The biggest impact is there will be less caring adults in the building,” said Michelle Teixeira, president of the OSSTF Toronto Teacher Bargaining Unit. “We know that the more adults in a building, the better outcomes of success for students.”

She added that with fewer staff, the remaining will face bigger class sizes.

2:05
Elementary school teachers in Ontario to receive $750 cards to buy class supplies

Helen Victoros, president of ETT, told Global News the finger is being pointed directly at the provincial government.

Last August, Education Minister Paul Calandra announced Rohit Gupta would be tasked with overseeing the financial and operational management of TDSB.

“He will take the time needed to not only bring the board’s budget into balance, but also ensure long-term stability for years to come, so that funding goes where it belongs: directly into classrooms to support students and teachers,” Calandra wrote in a letter to the school community.

Victoros said that’s not what has happened.

“At that time when they took over, you know, they basically said that they wanted to deliver more resources to the classroom, but every indicator and every decision that we’ve seen them make since they took over has been exactly the opposite,” she said. “When we got these numbers, we were shocked.

“This is a wake-up call to every parent in the province that is not in a board right now under provincial takeover, that this is what happens when the minister takes over and the province takes over.”

Ontario NDP MPP and education shadow minister Jessica Bell condemned the decision to appoint Gupta, and said the proposed cuts would create more difficulty.

“TDSB students are already packed into overcrowded classrooms in rundown schools, thanks to eight years of Doug Ford’s funding cuts,” Bell said in a statement. “These latest cuts will see class sizes increase and student supports disappear.”

Global News has reached out to Calandra’s office for comment on the cuts.

Victoros said if the number is much lower than the cuts they were told, as outlined by the TDSB, they would be pleased.

“All teachers, I think, and all the staff connected with the TDSB will be very, very happy if those numbers that they initially provided to us just a week and a half ago are wrong,” Victoros said.

Global News has requested a breakdown of the 289 cuts and how they are being allocated, including regarding “model schools” and ESL teachers.

There’s still skepticism, though, with Teixeira saying there’s been a lack of transparency over the numbers.

“Unlike in previous years, this information has not been shared on the website. There has been no public consultation, there has been no ability for trustees or the public to ask questions about the numbers,” Teixeira said.

It’s why Victoros said they’re urging the government to reverse the cuts and change the funding formula for schools “based on student needs.”

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A week after the federal and Ontario governments announced they would cut the HST for new homes bought in Ontario for a year, the federal housing minister said he is in talks to expand the initiative.

“We are in discussions with all of the provinces and territories about taking down the GST for one year on new home purchases,” Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said in an interview with Global News.

The minister did not provide a timeline as to when agreements with other provinces may be announced, but emphasized that provincial governments will be expected to put up their own money or bring forward new legislation.

“That does take some negotiating. The provinces have to do the follow-through, working with local governments,” Robertson said.

“There’s some details to work through here.”

0:41
Ford says his government will waive HST on newly built homes for 1 year

Last week, the federal and Ontario governments agreed to remove the 13 per cent sales tax on new homes in the province, valued up to $1 million for one year.

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The maximum rebate of $130,000 extends to homes valued up to $1.5 million and decreases proportionally for more expensive houses.

Both governments also agreed to split $8.8 billion over 10 years, to pay for infrastructure in Ontario cities that cut development charges, which are municipal taxes levied to pay for things like sewers and roads to new subdivisions.

The federal Conservatives have called for a complete elimination of HST on all new housing, regardless of price, but Robertson said he didn’t think the GST cut would be permanent.

“I think that the point right now is to really infuse some momentum in the market, especially in Ontario and B.C, where they’ve been struggling,” Robertson said.

6:27
Housing minister on trying to end Ontario’s homebuilding slump

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called on British Columbia Premier David Eby to secure a similar housing deal with the federal government on Thursday.

“We know the only way to improve long-term affordability is to keep building more homes,” Sim said in a statement.

“This is a window of opportunity for the province to partner with the federal government and municipalities to lower costs and deliver the homes people need.”

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is predicting Canadian homebuilders will continue to face headwinds from higher costs, weaker demand and more unsold homes particularly in the condominium market, with new home construction set to decline through 2028.

When asked if the removal of the HST from Ontario home purchases was done with developers in mind, the minister said he is trying to avoid the worst effects of a sluggish housing market.

“There are going to be very few housing starts in the next couple of years because the pre-sales have been so low. We’re certainly seeing layoffs in the building sector in (Toronto and Vancouver),” Robertson said.

“The construction jobs unfortunately will be impacted in the next year or two, so you know we’re going to see a ripple effect here. That’s what we’re trying to prevent.”

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Almost 38,000 people voted in the advance polls in three byelections that could give Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals a majority government, with the highest advance turnout in Terrebonne.

Preliminary data from Elections Canada says 18,200 people in the Quebec riding cast ballots in advance elections, which amounts to almost 20 per cent of people on the voters’ list.

The riding saw 68 per cent voter turnout in the 2025 election.

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The Toronto area ridings saw lower degrees of voter turnout at the advance polls, with 10,300 ballots already cast in Scarborough Southwest and 9,400 in University — Rosedale. This amounts to 12 and 10 per cent voter turnout respectively.

Both the Liberals and Bloc Québécois have been making a strong push in Terrebonne, where a single vote gave Liberal Tatiana Auguste the victory over Bloc incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné last year.

In February, the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the result of that vote, citing a clerical error on the return address on mail-in ballots.

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Nearly 1,200 absentee ballot kits have been requested for Terrebonne as of April 6, according to Elections Canada.

Just over 1,100 mail-in ballots were cast in the riding during the general election last year.

Elections Canada reported about 20,000 advance ballots were cast in Terrebonne in the 2025 general election, with more than 21,000 cast in University — Rosedale and more than 19,400 in Scarborough Southwest.

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An adapted ballot has been created for the Terrebonne bylection, as Elections Canada expected an influx of independent candidates running as part of the Longest Ballot Committee protest against first-past-the-post results.

That means in the two Toronto byelections, voters will receive a ballot with all candidate names already printed on it, while in Terrebonne the ballot will be blank and voters will have to write in the name of their preferred candidate by hand. A list of all candidates will be provided at each voting booth.

There are 48 candidates on the Terrebonne ballot, 41 of them running without a party banner.

An adapted ballot was previously used in the byelection last August in Battle River – Crowfoot in Alberta, when 214 candidates ran, more than 200 of them under the Longest Ballot Committee protest. Elections Canada opted to use the adapted ballot after protests during the general election and previous byelections led to difficulties for voters and vote counters, due to the sheer length of the physical ballot.

If the Liberals win all three byelections, they will have 173 seats in the House of Commons, giving them a clear majority where they would not need opposition support to pass legislation.

If the Grits only win two, they will have still hit the 172 seat threshold for a majority, but Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, a Quebec Liberal, only votes in the case of a tie. This means the Liberals would have 171 voting members in the House, same as the opposition.

To maintain neutrality, the speaker traditionally maintains the status quo if they have to vote. This means they normally would not pass new legislation, but would support the government on confidence matters.

The Toronto area byelections are being held to replace former cabinet ministers Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair, both of whom resigned to take other opportunities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2026.

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