Saturday Morning News Rundown
Toronto Overdoses Spike 288% After Doug Ford’s Supervised Site Closures
A new Toronto Star report reveals a staggering 288% increase in overdoses across city drop-in centres between March and June, just months after Doug Ford’s government ordered the closure of 10 supervised consumption sites, including five in downtown Toronto.
The closures, which took effect March 31, forced people to use drugs outdoors and without access to clean supplies or medical support. Outreach workers say they’re seeing more discarded needles in public spaces, and a sharp rise in public overdoses, as well as people reusing or picking up dirty needles off the ground, which could lead to the spread of HIV, hepatitis, and costly infections.
Experts warn the decision is already backfiring on public health, with more deaths likely, and long-term costs to the health-care system expected to rise.
Quebec Businesses Sue Feds Over Foreign Worker Rule Changes
Nearly two dozen Quebec companies and five temporary foreign workers have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the tightening of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program last fall.
The lawsuit, filed in late May, argues that the policy shift, which aimed to restrict low-wage labour in high-unemployment areas, came too abruptly and puts their businesses at risk of default.
Industries like construction and healthcare were exempted from the changes, but others say they’re now facing severe staffing shortages.
🏒 Verdict Coming in High-Profile Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial
Justice Carroccia is set to deliver her verdict this Thursday in the sexual assault case involving five former Hockey Canada players, a case that’s become one of the most watched criminal trials in the country’s history.
Nova Scotia Keeps Procurement Local Amid U.S. Trade Tensions
A new CBC investigation into Nova Scotia’s public contracts shows that 79% of all government tenders between Nov. 2024 and June 2025 went to Nova Scotia-based companies.
Just 12% went to Ontario, and under 2% to U.S. firms, reflecting Premier Tim Houston’s promise to limit U.S. involvement in provincial projects after tariffs from Washington ramped up. One contract even went to a company based in Berlin, Germany.
Always material in Cole’s round-up that I have not seen before. Concise. Accurate. Well-researched. What a treasure. Oh, and Canadian.
Great content as always. Very appreciated. I follow Canadian News from East to West but sometimes there are encouraging bits that don’t get much attention so thank you for pointing them out. It’s inspiring to see our Premiers really trying hard to keep our business away from the US. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦