8 h. ago Some Ontario residents will be getting even bigger government payouts in July

Rates for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will jump in July, putting a bit more money in the pockets of eligible low-income, working-age provincial residents living with a disability.The provincial government's ODSP benefits pay out up to $1,368 per month for basic needs, such as food, shelter, prescription drugs, and vision care per single person as of June 2025, a number that will increase by 2.8 per cent on July 1.Starting in July, ODSP recipients will be paid out as much as $1,408 monthly — though some recipients may receive more to accommodate the needs of immediate family, transportation to medical appointments, and other factors.So, essentially, recipients will — even in the best-case scenario — receive an additional $40, a sum unlikely to make a significant impact for anyone struggling amid a cost-of-living crisis in Ontario.A release from the province touts the bump in payouts as "the fourth rate increase since we tied ODSP rates to ...

Politics

5 d. ago Ontario resident opens up about getting to be a Jeopardy! Masters finalist

Juveria Zaheer has always loved to learn, so naturally, her go-to show to watch with her dad when she was little was Jeopardy!"He would try to teach me, like world flags and capitals, and he said, 'Maybe you can go on the show some day,'" she told us on Thursday.The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) clinician who hails from Whitby, Ontario, would go on to do just that.Last week, she ended her first Jeopardy! Masters run representing Canada as one of the top three finalists, following closely behind the winner, Yogesh Raut, with a final prize of $250,000."Over the last couple of years, one small step at a time, one tournament at a time, to be able to qualify and then to play was such an honour," she said.Taking the plunge and entering the Jeopardy! poolIt has certainly been a long time coming for Zaheer.While she enjoyed watching the trivia game show, the psychiatrist wasn't the first in the family to apply for...

Sport

7 d. ago Here's what to do with your empties in Ontario as Beer Stores close down

As Beer Store locations across Ontario gradually shut down, residents are wondering where the heck they're supposed to return their empty alcohol cans and bottles if and when their neighbourhood outpost of the chain closes.Since 2007, The Beer Store (TBS) has been accepting these returns for deposits under the Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP), which is administered by it, the provincial government, and the LCBO.But, with alcohol sale rules amended last year to allow convenience stores and a wider range of supermarkets to offer select adult beverages, these points of purchase will now also become part of the program.Under a new agreement, starting January 1, 2026, all grocery stores over 4,000 sq. ft. and more than 5 km from an operating Beer Store will be required to accept empty containers from consumers, and refund the deposits that are rolled into the price of canned and bottled drinks as a condition o...

Other

9 d. ago Ontario leads Canada for rising rates of people not paying credit card bills

Canadians have been feeling the economic noose tightening around their necks for a few years now, with the cost of living — especially in cities like Toronto and Vancouver — skyrocketing above even our usually-exorbitant levels over the course of COVID and remaining ridiculously high ever since.Those living in the GTA are, in many respects, faring the worst, forced to spend more of their earnings on housing than people in nearly any other metropolis in not just Canada, but the world, according to a new report from the esteemed Oxford Economics.It naturally follows, then, that the city and province of Ontario as a whole have been seeing a startling uptick in people failing to pay off their mortgages and other bills.While the Toronto area now boasts the fastest-rising rate of 90-day mortgage delinquencies in Canada, new data shows that Ontario is experiencing the largest surge in residents defaulting on their cred...

Economics

9 d. ago Ontario restaurant coming under fire as 'scam' allegations go viral

One Ontario restaurant is coming under fire after a TikTok video that claims the user was "scammed" during a recent visit.You may want to double-check your bill the next time you dine at Farzi Cafe, a contemporary Indian restaurant located at Mississauga's Square One Mall, because, according to a handful of TikTok users, you may be paying for more than you bargained for."I cannot believe that I'm the only one who got scammed by Farzi Cafe in Mississauga," a video by one Ontario resident, Harnoor, who goes by the username @ugcwithharnoor, begins.@ugcwithharnoor Farzi Cafe Mississauga… this isn’t justbad service — this is straight-up shady. They brought thefood we never ordered. Tacked on a surprise $39 charge. Added an 18% tip without saying a word. And when we asked questions? They handed us a gift card like that makes it okay. Another couple stopped us outside — the same thing happened to them. That’s how places like this k...

Events

1 week ago Ontario residents will get payouts from the government this week

Ontario residents may want to check their bank accounts this week, as the monthly Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) payments are scheduled to be distributed.Eligible Ontario residents who are registered to receive the payment can expect to see the deposit in their bank account on Tuesday, June 10.Payments are usually issued on the 10th of the month; however, if payment dates fall on a weekend or bank holiday, payments are deposited on the last working day before the 10th.Are you eligible for the Ontario Trillium Benefit?The OTB is a tax-free combination of three payments: the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, and the Ontario Sales Tax Credit.You must be eligible for at least one of the payments to receive monthly payments.You could get a maximum of $1,283 for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit if you're between 18 and 64 years old, $1,461 if you are 65 or older, $285 if you live on a reserve or in a public long-term care home, and $...

Politics

2 w. ago Keith Gerein: UCP meddling in municipal issues a hallmark at the midterm point

The 2023 Alberta election did not go Edmonton's way. Two years later, Danielle Smith's government has proven to be an even bigger adversary than imagined.

Politics

2 w. ago Less than half of Toronto residents approve of Mayor Olivia Chow’s performance: poll

The Leger survey asked Toronto residents about their mayor as part of a broader poll on Ontario politics

Other

2 w. ago Ontario seeing spikes in people defaulting on housing and other bills

The cost of living in Ontario has become astronomical (and is getting worse), our unemployment rate is skyrocketing, U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports are weighing on everyone, and a recession is on the horizon, if not already here.So, it's no wonder that more and more people across the province and country are straining to cover their basic costs of living, including their rent, mortgage, credit card and other bills — particularly if they live in and around Toronto.Credit reporting firms and other stakeholders have for months been raising alarm bells about the nation's growing consumer debt — which ballooned to a staggering $2.56 trillion by the end of 2024 — as well as escalating delinquency rates for mortgage and other payments.New data from RBC further bolsters these concerns, with the bank's executives this week citing an uptick in residential mortgage holders defaulting on their payments.Ontario sees hug...

Other

2 w. ago Ontario's latest summer 2025 forecast calls for hotter than normal temps

Although the official start of summer is less than three weeks away, it certainly doesn't feel like it. The first week of June has unexpectedly kicked off with cool temperatures and a soggy forecast that's rather unusual for this time of year. However, don't be fooled by all the showers this week. Experts say this is just a slow start to what's expected to be a hotter-than-normal summer across Ontario. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) latest 1-3 month outlook, Ontario residents should brace for a warm summer stretching from June through August 2025. Source: ECCC.The southern half of the province, including cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and London, sits squarely in a 70 to 90 per cent probability zone for above-average temperatures over the next three months. Released this past Saturday, ECCC's seasonal forecast shows that the entire country is expected to sizzle under warmer-than-usual temperatures this summer, fr...

Other

3 w. ago RESCON pleased that measures to spur new housing reiterated in Throne Speech

Vaughan, Ont., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is pleased that the throne speech delivered today by King Charles III reiterated the government’s commitment to building more housing and cutting the GST on new homes at or under $1 million for first-time buyers as well as pledging to reduce […]

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