TORONTO — Ontario is proposing to consolidate its 36 conservation authorities into seven, a move the environment minister insists will improve services and result in no job losses.

Environment Minister Todd McCarthy announced Friday that the government will soon introduce legislation to establish a new provincial agency to oversee the amalgamated conservation authorities and consult on the proposed boundaries of the new regional authorities.

“Ontario’s conservation authorities are essential to watershed management and public safety across our province,” he said.

“Our government is committed to ensuring they remain strong, effective and ready to meet today’s challenges. But right now, Ontario has 36 conservation authorities operating largely on their own, with fragmented and outdated data systems and a patchwork of standards and service delivery.”

More than 100 municipalities are currently within two or more conservation authorities’ boundaries and are therefore subject to different rules and processes, McCarthy said.

The proposed areas for the seven new regional conservation authorities will be better aligned with natural watersheds and will help reduce duplication, he said.

The consolidation will result in no job losses, McCarthy said.

“It’s not a reduction, it’s a consolidation and an amalgamation, which means that all of the communities currently served by conservation authorities will continue to be served by conservation authorities,” he said.

Some management positions, though, will be “redeployed” to front-line roles, including the 36 conservation authority CEOs, McCarthy said.

“There’d be an opportunity to redeploy them into front-line services – that’s what I mean when I say no job losses are anticipated,” he said.

“That transformational opportunity will be there. We want the best and the brightest in the front line, where it’s going to make a difference ... We live in a world where people don’t retire at 65, they just get into a new line of work. Look at me. I was a lawyer for 33 years, and now I’m a politician.”

The government is set to soon introduce legislation to establish the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, which it says will provide centralized leadership and strategic direction. It will be expected to develop a single platform for permits, set provincewide standards and oversee the consolidation.

The changes to conservation authorities are expected to be implemented after consultation next spring, the government said, and existing board members will continue to serve until after the province changes governance structures after next October’s municipal elections.

A housing law from the Progressive Conservative government a few years ago reduced the role of conservation authorities, including limiting the areas they can consider in development permissions, removing factors such as pollution and conservation of the land.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2025.

Allison Jones, The Canadian Press

Bill 60 is clear recognition by the Ontario government that housing supply and affordability depends on an efficient regulatory environment

Last week, Ontario took another important step toward tackling the housing crisis and strengthening the provincial economy.

The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, introduced Bill 60, The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 – an omnibus bill aimed at cutting red tape, speeding up housing approvals, and supporting the construction of the homes and infrastructure Ontario urgently needs.

This legislation builds on the momentum of Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, introduced earlier this year, and represents a direct response to the challenges faced by the building and development industry across the province.

It is also a clear recognition by the Provincial Government that housing supply and affordability depend on an efficient regulatory environment, timely approvals, and fair, transparent cost structures.

At its core, the new Act protects Ontario’s economy by keeping workers on the job and getting shovels in the ground faster. It reflects the need to lower the cost to build, reduce bureaucratic delays, and improve infrastructure planning and delivery.

Bill 60 focuses on several priorities, including:

Furthermore, the Act takes large steps to modernize development charges (DCs), which remain one of the largest and most onerous costs in new home construction. Specifically, regarding DCs, it will:

These measures will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the system, ensure that municipalities have the funds required to support growth, while preventing homebuyers from being unfairly burdened by inconsistent or inflated municipal fees.

The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 reinforces the Ontario government’s commitment to working with municipalities and the building industry to deliver more homes, faster.

By modernizing approvals, reforming development charges, and aligning infrastructure planning with growth, this legislation advances a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to housing policy.

Ontario’s housing crisis is not insurmountable, but it requires focus, urgency, and cooperation. The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 embodies all three.

Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, visit www.bildgta.ca.

With the season not shaping to be one the two-time defending conference champion Oshawa Generals will do any playoff damage, changes were inevitable.

That the first big change to drop was the trading of their captain was not shocking, but still a blow to the Generals faithful, as well as Ben Danford himself.

“It is hard to put into words what my time with the Gens has meant to me. I can’t imagine starting my junior career with any other club,” said Danford, a first round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs who impressed at this year’s NHL camp. “They are just an incredible group of human beings from top to bottom. The memories that they and the city of Oshawa gave me will last a lifetime. Thank you, GensNation.”

The club traded Danford, along with Zack Sandhu, to the Brantford Bulldogs for a trio of players and a whopping nine draft picks.

Coming the other way in the trade is ’08-born forward Aiden O’Donnell, ’04 defenceman Lucas Moore and ’07 defenceman Luca Diplacido, along with three prized second-round picks, three third-round picks, two fourth-round picks and a tenth-round pick.

Danford, an Oshawa Generals first-round draft selection in 2022 from Madoc, Ontario, was the 72nd captain in organization history and has played 196 games for the team, along with 47 playoff games, helping lead them to back-to-back Bobby Orr Trophies.

Sandhu was acquired from the Guelph Storm during the 2023-24 season, playing 106 games as a General, along with 41 playoff games.

“It doesn’t matter how many times you go through this; it never gets easier,” said Generals’ General Manger Roger Hunt. “Both Ben and Zack have been incredible people and players for this franchise. They were part of back-to-back Bobby Orr Trophies and played in two OHL Finals. Without them both, we wouldn’t have done that.”

Coming back the other way, the Generals are receiving O’Donnell, a Brantford Bulldogs first-round pick in 2024 who collected 17 points in 58 games, including seven goals last season and has eight points in 14 games already this year; as well as Moore, an overage defenseman who has spent his entire OHL career with the Bulldogs organization, suiting up in 247 regular-season games, which will help a young team as the season progresses.

The final player involved in the trade is Cornell University commit Luca Diplacido. Currently playing at St. Andrews College, the defenceman played one regular season game and 11 playoff games for the Brantford Bulldogs last season.

The nine draft picks coming to Oshawa are second-round picks in 2026 (Ottawa), 2027 (Kingston) and 2028 (their own); third-round picks in 2028 (Sudbury), 2029 (Guelph) and 2029 (Brampton); fourth-round picks in 2026 (Brantford) and 2029 (Brantford) ad tenth-round pick in 2027 (Barrie).

“The other side of it is we know we have to retool and bring in players and picks that are going to help us return to that level again,” Hunt added. “Aiden, Lucas and Luca have experienced OHL playoff success of their own, and I am thrilled to have them as part of the Gens. I know our fans have expectations, as does the club. Not the start we wanted, but lots of work to do with some new faces in the lineup. Time to get excited to be a General.”

Danford and Sandhu will not have to wait long to make their return to Oshawa as the Generals take on the Bulldogs at the Tribute Centre on November 7. Oshawa hosts the Soo Greyhounds this weekend on Country Night.

The government of Ontario has started construction on the Caledonia GO Station in Toronto. The new station will connect the Barrie Line to Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus service and the future Line 5 Eglinton.

“Our government is making historic investments in public transit to reduce gridlock and connect more people to housing and jobs, as we work to build the strongest economy in the G7,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria. “Caledonia GO Station will connect thousands of riders to fast, reliable transit, getting them where they need to go quickly and safely while fueling our economy for years to come.”

The station will feature heated platform shelters, bicycle racks and a pedestrian tunnel connecting the north end of the platform to Bowie Avenue and the York Beltline Trail. It’s part of the GO Expansion program to deliver two-way, all-day service on GO Transit’s busiest rail routes. Construction for the project has been awarded to Grascan Construction Ltd.

"Caledonia GO Station is a strong example of how Metrolinx, in partnership with the province, is expanding the GO network to meet the needs of a growing region,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Michael Lindsay. “By improving access and enhancing connections across transit systems, we’re helping make transit the convenient choice. This new station will be a major transfer point for GO Transit, Line 5 Eglinton and TTC buses, offering another way to travel downtown, across town or up north."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her excitement for what the project will mean for road congestion throughout Toronto.

“The new Caledonia GO Station will help more Torontonians get around our city and reduce traffic on our roads,” Chow said. “Building more public transit infrastructure that is convenient, affordable and safe builds up our local economy and fosters better connections with surrounding cities. Together, the city of Toronto and the province of Ontario are making it easier to choose transit.”

Thanksgiving Day on Monday, October 13, 2025, is a statutory holiday in Ontario. This includes Toronto and many other cities across the province. Most businesses and city services will close to observe the holiday. Residents and visitors should plan accordingly, as several key services will operate on altered schedules or remain closed.

Public Transport and Transit Services

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will run holiday service on Thanksgiving Day. All TTC routes will operate on Sunday schedules and start earlier, around 6 a.m. Similarly, GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule, providing reduced service compared to weekdays. Riders should check specific routes and times in advance to avoid disruptions.

Government Services and Public Facilities

Government offices, including city halls and Service Ontario locations, will close for the holiday. Banks and Canada Post offices will also not operate on Monday. Toronto Public Library branches will remain closed on both Sunday, October 12, and Monday, October 13. Despite this, online library services will be accessible for borrowing books and digital content.

Shopping Malls and Retail Stores

Several shopping centres in Toronto and surrounding Ontario cities will close their doors for Thanksgiving Monday, October 13, 2025. However, some malls will operate with reduced hours to accommodate holiday shoppers. The following list details which major shopping centres will remain closed and which will open with limited hours on the holiday.

Retail stores in designated tourist areas such as Downtown Yonge BIA, Queens Quay West, the Distillery Historic District and Bloor-Yorkville will remain open. This exemption supports local tourism and entertainment.

Grocery Stores and Pharmacies

Most major grocery store chains will close on Thanksgiving Day. Loblaws, Metro, No Frills, Costco and Walmart will generally not be open. Some exceptions exist for specific locations; checking with the individual store is recommended. Select Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall pharmacies will stay open, although hours may vary. Residents are advised to confirm opening times with local pharmacies.

Alcohol and Beverage Outlets

Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores will close on the holiday. The Beer Store locations will also remain shut. A few Wine Rack outlets have announced they will open; consumers should contact their local store about holiday hours. Grocery stores that sell beer, wine and cider may serve customers, so some alcohol beverage sales remain available during the holiday.

City Services and Waste Collection

Toronto city garbage collection will not occur on Monday, October 13. The regular pickup schedule will shift by one day for affected residents, meaning collection will happen later in the week. Residents should check the Toronto city waste management resources for their adjusted pickup day.

Community centres, including all programs run by the city’s agencies, will be closed for the holiday. Residents planning activities or events should expect limited access to municipal facilities.

Events and Things to Do on Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend in Toronto offers various public events and activities. The Toronto Pumpkinfest and Pumpkinville Toronto feature fall-themed entertainment and attractions for families. Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland will operate with special shows and rides.

The Toronto Turkey Trot, a popular community run, walk and dog-friendly event, will take place at Cherry Beach on Monday. Participants are encouraged to wear turkey costumes.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving Day on October 13, 2025, brings closures to many Toronto and Ontario city services. Most government offices, public libraries, banks, postal services, and major retail outlets will be closed. Transit services will operate on holiday or reduced schedules. Some malls and retail stores in tourist areas will remain open with limited hours. Grocery stores and pharmacies largely close, with few exceptions. Residents should plan shopping and appointments accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Local events and outdoor activities offer opportunities to enjoy the holiday in the city.