Premier makes campaign-style visit to Waterloo Region
A crowd of employees gathered on the shop floor of a stainless steel equipment maker in Elmira Friday afternoon to greet and shake hands with Premier Doug Ford.
The only evidence of the pandemic were the masks everyone was wearing.
During his visit at Tri-Mach, the premier briefly spoke with the media about issues in Waterloo Region.
REVIEW AT A WCDSB
Last week, Education Minister Stephen Lecce ordered a review of an incident at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board after a principal called the police on a four-year-old child.
Ford weighed in Friday, calling it "unbelievable."
"We have to find out all the details," said Ford. "No matter what the details are, you don't call the police on a four-year-old simple as that. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
Lecce ordered the review to be conducted by a third-party representative from the Ministry of Education who would have a mandate to recommend actions to the board.
The board's director of education, Loretta Notten, has previously said the actions taken in this situation follow the province's policies and procedures, and said the WCDSB welcomes "the opportunity to learn how the provincial practice can be refined and improved to better serve all our students."
Local NDP MPP Laura-Mae Lindo has called for a system-wide audit.
HOUSING COSTS
This week the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of Realtors issued its monthly update, with the average price of any home hitting the $1 million mark in February.
Many local home buyers now feeling priced out of their own market.
The premier acknowledged today this is a major supply and demand issue.
"We’ve got this housing plan that we've put forward. We're working with municipalities to make sure we cut the red tape," said Ford.
Ford noted he will work with the municipalities to reduce permit wait times to 90 days.
The premier did not have any formal announcements Friday afternoon.
His other visits in Waterloo Region included a Kitchener restaurant called Dosa-Twist, the Grand River Transit Facility, and Conestoga College.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state, in a historic but largely symbolic move that deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.
Thunderstorms with tornado risk in some areas in Ontario, snow elsewhere in Canada
Canadians can expect a mixed bag of weather, with forecasts warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow in some areas across western Canada.
NEW How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers
Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they’re becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, two in five boycotting Loblaw: poll
Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.
opinion Joe Biden uses bully pulpit to bully Donald Trump on debates
Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own.
Barbie will make dolls to honour Venus Williams, Christine Sinclair and other athletes
Barbie dolls will honour Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair and tennis champion Venus Williams, plus seven other athletes as part of a project announced by Mattel on Wednesday.
Ontario mother loses $2,500 to text scammer pretending to be daughter
An Ontario mother lost $2,500 to a scammer pretending to be her daughter asking for help in late April.
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.