Ontario Government & PAST Elections: 1)Ontario government proposes changes after daycare crash; 2)(Updated) Driver charged in daycare crash that killed toddler, two kids still in critical condition; 3)Ontario set to begin building road to the Ring of Fire; 4) (Updated) Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to do away with automated speed cameras 5)Liberals’ election focus on health care missed the mark, campaign review says
1)Ontario government proposes changes after daycare crash
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Maan Alhmidi and Vanessa Tiberio, September 12, 2025
The Ontario government is proposing measures aimed at boosting safety at child-care facilities, after an SUV crashed into a daycare north of Toronto, killing a toddler and injuring six other children.
Three staff members were also hurt in the crash on Wednesday at First Roots Early Education Academy in Richmond Hill, Ont.
The boy who died was just 1 1/2 years old, police said. The other children, aged 18 months to three years old, were brought to hospital with a range of injuries. Police said two of them were still in critical condition as of Thursday afternoon.
Education Minister Paul Calandra said the government was proposing that operators and municipalities must prevent the use of parking spaces immediately adjacent to entryways, windows and exterior walls of classrooms or playgrounds at child-care facilities.
Calandra said accessible spaces and child-care facilities operating out of private homes would be exceptions.
He added that he has directed his ministry to work with service managers, inspectors and service providers to identify “vulnerabilities” to be addressed ahead of upcoming legislative changes.
“Our government will make any necessary legislative or regulatory amendments to municipal or landlord restrictions that currently prevent the installation of protective barriers, such as bollards, planters, elevated curbs and other physical infrastructure, to protect children and workers in these settings,” Calandra said in a statement posted on social media.
The First Roots Early Education Academy said it was “in a state of shock” after the crash.
“We wish to share our gratitude for the outpouring of support and sympathy and want to thank the emergency services personnel who assisted the affected children and their families, as well as our staff members,” it said in a statement on social media.
“We ask that our community be given privacy to grieve and recover in this unimaginably difficult time.”
Vinay Kumar Gupta, who was arrested at the scene in Richmond Hill, faces one count of dangerous operation causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. The 70-year-old was granted bail after a brief court appearance on Thursday.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said “at this time, there is no reason to believe the collision was deliberate.” He called it a “devastating” and “traumatic” event, and one that would be felt across the region.
Gupta is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Oct. 16.
2)(Updated) Driver charged in daycare crash that killed toddler, two kids still in critical condition
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By By Maan Alhmidi and Vanessa Tiberio, September 11, 2025
Driver facing charges in daycare crash that killed toddler, injured six other kids
A 70-year-old man is facing dangerous driving charges after an SUV crashed into a daycare north of Toronto on Wednesday, killing a toddler and injuring six other children.
Vinay Kumar Gupta, who was arrested at the scene in Richmond Hill, Ont., faces one count of dangerous operation causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was granted bail after a brief court appearance on Thursday.
The boy who died was just 1 1/2 years old, police said. The other children, aged 18 months to three years old, were brought to hospital with a range of injuries.
Two of the injured children were still in critical condition at the hospital as of Thursday afternoon, police said.
Three adult staff members at First Roots Early Education Academy were also hurt.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said “at this time, there is no reason to believe the collision was deliberate.” He called it a “devastating” and “traumatic” event, and one that would be felt across the region.
Investigators at the scene had said in the early aftermath of the crash Wednesday that it did not appear to have been intentional. Police confirmed the man was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and they have not yet indicated what could have triggered the incident during the afternoon pickup time.
In a news release on Thursday, police said they continue to gather evidence and more charges could be laid. People with footage of the area are urged to come forward.
A judge in a Newmarket, Ont., court granted a publication ban on Thursday afternoon that covers information shared during Gupta’s bail hearing.
He was released on $25,000 bail with conditions including living with a surety, not driving a vehicle and not having the keys to any vehicles.
A Hyundai electric vehicle was pulled through the shattered window of the daycare and loaded onto a tow truck on Wednesday evening. It showed little visible damage aside from a dangling licence plate and broken glass on its hood.
On Thursday morning, the large window was boarded up with plywood and other pieces of lumber.
Just beneath it, a collection of stuffed animals sat facing the parking lot. Residents had also dropped off bouquets of flowers, a mini basketball and a candle.
A sign that read “please slow down” remained mounted on the wall next to the crash site.
Emirson Bekirovski was at work when he got a message from the daycare about an emergency that required him to pick up his four-year-old daughter.
“My wife came and she was pretty traumatized to see all the helicopters and the police cars,” Bekirovski said, adding that parents did not get much information as to what was happening other than instructions to bring their kids home.
Police confirmed a total of 96 kids were in multiple rooms at the centre when the crash happened.
“We’re obviously very happy that our daughter’s with us and safe, but obviously we’re pretty traumatized at the fact this happened so close to home,” said Bekirovski.
The daycare posted a statement on social media late Wednesday saying their staff and management were “heartbroken and deeply saddened” by the incident.
“Our heartful condolences go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said.
Ruth Brainis, a local resident and mother of two small children, said she was “devastated” and sick to her stomach when she heard of the crash.
Brainis attended the site on Thursday morning to lay flowers and pay her respects to the affected families.
“When it’s children, it hits really hard,” she said. “I can’t imagine the suffering these poor parents are going through. I don’t wish it on anybody.”
Hava Jouharchi has been a resident of Richmond Hill for more than 25 years and said she didn’t know what to think when she heard about the crash at the daycare her children once attended.
“My son was just passing by here like 10 minutes before it happened, and so that’s how I found out,” Jouharchi said.
“We don’t have anything like this happen and I was just shocked.”
Residents continued to stop by throughout the day to bring flowers and stuffed animals. Some of them brought their children. One father carried his young daughter as her mother laid down a bouquet.
Gupta is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Oct. 16.
3)Ontario set to begin building road to the Ring of Fire
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Liam Casey, September 10, 2025
Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford says the province is investing nearly $62 million in Geraldton, Ont., to rebuild several segments of existing road that will serve as the start of the eventual road to the mineral-rich region.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney both want to mine the region as part of the country’s response to the ongoing trade war with the United States.
The Ring of Fire is some 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., and said to be rich in a multitude of critical and base minerals, though the political push to mine it has seen strong resistance from First Nations in the area who are worried they will be left behind by governments again.
The project will connect Highway 11 in the south with Highway 584 in the north and be able to handle sustained truck traffic from mining activities.
That road project would ultimately connect to three other proposed roads to the Ring of Fire that have been undergoing environmental assessments over the last several years.
Those roads would connect Webequie First Nation and Marten Falls First Nation, which are only accessible by air or winter road, to the provincial highway system, as well as to mining activities.
The province is set to reveal the details in a news conference Wednesday morning.
“This is more than a roadworks project, it’s a signal that Geraldton is a gateway to one of Ontario’s greatest assets in the face of economic threats from the United States, and that our government is serious about supporting the communities that anchor the north,” Rickford said.
“With First Nations and communities as integral leaders in these projects, our government is ensuring partnerships remain a central piece of our commitment to unlocking the Ring of Fire and building infrastructure that delivers prosperity for northern and First Nations communities, for generations to come.”
In the spring, Ford’s government rammed Bill 5 through the legislature. It’s a law that, in part, aims to speed up the building of large projects, including mines.
The new law also gives the government the ability to create so-called “special economic zones” that allow for the suspension of provincial and municipal laws.
Ford has said the Ring of Fire would be declared the first such zone, though that hasn’t occurred yet.
The bill sparked anger among the majority of First Nations across the province, who said it ignores their concerns and tramples their treaty rights.
Most took issue with the lack of consultation beforehand. The government has tried to appease First Nations since and has said it will not move forward without extensive consultation.
The province will soon send the Geraldton road contract out for tender with the hopes of construction beginning in the spring.
4) (Updated) Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to do away with automated speed cameras
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Allison Jones and Liam Casey, September 9, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants municipalities to get rid of automated speed cameras — or else he will.
The City of Toronto said Tuesday that several automated speed cameras were cut down in recent days, part of an ongoing trend that has seen 800 incidents of vandalism against the cameras reported to the city this year.
Ford called the cameras nothing more than a cash grab for the city and suggested there are better ways to deter speeding, particularly in school zones.
“If you want to slow down traffic at school, you put the big huge signs, big flashing lights, ‘Crossing Area,'” he said after an unrelated speech Tuesday morning.
“People will slow down.”
Toronto first asked for speed cameras back in 2016 and a year later, then-premier Kathleen Wynne made changes to the Highway Traffic Act to allow for automated speed camera use in school and community zones.
Toronto has had 75 automated speed cameras for years, and the city said in January it would be adding 75 more by the end of this year.
However, Ford indicated he has other plans.
“Hopefully the cities will get rid of them like Mayor (Steven) Del Duca did in Vaughan, or I’m going to help them get rid of them very shortly,” he said.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles scoffed when she heard the premier’s comments.
“What an idiotic thing to say,” she said.
The cameras are about trying to ensure road safety, aside from the issue of municipal revenue generation, Stiles said.
“I think that if you’re speeding, you should stop speeding, because kids are going to get killed and pedestrians get killed, and nobody, nobody wants to hurt anyone,” she said.
5) Liberals’ election focus on health care missed the mark, campaign review says
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Allison Jones, September 8, 2025
Ontario Liberals say in a report looking back at their performance in this year’s provincial election that their campaign’s focus on health care and a family doctor shortage did not resonate with voters, who were more focused on affordability.
The party increased its seat total from nine to 14 and regained official party status in the legislature, but it failed to win the election or even form the Official Opposition, and Leader Bonnie Crombie did not win her own seat.
While there were some successes, the party compiled a campaign debrief to look at areas for improvement after talking to more than 1,200 people, including candidates, campaign managers and party members.
The platform was one area of complaint for many who participated in the review, including from local campaigns.
“While the central platform’s focus on health-care was grounded in pre-campaign focus group testing, many candidates and campaign managers found that voters were more focused on affordability and economic uncertainty,” the party review said.
“There was a common sentiment that available messaging — particularly around access to doctors — did not align with the issues that resonated most with voters during the short campaign period.”
While Crombie’s campaign focused on a family doctor shortage, Premier Doug Ford’s campaign focused almost exclusively on the fight against U.S. President Donald Trump and tariffs. Ford’s Progressive Conservatives won a third straight majority government with 80 seats.
Many participants in the Liberal review said there was a lack of a clear answer to the question, “Why should I vote for Bonnie?” and there was not enough to differentiate the Liberals from the NDP or Progressive Conservatives. As well, not enough was done to define Ford, they said.
“Despite a record marked by policy reversals, scandal, and underperformance, he was able to present himself as a steady hand in uncertain times,” the report said.
“We did not sufficiently challenge this narrative or connect his actions to the instability and economic anxiety Ontarians were experiencing.”
Fundraising was cited as a strong point, with the party able to pay off its 2022 election debt well ahead of the 2025 campaign and still spend $12 million during this election. But the party should look to spend $15 million in the next campaign, the report said.
The review recommends the party keep areas such as fundraising and volunteer co-ordination ramped up between election campaigns, in order to be better prepared for the next one.