TORONTO STAR TOPSTORIES
- ‘These young people were treated like pieces of furniture:’ Province under fire for decision to abruptly close youth jails and relocate children further away from their familiesby Brendan Kennedy - Social Justice Reporter on March 4, 2021 at 2:09 am
Some of the children — who are between the ages of 12 and 17 — were transferred hundreds of kilometres away from their home communities without any advance notice
- 6 Dr. Seuss books are being discontinued for racial discrimination. Toronto Public Library unsure what to do with books on its shelvesby Danica Samuel - Staff Reporter on March 4, 2021 at 12:38 am
A TPL spokesperson said the library will be “reviewing the books to determine whether there are racial and cultural representation concerns.”
- Would Canadian citizenship be a lifeline to this jailed Saudi blogger? Ottawa ‘not convinced’by Douglas Quan - Vancouver Bureau on March 4, 2021 at 12:12 am
Case spotlights debate over public pressure versus quiet diplomacy
- Ontario gives millions to Toronto-area attractions as they struggle under COVID-19 restrictionsby Kristin Rushowy - Queen's Park Bureau on March 3, 2021 at 11:47 pm
Six Toronto-area cultural attractions — including the Metro convention centre and Royal Ontario Museum — will receive $27 million from the provincial government as they struggle financially because of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
- Canada Post failed to report massive COVID outbreak in Mississauga to federal authorities, inspectors findby Sara Mojtehedzadeh - Work and Wealth Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 11:46 pm
A senior investigator found the Crown corporation contravened federal labour laws when it “failed to notify” the employment ministry after first becoming aware of a potential outbreak.
- Air Canada has agreed to refund customers for cancelled flights in exchange for bailout, Unifor president saysby Jacob Lorinc - Business Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 10:42 pm
After four months of turbulent negotiations, industry leaders and politicians have expressed optimism that a deal is imminent. “I know that they’re very close,” Unifor head Jerry Dias said.
- Ontario eyes delayed-dose vaccination strategy after vote of support from national panelby Alex McKeen - Vancouver Bureau on March 3, 2021 at 10:19 pm
With vaccine supplies limited in Canada, delaying second doses in favour of vaccinating more people with a first dose offers the potential to rapidly accelerate vaccination programs across the country and return large swaths of normalcy by summertime.
- Crown argues family in alleged $11M COVID-19 fraud should not be using unfrozen assets to sue the provinceby Robert Benzie - Queen's Park Bureau Chief on March 3, 2021 at 10:02 pm
Crown prosecutors are opposed to a family of government computer specialists — accused in an alleged $11 million COVID-19 fraud — using legal defence funds to sue the province.
- Canada kept doors open to temporary foreign workers during 2020’s pandemic lockdown, new numbers revealby Nicholas Keung - Immigration Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 9:43 pm
A year into Canada’s COVID-19 lockdown, a full picture of the disruption of the pandemic on the country’s immigration system has finally emerged.
- ‘It is my hope that his name would no longer be published’: In unprecedented step, judge refuses to name Toronto van attack driverby Betsy Powell - Courts Reporter,Alyshah Hasham - Courts Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 8:05 pm
Justice Anne Molloy said Wednesday she hoped that by not saying Alek Minassian’s name, she would deny him the infamy he had been seeking. “That is not an order I will make, it is merely a wish, perhaps a naive one,” she said.
- Chinese ambassador tells Canada to butt out and accuses Ottawa of misleading international protest effortby Tonda MacCharles - Ottawa Bureau on March 3, 2021 at 7:44 pm
Chinese envoy denies genocide and tells Canada and others to butt out of its “domestic affairs.”
- For victims and their families, the Toronto van attack guilty verdict means ‘we can finally breathe’by Alyshah Hasham - Courts Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Minassian has been found criminally responsible for killing Renuka Amarasingha, Andrea Bradden, Geraldine Brady, So He Chung, Anne Marie D’Amico, Betty Forsyth, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, Ji Hun Kim, Munir Najjar and Dorothy Sewell, and injuring 16 others.
- Today’s coronavirus news: Canada’s vaccine panel recommends going up to 4 months between COVID vaccine doses; Ford urged to move Toronto into ‘grey’ zone next weekby Star staff,wire services on March 3, 2021 at 10:26 am
Meanwhile, life expectancy in Quebec dropped in 2020 due to an increase in deaths linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- How an early morning phone call with Israel could speed up Ontario’s vaccine rolloutby Patty Winsa - Data Reporter on March 3, 2021 at 10:00 am
Israel is steps ahead of other nations in vaccine distribution. In a phone call earlier this year with Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table, officials detailed how they got ahead.