2026 Ontario Budget: Deficit Climbs to $13.8B with Few New Affordability Measures

Ontario’s 2026 budget, titled A Plan to Protect Ontario, outlines record program spending of $226 billion and forecasts a deficit of $13.8 billion, up from earlier projections, with the province’s net debt expected to pass $500 billion next year for the first time.

The plan includes a cut to the small business corporate tax rate to 2.2 per cent starting July 1, 2026, and increases funding for hospitals, home care, and the Ontario Autism Program, which is set to receive nearly $1 billion annually. It also commits billions to infrastructure, including highway projects, though specific costs for initiatives like Highway 413 and the Highway 401 tunnel study are not detailed.

No new affordability measures were introduced beyond previously announced programs, while the government maintains a projected path back to surplus in future years.

Bodies of Air Canada Pilots Returned to Canada After Fatal LaGuardia Runway Collision

The bodies of two Air Canada pilots killed in a runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport have returned to Canada, where colleagues and aviation staff gathered to honour them.

First officer Mackenzie Gunther, 24, and Captain Antoine Forest, 30, died after their aircraft struck a fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway while responding to another incident. Gunther’s casket was received in Ottawa, while Forest was flown to Montreal, where hundreds of pilots and staff stood outside Air Canada’s headquarters in the rain to pay their respects.

The loss has deeply impacted the aviation community, with union leaders confirming that a full investigation will be carried out to determine what happened and help prevent similar tragedies. Tributes have also poured in for Forest in his hometown of Coteau-du-Lac, Que., as colleagues urged one another to stay connected and support each other in the aftermath.

Lawyers for Toronto Officer in Corruption Probe Seek Bail Review

Lawyers for a Toronto police constable charged in a major corruption investigation are asking a court to reconsider a decision that denied him bail.

Const. Timothy Barnhardt, 56, is among eight current and former officers charged in a York Regional Police probe involving allegations such as bribery, drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offences. He faces 17 charges and has remained in custody since his arrest. Investigators allege he shared confidential police information with a suspect believed to be part of a broader criminal network with international connections.

The investigation also led to the arrest of multiple other suspects, including civilians, though none of the allegations have been proven in court. Barnhardt’s bail review proceedings are covered by a publication ban, and his next court appearance is scheduled for March 31. The case has raised concerns about public trust in policing and prompted calls for further oversight.