As the October 26 municipal election campaigns heat up, questions are emerging about whether some incumbent politicians are playing by the rules that govern campaign activity, and whether municipal governments are up to the task of enforcing those rules consistently. In St. Catharines, the issues range from the use of a mayoral social-media presence by […]

Ontario’s colleges and universities minister has barred three career colleges from being able to offer publicly funded student financial assistance until at least 2030, after previously blocking them from the program just for this year. An order in May from Nolan Quinn meant that six schools, including four Academy of Learning locations, could not access […]

With the municipal election fast approaching, Callander residents can meet their council candidates today, Wednesday, October 14, at the Callander Community Centre. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and is hosted by the Nipissing Political Science Society along with the Callander Public Library Board. Five candidates are running for a seat on council, […]

Career Colleges Ontario is urging the provincial government to reinstate student financial aid for career college students who were already approved for funds and are actively attending in-person classes. Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn announced Tuesday that the government has paused Ontario Student Assistance Program payments for all career college students while an audit […]

Ontario has asked provincial police to look into student financial assistance payments at private career colleges after auditors identified “serious concerns” about possible criminal activity and “egregious” use of public money, the government said Tuesday. Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn said the ministry launched targeted inspections of career colleges last year in response to […]

The Ontario Liberals are asking the auditor general to investigate provincial student financial aid spending at private career colleges, after reporting by The Canadian Press showed a rapid increase concentrated within a small number of schools. Liberal colleges and universities critic Tyler Watt requested a value-for-money audit, looking at the spending increases and whether the […]

Ontario government officials who inspected three career colleges found evidence suggesting third parties were completing the coursework — sometimes entire courses in one day — and a few students who couldn’t name their school or program, they alleged in reports filed in court. Inspection reports for three Academy of Learning locations are among hundreds of […]

A Toronto police officer who was charged as part of Project South, a sweeping organized crime and police corruption probe, has pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a computer. A lawyer for Const. Elias Mouawad confirms the plea was entered in court on Monday. Peter Brauti also confirms the Crown withdrew a breach of trust […]

People driving through the Waterloo area can soon expect to see cameras equipped with licence plate recognition software on provincial highways as the force looks to step up enforcement of cross-regional crime. Waterloo police say the region is affected by organized crime that extends beyond its boundaries, and offenders have travelled into the region to […]

Candidates for St. Thomas city councillor seats and the mayor’s office alike pitched their platforms to the public at an all-candidates meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The meeting, hosted by the St. Thomas Kinsmen, was moderated by Matt Sharpe and was livestreamed.  Council candidates had two minutes each to speak from a podium and share […]

Editor’s Note: Reporter Ed Smith is a former member of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority board who joined in 2019, and as a private citizen participated in public efforts to hold David Barrick accountable, before Smith joined The Pointer as an investigative reporter covering Niagara Region.  How does David Barrick continue to find work? Among […]

This year, Ottawa parents Crystal Mask and Garrett Hansen had to have an unsettling conversation with their two kids as they went back to school: “do not drink from the water fountains”. “It was hard,” Mask told The Pointer. “They’re four and five, they see their friends doing it, they think it’s okay.”  In March, […]