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Isaac Callan
@isaaccallan.bsky.social
1.8K followers 55 following 1K posts
Online Digital Broadcast Journalist for Global News Toronto focusing on Ontario politics. Tips? Snazzy spreadsheet? 📧isaac.callan@globalnews.ca
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isaaccallan.bsky.social
A new online portal meant to streamline access to Ontario’s court system is leaving some lawyers grappling with unpredictable delays and facing new hurdles in managing their cases, they say months after the platform’s initial rollout. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1160090...
New Ontario online courts portal brings delays and ‘snafus,’ Toronto lawyers say | Globalnews.ca
A new online portal meant to streamline access to Ontario’s court system is leaving some lawyers grappling with unpredictable delays and facing new hurdles in managing their cases.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he still has confidence in his labour minister as the new year begins with an integrity commissioner investigation into David Piccini over how he handled the controversial skills development fund. #Onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1160043...
Ford stands by labour minister as integrity commissioner begins ethics probe | Globalnews.ca
The integrity commissioner accepted opposition requests to investigate whether David Piccini had broken ethics rules in how he selected applicants from the $2.5-billion pot.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 4:55 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
The federal and provincial governments collected more revenue from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour than the City of Toronto did, municipal officials say. #TOpoli globalnews.ca/news/1160099...
Despite hosting Taylor Swift, Toronto collected less revenue than feds, province: report | Globalnews.ca
The federal and provincial governments collected more revenue from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour than the City of Toronto did, municipal officials say.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 4:38 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Internal government documents admit there's a high risk that now long-delayed audits of child welfare probably won't address critical issue of the cost of kids with additional needs on CAS budgets. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159361...
Ontario child welfare audits may not address impact of high-needs kids, government docs say | Globalnews.ca
That call to action from the premier appears to have been the catalyst for a series of now-delayed reviews of every non-Indigenous Children's Aid Society in Ontario.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Premier Doug Ford says he will fight against an order to hand over government-related calls made on his personal cellphone, arguing it would make private citizen information public — something the court ruling explicitly protects against. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159987...
Ford will file appeal against court ruling to release personal phone records | Globalnews.ca
The latest twist in a three-year-old transparency battle means the government has now twice lost its argument Ford should not have to make parts of his phone records public.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 1:41 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
📱🧵: An Ontario court has sided with the IPC's decision last year and Global News' freedom of information request from 2022.

A panel of three judges agreed that Premier Doug Ford makes work calls on his personal phone, and those should be released. Here's a recap. #OnPoli
January 5, 2026 at 10:38 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
On the Doug Ford personal cellphone ruling:

The court says the decision should appear on CanLII soon. In the meantime, here is a PDF copy of the judges' reasons for denying the Ford government's appeal. #OnPoli
🧑‍⚖️: www.scribd.com/document/976...

🗞️: globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
Client Challenge
www.scribd.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:54 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledges there is a “bump” in his plan for all civil servants to return to the office five days per week, as the government searches for new workspaces to accommodate the move. #OnPoli globalnews.ca/news/1159974...
Ford acknowledges ‘bump’ in the road as civil servants return to office full time | Globalnews.ca
Monday is officially the first day when government employees are required to report to work all week, yet the province still hasn't sorted workspaces for everybody.
globalnews.ca
January 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirms he will remove Canadian whiskey Crown Royal from the shelves of the LCBO next month.

Says he won't touch Smirnoff Vodka, Guinness or other Diageo brands. #ONpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159957...
‘Stock up’: Ford confirms he will remove Crown Royal from LCBO next month | Globalnews.ca
The premier has repeated the threat for months, saying he will use the province's monopoly on alcohol sales to punish international drinks manufacturer Diageo.
globalnews.ca
January 5, 2026 at 5:48 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: An Ontario court has thrown out the province's attempt to overrule an order from the privacy watchdog over Doug Ford's personal cellphone.

A panel of three judges agreed he uses it for government work and must release those calls. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
Ontario court rules Doug Ford must turn over personal phone records | Globalnews.ca
An Ontario court says it is reasonable to conclude Premier Doug Ford uses his personal cellphone to communicate and that he should make those records public.
globalnews.ca
January 5, 2026 at 12:24 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
The Toronto District School Board is trying to recoup more than $1 million in public funds it lost in a cyberscam that experts say was "highly preventable." #ToPoli

From The Star.

www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Toronto District School Board was duped into sending $1 million to fraudster who ‘can barely spell’
As the school board uses the court to recover the stolen money, security experts question how it fell for a "low-tech" scam with "so many red flags."
www.thestar.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:09 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Civil servants will return to the office on Monday.

The Ford government, however, won't say if it has enough space for them all. It will only say the 'vast majority' of offices have the space required. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159724...
Ontario won’t say if there is enough office space for full-time return by all civil servants | Globalnews.ca
The government would not address questions over whether every civil servant would have a space to return to. A spokesperson said the 'vast majority' of offices have enough space.
globalnews.ca
January 2, 2026 at 7:42 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Civil servants will return to the office on Monday.

The Ford government, however, won't say if it has enough space for them all. It will only say the 'vast majority' of offices have the space required. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159724...
Ontario won’t say if there is enough office space for full-time return by all civil servants | Globalnews.ca
The government would not address questions over whether every civil servant would have a space to return to. A spokesperson said the 'vast majority' of offices have enough space.
globalnews.ca
January 2, 2026 at 7:36 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
🚘🕳️ Through 2025, Colin D'Mello and I invested a lot of time looking into Ontario Premier Doug Ford's dream of tunnelling under Hwy. 401. Through sourcing, freedom of information and lots of questions, here's what we found (in chronological order) #OnPoli
December 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
🔎FOI Wrapped, 2025🔍

Requests filed: 147
Stories (so far): 32
Earliest request still not answered: March 1, 2024 (yes, still).

It's been another busy year of freedom of information fun at Global News. Below is one FOI story published in each month of the past year. #OnPoli
December 31, 2025 at 6:34 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: An Ontario developer is seeking compensation from the Ford government over how it handled the Greenbelt reversal. Their lawyer says the ordeal sets a dangerous precedent for anyone entering into a contract with the province. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159350...
Developer advances Greenbelt lawsuit, seeking $300M from Ontario government | Globalnews.ca
Minotar Holdings, a development company that owns roughly 210 acres of land in Markham, recently filed a fresh statement of claim against the provincial government.
globalnews.ca
December 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
Back in October, the minister in charge of Ontario's child welfare said audits of the sector due last spring would be ready in 'weeks.' It's now clear they won't be published in 2025 at all, with no word on when they'll actually be made public. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1150330...
Ontario says delayed audits of child welfare agencies will be done in ‘weeks’ | Globalnews.ca
The government said the audits, which were initially due to be published in the spring, had been pushed back at the request of children's aid societies.
globalnews.ca
December 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: It's the first winter storm since the Finch West LRT launched and it is shut down. Struggled with debris on the track and now multiple switch issues.

TTC says it has little information on what's causing the issue, and blames it on Metrolinx. #ToPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159143...
New Finch West LRT forced to stop service multiple times during winter storm - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The new Finch West LRT was closed multiple times on Friday amidst a winter storm. Technical issues, signal problems and debris on the track all stopped trains from running.
globalnews.ca
December 26, 2025 at 9:15 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
The tightening of Canada’s international student regime has had ripple effects across higher education, but Ontario college students fear they are set to hurt the most amid cancelled programs and service adjustments. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159124...
Future uncertain for Ontario college students as federal policy brings cuts, layoffs | Globalnews.ca
The tightening of Canada's international student regime has had ripple effects across higher education, but Ontario college students fear they are set to hurt the most.
globalnews.ca
December 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: More than half a decade after the COVID-19 pandemic emptied Toronto’s buses, subways and streetcars, the city’s transit agency is still struggling to recover and hit its ridership targets. #Topoli
globalnews.ca/news/1158912...
Toronto transit ridership sputters, failing to hit projections or 2024 totals - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The TTC has frozen fares for three years, slowly ramped up service and opened a new rapid transit line, but ridership is still lower than in 2019 and falling below expectations
globalnews.ca
December 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year, with several changes to the alcohol marketplace set to take effect, flowing from the Ford government's alcohol liberalization plan. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1158898...
Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year | Globalnews.ca
Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year, with several changes to the alcohol marketplace set to take effect.
globalnews.ca
December 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
How is planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto going? Hard to tell, really.

The provincial government is involved in working with the city and has committed almost $100M. Progress and details of the plan are closely guarded. #ToPoli #onpoli
December 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
Changes to how new teachers in Ontario are certified are set to be announced next year and will entail a larger practical component, the education minister is signalling. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1158769...
Ontario looks to expand practical component of teacher education: minister | Globalnews.ca
Changes to how new teachers in Ontario are certified are set to be announced next year and will entail a larger practical component, the education minister is signalling.
globalnews.ca
December 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: As the integrity commissioner prepares to investigate David Piccini, we found a recent committee appearance where she offered a detailed view into her insights and philosophy. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1158710...
Integrity commission lays out philosophy ahead of skills development fund investigation | Globalnews.ca
Cathryn Motherwell, who was appointed integrity commissioner in April, recently offered a federal parliamentary committee a window into her thinking and priorities.
globalnews.ca
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: A blow to the Ford government's return to the office mandate as the LCBO tells its staff it won't have the space to accommodate all staff full-time. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1158500...
LCBO delays Ford government return-to-office mandate amid lack of space | Globalnews.ca
In a December memo the LCBO told employees that its current floor space at 100 Queen's Quay E. 'does not support full-time office work for all head office employees.'
globalnews.ca
December 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM