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isaaccallan.bsky.social
Isaac Callan
@isaaccallan.bsky.social
1.7K followers 54 following 830 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
NEW: A statement from Keel on the forensic audit forwarded to OPP accuses the government of conflating skills development funds with other payments so officials can "avoid answering legitimate questions" by pointing to the investigation. #onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152356...
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: As speed cameras are turned off in Toronto and across Ontario, the city’s mayor is asking the provincial government to promise more funding to replace the program, suggesting there could be job cuts at city hall. #OnPoli #ToPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152658...
As speed cameras are banned in Ontario, Toronto says it needs more funds to cope | Globalnews.ca
Automated speed enforcement programs in the province officially came to an end after a lightning-fast bill from the Ford government forbade their use on city streets.
globalnews.ca
November 14, 2025 at 8:57 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
Superb skills development fund scoop from the Toronto Star, which has got its hands on a database of scores for applications.

It reveals several with scores of 50 or less where the minister overruled civil servants to hand out the money anyway. #OnPoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Secret data reveals which low-scoring applicants still received millions of dollars from the Ford government’s skills fund
Secret government data obtained by the Star shows 26 applicants scoring 50 per cent or lower received $36.6 million from Premier Doug Ford's controversial Skills Development Fund earlier this year.
www.thestar.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The Ontario government is dipping its toe into the world of artificial intelligence, telling civil servants they can use Microsoft Copilot in their day-to-day jobs.

The OPS now have highest Copilot use in the country. #OnPoli

globalnews.ca/news/1152523...
Ontario Public Service has highest Copilot use in Canada, as Ford government rolls out AI | Globalnews.ca
The Ontario Public Service has the highest Microsoft Copilot use in the country, according to internal government documents, and is used weekly by more than 15,000 civil servants.
globalnews.ca
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The Ford government says it has forwarded a forensic audit of a company that received funding from the province, including through the controversial skills development fund, to the OPP after a probe of payments uncovered “irregularities.” #Onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152356...
Ford government sends audit of company that received skills development funds to OPP | Globalnews.ca
A spokesperson for the premier's office confirmed a 'routine audit' of government money sent to Get A-Head had raised red flags, which had triggered a further investigation.
globalnews.ca
November 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The day before speed cameras across the province will be turned off, the Ford government has announced a $210 million pot for cities to build speed bumps and put up signs. #OnPoli #ToPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152481...
Ontario unveils $210M for cities stripped of speed cameras to spend on infrastructure | Globalnews.ca
The fund was promised when Premier Doug Ford announced he would force cities to remove their cameras, saying they don't work and offering to build speed bumps instead.
globalnews.ca
November 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The Ford government will create new offices at every school board to escalate parent and student issues as it continues its major education shakeup. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152441...
Ford government continues education shakeup with new ‘family support offices’ | Globalnews.ca
The province said the first of these offices will be the next step for parents with complex or contentious issues which their schools cannot solve.
globalnews.ca
November 13, 2025 at 6:23 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario's minister of citizenship and multiculturalism posted a video speaking in both English and Punjabi.

It was watched more than 1.5 million times across social media. He said he was “surprised in good and bad ways” by the reaction. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152314...
‘Can’t let the negative get in the way’: Ontario minister’s English-Punjabi video goes viral | Globalnews.ca
A video from an Ontario MPP speaking in both English and Punjabi went viral across social media, drawing particularly visceral reaction on X.
globalnews.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The Ford government has unveiled a number of long-term care retention programs today.

Among them, $25,000 for nurses who commit to two years in LTC. That number can rise to $45,000 for nurses willing to relocate to remote locations. #Onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152289...
Ontario announces incentives of $25K-plus for nurses to commit to long-term care | Globalnews.ca
Ontario is launching programs it says could attract as many as 8,000 nurses to work in long-term care. One program will offer $25,000 to nurses who make two-year commitments.
globalnews.ca
November 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to tunnel an expressway under the 401.

Digging below a small cross section for the Scarborough Subway Extension, however, caused lane closures and the machine needed 8 months for repairs. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152183...
Metrolinx struggled to tunnel under Hwy. 401, forcing lane closure and repairs | Globalnews.ca
Since early 2023, a tunnel boring machine has been slowly making its way south from Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road, digging out a route for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
globalnews.ca
November 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: It has been more than 30 days since the Eglinton Crosstown LRT started its revenue service demonstration.

Metrolinx won't say when the tests will wrap up, but did confirm they're now in the latter part. #Onpoli #Topoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152146...
More than 30 days after entering final tests, Eglinton Crosstown LRT still being assessed - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
On Oct. 7, provincial transit agency Metrolinx announced the Crosstown had started revenue service demonstration, a key 30-day testing process.
globalnews.ca
November 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
As the Ford government barrels ahead with a feasibility study on whether a traffic-transit tunnel can be built under Highway 401, Ontario’s labour minister has already told a PC-friendly union that it would eventually benefit from the construction contract. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152044...
Labour Minister tells Ford-friendly union it will be tapped to build Hwy. 401 tunnel | Globalnews.ca
In a video posted to social media, Labour Minister David Piccini told members of a private sector union they'd be tapped to build Hwy. 413 and the 401 tunnel.
globalnews.ca
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Last week, we confirmed that supervisors at Ontario school boards are expected to bill $350,000 per year for their work.

Now, we can confirm they'll also be eligible to claim up to $40,000 in expenses over two years. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152049...
Ontario school board supervisors can claim up to $40K in expenses over 2 years | Globalnews.ca
The supervisors sent into Ontario school boards by the Ford government will be eligible to claim up to $40,000 over two years. The government says it will monitor closely.
globalnews.ca
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
Ontario has secured a one-year extension with the federal government for the national $10-a-day child-care program, giving parents reassurance their fees won’t rise for at least 12 more months, but with much hard work still to be done. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152101...
Ontario, feds agree to 1-year child-care extension; average fee to stay $19/day | Globalnews.ca
The program that lowers parents' child-care fees — now $19 a day on average in Ontario as an interim step toward $10 — had been set to expire March 31.
globalnews.ca
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: 4 years ago, the government studied whether or not a tunnel under Highway 401 was doable, finding a risk of collapse and eventually pausing the work.

Now, it is refusing to release the study - after paying a company $9.1M to do it again. #Onpoli globalnews.ca/news/1151718...
Ford government refuses to release completed work on Hwy. 401 tunnel idea | Globalnews.ca
Ontario is refusing to release already completed work on the viability of Premier Doug Ford's Highway 401 tunnel vision after signing a $9.1 million contract to study it again.
globalnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: The Ford government is expecting supervisors at five school boards to charge the maximum $350,000 per year.

The money comes from board budgets, not the province.

That's technically a saving at TDSB, but not at smaller boards. #OnPoli
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Some of Ontario’s largest cities say that while new federal investments in housing and infrastructure are helpful, it’s still not enough to prevent another round of property tax hikes in 2026. #OnPoli

globalnews.ca/news/1151222...
Ontario property tax hikes loom as mayors battle ‘outdated’ funding structure | Globalnews.ca
Ontario’s largest cities say new federal funding falls short as they fight to keep 2026 property taxes down, warning the current system 'just isn’t enough.'
globalnews.ca
November 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Eight months after winning an election on the promise to shield the province from the impacts of trade war, the Ford government has only handed out $100 million from its signature fund.

Finance minister says applications are being processed #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151656...
Ontario ‘adjudicating’ more tariff loan applications, only $100M handed out so far | Globalnews.ca
The Fall Economic Statement, tabled Thursday, confirmed Ontario has given $100 million to tariff-battered Algoma Steel, but has not finalized agreements with any other companies.
globalnews.ca
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Isaac Callan
jeffreybgray.bsky.social
This story, on a controversial Ford government training fund the opposition calls a "slush fund," required a lot of work because the government has refused to just provide a single, complete list of who got money and how much. #ONpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Groups that got cash from Ontario training fund increasingly hired lobbyists, numbers show
The fund and role of lobbyists have been questioned by opposition since release of Auditor-General’s critical report
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is celebrating a surprise boost in his province’s employment figures, the day after his government tabled a pessimistic fiscal update projecting persistent unemployment. #Onpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151665...
Ontario gets surprise jobs boost as unemployment drops slightly | Globalnews.ca
Figures released by Statistics Canada show employment was up by 55,000 in Ontario during October, dropping the unemployment rate marginally to 7.6 per cent.
globalnews.ca
November 7, 2025 at 6:21 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario has finally awarded the feasibility study contract for the Highway 401 tunnel, paying a Canadian company $9.1M for the work.

Internal studies have already looked at the idea and concluded there was a “potential for roadway collapse.” #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151529...
Ontario awards $9.1M contract to study Hwy. 401 tunnel concept | Globalnews.ca
Internal studies into the concept at the Ministry of Transportation were paused in 2021 and found there was a 'potential for roadway collapse.'
globalnews.ca
November 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Another fiscal update, and it's more bad news for housing starts.

The Fall Economic Statement is predicting Ontario will build 82,000 fewer homes from 2024 to 2027 than the 2024 budget had modelled. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151495...
Ontario housing projections plummet again, hurting 1.5M goal | Globalnews.ca
Comparing the 2024 budget to 2025's Fall Economic Statement shows the number of new homes from 2024 to 2027 has been revised down by 82,000.
globalnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Weeks after the auditor general scolded Ontario for falling far behind its emissions goals, the government is scrapping the requirement to set targets or report on them publicly at all. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151465...
Ford government scrapping its own emissions targets and reporting requirements | Globalnews.ca
Buried in the Fall Economic Statement on Thursday was the news that the government would be repealing sections of existing legislation.
globalnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: Ontario is waiving its portion of HST on new homes for first-time homebuyers under $1 million.

The government has earmarked $470 million for the program, but is placing no cap on the number of people who can take advantage. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151439...
First-time Ontario homebuyers are set to receive a major discount. Here’s how to get it | Globalnews.ca
Officials with the Ministry of Finance weren’t able to say how many people they expected to use the rebate, which will essentially waive sales tax for first-time buyers.
globalnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
isaaccallan.bsky.social
NEW: For the first time in a decade, the LCBO is expecting to see less than $2 billion in revenue.

That's something workers at the Crown corporation warned could happen after alcohol liberalization was introduced. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1151446...
LCBO revenue drops below $2B for 1st time in a decade after alcohol liberalization | Globalnews.ca
The Fall Economic Statement projects that for the first time in a decade, LCBO will take in less than $2 billion after changes to let convenience stores sell alcohol.
globalnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM