Allison Jones

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Allison Jones.

Ontario plans temporary boost to HST rebates on new homes in bid to energize sector

Ontario plans temporary boost to HST rebates on new homes in bid to energize sector

Ontario is planning to temporarily expand HST rebates on the purchase of new homes, in a bid to boost a struggling home construction sector. The government previously introduced rebates for first-time homebuyers on new homes valued up to $1.5 million, with homes valued at $1 million or less qualifying for the maximum amount of $130,000 when combined with a federal rebate.

Ontario plans temporary boost to HST rebates on new homes in bid to energize sector

Ontario plans temporary boost to HST rebates on new homes in bid to energize sector

TORONTO -- Ontario is planning to temporarily expand HST rebates on the purchase of new homes, in a bid to boost a struggling home construction sector.

Ford says privacy commissioner opposing record restrictions 'politically driven'

Ford says privacy commissioner opposing record restrictions 'politically driven'

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he believes the information and privacy commissioner, who is speaking out about changes he is making to freedom-of-information laws, is "politically driven."

Four premiers ask for greater say in superior, appeal court judge appointments

Four premiers ask for greater say in superior, appeal court judge appointments

The premiers of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan are jointly calling on the federal government to give them more of a say in judges who are appointed to their superior and appeal courts. They say in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney that having their governments actively engaged in the process will help ensure judicial appointments "appropriately reflect the...

Four premiers ask for greater say in superior, appeal court judge appointments

Four premiers ask for greater say in superior, appeal court judge appointments

The premiers of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan are jointly calling on the federal government to give them more of a say in judges who are appointed to their superior and appeal courts.

Ontario legislature resumes, access to Premier Doug Ford's cellphone records at issue

Ontario legislature resumes, access to Premier Doug Ford's cellphone records at issue

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's cellphone records took centre stage as the provincial legislature resumed sitting Monday for the first time since December, with the opposition accusing the premier of having something to hide.

Ontario legislature resumes; questions on transparency, OSAP expected

Ontario legislature resumes; questions on transparency, OSAP expected

TORONTO -- Ontario's provincial members of parliament are heading back to Queen's Park today, as the legislature sits for the first time since December.

Queen's Park resumes sitting after 14-week break, straight into budget season

Queen's Park resumes sitting after 14-week break, straight into budget season

Ontario's legislature is set to resume sitting Monday after a 14-week break that ended in a veritable deluge of news, partial proposals and headline-grabbing musings from Premier Doug Ford and his government. It is a flood-the-zone strategy, opposition parties say, in an attempt to drown out criticism over a government plan to keep records of cabinet ministers and the premier...

Queen's Park resumes sitting after 14-week break, straight into budget season

Queen's Park resumes sitting after 14-week break, straight into budget season

TORONTO -- Ontario's legislature is set to resume sitting Monday after a 14-week break that ended in a veritable deluge of news, partial proposals and headline-grabbing musings from Premier Doug Ford and his government.

Ontario plans to cap ticket resale prices at original value

Ontario plans to cap ticket resale prices at original value

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is planning to amend ticket sales legislation to cap resale prices, seven years after it cancelled similar planned changes. The legislature is set to resume sitting Monday after a 14-week break and the government says it plans to table proposed changes to the Ticket Sales Act in the coming days.

Ontario plans to cap ticket resale prices at original value

Ontario plans to cap ticket resale prices at original value

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is planning to amend ticket sales legislation to cap resale prices, seven years after it cancelled similar planned changes.

Ontario to miss federal deadline for publicly funding nurse practitioners

Ontario to miss federal deadline for publicly funding nurse practitioners

Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care. Health Minister Sylvia Jones pushed the federal government years ago to close what she called a loophole in the Canada Health Act that...

Ontario to miss federal deadline for publicly funding nurse practitioners

Ontario to miss federal deadline for publicly funding nurse practitioners

TORONTO -- Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.

Ford 'keen' on Niagara amalgamations; but his office says he'll respect mayors' will

Ford 'keen' on Niagara amalgamations; but his office says he'll respect mayors' will

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he is still keen on amalgamations in the Niagara Region despite not meeting his previously stated threshold for moving forward, though his office later poured some cold water on the idea.

Ford still 'keen' on Niagara amalgamations, plans to review governance in the region

Ford still 'keen' on Niagara amalgamations, plans to review governance in the region

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to be leaving the door open to possible amalgamations in the Niagara Region, despite not meeting his previously stated threshold for moving forward.

Ontario plans to open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all outside peak traffic times

Ontario plans to open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all outside peak traffic times

TORONTO -- Ontario drivers may soon be able to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes at times, even if they are all by themselves.

Ford urges federal government to legalize use of pepper spray for self-defence

Ford urges federal government to legalize use of pepper spray for self-defence

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging the federal government to legalize the use of pepper spray for self-defence purposes.

Ontario to make premier, cabinet ministers' records secret as it tightens FOI laws

Ontario to make premier, cabinet ministers' records secret as it tightens FOI laws

Ontario is set to make Premier Doug Ford and cabinet members' records secret as it "modernizes" freedom-of-information laws. Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford says the province is also updating its cybersecurity protections. Crawford says the changes will help protect cabinet confidentiality. He says the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act has not been...

Make teaching more attractive for tradespeople, teachers' federation tells Ontario

Make teaching more attractive for tradespeople, teachers' federation tells Ontario

TORONTO -- Ontario must make entering the teaching profession more attractive to skilled tradespeople if it hopes to address a long-standing shortage of technological education teachers and ultimately get more students into the trades, a teachers organization says.

Ontario to table budget March 26, with eye to productivity, competitiveness: minister

Ontario to table budget March 26, with eye to productivity, competitiveness: minister

TORONTO -- Ontario's provincial budget will be tabled on March 26, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced Tuesday, signalling a focus on mitigating economic risks by spending on innovation, competitiveness and infrastructure.

Niagara regional chair backs away from proposal to explore amalgamations

Niagara regional chair backs away from proposal to explore amalgamations

Niagara's regional chair has backed away from a proposal that included possible amalgamations.

Niagara councillors vote to slow regional chair's governance consultations

Niagara councillors vote to slow regional chair's governance consultations

A move by the Niagara regional chair to review municipal governance with an eye to possible amalgamations appears to have hit a snag after an at-times testy council meeting.

Ontario family health teams urge funding to retain nurses, health professionals

Ontario family health teams urge funding to retain nurses, health professionals

TORONTO -- Ontario is working toward attaching everyone in the province to a primary care provider, but family health teams are warning that as the government has its sights set on that laudable goal, the foundation of primary care is crumbling.

Company countersues Ontario government, alleging reputational harm

Company countersues Ontario government, alleging reputational harm

TORONTO -- A mental health company being sued by the Ontario government over alleged fraudulent misrepresentation has filed a statement of defence and a counterclaim against the province, alleging it has damaged the company's reputation.

Ontario lifting post-secondary tuition freeze, boosting funding

Ontario lifting post-secondary tuition freeze, boosting funding

TORONTO -- Ontario is giving colleges and universities billions in new funding, while lifting a seven-year tuition fee freeze and cutting back on the amount of student assistance grants.

NDP MPP jumps to federal Liberals as Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith eyes provincial seat and leadership

NDP MPP jumps to federal Liberals as Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith eyes provincial seat and leadership

The resignation of longtime MP Bill Blair has triggered a potential round of political musical chairs, as the federal Liberals poach a provincial NDP representative to run for his seat and a Liberal MP looks to fill that provincial void. The Liberals named Ontario NDP member of provincial parliament Doly Begum as their candidate Tuesday for Scarborough Southwest following Blair's...

Nuclear refurbishment done and under budget at Ontario's Darlington plant: minister

Nuclear refurbishment done and under budget at Ontario's Darlington plant: minister

A nuclear refurbishment at the Darlington power plant is now complete and the unit is set to soon return to service.

Advocates call for federal, provincial governments to strengthen child-care system

Advocates call for federal, provincial governments to strengthen child-care system

Child-care advocates are calling on the federal and provincial governments to commit today to strengthening the $10-a-day system, as the ministers responsible meet in Ottawa.

Ontario Liberal caucus names John Fraser as pick for interim leader

Ontario Liberal caucus names John Fraser as pick for interim leader

TORONTO -- The Ontario Liberal caucus has named John Fraser as their pick for interim leader, a role he is poised to hold for a third time.

Ontario proposes to pause rule that lets cities require affordable housing units

Ontario proposes to pause rule that lets cities require affordable housing units

TORONTO -- Ontario is proposing to temporarily ban three major cities from requiring a certain percentage of affordable units in new buildings near transit stations, citing a downturn in the housing market.

Bonnie Crombie resigns as leader of Ontario Liberal Party, effective immediately

Bonnie Crombie resigns as leader of Ontario Liberal Party, effective immediately

Bonnie Crombie resigned Wednesday as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, months after saying she would leave following a tepid leadership vote in the fall. She initially said she would stay until a successor is chosen, but has now decided on an early exit. "As we begin a new year, I believe this is the right moment for me and...

Ontario marks progress in attaching everyone in the province to primary care

Ontario marks progress in attaching everyone in the province to primary care

TORONTO -- Ontario's health minister says the province is on track to connect all Ontarians to a primary care provider by 2029, thanks in part to mostly clearing a wait list backlog.

Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year

Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year

TORONTO -- Some alcohol prices in Ontario could rise in the new year, with several changes to the alcohol marketplace set to take effect.

Ontario-appointed supervisor fires TDSB director of education amid board shakeups

Ontario-appointed supervisor fires TDSB director of education amid board shakeups

TORONTO -- A provincially appointed supervisor has fired the director of education at Ontario's largest school board, amid a shakeup of board governance by the education minister.

Ontario legislature to take 14-week winter break, following 19-week summer break

Ontario legislature to take 14-week winter break, following 19-week summer break

TORONTO -- Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break.

Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation

Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the funding his government gave to a company now under police investigation after the province identified "irregularities." The government asked the Ontario Provincial Police last month to look at the results of an audit on Keel Digital Solutions and the police said Monday that they have now launched an investigation. The company has been...

Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation

Ford defends funding to company now in the midst of police investigation

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the funding his government gave to a company now under police investigation after the province identified "irregularities."

OPP probing company that received Ontario government payments

OPP probing company that received Ontario government payments

TORONTO -- The Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation into a company connected to the Skills Development Fund after the province found "suspicious activity" relating to payments it received from a different branch of government.

Plan for changes to role of trustees in Ontario coming early next year: minister

Plan for changes to role of trustees in Ontario coming early next year: minister

Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said Friday he will make a final decision early in the new year on what changes to make to the role of trustees in the school system, but he signalled he is inclined to largely eliminate it.

Ontario government spending $112M on advertising, more than ever before: auditor

Ontario government spending $112M on advertising, more than ever before: auditor

TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general says the provincial government spent the highest recorded amount on advertising last year.

Ontario auditor general finds province not properly overseeing doctor billings

Ontario auditor general finds province not properly overseeing doctor billings

TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general has found that the province is not properly overseeing doctors' billings, including in a few cases of physicians billing for more than 24 hours in a day or working 365 days in a year.

Ontario auditor general to release annual report, with focus on health care

Ontario auditor general to release annual report, with focus on health care

TORONTO -- Ontario's auditor general is set to release her annual report today, with a major focus on health care.

Ontario exempting training centres from municipal and planning laws

Ontario exempting training centres from municipal and planning laws

TORONTO -- Companies and unions building worker training centres using money from Ontario's embattled Skills Development Fund could soon bypass planning laws, raising "significant concerns" for the province's municipalities and opposition parties.

Deal reached to allow grocers to avoid accepting beer and wine empties

Deal reached to allow grocers to avoid accepting beer and wine empties

TORONTO -- Ontario grocers and The Beer Store have reached an agreement-in-principle on alcohol recycling that will allow the retailers to avoid collecting empties at their stores and gives a renewed role to the brewers, The Canadian Press has learned.

Ontario forges ahead with $26.8B nuclear refurbishment in Pickering

Ontario forges ahead with $26.8B nuclear refurbishment in Pickering

Ontario's energy minister is announcing that a plan to refurbish four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station to get nearly four decades more service out of them will cost $26.8 billion.

Ontario to strengthen dangerous driving laws in honour of father killed this year

Ontario to strengthen dangerous driving laws in honour of father killed this year

TORONTO -- Dangerous driving penalties are set to soon be strengthened in Ontario, as the government has tabled a bill in honour of a father of three who was killed by an alleged dangerous driver.

Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister

Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister

The leader of Ontario's NDP is asking the province's integrity commissioner to investigate the labour minister, alleging he has breached ethics rules in handing out skills training funding. Labour Minister David Piccini has come under fire for his handling of the Skills Development Fund, after an auditor general report found his office has been selecting funding recipients over the advice...

Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister

Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister

TORONTO -- The leader of Ontario's NDP is asking the province's integrity commissioner to investigate the labour minister, alleging he has breached ethics rules in handing out skills training funding.

EQAO standardized test results to be released next week after delay, minister says

EQAO standardized test results to be released next week after delay, minister says

TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says standardized testing results are set to be made public next week after he delayed their release, and he's suggesting changes may be coming.

Ontario education minister eyes more possible board takeovers with now-passed bill

Ontario education minister eyes more possible board takeovers with now-passed bill

TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says a newly passed bill granting him more powers to take control of school boards is a start, but not the end, of changes to education governance.

Ford mulls public sex offender registry, would use notwithstanding clause 'in a heartbeat'

Ford mulls public sex offender registry, would use notwithstanding clause 'in a heartbeat'

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is looking at making some information on the sex offender registry public, in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision on child pornography sentences.

Doug Ford mulls public sex offender registry for Ontario

Doug Ford mulls public sex offender registry for Ontario

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government is looking at making some information on the sex offender registry public, in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision on child pornography sentences.

Ford defends system of skills-development funding, won't axe minister under fire

Ford defends system of skills-development funding, won't axe minister under fire

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills-development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police.

Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire

Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police. Labour Minister David Piccini has come under sustained fire from opposition parties calling for his resignation since an auditor general's report found his office has...

Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire

Ford defends system of skills development funding, won't axe minister under fire

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government's skills development funding system that allows a minister to hand-pick recipients against the advice of bureaucrats, even after referring an audit of one company to the police.

Ontario to set up school board support offices, starting with those under supervision

Ontario to set up school board support offices, starting with those under supervision

TORONTO -- Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra has announced that the province is establishing offices within school boards for parents to escalate issues beyond their school -- starting with five boards currently under supervision.

Ontario, feds agree to 1-year child-care extension; average fee to stay $19/day

Ontario, feds agree to 1-year child-care extension; average fee to stay $19/day

TORONTO -- 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.

From 1.5 million to 'as many homes as we can': Ontario faces home building realities

From 1.5 million to 'as many homes as we can': Ontario faces home building realities

TORONTO -- Ontario is lowering projections for new home construction levels in its fall economic statement, putting the government further away from building 1.5 million homes in 10 years -- a goal the finance minister said is now a "soft" target.

Projections for new home construction in Ontario slowing yet again

Projections for new home construction in Ontario slowing yet again

TORONTO -- Ontario is lowering projections for new home construction levels in its fall economic statement, putting the government further away from its goal of building 1.5 million homes in 10 years.

Ontario eyes challenging labour market amid tariffs, lower population growth

Ontario eyes challenging labour market amid tariffs, lower population growth

TORONTO -- Ontario's deficit projection is shrinking in its fall fiscal update, but so are the province's expectations for the labour market as U.S. tariffs are expected to continue hitting the economy.