Southwestern Ontario will benefit from province's new budget
The new provincial budget features items specific to southwestern Ontario, including a new English public elementary school in London, Ont. that will serve 556 students and include 88 licensed childcare spaces.
The budget mentioned upgrades to Eastwood Park for new accessible pathway systems, a new multi-use court, playground equipment, and a large shade structure in the Municipality of Central Elgin.
Reconstruction of a portion of Plank Road in Sarnia has been budgeted, including the replacement of the existing water main, ditches, and asphalt on city streets.
There was no mention of a GO Train service to London. However, Mayor Josh Morgan said the province is committed to improving the frequency and speed of the service to London.
“These are not short-term investments, so the province and the city of London have discussed them, we know they are committed to it, but it will take time for those to come to fruition,” said Morgan.
A new Volkswagen EV battery plant in St. Thomas will require supports for an increase in workers coming to the region. Morgan said he's been in talks with the province to make sure there is new needed infrastructure to support the transportation to that facility.
Morgan said the biggest investment for London might be an additional $200 million meant to address homelessness province-wide, for prevention and supportive housing programs.
"What I see in the budget today, is them listening. Them listening to the crisis, the details of the crisis that we have in our city, and making significant investments in mental health and addictions - in supportive housing and in homelessness prevention,” said Morgan. “This is a good sign of partnerships between municipalities and the provincial government when you see investments in spaces that we have been advocating so hard to see."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Liberal government not immune from auto thefts: 48 vehicles stolen in recent years
Documents tabled in the House of Commons this week show 48 government vehicles were stolen between January 2016 and February of this year, most of them in Ontario.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly at least nine games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy.