Judge dismisses court challenge to stop Ontario Place redevelopment
Ontario Place is pictured in this aerial image Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
It appears construction at Ontario Place can now continue following a decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to uphold the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act.
In the decision, released Friday, Justice Lisa Brownstone dismissed a legal challenge by Ontario Place Protectors, who were trying to stop the province's redevelopment by arguing that the provincial act was unconstitutional.
The act gives the government special powers to expedite the redevelopment of the site, including an exemption from the Environmental Assessment Act.
Ontario Place Protectors were granted a one-day hearing on July 19 and the province previously agreed to pause some work at the site pending the court’s decision on the matter.
In a statement released Friday, Ontario Place Protectors said that while the decision "acknowledges that government action can go too far," in this particular circumstance, it is not the case.
“The difficulty many people will likely have with this ruling is that the government could not possibly have gone further than eliminating all remedies under all Ontario statutes”, Eric Gillespie, legal counsel Ontario Place Protectors, said in a written statement.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Attorney General of Ontario Doug Downey noted that the court also “declined to grant the injunctive relief sought by the applicant.”
“Our government is pleased with the decision and eager to move forward with this important project,” the statement continued.
“As this matter is in the appeal period it would be inappropriate to comment further."
With files from Chris Fox
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
FACT CHECK: A look at the false and misleading claims made during the Trump-Harris debate
In their first and perhaps only debate, former U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris described the state of the country in starkly different terms. As the two traded jabs, some old false and misleading claims emerged along with some new ones.
Key takeaways from a debate that featured tense clashes and closed with a Taylor Swift endorsement
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on the debate stage for the first — and possibly the last — time.
Quebec woman wins MAID case to die at home after legal fight with landlord
A woman who requested medical assistance in dying (MAID) won a major case in front of the Quebec rental board. She wanted to die at home, but her landlord didn't want her to.
Liberals put up united front after fractious summer at Nanaimo retreat
Liberal MPs will have one last chance to tell their leader how they think their party can improve their political prospects before they return to Ottawa to face off against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the House of Commons.
Some restaurants have increased their default tip options. Canadians think you should give this much
Despite what the default options on the payment terminal might read, most Canadians still want to tip around 15 per cent, according to a new survey.
Parents fight for change after 13-year-old girl dies in B.C. homeless camp
Brianna McDonald's death was caused by a suspected overdose, according to her family. And her grieving parents are urging change so other families don’t have to face what they are going though.
'EI kind of folks': Cape Breton MP criticized for comment about Atlantic Canadians
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste is taking some heat for a remark about Atlantic Canadians.
A man who has brain damage has a murder conviction reversed after a 34-year fight
A man who has brain damage and was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a shopkeeper in London had his decades-old conviction quashed Wednesday by an appeals court troubled by the possibility police elicited a false confession from a mentally vulnerable man. Oliver Campbell, who suffered cognitive impairment as a baby and struggles with his concentration and memory, was 21 when he was jailed in 1991 after being convicted based partly on admissions his lawyer said were coerced. “The fight for justice is finally over after nearly 34 years," Campbell said. “I can start my life an innocent man.” Campbell, now in his 50s, was convicted of the robbery and murder of Baldev Hoondle, who was shot in the head in his shop in the Hackney area of east London in July 1990. He had a previous appeal rejected in 1994 and was released from prison in 2002 on conditions that could have returned him to prison if he got into trouble. Defense lawyer Michael Birnbaum said police lied to Campbell and “badgered and bullied” him into giving a false confession by admitting he pulled the trigger in an accident. He was interviewed more than a dozen times, including sessions without either a lawyer or other adult present. His learning disability put him “out of his depth” and he was "simply unable to do justice to himself,” Birnbaum said. He said the admissions were nonsense riddled with inconsistencies that contradicted facts in the case. At trial, he testified that he was not involved in the robbery and had been somewhere else though he couldn't remember where. A co-defendant, Eric Samuels, who has since died, pleaded guilty to the robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison. At the time, he told his lawyer Campbell was not the gunman and later told others Campbell wasn’t with him during the robbery. Lawyers continued to advocate for Campbell that he wasn't the killer and his case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission which investigates potential injustices. The three judges on the Court of Appeal rejected most of Birnbaum's grounds for appeal but said they were troubled by the conviction in light of a new understanding of the reliability of admissions from someone with a mental disability. The panel quashed the conviction as 'unsafe,' and refused to order a retrial.
'I've cried a lot of tears': Floating home dreams sink for southwestern Ontario residents
The dream of a life on water has drowned in a sea of sadness for a group of Chatham-Kent, Ont. residents who paid a Wallaceburg-based company for a floating home they never received.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Montreal
-
Two dead bodies found in Montreal apartment, considered 'suspicious'
Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating two "suspicious deaths" in the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood.
-
Dollarama reports $285.9M Q2 profit, up from $245.8M a year ago
Dollarama Inc. reported a second-quarter profit of $285.9 million, up from $245.8 million in the same quarter last year as its sales rose 7.4 per cent.
-
Quebec woman wins MAID case to die at home after legal fight with landlord
A woman who requested medical assistance in dying (MAID) won a major case in front of the Quebec rental board. She wanted to die at home, but her landlord didn't want her to.
Ottawa
-
COMING UP AT 11:30 AMCOMING UP AT 11:30 AM Ottawa mayor to make announcement on 2025 budget directions
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will make an announcement today on the 2025 budget directions.
-
Bylaw apologizes for issuing parking tickets to mourners at Ottawa's St. Patrick's Basilica
An officer issued three tickets to vehicles that were parked in a no-stopping zone outside St. Patrick's Basilica on Kent Street during a funeral on Aug. 26.
-
Proposed new bylaw will limit vehicle idling in Ottawa to 1 minute
Under proposed changes to Ottawa’s idling control bylaw, drivers will be permitted to idle their vehicle for one minute in a 60-minute period when the temperature is between 0 C and 27 C, and a new maximum idling limit of five minutes will be introduced when the temperature is colder than 0 C and warmer than 27 C
Northern Ontario
-
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
-
Bears in schoolyard force students and staff into 2nd hold and secure this week
A Huntsville elementary school is locked down for the second time this week because of some bears roaming the schoolyard.
-
Video shows tornado moving ashore in northern Ontario
A beautiful Labour Day weekend at the lake was interrupted by some extreme weather when a tornado touched down in northern Ontario.
Kitchener
-
Ontario woman charged with assault with a weapon after neighbour sprayed with water gun
A Simcoe, Ont. woman has been charged with assault with a weapon after spraying her neighbour with a water gun.
-
Driver dies after being thrown from e-bike in Kitchener
Police say an e-bike driver has died after being injured in a crash Tuesday afternoon.
-
Canadian first: LOTTO MAX Jackpot rolls to record $75M
This Friday's draw marks the first time the LOTTO MAX jackpot has climbed to $75 million.
London
-
Break and enter leads to charges in south London
On Tuesday around 6:10 a.m., a security guard monitoring a property in the area of Wellington Road and Base Line Road East called 911 to report seeing a man breaking into a business.
-
Overnight crash near St. Thomas sends one person to hospital
One person has been taken to hospital following an overnight crash near St. Thomas. The single-vehicle crash happened in the area of Ron McNeil Line between Pine valley Drive and Burwell Road.
-
LIVE
LIVE Presidential debate replay: Donald Trump-Kamala Harris face off
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump exchanged barbs in a combative face-off on key issues such as the economy, immigration and abortion in a showdown that comes less than two months before election day.
Windsor
-
Three Scarborough suspects arrested after series of armed robberies in Windsor
Windsor police have arrested two teens and a young man after a series of robberies.
-
American expats gather in Windsor for first U.S. presidential debate watch party
In Windsor, American expats gathered at a downtown sports bar on Tuesday night to watch the highly anticipated U.S. presidential debate.
-
5-year-old girl drowns in backyard pool
Windsor police are investigating the tragic drowning death of a 5-year-old girl in a backyard pool.
Barrie
-
Police investigate death after body is found along Highway 26
Police are investigating after an individual was found dead at the side of the road in Springwater Township early Wednesday morning.
-
Highway 400 lane closures after tractor-trailer rollover
Police closed northbound lanes along Highway 400 Wednesday morning after a tractor-trailer collision.
-
Barrie businesses targeted in Bitcoin scam, police say
Barrie business owners are urged to speak with their employees about a rising scam involving cryptocurrency and Bitcoin targeting local companies.
Winnipeg
-
'Like no other leader': Hundreds honour Grand Chief Cathy Merrick
A large crowd gathered outside the front steps of a Winnipeg law courts to mourn a First Nations leader and matriarch.
-
RCMP investigating after man found dead near rural Manitoba property
Mounties are investigating after a 26-year-old man was found lying near a rural property in southwest Manitoba.
-
'We need some action now': Manitoba school dealing with overcrowding issues
The library inside West St. Paul School doesn’t have any books in it anymore. Instead, two classes of students and their teachers have moved in because there isn’t room for them anywhere else.
Atlantic
-
'EI kind of folks': Cape Breton MP criticized for comment about Atlantic Canadians
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste is taking some heat for a remark about Atlantic Canadians.
-
Peggy's Cove guardians keep visitors safe at beautiful but deadly N.S. tourist site
Security patrollers at Peggy's Cove, N.S., are keeping a watchful eye for visitors who wander too close to the water's edge, and blow whistles to urge them back onto shore.
-
Woman charged in death of pedestrian in southwestern New Brunswick
A woman who was arrested after a pedestrian was struck and killed in Oak Bay, N.B., earlier this month has now been charged in the case.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador monitoring rise in whooping cough cases: medical officer
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
-
Dispute over unrecognized Inuit group halts major conference for Canadian North
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
-
Cow cuddling: Why a Newfoundland farm is offering quality time with these 'gentle creatures'
Jim Lester’s farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
Edmonton
-
Alberta premier Smith defends sharing public policy plans at members-only UCP events
Premier Danielle Smith is defending recent policy announcements at private party events, saying Albertans are kept in the know and shouldn't be caught off guard by her agenda.
-
City council delays decision on removing councillors from Edmonton Police Commission
City council wants more information on the role of councillors on the Edmonton Police Commission. Two city councillors currently sit as commissioners on the public oversight body. The commission, which acts as a middle-man of sorts between city council and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), is asking city council to remove them in favour of two more members of the public.
-
McDavid: Edmonton 'checks a lot of boxes' for NHL players
While questions about a future contract extension may hang over the head of the National Hockey League's best player these days, there's little question what appeals to Connor McDavid most about plying his trade in one of the circuit's smallest markets.
Calgary
-
Calgary's water use 'sustainable' for the first time in 9 days
For the first time in nine days, the City of Calgary's water use has dropped below the target level officials say is "sustainable."
-
Cougar stalks acreage southwest of Calgary twice in a day, kills cat
A warning from a concerned parent after multiple frighteningly close encounters with a cougar on an acreage just southwest of the city on Tuesday.
-
Calgary strip mall plagued by nighttime social disorder
A seemingly ordinary strip mall in northeast Calgary has become a hub for social disorder, prompting concerns from local residents and businesses.
Regina
-
'Critical': Regina International Airport simulates emergency situations in training exercise
The Regina International Airport (YQR), along with over 20 partner organizations, held an emergency training exercise featuring more than 150 people Tuesday.
-
'Youth are important': Day two of Treaty 4 Gathering focuses on youth
Day two of the 38th annual Treaty 4 Gathering in the Fort Qu’Appelle Valley focused on youth.
-
Regina retirement community evacuated, fire crews respond
A retirement community in southwest Regina was evacuated after a small fire was reported in the facility's basement.
Saskatoon
-
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
-
Back to his roots, Saskatchewan hockey player recognized for grassroots contributions
From Gordie Howe to Hayley Wickenheiser and everyone in between, Saskatchewan has produced some hockey greats over the years.
-
Preparations are underway for Saskatoon's civic election
The City of Saskatoon is making its final preparations ahead of November's civic election.
Vancouver
-
B.C. expected to roll out investment and expansion plan for Surrey schools
The B.C. NDP is expected to announce an investment and expansion plan for Surrey schools on Wednesday morning.
-
Parents fight for change after 13-year-old girl dies in B.C. homeless camp
Brianna McDonald's death was caused by a suspected overdose, according to her family. And her grieving parents are urging change so other families don’t have to face what they are going though.
-
Review of Chinatown triple-stabbing case to be released this week: B.C. premier
One year after a man who was on day release from a forensic psychiatric facility allegedly stabbed three strangers in Vancouver’s Chinatown, B.C.’s premier said the findings of a review of the case will soon be made public.
Vancouver Island
-
Parents fight for change after 13-year-old girl dies in B.C. homeless camp
Brianna McDonald's death was caused by a suspected overdose, according to her family. And her grieving parents are urging change so other families don’t have to face what they are going though.
-
Taxi driver killed in Vancouver Island crash
Mounties say a 66-year-old taxi driver is dead after his vehicle veered off the roadway and struck two trees on Vancouver Island.
-
NDP tries to make abortion B.C. election issue, Conservatives push back
Ahead of next month’s provincial election, the BC NDP is claiming the BC Conservatives – if elected – will reduce access to abortion and support for other reproductive health services if elected.
