Ontario premier says province will 'step in' if insurance companies don't help tornado victims
Premier Doug Ford toured the damage in Barrie, Ont., one day after an EF-2 tornado ravaged a southeast neighbourhood and called the destruction "shocking."
"This is absolutely, of course, heart-wrenching, but devastating. Just thank God no one was killed. It's an absolute miracle," he said.
The powerful storm produced winds of 210 km/h and left a trail of devastation roughly five kilometres long and up to 100 metres wide.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said more than 100 people were displaced by the tornado that caused structural damage to roughly 20 to 25 houses.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre said staff treated 10 people, two suffering serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Most patients were treated and released, the Barrie hospital said Friday.
"The first responders are absolute heroes," Ford said while visiting the Prince William Way area.
The premier told residents the province would "step in and help" if the insurance companies wouldn't cover the recovery costs.
"We're going to pull out all the stops, whatever it takes, we're going to get people supported any way we can," Ford added.
On Friday, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) issued a news release following Thursday's events in Barrie, stating residents should start contacting their insurance companies to start the claims process.
The agency noted that every insurance policy is different, and most damage caused to homes by a tornado is "usually covered."
The IBC advised taking pictures of damage, calling an insurance representative, and keeping detailed notes and receipts related to cleanup.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump chooses anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.
LIVE UPDATES Rogers Centre opens its doors to thousands of Taylor Swift fans for the first sold-out show
Taylor Swift is in Toronto to perform her first of six sold-out shows at the Rogers Centre tonight.
Purolator workers won't handle Canada Post packages if strike occurs, union says
Teamsters Canada says if Canada Post workers go on strike or are locked out, its members at Purolator won't handle any packages postmarked or identified as originating from the carrier.
Canada urged to cut government-funded research collaborations with China: report
A newly released report is urging Canada to immediately end all government-funded research collaborations with China in a variety of different areas.
Measles cases in New Brunswick continues to climb
The number of measles cases in New Brunswick continues to climb. Officials with New Brunswick’s Department of Health said as of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases since October has reached 43.
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
Here's how a potential Canada Post strike may affect Canadians
A disruption in Canada Post services would hit some Canadians harder than others. As the deadline approaches for a potential strike at midnight Friday, CTVNews.ca asked readers how it would affect them and how they are preparing.
Police foil attempted $13,000 cheese theft in North Vancouver
Police in North Vancouver say they prevented the theft of nearly $13,000 worth of cheese from a grocery store earlier this year. Now, they're asking the public for help finding the alleged thief.
Partial confinement lifted in Longueuil after CN train derailment and chemical spill
The City of Longueuil has partially lifted the confinement measure currently in effect around the site of a CN train derailment near Jacques-Cartier West Boulevard and Saint-Georges Street after the incident spilt an unknown quantity of hydrogen peroxide Thursday morning.