'The COVID-19 pandemic is not over,' Dr. Gardner urges caution as restrictions lift
"Caution is essential."
Simcoe Muskoka's chief medical officer of health is urging residents to continue practicing preventative measures as the province lifts restrictions and vaccine mandates.
"Although capacity limits have been lifted in most public settings and the provincial proof of vaccination system has ended, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over," Dr. Charles Gardner said in a release on Wednesday.
The health unit "strongly encourages" eligible residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to reduce the risk of severe illness.
"We're still seeing community transmission," Dr. Gardner noted.
Ontario lifted further restrictions, including capacity limits on most indoor facilities and scrapped the vaccine certificate program on Tuesday.
Restaurants, bars, casinos, gyms and other indoor public settings can resume business as usual, but individual businesses may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination from customers.
Masking indoors, including schools, remains in effect until further notice from the province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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'I hope so': Marc Garneau on whether Liberal party still has room for Blue Liberals
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau, who describes himself in his new book as always-a-Liberal, 'but a decidedly blue one,' says he hopes the party still has room for someone like him.
'Very' serious issue: federal transport minister on contamination in northern Alberta town
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'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
WeightWatchers to offer compounded version of Wegovy weight-loss drug
WeightWatchers said on Tuesday it would offer a compounded version of Novo Nordisk's popular obesity drug Wegovy as part of its weight-management programs.
Leaders condemn 'hateful rhetoric' at B.C. pro-Palestinian protest on Oct. 7
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'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior falls victim of theft in parking lot
On September 11, 80-year-old Madeleine Gervais was the victim of a theft in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.
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Kitchener
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Emergency crews battle massive fire at Brantford plaza
Fire crews were called to respond to Mohawk Plaza shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday.
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Good Samaritans help injured pilot after plane crash in Huron East
Police say they received a 911 call from the involved pilot around 11:20 a.m. after they had crash-landed in a farm field near Newry Road.
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Ontario lowers the age for self-referral mammogram breast screening to age 40
The Ontario government has lowered the age for regular mammogram breast screening to allow all woman between the age of 40 and 49 to self-refer for the service.
London
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LIVE UPDATES
LIVE UPDATES Tracking Hurricane Milton: Millions told to evacuate from worst storm 'in 100 years to hit Florida'
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Three-year delay requires city hall to boost budget to restore downtown monument
City hall’s restoration of the People and the City monument has been stalled since early 2022, and a plan to resume the project next spring requires more money.
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Charges laid after crash near Western University last month
A 20 year old is charged with two counts of fail or refusal to comply with demand made by peace officer cause bodily harm, two counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm, two counts of impaired operation cause bodily harm and transport cannabis
Windsor
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Multiple vehicles being pulled from Detroit River in west Windsor
Several cars are being pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor.
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Police seek suspect after SUV crashes into CAS building
Windsor police say they are looking for the driver who crashed into the Children’s Aid Society building.
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Wallaceburg residents asked to keep windows and doors closed due to fire
Chatham-Kent fire is asking residents in and around Wallaceburg to keep their windows and doors closed as they battle a railroad tie fire.
Northern Ontario
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Highway 144 closed between Cartier and Sultan Industrial Road
A crash Tuesday afternoon on Highway 144 has closed the road north of Sudbury.
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Fatal collision under investigation in Muskoka
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Sault Ste. Marie
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Video shows dumpster diving black bear at Tim Hortons
A woman in Greater Sudbury, Ont., said "It doesn't get more Canadian than this" when she spotted a black bear dumpster diving at a Tim Hortons last month.
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FONOM calls on province to fund Hope Air, calling it a ‘vital service’ for northern Ont.
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Canadian Museum of History returns artifacts to northern Ont. First Nation
For decades, Mississauga First Nation has known that human remains from their land were at the Canadian Museum of History.
Ottawa
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'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior falls victim of theft in parking lot
On September 11, 80-year-old Madeleine Gervais was the victim of a theft in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.
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Ottawa man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2021 death of his wife
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7 more federal properties available for housing in Ottawa, including 3 near busy transit station
The federal government announced 14 new properties will be added to the Canada Public Land Bank, the list of federal properties that could be turned into new homes, including seven in Ottawa and two in Gatineau, Que.
Toronto
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Toronto rapper 'Top5' brags about time in jail, thanks guards he says gave him cellphones
More than two weeks have passed since Hassan Ali walked out of a Toronto courtroom a free man, after prosecutors decided not to move forward with a first-degree murder trial against the local rapper.
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Some Toronto park crews spent hours of their week hanging out at plazas instead of cutting grass: Auditor General
Some City of Toronto park crews did half as much maintenance work as they reported and instead appeared to hang out at plazas and eateries, a new report from the city’s Auditor General has found.
Montreal
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Quebec coroner Kamel to investigate second fatal fire in Old Montreal
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Teen charged with arson in relation to Saint-Leonard restaurant fire
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Swedish company Northvolt subsidiary files for bankruptcy but stays firm on Quebec plant
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt said on Tuesday that one of its entities had filed for bankruptcy with a Stockholm court due to its financial situation.
Atlantic
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N.B. RCMP looking for 'armed and dangerous' man wanted for robbery
Police in New Brunswick are trying to track down a man they consider “armed and dangerous” after he allegedly crashed a vehicle, waved a weapon at police, and fled in a stolen vehicle.
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Ocean research device victim of great white shark attack off Nova Scotia shore
A device used by researchers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada appears to have been the victim of an attack by a great white shark 300 metres under water off the coast of Nova Scotia.
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P.E.I. man charged in 1988 Byron Carr murder pleads not guilty
Todd Joseph Gallant pleaded not guilty to the murder of Byron Carr in a Prince Edward Island courtroom on Tuesday.
Winnipeg
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Website launched to help find violent offenders in Manitoba
Manitoba RCMP and the Winnipeg Police Service are launching Manitoba's Most Wanted website.
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Manitoba government apologizes as part of $530M child welfare lawsuit settlement
The Manitoba government has apologized in the legislature for clawing back federal benefit payments to kids in the child welfare system.
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Manitoba health-care worker strike postponed; tentative agreement reached
Manitoba health-care support workers will not be hitting the picket line on Tuesday morning.
Calgary
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GRAPHIC VIDEOGRAPHIC VIDEO Security video shows suspect firing into vehicle in Calgary
Calgary police are investigating after several shots were fired by a suspect into a truck in the northeast community of Saddle Ridge.
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Calgary officer's use of force deemed 'appropriate' in August police-involved shooting: ASIRT
A Calgary officer's use of force in an August police-involved shooting has been deemed appropriate following an investigation.
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Potential photo radar rule changes would 'erode traffic safety': Calgary police chief
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Edmonton
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Crash involving train, semi causes traffic delays near Lamont
A crash Tuesday morning between a train and a semi outside the Alberta town of Lamont is blocking traffic.
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Edmonton transit ridership growing faster than city population
Edmonton's transit system is seeing record usage, with six million trips taken in September.
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Hockey 101: A noob's guide to the fastest game on ice
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Regina
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Regina man charged after barricading himself inside basement suite and setting fire to entryways: police
A 35-year-old Regina man is facing multiple charges after police say he barricaded himself inside a basement suite and set fire to entryways.
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Sask. consumer watchdog investigating local company selling luxury vacation condos
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Regina's Jordan Eberle named captain of NHL's Seattle Kraken
Regina product and former Pats forward Jordan Eberle has been named captain of the NHL's Seattle Kraken.
Saskatoon
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Sask. consumer watchdog investigating local company selling luxury vacation condos
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Saskatoon mom scrambling to keep a roof over her head after finding mould in her suite
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IN PICTURES
IN PICTURES Saskatchewan treated to intense display of northern lights
Those in Saskatchewan gazing at the stars Monday night were treated to a brilliant display of northern lights – as a solar storm continues to bear down on the northern hemisphere.
Vancouver
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B.C. Conservative leader reveals plans to address toxic drug crisis
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has laid out his solutions for the toxic drug crisis in the province, which include cutting wait times for voluntary treatment, a virtual program to connect people with addiction specialists and building "regional recovery communities" that would allow for 12-month live-in treatment.
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B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens
A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a tea-cup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.
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Man sought by North Van RCMP after stealing firefighter uniforms from launderette
North Vancouver RCMP are searching for a man who has stolen several firefighter uniforms from a dry cleaner in Central Lonsdale.
Vancouver Island
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B.C. Conservative leader reveals plans to address toxic drug crisis
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Man charged in hit-and-run crash that killed Vancouver Island teen
A Vancouver Island man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a teenager near Duncan, B.C., earlier this year.
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B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens
A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a tea-cup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.
