Ontario spending $310K on new 'communications centre'; critics say will limit access

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy speaks in the government's new communication centre in the basement of a building connected to the Ontario legislature by tunnel on Tuesday March 26, 2024. The Ontario government is spending about $310,000 on a new space for press conferences, which opposition parties say duplicates a room that already exists and will mean less access for the media.

But that space is a neutral one operated by the Speaker of the legislature on behalf of the press gallery, and journalists are not limited in the number of questions they can ask a minister. "We know he has always had an utter disrespect for journalists and for the important role they play in Ontario," she wrote in a statement, referencing Premier Doug Ford. The cost for the new space includes about $240,000 for construction, $37,000 for technology such as audio-visual requirements, $25,000 for a black-panelled backdrop, and $8,000 in miscellaneous costs, the government sources said.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said using a space operated independently from government for press conferences is important. The Ukrainians who fled to Canada after the Russian invasion are nearing a deadline to renew their temporary work visa applications by the end of the month but there are many of them who don't meet all the criteria.The City of Montreal is promising to carry out more inspections of rental housing units to identify unsafe and unsanitary conditions in residential buildings under a new 'Responsible Landlord' program.The newly-returned head of Lightspeed Commerce Inc.

It's believed no personal information was leaked after the University of Winnipeg was hit by a cyber attack on the weekend, however, the school is still working to get all services back up and running.3 beloved Winnipeg Beach businesses hit the real estate marketEnvironment Canada is warning of a “prolonged rainfall event” in the forecast this week, issuing special weather statements in Nova Scotia and rainfall warnings in New Brunswick.

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