Toronto News Daily

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has raised the possibility of cutting off electricity exports to 1.5 million homes and businesses in the United States, but doing so would require the province to reduce its own energy production.

In response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, Ford announced on Monday a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exported from Ontario to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. This surcharge, which is expected to generate up to $400,000 per day, may not be the final measure in the ongoing trade dispute.

“If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” Ford warned, escalating the stakes of the trade conflict.

However, fully cutting off energy exports to the U.S. would necessitate a reduction in Ontario’s power output. Ford explained that the province would likely reduce its hydroelectric generation, as turning down nuclear power would be a much more complex process, potentially taking up to six months. “We just have to reduce the amount of energy we’re outputting right now, and it wouldn’t be nuclear because if we turn down the nuclear reactor, it could take six months, but hydro, we could slow that down,” Ford clarified.

The Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) emphasizes that the province relies on its agreements with the United States to maintain the “affordability, reliability, and sustainability” of its electricity system. These export agreements are particularly useful during times of low demand, such as nights and weekends, when power plants continue to generate electricity even as local demand drops.

Ontario’s energy system is built on a delicate balance, and any significant disruption in exports could have broader implications for both the province and its trading partners.

Toronto police have confirmed that a seventh person was struck by gunfire in the mass shooting that occurred late Friday near Scarborough Town Centre.

In an update posted on X, police revised the number of individuals hit by bullets but maintained that the total number of injured victims remains at 12.

Investigators initially believed one of the victims had been wounded by flying glass. However, further assessment determined that the individual had actually been grazed by a bullet.

Authorities continue to investigate the shooting as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident

Toronto police have charged two men with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in the city’s west end last month.

Authorities responded to reports of gunfire on the evening of February 4 near The East Mall and Rathburn Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered two male victims, both of whom were rushed to the hospital.

Police confirm that the 16-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries, while the second victim sustained serious injuries but survived.

The two accused, ages 18 and 20, face multiple charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder. They were scheduled to appear in court on Saturday.

The investigation remains ongoing.

A high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance descended into chaos on Friday in the Oval Office, with tempers flaring and heated exchanges caught on camera.

The confrontation, which unfolded in front of American media outlets, resulted in a cancelled joint press conference and an unsigned deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, as reported by The Associated Press and Reuters. Zelenskyy departed the White House swiftly in his motorcade following the tense discussion.

A Clashing of Views: Transcript of the Heated Exchange

As the video recording began, the leaders were already engaged in a fierce debate over Ukraine’s ongoing conflict:

Zelenskyy: Yes, yes, but after that, he broke the ceasefire. He killed our people and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you asking me about? What do you mean?

Vance: I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.

Zelenskyy: Yes, but if—

Vance: Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president—

The meeting, intended to strengthen diplomatic ties and discuss military support, instead laid bare deep divisions over Ukraine’s strategy, U.S. support, and diplomatic expectations. With no formal agreement reached and frustrations boiling over, the incident underscores the volatile nature of international negotiations in the ongoing conflict.

Ontario’s 2025 provincial election saw a slight uptick in voter turnout, with early data from Elections Ontario estimating that around 45.4% of eligible voters cast their ballots. This marks a modest one-percentage-point increase from the historically low turnout in 2022.

As of Friday morning, Elections Ontario reported that more than 5 million out of 11 million eligible voters participated in Thursday’s election. With 99.93% of polling stations reporting—8,073 out of 8,079—these numbers provide a near-final snapshot of voter engagement.

Ford Secures Third Majority as Voter Turnout Inches Up

Despite concerns that a snap winter election could depress voter participation, turnout increased slightly, with under half a million more people heading to the polls compared to 2022.

Premier Doug Ford secured a third consecutive majority government, with his Progressive Conservatives winning 80 seats. The NDP, securing 27 seats, remains the official Opposition. Meanwhile, the Liberals reclaimed official party status with 14 seats, the Greens won two seats, and one independent candidate claimed victory.

How 2025 Compares to Past Elections

The 2022 election saw Ontario’s lowest-ever voter turnout, with only 44% of eligible voters participating—equating to 4.7 million votes cast out of 10.7 million eligible voters.

By contrast, the 2018 election had a 57% turnout, the highest in over a decade. Historically, Ontario’s voter engagement has ranged from 48% to 66% in past elections.

While 2025’s modest rise in turnout suggests slightly improved engagement, it still highlights ongoing voter apathy in provincial politics.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account, portraying a bizarre, imagined future for Gaza—complete with a golden Trump statue, bearded belly dancers, luxury resorts, and Elon Musk eating hummus.

A Surreal Transformation

The 30-second clip opens with a bleak scene of children running through rubble, as the phrase “What’s Next?” flashes in red, white, and blue. Suddenly, the devastation morphs into a lavish beachfront city—palm trees sway, luxury yachts glide through the water, and modern skyscrapers tower over the scene. The video suggests a glitzy, resort-like future for Gaza.

From there, the imagery gets increasingly surreal. Elon Musk appears on a beach, grinning as he eats bread dipped in hummus. Next, a group of bearded belly dancers in bikinis perform in front of a cityscape reminiscent of Miami, while a child clutches a giant golden Trump balloon in the middle of the street.

A Theme Song for ‘Trump Gaza’

A dramatic theme song plays in the background, with lyrics proclaiming:
“Donald’s coming to set you free. Bringing the life to all you see. No more tunnels, no more fear. Trump Gaza is finally here!”

As the music plays, the video showcases a nightclub scene where Trump dances with a woman, Musk tosses money into the air as a crowd cheers, and an enormous golden “Trump Gaza” building towers over the city. The final scene features a massive golden statue of Trump, standing prominently in the middle of the street.

The video, filled with over-the-top spectacle and AI-generated absurdity, quickly sparked reactions online. While some saw it as satire, others questioned its intent and implications. One thing is clear: Trump’s AI-generated vision of Gaza is as flamboyant as it is controversial.

With just a day to go before Ontario’s general election, Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives (PCs) maintain a commanding lead, mirroring their advantage at the start of the campaign, according to a new poll conducted exclusively for Global News by Ipsos Global Public Affairs.

The poll places the PCs 20 points ahead of Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals, while Marit Stiles’ NDP lags in third. The Green Party, grouped with other minor parties, remains in fourth place.

Projected Vote Share

If the election were held tomorrow, Ipsos predicts the following breakdown:

• Progressive Conservatives – 48%
• Liberals – 28%
• NDP – 16%
• Greens and others – 8%

Additionally, about one in 11 voters remain undecided just 24 hours before the polls open.

Shifts in Support

While the PCs have strengthened slightly, the Liberals have also gained momentum, overtaking the NDP in support.

“The Conservatives have been picking up a little at the end of the campaign, but so have the Liberals—at this point, past the NDP,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos, in an interview with Global News.

With the PCs sitting at 48%, Bricker suggested that the result is all but certain.

“It looks pretty much like it’s going to be a Conservative majority—at 48%, it can’t really be anything other than that,” he said.

As Ontario voters prepare to cast their ballots, the numbers suggest a dominant PC victory, with a potential Liberal resurgence and an NDP decline shaping the final outcome.