Ontario News

TORONTO — Ontario says it will provide new financial assistance for residents during a provincewide lockdown that starts on Boxing Day. The province says it will cut hydro prices for 28 days, starting Jan.

MONTREAL — The leaders of Quebec's four main political parties came together on Tuesday to urge people to take public health rules seriously, as health authorities reported a single-day record of COVID-19 infections.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — A former detective from Peel Region faces a sexual assault charge for an alleged incident in 1992. The Special Investigations Unit says a woman contacted Peel police in August. The SIU then took over the investigation.

Toronto police say a man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 72-year-old man. Police say the victim was found suffering from multiple stab wounds on Monday night and died in hospital.

KITCHENER, Ont. — Police say they've charged a 48-year-old man in Kitchener, Ont., with attempted murder. As he was in custody, police say the man allegedly tried to disarm an officer, leading to additional charges.

MARKHAM, Ont. — Police in York Region say their homicide unit has taken over the investigation into a house fire that killed two children earlier this year. The fire at the Markham, Ont., home in May was not initially deemed suspicious by police.

MONTREAL — Quebec expanded its COVID-19 vaccine distribution network on Monday with the opening of new clinics across the province that will help authorities ramp up the inoculation of the most vulnerable.

TORONTO — An Ontario university discriminated against a would-be student with a brain injury and poor grades when it refused him admission, the province's top court ruled on Monday.

Ontario is entering a lockdown starting on Dec. 26. Restrictions will remain in place for southern Ontario until Jan. 23, but will lift for northern Ontario on Jan. 9.

OTTAWA — Police in Ottawa allege a man deliberately set fire to his room at a rooming house. They say he warned others about the early Monday morning fire before leaving. No casualties were reported.