Smoky skies expected to blanket Toronto Friday, possibly into long weekend
CBC
Smoky skies are expected to blanket Toronto once again Friday and potentially linger into Canada Day on Saturday.
Environment Canada says smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec have once again returned to Toronto, prompting a special air quality statement for the city.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) — the reporting system Canada uses to reflect potential health effects associated with air pollution — currently sits at six out of 10, representing a "moderate risk." The agency is expecting the air quality to reach a "high risk" at level seven throughout Friday, but dip to a five on Saturday.
"We're still stuck in it unfortunately," said Environment Canada meteorologist Gerald Cheng, who noted conditions are expected to slowly improve for much of southern, eastern and central Ontario. But improvements are still temporary in nature, he said.
"Wildfires are still burning. And so if we cannot extinguish that source, we still need to watch where the smoke generated goes."
Environment Canada said that people with health conditions like asthma or heart disease are at higher risk, as are pregnant women, older adults, children and people who work outdoors.
It advises people to stop or reduce their level of activity if it becomes uncomfortable to breathe or if they feel unwell, and to contact a health care provider if severe symptoms arise.
The smoke comes days after the city's AQHI maxed out at 10 on Wednesday. Around that time, according to the international air quality tracker IQAir, Toronto had the worst air pollution of any location in the world.
The city has been experiencing high levels of air pollution due to wildfires at various points throughout this past month.
As of Friday, there were more than 100 forest fires burning in Quebec, according to the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU). In Ontario, there were 68 active wildfires in the northeast and northwest of the province, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The province and district social services administration boards say plans are in place to ensure people on social assistance do not miss out on benefits as a result of the strike by Canada Post employees.
Near the exit to Truro, N.S., a cluster of colorful tents and a lone RV can be seen alongside Highway 102, some tucked under the overpass for shelter from the elements.
Police and Public Trust, a project of the CBC News Atlantic investigative unit, scrutinizes the largely off-limits police complaint and discipline systems across the region. Journalists are using access to information laws and, in some cases, court challenges to obtain discipline records and data.
Toronto police have arrested a GTA woman who they allege scammed dozens of Taylor Swift fans out of more than $70,000 by promising them tickets that never materialized.
Montreal was, in years past, considered a haven for renters. But those days are long gone.
WARNING: This story details violent events surrounding a fatal police shooting.
It took Gordon Frentz over 14 hours to drive through the snow from Grande Prairie, Alta., this past weekend to compete at this year's Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
The coroner's inquest into the drug-related deaths of six men in custody at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre will revisit 2018 recommendations relating to eight other inmate deaths to determine what's been done to implement them, the inquest's lawyer said Monday on the first day of hearings.
Emily Walstrom was expecting to lay her father to rest this month, but instead, she says his cremated remains are stuck in a Canada Post facility in B.C., delayed by the ongoing national postal strike.
A Friday night fire hasn't caused any impact to operations at the Dryden mill, the company said.
With around 55,000 Canada Post workers on strike since Nov.15 and no deal in sight, Toronto businesses say they're gearing up for a tough holiday season.