Stephen Lecce

15 Articles

Medical experts tell Ontario to keep schools open except in 'catastrophic circumstances'

The medical experts advising the Ontario government say the province’s schools and classrooms should stay open unless “catastrophic circumstances" force them closed again after more than a year of disrupted learning and socialization.

By Morgan Sharp | News, Politics, Next Gen Insider | July 19th 2021

Schools in Ontario will stay closed until September

Ontario will keep its schools closed in June, Premier Doug Ford says, as he extends virtual-only learning until the summer break amid a waning third wave of COVID-19 infections and a vaccine rollout still in progress.

By Morgan Sharp | News, Politics, Next Gen Insider | June 2nd 2021

Ontario school boards must offer virtual classes in 2021-22

Ontario’s Education Ministry outlined its financial and operational plans for the 2021-22 school year on Tuesday, telling school boards that pandemic-related funding for the second half of the year is not yet confirmed while requiring them to offer virtual classes for the whole year.

By Morgan Sharp | News, Politics, Next Gen Insider | May 4th 2021

RCMP investigating pro-PC ads from group by developer with ties to Ford

The RCMP are investigating whether Vaughan Working Families violated election financing law. The corporation behind the group is led by Michael DeGasperis, a prominent developer whose ties to Premier Doug Ford were highlighted in a recent National Observer/Torstar investigation.

By Emma McIntosh | News, Politics | May 4th 2021

Prevalence of youth COVID spread still a mystery

Schools in and around Toronto closed their doors suddenly last week as more contagious COVID-19 variants spread throughout the region. But amid a third wave threatening to overrun its hospitals, Ontario still can’t tell how much the virus is spreading in classrooms.

Coronavirus in Canada

By Morgan Sharp | Analysis, Politics, Next Gen Insider | April 13th 2021

A person wears a protective mask after grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. File photo by The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette

COVID postpones voting, school break, heightens search for more vaccine

Concern over the spread of COVID-19 has delayed some voting in the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial election, postponed school holidays in Ontario and prompted Manitoba to seek vaccine from a Canadian supplier.

Coronavirus in Canada

By Kelly Geraldine Malone | News, Politics | February 12th 2021

Ontario delays March break for schools amid COVID variant concerns

March break will have to wait until April for Ontario students, the province’s education minister says, as the government aims to limit travel amid a drop in COVID-19 cases but as risks from new virus variants loom.

Coronavirus in Canada

By Morgan Sharp | News, Next Gen Insider | February 11th 2021