News
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called byelections in the Toronto ridings of University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest and the Quebec riding of Terrebonne — races the Liberals will want to win to secure a thin majority government. The byelections will be held on April 13, according to a news release posted on the prime minister’s website Sunday morning. Candidates will be looking to replace Chrystia Freeland — who stepped down after accepting a role advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and Bill Blair, who’s been appointed Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom. As things stand, the Liberals have 169 MPs in the House of Commons. They need 172 to form a thin majority government, making these three races vitally important for the party. The most eventful race will likely be in Terrebonne. Last month, the Liberals were dealt a blow after the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the 2025 federal election result in the Montreal-area riding. The electoral district was initially declared for the Bloc Québécois but a judicial recount later found Liberal Tatiana Auguste had won the seat by one vote.
Earlier today, Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader, signalling that hardliners remain firmly in charge in Tehran more than a week into its conflict with the United States and Israel. Mojtaba’s father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago. His ascension will not likely go down well with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously called him “unacceptable” for the role.
In economic news, the attack on Iran has pushed oil past $100 per barrel in early Monday trading. This is the first time since 2022 that the commodity has broken through the mark. The extraordinary spike in oil prices is “a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace”, Donald Trump argued on Sunday, describing it as a “short term” consequence of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Provincial police say 23 people were rescued after a piece of ice they were standing on separated from shore in Georgian Bay yesterday. In a post to social media, Ontario Provincial Police said officers responded to reports of several people stranded on ice near Balmy Beach, north of Owen Sound, shortly before 12 p.m. In an update to social media, the OPP said the winds and current moved the ice shelf approximately two kilometres away from shore. Police later said the ice shelf split into several sections, causing some victims to become partially submerged in the frigid water. Everyone was safely airlifted back to shore via helicopter by approximately 2:30 p.m. and minor injuries, including hypothermia, were reported. Please remember that as temperatures rise, there is no safe ice.
Sports
Game 2 of the Wellington Dukes best of 7 playoff series against the Pickering Panthers went last night at the friendly confines of the Duke-dome. The Dukes opened the scoring in the first, thanks to a short-handed goal by Cain Tucker, but that was all the boys could muster, losing 3-1 to go down 2 games in the series. The Dukes are in Pickering Tuesday for game 3.
In curling news Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone is finally a Brier champion. After dropping two previous finals, Dunstone and his Manitoba rink defeated Alberta’s Team Kevin Koe 6-3 last night in the Brier final from St. John’s, Nfld. Dunstone lost the 2023 Brier final to Brad Gushue and last year’s championship game to Brad Jacobs.
Another rough home outing for the Toronto Sceptres last night against the Minnesota Frost. The PWHL team lost 3-2 in overtime, their 8th loss in 10 home games this season. It’s not all bad news for Toronto, as the single point the team earned has them just 4 points out of the playoffs.
RJ Barrett had 31 points as the Toronto Raptors downed the visiting Dallas Mavericks 122-92 at Scotiabank Centre. The win snaps a 2-game losing streak for the Raps, who sit 5th in the East.
Toronto FC scored their first-ever goal at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati to take their first away victory against the Orange and Blue since 2020. The win puts TFC at 1 and 2 on the season, heading into a 9-game homestand starting Saturday.
First round of the Formula One season this weekend in Australia. Mercedes was the class of the field in pre-season testing and that carried through to Sunday’s race. Mercedes team leader George Russell took a comfortable victory over teammate Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
