News

In local news, high water levels are continuing to cause concern at Quinte Conservation. Water levels in Lake Ontario have reached a level of 75.37 metres above sea level. A level below 75 metres is considered normal and safe.
The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board is advising shoreline residents of higher water levels across the region, driven by this spring’s heavy rain and melting snow. The rise in water levels has slowed and is expected to reach peak at 75.4 metres.

WILDFIRES
Also as a reminder, even with the wet weather we have this spring, the wildfire index is on the rise. From Stirling north, the fire danger is high. Over by Gravenhurst, a wildfire erupted late yesterday and has consume 10 hectares and is not yet under control.

STATSCAN
Statistics Canada released its report on the country’s economy this morning. Canada’s economy contracted in the first quarter of the year on an annualized basis, That is the second consecutive quarter of decline, which some would call a technical recession.
Real gross domestic product by expenditure was essentially unchanged on a quarter-over-quarter basis. Converting that to an annualized rate — the figure most economists pay close attention to — results in a decline of 0.1 per cent in real GDP for the first quarter.
StatsCan also revised their figure of a drop in a real GDP drop in the fourth quarter of 2025 to one percent. Three of the last four quarters in Canada have now posted negative real GDP growth.

Heading into today’s release, the consensus among economists had called for real gross domestic product growth of 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
Per capita GDP actually rose 0.2 per cent on a quarterly basis because Canada’s population shrank for a second quarter in a row which boosted the per capita GDP growth percentage.

BONDI
When Donald Trump’s former attorney general Pam Bondi appears today before the House Oversight Committee she won’t be under oath and the hearing about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case will be closed to the public. Dozens of Epstein survivors, including Canadian Sharlene Rochard, are hoping for answers and will be there on Capitol Hill, just the same.

They’re hoping Bondi is asked whether any investigative leads were closed without notifying victims, and whether leads involving powerful or politically connected individuals were not followed because of conflicts of interest or improper influence.

Bondi was originally subpoenaed in March to appear before the House Oversight Committee, but Trump dismissed her from her role as Attorney General in April. The Department of Justice argued that because she was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General she did not have to appear before the committee. In the end, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee opted to have Bondi appear, instead, for a closed door “transcribed interview.”

And finally, The Prince Edward County OPP is advising the public of increased enforcement during the annual “Skip Weekend” at Sandbanks Provincial Park from May 28 to May 31.

This event traditionally attracts a large number of high school students, and officers will have a strong presence throughout the weekend to ensure public safety.
Officers will be strictly enforcing:
•Underage drinking offences under the Liquor Licence and Control Act
•Open liquor and public intoxication violations
•Impaired driving (alcohol and drug-related)
Graduated Licensing System (G1/G2) conditions, including the zero alcohol requirement for G2 drivers.

Sports

NHL

In the NHL, it is a critical game tonight for the Montreal Canadiens. Down 3 games to 1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in their best of seven Eastern Conference finals series, all games are a must win to advance to the Stanley Cup. If Montreal prevails, they will face a well-rested Vegas Golden Knight team who swept Colorado on Wednesday to win the Western Conference finals

At the Men’s World Hockey Championship, Canada will face Finland in the semi-finals on Sunday. Canada last won gold in 2023 and has not medaled in the last two years

The other two teams trying to advance to Monday’s gold medal game are host Switzerland and Norway. Switzerland has been the runner-up silver medalists in the last two years.

TENNIS

On the tennis court, the second major of the year, the French Open, has two Canadians moving onto the third round tomorrow. In Women’s singles play, 9th seed Victoria Mboko will face 19th seed American Madison Keyes. On the men’s side, 4th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on 31st seed American Brandon Nakashima.

Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski has two matches today in the second round of the Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.