News

In local news, the major structural rehabilitation of County Road 49 reached another key milestone this week as the contractor completed rubblization of the existing concrete roadway. The contractor anticipates that the first layer of asphalt will be installed on the entire 17.2 km span of County Road 49 by the end of this weekend (Sunday, November 1).

Next week, the contractor will focus on crossroad intersections in order to blend to the new raised elevation of County Road 49. Single lane traffic will remain open during intersection work with traffic control and flagging.

Work will also take place next week to prepare the existing gravel shoulders for asphalt. The second and third lift of asphalt will be paved wider than the first base lift. This will result in 2.0 metre (6.5 feet) paved shoulders.

IIHF

In world sports news, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled today that Russian teams must be allowed to play in International Ice Hockey Federation events such as the world championships. The Courts ruling overturned IIHF decisions which excluded Russia from events in the 2026-27 season including the men’s and women’s world championships following their invasion of Ukraine.
CAS said its ruling did not address issues such as whether Russia should be required to play without national symbols as a team of neutral athletes, as in some other Olympic sports. The IIHF expressed disappointment with the ruling and said it “maintains that its decisions were necessary to protect the safety and security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competitions.

ECONOMY

This morning, Stats Canada released its report on our economy through August showing that growth has stalled for a second month in a row. They forecast a further decline in September. Real GDP was essentially unchanged in August, falling short of economists’ calls and the agency’s own early expectations for a gain of 0.2 per cent.

Some good news for County businesses is that retail trade was among the bright spots in the month, posting 1.2 per cent growth and more than making up for a decline in July.

For the province’s economy, Ontario’s deficit has grown by more than $3 billion in the past few months as the province continues to face economic headwinds blowing up from the U.S. In an economic update delivered yesterday, the Ford government said the deficit for 2026-27 is now projected to be $16.9 billion, up from the $13.8 billion that was projected in the budget back in March. The rise is mainly due to the impact of U.S. tariffs and global unrest impacting the price of gas.

And finally, millions of Canadians will turn their clocks back one hour this weekend, while millions of others will not. This divide is putting Canadians under different time systems — with potentially different consequences for their health. Most of British Columbia, as well as Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories are no longer changing their clocks twice a year, joining Yukon and Saskatchewan. Most of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces will still turn their clocks back on Nov. 1 for the end of daylight saving time.

For Quebec, this could be the last time. The Provincial Government is moving to end the twice-yearly clock change, but it has not yet decided which time the province will keep and that a decision will be made after consulting experts.

Research suggests permanent standard time — the time we return to in the fall — is more closely aligned with the body’s internal clock than permanent daylight time, which several provinces have chosen.

Sports

Locally, you may want to take in the Wellington Duke home game tonight against Aurora because this is playoff weekend in the sports world.

On Saturday afternoon, the CFL conference finals get underway. At 1:00 the Winnipeg Blue Bombers travel to Toronto to face the Argonauts, The winner will face Montreal in the conference final next weekend. In the West it is the BC Lions hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 4:30. That winner takes on the Edmonton Elks a week later.

In Canadian professional soccer playoffs, the Women’s Northern Soccer League semi-final starts tomorrow as FC Toronto travels to Ottawa to face Rapid FC. On Sunday afternoon, the Montreal Roses host the Vancouver Rise. Each semi-final is a two game aggregate format.

The Men’s Canadian Premier League semi-final starts Sunday with the Hamilton Forge at Atlético Ottawa at 1:00. That match will be followed at 4:00 with Calgary’s Cavalry FC at FC Supra du Québec. The CPL also uses a two game aggregate format.

F1

In F1 racing, could this be the weekend that the the youngest ever drivers’ champion be crown. That is what awaits Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli at the Mexico Grand Prix this weekend. He has a 123 point lead over teammate George Russell and 124 over Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari with 125 left this season. So, if by the end of the race on Sunday afternoon at 3:00, he is more than 100 points ahead, he is uncatchable.