NarrativeBear

Saskatoon optometrist Rachael Berger has seen an increase in the number of patients concerned about their vision when driving at night.

“I'm seeing an alarming number of perfectly young, healthy individuals coming in and saying, ‘I'm having a hard time seeing at night, what's going on,’” she told The Current guest host Peter Armstrong.

She tells patients it’s not them — it’s the LED headlights increasingly used on vehicles.

When it’s dark, Berger explains, the rods in our eyes turn on to help us see better.

“When you're driving at night and your rods are activated, and all of a sudden this blast of light comes, it can be very jarring, because our night system isn't prepared or necessarily expecting that,” she said.

Advocates are calling on the federal government and car manufacturers to adjust their regulations and industry standards around bright headlights because there needs to be a better balance between solutions to help drivers see while not compromising other’s safety.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/42690419

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has sent another letter to the province urging that the transfer of regional roads from Peel Region to the city remain on schedule.

In her Jan. 28 letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, Parrish called for the July 1, 2026, transfer date to be maintained, rather than postponed to newly proposed July 1, 2027.

She also highlighted the financial impact on Mississauga taxpayers, noting the city has been subsidizing Caledon’s regional roads for decades.

Parrish estimated Mississauga spends about $25 million to $30 million annually to subsidize Caledon’s regional roads.

“For 50 years it has been a significant burden borne mostly by Mississauga property taxpayers. The current arrangement is patently unfair,” she wrote.

The letter comes after reports that Caledon Mayor Annette Groves supports delaying the transfer to 2027, citing the town’s limited financial capacity to maintain the roads, which she estimates would cost between $35 million and $40 million per year. Parrish said she agrees the costs are significant, but questioned why Caledon is raising concerns only now.

Parrish asked the province to provide funding to offset Caledon’s costs and to remove the long-standing financial burden on Mississauga property taxpayers. She also requested access to reports prepared by the Peel Transition Board on regional road transfers.

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has sent another letter to the province urging that the transfer of regional roads from Peel Region to the city remain on schedule.

In her Jan. 28 letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, Parrish called for the July 1, 2026, transfer date to be maintained, rather than postponed to newly proposed July 1, 2027.

She also highlighted the financial impact on Mississauga taxpayers, noting the city has been subsidizing Caledon’s regional roads for decades.

Parrish estimated Mississauga spends about $25 million to $30 million annually to subsidize Caledon’s regional roads.

“For 50 years it has been a significant burden borne mostly by Mississauga property taxpayers. The current arrangement is patently unfair,” she wrote.

The letter comes after reports that Caledon Mayor Annette Groves supports delaying the transfer to 2027, citing the town’s limited financial capacity to maintain the roads, which she estimates would cost between $35 million and $40 million per year. Parrish said she agrees the costs are significant, but questioned why Caledon is raising concerns only now.

Parrish asked the province to provide funding to offset Caledon’s costs and to remove the long-standing financial burden on Mississauga property taxpayers. She also requested access to reports prepared by the Peel Transition Board on regional road transfers.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/42588196

Red-light cameras in Ontario have been catching civilians for years, but some police officers who rush to emergencies say they’re unfairly being penalized by the same technology.

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, police are allowed to go through a red light, with lights and sirens activated, after coming to a stop and when it’s safe to do so.

There have been instances in other parts of Canada when first responders were found to be responsible for causing a crash while going through a red light.

For instance, in 2024, a Winnipeg police officer pleaded guilty after causing a two-vehicle crash at an intersection when responding to an emergency.

Rice said there are forms of accountability that officers face when that happens — including internal reviews, and scrutiny by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit and the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.

“That’s the goal of it. The officer has to come up [to the intersection] — they use discretion and judgment,” said Rice.

Red-light cameras in Ontario have been catching civilians for years, but some police officers who rush to emergencies say they’re unfairly being penalized by the same technology.

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, police are allowed to go through a red light, with lights and sirens activated, after coming to a stop and when it’s safe to do so.

There have been instances in other parts of Canada when first responders were found to be responsible for causing a crash while going through a red light.

For instance, in 2024, a Winnipeg police officer pleaded guilty after causing a two-vehicle crash at an intersection when responding to an emergency.

Rice said there are forms of accountability that officers face when that happens — including internal reviews, and scrutiny by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit and the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.

“That’s the goal of it. The officer has to come up [to the intersection] — they use discretion and judgment,” said Rice.

It’s been a few years since the former Toronto Coach Terminal closed to travellers, but municipal officials have unveiled a massive redevelopment plan that will see hundreds of new apartments and other uses on the 1.3-acre site.

Located west of Bay Street and east of Chestnut Street just north of Dundas Street West, the former bus transportation hub will be home to two new purpose-built apartment rental towers.

They said the first tower at 610 Bay St. is expected to be finished in early 2029 while the larger building at 130 Elizabeth St. is set to finish in early 2030. During a news conference, a representative said they hope construction will start in late 2025.

The former Toronto Coach Terminal opened in 1931 and had art deco styling. Gray Coach Lines, Toronto Greyhound Lines and Colonial Coach Lines were among the earlier users of the facility. Eventually, GO Transit and other bus companies still operating today moved into the facility.

However, GO Transit began moving out in the 1990s and early 2000s in favour of servicing Union Station (first through roadside boarding and then through the eventual Union Station Bus Terminal). The remaining bus companies eventually joined GO Transit. The facility closed in mid-2021 as it started falling into disrepair.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/42301946

Howard Park Avenue residents say being designated a snow route leaves them with no legal place to park during snowstorms, forcing them to risk fines or park far from home.

“If we park on our street, it’s a $100 ticket, and if you park nearby, we also get a ticket, like $45,” Silva said to Now Toronto. “No matter where we park, we get a ticket.”

In recent weeks, Toronto has been hit by two snowstorms. Sunday’s storm brought a historic 60 centimetres of snow to the region in one day. Silva says residents have already received parking tickets as a result of these events.

As a result, Silva says he now parks his car at a friend’s home downtown and then takes an Uber or the TTC back to his home.

“See how much time I’m wasting in the day? And how much extra money I’m [spending], I cannot afford this anymore,” he said.

Silva, who already received a ticket in February of last year, says the situation has taken a toll on him.

“I cannot concentrate on my work anymore, because when I leave my work, I have to think, ‘Oh, where am I gonna leave my car?,’” he said.

Howard Park Avenue residents say being designated a snow route leaves them with no legal place to park during snowstorms, forcing them to risk fines or park far from home.

“If we park on our street, it’s a $100 ticket, and if you park nearby, we also get a ticket, like $45,” Silva said to Now Toronto. “No matter where we park, we get a ticket.”

In recent weeks, Toronto has been hit by two snowstorms. Sunday’s storm brought a historic 60 centimetres of snow to the region in one day. Silva says residents have already received parking tickets as a result of these events.

As a result, Silva says he now parks his car at a friend’s home downtown and then takes an Uber or the TTC back to his home.

“See how much time I’m wasting in the day? And how much extra money I’m [spending], I cannot afford this anymore,” he said.

Silva, who already received a ticket in February of last year, says the situation has taken a toll on him.

“I cannot concentrate on my work anymore, because when I leave my work, I have to think, ‘Oh, where am I gonna leave my car?,’” he said.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/41684285

As a major snowstorm caused travel chaos, serious weather alerts, highway closures and school cancellations, some working for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation were told to head into the office.

“Just a reminder that we have a 5-day a week in person requirement,” the email, seen by Global News, said.

It added that the snow meant staff could arrive late and leave early as long as they made an effort to attend.

“Otherwise,” the note concluded, “please take a vacation day, which some … staff are doing today.”

The message was sent after schools in Toronto had announced they would close for the day, and while emergency services and Environment Canada were urging people to avoid all non-essential travel.

“Allow extra time for travel,” the weather agency wrote. “Non-essential travel should be avoided.”

About an hour after telling workers to head into the office or use a vacation day, the directive was revised.

“We are now being advised that if you have your equipment, you may work from home,” the follow-up, sent at 10:35 a.m., said. “Staff to decide for themselves if it’s safe or possible to drive in today. Please use your best judgment and prioritize safety.”

As a major snowstorm caused travel chaos, serious weather alerts, highway closures and school cancellations, some working for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation were told to head into the office.

“Just a reminder that we have a 5-day a week in person requirement,” the email, seen by Global News, said.

It added that the snow meant staff could arrive late and leave early as long as they made an effort to attend.

“Otherwise,” the note concluded, “please take a vacation day, which some … staff are doing today.”

The message was sent after schools in Toronto had announced they would close for the day, and while emergency services and Environment Canada were urging people to avoid all non-essential travel.

“Allow extra time for travel,” the weather agency wrote. “Non-essential travel should be avoided.”

About an hour after telling workers to head into the office or use a vacation day, the directive was revised.

“We are now being advised that if you have your equipment, you may work from home,” the follow-up, sent at 10:35 a.m., said. “Staff to decide for themselves if it’s safe or possible to drive in today. Please use your best judgment and prioritize safety.”