The texts you send in private may be used against you in court. That's what an Ontario judge recently decided in a case regarding the purchase of illegal firearms in Winchester. <a href="http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/your-texts-are-not-private-ontario-court-rules?utm_source=vicetwitterca" target="_blank">Vice reports</a> the case could be precedent-setting. Essentially, the instant a person sends a text out into the ether, it's no longer considered private. To which any ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend replied: Duh.
Ontario is mirroring Quebec's economy, and the Toronto Sun <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/11/ontario-now-mirroring-quebecs-economy-report-says" target="_blank">reports that isn't a good thing</a> (read: we're tethered to a sinking ship).
Ontario's promise to have 12 per cent of all driveways in the province park electric vehicles by 2025, could backfire. One economist <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/2876660/ontarios-electric-car-goal-could-lead-to-increase-in-hydro-rates-expert-says/?sf33082430=1" target="_blank">cautions</a> on Global that the ambitious goal could lead to higher electricity prices.
City councillors in Ottawa are looking to the province to <a href="http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/province-cool-to-picking-up-tab-for-a-low-income-transit-pass" target="_blank">help subsidize a low-income transit pass</a>, to the tune of $3.3 million. Capital City isn't the first to come up with the notion of a discounted metro pass for low-income riders - Toronto, Niagara and Missisauga have flirted with it, and in Alberta, the provincial government made changes that resulted in rebates in Edmonton and lower fares in Calgary. Ontario, on the other hand, is passing the buck to City Hall.
A month after Toronto's Pride Parade, which sparked battles with Black Lives Matter and law enforcement, the head of Pride Toronto is stepping down. The <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/0811-na-pride" target="_blank">National Post reports</a> Mathieu Chantelois is heading to Cineplex Media, though he didn't confirm whether his curiously-timed departure had anything to do with the Pride drama.
Ontario Medical Association boss Virginia Walley is working for the weekend, er, when 42,000 doctors will vote on a hotly contested tentative contract with the province. Walley <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/10/doc-deal-provides-stability-oma-boss" target="_blank">tells the Toronto Sun in a Q&amp;A</a> the association is ramping up communications with docs ahead of Sunday's vote.
The RCMP <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/10/possible-terrorist-threat-thwarted-says-rcmp.html" target="_blank">said it thwarted</a> a potential terrorist attack against a "major Canadian city" last night as details of the 23-year-old ISIS sympathizer Aaron Driver begin to emerge the morning after.
The Minister responsible for anti-racism launched Canada's second Black Government Leaders Summit in Toronto last night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Black Govt Leaders Summit has officially begun! Looking forward to tackling the issues in the coming days <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash">#onpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/4WWxGC3Yfx">pic.twitter.com/4WWxGC3Yfx</a>
— Michael Coteau (@coteau) <a href="https://twitter.com/coteau/status/763528729406517248">August 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
And ICYMI, Above Znoneofthe is expected to <a title="Heard: Mr. Above Znoneofthe to run in Scarborough-Rouge River" href="http://www.qpbriefing.com/2016/08/10/heard-mr-above-znoneofthe-to-run-in-scarborough-rouge-river/" target="_blank">announce</a> he's running for None of the Above on Sept. 1, in Scarborough.
In the opinion pages
Terence Corcoran <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/terence-corcoran-ontarios-minister-of-monopoly" target="_blank">wonders</a> if a government monopoly on health care does the public any good.
Bob Hepburn <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/2016/08/11/doctors-fight-turns-trump-style-nasty-hepburn.html" target="_blank">sees</a> hues of Donald Trump in the doctors dispute.
Events
9 a.m. Standing Committee on General Government meets to discuss Bill 201. Committee Room 151, Queen's Park.
10 a.m. Minister Michael Coteau to deliver opening remarks for the second Black Government Leaders Summit. Room 247. Queen's Park.
11 a.m. Premier Kathleen Wynne to tour the Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre and make an announcement alongside Minister Michael Gravelle. 1 Meno Ya Win Way, Sioux Lookout, Ontario.
11:55 a.m. Premier Wynne and Minister Gravelle to meet with Doug Lawrance, Mayor of Sioux Lookout. Heritage Railway Station, 53 Front Street, Sioux Lookout.
12 p.m. PC MPP Randy Hillier to discuss Bill 201. Queen's Park Media Studio.
3:35 p.m. Premier Wynne to deliver remarks and make an announcement, alongside Minister Gravelle. Moosonee Riverfront, Revillon Road and First Street, Moosonee.

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