TVO.org daily: Friday, June 26

Good morning, Ontario

Here's what we're following

Ford to Trudeau: ‘Put your money where your mouth is’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday said the provinces “failed to support” long-term-care homes during the pandemic — an accusation that didn’t sit well with Premier Doug Ford. “Put your money where your mouth is. Help us out. We can’t do it alone,” he said. Their comments came after a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found the percentage of Canada's COVID-19 deaths that occurred in long-term-care facilities is roughly double the OECD average. “We’re supposed to be all in this together? Let’s all be in this together,” Ford said.

Long-term-care outbreaks drop

Meanwhile, the Toronto Star reports the number of long-term-care homes in Ontario with an active COVID-19 outbreak dropped below 60 for the first time in several weeks. Still, new cases continue to develop: in the past two days, 44 residents and 53 staff across the province tested positive for the virus.

Tory proposes police reforms

Toronto Mayor John Tory wants to create a non-police response team to deal with calls that do not involve weapons or violence — one in a series of reforms he plans to put to city council next week. “Despite our city being one of the world’s most diverse, systemic racism continues to be a real issue here in Toronto and there is much more all of us can do to confront it and to eliminate it,” he said.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam tweeted that the proposal, which includes increased use of body cameras, is “not good enough.”

TVO.org publishing regional updates

Every weekday, we will publish a collection of news items from across the province about the pandemic. Please visit TVO.org for the latest. Here is Thursday’s edition.

 #onpoli: Opening up the mailbag 

On this special episode of the podcast, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath answer listener questions that run the gamut from why media outlets are still covering the premier's daily briefings about COVID-19 to the significance of the solicitor general’s title. 

The Agenda: Ice dancer Asher Hill

Canadian ice dancer Asher Hill speaks with Nam Kiwanuka about his career, racism in skating, and Black Lives Matter.

Vamizi: Cradle of Coral

The remote island of Vamizi is home to some of the world's oldest and most pristine coral reef. The area off Mozambique is an undersea nursery — a critical breeding and birthing ground for hundreds of species of fish and marine mammals. An international science team is on a mission to protect the island.

Quarantine and Answer: Perdita Felicien

Host Jeyan Jeganathan speaks with prominent Ontarians about their life during the pandemic. In this instalment: two-time Olympian Perdita Felicien.

How does Ontario respond to people in crisis — and how should it?

Columnist Matt Gurney speaks with David Gratzer of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health about policing, de-escalation, wellness checks, and how to change the system after decades of neglect.

It’s no picnic: What restaurant reopenings look like in Ontario

Reduced capacity. Day-trippers. Unexpected rainfall. Reporter Jessica Huras speaks with restaurateurs across the province about managing new challenges as patio dining resumes.

7 p.m. — The Secret History of the British Garden

The 18th century gave rise to the landscape garden, created on a scale never seen before. Horticulturalist Monty Don explores the inspirations of this gardening revolution.

8 p.m. — The Agenda: Mike Harris

On June 26, 1995, Mike Harris was sworn in as Ontario’s 22nd premier. Twenty-five years later, Harris joins Steve Paikin to discuss his controversial tenure.