TVO.org daily: Monday, June 29

Good morning, Ontario.

Here's what we're following

Province reports 178 new COVID-19 cases

The province recorded 178 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, slightly more than in the previous two days. “Twenty-eight of Ontario’s 34 public health units reporting five or fewer cases with 19 of them reporting no new cases at all,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement. “With 28,633 tests processed yesterday, Ontario remains the leader in daily COVID-19 testing.” Six new deaths were reported, bringing Ontario’s confirmed total to 2,658.

Emergency orders extended

Meanwhile, Ontario extended emergency orders until July 10. “While we have made truly incredible progress in our fight against COVID-19, thanks to the collective efforts of our frontline heroes and the people of Ontario, we know that we must remain vigilant,” Premier Doug Ford said in a press release. The province has also loosened restrictions on indoor sports facilities, which can now be used “to train amateur or professional athletes, or to run certain non-contact amateur or professional athletic competitions.”

Ontario Liberals want more female candidates

The Ontario Liberal Party implemented several measures aimed at achieving gender parity among its candidates in the next election. The changes include cutting registration fees in half for women; an aggressive search campaign; and a measure allowing the party to mandate that only women can apply to run in certain ridings. “We’ve got to do some things to be able to make sure politics is a place for everyone,” said Kate Graham, who will serve as vice-chair of the next Liberal campaign.

Party leader Steven Del Duca also says that at least 30 candidates in the next election will be younger than 30 years old.

The Agenda: Migrant worker safety

Temporary foreign workers in Ontario have been hit hard by COVID-19, highlighting existing issues in our agricultural sector. Southwestern Ontario journalist Mary Baxter discusses the outbreaks in Essex County.

The Fruit Machine

After the Second World War, the Canadian government used the RCMP to try to purge the public service of LGBTQ employees. Filmmaker Sarah Fodey speaks to survivors of the decades-long bullying campaign.

Quarantine and Answer: Bob Izumi

TVO is catching up with prominent Ontarians to discuss their life during the pandemic. In this instalment, professional fisherman and television host Bob Izumi heads out onto Lake Erie.

How co-operative ownership could save a Thunder Bay icon

The Finnish Labour Temple was a fixture in Thunder Bay for more than a century — until COVID-19 came to town. Can a community effort help it open its doors again? Northwestern Ontario reporter Jon Thompson speaks to the people trying to save the cultural institution.

Demanding action on the exploitation of migrant workers

Rogelio Muñoz Santos died in a Windsor hospital in early June. Advocates say that he was the victim not just of COVID-19 — but also of a predatory system. Southwestern Ontario reporter Mary Baxter examines what went wrong, and what recourse migrant workers have when faced with unsafe working conditions. 

8 p.m. — The Agenda in the Summer: Mae Martin

Mae Martin stars in the Netflix series Feel Good, an LGBTQ romantic comedy. The Toronto-born actor joins Nam Kiwanuka to discuss her life and accomplishments.

9 p.m — The Dictator's Playbook

Manuel Noriega rose through the ranks of Panama’s military and took control of the country in 1982. He was ultimately ousted during the U.S. invasion of 1989.