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Tonight on 'Closer Look': Mounted cameras that help drivers better detect children standing or walking nearby will be mandatory on all new school buses — but not right away.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering.

These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how our editors and reporters gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: Keeping our kids a little bit safer.

Last week, Transport Canada announced a mandatory new feature on all school buses: perimeter visibility systems, which help drivers detect children around a bus while it is stopped or travelling slowly.

Canada is the first country in the world to require this new technology, which uses a series of cameras mounted onto the outside of the school bus.

But the new rules won't take effect immediately. The government says all new school buses must be equipped with the system as of Nov. 1, 2027.

SEE: It's not photo radar, but Transport Canada mandates cameras on school buses

“The biggest safety risk for children riding a school bus isn’t inside the vehicle, it’s actually around the bus," said federal Transport Minister Anita Anand, in a news release. "With this new regulation, the Government of Canada is taking meaningful action to improve school bus technologies and to keep our children safe.”

GuelphToday reporter Mark Pare joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his previous coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

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Ontario is mailing $200 'taxpayer rebate' cheques to most adults in the province, but amid scam reports and 'technical errors,' people are asking the obvious question: Why not just use direct deposit?

Even before a single cheque was dropped in a mailbox, the idea was controversial.

Doug Ford's PC government announced last month it had started sending $200 cheques to most adults in Ontario — a "taxpayer rebate" to help ease the cost of living.

Opposition parties slammed the move as a pre-election ploy, a $3-billion stunt to curry favour with voters in advance of an election call. At this point, it's not even clear what the final shipping costs will be.

Now that the cheques are beginning to arrive, more problems have surfaced — including misprints that have prevented some people from cashing theirs. And earlier this week, the government issued a "scam alert" on its rebate web page, warning people to be wary of being contacted by someone claiming to be a government staffer asking for personal information. 

SEE: Ontario warns of $200 rebate cheque scams

All of this begs the question: Why not use direct deposit instead of Canada Post? A lot of people around the province are wondering the same thing.

A government spokesperson says “cheques are an effective way to deliver payments to eligible recipients," and that the full cost of mailing out all those envelopes will eventually be reported as part of the 2024-25 public accounts.

TorontoToday reporter Sarah Do Couto joins us tonight to talk about the controversial rebate cheques. You can read her latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': At this hockey game in North Bay, the players were not the story.

On tonight's episode: One final game.

For years, Darren Simms had been a fixture around North Bay hockey rinks, cheering for his hometown Trappers, Lakers and Battalion. But this season, amid failing health, he had been noticeably absent from the stands.

Recently admitted to the Nipissing Serenity Hospice, the "self-proclaimed diehard fan" was given the gift of one last game.

The Community Paramedicine program and the OHL's North Bay Battalion joined forces last weekend to bring Simms to the rink — and have him read the starting lineup inside the home locker room.

SEE: Cheering for his team one last time

BayToday reporter Chris Dawson, who wrote about the heartwarming moment, joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': A Barrie woman who admitted to police that she drowned her two young girls in a bathtub nearly two decades ago has been granted more escorted absences from prison.

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dogged reporters and editors.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering.

These conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight's episode: An Ontario mom who killed her two daughters wins more freedom.

Nearly two decades ago, a Barrie woman confessed to a horrific crime: she drowned her two young daughters — 19-month-old Sophia and three-year-old Serena — in the bathtub of her apartment.

Frances Elaine Goodine (formerly Campione) was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the 2006 killings and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

But in a recent ruling, the Parole Board of Canada agreed to grant her more escorted absences from prison. All told, Goodine will be allowed nearly 1,800 hours outside of custody over the next 18 months, split over 372 separate absences under the watchful eye of an escort.

SEE: Barrie mom who drowned daughters gets more escorted prison absences

BarrieToday reporter Kevin Lamb joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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In this new feature, Village Media journalists dig into an important story making headlines around the province. On tonight's episode: Everything you need to know about the Starlink contract.

Elon was gone — and now he's back.

On Monday morning, on the eve of a trade war between the U.S. and Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed to "rip up" the province's $100-million contract with Musk's Starlink to provide satellite internet service to thousands of rural homes and businesses. 

"Ontario won’t do business with people hell-bent on destroying our economy," Ford said. "Canada didn't start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we're ready to win it."

SEE: Ontario 'ripping up' $100 million deal with Elon Musk's Starlink in response to U.S. tariffs

But by late Monday afternoon, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached a last-minute deal to postpone U.S. President Donald Trump's promised tariffs by at least 30 days, Ford said the contract was back on.

What is Starlink? And why did the province decide in the first place to pay the Musk-controlled company tens of millions of dollars?

Sneh Duggal, deputy editor of The Trillium, joins us on 'Closer Look' to explain all the details. You can read her latest coverage HERE.

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dogged reporters and editors.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore a compelling story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our

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In this new feature, Village Media journalists dig into an important story making headlines around the province. On tonight's episode: A tense day in the on-again, off-again Canada-U.S. trade war.

On the eve of a trade war with the United States, Canada has received a last-minute reprieve from President Donald Trump — for at least one month.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the breaking news on social media late Monday afternoon, following two phone calls with Trump.

Trudeau said on top of a new $1.3-billion border plan, the federal government has agreed to to appoint a "Fentanyl Czar," list cartels as terrorists, and launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime and money laundering.

Those steps appeared enough to appease Trump, who agreed to postpone Tuesday's scheduled start of massive tariffs on all Canadian imports.

"Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together," Trudeau wrote.

SEE: U.S. pauses tariffs on Canadian goods for a month

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was cautious in his response, saying “Canada and Ontario continue to stare down the threat of tariffs.”

Katherine DeClerq, the editor of ParliamentToday, has been covering all of today's fast-moving developments. Shortly before Trudeau's announcement, she joined tonight's episode of "Closer Look" to talk about how we got here, how the proposed tariffs would work, and how damaging they could be.

You can read DeClerq's full coverage HERE and HERE.

SEE: What does a trade war mean for Canada?

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.

This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dogged

Send us a text

Tonight on 'Closer Look': Krista Ford Haynes has launched a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $100K for her husband, a Toronto cop facing a disciplinary hearing for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore a compelling story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight’s episode of 'Closer Look': A high-profile fundraising campaign for Doug Ford's son-in-law.

On Monday — the day before Ford asked the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature and kick-start a provincial election — his eldest daughter took to Instagram with a different kind of message.

Krista Ford Haynes has launched a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $100,000 for her husband, a Toronto police officer who is facing a disciplinary hearing for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I am coming here tonight to ask for something I never in a million years thought I would ask for… your financial support,” she said in the Instagram video. 

SEE: Ford’s daughter seeks $100K for cop husband’s disciplinary battle with Toronto police

TorontoToday reporter Gabe Oatley joins us tonight with the full story. You can read his coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': A well-known retail brand is shutting the doors for good — and in its farewell message, the company is urging customers to keep shopping local so 'dollars stay within Canada'.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore a compelling story they are covering.

These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight’s episode of 'Closer Look': The end of an era for a Canadian retailer.

Earlier this week, Peavey Mart announced the immediate closure of all its stores, including every location in Ontario.

In business for six decades, the company said it had no choice but to seek creditor protection amid inflationary pressures, rising operating costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions.

Along with thanking its loyal customers, Peavey Mart also asked them to do one thing in particular: shop local.

"Every time you choose to shop locally or support a Canadian retailer, you help make your community more prosperous," the company wrote in a Facebook post. "By choosing Canadian retail businesses, you ensure that dollars stay within Canada, supporting the people, organizations, and livelihoods that enrich our communities."

SEE: Guelph’s Peavey Mart set to close as part of Canada-wide shutdown

GuelphToday reporter Mark Pare, who covered the closing of his local Peavey Mart, joins us tonight to talk about the final days of a beloved brand. You can read his latest report HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': As she runs for re-election, the Conservative MPP in Newmarket-Aurora is facing mounting allegations that she berated and abused at least seven former employees.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore a compelling story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight’s episode: On the job with Conservative MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy.

Running for re-election as part of Doug Ford's PC party, the MPP from Newmarket-Aurora is facing mounting criticism from ex-employees.

In December, a former constituency manager filed a formal complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, alleging she was terminated for reporting workplace harassment at the MPP's office. 

Since then, at least seven other former employees have come forward with similar allegations.

SEE: More former employees accuse Newmarket-Aurora MPP of workplace bullying

Ford defended his colleague at a Tuesday press conference, saying "we always act professionally and we always respect our employees."

"I do support Dawn," he continued. "She does incredible work within her community."

NewmarketToday reporter Joseph Quigley has been covering the story and joins us tonight with all the details. You can read his latest report HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Tonight on 'Closer Look': How the Ford government (if re-elected) plans to ensure every person in Ontario has a primary care provider by the time the next provincial election rolls around.

Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore a compelling story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.

On tonight’s episode: Another crack at solving Ontario's doctor shortage.

The timing was impossible to ignore. On Monday — just one day before Premier Doug Ford triggered a snap election — his government revealed a detailed plan to solve the province's doctor shortage.

Joining Health Minister Sylvia Jones at the news conference was the government's non-partisan advisor on the issue, former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Jane Philpott.

Dubbed "Ontario's Primary Care Action Plan," it promises to provide two million Ontarians with access to a family doctor over the next four years by assigning them to one of hundreds of new "primary care teams."

"This plan is ambitious, and the changes will not happen overnight," Philpott said. "But when our shared vision is realized, we will have a primary care system in the province that has never existed before."

SEE: PCs announce plan to solve doctor shortage by 2029

Alan S. Hale, a reporter at The Trillium, joins us with all the details. You can read his coverage HERE.

Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.