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Career college students worry about impact of OSAP pause, extended to 2027
Students worry about impact of OSAP pause
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Now that the Ontario government has confirmed that a provincewide pause on student financial assistance payments to career colleges will last for months, some students say they're worried it will prevent them from graduating.
Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn announced late Tuesday afternoon that the pause won't be lifted until the government establishes a new process for approving private post-secondary institutions under the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
He says that work isn't expected to be finished until the new year, and the government is also still working to secure third-party loans for students through banks.
Quinn enacted the pause after he said preliminary findings from an audit into OSAP usage at career colleges highlighted serious concerns.
Many students say they feel unfairly penalized for the allegedly suspicious activity of others.
Trillium College has suspended classes due to uncertainty around the OSAP pause, and student Marina Whitehead says she now doesn't know if she will be able to graduate in February, as planned.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Allison Jones | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Social media ban for under-16s consistent with Charter, government says
Ottawa says social media ban Charter-compliant
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Liberal government says while its proposed digital safety legislation might affect freedom of expression, the bill itself is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Bill C-34 would ban social media access for kids under 16 and experts have warned it is likely to face a constitutional challenge.
The government included the analysis in a Charter statement, a document issued by the justice minister that looks at whether a bill is consistent with the Charter.
It says the bill might engage freedom of expression and equality rights, as well as section 8 of the Charter, which deals with privacy.
But it says the social media ban is consistent with the Charter for a number of reasons, including the fact that age-based restrictions already apply to activities like voting and driving.
It says there is considerable evidence about the risks social media use poses for young people and social media platforms with adequate safeguards will be exempt from the ban.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Anja Karadeglija | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Musical about genetic discovery conceived as way to process 'life-changing' family secret
Musical conceived as way to process family secret
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
After Noam Tomaschoff's parents revealed to him that his dad — the man who raised him from birth — was not his biological father, his gut instinct wasn't to keep harbouring the secret they had kept for 31 years: It was to share it, and share it widely.
"My brain automatically told me, like, you need to make something out of this," he said of his reaction in the summer of 2022.
That intuition led the writer-actor to process the news through penning a one-man musical with his two childhood friends based on his real-life extraordinary genetic discovery.
Another aspect of the personal bombshell was the fact that the only child actually had more than 35 half-siblings.
"I've met people who have had similar experiences and when they don't have an outlet, whatever it may be, to wrangle it and make sense of it and own it, it can remain a big obstacle, something you never get past," he said. "I think it was my way of getting through it."
After successful runs at the Toronto and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, a showcase in New York, and performances in other Canadian cities, "Our Little Secret: A True New Musical" is heading to the Off-Mirvish stage, giving the Toronto-born performer a special homecoming.
"It's everything. It's like the Olympics," he said of the show hitting the CAA Theatre for a nearly three-week run, beginning Nov. 3.
For Tomaschoff, the last four years have been a whirlwind.
He had a typical childhood and said he never had any reason to suspect his parents were keeping anything — let alone an identity-shaking secret — from him. But as detailed in a lengthy 2023 Toronto Life feature, when he was 31, a woman he was dating, who is now his fiancée, told him about direct-to-consumer genetic test kits. On a whim, he ordered one. When he told his mom about the impending DNA test, the series of life-shifting events unfolded.
Unable to conceive naturally, Tomaschoff's parents turned to sperm donation and decided to tell only a few family members. Tomaschoff said it wasn't in his nature to lash out at his parents. Intellectually, he said, he understood their reasons for not telling him.
"That was the general guidance at the time; it made sense," he said. "There wasn't as much of a support structure. There's a lot of shame around this type of thing, so I was never there being like, 'How could you do this?' I know why they did it."
After taking the DNA test, Tomaschoff connected with other people who were conceived via the same sperm donor. The man died before Tomaschoff learned of their relation, but he has since grown close to some of his half-siblings, he said.
While his parents wanted their son to keep the truth under wraps, Tomaschoff refused. Before learning about his true backstory, the 35-year-old artist had been living in Los Angeles, struggling to land auditions and feeling "creatively adrift" after wrapping up an independent feature film project, he said.
"I had never had such a stroke of inspiration about any other project I've done in my life" he said.
After receiving a slot in the 2023 Toronto Fringe Festival, Tomaschoff wrote the show with his best friends, composer Ryan Peters and producer Russell Citron, whom he had met in high school and, fittingly, bonded with over a love of musical theatre.
The show, then called "Our Little Secret: The 23andMe Musical," sold out all its performances and earned awards, including the Patron’s Pick and Best of Fringe.
Tomaschoff has since performed it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 and later in Montreal. The show is currently playing at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre until Oct. 25. Ahead of its return to the Toronto stage, Tomaschoff said the show's rise has been "very amazing and humbling."
"Our Little Secret" has evolved since its original conception. Initially, Tomaschoff said, it focused on the fun, joyful and wow moments, but after receiving constructive feedback that it lacked emotional, vulnerable notes, he said the show now better balances the highs and lows of that time period.
"It would be unsatisfying for the general audience to see a show that's just kind of all happy. It certainly wouldn't be true if it was all sad," he said. "It's trying to have everything in there that was a key step along the way, whether it was a difficult moment or overcoming that."
The new production is directed by veteran stage performer Adam Pascal, best known for his role in the original Broadway and West End productions of "Rent." In "Our Little Secret," Tomaschoff speaks directly to the audience — referred to as breaking the fourth wall — and plays multiple roles, including his parents, Gideon Tomaschoff and Sylvie Leone-Tomaschoff.
When he was creating the musical, he kept his folks in the dark about its contents, a move he described as "my little payback." But when his parents first saw it performed, they really liked it, he said. With every new iteration of the script, he strives to represent them authentically, while not shying away from difficult moments.
"It's a negotiation, but we always strive to arrive at consensus around each new version of the script, which I think it must be the first musical in history where the parents essentially have an editorial role in the writing of it," Tomaschoff said. "But it's another way that we kind of keep each other honest."
Tomaschoff's story is specific, but he said the show deals with universal themes such as identity and family crisis. He wants audiences of all ages to walk out of the show inspired to embrace honesty in their relationships.
While he's had years to process the truth, Tomaschoff said during performances, he can still tap into the initial moment of shock.
"I think I will be able to forever because it was just such a life-changing moment."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Kaitlyn McGrath | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Ces «cheaps» du Québec révèlent leurs meilleurs achats à vie pour économiser et ça surprend
Ça va du bidet jusqu'à acheter...des poules?! 👀
Depuis plusieurs mois, l'inflation fait mal au budget alloué à la vie quotidienne et tu cherches donc sûrement un moyen de réduire les frais. Sur Facebook, le groupe Bienvenue chez les cheaps : Les Économes du Québec rassemble des personnes qui veulent économiser gros et elles ont récemment partagé des objets qui leur ont été très utiles pour sauver des sous sur le long terme.
Narcity a donc répertorié huit produits ou autres parmi les commentaires qui pourraient bien te servir pour baisser tes factures. En tout cas, cette liste vaut le coup d'œil, car il y a des choses surprenantes auxquelles tu n'aurais pas forcément pensé.
Un bidet
Plusieurs personnes ont indiqué avoir acheté ou prévoir investir dans « un bidet installé sur la toilette, à l’eau froide ».
Il serait super simple de le mettre en place soi-même, et cela aurait pour conséquence de réduire considérablement les dépenses en papier toilette.
« Il m'en a couté 78 $, mais je n'achète plus de papier toilette. En considérant qu'une personne en moyenne utilise près de 85 rouleaux par année, à environ 2 $ le rouleau en moyenne (peut être moins ou plus dépendant des deals, de la marque, etc), ça fait près de 170 $ pour une seule personne en économie (et c'est écolo) », a indiqué quelqu'un sur la publication.
Sinon, d'autres adhérents et adhérentes du groupe Facebook ont déclaré avoir investi dans du papier de toilette lavable.
Un gym maison
Peut-être que la fermeture des salles de sport durant la pandémie en a inspiré plusieurs, mais certaines personnes ont indiqué avoir investi dans un gym maison pour supprimer l'abonnement mensuel, afin de réduire les dépenses sur le long terme.
« Il m'en a couté un peu moins de 300 $. Un forfait de gym, c'est minimum 20 $ par mois (peut-être moins), donc 240 $ par an. Mon gym maison me suffira pendant plus que ça », est-il expliqué.
En plus, ça t'évitera de faire du sport avec d'autres personnes qui sentent la sueur, ce qui est un confort supplémentaire.
Un étendoir
Étant donné que les factures d'Hydro-Québec ne font qu'augmenter, réduire tes dépenses en électricité peut être un atout non négligeable pour faire des économies. Pour ce faire, certains et certaines utilisent simplement un séchoir à linge. Oui, rien de plus simple.
« J'ai quand même une sécheuse au cas où, mais je sauve beaucoup sur le long terme en électricité en laissant mon linge sécher à l'air libre, EN PLUS de promouvoir la longévité de mon linge », explique cette personne.
L'intérieur est bien sûr préférable l'hiver, tandis que l'été tu peux aussi accrocher une simple corde sur ton balcon et utiliser des pinces à linge.
Vinaigre
Parce que les produits de nettoyage sont parfois dispendieux, une autre alternative moins coûteuse est possible. Des personnes ont indiqué utiliser du vinaigre, du peroxyde ou encore du bicarbonate de soude pour faire le ménage. Non seulement c'est plus écologique, mais en plus, c'est plus économique.
« Pour les nettoyants maison je vie QU'AVEC le vinaigre. Je l'aromatise avec des fleurs/plante comestible et ça lui donne une bonne odeur en plus de n'avoir aucun danger d'empoisonnement pour mes p'tits », explique ce membre d'une famille.
Des sacs étanches en silicone
Chris.W Lot de 15 sacs de congélation réutilisables en silicone pour viande, fruits, légumes, collations à vendre sur Amazon.
Amazon
Il est vrai que d'investir dans des sacs Ziploc n'est pas très écologique, mais c'est aussi coûteux. Certaines personnes utilisent donc des sacs refermables étanches en silicone qui peuvent se réutiliser pendant plusieurs années.
« Je les ai depuis 6 ans [voir plus], finis les brûlures de froid et les sacs Ziploc ou sous vide », est-il écrit dans les commentaires.
Mentionnons que tu peux en trouver sous forme de lot sur Amazon pour une dizaine de dollars.
Diva Cup et culottes menstruelles
D'après une étude du gouvernement québécois de 2021 sur l’accès aux produits menstruels, le coût moyen annuel des principaux produits menstruels dans la province s'élève à 72,22 $ et 85,76 $ pour des serviettes et des tampons.
Notons que ces tarifs ont été calculés sur la base de l'utilisation de 25 unités par cycle, mais ces dépenses peuvent varier selon les différentes personnes et la combinaison de produits.
Plusieurs adhérents et adhérentes du groupe ont donc mentionné avoir troqué les tampons et les serviettes hygiéniques pour la coupe menstruelle, des culottes menstruelles ou encore des serviettes lavables. C'est économique ET écologique!
Une machine à pain
Hamilton Beach 29882C HomeBaker Machine à pain en vente sur Amazon.
Amazon
Étant donné que le coût de l'épicerie a monté en flèche dernièrement, tu pourrais économiser sur la valeur du pain en achetant une machine à pain. Par exemple, sur Amazon, tu peux en trouver pour une centaine de dollars.
« Beaucoup d’économie, j’y fais mes pitas, pains hamburger, pain blanc ou multigrains, pain aux raisins, etc, j’achète ma farine chez Mayrand à moins de 20 $, le sac de 20 kg », est-il précisé dans les commentaires.
À titre informatif, selon les estimations des prix fournis par les internautes, le prix moyen pour un pain de 500 grammes dans la province en 2023 est de 3 $.
Des poules
Certes, il faut un jardin et l'autorisation de la municipalité pour que cet investissement soit possible, mais sur le long terme, cela peut être un premier pas vers l'autosuffisance.
Certaines personnes ont pensé à acheter des poules pour les élever en liberté et produire des oeufs frais.
« Étant donné que les oeufs bio de poules élevées en liberté sont en moyenne 8 $ la douzaine, on va devenir rentables rapidement », est-il expliqué sur la publication.
Notons que d'après le site Internet du média Les affaires, en 2020, il fallait débourser entre 15 $ et 50 $ pour acheter une poule qui pondra en moyenne de 240 à 300 œufs par année. Par contre, tu devras aussi payer un permis urbain pouvant aller jusqu'à 50 $ en plus d'investir dans un poulailler pouvant coûter jusqu'à 6 000 $ en fonction du nombre d'animaux dans l'habitacle.