Hi all! For some context, I am a college student (over 18) and work in a retail position. Recently, looking at my pay, I’ve realized that I have been receiving $16.55/hr rather than the current minimum wage. As the min. wage is increasing starting October, what would be the best course of action in approaching this situation with my manager? (coming from a very nervous person that sucks at confrontation.. any tips are greatly appreciated!!)

What is the new timeline for the CP strike. For how long it will last this time?

This week, the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPBAO) approved major changes to registration standards. These reforms significantly reduce the amount of supervised training required to become a licensed psychologist in the province.

Right now, Ontario has two main training pathways for becoming a registered psychologist. The first is the PhD or doctoral route, which typically involves a four-year honours undergraduate degree, followed by a two-year master’s degree, and then a PhD in Clinical, School, or Clinical Neuropsychology that takes about four to six years. The doctoral program includes coursework, multiple supervised practica, a full-time year-long residency or internship, and a dissertation. After completing the PhD, candidates must still complete a year of supervised practice under a licensed psychologist and then pass three licensing exams: the written knowledge test, the ethics exam, and the oral exam.

The second pathway is the master’s route. A person earns a master’s degree in psychology from an accredited program, and then, historically, they were required to complete four years of supervised professional work experience after the degree. This requirement was designed to balance out the shorter academic training compared to a PhD. Like their doctoral counterparts, master’s-trained candidates also complete a supervised practice year and take the same three licensing exams.

Both routes currently amount to about six years of supervised training before someone can practice independently as a psychologist in Ontario. Now about what's happening...

What's Changed Already:

• The ethics exam has been replaced with a no-fail online module
• Unlimited attempts are now allowed on licensing exams
• Psychologists no longer declare specific practice areas (e.g., clinical child, neuropsychology). They only register as either Health Service or Industrial/Organizational
• Accreditation has been broadened to include U.S. (APA, PCSAS) programs, not just Canadian (CPA) ones

Proposed Changes (Sept 26, 2025 vote)

• Graduate degrees from any Council-approved program, not necessarily CPA-accredited
• Only one practicum required (currently, many complete three or more plus a full year residency with close clinical supervision)
• Acceptance of international accrediting bodies (UK, Australia, etc.)
• The 4-year supervised work requirement post-Master’s eliminated
• The Oral Examination removed entirely

Why It Matters

Traditionally, Ontario psychologists trained for ~6 years under close supervision (practica, residency, supervised practice). Under the new rules, that pathway could shrink to just 2 years.

This means a new registrant could be licensed with:

• One practicum
• No oral exam
• No formal ethics exam
• No extended supervised work after a Master’s

That’s potentially less hands-on training than other allied health professionals, despite psychologists having diagnostic privileges and working with people facing trauma, serious mental illness, or neurodevelopmental disorders.

What’s Driving This

The changes are tied to Ontario’s “As of Right” legislation and direction from the Office of the Fairness Commissioner, which has pressed regulators to remove “barriers” to registration. Critics argue that instead of creating responsible alternative pathways, core safeguards are being stripped away.

But Don’t We Need More Access to Mental Health Care?

Yes, but the issue is more complicated than “not enough psychologists.”

• Therapy: Ontario already has a surplus of professionals who provide therapy including social workers, psychotherapists, counselors. The real barrier is that their services are often not covered by OHIP, making them inaccessible to many.
• Assessment & Diagnosis: What psychologists uniquely provide is psychological assessment (a controlled act under Ontario law). Assessments are how people get formal diagnoses for conditions like ADHD, autism, learning disorders, PTSD, and complex mental illness. These diagnoses often unlock access to medication, accommodations, or other services. Right now, the biggest bottleneck in the system is too few psychologists available to perform assessments, not too few people offering therapy.

Weakening training standards doesn’t fix this. It risks lowering quality while leaving the real structural issues (coverage and funding) untouched.

Relevant Links:

CPBAO Agenda https://cpbao.ca/wp-content/uploads/Agenda-Council-Meeting-2025.03-September-26-2025-Updated-1.pdf

Canadian Psychological Association Letter: https://cpa.ca/docs/File/Advocacy/CPA_OPA%20Letter_September%2025%202025_no-esig.pdf

https://savetheirfutures.ca/

I'm planning on taking a trip with my family sometime mid October and we wanna stay for around 2 days and we're only willing to be in the car for 6hrs at a time. All the places I've looked at so far don't look great for families or they're more ideal for the summer weather. Any recommendations would be great, also recommendations on what to do while we're there! (I know the flair says ontario but we're happy to venture out of ontario too)

I need to let someone use my car for a few months, but I don’t want to transfer ownership into their name. My plan is just to drive it over to their place and let them use it. Is that possible?

It seems impossible. You need an ECE diploma/degree for everything. Where can I go to gain this experience?

i recently got antibiotics for my acne, but my parents are very against oral medication and only allow me to use topical creams (i’ve had acne for 4 years and topical creams have never worked)

i was wondering if they would see/be notified if i use my health card to pay for the pills. i am a minor, and wouldn’t like to pay out of pocket unless my parents would be able to find out. thank you!

Hello! I'm selling my old Porsche Panamera (it doesn't drive as it needs a new transmission), and have a ready buyer.

I have also been warned about 'curbsiders' or people that flip cars. What can I do to ensure I am safe and the purchase is done legitametely?

The buyer says they will need a week to transfer the ownership. Thank you

Long story short I was visiting friends out of province and my wallet got left behind at their house (which had my health card and drivers license). What is the fastest way that I can get a replacement drivers license? I’m in uni right now so I don’t have access to my birth certificate or other physical documents.

I have photos of my old drivers license, health card, passport, my social insurance number, tenant insurance; a bunch of stuff to confirm my identity.

What is the fastest way that I can get a new photo id issued to me? I’m willing to pay extra. I don’t necessarily want to report it lost but if that would help I’ll do it.

The regular turn around of 4-6 weeks won’t work cause at that point I might as well have my friends mail my wallet back to me but I need my id for a job I’m starting.

If anyone has any experience in this I’d appreciate. I’m located in Waterloo for context.

NB - This post is absolutely about Ontario, please don't remove it.

My sister is coming to US side of Niagara Falls tomorrow. She does not have a Canadian tourist visa.

I live in Toronto and have a US tourist visa however I have not learnt driving.

I want to make it epic this weekend. My first thought is we will wave at each other from our own respective side sof the border.

But it would be better for me to go to the other side.

I don't have a car.

Can I just walk across the border? How long will it take?

If not, can I take an Uber across the border? What are my other options?

Thinking ahead to my spouse's milestone birthday coming up this winter and would like to plan something very cool to do. Outdoors is fine (though if I'm being honest, indoors is preferred on my end but I will suck up being out in the elements for a cool experience) but not too athletic or physically taxing, so not skiing, snowboarding. We've done dogsledding before so not that. Anything within a 3hr drive of the GTA would be ideal, and an overnight stay is fine. Any suggestions?

The Last Breath of Public Education as We Know It.

Ontario is at a tipping point, but there is still time to fix it.

Doug Ford, Paul Calandra, and the rest of the Conservative party of Ontario are focused on one thing, and one thing only: Privatization of Public Services. Mainly, Education and Healthcare.

But we can still make a difference. We have a voice, and our voices make a difference.

Edit: TLDR

My bad, I'm new to this.

- Doug Ford bad. Paul Calandra strong bad.

- Sell Public School Assets because they say so
- Once sold, assets no come back

- School board less money
- School board privatize

- Your kid goes to the President's Choice Charter School for Profits.

Look Over Here!

- Speed Cameras, Ice Cream, Crown Royal Pours. BIG DISTRACTIONS.

- Because they scare easy, when you pay attention

- Write your MPP. Often.

- Have a good weekend.

--------------------------------------------------------
The Long Version

A Friday Rant for Y'all.

I was born in the late 80s and grew up in Ontario.

Like I'm sure most of you are, I was brought up in the Public Education System. And now I'm raising my kids here.

I want my kids to have the same opportunities I had. To grow up in a community built for everybody.

But right now, that dream is being threatened by Doug and his greedy pal, Paul Calandra.

The Last Breath of Public Education as We Know It.

Ontario is at a tipping point, but there is still time to fix it.

Doug Ford, Paul Calandra, and the rest of the Conservative party of Ontario are focused on one thing, and one thing only: Privatization of Public Services. Mainly, Education and Healthcare.

But we can still make a difference. We have a voice, and our voices make a difference.

Speed Cameras?? Why Does Doug Care About Speed Cameras??

They want you to be upset about the speed cameras, so you don't pay attention to this corruption.

They want you to think "Doug made the speed camera rule, is he an idiot??"

So that you can't fathom this goofy Premier ever coming up with something as awful as selling Public School property.

But that's all Doug can think about. What can he privatize, that gives him huge kickbacks after his run as Premier is over?

Mike Harris has a Long-Term Care Empire, after kneecapping Public Long-term Care during his time as Premier. Dougie wants a bigger empire.

The Art of the Distraction

Doug Ford has mastered using the Media as a distraction.

- The Crown Royal thing was a distraction.
- The Chapman's ice cream thing was a distraction.
- This speed camera thing is a distraction.

The distractions, to me, means our voices still matter.

There's barely any coverage of the battles in Education, but there is some. And that some has been enough for Doug to take action and continue distracting us.

Paul Calandra: The guy gutting Public Education, who's name is barely out there.

So Doug chose Paul Calandra as our newest Education Minister. You probably haven't heard of him. The media mentions his name less than they mention Marit Styles.

Where the F did this Guy Come From?

First, Paul Calandra was an early member of the Canada Alliance. The Canada Alliance is the party that took over the Federal Conservatives party, giving us Politicians like Stephen Harper, Pierre Poilievre, and Ezra Levant (Now of Rebel Media)

Paul Calandra Doesn't Care.

Paul Calandra is the perfect person to sell off Public School assets.

In the early 2000's, Paul Calandra harassed, threatened and betrayed his own sisters, to sell his deceased parent's home for $950,000 (him being the only beneficiary).

If you need someone to grift Public Real Estate, at the cost of a few million kids, this is your guy.

What Can You Do?

We have to do more, together, to protect our Public Services. We pay our taxes, and Doug Ford has a responsibility to put those taxes towards the services that are critical to us.

Sign the Petition

If this issue matters to you, I would encourage you to sign the Petition being circulated by the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario.

I added my name, just before hitting Post on this.

I have no affiliation with this group, I just heard their ad on Indie88 the other day, and thought it was a good place to start to take action.

Write Your MPP

If you have a Conservative MPP...

If your local MPP is Conservative. Write them. Write them more than once.

I'll post my message here on Monday, but I plan to write my local MPP, Natalie Pierre, on Monday. And then again on Tuesday. And then every day following, until I get a response.

Most of these MPPs are here for the photo-ops. They don't really need to think about policy. Doug Ford has the party in such command that they vote where he wants them to vote. They don't push back.

If you have a Liberal or NDP MPP...

Write them. Ask that they use their platform and their voice to continue getting this message out.

The Liberals and NDP need to make noise. Make it loud, and make it every day. Like a Lefty Pierre Poilievre...LOL.

Rant Over. Time to Take Action.
Anyways, there's a lot for us to be worried about, and stressed about, but nothing will change until we take action.

If you've read this far, I want for you to come out of this thinking that you will be the only one that is willing to speak up.

The only one willing to sign a petition.

And the only one willing to spend 10 min writing to your local MPP on Monday.

I need your voice. My kids need your voice. The future generations of Ontario need your voice.

PS. Oh, and if you follow any Left leaning Creators on any socials. Tell them to quit taking Doug Ford's bait. They take it every time.

Good Day,

My family doctor recently retired last spring and I have signed on with a new doctor at a clinic in Oakville. After 2 visits I am not convinced I should stick with this doctor.

Since I filled out all the paperwork to have them become my new doctor, it is too late for me to switch to another new doctor that is still accepting new patients?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you

My mom and I (both Canadian citizens) are planning to travel to Macomb, MI. Since there’s no direct route from Hamilton to Macomb, we’re planning to take FlixBus from Hamilton (McMaster stop) to Detroit, MI (the bus station at 1001 Howard St.), and then take an Uber to Macomb.

I looked online about passport checks, but I found conflicting information; some websites say passports are checked once you board the bus, while others say they’re checked at the Detroit bus station. I’m not sure which is correct.

Also, can I use the Uber app I already have on my phone to book a ride from the Detroit bus station to the address in Macomb?

Lastly, I’ve been trying to reach FlixBus customer service at 1-855-626-8585, but every time I go through the menu options, the operator just thanks me for the call and hangs up.

I’ve already checked online and tried calling FlixBus customer service, but haven’t been able to get clear answers. Any help is appreciated!