10 Toronto stories that mattered in 2025

An election, a Blue Jays World Series run and a plane crash.

This has been one wild year in the CBC Toronto newsroom.  But we’ve taken a crack at looking back at some of the biggest stories of 2025 — particularly the ones that will still matter as we enter the new year.

And if you think there’s one we’ve missed, let us know by emailing TOnews@cbc.ca.

Ford cruises to a majority

The year began with a frenzy of political speculation before Premier Doug Ford made it official, calling a snap election in order to win the “largest mandate in Ontario’s history.”

Fast forward to February and Ontario voters gave Ford a majority — ostensibly to do what it takes to counter U.S. tariffs — but his government didn’t grow.

The NDP remains the Official Opposition, while the Liberals are once again searching for a new leader.

What happens next: How will Ford, now in his third term, govern?

Ontario housing starts slump and Toronto’s condo market shows cracks

Ontario fell behind its goal of building 1.5 million homes across the province in 10 years — making it more of a “soft” target, per provincial finance minister Rob Flack.

Toronto also received an F grade after housing starts decreased by 40 per cent, according to a report by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario.

But the housing woes don’t stop there. Toronto’s condo market also weakened this year with some likening the situation to the market crash in the early 1990s.

What’s next: Several factors may help the GTA bounce back from the condo market downturn, but can the province similarly get back on track for housing builds?

Plane crash at Pearson

The world’s attention turned to Toronto in February when Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 crash landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The plane from Minneapolis flipped onto its side with flames and smoke billowing out. Thankfully, all 80 people on board escaped without major injuries.

A preliminary report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in March found the plane descended at a high rate and was slightly off the recommended landing angle.

What happens next: Several passengers await their day in court after filing civil cases against the airlines involved

Crime dips, but worries persist

While crime rates have dipped across Toronto, the city’s police Chief Myron Demkiw told CBC News that youth crime rates continue to be a cause for concern. 

The kinds of crimes youth are getting involved in are becoming “even more alarming,” he said, adding they may end up committing crimes due to economic barriers or a lack of access to social support.

Demkiw also felt the role of police in mental health crisis calls needs to be re-examined, with officers serving as backup instead of being on the front lines.

Ford government takes over school boards

At the Toronto Public Library, one of the most-borrowed books of 2025 was The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt — a book aimed at parents to help kids “reclaim childhood in the digital era.”

The Ford government’s policy banning mobile phones in schools might please some of those parents, but 2025 also saw the government intervene in other ways.

Education Minister Paul Calandra announced in June the government would be taking over several school boards, including the Toronto District School Board. This month, Calandra said he’ll decide early in the new year whether or not he’ll do away with school trustees altogether.

Some parents have already flagged concerns connecting with government-appointed supervisors at their schools.

What happens next: Plugged-in parents will be watching to see how the government changes trickle down to the classroom.

GM layoffs loom

Big changes are looming over the city of Oshawa, as the midnight shift at General Motors’ Oshawa plant is expected to be cut by Jan. 30, 2026.

It’s a change that will disrupt the lives of some 750 GM employees and nearly 1,500 others who work for auto part suppliers.

The company announced in May that it would move to a two-shift operation due to an “evolving trade environment” — a decision that followed the U.S. President Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on auto parts.

What’s coming up: How will the city handle the potentially rising unemployment rate?

Toronto Blue Jays come oh so close to World Series glory

A historic season for the Blue Jays came to a devastating end after a do-or-die World Series Game 7 against the L.A. Dodgers — a moment that broke hearts not just in Toronto, but across the country.

The series had it all, from an 18-inning game that ran over six hours to tense moments in the final with both teams filtering out of the dugout in anticipation of a fight.

Toronto reaped the benefits of the baseball buzz with restaurants, bars and other businesses joining in on the hype with fans during the October season.

What’s next: The team has been busy rebuilding its roster during the offseason. Spring training, believe it or not, begins in mid-February.

Speed cam bans

Speed cameras were taken down across the province in November after a months-long crusade by Premier Doug Ford against the so-called “cash grab” cameras.

It’s an issue that’s drawn mixed opinions with mayors of several Ontario municipalities urging Ford to reconsider the ban, especially in school zones.

The province provided Toronto and other municipalities with large signs to replace cameras for school zones after the ban. But the city said the signs were too big for Toronto’s poles.

Reagan tariffs ad

Ford made headlines, yet again, for triggering the wrath of U.S. President Donald Trump and halting U.S.-Canada trade talks with a province-funded advertisement against American tariffs.

The one-minute ad was played in the U.S. and narrated by former president Ronald Reagan using excerpts of a radio address he made in 1987 about free trade.

After discussions with Prime Minister Carney, Ford announced near the end of October that the ad campaign was being stopped in order to resume trade talks.

Finch LRT opens

The new light rail line opened to great fanfare because hey, it’s brand new transit in Toronto!

But then, CBC reporters and others clocked the thing and one fast Torontonian outran it.

Yes, the Finch trains are still being used cautiously — a lesson learned from Ottawa’s LRT woes — but that didn’t stop city council from approving plans to improve signal priority and look at other ways to make the rapid transit line more rapid than … the bus.

What’s coming up: We still don’t have an opening date for the Eglinton LRT, but Torontonians have to wonder how fast that line will be when it finally opens.