Around Ontario

MONTREAL — The Quebec government says conditions haven't been met to allow elementary schools to reopen in the greater Montreal area, so they will remain closed until late August.

TORONTO — Ontario is set to enter its first stage of reopening next Tuesday including lifting restrictions on retail stores, golf driving ranges and tennis courts, surgeries and dog grooming.

TORONTO — Gary Miller, director of soccer operations for Ontario Soccer and a member of Canada Soccer's technical committee, has died at the age of 63. An Ontario Soccer spokesman said Miller died Wednesday of a heart attack.

TORONTO — Four men have been charged in the case of a 14-year-old Toronto boy who was allegedly abducted over his stepbrother's criminal activity, police said Thursday as they appealed for help in tracking down a fifth suspect.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Adam Brooks to a two-year, two-way contract. The NHL portion of the contract carries an average annual value of US$725,000.

OTTAWA — The federal government says it is contributing $2.3 million in funding to support a response plan in northern Saskatchewan dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak in the region.

TORONTO — One of Corey Hart's most resilient hit singles, "Never Surrender," is getting a makeover by the singer who's been inspired by people's unwavering strength during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — An MP with a long history with the CFL is hoping the league has called an audible in its approach to securing financial help from the federal government.

MONTREAL — The period of relative unity among Quebec's political class came ended Wednesday as opposition lawmakers hammered the government about the province's dubious distinction of recording the majority of Canada's total COVID-19 deaths.

Quebec will permit several recreational sports including tennis and golf to begin next week across the entire province — including in Montreal, which continues to be the province's COVID-19 epicentre.