Category: Canada

After-tax NPV 5% of US$1,353 million at approx. spot of US$3,200 gold price

After-tax NPV 5% of US$603 million at US$2,200 base-case gold price

A compelling after-tax IRR of 72% at US$3,200 gold and 40% at US$2,200 base case gold price

AISC of US$1,111/oz

After-tax payback period of 2 years

The Company has received a positive legal opinion on status of the Castelo de Sonhos Permit, which remains valid and in good standing

Scottsdale, Arizona–(Newsfile Corp. – May 5, 2025) – TriStar Gold Inc. (TSXV: TSG) (OTCQB: TSGZF) (“TriStar” or the “Company), is pleased to announce a prefeasibility study (“Study”) update for the Company’s Castelo de Sonhos gold project in southern Pará State, Brazil by GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda (“GE21”) of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. There was no change to the mineral resources or reserves, the focus of the update study was the cost estimate since the release of the previous PFS, as well as to incorporate changes to the gold price and exchange rates.

Nick Appleyard, TriStar’s President and CEO, stated: “The updated Study is a key step in our advancement of Castelo de Sonhos, demonstrating gold price leverage and robust economics at a time of record high gold prices and a scarcity of permitted development assets.”

Mr. Appleyard continued, “Tristar’s Castelo de Sonhos can fill a gap in the gold development space, with the potential to create value for all stakeholders. We look forward to advancing this project to a construction decision.”

The results of the Study now replace the 2021 prefeasibility study (“PFS”), originally announced in the Company’s press release dated October 5, 2021. The Study has incorporated a new cost estimate for the planned development of Castelo de Sonhos compared with the 2021 original.

Table 1 below presents a side-by-side comparison of the key metrics of the latest Study and 2021 PFS.

Table 1. Key Metrics Comparison.

The Prefeasibility Study Update
The prefeasibility study update of economic parameters was conducted by GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda (“GE21”) of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who are independent of TriStar.

Key parameters of the Study include:

Review and update all project operating costs.

Review and update all project capital costs.

Economic analyses were carried out based on the resources and reserves that are still considered current.

Update economics with a base case long-term gold price of US$2,200/oz and a foreign exchange rate of US$1 = BRL5.75. The economics include the effect of the project royalties, including NSR royalties totaling 3.5% and Brazilian federal gross royalty of 1.5%.

Project Description
The Castelo de Sonhos operation will include an open pit gold mine and processing facilities with a nominal milling rate of 10,000 tpd (3.6Mtpa). Power will be supplied by a 26 km, 138 kV transmission line from a substation adjacent to Highway 163 near the town of Castelo de Sonhos. At closure, all buildings will be removed, disturbed lands rehabilitated, and the property returned to otherwise functional use according to future approved reclamation plans and accepted practices at the time of closure. The Study incorporates all costs associated with undertaking these measures and is reflected in the project economics.

Mining will be based on conventional open pit methods (drill-blast-load-haul), which are suited to the Project location, orebody and local site conditions.

The process flowsheet remains unchanged with whole-ore agitation leaching as the preferred process flowsheet for project development. The plant will be designed to treat 10,000 tpd through crushing, grinding, hybrid cyanidation and carbon in leach, carbon acid wash, pressure stripping, and thermal regeneration. Electrowinning sludge will be dried and smelted to produce doré bars for shipment to third party refiners. Based on the test work conducted this flowsheet is anticipated to result in a metallurgical recovery of 98% of the gold delivered to the plant.

Figure 1. Castelo de Sonhos Project Prefeasibility Proposed Layout.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

Economic Results
The results of the Study are shown below in Table 2. A base case gold price of US$2,200 has been used and a fixed exchange ratio of BRL5.75 (5.75 Brazilian Reals) to US$1.

Table 2. Summary of Economic Results of the Study.

Notes: Estimated All In Sustaining Costs per ounce of gold produced is a Non-GAAP measure that is equal the total of site mining costs, site and corporate G&A costs, royalties and production taxes, realized gains/losses on hedging transactions, community and permitting costs relating to current operations, refining costs, site based non-cash remuneration, inventory write-downs, stripping costs, byproduct credits, reclamation costs, and sustaining costs related to exploration and studies, capital exploration, capitalized stripping and underground mine development, and capital expenditures, divided by the estimated total ounces of gold produced during the life of the mine.

Economic Sensitivities

The figures and tables below show the sensitivity of after-tax NPV and IRR to changes in the US dollar gold price.

Figure 2. Sensitivity of after-tax NPV10% (Millions) to gold price, base case highlighted in blue.
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Figure 3. Sensitivity of after-tax IRR% to gold price, base case highlighted in blue.

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Capital Cost Estimate

The Study outlines an initial capital cost estimate of US$296 million, including a 20% contingency.

Table 3 below summarizes the initial capital cost estimate for the Project.

Table 3. Summary of major components of initial capital estimate.

Operating Costs

Operating costs by phase for the LOM are provided in Table 4 below.

Table 4. Life of mine summary of operating parameters and costs.

Mineral Resource Estimate
This mineral resource estimate remains unchanged as per the Company press release dated Oct 5, 2021 “TriStar Gold Announces Positive PFS with 1.4 Moz Gold Reserves and pre-tax 33% IRR and $400 million NPV.”

Results are shown in Table 5 below.

Table 5. Mineral resource estimate1 for the Castelo de Sonhos gold project (with an effective date of October 4, 2021) above a reporting cutoff grade of 0.26 g/t Au.
¹Project totals may appear not to sum correctly since all numbers have been rounded to reflect the precision of Inferred and Indicated mineral resource estimates.
²These are mineral resources and not reserves and as such do not have demonstrated economic viability.
³The metal content estimates reflect gold in situ, and do not include factors such as external dilution, mining losses and process recovery losses.
⁴TriStar is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing or political factors that might materially affect these mineral resource estimates.

Mineral Reserve Estimate
The Mineral Reserves, which also remain unchanged, for Castelo de Sonhos are a subset of the Indicated Mineral Resources as shown in Table 5 above. Probable Mineral Reserves are modified from Indicated Mineral Resources and are summarized in Table 6. Inferred Mineral Resources are set to waste. This mineral reserve estimate remains unchanged as per the Company press release dated Oct 5, 2021 “TriStar Gold Announces Positive PFS with 1.4 Moz Gold Reserves and pre-tax 33% IRR and $400 million NPV.”

Table 6. The Mineral Reserve estimates were prepared by Guilherme Gomides Ferreira, P.Eng., a GE21, and have an effective date of October 4, 2021.
Mineral Reserves are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and are estimated in accordance with the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines. Mineral Reserves are based on the PFS LOM plan.
Mineral Reserves are mined tonnes and grade; and includes consideration for modifying factors such as loss and dilution.
Mineral Reserves are reported at a cut-off of 0.26 g/t gold.
Numbers have been rounded as required by reporting guidelines. There are no other known factors or issues that materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate other than which is disclosed above, and normal risks faced by mining projects in the jurisdiction in terms of environmental, permitting, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, and political factors and additional risk factors as listed in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information” section below.

Legal Opinion on Requests Related to Castelo de Sonhos
TriStar is also pleased to provide the results of an independent legal opinion on the civil inquiry started by a Federal Public Prosecutor (MPF) to government regulators to investigate the potential impacts of the Company’s Castelo de Sonhos gold project on Indigenous lands; please see TriStar press release from October 1, 2024 for details. The Company also notes that the permit remains valid and in good standing, according to SEMAS, the main regulatory permitting authority in Para State.

TriStar’s independent legal advice suggests that the Company has demonstrated that the Castelo de Sonhos project does not have the potential to interfere with Indigenous lands named in the Prosecutor’s case. The legal opinion also notes that it does not see the preparation of an Indigenous Component Study and/or the completion of a Free, Prior, and Informed Consultation as justified; both items were recommended by the MPF.

Legal counsel also noted that the EIA for Castelo de Sonhos is complete, robust and adequate. The opinion highlights the solid technical and legal defenses presented by TriStar following the MPF’s recommendation. The Lawyers also note the non-binding nature of the MPF recommendations and the non-acceptance by SEMAS, TriStar’s principal regulator, of these recommendations. SEMAS as well as environmental authority SEMMA have provided responses criticizing the MPF’s position. Based on the legal opinion, evidence does not support the concerns raised by the MPF as there is no impact, direct or indirect, not even holistic or cosmological, on the ways of life and customs of the indigenous peoples.

Qualified Person

Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez (FAIG #3708), Director of GE21, is the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, for the Preliminary Feasibility Study presented in this press release, is independent of the Company and has approved the technical disclosure in this press release.

About TriStar

TriStar Gold is an exploration and development company focused on precious metals properties in the Americas that have the potential to become significant producing mines. The Company’s current flagship property is the Castelo de Sonhos gold project in Pará State, Brazil. TriStar has completed a pre-feasibility study and is now working to advance the project towards a feasibility study while evaluating optimization options. The Company’s shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TSG and on the OTCQB under the symbol TSGZF . Further information is available at .

On behalf of the board of directors of the Company:

Nick Appleyard
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

TriStar Gold Inc.
Nick Appleyard
President and CEO
480-794-1244
…

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation which are not historical facts and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects” or “it is expected”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. Forward-looking statements in this press release include all estimates from the Study such as the cash flow, IRR, NPVs, cash cost, AISC, initial capital, life of mine production, average annual production and payback period time. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s reasonable expectations and business plan at the date hereof, which are subject to change depending on economic, political and competitive circumstances and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s plans to change include changes in demand for and price of gold and other commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments in Brazil; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of the Company’s projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit

SOURCE: TriStar Gold Inc.

MENAFN05052025004218003983ID1109508215

VANCOUVER — The Keg Royalties Income Fund has signed a letter of intent to be acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., its largest unitholder.

The proposal for $18.60 per unit in cash values the steak house fund at about $211 million.

Keg units closed at $14.22 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday and were trading up more than 26 per cent after markets opened today.

Fairfax holds just over a 50 per cent stake in the fund, according to data provided by LSEG Data & Analytics.

The fund said its largest unitholder other than Fairfax, which holds a 14.6 per cent stake on an undiluted basis, has agreed to support the proposed transaction, subject to certain customary conditions.

The fund noted the letter of intent is not a definitive agreement, which remains subject to, among other things, a formal valuation and fairness opinion, various regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, and approval at a special meeting of the unitholders.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2025.

Companies in this story: (TSX:KEG.UN)

The Canadian Press

Dallas-based Sunoco LP SUN-N made a friendly takeover bid for Parkland Corp. PKI-T early Monday worth $7.7-billion, potentially ending the Calgary-based fuel distributor’s boardroom battle with its largest shareholder.

Sunoco offered $44 per share for Parkland, consisting of $19.80 in cash plus .295 of a unit in a subsidiary called SUNCorp, which the buyer said represented a 25-per-cent premium to the average price of Parkland and Sunoco shares over the past seven business days.

Sunoco will also take on Parkland’s debt, bringing the total value of the transaction to $9.1-billion.

Parkland owns more than 4,000 gas stations under the Esso, Pioneer and Ultramar brands, and the On the Run convenience store chain, making it one of the country’s largest retailers. The company also runs a refinery in Burnaby, B.C. that supplies fuel to the province’s lower mainland.

“This strategic combination is a compelling outcome for Parkland shareholders,” said Michael Jennings, executive chairman of Parkland, in a press release on Monday.

“The board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, recognizing Sunoco’s commitment to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining the Calgary head office, and further investing in Canada,” said Mr. Jennings.

In 2023, Parkland turned down a takeover bid from Sunoco that valued the company at $45 per share, according to analysts and reports in The Globe and Mail.

Sunoco said buying Parkland will boost its distributable cash flow per unit by 10 per cent, and the company expects US$250-million cost savings from combining its businesses within three years of closing the transaction. Sunoco owns 7,400 gas stations and 14,00 miles of pipeline.

Parkland’s board of directors endorsed Sunoco’s offer, which comes as the company deals with an activist campaign from 19.8-per-cent shareholder Simpson Oil Ltd. and hedge fund Engine Capital aimed at replaced the Parkland board.

“Our initial thought is that competing bids will be few and far between,” said analyst Ben Isaacson at Scotiabank in a report on Monday. “To date, we haven’t seen any other interested parties in Parkland’s unique portfolio of energy infrastructure assets (either separately or combined).”

“We think investors will jump at the 25 per cent premium on a stock that has been stuck in the mud on investor fatigue for quite some time,” said Mr. Isaacson.

Early Monday, Parkland share price rose by 8 per cent to $39.20 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Sunoco units dropped by 3.8 per cent in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange, valuing the company at US$7.5-billion.

In March, Parkland launched a strategic review of its operations that included the potential sale of the company.

Shortly after, Simpson Oil nominated nine directors for the 13-person Parkland board over concerns with the company’s performance and governance. On Friday, Simpson Oil said its slate of directors had support from more than 60 per cent of Parkland shareholders.

Parkland shareholders will vote on the transaction at an annual meeting that is now scheduled for June 24. It was previously to take place on Tuesday, May 6.

On Monday, Simpson Oil said it plans to push for the Parkland meeting to take place tomorrow, as scheduled, according to Amy Freedman, spokesperson for the Cayman Islands-based company. Simpson Oil declined comment on the Sunoco offer.

The Parkland acquisition will also require approval from the federal government at a time when relations between the U.S. and Canada are in a deep freeze due to President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs.

Earlier this year, federal Liberals pledged to heighten reviews of deals deemed predatory, due to any decline in value of the Canadian target because of U.S. trade practices.

Sunoco will fund the cash portion of the transaction with a US$2.65-billion bridge loan.

Investment banks Barclays and RBC Capital Markets advised Sunoco and provided the debt financing. Law firms Stikeman Elliott LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and Vinson & Elkins LLP acted as Sunoco’s legal advisors.

Goldman Sachs Canada Inc. and BofA Securities advised Parkland.

Parkland’s board formed a special committee to deal with the takeover, which hired BMO Capital Markets. Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP acted as Parkland’s legal advisor. Torys LLP acted as legal advisor to Parkland’s special committee.

U.S. energy company Sunoco LP has signed an agreement to buy Parkland Corp. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $9.1 billion US, including assumed debt.

The deal comes as Calgary-based Parkland faces an attempt by Simpson Oil Ltd., its largest shareholder, to replace a majority of its board of directors.

Parkland cancelled its annual meeting set for Tuesday and rescheduled it to June 24, when shareholders will also be asked to approve the Sunoco deal.

Parkland executive chairman Michael Jennings said it is a compelling outcome for shareholders.

“The board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, recognizing Sunoco’s commitment to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining the Calgary head office, and further investing in Canada,” Jennings said in a statement.

“This partnership creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas.”

Parkland and Cayman Islands-based Simpson have been at odds over the fuel refiner and retailer’s performance and governance for about a year.

Simpson owns just under 20 per cent of Parkland’s shares and wanted nine of its directors added to Parkland’s board at a shareholder meeting, which has been postponed.

Under shareholder pressure, Parkland said in March it would review options to boost its share price, including a sale of the entire company. Earlier this month, longtime Parkland CEO Bob Espey announced plans to step down before year-end.

As part of the deal, Sunoco intends to form a new publicly traded company named SUNCorp LLC that will hold limited partnership units of Sunoco that are economically equivalent to Sunoco’s publicly traded common units.

Parkland shareholders will receive 0.295 SUNCorp units and $19.80 Cdn for each Parkland share. Parkland shareholders may also elect to receive $44 Cdn per Parkland share in cash or 0.536 SUNCorp units for each Parkland share, subject to limits.

Parkland shares closed at $36.28 Cdn on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday.

In addition to shareholder and court approvals, the deal is subject to regulatory approvals, including approval under the Investment Canada Act. Sunoco has committed to maintain a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and significant employment levels in Canada.

It has also committed to continuing to invest in Parkland’s refinery in Burnaby, B.C.

An archeologist from northern Ontario says he’s concerned about new provincial legislation that could exempt some archeological requirements for certain developments in an effort to build faster.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, at the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 17.

The provincial government says the omnibus bill would cut red tape and duplicative processes that have held back major infrastructure, mining and resource development projects.

“The maze of bureaucracy, red tape and duplicative processes holding back our economy means that a single mining project can take 15 years to be approved,” Ford said in a news release when the bill was introduced.

“In the face of current Ontario-U.S. trade tensions, it can no longer be business as usual. We are cutting red tape to unlock our critical minerals and unleash our economy to create new jobs and opportunities in the north and across the province.”

The bill has already drawn criticism from environmental groups, which argue that it scales back species at risk protections in the name of development.

Ryan Primrose, a senior archeologist with Woodland Heritage Northeast in New Liskeard, says the legislation would also make it easier for the province to bypass archeological work, which he says is of great importance for Indigenous people.

“My concern is that the archeological sites are the history books of First Nations people,” Primrose said.

“And without having processes to evaluate the land and to identify archeological sites, then they’re putting the First Nations history at risk of any potential discovery and learning from it, as well as protecting those sites.”

Primrose says that currently, certain projects require an archeological assessment before construction begins. 

The proposed legislation, though, would allow the Ontario government to exempt projects from undergoing archeological assessments.

Primrose says the archeological assessments generally don’t add much time to project timelines, and are important for protecting First Nations history.

He says the biggest bottleneck, in his view, is at Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, which is responsible for reviewing reports from archeologists. 

Primrose says the ministry is understaffed, which leads to delays in evaluating archeological reports.

“I think that if the province really wanted to do something effective, they would appropriately fund the ministry so that they could do their jobs,” he said.

CBC News contacted the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism about Primrose’s view that it is underfunded, and leading to development bottlenecks, but did not receive a response by deadline. 

CALGARY — U.S. energy company Sunoco LP has signed an agreement to buy Parkland Corp. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at US$9.1 billion, including assumed debt.

The deal comes as Calgary-based Parkland faces an attempt by Simpson Oil Ltd., its largest shareholder, to replace a majority of its board of directors.

Parkland cancelled its annual meeting set for Tuesday and rescheduled it to June 24, when shareholders will also be asked to approve the Sunoco deal.

Parkland executive chairman Michael Jennings said it is a compelling outcome for shareholders.

“The board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, recognizing Sunoco’s commitment to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining the Calgary head office, and further investing in Canada,” Jennings said in a statement.

“This partnership creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas.”

Parkland and Cayman Islands-based Simpson have been at odds over the fuel refiner and retailer’s performance and governance for about a year.

Simpson owns just under 20 per cent of Parkland’s shares and wanted nine of its directors added to Parkland’s board at a shareholder meeting, which has been postponed.

Under shareholder pressure, Parkland said in March it would review options to boost its share price, including a sale of the entire company. Earlier this month, longtime Parkland CEO Bob Espey announced plans to step down before year-end.

As part of the deal, Sunoco intends to form a new publicly traded company named SUNCorp LLC that will hold limited partnership units of Sunoco that are economically equivalent to Sunoco’s publicly traded common units.

Parkland shareholders will receive 0.295 SUNCorp units and C$19.80 for each Parkland share. Parkland shareholders may also elect to receive C$44 per Parkland share in cash or 0.536 SUNCorp units for each Parkland share, subject to limits.

Parkland shares closed at C$36.28 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday.

In addition to shareholder and court approvals, the deal is subject to regulatory approvals, including approval under the Investment Canada Act. Sunoco has committed to maintain a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and significant employment levels in Canada.

It has also committed to continuing to invest in Parkland’s refinery in Burnaby, B.C.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2025.

Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI)

The Canadian Press

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Canadian Tire is bidding on Hudson’s Bay assets, according to sources

Her daughter had a passion for HBC’s iconic stripes. Now she’s been collecting Hudson’s Bay items for a decade

1 month ago

Duration 3:48

With Hudson’s Bay liquidating all but six of its stores in Canada, items with their iconic HBC stripes are flying off the shelves. Emma Weller spoke with a Gatineau woman who has been collecting them for years.

Beleaguered retailer Hudson’s Bay has attracted a bid from Canadian Tire, two sources familiar with the sales process say.

The sources, who are not being named because they were not authorized to speak about the matter, say the household goods chain has made a bid for some of the faltering department store’s intellectual property.

Asked whether the company is making a bid, Canadian Tire did not provide a comment.

Anyone interested in owning Hudson’s Bay assets had until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to make a formal bid as part of the retailer’s creditor protection court case.

Toronto investment manager Urbana Corp. has made a bid for the company’s intellectual property, while billionaire B.C. mall owner Weihong Liu has said she would make a pitch to run some Bay stores. Liu told the Toronto Star Wednesday she had bid on 25 locations.

The 355-year-old department store’s assets hit the sales block after Hudson’s Bay filed for creditor protection earlier this year. It began liquidating its 80 Bay stores and 16 it ran under the Saks brands while it hunted for buyers or investors who would keep the company alive.

The company has a wealth of intellectual property including rights to its famed Stripes brand, discount chain Zellers, housewares brand Gluckstein, apparel line Hudson North and its Distinctly Home bed and bath products.

Hudson’s Bay spokesperson Tiffany Bourré declined to comment on any potential bidders.

Adam Zalev, managing director at Bay financial adviser Reflect Advisors, said multiple bids have been made for the company’s assets and are now being evaluated. Read more.

Faster isn’t always better. Slow-charging EVs could have big benefit

When Julia McNally decided to buy an EV and started her research, she came across a lot of articles and ads pushing an apparent must-have accessory — a speedy home charger designed specifically for EVs.

“Everything was pointing me to Level 2,” recalled McNally, director of climate action at Toronto Hydro.

She knew that all EVs can do Level 1 slow charging, or “trickle charging,” from a regular 120-volt wall outlet, adding about six kilometres of range per hour (except in very cold winter temperatures, which can slow charging speeds). And she already had an outlet of those in her backyard, near the alleyway where she planned to park her new Mini EV. 

But more than four out of five U.S. EV owners used Level 2 for home-charging in 2023, according to market research firm J.D. Power. Using a higher 240 voltage, often needed for a stove or dryer, Level 2 chargers can add about 30 to 50 kilometres of range per hour and refill a typical EV’s entire 400-kilometre range overnight.

Meanwhile, Level 3, or DC fast chargers, often installed along major highways, can add 250 kilometres of range per hour (some are even faster) and charge a battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

Some experts, such as Daniel Breton, CEO of Electric Mobility Canada, have argued people “really need” Level 2 chargers at home, as it can take days to charge an empty battery to full at Level 1.

But most people don’t drive the hundreds of kilometres needed to empty their battery each day — and there’s a downside to faster charging.

“You’re adding cost,” McNally said — potentially thousands of dollars.

Read more from CBC’s Emily Chung.

Ontario is scaling back species at risk protections, worrying advocates and inviting federal intervention

Ontario’s government wants to “unleash” its resources with sweeping changes to its laws on protecting species at risk aimed at speeding up environmental approvals.

“With President Trump taking direct aim at our economy, it cannot be business as usual,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford while announcing the government’s proposed Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, at the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 17. 

The government has portrayed the current system as slow and cumbersome, driving away resource and development companies from Ontario. But the new bill is raising alarms from environmental groups, who say it could force the federal government to intervene to enforce its own overlapping protections. Here’s a look at some of the changes in the bill, which is currently being debated at second reading in the provincial legislature.

The new law would remove provincial protections for certain aquatic species and migratory birds that are also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act. 

“Currently, proponents must get approval under both federal and provincial species legislation, causing unnecessary duplication,” said Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

“Under the new legislation, proponents will not need separate provincial approval for activities affecting aquatic species and migratory birds already protected by federal legislation.”

David Browne, senior vice-president for conservation and policy at Birds Canada, is worried about this move, because he says the federal law was never designed to completely replace the provincial law.

The federal government has the power to order the province to protect the critical habitat of an endangered species, according to Brown, but he says it’s something Ottawa rarely does, and the preferred approach is to work with Ontario to protect birds and other wildlife.

“That tool is there as a backstop, not as, like, the way we want to do this. It’s there as a last resort,” he said. 

Read more of CBC’s Inayat Singh’s story here.

What else is going on?

Quebec to impose full ban on cellphones in schools
Ban will apply from start to end of school day, including on breaks, starting next fall.

‘Don’t shut up’: Canadian auto sector’s strategy to fight Trump tariffs
Flavio Volpe’s comments came a day after U.S. president visited Michigan.

Trudeau wanted ranked ballots. Would that have changed Monday’s results?
Political scientists weigh in on what 2025 election could have looked like.

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