Around Ontario

A powerful winter storm that brought heavy rain and snow to much of Eastern and Central Canada has closed schools, flooded streets and knocked out power to thousands today as temperatures plummet.

TORONTO — As Ontario's Liberals regroup following their electoral drubbing last summer, one of the few remaining elected members wants to give more people a say in how their next leader is chosen.

TORONTO — Mike Babcock felt his team didn't have a lot of luck. John Tavares thought there were a lot of things to build on. But in the end, all Sunday amounted to was another loss for the scuffling Maple Leafs.

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Brandon Coe scored 2:17 into overtime as the North Bay Battalion edged the London Knights 4-3 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action.

TORONTO — Natalie Spooner dreams of a day when women's professional hockey players won't have to rush home from work to make it to practice.

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Police say a man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into a home in Brampton, Ont., and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Peel regional police say the incident took place around 4 a.m. on Saturday.

TORONTO — Provincial police say the winter weather is factoring into a steady increase of crashes in Greater Toronto Area this weekend. Sgt.

As most of Ontario is under an extreme cold weather alert, various groups and shelters are increasing their services to help the homeless stay warm.

MONTREAL — A 24-year-old man is in critical condition following a Quebec provincial police intervention northeast of Montreal. The province's police watchdog says officers in Joliette received a 911 call at around 6 p.m.

Much of Eastern and Central Canada is being battered by a fierce winter storm that's bringing icy cold winds and could dump as much as 50 centimetres of snow in some regions.