Ontario health agency begins informing patients about months-old data breach

The Ontario MPP who brought to light a massive data breach at a provincial agency is calling on the minister of health to say when she learned about the cyber incident and explain why it appears to have taken months to inform patients.
On Friday, Liberal MPP Adil Shamji published a letter from the information and privacy commissioner, which indicated the data of some 200,000 patients using Ontario Health atHome had been compromised in March.
Until that point, the provincial agency — which handles home and palliative care — had not informed patients that their data could be accessed.
After the data breach came to light Friday, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones’ office said she had “ordered” Ontario Health atHome to contact patients. The agency’s website now includes an update on the breach, along with a phone number and email.
“Following an investigation by OMS, they notified Ontario Health atHome that the outage was a cybersecurity attack and health information had been breached,” part of the update reads.

Get weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
“The information breached potentially includes name, contact information and medical supplies or equipment ordered.”
The information published by Shamji suggests the breach itself occurred “on or around” March 17, a date the IPC appeared to confirm Friday. Ontario Health atHome informed the privacy watchdog that the breach had taken place more than a month later, on May 30.
Patients were not informed that their data may have been breached until after Shamji’s announcement on Friday.
“What excuses ios there for such a profound delay in notification? Why has the government done so little to act on this massive privacy breach?” Shamji said on Wednesday.
“But most important of all, when in the long three and a half months after the data breach occurred did the minister of health find out?”
Global News contacted Jones’ office to ask when she had learned about the breach, but did not receive a response ahead of publication.
On Friday, her office suggested she had only recently been informed.
“Our government expects all service providers to uphold the highest standards of patient care, security and confidence,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“This includes taking immediate steps to identify when there has been a cyber breach and to notify the Ministry of Health immediately. The fact that this process was not followed is unacceptable.”
At an event on Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford also suggested he had not been informed, despite Ontario Health atHome telling the IPC about the breach a month earlier.
“We’ll find out where the gap is and why it wasn’t brought to our attention a lot earlier, but we’re glad the investigation is happening,” Ford said on Friday.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.


Spirits maker Diageo will cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., early next year, as it shifts some bottling volume to the U.S., the company announced on Thursday.
The facility, which bottles Crown Royal products, will close in February in a move aimed at improving its North American supply chain.

Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
About 200 jobs will be affected.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that is crucial to improving the efficiency and resiliency of our supply chain network,” Marsha McIntosh, Diageo’s president of North America supply, said in a statement.
Diageo said it will engage with the community and find ways to support its employees through the transition, and work alongside Unifor to assist unionized workers.
The company said it will still maintain a “significant” footprint in Canada — including its headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, and bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.
McIntosh added the company’s Crown Royal products will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged at its Canadian facilities.
© 2025 The Canadian Press

Toronto police say a 33-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly striking two men with his car Wednesday evening.
Officers say they responded to reports of a collision in the area of Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard in the city’s North York neighbourhood just before 10:30 p.m.

Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Police say two men got into an argument, leading to one man getting into his car and hitting the other man with it.
They say the man then put his car into reverse, striking a second man.
A man in his 50s was transported to hospital with serious injuries and the second man, in his 20s, had minor injuries.
Police say the suspect from Markham, Ont., faces several other charges as well, including two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and dangerous driving.
© 2025 The Canadian Press

A court document shows a Lindsay, Ont., man facing charges for allegedly breaking into an apartment was carrying a crossbow when he was confronted by a tenant.
The resident, Jeremy David McDonald, is also facing assault charges in the incident on Aug. 18 — a fact that has generated widespread interest in the case.
Police information filed in court alleges that Michael Kyle Breen damaged a window and screen at McDonald’s home and carried a crossbow.
The court document says the 41-year-old Breen is charged with break and enter, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.

Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Police have said that Breen, who is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing next week, was already wanted for unrelated offences.
McDonald, the 44-year-old resident, was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon after he allegedly “did endanger the life” of Breen.
Premier Doug Ford blasted the decision to charge the apartment resident, saying last week that it shows “something is broken.”
Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson wrote in a statement Wednesday that he recognizes the incident has generated significant public interest and “emotional” responses, but called some of the reaction “unjust and inaccurate.”
Robertson wrote that individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property, but the law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.
“This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances,” he wrote.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
-
Uncategorized3 months ago
Shop Proud, Eat Proud, Be Proud — Ottawa Canada Day Market This June 28th
-
3 months ago
Canada’s world junior trial saw juries tossed, intense testimony. Here’s a recap
-
2 months ago
Ring of Fire road to bring prosperity to First Nation, problems for caribou: report
-
2 months ago
Measles circulating in northeastern B.C. community, health officials warn
-
3 months ago
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed Ontario police on protests against Bill 5
-
2 months ago
Former major leaguer, Jays doctor Ron Taylor dies
-
2 months ago
Jagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar concert after Drake calls him out
-
2 months ago
Dreaming of a lakeside cottage but can’t afford it? Co-ownership could open that door