Frédérik Plante
@fxplante.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter for @thestar.com. Got a tip? [email protected]
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English/Français/Español.
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Frédérik Plante
@fxplante.bsky.social
· Mar 31
Happy to share that I joined @thestar.com as an Investigative Reporter today, and will soon be relocating to Toronto. I want to thank my former colleagues at @theglobeandmail.com, where I learned so much these past 2+ years. You can now reach me at [email protected]
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
Ontario should step up regulation of alternative lending industry, MPPs urge in wake of Star’s Lendcare investigation
Ontario should step up regulation of alternative lending industry, MPPs urge in wake of Star’s Lendcare investigation
The Star found vulnerable customers were duped by the financing firm’s merchant partners. The company said it’s “committed to responsible lending.”
www.thestar.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Ontario should step up regulation of alternative lending industry, MPPs urge in wake of Star’s Lendcare investigation
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
Inside this Ontario loan company, concern grew as payments stopped. Its plan to keep bad debt off the books came at the expense of vulnerable borrowers l
Inside this Ontario loan company, concern grew as payments stopped. Its plan to keep bad debt off the books came at the expense of vulnerable borrowers
Pickering-based LendCare denied wrongdoing, saying the firm is “committed to openness, accountability, and strong governance.”
www.thestar.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Inside this Ontario loan company, concern grew as payments stopped. Its plan to keep bad debt off the books came at the expense of vulnerable borrowers l
1/ Subprime point-of-sale lender LendCare has been suppressing delinquency and charge-off rates to mislead parent company Goeasy investors, according to internal emails, court records and sources: www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Inside this Ontario loan company, concern grew as payments stopped. Its plan to keep bad debt off the books came at the expense of vulnerable borrowers
Pickering-based LendCare denied wrongdoing, saying the firm is “committed to openness, accountability, and strong governance.”
www.thestar.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:36 PM
1/ Subprime point-of-sale lender LendCare has been suppressing delinquency and charge-off rates to mislead parent company Goeasy investors, according to internal emails, court records and sources: www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
When surgery left her in crippling pain, she warned Ontario’s medical watchdog she was losing the will to go on. Did the regulator do enough to help? #StarInvestigation
When surgery left her in crippling pain, she warned Ontario’s medical watchdog she was losing the will to go on. Did the regulator do enough to help?
In the wake of Mei Lam’s death by suicide, some question why a doctor already on the regulator's radar for troubling conduct was allowed to treat her.
www.thestar.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
When surgery left her in crippling pain, she warned Ontario’s medical watchdog she was losing the will to go on. Did the regulator do enough to help? #StarInvestigation
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
She shut a Magna-owned factory down over extreme temperatures — then was fired.
What the story of Grenville Castings reveals about Ontario’s heat protections
What the story of Grenville Castings reveals about Ontario’s heat protections
She shut a Magna-owned factory down over extreme temperatures — then was fired. What the story of Grenville Castings reveals about Ontario’s heat protections
The provincial government says its rules to protect workers from heat-related injuries is “robust,” but the tale of Grenville Castings casts doubt on that assertion.
www.thestar.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
She shut a Magna-owned factory down over extreme temperatures — then was fired.
What the story of Grenville Castings reveals about Ontario’s heat protections
What the story of Grenville Castings reveals about Ontario’s heat protections
A @thestar.com investigation has found that high-cost lender LendCare is working with unscrupulous businesses across the country that prey on vulnerable borrowers through scams and other exploitative contracts. Read my latest story, with Ana Pereira, here: www.thestar.com/business/thi...
This major lender is accused of working with shady firms that prey on seniors and other vulnerable Canadians, duping them into high-interest loans
Pickering-based LendCare denies the allegations, says it vets potential merchant partners and is committed to ‘responsible lending.’
www.thestar.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A @thestar.com investigation has found that high-cost lender LendCare is working with unscrupulous businesses across the country that prey on vulnerable borrowers through scams and other exploitative contracts. Read my latest story, with Ana Pereira, here: www.thestar.com/business/thi...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
This lender is accused of working with unscrupulous firms that prey on the vulnerable. How borrowers say they were duped into high-interest loans
This lender is accused of working with unscrupulous firms that prey on the vulnerable. How borrowers say they were duped into high-interest loans
Pickering-based LendCare denies the allegations, says it vets potential merchant partners and is committed to 'responsible lending.'
www.thestar.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This lender is accused of working with unscrupulous firms that prey on the vulnerable. How borrowers say they were duped into high-interest loans
J'ai écrit un essai dans @nouveauprojet.bsky.social sur l'accès a l'information et mon combat judiciaire contre le gouvernement du Québec pour préserver ce qui nous reste de ce droit, si important et mal-aimé : atelier10.ca/nouveauproje...
Accès refusé | Nouveau Projet
Dans les années 1980, le gouvernement du Québec prenait les devants et conférait à tou·te·s le droit d’accès à l’information. En 2025, il s’est battu pour l’éroder.
atelier10.ca
November 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
J'ai écrit un essai dans @nouveauprojet.bsky.social sur l'accès a l'information et mon combat judiciaire contre le gouvernement du Québec pour préserver ce qui nous reste de ce droit, si important et mal-aimé : atelier10.ca/nouveauproje...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
“The relentless framing from Canadian media outlets, which are deeply complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, is near unconditional acquiescence to Israel’s fallacious narrative,” Joshua Sealy-Harrington told @thegrindto.bsky.social.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
As Israel Kills 104 in Gaza, Canadian Media’s Vague Language Shields its Ceasefire Violations
Canadian mainstream media coverage of Israel’s deadly airstrikes “an epic failure of both journalistic and moral principles,” says professor.
www.thegrindmag.ca
October 29, 2025 at 7:40 PM
“The relentless framing from Canadian media outlets, which are deeply complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, is near unconditional acquiescence to Israel’s fallacious narrative,” Joshua Sealy-Harrington told @thegrindto.bsky.social.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
NEW: Israel killed 104 Palestinians (and 46 children) in Gaza Tuesday, in a clear violation of the ceasefire.
But mainstream media failed to accurately convey the severity of the moment, acting instead as a mouthpiece for the Israeli government.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
But mainstream media failed to accurately convey the severity of the moment, acting instead as a mouthpiece for the Israeli government.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
As Israel Kills 104 in Gaza, Canadian Media’s Vague Language Shields its Ceasefire Violations
Canadian mainstream media coverage of Israel’s deadly airstrikes “an epic failure of both journalistic and moral principles,” says professor.
www.thegrindmag.ca
October 29, 2025 at 7:40 PM
NEW: Israel killed 104 Palestinians (and 46 children) in Gaza Tuesday, in a clear violation of the ceasefire.
But mainstream media failed to accurately convey the severity of the moment, acting instead as a mouthpiece for the Israeli government.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
But mainstream media failed to accurately convey the severity of the moment, acting instead as a mouthpiece for the Israeli government.
www.thegrindmag.ca/as-israel-ki...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
A new poll last month made waves when it showed 11 per cent support for the Republican Party of Alberta and their push to separate. Turns out the pollster and the party shared some DNA. New story from @emmamci.bsky.social and me.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
A ‘jaw-dropper’ poll showed surging support for an Alberta separatist party. Turns out the polling firm and the party weren’t so separate
The Alberta Republican Party leader previously had an ownership stake in the same polling company that reported support for his new party was surging.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
A new poll last month made waves when it showed 11 per cent support for the Republican Party of Alberta and their push to separate. Turns out the pollster and the party shared some DNA. New story from @emmamci.bsky.social and me.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
New from @alexboyd.bsky.social and me: A 'jaw-dropper' new survey from pollster Cardinal Research last month showed surging support for the Alberta Republican Party.
But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
A ‘jaw-dropper’ poll showed surging support for an Alberta separatist party. Turns out the polling firm and the party weren’t so separate
The Alberta Republican Party leader previously had an ownership stake in the same polling company that reported support for his new party was surging.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
New from @alexboyd.bsky.social and me: A 'jaw-dropper' new survey from pollster Cardinal Research last month showed surging support for the Alberta Republican Party.
But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Honoured that the #DirtyPayments series of investigations was shortlisted among ten finalists for the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism: ten finalists shortlisted | News | European Parliament
The jury of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism has shortlisted ten investigations for the fifth edition of the award.
www.europarl.europa.eu
October 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Honoured that the #DirtyPayments series of investigations was shortlisted among ten finalists for the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
New @thestar.com investigation from me in collaboration with @eicnetwork.bsky.social as part of the #DirtyPayments series: How a lucrative, global internet scam traces back to this office above a Montreal grocery store www.thestar.com/news/investi...
How a lucrative, global internet scam traces back to this office above a Montreal grocery store
The network of websites, which reaped nearly $12 million in 2023, have left a trail of disgruntled customers who say they were swindled.
www.thestar.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:46 AM
New @thestar.com investigation from me in collaboration with @eicnetwork.bsky.social as part of the #DirtyPayments series: How a lucrative, global internet scam traces back to this office above a Montreal grocery store www.thestar.com/news/investi...
1/2 À propos de la mort de Nooran Rezayi et de l’enquête du BEI : il est bon de rappeler que les policiers de Longueuil font partie de ceux qui refusent systématiquement de répondre aux questions des enquêteurs du BEI selon des données obtenues en 2023 www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Quebec police refusing to co-operate in investigations on civilian deaths
Many police are refusing to answer questions from the oversight body on civilian deaths following a court ruling last year that said officers must meet with investigators
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:21 AM
1/2 À propos de la mort de Nooran Rezayi et de l’enquête du BEI : il est bon de rappeler que les policiers de Longueuil font partie de ceux qui refusent systématiquement de répondre aux questions des enquêteurs du BEI selon des données obtenues en 2023 www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
‘I haven’t been able to keep up with it.’ Tenants in seniors’ residences say ballooning, unregulated fees are forcing them out. Read my latest for @thestar.com: www.thestar.com/news/investi...
‘I haven’t been able to keep up with it.’ Tenants in seniors’ residences say ballooning fees are forcing them out
There are growing calls for the province to regulate service fees the same way it does rent to stop 'price gouging.'
www.thestar.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM
‘I haven’t been able to keep up with it.’ Tenants in seniors’ residences say ballooning, unregulated fees are forcing them out. Read my latest for @thestar.com: www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
The latest in the Star’s reporting on Ontario Place:
Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Financial records shed new light on the Ontario Place spa firm’s net worth, raising questions about the Ford government’s due diligence
Therme Group says its finances are solid and, with the unwavering backing of a shareholder, it has never been in danger of failing the stress test.
www.thestar.com
August 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The latest in the Star’s reporting on Ontario Place:
Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database indicate five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been civilians, an extreme rate of slaughter rarely matched in recent decades of warfare, via @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war
Figures from classified IDF database listed 8,900 named fighters as dead or probably dead in May, as overall death toll reached 53,000
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database indicate five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been civilians, an extreme rate of slaughter rarely matched in recent decades of warfare, via @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
Inside the Ford government, there was worry the Ontario Place spa was ‘high risk.’ They signed a 95-year lease anyway #StarInvestigation
Inside the Ford government, there was worry the Ontario Place spa was ‘high risk.’ They signed a 95-year lease anyway
Officials questioned whether the spa could be a "white elephant," a term referencing something expensive to keep that offers little relative value.
www.thestar.com
August 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Inside the Ford government, there was worry the Ontario Place spa was ‘high risk.’ They signed a 95-year lease anyway #StarInvestigation
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances #StarInvestigation
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
August 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances #StarInvestigation
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances, records obtained by the Star show.
From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances, records obtained by the Star show.
From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
The deliberate killing of five Al Jazeera staff has brought the total number of journalists killed by Israel since the start of the war to 237, according to Gaza's Government Media Office.
🔴 LIVE updates:
🔴 LIVE updates:
Israel murders five Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, including Anas al-Sharif
Al-Sharif was killed along with Mohammed Qreiqeh two cameramen and an assistant in an Israeli attack on Gaza City.
aje.io
August 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The deliberate killing of five Al Jazeera staff has brought the total number of journalists killed by Israel since the start of the war to 237, according to Gaza's Government Media Office.
🔴 LIVE updates:
🔴 LIVE updates:
Reposted by Frédérik Plante
Israel claimed responsibility for killing five Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, including Anas al-Sharif, in a strike on their media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital, bringing the total journalists killed to 237 since the war began.
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/1490et
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/1490et
August 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Israel claimed responsibility for killing five Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, including Anas al-Sharif, in a strike on their media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital, bringing the total journalists killed to 237 since the war began.
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/1490et
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/1490et
Toronto police officer's drunken crash followed shift spent drinking with colleagues, tribunal docs allege, via CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Toronto police officer's drunken crash followed shift spent drinking with colleagues, tribunal docs allege | CBC News
More than two years after a Toronto police officer pleaded guilty to impaired driving, disciplinary charges against his superior are raising questions about the night of the collision and the integrit...
www.cbc.ca
July 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Toronto police officer's drunken crash followed shift spent drinking with colleagues, tribunal docs allege, via CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
12 customers of Orogold and other related cosmetics stores in Ontario malls told me they were tricked or pressured into signing up for high-cost loans to buy expensive skin care devices. Read my latest story for the @thestar.com here:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
These cosmetic stores inside Ontario malls promise customers better skin. Instead, a growing number say they’ve been tricked into high-cost loans
The stores' management deny using deceitful sales tactics. But more and more disgruntled customers are demanding justice.
www.thestar.com
July 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
12 customers of Orogold and other related cosmetics stores in Ontario malls told me they were tricked or pressured into signing up for high-cost loans to buy expensive skin care devices. Read my latest story for the @thestar.com here:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...