Maple Express | October 6, 2026: Six-year-old girl missing in Mississauga

1. Six-year-old girl missing in Mississauga, extensive search underway

Source: CP24

Durham Regional Police Service has launched an extensive search for a missing six-year-old girl. Kaylee Williams Thompson was last seen in Mississauga on Sunday night, near Lakeshore Road East and Elizabeth Street South, at around 8 p.m.

Police describe Kaylee as four feet tall with a slim build, long blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple jacket with a flower print on the inside of the hood, pink pants, and black, white and red shoes.

Investigators believe she may be in the company of an "associate" of her father, a man named Blair Hamilton, who goes by the nickname "Draine." Police are also working to locate and speak with Kaylee's mother, Nicole Thompson, "as part of our efforts to better understand the circumstances surrounding her disappearance," said Const. Nicholas Gluckstein of Durham Regional Police during a Tuesday morning news conference.

"Our primary focus remains on finding Kaylee and ensuring her safe return. Given her age and the circumstances of the investigation, we are extremely concerned for her well-being," Gluckstein said. Police are asking anyone who was in the area of the McDonald's Plaza at Dundas Street East and Thickson Road in Whitby on Saturday evening, or who has dashcam or cell phone footage from that area, to come forward. Anyone who sees Kaylee or Blair Hamilton should call 905-579-1520, ext. 1800, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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2. Chris Alexander drops out of Toronto mayor's race

Source: CP24

Chris Alexander announced Tuesday morning that he is dropping out of the race to become Toronto's next mayor. The former Conservative cabinet minister made the announcement at a news conference at his campaign headquarters.

"Our path to success, it became clear to me over this weekend, was not obvious and perhaps not there at all," Alexander told supporters and media. He said the latest poll showed his numbers had not moved beyond where they were at the start of the campaign, and he wanted to make the difficult decision before advance polls open so that all Torontonians have a chance to vote for someone who will see their campaign through to the end.

Recent exclusive Nanos Research polling for CP24 and CTV News Toronto put Alexander in a distant third behind Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow. The poll, published Tuesday, found that 52.4 per cent of decided voters would vote for Chow if an election were held today, compared to 42.6 per cent for Bradford and four per cent for Alexander.

The deadline to officially withdraw as a candidate was Aug. 21, meaning that while Alexander is suspending his campaign, his name is likely to remain on the ballot. He said he will not endorse anyone, adding that the decision was made "independently" with no "behind the scenes" conversations or "quid pro quos" for a post-election role. He plans to return to the private sector. Toronto's municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26.

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3. Greater Toronto home sales down in September, average price also lower

Source: CP24

Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area were down in September from a year ago, while average prices continued to decline. The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board said Tuesday that sales totalled 5,040 in September, down nine per cent year-over-year.

The average selling price for the month was $1,006,409, down from $1,060,036 a year earlier. The composite benchmark price, meant to represent the typical home, was down 4.7 per cent year-over-year.

The board said homebuyers were in a holding pattern in September, as uncertainty surrounding the economy, inflation and borrowing costs weighed on sales. Renewed tensions with the United States and a surge in gas prices amid an ongoing war in the Middle East have also kept potential buyers on the sidelines.

New listings in September totalled 16,500, down 14.4 per cent year-over-year. The slowdown comes as municipalities across Ontario, including the GTA, hold a ballot on Oct. 26. "Housing is one of the biggest issues on voters' minds, and the upcoming municipal election will help shape housing policy across the GTA and Simcoe County for the next four years," said TRREB president Daniel Steinfeld. (Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press)

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4. Scarborough set to be a 'key battleground' in Toronto mayoral election: Nanos

Source: CP24

Pollster Nik Nanos says Scarborough is set to be a "key battleground" in the Toronto mayoral election, and points to the neighbourhood as one to watch as election day approaches.

Nanos also explains what to look out for during the lead up to election day for the mayoral race.

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5. 1 sent to hospital after e-bike fire in Scarborough

Source: CP24

One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries after reports of an e-bike fire in Scarborough early Tuesday morning.

It happened on Macey Avenue, near Danforth and Victoria Park avenues. Paramedics said one person was taken from the scene to hospital, while three others were assessed on scene but not transported.

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6. One driver in critical condition after vehicle flips in Mississauga crash

Source: CP24

Two people are in hospital after a crash in Mississauga, with one driver reported to be in critical condition.

The collision left one vehicle flipped onto its rear. It happened in the area of Featherston Ct. and Mississauga Rd. Police are investigating the cause of the collision.

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7. Toronto-bound lanes of QEW reopen following Burlington vehicle fire

Source: CP24

Lanes of the westbound Queen Elizabeth Way at the Burlington Skyway have reopened following a vehicle fire.

A portion of the highway was closed shortly after 7 a.m. as emergency crews responded to the scene. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from a vehicle at the scene of the fire.

The cause of the fire is unclear at this time. One left lane remains off limits as Ontario Provincial Police investigate the incident.

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8. 1 dead, 3 hospitalized after head-on crash in Hamilton

Source: CP24

One person has been killed in a head-on collision in Hamilton that sent three others to hospital, including one with critical injuries, Ontario Provincial Police say.

The crash happened in the town of Dundas, Ont., on Tuesday shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Highway 5, just east of Highway 8. The two other patients are in non-life-threatening condition, police said.

The OPP's Traffic Support Unit is on scene investigating. Motorists are being advised to expect a "lengthy" closure on Highway 5 between Highway 8 and Middletown Road, notably between the roundabout at Peter's Corners and Middletown Road. The closure is expected to last around three hours, until mid-afternoon, police said. Drivers should avoid the area.

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9. Leaders react as Parti Québécois forms minority government

Source: CP24

The Parti Québécois (PQ) has formed a minority government, completing a dramatic political comeback and paving the way for an eventual third sovereignty referendum. The PQ was elected in 59 ridings by late Monday, putting it on track to return to power for the first time in more than a decade.

The Liberals (PLQ) were elected in 40 ridings, the Conservatives (PCQ) in 19, and Québec solidaire in nine. The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which entered the election as the governing party, failed to win a seat and was wiped off the electoral map.

Here are some key quotes from party leaders as the results came in on Monday evening.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon: "Quebecers have spoken tonight. They decided to elect a Parti Québécois government while also asking it to work with the other parties. I understand that message perfectly, and I will do everything I can to live up to what Quebecers are asking of us."

Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard said the result "means that the Parti Québécois does not have all the powers to do whatever they want. They're going to have to discuss, collaborate, and we'll be collaborating on some issues, but obviously not on the main issue (of a referendum)."

Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime: "Hope is being reborn in Quebec, because tonight we have just written a page of history. For the first time in 100 years, Quebecers have decided to send a large caucus of Conservative MNAs to the National Assembly."

Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal: "What a great campaign. We resisted. It felt like we were starting from pretty far behind. But damn, we fought like only the left knows how to fight."

Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette: "Quebecers have spoken. Their choice is clear. I respect it. The result is clearly not the one we were hoping for. And as leader, I take full responsibility. Not our candidates, not our activists, not our volunteers. Me." (The Canadian Press)

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10. National dental plan hits roadblocks, new report highlights problems for patients

Source: CP24

Billed as one of the largest social programs in Canadian history, the national dental care plan still leaves some patients facing significant barriers to accessing care — or to affording it once they are in the chair. A new report from the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) published Tuesday, "From Coverage to Care: An Evidence-informed Assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan," finds that just two years in, there is still major room for improvement.

As part of a phased rollout, the federal government began accepting claims for dental coverage for seniors in May 2024. One year later, eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) expanded to Canadians of all ages. While the latest federal data touts that 7.5 million Canadians have been enrolled since launch, the breakdown per enrolment year — and how many people actually received care — tells a different story.

For the 2025-26 enrolment period, 6.5 million patients were enrolled, with 3.9 million receiving care. For 2026-27, enrolment slipped to 4.7 million, and so far just over 900,000 of them have had a claim approved. When it launched, the government estimated that once fully implemented, up to nine million Canadians would be able to access more affordable dental care. So far, 4.8 million people have had a claim approved over the CDCP's existence.

Of those who received care, 37 per cent report still facing financial barriers, which the report attributes to the CDCP's fees being set below the actual cost of care, "leaving part of the bill with patients." Another issue: 50 per cent of complete preauthorization requests are denied, and only 17 per cent of dentists say most recommended care has been covered for their patients. The CDA also found that 59 per cent of patients expected care to be completely free, "and dental offices are often left explaining coverage appointment by appointment."

To qualify, you must be a Canadian resident with no access to dental insurance, have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000, and have filed your tax return for the previous year. The report found that among those who accessed the program, 88 per cent reported a positive experience and 57 per cent said their oral health improved. The share of Canadians reporting no dental coverage dropped from 35 per cent to 25 per cent, and more than 90 per cent of dentists in Canada now take part. The CDA issued more than 30 recommendations across three priority areas: patient care, program design, and an overall oral-health strategy. A spokesperson for Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the government welcomes the recommendations and will keep working to improve the program.

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