Maple Express | September 20, 2026 Scarborough parking lot could become a micro-home community for the homeless

Source: CP24

1. Scarborough parking lot could become a micro-home community for the homeless

A little-used parking lot behind a commercial building in southwest Scarborough could soon be transformed into a micro-home community for people experiencing homelessness, CP24 reported on Sept. 20. The site near Danforth and Birchmount roads is being spearheaded by Tiny Tiny Homes, a Toronto-based non-profit that has provided low-cost temporary shelter in mini-dwellings since 2024.

Ryan Donais, the organization's founder and executive director, said the idea dates back to July, when he first contacted the owners of Sefonias Catering, who own the property. Things moved quickly and the two sides soon signed a three-year lease at the cost of one dollar a year. Bosena Mekonen of Sefonias Catering said the company loves doing charitable work and was excited to take part. "We had this unused space... so we offered up the land," she said. "I'm very, very happy about this."

Donais said roughly $350,000 is needed to complete the project — about 10 per cent of the cost of one shelter bed — and that about 20 per cent has been raised so far through donations and in-kind contributions. "We can build this whole project for the cost of one shelter bed and at no cost to taxpayers," he said, adding the goal is to have the community ready for occupancy by Dec. 31.

The plan calls for 10 pet-friendly, 96-square-foot units, plus two buildings housing accessible washrooms and showers, programming and community space, and administrative and case-management offices. A social worker would be on site Monday to Friday, and Sefonias Catering would provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. The community has been named Brent's Place, in honour of one of Tiny Tiny Homes' first residents, Brent Blake, who was 64 when he died of cancer on June 27, 2025, just weeks after moving into permanent housing. The City of Toronto told CP24 the project is under review and must meet all necessary zoning, building and regulatory requirements before it can move forward.

Source

2. Transport minister won't guarantee prices won't go up after airport privatization

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon won't guarantee the cost to fly won't go up if the federal government follows through on its plan to privatize Canada's four largest airports, but he promises an improved experience and partial regulation, CP24 reported Sept. 20. He made the comments in an interview on CTV's Question Period that aired Sunday.

Host Vassy Kapelos pressed MacKinnon repeatedly on whether he could guarantee ticket prices will not rise; the minister would only promise no "unjustified" increases. "We will have a program... that will reward regional connectivity in Canada," MacKinnon said. "Airfares are too expensive." He said the program is designed to reinvest partly in Canadian air travel and make the regions and the largest airports more connected.

MacKinnon also insisted there will be investment in the "passenger experience," saying he doesn't think travellers will notice a difference as the airports shift from public to private ownership. He said the four airports' operating model will be regulated, "so fares and fees will be partially regulated." On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the government is seeking private investment to run Toronto-Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Calgary and Vancouver. Carney said Ottawa will retain ownership of the underlying land and assets but can "unlock" the airports' "true value" by privatizing operations. Pressed again, MacKinnon said agreements would reassure Canadians there will be "no unjustified increases," and said more details will come in the coming weeks and months.

Source

3. From soggy fields to skyrocketing diesel, Prairie farmers face tough harvest

Canadian farmers are working to get their crops off their fields against a stormy backdrop this year, The Canadian Press reported Sept. 20. Rain came at the wrong time for many Prairie farmers: a wet spring delayed seeding, and rainy conditions returned in the last few weeks, in the middle of the harvest. Industry groups report the harvest of various products is well behind the average timing of recent years, and the longer crops stay on the fields, the more quality could suffer.

Stephen Vandervalk, a fourth-generation southern Alberta wheat grower and vice-president at the Wheat Growers Association, said it would have been better to have the rain six weeks earlier, noting much of the summer was bone-dry. Rick White, head of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said farmers are "fighting mud" to get onto the fields and that shorter days and cooler temperatures mean wet soil takes a long time to dry.

The Canadian average retail price of diesel was more than $2.75 a litre late last week, according to Natural Resources Canada — over 80 per cent higher than the roughly $1.50 a litre at the same time last year. Bruce Burrows, executive director at Grain Growers of Canada, said higher diesel prices arrived at the worst possible time, because harvest is one of the most fuel-intensive periods of the year; he'd like a targeted and temporary per-litre rebate. Keith Currie, an Ontario farmer who leads the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said: "The reality is you either buy the fuel or you don't. And if you don't buy it, you don't have a crop."

The war in the Middle East and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have disrupted oil and fertilizer supplies. Vandervalk said high fuel prices hurt but are not devastating, "whereas fertilizer is definitely killer for us." On trade, China imposed steep tariffs on canola products and peas, later suspended on canola meal and peas until year-end under a March agreement. Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulses Canada, said importers may be reluctant to commit while the tariffs' fate is uncertain.

Source

4. Think you saw a moose? 2 spotted roaming around in this Simcoe County community

Not one but two moose have been spotted in a small community in Tay Township, Ont., CP24 reported Sept. 20. The town confirmed the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is aware of two moose that have been hanging out in Victoria Harbour lately.

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board posted on social media that one of the moose was seen in the school yard at St. Antoine Daniel Catholic School in Victoria Harbour. "Don't worry - all students are safe and closely supervised while this impressive neighbour is admired from a distance!" the board said.

The MNR advises people to give the moose plenty of space to leave the area. While moose can appear friendly, the ministry strongly discourages the public from approaching them as they can be very dangerous. The town also warns that, given it is fall breeding season, bull moose tend to be especially aggressive and easily agitated at this time of year. "Do not approach or reach out to touch a moose," the ministry says. "Do not place yourself in proximity of a moose for social media." It also says people should refrain from feeding the moose, and encourages the public to enjoy the animals from a distance and leave them in their natural habitat.

Source

5. Brad Bradford makes announcement on city budget, what he would do differently

Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford spoke outside of city hall on his critiques of Mayor Chow's spending, and what he would do differently in that position, in a video report aired by CP24 on Sept. 20.

The report was published in video form; Bradford outlined his views on the current mayor's spending and the alternative approach he would take, and no further details were provided.

Source

6. Woman wanted after 71 vehicle break-ins

Andrea Cederberg, 33, is sought by police in connection with 71 vehicle break-ins in Mississauga, according to a video report aired by CP24 on Sept. 20.

The report was published in video form and did not disclose further details beyond the suspect's name, age and the number of break-ins.

Source

7. Police looking for suspect in alleged hate-motivated assault

A man is wanted by Toronto police following an assault on a person wearing a Palestinian flag in the Yonge and Sheppard area on Sept. 5, according to a video report aired by CP24 on Sept. 20.

The report was published in video form and did not disclose further details.

Source

8. Canadiens top Maple Leafs in No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna's pro debut for Toronto

Maksymilian Szuber scored the winner in the third period as the undermanned Montreal Canadiens topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in a split-squad game on the first night of the NHL's pre-season schedule Saturday, The Canadian Press reported.

Phillip Danault added two goals, including one into the empty net, while Samuel Poulin rounded out the scoring. Samuel Montembeault was perfect in making 13 stops, and Kaapo Kahkonen made 11 saves in relief. No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna made his professional debut for Toronto, which got its goal from Darren Raddysh. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced before being replaced by Anthony Stolarz, who finished with 15 saves at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto iced the majority of its NHL roster, while Montreal travelled with a younger lineup minus its usual star power. The Canadiens, who made last season's Eastern Conference final, hosted the Maple Leafs in the other half of the split-squad matchup at the Bell Centre.

Source

9. Denmark says Greenland sovereignty safe under Trump's deal

Denmark said on Saturday that its sovereignty over Greenland would not be compromised by a deal taking shape with the Trump administration that would allow a significant expansion of the U.S. military presence on the Arctic island, Reuters reported via CP24 on Sept. 20.

The United States, Denmark and Greenland said on Friday they had reached an agreement for the U.S. to expand its military footprint in the self-governed Danish territory, while preventing U.S. adversaries from establishing bases there. Key details, including the scale of the buildup and whether any formal authority over foreign policy and resources would be ceded to Washington, have not yet been made public. Denmark and Greenland expressed hope that a deal, expected to be signed during the UN General Assembly next week, would end months of uncertainty triggered by President Donald Trump's threats to seize control of the territory.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Saturday that a time of uncertainty would hopefully give way to a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic "while respecting the (Danish) Kingdom's red lines." Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the proposed deal "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination." Trump said on Truth Social on Friday that under the deal, the U.S. "will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland." A NATO spokesperson welcomed the agreement, while some residents in the capital Nuuk remained skeptical.

Source

10. Billionaires abound in California. Why not tax their wealth?

No state may be a more natural fit for a tax on billionaires than California: the state leans left politically, needs funds for healthcare and is home to as many as 250 billionaires collectively worth upwards of $2 trillion, Reuters reported via CP24 on Sept. 20.

But Proposition 40, the Nov. 3 ballot initiative asking whether to impose a one-time five per cent tax on the state's billionaires, is far from certain to pass, political analysts say. California has more billionaires than any other state and is home to Google, Apple, Meta and Nvidia. An August poll found 48 per cent of likely voters supported Proposition 40, with 41 per cent opposed, while a September poll showed it leading 52 per cent to 46 per cent. Backers say the measure would generate $100 billion for healthcare, food assistance and education, but skeptics peg the revenue at closer to $40 billion and say it could drive some billionaires out of state.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has spent more than $100 million to defeat Proposition 40 and support countermeasures that would effectively void it. Governor Gavin Newsom also opposes the measure, advocating instead for a nationwide federal wealth tax. Historically, California voters have approved only one in three citizen initiatives; in 2022, Proposition 30, which sought to raise taxes on top earners, lost 58 per cent to 42 per cent.

Source