Maple Express | September 8, 2026: Canada's Counter-Tariffs Take Effect

1. Canada hits back with counter-tariffs; new EU alliance in the works

Source: CP24

Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Canadians on Tuesday that tough times lie ahead, as Canada's retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect just after midnight. The measures respond to Washington's tariffs, imposed after trade talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down last month.

The United States had imposed 50 per cent tariffs on nearly $28 billion worth of Canadian products. In response, Ottawa unveiled dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs targeting roughly 700 American imports, including dairy, plywood and sunscreen. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said formal trade negotiations with the U.S. are "not taking place."

Meanwhile, Canada is setting its sights on a new alliance with the European Union covering trade, security and critical raw materials. According to Bloomberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce the plans at her state of the union address in France on Sept. 16.

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2. Trump threatens Canadian jetmaker Bombardier

Source: CP24

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to ban the sale of aircraft from Canada's Bombardier unless it manufactures planes in the United States. Bombardier responded by noting that many components for its planes, including the wings, are produced in the U.S., and that its supply chain relies heavily on American companies.

"NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren't good enough! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a 'piggybank,'" Trump said in a Monday social media post. Bombardier said its supply chain includes about 2,800 U.S. companies in 47 states.

Since Canada-U.S. trade talks collapsed on Aug. 21, Trump and his administration have unleashed a barrage of tariffs and threats. Canada retaliated Tuesday with tariffs on about US$20 billion worth of U.S. goods. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he reached out to the Trump administration about Bombardier, which supports more than 1,000 workers in Wichita.

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3. Economists: Canada's reciprocal tariffs unlikely to hit grocery bills

Source: CP24

Most grocery items have escaped the wrath of trade tensions as Canada's reciprocal tariffs took effect Tuesday, though economists say some items such as health and beauty products could see short-term price rises.

"The retaliatory tariffs are not focused on food inflation. So, their direct impact on food prices should be fairly modest," said KPMG chief economist Ali Jaffery. He said about 20 per cent of affected items are consumer products, small enough to keep a lid on overall inflation.

The federal government's reciprocal tariffs, ranging from 15 to 50 per cent, apply to U.S. imports including dairy, cosmetics, clothing and textiles. Loblaw CEO Per Bank called the limited effect "good news" and said the company will revive its "T" symbol for tariff-affected items later this month.

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4. Toronto to see sunshine, high of 25 C as students head back to school

Source: CP24

Students heading back to school in Toronto on Tuesday will be greeted by sunshine and a high of 25 C. "Back to school. Back to reality. But seasonably warm weather will continue into the shortened work week," said CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter.

Coulter said it will feel close to 30 in the afternoon under bright skies with increasing late-day clouds. A system will arrive late overnight, bringing some predawn showers.

More rainfall and embedded thundershowers are expected through Wednesday, Coulter said. "Skies calm and clear Wednesday evening. Thursday will be variable and closer to seasonable. Friday will be mainly sunny and pleasant."

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5. Toronto still responding to service requests after '100-year storm'

Source: CP24

Toronto is still responding to thousands of service requests in the wake of the "100-year storm," marking the largest storm response the city says it has ever seen. In an update Tuesday, the city said it received nearly 5,700 storm-related service requests.

Of those requests, more than 3,000 are related to impacted trees, pushing tree cleanup into this week. City officials said crews have been working extended hours to address the most urgent public safety concerns.

Last Wednesday's storm brought destructive winds and ping pong sized hail, knocking out power for thousands of homes and flooding major roadways like the Don Valley Parkway. As of Tuesday, the city said it has finished more than 1,000 service requests, including fully clearing expressways and arterial roads.

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6. Four arrested, one suspect sought after Richmond Hill home invasion

Source: CP24

Four people have been arrested and a fifth person is still wanted by police following a violent home invasion in Richmond Hill on Monday morning. York Regional Police responded to a weapons call at a residence near May Avenue and Yonge Street at about 7 a.m.

Police say multiple suspects armed with at least one firearm forced their way into the home, confronted a male victim and assaulted him. The firearm was discharged during the assault, but the victim was not struck by gunfire. He was taken to a trauma centre with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

Police identified the suspects' vehicle as a black Cadillac Escalade and, with help from the Ontario Provincial Police, stopped it on Highway 401 in Cobourg. Georges-Junior Saint-Elien, 31, Christopher Fils-Aime, 25, Justin Johnson, 25, and Ivy Hewes, 24, have all been charged. Police are still searching for a fifth suspect.

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7. Toronto police to boost presence for Jewish holidays, Chow decries antisemitism

Source: CP24

Toronto police will have an enhanced presence throughout the city as the Jewish community prepares to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Police Chief Myron Demkiw detailed the security plans Tuesday afternoon, noting the additional resources will be "both visible and covert."

Demkiw said the enhanced presence will be deployed in time for Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 11 to 13 and remain through the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. He said there has been an "alarming increase" in hate-motivated incidents targeting the Jewish community.

Mayor Olivia Chow also spoke at Tuesday's news conference, addressing what she called a "despicable" rise in antisemitism. "Jewish Torontonians should not need police presence to go to a synagogue or a community centre, or simply to live proudly Jewish in our city but they do," she said.

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8. 65-year-old charged in Brampton hit-and-run that critically injured pedestrian

Source: CP24

A 65-year-old man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run collision in Brampton that sent a pedestrian to hospital with life-threatening injuries. It happened after 5 a.m. on April 13, in the area of Bovaird Drive West and McLaughlin Road.

Police said a pedestrian was struck by multiple vehicles. Investigators said the pedestrian was first hit by a dark blue Toyota RAV4, whose driver failed to stay at the scene, and was then hit by a passing vehicle whose driver remained.

Peel Regional Police said in a news release Tuesday that they arrested Abdillahi Farah Idere, of Brampton, in connection with the collision. Idere has been charged with failure to stop after accident resulting in bodily harm and careless driving causing bodily harm.

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9. More than 9,000 federal public servants approved for early retirement

Source: CP24

More than 9,300 federal public servants have been approved for an early retirement package as part of the federal government's plan to trim the size of its workforce. Eligible federal employees had until July 24 to apply for the Early Retirement Incentive program.

According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 9,346 applications have been "confirmed to meet the criteria" and approved for early retirement, as of Sept. 1. A total of 69 applications have been denied so far. Employees approved must retire by Jan. 20, 2027.

Last December, approximately 68,000 federal public servants received notices they could be eligible. The Canada Strong Budget 2025 outlined a plan to cut 28,000 federal public service positions by 2029 through attrition and early retirement packages.

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10. Online dangers are a top threat for Canadian kids: new report

Source: CP24

Online dangers are the top threat facing children in Canada, according to a new report from national charity Children First Canada. The annual "Raising Canada" report, released Tuesday, named online harms as the number one threat for the first time.

According to the report, Canadian adolescents now average seven or more hours of screen use per day, nearly four times the national guidelines. Online threats are connected to poor mental health, declining physical activity, bullying, racism and discrimination.

The charity cites violent online networks such as '764' that target kids through gaming platforms, social media and messaging apps. It urges policymakers to strengthen and pass Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, and calls for a national youth strategy. "Canada's 8 million children deserve better," the charity says.

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