Maple Express | July 29, 2026 - Two Teens Killed in Hamilton Shootout

📰 Two Teens Killed in Exchange of Gunfire in Hamilton

A shooting at a home on Candlewood Drive in Stoney Creek early Wednesday morning claimed the lives of 18-year-old Abdulmalek Shibli and 16-year-old Afef Binafif. Police say at least six individuals arrived at the scene when gunfire erupted, and believe the shooting was retaliation for an earlier bear spray attack at a nearby residence. No suspects are in custody as investigators continue to collect video evidence and interview witnesses.

— CP24

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📰 Body of Missing Calgary Boy Parker Found After Nearly Two Weeks

Calgary police confirmed Wednesday that searchers have located the body of Parker, an 11-year-old autistic boy missing since July 16. His remains were found in a small pipe on the east side of Deerfoot Trail, about one kilometre from his last known location. Police reviewed over 600 tips and analyzed 100,000 CCTV clips from more than 650 cameras. The discovery came after a member of the public reported finding clothing matching what Parker was last seen wearing.

— CBC News

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📰 Toronto Mayor Race Heats Up as Bradford Slams Alexander as 'Unfit for Office'

Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford launched sharp attacks against Chris Alexander on Wednesday as the former Conservative MP officially entered the Toronto mayor's race. Bradford cited Alexander's support for the Tories' 2015 "barbaric cultural practices" hotline proposal, calling him "unfit for office" in the world's most diverse city. Alexander's candidacy is seen as a serious threat to Bradford's campaign, potentially splitting the centre-right vote.

— Toronto Star

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📰 Toronto Mayor Demands Province Return Island Land After Feds Block Airport Expansion

Mayor Olivia Chow is calling on the Ontario government to return lands expropriated for the now-rejected Billy Bishop airport expansion. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon rejected Premier Doug Ford's jet expansion plan last Friday following public consultations. Chow has filed an urgent motion demanding the province restore the city's position in the tripartite agreement governing the airport. Ontario's transport minister says the province will continue pushing for expansion.

— CP24

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📰 Over 15,000 Torontonians Connected to Family Doctors Through New Program

Two new services launched by the Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team have connected more than 15,000 residents to family doctors this year, including 9,000 who had been on waitlists since before January 2025. The program uses a dedicated attachment liaison who handles chart preparation and medical record reviews, saving physicians hours of paperwork, while also providing access to mental health counselling and nutrition services through a team-based care model.

— CP24

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📰 CNE Reveals Full 2026 Concert Lineup with Shaggy, Tom Cochrane Headlining

The Canadian National Exhibition has announced its complete summer concert lineup, running Aug. 21 to Sept. 6 at the Bandshell, all included with admission. Performers include Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco, reggae star Shaggy, Canadian rock icon Tom Cochrane, along with Glass Tiger, Matthew Good, Bif Naked, Bran Van 3000, Finger Eleven, and American singer JoJo. A surprise international headliner is still to be announced for Aug. 28.

— CP24

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📰 Two Hospitalized After Two-Vehicle Collision in Markham

Two people were rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle collision at Markham Road and Denison Street on Saturday afternoon. The intersection was fully closed for approximately three hours before reopening around 5 p.m. The severity of injuries and circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. Police are asking witnesses to come forward with any information.

— CP24

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📰 Poll: More Than 7 in 10 Ontarians Disapprove of Doug Ford's Performance

A new Liaison Strategies survey shows Premier Doug Ford's approval rating has dropped to just 24%, with 72% of respondents expressing disapproval — the lowest approval and highest disapproval ever measured for Ford by this pollster. The Ontario Liberals lead with 38% support compared to the PCs' 33%. The results come amid an ongoing expense scandal involving MPPs billing taxpayers for Toronto hotel rooms, which Ford has called "unacceptable."

— CP24

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📰 PM Carney Rejects Using Canadian Energy as Bargaining Chip in U.S. Trade War

Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled Wednesday he does not want to use Canadian energy as leverage in trade negotiations with the United States, emphasizing that being a "reliable supplier" matters. Speaking in Red Deer, Alberta, Carney declined to explicitly rule it out but said he doesn't "see the value." The stance puts him at odds with premiers from Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick who have advocated keeping all options on the table as new U.S. tariffs loom on Aug. 19.

— CP24

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📰 WestJet Flights Could Begin Grounding Friday as Strike Deadline Nears

WestJet and the union representing about 4,400 flight attendants have agreed to an operational wind-down plan, with aircraft potentially beginning to be grounded as early as Friday ahead of a possible Sunday strike. Unpaid work remains the central issue, and flight attendants voted 99% in favour of a strike mandate. Approximately 75,000 passengers per day could be affected. WestJet says it remains "optimistic" an agreement can be reached and is offering flexible rebooking for flights between July 30 and Aug. 4.

— CP24