Maple Express | September 09, 2026 Watermain break disrupts streetcar service in Toronto's east end

1. Watermain break disrupts streetcar service in Toronto's east end

Source: CP24

Firefighters are on the scene of a watermain break in Toronto's east end that is disrupting streetcar service in the area.

The incident was reported at around 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of Coxwell and Fairford avenues, near Gerrard Street. Police said gas and diesel fuel is mixed in with the running water, and the incident has shut down the street. The risk of ignition is low, they added.

Eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane, and the TTC has replaced the 506 Carlton streetcar with shuttle buses between Main Street Station and Coxwell Avenue at Lower Gerrard Street East. A city spokesperson said crews are working to isolate the break, assess the damage and complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible. It is unclear when all lanes will reopen.

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2. Toronto rent prices fell again, but multi-bedroom units getting pricier

Source: CP24

The cost of rent in Toronto continued a years-long decline last month, but new data suggests multi-bedroom units are getting more expensive.

Data from Rentals.ca and Urbanation shows the average asking rent in the city was $2,571 in August, down 1.8 per cent from a year earlier. But three-bedroom units rose 3.5 per cent to $3,642, and two-bedroom units rose 0.3 per cent to $2,939.

The average asking rent across Canada fell for a 23rd consecutive month, down 4.8 per cent to $2,035, its lowest level since 2022. Toronto was the fourth most expensive rental market, trailing North Vancouver, Vancouver and Oakville. The report says the outlook is becoming more uncertain amid the U.S. trade war.

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3. Nearly 100 lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto in 2026, topping last year

Source: CP24

Toronto Fire Services says there have been nearly 100 lithium-ion battery fires in the city this year, far surpassing the total seen in all of 2025.

Capt. Deepak Chagger said there have been 97 such fires in 2026, along with 14 related injuries. Last Sunday, crews responded to two fires within hours of each other — one in an alley near St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street, and another inside an apartment building near Crescent Town Road and Victoria Park Avenue.

Fire Chief Jim Jessop has stressed these fires are typically toxic and pose a serious public safety risk, noting a more than 200 per cent increase since 2022. He said e-bikes and e-scooters are catching fire at an alarming rate, and the batteries involved are often unregulated and do not meet a standard.

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4. Up to 20 mm of rain, thunderstorm risk in Toronto today

Source: CP24

Toronto could see up to 20 millimetres of rain on Wednesday, exactly one week after a major storm caused widespread flooding across the city.

Environment Canada says showers will begin later Wednesday morning, with 10 to 20 millimetres expected by evening, accompanied by winds of 20 km/h and gusts up to 40 km/h. The system is not expected to pack the same punch as last week's storm, which brought more than 100 millimetres to parts of the GTA and closed the Don Valley Parkway for an extended period.

CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said this system is moving in from the west, and its interaction with the Niagara Escarpment tends to keep Toronto from seeing the worst of it, though stronger storms are possible in central and eastern Ontario. Toronto is expected to stay below 24 C today, feeling closer to 32 with humidity, before sunny skies and a high of 23 C return Thursday.

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5. Peel police recover $15K in stolen property, arrest four

Source: CP24

Peel police have recovered about $15,000 in stolen property and charged four people following an investigation into organized retail theft.

The investigation began June 18 after a theft at a business near Clayhill Road and Dundas Street West in Mississauga. Two days later, investigators executed a search warrant at a Brampton residence and recovered property stolen from several retailers, including department stores, pharmacies and fitness stores.

Four Brampton residents were arrested and face a combined 23 charges. Deputy Chief Marc Andrews said organized retail crime fuels violent activity including drug trafficking and robberies. Peel police have made 611 retail-theft arrests and laid 1,276 criminal charges so far in 2026.

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6. Costco Canada recalls select chicken products

Source: CP24

Costco Canada is recalling select chicken breast products due to the possible presence of undeclared soy.

The affected Rossdown Meal Starters Black Garlic Chicken Breast Chunks were sold under item number 295021 at Costco warehouses between August and September 2026, including lots produced on Aug. 10 and Aug. 19.

The recall notice says consumers who are allergic or sensitive to soy should not consume the product, as it may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction. Affected items can be returned to a Costco warehouse for a full refund.

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7. Mild fall ahead as El Nino delays winter: Weather Network

Source: CP24

The Weather Network's outlook suggests a mild fall across much of Canada, with a potentially historic El Nino expected to prolong the season and delay winter's arrival.

Senior meteorologist Doug Gillham said winter "is probably going to wait on the sidelines for a while," as El Nino tends to shift the storm track south, fill Canada with milder Pacific air and limit the ability of cold arctic air to plunge south.

Several forecasters suggest this could be among the strongest El Ninos on record. Gillham warned that fewer storms "doesn't mean the storms that occur won't pack a punch." Ontario and Quebec are expected to see typical fall conditions with no consistent cold or early winter.

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8. Ottawa council to vote on removing Trump's name from street

Source: CP24

Ottawa city council will vote later this month on a motion to remove U.S. President Donald Trump's name from a residential street in Canada's capital.

Coun. Riley Brockington introduced a motion Wednesday to rename Trump Avenue, one of several streets in the Central Park neighbourhood that reference New York City. If approved on Sept. 23, he would lead a public consultation with households to choose a new name that meets the city's street naming policies.

Brockington said the name would not meet any criteria had it gone through a formal commemorative naming process. In 2021, residents voted 21-21 on changing the name, with 20 households abstaining; city policy requires at least 50 per cent plus one to change a street name.

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9. Trump escalates trade war with product bans, new tariffs on Canada

Source: CP24

U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada, signing executive orders that ban certain Canadian products and impose new tariffs.

Signed Tuesday, the orders will completely block imports of some Canadian goods — including motorcycles, certain dairy products and a wide range of alcoholic beverages — and add 50 per cent tariffs on products such as golf carts, desks and mattresses. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the federal government is assessing the latest measures.

The move comes after Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on nearly $28 billion in Canadian products took effect, prompting Ottawa's dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs that came into force just after midnight Tuesday. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada is to blame for the escalation.

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10. BMO InvestorLine to offer commission-free stock and ETF trading

Source: CP24

BMO InvestorLine is offering commission-free trading on all stocks and exchange-traded funds in a bid to grow its digital self-directed investing platform.

BMO says it is the first direct investing brokerage owned by one of Canada's five big banks to eliminate commissions on stock and ETF trades. It is also eliminating brokerage account administration fees and lowering option trading costs by reducing contract fees and scrapping commissions.

The changes take effect Sept. 14, as Canada's big banks face growing competition from smaller digital platforms such as Wealthsimple, which already offers commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and equity options.

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