Maple Express | August 20, 2026 PM urges provinces to put U.S. booze back on shelves

1. PM asks premiers to put U.S. booze back on shelves as trade deal remains unfinished

Source: CP24

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States "probably have a deal with Canada," a day after he delayed new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, adding that the Keystone XL pipeline "may be awoken from the grave." Later in the day, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the nation's first ministers to discuss details of a tentative deal, with several premiers confirming that Carney asked provinces and territories to put U.S. booze back on the shelves.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said after the meeting that the request came "directly out of the negotiating table" and is "something that (he) would be willing to do for the prime minister at this point in time," adding that "whether Nova Scotians or whether Canadians will actually buy it when it gets back on the shelves, that's a whole other discussion." Multiple provincial sources told CTV News they share cautious optimism, but emphasized the deal is not done yet — after Trump posted on Truth Social late Tuesday that the countries "have a deal," sources said that characterization is not accurate and further negotiations are ongoing.

Sources also said Carney personally asked premiers to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves and told them he will bear any public pushback. Half of the tariff reduction impact will be felt in Ontario, with the other half affecting the rest of Canada. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said she needs "more information from Ottawa" to decide whether the tentative deal is a good one. According to a recent Nanos Research survey, most Canadians say they won't purchase U.S. booze if it returns to shelves.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/08/20/pm-carney-asks-premiers-to-remove-us-booze-ban-as-officials-try-to-finalize-trade-deal/

2. Toronto police search for suspect accused of sexually assaulting six-year-old at park

Source: CP24

Toronto police have released images of a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old child at a downtown park. Police said they got a call on Tuesday afternoon to Roundhouse Park in the area of Bremner Boulevard and Lower Simcoe Street. The child was playing on the trains in the park when the suspect walked up to them and allegedly sexually assaulted them.

Police said when the victim's parent confronted the suspect, he sexually assaulted the child a second time before fleeing the area. In a news release on Wednesday, police described the suspect as 55 to 60 years old, five-feet-six inches tall with an average build, with a receding hairline with a bald crown, black and grey hair, and clean-shaven. He was wearing prescription glasses with a silver metal frame.

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. Original link: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/08/20/toronto-police-search-for-suspect-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-6-year-old-child-at-park/

3. Former Liberal MP Shaun Chen says he's running for Toronto city council

Source: CP24

Days after officially stepping down as a Liberal member of Parliament, Shaun Chen says he is running for Toronto city council. Chen confirmed to CTV News on Wednesday his plans to register as a candidate for the ward of Scarborough North, which he represented federally since 2015. He stepped down on Aug. 15 to deal with "significant health issues" stemming from a serious motor vehicle accident while he was commuting to Ottawa last year.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Chen said: "After discussing the situation with my family, I have decided that it is best for me to step down as a Member of Parliament." Following his announcement, news surfaced that he had travelled to China with the Hakka Canadian Association months after his accident, which led some critics to question his reason for stepping down. His office later confirmed that he flew to China from March 14 to 22 as the House of Commons was on parliamentary break, adding "the Member of Parliament did not vote from outside Canada."

Before being elected as an MP, Chen was a Toronto District School Board trustee and served as chair from December 2014 to August 2015. As of Wednesday, there are six candidates running in Scarborough North, including incumbent councillor Jamaal Myers and Chen's former Liberal caucus colleague Han Dong. Aspiring candidates have until Friday to file their nomination papers. Torontonians will head to the polls on Oct. 26.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/politics/toronto-city-hall/2026/08/20/shaun-chen-says-hes-running-for-toronto-city-council-after-stepping-down-as-mp/

4. Four people in hospital after serious Highway 401 crash in Scarborough

Source: CP24

The westbound lanes of Highway 401 in Scarborough were closed for several hours Wednesday night following a serious collision that injured four people. It happened in the collector lanes at Port Union Road around 7:48 p.m. Ontario Provincial Police said four people were taken to the hospital, including one person in life-threatening condition. The cause of the crash is unknown.

Police said drivers should expect a "prolonged closure," adding that "the closure will last several hours for the on-site investigation and clean-up effort."

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/08/20/4-people-in-hospital-following-highway-401-crash-that-resulted-in-lengthy-closure/

5. Motorcyclist dead after collision with vehicle in Scarborough

Source: CP24

According to a report published by CP24 Thursday morning at 6:24 a.m., a man in his 40s is dead after crashing into a vehicle in Scarborough.

Police said the cause of the collision remains under investigation, with more details expected to be released.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/video/2026/08/20/motorcyclist-dead-after-collision-with-vehicle-in-scarborough/

6. CNE's wild food this year: deep-fried pizza, KD smoothie, fried s'moreos

Source: CP24

A gallery published by CP24 showcases the wild food items you can sink your teeth into at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) this year — from deep-fried slices of pizza and KD smoothies to fried s'moreos — along with how much they cost.

The gallery features 60 photos highlighting this year's eye-catching food offerings at the CNE and their prices.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/photos/2026/08/20/deep-fried-slice-of-smores-pizza-kd-smoothie-take-a-look-at-the-wild-food-at-the-cne-this-year/

7. Two arrested in alleged online dating extortion in Brampton

Source: CP24

Peel Regional Police have arrested two people after a person was threatened and extorted during a date arranged online in Brampton earlier this month. Police said the victim was contacted in July through an online messaging platform by an individual using the alias Manisha Sharma, and agreed to meet the individual at a basement apartment near Torbram Road and Peter Robertson Boulevard.

Police allege that the male suspect then entered the basement a short time later and threatened the victim into e-transferring $6,000. Following an investigation, police arrested Harwinder Singh, 35, of Brampton, and Riya Riya, 23, also of Brampton, on Aug. 12. Both are charged with two counts each of forcible confinement, extortion, and robbery. Singh is also charged with uttering threats. Both accused were held in custody pending bail hearings, and the charges have not been tested in court.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/local/peel/2026/08/19/two-arrested-in-alleged-online-dating-extortion-in-brampton/

8. Some seats in upcoming Ontario municipal elections uncontested as deadline looms

Source: CP24

With the window to run in this year's Ontario municipal elections about to close, observers are paying attention to the number of people who aren't running. Zachary Spicer, an associate professor of public policy at York University, said the number of seats listing one or no registered candidates just over a day before the deadline is worth noting — "a trend that we've seen over the last couple of election cycles," typically in rural communities. Concerns initially arose after a handful of municipalities had their entire councils acclaimed in the 2018 vote, while some rural seats had no candidates at all.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario voiced similar worries last month. "Municipal councils make decisions that affect housing, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, economic development and so much more," AMO President Robin Jones said in a statement. "When fewer people run for office, communities have fewer choices and fewer perspectives around the council table." Spicer said the demands of municipal office, combined with pay that may not reflect those demands, could be deterring people — in small communities, councillors may only receive a stipend "as low as a couple hundred dollars a month."

Some 6,325 candidates competed for 2,842 positions in the last municipal elections in 2022, but just over 550 roles were uncontested and saw candidates elected by acclamation, AMO said. The Ontario government also passed legislation in the spring allowing it to appoint chairs in eight regions and counties, granting so-called "strong chair powers," which opposition critics have denounced as anti-democratic. Nominations close Friday afternoon, and the vote is set for Oct. 26.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/08/20/as-deadline-looms-for-ontario-municipal-elections-candidates-some-seats-uncontested/

9. B.C. man asks people to stop donating unwanted goods to wildfire evacuees

Source: CP24

A man who opened a free store for wildfire evacuees in B.C.'s Okanagan says he's grateful for the outpouring of donations — but some people are using the store to unload unwanted items such as used hygiene products, broken toys and dirty clothes. Joel Patan's store is meant to provide a sense of normalcy to evacuees who fled on short notice and no longer have a home to return to. Patan himself lost his home to the Bald Range wildfire in the hard-hit community of Faulder earlier this month. "When me and my wife found out our home was gone, we basically looked at each other, and I said to her, 'We got to go help people,'" Patan said.

The store in Penticton is stocked with racks of men's and women's clothing, school supplies and personal hygiene items. But Patan and his volunteers have noticed some people treating the store as a place to dispose of goods better suited for the landfill. "We opened a box together and it was half-used bars of soap, half-used makeup," he said, adding that in one case a donated shirt reeked of cat urine and volunteers were making daily trips to the landfill. Patan said he doesn't believe people are donating maliciously, but the issue escalated to where he felt he had to speak up: after everything evacuees have lost, they still deserve to feel human.

Patan posted online asking people not to use the store as a space to clean out their homes. Since speaking out, he says the quality of donations has improved — but there is one item the store never seems to run out of. "The amount of toothpaste, of toothbrushes we have gotten—you know, I'm going to be sending the dentists over there because I have so much," Patan said. "There will be no cavities in Faulder, I can promise you that."

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/08/20/soiled-clothes-half-used-soap-bc-man-asks-people-to-stop-donating-unwanted-goods-to-wildfire-evacuees/

10. Russian-linked actors stoking division in Alberta separation debate, research says

Source: CP24

A new study has found Alberta's separation debate is a target for foreign interference, with Russian and American campaigns spreading disinformation. Two months ahead of a referendum on whether Alberta should advance the process to separate from Canada, research shows the debate has become one of the prime targets for foreign influence online, mainly from Russian and American "content farms" and influencers.

"It's very clear that there is foreign interference," said Brian McQuinn, co-director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Conflict at the University of Regina and CEO of Cipher AI. Using AI to scan thousands of websites and social media, the team found hundreds of websites, headlines and social media content through July and August that "repeated misleading framing." "Their goal is to have us start to turn on each other," McQuinn said, adding that Russian-based attempts have been more covert and made up the vast majority of influence attempts, while American-based influences have been more overt through influencers or politicians.

Ahmed Al-Rawi, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University, warned that "some people pretend to be part of grassroots movements... but in reality they actually belong either to a nation state or some groups that have some kind of vested interest in creating divisions." Premier Danielle Smith told OMNI TV she had been briefed by both CSIS and the RCMP, saying "there's nothing out there that has elevated to a level of criminal involvement in our process, but we are seeing influence campaigns." The referendum is set for October 19.

Original link: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/08/20/russian-linked-actors-stoking-division-in-alberta-separation-debate-research-says/