Maple Express | November 9, 2026: 17 arrested in Ontario-wide child exploitation probe

1. 17 arrested in Ontario-wide child exploitation probe, 55 charges laid

Source: CP24

Ontario Provincial Police announced Monday that a provincewide investigation dubbed Project Brace has led to 17 arrests and a combined 55 charges, including charges against three people in Toronto. Fifteen police services, including Toronto Police, took part in the probe.

OPP said investigators ran online child exploitation investigations "to identify and apprehend those who prey on children," targeting people who make, possess and distribute child sexual abuse material. Police said the investigation did not directly identify any victims, but investigators opened 23 cases that remain active.

OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Tara Clark said in a written statement that police services have seen a "significant rise" in reports involving online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. She said offenders increasingly use digital technologies to reach children and youth, relying on social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps and peer-to-peer networks to groom victims, distribute abuse material and evade detection.

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2. Epinephrine nasal spray neffy now available without a prescription

Source: CP24

ALK-Abelló Pharmaceuticals Inc. Canada announced Monday that its epinephrine nasal spray neffy is now classified as a Schedule II product in Canada, meaning it can be bought without a prescription across the country. The company said access to epinephrine is critical for the estimated 2.5 million Canadians affected by severe allergies that put them at risk of anaphylaxis.

For years, Canadians at risk of anaphylaxis from allergies to foods such as peanuts or shellfish relied on single-use injectable devices, commonly known by the brand name EpiPen, which must be jabbed into the thigh. After Health Canada approved neffy earlier this year, pediatric allergist Dr. Mariam Hanna told CTV News the treatment is "huge" news for patients and caregivers, describing it as a life-saving device that is easy to administer and "almost challenging to get wrong." She noted that needles are a barrier for people who dislike them, don't want to use one, or don't want to carry a bulky device.

The new classification does not put neffy on open shelves: it must still be kept behind the counter at licensed pharmacies. It is authorized for adults and children weighing at least 30 kilograms (66 pounds) for emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis from insect stings or bites, foods, medicines and other allergens, as well as exercise-induced or unknown causes. ALK Canada general manager Andrew Desbarats said the change gives at-risk people and their caregivers another way to carry and use epinephrine, the first-line emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions.

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3. Art Gallery of Ontario to open five-floor expansion on Sept. 25, 2027

Source: CP24

The Art Gallery of Ontario says its new five-floor expansion will open to the public next fall. The 40,000 square feet of additional space is set to open on Sept. 25, 2027, showcasing the gallery's growing collection.

The Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will display nearly 400 artworks by Indigenous, Canadian and international artists. The project was launched in 2022 with a $35-million donation from Canada Goose chairman and CEO Dani Reiss. The AGO says the expansion is now fully funded to cover ongoing operating costs, thanks to support from the federal and provincial governments and private donors.

Led by Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects and Two Row Architect, the addition will overlook Toronto's Grange Park and connect to the museum's existing Frank Gehry-designed building. The AGO says it was designed to operate without burning fossil fuels and has received Zero Carbon Building Design certification, making it the first Canadian cultural institution of its size to earn the designation. It is the seventh expansion the museum has undertaken since being founded in 1900.

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4. Zellers opens in Cambridge this week, with two GTA stores coming in 2027

Source: CP24

Zellers is opening a new 25,000-square-foot store at the Cambridge Centre, 355 Hespeler Rd., this Thursday. The discount retailer also announced two more Greater Toronto Area locations next year: Shoppers World Brampton at 499 Main St. S. and Malvern Town Centre at 31 Tapscott Rd. Both will also be 25,000 square feet, though exact opening dates have not been set.

There is no opening date yet for a branch at Tecumseh Mall in Windsor, but the company said the project is "progressing well" and it expects to provide a date soon. Retail expert Bruce Winder told CTV News that Zellers originally went out of business for a reason, but the new ownership has a different vision and is offering "value" prices. Depending on how customers respond, he said, the chain could carve out a value niche below retailers like Walmart.

Zellers opened a store at 80 Orfus Rd. over the summer, the first location in the GTA since the last store closed in 2020; most stores closed in 2013. Alongside Thursday's opening, the retailer said the Zeddy Bear mascot is returning to shelves in two formats: a small key chain and a plush toy. Zellers chief operating officer Joey Benitah said in a news release that the company has been "incredibly encouraged by the response" to its return and will keep listening to customers and bringing Zellers to more communities.

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5. Toronto FC fires head coach Robin Fraser

Source: CP24

Toronto FC has fired head coach Robin Fraser after two seasons at the helm, the club announced Monday. Fraser was named head coach on Jan. 10, 2025, and Toronto went 15-27-26 in MLS play during his tenure. The club said the team's performance and results fell short of expectations.

The club will immediately begin a search for a new coach before the Sprint Season opens Feb. 19, with Toronto's first game set for Feb. 20 at Atlanta. Assistant coaches Neil Emblen, Wolde Harris and Jase Kim are also leaving the club.

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6. Three 14-year-olds charged in 'suspicious' fire at abandoned Milton building

Source: CP24

Three 14-year-olds have been charged with arson and break and enter after an abandoned building in downtown Milton went up in flames late Sunday afternoon. Emergency responders were called to 700 Main St., near Wilson Drive, at around 5:30 p.m. for reports of smoke and flames visible at the building.

Halton Regional Police said residents of a nearby condo were evacuated because of its proximity to the fire. The fire was contained and extinguished, but its origin is now being considered "suspicious," and members of the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau took carriage of the investigation and identified three suspects.

The three youths, all from the Milton area, were arrested and each charged with one count of break and enter and one count of arson. They cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call Halton police at 905-825-4777, ext. 2416.

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7. More than $13K in LEGO, Pokémon cards stolen in Hamilton-area break-ins

Source: CP24

Hamilton police say more than $13,000 worth of LEGO and a "large quantity" of Pokémon cards are among the items stolen during a series of commercial break-and-enters, and two men have been arrested. Police said the investigation began in September 2026, when the suspects broke into a Waterdown hardware store in an incident that caused "extensive damage."

Police allege the suspects wore disguises and used a stolen truck to take DeWalt power tools and other merchandise. Investigators linked them to additional break and enters across Hamilton, Niagara Region and Whitby, and believe they used multiple stolen vehicles, switched licence plates and repainted some vehicles to avoid detection.

On Nov. 4, as investigators prepared to execute search warrants at a property on Dickenson Road, officers learned of a break-and-enter nearby and arrested two men inside a vacant commercial property. Stolen property was later recovered, including LEGO, Pokémon cards, DeWalt power tools, more than $10,000 in powersports equipment, a Trek bicycle and a loaded Ruger bolt action rifle. One of the accused was previously arrested over the alleged theft of 38 bronze flower vases from a Hamilton cemetery in April 2026 and was released on bail with an ankle monitor at that time. Police believe others were involved and say the investigation remains ongoing.

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8. Protest planned outside Canadian Tire Centre for Ovechkin's Ottawa visit

Source: CP24

A protest is planned outside the Canadian Tire Centre when Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin visits Ottawa this week, as a petition calls on the federal government to impose sanctions on the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. The Capitals face the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is planning a rally called "Rally: No War Crimes in Ottawa" outside the arena beginning at 5:30 p.m., protesting Ovechkin's support for the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last month, the UCC called on the federal government to deny Ovechkin entry into Canada after he appeared in a commercial for a party aligned with Putin. "That the National Hockey League celebrates Ovechkin and ignores his support of a genocidal regime is a moral stain on the NHL. But the NHL's cravenness in no way absolves the Government of Canada from its responsibility to enforce the law and protect the security of Canadians," national president Alexandra Chyczij said in an Oct. 8 statement. The UCC previously called on Canada to ban Ovechkin in 2022 and said in a Sept. 15 social media post that he was "campaigning for United Russia."

Two online petitions on the House of Commons website have called on the federal government to consider imposing sanctions against Ovechkin. One from a British Columbia resident, sponsored by Liberal MP Yvan Baker, has 2,815 signatures since it launched on Sept. 29. Another from a Waterloo resident, sponsored by Liberal MP Bardish Chagger, closed on Nov. 5 with 649 signatures. Ovechkin announced in October he will retire at the end of the season after a 22-year career; he broke Wayne Gretzky's goals record in April 2025 and has 930 career goals.

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9. Trump casts doubt on U.S. midterm results with new fraud claims

Source: CP24

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed baseless allegations of voter fraud Monday, questioning the legitimacy of last week's midterm elections after Democrats swept both chambers of Congress in a crushing defeat for his Republican Party. "Does anybody really believe that this 'Election' was honest. How could the Polls be so wrong???" Trump wrote on Truth Social, alleging without evidence that large early voting "dumps" had made Republican victories impossible.

"It's all about the machines, which are far more important than the voter!" he added. The accusations marked a sharp reversal from Trump's initial acceptance of the results; he told The New York Times on election night, "I am absolutely willing to accept those results." The president has repeatedly made unfounded claims of election fraud, most notably after his defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

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10. G7 foreign ministers meet in Paris amid uncertainty over U.S. approach

Source: CP24

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized democracies began two days of talks in Paris on Monday with clear differences on multiple unresolved global crises and questions about how U.S. President Donald Trump will approach foreign policy after his Republican Party's heavy losses in the midterm elections. Whether on the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran or international organizations, the sides appeared far apart, although all agreed on the need to end the conflicts as quickly as possible.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to face questions about whether the administration will shift its positions on Russia-Ukraine, the Iran conflict, energy security and artificial intelligence. The Paris meeting is his first overseas trip since the midterms. Asked about allies wanting to know what comes next, Rubio told reporters that the countries he is meeting this week understand American politics and "they, too, have experienced divisions in government and divisions in their own system."

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said it remains an open question how Washington will proceed. "In terms of the U.S. and its approach I will say that the president has executive powers," she told reporters in Paris. "The House and the Senate have changed leadership so it's very much a question of what the approach will be." The report also noted that Trump's first major personnel decision was to install Stephen Miller as chief of staff, and that his envoys Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet both Ukrainian and Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates starting Tuesday to discuss potential compromises.

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News compiled from CP24. For more Canadian news and deals, visit dealcanada.ca.