Maple Express Evening | September 17, 2026 Carney Says Parliament Will Vote on EU Partnership, Poilievre Accuses PM of Being Untrustworthy

1. Carney says Parliament will vote on EU partnership, Poilievre accuses PM of being untrustworthy

Source: CP24

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on Thursday, welcoming the "ambition" for Canada to become the European Union's first associate member and saying an enhanced partnership with the EU will be put up for debate and a final vote in Parliament. Carney stressed that Canada is not looking to become a full member of the EU. He said Canada and the EU "are not fair-weather allies," sharing common values of the rule of law, human dignity, individual freedom and democracy, and that a strong economy is not an end in itself but a means to a just society.

The remarks drew criticism on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. On Thursday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Carney of contradicting himself, highlighting comments the prime minister made on Sept. 13 on home soil when he said Canada is "not looking to become a member of the European Union," contrasted with what he told the European Parliament on Thursday, when he said Canada "welcomes" the ambition to become the EU's first associate member. "How can Canadians trust Prime Minister Mark Carney when he says one thing in Canada and the opposite in Europe?" Poilievre wrote on social media.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Canada's potential move could be seen as a "hostile act" if done with "bad intentions," and threatened very heavy tariffs on Europe or stopping trade with the continent on many things. Carney said a deeper alliance will make Canada a "better partner with the United States." New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen posted on X on Thursday that Trump's trade war and insults are pushing Canada to shift its trading elsewhere, warning that, as New Hampshire's most important trading partner, pushing Canada away will hurt the state's residents.

2. Chow pledges $28 million for anti-youth violence programming, Bradford pitches subway barriers

Source: CP24

Toronto mayoral candidates made public safety promises on the campaign trail Thursday. At a news conference in Scarborough, Mayor Olivia Chow unveiled a four-year, $28-million investment to fund youth safety programs that she says will make communities safer. "One shooting, one death is too many. That means another mom grieving, another community impacted," Chow said, flanked by mothers who lost their children to gun violence.

Chow said her administration has invested each year she's been mayor through year-round initiatives and the Summer Safety Plan, which focuses on prevention, intervention, response, and community well-being and leadership. As a result, she said youth violence was down 40 per cent in 2025. She said the lower the number the better, and that she understands the sense of insecurity and fear, but if the city could reach out to young people earlier, faster and better, it can dramatically reduce gun violence.

Fellow candidate Brad Bradford pitched installing platform edge doors on the TTC — a type of safety barrier installed along the edge of a subway platform that opens at the same time as the train doors. He didn't say how he plans to pay for the proposal, which a 2025 study by the TTC said would cost roughly $44 to $55 million at each station. Toronto's municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26. Candidate Chris Alexander had no public campaign announcement Thursday.

3. Union warns that Brampton auto plant could become first to fall in trade war

Source: CP24

Unifor national president Lana Payne warned Thursday that Stellantis is "100 per cent serious" about exiting its Brampton assembly plant, and she is asking Ottawa to step in and prevent its sale to Canadian armoured vehicle maker Roshel. The comments come just days before the collective agreement between the two sides expires on Sept. 20. "Stellantis is looking for an exit, and no one, no one, should be holding the door open," Payne told reporters. "This would make Brampton the first auto plant to fall in this trade war. And when plants close, they rarely, if ever, come back."

The remarks follow a letter Payne penned to federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on Wednesday, warning that "there is no comparable economic replacement for this work" and that "Canada's economy will be worse-off as a result." In a letter to employees Thursday, Stellantis said market and trade conditions had "directly impacted the original business case for Brampton," and that after reviewing a range of options, none provided a sustainable long-term business case, so it is "exploring a potential sale of the facility to Roshel," while stressing that no transaction has been completed and due diligence is ongoing.

Stellantis also pointed to more than $8 billion in previous investments, saying it remains "committed to Canada." Payne said Unifor continues to believe Stellantis should resume the promised retooling for the Jeep Compass, and that the union ultimately is seeking time: "Don't close, don't sell." The collective agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, but Payne stressed the date is not a strike deadline and no strike deadline has been set, with the union's objective being a tentative settlement without strike action.

4. A look at some of the new bombshell allegations released in the Project South case

Source: CP24

Newly unsealed court documents in the Project South investigation were released to the public Wednesday, shedding more light on the explosive allegations made against several Greater Toronto Area police officers charged in the corruption probe. The investigation, launched by York Regional Police in the summer of 2025, has led to the arrest of seven active Toronto police officers, two active Peel Regional Police officers and one retired Toronto cop. More than a dozen additional people also face charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, trafficking in controlled substances, bribery and extortion.

The new details come from allegations in a recently unsealed Information-to-obtain (ITO) document, filed by investigators as part of a judicial process to receive search warrants, which were executed in February. CTV News is among several media outlets that have been contesting a publication ban on the document. Superior Court Justice Laura Bird has now allowed more of its contents to be released, due in part to the "importance of public scrutiny in this case." The 274-page document provides an overview of many aspects of the case, though some details remain under a court-ordered publication ban, and none of the allegations have been tested in court.

Justice Bird noted that one of the "most concerning" things about the allegations of widespread police corruption is that officers "only stumbled upon it" while investigating a plot to murder a correctional officer. The document alleges that Toronto police officer Timonthy Barnhardt regularly leaked information from police databases to "criminal associates," including an alleged drug trafficker named Brian Da Costa. It also alleges Barnhardt and other officers were involved in drug trafficking and used personal vehicles to "repeatedly commit" drug trafficking offences, including dealing cocaine to one another.

5. SickKids ranked No. 1 among 250 children's hospitals worldwide

Source: CP24

Toronto's SickKids hospital has been ranked the world's best children's hospital for a second consecutive year, according to one study. The ranking, announced by Newsweek Tuesday, included a list of 250 pediatric hospitals around the world. SickKids ranked ahead of Boston Children's Hospital (No. 2), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (No. 3), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù di Roma in Rome, Italy (No. 4), and Children's Hospital Los Angeles (No. 5).

"Being No. 1 is an extraordinary honour. Achieving No. 1 back-to-back reflects the excellence, dedication and shared purpose that define SickKids every day," said Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of SickKids. "This recognition belongs to the staff, trainees, volunteers, donors and community who stand behind our mission and make our work for children and families possible."

The ranking, published in partnership with statistics and data company Statista, was based on three "data pillars": reputation, accreditation and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). PROMs are standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients to assess their perception of their functional well-being and quality of life. Several other Canadian pediatric hospitals were included, including BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver (No. 9) and Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary (No. 15).

6. Mother of Niagara Falls murder victim pleads for outstanding suspect to surrender

Source: CP24

Angela Bolus says her "happiness is gone" following the fatal shooting of her eldest son — a pain further exacerbated by the fact that one of the suspects in his murder is still on the loose. Niagara police said that on July 16, just before 9 p.m., Mitchell Snoddon was at his home on Thorold Stone Road in Niagara Falls when a man and a woman entered and shot him with a handgun. The 35-year-old St. Catharines native was rushed to hospital, where he later died. No firearm was recovered at the scene, and police have described the shooting as targeted.

For weeks, the two suspects — 23-year-old Maaroof Bangi and 30-year-old Josta Grace MacNeal — evaded police, driving different vehicles in Ontario and Quebec and changing their appearance, according to investigators. MacNeal was arrested in Montreal on Aug. 27 and now faces one count of second-degree murder. Bangi remains outstanding and police say he should be considered armed and dangerous; he is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder, described as about five-foot-six with a skinny build and dark skin.

Bolus said the last two months have been a living nightmare for her family, especially her son's young daughters. "Mitch's death has shattered our whole family … I can't believe he's gone. That was not the plan," she said. She appealed to those who know what happened to do the right thing and contact authorities, adding that the outstanding suspect "must be out of money" and that somebody must be helping him. Niagara Regional Police said detectives are still searching for the outstanding suspect and that, if Bangi is observed, the public should call 911 immediately and not approach.

7. Pharmacy manager in Whitby charged after allegedly sexually assaulting 16-year-old employee

Source: CP24

A manager of a pharmacy in Whitby is facing charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male employee. Durham Regional Police said they launched their investigation on Aug. 11 after hearing from the teen, who had been working at a pharmacy located in the area of Taunton Road East and Garden Street. Police allege the victim had been touched inappropriately multiple times.

Officers said they arrested the suspect on Wednesday without incident. Sampath Perera, 62, of Markham faces sexual assault and sexual exploitation charges. The charges have not been tested in court.

Durham police said they are concerned there may be other victims. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them or to provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

8. 'Wow! I am a friggin' millionaire!:' Ontario man claims $25-million jackpot

Source: CP24

Innisfil, Ont.'s Stanley J. did not realize how dramatically his life was going to change when he bought a lottery ticket at a grocery store in Woodstock. A plumber by trade with a 40-year career to his name, Stanley says when purchasing the winning ticket he stuck with a set of numbers he has been using for years. "A few years ago, I purchased a Lotto Max ticket with Quick Pick numbers and I've stuck with those numbers ever since," he says. "I guess that was a good decision."

Stanley was visiting his girlfriend on July 24 when he purchased the ticket. Later that night, when he checked his winnings on the app, he thought he had won $25,000. "I soon realized I won much more, but I was in shock," he says. "I asked my girlfriend to check my ticket for me and she thought I was joking until she saw the prize amount of $25 million." He says the shock remained until he saw the money in his bank account — that was when he shouted, "Wow! I am a friggin' millionaire!"

When he won, Stanley says he planned on quietly telling a few family members and friends, but he was surprised to learn word of his winnings had spread fast among his social circle, who were happy for him. A house on the lake and a classic hot-rod are on his list of things to buy, but he also plans to spend his money on some important people. "I'd like to show my girlfriend some of my favourite places, I love the sun, sand, and beaches," he says. "I want to spoil my granddaughter and daughter," he adds. "This win brings me a sense of comfort."

9. 'Freedom Convoy' leader Tamara Lich denied permission to travel internationally

Source: CP24

An Ontario judge has denied a request from Tamara Lich, one of the key organizers of the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" protest in Ottawa, to travel abroad as part of her work with Rebel News. Lich was found guilty of mischief last October for her role in the protest, which blockaded downtown Ottawa around Parliament Hill for nearly a month. She was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest, including a curfew, as well as 100 hours of community service.

In July, Lich applied to the court for permission to travel internationally to facilitate her work with Rebel News. That work would include an interview in Arizona for a documentary, a future book tour and speaking appearances, and a Caribbean cruise hosted by Rebel that serves as an annual fundraiser for the organization. Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey noted in her decision that while Lich has abided by the conditions of her sentence so far, the material circumstances of her situation haven't changed and denying the travel request would not jeopardize her employment.

The judge also said that if Lich were to breach the conditions of her travel while abroad, there would be legal questions about the court's jurisdiction and enforcement capacity. Lich's lawyer Lawrence Greenspon said the decision was "very considered" and left the door open for Lich to continue travelling inside Canada. He added that Lich is continuing to appeal her conviction. Lich did not appear in court in person; she joined via video link and appeared to be a passenger in a vehicle throughout the proceedings.

10. National housing price index hits lowest level since April 2023

Source: CP24

Average home prices across Canada's largest housing markets fell slightly in August, marking the eighth month-over-month drop in the last nine, according to a report released Thursday. The Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index, which includes price data from the country's 11 largest cities and their respective metropolitan areas, fell 0.2 per cent from July to August. That follows a slight uptick of 0.1 per cent in July.

"This contraction marks the eighth decline in nine months, pushing prices down 4.2 per cent from their most recent peak in November 2025 and to their lowest level since April 2023," Daren King, an economist with the Economics & Strategy Group of National Bank of Canada, wrote in the report. Taken individually, six of the 11 markets in the index saw average home prices decline in August. Vancouver fell 1.6 per cent, while Halifax (-0.6 per cent), Ottawa-Gatineau (-0.15 per cent), Winnipeg (-0.3 per cent), Hamilton (-0.3 per cent) and Edmonton (-0.1 per cent) also fell.

Meanwhile, average home prices rose in Victoria (+0.5 per cent), Quebec City (+0.4 per cent), Toronto (+0.4 per cent), Montreal (+0.3 per cent) and Calgary (+0.2 per cent). On a year-over-year basis, the index fell 3.6 per cent from August 2025 to August of this year — a larger annual drop than the 3.2 per cent decline recorded in July. The report said housing affordability "is expected to deteriorate over the coming quarters," likely putting further pressure on home prices across the country.