Maple Express | August 17, 2026 U.S. on Brink of New Tariffs on Canada

1. U.S. on the Brink of New Tariffs on Canada

Canada-U.S. trade negotiations have entered the final stretch. Just two days remain until U.S. President Donald Trump's new wave of tariffs takes effect on Aug. 19.

Trump has threatened 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, from cement to hockey sticks, unless negotiators can reach a deal at the last minute. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Negotiator Janice Charrette will meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington this afternoon.

Conservative critics note that Canada's political parties are united in dealing with Washington, with the tariffs and duties weighing on the steel, aluminum, lumber and automotive industries affecting the livelihoods of about 2.6 million Canadians.

2. Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak near Downtown Toronto

Toronto Public Health is investigating a Legionnaires' disease outbreak near the downtown core. Officials said the outbreak covers about a one-kilometre radius of the intersection of Bathurst and Dupont streets.

So far, six confirmed cases have been identified among people who live, work or visited the area, with symptoms appearing between July 2 and July 26. The source has not yet been confirmed, and possible sites are being investigated.

TPH is also working to determine whether this outbreak is linked to another outbreak at Castleview Wychwood Towers, a nearby long-term care home with at least five confirmed cases. The disease does not spread person to person, so the risk to the public remains low.

3. Plane Debris Found in Search for Missing 73-Year-Old Pilot

The search for a missing private plane has a new development. On Monday, Durham Regional Police discovered plane debris in the Kawartha area, but have not confirmed whether it belongs to the aircraft they are looking for.

The missing pilot is 73-year-old David Douglas, who took off from Oshawa Airport around 8:30 a.m. Friday and was due back at 9:30 a.m. but never returned. He was last reported near Balsam Lake.

He was flying a blue-and-yellow, home-built, single-seat plane with "FOFZ" on its tail. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is leading the search alongside Kawartha Lakes OPP.

4. TTC Line 1 Closing Early This Week Between Lawrence West and St. George

Toronto subway Line 1 will close early this week to allow for trackwork, affecting the stretch between Lawrence West and St. George stations.

Shuttle buses will be running during the closure. Commuters are advised to check notices and plan their routes ahead of time.

5. Crash in Vaughan Leaves Motorcyclist Dead

York Regional Police say a motorcyclist in his 30s died after a crash in Vaughan on Sunday night.

The crash happened around 11 p.m. at the intersection of Rutherford and Weston roads, where a motorcycle collided with a car. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The intersection was closed for several hours and has since reopened.

6. Mike Layton Eyes Return to Toronto City Council

Former Toronto councillor Mike Layton announced Monday that he is running again for the University-Rosedale seat in this fall's municipal election, challenging incumbent Dianne Saxe.

He is the son of the late federal NDP leader Jack Layton and stepson of Mayor Olivia Chow. He served as the ward's councillor for 12 years before choosing not to seek re-election in 2022 to spend more time with his family.

He said his children are now older and he wants to return to politics to help tackle community issues such as housing affordability. Toronto voters head to the polls on Oct. 26.

7. Five Suspects, Including Two Teens, Charged in Deadly Brampton Shooting

Peel Regional Police announced they have charged five suspects, including two 17-year-olds, in connection with a deadly double shooting near a Brampton elementary school on April 3.

The shooting happened shortly after 10:20 p.m. near Rutherford and Kennedy roads, leaving a man in his 20s and a male youth dead.

Police said the five suspects hail from Brampton, Orangeville and Toronto and face a combined 16 charges, with 21-year-old Jahnoi Bell and the two teens charged with first-degree murder. Police also recovered two firearms during the investigation.

8. GO Transit Milton Line Service Resumes After Fatal Incident

GO Transit's Milton Line has resumed service after a fatal incident early Monday morning.

At around 4:15 a.m., a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train near Kipling GO Station in Etobicoke, halting service in the area.

GO Transit had warned of significant delays and cancellations before service resumed shortly after 7 a.m. Police are still investigating and will release more information if the incident is deemed criminal.

9. Algoma Steel Suspends Production After Power Outage

Algoma Steel Group Inc., based in Sault Ste. Marie, has suspended production at its electric arc furnace due to an unplanned outage at its Lake Superior Power generating facility.

The company said one turbine unit at the power station detected an abnormal condition and was automatically taken offline, while the remaining units were unaffected.

Algoma said downstream finishing and shipping continue, and it does not expect a significant impact on committed customer delivery dates, though future shipment volumes may be affected.

10. Spin Master Snaps Up Viral Sticker Maker Hapiko

Toronto-based toy company Spin Master announced it will acquire Hapiko Inc., the maker of the viral Stickerbox toy.

Hapiko, headquartered in Brooklyn, makes the Stickerbox, which uses artificial intelligence and voice-to-image technology to turn spoken ideas into stickers kids can colour, collect and stick on surfaces.

A spokesperson said the deal is valued between US$35 million and US$50 million and is expected to close later this month. The US$129 toy has sold out 13 times since launching in late 2025.