Maple Express | Canada sheds 42,000 jobs in August as unemployment holds at 6.4%

1. Canada sheds 42,000 jobs in August, unemployment rate holds at 6.4%

Source: CP24

Canada's labour market broke its recent hot streak in August, shedding 42,000 jobs while the unemployment rate held steady at 6.4 per cent, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada. Economists had expected a gain of roughly 15,000 positions.

The public sector lost 20,000 positions in August, its third straight month of declines, while manufacturing — hit hard by U.S. tariffs — surprised with a gain of 22,000 jobs. TD Bank senior economist Andrew Hencic argued that one soft month should not define the labour market, saying a steady jobless rate matters more than the headline losses.

Average hourly wages rose at an annual pace of just 2 per cent, down from 2.8 per cent in July and the lowest since November 2017. Young workers aged 15 to 24 lost 19,000 jobs. CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham said it is "far too early to sound any alarm bells," though the data is consistent with a slowing economy.

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2. City of Toronto orders Rogers Stadium to 'remedy unsafe building' after storm damage

Source: CP24

The City of Toronto has issued an "order to remedy an unsafe building" to the owners of Rogers Stadium, which was severely damaged by this week's storm — just 12 days before a scheduled AC/DC concert.

Area Councillor James Pasternak said no one is currently allowed on the property, and the operator must bring in a third-party engineer to report on the measures needed to make the building safe. He said the north stands have collapsed and it is "a major operation" to clear the rubble and restore them, with a report due by Sept. 8.

The venue, a temporary five-year structure built last year in Downsview Park, is not to be confused with the downtown Rogers Centre. Operator Live Nation said its teams are continuing to assess the extent of the damage.

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3. Chow promises to keep property taxes 'at or around' inflation if re-elected

Source: CP24

Olivia Chow will keep property taxes "at or around" the inflation rate if re-elected as Toronto mayor, her campaign office confirmed Friday.

Campaign spokesperson Shirven Rezvany said the city is now in a "more sustainable financial position" after three years of fixing the budget, noting the nearly $2 billion budget hole Chow inherited in 2023. During her first term property owners saw increases including a 9.5 per cent hike — the largest since amalgamation — followed by 6.9 per cent in 2025. This year's budget rose 2.2 per cent, slightly below inflation.

Mayoral candidates Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander criticized the pledge. Alexander promised no tax increases in his first year in office, with increases below inflation in his second.

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4. Toronto police arrest suspect accused of setting vehicles at Liberal MP's home on fire

Source: CP24

A 24-year-old man has been arrested after several vehicles outside a Scarborough MP's home were set on fire last week, Toronto police announced Friday.

On the morning of Aug. 27, the suspect allegedly poured accelerant onto vehicles parked in the driveway of Liberal MP Salma Zahid's residence near Bellamy Road North and Lawrence Avenue East, igniting two vehicles and damaging a third. Police arrested a suspect on Aug. 30 and identified him Friday as Roshvin Crofton.

Crofton faces charges including arson causing damage to property, mischief over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, possession of incendiary material, and failure to comply with probation. MP Zahid said her son noticed the blaze and called 911, and her family was not injured. Prime Minister Carney and Mayor Olivia Chow both condemned the incident.

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5. 2,500 Toronto Hydro customers still without power after storm

Source: CP24

Toronto Hydro says 2,500 customers remain without power after Wednesday's violent storm, which dumped more than 100 millimetres of rain on parts of Toronto and other Ontario cities.

At the peak of the storm, 65,000 people were without electricity, the utility confirmed. Spokesperson Dan Smart thanked customers for their patience and said crews would continue working "around the clock" until service is restored to every customer.

Smart also confirmed that power had been restored to a North York building housing 600 people that had been in the dark for 38 hours.

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6. Police release photo of suspect in 2 hate-motivated assaults in downtown Toronto

Source: CP24

Toronto police have released an image of a suspect they say is responsible for two hate-related assaults involving a weapon in the downtown core last month.

The first incident occurred at Union Station on Aug. 29, where the suspect allegedly made anti-Sikh utterances and racial slurs while brandishing a knife. About an hour later, the same person approached two people near Queens Quay West and Lower Spadina Avenue, stabbing one victim in the leg.

A 32-year-old man was arrested Tuesday and identified as Lakshitha Arakmullage of Toronto. He faces several hate-motivated charges. Police believe there may be additional victims and asked anyone with information to call 416-808-3505.

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7. Pedestrian pinned by garbage truck in downtown Toronto

Source: CP24

A pedestrian struck by a garbage truck in the city's downtown core has suffered serious injuries, Toronto paramedics confirmed.

The incident happened near Adelaide and Brant streets at around 9:45 a.m. Friday. Paramedics said the person was pinned by the vehicle and suffered severe, life-altering injuries.

The pedestrian has been identified as a 28-year-old woman.

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8. PCs, NDP hold on to their seats in Ontario byelections

Source: CP24

Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives and the Opposition New Democrats held on to their seats in three byelections Thursday, leaving little changed at Queen's Park.

Progressive Conservative Jeff Beattie won Hamilton East–Stoney Creek with nearly 39 per cent of the vote, while Susan Lahey won York–Simcoe with 49.8 per cent, taking over the seat of Caroline Mulroney, who resigned in June. NDP's Fatima Shaban won Scarborough Southwest with more than 40 per cent.

Voter turnout across the three races was just over 25 per cent. Ford said voters backed the party that will stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, while NDP Leader Marit Stiles claimed the NDP is the only party that can defeat Ford.

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9. Changes to Canada's climate now 'irreversible,' federal report says

Source: CP24

The impacts of climate change in Canada are now largely irreversible, and average temperatures are expected to rise by at least 3.5 C by the end of the century, a new federal report warns.

The report, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and nearly two dozen experts, says that even with net-zero emissions by 2075, Canada would see a nearly 50 per cent increase in area burned by wildfires and glaciers in Western Canada losing more than 75 per cent of their mass.

Under current global policies, average temperatures in Canada are expected to rise five degrees by 2100, with a 50 per cent chance winter temperatures will rise more than 10 C in much of Nunavut. Environmental Defence called the report "a call to action."

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10. Day care ordered to pay $5,000 after refusing spot for child with severe allergies

Source: CP24

A Montreal day care has been ordered to pay a family $5,000 after refusing a spot for their child because of his severe allergies.

The Human Rights Tribunal ruled the child's allergies to eggs, sesame, nuts, peanuts, almonds, beans, peas and lentils amounted to a disability, and refusing him a spot was discrimination. In November 2021, the parents of the two-and-a-half-year-old inquired about a spot at École Montessori International Montreal and told management of his allergies; the day care replied within two hours that it would be "impossible" to accommodate him.

The day care and its director, Sandra Grace Albers, were ordered to pay each parent $2,000 and the child $1,000. Justice Christina Brunelle noted the facility, which can accommodate 41 children but has only 27, could not credibly claim it could not set up a separate table at meal times.

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