Maple Express | September 5, 2026 - Two people dead after vehicle hits traffic light pole in North York

1. Two people dead after vehicle hits traffic light pole in North York

Source: CP24

Two people are dead after a single-vehicle crash in North York early Saturday morning. Toronto police said officers responded to the area of Romfield Lane and Finch Avenue West just before 5 a.m.

Police said the vehicle struck a traffic light pole, which was completely knocked down, and the airbags deployed. Two males were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The intersection remains closed as officials continue to investigate, and drivers are being asked to avoid the area.

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

Source: CP24

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow will keep property taxes "at or around" the inflation rate if she is re-elected, her campaign office has confirmed. Campaign spokesperson Shirven Rezvany said the pledge comes now that the city is in a "more sustainable financial position" after fixing the budget over the past three years.

Rezvany noted that when Chow took office in 2023, Toronto faced a budget hole of nearly $2 billion. During her first term, property owners saw a 9.5 per cent tax hike, the largest since amalgamation, followed by a 6.9 per cent bump in the 2025 budget. This year's budget included a 2.2 per cent increase, slightly below inflation.

Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford criticized Chow's tax increases, while Chris Alexander called the tax policy a "flimsy campaign promise."

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

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 the arrest in a news release on Friday. Police said that on the morning of Aug. 27, the suspect poured accelerant onto vehicles parked in the driveway of Liberal MP Salma Zahid's residence, then ignited it, with two vehicles catching fire and a third suffering damage.

The suspect then fled in a vehicle. Police arrested a suspect on Aug. 30, and identified him Friday as Roshvin Crofton. He is charged with 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. Police also seized a black 2025 Hyundai Sonata.

Zahid said her son noticed the blaze and called 911, and her family was not injured. Prime Minister Carney and Mayor Chow both condemned the incident. Police are still looking for a second suspect.

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4. Five-and-a-half years and three bicycles later, this Torontonian has cycled every street in the city

Source: CP24

Dave Laird, a 52-year-old graphic designer and photographer from Leslieville, spent five-and-a-half years riding 6,784 kilometres to cover every street in Toronto. He began the project while training for a 24-hour mountain bike race, and later used the open-source GPS tracker Wandrer to log his rides.

In August alone, he rode 554.88 kilometres. A serious mountain-biking accident in 2024 left him with breaks in his neck and back in seven places, forcing him off the bike for about six months before returning in September. Laird said he had no collisions with cars or pedestrians and only two flat tires over the whole journey.

The journey gave him a new view of Toronto and its many beautiful neighbourhoods and ravine trails. He also expressed disappointment over the provincial government's decision to remove bike lanes along a stretch of Bloor Street West and other major arteries.

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5. Two arrested after Brampton home invasion left two residents shot

Source: CP24

Two people have been arrested after a violent home invasion in Brampton left two residents with gunshot wounds, Peel police say. The incident happened around 4:30 a.m. on June 14 at a home near McLaughlin Road and Steeles Avenue West. Five occupants were asleep when three suspects forcibly entered through a rear glass door, while a fourth suspect remained in a nearby vehicle.

Two residents were shot and taken to hospital, and both have since been released. Investigators arrested two people on July 15: Javaunie Thomas, an 18-year-old Toronto man, and a 16-year-old Toronto youth, each charged with attempted murder using a firearm, aggravated assault, and robbery, among other charges. The youth's identity cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said violent home invasions have a profound impact on victims, their families and communities, and that police will continue to pursue the two suspects who remain outstanding.

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6. 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 the Rogers Stadium concert venue, which was severely damaged by this week's storm, with only 12 days before a scheduled AC/DC concert on Sept. 16. Councillor James Pasternak said no one is allowed on the property, and the operator must have a third-party engineer report on the measures needed to make the building safe.

Pasternak said the damage to the north stands is significant and that they have collapsed, and the operator must report back by Sept. 8. The venue was built as a temporary five-year structure last year in Downsview Park and 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, and stressed that the safety of its employees, fans, artists and vendors is always paramount.

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7. Here is a look at what is open and closed in Toronto on Labour Day 2026

Source: CP24

The Labour Day long weekend has arrived. On Labour Day, Sept. 7, most malls in Toronto will be closed, along with most major grocery chains, while some centres will operate on reduced hours and many tourist attractions will remain open. Toronto Public Library locations, as well as federal, provincial and municipal offices, will be closed.

On transit, the TTC will run on a holiday schedule and GO Transit on a Saturday schedule on Sept. 7. For weather, Saturday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of rain and a high of 25 C, feeling closer to 30 with humidity; Sunday is sunny with a high of 24 C; and Monday will be bright with a high of 26 C.

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

Source: CP24

Little changed at Queen's Park after Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives and the Opposition New Democrats held on to their seats in three byelections Thursday. In Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, PC candidate Jeff Beattie, a longtime Hamilton city councillor, won with nearly 39 per cent of the vote over NDP candidate Monique Taylor's 33 per cent.

In York–Simcoe, PC candidate Susan Lahey won with 49.8 per cent over Liberal Naomi Davison's 38.8 per cent, taking over the seat of former Treasury Board president Caroline Mulroney, who resigned in June. In Scarborough Southwest, NDP candidate Fatima Shaban won with more than 40 per cent of the vote.

Ford congratulated the two PC winners, saying voters backed the party that will stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Voter turnout across the three races was just over 25 per cent.

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9. Montreal 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 to eggs, sesame, nuts, peanuts, almonds, beans, peas and lentils. In an Aug. 18 ruling, Quebec's Human Rights Tribunal found that refusing the child a spot constituted discrimination.

According to the ruling, in November 2021 the parents of the two-and-a-half-year-old boy, who were moving from Ottawa to Montreal, inquired about a spot at École Montessori International Montreal. The day care responded within two hours saying it would be "impossible" to accommodate the child because of possible contact with other children's food. The boy's mother described the refusal as feeling like "a slap in my face."

The tribunal ruled that the day care and its director, Sandra Grace Albers, failed in their duty to accommodate the child, and ordered them to pay each parent $2,000 and the child $1,000.

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10. Jazz Aviation flight attendants vote in favour of strike mandate

Source: CP24

A union representing more than 1,000 flight attendants with Jazz Aviation says members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike mandate. The Canadian Flight Attendant Union says 99 per cent of voting members supported a strike mandate after months of bargaining.

Jazz Aviation operates flights under the Air Canada Express brand. Union president Marsha Walters says they want members fairly compensated for the work they do. The flight attendants have been without a contract since Jan. 1. Halifax-based Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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