Maple Express | September 12, 2026 Sports groups cancel leagues as York Region school rental fees skyrocket

1. Sports groups cancel leagues as York Region school rental fees skyrocket

Source: CP24

Sports and recreation groups in York Region that rent space at public schools are scrambling after learning their fees have risen sharply. Tony Koubridis, permit holder for a weekly men's basketball group that has met for nearly 30 years on Friday nights at Aurora High School, told CP24 that the Magee Basketball League paid $1,500 in rental fees in the 2025-26 season, but learned in August that the new rate would be $13,897.

"It wasn't a small jump, to go from $1,500 to $14,000 in one year is insane," Koubridis said. That amounts to the annual fee for the group's 25 regular members jumping from $75 to $350. Because they learned of the hike only about a week before the season began, they could not find alternate space. "We've now basically cancelled the league," he said.

Stephen Paine, president of the York North Basketball Association (YNBA), a non-profit youth organization that has rented gyms in Newmarket and Aurora for more than 25 years, said the group faces a roughly $185,000 shortfall, with annual membership fees rising by a third from just under $2,000 to around $3,000, and registrations already down by about 100 kids. The increases stem from the loss of subsidies from the York Region District School Board (YRDSB), which Paine said covered about 64 per cent of rental fees. YRDSB spokesperson Licinio Miguelo attributed the increase to declining enrollment and said the adjustments make permits "cost-neutral" for the board.

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2. Proof-of-citizenship applications surge, estimated wait time nearly 3 years

Source: CP24

Both the wait times and the number of people waiting for a decision on their proof-of-citizenship application have surged since Bill C-3 came into effect, according to new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). More than 136,000 people are awaiting a decision, with estimated wait times now over 33 months, including those eligible under the amended rules and first-generation descendants. For applications from outside Canada or the U.S., the estimated wait could be three to four months longer.

The wait time has increased by eight months from the 25 months estimated in August, and the number of applications has grown by 14,000. Bill C-3, which came into effect in December 2025, amended the Citizenship Act to end the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, allowing Canadians born outside the country to pass citizenship to children also born outside the country, and expanded eligibility to people born before Dec. 15, 2025.

As of May 31, 51 per cent of all approved applications under the new criteria came from people born in the U.S. Immigration lawyer Kyle Hyndman called the new numbers "staggering" and "far beyond the capacity of IRCC." Lawyer Richard Kurland said the government "dropped the ball" by failing to resource the citizenship unit, resulting in processing times of three years or more.

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3. Border inspection kiosks back online at Toronto Pearson Airport after lengthy outage

Source: CP24

Border inspection kiosks at Toronto Pearson Airport are back online following a lengthy outage on Friday that caused long wait times at customs. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the outage was resolved Friday evening. "We thank travellers and stakeholders for their cooperation and apologize for any inconvenience," a CBSA spokesperson said.

The agency said the outage affecting traveller systems began around 3 p.m. on Friday. In addition to Pearson, inspection kiosks at Toronto's island airport and Hamilton's John C. Munro International Airport were down, as well as those at eight other international airports across the country. The CBSA said it is still investigating the cause but "there is no indication of a cyberattack."

During the outage, border officers processed arriving passengers manually, causing long lines. The CBSA urged passengers to have their documents ready to reduce wait times and said "safety and security standards were always upheld."

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4. Man steals TTC vehicle downtown, leads officers on brief pursuit

Source: CP24

A man has been arrested after a TTC pickup truck was stolen in downtown Toronto on Friday morning, leading to a brief police pursuit. Toronto police said they received a call at 11:23 a.m. for a vehicle theft in the area of Queen's Park and College Street.

Officers later located the pickup and tried to stop it, but the driver refused. "Officers pursued the vehicle until the pursuit was terminated for public safety reasons," a police spokesperson said in an email to CP24. The driver was eventually stopped in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Islington Avenue in Etobicoke.

The driver was then arrested, and police said charges are still being investigated. The TTC deferred all questions to police but said it will offer whatever support is requested for the investigation.

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5. Arrest made in Brampton home invasion, stabbing and attempted carjackings

Source: CP24

A 27-year-old man has been charged after a stabbing, home invasion and attempted carjackings in Brampton on Sunday. Peel police said a male suspect tried to steal a vehicle in the area of Clockwork Drive and Creditview Road while the owner was seated inside.

The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim and fled on foot. The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police allege the suspect then attended a nearby residence, kicked in the front door, demanded vehicle keys but was unsuccessful and left. He also attempted to carjack two more vehicles in the area but failed.

After identifying the suspect, officers executed a search warrant at a Brampton address on Monday and arrested Lovepreet Mann of Brampton. He has been charged with aggravated assault, weapons dangerous, uttering threats, and three counts of robbery.

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6. Alleged hit-and-run driver wanted by Toronto police arrested

Source: CP24

The driver wanted for last month's hit-and-run in the city's west end that seriously injured a female pedestrian has turned himself in. Toronto police provided the update in a news release on Friday. The collision happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 in the area of Lansdowne and Brandon avenues.

Police said a 34-year-old woman was walking at a signalized pedestrian crossing when a five-door white hatchback travelling at a high rate of speed struck her. The woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Police said the driver fled the scene, and the vehicle was located a few days later.

On Friday, 52-year-old Joao Cabral of Toronto surrendered to police and was arrested. He has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing bodily harm and obstruct justice, along with two charges under the Highway Traffic Act.

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7. 13-year-old boy faces new charges after firearm and knife seized at Ajax hotel

Source: CP24

A 13-year-old boy is facing more than a dozen charges after police say they encountered him armed with a knife at an Ajax hotel before locating a firearm nearby. Durham Regional Police say officers were called to a hotel in the area of Westney Road South and Bayly Street West on Sept. 9 for a report of unknown trouble.

Police say officers encountered the male armed with a knife upon their arrival and immediately took him into custody without incident. Following an investigation, police learned the suspect may have also been in possession of a firearm, and a full search of the premises led to the seizure of a firearm.

"At the time of his arrest, the accused was bound by multiple release orders, including a weapons prohibition order," a news release notes. The suspect cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. He is facing 15 criminal charges, including carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a loaded restricted firearm.

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8. Unconscious toddler found in parked vehicle, woman charged

Source: CP24

A Guelph, Ont., woman has been charged after an unconscious toddler was found alone in a parked vehicle. A man called 911 on June 29 around 6:20 p.m. to report a small child left alone inside a vehicle parked outside a business on Woodlawn Road West.

The man said he first saw the child about 10 minutes before calling, but when no one came outside, he opened the car door and found the child unconscious, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. Guelph police said the vehicle was not running and the windows had been left open one or two inches. The child was taken to hospital for assessment.

A 45-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday and charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

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9. Cheaper flights ahead? Canadian airlines battle for passengers as fuel costs soar

Source: CP24

Canadians planning a fall getaway could find cheaper flights as airlines compete for passengers after the busy summer travel season, even as they face soaring fuel costs. Airline industry experts expect increased competition could lead to a price war this fall, as demand typically slows once Canadians return to work and school.

"This is just a very difficult time for the entire airline industry," said Lorn Sheehan, an expert in tourism management at Dalhousie University. Fuel prices have doubled since February, when the United States went to war with Iran. The pressure is particularly acute for leisure carriers such as Air Transat, which reported a loss of $106.6 million for the three months ended July 31.

Transat A.T. Inc., Air Transat's parent company, announced Thursday it had secured an additional $250 million in federal financing, following a $150 million federal loan in July. Porter Airlines has also received a $125 million federal bailout loan. John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University's aviation management program, expects airlines will have no choice but to lower fares, and "there will be price wars in Canada." Experts warn some smaller carriers may not survive the fall and winter.

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10. Man facing 22 charges after 4 shootings in Surrey, B.C.

Source: CP24

A 37-year-old man is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, in connection with four recent shootings in Surrey, B.C. The Surrey Police Service announced Friday that Marco Matias has been charged in connection with three shootings targeting a home in the Guildford area last December, and a fourth shooting that injured a man last month in the Cloverdale neighbourhood.

Police were first called to the home near 110 Avenue and 140 Street on Dec. 7, 2025, after the residence was damaged in an apparent drive-by shooting. Investigators returned to the same home twice more that month following repeat shootings targeting the residence. No one was injured in the attacks, which investigators said were targeted but not related to extortion or the ongoing B.C. gang conflict.

Eight months later, on Aug. 12, police were called to an early-morning shooting outside a home near 60 Avenue and 177 Street. Two people were targeted, and one sustained minor injuries. Matias remains in police custody pending his next scheduled court appearance on Sept. 16.

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