Maple Express | September 1, 2026 - Liberals Sweep Three Byelections, Regain Majority

1. Liberals Sweep Three Byelections, Regain Majority

Source: CP24

The federal Liberals handily won all three byelections held Monday night, pushing their House of Commons seat count to 173 and re-establishing their majority standing. The three ridings — Chicoutimi–Le Fjord in Quebec, Beaches–East York in Ontario, and North Vancouver–Capilano in British Columbia — were all won by Liberal candidates with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

The results came amid an increasingly acrimonious trade war with the United States. CTV News political panellists stressed that the recent weeks on the Canada-U.S. trade file — and specifically the actions and comments of U.S. President Donald Trump — drove the vote. Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research, said the top two issues in his weekly polling are jobs and Trump.

For opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Monday night brought losses on several fronts. In the Quebec riding the Liberals picked up, the Conservative candidate placed third with just 12.5 per cent of the vote, down from Richard Martel's 34.1 per cent win in 2025. The House of Commons fall sitting kicks off on Sept. 21.

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2. TTC Caps Monthly Fares at 47 Paid Trips

Source: CP24

Starting Tuesday, the TTC is capping paid monthly trips at 47, eliminating the need for monthly passes. Adult, youth, senior, and fare pass customers who pay with a PRESTO card, a PRESTO card in a mobile wallet, an Interac Debit card, or a credit card will automatically ride free after 47 paid trips in a calendar month.

The TTC reminds riders to tap the same card or device every time, since switching between a physical card, smartphone, smartwatch, or another payment method means trips are counted separately and won't count toward the monthly cap. Riders must still tap every time they board or enter a station, even after reaching the cap.

Riders were split on whether 47 trips is a reasonable threshold. One rider said there are only about 20 to 25 work days in a month, so 47 trips may not help many commuters much. A University of Toronto student, however, said he could easily hit 47 trips between work and school, and that saving a little would be nice. The TTC says those using an Adult 12-Month Pass or a Post-Secondary Monthly Pass should keep using them, as they still offer the best value.

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3. Demand Surges for Canadian-Made Goods, But Retailers Lag

Source: CP24

Canadian food and household goods companies say they are seeing a surge in demand as consumers prioritize shopping local amid the trade war, but some retailers are slow to give more shelf space to products from this country.

Kathleen Chapman, president of Bowmanville, Ont.-based parchment paper company aVenco Ltd., said the company's direct-to-consumer orders jumped from about 20 in the past two years to hundreds in the week since the new U.S. tariffs took effect. She said aVenco's U.S. business, which made up roughly 30 to 40 per cent of sales, has essentially stalled due to tariffs, and the company now faces a 50 per cent tariff.

Jeff Rose, president of Sussex, N.B.-based G.E. Barbour Inc., said about half of the company's sales come from the U.S. market, and it is now focusing on the domestic Canadian market and markets elsewhere in the world. The company plans to launch Barbours Market, an online store dedicated to Canadian brands. Peter Chapman, founder of retail consultancy SKUFood, said the retail industry is consumer-driven, and the more customers demand Canadian products, the more shelf space stores will open up.

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4. Police Seek 4 Suspects in Rosedale Roofing Scam

Source: CP24

Toronto police are searching for a group of suspects who allegedly damaged a home in the affluent Rosedale neighbourhood after the victim refused to fall for their elaborate roofing scam. In a news release issued Tuesday, police said that between Aug. 10 and Aug. 17, one suspect attended the home near Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue and identified himself as a "fraud investigator" looking into roofing scams in the area.

Police said the suspect told the victim repairs were being carried out for free and that the homeowner would be reimbursed. When the suspect returned with another person, they demanded upfront payment, which the victim refused. Days later, the suspect and three others returned and damaged the roof and fence without the owner's knowledge.

None of the suspects have been identified. Police are advising homeowners to be wary of unsolicited contractors going door-to-door, especially those using pressure tactics and demanding advance payment. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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5. Ford Government to Remove Bloor Street Bike Lanes

Source: CP24

The Ford government says it is immediately starting to remove bike lanes along a stretch of Bloor Street West and is moving forward with plans to strip lanes from two other major Toronto arteries. The province said it has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to restore motor vehicle lanes previously removed for bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, University Avenue, Queen's Park, Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road.

According to the province, the RFP will study and provide design options for removing bike lanes on those roads. Vehicle lane restoration will immediately begin on the west section of Bloor Street West starting at Clissold Road, where a 600-metre section had its lanes restored in December 2025.

Last month, the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed a lower court ruling, confirming that removing bike lanes along the three major arteries is not a Charter rights violation. Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas had earlier ruled the plan violated the Charter because it would put people at increased risk of harm and death. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the government has a clear mandate to fight gridlock, while Mayor Olivia Chow has repeatedly spoken out against the decision, arguing bike lanes should be left to the local community to decide.

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6. Bullets Strike North Etobicoke Business, Police Investigating

Source: CP24

Toronto police are searching for suspects after a commercial building was damaged by gunfire in North Etobicoke on Tuesday morning. Police said gunshots rang out at around 4:20 a.m. in the area of Humber College Boulevard and Highway 27.

Police said evidence of gunfire was found at the scene, but no injuries were reported. The front of one business was damaged in the shooting.

Suspects were seen fleeing the area in a dark-coloured vehicle, according to police. No suspect description was provided.

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7. Fog Lifts, Muggy Weather Returns to Toronto

Source: CP24

Fog in Toronto has lifted to make way for muggy conditions in the GTA. A fog advisory for the region has ended, but more rain and thunderstorms could come this afternoon.

The first day of September marks a return to humid weather, with Environment Canada calling for a high of 28 C that feels closer to 36. A similar forecast is expected on Wednesday.

Environment Canada says a few showers may pop up on Thursday, but skies will clear and a dry long weekend is in the forecast, with little chance of rain from Friday to Sunday. Toronto is expected to see highs of 26 C on Friday, 25 C on Saturday, and 24 C on Sunday.

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8. Liberal Tanveer Shahnawaz Wins Beaches-East York Byelection

Source: CP24

The Liberals have once again come out victorious in Beaches-East York, winning Monday's federal byelection. Tanveer Shahnawaz, the long-standing constituency office manager for departing Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, took a strong early lead.

With 191 of 200 polls reporting (95.5 per cent), Shahnawaz earned 14,837 votes, or just under 55 per cent. NDP candidate Shannon Devine came second with 25.9 per cent (7,004 votes), Conservative coffee shop owner Jim Syrbos placed third with 16.3 per cent (4,414 votes), and Green candidate Bruce Livesey, a former TTC driver, came fourth with 1.7 per cent.

Speaking at his victory party at The Stone Lion pub on Queen Street East in the Beach, Shahnawaz said it will be the "honour of a lifetime" to represent the riding. He was born at the former East General Hospital to parents who immigrated from Bangladesh. Erskine-Smith represented the riding from 2015 until his resignation early last month, and won last year's general election with 67.7 per cent of the vote.

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9. Counter-Tariffs Set to Raise Prices — Experts Advise Buying Soon

Source: CP24

As Canada's retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. are set to take effect next week, many consumers are anxious about the impact on affected items. Ian Lee, an associate professor at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business, said the federal government's counter-tariffs will make American items pricier for Canadians.

Lee said consumers who plan to buy affected products anyway should probably buy them before Sept. 8. He noted that if a fridge or washing machine breaks down, it will cost a lot more to replace after that date. Trade talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down on Aug. 21, leading to 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on billions in Canadian products, and Ottawa announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on about 700 American imports worth $27.6 billion.

Colin Mang, an economist at McMaster University, said the federal government targeted American products that mostly have Canadian or international alternatives. He suggested that consumers with a favourite targeted brand may want to stock up before the tariffs begin, but for common goods like toilet paper with plenty of substitutes, there is no reason to rush out and hoard.

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10. Loblaw Increases Number of New Stores Planned for 2026

Source: CP24

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is increasing the number of new stores it plans to open this year. The company behind Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart now expects to open about 75 new locations this year, up from earlier plans for about 70.

To date in 2026, Loblaw has opened 38 new grocery stores and pharmacies in Canada, including 21 grocery stores and 17 Shoppers Drug Mart locations. The new stores are part of $2.4 billion in planned capital spending this year.

Loblaw says it has spent about half of the total so far, with the remaining money going toward accelerating store openings, renovating existing locations, and developing new store formats. Chief executive Per Bank says the performance of the new stores gives the company confidence in its expansion strategy.

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