Maple Express Evening | September 16, 2026 - Worker Killed in Brampton Road Work Collision

1. Worker Killed After Being Hit by Truck During Road Work in Brampton

Source: CP24

A 33-year-old man is dead after being struck by an industrial truck during road work in Brampton on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews were called to Countryside Drive, east of McVean Drive, for a collision shortly before 1:30 p.m.

Peel police said the male worker was pronounced dead at the scene, and the truck remained at the location after the collision. Images from the CP24 / CTV News Toronto helicopter showed the truck still on scene. The circumstances surrounding the collision are not immediately known, and police said the Ministry of Labour has been notified.

2. Man Charged in Shooting Death of Toronto Officer Appears in Court

Source: CP24

Nicholas Bennett, the 19-year-old suspect charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a veteran Toronto police officer, made a brief court appearance on Wednesday. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Bennett addressed the court virtually from what appeared to be a hospital room. It was his third court appearance since the shooting, but the first in which he spoke to the court directly.

Bennett allegedly shot and killed Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, in June as the Toronto Police Service's Emergency Task Force executed a raid related to several shootings in the city, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March. Police returned fire and Bennett was shot; he was unconscious for a week following the encounter before he was formally charged. During his first court appearance on June 19, Bennett gave the court a thumbs up from his St. Michael's Hospital bed when asked if he could hear and understand the proceedings. Two other suspects, Zara Jabbi, 19, and Sheldon Tracy-Stewart, 18, were also charged in connection with the March 10 shooting at the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto. Police said they believe that shooting and others were carried out in a "gun-for-hire" scheme in which young people are paid to shoot at various targets. Bennett will return to court on Nov. 4.

3. Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Jeweller Accused in Pearson Airport Gold Heist

Source: CP24

Prosecutors have dropped the charges against a jeweller accused of knowingly receiving large amounts of gold stolen in a massive heist at Toronto's Pearson airport. In a brief court hearing Wednesday, Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic said they decided to stop the proceedings against Ali Raza after finding there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. Vlacic said the Crown's reasons are covered under a publication ban and cannot be reported at this time. Raza was charged alongside several others more than two years ago in relation to what police have called the largest gold heist in Canadian history. His lawyer said the jeweller has maintained his innocence throughout the case.

The move came a day after the Crown withdrew charges against another man accused in the case. A court document shows prosecutors on Tuesday dropped charges of conspiracy to commit theft over $5,000, theft over $5,000 in gold and bank notes, and unlawful possession of property knowing it was obtained by an indictable offence against Amit Jalota. Jalota's lawyer, Leora Shemesh, said her client has continued to profess his innocence while navigating the justice system for three years, adding that coverage of the case has negatively affected him and his family, all of whom have been denied service by financial institutions. This spring, a man who admitted his role in the heist was sentenced to four years in prison and given 40 years to pay back $22 million in restitution after pleading guilty to theft over $5,000. Arsalan Chaudhary was arrested earlier in the year as he flew back from Dubai. Police have said the heist involved a flight that arrived from Zurich, Switzerland, on April 17, 2023, carrying a cargo shipment containing 400 kilograms of gold and about $2.5 million in foreign currency, which were reported missing from a separate area of Pearson airport the following day. A jury trial is scheduled in a few weeks for the remaining accused.

4. Speeding on Toronto's Parkside Drive Up More Than 500% After Speed Camera Removal

Source: CP24

The number of vehicles travelling at least 20 km/h over the posted limit on Toronto's Parkside Drive is up more than 500 per cent year-over-year, and residents say the removal of automated speed cameras is to blame. Figures from the City of Toronto's open data portal show 3,675 vehicles were recorded travelling 60 km/h or faster on Parkside Drive in July 2026, compared with 556 in July 2025 — a 560 per cent increase. It is the latest in a series of data points suggesting a rise in speeding along the 40 km/h corridor since the province prohibited automated speed enforcement in November 2025.

Faraz Gholizadeh, co-chair of community group Safe Parkside, told CP24 that the streets around schools and parks have become vastly more dangerous. Earlier this year, similar data in May revealed that speeding had surged more than 200 per cent from January to April. Safe Parkside says the figures come from a city "Watch Your Speed" sign installed a few metres south of the former automated enforcement camera. Gholizadeh said drivers are regularly travelling well above the posted limit, with some reaching speeds of 100 km/h or more, and that the long-term solution should involve redesigning Parkside Drive to make speeding more difficult — not just on Parkside, but citywide and provincewide.

At a news conference Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow offered sharply different views on automated speed enforcement. Ford argued that physical traffic-calming measures like speed bumps are a better way to slow drivers, calling speed cameras "cash grabs" and pointing to neighbourhoods such as Forest Hill and Rosedale. Chow said physical measures are not practical on every major road, adding that she has always said speed kills and that the city believes in speed cameras and continues to push for their return. She said arterial roads like Mount Pleasant cannot have speed bumps or roundabouts because fire trucks and ambulances will have trouble getting through, and that the priority should be protecting children and other vulnerable road users.

5. Premier Ford Stops Short of Full Endorsement but Says Chow Has His Support

Source: CP24

Ontario Premier Doug Ford may have stopped short of pinning an "Olivia Chow for Mayor" button on his suit lapel, but he made clear Wednesday he is backing her in the midst of her bid for re-election. Ford and Chow were at a joint press conference to mark the opening of a new Sanofi vaccine manufacturing facility in Toronto, where Ford was asked about making any endorsements in the mayoral race.

"The mayor and I have a phenomenal relationship," Ford said, adding that the province has given the city of Toronto more money than it has ever seen — over $9 billion — and that it will continue supporting the mayor, who he said is doing an incredible job. Ford has previously said he would be staying out of the mayor's race. It is a far cry from his prediction during the 2023 mayoral byelection, in which he was backing former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders, that electing Chow would be an "unmitigated disaster." After Chow won that race, the premier changed his tune; the pair met the day after the vote and Ford chalked his comments up to typical campaign mudslinging. The two have worked closely on many issues since then, and while they are not always in agreement over provincial incursions on speed cameras and bike lanes, Ford has suggested the disagreements are not personal. Earlier this year, Ford called a planned City of Toronto pilot project to open four city-run grocery stores "the craziest idea" he has ever heard, but ended his rant on a positive note. Chow is running against Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander, among a packed slate of about 50 other candidates.

6. Gas Prices in the GTA to Rise Tonight Before a Drop on Friday, Analyst Says

Source: CP24

While gas prices across the GTA will rise by six cents Wednesday night, drivers can look forward to some relief at the pumps on Friday. Industry analyst Dan McTeague told CP24 that gas prices are expected to rise to 190.9 cents per litre tonight but drop by double digits on Friday. "It's going to drop by the looks of right now ... 12 cents a litre on Friday," he said, adding that he is holding off until Friday to fuel up. He noted that at this time of year stations swap their summer blend of gasoline to their winter one, which is contributing to the lower price, and that markets are taking profits and cashing in some of their higher gasoline prices.

Diesel is set to rise by 14 cents overnight to 268.9 cents per litre, McTeague says. He said this could lead to a substantial increase in food prices, as there are no other alternatives to diesel. "Our jets run it, our trains run it, our trucks, our maritime fleet. Everything depends on diesel," he said. His bottom line: if you need diesel, buy today, and if you need gasoline and you are not buying today, definitely don't go to the gas station tomorrow — wait until Friday.

7. Three Suspects Sought After Person Pepper Sprayed, Assaulted in Whitby Marketplace Meetup

Source: CP24

Three suspects are wanted after a person was pepper sprayed and assaulted during a Facebook Marketplace meetup in Whitby, Ont., on Tuesday afternoon. Durham Regional Police said they got a call at 3 p.m. for unknown trouble near Taunton Road East and Baldwin Street South. After arriving, officers learned that the victim had arranged a meeting with someone who wanted to buy his watch that was advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

Three suspects attended the meeting, during which the victim was pepper sprayed and assaulted, police said. The suspects then fled in a black SUV, and the victim was later taken to the hospital with minor injuries. On Wednesday, police released an image of the suspect vehicle, a black Honda CR-V. Police said one suspect is described as a Black man between 18 and 20 years old, six feet tall with long braided hair, last seen wearing a black toque, a blue medical mask, a black tracksuit, yellow work gloves and grey running shoes. The second suspect is only described as being five-foot-five to five-foot-seven and was last seen wearing a black medical mask, a beige sweatshirt, dark grey track pants, black shoes and black nitrile gloves. Police do not have a description of the third suspect.

8. Ontario Threatens to Cut Funding to Municipalities That Fail 'Buy Canadian' Policy

Source: CP24

Ontario municipalities could face cuts to provincial funding if they fail to comply with "Buy Ontario" procurement requirements amid a trade war with the U.S., warned Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack on Wednesday. In a letter to 444 municipalities, the minister said local governments must maximize the use of Ontario and Canadian goods and services as the province responds to U.S. tariffs and other trade measures. Ontario municipalities spend more than $22 billion each year on goods and services, and the province says those purchases should prioritize Ontario and Canadian products.

"Failure to comply with Buy Ontario requirements will force us to reconsider provincial funding made available to municipalities, in addition to other consequences under the Buy Ontario Act," the minister wrote. Premier Doug Ford also shared the letter on social media, writing that for governments across Ontario, buying Ontario and Canadian is not an option but the law. At a separate press conference, the premier added that Ontario has given Toronto more money than it has ever seen, estimating over $9 billion, and said the province wants to remind municipalities to buy Ontario first and anywhere else in Canada if they cannot buy it in Ontario. For now, municipalities have been directed to review their supply chains, procurement practices and upcoming purchases to determine whether products and services currently sourced outside Canada can be replaced with domestic alternatives. The Buy Ontario Act was first made law in November 2025, and the policy was expanded to cover municipal spending in April.

9. VIA Rail Changing Ottawa-Toronto Corridor Schedules This Fall, Cancelling Early Morning Trip

Source: CP24

VIA Rail is cancelling its early morning train from Ottawa to Toronto and changing the number of trips on several routes this fall as part of schedule changes to accommodate passenger volume. The Crown corporation announced changes to 10 train routes on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor on Wednesday, saying it will better align service with passenger demand and support more reliable and predictable service.

As of Oct. 25, VIA Rail is cancelling Train 641 between Ottawa and Toronto. The train departs Ottawa at 4:13 a.m., stops in Kingston at 6:16 a.m. and arrives in Toronto at 8:48 a.m. In a statement, VIA Rail said Train 641 service will end, but passengers will continue to have an early-morning option to Toronto on Train 41, which will depart Ottawa earlier at 4:56 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 9:37 a.m. Train 41 currently departs at 5:21 a.m. from Ottawa. Among the other changes, Saturday service on Train 68 (Toronto to Montreal) and Train 69 (Montreal to Toronto) will be replaced by new departures on Trains 668 and 669.

10. Bank of Canada Worried Fresh U.S. Tariff Dispute Will Weigh on Confidence

Source: CP24

Fears that a reigniting trade dispute with the United States could hamper business and consumer confidence loomed large over the Bank of Canada's interest rate decision earlier this month. On Wednesday, the central bank released a summary of the deliberations that led to its decision to hold the key policy rate steady at 2.25 per cent on Sept. 2 — its seventh hold in a row, which had been widely expected by economists. The Bank of Canada governing council's meetings began on Aug. 25, just a few days after the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on roughly $28 billion worth of Canadian goods on Aug. 22.

That move kicked off a series of retaliatory actions in the weeks after the central bank's rate decision, including counter-tariffs from Canada and planned import bans from the United States. Monetary policymakers felt at the time that the Aug. 22 tariffs would hit targeted sectors hard but that the impact on the overall economy would likely be modest. The economy and labour market had been showing signs of strength heading into the latest tariff wave — the housing market seemed to be picking back up after an extended slowdown, exports and business spending were picking up, the private sector was adding jobs, and consumers looked to be in a solid position, policymakers observed. But the deliberations show the governing council was worried a re-escalating trade dispute could put a chill on household spending, business investment and hiring. "While the government's fiscal response and businesses' ongoing efforts to adapt to tariffs and trade uncertainty should help mitigate some of the impact, members agreed that the latest developments made the sustainability of that recovery more uncertain," the deliberations read.

The central bank did not view Canada's counter-tariffs as a significant inflationary risk, saying that because the retaliatory duties targeted intermediate inputs like steel and goods that had Canadian substitutes, the impact on inflation would likely be muted and spread out over time. The Bank of Canada is keeping an eye on high energy prices tied to the war in Iran. Policymakers discussed the possible need to adjust the policy rate in future meetings if cost pressures start to spread beyond the gas pumps. While there was little evidence thus far that high gasoline prices were passing through to other goods and services, members agreed that the longer they were high, the more likely they would be passed through, increasing the upside risks to inflation. They also noted that if the tariff dispute did hamper growth, that could offset some of the inflationary pressures from the energy price shock. The governing council concluded by agreeing to stress that future rate decisions would be guided by its inflation outlook and a commitment to maintain price stability for Canadians. The bank will update its forecasts for the economy and inflation at its next interest rate decision on Oct. 28.

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That's all for today's Maple Express.

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