Maple Express | October 22, 2026: Ottawa Gives Stelco 15 Days to Reverse Layoffs or Face Legal Action

1. Ottawa gives Stelco 15 days to reverse layoffs or face legal action

Source: CP24

On Thursday, October 22, federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly sent a letter to Stelco's general counsel giving the steelmaker 15 days to honour its agreements with the Canadian government or face legal action. Joly spelled out the demand in a statement posted to X alongside the letter.

In that statement, Joly set out how the situation arose: in 2024, the American company Cleveland-Cliffs acquired the Canadian steel producer, and the commitments it made at the time were legally binding and were key to allowing the transaction to proceed.

"As we stand right now, the business is still taking steps to lay off 500 workers," she wrote. "Despite being given multiple opportunities, Cleveland-Cliffs has repeatedly failed to demonstrate that they are compliant with their undertakings. That is unacceptable."

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2. Over-the-counter hearing aids are coming to Ontario, and audiologists have concerns

Source: CP24

Ontario will soon let residents buy over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription, a change the Ford government announced on Tuesday and which will be written into this fall's economic update. For people with mild to moderate hearing loss, it means no doctor's note before buying a device. After the announcement, the province's audiology association voiced a concern: that people may misdiagnose what is actually causing their hearing problems.

Sanj Sukumaran, president of the Ontario Association of Professional Audiology (OAPAC), said the association has no objection to making help easier to reach. "We just want to make sure it's done safely and efficiently for the right people," he said. Clinics advise anyone with hearing loss to speak with a professional first, because the cause could be as simple as wax buildup or as serious as a tumour. "We want to make sure you're not covering up something with a hearing aid that should be medically treated," Sukumaran said.

The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) told CTV News in a statement that it "welcomes the Ontario government's steps to enable the sale and use of Health Canada-approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids." The college said OTC devices may offer a more affordable, convenient and accessible option for some Ontarians, particularly those who face barriers to hearing care, and it supports expanded access for adults aged 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, provided appropriate safeguards are in place. It stressed that OTC hearing aids are "not appropriate for everyone," including children and people with symptoms or underlying medical conditions that require assessment by a regulated professional, adding that a clear legal framework and robust consumer protections matter. The college will keep encouraging anyone considering an OTC device to consult an audiologist or another regulated hearing health professional.

The report notes that in 2025 Health Canada approved Apple's Hearing Aid Feature and Hearing Test Feature, built into the AirPods Pro 2 and 3 series, but the features have been switched off until the new provincial legislation takes effect. CTV News spoke with Markham resident Barry Buckler in 2025 after he bought AirPods Pro to use as hearing aids and was disappointed to learn the technology was not allowed. "Once I read that Health Canada had given their approval... I went out and bought myself a pair," he said.

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3. Ontario's fall economic statement set for October 29

Source: CP24

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said on October 22 that his government will table its fall economic statement next week, on October 29. He announced the date in a breakfast speech to the Canadian Club that morning.

Bethlenfalvy did not disclose any details, saying only that the document will update the province's finances and outline the next phase of his plan, with spending continuing under a "focused, disciplined and responsible approach."

On the numbers, Ontario closed out the 2025-26 fiscal year with a $13-billion deficit, and Bethlenfalvy said that figure is projected to be higher this year, in line with the $13.8 billion forecast in the spring budget. In the 2026 budget he already delayed the province's path to balance, projecting a surplus in 2028-29.

On the impact of American tariffs, he said Ontario has weathered them better than economists had thought, but that the slower economy is having an effect and making deficits a necessity.

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4. Ambushed over a luxury watch: Toronto police link three suspects, two of them teens

Source: CP24

Toronto police said on October 22 that three suspects have been linked to a group that attacked and robbed people selling items online, two of them teenagers. Supt. Paul Krawczyk of 43 Division briefed reporters that day.

The case dates back to July, when a victim arranged to sell a luxury watch to someone they had been communicating with on an online marketplace. When the seller arrived at the meet-up spot near Ellesmere Road and Bellamy Road North, Krawczyk said, several suspects ambushed them, assaulted them with crowbars and left them with serious injuries before fleeing with the watch.

Investigators later identified a group believed to be responsible for similar robberies. Police learned of another meeting arranged on October 9 for the sale of a luxury watch, attended the meet-up and found two teenage suspects who had arrived in a stolen car with stolen plates. One was found with a firearm equipped with a prohibited, extended magazine. "Of particular concern, both were already subject to conditions prohibiting them from possessing firearms," Krawczyk said. The teens cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Search warrants executed in Toronto the following day led to the arrest of another suspect, identified by police as 18-year-old Desmond Okuonhae of Toronto. Police said he was subsequently linked to two other robberies in March and April, in which a laptop and rare Pokemon trading cards worth more than $80,000 were stolen. Krawczyk said police believe there may be additional victims who were approached or targeted through online marketplaces. According to police, Okuonhae is alleged to have used other aliases, including Oscar Morkil, Max Smith and Omar Clarkson.

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5. Lithium-ion battery fire and explosion in North York sends one man to hospital

Source: CP24

A lithium-ion battery fire and explosion at an apartment building in North York sent one person to hospital with serious injuries. The blaze broke out at a high-rise at 2999 Jane St., just south of Finch Avenue West, in a Toronto Community Housing building.

The fire erupted late Wednesday afternoon. Early Thursday, Fire Chief Jim Jessop told CP24 that a lithium-ion battery (LIB) caught fire and exploded, adding that there are "numerous" LIBs and e-bikes stored on scene.

Jessop said the person taken to hospital is a male. Two people have possibly been displaced as a result of the fire, he said, adding that Toronto Fire Service investigators have been contacted.

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6. Korchinski-Paquet inquest in turmoil after mother alleges officers pushed her daughter

Source: CP24

The coroner's inquest into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet ran into trouble on the morning of October 22 when her mother made a new allegation against police during her testimony, leaving the proceedings scrambling for a way forward.

Korchinski-Paquet fell from her 24th-floor balcony in the late afternoon of May 27, 2020, while police officers were inside the west-end apartment she shared with several family members. Describing her memories of that day, her mother, Claudette Beals, told the inquest that morning that she saw officers push her daughter toward the balcony.

The claim drew immediate objections. In the absence of the jury, lawyers for several parties raised concerns about previously undisclosed evidence, and lawyers representing the officers at the scene said their clients were not given a chance to respond to the allegation when they testified earlier in the week. The presiding coroner called a recess so counsel could discuss how to proceed.

The inquest has heard that Korchinski-Paquet had a history of seizures from epilepsy, often followed by erratic and aggressive behaviour, and had experienced two seizures earlier that day before police were called over a disturbance involving knives. One of the province's police watchdogs later cleared the officers of wrongdoing, saying the fatal fall happened as she was trying to move from her apartment's balcony to a neighbour's. The inquest's scope includes how first responders are informed and trained about epilepsy, but is not meant to examine the various watchdog investigations into the case.

Before the recess, presiding coroner Dr. David Cameron said there is "lots of good things to explore about epilepsy, about public support for families, about awareness of postictal delirium, about police response and how those two can intermingle." He added: "We've explored lots of great things during this inquest and everyone has worked really well together... and now we've got a bit of a problem and we'll have to work through it."

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7. Three-vehicle crash north of Toronto leaves one dead, two with minor injuries

Source: CP24

A three-vehicle crash north of Toronto early Thursday left one person dead and two others with minor injuries. York Regional Police said the collision happened near Jane Street and Davis Drive at around 4:30 a.m. on October 22.

Police said three vehicles were involved and one person was subsequently pronounced dead. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.

Davis Drive is currently closed from Highway 400 to Keele Street.

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8. Ajax hit-and-run: 76-year-old pedestrian dies, vehicle and driver located

Source: CP24

Durham Regional Police said on October 22 that a 76-year-old pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run in Ajax over the weekend has died in hospital.

Police said officers responded at around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday to a fail-to-remain collision involving a pedestrian in the area of Ringer Road and Harwood Avenue North. The victim was walking within the crosswalk when he was hit by a white 2014 Dodge Ram pickup, which did not remain at the scene.

In a news release issued Thursday, police said the pedestrian was initially believed to have suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. His condition later deteriorated and he was transferred to a Toronto-area trauma centre, where he has since died.

Police said the suspect vehicle and its 69-year-old female driver have been located. Members of the DRPS Collision Investigation Unit have been notified and have begun a further investigation, with the cause of the collision still under investigation. Anyone with cellphone or dashcam footage is asked to contact Det.-Const. Daniels of the Collision Investigation Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5226.

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9. Wainwright fire investigation could take 9 to 12 months as casualty details emerge

Source: CP24

The Canadian Armed Forces says its comprehensive Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigation into the tragedy at CFB Wainwright could take up to a year to complete. In an email to CTV News, National Defence media relations spokesperson Cheryl Forrest described the BOI as "a fact finding investigation which will try to determine how an incident came about and what lessons can be learned to prevent recurrence."

Forrest said timings vary greatly depending on the complexity of the file, but a typical BOI takes anywhere between nine and 12 months to ensure the investigation is comprehensive and its recommendations are robust. Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday that 50 investigators are on the ground in Wainwright. The CAF says the BOI will run concurrently with separate but complementary investigations led by the National Investigation Service, with support from military police, the RCMP, Alberta's chief medical examiner and the CAF Fire Marshal. The BOI report is also the one Canada's top soldier, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, has committed to making public.

Defence Minister David McGuinty said on Wednesday that the BOI investigation had yet to begin. He said the CAF is working on the terms of reference: "The question is, of course, who would be on that board of inquiry? What's the appropriate balance. Those are the details we're looking at." He added that the timeline would be up to the Canadian Forces to decide.

Around the same time, dozens of Wainwright residents lined both sides of a highway near the base to show support for the battalion that survived the fast-moving brush fire, most of them members of the Princess Patricia Light Infantry or the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Flanked by a convoy of seven police vehicles, two buses carrying an unknown number of soldiers drove past people waving Canadian flags; some applauded while other military members saluted. The buses were on their way back to Edmonton.

In her update on Wednesday afternoon, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said 27 CAF members remained in hospital, 13 of them in critical condition, while the Department of National Defence said 12 members had been released. Saturday's brush fire claimed the lives of Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark. Thirty-nine people were initially hospitalized. The members were taking part in a "high-intensity" combat training exercise conducted by the Third Battalion, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. Military officials said at a weekend news conference that the fire, whipped by strong winds, moved one kilometre in a very short time.

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10. 'Significant' fall storm to hit northern Saskatchewan with up to 50 cm of snow

Source: CP24

A significant fall storm is expected to hit northern Saskatchewan this weekend, according to Environment Canada, which has issued a special weather statement for the region.

The agency says the affected areas are expected to see rain followed by heavy, wet snow. The areas expected to see the most snow are Cree Lake - Key Lake, Uranium City - Camsell Portage, Fond-du-Lac - Stony Rapids and Wollaston Lake - Collins Bay, with 50 centimetres potentially falling.

Environment Canada warns that strong winds are expected Saturday, with gusts up to 80 km/h. Reduced visibility from snow and wind could make driving challenging. Southern and eastern areas may not see the rain change to snow until Saturday, and rainfall there could total 40 millimetres. Conditions are expected to improve Saturday night and Sunday. Motorists are encouraged to monitor alerts and forecasts before heading out.

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