Maple Express | October 16, 2026 Waymo to test robotaxis in Toronto, eyes 2028 launch

1. Waymo to test robotaxis in Toronto, aims for 2028 launch date

Source: CP24

Waymo, the self-driving taxi operator, is poised to launch a testing phase in Toronto with the goal of carrying its first passengers in 2028, part of a push into the broader Canadian market. The California-based company says the Ontario government has approved its participation in a provincial pilot program that regulates the testing of autonomous cars.

Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., says the first phase includes high-definition street mapping and test runs of the robotaxis with a driver behind the wheel, beginning this year. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the company is proud to bring the Waymo Driver to Toronto and called expanding into Canada an important milestone in Waymo's global journey.

Company data from more than 400 million fully autonomous kilometres driven shows Waymo cars were involved in 95 per cent fewer crashes causing serious injury or death than humans in the cities where the service operates, according to the firm. In Canada, Waymo is partnering with Toronto-based Element Fleet Management, which will provide maintenance and customer service. California-based Gatik previously began deploying 50 autonomous box trucks for Loblaw in the city.

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2. Environment Canada issues frost advisory for Toronto

Source: CP24

Environment Canada issued a yellow frost advisory for Toronto on Friday morning, warning that "freezing temperatures" are expected in the evening. Overnight into Saturday morning, temperatures are expected to fall to near or slightly below the freezing mark, particularly in areas north of Highway 401, while areas closer to Lake Ontario will be a few degrees warmer.

A high of 19 C is forecast for Friday, but that warm-up is expected to end as northwesterly winds blow through in the afternoon. By Friday evening, cooler winds move in, with Environment Canada forecasting a low of 2 C, a risk of frost and a 40 per cent chance of rain.

CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said Saturday will be chilly, with the high struggling to climb out of the single digits, but the cooldown will be short-lived. He said the high will reach 9 C, with bright but gusty conditions and winds up to 45 km/h. By Sunday, Toronto can expect sunny skies and seasonably warm weather, with the agency forecasting a high of 16 C and a low of 8 C. Coulter added that sunshine and comfortable conditions will be locked in for much of next week.

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3. Police identify suspect vehicle in fatal Vaughan hit-and-run

Source: CP24

York Regional Police have identified a suspect vehicle believed to have fatally struck a 60-year-old woman who was left undiscovered for two days along an "isolated" roadway in Vaughan. In a news release, police said the woman was walking northbound on Pine Valley Drive from Major Mackenzie Drive at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 when she was struck and killed by a northbound vehicle that fled the scene.

In previous updates, police identified the victim as a live-in caregiver who had just stepped off a bus and was walking to work when she was struck. Investigators say they have now obtained surveillance footage of what they believe to be the suspect vehicle, described as a white Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, model year 2020 to 2022.

The footage comes one week after police released video of the woman's final moments in which they identified three possible suspect vehicles, describing the area as "isolated" and "not well lit." Police say debris recovered from the collision scene has also been confirmed as belonging to a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The vehicle was captured on video turning into a subdivision near Balantyne Road and Pine Valley Drive shortly after the woman is believed to have been struck. Despite the new evidence, investigators have been unable to locate the suspect or the vehicle. Police warn that anyone who helps a suspect by concealing, repairing or altering a vehicle to avoid detection may be committing a criminal offence and could face charges.

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4. DVP reopens after crews demolish building damaged by fire in downtown Toronto

Source: CP24

A section of the Don Valley Parkway reopened early Friday morning after it was closed to demolish a nearby building damaged by a massive fire. Little is left of the abandoned factory building at 2 Matilda St., which sat adjacent to the highway between Queen and Dundas streets, as crews worked overnight to take it apart.

The northbound lanes of the highway were closed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for the work and reopened before 6 a.m. Friday. The Don Roadway, Eastern Avenue and Queen Street ramps were also closed during the demolition.

The cause, origin and circumstances of the fire, which broke out at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, remain unknown. Police have confirmed to CP24 that the fire has been deemed suspicious. Paramedics said one police officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Jessop said the building, which once housed a live event space and a coffee company, has been vacant for years. He said demolishing the building allows crews to conduct primary and secondary searches and to "continue operations of fire suppression to get to the point of loss stop."

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5. Toronto Waterfront Marathon road closures this weekend

Source: CP24

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon will shut down a large section of the downtown core's streets and highway this weekend. The event features a 5K race on Saturday and a half marathon and full marathon on Sunday.

As the name suggests, the lion's share of the course takes place along the edge of Lake Ontario, with a section on Bathurst, Bloor, Yonge and Bay streets. Most of the closures take place early Sunday morning for the marathons, while a handful of road restrictions will be in place Saturday morning for the 5K. A full list of the road closures can be found via the original article.

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6. Nearly 500 arrests made in months-long Durham police crackdown

Source: CP24

Durham police say nearly 500 arrests have been made along with more than 800 criminal charges targeting a network of individuals, including repeat offenders involved in criminal activity throughout downtown Oshawa. The months-long operation, dubbed Project Atlantis 2, ran from April through September 2026 and focused on theft, stolen property, illicit drugs and "other actions contributing to community disorder" in the downtown core.

Speaking at a news conference Friday, Durham police Insp. Jeff Hoover said officers made 490 arrests involving 224 individuals, laid 808 criminal charges and issued 406 provincial offence notices. A police spokesperson later clarified to CP24 that the gap between arrests and individuals was due to repeat offenders being arrested on multiple occasions. Hoover said one notable finding was 163 charges for failing to comply with court conditions.

According to police, theft and drug-related offences accounted for a significant portion of the arrests, with other charges including possession of property obtained by crime, failure to comply with court conditions, assault, weapons offences, robbery and fraud. The operation also resulted in several drug seizures, including about 45 grams of fentanyl, 674 grams of cocaine and 12 grams of crack cocaine, as well as more than $10,000 in proceeds of crime. Officers also conducted more than 2,200 hours of combined foot and bicycle patrols, along with 96 hours of utility terrain vehicle patrols.

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7. Moving Kirill Marchenko to line with John Tavares works for Maple Leafs

Source: CP24

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-4 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. That night, Kirill Marchenko recorded a hat trick in his 300th NHL game, including a spectacular highlight-reel goal, but he was his own harshest critic. Marchenko said he was supposed to be marking Sabres defenceman Owen Power, who scored the winner 3:14 into the extra period.

Marchenko was acquired by Toronto from the Blue Jackets on Sept. 28 in a blockbuster six-player trade that sent Matthew Knies to Columbus. As part of the deal, he agreed to a six-year, US$75 million contract with the Maple Leafs that begins in 2027. He was put on Toronto's top line with captain Auston Matthews to start the season but struggled to click, managing a goal and five assists in his first seven games.

Head coach Jim Hiller shook up his forwards before Thursday's game, bumping William Nylander up to the top line with Matthews and putting Marchenko on John Tavares's wing. The two quickly found chemistry, including on a highlight-reel power-play goal in the first period. In the third period, however, Tavares left with an injury after falling awkwardly following a collision with Sabres forward Josh Norris; Hiller had no update on his condition after the game. Marchenko said he wasn't even aware it was his 300th game until a reporter asked him about it at the morning skate.

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8. OPP charge school bus driver in Tweed, Ont., with impaired driving

Source: CP24

Ontario Provincial Police say a school bus driver in Tweed, Ont., is facing impaired driving-related charges. Police were called about a school bus being driven erratically on Highway 37, north of Belleville, Ont., at around 10 a.m. Thursday.

Officers stopped the bus and arrested the driver, who was brought to an OPP detachment for testing. No children were on board the bus at the time of the arrest.

OPP say William Rogers, 50, of Tweed, is charged with impaired driving, having a blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg, dangerous driving and common nuisance endangering life. He is due in court in Belleville on Nov. 30. Police thanked the member of the public who reported the driving behaviour, saying prompt reporting of suspected impaired drivers can help prevent serious injuries and save lives, and reminded drivers to make responsible choices before consuming alcohol or drugs and operating a vehicle.

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9. Supreme Court decision says sexual history relevant in some cases

Source: CP24

The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld a decision ordering new trials for two people facing human trafficking and sexual services offences, after concluding they should have been able to cross-examine a complainant about the commercial aspect of her prior sex work. The case looked at the application of section 276 of the Criminal Code, known as the rape shield law, which limits use of evidence about a complainant's sexual history in court proceedings.

The two individuals faced human trafficking and sexual services offences arising out of their relationship with the complainant, and sexual services and human trafficking offences are not listed in section 276. In the unanimous decision, Supreme Court Justice Mary Moreau wrote that section 276 doesn't categorically apply to those two offences and that there are cases where evidence of sexual history is relevant.

Moreau said that in this case the evidence focused on the commercial aspect of the complainant's prior sex work and was meant to show she had previously worked voluntarily in the sex industry and was not recruited by the accused.

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10. 1 million votes cast in Alberta's referendum

Source: CP24

The number of ballots cast in Alberta's referendum surpassed one million on Thursday. That came after 174,500 votes were cast on the first day of advance polls on Tuesday, 186,700 on Wednesday and 168,200 on Thursday, for a total of 529,400 votes over three days of advance polls.

So far, each day's total is higher than the daily average of 152,000 people seen during the advance voting period in Alberta's 2023 election, in which 1.7 million people voted for a turnout of 60.5 per cent. Additionally, some 491,000 special ballots have already been processed, pushing the grand total to 1.02 million — about one third of Alberta's roughly three million eligible voters.

Elections Alberta spokesperson Michelle Gurney said more than 650,000 special ballot requests were made, 11 times the number seen in the provincial general election, calling them big numbers. The referendum consists of 10 questions about immigration, constitutional reform and whether Alberta should hold a second binding referendum to separate from Canada. Advance polls close Saturday night, and more than 1,400 polling stations will be open Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with workers beginning the hand count of special and advance ballots at 5 p.m. Monday.

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