Maple Express | Oct 23, 2026: Toronto police search for three children allegedly taken by their mother

1. Toronto police search for three children allegedly abducted by their mother

Source: CP24

Toronto police asked for the public's help Friday, Oct. 23, in locating three children who they say were abducted by their mother that morning. The children are 4-month-old Anastasia, 3-year-old Irina and 6-year-old Daniel. Police said they were visiting a family member in the area of Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East when their mother, 22-year-old Somerda Miclescu, took them. Police said the visit was semi-supervised.

Miclescu is believed to be driving a 2017 white Ford Expedition with Ontario licence plate DJJS 875. Her location is unknown. Police said she does not have legal custody of the children and is wanted for abduction by a parent. She is described as five-foot-seven, 180 pounds, with long dark hair, and was last seen wearing a long black shirt and a dark-coloured top.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-4100. Asked whether an Amber Alert would be issued, a Toronto police spokesperson said they did not have that information, adding it would be determined by investigators through the proper channels via the OPP. CP24 crime analyst Steve Ryan said an Amber Alert is only issued when police believe children are in danger, and the absence of one suggests investigators do not believe the children are in danger.

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2. White House reshuffles tariffs on Canadian goods, some products exempted

Source: CP24

The White House made another wide-ranging shuffle to its tariff regime on Canadian goods on Friday, Oct. 23. Seaweed, packing boxes and some plywood sheets are out; cocoa powder, vinyl flooring and shampoos are in. A full list of goods now facing 50 per cent tariffs is available, and the changes take effect at the end of the month.

Earlier on Friday, Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she had secured tariff exemptions on a variety of Canadian products to bolster domestic agriculture, including for blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers. She said many farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without significant expense. Collins said she requested the relief in discussions with U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick and senior Trump administration officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that a deal with Canada is “very close,” saying “Canada's working very hard to make a deal with us. And I hate to say this, but we have all the cards.” Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at an overnight press conference in Istanbul, said Canada is “continuing to engage with the U.S. government” and “could sign it this afternoon if the U.S. were there,” adding Canada would wait months or longer if necessary. Talks fell apart in August. Canada has put counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion in imports from the U.S.

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3. Ottawa 'disappointed' as union announces strike votes for 120,000 workers

Source: CP24

Canada's largest federal public service union announced Friday, Oct. 23, that 120,000 workers will take part in nationwide strike votes starting next month, and the federal government says it is “disappointed.” The Public Service Alliance of Canada said voting will take place from Nov. 16 to Jan. 22.

The union and Treasury Board have been in contract negotiations for a year and a half. In May, PSAC called a government wage offer of less than one per cent per year “insulting.” The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said it is disappointed the union chose to proceed with a strike vote while the groups are still working through mediation.

The government said that for the past year and a half it has engaged with the union on all of its proposals, and that several days of mediation recently led to progress on certain points. The Treasury Board said it respects the right to strike but that the best deals are reached at the bargaining table.

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4. Ontario plans to launch digital IDs, starting with the photo card

Source: CP24

The Ford government said Friday, Oct. 23, that it plans to launch digital credentials, starting with the Ontario Photo Card and later expanding to driver's licences and health cards. The province said physical cards will still be available to residents.

“As we modernize government services, we're making identification more secure, convenient and cost-effective,” Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Stephen Crawford said in a release. He said digital credentials will provide a trusted and seamless way to present identification, helping protect personal information while retaining every Ontario resident's right to use physical ID.

This is not the first time the province has proposed a digital ID program. In 2021, Ontario announced a similar program that would have allowed residents to store an electronic version of their government ID on their phone, but later that year the government delayed the launch. The province said consultations will begin later this year, after which it will introduce the digital version of the Ontario Photo Card for use online or in person. No launch date has been announced.

The province said digital credentials will be optional and that legislation to be introduced late next year will protect the right to physical ID. The move would align Ontario with provinces such as Alberta, Quebec and B.C. Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said advancing optional access to secure digital credentials, including health cards, is one of many ways the government is building a more connected and convenient health care system.

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5. Etobicoke sexual assaults: 39-year-old man charged

Source: CP24

A 39-year-old man has been charged in connection with two separate sexual assault investigations involving girls in Etobicoke, Toronto police said Friday, Oct. 23. The first incident happened on Oct. 15 at around 12:30 p.m. in the area of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Royal York Road, near Amos Waites Park. Police said an underage female victim was walking with a friend when a man approached and complimented her on her outfit, then allegedly sexually assaulted her before running away.

The second incident happened two days later, on Oct. 17, at around 2 p.m. in the area of The Queensway and Islington Avenue. Police said an underage girl was with her family when a man approached her and complimented her outfit. As she tried to move away, the suspect sexually assaulted her, police said. He ran away after the victim's mother confronted him.

In a news release Friday, police said they arrested Terrance James Noonan, of Toronto. He is facing two counts each of sexual assault and sexual interference with a person under 16 years of age, and four counts of disobey lawful order of court. The charges have not been tested in court. Investigators released an image of the suspect as they believe there may be more victims.

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6. Korchinski-Paquet inquest: mother shown security footage

Source: CP24

Regis Korchinski-Paquet's mother was shown snippets of security footage from the day her daughter died as she resumed her testimony at a coroner's inquest on Friday, Oct. 23. Claudette Beals watched clips from a nearly 50-minute video combining silent CCTV footage from the hallway outside their home with audio from 911 calls and a police microphone. The video had previously been played in its entirety at the inquest.

In one clip, Beals is knocking on a neighbour's door, saying her daughter “jumped.” Asked about it by inquest counsel that afternoon, Beals confirmed she said those words but noted police had just told her that her daughter had died by suicide. Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old Afro-Indigenous woman, fell from a highrise balcony in the presence of police on May 27, 2020.

Beals testified Thursday that she saw officers push her daughter toward the balcony, prompting the inquest to take a prolonged break as counsel for the parties figured out a way forward. As the inquest reconvened Friday morning, presiding coroner Dr. David Cameron said counsel had worked very late into the evening to reach consensus but weren't quite there yet.

Right before proceedings wrapped for the day, inquest counsel Roger Shallow asked Beals if she blamed herself, while stressing it was not her fault. “I feel very responsible for my daughter's death, very responsible,” she replied. Beals is set to face questions from lawyers representing roughly a dozen parties next week.

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7. Nine ward races to watch in Toronto's municipal election

Source: CP24

Torontonians vote in the 2026 municipal election on Monday, Oct. 26. While much of the focus has been on the mayor's seat, several ward races could dramatically change the look of city hall.

One east-end ward has no incumbent because Brad Bradford vacated his seat to seek the mayorship — one of four wards without an incumbent running for re-election. Four frontrunners have emerged: former MP and cabinet minister Nate Erskine-Smith, CTV News journalist Natalie Johnson, city worker James Dann and community organizer Jennie Worden. Bradford held the riding for two consecutive terms from 2018 before running for mayor.

Longtime councillor Paula Fletcher changed her mind about re-election just two days after announcing she was seeking another term, blowing the race wide open. Apparent leaders include former councillor Mary Fragedakis, who represented Ward 29 Toronto-Danforth before it was dissolved in 2018, and Diane Saxe, who is not seeking re-election in another ward. TDSB trustee Sarah Ehrhardt, whom Fletcher has endorsed, and lawyer and social media personality Caryma Sa'd are also vying for the seat.

In another ward, former councillor Mike Layton is looking to reclaim his spot after four years away from municipal politics. The son of late federal NDP leader Jack Layton and stepson of Olivia Chow served 12 years until 2022. Days after Layton announced his intention to run, Saxe announced she was scrapping her re-election plan in that ward.

In Parkdale-High Park, Gord Perks announced in April he would not run after 20 years, and ten candidates are on the ballot, including crisis worker Diana Chan McNally and TDSB trustee Debbie King. In York South-Weston, Toronto's longest-serving councillor, Frances Nunziata, held her seat by just 94 votes in 2022, and second-place finisher Chiara Padovani is running again.

Incumbent Jamaal Myers faces competition from two former MPs: Shaun Chen, who stepped down as a Liberal MP in August over health issues stemming from a car crash, and Han Dong. In another ward, incumbent Chris Moise did not receive the endorsement of former councillor and current MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who is backing Curran Stikuts. In Etobicoke-Lakeshore, incumbent Amber Morley faces former Conservative MP Ted Opitz. Incumbent Parthi Kandavel is under OPP investigation for allegedly asking for bribes to advance two housing developments.

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8. Two arrested in scam targeting Greek Orthodox churches

Source: CP24

Toronto police warned the public Friday, Oct. 23, about an alleged scam that targeted Greek Orthodox churches in the city and surrounding areas. Two people have been arrested after police alleged they faked a story and emotionally manipulated victims into giving them funds.

Investigators said the accused claimed they were going through financial hardship because of an ongoing court case and lawyer's fees, and targeted a number of Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

Police arrested and charged Martha Falk, 47, of Toronto, with fraud exceeding $5,000, using a forged document, personation with intent to gain advantage, and attempted fraud exceeding $5,000. Vasiliki Falk, 87, of Toronto, was charged with attempted fraud exceeding $5,000 and attempted fraud not exceeding $5,000. Investigators believe there could be more victims and released an image of one of the accused. Anyone with information is asked to call 416-808-4200.

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9. Wolf euthanized after contractor attacked near Cameco site in northern Sask.

Source: CP24

An investigation is underway after a contractor for Cameco was injured in a rare wolf attack in northern Saskatchewan. In a statement to CTV News, Cameco confirmed one of its contractors was involved in an off-site encounter with a wolf in a remote area along Highway 914 near the company's Key Lake mill on Oct. 17.

The contractor suffered non-life-threatening injuries and received medical treatment at the mill. Cameco said it is reminding workers of wildlife safety precautions. According to the Ministry of Environment, traps were set in the area as part of the investigation, and on Oct. 20 the wolf believed to be involved was captured and later euthanized.

The wolf's body was transported to Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon, where a necropsy is set to be completed. The investigation is ongoing. The ministry says wolves are common in northern Saskatchewan forests and generally avoid contact with humans. Travellers should not leave food or garbage out and should remain aware of their surroundings.

Wolves should never be approached or fed. If you encounter one, do not run or turn your back — face the wolf, make yourself appear as large as possible, and slowly back away while giving it space to leave. Wolves displaying aggressive or unusual behaviour should be reported to the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line, and 911 should be called for emergencies or immediate threats to public safety.

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10. 91-year-old man dies after being struck by car in Burlington

Source: CP24

A 91-year-old man who was hit by a vehicle in Burlington Thursday night has died, Halton police said in a news release Friday afternoon, Oct. 23. Police said the man was walking in the area of Mainway and Walkers Line at around 7:30 p.m. when he was struck by a westbound black Hyundai Elantra.

The pedestrian was taken to Hamilton General Hospital in critical condition, and police later confirmed his death. “The Halton Regional Police Service extends its condolences to the man's family and friends,” the release read.

The driver remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. The collision is under investigation. Witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are asked to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 5065 or CRU@haltonpolice.ca.

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