Maple Express | September 12, 2026 Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates

Source: CP24

1. Why has Canada been targeted for a U.S. trade war?

Trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. keep escalating. Relations between the two longtime allies have deteriorated sharply since trade talks collapsed on Aug. 21. An analysis published by The Associated Press on Sept. 12 notes that Canada might seem an unlikely target for a U.S. trade war — no country on Earth buys as much from the United States as its northern neighbour, and for American farmers Canada is second only to Mexico as an export market.

The report says U.S. President Donald Trump has goaded Canada's leaders with personal attacks and portrayed the country as weak. He has repeatedly floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state and signed an executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America." Last month, Trump slapped 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products to protest what he calls discrimination against U.S. auto, dairy and alcoholic beverage exports.

When Ottawa retaliated with tariffs of its own on Tuesday, Trump escalated, vowing to cut off Canadian companies from U.S. government contracts and even to ban some Canadian products, including motorcycles, some dairy products and most alcoholic beverages. The report notes the U.S. ban does not take effect until Sept. 29, buying time for talks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country remains open to an agreement: "Canada is always ready to strike a fair deal."

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2. Celine Dion returns to the stage in Paris after six years

French-Canadian singer Celine Dion was set to make her long-awaited return to the stage in Paris on Sept. 12. The 58-year-old, who has spent years battling a rare neurological disorder, was to perform her first full concert in six years — a major milestone in her comeback. Around 30,000 fans were expected at the Plenitude Arena outside Paris for the sold-out opening night of her 26-date run.

Fans travelled from far and wide, including from London, calling her "a legend" and "iconic" and saying they needed to be there for the first night. Paris spared no effort in welcoming Dion back, hosting costume contests, giant karaoke parties and tribute cruises on the Seine. On Friday, the iconic cauldron rose above the Tuileries Garden, echoing her surprise appearance up the Eiffel Tower to perform Edith Piaf's "Hymn to Love" at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dion's residency is projected to generate hundreds of millions of euros in economic benefits. She kicks off with 16 sold-out shows in September and October, returning for another 10 next May. Over her four-decade career, Dion has sold around 260 million albums in English and French. In December 2022, she revealed she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder that can cause severe muscle stiffness and agonising spasms. The illness forced her to cancel concerts, but she remained determined to perform again.

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3. Man charged with first-degree murder after woman found dead in Burlington

A homicide is under investigation in Burlington, Ontario. A 46-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder after a woman was found dead in an apartment.

Police say details of the incident are still emerging and further information is pending.

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4. Two men injured after car flips in North York

A rollover crash occurred in North York, Toronto. Two men in their 30s were hospitalized after a collision that caused a car to flip over.

The collision happened at Alliance Ave. and Rockcliffe Blvd. Both men were taken to hospital.

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5. Hamilton man arrested over alleged hate content on social media

Hamilton police say a man has been arrested and charged after he allegedly posted "hate-related content" to social media.

Hamilton's hate-crime unit launched an investigation in July 2025 after receiving a report about "concerning content" posted to X, then identified the suspect believed to be operating the account. After receiving consent from Ontario's attorney general, investigators arrested Simran Mander, 27, of Stoney Creek.

Mander was charged with wilful promotion of hatred, wilful promotion of antisemitism and advocating genocide. Police did not specify the content of the posts, and the allegations have not been proven in court. Police said they "recognize the significant impact hate crimes and hate incidents can have on individuals, targeted communities and the broader community."

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6. Man hospitalized, suspect arrested after Scarborough stabbing

A stabbing took place in Scarborough, Toronto. A man was taken to hospital after being stabbed inside an apartment building Friday evening.

It happened around 10:45 p.m. in the area of Kingston Road and Midland Avenue. Police say an altercation between the victim and the suspect, who were known to each other, occurred before the stabbing.

A man in his 50s was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police say a 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

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7. Scarborough collision leaves car flipped; 36-year-old charged with impaired driving

A two-vehicle collision in Scarborough early Saturday caused one vehicle to roll over. One man was arrested for impaired driving.

The collision happened around 1:38 a.m. in the area of Steeles Avenue East and Warden Avenue. Police say the injuries do not appear to be serious.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and charged with impaired operation. Roads in the area were temporarily closed but have since reopened.

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8. Mississauga man accused of selling fake auto insurance for over two years

A Mississauga man has been arrested after police alleged he sold numerous fraudulent auto insurance policies to victims across the Greater Toronto Area for more than two years.

Investigators say the suspect sold the policies between April 2024 and August 2026 using falsified proof-of-insurance documents that appeared legitimate. Police identified 15 incidents in which victims lost a combined total of more than $10,000.

Police say the man was previously licensed to sell insurance and had been employed by several insurance brokerages. Muhammad Raahim, 25, was arrested Aug. 26 and charged with one count of fraud against the public. The allegations have not been proven in court. He was released with conditions and is awaiting a future court appearance. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

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9. Documentary 'The Final Act' premieres at TIFF, capturing the final moments of those who chose MAID

A documentary exploring death will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Montreal filmmaker Sophie Deraspe's new work "The Final Act" captures the final moments of people who chose medical assistance in dying (MAID). It screens at TIFF on Sunday.

The film shows 69-year-old Céline Carpentier taking her final breaths before a medically assisted death, along with others who chose MAID. Deraspe recalled that on the hour-long drive home after filming Carpentier's death, mundane scenes — lights shining, people talking, cars moving, someone mowing the lawn — seemed to vividly come to life. Arriving home, she saw her son and told him she had just filmed a person dying. "My experience was so soothing and so peaceful that I wasn't afraid of telling him," she said. The first thing he said was: "I want to see it." She showed him the footage and began to cry.

Deraspe stresses the film is not about the political and legal debates around MAID, but rather a philosophical interrogation of the place death has in society, seen through the eyes of those who chose it. In the film, 101-year-old Paulette Fiset-Germain says, "That's why we came into the world, to share." "The Final Act" screens Sept. 13 and Sept. 15 at TIFF and is set for theatrical release in April.

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10. Blue Jays and Orioles meet again, 25 years after 9/11 postponed game

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles met again at Rogers Centre on Friday, Sept. 11, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Twenty-five years ago, the teams' game was postponed because of the attacks.

In September 2001, then-Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez was driving from New Jersey to Baltimore on an off-day ahead of a series against the Orioles when news of the terror attacks came over his car radio. Arriving in Baltimore, uncertainty hung in the air, especially with the team hotel so close to the Baltimore World Trade Center. He recalled that his coaching staff gathered in his suite, glued to the TV: "Everything we saw was unbelievable. It hit us all very hard." The Toronto-Baltimore game and other MLB matchups were postponed. With air travel ruled out, the Blue Jays returned to Canada by bus later that week.

That morning, Blue Jays players and staff were evacuated from their waterfront hotel after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. The team's then-travelling secretary, Bart Given, remembered the panic and rumours. The team had recently been given BlackBerrys, and their PIN-to-PIN messaging proved useful. Given, in charge of transport and logistics, eventually secured two charter buses for a late-night 750-kilometre journey north and bought old DVDs to pass the time. "We were just happy to be moving and trying to get some normalcy," said Jay Stenhouse, then the team's assistant director of public relations.

MLB resumed play on Sept. 17. A 16-minute ceremony preceded the Toronto-Baltimore game the following night, and an announced crowd of 18,604 watched the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 8-5. Before Friday night's game at Rogers Centre, a moment of silence was observed, and members of Toronto's fire services honour guard stood at attention during the national anthems.

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