Billy Bishop Halt, Ontario Wildfires & Gordie Howe Bridge — Ottawa Friday

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Federal government halts Billy Bishop Airport expansion. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced Friday the federal government will end proposals to lengthen the runway and introduce jet aircraft at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and will focus only on approved runway safety enhancements; the decision followed more than 87,000 responses to Transport Canada’s consultation.
2. Doug Ford’s approval rating plunges to 24% amid expense scandal. A Liaison Strategies poll shows Ontario PCs at 33%, Liberals 38% and the NDP 21%, with Ford’s personal approval at 24% and 72% disapproval after revelations about MPP hotel and expense claims including Stan Cho’s $16,000 hotel billing.
3. PC caucus split over hotel-spending fallout at Queen’s Park. Sources say internal anger has formed “camps” after Global News uncovered hundreds of thousands in expenses by MPP Stan Cho, including nearly $100,000 in food and beverage and more than $12,000 in hotels from 2023–2025, prompting elimination of the contested allowance.
4. Gordie Howe International Bridge opens with ceremony amid trade tensions. Officials held an opening ceremony Friday in Windsor; the bridge will open to traffic Monday and was attended by Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkins.

🌦️ Environment

1. Ontario reports no new wildfires in 24 hours but 177 remain active. The Ministry of Natural Resources says 177 active blazes continue and more than 1,800 people have been evacuated; First Nations account for 12 of 13 evacuated communities and hundreds of evacuees are sheltering in Thunder Bay, Toronto and Niagara Falls.
2. GTA group nears 10 million pieces of litter picked; 3,441 items removed in one cleanup. A Greener Future, active since 2014, held a lakeshore cleanup at Aimos Waites Park where volunteers removed 3,441 pieces, pushing the organisation toward its 10-million-piece milestone.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. NFL player Isaiah Adams charged with multiple firearm offences in Durham. Durham Regional Police charged 25-year-old Isaiah Adams with possession of a firearm obtained by crime, possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence, possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a prohibited device after a July 17 investigation that led to arrests and seizure of a loaded firearm allegedly stolen from Georgia.
2. Nearly 200 boxes of Lego recovered after Ingersoll theft. OPP say about 200 Lego boxes were stolen overnight from a Carnegie Street business; a search warrant on Hollingshead Road recovered 191 boxes and a 44-year-old man faces a charge of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

📰 Also Today

• Tornado-warning advice emphasises caution, experts urge preparedness.
• Orléans Halloween fundraiser extended one year, organisers confirm continuation.
• Ottawa officer disciplined for comment after training takedown, internal discipline applied.
• Woman traced stolen e-bike to an Ottawa highrise but could not recover it, incident reported.
• City of Ottawa seeks provincial aid for additional flood victims, request made.
• More than 9,100 federal workers applied for early retirement as deadline arrived, applications tallied.
• Ten years after Abdirahman Abdi’s death, questions remain, retrospective published.
• Botox and cosmetic procedures booming in Ontario, debate continues over provider rules.
• Bank of Canada told again not to use replacement workers at headquarters, directive issued.
• Woman pleads guilty in St. Lawrence River smuggling operation that killed family, guilty plea entered.
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