🚑 Breaking & Incidents
- Ottawan among dead after April boating capsizes on St. Lawrence River. OPP say a 41-year-old from Ottawa was found unresponsive after a 15-foot aluminum boat overturned north of Grenadier Island on April 25; the person later died in hospital and a 46-year-old Ontario man has been charged with criminal negligence causing death. The incident remains part of the OPP’s investigation into the April capsizing.
- OPP seize roughly $1 million in drugs, weapons and stolen property. A multijurisdictional probe beginning in January recovered about 6.5 kg of suspected fentanyl (about 65,000 lethal street doses), 420 g of suspected cocaine, 250 g of suspected meth, $73,500 in cash, firearms, prohibited magazines and stolen vehicles across Brantford, Paris, London and the Oneida Nation of the Thames Settlement.
🏛️ Government & Politics
- Ontario says Metrolinx weekend service cuts are “temporary in nature.” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria confirmed weekend GO Train frequencies (Lakeshore East/West) will drop from 15 to 30 minutes and some Barrie, Stouffville and Niagara line trips will be replaced with buses until at least next spring to allow track work and address crew and slow-zone issues. Sarkaria cited three-hour round trips on parts of the Niagara Line due to CN-imposed slow zones.
- Ford government moves to remove bike lanes from major Toronto streets. After the Ontario Court of Appeal decision, the province is seeking bids to redesign Bloor, Yonge and University Avenue (and sections north into Queen’s Park Crescent and Avenue Road) to remove or alter bike lanes, with immediate work beginning on a short Bloor Street West section where minimal design is required, the government said.
- Premier paid $25,000 for oversized “Lake Ontario” billboard near Hamilton. The premier’s office confirmed taxpayers covered $25,000 to print and erect a bilingual “Lake Ontario now and always” sign in Winona, unveiled by Doug Ford as a response to a U.S. executive order; critics in the legislature questioned the messaging and its cost.
- Liberals win North Vancouver–Capilano byelection; Braeden Caley elected MP. With more than 90 per cent of polls reporting, Braeden Caley topped Conservative Stephen Curran and Green Shelley Luce, campaigning on standing strong against tariffs and lowering costs for Canadians.
🎨 Community & Culture
- Vaughan officials expensed more than $1,700 on Ubers during 10-day 2024 Italy trip. Freedom-of-information documents show a six-person delegation, including Deputy Mayor Linda Jackson and Councillor Mario Ferri, travelled July 3–13, 2024, visiting Lazio, Milan and Rome and charging thousands in total expenses during the trade mission.
- Blue Jays head to Cleveland for three-game series versus Guardians. Toronto seeks to gain ground in the standings with the three-game set in Cleveland, a chance to close the gap on the Guardians as the season approaches September.
- Last-minute back-to-school shopping noted ahead of first day. Reports show parents and students completing purchases in the final hours before the school year’s start.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
- Toronto officer in Project South probe has sought to plead guilty since February, lawyer says. Defence counsel Peter Brauti told court Const. Elias Mouawad asked to plead guilty after his February arrest; Mouawad faces one count of unauthorized use of a computer and one count of breach of public trust and was suspended without pay. The court adjourned and will reconvene Sept. 16 to decide next steps.
- Pickering art teacher charged with 22 counts in alleged assaults on two children. Faruk Dewan, 63, was arrested in August and charged with 11 counts of sexual assault and 11 counts of sexual interference relating to alleged incidents between November 2025 and July 2026; police say Dewan taught art lessons from his Pickering home and are asking anyone with information to contact Durham Regional Police.
💼 Economy & Business
- Unifor opens talks with Stellantis after deals with GM and Ford. The union representing nearly 19,000 Canadian auto workers begins bargaining with Stellantis as the final round, with current national auto-sector agreements expiring Sept. 20 and the Brampton assembly plant’s future under review after idling in 2023.
- (Also in Community) Vaughan’s 2024 trade mission carried sizeable costs. The ten-day trip included municipal officials and staff and documented expenses such as local transport and a chartered bus, as revealed by FOI documents.
📰 Also Today
- Campaign Day 6 focuses on education, immigration and cost of living, multiple stops reported.
- Élections Québec to mail voter information in French only, first time in a provincial election.
- OPP lay criminal negligence charge for fatal St. Lawrence boat capsizing, further charges reported.
- OC Transpo fare readers update: service notices affecting riders, agency posted changes.
- OPP rule Spencerville suspicious death a homicide, police statement released.
- Niagara business owners reject Trump renaming Lake Ontario, local responses quoted.
- Search underway for team to restore 24 Sussex Drive, federal announcement made.
- Quebec issues new heavy-vehicle safety guidelines, advocates push to make them law.
- Stalled talks between Ontario and teachers' unions affect back-to-school plans, negotiations delaying decisions.
- Vaughan officials’ Italy trip included sightseeing and business meetings, six delegates attended.
- Barbara Kentner’s family and First Nation leaders protest parole decision, demonstrators call it a miscarriage of justice.
- (Duplicate) Niagara business owners respond to Lake renaming, shops quoted.
- Braeden Caley wins North Vancouver–Capilano byelection, victory reported.
- (Duplicate) Quebec heavy-vehicle guidelines released, safety groups react.
- Blue Jays look to gain on Guardians in Cleveland, three-game set starts.
- (Duplicate) Project South officer’s plea attempts continue, court adjourned to Sept. 16.
- Province seeks bids to remove bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University, RFP issued.
- Ford’s Lake Ontario sign cost $25,000, premier’s office confirms.
- Art teacher in Pickering faces 22 charges, police warn of possible more victims.
- Major drug bust nets 6.5 kg fentanyl, OPP say about 65,000 lethal doses seized.
- Unifor starts bargaining with Stellantis, talks begin after GM and Ford deals.
