Here are five stories to know today, with the focus first on Cornwall, SDG&A and Akwesasne, then on an $8.7-billion federal-provincial plan for Ontario industries hit by U.S. tariffs.
Last day of advance voting in Cornwall before Monday’s election
Today, Friday, October 23, is the final day of advance voting in Cornwall’s municipal election, with the poll at Cornwall Square, 1 Water Street East, open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., the City of Cornwall says. Election Day is Monday, October 26, when eight polling locations, including Trinity Hall, St. Lawrence High School and the main fire hall on Tollgate Road West, are scheduled to open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cornwall Transit is offering free rides to the polls: bus riders show their Voting Identification Letter or valid ID, and Specialized Transit users say they are travelling to vote when they book. Turnout has been sliding, with Cornwall Seaway News reporting that 28.8 per cent of 34,281 eligible Cornwall voters cast ballots in 2022, and that ballots cast fell from about 14,000 in 2014 to 10,028. Details are available at cornwall.ca/elections or by calling the city at 613-930-2787. Sources: City of Cornwall and Cornwall Seaway News.
Council town hall on November 2 to focus on post-secondary education
The City of Cornwall is inviting residents to a town hall with city council scheduled for Monday, November 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Adirondack Room of the Ramada Inn, 805 Brookdale Avenue. The first half of the meeting is set aside for post-secondary education in Cornwall, with residents getting up to three minutes each to share views, ask questions or raise concerns. The second half is an open floor where residents can speak for up to three minutes on any other municipal topic. Registered speakers go first, followed by first-come, first-served speakers, and the city strongly encourages registering in advance through its website, where accommodation needs can also be noted. Coming one week after Election Day, the session gives residents an early chance to put local priorities in front of council. Source: City of Cornwall.
Cornwall-area listings climb as September home sales and prices dip
The Cornwall and District Real Estate Board area recorded 228 home sales in September, down 3 per cent from September 2025, according to Canadian Real Estate Association statistics. The average sale price was $488,136, a 2.8 per cent drop from a year earlier. Supply grew much faster, with new listings up 18.6 per cent to 575 and active listings up 18.4 per cent to 1,294, leaving 5.7 months of inventory compared with 4.7 a year ago. Cornwall Newswatch also reports that CREA expects fewer homes to be sold in the final months of 2026. For local buyers, more listings and slightly lower average prices mean more choice, while sellers face more competition. Sources: Canadian Real Estate Association and Cornwall Newswatch.
Akwesasne opens registration for December deer herd reduction program
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Environment Program, working with Parks Canada, is taking registrations for its 2026 Deer Herd Reduction Program, scheduled for December 5 and 6 on Hill Island in the Thousand Islands. The deadline to register is Friday, November 27, and participants will be chosen by lottery and contacted if selected. Applicants must be Akwesasró:non hunters with an Akwesasne status card, a Possession and Acquisition Licence or a firearm registered with both Canadian and U.S. customs, and no legal restrictions on firearms; those under 18 may attend only as observers with an adult. Hunters without a PAL who plan to use a red Longhouse ID need a $25 Non-Resident Firearms Declaration, available at the RCMP station at 501 Tollgate Road East in Cornwall. To register, contact Conservation Officer Craig Delormier at 613-575-2250, ext. 1047. Source: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
Ottawa and Ontario unveil $8.7-billion plan for tariff-hit industries
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford announced an $8.7-billion action plan on October 21 to support Ontario’s steel, auto and critical minerals sectors as U.S. tariffs bite, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Steel gets $3.55 billion from Ottawa and $1.67 billion from Ontario over five years through a Joint Steel Action Fund, plus Buy Canadian and Buy Ontario purchasing preferences and tougher border enforcement against dumped foreign steel. For autos, Ottawa is committing $1.5 billion and Ontario $1 billion over two years to modernize plants, and federal greenhouse gas standards for new light-duty vehicles will stay at 2026 levels through the 2029 model year. Ottawa will also match up to $1 billion from Ontario over three years for Ring of Fire roads. Separately, Ontario’s fall economic statement is scheduled to be tabled on October 29, CTV News reports. For a border region where households and businesses feel the trade dispute, the plan shows where new federal and provincial support is being directed. Sources: Prime Minister of Canada, Sydenham Current and CTV News.
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