Here are five stories to know today, with the focus first on Cornwall, SDG&A and Akwesasne, then on an Iroquois business caught in the tariff fight and a new federal heat pump rebate.
Deputy fire chief Leighton Woods named next head of Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services
The City of Cornwall has appointed Leighton Woods as Chief Designate of Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services, a move Cornwall Newswatch also reported on October 8. Woods will work alongside Chief Bill Lister until Lister retires on December 31, 2026, and then formally take over. Woods started his career as a paramedic after graduating from St. Lawrence College and spent 15 years with the service, rising from primary and advanced care paramedic to platoon commander, before serving the past five years as Cornwall’s Deputy Fire Chief. The City says his priorities will include operational readiness, employee well-being, partnerships and patient-centred care, and it thanked Lister for 40 years of service. For residents across Cornwall and the Counties who rely on the regional ambulance service, the appointment sets out a planned leadership handover heading into the new year. Sources: City of Cornwall and Cornwall Newswatch.
Garage fire on Cumberland Street sends heavy smoke across Cornwall
Cornwall Fire Services was called to a fully involved garage fire in the 1200 block of Cumberland Street at about 9:18 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, the City says. Ten firefighters from all three stations responded with four trucks, and six off-duty firefighters were called back to cover the rest of the city. Crews kept the fire contained to the garage and stopped it from spreading to nearby buildings, though the smoke was visible across much of Cornwall. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated in hospital, while no occupants were hurt or displaced. The cause could not be determined, no charges are expected, and the City is reminding residents to install and maintain smoke alarms as required under Ontario rules. Source: City of Cornwall.
Akwesasne council to seek meeting with Quebec’s incoming PQ government
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) says it will closely follow the transition after the Parti Québécois, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, won the October 5 Quebec election and is set to form a minority government. Because a significant part of Akwesasne lies within Quebec, the council says decisions in Quebec City directly affect the community. The MCA notes the PQ has said it intends to pursue a sovereignty referendum in 2029 or 2030, and says it will continue to assert Akwesasne’s own sovereignty and jurisdiction. The council signed the Akwesasne-Quebec Political Protocol Agreement on July 28, 2026, setting up a government-to-government framework, and says it expects the new government to stay committed to it. Council plans to invite the incoming Premier and members of his government to meet on issues important to Akwesasne and on putting the protocol into practice. Source: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
Iroquois trailer dealer warns of layoffs after Canada’s counter-tariffs
CD Jabbco, an Iroquois company that sells car-hauling trailers and employs more than 20 people locally, says Canada’s new 25 per cent counter-tariff on those trailers is hurting its business, according to the Morrisburg Leader. The trailers come from U.S. manufacturer Cottrell, and the company says pre-ordered units worth millions of dollars may be refused by customers facing the higher cost, while future orders have dried up. Spokesperson Sierra McGuin said layoffs are likely, though no number was given, and the company and its affiliate Trans East Trailers are asking Ottawa to lift the counter-tariffs on car-hauling and specialized long-haul trailers. SDG MP Eric Duncan said the tariffs are affecting the community and called for a quicker resolution, and the paper reports Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is looking into the situation. The case shows how retaliation in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute can land on small local employers as well as on American exporters. Source: Morrisburg Leader.
Ottawa plans new heat pump rebates of up to $10,000 starting next year
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in Sherbrooke, Que., on Thursday that Ottawa will launch a new heat pump rebate program early next year, The Canadian Press reports. The program is to cost $2 billion over eight years, with a goal of retrofitting one million homes. Households with incomes below the median could get up to $10,000 back on a heat pump, while other homeowners could receive $2,000 for switching, though the government says details are not yet finalized. The program is aimed at people whose heating systems need emergency replacement or are close to the end of their life, and an existing federal program that subsidized heat pumps for oil-heated homes is being wound down. For Cornwall and SDG homeowners facing a furnace or boiler replacement, it may be worth watching for the final rules before making a decision. Sources: The Canadian Press via Global News and Prime Minister’s Office.
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