Here are five stories to know today, with the focus first on Cornwall, SDG&A and Akwesasne, then on Ontario’s new winter electricity prices and this week’s federal budget.
Cram the Cruiser fills a police car with food for the Agapè Centre
Shoppers at FreshCo in Cornwall helped Cornwall police fill a cruiser with food for the Agapè Centre during the store’s annual Cram the Cruiser drive, Cornwall Seaway News reports. Co-owner Jordan O’Brien said this was the event’s 11th year. Shoppers could buy pre-packed donation bags for $5, $10 or $15 or give cash, and the Optimist Club of Cornwall ran a barbecue whose proceeds also went to the Agapè Centre. D/Cst. Patrick Huygen of the Cornwall Police Service said food drives help meet a growing need in the community. The Agapè Centre runs the Community Market food bank and a Community Kitchen for Cornwall and the surrounding area, so donations like these help support local families facing food insecurity. Source: Cornwall Seaway News.
French Catholic board reports EQAO gains in Grade 3 writing and math
The Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO) says its students posted strong results on 2025–2026 provincial EQAO assessments, according to Cornwall Seaway News. The share of Grade 3 students meeting the provincial standard in writing rose from 59 to 70 per cent, Grade 3 math reached 74 per cent, up five points, and Grade 3 reading held at 72 per cent. In Grade 6, 87 per cent met the standard in reading, 80 per cent in writing and 61 per cent in math. Grade 9 math reached 66 per cent, matching the provincial result, after a gain of nearly 20 points over five years, and 96 per cent of Grade 10 students passed the literacy test, two points above the provincial average. For Francophone Catholic families in the region, the results offer a snapshot of how local schools compare with the rest of Ontario. Source: Cornwall Seaway News.
Arks Harvest to close its Hawkesbury food store on November 14
Arks Harvest, a not-for-profit food store, is closing its Hawkesbury location at 548 Main Street East, The Review reports. The store opened in November 2024, and its last day is scheduled for Saturday, November 14. The organization pointed to rising fruit and vegetable costs, higher rent and electricity expenses that have become hard to manage. It says it is exploring a delivery service to keep serving Hawkesbury customers. Its Vankleek Hill store at 42 Mill Street East and its Cornwall store at 1 Water Street East will stay open, so Cornwall customers can still shop at the Water Street location. Source: The Review.
Ontario’s winter electricity prices and smaller rebate took effect November 1
New regulated electricity prices for Ontario households, small businesses and farms took effect on November 1, along with winter time-of-use hours, according to the Ontario Energy Board. Winter time-of-use rates are 9.1 cents per kWh off-peak, 14.6 cents mid-peak and 18.9 cents on-peak, with on-peak hours now running weekdays from 7 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Tiered customers pay 11.2 cents per kWh for the first 1,000 kWh a month and 13.2 cents above that. The provincial Ontario Electricity Rebate changes to 15.7 per cent; the OEB says regulated prices are falling year over year, which allows the rebate to be reduced, and that it takes about $23 a month off a typical 700 kWh residential bill. The OEB’s winter ban on disconnecting residential customers for non-payment is scheduled to run from November 15 to April 30, 2027. Source: Ontario Energy Board.
Federal budget scheduled for Thursday, November 5
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scheduled to table the federal budget on Thursday, November 5, the second budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney, BNN Bloomberg and The Hub report. Champagne told the House of Commons the plan aims to build a stronger, more resilient and more affordable Canada. Carney says the government remains on track to balance its operating budget by 2027–28, but the Parliamentary Budget Officer projects that goal will be reached a year later and that the deficit will still be above $63 billion in 2030–31, compared with the $53 billion Ottawa projected in the spring. Defence spending is projected to rise from about $75 billion a year to $95.7 billion by 2030–31. Cornwall households and businesses will be watching for measures on affordability, investment and the Canada–U.S. trade dispute when the details are released. Sources: BNN Bloomberg and The Hub.
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