Torontonians came out in droves to look up

Plus, Ottawa's climate spending shortfall and immigration program confusion [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the solar eclipse, Ottawa’s climate spending and dismay with an immigration program. DON’T MISS Richard Lautens/The Star solar eclipse [The solar eclipse brought a moment of wonder to Toronto]( Although Toronto was just outside the path of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse, thousands of people gathered across the city to gaze skyward, Megan Ogilvie, Calvi Leon and Jermaine Wilson report. Twilight arrived suddenly at 3:19 p.m. as the moon passed between the earth and the sun, bringing a momentary chill to the spring day. “I have no words. It’s nature,” said one of the thousands of spectators gathered at Riverdale Park East. [Here’s how people across the city marked the celestial event]( - In pictures: Tens of thousands of people looked up at yesterday’s solar eclipse. [These are some of our favourite photos](. - Across the border: [A Florida woman shot at interstate drivers, saying God told her to because of the eclipse]( police say. - Watch for: Missed the eclipse? [Here’s when you can see the next one](. Andres Plana/Toronto Star Photo Illustration federal politics [The Trudeau government is $15 billion behind in climate change spending]( The Liberal government had committed to spending $49 billion on fighting climate change over the past nine fiscal years, but a new report from research firm Corporate Knights found it spent just $34 billion — a shortfall of about $15 billion, or 20 per cent, Alex Ballingall reports. The report’s authors are asking how Canada can meet its promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions and position itself to profit from the transition away from fossil fuels without meeting its spending commitment. [Here’s where the government is falling short](. - ICYMI: [The report expands upon findings the Star published in 2023]( which raised concerns about the pace of federal climate action as leading scientists stressed the urgency to make dramatic change. - In other spending news: Ottawa announced billions more for the military — [but it still won’t meet NATO’s spending target](. - Go deeper: [Here’s how Canada plans to recruit more soldiers](. Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese immigration [A new immigration program’s deadline snafu was “like having won the lottery and lost your ticket”]( Ottawa introduced a new immigration program last year for Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans; a tradeoff for expanding the Safe Third Country Agreement, which stops irregular migrants from crossing between Canada and the United States seeking asylum. When Adriana Foster heard, she was thrilled to submit applications for her mother and a dependent sister, as well as for two other siblings and their families. But more than two months after applying, the Immigration Department said it had reached its 11,000 cap and the applications would not be reviewed or processed. Advocates say hundreds of people are in a similar position, Nicholas Keung reports. [Take a closer look at the confusion and the aftermath](. - More: “We had this amazing opportunity to reunite with our family, who otherwise would not be able to join us in Canada. You thought you had it in your hands and somehow it escaped you,” Foster said. - Word from the IRCC: “Given the need to ensure that the applications were complete and the pace of submissions of applications, people have submitted applications before the application intake closed, but after IRCC had already received enough complete applications to reach its goal.” [Calendar icon] Are our messages a little late for you lately? Emails from the Star are taking longer than normal to arrive to Gmail and Hotmail inboxes after we send them. That's a problem we're solving now, but we're sorry for keeping you waiting. WHAT ELSE [Canada’s spy agency told Justin Trudeau that China “deceptively” interfered in two federal elections]( a public inquiry has heard. The police union wants Olivia Chow to condemn councillors’ statements about pro-Palestinian protests. [Here’s what she has to say](. Doug Ford is firing back at critics as the [number of his staffers earning more than $100,000 more than doubles]( A Rebel News personality has been charged after an incident at a pro-Israel rally on Sunday. [Here’s what we know](. Ford is forcing the LCBO to reinstate paper bags for customers. [Here’s what prompted the change](. The city is looking to Indigenous communities to [help name this new downtown neighbourhood](. [A cyclist died in hospital after being struck by a driver near Evergreen Brick Works](. Police are seeking the public’s [help to identify a woman found dead in Mississauga](. The Princess of Wales has become a key player in the Royal Family’s popularity battle. [Take a look back on her 20 years by Prince William’s side](. Three of the biggest rappers in the world — including Drake — are beefing. [Here’s everything you need to know](. POV David Rider/The Star [Toronto's vacant home tax rollout has been a mess. There is a better way, Matt Elliott writes.]( CLOSE-UP Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator HAMILTON: Like Niagara, Hamilton was on the path of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse. The celestial phenomenon is seen through the clouds from Tim Hortons Field, where a crowd of around 3,000 people gathered. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_211898). Kevin will see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. 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