Canada sanctions (some) Israeli settlers

Plus, regulators crack down on Harold the Mortgage Closer and Toronto’s fight to decriminalize illegal drugs [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on Canadian sanctions targetting some Israeli settlers, regulators cracking down (again) on Harold the Mortgage Closer and Toronto’s fight to decriminalize illegal drugs. DON’T MISS Justin Tang/The Canadian Press ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR [Canada sanctions four ‘extremist’ Israeli settlers in the West Bank]( Canada has imposed sanctions on four Israeli “extremist settlers,” blocking those individuals from entering Canada and prohibiting financial dealings with them, Tonda MacCharles reports. The measures come after the U.S. and U.K. named the same people as being responsible for human rights violations in the West Bank and take effect immediately. This is “the first, but not the last, sanctions package” the Canadian government is considering against Israeli settlers who have established illegal outposts in the occupied territory, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said as she travelled in the Middle East. [Take a look at who these individuals are and why they’re being sanctioned](. - Why it matters: [Joly cited an alarming escalation in violence by extremist settlers in occupied Palestinian territory]( pointing to a UN report that there have been “at least 800 settler attacks against Palestinians” since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. - Wait, what? However, it is unclear what specific impact the sanctions will have on the individuals or what ties or financial dealings they have with Canada.  - Meanwhile: [The first shipments of aid from a newly built U.S. floating pier were trucked into the Gaza Strip this morning]( past Israeli border restrictions and heavy fighting. Aid packages could scale up to 150 truckloads a day, officials say. haroldjewellerybuyer.ca Investigations [Harold the Mortgage Closer accused of charging ‘vulnerable’ people interest rates up to 76 per cent]( Ontario is once again moving to shut down Harold the Mortgage Closer. Regulators allege Harold Gerstel ran a scheme that, for years, charged “vulnerable” people up to 76 per cent interest on mortgages, Kevin Donovan reports. The highest, legally allowed interest rate in Canada is capped at 60 per cent. “Gerstel is not suitable to be licensed as a mortgage broker,” the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario said yesterday, adding it’s working to close down Gerstel’s company and private lender Esther Gerstel Inc. (the sole director is his wife, Esther), on top of levying fines totalling $210,000. [Here’s what you need to know](. - Word from Harold: [The last time this happened, Gerstel told the Star the allegations that he charges “exorbitant” rates are incorrect]( and that “these are fabricated allegations by people with an agenda.” - ICYMI: The enforcement action follows a [Star investigation into a mortgage deal between Gerstel and his companies and the late Judy Allen]( a senior who lost her bungalow after being saddled with $1.5 million in mortgages. Richard Lautens/Toronto Star TORONTO [Toronto refuses to back down from its push to decriminalize illegal drugs]( Toronto is refusing to budge on what Doug Ford’s government calls a “dangerous” push to have Health Canada decriminalize illegal drugs. In a blunt two-page letter to Toronto medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa, provincial officials warned that Ontario is “100 per cent opposed,” and that consequences may come if Toronto’s proposal to decriminalize small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use is not scrapped, Rob Ferguson and Alyshah Hasham report. “I have no intention of doing that,” Toronto board of health chair Chris Moise rebutted hours after the letter was released publicly. [The battle lines are hardening; take an overview of the situation](. - Context: [Toronto’s application for a drug decriminalization program was sent back by Health Canada with a list of questions]( more than a year ago. The city has yet to respond, the Star has learned — but municipal officials still insist their request is in play. - Meanwhile: [B.C. has reversed course 15 months into its own pilot that decriminalized hard drugs]( after the move appeared unable to slow the overdose crisis amid soaring public drug use that raised concerns of community safety. WHAT ELSE “Enough is enough”: Faqiri family wants Ford government to [apologize and commit to changes for jailhouse death](. Justin Trudeau says [Canada’s conservative leaders threaten abortion rights](. [A young child in Ontario has died of measles](. Could April’s scorching job numbers jeopardize [a June interest rate cut]( [Loblaw agrees to support grocery code of conduct]( after fighting it for months. [Ontario “Crypto King” was trying to solicit new investors]( as recently as February, investigators say. Changes are coming for international students’ postgraduation work permits in Canada. [Here’s what experts say is needed](. [This mother and her three kids had their visas abruptly cancelled while flying to Canada]( and got stuck in Panama for weeks. Now she’s suing. [TSN host Darren Dutchyshen has died at 57](. Dutchy was a legend of Canadian sports broadcasting.” [Some U.S. cities are being devastated by downtown “doom loops”]( as offices empty out. Is it happening in Toronto? Shoppers Drug Mart says job post looking for [a “volunteer” to clean store was a mistake](. On “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” Billie Eilish boasts [a new-found maturity with complex production and scorching lyrics](. POV Geoff Robins/Toronto Star [In Canada’s bizarro housing system, there’s nothing more normal than a landlord evicting a tenant while raising money for the homeless]( CLOSE-UP Toronto Zoo TORONTO: The Toronto Zoo welcomed two baby snow leopards earlier this week after their mother, Jita, gave birth following a 97-day pregnancy. Jita and her cubs aren’t on display for the public yet. [Here’s what to know about the little fluffballs](. 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_213840). Andrew 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. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](