A "monumental" moment for "lost Canadians"

Plus, Canada's support for Israel and the “extraordinary” hurricane season ahead [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on a major victory for “lost Canadians,” Israel calling on Canada to be a better ally and an “extraordinary” hurricane season on the horizon. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi federal politics [Canada is moving to restore the citizenship rights of “lost Canadians”]( Ottawa has introduced legislation restoring the citizenship rights of “lost Canadians” born abroad and ensuring what happened to them doesn’t happen to others in the future, Nicholas Keung reports. “It will be the first time that the Citizenship Act is actually charter compliant,” advocate Don Chapman said after the bill was tabled Thursday. “It’s monumental. And it has huge ramifications.” The legislation would automatically grant Canadian citizenship to people born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad — reversing the 2009 rule that spawned a generation of lost Canadians. The proposed changes come after lost Canadians and their families launched a successful constitutional challenge last year. [Here’s what you need to know](. - What we know: As per Bill C-71, Canadians born abroad who have children outside Canada would need to spend at least 1,095 cumulative days in Canada before the birth or adoption of their child to pass on citizenship. - Context: [At the end of last year, a court ruled it unconstitutional for Canada to deny automatic citizenship to children born abroad]( just because their Canadian parents were also born abroad — what was known as the “second-generation cut-off” rule. Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld israel-hamas war [“It’s not enough.” An Israeli official is calling on Canada to be a more steadfast ally]( Israel’s special advisor on Canada is calling for the nation to be a more steadfast ally. In an exclusive interview with the Star’s Tonda MacCharles, Ronen Gilor pointed to several spots of tension between the two countries — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s private pledge that there would be “no more deals” to export Canadian-made light armoured vehicles to Israel. Gilor also noted concerns that Trudeau had not yet visited Israel to show “solidarity,” and that the nation had voted “against Israel” in the UN General Assembly. “Canada cannot say that they are seeking peace more than we do,” he said. “We seek peace even more than Canada. Why? Because we have war.” [Take a closer look at what’s happening](. - Go deeper: Gilor said Canada should more regularly oppose and block pro-Palestinian motions condemning Israel at the UN, allow the export of military equipment and speak more strongly, for example, against the [ICC seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and defence minister](. - On the front lines: [The bodies of three more people taken hostage on Oct. 7 were recovered from Gaza]( Israel’s army said this morning, as the UN prepares to rule on whether Israel must halt its military operations and withdraw from the enclave. - Meanwhile: In response to pro-Palestine protests, the University of Toronto’s president said he will [consider disclosure and divestment from Israel if students tear down the three-week-old encampment on the school’s campus](. Canadian Press/Frank Gunn climate crisis [An “extraordinary” hurricane season is being forecasted]( Forecasters with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are warning of an “extraordinary” Atlantic hurricane season this year, featuring the greatest number of storms the agency has ever predicted in its spring outlook amid record-shattering ocean temperatures. Experts forecast between 17 and 25 named storms in the Atlantic this season, which starts on June 1, Kate Allen reports. About 35 per cent of these typically make it to Canadian waters, experts say, warning that Canadians should prepare early — especially as evidence suggests climate change is shifting hurricanes further north, on top of intensifying severe storms. [Here’s how Canada could be impacted](. - Wait, what? A major factor contributing to the forecast is the record-setting ocean heat that has persisted for over a year now, with the Atlantic running a full one to two degrees Celsius warmer than historic norms. Everything from shipping routes to oceanic wildlife may be impacted. - On the home front: A tornado warning was briefly issued for parts of Ontario this week, [leaving many confused when no one actually experienced a tornado](. Experts explain the alert only signals when a nearby storm is capable of producing the phenomenon, but that it’s good to be alert. WHAT ELSE Pierre Poilievre says he’ll “axe the carbon tax” for consumers — [but what about carbon pricing for industries?]( [Liberals were hammered over their auto theft action plan]( during a meeting on public safety and national security. [Pickering’s mayor has asked the Ford government to revoke a MZO]( to build housing near airport lands, but some are on the Greenbelt. A “nice gesture but inappropriate.” [Critics are dismissing the RCMP’s addition of Indigenous ribbon skirts to their uniform](. Ottawa will let gun shop owners [use couriers for the firearm buyback program](. Bonnie Crombie has [asked the RCMP for an update on their Greenbelt investigation.]( Outdated rules and mounting losses: [Can anything be done to fix Canada Post?]( Work on the Ontario Line may [force Pape Avenue Junior Public School to relocate](. Patricia Jaggernauth’s case against Bell will move forward after the [Human Rights Commission found grounds to support her claim of discrimination](. Toronto is approving more housing on “major streets” — including these three roads — [despite a local councillor wanting them exempt](. The birth of Toronto’s WNBA team is a [Vince Carter moment for the next basketball generation](. One NBA club voted against Toronto getting a WNBA expansion team. [Guess who?]( POV Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld [Liberals like to portray Pierre Poilievre as scary, but a lot of Canadians simply aren’t frightened.]( CLOSE-UP Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo GREENFIELD: People inspect the remains of a house destroyed by an EF-4 tornado that ripped through a small Iowa town this week, [obliterating more than 100 homes in one minute and killing four people](. 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_214110). 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. 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