More school boards join the fight against social media giants

Plus, Toronto's plastic pollution problem and history made in Queen's Park [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on school boards suing social media companies for billions, Toronto’s plastic pollution problem and an Indigenous MPP making history. DON’T MISS Jenny Kane/AP Photo education [Five more Ontario school boards and two private schools have filed lawsuits against Snapchat, TikTok and Meta]( The Star has learned five more school boards and two private religious schools in Ontario have joined the multi-billion dollar lawsuits targeting TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram, alleging the social media giants have not only hurt the students’ health and well-being but also their academic achievement. The new lawsuits total almost $2.6 billion, on top of the $4.5 billion previously sought by four school boards in March, Kristin Rushowy reports. None of the allegations has been tested in court, though the social media companies plan to defend the claims. [Take a closer look at the details](. - What we know: The new plaintiffs include the Catholic boards in Ottawa, Dufferin-Peel and York; the District School Board Niagara; Trillium Lakelands public; as well as Eitz Chaim Jewish day school in Toronto and Holy Name of Mary College School in Mississauga. - Context: [The original lawsuits from March]( were filed by the public boards in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa, and the Toronto Catholic board. - Word from the premier: Both Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce previously [chided the school boards for taking court action and wasting staff resources and time instead of focussing on education](. Toronto Star File Photo climate crisis [Plastic waste is a huge problem — why aren’t we measuring it like greenhouse gases?]( Toronto emits nearly 4,000 tonnes of plastic into the environment each year in the form of litter and microplastics, according to new research from the University of Toronto. But despite a global plastic pollution crisis, Toronto doesn’t measure the amount of plastic leaking into our parks, rivers and air, Patty Winsa reports. “It’s absolutely necessary for someone to do this,” one of the study authors said, adding that they’ve developed a tool for monitoring plastic waste — one researchers believe could have global implications for benchmarking plastic emissions and setting reduction targets. [Here’s how it works and why it matters](. - By the numbers: The vast majority of Toronto’s plastic waste came from littering, accounting for 3,099 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Other large contributors included artificial turf, producing 237 tonnes of waste and exterior house paint at 151 tonnes. - Why it matters: Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060. The polymers produce greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of their lifecycle, [eventually breaking down into toxic microplastics that can make their way into human organs](. Steve Russell/The Star ontario [“We receive strength in speaking our language.” An Indigenous MPP made history at Queen’s Park]( MPP Sol Mamakwa made history speaking in his first language in the Ontario legislature yesterday, Kristin Rushowy reports. The New Democrat addressed a gallery packed with his family and supporters in Anishininiimowin, his native tongue, for 10 minutes — the first time that has been allowed in the province’s history. “We receive strength in speaking our language,” Mamakwa, who represents Kiwetinoong, said. He recalled how in residential school, young people including himself were punished for speaking their language. To now speak it in the legislature is “a healing moment,” Mamakwa reflected. [Check out his speech and its implications for Ontario](. - More: In an unprecedented show of support, Ford crossed the aisle to congratulate and embrace the MPP. He also promised Sioux Lookout will receive the much-needed long-term-care beds that Mamakwa had been advocating for. - Martin Regg Cohn’s take: Mamakwa’s victory is a testament to the power of persuasion, political negotiation and artful performance. [Here’s how he won the right to speak his own language at Queen’s Park](. WHAT ELSE [Israeli shelling and airstrikes killed at least 37 more Palestinian civilians]( — most displaced people sheltering in tents — near Rafah on Tuesday. A court is deliberating the University of Toronto’s [injunction against pro-Palestinian protesters as convocation nears](. In a rare move, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives have [offered to work with the Liberals to fight foreign meddling in elections.]( MPP Sarah Jama’s [court challenge of her censure at Ontario legislature has been dismissed](. Doug Ford was asked about calling an early election. [“Stay tuned,” he said](. The director of the TDSB will [retire in the fall after a tumultuous tenure](. “They had it all planned and it was ripped away.” [A family is devastated after a woman died in a boat crash near Kingston](. [A good Samaritan’s car was stolen]( while they offered assistance at a Highway 400 crash. Toronto’s rental construction was at its highest level since the 1990s. [Why is it slumping now?]( A tale of two fruits: [Why orange prices are crashing while grapes shoot up almost 30 per cent](. “A tremendous honour.” [Sheldon Keefe reflects on coaching the Leafs, the day he was fired and his fresh start](. Olympian Tessa Virtue and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly are [expecting a baby](. POV Steve Russell /The Star [There are only three problems with living in Toronto. Too bad we aren’t fixing any of them.]( CLOSE-UP Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo ROME: The U.S. has returned some 600 stolen artefacts valued at 60 million euros to Italy, as seen in this photo yesterday. The trove of ancient statues, gold coins, manuscripts and more were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums and collectors and recovered through criminal investigations. 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_214299). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited digital and ePaper access On sale now: Only $39.99 for 1 year — save $85 [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. 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