Today's byelection could be very telling for Trudeau

Plus, saving the Science Centre and calling for police transparency [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on today’s Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection, the rally to save the Science Centre and how the OPP refused a misconduct hearing after a speeding officer killed a man. DON’T MISS Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star federal politics [Toronto-St. Paul’s voters head to the polls in a byelection seen as a test for Trudeau’s Liberals]( Voters are heading to the polls today in Toronto-St. Paul’s — a historically Liberal stronghold. While Liberal candidate Leslie Church is confident she can replace former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett to continue the riding’s red reign, some political watchers think Conservative Don Stewart has a chance to flip the seat. “I think that people always try to read the tea leaves in byelections,” Church said, downplaying the idea that the byelection could be a bellwether for a national election. [Here’s what to look out for as the ballots get counted](. - On the ground: [Voters in the midtown riding know the stakes](. “I would like to not vote for Trudeau. And I don’t see a very good option, so that’s the thing,” one resident told the Star’s Tonda MacCharles. - Back and forth: Columnists Susan Delacourt and Matt Gurney share their takes on the byelection — [from their view, even a win for the Liberals could be a bad sign](. - Big picture: [The outlook for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals isn’t good](. As of last week, his party trailed the Conservatives across the country, in all age groups, with men and women and in all provinces, except for Québec. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star provincial politics [Politicians are rallying to save the Ontario Science Centre ]( Provincial and municipal politicians rallied outside of the Science Centre on Sunday, protesting the museum’s sudden closure. “Something smells bad here,” NDP leader Marit Stiles told the Star’s Brendan Kennedy, drawing parallels to the Greenbelt scandal that has plagued the provincial government. One father at the rally said he took his 2-year-old son to the Science Centre on a monthly basis — he hopes Doug Ford’s government changes its mind about shuttering the fixture for families in the area. [Here’s how politicians and Torontonians alike are pushing back against the Science Centre’s closure](. - Context: [The Ford government abruptly closed the Science Centre late Friday, blaming the building’s aging roof](. Engineering reports found that the facility was safe until at least the end of October, but heavy rain or snow could increase the risk of sudden collapse of some areas. - What we know: [The iconic Toronto museum was previously slated to relocate in 2025](. In April 2023, the Ford government announced the Science Centre’s relocation to Ontario Place, which is also undergoing redevelopment to include a private, water-themed spa. - History lesson: The Science Centre was built in 1969, designed by legendary Japanese-Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama. It opened in 1970 and has been a staple of school field trips. [Moriyama told the Star in 2023 that he had designed the building to stand for 250 years](. He died months later in September. Canadian Press/Tammy Hoy policing [An Ontario cop on a coffee run fatally hit a man — the OPP refused to hold a hearing]( Tyler Dorzyk was killed when a speeding, on-duty OPP officer on a coffee run struck him just after midnight on Sept. 29, 2020. The officer’s misconduct was “not of a serious nature,” the OPP found. Now, Dorzyk’s partner, Courtney D’Arthenay, is appealing that decision. While the civilian police watchdog had determined reasonable grounds for officer misconduct, the OPP did not agree, sending a letter with generic and vague reasoning. The case has broader implications for police transparency, as civil liberties lawyers urge more meaningful reasons behind police responses to complaints against officers. [Here’s what’s at stake](. - About Tyler: “He was my calm, my rock. A deep hug from him, and I would instantly feel at peace,” D’Arthenay said. Dorzyk was 35 years old when he died. - What we know: Dorzyk and a colleague were in cottage country to pick up a boat for a client. Clad in garbage bags to protect from the rain, he crossed against a red light and was hit by an OPP officer going 70 in a 60 km/h zone. - The aftermath: On Tuesday, D’Arthenay will ask an Oshawa judge to overturn the OPP’s findings and order a public disciplinary hearings over the officers’ conduct. [First Up feedback] What do you think of First Up? We're looking for a few regular readers to join us virtually over lunch on Wednesday, July 3 to share their honest feedback. If you think you could make it, please let us know by emailing firstup@thestar.ca — and thank you! WHAT ELSE Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he’s winding down Gaza operations — [but he warns a Lebanon war could be next](. Dental groups are rejecting a Liberal claim that Conservatives are fuelling opposition to a new plan — [here’s what they’re saying](. Gunmen killed [15 police officers and several civilians in Russia’s Dagestan region](. Thousands of homes lost power across Toronto on Sunday [due to strong winds](. They risk their lives fighting deadly forest fires — [but say “scandalous” treatment by Ottawa is bleeding an essential service](. How a 300-square-foot rental with noisy neighbours and paper-thin walls [turned me into a Toronto homeowner](. Bombardier workers at a Toronto facility are [on strike after failed contract talks](. The plants in this new Toronto garden share one thing in common: [a problematic past](. Canadians are throwing parties to [cheer on the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup final](. Marc Savard has [joined the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff as an assistant](. Top Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez has been suspended for 80 games, [but says fertility medication is behind his failed drug test](. “The Secret Garden” at the Shaw Festival adds music and magic — [but loses its crucial message](. POV Phil Long/The Associated Press [Wait until next year? The Blue Jays might be saying that next week.]( CLOSE-UP Steve Russell/The Star NBA DRAFT: Seven-foot-four Toronto native Zach Edey is expected to go high in the upcoming NBA draft. The towering 300-pound Purdue centre is a two-time NCAA player of the year who wears size 20 shoes and is taller than Shaquille O’Neal. So how do you quantify a man expected to be a monster on the court? [The Star’s Andres Plana gave his best shot at illustrating it](. 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_215609). I’ll 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](