Plus, a coach sent home from Paris and the temporary foreign workers program [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on Kamala Harris’ Ontario-friendly running mate, a controversial coach’s Olympic eviction and Ottawa’s temporary foreign worker crackdown. DON’T MISS Supplied Photo u.s. politics [Doug Ford’s football friend is Kamala Harris’s new running mate]( Two months before Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was chosen as Harris’s running mate, the 60-year-old progressive was talking trade and tossing a football around with Ford in his office. It could be good news for Ontario — and the premier’s “Buy North America” push against protectionist rhetoric stateside, Robert Benzie reports. [Here’s what you need to know about the potential future vice president and his Ontario ties](. - On the home front: Government insiders say Walz and Ford’s impromptu game of catch could have broader trade implications, as the next U.S. administration will preside over the scheduled review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2026.
- Who is this guy? A veteran, retired teacher and union supporter, Walz has a strong track record of enacting progressive policies. [Take a closer look](
- Vinay Menon’s take: Walz is no coastal elite; armed with Midwestern charm and a pragmatic approach, [the former football coach appears beloved by Liberals and Conservatives alike](. Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo paris olympics [Rana Reider was sent home from Paris]( Andre de Grasse’s coach was booted from the Paris Olympics after news broke he was being sued by three female athletes for sexual and emotional abuse. It wasn’t a complete shock, Bruce Arthur writes — the 54-year-old had a history of allegations and where there’s smoke there’s fire. But given his reputation, why was Reider at the Olympics at all — [and how much did Canada’s champion sprinter know of his past?]( - Rosie DiManno’s take: Reider’s Olympic plans came crashing down after a bombshell report in The Times detailed the lawsuits against him, alleging sexual and emotional abuse — [including “grooming” one of the athletes while she was still a minor](.
- What we know: This wasn’t Reider’s first controversy. He was put on a 12-month probation by the Center for SafeSport after allegations of sexual misconduct. [Take a look at his record](. Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan immigration [Ottawa is cracking down on abuse of the temporary foreign worker program]( Canada is zeroing in on fraud in its ballooning temporary foreign worker program amid surging allegations the program is being abused by some employers. “Bad actors are taking advantage of people and compromising the program for legitimate businesses,” Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said Tuesday, adding that he may refuse to process applications for certain areas and industries. [Ghada Alsharif dives into what’s being done — and whether it’s enough](. - Word from Marc Miller: The immigration minister previously accused businesses of being “addicted” to cheap foreign labour instead of hiring Canadian residents — [a practice he says drives down wages for everyone](.
- By the numbers: Employers were approved to hire 239,646 temporary foreign workers in 2023 — more than double 2018’s 108,988 approved positions.
- Word from labour advocates: Boissonnault’s promises fall short of adequately protecting workers from exploitation, critics charge, as the threat of deportation still hangs over any worker who complains about abusive conditions. WHAT ELSE This week’s global investor panic begs the question: [was it an overreaction or is a recession looming?]( Donald Trump is repeating the [baseless claim that Justin Trudeau “could be” the son of Fidel Castro](. [A woman has been charged with first-degree murder]( after human remains and chemicals were found at a Toronto home. A man was arrested after[a driver struck multiple protesters on the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto police say](. [Hamas named Yahya Sinwar as its new leader]( following Israel’s assassination of its former leader in Iran. [A Nobel laureate will head Bangladesh’s interim government]( after the ouster of its prime minister. [Canada’s Olympic basketball team disappoints]( after being “punched in the mouth” and knocked out by France. [Canadian hammer thrower Camryn Rogers won gold]( — and a hug that wraps around her soul. This airline passenger rights group is [suing WestJet over its reimbursement policies](. Elections Canada fined a man who [voted twice in 2019 to “test the electoral system.”]( After 75 years, one of Toronto’s most important outlets for jazz might soon be silenced. [Is help on the way?]( Just in time for the Olympics, [a new Canadian fencing movie offers intellectual thrills](. POV Jon Cherry/Getty Images [America’s wackiest presidential contender never met a political problem he couldn’t make worse.]( CLOSE-UP Canadian Press/Nathan Denette PARIS: Canada’s Caeli McKay barely missed the podium yesterday, finishing fourth in women’s 10-metre platform diving — a crushing result after a close-fought battle for Olympic bronze. [She’s still holding her head high, she tells Allan Woods — even if her soul was a little squashed](. 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_217927). 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.
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