Don't even think about blocking that box

Plus, a tragic long-weekend shooting and threats to a clean-tech powerhouse [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on Toronto’s newest efforts to solve gridlock, a teenage boy shot dead over the long weekend and the fate of a fund critical to Canada’s green economy. DON’T MISS Nick Lachance/The Star gridlocked [Toronto wants $450 for blocking the box — will anyone actually get ticketed?]( Blocking the box might be downtown Toronto’s most ubiquitous traffic offence. It’s gotten so bad, city council recently asked Ontario for permission to permanently hike the fine for the offence from $85 to $450 a ticket, Mahdis Habibinia reports. But habitual box-blockers are rarely ticketed, with policing experts pondering: [“What’s the point if we’re not enforcing these rules?”]( - Traffic jammed: In 10 minutes at one downtown intersection last month, the Star counted 26 box-blockers — drivers rushing into busy intersections right as the light turns red — over just six red light cycles. None got tickets. - Wait, what? That’s little surprise — according to historical data, Toronto police have issued less than one ticket a day for box-blocking over the last five years. - Meanwhile: People are hesitant to brave Toronto’s perpetual gridlock to see a friend or partner on the opposite end of the city — [and it’s tearing relationships apart](. Calvi Leon/The Star gun violence [A 15-year-old boy was killed in a Labour Day shooting]( Mario Giddings was anxious about returning to high school, telling his aunt he feared for his life after an altercation with other students before the summer break. He wouldn’t get the chance to start Grade 11, Calvi Leon reports. The evening before school began, the 15-year-old was shot dead outside a pizza shop in what police are calling a targeted attack. [Take a look at what happened](. - The motive: It’s unclear whether Mario’s shooting was related to his fight at the end of last school year, as police continue searching for suspects and a motive. - Word from the family: Mario’s aunt said she’d been trying to transfer him to a new school this week. Now she’s left scrambling for answers. “I want justice for him,” she told the Star. - A bloody weekend: Toronto police are sounding the alarm over surging gun violence in the city after three homicides — including Mario’s — occurred over the long weekend. [Here’s how we can remedy the situation](. Canadian Press/Jason Franson green economy [Scandal threatens to tear down this clean-tech powerhouse]( Sustainable Development Technology Canada was once the driver of Canada’s nascent clean-technology industry. But after weathering drastic overhauls following a damaging mismanagement scandal, it’s become a punching bag for Justin Trudeau’s rivals, Mark Ramzy reports. “There are tons of jobs at stake, tons of fundamental business opportunities,” experts say. With the fund hamstrung politically and its future uncertain, [industry insiders say Canada risks falling behind in this once-burgeoning sector](. - The promise: Established in 2001, the independent public fund provided a financial lifeline to what it identified were the best early-stage startups in clean-tech. By 2022, it had provided $13 billion in funding, creating at least 25,000 jobs and generating billions in revenue. - The scandal: An auditor general probe last year found tens of millions in funding went to ineligible projects, while conflict of interest rules were violated and legal requirements weren’t met. - The resolution: In response, Canada’s industry minister shut down the fund and transitioned it to the National Research Council of Canada — which reports directly to the minister. Experts worry the fund may become strangled by government bureaucracy. WHAT ELSE Doug Ford has ruled out an Ontario election in 2024 — [but he could call an early election in 2025](. Ford also said there’s “absolutely no comparison” [between selling booze in corner stores and safe injection sites](. The TDSB is working on cellphone strategies while [monitoring the “pandemic babies” entering kindergarten](. Here’s everything you need to know about [the state of COVID-19 as kids head back to school](. The Bank of Canada is expected to [cut the key interest rate to 4.25 per cent today](. The deadline is looming for the Air Canada pilot strike — [and Ottawa’s unlikely to step in](. The Toronto International Film Festival has its best lineup in years. [Our critic picks 10 movies you can’t miss](. TIFF attracts all kinds. [Use our handy field guide to spot the five most common “types” you’ll see around town](. [Russian missiles blasted a Ukrainian military academy and hospital]( killing more than 50, officials say. The Art Gallery of Ontario accepted one of its largest-ever private art donations. [Check out what they received](. As the golden age of men’s tennis comes to an end, [be grateful for two decades of brilliance](. It looks like Prince William and Prince Harry are still feuding. [Here’s why](. POV Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star [Doug Ford is trying to beat the clock. What are opposition leaders doing to beat him?]( CLOSE-UP Ezra Shaw/Getty Images PARIS: Team Canada’s Cody Fournie left his opponents in the dust during the men’s 200-metre wheelchair race yesterday, [posting the fastest time of his career and winning Canada’s second gold of the Paralympics](. 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_1540). 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](