It's one big game of chicken on the Hill

Plus, a first sentence in the Toronto swarming case and fines for blocking the box [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on MPs’ return to the Hill, the first sentence handed down in the Kenneth Lee swarming case and new fines for blocking the box. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick federal politics [Parliament is back in session — for now]( “We are playing chicken with four cars,” the Bloc leader said of Monday’s return to the Hill. “There will be a wreckage.” As MPs shuffled back into the House of Commons, the Liberal government hangs in the balance, relying on cooperation from the Bloc and NDP — both of which have signalled their readiness for a campaign. And the Tories? The first thing they did was call for an election. [Here’s how the rowdy return to the House played out](. - By, by, bye: [The results of two key byelections Monday could be a preview of things to come](. The NDP’s Leila Dance held on to her party’s long-held seat in Elmwood—Transcona, while the [Liberals lost their LaSalle—Émard—Verdun stronghold to the Bloc](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star courts [A girl sentenced in the Toronto swarming case avoided more jail time]( The first girl to be sentenced in the fatal 2022 swarming of Kenneth Lee will be subjected to 15 months probation along with a structured, intensive supervision program, including mental health counselling and substance abuse support. At Monday’s sentencing, the judge acknowledged the girl’s extensive time already spent in custody and the illegal strip searches she was subjected to. [Here’s what else the judge had to say about the killing that shocked the city]( - What happened? While experiencing homelessness, 59-year-old Lee was chased, hit, grabbed, kicked and spit on by eight girls between 13- and 16-years old. [They’ve each been charged with second-degree murder](. Nick Lachance/The Star traffic [Steeper fines are in play for Toronto drivers caught blocking the box]( The city really wants drivers to stop clogging up intersections. Fines have been hiked by more than five times, up to $450 for those idling in the middle of the road after the light turns red. And if you’re caught near a school, the fine is $500. [Mahdis Habibinia reports on the city’s hopes that new fines will help cure Toronto gridlock](. - Ticket trouble: Even as the city cracks down, Toronto police are issuing far fewer tickets for the offence than in the past, but that’s mostly because police would rather keep traffic moving than stop a driver to ticket them. WHAT ELSE Canada’s housing market is ramping up slowly despite rate cuts. [Could it be a sign of things to come?]( Ontario’s fiscal watchdog is looking into Ford’s move to put beer and wine into convenience stores. [Here’s why](. New 30-year mortgage and down payment rules are [stoking fears of rising home prices](. Inflation likely dropped significantly in August. [Will we see another rate cut in October?]( Here’s why the latest Trump assassination attempt could have [political fallout that the previous shooting didn’t](. Donald Trump vs Kama … er, Taylor Swift? [Check out our timeline of their escalating public feud](. Business insolvencies fell in the second quarter — but they’re still way higher than a year ago. [Here’s what that could mean for our economy](. TIFF cancelled it over threats. But it’s back on the schedule. Why is “Russians at War” so controversial? [Here’s the Star’s review](. What you should know about a [new COVID variant that could become dominant](. Canada Child Benefit payments go out this week. [Are you eligible?]( Looking for a place to eat? [Here’s where TIFF’s biggest stars dined in Toronto](. Peter Nygard has filed an [appeal of his Toronto sexual assault convictions](. POV Richard Lautens/The Star [Job one for the TTC’s interim CEO is taking Metrolinx for relationship counselling.]( CLOSE-UP Nick Kozak for The Star ARMOURY STREET: Despite being just over a year old, a $956-million provincial courthouse is plagued with accessibility issues. According to a 76-page report obtained by the Star’s Francine Kopun, those problems were built into the court house despite being flagged by people with disabilities early in its construction. [Here’s how one of the city’s newest courthouses failed](. 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_2305). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get [thestar.com]( + ePaper edition. Only $1 for 6 months! Save over $100. [Get This Offer]( 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](