Safety's a big concern on this crowded GO platform

Plus, Rogers' massive MLSE deal and more caps on international students [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on crowding concerns at a GO station, the Rogers-MLSE deal and new immigration rules. DON’T MISS R.J.Johnston/The Star transit [A woman was struck by a GO train, raising crowding concerns]( The woman was standing on a narrowed platform at Long Branch GO Station when she was struck on Tuesday, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. The length of the platform has been cut in half thanks to Metrolinx construction, leaving commuters concerned that they have no other choice but to crowd close to oncoming trains. [Here’s what Metrolinx had to say about the incident](. - It’s not just construction: Concerns are also being raised about reduced service. More commuters have been crowding onto the platform since service was reduced in May from a train arriving every 15 minutes to every half hour. Nick Lachance/The Star sports [A new deal gives Rogers control of the city’s major sports teams]( The bombshell deal announced Wednesday morning handed Rogers a majority stake in MLSE — giving it control over the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC and Argonauts, on top of its existing ownership of the Blue Jays. The telecom giant spent $4.7-billion to buy Bell’s stake, disrupting the decades-long status quo of split ownership. The change in ownership means Rogers has a “monopoly on Toronto sports,” one expert said. [Here’s what this means for Toronto’s teams](. - See it for yourself: Just how much of the Toronto sports market does Rogers own now? [These graphics show you just how much](. - Edward Keenan’s take: Edward Rogers just made life easier for Toronto sports fans. [They now only have one guy to blame](. - Bruce Arthur’s take: Rogers is now king of Canadian sports after buying Bell’s MLSE stake — [here’s the problem with that](. Canadian Press/Spencer Colby immigration [Canada is tightening restrictions on international students (again)]( The federal government is yet again restricting the flow of international students into the country, with plans to cut the study permit application intake from 485,000 in 2024 to 437,000 next year. Immigration Minister Marc Miller rolled out a host of new rules on Wednesday, including the tighter cap on study permits and more work permit restrictions. [Nicholas Keung breaks down the new rules](. - What Miller said: “We are facing an untenable number of people wishing to come to Canada. There’s a lot of people who want to come to Canada as a dream, but it is in fact a privilege, not a right.” - Déjà vu: Ottawa announced [further restrictions on international students]( just last month, as well as tightened rules to [limit temporary foreign workers](. WHAT ELSE Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he [won’t support a non-confidence vote against the Liberals](. Canada abstained from a UN motion [calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank](. This Trudeau cabinet minister is stepping down to run for the Quebec Liberals. [Here’s why](. More exploding devices rocked Lebanon as [Israel declared a “new phase” of its war](. [Toronto police officers will be stationed in hospital ERs]( as part of a new pilot program. Canada’s carbon emissions [dropped for the first time since the pandemic](. [GTA new home sales hit a historic low in August]( painting a “stark picture” of the market. [Workers can expect “real gains” in compensation]( as wage growth outpaces inflation. This former refugee lost his permanent residence after 27 years in Canada. [He says the law breaches his Charter rights](. The Maple Leafs may look similar to last season, [but they’re already starting to sound different](. The Juno Awards reversed the controversial decision to pull some 2025 categories. [Check what awards are back up for grabs](. Toronto’s Michelin Guide is back. [Here’s which restaurants made the coveted annual list](. POV Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz [Canada has been saved from an early election — by the political party that wants to break it up.]( CLOSE-UP Richard Lautens/The Star VARSITY STADIUM: Ontario’s sports minister is offering up his brain to science. Former CFL star Neil Lumsden announced yesterday that he will make the posthumous donation towards research into traumatic brain injuries that can help answer questions around the effects of repeated concussions. [Here’s why he made the decision](. 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_2443). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get [thestar.com]( + ePaper edition. Only $1 for 6 months! Save over $100. 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