A "heartbreaking tragedy" on the Canada-U.S. border

Plus, a deadly Brampton house fire and lagging boosters in high-risk groups [The Star] First Up [By Lex Harvey] By Lex Harvey Good morning. Here’s the latest on a trek from Canada to the U.S. that left four dead, a fatal Brampton house fire and why third doses are lagging in high-risk groups. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/John Woods human smuggling [A trek from Canada to the U.S. left four people — including a baby — dead in the Manitoba cold]( A Florida man has been charged with human smuggling as authorities investigate the deaths of four people, including a baby, who were found dead in Manitoba, 12 metres from the Canada-U.S. border, Alex McKeen and Nicholas Keung report. Officials believe the tragedy is part of a larger human-smuggling operation from Canada to the U.S. [Here’s what we know](. - Context: At least nine Indian nationals were dropped off near Emerson, Man., on Tuesday night in a blizzard. By the next day, seven had been taken into custody south of the border, along with the American allegedly meant to pick them up, while four had died. - Go deeper: Until the pandemic, Canada had seen a surge of asylum seekers coming from the U.S. through irregular border crossings, driven by then president Donald Trump’s crackdowns on undocumented migrants. It’s rare for migrants to travel from Canada into the States. - Word from the RCMP: Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy called the incident “an absolute and heartbreaking tragedy.” “We’re very concerned ... that these individuals, including an infant, were left on their own in a blizzard when the weather hovered around -35 C,” she told reporters. Canadian Press/Frank Gunn House fires [Three boys were killed in a Brampton house fire ]( Three brothers — aged 9, 12, and 15, described as close-knit and goofy — are dead after a fire ripped through their three-storey home Thursday morning, Ivy Mak and Wendy Gillis report. Their mother had returned from dropping her youngest child at daycare to find her house ablaze and had to be restrained by police, one neighbour said. Officials do not yet know the cause of the fire or where in the house it originated. [Here’s more on this tragedy](. - What we know: The townhouse was part of a row on Ellis Drive, in the area of Torbram Road and Clark Boulevard, filled with families. The three boys were known as lovely kids who’d eagerly greet neighbours walking their dogs. - More: The fire was one of two fatal blazes Thursday. [Two people died in a fire that began late Wednesday night]( in a home on Gladstone Avenue and Shanly Street in west-end Toronto. The deceased have not yet been identified. R.J. Johnston/The Star the rollout [High-risk Ontarians are short on third COVID vaccine doses]( Some vulnerable Ontarians — who would benefit most from a third dose of the COVID vaccine — are lagging in booster coverage, Megan Ogilvie reports. While some high-risk individuals who were prioritized for third doses, like organ transplant recipients, are well protected, others, like pregnant Ontarians and homeless people, haven’t been getting their jabs. [Here’s what you need to know](. - By the numbers: As of Jan. 9, about 40 per cent of Ontario adults had received a third dose, while only 31 per cent of people with priority-risk health conditions are boosted. Just 22 per cent of pregnant people and just 10 per cent of homeless people under 65 have had a third dose.  - What we know: A recent [Scottish study]( found most pregnant people who experienced severe complications from COVID, including ICU admission and stillbirths, were unvaccinated. - Go deeper: Experts say closing the gap between second and third doses in all high-risk age groups is vital. “There is a lot of work to do,” said one. WHAT ELSE [Here’s what’s reopening]( when Ontario eases COVID-19 restrictions on Jan. 31. Calls are growing for a [return to a 10-day isolation period]( for COVID-19. Antiviral [remdesivir was found to be very effective]( in the COVID fight by a major Canadian study. This Black doctor said a false COVID allegation chased him out of New Brunswick. [Is Facebook also to blame?]( Toronto high school teachers are [refusing to work amid “unsafe conditions.”]( Toronto’s [COVID-19 data is a reason for “cautious optimism,”]( the public health chief said. [Are these two photos of the same person?]( Inside Canada’s controversy over asylum-seekers and “photo matching.” A new North York homeless shelter [filled to capacity in just four days](. ICYMI Canadian Press/Nathan Denette [Is the worst really behind us? In Doug Ford’s latest Omicron gamble, it would be nice to know the odds, writes Bruce Arthur.]( PREVIOUSLY... Michael Stuparyk/The Star JANUARY 21, 1985: Eartha Kitt gave a power-packed performance at the Imperial Room. Toronto Star reviewer Geoff Chapman said audiences couldn’t help loving her. Thanks 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_100891). First Up will be back in your inbox tomorrow. [The Star]( 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]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](