Is he a war criminal or an “all-around good Canadian”?

Plus, Ontario's sinking health-care system and a police intelligence gathering bonanza [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Ontario’s health care “collapse,” the scenes in Toronto as Hells Angels descended on the city and a man accused of war crimes set to be deported — after 31 years in Canada. DON’T MISS Richard Lautens/The Star health care [Health-care leaders are calling for help as Ontario ERs are overwhelmed]( The health-care system has already “collapsed;” now it’s “the Titanic and we are sinking, fast,” according to the president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association. Nursing shortages, surgical backlogs and patient wait times are being compounded by mounting staff illness and COVID hospitalizations. Some hospitals have been forced to run short-staffed or temporarily close departments, including emergency rooms. With no sign of relief on the horizon, [here’s how things are looking for Ontario hospitals](. - More: “With this wave, (staff illness is) one of the things that scares me the most,” said the chief of staff at a Burlington hospital. “Because there is no slack. There is no give in the system to accommodate those absences.” - By the numbers: Hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 rose 20 per cent from the week of July 3-9 to the week of July 10-16. - Go deeper: Ontario is extending its paid COVID-19 sick leave program — [but catch it more than once and you’re out of luck](. Richard Lautens/The Star policing bikers [How police turned a Hells Angels procession into an intelligence gathering event]( In honour of a former Toronto Hells Angels member who died at 74, hundreds of outlaw bikers gathered in Toronto’s east end Thursday morning, filling the air with exhaust and tobacco. As they ripped up and down the street, police with long camera lenses lined the roadway. “It’s the greatest intelligence gathering event they’ll (police) get all year,” a source with knowledge of the club’s inner workings said. [Take a look for yourself at the rare public gathering](. - More: “Hells Angels are a little particular about who rides with them, and there’s a pecking order,” the source said. “You’ll learn who’s who; what ranks people are.” - Word from police: “Our role today was public safety,” said the head of the Ontario Provincial Police Biker Enforcement Unit, adding that intelligence was secondary. - ICYMI: [Here’s what we can glean about generational change within the outlaw gang](. Peter Power for The Star immigration [They found out their dad was accused of war crimes. After 31 years in Canada, he’s facing deportation.]( For years, the four children of Jaime Carrasco Varela accompanied their father and mother to lawyers’ appointments, hearings, and meetings with border and immigration officials. At the time, they only knew their father was accused of something “horrible” while serving in the Nicaraguan military for a left-wing regime in conflicts with American-backed guerrillas. But even after finding out the details of what he stands accused of, Carrasco’s family wants “people to realize that he’s not what they say he is.” [Here’s why authorities are getting ready to deport Carrasco — and why those around him insist he’s an “all-around good Canadian.”]( - Context: Carrasco claimed he fled Nicaragua because he disagreed with the regime’s treatment of dissidents, adding his life was at risk for disobeying orders. But based on his claim, the refugee board deemed him inadmissible, arguing that he committed crimes. - Watch for: The deportation has been deferred until a decision is made on whether a return to Nicaragua is safe. International human rights watchdogs have criticized the severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association in the country as well as the crackdown on opposition. - On the home front: In a “historic” move, [B.C. will stop holding immigration detainees in provincial jails](. [Food Crawl launch] Eat your way through the best of the GTA. From strip mall standouts to downtown gems, nobody knows Toronto like the Star’s food team, and our new newsletter Food Crawl is your guide to where to go, what to order and why you’ve got to try it. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE Toronto council has decided not to oppose Ford’s strong-mayor plan. [Here’s what councillors are asking for instead](. How much are housing prices up and who’s paying most? [Here are five takeaways from the Canadian Housing Survey](. Pierre Poilievre wants jets at Toronto’s island airport. [Here’s why some say the idea won’t fly](. [Here are four things we still don’t know about the Jerry Dias investigation]( in the wake of the explosive leaked report. [This Rogers exec has been ousted]( in the aftermath of the company’s system failure. “There’s a whole lot of smoke here.” [But did Ottawa meddle with an RCMP murder probe?]( [A Mississauga man stabbed his friend in the back and left him to die]( a prosecutor said at a murder trial. Donald Trump “chose not to act.” [Here’s a recap of the ongoing probe into the Capitol insurrection](. [Why one of the TTC’s loneliest subway stops is a food destination](. No plans for the weekend? [Here are some fun options in Toronto](. ICYMI Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito [Cruise ships are using Canada “like a toilet boil” for toxic waste. Here’s why they get away with it.]( CLOSE-UP Suresh Doss/The Star SCARBOROUGH: A custom-built pita machine at this market, well-known for being one of the best sources of Middle Eastern foodstuffs, churns out more than 6,000 pitas on a busy day — [and customers can’t get enough of it](. Thank you for reading — and happy Leo season. [Here’s what your horoscope says it means for you](. 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_135812). Ashley will see you back here 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](