How far is the government willing to go to stop monkeypox?

Plus, the Pope's reaction to criticism and bracing for economic turbulence [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Do you have questions about the COVID vaccine for kids under 5? [We’ve got you covered](. Here’s how the Pope is responding to criticism his apology fell short, what advocates say is needed to curb monkeypox and how inflation will keep impacting your finances. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Nathan Denette reconciliation [Pope Francis edged further in apology and the prime minister reminded him of what’s missing]( Beyond being sorry for the participation of “local Catholic institutions” in the residential school system and the “wrong done by so many Christians,” Francis emphasized a commitment to promoting Indigenous culture and “spiritual accompaniment.” Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, voiced the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: that the the Catholic Church apologize “as an institution” for its role in the “spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical and sexual” mistreatment of Indigenous children. Francis promised to respond in a “fitting way.” [Here’s how Governor General Mary Simon, who is Inuit, approached the Pope](. - More: Canada’s bishops say they’re working with the Vatican on a new statement about the Doctrine of Discovery, which is based on 15th-century papal edicts that gave the Church’s blessing to European explorers “discovering” and exploiting lands already inhabited by non-Christians. - More: He overcame the trauma and shame inflicted in residential school. Now he’s accepting the Pope’s apology. [Read his heart-wrenching poem](. - Treaty Six Grand Chief George Arcand Jr.’s take: Pope Francis is ready to “walk together” — [but the bureaucracy behind him is not](. - Go deeper: Despite long-standing government efforts, these Indigenous youth are living their ancestors’ “wildest dreams.” [Here’s how they’re revitalizing language, Two-Spirit and Indigenous representation and being comfortable in their skin](. Canadian Press/Graham Hughes public health [Canada is urging gay and bisexual men to reduce their sexual partners to stem monkeypox — but advocates want help]( As the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends practising safer sex and having fewer sexual partners to curb monkeypox, community health workers and advocates say what’s really needed is government support. Graeme Lamb, a union steward of a bathhouse in Toronto’s Gay Village says gay and bisexual men are already reducing sexual partners — and it’s the lack of paid sick days, testing and access to treatments that are major concerns for community members. [Here’s how the government is responding and what it plans to do next](. - By the numbers: As of Tuesday, there are 745 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada, with the overwhelming majority in Ontario and Quebec. - More: More than 99 per cent of Canadian cases are in men — most of whom reported “intimate sexual contact” with other men — but the disease can spread to anyone, Dr. Theresa Tam said. - Watch for: Noting the recommended isolation period with monkeypox is 21 days and can be longer, NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam is calling on Ontario to implement 10 paid sick days for infectious diseases and another 14 during public health emergencies. R.J. Johnston/The Star cost of living [The worst of inflation may be behind us — but there could be more turbulence ahead, economists say]( Just last week, Statistics Canada reported that inflation rose to 8.1 per cent year-over-year in June — and while that may have been inflation at its worst, it won’t exactly be smooth sailing from here on out. “It’s like a fever that has peaked but you’re still not going to be feeling very good for a while,” says Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC. [Here’s how five experts say inflation will continue to affect your finances](. - The good news: Gas prices are down from their spring peak and home prices were lower in June than in May. - The bad news: You won’t get relief in the grocery store any time soon. - ICYMI: This Star investigation suggests [supermarkets are hiking prices faster than necessary — and profiting from inflation](. - Watch for: The Bank of Canada warned earlier this month that high inflation will require even higher interest rates. The assistant chief economist at RBC Economics Research predicts the central bank will hike interest rates “fairly aggressively” over the next few months, boosting unemployment and weakening the economy. [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 Here’s how a Toronto cop “intentionally misled” the court, [causing a major fentanyl case to collapse](. Enough debate questions about vaccines and federal budgets; [let’s talk World Economic Forum, Leslyn Lewis says.]( How much progress has Ottawa made on passport service? [Here’s why it’s not clear](. What outage? [Rogers’ revenues are up as customer complaints have already “settled off.”]( Doug Ford cut the asking price for his Etobicoke home. [Take a look at the new price tag](. [Don’t be a whiner, don’t bring a watermelon]( and other advice for cottage guests. [Two men have been charged in the death of Ripudaman Singh Malik]( who was acquitted in 1985 Air India bombing. [Due to “health concerns,” Shawn Mendes cancelled the rest of his tour]( — including two shows in Toronto. On the job hunt? [You may want to check your LinkedIn privacy settings](. [Here’s what’s open and closed this Civic Holiday in Toronto](. ICYMI R.J. Johnston/The Star [New home and condo prices are rising in the GTA even as sales plummet. Here’s why it’s raising alarms.]( CLOSE-UP Robert Michael/DPA via AP Photo GERMANY: A German Federal Police helicopter helps battle wildfires in the Saxon Switzerland National Park near Schmilka on Wednesday. [Read how the fire on the German-Czech border is threatening to destroy the tourist region](. 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_136799). I’ll 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. 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