Toronto has the power to move the dial on housing

Plus, Jacob Hoggard will likely face years in prison for 2016 sexual assault [Get access now!]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. Tributes poured in yesterday [after news broke that actor Robbie Coltrane had died](. Coltrane, most notably, played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Richard Lautens/Toronto Star Housing [Here’s what the next Toronto mayor and council could do about affordable housing]( Developers are blaming city hall for approval delays that hike up housing prices, while Mayor John Tory said the city will need help from the province to enact laws to curb the misuse of land. But with housing among the top issues in the upcoming civic election, voters are looking for solutions, reports Tess Kalinowski. [From tackling NIMBY opposition to changing zoning, here’s how the city could move the dial on housing](. Rick Madonik/Toronto Star CRIME [Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard faces years in prison]( However the verdict lands on Thursday, Hoggard will likely face years behind bars for the rape of a young woman in November 2016, reports Alyshah Hasham. The Crown is seeking a sentence of six to seven years in prison, while the defence is arguing Hoggard should get three to four years. [Here’s a breakdown of the arguments from both sides of the courtroom](. R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star FOOD [Here’s how independent grocers are beating big supermarkets on produce prices]( Despite the crisis facing the food industry, independent grocers in Toronto are keeping their shelves fully stocked and prices low. So, how are they doing it? Ghada Alsharif reports grocers like Vince’s Market make daily trips to the city’s largest farmers market, repurpose unwanted produce from the big chain supermarkets, and keep overhead costs low. [Here’s why their strategy works and how much you can save shopping at an independent grocery store](. [This Week in Politics] Want exclusive analysis of the Toronto election? Get that and more political news from the Star’s This Week in Politics newsletter. [Sign up for free here](. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press Federal Politics [Residents say police abandoned them as the ‘Freedom Convoy’ held the city hostage]( Friday’s testimony marked the second day of the public inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to deal with the convoy protests. One city councillor said residents felt terrified, and that limited police response and a divided city council played a role in exacerbating the chaos. Read Alex Ballingall and Tonda MacCharles’ report [about how internal dysfunction in the nation’s capital made a bad situation worse](. Rick Madonik/Toronto Star GTA [Scarborough's old malls might be an unwanted solution to the housing crisis]( Without malls, will Scarborough still be Scarborough? Retail landmarks, like Eglinton Square and Golden Mile Plaza, have been marked for redevelopment, but residents say their opinions about the change have gone unconsidered. Katie Daubs speaks to locals about their kinship to local malls [and the importance of preserving “what Scarborough really is” amidst proposed changes](. POV Martin Regg Cohn: [MPPs are underpaid. Doug Ford should change that](. Andrew Phillips: With MAID, we’re heading toward a system that kills people [because they’re desperate, disposable, or too costly to keep alive](. Susan Delacourt: We need the Emergencies Act inquiry to [shine a light on what has gone so terribly wrong in Canada](. Thomas Walkom: The West is not on track to win in Ukraine. [Is keeping the war going the best we can do]( Rashid Husain Syed: [Climate change is upon us, and Pakistan cannot be left alone](. Richard Powers: [Hockey Canada is a case study on the failure of governance](. Visit THIS Murtz Jaffer/For the Toronto Star Hear ye, hear ye, Netflix has brought “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience” to Toronto. The travelling exhibition invites guests to dress in Victorian wear, go to a not-so-secret location, and immerse themselves in London circa 1813 for about 90 minutes. If you love the series, [Murtz Jaffer has put together a handy guide of everything you need to know about the IRL Bridgerton experience]( Thanks for reading. You can reach 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_149390), and I will see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited access to all articles Only $0.50/week for a limited time [Subscribe Now!]( 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]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](