Bill 23 puts affordable housing in Toronto at risk

Plus, the government plans ahead of a potential Monday strike [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. The World Cup kicks off on Sunday, and [Ontario announced this week that licensed bars and restaurants can serve alcohol as early as 7 a.m. during the tournament](. In Qatar, where the tournament is being held, the government just [banned alcohol in stadiums](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Chris Young/The Canadian Press Provincial Politics [Ontario offers free daycare for health- and child-care workers if CUPE strike closes schools on Monday]( Talks are scheduled all weekend between the province and the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ school boards bargaining unit. However, it won’t be clear whether 55,000 custodians, early childhood educators, and educational assistants will walk off the job until 5 p.m. Sunday, reports Kristin Rushowy. If a strike does happen, the provincial government says it will offer child care to those who work in hospitals, long-term care, and retirement homes, among others. [Here’s what else the government has put in place if no agreement is reached and school closes on Monday](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star Housing [Bill 23 will threaten Toronto’s budget and affordable housing goals]( The interim city manager, Tracey Cook, has warned that Doug Ford’s controversial housing bill could harm the city’s ability to build new affordable rentals and homeless shelters, and protect existing ones, reports Victoria Gibson. Cook released a briefing note to Toronto council that the changes included in Bill 23 would impact the city’s ability to deliver on its 10-year housing targets, invest in new shelter services, and carry on with several of its affordable housing development and protection programs. [Here’s how Bill 23 could impact the city financially and potentially lead to higher property taxes for residents](. Instagram/TorontoLife HEALTH [Why this video of Dr. Kieran Moore “undermines” his public health message]( Hours after asking parents to keep their families up-to-date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and “strongly recommending” that all Ontarians remain masked indoors, Ontario’s chief medical officer attended a party where he was videographed maskless. As Rob Ferguson breaks down responses to the video, [here’s why it could impact Dr. Moore’s credibility and threaten his public health message](. Toronto Star Photo Illustration/Cathie Coward/Hamilton Spectator GETTING RICH: PART 3 [Fire engulfs the bedroom. Something blocks the door. A desperate rescue attempt. Then, he names the killer]( In a few days, Rich Taylor’s family is scheduled to fly to Greece. His secret will be exposed when they land: He is at least $235,000 in debt and on the verge of losing his home. All the cash they have amounts to $483.38, yet his wife thinks they have more than $100,000 in the bank. But when a fire engulfs his mother and stepfather's home, Rich’s stepfather, Al, uses his last words to name their killer. “Don’t call Rich,” Al says. “He’s the one that did this and he’ll already know about it.” In the third instalment of a four-part series, Susan Clairmont paints the picture of [how Rich Taylor set his childhood home on fire and burned his mother and stepfather alive for financial gain](. Giordano Ciampini/The Canadian Press HEALTH [1 million bottles of children’s medication are set to hit shelves next week. They might not last long]( Canadian families are struggling to access children's pain and fever medication, and importing it will not fix the problem, reports Kate Allen. Health Canada is saying that the foreign supply would be “distributed equitably” based on where the need is greatest, but it’s unclear how. With nearly two million children under 12 in Ontario alone, one million bottles for the whole country will not be sufficient amid medication shortages and a surge of respiratory illnesses. [Here’s why Canada needs to look at strategies to avoid panic buying](. And if you are cutting up adult Tylenol and pain-relief pills for kids, [read this first](. POV Edward Keenan: [The accumulation of broken things will threaten the strength of our democracy](. Mike Schreiner: [Why is Doug Ford blaming newcomers for his pro-sprawl agenda and Greenbelt assault]( Shree Paradkar: [Why the definition of antisemitism has become such a polarizing issue](. Andrew Phillips: Michael Fraser chose to end his life at age 55. [Here’s why we’re all implicated in his decision to die](. Linda McQuaig: Fuelling the climate crisis, [billionaires are among the most dangerous people on Earth](. Heather Scoffield: [Welcome to Canada, where we hesitate instead of hustle](. READ THIS Miller Mobley In her new book, “The Light We Carry,” Michelle Obama talks about how she approaches obstacles, her hopes and fears, including for democracy, and adapting to change. Read this interview with the Star’s books editor, Deborah Dundas, [where the former first lady shares more about how the book came to be, and overcoming personal and cultural loneliness](. 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_154651), and I will see you back here tomorrow. 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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