A plan to avoid repeating LTC "horrors"

Plus, swapping Shakespeare for Indigenous authors and the PM's health-care offer to the provinces [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on national long-term care standards, Toronto schools possibly swapping Shakespeare for Indigenous authors and Trudeau’s health-care offer to provinces. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov the third act [New long-term-care standards have gotten a cool reception from the Ford government]( Long-term care experts have written new national standards that emphasize safe building design and the quality of life of residents and staff. But the standards, which the federal government says it won’t be mandating across Canada, are voluntary. For its part, the Ontario government appears to have no plans to mandate them, either, Moira Welsh reports. [Here’s why advocates say the guidelines are needed to “ensure we never again experience the horrors in long-term care” that we did during the pandemic](. - Word from Ontario’s Long-Term Care Minister: “I have no interest in watering down Ontario’s very high standards, and I am hopeful that the federal standards will meet the high standards of Ontario,” Paul Calandra said. - Word from the Opposition: “This is insulting,” said France Gélinas, the Ontario NDP health critic. “What we have in Ontario doesn’t compare. We are decades behind in Ontario. There is no mandatory yearly assessment of our long-term-care homes. Who are we kidding here?” Richard Lautens/The Star EDUCATION [To be, or not to be? TDSB will vote on swapping out Shakespeare for Indigenous authors for Grade 11]( Grade 11 students at Toronto public schools could soon trade in their compulsory English course on literary classics, such as Shakespeare and Dickens, for one that centres the works of Indigenous authors like Richard Wagamese or Tanya Talaga. It’ll come down to a vote at a board meeting tonight. So far, one trustee has praised what would be a shift away from Eurocentric content, while another raised concerns that classics and traditional English education could be pushed to the sidelines, Isabel Teotonio reports. [Here’s what we know about the course — and how it could benefit students and the school board](. - Go deeper: “When we educate students on the lived realities and experiences of Indigenous Peoples is when we as a society can become more aware of the injustices that have taken place, and continue to take place, and that leads towards reconciliation and truth,” said Isaiah Shafqat, the Indigenous student trustee who has pushed the proposal. - Watch for: If passed, the new mandatory course would be gradually implemented across high schools so that teachers have time to undergo training. - Meanwhile: A group of Alberta lawyers has launched a [petition against a mandatory course for those in the profession on Indigenous history](. Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick federal politics [What we know about Justin Trudeau’s secret health-care offer to provinces]( The multibillion-dollar offer won’t be public until the prime minister meets with premiers and territorial leaders in Ottawa next week. But behind the scenes, officials on both levels of government are working to ensure the meeting ends with a solid overall number for the premiers as well as the cooperation needed to sign individual deals, Tonda MacCharles reports. The federal government also wants to be able to review the spending, the results achieved and the gaps that arise, the Star has learned. [Here’s what we know about the mechanisms of other federal-provincial deals and what lies ahead](. - By the numbers: For the fiscal year 2022-23 that ends in March, Ottawa is spending $45.2 billion on the Canada Health Transfer. That number is expected to rise in 2023-24 to $49.3 billion. - Meanwhile: Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are sliding in popularity, a new poll shows. [“These numbers should be a warning.”]( WHAT ELSE Under new provincial rules, [unethical homebuilders will face major fines](. [A fourth teen girl was released on bail]( in the fatal “swarming” of a homeless Toronto man. Photo radar said a car was going more than 70 km/h over the limit. [Here’s how the owner fought the charge — and won](. The Toronto bureaucrat who oversaw homeless encampment clearings and ride-hailing rules is [saying goodbye to city hall](. A man got . [A court of appeal called it “manifestly unfit.”]( Ontario jails saw 192 deaths in eight years, a new report says. [Here’s what it says needs to change](. Could CaféTO fees mean the end of an era? [“Sticker shock” has the city looking to soften the blow on restaurants](. The Weeknd is topping Juno nominations with six nods — [and what else you need to know about the awards](. For ‘Q’ host Tom Power, [the reward is in “just chatting” with the celebrities he interviews](. Finch West has some of the worst traffic jams in Toronto — [and the locals are fed up](. The Jeopardy category “Worst Case Ontario” stumped U.S. contestants. [How would you do?]( A quick fish dish, simple vegetarian meals and [more recipes to cook this week](. POV Jae C. Hong/Associated Press [A mass shooters’ Asian heritage grabbed the spotlight — but these crimes are entirely American. Here’s why.]( CLOSE-UP Canadian Press/Justin Tang OTTAWA: Terrie Meehan, a former activist who is currently on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), will sometimes go for stretches of time eating just one meal per day in order to make her food supply last. [Take a closer look at how she gets by]( — and why advocates say the new change to ODSP isn’t as beneficial as it seems. 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_164678). I’ll 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. 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