Ontario has a plan to attract more students to the trades. Will it work?

Plus, here’s why Toronto will see several hundred fewer outdoor patios this year. [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. Your inbox isn’t playing tricks on you, there was no new issue of First Up on Friday. If you’re in search of what to do in the city this Easter long weekend, [there’s a lot to choose from](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Univeersity of Waterloo handout EDUCATION [What University of Waterloo’s engineering admission tool reveals about high school grades]( To identify strong candidates, the University of Waterloo's engineering program uses a calculation of historical student performance to figure out if the grades at one high school may be more reflective of success in Waterloo engineering than grades at another, reports Janet Hurley. While the university considers it an internal tool, many say it’s controversial for a number of reasons. Here’s how Waterloo uses the adjustment factor to [sort through applications and why one expert says it helps address the “big disconnect” in student achievement levels and their attainment levels](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star Provincial politics [Will Ontario’s plan to attract high school students to the trades put their education at risk?]( To fill 72,000 skilled trades positions over the next five years, Ontario has launched a variety of initiatives to boost the number of apprentices. But the planned changes in secondary school — a mandatory tech credit as well as easy pathways from classes to a trades career — have raised questions from educators, reports Kristin Rushowy. Some worry students will not have a good enough foundation in reading, writing, and arithmetic, while others say there will be challenges finding space and teachers to facilitate more learning about skilled trades. [Here are some of the questions, comments, and concerns educators are bringing to provincial consultations on the planned changes](. Allan Lissner/FreeGrassy.net Climate [Ontario declares 10-year logging ban in Grassy Narrows]( For over two decades, the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation have blockaded the logging roads near their homes to protect their land. They marched in front of Queen’s Park and even sued the province of Ontario when it opened their traditional lands to clear-cutting. And now, it seems, they’ve won. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said it has abandoned plans to open the forest to commercial logging for the next 10 years, with an option to log in the future when the current plan expires in 2034. [Marco Chown Oved reports on why advocates say the ban is a “great idea and an interim step” that still doesn’t address the long-term fate of the land](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star GTA [Toronto will see several hundred fewer outdoor patios this year as city boosts fees and regulations]( CaféTO, Toronto’s popular outdoor dining program, will return next month, but fewer establishments will take part as new city fees and regulations kick in. This year, the program received 501 applications for permits compared to last year’s 837. While bar and restaurant owners are “grateful” for the program that saved many businesses during COVID, permit fees and construction costs to install accessible platforms will cost thousands of dollars. [Ben Spurr reports on CaféTO recent changes, and why one advocate is urging the city to consult with business owners before it increases fees next year](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star Housing [This family’s search for an affordable condo paid off. Here’s how the condo market is changing for the better.]( After 18 months of searching and 30 failed offers, Mohmedzubaid Shaikh and Naurin Malek finally landed their $750,000 condominium townhome in Oshawa. Could 2023 be the year of the condo for first-time homeowners? Real estate experts say yes as they credit high immigration, a strong labour market, and rising incomes with an increase in interested buyers. Carola Vyhnak reports on why [many are now calling condos the affordable ownership option, and where you can find the best deals in the  GTA. (Hint: not in the downtown core]( POV Bob Hepburn: Unlike the Conservatives and NDP, [it seems the Ontario Liberals just can’t get their act together](. Donovan Vincent: [This gut-punch photo of a homeless man sparked an internal debate at The Star about its usage](. Edward Keenan: Here’s what Toronto can learn from Chicago: [a sane way to elect mayors](. Rick Salutin: [A funny thing happened on the way to sneering at Trump’s arraignment: Nostalgia]( Jennifer Cole: [Here’s why we need to bridge the climate change generation gap](. Leilani Farha and Julieta Perucca: [The federal budget fails to address one of the greatest challenges of our time: housing](. Know THIS Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images Have you heard about Ozempic? The viral diabetic drug and its active ingredient, semaglutide, have recently soared in popularity over their weight loss properties. That said, the drug’s effects are reportedly far from permanent. Kevin Jiang explains [everything you need to know about the drug, and why doctors are warning about the “Ozempic rebound]( 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_175482), and I will see you back here tomorrow. 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