Your morning commute is about to get worse

Plus, what is the root of the rift between Canada’s most prominent Conservative leaders? [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning, and congratulations to the Toronto Maple Leafs. [For the first time since 2004, the team advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Lance McMillan/Toronto Star TRANSPORTATION [Toronto braces for a decade of traffic turmoil as Ontario Line work shuts city streets]( Starting May 1, Queen Street between Bay and Victoria Streets will be shut for four and a half years in one of the biggest city disruptions as work begins on the Ontario Line subway, reports Lex Harvey. A city report from 2021 found that the development of the Ontario Line’s six new downtown subway stations, combined with other projects, could add an extra 30 minutes to a drive across downtown. [Here’s everything you need to know about the Queen Street closure and how construction will impact residents](. Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press Race for city hall [Here’s how Toronto’s mayoral candidates will tackle their most important job]( As Ontario premier, Doug Ford has shaped Toronto far more from Queen’s Park than when he was city councillor, and there’s no escaping the fact he’s playing an offstage but pivotal role in the June 26 mayoral byelection. From the Ontario Place redevelopment to Metrolinx’s performance, how Toronto’s next mayor interacts with the premier will have an outsized impact on the city and its residents. [Here’s how major candidates say they plan to handle the Ford Factor](. Toronto Star Provincial politics [Insiders see a rift between Canada’s most prominent Conservative leaders]( Recent announcements of a $13.2-billion investment in a Volkswagen plant have highlighted a deepening fissure between Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford. The premier sees Poilievre as uncompromising on issues ranging from the pandemic response to economic development, while some federal Conservatives view Ford as an opportunist who doesn’t care about their foundational ideological principles. [Stephanie Levitz and Robert Benzie explore the root of the Ford-Poilievre schism and how Trudeau is exploiting the divide](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Metroland file photo RACE FOR CITY HALL [Mayoral candidates clash on strong-mayor powers]( Depending on who’s elected mayor two months from now, the future of Toronto’s government sees two distinct, wildly opposed paths. If elected, Progressive-leaning challengers are vowing not to use the strong mayor powers, which include the ability to override majority votes in council, while more Conservative candidates say they won’t hesitate to deploy them. [Ben Spurr breaks down how candidates plan to exercise their mayoral authority, and what that will mean for how the city is governed and its politics](. Jane Barlow/Getty Images file photo WORLD [King Charles III will have an environmental agenda. How far can he push it?]( On the eve of his May 6 coronation, King Charles finds himself at the leading edge of the global movement to tackle climate change. But what will his long-held sentiments on environmental issues add up to? Under the rules of the constitutional monarchy, the sovereign acts not on his own will or whim but on the advice of the government elected by the people. [Allan Woods recalls the new monarch’s long history advocating for environmental protections, and illustrates his plans to drive change more than his late mother ever did](. UP CLOSE Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star When the Beguiling opened 35 years ago, it supplied Torontonians with books and comics that were difficult to find then. Today, it may be one of the city’s best comics stores that also functions as an important academic resource. [In this profile, Celeste Percy-Beauregard tells readers why the Beguiling’s popularity is about more than just superheroes](. TRY THIS Rick Madonik/Toronto Star Today is Khalsa Day, and the annual parade marking the Sikh New Year will return to CNE after a pandemic hiatus — so will Hardev Singh Samra. He's been serving trucks full of rice, subji and dal to attendees for the past 24 years. [Roveena Jassal breaks down everything you need to know about Khalsa Day, its importance and the man behind the meals](. 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_179319), and Manuela will see you back here Monday. Get unlimited access to the Star Sale: Only $2/month for a limited time [Get This Offer]( 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](