Peel is divorcing — so let's talk money

Plus, a scathing report on Alberta's premiere and remembering the Christie Pits Riots [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s [what’s open and closed in Toronto this Victoria Day long weekend](. Plus, the latest on Peel Region, the Alberta election and the Christie Pits Riot. DON’T MISS Toronto Star municipalities [Peel Region is splitting up – now comes the battle about money]( Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga are headed for divorce, and it’s going to be messy, Noor Javed writes. Now that premier Doug Ford has confirmed the cities will become stand-alone municipalities in 2025, Peel residents say the hasty decision raises concerns around residents being left to pay higher taxes for fewer services. And some are questioning the rush to dissolve a 50-year-old municipality that manages services like garbage collection, public health, police and social services. [Here’s what we know about the breakup and why Brampton and Caledon are concerned](. - Word from Mississauga: “The sun is shining on Mississauga and Hazel is looking down on us and very grateful that we have fulfilled her legacy,” Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said at Queen’s Park of the former longtime mayor Hazel McCallion. - Another angle: “It’s not a surprise that no public consultation was done. It was so unilateral,” said one Mississauga resident. - Wait, what? [Here are answers to five key questions about the process](. Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh alberta politics [Danielle Smith violated the Conflicts of Interest Act and breached a “fundamental pillar” of democracy]( Alberta’s ethics commissioner has found UCP Leader Danielle Smith breached a “fundamental pillar” of democracy when she spoke with an alleged criminal about his case, and violated the Conflicts of Interest Act when she spoke to Alberta’s justice minister and attorney general about it. In doing so, she tried to interfere with the independence of the justice system in her role as premier, the investigation found. [Kieran Leavitt reports on what else is detailed in the scathing report](. - Context: A controversial street pastor faced charges of mischief and breaching a release order over his role at the Coutts, Alta., border blockade set up against public health measures in February 2022. He was found guilty of the charges earlier this month after a judge said he incited protests. Smith had spoken to the attorney general about the case, and to the accused, just weeks before his trial. - Meanwhile: The election debate between Smith and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley saw [jabs thrown over leadership, affordability and health care](. - More: [An Alberta candidate’s comparison of trans kids to feces crossed a line for many]( — including Smith. Lance McMillan/The Star GTA [A shameful chapter of Toronto’s history plays out in a city park ]( Ninety years ago, Christie Pits was the backdrop for a racist mob armed with bricks, bats, lead pipes and a banner with a swastika. While Canada’s largest race riot is taught to Grade 10 students, a live interactive theatrical production — “The Riot at Christie Pits” presented by The Hogtown Collective — offers students in Grades 8 and 10 across the GTA an experiential learning opportunity in the park. Isabel Teotonio reports on [the lessons the show provides and the history that led up to the shameful moment](. - Context: The 1933 riot occurred during the Great Depression, when immigrants were scapegoated for economic hardships and blamed for taking jobs. At that time, antisemitism was socially accepted in Canada (this remained true until the 1960s when new laws were introduced), and Jews were prohibited from owning land, employers refused to hire them and universities limited their enrolment. - Watch for: The production runs until June 16, with performances from Tuesday to Friday, at 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. - By the numbers: [Jewish, LGBTQ and Black communities were the most common victims to hate crimes in 2022]( Toronto police say. [Living Here newsletter relaunch] Need a trusty guide through the housing crunch? Living Here, the Star’s free newsletter, can help. Each week, it’ll bring you the analysis and expert advice you need to navigate renting, buying, owning or just getting by in and around Toronto — plus more of the Star’s essential real estate coverage. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE [A First Nation is suing the provincial and federal governments]( over land it says an 1850 treaty promises. [Toronto’s mayoral hopefuls are sharpening their attacks on “bully” Doug Ford]( as his presence in the race grows. Will Mitzie Hunter’s grand Scarborough subway plans help [put her mayoral bid on the right track?]( Mark Saunders’s legacy and mayoral [campaign on “law and order” are troubling for Toronto](. Tick talk: [Here’s how people in Ontario can protect themselves and their pets from Lyme disease](. [Health Canada is recalling this brand of enoki mushrooms]( over a possible listeria contamination. The Competition Bureau is suing Cineplex for [misleading ticket prices with online fees](. WestJet and its pilots have [reached an 11th-hour deal, avoiding a strike](. Kaytranada collabs with Aminé for a pristine party album, Anohni and the Johsnons returns — [and more in our guide to the week’s best music](. Summer job postings are down. [Here’s where you’re most likely to find work](. POV Lance McMillan/The Star [The truth about Doug Ford’s health care plan? It’s far more expensive than we knew]( CLOSE-UP Handout Photo NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: A fire in Hay River is seen from an air tanker on Sunday. With the wildfire season off to a brutal start, [here’s a look at the blazes hitting communities across Canada — and how people are coping](. 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_182483). Ashley will see you back here tomorrow. 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. 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