Who will fix Toronto’s gridlock?

Plus, what does Danielle Smith’s new cabinet tell us about her plans for Alberta? [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. Toronto police say they are investigating [reports of a teenager climbing on top of a moving westbound GO train Saturday night](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Steve Russell/Toronto Star file photo RACE TO city hall [Toronto election reality check: How the mayoral hopefuls would unclog city streets]( Toronto is the third most congested city in North America, according to a recent report from transportation analytics firm Inrix. The average time a Toronto driver spent stuck in traffic in 2022 was a nearly 60 per cent leap from the year before. So far, each of the leading mayoral contenders is promising to ease gridlock in Toronto, reports Ben Mussett. To evaluate how substantive their plans are, we asked three transportation experts to assess their platforms. [Here’s what they had to say](. Sanjay Gupta Sagar Immigration [“I respect myself too much to stay in Canada”: Why so many new immigrants are leaving]( While Canada is in the process of welcoming a historic number of permanent residents, many highly educated and motivated immigrants are also leaving the country in search of greener pastures. According to Statistics Canada, a conservative estimate of 15 to 20 per cent of immigrants leave within 10 years. Immigrants cite finding jobs in their field without “Canadian experience” and the rising cost of living as a few reasons why they are giving up on the Canadian dream. Nicholas Keung breaks down [what this means for Canada’s ambitious immigration plans and what the country can do to retain immigrants](. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press Alberta [What Danielle Smith’s new cabinet tells us about her plans for Alberta]( What’s large, white, male and lives in rural Alberta? Danielle Smith’s new provincial cabinet, with just five women among 20 men. Of the 25 ministers, 16 come from outside the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary, including Smith herself. Instead of representing Alberta as a whole, it accurately reflects the Alberta that supported Smith and the UCP, writes Graham Thomson. [Here’s what Premier Smith’s new cabinet could mean for climate change in energy-reliant Alberta](. Digital desk opinion [For Toronto’s next mayor, the person they are may be more important than the plans they’ve made]( Mike Tyson famously said: everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. This is why Edward Keenan argues that when we are evaluating our own votes for mayor, we need to consider a candidate’s plans, and how we might expect them to react when they are “punched in the face” with the messy reality of governing. [Here’s why the personal qualities they bring to city hall are equally important as the plans they pack in their briefcases](. Paul Conroy/The Canadian Press world [Their village was destroyed by Russians. Yet these Ukrainians live in its ruins — awaiting Moscow’s "liberation"]( For over a year, a few thousand people have been waiting for an end to the war in Sivers’k, about 10 kilometres from the front line near Bakhmut, where Russian forces are close to victory. Ukrainian soldiers call them “waiters,” suspecting that they are waiting for Russian soldiers to arrive and end the war. They may hope, being Russian speakers, they will be spared the brutality now synonymous with the Russian invasion, writes Katharine Lake Berz. [Here’s why Sivers’k “waiters” feel more affinity to Russia than to Ukraine, even as Putin’s bombardment endangers their lives](. [Next Up] There’s a new way to end your day with the Star. Our new nightly newsletter, Next Up, is your can’t-miss way to keep up with all of the latest developments everywhere from city hall to the Greenbelt. Every evening, it’ll give you the newest updates on the day’s top stories — plus what to expect tomorrow. [Sign up for free here](. UP CLOSE Nick Lachance photos/For the Toronto Star Mezzetta Restaurant reflects a true melting pot of cultures: the cuisine is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, inspired by Spanish fare, created by an Iranian who was taught by an Israeli in a venue that previously served Greek food. In an interview with David Silverberg, [owner Safa Nematy shares why the restaurant’s wide array of tapas have kept diners coming back for more than 30 years](. DRINK THIS Mckenna Deighton Whether you’re grilling in the backyard, people-watching on a patio or soaking up the sunshine on the balcony, there’s no better way to cool off and chill out than with a tasty mixed drink. Evelyn Chick, owner of Toronto bar Simpl Things and author of the upcoming book “For the Love of Cocktails,” shares her [six easy-to-make seasonal cocktails to enjoy this summer]( with Jessica Huras. 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_186161), and Manuela will see you back here Monday. BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR Get unlimited access to the Star: $3.33/month for 12 months [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. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](