What happens if your home was built on radioactive land?

Plus, massive job cuts at Bell and hopes for amalgamation in York Region [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the homes sitting on radioactive waste, widespread job cuts at Bell and Markham’s hopes for amalgamation. DON’T MISS Supplied Photo/Tania Pereira Photo Illustration star exclusive [They thought they’d found an affordable place to live. They were never told about the radioactive mining waste]( Residents of a cluster of homes in Elliot Lake are being exposed to levels of gamma radiation and concentrations of radon gas far beyond what’s considered safe, according to thousands of documents shared exclusively with the Investigative Journalism Bureau and the Toronto Star. Radioactive tailings from northern Ontario mines that produced uranium for atomic bombs were allegedly used as infill when the subdivision was established decades ago, Marco Chown Oved and Declan Keogh report. With the mine shut down and the dangers long forgotten, [here’s why residents are being left to foot the bill for a solution and worrying for their health](. - The response: Federal agencies tasked with overseeing radioactive materials are staying far from the cleanup. The problem “is the responsibility of the homeowners,” National Resources Canada said in a recent response to the Canadian Environmental Law Association and Blaise Law. - Watch for: Fighting to fix what they say is a historic environmental injustice, four women are calling on the government to take responsibility for all the mining waste in Elliot Lake. They want it to conduct a study to determine the full extent of contamination and to pay for the removal of any radioactive materials. Richard Lautens/The Star media [Bell is cutting 1,300 jobs, including prominent CTV journalists]( As part of a cost-reducing measure aimed at “greater collaboration and efficiency,” Bell is cutting 1,300 jobs, closing or selling nine radio stations and shuttering most of its remaining international bureaus. The network is “moving to a single newsroom approach across brands,” according to a memo to staff. But even while the news industry as a whole is in decline, the cuts are raising eyebrows, Alex Boyd writes. Bell Media has been steadily slashing positions for years. [Here’s what the company says is behind the cuts — and Bell’s history with workers](. - The aftermath: Rosa Hwang, the executive producer of the national news, is out, along with CTV National News Ottawa bureau chief Joyce Napier, chief international correspondent Paul Workman, senior political correspondent Glen McGregor, London news bureau correspondent Daniele Hamamdjian and Los Angeles bureau chief Tom Walters. - More: Among the Toronto casualties is the [cancellation of “Leafs Lunch” on TSN 1050](. - By the numbers: [Here’s how much Bell CEO Mirko Bibic made last year]( and how it compares to the other heads of Canada’s major telecoms. Steve Somerville/The Star municipalities [Markham’s mayor thinks York Region municipalities should amalgamate ]( It’s the exact opposite of what’s happening in Peel Region. In a statement Wednesday, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said he wants to see Ontario amalgamate all nine of York’s municipalities. He didn’t, however, ask his neighbours if they were interested — and many mayors say the feelings aren’t mutual, Noor Javed reports. [Would the change minimize the voice of the people or “make local governments and programs stronger”?]( - Word from the Newmarket mayor: “I frankly disagree with the suggested direction of Mayor Scarpitti,” John Taylor said. “This is coming out of nowhere and trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.” - By the numbers: Scarpitti said in his statement that it makes little sense that York Region, with 1.2 million people, has 77 municipal representatives, while Toronto has 26 for three million people. Peel Region, which is being split apart, has 1.45 million people. WHAT ELSE [Here’s how Olivia Chow says she would deal with Doug Ford]( — and bring accountability back to the mayor’s office. [This is what the top mayoral candidates say they would do about crime and public safety]( — and what the experts say. Advance voting for Toronto mayor is up 12 per cent. [Here’s what that could mean for the total turnout](. There’s one sure-fire way to fix Toronto’s traffic woes. [Here’s why no mayoral candidate will suggest it](. [Bonnie Crombie has launched her Liberal leadership bid]( — and she’s pulling no punches for Doug Ford. [Canada will suspend work with a Beijing-based bank]( amid allegations that it’s controlled by the Chinese government. Ottawa is pausing deportations for the Indian students caught in a fake admission-letter scandal. [This is how it plans to move forward](. Controversy over Paul Bernardo’s prison transfer is mounting — [and calls are getting louder for the public safety minister’s resignation](. We’re not “all to blame” for climate change. [Here’s how the Harper and Trudeau governments have given Big Oil a disastrous say in policy](. A suspended public servant has explained why she hid her relationship with the [Toronto cop accused of stealing a dead man’s estate](. A driving instructor who was charged with stunt driving in Brampton [told police he was late for work](. Hold on, homeowners: [Canada’s big banks are expecting another rate hike in July](. 😭 POV Richard Drew/AP File Photo [AI is a useful tool and it’s here to stay. Now, Canada needs to step in and regulate it.]( CLOSE-UP Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photos GREECE: Survivors of a migrant boat shipwreck, one of the worst of its kind this year, sleep in a warehouse in Kalamata on Wednesday. At least 79 people died and many more are missing, authorities said. [Here’s what you need to know](. 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_186774). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 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