40 million Canadians and counting

Plus, here’s why Jagmeet Singh is arguing that Canada’s major grocers have been using inflation as a cover [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning, and Happy Canada Day. [The provincial government has announced that most Ontario landlords will be able to increase rent by up to 2.5 per cent next year](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Eduardo Lima/Toronto Star file photo CANADA AT 40 MILLION [Canada is growing. Are we setting the country and its newest citizens up for success?]( Canada has long been an aspirational destination for newcomers but that national narrative appears to be under new strains, writes Nicholas Keung. With 40 million Canadians and counting, immigration accounts for almost 100 per cent of the country’s labour-force growth and is projected to account for our entire population growth by 2032. [Here’s how we can give new Canadians the best chance of achieving the Canadian dream](. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press file photo Canada at 40 million [How we can right-size Canada’s health system as the population grows]( Durham Region’s population is expected to double from about 697,000 in 2021 to 1.2 million by 2041. The region, which includes Oshawa, Ajax and Pickering, is already grappling with a family doctor shortage, reports Megan Ogilvie. With Canada’s population recently hitting 40 million and the country set to welcome 500,000 people a year by 2025, [here’s why health policy experts say that bolstering our fragile system has never been more critical](. Graeme Roy/The Canadian Press Inflation [NDP calls for grocers to be subject to windfall tax]( The Competition Bureau recently found that the country’s big three grocery chains — Loblaw, Empire (Sobeys) and Metro — had increased their profits by 50 per cent during a period when inflation rose to a 40-year high. Now, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for a windfall tax on the grocery sector, reports Marco Chown Oved. While a windfall tax won’t allow the government to control grocery prices, [here’s how it could recoup excess profits and redistribute the money back to needy families](. Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images media [Big changes could be coming to the way Google and Meta let you access news on their platforms]( Following Google’s announcement it was joining Meta in preparing to bar Canadians from viewing news content produced in Canada on its platforms, many are wondering what the ban will look like, reports Raisa Patel. [Here’s what we know about the upcoming changes and what we’re still waiting to find out](. Lance McMillan/Toronto Star gta [While other cities cancel fireworks, Toronto is still figuring out how to cope with wildfire smoke]( Several cities, including Montreal, the Muskoka region and Niagara Falls, have cancelled or limited fireworks displays to reduce the impact on already poor air quality or due to wildfire risks. However, Toronto will continue with Canada Day fireworks this weekend, reports Alyshah Hasham. While a smoky summer is imminent, the city says it is still working on guidelines to protect the public from wildfire smoke. [Here’s why experts say it’s time for the provincial and federal governments to step in](. POV David Olive: [Most economists are predicting a Canadian recession within a year]( — despite evidence to the contrary. Armine Yalnizyan: [Here’s how rate hikes make the powerful more powerful](. Seher Shafiq: [What Olivia Chow’s win means for women of colour](. Martin Regg Cohn: It’s nonsense to argue Olivia Chow’s win is invalid. [But there’s a better way to count votes](. Alexander Hackett: [July 1 marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and a century of shame for Canada](. Linda McQuaig: [Western leaders don’t want us to worry about nuclear war, but we should](. DRINk THIS R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star For decades, the Italian soda Brio has been a staple in the city’s pizzerias, sandwich shops and restaurants. But what most Torontonians don’t know is that the Italian cola is a local creation — made just south of Jane and Finch on Arrow Road. [Karon Liu explores the origins of the iconic drink and how it became a staple Italian food pairing in Toronto](. 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_189378), and I will see you back here tomorrow. 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