Who is responsible for housing asylum seekers?

Plus, the “Neptune Four” case and controversial King's Counsel designations [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Toronto’s shelter crunch, the “Neptune Four” case and Ontario’s controversial designation for lawyers. DON’T MISS Richard Lautens/The Star housing [Asylum seekers are sleeping on the street amid a tug of war between the city and the feds]( Though they expected to find safety in Canada, several newcomers have been forced to sleep on the street as Toronto and Ottawa point to each other to take on the responsibility of housing refugees, Victoria Gibson reports. As per a new policy that took effect June 1, the city is redirecting asylum seekers looking for emergency beds to the federal government — which Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie framed as a difficult decision due to inadequate funding and limited shelter capacity. [Here’s how the refugees are faring](. - More: Executive director of the FCJ Refugee Centre Loly Rico said the situation is the worst she has seen in three decades. She called for higher governments to help, arguing the city cannot take on the responsibility alone. - Go deeper: “I’ve been calling central intake for the past two weeks, but I’m getting the same information,” a 22-year-old from Kenya said. “We’re told the shelters are full, we’re given another number and when you call that number, they give the same answer, the same story, day in and day out. We’re just waiting.” Toronto Community Housing/The Star POLICING [A Toronto cop is guilty of misconduct for pointing a gun at Black teens in the “Neptune Four” case]( The Ontario Civilian Police Commission has found Const. Adam Lourenco guilty of misconduct for pointing his gun at a group of teenagers during the high profile 2011 “Neptune Four” encounter — overturning a previous decision to clear him of wrongdoing in the act. Toronto police had stopped, questioned and wrongfully arrested four 15- and 16-year-old boys who were walking from their Neptune Drive highrise to an after-school mentoring session. Lourenco punched one teen and pointed his gun at the boys who rushed to help him, Wendy Gillis reports. [Here’s why the victim’s lawyer says the precedent-setting decision could mean racial bias is weighed more heavily at police misconduct hearings](. - Context: In 2021, Lourenco and his partner Const. Sharnil Pais were found guilty of unlawful arrest, with Lourenco’s punch deemed excessive force. He was docked 12 days’ pay. - More: The two officers had been with the now-disbanded Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy unit, which was notorious for aggressive carding. Canadian Press/Chris Young Queen's Park [Caroline Mulroney was called to Ontario bar three days before getting the “King’s Counsel” title]( Doug Ford’s government announced on Friday that it would be bringing back the “King’s Counsel,” a title for lawyers with “a commitment to the pursuit of legal excellence in service to the Crown, the public and their communities,” Jacques Gallant reports. So how did Ford’s transportation minister get one — and only three days after being called to the bar? [Here’s why one critic says it’s “not so much about qualifications or work ethic,” but “about her position of power.”]( - Context: The Ontario government stopped giving out the title (previously Queen’s Counsel) under former Liberal premier David Peterson in the 1980s. Lawyers and the opposition have denounced the title as a patronage honour, and [Peterson told the Star the designation had become “corrupted.”]( - More: The government has now awarded the designation to all lawyers in the cabinet and to most Tory MPPs who are lawyers. Attorney General Doug Downey’s current and former chiefs of staff, Ford’s longtime lawyer and a former PC party president have also received K.C. designations. WHAT ELSE The online safety bill will crack down on discrimination, racism and violent images. [Here’s why it’s not tackling disinformation](. Last year’s labour shortage narrowed the racial pay gap — [but things are worse for Black workers.]( The Waterloo campus stabbing was shocking. [A university professor explains why the anemic response was not](. Millions of Canadians will receive a one-time “grocery rebate.” [Here’s who is eligible and how to receive payment](. Which provinces meet Canada’s new long-term-care homes standards? [This is what a national review found](. Who’s responsible for maintaining Yonge Street’s derelict tree planters? [Don’t ask the city](. A spike in suspected opioid overdoses prompted a Toronto Public Health drug alert. [Here’s what we know about seven deaths in four days last week](. The office vacancy rate in Toronto has hit its highest level in nearly three decades. [Here’s why it “will get worse before it gets better.”]( Superfresh has closed its doors for good. [This is what the owner of the trendy food hall had to say about what’s next](. The “stay-at-home girlfriend” trend could be dangerous to your financial health — [here’s how to protect yourself](. Despite the spider invasion, the mosquito war and the leaky tent, [camping bonded my future wife and me, Vinay Menon writes](. Presto cardholders can also get [discounts for these popular events and attractions.]( GET THIS Cameron Tulk/The Star [How much money could you save by switching to zero-carbon technologies? Use our interactive tool to check for your province.]( CLOSE-UP Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese NOVA SCOTIA: Tourists explore the lighthouse in Peggy’s Cove on Tuesday. The rural community is famed for its picturesque and quintessential East Coast profile. 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_190004). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. TORONTO STAR SUMMER SALE Get unlimited access for: $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. 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