It's official — Toronto has a new mayor

Plus, rate hikes squeezing mortgage holders and an RCMP probe into sex assaults [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Toronto’s new mayor, crushing mortgage payments and a sexual assault probe at a youth detention centre. DON’T MISS Steve Russell/he Star toronto city hall [Mayor Olivia Chow wants to “move the needle of progress” for Toronto]( After arriving at city hall on bicycle, accompanied by dozens of cyclists, Olivia Chow was sworn in as mayor of Toronto on Wednesday. In her speech, she said Torontonians should “give ourselves permission to believe that together we can move the needle of progress,” and urged them to help build a city “that is more affordable, safe and caring.” [Here’s how her first day as mayor played out](. - More: Here’s what you need to know about [the bike ride that kicked off Chow’s first day as mayor](. - Go deeper: [Read Chow’s full speech here](. - Word from Queen’s Park: Doug Ford says it’s [“disappointing” that Chow has threatened to take the province to court over Ontario Place](. - Word from past mayors: [Here’s some advice for Toronto’s new mayor]( from people who have done the job. Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick housing [Mortgage payments will skyrocket for many after the Bank of Canada rate hike]( The central bank has increased the key interest rate for the 10th time since March 2022. It’s now at five per cent — a dramatic increase compared to the 0.25 per cent rate in place only a year and a half ago — and mortgage holders will be feeling the impact. The change will be particularly hard on homeowners with variable-rate mortgages and those with fixed-rate mortgagors renewing within the next couple of years, Clarrie Feinstein reports. [Here’s what lies ahead](. - Context: Already, some fixed-rate mortgage holders are seeing monthly payments nearly double at renewal time. Variable-rate holders, meanwhile, are facing thousands more in payments per month. Those with variable-rate mortgages and fixed payments are seeing amortizations stretch to 60, 70 or even 90 years. - Watch for: The Bank of Canada [isn’t ruling out future interest rate hikes](. - Meanwhile: [Kawartha cottage prices are crashing]( as the mortgage rate hikes take a toll. Canadian Press/Michael Tutton canada [The RCMP is probing 70 possible sexual assaults at a youth detention centre — a lawyer says there may be 200]( Allegations of abuse and indifference at a youth detention centre in Nova Scotia span nearly 30 years. They’re summed up in a 2019 class-action lawsuit accusing a swim instructor of sexually assaulting more than 70 boys in his care. On Wednesday, the RCMP announced a probe, saying they are investigating 70 potential cases of sexual assault at the same facility, over the same time, although they have not named the accused, Steve McKinley reports. The lawyer of the class action suit says there could be more than 200 victims. [Here’s what we know](. - The statement of claim: The 2019 suit says the swim instructor “committed a range of abuses,” and alleges the centre knew about the assaults but did little to stop them. - More: The class action’s statement of claim has not been tested in court. The Attorney General of Nova Scotia, in its statement of defence, denies most allegations, although it did identify the accused swim instructor. WHAT ELSE Here’s how the Trudeau government is giving a “forceful nudge” to [help end the strike paralyzing international trade](. Canada has ended the controversial policy that forced immigration applicants and refugees to [disclose their HIV status to sponsors](. Pierre Poilievre took off his glasses and slipped on a white T-shirt. [Will Canadians respond to his makeover?]( Peel police have received 64 initial recommendations to address systemic racism. [Here’s what comes next](. More than 1,000 Canadians have taken the CRA to court over pandemic payments. [These are some people who have won, despite the odds.]( Canada’s public health agency is investigating after an Air France passenger said [he was made to clean up blood on flight to Toronto](. Here’s how the founders of this [Toronto startup want to start a recycling revolution](. Here’s why Ukraine’s future space in the [NATO alliance remains unsettled](. A 15-year-old girl is one of two teens [charged with first-degree murder after a man’s death in King Township](. Canada passed the Chinese Exclusion Act 100 years ago. [Hate is emerging yet again](. Here’s what you need to know about the Jonah Hill discourse — [and why his texts to an ex are a cautionary tale for relationships](. Edmonton has a first-rate food scene. [This foodie insider is sharing her delicious picks](. POV Lance McMillan/The Star [Why moving to small town Ontario is not a solution to the affordability crisis.]( CLOSE-UP NASA, ESA, CSA, STCI, KLAUS PON/AP THE COSMOS: Dozens of baby stars, 390 light-years away, are seen bursting into life. [Here’s more on what the James Webb Space Telescope shows us on its one-year anniversary.]( 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_191155). 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. [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](