A First Nation with mercury poisoning takes a blow to mental health

Plus, relief for refugees sleeping on the city streets and Canada’s plan to entice tech workers from south of the border [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the refugees who were left without shelter, a First Nation’s suicide attempt rate and a program to attract U.S. tech workers. DON’T MISS Richard Lautens/Toronto Star housing [Ottawa offers millions more in housing support to shelter refugees in Toronto]( After a funding disagreement between Toronto and Ottawa left dozens of asylum seekers sleeping on the street for weeks, the federal government has finally announced a $97 million cash infusion to Toronto to help house the refugees. The new funding comes after a Black-led coalition for housing equity led an effort to find shelter for nearly 200 people in a church basement. [Here’s why some feel the federal government isn’t doing enough](. - Who they are: Many of the refugees who were left without shelter had left East Africa, and some were fleeing anti-LGBTQ persecution, one former MPP said. - Go deeper: “They wanted to feel human. They wanted to feel a sense of dignity,” Pastor Judith James said. “They were promised a better tomorrow here in Canada and they were given much less.” - The Star’s take: [Why did it take a public shaming to force Ottawa to aid asylum seekers]( Todd KorolToronto Star STAR INVESTIGATION [This First Nation’s youth are attempting suicide at alarming rates — it may be linked to mercury exposure]( From 1962 to 1970, the Dryden pulp and paper mill dumped 10 tonnes of mercury into the river that feeds Grassy Narrows and the nearby Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, contaminating the fish and poisoning the people who ate them. Although residents long reported physical effects, little was known about the impact on mental health, Sheila Wang reports. Now, Grassy Narrows has a youth suicide attempt rate three times the average across First Nations. [Here’s more on the study that suggests mercury exposure is to blame](. - Context: Grassy Narrows hadn’t recorded a single suicide before 1970, the new study said. - Go deeper: “I am proud of our kids and our youth who accomplish so much in such hard circumstances. But we need more support so that they can thrive like other children in Canada,” Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle said. - More: For anyone thinking of suicide, there is help. Resources are available online at crisisservicescanada.ca or you can connect to the national suicide prevention helpline at 1-833-456-4566, or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press file photo IMMIGRATION [Canada is offering work permits to lure tech workers from the U.S. and it seems to be working]( Within a couple of days, applications for Canada’s special program to bring in tech workers from the U.S. reached its 10,000 maximum. “That’s what we anticipated and that’s exactly what happened,” one Toronto-based immigration consultant said. The program offers work permits to highly skilled workers south of the border, especially those on the H-1B specialty visas. [Here’s why one observer is calling it “audacious]( - More: One immigration lawyer said that although Canada can’t compete with American wages and job opportunities, it does offer clearer and quicker pathways for permanent residence, public health care and safety. - Wait, what? There are approximately 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. with professional backgrounds in biotechnology, chemistry, computing, architecture, engineering, physical sciences and health care, and more. The majority, however, are from India and work in IT. WHAT ELSE The B.C. port strike is back on. [Here’s why union leaders rejected a deal proposed by federal mediators](. Police have torn down the Winnipeg landfill blockade after months of protest. [Here’s why Manitoba refuses to search it for missing Indigenous women’s remains](. Canada’s inflation rate fell below 3 per cent in June. [But these day-to-day costs remained high](. The RCMP union head says the [Trudeau government’s “vague language” around the Mounties’ future is “demoralizing]( [Alberta is moving to decentralize health-care delivery]( — 15 years after it was centralized. After voting on a confusing and crowded ballot, [a Toronto councillor wants to limit how many people can run for mayor](. Metro grocery workers at 27 stores across GTA have reached a deal to avoid a strike. [Here’s what we know](. [Pearson airport says it has turned a corner]( since it was ranked the worst in the world for delays last year. Donald Trump said he’s been notified that [he’s a target of the U.S. criminal probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election](. Margot Robbie rules. [But here’s why it’s Ryan Gosling’s Ken who steals the show in “Barbie]( The World Cup promises to be big. [Here’s why the women’s game will be even bigger](. First time camping in Ontario? [An expert shares his hacks to make your trip a breeze](. POV Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press [Lana Payne: The Bank of Canada may have just pushed workers over the tipping point](. CLOSE-UP James Pollard/AP Photo SOUTH CAROLINA: Incarcerated young adults pose for a photo inside a special unit at a medium security state prison on June 21. [Here’s what we know about the study indicating that restorative justice inside the facility is making a meaningful difference](. 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_191930). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 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](