The Greenbelt scandal sees its first resignation

Plus, TIFF will lose Bell sponsorship and an updated design for Ontario Place [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the Greenbelt controversy, TIFF sponsorship and the private spa planned for Ontario Place. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Cole Burston Ontario Politics [The Ford government staffer at the centre of the Greenbelt controversy has resigned]( In a terse statement Tuesday, Doug Ford’s office said it has accepted Ryan Amato’s resignation as chief of staff to the minister of municipal affairs and housing, Rob Ferguson and Robert Benzie report. Amato spearheaded the Greenbelt land swap — and his departure comes after the auditor general’s report found he did it without proper input from independent bureaucrats or land-use experts, and personally selected 14 of the 15 parcels of land to lose environmental protection in the Greenbelt. [Here’s why his resignation has received a mixed reaction](. - By the numbers: With the land swap, “prominent developers” got 7,400 acres of environmentally sensitive land freed up to build housing. They stand to make $8.28 billion, the auditor general found. - Context: The Star first revealed that several people in the premier’s inner circle wanted to part ways with Amato (and pay him severance) to limit political backlash for the Tories. Initially, Ford insisted Amato be able to keep his job. - Watch for: The integrity commissioner is also investigating the Greenbelt land swap, and working to determine if Amato breached the Public Service Act. Lance McMillan/The Star star exclusive [Bell is ending its long-standing TIFF sponsorship]( The Toronto International Film Festival — a prestigious cultural showcase and major economic driver for the city — will lose its lead sponsor after this year’s event, Robert Benzie reports. Bell has been a sponsor since 1995 and has its name on the TIFF Bell Lightbox on King Street West. After recently announcing its second-quarter earnings dropped about 40 per cent, sources told the Star the telecommunications and media giant is scrambling to find savings. [What’s next for TIFF?]( - Wait, what? Despite its prestige, TIFF has never been a significant source of content for Bell, unlike its holdings in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. - ICYMI: In June, [Bell cut 1,300 jobs, closed six radio stations and closed two foreign news bureaus]( warning that more restructuring was on the way. Therme Group/Supplied Photo Ontario Place [After public criticism, an updated Ontario Place design has been released]( The Austrian firm planning a private spa at Ontario Place has updated its design in response to a city staff report and public consultations that called the venture unsuitable for the site due to the building size, the privatization of public space and the need to remove more than 800 trees. In the redesign, the building is 25 per cent smaller and has more rooftop parkland, Kelly Skjerven and David Rider report. [Take a closer look at the design](. - More: The firm is distancing itself from the Doug Ford government’s push for a massive underground parking garage on the West Island. “It’s not part of the Therme project. It’s not what we’re involved in,” the Therme Group CEO told the Star. - Word from a city councillor: “What has been shared today by Therme,” Coun. Ausma Malik said in a statement, “doesn’t address the fundamental concerns raised by city staff and the public, nor does it provide important details to respond to those concerns and make informed planning decisions.” WHAT ELSE Will reining in the number of international students in Canada [help the housing crisis — or bring more harm?]( Detached home prices have increased in just four Toronto neighbourhoods. [Take a look at the activity across the city](. The woman who pushed a person onto subway tracks last year will [argue she’s not criminally responsible due to a mental health disorder.]( As COVID cases spike, anxious business advocacy groups are [pushing the government for an early response plan](. Ontario is backtracking on its planned cuts to municipal public health funding. [Here’s what we know]( The health centre staffer charged in a Toronto bystander’s death has been [released on $200,000 bail](. [Peel police will announce the results of a major auto theft bust]( in a 10 a.m. news conference. “If there is ever a time for action, it is now.” [The GTA saw the lowest new condo sales in 23 years in July](. A rice shortage is sending prices soaring across the world — [and things could get worse](. A B.C. woman is looking for a firefighter who [she says saved her home with a garden hose](. The Knicks are accusing the Raptors of using a “mole” to steal information. [Here are nine things you need to know about the lawsuit](. It’s almost prime time for apple picking. [Visit these four bucolic farms, all within road tripping distance of Toronto](. POV Darren Hull/AFP via Getty Images [In Alberta, oil profits trump the need to confront climate change.]( CLOSE-UP Mario Tama/Getty Images CALIFORNIA: A vehicle is partially submerged in Cathedral City after Tropical Storm Hilary swept through the region Monday. Much of Southern California and parts of Arizona and Nevada are cleaning up after being impacted by the storm. 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_196128). 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](