Ford's speaking out about gender identity

Plus, Rogers' new cellphone financing plan and the trial of an accused terrorist [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning, I’ll be taking over the weekday edition from Manuela for the next while. Here’s the latest on Doug Ford wading into the school gender debate, a “fundamental shift” in cellphone financing and the long-awaited trial of an accused terrorist. DON’T MISS Ian Stewart For The Star Ontario Politics [Doug Ford accuses Ontario teachers, school boards of “indoctrinating” students on gender identity]( Addressing a crowd of hundreds of supporters and protesters at FordFest in Kitchener on Friday evening, Doug Ford accused the province’s teachers and school boards of “indoctrinating” students on matters of gender identity. The embattled premier said it’s a parent’s right to “listen and make sure they are informed when their children make a decision” — counter to official TDSB policy, which has had rules against outing students to parents and guardians since 2011. Experts, advocates and officials say involving parents could be detrimental to student safety. [Here’s what Ford said and where school boards stand](. - Go deeper: Education Minister Stephen Lecce recently echoed Ford’s sentiment. [Emma Teitel explains why their stance may be a recipe for more homeless youth](. - More: Some view Ford’s gender rhetoric as a deflection from the Greenbelt scandal, which has seen his [Progressive Conservatives slide in the polls](. - Meanwhile: During his speech Friday, [Ford promised Ontarians he would build 1,600 square-foot houses across the province — for under $500,000 apiece](. The land would apparently be made available through municipal partnerships, he claimed. Paige Taylor White/The Star star exclusive [Rogers has launched a three to four year extended phone plan]( Rogers Communications is launching a new cellphone financing plan the company claims will be a “fundamental shift” in how people purchase their devices — allowing Rogers Mastercard customers to finance their phones over 36 to 48 months at zero interest, Jeremy Nuttall writes. At a time when new devices can top $2,000, the move may help ease financial stressors while “opening up” the appeal of the company’s wireless services, a Rogers executive told the Star. [Here’s what we know about the plan and how it skirts government rules capping phone contracts at a two-year maximum](. - Context: Earlier this summer, a month after Rogers closed its merger with Shaw, the company cut the prices of its fastest cellphone plans — [a move that had analysts wondering if we’re entering “a new era of competition in wireless.”]( - Miss something? Rogers’ move comes months after the new owner of Freedom Mobile [pledged in April to undercut Rogers, Telus and Bell by 20 per cent](. Canadian Press/Alexandra Newbould courts [The trial of accused London terrorist Nathaniel Veltman begins today]( The 22-year old man accused of murdering a London family two years ago is set to appear in London Superior Court today. Allegedly motivated by extremist views associated with white supremacy, Nathaniel Veltman faces four counts of terrorism-motivated first degree murder and one count of terrorism-motivated attempted murder, Wendy Gillis writes. [National security and legal experts will be closely monitoring this unprecedented test of Canada’s anti-terrorism laws](. - More: Veltman is accused of deliberately jumping a curb with his truck and driving over Salman Afzaal, 46; Madiha Salman, 44; their daughter Yumna, 15; and Salman’s mother Talat, 74, at a London intersection. The sole surviving victim of the attack, Fayez Afzaal, was nine at the time. - What we know: [Police previously recovered “hate-related material” from a laptop and USB keys alleged to have belonged to Veltman]( according to search warrants unsealed last year. The documents also revealed Veltman was previously unknown to the RCMP. Specific details contained in the documents are under publication ban. - The aftermath: The killings sparked calls to better protect against Islamophobia and extremism, and to [reflect on Canada’s history of racism and discrimination]( WHAT ELSE Conservative MP Michael Chong [will address the United States Congress on Beijing’s meddling](. “Freedom Convoy” lawyers are attempting to block [Ottawa residents from testifying at trial](. Eglinton West is getting condo towers and an LRT — [but is it getting a neighbourhood?]( [Here’s what Justin Trudeau spoke about]( during the G20 Summit this weekend. As Hurricane Lee strengthens over open waters, [anxiety is building on the East Coast](. Canada is bracing to soon [bury hundreds of fallen World War One soldiers](. Would you pay a monthly fee for financial advice? [Here’s why you might want to consider it](. Patients need doctors who look like them – [can medicine diversify without affirmative action?]( [TikTok partnerships are still thriving in Canada]( despite the nation’s bans and interference accusations. The Blue Jays swept a series with a [wild and wacky 5-2 win over the Royals on Sunday](. POV Canadian Press/Chris Young [Doug Ford’s Greenbelt fixation more than defies explanation — it demands further investigation, the Star Editorial Board writes.]( CLOSE-UP Spencer Platt/Getty Images NEW YORK: People visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan as the [U.S. prepares to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the attacks — the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil](. 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_198651). 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]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](