Ford's major Greenbelt reversal

Plus, stalled affordable rentals in Toronto and Zelenskyy's Ottawa visit [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on Doug Ford’s Greenbelt reversal, thousands of affordable Toronto homes “stuck” in the pipeline and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada today. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Tara Walton greenbelt [Doug Ford has cancelled his controversial Greenbelt plans — now what?]( In a stunning about-face Thursday afternoon, premier Doug Ford announced he’s scrapping his controversial plans to remove 7,400 protected acres of land from the Greenbelt. The $8.28-billion scandal has seen his party plummet in the polls and forced the resignations of two cabinet ministers and two key aides, following scathing reports by Ontario watchdogs noting potential corruption in the process. Addressing reporters in Niagara Falls, Ford admitted: “It was a mistake to open the Greenbelt. I’m very, very sorry.” As Rob Ferguson, Robert Benzie and Kristin Rushowy report, the flip-flop appeared as a desperate bid to salvage his government amid mounting pressure from the public and his own MPPs. [Can the about face save Ford’s flailing conservatives?]( - Martin Regg Cohn’s take: While the Greenbelt has been saved, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government appears doomed. Ford finally realized his party was sinking fast, [but his attempt at redemption is too little, too late](. - Meanwhile: Ontario’s integrity commissioner said [Ford will not be investigated over two of his family’s weddings]( which were attended by developers who stood to profit over his Greenbelt plans. Richard Lautens/The Star housing [Nearly 15,000 affordable rental homes are “stuck” in the pipeline, Toronto says]( In a city infamous for its dwindling housing supply and sky-high prices, many purpose-built rental homes — including 15,000 affordable and deeply affordable ones — are “stuck” in the pipeline over a lack of federal and provincial grants and low-cost financing, May Warren reports. City staff say they need support from provincial and federal governments to accomplish their plans, with a new report asking for about $15 billion in funding. “Worldwide, Canada is one of the countries that has the least funding for housing and that has to change,” said the chair of the city’s planning and housing committee. [Take a closer look at what’s blocking affordable housing](. - Meanwhile: Last week, Justin Trudeau announced plans to end GST on the construction of new rental buildings, [which the industry heralded as a “game changer.”]( But tenant advocates are sceptical it’ll be enough to dent Toronto’s unaffordable rental markets. - More: Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow recently announced the “first step” in her bid to [build 25,000 more affordable rental homes in the city — in addition to those already planned](. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty images ukraine [Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Parliament Hill today, stopping by Toronto later]( Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of war-battered Ukraine, is set to visit Ottawa today. The trip comes 18 months after Zelenskyy’s first impassioned, virtual address to Canadians – but this time, he’ll make his pitch in-person. Zelenskyy is also expected to visit Toronto, after his meetings in Ottawa. The president’s tour aims to drum up international support following three months of a counteroffensive that hasn’t gone as fast or as well as initially hoped. Meanwhile, the consensus of allied states to provide aid is showing signs of strain as the war wears on, Stephanie Levitz writes. [Here’s what to expect from Zelenskyy’s Canadian tour](. - Across the border: Zelenskyy’s visit comes right after his whirlwind tour of Washington yesterday — where he won generally favourable comments on the next round of aid for his war efforts — as some Republicans try to cut support. - Word from Poland: Support for Ukraine has begun to show cracks as Poland, one of the nation’s staunchest allies, announced it would stop transferring weapons to its neighbour. [Here’s why Poland is blocking its total $4.3 billion military donation pipeline](. WHAT ELSE Indo-Canadians are caught in the nations’ diplomatic spat — [right ahead of peak travel season to India](. [India is blocking Canadian tourists]( as Ottawa pulls more diplomatic staff over alleged threats. “He was crying and asking me questions.” [A police officer testified about finding a boy and family struck by accused terrorist Nathaniel Veltman](. [The family of a 14-year-old Mississauga boy is “appalled”]( by the sentencing of twin brothers found guilty in his stabbing death. [Here’s everything you need to know about COVID-19 booster shots]( as fall arrives. An investigation by a B.C. First Nation has [uncovered 158 child deaths at four facilities](. Check under the hood of Unifor’s [tentative “life-changing deal” with Ford.]( William Shatner is [blasting his CTV News interview with Sandie Rinaldo as “ridiculous.”]( Canada’s only women’s university will soon be [gone after over 100 years of operation.]( As winter looms, remember to check your heating and air-conditioning systems – [here’s how](. “It’s not that I want to sleep.” [Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi reveals why he sleeps for 14 hours before games](. Love dance? [Here are five must-see shows at fall’s Dance North Festival](. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [Canada and India are locked in a battle. Here’s who will suffer.]( CLOSE-UP Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images WASHINGTON, D.C.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial on Thursday, [during their visit to the United States](. 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_199794). Andrew will 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](