The fear and desperation of Palestinian Canadians still in Gaza

Plus, alleviating Toronto's finances and the kids caught in the housing crisis [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. After months of pressure, [Justin Trudeau has announced major changes to the carbon pricing program](. Here’s the latest on Palestinian Canadians seeking help, talks for Ontario to alleviate Toronto’s battered finances and a child caught in the housing crisis. DON’T MISS Tsafrir Abayov/AP Photo israel-hamas war [Private government emails reveal Palestinian Canadians’ frustrations with Global Affairs Canada]( “I am still in Gaza and don’t know when I will die,” an email to Global Affairs Canada reads. It’s one of many filling up the GAC inbox, conveying fear and desperation from Palestinian Canadians trapped in the blockaded territory and the West Bank. The emails have commonalities: Canadians in the Palestinian territories pressing the government for updates after days of silence, emails mistakenly providing them with evacuation procedures meant for Israeli Canadians and unclear advice for visa applications, Raisa Patel reports. [Take a closer look at their stories — and Canada’s efforts to help](. - In Israel: Peace activists are jaded, soldiers are resigned and relatives of hostages are furious. [Everywhere in Israel, there are signs of a society poised for the next stage of war](. - In Gaza: Israeli forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a [second ground raid ahead of a widely-expected ground invasion](. - Go deeper: What happened at Gaza’s al-Ahli Arab Hospital? [These are the claims, analyses and facts so far](. - On the home front: A group representing more than 60 Canadian households with family members in Gaza is [calling on Canada to get their loved ones out](. - Meanwhile: Hundreds of TDSB students staged a [walkout in a show of solidarity with the people in Gaza](. Steve Russell/The Star star exclusive [The Ford government is open to taking over the Gardiner and DVP to help fix Toronto’s finances]( The Ontario government is considering taking over the costs of Toronto’s highways as part of a major deal to alleviate the city’s $1.5-billion budget shortfall, the Star has learned. Sources with knowledge of the discussions cautioned that nothing has been finalized and other forms of financial assistance are still being considered, Ben Spurr and David Rider report. [Here’s what you need to know](. - Context: City officials have long argued that Toronto shouldn’t pay for the Gardiner and DVP since about 40 per cent of trips are by non-Toronto residents who pay nothing toward their operations or maintenance. But the Ontario government has shot down the request to shoulder the costs for decades. - More: Sources with knowledge of the talks say other options are also on the table. The province could potentially take on a greater share of TTC operating and capital costs or help fund the city’s costs for homeless shelters. Toronto Star the kids aren't all right [The ceiling collapsed and her world fell apart]( For Amina, Swansea Mews felt like its own tiny world. She knew each of the corridors and staircases, and the faces of most of the 400 residents. But when she was in Grade 5, the ceiling of the west-end public housing complex collapsed, bringing her world down with it, Victoria Gibson reports. Tens of thousands of children in the Toronto area are growing up in houses that are falling apart and when families are forced to move, the search for a new home can be nearly impossible. [This is Amina’s experience as a kid caught in Toronto’s housing crisis](. - By the numbers: In the Toronto area, roughly 15 per cent of children live in homes that are significantly broken, overcrowded or unaffordable, according to census data. Across Canada, more than 600,000 kids are growing up in precarious settings. - More: Families who are forced out of their homes face high rent costs and enormous demand for subsidized housing, with a wait list of more than 85,000 households. [Smart Money newsletter launch] Get expert help with your money. If you’re looking for advice you can trust when it comes to managing your finances, you might like the Star’s new Smart Money newsletter, [sponsored by Fidelity](. Every week, Smart Money will break down what you need to know to make, save and manage your money. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE Why does Bonnie Crombie think Doug Ford is fixated on her? [“He has an issue with strong, bold women.”]( [Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is facing calls to quit]( over her decision to remove Sarah Jama from caucus. Dozens of Indian students in the fake admission-letter scandal have been found to be genuine victims. [What’s next for them?]( Peter Nygard denies knowing four of five sex assault complainants. [Here’s what to know about his second day on the stand](. A 17-year-old student has “potentially life-threatening injuries” after a [stabbing near Oakwood Collegiate](. The 55-year-old lift bridge in Toronto’s Port Lands is [sailing into the sunset amid a $1.25-billion makeover](. [The TTC is temporarily closing six subway stations on Line 1 this Saturday](. On the front lines of the St. Lawrence Seaway strike, [ships — and crops — are piling up](. [These are the four best pumpkin dishes]( to try in Toronto right now. [Rogers is shutting down its CityNews Ottawa radio station]( and laying off newsroom staff. “I know who I am.” Buffy Sainte-Marie is [calling the questions of Indigenous identity hurtful](. [Why Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s personal life is under the microscope again](. POV Steve Russell/The Star [Olivia Chow’s affordable housing plan is certainly ambitious — But there are reasons to be skeptical.]( CLOSE-UP Steven Senne/AP Photo MAINE: Law enforcement officers carry rifles outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation in Lewiston on Wednesday. Shocked and fearful residents stayed home for a second night Thursday as [hundreds of heavily armed police and FBI agents searched for the suspect they say killed 18 people](. 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_202643). 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](