Canada's regulated goodbye to gas-guzzlers

Plus, Israel’s allies showing unease, the rise in extremism among Canadian kids and the return of the Tim Hortons dutchie [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Here’s the latest on forthcoming vehicle emissions rules, growing unease among Israel’s allies and a new menstruation product program for federally regulated workplaces. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick environment [New vehicle rules will aim for full zero-emission adoption by 2035]( Ottawa is preparing to announce new regulations requiring that all new vehicles sold in Canada must have zero emissions by 2035. Dubbed the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, the announcement will be framed as a way of guaranteeing that EV technology will be more widely available to consumers, a senior official tells Marco Chown Oved. To date, the wait times for customers to purchase electric cars has hampered wider uptake. [Take a closer look at the new regulations](. - By the numbers: Among new car sales, the percentage of EVs being sold has steadily risen. As of July 1, 12.1 per cent of new cars sold across Canada were EVs. B.C. leads the country with a quarter of new cars sold being EVs, while Ontario lags behind at just 8.2 per cent. - Now what? The benchmarks for zero emission vehicle adoption is as follows: 20 per cent of new cars by 2026 and 60 per cent by 2030, putting Canada on track for complete adoption by 2035. AFP via Getty Images israel-hamas war [Abstaining no more, the U.K. has joined Germany, France and others in calling for a Gaza ceasefire]( Some of Israel’s closest European allies are now pressing for a ceasefire. That includes a joint article published in The Sunday Times, in which the U.K. Foreign Secretary and German Foreign Affairs Minister called for “an immediate truce” in order to facilitate a lasting “political solution” to the war. The public message is the latest evidence of the growing unease within the international community surrounding the conflict. [Here’s the latest on the war and calls for a truce](. - Context: The U.K. abstained from last week’s vote in the U.N. General Assembly, which saw overwhelming international support for a ceasefire. - By the numbers: Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, 1.9 million Palestinians — nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s population — have been displaced. - Go deeper: As Israel’s bombardment of Palestine continues, [Allan Woods reminds us of the dozens of poets, painters and playwrights who have already succumbed to the violence](. Jesse Winter/StarMetro File Photo labour [Federally regulated workplaces will be required to provide free menstrual products starting this week]( As of Friday, federally regulated workplaces — including Parliament itself — are required to provide free menstrual hygiene products to staff, Nawa Tahir reports. That includes federally regulated private-sector operations like banks, air travel carriers, television broadcasters and a host of other businesses. Supplies must be accessible to all employees who menstruate, regardless of gender identity. [Here’s more on the initiative and where it’s being rolled out](. - Why it matters: According to a 2022 survey by Plan International Canada, 22 per cent of those who menstruate admitted they used products longer than advised due to high costs, increasing the risk of adverse health effects. - Word from the Feds: “At a time when Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, buying pads, tampons and other menstrual products shouldn’t be an additional source of financial strain,” Marci Ien, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth, said in a statement. - Look for: The government says it’s working to amend the occupational health and safety regulations to recognize all-gender toilets in 2024. WHAT ELSE With five youths arrested for terror-related cases since June, the [RCMP are warning about a rise in violent extremism among young Canadians](. After a tense standoff, management of a Lawrence Ave. West apartment complex [relented on what the union dubbed an “illegal” eviction](. In case you missed it, Ontario’s [elementary school teachers have agreed to a new four-year contract with the province](. What’s your holiday budget? [A new survey suggests 54 per cent of Canadians plan on spending less than last year](. Kat has $27,000 in student debt and lives with her parents. [When can she afford to move in with her partner?]( After years of being more or less buried on the Raptors’ bench, [Malachi Flynn appears to be finding his footing](. Winnipeg’s Jess Salgueiro was a self-proclaimed sitcom snob. [Then she wound up starring opposite Kelsey Grammer in the “Frasier” reboot](. The pastry’s acolytes held vigil for nearly two decades. [Now, the humble dutchie returns for Tim Hortons’ 60th anniversary](. The latest exhibition at Myseum is a home run, [showcasing how Toronto’s sports history has shaped the city’s civic spirit](. If you prefer toucans, monkeys and sloths to hordes of tourists, [an eco-cruise through Costa Rica might be for you](. ICYMI Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo [Taylor Swift pledged to the Star’s Santa Claus Fund — Vinay Menon is calling on other celebs to follow suit.]( CLOSE-UP Kevin Kolczynski/AP Photo ORLANDO: Like Tiger, like cub. Paired with 14-year-old Charlie, golf legend Tiger Woods and his son shot a 61 in a scramble format at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Sunday, [good for fifth at this year’s PNC Championship](. 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_205682). Manuela will see you back here tomorrow. 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