What's behind Canada's fading support for Ukraine?

Plus, choosing between food or retirement savings, and new life for an iconic Toronto office tower [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on Canadians’ faltering support for Ukraine, Ontario’s cost of living crisis and a famed downtown Toronto tower being granted new life. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld war in ukraine [Canadians’ support for Ukraine is fading and the Liberals say they know why]( As we approach the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, polls suggest a growing number of Canadians (mostly Conservative voters) now believe their country has done too much for the war-torn state — and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are pinning the blame on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s “faltering leadership” on the matter. The claim stems from the Conservatives refusing to vote in favour of an updated free trade deal with Ukraine because it contained language advocating for carbon pricing, despite Ukraine having a carbon-pricing system for years, Stephanie Levitz reports. Meanwhile, cabinet ministers dodged questions about whether more effort was needed on their part, insisting that Russia threatening the world order is reason enough for Canadians to stay involved. [Here’s what you need to know](. - By the numbers: According to a new Angus Reid Institute poll, 25 per cent of Canadians now believe their country is doing too much to assist Ukraine, up from 13 per cent a year ago. Conservative voters drove the change in perception, with 43 per cent believing Canada is doing too much. - Across the border: With Republican frontrunner Donald Trump making it abundantly clear [he plans to abandon Ukraine entirely should he win the presidency]( the 2024 U.S. presidential election is looking increasingly like a referendum on the future of the embattled nation. Lance McMillan/The Star cost of living [The high cost of living is forcing a majority of Ontarians to put necessities before retirement savings]( Saving for the future has taken a backseat to struggling through the present amid Ontario’s cost of living crisis, a new poll has found. According to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, 81 per cent of respondents said they’re more concerned with paying for their food, rent, mortgage and other basic necessities than setting money aside for the future. Meanwhile, 44 per cent say rising costs have prevented them from even starting to save for retirement, Josh Rubin reports. A fifth of Canadians fear they’ll never be able to retire and it’s not just young people who are struggling — experts say even people approaching or already in retirement are worried about funds. [How did we get here?]( - What we know: [In December, Canada’s inflation rate rose to 3.4 per cent from 3.1 per cent in November]( — but the basic costs of living have surged past this “headline” rate. Grocery prices are five per cent higher than they were a year ago, while shelter costs rose six per cent. - Go deeper: As the Bank of Canada tries to temper inflation by raising interest rates, [two thirds of consumers now say they’ve reduced or are planning to reduce their spending]( — leading some economists to say interest rate cuts could be on the horizon. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star housing [A landmark Toronto office tower is being granted new life as a condo building]( The once gleaming headquarters of Canadian Pacific Railway in downtown Toronto can be converted into much-needed housing, after the more than a century-old tower struggled for years to lease offices — even before COVID-19 gutted demand. So long as the owner meets conditions set by city council, like entering a heritage agreement and providing a detailed conservation plan, they’re free to convert the skyscraper into a 127-condo building — preserving the original 15-storey frame while adding another six storeys on top, Victoria Gibson reports. With commercial spaces increasingly sitting empty since the pandemic, [could Toronto soon see more office space converted into living quarters?]( - Context: Last year, the Star reported on the struggling skyscraper at 69 Yonge St., finding only around 10 per cent of office users were swiping their cards to enter — on a good day. [Retooling the tower into condo space will come with significant engineering and political challenges, however](. - By the numbers: [Toronto’s office slump appears to be worsening]( with a recent report finding 17.4 per cent of downtown office space sat empty in the fourth quarter of 2023 — the highest rate since 1996. WHAT ELSE Chrystia Freeland has announced [$199 million in support for low-income renters and shelters](. Fewer cops, more money and why it matters: [Take a look at the numbers behind both sides of the police budget debate](. MPs want to know how universities are [protecting Palestinian supporters](. Justin Trudeau is under fire for sending a party invitation to a [man who fought with the Nazis](. Toronto Islanders have been paying far less property tax than mainland homeowners and renters — [a motion at city hall aims to change that](. [Toronto Western Hospital is getting more beds and operating rooms]( to help tackle long wait times. A judge wants answers following a report that a [key witness in Trump’s fraud trial may plead guilty to perjury](. Here’s why Canada is being accused of [“dumping” cannabis on Israel](. [Prince Harry has arrived in London]( as King Charles begins treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. A video shows a two-metre long dead snake “not native to Canada” [found on the shoreline of Mississauga’s Credit River](. The Maple Leafs expected more from Timothy Liljegren — [a costly gaffe is only adding to their concern](. These 12 Toronto restaurants made the [list of Canada’s most romantic eateries](. POV AFP via Getty Images [Where are Canada’s leading health voices when it comes to Gaza?]( CLOSE-UP R.J. Johnston/The Star DON RIVER VALLEY: For the first time since workers began pumping water into the new Don River Valley a week ago, the site looks like an actual river — with water appearing to cover the entire 1.3 kilometre riverbed this week. [After it’s allowed to settle, the Don will be reconnected to Lake Ontario](. 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_208454). 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](