Canada’s crisis-stricken military isn’t ready

Plus, the erosion of our support for immigration, America takes aim at our drug supply, and Toronto’s libraries turn the page [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. As the Star’s new culture reporter, Joshua Chong declares that “the arts offer benefits as necessary as oxygen.” [More than ever, we need to hold a mirror up to society](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Susan Kao/Toronto Star illustration/AP/Zuma Press/TNS/Dreamstime GlobaL AFFAIRS [Canada’s military is in crisis. Failing to save it will have dire consequences for us all]( The Canadian Armed Forces face a critical personnel deficit and it will take years and billions of dollars to modernize our equipment. With the possibility of Donald Trump returning to power, Canada’s neighbour is less dependable than ever. Experts tell Alex Ballingall that Canada isn’t ready for a world facing emergent global security threats. [The answer, they say, is more — more attention, more spending and more action](. Justin Tang/For the Toronto Star Opinion [Once a foundational piece of Canadian identity, the country’s support for immigration is quickly fraying]( Bottlenecking our borders has now become a key element of Pierre Poilievre’s bid for a majority government, writes columnist Althia Raj. The Conservative leader isn’t alone in his thinking; public opinion on immigration has shifted dramatically in the past year, even as the aging population necessitates more young workers. [Even Immigration Minister Marc Miller concedes we need a better strategy](. Ramon Ferreira/Toronto Star illustration/Dreamstime Health CARE [U.S. states are making a run at Canada’s drugs. Here’s how the experts predict this will play out]( Last month, Florida received permission to import cheaper Canadian medicine in bulk, raising alarms given our high-profile drug supply shortages in recent years. Other states are trying to follow suit — though experts tell Patty Winsa it won’t be easy to receive FDA approval. There’s also conflicting opinion on whether this will actually lower America’s sky-high drug prices. [Plus, Canada won’t allow its medicine cabinet to be raided without a fight](. Nick Lachance/Toronto Star COMMUNITY [A look at life at one of Toronto’s busiest libraries post-cyber-attack]( The Toronto Public Library is ready to turn the page after last year’s devastating cyber attack brought the entire system to its knees. Etobicoke’s bustling Albion branch had as many as 18,000 books stuffed in 600 plastic crates that had to be processed by hand, Nick Lachance and Jermaine Wilson report. [Here’s how these indispensable neighbourhood service hubs are recovering](. Richard Lautens/Toronto Star REAL ESTATE [How one couple bucked the trends to buy their Toronto dream home — without any family handouts]( Even though the average price of a Toronto home remains just over $1 million, one couple in their 30s landed their 2,000-square-foot High Park house without family assistance, writes Lora Grady. [Here’s how: by cutting back and taking advantage of a home savings account](. UP CLOSE Xinhua News Agency Cordano Russell draws stares at the local skatepark. At six-foot-three and 230 pounds, he uses his linebacker-sized frame to generate power unmatchable by his peers, writes Kerry Gillespie. [Now, the London-born Canadian teenager is setting his sights on the Paris Olympics](. SAVE THIS Dreamstime Thursday the 29th is the deadline to add to your RRSP — but don’t fret if you can’t contribute this year, Lesley-Anne Scorgie writes. Since contribution room carries forward indefinitely, [you can explore a few catch-up strategies down the line](. Thanks for reading. You can send questions, comments and skateboard trick suggestions to 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_209503), and Manuela will see you back here Monday. 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](