“This is as bad as it gets.” Processing the impact of Saturday's storm.

Plus, homeless encampments pushed to the fringes and who got vaccine exemptions  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Manuela Vega   Good morning. Here’s the latest on the fallout from Saturday’s storm, the homeless encampments hidden across the city, and government employees’ vaccine exemptions.       DON’T MISS Clifford Skarstedt/Torstar   ontario storm The damage is “simply beyond comprehension” as Ontario cleans up from a deadly storm The death toll from the Saturday storm that ravaged parts of Quebec and Ontario has risen to 10. The town of Uxbridge in Durham region has been among the worst hit — with tornado-grade winds demolishing infrastructure, housing and livelihoods. Although most Toronto homes have regained power, hydro providers are warning that fully restoring power in Durham could take days. Here’s how some residents experienced the storm. More: “This must be a tornado,” thought Issam Bousraf as rain and winds battered his window. He lost his roof and his car. He and his family have been relocated to a hotel until Wednesday, with no idea of what’s next. The aftermath: Star readers captured the moments during and after Saturday’s storm. Here are your photos. What we know: What is a “derecho” storm, and how can you protect yourself from future storms? A meteorologist weighs in. Watch for: From what to do with fallen trees to preventing future damage, a Toronto arborist explains what you need to know.   Steve Russell/The Star   housing Toronto’s homeless encampments are back on the fringes — that’s a problem A year after the city tore down encampments at bustling spots like Trinity Bellwoods and Lamport Stadium Park, tents are no longer a common sight. But dozens of houseless people have simply taken to more hidden areas — trails, ravines, under bridges — and other parks to avoid being removed or being sent to shelters, which many consider unsafe or traumatizing. Here’s what we risk if things don’t change. More: John, 32, lives between a ravine and a bridge. He just wants housing, but says he was removed from the city’s decades-long subsidized housing wait-list. Watch for: Toronto will hire private security to patrol some parks and deter homeless encampments. ICYMI: Read how a unique shelter is helping homeless Toronto teens beat the odds and stay in school. More: Here are five ways Canada can tackle its housing crisis.   Matt Rourke/AP Photo   vaccine mandates More federal government workers evaded COVID-19 vaccine mandates for religious reasons than medical concerns Out of nearly 320,000 government workers, more than 3,000 applied for exemptions to the vaccine mandate put in place last fall — and a fraction of them were granted, new data shows. In order to qualify for religious exemption, an employee had to demonstrate a “sincerely held individual belief” rooted in religion and to explain why it prevents vaccination against COVID-19, a spokesperson said. Here’s what the numbers indicate about the vetting system. More: The request could not be rooted in a “personal moral belief,” a spokesperson said. Plus. employees could be punished or fired for providing false statements. By the numbers: More than 2,000 workers applied for religious exemptions and more than 1,100 for medical reasons. Of those, 540 were granted religious exemptions and 357 received a medical exemption.         Get a front-row seat this provincial election. As the Ontario election heats up, you need This Week in Politics, featuring exclusive analysis from Queen's Park bureau chief Robert Benzie and columnist Susan Delacourt. Sign up here, and you'll start receiving their insight on what just happened, what it means — and what's coming next.         WHAT ELSE   A confidential Liberal memo lays out a strategy to hold Doug Ford’s Tories to a minority government.   Ontario’s NDP says it will lower gasoline prices “right away and permanently.” Lex Harvey checked if it’s possible. Here’s where the Ontario party leaders are on the campaign trail today.   Ontario has a severe shortage of registered nurses. Here’s why. Conservative party memberships are soaring as the leadership race deadline looms.   Here’s how to take advantage of the housing market chill as a first-time millennial buyer. Car prices are through the roof. Here’s how to get one without going broke.   Here’s where GTA suburban home prices are falling the most — and why. Police made 19 arrests as numerous injuries were reported during a violent night at Woodbine beach.   Shawn Micallef shares 10 things he has learned about Toronto in 10 years.       GET THIS Cameron Tulk/The Star Who will win the Ontario election? Check the latest poll results.       PREVIOUSLY... Bob Olsen/The Star   MAY 24, 1971: Undampened by the chilly, windy and wet weather, Patty McNiven, 13, skips beside the Royal Regiment Band as it marches through the Ontario Place grounds.     Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. 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 Become a Star Subscriber View in Browser Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 PRIVACY POLICY