World Headlines: A storm's brewin' — here's what to expect

First Up

By Kevin Jiang

Good morning. That snow and freezing rain we warned you about yesterday is actually expected to arrive today. Sorry for any confusion.

Here’s the latest on that winter storm encroaching on Toronto, Doug Ford’s revamp of Ontario’s tribunal system and Anita Anand’s thoughts on her past and future.

DON’T MISS

Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star

weather

A snow storm is headed for Toronto

A massive storm that tore its way across the U.S. is expected to hit Toronto today, bringing with it four to 10 cm of snow. The storm should peak this afternoon before carrying on into the evening, and trailing into a mix of rain and snow overnight and into the morning. Meteorologists are warning Ontarians to “stay home if you can.” Toronto has seen worse and is ready for the storm, mayor John Tory said, adding that it would be a good test for the city’s new snow-clearing contractors. He dismissed reports that the workers aren’t ready, saying “that’s what happens when you manage a big contract.” Follow along with the Star’s live coverage.

Go deeper: A scathing report by Toronto city staff into the record-breaking 55 centimetres of snow that fell over 15 hours last January found the city unprepared for the extreme weather event — and little was being done to change.
Context: The storm system killed at least three people in Louisiana Wednesday. Tornadoes battered the state, resulting in over 40,000 power outages.

Canadian Press/Chris Young

provincial politics

Doug Ford replaced Ontario’s tribunal system with unqualified party loyalists — and Ontarians are paying the price

Tribunals are meant to ensure justice is equal and accessible to all — an alternative for those who can’t afford high-priced lawyers or navigate endless court dates. Yet Ontario’s tribunal system has become dysfunctional under Ford’s watch, with wait lines now longer than ever, Martin Regg Cohn writes. Ford’s government first gutted the system by refusing to reappoint the most experienced adjudicators, then packed the bench with party loyalists. Now, ordinary Ontarians are paying the price. Read Martin’s exclusive analysis on the state of Ontario’s tribunal system.

Wait, what? The Ford government has repeatedly appointed conservative leaders to key positions that they have little experience to fill, some experts say. Among these is defeated federal Conservative candidate Sean Weir, who is now serving as executive chair of Tribunals Ontario.
Bad news for: Anyone looking for a hearing. Wait lists exceed 67,000 cases in key areas, including tenants facing eviction, accident victims fighting against insurance companies and disabled Ontarians trying to prove they qualify for benefits.

Blair Gable for The Star

federal politics

Defence minister Anita Anand is here to get things done

Federal defence minister Anita Anand sometimes pines for her former, quiet life as a law professor, she admitted in an hour-long interview with the Star’s editorial board Wednesday. Since taking public office in 2019, Anand has played a pivotal role in governance, first as federal procurement minister tasked with securing critical supplies and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic; then, since 2021, as national defence minister, charged with sorting out the military’s persistent crisis of sexual misconduct. Here’s why Anand believes she alone can guide the armed forces through a cultural transformation.

What we know: The author of a damning report into the culture of sexual misconduct in Canada’s armed forces rebuked Ottawa and the military for their response to the crisis — despite the federal government pledging to follow all 48 of their recommendations.
Who cares: Ontario’s police chiefs say they aren’t prepared to investigate sexual assault in the military after Anand announced military sexual assault cases will be transferred to civilian authorities.

WHAT ELSE

John Tory is dismissing criticism of his new “strong mayor” powers, saying “nobody” cares that he has them.

Hunters and sports shooters still have 19,000 models of guns to choose from after the new ban, the Trudeau government says.

A pastor of an east end Toronto Church is speaking out after finding antisemitic graffiti.

Rooming houses will be legal and licensed in all parts of Toronto starting in 2024.

Waterloo researchers have designed a urinal that reduces backspray to almost nothing – it could help save the planet.

Ontario’s offering free naloxone kits and training to “at risk” workplaces amid soaring overdose deaths.

Desperate migrants are risking everything for survival under conditions that are only getting worse.

The province and TDSB are discussing solutions to school violence after a spate of recent incidents.

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for two “armed and dangerous” suspects in a Markham murder.

The Bank of Canada says its plan to halt inflation always works. History suggests otherwise.

Ontario is ending its popular staycation tax credit in 2023, the tourism minister says.

TikTok bans are rolling out around the globe. Should Canada follow?

POV

Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Morocco’s magnificent World Cup run was brought to an end by France — now the stage is set for football history.

CLOSE-UP

Sergei Chuzavkov/AFP via Getty Images

KYIV REGION: Residents of Gorenka village are pictured following shelling Tuesday. They live in the basement of a residential building that was destroyed in February, at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. We’ll see you back here tomorrow.

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