World Headlines: Mortgage payments way up? Consider this.

First Up

By Manuela Vega

Good morning. Andrew Tate has been charged with sex trafficking and rape in Romania, according to local reports.

Here’s the latest on development to the Greenbelt, increasing mortgage payments and travellers stranded in vacation destinations.

DON’T MISS

Barry Gray/Hamilton Spectator

greenbelt

Thousands have opposed Greenbelt development — but it’s infrastructure issues that could delay builders

Municipalities, businesses, farmers, conservation authorities, engineers, planners and Indigenous groups are among tens of thousands of Ontario entities and individuals protesting the Ontario government’s move to build homes on the environmentally sensitive land. But Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government has forged ahead. Now, a lack of infrastructure may delay its plans, with senior planning staff in Durham Region, York Region and Hamilton saying it would be difficult to meet the province’s expedited timeline for development by 2025, Noor Javed reports. Here’s how planning staff say the provincial government can move forward on housing without developing the Greenbelt.

More: The affected municipalities say the Greenbelt lands were never included in any long-term infrastructure development plans “since the expectation was that the Greenbelt was to be protected in perpetuity.”
Context: In November, after promising never to touch land in the Greenbelt, Doug Ford’s government backtracked and decided to open 15 areas of Greenbelt lands for development.
ICYMI: Doug Ford’s plan to suddenly add Erin to the Greenbelt — without any consultation with the town — has puzzled critics and residents.

Paige Taylor White/The Star

personal finance

This homeowner’s mortgage payments have shot up by more than $1,000 a month

During the peak of the pandemic’s real estate frenzy, the variable mortgage rate on Briand Melanson’s primary and investment properties had reached historic lows: 1.5 per cent. Now, his two properties have mortgage rates of about 6 per cent. To cover the additional costs — which rack up to $1,110 per month — Melanson is putting a pause on concerts, hockey games, restaurants, drinks and movies, Clarrie Feinstein writes. “If interest rates rise drastically, I back off on everything else to avoid filing for bankruptcy,” he says. Here’s what other homeowners in Melanson’s position should keep in mind before making any big decisions.

More: “If people bought in the pandemic, it’s exceptionally hard right now, especially for first-time home buyers who already stretch themselves financially to buy their first property,” said Leah Zlatkin, a mortgage broker and expert with LowestRates.ca.
Watch for: The Bank of Canada could raise the overnight lending rate further, pushing interest rates higher at the beginning of 2023. As a result, “we could see more mortgage defaults, or at the very least people struggling to keep up with payments,” Zlatkin said.

Steve Russell/The Star

travel

Air passengers are stranded and outraged by Sunwing

Hundreds of Sunwing passengers were stranded in vacation destinations in the aftermath of winter storms — and for one family with two children, the trek home from Cancun to Prince George, B.C. “was hell.” It took five days, three hotels and dozens of phone calls, and they still weren’t home in time for Christmas. Although the Cody family’s ordeal with the low-cost airline has come to an end, Sunwing said Thursday it’s sending out dozens of recovery flights this week to bring other stranded passengers home from Mexico. Meanwhile, it said it’s suspending operations out of Saskatoon and Regina entirely until Feb. 3, Clarrie Feinstein reports. Here’s how the airline is — and isn’t — making it up to travellers.

Wait, what? Some passengers told the Star they were unable to get ahold of Sunwing by phone and found the airline’s app showed their flights taking off and landing on schedule, despite being stranded themselves.
Watch for: Because the airline is denying passengers compensation, Cody said he thinks lawsuits “may be coming.” A Facebook group with more than 800 members has been created to help those affected by Sunwing’s cancellations.

WHAT ELSE

The Competition Tribunal has cleared the path for the $26-billion merger of Rogers and Shaw.

How a teammate’s murder forged an unbreakable bond for three Team Canada world junior stars.

One of eight girls charged in the stabbing of a homeless Toronto man has been granted bail. Here’s what we know.

A disturbing video shows the TTC assault on an 81-year-old woman that left her concussed and afraid to ride the subway.

The Director of U of T’s Citizen Lab has been named to the Order of Canada. Here’s what we know about him and the cybersecurity organization.

Public health is Canada’s heart and soul. Premiers are hoping you won’t notice how they’re advancing their privatization agendas.

Why Indigenous leaders are speaking out against “sovereignty” efforts in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Why repaying debt is Canadians’ top priority for 2023, according to a recent poll.

Blood and plasma donations are in short supply. How can communities be united to give the gift of life?

Thanks to TikTok, the sweet, bitter, bubbly and previously obscure Negroni Sbagliato is the hottest cocktail in town.

No plans for the weekend? Here’s how you can ring in the new year in Toronto.

This is what’s open and closed in Toronto on New Year’s Day.

POV

AP File Photo

Pelé did it all first — his innocence and joy will live forever.

CLOSE-UP

Lance McMillan/The Star

TORONTO: The sky put on a colourful post-sunset display on Wednesday night, as seen from midtown.

Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve. Ashley will see you back here Monday.

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