The TTC has a violence problem — what's the solution?

Plus, awaiting another Bank of Canada rate hike and the RCMP's anti-racism training  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Manuela Vega   Good morning. A winter storm is expected to hit Toronto today. Find live updates here. Here’s the latest on TTC safety, a potential interest rate hike and anti-racism training uptake in the RCMP.       DON’T MISS Steve Russell/The Star   safety A woman in her 20s was stabbed multiple times on a TTC streetcar and a female suspect was arrested A young woman is stable and recovering from non-life-threatening injuries after what is believed to have been a random attack on the Spadina streetcar, Ana Pereira and Lex Harvey report. It’s the latest in a string of violent incidents, coming just one day after police announced they arrested four 13-year-old boys in connection with an alleged “swarming” attack on TTC employees. Amid calls for action, the president of Canada’s largest transit union is calling for a national task force to address transit violence. Here’s what else we know about the recent attacks on the TTC. More: The suspect of the streetcar attack, a woman in her 40s, was arrested at the scene and will be charged with aggravated assault, said Duty Insp. Lori Kranenburg. Watch for: John Di Nino, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, says the problem could, at least in part, be solved by having more police on the TTC. That notion, however, is contended by many transit advocates and health experts who say addressing root causes like housing and mental health crises are what’s necessary to prevent violence.   Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward   economy The Bank of Canada is expected to hike interest rates for the eighth straight time Canadians will find out this morning if the central bank will raise interest rates — for an eighth straight time — in an attempt to cool inflation. The Bank of Canada will also release its quarterly analysis on the state of the economy across the country and, for the first time ever, release minutes of the internal debate that led to the final decision, Josh Rubin reports. Here’s what you can expect. By the numbers: The Bank raised the overnight lending rate seven times in 2022. It began last year at 0.25 per cent, where it had been since the Bank dropped it three times in one month in March 2020. The most recent increase in December raised the rate to 4.25 per cent. ICYMI: With another rate hike, the Bank of Canada risks pushing the economy into a deep recession and costing hundreds of thousands of people their jobs, economists worry. Here’s why “the marginal increase could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.” Armine Yalnizyan’s take: Bank and business economists don’t work for you. They work for money. The Bank’s 1990s playbook is anti-worker, and this isn’t the ’90s.   Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck   policing The RCMP has missed the deadline for employees to complete mandatory anti-racism training Canada’s national police force has acknowledged its ongoing problems with systemic racism and discrimination, and it has touted its action plan for change. But it has already failed to meet its goal of having all employees take a mandatory anti-racism course by September 2022, Steve McKinley reports. So far, only “over 50 per cent” of the workforce have done so. Here’s why an expert on racial bias in policing says the RCMP’s actions demonstrate that tackling racism “really isn’t much of a concern” to them. Word from the RCMP: The RCMP did not respond to questions about employees being held accountable in any way for not taking the anti-racism training. They also did not answer when the force expects to reach 100 per cent compliance. Context: The online course “Uniting Against Racism” was introduced as part of the Vision 150 program brought in by Commissioner Brenda Lucki. Go deeper: Toronto Metropolitan University criminology professor Kanika Samuels-Wortley also takes issue with the training being a three-hour online course. She believes training needs to start from Day 1, has to be recurring and needs to be bolstered by evaluations to ensure it’s being taken seriously.       WHAT ELSE   Chrystia Freeland is rejecting a report that says the Liberals’ budget plan is unlikely to work, saying Canada has economic “strength.”   Rogers and Shaw have won their merger case at the Federal Court of Appeal. Here’s what you need to know about the telecom takeover. After being left out of separate settlements, Métis residential school survivors are launching a class-action suit against Saskatchewan and Canada.   Transferring this sick prisoner was “more of a political issue than medical,” a doctor tells an inquest into an immigration detainee’s death. Postmedia will layoff 11 per cent of its journalists. Here’s what we know about the “extremely turbulent” time ahead.   An 89-year-old woman died at King and Yonge last week. Charges in the “unprovoked attack” have been upgraded to manslaughter. Justin Trudeau’s needling of Pierre Poilievre shows his political instincts are still sharp.   New costs for CaféTO patios are casting doubt on the future of the outdoor dining program. Doug Ford is championing mobility for health-care workers. Here’s why some experts say that’s a good idea.   Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” got two nominations and why else it’s a big year for Canada at the Oscars. This Toronto MC is providing opportunities for performers at a restobar in St. Clair West.   How U.S. hearings on the Taylor Swift ticket fiasco could benefit Canadian customers.       POV Dave Chan/The Star Heather Scoffield: Goodbye journalism, and thanks for everything you taught me.       CLOSE-UP Steve Russell/The Star   NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE: “More policing does not equal safer communities. Face the truth,” reads the banner of a protester standing outside city hall as the City of Toronto Budget Committee debates the upcoming budget. Demonstrators opposed the proposed near-$50 million increase to the police budget on Tuesday.     Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I’ll see you back here tomorrow.   Get unlimited access to the Star Subscribe annually and save $35 for a limited time Get This Offer   If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. 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