Everything we know about the Emergencies Act report

Plus, John Tory’s last words as mayor of Toronto  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Ashley Okwuosa   Good morning. Two 17-year-olds have been arrested in connection to the drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old student outside Weston Collegiate. Here’s the latest.       MUST READS Toronto Star photo illustration   STAR INVESTIGATION Inside a “murky” arrangement pitting the CRA against one of the GTA’s most notorious factories Fiera Foods, North America’s largest croissant manufacturer, is fighting a high-stakes legal battle. The bakery has been accused of falsely claiming $5.7 million in tax credits based on its purchase of temporary labour. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Fiera’s setup involved an opaque web of 13 temp agencies, middle men, cash chequing joints, and hundreds of temp workers, some of whom earned less than minimum wage. Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports on Fiera’s reputation for dangerous work, its history of sparring with the CRA, and how the outcome of this case will impact other labour suppliers.   The Canadian Press   EMERGENCIES ACT The Emergencies Act report is finally out. Here’s what it says Ontario Justice Paul Rouleau determined that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government met the “very high threshold” to trigger the act and create a host of extraordinary police powers to quash the protests. But Rouleau called the demonstrations “legitimate” and blamed government leaders and the police for failing to “properly manage” them against COVID-19 health measures, which he described as a predictable response to a disruptive pandemic. Alex Ballingall, Raisa Patel, and Stephanie Levitz break down the wide-ranging report, its recommendations, and reactions from both Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre. Plus, here’s why Rouleau says Doug Ford “abandoned” Ottawa and how social media fuelled the “Freedom Convoy.”   Steve Russell/Toronto Star   CITY HALL Here are John Tory’s final remarks as mayor of Toronto At a press conference at city hall Friday afternoon, John Tory said it broke his heart to leave the job but that quitting was the right decision. “All I tried to do was to be a mayor whose energy and drive matched that of the city itself,” he said. The speech capped off a stunning week for the former mayor, who announced last Friday that he was stepping down after a Star investigation revealed he had an extended relationship with a former staffer. Ben Spurr reports on how Tory hopes to be remembered, his final moments in office, and how soon we could be voting for a new mayor.   George Pimentel/Getty Images   LIFE Here’s why a growing number of women are leaving work (mostly) on their own terms Earlier this week, beloved Breakfast Television host Dina Pugliese announced that she was leaving the show after more than 16 years. Pugliese follows a trail of other women in entertainment, business, and politics who have bid farewell to high-prestige jobs in recent months. Sarah Laing is calling it “step-back culture”: stepping back to move forward, and one expert says the decision to walk away is a radical act that bucks the ethos “that productivity is at the core of our value.” Here’s why more women (and even men) are opting out of the workforce and what’s driving the phenomenon.   HouseSigma   GTA HOME HUNT What can you rent for $2,000 in Toronto? A renovated basement apartment that may not be up to code Before the listing was terminated, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom basement apartment near Trinity Bellwoods Park was listed for $2,000. How does that compare to similar units in the market? Realtor Othneil Litchmore tells First Up’s Manuela Vega that while the price is in line with the trend in the area, this particular unit appears to be small, with low ceilings, and lacking natural light. In addition, the owner cannot guarantee the basement is a legal apartment, Litchmore said. Here’s how increasing mortgage rates affect basement apartments’ rental prices and tips for people searching for a similar unit.       POV     Emma Teitel: Toronto’s next mayor must regularly ride the TTC.   Susan Delacourt: “Freedom” has been a weaponized word. The Emergencies Act report finally tells us what it means. Ryan Norris: Highway 413: Want to talk stag and doe? Let’s focus on the real ones at risk.   Rick Salutin: What is this new epidemic of politicians quitting? Dicle Su Han: Violence on the TTC is a gender issue. Here's why we need a solution that is thoughtful, urgent, and gender-responsive.   Bob Aaron: Toronto has another vacant unit tax, and it’s complicated, scary even.       KNOW THIS Matthew and Chera Yorke It’s never too early to start making summer plans, and if you want to nab a coveted summer camping spot in one of Canada’s national parks, time is of the essence. In recent years, pandemic-fuelled demand has turned securing vacation sites and dates into a competitive sport. With reservations opening next month, Sarah Laing tells you everything you need to know about Parks Canada’s new booking system and how to secure a summer spot.     Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca, and I will 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 View in Browser Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 PRIVACY POLICY