How a Toronto ferry crash went unreported

Plus, Poilievre's problematic nickname and a home construction crackdown [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on how a ferry crashed into an airport, Pierre Poilievre’s potentially problematic nicknaming and a historic home construction crackdown. DON’T MISS Steve Russell/The Star star exclusive [The city didn’t report a ferry’s crash into an airport runway ]( The federal authority that owns and operates Billy Bishop Airport didn’t know that a city ferry had crashed into one of its runways in April. The city blamed heavy fog for the crash of the Thomas Rennie, a ferry carrying 16 people, while an expert told the Star it “never should have happened.” [Here’s why it did]( - Mixed signals: The city reported the accident to Canada’s Transportation Safety Board but neither Billy Bishop nor the public were informed. - Ferry tale: Toronto’s ferries have hit some turbulent waters in recent years. In 2022, a ferry crashed into the Jack Layton docks, injuring 20 passengers and prompting a $2-million lawsuit. [A report released last month blamed the crash on safety failures](. Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz federal politics [Is Pierre Poilievre’s nickname for Jagmeet Singh racist?]( A Liberal minister is going after Pierre Poilievre for his use of the “Sellout Singh” nickname he coined for the NDP leader. “Singh” is a name given to all practicing Sikh men as a symbol of equality in their faith. Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan said Poilievre’s use of the nickname was “absolutely offensive” and “racist” — an allegation the Tories reject. [How did this war of accusations even start? Mark Ramzy explains](. - The defence: “If Sellout Jagmeet Singh wants to shake the name, he can commit today to voting down the costly NDP-Liberal coalition to trigger a carbon tax election,” a spokesperson for Poilievre said. - Singh says: Not much about the nickname, but he did go after Poilievre for his habit of resorting to personal attacks instead of critiquing policy. - Bigger fish: Singh is more focused on cementing his party’s position on the war in Gaza, [which will soon be put to the test in a Montreal byelection](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star real estate [Ontario’s regulator slapped Albion with a long list of charges]( The Home Construction Regulatory Authority has laid 124 charges against Albion Building Consultant Inc. for illegally building and selling homes — and it gets worse. In its largest investigation ever, the regulator is seeking a restraining order to prevent the builder from “further violating the law.” [Still, it’s no surprise that the charges were incoming — Albion’s has a sordid history](. - Hammered home: The charges laid by the regulator include illegal building and selling, failure to enrol homes, failure to comply with conditions and being a party to an offence. - A warning: “We advise all consumers to be on the lookout and extremely cautious of Albion falsely presenting itself as a licensed builder, which it is not,” the regulator added. “They are not qualified or authorized to build or sell homes.” WHAT ELSE [This is the main sticking point for Air Canada pilots]( as they prepare to walk off the job. [Doug Ford has pledged jobs]( for uprooted Ontario Science Centre workers. ☝️Speaking of strikes, couriers and clerks who handle your blood test samples are [poised to hit the picket lines](. [Rogers and TTC ending free Wi-Fi in subway stations]( will widen the “digital divide,” critics say. A Toronto teacher was fired after sharing pro-Palestinian views. [Now she’s filing a wrongful termination suit](. An Italian art collector thought he got a Canadian portrait of Winston Churchill for a steal — [turns out it was, literally](. TIFF says it’s pausing screenings of this controversial documentary [due to “significant threats.”]( What’s better for you, sugar or its alternatives? [Why we’ve spent 100 years trying to figure it out](. After winning bronze at the Olympics Alysha Newman hopes to help other amateur athletes — [with a little help from her OnlyFans](. Should you tip at a fast-food restaurant? [Here’s what Canadians told a survey](. What are you up to this weekend? [Take a peek at the forecast before heading out](. 👉 and here’s what you need to know about [weekend road and transit closures](. POV Susan Kao/The Star [We must seek justice and accountability for Neveah — for the next child’s sake.]( CLOSE-UP Nick Kozak for The Star TARRAGON THEATRE: More than a hobby or a job, the stage is where members of a Brampton theatre troupe want to be. [Joshua Chong follows them from the books, to rehearsal, to the stage, to understand why they keep performing](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_2103). Andrew will see you back here tomorrow. Get [thestar.com]( + ePaper edition. Only $1 for 6 months! Save over $100. [Get This Offer]( 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. 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