Employers are turning to foreign workers to fill the labour gap. But there’s a problem.

Plus, here’s what the first cohort of Syrian refugees is saying about life in Canada [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. [TTC workers are reporting an increase in violent incidents on the transit system](. A new survey found that many workers have experienced workplace violence and harassment in recent months. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Amber Bracken/For the Toronto Star Business [Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker program is ballooning, but workers say they’re abused and poorly paid. Is that the solution we want?]( To address a record-high number of job vacancies amidst the pandemic, the federal government increased the number of migrant workers a company can hire from 10 per cent of its workforce to 20 per cent. While the change has helped businesses, many migrant workers are abused, mistreated, and threatened with deportation if they complain. Ghada Alsharif reports on the impact of the loosened restrictions and [how it’s creating a rapidly-growing second tier of workers without the same fundamental rights and protections that resident workers have](. Loseth family/Facebook health [At least three children in Canada have died from Strep A. Here’s what you need to know as infections rise]( Montreal’s public health authority reported the city has seen four cases of invasive group A streptococcal virus infections since mid-November, and two children have died after infection. A third death also occurred in British Columbia. The World Health Organization also published an update on the increased incidence of scarlet fever and Strep A infections in at least five countries. Joanna Chiu and Alessia Passafiume break down [everything we know about the respiratory virus and why it’s difficult to determine how many cases of Strep A are circulating in Canada](. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press immigration [Here’s how Syrian refugees who came to Canada say they’re doing today]( During a national resettlement project between 2015 and 2016, Canada welcomed 25,000 Syrians refugees. A recent survey found that 93 per cent feel moving to Canada was the right thing to do. Nine in 10 describe their current life positively, feeling safe, secure, and accepted by their local community, reports Nicholas Keung. However, many still struggle with finding gainful employment, while most admit they are financially stretched. [Here’s what the first cohort of refugees have to say about their life in Canada seven years later](. Steve Russell/Toronto Star Provincial politics [Here’s what legal experts are saying about the Ford government’s plans for the next chief justice — none of it is good]( Opposition voices and the legal community are warning that the selection process for the next chief justice presents a “glaring red flag” that highlights the need for an independent appointment system. Jacques Gallant reported on Thursday that Attorney General Doug Downey told the nearly 300 judges of the Ontario Court of Justice that he wants those interested in the top job to apply directly to him by January via a special email address that only he will have access to. [Here’s why one opposition party member is calling the move a “politicization of the judicial system]( Lars Hagberg/AFP via Getty Images Climate [Canada is reaching for its wallet again at the COP15 biodiversity summit]( Tensions over who should bear the financial burden of a plan to save the planet’s vanishing biodiversity played out at the United Nations nature summit in Montreal. The issue has dogged climate talks for years, with developing countries saying richer countries should pay more for their higher burden of protecting nature. In response, Canada announced Friday that it would pay up $255 million in new funding for nature conservation in developing countries. That’s on top of the $350 million that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged in the early days of the summit to help poorer nations with conservation efforts. Kate Allen and Alex Ballingall explain [what the funding announcement could mean for Canada’s conservation efforts at home](. POV Andrew Phillips: [There are too many warning signs on medically assisted dying. The government is right to hit pause](. John Beebe: Doug Ford’s Bill 39 is a particular affront to democracy. [Here’s why we should be worried](. Michael Goodspeed: Ignored by a succession of governments, [Canada’s military is now a tiny, underequipped, and demoralized force that can no longer maintain the bogus peacekeeping myth](. Shree Paradkar: [Here are the Harry & Meghan doc’s real lessons on racism](. Martin Regg Cohn: I was accused of inciting hatred, persecution, and violence. Why? [For asking the government to impose a vaccine mandate mid-pandemic](. Kevin Maimann: Leaving Toronto for Edmonton? [You have nothing to lose but your chain restaurants](. READ THIS Royal Wood This year, the housing market saw everything, including major shifts in mortgage rates and home prices. For those who continue to navigate these changes, Joe Richer’s list of top tips is probably the most important end-of-year list you’ll read. From reviewing your local market to poring over the fine print, [here’s the best advice for home buyers and sellers](. Thanks for reading. You can reach 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_158904), 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]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](