Toronto is suing developers for a $200,000 bill

Plus, here’s how race and disability determine whether TDSB graduates go on to college or university. [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning, I’m filling in for Manuela today. Here’s the latest on Toronto’s pollution problems, a new lawsuit against condo developers and disparities in post-secondary education. DON’T MISS Steve Russell/Toronto Star CLIMATE CRISIS [Toronto city council voted against more gas-plant production but Ontario is making it happen anyway]( The province is greenlighting a production boost at the Portlands gas plant, which would worsen air pollution downtown and ramp up Toronto’s carbon emissions. The announcement comes despite a provincial pledge to seek local approval before proceeding, just days after city council passed a motion against any new natural-gas generation. “It’s not really the direction we should be going in the climate crisis,” one councillor said. [Marco Chown Oved reports on the clash and its consequences for Toronto]( which has promised to reach net zero by 2040. - Context: The Portlands plant is one of six (including two others in the GTA) tapped to help curb Toronto’s expected electricity shortfall in the hottest days of summer. The plant also had its contract extended by five years, until April 2034. - Go deeper: [Ontario is ramping up natural gas production in the short term]( despite announcing contracts for seven new grid-scale batteries meant for renewable energy. Some clean-energy advocates are scratching their heads: “We are concerned they could be charged with gas plants (instead of wind and solar),” one source said. - More: Sources note this is the latest in a pattern of the province overruling Toronto, like with the [Ontario Science Centre]( or [ministerial zoning orders](. Lance McMillan/Toronto Star star exclusive [The city claims developers skipped the bill on necessary repairs to a Toronto shelter]( Toronto was left holding the bill for $200,000 in remediation work to protect a women’s shelter from neighbouring condo developments, according to a lawsuit filed in Ontario superior court. The city alleges the condo companies agreed to “fully compensate the City” for the necessary work to comply with the provincial building code and protect the YWCA shelter from the increased snow drift from its new, taller neighbours. The companies being sued, Freed Developments Ltd. and 346 Davenport (Yorkville) Developments Ltd., called the city’s claims “false accusations” and [filed a court notice of intent to defend, writes Rachel Mendleson](. - Why it matters: Toronto is in dire financial straits, [facing a $1 billion budget shortfall](. “We can’t walk away from this money,” the councillor for the area said, adding that conflicts with developers often arise out of miscommunication. “I can’t imagine that they’re going to stiff us for this amount of money, but if they do, the lawsuit will go ahead.” - The response: A lawyer representing the companies said their clients deny all allegations. Some defendants appeared to be surprised: “We have no knowledge of these false accusations nor have we been served,” one architect told the Star. Joseph Sohm/Dreamstime/TNS education [Here’s how race and disability play a factor in which TDSB high school graduates go on to post-secondary]( A student’s race and disability may factor into their moving onto university or college after high school, according to a new report analyzing 10 years of Toronto District School Board data. The “deeply concerning” findings show students from marginalized racial groups or with disabilities advanced to post-secondary education at a lower rate than their peers. Higher education often leads to better pay and greater happiness, sources say: “We need to be concerned when historically marginalized groups are disproportionately winding up on a pathway that does not lead to post-secondary.” [Isabel Teotonio dives into the findings and what they mean](. - By the numbers: 16 per cent of surveyed students didn’t move onto post-secondary education. Demographically, 20 per cent of Black students, 25 per cent of Latin American students, 21 per cent of mixed-race students and 23 per cent of students with disabilities did not. Although 22 per cent of white students didn’t either, sources say white boys are far more likely to land high-paying apprenticeships. - Context: An expert says racialized students can face systemic barriers in education, from a curriculum that doesn’t support their aspirations, teachers who don’t understand their experiences or stereotypes about what they are and aren’t good at. WHAT ELSE Olivia Chow remains the frontrunner in Toronto’s mayoral race. [Will there be an “anybody but Chow” movement]( More than half of condo investors are losing money. [Here’s what that means for renters](. Hitler, hockey, slavery and a street preacher: [What has heated up Alberta’s election campaign so far](. What would you do as the Maple Leafs GM? We asked hundreds of fans and [here are their answers, from reasonable to outlandish](. These seniors stayed in Ukraine’s war zone as thousands fled. [Here’s how they survived and why they won’t leave](. [How much will you need to retire comfortably]( Here’s how to calculate it, based on your personal situation. Thousands were evacuated and dozens of homes were destroyed as [fast-moving wildfires engulf Halifax neighbourhoods](. [This single mom was $22,000 in line of credit debt but she learned to dig her way out](. How [Canada’s 3X3 women’s basketball team finally got the backing]( to match its global profile. [Floridians are divided between Donald Trump and Ron Desantis]( in the Republican nomination race for president. Hamilton police are investigating after a [Stoney Creek couple was shot dead in a “landlord-tenant dispute]( [The Raptors head to the final stage of their head coach search and are close to a hire]( NBA sources say. POV Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press [Furor over the Johnston report eclipses the real threat — escalation of foreign interference.]( CLOSE-UP Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star TORONTO: [A flight attendant pleads for help at a simulated plane crash scenario]( involving about 400 members of the airport community and volunteers at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The annual Greater Toronto Airports Authority emergency exercise took place over the weekend. 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_184116). Manuela will see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited access to the Star Limited time sale: Only $1/week for 52 weeks [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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