Realtors think there are too many realtors

Plus, responsibility for Canada’s falling fertility rate, the PWHL makes history and what happened to Tim Horton’s car [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Edward Keenan was in the building for last night’s historic PWHL game at Scotiabank Arena — the largest attendance in women’s hockey history. [Toronto’s fledgling squad has already given fans something the Maple Leafs never could](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Lance McMillan/Toronto Star Real Estate [Toronto’s real estate slowdown kicked 45,000 realtors to the curb but there are still too many agents]( During the pandemic, the number of real estate agents and brokers surged in Ontario, stoking competitive bidding wars over limited housing stock. When interest rates rose and sales commissions plummeted, many rookie realtors fled in droves, Clarrie Feinstein reports. With the Bank of Canada eying rate cuts, some novices might return. [Here’s why that’s bad for buyers and the industry](. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star Families [They can’t afford to have kids and live in Toronto — but it isn’t their fault]( Rachel Cairns is sick of hearing that “there’s never a perfect time” to have kids. If they could afford to, she and partner Will would love to get started. But today’s cost of child-rearing, about $455,000, based on StatCan’s 2017 findings, has practically made having kids a luxury item for the affluent. In her own words, Rachel makes the case for [sharing responsibility for reversing Canada’s falling fertility rate](. Denis Kaminev Global Politics [How world leaders reacted to the sudden death of Putin critic leader]( His wife says she isn’t sure what to believe. The Kremlin claims it’s investigating the incident. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the news “tragic and horrifying.” The confirmation that Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and staunch Vladimir Putin critic who died in jail at age 47 this week, has shaken the political landscape the world over. Kevin Jiang takes us through [the outpouring of reaction to the news](. Hamilton Spectator file photo CANADIAN ICON [How parts from Tim Horton’s tragic wreck wound up at a Halifax raceway]( Before his name became synonymous with coffee, it was cars that fuelled hockey legend Tim Horton. To convince him to delay retirement, the Buffalo Sabres gave the defenceman $150,000 and a De Tomaso Ford Pantera — the very sports car Horton was driving during his fatal crash 50 years ago this week. Conventional wisdom is that the wreck was crushed to stymie souvenir-seekers. Not true, Edward Brown discovered. [Here’s what happened to the most infamous car in hockey history](. Supplied Movie Magic [They’re not Hollywood’s “sex police”; here’s why intimacy co-ordinators are now standard on set]( Industry vet Mattea Kennedy explains that intimacy co-ordination is a lot like stunt work, where communication and choreography help maintain the safety of all performers. As told to Briony Smith, Kennedy details her transition into intimacy co-ordination — [including one class where “the whole room was like one giant clothed round-robin simulated orgy.]( WATCH THIS Netflix via AP Pulling double duty, Briony Smith also breaks down the slate of streaming options this week. From the surreal comedic stylings of “The Vince Staples Show” (Netflix) to the sci-fi mystery “Constellation” (Apple TV Plus), [there’s something for everyone](. Thanks for reading — and thanks to the streaming gods for gracing us with a TV special called "Dolly Parton's Pet Gala." 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_209065), and I will see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited access to the Star 50% off sale: Only $1.20/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. 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. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](