Your morning briefing

Headlines

The Toronto Star examines the trauma and hardship front-line overdose prevention workers face on a daily basis, and asks the question: they save thousands of lives, but who’s saving theirs? Toronto’s Board of Health called on the Doug Ford government to “provide dedicated bereavement and trauma supports for frontline harm reduction workers, family members, and others impacted by the opioid poisoning crisis," the Star writes, but workers have resorted to crowdfunding campaigns to ensure the most basic of trauma care. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care told the Star it is “committed to supporting front-line harm reduction workers” and others hit by the crisis.

The union that represents staff in Thunder Bay hospitals is asking the government for more long-term funding, saying the city will be short 80 beds and 500 hospital staff by 2024, CBC reports. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions — a division of CUPE — said the government's projected 1.8 per cent average annual spending increases until 2023-24 are not sufficient to maintaining an acceptable quality of care, CBC reports. A spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott told CBC that CUPE's numbers were "unrealistic and misleading," saying that the regional health sciences centre will see a $10.6 million increase in base funding this year.

In case you missed our stories Friday:

• Education minister announces revised career studies course with focus on financial literacy and social media usage
• OPG continues U.S. expansion with Cube Hydro purchase, regulatory approvals remain
• In Brief: The talk radio premier, a new Hydro One board chair and employment services overhaul pilot communities

In other news:

New Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano wants to show kids there's reason to stay in the city, the Sault Star reports.

The Star spends a day in TTC ticket court, where alleged fare-skippers go to plead their cases.

The Near North District School Board scrapped an international baccalaureate program in the name of efficiencies, the North Bay Nugget reports.

A judge certified the class-action negligence lawsuit that seeks compensation for residents displaced from Toronto's 650 Parliament St. building after a fire in August 2018, the Toronto Star reports.

The Hamilton Spectator has a rundown of the violence and aftermath after far-right agitators descended on a pride parade in the city last month.

CUPE and the City of Greater Sudbury are nearing an "impasse" in contract negotiations for over 1,500 City employees, the Sudbury Star reports.

A group of Indigenous drummers returned Tuesday to a Toronto park after being confronted by older men who took issue with their music, the Canadian Press reports.

And in the opinion pages:

• David Olive writes that Sidewalk Labs' failure to address key issues means it won't happen.
• Richard Florida, professor at University of Toronto’s School of Cities, says Sidewalk's project is right for Toronto, while Julie Beddoes, a waterfront resident and member of #BlockSidewalk, argues it isn't.
• A family doctor writes that cuts to legal aid will harm the health of marginalized people.
• A retired physician of 40 years argues Ontario health quality will suffer under the Peoples Health Act.
• The director of the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic makes the case for new Attorney General Doug Downey to reverse legal aid cuts.

Events

9:30 a.m.

The Prime Minister will participate in a roundtable discussion with Muslim community leaders. Toronto. Closed to media.

11 a.m.

Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, will make an announcement. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. 401 Smyth Rd., Ottawa.