Something about Ford’s Greenbelt plan “smells fishy”

Plus, police fumble a gun case and Zellers is back  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Manuela Vega   Good morning. Here’s the latest on the plans to develop the Greenbelt, why a judge tossed a firearm case and the revival of Zellers.       DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Giordano Ciampini   ontario politics Ontario’s integrity commissioner and auditor are going to investigate Doug Ford’s Greenbelt development plan Amid concerns that developers were secretly tipped off, two provincial watchdog agencies have separately confirmed they are set to probe the Ford government’s controversial plans to build housing on the environmentally sensitive Greenbelt, Rob Ferguson reports. Opposition parties sounded the alarm in recent weeks following a Toronto Star/Narwhal investigation that found eight of the 15 areas of the Greenbelt set to be developed have been purchased since Ford's Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018. Here’s why the NDP’s incoming leader Marit Stiles says “something smells fishy.” Context: Stiles questioned why “powerful landowners with donor and political ties to the Ontario PC Party” would think to purchase the land at a time when the premier was assuring the public that the government would not touch the Greenbelt. Wait, what? These are the developers who stand to profit from the development of the Greenbelt. More: During his November announcement, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark refused to say “no” when asked repeatedly if developers were tipped to the opening of Greenbelt lands for housing. The next day he insisted no tips were provided. Sarah Harmer’s take: The fight over the indefensible Greenbelt land grab is not over.   Melissa Renwick/The Star   courts A judge has tossed a gun case over Toronto police delays “bordering on negligent” Richard MacMillan was arrested in April 2021 after being accused of pointing a gun during an altercation at a man walking his dog. Police got a search warrant for his home and subsequently charged him with eight firearm-related offences. But now, a judge is tossing those charges — and says Toronto police are to blame. Officers took between six months and more than a year to deliver evidence they had since making the arrest, Judge Hafeez Amarshi said in his decision, which pushed the trial past a Supreme Court-imposed limit for allowable delay. Jacques Gallant reports on what the judge says is “among the worst of disclosure-delayed matters” in his court. More: “The public would be understandably dismayed that serious cases are at jeopardy of never being heard on their merits because of police indifference and apparent apathy towards their basic disclosure obligations,” Amarshi wrote. By the numbers: Amarshi noted that by the anticipated end of MacMillan’s trial on Feb. 14, it would have been more than 22 months since his arrest. The Supreme Court has said that provincial court cases must be completed within 18 months.   Graham Paine/Metroland   business Hudson’s Bay has revived Zellers across Canada — but not in downtown Toronto The Bay’s long-dormant discount retailer is making a comeback with 25 upcoming locations — but good luck finding one in the city. Across the GTA, the only locations will be in the Hudson’s Bay stores at the Scarborough Town Centre and the Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga. Josh Rubin reports on the plans — and potential challenges — ahead. More: The number of stores being introduced shows that this is more than just a token effort to revitalize a brand that Hudson’s Bay filed a lawsuit to protect in 2021, said retail industry analyst Lisa Hutcheson. Context: Zellers was founded in 1931 in London, Ont. At its peak in the 1990s, it had 350 stores before closing in 2013. From 2013 until 2020, The Bay operated three Zellers-branded stores as clearance outlets for the department store.       WHAT ELSE   Justin Trudeau won’t commit to tanks requested by Ukraine as Canada sends the country 200 armoured vehicles.   The Ontario Hospital Association says staff poaching is its top concern about new private surgical centres. Afghan girls are turning to online education, with some help from Canadians.   The warnings about Doug Ford and private health care are coming true. “I had no hand in causing his death.” An inquest into an immigration detainee’s death heard an interview that contradicts previous evidence.   Being a parent of a disabled child means finances can be tight. The perfect storm of inflation and government shortfalls is making it worse. This Toronto arena was closed over fears its roof might collapse — the result of years of dedicated neglect by the city.   When it comes to tackling climate change, a new report finds Canada’s biggest pension funds don’t make the grade. New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation as prime minister. Here’s what she had to say about the challenges.   Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov’s refusal to wear a themed jersey for Pride Night shows us why we need to keep fighting. Postmedia is moving 12 Alberta newspapers to digital-only and laying off workers.   The Sundance Film Festival is going hybrid. Look out for these buzzy films and panels.       ICYMI Jim Rankin/The Star A U of T student alleges he was Tasered, handcuffed and thrown to the ground in a case of “mistaken identity.”        CLOSE-UP Steve Russell/The Star   UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO: Anishinaabe artist Quinn Hopkins sits in front of his completed mural at U of T’s Hart House. In contrast to the long history of exclusion at the student activity centre, this is how his mural depicts a new way forward.     Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I’ll see you back here tomorrow.   Get digital access and ePaper $0.35/day: Save 54% on an annual subscription 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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