"Does the premier understand how bad this looks?"

Plus, warnings of election interference and the story of one woman resettling in Canada  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Manuela Vega   Happy Pink Shirt Day. Here’s how one act of kindness started the global movement. Here’s the latest on claims of foreign interference during the 2021 federal election, Doug Ford’s relationships with developers and one Ukrainian woman’s story of resettling in Canada.       DON’T MISS Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images   federal politics Conservatives debated going public with election misinformation warnings in 2021, insiders say  The Conservative party decided against publicly warning of potential foreign interference during the 2021 federal election, the Star has learned, not wanting to risk political backlash. Instead, the party sent compiled evidence to a security task force set up by the government to watch for election meddling, Stephanie Levitz reports. Amid revelations CSIS had a robust file on actions taken by Chinese-state actors, Conservatives want the federal government to address what happened. Take a closer look at the examples of misinformation they compiled. The aftermath: Justin Trudeau, who deflected questions, said Friday that Canadians can trust the outcome of the vote was not affected. Conservative sources told the Star Tuesday they don’t think the overall outcome felt the impact, either. Word from Chinese consulates: In Vancouver and Toronto, consulates denied any involvement, calling the allegations “absolutely groundless and fictitious.” Meanwhile: Is Pierre Poilievre taking a page out of Donald Trump’s playbook? Trudeau seems to think so.   Barry Gray/Hamilton Spectator   ontario politics Doug Ford is being grilled over his daughter’s stag-and-doe party Last summer, developers — who now stand to benefit from environmentally-sensitive lands being removed from the protected Greenbelt — attended a stag-and-doe party for the premier’s daughter. Facing questions about the controversy, Ford said his family “is separate from the political process,” adding that he went to the integrity commissioner, who found no violation based on the information he provided. Kristin Rushowy and Rob Ferguson report on the fire Ford is facing over his cosy relationship with developers. Context: Ford’s Progressive Conservative government removed 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt for housing in the GTA, but added 9,400 acres elsewhere to the protected land. Of the 15 parcels of land now open for development, eight were purchased since the PCs were elected in 2018, driving speculation that developers were given advance notice. Word from the Opposition: “It’s about accountability and the integrity of the office that he holds,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles said. “The government has a history of very specific land decisions that somehow end up benefiting their friends and their donors. Does the premier understand how bad this looks?” Meanwhile: Ontario’s health minister says patients will be protected from paying extra health fees. But critics say the safeguards being introduced aren’t strong enough to back that promise.   Steve Russell/The Star   war in ukraine She left her home, her heart and her husband-turned-soldier in Ukraine — here’s what she found in Canada Kateryna Liubchyk and her family had a safe home in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine. Then, on Feb. 24, 2022, the bombs began to fall. She fled with her three-year-old daughter as her husband was called to military duty. After a family friend from Brampton reached out to offer help, Kateryna moved to Canada. But first, she had to move to Poland, where the closest fully functioning Canadian visa office was. Allan Woods reports on the life-saving and life-altering story of her family. More: While transitioning to Canada, Kateryna began to speak to her daughter in English. “I was trying to teach her faster, but she was getting so mad at me,” she said. “Everything has changed so much for her, and if Mama starts speaking English, too, it’s scary for her. She wants her mom to at least be the same.” By the numbers: Canada created an emergency program to grant Ukrainians temporary resident status and work permits for up to three years. According to government figures, it has approved more than 540,000 applications of the nearly 840,000 it has received.       WHAT ELSE   Who’ll replace John Tory? These city councillors, MPPs and an ex-police chief are considering joining the mayoral race.   A court refused to hear an Indigenous group’s appeal, paving the way for Osgoode Hall’s trees to come down. Here’s what comes next. The Tseshaht First Nation has announced the detection of 17 suspected unmarked graves near a B.C. residential school.   Mike Schreiner has rejected Liberal pleas to run for leader, saying Ontario needs a “Green voice.” This spring, expect a jump in housing sales, an increase in supply — and dark clouds to linger over Toronto’s market.   Stephen Lecce is slamming the Halton school board for its handling of the teacher dress code controversy. After spending millions to maintain an empty housing complex, TCHC now wants to tear it down.   Air Canada is testing facial recognition for the first time in Toronto and Vancouver airports. Here’s what we know. The wave of consolidation continues with another small internet provider being sold to big telecom.   Could it be? A Polish woman claiming to be missing British child Madeleine McCann is going viral. Is there glass in your wine? LCBO is recalling this brand of red wine.   An unexpected soup, spicy tofu and more easy meals to cook this week.       POV Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld Althia Raj: Trudeau’s health minister says the new deal can get every Canadian a family doctor — and tackling for-profit care is next.       YOU'RE UP Supplied Photo   QUEBEC: First Up reader Sheila Eskenazi sent us this photo she captured in mid-January from her kitchen window in Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides. At the time, the snow was sitting on the trees across the lake as the sun rose behind her house. Thank you, Sheila, and to everyone who sent us photos of their morning view!     Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I’ll 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 Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 PRIVACY POLICY