MPs backed a motion on Palestinian statehood

Plus, The Ontario Line's latest casualties and a cop on trial for theft [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on a fight to recognize Palestinian statehood in the House of Commons, the latest casualty of the Ontario Line and the trial of a disgraced Toronto cop. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Spencer Colby federal politics [An NDP motion on Palestinian statehood passed after tense negotiations with Liberals]( Last night, MPs voted in favour of an NDP motion working “towards the establishment of the state of Palestine,” following an impassioned and highly politicized debate in the House of Commons — but stopped short of recognizing the “state of Palestine,” as the motion originally intended. Canada’s immediate support for an independent state of Palestine was considered unacceptable, but the amended terms allowed the Liberals to support the motion, Tonda MacCharles and Raisa Patel report. Also included in the motion was an amended call to “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel.” [Take a closer look at the details](. - More: The new resolution made no major change to Canada’s long-standing position on Palestinian statehood. But NDP leader Jagmeet Singh still claimed victory, saying: “The fundamental changes that we want were to make sure that there was an end of the sale of arms to Israel.” - Meanwhile: Incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa promised earlier today to [establish a technocratic government and independent trust fund for Gaza’s reconstruction](. But his Palestinian Authority government was driven out of the city by Hamas in 2007 and Israel staunchly opposes their return. - On the ground: [More than a million Gazans are now facing “catastrophic hunger” as famine — the “absolute inaccessibility of food” — appears imminent in the north of the enclave]( a new report finds. Steve Russell/The Star ontario line [Riverdale’s popular No Frills is closing as the Ontario Line continues to reshape the neighbourhood]( No signs are up at the busy No Frills that anchors the plaza at the Riverdale Shopping Centre, but word is getting around. The affordable grocery store — a fixture in the east end neighbourhood — will close its doors for good on April 20. It’s the latest of many changes made to make way for the Ontario Line, a 15.6-km subway line slated to open in 2030 at the earliest. Hundreds of locals expressed surprise and concern online, with one resident telling the Star’s Raju Mudhar: “People living on a fixed income are going to be the most affected and who knows when they will actually be done (construction)?” [Here’s what you need to know](. - Silver lining? A nearby Loblaws at Broadview and Danforth will be rebranded as a No Frills in May, but it’s a 30-minute walk from the Riverdale location. Other grocery stores in the area are smaller, farther away and more difficult to reach for those with mobility issues. - Another angle: The No Frills isn’t the Ontario Line’s only casualty. [Greektown locals previously mourned the closure of a beloved pastry shop that once served as a centrepiece for their community]( as well as numerous other businesses expropriated by Metrolinx. Steve Russell/The Star courts [A Toronto cop is on trial for taking credit cards and a luxury watch from dead people]( A Toronto police officer stole credit cards and a luxury Swiss watch from the people whose deaths he was investigating, had a stolen car for three months and abused police databases, prosecutors said at the trial of Const. Boris Borissov on Monday. The Crown is arguing Borissov, a 16-year veteran of the service, “used his position and powers as a police officer to commit several serious criminal offences.” He is facing a litany of charges related to five offences alleged to have occurred between 2020 and his arrest in 2022, Emily Fagan reports. [Here’s what to expect as the 15-day trial unfolds](. - Wait, what? Witness Amul Kumar described uncovering a pair of thefts when searching through the belongings of his dead brother, whose disappearance Borissov had been investigating. Missing was a luxury watch worth up to $10,000 — of which there appeared similar photos on Borissov’s cell phone. It has not been recovered. - Go deeper: Borissov has been suspended with pay since February 2022, [reviving the question of why it’s so hard to fire an Ontario cop](. Officers can only be cut off from their paycheques after being convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail time — leading some to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars while awaiting trial on serious offences, including murder. WHAT ELSE Justin Trudeau promised these groups a portion of the carbon rebate. [Five years later, they’re still waiting for money](. The TDSB is considering cuts to continuing education and other programs [as it faces a budget deficit](. Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre are [sharing their personal memories of Brian Mulroney](. As former prime minister Mulroney lies in state, [the public can begin paying their respects](. [Melissa Merritt has been found not guilty of murdering ex-mother-in-law]( while a mistrial has been declared in the Caleb Harrison murder. Don’t want to end up in a nursing or retirement home? [Some seniors are finding creative solutions — on their terms](. [The inflation rate for February is expected to rise slightly]( due to a hike in gas prices. A “perfect storm” of challenges saw [small business insolvencies skyrocket in Q4 last year](. [Carjackings have more than doubled]( in Toronto so far this year. This beloved Toronto dive bar has [closed after nearly 40 years in business](. With Kate Middleton still out of sight, Prince William is becoming the internet’s favourite villain. [Does he deserve it?]( Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is [opening up about her separation from Justin Trudeau](. POV Supplied Photo [My sister’s rights were taken away — just like thousands of others with developmental disabilities.]( CLOSE-UP Alastair Grant/AP Photo LONDON: Crowds flock to view the latest mural claimed by renowned graffiti artist Banksy. A mass of green was painted on a three-story building to appear like the foliage of a barren tree, while a stencilled person with a pressure hose stands nearby. 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_210717). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited digital and ePaper access Spring Sale: Only $1.25/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](