The inside story of Project Sindacato's breakdown

Plus, Toronto police chief's Zameer trial comments and the Queen's Park kaffiyeh ban [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the failed case against an alleged mob family, the police chief’s comments on the Umar Zameer verdict and the kaffiyeh ban at Queen’s Park DON’T MISS Steve Somerville/Torstar star investigation [Inside the decision to stay charges in the “biggest mafia takedown” in York Region’s history]( York Regional Police officers spent three years on Project Sindacato, building a case against the alleged Figliomeni crime family. In that time, Robert Cribb reports, they gathered 1.5 million wiretapped communications. But among those communications were conversations between suspects and their lawyers — which the defence argued amounted to an illegal infringement of privacy. In 2021, prosecutors formally stayed the charges against the alleged mobster, crushing what police had hoped to be a landmark prosecution. [Has Canada “become a safe zone for the world’s most notorious crime groups”?]( - Context: [A recent investigation revealed the mob organization had allegedly infiltrated Canadian banks.]( - More: “(I was) just feeling sick about how this impacts on the community. This individual will once again not be held accountable with everything that’s happening in the region of York and outside,” said York police’s former head of organized crime and intelligence. - Another angle: “These decisions to stay proceedings because of error, carelessness or downright dishonesty, these are decisions that are not lightly made,” said a senior Toronto criminal lawyer and former federal Crown prosecutor who was not involved in Project Sindacato. Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov policing [Toronto’s police chief walked back his comments on the Umar Zameer verdict]( After saying he’d been “hoping for a different outcome” following Umar Zameer’s acquittal on Sunday, Toronto police chief Myron Demkiw walked back his remarks, which critics had blasted as sending a “dangerous” message that risked undermining the justice system, Wendy Gillis reports. Demkiw stopped short, however, of criticizing or apologizing for his predecessor’s comments in 2021 that Zameer’s actions in the death of Const. Jeffrey Northrup were “intentional” and “deliberate.” [Here’s what Demkiw had to say and why some observers don’t think he went far enough](. - More: The Zameer case shows how [undercover officers can create a dangerous situation for the public — and themselves]( Patrick G. Watson writes. - Word from Queen’s Park: Doug Ford said he was working with “limited information” when [he posted a controversial tweet in 2021 slamming Zameer’s bail](. - Star Editorial Board: Const. Jeffrey Northrup’s death was a tragedy. [Why did the case even make it to court?]( - Meanwhile: [The fundraiser to cover Zameer’s legal fees has soared past its $200,000 target](. Nick Lachance/The Star ontario politics [Progressive Conservative MPPs have blocked another attempt to overturn the kaffiyeh ban]( For the second time in less than a week, NDP Leader Marit Stiles failed to get unanimous consent to overturn Speaker Ted Arnott’s ban on the Palestinian kaffiyeh at Queen’s Park. Despite all four party leaders urging that the scarves be permitted, at least six Progressive Conservative MPPs voted on Tuesday to oppose lifting of the ban, Robert Benzie and Kristin Rushowy report. Still, Independent MPP Sarah Jama put on a kaffiyeh in the chamber, where the Speaker later said he hadn’t noticed her move. [Here’s what MPPs for and against the ban had to say](. - More: Veteran Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean) said she opposed Stiles’ motion because “it’s divisive, it’s antisemitic, it’s insulting at Passover.” - Meanwhile: Dania Majid, the president of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, was denied entry to Queen’s Park because she was wearing a kaffiyeh. She said “anti-Palestinian racism” is at play and noted she has worn the kaffiyeh on multiple occasions to represent her identity and culture. WHAT ELSE Poilievre’s Conservatives have reached their highest-ever lead over Trudeau’s Liberals in a new poll. [These graphics lay out the numbers](. A tabloid publisher pledged to be the Trump campaign’s “eyes and ears” during his 2016 presidential campaign. [Here’s what he promised Trump](. For Danielle Smith, even federal research grants to universities are [part of a Liberal plot to ruin Alberta](. U.S. student protests take aim at colleges’ financial ties with Israel. [Police are now making arrests across the country](. [These changes in eating habits can be a warning sign of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease]( experts say. Realtors are watching for an “uptick” in cottage listings as [owners try to sell before the capital gains changes kick in](. Police believe some gold from the Pearson heist was [melted in the basement of a Toronto-area jewellery store](. Your rent payments may soon count toward your credit score. [Here’s why tenant advocates are very concerned](. A tale meant to uplift “a mother who feels like she’s failing” has [taken first place in the Star’s Short Story Contest](. Meta’s AI is on your Facebook and Instagram now. [Here’s how it works and how to turn it off](. A new food hall is opening in Toronto’s Eaton Centre today. [Here’s what to expect](. Most GO bus schedules are changing this weekend. [These are the affected routes](. POV Canadian Press/Heywood Yu [You're about to hear Justin Trudeau on a lot more popular podcasts. Here's what's behind it.]( CLOSE-UP AFP via Getty Images GAZA: People rush to humanitarian aid packages dropped over the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. A humanitarian crisis continues in the Palestinian territory while more than 34,000 people have been killed and 80 per cent of the population has been displaced by Israel’s ongoing siege. [Here’s the latest](. Before I go, the April 14 edition of First Up said there were less than two weeks to go until the deadline for most Canadians to file their taxes, when there were just over two weeks to go. Remember to file your taxes by April 30. 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_212710). 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. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](