How involved was Ford's office in the Greenbelt scandal?

Plus, boycotting Loblaw and the Toronto police promotional scandal [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the Greenbelt, the Loblaw boycott and a promotional scandal within Toronto police. DON’T MISS John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator provincial politics [Newly released records reignite questions about the involvement of Ford’s office in the Greenbelt scandal]( Although the premier’s office has maintained it had no direct role in the selection of land to be removed from the protected Greenbelt, newly released documents are calling that claim into question. According to records obtained by the Ontario NDP through freedom of information legislation, a member of Ford’s office attended a private meeting with a developer regarding his land that was later removed from the Greenbelt. Internal emails show that within days of the meeting, housing ministry staff were actively researching the parcel of land in Hamilton before selecting it for Greenbelt removal, Sheila Wang and Noor Javed report. [Here’s what else the documents reveal](. - Context: The meeting is mentioned in a trove of some 4,000 pages of private emails, text messages and more internal documents obtained by the Ontario NDP. - More: In October, Ecojustice and Environmental Defence released records they had obtained through freedom of information, [showing how political staff directed bureaucrats on municipal boundary changes, often ignoring expert advice](. Canadian Press/Aaron Vincent Elkaim business [The Loblaw boycott isn’t hurting sales, suppliers say — in fact the grocer’s share price just hit a new high]( More than a week into the Loblaw boycott, protestors’ efforts don’t seem to be making a dent in the grocery giant’s sales, Jake Edmiston reports. While executives at four major food companies told the Star they haven’t noticed an impact on sales so far, Loblaw shares traded above $156 this week — an all-time high. [Regardless, some insiders warn that Loblaw and its rivals shouldn’t get too comfortable](. - Go deeper: Gillian Kerr, a consultant and former marketing executive at major grocery chains, said it would take a significant drop in sales for stores to decrease their orders. Instead, she said, if traffic dipped, the first thing stores would do is cut staff hours. - ICYMI: If you’ve had enough of high food costs, [here are some Toronto alternatives to the big grocery chains](. - Meanwhile: The federal industry minister says he secretly visited a foreign grocer that’s considering a move to Canada. [We analyzed his recent trips to try to figure out which chain he’s eyeing](. Steve Russell/The Star policing [Cheating was an open secret within Toronto police, Stacy Clarke says, acknowledging “this is not an excuse”]( Supt. Stacy Clarke has admitted to taking photographs of confidential interview questions and sending them to six Black constables who were vying for a promotion to sergeant, Wendy Gillis reports. But at her police disciplinary tribunal on Thursday, she stressed that it wasn’t the first time an officer gave their preferred candidates a prohibited leg up. [Here’s why the highest-ranking Black woman in Toronto police history says she committed professional misconduct](. - Go deeper: Clarke told the tribunal that racialized officers believe the promotional playing field is skewed away from Black candidates. She pointed to a 2022 Deloitte report that found “a clear perception” among officers that discrimination regularly occurs. - Watch for: Prosecutors are seeking a significant demotion for Clarke, knocking her down two ranks for a year to staff sergeant, then down one rank for another year, to inspector. She would have to reapply for the superintendent rank. - Rosie DiManno’s take: [Clarke’s hearing shows the tension between historic injustices and current betrayal](. WHAT ELSE Once seen as a rising star for the Conservatives, [this former columnist has dropped out of a “highly unethical” nomination race](. The Green Party tried to move past an internal rift with a new leadership model. [Behind the scenes, members are pushing back](. After Conservative MPs attended an anti-abortion rally, [a Trudeau cabinet minister shared her raw, personal story](. Doug Ford’s post-secondary education minister is [calling on universities to clear out pro-Palestinian demonstrators](. Advocates say hybrid work is “a gift” for working mothers carrying the bulk of unpaid care. [Here’s why it may never be perfect](. [York’s public school board has adopted the Star of David]( as a symbol of Judaism following backlash. [Rex Murphy, a long-time CBC radio host and National Post columnist, has died at 77](. Drake has posted on social media for the [first time since the shooting outside his home](. An abandoned puppy was found in a bag hanging from a tree. [Now, her new owner wants answers](. A Toronto man has admitted to killing and decapitating his mom — [but says it wasn’t murder](. You can drink in 45 Toronto parks this summer. [Here's a map of where it will be allowed](. Toronto ranks among the wealthiest cities in the world. [Here’s how many millionaires live here](. POV Scott Garfitt/AP Photo [In the Drake vs. Kendrick beef, the fans are the real losers.]( CLOSE-UP Nick Lachance/The Star TORONTO: Speaking with the media Monday, Sheldon Keefe takes responsibility for another disappointing Maple Leafs post-season. [Now, the head coach has been fired as the Leafs search for “a new voice.”]( 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_213525). Andrew will see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited digital and ePaper access Newsletter exclusive offer: Now only $49.99 for 1 year [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](