Traitors in the House? Not according to Elizabeth May

Plus, bad news for TTC bus riders and the bylaw threatening a small business [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on foreign interference in Parliament, bad news for bus riders and zoning rules threatening a beloved corner store. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld foreign interference [Elizabeth May saw no evidence traitors are sitting in the Commons after reading a top-secret report]( The first party leader beside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to view the unredacted version of a report alleging MPs are knowingly complicit in foreign interference said none of the “few” officials named are being disloyal to Canada, Stephanie Levitz reports. But while Elizabeth May said she was “relieved” by what she saw, there are still details in the document that must be addressed — like investigating and prosecuting a former, unnamed MP the report accused of providing Canadian intelligence to a foreign government, May said yesterday. She’s now calling for party leaders to review the report, instead of letting the issue devolve into a “witch hunt.” [Here’s what we know so far](. - Context: The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ report looked at six years’ worth of intelligence into foreign meddling. Its most shocking revelation [suggested some parliamentarians were “semi-witting or witting” participants in foreign interference](. - Wait, what? Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre refused to be briefed on the document, saying he does not want to be sworn to secrecy. But he would be allowed to name the MPs involved in the Commons if he wanted. [Take a closer look at the rules around secret documents](. - Susan Delacourt’s take: Amid a flurry of speculation and outrage in Parliament, [May’s cool-headed statements schooled other leaders on how this incendiary report should be treated](. R.J.Johnston/The Star transportation [The TTC’s new contract could hurt plans to improve bus service]( While the tentative deal the TTC reached with its largest union may have narrowly avoided a total transit shutdown last week, it also dealt a serious blow to the agency’s plans to improve bus service for suburban riders, Ben Spurr reports. As part of the deal, the TTC agreed to limit a program allowing 905 agencies to provide local bus service in Toronto — a policy that could have lowered costs, allowed TTC vehicles to be reallocated to high-demand areas and brought relief to frustrated customers forced to wait as as half-empty MiWay or York Region Transit vehicles blew by their stops. [What happens now?]( - Word from the union: A union spokesperson said the TTC pursued the plan for “the short-sighted goal of savings,” but “the citizens of Toronto do not deserve to have to go to other people for accountability for their transit network.” - ICYMI: The three-year tentative deal the TTC reached with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 offers workers a more than 13 per cent wage increase amid other benefits. [Here’s what the Star learned about the not-yet publicly released deal](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star toronto [How an anonymous complaint about zoning rules put this beloved Toronto corner store at risk]( This small shop nestled among rows of houses in Toronto’s west end is beloved for its selection of locally sourced groceries, espresso drinks and cookies to go. Now, an anonymous complaint about zoning violations is threatening to put it out of business, Manuela Vega reports. Bylaw officers told the owners of Finch Store they are in a residential zone and don’t have permission to serve food and drinks — but owner Yana Miriev said she purchased the store in 2022 with a permit to do so and she needs to sell coffee to keep her business afloat. [Who’s in the right?]( - Go deeper: The zoning spat comes right as the city is working to make exactly this type of small business in residential areas permissible, with consultations taking place through June. But until those changes are made, city staff must still enforce the rules. - More: According to documents viewed by the Star, Miriev asked the city if she could serve coffee with the licence she had — and it confirmed she could. It was only after she bought an espresso machine and trained staff to use it that the city suddenly said her shop “is not operating in compliance.” WHAT ELSE Justin Trudeau’s increase to capital tax gains passes [as Pierre Poilievre calls it a “job killing tax.”]( The man who fatally set fire to a Toronto nursing student on a TTC bus has been [found not criminally responsible](. [Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israel fired more rockets into Lebanon on Tuesday]( prompting returned fire from Hezbollah. “A shocking number.” The balance of mortgages reaching [“severe delinquency” has exceeded $1 billion for the first time in Ontario](. “I was there as Aunt Joyce.” [A tribunal heard competing narratives about an officer’s involvement in her nephew’s collision](. Hunter Biden has been convicted on felony charges. [Here’s what’s next for U.S. President Joe Biden’s son](. “A tale of two economies.” [Interest rate policy in Canada and U.S. is set to diverge](. A group fighting Doug Ford’s Ontario Place spa was [dealt a legal blow](. Virgin Atlantic is returning to Toronto after two decades, with new flights to London. [Here’s what that means for travellers](. [How this seven-year-old train enthusiast saw his dreams come true]( thanks to a GO staff member. The NHL thinks the public isn’t interested in players’ salaries. [Maybe they should talk to a fan for about five minutes](. Don’t count the Blue Jays out just yet. [A wild card is still within reach despite poor start](. POV Canadian Press/Cole Burston [Doug Ford just promoted a central figure in the Greenbelt scandal. Here’s why that should worry us.]( CLOSE-UP Animal Rising via AP LONDON: Animal rights activists plastered the face of Wallace from “Wallace and Gromit” over a portrait of Britain’s King Charles III at London’s Philip Mould Gallery — the latest in a series of incidents at U.K. museums where campaigners used vandalism to publicize their causes. [Here’s what they’re advocating for](. 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_215019). 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](