“It’s clear that migrant workers’ lives are cheap in Ontario courts.”

Plus, understanding the Jacob Hoggard verdict and a prescription for fresh produce [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on charges against an Ontario farm where a migrant worker died, deciphering the Jacob Hoggard jury’s split verdict, and a new program prescribing fresh fruit and vegetables. DON’T MISS Steve Russell/The Star migrant labour [An Ontario farm was convicted of violating workplace safety over the COVID-19 death of a migrant worker]( Juan Lopez Chaparro, 55, left his four children and wife in Mexico to pursue seasonal work in Ontario. The migrant labourer was among 196 workers on an Ontario farm to test positive for COVID during an outbreak in May 2020 and three to be hospitalized — he ultimately died from the virus. Now, multimillion-dollar produce operation Scotlynn Growers has pleaded guilty to one count of failing to take all reasonable precautions to protect a worker, and will be fined $125,000, Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports. [Here’s what we know about the farm and the penalty](. - Context: Up to 50 people lived in Scotlynn’s bunkhouses where Lopez Chaparro was bedridden, but not isolated, for several days. After his death, a bunkmate was terminated for raising concerns about health and safety. (Scotlynn later paid damages and lost wages to him following a [labour board ruling]( - By the numbers: Concerns about Scotlynn didn’t start with COVID. Between 2016 and 2018, Mexican authorities received 33 complaints about the farm — the highest number of complaints for any one Canadian farm during that time. - Go deeper: Temporary foreign workers “were particularly dependent on their employer’s compliance with the law” because of their precarious immigration status and limited English, labour ministry lawyers said. Canadian Press/Alexandra Newbould courts [How to understand the jury’s split verdict in the sex assault trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard]( Why did a jury find Jacob Hoggard guilty of sexually assaulting a young Ottawa woman, but not of raping and groping a teen fan? That’s something the public will never know for sure, but experts say the the six-day deliberation and their being deadlocked on “some counts” could indicate that some jurors believed the teen complainant, too, even if they couldn’t be sure beyond a reasonable doubt. However, Hoggard must now be presumed legally innocent in relation to her testimony. [Here’s more on what the jurors may have considered](. - Go deeper: One lawyer who often represents sexual assault complainants said it is concerning that jurors could rely on harmful stereotypes about how an “ideal victim” behaves. - Now what? The Ottawa woman’s testimony can be used in [Hoggard’s next sexual assault trial for a third complainant](. The teen complainant’s evidence, however, cannot. - Watch for: Hoggard was [bailed to his B.C. home ahead of his sentencing in Toronto](. At that hearing, the judge will have to make factual findings about what took place during Hoggard’s encounter with the Ottawa woman. R.J. Johnston/The Star an apple a day ... [This program gives people access to fresh fruit and vegetables on doctor’s orders]( Leading to issues such as diabetes and hypertension or depression and suicidal ideation, a lack of nutritious food can have major consequences for individuals’ physical and mental health. Food Rx, a pilot program that emerged in 2020, is working to address that by giving more than 200 people a biweekly delivery of fresh, healthy food. [Here’s how the program is reimagining healthcare](. - The aftermath: Participants have reported significant improvements in quality of life, overall happiness and sense of community. “Every month is still a struggle,” said one recipient, “but when I go to sleep at night I know I’ve had a decent meal.” - Go deeper: Some have said the initiative fails to address the root issues, while those involved say they know it’s only a temporary solution. “Prescribing food is not something I wanted to do as a health-care worker,” one physician said. “It’s a response to broken social systems.” WHAT ELSE Interest in the Ontario election was low. [Why is interest in the Conservative leadership race so high?]( [Conservatives are spreading “misinformation”]( about the online streaming bill, the heritage minister charged. Ontario Liberals [wonder how to rebuild]( after another election defeat. Interest rates are going up. [Here’s where you can find a better rate on savings accounts](. Why Pride Month [continues to matter in Christian communities](. A Megachurch pastor was [arrested in a sexual assault investigation](. From 30 per cent drops to 12 per cent jumps — [why some GTA real estate markets are hot while others not](. Another chaotic weekend at Pearson leads former NHL star Ryan Whitney to declare it [the “worst airport on earth.”]( [Here’s why Canada’s men’s soccer team went on strike]( leading up to the World Cup in Qatar. [The Toronto Caribbean Carnival marks its 55th anniversary]( with a return to in-person events. Newmarket welcomed possibly the [first baby born in Canada to a Ukrainian refugee](. A GTA realtor made a Muppet-like music video to [help sell his mom’s house](. ICYMI Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star [A ceiling collapsing on a sleeping tenant was only the latest problem for residents of this west-end Toronto housing complex.]( CLOSE-UP Sunday Alamba/AP Photo NIGERIA: Police stand guard outside of the St. Francis Catholic church in Owo on Monday, a day after an attack that targeted worshippers. The gunmen opened fire inside and outside the church, [killing 50 people before escaping the scene]( authorities and witnesses said Monday.  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_127760). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. [The Star]( 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. 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