The government's staying mum on their Emergencies Act legal advice

Plus, Canada's first World Cup loss and an "outrageous" motion in the Sammy Yatim inquest [Get access now!]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the World Cup, the Emergencies Act inquiry and the Sammy Yatim inquest. DON’T MISS Martin Meissner/AP Photo the beautiful game [Canada lost 1-0 to Belgium in their first World Cup game since 1986]( After a 36-year wait to return to the world’s greatest soccer event, Canada faced off against Belgium Wednesday, playing a fearless and joyful game, according to Star contributor Joe Callaghan. The Canadian men lost, but the statistics reflect their tenacity: the team made 14 shots in just one half without a goal — the most in a half in a World Cup since 2006 — and made 21 total shot attempts (three on target) compared to just nine from Belgium (three on target). [Here’s a closer look at how the match went and how fans reacted](. - Bruce Arthur’s take: Canada played with bravery and poise in their loss against Belgium — [but now they have no margin for error](. - Go deeper: The veteran referee for the Canada-Belgium match [made a notorious blunder in a game this year](. - Miss something? At just 21, [Alphonso Davies is the face of Canada’s World Cup dream](. Canadian Press/Justin Tang emergencies act inquiry [Canada’s Justice Minister refused to reveal key legal advice behind the decision to use the Emergencies Act]( In the final days of the inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to break up the occupation of Ottawa last winter, Justice Minister David Lametti is leaving a critical piece of the government’s rationale cloaked in secrecy, Alex Ballingall and Tonda MacCharles report. He refused to reveal the legal advice the government received, repeating that the legal opinion is shielded by solicitor-client privilege. [Here’s what we do know about the conversations leading up to the decision, thanks to newly revealed text messages](. - More: Texts revealed Wednesday indicate Lametti explored using the Emergencies Act on the first weekend of the occupation, discussing the possibility of sending in the military to help resolve the situation. Lametti explained the exchange as a “joke” between friends. - Explainer: [What is the Emergencies Act and when can it be used?]( - Meanwhile: A lawyer for the so-called “Freedom Convoy” spouted conspiracy theories around racist flags at the occupation. [A judge is rejecting his claims as a “fishing expedition” with “little foundation in evidence.”]( File Photo policing [The Sammy Yatim inquest was derailed by the convicted officer’s “outrageous” 11th-hour motion]( A long-awaited coroner’s inquest into the high-profile death of teen Sammy Yatim on a Toronto streetcar nearly a decade ago was set to begin last week, but a last-minute motion by the then-cop who shot him has delayed the process. Documents made public Wednesday reveal former police officer James Forcillo wants to introduce evidence that Yatim may have “provoked a fatal police response,” or what’s referred to as “suicide by cop” — a move lawyers at a special hearing called “outrageous” and “distasteful.” [Wendy Gillis reports on the details of the motion and the rare show of unity that saw parties to the inquest condemn the move](. - Context: A coroner’s inquest is a non-criminal hearing held to determine the details of someone’s death and produce recommendations aimed at preventing further fatalities. - Word from Yatim’s father: In a statement read by the lawyer representing Yatim’s family, Bill Yatim said Forcillo’s attempts were an “effort to disgrace Sammy’s memory (that) only worsens my pain.” - Watch for: Coroners’ inquests have “scopes” set by the coroner. In this case, the coroner has said the most useful focus of the inquest would be on “police officer decision making.” WHAT ELSE [This is what’s behind Pierre Poilievre’s controversial drug policy]( which that critics are calling an irresponsible distortion of facts. [An NDP MPP is accusing Doug Ford of holding “secret conversations”]( before making controversial municipal governance changes. Here’s what Mayor John Tory said it would take to [use the new “strong mayor” powers](. A $5-million lawsuit claims [a Whitby spa was warned its pool facilities weren’t safe to open](. The cost to build the Ontario Line has nearly doubled. [One critic says inflation alone doesn’t explain it](. Ontario is asking health clinics to stay open longer to take pressure off ERs. [Already under strain, can they do it?]( Alberta’s justice minister is [calling for the RCMP commissioner to be removed from her post](. Danielle Smith tried to present a new face — and money — to Albertans, [but she couldn’t keep the mask from slipping](. An Ontario bill that allows professors to be fired for sexual assault [needs more protections for victims, students and advocates say](. [An Edmonton teen was killed in a Jerusalem bus-station blast]( — and his grieving father apologized for not protecting him. A Toronto rapper denied playing a role in a daylight execution, [saying cash and prop guns are “part of my image.”]( [Here are five cosy and hearty meals to try this week](. POV R.J. Johnston/The Star [If John Tory has all the power as a “strong mayor,” it hardly matters what his intentions are.]( CLOSE-UP Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo QATAR: A young fan waits for the start of the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. 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_155308). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get unlimited access to the Star Subscribe for our best offer of the year: $12 for 12 months [Get Access Now]( 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]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](