What happened when the grocers got grilled

Plus, a toxic oil spill in northern Alberta and the PM's wobbly election interference defence [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Toronto could see another round of snowfall this weekend. [Here’s what you need to know](. Here’s the latest on soaring food prices, a toxic oil spill in northern Alberta and accusations that Justin Trudeau ignored warnings about election interference. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Spencer Colby Affordability [Top grocers told MPs food inflation is not driving profits]( With Canadians experiencing the highest grocery inflation in 40 years, CEOs of the country’s biggest supermarkets are denying that food inflation is behind their profits. At a parliamentary hearing Wednesday, Loblaw CEO Galen G. Weston said the company’s record profits are coming from makeup and medication sales — not food. He refused, however, to provide the figures to back up that claim. Marco Chown Oved reports on [how the CEOs were grilled — and how they defended their pricing practices](. - Context: In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, food prices began to rise amid surging inflation. But a Star investigation last summer found that [as prices went up at the big three grocery chains, their profit margins increased, too](. - Meanwhile: For the first time in a year, the Bank of Canada won’t be increasing interest rates — [but economists say there are clear signs that another hike is possible](. Screenshot from ACFN Video alberta [A First Nation slams Danielle Smith for downplaying a massive toxic oil spill]( Comments from Alberta’s premier that no wildlife or drinking water had been affected by a toxic spill from an oilsands tailings pond ignore “basic science,” says the chief of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “This is an environmental catastrophe that the (Alberta Energy Regulator) and Imperial Oil tried to cover up and now the premier and the minister are trying to minimize,” Chief Allan Adam said Wednesday. [Kieran Leavitt reports on the spill and the concerns that have arisen](. - More: “The truth is that 5.3 (million) litres of process-affected water spilled across a forested area,” Adam said. “The volume of this water was such that it can be seen seeping up from under the ground and pooling on the surface. Water drains through the earth into groundwater and eventually drains into tributaries and other bodies of water. This is basic science.” - Context: Last week, it was reported that the Kearl Lake oilsands facility in northern Alberta had seen two leaks in the past year — [including one that Adam said wasn’t revealed for months]( Canadian Press/Justin Tang analysis [Justin Trudeau’s election-meddling defence is on shaky ground after another media leak ]( The prime minister’s defence against accusations that he ignored warnings about the Chinese government funding Canadian political candidates is teetering, Tonda MacCharles writes. On Monday, Trudeau insisted the national security and intelligence committee of parliamentarians (NSICOP) was the best body to weigh highly sensitive information on the matter, and asked it to take a fresh look at foreign interference in the last two campaigns. But a committee report leaked by Global News calls into question whether the body is really capable of restoring trust in the electoral system. [Here’s what you need to know about the controversy](. - Context: Global News claimed a NSICOP report that was never made public explicitly advised Trudeau’s office on covert funding of candidates ahead of the 2019 federal election. The allegation sparked uproar in the House of Commons that Trudeau struggled to rebut. - ICYMI: Election interference isn’t only coming from foreign actors. [Here’s what we know about the increase in domestic sources meddling](. WHAT ELSE Pierre Poilievre has warned his Conservative MPs, [but stopped short of punishing them for meeting with a controversial German lawmaker](. Doug Ford says it would be “great” if Mark Saunders ran for mayor. [Here’s what we know about Toronto’s former police chief](. A man has been sentenced to life for the [“gratuitous and brutal” murder of Toronto trans activist Julie Berman](. Ontario’s financial watchdog says [Doug Ford’s health care promises won’t come true without more money](. [Parents are banding together to support TDSB staff put on home assignment]( during an investigation into allegations of racism. How much progress have women made in the workplace? [These 46 facts show how far we’ve come — and how far we still have to go](. A new Ontario high school program will [let students train for a trade and earn a diploma](. Consumers might see lower internet prices after the [CRTC cut wholesale rates](. A new health dashboard shows COVID-19 [shortened the national life expectancy](. These two popular Toronto restaurants have [closed their doors for good](. GET THIS Cameron Tulk/The Star [TTC subway delays are longer than ever. Here’s why.]( CLOSE-UP Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star ST. ANDREW’S DOG PARK: No barking at the dog park? [These city signs are gone after being met with howls of outrage](. 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_170620). 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]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](