Why Justin Trudeau now supports a ceasefire

Plus, Ford's scrapped plans to dissolve Peel and the grocer code of conduct [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Canada’s decision to support the UN resolution for a ceasefire, Doug Ford’s plans for Peel Region and a grocery code of conduct in the works. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR [Why Justin Trudeau now supports calls for a ceasefire]( Until Canada voted Tuesday in favour of the UN resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Trudeau government had not so much as uttered the word, Stephanie Levitz and Raisa Patel report. Ottawa had also abstained from supporting a similar resolution in the fall after attempts to amend the language to condemn Hamas failed. So what changed? In the eyes of some, Trudeau broke his promise to stand for Israel’s right to defend itself, while others saw the vote as a necessary response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza. [Here’s what sources say happened](. - More: There’s no clear consensus about Middle East policy within the Liberal government, but some sources said the vote had to be taken in the context of a statement issued just hours earlier by Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which expressed support for a ceasefire with certain conditions attached. - Meanwhile in Gaza: Despite an ambush killing Israeli soldiers Tuesday and rising international pressure, [Israel’s prime minister says they are “continuing until the end.”]( - More: [Videos of Israeli soldiers acting maliciously in Gaza are creating a new headache for Israel](. Canadian Press/Chris Young ontario politics [Doug Ford scraps plan to break up Peel Region]( Wednesday saw more significant policy flip-flops for the Tories, Robert Benzie writes. As the Star first revealed on Dec. 5, Doug Ford’s government is abandoning its plans to dissolve Peel Region due to concerns that taxes may rise, services could suffer and regional jobs would be lost. The news is a win for Caledon and for Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who warned of higher taxes, but a blow to departing Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who was elected Ontario Liberal Leader this month and will face Ford in the 2026 provincial election. [Take a closer look at the changes taking place](. - Word from the Opposition: “Another day, another chaotic policy reversal from Doug Ford and the Conservatives, another complete failure of leadership,” said NDP Leader Marit Stiles. - More: The Tories are also hoping to revoke or amend a number of the controversial minister’s zoning orders “as part of a new use-it-or-lose-it policy” meant to encourage results. Canadian Press/Graeme Roy star exclusive [The industry minister says the grocery code of conduct is happening — whether Walmart and Loblaw like it or not ]( Last week, it looked like the Canadian grocery code of conduct might die — two of the largest retailers in the country were refusing to sign on, Jake Edmiston reports. But federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne fired back in an interview with the Star this week, urging Walmart and Loblaw to work with the rest of the industry to reach a deal because “we will have a grocery code of conduct in Canada one way or the other.” [Here’s why some food executives and politicians believe the code of conduct could fix issues in the grocery business](. - Wait, what? Ottawa couldn’t step in to create a mandatory, national code of conduct, so instead, along with the provinces and territories, it appointed a mediator. This means, however, that for the rules to really work, all the major players in retail and food production need to agree to follow them. - Watch for: A Loblaw spokesperson said the chain is ready to negotiate with industry leaders, but won't sign a code “that is not in the best interest of our customers.” Walmart, meanwhile, said it will continue to give feedback to negotiators. WHAT ELSE Ottawa’s long-standing failure to quickly appoint judges has [resulted in a sexual assault case getting tossed due to delay in a Toronto court](. A longtime Toronto police officer “harassed” a domestic violence victim. [Here’s what else a police misconduct tribunal heard](. Putin says his goals in Ukraine remain the same and [there will be no peace until they're achieved](. Toronto has officially approved the “historic” new deal with Ontario. [Now, will the federal government chip in?]( [After 57 years, Canadians finally have health care with teeth]( — and a reason to “say cheese.” George Brown College is expanding in Toronto. [These are the plans for its sprawling waterfront campus](. Toronto home prices will rise six per cent by the end of 2024, a new report shows. [Here's why](. Indigenous music is more visible in Canada — [Digging Roots is part of the groundswell](. Here’s how “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-stars are [mourning Andre Braugher and paying tribute to the Emmy-winning actor](. Emma Stone lets her freak flag fly in “Poor Things,” [an insane confection of a movie that delights the more you partake](. Tim Hortons is opening its first Korea location — [but some drinks are expected to cost almost double](. [These four new crime fiction books will keep you cosy]( ... or scare you senseless. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre really don't like each other — and it shows.]( COSE-UP Zain Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images OCCUPIED WEST BANK: An ambulance drives down a deserted road on Wednesday as Israeli soldiers take position in armoured vehicles at a refugee camp in Jenin during an Israeli army incursion. Violence has escalated in the occupied Palestinian territory since the war on Hamas broke out, with around 270 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and settler attacks since October 7, Palestinian officials say. 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_205435). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 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