Will Grassy Narrows finally find justice in court?

Plus, bracing for a potential TTC strike and an Etobicoke shooting victim's last moments [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on a lawsuit from a mercury-poisoned First Nation, the scramble for solutions ahead of a potential TTC strike and the last moments of an Etobicoke shooting victim. DON’T MISS Randy Risling/The Star star investigation [Frustrated by the lack of progress, Grassy Narrows is suing governments for failing to clean up mercury pollution]( After decades of little action on the part of governments to clean up the tonnes of mercury dumped into the river system near Grassy Narrows First Nation, the community is now suing the federal and provincial governments, Morgan Sevareid-Bocknek reports. The lawsuit accuses Ontario and Ottawa of allowing the Wabigoon River to be polluted by the paper mill upstream, then neglecting to clean it up — all while authorizing industrial production and prospecting. “Our mercury nightmare should have ended long ago, but it has been longer and worse because of the government’s failure to live up to its obligations,” said Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle. [Here’s what you need to know](. - Before the court: Grassy Narrows wants the governments to admit to infringing on the community’s rights, and to prohibit further industrial activities that could adversely affect the First Nation and deliver on promises to remediate the river system. A dollar amount quantifying damages will be assigned at a later stage. - Wait, what? Despite government assurances that the 10 tonnes of mercury dumped by the local Dryden mill in the 1960s will go away over time, [research suggests the mill’s current sulphate emissions are making the problem worse](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star labour [With “mayhem” predicted ahead of a possible strike, the scramble for TTC alternatives is on]( As Toronto braces for a potential total transit shut down on Friday, the city is scrambling for alternatives to navigate its already congested streets. While it’s difficult to predict how public and private institutions will respond to a TTC strike, current contingency plans include the continued operation of TTC’s paratransit, diversion of bus routes by neighbouring transit agencies and a cap on Uber surge prices, Mahdis Habibinia, Ben Spurr and David Rider report. About 12,000 front-line TTC workers with the union are prepared to walk off the job after months of bargaining; sticking points include job security and wages. [What options remain for commuters?]( - More: Kristine Hubbard, operations manager for Beck Taxi, said her company is already receiving an uptick in calls from worried customers looking to book a ride for Friday. Unlike app-based competitors, Hubbard promised Beck wouldn’t raise prices if transit goes down. - Another angle: Struggling downtown retailers are desperately seeking solutions to get their staff to work if transit shuts down. [For many businesses, there’s no plan B](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star crime [“Unimaginable grief.” A family describes their heartbreaking loss following an Etobicoke shooting]( As Delroy “George” Parkes lay dying, his best friend Dave was frantically trying to call George’s wife. “Dave-o,” he said, “I know I’m going to go.” By the time Dave got through, all George’s wife, Heather Parkes, would hear in the background of the call was her husband saying he wasn’t going to make it. That’s how George’s daughter, Jaidyn Parkes, described the final moments of her father, who was gunned down Sunday night in Etobicoke, Emily Fagan reports. “He didn’t get to say goodbye.” [Take a closer look at the tragic incident](. - Context: George was gathered with a group of men in the parking lot behind North Albion Collegiate Institute following a soccer game when a dark pickup truck approached. [Two gunmen emerged, firing more than 50 bullets at the gathering, killing George and seriously injuring four others](. - The aftermath: Police are still searching for the two suspects and their newer model, dark-coloured pickup truck. They’ve increased their presence in the area, including stationing a command post and neighbourhood community officers nearby. WHAT ELSE Will it be interest rate relief or more pain? [The Bank of Canada will let Canadians know their fate this morning](. Canadian MPs aiding foreign interference? A new report claims it’s happened — [but doesn’t say who did it](. [Toronto homebuyers are holding out for a rate cut]( as May sales and prices fall flat. U.S. court docs offer a glimpse at the [encrypted conversations of Pearson gold heist suspects](. What are you waiting for, Dougie? [Opposition parties say they’re ready if Ford calls a snap election](. [A second girl has pleaded guilty to assault]( in the swarming death of Kenneth Lee. Ontario is ending funding for its [COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program](. [Labour disputes are threatening to disrupt air travel]( as we head into the busy summer season. For years, this Toronto woman felt drunk despite not drinking. [Then she was diagnosed with a rare condition](. [Toronto’s Stackt Market got a 10-year lease extension]( with plans to expand nationally. Your Toronto Pride guide: [Check out these can’t-miss events, queer-owned business and local-approved spots to visit this month](. Drake’s new song has the internet flabbergasted. [Is “Wah Gwan Delilah” hot trash or brilliant parody?]( POV Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star [Join me on a journey inside the baffling mind of our premier, Doug Ford.]( CLOSE-UP Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images HONG KONG: Throngs of police patrolled the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre yesterday, near a park where thousands would once gather for an annual memorial of the event. While Chinese officials cracked down on commemorations, [here’s how people kept vigil back in Canada](. 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_214656). 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. 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