Police leaked information to convoy leaders, lawyer says + CUPE reduced demands but will strike if there’s no deal

Good morning. This is the Thursday, Nov. 3 edition of First Up, the Star’s daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.

Here’s the latest on mediations between CUPE and the province, how “Freedom Convoy” leaders got leaked information and why you should get a flu shot soon.

DON’T MISS:

CUPE slashed its wage demand, but school workers will still strike Friday if no deal is reached

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) made a new offer to the provincial government Tuesday night, the Star has learned, but the union and province remained at a standoff Wednesday. While the government says it will move forward with back-to-work legislation, invoking the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter, school support staff still plan to walk off the job unless a deal is reached. The union is set to strike Friday and into next week, despite the hundreds of millions of dollars in fines it is set to face each day. Here’s what we know about mediation efforts as the clock ticks.

Police officers leaked information to “Freedom Convoy” organizers

Sympathetic officials with the Ottawa police, Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and even the Canadian Security Intelligence Service leaked information to leaders of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” during the three-week blockade of downtown Ottawa, a lawyer representing some convoy leaders told a federal inquiry. Tonda MacCharles and Alex Ballingall report on what officials knew about leaks and how protestors acted on the information they received.

The next two weeks are critical for getting flu vaccines

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore is urging Ontarians to get their flu shot in the next two weeks, as the province’s health system struggles to keep up with an early start to the viral season. Right now, about four per cent of lab tests for influenza are coming back positive, but once that rate reaches five per cent, influenza will begin to spread quickly, Moore said. Megan Ogilvie reports on the “triple threat” facing the health system as hospitals contend with a winter of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

WHAT ELSE:

POV:

Chrystia Freeland will announce “rapid reaction” help for low-income workers, students and the housing sector. Expect a lot of words — but not much money.

CLOSE-UP:

INDIA: A woman walks amid maple trees at Nishat Garden in Srinagar on Tuesday.

Thank you for reading First Up. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

SHARE: