Good morning. This is the Thursday, Aug. 20 edition of First Up, the Star’s daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.
A trade deal with the United States appears to be imminent, but Prime Minister Mark Carney will face a political test explaining to Canadians why some tariffs remain on the table. In more fun news, we have our first look at some of the wackiest foods at the Canadian National Exhibition this year, including mac-and-cheese smoothies and pickle coffee. Also, in an exclusive interview with the Star, longtime Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher tells us why she’s retiring from city hall after 23 years, just two days after registering her bid for re-election. All it took was a morning paddleboard trip on Lake Ontario — her own twist on a walk in the snow.
