Ford government launches Ontario polluter snitch line

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Ford government launches Ontario polluter snitch line

On Wednesday, the Ontario government released a pollution and spill reporting system where residents can report pollution incidents online or by phone. 

According to the release, residents can use the tool to report incidents such as oil, chemical pollution, commercial noise pollution, illegal dumping and improper disposal of commercial wastes. 

“Our government takes environmental violations very seriously and has zero tolerance for illegal polluters — and we know the people of Ontario are eager to do their part to protect our environment.,” said Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 

“With your help, we can hold polluters accountable and ensure compliance with the environmental laws we have in place to protect our air, land and water for generations to come.”

When residents submit a tip they will have the option to include additional information about the incident including the location, photographs and any video or audio files.

Prior to being elected in 2018, Ontario Premier Doug Ford ran on a campaign promise to fight the federally imposed carbon tax. 

As Premier, Ford launched a constitutional challenge of the carbon tax, joining other provinces such as Saskatchewan and Alberta. The challenge was eventually quashed by the Supreme Court of Canada. 

When the decision was handed down in March, Premier Ford said that while he was “disappointed” with the decision, his government would follow it. 

“We’re definitely going to take a review of what the Supreme Court decision means for Ontario on our environment policy and move on from there,” said Ford at the time. 

“Right now, I think we have a strong made-in-Ontario environment plan that’s going to put the necessary protections in place for the land, air and water.”

Taxpayer group calls for Ottawa to cancel $2.9M grant for Porsche luxury car dealership

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Taxpayer group calls for Ottawa to cancel $2.9M grant for Porsche luxury car dealership

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the City of Ottawa to cancel a $2.9 million grant to build a luxury “world-class” Porsche dealership in the city after it was approved by the finance and economic development committee.

According to CTV News, Mrak Holdings Inc. will be completing the project at 458 Montreal Rd. where an Audi dealership is currently located. 

“The City of Ottawa should not be spending taxpayers’ money on any kind of corporate welfare,” said Interim Ontario Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Jay Goldberg in an official press release. 

“Ottawa could use this money to fix potholes or give families a bit of tax relief, but there’s no reason to give a subsidy to a dealership selling cars that cost more than most people make in year.”

Ottawa hopes to give the project a total of $2,910,171 which will be distributed in installments over a period of ten years through the Community Improvement Plan Grant.

Funds for the grant will be obtained by the city through an increase in property taxes in the area from $25,627 per year to $355,619 per year. 

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson fought back on claims that the funding was a grant claiming that it was an “investment” in the community. 

 “This is not a grant in the traditional sense where something is given and nothing is returned,” Watson said. 

“This is an investment to act as a magnet to attract business to an economically challenged neighbourhood.”

A number of delegations appeared at the committee meeting to speak out against the project, including resident Henri Diotte who has lived in the area for 37 years. 

“It may generate a bit of employment but I think the city should spend the money more wisely,” Diotte said. 

Although the grant was approved by the committee, it still requires approval by city council during their next meeting on May 26. 

“The Porsche dealership’s potential future owners claim that 20 new jobs will be created through opening this new dealership so the price tag for taxpayers is about $145,000 per job,” said Goldberg. 

“Ottawa City Council is increasing property taxes by 3% this year. Hardworking taxpayers should not have to pay even more in taxes just to see council waste their hard-earned tax dollars on corporate welfare for a luxury car dealership.” 

Ejected UCP MLA Drew Barnes speaks out

Andrew Lawton
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Ejected UCP MLA Drew Barnes speaks out

Drew Barnes was one of two Alberta MLAs, along with Todd Loewen, expelled from the UCP caucus for criticizing Premier Jason Kenney’s leadership. Barnes joined The Andrew Lawton Show to talk about his concerns, and plans for the future.

David Lametti stresses Charter rights can be limited in “public interest” at C-10 hearing

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David Lametti stresses Charter rights can be limited in “public interest” at C-10 hearing

Justice Minister David Lametti is reminding members of parliament that constitutional rights and freedoms can be limited.

During an appearance before the House of Commons heritage committee during its hearings on internet regulation bill C-10, Lametti emphasized there are “legitimate” ways in which legislation can infringe the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including freedom of expression.

“When Parliament legislates it may affect Charter rights and freedoms. This may include limiting their enjoyment or exercise when it is in the broader public interest to do so,” Lametti said.

“This is entirely legitimate. The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Charter are not absolute but rather subject to reasonable limits so long as those limits can be demonstrably justified.”

Lametti noted that any law which might limit Charter rights must be judged carefully to see if the limits are for the public good.

“The fact Charter rights and freedoms can be limited is not a license to violate them. Rather it is a reminder that any legislative limits to rights and freedoms must be carefully considered in the context of shared values.”

If passed, Bill C-10 would radically change how the internet is used in Canada. A decision by the Liberals to scrap an amendment which protected user-generated content from CRTC regulation sparked national outrage over free speech concerns.

The bill has been heavily criticized by the former heads of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and other experts for potential limits to free speech.

On Tuesday, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet suggested his party will support Bill C-10 and even shorten debate to push it through more quickly.

Ottawa children’s hospital could turn to adult hospitals as mental health cases increase

Jonathan Bradley
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Ottawa children’s hospital could turn to adult hospitals as mental health cases increase

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) could soon be looking to Ottawa’s other hospitals to ease the burden brought on by the dramatic increase of young people needing mental health care. 

The possibility of sending older teenage patients to adult hospitals came about after a regional hospital roundtable in early May. The vice president of mental health and addictions at CHEO Joanne Lowe told CBC News it is the first time the hospital has considered implementing this measure.

“I’ve been involved in mental health for over 30 years and I’ve never seen [demand] like this, ever,” said Lowe. “This is the next pandemic, and the needs aren’t going to end when this pandemic ends.”

CHEO said the number of emergency mental health assessments for young people has increased 50% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lowe said doctors at CHEO are seeing more cases of depression, anxiety, drug overdoses and suicidal thoughts. Eating disorders are taking up the majority of resources in the mental health unit.

CHEO has 25 inpatient mental health beds, nine of which are set aside for patients who are refusing to eat, binge eating or purging their food. Lowe said the number of patients with eating disorders has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic started. 

“We are seeing 18 to 22 kids in hospital at one time with eating disorders, and remember, we only have nine beds,” she said. 

True North contributor Anthony Furey said in a tweet that this capacity problem demonstrates why lockdown measures need to be eased. 

“If the logic is that we lock down all of society to protect the hospitals, and now those lockdowns are causing children’s hospitals to be overwhelmed, doesn’t that mean we must immediately end lockdowns for kids to protect the hospitals?” said Furey. 

Lowe said once CHEO’s mental health beds are full, there are eight youth spaces at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre that can be used. If those beds fill up, older teens can be admitted into mental health units at the Monfort, Queensway Carleton or Ottawa hospitals. 

The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has reported a similar increase in eating disorders among young people. 

Calgary pastor Tim Stephens to be released from jail

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Calgary pastor Tim Stephens to be released from jail

Calgary Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church will be released from jail after a court hearing Tuesday according to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).

In a hearing before Justice Adam Germain of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, lawyers for both Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Pastor Stephens agreed to his release on the condition that Stephens agrees to not hold services that violate public health orders.

On Sunday, Calgary police arrested Stephens outside his church for organizing an event they said violated Alberta’s mask mandate and attendance limits on religious services. He has remained in custody since.

On May 6, AHS received a pre-emptive injunction to stop various gatherings that violate public health orders across the province. AHS cited this injunction as justification for Stephens’ arrest.

The JCCF, which is representing Stephens, maintains that his arrest was illegal. JCCF president John Carpay noted that on May 13 the injunction was amended to only apply to previously named individuals and groups.

“The May 6 injunction does not apply to Pastor Stephens, nor did it apply to him at the time of his arrest. His arrest and current detention are illegal,” Carpay said.

“Alberta Health Services knows that the May 6 injunction, which originally applied to all Albertans having notice of this injunction, was amended by Associate Chief Justice Rooke on May 13. Since then, this injunction has applied only to Whistle Stop Café and certain named or affiliated individuals.”

The same injunction was used to arrest Calgary Pastor Artur Pawlowski and his brother Dawid for allegedly holding services that violated public health orders. 

Hamas Apologetics

Andrew Lawton
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Hamas Apologetics

Numerous Canadian journalists have signed an open letter calling for the media outlets to cover the Israel-Hamas conflict in a way that accuses Israel of “ethnic cleansing,” surrendering even the illusion of objectivity. True North’s Andrew Lawton talks about the refusal by many in the media and in politics to condemn Hamas as a terror organization.

Also, Drew Barnes, one of two Alberta MLAs expelled from the UCP caucus for criticizing Jason Kenney, joins the show.

Bloc Québécois push to pass Liberal’s Bill C-10 without further debate

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Bloc Québécois push to pass Liberal’s Bill C-10 without further debate

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has indicated that his party will fall in line behind the minority Liberal government and support the government’s controversial sweeping internet censorship bill, C-10.

Blanchet made the announcement on the CBC French-language program Tout le monde en parle while appearing on a panel with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Liberal Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, who was charged with drafting the legislation. 

According to Blanchet, his party is prepared to fast track the legislation so that the law is adopted this summer, even though critics have called for the government to scrap the legislation. 

“It’s exceptional, but if the government agrees, we are prepared to launch a process of time allocation and rapid adoption so that Quebec’s cultural sector and the Canadian cultural sector can have this bill adopted before the end of the session,” said Blanchet in French. 

This week, dozens of high profile Canadians and organizations including two former senior Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) signed a petition blasting the Liberal government’s bill as a step towards “authoritarian” style politics. 

“It appears Canada is not immune to the growing trend of government intervention to curtail freedom and seek to control parts of the internet’s infrastructure in ways reminiscent of actions taken by authoritarian governments,” wrote the petition. 

“We are Canadian internet policy and technical professionals writing as concerned experts and on behalf of all those who care about the future of a free and open internet.” 

Controversy around the bill came to a head when Liberal members of the House of Commons heritage committee voted to strip Bill C-10 of an amendment which would protect user-generated content from CRTC regulation. 

Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole has promised to repeal Bill C-10 should he be elected in the upcoming election.

“Canada’s Conservatives support creating a level playing field between large foreign streaming services and Canadian broadcasters, and championing Canadian arts and culture. A Conservative government would do so without compromising Canadians’ fundamental rights and freedoms,” said O’Toole in a statement released on Thursday.

“We are calling on Justin Trudeau to withdraw Bill C-10 today. If this is not done, a Conservative government will stand up for Canadians and repeal this deeply flawed legislation. While the NDP and the Bloc may look the other way on the freedom of expression, Canada’s Conservatives will not.”

Former CRTC officials condemn Bill C-10 as “authoritarian”

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Former CRTC officials condemn Bill C-10 as “authoritarian”

Two former Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) commissioners and a former federal director of telecom policy signed onto a petition that criticized the Liberal government’s incoming internet regulation bill, C-10, as a step towards authoritarianism.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, included in the signatories to the petition were CRTC ex-chair Konrad von Finckenstein, former CRTC commissioner Timothy Denton and former director general of telecom policy at the Department of Industry Leaonard St-Aubin. 

“It appears Canada is not immune to the growing trend of government intervention to curtail freedom and seek to control parts of the internet’s infrastructure in ways reminiscent of actions taken by authoritarian governments,” wrote the petition. 

“We are Canadian internet policy and technical professionals writing as concerned experts and on behalf of all those who care about the future of a free and open internet.” 

A decision by Liberal members of the House of Commons heritage committee to strip Bill C-10 of an amendment which effectively protected user-generated content from CRTC regulation sparked national outrage over free speech concerns. 

Experts, including University of Ottawa Professor Michael Geist, have been vocal critics of the legislation. 

Yesterday, Geist appeared before the committee, where he called Liberal attempts to regulate the content of Canadains “entirely unworkable” and “a threat to freedom of expression.” 

“I will speak to the freedom of expression implications in a moment, but must pause to note that no one – literally no other country – uses broadcast regulation to regulate user generated content in this way. There are good reasons that all other countries reject this approach,” said Geist during his opening remarks. 

Earlier this month, the Justice Ministry put out an updated charter statement which claimed that the bill still abided by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms despite the amendment’s removal. However, according to Geist, the statement did nothing to address concerns experts have repeatedly raised about the bill. 

“From a Charter perspective, the statement issued by Justice last week simply does not contain analysis or discussion about how the regulation of user generated content as a program intersects with the Charter,” said Geist. 

Liberal Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has responded to criticism of the bill by lashing out at opponents and accusing critics of the bill of playing into an “extremist element” of the Conservative Party.

Government report calls for expansion of data collection from COVID Alert app

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An interim report on the government’s COVID Alert app is calling for the government to “expand” its data collection to find new ways to deploy the app.

First reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, an advisory council’s report on the use of the COVID Alert app highlighted how data collected by the app could be used for other government projects beyond contact tracing.

“The Government of Canada has begun to broadly consider how the COVID Alert app could potentially extend beyond a government service to Canadians and the public health systems towards a tool that will also support Canadians and businesses in our economic, social and mental health recovery and restoration,” the report reads.

According to the most recent figures, 6,537,346 devices downloaded the app, or less than 19% of all devices.

Adoption of the app was significantly below government goals, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying the government hoped it would be downloaded on 50% of all devices.

In an effort to allay privacy concerns, Trudeau previously stated Canadians could trust the app to be safe, secure, and anonymous.

“It’s something you can just download and forget about because it’s completely anonymous, because it’s low maintenance, because it is completely respectful of your privacy including no location services or geotagging of any sort, people can be confident.”

The report acknowledges there could be privacy concerns from using data from the app, adding the federal government should consider the consequences of betraying public trust.

“The Council wants to continue to be engaged in discussions on collection of data, particularly the viability of data collection given privacy considerations,” the report says. 

“The Council has indicated the Government of Canada must continue to carefully consider the risks of public perception and trust from a privacy perspective when considering additional data collection,” it continues. 

“The expected outcomes associated with additional data collection should be clearly articulated to ensure it outweighs the risk.”

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