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Thursday, July 10, 2025

Alberta RCMP extremism investigation leads to arrest, firearms and explosives seized

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Alberta RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) revealed on Thursday that 26-year-old Kelvin Gregory Maure was arrested in February following an extremism investigation.

According to a news release on the incident, Maure, who is a Parkland County, Alberta resident, is currently facing 34 criminal charges including: 

  • 7 counts of possession of a prohibited firearm or weapon
  • 5 counts of possession of a prohibited firearm in a motor vehicle
  • 5 counts of possession of a prohibited firearm or weapon knowing he was not the holder of a license or registration certificate
  • 3 counts of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm or with readily accessible ammunition
  • 3 counts of making or possessing an explosive substance
  • 2 counts of personation of a peace officer
  • 3 counts of careless storage of a firearm
  • 2 counts of possession of a prohibited firearm without holding a license
  • 1 count of carrying a concealed firearm
  • 1 count of importing a prohibited device
  • 1count of break and enter
  • 1 count of mischief

Maure’s arrest was part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the unit into a “a number of associated individuals” which began in September 2020. 

“As experienced in this recent investigation, the accused was interacting online with like-minded individuals in posting extreme views that ultimately escalated towards him engaging in criminal activity that posed a considerable risk to public and police safety, ultimately resulting in his arrest,” said INSET Inspector Scott Isaac in a news release on the matter.

“As the investigation continues, we are attempting to determine whether the accused’s actions were motivated by a specific ideology or if there were broader intentions to his activities.”

The arrest took place during a heavy police operation in Parkland County’s Heatherlea Estates community. Upon searching a number of properties, police discovered and seized numerous firearms and other items. 

According to Edmonton Journal justice reporter Jonny Wakefield, court records show that Maure was allegedly in possession of the highly explosive element triacetone triperoxide. Additionally, Maure is accused of damaging a propane tank in a building owned by the oil company Obsidian Energy. 

Maure is currently in custody and is set to appear before a court in Stony Plain on May 7, 2021. 

Ottawa city councillors urge Ford to allow outdoor activities

By
True North Wire
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A group of Ottawa city councillors are asking the provincial government to reopen parks and outdoor recreational spaces.

In an open letter, sixteen councillors asked Premier Doug Ford to reconsider restrictions on outdoor spaces as residents’ mental and physical health decline.

“The pandemic has stretched on for over a year now, and the residents of Ottawa are looking for safe ways that they can get outdoors to be physically active, and to maintain their mental health and wellbeing,” the statement reads.

“We feel that the benefits to the physical and mental health and well-being of re-opening outdoor recreational activities far outweigh the risks associated with keeping them closed.”

In mid-April, the Ford government announced wide-sweeping restrictions for all Ontarians as cases of COVID-19 increased. Included in the restrictions were bans on outdoor recreational activities.

The Ottawa city councillors noted that many sporting activities have next to no risk of spreading COVID-19. Evidence suggests that the risk of contracting COVID-19 while outdoors is miniscule.

“Activities such as golf, tennis, and pickle ball, all lend themselves to physical distancing. When distancing requirements are adhered to, these types of outdoor activities can be a safe way for people to enjoy public spaces during a pandemic.”

The letter comes as medical experts report Ontario is facing a mental health crisis due to the lockdowns. 

Further, Ontario Soccer recently called for outdoor sports to resume, citing evidence that outdoor soccer has proven to not be a source of COVID-19 infections.

19 Ontario police officers launch court challenge of COVID-19 enforcement powers

By
True North Wire
-

19 active and retired Ontario police officers have launched a notice of application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice challenging the constitutionality of COVID-19 public health orders, particularly those that expand law enforcement powers. 

The challengers are represented by lawyer and founder of the Constitutional Rights Centre Rocco Galati. 

“Firstly, many of these regulations are not specific enough, they’re too vague and broad and aren’t clear enough to enforce uniformly and their supervisors think often wrongly what the regulations say,” said Galati during a press conference on Thursday. 

“The second problem, that goes to the centre of the challenge is that as the applicants see it, many of these COVID measures force these officers to breach their oath. This is an oath that includes upholding the constitution.” 

Galati appeared alongside active Toronto Police Service Officer Sgt. Julie Evans and active York Regional Police Officer Christopher Vandenbos at the press conference.

“When I saw this legislation coming into play, I questioned it immediately. There was no doubt in my mind that it was an outright breach of people’s Charter rights and freedoms. I swore an oath, I grew up and had every vision of being passionate about protecting those rights, that has never changed,” said Sgt. Evans. 

The notice seeks to address the legality and scope of a number of COVID-19 public health orders including Ontario’s state of emergency declaration, lockdowns and stay at home orders, social distancing and mask wearing. 

With regard to lockdowns, the application asks for a declaration that lockdowns and stay-at-home orders “are forms of martial law, the strict and exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Parliament” as well as being “outside the province’s jurisdiction.” 

A seperate part of the application seeks to address the enforcement measures police officers are being forced to comply with. 

The application goes on to describe recent expansions of police powers by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to stop motorists and Canadians outside of their home as “unconstitutional and of no force and effect” violation the Charter rights to liberty and a right to remain silent. 

Provincial border checkpoints are also included in the legal challenge.

True North reached out to the Ford government for comment but did not hear back in time for publication of this article. 

On April 7, Premier Ford announced a spat of new lockdown measures meant to handle the province’s growing COVID-19 crisis including the increased police powers and border checkpoints. Soon after the announcement, police agencies across the province and constitutional rights groups slammed the Ford government for the draconian measures. 

Eventually Premier Ford was forced to issue an apology for the decision, saying that his government had “got it wrong.” 

“We moved fast to put in measures in place to reduce mobility, but we moved too fast,” he said.

“I know that some of those measures, especially around enforcement, they went too far. Simply put, we got it wrong. We made a mistake.”

Green MP says UNDRIP bill amendment a step towards “decolonizing Canada”

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Green Party MP Jenica Atwin told a parliamentary committee that an amendment to Canada’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) bill, otherwise known as Bill C-15, was a step towards “decolonizing Canada.” 

Bill C-15, which was proposed by the Liberal government, hopes to align Canada’s laws with the UNDRIP declaration. 

If the legislation passes, the Canadian government will be required to obtain “free, prior and informed consent” from First Nations groups before “the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources” in accordance with the UN directive. 

According to Atwin, the bill doesn’t go far enough in achieving its goals.

Atwin, who made the comments during a April 22nd meeting of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, put forward an amendment which would require Canada “in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are drafted in a way that reflects non-binary gender identity and two-spiritedness.” 

According to the Green MP, the objective of the amendment is to “ensure that the federal ministers will work in collaboration with indigenous governing bodies on implementing UNDRIP in a manner that respects each indigenous government’s laws, traditions and practices as unique and diverse entities.” 

“Finally, this amendment is consistent with the vision of this government to promote human rights, including respect for diversity and inclusion, protecting 2SLGBTQ+ rights and addressing discrimination. This proposed amendment is a concrete step toward this objective as well as towards decolonizing Canada,” said Atwin. 

Atwin’s amendment was eventually unanimously defeated by the committee. 

A study by the Fraser Institute found that implementing such a law would create a condition of “legal chaos” for the country. 

“Inserting yet more ambiguous language into Canadian law, which will inevitably affect the approval process for major infrastructure projects in Canada, is unwise and would likely lead to even more uncertainty,” wrote study author Tom Flanagan. 

“Prime Minister Trudeau will be well advised to … walk back his promise to introduce legislation incorporating UNDRIP into Canadian law.”

Lockdowns causing youth mental health crisis: doctors

By
True North Wire
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A group of pediatricians say more Canadian youth are facing a wide variety of mental health issues as lockdowns continue.

The Ottawa Community Pediatricians Network, a group of 70 physicians concerned about youth health, is warning that more and more children are facing serious mental health crises.

“We’re seeing it in our offices. We have never seen this level of kids with major depression, suicidal thoughts and severe eating disorders,” Dr. Jane Liddle told CBC.

Dr. Liddle notes that while children have little risk from coronavirus, children have been hurt by protracted lockdowns. Since January, seven of her patients have been hospitalized for mental health crises.

“I think at the very beginning of COVID, we all took a big sigh of relief. There was the initial impression that COVID is not going to be a children’s illness. Kids will be fine. They won’t get sick. Sadly, that’s not played out to be true.”

Doctors like those in Ottawa Community Pediatricians Network say the effects of lockdowns, isolation, hopelessness and no physical exercise acutely affect children and their mental development.

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario recently reported a 50% increase in emergency assessments for eating disorders.

In March, McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton report that the number of young people hospitalized for attempting suicide increased substanially since before the pandemic.

“In older children we are seeing an exponential growth in eating disorders, anxiety and depression,” said Carleton pediatrician Dr. Andrzej Rochowski.

“I’ve seen a doubling, if not tripling of temper tantrums, anxiety, night terrors, nightmares … kids behaving a lot as if they had almost post-traumatic stress disorder.” 

Since the beginning of lockdowns last year, Canadians of all ages have reported deteriorating mental health, with many experts calling the situation a crisis.

100% of house churches persecuted by the Chinese government: report

By
True North Wire
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A new report found that discrimination against Christians in China increased substantially last year, with practically all independent churches reporting persecution.

According to U.S.-based civil rights group ChinaAid, despite the impact of the pandemic on China in 2020, the communist regime ramped up persecution of Christian groups.

“Although the novel coronavirus, which initially broke out in China, raged throughout the world, CCP authorities did not ease their persecution of Christian churches and believers in mainland China. Instead, as authorities intensified persecuting Christians, the ensuring harm superseded COVID-19 in potency,” the report reads.

ChinaAid also observed nine instances of the government demolishing churches against the wishes of the congregations and hundreds of instances of crosses and other Christian symbols being removed.

The report details several instances of Christian leaders or Christian activists receiving lengthy prison sentences, with public safety or anti-cult laws used to punish Christians.

“In the past, CCP authorities, including residential committee staff or police officers, openly tolerated Christians sharing the gospel and often would not interfere. Nowadays, however, authorities prohibit these practices and punish an offender with administrative detention.”

ChinaAid reported a sharp increase in persecutions of independent underground churches, also known as house churches. To operate legally, churches must submit to Communist Party oversight.

The report also highlights a sharp increase in other forms of persecution. As part of recent efforts to “sinicize” Christianity, state-approved churches have been instructed to interpret the Bible through a communist “Chinese People’s Perspectives.”

In one instance a textbook used in universities completely rewrote a section of the Gospel of John, distorting its meaning to suggest Jesus approved of murder.

Estimates suggest there are up to 100 million Christians in China, with around half worshipping through house churches that are not deemed legal by the state. Experts have suggested that increased persecutions may be a sign the Chinese regime is fearful as the Christian population continues to grow dramatically.

Toronto hiring coordinators to “decolonize” city’s museums

By
True North Wire
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The City of Toronto is hiring six museum coordinators to “decolonize” the city’s museums so that they are more inclusive to all. 

According to the job description posted on the city’s employment website, applicants must be committed to “inclusive practices” and be on board with the city’s decolonization program. 

“Are you a cultural sector professional who enjoys working collaboratively with diverse communities? Do you like to find new ways to connect people, communities and culture, ensuring vibrant and inclusive museums that are accessible to all? At the City of Toronto, Museum Coordinators support museum operations, staff, and the public to ensure the success of the City’s network of municipal museums,” the job advertisement reads. 

“If you are committed to inclusive practices, this will be an exciting opportunity for you to join the Toronto History Museums’ team as we embark on an ambitious and intentional change journey to decolonize the City’s museums and create community spaces that are inclusive to all.”

Successful applicants can expect to receive an hourly rate of anywhere between $43.97 to $48.20 an hour and work 35 hours a week from Monday to Friday. 

The ad also includes the condition that applicants should have “lived experience as a member of an equity-seeking community” as an asset.

In recent years, Toronto has pursued several so-called “decolonization” and “anti-racism” policies. 

Following the widespread protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Toronto Mayor John Tory declared in June 2020 that the City of Toronto was “systemically racist.”

“Here in Toronto and around the world, people have been raising their voices and calling for an end to racism generally, to anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism, and to racism against marginalized communities,” Tory said at the time. 

“As Mayor, I acknowledge that, despite our city being one of the world’s most diverse, systemic racism continues to be a real issue here in Toronto and there is much more all of us can do to confront it and to eliminate it.”

Toronto is also currently undergoing a review of the city’s “problematic” street names, including the city’s historic Dundas St. According to a report submitted to the city’s Executive Committee in September 2020, renaming Dundas St. and its associated locations could cost taxpayers a whopping $3.02 million.

FUREY: Trudeau wants to regulate what you post online

By
True North Wire
-

Not only does the Trudeau government want to regulate the internet, but they also want to regulate what you post online.

Bill C-10 gives the CRTC the ability to regulate video content on the internet and last week, Liberal MPs voted to expand the bill to apply to user-generated content – meaning what you’re posting on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more.

Anthony Furey discusses in his latest video.

Conservative MP’s bill hopes to protect vulnerable rural residents from crime

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Conservative MP Blaine Calkins (Red Deer – Lacombe) recently introduced a bill in the House of Commons which he hopes will alter the Criminal Code so that Canadians will be better protected from rural crime. 

Bill C-289 seeks to add as an aggravating circumstance evidence that a crime was directed at somebody who was “vulnerable because of their remoteness from emergency services and, for the purposes of some offences, the fact that a person carried, used or threatened to use a weapon or an imitation of a weapon.” 

According to official Statistics Canada data, Canadians living in rural areas are susceptible to higher rates of certain kinds of crimes including property and vehicle theft. 

“Rural Canadians too often don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many have been victimized so often they’ve given up reporting property crime. It is often difficult for people to get affordable insurance if they can get it at all,” said Calkins in the House of Commons.

“My constituents are tired of being victims, they’re tired of the revolving door of the justice system, and of crime not being taken seriously. They are losing faith in the justice system, because too often it puts criminals before victims and their families.”

The law also hopes to add additional consideration to the reasons a criminal was detained prior to giving them credit for time served during sentencing. 

Since policing in rural communities is predominantly under the purview of provincial governments, several provinces have taken similar steps to address the matter within their own jurisdictions. 

Recently, Alberta’s Minister of Justice Kaycee Madu announced new changes that would allow provincial fish and wildlife officers to respond to RCMP calls in rural areas. 

The program was introduced as part of the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Response (RAPID) with the intention of dealing with the issue of slow police response times in remote communities. 

“Rural Albertans told us loud and clear that it can take too long for help to arrive in their communities. With RAPID Response, highly trained and professional peace officers will work across rural Alberta to answer the call when police need help,” said Madu. 

The new initiative hopes to add an additional 140 officers to the task force. 

Children’s language and speech skills suffer during lockdowns: UK report

By
True North Wire
-

A new report out of the United Kingdom found that lockdowns have had devastating effects on education, with youngest children likely to be disadvantaged long term.

The report, produced by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), found that up to 25% more students needed help with basic language and speech skills than before the pandemic. The report studied 50,000 four and five year-old students and 58 primary schools across England.

According to their findings, 76% of educators reported students needing more help with communication skills and 56% of parents worried about how their children will fare in the classroom after lockdowns.

EEF chief executive Professor Becky Francis told the BBC there is a “huge concern expressed by schools about young children’s speech and language following the impact of the pandemic.”

“We can see that in the survey results but also anecdotally right across our networks.”

The EFF’s research suggests deprivement at a young age will result in long term difficulties in development.

All around the world, students have suffered as lockdowns have kept schools closed. Educators in Canada are also reporting similar declines in communication skills in students. 

In March, the Toronto District School Board found that the percentage of students meeting Grade 1 reading level expectations fell by 10% as a result of lockdowns.

On average, students lost 3.5 months of school in 2020 due to lockdowns, with educators in Canada reporting students are falling behind in key skills. 

Student mental health is also at an all-time low. According to Morneau Shepell’s November 2020 Mental Health Index report, full-time students have the lowest mental health score when compared to individuals across all industry sectors. 

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