Included in the lengthy budget was a series of new measures meant to aid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including a $30 billion investment towards developing a national child-care plan and over $17 billion in environmental spending.
Tory leader Erin O’Toole criticized the government’s rampant spending, saying Canada needs to get its economy back on track with balanced books.
“We need a plan to get back to fiscal balance,” said O’Toole in a press conference on Monday.
“The Conservatives have a plan to do that over the next decades, so we don’t burden our children and grandchildren with out-of-control debts. That’s what seems to be Mr. Trudeau’s intention. We’ll see if there’s any sort of plan for balance today.”
The budget, entitled “A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience,” projects a deficit of $354.2 billion for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and a $154.7 billion deficit next year.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland called it a “responsible” and growth-oriented plan.
“This budget is a smart, responsible, ambitious plan for jobs and growth, that is designed precisely to heal the specific wounds of the COVID-19 recession and to permanently strengthen Canada’s economic muscle,” Freeland said.
Part of the 2021 budget includes a $12 billion extension to COVID-19 aid programs meant to help small businesses suffering as a result of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Liberals also hope to extend COVID-19 rent and wage subsidies which were supposed to expire this June.
The Liberals also proposed a new tax meant to target Canada’s ultra-rich. The tax would apply to the sales of luxury cars, boats and personal jets meant for personal use.
“The tax would be calculated at the lesser of 20 per cent of the value above the threshold ($100,000 for cars and personal aircraft, $250,000 for boats) or 10 per cent of the full value of the luxury car, boat, or personal aircraft. This measure would come into force on January 1, 2022,” read the budget.
Other taxation measures include a possible tax on vaping products and mention of an increase to excise duties by $4 per carton on tobacco products with the hope of generating $2.1 billion in revenue over five years.
The Liberals also proposed a Digital Services Tax applicable to 3% “on revenue from digital services that rely on data and content contributions from Canadian users.”
Currently, the federal debt is expected to cross the $1.3 trillion mark.
Liberal MP Yvonne Jones made a statement in the House of Commons Monday to demand an apology from NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq for tweeting Jones was “not an Inuk.”
The weekend tweet, first reported by True North, was in response to a 2019 post by the Twitter account Indigenous Politics, identifying Jones as Inuk.
“Jones is not an Inuk,” tweeted Qaqqaq on April 16.
Addressing the House of Commons Monday, Jones accused Qaqqaq, who is Inuk herself, of committing “racial erosion” against her own culture. Jones also claimed that Qaqqaq’s tweets were “vicious and threatening” to Inuit.
Liberal MP @YvonneJJones just demanded an apology from NDP MP @MumilaaqQaqqaq for disputing her Inuit identity on Twitter, calls her comments "laterally vicious and threatening."
“I stand before this House today to point out to the member for Nunavut that her domination attitude is the most prevailing one I have heard in some time. Her comments are laterally vicious and threatening to myself as an Inuk woman and the Inuit who are members of the NunatuKavut Community Council. As a descendant of Inuk and white parents, I was raised with a deep connection to the land and I continue to practice traditional ways of our people,” said Jones.
“Unfortunately, I have never seen such disrespect from another parliamentarian in my 25 years of political office. I ask the member to respect all Indigenous people in Canada and to apologize for her statement and stop committing racial erosion against her own culture. It is attitudes like hers that have set Inuit back decades in modern society. I expect an apology and a withdrawal of her statement on Twitter.”
Qaqqaq did not respond to a request for comment from True North by the time of publication.
As of 2019, the Canadian government has recognized NunatuKavut’s Indigenous rights and self-determination. A formal memorandum of understanding enshrined the group as being an “Indigenous collective capable of holding section 35 Aboriginal rights.”
Labrador’s NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) claims to represent around 6,000 Inuit-descended people with mixed ancestry.
NunatuKavut’s claims to Indigeneity have other detractors as well, including the nearby Innu Nation of Labrador.
According to an October 1, 2019 federal challenge, the Innu claim that the federal government “failed to discharge its duty to consult and accommodate the Innu of Labrador” when reaching the agreement with the NunatuKavut.
“The heart of this claim is basically the land and the rights of the Innu people. When we first heard that the NunatuKavut signed an MOU with Canada it was a surprise to us, because it affects our land rights negotiation with the federal government,” Innu Nation Grand Chief Gregory Rich told CBC News at the time.
Several Ontario highways and bridges bordering Quebec were heavily backed up early Monday morning due to Premier Doug Ford’s new inter-provincial COVID-19 checkpoints.
Traffic reports showed blockages as long as 10 kilometres long near Montée Paiement as well as hundreds of motorists struggling to cross the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge between Gatineau and Ottawa.
CONGESTION sur l'Aut-50 ouest depuis avant la Vérendrye jusqu'à la bretelle vers l'Aut-5. Et, de cette bretelle, pare-chocs contre pare-chocs jusqu'au pont Macdonald-Cartier, en raison du point de contrôle sur chaque pont interprovincial. pic.twitter.com/IPEnzomQZR
As of Monday, non-essential travel in and out of Ontario has been banned and police checkpoints have been instituted at the province’s border with Quebec and Manitoba. Canadians hoping to leave or enter the province must do so only for essential reasons which include:
Residents who have a principal home in Quebec
People who have a secondary residence which requires upkeep
Humanitarian aid
Healthcare visits
Work or educational reasons
Complying with a court order or parental custody visits
Federal public service
Transporting goods
Travelling through to access a primary residence outside of Quebec
Quebec’s public health measures also require anyone who enters the province to self-isolate for 14 days.
Since the early hours of the morning, police officers were present at the Champlain, Portage, Chaudière and Macdonald-Cartier bridges and at the Bourbonnais and Quyon ferries.
Premier Ford recently backtracked on public health measures which included giving the province’s law enforcement additional powers to stop and question people for simply being outside of their residences.
Soon after Ford announced the new spat of emergency measures, police forces across the province came out in opposition to the move saying that they do not intend to randomly stop pedestrians or vehicles as the Ontario government had asked.
“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops. As before, our initiatives will be both complaint driven or proactive, with the goal of gaining compliance. Those that refuse to comply will receive the appropriate penalty,” wrote identical statements by both Niagara and Waterloo region police services.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s climate plan has left some Conservative MPs feeling uneasy.
Last week, O’Toole announced the party’s climate plan, calling for a national carbon tax of $20 per tonne increasing over time to $50 per tonne.
The plan avoids calling the carbon pricing a tax, saying that the levy will go into “Personal Low Carbon Savings Account,” which taxpayers can draw from to make government-approved green purchases.
According to sources close to O’Toole, very few people within the party knew about the new climate plan until it was reported by the media.
One anonymous Conservative MP told Postmedia that the proposal upset many within the party. Beyond hurting Canadians, in recent years the concept of carbon pricing has become a symbol of government overreach.
“I think a lot of people are surprised and frustrated,” the MP said.
“The (carbon price) isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s become a culture war thing.”
Under former leader Andrew Scheer, the Conservative Party fought heavily against carbon pricing, a move that contributed to unprecedented support for the party in much of Western Canada.
O’Toole apparently told almost no one about the plan, with most MPs only learning about it after the CBC published leaked information about the proposed carbon pricing.
“We all first heard about this from the CBC article,” another MP said, adding that most of the caucus was still unsure of the plan.
The climate plan was immediately slammed as a betrayal of his promise to scrap the carbon tax during his leadership run, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation accusing O’Toole of breaking the “no carbon tax” pledge he signed last year.
Earlier this week, the Ford government unveiled a number of unprecedented additional lockdown restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.
But it appears the government has gone too far this time around. Not only did police forces across the province defy the government’s orders, but Ontario residents are ignoring the outdoor restrictions as well.
Anthony Furey discusses while potentially breaking the law by standing outside in Toronto.
I joined hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters in Toronto on Saturday April 17th. These protests have been happening almost every week since the beginning of the pandemic, but this week’s protest was particularly significant in light of Ontario Premier Ford’s new lockdown restrictions.
On Friday, Ford announced a prolonged stay-at-home order and gave police “special authority” to stop people who are walking on the streets or driving their cars, and to ID them and ask why they are out of their homes.
Thankfully, many police forces pushed back and publicly stated that they will not stop people without cause, despite the new powers granted to them.
During the protest on Saturday, there was a heavy police presence but the officers did not issue fines, arrest anybody or randomly stop people to ID them.
Although in previous weeks, there have been arrests at these anti-lockdown protests, there was a different mentality amongst officers on Saturday as it appeared they did not seem to want to enforce the new lockdown restrictions.
The protesters marched through downtown Toronto and ended at a popular downtown hotspot, Trinity Bellwoods park.
Protesters held signs that read, “Freedom is Essential” and “Rise up now or bow down later.”
Despite the mainstream media’s coverage of these protests, the people attending weren’t all anti-vaxxers and COVID-deniers. Many who attended on Saturday were Candians of different races and backgrounds – business owners, churchgoers and concerned residents who are fed up with the province’s strict lockdowns.
The group of about 500 stopped in front of the Bell Media building, the home of CTV News and other mainstream media outlets, and started chanting “Tell the truth.”
Not only were these protesters tired of the restrictions, many showed concern about the mental toll these lockdowns have caused.
“I battle mental health every single day, and I’ve been watching everyone suffer something I dreamed they never would, isolation,” a young male speaker said.
While the protesters were passionate and in good spirit, not everybody in Toronto was supportive of them.
As the march continued in the Queen St. West area, a few local residents started throwing bottles of water, tomatoes and onions from their windows – hitting some protesters.
One man, wearing a black mask, came out from his front door with a metal bat, swinging at the protesters. Police officers quickly interfered and blocked the man’s door.
These protests will continue, every Saturday at Queens Park, as long as lockdowns and restrictions are enforced.
While it was a positive sign that nobody was arrested this week for simply exercising their rights, we don’t know is how the police will respond going forward — particularly with the new powers granted to them by the Ford government.
Justin Trudeau says even with vaccines people must continue to wear masks and abide by lockdowns and restrictions. This comes as provincial governments double down on lockdowns that have proven ineffective over the past year. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses.
On Friday, April 2, 2021, there was a peaceful protest and march — an opportunity for many small businesses owners to express their concerns regarding the new COVID-19 safety protocols that the province of British Columbia had recently enforced on many businesses.
BC’s new protocols included (but weren’t limited to) prohibiting indoor dining at restaurants, bars and cafes and restricting indoor training at fitness centres. For many small business owners these new protocols represented a permanent closure of their businesses. When I heard about the new rules, I grew concerned. Though I’m not a business owner and still fairly new to Vancouver, I decided to show my support the only way I knew how — I took pictures. I went to the event with the intent of making a visual record of whatever happened.
And I’m so glad I did…
I arrived a few minutes early to take in the scene. I witnessed friendly interactions and saw many creative signs that people had made. Some of the people held their signs in view of passing motorists on 12th Ave so motorists could show their support by honking their horns.
There were people of all ages who together represented many cultures, genres and lifestyles.
The march was slated to begin at Vancouver BC’s City Hall at 2:00pm.
As the start of march grew closer, it got harder to move around. I estimated there were roughly 900 people that were all trying to share the space in front of City Hall. When the first round of speeches started, all the attendees gathered in closely as the guest speakers took turns shouting into a megaphone.
They spoke of the costs incurred on them by the government as they complied with restrictions over the last 12 months — lowering the capacity of patrons, setting up plexiglass and some even having to close their businesses as a result of it all.
They spoke of having to lay off employees and not being able to hire them back due to the former employees’ preference to rely on the CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit).
They also spoke of the need for unity and encouraged Canadians to not let politics divide us and cautioned us to be considerate of that when using social media. They also expressed the fears that many other small businesses owners currently have — the fear of speaking up about their concerns, the fear of being judged and shamed for expressing opinions and above all — the fear of their businesses going under.
As they took turns speaking, the crowd grew and hung onto every word. They cheered and shouted their support. At times the crowd would chant, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”.
The first round of speakers at City Hall successfully represented the built-up frustrations that the protesters have been harbouring.
The march began by heading north on Cambie St. I stayed towards the front so that I could continue photographing.
People were screaming into megaphones, others shouting with their fists in the air and some were banging on pots and pans as a way of expressing their solidarity with the struggling restaurant industry.
After crossing the Cambie Street Bridge, we hung a left in Granville St. and it was there that I noticed the unity that had been formed amongst the protesters. We were not individuals walking in the same direction anymore, but rather as one body marching towards a unified goal — to save small businesses.
It was there on Granville St. where I heard the true volume of the procession as our marching sounds echoed off the towering buildings around us. Protesters were taking turns leading the march and sharing the use of the megaphones.
For the first time, after a year and a half of living in Vancouver, I experienced the unique and powerful spirit of this city. And it was during this march, on those few blocks of Granville, St. that I finally became a proud citizen of Vancouver.
End of Protest
The march ended in Yaletown, at the north shore of False Creek, where Davie St. and Marinaside Crescent meet at a roundabout. We all gathered there and listened to another group of guest speakers. This time, their stories were personal.
There was a young man who spoke of his childhood illness, and how his mother cared for him in the hospital while he was on the brink of death. She did that while struggling to build up her dream of owning and operating a dance studio. But she succeeded. He told us that after 18 years of operating, the new province wide protocol restrictions placed on the studio meant that it was on the verge of closing. He said that he owed it to his mother to keep the studio running no matter the cost.
Another guest speaker was a lovely woman named Rebecca, a mother of four and restaurant owner. She told us of her grandparents, which she hasn’t seen in over a year because they reside in a long-term care home. She also spoke of her mother in law, whom she lost to cancer in August of 2020. Rebecca also spoke of her son with cystic fibrosis who’s been labeled high risk, and that several of her family members are currently suffering with mental health issues.
She learned her restaurant in Kitsilano is being forced to close due to the new provincial protocols. Over the last twelve months, she’s had to pay full price for her permits and licenses while her restaurant’s capacity and hours have been cut in half. During Rebecca’s speech, she pointed out the media’s shameful promotion of death and fear while ignoring nutrition and exercise or other ways to build a healthy immune system. Rebecca concluded by declaring that she was going to defy the government’s orders by keeping her restaurant open for indoor dining and invited all protesters to her restaurant. She finished her speech by encouraging other business owners to do the same.
The other guest speakers spoke in a similar manner — many business owners who have incurred many costs and constraints over the last 12 months but are fed up with complying with the contradictory regulations placed on their businesses. Many of these businesses are on the verge of closure because of the province-wide protocols.
Then when it was all over, and people started to disperse, I was left with many mixed feelings.
On one hand, I felt so proud to be a new resident of this amazing city, but as I walked away from the roundabout, I carried with me a feeling of concern — concern for the well-being of all these inspiring people.
Over the previous winter, I’d been hoping to experience a great summer in Vancouver, the best summer I’ve had in a long time, but I’m afraid it’ll be a summer of uncertainty and struggle.
I’m so glad that I attended this protest. I’ve been inspired beyond my expectations. And I truly hope that my photos can help in some way, but I know that I didn’t need to hear them talking about their dire situations to have been inspired by them. I’m sure that if I’d met them at a jazz club or at one of those Vancouver street parties that I’ve only ever heard about, or as a simple patron in one of their businesses, I would have been just as inspired by them there as I was on that day of the protest.
These people carry within them the spirit of the city and though I’m glad to have witnessed this spirit come alive that day, I would have much rather experienced it during any other circumstance.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has backtracked on his decision to give the province’s law enforcement additional COVID-19 enforcement powers to stop and question people who are outside of their residence while the province’s stay-at-home is in effect.
The decision to amend the wording of the regulations after only one day of being in effect comes after a vast majority of the province’s police forces indicated that they do not intend to use the powers granted to them by the government.
BREAKING: The Ontario government is backtracking on allowing police to randomly and without cause stop and question people for not being at home (after 39/45 Ontario police agencies said they wouldn't do it). pic.twitter.com/ivKhACm2Uq
Under the amended measure, law enforcement officers are now required to have a “reason to suspect that an individual may be participating in a gathering that is prohibited” before demanding any information from Canadians.
Those who are questioned by police are still required to promptly comply and provide information.
Shortly after Ford introduced the measures on Friday, police forces across the province issued statements online that they would not be randomly stopping people and cars.
Police services from Toronto, Peel, Windsor, Cornwall, Peterborough and London all issued similar statements denouncing the powers.
“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops. As before, our initiatives will be both complaint driven or proactive, with the goal of gaining compliance. Those that refuse to comply will receive the appropriate penalty,” wrote identical statements by both Niagara and Waterloo region police services.
To date, 42 out of 44 of the province’s police services have indicated that they would not be making use of the powers.
Police officers were not the only ones who took a stand against the order. On Friday, the Canadian Constitution Foundation put out a press release condemning the measures as being equivalent to instituting a “police state.”
“Ontarians are essentially living under a 24 hour curfew and police will now be able to randomly stop people and vehicles and demand an explanation of why people are out living their lives. With these new police powers, Ontario is one step closer to becoming a police state,” said CCF Executive Director Joanna Baron.
“Low income and minority communities have borne the brunt of this pandemic in terms of cases and mortality, and they are now more likely to bear the brunt of police enforcement.”
The Canadian government has pulled a number of military export licenses to Turkey over concerns that Canadian technology was used not in accordance with foreign policy.
In response, the Turkish government criticized Canada for having a “double standard” as the Canadian government continues to sell military equipment to Saudi Arabia.
Sam Eskenasi discusses the potential fallout and why the Canadian government needs to work on a more coherent foreign policy agenda.
