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Monday, May 19, 2025

British Columbia faced record 165 overdose deaths in January

By
True North Wire
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January was a record-breaking month for deaths attributed to drug overdoses in British Columbia.

In a news release, British Columbia’s Coroners Service reports that 165 people died in January, or 5.3 a day. This rate is 104% higher than the 81 deaths in January 2020 and a record for the first month of the year.

“These figures are heartbreaking, both in scale and for the number of families who are grieving the loss of a loved one,” said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe. 

“In the fifth year of this [opioid] public health emergency, there is virtually no community in the province that hasn͛t been touched by this devastating loss of life”

The report says that 18% of deaths involved an “extreme” concentration of fentanyl, the highest rate recorded to date. Analogues of fentanyl, drugs which are molecularly quite similar, also contributed to a significant proportion of deaths.

“We’re particularly concerned about the toxicity of the drugs detected in many of the deaths recorded in January,” Lapointe said.

“The findings suggest that the already unstable drug supply in B.C. is becoming even deadlier, underscoring the urgent need for supervised consumption options, prescribing for safe supply, and accessible treatment and recovery services.”

2020 was a record breaking year for drug-related deaths across Canada, including in British Columbia. Increased isolation, poverty and a lack of social services caused by lockdowns led to a sharp increase in overdoses.

Six months after the pandemic began, British Columbia recorded more overdose deaths than deaths from homicide, car accidents, suicide or the coronavirus combined. 

CPC MP David Sweet joins Roman Baber’s call to end lockdowns in Ontario

By
True North Wire
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Conservative MP David Sweet has joined independent MPP Roman Baber to ask the Ontario government to end lockdowns in the province.

Speaking with Baber on Wednesday, Sweet said government lockdowns have caused “incalculable suffering to all Canadians.”

“Lockdowns, by their nature, are a threat to mental health,” Sweet said.

“The financial consequences that family businesses, entrepreneurs and workers are experiencing because of lockdowns is huge.”

Sweet cited that opioid overdoses have skyrocketed and screenings and treatments for diseases have decreased because of lockdown measures.

The two politicians are asking the Ford government to move the entire province into the Green Zone and implement the fewest number of restrictions.

“The attitudes toward the lockdown have changed and we are seeing more people publicly speaking out against it,” Baber said.

“We should move the entire province into Green, while securing infection control and adequate staffing in long-term care homes.”

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole issued a statement on Wednesday in response to Sweet calling for an end to the lockdowns. O’Toole says he understands why some Canadians are frustrated but it should not lead to “counterproductive behaviour.”

“My view and the view of the CPC is that we respect the work being done by our premiers and health officials throughout the crisis. They are trying to put the health of Canadians first,” O’Toole said.

“We all want the crisis to pass as quickly as possible and are frustrated by the slow pace of vaccine development in Canada.”

Sweet has served as the Conservative MP for Flamborough-Glanbrook since 2006. Sweet has held many roles in the Conservative caucus and in the House of Commons, most recently as the chair of the committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Sweet has already announced that he will not seek reelection.

Baber was removed from the Ontario PC caucus in January after he wrote an open letter calling to the end of lockdowns in the province. Baber claimed that lockdowns increased suicides, bankruptcies and divorces without making a difference in ICU capacity.

In February, a number of current and former politicians, including former Conservative MP Derek Sloan, formed the Anti-Lockdown Caucus – a non-partisan organization calling for an end to lockdowns.

MPP Randy Hillier back on Twitter after temporary suspension over anti-mask tweet

By
True North Wire
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Twitter temporarily suspended Ontario MPP Randy Hillier’s social media account following a weekend tweet in which he advocated against the wearing of masks. 

Hillier was back online on Sunday following his short-lived suspension. 

“I’m Back! Thanks for all the support,” tweeted Hillier. 

“The trolls and bots got a workout yesterday reporting me. To appease the unruly mob Twitter put me in time out. I’m recharged and ready for more.”

On Monday, Twitter Safety unveiled new community guidelines meant to deal with coronavirus vaccine misinformation.

According to the new system, labels will be added to tweets that allegedly spread misinformation or disinformation about the coronavirus. 

Those who are found to have violated the guidelines will have five strikes before their account is permanently suspended. 

Hillier has been a longstanding opponent to lockdowns and pandemic restrictions. Recently, Hillier joined People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier and Independent MP Derek Sloan in forming the End the Lockdown Caucus. 

To date, the Caucus has grown to include several former and current elected officials including Alberta UPC MLAs Angela Pitt and Drew Barnes. 

Conservatives call for emergency meeting over AstraZeneca vaccine concerns

By
True North Wire
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The Conservative Party is calling for an emergency meeting of the Health Committee over the government’s plan to issue the AstraZeneca vaccine to seniors against expert advice.

Speaking on Tuesday, Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel Garner says Canadians need answers on why the Trudeau government plans on issuing the vaccine despite protests from the medical community.

“Recent media reports have indicated that NACI has recommended against vaccinating Canadians over the age of 65 with the AstraZeneca vaccine, but Health Canada is planning to ignore this advice and proceed with recommending the vaccine be administered to this cohort,” she said.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI), the scientific body that reviews vaccines and advises the government on vaccine policy, is recommending against giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to seniors, citing “the insufficiency of evidence of efficacy in this age group at this time.”

Despite the warnings from NACI, Health Canada approved the vaccine for all adults on Friday.

Rempel Garner and the Conservatives on the health committee are calling for an emergency meeting on the AstraZeneca vaccine and want experts to testify on what options are best for Canadians.

Rempel Garner says the conflicting recommendations cause confusion and may increase vaccine hesitancy. Given the risks posed by coronavirus to seniors, she said the government needs to listen to vaccine experts.

“Canadians 65 years of age and older are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Any vaccine provided to them must be done so in accordance with the best available evidence,” she said. 

“Conflicting advice from NACI and Health Canada on whether or not the AstraZeneca vaccine is sufficiently effective in this population must be clarified before the vaccine is delivered to the provinces and Canadians deserve to understand the impacts of this decision.

On Tuesday, Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro said the province will be following NACI’s advice and will not issue the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone over 65.

Super Channel takes major retailers to court over piracy allegations

By
True North Wire
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The Super Channel is taking several retailers to court over allegations that they are selling digital cable boxes that pirate its television programming. 

During a hearing today, Super Channel owner Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc. filed an injunction with Alberta’s superior court to block Staples Canada, Best Buy Canada, London Drugs and Canada Computers to immediately halt selling the devices. 

“It shouldn’t be the business of one Canadian business to hurt another Canadian business,” says Don McDonald, President and CEO of Super Channel in a news release on the matter. 

“We would never tolerate a retailer openly selling a device to help someone defeat security surveillance and shoplift. But that’s exactly what’s happening, and we’re asking the court to put an immediate stop to it.

“This is not a victimless crime. Piracy hurts the Canadian television industry and costs Canadian jobs.”

According to cyber security expert Dr. Eric Cole, there are “real risks” associated with using the devices including data harvesting by China. 

“People are putting themselves at real risk, and they don’t even know it,” said McDonald. 

“We hope to get the word out to people through this lawsuit, and by asking for this injunction.”

Allarco is alleging that the retailers advised and encouraged their customers to use the devices with the purposes of pirating the company’s content. 

Both London Drugs and Best Buy have denied the claims. 

“London Drugs would never intentionally take or condone any action with an intent to infringe any intellectual property rights,” said a London Drugs spokesperson. 

“London Drugs has always respected the rights of content creators and holders of copyright in all forms. We sell products and provide services for many parties engaged in content creation and distribution and recognize and fully support their right to fair compensation.”

FUREY: The psychological toll of the COVID-19 lockdowns

By
True North Wire
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The way Canada has handled the COVID-19 pandemic has created a situation where some Canadians aren’t only taking preventative measures, but have become psychologically damaged as well.

Can Canadians overcome the psychological toll of the COVID-19 lockdowns when the country begins reopening?

Anthony Furey discusses in his latest video.

Ontario Science Table member calls for journalist to be censored on Twitter

By
True North Wire
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A member of Ontario’s coronavirus Science Table called for Twitter to remove an article by a Toronto Sun journalist that exposed a Peel Region policy requiring parents to put young children in isolation for a period of 14 days. 

Journalist and True North contributor Anthony Furey reported over the weekend that parents were being told by public health that young children who are dismissed from school must be quarantined completely alone for the two week period.

On Monday, Ontario Science Table member and Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dr. David Fisman implied that Furey was spreading “hateful, damaging, malicious disinformation” and called on Twitter Safety to remove the content. 

“You know how to do it, and you know what you need to do,” tweeted Dr. Fisman. 

In response to Dr. Fisman’s tweets, Toronto Sun Editor in Chief Adrienne Batra stated that the publication “stands by this article” and called Dr. Fisman’s comments “extremely troubling” and an attempt “to silence a journalist whose work resulted in a swift policy change that was potentially harmful to children.” 

True North reached out to Dr. Fisman for comment on the matter but did not receive a response by the time of publication. 

Since then, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has called the policy a “mistake” and stated that such directives were being undone. 

“Public Health must ensure the best interests of children and families are at the centre of recommendations,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement. 

“They must be based on science with evidence for all to see. I am relieved to hear from Dr. (Lawrence) Loh that this mistake is being fixed and this flyer is being removed from circulation.”

Meanwhile, the Ontario government is standing by the mandatory isolation period but said that parents must use “common sense” when dealing with young children. 

“We know that if somebody may have COVID-19 we would like them to be isolated for up to 14 days,” said Ontario’s Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe on Monday.

 “However, we obviously understand that you can’t leave a child alone. You have to use common sense.”

Chinese state media called Five Eyes alliance “axis of white supremacy”

By
True North Wire
-

A Chinese state-owned newspaper has called Canada and the Five Eyes security alliance an “axis of white supremacy” in a recent editorial.

The editorial published by the Global Times in late February claims the alliance of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand is an alliance built on oppressing Chinese people.

“They have formed a US-centred, racist, and mafia-styled community, wilfully [sic] and arrogantly provoking China and trying to consolidate their hegemony as all gangsters do,” the Global Times wrote.

“They are becoming a racist axis aimed at stifling the development rights of 1.4 billion Chinese.”

The Global Times is an English-language Chinese newspaper operated by the People’s Republic of China. 

The state media editorial is a response to the motion passed by House of Commons to declare China’s treatment of Muslim minorities to be a genocide. The motion also called on the Beijing 2022 Olympics to be relocated from China.

The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance to share security information and coordinate intelligence work. In the past year, the alliance has worked together to limit Chinese telecommunication firm Huawei’s influence in member states.

Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes not to ban or restrict Huawei.

The Global Times claims the Five Eyes is racist because all five member states were founded on Anglo-Saxon culture. Citing statements by U.S. politicians, the paper appears to suggest opposing the Chinese regime in any way is white supremacy.

“Those countries share the Anglo-Saxon civilization. The Five Eyes countries have been brought together by the US to become the ‘center of the West.’ They have a strong sense of civilization superiority,” they wrote.

“Global diplomacy in the 21st century must not be hijacked by a fake international community with an axis of white supremacy. We cannot allow their selfishness to masquerade as the common morality of the world, and they cannot set the agenda of mankind.”

Podcaster cancelled for flashing an “OK” sign fights back

By
Andrew Lawton
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Journalist and podcaster Angelo Isidorou was targeted by the cancel mob over a four year-old photo of him wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat and flashing an “OK” sign. Isidorou sat down with True North’s Andrew Lawton to talk about how he’s pushing back against the mob both legally and culturally.

Watch the latest episode of The Andrew Lawton Show.

Nigerian Islamists murder church elder, kidnap three Christians

By
True North Wire
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A prominent church elder has been murdered and three other Christians have been kidnapped following an attack by Islamists against a small Nigerian village.

On Feb. 16, Islamists attacked the village of Kadabuki Dan-Marabu in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. The local church’s 65-year-old elder Mati Sani was murdered. Three other Christians were kidnapped and have yet to be located.

Pastor Ali Mani, the son of Mati Sani, told local media that his father was an important elder in the regional Evangelical movement.

“He served as a lay leader in the church for over 35 years at different capacities,” Pastor Mati said.

Attacks on Christians have escalated in Nigeria in the past year, with clergymen and church leaders often being the target of Islamist attacks due to their prominence.

Less than a month earlier, a Nigerian Catholic priest was murdered and mutilated after being kidnapped. Islamists are also threatening to murder another kidnapped clergyman Pastor Bulus Yikura as early as Wednesday.

The rapid increase in Islamist violence has been attributed to militias formed by Nigeria’s Fulani ethnicity. Fulani groups have been inspired by other larger Islamist groups.

“They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,” a recent report by the British parliament stated.

Last year, 3,530 Nigerian Christians were killed on account of their faith, the highest number of any country. In November, two Western faith leaders warned the increased attacks on Christians in Nigeria and other countries appear similar to the beginning phases of previous genocides.

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