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Monday, July 14, 2025

Ron MacLean to appear at $400 a person Liberal fundraiser

By
True North Wire
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Former Coach’s Corner co-host Ron MacLean is set to appear at a federal Liberal Party fundraiser at the end of this year. 

The event, which is titled “A Conversation on Sport and Politics in Canada” was first announced by Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden and is scheduled to take place Friday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. 

“Our friend Ron MacLean has very generously offered to help us finish 2020 with a little fundraiser to ensure that our next election is well funded,” wrote van Koeverden on his Facebook page. 

Those attending the event can expect to pay $400, while students, top donors and seniors will pay $100. 

In 2019, MacLean’s fellow host Don Cherry was fired by Sportsnet after he called on people to wear poppies on Remembrance Day. 

“Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night’s broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down,” Sportsnet President Bart Yabsley said in a statement.

“During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.”

Shortly after Cherry’s departure from the network, MacLean took the opportunity to lecture Canadians on their “white privilege.” 

“As a general rule, they’re often all white and when they’re not all white, the whites often have the speaking part,” said MacLean.

“It was just a real eye-opener that I don’t recognize the structural racism or sexism.”

Since his departure, Cherry has launched his own “Sour Grapes” podcast where he discusses hockey with various guests. 

Activists try to get Vancouver Canucks logo changed

By
True North Wire
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Activists say the Vancouver Canucks must change their logo because it is allegedly “appropriated” from Indigenous people.

History professor at the University of Manitoba Sean Carleton took to Twitter this week to claim that the Canucks logo is exploiting Indigenous British Columbians by using a logo similar to their art style.

“In light of sports teams in Cleveland, Washington, and Edmonton getting rid of racist and appropriated Indigenous team names/logos, it’s time to have a discussion about the Vancouver Canucks Indigenous appropriated Orca logo,” Carleton tweeted.

“How can you continue to develop meaningful relations with Coast Salish nations when you continue to profit from branding that is appropriating their art style.”

Earlier this month, Canucks goaltender Braden Holtby was also the target of progressive activists after his mask for the upcoming season was revealed. The mask was designed by a Swedish artist and featured Indigenous imagery. Holtby has since apologized and said he will not be using the mask design.

The Canucks have defended the logo in the past, with owner Francesco Aquilini saying fans feel connected to the logo as it represents the style of the region. More recently, Aquilini said the logo could be altered.

While the university professor says the Canucks logo is appropriate, one First Nation’s leader in Greater Vancouver believes there is no appropriation or ill-intent in the Canucks logo.

Grand Chief of the Stó:lō Tribal Council Greg Kelly told CTV News that the Canucks are clearly not being offensive.

“Is racism an issue? Absolutely. Is it something we should work together to eradicate? Absolutely. But am I troubled by the Canucks logo? No way, nope, no way,” he said.

After being targeted by activists, multiple sports teams in Canada and the United States have agreed to change their name to erase references to Indigenous people. 

In July, the Edmonton Eskimos agreed to change its name despite opposition from the Inuit community. One poll found that 78% of the western Arctic Inuit oppose the team changing the Eskimos name.

China forces 570,000 Uyghurs to pick cotton: report

By
True North Wire
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A new report by the Centre for Global Policy claims that over 570,000 Uyghurs and other minorities are being forced to pick cotton in China.

Under the guise of eliminating poverty in China’s Xinjiang province, the authors claim Uyghurs are being forced to take part in the seasonal cotton harvest in poor conditions.

“Cotton picking is grueling and typically poorly paid work. Labor transfers involve coercive mobilization through local work teams, transfers of pickers in tightly supervised groups, and intrusive on-site surveillance by government officials and (in at least some cases) police officers,” the report reads.

Approximately 20% of the world’s cotton is grown in Xinjiang. The province’s forced labour program sees rural Uyghur villages forced to work long hours on cotton plantations for the three month harvest.

While the cotton-picking program is extensive, many more Uyghurs have been imprisoned in internment camps in recent years.

Since 2017, China has interned over 1 million Uyghurs, or nearly 10% of the entire Uyghur population.

Satellite images have found at least 400 internment camps across Xinjiang where minorities are being held. Many of the camps include factory complexes where the  interned are forced to make products.

While the Chinese government claims the camps are for teaching minorities practical skills, activists and observers have argued that the goals of the camps are to indoctrinate minorities and make revenue for the state.

The report claims that cotton pickers are sent to camps to be indoctrinated on how to be “grateful to the Chinese Communist Party.” 

“Depending on the training setting and the target group, this training component, which comes prior to any actual vocational training, can last between six days and six months,” the report reads.

“This included the singing of ‘red songs,’ learning to be grateful to the Chinese Communist Party, education in Chinese language, obeying the law, and so on.” 

Calgary makes face masks mandatory until end of 2021

By
True North Wire
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Calgary’s city council has decided to extend a public health order which requires the wearing of masks in all public areas until the end of 2021. 

According to a Monday morning press release, the new order also comes with increased fines for those violating the mask bylaw. 

Under the new regime, the COVID-19 Face Coverings Bylaw now carries a $100 fine for first offences, up from $50. Meanwhile, all following offences within 12-months carry charges up to $300. 

“An escalating penalty for repeat violations further strengthens enforcement efforts for those who are willfully non-compliant with this bylaw,” said Calgary Manager of Strategic Services Kay Choi. 

“The provincial health order does not eliminate the need for a municipal bylaw, as this enables local enforcement agencies to use discretion and sound judgement when determining the best course of action, be it issuing a ticket under the bylaw or Public Health Act. It allows for a faster response and real-time adjustments to local issues, such as first offence incident for someone not wearing a face covering versus willful and frequent non-compliance.”

With regards to businesses, Calgary will be fining those who don’t have proper signage requiring masks while indoors $200 for a first offense. 

A second offence by business owners would cost $400, while a third will reach $600. 

Vancouver woman born without hands kicked out of Chapters for not donning mask

By
True North Wire
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A Vancouver Paralympic athlete was allegedly kicked out of a local Indigo Chapters and was threatened to have the police called on her after she entered the store without a mask.

Elisabeth Walker-Young has a medical disability where she was born without any hands, preventing her from donning masks. 

When Walker-Young attempted to explain her mask-wearing exemption to bookstore staff, she was denied entry to the location. 

“When I am out with my daughter or my husband, they will help me put on a mask. But when I am out in the world independently, I just can’t do it,” said Walker-Young about the incident. 

“It’s just not fair. I am not an anti-masker. I actually don’t go out often because I am trying not to make people feel uncomfortable, which is an awful way to navigate the world.”

A week prior to the incident, another Indigo Chapters location in British Columbia turned away an autistic child from their store premises after he was unable to wear a face covering. 

12-year-old Andrew Chiao was allegedly denied entry to the Metrotown Burnaby Chapters on November 22. 

The incident resulted in a Human Rights complaint filed by the mother Tina Chiao. 

“He doesn’t read or write. He doesn’t have the ability to use a computer. He doesn’t understand the concept of online shopping,” Chiao said.

“It was really unfortunate and made us very angry about the situation.”

Despite the two incidents, Indigo has since stood by it’s mask policies.   

“In making the decision to update our mask policy, we’ve been mindful of our legal obligations, especially those relating to customer human rights. At Indigo, we deeply respect the rights and distinct needs of each of our customers,” wrote Indigo in an email.

Carbon tax will keep rising until climate targets reached: senator

By
True North Wire
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The Trudeau government’s representative in the Senate says the carbon tax will keep rising in future until carbon emission targets are met.

Speaking during question period, Senator Marc Gold said the carbon tax hike is the best way to protect the environment.

“Yes, there is an increase in the price on pollution,” he said. 

“It’s a serious one, and this price will increase regularly until we reach our targets. It’s the most efficient way, the most effective way to fight climate change.”

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Gold had told the Senate in February that the carbon tax would not increase, assuring Canadians that the Trudeau government had committed not to hike.

On Friday, Trudeau announced that the carbon tax will increase by $15 a year to $170 by 2030, or an increase of 240%.

In a year where Canada is faced with unprecedented unemployment and economic disruptions, the Trudeau government said a carbon tax hike was needed to meet the carbon emissions targets set out by the Paris Climate Agreement.

Along with the hikes, the government is moving forward with a second carbon tax in the form of the Clean Fuel Standard. Once passed, the second carbon tax will cost fuel producers between $150 and $180 per tonne.

MERTA: Will our “feminist” government do anything about PornHub?

By
True North Wire
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The New York Times put out a report exposing evidence of child pornography, sexual violence and other obscenity being posted to the site PornHub through its Montreal-based parent company MindGeek.

A group of MPs and senators are calling on the Trudeau government to investigate whether or not the Canadian-based pornography website breached the Criminal Code, but so far the self-identified “feminist” government has been silent on the matter.

Mattea Merta says PornHub must be held accountable and that the government needs to act.

Islamists kill, rape dozens in DR Congo attacks

By
True North Wire
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At least 30 Christians have been killed or raped in a series of attacks by Islamists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo according to the Christian Post.

Between November 20 and December 3, the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces attacked five villages in DR Congo’s North Kivu province.

At least ten women and girls have been raped and fifteen were kidnapped. A local pastor told the Barnabas Fund that he saw his entire family murdered by the Jihadists.

“They also tried to force my wife and our four children to convert to Islam, but when they refused to convert, they shot my wife in the head while our four children were cut into pieces with a sword,” the pastor said.

One witness described how Islamists surrounded local churches and brutalized those inside.

“There was a throng of Christians flooding the streets in a helpless situation, as well as radical Muslim extremists surrounding five churches,” the witness said. 

“Ten girls had been raped and 15 girls abducted from the Anglican Church and Roman Catholic Church, with 14 Christians admitted to a hospital in critical condition with injuries to their heads, and others with fractured hands and legs due to the use of guns, machete, clubs, Somali swords and axes.”

While North Kivu’s population is 95% Christian, Islamists attacks have increased in recent years as the Congolese government crack down on insurgents. Since 2017, the Allied Democratic Forces have killed 3,971 people, many because of their faith.

Africa has been widely seen as the new hub of global Islamic terror. In the past couple of years, Islamic terrorism has rapidly increased in African countries.

Of the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians ranked by Open Doors USA, 17 are in Africa.

UN praises Canada for keeping borders open to refugees during pandemic

By
True North Wire
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recently praised Canada for being one of the few countries that kept admitting refugees during the coronavirus pandemic.

The UNHCR’s Canadian representative Rema Jamous Imseis recently told the Canadian Press that the agency was thankful Canada kept its borders open to refugees while other countries closed their borders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“It hasn’t, unfortunately, been at the levels that we had planned for prior to the pandemic, but it still is offering that critical lifeline to people who desperately need it,” she said.

“And we hope that next year actually is going to bring us a very different context and an ability not only to meet those targets, but to perhaps even exceed them.”

While the majority of countries closed their borders to all forms of immigration during the pandemic, the Trudeau government avoided closing the borders for as long as possible. Dr. Tam has since admitted that Canada kept its borders open too long.

In April, the Trudeau government allowed asylum seekers to make claims at legal Ports of Entry.

In October, the Trudeau government announced ambitious new immigration targets for 2021. By the end of next year, the government wants to admit 401,000 new permanent residents and 35,000 refugees.

In a statement, Immigration Canada spokesperson Alexander Cohen said that refugees admissions have accelerated near the end of this year.

“While our operations have been affected, we’ve come a long way since the onset of the pandemic and are now processing nearly six times as many refugee cases as in a similar period last year,” he said.

A poll commissioned by True North found that 76% of Canadians strongly agreed that immigration should be paused until a coronavirus vaccine is developed and unemployment drops to pre-coronavirus levels. 

Less than 4% of Canadians watched CBC-TV in 2019: CRTC

By
True North Wire
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In 2019, CBC-TV viewership fell below 4% for the first time ever as the public broadcaster struggled to keep Canadians tuned in.

New data released by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) shows that in the last year, CBC’s share of the television viewing audience fell by a whopping 25%. 

The new data follows a trend of declining advertising revenues and viewership for the taxpayer funded broadcaster. 

Recent financial statements show that in the second-quarter of this year, CBC-TV’s advertising revenue also fell by 19%. 

According to CBC CEO Catherine Tait, the broadcaster has had to implement “contingency” plans to square the impact of the advertising losses with business expenses.

“We have implemented a financial contingency plan that includes reducing operating expenses, significantly postponing capital expenditures and managing programming expenses to offset expected revenue losses,” wrote CBC CEO Catherine Tait.

Coupled with sustainability issues, the CBC is currently undergoing an employee revolt over the Crown corporation’s decision to introduce the branded content component, Tandem, to the business.

Hundreds of former and current CBC employees have signed onto a letter demanding that the broadcaster immediately terminate its plans for Tandem over fears that it would harm the CBC’s public reputation and standing. 

“The problem is that ads should never be disguised as news. When you are on a CBC platform, whether reading a news story or choosing a podcast, you should not have to ask yourself, ‘is this CBC journalism or is it advertising?’” claims the group’s website, Stop Paid Content on CBC.

Each year, the CBC receives $1.2 billion from taxpayers.

Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has promised that if elected he would defund CBC’s English language programming.

O’Toole’s Conservative leadership platform included measures to end all funding to CBC Digital, and to cut funding to English programs and CBC News by 50 percent with the eventual goal of privatization by the end of O’Toole’s first mandate. 

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