Two civil advocacy groups are accusing Ontario police officers of misusing a coronavirus database to conduct illegal searches in violation of Canadians’ privacy rights.
Both the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and the Canadian Constitutional Foundation (CCF) raised the alarm after separately obtaining government documents they say reveal a constitutional breach.
“People weren’t told that when they went for COVID tests that this information was being shared with police and they certainly weren’t asked for their consent,” CCLA criminal justice program director Abby Deshman told CTV News.
“That should be a decision every person makes about what they want to do with their own personal medical information.”
The database was first implemented in April after Ontario’s provincial government used an emergency order to allow law enforcement to acquire information about those who have tested positive for the virus.
Due to a legal challenge filed by human rights groups, police access to the data had to end by August 17.
Since then, a freedom of information request filed by the CCF revealed a gross mishandling of the data.
“This document reveals a shocking misuse of personal health information by police,” said CCF director of litigation Christine Van Geyn.
“Police were caught using the COVID-19 database to look up names unrelated to active calls, to do wholesale postal code searches for COVID-19 cases, and to even do broad based searches outside officers’ own cities. There is no rationale for this abuse.”
The CCF claims that they have filed a complaint with Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner related to violations of the Personal Health Information Protection Act. A complaint has also been filed with the Ontario Independent Police Review Director.
The poll, which was conducted in cooperation with VPN provider TunnelBear and 3Gem Global Research, surveyed 5,500 people from across the world, including Canada.
“The survey showed large segments of people in each country do not trust the integrity of information they find online, and many suspect censorship is at play,” wrote TunnelBear.
30% of Canadians were concerned about political censorship and “government control to prevent constituents from speaking against the state/governing body.”
Critics have accused the Liberal government of moving forward with legislative proposals that could threaten internet neutrality.
According to the Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, new changes to the 1991 Broadcasting Act are imminent.
While the legislation is allegedly intended to force social media giants to pay up for Canadian content, Guilbeault and others have spoken in favour of censoring certain voices online.
Trudeau government to license Internet websites #cdnpoli
During an appearance on CTV’s Question Period, Guilbeault told reporters that the government could potentially require internet content producers to obtain a government license if they wish to operate.
“We would ask that they have a license. Yes,” said Guilbeault at the time.
“If you’re a distributor of content in Canada and obviously if you’re a very small media organization the requirement probably wouldn’t be the same if you’re Facebook, or Google. There would have to be some proportionality embedded into this.”
Guilbeault later retracted his comments after facing public lashback.
Minister of Canadian Heritage @s_guilbeault just blamed "some on the right" for claiming the Liberal government seeks to license/censor online content creators during today's town hall on the media and information sector. #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/YnfqB8oxNL
As reported exclusively by True North, during a virtual town hall held last week, Guilbeault denied the possibility of censorship and accused “some on the right” for the accusation.
“I’m not sure where you saw in the speech from the throne or some of my comments anything regarding censorship or licensing,” said Guilbeault in response to a question from a town hall participant on Friday.
“I mean, some on the right have claimed that this is what we were doing. It’s not and I read the speech from the throne a couple of times already and I can’t think of anything in the speech from the throne that this is our intention.”
Guilbeault’s denial comes despite the fact that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s throne speech also made vague reference to “taking action on online hate.”
A senior advisor to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is urging Canada to consider closening ties with Taiwan in defiance of China.
China policy adviser Mike Yu told the Globe and Mail that Taiwan could be Beijing’s next target after its ongoing crackdown of Hong Kong.
“If China can do it to Hong Kong, which had been solemnly promised a high degree of autonomy, then China can do it for any other country and any other region as well,” he said.
“Hong Kong is the symbol of China’s determination to confront the free world. So if you are part of the free world, like Canada and like the EU countries, join us.”
Yu also highlighted Canada’s parallels with Taiwan as a reason to deepen ties with the country, including the two nation states’ commitment to freedom and democracy.
The Chinese Communist Party has contested the status of Taiwan, maintaining that the island nation is a breakaway state that must be reunited with mainland China, even by force if necessary.
Critics have accused Canada’s Liberal government of being too conciliatory to China and not defending Taiwan.
In May, when asked by Conservative MP Ed Fast to recognize a medical supplies donation by Taiwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne refused to name the country directly in his statement.
“Canada is grateful to all who have given supplies to Canada. This is a common endeavour,” said Champagne in thanks.
“We are thankful, we are grateful to every nation. We will continue to do so. Like I said, when it comes to global health, when it comes to helping each other, I think it is the duty of all to come together.”
In contrast, after China sent a donation of personal protective equipment in March, Champagne published the following tweet linking directly to the Chinese embassy’s announcement.
In May, Canada finally joined its allies and spoke out against Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Organization.
Former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer accused Trudeau of doing an about face on the matter.
“It’s only now after they see some polling data that they’ve started to change their message on that. It’s only in the last couple of weeks that he’s changed his message at all and I believe it’s completely disingenuous,” said Scheer.
A letter signed by 20 physicians and academics in the field of medicine is urging Premier Doug Ford to avoid plunging Ontario into another lockdown.
Signatories to the letter include the head of microbiology at Sick Kids Hospital Dr. Susan Richardson, as well as over a dozen professors from various Ontario universities.
The letter advocates for a “tactical localized approach” instead of “sweeping new lockdown measures” as a way to manage the recent uptick in coronavirus cases in the province.
“Lockdowns have been shown not to eliminate the virus. While they slow the spread of the virus, this only lasts as long as the lockdown lasts,” read the letter.
“This creates a situation where there is no way to end the lockdown, and society cannot move forward in vitally important ways including in the health sector, the economy and other critically important instrumental goods including education, recreation and healthy human social interactions.”
This week, Premier Doug Ford announced that Ontario was already in the midst of a second wave of the virus.
“We know that this wave will be more complicated, more complex. It will be worse than the first wave we faced earlier this year,” said Ford on Monday.
“But what we don’t know yet, is how bad the second wave will be.”
Instead of a lockdown, signatories of the letter suggest further attention be paid to long-term care facilities and educating the vulnerable about the risks associated with the coronavirus.
“A full accounting of the implications on health and well-being must be included in the models, and be brought forward for public debate. Hard data now exist showing the significant negative health effects shutting down society has caused. Overdoses have risen 40% in some jurisdictions,” read the letter.
“Extensive morbidity has been experienced by those whose surgery has been cancelled, and the ramifications for cancer patients whose diagnostic testing was delayed has yet to be determined.”
On Wednesday, Ford announced a $2.8 billion COVID-19 preparedness plan to tackle the province’s imminent second wave. The plan was released in response to recent models which show that cases in the province are doubling every 10 to 12 days.
“Forecasting suggests that Ontario could be around 1,000 cases per day in the first half of October,” claimed an Ontario news release.
“In order to reduce the spread and the number of new cases, it remains critical that Ontarians continue to adhere to public health measures, including avoiding large gatherings, physical distancing and wearing a face covering.”
As the Trudeau government makes vague claims of “transitioning to a green economy” or “moving towards clean energy,” Albertans and Saskatchewanians are left wondering whether they will ever be treated fairly or have equal representation inside Canadian confederation.
So, what is the future of Confederation?
On September 24th, True North’s Candice Malcolm hosted the Future of Confederation Debate. The motion that was debated was: Alberta and Saskatchewan would be better off independent. Arguing in favour of an independent Alberta and Saskatchewan was University of Calgary professor Dr. Barry Cooper. Arguing in favour of Canadian federalism was former Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition the Hon. Stockwell Day.
If you’re interested in participating in future live events and receiving additional perks, become a True North Insider today by becoming a monthly contributor at www.tnc.news/donate.
A new Liberal green policy could increase Canadians’ home heating bills by an average of 60%, an advocacy group warns.
A report by Canadians for Affordable Energy claims regulations in the federal government’s Clean Fuel Standard plan will drive up the cost of natural gas, affecting the cost most Canadians bear to heat their homes.
The report cites a Canadian Energy Research Institute estimate that natural gas costs will increase over 60% while fuel prices will go up by 5 to 11%.
Unlike the carbon tax, which is directly tacked onto a gas customer’s bill, this increase is coming about through hidden costs associated with the lifespan of the gas production and delivery.
“Homeowners are completely oblivious to what is happening because most people are worried about the recession and pandemic and what’s happening next week, let alone what will happen in 2022. We have compelling research indicating this is bad policy,” said Dan McTeague, the former Liberal MP now serving as president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.
“The cost isn’t simply up front. It is in every step of the life cycle of energy. That includes extraction and processing.”
McTeague warns the regulations will add costs at “every level” of the process, given the Clean Fuel Standards effectively requires doubling the use of renewable energy sources.
Despite the pandemic-related economic downturn, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has said the government still intends to move forward with the proposal, calling it an “important part of the climate plan,” according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
The plan is expected to be tabled in the fall and put into action by 2022.
“No other country has imposed a green fuel mandate on all sources of energy. It’s a headlong rush into the unknown and it is only a matter of weeks away,” McTeague said.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), Canada has $1.45 trillion worth of debt under Justin Trudeau’s watch.
According to the PBO’s estimates, federal debt is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2023. Estimates do not include new spending proposed since the beginning of this month, Crown corporation borrowing or pension liabilities.
“Should parliamentarians support extending temporary measures or introduce new response measures, program spending could rise significantly above the Budget Office’s baseline projection,” claimed the report titled Economic and Fiscal Outlook September 2020.
“The Office’s outlook does not reflect any of the commitments made in the recent Speech from the Throne.”
Spending by the Liberals is so extensive that it is expected to surpass the debt ceiling of $1.168 trillion set by parliament three years earlier in the Borrowing Authority Act by 24%.
Record debt and spending by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also threatened Canada’s international credit rating.
According to Fitch Ratings, new spending announced by Trudeau threatens Canada’s AA+ rating.
“Canada’s (‘AA+’/Stable) general government debt to GDP ratio is already significantly higher than the median of its ‘AA’ rated peers, and failure to set clear post-pandemic fiscal anchors and reduce the federal deficit to sustainable levels after the public health crisis could renew negative ratings pressure,” wrote Fitch Ratings.
The Ontario Legislature has reversed its decision to allow a group with close ties to the Chinese government to fly China’s flag high above Queen’s Park.
The Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations (CTCCO) requested the flagpole space for Wednesday afternoon, according to Ontario’s sergeant-at-arms Jackie Gordon. The group hoped to fly the flag for about an hour at noon to commemorate China’s National Day on October 1.
Consulate General of China Han Tao was also expected to speak at the event.
According to a past report, this is not the first time CTCCO has worked closely with the Chinese consulate.
In 2001, the group staged a pro-China exhibit on Tibet at Toronto City Hall and it partook in an effort by China to install a Confucius Institute branch at a local school board.
The group has also received the support of Communist China’s Overseas Affairs Office.
Conservatives spoke out against the planned event, pointing to the fact that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are nearing two years imprisonment in Chinese prisons since the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.
“When governments fly a foreign flag it sends a certain signal,” said Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong.
“I don’t think any order of government in Canada should be flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China while two Canadian citizens are wrongfully imprisoned in China.”
True North fellow Anthony Furey also reported on Tuesday that representatives from Premier Doug Ford’s office opposed the flag-raising ceremony.
Update: A representative from Ford's office tells me "it is not the appropriate time to be raising this flag" and no one from the government or Ontario PC caucus will be attending the flag raising ceremony. But the flag policy is independent of govt/politicians, I'm told. https://t.co/9APDsTHSE1
Yesterday, the Ontario legislature had cited “cultural diversity” as one of the reasons behind okaying the ceremony.
“Our focus is more provincial. We leave global diplomatic relations to the federal government. We focus on the cultural diversity, or mosaic, of this province,” said Ontario’s sergeant-at-arms Jackie Gordon at the time.
However, overnight the legislature changed its mind and ordered that all flag-raising ceremonies are off the table for the near future, citing concerns about an upsurge in coronavirus cases.
A Toronto plan to rename Dundas St. and similarly-named city assets would lead to extensive changes to the city’s transit system and beyond.
On September 8, a proposal was submitted to be reviewed by Toronto’s Executive Committee. The report, which is titled “Responding to the Dundas Street Renaming Petition” estimates that the city could pay $3.02 million if it follows through with the plan.
If approved, street signs, transit routes, parks, 625 bike share stations and other city properties would all need to be revamped to accommodate the change.
True North has obtained more details from the City of Toronto regarding the assets being considered for renaming.
According to city officials, the renaming effort would require reprogramming a number of facets of the city’s interconnected transit system. Efforts would have to be made to change on-board stop announcements, digital signage and third-party data in all subway trains, streetcars and buses.
“Maps will need to be replaced in all 4,000 bus shelters, 75 subway stations, on-board all streetcars and subway train cars,” Manager of Corporate Communications for the City of Toronto Beth Waldman told True North.
The 505 Dundas streetcar route has also been marked as a target for renaming.
True North reached out to the Toronto Transit Commission for comment on whether the changes would disrupt regular operations but had not heard back by the time of publication.
Additionally, three park names are on the anti-racism chopping block, including Dundas Parkette on Boulton Ave, Dundas-St. Clarens Parkette and Dundas-Watkinson Parkette on Dundas St. W.
Thirteen other park signs would also need to be altered should the city follow through with the proposal, including signage at Trinity Bellwoods Park.
The following Toronto Parking Authority Dundas lots are also to be renamed:
20 Dundas Square
40 Larch Street
1117 Dundas Street West
2201 Dundas Street West
201 Claremont Street
City properties including Jane and Dundas Branch Library and Toronto Police Services 52 Division Headquarters would be impacted as well.
See the interactive map below to explore some of the city assets earmarked for renaming. The following map only includes the assets that had identifiable addresses which were provided to True North by the city:
An unknown number of underground PATH signs are also on the short list for alterations and renaming.
“The City does not have data on the number of PATH signs that would be affected. Almost all of the PATH signage and wall maps are on private property in the PATH pedestrian walkway system, including those with a reference to Dundas Street,” said Manager of Corporate Communications for the City of Toronto Beth Waldman.
“The PATH signs and wall maps are not owned by the City, except for few located in the lower foyer entrance to City Hall’s parking area owned by the City’s Facilities Division. The PATH’s signs and wall maps is facilitated by the Financial District BIA.”
According to the proposal report, “businesses would incur higher financial costs than residents” if the project gets implemented. Compensation for changes to residential addresses and other details could cost the city around $980,000 at a rate of $100 per resident.
The proposal was initiated by the city following a widely-shared petition calling on decision makers to “take a constructive and symbolic step toward disavowing its historic associations with persons who have actively worked toward preserving systems of racial inequality and exploitation.”
The petition goes on to accuse the street’s namesake, the first Viscount Melville, Henry Dundas, of contributing to “colonialism and slavery” in his lifetime.
Toronto Mayor John Tory has since spoken out in support of the plan.
“Considering the renaming of Dundas Street is just the beginning of the work we need to do to build a Toronto where we all belong,” said Tory.
Erin O’Toole will take his seat in the House of Commons for the first time as Conservative leader after recovering from a COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month.
O’Toole’s wife, Rebecca, tweeted Wednesday morning that O’Toole was “#strongerthanever” and ready to get back to work.
“Recovered from Covid-19 and first day out of our house in weeks,” she wrote. “Big day as @erinotoole takes his seat in the House of Commons as Leader of the Official Opposition. #strongerthanever.”
O’Toole’s return to Parliament will present his first opportunity as leader of the Official Opposition to directly challenge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is scheduled to attend Question Period.
The new Conservative leader delivered his response to last week’s speech from the throne from outside his home.
O’Toole had tested positive for the coronavirus on Sept. 16, the Conservative Party of Canada previously said. O’Toole, alongside his family, was tested after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19. Rebecca initially tested negative, though later tested positive after developing symptoms.
The O’Tooles initially sought out tests at an Ottawa testing centre but were turned away due to overcapacity, eventually turning to a House of Commons testing service for MPs and their families.
At the time, O’Toole attributed the difficulty to get tested to the Trudeau government’s poor handling of the pandemic.
“The Trudeau Liberals have created this mess by refusing to approve other testing methods – despite all our allies having, for months, multiple tests including much faster and less invasive methods,” he said.
“I stand with the thousands of Canadian families who are waiting in lines today for tests. It has been seven months, Justin Trudeau must answer for why we do not have access to more of the tests our allies are using.”
Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet and his wife also tested positive for the virus and remain in self-isolation.
