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Two Canadian planes that were sent to China for coronavirus protective gear came back empty. Meanwhile, the Trudeau government continues to make excuses for the communist regime. When will the government realize we can’t trust China?
Plus, Toronto liberal elites think farm work is below them.
Get the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic on the True North Update with Candice Malcolm and Andrew Lawton!
A small group of people protested coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Vancouver on Sunday.
The protest which took place in Kitsilano consisted of approximately 25 people who carried signs challenging government-imposed measures.
“Stop the globalist plannedemic,” read one of the signs at the protest.
According to Susan Standfield who joined others in the rally, several police officers escorted the group along their route.
BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix called the protesters’ views “marginal” and told Canadians to not promote their message.
“I think we’ve seen, in the past number of weeks, one or two examples of people behaving very badly,” said Dix during a daily coronavirus briefing.
A video shared on social media shows protesters calling for people to defy the government social distancing measures.
“It would be a shame to just sit at home and let the government tell you what to do,” says one woman in the video.
South of the border, thousands of Americans have participated in protests against government lockdown measures across the country.
British Columbia’s response to the coronavirus has been praised for its effectiveness in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. As of today, the province has reported 1,724 cases of the virus and 87 deaths.
A 17-year-old teenager was fined $700 for playing basketball by himself outside at the Eva James Memorial Community Centre in Ottawa.
According to William Vogelsang, two bylaw officers approached him while he was shooting hoops and was told that he was not allowed to be in the area.
When the teen apologized and offered to leave, the officers instead told him that they would have to give him a ticket.
“I’ve never gotten in trouble like that before,” he said. “It was a big incident. Everyone’s walking past with their dogs. I was getting nervous and embarrassed. I was scared,” Vogelsang told the CBC.
After not being able to provide identification, the officers called the Ottawa police on the lone teen and fined him over $700.
“I get [home], I tell my mom and I start crying because I’m nervous and all this stress is on me,” said Vogelsang.
“It’s hard times right now. I didn’t want my parents to pay it because I feel like it’s my responsibility.”
The father of the teen, Robert, called the actions of the bylaw officers’ “disgusting” and said that it constituted “bullying.”
“A warning would have been sufficient to scare William off,” said the teen’s father, who confirmed that he has filed a complaint with Ottawa city.
Canadians across the country have reported receiving large fines for allegedly contravening coronavirus containment measures.
An Oakville, Ontario family was fined $880 for rollerblading in an empty community centre parking lot.
Oakville local Todd Nelson was handed the fine by a bylaw officer for allegedly failing to comply with Ontario emergency orders while with his three sons outside of Glen Abbey Community Centre.
Health Minister Patty Hadju recently said questioning China’s coronavirus propaganda is akin to promoting conspiracy theories.
Prior to the last federal election, former Liberal MP and ambassador to China John McCallum advised Chinese officials not to hurt the Liberals’ chance of reelection. McCallum said the Conservatives would be harsher in holding China to account.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau even once said he admired China’s basic dictatorship.
How much influence does the Communist Party of China have in Canada?
Canada’s security officials have warned of growing Chinese influence for decades, but these warnings have been largely ignored by both current and former Liberal politicians.
Here are some of the connections prominent Liberals have had with the communist regime:
Quebec and Ontario have announced new programs to provide Canadians with jobs in the agri-food sector.
The government of Quebec will be paying people a $100 a week bonus on top of their regular wages for anyone who works on a farm this summer.
Premier François Legault announced the measures on Friday in an attempt to fill 8,500 spots desperately needed for the season.
Workers could make an additional $2.50 to $4 an hour this summer through the bonus. The additional pay would also be on top of another $100 a week essential service workers are receiving from a provincial government program.
“I know that it’s not an easy job, but I think it will be a nice experience,” said Legault.
Ontario also revealed that it has spent an additional $1 million in new funding to connect people with in-demand agri-food jobs.
The funds are being implemented in partnership with the federal government and would expedite the job application process to quickly connect people with work.
“This is a very labour-intensive sector so it is critical to attract more people to ensure our food supply chain continues to provide healthy and nutritious food to Ontario families during this COVID-19 outbreak,” said Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman in a government news release.
“Our government is doing everything possible to ensure we support our farmers and food processors to fill job vacancies, including the development of a new web portal connecting workers with employers.”
True North Founder Candice Malcolm recently called for Canada to suspend its temporary foreign worker program and instead match unemployed young Canadians looking for work experience with farmers in desperate need of labour during planting season.
“With so many young people out of work — so many of whom are desperate to get work experience, pay off debt and save for the future — it defies logic that our government is paying these young workers to stay at home, while also recruiting temporary foreign workers (TFW) to come fill jobs that have been deemed essential services,” wrote Malcolm in a column for the Toronto Sun.
Prospective workers can use an online portal to connect with employers in Ontario. Those interested in finding similar work in Quebec can search for relevant employment here.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that two cargo planes sent to China to pick up personal protective equipment were forced to return to Canada empty-handed.
One federally-chartered plane made the 11,000 kilometre trip to Shanghai only to sit on the tarmac waiting to be loaded. Due to delays, the cargo was never loaded and the flight was forced to return.
“This occurred due to on-the-ground congestion caused by a significant surge in cargo flights out of terminals at the Shanghai Airport. As a result, the intended cargo was unable to get to the plane before its required takeoff time,” said Public Services and Procurement Canada director of communications Emily Harris.
A second plane in the service of an unidentified provincial government faced similar issues and was forced to make the return trip back to Canada without any supplies.
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer grilled Trudeau about the returned planes during question period on Monday, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that the prime minister was able to confirm details of the incident.
“Supply lines and truck shipments to the airports are difficult and interrupted by checkpoints and quarantine measures,” said Trudeau.
“For the most part, we’ve been able to navigate through those and ensure that Canada has received the equipment that it needs, but these two airplanes were forced to take off empty.”
This is not the first time that Canada has had issues procuring protective gear and medical equipment from China.
According to a witness testimony by Deputy Public Works Minister Bill Matthews before the House of Commons health committee, over 100,000 coronavirus test swabs were returned to China after they were found to be contaminated with mould.
“We’re in a world where the volume is just so far above what we’re used to and we’re dealing with companies we’ve never had to deal with before. There is an ongoing active test on every piece that comes in. We check for quality,” Matthews told the committee.
“We are buying products at a high volume from unfamiliar suppliers and that can present challenges both in terms of delivery and in terms of quality.”
The City of Toronto was also forced to recall 200,000 masks manufactured in China after healthcare workers reported that they were “ripping and tearing.”
The RCMP commissioner, the public safety minister and the prime minister are all unwilling to answer a simple – but important – question about the man who killed at least 22 people in Nova Scotia: did he have a firearms license?
As the investigation, which spans at least 16 crime scenes, goes on, there are understandably many details that aren’t yet known. No one expects police to have answers to all our questions right away. Whether Gabriel Wortman, the now-deceased murderer, was lawfully authorized to own guns is an easy one that could be answered in just a few keystrokes.
When police respond to a domestic violence call, they know if there’s a licensed gun owner in the home. If they pull someone over for speeding, they know if they’re a licensed gun owner. Authorities would have known the second they ran Wortman’s name in their system if he had a possession and acquisition license.
The police and government know. They are just refusing to say.
It’s possible this is an example of the police brass tendency to err on the side of silence. It’s also possible the answer to the question would prove inconvenient for the government.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was fielding gun control questions the day after Wortman was killed by police. While he initially said his focus was on the victims and not politics, he gave numerous subsequent answers in which he professed his commitment to advancing further restrictions whenever an opportunity arises.
Neither he nor his public safety minister, Bill Blair, has said whether this will come in the form of a cabinet directive or a bill that would have to be debated and passed by members of parliament.
Even without knowing the details of Wortman’s killing spree, Trudeau called it “a tragic reminder of the fact that we need to do more to keep Canadians safe,” as though his forthcoming gun control plan would have prevented this.
When asked Tuesday morning about the types of guns used in the attacks, Trudeau didn’t even pretend to answer the question.
“I’m going to trust the RCMP on releasing information as they feel it is important to,” Trudeau said.
Clearly the RCMP missed the memo, as just one day prior Blair seized a reporter’s question about if Wortman had a firearms license – a question actually directed to RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki. Not that it mattered, given Blair’s obfuscation.
“The RCMP are in the earliest hours and days of this investigation, and it’s a complex one and I think it’s quite appropriate for them to be careful about the release of information until they’ve had the opportunity to verify it and confirm it,” he said. “And, so it is, I think inappropriate and the Commissioner would, would quite naturally be very reluctant to reveal details of that investigation until it is complete.”
People might say this is nitpicking over a minor detail in a horrific tragedy. I wish I didn’t have to, but lawmakers have left me no choice by sparing no time to politicize said tragedy, and cramming it into a pre-existing narrative that has nothing to do with saving lives and even less to do with the legacies of the Nova Scotia victims.
We know from the RCMP that Wortman was wearing an authentic police uniform, and for a time was driving a police car with seemingly identical markings to bona fide RCMP cruisers.
He was committed to what he did and clearly had no issues committing numerous crimes, not the least of which is murder.
If Wortman was illegally in possession of firearms, no amount of gun control would have done anything.
According to the Toronto Star, Wortman pleaded guilty to a 2001 assault charge, and was ordered “not to own, possess or carry a weapon, ammunition, or explosive substance.”
Wortman received a conditional discharge and the weapons ban was lifted nine months later, which perhaps explains a release from the RCMP Tuesday afternoon saying Wortman had no criminal record.
It’s possible to get a firearms license with a criminal record, though it is difficult – especially if the conviction was for a violent crime.
Whether Wortman had a gun license or not has no bearing on the level of evil in him and his actions, but is nonetheless important to know as the government positions itself to use these murders as political cover.
In almost every political science class I took in university, my professors would admiringly tell us China was on its way to being the next global superpower.
“Whatever you say,” I would think to myself, with a shrug.
But with more information coming to light about how China has mishandled the coronavirus pandemic – and the possibility that the virus leaked from a bioweapons lab in Wuhan – I have become awakened to China’s place on the world stage, and irked by their authoritarianism, aggressiveness and lies.
As Conservative leader Andrew Scheer noted on Sunday, “It’s becoming more and more clear we cannot depend on China as a reliable ally, as a partner in our values. We need to rethink our relationship with China.”
We cannot trust China. Here are 8 reasons why:
Faulty personal protective equipment
Within the past few days, China sent Canada 100,000 coronavirus test swabs contaminated with mould, and the City of Toronto similarly received 200,000 faulty medical masks that were “ripping and tearing.”
Canada is not the only country receiving faulty equipment: the Netherlands recalled 600,000 improperly fitted masks last month, and microbiologists from Spain allege China sent them coronavirus tests that failed to detect positive cases 70% of the time.
Espionage and infiltration of our electoral system
Canadian and American intelligence experts have marked China as one of Canada’s largest national security threats. Individuals acting on behalf of the Chinese government have waged cyber-espionage campaigns on Canada and its allies in the recent past.
Chinese telecom mega-corporation Huawei has raised red flags worldwide due to its alleged relationship with the Chinese government. According to Chinese legislation from 2017, corporations within the country are required to cooperate with state intelligence operations. Canada’s key allies have repeatedly warned our government to exclude Huawei from our 5G network.
According to the Globe and Mail, a report from the National Intelligence and Security Committee warned that foreign actors, largely from China, have been trying to manipulate politicians, students, the media, and post-secondary institutions for their own strategic ends. The report alleges China has been deploying its citizens and students within Canada to conduct clandestine intelligence-gathering activities to undermine Canadian sovereignty and democracy.
Importation of fentanyl
A 2018 investigation by Global News revealed that British Columbia’s fentanyl trade is largely directed by a gang based in mainland China. In 2016, BC declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, as thousands in the province have lost their lives due to drug toxicity and overdose.
According to Global News, “Canadian law enforcement agencies have found that fentanyl and its chemical precursors are mostly produced in southern China factories and sent to North America via shipping containers, and in the mail.”
Sending fentanyl in the mail is relatively easy for these laboratories in China. Maclean’s reports “Because fentanyl is so powerful, with just 30 g containing enough for 15,000 potentially fatal doses, these laboratories can easily ship bulk quantities of drugs through the mail.”
The capture and imprisonment of Canadian citizens
Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been unlawfully detained at the hands of the Chinese regime for nearly 500 days. Kovrig and Spavor were accused of stealing state secrets, but their detainment has widely been seen as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, who is wanted by the US for violating international trade sanctions with Iran.
While being held captive, Kovrig and Spavor have been denied the ability to talk to lawyers or to their families and are thought to be in solitary confinement, where all the lights are turned off and they are subject to continuous interrogation. Meanwhile, Meng enjoys the luxury of her multi-million dollar properties in Vancouver during her house arrest.
In a Hill Times op-ed published in January 2019, Lu Shaye, formerly China’s ambassador to Canada, accused Canada of “white supremacy” and “western egotism” for demanding the release of Kovrig and Spavor.
The authoritarian rule of Xi Jinping
Ever since President Xi Jinping assumed office in 2012, he has dialed up state surveillance, instituted a social credit system, and abolished term limits.
Beijing-based human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng wrote in an open letter, “The Chinese Communist Party speaks about freedom, democracy, equality and rule of law, but actually China has no freedom, no democracy, no equality, no rule of law. The elite and the rich are in power and corruption is everywhere.”
The Chinese regime uses facial recognition databases so that citizens can be tracked virtually everywhere they go, and over one hundred million Chinese citizens have downloaded the “Study Xi, Strong Nation” app that gives users points for reading and watching videos containing party propaganda. The app also allegedly provides the government with all of the user’s phone data.
Moreover, in 2018 President Xi changed the country’s constitution to abolish two-consecutive-term limits, so that he will be able to rule China indefinitely.
Intolerance of religious minorities
Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But in China, religious minorities are subject to intense surveillance and thrown into internment camps.
International human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have condemned China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, a Muslim community native to northwestern China. Estimates state that one to two million innocent Uyghurs have been detained in reeducation camps within the Xinjiang region. Victims say they have been subject to torture and other brutal means of control. The Chinese government has not taken any responsibility for these crimes.
Other religious minorities have also experienced China’s authoritarian suppression – members of the Falun Gong and Christian populations of China have been imprisoned for their beliefs. Falun Gong members have even had their organs harvested and trafficked.
Bullying of neighbours
In 2019, the people of Hong Kong revolted against a proposed bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China, where they could face harsher sentences and be accused of vague crimes. Because Hong Kong is an autonomous region, they currently benefit from stronger protections for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
Demonstrations became increasingly violent. In a report, Amnesty International stated that Hong Kong police acted recklessly and used “retaliatory violence” against protesters, resulting in protesters being subject to broken bones and internal bleeding.
In defiance of international laws, China has displayed military dominance in the South China Sea. Though the South China Sea is disputed territory among surrounding Asian nations, part of China’s strategy has been to create artificial islands to exert geopolitical dominance. All of these have been challenged by the United States and other world powers due to their flagrant disregard for international agreements. China’s military posturing has created hostility particularly with Taiwan and has caused destabilization in the area.
Coronavirus cover-up
From early on in the coronavirus pandemic timeline, officials from within the Chinese communist party failed to disclose the seriousness of the outbreak in Wuhan. The brave medical personnel that first sounded alarms about the outbreak of a respiratory disease in the region were persecuted and harassed by the government.
Furthermore, China’s coronavirus statistics are unreliable. Several governments, including those of the UK and US, have expressed doubt over China’s coronavirus data.
Queen Elizabeth II and US president Donald Trump are among those who have shared condolences after Canada’s deadliest mass shooting.
“Prince Philip and I have been deeply saddened by the appalling events in Nova Scotia, and we send our condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who have lost their lives,” the Queen of Canada said in a statement posted to the Royal Family’s Twitter account.
The Queen applauded the bravery of RCMP offers and said her thoughts and prayers are with Canadians, and specifically Nova Scotians.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump condemned the murders in a statement as well.
“The United States and Canada share a special, enduring bond,” the statement read. “As friends and neighbors, we will always stand with one another through our most trying times and greatest challenges. The United States strongly condemns these murders, and our prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Police have so far confirmed 22 people were murdered in the weekend attacks, which took place across at least 15 crime scenes.
The shootings began on Saturday in Portapique and carried on for 12 hours as the killer torched homes and evaded police in a fake RCMP car and uniform.
By Sunday, police intercepted 51-year-old suspected shooter Gabriel Wortman in Enfield, N.S. Wortman died in a shootout with the police.
Among victims was 23-year RCMP veteran Const. Heidi Stevenson.
Investigations into the shooting are still ongoing and police have not yet discovered a motive behind the attack.
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Public Safety Minister Bill Blair confirms fewer than 10 migrants have been turned back to the US since the government closed our border. It turns out border closures actually work – if only the Trudeau government had done this years ago and didn’t invite the world’s migrants to Canada.
Plus, more wild instances of social distancing measures being enforced by power hungry by-law officers while another politician refuses to practice what he preaches.
This is the True North Update with Candice Malcolm and Andrew Lawton!