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Thursday, July 10, 2025

Trump claims “invasion” of  illegal immigrants crossing into the US from Canada

Source: Facebook

Former president Donald Trump made the claim that the United States is suffering from a flood of illegal immigration not just from Mexico, but from Canada as well.

Trump called into Fox News’ coverage of Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention to offer his thoughts on the vice president’s speech. 

Trump slammed the Biden-Harris administration for allowing what he describes as an “invasion” of illegal immigrants into the country crossing the southern border but also knocked the administration for an uptick in illegal crossings from Canada.

“It’s an invasion of our country taking place at our border, our southern border, it’s a total invasion. And now it’s starting at our northern border also, through Canada,” said Trump.

The former president blamed Vice President Harris for allowing the United States’ border situation to descend into a crisis, citing her role as President Joe Biden’s “border czar.”

Indeed, the United States has experienced a massive upsurge in illegal border crossings from Canada.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol recorded 189,402 migrant encounters at the Canada-U.S. border in 2023, up 73% from the previous years and 597% from 2021 when there were only 27,180 such encounters

Data also shows that far more known and suspected terrorists try to cross into the United States through the Canadian border rather than the Mexican border, as 484 individuals were detained at the northern border compared with 92 who were caught at the southern border.

Migrants are increasingly taking flights to Canada with the hopes of getting to the United States illegally through the Canada-U.S. border, the longest undefended border in the world. 

Trump’s rhetoric mirrors that of the former Republican candidate for president Vivek Ramaswamy during the 2024 primary elections.

Back in Oct 2023, Ramaswamy visited the United States’ southern and northern border, saying that America needed to build both walls, referring to the partially built border wall at the Mexico-U.S. border.

“It’s not “Build-the-Wall” anymore. It’s Build *Both* Walls,” said Ramaswamy.

Around the same time, New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu announced the creation of a northern border alliance task force to conduct patrols along the Canada-U.S. border, complaining that the federal government was not taking action on the issue. 

American officials successfully pressured the Trudeau government to reimpose a visa requirement on Mexican citizens visiting Canada to prevent Mexican nationals from entering the United States from Canada.

Canada is dealing with its own surge of illegal border crossing into the United States, as in 2023, Canada had 31,521 refugee claims by those who had crossed the border illegally.

Off the Record | Canada’s state broadcaster is obsessed with Kamala Harris

Source: Facebook / CBC

It’s Kamala-mania over at the CBC! They just can’t get enough of the Democratic Presidential nominee. Despite its mandate to cover Canadian content, a True North exclusive revealed the CBC’s coverage of Harris has been so extensive, it reached a rate of over two stories per day, or 68 stories in the past month.

Plus, how “independent” is the Senate actually? Over the weekend, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed one of the loudest critics of Pierre Poilievre and a failed Liberal candidate who donated to the Liberals over 220 times to the upper chamber.

And Global Affairs Canada is defending its purchase of a $9 million New York City condo for consul general Tom Clark, who also happens to be a former legacy media reporter. Is this a good use of taxpayers money?

Tune into Off the Record with guest host Kris Sims, Harrison Faulkner and Noah Jarvis!

CN Rail employees to return to work, CPKC holds out

Source: Facebook

Canadian National Rail employees will soon be returning to work as the Teamsters union served the company with a 72-hour strike notice on Friday, saying that it would begin taking down picket lines.  

“The lockout at CN is now over, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has taken down picket lines at CN. Workers will begin returning to work on Friday,” CN director of public affairs Christopher Monette told True North. 

However, the work stoppage at Canadian Pacific Kansas City remains ongoing, pending an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board, an independent arbiter instructed to negotiate a deal by Labour Minister Steve Mackinnon. 

Mackinnon utilized section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which enables Ottawa to refer a labour dispute to the CIRB for resolution on Thursday.

“I have also directed the board to extend the term of the current collective agreements until new agreements have been signed, and for operations on both railways to resume forthwith,” Mackinnon told reporters on Thursday evening.

The country’s two largest railways both locked out workers at 12:01 on Thursday morning after failing to reach new contract agreements with the union.

CPKC officials are scheduled to meet with the union and the board on Friday, aiming to finalize a deal. While the rail company said it’s prepared to resume service following the meeting with the CIRB, union officials have refused and are looking to make submissions to challenge Mackinnon’s intervention on constitutional grounds.  

“The work stoppage at CPKC remains ongoing pending an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board . Despite the Labour Minister’s referral, there is no clear indication that the CIRB will actually order an end to the labour dispute at CPKC,” said Monette. 

The two rail companies locked out 9,300 engineers, conductors and yard workers as a result of negotiations breaking down, following months of an increasingly strained relationship between the parties involved. 

Union employee rest time, scheduling and wages were at issue during the negotiations.

Together, rail companies hauled around $1 billion in goods daily and industry groups warned the federal government that a long-lasting work stoppage could have catastrophic effects on Canada’s economy. 

While the economic effects may not immediately be felt by many Canadians, over 32,000 rail commuters were instantly forced to find alternative means of travel for work in cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver as a result of the strike.

Feds remove tobacco pouches from convenience stores, to be sold only in pharmacies

Source: Unsplash

The Trudeau government has begun cracking down on nicotine pouches, introducing new measures to prevent youth from getting addicted to the product.

Nicotine pouches will only be able to be purchased from behind pharmacy counters as of next week and several flavoured options have been outright banned. 

Popular nicotine pouch brand name Zonnicwill have its products removed from convenience store and gas station shelves on Aug. 28.

Menthol and mint-flavoured pouches will still be permitted under the new rules but must still be sold exclusively in pharmacies.

Health Minister Mark Holland told CBC News that such products are “clearly designed to target youth” and that those days are “over.”

The Trudeau government pledged to tackle the issue nearly a year ago in response to national health groups warning that there was heightened risk these products are getting youth addicted to nicotine. 

“It has been so deeply disturbing to see so many young people becoming addicted to these nicotine pouches who’ve never had any interaction with cigarettes,” said Holland. 

The products are produced by cigarette manufacturer Imperial Tobacco, a company that Holland accused of exploiting a loophole in Canada’s legal system to get the pouches approved by Health Canada. 

Legislation was passed in June to give Holland further ministerial powers to unilaterally restrict sales, manufacturing, advertising and importation of products deemed by the government to be harmful or which have been found to be used for unintended purposes. 

“We never know what hole they’ll slither out of next to try to attack our children,” said Holland.

Imperial Tobacco has been given six months to make the necessary changes, which includes new packaging which cannot be geared towards youth and must come with a warning label.

The health minister said that the changes may not have been implemented soon enough, and worries that many young Canadians have already been captured by tobacco companies. 

“I’m very concerned that there are kids who are already addicted. I am very concerned that tobacco companies have already achieved their goal,” he said. “It repulses me.”

Vice-president of Imperial Tobacco Eric Gagnon accused the health minister of having a “personal vendetta” against the company, which he argued underwent a two-year approval process to sell such products. 

“Apparently because we’re a tobacco company, we’re treated differently than anybody else,” said Gagnon. “The biggest losers right now are the adult smokers that have been using Zonnic.”

Health Canada approved Zonnic pouches last year as a method to help adult smokers quit and as the product does not contain any tobacco and isn’t inhaled, it falls outside the purview of existing provincial or national tobacco or vaping laws.

Imperial Tobacco denies that the products have been geared towards youth and said it has instructed store clerks to require identification for its purchase. 

There is no available data on how many youth have tried Zonnic pouches as the product isn’t being tracked by the government. 

The Daily Brief | When will the rail strike come to an end?

Source: Wikimedia

The work stoppage of Canada’s two main railway companies is likely to lead to major supply chain issues as Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. haul a combined total of $1 billion worth of goods daily. When will the strike end?

Plus, a security guard was left with serious injuries after being stabbed by a homeless man who had a warrant out for his arrest.

And Ontario Premier Doug Ford blasted the Liberal government as the “biggest drug dealer” in Canada over its so-called safe supply program.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Lindsay Shepherd and Noah Jarvis!

B.C. Conservatives blame NDP gov. for proliferation of antisemitism following bomb threat

Source: X/X

John Rustad’s Conservative Party of British Columbia is blaming David Eby’s NDP government for allowing antisemitism to proliferate in the province. 

Following a nationwide bomb threat against over 100 Jewish institutions, B.C. Conservatives are blaming Eby’s B.C. NDP for failing to confront antisemitism, allowing anti-Jewish hate to rise in B.C. and its government.

In a statement posted on X by the B.C Conservatives, Rustad “strongly criticized” Eby’s government for its “ongoing failure to protect the Jewish community” as antisemitism escalates into attempts to intimidate several Jewish institutions in B.C. and around Canada.

The post noted the bomb threats as well as the recent attack involving an incendiary device at a Vancouver synagogue as evidence for the apparent failure of the government to confront the rising antisemitism problem.

“These threats are part of a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism and the B.C. NDP’s lack of response is appalling,” Rustad said in the statement. “The recent attack on a Vancouver synagogue and the wave of bomb threats across the country are clear signs that the Jewish community is under threat, yet David Eby’s administration remains woefully unprepared and indifferent.”

According to a Vancouver Police Department report on hate crimes, out of the 265 hate crime reports that VPD investigated in 2023, 18%, 47, were antisemitic hate crimes. This represents a 62% rise in Vancouver from the previous year when 23 were reported. Out of the 47 hate crimes reported that targeted the Jewish community 33 were reported after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

“I’ve been made aware that multiple synagogues in BC were targeted by a bomb threat. BC unequivocally stands against antisemitism,”  Eby said in a post on X. “Our Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth is working with police agencies to address threats and keep people safe.”

In his own statement, Farnsworth called the coordinated bomb threat “heinous,” though he did not respond to True North’s request to comment.

Rustad pointed to comments made by former BC NDP MLA Selina Robinson in March, who raised concerns about antisemitism in her caucus and province at large before resigning from the party.

“Selina was forced out of your caucus because your NDP allowed anti-Jewish hate and antisemitism to flourish unchecked,” Rustad said in a separate post on X. “BC and hardworking, everyday British Columbians stand against antisemitism — your BC NDP is part of the problem.”

“When even members of the BC NDP are raising alarms about antisemitism within their own ranks, it’s clear that this government is failing its duty to all British Columbians,” Rustad added in the statement released by his party on X.

B.C. Conservative Party restated its commitment to confronting antisemitism “head-on” and “ensuring that every community feels safe.”

Rustad called on the B.C. government to “immediately bolster security measures, support law enforcement and address the serious concerns raised within its own party.”

The office of the Premier did not respond to True North’s requests to comment.

CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn doubles down after calls for resignation over anti-Israel post

Source: Facebook

After facing calls from a national union to step down, controversial union leader Fred Hahn is refusing to resign his post as general vice-president and president of CUPE Ontario.

On Wednesday, Hahn was asked by CUPE’s national committee to resign following a controversial anti-Israel post he uploaded to social media, saying they’ve lost their confidence in Hahn’s ability to represent his union’s members.

Hahn has recently come under fire for a video he uploaded to social media in which an Israeli athlete was depicted diving off of a diving board, spliced with a video of an Israeli bomb being dropped in Gaza before hitting the water. 

In a letter sent to CUPE’s email list, Hahn claims that he is being falsely maligned as an antisemite by supporters of Israel and that the national committee’s demand that he resign is anti-democratic because of his recent re-election as CUPE Ontario’s president.

“As has happened to our union in the past, those who spoke up against the actions of the state of Israel last fall were quickly labeled antisemitic and vilified, especially online. I was one of those people,” said Hahn. 

“Because I respect the democracy of our union, I maintained then, as I do now, that the members should decide.  Delegates to the national convention passed an emergency resolution strengthening our union’s support for Palestine and our call for a ceasefire, and I was proud to be re-elected by Ontario delegates as the General Vice-President from our region.”

Hahn frames his position as merely opposing genocide against the Palestinian people and reflecting the views of his union’s members.

“As spring approached and young people on university campuses took brave action to call for divestment from genocide, our union and the entire labour movement stood with them.  Once again, I was targeted online and in the media for expressing the views of our members in support for Palestine and against genocide,” said Hahn.

Hahn says that his detractors are conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, and that they are lying about his views.

“I want to be clear – I utterly reject the charge of antisemitism; anyone who knows and works with me knows it to be a lie. It remains my strongly held view that it is a terrible mistake, and antisemitic, to conflate abhorrent actions by the state of Israel with Jewish humanity or identity,” said Hahn.

Despite Hahn’s appeal to democracy, CUPE chapters are beginning to turn against the longtime union president.

CUPE local 5167 issued a statement denouncing Hahn’s “horrific and insensitive actions” and called for his immediate resignation.

“The role of a CUPE Union Leader is to represent members first, and foremost. As those members, we do not condone these horrific and insensitive actions that are hurtful and divisive,” reads the statement.

“CUPE Local 5167 Executive calls for the immediate resignation or removal of Fred Hahn as the President of CUPE Ontario. Fred’s personal viewpoint on the Palestine and Israel conflict does not reflect the scope of our union.”

CUPE 2974 representing paramedics in Windsor-Essex expressed their disappointment that Hahn is not resigning and challenged the democratic character of Hahn’s election.

“Fred Hahn has declined to step down, despite the request directly from 

@cupenat, because he has been emboldened (without limit?) by his recent reelection through a skewed delegate system,” wrote CUPE 2974.

Kathryn Marshall, the lawyer representing CUPE members in a human rights complaint against their union expressed disappointment that Hahn did not step down, attacking the union leader for failing to set aside his ego.

“Yet again Fred Hahn has put his ego and personal prejudices ahead of the needs of his members. We are disappointed, but not surprised,” wrote Marshall.

Labour minister intervenes in rail strike, forcing binding arbitration 

Governor General of Canada Mary Simon, Minister of Labour and Seniors Steven Mackinnon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - Source: Facebook

Labour Minister Steve Mackinnon announced that he sent both of Canada’s two largest rail labour disputes to binding arbitration on Thursday, only hours after the official strike began. 

Mackinnon announced that he has executed his ministerial powers to intervene between Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and Teamster Canada, the union representing both companies’ employees.

The parties involved failed to reach an agreement past the midnight deadline on Thursday, launching the country into an unprecedented railway strike

Union employee rest time, scheduling and wages were at issue during the failed negotiations.

In response to the work stoppage, Mackinnon utilized section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which enables Ottawa to refer a labour dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board for resolution.

The labour minister said he’s instructed the board to settle the outstanding terms of the two collective agreements and impose final binding arbitration. 

“I have also directed the board to extend the term of the current collective agreements until new agreements have been signed, and for operations on both railways to resume forthwith,” Mackinnon told reporters on Thursday evening.

Mackinnon said he expects a resolution “very quickly,” announcing that the independent process could have railways active again “within days.”

However, he stressed that presently, “the parties remain very, very far apart on these issues.”

This tactic was implemented by former labour minister Seamus O’Regan to avert a strike by WestJet mechanics, which resolved outstanding issues within the collective agreement between the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association in June.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the Trudeau government’s decisions to get involved, calling it “anti-worker.” 

“The Liberals’ actions are cowardly, anti-worker and proof that they will always cave to corporate greed, and Canadians will always pay for it,” said Singh in a statement.

“There will be no end to lockouts now. Every employer knows they can get exactly what they want from Justin Trudeau by refusing to negotiate with their workers in good faith. And that puts the safety of workers and communities at risk.”

The work stoppage has already caused disruptions in the supply chain, as the two companies combined account for around $1 billion in shipped goods daily. 

Some 32,000 rail commuters have also been forced to find alternative transportation to get to and from work in cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. 

The Faulkner Show | Visegrad24 founder on Ukraine War, journalism and social media success

On the latest episode of The Faulkner Show, Harrison speaks with the founder of the Visegrad media group and the Visegrad24 social media account Stefan Tompson. Visegrad24 has become one of the most influential social media accounts on X after spceializing in aggregating content about the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza and other global conflicts.

Harrison and Stefan discuss the state of the Ukraine war, the rise of the Visegrad media group, disinformation and the state of journalism.

RCMP lay terrorism charges on a suspect in the GTA

Source: X

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are remaining tight-lipped but have arrested and charged a person from the Greater Toronto Area accused of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.

According to an RCMP news release, the suspect was charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group to enhance the ability of the terrorist group to carry out terrorist activity and counselling another person to commit a terrorism offence.

A representative from the RCMP told True North that police arrested the suspect on Aug. 19 but were informed by the FBI that the suspect was living in Toronto at the time of the alleged offence in late 2021.

The offences were related to creating and distributing terrorist propaganda online, though police wouldn’t say which terrorist entity the suspect was allegedly working with.

Police have said the Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents them from releasing more information on the suspect as the alleged offences occurred when the suspect was a youth.

The RCMP continues to investigate and assess possible impacts of the alleged activity but says there are no known associated risks to the public at this time.

“The RCMP continues to be concerned with the growing trend of violent extremism. Radicalization to violence is a phenomenon that is not driven by any particular background, culture or religion,” the news release said.

It said that the Public Safety’s “Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence” leads the government’s counter-radicalization to violence through programs designed to prevent and intervene with individuals and groups “at risk of radicalization to violence” and those trying to escape it. 

When asked what groups it considers to be the most likely to be radicalized to violence, a spokesperson for True North said radicalization to violence is “not driven by any particular background, culture or religion.

“The Government of Canada is concerned with violent extremism in all forms, including ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE), religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE), and politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE),” the spokesperson said. “The focus is on addressing the destructive behaviours associated with violent extremism, including their impacts on Canadians and communities.”

The spokesperson noted that the Canadian government’s approach and key priorities for countering and preventing radicalization to violence are outlined in its National Strategy.

“As part of our core values, the employees of the RCMP are committed to working with our partners to protect our communities,” Superintendent James Parr, the officer in charge of the investigation, said in a statement. “We would like to acknowledge the Toronto Police Service, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Provincial Anti-Terrorist Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their cooperation and collaboration during the course of this investigation.”

The accused will appear remotely via video link for a court appearance on August 27.

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