Tomorrow the British people head to the ballot box and the election result seems already decided. after 14 years in opposition, the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer is set to win a majority government. The Conservative Party led by Rishi Sunak is headed for certain defeat. Underneath it all however is the rise of Nigel Farage and the Reform Party who have emerged as a legitimate threat to the Tory party. Farage and the Reform Party represent the only true conservative nationalist alternative in the race and are set to make a major dent in the vote totals tomorrow.
Joining Harrison Faulkner on the Faulkner Show to preview tomorrow’s UK election is the US correspondent for GB News Steven Edginton.
The University of Toronto’s anti-Israel encampment quickly dismantled most of the structures and evacuated the area an hour before police were set to arrive.
The Toronto Police Service issued numerous warnings, urging protesters to leave by 6:00 pm on Wednesday to avoid any enforcement.
One of the warnings issued in a post to X said that refusing to leave would disobey a court order and obstruct police in their duty to enforce the injunction.
“Both are criminal offences. Having a criminal record has serious long-term consequences. Please leave voluntarily to avoid police action,” wrote the Toronto Police.
The warnings followed an injunction granted the day prior, which gave police the authority to arrest and remove anyone who refused to comply with the court order by the designated time.
Anti-Israel protesters who refused to leave peacefully in Calgary after being trespassed were dispersed by police equipped with guns containing rubber bullets, using riot shields, bicycles, and flashbangs.
The encampment was established on May 2, and the university issued a trespass notice soon after. The protesters remained beyond the initial deadline, prompting the university to request an expedited injunction order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
“This encampment is just one tactic, and we are prepared to employ as many as necessary to achieve our demands,” said Sara Rasikh, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, at Tuesday’s press conference.
OccupyUofT held another press conference on Wednesday, just before dismantling their encampment.
The group said in their Instagram post that it was the closing press conference, “but make no mistake… We will return.”
Mohammad Yassin, a recent graduate of the university, said that despite the encampment being dismantled, “this is just the beginning.”
He and other organizers spoke, often interrupted by chants such as “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.”
The American Jewish Committee defines the hateful slogan as antisemitic, as it symbolizes Palestinian control over the entire territory of Israel’s borders. An e-petition sponsored by Independent MP Kevin Vuong argued that this chant, among others present at the press conference, was genocidal and antisemitic, by wilfully promoting hatred and violence towards Jewish people.
Other chants featured at the encampment included one protester chanting “Heil Hitler.” The same protester said that he wished Hitler “murdered all you guys. If you guys were gone the world would have been a better place,” he said.
Massive crowd of pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Toronto before the Toronto Police clear out the encampment. pic.twitter.com/rZWks6x0wh
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) July 3, 2024
The University of Toronto issued an update describing the injunction, validating that the request was consistent with the university’s policies and Charter values.
The injunction concluded that the encampment was inconsistent with freedom of expression, as it excluded others from the Front Campus. Also, protesters can still protest anywhere on campus between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm, assuming they do not camp, set up structures, or block entry to university property.
“The injunction does not prevent protesters from expressing their views — rather, the injunction prevents the protesters from silencing other voices,” wrote the university.
The Front Campus, where the encampment took place, will remain closed for several weeks for “rehabilitation work.” The university hopes that it will reopen by summer to be used by the entire community.
After capitulating and giving up their encampment at UofT the pro-Palestine protesters are now marching through the street. pic.twitter.com/ES6uBMPmKV
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) July 3, 2024
Despite dismantling the encampment, one OccupyUofT leader said that negotiations with the university are ongoing.
The protest continued after the encampment was dismantled, as hundreds of students marched on campus, away from the initial encampment site.
In a brand new True North podcast, Rachel Parker breaks down the latest in the U.S. presidential election race.
Rachel explains how U.S. President Joe Biden is being urged to step down following his disastrous debate performance last week. The White House maintains that Biden will run again, but the knives are out for POTUS.
If Biden is removed, it will send the party into further chaos as they seek a suitable replacement just months ahead of the November vote.
Rachel also discusses how matters the further complication that some states may not be able to remove Biden from the ballot – and at least one prominent conservative group is promising to make things difficult for those that try.
A councillor in British Columbia’s capital city wants residents compensated for the lawlessness he says has taken over.
Coun. Stephen Hammond is proposing financial compensation for businesses and residents dealing with the issue.
“Residents who, by virtue of their business or home location are repeatedly exposed to the impacts of crime, nuisance and/or social disorder, question why they are paying the same taxes as other residents and businesses who do not have to endure the same negative activities,” the motion says.
“One perspective is that the city should pay for some of the costs for responding to these activities for those who pay taxes but are not living the same city experiences as most others. Another perspective is that the city should pay for loss of the standard of peace and order that accompanies most of the residents and businesses in Victoria.
Hammond’s motion is currently before the City of Victoria’s committee of the whole.
Hammond cited in the motion a growing number of complaints from taxpayers who feel left in the lurch, particularly those near the 900 block of Pandora Ave, where the aftermath of the ‘900 Block Sweep’ has left nearby residents grappling with debris and a perceived lack of law enforcement.
In May, the Victoria Police Department swept the block of a massive number of encampments. The move was condemned by activist organizations.
Homeless encampments have since relocated down the street and into surrounding areas, with little action from city officials to address the issue, residents and business owners have said.
“No one was surprised when tenters relocated to our Block and started accumulating junk almost immediately. Shelters and piles of garbage have sat without removal since the morning after the sweep,” one anonymous local complained in an email cited by Hammond.
“We pick up what we dare but we are not responsible for the location of these entitled, belligerent, messy, disruptive people. We are concerned that Bylaw has been chastised for doing their job and trying to respect those of us who feel trapped living on Pandora Ave and yet still continue to contribute to City coffers.”
Businesses, too, echo this sentiment, reporting frequent instances of property damage and insufficient bylaw and police intervention. The situation is so dire that some have resorted to hiring private security, a costly measure that underscores the urgency for city intervention.
“We have been saying for a long time how the amount of street people constantly on this street is affecting our business. We shouldn’t have to deal with this. Our customers should not be scared to come to our shop,” said one business owner quoted in Hammond’s motion.
Hammond cautioned in his motion that he’s aware that any new programs must be sustainable, avoiding setting precedents that the city cannot maintain.
He is requesting that the council direct staff to thoroughly investigate potential compensation methods, taking into account eligibility, duration, and funding, while also considering similar initiatives in other locales.
True North reached out to Hammond for comment but did not receive a response.
Low-income Albertans may soon have to represent themselves in court, as the provincial government chose not to renew the legal aid governance agreement. The denial “ensures complete breakdown of the province’s justice system,” according to some law organizations.
This stark warning was issued by the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Calgary, the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association in Edmonton, the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association, and the Red Deer Criminal Lawyers Association.
The lawyer organizations said in a post shared on X that they were “shocked and appalled to receive news from Legal Aid Alberta today about the government’s failure to sign the new Legal Aid Governance Agreement.”
Some form of a governance agreement has been in place for over 50 years, allowing Legal Aid Alberta to provide legal services for low-income and vulnerable Albertans. The most recent version was signed in 2019 by Legal Aid Alberta, the Minister of Justice, and the Law Society of Alberta.
“The government’s unceremonious cancellation of the scheduled signing of that agreement was followed by silence before a last-minute ultimatum that would fundamentally change who controlled the delivery of legal aid services in Alberta,” wrote the four organizations.
The existing agreement expired on June 30. Without a new agreement, Legal Aid Alberta will no longer be permitted to issue certificates to assign defence lawyers for cases beyond July 9. This would result in many low-income Albertans having to represent themselves in court, potentially leading to further delays or charges being dropped.
A 2016 Supreme Court of Canada ruling set a ceiling of 18 months between the charges and trial in a provincial court without a preliminary inquiry, or 30 months in other cases before some charges are dropped.
Based on Legal Aid Alberta’s 2023-24 Annual Report, 37,000 Albertans applied for legal services, and 33,500 of them were approved. Thousands more were assisted by Legal Aid Alberta counsel in court. Legal Aid Alberta’s bail lawyers completed more than 30,000 hearings. The average person receiving assistance makes less than $10,000 per year.
“Legal Aid Alberta helps families going through separation and divorce, children who have been removed from their homes, refugee claimants, and adults and youth involved with the criminal justice system. We provide representation at bail hearings, free duty counsel services at provincial courts, and the legal assistance people need to escape family violence,” said the publicly-funded, nonprofit organization.
Gianpaolo Panusa, CEO and President of Legal Aid Alberta said in an email to lawyers with the organization that Legal Aid Alberta had been negotiating with the provincial government and its Ministry of Justice actively for several months.
“Despite the good faith efforts of LAA and the Law Society in the negotiation process, the Ministry suddenly halted negotiations and terminated the Governance Agreement,” he wrote.
If the service halts on July 9, the four lawyer organizations warned that the fundamental principle of justice separating a person prosecuting an individual and a person conducting their defence will be destroyed.
“This will inevitably trigger a complete breakdown of an already overtaxed and under-resourced system. The impact will be felt more sharply by those overrepresented in the criminal justice system and more likely to be financially disadvantaged, such as those who are LGBTQ2S+, racialized, and mentally vulnerable,” they wrote.
True North reached out to the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Alberta, and the Law Society of Alberta, but received no reply.
An RCMP warning about citizen movements threatening democracy takes note that women in particular are being drawn to the “far-right.”
Toronto police say no charges were laid for public nudity at this weekend’s Pride parade as making arrests wouldn’t serve anyone’s interests.
And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ambitious promise to build nearly four million new homes by 2031 is in jeopardy after the construction sector entered another slump due to fewer residential starts.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Noah Jarvis.
Ottawa has released a new interactive online map with the locations of former residential schools meant to identify unmarked graves as the majority of residential school buildings have been demolished.
The interactive map excludes Indian hospitals, tuberculosis sanatoriums, day schools or boarding schools that were not funded by the federal government.
There are currently over 100 Indigenous communities involved in residential school grave searches.
According to independent special interlocutor for missing children in unmarked burials Kimberly Murray,, these communities had to pay to access aerial maps from libraries and obtain records through access-to-information requests from the government.
“The more information that is out there for communities, the better,” Murray told CBC News. “But I do think that Canada hasn’t gone far enough in what it’s made available.”
Murray believes that these maps will help combat misinformation and disinformation around residential schools, or so-called “denialism.”
“Maps like that provided by government sources … helps to kind of confront those claims of very often very malicious misinformation or disinformation that arises,” said Logan.
The renewed interest in residential schools came after media outlets began reporting that the remains of 215 children were discovered at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. in 2021.
The story immediately spread internationally, however, three years later, no remains of bodies have been recovered and the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation has even admitted that “anomalies” had been discovered but not graves.
“It’s absurd to think that better maps will help to counter so-called ‘denialism.’ Those of us who are skeptical about unproven claims of ‘unmarked graves’ and ‘missing children’ are interested in establishing historical facts, so we certainly aren’t opposed to having better maps,” Tom Flanagan, senior fellow with the MacDonald-Laurier Institute told True North.
“They may prove to be useful for all sorts of research.”
“However, the maps, no matter how good they are, are unlikely to establish very much in the way of facts about graves and children,” said Flanagan. “Despite all the GPR searches, not one unmarked grave has been found outside the limits of well-known cemeteries. Nor do we have the name of even one missing child. There may be a lot of FORGOTTEN graves and children, but they didn’t just disappear.”
Flanagan acknowledged that some children who died of sickness or accident while attending residential schools may likely be buried far from their home reserves.
“If their gravesites have been forgotten, locating them might bring a feeling of closure to some families, but do they really propose to dig them up and rebury them on their home reserves? What about all the talk of Sacred Ground that we’ve heard?” asked Flanagan.
He suggested the construction of a cairn or memorial of some kind, as was done for the cemetery of the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital in Edmonton, the St. Albert cemetery cairn would be a better option.
“By promising $320 million to look for graves, the federal government is subsidizing an industry that is largely pointless and in fact has negative value, because it will keep feeding legends about unmarked graves and missing children, thus stoking resentment and even hatred of Canada,” said Flanagan.
Approximately 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were forced to attend government-funded residential schools under the Indian Act beginning in the 1830’s and many were subjected to physical and sexual abuse while there.
Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hadju declined to comment on this story, however, in a press release Hadju said that the maps will empower survivors and their communities.
“People in Canada for too long have had the truth of colonialism hidden from them, harming us all, and delaying the healing that is essential to our country’s health and prosperity,” said Hajdu.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s office has been calling United Conservative Party operatives to ensure their support at the party’s annual general meeting this fall, True North has learned.
As per the party’s constitution, UCP members must vote on whether to review party leadership after a general election. If 50% plus one of party members vote to hold a review, a leadership race will be triggered.
Three organizers confirmed to True North on the condition of anonymity that they’ve fielded calls from staff in Smith’s office asking whether the premier can count on their support at the AGM.
Two operatives said they would continue to support the premier, but all expressed concern about Smith’s judgement, noting her recent appointment of former Progressive Conservative premier Alison Redford to head the Invest Alberta Corporation and choices she’s made in staffing. They also said Smith is not taking the threat of Naheed Nenshi’s Alberta NDP seriously.
A UCP board member told True North that the premier’s office is aiming for support from 80% or more of the membership.
If Smith is successful at the AGM, a review could still be triggered if 22 of the 87 UCP constituency associations request one; this is the same mechanism which eventually led to the resignation of former premier Jason Kenney.
One organizer said the premier’s office seems “confident” in Smith’s success at the AGM, but warned that she is not preparing to campaign against Nenshi, who won the Alberta NDP leadership contest decisively last month.
That claim is further bolstered by reporting from Calgary Herald columnist Rick Bell, who wrote in March that the premier’s office was “salivating” at the thought of running against Nenshi.
“Running against him would present us with the mother of all target-rich environments,” the premier’s office told Bell at the time.
Still, the UCP has released multiple attacks on Nenshi since he won the leadership race with ads criticizing his record as the Calgary mayor and painting him as “Justin Trudeau’s choice for Alberta.”
In a statement to True North, Smith said she receives “a lot of positive feedback everywhere I go,” but doesn’t want to take it for granted.
“I’m looking forward to hearing directly from our membership, about how we are doing and how we can do better during my summer tour across the province,” she said.
One operative said he spoke to more than one member of the premier’s office, and was urged to find out who’s working against Smith.
Some Conservatives who feel Smith is not making enough progress on matters such as a provincial police force, an Alberta pension, and parental rights legislation are finding solace in the 1905 Committee. The new group focuses on citizen engagement, but has many social media posts critical of Smith.
One recent post points to Smith’s lack of progress in amending the equalization formula.
“Despite decrying equalization as an unfair ‘gravy train,’ Alberta’s Premier has yet to forge a concrete plan with Ottawa to shield the province from federal intentions to lock in equalization until 2029,” the post reads. “Does the Premier’s rhetoric against the ‘gravy train’ truly reflect proactive measures for Alberta’s future, or is it merely political posturing?”
Group founder Nadine Wellwood denied that the group is anti-Smith and said she would not tell supporters how to vote. She said 1905 is seeking leadership accountability.
Those sentiments were shared by Alex Van Herk, who is facing sentencing after being found guilty of mischief over $5,000 for his involvement in the Coutts border blockade — a group Smith once expressed support for, but from which she has since distanced herself.
Van Herk is now organizing to apply pressure on Smith at the AGM, pointing to the lack of progress on key Conservatives issues such as reining in high government spending and taxes.
“If she gets a bad review, she’ll either smarten up or resign,” he said.
Chrystia Freeland continues to sit on the trustee board for the World Economic Forum while serving as Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister. She and the Canadian delegation spent over $40,000 in travel costs attending this year’s meeting, but it’s not clear what Canadians got out of it. She has provided only generalities about her agenda there, even in a reply to specific questions about her meetings from Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses.
Also, Justin Trudeau says he needs to be reelected because democracies are under threat around the world.
Plus, a judge has granted an injunction to the University of Toronto to clear out the anti-Israel encampment at the school. Josh Dehaas from the Canadian Constitution Foundation joins to discuss.
And the federal government wants all cars to be electric or hybrid by 2035. Economist Ross McKitrick says this mandate could destroy the auto sector. He returns to The Andrew Lawton Show to explain how.
Montreal’s Jewish community is reeling following another antisemitic attack.
As most of the country celebrated the anniversary of Canada’s confederation, Jewish graves at a cemetery near Montreal were desecrated with swastikas.
On Monday, commemorative stones were rearranged on top of graves at Kehal Israel Cemetery in Dollard-des-Ormeaux into the shape of swastikas.
It is a long-standing Jewish custom to leave stones at the graves of loved ones as a memorial to show that there are still people thinking of them, but the practice was profaned to display an antisemitic message instead.
The incident prompted the Mayor of Hampstead, Ontario, Jeremy Levi, to call on Justin Trudeau to “step aside” due to what he perceived as inaction from the Liberal government when it comes to tackling antisemitism.
“It is absolutely abhorrent and revolting to defile the dead with swastikas. This desecration at the Kehal Israel cemetery in Montreal is beyond contempt. Justin Trudeau, step aside and get out of the way so we can reclaim our country,” Levi said on X.
It is absolutely abhorrent and revolting to defile the dead with swastikas. This desecration at the Kehal Israel cemetery in Montreal is beyond contempt. Justin Trudeau, step aside and get out of the way so we can reclaim our country.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre chimed in, calling on the Prime Minister to take action against the disturbingly common acts of antisemitism in Canada.
“We cannot close our eyes to the disgusting acts of antisemitism that are happening in our country every day,” Poilievre said on X. “The Prime Minister must finally act to stop these displays of antisemitism. If he won’t a common sense Conservative government will.”
Trudeau’s office did not respond to True North’s request for comment.
We cannot close our eyes to the disgusting acts of antisemitism that are happening in our country everyday.
The Prime Minister must finally act to stop these displays of antisemitism. If he won’t a common sense Conservative government will. https://t.co/v2qwwNeHYV
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 2, 2024
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish rights group, called the incident a “repulsive act of antisemitism and demanded that Canadian leaders take “concrete action to confront this hatred that’s invading” Jewish communities.
“Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of unchecked and unmitigated antisemitism plaguing the city,” B’nai Brith Canada, another Jewish rights group, said on X.
“Such acts of hatred cannot be tolerated. The Jewish community in Montreal deserves safety and respect, yet we are repeatedly confronted with blatant acts of antisemitism that undermine Canadian values. Not enough is being done!”
Each group called on political leadership, particularly on municipal levels, to take action.
Alex Bottausci, the mayor of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, responded to the targeted grave desecration in his city on his Facebook account.
“This incident is not only an affront to the Jewish community but also to the values of tolerance, respect, and unity that we hold dear,” he said. “I stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbours, and I want to make it clear that hate has no place in our community. These acts of bigotry will not be tolerated in our community.”
He called on each resident of the community to speak out against acts of antisemitism and other forms of hate.
“My thoughts are with the family affected by this disturbing act. To them and to all my residents, I wish to reassure you of my resolve to combat antisemitism and all forms of hatred,” Bottausci said. “Together, we will ensure that tolerance, respect and unity prevail.”
When asked what concrete actions he plans to take to combat antisemitism in his city, Bottausci’s office did not respond before publishing.
