Despite fewer viewers, less ad revenue and more biased reporting, CBC gave its executives massive bonuses last year – courtesy of taxpayers. However, they’re not being transparent about these bonuses.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation wants to know what the state broadcaster is trying to hide and is taking CBC to task. Alberta Director Kris Sims returns to The Andrew Lawton Show to give the low-down.
The federal government’s race-based approach to fighting poverty may be off track, according to a new study from the Aristotle Foundation.
Research from the Calgary-based think tank suggests that assuming poverty is linked to race is a flawed notion, based on data it analyzed from Statistics Canada and contrasting it with public policies aimed at fighting poverty.
The study, entitled Poverty and Race in Canada: Facts about Race, Discrimination, and the Poor found that between 7.4% and 10.6% of Canadians are currently living in relative poverty, depending on how it’s defined.
About 1.6 million Canadians living in poverty, or 58%, are white, or what Statistics Canada refers to as “not a visible minority or Indigenous,” when looking at poverty through as those having a low income after tax.
When looking at poverty through a lens based on the cost of living, 2.5 million or 64.4% of that cohort are white.
The study’s findings contradict the government’s perception that those living in poverty tend to be ethnic minorities and that their financial situation is the result of systemic racism.
The group cited the Ontario government’s Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs Grant Program, which makes millions of dollars available “to help Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs” as an example of the government’s miscalculation.
“Using the low-income-after-tax measure, eligibility for this race-based funding would apply not only to 1.4 million low-income earners in Canada (the total low-income visible minority and Indigenous population) if they choose to be entrepreneurs but also to nearly 10.5 million minorities or Indigenous who are not low income, while excluding non-minority, non-Indigenous low-income earners,” reads the study.
“Put another way: this funding would be inaccessible to 64% of those who are low-income, and of those who do qualify for the funding based on race, only 11.9% are low-income. This is not a sensible way to design an anti-poverty program.”
The Aristotle Group argued that while the federal government uses the alleged link between race and poverty as a justification for race-based funding, their findings reveal that many minority groups in Canada were either just as likely, or in some cases even more likely to be impoverished, when compared to white Canadians.
“In other words, the overwhelming majority of the Canadian poor are ‘white,’ and thus cannot receive race-based allocations from governments if unchangeable characteristics such as skin colour or ethnicity are accounted for in policy,” wrote the group in a press release.
The study argued that government programs and resources which could help the poor are often misdirected based on misguided racial qualifiers.
According to the study, Canadians of Japanese, Korean, South Asian and Chinese ancestry all have higher average weekly earnings than that of their white counterparts.
Matthew Lau, the study’s lead author argues that systemic racism is not the root cause of poverty in Canada but is more likely to be found in factors like having a high school diploma, working full time and having children after marriage.
“In summary, poverty rates in Canada are low, not well accounted for by explanations of systemic racial discrimination, and race-based anti-poverty programs and funds tend to be ineffective, at best, for addressing the needs of those who are truly living in destitution,” the study concludes.
Gun owners will get a reprieve once the Conservatives are elected, Pierre Poilievre says.
Poilievre promised to reverse every law that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has implemented to attack legal gun owners.
Speaking at a news conference, Poilievre fielded a question from a concerned firearm owner about how his party planned to change the narrative around firearm ownership.
“We (will) just reverse everything that Trudeau has done,” said Poilievre.
Poilievre and the gun owner, Stacey, chatted about the vetting process that he had to get to acquire firearms legally.
“This is the least likely person to commit a crime with a gun. He’s already been vetted by the RCMP. He’s gone through vigorous training and his firearms are known to the government because he has licenses,” said Poilievre. “Trudeau wants to take away this guy’s firearms.”
He added that the expected cost of retrieving firearms from legal owners would cost billions. He ridiculed Trudeau for spending $42 million on a gun buyback program, yet failing to purchase a single firearm.
“His latest attempt is he’s trying to get the mailman, from Canada Post, to come to your house and pick up your guns and take them back to the government, which is absolutely insane,” said Poilievre.
Canada Post initially refused to collect guns under the Liberals’ buyback program.
Since then, the CEO of Canada Post has gone on record saying that the postal service will not participate.
Poilievre talked about the ridiculousness of a legal gun owner being targeted.
“If he were a criminal, would he participate in giving the gun over to the mailman? No. He would lie, and he would sell the gun on the black market. So the only people who will lose their guns on this ban Trudeau brought in are licensed, law-abiding people who are not committing crimes,” said Poilievre.
The Conservative leader added that Canada allows 99% of shipping containers to come in uninspected, which is where weapons that are actually used in gun crimes are coming from.
Less than 1% of containers being inspected has also led to stolen cars going unnoticed at the federal Port of Montreal.
Poilievre pledged that he would keep the illegal guns out and reinstate mandatory prison time for gun smugglers and gangsters who commit gun crimes.
Conservative candidate Ron Chhinzer, a former police officer, also spoke to the flaws in the Liberals’ plan.
“Not once in my entire career, not myself or any of my police officer partners, have we ever seized a lawfully-owned firearm from a criminal,” said Chhinzer.
“And when we go after people like Stacey for that, it’s such a waste of resources. It’s attacking and making villains of the wrong people, and it’s totally disregarding all of the criminals that are coming into our neighbourhoods, stealing our cars, breaking into our homes with guns, doing shootings in public spaces. And, they painted this picture that they’re not the bad people, Stacey is.”
Liberal MP and Health Minister Mark Holland mocked Conservatives for fighting for families who can’t afford to take their kids on road trips, saying those trips cost “the future of the planet.”
Holland went on a rant during question period in the House of Commons Thursday after a Conservative MP asked the Liberals if they would vote to allow Canadians to save 35 cents per litre of gas by putting a freeze on the carbon tax for the summer.
“Many Canadians just simply look forward to a small summer vacation, a road trip. Perhaps it’s normally a time when they can go and camp in the mountains or go to a national park or visit loved ones,” Rachael Thomas, the Conservative heritage critic, said.
“But this year, many Canadians can’t afford this simple delight because this government has made life too expensive.”
Holland then embarked on a theatrical performance that garnered the laughs of his fellow Liberal MPs. He sarcastically mocked what he viewed as the Conservatives’ approach to climate action.
“Good news, kids! You can take a summer of fun time vacation where you’re locked in a car for ten consecutive days nonstop with no bathroom breaks, and the conservatives have a plan for you to have that summertime fun,” he said. “And the cost? Give up the future of the planet. Don’t worry about climate change! Don’t worry about taking action on the planet!
Enjoy your ten hours in the car and let the planet burn.”
As the House of Commons was disrupted by the typical combination of shouts and laughter that has become a staple to the Canadian political experience, one Conservative MP called out to the Liberals.
“Get a life jacket on! The Titanic is sinking!” he said, referring to the Liberal party.
Thomas noted that the Prime Minister takes jet-fueled trips to tropical islands, yet the Liberals relate a family taking a “ten-hour road trip” to letting the “planet burn.”
“While this out-of-touch Prime Minister might be able to take a $230,000 taxpayer-funded vacation to some fancy islands, that’s not an option for most Canadians,” Thomas said. “Most Canadians just simply want to be able to get in a car and drive a few kilometres to enjoy a national park or the mountains for the day. But that’s even out of reach for so many of them.”
She blamed the Liberal government’s “out-of-touch” policies for driving up the cost of everything, making such trips unaffordable. She again asked the Liberals if they would support a motion to take the federal tax off of fuel.
“It would make life affordable for Canadians and allow them to enjoy their summer,” Thomas said.”Will the Prime Minister vote with us so Canadians can afford a simple road trip, or will he force them to stay home while he enjoys his luxury vacation?”
Steven Mackinnon, the leader of the government in the House of Commons, responded by criticizing the Conservatives’ ability to do the math, saying that most residents in Thomas’ province of Alberta benefit from carbon pricing.
“I do note that (Thomas) fights against a regime that sends eight out of 10 Albertans more money than they pay,” Mackinnon said. “But she was a little sheepish, a little quiet. When her own premier, Danielle Smith, hiked gas taxes by 13 cents to fuel. It increased government spending in Alberta. She didn’t talk about that. I wonder why?”
According to the government’s independent Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report, the carbon tax costs the average Albertan up to $900 more than they get back in rebates yearly after the Liberal’s April 1 carbon tax hike came into effect.
Ottawa is lavishing federal workers with hefty bonuses even if they fail to meet their performance targets.
The Liberals have dished out more than $406 million in bonuses for federal departments and Crown corporations during the fiscal year 2023-24, according to government records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“Bonuses are for when you do a good job; they shouldn’t be handed out like participation ribbons,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Taxpayers can’t afford to bankroll big bonus cheques each and every year for highly-paid government executives.”
Federal departments and agencies awarded over $210.8 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses in 2023-24. Crown corporations added another $195.6 million in bonuses, bringing the total to $406.4 million for the year.
These bonuses have pushed the total amount awarded to bureaucrats in federal departments since 2015 to more than $1.5 billion.
The records reveal that nearly 90% of federal government executives receive a yearly bonus.
Despite giving bonuses to almost everyone, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that “less than 50% of (performance) targets are consistently met within the same year.”
“In the real world, when you fail to do your job you might get a pink slip, not a big bonus cheque,” said Terrazzano. “The government needs to stop handing out these taxpayer-funded bonuses to failing government executives.”
Among Crown corporations, the Business Development Bank of Canada issued the most bonuses, totalling more than $59 million, giving bonuses to 100% of the company’s executives. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the CBC also gave out bonuses to 100% of their executives for over $27 million and $14.9 million, respectively.
The 2023 bonuses received by CMHC employees have pushed the total to $102 million since the beginning of 2020. These bonuses come despite True North previously reporting that housing affordability in Canada reached an all-time low in April.
While every single executive at CBC got a bonus, and 87% of its workforce received a pay raise during the 2023-24 fiscal year, the state broadcaster laid off hundreds of employees at the end of the year.
Between 2015 and 2022, taxpayers were billed $156 million in bonuses and raises for CBC staff.
Export Development Canada issued over $35 million in bonuses to 95% of its executives, while the fifth Crown corporation with the highest total bonuses only awarded bonuses to 73% of its executives, this being VIA Rail for a total of nearly $11.4 million.
VIA Rail’s revenues increased by 29% in 2023, reaching $430.7 million; however, operating losses grew to $381.1 million. The intercity passenger rail service was awarded $773 million in taxpayer subsidies in 2023. Despite the bonuses, only 59% of trains arrived on time.
The Department of Justice topped federal departments and agencies in bonus distribution, with over $18.9 million awarded to its executives, with 97% of them receiving a bonus.
The Canada Revenue Agency also awarded bonuses to 97% of its executives, totalling just over $18 million. Ahead of both in percentage of bonuses distributed to executives was Employment & Social Development Canada, which awarded over $12.9 million to 98% of its executives.
Regarding the value of total bonuses, the two trailing agencies were Global Affairs Canada and Superintendent of Financial Institutions, at nearly $12.5 million each, and 94% and 90% of executives got bonuses, respectively.
Despite the performance of Crown corporations and federal departments dwindling, the number of bonuses awarded to federal departments continues to skyrocket. Total bonuses have increased yearly since 2015, when they totalled just over $137 million.
“Welcome to Ottawa, where failure is rewarded with taxpayer-funded bonuses,” said Terrazzano.
In a new essay for C2C Journal, law professor Bruce Pardy argues that Canada is no longer governed by the rule of law, but by a managerial elite that controls various aspects of society. He joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to explain his perspective on this fundamental shift in governance and its implications for Canadian society. You can read the full essay here.
Serial killer Robert Pickton has died after several days on life support following an assault from another inmate while inside a maximum security prison.
Pickton, 74, died on Friday after being taken from a maximum security prison in Quebec where he was serving his sentence to a nearby hospital for treatment, Correctional Service Canada confirmed Friday afternoon.
He had been assaulted on May 19 by another inmate at Port-Cartier Institution.
Pickton had been serving an indeterminate sentence for six counts of second-degree murder that began on Dec. 11, 2007.Correctional Service Canada contacted the next of kin of Picktion’s registered victims as well as his own family.
“We are mindful that this offender’s case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them,” reads a statement from the prison service.
Correctional Service Canada will be launching an investigation into the assault to find out the details surrounding the incident and see if policies and protocols were followed.
Pickton had been charged with murdering 26 women and would later claim his murder tally to be 49. He became eligible for day parole in February.
He often preyed on women who were prostitutes, drug abusers or homeless, inviting them to stay at his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, where he would later rape, torture, and kill them.
After a turbulent week in British Columbia politics, a BC United MLA has crossed the floor to join John Rustad’s BC Conservative party.
In a press release, BC United MLA Lorne Doerkson announced he would be joining the growing BC Conservatives as the official opposition party sheds MLAs to the party now surging in the polls.
“Today, I am making a change because I believe this upcoming election is simply too consequential,” said Doerkson.
“I have spent countless hours listening to my constituents in the recent months. The response has been overwhelming. The residents or cariboo-Chilcorin want to see David Eby defeated and they want to see a common sense Conservative government in Victoria,”
Doerkson says that he is excited to work with BC Conservative leader John Rustad and to advocate for a conservative policy program.
“I look forward to working with John Rustad and the Conservative team. Whether it is axing the carbon tax, revitalizing our resource sector or reforming our broken healthcare system, it’s never been more clear that BC needs a common sense government.”
In a comment to True North, BC United said that they are disappointed in Doerkson’s floor crossing and that his decision was purely motivated by public opinion polls.
“We’re disappointed to hear Lorne Doerkson has decided to join John Rustad’s BC Conservatives, which includes candidates who are anti-LGBTQ+, anti-choice, and COVID-19/United Nations conspiracy theorists,” said a BC United spokesperson.
“Lorne’s decision was driven by concern over polls and the desire to protect his government-funded pension, and he will need to defend that decision at the only poll that actually counts – on election day.”
Doerkson is the third MLA to cross the floor and join the BC Conservatives since leader John Rustad was forced out by BC United leader Kevin Falcon and eventually took over the helm of the Conservatives.
The move comes as the BC Conservatives continue to surpass BC United in public opinion polls, projected to displace Falcon’s party as the official opposition.
A recent Angus Reid poll has the NDP at 41%, the BC Conservatives at 30%, and BC United fighting for a distant third place with the BC Green Party at 16% and 11% respectively.
In Doerkson’s riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin, 338Canada projects the BC Conservatives to win in a landslide, with BC United projected to place third behind the NDP.
Doerkson is a first-term MLA initially elected in 2020 as a BC United member, serving as the shadow minister for emergency management and critic for Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and before his departure.
Before entering politics, Doerkson served as the publisher of the 100 Mile House Free Press in 100 Mile House, a town of less than 2,000 people.
Despite Doerkson joining the BC Conservatives, he had recently retweeted a barb accusing his new party of running an “extremist” as a candidate, referring to Damon Scrase, who has resigned as the Conservatives’ candidate for Courtenay-Comox earlier this week.
The BC Conservatives are the third place party in the legislature, surpassing the BC Green Party who currently hold two seats.
The upcoming BC election will be held Oct. 19 of this year.
The latest unhinged attack coming from the Trudeau government appears to be on Canadian families who enjoy a summertime road trip. Health minister Mark Holland unleashed a completely unhinged rant in the house of Commons when asked about the Conservative proposal to eliminate fuel taxes for the summer months when families take road trips, because that somehow will cause the planet to burn.
Also on the show, Andrew, Harrison and William discuss the latest residential school myth, a new Liberal attack ad featuring Andrew Lawton and the latest craze in Ottawa which happens to be “Menstrsual Hygiene Day”.
So crack open a cold one and enjoy the latest episode of Off The Record, with Andrew Lawton, Harrison Faulkner and William McBeath.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t backing down from controversial comments he made about immigrants.
In the wake of an attack on a Jewish girl’s school Thursday, Ford said he had no tolerance for immigrants who bring their “problems from everywhere else in the world” and terrorize Canadian communities.
”I’ll tell you we have zero tolerance for this anywhere in Ontario. And it doesn’t matter what race, creed, or religion you’re from. I’d be saying the exact same thing if it were another community. But enough is enough,” he said at a press conference in Toronto.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chimed in as well, mentioning the need to end both antisemitic and Islamophobic acts of hatred and intolerance in Canada.
“We are seeing that events overseas that are devastating and incredibly difficult to watch should not be spilling over into Canadians hating on other Canadians,” Trudeau said. “We have the right to protest always, but we do not have the right to endanger or inflict violence.”
The shooting at Bais Chaya Mushka, the Jewish girl’s school, was one of three attacks on Jewish schools and places of worship in Canada within the past week.
“You’re bringing your problems from everywhere else in the world, and you’re bringing it into Ontario, and you’re going after other Canadians?…unacceptable,” Ford said. “Don’t come to Canada if you’re going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods like this, simple as that.”
He said that if migrants want to become residents of Ontario, they have to respect its citizens.
“I don’t care about your background, religion, or race…We have 110 nationalities here in Ontario, and 200 languages are spoken. Guess what? 99% of the people get along,” Ford said. “There are wars going on all around the world, but we still get along. So all this other nonsense that we’ve been seeing over numbers and numbers of months. Enough is enough.”
Following a media conference in Brampton, Ford told Global News that he stands by his statements.
“My phone is blowing up from every community saying you’re bang on. People are tired of getting their doors kicked in, guns put to their heads, people here in Brampton that have been extorted, which I’ve never seen before, enough’s enough,” Ford said.
He said his government would “throw every single resource” to police and has given thousands of dollars to places of worship to address the rise of antisemitic attacks.
“They feel threatened. But let’s cut to the chase here: what lunatic goes around shooting up schools? That is just unacceptable,” he said. “Imagine that, a little kid in a school because they’re from the Jewish faith, someone goes by and starts shooting through the school windows. These guys need to be caught. They need to be punished. They need to be thrown in jail.”
Trudeau and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said they will address the antisemitism problem by helping “all types of religious community centers” fund security infrastructure like security cameras and shatterproof glass.
“We are conducting safety walks. We’ve done one as a pilot that works well,” Chow said. “Whether it’s shatterproof glasses, fencing, lighting, trimming of bushes, or cameras, we assist because we have the knowledge and know the best practices and both levels of seamless government have funding to support it.”
Ford was outraged that Canada had reached the point where these added security measures were even necessary.
“You just heard the mayor say shatterproof glass. Really? We have to have this in Ontario in schools. Where have we gone?” he said. “Again, we’re all just fed up with this nonsense.”
After receiving backlash for his comments on X, including the Ontario NDP, which said the remarks were racist, Ford clarified his statements on X Thursday afternoon.
“My comments today meant to stress that there is more that unites us than divides us. While there will always be room for disagreement, violent acts that target specific religions or ethnicities do not reflect who we are or the values that represent our province.”