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Saturday, October 11, 2025

B.C. reverses decriminalization of public drug use amid outcry due to safety concerns

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Source: Flickr

Despite British Columbia Premier David Eby previously defending the province’s drug decriminalization pilot project, he has decided to extinguish the flame.

British Columbia has rolled back its drug decriminalization pilot project, banning drug use in all public spaces, including hospitals, transit, and parks. 

The change does not criminalize drug possession in private residences or at overdose prevention sites and drug-checking locations.

The province reversed its policy following criticism from mayors, provincial and federal politicians, and a recent outcry from healthcare workers who were endangered by patients using drugs in hospitals. 

“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said Eby.

Senior police officials testified before a parliamentary committee last week, indicating that British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot project lacked sufficient guardrails to maintain public order.

The change comes the same day as B.C. Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside met with her federal counterpart, Ya’ara Saks, in Vancouver, asking the Liberal government to help the province with its public drug use problem.

Also, the NDP are facing an election this year and opposition parties including the Conservative Party of British Columbia and BC United have pledged to overturn decriminalization.

Whiteside asked Saks to assist with providing increased supervision at drug consumption sites.

Police will now have the ability to enforce against drug use in all public spaces, but arrest for possession of illegal drugs will only occur under “exceptional circumstances.”

“We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better,” added Eby.

Police are encouraged to ask drug users to leave, seize the drugs, and, as a last resort, arrest them if required.

British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety, Mike Farnworth, said that the province will continue to target gangs and organized criminals making and trafficking toxic drugs while taking action to make drugs illegal in public spaces.

“Our communities are facing big challenges. People are dying from deadly street drugs, and we see the issues with public use and disorder on our street,” said Farnworth.

Hospital workers have also reported a surge in illicit substance use within patient rooms and bathrooms, even in maternity wards, which they say jeopardizes the safety of both staff and patients.

On top of banning drug use in hospitals, the province said it will improve safety and security for patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. 

Patients admitted into hospitals will be questioned whether they have a problem with drugs. If they answer yes, support and medical oversight will be provided to ensure that they receive personalized care to help them with their addiction and medical issues.

British Columbia’s Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, applauded how the new policy will make hospitals safer.

“The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care while preventing others from being exposed to the second-hand effects of illicit drug use,” said Dix.

While banning drugs, the province is also expanding availability and accessibility to those addicted to opioids. 

The province said it will integrate addiction services with healthcare, housing, and other related services. British Columbia also said it intends to work with experts to “develop methods to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of identifying and preventing diversion.”

Illegal drug use exploded at B.C.’s beaches, parks, and hospitals since the province’s decriminalization project was implemented on Jan. 31, 2023, which led to intense public backlash.

Drug users were allowed to possess and use small amounts of various toxic drugs, like fentanyl, in public without being arrested or facing legal consequences.

Mayors from across British Columbia called the widespread public drug use a “crisis.”

British Columbia saw a record of at least 2,511 suspected deaths from illegal drug use in 2023 despite the decriminalization pilot being active. 

LAWTON: Ottawa spent $2.2 million unsuccessfully defending Emergencies Act use

By
Andrew Lawton
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Source: True North

The Department of Justice recently disclosed that Ottawa spent over $2.2 million on legal fees in an unsuccessful attempt to defend its use of the Emergencies Act, with the sum covering both government lawyers and external legal services. Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Kris Sims joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss.

Conservative MPs to call Mark Carney as committee witness after speech about Liberal budget

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

As rumours swirl that Mark Carney is gearing up to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, Conservative MPs want to call him before the parliamentary finance committee.

The Conservatives announced Friday that he owes Canadians some answers.

“Canadians deserve to know how much Carney will increase Trudeau’s carbon tax, how much more debt he will add, and whether he would destroy Canada’s energy sector,” said the Conservatives in a statement.

According to the Conservatives, Carney has a history of investing in oil and gas dictatorships while simultaneously trying to destroy Canada’s energy industry.

The Conservatives said that even long-term Liberals want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.

“This was made clear after Mark Carney delivered two major speeches on economic and fiscal policy, where he criticized Trudeau’s economic chaos, even though he supports the inflationary spending and taxes that caused it,” read the release.

Because Carney is trying to get as much media attention as possible to position for Trudeau’s job, according to the Conservatives, he should welcome appearing before the committee. Carney previously declined an invitation from the finance committee to testify on the Fall Economic Statement. 

Carney is a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England.

In Carney’s speech at Canada’s economic lookahead dinner in Toronto on Monday, he criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and generally applauded the Liberals’ 2024 federal budget. 

“It’s a huge start, but we have to keep that momentum up in order to build the millions of affordable, resilient, and low-carbon homes that Canadians need with an urgency not seen since the Second World War,” said Carney.

Carney’s words about the budget weren’t all positive, however.

“Governments that spend too much and invest too little will eventually pay a heavy price,” he said.

“But countries that nurture, welcome, and celebrate risk-takers will thrive.”

Entrepreneurs and doctors have raised concerns about the capital gains tax hike in the budget and what it will mean for Canadian industry.

Carney accused Poilievre of having no climate plan beyond getting rid of the carbon tax.

“And remember when he shouts ‘Axe the tax,’ he’s really whispering: ‘Can the plan,’ and leaving us with nothing,” Carney said.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer showed that $204.5 billion, 35.5% of the $576 billion spent during the pandemic, had nothing to do with Covid.

The Conservatives said it doesn’t matter whether Carney or Trudeau governs the Liberal party. 

“They will continue to make life more unaffordable for Canadians with their inflationary taxes and spending,” their statement said.

The Conservatives on the finance committee will need the NDP’s support to bring Carney as a witness.

“The NDP will be faced with a decision to either cover for Justin Trudeau by stopping his successor from testifying or to vote for the Conservative motion forcing Mark Carney’s appearance before committee,” said the party.

True North reached out to Carney for comment but received no response.

LAWTON: UN summit on plastic pollution meets in Ottawa

By
Andrew Lawton
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Source: Wikimedia

The fourth round of talks for a United Nations treaty to reduce plastic pollution is being held in Ottawa this week, with the goal of creating an international legally binding agreement that would limit global plastic production. Vinyl Institute president Aiñe Curran joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to provide an industry perspective on the issue. 

Pro-life group urges UCP to ban chemical abortions after NDP leadership candidate advises caution

By
Rachel Parker, True North Wire
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Source: Wikipedia

A pro-life political party in Alberta says an NDP leadership candidate has given the UCP government a “golden opportunity” to address chemical abortions.

Alberta NDP leadership candidate Naheed Nenshi recently received an endorsement from Never Again Alberta, an pro-abortion activist group opposed to the online prescription and distribution of abortion pills. The former Calgary mayor also said there’s a need to be cautious with telemedicine and online prescriptions when it comes to “serious issues like abortion.”

Prolife Alberta, a registered political party, wondered why the party that supports abortion rights is advising caution with life-ending procedure, while there are “crickets” from Premier Danielle Smith and her government. 

“When even Naheed Nenshi urges caution in the online distribution of abortion pills, you know it’s time for Danielle Smith’s UCP government to finally do something about it,” Prolife Alberta wrote in a Monday email to supporters. 

“The good news is that NDP leadership candidates talking about unregulated abortion provides the UCP with a golden opportunity to actually address this life-and-death issue.”

Telemedicine abortion refers to the practice of prescribing of abortion pills over the phone or online without in-person examination.

“Pregnant individuals in areas lacking medical resources (think rural Canadians) face increased risks if complications arise from an at-home termination,” read the organization’s website. “Rural folks who live far away from a major city are often too far away from an ER to seek medical help when medical complications arise.”

The group also said the UCP government doesn’t seem to care about the safety risks. 

“They seem to like the idea of private medicine, and people acting as their own doctor – alone in a bathroom.”

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Prolife Alberta recommended that the UCP government implement policies to ban chemical abortion prescriptions being given out online or over the phone, ensure parents are consulted when minors want an abortion, and make changes so elective, medically unnecessary abortions should not be publicly funded by taxpayers.

Alberta NDP supporters had until Monday to purchase a membership to vote in the leadership contest. Already, former contender and Alberta NDP MLA Rakhi Pancholi dropped out of the race and backed Nenshi, citing his membership sales. 

The party plans to publicly update its membership list by May 12. As of December, it counted just over 16,000 members.

An Abacus poll from March found that Nenshi is by far the best known of the candidates. Of the respondents, 74% of Albertans had an impression of Nenshi, followed by party veteran and former cabinet minister Kathleen Ganley at 60%.

He was also the only candidate with clear net positive impressions.

Party supporters will select a new leader on June 22. 

Off the Record | Media goes into OVERDRIVE to attack Poilievre

By
Andrew Lawton
-
Source: Facebook

It’s Friday, so kick back, grab a drink and enjoy the latest episode of Off the Record with Andrew Lawton, Rachel Emmanuel/Ms. Emmanuel and Noah Jarvis!

Fu** Trudeau flags? Using unparliamentary language? “Extremists?!” This week, the legacy media obsessed over the fact that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had the audacity to meet with anti-carbon tax protesters in Atlantic Canada. In the now-viral video of the meeting, Poilievre can be heard accusing PM Justin Trudeau of lying about “everything” and calling the carbon tax “bulls**t.” Legacy media are apparently shocked that a widely-hated tax is, well, widely-hated by actual Canadians.

Plus, desperate to make gains in the polls, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has been accusing Poilievre of wanting to dump “toxic waste” into waterways. There’s only one problem – Singh’s claim is false. Poilievre has never said anything remotely close to what the NDP leader is saying.

These stories and more on Off the Record. Tune in now!

SUBSCRIBE TO OFF THE RECORD

Carbon tax protesters shut down media’s “Diagolon” claims

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: Tommy Everett

Despite claims made by Press Progress and CTV News, protesters at the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border have no connection to podcaster Jeremy Mackenzie’s fictitious meme country Diagolon.

Justin Trudeau and some media corporations made the sensational claim after Pierre Poilievre visited a carbon tax protest while in between events in Atlantic Canada.

Poilievre denounced the “group” and Mackenzie after the podcaster and veteran made remarks about raping Poilievre’s wife, Anaida Poilievre, in September 2022. Mackenzie later claimed that he was joking. However, the Conservative leader asked the RCMP to investigate the incident.

The protesters have been camped at Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia, since Justin Trudeau hiked the carbon tax by 23% on April 1.

Poilievre called for Canadians to protest the carbon tax hike in March.

According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report, the carbon tax hike will cost the average Nova Scotian household $537 more than they get back in carbon tax rebates this year.

Protest organizer Tommy Everett told True North in an interview that none of the approximately ten people who protest overnight at the camp support Mackenzie or have any connection to his fictitious country.

“Us being with Diagolon is just, grasping at soggy paper straws,” Everett said. “Because they seen a drawing that somebody drew two or three years ago on the inside of a camper with numerous other signatures from people all over Canada.”

He said the drawing of the flag, which has some politicians and media making the connection between Poilievre and Diagolon, was done in Ottawa during the Freedom Convoy.

“The person that owns the trailer was a mechanic at the Freedom Convoy. He had a diesel heater inside. So everybody (protesters) used that space to get warm while they were strolling up and down the streets,” he said.“It was kind of a pop-in, you know, warm yourself up, get a cup of coffee, have a cookie, and then after you’re warm, continue on your way.”

At the Freedom Convoy, it was popular for people to sign each other’s trucks, trailers, cars and flags. There was rarely oversight and for the most part, protesters would trust others not to draw something inappropriate.

Source: Sudbury News – SUDBURY.COM

“That was the only time that (the person who drew the flag) stepped foot in the camper,” Everett said. “They haven’t been in the camper since, nor have they been down here at any time. since this protest has happened, they haven’t even stepped foot on the property nor the highway we’re protesting on.”

Tommy said he was familiar with Mackenzie but hasn’t wanted “anything to do with him” since he “joked” about raping Poilievre’s wife.

“We don’t support the sexual assault of women. We support women being our equal counterparts. Anything that involves any kind of violence against anybody, we do not support,” he said. “To reiterate, nobody here supports Jeremy. nobody at all.”

The NDP aligned, Broadbent Institute funded, Press Progress’s report quoted from the Emergencies Act Inquiry which noted that law enforcement viewed Diagolon as a “potentially dangerous organization.”

The reporting did not include information from an 85-page investigative report co-authored by journalists Caryma Sa’d and Elisa Hategan, which found the Trudeau government and the legacy media reports overly relied on the same source of flawed information from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, which receives funding from the Liberal government.

Internal communications between Canadian officials showed they did not view Diagolon as an extremist threat or even an organized group were included in their report.

The RCMP said Diagolon “does not pose a criminal or national security threat.” other officials found Diagolon “no criminality,”

A Canadian national security official Matthew Dejardins said “Diagolon does not meet dictionary definitions of a group,” on March 16, 2022.

When asked at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Tom Marazzo said Diagalon is a “meme.”

“The vice president of Diagolon, being a time-travelling cocaine-addicted goat, that’s just an internet meme that has no meaning at all,” Marazzo said.

At the inquiry, Mackenzie testified that the “demonic goat figurine” is named Philip.

The imaginary nation is a hypothetical utopia that the founder joked would emerge if one drew a diagonal line from Alaska to Florida.

CAF replaces outdated WWII weapons with new pistols in $19.4 million contract

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

The Canadian Armed Forces will destroy 11,000 of its Second World War-era pistols after receiving new 9-mm pistols to replace its outdated weaponry. 

After receiving the final delivery of the new pistols as part of a $19.4 million project, the old pistols will be sent to supply depots in Alberta and Quebec for disposal, which will be carried out before the end of the year. 

The Browning Hi-Power pistols, which has been used by CAF members for decades,  were becoming increasingly difficult to find replacement parts for.

Distribution of the newly purchased Sig Sauer P320 to units is already underway.

“The pistols have not yet been destroyed,” said National Defence spokesperson Cheryl Forrest in an email to the Ottawa Citizen. “We anticipate the pistols will be disposed of by the end of 2024.”

According to Forrest, about 150 Browning Hi-Power handguns will be preserved for distribution to museums throughout Canada, however, none have been shipped out yet. 

Some Brownings may also be kept within the CAF for specific training or special purposes. 

“The Canadian Army keeps a small stock of older small arms and small arms in service in other countries to assist with training for emergency situations and for recognition,” wrote Forrest. “The Browning may also retain some training value as a simulation/training tool.”

The CAF has yet to make a final decision on keeping some Brownings within the force. 

Since the Second World War, over a million Browning Hi-Power pistols were manufactured as the gun was also distributed to other militaries and used by police forces as well. 

The change-out of pistols follows a similar move made by the CAF regarding its standard rifle for Canadian Rangers, which was the Lee Enfield, also in use since the Second World War. 

The Lee Enfield was replaced with the C19 rifle in 2018. 

Approximately 9,500 Lee Enfields, now non-functional, were transferred to the military cadets to be used for training and drills.

Another 5,000 Enfields were given as gifts to certain serving Canadian Rangers. 

According to National Defence, an additional 50 rifles were offered to museums affiliated with the CAF to be displayed as artifacts with the remaining 1,500 rifles destroyed.  

The new P320s pistols were received on March 6, along with a separate delivery of 16,500 C22 pistols to be used by the army, navy and airforce. 

Military police units also received a delivery of 3,200 new C24 pistols. 

M.D. Charlton Co. Ltd., based in Victoria, B.C. was awarded the contract for providing the CAF with the Sig Sauer P320 in October 2022. 

The P320 is a common model for military use, also utilized by militaries in the U.S., France and Denmark. 

The Pentagon ordered 420,000 P320s for the U.S. military in 2017.

The Daily Brief | Trudeau complains about populism

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Source: Facebook

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared on a podcast and complained about populism and bragged about his government’s tax hikes.

Plus, the Alberta government announced that nearly all of the province’s wildfires in 2024 were human-caused, stressing the need for individual action to prevent future fires.

And Ontario MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the chamber after refusing to remove her keffiyeh.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and William McBeath!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

Honda gets $5 billion in tax-funded subsidies to create 1,000 jobs

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

Automotive giant Honda will be getting $5 billion in subsidies from the federal and Ontario governments towards its $15 billion investment in four new electric vehicle plants.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Honda’s plans to build the EV plants Thursday but were scant on details about how much taxpayers were on the hook for.

The $5 billion figure, shared by the federal and provincial governments, has raised eyebrows from critics of corporate welfare.

Domestic policy analyst Aaron Wudrick of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, noted on X that $5 billion in subsidies to create 1,000 jobs – the new jobs promised by Honda and the government – would cost Canadians $5 million dollars per job.

Honda would be spending $15 billion on four new electric vehicle plants in Ontario and the Canadian taxpayer will be footing one third of the bill.

Trudeau said the jobs would be secured for “decades and even generations.” Trudeau also mentioned he believes this move will create jobs across the country for auto parts suppliers.

Trudeau also defended the expenditure as supporting Canada’s social and climate goals by going all-in on electric vehicles.

“Honda has set a goal to make EVs represent 100% of vehicle sales by 2040. In Canada our target is that 100% of all light duty cars and passenger truck sales be zero emission by 2035,” Trudeau said. “Climate policy is economic policy and, with its impact on families and communities around here, It’s also social policy.”

In Thursday’s episode of True North’s The Andrew Lawton Show, Wudrick said the move is a waste of public resources in the pursuit of a social goal.

“I hope they’re really well paying jobs if we’re paying $5 million a pop just to create them,” he said. “The reality is we are paying these companies to create these jobs.”

When converted to Canadian dollars, Honda made over $12 billion in profits last year.

“This is not a company that is hard done by. This is clearly a company that’s got the resources to invest their own money,” Wudrick said. “We pay taxes for public services, instead they’re turning around and giving it to a very profitable, multinational corporation.”

Wudrick said 1,000 jobs is not as much of a cause for celebration when the price tag for them is so high.

“Everytime I hear politicians talk about good paying jobs and the importance of them, that’s always on the presumption that they’re being generated by the private sector. If you’re going in and essentially paying the salary of these people for the company, it’s not really a private sector job,” he said. “It’s essentially a government job masquerading as a private sector job.”

When government spends money this way, it’s not spending on public goods Canadians expect their tax dollars to support, Wudrick noted.

“These kinds of announcements are taking resources out,” he said. “We’re not spending on things like roads and hospitals and schools and the kinds of things you expect your tax money’s supposed to go towards.”

He said the government is attempting to centrally plan the economy with what is supposed to be a private actor.

The government also claimed in its announcement that the funding will retain 4,200 existing jobs at Honda’s Alliston, Ont. plant. This claim is also Dubious, Wudrick charged.

“That starts to sound to me a lot like a ransom fee, right?” he said. “When governments signal that they’re willing to play the game. (Corporations) get taught to do this, right. They get taught that ‘I should look for the handout, frankly, because what if my competitor doesn’t?’”

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