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Saturday, October 4, 2025

Ford government scraps manual licence plate renewals

By
Quinn Patrick
-

Ontario drivers will no longer have to register their licence plates on an annual basis, following an announcement from Premier Doug Ford that the process will soon become automatic. 

Ford was asked about the spike in expired licence plates on the province’s roads during a press conference in Toronto on Tuesday. 

“We are getting rid of that totally. Registering your vehicle, we did the first step, getting rid of the stickers. Now we are getting rid of the re-registration,” replied Ford. “It will be automatically re-registered so people won’t have to worry about that at all.”

According to the Ministry of Transportation, there are 1,015,139 licence plates currently expired in the province, as of last month.  

The automatic licence renewal will only be for drivers who are “in good standing,” a spokesperson for the MTO told CTV News. In other words, those with tickets or outstanding toll bills will still be required to renew manually. 

All fees associated with annual licence renewals were lifted in 2022 by the Ford government. However, once the province made the process free, there was an increase in drivers forgetting to renew, according OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt. 

The process became free on March 13, 2022 for all passenger vehicles, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles. 

Before the fees were lifted, drivers were required to pay $60 annually in northern Ontario and $120 in southern Ontario. 

Drivers are currently required to renew on their birthday each year with a penalty of $500 for those caught driving with an expired license plate.

Ford did not comment on an exact date as to when automatic renewals will officially come into effect but did say it would happen “extremely soon.”

“It will be legislated when we get back,” confirmed Ford.

Ontario MPPs return to the legislature on Tuesday. 

Ford went on to say that the changes are part of a broader bill which will include a mandate regarding a referendum on Ontario’s future carbon pricing plan. 

The Daily Brief | DEI programs lead to more prejudice and bigotry: study

By
Lindsay Shepherd
-

A new study has found diversity, equity, and inclusion – also known as DEI – programs in universities lead to even more prejudice and bigotry.

Plus, housing starts in Edmonton hit a new low even as its population balloons due to an increase of immigrants.

And MPs shut down a Conservative motion to condemn the attempted arson at the Blessed Sacrament Parish church in Regina.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Lindsay Shepherd and Isaac Lamoureux!

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The Andrew Lawton Show | Guilbeault says feds will no longer fund roads

By
Andrew Lawton
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Source: Facebook

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the federal government will no longer fund municipal road projects, because building roads encourages people to use cars. He said the money should instead be spent on fighting climate change. The announcement was condemned by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said he was “gobsmacked” by it. True North’s Andrew Lawton weighs in.

Also, it’s the two year anniversary of Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act, which he still defends despite the Federal Court finding it unconstitutional Freedom Convoy organizer Tom Marazzo joins to discuss.

Plus, a new study from the Aristotle Foundation, authored by Laurier University professor David Millard Haskell finds no evidence in support of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In fact, sometimes they have adverse effects on diversity. Haskell discusses his findings with Andrew.

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RCMP officer arrested after leaking secrets to “foreign actor”

By
Quinn Patrick
-
Source: Flickr

A national security investigation has led to an Alberta RCMP officer being charged with sharing “non-top secret RCMP records systems ” with a “foreign actor.”

“The RCMP is committed to combatting foreign actor interference at all levels and is actively leveraging all tools at its disposal,” said national police service in a press release Tuesday.

The Integrated National Security Investigation Team, a centrally controlled agency which investigates criminal and terrorist activities, arrested front-line RCMP officer Const. Eli Ndatuje on Tuesday.

Ndatuje has been charged with breach of trust, unauthorized use of a computer and breach of trust with respect to safeguarded information. 

“Foreign interference takes on many forms and it is critical that all organizations are aware of the potential harm at any levels,” read the release.

News of the breach has prompted RCMP to implement “measures to monitor, mitigate and manage any further unauthorized disclosures of information.”

His first scheduled court appearance will be on March 11 in Calgary Provincial Court. 

RCMP would not comment further on the case as it is ongoing and now before the court. 

According to court records however, Ndatjue is accused of sending “safeguarded information on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system to a foreign entity, to wit the Republic of Rwanda.”

The alleged offences were committed in Red Deer, Alberta on April 23, 2022. 

Njadtue was released with a number of conditions, including that he report for fingerprinting, surrender his passport, and remain in Alberta.

News of Ndatjue’s arrest comes a week after Cameron Ortis, a former RCMP intelligence official was sentenced to 14 years in jail by an Ontario court.

Ortis was convicted of sharing secret information without permission and misusing his role of influence in breach of Canadian secrets laws. 

Before his arrest in September 2019, Ortis was the Director General of the RCMP’s National Intelligence Coordination Centre.

“The RCMP takes threats to the security of Canadians very seriously and wants to reassure everyone that our primary focus is the safety and protection of the public at all times,” read the release. “The RCMP will pursue any form of interference, whether internal or external, and this is a good example of the efforts being made.”

EV drivers likely to pay higher insurance premiums in the near future: report

By
Quinn Patrick
-

Canadians may have to pay higher insurance premiums if they drive an electric vehicle due to the Liberal government’s push to phase out fossil fuels, according to a report from Morningstar DBRS.

The global credit rating agency published a study on Monday, titled Electrification 2035: Auto Insurance Rates to Increase as the Transition to Electric Vehicles Becomes Law in Canada.

The report discusses effects EVs will have on auto insurance premium rates as Canada moves into its zero-emissions vehicle sales targets, which found that consumers will be paying more. 

EV owners in the UK already pay higher premium rates than drivers of gas-powered vehicles and in some cases, EV owners are even denied “coverage as insurers take time to adjust their pricing models,” reads the report. 

Repairs on EVs are very expensive, as is part replacement, which has led insurers to opt for totalling damaged vehicles instead of making repairs to them, thus raising premiums.

“For EV drivers in Canada, a silver lining might be found in the highly regulated Canadian automobile insurance industry,” said vice president of insurance for DBRS Victor Adesanya.

“Provincial governments are responsible for the regulation of auto insurance policies, including the monitoring of claims handling and dispute resolution. Provincial regulators also review and approve requests made by insurers to increase rates before they can be implemented.”

Despite this, Adesanya said that Canadians can, “expect that auto insurance rates will trend upward over time as insurers generate more claims data for EVs and reflect that experience in their pricing.”

Because insurance is a one-year contract, insurance companies will re-evaluate their premiums annually based on their expenses, inflation and claims, with prices almost guaranteed to increase. 

However, premiums for EVs have remained stable thus far, mostly because so few Canadians are driving EVs. Only 8.9% of car sales in 2022 were EVs, according to Transport Canada.  

Four charged after armed standoff leaves three officers wounded

By
Quinn Patrick
-

Four people are facing charges related to drugs and firearms after an armed-and-barricaded standoff took place in the north end of Winnipeg over the weekend. 

Winnipeg police officers responded to reports of an armed robbery that involved three men around 6:15 a.m. on Friday. 

An alleged gunshot was fired during the robbery by one of the suspects, which struck a man in his 40’s, while another woman, aged 25, was forcibly removed from the area by the suspects. 

Officers arrived at an apartment building on Charles St. and College Ave. at 3 a.m. the next day after receiving a call that there was a woman located inside that was being held hostage.

It was later confirmed that the woman inside was the same woman who went missing during the robbery on Friday. 

Winnipeg police were made aware that some of the people inside the apartment building were armed.

Upon exiting the building, two of the suspects, a 46-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were arrested and taken into custody.

They were followed by the 25-year-old woman who police believed to have been allegedly abducted, she was unharmed. 

Two people remained inside the building, however, refusing to leave, resulting in the armed-and-barricaded situation that led to three officers being injured by gunshots.

All three were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and were able to return home the same day.   

“One officer sustained a wound to his thigh, an embedded shotgun pellet within his thigh. One officer sustained a wound to his forearm, also from a shotgun pellet, and one officer sustained a wound to his chest and his inner thigh, also from a shotgun pellets. All were treated at hospital for non-life threatening injuries and all went home that night,” said Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth, according to CTV News.

Winnipeg police remained on scene for a number of hours before the two men inside were eventually apprehended and taken into custody.  

“Nobody was seriously injured. We’ll support our members through their experiences of being fired upon. None of the suspects in this case were seriously injured and that’s a good outcome. Everybody went home that night,” said Smyth. 

Police seized a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22 calibre rifle, as well as ammunition from the scene. 

James Kayseas, 43, is charged with “assault causing bodily harm, discharging a firearm with intent, possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), disguise with intent, breaking-and-entering, and various firearm-related offences.”

The other three individuals; a 50-year-old man, 46-year-old man, and a 30-year-old woman are all charged as well with drug and firearm-related charges.

The incident took place at 285 College Ave., a building that is already well known to Winnipeg police as they responded to a shooting that occurred there last September, resulting in the murder of a 25-year-old father named Daniel Raymond Garvey-Rodriquez. 

According to Smyth, officers will be addressing their concerns about the building to the proper authorities. “We’ll see where that goes,” said Smyth. 

The Winnipeg Police Association released a joint statement with Smyth on the incident, saying that the three members involved in the stand-off were now “at home and are physically, and hopefully mentally recovering.”

“This was a dangerous situation, and we are relieved that none of our members were seriously or fatally injured. We are also relieved that our members were able to conclude it with no loss of life. These incidents are a reminder of the dangers faced by Police Officers and the importance of having properly trained, equipped, and resourced Police members who can handle these dangerous situations properly,” reads the statement. 

Second shooting targeting Sikh activist’s home in one week

By
Quinn Patrick
-

For the second time in the past week, a Sikh activist had his home hit by gunfire. This time it was in in Brampton, Ontario. 

Sikh independence activists have been the target of several violent attacks in both Canada and the U.S. since last June when Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C.

Last week, a home with a child inside was shot up in a residential neighbourhood in Surrey, British Columbia. Fortunately, no one was injured.  

The home belonged to a Sikh activist, according to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the spokesman for the advocacy group Sikhs For Justice.

Construction workers found a bullet hole in the window of an unfinished house in Brampton on Monday, which belongs to Inderjit Singh Gosal, a prominent Khalistani activist. 

The bullet hole was later confirmed by Peel Regional Police, who said that they couldn’t yet rule out the possibility of more gunshots having been fired.

Gosal had announced that a pro-Khalistani rally would be taking place outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Saturday, not long before the shooting took place.  

Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said that it was still “too early” to tell if the shooting at Gosal’s new home is connected to his Khalistani-activism, however, that information will be factored into the investigation. 

Gosal works closely with Pannun, who was himself potentially the target of a failed assassination plot in New York in December. 

The incident was detailed in a 15-page indictment filed in a District Court in Manhattan, that alleged an employee of the Indian government directed the assassination. 

This act was connected to a broader plan to assassinate other Sikh separatists living in Canada.

The Indian government has denied involvement with any of the incidents involving Sikh activists being the target of violence abroad, however, the accusations have led to a diplomatic fallout between Canada and India. 

“No amount of threats and violence can stop me from advocating for the liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation. I have been heading Khalistan freedom rallies in front of the Indian consulate and I have been targeted for the same very reason that Nijjar was assassinated by Indian agents, ie our campaigning for the Khalistan referendum,” said Gosal in a statement, according to The Guardian.

“This firing [sic] has absolutely been orchestrated by the Indian spy network operating from diplomatic missions in Canada headed by the Indian High Commissioner [Sanjay] Verma.”

RCMP mocked for employment offer to youth who “identify as women”

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The RCMP wants Grade 11 students who “identify as women” to apply for an internship in a new initiative that has sparked a wave of backlash against the federal police.

The RCMP unveiled on X a recruitment drive specifically targeting high school students in grade 11 who identify as women.

“We’re looking for high school students in grade 11 who identify as women. If that’s you and you’re curious about a career in public safety, we have a full week’s worth of paid work for you! Registration closes in 2 weeks,” wrote the RCMP. 

According to the application page, the “student employment opportunity” is 150 full-time positions paying $16.84 per hour for one week. Girls from Edmonton, Kingston, Moncton, Montreal Island, Ottawa and Surrey can apply. 

“Do you identify as a woman and are you currently in high school?” asked the RCMP. 

“Are you thinking about your plans after high school graduation? Are you interested in a career in public safety and security? If so, you may be a good fit for this student employment opportunity.”

The webpage goes on to say that applicants shouldn’t “forget to self-declare as a woman to be considered! Under the Employment equity self-declaration section of your application, answer “yes” to Gender-Female.”

“The Federal Government of Canada is dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce that represents the Canadian population we serve. We encourage you to self-identify if you belong to other Employment Equity groups,” writes the RCMP. 

Critics on social media were quick to accuse the RCMP of kowtowing to woke gender ideology. Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, echoed these sentiments, expressing disdain at the RCMP’s focus on gender identity. 

Others like renowned psychologist Jordan Peterson and commentator Jonathan Kay also ridiculed the proposal. 

Richmond residents swarm city hall over proposal for safe injection site

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A heated debate over a proposed supervised drug consumption site in Richmond erupted on Monday, as hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Hall to voice their opposition to the plan. 

The protesters, many of whom held signs saying “no drugs, no drugs,” chanted loudly before the council meeting where more than 100 speakers were slated to share their views on the controversial proposal.

Council had voted 8-1 last week to explore the possibility of establishing a supervised consumption site on the hospital grounds, where people who use drugs could test and consume them under medical supervision. 

The site would also provide recovery and treatment services, according to a statement from the city on Sunday.

City officials said the sites are meant to prevent overdose deaths and connect people with health and social services.

However, some residents and community groups remained unconvinced, fearing that a supervised consumption site would increase crime, violence and drug trafficking in the area. 

They also questioned the effectiveness of the sites in reducing drug-related harms and deaths.

The only dissenting voice on the council was Coun. Chak Au, who voted against the motion to explore the site last week. 

He argued that the motion was not a genuine consultation, but a directive to staff to implement the site. 

Au also claimed that supervised consumption sites had not reduced deaths in other parts of the Lower Mainland.

“The question is if injection sites were truly effective, we should be witnessing a decline in the number of tragic deaths,” said Au.

The council will make a final decision on whether to proceed with the proposal after hearing from all the speakers on Monday.

Campaign to recall Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek picks up steam but faces ‘insurmountable’ challenges

By
Rachel Parker
-

Calgarians hoping to recall city mayor Jyoti Gondek say poorly worded recall legislation makes their quest nearly impossible. 

Amendments made in 2022 to the Municipal Government Act permit the recall of municipal officials. The city says 514,284 signatures are needed to recall Gondek, or 40 per cent of the city’s popluation. 

Kristy Koehler, executive director of the citizen’s advocacy group Common Sense Calgary, said over half a million signatures are required to recall the mayor but only 390,383 total votes were cast for all of the mayoral candidates combined in the 2021 election.

“The requirement to collect signatures from a minimum of 40% of the population is insurmountable,” Koehler told True North. 

“Add in requirements for paper signatures, witnesses, and the short time limit of 60 days, and the odds are stacked against the petitioner.” 

Petitioner Landon Johnston agrees the criterion is ridiculous. He said the recall legislation includes population data for those under 18, but only adults can sign the petition. 

“I’m a very spiteful person and I’m bad at math and I’m very passionate,” he told True North.  “So I think those three things just tell you that I’m going to do it anyways.”

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said the province is reviewing the recall provisions to increase councillor accountability and strengthen oversight after receiving feedback from stakeholder engagement sessions and online surveys.  He also said the bar to remove an elected official is high, as it should be. 

“It should not be an easy thing to remove someone from office when they have been duly elected by the community,” McIver  said in a statement to True North.

“Alberta is the only province or territory in Canada that enables the recall of a municipal councillor. It is intended to hold elected officials accountable throughout their term, and not just during elections.”

Johnston said the recall effort is a “job review” for Gondek. He said the city needs clean streets, public safety training, and funding for police. 

“They’re not fulfilling their duties and responsibilities,” he said of Calgary city council, adding that Gondek is at the top. 

Gondek has said she won’t resign until the next election in October 2025. In an 

interview with CTV, she said the recall effort “stings a little bit.”

A December 2023 ThinkHQ survey conducted among 1,116 Calgarians revealed a 30 per cent approval rating for Gondek’s performance. That rating was down six points from June and came after Gondek announced a 7.8% residential tax hike.

ThinkHQ president Marc Henry said the numbers facing Gondek and council are the lowest he’s seen in Calgary.

A recall event held Saturday afternoon outside Calgary City Hall drew hundreds of people to sign petitions and volunteer to collect more signatures. 

Johnston plans to head downtown every Saturday to collect signatures. He said he has between 500 and 1,000 volunteers working on collecting signatures, with more emailing him every day. 

The recall petition must be signed in person. Updates about the campaign are being posted at https://recallmayorgondek.com. 

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