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Monday, July 7, 2025

Canadians believe Poilievre better equipped to handle another Trump term

More Canadians said they believed Conservative Leader Pierre Pollievre would better handle another Donald Trump U.S. presidency when compared to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a recent poll.

In a national survey conducted by Abacus Data for the Toronto Star, 37% of respondents said that Polievere would be better equipped to deal with Trump over Trudeau, should he win the 2024 U.S. presidential election. 

Less respondents, 28%, said they believed Trudeau would do a better job, while 31% said they didn’t know. 

“Except for climate change (and child care), I would say there isn’t an issue probably right now in which people are feeling the prime minister would handle it better than the Conservative leader,” said Abacus CEO David Coletto.

Trudeau’s diplomatic fallout with India over Sikh murders and the Nazi scandal in the House of Commons have posed several problems for the Liberal government’s image.  

This has led many to question Trudeau’s capabilities as a global leader, despite the fact that people previously believed he handled Trump’s presidency effectively.

Coletto claimed that Liberals who feel another Trump victory would bode well for a Liberal re-election are incorrect. 

According to Coletto, the perception is that Poilievre shares similar conservative views to Trump, which is likely to make for better diplomacy, who likened the relationship to how Trudeau fared better with former U.S. President Barack Obama than his predecessor prime minister Stephen Harper.

The survey was conducted between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 with a margin of error above or below 2.2%. There were a total of 1,985 people who responded.

Respondents were also asked who they would vote for if an election were held tomorrow. 

The majority said they would vote Conservative at 39%, while only 26% said they would vote Liberal. 

“The overriding desire for change is really helping Poilievre and making it a really difficult environment for the prime minister,” said Coletto.

Trudeau addressed his relationship with the former U.S. president while speaking with community leaders about the wildfires in Hay River, N.W.T. on Wednesday. 

“There’s ways to handle him,” said Trudeau, who likened him to a “controlled burn.” 

Trump is favoured to win the Republican nomination and is in a competitive position to beat President Joe Biden in 2024 according to recent polling. 

Coletto said that while a Trump presidency is not imminent, “it does suggest that the Liberals can’t just count on that happening, if they think that’s going to be the solution to their problems.”

“The government’s been trying to spend more time focused on housing and affordability — they know what the top issues they need to be addressing are,” said Coletto. “It remains to be seen whether they can convince people that they can do it.”

Ontario NDP abstains from motion to support Israel, condemn Hamas

The Ontario NDP abstained from a motion in the Ontario legislature Thursday expressing strong support for Israel and condemning Hamas. The motion was eventually passed with a 78-0 vote, with Liberals and the governing PCs voting unanimously in support.

The motion was introduced by PC House Leader Paul Calandra on Monday.

Provincial legislators, called MPPs in Ontario, debated the motion for several days, which came in response to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the latter’s Oct. 7attack that killed about 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and captured around 200 others.

The NDP, however, abstained from the vote and introduced amendments demanding a ceasefire, hostage release and humanitarian aid for Gaza. 

These amendments were rejected and the original motion was passed.

A major source of recent controversy within the legislature surrounding the conflict was a post on X (previously known as Twitter) by NDP MPP Sarah Jama. 

Jama accused Israel of engaging in “apartheid” and called an “end to all occupation of Palestinian land.” She also blamed settler colonialism for the violence and retaliation by Israel. 

“We have seen this definition of apartheid in real time through the continued violation of human rights in Gaza through the use of white phosphorus chemicals, the withholding of access to food, fuel electric and water, and the destruction of the only exit from Gaza that isn’t controlled by the State of Israel,” the X post claimed. 

The post made no mention of the Hamas attack that triggered the war or the casualties and captives on the Israeli side. 

She faced public criticism after the post from NDP Leader Marit Stiles, who pressured her to apologize for her post. 

Jama has since apologized but has not deleted her post. She is also still a member of the NDP caucus despite Premier Doug Ford calling for her resignation.

The Progressive Conservatives have put forward a second motion to ban Jama from speaking in the House until she deleted her post, retracts her statement, and apologizes formally “in her place in the House.” 

The motion accused Jama of allegedly making “antisemitic and discriminatory statements” and defending “Hamas terrorists.”

Jama has also filed a cease-and-desist letter against Ford for allegedly making “defamatory” statements about her. 

Senate starts hearings on guaranteed basic income

Hearings have kicked off for a Senate bill that would set up a system for guaranteeing Canadians a minimum “livable” income.

The Senate’s finance committee started hearing testimony on Bill S-233 Tuesday.

The bill, which was introduced in the Senate and would still have to be adopted by the House of Commons if the Senate passes it, would set up a framework for the government to offer a “livable basic income…to ensure that individuals can lead a dignified and healthy life.”

One of the witnesses, University of British Columbia professor Jiaying Zhao, said a guaranteed basic income would be cheaper for Canadian taxpayers.

“Basic income actually reduces our taxpayers money. It’s cost effective. Overall, it’s less than what we currently spend on poverty,” she said.

Senators engaged in a spirited debate about the bill, which included questions about sustainably financing the scheme without jeopardizing other essential services.

Throughout the debate, Senators expressed concerns regarding who stands to benefit most from this program and at what cost. They grappled with the idea of striking a balance, particularly for individuals on the socioeconomic fringes.

Still, taxation was a recurring topic in the discussion. 

“Basic income does not need to be delivered through the tax system,” said economist Evelyn Forget.

She said that there are other ways to deliver it. Assuming cooperation between federal and provincial governments, she explained that a lot of machinery at the provincial level can be drawn on to deliver a basic income.  

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is unconvinced, however.

“A guaranteed livable basic income would balloon the debt, increase the cost of living, and make it harder for businesses to hire the workers they need,” CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano told True North. 

Terrazzano also pointed to the government’s mishandling of Covid benefits, notably the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), to raise doubts about Ottawa’s ability to handle a basic income.

“We saw the government give hundreds of dead people the CERB, how many dead people would get the GLBI?” said Terrazzano.

Numerous senators frequently referred to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and its shortcomings, worried that Bill S-233 might face similar issues. 

“CERB is not the best comparator because there was a sense of urgency to send the money as quickly as possible. For a GBI (Guaranteed Basic Income), I don’t think there would be the same sense of urgency, and I think the government could introduce guardrails and verification measures that would be a bit more rigorous than the virtual non-existence of these guardrails for CERB,” said Yves Giroux, Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The role of provinces versus the federal government in implementing the program sparked discussion. Senators debated how to achieve collaboration and consensus among different regions.

“I believe that a design for a program across the country would be palatable to provinces, depending on the parameters, because every province is dealing with issues of poverty,” said Kathleen Wynne, former premier of Ontario.

Financing the guaranteed income, including concerns about debt and inflation, was a significant contention. Senators questioned the long-term economic stability of these funding mechanisms.

Multiple senators raised concerns about whether such a guaranteed income might deter Canadians from seeking employment. Senators underscored the importance of balancing between incentivizing work and ensuring security. Zhao argues that empirical evidence shows that basic income increases employment in certain demographics.

“You don’t need a PhD in economics to understand that if you pay people not to work, fewer people will work,” Terrazzano cautioned, however. 

“This would mean massive tax hikes, more money printing or more debt for Canadians’ kids and grandkids to pay back. If the government really wanted to help all Canadians, it would stop taking so much money from our pockets” 

Nobody on the committee said they opposed the bill altogether, merely questioning certain specific aspects of it.

Following the committee stage, Bill S-233 will enter the report stage for further discussions. If successful there, it will advance to the third reading in the Senate and, if passed, will then move to the House of Commons.

The Daily Brief | Singh claims Israel is sowing “the seeds of genocide”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh prompted a strong response from MPs in the House of Commons following comments he made that the Israeli Defence Force was sowing “the seeds of genocide” in Gaza.

Plus, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans – not Ottawa – will decide whether the province should leave the Canada Pension Plan.

And a tense interview in which Pierre Poilievre calmly challenges a reporter’s questions while chomping down on an apple has caught the attention of our neighbours to the south.

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

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The Andrew Lawton Show | Even Liberal voters are sick of Justin Trudeau

A new poll shows that not only most Canadians favour Pierre Poilievre to Justin Trudeau, but even those who voted for Trudeau in 2021 are split on whether he should step down ahead of the next election. While the polls have consistently bad for the Liberals, Trudeau has been unequivocal that he plans to contest the next election – and his caucus has been in lockstep behind him. Do you think he should run or resign?

Also, Trudeau has told Alberta Premier Danielle Smith the federal government will fight Alberta’s proposed withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan, prompting Smith to tell Ottawa to butt out. True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with Aaron Wudrick of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Plus, the criminal mischief trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues, with testimony this week from Ottawa residents opposed to the Freedom Convoy. Epoch Times reporter Matthew Horwood joins the show to give the latest.

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LEVY: Kike Ojo-Thompson’s “white supremacy” lectures come to York school board

On its PA day this Friday, the York Region District School Board plans to give elementary school teachers and administrators a crash course on “disrupting racism.”

Learning and dialogue will occur, according to the board’s website, on five issues – “Miss, Dismiss, Avoid: Psychological Barriers to Disrupting Racism, Racial Trauma and How to Counteract It.”

Now there’s nothing unusual about that and the wokespeak they use, considering Ontario school board officials have been tripping over themselves in recent years to confront the racism they allege is under every school desk – in particular anti-black racism.

But what I find obscene – or at the very least in extremely poor taste– is the online, recorded series of sessions called “Leading Change for Equity: Anti-Black Racism Training Education.”

Information on the four-part series, provided to me by a YRDSB source, is being offered by the controversial Kike Ojo-Thomson of the Kojo Institute.

The four-part series of sessions, which teachers are invited to access through the 24/7 online board portal called Connect2Learn, run nearly eight hours.

Here are the sessions:

  • Part 1: Naming and Disrupting our Norms;
  • Part 2: Racism, Anti-Black Racism and Racial Inequity;
  • Part 3: Whiteness, White Supremacy and Organizational Culture; and,
  • Part 4: Fostering Change for Racial Equity.

The board makes it quite clear that the lessons were taped previously – before Ojo-Thompson’s behaviour in previous sessions, for which she came under fire this summer, came to light.

In fact, the board says its Inclusive School and Community Services department has partnered with the “award-winning equity consulting firm” Kojo Institute, to offer a “comprehensive professional development training program” to educators who want to put equity first.

“Developed and facilitated by Kojo Institute’s expert equity consultants, this training develops participants’ skills and capacity for confronting and addressing racism (and other forms of oppression) and anti-blackness with the board,” the YRDSB says.

The memo about the PA day was sent out on Sept. 28 by three superintendents and two associate directors of education, including Cecil Roach, associate director of schools, programs and equitable outcomes, who was supposed to retire Sept. 29.

Perhaps it escaped Roach, who made $219,780 last year, and his fellow associate director, Tod Dungey, who made $221,167, but the ink hasn’t even dried on the many news stories of the past few months about the tragic suicide of TDSB principal Richard Bilkszto.

His family and his lawyer Lisa Bildy attribute the humiliation, bullying and harassment handed to Bilkszto at two of Ojo-Johnson’s sessions in the spring of 2021 to his untimely death.

In fact, to date no one at the TDSB – where senior anti-racism executives piled on by canceling Bilkszto after he pursued a WSIB claim – or Ojo-Johnson has been forced to account for the series of tragic circumstances leading to his death.

An education ministry review and an internal review announced by TDSB education director and activist Colleen Russell-Rawlins at the end of July have yet to report.

The latter, in my view, is merely an attempt to cover up TDSB’s bullying behaviour.

As True North and other media reported in July, Ojo-Thompson sliced and diced Bilkszto in front of 200 administrators with the TDSB after he politely challenged her contentions that Canada was more racist than the United States.

She aggressively berated him in a tone bordering on cruel and patronizing, suggesting that as a white man he had no business questioning what goes on for black people (or her).

She continued to harass him a week later, repeatedly calling his response “resistance in support of white supremacy.”

The consultant, who has made hundreds of thousands of dollars peddling her anti-black racism agenda to school boards, governments and corporations, even had the gall to suggest the TDSB take action against Bilkszto for allegedly choosing not to “unlearn” his white supremacism.

A subsequent WSIB claim ruled that Ojo-Johnson’s conduct was “egregious, abusive, vexatious” and can be considered “workplace bullying.”

But the TDSB doubled down after that, reneging on contracts and revoking others, according to the lawsuit he filed before he passed away.

Ojo-Johnson and the Kojo Institute blocked me on social media but did issue a statement on July 27 denying any culpability.

The YRDSB’s Dungey didn’t return requests for comment.

I find it outrageously insensitive and bordering on cruel that the board’s brass would even entertain any training by Ojo-Johnson.

But they are either tone deaf or don’t care.

A series of touching tributes to Bilkszto last Sunday described him as “brave and tireless”, a gentle man who was not afraid to take a stance against bullying by DEI trainers – and for that he paid the price.

Majority of Canadians think Justin Trudeau should step down as Liberal leader

A majority of Canadians and almost half of those who say they voted Liberal in 2021 would prefer if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau steps down as the Liberal Party of Canada leader before the next federal election.

According to a recent Angus Reid poll, 57% of Canadians say that Trudeau should step down before the next federal election while only 28% say that Trudeau should remain as Liberal leader.

Broken down by the parties Canadians voted for in 2021, 82% of Conservative voters would prefer if Trudeau stepped down, 51% of Bloc Québécois voters said he should step down, and 47% of NDP voters agreed as well.

Trudeau’s support from within his party has been dwindling, as only 44% of 2021 Liberal voters said Trudeau should stay on as leader while 41% said that he should step down.

Justin Trudeau’s approval rating has tied the Prime Minister’s all-time low, as it has dropped to 31% and his disapproval rating has risen to 64%, almost the same level it was at height of the SNC-Lavalin scandal. 

Amongst 2021 Liberal voters, only 61% of these voters say they approve of the job Trudeau is doing, equal to the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh’s approval rating amongst Liberal voters. 

Mirroring Trudeau’s approval rating among 2021 Liberal voters, only 62% of these voters would vote for the Liberals now, with 16% shifting to the NDP and 10% shifting to the Conservatives.

As for Canadians’ preferred Prime Minister, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has a considerable lead over Trudeau and Singh, polling at 30% to Trudeau and Singh’s 16% and 15% respectively. 

The poll found that if an election were held today, the Conservatives would win the election with ease, garnering 39% of the support while the Liberals would earn 28% of the vote. The NDP would receive 21% of the vote share while the Bloc Québécois would receive 28% of the Quebec vote – 7% nationally. 

These polling results echo polls from Mainstreet, Abacus, and Nanos that have the Conservatives leading the Liberals by a double-digit margin. 

The next federal election is scheduled to take place on October 20, 2025.

Trudeau pledges nearly $90 million to fight climate change, vaccine equity in Caribbean

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced nearly $90 million in foreign aid at the Canada-Caribbean Community Summit on Wednesday, pledging to fight climate change, crime and vaccine equity in the Americas. 

Climate change was a central focus at the “Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future” summit in Ottawa which saw representatives from most of the nations and overseas territories which make up the region including Haiti and Jamaica. 

Trudeau announced he would be sending $58.6 million in taxpayer funding to the Caribbean Development Bank to be put towards renewable energy projects. 

Additionally, another $6 million was pledged for the Caribbean Climate Smart Fund. 

“Canada has been proud of its strong development cooperation in the Caribbean region which has been at its highest level in recent years but we know there’s much more work to be done,” said Trudeau. 

On the health front, Trudeau also announced Canada would allocate $18.3 million from Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity towards Haiti. 

Other funding included $3.4 million for the Haitian National Police and $3.2 million for the Caribbean Firearms Road Map which includes humanitarian assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces. 

When added, total new funding amounts to $89.5 million on behalf of Canada. 

Trudeau has recently come under fire for underreporting the cost of an Easter vacation earlier this year to the Bahamas.

Disclosures show that the prime minister and his family billed taxpayers $215,398 for security and other services while in the Caribbean nation.

The final figure was a a whopping $127,187 more than originally disclosed to Parliament. 

Albertans – not Ottawa – will decide whether province should leave CPP, Smith tells Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is “deeply concerned” the Alberta’s government proposed withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan, pledging to ensure it never happens.

In a letter he wrote to Premier Danielle Smith on Wednesday, Trudeau claimed Alberta’s withdrawal would weaken the pensions of millions in Alberta and those across the country. 

“The harm it would cause is undeniable,” wrote Trudeau. 

Trudeau’s letter further emphasized the historical significance of the CPP, stating it has been a “stable fixture” of Canadians’ and Albertans’ pension income for almost six decades. The letter also cites an accord reached in 2016 between the federal government and several provinces, including Alberta.

No province has previously exited the CPP; however, Quebec opted not to participate when the program was introduced in 1966. 

“Our unwavering commitment to securing peoples’ financial future has led Canada to build a pension plan that is a globally recognized success,” said Trudeau.

The CPP ensures that Canadians, after a lifetime of hard work, will get the retirement they deserve, explained Trudeau.

“I have instructed my Cabinet and officials to take all necessary steps to ensure Albertans — and Canadians — are fully aware of the risks of your plan, and do everything possible to ensure CPP remains intact,” he said.

“We will not stand by as anyone seeks to weaken pensions and reduce the retirement income of Canadians.”

The proposed Alberta Pension Plan (APP) claims Albertans would save approximately $5 billion in its inaugural year. 

While the Alberta government hasn’t yet committed to the withdrawal, it has launched a public consultation process led by former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning.

Smith said in response to Trudeau’s letter that it’s for Albertans – not Ottawa – to decide.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is clearly against Albertans having a referendum to decide their future,” Smith said. “These pensions belong to Albertans. They will decide.”

The Canada Pension Plan Act lays out a roadmap for provinces to withdraw from the CPP: they must provide written notice, accept contributions after a waiting period, offer benefits similar to the CPP, and assume liabilities for members. 

Neither the federal government nor other provinces has to consent to a province’s withdrawal from the scheme.

Key to the Alberta proposal is the province’s assertion that it is entitled to a substantial share of CPP assets, as outlined in the CPP Act. The calculation for this share is based on the contributions made by Albertans, adjusted for benefit payments, expenses, and net investment earnings. 

According to the analysis, this asset amount is estimated to be approximately $334 billion by January 1, 2027, roughly 53% of the total base CPP assets, a figure significantly higher than Alberta’s proportionate population within the CPP, which stands at approximately 15%.

Outrage over Jagmeet Singh’s ‘genocide’ comments regarding Israel

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh prompted a strong response from MPs in the House of Commons following comments he made that the Israeli Defence Force was sowing “the seeds of genocide” in Gaza. 

“Resist the call for revenge,” said Singh, while debating the Hamas-Israel conflict on Monday. “Surely we must demand the same of the Israeli government.”

“Canada must call for a ceasefire to end the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza immediately,” said Singh, according to Blacklock’s Reporter

“We cannot allow for the continuing dehumanization of an entire population. When we stop seeing each other as human, when we stop believing each life has value, this is when the seeds of genocide take hold.”

Singh’s comments were then met with a point blank question from Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather.

“Yes or no, do you believe Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Housefather.

“I understand there are very real emotions,” replied Singh.

Liberal MP for Winnipeg South Centre Ben Carr then asked Singh for clarification on his previous comments.

“Perhaps I misunderstood him, but it sounds to me that he was suggesting Israel is committing or on the verge of committing genocide. The definition of genocide has a particularly important adjective, ‘deliberate.’”

Then Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman, who is herself Jewish, asked Singh to clarify his statement. 

“I am going to ask him one more time if he believes – and this is a serious matter – that Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Lantsman.

“We know there are innocent people in Gaza,” replied Singh.

The debate was sparked in response to the now eight Canadians who have been killed since the Hamas attack first began on Oct. 7.

Conservative MP for Charleswood–St. James Marty Morantz responded to Singh’s answer by saying, “Now is the time for moral clarity.” 

“Already, there are calls for Israel to de-escalate. I cannot believe I am hearing this, even from the NDP. I ask, would any country de-escalate after having its people slaughtered in cold blood?” asked Morantz.

Then Conservative MP for Charlesbourg-Haute St. Charles, QC, Pierre Paul-Hus explained the importance for the Commons telling the “whole truth” in regards to the murder of Jews. 

“Why deny reality?” asked Paul-Hus. “The members of Hamas are terrorists. There is ample evidence of that. It is time to tell the whole truth about these violent criminals. This is not merely a conflict between two peoples. These are acts of terrorism and war crimes.”

His comments even garnered support from a member of the Bloc Quebecois.

“This does not happen often, but for once, we are in agreement,” said MP René Villemure for Trois–Rivières, QC. “The members of Hamas are terrorists. Hamas is seeking the annihilation of Israel. Hamas is evil. We all agree on that.”

So far, eight Canadians have been killed and several more have been kidnapped and held hostage.

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