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Sunday, September 21, 2025

Honda, Nissan announce merger discussion to compete with Tesla, Chinese EV makers

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: FMT

Honda and Nissan may soon be the world’s third-largest automaker after announcing plans to potentially merge companies.Both Japanese automakers signed a memorandum of understanding, which included the possibility for Mitsubishi Motors, an alliance member of Nissan, to potentially join in the merger as well. 

“Today marks a pivotal moment as we begin discussions on business integration that has the potential to shape our future,” said Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida in a statement released on Monday. 

“If realized, I believe that by uniting the strengths of both companies, we can deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide who appreciate our respective brands. Together, we can create a unique way for them to enjoy cars that neither company could achieve alone.”

According to Honda president Toshihiro Mibe, the two companies would continue their operations under a joint holding company, with Honda leading the new management. 

However, the long term goal is to have a formal merger agreement by June and to have everything completed and up on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026.

Should the merger be successful, their consolidation could be worth over USD $50 billion and may help the Japanese auto industry catch up in the electric vehicle sector against counterparts in China and competitors like Tesla.

The Japanese government first warned that China posed a serious threat to its auto industry in 2019 and it has pushed for Honda and Nissan to consolidate as a means to remain competitive

The Trudeau government and Ontario jointly gave Honda $5 billion in taxpayer funding to build four new manufacturing plants in Ontario to put towards the company’s $15 billion investment earlier this year. 

“Creation of new mobility value by bringing together the resources including knowledge, talents, and technologies that Honda and Nissan have been developing over the long years is essential to overcome challenging environmental shifts that the auto industry is facing,”  said Mibe. 

Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi began sharing EV components such as batteries in August, as well as sharing research software for autonomous driving after the two major companies entered into a preliminary agreement in March.

Additionally, Honda can now acquire truck-based and SUV body frames from Nissan and other advanced EV technologies that have been spear-headed under the former company. 

“Honda and Nissan are two companies with distinctive strengths. We are still at the stage of starting our review, and we have not decided on a business integration yet, but in order to find a direction for the possibility of business integration by the end of January 2025, we strive to be the one and only leading company that creates new mobility value through chemical reaction that can only be driven through synthesis of the two teams,” said Mibe. 

Despite news of the merger, Nissan announced it would be slashing about 6% of its global workforce of 133,000 people last month, as well as reducing its overall production by about 20%.

It remains unknown where exactly the layoffs will take place, however, the company recently suffered a quarterly loss of nearly $85 million, resulting in CEO Makoto Uchida voluntarily cutting his monthly compensation by half.

“These turnaround measures do not imply that the company is shrinking,” wrote Uchida in a press release at the time. “Nissan will restructure its business to become leaner and more resilient, while also reorganizing management to respond quickly and flexibly to changes in the business environment.”

Home sales, prices continue November climb as rate cuts spur market: CREA

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: Unsplash

Home sales in Canada continued to climb in November, driven by falling interest rates, with the winter market expected to be unusually hot. 

In October, home sales reached their highest level since Oct. 2022. 

The monthly report from the Canadian Real Estate Association highlighted that the trend continued in November, rising 2.8% from October and 26% since Nov. 2023 – up from 30,042 units sold in Nov. 2023 to 37,855 sold this year.

“Not only were sales up again but with market conditions now starting to tighten up, November also saw prices move materially higher at the national level for the first time in almost a year and a half,” said Shaun Cathcart, CREA’s Senior Economist. 

The Bank of Canada continued cutting interest rates in December, bringing the rate down to 3.25% and making mortgages more affordable for homebuyers. 

“Consumer spending and housing activity both picked up, suggesting lower interest rates are beginning to boost household spending,” reads the bank’s release. 

Home sales increased despite listings falling 0.5% compared to last month, following a 3% decrease the month before. However, listings did increase by 8.9% since November of last year.

The national average sale price increased 7.4% since last Nov, rising from $646,621 to $694,411.

Home prices saw their biggest monthly increase since July 2023. 

“October and November marked the start of the long-awaited rebound in resale housing activity, with the combination of lower borrowing costs and more properties to choose from coaxing buyers off the sidelines,” said James Mabey, CREA Chair.

The price of homes rose in every single province. The only region that saw an annual decrease was the Northwest Territories. The biggest increase between Nov. 2023 and 2024 was seen in Manitoba, at 14%. British Columbia saw the smallest gain, at just under 2%.

Gains in Greater Vancouver, Greater Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal were the primary drivers of increased home sales activity. Gains were also notable in smaller cities in Alberta and Ontario.

Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto saw housing prices fall compared to last year. Calgary and Montreal each saw housing prices increase compared to Nov. 2023.

The Canadian Real Estate Association expects the historically stagnant winter housing market to be more active than usual.

“Normally, we might expect this market rebound to take a pause before resuming in the spring; however, the Bank of Canada’s latest 50-basis point cut together with a loosening of mortgage rules could mean a more active winter market than normal,” said Cathcart.

However, the housing supply is limited.

The association highlighted that there are 3.7 months of inventory nationally, decreasing slightly from the previous month and reaching the lowest level seen in 14 months.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, a seller’s market results from 3.6 months of supply or less, and a buyer’s market occurs when there are 6.5 months of supply or more. 

The Northern Dispatch | Fake News Awards of 2024

By
Harrison Faulkner
-
Source: X

It’s that time of the year again — The Fake News Awards! Every year, we award the legacy media with this prestigious award for spreading fake news and getting caught red-handed.

2024 had no shortages of fake news. From CTV News purposely doctoring footage of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to the underreported story of the dozens of churches in Canada that have been burned down, the legacy media has truly done a disservice to Canadians.

Tune into The Northern Dispatch with Harrison Faulkner and Northern Perspective’s Ryan and Tanya!

CUPE Ontario asks to dismiss lawsuit alleging antisemitism against Jewish members

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

Facing litigation from Jewish CUPE members who allege the union and its leader had perpetuated antisemitism, CUPE Ontario has brought forward a motion to dismiss the lawsuit as baseless.

CUPE Ontario’s motion to dismiss the human rights case against them comes after the lawyer representing the plaintiffs requested access to CUPE’s financial records.

The lawsuit brought before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal by lawyer Kathryn Marshall on behalf of over 80 Jewish members of CUPE alleges that CUPE Ontario had prominently perpetrated antisemitism, especially after the Oct. 7 massacre against Israeli civilians by the terrorist group Hamas.

The complaint points to comments CUPE Ontario’s President Fred Hahn made only day after the attack, expressing gratitude for the “power of resistance around the globe,” and repeating the inflammatory “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” chant. 

It is also alleged that there is a “long pattern” of hostility towards Jewish members of the union, with Hahn allegedly telling a group of union members that he doesn’t believe Jewish people should live in Israel and that Jews “stole” the land from Palestinians.

Since the human rights complaint was originally filed, Hahn reposted an anti-Israel AI generated post depicting an Israeli Olympian diving into a pool, which then cuts to a video of a bomb dropping. Hahn’s post received widespread condemnation, including from Premier Doug Ford who called Hahn a “disgusting human being.”

In August, CUPE’s national executive wrote a statement telling Hahn that he had lost the executive’s confidence and called on Hahn to promptly resign, but Hahn ignored the resignation demands and remained CUPE Ontario’s president and representative on the national executive.

In remarks posted to X, Marshall claims that CUPE filed a motion to dismiss the complaint against them, arguing that the case brought against them is without basis. However, Marshall says that the request to dismiss the lawsuit comes after her firm requested the union’s financial records.

“Fred Hahn and CUPE have brought a motion asking the Ontario Human Rights Commission to dismiss our lawsuit, after we sought access to their financial records,” said Marshall.

“In a motion filed in court, Hahn and CUPE state they have “not discriminated against” Jewish union members and that allegations they have discriminated are merely ‘bald assertions” without any material facts.”

True North reached out to CUPE Ontario for comment, but received no response.

In CUPE’s statement of defence filed earlier this year, the union claims Hahn did not promote violence and discrimination against Jews, pointing to Hahn’s advocacy for transgender rights as proof to dismantle the claim.

In an August email sent to CUPE’s email list, Hahn claimed that he is being falsely maligned as an antisemite by supporters of Israel and that the allegations are baseless.

“As has happened to our union in the past, those who spoke up against the actions of the state of Israel last fall were quickly labeled antisemitic and vilified, especially online. I was one of those people,” said Hahn.

Terry Fox to be the face of the new $5 bill

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Terry Fox Foundation

Canadian icon Terry Fox, who famously ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research, has been selected to appear on the next version of the $5 bank note, according to the Liberals’ fall economic statement. 

After having to have his leg amputated as a result of his cancer diagnosis, Fox began a cross-country run that started in Newfoundland and Labrador when he dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean. 

His marathon was cut short in Thunder Bay, Ont. when his disease could no longer allow him to continue onward towards the B.C. coast. 

“Terry Fox is a Canadian hero. He campaigned to raise awareness and funding for cancer research by running his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada 42-km daily run, on his prosthetic leg. By February 1981, the Marathon of Hope had raised $24.7 million or $1 for every Canadian,” reads a statement from the federal government. 

“His run was interrupted just past the half-way point when the cancer reached his lungs, and ultimately took his life. Through his efforts, the 22-year-old showed Canadians the difference that an ordinary person could make through sheer willpower and determination.”

Fox will replace former prime minister Sir Wilfred Laurier, who will soon appear on the $50 note. 

Fox’s legacy lives on with annual Terry Fox runs being held across the globe, continuing to raise money for cancer research, amounting to over $850 million raised since its inception. 

The Fox family released a statement in response to the news, referring to it as the “Terry Fox fiver.”

“We are truly grateful to MP Chrystia Freeland, the hard work of the independent Advisory Council and all Canadians for voting and/or nominating that resulted in this honour featuring Terry on the new $5 bill,” reads the family’s statement. 

“Terry had difficulty accepting praise or recognition for his Marathon of Hope efforts. However, he did crave money, not for himself, but was always looking for the next dollar raised for cancer research.”

Public consultations were held with over 45,000 Canadians as to who the new face of the $5 dollar bill should be, with the Bank of Canada revealing its shortlist of eight nominees in 2020. 

The central bank’s shortlist included Pitseolak Ashoona, Robertine Barry, Isapo-Muxika, also known as “Crowfoot,” Binaaswi (Francis Pegahmagabow), Won Alexander Cumyow, Lotta Hitschmanova and Onondeyoh (Frederick Ogilvie Loft).

“We would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of all those nominated and especially the seven other short-listed candidates and their meaningful and important contributions,” wrote Fox’s family. 

It was the Marathon of Hope runner’s hometown city of Port Coquitlam, B.C. that launched the campaign to have him nominated for the position.

“Terry Fox’s legacy transcends differences — his courage and determination continues to inspire and unite not just his hometown of Port Coquitlam, but people from all over the world,” wrote Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West in a social media post. 

“On behalf of the people of Port Coquitlam, I want to express our immense pride that our hometown hero is being honoured as the new face on Canada’s $5 bill.”

Although he was originally born in Winnipeg, Fox was raised in the B.C. town.

“We hope when the “Terry Fox fiver” lands in the wallets and pockets of Canadians, that they will consider Terry’s vision of eradicating cancer through research,” said the Fox family. 

B.C. city hiring family doctors as municipal government workers

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

The Victoria-area municipality of Colwood, B.C. is taking government-funded healthcare to another level by hiring family doctors directly as city employees. 

Mayor Doug Kobayashi said his municipality is pioneering a new approach to addressing its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians.

The model hopes to offer doctors a comprehensive benefits package including full medical coverage, paid vacation time, and a pension plan without the added strain of requiring them to manage a doctor’s office. 

Kobayashi claims the effort has garnered significant interest from other municipalities across Canada, which are also hoping to attract and retain more physicians. 

“I can tell you right now, the phone, texts, emails, it’s just going off like crazy from all the other municipalities,” Kobayashi told the Canadian Press. 

The city aims to reduce the administrative burden associated with private practice by directly employing doctors, allowing physicians to focus primarily on patient care.

The B.C. government has fully supported the project since Colwood first piloted the idea in 2023. 

Kobayashi explained that 10,000 people in Colwood — nearly half of its 20,000 residents — will be connected to a municipal clinic under the program.

British Columbia has become a staging ground for experimental ways to address the healthcare crisis.

Last year, the provincial government green-lit a program that would see British Columbians receive cancer treatment in Bellingham, Wash. at a private healthcare clinic and have the costs paid for by taxpayers.

The move was implemented to address excessive wait times for prostate and breast cancer screening and treatment. 

Jewellery store robberies involved cars crashing through storefront

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Toronto Police

Two jewellery stores, one in Montreal and the other in Etobicoke, Ont. were both robbed by way of thieves smashing through the storefronts with vehicles, leaving several people injured. 

Thieves crashed a vehicle that crashed through a GTA storefront during an attempted robbery leaving behind three people injured, one of which had to be hospitalized.

According to Toronto police, the suspect, or suspects fled the scene after crashing a vehicle through an Etobicoke jewellery store before robbing it Sunday evening around 5:30 p.m. 

The store, Raj’s Jewellery, is located in the area of Islington Ave. and Albion Rd. and was robbed of a “quantity of merchandise,” noted police.

Two people suffered minor injuries, while another was taken to the hospital for treatment. 

However, police are currently unable to provide further information, including potential suspects or what was taken from the store as the crime scene remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, Famous Jewellers in Montreal’s Parc-Extension neighbourhood was robbed only a day earlier, in the same garish fashion. 

A car plowed through the neighbourhood storefront with thieves making off with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, according to police who arrived on the scene after being notified by the store’s security alarm. 

Security footage shows a car backing through the storefront, followed by three masked individuals entering the shop as employees scream in fear. 

Store owner Gaganjeet Singh attempted to fight off the thieves, resulting in him sustaining injuries to his upper body before later being hospitalized.

According to Singh, the robbers made off with between $600,000 and $700,000 worth of gold, marking the second robbery he’s dealt with this year. 

It also marks the second store robbery in Montreal in the past week, with burglars breaking into a boutique in Montreal’s Mile End on Dec. 17th. In that incident, robbers took the boutique for around $8,000 in stolen merchandise. 

Suspects remain at large in both robberies. This is a developing story. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact police 416-808-2222, 416-808-2300 or Crime Stoppers Anonymously 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Canadian Pacific collects 130,000 pounds of food in Holiday Train drive

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: CPKC

The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train has once again delivered vital support to communities across North America, raising over $1.75 million and collecting more than 130,000 pounds of food for local food banks in Canada and the United States.

Since its launch in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised $26.1 million and gathered over 5.4 million pounds of food, cementing its role as a key contributor to food security in the region.

“I am continually amazed with the excitement and enthusiasm the Holiday Train generates during its annual journey across North America as it celebrates the holiday season while supporting local communities and charities,” said CPKC CEO Keith Creel in a press release. 

“Thank you to the thousands of individuals, young and old, who joined us this year to see the Holiday Train during its magical trip and gave so generously to support local organizations helping those in need.”

This year, the train embarked on a four-week journey, visiting numerous communities across Canada and the U.S. Along the way, it held live musical performances at each stop.

Professional musicians performed free of charge, entertaining attendees while encouraging donations of money or food to local food banks.

In addition to the train’s extensive North American tour, CPKC extended the spirit of the season to Mexico with its Tren Navideño.

This initiative visited nine communities in Mexico to deliver gifts to struggling communities. 

CPKC is headquartered in Calgary, Alta. and spans across Canada, the United States and Mexico for nearly 20,000 miles. 

Foodbank usage has skyrocketed across Canada over the past five years. A recent report by Food Banks Canada found that visits to food banks are up 90% since 2019. 

This year the number of visitors accessing food banks has increased by an estimated 6% when compared to last year. 

CBC CEO tops taxpayer group’s ‘naughty list’ over exec bonuses

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: X

The head of Canada’s public broadcaster has been among those serving up lumps of coal to Canadians.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s annual “Taxpayer Naughty and Nice list” has given CBC CEO Catherine Tait the top spot in the Naughty column for handing out “Santa-sized” executive bonuses that dwarf the average Canadian’s salary, especially at a time of financial pressure across the country for most people.

“Santa doesn’t like it when girls and boys are greedy, and forcing struggling taxpayers to pay for Santa-sized executive bonuses is as greedy as it gets,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the CTF. “While Canadians are tightening their belts, CBC executives are living large.”

But Tait isn’t alone in the Naughty corner. Global Affairs Canada also made the list after racking up a jaw-dropping $51,000 a month in booze-related expenses. “Santa likes eggnog as much as the next guy, but even he knows Global Affairs Canada is sipping on a little too much Christmas spirit,” Terrazzano said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t escape the Naughty List either. Trudeau earned his spot for raising the cost of living with his controversial carbon tax, while Ford’s embrace of political welfare made him an easy target.

And let’s not forget Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, who also joined the ranks for failing to keep his word on property tax increases, a promise that seemed to evaporate faster than a snowflake in the summer.

But don’t worry — not everyone’s been naughty. The Taxpayer Nice List highlights those who’ve shown a little extra holiday spirit with their fiscal responsibility.

Rowan Caseley, the former mayor of Kensington, is at the top of the Nice List after resigning over wasteful spending, ultimately saving taxpayers money. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey also earned a spot for his decision to cut gas taxes, much to the delight of drivers.

In the provincial corners, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith were recognized for their efforts to fight Trudeau’s carbon tax, earning praise from Santa for their commitment to protecting their constituents’ wallets.

“Santa is getting hammered by carbon tax bills on his reindeer barn, so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lands on the Naughty List for making everything more expensive with his carbon tax,” said Kris Sims, CTF’s Alberta director. “Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe made Santa’s good books for taking action against Trudeau’s carbon tax.”

Finally, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux is getting a well-deserved mention on the Nice List, with the CTF praising his unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability.

So, as you prepare for the holiday season, it might be worth considering whether you’re on the naughty or nice list — or if your actions could land you on next year’s edition. But if you’re looking for a little extra cheer, it might be time to follow the lead of those on the Nice List and spread some fiscal goodwill this holiday season.

Full 2024 Taxpayer Naughty and Nice List:

Naughty List:

  • CBC President & CEO Catherine Tait
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham
  • The entire federal bureaucracy

Nice List:

  • Former Kensington Mayor Rowan Caseley
  • Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
  • Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux

One in seven Christians persecuted and thousands martyred for their faith worldwide

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
-
Source: Pexels

Christians worldwide face substantial levels of persecution worldwide with an estimated 365 million facing high levels of persecution, nearly five thousand murdered, and thousands more churches attacked or destroyed.

The annual World Watch List from Open Doors, an organisation supporting persecuted Christians, estimated that 4,998 Christians were martyred for their religious beliefs in the past year. An estimated 4,125 Christians were detained, 14,766 Christian properties and churches were attacked, and 295,120 Christians were displaced from their homes.

Open Doors estimates that persecution for their Christian faith is a fact of life for 365 million Christians, about 1 in 7 of all Christians worldwide.

Christians face far more persecution for their faith in continents like Africa and Asia than on continents like Europe or North America. In Africa, one in five of all Christians are persecuted while two in five Christians are persecuted in Asia. 

Open Door compiles and ranks the top 50 worst countries when it comes to persecuting Christians for their faith. 

13 countries are listed as nations in which Christians face extreme levels of persecution, with North Korea ranking as the worst country for Christians in the world. 

Open Doors claims that being discovered as a Christian in North Korea is “effectively a death sentence,” with those discovered to be believers being sent to labour camps or killed on the spot. It is estimated that 400,000 Christians live in North Korea.

Nigeria, listed at number six, sees more Christians killed on an annual basis for their faith than all of the world’s countries combined, mostly in the Muslim-majority north.

The other countries in which Christians face extreme persecution are Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. 

Other prominent countries listed in the top 50 include China, Iraq, Cuba, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Turkey.

While Canada avoided inclusion on the top 50 list, Canada has seen an increase in anti-Christian sentiment in recent years.

After the legacy media reported that the Kamloops Band had discovered the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children at an old residential school, a flood of anti-Christian hate spread throughout the country.

True North has tracked the number of churches that have been targeted by vandals and arsonists, with 112 churches having been attacked from 2021 to 2024.

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