Eight Ottawa residents are scheduled to testify in the trial of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, according to a decision made on Wednesday by the presiding judge.
Lich and Barber are facing charges for their role in organizing the Freedom Convoy protest against Covid-19 mandates that took place for almost three weeks in Ottawa in February 2022.
Lawrence Greenspon, who is representing Lich, asked that Ottawa locals not be permitted to testify, arguing that their testimony was not relevant to the case.
Both Lich and Barber previously signed admissions that public transit in certain areas of the city were interfered with as a result of some protesters and that this prevented the lawful use and enjoyment of property and businesses during the protest.
The defence is not allowed to force the Crown to accept the admissions and therefore witnesses will be allowed to testify, ruled Justice Heather Perkins-McVey.
Perkins-McVey said that refusing the testimony of locals would “unfairly or irreparably cause damage” to the Crown’s discretion regarding what they call as evidence.
She said that she would ensure that their testimonies would be relevant to the charges faced by Lich and Barber, instead of becoming victim-impact statements about how those testifying were personally impacted by the Freedom Convoy.
In lieu of this decision, the Crown plans to call Ottawa residents witnesses to testify what their experiences were like during the protest.
Residents include the owner of a women’s clothing boutique, an employee of the city’s public transit operator OC Transpo and an employee from the National Arts Centre.
Witnesses will testify as to how certain protesters affected people in the streets, through disruptions and alleged intimidation.
The lead plaintiff is Zexi Li, who filed a class-action lawsuit against the Freedom Convoy organizers on behalf of people who live and work in Ottawa’s downtown. She also went to court to get an injunction against horn honking during the protest.
Li also gave witness testimony during the federal government’s inquiry into the use of invoking the Emergencies Act.
Ottawa residents are expected to testify, starting on Thursday.
Lich and Barber are both charged with mischief and counseling others to commit mischief and intimidation, as well as several other charges.
The trial first began in September and ran for 13 days before taking a break and resuming Wednesday.
Alberta Health Services has imposed an “enhanced masking directive” to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within acute care facilities.
Introduced on Wednesday, the directive allows health zone leaders to require enhanced masking by all AHS staff, physicians, midwives, students, volunteers, and others.
Alberta acute care facilities can choose to implement the directive or not, based on their risk assessment.
When implemented, masking will be required for patients, designated support persons, and visitors in Emergency Departments. Sites can also require people to mask in additional areas, such as cancer units.
Signage will be posted where masking is required.
Masking will be optional, even when the directive is implemented, for visitors and designated family support persons outside of Emergency Departments.
Despite these clear regulations, the directive states that AHS leadership “may implement masking requirements beyond this Directive if identified in their risk assessment.”
The masking directive does not include people who are under two years old, in their bed space, or those who are unable to place, use, or remove a mask without assistance.
AHS leadership will perform a risk assessment to determine whether or not to implement the masking directive. The assessment evaluates the following, in order of importance: rate of hospitalizations in people with COVID-19; outbreak number, size, and impact; percentage of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients; test positivity; and situational context.
Alberta acute care facilities, such as hospitals, treatment centres, and long-term care facilities previously removed continuous masking in June 2023.
As of Tuesday October 10th, there are 17 acute care facilities with at least one unit experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, for a total of 35 units with outbreaks.
The hospital with the most units containing COVID-19 outbreaks is The Royal Alexandra Hospital, with 12 units that have COVID-19 outbreaks. The second highest hospital is a multi-way tie with hospitals containing 3 units each with outbreaks.
New data released by Statistics Canada reveals that, once again, the far-left, anti-Canada message peddled by activists and politicians about missing and murdered Indigenous women does not match the facts. The data shows that Indigenous women are being murdered by other Indigenous people, which is contrary to the federal inquiry released back in 2019, which claims Canada is committing ongoing genocide.
This isn’t the first time that outrageous claims against Canada have been accepted without any meaningful pushback from politicians and the media.
Watch the latest episode of Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner.
Toronto police have apprehended three individuals following violent threats directed towards a Jewish high school in North York.
The incident unfolded at the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT) earlier today while tensions remain high following Hamas’ attack on Israel this weekend.
At approximately noon, authorities were summoned to CHAT in response to reports circulating online about potential threats.
THREAT: Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT) 12:32pm -report about 3 males at the school directed to leave by security -susp then made threats to the school and left property -officers searched the area and arrested all 3 suspects -Hate Crimes investigating#GO2373418 ^se
Three males were identified at the school and were instructed to vacate the premises. Following their removal, threats were allegedly made, leading to the suspects fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement quickly launched a search operation, successfully tracking down and arresting all three individuals in connection with the incident.
The Toronto Police’s Hate Crimes unit is now actively investigating the case, according to a post by the Toronto Police Service’s (TPS) official X account.
While initial reports circulating online suggested attempted stabbings and violent acts, an email from the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto clarified that these claims were inaccurate.
“Police informed us that no one has been injured and no attempted stabbing has taken place. Verbal threats were made, and police are now on the scene, including Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw,” said a spokesperson.
“An investigation of the involved parties is currently underway, with possible charges pending.”
Authorities continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of the school and its community, the TPS noted.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
In a recent video statement, the former leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a global day of jihad on Friday, Oct. 13 urging supporters of the terrorist organization in various countries to mobilize against Israel.
Last weekend’s Hamas attack on Israel ignited nationwide protests in Canada, spanning cities like Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Montreal.
On Monday, following the recent deadly attacks, anti-Israel protestors, organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, gathered outside Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. The protest displayed provocative signs, including “Smash Israeli Apartheid” and “USA is a terrorist.”
Toronto Police permitted street closures as protesters headed towards the Israeli consulate, and some participants openly justified the Hamas attack.
Despite the federal government’s claims that its embassy in Israel was “operational,” a new report confirms it was, in fact, closed as Canadians sought help during and after Hamas’ latest attacks.
The attacks began Saturday on the Thanksgiving weekend, outside of normal business hours. Many Canadians turned to emailing Global Affairs Canada after being unable to visit or reach officials at the embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Since the beginning of this crisis, Canadian officials have been working around the clock to support Canadians,” Global Affairs Canada insisted in a statement. “The missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah remained operational through the weekend and will continue to be. Our missions will open on Monday October 9th, unless security conditions do not allow for it. We will be assessing the security situation daily, in coordination with our allies.”
The term “operational” was then used and repeated by many government officials to comfort those concerned for loved ones abroad.
Journalist Matt Gurney of The Line suspected the government was playing semantic games, so pressed for further clarification but did not receive a response.
“To be frank, ‘operational’ vs. ‘open’ reads like crisis comms spin. I request more details to understand better what these terms actually mean,” Gurney said.
The GAC responded shortly thereafter saying, “Hello Matt, Your request for clarification is noted. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
No further response was given, despite a followup email from Gurney.
A briefing was held for parliamentarians by the GAC on Wednesday afternoon via Zoom. One parliamentarian asked a similar question regarding the distinction between “operational” and “open.”
The briefing was non-public, however multiple parliamentarians who attended confirmed to The Line that the government’s response to this question was that citizens were helped by officials in Canada through an emergency operations centre in Ottawa – not via the embassy in Tel Aviv or the diplomatic mission in Ramallah, which did not open until Monday.
In other words, the embassy was closed and not even “operational” over the weekend.
Calgary City Council members could soon have to undergo perpetual anti-racism training as the city pursues an amendment to its Code of Conduct for elected officials.
Plus, a True North exclusive sheds light on how many Israelis are being confined to their homes as Hamas continues its brutal attack on Israel.
And Western University is teaching its students and staff how to become “anti-racists.”
Tune into The Daily Brief with Lindsay Shepherd and Isaac Lamoureux!
The Federal Court of Appeal held a hearing yesterday to decide whether it was reasonable to dismiss Brian Peckford’s and Maxime Bernier’s legal challenge of the Covid vaccine mandate for air travel as “moot.” The Federal Court ruled earlier that since the government lifted the mandate, there was no point in adjudicating whether it was unconstitutional (despite the government asserting it had a right to reintroduce it). True North’s Andrew Lawton discusses with lawyer Eva Chipiuk.
Fraser Institute senior fellow Kenneth Green joins to discuss how “Covid theatre” replaced public health policy.
Plus, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman on Hamas’ call for global jihad tomorrow and international human rights lawyer Sarah Teich on the “settler” narrative being peddled to justify Hamas violence.
For decades now, the hard Left in North America and Europe has taken up the Palestinian cause as one of its favourite pet projects.
“Free free Palestine!” “They live in an open air prison.” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” (That last one is a call for genocide, whether they admit it or not).
It’s the cause célèbre for any hip campus leftist or aspiring champagne socialist.
Seventy years of failed territorial negotiations are solely blamed on the Israelis. Forget the fact that Israel has made countless peace offerings, including giving up land and unilaterally dismantling settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, or the fact that Israel’s hostile Arab neighbours have repeatedly and incessantly invaded them (the 1967 Six Day War, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, two decades of Intifadas, Saturday’s horror show, etc. etc. etc.).
Forget the clarity of the Arab League’s “3 Noes” principle when it comes to dealing with Israel:
No peace. No negotiations. No recognition.
How can you possibly resolve a territorial dispute if one side refuses not only to negotiate, but also to stop its ongoing bombing campaign against the other side?
Forget all the facts: in the minds of the all-knowing Left, Jews are the “settler colonialists” and Arabs are the victims, the oppressed, and thus, somehow, the rightful heirs of the Holy Land.
Every time Hamas or one of its fellow traveller terrorist organizations wages an attack on Israel, we hear the same tropes, the same lies, the same ahistoric nonsense.
“Israel is to blame!”
This time, however, the story is different.
As readers know, Hamas carried out unspeakable atrocities in a surprise holiday attack. (They deliberately wage attacks on Jewish holidays, because, well, that’s who they are.)
They displayed a level of cruelty and barbarism rarely seen even in medieval times. And they broadcasted it for the world to see.
There is no denying the facts, however hard the apologists now try.
Everyone paying attention knows this, including liberals, conservatives, moderates, independents, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Atheists and all other people with functioning brains.
Now, for those who do not fit into one of the above categories, when they heard the vague news that war had broken out in the region, they jumped to the default position that the Oppressor Jews were to blame – because they’re always to blame.
Those who only get their news from CBC or MSNBC or the BBC perhaps only heard a sanitized version of events, where the Responsible Journalists™ refuse to use the word “terrorist” – which, of course, is a derogatory right wing term – to describe the attackers.
Innocent Jewish families weren’t murdered by ruthless terrorists. No, no. They “died as a result of the conflict in Israel,” as a CBC report stated.
If you consume news from CNN, you may have seen Fareed Zakaria’s interview with a Palestinian leader who assured the audience that the targets were entirely military and that no civilians were intentionally harmed – with no pushback whatsoever from the esteemed Fareed Zakaria GPS host.
While most thinking people the world over were repulsed and heartbroken by the news, a handful of Hard Leftists jumped into activism mode – assuming they would receive accolades for being first in virtue-signaling and keyboard activism.
Instead, as fate would have it, these activists have made a huge career-impacting miscalculation.
That’s because unlike George Floyd, BLM, mandatory covid shots, opposing the Freedom Convoy, supporting Ukraine, and all the other Current Things, this time around, the facts were released before the narrative had a chance to be written.
The default Leftist social justice position, in this case, is the absolute wrong position – and even the gatekeepers in the White House, the Liberal Party, Silicon Valley and the legacy media were forced to agree.
That leaves a not insignificant minority of pro-Palestinian activists – perhaps profoundly ignorant of both the facts on the ground and the sheer unpopularity of celebrating on barbaric atrocities – who have been exposed as fools at best, and callous bloodthirsty sociopaths at worse.
Here are just a few examples:
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
Toronto’s socialist mayor quickly released a statement encouraging people to consider “Palestinian pain” before we cast judgment on Hamas for its attacks. Chow quickly realized that putting such caveats on baby-killers wasn’t going to fly – even in her hard-left circles – so she quickly deleted the post, apologized and then tried to shut down the pro-Hamas rally, only to be humiliated when thousands of pro-Hamas thugs took to the streets anyway. No wonder she was booed at the Jewish rally later that evening.
Olivia Chow, Toronto’s socialist mayor, published a pro-Hamas tweet that she later deleted. I’m not sure who wrote her speech tonight but it wasn’t bad. The audience was angry and skeptical, though. She’ll probably change her mind again tomorrow when the unions get to her. pic.twitter.com/cwWWZII4jx
These guys are funded by taxpayers, pouring in from both Liberal and Conservative governments, because they are supposed to be the moderate, pro-Western, pro-pluralism, anti-terrorism and Jew-tolerant Muslims. Oops. They accidently showed their true colours by releasing this statement condemning the hypothetical future Israeli retaliation, before the bodies were even counted in Israel or the Hamas terrorists were cleared out of Israeli kibbutzim.
Funny how when Islamist terrorists commit their war crimes, prominent Canadian Muslims are nowhere to be found.
(A wonderful exception is my friend the Imam of Peace, who, while not Canadian, works tirelessly to promound peace and love in Islam across the world.)
Fred Hahn, union leader, CUPE Ontario President
This fine specimen used Thanksgiving as an opportunity to give thanks to Hamas for their so-called #Resistance against the Jews.
As we all think about reasons to be thankful this #thanksgiving2023, I know I'm thankful for the power of workers, the power of resistance around the globe. Because #Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, #Resistance brings progress, and for that, I'm thankful
He spent the weekend doubling down on his repulsive and ignorant statements, only to turn to gaslighting the country when called out for his bigotry.
For anyone to imagine that I would ever endorse violence is horrific to me – it speaks volumes about the times we're in – I have spent my adult life fighting for justice for workers – building power & solidarity for working people to resist – to win better.
How could ANYONE think that me, LITTLE OLD ME, is capable of condoning violence? This is appalling! I just happened to release a statement celebrating Palestinian resistance the day after a gruesome Holocaust-inpired pogrom against the Jews, but the two are OBVIOUSLY not connected.
Meanwhile, he hasn’t bothered to remove his original “Thanksgiving” statement.
Ontario NDP Member of the Provincial Parliament Sarah Jama
I'm reflecting on my role as a politician who is participating in this settler colonial system, and I ask that all politicians do the same. #FreePalastinepic.twitter.com/pYO1gyuXt4
The fact that she cannot spell Palestinians tells us everything we need to know. This reminds me of the late great Joan Rivers and her hilarious takedown of the Hollywood-Palestinian alliance. “Oh Selena Gomez! That college grad. Let’s see if she can spell Palestinians?”
As for her Jama’s juvenile remarks, there is no “Apartheid” in Israel. Israeli Arabs make up 20% of the population of Israel and hold the same rights as Jewish Israelis. They serve in the military and have representation in the Knesset.
The stateless Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza are self-governed, by a fabulously wealthy autocratic dictator in the West Bank, and by fabulously wealthy Qatar-based terrorists representing Gaza. Israel graciously provides resources – electricity, water, aid supplies and even medical care, and obviously takes great security measures to prevent ongoing terrorism and frequent attacks from their lovely neighbours.
CUPE 3096 union group for McMaster University professors
“Palestine is rising, long live the resistance,” wrote this union on its official X (formerly Twitter) page in the midst of the October 7th carnage, while the attacks were still ongoing.
That post was eventually deleted, but it appears the union had a struggle session, the outcome of which led them to double down on their initial celebration of the slaughter.
In response to backlash over a message of solidarity with Palestinians, the Executive of CUPE Local 3906 stands united against colonial occupation and state violence and has developed the following statement with profound care. Read in full here: https://t.co/F9o9Y267typic.twitter.com/e7mY5rSzQd
This is one of the most asinine things I have ever read. Following the mental gymnastics of these self-righteous wannabe Bolsheviks would be rather amusing if their conclusions weren’t so evil. You need a PhD to be this stupid.
CBC journalist Ginella Massa
Horrific to see hundreds of innocent civilians killed on both sides in this all out war. But let’s not call this unprovoked when it’s been 75 years of military occupation. Agree with the tactics or not, you can’t talk about this war without basic context https://t.co/SCmqcnfudxpic.twitter.com/1rRXzwsqpo
“Agree with the tactics or not,” says this deranged sadistic nutcase who apparently thinks torturing, raping, maiming, and machine-gunning civilians are up for debate as a legitimate decolonization tactics.
Apparently she’s now a former CBC journalist (unrelated to this despicable post – which we know the CBC would likely have no problem with).
Harvard Students
This is the final crack in my broken heart – a joint statement from @Harvard students. I could be sitting in class with these students, watching children brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped and their mutated bodies torn apart by a jeering crowd – and hear why it’s justified. pic.twitter.com/UTi60Y2omJ
Behold. America’s future, unapologetically cheering on the mass murderers. Meanwhile, no one else at Harvard bothered to release any kind of statement whatsoever. So for days, this was the only word on the attack from America’s so-called best and brightest.
A few job offers were rescinded and suddenly, some of these students came to their senses, sort of.
Wait, our future employers don’t like the fact that we support Hamas? But we thought we were on the right side of history! The BLM-Palestinian-decolonization side… okay nevermind we change our position and now support the other right side of history!
–
Listen, Team Left, this shouldn’t be hard. Even king of the wokesers Justin Trudeau and barely-alive Joe Biden managed to come out and strongly condemn Hamas. If they can do it, so can you!
Former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford and People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier appealed a finding that their challenge of the air travel vaccine mandate was moot during a four-hour-long Wednesday hearing at the Federal Court of Appeal.
Peckford and several other applicants were represented by Alison Prejovic. Bernier was represented by Samuel Bachand. Other applicants included Karl Harrison and Shaun Rickard.
The applicants argued that a Federal Court judge’s ruling of “mootness” was incorrect because “one of the most important factors for the mootness motion was the fact that the (government) publicly threatened to reimpose the air vaccine mandate using strong and clear language.”
“A ruling on this issue is critical – unchecked and permitted to evade review, the (government) may reimpose this travel vaccine mandate again in the future, deprived of the Court’s crucial guidance on whether its past actions constituted an unjustified violation of Canadians’ constitutional rights,” the appellants said in their overview, filed in court.
The travel vaccine mandate was brought into effect in November 2021 and prevented around 5.2 million Canadians who decided to not get vaccinated from traveling by air or train.
“Never before have millions of Canadians had their mobility rights trampled to such an extent that they were, in effect, prohibited from leaving Canada to travel overseas unless they agreed to take a novel drug which was still in the clinical trial phase, and which could cause them serious health problems or death,” the appellants argued..
Peckford and Bernier, along with other challengers, argued that the mandate violated Canadians’ right to mobility guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Affidavits filed in the appeal contended that restrictions on domestic travel in a country as large as Canada likely had significant negative impacts on Canadians.
The case was filed in February 2022 and the hearing was scheduled for October 2022. More than 14,000 pages of evidence were prepared by both parties in preparation for the hearing.
Peckford was not only a former premier but is also the last living signatory to the Charter.
Peckford’s involvement with the case led to a flurry of public interest, an additional argument against the moot ruling.
The mandate was lifted in the time between its filing and the hearing date set for October 2022. The mandate was suspended in June 2022 by then-transport minister Omar Alghabra, who also threatened its return if the public health climate warranted it.
The Federal Court dismissed the October 2022 hearing 11 days before it was scheduled, declaring it to be “moot,” in other words, no longer relevant as the mandates had since been removed.
When a case is declared “moot,” the court believes that a further continuation of the hearing would be a waste of the justice system’s resources.
In November 2022, the appellants filed their Notice of Appeal on the basis that the public interest in the case far outweighed the notion that it was a waste of judicial resources and they filed written arguments for the appeal in April 2023.
“There has never been a more egregious infringement of Canadians’ mobility rights than what occurred due to the unconstitutional and unlawful travel vaccine mandates,” said Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms president John Carpay. “For the Federal Court to find that it is not in the public interest to determine whether the Federal Government acted lawfully in prohibiting five million Canadians from flying across the country and internationally to see family members is a grave injustice that the Federal Court of Appeal ought to remedy.
A real estate entrepreneur associated with a Canadian franchiser cancelled an interview with a Jewish podcaster just 15 minutes before the appointed time Monday after learning that the podcaster was a supporter of pro-Israel rallies.
These rallies have been held to mourn the loss of more than 1,000 Israelis in a series of chilling acts of terror by Hamas last Saturday – acts which included the rape and murder of women and children, beheading of babies, and kidnapping and desecration of Israeli citizens and the parading of naked hostages through the streets of Gaza City.
Karim Kerachni is the Massachusetts franchise area representative for the PropertyGuys.com, a Canadian real estate outfit. Kerachni, a self-described “serial entrepreneur” and frequent podcast guest, told the host of the Spark the Genius podcast in an email that he cannot go on the show of a “supporter of the oppressive apartheid regime.”
PropertyGuys.com CEO Ken LeBlanc told True North that Kerachni is an independent contractor, not an employee of the company.
“That said, we take this matter extremely seriously and want to emphasize that the personal views and opinions expressed by Mr. Kerachni are his views alone, and are not affiliated with PropertyGuys.com.”
“PropertyGuys.com is vehemently against the atrocities being committed overseas, regardless of political factions,” LeBlanc added. “We are committed to supporting the communities we serve and beyond, valuing our collective humanity and the preservation of innocent lives above all else. We recognize and support the need for communities to come together during a time of crisis.”
Kerachni, who claims to have businesses in Ottawa and Halifax, said he’d never be able to have a polite discussion with someone who is on the side of “monsters, murderers.”
“I’m sure you understand,” he wrote to the podcaster.
The podcaster asked that his name not be used after getting threats in the past for being Jewish.
I learned of the antisemitic comments after the podcaster posted the email on Facebook.
“My only advice,” Kerachni continued, “educate yourself on what’s actually going there, don’t fall prey to media propaganda.”
In a bizarre postscript, the entrepreneur repeated that he’s not comfortable having a conversation with the podcaster “especially in the current context where even more Palestinian civilians are being massacred.”
In a series of email exchanges with True North, Kerachni denied his comments were antisemitic, claiming my question about whether they were was “stupid.”
“My comments were proudly anti-Zionist, which is very different and political in nature,” he said.
“You’re trying to distort my words into something religious…it is not,” he added. “As a human being I cannot have a pleasant conversation with someone supporting a racist oppressive and genocidal regime.
I suggested to him that anti-Zionism is just another way to express anti-Jewish animus and a way of villainizing the vast majority of Jews around the world who identify with Zionism or “feel a connection to Israel” (as the Anti-Defamation League indicated in an article.)
He argued that it wasn’t true and that he has a “problem with a political regime that is killing women, kids and babies as we speak… in mass.”
No he wasn’t referring to Hamas. He was referring shockingly to Israel’s alleged “apartheid regime.”
I was gobsmacked with his ignorance and projection.
When I brought up the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, he accused me of twisting his words – that he never mentioned Israelis or Jews, that he’s just talking about the Zionist government and the “oppressive apartheid regime.”
Just as I thought I was having an out-of-body experience, he added another classic antisemitic trope – that he knows many anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist people and he’s “always the one defending Jews. (He wrote the latter phrase in bold.)
He added that he doesn’t understand my interest in his letter to the podcaster, that he’s “entitled to his opinions” and he’s not sure about what I’m trying to do.
Perhaps he took my comments to heart. The podcaster told me Kerachni sent him an apology early this morning, stating he meant no offence to Jews or Israelis but was only talking about the “apartheid government.”
“It is quite unfair to target me,” Kerachni had told me a day earlier.
“Are you going to reach out to all who speak out against Zionism and write about them? That’s a lot of people.”
