Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s ready to use the Sovereignty Act for the first time ever to combat the Trudeau government’s incoming clean electricity regulations. Smith will be speaking at True North’ first ever, live in-person event – get your tickets here.
Plus, the University of Alberta is returning a $30,000 donation made by the family of the Ukrainian Nazi veteran, Yaroslav Hunka.
And German Member of European Parliament Christine Anderson has called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign over the Nazi-invite debacle.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and William McBeath!
A judge has struck down a new policy introduced by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe that would require children under the age of 16 to have parental consent before changing their name or pronouns.
The policy was announced last month and Moe said he was prepared to employ the constitutional notwithstanding clause if necessary. The clause is a provision that enables governments to override select Charter rights for as long as five years and .
This comes after the activist group, UR Pride, filed a lawsuit against the province demanding that the policy be reversed out of fear that children would be misgendered by their teachers.
The group which advocates for gender ideology in schools claimed that the policy was in violation of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. UR Pride argued for an injunction last week, while they await the final decision in their lawsuit.
Lawyers representing the province of Saskatchewan argued that the policy has been misinterpreted, saying that parents should be aware of the decisions made by their child regarding changes to their name or pronouns.
The policy will be paused for the time being, following the decision by Justice Michael Megaw on Thursday in the Court of King’s Bench.
Megaw ruled that until the legitimacy of the policy has been decided by the court, it cannot yet be implemented.
In a statement emailed to CBC News, the Saskatchewan government said that while they will review Justice Megaw’s decision, they remain vigilant in their commitment to the policy.
“We are concerned about the uncertainty this ruling creates and are considering all options to remove that uncertainty and ensure this policy is implemented,” read the statement.
In November, arguments will be heard in court from both those for and against the policy.
The British Columbia government is keeping its controversial vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in place and reinstating a mask mandate for healthcare settings, effective Oct. 3.
On Thursday, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a series of measures meant to contain the spread of Covid-19, including reintroducing a masking requirement.
All healthcare workers, volunteers, visitors and contractors will need to wear a medical mask in healthcare settings. Patients will not be required to wear masks.
The province will also continue to require a Covid vaccines for healthcare workers.
Additionally, those visiting long-term care facilities will also need to don a medical mask in common areas and at indoor events.
There are some exemptions, including cafeterias, where masks will not be required.
B.C. will also be hiring “ambassadors” to greet people at healthcare facilities and hand out masks.
“An increase in hospital visits with the fall respiratory illness season requires measures to ensure our acute care is effective and our health-care system is strong, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Dix.
B.C. is still awaiting deliveries of new Covid-19 vaccines and has advised everyone over the age of six months to get a Covid-19 booster and influenza vaccine.
“We are starting to see increasing respiratory virus infections in B.C., including COVID-19, and now is the time to remember the healthy habits we can all do to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities,” said Henry.
“That includes covering your cough, cleaning your hands regularly, staying away from others if you have a cough or a fever, wearing masks if you have lingering symptoms or need extra protection and getting the updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.”
A former Ontario medical officer of health who became a lightning rod during Covid for his opposition to lockdowns and vaccine mandates is trying his hand at politics.
Matt Strauss, a physician who served as Haldimand-Norfolk’s acting medical officer of health throughout much of the pandemic, is seeking the Conservative nomination in the southern Ontario riding of Kitchener South–Hespeler.
If successful, Strauss will be running against Liberal MP Valerie Bradford.
Strauss, who was born in and lives in Kitchener, says on his campaign website he “understands our health care system better than anyone.”
“He saw firsthand how government incompetence, waste, and mismanagement directly hurt patients and communities.”
BREAKING: I'm seeking the @CPC_HQ nomination in my hometown, Kitchener South—Hespeler.
Strauss has been a consistent critic of broad measures like lockdowns and vaccine mandates, advocating for an “individualized” approach to medicine, which he’s argued was the norm until Covid.
“I am pro-vaccine and anti-mandate. I am pro-public health and anti-lockdown,” he wrote in February 2022, while Ontario still maintained mask and vaccine passports and the unvaccinated were barred from airplanes, trains, and the federal workforce.
“I don’t think ivermectin works, but I don’t mind if you want to talk about it. This is called liberalism and it was the dominant political philosophy in Canada until March 2020.”
Strauss’ appointment as acting medical officer of health in 2021 was criticized by lockdown proponents. Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur called for Strauss’ appointment to be rescinded over his views.
Strauss said his critics were the anti-science ones, not him.
“I welcome conversation and fair criticism of these science-based views,” he wrote at the time. “Such discourse is part of the scientific process. The politicization of my appointment and ad hominem attacks against me, conversely, are not. In fact, such attempts are themselves anti-scientific. Science is not a popularity contest, nor is it an agglomeration of credentialed opinions.”
Strauss is currently suing Queen’s University, where he served on the medical faculty, for allegedly forcing him out of his position through a series of “malicious, aggressive, condescending and defamatory statements” he says the university made about him.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) website was temporarily disabled on Wednesday in what is suspected to be a possible cyberattack that a group of pro-India hackers have already claimed responsibility for.
Head of media relations for the Department of National Defence Daniel Le Bouthillier, said that the “disruption” occurred around noon, “but was rectified later that afternoon” in a statement written to The Globe and Mail.
The site was mostly still accessible to desktop users, however those trying to access via their mobile phones could not.
According to Le Bouthillier, the disruption only affected a site that was “separate and isolated” from the Department of National Defence’s internal network.
“We have no indication of broader impacts to our systems,” said Le Bouthillier.
The incident is currently being investigated by the CAF although few details have been released.
On Wednesday, a group of hackers known as the Indian Cyber Force claimed responsibility for this incident via posts made on X.
“Respected world wide authorities and citizens, We have recently seen canada government’s [sic] allegations and anti India politics really crossed the limits,” said the post.
The group, who’s efforts have been invigorated by recent diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, also posted a screenshot of the CAF website being unavailable, writing, “Canadian Airforce Website has been taken down. Duration: 2 hour”
The Communications Security Establishment, a Canadian intelligence agency, issued a warning for information and technology administrators to be on high alert regarding a potential blitz in cyberattacks.
“CSE and its Canadian Centre for Cyber Security have observed that geopolitical events often result in an increase in disruptive cyber campaigns,” wrote the agency.
The warning was likely prompted in lieu of threats first posted to social media by the Indian Cyber Force on Sept. 20, which stated, “Cyber alert for Canada Get ready to feel the power of IndianCyberForce attacks will be launching on Canada cyber space in coming 3 days it’s for the mess your started.”
Cyber alert 🚨 for Canada
Get ready to feel the power of IndianCyberForce attacks will be launching on Canada cyber space in coming 3 days it's for the mess your started. #OpCanada
This cyberattack is just the latest strike in the tit-for-tat exchange between the two countries which began after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the Indian government had a hand in the assassination of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
The Indian government has denied these allegations and the dispute has led to the expulsions of senior diplomatic officials from both countries, updated travel advisories and the recent halt of visas issued from India to Canadians.
If the situation continues to escalate, the two nations may face a trade war, which some believe will be more detrimental to Canada than to India.
Toronto’s Humber College is encouraging its Caucasian employees to join a “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) group designed to help them “unlearn” and “dismantle” their “whiteness.”
The “Unlearning Circle” group, which was founded in 2021, also seeks to help staff “build an anti-racist practice.” It’s open to any employee who “identifies” as white and/or as “having white skin privilege.”
Screenshots of the group’s details were posted to X (formerly Twitter) by Quilette journalist Jonathan Kay. True Northwas able to verify that Humber does run such an initiative.
The college notes that “in early December 2021, Humber launched a group for employees who identify as white and/or as having white skin privilege to examine how they have been conditioned by their whiteness and how it shows up in their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and within their institutions (family, work, educational, religious, etc.).”
Those who join the “Unlearning Circle” are asked to acknowledge that “we live in a white supremist culture that affects us all,” that “we cannot dismantle racism in a system that exploits people for private profit,” and that “dismantling racism, sexism, heterosexism, and unlearning oppressive attitudes will and does take a lifetime.”
The group’s description also notes that “the practice of talking about and understanding how racism operates is a practice that will and does reproduce racism; we are sitting in the tension of that reality in every moment and are continually learning how to rely on our love and regard for each other (whether present or desired), our resilience, our humility, and our sense of humor.”
Like other Canadian post-secondary institutions, Humber College has embraced woke race-based practices.
On its website, Humber says they are “leaders in providing a learning, working and living environment that recognizes and values equity, diversity and inclusion in all its programs and services.”
Other DEI initiatives from Humber College have included racially segregated orientation activities for black students.
Humber College did not respond to a request for comment.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she is ready to resort to using the Sovereignty Act for the first time ever to combat the federal government’s incoming clean electricity regulations which would require the province to achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.
Smith told reporters Thursday that she was in the process of drafting a motion to use the Sovereignty Act, which was passed last December. The act allows the province to assert a claim of provincial jurisdiction in areas like natural resources or private property.
When first passing the bill, Smith said that she hoped she wouldn’t need it.
“We’re preparing a Sovereignty Act motion, and I’m hoping we don’t have to use it,” Smith reiterated on Thursday.
“We are going to defend our constitutional jurisdiction to make sure that we develop our our oil and gas industry at our own pace.”
Alberta has pledged to stay on track with its target year of 2050 to reach net zero electricity grid and Smith has said that she would not follow the Liberal government’s targets if imposed.
“Hopefully, no one ever has to see (the motion). Hopefully … we’re able to come to a peaceful resolution with our federal counterparts,” said Smith.
Smith’s comments come at a time when the province has begun an advertising campaign to warn Albertans about the negative impacts of the federal regulations.
The premier has warned that adopting the regulations in such a short time would lead to rolling blackouts across the province.
Alberta Electric System Operator CEO and president Mike Law echoed Smith’s concerns, saying that due to the fact that nearly 72% of Alberta’s energy supply comes from natural gas, adopting the regulations would have devastating consequences.
“Our analysis and engineering assessment is that there will not be sufficient supply within the province post-2035 to meet the demands of the province,” said Law.
“The (regulation) offers very little benefit from an emissions perspective while exposing Alberta to significant adverse risks.”
Other provinces including Saskatchewan and Newfoundland have joined in on the fight against the regulations.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Environment Rebecca Schulz wrote a joint press release on Thursday, calling for Canadians to reject the federal government’s plan to have a net-zero electrical grid in the next 12 years.
“Alberta will incur the highest costs of any province in Canada as a result of the federal electricity regulations. Alberta’s government believes these additional dollars should be coming from the federal government, not the pockets of Alberta’s ratepayers,” reads the statement.
The provincial government will launch a national advertising campaign to inform Canadians about the negative consequences of adopting the federal net-zero emissions goal through the means of print, radio, television and social media.
“Canadians need to know the risks they face if Ottawa’s proposed electricity regulations move forward without any amendments. The federal government is choosing to ignore the facts about their transition, but we are not. All Canadians need to be able to rely on reliable and affordable electricity and we will continue to fight for that,” wrote Smith in the release.
In August, Smith vowed to disobey the new federal regulations. “We will never allow these regulations to be implemented here, full stop,” said Smith. “If it comes down to it, we are going to do our own thing. We have to.”
The federal government’s proposed plan would raise the cost of power bills for Canadians and Smith’s government suggests it will likely drive investment out of Alberta.
Additionally, a new-zero power grid would be less stable without any sources of baseload power coming from natural gas, leading to increased blackouts during the months where there’s more extreme weather conditions.
“In 2022, Alberta’s grid had seven alerts during colder months and had three alerts in summer 2023, underscoring the importance of having sufficient stable baseload power sources like gas, hydro and nuclear available year-round. Alberta will continue to rely on a diverse mix of intermittent and baseload options to prevent future blackouts and maintain a reliable grid,” states the release.
Provinces in both eastern and western Canada have opposed these federal regulations, citing that the target is simply not achievable.
“The federal government has claimed that these regulations prioritize ‘reliability, affordability and sustainability.’ This is a falsehood. In fact, the opposite is true. These regulations compromise the reliability of Alberta’s grid, drive up costs for families and businesses, and will be impossible to implement in the next twelve years,” wrote Schulz.
“The federal government is on a path that will lead to failure and Canadians that are already struggling will be the victims.”
Albertans have seen an enormous spike in their electricity costs, which have already doubled since 2022. While costs to the consumer have risen, the province itself has managed to reduce their electricity emissions by 53% from 2005-2021.
The province also plans to have fully transitioned away from coal-powered electricity by 2024.
On Sept. 12, the Alberta provincial government met with the federal government to launch the Alberta-Ottawa working group, which hopes to align the efforts of both levels of government to meet targets.
If the two cannot come to an agreement on an affordable and sustainable electricity plan, Alberta said that it’s prepared to “chart its own course” going forward.
Smith’s government said that this can be achieved through investments in “clean technology within a timeframe that makes sense to investors while also safeguarding affordability and reliability.”
The press release makes note of the fact that legislation and regulation of electricity development is a matter of provincial jurisdiction, under the Constitution of Canada.
German Member of European Parliament (MEP) Christine Anderson has called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other MPs who hailed a former SS soldier as a hero in the House of Commons to live up to their own standards and resign.
In a clip posted to social media, Anderson referenced the political outrage after she met with several Conservative MPs while on a trip to Canada earlier this year.
“I was in Canada and three members of Parliament were crucified for having had lunch with me – a person who Justin Trudeau stigmatized and labeled as being a Nazi,” explained Anderson.
“And here we are and they are all standing up and applauding and praising an actual Nazi. Well, Mr. Justin Trudeau, I hope you hold yourself to the very standard that you so generously apply to everyone else. I seriously think you have to step down and resign.”
In February, Anderson had a casual lunch with Conservative MPs Colin Carrie, Dean Allison and Leslyn Lewis during her Canadian speaking tour.
The move caused turmoil for the Conservatives as the legacy media and opposing parties insinuated that MEP Anderson was racist and an extremist.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilivre issued a statement condemning Anderson for allegedly holding “vile and racist views.
“Christine Anderson’s views are vile and have no place in our politics. The MPs were not aware of this visiting Member of the European Parliament’s opinions, and they regret meeting with her,” claimed Poilievre.
“Frankly, it would be better if Anderson never visited Canada in the first place. She and her racist, hateful views are not welcome here.”
Anderson has denied the accusations leveled against her.
She has been serving as an MEP since 2019 as a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. AfD has received criticism for its anti-migration policies and opposition to radical Islam.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a confusing apology on behalf of Canada after a Ukrainian veteran who fought under Hitler’s regime was invited to the House of Commons and recognized as a “war hero.”
Plus, a women’s centre in Whistler BC is rebranding its name to “PearlSpace” to be trans-inclusive.
And a True North exclusive reveals that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland contributed to an encyclopedia that played down the 1st Galician Division’s Nazi connections.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Lindsay Shepherd and Isaac Lamoureux!
