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Thursday, July 17, 2025

96% of Canada’s oil and gas employers are small businesses

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Canada leads the world when it comes to the number of oil and gas companies that classify as small businesses.

According to a fact sheet by the Canadian Energy Centre, 96% of Canadian oil and gas firms are small businesses that have between 1 and 99 employees.

“In Canada, the oil and gas sector has a higher proportion of small businesses than other major industries, with the exception of construction. As of 2022, 96.0 per cent of all oil and gas energy firms had between 1 and 99 employees compared with 93.2 per cent in manufacturing, 89.6 per cent in utilities, and 99 per cent in the construction sector,” wrote the Canadian Energy Centre. 

The share small businesses take up in the energy sector was also larger than in the United States, where 94% of oil and gas companies classify as a small-business. 

Additionally, the US has a larger portion of big businesses with over 500 employees (3.3%) making up the sector when compared to Canada (0.6%). 

Canada also had more oil extraction firms than Norway and the European Union. Canada had 1,115 companies with fewer than 200 employees while Norway reported 28 and the European Union reported 185. 

“This slightly modified comparison shows that smaller businesses constitute 73.7 per cent of all oil and gas extraction firms in Norway, 94.3 per cent of all firms in the European Union, and 96.0 per cent of all and gas extraction firms in Canada,” wrote the Canadian Energy Centre. 

“Canada’s oil and gas extraction sector is thus overwhelmingly composed of small and medium-size businesses relative to Norway and the European Union.”

The Liberal government recently announced it would be ending all subsidies to “inefficient” oil and gas projects. 

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has been especially critical about so-called big “oil corporations” receiving federal funding, without mentioning the role small businesses play in the sector. 

The Canadian Energy Centre has also reported that demand for Canadian oil is reaching an all-time high. 

According to analysts Canadian heavy crude is facing a “price renaissance” and beating out US products. 

Young Canadians hit the hardest by Bank of Canada interest hike

By
Quinn Patrick
-

A recent public opinion poll by Yahoo/Maru suggests that Canadians most affected by rising interest rates are young adults.

The poll conducted between July 21 and 24 found that 52% of young adults are suffering from anxiety due to their borrowing costs. Of the 1,527 Canadians surveyed, 16% responded that they are even “worried sick” about their future financially. 

The average annual income of those surveyed ranged from $50,000-$90,000.

Respondents who were feeling the pressures of financial stress were between the ages of 18 to 34 and most commonly resided in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

People from that same age group who live in Ontario and Quebec were less likely to be worried about their financial future. 

Those respondents who were above the youngest cohort surveyed were less concerned with the Bank of Canada’s rate hikes.

“Despite the significant rise in interest rates since last October to today, many Canadians have made an adjustment in their lives to manage or accommodate what has occurred,” said John Wright, executive vice-president for Maru. “Those most likely to do so are primarily women, those with both the lowest and the highest incomes, and the oldest Canadians. Regionally, those in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and Quebec have fared better than those in the west.”

“For that group in dire straits, and for those about to renew their mortgage, there will be great anticipation of what the Bank of Canada will do in September following a pause for two months,” said Wright. 

“The next Consumer Price Index release on August 15, may well portend whether there may be a continued reprieve in store.” he said.

A similar poll conducted in October 2022, saw 57% of respondents saying that they were personally impacted by the rising of interest rates. Those who said it was enough to cause them anxiety came in at 39%.

In the 2022 poll, 43% of respondents said that they were not affected by the rising interest rates but in the July poll however that number grew to 48%.

Canada’s central bank raised interest rates by the highest level since 2001, raising their benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points or 5%. Only a year and a half ago, the overnight rate was 0.25%.

On Sept. 6, the Bank of Canada will make their decision on the next interest rate raise.

Team tasked with studying viability of restoring Quebec’s sole nuclear power plant

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Quebec could see an inactive nuclear power plant come back online as the province’s energy regulator reviews the state of the facility. 

Hydro-Quebec said on Thursday that the shuttered Gentilly-2 nuclear power plant in Becancour is being studied as a possible avenue to meet the province’s electricity demand. 

According to Le Journal de Montreal, Hydro-Quebec’s CEO Michael Sabia assigned a team to conduct a feasibility study on the power plant.

The energy provider has since confirmed that it’s looking to see whether the decommissioning of the plant is reversible. 

“Concerning the Gentilly-2 station, an evaluation on the current state of the station is underway, to evaluate our options and to feed our reflection on Quebec’s future energy offering,” Hydro-Quebec told the Montreal Gazette. 

“We are evaluating different possible options to increase the production of clean electricity. It would be irresponsible at this time to exclude certain energy sectors.”

The announcement comes just as the federal government reveals their net-zero clean electricity standards, requiring provinces to eliminate fossil fuels and high-emitting power sources from their energy supplies. 

“We are in a context in the coming years where we will need massive terawatt hours to meet the demand that we anticipate in Quebec. We are at the stage where we want to look at all the options that are in front of us, including this one,” said Hydro-Quebec spokesperson Francis Labbe. 

Decommissioning Gentilly-2 has cost Quebec taxpayers $80 million over a period of ten years. According to former director of the plant, Patrice Desbiens, it could require a whole new facility to be built should the government decide to reverse its plan to shutter the station. 

“We have to look at what can be done … We have to look at all the ways to meet demand,” Labbe told Le Journal De Montreal. 

“The idea is to make an inventory of the plant’s assets in order to document whether a return to service is conceivable or if it’s simply impossible.”

Convicted sex offender who lived at autistic childcare centre released from jail – again

By
Quinn Patrick
-

A convicted sex offender who lived at a childcare centre for kids with autism before he was arrested in July was released on bail on Friday.

This is the second time 42-year-old Lauriston Charles Maloney has been released from jail despite a lengthy list of criminal charges – including charges related to trafficking minors for sex. 

Mark Ruffolo, the sex offender’s lawyer, argued that his client hadn’t had a previous offence since 2013 and alleged that his charges were more suited to be settled in a labour court. 

Justice Douglas Conley, who is presiding over the case, disagreed with both of Ruffolo’s claims, stating that human trafficking is not akin to a labour dispute and that Maloney’s 2013 charges were of a similar nature. 

Despite this, Conley granted Maloney bail with conditions. Maloney will be required to wear an ankle bracelet and reside in Brampton with his father as part of his conditions. 

Maloney’s next scheduled court date is Sept. 14 in Bradford, Ont.

In July, Maloney was arrested and co-charged with two counts of assault, trafficking in a person, receiving material benefit resulting from trafficking a person and forcible confinement.

The charges have not yet been proven in court.

Lauriston Maloney and his wife Amber Maloney lived at a childcare centre for kids with autism. Upon Maloney’s initial release from jail, the Ontario Provincial Police warned residents of Essa Township that he had “regular access” to children. 

Despite Maloney denying the OPP’s claim, text messages obtained by True North contradict his claims to the media.

Laureli Barrett, who is a parent that sent her child to the camp, shared a text message conversation with a number that belongs to Maloney’s contracting business, High Class Renovations & Construction, in which the person on the other end of the line offers to drive the child home. 

Earlier this week, Amber Maloney was also released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 14 in Bradford.

The childcare centre has since been closed. 

The alleged victim in the charges had not attended the Beating the Odds day camp, according to police. 

BC father jailed for opposing daughter’s transition wins appeal

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Wikipedia

The BC father who was jailed for breaching a court publication ban by misgendering his transgender daughter has won an appeal on his six month jail sentence and the associated fine. 

Due to a publication ban on the case which involves a minor, the father known as C.D. in court records, convinced the Court of Appeal that his former lawyer had erred in turning down an offer from the Crown that would have seen him avoid a stint in jail.

CD’s former lawyer rejected a plea deal from the Crown of 45 days, which meant that he would have been able to walk free, having already spent that amount of time in custody. 

CD is involved in a controversial family dispute involving his underage daughter, known as A.B. in court records, who is undergoing hormone therapy in order to transition into a male. 

CD opposes the procedure and publicly spoke about the case and his daughter who he referred to using female pronouns, despite an order by a judge declaring that it was “family violence” for the father to continue to address his daughter with female pronouns. 

“A recurring theme throughout the proceedings has been that C.D. cannot, or will not, recognize the distinction between simply expressing his own opinions and doing so in such a way as to violate A.B.’s privacy — even though C.D. has claimed that he has no wish to hurt A.B.,” wrote Justice Mary Newbury in her decision. 

“Indeed, C.D. appears to have gone out of his way to publicize his own and A.B.’s identity on several platforms in Canada and the U.S., thus ensuring that C.D. would not be able to purge his contempt completely.”

Due to his activism, C.D. was found guilty of being in contempt of the court, a charge C.D. accepted. 

C.D.’s former lawyer Carey Linde rejected the plea offer from Crown prosecutors, a move which the judge said would not be made by a more “reasonably competent lawyer.” 

As a result of the ruling the six-month prison term was shut down and a retroactive 45-day sentence was upheld. Additionally, C.D. no longer has to pay a financial penalty but will still have to remain for 18 months of probation. 

BC tribunal sides with daycare that ejected unvaccinated children

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A British Columbia tribunal has shut down a mother’s claim for a $3,137.65 refund from a daycare that ejected her two children for being unvaccinated. 

The recent ruling by the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal rejected the mother – known as JM due to a publication ban related to the children’s young age – after she took the daycare to court for terminating the childcare contract. 

JM demanded damages for mental distress from the daycare operator known as KM and a refund. 

“I find KM and JM had some further verbal discussions about this issue where JM advised that her husband did not want the children vaccinated and KM advised that unvaccinated children were a ‘no go,’” wrote the tribunal. 

The mother was given a five-week notice that the contract would be terminated on the premise that she breached terms by refusing to have her children vaccinated. 

“I find that on September 23, 2022, KM gave JM 5 weeks’ notice to end childcare services if the children were not vaccinated. I find in doing so, she provided more than one full month’s notice,” the tribunal wrote. 

“As noted, JM alleges that KM requiring the children to be vaccinated was a unilateral change to the contract’s terms. However, as noted, KM was permitted to change her COVID-19 policies, and to terminate the contract immediately if anyone failed to follow those policies. KM was also entitled to terminate the contract on reasonable notice.” 

According to the ruling, the daycare was “entitled to unilaterally terminate the contract” and that the owner met all obligations. 

“I find that KM had fulfilled her obligations under the contract, and had provided reasonable notice as required,” stated the ruling. 

All of JM’s claims were dismissed as a result of the decision. 

Critics say Innovation Minister’s support of media outlets undermines independence of Competition Bureau

By
Quinn Patrick
-

Innovation Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne has come under fire for his support of several media organizations who sent a complaint to the Competition Bureau regarding the removal of news content from Meta’s platforms. Critics argue Champagne’s public support interferes with the Bureau’s independence.

Earlier this week, several broadcasters and media outlets sent a joint letter to Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell asking that he investigate whether or not Meta is guilty of anti-competitive conduct following their removal of Canadian news from Facebook and Instagram. 

Meta’s recent decision to remove Canadian news from its platforms is in response to the Trudeau government’s passing of the Online News Act which would require the tech giant to pay the media companies for content hosted on their sites. 

The joint letter sent to the Competition Bureau alleges that Meta has abused its dominant position in the marketplace, violating anti-competitive conduct. 

“I am determined to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that Canadians can have access to reliable news – across all platforms. I fully support the complaint made to the Competition Bureau by CND media groups against Meta in their effort to promote a free & independent press.” tweeted Champagne. 

Champagne will ultimately decide if Boswell is going to be reappointed to his role of competition commissioner next year or if he will select another successor. 

His department is currently looking into modernizing the Competition Act through consultations. 

“Ministers should be staying away from any decisions they would make because that undermines their independence even more,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch.

University of Ottawa’s Canada Research Chair Michael Geist called the tweet a misjudgment, especially considering that Champagne has the power to reappoint Boswell. Geist said the public intervention was, “at least an appearance of conflict and that alone is deeply troubling.”

The CBC, News Media Canada and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters all of whom signed the joint letter believe that social-media platforms are the main avenue for people to receive their content which makes Meta’s decision an abuse of their dominant position.

“Having positioned itself as an unavoidable intermediary or gatekeeper between news organizations and their audiences, Meta’s blocking of news content removes a critical channel through which Canadian news organizations distribute their news content,” the letter said. “If Meta is allowed to proceed unchecked, it could inflict significant damage to Canadian news organizations’ ability to offer quality news services to Canadians, which is critical to the functioning of a free and democratic society,” it continued.

The Competition Bureau claims that it had already been looking into Meta’s decision to block news even before they received the letter of complaint. 

“As the bureau’s preliminary review is ongoing and there is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time, it would be inappropriate to speculate as to potential outcomes, timing, or appropriate next steps. Should the bureau conclude that the conduct in question falls within the Competition Act, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action,” said John Power, a spokesman for the bureau.

The Andrew Lawton Show | Are the censors winning the war on free speech?

By
Andrew Lawton
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Whether it’s government regulation, cancel culture, Big Tech crackdowns, or even self-censorship, there’s no denying free speech is under attack. In “The End of Free Speech in Canada,” independent filmmaker Aaron Gunn shines a light on the all-out assault underway on our most fundamental freedom. In this edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, Andrew talks about the legal, moral, and cultural state of play for free speech in Canada with Gunn and Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Christine Van Geyn

Watch “The End of Free Speech in Canada” here.

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BONOKOSKI: Should the OPP investigate the Ford government?

By
Mark Bonokoski
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To the Toronto Star, it was clear and simple — “Fire Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, halt the development of Greenbelt lands and call in the cops.”

What else would one expect from a newspaper that sees anything conservative to be a blight?

But, in this case, it might be right about calling in the cops.

After all, there are sidebar issues that are interesting.

A former chief of staff to Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark suddenly parted ways with an influential lobby group for the residential construction industry.

On August 1, the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) told its members in a rather terse letter that Luca Bucci is no longer its CEO, effective that same day, with no reason given.

Some nine days later, a bombshell dropped. Developers in Ontario had direct influence over the province’s decision to extract lands from the Greenbelt and received “preferential treatment,” said Ontario’s auditor general in a blistering special report that showed the Ontario government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford began working to remove protected land as soon as it won re-election.

The Ford government unveiled plans to remove 7,400 total acres of land in 15 parcels from the Greenbelt on Nov. 4, and later finalized them in December.

The end result is that the owners of 15 parcels of land removed from the Greenbelt will see the value balloon by $8.3 billion, according to the auditor general.

The explosive report from Bonnie Lysyk into the government’s dealings with developers comes after a six-month investigation and interviews with key players in the controversial decision, including Ford, who denied any wrongdoing.

The report, however, makes a definitive link between the Premier’s Office, the housing minister, a central political staffer who drove the project, and developers who benefitted from the deal.

That staffer would be Ryan Amato, Clark’s chief-of-staff, who is writ large in Lysyk’s 95-page special report.

As written in The Trillium, Lysyk found that about 92% of the land removed from Ontario’s signature-protected area last year was made up of five sites that had been proposed to Amato by two developers who sat with him at an industry dinner in September 2022.

“The exercise to change the Greenbelt boundaries in Fall 2022 cannot be described as a standard or defensible process,” Lysyk wrote in her report.

Lysyk’s report, said the Trillium, seems to contradict many claims the premier and housing minister have made about how the government determined what land to remove from the Greenbelt last year.

Ford and Clark were defiant Wednesday. They acknowledged the process of selecting the sites was flawed and rushed, but Ford said the ends justified the means.

“We’ve admitted many times today and I’ll continue to admit that we’re going to correct the process,” Ford said. “But what matters to the people of Ontario is making sure they can afford a home, an attainable home, an affordable home, a regular home like a condo or a rental.”

In the Toronto Star’s lead editorial, the one which called for ringing up the cops, it was stated that Ford and Clark were either not being truthful or they displayed a dereliction of political responsibilities.

“If they truly didn’t know, at some point during Lysyk’s probe, they would have learned the damning truth about their Greenbelt land transfer,” said the Star.

“Yet publicly, they continued their sham defence of the exercise.”

The Daily Brief | Trudeau jets off on another vacation

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his separation from his wife, Trudeau is heading on a vacation to British Columbia with his family.

Plus, Ontario’s Christian and Jewish communities are pushing for more school choice as faith in the public system declines.

And Premier Scott Moe and Premier Danielle Smith slammed the Trudeau government’s “unrealistic” net-zero electricity regulations.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Elie Cantin-Nantel!

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