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Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Ontario wants wind and solar to make up a larger share of the power grid

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The Ontario government has unveiled its plan to invest in more wind, solar and hydroelectric power generation as the province prepares to meet the projected demand for electric vehicle usage.

Energy Minister Todd Smith announced on Monday that the province will look at expanding capabilities over the next two to three decades – with completion dates being projected into 2050. 

“Today’s report, the Powering Ontario’s Growth plan, commits us to working towards a 100% clean grid,” claimed Smith.

“Hopefully the federal government can get on board with our intentions to build this clean generation as quickly as possible … That will put us in a much better position to use our natural gas facilities less in the future, if we can get those new projects online.”

The plan also includes exploring two new pump storage projects, which can store excess energy when demand is low and release it when demand is high. Pump storage can provide energy for up to eight hours, compared to four hours via battery storage.

However, the plan does not rule out the use of natural gas with Smith saying that the province is not ready to commit to a total ban on natural gas, which currently provides about 10% of Ontario’s electricity. 

He said natural gas is still needed as a backup source when renewable energy is not available.

Some have raised questions about the reliability of wind and solar power, which depend on fickle weather conditions. 

Last month, several regions in Canada and the US experienced a total decline in wind power generation, as wind speeds slowed down to almost zero. 

Solar power also fluctuates depending on the time of day and cloud cover. According to SecondStreet.org, a think tank that advocates for free markets and consumer interests, these factors make wind and solar power weak business cases for Canada’s energy needs.

“At this point, the business case behind using solar and wind power is often very weak because these two sources of power are often unreliable – the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow,” said SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig.

The government also said it will continue to support existing nuclear power plants, which provide about 60% of Ontario’s electricity.

Smith’s announcement comes as the federal government prepares to unveil its Clean Electricity Regulations, which is expected to clamp down on the use of natural gas and coal for electricity generation. 

The Daily Brief | Will Danielle Smith blacklist the CBC?

By
Rachel Parker
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is reconsidering doing interviews with CBC after the state broadcaster published a false and damaging report about her.

Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Latvia, visiting Canadian troops stationed on a NATO mission – and took the opportunity to lecture them about climate change and disinformation.

And the Trudeau government has hired nearly 100,00 new federal workers since being elected.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Rachel Emmanuel and Lindsay Shepherd!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

Chow to enter office with no anti-crime platform amid Toronto crime wave

By
Noah Jarvis
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Toronto’s incoming mayor Olivia Chow does not have a plan to mitigate and prevent crime on the city’s transit system after a series of violent crimes in recent months, including a stabbing on a TTC train.

Despite waging a contentious, months-long mayoral campaign, Chow had not released a plan to address violent crime in the city, instead focusing on support for renters, improving public transit and action on climate change.

The closest thing the former NDP MP’s platform has as a plan to address violent crime is Chow’s plan to reduce 911 wait times and expand Toronto’s Community Crisis Service – teams of social workers meant to respond to “mental-health emergencies” at the 211 or 911 phone numbers.

The Toronto Community Crisis Service is not a law-enforcement unit and has no connection to the criminal justice system, but is instead meant to respond to drug overdoses and other non-violent emergency situations.

Last week, mayor-elect Chow seemed to be caught off-guard with a question asking her for a reaction to the stabbing at the Eglinton Station subway, which went viral on social media. 

Chow gave an aloof answer, half-heartedly throwing around suggestions to mitigate crime on the TTC but ultimately asserting she had not taken a detailed look at Toronto’s crime problem.

“I met with the chair of TTC, John Burnside. And he has talked a lot about what TTC have been doing to provide more safety situation. For example, they have private security guards, they have – looking at ways to have people support like –  he talked about social workers in TTC to support people who have different issues,” said a flustered Chow.

“I have not gone into details precisely how we can increase safety in TTC so its a bit too early to answer that question.”

From January to May 2023, major crime occurrences on all Toronto transit systems – the TTC and Go Transit – increased by 24%, up to 220 in the month of May alone. 

Last week’s stabbing at the TTC’s Eglinton station also reflects the cyclical nature of crime in Canada, with criminals being convicted of crimes and being released onto the street to re-offend. 

Police had charged Moses Lewin, the perpetrator in last week’s vicious stabbing, has been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a release order, indicating that Lewin had been out on bail at the time of the stabbing. 

Toronto mayoral candidates Mark Saunders, Anthony Furey and Ana Bailão had all committed to pressuring the federal government into instituting bail reform to fix the “revolving door” system. Chow, on the other hand, has not revealed her position on the matter.

Chow did not respond to True North’s request for comment.

Liberals pledge taxpayer funds to “chemsex” awareness

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Liberal government has pledged over $20,000 in taxpayer funding to a project devoted to raising awareness about “chemsex” –  the practice within the LGBTQ+ community of using hard drugs like meth and cocaine to increase sexual activity. 

A total of $21,031 in funding was provided to SafeLink Alberta Society by Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) on top of $108,159 already dished out to fund the “Chemsex Awareness Project.” 

“$21,031 added to the $108,159 already provided by (SUAP) to advance policies and practices to help service providers, including health, social service and harm reduction professionals, to collaborate effectively to provide tools to reduce harms related to substance use and mental health issues within the gay/bisexual community,” wrote Health Canada. 

According to the charity Change Grow Live, “chemsex” refers to “sexual activity, mostly between men, while under the influence of drugs.”

“People take part in chemsex for different reasons. Some people take part in chemsex to feel less inhibited and to enhance pleasure,” writes the organization. 

Typically the drugs involved during “chemsex” are methamphetamine, ecstasy or mephedrone. 

“Chemsex can have a negative impact on your physical health, including your heart and brain. It can also contribute to anxiety and depression,” claims the charity. 

“Sometimes people inject crystal meth and mephedrone. With injection there is an increased risk of infections and blood borne viruses like HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.”

This isn’t the first time taxpayers have funded federal sexual initiatives.

The federal government was forced to cancel a foreign aid program that used taxpayer funding for senior sex shows abroad and sex toy exhibits. 

Also earlier this year, a report prepared for Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam identified “climate change” and “capitalism” ad one of the key guiding messages to inform Canada’s response to public health. 

“(Canada must address) systemic drivers of negative health outcomes and climate change overlap; white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism and racism…” 

Ratio’d | Justin Trudeau’s growing Khalistan Problem

By
Harrison Faulkner
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The growing diplomatic battle between the Indian government and the Canadian government is a major problem for Justin Trudeau. Years of soured relations are coming to the fore as Khalistanis in Canada become more aggressive and more brazen in their anti-Indian displays. After the death of alleged Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Nijjar, Khalistani’s began labeling Indian diplomats in Canada as “killers” and flyers were circulating in Canada calling to ‘Kill India’.

In response, Trudeau shrugged it off and defended the Khalistani extremists’ right to free expression. India has accused Trudeau of being captured by ‘vote bank politics’ and pandering to extremists.

Why is Trudeau so soft on Khalistani extremism?

Harrison Faulkner explores those questions on the latest episode of Ratio’d!

Smith to reconsider CBC interviews following false report

By
Rachel Parker
-

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s weighing whether to continue interviews with the CBC after the state broadcaster published a false and damaging report and refused to retract it for months over an election period. 

She made the comments in an exclusive interview with Rebel News President Ezra Levant one week after the CBC admitted it could not prove that Smith’s office contacted Crown prosecutors regarding Covid-19 charges — an allegation the outlet first reported in January using anonymous sources. 

“I’ll have to talk to my team about that,” Smith said after Levant repeatedly asked if she’ll continue doing interviews with the publication. 

“I do have to consider if they aren’t prepared to be fair, accurate, and balanced. If they’re really only interviewing me in order to get ammunition to be the official opposition, I’m going to have to keep that in mind every time I answer a question from the CBC.”

The Premier said she will continue to take the CBC’s questions during press conferences because she wants to be “the type of person” who takes questions from everyone. The comment was perhaps a slight at Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley who refused to take questions from most independent media outlets during the Alberta provincial election campaign. 

Levant said the CBC’s erroneous reporting amounts to election interference.

Smith said her office gave the outlet an opportunity to correct the record after an independent investigation from the civil service found no evidence of emails between her office and Crown prosecutors.  

“They smeared me, they smeared all my office staff, they smeared the independent public service, they smeared the Crown prosecutors, and they gave ammunition to my opponents to smear me some more,” Smith said.  

In January, the state broadcaster relied on anonymous sources to report that Smith’s office contacted Crown prosecutors and pressured them on Covid-19 and the Coutts border blockade charges. Smith, her office, and Crown prosecutors denied the allegations, and the CBC later updated the story to say it had not viewed the emails in question. 

In May, during the Alberta provincial election campaign, the narrative further unfolded when an ethics report from Commissioner Marguerite Trussler was released finding “no evidence of such an email.”

In light of the report, the CBC said it re-interviewed its sources who could not confirm that emails originally described were sent directly from Smith’s office to the Crown.

“As such, we have updated this story and related pieces, removing references to direct contact between the premier’s office and prosecutors – which the premier has vehemently denied,” reads a lengthy editor’s note atop the article. 

“CBC News regrets reporting direct contact by email.”

The CBC head of public affairs Chuck Thompson told True North the publication took till July to update the story because “simply stated, that’s the time it took to do our due diligence.” 

Last week, Smith said she’s “been vindicated.”

“Now that CBC has expressed regret for its inaccurate reporting and Albertans know the truth, I consider the matter with the CBC closed,” she wrote on Twitter. 

“Additionally, I’m asking the Alberta NDP to acknowledge their error also, and retract and apologize for spreading this misinformation.”

Trudeau lectures CAF troops in Latvia about climate change, disinformation

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the opportunity to talk to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) troops stationed on a NATO mission in Latvia to lecture them about his government’s actions on fighting climate change and disinformation. 

Trudeau was in the Eastern European nation ahead of the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Lithuania where allied forces will gather to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other pressing geopolitical issues. 

While at a lunch with CAF members stationed abroad in Ādaži, Latvia, the prime minister spent his address discussing climate change and other issues despite recent reports indicating that troops stationed abroad have had to purchase their own equipment due to a lack of support from the Canadian government. 

“Climate change is having a real destabilizing and negative impact with more and more frequent extreme weather events at home,” said Trudeau. 

“Which is one of the reasons why Canada is stepping up to build the Centre of Excellence for Climate Security in Montreal. That’s one of the announcements we’re going to be making tomorrow at the NATO summit,” he continued. 

“We’re also dealing with the hangover of the pandemic that knocked us around as economies but also knocked us around as individuals put a lot of stress on families of people trying to figure out a way through. Add the extra challenges of social media and levels of misinformation and disinformation.” 

While in Latvia, the prime minister announced that he would further expand Canada’s presence in the region from 800 troops to 2,200 over the next three years. Trudeau also met with Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to further express Canada’s commitment to NATO and its allies. 

A recent report found that Canadian soldiers on NATO missions have had to resort to using their own funds to purchase vital equipment like helmets due to the outdated and unusable supplies procured for them by the federal government. 

“In general, it was concerning verging on embarrassing to see the differences in issued soldier equipment between us and the Danes,” wrote Lt.-Col van Eijk in a May 12 email reported in the media. 

“This was only exacerbated by the fact they were carrying more advanced Canadian-made Colt Canada rifles, mounting more advanced Canadian Elcan DR sights, and the fact that most of the systems our soldiers lacked were easily available on the open market and not some sort of closely guarded technology.”

Trudeau gov accuses provinces of spreading ‘misinformation’ on carbon taxes

By
Neil Sharma
-

The Trudeau government’s carbon tax and clean fuel standard have come under fire from provinces like Alberta and New Brunswick as gas prices soar across the country, but the government is hitting back at critics by claiming that they’re spreading “misinformation.”

“There’s abundant misinformation, disinformation,” Lena Metlege Diag, the Liberal MP for Halifax West, said in Dartmouth last week.

Metlege Diag stood alongside Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, to educate reporters about forthcoming rebates that are intended to offset the carbon tax’s July 1 increase and the implementation of the clean fuel standard – or as critics have called it, a second carbon tax.

“We’re here to help cut through some of the noise,” Fraser added. “I’m pleased to share that, beginning next week, Nova Scotians will receive a direct cash rebate from the federal government in the amount of $248 for a family of four or for an individual, $124.

“These are quarterly payments. These payments are going to arrive every three months.”

The government was unclear on exactly what “misinformation” the provinces were spreading. 

The province of New Brunswick estimates that home heating oil will increase to 17.38 cents per litre as a result of the carbon tax. The cost to fill an average 900 litre oil tank will increase by $179.88. A home using 2,000 litres of oil a year will see the average annual cost rise by an estimated $399.74.

Moreover, the province of New Brunswick says it’s already on pace to reduce emissions by 40-45% below 2005 by 2030. The province maintains it has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 39% since 2005, and its provincial target of 47% below ’05 levels exceeds the federal target.

New Brunswick has already committed to reaching net zero by 2050.

“The Atlantic provinces have made amendments as to how regulators set maximum prices,” New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said in a weekend statement. “If these charges were not made, small retails in the region would have to absorb the additional cost of the federal government’s new regulations. This would significantly impact their revenues and jeopardize their ability to continue to operate.”

Higgs pointed out that in rural New Brunswick, there might only be a single family-owned gas station.

“They need to be able to recover these costs or they won’t be in a financial position to continue providing fuel to their community and ultimately may be forced to shut down. These businesses are important to small communities as they provide more than fuel. Just ask anyone who lives nearby.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently pushed back against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2035 net-zero target and the carbon tax, claiming the tax is a cynical vote grab in the east.

“We have a system set up where they overtax us and then they dribble a little bit of money back to us if we’ll do our programs their way,” Smith told 630 CHED’s Your Province late last year. “And then they take the rest and they use it to buy votes in Eastern Canada.”

Two Khalistan supporters arrested after Toronto rally

By
Andrew Kozak
-

Two Khalistani protesters were arrested after clashes broke out between pro-India and anti-India groups during a rally held in front of the Indian Consulate in Toronto on Saturday. 

Violence broke out as 250 Khalistani supporters were confronted by a pro-India rally held at the same time. Toronto Police were forced to get involved by putting up barricades. One protester allegedly breached the barricade and was quickly arrested by police.

Another protester was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Both protesters were released without charges according to Hindustan Times.

“The violent side of the Khalistanis was exposed when one of them broke through the police barricade to try and attack our gathering,” said Neel Sehgal, a pro-India supporter.

The “Khalistan Freedom Rally” was promoted to seek justice after Sikh separatist Shaheed Jathedar Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Surrey, B.C. last month. The poster includes a call to “Kill India” and describes Indian diplomats Sanjay Kumar Verma and Apoorva Srivastava as the “killers” responsible for Nijjar’s death. 

Newly elected Mayor-elect of Toronto Olivia Chow did not comment on the incident over the weekend.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly described the posters as “unacceptable.”

As Indian diplomats continue to grow weary of their safety in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not offer comments on the protests or the rise of Khalistani sympathies in Canada.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent refusal to denounce Sikh terrorism after last month’s pro-Khalistani rally, which coincided with the 38th anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 bombing that killed 280 Canadians. 

“They are wrong,” said Trudeau last week when asked by reporters about India claiming his government is soft on Sikh extremism. “Canada has always taken extremely seriously violence and threats of violence.”

“We’ve always taken serious action against terrorism and we always will.”

India took issue with Trudeau’s comments, claiming that the prime minister is pandering for votes.

“The issue is not about freedom of expression,” said official MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. “But it’s misuse for advocating violence, propagating separatism, and legitimizing terrorism.

“Our sense is that these posters inciting violence against our diplomats and our diplomatic premises abroad are unacceptable and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” said Bagchi concerning the threat posed toward Indian diplomats.

Trudeau hired nearly 100K new federal workers since being elected

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: Wikimedia

New data shows that the Trudeau government has been on a public sector hiring spree since first elected in 2015, adding nearly 100,000 new employees to the federal public service.

Critics say this has increased the size and cost of the bureaucracy, while failing to improve its performance.

According to Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat figures analyzed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), the federal government employed 357,247 public servants as of March 31, 2023. 

This is an increase of 21,290 from the previous year and 98,000 from when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office in 2015.

The CTF has criticized the government for its excessive spending on bureaucrats in a new press release. 

Federal Director of the CTF Franco Terrazzano said Canadians don’t need a big government but one that works for them efficiently.

“Was there a bureaucrat shortage in Ottawa before Trudeau took over?,” Terrazzano said. 

“Canadians need a more efficient government, not a bloated government full of highly paid bureaucrats.”

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reported in April 2023 that the federal bureaucracy ballooned by a whopping 31% increase in costs for taxpayers over the past two years. 

In its report, the PBO also said in March 2023, fewer than 50% of the government’s performance indicators are achieved by the public sector. 

“Taxpayers have paid for hundreds of thousands of pay raises, hundreds of millions in bonuses and for tens of thousands of extra bureaucrats and the government still can’t meet half of its own performance targets,” said Terrazanno. 

“Trudeau needs to take some air out of the ballooning bureaucracy.”

Average annual earnings for full-time federal workers has reached $125,300 – well ahead of what most Canadians earn. 

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