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Monday, September 29, 2025

POLL: Only 20% of Canadians say Trudeau’s Liberals deserve to be re-elected

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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A new poll has found that only 20% of Canadians believe Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party deserve to be re-elected.

The poll also reveals that 81% of Canadians want a change of government, and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are making gains.

According to Abacus Data’s latest national survey, out of the 81% who want change, 50% say there is a good alternative to Trudeau, while 31% said there is not. 56% of those who want change and think there’s a good alternative would vote Conservative, while 25% would vote NDP.

SCREENSHOT: Abacus Data’s national survey

The poll also found that Polievre’s Conservatives are gaining ground. If an election was held today, 35% would vote Conservative (up 2% since mid-May), while 28% would vote Liberal (down 2%). 

Meanwhile, 21% would vote NDP, (up 3% since mid-May), 7% would vote for the Bloc Quebecois (unchanged), 4% would vote for the Green Party (down 1%) and 4% would vote PPC (down 1%).  

Regionally, the Conservatives are leading in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have a slight edge over the Liberals in British Columbia and Ontario. The Bloc Quebecois is the leading party in Quebec, and the Liberals are ahead in the Maritimes. 

SCREENSHOT: Abacus Data’s national survey

As for the age breakdown, Conservatives are ahead of Liberals in all age groups.  The 18 to 19 age group does, however, favours the NDP over the Conservatives.

As for approval ratings, just 30% of Canadians view Trudeau positively, while 49% view him negatively. 32% view Poilievre positively and 40% view the Conservative leader negatively. As for Jagmeet Singh, 38% of respondents said they viewed him positively, while 32% viewed him negatively.

SCREENSHOT: Abacus Data’s national survey

Speaking on the results of the survey, Abacus Data Chairman and CEO David Coletto said, “the opinion environment for the Liberal government is quite challenging. 80% of Canadians say they want change and only 20% think the government deserves to be re-elected.”

“Despite this, the Liberals are still competitive because about 1 in 3 Canadians who want change, don’t feel there’s an acceptable or comfortable alternative to the Liberals. Most of them are voting for an opposition party, if an election was held today, but not all of them. A third is sticking with the Liberals, despite wanting change.”

“This dynamic indicates a complex and nuanced political environment in Canada, reflecting a broad dissatisfaction with the current Liberal government, yet also a degree of apprehension about alternatives.”

The Abacus Data survey was conducted with 2,000 Canadian adults between Jun. 6 and Jun. 11, 2023. The full results can be found here.

The Daily Brief | Will Rachel Notley stay on as NDP leader?

By
Rachel Parker
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Source: Facebook

Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley is considering her role as party leader, as she failed to form government for the second time in last month’s election.

Plus, a True North Fact Check reveals the Trudeau government and legacy media used this year’s severe wildfires to further their political climate change narrative.

And CBC Kids is pushing reckless and inappropriate gender ideology to young audiences…again.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Rachel Emmanuel and Cosmin Dzsurdzsa!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

High immigration pricing Canadians out of housing market, analysts warn

By
Neil Sharma
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Hamilton Citizenship Ceremony / Copyright: JOEY COLEMAN / THEPUBLICRECORD.CA

Record high immigration into Canada is creating more problems for Canadians in an already strained housing market, financial analysts are warning.

Canada is on track to take in 447,055 immigrants this year and 451,000, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), an increase over its previous projections. IRCC says Canada will take in 500,000 immigrants a year starting in 2025.

This could have dire consequences for housing and employment, those in the financial sector say.

Vancouver-based Robert Mogensen, a broker with the Mortgage Advantage, says such steep immigration targets would only make sense if Canada’s housing capacity was already meeting Canadians’ needs—but it isn’t.

The lion’s share of newcomers is from what IRCC calls the “economic class,” meaning they’re skilled and moneyed.

Noting the influence of foreign money on domestic housing prices, Mogensen worries affluent newcomers will increase competition for what’s already a short supply of affordable homes.

“The influx of cash (that) comes with the number of well-heeled immigrants will continue driving up the price of real estate,” he said.

“But having a lot of money doesn’t mean you should have a better opportunity for moderately-priced housing than people who have lived here all their lives, or even for people who immigrated here a long time ago.”

It isn’t just the cost of homeownership that’s surging; rental prices in Toronto and Vancouver are stratospheric.

With the federal government’s two-year foreign buyer ban that began this year, just weeks after announcing the 500,000 annual immigrant target, there’s going to be even more pressure on the historically tight rental market, says Toronto-based Isaac Quan, managing broker at Living Realty Downtown.

“It totally doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I speak to a lot of clients who were looking to buy but gave up because prices are too high, so they’re looking to rent now, but because of the foreign buyer ban and all the increased competition in the rental market, they’re renting in the outskirts of Toronto in places like Markham and Scarborough, even though they may work downtown.”

Exorbitant prices traditionally pushed determined homebuyers to the metropolitan’s fringes, and now the same thing is happening to a growing cohort of renters unable to afford $2,500 to $3,000 a month in rent, Quan added.

Moreover, well-heeled newcomers accustomed to high rents in places like Hong Kong are better positioned to compete for precious rentals in Toronto. Quan says it’s common for new immigrants to pay up to two year’s rent up front in lieu of providing landlords traditional documents like credit reports and records of employment.

“The people coming here have higher net-worths and they’re pricing out Canadians by giving advanced rent,” Quan said. “If you’re coming here from Hong Kong or Singapore, places with very expensive real estate and where the tax systems are more favourable to workers, $50,000 up-front isn’t as much for them as it is for local Canadians, who pay higher taxes, have a higher cost of living here, and lower wages. It’s hard to compete with immigrants from other parts of the world.”

Not all immigrants are wealthy, and they, too, compete for the same rental apartments as everybody else.

“It causes a lot of anxiety among renters and younger people I meet because they’re never secure,” Quan said. “If you own your own home, there’s no fear of getting kicked out, but if your landlord wants to sell your rental, where are you going to go that you can afford?”

Majority of Canadians agree with New Brunswick premier on gender identity

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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A poll finds that the majority of Canadians agree with New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs on requiring parents to be notified if their child wishes to change genders or pronouns at school.

Last week, the New Brunswick government unveiled a new policy requiring that transgender or “non-binary” students under the age of 16 receive parental consent in order for their name be officially changed for recordkeeping purposes and daily management (EECD, school district, and school software applications, report cards, class lists, etc).

The policy adds that “if it is not possible to obtain consent to talk to the parent, the student will be directed to the appropriate professional to work with them in the development of a plan to speak with their parents if and when they are ready to do so,” and if that “is not in the best interest of the child or could cause harm to the student (physical or mental threat),” then “the student will be directed to the appropriate school professional for support.”

In a Leger poll commissioned by SecondStreet.org, 57% of Canadians surveyed last month said they agreed that schools should make parents aware that their kids are wishing to change genders or pronouns, while just 18% said they opposed notifying parents and 25% said they did not know.

Support for the policy was consistent on regional, generational and gender lines. Support was also higher among those with kids in their household (62%), compared to those without kids (55%). Regional support for the measure was at its highest in Atlantic Canada (69%), followed by Quebec (61%) and Ontario (56%).

While New Brunswick’s new policy was applauded by many parents and family advocates, it has also been denounced by trans activists and supporters of gender ideology, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet.

Speaking at a fundraiser this week, Trudeau said “trans kids need to feel safe, not targeted by politicians. We have to stand against this.”  

“Far-right political actors are trying to outdo themselves with the types of cruelty and isolation they can inflict on these already vulnerable people. Right now, trans kids in New Brunswick are being told they don’t have the right to be their true selves, that they need to ask permission.”

Higgs has, however, doubled down on the new policy and his support of parental rights.

“Once again Justin Trudeau shows he does not support the role of parents in guiding their children’s future. Susan Holt and Justin Trudeau do not believe that parents need to be involved in such critical discussions as gender identity, even in elementary aged children as young as 4 years old. With the changes we’ve made, Policy 713 achieves this balance,” said Higgs.

“We will have safe learning environments, with better mental health supports, while still respecting the role of the parent. We believe parents must engage and clearly indicate their support for the role they play in guiding children in these very vulnerable stages of their life. We are all listening.”

The SecondStreet.org poll  surveyed 1,523 Canadians 18 years old or older between May 5 and 7. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. The full survey can be viewed here.

Facebook labels drag queen story time reporting “adult content”

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The social media platform Facebook has blacklisted two True North reports on a drag queen story time in Winnipeg and a Nova Scotia program that hands out fake breasts and prosthetic penises to youth as “adult content” that violates the company’s policies. 

A notification by the platform claimed that the stories in question were not eligible for advertising because they did not comply with Facebook’s “Adult Content policy.” 

“Ads must not contain adult content including nudity, depictions of people in explicit or suggestive positions, or activities that are overly suggestive or sexually provocative,” states the policy. 

“We used either technology or a review team to detect this violation and carry out this decision.” 

Neither of the two stories published by True North contained any nudity and all attempts were made to blur out explicit materials. 

The first story in question was True North’s report about how Winnipeg Pride hosted drag queen performers from “The House of Hex” on the kids stage despite the fact that the group had extreme and satanic-themed content on their public social media accounts. 

Posts published to the group’s so-called “mother” Flora Hex’s Instagram showed a variety of content not suitable and potentially frightening for children. 

Photos also included bondage gear, horns and other adult content. 

The other article was on the Nova Scotia based Youth Project which distributes free “gender-affirming items” such as prosthetic penises, fake breasts and chest binders to youth.

Two of the vendors which the taxpayer-funded group directed youth to sells sex toys, BDSM gear and uses nude models. 

“If you wish to purchase a binder, packer, gaff, trans tape, or breast forms locally, you can do so at Venus Envy,” writes the Youth Project.

“Our gaffs are from Origami Customs. In order to find out your best fit, please measure yourself based off of their size guide,” writes the Youth Project.

FACT CHECK: Trudeau and legacy media’s wildfire fear mongering not grounded in evidence

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Canada’s political leaders and the legacy media have used a particularly severe wildfire season to further their political climate change narrative contrary to the facts.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly claimed that the wildfires raging across the country are caused by climate change.

“We’re seeing more and more of these fires because of climate change. We’ll keep working – here at home and with partners around the world – to tackle climate change and address its impacts,” tweeted Trudeau on June 7. 

Coalition partner and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has also made the misleading claim that Canada has “never seen wildfires” like those currently raging and linking them to climate change.

“We’re seeing the clear trend in the face of what is clearly the result of a climate crisis which is exacerbating an existing problem,” said Singh. 

Liberal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault also was quick to jump to conclusions in a statement on the wildfires. 

“The threat of increased fires due to climate change is one of the many reasons our government is developing a robust national adaptation strategy with all levels of government and Indigenous groups, so we can be sure our communities are well prepared for the impacts of climate change,” said Guilbeault.

In reality, Canada has experienced several years where the area burned by forest fires was much larger including in 1989, 1994 and 1995. 

“The period from 28 May until 7 July (1995) saw the largest mobilization of resources on record. Over 1000 fire management personnel had moved, including 520 personnel from the United States,” writes the Global Fire Monitoring Centre. 

Similar claims were further perpetuated by the CBC and other legacy media outlets. Politico also spread Trudeau’s claim that climate change was the driver of the wildfire. US media outlets like the New Yorker and Bloomberg also furthered this narrative.

Even the federal government’s data says little to justify the apocalyptic narrative spread by the prime minister and others. 

Data from the Canadian National Large Fire Database shows that the number of wildland fires has been decreasing over the past 40 years. The area burned by wildfires each year also does not show a clear enough trend to support the extraordinary claims about climate change. 

Six of the worst years for wildfires occurred in the first half of the 40-year period and recent severe years show fewer hectares being burned when compared to before according to the total area of Canada burned. 

Experts agree that wildfires are influenced by many factors, not just the climate. According to British Columbia government data, lightning and human activity cause a vast majority of fires. 

In 40% of recorded cases, humans have caused wildfires as a result of activity such as open burning, vehicle use, industrial activity, fireworks or discarding burning items. Intentionally set fires due to arson can also be a cause like in the case of the 29 Okanagan fires from 2014 to 2018 that were discovered to be deliberately set by an RCMP taskforce. 

According to a summary of the 2022 wildfire season in British Columbia, despite drought-like conditions and high temperature records, the province saw a “below normal” level of wildfires.

“Many areas of the province set temperature records, and accumulated rainfall amounts through September that were below normal levels. Despite the late drought conditions, the 2022 wildfire season remained below normal in terms of number of fires and area burned statistics,” the summary states.  

Last year, British Columbia reported that 32% of the 1,801 fires the province had were human-caused, while 66% were found to have been caused by lightning. 

The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, which measures the dryness and temperature of the environment, indicates that this year’s conditions are not ideal, yet ignition has to factor in the amount and type of vegetation in the area and the preventative efforts of firefighters. 

The west coast has also seen an accumulation of deadwood on forest floors, due to the suppression of natural fires that are part of the ecological cycle creating a tinderbox for potential spontaneous blazes. 

A lack of funding and support for controlled burning and management could also be a major factor. According to a paper published by Mark Heathcott, a former head of Parks Canada for 20 years, controlled burning is necessary to reduce fuel loads and restore forest health.

“Wildfire management agencies in Canada are at a tipping point. Presuppression and suppression costs are increasing but program budgets are not,” wrote Heathcott.

Additionally, Heathcott has argued that Covid-19 pandemic responses and lockdowns have set Canada back in terms of being prepared to tangle with subsequent wildfire seasons.

Notley to ‘consider’ role as party leader after failing to form government a second time

By
Rachel Parker
-

Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley says she will take some time to consider her role as leader after she failed to form government for a second time in last month’s election. 

On May 29, the Alberta NDP secured 38 seats to Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party’s 49 seats. That marks the second time Notley failed to form government since her party was booted from government by Jason Kenney’s UCP after just one term in 2019. 

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Notley said she takes responsibility for the party’s loss.

“Like all leaders in our system of government, I think it’s good leadership to consider your role leading up to an election and to consider your role after an election,” Notley said. 

“I did that in 2015, (I) did it in 2019, (I) did it leading into 2023, and of course I’m doing it now.”

Notley said she will consider a range of factors as to whether she will stay on as leader that would take “too long to outline.” She said she doesn’t have a clear timeline as to when she’ll have an answer about her future in the party.

The NDP leader also said the party made “tremendous” ground in the recent provincial election in which it increased its seat count by 15 seats. 

“2,600 votes was the difference between us being in government and the other folks being in government,” she said. “We won every seat in Edmonton and we earned the majority of the ridings in Calgary. We captured ridings we’ve never held before.”

Notley also noted that the NDP unseated several UCP cabinet ministers. That includes Tyler Shandro, Jason Luan, Miranda Rosin, Jason Copping, and Kaycee Madu.

Notley said internal polling showed the NDP started the campaign a little behind, and ended the campaign in a similar position. She said she doesn’t regret focusing on Smith’s past comments on healthcare and Covid-19. 

Notley also said the Conservative’s attacks on her party’s link to the federal NDP shows they struggled to find issues to criticize. 

The UCP frequently points out that provincial New Democratic parties fall under the national NDP, and those who sign up as members of the Alberta branch automatically become members of the federal party as well. The federal NDP led by Jagmeet Singh has been under increased scrutiny for forming a coalition with the Liberal government, which is floundering in public opinion polls, for over a year. 

“That is not even remotely on my list of issues to consider,” Notley said when asked if she would seek to defederate the Alberta NDP.

Trudeau spent over $12 million on Pride events during Covid

By
Andrew Kozak
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Despite severe lockdowns that resulted in many in-person events turning into online events, the Trudeau government issued $12,021,707 worth of grants to dozens of non-profit organizations in order to fund Pride events between 2020 and 2022.

The grants ranged from a few hundred dollars to over $500,000, according to Access to Information documents obtained by “Run with Life” blogger Patricia Maloney.

Vancouver Pride Society received a total of $128,100 in 2020 despite holding no in-person event.

Another Vancouver group, Pride in Art Society, received $102,200 to hold its 11-day Queer Arts Festival, which was held remotely due to lockdowns, during the first year of Covid. Calgary Pride received $102,500 and similarly held its Pride events online. Pride Toronto received the same amount for its Virtual Pride festival in 2020. 

The government’s exuberant spending spree did not stop even as lockdowns and mandates were lifted and in-person events resumed.

Pride Toronto received an additional $99,800 once its in-person parade resumed in 2022. In the same year, the group also received over $30,000 from the Youth Summer Jobs Program and $60,000 to fund a “2-Spirit Pow Wow.”

In 2022, Vancouver Pride Society received $98,800 for its pride parade and an additional $90,400 for its Vancouver Winter Pride Week, which was held in person. The group also received a further $450,000 under the Western Diversification Program.

According to the Government of Canada website, the aim of the Western Diversification Program is to make “strategic investments in initiatives with not-for-profit organizations that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.”

The largest grant was given to Métis rights group “Women of the Metis Nation,” which received $734,340 in 2022 for a program titled “Metis Two-Spirit Pride: Protecting and Celebrating 2SLGBTQQIA+ Individuals.”

Vancouver group Fierté Pride Canada (FCP) received $600,000 under Canada’s “Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression” Program in 2022.

In 2023, Montreal Pride received $272,100 for a podcast “Together for All.”

Grants were given to numerous organizations in Ontario, B.C, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Many organizations received multiple grants year after year.

“The objective of the Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program is to advance social, political and economic equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,” writes the Government of Canada website.

Eligible organizations can only receive funding for “time-specific projects including partnership building, capacity building, and applied community research.” The site specifies that funding is not given to “ongoing activities such as operation or administration.”

Last week, Liberal cabinet ministers, including Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien, hosted an all-ages drag show after the government raised the progress pride flag on Parliament Hill. 

“Drag is a vibrant and diverse form of art, it’s about expressing yourself and pushing boundaries,” said Ien. “From timeless glamour to cutting-edge creativity, their energy is truly unforgettable.

BC district to provide free tampons in men’s washrooms

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The District of Saanich has announced that it will offer free menstrual products at all public washrooms, including men’s rooms, by the end of the month. 

Councillors who supported the initiative claim it will benefit “people who menstruate” and those who cannot afford such products. 

The district has 281 public bathrooms, including women’s, men’s and gender-neutral facilities, where menstrual product dispensers will be installed. 

The move follows an earlier decision to make the products available at Saanich Municipal Hall.

According to estimates, the initial cost of the project will be around $20,000.

Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who is also the chair of Access B.C., a campaign for free prescription contraception in the province, said that providing free menstrual products is similar to providing free toilet paper. 

“Period poverty is something that is a serious issue that we don’t talk about enough,” claimed Phelps Bondaroff. 

“My hope is that we inspire other districts and other actors to do the same thing.”

However, not everyone is supportive of the initiative, especially the inclusion of menstrual products in men’s bathrooms. 

A tweet by Coun. Colin Plant about the vote caused a flurry of social media backlash.

Saanich is not the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide free menstrual products in public facilities. 

In 2019, B.C. became the first province to mandate free menstrual products in all public school bathrooms. 

In 2022, the federal government announced that it was one step closer to ensuring free access to menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces.

The Andrew Lawton Show | Trudeau thinks parental rights are “far-right”

By
Andrew Lawton
-

Justin Trudeau blames “far-right political actors” over what he says is a rise in “hate” against trans kids, referring to a policy in New Brunswick that teachers must notify parents if they learn a child of theirs under 16 seeks to change their gender. New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs has pushed back, saying Trudeau doesn’t support parents. News Forum host and parental rights advocate Tanya Granic Allen joins True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss.

Also, Justice Russell Brown has resigned from the Supreme Court of Canada, meaning Trudeau will soon be able to appoint his sixth judge to the bench.

Plus, Maxime Bernier says True North is “like CBC” for asking him about his past attendance at Davos. Andrew weighs in.

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