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Saturday, May 10, 2025

Pattison bans pro-life group’s billboard because it “creates too much controversy”

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
-
Source; lifeculture.ca

A Canadian billboard company cancelled a contract with a Manitoba pro-life group, saying that the requested image “creates too much controversy” and that the company received “a lot of backlash” for similar designs in the past.

Susan Penner, the executive of Life Culture, a pro-life organization in Steinbach, Man., told True North that her organization intended to use the same image it used in a campaign with Pattison Outdoor Advertisements the previous year but was shot down this time.

The image featured a pregnant woman cradling her belly. The caption read, “Celebrate the gift of life!” and included Life Culture’s website address. Penner told True North in an interview that the billboard was meant to remind people, in a time of widely accessible euthanasia and abortions, that “life and pregnancy is a gift.”

Emails from November between Pattison Outdoor and Life Culture provided to True North show that the billboard advertiser initially agreed to provide advertising space for Life Culture in December for Christmas at two Winnipeg locations and one in Steinbach.

Within less than a week, Penner received an email informing her that Pattison would no longer provide the service to the pro-life group.

“Susan, I regret to inform you that my compliance department will not allow your creative to post on our inventory,” the email said. “The category of the content is pro-life/pro-choice, and it simply creates too much controversy for us.”

When Penner asked what had changed, as the group had used billboard space last year in Steinbach, Pattison Outdoor replied that it had “encountered a lot of backlash for similar designs” posted throughout Canada in 2024.

“Our compliance department has had to expand our restrictions,” a Pattison Outdoor representative said in the email. “We cannot take the risk of public complaints.”

Penner made a point of not wanting to “go on a witch hunt” against the company, asserting that she just wanted to raise awareness that companies in Canada are refusing service due to the so-called “controversy” of calling a woman’s pregnancy a gift.

“How have we gotten so far in our country that life has become so offensive that a billboard designed to highlight the beauty and excitement of pregnancy is deemed controversial,” she told True North in an interview.

She said she’s concerned about a culture of fear in Canada that a “pro-abortion activist government” has cultivated that she credits as a leading cause of the incident.

“Our government creates fear by pitting life and women’s rights against each other. Businesses fear the legal and economic consequences if there’s any indication they support life. Churches fear losing a charitable probation status…Individuals fear losing friends or acceptance,” Penner said. 

John Carpay, the president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a civil liberties group in Canada, said that Life Culture may have grounds for a human rights complaint in Manitoba.

Carpay said Life Culture could argue that it was discriminated against based on protected grounds of creed, and religious belief under human rights codes. The Human Rights Code of Manitoba states that organizations cannot discriminate based on “political belief, political association or political activity.”

He said that defending a group’s right to say unpopular things is the bedrock of progress in society. He noted an example of a man who changed the way people understood science but was mocked for saying doctors should wash their hands before delivering babies, as many mothers were dying from infections.

“You could come up with hundreds of examples of progress that would not have happened without people feeling upset. Comfortable majorities get upset when their cherished notions are challenged,” Carpay said. “If we want to move forward towards better scientific understanding, economy, laws, and civilization, We have to put up with comfortable majorities feeling upset.”

Penner did not indicate whether she planned to seek legal redress.

Pattison Outdoor did not respond to True North’s requests for comment.

Alberta government demands federal action to end Canada Post strike

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

The Alberta government is growing restless with the Canada Post strike and wants the federal government to step in – even if it means employing back-to-work legislation.

“The federal government must use every tool at its disposal and take immediate action to end this strike before it harms more Canadians and further damages the livelihoods of countless Albertans and Alberta’s economy,” said Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones.

The federal government has so far not openly entertained ordering striking workers back to work. The NDP has said it would oppose such a move, insisting that postal workers have a right to bargain their way through the impasse.

Earlier this year, the government imposed back-to-work orders to end port lockouts and rail strikes, triggering federal court appeals from the affected unions.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Jones specifically called out the strike’s effect on small- and medium-sized businesses and charities, especially with Christmas approaching.

“Each day this situation goes unresolved, it intensifies the long-term challenges for Alberta’s businesses, consumers, and the economy,” Jones said, pointing out how small and medium businesses make up 99.8% of Alberta companies, representing 13% of Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business highlighted that the strike is costing small businesses in Canada $76.6 million daily. The total cost passed $1 billion on Dec. 4. 

Jones said that as of Dec. 11, the cost has surpassed $2 billion.

He added that the strike has hindered charities from receiving donations and staying connected with their supporters.

For example, Hope Mission in Edmonton said that mailed-in donations have stopped amid their most critical fundraising season, putting the most vulnerable at risk. 

Canadian Federation of Independent Business policy analyst Bradlee Whidden told True North that the strike could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many small businesses.

He said that three-quarters of small businesses have been impacted, and half of those reported costs of $2,000 or more in lost orders. 

“This really does hurt small businesses who might see consumers go to Amazon or large shipping giants for more reliable service,” said Whidden. 

He added that while businesses are dealing with the nightmare of retrieving their inventory from Canada Post warehouses, they also have to go through their inventory to earmark items for the GST/HST tax exemption, only to be forced to repeat the process in two months to undo it.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers began a strike for its 55,000 workers nearly four weeks ago. 

The union presented new proposals to Canada Post on Monday. Among them were wage increases of 19% over four years, additional medical leave, and improved rights for temporary workers. 

Canada Post replied on Wednesday, saying that the offer would add billions in unsustainable fixed costs. They initially countered with an offer of an 11.5% wage increase over four years.

“Added up, all the demands in CUPW’s latest offers would cost more than $3 billion over four years, at a time when the postal service is already recording large financial losses,” reads Canada Post’s press release.

The Crown corporation added that it has lost more than $3 billion since 2018, resulting from seven years of consecutive losses.

A spokesperson for the federal Minister of Labour told True North that negotiated agreements are the best way forward.

“Canada Post and CUPW need to reach a deal to put an end to this dispute. In order to do that, parties must get back to the negotiating table and be ready to resume talks. Canadians are counting on them,” said the spokesperson.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers was not immediately available for comment.

CBSA has lost whereabouts of 30,000 people slated for deportation

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Canada’s national border security agency has lost track of nearly 30,000 individuals who are wanted for deportation, according to newly released documents. Conservative MP Laila Goodridge recently filed an order paper question that requested figures on how many deportation cases were currently before the Canada Border Services Agency.

In response, CBSA documents revealed that the agency was currently unable to account for 29,731 people listed as “wanted” by immigration authorities.

Those labelled as “wanted” are people who failed to appear for their deportation proceedings, including cases where the person has had immigration warrants issued against them.

The bulk of those who’ve gone missing, 21,325, were residing in Ontario, while the rest span throughout the country.

“Justin Trudeau and his incompetent ministers have yet again proven they have broken our immigration system,” Conservative immigration critic Tom Kmiec told True North.

“Losing track of nearly 30,000 people wanted for deportation is a shocking failure which makes a joke of the integrity of our system and puts the safety of Canadians at risk.”

News of the missing cases surfaced as the Trudeau government was already facing harsh criticism over its lax border security from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who recently announced he will be imposing punitive tariffs in response. While the Liberals plan to reduce immigration levels, the government’s plan also depends on nearly 2.4 million people leaving the country voluntarily over the next two years as their visas expire.

There are 457,646 people currently in various stages of being deported from Canada as of late October, according to the newly released data. Of those, 27,675 are in the final stages of the removal process, while another 378,320 people are being “monitored” as they await refugee status decisions, pending permanent resident status or facing “unenforceable” removal orders.

A cohort of 20,921 people have been granted a stay from removal proceedings and the remaining 29,730 were ordered for removal but their location has since been lost. Following Ontario, Quebec is home to the largest swath of people wanted by the CBSA, with 6,109 warrants issued. British Columbia is next with 1,390, then Alberta with 705.

After that, there is a steep dropoff among the other provinces and territories, which each range from zero to 100 cases. Mexicans account for the largest cohort of missing people slated for deportation at 7,622. Indians account for the second most with 3,955 people, followed by 1,785 Americans, 1,516 Chinese, 864 from Pakistanis, 858 Nigerians and 794 Colombians.

Other nationalities with a sizable number of missing people include Palestine, North Korea and Russia. Another 109 cases involve missing people who are deemed stateless or who hold unknown citizenship. However, the numbers are not exact as CBSA withholds deportation information for those aged five and under due to privacy concerns.

“This comes after they printed tens of thousands of fraudulent student visas, did nothing about Roxham Rd. for six years, and relaxed visitor visa requirements, resulting in a sharp hike in asylum claims at our airports,” said Kmiec.

Trudeau says Harris election loss is a sign women’s progress is “under attack”

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited the recent U.S. election results as an indication that “women’s progress is under attack” because of the loss of U.S. presidential-candidate Kamala Harris. 

While speaking at an event hosted by Equal Voice Foundation, an organization that promotes female representation in politics, Trudeau warned that regressives forces were at play against women both “overtly and subtly.”

“It shouldn’t be that way. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress,” Trudeau told the event’s attendees in Ottawa on Tuesday evening. 

He went on to say that he was a “proud feminist” and that he and his government will always be an “ally” that women can rely on. 

“And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women’s rights and women’s progress is under attack. Overtly, and subtly,” he said. 

The prime minister’s comments come just ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with the country’s premiers to discuss how Canada’s will approach the impending 25% tariffs on all exports south of the border.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose tariffs upon taking office next month on all imports from both Canada and Mexico in response to loose border security.

Trudeau’s remarks also come on the heels of being jeered by Trump via social media, where he referred to Trudeau as being, not the prime minister, but the “Governor…of the Great State of Canada.”

Trump made the post in reference to a previous joke he’d made during a dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida about Canada joining the U.S. as the 51st state if its economy could not handle the proposed tariffs. 

Trudeau wasn’t the only politician speaking at Tuesday’s event, as both Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh gave speeches as well. 

The Conservative MP noted that Canada had become divided not in its goal of seeing more women elected to office, but because those who are elected, are expected to all hold the same political views.

“Most of all, I think we’re divided because we’ve placed diversity of thought on the backburner, in exchange for lofty platitudes of those who believe that all women who hold elected office have to have the same view on every single issue,” said Lantsman.

While Jagmeet Singh called for a change of course in “older white men” who he believes have continued to “fail upward.”

“I have seen, if I could be really blunt, I’ve seen a lot of older white men fail upward again and again,” said Singh. 

“And that is just going to continue unless we actually try to change things. If you don’t change things, you’re going to have the same system. And the same system is going to benefit those already in power.”

Rachel and The Republic | Donald Trump has a message for Trudeau

By
Rachel Parker
-
Source: X

Today on Rachel and the Republic with Rachel Parker, Rachel is joined by Detroit radio host Justin Barclay who breaks down what U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump really wants from Canada and Justin Trudeau.

Barclay also explains whether Canada’s border with the U.S. is really a problem.

Tune in now!

The Daily Brief | NDP votes against Singh’s own words in non-confidence motion

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
Source: X

The Conservatives were unable to garner support from the New Democrats in their latest non-confidence motion against the Trudeau government, despite Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre using NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s own words as the basis for the motion.

Plus, a “family-friendly” dance in Montreal was cancelled after organizers faced backlash for charging racially-based admission prices.

And a new study shows Canadian charitable giving has declined to its lowest point in 20 years, with only 17.1% of Canadians donating to charity in 2022.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Clayton DeMaine!

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 3.25% with U.S. “uncertainty” on horizon

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

The Bank of Canada reduced its key interest rate by half a percentage point on Wednesday, bringing the overnight rate to 3.25%, with the bank rate now sitting at 3.5% and the deposit rate at 3.25%.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem made the announcement Wednesday morning.

“Our policy focus is now keeping inflation close to target,” Macklem said.

The economy grew by 1% in the third quarter, which was somewhat below what the central bank had predicted in October. Similarly, the fourth quarter is also proving to be weaker than predicted. 

According to the Consumer Price Index, inflation has hovered around 2% since the summer and is expected to remain there over the next several years. 

However, Macklem said that elevated wage increases combined with weak productivity still pose a threat to inflation.

“In addition, the economic outlook is clouded by the possibility of new tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States,” he added. “No one knows how this will play out in the months ahead. Whether tariffs will be imposed, what exemptions get agreed or whether retaliatory measures will be taken.”

Macklem called this a “major new uncertainty.”

Pressure on inflation was brought on by shelter costs while the downward prices of goods helped to moderate it. 

The GST holiday will lower inflation as well but only temporarily, likely returning pressure once the break ends. 

“Third-quarter GDP growth was pulled down by business investment, inventories and exports,” reads the bank’s release. “In contrast, consumer spending and housing activity both picked up, suggesting lower interest rates are beginning to boost household spending.”

While global financial conditions have eased, the Canadian dollar has depreciated in response to the U.S. dollar gaining strength. 

“Governing Council decided to reduce the policy rate by a further 50 basis points to support growth and keep inflation close to the middle of the 1-3% target range,” reads the release. 

“Going forward, we will be evaluating the need for further reductions in the policy rate one decision at a time.”

The Bank of Canada will announce its next overnight rate target on Jan. 29, 2025.

Canadians and Americans react to Trump’s latest Canada annexation joke

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

The internet is once again reacting to a comment by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, referring to Canada as an American state and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor.”

In a comment made just after midnight on Tuesday, Trump thanked Trudeau for coming to Mar-a-Lago a few weeks ago to talk about trade policy between Canada and the United States. However, Trump called Trudeau “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”

Last week, a report surfaced that at Trudeau’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, Trump jokingly told the Prime Minister that Canada should become the 51st American state in response to Trudeau telling the incoming president that a 25% tariff would kill the Canadian economy.

A few days after reports of the joke surfaced, Trump reposted an AI-generated picture on his Truth Social account depicting him standing atop a mountain beside a Canadian flag. 

The jokes had initially prompted Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc to downplay their significance, describing a warm relationship between Trump and Trudeau and saying the remarks should not be taken seriously.

“The fact that there’s a warm, cordial relationship between the two leaders and the president is able to joke like that, we think, is a positive thing,” said LeBlanc.

“It wasn’t a meeting in a boardroom with ten bureaucrats keeping notes. It was a social evening. And there were moments where it was entertaining and funny, and there were moments where we were able to do, we think, some good work for Canada.”

American conservative commentators reacted to Trump’s post with enthusiasm, with Charlie Kirk reposting Trump’s comments with laughing emojis while Ben Shapiro responded with a comment implying support for Canada’s annexation.

Canada’s Treasury Board President Anita Anand responded to questions about Trump’s comments by reporters reiterating her government’s commitment to preserving Canada’s sovereignty and security.

“Canada is a sovereign country,” repeated Anand.

On the other hand, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that Trump’s joke reflects positive relations between Ottawa and the incoming administration in Washington, joking himself that he doesn’t think about Trudeau at midnight while Trump does.

“I’m sure not thinking of Justin Trudeau at midnight,” said Ford. “So if he’s thinking of Justin at midnight, it’s probably a good relationship.”

Since Trump won the presidential election in November, the president-elect has provoked Canada by announcing his intentions to impose a 25% tariff on Canada. The tariffs would be imposed in response to a flow of illegal immigrants and drugs from Canadian territory into the United States.

Conservatives demand tougher border security and action on fentanyl crisis

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: RCMP

The federal Conservatives are proposing measures to address Canada’s border security issues and ongoing fentanyl crisis.

The Conservatives have put forward a motion in the House of Commons that calls on the Liberals to implement various changes to protect Canadians from deadly drugs.

Among the proposals is reversing the “catch-and-release Bill C-5,” which removed mandatory jail time for some violent offenders.

The Conservatives previously introduced legislation to strengthen penalties for drug production and trafficking offences. It awaits its second reading. 

The recent motion calls for other changes to jail sentences for drug importation.

The Conservatives warned that opioids from so-called “safe supply” programs are being diverted to the black market and used to target vulnerable Canadians and teenagers.

Alberta saw a record number of residents die from opioid overdoses in 2023. 

A previous study highlighted that one in four deaths in young adults is opioid-related. 

Alberta, British Columbia, and other jurisdictions have warned that “safe supply” was resulting in an unprecedented number of drug overdoses. 

“These diverted drugs are being resold within our community, trafficked to other jurisdictions, and even used as currency to obtain fentanyl, perpetuating the illegal drug trade,” said London Police Chief Thai Truong. “Vulnerable individuals are being targeted by criminals who exchange these prescriptions for fentanyl, exacerbating addiction and community harm.”

The Conservatives highlighted various data in a press release to back up their claims.

The release highlighted that in the year preceding Sept. 2024, U.S. border agents seized around 11,600 pounds of drugs at the U.S.-Canada border. Seizures of fentanyl tripled between 2023 and 2024, rising from 239,000 to 839,000 doses.

“A year ago, CSIS told Trudeau that they had identified more than 350 organized crime groups actively involved in the domestic illegal fentanyl market. And just last month, the RCMP uncovered a “super lab” operating in rural British Columbia that was capable of producing 95 million lethal doses of fentanyl,” reads the release. 

The motion urges Trudeau to buy high-powered scanners and deploy additional security at ports to intercept fentanyl and its ingredients from entering Canada.

President-elect Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration into the United States.

The total trade between Canada and the United States was estimated at $960.8 billion in 2022. Canadian energy products accounted for 33.5% of the $598 billion in exports to the U.S. Economists warned that the tariffs would negatively affect both countries’ economies. 

Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection showcased that six times more individuals on the terrorist watch list were apprehended at the Canada-U.S. border compared to the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023.

Canada’s premiers demanded improved border security from the Liberals in response to the tariffs.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre did too.

“Canadians are paying a dreadful price for everything that Justin Trudeau has broken, and we need a strong prime minister who has the brains and backbone to put Canada first and to fight for our workers and our security,” he said.

The Conservatives’ press release highlighted that since Trudeau took office, 47,000 Canadians have died of drug overdoses — a 200% increase since 2016. The party said that more Canadians have died of drug overdoses than those who died in World War Two.

“I don’t want to stop drug overdoses to please Donald Trump. I want to stop drug overdoses so that there’s not one more mother with her face buried in a pillow, sobbing that she just lost her kid,” said Poilievre.

A recent Leger poll revealed that less than one-third, 31%, of Canadians are confident in the Liberals’ ability to manage the president-elect and his tariff policies effectively. 

York police arrest 17 for home invasions, robberies, and drug trafficking; 7 released on bail already

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

More dangerous criminals are being released on bail soon after they are arrested.

The York Regional Police arrested 17 individuals allegedly connected to a criminal organization. Six of them were out on bail at the time of their arrest. Seven have since been released. 

The police announced the conclusion of Project Skyfall on Tuesday. This investigation lasted a year and resulted in 17 people charged, three firearms recovered, and the equivalent of over $14 million in illegal drugs being seized.

“Investigators were able to conduct a large-scale investigation that culminated with 17 suspects arrested and 83 charges laid,” said the police in a press release. “Six of these suspects were on bail or another form of release at the time of their arrests, four were bound by weapons prohibition orders, and one suspect was accessing the databanks of the Ministry of Transporation to benefit the criminal network.”

Deputy Chief of Investigations Alvaro Almeida said at a press conference following the announcement that seven of the suspects have already been released on bail.

“These individuals pose a danger to our community. They should have been held in custody, but unfortunately, they have been released. This needs to change,” said Almeida.  

Canada’s premiers previously called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reform the bail system.

The Liberals shifted the blame to the provinces. 

Police officers executed 48 search warrants that resulted in recovering two handguns, one shotgun, and various drugs with a street value exceeding $14.4 million.

The criminal network was alleged to be actively planning home invasions, armed robberies, and trafficking drugs.

Almedia said that home invasions in the York region have increased by 116%. In 2021, a total of 18 home invasions were reported. So far, in 2024, 39 have occurred.

The police shared a video of a home invasion at the press conference. It highlighted suspects holding a family hostage and demanding money before the police intervened. The invasion is what spurred Project Skyfall. 

Police can be heard telling suspects to put their hands up. One suspect was taken into custody, but two others fled the scene.

Almeida said that while the video was powerful, it failed to capture the extent of trauma and terror enacted by an armed robbery and home invasion.

A constable with Toronto Police Services previously suggested that residents should leave their keys accessible to auto thieves to prevent being harmed in a home invasion. 

Almost half of those arrested by an Ontario carjacking task force were out on bail. 

Sometimes, people can’t even reach 911.

According to CBC, an Ontario man was put on hold three times by 911 as an armed group broke into his home and held his daughter at gunpoint on Tuesday, the same day as the announcement from York Regional Police.

While the police’s hands remain tied with the bail system, Almeida urged York residents to get to know their neighbours, establish bonds, and look out for one another. 

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