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Sunday, May 11, 2025

Quebec Conservatives double down on opposition to drag shows for kids

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) leader Eric Duhaime is doubling down on his opposition to drag shows for kids being held in public libraries, schools and daycares. 

“Had we said five years ago that there would be a debate in Quebec about whether or not children in daycare, kindergarten, or at schools should have classes where they are read stories about gender theory by drag queens. We would have laughed and we would have said that it was a joke. Today, it is the debate” said Duhaime in an interview with QUB Radio host Richard Martineau.

As previously reported by True North, Duhaime came out against drag queen story hours in public libraries on April 6 after the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion from the left-wing Quebec Solidaire (QS) party that denounced opposition to the controversial activity. 

Duhaime, who is openly gay, said taxpayers should not be funding these events.

Duhaime has since launched a petition titled “Protect Our Children,” which calls on governments to cease all funding for drag shows for children and respect parental consent. PCQ spokesperson Cedric Lapointe told True North on Monday that the petition now has over 40,000 signatures.

The PCQ leader  has also discussed the issue on his weekly livestreams with anti-woke transgender woman Michelle Blanc and with a father who says his five-year-old daughter was subjected  to a drag queen in her kindergarten class. 

Duhaime told QUB Radio that he is not against drag queens, and has been to several drag shows in gay bars. He, however, does not support drag being imposed on children without the consent of their parents.

“When you bring (drag queens) into schools to read gender theories without the consent of parents, then I’m out,” said Duhaime. He added that gender ideology is political, and should not be taught to kids in schools.

Duhaime also noted that drag is not a gender identity, describing performers as “people who dress up, artists,” and saying the latter has “nothing to do with gays, lesbians and transgender people.” He also said drag queens are not real women, but caricatures of women. 

The Conservative leader is also calling out Premier Francois Legault’s Coalition Avenir  Quebec (CAQ) for supporting the Quebec Solidaire motion condemning opposition to drag shows for kids, saying they have “fallen into the trap” 

“How come (the CAQ) is as woke as Quebec Solidaire,” said Duhaime.

Duhaime also denounced woke activists as intolerant. 

“My problem with wokes is not even that they have ideas that I sometimes find stupid, it’s the fact that they want to shut up those who don’t think like them,” Duhaime said. “They are anti-democratic in terms of freedom of expression.” 

Report says inflation worse in Alberta out of anywhere in Canada

By
Rachel Parker
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A new report from Alberta Central says the prairie province is experiencing the most inflation out of anywhere in Canada. 

Inflation across the country has reached levels not seen since the 1980’s. 

But Alberta has been hit especially hard due to underperforming wages and income, the report argues. 

“We find that Albertans have seen the most significant underperformance in their purchasing power since 2019 of all Canadian provinces,” Alberta Central chief economist Charles St-Arnaud said in the report.

The report notes that inflation skyrocketed following the close of the pandemic, as supply chain disruptions caused a shortage of goods. It was further exacerbated when energy prices skyrocketed last year amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

But the study also finds that Albertans’ purchasing power has declined an average 3.6% since 2019, while it has increased by 3.3% elsewhere in Canada. That marks an underperformance of over 6%.

“This divergence cannot be attributable to inflation, as inflation in Alberta has been mostly in line with the rest of the country,” St-Arnaud writes. 

“Instead, significantly lower wages and income growth in Alberta are responsible for the lower purchasing-power.”

The report suggests the situation results from strong migration to Alberta keeping the supply of workers higher than in other parts of the country, as shown through the comparatively lower job vacancy rate in the province

It cites a second reason for the underperformance is the continued adjustment following the 2010s energy boom-bust cycle.

“After years of excess demand for labour in the 2000s and the first part of the 2010s, which drove wages well above the national average, we are seeing a return to normal with a convergence in wages toward the levels seen in the rest of the country.”

In 2019, hourly wages and weekly earnings in Alberta were 6-9% above the rest of the country, while compensation of employees and disposable income were, respectively, 23% and 20% higher than in the rest of the country. That advantage is melting away, the report says.

However, the report found that compensation of employees and disposable income are still about 14% above the rest of the country. 

“This means that the typical Albertan still earns more, on average, than households in the rest of the country. However, what has been often referred to as ‘the Alberta Advantage’ is melting away and has almost disappeared, based on some metrics.”

The Daily Brief | Former Conservative MP will endorse a Liberal

By
Rachel Parker
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As federal workers continue to demand more money, government records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation reveal that the federal government gave 802,043 raises to workers between 2020 and 2022.

Plus, retired Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie said he’s supporting a Liberal vying to replace him, following a controversial Conservative nomination process in which his daughter lost, one candidate was disqualified, and two Electoral District Association executive members resigned.

And the Alberta government is continuing its push against the Trudeau government’s assault on law-abiding gun owners.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Rachel Emmanuel and Andrew Lawton!

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BONOKOSKI: Do Canadians care about the coronation of King Charles III?

By
Mark Bonokoski
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With the coronation of King Charles III less than two weeks away, it’s a ho-hum deal to the majority of Canadians after the great flourish to bid a final farewell to his long-popular mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

According to a Leger poll, a majority of Canadians surveyed, at 67%, were indifferent to King Charles, compared to only 12% who said it was good that he was monarch.

Just 13% of those surveyed said they felt a personal attachment to the monarchy, but more than half said it’s the right time for the country to reconsider its ties with the institution.

The new sovereign ascended the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last September. Now, he is due to be crowned May 6 alongside Camilla, Queen Consort, during a symbolic ceremony at Westminster Abbey, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Buckingham Palace has said the event will be modernized to reflect the monarchy’s present-day role but will still retain the “longstanding traditions and pageantry” seen at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

A guest list of 2,200 will get to see up-close what’s in store once the event kicks off next month.

Yet, despite the event being well within view, Canada has not indicated who would be sent, perhaps in reflection of the controversy of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stay in a uber-posh $6,000-per-night hotel room in London while attending the Queen’s funeral.

Whether out of love for Britain’s monarchy or mere fascination with the nation’s most recognizable family, millions of eyes will be on King Charles on coronation day.

Charles will travel with Queen Camilla from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey — for 900 years, monarchs have been crowned at the London landmark.

The royal couple will be traveling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, a carriage with surprisingly up to date modifications such as air conditioning and electric windows,

Inside the Abbey, Charles will be seated in the Coronation Chair, or Edward’s Chair, and he will be holding the sovereign’s scepter — a gold rod with amethyst monde, diamonds, rubies and emeralds — which represents control over the nation. He will also have the sovereign’s orb, a golden globe with a cross on top.

Charles will be asked during the ceremony if he will govern the U.K. and other nations of the Commonwealth with law and justice and if he will maintain Christianity in the nation, the London Telegraph reported.

But the monarch is also taking steps to act as a defender of all faiths, and include other religious groups in the big event to reflect a more diverse contemporary Britain.

During the ceremony, Charles will be anointed with chrism oil that was made in Jerusalem in March using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives, at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension.

He will then be blessed and consecrated by the Archbishop before having St. Edward’s Crown — a solid gold headpiece adorned by over 400 gemstones, including rubies and sapphires — placed on his head. Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, which has been reset with the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewelry collection.

Pomp and circumstance will never be far from view.

Carolyn Harris, a historian and commentator on the Royal Family, says King Charles appears to be working hard to connect with the public by interacting with people from all walks of life.

She said this effort is also evident on the royal social media accounts, where staff have responded to public questions about the coronation and published a behind-the-scenes video of Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, reviewing notes on a train during a recent official visit to Germany.

“This very early part of this reign, we see efforts to make his role more accessible,” she said.

Whether it will impress Canadians will be another story.

Asylum claimants make up 30% of Toronto’s homeless shelter population

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Data out of Toronto shows that asylum claimants make up a third of the population of homeless shelters. 

Total occupancy by asylum claimants reached 30% in municipal shelters last month, with some staying as long as six months at a time. 

“We’re running about 9,000 beds per night in the shelter system, and right now about 2,700 of those beds on a nightly basis are being utilized by refugee claimants,” said the head of Toronto’s shelter programming, Gord Tanner. 

“We are trying our best to string people into the programs that best meet their needs. But at this time, it’s been very difficult with the high number of people arriving.”

Although Roxham Road was officially closed, the city has struggled to deal with the influx of migrants – some of whom have arrived via Toronto Pearson International Airport. 

As of March, anybody arriving at the Roxham Road illegal crossing will be turned away and denied asylum seeker status. 

Asylum claimants are being told to go through proper channels and arrive at designated points of entry. 

“After midnight tonight, police and border officers will enforce the agreement and return irregular border crossers to the closest port of entry,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Mar. 24. 

Trudeau’s decision to shut down the illegal crossing point comes after Quebec asked the federal government to alleviate the demand placed on the province to take in the new arrivals. 

Ottawa has since begun bussing asylum claimants from Quebec elsewhere including places like Niagara Falls. 

According to a True North exclusive, Alberta and British Columbia have no current plants to accept relocated Roxham Road asylum claimants. 

Suspect from Surrey stabbing released back onto the streets

By
Andrew Kozak
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The suspect from a violent knife attack on Surrey’s SkyTrain has been released with conditions less than two weeks after the incident left a 24-year-old man in the hospital in serious condition.

The suspect is a 29-year-old man from Burnaby who was arrested last Friday and has been ordered not to possess knives or contact the victim. The Metro Vancouver Transit Police are recommending charges of assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon purpose.

According to a report by Global News, the victim has since been discharged from the hospital after recovering from a serious stab wound in the stomach.

The attack happened at around 1 am when the suspect had allegedly stabbed the victim and continued riding the train. 

The stabbing is part of a series of recent attacks on Surrey’s SkyTrain. Just this month, a 17-year-old victim died after taking the bus near King George Station.

On April 1st, suspect Abdul Aziz Kawam was arrested for slashing a man’s throat on a bus travelling on Fraser Highway. Kawam allegedly made statements about having conducted the attack for the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

In response to rising incidents of violent crime, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre held a press conference late last month criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bail reforms.

“The crime wave is the direct result of Justin Trudeau and the NDP allowing repeat violent offenders onto the streets again,” said Poilievre. “They have flooded our streets with repeat, dangerous offenders and drugs and the results are plain to all eyes.”

“It’s time to bring some common sense back to our justice system.”

Last month, in the span of a few days, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed and killed in Toronto’s Keele station, a 37-year-old man was stabbed to death in broad daylight at a downtown Vancouver Starbucks and a 15-year-old girl was shot in Calgary’s Martindale community.

At a press conference in Edmonton in April, Poilievre said the solution is to end catch-and-release and introduce “jail not bail” for repeat, violent offenders. 

He also touted the Alberta government’s approach to treating addiction in the province. Since forming government in 2019, the UCP has spent millions developing recovery communities.

Retired Conservative MP will support Liberal candidate following controversial nomination race

By
Rachel Parker
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Retired Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie said he’s supporting a Liberal vying to replace him, following a controversial Conservative nomination process in which his daughter lost, one candidate was disqualified, and two Electoral District Association executive members resigned. 

MacKenzie, who held the riding from 2004 until his retirement earlier this year, said he’s backing local realtor and former educator David Hilderley, who’s seeking the Liberal nomination ahead of the Oxford, Ontario byelection. 

“The way this thing has gone in my riding from my former party, I just find David an easy switch for me,” he told The Globe and Mail on Monday.

True North first reported that the Conservative party disqualified nomination candidate Gerrit Van Dorland, a long-time Conservative activist from Otterville, Ontario.

A statement from pro-life political action group RightNow in March said Van Dorland was targeted for his beliefs.

“The party gave no reason for Gerrit’s disqualification,” an email from RightNow co-founder Scott Hayward told supporters. “The real issue is that Gerrit is pro-life and more than likely to win the nomination.”

At the time, a Conservative spokesperson told True North that Van Dorland was disqualified for failing to disclose details in his application. The party did not specify what details Van Dorland allegedly failed to disclose.

The Conservative nomination eventually went to Arpan Khanna, who ran as a Conservative candidate in Brampton North in 2019 and served as Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s Ontario co-chair in last year’s leadership race. Khanna beat out MacKenzie’s daughter, Deb Tait, and Toronto political strategist Rick Roth.

MacKenzie then accused Poilievre of backing lawyer Arpan Khanna’s candidacy, while two of the riding’s Conservative Electoral District Association executive members quit their posts.

Meanwhile, Roth described Khanna as a “parachute candidate from Brampton” while Khanna accused Roth of “telling lies.”

MacKenzie now tells the Globe he’s concerned that former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer backed Khanna’s nomination.

“Why would Andrew Scheer want to bring a guy in from Brampton?” he said.

“It’s not Stephen Harper’s party or Peter MacKay’s party right now. It just operates differently.”

“I am not knocking Pierre. Pierre’s got some people around him that he might question at some point.”

The Oxford by-election must be called by July 29.

The Andrew Lawton Show | Public servants are blocking infrastructure, and Trudeau doesn’t seem to mind

By
Andrew Lawton
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The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s strike continues, and has escalated into blocks of government buildings and other infrastructure. Union president Chris Aylward even said striking public servants may go to ports of entry to maximize the economic impact of the labour action. In spite of this, no one in the federal government is talking about the Emergencies Act, True North’s Andrew Lawton points out. Canadian Taxpayers Federation federal director Franco Terrazzano joins to talk about the latest strike news.

Also, a new docuseries exposes the truth about Canada’s assisted dying regime. MAiD in Canada producer Andrew Kooman and director Daniel Kooman join The Andrew Lawton Show to discuss the series, which you can watch here.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

Government gave over 800,000 raises to public servants during the pandemic

By
Andrew Kozak
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The federal government gave 802,043 raises to workers between 2020 and 2022 according to government records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).

More than 90% of federal government workers totalling 312,825 employees received at least one raise in 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, 258,596 federal employees received an economic pay increase with an additional 151,247 in 2021 and nearly 30,000 in 2022.

362,764 federal employees received a step pay increase between 2020 and 2022. However, the results do not include pay raises due to promotions, new positions, or the reclassification of a position.

Currently, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which makes up more than 150,000 federal workers, is entering the sixth day of its strike as the union and government attempt to negotiate a fair deal.

“Canadians don’t feel sorry for privileged bureaucrats who took pay raises during the pandemic while the rest of us worried about missing paycheques or losing our jobs,” said CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano, “The fact they’re now striking for billions more shows how out-of-touch they are.”

The average pay for a full-time federal employee is $125,300 including pension and benefits, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

“Taxpayers have already paid for hundreds of thousands of pay raises, hundreds of millions in bonuses and for tens of thousands of new bureaucrats,” Terrazzano said. “The bloated bureaucracy doesn’t deserve a penny more from taxpayers.”

Since the strike began on April 19th, Canadians have experienced delays to many public services such as renewing a passport, filing taxes, issuing licenses, certifications and benefit requests.

Hundreds of military members at CFB Petawawa were left without heat or hot water after more than 500 workers at the facility walked off the job last week. Serving members were sent to work from home as both residential and commercial parts of the base were affected. 

PSAC is demanding up to 47% increases in compensation over three years, which would cost taxpayers $9.3 billion, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

BONOKOSKI: The unaffordable demands of the public service

By
Mark Bonokoski
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While the private sector fights inflation and declines in the dollar, the well-rewarded Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), its 155,000 members now on strike, is actually claiming it is hard done by.

The most recent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report notes, however, that “Compensation per full-time equivalent increased from an average of $117,497 per FTE in 2019-20 to $125,300 in 2021-22.”

According to Statistics Canada, though, the average full-time private-sector salary in Canada as of September 2022 was $1,175.37 per week or $61,119.24 per year for a 40-hour week.

Given some of the current demands from government union negotiators, the PBO estimates “the additional cost to the government would be $16.2 billion over 2023-2024 to 2027-28.”

While Canadians complain about their struggle to pay rent and utilities, plus put food on the table, a total of 312,825 federal employees received at least one pay raise during the pandemic.

More striking, the federal government handed almost $600 million in bonuses since the beginning of the pandemic despite incentive targets never being reached.

“Taxpayers can’t afford to pay billions more to fund a bloated bureaucracy,” said Franco Terrazzano, national director of the Canadian Taxpayer Federation (CTF). “Members of Parliament must speak out and reject the unreasonable demands coming from government union negotiators.

“Families are trying to figure out whether they can afford milk or ground beef at the grocery store and government union negotiators are asking for an extra $9.3 billion. “The government’s bargaining position needs to be absolute no to these demands.”

Demands from the union don’t come cheaply.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provided the CTF with PSAC’s demands for increased wage and non-wage benefits across each bargaining group: 

  • “EB (Education and Library Science)] group – Eight per cent per year over three years. Compounded, this would represent a 25% increase over three years;
  • “PA [Program and Administrative Services] group – Nine per cent per year over three years. Compounded, this would represent a 29% increase over three years.
  • “SV [Operational Services] group – 14 per cent per year over three years. Compounded, this would represent a 47% increase over three years.
  • “TC [Technical Services] group – Nine per cent per year over three years. Compounded, this would represent a 28% increase over three years.”

The TBS also provided the CTF with the cost of PSAC’s demands. 

“Conservative costing of PSAC’s pay proposals and other monetary proposals (e.g. increase in overtime rates, expanded leave provisions) is $3.1 billion per year, every year, ongoing. Over three years, that would amount to a cumulative cost of $9.3 billion.”

The TBS also noted that “PSAC’s pay proposals and other monetary proposals (e.g. increase in overtime rates, expanded leave provisions)” would “represent an ongoing annual cost increase of approximately $27,500 per employee across the 119,000 employees in the EB, PA, SV, and TC groups.”

In addition to wage increases, the TBS told the CTF that “PSAC has a significant number of costly non-wage-related demands,” including:

  • “Increased paid leave for family related responsibilities from 37.5 hours to 75 hours every year.
  • “Accrual of four weeks of automatic vacation leave after four years of service, rather than after seven years of service.
  • “Increased and extended eligibility for a variety of allowances and premiums, including shift premium and meal allowances.
  • “All overtime paid at double-time, where now it is most often paid at time-and-a-half.”

The Public Interest Commission’s report also confirmed that PSAC is demanding a 47%  compensation increase over three years for one of its bargaining groups.

 The report noted that these demands “would result in an increase to compensation far beyond what is reasonable.”

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