RCMP executed a search warrant at two campsites in northern B.C. searching for evidence that tied the camps to a swarming attack on a Coastal GasLink worker less than a week before.
During the Wednesday search, RCMP arrested 5 individuals for obstruction of a peace officer. RCMP said four failed to cooperate with police direction and one attempted to prevent the search.
Breaking: Federal police are raiding Wet'suwet'en territory. Have arrested 5 people.
Occurring one week before the shareholder meeting of @RBC, lead financier of the @CoastalGasLink fracked gas pipeline that the community is opposing. Community leaders will attend that meeting pic.twitter.com/GMKy5X5D33
The warrant was issued to investigate a report that a GasLink worker was swarmed by people wearing camouflage on Sunday, Mar. 26. The attackers reportedly fired flare guns, stole a chainsaw, and entered a work vehicle and poured liquid over it.
“Criminal acts by persons under the guise of protesting, particularly the violence exhibited by the suspects in this instance, will not be tolerated,” an RCMP statement said.
RCMP obtained a warrant to search two camps on Morice Forest Service Road – one just 1.5 kilometres from the attack – for “olive drab coloured masks,” a chainsaw with a specific serial number, and coyote brown fatigues, according to CTV News.
CTV said RCMP declined to answer whether officers found the search warrant items.
RCMP media relations’ statement said the swarming attack was another instance of violence in an apparent pattern against pipeline workers.
Just over one year ago, unidentified individuals attacked a separate Coastal GasLink pipeline site with axes, and are seen in a video to be firing flare guns.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre held a press conference Wednesday criticizing the Trudeau government’s bail reforms after several recent attacks in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
“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.”
This comes after several attacks rattling neighbourhoods across the country.
A 16-year-old boy was stabbed and killed in Toronto’s Keele station Saturday night by a suspect who had an extensive criminal history after assaulting a man with a boxcutter last year.
A 37-year-old man was stabbed to death in broad daylight at a downtown Vancouver Starbucks Sunday evening in front of his fiancee and three-year-old daughter.
A 15-year-old girl was shot in Calgary’s Martindale community on Tuesday and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Also in Calgary, two women were taken to the hospital Tuesday evening at Lions Park Station. One was left in life-threatening condition.
“It’s time to bring some common sense back to our justice system,” said Poilievre after listing the violent incidents. “Today we propose an end to the catch-and-release parole system.”
Quebec Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus introduced Bill C-325 to reform Canada’s Criminal Code. The bill proposes to create a new offence in the Criminal Code for the violation of parole conditions.
“It is unthinkable that sex offenders and other violent criminals are released to serve their sentences in the comfort of their living room while their victims and peaceful neighbours live in fear,” said Paul-Hus. “Bill C-5 is an insult to victims of crime, and we must do all we can to stand up for their rights and to protect law-abiding Canadians.”
In an effort to address “systemic racism” in Canada’s prisons, the government introduced Bill C-5, which amended the Criminal Code to remove mandatory minimum prison sentences for a number of offences, including drug convictions, firearms offences and sexual assault. Bill C-5 became law in 2022.
“Justin Trudeau’s revolving door policies are putting a small number of dangerous, repeat violent offenders on our streets, with heartbreaking consequences in communities across our country,” wrote Poilievre in a statement following the conference.
“Keeping dangerous repeat violent offenders behind bars and off our streets shouldn’t be a controversial proposition, but Trudeau and his Liberal government refuse to lift a finger to help communities that are suffering.”
In an interview with True North, Conservative MP for Calgary Confederation Len Webber shared his concerns with the recent attacks in his riding.
“My colleagues and I are calling for more funding for mental health and more resources for substance abuse programs,” wrote Webber. “The Liberal government has allowed violent crime to flourish in every community in Canada.”
“Canadians don’t want ‘soft on crime’ policies that leave our communities unsafe.”
Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland have tabled their latest budget, replete with so much spending the projected deficit is $40.1 billion – $10 billion higher than what they promised in the fall. Included in the budget are hikes to air travel fees, a tax credit for “clean electricity manufacturing,” and a one-time “grocery rebate” for lower income Canadians. Dalhousie food policy professor Sylvain Charlebois joins The Andrew Lawton Show live to talk about whether this is the antidote for food inflation.
Also, UN scientists have issued their “final warning” on climate change, saying that only swift and drastic action can save the world from global warming. Researcher and journalist Donna Laframboise joins the show to fact check the IPCC.
The federal government has rolled back some of its nascent ban on foreign property purchase amid calls for Canada to boost housing supply.
Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen announced Monday previous bans designed to make property more affordable – by excluding foreign buyers – would be repealed after just two months in an attempt to drive housing development in Canada.
“These amendments strike the right balance in ensuring that housing is used to house those living in Canada, rather than a speculative investment by foreign investors,” said Hussen in a statement.
Non-Canadians can now, once again, buy residential property for the purposes of development or purchase vacant mixed use and residential property.
Non-Canadians are still banned from purchasing residential properties without a plan to develop the property.
The news comes as several voices say Canada needs to increase its housing supply – both to deal with affordability issues, and to cope with high immigration projections.
Last year, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said more than 22 million housing units are needed by 2030 to help most Canadians reach a price point they can afford.
A top banking executive said pressure on housing is expected to continue in the coming years, as Canada increases its immigration targets.
In February, CIBC CEO Victor Dodig said Canada needed to take action to address housing supply to prevent a crisis shortage when record-level immigrants enter the country and add demand for housing.
The repeals on Monday affected a Trudeau government promise from 2021, that the government would introduce a two-year ban against foreign buyers, which were thought to be hiking housing prices by adding overseas demand to the housing market.
The Alberta NDP says Danielle Smith is “unfit” to remain premier after a phone call between her and Artur Pawlowski was released in which she offers to help the controversial street preacher with his criminal charges.
Pawlowski faces mischief for allegedly inciting protestors to continue blocking the international border crossing at Coutts, Alberta in early 2022. He is also charged under the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act with wilfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure, and has a lengthy trail of charges stemming from breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir called for an independent investigation into the premier’s actions just two months ahead of a provincial vote.
“She should not be talking to someone who’s accused of criminal charges and telling them that she’s somehow looking into it,” he told reporters.
The recording was released one day after the Independence Party of Alberta turfed Pawlowski as leader. It reveals a phone conversation between Smith and Pawlowski in early January, just weeks before his trial in Lethbridge on Feb. 2.
The NDP said they received the recording from a concerned member of the public, adding that Pawlowski also published it on Youtube.
In the call, Pawlowski said he’s facing 10 years in prison and blames Smith for not following through on her earlier promises to seek clemency.
Smith tells Pawlowski multiple times that she is unable to intervene in the legal matter during the call.
“There isn’t really a mechanism for me to order them to drop cases,” Smith responds. “It’s just the way our legal system works, I’m afraid.”
Shortly after becoming party leader, Smith said she wanted to pardon those charged for breaching Covid-19 restrictions. She abandoned those promises months later, saying her Justice minister said it would not be possible for her to interfere in the independent Crown prosecution process.
She explains to Pawlowski in the recording, “Once the process is underway, I can ask our prosecutors: ‘Is there a reasonable likelihood of conviction and is it in the public interest,’ and I assure you, I have asked them almost weekly ever since I got started here.”
The Alberta NDP say this comment is proof that Smith contacted Crown prosecutors and pressured them to drop Covid cases.
In a statement Wednesday, Smith maintained that she and her staff have not been in contact with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service.
“Allegations to the contrary are defamatory and will be dealt with accordingly,” she said.
Later today, in an effort to continue their campaign of defamatory attacks against me, my office staff, Alberta Crown Prosecutors, and the Alberta Public Service, the CBC intends to release an article about a conversation I had with an individual named, Artur Pawlowski.
“As I have previously stated, I had my staff work with the Ministry of Justice to determine if anything could be done to grant amnesty for those charged with non-violent, non-firearms COVID-related charges.”
“As also indicated previously in multiple interviews, I received a legal brief from the Ministry of Justice recommending against pursuing amnesty further, as several matters involving this issue were and still are before the courts. I have followed that advice.”
The premier has been facing allegations of inappropriately pressuring Crown prosecutors for months. In January, CBC News reported that Smith’s office emailed Crown prosecutors challenging their assessment on Coutts border blockades cases.
After Smith called the reporting “defamatory” and asked for a retraction, CBC doubled down on its reporting with a second story alleging that Smith inappropriately pressured Justice department officials to intervene in pandemic-related charges.
During the call, Smith also repeatedly says she’s trying to “stay in the lines” of what’s appropriate.
“It was a political decision that initiated this, but it can’t be a political decision to end this,” she said. “That’s what I’m finding very frustrating.”
The Independence Party of Alberta has announced it has removed party leader Artur Pawlowski, a street preacher who was arrested and imprisoned during the Covid-19 pandemic for breaching public health restrictions and partaking in the Coutts border blockade.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party said it decided to part ways with Pawlowski after “serious consideration and deliberation among board members.”
— The Independence Party of Alberta (@IndependenceAb) March 29, 2023
“The Independence Party has a platform and policies that reflect the hope of Albertans as an Independent nation,” the statement reads.
“Artur Pawlowski has not reflected this vision in a way that properly aligns with what the party and our platform need to convey and communicate to Albertans.”
Pawlowski was elected party leader just months ago, in September 2022. The Independence Party’s mission is to separate from Canada and create a sovereign nation of Alberta.
As party leader, Pawlowski has been a vocal critic of new Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Shortly after becoming party leader, Smith said she wanted to pardon those charged for breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
She abandoned those promises months later, saying her Justice minister said it would not be possible for her to interfere in the independent Crown prosecution process.
In response, Pawlowski, who’s been tied up in the court for months, called Smith a “Kenney 2.0.”
“We are not going to hope with you, we need to change this government,” he said in January, demanding that Smith step down after she did not meet with pastors nor offer compensation.
“She can set me free. She promised that she will set me free before the election,” he told 100 supporters outside the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton.
One of the charges Pawlowski faces is mischief, for allegedly inciting protestors to continue blocking the international border crossing at Coutts, Alberta in early 2022.
He is also charged under the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act with wilfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure.
Christine Van Geyn is the Litigation Director at The Canadian Constitution Foundation.
On March 21 and 22, the Supreme Court of Canada heard the highly-anticipated appeal in the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) Reference. The IAA is a complex piece of federal legislation setting out when and on what terms projects will be subject to federal assessment and oversight. Dubbed the “no more pipelines,” the law has generated considerable angst from western provinces and industry, who fear that it further erodes regulatory certainty, dissuades investment, and runs roughshod over provincial resource jurisdiction.
The hearing was contentious and attracted a broad cross section of perspectives and interest, represented by a near-record 29 interveners, including seven provinces. The Court selected a seven judge panel instead of its standard nine members, as a result of Justice Brown’s leave pending an investigation into a complaint arising out of an altercation at a hotel in Arizona. Justice O’Bonsawin, the most junior member of the court and also the Supreme Court’s first indigenous justice, also sat out of the hearing, apparently to achieve an odd number on the panel and avoid a split. The questions from the bench came fast and furious, with some legal observers wondering if the panel was in some way compensating for their missing colleagues.
While on its surface the case is about natural resource development and environmental assessments, at a deeper level, it raised questions fundamental to Canadian democracy: who gets to make choices on what policy issues? The central federal government or the provinces? The importance of this case cannot be overstated, particularly since it comes at a critical time in Canada’s federation, where competing regional and political policy visions over the environment and resource development have eroded both confidence and consensus in our constitutional division of powers. Because the “environment” is such all pervasive subject, this case has the potential to significantly alter Canada’s federal structure, and the respective roles of Parliament and the provinces.
The IAA was controversial from the time when it was first enacted by the Trudeau government in 2019, because of its impacts on the provinces’ ability to develop their own natural resources. Namely, the fact that the law supplants the federal government’s preferences for the provinces preferences, even in areas that should be within exclusive provincial jurisdiction. The Alberta government reacted to the controversial legislation by bringing a constitutional challenge, which was successful at the Court of Appeal in a high profile 2022 decision.
The Majority’s decision in the Alberta Court of Appeal captures the attention of legal observers, the media and the public. It went so far as to say that the IAA took a “wrecking ball” to the constitutional right of citizens of Alberta and Saskatchewan to develop their natural resources. The majority continued that the IAA “is a classic example of legislative creep” and it “constitutes a profound invasion into provincial legislative jurisdiction and provincial proprietary rights” which, if upheld, would result in the “centralization of the governance of Canada to the point this country would no longer be recognized as a real federation.” The majority also expressed concern that the IAA “allows the federal government to pick winners and losers” and is “a licence to systematically expand federal powers under the environmental umbrella.” They also said that it would be discriminatory “to deprive Alberta and Saskatchewan, which together have the vast majority of oil and gas reserves in this country, of their constitutional right to exploit those natural resources.” This was a powerfully worded defence of provincial rights.
In recent months, the Canadian public has grown increasingly interested in issues relating to provincial rights, especially in light of the Alberta government’s moves regarding an “Alberta Sovereignty Act” and the federal government’s Carbon Pricing Scheme recently upheld of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also recently heard another case on the division of powers, the Reference Re An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children, youth and families. The Canadian Constitution Foundation’s video explaining that seemingly esoteric case received over 100,000 views on YouTube.
But the public fascination with the division of powers and federalism should come as no surprise. Upholding the division of powers is not a theoretical issue. It has long reaching practical effects. The division of powers directly impacts the lives of Canadians. Laws outside the scope of federal or provincial jurisdiction are what lawyers call ultra vires, a Latin phrase meaning “beyond the powers.” The IAA is one such law. And if allowed to stand, ultra vires laws alter the basic political, economic, and legal foundation upon which Canadians order their lives. Brett Carlson, legal counsel for the CCF in the IAA Reference, commented in the Canadian Constitution Foundation’s book “Freedom Through Federalism,” “ultra vires laws erode public confidence in Canada’s political institutions, undermine government accountability, and trigger further acts of government overreach. These effects directly and materially impact the relationship that Canadian citizens have with their governments and political institutions.”
To use this case as an example, the IAA would have an impact on the economic well-being of Albertans, as it leaves “almost no aspect of a province’s economy” free from federal intrusion. This has a “corrosive effect on the economic health and wellbeing” of provincial citizens by “taking a wrecking ball” to “capital investments in projects vital to” provincial economies, to use the Court of Appeal’s words.
Ultimately, this case is not about whether the IAA is good or bad policy. It is about interpreting the division of powers, and what level of government is entitled to legislate in specific policy areas. Defending the rules around “who decides” matters. Allowing the IAA to stand would undermine the benefits of diversity and experimentation that federalism allows to flourish. Ignoring the time-tested principles of federalism in favour of centralized power, to use the words of the Court of Appeal, “rarely works in a geographically large country with a diverse population and divergent regional priorities.”
The Trudeau government unveiled its latest budget on Tuesday and revealed that it plans to push back plans to balance the budget, and is projecting deficits until the year 2028.
Plus, a Bloc Quebecois MP said in the House of Commons that it was worth violating the free speech rights of Canadians with Bill C-11 if it means that content made in Quebec gets promoted online.
And Albertans concerned with Elections Alberta’s use of electronic voting machines in the upcoming provincial election have retained legal counsel.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Rachel Emmanuel and Lindsay Shepherd!
Surely there must have been some discomfort among our MPs as they sat to hear Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland deliver her budget to the downtrodden whilst knowing that in a few short days — on April 1st to be precise — their annual salary will jump by $5,100.
April Fool’s Day is, therefore, an apropos day for our federal politicians to play us for fools by grabbing more of our money while padding their own pockets at the same time.
It’s ingrained in the system; presumably so beat-up taxpayers don’t know they’re taking another hit while inflation is crippling them and food prices have the CEOs of the major grocery chains flying to Ottawa with wiped smiles to explain themselves and their record profits.
There will be no headline on April 2, for example, telling the public that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will start getting an extra $10,200 on April 1, based on contract data published by the government of Canada.
It will just happen.
This, however, will make it the fourth pay raise since the outset of the pandemic, with backbench MPs pocketing an extra $5,100.
A backbencher currently collects a $189,500 salary, which is not exactly chump change. Cabinet ministers take home $279,900. Trudeau gets $379,000 from taxpayers.
“Do they really think they should take thousands more from their constituents, many of whom are struggling to fill the fridge?” asks Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayer Federation.
Terrazzano is like a dog on the bone when it comes to MP salaries, especially when the electorate is legitimately crying poor and unable to take another hit to their household income.
The federal government, via Ms. Freeland, is set to offer about $3 billion over five years in tax credits to boost Canadian clean technology investments, and to spend $2.4 billion to help low- and middle-income households with the high cost of living, or so says various confidential sources.
But will they finally rein in the carbon tax?
On Monday, the CTF released a Leger poll that showed, not surprisingly, that four out of five Canadians oppose the April 1 pay hike to all MPs, at the same time, there are calls out to Freeland to stop the carbon tax and the escalating alcohol tax which also kicks in on April 1.
“MPs are taking higher pay the same day they take more money from Canadians and that’s wrong,” said Terrazzano. “At the very least, Freeland must cancel the MP pay and tax hikes in the budget.”
The Trudeau government claims that “families are going to be better off” with its carbon tax and rebates. It expects us to believe it can raise taxes, skim some off the top to pay for scores of new programs and still make us better off.
As Terrazzano put it, the Parliamentary Budget Officer — the taxpayers’ watchdog — has warned against believing such spin.
”The carbon tax will cost the average family between $402 and $847 this year, even after the rebates,” wrote Terrazzano.
While Ottawa sticks Canadians with higher bills, other countries have provided relief. The CTF identified 51 national governments that cut taxes during the pandemic and as inflation took off.
That includes more than half of G7 and G20 countries and two-thirds of the countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Australia cut its gas tax in half. India cut its gas tax to “keep inflation low, thus helping the poor and middle classes.”
The United Kingdom announced billions in full tax relief. South Korea cut its gas tax by 30%. Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Peru, Poland and 25 Indian states also cut their fuel tax.
A candidate vying for the United Conservative Party nomination in Calgary North East promoted an Alberta NDP candidate just two years ago, at the same time posts advocating for the firing of former premier Jason Kenney were shared from his Facebook account.
Inder Grewal announced his candidacy in Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Rajan Sawhney’s riding on March 24. Sawhney has announced she will not seek reelection in the riding.
Less than two years prior, in a July 2021 Facebook post, Grewal shared a photo with Alberta NDP candidate Parmeet Singh saying it was nice meeting with him during the Stampede City Roadshow. Singh is still the NDP candidate for Calgary Falconridge.
A couple days later, Grewal shared another photo and again tagged Singh, thanking him for the “really wonderful” stampede breakfast.
Grewal said his past affiliation with an Alberta NDP candidate does not constitute political activity, but rather, support of a family friend. He said he’s never been a member of the Alberta NDP and his past activity didn’t hurt the UCP.
“I think if you’re going as a family friend, not as a political activity, there’s no harm,” he told True North.
In October, a CUPE Alberta attack ad against the UCP was shared on Grewal’s Facebook page. The ad’s graphic reads “Sign up to defeat Jason Kenney,” and the text beneath it reads “Hand Jason Kenney his termination papers.”
The description above the ad lamented that the UCP had “gone to war” with doctors, nurses, teachers, and healthcare workers — a common Alberta NDP attack line.
Grewal said he didn’t share the post, noting his family also had access to his Facebook account in the past.
That same month, a Mainstreet Research poll showing the Alberta NDP on track to form a majority government – 45 points to the UCP’s 29 — was also shared from his account.
Other photos of Grewal with the NDP candidate date back to April 2019, during the last provincial election. Grewal said he never doorknocked with the party.
Grewal is running against former Dashmesh Culture Centre chairman Harjit Singh Saroya for the UCP nomination.
Saroya said Grewal “should make his stand clear.” He also said it’s “unfair” that he recently switched his allegiance, noting he’s supported the Conservatives for 26 years.
UCP spokesperson Dave Prisco said it’s not a “hard no” if a nomination applicant used to work for or support another party. The applicant must show commitment to the UCP during the application process, he said, and the review board investigates specific complaints.
He said specific applications are confidential, meaning the party won’t comment on whether Grewal’s past NDP support was reviewed before he was approved.
Grewal told True North his old posts did come up in the application process, and he told the party he was merely supporting a family friend as is custom in his culture.
Calgary North East party members will head to the polls to choose their candidate on Saturday.
