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Thursday, September 25, 2025

NDP pledge to make Somali curriculum if elected

By
Rachel Parker
-

The Alberta NDP is promising to create a Somali curriculum if elected in the province’s spring general election.

NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman challenged her United Conservative Party government counterpart during Question Period on Monday, saying the government hasn’t prioritized supporting youth learning in Alberta schools.

“Given that we’re in the NDP, and we are committed to making sure that all students in Alberta schools have the tools they need to be supported,” Hoffman said, before announcing the party’s latest election pitch.

“So why didn’t the current education minister or anyone in UCP make this a priority,” she continued. “They’ve had four years.”

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange responded that school authorities already have the flexibility to develop or acquire locally developed courses to address particular student or community needs, including language and culture. 

“Mr. Speaker, we do that on an ongoing basis in education each and every day,” she said.  “We celebrate every community.”  

In response to the video circulating online, one Twitter user asked Hoffman to explain what a Somali curriculum is.

The NDP deputy leader said it’s “a chance to learn language and culture of Somolia just like many other languages we offer in Alberta schools: French, German, Spanish…”

Hoffman did not comment on whether teaching Somali culture would extend to teaching the nation’s views on LGBTQ+ rights. It’s illegal to openly practice an LGBT lifestyle in Somalia, an offense punishable by up to three years in prison. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by up to death in areas controlled by Al-Shabab,a jihadist military organization based in Somalia and active elsewhere in East Africa.

According to a 2016 Statistics Canada census, 62,550 people reported Somali ancestry. Edmonton has a large population of Somali Canadians and the Somali Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton (SCCSE) was established as a non-profit organization in 1991 “to meet the needs of the Somali Canadian community in Edmonton and its surroundings.”

The Alberta NDP already has a strong hold over Edmonton. In the 2019 election, the NDP won all but one of the 19 seats in Edmonton — that went to Kaycee Madu, who was named Deputy Leader under Premier Danielle Smith.

Alberta will head to the polls on May 29.

Liberal MP allegedly advised China to delay releasing the two Michaels

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A new report by Global News based on national security sources claims that Liberal MP Han Dong advised a Chinese diplomat to prevent the freeing of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 

On Wednesday evening, Dong informed the House of Commons that he would be resigning from the Liberal Party and would sit as an independent MP.

Kovrig and Spavor were detained by China in retaliation to the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities. They have since been released following a deal with China secured by the US Department of Justice.

According to the sources, Dong told China’s consul general in Toronto Han Tao that freeing the two Canadians would benefit the Conservatives. 

Additionally, Dong guided the diplomat to show progress on their cases in order to help the Liberals. 

Dong denies claims that he initiated the conversation and told Consul General Han to not release Kovrig and Spavor but confirmed to Global News that he did speak with the diplomat. 

“I raised the status of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and called for their immediate release,” Dong told the outlet. 

“At every opportunity before they returned home, I adamantly demanded their release to Canada without delay. Any suggestions otherwise are false and are attempts to mislead you and your readers, and slander me.”

The Prime Minister’s Office told Global News that it was not aware of the conversation between the Liberal MP and the Chinese diplomat until the media raised the issue. 

“(We) only became aware that a conversation took place after Mr. Dong told us, following recent media questions,” PMO spokesperson Alison Murphy told Global News.

“At no time was Mr. Dong ever used as a ‘back channel.’”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended Dong who is facing allegations of benefiting from a Chinese election interference plot involving Beijing bussing in supporters for his Liberal Party nomination in 2021.  

“Han Dong is an outstanding member of our team and suggestions that he is not loyal to Canada should not be entertained,” said Trudeau in February. 

The Rupa Subramanya Show | Pro-Beijing media received Canadian bailouts during pandemic (ft. Jonathan Manthorpe)

By
Rupa Subramanya
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Two Chinese language media outlets in Canada, Ming Pao and Sing Tao Daily, are not only sympathetic to the regime in China, but also received emergency bailout funds during the pandemic.

To discuss the extent of China’s influence in Canada, journalist Jonathan Manthorpe joins Rupa on the show today. Author of “Claws of the Panda,” Manthorpe explains China’s pernicious strategies to direct leadership in Canada.

In their discussion, Rupa and Jonathan get to the bottom of China’s influence in Canada and just how deep the roots go.

Tune into The Rupa Subramanya Show on True North!

Record-breaking population growth driven by migration, says StatCan

By
Connor McDowell
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Source: Government of Canada

Canada experienced record population growth last year, almost entirely driven by migrants.

Statistics Canada on Wednesday released data showing that Canada’s population rose by more than 1,000,000 between January 1st, 2022 and January 1st, 2023.

“International migration accounted for nearly all growth recorded (95.9%),” Statistics Canada’s report said.

The country welcomed a record-breaking 437,180 immigrants, and a record-breaking estimated net increase of 607,782 non-permanent residents.

According to Statistics Canada, these figures put Canada on track to double its population before 2050.

True North reported last month that policy makers are boosting immigration rates to address labour shortages caused by Canada’s aging population.

Statistics Canada reported last month that the country recently set a record level of empty jobs – more than 1,000,000 unfilled positions in May 2022.

LEVY: School board shells out for race grifter while failing to address safety concerns

By
Sue-Ann Levy
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An American professor and race-based activist was hired to deliver her schtick on the “Archaeology of Self” to interested Toronto District School Board (TDSB) elementary and high school students, parents and staff Tuesday.

The talk by Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz – a professor at Columbia University Teachers College and poet – was coordinated by the board’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and TDSB’s equity department to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The Centre – one of the main ways the board segregates black students for specialized treatment – was established in June of 2021 just around the time Colleen Russell Rawlins was appointed as the board’s education director.

Sealey-Ruiz describes her expertise as that in the areas of radical literacy development, culturally responsive education, black girl literacies and black and Latinx Males.

She was booked to give three webinars at a cost of $7,500 CDN. Each webinar was an hour only.

She also makes it quite clear that she has just commenced “The Year of Yolie” – her sabbatical – which will no doubt provide more time for race grifting.

TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird called her a “leading voice in racial literacy.”

According to her website her Arch(aelogy) of Self ™ is an “action-oriented process requiring love, humility, reflection, an understanding of history and a commitment to working against racial injustice.” 

She claims that to sustain racial literacy one should ascribe to a model that includes the Arch of Self along with critical reflection, critical humility and critical love, among other things.

Her website includes promotion of her poetry book, “Love from the Vortex” which Sealey-Ruiz describes as an “archeological exploration on love and intimacy… her journey of finding and losing love over the span of three decades with six different men who came into her life at various times.”

(The paperbook cost is $14.99).

She is in fact a full-service race hustler who also sells “official Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz Love and Peace merchandise” on her website – ranging from t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, bags, fridge magnets, notebooks and buttons.

I’m not sure who is running the TDSB circus considering the ongoing revelations about the horrific violence in the board’s schools and the cries for help by a host of principals unable to contain it.

Three months ago, the violence came to ahead amid promises by Russell-Rawlins and her right -hand executive superintendent Jim Spyropoulos that safety was an issue of “great importance” and that their new plan – A Collaborative Approach to School and Community Safety — would add social workers and hall monitors to violent schools.

The two are the best definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Hugging thugs who disrupt schools and classrooms with no consequences for bad behaviour will accomplish nothing.

Meanwhile, the resource-strapped board sees no problem with hiring a U.S. race grifter to deliver mumbo jumbo – a race grifter, it seems, that has turned her messaging into an online store.

What possible use or help could such a speaker be to calm what has become an incendiary situation at the TDSB – most of it created by the bureaucrats and woke trustees themselves.

Yet our Premier Doug Ford and his weak education minister Stephen Lecce do nothing to put an end to this out-of-control nonsense.

Once again an Ontario school board is making a mockery of education while our politicians stand by and idly watch.

OPP warns snowmobilers of the dangers of climate change

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has told snowmobilers to be extra cautious of the impacts of climate change when out on trails as the sport’s season comes to a wrap. 

In an interview with The Canadian Press, OPP’s motorized snow vehicle co-ordinator Paul Beaton cited 13 deaths this year as a result of snowmobile accidents. 

“Maybe that does represent an increase because we’re having the same number of deaths over a shorter period of time,” said Beaton. 

“We do have a very narrow season and we’re seeing it reduce year after year…This may tie into global warming.”

Beaton said that snowmobilers need to pay attention to changing weather patterns and ice thickness. 

“We’re not getting the good snowpack and the consistent cold weather riders need to have solid trails, frozen waterways. The next thing you know, all that ice that may have been safe to travel on changes drastically,” said Beaton. 

“It’s not able to support the weight of you or your snowmobile so people have gone through the water and have perished.”

Last year, 13 people died from snowmobiling.

Statistics show that 46% of fatal snowmobile crashes took place in Ontario’s northeast. 

“People being aware of how the weather can impact riding safely is incredibly important,” said Beaton. 

Earlier this month organizers of the internationally renowned Newfoundland and Labrador snowmobiling event Cain’s Quest cancelled their event citing climate change. 

Race-specific criminal rehab to cost $12M in taxpayer dollars

By
Connor McDowell
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Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino announced on Wednesday the launch of two equity programs aimed to counteract racial imbalance in prisons.

Mendicino announced a program under the Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative (ICCI) to reintegrate Indigenous offenders, and a similar program from The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), targeting Black and other persons of colour.

“Our government is redoubling efforts to address [systemic racism], advancing progressive initiatives that address systemic barriers, give people a second shot and break the cycle of reoffending,” said Mendicino.

The ICCI funds projects that train, counsel and provide services to reintegrate and rehabilitate Indigenous offenders. The government release refers to said projects as alternatives to custody.

The funding includes $5 million over the next two years, and $12 million onwards for the ICCI program.

No funds were announced for the program targeting Black and other persons of colour – the program is in early phases, compiling a list of vendors that could offer paid services in the future.

Liberals and Conservatives tied for vote intention

By
Connor McDowell
-

A recent opinion poll found that the federal Conservative and Liberal parties are tied should an election happen today.

A third of Canadians (33%) said they would vote Conservative, and roughly the same (31%) said they would vote Liberals – the difference of 2% was considered a tie, as it was within sampling error in Abacus Data’s newest survey.

“Despite an opinion environment that remains very challenging for the Liberals, the Conservatives have done little to consolidate the ‘change vote,’” said Abacus Data CEO David Coletto.

Coletto said the data indicates the Conservatives could benefit by focusing on a “change vote group” – 1 in 4 voters that said they want change, but aren’t too excited or motivated about it.

“Either they have to move more of these folks into the ‘definitely want change’ group or they need to find a way to appeal to people who wouldn’t mind change but need a safe alternative to gravitate to,” he explained.

The survey found that the federal Liberals receive highest support from Canadians in the Atlantic region, whereas the Conservatives poll best in Alberta.

Abacus Data polled 1,963 Canadians between March 17th and 21st. The survey carries a margin of error of 2.3%, 19 times out of 20.

Smith says delinquent companies will pay $48 million in unpaid taxes following directive

By
Rachel Parker
-

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says $48 million worth of unpaid municipal taxes are now under repayment plans following a new government directive. 

She was speaking at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta 2023 Spring Convention on Wednesday morning.

The premier touted her government’s plans to force oil patch companies to make good on their unpaid municipal taxes, saying it’s “​​unacceptable when delinquent companies aren’t paying their municipal taxes.”

Under a new directive, companies will not be able to transfer or get new licenses unless the regulators are satisfied that the taxes have been paid. 

“So we just need to make sure that the rest of that gets collected,” Smith said. 

Earlier this month, Rural Municipalities Alberta released figures showing that energy firms owed $268 million in back taxes in 2022, a figure that is up more than six per cent from 2021.

The pace of nonpayment has also increased. There was $53 million left unpaid last year, up $15 million from the previous year. RMA also said its members have written off another $150 million in unpaid taxes as unrecoverable.

Unpaid taxes must not exceed a threshold amount to be determined by the Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Smith also said her government is building on the programs and infrastructure rural Albertan families use every day to keep the next generation of rural Albertans in their hometowns. 

“We hope more opportunities and services mean the next generation of rural Albertans will be more inclined to stay where they grew up, and we hope it means more people and dollars from outside will be drawn into your communities,” she continued.

“Everything we’re doing in the legislature is meant to keep that cycle going starting with the budget.”

Budget 2023, which was tabled in the legislature last month, invests more than $2 billion over three years to increase the local government fiscal framework. Smith said that if passed,  municipal funding will rise or fall in line with 100% of the change in provincial revenues from three years before whereas the original formula reflected only 50% of the revenue change

“Linking funding to revenues ensures you are true partners in Alberta success,” Smith said. 

“And through the fiscal plan, we’re committed to giving top up funding where required so that no municipality will end up with a year over year decrease in the first year that this new fiscal framework takes it back.”

Smith also said she decided to run in a mixed rural urban riding to ensure their voices are “heard at the table.”

“I’m getting every day the same kind of feedback that you’re giving to other MLAs,” she said.
The premier appointed herself the United Conservative Party candidate after winning the leadership in October after the sitting MLA stepped aside to allow Smith to run. She won the byelection on Nov. 9 with 54.5% of the vote, followed by the NDP candidate with 26.7% of the vote.

The Daily Brief | Katie Telford to testify on foreign interference

By
Anthony Furey
-

In a surprise move, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that chief of staff Katie Telford will appear in front of parliamentary committee to testify on allegations of foreign interference mere hours before the Conservative motion to summon her.

Also, former Governor General David Johnston’s decision to launch a public inquiry into Beijing’s interference in Canadian elections will be published in May. Are they stalling?

Next, the Alberta government begins their fight in Canada’s top court on the federal government’s ‘No More Pipelines’ bill.

And lastly, a new study finds that St. John’s, Newfoundland is the most affordable place for first time homebuyers.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Anthony Furey and Rachel Emmanuel!

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