In a last-minute switch, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has backed down from turning a Conservative motion demanding his chief staff Katie Telford appear at a committee on China’s election interference into a confidence motion.
Plus, China’s interference in Canada’s past elections to get a Liberal government re-elected is receiving widespread international attention.
And a Newfoundland university official tweeted ‘f— the police’ in response to a social media post that mourned the death of two Edmonton officers.
Lastly, Anthony Furey shares some exciting news!
Tune into The Daily Brief with Anthony Furey and Lindsay Shepherd!
Canadian hockey player and San Jose Sharks’ goaltender, James Reimer, made a controversial decision this weekend by opting out of pregame warmups because the team wore Pride-themed jerseys.
Reimer attributed his reluctance to his deep-seated Christian beliefs.
“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life,” said Reimer in an official statement.
“I strongly believe every person has value and worth, and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey.”
In a statement, the team said it respects Reimer’s decision.
“As we promote these standards, we also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic,” said the San Jose sharks.
“As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship.”
Reimer’s decision sparked a fury of reactions online, with some accusing the Manitoba native of being a “homophobe,” while others came to the defence of the netminder.
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke said he was “extremely disappointed” with Reimer.
“I wish players would understand that the Pride sweaters are about inclusion and welcoming everybody. A player wearing Pride colors or tape isn’t endorsing a set of values or enlisting in a cause! He is saying you are welcome here. And you are, in every single NHL building,” Burke wrote.
The last thing I’ll say tonight regarding the James Reimer situation:
Jesus is the greatest example of love. He loved people enough to tell them the truth, call them to repentance for their sinful ways & through Him and only Him, can we receive the peace, comfort, fulfillment &… https://t.co/mKuxq4vJB2
Meanwhile, a number of people took to Twitter to defend the former Toronto Maple Leafs player.
Sports journalist Jon Root said, “We know wholeheartedly Jesus wouldn’t wear a Pride jersey. That is what James is talking about. You can’t rewrite the Bible and make Jesus into your ‘tolerant ally’ of the LGBTQ community you desperately want Him to be.”
Reimer’s decision only comes months after Flyers player Ivan Provorov refused to do the same in January.
“I respect everybody’s choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say,” said Provorov.
At the time, sports pundits like Sid Seixeiro called for Provorov to be fined for the decision.
“I think you fine the Flyers a million dollars for this. I’m not kidding. Figure this out and stop offending people on nights when it’s not about that, it’s supposed to be about inclusivity,” said Seixeiro.
“The (NHL) need to attack this… Nothing scares me more than any human being that says ‘I’m not doing this because of my religious beliefs’ because when you look at people’s lives who say that publicly, you would throw up at what you saw.”
The Alberta government has secured another 750,000 bottles of off-brand children’s medication that is available in pharmacies across the province beginning Monday.
The province ordered five million bottles of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to stem the shortage of kids’ medicine back in December.
Speaking from a London Drugs pharmacy in Edmonton on Monday afternoon, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province secured a supply of the medication for years to come, ensuring that Alberta isn’t susceptible to future global supply chain disruptions.
“I want parents to know that your government has heard you, and I truly hope that this supply will provide a little bit more comfort and relief to you and your families,” she said.
“It has been a painstaking rigorous process and it’s taken longer than we hoped for, but today I’m pleased to announce that the wait is over.”
The overall order is costing the province $80-million, including $70-million for the medication and $10-million for shipping, waste disposal, and other administrative costs.
Health Minister Jason Copping said the government went out looking for supply during the shortage and Turkey-based Atabay Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals was the only company the province could find that would supply the product.
“This was one that we went looking for because we knew there was an issue associated with supply… we knew we needed to actually get it as quickly as possible,” he said.
Copping said the province will subsize 50% of the bottle’s cost in store, but still retain some revenue. He also said Alberta is in talks with some provinces about buying part of its supply, which could contribute to revenue.
In mid January, 250,000 bottles of children’s medication arrived in the province for use by Alberta Health Services. Smith said the province hoped bottles would be on the shelves earlier, but the process was delayed by Health Canada as it ensured the children’s pain and fever medication was consistent with national standards.
Alberta Pharmacists’ Association CEO Margaret Wing said supply of some pediatric medications has stabilized in parts of the province.
“However, we’re still experiencing some areas in the province where these medications are still hard to find,” she said. “And there are supply challenges and inconsistencies and stocks. So certainly today’s announcement helps greatly.”
Edmonton pharmacist Chandan Sangha said throughout the shortage, parents would come into pharmacies looking for medicine. He said it “puts a strain on our hearts because… there’s not a whole lot that we could do.“
“The main benefit here again, is you’re not gonna have to deal with sick, sick children and stressed out parents and it’s always nice to know that there’s something we can do,” he said. “There’s not gonna be limits anymore in terms of, you know, one bottle per patient.”
Last week, Dutch Farmers shocked the world and defeated Dutch PM Mark Rutte’s governing party in the Senate elections. International legacy media outlets are describing the Farmer-Citizens Movement victory as a ‘political earthquake’ that has sent shockwaves throughout the Western world.
In the wake of Canada’s Freedom Convoy last year, Dutch farmers rose up in historic numbers to protest nitrogen emissions reduction targets forced on them by the Dutch government. If farmers didn’t comply with Rutte’s heavy-handed emissions restrictions, the Dutch government was threatening to nationalize their farms.
Thanks to exclusive True North reporting, we know that the Trudeau government has taken inspiration from Rutte’s emissions reduction scheme and seeks to mirror those same policies here in Canada. This result may make him think twice.
A Canadian business advocacy group is asking parliament to trash a Bill C-18 motion that would expose communications between private Canadians and tech giants.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 200,000 businesses, wrote a protest letter to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. The letter said an upcoming motion – seeking to compel Meta and Google to release private communications with Canadians – is undemocratic.
“The motion, which was disclosed only last Thursday by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, poses a serious threat to the privacy of Canadians and to their rights to hold and express opinions on public issues,” the statement said.
The Chamber argued that parliament is trying to intimidate Canadian opponents of Bill C-18. This is by threatening that private communications – such as emails sent to Meta – would be scrutinized publicly, subjecting opponents to any kind of direct or indirect repercussions for their privately expressed views.
The group said parliament’s motion would set a dangerous precedent, paving the way for future governments to intimidate critics. This is especially worrying, the Chamber said, because last week’s C-18 example was politically biased.
“The motion is directed only at the opponents of the bill, whom it accuses of ‘intimidation and subversion tactics,’ the letter wrote. “Is the government prepared to apply the same disclosure standards to itself and to supporters of the bill, who have a direct and substantial interest in its passage?”
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is not alone in criticizing parliament. University of Ottawa law professor, Michael Geist, said things are getting political.
“The intent seems fairly clear,” Geist wrote on Substack. “[Threaten] guilt by association for anyone who dares to communicate with these companies.”
Geist said parliament wants to use fodder from Canadians’ private communications to selectively attack critics, discrediting opposition voices and helping to get Bill C-18 passed.
The move would also set an example to other Canadians, he said: that their participation in public policy is not welcome.
As True North reported, Bill C-18 would require tech giants to pay royalties to Canadian journalists when news is hosted on sites like Facebook or Instagram.
A “sensual embodiment” workshop being held at the University of Guelph (U of G) is only open to those who identify as non-white 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Interested in healing and sensuality? Join Natasha tomorrow in the UC to take part in "Live Your Best Sensual Life: A Sensual Embodiment Practice." Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
— UofGStudentExperience (@UofGStudentExp) March 19, 2023
The “Live Your Best Sensual Life: A Sensual Embodiment Practice” workshop featuring sexual health and pleasure educator Natasha Lawrence is just the latest segregated event held at the southwestern Ontario university.
“Join Natasha ‘Natty Love’ in an exploration of all things sensual,” reads the workshop description on U of G’s website. “We will activate the senses through the practice of embodiment.”
The event description says embodiment practice is “utilizing the body as a tool for our own healing. Sensual Embodiment takes a pleasure-centered approach towards our own healing.”
“Let’s reconnect with our bodies through the power of sensuality!”
The website notes that the workshop is “exclusive to 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, or a person of colour.”
On her business website, Lawrence says that her “sex positive, sex worker positive, and kink/BDSM positive” practice “encompasses discussion around sexual pleasure, sexual agency and autonomy, sensuality, eroticism, and consent.”
Her work is “grounded in Anti-Racism, Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Oppression, Queer Theory, Sex Positivity, Intersectional Feminist, and Trauma-Informed frameworks,” which she says helps support “her efforts in prioritizing racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, that are often fed false narratives of being unworthy of pleasure.”
Lawrence typically charges $110 per hour for her services, but notes that she also offers affordable sliding scale options. She says she has helped out children, youth and adults “who hold multiple intersections and identities” through her work.
The U of G event, hosted in part by the University of Guelph’s Cultural Diversity and Sexual and Gender Diversity offices, takes place on Monday, Mar. 20 It features refreshments, swag bags, as well as “sex positive” prizes and giveaways.
The Ontario university previously hosted Lawrence in 2022 for a Black History Month workshop titled “Mapping Out Your Pleasure and Liberation.” The virtual event was “exclusive to Black-identifying students, staff, and faculty.”
U of G has also hosted racially segregated art sessions and yoga classes, and offers weekly “LGBTQ2IA+ Only” swim times at its athletics centre – as previously reported by True North’s Campus Watch series.
True North reached out to U of G and Lawrence for comment, but neither responded in time for publication.
China’s interference in Canada’s past elections to get a Liberal government re-elected is receiving widespread international attention.
On Monday, while debating proposed changes to Australia’s referendum law, the country’s Senate frequently made reference to the election interference intelligence reports coming out of Canada.
Australian Liberal Party Senator James Paterson highlighted reports indicating that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s re-election was the “most preferred” result for Beijing.
“The most recent case study that we have is from Canada, where leaked documents from the Canadian intelligence agency set out pretty clearly what the Chinese Communist Party’s objectives were in intervening in previous Canadian elections,” said Paterson.
“What I thought was most interesting from those leaked documents was the assessment by the Canadian intelligence community that the outcome the Chinese government most preferred wasn’t just the re-election of the Trudeau government but the re-election of the Trudeau government in minority.”
Canada is shamefully becoming a world-wide example of a democracy being manipulated by China.
On Monday, Australian Senator James Patterson discussed China's meddling to get Justin Trudeau re-elected. #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/iopceQ2fQZ
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) leaks first reported by the Globe and Mail reveal how China saw another Trudeau term as the ideal outcome.
The reports quoted one unnamed state agent saying that Beijing likes it “when the parties in Parliament are fighting with each other, whereas if there is a majority, the party in power can easily implement policies that do not favour” China.
Leaks also indicate that up to 11 candidates, mostly Liberal, benefited from Chinese government interference.
Paterson and other Senators also highlighted how China sought to exacerbate divisions and polarization in Canada via election interference.
“In Canada, their intelligence agencies uncovered plots to interfere in their 2021 election in order to create a minority government,” said Senator James McGrath.
“This is one of a long list of foreign influence campaigns that have been revealed publicly not just in North America but in Europe and elsewhere. We are not immune.”
Trudeau’s decision last week to appoint former governor general David Johnston as a chief investigator into Chinese election interference claims has caused a stir, considering his links to the Trudeau Foundation which had to return a large donation found to be tainted by Chinese influence.
New research suggests that 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a family physician — a number that rose by 2 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Results from the OurCare national survey estimate that more than one in five Canadian adults don’t have a family physician or nurse practitioner.
The survey was conducted between September and October 2022 and includes more than 9,000 responses from across the country.
Around 1 in 3 adults in B.C, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces reported not having a family doctor or nurse practitioner. That number drops to 13% in Ontario.
Adults who don’t have a doctor are higher among those who are racialized, lower income, and poorer health groups. Another 45% of those aged 18 to 29 said they didn’t have a family doctor. And 17% of respondents who were without a family doctor or nurse practitioner said they weren’t looking for one, most commonly because they thought they didn’t need one as they’re healthy.
Among the 65 and older age group, 13% reported a lack of a family physician.
A recent analysis of health administrative data in Ontario found that the number of people without regular access to primary care rose from 1.8 million in March 2020 to 2.2 million in March 2022.
Of those who lack a primary care physician, 12% are regularly turning to a specialist physician or pharmacist. They’re also visiting in-person walk-in clinics, virtual walk-in clinics or hospital emergency rooms. Some also turned to pharmacists, chiropractors, naturopaths, specialists and other providers.
Another 21% reported having to pay a fee when they sought care for their urgent problem with the fee paying for the appointment 80% of the time. The percentage of those reporting they had to pay a fee was more than twice as high in Quebec than other provinces.
A Newfoundland university official on Friday tweeted ‘f— the police’ in response to a social media post that mourned the death of two Edmonton officers.
Kerri Neil, a regent board member at Memorial University of Newfoundland, responded to a police Twitter post that grieved Cst. Travis Jordan, 35, and Cst. Brett Ryan, 30 who were killed last week on duty.
True North reported on Thursday that the officers responded to an Edmonton call at 12:47 a.m. and were killed before being able to draw their weapons in defence. The assailant was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Neil’s Friday tweet, jeering at Canada’s police force a day after the two deaths, was not her first run-in with controversy.
I just got fired for my twitter and maybe some would take it as a sign that they delete this app but I am going to take it as a sign I was working for the wrong organization. #EngagedCitizen4Lyfe
In 2018, Neil was terminated from her role as a byelection candidate due to her online activity. At the time, she was representing the NDP party for the Ontario riding of Windsor Lakes.
After being terminated, Neil posted that she would not delete Twitter or halt online activity in order to preserve her career. Her profile has been active since, touting controversial opinions.
— Comrade Heather 🇮🇪☭🇵🇸☭🇮🇪 (@ComradeHeather) March 18, 2023
According to the website of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Neil serves as a member of its board of regents, which manages and controls the university’s property, business and affairs.
Young Canadians are the most likely to say they’re the least satisfied with the state of Canada, according to a new national survey.
Nanos Research found that people under the age of 35 offered the poorest score when it comes to rating their satisfaction with Canada.
Canadians were asked to rate their satisfaction from a range of one to ten with ten being very satisfied. The mean score for the entire country was 6.6. In 2023, only 64% of Canadians said they were satisfied with Canada, while in 2021 that number was 74%.
For young people, the mean score dropped to 5.8.
“I think if you had said fast forward from 2015 to 2023, that young people would be the most pessimistic, that young people would be the least satisfied, you’d probably be very surprised,” said Research Char Nik Nanos.
“Young people are usually the most optimistic and positive because they’re healthy, they’re starting to get jobs and they’re at the beginning of their earnings cycle … so those numbers for (them) and their level of satisfaction is absolutely brutal.”
A recent Leger poll found that dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government among the under 35 cohort has spiked to 47%.
Today more Canadians of that age group are dissatisfied with Trudeau than the 41% who are satisfied with his performance.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has made dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs a central pillar in his campaign.
“After eight years of the Prime Minister, everything feels broken. After eight years, we have half of Canadians cutting back on groceries and 20% of them skipping meals because the Prime Minister’s carbon tax, with the help of the NDP, has made food prices unaffordable,” said Poilievre last month.
“What else is broken? It is our laws, literally broken. Our violent crime laws have been broken 32% more than when the Prime Minister took office eight years ago.”
