Emergency rooms in Quebec had the average patient waiting longer than 5 hours last year, according to a new study.
The study released on Thursday from the Montreal Economic Institute showed half of all patients in Quebec emergency rooms waited longer than five hours and 11 minutes.
“If you need emergency medical care in Quebec, you’d better learn to be patient,” said study author Emmanuelle Faubert.
Quebec’s emergency wait-time increased by 40 minutes since four years ago – a rise of roughly 15%.
“These observations demonstrate that the system is inefficient and does not manage to provide the care patients need,” said Faubert.
Wait-time has also increased for patients on stretchers.
In 2022, one-in-four patients on a stretcher in a Quebec emergency room spent longer than 24 hours waiting for care. That made for roughly 210,000 people.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault recently unveiled a plan to address healthcare needs – allowing private entrepreneurs to build two “mini-hospitals” in the province.
Faubert said the plan may alleviate pressure on the province’s healthcare system, and innovation is what Quebec needs to make an improvement.
The executive director of an emergency shelter intended for refugees says he has never seen so many newcomers, and is hoping for more than band-aid solutions from government.
Director John Mtshede said that after working fourteen years with emergency refugee shelter Matthew House, now is the busiest.
“I haven’t seen this large, large number we are experiencing,” he said to True North. “We have people coming in thousands in Niagara Falls. Housing is now a big challenge.”
“A very very big challenge.”
Residents are struggling to settle after their time expires in emergency shelters, said Mtshede, and Niagara Falls is dealing with a huge housing backlog.
While thousands enter the area, Matthew House charity provides shelter to 35 at a time, each for a maximum of 60 days.
Mtshede said the charity also helps newcomers staying elsewhere, by helping to complete their paperwork. That’s often done by connecting them with a lawyer, as well as social services such as Ontario Works.
Those who speak English often find work in the area, Mtshede said, though most do not speak English, and struggle to find employment.
The mayor of Niagara Falls recently said the city is overwhelmed, after nearly 3,000 asylum seekers entered the area from Roxham Road and began living in hotel rooms paid for by the federal government.
The government is relocating newcomers into areas such as Niagara Falls and Atlantic Canada after Quebec Premier François Legault said Quebec was full.
In January, the Globe and Mail reported Canada’s government spent $94 million on hotel rooms for migrants – something Mtshede hopes will change.
“We want to build affordable housing,” he said. “It’s difficult for us to get funding for that, but the government is able to splash $94 million dollars on the short term… which is a band-aid.”
In October, the Niagara Review wrote Mtshede is a former refugee himself, adding to his knowledge of what Canada can do to help those in need.
Refugee assistance initiatives have gained media attention this year as politicians debate the illegal Roxham Road border crossing between Quebec and New York State, which is directing asylum seekers across Canada.
Last month, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called on the Liberal government to close the crossing, though the situation is complicated by an international agreement between Canada and the United States.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is “determining appropriate steps” to take against four serving members who used their public social media accounts to bash Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Conservatives at large and the Freedom Convoy movement.
On Wednesday, a Department of National Defence spokesperson confirmed with True North that it is investigating a series of social media posts that appear to violate various portions of the CAF’s code of conduct.
“We can confirm that they are currently serving members,” a DND spokesperson told True North.
“While we were not previously aware of this activity, we are currently determining the appropriate steps to be taken.”
True North has decided to not disclose the names of the currently serving members and will instead paraphrase the contents of their social media comments.
All four members involved used their Twitter accounts to express negative and sometimes inflammatory opinions about Poilievre or the Conservative Party of Canada.
One member in particular who has since deleted their account wrote a tweet with the expletive “f*ck Poilievre.”
Comments by members involved also ranged from comparing the Conservative leader to US politicians, saying that he will lose the next election and a claim that he is unfit to lead the country.
Additionally, some members chimed in on Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the fiscal policy of past Conservative governments and more.
The CAF members in question serve in various branches of the military and hold the Captain, Master Sailor, Sergeant and Warrant Officer ranks.
All CAF members are expected to abide by the Queen’s Regulations and Orders (QR&O). In particular, tweets seemed to breach Volume 1, Chapter 19, Section 1. (19.14) and Section 2. (19.36 & 19.44) of the QR&O. These sections have to do with improper comments, disclosure of opinion and political activities.
In response to inquiries, the DND cited “specific guidance” about professional military conduct.
“While the CAF does not actively monitor the social media accounts of its members, any member engaging on social media is expected to present good judgment and conduct themselves in a manner that respects our clear guidelines regarding professional military conduct, including the behaviour of CAF members both on and off social media,” the DND spokesperson told True North.
One of the cited policies warns members about the public nature of social media comments.
“CAF members shall ensure that their online activity, whether on – or off – duty, does not reflect discredit on the CAF, compromise the CAFs reputation and lead others to refuse, be reluctant to or be unable to work with the CAF,” the cited policy stated.
Three of the four members identified also openly discussed their opposition to the 2022 Freedom Convoy and CAF veterans involved in the protest movement.
One member accused CAF veteran James Topp of being an extremist while another used expletives aimed at CAF veteran Jeremy Mackenzie.
On the Freedom Convoy in general, comparisons were made to it being an “insurrection” and there were claims about alleged foreign funding or US involvement. One member also claimed the convoy was hiding fascists.
As reported by various media outlets, the Canadian military has also launched investigations into members who supported the Freedom Convoy.
“The CAF holds its members to a very high standard of conduct and performance. Canadians have a clear expectation that their armed forces will conduct itself professionally while reflecting Canadian values and ethics,” a DND spokesperson told True North.
Other tweets also involved one member discussing a superior’s positions on the war in Ukraine and seemingly supporting the use of nuclear arms against Russia.
True North also identified one account that brands itself as a CAF member called “CAF.Insider” which has posted far-left extremist rhetoric. The account regularly advocates for communism and supports the far-left extremist movement antifa.
When approached about this account, the military told True North that they “cannot speak” to the individual involved since the account is anonymous.
“We cannot speak to whether the individual using the “CAF Insider” handle is a serving member, as they appear anonymous,” said the DND.
Are you a member of the Canadian Armed Forces worried about the politicization of the military? Please contact True North and a journalist will be in touch with you shortly.
Despite persistent grilling from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to directly answer questions in Parliament Hill’s Question Period Wednesday on foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections.
Plus, the Liberal government has rejected a Senate amendment to the Trudeau government’s online censorship law, Bill C-11, which would protect the social media content posted online by Canadians from falling under government regulations.
And a recent tweet by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stating that “transwomen are women” on International Women’s Day is receiving widespread backlash on social media.
Tune into The Daily Brief with Anthony Furey and Lindsay Shepherd!
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly testify in front of the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs over reports of a sophisticated Chinese election interference operation in the 2019 and 2021 elections.
The federal government is expected to report a new spending record in its next fiscal statement, according to a new study.
The Fraser Institute study released on Thursday wrote the Trudeau government is expected to report spending of 5% more than the highest non-COVID year in history, seen in the fiscal year of 2019.
“[Spending in recent years] will significantly exceed levels previously experienced in times of crisis, such as war and deep recession,” wrote fiscal researcher Jake Fuss.
Fuss said the government is on-track to report a spending level of roughly $11,500 per person in Canada.
Canada’s population was just under 37,000,000 in the 2021 Census.
While the Trudeau government is decreasing its costs compared to pandemic years, Fuss said the costs are still higher than any other time in Canadian history – with inflation accounted for.
Government spending for the 2022-2023 year will be roughly 29% higher, Fuss said, than former prime minister William Mackenzie King spent during the peak of the second World War.
Fuss compared historical costs using a ratio of “spending per-person,” which aims to give a contextual picture of government spending at any point in time.
The news comes a month after Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government plans to curtail spending.
In a press conference in February, Freeland said inflation is top of mind.
“We know that one of the most important things the federal government can do to help Canadians today is […] not to pour fuel on the fire of inflation,” said Freeland.
At the time, a public opinion poll showed seven-in-ten Canadians worried the government was neglecting the rising cost of living in Canada.
A recent tweet by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stating that “transwomen are women” on International Women’s Day is receiving widespread backlash on social media.
Trudeau made the statement on Tuesday morning, which immediately sparked outrage from the public.
“And with a disturbing rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada and around the world recently, I want to be very clear about one more thing: Trans women are women. We will always stand up to this hate – whenever and wherever it occurs,” said Trudeau.
And with a disturbing rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada and around the world recently, I want to be very clear about one more thing: Trans women are women. We will always stand up to this hate – whenever and wherever it occurs.
At the time this article was published the tweet received over 6,000 replies and over 4,000 likes. Most of the replies were harsh criticisms of the prime minister’s views.
Among those criticizing Trudeau was Jordan Peterson, who testified before the Senate against adding charter protections to self-identification on the grounds of compelled speech.
How about sadistic serial rapists who claim to be women? Are they women too? Remember @NicolaSturgeon you posturing dramatist. The trans shoals wrecked her ship. Hope you're next. https://t.co/cbtR7SBtSk
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) March 8, 2023
McGill University lecturer Terry Newman critiqued the PM over his claim that saying women are women is hateful.
It's not hateful to insist that women are women and that our category cannot and should not be co-opted by men. Likewise, you can paint your face black as many times as you want, but you'll never be a black man. https://t.co/OBXzXJA6Ro
People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier also chimed in, calling on the prime minister to “stop labeling everything you disagree with as hate.”
It’s not “anti-transgender hate” @JustinTrudeau. Stop labeling everything you disagree with as hate.
It’s just that “trans women” are actually NOT women. They’re men who cross-dress and mutilate their bodies to look more like women. But that doesn’t change biological reality.… https://t.co/oJaNS8IYxQ
Meanwhile, Twitter user Amy E. Sousa accused Trudeau of “dehumanizing women.”
Stop dehumanizing women! Women are fully embodied whole human beings wholly unique from men! Stop gaslighting women & telling us to deny the importance of sex recognition when it comes to safeguarding!
Despite persistent grilling from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to directly answer questions in Parliament Hill’s Question Period Wednesday on foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections.
“He knew when that committee reported that candidates received money directed by the dictatorship in Beijing,” said Poilievre in the House of Commons. “How much did the Liberal Party get in donations directed from Beijing?”
Two CSIS reports acquired by Global News allege that Chinese officials in Toronto had distributed financial donations to a network aiming to interfere in the 2019 election. The finalized report prepared by the Privy Council Office (PCO) suggests it was read by Trudeau and his advisors.
“A large clandestine transfer of funds earmarked for the federal election from the PRC Consulate in Toronto was transferred to an elected provincial government official via a staff member of a 2019 federal candidate,” the PCO report wrote.
“Which members of the PM’s staff were present for that briefing?” Poilievre continued. “Will he tell us, does he still admire the basic Chinese communist dictatorship as he so profusely said several years ago?”
Justin Trudeau did not answer questions about funds from Beijing being directed toward federal election candidates. Instead, the PM claimed that his office had no information prior to the election, in stark contrast to the news that high-level warnings about foreign funding were offered before the election.
“Each year, the committee must submit to the prime minister a report,” said Poilievre quoting the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (CEIPP). “The prime minister knew that his own security committee said that Beijing had directed funds to candidates in preceding elections.”
“In regards to the issue of whether federal candidates received money from China, we have no information on that,” Trudeau said.
“It is important to create an independent, unimpeachable, Special Rapporteur who is going to oversee the entire landscape around national security,” the PM continued.
“Has CSIS warned the prime minister’s staff that members of his caucus or cabinet are part of a foreign interference network, yes or no?” said Pierre Poilievre repeatedly in the House.
“We created NSICOP and other mechanisms to oversee the important and top secret work that our intelligence agencies do,” said Justin Trudeau.
“Yes or no?” Poilievre repeated.
“Issues around national security have deep implications for the safety and well-being of Canadians,” said Trudeau. “That’s why we’ve created bodies that allow parliamentarians to get top-secret clearance.”
“There was at least one candidate identified as implicated in a foreign interference network,” said Poilievre. “Is that member in the prime minister’s caucus or cabinet?”
On Monday, Trudeau announced he would appoint a Special Rapporteur who will look into the concerns and give recommendations on how to address the problem.
The Alberta government has tabled a provincial firearms bill that will allow the province to decide how federal firearms laws are administered within Alberta. The bill could block municipal police agencies from confiscating firearms like those the government has recently prohibited. Alberta Chief Firearms Officer Teri Bryant joins The Andrew Lawton Show live to explain how the Alberta Firearms Act will work.
Also, Justin Trudeau has announced two probes into Chinese interference in Canadian elections, just a few days after people who were raising concerns about Chinese interference in Canadian elections were racist.
The Liberal government has rejected a Senate amendment to Bill C-11, dubbed the Trudeau government’s online censorship law, which would protect the social media content posted online by Canadians from falling under government regulations.
Critic of the law and University of Ottawa Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law Michael Geist said that Ottawa’s actions reveal their true intent with the legislation – the power to regulate what you post online.
“In doing so, [Heritage Minister Pabloe Rodriguez] has left no doubt about the government’s true intent with Bill C-11: retain power and flexibility to regulate user content,” wrote Geist in a blog post.
The amendments proposed by Senators Julie Miville-Dechene and Paula Simons would effectively exclude user content on social media from regulatory oversight by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez replied by disagreeing with the amendment “because this would affect the Governor in Council’s ability to publicly consult on, and issue, a policy direction to the CRTC to appropriately scope the regulation of social media services.”
“Rather than citing misleading lobbying claims opposed to the change, it calls it like it is: the government wants the power to direct the CRTC on user content today and the power to exert further regulation tomorrow,” explained Geist.
If passed by the House of Commons, the law would make “Canada the only country in the democratic world to engage in this form of user content regulation,” according to Geist.
“On its way to rejecting the concerns of thousands of Canadian creators and dismissing the fears of authors such as Margaret Atwood and Senator David Adams Richards, its real mantra is platforms are in and user content regulation is in.”
In February, Canadian novelists Atwood and Richards warned against the legislation, even comparing it to the thought-control forewarned by famous novelist George Orwell.
“That what George Orwell says we must resist is a prison of self-censorship,” said Richards. “This bill goes a long way to construct such a prison.”
