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Friday, September 26, 2025

Public health no longer advising boosters for most Canadian adults

By
Connor McDowell
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Canada’s vaccine advisory says many Canadians should not inject a Covid-19 booster this spring.

In a Friday statement, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended spring booster shots exclusively to at-risk groups, including those over the age of 80, and those who are immunocompromised. 

“NACI is currently not recommending an additional bivalent booster for the general population,” wrote chief public health officer of Canada, Theresa Tam.

The recommendation excluded Canadians under the age of 65 – so long as the person did not have complex medical needs or live in a long-term care home. 

“Age is a very important risk factor for severe disease,” said the statement. “The risk of hospitalization and intensive care […] increases with age.”

Public health recommends booster-shots exclusively to at-risk groups because Covid-19 has stabilized in Canada, Dr. Tam said. She wrote the general population has high levels of antibodies, resulting from vaccination and previous infections.

The report noted applicable Canadians should wait six months before getting boosted if they were infected with Covid-19.

CAMPUS WATCH: Mask mandates still linger in Canadian Universities

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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Some Canadian universities are continuing to impose and enforce mandatory masking a year after provinces began lifting their general mask mandates.

The post-secondary institutions that are maintaining mandates are mostly in Atlantic Canada — a region that imposed Covid-Zero policies during the pandemic.

Some of the universities are enforcing a full indoor mask mandate, while others are mandating masks in certain study spaces in order to provide a “safe space” for students.

The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg continues to require medical masks in all indoor areas of its campus. In addition, the institution is still mandating social distancing in food-designated areas, while also recommending that people eat outside to avoid viral transmission.

The university also asks students to complete a COVID-19 checklist before coming to its campus. 

A University of Manitoba spokesperson directed True North to a statement issued by the school’s president in Dec. 2022, which notes that “though we know a mask mandate can’t continue indefinitely, we also know that COVID and other respiratory infection cases are high and putting significant strain on our health care system.”

Mount Allison University in New Brunswick is also maintaining a strict indoor mask mandate which covers hallways, stairwells, and instructional spaces. The university also asks students to voluntarily share their vaccine status through an online portal.

“With COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other viruses heavily impacting our community now and projected throughout the winter months, it’s even more important that existing COVID-19 health and safety measures remain in place through the Winter 2023 Term,” reads a statement on Mount Allison’s website.

Masks continue to be required in instructional spaces in several other universities; including Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, the University of Prince Edward Island, the University of New Brunswick, Acaia University, Saint Francis Xavier University and King’s College at Western.

Meanwhile, other Canadian universities that have lifted their mask mandates are offering study spaces where masks are required. 

The University of Ottawa has a “mask-required study zone” in its library which they say provides students with a comfortable space. UOttawa also continues to mandate masks at its Alta Vista Campus, due to its close proximity to hospitals. 

McMaster University in Hamilton also offers “Mask Required Study Spaces”.

True North asked both universities if these initiatives are permanent, but neither provided an answer in time for publication.

The continuation of mask mandates in universities has been criticized by some health experts.

Haldimand-Norfolk county acting medical officer Dr. Matt Strauss said university mask mandates are not based on science and accused administrators who are maintaining them of “behaving like religious fanatics”.

“Now is the time (undergraduate students) are supposed to be making life connections that will last forever. They’re supposed to meet their best friends, they’re supposed to meet their romantic partners, but can’t do that when you’re wearing a diaper on your face.” said Strauss.

A December 2022 Angus Reid poll saw only 33% of young adults say they favoured mask mandates. However, mandates continue to be supported by some progressive university professors. 

As previously reported by True North, University of British Columbia medicine professor Dr. Amy Tan said on Twitter that not wearing masks is an act of racism, ableism and classism.

Meanwhile, professors at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Waterloo shared their frustrations online after their respective institutions lifted their mask mandates.

Their home burnt down and then they were robbed of $15,000

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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British Columbia’s Okanagan region is known for its fine wines, unique topography and tourist attractions – but its cities are also getting a reputation for reporting some of the worst crime statistics in the past year. 

In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that Kelowna had a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 122.3 – the highest in the entire country. 

The CSI is a data point used by the Canadian government to track changes in the severity of police-reported crime each year. Unlike traditional “crime rate” measurements, the CSI takes into account the nature of the crimes committed and attributes weights to the specific seriousness of the incident. 

Penticton – which conventionally means “a place to stay forever” in the Okanagan language – no longer holds the promise of permanence for one family that has recently found itself a victim of the region’s growing problem with crime.

Wiltse is quiet, idyllic and at the same time, a perfect target for thieves, as the Sylvestres had the misfortune to discover.

The neighbourhood of Wiltse is located in the city’s south and it offers panoramic views of the city and waters below. North of the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, the area is cradled by the Okanagan highlands – seemingly protected from the conflicts of bustling city life below. 

Wiltse is quiet, idyllic and at the same time, a perfect target for thieves, as the Sylvestres had the misfortune to discover.

In an interview with True North, resident Katherina Sylvestre related how her family had $15,000 worth of tools stolen from their burnt down home last September while they were preparing to restore the smoke-charred property. 

“We’d actually just dropped off our personal tools that Saturday night and we were going to get some work in on Sunday morning to get it ready for the electricians to come in, ironically enough, so that we could hook up enough power to run our security cameras,” said Sylvestre. 

“Knowing we were going to be bringing stuff in, (the robbers) came in that Saturday or Sunday morning early,” she continued.

“The homelessness has gone up. Crime rates have gone up, you can guarantee that certain things get stolen more often.”

“They took the power tools, all Milwaukee, contained in two packouts, the tool pouch and stuff from our garage that we had in there. We’re upset about the tools that my husband and son were using on a daily basis.” 

Sylvestre suspects somebody employed to do work on the house was responsible but is hard-pressed to find any proof given the circumstances. The insurance company was able to cover a fraction of the costs, about $5,000, but the rest will be a write off for the Sylvestres. 

“I know that one day that (the alleged suspects) were there, there were two guys and a woman there – a woman who was about my size and my work boots went missing after,” Sylvestre told True North.

“(The police) know who it was but we can’t prove it with concrete proof so we can’t do anything. They’re kind of watching them,” said Sylvestre. 

The thieves seemed to have taken their time rummaging through their property, she explained over the phone, even leaving chip wrappers and orange peels behind on the ground. There was some evidence that the culprits tried to hide their tracks making it seem as though they had broken into the place instead of using a key, as Sylvestre suspected. 

“Our side door where the fire occurred was only boarded up. The one part that they kicked in to make it look like they broke into that side piece was only 11 inches high, so I know they couldn’t have fit into there and you don’t see scuffle marks of them trying to climb through but that’s the only thing that looked like they had broken, but we know they used the key,” she explained. 

“I don’t go downtown at night, it looks like The Walking Dead.”

Crimes like these often go unsolved or unreported as the general public is preoccupied with shocking stories of urban random attacks in Vancouver and Victoria. Meanwhile, rural British Columbians continue to carry on in their usual stoic manner hoping that things will one day get better. 

Penticton too had some unsightly numbers to report in 2021. That year, the city witnessed 21,604 reported crimes per 100,000 residents. 

Meanwhile, police officers struggle to keep up with the number of cases. According to BC’s Ministry of Public Safety Police Resources in British Columbia, 2021 report, Penticton RCMP reported some of the highest caseloads. That year, each municipal officer was expected to juggle 155 cases on average and their provincial counterparts had a caseload of 112 per officer. In comparison, Vancouver municipal police officers faced a caseload of 49 per officer. 

The disproportional impact of crime in rural and northern areas is experienced across Canada. Statistics Canada data shows that while rural areas only accounted for 15% of the population of provinces, they experienced 24% of violent crimes, 30% of traffic offenses and 18% of the nation’s property crimes. 

Crimes like these often go unsolved or unreported as the general public is preoccupied with shocking stories of urban random attacks in Vancouver and Victoria.

As for the Okanagan, some have argued that the data isn’t factoring in the fluctuating seasonal population which gives cities like Penticton and Kelowna a bad reputation that’s not in line with the reality experienced by residents. 

However, Sylvestre has noticed a marked change in her life since moving to Penticton eight years ago. 

“The homelessness has gone up. Crime rates have gone up, you can guarantee that certain things get stolen more often,” said Sylvestre.

“I don’t go downtown at night, it looks like The Walking Dead,” she joked, in reference to the popular post-apocalyptic zombie TV series. 

Do you live in a rural area and have recently experienced crime or are worried about the safety of your community? Contact True North and one of our journalists will get back to you.

The Daily Brief | Trudeau slaps down calls for public inquiry into Chinese interference

By
Anthony Furey
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In an exclusive interview with True North’s Andrew Lawton, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says a public inquiry is needed because Canadians “need to know what Justin Trudeau and his top staff knew” about Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Plus, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says he is not “ruling out” making a public inquiry a condition for continuing its coalition with the federal Liberals.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slapped down questions about calling for a public inquiry, claiming public servants have already reviewed the last two campaigns and concluded China’s interference did not compromise the results.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Anthony Furey and Andrew Lawton!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

Public transit attacks in Toronto worrying Canadians across the country: poll

By
Connor McDowell
-

Public-transit riders across the country are growing scared for their safety, according to a new poll.

In the Ipsos poll released on Monday, one-in-four respondents said public transit is dangerous, and many reported changing their behaviour to safeguard against a rising risk of violent attack.

“Many feel attacks might be part of a concerning, wider trend,” Ipsos wrote of a recent rise of violent attack in Toronto.

As True North reported in January and CTV News reported in February, public transit in Toronto came to widespread attention after a string of incidents including stabbings on city buses.

In Ipsos’ Monday report, more than half of respondents said attacks are a growing trend in Canada, and many are adjusting to safeguard themselves against the risk.

Respondents reported they are now avoiding public transit at night (19%), taking precautions such as carrying pepper spray (17%), and avoiding transit use entirely (14%).

Less than half (45%) reported they have not changed their behaviour.

The Ipsos poll was conducted via online interview of 1,350 Canadians aged 18+ between February 15th and 17th.

BONOKOSKI: The president of the European Commission comes to Canada

By
Mark Bonokoski
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Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is in Ottawa early this week as the House of Commons reconvenes after a two-week constituency break and will Tuesday address Parliament, her focus likely on the continuing Russian war in Ukraine and CETA.

CETA, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, presents Canadian businesses with preferential access to and excellent opportunities for growth in the European Union. 

But von der Leyen has a very interesting history.

According to Wikipedia, she started studying economics at the University of Gottingen in 1977 but, the year later, at the height of fear of communism terrorism in West Germany, she fled to London after her family was told that the Red Army Faction (RAF) was planning to kidnap her due to her being the daughter of a prominent politician. 

She spent more than a year in hiding in London, where she lived with protection from Scotland Yard under the name Rose Ladson to avoid detection and enrolled at the  London School of Economics.

At the Munich Security Conference in February 2015, as a member of Angela Merkel’s cabinet, von der Leyen publicly defended the German refusal to supply Ukraine with weapons.

Stressing that it was necessary to remain united in Europe over Ukraine, she argued that negotiations with Russia, unlike with Iraq and the Levant jihadists, were possible. 

Merkel saw Ukraine and Russia as a chance to prove that, in the 21st century, developed nations could solve disputes at the negotiating table, not with weapons.

The world now knows what Russian President Vladimir Putin thought of that theory.

Von der Leyen also noted that Russia has an almost infinite supply of weapons it could send to fight Ukraine. She questioned whether any effort by the West could match that or, more importantly, achieve the outcome sought by Ukraine and its supporters.

On the contrary, von der Leyen said that giving the Ukrainians arms to help them defend themselves could have unintended and fateful consequences. “Weapons deliveries would be a fire accelerant,” von der Leyen said.

She agreed with NATO General Philip Breedlove  that “it could give the Kremlin the excuse to openly intervene in this conflict.” 

And this was before the war had even begun.

It will also be an interesting time for von der Leyen to be in our nation’s capital, with Opposition parties returning to take up the demand for a public inquiry into Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, both which gave the Liberals a minority government.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted there was likely some interference attempted, he said there were enough checks and balances already in play to protect Canada’s intelligence files to the point that no independent or public inquiry was necessary.

As a cabinet member, von der Leyen was, for several years, regarded as one of the leading contenders to succeed Merkel as German Chancellor.

In 2010 she was Merkel’s preferred candidate for President of Germany, but her nomination was blocked by the conservative wing of the Christian Democratic Union. 

And, from 2018 until her nomination as European Commission president, she was described as the favourite to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO.

As the newspaper, Die Welt, reported, von der Leyen “is highly respected in the alliance” and that “all the (NATO)  defence ministers listen when she speaks.”

In a few days, Canadians will be able to judge whether von der Leyen’s earlier words ring true, or whether she has grown to being as wrong as wrong could be.

Ontario food bank reports record-breaking usage

By
Connor McDowell
-

An Ontario food bank is sounding the alarm.

The Mississauga Food Bank reported that roughly 3,900 more residents used the facility this January, a year-over-year increase of 41%.

“Every month a record is broken is not a cause for celebration,” wrote the food bank’s Monday statement, “but an alarm bell [we are] urgently ringing.”

The food bank reports feeding 13,326 people in January – that’s equal to seeing every resident in Banff, Alta., or every hockey fan who attends an average Ottawa Senators game.

Mississauga Food Bank announced its record-breaking January while launching its Spring fundraiser. The fundraiser aims to raise $750,000 within two months.

“We need your help to meet this emergency need that is only continuing to rise,” wrote CEO of The Mississauga Food Bank, Meghan Nicholls.

The 2022 fundraiser amassed $440,000.

FUREY: The Chinese election interference scandal is far from over

By
Anthony Furey
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Following reports alleging that Liberal MP Han Dong was considered a witting affiliate to Chinese interference networks and was boosted by Chinese Communist Party efforts in the 2019 election, many Canadians are questioning exactly how much influence the CCP had on past elections.

According to the leaked CSIS documents, the CCP backed at least 11 federal candidates – who are the other candidates?

Further, what else does CSIS know? Will more shocking revelations be leaked?

As Anthony Furey explains, this scandal is far from over.

Alberta government to crack down on federal employees trespassing on private land

By
Rachel Parker
-

The Alberta government will introduce legislation later this month to stop federal government employees from trespassing on private land.

On Wednesday, Government House Leader Joseph Schow announced trespassing legislation will be one of three bills the United Conservative Party government will introduce in the next session.

“We are seeing federal employees trespassing onto private land in Alberta, and as a result of that, we don’t think that that’s appropriate, so we’re making that an offence in this province — especially with the water testing,” he said.

“Should federal employees decide to trespass on private land, they will be charged.”

Last summer, a Saskatchewan landowner accused federal inspectors of taking water samples from a dugout on private land without consent.

The province responded in August by amending its provincial trespassing act to change the definition of a “person” to include “the Crown, in the right of Canada.” The new regulation came into effect on Jan. 1. 

Pressed for the details on instances of federal workers trespassing, Schow said “it’s happening,” but declined to get into specifics. 

“Now you’re asking me to get in greater detail with the bill,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m gonna leave that to the Minister of Justice (Tyler Shandro).”

Shandro’s spokesman, Ethan Lecavalier-Kidney, told Global News there have been no confirmed cases of trespass by federal government employees in Alberta.

“Concerns were raised by landowners following events that transpired in Saskatchewan in 2022 when a property owner identified trespassing occurring without permission.”

NDP leader Rachel Notley said the bills are pointless political distractions.

“We haven’t seen the bill, so we don’t know exactly what solution this is seeking,” she told reporters in Calgary.

“It seems to be part of a longer pattern to distract Albertans from key priorities that really matter to them and to pick fights with Ottawa.”

The fourth session of the 30th legislature is expected to last until the end of March. The writ for the general election is expected to drop in early May.

The UCP government also plans to table firearms regulations to protect gun owners from the federal firearms confiscation program.

Schow said a number of Albertans have reached out to him and his colleagues to say they feel federal legislation to confiscate legally purchased firearms is “overreaching.”

“As a province, we’re taking action within our abilities to protect firearms owners,” he said.

“We’re enacting this bill because it’s important that we’re defending Albertans, we’re defending firearm owners in this province and making sure that everyone feels that the government has their back.”

Transgender runner dusts competition at Canadian Masters

By
Connor McDowell
-

A transgender athlete scored first place at the Canadian Masters Indoor Championships last weekend.

Athlete Tiffany Newell won the women’s 1500-meter run in Toronto, beating her opponent by a margin of roughly 23%.

Newell finished the race in 307 seconds, leading her opponent by 72 seconds.

The difference between Newell and her opponent was roughly equal to the difference between Newell, 50, and the women’s world record set in 2015 by then-24-year-old Genzebe Dibaba.

Dibaba ran a time of 230 seconds, 77 seconds faster than Newell.

While Newell’s 307-second-finish was more than a minute behind the women’s all-ages world record, it was within ten seconds of a multiple-world-record-setting runner who competes in the middle-ages women’s bracket.

Newell’s 1500m race time fell 10 seconds shy of Kathryn Martin, who holds four world-records in similar running events for women ages 50+.

The news of Newell’s win raised social-media questions about equality.

Respondent Jack Lombardi II said such competition is unfair to women.

Kevin Murray said the news speaks to the gender-equality conversation.

Canadian female athletes recently rejected the idea transgender athletes should compete against them.

True North reported 91.7% of female athletes interviewed said women should have the right to dedicated women’s leagues, and 88% said transwomen have a competitive advantage over women.

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