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Saturday, September 27, 2025

Another Liberal MP found guilty of breaking ethics laws

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion has cited yet another Liberal MP for contravening ethics laws by signing a letter of support for a broadcasting company.

According to a report from Dion’s office, Hull–Aylmer MP and parliamentary secretary to the prime minister Greg Fergus broke the law when writing a letter supporting Natyf Inc.’s broadcasting license application.

“Commissioner Dion found that the letter of support was intended to influence a (Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission) decision in order to further the private interests of Natyf Inc,” the judgment claimed. 

“Commissioner Dion determined that Mr. Fergus sought to improperly further Natyf Inc.’s private interests because he intervened in the decision-making process of a quasi-judicial tribunal.”

Fergus was found to have violated section 9 of the Conflict of Interest Act which “prohibits public office holders from using their position as a public office holder to seek to influence a decision of another person so as to further the public office holder’s private interests or those of their relatives or friends or to improperly further another person’s private interests.”

Natyf Inc. is a French-language international television network.

The latest ethics violation comes only a few short months after International Trade Minister Mary Ng was also found to have broken ethics laws by hiring the public relations company of her friend Amanda Alvaro, who is also a regular CBC pundit, for federal contract work.

Other Liberals found to have broken ethics codes include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who was cited for violating the law twice, former finance minister and Liberal MP Bill Morneau, Liberal Minister Dominic LeBlanc and others. 

“Given his years of experience and his position in government, Mr. Fergus should have been aware of these rules and should have sought advice from this Office before writing the letter,” wrote Dion in his latest decision. 

“Over the last five years and on several occasions, I have observed senior officials being unaware of their obligations and mistakenly making assumptions. Offers to provide training and educational sessions on a variety of topics have been offered to all federal parties and to regulatees, yet we continue to see a succession of mistakes that are largely attributable to the inability to recognize the need to seek consultation.”

In his decision, Dion also suggested that senior members of the Liberal government be mandated to receive ethics training. 

High school student suspended, arrested over transgender comments ordeal says he won’t back down

By
Angelica Vecchiato
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An Ontario high school student who was suspended from his high school for claiming that there are only two genders and then arrested for returning to class said he is not backing down after his ordeal.

“My situation shows how freedoms in Canada are gone,” said Josh Alexander, in an interview with True North. “However, it is still important to advocate and defend our freedom of belief and freedom of expression as Canadians.”

Alexander, a 16-year-old student at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Renfrew, was suspended for 20 days in November 2022 over comments he made in a class discussion stating that the only two genders are male and female. He said that all the maltreatment he has endured is “absolutely worth it”. 

“What I gave up is really nothing. We have to consider those who gave more– those who actually fought and died for our freedoms,” said the Grade 11 student. 

After his suspension, Alexander was permitted to return to school on Jan. 9 upon fulfillment of three conditions proposed by St. Joseph’s principal Derek Lennox. The conditions stipulated that he “limit his contact with the two students that were previously targeted by his comments,” not use a “student’s dead name,” and “work out of Study Hall for his two afternoon classes.” The phrase “dead name” refers to the name a transgender person was previously known by prior to adopting a new identity.

Liberty Coalition Canada (LCC), which is defending Alexander, perceived the criteria as “manifestation of religious discrimination.” An LCC press release stated that as “the Principal’s discriminatory actions toward Josh were unlawful, Josh attended school on January 9.” 

In response, the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) issued a trespass notice and another suspension. As it stands now, he cannot attend class for the rest of the 2022- 2023 academic year. 

After attempting to attend class again on Feb. 6, Alexander was arrested.

James Kitchen, a civil litigation lawyer representing Alexander, will be appealing his suspensions and is looking to lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for everything the teen “has gone through.” 

The RCCDSB is arguing that Alexander doesn’t have “standing” to appeal, which Kitchen refutes as a “technicality”.

“There is not much legal basis for what the board is doing. If you’re over 16 and have ‘withdrawn from parental control’, you can bring an appeal on your own behalf. There is plenty of evidence to support how Josh has withdrawn from parental control. Therefore, he has ‘standing’ to bring his own appeal,” he said. 

Kitchen said Alexander’s case speaks to the “poor state” of religious freedom in the country.

“It says a lot about how Canada has fallen from the free country that it used to be. Freedom of religion is almost nonexistent in Canada, especially when you compare it to a truly free country like America,” said Kitchen, a barrister and solicitor. “Section 2(a) of the charter has been hollowed to the point that it’s not there.”

In an opinion column penned on Feb. 8, Toronto Sun Columnist Brian Lilley argued that it “might be time to finally say goodbye” to the Catholic school system. 

“There’s nothing Catholic about it, they adhere to the same secular gospel as all of our other public institutions, and it is beyond saving,” he said. 

Lilley condemned the harsh treatment endured by Alexander at the hands of his critics. 

“The school administration is turning this young man into a martyr, while also showing they long ago abandoned the Catholic beliefs they say they uphold as a school.”

National Post Senior Editor Michael Higgins echoed these sentiments in a recent column, asserting that “we are now so intolerant that we cannot stand people defending their religious beliefs in a classroom at a supposedly religious school.”

Alexander was arrested again a couple days later on Feb. 8 of the same week for protesting at the National Arts Centre drag queen storytime in Ottawa, which saw performers China Doll and Cyril Cinder read stories to young children. 

The event is part of Capital Pride’s Winterlude programming– slotted to take place between Feb. 5 and Feb. 19 – which features a variety of drag-themed events. 

Rebel News Reporter Lincoln Jay’s now-viral Twitter video shows police apprehending and handcuffing Alexander as crowds at the drag show cheer on. 

Passenger seat packed with beer cans during Ontario traffic stop

By
Connor McDowell
-

Ontario police arrested a driver at a traffic stop on Monday after seeing dozens of empty beer cans filling the car’s passenger seat and footrest.

Police charged the 61-year-old driver with driving under the influence, eight driving-related suspensions, property obtained by crime, and violations of the Highway Traffic Act.

“Sometimes we get asked ‘why do you conduct RIDE programs during the day?’ – this is why,” the social media post read.

Police made the arrest during a “Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere” (RIDE) traffic stop in Grey County, just about a two-hour drive from Toronto.

The Daily Brief | Chinese state media mocks Canada

By
Anthony Furey
-

In an editorial printed on Monday morning, Chinese state media outlet Global Times mocked the US and Canadian government’s decision to shoot down an aerial object flying over the Yukon territory over the weekend.

Plus, a majority of Canadians oppose the federal Liberal government’s previous attempts to expand access to medical assistance in dying for those with mental illness.

And the Durham District School Board recently censured and barred trustee Linda Stone from all committee assignments after several tweets the trustee posted that questioned gender identity and the potential risk of puberty blockers.

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

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

B’nai Brith calls for hate charges against former federal “anti-racist” consultant

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The international Jewish organization B’nai B’rith is calling on the Quebec government to press hate-related charges against former “anti-racism” federal consultant Laith Marouf.

In August, Marouf Marouf was exposed for a series of tweets in which he made antisemitic statements, saying that “Jewish White Supremacists” deserved “a bullet to the head.” 

Despite his past statements, Marouf benefited from $130,800 in contracts from the Liberal government. He was fired from his position after media reports on his views. 

In a statement published on Monday, B’nai Brith Canada demanded that Quebec presses wilful promotion of hate charges against Marouf. 

“He frequently and vulgarly bashed the world’s sole Jewish state while calling for its destruction,” wrote B’nai B’rith. 

“But Marouf’s hatred extended beyond Jews. He expressed regret that too few Americans were killed in Vietnam and denounced Canada as a racist colonialist society.”

B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn said that Marouf’s statements clearly violated Canada’s laws. 

“While we appreciate the Government’s rejection of Marouf and commitment to scrutinizing future grant-receivers, more must be done,” said Mostyn. 

“Marouf’s hateful posts against various groups based on immutable characteristics is a clear violation of the Criminal Code. We want to see him criminally charged, Canadians must forcefully reject this hate.”

According to Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, the federal government had foreknowledge about Marouf’s antisemitic views before it was reported in the media. 

“I said the contract had to be cancelled. I alerted (Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen) and I persistently communicated with the minister in his office, from the day I learned about it, until today, and aggressively demanded that action be taken. Action could have been taken more quickly,” said Housefather.

Chinese state media mocks US and Canada aerial object response

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

In an editorial printed on Monday morning, Chinese state media outlet Global Times mocked the US and Canadian government’s decision to shoot down an aerial object flying over the Yukon territory over the weekend. 

The daily tabloid – which is under the direct control of the Chinese Communist Party – said that both countries were making a “fool of themselves” and putting on a spectacle. 

“The US Air Force shot down an “unidentified flying object (UFO)” over Canada on Saturday local time. But officials from both Canada and the US so far have offered neither further clarification on the capabilities, purpose, or origin of the object, nor one on the need or urgency to shoot it down,” wrote the Global Times. 

“The F-22, an advanced US military fighter that has undertaken such a “heavy task” to attack the object, has also been dubbed the “Balloon Killer” on the internet. Besides, the US and Canada also made a fool of themselves: The North American Aerospace Defense Command detected another radar anomaly on Saturday night.”

In an attempt to cast shade on the incident, which has since been classified as a national security threat, Chinese state media suggested that it was an oil field drone or a weather balloon. 

“This makes people wonder if it was the US military that messed things up,” the editorial claimed. 

Global Times alternatively referred to the so-called balloon incidents as “playacting”, “showing off” and “large-scale political behavioral art.” The outlet even went on to claim that people were “high on drugs” for being concerned about the violation of airspace. 

Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that in total four objects were brought down over North America this past week and there is some indication that they are related to one another. 

“Obviously, there is some sort of pattern in there. The fact we are seeing this in significant degree over the past week is a cause for interest and close attention, which is exactly what we’re doing,” said Trudeau. 

Both US and Canadian authorities continue to cooperate and investigate the nature of the objects and whether they have surveillance capabilities.

Charges dropped against senior arrested for not wearing a mask on WestJet flight

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-
WestJet union must apologize

Prosecutors have dropped charges against a 76-year-old senior with respiratory issues who was arrested after WestJet reported him to the police for not wearing a mask while on a flight last year. 

In June 2022, Alec Bialski was arrested by Calgary Police upon landing after the flight crew cited him for not complying with mandatory mask requirements. 

He was charged under the Canadian Aviation Regulations for not complying with the mandate after he took off his mask to take sleeping pills. 

After departing the plane, he was arrested by police and marched through the airport and held in detention despite having recently undergone a double hip replacement. 

“Despite the flight crew allegedly being aware of the Applicant’s physical difficulty with wearing a mask, they continued to harass the Applicant with repeated and unwarranted demands to don a mask,” court documents state.

Lawyers with The Democracy Fund argued that the treatment of Bialski was “cruel and unusual” and that his rights to “life, liberty and security of the person” were violated. 

The application also cited arbitrary detention, freedom of opinion and the violation of the applicant’s equal treatment before the law. 

“After the Officers placed the Applicant under arrest, they proceeded to march him across the

airport for approximately thirty (30) to forty (40) minutes,” the application claims. 

“Despite the Officers becoming aware of the Applicant’s difficulty walking long distances, the Officers provided no wheelchair as requested, nor an opportunity for the Applicant to stop and rest.”

As a result of the prosecutors dropping the charges, Bialski will not face any legal repercussions and his Charter challenge will also be dropped. 

Bialski was represented by Democracy Fund lawyer Sean Mihalcheon. 

Majority oppose MAID expansion to mentally ill: poll

By
Connor McDowell
-

A slim majority of Canadians oppose the Trudeau government’s plan to offer assisted dying to patients with incurable mental illness, according to a new poll.

The release comes two weeks after Justice Minister David Lametti announced the Liberal government will delay MAID expansion until 2024.

The Angus Reid poll released on Monday shows 51% of respondents said they oppose the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) to Canadians whose sole condition is mental illness. 

Meanwhile, 31% support it and 18% signalled that they don’t know or aren’t sure.

Support rose by 9% compared to 2016, when Angus Reid first asked the question.

The rising number of total MAID deaths in Canada was a good thing, according to four-in-ten respondents. The respondents (43%) said Canadians were harnessing more control over end-of-life decisions.

Roughly 1-in-10 said they would support a person’s choice to request MAID based on the person’s inability to afford housing. One-in-four supported a person’s choice to request MAID based on the person’s lack of hope or life-meaning.

Canadians thought some policies should be stricter than the Liberals governments’ plan.

Seven-in-ten said MAID should be off-limits until patients exhaust every treatment option. This opinion was denied by Canada’s Expert Panel on MAID and Mental Illness last year. 

Canada recorded 31,664 assisted deaths between 2016 and 2021, with an average year-over-year growth rate of roughly 66%. In the most previous data-year, Canada recorded 10,064 such deaths.

CAMPUS WATCH: White students not invited to UBC “Decolonial Dialogues”

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
-
Source: UBC

White students were excluded from “Decolonial Dialogues” events at the University of British Columbia (UBC) amid organizers wanting to create a “safe space” for those who are Indigenous, black and persons of colour.

The event series is a student-led initiative seeking to cultivate “solidarity among Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) students.” It has received support from several UBC Vancouver offices.  

“Coming together in a safe space, IBPOC students will hear from speakers and connect with each other over sincere and courageous conversations on specific themes,” reads a description of the series on UBC’s website.

A now offline sign-up form for “Decolonial Dialogues” noted that “events offered through this series are open to UBC students who identify as Indigenous, Black and Persons of Colour (IBPOC) only.”

The form also stated that “in creating this space, the planning committee recognizes that identity is complex and everyone will come to this space with different lived experiences. Registering and attending the series is based on each individual student’s self-identification and we welcome those who feel they belong in this space in connection to IBPOC identities.”

Screenshot: ubc.ca

Registrants were asked on the form to choose one of the three following options; “I understand the intention of this space and look forward to attending,” “I still have questions about the intention of this space and they are…,” and “I am not able to attend.”

The “Decolonial Dialogues” series began in October 2022, and ended this month. Organizers hosted four sessions – all of which took place in UBC’s First Nations Longhouse.

The first session focused on “Narrating Experiences In Storytelling”, the second session focused on “Centering Two-Spirit and IBPOC Voices in Queer Liberation,” the third session focused on “Celebrating Community Wellbeing” while the fourth session, held on Feb 9, focused on “Sustaining Our Futures Together.”

UBC is also currently being asked by activists to create a dedicated space for black students, with Black Student Association member Harmela Kassa telling CBC News that “there are Black students on this campus who need a space, who want a space to connect with other Black students on campus, and we need to facilitate that.” 

In response to the request, UBC vice president of students Ainsley Carry told CBC that plans are in the works for such a space, saying “we are leaning toward a multicultural space where different cultural groups can share a large space and, within that large space, have some individualized identified cultural space for Black students.”

Several Canadian universities have recently established segregated spaces for racialized students. Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) now has a “Black Student Lounge,” Trent University’s student union runs a “Freedom Lounge” for non-white students, and Brock University offers a “BIPOC Study Hall.”

UBC representatives did not respond to True North’s request for comment in time for publication.

Durham school trustee censured for supposed transphobia

By
Noah Jarvis
-

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) recently censured and barred trustee Linda Stone from all committee assignments after several tweets the trustee posted that questioned gender identity and the potential risk of puberty blockers. 

Several DDSB trustees complained that trustee Stone was raising issues that are unacceptable, like criticizing the introduction of Critical Race Theory in schools and the DDSB’s broad acceptance of gender ideology. 

The board initially launched an investigation of Stone in February of 2022, but the investigation was cancelled after Stone resigned her seat in May 2022. However, the investigation was relaunched after Stone was re-elected in Durham’s October 2022 municipal elections. 

Of the many comments and posts of Stone’s that the DDSB censured, one included re-tweeting Jordan Peterson and the account “Libs of TikTok” that questioned the meaning of the term “cisnormativity.”

In the DDSB’s October 25, 2021 board meeting, Stone questioned a board glossary whose definition of “white supremacy” was, in part, written by the notorious anti-racism activist Robin DiAngelo. 

Stone also questioned the DDSB’s policy of not informing parents when a student has changed their gender identity.

“I was a little bit disturbed to see that you would keep things private with the student and not let parents know what’s going on with the student. And that even goes into whether the student is going to undergo surgery or other procedures. I’m assuming this privacy starts at the age of 16?” said Stone. 

Integrity Commissioner senior investigator Benjamin Drory issued a report the other week, condemning Stone’s comments as “animus against the trans community.” 

“Trustee Stone’s comments respecting gender identity issues plainly failed to meet the expected standard. Her comments insulted and demeaned trans people, and it would frankly be difficult for me to believe any argument to the contrary,” read the report. 

Based on Drory’s report, the DDSB unanimously voted to censure Stone and bar her from any and all committee assignments.

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