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Monday, July 7, 2025

Former leadership contender Jon Horsman to endorse Travis Toews

By
Rachel Parker
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Former United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership candidate and Calgary businessman Jon Horsman will be endorsing leadership contender Travis Toews. 

Horsman briefly ran in the leadership contest but dropped out less than an hour before the first cutoff on July 20, which required contestants to submit 1,000 signatures from the province’s five regions and the first $75,000 of the $175,000 contest fee.

Horman said the leadership race is about forging the leader Alberta needs — and he thinks Toews has grown the most since putting his name forward for the Premiership. 

“What I saw frankly at the leadership debate in Edmonton a couple of days ago, was, I saw Premier on stage,” he told True North. 

Horsman said the former finance minister brings a “robust business environment” and an “opportunity for people to get ahead” and live the lives they want to win. 

In a statement, Toews said he’s proud to receive the endorsement. 

“I’m incredibly thankful for Jon’s endorsement. He has so much credibility in Alberta’s business community and such a strong legacy of leadership at the ATB,” Toews said.

Horsman also said he’s interested in running for UCP nomination, such as in Calgary-Elbow. 

UCP MLA Doug Schweitzer said earlier this month he will step down as the representative for the riding at the end of August “or such other date established closer to that time.” Schweitzer already resigned from his cabinet position as the minister for jobs, economy and innovation.

There’s been some speculation about whether UCP leadership contender Danielle Smith would put her name forward to replace Schweitzer, but she still plans to run in Livingston-Macleod, where she’s lived since 2011.

The riding is currently represented by UCP MLA Roger Reid, who won his seat with over 70% of voters’ support in 2019.

Horsman said his plans to run aren’t conditional on who the leader is after October 6.

Horsman was only in the UCP leadership race for about two weeks before dropping out. In a public announcement at the time, he said he was “on track” to meet the deadline, but he decided to withdraw because it is a “very crowded leadership race.”

Horsman told True North he was running to win, but it became clear to him he didn’t have enough momentum.

“I started four weeks too late,” he said. 

Ratio’d | Canada isn’t a serious a country

By
Harrison Faulkner
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Instead of addressing one of the numerous crises facing Canada, Justin Trudeau decided that now would be a good time to announce the creation of a “2SLGBTQI+ action plan” with $100 Million of our taxes. Perfect! Just what we needed!

Also on the show, the controversial ArriveCan app is blowing away the competition on the app store with a stunning 560,000 ratings and a 4.5 stars on the app store. If you read the reviews, however, you will get an overwhelming number of frustrated Canadians leaving 1 star reviews. How does that work?

To wrap up the show, for the first time ever — the Ratio of the Week award is going to a previous winner! The King of the Ratio makes his mark in the history books. Watch the show to find out who wins.

Tune in to the latest episode of Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner!

DZSURDZSA: Outrage over Poilievre plain language law falls on deaf ears

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A proposal by Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre to ban indecipherable bureaucratic language from the government via a “Plain Language Act” has all the usual suspects riled up.

“Unfortunately, our governments do nothing but add and add and add paperwork and forms and endless bureaucratic red tape,” said Poilievre in a video announcing the policy.

“So we are going to simplify language. I’m going to pass the Plain Language Act that would require the following steps from the government.”

The law would require government employees to “use the simplest and fewest words possible” and would empower the Auditor General to review and remove overly complicated terminology or phrasing.  

In response, Jean Charest campaign co-chair Tasha Kheiriddin likened the policy to George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984.

“Mandating ‘Newspeak’. Welcome to 1984,” tweeted Keiriddin.

The suggestion is a curious one considering Orwell penned the 1946 essay titled Politics and the English Language in which the novelist decries the “pretentious diction” and “meaningless words” Poilievre wants to tackle.

National Post columnist Terence Corcoran also seemed to agree with Kheiriddin when tweeting, “Hold on. We do not need a new bureaucratic law to curb bureaucraticisms.”


In reality, these observations have a glaring omission: governments across Canada have in the past and are currently engaged in clarifying or changing laws and official diction.

Instead of simplifying language – which is in itself a neutral act – the federal government is currently engaged in sweeping language revisionism based on the political precepts of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The most recent example of this is Parks Canada’s ongoing plan to edit historical plaques it considers “colonialist and racist.” 

Poilievre’s proposal is also not very far off from existing policies. An existing Treasury Board Government Communications Policy rings close to the Conservative leadership candidate’s own views. 

“The obligation to inform the public includes the obligation to communicate effectively. Information about government policies, programs and services should be clear, objective and simple, and presented in a manner that is readily understandable,” the policy states. 

“Messages should convey information relevant to public needs, use plain language and be expressed in a clear and consistent style.”

Here in my home province of British Columbia, the NDP government is also purging all “outdated-gender based” terms from its provincial regulations. Terms to be erased include pronouns like “he” and “she.” “Father”, “son” and “aunt” are also on the chopping block.

There’s a big difference between sticking to the principles of K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) in order to increase accessibility, especially for immigrants, and forcing a left-wing political ideology onto people via diction. 

Yet when those stories were reported, those now criticizing Poilievre had no qualms and raised no comparisons to some dystopian future. It raises the question, why would anybody take issue with making language more simple?

Of course, politics is the answer considering the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race is a little over a week away. 

In my own way, however, I did my part and decided to send the Charest campaign a copy of Orwell’s essay with the hope that they too will speak more plainly about their intentions. 

Poilievre campaign pledges to introduce “plain language law”

By
Noah Jarvis
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Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre announced that if elected prime minister, his government would work towards passing a “Plain Language Act” to simplify the language used in government.

In a campaign video, Poilievre argues that the government purposely complicates the real meaning of legislation and regulations, making it hard for the general public to read.

The Carleton MP says that the plain language law would save the economy money by slashing the time it takes for businesses to comply with necessary rules.

“Overly-complex rules, forms, and guidance hurt job-creators and ordinary Canadians and help crafty consultants game the system for the rich clients and big corporations who can afford them,” says Poilievre.

Poilievre’s proposed law to simplify government language mirrors similar American legislation introduced in the early 2010’s.

In 2010, former US president Barack Obama signed the Plain Writing Act which required federal agencies to write “clear government communication that the public can understand and use.” The U.S. law applies to documents necessary for obtaining government benefits, filing taxes, and more. 

Poilievre claims that the proposed law aims to combat “bureaucratese” in the public service. The law would apply to government publications, bilingual language training for public servants, legal drafters who write laws and more, demanding they make “communications clear, timely, accurate, accessible and written in plain language.”

“We need to start somewhere, set clear deadlines and demand compliance”, said Poilievre. 

“Let’s make the government work for the people, not the other way around, and give people back control of their lives.”

The proposal also demands the creation of a website for Canadians to report so-called bureaucratese. 

The responsibility for enforcing the  “Plain Language Act” would fall on the Auditor General, allowing him to “audit government forms and websites to make sure they follow the Plain Language Law.”

The policy has faced criticism from leadership candidate Jean Charest’s campaign co-chair Tasha Kheiriddin, suggesting that the policy is an Orwellian mandate similar to the novel 1984.

Responding to Poilievre’s campaign video promoting the policy, Kheirddin dismissed the idea saying “Mandating “Newspeak”. Welcome to 1984.”

The Conservative Party is set to announce their new leader on Sept 10.

Government instructed airlines to reject vaccine exemptions, memos show

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Department of Transport employed lawyers to teach the travel industry how to turn down religious Covid-19 vaccine exemptions. 

Access to Information documents titled Federal Vaccine Mandate: Guidelines On Requirements acquired by Blacklock’s Reporter revealed government lawyers coached airlines to doubt exemptions on solid grounds. 

“In other words a temporary exemption by one airline does not automatically allow the passenger to connect with a different airline or to transfer modes, e.g. from train to plane or from one airline to the next,” explained the memo. 

“These types of exemptions are anticipated to be granted very rarely,” a subsequent communication claimed. 

The Nov. 30 memo preceded the Liberal government’s decision to ditch vaccine mandates that barred millions of unvaccinated Canadians from boarding a domestic or international flight in June. 

One memo titled Managers’ Toolkit For The Implementation Of the Policy On Covid-19 Vaccination instructed airlines to “focus on the sincerity of the individual belief rooted in religion” in declining the exemptions. 

“Leaders and members of many religious and religious denominations have released public statements indicating their support for the Covid-19 vaccine,” the department wrote. 

“Religion typically involves a particular and comprehensive system of faith and worship as well as the belief in a divine, superhuman or controlling power. ‘I don’t believe in vaccination’ would not in itself be a reason.” 

“They must explain how vaccination would conflict with their religious belief in a way that is not trivial or insubstantial, meaning being vaccinated conflicts with the genuine connection with the divine,” the memo elaborated. 

Additionally, government officials cited a “number of false empirical beliefs” about vaccines that are not “grounds on which a temporary exemption can be granted.” 

“For example, a conviction the Covid-19 vaccine contains aborted human or animal fetal cells or that DNA is altered by mRNA vaccines is empirically incorrect and should not be used as a rationale for the granting of a religious exemption even were this belief is sincerely held or rooted in religion,” the department explained.

Throughout the pandemic, the federal government approved 26% of all religious exemptions for the Covid-19 vaccine. Out of 2,042 applications, 540 were granted. 

A recent arbitration ruling out of Ontario found that a Catholic nurse who was fired from Public Health Sudbury had a right to an exemption and that her employer erred in declining her. 

Western University rejects academic group’s invitation to debate vaccine mandate

By
Andrew Lawton
-

A planned forum to discuss Western University’s three-dose vaccine mandate has been cancelled after university administrators declined to participate.

Western said last week it welcomes “constructive debate” about its vaccine mandate, which requires students, staff and visitors to receive Covid boosters. However, an academic freedom advocacy group is criticizing the university for not wanting to engage in that debate.

The Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship (SAFS) said Thursday it planned to hold an open dialogue about Western’s vaccine policy, but was told the university was “unable to accommodate” the invitation.

SAFS, a national academic group dedicated to open inquiry and dialogue, called Western’s decision “frustrating and disappointing.”

“Western administration was given the opportunity to explain why their university is alone in Ontario in its requirement of COVID-19 vaccine boosters,” said SAFS spokesperson Geoff Horsman, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, in a press release. “They refused that opportunity.”

SAFS originally planned to hold a virtual panel about the mandate Thursday evening and invited Western’s provost, Florentine Strzelczyk, and vice-president of operations, Lynn Logan, to participate or offer up another administrator or faculty member to defend the vaccine mandate. According to an email chain shared with True North, a Western representative declined, citing preparations for the “upcoming academic year.”

When SAFS offered to move the event to a day or time of Western’s choosing, the university representative reiterated that Western was not “able to participate at this busy time.”

When students and faculty members descended on Western last weekend to protest the mandate, the university acknowledged in a statement that its policy “has spurred significant conversation.”

“As a centre of higher learning we encourage the exchange of different viewpoints and ideas, while valuing constructive debate,” the university said.

Horsman said it was that statement from Western that made him think administrators would be open to the forum SAFS tried holding.

“On behalf of SAFS and the students of Western who are left without answers, we find this refusal to participate in open dialogue frustrating and disappointing,” Horsman said.

Canadians are angry because of “climate change” says Trudeau

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed the frustrations of struggling Canadians on “climate change” and “transformations of our economy” among other things. 

Trudeau made the remarks Wednesday during a press conference alongside Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, in which he announced a $2 billion housing plan.

“What do you think is behind the rise in threats that politicians are facing?” asked a reporter.

“Obviously the pandemic, increasing anxiety because of climate change, transformations of our economy, um, rise in mental health and addiction problems – particularly with the opioid crisis that has been ravaging communities right across the country,” replied Trudeau. 

“It’s time for people to look to assuage fears and angers, to respond with a positive vision of the future. But people are hurting. People are hurting because of all these things we’re going through.”

Trudeau went on to encourage politicians to “make sure we are not inciting or encouraging anger or frustrations.” 

“(We must be) actually putting forward concrete, real solutions that are gonna bring people along and allow them to see themselves in the future that the world is creating,” explained Trudeau. 

Trudeau’s response comes as politicians on both sides of the aisle have faced incidents of harassment. The verbal assaults have prompted Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino to increase security for politicians. 

Throughout the pandemic, Trudeau alienated Canadians and dehumanizing the unvaccinated.

In Sept. 2021, the prime minister gave an interview with the French-language program La semaine des 4 Julie, in which he referred to the unvaccinated as “extremists” and “mysoginists.” 

“They are extremists who don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, also often racists. It’s a small group that muscles in, and we have to make a choice in terms of leaders, in terms of the country,” said Trudeau. 

“Do we tolerate these people? Or do we say, hey, most of the Quebecois people – 80% – are vaccinated. We want to come back to things we like doing. It’s not those people who are blocking us.”

Trudeau also referred to the Freedom Convoy as a “fringe minority” with “unacceptable views,” when the convoy made its way to Ottawa in January.

The Liberals have also painted opponents to their internet regulation bills as “extremists.” 

“Again it seems that the members of the Conservative Party are listening to the most extremist element of their party, as they have on very important issues such as climate change or women’s right to choose,” said former minister of Canadian heritage Steven Guilbeault in response to criticisms of his internet regulation bill in Apr. 2021. 

“Vast majority of Canadians” want digital IDs, claims government webcast

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A webcast hosted by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) makes the claim that “a vast majority of Canadians want“ digital identities to access government services. 

The Oct. 6 event titled Paving the Path to Digital Identity for All is open for registration to “public servants at all levels.” 

“A vast majority of Canadians want safe and secure digital IDs to confirm their identity to access government services online seamlessly, from any device, anywhere, anytime,” the event description states. 

”Learn what public servants need to do to help pave the path to a secure, trusted, and harmonized digital ID ecosystem for Canadians.”

The CSPS is a Government of Canada body run by the Treasury Board. It frequently hosts events and learning courses for public servants on a variety of topics.

“Participants will have the opportunity to better understand what the use of digital identity involves, its impacts, how to prepare for its implementation, and what we can learn from others in the industry,” the CSPS explains.

“Experts across sectors will offer attendees a better understanding of how its application will affect public servants and others. They will discuss how to address issues around trust, security and privacy, through collaboration and with robust frameworks, policy, legislation, standards and guidelines.”

A recent poll surveying Canadians’ views on digital ID was published by the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) – an organization partnered with a government advisory body with the purpose of creating a “Pan Canadian” digital identity infrastructure. The survey found that 82% of Canadians were very or somewhat supportive of having their identities digitized. 

The DIACC currently collaborates with the Public Sector Chief Information Officer Council (PSCIOC), which is composed of public servants from across all levels of government. The PSCIOC is part of the Institute for Citizen-Centred Service which evolved from an earlier government body established by the Clerk of the Privy Council in 1997. 

A letter of intent between DIACC and PSCIOC describes the group as a “government advisory/consultative” body comprised of “senior officials of the federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada.” 

During a Feb. 1 webcast also hosted by the CSPS, DIACC President Joni Brennan pondered how digital ID could be used to track Canadians’ vaccination status for future pandemics. 

“I think that the identity is important for the pandemic—any time you would need to verify someone, anytime you would need to also do supply chain tracking and management about how do we even get the vaccine to people? How many people do we need to get it to? Have they had it yet or not? Are they due for their second dose?” said Brennan.

As first reported by True North, the Trudeau government unveiled its plan to introduce a federal “Digital Identity Program” earlier this month. 

Signed off by President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier, Canada’s Digital Ambition points to the pandemic as a learning opportunity to help digitize government services. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for government services to be accessible and flexible in the digital age. The next step in making services more convenient to access is a federal Digital Identity Program, integrated with pre-existing provincial platforms,” the report explained. 

“Digital identity is the electronic equivalent of a recognized proof-of-identity document (for example, a driver’s license or passport) and confirms that ‘you are who you say you are’ in a digital context.”

Danielle Smith would prohibit firings based on vaccination status

By
Rachel Parker
-

A Danielle Smith government would amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to prohibit employers from firing employees based on their vaccination status.

Smith said thousands of Albertans lost their jobs because they declined the vaccine and another “tens of thousands” were pressured to take the vaccine on the threat of losing their job. Companies will be pressured into implementing the same mandate this fall as federal booster mandates are looming.

“This was a human rights violation,” she said.

“That’s why as Premier, our government will amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to prohibit employers from firing employees based on their vaccination status.”

In the past, Smith has said the federal government will pressure provinces to reintroduce lockdowns, restrictions and vaccine mandates. Alberta must be prepared to resist pressure to do the same, she said.

Western University in Ontario has already mandated Covid-19 boosters shots for its students and staff. Those who have two doses of a Health Canada-approved vaccine will not be able to attend campus this fall.

According to Alberta vaccination data, 77% of Albertans have two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. Just 39% have three doses. 

The federal government is also considering whether to include booster shots in the next version of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its workers.

“Any decisions will be based on science and the advice of public health officials,” Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board, said in April. 

Currently, any federal worker in the core public administration, as well as the RCMP, must attest that they are fully vaccinated or risk being put on leave without pay. The policy also applies to employees who work from home.

Smith said the decision of whether to be vaccinated “is between you and your doctor…the Government and media can butt out.”

UCP leadership race polls peg Smith ahead of her six opponents. Party members will elect a new leader and Premier on October 6. 

Business group CEO says ArriveCAN puts cross-border integration at risk

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
-

Canadian American Business Council (CABC) CEO Maryscott Greenwood wants the Trudeau government to end ArriveCAN and reopen Nexus offices, saying the “seamless integration” of the two countries is at risk.

In a radio interview with AM800 CKLW, Greenwood said, “We’ve got to get to the place where Canadians and Americans are travelling back and forth, seeing family, having fun, but also doing business together.”

“That’s really been a huge hallmark of our relationship, the seamless integration of our economies and of our people,” she added. “That’s at risk right now.”

CABC has launched the “Travel Like it’s 2019” campaign, which calls on the Canadian government to take steps to alleviate travel delays and restore pre-pandemic normalcy at the border.

On its campaign website, CABC claims “the government is not responsible for all travel delays, but there are two actions it could take today to alleviate the burden on travellers.”

These actions are ending the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app and re-opening Canadian NEXUS enrolment centres – where those applying hoping to be part of the trusted traveller program go for an interview. 

CABC is urging Canadians to make the two demands in an email to their local Member of Parliament and federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra – who previously blamed Canadian travellers for airport delays.

Greenwood told True North over 3800 emails have been sent, saying “people are definitely weighing in to express their frustration.”

CABC says the ArriveCAN app is “cumbersome and issue plagued” and serves no public health purpose. It adds that the app “creates unnecessary delays for travellers and is harming the flow of tourism and commerce at the border.”

The council also says Canada’s 13 NEXUS enrollment centres, which have been closed since March 2020, need to reopen amid a backlog of 350,000 applications.

American Nexus enrollment centres reopened in April 2022, but according to the Canadian Press, offices in Canada are still closed due to a dispute between Canada and the United States over whether American officers present at the Canadian sites can carry guns.

Canadians have been going to the United States for their in-person interviews, something Greenwood finds nonsensical.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense that Canadians would have to go to the U.S. to talk to Canadian officials to get those interviews, but because the Canadian centres are closed, that’s what’s happening,” she told AM800. 

True North asked Greenwood if CABC also wants to see the removal of the Canadian and American governments’ border vaccine mandates. She said the council has “a wide array of members who have various points of views on vaccine mandates,” and hence it has not taken a position on the issue.

Other prominent organizations and individuals have also called for Canada to ditch ArriveCAN, including chambers of commerce from border communities, mayors, federal MPs and even a top American member of congress.

The Trudeau government has, however, chosen to continue doubling down on the app.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra claimed that there is “no evidence” that ArriveCAN is causing issues, and the office of Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould told a constituent the app is “part of ongoing efforts to modernize cross-border travel in Canada.”

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