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Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Senator who endorsed Charest won’t apologize for comparing Poilievre to Putin

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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A Quebec Conservative senator is standing by his comparison between Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre and Russian President Vladimir Putin over Poilievre’s promise to defund the CBC.

As first reported by the Westphalian Times, Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais made the comments while appearing on CHOI 98.1 Radio X Monday. 

“Vladimir Putin shut down a TV station in Russia… [Poilievre] wants to shut down CBC in Canada,” Dagenais told Radio X host Dominic Maurais in French. 

Dagenais, who is supporting former Quebec Liberal Premier Jean Charest’s leadership bid, also said he would cease being a member of the Conservative party if Poilievre becomes leader. 

Speaking in French to True North, Dagenais stood by his comparison and said he would not apologize.

“I’m 72-year old, I have never apologized in my life, and I won’t do that today.” 

Dagenais also said that “a comparison is never fair, but the goal of a comparison is to make something be understood.”

The Quebec senator explained he saw an RDI story about a news outlet in Russia being shut down, something he finds comparable to Poilievre wanting to strip the CBC of government funding.

“What’s with the idea of wanting to cut funding to a crown corporation?” 

Dagenais also said Poilievre only wants to only cut the funding to the English part of the state broadcaster, something he finds divisive. 

He did however admit that his comparison was provocative. 

“It can be startling,” he said. “Maybe I pushed the coffee around a bit for a Monday morning. But the idea is to understand: why cut funding to a Crown corporation?”

Putin, who is seen as a dictator, has been accused of assassinating journalists and political dissidents. His invasion of Ukraine has also killed thousands of people.

Meanwhile, Poilievre is a democratically elected Member of Parliament who has not killed any political dissidents or invaded sovereign nations.

Dagenais had also told Radio X that he objected to Poilievre’s support of the Freedom Convoy, claiming he encouraged truckers to oppose public health restrictions.

When asked by True North if he supported vaccine mandates, Dagenais said that he caught Covid despite being quadruple vaccinated. However, he suggested he may have contracted the virus from Poilievre supporters he met in Alberta.

“I ran into some of Mr. Poilievre’s supporters and they were anti-public health measures, they were against abortion, they told me that they were religious Catholics,” said Dagenais

“You’ll tell me it’s a coincidence – I came back and I had Covid.”

Dagenais also criticized the freedom movement, and claimed those who oppose Covid restrictions don’t respect their neighbours.

“I think it is a question of responsibility. So I say to myself that someone who is against public health measures, they have the right not to protect themselves and to be sick, but who has the right to contaminate others?”

“I got vaccinated, it’s not just for me, it’s to protect others.”

Dagenais is not the only pro-Charest politician to threaten to leave the Conservative party if members elect Poilievre as leader. 

Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier MP Joel Godin has said he would leave the party, and even suggested he may join efforts to form a new party.

While Dagenais is a Conservative party member, he left the Conservative Caucus in 2019, citing then leader Andrew Scheer’s socially conservative views. He now sits with the Canadian Senators Group. 

True North reached out to the Poilievre campaign for comment, but they did not respond in time for publication.

Family businesses saw “substantial decline” during pandemic

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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New figures by the Department of Industry reveal that family-owned businesses were especially hurt by government Covid restrictions and closures. 

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the number of businesses owned by couples or family members fell by 14% in 2021. Data was reported by the department in the SME Profile: Ownership Demographic Statistics document. 

Before the pandemic 62% of all small and medium businesses in Canada were family-owned but by 2021 that figure crashed down to 48%. 

“Approximately 33 percent of all small and medium-sized enterprises had temporary closures due to the pandemic,” the department wrote. 

A total of 19,283 business owners were interviewed to arrive at the figures. Businesses included had fewer than 500 employees and a five-figure gross income. 

In a 2021 report, the department predicted that lockdowns cost 740,800 small business jobs. 

“Private sector employment decreased in all the provinces,” said the department. 

“Among small business, employment decreased in all provinces.”

At the same time, as private businesses were failing to make ends meet across Canada, the size of the public sector was growing. 

In Sept. 2021, the think tank SecondStreet.org put out a study which showed how no level of government cut the pay of civil servants as businesses were facing mass layoffs and wage cuts. 

In fact, over 300,000 federal workers received a pay hike in the midst of the pandemic according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). 

“Canadians have experienced a tale of two pandemics: one full of private sector pain, the other full of bureaucrat pay increases,” said CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano. 

“MPs pocketing two pay raises during the pandemic is a slap in the face to the millions of Canadians struggling through COVID-19. At the very least, all party leaders should commit to reversing the pandemic politician pay raises.”

Poilievre continues to trigger the media

By
Andrew Lawton
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Poilievre Derangement Syndrome is running at an all-time high!

This week, multiple legacy media outlets claimed Canadians were scared of Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre because former prime minister Stephen Harper endorsed the Carleton MP to become leader. Andrew Lawton and Harrison Faulkner discuss why these reports and polls can’t be trusted.

Plus, a Globe and Mail columnist says the World Economic Forum’s claim that “you will own nothing and be happy” is apparently “misinformation.”

And the Toronto Star runs a Facebook ad, claiming they’re a “trusted news source” and gets absolutely roasted by Canadians.

Tune into this week’s edition of Fake News Friday with Andrew Lawton and Harrison Faulkner!

Sir John A Macdonald statue will not be erected at his gravesite

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Source: Canadian Encyclopedia

The board of the cemetery housing the remains of Canada’s first prime minister has voted against relocating a statue of him at his gravesite citing his alleged flawed history. 

Originally the statue was housed at Kingston City Park, but city officials had the statue removed last year pending further action. 

Cataraqui Cemetery board members have since shut down a plan to relocate the statue to his place of rest. 

“This update today is the first time staff were made aware that a reconsideration by the board was underway,” said Kingston’s director of heritage services Jennifer Campbell.

“As recently as June 27, staff were in communication with the assigned board representative to co-ordinate the completion of a site survey, as part of confirming the detailed mounting/installation plan.”

City councillor Jeff McLaren spoke out against the statue’s removal saying that “erasing history” was a bad move. 

“I propose that this former statue space be used to present the perspectives of the different groups who were affected by Sir John A. Macdonald’s legacy,” said McLaren.

“The city should allow each group to commemorate in a culturally suitable fashion. Erasing history is never a good policy. However, it is by adding perspective that we advance history. This requires respect for the truth. This requires respect for the truth — especially when it isn’t a truth one likes.”

“Sir John A. Macdonald has achievements worth celebrating and commemorating. His achievements are not diminished by his flaws,” he continued. 

The controversy surrounding Macdonald has also reached the federal government. Last year, a Toronto Star report prompted the federal government to delete a biography of Macdonald when Canadians tried to access Macdonald’s biography on Library and Archives Canada.

“Within hours of the Star requesting comment from the agency on Friday, notes appeared at the top of the Macdonald and Laurier biographies saying the pages had been ‘archived on the web,’” the article claimed.

Why Alberta needs autonomy (ft. Brian Jean)

By
Andrew Lawton
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Alberta’s United Conservative Party is less than two months away from electing a new leader. Leadership candidate Brian Jean joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the race so far, the inspiration behind his campaign, and the importance of Albertan autonomy. Plus, why Albertan’s should be concerned about NDP leader Rachel Notley.

Watch The Andrew Lawton Show.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW.

Second UCP cabinet minister backs Danielle Smith

By
Rachel Parker
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Alberta Labour and Immigration Minister Kaycee Madu is the second cabinet member and seventh United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA to endorse Danielle Smith as the best person to take over as Alberta’s premier.

Madu made his endorsement in his riding of Edmonton-South West at a Smith campaign event on Thursday night. Earlier in the day, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen also threw his support behind Smith.

The minister said his endorsement of Smith is one of the most consequential political decisions of life.

The party needs a leader who can beat the NDP and win seats in Edmonton, and that leader is Smith, who “has shown a true commitment to the grassroots of our party,” Madu told a crowd of just under 400 on Thursday.

Dreeshan said Smith is bringing hopeful ideas and policies that resonate with Albertans.

“I joined Danielle’s team to lend my political skills to a Danielle Smith UCP government,” he said. “I know that Danielle Smith is the leader that Alberta needs right now.”

The endorsements come as recent polls show the former Opposition Wildrose party leader emerging as the clear front runner. 

A Mainstreet Research poll funded by the political advocacy group Take Back Alberta projects Smith winning on the fourth ballot, with 57.86% of support. Toews placed second with 42.14% of support, in the poll.

An internal UCP poll from the Smith campaign also found that Smith will win on the fourth ballot, as reported by the Calgary Sun.

Two of the MLAs who have endorsed Smith switched from earlier support of former finance minister Travis Toews, including Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish, who took aim at the divisive politics of other campaigns.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie, Lethbridge-East MLA Nate Neudorf and Calgary-Falconridge MLA Devinder Toor have also endorsed Smith. 

Albertans who desire to vote in the leadership contest — which offers a unique opportunity to also vote for a premier — have until Friday at midnight to purchase a $10 membership. 

Members must be a permanent resident of Alberta who is older than 14 years of age. 

UCP members will elect the new leader and premier on October 6.

Conservative MP wants to simplify foreign credential recognition process amid health care crisis

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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Source: Wikipedia

Conservative MP Brad Redekopp wants to simplify the process of skilled foreign credential recognition as Canada’s public health care system struggles with a staffing crisis.  

The Saskatoon West MP, who serves as the Conservative’s deputy immigration critic, introduced the Recognition of Foreign Credentials Act (Bill C-286) on June 15.

The bill would amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and streamline the credential recognition process – a process which currently differs by province.

Speaking to True North, Redekopp said the issue of immigrants not having their credentials recognized in Canada is relevant in both his riding and Canada at large.

“These are issues that are relevant in my riding and right across the country. And as I speak to newcomers to Canada, one of the most common things I hear is the difficulty of getting a job in their chosen profession in Canada,” said Redekopp.

“We’ve all heard of the classic doctor driving a taxi cab situation.”

Redekopp says the issue is especially relevant right now amid worker shortages in health care. 

“We have such need for all kinds of workers, particularly in health care,” he said. “Newcomers can fill a lot of those roles.”

Redekopp says immigrants currently have to pay for an assessment that determines whether their credentials are equivalent to the ones issued in Canada – a process that can cost hundreds of dollars.

Through his bill, he says that “rather than every single person having to go through that process, pay the money, wait the time to get this credential assessment done… once that assessment has been done… it’s in the system for everybody afterwards to use.” 

As for people with credentials that have not yet gone through the process, Redekopp says they would no longer have to pay a fee.

“You wouldn’t have to pay to get that done,” said Redekopp.

The Saskatchewan MP’s private members bill has completed its first reading in the House of Commons.

According to 2016 data from Statistics Canada, around 30% of those with a background in health-related fields are “underutilized”, meaning they are either unemployed or working a job that does not require anything apart from a high school diploma.  

The share of underutilized people with health care-related backgrounds is higher among immigrants with foreign education (47%) compared to those born in Canada (28%).

Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA) President Jennifer Lopez told the Toronto Sun that the credential recognition ordeal is “very frustrating” for foreign nurses, and some have given up.

“I don’t know why we are subjected to so much strain as we want to step in to help the health care system which is in dire need of nurses.”

Lopez roughly estimates that there are 2000 nurses in her Filipino organization who are currently not working in their field.

The CBC is about to get WAY worse

By
Harrison Faulkner
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The CBC is about to get 30% more woke thanks to new requirements imposed on them by the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications (CRTC). The CBC will now have to dedicate 30% of its English-language programming to woke causes such as promoting “racialized” voices,” “disabled voices” and language minorities. Did anyone on the woke left really feel that the CBC wasn’t serving them enough biased left wing content? Also, doesn’t the CBC already surpass that target? Harrison Faulkner breaks it all down on this week’s episode of Ratio’d.

Also on the show, Canada’s deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland embarrasses herself once again as she condescendingly talked down to Canadian farmers – just before her government plans to implement its fertilizer reduction scheme. She wants Canadians to know that she loves our farmers and because she grew up on a farm, she’s just like them!

Freeland wasn’t done there this week. The day before she insulted farmers, she wanted Canada to know how much she loves our truckers. Do you remember when Freeland giggled as she froze innocent Canadians out of their bank accounts? Well now, she wants those same truckers to know how important a role they play in our economy and how much the government values them. Because of the fact that she got roasted on Twitter for those comments, she is taking home the Ratio of the Week Award.

Tune into Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner.

ArriveCAN is violating human rights, experts say

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Legal and human rights experts are calling out the Trudeau government’s ArriveCAN app for violating rights after a glitch told over 10,000 people they would need to enter into a mandatory quarantine. 

“It creates direct harm for people who are receiving this incorrect notification and following it,” said Thompson River University law professor Matt Malone. 

“The government hasn’t provided sufficient transparency about why that happened. And there needs to be better accountability practices in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

University of Ottawa Canadian research chair in information law Teresa Scassa blasted the government over a lack of transparency with the application. 

“I think it’s very troubling and I think it raises some important questions about government use of AI,” said Scassa.

“This is one of their flagship tools and there doesn’t seem to be any transparency or clear governance.”

The Conservatives have called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to completely scrap the program, claiming that the app has been a national disaster. 

“People do not want to come, and the regulations are certainly redundant,” said Conservative transport critic Melissa Lantsman. 

“These kinds of things say Canada is closed for business and when we have that coupled with a transportation network that just isn’t conducive to the potential in this area, we have a recipe for disaster.”

Despite calls to do away with the program, the Liberals have instead doubled down on ArriveCAN. In July the federal government put out warnings that those refusing to comply by using the ArriveCAN app could face hefty fines. 

An emergency meeting of the House of Commons transport committee has voted to have Liberal Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra appear before members to answer questions about the disaster at Canada’s airports. 

“We had committee testimony warning us that passenger traffic would surge this summer. We saw huge airport lineups at the beginning of April,” said Lantsman. “I think by this point, it’s unacceptable for the government to be taken by surprise or continue to tell Canadians that they are working on it.”

“It’s our view that the minister should address the critical issues facing our airports so that Canadians can understand that the government is doing anything (it can) to fix the mess and not simply waiting out the height of peak travel season in an effort to further abdicate their responsibility.”

Vancouver hiring lifeguards committed to “decolonization and equity”

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A City of Vancouver job posting for a lifeguard position requires applicants to be committed to the woke ideals of “decolonization and equity.” 

“The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is inviting applications from interested and qualified candidates for the summer intake of Lifeguard I employees for various outdoor pools and beaches in Vancouver,” the ad states. 

“…the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, decolonization, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.”

According to the University of British Columbia, “decolonization” is defined as “the repatriation of Indigenous land and life.” Proponents of the practice seek to uproot supposedly colonial institutions which are seen as “systemically racist” and harmful to First Nations. 

Diversity, equity and inclusion often goes hand in hand with “decolonization” and has been adopted by major public and private institutions across Canada. 

In addition, successful applicants who land the job must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the City of Vancouver writes. 

“The City of Vancouver has a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy.  All external applicants applying to the City of Vancouver are required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of hire and subject to this policy as a condition of ongoing employment,” the ad explains. 

Employees are expected to work part time for a casual length and get paid $30.81 per hour for their labour. 

As reported by True North in May, British Columbia’s Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act called on the province to legislate “decolonization and anti-racism” into policing. 

Throughout the consultation, members heard clear evidence of systemic racism in policing as well as the colonial structure of police services,” the report reads. 

“To address these issues, Members recommend including anti-racism and decolonization as values in a new Community Safety and Policing Act, implementing mandatory and ongoing anti-racism and cultural competency training that is delivered in a meaningful way.”

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