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Thursday, August 28, 2025

No “specific numbers” to support mandates: PHAC

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was unable to provide any evidence to support continuing Canada’s extreme federal vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 measures. 

During a House of Commons health committee meeting on Wednesday, Conservative MP Michael Barrett questioned PHAC President Harpreet Kochhar to ask if the agency could provide statistics to justify maintaining mandates.

“Are you able to provide us today with the metrics that are being used to sustain or to allow those restrictions to expire at the end of the month?” asked Barrett.

“We have metrics that we use regularly. How do we provide advice? The guidance advice is based on scientific evidence on effectiveness, availability and uptake of vaccines, what is the evolving domestic and international epidemiological situation and the effectiveness of other public health measures to keep people safe,” said Kochhar. 

Most countries around the world have abandoned or limited vaccine mandates and other measures. Although Canada has some of the highest vaccination rates in the world, the Liberal government has refused to alter course. 

When pressed on the issue further, Kochhar admitted that the agency did not rely on any specific data to justify its mandates. 

“There has to be a number that you’ve identified at which it would be acceptable in each of those epidemiologically important categories that then you would make a recommendation that now is the time to lift the mandates,” said Barrett. “So in each of those areas are you saying that there is no number?” 

“This is a combination of different metrics there aren’t any specific numbers which we could actually say because it depends on the activity of the virus in the different communities as well as different settings,” said Kochhar. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing mounting pressure to end Covid-19 mandates. The travel industry has been particularly impacted with long delays and flight cancellations being reported across the country.

Several airline groups have called on the Liberals to immediately scrap the restrictions which they say are the cause of the issues, including the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable and the CEO of Westjet. 

Trans activists say Westjet “violating their human rights” by requiring them to state their gender

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
-
WestJet union must apologize

Transgender activists are accusing Westjet Airlines of “violating their human rights” by requiring them to state whether they’re male or female when booking a flight.

As reported by CBC News, activists are demanding the airline allow people to use “X” as their gender, as is currently allowed on Canadian passports.

Iz Lloyd, who identifies as “non-binary”, told CBC News that X “is a legal gender marker in our laws” and that not recognizing it is “a violation of the Charter.” 

Lloyd claims trans individuals are being forced to identify with their biological sex to be able to board a Westjet flight.

Westjet told CBC News that issues with third-party booking agencies have led to the delay of the implementation of an “X” marker.

“At WestJet, it is our commitment to ensure our guests have an equitable travel experience and we owe a further explanation and apology regarding our progress on adding non-binary options to our booking and check-in systems,” said WestJet media representative Denise Kenny.

In addition to identifying with a biological sex, Lloyd also claims to have been “misgendered” on several occasions by a WestJet employee.

In response to the incident, Lloyd says Westjet offered around 50 WestJet dollars and said there was nothing else that they could do.

Lloyd hopes the current situation will soon change and believes the ongoing dispute with Westjet will result in a better “world for other trans people and trans kids so that they’re not afraid.”

Lloyd also believes businesses should be required by the Canadian government to accept gender “X”. 

Some transgender activists have also taken issue with Air Canada’s gender policy, according to CBC News. While the carrier does offer a third gender option, activists object to the fact that it is listed as “other” rather than “X”.

Since 2019, the Trudeau government has allowed Canadians not wishing to identify as male or female to identify as “X” on their passports, a move that has some worried about safety abroad.

“We can’t guarantee that other countries you visit or travel through will accept the sex or gender identifier on your passport or travel document,” reads the federal government’s website.

Trudeau Liberals are an “oppressive government” like China: US Congressman

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President Joe Biden in Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas, one US congressman had some choice words for Trudeau.

Republican Rep. Bob Good called the Trudeau government an “oppressive government” akin to the likes of China. 

Good made the statement while the US House of Representatives debated the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021 floated by the Democrats to limit who can purchase or possess firearms. 

“Democrats simply do not believe in the inalienable rights of American citizens to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They believe that your rights come from government, and they, therefore, have the right to take them away,” said Good. 

“The guarantee provided by our Founders to ensure we remain free from foreign invasion and, yes, as our Founders clearly warned us, from an oppressive government like we see in Canada, Australia, and the Democrats’ beloved Communist China is the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to be armed as they choose.”

Good also slammed vaccine mandates and crackdowns on religious freedoms during the Covid-19 pandemic in his speech. 

“Our most precious freedoms to assemble together, to go where you want, to worship as you choose, to earn a living or operate your business, to keep your job or your employees, what you have to wear on your face, and whether or not you are required to receive a vaccine that you may not want or may not need all trampled upon by Democrats in power,” said Good. 

The US Congressman’s condemnation comes less than a month after Trudeau announced a handgun ban and other restrictions targetting legal firearm owners. 

“(The) national freeze on handguns (would) prevent individuals from bringing newly acquired handguns into Canada and from buying, selling, and transferring handguns within the country,” a press release stated. 

A chorus of international voices has spoken out against the Trudeau government in recent months pertaining to Canada’s extreme Covid restrictions and the use of the Emergencies Act to quash the peaceful Freedom Convoy.

Recently, Irish Senator Sharon Keogan called the government’s decision to freeze the assets of the Freedom Convoy in February an abuse of government power.

Trudeau’s narrative on the use of the Emergencies Act continues to crumble

By
Candice Malcolm
-

When the Trudeau government invoked the Emergencies Act to quash the peaceful Freedom Convoy, they made a number of wild claims to rationalize its use of the never-before-used act. Since then, Trudeau’s narrative about why the government needed these unprecedented powers has crumbled – the convoy was not funded by foreign donors or terrorists, the protesters had nothing to do with the arson attempt in Ottawa and to this date – not a single police force has confirmed the government’s claim that the police requested the government to invoke the act.

This week, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s deputy minister says Mendicino was “misunderstood” when he repeatedly said law enforcement requested the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act. Fortunately for the Trudeau government, they can count on the legacy media to cover for them.

Plus, Poilievre Derangement Syndrome reaches a new level as the Poilievre campaign announced it signed up over 300,000 members. Unsurprisingly, the legacy media is not covering this news in the same celebratory way they covered Trudeau’s leadership run in 2013.

Further, the Treasury Board of Canada wants you to use proper pronouns when composing emails. Forget about out-of-control government spending or the inflation crisis – this is the top priority for the government!

Plus, some exciting developments from True North as we launched two new podcasts this week AND some personal news from Candice Malcolm!

It’s Fake News Friday on The Candice Malcolm Show! Candice and True North producer Harrison Faulkner discuss the worst examples of fake news in the legacy media this week.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CANDICE MALCOLM SHOW

Liberal MPs say “massive majority” of caucus wants Trudeau to end mandates

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
-

A “massive majority” of the Liberal caucus wants the Trudeau government to end remaining federal vaccine mandates, according to the Hill Times.

The Hill Times spoke with multiple Liberal MPs who said they want all of Trudeau’s pandemic restrictions removed “as soon as possible.”

“The massive majority of Liberal MPs want the mandates to end,” said a Liberal MP, who chose to remain anonymous.

He added that “(p)eople are saying ‘what the hell, why are (unvaccinated) people not allowed to fly domestic, you know, like, at least let them fly domestic with masks on. You can go into a shopping mall with them, you can go into an elevator with them, you can go into a movie theatre with them.”

Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski, a doctor who sits on the House of Commons Health Committee, also said that federal vaccine mandates should be repealed. 

“The need for mandates has certainly changed and the calculus is not the same now as it was two months ago, three months, or six months ago,” Powlowski said.

“I would suggest that the vaccine requirements for being on planes and at workplaces at the moment, I don’t think the benefits of that mandate warrant the cost.” 

However, Powlowski did say he supported the continuation of mandatory masking on planes. “The mask mandate for flying, for example, I think is still warranted, if you’re gonna sit beside someone for two hours or six hours.”

Multiple Liberal MPs also told The Hill Times the issue has been brought up on several occasions during caucus meetings, including presentations by Yukon’s former chief health officer and now Liberal MP for Yukon Brendan Hanley. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet ministers have not given satisfactory answers as to why their mandates continue to be in place.

“There’s never any straight or particularly convincing answer, I would say, let’s just leave it at that,” said one MP.

Another MP said that “(t)he answer (to maintaining mandates) is: ‘We’re listening to science and experts’… That’s been the message from the very beginning.”

Liberal MPs also say they heard frustration about the federal government’s holdout on mandates while they were helping provincial Liberals campaign in Ontario during the recent election campaign.

The Liberals MPs also acknowledge that the federal vaccine mandates are a key cause of the long lines and delays seen at Canadian airports.

The news comes amid a large push by Conservative politicians as well as travel and tourism organizations to end federal Covid mandates and restrictions, including vaccination requirements.

The Hotel Association of Canada, National Airlines Association of Canada, Canadian Airports Council, International Air Transport Association and American Express Global Business Travel have all called for an end of remaining measures. 

Westjet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech and Air Canada’s former COO Duncan Dee have also called for the federal vaccine mandate for air travel to be lifted.

Canada is one of few countries that continues to enforce strict vaccine mandates and travel restrictions.

The United States’ mask mandate for air travel ended on Apr. 18 after it was overturned by a federal judge in Florida, who ruled it was “unlawful”. The European Union also ended its recommendation that masks be worn on planes and at airports.

Canadians who have chosen not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 continue to be barred from travelling domestically by air and rail, with many also being unable to leave the country. On Friday, the Biden Administration also announced it will lift its mandatory Covid test requirement on Sunday.

Independent candidate denied by PC party wins landmark victory

By
Andrew Lawton
-

When incumbent Ontario MPP Toby Barrett decided he wouldn’t be running for reelection in the longtime Progressive Conservative riding of Haldimand—Norfolk, his executive assistant Bobbi Ann Brady thought she would at least get a chance to seek the PC nomination. Instead, the PC party decided to unilaterally appoint a candidate – Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. But this wasn’t going to stop Bobbi Ann Brady.

She ran as an independent in the 2022 Ontario general election and beat the PC party, becoming the first non-PC candidate to win the riding since 1990.

Brady joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the landmark victory, her plans for Queen’s Park, and the events that led up to her running as an independent.

Watch the full episode of The Andrew Lawton Show.

Canadians could expect 30% higher mortgage payments by 2026: Bank of Canada

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Canadians should expect to be paying mortgage payments that are 30% higher than they are today within four years, according to the Bank of Canada (BOC). 

An increasingly inaccessible housing market and higher levels of household debt will play a contributing factor, the BOC’s Financial System Review noted. 

“Even as the average household is in better financial shape, more Canadians have stretched to buy a house during the pandemic,” said BOC Governor Tiff Macklem. 

“And these households are more exposed to higher interest rates and the potential for housing prices to decline.”

Canadians who bought a house in 2020 or 2021 will see monthly payments go up by $420 or 30% by renewal. A total of 1.4 million Canadians are included in that group. 

By 2025 to 2026, variable rate loans will cost 4.4% while fixed-rate loans will be at 4.5%. 

Those who borrow at variable rates are expected to see the most significant increase in monthly payments up from $1,650 to $2,730 by the time of renewal or a 44% hike. 

“If those in highly indebted households lose their jobs, they would likely need to reduce their spending sharply to continue servicing their mortgage,” Macklem said.

“This is not what we expect to happen … But it is a vulnerability to watch closely and manage carefully.”

In Canada, two-thirds of people own their homes, however a majority rely on a mortgage. Meanwhile, 37% of Canadians are renting. 

Over the pandemic, the cost of homes jumped by an average 50% due to low rates. 

The BOC warns that a large portion of the inflated housing costs are based on debt with one in five households saying they are “highly indebted” or have a debt to income ratio of 350% or larger. 

“Those numbers mean that each rate hike will inflict more pain on the economy than it would have in the past,” Desjardins economist Royce Mendes said. 

Leftists approve of legacy media coverage, conservatives believe they are mistreated: poll

By
Noah Jarvis
-

A new poll has found that the majority of conservatives in Canada feel that the legacy media covers their political views unfairly, while Canadians who identify themselves as on the political left are comfortable with how the legacy media cover their beliefs.

According to the latest Angus Reid poll, of the participants who identified themselves as on the political right, 67% said that media coverage of their political views was ‘unfair,’ while 22% found the coverage fair.

On the flip side, 61% of respondents who identified themselves as being on the political left said the media coverage of their political views was fair. In comparison, only 23% found the media to be unfair.

The poll surveyed 4,000 people. A probability sample this size carries a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Most respondents generally agree that media coverage should present the facts to viewers and allow them to come to their own conclusions instead of the media presenting views that they believe will benefit viewers.

The poll found that 88% of conservatives and 82% of leftists agree that “(n)ews outlets should reflect a range of different views and leave it up to viewers to decide,” instead of networks presenting what they think will be beneficial for viewers.

The poll also surveyed Canadians who identified as moderate. Of the respondents who view themselves as being centre-right, those who believe the media is unfair are about the same as those who find media fair.

Further, centre-left voters were more satisfied than their centre-right counterparts as 48% said media coverage is fair as opposed to 29% who believe the media is unfair to their beliefs.

There is also an overall lack of institutional trust, and this distrust in societal elites continues to grow.

The same Angus Reid poll found that only 19% of Canadians have confidence in their political leaders. At the same time, conservatives distrust the federal government, teachers, and labour leaders more than left-wingers.

Similar findings were echoed by another Edelman’s 2022 Trust Barometer, finding that 61% of people felt that the legacy media was purposely misleading them.

Taxpayer funded library hosts drag show for KIDS

By
Harrison Faulkner
-

On June 8th, in partnership with Durham Pride, Toronto Pride and the Durham Children’s Aid Society, the Pickering Public Library hosted a “drag queen story time” for kids aged 0-12.

The event description says that the event is an “interactive storytelling and dance performance” where the stories that are read “encourage children [to] celebrate our differences”. A photo booth and face painting area were also set up for the drag performers to interact with the children.

True North reporter Harrison Faulkner went to the Pickering Public Library to document what was happening and to let the people of Pickering know what their tax dollars are being spent on.

The organizers did not permit outside recording of the event and refused to release their footage to the public, however they did allow the recording of a live tv feed for an overflow crowd on the main floor of the venue.

Despite the mature nature of the event, a Durham Children’s Aid Society representative spoke to True North and said that he doesn’t believe that event itself was sexual in nature.

True North also spoke to a lone protestor at the event to get his thoughts on what was taking place inside the library.

Treasury Board lectures Canadians about pronouns in emails

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat released a guide for Canadians on how to use the proper pronouns when composing emails so as not to “unknowingly misgender” people. 

In a tweet, the Treasury Board accuses Canadians of making “assumptions and (having) implicit bias” about others. 

“Determining how to address someone you don’t know by e-mail can be tricky. Assumptions and implicit bias may lead you to unknowingly misgender the recipient. What does recovery look like in this situation? Check out this example,” the tweet claimed. 

The attached video shows a hypothetical situation between two people named Alex Diaz and Hamza.

In the first email Hamza addresses the recipient as “Mr. Alex Diaz.” 

“Hi Hamza, Thanks for sharing. Although it’s a common mistake, I wanted to let you know that I’m a woman,” replies Diaz. 

“Thank you for telling me, Alex! Appreciate it,” Hamza writes back. 

“Sure think. I’m adding pronouns to my email signature to avoid this in the future. Alex Diaz Pronouns: she/her,” responds Diaz. 

The video concludesby telling Canadians to consider adding their own pronouns when communicating by email in order to make workplaces more inclusive. 

“Everyone uses pronouns,” it states. “Consider adding yours to your e-signature to promote an inclusive workplace.” 

This is not the first time that the government department has used its platform to promote woke ideology. In March 2021, the Treasury Board published a lengthy post about how Canada is systemically racist. 

“Racism is so much bigger than personal bias. It’s a system of interlocking relationships between individuals, institutions and structures,” the post reads.

“Systemic racism favours the dominant group, granting them an unearned set of advantages, benefits and choices – privileges that are not awarded to racialized and marginalized groups.”

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