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Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Elections Canada not informed of Liberal-NDP deal to extend voting days

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Elections Canada said it was caught off guard by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent announcement that upcoming federal elections would see polls open for three days instead of one. 

The announcement was part of the Trudeau Liberals’ “confidence and supply agreement” with the NDP, which saw the party of Jagmeet Singh agree to support the Liberals until 2025.

According to the deal’s details, the government will work with Elections Canada to make it easier for people to vote, including by extending election day to three days.

A statement released by Elections Canada stated the agency “had no prior knowledge of the Liberal Party and New Democratic Party commitments related to the agency’s mandate.”

“For any future changes to the (Elections) Act, it will be important to take time to properly consider their potential implications for the administration of future elections,” said Elections Canada spokesperson Matthew McKenna. “The (chief electoral officer) would look forward to discussing those possible changes with parliamentarians, and sharing his expertise about the administration of federal elections.”

Currently, chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault is preparing a review of the 2021 election, which will contain recommendations for future elections. 

Recently, Elections Canada revealed that a record number of ballots were not included in the final election results. 

A total of 205,000 mail-in ballots were found to be either late, never returned or cancelled. 

“In fact, 90,274 mail-in ballots (local and out-of-riding) were received after the deadlines described in the Canada Elections Act (either by close of polls locally, or 6 PM ET for international/national mail-in ballots returned to Ottawa),” Elections Canada told True North in February. 

“114,583 ballot kits were either never returned to us, or they were cancelled (for example, electors who returned their ballot kit unused because they voted in person instead). Those two numbers represent different things.”

Perrault has stated he will be reviewing the mail-in ballot debacle in his upcoming report. 

“The separation within the 114,000 between those who simply chose not to vote and those who chose to vote by another means is something we need to look into. To do that we have to pry open all of the bags coming back from all the parts of the country,” said Perrault.

“That is a long process. I am confident we will be able to report on that.”

Part of the Liberal-NDP deal also included exploring improving how mail ballots are processed while also allowing people to vote at any polling station in their ridings. 

The two parties’ “confidence and supply agreement” was announced on Mar. 22.

Conservative leader Candice Bergen called the unprecedented deal an “NDP-Liberal majority government.” 

“This is nothing more than a Justin Trudeau power grab. He is desperately clinging to power.” Bergen said on Tuesday.

Number of people who left Canada in the 4th annual quarter at almost 50-year high

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Government data shows that more people left Canada permanently in the last quarter of 2021 than in any year since the 1970s.

According to Statistics Canada estimates, emigration out of the country was up throughout 2021, with a sharp increase at the end of the year. The largest spike in people abandoning Canada was in the fourth quarter, which correlated with the implementation of the Trudeau government’s vaccine mandate for travel. 

During that quarter, emigration was up 215% from the year prior, with an estimated 16,901 people moving out of Canada – the highest it has been since 1974. 

The exodus persisted throughout the year, with a total of 55,935 residents leaving the country. Emigration trends were also up 55.7% when compared to the five-year median before 2020.

According to the real estate brokerage service Soldplicity, structural issues such as expensive housing or a lack of economic opportunity could also explain the outflow. 

Under the Trudeau government, the cost of housing has increased over 100% since the Liberals were first elected under his leadership in 2015. 

Six years ago, the average cost of a Canadian home was $430,000, while in 2022 it had skyrocketed to $869,000. 

In a Nov. 2021 paper by the Macdonald Laurier Institute, researchers noted how Trudeau had campaigned many times on making housing more affordable without delivering on his promises. 

“The fast-escalating prices under the first and second tenures of the Liberal government have been extensively debated and presented as evidence of weak stewardship on housing,” wrote report authors Murtaza Haider and Stephen Moranis. 

On top of that, inflation in Canada has not been this high for over 30 years. 

A recent analysis by Scotiabank also showed that more people left Ontario for other provinces than in any year since 1981.

“Pandemic restriction severity, housing affordability, and telework adoption all appear to have influenced the trend—in contrast to past periods of strong out-migration that mirrored starker differences in regional economic conditions,” said Scotiabank senior economist Marc Desormeaux in the paper published on Mar. 17.

Ontario experienced the longest lockdowns anywhere in North America throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing a fourth lockdown in January over large case counts stemming from the Omicron variant.

This article’s headline and opening paragraph were corrected on Mar. 30. An earlier version reported that 2021 had seen more people leave Canada in 2021 than in any year since the 1970s. The revisions reflect that this was true of the fourth quarter of 2021.

Ontario cop charged for posting video praising truckers

By
Harley Sims
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A Durham police officer who posted a video of herself speaking in support of the Freedom Convoy as it headed towards Ottawa is now facing charges under Ontario’s Police Services Act.

Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) had originally announced they were investigating Constable Erin Howard in January after she posted the 1-minute video to a now-deactivated Twitter account.

DRPS spokesperson Chris Bovie confirmed to True North on Tuesday that Howard is now charged under the Police Services Act with two counts each of discreditable conduct, insubordination and breach of confidence.

Howard appeared in full uniform in the video on Jan. 24, the same day the Freedom Convoy’s western fleet headed through Alberta. In it, she called the truckers “true heroes” and said she would be in Ottawa to speak when they arrived.

“I’m just – I really wanted to give a shout-out to all the truckers. I think what you guys are doing is incredible. You’re fighting for rights and freedoms. And right now, it feels like we’re a little bit at war, and those rights and freedoms are at stake. So, you guys are honestly true heroes. What you’re doing is just incredible. I will be in Ottawa when you guys roll in. I’m going to be speaking on behalf of Police on Guard. And we are thrilled – thrilled and honoured – to be able to be there. I can’t wait to meet you guys. Hope to talk to a lot of you in person. Anyway, just wanted to give you guys a shout-out and some support, and keep rolling, and we’ll see you in Ottawa.”

It is not clear whether Howard spoke in Ottawa on behalf of Police on Guard, although the organization issued a statement on Feb. 25 in support of the officer. True North reached out to Police on Guard for comment on Howard’s charges but did not receive a response by publication time.

A DRPS spokesperson said in January that Durham police’s code of conduct “restricts the use of police property and influence to only official duties,” and suggested that the issue with Howard’s video wasn’t necessarily her opinion but rather the fact that she had appeared in uniform.

With her charges, Howard becomes the latest police officer to face punishment or investigation for supporting the convoy protests.

In February, two Edmonton Police Service (EPS) officers were forced onto leave without pay as they awaited the results of ongoing professional standards investigations. EPS Constable Elena Golysheva and Staff Sgt. Rick Abbott both spoke at a rally in Coutts, Alta. on Feb. 12.

Abbott had identified himself as a police officer before speaking, although he did not name his agency. Golysheva had also posted an emotional video of herself in full uniform to social media a few days earlier, pleading with Canadians to recognize what was happening to them.

“My heart has been broken every day when I saw the very freedom that I moved to Canada for has been taken away, and people – Canadians – who lived here or work here were not recognizing that,” Golysheva said, breaking into tears.

Addressing the officers’ suspension, EPS chief Dale McFee said the service could not “support or condone” their actions. “Like, that’s just not something that’s allowed in how we actually do our police work, and we have a discipline process for that,” he said.

Calgary police officer Nick Motycka also spoke out publicly in February, posting a video after watching Ottawa police confiscate fuel from protesters. Calgary Police Service confirmed to True North that the matter was being investigated but said Motycka – who did not appear in the video in uniform – was “currently on an unrelated leave from the service.”

In addition to supporting freedom protests, many police officers have also spoken out against vaccination mandates specifically. Freedom Convoy co-organizer Daniel Bulford – a former RCMP officer with the Prime Minister’s sniper detail – was put on unpaid leave last year for refusing to comply with the policy.

Durham police, unlike the vast majority of Canadian police services, does not require its officers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but allows rapid testing as an alternative.

Howard is scheduled for her first appearance on May 5.

DRPS told True North that while Section 95 of Ontario’s Police Act prohibits the revelation of details about investigations arising from conduct complaints and investigations – including outcomes – Howard’s hearing will be public, and the details of her first appearances will be posted on the service’s website.

DRPS also confirmed that its officers “did provide support to Ottawa Police and the citizens of Ottawa” during the final weekend of the Freedom Convoy protests.

Four provinces move forward with small nuclear reactor plan

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Four provinces are moving forward with plans to build small nuclear reactors to supply energy. 

The strategic plan by Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta could make Canada a global leader in small modular reactor (SMR) technology. 

According to the plan, one single SMR could generate enough electricity to power 300,000 homes. Much smaller than traditional reactors, they can be constructed in factories and transported from place to place. 

According to Saskatchewan minister Don Morgan, SaskPower’s collaboration with Ontario Power Generation would help Canada reduce its carbon emissions and eventually reach net zero by 2050. 

“(The project) has laid a strong foundation for nuclear power … to support deep reductions in Canada’s GHG emissions to ultimately achieve net zero by 2050,” said Morgan. 

Ontario will be the first province to host an SMR, while another four would subsequently be built in Saskatchewan by 2042. 

“Energy security has never been more important, and nuclear power, fuelled by uranium from Saskatchewan, has the potential to ensure that our country has the power to guide us into the future,” said Morgan. 

On Tuesday, the Trudeau government released its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. SMR technology made an appearance in the report. 

“The Government will continue to work with utilities, as well as provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples and communities, industry, innovators, laboratories, academia, and civil society to advance SMRs through Canada’s SMR Action Plan,” the report read.

“Looking out to 2050, investments in emerging technologies such as geothermal, tidal, SMRs, carbon capture and storage, and electricity storage will allow Canada to be a world leader in these new technologies.” 

In its 2022 Canada energy policy review, the International Energy Agency (IEA) identified nuclear energy as key to achieving federal climate goals. 

“The role of nuclear energy is recognised as fundamental to achieving and sustaining Canada’s climate change goals and the technology is seen as a long-term source of baseload electricity supply,” wrote the IEA. “In particular, SMRs are considered a key priority.” 

Should the Conservatives embrace populism?

By
Candice Malcolm
-

Canadians are feeling the effects of big government and a Liberal party that always thinks it knows best. Canadians are seeing a growing nanny state, astronomical debt and bureaucratic busy-bodies getting in the way of jobs and growth. All the while, it seems Trudeau is never really held accountable.

Could this be an opportunity for the Conservatives?

On today’s episode of The Candice Malcolm Show, Candice is joined by Ben Woodfinden. Ben is a writer and contributor to the National Post and the Hub Magazine. He argues that it’s time for the Conservatives to embrace populism and go after “Canada’s elite gatekeepers.”

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CANDICE MALCOLM SHOW

Cryptocurrency has a “positive impact” in combating Russia: Wealthsimple

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

An executive with the Canadian investment company Wealthsimple shut down claims by a Liberal MP that cryptocurrency was a form of Russian “dark money” during a Mar. 14 Commons finance committee meeting. 

Wealthsimple’s Chief Legal Officer Blair Wiley told parliamentarians that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin were actually having a positive impact on Ukraine’s ability to fend off Russia’s invasion. 

Wiley made the comments in response to questions by Liberal MP Sophie Chatel.

“I was particularly worried when I read recently two main reports that, according to a very reliable estimate, Russia has the world’s largest volume of dark money,” said Chatel. “I’m particularly concerned about cryptocurrency, but you can expand your answer beyond that, as I know that you have vast knowledge in this field. If the regulations will not allow it, what can be improved to stop the financing of these illicit activities?”

“We actually see cryptocurrency having a positive impact in this conflict, in that there are people around the world who are donating directly to the Ukrainian government using cryptocurrency as a means of doing so,” said Wiley. 

Wiley pointed to cryptocurrency being a safe way to fund and support anti-regime Russian journalists who could face imprisonment by Moscow authorities for speaking out against the invasion. 

“Cryptocurrency has a place in those sorts of repressive regimes,” said Wiley. “I also would comment more broadly on the trillion-dollar figure you mentioned. I don’t know this for sure, but that would effectively be half of the total market value of all cryptocurrencies. We have high confidence that this money is not being stored in cryptocurrency.”

“The traditional finance system and the role of offshore banks and offshore shell companies still dwarf the size of the cryptocurrency industry. It is important to make sure that we keep that in context when evaluating how crypto could be used for negative purposes,” Wiley continued. 

This week Wealthsimple joined nearly a dozen other companies to form the Canadian Web3 Council to push for a national strategy on cryptocurrencies and other digital assets in Canada. 

Conservative MP and leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre said during a stop in London, Ont. that his government would embrace cryptocurrencies and take more steps to further decentralize the economy. 

“Government is ruining the Canadian dollar, so Canadians should have the freedom to use other money, such as bitcoin,” Poilievre said Monday.

“Canada needs less financial control for politicians and bankers and more financial freedom for the people. That includes freedom to own and use crypto, tokens, smart contracts and decentralized finance.”

Poilievre said that under his leadership he would create a “new, decentralized, bottom-up economy” by enhancing regulations and would turn Canada into the “blockchain capital of the world.” 

Lifting COVID restrictions could lead to incel terror attack wave: researcher

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A researcher hired by the Trudeau government to produce a report on incel terrorism has told the Canadian Press that lifting COVID-19 restrictions could lead to a wave of incel terror attacks. 

The term “incel” – short for “involuntary celibate” – is often used to describe an online subculture made up predominantly of men who feel sexually rejected by women. 

Incel subculture spilled into mainstream coverage following the 2018 Toronto van attack which killed 11, after it was revealed that the perpetrator Alek Minassian was an adherent of incel ideology. 

“Our researchers called (COVID-19) a great equalizer because incels believed everyone would experience the social and romantic isolation that they suffer on a daily basis,” Moonshot spokesperson and researcher Alex Amend told the Canadian Press on Monday. 

“The end of lockdown and things opening up again will actually be more of a triggering point for them, so it would be beneficial for practitioners to pay more attention to the re-entry.”

Moonshot CVE was hired by the Liberal government in 2020 to publish a report on incel extremism within Canada. 

The ensuing report, titled Understanding and Preventing Incel Violence in Canada, is a social media scan and literature review supposedly exposing the “online incel ecosystem.” 

“Canada is described as a “cuck” or “beta” country due to its perceived “feminist” political orientation and the perceived “sexual selectivity” of Canadian women,” the government commissioned report claimed. “It is likely that COVID-19 pandemic will have exacerbated the number of (unemployed) incels, due to the high rate of global unemployment throughout 2020.”

Since 2018, Moonshot has received nearly $5 million in taxpayer funding for various violent extremism research studies.

 On Feb. 10, 2020 the company received two separate grants totaling $1,020,674 and $494,165 for its study Improving Knowledge and Research Capacity on the Global Incel Community & its Canadian Impact, which resulted in the report. 

“Please note that this document presents the analysis of Moonshot, and does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Government of Canada,” a disclaimer to the report stated. “It is intended to help practitioners understand the online incel community, and present evidence-based recommendations to identify risk and respond to incel-related violence.” 

Melanie Joly claims her mandate includes battling “propaganda online”

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Liberal Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly has told a parliamentary committee that her mandate includes wartime information operations like battling propaganda online, despite her directives including no such role. 

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Joly made the comments during a meeting of the Commons foreign affairs committee. They came in response to a question by Liberal MP Randeep Sarai on how Canada was fighting Russian disinformation online as it pertains to the invasion of Ukraine. 

“We’ve banned Russia Today and Sputnik on the broadcasting side. We’ve pushed digital platforms to also ban them but we need to do more,” said Joly. “My mandate as foreign minister is really to counter propaganda online.” 

Nowhere in Joly’s mandate letter does Prime Minister Justin Trudeau task her with combating disinformation or propaganda online. 

The only reference to online content is a single bullet point asking that Joly work with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to “take steps to build an international coalition to develop a new UNESCO convention on the diversity of content online.” 

“Can you discuss the work led by Canada to fight disinformation in this context, whether it’s propaganda within Russia or propaganda outside, and how the West can fight?” asked Sarai.

“In every war information is key because it justified why you start war. What we’ve seen since the beginning of this war, before the war, there was a big propaganda campaign,” elaborated Joly. “Since then they’ve been engaging in more and more of their propaganda. Meanwhile we know that it is happening in Ukraine and in Russia but at the same time it’s happening in our democracies.”

“Social media companies need to do more. They need to make sure they recognize states have jurisdiction over them and that they’re not technology platforms but they’re content producers. It is our way collectively to make sure that we can really be able to have strong democracies in the future because this war is being fought with 21st century tools including social media,” she continued. 

The Liberal government has ordered the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to ban Russian state outlets including Russia Today from being broadcast in Canada. 

On Mar. 17, the CRTC made the decision to axe its access to Canada’s airwaves. 

Canadian Forces veteran James Topp breaks 1000km mark, enters Alberta

By
Harley Sims
-

Canadian Armed Forces veteran (CAF) James Topp crossed into Alberta from British Columbia via the Crowsnest Pass this week, completing the first 1000km of his protest march to Ottawa and putting most of his journey’s mountains behind him.

Speaking outside of Frank, Alberta on Monday, Topp said he and his team planned to reach the hamlet of Monarch 112km away on Apr. 1 for a barn dance.

“We’re going to show up at 4pm, where there’ll literally be a dog and pony show,” he said. “Hope to see you there on April 1. This is not an April Fool’s joke.”

Topp also told True North via text message that his body was feeling good coming out of the first quarter of his journey and that he planned to release a special video within the next few days commemorating the completion of 1000km.Monday marked day 37 of Topp’s march from Vancouver to Ottawa to protest overbearing government mandates under COVID-19.  He launched his approximately 4200km journey from the Terry Fox monument at B.C. Place in Vancouver on Feb. 20 and plans to reach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the nation’s capital in June.

Topp’s following has grown rapidly over the past month, with frequent daily updates posted to his social media channels – including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – as well as a live GPS on his website Canadamarches.ca showing his progress at all times.

After reaching out to influencers in a video, Topp has also begun performing hours-long livestream interviews during his march with social media personalities, including on David Freiheit’s Viva Frei YouTube channel on Mar. 22. Topp said he also hopes to speak with others during his march, including Laura-Lynn Tyler-Thompson and Jordan Peterson.

Canadian Armed Force veteran James Topp crossed into Alberta from British Columbia via the Crowsnest Pass this week, completing the first 1000km of his protest march.

Topp’s website now also includes a template letter to MPs, with an encouragement that supporters send it to their local representatives. In it, Topp itemizes the reasons for his march, encouraging officials to meet him at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Jun. 22 for “a public discourse.” He adds, “this public discourse is being assembled to resolve how best to repair and unite Canadians after 2+ years of mandates.”

In the letter, he declares the reasons for his protest as:

  1. I am protesting federal government mandates that require, as a condition for employment or continued employment, vaccination, testing, quarantine, and/or isolation;
  2. I have stepped forward to speak on behalf of those personnel employed by the federal government or otherwise who have been denied access to employment and services, who have lost income and have suffered from damaged relationships due to the imposition of a medical procedure;
  3. I have also stepped forward to speak on behalf of those who have, through the introduction of false constructs surrounding choices and consequences, been pressured into taking part in medical procedures that they would not otherwise have accepted. 

Topp’s route along the Crowsnest Highway has taken his team through several small but historic communities including Greenwood, Yahk and Frank – the latter of which in 1903 saw the most massive and deadly landslide in Canadian history.

Most of Topp’s march has been completed in straight legs of 40-50km, although some of the more treacherous sections – including on the Hope-Princeton highway and Kootenay Pass – saw the crew repeat equivalent distances on safer stretches of road.

He said he is grateful for all the support he has received from people offering homes and meals to his crew along the way.

Journalist organization won’t retract false statement about pipeline protest arrests

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A journalism organization has refused to retract false statements it made surrounding the arrest of anti-BC LNG pipeline activists by the RCMP last year. 

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), which bills itself as the “national voice of Canadian journalists,” had printed a statement in November accusing the police of making an illegal arrest. 

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the statement was not only in breach of the CAJ’s ethics code, but it also contained allegations disputed by the Department of Public Safety. 

On Nov.  20, the CAJ accused the RCMP of unlawfully detaining two journalists working for CBC-TV and The Narwhal after the pair were holed up in a cabin with anti-pipeline protesters. 

“The RCMP has gone outside the law in its efforts to prevent the press from covering events,” the CAJ wrote. “This militarized police force and others continue to arrest journalists despite the fact that doing so is illegal.”

According to the Department of Public Safety, the RCMP acted lawfully in enforcing a court order. 

“On November 25 a journalist released a video showing the arrests. However the video does not show what occurred preceding RCMP members’ breach of the structures,” the memo stated. “RCMP officers read the injunction at each structure and made several calls over the course of more than an hour for occupants to exit the structure. The only response from inside the structures were derogatory in nature and refusals. It was not until RCMP officers entered the structures and arrested the individuals that they identified themselves as journalists.”

When pressed on its response to the memo, the CAJ stood by its claim that the arrest was illegal. 

“The words published reflect the consensus of the board. All statements issued by the Canadian Association of Journalists come on behalf of the Association and aren’t reflective of one person’s opinion,” said CAJ President Brent Jolly. “As the president I am the spokesperson for the association.”

According to the CAJ’s Ethics Guidelines, journalists in the organization “must verify all facts” and “distinguish between assertions and fact” as well as “independently corroborate facts.” 

“When we make a mistake whether in fact or in context and regardless of the platform we correct it promptly and in a transparent manner, acknowledging the nature of the error,” the guidelines state.

Retractions are rare but not unheard of with news organizations.

Earlier in March, the CBC publicly retracted a news story about the trucker Freedom Convoy that erroneously claimed that support for the protests had largely come from foreigners. 

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the claim was made by the CBC radio program The World This Hour.

“On February 10 in a report about the protest convoy CBC Radio’s The World This Hour incorrectly said GoFundMe ended a fundraiser for the protesters over questionable donations to the group,” a statement by the public broadcaster read.

According to GoFundMe executives who testified before a March 3 Commons public safety committee, foreigners made up a very small portion of the donors. 

“Our records show 88% of donated funds originated in Canada and 86% of donors were from Canada,” said GoFundMe president Juan Benitez.

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