A Trudeau-appointed senator who complained about the noise of freedom demonstrations this weekend in Toronto appeared to consider protests opposing Chinese communism just as unacceptable as protests demanding freedom and opposing Trudeau.
Senator Donna Dasko tweeted on Mar. 19 as freedom convoy protests against the erosion of freedoms under COVID-19 mandates were taking place in the city’s downtown.
“These loud marchers today in downtown Toronto remind me of the occupiers of Ottawa that I saw last month. Against vaccine mandates, against Chinese communists, against the World Economic Forum, anti-Trudeau, demanding freedom, and more!” tweeted Dasko.
These loud marchers today in downtown Toronto remind me of the occupiers of Ottawa that I saw last month. Against vaccine mandates, against Chinese communists, against the World Economic Forum, anti-Trudeau, demanding freedom, and more! pic.twitter.com/79ZdREYgTD
Canadians were quick to call out Dasko for seemingly taking issue with a pro-freedom movement.
“Perhaps you could look into getting their bank accounts frozen without a court order. I hear that’s a totally legit tool in the toolbox these days,” tweeted Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Director of Domestic Policy Aaron Wudrick.
“I’m sorry Senator, but is there a problem with supporting freedom and opposing the Chinese Communist Party?” asked True North fellow Andrew Lawton.
I'm sorry Senator, but is there a problem with supporting freedom and opposing the Chinese Communist Party? https://t.co/deCEhpZrXS
True North reached out to Dasko to give her an opportunity to comment but did not receive a response by publication.
According to her biography, Trudeau appointed Dasko to the Senate on June 6, 2018. Prior to becoming a senator, Dasko was a pollster and media commentator.
Several cities including Calgary and Vancouver saw freedom protests on Saturday. In Toronto, protestors gathered at Nathan Phillips Square and marched through other parts of the city’s downtown.
In February, Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to crush protests in Ottawa calling for an end to vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions. Trucker protests have nonetheless continued across the country, and smaller demonstrations have returned to Parliament Hill.
Despite his claims about the movement being funded by foreign extremists, several key testimonies have since poked holes in the Liberal government’s narrative.
A huge majority of Canadians are looking for ways to reduce spending as their worries about inflation increase, according to a new poll.
The results of a survey published by Leger last week suggest that 81% of Canadians believe inflation is a very or somewhat serious problem for their household. The survey goes on to say that the rising cost of groceries and gas is being felt the most.
According to the poll, the majority of Canadians think the cost of living will continue to go up. It also showed that 86% of respondents say they believe inflation will increase, while 84% expect gas prices to rise.
Furthermore, 86% of Canadians report they have reduced food waste to make their money go further, while 83% say they are buying less expensive items at the grocery store to cope with the rising cost of living.
The poll also suggests that 76% of Canadians are spending less on household items due to inflation and that 75% say they were eating less often at restaurants or limiting take out.
Canada’s inflation rate for February was at 5.7%, representing the highest the country has seen since Aug. 1991. Gas prices rose more than 32.3% compared to the previous year’s figures. Food prices across Canada are up more than 7.4%.
“If it feels like everything is getting more expensive, it’s because it is,” economist Royce Mendes with Montreal-based financial services firm Desjardins said.
Real estate costs are not counted in the federal government’s consumer price index, although the Canadian Real Estate Association reported the cost of owning a home in 2021 was 26% more expensive compared to 2020.
The poll was conducted from March 11 to 13, with 1,515 Canadians 18 years old or older recruited for an online panel. The margin of error is +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
An Ipsos poll from November indicated that inflation and the rising cost of living were a top priority for 78% of Canadians, who worried about being unable to provide for their families.
When it came to Canadian parents, 60% of those polled with children under 18 years old said they were concerned about not having enough money to feed their families.
Conservative MPs Scott Aitchison and Marc Dalton both announced on Sunday that they are running to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC).
Aitchison, who has represented the Ontario riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka since 2019 and prior to that was mayor of Huntsville, said that he learned about leadership from his time on town council.
“Today, Canada needs the kind of inclusive, engaged and compassionate leadership that I learned right here,” said Aitchison at his campaign launch in Huntsville. “And so far that reason, it is fitting that here in this place that I formally announce my candidacy to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.”
Let's be bold. Let's be ambitious and filled with hope.
Our best days are still ahead — let's work together to get the job done.
Aitchison said that Canadians are tired of the “partisan gridlock” going on in Ottawa and that they want leaders to solve problems. He added Canadians are looking for a leader who can step up to fight inflation and reduce the cost of living.
He promised that if elected CPC leader, he would advocate for more homes to be built to manage the housing crisis. He added that he would invest more money in the Canadian military to ensure they are capable and prepared.
Aitchison said that the Conservatives need a leader who can grow the party and bring new MPs to Ottawa. He added that the only way for Conservatives to win is through unity.
“So let today be the day that we tell those who seek to divide Canada that we’re putting an end to the politics of fear and anger,” he said. “That right here, right now together, we will begin to write a new chapter on what government can be.”
Dalton said that he is running for CPC leader because he loves Canada.
“It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people,” said Dalton in a video posted to Twitter. “I’ve been to every province and two of the territories.”
He has represented the British Columbia riding of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge since 2019 and used to be a B.C. Liberal MLA.
Dalton said that one of his first actions as leader would be to call for a national inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic. This inquiry, he said, will look into how multimillion dollar contracts went to Liberal supporters.
He went on to say that this inquiry will examine how much of the Canadian government’s response focused on political advantage rather than public health. He said that this inquiry would include how governments breached the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms with COVID-19 restrictions.
Dalton said he is proud of his French and Indigenous heritage and that he wants the country to improve for all Canadians.
“My desire for all Canadians is to thrive and prosper,” he said. “Please join me as we build a better Canada together.”
Other candidates in the leadership race include CPC MPs Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis, Ontario Independent MPP Roman Baber, former Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest, Brampton mayor Patrick Brown and Canadians for Truth founder Joseph Bourgault.
The Conservatives will select their next leader on Sept. 10.
Conservative MP and former cabinet minister Michelle Rempel Garner has been selected as the national campaign co-chair for Brampton mayor Patrick Brown’s Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership campaign.
Rempel Garner has represented the Alberta riding of Calgary Nose Hill since 2011. She served as Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification under former prime minister Stephen Harper, and was at the time the youngest female cabinet minister in Canadian history.
In February, Rempel Garner was one of 45 CPC MP’s who voted to keep Erin O’Toole as leader.
Her appointment as Brown’s co-chair comes the same day Brown released his plan for Western Canada. He called Rempel Garner “Western Canada’s strongest champion.”
“Across Canada, Conservatives are tired of losing federal elections to Justin Trudeau,” said Brown in a press release on Saturday. “For Western Canadians, the stakes have been high – three election losses to the Liberals have meant massive job losses, unaffordable living and inequity.”
“Conservatives need a leader that can win in the parts of the country where the Liberals are strong without sacrificing what it means to be conservative,” Rempel Garner said in a Facebook interview with Brown on Saturday. “Somebody who can put forward a hopeful, positive vision filled with strong policy for our party.”
Brown said during the interview that he would ensure equal representation for Western Canada by making electoral seat counts based on population. He added that the vote the House of Commons held about reducing Western Canada’s seat count weeks ago was “unacceptable.”
Brown told Rempel Garner that he can win because he knows how to beat Trudeau.
“I know how to beat Liberals in the strongest areas of the country,” he said. “And if we do that, we’re going to form a government.”
Brown announced his candidacy for Conservative leader last week.
His announcement came after CTV expressed regrets over a 2018 story that triggered his resignation as Ontario Progressive Conservative leader. He had filed an $8 million defamation lawsuit against CTV over the story detailing two allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.
As the leadership race rolls on, Brown has been feuding with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre.
The feuding started when political advisor Jenni Byrne, who is working on Poilievre’s campaign, released an attack ad against Brown alleging he “will do and say anything” and highlighting his flip-flopping on the carbon tax and repealing Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum.
Brown fired back by releasing a clip of Poilievre talking about Harper’s policies about the niqab, saying Poilievre had supported a niqab ban.
Poilievre responded by saying Brown was “lying in his attacks on the Harper government. There was no Niqab ban. I would never support that, nor did Mr. Harper.”
Other candidates in the leadership race include CPC MP Leslyn Lewis, Ontario Independent MPP Roman Baber, former Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest and Canadians for Truth founder Joseph Bourgault. CPC MPs Scott Aitchison and Marc Dalton declared their candidacies on Sunday.
The Conservatives will choose their next leader on Sept. 10.
The University of Ottawa’s Centre for Law Technology, and Society is hosting a panel on Tuesday called “Journalists Facing Mean Tweets: What It Means for Our Democracy,” featuring CBC’s Rosemary Barton.
Panellists will also include Mississauga-based journalist Fatima Syed and Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN) producer Mark Blackburn.
The event will be a live recording of associate professor Elizabeth Dubois’s podcast, “The Wonks and War Rooms.”
Journalists face mean tweets and online harassment.
The university describes the event as a conversation “to discuss online harassment, discrediting journalism, and what incivility means for our democratic systems.”
“It’s no secret that journalists have faced increasing harassment over the past few years,” it adds.
The university cites an Ipsos survey of Canadian journalists from Nov. 2021 where 72% say they experienced harassment of some form during the past year, with 65% saying the abuse was online.
“From personal attacks to accusations of bias or being ‘fake news,’ negativity directed at journalists can have a serious impact on when and how credible information is shared and found,” says the University of Ottawa.
Panellists will discuss online spaces which are “increasingly toxic” as well as tackling a series of “tricky” questions.
These questions include, “what can we do to cultivate civic engagement between individuals and news media? What counts as incivility and who is a troll? How can we encourage broad civic engagement while discouraging harassment? How do we create safer environments for journalists?”
Barton, who serves as CBC’s chief political correspondent, has faced controversy in the past, with some accusing her of bias.
Barton’s name appeared as an applicant in a CBC lawsuit against the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) in Oct. 2019 when the government broadcaster had sued the CPC over an online election ad. CBC lost the lawsuit after it was dismissed by a federal court, with the Conservative Party calling the decision a “clear win for democracy.”
Barton was also criticized for her town halls during the 2021 federal election, where she was accused of being softer with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau than with Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.
“The questions Trudeau faced were absurdly soft, some of the ‘undecided voters’ were openly Liberal and Barton didn’t push back nearly as hard as she did against the Conservative Leader,” said True North’s Candice Malcolm.
Barton has also been observed to have friendly interactions with Trudeau on Twitter, and even took a selfie with him.
Rosie, how could I forget? I’m on my way — see you soon.
Barton was blasted last year after tweeting in defence of Trudeau’s botched vaccine rollout after Ontario Progressive Conservative premier Doug Ford said the vaccine supply was “becoming a joke.”
“Can someone tell the Premier 1.5 AZ (AstraZeneca) is coming next week. On Tuesday,” Barton tweeted.
Barton also came under fire in 2020 for laughing at a law student who said he would not mind working on a farm to support Canadians and himself during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea that this young man wants to work on a farm, and is willing to "roll up his sleeves" and work hard is, apparently, HILARIOUS to this CBC journalist. pic.twitter.com/unH4HqveCX
Unlike Carleton University’s “Journalism under Siege” event, which was held in person with proof of vaccination and capacity limits on Mar. 8, it appears that “Journalists Facing Mean Tweets” will be held virtually.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) has filed a petition in the British Columbia Supreme Court seeking to strike down the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers who have lost their jobs.
“The Charter is the highest law in the land, and no order or legislation outranks and outweighs the Charter’s protection of fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of conscience,” said JCCF lawyer Charlene Le Beau in a press release on Thursday.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several B.C. healthcare workers represented by the JCCF who have lost their jobs because of the vaccine mandates. It cites violations of the right to life, liberty and security of the person; freedom of religion and conscience and equality rights.
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued orders in 2021 applying to all healthcare workers and staff who work for the B.C. Health Authorities, care facilities and other facilities across the provinces. These orders stated that these healthcare workers had to prove they were fully vaccinated, obtain exemptions or risk losing their jobs.
Le Beau said it was unfair that the government was enforcing the vaccine mandate for the healthcare workers represented by the Justice Centre when Henry had not mandated it for other health professionals.
B.C. announced in February that the province was expanding the vaccine mandate to include healthcare workers in private practices, including chiropractors, dentists, midwives, acupuncturists, audiologists and many others.
“The purpose of this provincial health officer order is to protect patients from being infected with (COVID-19) by unvaccinated health professionals, as well as to minimize the number of people being hospitalized or dying because of the virus,” said Henry.
However, Henry issued a new order on Mar. 7 that compelled the licensing colleges of the province’s regulated private-sector healthcare professionals to provide identifying information about their registrants. She then appeared to walk back the policy even further a few days later, saying that she would work with regulatory colleges moving forward to determine how and whether the mandate would apply at all.
“So yes, this is different from our original vision, which would be people not being able to practice if they were not vaccinated by March 24,” she said. “We’ve been working through the specifics with each individual college and based on the risks within each profession.”
The walkback did not, however, apply to healthcare workers affected and terminated based on previous orders.
Le Beau said that the mandate was “an unjustifiable act of discrimination and a violation of the Charter,” offering extremely limited medical exemptions, no exemptions for religious beliefs and no consideration of masking and rapid testing as alternatives.
“We depended on these hard-working healthcare workers throughout the first year of Covid and there were no vaccines available,” she said. “To fire them from their jobs now because they exercise bodily autonomy or have objections to the vaccines based on their beliefs, is an act of two-faced hypocrisy and a betrayal of those workers who have sacrificed so much for Canadians.”
Among provinces and territories, B.C. has seen the most healthcare workers affected by vaccine mandates, with the province saying that 3,325 workers were put on unpaid leave in November.
Several hospitals have also experienced staffing shortages in the province, with operating rooms closures at Lions Gate Hospital, Richmond Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre.
B.C. continues to uphold one of the severest vaccination policies in the world for its employees, offering no testing alternatives and continuing to fire non-compliant workers. This comes as vaccine passports have been dropped in almost every province, and Alberta and Nova Scotia are now welcoming unvaccinated workers back.
Premier John Horgan has even insulted people protesting his government’s ongoing COVID-19 response, offering remarks at a press conference last Friday.
“If people want to drive around and honk their horns, then fill your boots,” said Horgan. “And at $2.00 a litre (for gas) that’s not only bad judgment, that’s stupidity.”
Calgary city officials and Calgary Police are urging “all citizens to reconsider participating in any unpermitted events” after Mayor Jyoti Gondek and City Council secured an emergency court injunction to respond to weekend freedom protests.
According to the City of Calgary’s news release, the injunction allows the city to better enforce bylaws and legislation and to give law enforcement more power to respond to demonstrators.
Every Saturday, thousands of protesters march through downtown Calgary in opposition to pandemic restrictions, mandates and the erosion of civil liberties.
“The ongoing protests in the Beltline (area) have greatly impacted and compromised the safety, well-being and daily life of residents, visitors and businesses,” Gondek said in the release.
“Beltline residents, visitors and businesses have every right to lead their lives without fear and disturbance. It is time for protestors to voluntarily move to more appropriate venues.”
Calgary Police have said that they are preparing an “enforcement plan” now that the injunction was granted.
Our partners @cityofcalgary have obtained an injunction in relation to prohibited actions during downtown protests. An enforcement plan is being created.#yychttps://t.co/RydS2pVzc8
The Calgary Police Commission met Friday to discuss how they would respond to the protests.
Local mainstream news outlets have smeared the protesters as “invaders” and “professional protesters,” in line with similar allegations that were made against the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa in February.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to crush the demonstrations, deeming the protests illegal and calling its supporters “a fringe minority” holding “unacceptable views.”
Peaceful protesters and donors to the convoy had their bank accounts frozen and were met with a militarized police force composed of local, federal and provincial officers. One elderly woman was even trampled on by an RCMP horse as a result of the crackdown, reportedly breaking her clavicle.
Canada’s diplomatic mission has resorted to immature online trolling of the Russian. Rather than hold the Trudeau government accountable, the legacy media cheer on these embarrassing efforts.
It’s Fake News Friday on the Candice Malcolm Show, and Candice is joined by True North journalist Harrison Faulkner to discuss the biggest fake news of the week.
This includes a former radio host clipping a video out of context to pretend that Conservative Leader Candice Bergan doesn’t support Ukraine, when in fact her words of support go beyond what even Trudeau has said.
They also discuss the revelation that the Hunter Biden laptop story is indeed true, proving that the legacy media calls fake news ‘real news’ and real news ‘fake news.’
Finally, they detail a CBC story showing how Canada’s Governor General not only politicize a position that is supposed to be above politics, but also tries to project her deranged left-wing ideology onto the Queen.
Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber is seeking the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership. Baber, who was elected as a PC MPP in Ontario in 2018 and expelled from caucus over criticism of Doug Ford’s pandemic response, calls himself a “democratic conservative,” a view he says leaves room for everyone in the so-called Big Blue Tent of the Conservative party. In this interview, he and True North’s Andrew Lawton talk about lockdowns, free speech, caucus management, and more.
With a labour strike now imminent, a swathe of industries are calling on the federal government to bring a swift resolution to a dispute between Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and CP Rail.
On Thursday, TCRC issued a strike notice to CP Rail that could lead to a nation-wide work stoppage by Sunday. The move came after CP Rail issued a 72-hour notice that it would lock out 3,000 employees if a negotiated settlement is not reached.
45 industry groups representing a wide array of fields including mining, shipping, agriculture and petroleum signed onto a letter this week calling on the federal government to intervene in the situation to prevent a CP Rail strike.
Numbering among the organizations were Fertilizer Canada, Food Producers of Canada, the Mining Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada.
“A work stoppage of any length will have a deep and adverse impact for all Canadians who rely on the essential rail supply chain and for the broader Canadian economy. Any disruption would further cripple Canada’s freight capacity and have a profound impact on not only rail shippers, but all shippers, including trucking and air, throughout the broader Canadian economy,” wrote signatories.
“It would do irrevocable damage to Canadian supply chains that would extend beyond our borders and harm our reputation as a reliable partner in international trade. CP has stated that it is willing to immediately enter binding arbitration to resolve this matter without a work stoppage. The government must do everything in its power to get the union to agree.”
Concerns over the potential labour dispute have spilled over into the US, where lawmakers have said that such a strike could send freight capacity into a crisis. Republican Senators Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven, Mike Braun and Steve Daines all urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately resolve the matter.
“A work stoppage would create a freight capacity crisis that will have a profound impact on our nation’s agriculture and energy industries,” the senators warned in a letter on Tuesday. “Because of the Keystone XL pipeline cancellation, Canada and the US rely on CP to carry heavy Alberta oil to US refineries. Without the ability to move heavy Canadian crude, fuel supply shortages will be exacerbated and agricultural producers who rely on diesel to power their equipment will be forced to pay even higher fuel costs.”
The senators also noted how such a stoppage would impact the delivery of fertilizer at a time when farmers across North America are preparing for the spring planting season.
