Former Liberal MP Adam Vaughan has called for Fox News to be taken off the air in Canada for its supportive coverage of the Freedom Convoy.
In a tweet on Wednesday showing a clip from Tucker Carlson Tonight, Vaughan claimed that the American news network served as the gold standard for Conservative Party of Canada MPs wanting to talk to their base, saying “this is the show they lineup to get on.”
Vaughan went on to say that Fox was the Freedom Convoy’s “biggest amplifier” and that consequently Fox News “should be returned to its country of origin.”
Vaughan had retweeted a post from the left-wing page MediasTouch, accusing Fox News host Tucker Carlson of supporting the Russians.
Never ever forget that when @CPC_HQ MPs want to get to their base this is the show they lineup to get on: Fox News was the convoys biggest amplifier: While folks talk about taking RT off the air…Fox News is just as corrosive…maybe it should be returned to its country of origin https://t.co/mAdAIyNNT5
Vaughan’s tweet comes after CNN hosts including Brian Stelter have advocated for social media platforms to restrict Fox’s reach, as well as petitions calling for Fox’s removal.
With Russia Today now booted off Canadian television, Vaughan’s call for a similar ban on Fox News has received backlash from Twitter users.
One user points out Vaughan’s impulse to censor voices that don’t agree with him.
Makes sense, censor, censor, censor untill the only journalistic voice available is the one you find acceptable. 🙄
Another user points out that the news station amplified a peaceful protest and that other legacy media networks have done the same thing.
Heaven forbid they amplified a peaceful protest. So did most of the Canadian news networks. Until the government that pays their wages decided to change the narrative Then the lap dogs quickly got in line with the copy/paste articles. Thank fox for news that has substance.
The Freedom Convoy appeared prominently on various Fox News programs during the convoy protest’s three weeks in Ottawa. Some highlights included host Tucker Carlson interviewing organizer Benjamin Dichter as well as Carlson criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to the peaceful demonstrations.
Blacklock’s Reporter reported that MPs at the Commons heritage committee voted on Monday to require the Canadian Radio Television Commission (CRTC) to prevent “state-controlled broadcasters” from airing in Canada.
“Will you be pushing for action on disinformation from networks in other countries?” asked a reporter.
“I think it’s a good question and one we should absolutely and are indeed reflecting on,” said Trudeau.
Despite this, the Trudeau government has not signalled any intention to designate Fox News a “state-controlled broadcaster.”
Podcaster Joe Rogan savaged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, criticizing Trudeau’s use of emergency powers to crush freedom convoy protests and freeze the assets of its supporters.
In an episode with comedian Brian Moses and Freddie Gibbs on Tuesday, Rogan compared Trudeau’s actions to those of Russia and China
“People like to control people. It doesn’t matter if they’re Russian, or Chinese, or American,” said Rogan.
“Take a look at what’s going on in Canada. They froze the assets of all those people who contributed to the truckers who were trying to protest. What are they doing? They froze the assets. They froze people’s assets. I don’t know if they released them.”
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, used it to crush the Ottawa protests, then revoked the powers on Feb. 23 – only two days after forcing a vote in the House of Commons allowing him to keep emergency measures going for up to four more weeks.
On Feb. 18 to 20, a joint force of federal, provincial and municipal police cracked down on Ottawa demonstrators using heavy military equipment, mounted units and pepper spray.
Rogan went on to criticize the government for using measures designed for terrorists on “people who are protesting.”
“The amount of powers they have is enough,” said Rogan. “Those powers are supposed to be reserved for terrorist attacks and sh*t, people trying to overthrow the government, not people who are protesting. You have to be able to tolerate a certain amount of protesting. There has to be discourse, ‘cause otherwise, you’re going to make new laws to make your life convenient and easy.”
Rogan is only the latest international figure to have openly condemned Trudeau for how he handled the situation. Politicians from the UK, the EU, Australia and the US all joined in to blast the prime minister’s drastic response to the peaceful convoy demonstrations.
“Likewise, when we see abuses of human rights in other countries, Australia has the right to call them out,” said Australian MP Craig Kelly.
“Today, all Australians look at what is happening in Canada and at what Prime Minister Trudeau is doing to the Canadian people and the truckers in Ottawa. We should call that out as an abuse of human rights—loudly and clearly.”
“This is the shame of what is happening to our great Canadian brothers.”
Even though numerous provinces have gotten rid of vaccine passports, other restrictions linger. A notable example is British Columbia, which is holding to its vaccine passport program and threatening the reapplication of more restrictions in the fall, even if some lift for the summer. True North’s Andrew Lawton asks why Canadians are settling for ‘slow and steady’ reopenings when countries around the world have dropped restrictions with zero consequences.
Also, interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen joins the show to talk about carbon taxes, vaccine mandates, the Canadian energy sector, and more.
US President Joe Biden has announced the end of Covid and took direct aim at the ‘defund the police’ movement. Will Canada follow suit?
During Biden’s gaffe-filled State of the Union address, the US President threatened to punish Russia, celebrated the fact that the US was mask-free and encouraged MORE funding for the police.
On this episode of The Candice Malcolm Show, True North’s Candice Malcolm breaks down Biden’s State of the Union address and what this means for Canada. She says Canada’s decision-makers can learn a lot from the President’s moderate tone when it comes to Covid and support for police.
New research shows that despite the Trudeau government’s purported hard line against authoritarian states, the government does little to protect Canadians who speak out and are targeted by dictatorial regimes such as China.
A report by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab found that Canadian activists and dissidents were being targeted by the security apparatuses of foreign states for speaking out against them.
The study, titled Psychological and Emotional War: Digital Repression in Canada described how there is little support for those who find themselves in the crosshairs of countries including communist China.
According to researchers “digital transnational repression” is when foreign states “reach across national borders to silence dissent among diaspora and exile communities” using digital technologies and mediums.
“We conclude that digital transnational repression has a serious impact on these communities, including their ability to undertake transnational advocacy work related to human rights. Yet, there is little support for victims who experience such targeting and policy efforts by the Canadian government to date have been insufficient,” researchers wrote.
“This finding is troubling, considering that the Trudeau government purports to welcome migrants and refugees to Canada and has made the promotion of democracy and human rights a cornerstone of its political platform.”
According to the report, activists and dissidents faced a number of repressive tactics including “hacking and phishing, account takeovers, troll and bot campaigns on social media, online threats and disinformation campaigns.”
Those who have been targeted by such campaigns said they experienced a range of impacts such as having their professional and student lives negatively affected and being cut off from communications with their families abroad.
One Hong Kong activist named Li said that she faced a wave of bots targeting her with death and rape threats for her advocacy work.
In conclusion, researchers recommended that the federal government create an agency that provides support for those facing repression from authoritarian states abroad.
Recent reports have shone a light on how the Chinese government has actively harassed or intimidated Canadians for speaking out about its human rights abuses.
One letter submitted by cabinet to the House of Commons foreign affairs subcommittee last year stated that Ottawa was aware of such events.
“The Government of Canada is aware that foreign states, including the People’s Republic of China or its proxies, may attempt to harass, threaten and intimidate Canadians, persons residing in Canada or their families, in Canada or abroad, particularly Chinese diaspora or ethno-cultural communities,” the letter claimed.
When the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine on Thursday after weeks of speculation and rising tensions in the region, many Canadians stood with Ukraine and condemned Russia for its military aggression against its neighbour.
The federal government has announced sweeping sanctions against Russia, while Canadian volunteers have reportedly been volunteering by the thousands to travel to Ukraine to fight in its International Legion of Territorial Defence.
While Canadian politicians in all parties and at all levels of government have expressed support for Ukraine, some have done so in ways that, while well-intentioned, just don’t seem that useful.
True North has gathered together six of the least helpful gestures that Canadian politicians have made to show solidarity with Ukraine.
6. Niagara Falls illuminated in colours of Ukrainian flag
Ontario stands with Ukraine.
To show our continued solidarity with Ukrainians here and around the world, we will be illuminating @NiagaraFalls in blue and yellow tonight from 9:00-9:30pm.
Ontario premier Doug Ford had Niagara Falls lit up with blue and yellow lights to show support for Ukraine last Thursday.
“Ontario stands with Ukraine,” said Ford in a tweet. “To show our continued solidarity with Ukrainians here and around the world, we will be illuminating @NiagaraFalls in blue and yellow tonight from 9:00-9:30pm.”
Some of the responses to the announcement were less than impressed.
“Blue and yellow light will solve this, for sure,” said one.
Ford did add that Ontario would be providing Ukraine with $300,000 in humanitarian aid.
5. Trudeau cabinet ministers hold up #StandWithUkraine signs
On this Day of Unity of Ukraine, we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and stand up for their right to live free from Russian aggression. #StandWithUkrainepic.twitter.com/HHMLYEKXjV
Certain Trudeau cabinet ministers – including former defence minister Harjit Sajjan – posted photos of themselves holding up sheets of paper with #StandwithUkraine printed on them in the weeks leading up to the invasion.
“On this Day of Unity of Ukraine, we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and stand up for their right to live free from Russian aggression,” declared public safety minister Marco Mendicino in January.
“Today, Canadians from coast to coast to coast come together to #StandWithUkraine and celebrate the Day of Unity of Ukraine,” tweeted Sajjan.
“The head of defence (yes defence minister) holding up a sign is so Canadian!” said one response.
Sajjan also announced, however, that Canada would be offering a $120 million loan to Ukraine to build economic resiliency.
4. Ukrainian flag raised at Ottawa City Hall
I’ve asked to have the Ukrainian flag raised at City Hall following the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russia. I am thinking of the people of Ukraine & the many Ukrainian-Canadians. I encourage all mayors to raise the flag in their cities in solidarity with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/w58Lmmi4Zl
Embattled Ottawa mayor Jim Watson ordered the Ukrainian flag to be raised at Ottawa City Hall and encouraged all mayors to do the same.
“I am thinking of the people of Ukraine & the many Ukrainian-Canadians,” said Watson. “I encourage all mayors to raise the flag in their cities in solidarity with Ukraine.”
“If this doesn’t stop the invasion, nothing will,” one Twitter user chirped.
3. CN Tower goes blue and yellow too
Tonight the #CNTower will be lit blue and yellow in solidarity with and support of the people of Ukraine / Ce soir la #TourCN sera illuminée en bleu et jaune en signe de solidarité et de soutien au peuple ukrainien pic.twitter.com/O0iYYsaoTI
Toronto mayor John Tory had the iconic Toronto Sign illuminated with blue and yellow lights to show support for Ukraine.
Tory also hoisted the Ukrainian flag outside Toronto City Hall.
“If there is an unprovoked military action taken against our provinces, we expect the rest of the world to line up and support us,” he said in a video. “I’m raising this flag to show solidarity with our wonderful Ukrainian-Canadian community here in the city of Toronto.”
Tory then joined the #StandwithUkraine Toronto rally in Nathan Phillips Square to voice his support for Ukraine.
“(N)ot sure the Ukrainians are feeling the benefit of our good wishes/thoughts and prayers, John,” replied a Twitter user.
1. Provinces pull Russian vodka from government liquor stores
Ontario joins Canada’s allies in condemning the Russian government’s act of aggression against the Ukrainian people, and will direct the LCBO to withdraw all products produced in Russia from store shelves. #StandwithUkraine
Last Friday, Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca had called on the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to remove Russian vodka from their shelves.
“Our allies in Ukraine are under attack by Russia and need our help,” said Del Duca in a press release. “Pulling Russian vodka from the shelves of the LCBO is an immediate action Ontario can take to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
According to Del Duca, banning the sale of Russian vodka would somehow hurt Russian financing during their invasion.
Canada imported US$3.78 million worth of alcoholic beverages from Russia in 2021, which is 0.00075541% of Russia’s total 2021 exports of US$489.8 billion.
Ontario finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy nonetheless followed through with Del Duca’s request.
“Ontario joins Canada’s allies in condemning the Russian government’s act of aggression against the Ukrainian people, and will direct the LCBO to withdraw all products produced in Russia from store shelves,” said Bethlenfalvy.
The move comes as government-run liquor stores in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba also pulled Russian products.
“That’s a shame,” tweeted one respondent. “I use Russian vodka to de-grease my driveway and clean some of my tools. Oh well.”
Honourable Mention: Restaurant renames poutine because it sounds like Putin
A restaurant in Drummondville, Quebec reportedly announced that it would be removing the word “poutine” from its menu and social media accounts because the word sounded too much like the name of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“This evening, the … team has chosen to temporarily remove the word ‘p**tine’ from its trademark in order to express, in its own way, its deep dismay at the situation in Ukraine,” said the restaurant in a since-deleted Facebook post. “So, from now on, we are the inventor of cheese sauce fries.”
(The restaurant later deleted the announcement after reported threats and ridicule.)
Even though Ontario premier Doug Ford announced on Tuesday that the province’s vaccine passport system is over, the Toronto Zoo has said it will continue checking visitors’ proof of vaccination to keep its animals safe.
In a statement posted online, the zoo stated that concerns about animals catching COVID-19 were behind the decision and that vaccine passports will remain until at least the end of April.
While as of March 1, the Ontario Government is lifting its requirement for certain businesses under the Regulations to provide proof of vaccine, Your Toronto Zoo will continue with all of our current health and safety protocols, including proof of vaccination and masking. pic.twitter.com/oBXHL4ydkY
“We understand that high community vaccination rates continue to reduce the risk of serious illness in humans,” the statement said.
“Your Toronto Zoo’s animals remain vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19 infection, and as such we will continue to employ all measures that ensure their continued protection and wellbeing. Your Zoo is working towards vaccinating our COVID-19 susceptible species.”
According to government data, the risk of transmission from animals to humans is very uncommon and the general risk to the population extremely low. The only confirmed global reports of COVID-19 passing between humans and animals have been from mink farms.
“In these situations, workers have infected mink, and then mink have spread the virus back to other people. Recent reports have identified possible animal-to-human transmission from hamsters (Hong Kong) and suspected animal-to-human transmission from a deer (Canada),” the Government of Canada wrote.
The Ontario government has lifted proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements for most settings including restaurants, gyms and movie theatres. Capacity limits have also been lifted on social gatherings, concerts and sporting venues.
Masking is expected to remain in place for at least a couple more weeks.
According to zoo officials, the animals are expected to receive the COVID vaccine by April 30, at which time staff “will review our practices moving forward.”
“Without a clear understanding of the ongoing risk to our animals, we will continue with our current practices, including requiring proof of vaccine, mandatory masking, and all other COVID-19 health and safety measures,” the zoo’s statement continued.
Although almost all the provinces have moved forward with abandoning COVID-19 measures, the federal government has yet to drop travel restrictions that bar unvaccinated Canadians from boarding a plane or train domestically and internationally.
The Liberals have recently eased travel rules for vaccinated passengers. As of Monday, vaccinated Canadians will be randomly selected for arrival testing.
While awaiting for their test results, Canadians are also no longer required to quarantine.
Materials harvested through slave labour contributes to the production of renewable energy tech in Canada, according to testimony in the Senate.
As reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, statements to the Senate human rights committee revealed that even forced child labour sometimes contributes to the electric battery and wind turbine supply chains.
“Look at issues like modern slavery and the environment not just from a domestic standpoint but also from an international standpoint. By actually tackling this issue on a global basis we can help Indigenous populations and we can help women and girls,” said head of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery Chris Crewther.
Crewther pointed to both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ecuador as culprits in human rights abuses related to the harvesting of renewable energy materials.
“If you look at the renewable or clean energy supply chain issues you have situations such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo where over 35,000 children are in child labour mining cobalt which is used in lithium-ion batteries in electric cars,” Crewther told the Senate.
“Another example on the environmental topic is the balsa wood in Ecuador which is being illegally logged and is impacting Indigenous populations. That balsa wood is being used for wind turbines.”
According to past testimonies in the House of Commons, 41% of solar panel polysilicon came from the Xinjiang region in China where millions of ethnic minorities and Uyghur Muslims are held in forced labour and reeducation camps.
Crewther testified to the Senate on Bill S-211 otherwise known as An Act To Amend The Customs Tariff.
The bill will require large publicly-traded corporations to annually report on what they have done “to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used in any step of the production of goods.”
According to policy director at the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability Emily Dwyer, the law does not go far enough to prevent the use of materials produced by forced labour in Canada’s supply chain.
“There are no obligations on companies to take any steps which means a company could comply with the law by simply reporting every year: ‘I took no steps to prevent modern slavery, I am not aware of any risks of modern slavery in my supply chain,’ and they would comply with the law,” said Dwyer.
The federal Liberals have rejected a ban on foreign purchases of residential properties despite promising such a freeze during the 2021 election.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Liberal MPs on the Standing Committee on Finance in the House of Commons voted 6 to 5 to reject a Conservative motion to amend the Underused Housing Tax Act to prohibit non-resident foreigners from purchasing residential properties for two years.
Conservative and NDP MPs supported the motion, while Liberal and Bloc Quebecois MPs voted against it.
“We do know there are American families that own property and have for years and years and years on the Canadian side,” said Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz.
In June 2021, the House of Commons had voted 180 to 147 in support of a Conservative motion to “examine a temporary freeze on home purchases by non-resident foreign buyers who are squeezing Canadians out of the housing market.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then endorsed the ban while campaigning in the 2021 election.
Conservative MP Ed Fast said that there was no reason to avoid enacting it.
“The scope of this amendment is so narrow and so circumscribed it would not generate any challenges and I think would send just that clear message that we are placing Canadian buyers of residential real estate first,” said Fast.
A recent survey by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) suggested that non-residents own 10.6% of condos in Vancouver and 8% in Toronto.
The survey further revealed that non-resident buyers have started to move to Montreal.
“The stability and the share of non-resident-owned condos in Toronto and Vancouver, combined with the increase in Montreal after the introduction of the foreign buyers tax in Ontario and British Columbia, may indicate a shift in demand by non-resident buyers,” said CMHC chief economist Bob Dugan.
According to a recent poll, one in four Canadians would risk open warfare with a nuclear superpower by having the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) directly engage in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
A Maru Public Opinion conducted over the weekend suggests that 25% of Canadians want the CAF to join the fighting overseas immediately.
The poll comes as the Canadian government ramps up sanctions and measures against the Russian Federation after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to cross into Ukraine and launch an offensive against the nation’s capital Kiev.
Another 26% of those polled oppose the idea, saying Canada should never send its army into Ukraine.
“Canadians stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in every possible manner here. We’re pretty bullish about entering the fray. I think that’s the first thing that I take away from this,” said Maru executive vice president John Wright.
Meanwhile, another 46% agree with the current measures leveled against Russia and say that nothing else is presently needed.
Last week, Canada announced sanctions against Putin and those in his inner circle. The federal government has also targeted several major banks with sanctions and announced Monday that it would ban Russian crude oil imports.
“We all understand the reality of a potential nuclear conflict. We are actually talking about that…. Both countries [U.S. and Canada] are effectively saying we are prepared for more action to rescue Ukraine,” said Wright.
The poll was conducted between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 and included a random sample of 1,519 Canadians. A similar poll would have a margin of +/- 2.5% or 19 times out of 20.
Russia has commenced in bombing Kiev and Kharkiv as of Tuesday and has told residents to flee the area.
According to US officials, columns of armoured vehicles barrelled towards Ukraine’s capital as Russia ramped up its operation to seize control of the country.
So far, attempts at peace talks have been unsuccessful. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that peace could only begin if the Russians “first stop bombing people.”
