It’s impossible to divorce Canada’s overzealous encroachments on freedom throughout the pandemic from our rigid government-controlled healthcare system.
Politicians get away with unprecedented anti-freedom policies and government overreach because Canadians believe it’s necessary to protect our frail and failing healthcare system. Enough.
We need to reform our system, and on today’s episode of the Candice Malcolm Show, Candice Malcolm is joined by a rural physician and former president of the Ontario Medical Association to discuss the best ways to do just that.
Renowned Canadian author and psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson gave a scathing critique of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and its coverage of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.
Peterson made the comments during an episode of his podcast with guest Dr. Julie Ponesse. He said the public broadcaster should no longer receive any public funding due to its “appallingly corrupt” practices.
“There’s absolutely no excuse whatsoever for another single dollar of Canadian taxpayer money to go to support that appallingly corrupt, ideologically warped, politically correct, collusionary media source with the federal government. It’s inexcusable, and the rest of the media – well, it’s part of their pronounced death spiral,” said Peterson.
Peterson went on to commend a few media outlets that had produced “some decent reporting” but said that “by and large it’s almost impossible to see what’s actually going on in Ottawa.”
“You can’t even get an estimate of the number of people there, and I’ve also heard – let’s say – that the closed-circuit cameras that normally monitor the city, which I believe you could get access to by public feed, many of them have been shut off,” said Peterson.
The CBC currently receives $1.2 billion in funding from taxpayers, and the Liberal government has pledged to increase that amount by up to $400 million. These funds make up nearly 71.2% of the Crown corporation’s income.
In a mandate letter to Liberal Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered him to provide “additional funding to make (CBC) less reliant on private advertising, with a goal of eliminating advertising during news and other public affairs shows.”
Advertising revenue at the public broadcaster has tanked along with its viewership. In 2020-21, advertising fell by 10%.
Alongside a lack of profitability, the CBC has been plagued by an ideologically woke takeover veering the outlet’s coverage to the far left. Earlier this year, former CBC TV and radio producer Tara Henley blew the lid off the broadcaster’s radical political agenda in the workplace.
“It is to sign on, enthusiastically, to a radical political agenda that originated on Ivy League campuses in the United States and spread through American social media platforms that monetize outrage and stoke societal divisions,” wrote Henley in an op-ed on her resignation.
As exclusively reported by True North, the CBC also partnered with a radical anarchist to produce a documentary on the BC LNG pipeline.
When covering the convoy’s arrival in Ottawa on Jan. 29, a CBC news host also invented a conspiracy theory that Russia was behind the protests.
Ottawa high school arts teacher Matt Muirhead said on Saturday that there was a point where things should turn violent against the truckers and that he was just about there.
“I think there is a point in time where you take up arms,” said Muirhead in a Twitter space on Saturday. “And I know that sounds aggressive maybe, but I want to know what I can do next.”
Ottawa teacher Matt Muirhead in the Twitter space says "I think there is a point in time where you take up arms" to deal with convoy protesters.
Host of the space does not strike down this conversation about “taking up arms”.
Muirhead works as a high school civics, drama and world religions teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
He said that he does not want Ottawa to be overturned by the Freedom Convoy, and while the truck drivers had a point that they wanted to make, he said they should now “piss off.”
“I’m sick of them,” he said. “This is our town, and you don’t belong here, so get lost.”
The host of the Twitter space pushed back against Muirhead.
“I want to underscore I don’t advocate and I know you’re not advocating taking up arms,” said the host. “But I understand the frustration that people feel they need to take a stand for the city.”
Muirhead had deleted his Twitter account by Sunday.
True North reached out to Muirhead to further clarify his comments, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson also declared a state of emergency on Sunday, which saw Ottawa Police make seven arrests and issue 100 tickets in “demonstration-related enforcement.”
The Freedom Convoy 2022 entered its 15th day on Sunday, and was supported by continuing convoy protests against COVID restrictions in cities across Canada including Quebec City and Toronto.
On day 15 of the Truckers For Freedom Convoy, the mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency, police began arresting people who provided truckers with gasoline and other supplies and the legacy media cheered it all on.
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Sunday, with city hall posting the following explainer – “Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government.”
Ottawa Police also announced on Sunday that they would be arresting anyone who assisted the truckers by bringing them gasoline, food and other resources.
“We’ve really focused and targeted on removing the access of gasoline to the area and we’ve had several seizures and several arrests related to that,” the police statement read.
Video of police seizing gasoline for the truckers was posted to Twitter.
— CanadianCryptonaire – Same as Getter (@CCryptonaire) February 7, 2022
In a parking lot just outside of Ottawa where truckers had established a distribution camp for materials and goods, Ottawa Police can be seen seizing and hauling away fuel that the truckers had purchased for the continuation of their protest.
Ottawa police have removed all fuel and propane from Freedom Convoy truck parking lot pic.twitter.com/oJDaceHHlo
Truckers hauling fuel to truckers earlier in the night stopped to speak to a journalist who was filming what was happening.
One man from Alberta who works in construction can be heard saying, “right now, we’re all one people, trying to help each other. It doesn’t matter what race, creed, gender, it doesn’t matter, we’re all in this together.”
Large crowds had gathered in Ottawa again this morning. Aylmer Pastor Henry Hildebrandt held another Sunday service today in front of the Parliament Buildings, as he had done one week ago.
Earlier in the day, Pastor Hildebrandt had put out an invitation to Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a knee and pray with them.
Pastor Henry Hildebrandt invites the Ottawa mayor, the police chief, and Justin Trudeau to the Freedom Convoy protest: “Mister Prime Minister, come and bend a knee with us as we pray.”
Footage from inside the home base of the Coutts protesters shows them singing and playing music.
Day 8 here in Coutts, Alberta.
It's been quiet this weekend as Jason Kenney is making an announcement tomorrow – reassuring a win for the truckers or a loss for the freedom of ALL Albertans.
Jason Kenney is expected to make an announcement tomorrow on the ongoing situation at the Coutts border, and to address his promise of removing Alberta’s COVID restrictions and vaccine passport.
Trudeau is still refusing to speak publicly after the press conference he gave on Monday that inflamed tensions across the country.
True North will continue to bring you ongoing coverage of the scenes unfolding in Ottawa and across the country.
By the time this article was published, the new Givesendgo in support of the truckers had reached USD $4,034,336.
Ottawa Police announced Sunday that they had begun to arrest people who provide the Freedom Convoy protesters with support items such as fuel and other unspecified materials.
The move comes as Ottawa mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency earlier in the day.
— CanadianCryptonaire – Same as Getter (@CCryptonaire) February 7, 2022
“Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest,” said Ottawa Police in a tweet on Sunday. “Enforcement is underway.”
Police issued a press release later Sunday evening confirming they had arrested seven people and issued 100 tickets in “demonstration-related enforcement.” The release also stated that Confederation Park, which the protesters had been using as a distribution hub, “has been fully cleared and fenced.”
Protestors had been using vehicles, wagons and sleds to transport gas cans and propane canisters to trucks parked near Parliament Hill.
Ottawa deputy police chief Steve Bell told CTV News that the arrests are part of their efforts to shut down the protest.
“Look at how we limit things moving in and out of the protest area,” said Bell. “We’ve really focused and targeted on removing the access of gasoline to the area and we’ve had several seizures and several arrests related to that.”
Police said that they worked throughout Saturday to reduce the effects of protestors occupying the downtown core.
“Overnight, demonstrators exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behaviour, which presented risks to public safety and unacceptable distress for Ottawa residents,” said the police force in a press release on Sunday. “We continue to advise demonstrators not to enter Ottawa and to go home.”
Police said that they had responded to more than 650 calls since the Freedom Convoy began. More than 450 tickets had been issued since Saturday for charges such as excessive noise, use of fireworks and failure to drive in marked lanes.
It is not yet clear if the new arrests are part of Ottawa’s recently declared state of emergency.
“Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,” said the City of Ottawa in a press release.
This state of emergency, the city said, provides “greater flexibility within the municipal administration to enable the City of Ottawa to manage business continuity for essential services for its residents and enables a more flexible procurement process.”
The Freedom Convoy entered its 15th day on Sunday, and was supported by continuing convoy protests against COVID restrictions in cities across Canada including Quebec City and Toronto.
Public opinion polls indicate Canadians are done with lockdowns, public health officials are advising Canadians to “learn to live with COVID-19” and countries around the world are dropping restrictions.
The mindset has shifted. Canadians are ready to move forward. It’s time for Canada to end all COVID-19 restrictions.
Online fundraising platform GoFundMe is now agreeing to give Freedom Convoy donations straight back to donors rather than to other charities after Florida governor Ron DeSantis said he would investigate the organization for its practices.
On Friday, GoFundMe announced it was cancelling the Freedom Convoy’s fundraiser and redistributing the more than $9 million to other charities unless donors filled out a refund form.
“It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing,” said DeSantis in a tweet on Saturday. “I will work with (Attorney General Ashley Moody) to investigate these deceptive practices — these donors should be given a refund.”
It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing.
I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices — these donors should be given a refund.
Former U.S. first son Donald Trump Jr. also criticized the online platform, calling GoFundMe’s taking down the truckers’ crowdfunding page “pure sickness.”
“How can GoFundMe just take these funds and decide to distribute it wherever they want?” said Trump. “Return it to the donors and let them find another way to get their money to the truckers.”
After pressure, GoFundMe walked back their decision and agreed to return the money directly to donors without the need for a form. They said that people can expect to receive refunds within seven to 10 business days.
“Due to donor feedback, we are simplifying the process,” said GoFundMe in a Medium post on Saturday. “We will automatically refund all contributions directly — donors do not need to submit a request.”
The crowdfunding platform had announced on Friday that while the trucker convoy in Ottawa started off as a peaceful protest, it “has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
“Following a review of relevant facts and multiple discussions with local law enforcement and city officials, this fundraiser is now in violation of our Terms of Service (Term 8, which prohibits the promotion of violence and harassment) and has been removed from the platform,” they said.
A new crowdfunding page for the Freedom Convoy has been set up on GiveSendGo, but the platform said it remains tough to access because of overloads, denials of service and bot attacks.
“GFM raised 10mil in 3 weeks,” said GiveSendGo. “GSG campaign has already raised over 1.1mil in just over 12 hours!”
Several of Canada’s largest cities continued to see massive protests against COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday.
The Trudeau government has claimed that a Chinese acquisition of a Canadian lithium mining company poses no national security risks whatsoever.
Ottawa’s decision comes after it was revealed that the purchase of Neo Lithium Corp. by Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd had triggered no extensive national security review.
Liberal industry minister François-Philippe Champagne said that the federal government had initially looked over the project and had no qualms with it.
“This transaction was absolutely reviewed to make sure there was no security risk,’’ Champagne said.
Neo Lithium has developed one of the world’s largest overseas lithium brine projects in Argentina. Zijjin Mining Group acquired the company for $960 million.
Lithium is necessary for the production of electric vehicle batteries and has been designated a critical mineral since 2021. Alongside the US, Canada has also signed agreements to acquire battery minerals to gain a competitive edge over China, which dominates rare earth mineral extraction.
During a Jan. 26 Commons Industry Committee, experts warned that the decision to allow the takeover by a company owned by the communist Chinese government could have significant impacts on intellectual property and economic security.
“I think, as part of a bigger story, what I’m saying is that there are intellectual property issues, there is management knowledge and there is this company as part of a supply chain, potentially, that we now don’t have any longer to help build our own supply chain here in Canada,” Royal Roads University Professor Dr. Jeffrey B. Kucharski told MPs.
Others have criticized the Liberals for rushing into approving the project and not giving enough thought to what it means.
“I believe the government addressed the Neo Lithium acquisition using too narrow a framework; misjudged its significance to Canadian national and economic security, now and in the future; failed to translate policy promises into action; and was caught up in a protracted period of political transition while the transaction was being reviewed—all of which, I believe, led to a wrong decision,” said Senior Fellow of the Centre for International Governance Innovation Dr. Wesley Clark.
In December 2020, the attempted purchase of TMAC Resources Inc.’s Nunavut Hope Bay mine by Shandong Gold Mining Co. triggered a security review, which ultimately led to the sale being rejected by Ottawa.
Critics of the deal were concerned that it could give the Chinese government a foothold in the Canadian Arctic which China has long eyed as a strategic theatre for military and economic reasons.
Spotify has pulled more than 100 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” as of Saturday, with some featuring Canadian public figures.
According to the website JRE Missing, 113 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” had been taken off of Spotify, many of them recorded before Rogan’s COVID-19 controversy.
Some of these episodes have Canadian guests such as Concordia University marketing professor Gad Saad and “2 Drink Minimum” co-hosts Mike Ward and Pantelis.
Saad said he suspects his episode was removed simply because it involved Rogan speaking the “N-word” in naming the title of a book.
“Hence, rather than recognizing the context, @spotify has deemed that singular word to be a nuclear attack even when uttered in an utterly non-racist manner (e.g., stating the word as part of a book’s title),” said Saad in a tweet on Saturday. “This infantilizes human beings in a manner that is grotesque.”
Saad added that Rogan “does not have a racist bone in his body.”
On Friday, Rogan addressed having said the N-word “in context” on his show multiple times over the years.
“I know that to most people, there’s no context where a white person is allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast,” he said in an Instagram video on Friday. “I agree with that now.”
He said that he has not said the N-word in years. For a long time, he said that he felt it was acceptable to use this word in context.
This new controversy facing Rogan comes after Spotify removed Canadian-American rock singer Neil Young’s music from the streaming platform after the artist told them to choose between “The Joe Rogan Experience” and his songs.
Young made the ultimatum to Spotify in January after claiming that “The Joe Rogan Experience” pushes COVID-19 misinformation on impressionable youth.
“They can have Rogan or Young,” he said. “Not both.”
Within days, Spotify had begun to remove Young’s music.
As the trucker convoy protests officially entered their second week, large crowds returned to Parliament Hill, thousands more Canadians peacefully protested in cities across the country, Pierre Poilievre announced he was running for the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership and protesters in Ottawa were asked if they had seen any of the acts of violence they were being constantly accused of.
Protests against vaccine mandates and other COVID restrictions swept the nation today as huge crowds gathered in Victoria, Edmonton, Toronto, Quebec City and many other cities from coast to coast.
In Coutts, Alberta, hundreds of riders on horseback flying Canadian and Albertan flags showed their support for the blockade and for freedom.
This was the scene in Ottawa today.
A huge crowd at the #TruckersforFreedom protest in the nation's capital sings O Canada.
Scenes from downtown Toronto and Queen's Park #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 right now. Indigenous drumming, some First Nations flags and people enjoying themselves with lots of music/partying. pic.twitter.com/wXObnG0AgB
These are the scenes coming out of Edmonton right now as the #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 makes its way to the Alberta Legislature joined by farm tractors.
Pride flag spotted as protestors line the downtown core cheering on the truckers while horns are blaring. pic.twitter.com/2GrPVg73IB
In Quebec City, huge crowds gathered to protest Premier Francois Legault’s heavy-handed COVID policies.
Clips coming out of Quebec City on social media this afternoon. Large crowd assembled in front of the National Assembly to oppose COVID-19 mandates. High spirits and chanting.
In Ottawa, Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre announced his much-anticipated bid for the CPC leadership. An vociferous critic of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and outspoken supporter of the Freedom Convoy, Poilievre was subsequently endorsed by numerous members of his caucus.
I’m running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life.
“I’m running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life,” Poilievre said. “Trudeau thinks he’s your boss. He’s got it backwards. You are the boss. That’s why I’m running for Prime Minister to put you back in charge of your life.”
“Freedom from the invisible thief of inflation,” Poilievre promised. “Freedom to raise your kids with your values. Freedom to make your own health and vaccine choices. Freedom to speak without fear and freedom to worship God in your own way.”
Some of the Conservatives who have already endorsed Poilievre include Michael Barrett, John Barlow, Cory Tochor, Dan Albas, Melissa Lantsman and former cabinet minister John Baird.
Back in Ottawa, an emergency meeting of the city’s police board continued to refer to the freedom protest in terms of a violent occupation, with members calling for an injunction and the truckers to be removed.
True North asked some of the protestors if they had seen any violence, but not one could show us evidence or tell us about any incidents of violence that they had seen.
The legacy media would have you believe that the freedom convoy is some sort of violent occupation.
True North asked protesters today if anyone had seen any acts of violence.
After cancelling the Freedom Convoy’s GoFundMe and withholding more than $9 million in donations from the organizers yesterday, the funding platform agreed under pressure to return the money to its donors without requiring them to fill out a form.
Meanwhile the Givesendgo fundraising campaign for the Freedom Convoy at the time this article was published had reached $1,594,664.
That’s within 24 hours of the campaign’s launch, and with the website constantly being overloaded by demand.
