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Friday, July 11, 2025

Major grocery store chain confirms trucker vaccine mandate is increasing costs

By
Jonathan Bradley
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The CEO of a major grocery chain has admitted that the COVID vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers is raising the cost of shipping fresh foods to Canadian stores.

Metro CEO Eric La Fleche made the comments to analysts on a conference call Monday, according to Bloomberg. Metro has stores across Ontario and Quebec, including the popular Jean Coutu Group.

“We saw an uptick in transportation costs right away, but we’re getting the merchandise,” said La Fleche. 

The Omicron variant, said La Fleche, has been a major disruption to supply chains, delaying shipments and making it tougher for Metro managers to find enough employees to come to work.

He added that some of these pressures have been reduced because the Omicron variant appears to have peaked and because governments have reduced quarantine times for people exposed to COVID-19, which makes it easier for employees to return to work. 

Despite there being empty shelves, La Fleche said there has been “no real hoarding.” 

“There’s no panic in the stores,” he said. “I think consumers understand what’s happening after two years of pandemic.”

Metro said their calculation of food inflation in their stores was 3.5% in the last quarter, up from 2% in the previous quarter. 

Canada’s inflation rate for December was up 4.8% compared to last year, representing the highest the country has since seen 1991. Gas prices across Canada rose by more than 33% compared to last year’s figures while food prices have risen by about 5%. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers took effect on Jan. 15. It removed drivers’ existing exemptions from testing and quarantines, requiring that they be fully vaccinated. 

The current vaccination rate among Canadian truckers is estimated to be between 80% to 90%, suggesting the mandate has removed as many as 22,000 drivers from the road. Layoffs of truckers have started, which are expected to lead to major supply chain disruptions. 

Truck drivers from across Canada are currently on a convoy to Ottawa to protest the vaccine mandates and an erosion of freedoms under Trudeau’s response to COVID.

The Freedom Convoy is expected to reach the capital on Saturday. 

Former Newfoundland premier suing feds over air travel vaccine mandate

By
Andrew Lawton
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Forty years ago, Brian Peckford was one of the premiers involved in the development and adoption of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Now, he’s suing the federal government for violating that very Charter.

Peckford served as Newfoundland’s premier from 1979 to 1989, during which time he helped to negotiate and enact the Constitution Act of 1982. The Charter forms the first part of the Constitution.

Peckford is taking the federal government to court over its vaccine mandate for air travellers, arguing it violates section 6 of the Charter, which guarantees Canadians mobility within the country, as well as “the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.”

The lawsuit also says the mandate infringes on the Charter rights to life, liberty and security of the person, as well as privacy rights and the right to freedom from discrimination.

Representing Peckford and the other applicants is Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF). The JCCF is seeking an expedited hearing given the time sensitivity of the claim. 

Last October, Justin Trudeau imposed a vaccination requirement to board a commercial plane or train in Canada, regardless of its destination. Now that the United States has imposed a vaccine mandate for its land border, unvaccinated Canadians are effectively denied the ability to travel abroad, even to countries without a vaccine requirement for entry.

Peckford is the lead applicant in the case, which is being filed in Federal Court.

“The federal travel ban has segregated me from other Canadians.  It’s discriminatory, violates my Charter rights and that’s why I am fighting the travel ban,” Peckford said. “It’s becoming more obvious that being vaccinated does not stop people from getting Covid and does not stop them from spreading it. The government has not shown that the policy makes flying safer – it simply discriminates.”

The JCCF says there are six million unvaccinated Canadians – 15% of the country’s population – prevented from air travel within or outside of Canada.

“Some of the Canadians involved in the lawsuit cannot travel to help sick loved ones, get to work, visit family and friends, take international vacations, and live ordinary lives,” the group says.

A release from the JCCF notes that Peckford is the last surviving drafter and signatory of the 1982 Constitution.

“I think this is rather historic,” Peckford said in an interview on True North’s The Andrew Lawton Show, which will be published Thursday. “I don’t know of any other first minister in the history of Canada who’s taken the federal government to court over something that first minister had a hand in creating and writing.” 

“Governments have moved more and more in the field of restricting individual rights and freedoms…. If we don’t win and (ensure) the Constitution and the Charter’s honoured this time around, this will establish a precedent which will dilute the power of the Charter next time around. It’s an erosion of our individual rights and freedoms.”

CBC salaries include 125 senior directors earning up to $186,000 each

By
Jonathan Bradley
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CBC/Radio-Canada has 125 senior directors earning between $112,000 and $186,000 per year, True North has learned. 

The information was obtained from an ATIP True North submitted to the public broadcaster requesting the salaries of various positions for 2021.

After senior directors, executive producers are the second-highest earning “band,” making $82,609 to $103,848 per year, according to the document. 

This is followed by senior producers, who make between $76,480 to $96,222. 

CBC/Radio-Canada said in the document that their agreement with the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) requires negotiations on salaries to take place every year after 2020 and that salary increases have been set at 1.5% since 2019.

“When determining how salaries are established, one element is to review data from comparable Canadian companies, as well as a selection of Crown corporations and federally regulated companies,” said CBC media relations and issues management director Leon Mar in a statement to True North on Monday.   

The lowest-earning employees at CBC are positions such as assistant fabric specialists, editorial assistants and library assistants, who earn between $36,774 to $51,155 for a 38.75-hour work week, 

Mar said CBC is committed to accountability and transparency by disclosing these salaries. 

“By providing this information, the corporation is at the forefront of other Crown corporations and other broadcasters, providing a clear picture of the remuneration earned by its employees, while maintaining its ability to attract and retain high-calibre talent in a very competitive broadcasting industry and respecting existing federal law regarding the privacy of individual’s specific salaries,” he said. 

CBC/Radio-Canada’s president and CEO had a base salary range of $390,300 to $459,100 in 2019. The two executive vice presidents collected $275,000 to $411,278 and the five vice presidents garnered $250,000 to $411,278. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to spend more taxpayer dollars on CBC even while the crown corporation’s revenues decline, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. 

CBC’s annual report presented to Parliament revealed that their advertising revenue fell by 10% between 2020-2021. 

Trudeau tasked Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez in his mandate letter with providing “additional funding” to the state broadcaster. 

Public financial disclosures revealed that CBC/Radio-Canada receives $1.2 billion in government funding every year, accounting for 71.2% of their revenue. 

Google executive says Liberal internet censorship bills border on the extreme

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A Google executive warns that incoming Liberal legislation meant to censor the internet could drastically change how Canadians interact online. 

According to an interview with the Globe and Mail, Google president of global affairs and chief legal officer Kent Walker said that while the company is open to new regulations, current proposals border on the extreme. 

“The closer you get to that extreme, the more concern. Whether that’s on bespoke content regulation, or local content requirements, or government mandates for link taxes and other sorts of things – any flavour of one of those could actually really be bad,” Walker told the outlet. 

Google has already moved to take the German government to court over its proposed internet regulation and has threatened Australia with pulling access to its search engine. 

Similarly last year, Facebook temporarily banned news from being shared on its platform in Australia, forcing legislators to walk balk on several policies. 

For some time now, the Liberals have been floating several pieces of legislation including Bill C-10 and Bill C-36, which intend to tackle a swath of digital issues.

C-10 has been represented as an update to Canada’s Broadcasting Act, which would expand government regulatory powers to the digital realm. Its critics have accused the Liberals of attempting to censor Canadians online after MPs moved to strip the bill of a caveat that would protect user-submitted content from oversight. 

A number of former Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) commissioners have spoken out against Bill C-10, even going so far as to brand it “authoritarian.” 

Meanwhile, Bill C-36, which seeks to reintroduce the controversial Section 13 to the Canadian Human Rights Act, has been labelled an attempt by the Liberal government to potentially criticize online speech it finds offensive. 

Several leading free speech and civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the sweeping powers online hate legislation would give the government. These powers could potentially include house arrest and hefty fines for simply posting messages online. 

In September the Independent Press Gallery called on the Canadian government to scrap its plans to regulate the internet, saying that the legislation was unworkable and would violate Charter rights. 

“The IPG opposes the proposal and expresses a serious concern to the harmful effects on freedom of expression and principles of law that will ensue if the government moves forward with the proposal,” wrote IPG president and True North founder Candice Malcolm in her submission to the federal government.  “We expect that the government will take our criticisms into account and will cease its pursuit of the proposal in its current form.”

Former privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian on vaccine passports and erosion of privacy

By
Andrew Lawton
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As provinces continue to double down on vaccine passports, former Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian says it’s clear that governments pose the greatest threat to privacy, which she says is a prerequisite to freedom.

In this episode of The Andrew Lawton Show, Dr. Ann Cavoukian says Canadians – regardless of vaccination status – need to stand up for their rights in the face of regimes forcing the disclosure of private medical data to engage in civil society.

Watch the full episode of The Andrew Lawton Show.

2,800 illegal border crossers entered through Roxham Road in December

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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New statistics reveal that 2,800 illegal border crossers entered Canada through Roxham Road in December, only one month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced its reopening. 

According to CTV News, that’s nearly a threefold jump since November, which saw 832 crossings at the controversial crossing.

On Nov. 22, Trudeau reopened the unauthorized point of entry to refugee and asylum claimants after it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Border officials reported that only 96 people were admitted at Roxham Road in October.

As exclusively reported by True North, unvaccinated migrants are being allowed to enter the country freely without a vaccine passport while unvaccinated Canadians are barred from leaving by air or land. 

Canadian Border Services Agency spokesperson Sandra Boudreau stated that the claimants are being accepted “regardless of their vaccination status.” 

“Refugee claimants are requested to show proof of vaccination if they have been vaccinated,” Boudreau told True North. “Unvaccinated individuals will be permitted to enter if making an asylum claim but will be required to follow all COVID-19 public health obligations, including all testing requirements.”

To date, approximately 60,000 illegal border crossings have taken place at unauthorized ports of entry. 

A recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal affirmed Canada’s right to turn back asylum seekers from the United States, noting that such a move would not violate Charter rights. 

The ruling also found that the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement, which regulates asylum claims between the two countries, was constitutional. 

“Those who arrive in the United States must claim refugee status in the United States under United States law,” the ruling read. “They cannot leave the United States and claim refugee status in Canada at a land port of entry. If they do so, Canada can refuse to consider their refugee claim and, if they have no other legal basis for remaining in Canada, return them to the United States.” 

Despite the court’s position, Trudeau has continued to refuse to turn away asylum claimants arriving at illegal border crossings. 

Recap of Day 3 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy across Canada

By
Harrison Faulkner
-

On day 3 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy, the large Western fleet made its way through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, an Eastern convoy out of Newfoundland began rolling and Conservative MPs jumped on board to show their support.

In the early morning hours, crowds in Saskatchewan lined the roads in support of the truckers.

In Moose Jaw, crowds lit fireworks. 

Later on as the convoy made its way through Manitoba, huge crowds gathered in Brandon to celebrate the truckers. 

This was the scene in Brandon, Manitoba.

As the truckers made their way through Winnipeg, huge crowds greeted the convoy. 

In Windsor, Ontario, truckers continue their ongoing “slow-roll” protests.

This was the scene earlier today. 

In Newfoundland, a group of truckers began their roll into Ottawa as they left the island. 

Supporters can be seen lining this overpass as the Newfoundland truckers roll on.

As momentum and support continued to grow across Canada for the convoy, Conservative MPs broke ranks with Erin O’Toole and began throwing their support behind the truckers.

Most notable of the MPs that voiced support for the convoy today was Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, Candice Bergen and former leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis.  

The Conservative MPs that have now publicly supported the convoy include Pierre Poilievre, Candice Bergen, Andrew Scheer, Leslyn Lewis, Dean Allison, Rachel Thomas, Brad Vis, Warren Steinley, Brad Redekopp, Ryan Williams, Jeremy Patzer, Kevin Waugh and Martin Shields. 

The GoFundMe in support of the truckers at the time this article was published has reached $4,858,580. 

6 million listeners or 200 million – Neil Young tells Spotify it’s him or Joe Rogan

By
Jonathan Bradley
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Canadian-American rock star Neil Young made an ultimatum to Spotify on Monday, telling them that if they don’t drop “The Joe Rogan Experience,” they can say good-bye to his music. 

“They can have Rogan or Young,” he said. “Not both.” The 76 year-old singer’s demand was first reported by the Guardian and included in a letter since deleted from his website.

“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” wrote Young. “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.”

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is the most popular podcast on Spotify not only in Canada but also in the English-speaking world. Whereas Neil Young’s channel has just over 6 million listeners per month, Rogan’s podcast has an estimated 200 million monthly, or 11 million per episode.

“The Joe Rogan Experience,” Young said, has “tremendous influence.” Young added that Spotify needs to act to stop the spread of inaccurate information about COVID-19 vaccines. 

In January, a group of “scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators” wrote a letter to Spotify after Rogan hosted a talk with Dr. Robert Malone the previous month. A closer look at the letter revealed that the majority of its signatories were not direct medical providers or practitioners. About 100 hold a PhD but do not practice regularly. 

Malone, a virologist and immunologist who pioneered mRNA technology, has questioned the prevailing narratives surrounding COVID-19 and has been accused of spreading misinformation about vaccine efficacy. 

The letter requested Spotify put in place a misinformation policy to stop “the misleading and false claims” Rogan has made, adding the host’s comments were  “provoking distrust in science and medicine.” 

Young has a history of campaigning for left-wing causes. 

In 2014, he criticized former prime minister Stephen Harper and Alberta’s oilsands, comparing a Fort McMurray industrial site to Hiroshima after it had been hit by a nuclear bomb.

“Canada is trading integrity for money,” Young said. “That’s what’s happening under the current leadership in Canada, which is a very poor imitation of the George Bush administration in the United States and is lagging behind on the world stage.”

In 2006, Young released a song called “Let’s Impeach the President,” which called for US president George W. Bush to be removed from office. 

Young’s music remains on Spotify as of Tuesday.

Truckers’ convoy isn’t about vaccines – it’s about freedom

By
Andrew Lawton
-

Millions of dollars in donations. Thousands of big rigs. Countless supporters lining highways and overpasses. The trucker convoy hasn’t even made it to Ottawa yet and it’s already making an impact, advocating against Justin Trudeau’s vaccine mandate for truckers. True North’s Andrew Lawton says the convoy is doing more to stand up to mandates than any of the opposition parties represented in Parliament have.

While Erin O’Toole won’t say whether he supports the convoy, a growing number of Conservative MPs are breaking ranks to show their support for the truckers.

Also, former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian joins the show to discuss vaccine passports, privacy rights, and the surveillance state.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANDREW LAWTON SHOW

Ontario Liberal leader wants vaccine passports for liquor and cannabis stores

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Leader of the Ontario Liberals Steven Del Duca is demanding Doug Ford’s government require proof of vaccination for entry to all LCBO and cannabis stores.

The move, if adopted, would put Ontario in line with Quebec, which extended its vaccine passport system to province-run liquor and cannabis stores on Jan. 15.

At a press conference Tuesday, Del Duca declared that it wasn’t “time to be weak” and for the unvaccinated to be barred from more establishments. 

“In essence, this is my call out to Doug Ford to say given all of the lessons that we have learned during this pandemic – lessons that I would have hoped that Doug Ford himself would have learned – this is not the time to be weak, and this is not the time to be half-hearted,” Del Duca said.

“We need real responsible and competent leadership at this moment to make sure that as the reopening happens and school starts and as the restrictions start to get lifted, that we are positioned to make sure again that we don’t have to go backwards.”

In Ontario, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is currently required for indoor dining at restaurants and bars, event venues such as concert halls, indoor sports facilities and indoor event venues, among other places.  

Only last week, Del Duca also called for the vaccine passport program to be expanded to include a third booster shot. Ontarians currently require two COVID-19 shots to be considered fully vaccinated. 

“Ontarians have been doing our part to fight COVID-19, and we deserve a plan to beat the fifth wave so we can safely return to doing the things we all love,” said Del Duca. 

“That’s why we are calling on Doug Ford to make the booster shot a requirement for vaccine certificates.”

Premier Ford has stated that he is not currently considering making third doses mandatory. After plunging Ontario into another lockdown this month, he has also pledged to reopen restaurants and bars at 50% capacity as of Jan. 31. 

On Monday, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches also urged provincial health officials to require a third dose of the vaccine for its certificate program. 

To date, only 59% of eligible Ottawa residents have received COVID boosters. 

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