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Wednesday, September 24, 2025

“Evil of all evils”: Docs reveal gov planning of Sir John A. Macdonald smear exhibit

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
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Source: Canadian Encyclopedia

New documents show that Parks Canada officials were bound to a responsibility to “decolonize” Canada’s heritage and negatively portray Sir John A. Macdonald’s home as an expression of “white settler” history. 

Files obtained by True North via a freedom of information request show the Liberal government’s deliberate efforts to play up an overwhelmingly negative portrayal of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister, in the re-opening of his historic home. 

The Bellevue House exhibit, which reopened to the public in May after a seven-year renovation, has come under fire for its heavy-handed politicized portrayal of MacDonald.

Internal planning documents released to True North now reveal that the government consciously adopted a decolonization agenda despite the public distaste for government historical revisionism.

The exhibit, situated in Macdonald’s former home in Kingston, Ontario, is the result of extensive planning and deliberations by Parks Canada. Draft versions of the exhibit scripts reveal a clear intention to cast Macdonald’s legacy in a predominantly negative light, focusing on a divisive narrative and colonial guilt.

In response to True North’s request for comment Parks Canada public relations and communications officer Kelsey Bowles denied claims that the exhibit was an attempt to erase history.

“Parks Canada has not changed Sir John A. Macdonald’s history or the impacts of his legacy, nor have we tried to erase him from history. Rather, we have updated how Sir John A. Macdonald is presented at Bellevue House. This is the first time since 1967 that exhibits and programming in the house have undergone a complete review and revitalization,” said Bowles in an emailed statement.”

One interpretive document deliberating on items to include in the exhibit, including a doll of the first prime minister mused about how MacDonald was viewed as the “super evil of all evils” in Canadian history.

Much of Parks Canada’s deliberations about creating the exhibit were rooted in a view that the prime minister’s home was first and foremost a symbol of “white settlers”. 

Parks Canada’s 2024 Bellevue House Renewal Furnishing Plan describes the home as a symbol of “white settlers” and colonialism, stating, “Bellevue House is a symbol of the White Settlers’ way of life in the British North America colony in 1850.” 

The exhibit’s creators emphasized their collective responsibility to decolonize Canadian history.

“We can participate in the decolonization of history by recognizing that during generations the history presented was based on a colonial vision and by listening to different voices and learning about their life story.”

Visitors to the exhibit are guided through various parts of the home, each imbued with themes of colonization and oppression. For instance, tour guides were told in an exhibit draft script that the orchard could be used to illustrate how even trees were tools of colonization, with European-bred apple trees creating “picturesque” landscapes for settlers.

“John A. Macdonald’s life at Bellevue House was constructed around deeply embedded colonial systems of class, power, and privilege,” wrote Parks Canada staff. 

“As we enjoy the beauty of the orchard that stands before you, we can experience how even trees can be used to colonize a land. Apple trees, like these ones, were bred in Europe and brought to these lands to create ‘picturesque’ landscapes to suit settler ideals.”

Inside the house, the dining room and bedroom displays aim to remind visitors of the alleged cultural theft committed by white settlers.

“When looking upon a Victorian scene such as this room, some will be reminded of family traditions and mementoes handed down through generations. However, for many Indigenous Peoples, it is a reminder of our culture and our traditions that were stolen from us through colonization and assimilation,” the draft exhibit script reads. 

Tour guides were instructed to continue their lecturing onto the second floor, in the bedroom too: “Macdonald’s Bedroom is the culmination of the iterative journey visitors have been asked to partake in. It is here that they will be asked to contemplate their role in making Canada’s future more equitable and Inclusive.”

“The dream of an inclusive future must be built by welcoming voices with broad perspectives into discussions about what Canada becomes as it evolves further. Canada is difficult to define—it cannot be summarized by a single moment, culture, or person,” the script continues. 

In Parks Canada’s statement, Bowles added that the exhibit will continue to be updated.

“Parks Canada will continue to seek feedback from the public, stakeholders, the Community Advisory Committee, and outside experts on the interpretation of Bellevue House and will continue to add and adapt the visitor experience offer,” said Bowles.

Despite the exhibit’s negative overtones, internal emails and discussions among Parks Canada officials indicate some level of discomfort with the one-sided approach. Patricia E. Kell, Executive Director at Parks Canada’s Cultural Heritage Directorate, warned in a July 31, 2022 email against the potential pitfalls of inserting too much opinion into the exhibit.

“Including aspects of his legacy that are negative is not a problem. Engaging the visitor in critical thought about Macdonald’s legacies is even better. However, this needs to be done in a more balanced manner,” wrote Kell. 

“Parks Canada should provide information and can ask questions for the visitor to reflect on. It is a problem if Parks Canada is making categorical statements of opinion or presenting information that only supports one point of view.”

A Parks Canada official told True North that the exhibit was developed over several years and sought input from a variety of stakeholders.

“This is the first time since 1967 that exhibits and programming in the house have undergone a complete review and revitalization. It was a significant undertaking by Parks Canada that required input from a broad range of individuals and communities and that required substantial consideration and contemplation,” said Bowles.

“These consultations coupled with input from Parks Canada staff, represented perspectives from a cross-section of Canadian society that provided a broad range of opinions, expertise, and perspectives that helped to inform, and ultimately support, the representation of Sir John A. Macdonald at Bellevue House.”

According to Bowles, responses to the exhibit have since been “open and positive.”

“As such, our goal at Bellevue House was to foster open discussions and broader understanding on the implications of Sir John A. Macdonald’s life and our shared history. Overall, the feedback received since the reopening of Bellevue House in May 2024 has been open and positive, and reflects success in achieving this goal,” said Bowles.

During much of the exhibit’s planning, government workers cited diversity, equity and inclusion as guiding the process. Minutes from a March 29, 2023 peer review meeting with Site and Visitor Experience Manager Tamara van Dyk showed this commitment. 

“We align with inclusion. This is a historic fact, not an emotional response.”

During the meeting, exhibit coordinators stood in solidarity saying “We (are) all helping Tamara to hold this basket” referring to the burden of creating the exhibit. 

Exhibit planning documents were also rife with “sensitive content” and trigger warnings for government workers. 

A draft exhibit script for the second floor of the Bellevue House exhibit warned: “The content on this page may be upsetting to some people and deals with subject matter such as Residential Schools, mistreatment and abuse.” 

Internal program presenter notes instructed exhibit staff to “shut down the conversation” at signs of conflict or distress.

“You oversee the program and can redirect, debrief a situation, or even shut down the conversation at signs of distress or extreme conflict. You can call for assistance when needed,” a program document by van Dyk reads.

According to the program outline section on the “potential for controversy”, exhibit staff were repeatedly warned about “triggering situations” and “microaggressions” from visitors. 

“We provide extensive training and work with staff to ensure they are prepared to manage comments. Through approved guided programs like this, we run the risk of people-sensitive content, and open up for debate rather than discussion,” the outline reads.

“Currently we have seen a decline in negative comments, however, there is always potential for disruptive visitors, micro-aggressions, and inappropriate comments or discussions that could be hurtful at any point during the visit to Bellevue House.”

Parks Canada officials were also very well aware that many Canadians had worries about heritage sites obfuscating or erasing Canadian history entirely. 

Many Canadians have voiced concerns that the government’s approach to heritage sites like Bellevue House could lead to the erasure or distortion of Canadian history. An undated research document from Parks Canada noted a shift in visitor preferences since the pandemic and the discovery of residential school grave sites in 2021. Visitors expressed a desire for traditional programs like tea and whiskey tastings.

“We have heard from visitors that they don’t want us to erase history or change history, they want to see the house and they want authentic, truthful stories,” wrote Parks Canada staff.

The Daily Brief | More Canadians than ever are relying on food banks

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Source: Daily Food Bank

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced that he would eliminate the federal sales tax on new homes worth less than $1 million if elected.

Plus, according to a new report, the number of Canadians relying on food banks is up 90% since 2019.

And online hackers managed to access the personal financial data of hundreds of Canadians through the tax preparation company H&R Block to scam the Canada Revenue Agency out of millions of dollars.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Noah Jarvis!

Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party wins fifth consecutive majority government

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

The results are in for Saskatchewan’s latest election, and the incumbent Saskatchewan Party has won a fifth consecutive majority government.

Though Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party received a majority of votes, 52.9%, his party formed a majority government by only three seats.

A party must secure 31 seats to gain a majority government in Saskatchewan; Moe’s party was elected in at least 33 ridings, with 232,760 votes across the province.

Some ridings were too close to call Monday night, such as Saskatoon Westview, where the Saskatchewan party only led by 31 votes.

Moe acknowledged that although he won a majority, the Saskatchewan Party’s narrow victory is a message to their government that they have lost support since their last election.

“This was a much closer election than what we have seen in quite some time, in over roughly half and there’s another half of the voters that voted for someone else,” Moe said in his victory speech. “I’ve heard the message that was delivered here this evening, and the Saskatchewan party will be a government that works for all of the people of Saskatchewan.”

Carla Beck’s NDP Party won at least 24 seats Monday and received 39.5% of the vote, and 173,285 votes across the province.

Beck conceded last night with a message of hope for her supporters and a vow to be a strong opposition to Moe’s government in the legislature.

“We might not have crossed the finish line first tonight, but my friends, we have changed the landscape,” Beck said in her address to supporters. “I know this isn’t the result that we had hoped for, but let me tell you, tonight is not the end.”

In 2020, the Saskatchewan party had over 61% of the vote and was elected in 48 seats, while the NDP had 13 seats with 31.82% of the vote.

Moe reflected on the areas where he believes his government needs to improve to regain support from constituents.

“When you look at the results tonight, many people voted for the Saskatchewan party in the past but chose not to in this election,” Moe said. “We have lost your support, whether it be due to management of healthcare or education or the cost of living, pressures that we’re all feeling in this province and across this nation, all of us in government, and it starts with myself.”

Both leaders are projected to keep their seats, and the NDP and SP are the only parties with elected candidates.

As predicted by a survey from the Angus Reid Institute last month, Moe’s party were most popular in the rural areas, while the NDP took most of the two main cities, Saskatoon and Regina.

Legislators return to Edmonton, pass first reading of Alberta Bill of Rights amendments

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Alberta Legislative Assembly Building - Source: X

Lawmakers returned to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on Monday and kicked off the start of the fall session with the first reading of proposed Alberta Bill of Rights amendments. 

The United Conservative Party government highlighted 13 bills they plan on introducing in this session including the amendments to protect personal autonomy, property rights, and legal firearm ownership. 

In Friday’s press conference, Government House Leader Joseph Schow emphasized a renewed focus on fortifying Albertans’ fundamental freedoms.

“Alberta’s government is heading back to the legislature with a laser-focus on the protection of Albertans’ best interests,” said Schow. “The legislation introduced this session will see Alberta be a leader in Canada, enshrining fundamental rights while simultaneously ensuring our province remains a haven for job-creating investment with strong, business-friendly policies.”

Among the most anticipated legislation is the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act.

“Since its inception, the Alberta Bill of Rights has been a reflection of our shared values, recognizing the fundamental rights and freedoms that are essential to a free and democratic society,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. “It enshrines the principles that every Albertan holds dear: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to equality before the law, among other fundamental rights.”

However, she explained that the Alberta Bill of Rights has not evolved with society and requires an update. The law has been untouched since its introduction in 1972. 

The legislative session resumed just days before Smith’s leadership review on Nov. 2. 

Schow didn’t provide dates on when most of the bills would be introduced, aside from Bill 24, the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, which passed its first reading on Monday. The proposed amendments would take effect upon Royal Assent.

Smith said that the four key amendments included in the bill mean that Albertans will never be subject to a government vaccine mandate again and that property rights will ensure just compensation for landowners. The legislation also includes the protection to acquire, keep, and use firearms in accordance with the law and additional freedom of expression protections.

“These amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights are not just legal changes. They are a reaffirmation of the values that make Alberta one of the freest jurisdictions on Earth,” she said. 

Schow said that getting all 13 bills tabled as soon as possible was the goal.

“Our government’s focus on protection of Albertans’ rights and freedoms comes in addition to our ongoing work to build a prosperous future for our province,” said Schow. 

The fall session will also tackle restrictions on gender reassignment surgeries for minors. The proposed legislation will ban such surgeries for those aged 17 and younger and prohibit puberty blockers for those 15 and younger, except with parental and professional approval for mature teens aged 16-17.

Additionally, Smith’s administration aims to implement education reforms, including an opt-in policy for gender ideology and sexual identity lessons. Reforms also ensure that biological sex restrictions are placed to ensure women and girls have access to fair sporting opportunities across the province. Co-ed divisions will be created to ensure opportunities for transgender athletes. 

Other proposed bills include the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, the Financial Statutes Act, and the Access to Information Act. The session will also see efforts to strengthen workplace safety and improve privacy protections.

Recently announced legislation targeting professional regulators’ overreach will be part of the broader amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights. According to Smith, the changes aim to ensure that regulatory bodies stay within their mandates, preserving free speech for professionals.

“What a doctor or lawyer believes or says about politics is not a reflection of their competency to practice medicine or law,” said Smith. 

Schow added that the upcoming bills reflect extensive consultation with Albertans which include the premier travelling the province knocking on doors, making phone calls, doing town halls, attending events, and talking to grassroots Albertans. Other ministers were also involved in this process. 

“The government’s emphasis on ensuring the rights and freedoms of Albertans are protected in an ever-changing world is in addition to the ongoing work to continue diversifying Alberta’s economy and maintain Alberta’s business- and investment-friendly environment,” reads the provincial government’s press release.

Toronto police and Mayor Olivia Chow launch campaign to reduce 911 wait times

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
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Source: Facebook

The Toronto Police Services in partnership with Mayor Olivia Chow hopes that an education campaign will help tackle excessive wait times on 911 calls in the city. 

A week after Toronto’s police union reported that some callers are waiting nearly 12 minutes on the phone when they call 911 in the city due to what the union said was staffing shortages, Toronto’s mayor and the Toronto Police Services announced the start of the campaign.

The “Make the Right Call” campaign was launched Monday as a joint project with the City of Toronto and the TPS to educate the public about when to call 311, 411, the city’s non-emergency line 416-808-2222, or 911. 

Police said that staffing shortages weren’t the only issue they faced, which led to the long wait times previously reported by the Toronto Police Association. Police noted that three out of ten 911 calls are non-emergency calls, which leads to backlogged phone lines.

“Call volume and wait times are linked, and it’s a complex issue,” a police representative said. Staffing is an issue. Staffing is an issue industry-wide. It’s not a Toronto problem; it’s an industry problem. We are hiring and have been aggressively.”

Police said they receive 1.2 million 911 calls a year and around 664,000 calls on the TPS non-emergency line, but too many calls to 911 should be directed to another line.

In an annual report from Toronto’s auditor general for 2022, released in January of 2023, it was reported that 57% of 911 calls were non-emergency, today police report that number has decreased to 30%.

Police say another issue is when callers hang up after calling 911. They have to call back each person who hangs up, which takes valuable time away from real emergency calls if it was just a “pocket dial” or someone frustrated with long wait times trying to call again.

“When you call 911, and you are on ‘wait,’ please, stay on the line because we are committed to calling people back in Toronto,” Deputy Police Chief Lauren Pogue said. “In one particular instance, the people had called and hung up several times, and when the operator finally got through, they found out that another call operator was actually on the phone with them.”

Pogue said highway accidents or public event incidents could cause a high volume of calls in a day as well.

“An accident on our collision on the gardener or the DVP can cause 50 to 100 calls at the same time,” She said. “So those calls all have to be answered, and our operators work diligently to clear the queue as quickly as possible, but it fluctuates daily as call volume fluctuates.

In response to the TPA’s announcement of 11.7-minute wait times, Pogue said that these numbers reflect wait times on a high-volume day, but on an average day, she said calls are answered “within seconds to a minute.”

She also said that the average response time for police after receiving a call has been down to 17.5 minutes in the last “several months.”

Chow wanted Torontonians to know that for mental health crises in which someone isn’t a danger to themselves or others, calling 211 will get a trained professional help, which involves a follow-up call.

Residents are urged to call 311 instead for maintenance issues such as garbage pickup, “dubious”-“-looking branches on a tree, or reporting a dead animal. Every other non-emergency issue should go to the city’s non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.

David Eby to form next BC NDP government with final results indicating slim majority

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

BC NDP Leader David Eby has announced that he was asked to form government by Lt Governor Janet Austin. 

The BC NDP has secured a slim majority in the provincial election, currently holding 47 of the 93 seats in the legislature. The announcement came after a nail-biting finish in Surrey-Guildford, where the NDP won by a mere 18 votes.

The razor-thin margins in several constituencies have set the stage for potential judicial recounts, most notably in Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna-Centre. 

Under B.C. election law, a recount is automatic if the margin is less than one-fifth of one percent of the votes cast. 

In Surrey-Guildford, the threshold for a recount stands at 38 votes, while Kelowna-Centre’s is at 51 votes. These recounts, to be overseen by justices of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, could occur within 7 to 15 days following the official results.

Already, automatic recounts in Surrey-Centre and Juan de Fuca-Malahat have affirmed the NDP’s wins.

The initial seat distribution, should it remain unchanged, places the Conservatives at 44 seats and the Greens at 2. However, the NDP’s choice of Speaker could effectively reduce their working majority, as typically, the Speaker does not vote except in rare tie-breaking scenarios.

Late ballots have played a significant role in this election, with over 54% of these votes favoring the NDP, which has been crucial in tipping the scales in their favor in several ridings. The election’s results have been described as one of the closest in B.C.’s history.

However, the outcomes of the judicial recounts in Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna-Centre loom large. If these recounts sway in favour of the opposition, Eby’s government could be reduced to a minority, complicating governance and potentially necessitating coalition agreements or support arrangements with the Greens. 

The stakes are high as British Columbians await the final tally. A minority government would mean that Eby and the NDP would need to negotiate each piece of legislation carefully, potentially leading to compromises.

Conversely, a confirmed majority would give the NDP a mandate to push through their agenda, albeit with caution given the thin margin.

Ratio’d | Food bank usage up 90% in Trudeau’s Canada

By
Harrison Faulkner
-

Canada surpassed a grim milestone recently. In one month, a record of over 2 million Canadians went to a food bank. This is not right. Nationally, food bank usage is up 90% since 2019 and now certain food banks are running out of food. Our people are starving and suffering in the street, but the government will still tell you that the Canadian economy is doing well.

The Canadian government continues to waste billions of dollars on useless initiatives, send billions of dollars to other countries and import millions of people into the country. This equation does not make sense.

Watch the latest episode of Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner

CRA paid out millions in illegitimate tax refunds to hackers 

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Obert Madondo

Online hackers managed to access the personal financial data of hundreds of Canadians through the tax preparation company H&R Block to scam the Canada Revenue Agency out of millions of dollars.

An investigation conducted by CBC’s The Fifth Estate and Radio-Canada found that imposters were able to hack into the company’s database, change customers’ direct deposit information and submit false returns to make off with over $6 million in fraudulent refunds. 

One case even involved hackers using a fake address called Tomato Street to get a refund with the help of a legitimate postal code. 

Despite the CRA being notified of the breach, the agency failed to notify the public of the scam.

“The delays in reporting these breaches from between March 2020 to December 2023 can be attributed to the need to develop a reporting process for these types of privacy breaches, and the fact we prioritized protecting the accounts and advising affected taxpayers,” CRA spokesperson Sylvie Branch told True North.

“They can also be attributed to external factors beyond the CRA’s control, such as difficulty in contacting taxpayers to confirm the breach.”

H&R Block released a statement in response to the investigation claiming that there was no evidence that they were responsible for the security breach following a “comprehensive internal investigation.”

The tax preparation company said that none of its “data, systems, software and security” had been compromised and that to its knowledge, none of the affected taxpayers were H&R Block clients.

While the CRA has yet to identify any of the hackers, sources who spoke with The Fifth Estate on anonymity say it ruled out the possibility that the breach came from within its own database system nor was it the result of insider involvement. 

There have been 71 security breaches at the CRA in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, according to a report by the privacy commissioner. 

However, there were only 42 breaches in the previous three years, revealing that the threat posed by cyber hackers is growing exponentially. 

The CRA admitted during an interview with The Fifth Estate that it dealt with more than 31,468 “material” privacy breaches from March 2020 to December 2023, affecting 62,000 individual Canadians.

“We have made strategic investments to proactively detect, report, and address external fraud and the unauthorized use of taxpayer information by a third party (UUTP),” said Branch. “These UUTP breaches often involve personal information, in most cases obtained from external sources, used to help bypass existing security measures to access or modify taxpayer information.”

Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne told CBC News in an email that his office chose to omit the massive increase in privacy breaches from the June 2024 report to MPs because the CRA already reported that information in the March 2024 report.

He added that the new figures will be included in his report next year. 

The CRA also said that the 31,468 privacy breaches had been reported retroactively.

The agency said that when a breach occurs, individual taxpayers are informed and are offered “credit protection as required” but would not answer when or how it first learned that privacy breaches were being underreported to Parliament. 

According to the CRA, it had mistakenly authorized over $190 million in fraudulent payments in connection with “confirmed” cases of privacy breaches since 2020, with the bulk of them occurring in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hackers were allegedly able to obtain information via H&R Block e-filing credentials provided by the CRA which they would then alter to receive the fraudulent returns on behalf of the taxpayers. 

The CRA eventually learned that it had issued multiple, unrelated refunds to the same bank account before agency auditors concluded that they had been swindled out of more than $6 million this year. 

Upon learning this, the CRA was able to prevent an additional $14 million in fraudulent returns before they were paid out to hackers. 

“In the particular case raised by the CBC, threat actors attempted to obtain a total of $21.5M,” said Branch. She added that “the CRA can confirm” that it “blocked” $157 million and “intercepted” $14.9 million. 

Number of Canadians relying on food banks up 90% since 2019: report

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Pexels

More Canadians than ever rely on food banks to make ends meet, with new data showing a 90% uptick in visits over the last five years. 

In March of this year, Canadians made over two million trips to a food bank. 

According to the new data from Food Banks Canada, visits are up 6% from last year due to rapid inflation, housing costs, food insecurity and insufficient social support. 

The organization’s CEO Kirstin Beardsley said food banks are on “the brink” of what they can sustain as demand continues to skyrocket with low-income Canadians seeking immediate help.

Food Banks Canada’s report is calling on the government to implement measures to help with rent assistance and monthly payments for low-income households struggling to keep up with increasing food costs. 

The organization published its HungerCount 2024 report on Monday, which calculated 2,059,636 visits to food banks across Canada in March alone, marking a 90% increase compared to March 2019.

According to the report, one-third of food bank recipients were children, a growing trend that saw nearly 700,000 monthly visits this year. 

Additionally, 18% of food bank recipients are gainfully employed and 70% are in the rental market. 

“Compared to before the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in two-parent households with children under 18 accessing food banks — from 18.8% in 2019 to nearly 23% in 2024,” reads the report. 

“Two-parent families who access food banks are more likely to live in larger urban areas of 100,000 or more, which contributes to the higher usage rates in those areas. This trend is consistent with other research findings that show households with children have been especially hard hit by rapidly rising costs of living.” 

The report recommended “a groceries and essentials benefit,” which Beardsley said could be made possible by modifying the existing GST quarterly credit given to low-income Canadians.

Food Banks Canada surveyed Canadians across the country and found that many are struggling with the fact that they have had to resort to food banks for assistance.

“It is really worrisome to admit that you can’t provide for yourself,” said one respondent.

“It is hard to accept that you’ve reached the point that you are the one who needs help,” said another. 

The HungerCount reports reveal a steady upward trend in monthly visits, increasing by 17% in 2021, by 15% in 2022 and by 32% in 2023. 

“But we’re asking for it to be increased and made monthly so that it can be a more predictable payment to folks who are really in need,” said Beardsley.

“It’s really to offset those essential costs, the increases in rents that people are seeing, the increases in cost of essentials like food.”

Food banks have also been increasingly strained due to international students accessing their services. 

A new Greater Vancouver Food Bank policy is now prohibiting first-year international students from receiving free food.

Poilievre pledges to axe federal sales tax on new homes under $1M

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: YT - Pierre Poilievre

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced that he would eliminate the federal sales tax on new homes worth less than $1 million if elected.

On Monday, Poilievre said that removing the federal sales tax, commonly known as the GST, on these homes would spur the building of an additional 30,000 homes annually. He added that he would encourage provinces to remove PST from new homes, saving taxpayers an additional tens of thousands of dollars.

“Imagine this: You wake up one morning and open your phone to look up the new home listings, only to discover something shocking. Everything has doubled,” said Poilievre in his video announcing the tax cut. “Yet this isn’t fiction. It’s reality.”

The Conservative leader said that when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office nine years ago, Canadians could pay off a mortgage in 25 years. However, now it takes 25 years just to save for a down payment. 

Housing affordability in Canada reached an all-time low in April. In Vancouver, an average household would have to spend 106.3% of its income to cover homeownership costs. 

Taxes account for a very sizeable portion of the cost of new homes.

Poilievre said that taxes alone account for about 30% of the cost of a new home in Ontario and British Columbia, the country’s two most expensive provinces for housing. About 39% of this cost goes to the federal government. 

“That means that politicians and bureaucrats are making more money on the sale of a new home than the carpenters and electricians who actually build the homes,” he said. “No wonder housing is so expensive in this country.”

On top of the GST, there are additional levies on the taxes taken by provincial and municipal governments that are passed on to the feds.

Poilievre said that the tax cut would save homebuyers $40,000 on the purchase of an $800,000 home, equivalent to $2,200 annually in mortgage payments. 

“For a typical home in Ontario and British Columbia, this will result in savings of $43,225 and $48,160 respectively,” said a spokesperson for Poilievre. 

He plans to fund the tax cut by cutting “failed Liberal housing policies” like the Housing Accelerator Fund, which he said the Liberals have admitted doesn’t actually build homes.

Poilievre said that the tax cut would save $8 billion over several years. 

Canada’s debt officially doubled under Trudeau on Aug. 30, 2024. During his tenure, the average cost of a home has risen around 61%, with the peak price of a home seeing an 84% increase. 

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded the announcement.

“Too often, the federal government ramps up spending on housing programs that don’t work and waste taxpayers’ money,” said the Federal Director of the CTF, Franco Terrazzano. “The best way for the federal government to make homes more affordable is to cut taxes for building homes.” 

Looking South, Poilievre said at a Monday press conference that homes in the United States are between 25% and 45% cheaper than in Canada, which he attributed primarily to fewer government costs. He added that building permits in the United States are issued automatically and very quickly. 

Housing starts in Canada have failed to keep up with increasing demand and costs. 

One of Trudeau’s recent housing policies was what Poilievre was already proposing. Time will tell whether Trudeau takes influence from this housing announcement as well. 

The majority of Canadians now believe that homeownership is only for the rich. 

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