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Monday, July 7, 2025

Unvaccinated CAF members could face an “unsuitable for further service” release

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The Department of National Defence (DND) has confirmed to True North that unvaccinated members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) could face an “unsuitable for further service” release. 

According to the Queen’s Regulation and Orders for the Canadian Forces (QR&O), an “unsuitable for further service” release applies to officers or non-commissioned CAF members who “either wholly or chiefly because of factors within his control, develops personal weakness or behaviour or has domestic or other personal problems that seriously impair his usefulness to or impose an excessive administrative burden on the Canadian Forces.” 

DND Chief of Operations Major Christopher Daniel told True North that as of Wednesday, 4% of CAF members eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine have not yet done so. 

“As of 15 November 2021, CAF members who have not complied with the policy by remaining unvaccinated without an approved accommodation are subject to administrative action up to and including release from the CAF,” said Major Daniel. 

“This process is underway in a number of cases but there remain options for members to reverse their decision and receive their vaccination. As such, it would be inappropriate at this time to speculate on potential future releases for non-compliance.”

The regulations that govern releases from the CAF include several categories such as misconduct, unsatisfactory service, voluntary release, medical release or service completed. The “unsuitable for further service release” applies to the service completed release category. 

When pressed further on the exact release process that would be applied to those CAF members who refuse to be vaccinated under any circumstances, Major Daniel confirmed that the “unsuitable for further service” release could be applied. 

“That will be determined in the process but it could be ‘unsuitable for further service’,” Major Daniel told True North. 

Additionally, an “unsuitable for further service” release would be noted on the private military record of those who have been subjected to that process. 

With regard to those who are seeking religious or pre-existing medical condition accommodations, they will have an answer to their accommodation requests by the end of this month. 

“In accordance with Government of Canada direction, the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff directed all CAF members be fully vaccinated unless they are unable due to a certified medical contraindication, religious ground, or any other prohibited ground of discrimination as defined in the Canadian Human Rights Act,” said Major Daniel. 

According to Major Daniel, fewer than 25 CAF members eligible for voluntary release from the CAF have applied to do so instead of complying with the directive. 

“To date, less than 25 members eligible to release from the CAF voluntarily have opted to do so rather than comply with the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff’s direction,” said Major Daniel. 

As outlined by the QR&O, voluntary releases can apply to those who make a request, on the completion of a fixed period of service or other causes. 

Those CAF members who refuse to be vaccinated and do not have any approved accommodations will be subject to a process including being given a written warning, a grace period to reconsider their decision and finally be put through an administrative process. Ultimately, if they continue to refuse, there will be a recommendation to the chain of command for release. 

One in four Canadians say work hinders their mental health

By
Jonathan Bradley
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Source: Pixaby

Nearly one-quarter of Canadians are grappling with mental health issues thanks to their jobs, a new report finds.

The LifeWorks Mental Health Index, a mental health database, for October found there is a negative mental health score among Canadians for the 19th consecutive month.

“Our research shows that the impact of the pandemic has not only negatively impacted mental health but also workplace relationships,” said LifeWorks president and CEO Stephen Liptrap in a press release. “This is concerning as both are major factors in overall wellbeing and work productivity.” 

Liptrap said the coming months will be a critical period for employee well-being.

The LifeWorks Mental Health Index claimed the overall mental health score among Canadians is -10.2 compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark, a slight improvement from September. 

About 24% of Canadians reported that work has hindered their mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase from 20% before the pandemic started. This group has a mental health score 10 points below the national average. 

There were 20% of respondents that reported they feel in crisis or have concerns about their ability to cope. These groups have mental health scores more than 20 points below the national average. 

A third of respondents under 40 indicated they feel in crisis or have concerns about their mental health or ability to cope, according to the index. About 12% of individuals 50 and older report the same. 

Parents are more than 50% more likely than non-parents to indicate that they feel in crisis or have concerns about their mental health and their ability to cope. 

Managers are more than 70% more likely than non-managers to report the same concerns. 

The index said 10% of respondents report their work experiences with peers have not been positive since the pandemic started, an increase of 4% since before the pandemic. This group has the least favourable mental health score. 

There were 11% of respondents that claimed their experiences with their manager have not been positive since the pandemic began, an increase of 2% since before the pandemic. These strained relationships have resulted in a productivity score more than 16 points below the national average. 

LifeWorks senior vice president, research and total wellbeing Paula Allen said that ways of working and many of the connections supporting wellbeing have changed. 

“The finding that more of us indicate that work hinders wellbeing is concerning and needs to be addressed,” said Allen. “Digital tools and manager training are two practical ways to integrate well-being into today’s work.” 

Allen said as businesses reshape how they operate, the most successful organizations will invest in employee wellbeing and workplace relationships. 

The monthly survey by LifeWorks was conducted online in English and French from Oct. 6 to 12, 2021, with 3,000 respondents in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population.

This data comes after worsening mental health indicators among children in Alberta is leading some doctors to call it a crisis. 

Doctors told the Edmonton Journal in November that diagnoses and severity of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders have increased by at least 20% in the last four months, and some of them believe the worst is coming soon. 

While COVID-19 restrictions are looser than they were one year ago, mental health issues stem from return-to-school stress, less social time, more screen time, and worries about the pandemic. 

60% of Canadian parents worried they won’t be able to feed their families

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

A new poll indicates that inflation and the rising cost of living is a top priority for Canadians as they face the prospect of not being able to provide for their families. 

According to an Ipsos poll commissioned by Global News, 78% of Canadians say that the inflation crisis is a top priority. 

When it comes to Canadian parents, 60% of those polled with children under the age of 18 said they fret about not having enough money to feed their families. In comparison, only 40% of Canadians overall said the same thing. 

“The people who are going to be really slapped around by what’s going on with inflation and rising cost of living are those very precarious members of the younger population who are trying to break into more stable jobs,” Ipsos Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker told Global News. 

“They’re having difficulty paying for very expensive real estate in our major cities and are also struggling with even starting and raising families, things that people used to take for granted.”

The survey was conducted between November 12 and November 15, 2021 and included a sample of 1,001 Canadians over the age of 18. 

According to the poll, those most likely to struggle with concerns about feeding their family were from Alberta. Overall, 54% of Albertans were worried about being able to feed their families.

In comparison, 49% of Quebecers had similar concerts, 48% of people in Atlantic Canada, followed by 44% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 40% in Ontario and 38% in BC. 

“Alberta was in a very economically precarious position well before anything that’s happening right now. So people are already attuned to be fearful of things changing in the economy,” said Bricker. 

“What (inflation) does is it shakes up their sense of stability. And when we shake up somebody’s sense of stability, regardless of what the objective aspects are of their financial situation, they start to feel more imperilled than they did the day before.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has received flack in recent weeks for not being able to get Canada’s inflation crisis under control.

As reported by True North, Macdonald-Laurier Institute domestic policy director Aaron Wudrick blasted the prime minister for barely mentioning inflation or the economic crisis in this week’s throne speech. 

“It is understandable that (the Liberals) are focused on the pandemic, but beyond that, much of this throne speech comes across as incredibly disconnected from the day-to-day struggles many Canadians face,” said Wudrick.

Canadian gun ban and buyback spending reaches $8.8 million

By
Jonathan Bradley
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The Canadian government is increasing spending on its gun buyback program to $8.8 million, according to a report from Public Safety Canada. 

The mounting costs before the government has purchased a single gun have taxpayer advocates unnerved.

“This is more evidence that the gun buyback is going to be a boondoggle,” said Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) federal director Franco Terrazzano in a blog post published on Wednesday. “The feds haven’t bought a single gun yet and costs still continue to go up.”

The Ministry of Public Safety is looking at spending $1.6 million out of the $8.8 million on an advertising campaign to “increase awareness” about the gun ban and buyback. 

The quarterly report is the first time the government has given a firm dollar value for buyback spending. 

The CTF tracked previous spending with access to information requests, which uncovered a contract with IBM Canada worth more than $1 million for advice on how to run the buyback program. 

The CTF obtained a copy of that advice, which shows IBM developed a list of prices based on the pre-ban prices for the affected firearms, without including how much accessories and parts of the firearms cost. Owners disputing the price could ask an expert panel for an evaluation.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated reimbursing gun owners could cost up to $756 million. That number does not include administration costs, which could add billions of dollars to the final tab. 

When the Liberalsfirst announced the policy, they said the gun buyback would cost about $200 million. Former public safety minister Bill Blair said in February that costs could land “somewhere between $300 and $400 million.”  

Terrazzano said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to cut his losses and scrap the gun buyback. 

“We continue to find more and more evidence of rising costs, and that should be a huge red flag for a government that is already more than $1 trillion in debt and hasn’t bought a single gun,” said Terrazzano. 

True North reported in August that the Canadian government ran a $2.2 million ad campaign promoting Trudeau’s firearms record. 

An official with the Ministry of Public Safety said the purpose of the ad campaign was to “raise awareness of the rise of gun violence in Canada, as well as highlight actions being taken to help address the issue.”

The $2.2 million campaign budget included the ad buy and not the cost to produce the spot.

FUREY: The authoritarian threat of the Chinese Communist Party

By
Anthony Furey
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For many people, the story of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is helping them understand the authoritarian nature of the Chinese Communist Party.

After accusing a former vice premier of sexual assault, censors in China blocked Peng’s story from appearing anywhere in China. Further, Peng’s safety and whereabouts are being questioned.

Anthony Furey discusses in his latest video.

UCP MLA challenges Alberta vaccine mandates

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

UCP MLA Peter Guthrie challenged the Alberta government’s vaccine mandates in the legislature this week saying he “unequivocally disagreed” with the policy. 

As reported by the Western Standard, Guthrie made the statement during a Members’ Statements portion of the sitting. 

“I support the committee recommendations and oppose any organization directing mandatory use of an active medical procedure, including vaccinations, on the citizens of this province,” said Guthrie.

“Unfortunately, over the course of the last few months, we have seen government organizations, institutions and businesses implement vaccination policies with termination as a result of non-compliance. I unequivocally disagree with this approach.”

 Guthrie, who is vaccinated himself, said Canadians should have the freedom to decide their own personal medical decisions. 

“I also hold dear the rights and freedoms of those to choose in matters pertaining to their bodies and personal health,” Guthrie. 

“A viewpoint shared by many Albertans is that we should have less government interference in our personal and business lives, not more. Creating legislation or supporting policy that may well be unconstitutional and acting based on societal views at any moment in time — even if one agrees with those views, sets a poor precedence and in my opinion — has governments going down a slippery slope.”

A year ago Alberta Premier Jason Kenney pledged that he would not make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory in the province. 

“COVID-19 vaccinations will not be mandatory, not in Alberta,” Kenney said in November 2020.  “In fact, our government will amend the Public Health Act early next year, when the legislature comes back. We’ll be making a number of amendments to the Public Health Act.”

“I don’t believe [the power has] ever been used. So let me be absolutely clear: Alberta will not be making that or any other vaccine mandatory.”

Since then, Kenney has reversed his position and has imposed a vaccine mandate on healthcare workers. Under the new policy, those who refuse to be vaccinated will be subject to a daily testing regime or obtain a human rights-based accommodation. 

“Zero ambulances”: Unvaccinated Toronto paramedic warns of staffing shortage

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

An unvaccinated Toronto paramedic who has been a first responder for 23 years warned in an interview with True North that vaccine mandates are having negative impacts on first responders in the city. 

The mother of four, Scarlett Martyn, has been suspended by the city for not complying with its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for healthcare workers and was recently terminated without cause, meaning that she will be denied severance pay. 

“We’re brutally short staffed. The last weekend I worked, there were times, it was night shift over the weekend, when several locations had no ambulances to send. Zero ambulances in the city,” Martyn told True North. 

“Response times are through the roof. It’s bad, it will have a huge impact on survivability and lives lost and having a positive outcome.”

According to Martyn, who has been awarded the Exemplary Service Medal for her work, the policy “was a mistake” and that short-staffing paramedics “is a bigger risk” to public health than COVID-19. 

“We’re not putting anybody at risk being unvaccinated… If our PPE that we’ve been wearing for 20 months and through other pandemics with no vaccine – we’ve worked through SARS, the Avian Flu – I think our PPE works,” said Martyn.

The City of Toronto has implemented its own mandatory vaccine policy for all city employees including healthcare workers. The policy was first unveiled on August 26 and all staff were required to report their vaccination status as of September 17. 

Martyn also recounted how students being sent for clinical experience by colleges are not being allowed to observe some patients in the back of an ambulance due to extensive COVID-19 screenings of patients. While some patients can be seen by students, Martyn noted that most 911 calls resulted in a failed screening.  

“They haven’t learned how to manage a sick patient in a chaotic scene and upset family members. They’re being turned out and they’re very bright, they’re very capable but to have them robbed of that whole year of patient assessment and all of the things that go with that and they’re just being unleashed on the public,” Martyn told True North. 

Upon finding out that she would be required to be vaccinated, Martyn approached her employer with a letter recommending alternatives like testing but was given a curt response and told to get vaccinated. 

“As much as you try to comply with the policy and try to meet them halfway… My suspension letter had me as insubordinate, willfully disobeying workplace health and safety, failing to get fully vaccinated, undermining critical health and safety measures implemented by the city to maximize vaccination rate to protect us,” said Martyn.

“The whole process was humiliating. Here I was as a good employee, I wrote a letter, I did my due diligence. They gave a vaccine education course, I took it and said I still have questions and concerns. I’m not being noncompliant.”

Martyn was also told to hand over her city ID and any keys that can access narcotics compartments on ambulances. 

“I’m being treated like a criminal because I don’t want to take this vaccine. I’m no longer trustworthy to have city ID or drug keys?” said Martyn. 

According to Martyn, her personal decision to not be vaccinated stems from her own experience treating patients with adverse reactions. 

“I’ve seen a rare type of stroke immediately after vaccination and the family said ‘he was fine before this.’ I’ve seen cases of heart inflammation. I don’t know further if they’ve been diagnosed as related to the vaccine but we know that it is an adverse reaction when we are picking them up after people are vaccinated,” said Martyn. 

Libertarian leader wants a freedom lens for government policy

By
Andrew Lawton
-

In an era of vaccine mandates, lockdown, and government spending, the Libertarian Party of Canada says it’s time to go back to the basics and filter legislation through the lens of the non-aggression principle, which generally holds that individuals should have freedom to live their lives as they see fit so long as they do not aggress against others and their liberties. Libertarian leader Jacques Boudreau joined the Andrew Lawton Show to explain, and address the Libertarians’ answer to pensions, lockdowns and “hate speech” laws.

Subscribe to The Andrew Lawton Show.

Critical Race Theory comes to Canada

By
Candice Malcolm
-

The Woke left is taking over school boards across the country and poisoning the minds of Canadian children. Critical race theorists’ perverse and racist concepts are destroying basic Enlightenment principles like liberty, equality and justice.

It’s happening across Canada, but what can be done to stop this troubling trend?

Today on the Candice Malcolm show, Candice talks about an initiative to weigh votes on a school board based on race (seriously) and is joined by True North investigative journalist Sue-Ann Levy to discuss this dangerous trend, and how to fight back against it.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CANDICE MALCOLM SHOW

What’s next for Harry Wade, the 22-year old expelled from Western University?

By
Lindsay Shepherd
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Two short videos of 22-year old engineering student Harry Wade went viral this month: in the first clip, he is seen in a classroom being handcuffed and escorted out by special constables at Western University, and in the second he is seen being dragged out by his limbs.

October 13th was the deadline for students at Western University to provide proof of vaccination or face suspension. Wade, opposed to sharing his private health information to access educational services, didn’t provide any such proof, and has since noted he has not received the Covid-19 vaccine.

For a few weeks following that October 13th deadline Wade continued to access his classes without issue, but on November 10th he was greeted by special constables outside his classroom and received a $65 fine for trespassing. The next day he was handcuffed and given a court summons, and the following week he was dragged out by his hands and feet. By November 18th he had been formally expelled from Western University, with his expulsion letter citing his non-compliance with the university’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. 

While Wade originally felt supported by many of his fellow classmates, who would let him know which days his classroom was or wasn’t being guarded by special constables, contact with these classmates has now ceased. 

In the viral videos, Wade’s peers can be seen looking on apathetically as he was hauled out of the class. 

“I don’t know what the students have been told,” said Wade. “The special constable has made a point of letting me know they could be found culpable or receive their own charges for interfering with my arrest.”

“Since then I haven’t received any communication from the students that were helping me up until that point.”

Despite accusations that he is merely seeking attention, Wade reiterated that his main concerns are about mandatory vaccinations, civil liberties, and medical discrimination – not about him. “The focus is on me because they want to make an example of me to intimidate other students.”

Wade is lawyered up and fighting the court summons, but he won’t speak to whether he will be suing Western University.

He has also decided against attending university in another country with no vaccine mandates.

“My responsibilities are here, I have family here, and we are entrenched here… as grim as the outlook may be, we feel like we can do a lot of help here, at least while my story is still relevant.”

For now, he is simply seeking a job where he won’t be subject to a vaccine mandate, though he feels increasingly shut out from many lines of work.

“I don’t know how Canadians can continue to justify the vaccine as case numbers continue to rise even as we have high vaccination rates,” said Wade.

“I’m concerned that instead of having discussions about the efficacy of the vaccine, we’re going to start deflecting blame onto people that have already been excluded from society… I don’t know how they could possibly accuse us of being responsible for rising case numbers of the disease.”

Despite being barred from all Ontario campuses for five years and having trouble finding employment, Wade believes there will be a shift in the national mood as more Canadians are ordered to take booster shots.

“I think within five years, attitudes will change, and then they’ll be ready to confront the issues that we were facing at the time.”

Wade thinks that down the line, he may even see a public apology from the university.

“People are dying because of side effects from this vaccine, where’s their apology right? I think they are entitled to an apology before I am. When clearer heads prevail, I’m sure there will be some sort of acknowledgment of wrongdoing.”

Western University did not respond to request for comment.

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