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Saturday, July 12, 2025

Quebec delays vaccine mandate for healthcare workers by one month

By
Jonathan Bradley
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Quebec Minister of Health Christian Dube announced on Wednesday that he would be delaying the vaccine mandate deadline for healthcare workers by one month, one day after vowing he would stand by it. 

Healthcare workers will now have until Nov. 15 to be fully vaccinated or risk suspension without pay.

“When we have the potential departure of unvaccinated staff, we find ourselves adding undue pressure on our network, and especially on the vaccinated healthcare workers who have been at the front for months,” Dube said. “And if we continue like this, we will run into a wall.” 

Thousands of nurses in Quebec are expected to be suspended without pay if they refuse to take a COVID-19 vaccine, despite there being a nursing shortage in the province. 

The Quebec Order of Nurses said that they are looking into suspending nursing licenses of nurses who are not fully vaccinated. 

Unvaccinated nurses in Quebec have joined together to oppose vaccine mandates by filing a lawsuit. They are arguing that alternatives such as regular testing can ensure their workplaces remain safe. 

According to the Quebec government, roughly 15,000 healthcare workers could be suspended without pay because they choose not to be vaccinated. 

Postponing the 30-day deadline is the best solution under the circumstances, according to Dube. 

Starting Monday, all unvaccinated staff will have to be tested three times per week before their shifts. This requirement will be in public hospitals for now, but the Quebec government will look at expanding it to the private network. 

The Quebec government said the vaccine mandate will apply to people providing direct services, but they are looking at extending it to anyone working in healthcare facilities. 

New healthcare workers will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Visitors and caregivers going into healthcare facilities need to show a vaccine passport. 

Dube implored unvaccinated healthcare workers to take the vaccine by the new deadline. 

“Please do it for yourselves and your loved ones,” he said. “Otherwise, do it for your colleagues, because they really need you.” 

BC Liberal leadership candidate Aaron Gunn hits back at opponent urging disqualification

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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BC Liberal leadership candidate Aaron Gunn isn’t backing down as an opponent calls for his disqualification over supposedly “intolerant views.”

BC Liberal MLA Michael Lee, who’s also running to lead his party, said on Twitter that Gunn, a political commentator and conservative activist, should not be given a platform.

“Aaron Gunn has the right to express his views, but the BC Liberal Party has a responsibility to not give a platform to intolerant views like those he’s shared,” Lee said. “I urge candidates to affirm inclusive values & join me in calling for his candidacy to be rejected.”

In a response, Gunn alleged that Lee had actually welcomed his bid for the leadership in the past and accused him of being “just another politician.” 

“Funny, that’s not what you said last week, Michael to my face, when you said you were excited for my entry into the Leadership race and the energy I would bring to the debates,” Gunn tweeted. “I guess you’re just another politician who says one thing and does another.”

Gunn, who is an outsider to the party, has taken flack from both the ruling NDP and the BC Liberal Party for his past commentary which has been critical of gender ideology, radical environmentalism and censorship. 

True North reached out to Lee to clarify which so-called intolerant views he took issue with but did not receive a response by the deadline given.

In a statement sent to True North, Gunn replied to Lee’s accusations by accusing the MLA of participating in cancel culture. 

“As noted in my Tweet, Michael is exemplifying the worst aspects of politics. He is the classic politician who says one thing and does another, and people are sick of this behaviour,” said Gunn. 

“I represent tens of thousands of ordinary British Columbians who want to see change in politics. Meanwhile, Michael Lee is committed to regurgitating talking points from our NDP opposition.”

Lee’s comments echoed a similar statement put out by the BC NDP a day prior to Gunn’s leadership announcement early in October. 

In the news release, the NDP alleged that “Aaron Gunn would make space for discrimination” for saying social conservatives shouldn’t be thrown under a bus and that the BC Liberals should be a big tent party. 

Gunn is not the only BC Liberal leadership hopeful who has come under attack for harboring allegedly discriminatory views. Lee himself was accused by the BC NDP on June 10, 2021 of putting “abortion and 2SLGBTQ+ rights at risk” over similar positions that Gunn has held.  

“The reality is that the BC Liberal Party is a coalition between federal Conservatives and Liberals. My views are mainstream conservative views. I believe more money should be in your pocket, and I think we need to scrap the carbon tax and abolish the ICBC monopoly. I also believe in defending free speech and vehemently oppose cancel culture, which is what Michael is now participating in,” Gunn told True North. 

The BC Liberal Party has yet to ratify Gunn’s candidacy. Party members can expect to vote on who the next leader of the centre-right party and the official opposition will be by February 5, 2022. 

School closures, lockdowns causing youth skills gap crisis: poll

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A new report by a human resources group is sounding the alarm about an impending skills gap crisis in Canadian youth, due to pandemic-related school closures and lockdowns.

The survey, conducted in August by Express Employment Professionals, found more than four in five Canadians think the pandemic has created a “lost generation of students” lacking the necessary skills to succeed in the workplace. 

Meanwhile, 43% of people polled said Canada is not doing enough to help students recover and adjust to school closures and lockdowns. 

“The disruptions to education will mean a whole generation or more is falling further behind,” said Express CEO Bill Stoller in a news release. 

“Getting back to the pre-pandemic status quo won’t be enough, and Canadians are in general agreement that we’re witnessing the creation of a ‘lost generation.’” 

Polls results also show that 78% of Canadians think that there are both long-term and short-term challenges faced by youth in school and at work. 

Among the negative impacts highlighted by participants were students’ ability to socialize (81%), mental health problems (81%), development of hard skills (77%) and development of soft skills (76%). 

“The start of this new school year is an inflection point with big implications in the coming years,” said Stoller. 

“Intervention now is imperative to save this ‘lost generation’ and the good news is it’s not too late. Change will take a concerted effort by many entities, but it’s well worth the investment.”

Other organizations across the country, including pediatric hospitals, have called on governments to re-open schools and facilitate in-school learning to avoid what they call a “mental health crisis” among youth. 

PPC senate candidate wants to deal with vaccine mandates, radical gender ideology

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

One of the three candidates being fielded by the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) in Alberta’s upcoming senate elections said that he would use his position to tackle what he calls the “rising tide of illiberal thinking” in Canada. 

Kelly Lorencz, who ran in the 2021 election under the PPC banner in Red Deer – Mountain View, told True North that he would place what’s good for Canada at the centre of his priorities. 

“As a Senator, I would be interested in stemming the rising tide of illiberal thinking in this country. We’ve talked plenty about vaccine mandates and lockdowns, and I would certainly attempt to deal with those issues. But, there are other issues of importance to Canadians too,” Lorencz wrote in an emailed statement. 

“Freedom of speech is being replaced with safe spaces, biology is being replaced with radical gender ideology, and we’re allowing Canadian interests to be replaced with global interests. In examining legislation, I’d first explore whether issues are good for the West, and secondly whether they are good for Canada as a whole.”

As reported by True North in September, Lorencz is running alongside two other PPC candidates Ann McCormack from Mannville and Nadine R. Wellwood of Cochrane.

According to the 2021 federal election results Lorencz came in third place with 12% of the vote in the riding which ultimately went to incumbent Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen. 

Currently, Alberta is the only province which holds Senate elections, yet the final decision on who is appointed to the Canadian Senate, ultimately lies with the prime minister. 

When it comes to the Senate, Lorencz said that the institution is “not currently being used to its full potential” and that he would help alleviate Western alienation if elected by Albertans. 

“Rather than being an entity that holds the government to account, it has been operating as a rubber stamp. The Senate is intended to give equal voice to the people of Canada’s distinct regions. Having a strong voice for Alberta in the Senate would go a long way to ease the sentiment of Western alienation,” said Lorencz. 

“Listening to the people of this province and appointing the person they choose to represent them is the first step to establishing a fair deal for Alberta. The Senate can and should function as a way to stop the ever-increasing centralization of the federal government.” 

Conservatives suspend national councillor who launched petition to recall O’Toole

By
Andrew Lawton
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A Conservative Party of Canada national councillor who launched a petition to recall Erin O’Toole as Conservative leader has been suspended from his position for 60 days, True North has learned.

Bert Chen, an elected national councillor for Ontario, accused O’Toole of having “betrayed the principles that the Conservative Party is founded on” by flip-flopping on a range of issues throughout his unsuccessful campaign to unseat Justin Trudeau.

The day after the Sept. 20 election, Chen started campaigning for a referendum on O’Toole’s leadership through a Change.org petition, which has since amassed nearly 5,200 signatures.

The vote to suspend Chen at a Tuesday evening national council meeting was 10-7, according to a source with direct knowledge of the meeting. The source said O’Toole, who sits on national council by virtue of being the party’s leader, was among the 10 to vote to suspend Chen.

Chen declined an interview, but in a statement said he was “disappointed” in the decision.

“I’d like to apologize that I will not be able to serve you as your National Councillor for the next 60 days,” he said in a statement directed to Conservative members. “I am disappointed in National Council’s decision today to silence Conservative members that have lost confidence in the leadership of Erin O’Toole.”

Chen said his calls to remove O’Toole have been representing the views of his constituents, Ontario’s Conservative party members.

“The Conservative Party is as (sic) a democratic party and my role as an elected Ontario National Councillor is to represent the views of members – and most want Erin O’Toole removed as leader for selling out their beliefs for a failed attempt at power,” he said.

In a statement emailed to True North, Conservative president Rob Batherson confirmed the suspension.

“Following complaints by grassroots members of the Conservative Party of Canada about the conduct of National Councillor Bert Chen, National Council exercised its authority under Article 8.13 of the Party’s Constitution to suspend Mr. Chen from National Council for up to 60 days,” Batherson said.

“The Secretariat Committee of National Council will investigate these complaints and make a recommendation to National Council as to whether Mr. Chen has acted in a manner that is ‘improper or unbecoming, or likely to adversely affect the interest or reputation of National Council, the Leader, or the Party.”

Batherson also said possible violations by Chen of the National Council code of conduct will be reviewed.

In a September CBC interview, Batherson warned that Chen could be removed from the council for “attacking” O’Toole.

According to the Conservative Party of Canada constitution, national councillors must affirm a “commitment to the principles and policies” of the Conservative party and its constitution.

Section 8.13 of the constitution empowers councillors to “remove a National Council member whose conduct is judged improper or unbecoming, or likely to adversely affect the interest or reputation of National Council, the Leader, or the Party, at a meeting called for that purpose.”

Invoking this section requires a two-thirds majority, whereas section 8.14, which deals with suspension of a national councillor, requires only a simple majority.

The constitution allows for appeal to an arbitration committee.

Do you #FeelSafe yet? If not, you should #StayHome.

By
Anthony Furey
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Even with all the COVID-19 protocols Canada has in place, some people still feel unsafe and are vouching for more government restrictions.

Rather than learning to live with COVID-19, those who feel unsafe believe more restrictions on everyone is the correct path forward.

Anthony Furey says if you still don’t #FeelSafe yet, you should maybe #StayHome.

Senator Yuen Pau Woo attended celebration of Chinese Communist Party rule

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A Canadian senator who has frequently courted controversy for pro-Beijing remarks attended a ceremony celebrating 72 years of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule in Vancouver, BC. 

According to theBreaker.news, Senator Yuen Pau Woo appeared alongside Chinese Deputy Consul General Wang Chengjung at the October 2, 2021 ceremony which took place near the Vancouver 2010 Olympic centre. 

Woo attended the event only a week after Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were freed from Chinese prisons following a deal struck by US Justice Department prosecutors and Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. 

The senator, who was appointed to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016, was the only federal government representative to attend. 

Attendees took photographs in front of opposing Chinese and Canadian flags according to broadcasts on the Chinese government-linked channel Phoenix TV. 

The event was co-hosted by the Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations and the Canada Sichuanese Friendship Association which both have associations with the CCP’s foreign influence networks, the United Front. 

A few weeks ago, former Conservative cabinet minister and diplomat Chris Alexander called for the senator’s resignation after he promoted a column which claimed that Canada took Meng “hostage.” 

“The United States, assisted by Canada, took Meng hostage in the first place as part of its trade-and-technology war with China; Beijing swiftly retaliated by jailing the Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,” the column wrote.

Alexander accused the senator of being a “mouthpiece for foreign propaganda” and violating his oath. 

“(Woo) has violated his oath as a Canadian Senator & should resign,” Alexander said on Twitter.

 “Mouthpieces for foreign propaganda, including those backed by China’s United Front Work Department, should have no place in Canada’s parliament.”

Manitoba RCMP report 11% drop in rural crime levels

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Manitoba RCMP officers have some good news for rural residents in the province after new figures indicate that rural crime rates have dropped significantly over the last year.

Between August 2020 and August 2021, crime reported to police fell 11% in rural areas. 

The highest drop of 17% was experienced in the East District, which encompasses the communities of Selkirk and Gimli. Meanwhile, the West District which includes Brandon and Dauphin saw a promising 13% drop.

The lowest crime drop was reported in Manitoba’s North District, where towns like Churchill and Thompson reported a drop of 2% in police-reported crime.

In the East District, almost every category of crime experienced a significant decrease. Both assault and robbery were down by 29% over the reported time period, while property crimes fell by 23%. 

Earlier this year, the Mantioba government moved to tighten laws around farm security and trespassing on rural properties.

The move was aimed to curb recent incursions by animal rights activists and other unauthorized entries. 

“That’s part of it. Obviously, if people are entering a facility unauthorized and posing a danger to … the safety and biosecurity, this is what’s really looking to address that,” said Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen.

“It is not specifically for [activists], but it does cover that element.”

One of the bills put forward by Manitoba’s ruling Progressive Conservatives would make it easier to prosecute people who trespass on large properties. 

Albertans will finally have a say on Canada’s equalization program

By
Candice Malcolm
-

Canada’s system of fiscal federalism and equalization is fundamentally broken and Albertans are finally being given the chance to do something about it.

During next week’s municipal elections, Albertans will have the rare opportunity to participate in direct democracy and vote on the fairness of Canada’s equalization program. Specifically, they will be asked whether equalization payments should be removed from the constitution.

While a “yes” vote will not change the program immediately, it will send a strong message to the political class that Albertans are not on board with Canada’s equalization program.

To discuss the referendum and the broken system of equalization, True North’s Candice Malcolm is joined by the Executive Director of Fairness Alberta Dr. Bill Bewick. Bill is the man behind equalizationreferendum.ca and the lead spokesman for the “yes” campaign.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CANDICE MALCOLM SHOW

Toronto District School Board to release youth climate activism guide this fall

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will be releasing a youth climate activism guide this fall in partnership with the City of Toronto. 

According to the TDSB’s Annual Report 2021: Climate Action, the guide is “designed to support youth in mobilizing their communities towards climate action.”

“To introduce TDSB educators to the youth climate action guide, it will be highlighted during the 2021 fall EcoSchools kick-off workshops and featured in an EcoSchools webinar during the 2021/22 school year,” the report says.

“To assist school teams with the planning and implementation of climate action projects, one-on-one support will be offered and piloted in the 2021/22 school year.”

TDSB officials did not respond to a query from True North on whether the board will ensure the guide remains apolitical.

According to the organization For Our Kids Toronto, the guide will target students from grades seven to 12. 

“The guide will contain climate goals and initiatives for all ages and will help create pilots for community climate action in neighborhoods throughout the city,” For Our Kids Toronto wrote. 

In 2019, the TDSB encouraged and supported students to walk out of their classrooms and protest as part of a global call to action. 

Prior to the Global Climate Strike which was inspired by teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, parents received a note from the school board indicating students would not be academically penalized for leaving school to attend protests. 

Critics have accused Thunberg and the Global Climate Strike of politicizing concerns around climate change. 

In the past, Thunberg has made controversial comments including threatening to put politicians who aren’t fighting climate change “against the wall” – a common idiom that can refer to political executions. 

Additionally, Thunberg has been linked to the far-left political extremist group Antifa after a photograph emerged of her along with her parents wearing Antifa slogans and merchandise. 

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