The direction of events is moving closer and closer to authoritarianism, with freedom increasingly being abandoned.
Canada
Senior Green officials are sabotaging the first Black woman to lead a Canadian political party, ‘disgusted’ insiders say
OTTAWA—Green Leader Annamie Paul is facing obstacles inside her party that threaten her success as Canada’s first Black political leader, according to several Green insiders and a top member of her political circle.
Over her first six months as leader, Paul has endured “significant resistance” from high-ranking officials on the Green party’s most powerful governing body, said Sean Yo, a party operative who worked on Paul’s leadership bid and managed her byelection campaign in Toronto Centre last October.
Yo said this includes distracting her byelection campaign by asking it to refund $50,000 to party headquarters in the middle of the contest, and forcing her to work without getting paid for about three months before the party finally gave her an employment contract.
Dan Fumano: ‘Vacancy tax’ hits airspace over B.C.’s mom-and-pop businesses this year
Dan Rodriguez recently learned he’ll need to cough up an extra $6,000 in taxes this year for the speculation and vacancy tax, a measure introduced by the provincial government with the stated aim of “turning empty homes into good housing for people who live and work in B.C.”
But Rodriguez isn’t on the hook because of any empty homes — he owes because of the air above his restaurant.
London, ON councillors dismiss motion to research consequences of lockdowns
A motion to begin a study into the unintended consequences of lockdowns, mask wearing and other public health measures in London, Ontario was dead on arrival on Tuesday afternoon after councillors refused to support the initiative.
Environmental economist says Sask.’s new electric vehicle fee is ‘mind-boggling’
The fee was announced in the provincial budget on Tuesday and will go into effect Oct. 1. The government says it is an effort to recoup fuel tax money from residents who drive fully electric vehicles.
Even virtual concerts are now banned under Ontario lockdown rules
Live concerts haven’t been a thing in Toronto for more than a year now, making it hard to imagine a time when they will be again, especially due to the unimaginable blow the entire industry has taken over the course of the pandemic.
And now, new lockdown restrictions have brought about another hit that seems somewhat nonsensical: the prohibition of virtual concerts livestreamed from floundering local venues.
A self-centred giant baby’: How China is bashing Canada
There was once a time when the official stance of the People’s Republic of China towards Canada was indifference spiced with the occasional Norman Bethune reference. Those days are now firmly over: Under the rule of Xi Jinping, China has adopted an openly aggressive stance towards the Maple Leaf, a position represented most notably by the imprisonment of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
Trudeau’s Liberals behind or in toss-ups in 13 of 14 rural ridings that reduced them to minority in 2019, say pollsters
And the Liberals can’t win a majority government without winning in rural Canada, say former rural Liberal MPs.
Dog whistle to begin setting up the steal.
Ontario’s Doctors say pandemic wake up call needed – calling for stay-at-home order, closure of non-essential businesses, paid sick leave and increased vaccinations.
Ontario’s doctors are concerned that we are entering the worst phase of the pandemic since last spring and urge everyone – all levels of government and every Ontarian – to take the warning seriously and do what they can to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Given the sobering new statistics being released every day – each one representing a person, with worried family and friends – the Ontario Medical Association is calling for five urgent actions:
- a government stay-at-home order, meaning people leave their homes only for essential business such as medical appointments, grocery shopping and outdoor exercise
- closure of all non-essential businesses, although curbside pickup should remain an option
- immunization of all essential workers and disadvantaged workers, and residents of hotspots
- paid sick leave for essential workers
- every Ontarian should take the first vaccination offered to them
The Conservatives Are Struggling To Win Because They Are Too Afraid To Lose
It may seem counter-intuitive, but Canada’s Conservative Party is seeking short-term success in a way that ironically makes that success far more elusive.
School threatens mask-exempt father with Trespass charge for picking up his kids
Chris Hopps has an exemption from wearing masks. And that is a big problem when it comes to dropping off and picking up his sons at Glen Street Public School in Oshawa, Ont.
Indeed, Chris is now considered parent non grata by the elementary school’s principal, Michelle Carter.
Mining executives warn Ottawa about dependence on China for strategic minerals amid deteriorating relations
OTTAWA — Mining executives and national security experts are warning the federal government about China’s domination of strategic mineral supplies, saying Ottawa needs to better protect supply chains for modern technology that relies on them like electric vehicles and smart phones.
I have read that one reason China became predominant in rare earth metals is that processing is an ecologically messy endeavour so Western companies shied away. Communist China of course could not care less about Western environmental concerns and seized the opportunity. Expect rare earth mining to be the next target of our eco-luddites.
Vaccinated snowbirds say they’re being ‘punished’ with Canada’s COVID-19 hotel quarantine
Some among the thousands of snowbirds flocking back to Canada for the spring are expressing frustration over having to undergo the federally mandated hotel quarantine — even after getting shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The new quarantine measures, which went into effect in late February, include additional PCR tests for those flying back once they arrive as well as up to three days of quarantine at a hotel — which could cost an ample $2,000 that travelers have to pay on their own dime.
FUREY: Public officials have failed to prepare Canadians for COVID-19
Many healthcare professionals agree that having an active and physical lifestyle, taking Vitamin D and other lifestyle choices can lessen the chance of a serious outcome if infected with COVID-19. In fact, the UK government sent its citizens free vitamin D supplements.
Meanwhile, public officials in Canada have never discussed these lifestyle choices. As a result, many Canadians are unaware and unprepared for COVID-19.
Woke Canadian City Council to Remove Statue of First Prime Minister
After a vote of seven to four, the city council of Regina, Saskatchewan, approved the relocation of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from Victoria Park.