Tuesday, October 31, 2023

A very scary story for Halloween

 I am happy to be able to bring my blog readers this very scary story for Halloween. 
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY SIMILARITIES TO REAL PERSONS LIVING OR DEAD IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

The Depopulation Bomb: A Halloween Sci-Fi Tale | Brownstone Institute | Clayton J. Baker, 

October 31, 2023 - "Imagine, if you will, that you are a first-generation high tech gazillionaire. In fact, at one time you were said to be the richest man on earth, although that is no longer the case. Nevertheless, you remain unimaginably wealthy, with all the responsibilities and burdens that such wealth brings. (Given the extremely unusual circumstances of this tale, to make it more relatable, we will assign you a fictional name.) Your birth certificate reads Gilbert Harvey Bates III, but the world knows you as Gil Bates.

"Gil Bates’s erstwhile net-worth preeminence ... is not the only important loss he has suffered. Also in the rearview mirror is his youth, his marriage, and his position as CEO of the behemoth tech company he created, MacroHardTM. After Gil Bates stepped down as CEO of MacroHardTM, he focused on his philanthropic work. The centerpiece of this work is the immensely well-funded (and therefore immensely influential) Bates Foundation. The Foundation’s scope may be mind-bogglingly broad, but one problem especially consumed Bates: there are far too many people on the planet.

"In his youth, Gil Bates read a controversial book called The Overpopulation Bomb, written by a visionary scientist named Saul Derelicht. That alarming book, a huge bestseller in its day, described a neo-Malthusian hell on earth resulting from human overpopulation, and proposed mass sterilization and other aggressive population reduction techniques as the solution. Gil Bates became convinced, and remains convinced – especially as the worldwide human population has soared beyond 8 billion units – that Homo sapiens have obscenely overpopulated the planet. Once Bates had sold software packages to the great majority of them, he vowed that this existential threat to the planet must be addressed. But what was to be done?... 

"Fortunately for the future of Earth, Bates knew a host of like-minded, enlightened elites, pre-eminent individuals of great wealth, power, and worldwide influence. Among the most important:

  • A dour Teutonic economist named Kraut Schlob. The son of an ambitious industrialist who built flamethrowers for the Third Reich, Schlob is the founder and chairman of the World Enslavement Forum. The Forum has become the premier worldwide gathering of hyper-elites who wish to discuss globalist policies, and enjoy the company of high-end prostitutes, free from the prying eyes of commoners.
  • An immensely powerful – if embarrassingly vertically challenged – American health bureaucrat named Dr. Fantoni Auci. For decades, Dr. Auci controlled the overwhelming majority of US Government medical research funding. As such, no one in the vast American network of hospitals, research institutes, or universities dares to cross Dr. Auci, and he wields similar influence internationally. In fact, he oversees funding for multiple secret virology research laboratories, as far away as China.
  • A mysterious veterinarian named Adalbert Ghoula. Ghoula is the CEO of Kaiser, Inc., the world’s largest and most rapacious pharmaceutical company, which Ghoula has grown into a veritable modern day IG Farben. In his earlier days, Ghoula oversaw the development of a vaccine that successfully induces the chemical castration and sterilization of swine.

"The consensus, reached after lengthy consultations with these men and other luminaries, was that the worldwide human population must be reduced from 8 billion to 500 million units. But how? Several possible avenues were proposed.

"War has been used for millennia to reduce populations, and while highly effective locally or regionally, it would be entirely ineffective at removing the necessary fifteen-sixteenths of people on Earth. After all, the deadliest war in history, World War II, resulted in a mere 80 million deaths, just 3 percent of the world’s population at the time. The use of a bomb was considered ... reminiscent of the “neutron bomb” of yore ... but ultimately it was determined that setting off bombs would be both impractical and far too obvious....

"A plague, a pestilence, a pandemic seemed more promising. Past naturally occurring pandemics had reduced human populations much more successfully than wars. The Black Death of 1346-53 may have reduced the world population by as much as 25 percent, a much more encouraging number.... As an added economic bonus, the Black Death served as a very effective concentrator of wealth for the survivors, as it caused minimal collateral property loss. However, a more detailed review of historical worldwide population estimates demonstrated that a pandemic alone could only serve as a temporizing measure at best. Most estimates show that by 1400, the worldwide population had unfortunately returned to its pre-plague total. 

"Clearly, the necessary 94 percent reduction in population could not be achieved by culling the herd alone. Sterilization would be needed as well. But how to achieve such mass sterilization? Many H. sapiens possess an intense desire to procreate – that’s the source of the problem, after all. Unfortunately, prior historical initiatives for mandatory sterilization – even those of limited scale and scope, such as those targeting the mentally deficient – have met great opposition, at least in the so-called 'free' nations.

"However, a vaccine could be used for mass sterilization. Ghoula’s earlier work at Kaiser was proof of this. But a fundamental problem remained: how to get the unsuspecting population – specifically, its children and young adults – to take the stealth-sterilizing inoculation? 

"The solution, when it came, was a thing of beauty, sublimely subtle and symmetrical. The answer was a two-step process: a pandemic and a vaccine. One population reduction device would be released, presented as a worldwide plague. It would be followed by a second population reduction device, presented as the cure. And the technology was already in place to make it happen. It merely had to be perfected, then enacted.

"Employing the Black Magic of gain-of-function virology research, an animal respiratory virus, previously never infecting humans, was genetically engineered to readily infect and spread amongst humans. At a key moment in political history, when a particularly bothersome populist American President named T. Ronald Dump was running for reelection, the virus was released from a Chinese laboratory into the human population. 

"As the new virus spread, reports of the death and devastation it wrought were spread as well. In actuality, the virus had been engineered so that it was deadly only to the frail, chronically ill, and very old. It was cleverly propagandized, however, as a threat to persons of all ages, a modern day Black Death of sorts. The US deep state, desperate to disrupt the Dump presidency and remove him from office, were willing partners to manage the control and manipulation of the population through propaganda, and to enforce unprecedented, prolonged lockdowns of society. Remarkably, they even convinced President Dump to sanction the lockdowns, and to fund the development of the vaccine. Most other countries followed suit. 

"The new virus rapidly killed off many of the oldest and sickest members of society, as would be expected of a novel respiratory virus. However, the locked-down and isolated populations were barraged with media messages that stirred up mass terror of the virus. Businesses were closed, save for those deemed “essential.” Schools were closed, though children were already known to be at statistically zero risk of death. Dissenters were harassed, scapegoated, and punished.

Then, a solution to the pandemic was presented: the vaccine. The vaccine was the savior, the only way out of this crisis. A few irritating, contrarian dissenters fought back. They protested for civil rights. They stressed the near impossibility of producing an effective vaccine against a rapidly mutating respiratory virus. They identified numerous 'safety signals'” found in the vaccine trials, and tried to expose these as best they could. But the mainstream media drowned them out, the social media companies (controlled by the deep state) censored them ruthlessly, and after all, once the vaccines were mandated, most people took at least a couple of doses....

"Early in the vaccine 'rollout,' young women reported abnormal vaginal bleeding and other menstrual problems after receiving the vaccines, raising concerns about potential unintended consequences to female reproduction. Pathologists found ovaries infiltrated with multiple toxins from the vaccines, both the dreaded 'spoke' protein of the virus and 'lucid nanoparticles' from the vaccine’s delivery system. Even occluded Fallopian tubes were identified.

"Soon thereafter, reports appeared in the alternative media of dramatically increased numbers of sudden deaths, primarily in young men, after receiving the vaccine. It often visibly occurred in athletes while on the playing field. This caused considerable alarm, impossible as it was to hide.... [O]fficials acknowledged the sudden death phenomenon, but would not even allow mention of the vaccine as a possible cause within the mainstream medical community. Instead, protocols and clinics for this sudden epidemic of heart disease in the young were established, but strangely without any official curiosity as to the cause. All they knew for sure was that it couldn’t be the vaccine.

"Of course, the infamous 'spoke' protein, the same viral antigen chosen by the vaccine’s designers to induce the vaccinated patient’s body to produce in quantity, just happens to be the most toxic part of the virus. The 'spoke' protein deposits itself in tissues throughout the body.... It has a particular affinity for the heart muscle, causing the inflammatory process known as myocarditis that leads to cardiac arrests.

"'Spoke' doesn’t stop with the heart, however. It is a remarkably versatile toxin, a sort of Swiss Army monkey wrench in the human body. It causes gigantic, gruesome, rubbery blood clots in the vasculature, seizures in the central nervous system, the aforementioned deposits in ovaries and Fallopian tubes (and testes, for that matter), etcetera, etcetera. What a stroke of genius to choose “spoke” as the antigen the vaccines induce replication of!

"The vaccines held another nasty little secret, which even the pathetic, naïve resistance only recognized much later. The vaccines were “contaminated” with plasmids containing MV-40 and MV-40-like DNA sequences. Yes, that MV-40, the monkey virus known to cause cancer in multiple animal species....

"Excess death rates rose dramatically after the vaccine rollout. Birth rates plummeted. To the do-gooders, refuseniks, and dissidents, this was a scandal. But what did they know? To use a phrase all-too-familiar to the seasoned software developer, these toxicities were not bugs, but features. The vaccines were working exactly as they were supposed to work....

"The general population is lazy, uneducated, and easily terrified. (Some say they are being done a favor by being culled.) They are accustomed to the precedents set by other vaccines. Their reluctance will be worn down with time. Of course respiratory viruses are imperfect targets for vaccines. Once again, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature! It only means that a new booster of the vaccine will be needed every year – at least. 

"With each new round of boosters, a new population of girls and young women will be rendered infertile. A new group of boys and young men will suffer cardiac arrest – a very quick and painless way to die, really. Countless others will contract cancers – turbo cancer, to use the current term for these rapidly progressing and deadly malignancies, often of unusual types – bone cancers, muscle cancers, and other former rarities. Not an easy way to die, admittedly. But these tumors mercifully progress to end stage very swiftly, and their value as a population reduction device is undeniable.

"Have no fear. It is only a matter of time; only a matter of lather, rinse, repeat. As long as the herd allows itself to be sent through the sheep dip whenever and however often the shepherds proclaim is necessary, H. sapiens will get to 500 million. All courtesy of a type of bomb after all, but in this case a microscopic bomb that is released in each person via a tiny little injection: The Depopulation Bomb.

"Have a Happy Halloween!"

Read more:  https://brownstone.org/articles/the-depopulation-bomb-a-halloween-sci-fi-tale/

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Monday, October 30, 2023

House committee calls for foreign agent registry

House of Commons ethics committee report calls on Canadian govrenment to implement a foreign agent registry without delay. 

Ethics committee pushes to unmask foreign agents | Western Standard | Christopher Oldcorn:

Octiber 29 2023 - "The Commons Ethics committee, in an all-party report, stated Parliament needs to pass legislation to reveal the identities of foreign agents. According to Blacklock’s Reporter, a private bill about a foreign registry has been waiting in the Senate for a year and a half....

"'The government has announced its intention to introduce a bill,' said the report Foreign Interference and the Threats to the Integrity Of Democratic Institutions, Intellectual Property and the Canadian State. 'At the time of adopting this report, no bill has been introduced.'

"Senate Bill S-237 An Act to Establish the Foreign Influence Registry would mandate public disclosure of all lobbyists acting for “a foreign government, individual or entity” under threat of $200,000 fines or two years in jail. Senator Leo Housakos (QC) introduced the bill on February 24, 2022. However, it has yet to be scheduled for a Second Reading.....

"Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, QC), vice-chair of the Commons Ethics committee, stated on Tuesday all committee members agreed a registry should be implemented. 'We want to make sure this happens,' Villemure told reporters.

"The United States has had its Foreign Agents Registration Act since 1938. In 2018, Australia also passed a Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act to monitor foreign agents.

"The cabinet has not provided reasons for the delays in implementing this measure. In February 6 testimony, when Marco Mendicino was the Public Safety Minister, he stated in his testimony at the Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations the issue was complicated.... 'There is an intention to begin consultations on the possibility of creating such an initiative, but before we do that, we have to be sure Canadians understand why,' replied Mendicino.

"'Is there something that gives hesitance or pause on the utility of a registry?' asked Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, ON).  'I wouldn’t describe it as hesitation,' replied Mendicino. 'I think we need to be diligent and thoughtful and inclusive when it comes to bringing all Canadians along.'

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/ethics-committee-pushes-to-unmask-foreign-agents/49692

Foreign interference report calls for foreign influence registry, new criminal offences | CBC News | October 24, 2023:

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Red flags in Liberals' gun legislation

'Red flag' gun ban provisions in the Trudeau government's Bill C-21 are ripe for abuse. 

Proposed federal firearms legislation includes ‘red flag’ rules ripe for abuse | Fraser Institute | Gary Mauser:

October 24, 2023 - "Last year the Trudeau government tabled Bill C-21, which passed the House of Commons and is now before the Senate for examination. If approved by the Senate, it will become the law of the land. This latest attempt to 'curb gun violence' is a grab bag of measures including gun bans and new 'red flag' provisions.... 

"[A]ccording to the bill, anyone — not just a peace officer, as is now the case — could apply to a court for an emergency firearms prohibition order (i.e. red flag) to immediately remove firearms from 'an individual who may pose a danger to themselves or others' or 'an individual who may be at risk of providing access to firearms to another person who is already subject to a weapons prohibition order' rather than the present standard, which is anyone who poses 'an imminent threat to themselves or others.' This new language would lower the bar for confiscating firearms, making it much easier for complaints to be made.

"To protect the safety of 'red flag' applicants, section 110.1 of the bill gives a judge the option to close a 'red flag' hearing to the “public and media' and 'seal the court documents for up to 30 days, or remove any information that could identify the applicant for any period of time that the judge deems necessary, including on a permanent basis.' And the bill does not include any appeal process, which would represent an important change because currently Canadians can appeal revocations and have their firearms returned. You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand how this type of process could invite abuse. 

"So why did the Trudeau government add these 'red flag' provisions to the bill? According to the government, they’re needed so police can seize firearms from dangerous individuals in an emergency. But police already have the authority to act immediately with or without a warrant to seize firearms when there’s a genuine concern about public safety—specifically, section 117.04 of the Criminal Code already permits disarming anyone who poses 'an imminent threat to themselves or others.' And anyone who believes a person poses such a threat can call 9-1-1 or 1-800-731-4000 to 'report a spousal or public safety concern.' The police are, by law, required to respond. And under the Firearms Act, the Chief Firearms Officer can also revoke a firearm licence and order firearms confiscated.

"Finally, even if you think these proposed 'red flag' provisions are appropriate, they’d likely be ineffective in an emergency. Why? Because applicants have to apply to a court for an order to remove a firearm, and due to our under-resourced and backlogged court systems, would face considerable delays before appearing before a judge.

"The Trudeau government has not made a compelling argument for this legislation. But rather than looking for more ways to seize firearms from law-abiding Canadians, the government should focus its efforts on violent criminals and actual gun crime."

Read more: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/article/proposed-federal-firearms-legislation-includes-red-flag-rules-ripe-for-abuse

The "Red Flag" Gun Ban Provisions In Bill C-21 Are Ripe For Abuse - A Lawyer Explains | Runkle Of The Bailey | February 19, 2021

Friday, October 27, 2023

Biden admin urged to drop Assange prosecution

Some U.S. Congressmen are gathering signatures for a bipartisan letter to president Joe Biden demanding that he terminate the ongoing prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Biden admin pressured to drop Julian Assange's case by bipartisan group of lawmakers | Post Millennial | Darian Douraghy:

October 23, 2023 - "Reps. Thomas Massie, (R-KY) and James McGovern (D-MA) are pushing for members of the House of Representatives to demand Joe Biden terminate the prosecution of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who[m] the US is currently attempting to extradite after he was accused of publishing sensitive national security information.

"Massie and McGovern's letter calls for their colleagues to take part in a bipartisan initiative to 'strongly encourage the Biden administration to withdraw the US extradition request currently pending against Australian publisher Julian Assange and halt all prosecutorial proceedings against him as soon as possible,' Fox News reports. 

"Assange was put into a London prison in 2019, and has since been ordered to be extradited to the US to face charges of espionage. His prosecution has been highly controversial since its beginning, with those in favor arguing he has greatly harmed American national security. Others have asserted that Assange was simply exposing inconvenient truths about the activities of the US government, and that his arrest sets a terrifyingly dangerous precedent for the rights of whistleblowers and journalists alike. 

"Massie and McGovern's letter notes that '[d]eep concerns about this case have been repeatedly expressed by international media outlets, human rights and press freedom advocates.... Last April, several Members of Congress argued to Attorney General Merrick Garland that "[e]very day that the prosecution of Julian Assange continues is another day that our own government needlessly undermines our own moral authority abroad and rolls back the freedom of the press under the First Amendment at home." One example: the Assange case has been cited by officials of the People's Republic of China to claim that the US is 'hypocritical' when it comes to support for media freedom.'

"As this is transpiring, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to meet with Biden in Washington this week and will likely discuss Assange's case, according to Fox News. Albanese has called for the US to bring the prosecution of Assange to an end more than once in recent months. An Australian government spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News that 'Mr. Assange's case has dragged on for too long and that it should be brought to a close'....

"The two congressmen have a separate letter addressed to Biden that is planned to be delivered after they receive signatures from other House lawmakers....

"This is not Massie's first rodeo; the Kentucky congressman has in the past backed bipartisan legislation to reform the Espionage Act as well as safeguard whistleblowers and journalists."

Read more: https://thepostmillennial.com/biden-admin-pressured-to-drop-julian-assanges-case-by-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers

Why won't the U.S. drop charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange? | CBC News | July 2, 2023:

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Crown stays one charge against Tamara Lich

With the trial of Chris Barber and Tamara Lich running well behind schedule, Crown prosecutors have dropped a charge of bail violation against Lich, a charge on which she has already spent about a month in jail. 

Crown stays bail violation charge for Tamara Lich | CBC News | David Fraser:

October 23, 2023 - "Crown prosecutors are staying the bail-related charge for a key organizer of what became the Freedom Convoy because of delays in her criminal trial. Currently on trial for mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief, and intimidation, Tamara Lich had also been accused of breaching her bail conditions.

"Lich was re-arrested in June after allegedly being in touch with another protest organizer, Tom Marazzo, at an awards gala in Toronto where she was being honoured [see video]. Marazzo, who was never charged by police for his role in the protests, helped organize the Freedom Convoy during its time in Ottawa and, at times, appeared as an official spokesperson for demonstrators during the weeks-long event that ended in a major police action to clear the streets. 

"Lich was taken into custody in Medicine Hat, Alta., on June 27 after Ottawa police issued a Canada-wide warrant for her arrest.... But she was released with new conditions about a month later and given new bail conditions, including a $37,000 bond and tightened rules around communicating with protest organizers and using social media. 

"During a brief court appearance Monday, Crown prosecutors announced they were staying the bail-related charge against Lich. A charge being stayed means the issue of guilt versus innocence doesn't get settled.

"The move was expected because Lich's other court matters are dragging behind schedule.... [H]er criminal trial has been delayed over several issues and Crown prosecutors have taken twice the amount of time they initially expected to make their case against Lich and Chris Barber, another organizer who is a co-accused."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/crown-stays-bail-violation-charge-for-tamara-lich-1.7004916

Tamara Lich Delivers a Speech for the Ages - Freedom Award (clip) | Live From The Shed

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Chinese gov't allegedly using bots to defame MPs

Global Affairs Canada has accused the Chinese government of using online bot accounts on social media  to defame and discredit Canadian Members of Parliament. 

China allegedly continues online campaign to bully MPs | Western Standard | Christopher Oldcorn:

October 24 2023 - "The department of [Global] Affairs announced on Monday that China is likely behind another online defamation campaign aimed at MPs. This is the second attack in four months. According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the department ... stated that China swamped the social media accounts of MPs with defamatory comments. 

"'It likely seeks to discredit and denigrate the targeted MPs through seemingly organic posts alleging impropriety by posting waves of social media posts and videos that call into question the political and ethical standards of the MPs,' the department said in a statement. 'It likely seeks to silence criticism of the Chinese Communist Party by getting MPs to distance themselves from the critic and discouraging wider online communities from engaging with them'.... Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre were among those targeted.

"Analysts said that beginning in early August and continuing through Labour Day, Chinese agents flooded MPs’ Facebook and Twitter accounts with 'thousands of comments' alleging criminal or unethical conduct. 

"'The same bot networks involved in this campaign were engaged in the spreading of disinformation claiming the Hawaiian wildfires were caused by a secret U.S. military weather weapon,' wrote analysts. 'The bot network is part of the well-known spamouflage network,' said the department. 'Spamouflage has been publicly reported by technology companies and threat intelligence experts who have connected the activity to the People’s Republic of China.'

"The slander campaign was intended to 'discourage and make it difficult for MPs to carry out their duties and may dissuade MPs and diaspora communities in Canada from speaking out,' it said. The department did not elaborate.

"On August 9, federal researchers revealed another slander campaign on the Chinese-language WeChat platform directed at Conservative MP Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills, ON). Chong had been consistently criticized after successfully putting forward a motion in the House of Commons condemning China for its human rights abuses. 'Between May 4 and 13, a coordinated network of WeChat news accounts featured, shared and amplified a large volume false or misleading narratives about Mr. Chong,' said the department of Foreign Affairs. 'Most of the activity was targeted at spreading false narratives about his identity including commentary and claims about his background, political stances and family heritage.'

"Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu (Steveston-Richmond East, BC) attributed his defeat in the 2021 general election to a negative social media campaign against him. Chiu lost his riding by 3,477 votes to Liberal MP Parm Bains after facing continuous accusations that he was a Chinese traitor. 'There was a coordinated attack against me and my Party,' Chiu testified at the House Affairs committee on May 10."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/chinas-allegedly-continues-online-campaign-to-bully-mps/49660

Read Global Affairs Canada statement here
https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/10/rapid-response-mechanism-canada-detects-spamouflage-campaign-targeting-members-of-parliament.html
Canada uncovers alleged Chinese 'spamouflage' | WION | October 24, 2023: 


Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Locked up for tweets in 2015, NL man still seeking a hearing

Andrew Abbass, who was wrongfully detained by the Newfoundland police in 2015 due to his social media posts, and confined to a psychiatric unit against his will, is still seeking a public hearing eight years later.  

He was detained by police after sending a tweet. 8 years later, he's fighting for a public hearing | CBC News | Ariana Kelland:

October 16 -"A man who was illegally detained by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and housed for six days at a psychiatric unit against his will in 2015 is determined to bring his case to a public hearing. But the police officers at the centre of the complaints have gone to court to stop that from happening.

"Andrew Abbass filed public complaints against the now-retired Staff Sgt. Tim Buckle and Const. Joe Smyth in 2017, when new information surfaced during an unrelated police shooting inquiry. After numerous years, reports and appeals, the acting commissioner with the RNC police complaints commission has sent the matter to a public hearing. However, even that is in limbo, as both officers have applied to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador for judicial review.

"'At the end of the day, no one has been found to be fully accountable in any meaningful way,' said Abbass, 42, in a recent interview at his home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. It's been eight years since the alleged misconduct happened. Both Abbass and an expert in police discipline say the process against the two officers has dragged on far too long and speaks to the need for deep reform on police complaints procedures....

"Abbass first came to the RNC's attention in Corner Brook in 2014, when he attempted to charge then prime minister Stephen Harper and his foreign affairs minister for 'inciting genocide by the state of Israel against the Palestinian people.' Abbass had applied to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador to hear his argument. The federal government issued a response, but a judge ultimately declined to hear the case in 2017....

"Then, on April 5, 2015 — Easter Sunday —  Smyth, a member of the premier's security detail, shot and killed Don Dunphy in his home in Mitchell's Brook, about 45 minutes outside St. John's. Dunphy was an injured worker who often strongly criticized the province's workers' compensation system online. Smyth, investigating a tweet sent by Dunphy that was interpreted as a threat, said Dunphy pointed a firearm at him. Abbass saw the two incidents as interconnected examples of government overreach, and made his feelings known on social media the following day.... 

"Abbass said he heard an interview with the premier on CBC Radio, in which he said there would be a cracking down of social media monitoring in the wake of Dunphy's shooting. He saw that as Davis doubling down, and considered it an affront to free speech. Abbass tweeted: 'How about this, premier of N.L.: I'm going to bring down Confederation and have politicians executed. Ready to have me shot, coward?' The tweet, he admits, was meant to antagonize.... 'I figured they would arrest me.'

"Four RNC officers came to Abbass's home in Corner Brook where he was living with his pregnant girlfriend and detained him under the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act. Despite spending the next six days in the psychiatric ward of the Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Abbass was never charged with a crime. Nor was he certified as suffering from any psychiatric condition.... 

"In the wake of Abbass's arrest, the RCMP got a warrant to search his home over a tweet they viewed as potentially threatening against Stephen Harper. The tweet was sent before the Dunphy shooting, but the Mounties moved in only after he was detained by the RNC. He was charged with uttering threats but it was dropped soon after, at his first court appearance. However, once inside his home, they discovered marijuana and charged Abbass and his pregnant partner with cultivation. Abbass said he used it for medical reasons but didn't have a licence at the time. A judge gave him an absolute discharge."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/andrew-abbass-rnc-complaints-1.6967702

 What happened to Andrew Abbass? An 8-year police complaints odyssey, explained | CBC NL - Newfoundland and Labrador | October 19, 2023:

Monday, October 23, 2023

Parents' Bill of Rights now law in Saskatchewan

"Parents' Bill Of Rights" Passed And Enshrined In Legislation | Government of Saskatchewan (press release):

October 20, 2023 -"The Government of Saskatchewan has passed the "Parents' Bill of Rights" and invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This protects the important role that parents and guardians have in supporting their children. The notwithstanding clause is part of the Constitution of Canada and allows federal and provincial governments to enact legislation that operates notwithstanding certain provisions of the Charter.

"'Parents and guardians have a right to know what is being taught in their children's school,' Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. '"The Parents' Bill of Rights" is an inclusionary policy that ensures that parents are at the forefront of every important decision in their child's life.'

"The Bill passed today invokes section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to entrench in law key elements of the parental inclusion and consent policies announced on August 22, 2023. It will permit the legislation to operate without interruption. 

"The passing of this Bill provides parents with assurance and confidence that they will be involved in the important decisions involving their children no matter where they go to school in Saskatchewan. The Bill has received royal assent and is now in force."

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/october/20/parents-bill-of-rights-passed-and-enshrined-in-legislation

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on passage of parents’ rights bill |cpac | October 20, 2023:

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Ottawa detective on trial for investigating sudden infant deaths

Ottawa Police Services (OPS) detective Helen Grus has been suspended and charged with discreditable conduct for independently investigating whether an increase in sudden infant deaths correlates with mRNA vaccination.  

Trudeau regime puts Canadian detective on trial for investigating link between infant deaths and mRNA vaccines | The Dossier, Substack | Christopher Brunet:

October 11, 2023 - "While Covid isn't typically my area of focus, I felt a duty to write this story because it takes place in my hometown of Ottawa, so I reached out to The Dossier because I know that they cover Covid extensively. I am willing to bet that 99% of American readers have not heard of this Canadian case, and it deserves a wider audience.... [T]he most comprehensive coverage of this story has come from an independent journalist, Donald Best, who has written 11 articles about it.... Best is a former Detective Sergeant with the Toronto Police who has spent his life investigating organized crime. He's attended all of Helen Gru’s court hearings in person, and shared his notes with me, which I have attempted to summarize and disseminate in a digestible, self-contained format....

"Helen Grus ...[is] a 20-year veteran detective with the sexual assault and child abuse unit of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) — her two recent performance reviews in 2019 and 2021 were,'Meets and exceeds expectations; exceeds all expectations'.... According to the Ottawa Citizen: Grus allegedly accessed case files of newborn and infant death investigations to which she wasn't assigned and inquired with the coroner about whether the parents of babies who had died unexpectedly during the pandemic were vaccinated against COVID-19. Investigators also alleged Grus contacted the father of a deceased baby directly on Jan. 30, 2022, to inquire about the mother’s COVID-19 vaccination status. Yes, you read that right: in Canada, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if you are a detective who 'contacted the father of a deceased baby to inquire about the mother’s COVID-19 vaccination status.' During the Covid era, a waiter or grocery store clerk could inquire about a parent's vaccination status, but a detective couldn't.

"The investigation by Ottawa Police into potential links between mRNA vaccines and Sudden Infant Deaths in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers was halted due to Grus's suspension and subsequent charges.... Formally, Grus is charged with 'discreditable conduct' under section 2(1) of Ontario’s Police Services Act, plus, the prosecution has served her with a notice of increased penalty, which allows the OPS to seek her dismissal, demote her, or ask for a forfeiture of pay or vacation....

"On March 28, 2022, although Grus's suspension was not yet public knowledge, CBC Ottawa published a story sourced from anonymous leaks within the Ottawa police, initiating a trial by media. Before publishing the story, CBC gave the OPS a 24-hour deadline to respond, thus commandeering the direction and timeline of the internal investigation.... Following the CBC leak, OPS’ Professional Services Unit launched an investigation into who leaked it, but this investigation was abandoned. During Grus’ trial in August 2023, her defence team argued that the leak is what resulted in formal charges, requested disclosure of evidence regarding why this investigation was abandoned and attempted to subpoena and cross-examine the CBC News reporter, but their request was denied. Both Best and Grus’ lawyer contend this was an illegal leak.... 

"The CBC scoop smugly states that 'Coroners examine medical facts, not detectives,' insinuating that Detective Grus acted improperly by taking initiative without explicit instructions.... To underscore just how wrong this 'she didn’t have the authority to dig on her own agency' argument is, the August 2023 trial heard that in 2018 Grus had combed through OPS records without permission to crack a cold case, which ended in apprehension and prosecution of a violent child rapist. If she is being persecuted now, logic dictates that she should be retroactively prosecuted for that violent child rapist arrest, as well.... 

"Grus' legal team contended that she wasn't pursuing an 'unauthorized investigation.' Instead, she was gathering evidence to present higher up the chain of command. She repeatedly tried to bring her investigation to the attention of her supervisors — for example, [t]here is a letter she sent to the Chief of Police in September 2021, asking him, 'Will Ottawa Police take full legal and financial liability for any injuries, adverse effects and/or death occurring to members following the receipt of any EUA vaccine potentially mandated?'....  

"Grus’ trial is set to continue on Oct. 30. With eight police witnesses yet to be cross-examined, and at least five expert witnesses, the tribunal is anticipated to extend well into 2024. Detective Grus has already personally covered over $40,000 in legal fees, a figure that could easily exceed $100,000 depending on how long this drags on. Let's help her. Here is a link to the Helen Grus Legal Defense Fund: https://givesendgo.com/helengrus. Should she win and have her legal costs covered, Grus has committed to refunding the donations or offering donors the option to redirect their contributions to a charitable organization. Please donate, and please share this article."

Read more: https://www.dossier.today/p/trudeau-regime-puts-canadian-detective

Political meddling suspected in Ottawa police investigation of Constable Helen Grus | Rebel News | August 15, 2023:

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Argentina's "chainsaw-wielding libertarian"

Argentina's "chainsaw-wielding libertarian," Javier Milei, may become the country's president tomorrow.

A chainsaw-wielding libertarian could become Argentina's next president | CBC News | Thomson Reuters:

October 20, 2023 - "Argentina may be about to leap into the political unknown. The South American country, the region's No. 2 economy after Brazil, will vote in presidential elections on Sunday with a radical outsider, libertarian Javier Milei, in pole position to win, though he will likely face a second round run-off. The wild-haired, chainsaw-wielding economist — who has risen from relative obscurity over the last year — came top in an August open primary and leads all opinion polls ahead of Economy Minister Sergio Massa and conservative Patricia Bullrich.

"Milei, 52, is a poster child of Argentine voters' anger at inflation that may hit 200 per cent this year, rising poverty levels and a sliding peso currency that erases the real-world value of people's salaries and savings. Many blame the political elite and have latched on to Milei's burn-it-all-down rhetoric. He has used the chainsaw throughout his campaign to symbolize how he will slash government spending and waste.... 'Milei is a clean slate. He may be crazy, but at least he says what he thinks,' said Sebastián Pizzo, 33, a restaurant employee in Buenos Aires.

"The vote marks a major crossroads for Argentina, one of the world's top grains exporters, the No. 4 producer of electric battery metal lithium, and a growing shale oil and gas play.... The country is also the largest — by far — debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with an outstanding $44 billion US loan program, as well as huge international debts with bondholders and a large currency swap line with China.

"Milei has criticized China, pledged to "burn down" the central bank, privatize public sector entities, and switch to the U.S. dollar. He is anti-abortion and anti-feminist. He's the candidate to beat, but the election remains a three-way race, with polls having proven unreliable for the August primary (failing to spot Milei's sharp ascent).... Pollsters generally agree the most likely result is that Milei comes first, but faces a second-round head-to-head with Massa on Nov. 19. A candidate needs 45 per cent of the vote or 40 per cent with a 10-point lead over second place to win outright on Sunday....

"Whoever wins will face a bleak economic outlook: the central bank's coffers are practically empty, a recession is looming, two-fifths of the population live in poverty and most expect a sharp currency devaluation that could fan inflation further.

"The election will likely split the vote between the top three runners, with a further two candidates polling at under five per cent. That will impact the make-up of Congress, which is being partially renewed and will likely end up fragmented. No coalition is expected [to] have a majority in either chamber, forcing the next president to negotiate across political divides. Frontrunner Milei would have a relatively small number of seats in Congress and little regional government support. 

"Many voters, however, appeared resigned to a Milei win — a reflection of how the former television pundit has managed to take hold of the political narrative, leveraging memes and videos online that have resonated with younger voters."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/argentina-presidential-election-javier-milei-1.7002584

Javier Milei's fiery attacks on Argentina's socialists | ReasonTV | August 25, 2023:


Friday, October 20, 2023

Prayer ban story is misinformation, says Blair

Defence Minister Bill Blair is calling the story of a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) directive allegedly banning public prayer by its chaplains Conservative-spread misinformation, while the Epoch Times (which broke the story) now reports that chaplains are leaving the CAF in response to it. 

Minister Blair Says Tories Spreading ‘Misinformation’ on New Military Chaplain Directive on Prayer | Epoch Times | Noé Chartier:

October 20, 2023 - "Defence Minister Bill Blair says the Conservative Party is spreading “misinformation” by saying military chaplains are no longer allowed to say prayers during public functions. 'Let’s be very clear: [Canadian Forces] chaplains are not – and will not be – banned from prayer on Remembrance Day, nor at any other time,” Mr. Blair wrote on X on Oct. 19. 'When the Conservatives spread misinformation about our military, we’ll always call it out.'

"The minister was reacting to an Oct. 18 social media post by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre saying the government is banning military chaplains from praying at Remembrance Day ceremonies. 'Our veterans don’t have a prayer under Trudeau,' Mr. Poilievre said.

"The Epoch Times previously reported exclusively on the new directive ... from the Office of the Chaplain General in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The previous directive, in place since 2013 and titled 'Public Prayer at Military Ceremonies,' gave guidelines on how chaplains should conduct prayers, while giving further instructions for inclusion. 'The chaplain shall preface the prayer with remarks that invite those who, for whatever reason, are not disposed to pray, to use that time for silent personal reflection or contemplation as others pray,' it reads.

"The new directive, titled 'Chaplains’ Spiritual Reflection in Public Settings,' doesn’t say that chaplains are allowed to lead prayers, but only 'reflections'. 'While the dimension of prayer may occupy a significant place for some of our members, we do not all pray in the same way; for some, prayer does not play a role in their lives,' says the Oct. 11 directive signed by the Chaplain General, Brigadier-General Guy Belisle. 'Public reflections must be done in an appropriate manner to engage all those gathered.' It adds that chaplains need to adopt a 'sensitive and inclusive' approach when addressing CAF members in public'....

"The new directive quotes from a 2015 Supreme Court opinion, which ruled that a city council in Quebec shouldn’t recite a Christian prayer before meetings in order to protect the religious neutrality of the state. The court 'set a strict standard for religious neutrality by the state, which the [Royal Canadian Chaplain Service] has a legal obligation to abide by,' says the directive. 'This requirement is aligned with the principle of inclusion that is paramount within the CAF.'"
Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/blair-says-tories-spreading-misinformation-on-new-military-chaplain-directive-on-prayer-5513779

Leaked Email Says Chaplains Leaving Military After New Religious Prayer Prohibitions | Epoch Times | Noé Chartier:

October 20, 2023 - "Some military chaplains are leaving the Canadian Armed Forces following a new directive on public prayer, says an internal email sent by a military officer obtained by The Epoch Times. The directive forbids the use of words such as 'God' and 'Heavenly Father,' which active-duty chaplains say in effect means prayers are forbidden. 

"The Oct. 19 email was sent by a mid-level officer in personnel management with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to wing commanders and other RCAF 'enior leaders across the country following the rollout of the new directive on Oct. 11. In the email, the officer said she had been “informed that the CA is noticing the release of some Chaplains based on this directive.' 'CA' is likely an acronym for 'Canadian Army.' 'If anyone has noticed a similar trend, please share your findings as it may be worth a discussion,” wrote the officer on Oct. 19.... 

"Three serving chaplains have told The Epoch Times that to their understanding, the restrictions in the new policy in effect mean that prayers are banned during official ceremonies such [as] Remembrance Day and mess dinners. The chaplains spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals."
Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/leaked-email-says-chaplains-leaving-military-after-new-religious-prayer-prohibitions-5514285

Thursday, October 19, 2023

ACT Party revives libertarianism in New Zealand

David Seymour's libertarian ACT {Association of Conumers and Taxpayers) Party looks set to be a crucial coalition partner in New Zealand's next government. 

New Zealand is showing what a viable libertarianism looks like | Washington Post - Henry Olsen:

August 10, 2023 - "Populist conservatism has been on the march around the globe in recent years. But in New Zealand, many conservatives are beginning to embrace an old ideology: libertarianism. This surprising trend is thanks to David Seymour, leader of New Zealand’s classically liberal ACT Party. He has rapidly transformed his faction from a nearly extinct institution to a vibrant, growing movement, setting an example for conservatives worldwide. 

"Seymour is a young intellectual. The 40-year-old became politically active in college, unsuccessfully running for Parliament in 2005 against then-Prime Minister Helen Clark, a Labour Party member. He then went to Canada to work at a free-market think tank, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, for four years. That experience, he told me in an interview, gave him a chance to read classical liberal economic thinkers such as Karl Popper, Friedrich Hayek and Thomas Hazlett....

"In 2014, Seymour ran for Parliament again and won, becoming ACT’s only parliamentary representative for six years. In fact, the party received less than 1 percent of the vote in New Zealand’s 2017 election, which brought the Labour Party’s Jacinda Ardern to power. At the time, it looked as if classical liberalism in New Zealand was in terminal decline much, much as it was elsewhere. 

"But that assessment did not account for Seymour’s grit and genius. He aggressively used his seat to push new ideas such as legalizing euthanasia. He also did not flinch from other issues, becoming the only member to vote against the legislation Ardern passed after the 2019 Christchurch shootings to confiscate guns. Seymour also made his way onto the select parliamentary committee overseeing the government’s covid-19 policies and used social media to gain visibility. All of these activities raised Seymour’s profile and made ACT relevant. The party received its highest share of the vote ever in the 2020 election, winning 10 seats in the 120-seat Parliament.... With the traditional center-right party, the National Party, tipped to win 46 seats, ACT could become a crucial governing partner....

"This success is fueled by Seymour’s insistence on applying classically liberal principles to issues beyond just taxes, regulation and spending.... That approach is nowhere better observed than on ACT’s stance against identity politics. The ruling Labour-Green alliance has been pushing to provide special government benefits for the island nation’s Indigenous people, the Maori, and even interpreting New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, to require 'co-governance' between the elected government and Maori leaders. Seymour contends this is wrong and destructive of 'classical liberal values of universal human rights' because it gives citizens different political rights and powers based solely upon their race....

"Seymour’s willingness to lean into cultural issues rather than shy away from them also applies to criminal justice. ACT calls for trying 17-year-old violent offenders as adults and a host of other 'law and order' policies. This further illustrates that his party is not running solely on tax cuts (though it is proposing significant reductions); he knows political parties need to meet voters where they are before they gain their trust to lead them where they ought to go. 

"No matter what happens in the October election, this likely won’t be the last you’ve heard of Seymour if his party does well. Ardern was just 37 when her election inspired leftists around the world. Seymour could similarly make freedom cool again.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/10/new-zealand-act-party-seymour-libertarianism/

The rise of the ACT party & David Seymour | Newshub Nation | August 4, 2023:

New Zealand moves sharply to the right in national elections | Washington Post | Michael E. Miller:

October 14, 2023 - "New Zealand moved sharply to the right on Saturday with the National Party, led by businessman-turned-politician Christopher Luxon, poised to form a coalition with the libertarian ACT Party and make good on promises to cut government spending and taxes."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/14/new-zealand-election-national-act-coalition/

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Canadian military kills Remembrance Day prayers

As part of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, the Canadian military has instructed its chaplains to eliminate prayers and references to God in this year's Remembrance Day commemorations. 

Remembrance Day 2017 in Ottawa. Photo by Benoit Rochon. CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

No More Prayers on Remembrance Day, Military Tells Chaplain Service | Epoch Times | Noé Chartier:

October 16, 2023 - "Canadians about to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country could come across different proceedings than they’re used to, as the military has told its chaplain service that religious prayers in official public functions are now forbidden. 'While the dimension of prayer may occupy a significant place for some of our members, we do not all pray in the same way; for some, prayer does not play a role in their lives,' says the Oct. 11 directive obtained by The Epoch Times. 'Therefore, it is essential for chaplains to adopt a sensitive and inclusive approach when publicly addressing military members,' says the directive signed by Chaplain General Brigadier General Guy Belisle.

"In practice, this means that a chaplain, or padre as they’re commonly known in the ranks, cannot recite from the Bible or allude to God while participating in ceremonies and public functions. Instead, the 'spiritual reflection' must be “inclusive in nature, and respectful of the religious and spiritual diversity of Canada.' The move is part of the larger cultural change process in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) implemented by the Liberal government, which aims to put principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the core of the organization.

"For public reflections, the directive tells chaplains they must 'carefully choose words that are inclusive' and that they should use a language 'mindful of the Gender Based Analysis (GBA+).' This in effect tells chaplains to refrain from referring to a 'Heavenly Father'.... [T]he directives also will remove the traditional scarves chaplains wear, which bear the crests of their respective religions.... 'Chaplains must consider the potential that some items or symbols may cause discomfort or traumatic feelings when choosing the dress they wear during public occasions,' says the directive. The Faith Tradition crests will be replaced by the crest of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service (RCChS).

"The decision comes after the Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination released a report in January 2022 that was critical of religion in general. A section on the CAF chaplaincy said that 'religion can be a source of suffering and generational trauma,' especially for LGBT individuals and indigenous people. 'Some chaplains represent or are affiliated with organized religions whose beliefs are not synonymous with those of a diverse and inclusive workplace,' it added....

"Brig. Gen. Belisle says the RCChS conducted an in-depth analysis of a Supreme Court decision from 2015. The directive cites Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City), which pertains to a self-proclaimed atheist complaining about the Saguenay city council reciting a prayer before meetings. 'The evolution of Canadian society has given rise to a concept of neutrality according to which the state must not interfere in religion and beliefs,' wrote the Supreme Court. 'The state must instead remain neutral in this regard, which means that it must neither favour nor hinder any particular belief, and the same holds true for non-belief.' 

"Brig. Gen. Belisle’s directive says the policy will be enforced through education in vocational school and by taking disciplinary action against chaplains who do not comply with the directive. This includes withdrawal from the CAF chaplaincy.

"Department of National Defence spokesperson Derek Abma says the directive does not apply to other non-official settings. 'In a chapel, chaplains may always offer prayer consistent with their own spiritual and faith traditions,' he told The Epoch Times in a statement.... Mr. Abma did not deny that religious prayers are now forbidden on events such as Remembrance Day....

"An active military chaplain who requested anonymity to avoid reprisals told The Epoch Times that the new policy is a violation of a covenant Canadians have with the war dead. He says he thinks Canadians would not want to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony in which our dead are not honoured in prayer.... 'We have a covenant with the dead,' he said. 'Most of those who fought in the Great Wars did so for God and country, and deserve to be honoured in that way. This new policy is first and foremost a violation of that covenant.'"

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/no-more-prayers-on-remembrance-day-military-tells-chaplain-service-5511240

Monday, October 16, 2023

Saskatchewan gov't tables Parents' Bill of Rights

Sask. Parental Bill of Rights introduced, notwithstanding clause to be invoked | CBC News | Adam Hunter: 

October 13, 2023 - "The Saskatchewan government introduced Bill 137, the Parental Bill of Rights, on Thursday morning, moving ahead with its plan to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect a controversial new policy dictating how schools deal with gender-diverse students.

"'Parents should always be involved in important decisions involving their children,' said Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill. 'The parental inclusion and consent policy introduced in August and now this new legislation we are introducing today will ensure that continues to be the case.' Cockrill said the legislation 'provides clarity that the policy will remain in place.'

"Once passed, the law will require schools to receive consent from parents to use a child's gender-related preferred name or gender identity if they are under 16. The bill also says that if a child feels they will suffer physical, emotional or mental harm from the school seeking consent, the principal will direct the child to school support staff to develop a plan to eventually tell their parent. The government said the amendments are meant to keep parents informed and will support students....

"Opposition house leader and justice critic Nicole Sarauer spoke in the house for two hours following question period. She spoke against a government motion to double the maximum debate on the bill over the next week from 20 hours to 40. Sarauer was critical of the government's claim the bill can be scrutinized properly in a week.... 'To call that extra time, extra scrutiny, is an absolute joke and a farce, and it's slap in the face to democracy in this province. Especially when we're talking about a piece of legislation that's going to use the notwithstanding clause to trample on the rights of Saskatchewan children,' she said....

"Cockrill was asked if he was comfortable overriding the rights of children with this legislation. 'I think over the next number of days we're going to get into a debate on the collision of rights and how the notwithstanding clause addresses that. I know I'm comfortable with the legislation that's been introduced today and how that will play out,' he said.

Government and Opposition MLAs will return on Monday. It is expected that extended hours that will have the house sit from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. CST could start Tuesday and run until the following Sunday. Premier Scott Moe had called the legislature back early to introduce the new legislation before the fall sitting starts on Oct. 25.... Moe told reporters on Tuesday his government called an emergency session to introduce and eventually pass the bill in order to protect the policy from court challenges.

"'With respect to the notwithstanding clause itself, that is part of the Charter and it was put in place so that elected members in the future would be able to determine which of those rights ultimately would be in place moving forward. And that is ultimately why it is being utilized here,' Moe said."

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-bill-137-notwithstanding-clause-1.6993335

Federal justice minister reacts to Saskatchewan’s plan to use notwithstanding clause | CPAC | October 5, 2023:

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Israeli gov't letting citizens arm themselves

In the wake of last weekend's terrorist attacks, Israel's National Security Minister has "directed the Firearms Licensing Division to go on an emergency operation, in order to allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves."

Israel Eases Guns Restrictions Amidst Security Failures | Reason | J.D. Tuccille: 

October 13, 2023 - "In the wake of the Hamas terrorist organization's murderous attacks on Israel, the country's government is admitting — not for the first time — that even Israel's extensive security apparatus can't be everywhere to protect everyone. Under the pressure of bloody events, officials are again making it easier for civilians to acquire and carry firearms for self-defense. 'Today I directed the Firearms Licensing Division to go on an emergency operation, in order to allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves," announced National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. 'The plan will take effect within 24 hours.'

"By no means does the order eliminate the country's tight restrictions on guns. But it's an acknowledgment that too many Israelis were  caught with limited access to the means of self-defense when Hamas terrorists crossed the border from Gaza and attacked civilians.... Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were caught flat-footed and scrambled to catch up with events.

"This is actually the second time this year that Israel's government loosened gun rules in response to attacks on the public. 'Israel's security cabinet has approved measures to make it easier for Israelis to carry guns after two separate attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem over the past two days,' the BBC reported in January. That followed an earlier reform allowing more civilians to carry defensive weapons in 2018. 'Trained citizens who hold weapons in the public sphere contribute to the feeling of security,' then-Security Minister Gilad Erdan said at the time. 'They are an important line of defense against "lone wolf" actions and are used in a sense as a temporary force multiplier, thereby strengthening public safety.'

"As sophisticated as Israel's security apparatus is, it's not omnipotent. The failures of intelligence services and military forces have led to recrimination and will undoubtedly result in changes. But human institutions are flawed and even the best are vulnerable to enemies capable of probing for weaknesses and planning around them. That's an ongoing problem for officials challenged with protecting the public from criminals and terrorists. Then-Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble wrestled with that dilemma after a 2013 terrorist attack at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya. 'Societies have to think about how they're going to approach the problem,' Noble told ABC News. 'One is to say we want an armed citizenry; you can see the reason for that.... You have to ask yourself, "Is an armed citizenry more necessary now than it was in the past with an evolving threat of terrorism?" This is something that has to be discussed,' Noble added.

"Israel is making a choice now after Hamas terrorists penetrated the 'extraordinary security' around Gaza with explosives, boats, and paragliders. With that barrier penetrated, too many Israelis proved to be soft targets for assailants who butchered their way through communities.

"Ukraine made similar choices after Russia invaded at the beginning of 2022, putting many civilians on the front lines in their own homes. 'We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country,' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. 'Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.' Ukrainians anticipated that necessity, flocking to arm themselves in the days before Russian troops crossed the border.... Polling later found that 58 percent of Ukrainians supported wider civilian gun ownership....

"The hard truth is, no matter how well-funded and trained law enforcement agencies and military forces may be, they're imperfect. The only people guaranteed to be at the site of any attack are the perpetrators and those positioned to be either victims or survivors. If those people don't have the means to defend themselves and are stuck waiting for rescue, they're more likely to be relegated to the victim category than to emerge as survivors....

"Best wishes to the people of Israel, and elsewhere, who have suffered threats in the past, face them now, and will experience them in the future. All people have an absolute right to defend themselves and that right, and access to the means to exercise it, should be respected by law everywhere."

Read more: https://reason.com/2023/10/13/israel-eases-guns-restrictions-amidst-security-failures/

Israel Now Wants As Many Citizens Armed As Possible Reversing Their Strict Gun Control | Colion Noir | October 10, 2023:

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Liberals' "No More Pipelines Act" unconstitutional

The Trudeau government's Impact Assessment Act, dubbed the "No More Pipelines Act" by its critics, unconstitutionally exceeds the limits of federal jurisdiction, Canada's Supreme Court has ruled. 

Supreme Court rules environmental impact legislation largely unconstitutional | CBC News | Joel Dryden:

October 13, 2023 - "Canada's top court has delivered a highly anticipated judgment, writing in a majority opinion that Ottawa's Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is largely unconstitutional. The IAA, previously known as Bill C-69, allows federal regulators to consider the potential environmental and social impacts of various resource and infrastructure projects. It was enacted in 2019. The IAA has long been controversial among conservative politicians in Alberta, including former premier Jason Kenney, who frequently referred to it as the "no more pipelines act." 

"The ruling was part of a 'reference case,' which involves the provincial and federal governments asking courts for advisory opinions. It doesn't mean the law is now off the books — a ruling such as this from the Supreme Court of Canada is not necessarily binding, but is traditionally treated as being binding by governments, noted David Wright, an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. 'I think what we can expect is the federal government is going to get to work very quickly to put together a suite of amendments to bring the act into conformity with the law,' Wright said.

"Writing for the majority in a 5-2 decision, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Richard Wagner said the process set forth in Sections 81 to 91 of the IAA were constitutional and could be separated out. Those sections involve projects carried out or financed by federal authorities on federal lands, or outside Canada, and therefore fall under federal jurisdiction. Those provisions were not challenged as unconstitutional. 

"However, Wagner wrote that the balance of the scheme, involving 'designated projects,' was unconstitutional. Under the IAA, designated projects are those projects that are set out in the regulations or are subject to a ministerial order. 'In my view, Parliament has plainly overstepped its constitutional competence in enacting this designated projects scheme,' Wagner wrote.

"Wagner wrote that environmental protection remains one of today's most pressing challenges, and Parliament has the power to enact a scheme of environmental assessment to meet this challenge. 'But Parliament also has the duty to act within the enduring division of powers framework laid out in the Constitution,' he wrote. 

"Dissenting Justices Andromache Karakatsanis and Mahmud Jamal wrote that they believed the act was constitutional in its entirety.... 

"Alberta previously filed a constitutional challenge with the Alberta Court of Appeal, and was supported by the governments of Saskatchewan and Ontario, three First Nations and the Indian Resource Council. Various environmental and legal groups, as well as other First Nations, supported Ottawa. In a 4-1 decision, the court called the law an 'existential threat' when it came to Canada's Constitution. The federal government appealed that non-binding opinion, and the Supreme Court held hearings on the act in March."

"Today's decision was keenly awaited by legal experts, who recognized its importance in providing clarity to an area of law that has long been under debate. Wright, the associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary, said it wasn't the outcome most of those who follow this area of law expected. 'This really does set the the legal landscape for federal impact assessment for decades to come,' said Wright, who was also an intervener on the case. 'What we now know is that there are significant constraints on what the federal government may or may not do with respect to legislating in relation to environmental assessment.'

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/supreme-court-richard-wagner-impact-assessment-act-1.6993720

Top court finds Ottawa's environmental impact assessment law unconstitutional | CBC News | October 13, 2023:

Friday, October 13, 2023

Ontario regulator drops case against sceptic MD

Ontario's College of Physicians and Surgeons has ended its quest to silence anti-lockdown pediatrician Kulvinder Kaur Gill.

Ontario regulatory body drops inquest into COVID-critical doctor | National Post | Michael Higgins: 

Oct 4, 2023 - "If the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) was to be believed, the tweets of Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill were ... unprofessional, irresponsible, critical of official messaging and potentially destructive to public health.... The college was unhappy that Gill believed government and public health responses to COVID were based more on politics than science. So it comes as a surprise that the college, which had been hellbent on bringing Gill to heel, has decided to end a planned disciplinary hearing against her. 

"Lisa Bildy, Gill’s lawyer, said in an email that the CPSO seemed to concede it had a bad case. 'It appears they finally recognized that Dr. Gill’s concerns about the harms of lockdowns and vaccine mandates were well-supported and could not reasonably be said to constitute "misinformation",' Bildy said.

"Gill’s case is another example of a regulatory body trying to exert control over the tweets, speech and language of a professional. The most high-profile occurrence is that of psychologist Jordan Peterson, who is fighting an order from the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo social media training, thereby regulating what he says on social media.

"'Regulatory bodies have become far too comfortable with exerting control over the expression and values of their members,' said Bildy. 'The (CPSO) is legislatively tasked with keeping patients safe from incompetent and unethical doctors and regulating the profession in the public interest. It is not there to give disgruntled people on Twitter a tool for "cancelling" people with whom they do not agree, nor to take up the mantle of enforcer for politicians who don’t want their policies challenged.'

"In 2020, Gill, a pediatrician with immunology training practising in the Greater Toronto Area, found herself the subject of complaints — from members of the public, not patients — to the CPSO. The Democracy Fund, a civil liberties organization assisting Gill, described her in 2022 as the subject of a 'malicious online campaign” that encouraged the public to file complaints about her. Five complaints were dismissed by a committee of the CPSO, but three resulted in 'cautions' being issued in 2021 against the doctor....

"Gill found herself in the crosshairs of the college again in 2022. This time, she was accused of advocating against masks and COVID vaccines, and for undermining trust in public health. In February 2023, the college pointed to the 'totality of Dr. Gill’s communications' as evidence that, 'Government and other institutions are engaging in tyranny, lying to the public and acting in unconstitutional and unscientific manner'.... A 15-day disciplinary hearing was scheduled for early 2024. However, in September, the CPSO told Gill’s lawyer that it was not proceeding with the hearing. The CPSO declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality.

"Gill’s real crime, Bildy said, was refusing to go along with the 'groupthink.' She pointed out that the CPSO’s statement to the profession, back when Gill was being investigated, told doctors their comments could lead to public harm if they did not 'align with information coming from public health or government.'  'This was an astonishing edict,' Bildy told me. 'Public health is fundamentally a political office and should not be beyond reproach. Physicians are bound by an ethical and moral duty to do no harm, and it is sometimes essential and in the public interest to question public health decisions and government policies. Consensus can be dangerous, particularly when groupthink coalesces around the wrong decision....

"'If we don’t push back, an enforced consensus on the social and scientific issues of our time will steamroll over us. If that happens, especially on a global, technocratic scale, the Enlightenment era with its ideals of rationalism, democracy, individualism, the scientific method, fundamental freedoms and the like — a relative blip on the historical time scale — may be gone forever.'”

Read more: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ontario-regulator-walks-back-inquisition-against-covid-critical-doctor

“the basic concept of public health is to look at all harms” Dr Kulvinder Kaur Gill | Sceptic Nurse | February 21, 2021

Thursday, October 12, 2023

UK PM proposes younger-generation tobacco ban

Taking an idea from New Zealand's progressive government, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has proposed a lifetime ban on purchasing tobacco products for those born after 2008.   

Rishi Sunak is following in Jacinda Ardern’s footsteps | The Telegraph | Annabel Denham: 

October 4, 2023 - "It should alarm us that the Prime Minister thought long and hard about smoking prohibition. It would be more reassuring to learn that this was another knee-jerk idea spouted out of the Conservative government’s random policy generator as its remaining days in power dwindle.... Had Number 10 given any deep thought to a progressive cigarette and tobacco ban – which will see the age at which people can buy these products rise by one year every year so that, eventually, no one can purchase them – they would perhaps have realised how ill-conceived, illiberal, infantilising and illogical it is.

"That the idea has its origins in New Zealand – the country that locked itself down for nearly the longest time and refused to let its citizens come home, and requires Māori theory of creation to be taught in science lessons – should have raised a red flag. Sunak, who recently re-instilled hope that he could be the true heir to Margaret Thatcher and cauterise the wound seared by 2022’s mini-Budget, has now aligned himself with Jacinda Ardern. He may be putting this to a free vote, but history will remember who put this legislation on the cards.

"Much as Akshata Murty may have endeared and persuaded delegates in Manchester of her husband’s commitment to Conservative values, there isn’t a shred of Conservatism in this policy. No personal autonomy; the idea that people will make trade-offs – and sometimes choose the unhealthy option, such is the wonder of the human condition. Though more often than not nowadays, when it comes to tobacco, they don’t: the proportion of smokers has fallen significantly in recent decades: from half of adults in the early 1970s to just 14 per cent now. 

"There was seemingly no consideration of the unintended consequences – the black market that this policy will buttress and the corresponding reduction in tax revenues. And, as usual, the nannying measure is being cloaked in the language of public health and justified on the grounds that it will help protect our socialist, creaking healthcare system. 

"Here are the facts, for MPs who may soon have to decide whether to wave through this awful policy. Smokers don’t cost the NHS money, they save it. A 2017 study from the Institute of Economic Affairs estimated a net saving of £14.7 billion per annum at the rates of consumption at the time, with the costs smokers incurred significantly outweighed by the sum of tobacco duty paid and the old-age expenditures avoided due to premature mortality. 

"This policy would limit consumer choice and create a two-tier society, one in which 48 year old John could purchase cigarettes while Jane, his 47 year old wife, would need to procure them in the underground economy. Shopkeepers would be required to decide on the spot whether a customer might have been born in 2004 or 2005. 

"Perhaps most importantly, prohibition does not work. As the examples of South Africa, India and others have shown, it puts smokers or drinkers at greater risk. It hands money to black marketeers at the expense of tax paying businesses: the South African government lost over 1.7 billion Rand (£77 million) in sin-tax revenue in April 2020 after tightening restrictions that March. In the 1920s, prohibition caused a crime wave across America.

"What is the enduring appeal of these paternalistic, petty regulations? They allow politicians to be seen to do something without spending money. As budgetary constraints have tightened while welfare, pensions and NHS spending have ballooned, elected representatives have pulled this lever with ever greater enthusiasm. But they do come at a cost. To businesses, consumers, workers in the form of lower wages. And pretty soon they’ll cost the Tories."

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/04/rishi-sunak-smoking-ban-nanny-state-jacinda-ardern/

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Unveils Plan To Ban Tobacco Among Youth | 10 News First | October 5, 2023:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

CUPE under fire for pro-Hamas statements

Canadian Union of Public Employees criticized for pro-Hamas statements after last weekend's terrorist attack on Israel.

CUPE official 'sickened' by Ontario president's posts after attack on Israel | Toronto Sun | Joe Warmington:

October 10, 2023 - "Most people thought it was just a rogue Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local that didn’t speak for the whole 700,000-member union. Wrong.... Just moments after Israeli children had been slaughtered, people were stunned by CUPE, Local 3906’s public support for those behind the genocide. 'Palestine is rising, long live the resistance,' they callously posted on X.... 

"It was followed by CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn liking that post and later going to social media with a 'From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free' meme. He also tweeted about being 'thankful' for 'resistance.' Tweeted Hahn: 'As we all think about reasons to be thankful this #thanksgiving2023, I know I’m thankful for the power of workers, the power of resistance around the globe. Because #Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, #Resistance brings progress, and for that, I’m thankful'....

"Jewish groups say any support for these actions is support for Hamas. Premier Doug Ford also expressed his outrage. 'The comments by the president of CUPE Ontario glorifying and celebrating the rape, abduction and murder of innocent Israeli people are disturbing, and I denounce them wholeheartedly,' said Ford Tuesday.... Hahn has also upset many CUPE members. 'I have never been so sickened as I am today by the comments of fellow union officers,” said CUPE 416 Paramedic Services Unit chair Mike Merriman.' He is calling for Hahn to resign.... 

"While the Local 3906 pulled its tweet and Hamilton’s McMaster University, where the union represents 3,000 workers, distanced itself from the sentiment, Hahn and CUPE National have doubled down. Instead of calling out the terrorists and their evil carnage, the union that represents health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation and airlines across Canada are pushing [a] neutrality approach, but also admitting they actually back the Palestinian side....

"'CUPE grieves the loss of life brought by the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine,' said a release sent to the Toronto Sun in response to a request for comment from CUPE National President Mark Hancock. 'We are horrified by the Hamas attack on Israel and the retribution by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine and condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians'....

"CUPE blames Israel. 'CUPE has long recognized the need for the Israeli government to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories and abide by UN resolutions and international law,' said the release. 'The full siege that has now been declared on Gaza by Israel will worsen conditions for residents who are already struggling and deny the population of food, water, electricity and other necessities for life. It will not hasten a peaceful resolve.'

"CUPE wants Trudeau to push back on Israel’s defence plans. 'We urge the government of Canada to call for a ceasefire, for the enforcement of international law and to work toward a peaceful resolution that upholds the rights to life and freedom of Palestinians and Israelis'....

"Merriman said Hahn and Local 3906’s comments 'have no place in the Canadian labour movement' and are not representative of the 'decent, hardworking and humanitarian CUPE members.' But they are the views of some within the union brass."

Read more: https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-cupe-official-sickened-by-ontario-presidents-posts-after-attack-on-israel

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

RFK Jr. announces Independent run for POTUS

RFK Jr. Dumps Democrats, Libertarian Party Blasts RFK Jr.'s Stance on Israel | Reason | Robby Soave: 

October 9, 2023 - "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president as an independent, he announced on Monday. 'I'm here to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States,' Kennedy told supporters at a rally in Philadelphia. 'I'm here to join you in making a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation.' Kennedy had previously challenged President Joe Biden from within the Democratic Party; his exit means that Marianne Williamson is now Biden's sole primary Democratic contender.

"RFK Jr.'s declaration is notable for another reason: It ends speculation that he might seek the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination. Kennedy is not a libertarian and historically has held positions on a variety of issues that are fairly anathema to libertarianism, including his views on environmental regulation, affirmative action, and until recently, gun control. But he is an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 mandates — as well as the COVID-19 vaccines — and a critic of American foreign policy with respect to the Ukraine-Russia war.

"These last two stances have endeared him to some in the Libertarian Party (L.P.), who hoped that he was moving in a libertarian direction on a variety of issues. RFK Jr. attended both PorcFest and FreedomFest, two yearly libertarian festivals, and seemed to be sincerely courting independent voters of both populist and libertarian bents. He also fielded questions from Reason and others about his evolving views....

"Kennedy's announcement of an independent run was received cordially by the L.P.; his declaration of support for unlimited aid to Israel, not so much. Following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians over the weekend, RFK Jr. said the U.S. should provide Israel with 'whatever it needs to defend itself.' This political position was rightly criticized by McArdle and the L.P. as profoundly un-libertarian: U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the defenses of other countries.

"Unfortunately, RFK Jr. is hardly the only political figure to make such a declaration; both Democratic and Republican leaders have committed to providing military aid to Israel, and the Pentagon is already deploying warships to the area.

"Many Americans are understandably moved by images and videos of appalling violence being committed against Israeli civilians. But there is little reason to think that providing even more money and weapons to the government of Israel will help create peaceful living conditions for either the Israelis or the Palestinians. We can have compassion for people who are suffering around the world, but we must also have humility about U.S. foreign policy and the likely results of interventionism. If RFK Jr. hasn't quite learned that yet — despite some encouraging signs — the Libertarian Party probably isn't the right home for him at present.

Read more: https://reason.com/2023/10/09/rfk-jr-president-independent-libertarian-campaign-israel/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Declares Independent Candidacy | C-SPAN | October 9, 2023: