Singh delayed election to keep Liberals in power

Jagmeet Singh admits that a main reason he delayed a federal election was to prevent the Conservatives from forming a government.

Singh admits he delayed election to block Conservative majority | The Counter Signal | Clayton DeMaine, True North:

Apr 25, 2025 - "NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh claimed one of the main reasons he propped up the Liberal government and delayed the election was because he 'couldn’t stomach' a Conservative majority. During a press conference in Toronto on Friday, just days before the Monday election, Singh revealed that although for a few months, the NDP was projected to surpass the Liberals and thus become the official opposition, he chose to support the Liberals to prevent a Conservative government.

Jagmeet Singh in 2018. 

Yvonne Bambrick, Wikimedia Commona.

“'I could not stomach the idea of Pierre, Poilievre’s conservatives forming a majority government, I knew that was gonna be bad,' Singh said. 'I knew that was gonna be bad because of their cuts, because of their division, because the things they wanted, and I did not want to let that happen.'

"He said he also continued to prop up the Liberals despite the majority of Canadians wanting an election and for Trudeau to be ousted because he wanted Canadians to see the benefits of pharmacare and dental care before casting a ballot.

"Reporters asked him if his devotion to preventing Conservatives from getting into power and ensuring the Liberals do get in was the new purpose of his party, but Singh 'rejected the framing' of the question....

“I think what Poilievre and the Conservatives are proposing are incredibly dangerous. He wants to cut and slash the things that people need. He wants to divide our country in ways that I think are really, really troublesome,” Singh said. “He wants to slash and cut CBC when we need independent public journalism…he wants to do a lot of dangerous things.'

"Singh denied that he delayed the election to get his pension and said Poilievre will get a bigger pension than him but doesn’t believe people should have pensions. The Conservative platform includes a commitment to maintaining the eligibility age for the Canadian Pension Plan, increasing tax-free savings for seniors by $10,000 and extending the age at which seniors can withdraw from the Registered Retirement Savings Plans....

"One reporter asked him why Singh had been dancing and partying while his party’s support crumbles around him. Singh said in tough times one can 'either laugh or cry.'"

Read more: https://www.thecountersignal.com/p/singh-admits-he-delayed-election

Canadian parties promise to cut income tax

With a federal general election called on Sunday for April 28, both Liberal and Conservative parties launched their campaigns with a promise to cut the federal income tax. 

Carney calls snap election for April 28 | CBC News:

March 23, 2025 - "Liberal Leader Mark Carney has triggered an early election with a short 36-day campaign that’s expected to revolve around the economy and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadians go to the polls April 28."
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6695655

Liberals launch 2025 campaign with middle-class tax cut | Liberal Party of Canada (news release):

March 23, 2025 - "Today, Mark Carney launched the 2025 Liberal campaign by announcing a middle-class tax cut that will help Canadians keep more of what they earn and build a stronger Canada in the face of President Trump’s tariffs.... This middle-class tax cut will save two-income families up to $825 a year, by reducing the marginal tax rate on the lowest tax bracket by 1 percentage point. More than 22 million Canadians will benefit directly from this tax cut, and middle- and low-income Canadians will benefit the most....

“'So many Canadians are doing everything right. They’ve worked hard, secured a good job, and saved for the future. But often, it’s not enough,' added Mr. Carney. 'My new government will focus on helping hard-working Canadians keep more of their paychecks to spend where it matters most: on homes, groceries, and their families. Every Canadian should be able to afford necessities, feel secure, and get ahead financially – and this tax cut will help them do that.'”
Read more: https://liberal.ca/liberals-launch-2025-campaign-with-middle-class-tax-cut/

Poilievre To Cut Income Tax By 15% For The Average Canadian | Conservative Party of Canada (news release):

March 24, 2025 - "Today, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre launched his campaign to put Canada First and make life more affordable for Canadians. Poilievre announced he will cut income tax by 15%, dropping the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket from 15% to 12.75%, meaning the average Canadian worker earning $57,000 will save $900, with two income families saving $1,800 a year. It’s time to let Canadians keep more of what they earn....

"Poilievre’s income tax cut is part of the broader Conservative Bring It Home Tax Cut on work, investment, energy and homebuilding. Conservative tax cuts will create jobs for Canadians and help build Canada’s economic fortress against American threats. It will allow consumers to spend more money supporting local businesses while rewarding hard work that makes everyone better off.... Let’s bring it home and put Canada first – for a change!"
Read more: https://www.conservative.ca/poilievre-to-cut-income-tax-by-15-for-the-average-canadian/

Poilievre's tax plan helps millionaires the most - just like Carney's | New Democratic Party of Canada (news release): 

March 24, 2025 - "This morning, Pierre Poilievre announced a tax plan that he says is about 'average Canadians.' What he doesn’t say is that the richest people benefit the most. Just like Carney’s proposal, the income tax cut is so broad that it helps millionaires and billionaires....

"Why is Poilievre cutting taxes for billionaires when working Canadians are struggling with the cost of living, housing, and healthcare?"
Read more: https://www.ndp.ca/news/poilievres-tax-plan-helps-millionaires-most-just-carneys

Fair Taxation: Making Our Tax System Work for Everyone | Green Party of Canada | website (accessed March 25, 2025):

"We have a simple goal: taxes that work for people, not profiteers. In the coming weeks, we’ll announce our new tax plan. It will put thousands of dollars back into working people’s pockets. This will be the biggest change to income tax in generations."
Read more: https://www.greenparty.ca/en/our-plans/fair-taxation

NDP cancels confidence agreement with Liberals

New Democratic Party of Canada leader Jagmeet Singh has "ripped up" his supply and confidence agreement with the governing Liberal Party.

Jagmeet Singh ends coalition agreement with Trudeau Liberals | True North | Clayton DeMaine:

September 4, 2024 - "NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced an end to his NDP-backed coalition government with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party. On Wednesday afternoon, Singh posted a video on X announcing an end to the NDP-Liberal agreement signed in 2022. The agreement kept the Liberal government in power in exchange for NDP priorities.

"'The fact is, the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people. They cannot be the change. They cannot restore the hope. They cannot stop the Conservatives. But we can,' Singh said in the video. 'In the next federal election, Canadians will choose between Pierre Poilievre, callous cuts, or hope, hope that when we stand united, we win'.... 

"According to poll aggregator 388 Canada, the Conservatives are projected to win a majority government with 210 seats if an election were held today. The same poll shows the NDP would score only 16 seats and the Quebec separatist Bloc Quebecois would win more than double the seat count.

“'Justin Trudeau has proven again and again that he will always cave in to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don’t deserve another chance,' Singh said. 'There is an even bigger battle ahead, the threat of Pierre Polievre and Conservative cuts from workers, retirees, young people, patients, and from families. He will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs'....

"In a letter to the NDP caucus that was leaked to the media and posted by Columnist Brian Lilley of the Toronto Sun on X, Singh said that when parliament resumes in the Fall, the NDP will vote on items based on their conscience rather than in support of the NDP-Liberal coalition.... 'We will approach every vote on its own merit, we will push for measures that help Canadians, we will not shy away from vigorously holding this government to account, and we will fight Pierre Poilievre’s cuts,' the letter said. 'If this means triggering an election, we will be ready.'"
Read more: https://tnc.news/2024/09/04/singh-ends-coalition-agreement-with-trudeau-liberals/

Jagmeet Singh has finally left behind Justin Trudeau! | Toronto Sun | Brian Lilley:

LILLEY: Singh breaks up with Trudeau, ends coalition deal | Toronto Sun | Brian Lilley:

September 4, 2024 - "In an email sent to the NDP caucus, with warnings not to share with media outlets, the party tried to claim the coalition was incredibly good and incredibly bad for Canadians at the same time. 'No fourth party has ever set the agenda as we have. Millions of Canadians have benefitted as a consequence,' the email states, claiming victory before denouncing the coalition. 

"There you have it, working with the Liberals was consequential: It delivered for Canadians, it left everyone frustrated and disappointed. If the NDP can’t figure out if their coalition was good, how should the rest of of us evaluate their partnership?

"The news, by the way, was broken not by the NDP themselves, but by yours truly on X, before the Trudeau’s PMO was even informed....

"Singh was due to face his own NDP caucus next week at a retreat in Montreal. There have been grumblings about the damage propping up the Liberals has done to the party. While publicly New Democrats will herald policy moves like the federal dental care and pharmacare, privately they will admit these programs are not what was promised and the bare minimum the Liberals could have done. Pressure within the NDP to leave the deal grew stronger after the Trudeau Liberals imposed binding arbitration to end rail work stoppages. Even though Singh called that act a line in the sand that couldn’t be crossed, no one believed he would leave because he’d made the threat so often..... 

"The NDP now wants to pivot from being Justin Trudeau’s junior partner to being the giant slayers, ready to take on Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives.'Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down, they don’t deserve a second chance,” Singh said in a campaign-style ad released on social media. 'There is an even bigger battle ahead, the threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts.' Singh will have a hard time convincing voters that he’s the attack dog to take on Poilievre when he’s been a lapdog for Trudeau during the last couple of years.

"The end of the agreement doesn’t mean the coalition will fall apart and Canadians will head to the polls.... Singh and the NDP will make decisions on a vote-by-vote basis, which could very well see the current government last until October 2025, or perhaps fall when the budget comes forward next spring."
Read more: https://torontosun.com/news/lilley-unleashed-jagmeet-singh-has-finally-left-behind-justin-trudeau

Alberta town votes to remove its Pride crosswalk

The town of Westlock, Alberta, will lose its seven-months-old Pride-colored crosswalk, and its Pride flags this summer, following a plebiscite that passed with less than 51% in favor. The full story ...

Pride Month a success for Alberta towns this year, despite an increase in backlash | CBC News Edmonton | Ariel Fournier: 
July 4, 2023 - "On a sunny evening last week, a crowd of revellers celebrating Pride Month in Westlock, Alta., painted a rainbow crosswalk for the first time in the town's history. Despite some worries that the event could be disrupted by protests, it went off without a hitch.... 

"The crosswalk project had been proposed by the Thunder Alliance, a group that supports members of the LGBTQ community at R.F. Staples Secondary School in the town 90 kilometres north of Edmonton [Alberta's capital]. In May, councillors voted unanimously to support painting the crosswalk on 106th Street, between Westlock's town hall and the Royal Canadian Legion. But at a council meeting June 12, some people showed up to voice angry objections....

"'We did receive a lot more pushback than we anticipated,' Heidi Mills, a school social worker and a lead teacher with the Thunder Alliance, said at the crosswalk-painting event. 'Despite all of the hate that we've received, look at this crowd,' she said, gesturing to the group of more than 200 people. 'It's giving me goosebumps right now.'"
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-pride-backlash-towns-1.6895610

Alberta town proposes bylaw to restrict Pride flags, crosswalks | Western Standard | Jen Hodgson:
November 29, 2023 - "The Westlock, AB city council has moved to restrict Pride flags and crosswalks in favour of displaying only municipal, provincial and federal insignia. The crosswalks and sidewalks would return to simple white paint on grey pavement. On Monday, Westlock town council decided to let the residents vote on the potential bylaw, which will take place in February. 

"The decision came after a group of residents brought a petition to council in September decrying the Pride colours painted on town infrastructure, which was done in June by the 'gay-straight alliance' at local high school R.F. Staples Secondary. The painting initiative was endorsed by city officials at the time. Deputy Mayor Murtaza Jamaly told CTV News they 'thought it was a great opportunity to demonstrate we are an inclusive and welcoming community'....

"At the council meeting Monday, Jamaly said roughly 10% of the town's population, which is 4,921 people, signed the petition.... 'There wasn't a way that we could find ourselves passing that at council's table,' he said. 'Therefore under the legislative process, it goes to a plebiscite vote.'"
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/alberta-town-proposes-bylaw-to-restrict-pride-flags-crosswalks/50618

Town north of Edmonton could ban Pride crosswalks, flags | CityNews | November 28, 2023: 

Irwin demands Westlock support Pride flags, crosswalks | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley:
November 30, 2023 - "Alberta NDP MLA Janis Irwin (Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood) said Westlock, AB, needs to keep allowing Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks. 'Banning a Pride flag or rainbow crosswalk won’t make queer and trans people go away,' tweeted Irwin on Wednesday. 'But it will send a message that they’re less safe to be who they are in your community.' Irwin went on to say she remembers the day Westlock painted a rainbow crosswalk and how powerful it was to see people uniting.... 

"Stonewall Riots survivor Fred Sargeant said there 'are absurd tweets and then there's laughably absurd tweets.... No one is less safe because a distracting crosswalk is gone,' said Sargeant.... Queens’ Speech host Clive Simpson called Irwin 'f*cking ridiculous.' 'Some of us managed to survive the times when there were NO RAINBOW FLAGS ANYWHERE,' said Simpson."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/irwin-demands-westlock-support-pride-flags-crosswalks/50646

Trudeau says Poilievre waging culture war with gender ideology | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley: 
February 22, 2024 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and conservative politicians of attacking transgender people to deflect from their success at creating division, anger and toxicity. 'They’re quick with slogans and buzzwords and culture wars,' said Trudeau at a Wednesday press conference in Edmonton. 'But they’re not doing the work of actually rolling up their sleeves and delivering 330 housing units here.'” 
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/watch-trudeau-says-poilievre-waging-culture-war-with-gender-ideology/52624

BREAKING: Westlock votes to ban Pride crosswalks, other flags by 24 votes | Town and Country Today | Kristine Jean: 
February 22, 2024 - "Westlock residents have voted to ban Pride crosswalks and allow the town to only fly flags representative of the municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Hundreds of local citizens went to the polls Thurs. Feb. 22 and voted to support bylaw 2023-14 in a plebiscite.... A total of 663 residents voted yes to ban Pride crosswalks and flags, while a total of 639 residents voted no to the bylaw, a difference of just 24 votes....   

"Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer said in a press release that council did not support the proposed bylaw and felt it went against council's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 'This plebiscite is binding, and as such, the bylaw does restrict how we are able to show this commitment. However, we will continue to find ways to embrace those in our community who need a helping hand, including marginalized groups..... That won’t stop, it will just take on a different form. We know the Town of Westlock is a welcoming community and that will not change.'"
Read more: https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/westlock-news/breaking-westlock-votes-to-ban-pride-crosswalks-other-flags-by-24-votes-8345490

NDP bill bans saying nice things about fossil fuels

NDP private member's bill in the Commons would prescribe jail time for saying nice things about fossil fuels.

NDP bill would prescribe jail terms for speaking well of fossil fuels | National Post | Tristin Hopper: 

February 7, 2024 - "An NDP bill is seeking to criminalize the 'promotion' of fossil fuels, and prescribe jail time even for Canadians who say scientifically true things such as how burning natural gas is cleaner than burning coal. C-372, also known as the Fossil Fuel Advertising Act, was tabled Monday as a private member’s bill by Charlie Angus, the MP for Timmins-James Bay and a longtime member of the NDP caucus.

"'Today, I am proud to rise and introduce a bill that would make illegal false advertising by the oil and gas industry,' Angus announced in the House of Commons. He added that the oil and gas sector was trafficking in 'disinformation' and 'killing people'.... But C-372 goes well beyond merely banning advertising by oil and gas companies. "As ... written, the act would technically apply to any Canadian who is found to be speaking well of the oil industry, or of oil generally.

"'It is prohibited for a person to promote a fossil fuel, a fossil fuel-related brand element or the production of a fossil fuel,' reads the act. Violate this as a regular citizen, and the act prescribes summary conviction and a fine of up to $500,000. Violate it as an oil company, and the punishment could be as strict as two years in jail or a fine of $1,000,000.

"Angus defines 'promotion\ so broadly that it could technically apply to something as simple as a Facebook post or even an 'I Love Canadian Oil and Gas' bumper sticker. Promotion, according to Bill C-372, means '‍a representation about a product or service by any means … that is likely to influence and shape attitudes, beliefs and behaviours about the product or service.‍' The act also criminalizes a laundry list of common pro-oil and gas arguments, even ones that have a reliable basis in fact. 

"Section 8 of the act makes it a crime for 'a person' to argue that a fossil fuel is 'less harmful than other fossil fuels.' Natural gas, for instance, generates energy with far fewer emissions or pollutants than diesel, coal, bunker fuel or any number of 'dirtier' fuels..... Nevertheless, according to C-372, anybody making such an argument should face a jail term of up to two years or a 'fine not exceeding $500,000.'

"Section 8 also criminalizes any 'promotion' which argues that fossil fuels are beneficial to 'the health of Canadians, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples or the Canadian or global economy.' As such, the section could conceivably prescribe jail terms for anybody arguing that the oil and gas sector is a key funder of the Canadian health-care system, or even that oil and gas is needed to operate ambulances and MedEvac flights. Similarly, Canadians would face sanction for saying that the extraction and selling of oil is a net contributor to the country’s economy — a claim that is actually made quite often by the federal government itself. 'Oil and gas extraction is an important contributor to the Canadian economy,' reads a recent report by Statistics Canada.

"The bill would also bring the hammer down on the ability of Canadian gas stations to hold contests or issue loyalty cards. Bill C-372 would make it illegal for a retailer to 'provide or offer to provide any consideration for the purchase of a fossil fuel.' Any contest offering “free gas” would also be criminalized, under the bill’s prohibition on offers to 'furnish or offer to furnish a fossil fuel without monetary consideration'....

"Angus allows that movies, plays and musical performances would be allowed to 'use or depict fossil fuels' or even show 'the production of fossil fuels' — provided that the creator can prove that they have no links to an entity that 'has as one of its purposes to promote fossil fuels.' Canadians would also be allowed to express an 'opinion, commentary or report in respect of fossil fuels' if similar guidelines are followed.|

Read more: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ndp-bill-jail-terms-fossil-fuels

NDP MP Charlie Angus discusses his bill on fossil fuel advertising | cpac | February 6, 2024:

NDP Leader fails to blame food inflation on profits

When the CEOs of Canada's major grocery chains testified at the parliamentary committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food last week, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh sat in o try, but fail, to flame high grocery profits for inflation. 

In blame game over high food costs, Superstore mogul scores win over NDP's Singh | Edmonton Journal - David Staples

March 10, 2023 - "Galen Weston Jr. ... is one of Canada’s wealthiest people ... he’s charging us far more than we’d like with food inflation at 10 per cent, and his gargantuan company, Loblaw, parent company of outlets such as No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart, makes enormous profits, with $556 million profit in the third quarter alone, up 29 per cent from last year. 

"The NDP pushed to get Weston before a parliamentary committee to answer questions. But I reckon that when the two faced off in Ottawa on Wednesday, Singh got far more than he bargained for in the one-two punch of Weston and fellow grocery store executive Michael Medline of Empire/Sobeys.

"Medline pointed out food inflation is happening around the world and is driven by factors such as soaring energy costs. In the last three years, all input costs in food production and distribution have gone up, Medline said, including butter (up 59 per cent), corn oil (140 per cent), wheat (109 per cent) and four (63 per cent for baked goods, and tin (53 per cent) and pulp (45 per cent).... 

"When a customer buys $25 in groceries, his company’s profit is just $1, Weston said of Loblaw. 'That means even if the industry had zero profits, a $25 dollar grocery basket would still cost $24. So the claim that Canadian grocers can correct food price inflation is simply wrong.' Other products such as financial services, clothing and, most importantly, pharmaceutical sales make up more than half of Loblaw’s business, Weston said, and they drove its higher profits.... 

"Singh asked Weston the same pointed question repeatedly. 'We have families that are struggling to buy food for their kids in a G7 country and they look at you and they see you making record profits. How can you justify that?' Singh accused Loblaw of making 'excess profit' of $1 million per day. Loblaw is a big company so the numbers are large, Weston said. 'Reasonable profitability is an important part of operating a successful business. I think a dollar (profit) out of $25 of sales is reasonable.'

"To test the credibility of Singh and Weston’s claims, I went to Prof. Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University, who testified previously on food inflation.... It now costs more to ship food, Charlebois said, with unstable energy costs, unstable geo-politics and drought all playing a role. 'It’s a bit bizarre to see people pointing fingers at either a company or a man. Is Galen Weston responsible for Germany’s 20 per cent food inflation rate? I don’t think so.… When I see a guy like Jagmeet Singh attacking the grocers, I just don’t know where he’s coming from.' Canadian grocers have margins of 4.5 to 6.0 per cent on food sales, Charlebois said....

"John Barlow, a Conservative MP from rural Alberta, referenced the expert testimony that inflationary government spending and an uncompetitive tax regime, including the carbon tax, are drivers of food inflation.... Barlow might also have mentioned Singh’s steadfast support of policies that have made energy scarce and expensive, such as the NDP’s dogged opposition to nuclear power and oil and gas production.... This is a root cause of food inflation on a global scale, given how critical our previous low fuel prices were in pushing down input costs. If Singh is in need of a scapegoat for families not being able to feed their kids, he would do well to first look in the mirror."

Read more: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/david-staples-in-blame-game-over-high-food-costs-superstore-mogul-scores-win-over-ndps-singh

NDP leader: Freedom Convoy was "fascist" coup attempt

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, has accused unidentified "security forces" of colluding with Freedom Convoy 2022 to try to overthrow the federal government "in a fascist way."

Singh says Freedom Convoy organizers aimed to overthrow government in 'fascist way' | Western Standard - Matthew Horwood:

February 16, 2023 - "NDP [New Democratic Party] Leader Jagmeet Singh claimed Thursday the organizers of the Freedom Convoy wanted to overthrow the federal government in a 'fascist way.'

'They wanted to overthrow a democratically elected government with a committee of their own choosing,' Singh claimed during a Thursday press conference. 'Their goal was not an innocuous goal. Their goal was to overthrow government and to replace it in a fascist way without having any elections.'

"Singh's comments were in response to a question about the Emergencies Act report, set to be released Friday. Singh said the fact the act needed to be invoked to deal with the Freedom Convoy meant it was a 'failure on all levels of government to respond to this serious problem.' The NDP leader accused then-Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and Ontario Premier Doug Ford of not taking the protest seriously. According to Singh, Ottawa residents were harassed and intimidated for wearing masks.... 

"Singh also highlighted reports that some police officers 'colluded' with Freedom Convoy protestors. Convoy lawyer Keith Wilson said the organizers received leaked police intelligence from sympathizers within various forces on several occasions. According to Singh, the convoy organizers had a 'very clear goal' of overthrowing the federal government and replacing it with their own. This, combined with the sympathy some police officers showed for the movement, was 'pretty serious.'

"'Canada Unity and convoy organizer James Bauder wrote in a 'memorandum of understanding' the Senate and governor general could join them in forming a committee to order the revocation of COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.' {Note: Bauder actually wrote the MOA in 2019, for a different protest. He did post it again on his website during the Freedom Convoy protest, but the other organizers did not endorse it and he took the page down. - GD] Then at a press conference during the protest, organizer Tom Marazzo proposed the organizers and their supporters could sit at a table 'with the Conservatives, and the NDP, and the Bloc as a coalition.'"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/singh-says-freedom-convoy-organizers-aimed-to-overthrow-government-in-fascist-way/article_bc0f6898-ae31-11ed-8a21-8f194204681c.html

Alberta NDP ethics critic hacked health database

Alberta NDP promoted MLA one month after he breached provincial vaccine records | True North - Rachel Emmanuel:

July 15, 2022 -"Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley promoted former NDP MLA Thomas Dang to the party’s Democracy and Ethics critic role, even while the Official Opposition was aware he hacked the provincial Covid-19 vaccine records one month earlier, True North has learned. Dang was charged in June under the province’s Health Information Act for illegally attempting to access private information contained in the Alberta Health vaccine portal in September 2021. He faces a fine of $200,000 if convicted.

"Dang has said he accessed the site to test vulnerabilities on the newly launched Alberta Health vaccine portal, and upon finding one — and uncovering a woman’s healthcare number in the process — he informed NDP chief of staff Jeremy Nolais and NDP director of communications Benjamin Alldritt, court documents show. He was promoted to the critic portfolio one month later, in October, until he left the party to sit as an Independent MLA once the RCMP began investigating his actions in December....

"In September, ... Dang used Premier Jason Kenney’s birth date and vaccination dates, which are publicly available, to crack the site’s privacy safeguards. Between Sept. 19 and 23, Dang’s computer program made 1.78 million queries using Kenney’s personal information. Dang admitted to RCMP the queries were randomly generated guesses aimed at revealing the premier’s health care number.... On Sept. 23, Dang successfully uncovered a ... health-care number [that] belonged to a woman sharing the premier’s date of birth and vaccine month. Dang ran two subsequent manual tests to verify. Court documents say he then notified Nolais and Alldritt, who sent an email to Alberta Health communications director Steve Buick.... One month later, Dang was given a critic title.

"Alldritt declined to comment when contacted by True North on Wednesday, other than to say, 'Unfortunately we don’t have dealings with True North'.... Dang did not immediately respond for comment from True North on Thursday."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2022/07/15/ndp-dang/

Unsealed court records suggest Notley misled Albertans | Western Standard - Arthur C. Green:

July 15, 2022 - "Newly unsealed court records suggest NDP Leader Rachel Notley misled Albertans when she denied knowing that Edmonton-South MLA Thomas Dang hacked Alberta’s vaccine records system using information that was not his own, former police officer and Chief Government Whip Brad Rutherford said. On Wednesday, Provincial Court Judge Shelagh Creagh unsealed damning court records that show Notley’s office knew Dang conducted a shocking 1.78 million illegal health record searches in September....

"According to the unsealed records, ... Dang told RCMP in a January interview that he got a hit on the premier’s private information early in the morning on September 23. The investigator believes that 20 minutes later, Dang performed a manual confirmation using the same information. Approximately two hours after that, Dang performed what is thought to have been a third confirmation. Eight minutes after that is when Notley’s staff informed the health minister’s office....

"Notley told Postmedia back in March that ... 'when Dang raised the issue of problems with the website with NDP staff, a staffer informed the health ministry, but she was never aware of personal information being accessed, nor did she or her staff receive personal information,' Postmedia reported."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/breaking-unsealed-court-records-suggest-notley-misled-albertans/article_a41f8234-0302-11ed-8c57-3b6f779d4c6c.html

B.C. government drops fines against churches

Justice Centre successfully defends B.C. pastors against lockdown fines | True North -  Elie Cantin-Nantel:

May 17, 2022 - "The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) has announced a legal win for three British Columbia pastors ticketed for defying lockdown orders during the pandemic. A total of 24 tickets – adding up to $55,200 – against Pastors John Koopman of the Chilliwack Free Reformed Church, James Butler of the Free Grace Baptist Church and Timothy Champ of the Valley Heights Community Church, have been dropped by the B.C. Crown. The pastors were fined following their non-compliance with provincial government restrictions imposed on Nov. 2020, which banned in-person religious services.... 

"Koopman received 23 tickets totalling $52,900, while Butler received 25 tickets totalling $57,500, and Champ received 18 tickets totalling $41,400. The recent victory amounted to seven tickets dropped against Koopman, 11 against Butler and six against Champ, for a total of 24. The JCCF said there remains over 20 outstanding tickets issued against pastors and churches in B.C.’s Fraser Valley. 'The Justice Centre will vigorously defend pastors and churches against these charges in future appearances in Provincial Court,' said the legal charity, adding that over four dozen tickets against B.C. churches they represent have now been dropped. 

"'All levels of government, including politicians, health officials and law enforcement, have the duty to respect the constitutional rights and freedoms of Canadians. In response to Covid, there has been a serious failure of government officials and authorities in BC to respect the Charter freedoms of BC residents,” said JCCF lawyer Marty Moore. Moore added that 'BC discriminated against houses of worship, prohibiting them from meeting for worship regardless of the safety measures they implemented.' While the B.C. government never shut down retail businesses during the first lockdown in the spring of 2020, it did impose restrictions on places of worship that were stricter than other provinces.

"Provincial politicians across Canada imposed restrictions on places of worship which some have said encroached on religious freedom – however many of those restrictions were capacity limits ... and not full closures as was the case in B.C. True North spoke to two northern B.C. pastors in December – Simon Lievaart of Bethel Reformed Church in Smithers and Andrew Simpson of the Heritage Free Presbyterian Church in Prince George – who defied public health orders including vaccine passports.... Other pastors across Canada also defied public health restrictions, including Pastor James Coates of Gracelife Church and Pastor Artur Pawlowski of the Cave of Adullam congregation in Alberta. In Ontario, Pastors Henry Hildebrandt of the Church of God in Aylmer, Aaron Rock of the Harvest Bible Church in Windsor and Jacob Reaume of the Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo opted not to comply with restrictions imposed by the Ford government.

"Throughout the pandemic, the JCCF has been representing people who were charged with breaking government Covid rules. The organization also represented the Freedom Convoy earlier this year."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2022/05/17/justice-centre-successfully-defends-b-c-pastors-against-lockdown-fines/

Andrew Lawton on church closings, Dec. 28, 2020:

Lockdown measures reintroduced in Canada

Ontario reduces capacity limits and announces a ton of new restrictions for indoor settings | BlogTO - Jack Landau:
December 17, 2021 - "Doug Ford just announced a long list of new restrictions for indoor settings to slow the rapid spread of Omicron.... Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said on Friday that 'the province is applying a 50 per cent capacity limits in indoor public settings such as restaurants, bars, gyms, pharmacies, grocery stores, shopping malls, and personal care services' ... [e]ffective 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19.... 

"There are more restrictions that will go into place this weekend, and the province is hinting that additional, harsher measures could be coming soon. With the holidays just days away, social gatherings have been capped to a 10 person maximum starting Sunday.... If your holiday dinner plans included a night out, be warned that restaurants will be forced to stop selling alcohol at 10 p.m. and close their doors at 11 p.m. daily, effectively ending nightlife in the city. You also won't be able to eat or drink at most events and shows....

"Ford said during Friday's press conference, 'daily COVID cases will continue to accelerate,' and the province's 'decision to limit peoples' ability to gather, especially during holidays, is an extremely, extremely difficult one to make'. Premier Ford and Dr. Moore were careful to avoid the word 'lockdown' in the announcement of sweeping measures on Friday afternoon, but it's pretty clear we're headed back to the darkest days of the pandemic as case counts skyrocket."
Read more: https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/12/ontario-reduces-capacity-limits-and-announced-ton-new-restrictions-indoor-settings/

Omicron Threat Brings New Lockdown Rules | Toronto Star - Moira Wyton, The Tyee:
December 23, 2021 - "British Columbia is cancelling thousands of scheduled surgeries, shutting down bars and gyms and limiting gatherings in an effort to prevent the Omicron COVID variant from overwhelming hospitals ... said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry... All scheduled surgeries will be cancelled starting Jan. 4, or about 3,000 of B.C.’s approximately 7,000 surgeries performed each week. Emergency and urgent surgeries will continue, Health Minister Adrian Dix said. Henry said the measures are needed to ensure the health system can respond to an expected surge in cases. 'We have a very fragile health-care workforce right now,' she added.

"Indoor personal gatherings are limited to a maximum of one other household or 10 people, and all must be vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are not permitted to gather indoors outside of their household.

"Organized events like wedding receptions and New Year’s or holiday parties at venues of any size are prohibited, and restaurants are limited to tables of six people or less. Seated events of any size like concerts, sports games and movie theatres are limited to half capacity, with vaccine card checks. There is no restriction on non-essential travel within B.C. or Canada, but Henry said anyone travelling should be vaccinated and limit their contacts to only close family members.
Read more: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/12/23/omicron-threat-brings-new-lockdown-rules.html

All Nunavut communities under strict lock down as COVID-19 surges across the territory | CBC News:
December 24, 2021 - "All Nunavut communities have entered into a full lockdown due to a surge of COVID-19 cases across the territory. There are eight active cases in the territory: one in Rankin Inlet and one in Sanirajak. Pangnirtung has one new case bringing the total in that community to three. Iqaluit has one more confirmed case bringing the number of cases in the city to three. 

"In a press release, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson said the strict measures are to try and break transmission of the virus.... Effective immediately in every Nunavut community: 

• Outdoor gatherings are limited to five people. 
• Indoor public gatherings are not allowed.
• In homes there can be up to five visitors for essential or emergency services only. 
• Gyms, libraries, swimming pools and arenas are closed. 
• Places of worship are closed. 
• All non-essential businesses and government offices are closed.
• Bars and licensed establishments are closed.
• Restaurants are open for takeout only. 
• Long term and elder care facilities are closed. 
• Personal services are closed. Such as hairdressers, massage therapists. 
• All schools in Nunavut will remain closed until Jan. 10 or until advised by Patterson. Daycares can stay open for children of essential workers.

"All government offices are closed, along with non-essential business. It is unclear if Government of Nunavut employees will be working from home after the holiday closure, which ends Jan. 3. 

"Anyone who arrives in Nunavut from outside the territory, and who is not triple vaccinated, is advised to isolate for 14 days upon entry into the territory.... Residents of Rankin Inlet are able to travel home and essential workers can also travel to the community [only - gd] with an exemption letter from their employer or the chief public health officer. Travel is also restricted in Pangnirtung and Iqaluit." [stress added]
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/christmas-lock-down-covid-19-1.6297549 

Vancouver B.C. put back under lockdown

B.C. announces new regional restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge | CTV News - Todd Coybne:  

November 7, 2020 - "Health officials in British Columbia announced a series of new lockdown measures for the most populous areas of the province Saturday, as COVID-19 cases continue to surge to record-breaking levels. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced four public health orders for the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.... The health orders will be in place for two weeks, effective from 10 p.m. Saturday until the afternoon of Nov. 23, and are intended to reduce social gatherings and prevent the spread of the virus.

"The first order restricts all social gatherings of any size in the Fraser and Vancouver regions to immediate household members only. This includes gatherings for events like weddings and funerals.

"The second order restricts travel into and out of the Vancouver and Fraser regions to essential travel only. Anyone who lives outside these regions is encouraged not to visit unless absolutely necessary. Travel into the regions for recreational sports activities is prohibited.

"The third order pertains to indoor recreation centres and gyms in the two health regions. The order means these businesses must cease classes and indoor group activities until new safety plans are in place and approved by provincial health officials. Individual fitness activities or one-on-one fitness training can continue as usual.

"The final order applies to workplaces in the two health regions, and dictates that all workplaces must conduct active symptom screening for employees. Henry said provincial workplace inspectors will be out in force to ensure workplace compliance. Where possible, employers are asked to encourage employees to work from home. Restaurants can continue to operate under existing restrictions on operating hours, room capacities and limits of six people per table....

"The provincial health officer stressed that schools will remain open for the foreseeable future. Travel into and out of the province will not be restricted, nor will ferry travel."

Read more: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-announces-new-regional-restrictions-as-covid-19-cases-surge-1.5178751