Ex-CTV Bureau Chief accuses CBC, CTV, Global of pushing COVID ‘propaganda’

Former CTV foreign correspondent Rodney Palmer accused Canada’s major news organizations of abandoning the public during COVID-19 by branding critics of pandemic policies as “anti-vaxxers,” conspiracy theorists and sources of misinformation.

He told the Allison Inquiry that such labels encouraged self-censorship and amounted to “the language of propaganda,” accusing outlets including CBC, CTV, Global, the Globe and Mail and National Post of shifting their allegiance away from Canadians.

His testimony follows similar criticism from former CBC journalists, while separate federal research found just 18 per cent of respondents expressed high trust in journalists working for large media organizations. Keep Reading

Carney rejects EU membership report, seeks ‘unique alliance’

Prime Minister Mark Carney denied Canada is seeking EU membership after American media reported discussions about an unprecedented “associate member” status, saying instead Ottawa wants a “unique alliance” with the bloc.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Carney of holding secret talks without informing Canadians and demanded Parliament reconvene so the Prime Minister can explain his plans.

Poilievre declared Canada would “NEVER be the 51st U.S. state” or “the 28th EU state,” as Carney pursues closer European ties amid worsening trade tensions with Washington. Keep Reading

NDP flips Calgary-Shaw in major by-election upset

Naheed Nenshi’s NDP scored a major upset in Calgary-Shaw, with Kyle Campbell defeating UCP candidate Mike Derry by 582 votes and flipping the longtime conservative stronghold.

Campbell captured 46.6 per cent of the unofficial vote to Derry’s 43 per cent, handing Nenshi a significant boost and Premier Danielle Smith a setback roughly a year before Alberta’s next scheduled election.

Smith congratulated Campbell and pledged to work constructively with him, while the result raises questions about the UCP’s ability to hold traditionally conservative Calgary ridings. Keep Reading

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland intend to leave UK to join EU

The pro-independence leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a joint pact calling for constitutional change, arguing Westminster should not be able to block their nations from determining their own futures.

The leaders also declared that their nations’ future “belongs in the European Union,” pledging closer European ties and calling on the British government to facilitate any moves toward independence. Keep Reading

Carney reportedly pushes for ‘associate membership’ with European Union

Foreign media reported Prime Minister Mark Carney spent months privately pushing European leaders for an unprecedented “associate member” status for Canada in the European Union. Keep Reading

Opinion: Canada is a crime scene. Allison Inquiry concludes

Testimony at the Allison Inquiry featured Canadians who attributed severe injuries or deaths of loved ones to COVID-19 vaccines, with witnesses alleging they were coerced into vaccination, denied informed consent and later dismissed by medical professionals.

The inquiry also heard accusations that public health authorities, regulators and legacy media suppressed safety concerns and stigmatized dissent, prompting witnesses to demand accountability and investigations. Keep Reading

EXCLUSIVE: New Milton school board candidate speaks on ISIS family controversy

Khdiga Metwally, whose son was convicted of plotting ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks in New York City, is running for public school trustee in Milton, drawing international attention to the race.

Opponent Andrew Wood warned the controversy could distract the Halton District School Board from education while stressing that Metwally should not be blamed for her son’s actions. Keep Reading

Alberta woman forced into human rights hearing over anti-Pride flyer

Alberta woman Benita Pedersen faces an eight-day human rights hearing over a 2023 flyer opposing a rainbow crosswalk and criticizing transgender ideology after a complaint alleged the flyer discriminated based on gender identity and gender expression.

The complaint was referred to the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal under provisions governing public communications that indicate discrimination or are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt, but the allegations have not been decided. Keep Reading

Doctor ordered to pay $28K after refusing to give puberty blocker to B.C. teen

A B.C. family doctor was ordered to pay $28,100 after the province’s Human Rights Tribunal found he discriminated against a transgender-identifying 14-year-old by refusing to administer a prescribed puberty-blocker injection for religious and cultural reasons.

The tribunal rejected his defence that his religious beliefs and lack of expertise justified the refusal, finding the injection was within a family doctor’s ordinary scope of practice. Keep Reading

EXCLUSIVE: How councillor-hopeful Caryma Sa’d plans to fix Toronto–Danforth

Independent journalist and lawyer Caryma Sa’d is running for Toronto city council in Ward 14, arguing City Hall is dysfunctional and failing residents on affordability, transit, public safety, homelessness and drug addiction.

Sa’d says Toronto should rethink its harm-reduction and housing-first policies and wants to counter what she sees as ideology-driven decision-making in City Hall. Keep Reading

Repeat violent offender charged in Sikh temple stabbing — NO evidence of hate motive so far: police

A repeat violent offender released from federal prison one day before an Edmonton Sikh temple attack has been charged after two worshippers were allegedly stabbed.

Police say there is currently insufficient evidence to support hate-related charges, though the Hate Crimes Unit remains involved in the ongoing investigation. Keep Reading