Canadian Media: Qualifying Digital News Subscriptions List

We’ve previously addressed how “approved” media outlets effectively get a tax subsidy with digital subscriptions. In short, they are able to somewhat discount the price because readers can send their receipts to the Canada Revenue Agency for a 15% discount.

Now, this only covers 15% of up to $500/year. This means that it could amount to $75 in the following tax season. Who’s eligible to offer this?

It’s also a bit sickening to see “conservative” commentators who pretend to be against bailouts, but who see nothing wrong working for outlets that receive them. Guess resigning from such a job on principle is too much to ask.

Now, let’s take a look at which “media” organizations are able to give discounted subscriptions, off the backs of taxpayers. It’s quite the long list.

ORGANIZATION TYPE PUBLICATION DATE
3030106 Nova Scotia Limited allNovaScotia.com allNovaScotia
allNewfoundlandLabrador.com
allNewBrunswick
January 1, 2020
4437594 Canada Inc. Digital The Low Down to Hull & Back News January 1, 2020
Addington Publications Limited Print and Full Online Access Guysborough Journal January 1, 2020
Addington Publications Limited Online Only Access Guysborough Journal January 1, 2020
AllNewBrunswick.com Online News Service Ltd. allNewBrunswick.com allNewBrunswick
allNovaScotia
allNewfoundlandLabrador.com
January 1, 2020
AllNewfoundlandLabrador.com Online News Service Ltd. allNewfoundlandlabrador.com allNewfoundlandLabrador.com
allNovaScotia
allNewBrunswick
January 1, 2020
AllSaskatchewan.com Online News Service Ltd. Digital subscription allSaskatchewan.com July 15, 2021
Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership Premium Lethbridge Herald January 1, 2020
Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership Digital e-Edition Lethbridge Herald January 1, 2020
Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership Digital e-Edition Medicine Hat News January 1, 2020
Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership Digital ePaper The Taber Times January 1, 2020
Baby Media Mogul Inc. Daily Newsletter Subscription Queen’s Park Today January 1, 2020
Baby Media Mogul Inc. Daily Newsletter Subscription British Columbia Today January 1, 2020
Baby Media Mogul Inc. Daily Newsletter Subscription Alberta Today January 1, 2020
Brunswick News Inc. Digital subscription Telegraph Journal January 1, 2020
Brunswick News Inc. Digital plus Print Subscription Telegraph Journal January 1, 2020
Coopérative Nationale de L’information Indépendante, coop de solidarité L’essentiel numérique Le Soleil, Le Nouvelliste, Le Droit, Le Quotidien, La Tribune et La Voix de l’Est. January 1, 2021
Coopérative Nationale de L’information Indépendante, coop de solidarité Le numérique tout compris Le Soleil, Le Nouvelliste, Le Droit, Le Quotidien, La Tribune et La Voix de l’Est. January 1, 2021
Coopérative Nationale de L’information Indépendante, coop de solidarité Le numérique et papier tout compris Le Soleil, Le Nouvelliste, Le Droit, Le Quotidien, La Tribune et La Voix de l’Est. January 1, 2021
FolioJumpline Publishing Inc. Digital Prince Albert Daily Herald January 1, 2020
FolioJumpline Publishing Inc. Digital Digital plus print in city January 1, 2020
FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership All Access Digital Winnipeg Free Press January 1, 2020
FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Read Now Pay Later Winnipeg Free Press January 1, 2020
FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership All Access Digital Brandon Sun January 1, 2020
FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Read Now Pay Later Brandon Sun January 1, 2020
FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership All Access Digital The Carillon January 1, 2020
Halifax Examiner Inc. HalifaxExaminer.ca Halifax Examiner January 1, 2020
Hill Times Publishing Inc. Digital Hill Times January 1, 2020
Hill Times Publishing Inc. Print & Digital Hill Times January 1, 2020
Icimédias inc. Numérique Le Canada January 1, 2020
Icimédias inc. Papier + Numérique Le Canada January 1, 2020
Island Press Limited Unlimited digital access The Eastern Graphic
West Prince Graphic
Island Farmer
Atlantic Post Calls
June 22, 2021
Island Press Limited Print + Digital The Eastern Graphic
West Prince Graphic
Island Farmer
Atlantic Post Calls
June 22, 2021
Island Press Limited Print + Digital Combo The Eastern Graphic November 29, 2021
Island Press Limited Print + Digital Combo The West Prince Graphic November 29, 2021
Island Press Limited Print + Digital Combo Island Farmer November 29, 2021
Island Press Limited Print + Digital Combo Atlantic Post Calls November 29, 2021
Kelowna Daily Courier Newspaper Limited Partnership Print Subscriber Free Access Daily Courier January 1, 2020
Kelowna Daily Courier Newspaper Limited Partnership Print Subscriber Free Access Penticton Herald January 1, 2020
Kelowna Daily Courier Newspaper Limited Partnership Total Digital Daily Courier January 1, 2020
Kelowna Daily Courier Newspaper Limited Partnership Total Digital Penticton Herald January 1, 2020
Les Éditions de l’Acadie Nouvelle (1984) Ltée Abonnement Numérique Acadie Nouvelle January 1, 2020
Les Éditions de l’Acadie Nouvelle (1984) Ltée Abonnement Tout compris Acadie Nouvelle January 1, 2020
Manitoulin Publishing Company Limited Digital subscription The Manitoulin Expositor January 1, 2020
MédiaQMI Inc. Offre Tout Inclus Combo Papier et Édition Électronique Journal de Montréal January 1, 2020
MédiaQMI Inc. Édition Électronique 7 jours sur 7 Journal de Montréal January 1, 2020
MédiaQMI Inc. Offre Tout Inclus Combo Papier et Édition Électronique Journal de Québec January 1, 2020
MédiaQMI Inc. Édition Électronique 7 jours sur 7 Journal de Québec January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper Hamilton Spectator January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper Hamilton Spectator January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper Waterloo Region Record January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper Waterloo Region Record January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper Peterborough Examiner January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper Peterborough Examiner January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper St. Catharines Standard January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper St. Catharines Standard January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper Niagara Falls Review January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper Niagara Falls Review January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Digital access + ePaper Welland Tribune January 1, 2020
Metroland Media Group Ltd. Home delivery including digital access + ePaper Welland Tribune January 1, 2020
Mishmash Media Inc Numérique et Papier L’actualité January 1, 2020
Mishmash Media Inc Numérique L’actualité January 1, 2020
Observer Media Group Inc. Digital Access Canada’s National Observer January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access National Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery National Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery National Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Calgary Herald January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Calgary Herald January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Calgary Herald January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Calgary Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Calgary Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Calgary Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Edmonton Journal January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Edmonton Journal January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Edmonton Journal January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Edmonton Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Edmonton Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Edmonton Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access The Province (Vancouver) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery The Province (Vancouver) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery The Province (Vancouver) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access The Vancouver Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery The Vancouver Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery The Vancouver Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Winnipeg Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Winnipeg Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Winnipeg Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access London Free Press January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery London Free Press January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery London Free Press January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Ottawa Citizen January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Ottawa Citizen January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Ottawa Citizen January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Ottawa Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Ottawa Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Ottawa Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Toronto Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Toronto Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Toronto Sun January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Windsor Star January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Windsor Star January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Windsor Star January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Montreal Gazette January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Montreal Gazette January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Montreal Gazette January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Regina Leader-Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Regina Leader-Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Regina Leader-Post January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online Access Saskatoon Star Phoenix January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Weekend Home Delivery Saskatoon Star Phoenix January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. Online plus Daily Home Delivery Saskatoon Star Phoenix January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper Daily Herald-Tribune January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Intelligencer (Belleville) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Expositor (Brantford) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Recorder & Times (Brockville) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Chatham Daily News January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper Standard Freeholder (Cornwall) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Kingston Whig-Standard January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper North Bay Nugget January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Observer (Sarnia) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Sault Star (Sault Ste. Marie) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper Simcoe Reformer January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper St. Thomas Times-Journal January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Beacon Herald (Stratford) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Sudbury Star January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper The Daily Press (Timmins) January 1, 2020
Postmedia Network Inc. E-Paper Sentinel-Review (Woodstock) January 1, 2020
Presse-Ouest Ltée. Numérique la-liberte.ca La Liberté January 1, 2020
Presse-Ouest Ltée. Numérique et Papier la-liberte.ca La Liberté January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access The Telegram January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access The Telegram January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access The Guardian January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access The Guardian January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access The Cape Breton Post January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access The Cape Breton Post January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access Tri-County Vanguard January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access Tri-County Vanguard January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access Truro News January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access Truro News January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access New Glasgow News January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access New Glasgow News January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access Valley Journal Advertiser January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access Valley Journal Advertiser January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access Annapolis Valley Register January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access Annapolis Valley Register January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Unlimited Digital Access Journal Pioneer January 1, 2020
Saltwire Network Inc. Print + Unlimited Digital Access Journal Pioneer January 1, 2020
TC Publication Limited Partnership Print and E-edition Times Colonist January 1, 2020
TC Publication Limited Partnership E-edition Times Colonist January 1, 2020
The Catholic Register Digital Edition The Catholic Register January 1, 2020
The Catholic Register Print and Digital The Catholic Register January 1, 2020
The Globe and Mail Inc. Digital Access The Globe and Mail January 1, 2020
The Globe and Mail Inc. Home Delivery plus Digital Access The Globe and Mail January 1, 2020
The Globe and Mail Inc. Globe2Go The Globe and Mail January 1, 2020
The Halifax Herald Limited Unlimited Digital Access The Chronicle Herald January 1, 2020
The Halifax Herald Limited Print + Unlimited Digital Access The Chronicle Herald January 1, 2020
The Logic Inc. The Logic Annual Subscription The Logic January 1, 2020
The Logic Inc. The Logic All-Access Subscription The Logic January 1, 2020
Thunder Bay Chronicle Limited Partnership Digital e-version The Chronicle Journal January 1, 2020
Thunder Bay Chronicle Limited Partnership Print subscriber free online account The Chronicle Journal January 1, 2020
Toronto Star Newspaper Limited Print + ePaper + Digital access The Toronto Star January 1, 2020
Toronto Star Newspaper Limited ePaper + Digital Access The Toronto Star January 1, 2020
Toronto Star Newspaper Limited The Star Digital Access The Toronto Star January 1, 2020
Toronto Star Newspaper Limited The Star ePaper The Toronto Star January 1, 2020

While there are 165 listings (thus far) for this tax credit, many are of the same outlet offering different formats. It’s also obvious that many are owned by the same conglomerates, such as Post Media.

There are, of course, other subsidies available. Independent media — that doesn’t receive handouts — is virtually nonexistent, at least for large and medium companies. Even groups that claim to be truly independent can withhold important information.

Now, the question everyone needs to ask: will these outlets be too critical of Government policy, or investigate too deeply? After all, it’s not wise to bite the hand that feeds you.

(1) https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html
(2) https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/deductions-credits-expenses/digital-news-subscription/list-qualifying-digital-news-subscriptions.html#wb-auto-4
(3) https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/programs/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/federal-government-budgets/budget-2019-investing-middle-class/canadian-journalism/refundable-labour-tax-credit.html
(4) https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/periodical-fund/aid-publishers/application-guidelines.html
(5) https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/periodical-fund/special-measures-journalism/application-guidelines.html

NACIA, And Insect Consumption, Alternative Protein Market

“Eat the bugs” is a global effort to change the consumption habits of people and animals across the world. It’s also part of a larger movement towards “alternative” sources of protein. And a significant piece of this is being financed with public money. Let’s get into some of the details.

For clarity: the $152.8 million to Protein Industries Canada is to fund the “Supercluster” as outlined in the 2017 Federal Budget. The money is then redistributed to various grantees.

There are also significant grants being handed out for various plant-based meats and alternatives. So, it’s not all about just the bugs. Merit is a new food processor on the north end of Winnipeg and works with plant proteins. Seems that Government really is trying to kill traditional farming.

Isn’t it strange that so much money is spent on pesticides and other things to wipe out insects, but now, they are to be breed on a massive scale?

Note: some of these entries were included in a previous piece on the subject of subsidies for cricket farming. However, the issue is far bigger than just that.

COMPANY DATE SUBJECT AMOUNT
2066879 Alberta Ltd. May 17, 2018 Baked Products W/Insect Proteins $10,000.00
2589002 Ontario Inc. Jun 1, 2020 Raw Insect-Based Protein For Pets $43,812.00
Aspire Food Group Ltd. Jul 10, 2020 Build Comm. Demonstration Facility $8,500,000.00
Aspire Food Group Ltd. Nov 1, 2021 Cricket Production, Processing Facility $50,000.00
Casa Bonita Foods, Inc. Aug 9, 2021 Protein Snacks With Cricket Flour $39,000.00
Dalhousie University Mar 30, 2021 Hemp/Cannabis Waste $25,000.00
Enterra Feed Corp. May 1, 2020 Alternative Proteins For Animals $24,000.00
Entologik Inc Jun 18, 2020 Continuity Of Operations $58,979.00
Entologik Inc Aug 3, 2020 Automate The Rearing Process $30,000.00
Ferme Bogemans Inc. Dec 3, 2018 Animal Nutrition From Insects, Fertilizer $40,430.00
Gaia Protein Ltd. Apr 1, 2021 Cricket Production Technology $42,000.00
Grévio Inc. May 11, 2020 Egg Laying, Hatching, Rearing Crickets $48,800.00
Griffith Foods Limited May 1, 2019 Alternative Protein Products $61,000.00
McGill University Nov 5, 2021 Cricket Rearing, Collection, Transformation $30,000.00
Merit Functional Foods Feb 24, 2020 Plant-Based Proteins From Peas/Canola $10,000,000.00
Näak Inc. Oct 29, 2018 Products Cooked W/Cricket Powder $48,517.00
Näak Inc. Sep 23, 2020 Low-Powder Cricket Energy Bars $123,178.00
OECD Mar 20, 2020 Market Research, Alt Proteins $97,460.00
PEI Bioalliance Nov 18, 2020 Sustainable Protein Production Program $601,817.00
Pholoho Biotechnology Jan 24, 2022 Equipment For Insect-Based Proteins $115,000.00
Protein Industries Canada Mar 15, 2018 Protein Industries Supercluster $152,843,759.00
Queen’s University Mar 30, 2020 Insect/Plant-Based Proteins $132,158.00
Sustento Inc. Dec 1, 2021 Dog Food With Novel Ingredients $50,000.00
Veterinarians W/O Borders Dec 16, 2021 Innovation, Cricket Farming $1,999,999.00

Of course, all of the listings here can be verified by checking the Federal Government’s own database on grant money issued.

The alternative protein section is just 1 out of 5 initiatives undertaken in this program. Pretty convenient that we had shutdowns over the last 2 years decimating undesirable industries.

Aspire Food Group, did recently announce that its cricket production plant in London, Ontario was finally finished. A large part of this was financed by Canadian taxpayers. Additionally, Aspire is part of NACIA, the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture. This is big business.

Insects are an untapped natural resource with the potential to change our agricultural systems to be safer and more sustainable.

Anchored by Founding Member companies, Aspire Food Group, Beta Hatch, EnviroFlight, InnovaFeed, and Ynsect, NACIA members are currently 200 strong, based in 12 countries, 50 companies, and 23 universities.

NACIA members include insect producers, product makers in food, animal feed, pet food and soil health, as well as technology and service providers for agriculture and food. Researcher and university student members are examining how to improve the insect agriculture industry through scientific inquiry.

NACIA is currently working to improve the regulatory environment in North America, connect our members with industry stakeholders, and the knowledge they need to grow. We also work to inform key stakeholders about the potential for insects to provide environmentally sustainable, highly nutritious ingredients that can be produced as part of circular and regenerative agriculture.

It’s interesting that their “mission statement” talks about creating more sustainable agriculture systems. This suggests that the goal isn’t just to supplement more traditional farming, but to replace it altogether. Hard to disregard the food processing plants being destroyed, in light of this.

NACIA partners with similar organizations in Asia and Australia, and with the pet-food industry. It’s not just about getting humans to eat the bugs, but their dogs and cats too.

NACIA retweeted this February 9 article from the World Economic Forum on how eating bug can help reduce climate change. That is a very common talking point: that converting from a meat diet to a bug or plant based diet will reduce greenhouse gases.

NACIA’s Twitter account was created in 2017. Although not terribly active, it does boost other groups and individuals connected in the industry.

In April 2022, NACIA co-hosted a webinar with IPIFF about trans-Atlantic business opportunities for farmed insects both for human and animal consumption. Bugs were also to be used in fertilizer. Interestingly, they cite the corona “pandemic” and conflict in Ukraine as reasons to accelerate. Watch the clip from the start of the video.

Now, what if things were even more organized than that?

This agreement seemed so harmless when Stephen Harper signed it in 2015, doesn’t it? Now, Trudeau is domestically implementing it, showing there’s really just 1 party.

Kudos as well to Jordan Peterson. He did a great job at the U.N. for those 3 years, removing the ideological clap-trap (his terminology), to make the contents less obvious to readers.

Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
2.2 By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed
2.a Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries
2.b Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round
2.c Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.a Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.b Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
.
* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.

Consider Goal #2 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, or Agenda 2030. All of this sounds harmless on the surface, until you realize that “sustainable food systems” means replacing what we have now in the West.

As for Goal #13: if we take the notion at face value that climate change is a dire threat, and bug-based agriculture and manufactured proteins can offset that, then this new type of food supply could be seen as a solution. Of course, this is just an excuse to sabotage existing systems.

It’s a common sales pitch that insect farming leads to a higher protein yield than with more traditional ones (like with livestock). Other sources of protein can be manufactured. The goal is simply to boost production overall, but reducing the quality of the protein sources available. Did anyone here really want bug diets?

It has been widely speculated that pandemic restrictions (particularly restrictions on travel and movement) would be brought back. However, the next iteration would be climate lockdowns. This is a variation of removing freedoms. But instead of losing the ability to travel, the autonomy over diet could be restricted. After all, we can’t have people eating meat when there is a climate crisis.

Re-watch the video above. It’s clear that pushing insect consumption is being done — at least in part — under the guise of UN Agenda 2030. There’s lots of “non-meat” alternatives being pushed.

Of course, it seems very unlikely that the elites who rule us will ever have to eat the bugs. Exceptions will be made for those essential people.

(1) https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/
(2) https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovation-superclusters-initiative/en/about-canadas-innovation-superclusters-initiative
(3) https://nacia.org/
(4) https://nacia.org/partners
(5) https://twitter.com/NACIA_org
(6) https://twitter.com/CEIF_InsectAg/status/1491508619740917763
(7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHbSE_1–g
(8) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/how-insects-positively-impact-climate-change/
(9) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

Cricket Production Subsidies; Aspire Food Group’s New Plant

With food shortages being predicted in the near future (not that this was planned), it’s interesting to see what exactly is being used to fill the void. Will more production plants be built, or will new “alternatives” become available for the peons?

Not only is “Eat the bugs, bigot” more than just a meme, it seems that Canadian tax dollars are being used to subsidize these ideas. Here are some recent grants from the Federal Government.

COMPANY DATE SUBJECT AMOUNT
Aspire Food Group Ltd. Jul 10, 2020 Build Comm. Demonstration Facility $8,500,000.00
Aspire Food Group Ltd. Nov 1, 2021 Cricket Production, Processing Facility $50,000.00
Casa Bonita Foods, Inc. Aug 9, 2021 Protein Snacks With Cricket Flour $39,000.00
Entologik Inc Jun 18, 2020 Continuity Of Operations $58,979.00
Entologik Inc Aug 3, 2020 Automate The Rearing Process $30,000.00
Gaia Protein Ltd. Apr 1, 2021 Cricket Production Technology $42,000.00
Grévio Inc. May 11, 2020 Egg Laying, Hatching, Rearing Crickets $48,800.00
Mcgill University Nov 5, 2021 Cricket Rearing, Collection, Transformation $30,000.00
Näak Inc. Oct 29, 2018 Products Cooked W/Cricket Powder $48,517.00
Näak Inc. Sep 23, 2020 Low-Powder Cricket Energy Bars $123,178.00
Veterinarians W/O Borders Dec 16, 2021 Innovative Approaches, Cricket Farming $1,999,999.00

Of course, all of this can be found by checking the list of grants that has been handed out. Such information is considered public record.

Aspire Food Group, which received $8.5 million, has been lobbying Ottawa for that money. The money isn’t yet available on the Registry, but we’ll have to check for updates. Specific agencies include:

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
  • Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)
  • Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
  • Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Good to see public money spent so wisely.

Despite the Open Gov site lists $8.5 million, apparently, it obtained over $16 million in capital under Canada’s Innovation Supercluster Initiative. Other projects being funded are available on the Protein Industries webpage. Clearly, crickets is just one topic within this category, and much more will have to be done on it.

Protein Industries” is 1 of 5 areas which Ottawa is expected to pump money into. It seems they really are trying to get rid of meat — real meat — worldwide. Or is that just another conspiracy theory?

Although it went unnoticed by many, Aspire did announce in 2020 that it would soon have the largest cricket processing plant in the world. The new plant in London, Ontario was completed in May 2022. Apparently, some 9,000 metric tons of crickets will be produced annually, both for human and animal consumption.

Aspire won the Clinton Global Initiative Hult Prize in 2013. They’ve since posted an update on their YouTube channel about where the company is heading.

Eating bugs is hardly a new concept, and has been promoted by the U.N. for many years. Now, it’s just more obvious.

There will have to be updates on this topic, but it’s rather unsettling to see this direction.

(1) https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/
(2) https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=365064&regId=895467#regStart
(3) https://www.foodbev.com/news/aspire-and-collaborators-receive-13-2m-to-build-cricket-protein-facility/
(4) https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/aspire-food-group-completes-production-of-manufacturing-facility-282031/
(5) https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovation-superclusters-initiative/en/about-canadas-innovation-superclusters-initiative
(6) https://www.proteinindustriescanada.ca/projects
(7) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/worlds-largest-cricket-processing-plant-coming-to-london-1.5655813
(8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGeY3TRwLJo
(9) https://news.un.org/en/story/2008/02/249402-edible-insects-provide-food-thought-un-organized-meeting

U.S. Customs And Border Protection: Some Statistics On The Invasion

This piece focuses on the problem that is the United States border, particularly the side with Mexico. There have been many interests vested in not securing it. Consequently, people flood in illegally, since there’s little reason not to.

Why should Canadians care about this?

The answer is simple: it’s not just an American problem. Open borders threatens the sovereignty of nations in general. Not only that, many of those illegal aliens will surely be working their way to Canada, given the generous welfare benefits available.

Unfortunately, far too few Canadians, including many “conservatives”, fail to realize that open borders changes everything. The makeup of the country impacts everything: voting patterns; finance; culture; crime; and future immigration policies. And the mantra “just come legally” misses the bigger picture.

For an earlier piece on the estimated real scale of illegals in the U.S., north of 22 million. There was also this gem in 2018, suing for the right to illegally enter the U.S.

Now, let’s get into some of the data from the USCBP, or the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The numbers are quite shocking indeed.

A note about “fiscal year”: Fiscal Year 2022 runs October 01, 2021 – September 30, 2022. All of the years seem to be done in this format.

“Recidivism” in the context of CBP refers to the percentage of people who are detained multiple times within the same fiscal year. It’s been approximately 25% the last few years, meaning 1/4 of people caught and forced to leave are caught again. There doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent. As for drugs being brought in:

Month Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Fentanyl Other
October 2021 376 220 0 290 73 3
November 2021 191 73 0 581 84 3
December 2021 127 102 66 559 26 4
January 2022 360 39 0 457 65 56
February 2022 785 90 2 268 12 27
March 2022 58 50 2 224 13 4
April 2022 259 186 14 479 174 19

Data from the 2022 fiscal year (thus far). The C.B.P. also provides recent statistics on the drug busts that have occurred from people trying to bring narcotics into the country. While it’s nice to have these seizures, it’s likely just a drop in the bucket as to what really goes on.

AGENCY INVOLVED FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22TD
Office of Field Operations Encounters 216,370 281,881 288,523 241,786 294,352 259,057
U.S. Border Patrol Total Encounters 310,531 404,142 859,501 405,036 1,662,167 1,219,920
Total Enforcement Actions 526,901 683,178 1,148,024 646,822 1,956,519 1,478,977

For “enforcement actions”, this refers to: individuals encountered at ports of entry who are seeking lawful admission into the United States but are determined to be inadmissible, individuals presenting themselves to seek humanitarian protection under our laws, and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe. This is according to the CBP’s own definition.

In other words, it’s the number of people who show up LEGALLY to border ports of entry and then are turned away. It doesn’t cover the vast numbers who enter illegally between border ports.

CATEGORY FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22TD
Office Of Field Operations
Criminal Non-Citizens 10,596 11,623 12,705 7,009 6,567 9,101
NCIC Arrests 7,656 5,929 8,546 7,108 8,979 5,580
U.S. Border Patrol
Criminal Noncitizens Encountered 8,531 6,698 4,269 2,438 10,763 5,985
Criminal Noncitizens With Warrants 2,675 1,550 4,153 2,054 1,904 525

There have also been considerable amounts of arrests for people who either had criminal records, and/or outstanding warrants. This doesn’t include people who entered without being detected.

GANG ARRESTS FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22TD
18th Street 84 47 61 145 168 36 28 66
MS-13 335 253 228 413 464 72 113 149
Paisas 73 119 53 62 90 93 79 80
Other 352 283 194 188 254 162 128 98
Total 844 702 536 808 976 363 348 393

There have also been gang-related arrests of people attempting to enter the United States. Of course, not all are included, just a few which represent the larger numbers of arrests.

Concerning arrests of suspected terrorists (all nationalities), CBP provides some data of people detained at both the Southern and Northern borders.

TERRORISTS AT BORDER FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22TD
Southern Border 116 155 280 72 103 42
Northern Border 217 196 258 124 54 115
Total 333 351 538 196 157 157

How many encounters does the U.S. Government have overall? Thankfully, they do provide more data, and a lot of it is mind blowing.

Nationwide Encounters
.
Encounter data includes U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Title 8 Apprehensions, Office of Field Operations (OFO) Title 8 Inadmissibles, and Title 42 Expulsions for fiscal years (FY) 2020, 2021, and 2022. Data is available for the Northern Land Border, Southwest Land Border, and Nationwide (i.e., air, land, and sea modes of transportation) encounters.

FISCAL YEAR 2019 2020 2021 2022
October 60,781 45,139 71,929 164,849
November 62,469 42,643 72,113 174,849
December 70,694 40,565 73,994 179,254
January 58,317 36,585 78,414 154,816
February 76,545 36,687 101,099 165,900
March 103,731 34,460 173,277 221,144
April 109,415 17,106 178,795 234,088
May 114,116 23,237 180,597
June 104,311 33,049 189,034
July 81,777 40,929 213,593
August 62,707 50,014 209,840
September 57,674 192,001 227,547
TOTAL 962,533 458,088 1,734,686 1,141,054 (so far)

Once more, how many people are simply sneaking in undetected?

The data can further be broken down by the type of person/people coming:

  • Accompanied Minors (AM)
  • Individuals in a Family Unit (FMUA)
  • Single Adults
  • Unaccompanied Children (UC)

While there are clearly a lot of people who get stopped by the various departments, an awful lot don’t. They are let in through some pathway, or just sneak in.

It also doesn’t help that there are countless Sanctuary Cities and States, which do an end run around border security. If people know they can get social services without the risk of being deported, many more will come.

Again, this is not just an American issue. Many of the hordes flooding into the U.S. will eventually make their way North. Canadians should absolutely be worried about this.

A little self promotion: Borderless Canada is still available online. Learn about what’s been going on in this country. Virtually all major issues can be directly tied to immigration and border security, and it’s not racist or bigoted to discuss these hard truths.

Don’t worry, there will be much more included on this subject in the near future. This can’t be done justice by a single piece.

(1) https://www.cbp.gov/
(2) https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/cbp-enforcement-statistics
(3) https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters
(4) https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters
(5) https://canucklaw.ca/true-scale-of-illegals-in-us-22-million-more-amnesty-coming/
(6) https://canucklaw.ca/tsce-2-migrant-caravan-lawyers-sue-for-right-to-legally-invade-u-s/
(7) https://canucklaw.ca/tsce-10b-sanctuary-cities-an-end-run-around-having-borders/

Eugenics In Canada: 20% Of Babies Aborted In “Pro-Choice Movement”

Ever wonder just how much of the Canadian public has been lost due to “abortion” in recent decades? Considering the size and scale of this, it must be good business.

According to a compilation of data from the Federal Government, approximately 20% of pregnancies have ended in abortion. Of course, this relies on transparent reporting, so the number could be much higher. These totals exclude miscarriages and stillbirths.

For a good source on this data, visit Love4Life. There is a considerable amount of statistical data compiled, and it connects back to official Government sources.

Now, there are going to be some discrepancies in the data. This is partly because of incomplete reporting, and also because some sources have different numbers. Nonetheless, it should paint the picture quite gruesomely.

Let’s drop the spoiler here: there were over 4,222,858 abortions between 1970 and 2020. This isn’t a joke. Our “pro-choice” supporters and policies have literally killed millions of Canadians.

It’s also quite interesting that many of the same people are behind two (seemingly) opposing ideologies within Western countries. Then again, population replacement is just some racist conspiracy theory.

[1] Promote widespread abortion locally
[2] Promote mass immigration to counter falling birth rates

Anyhow, let’s look at some of these numbers:

*** The U.N. has some data prior to 1974, so that’s added in:

YEAR ABORTIONS
1970 11,200
1971 30,923
1973 43,201
1974 52,435
1975 53,705
1976 58,712
1977 59,864
1978 66,710
1979 69,745
1980 72,099
1981 71,911
1982 75,071
1983 69,368
1984 69,449
1985 69,216
1986 69,572
1987 70,023
1988 72,693
1989 79,315
1990 92,901
1991 95,059
1992 102,085
1993 104,403
1994 106,255
1995 108,248
1996 111,659
1997 111,709
1998 110,331
1999 105,666
2000 105,427
2001 106,418
2002 105,154
2003 103,768
2004 100,039
2005 96,815
2006 91,310
2007 98,762
2008 95,876
2009 93,755
2010 *64,641
2011 108,844
2012 100,958
2013 102,446
2014 100,194
2015 100,104
2016 97,764
2017 94,030
2018 85,294
2019 83,576
2020 74,155

**Note: data is combined from CIHI and Statistics Canada. The Canadian Institute for Health Information does have considerable recent data on abortion in this country.

*2010 is considered incomplete, since there wasn’t reporting from Quebec.

The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada also compiles recent statistics on abortion numbers here. (see archive). It’s actually pretty morbid to think about.

According to Statistics Canada, there were 1,375,774 abortions between the years of 1987 to 2000. This is a span of 14 years, and showed an average of about 98,000 abortions per year. This amounted to some 263 performed per day.

If we factor in the data from 1970 to 2020 (data from a few different tables), there were 4,222,858 abortions. This covers 51 years, and would be approximately 86,000 per year. Converted into daily totals, that means roughly 227 babies would have died, every single day.

Don’t worry, it’s about to get a lot more disgusting when the ages of the girls and women are taken into account. There are an awful lot of children getting abortions.

YEAR ABORTIONS UNKNOWN UNDER 15 15 TO 17 18 TO 19
1974 52,435 0 623 7,937 7,868
1975 53,705 0 650 8,135 8,038
1976 58,712 0 717 8,551 8,764
1977 59,864 0 697 8,684 9,051
1978 66,710 0 642 9,228 10,453
1979 69,745 0 694 9,661 10,827
1980 72,099 0 613 9,650 11,115
1981 71,911 0 607 8,954 10,785
1982 75,071 0 586 8,463 11,073
1983 69,368 0 561 7,150 9,568
1984 69,449 0 504 6,887 8,996
1985 69,216 0 554 6,658 8,525
1986 69,572 0 430 6,636 8,497
1987 70,023 0 433 6,411 8,587
1988 72,693 0 424 6,361 8,916
1989 79,315 0 452 6,446 9,755
1990 92,901 0 597 7,635 10,639
1991 95,059 0 495 7,722 10,492
1992 102,085 0 580 8,153 11,037
1993 104,403 1 659 8,249 11,740
1994 106,255 338 526 8,386 12,371
1995 108,248 2,242 545 7,887 12,388
1996 111,659 2,439 532 8,117 13,021
1997 111,709 3,547 511 8,175 12,458
1998 110,331 3,832 464 7,741 13,118
1999 105,666 232 464 7,253 13,357
2000 105,427 219 389 7,369 10,611
2001 106,418 33 412 7,222 12,746
2002 105,154 17 337 6,381 12,626
2003 103,768 14 302 5,785 11,871
2004 100,039 5 304 5,974 10,964
2005 96,815 2 284 5,588 10,477
2006 91,310 156 267 5,608 9,609

Data available from Statistics Canada: 1987 to 2000. Another version, which goes from 1974 to 2006, is also available. There are a few discrepancies, but the total is still shocking.

It’s also worth pointing out that starting in 1994, there were large numbers of women getting abortions for which there was no age listed. Just a hunch, but most of them were probably either in the country illegally, or didn’t want to disclose that they were minors.

Also, these are just “official” statistics. It’s very likely that there are a lot more abortions that have gone on, and are unreported. And recently:

induced-abortion-can-2015-en-web
induced-abortion-can-2016-en-web
induced-abortion-2017-en-web (1)
induced-abortions-reported-in-canada-in-2018-updated-data-tables-en-web
induced-abortions-reported-in-canada-in-2019-en (1)
induced-abortions-reported-in-canada-2020-en

There were 100,104 abortions reported in 2015.
There were 97,764 reported in 2016.
There were 94,030 reported in 2017.
There were 85,294 reported in 2018.
There were 83,576 reported in 2019.
There were 74,155 reported in 2020.

But don’t worry. There are no doubt countless politicians and public figures working diligently to reverse this trend, right?

And what do “conservatives” in Canada have to say about this? They don’t seem to care about the millions who’ve died as a result of abortion. There’s no ideological issue with infanticide in general. However, they insist that babies not be killed simply because of their sex. This was Bill C-233, a Private Member’s Bill in the last session.

There are also major demographic implications for abortion on this scale, which needs to be addressed as well.

The topic of births and deaths is certainly important to consider. That said, including abortion — especially being so widespread — changes the dynamics considerably.

Note: Difference = Live Births – Total Deaths
Note: Per Day = (Difference)/365 or 366

Year Birth Deaths Diff Day
1991 402,533 195,569 206,964 567
1992 398,643 196,535 202,108 552
1993 388,394 204,912 183,482 503
1994 385,114 207,077 178,037 488
1995 378,016 210,733 167,283 458
1996 366,200 212,880 153,320 419
1997 348,598 215,669 132,929 364
1998 342,418 218,091 124,327 341
1999 337,249 219,530 117,719 323
2000 327,882 218,062 109,820 300
2001 333,744 219,538 114,206 313
2002 328,802 223,603 105,199 288
2003 335,202 226,169 109,033 299
2004 337,072 226,584 110,488 302
2005 342,176 230,132 112,044 307
2006 354,617 228,079 126,538 347
2007 367,864 235,217 132,647 363
2008 377,886 238,617 139,269 381
2009 380,863 238,418 142,445 390
2010 377,213 240,075 137,138 376
2011 377,636 243,511 134,125 367
2012 381,869 246,596 135,273 370
2013 380,323 252,338 127,985 350
2014 384,100 258,821 125,279 343
2015 382,392 264,333 118,059 323
2016 383,102 267,213 115,889 318
2017 379,450 276,689 102,761 281
2018 375,390 283,706 91,684 251

A few years back, it was covered how Canada had a growing population even without immigration. In fairness, it’s not clear how much of this was due to birth tourism. However, the rates weren’t plummeting as people were led to believe.

A quick and dirty estimation (based on births and abortions) would be that approximately 20% of the pregnancies — excluding miscarriages — ended up being aborted. This translated to 1 in 5.

YEAR BIRTHS ABORTIONS B + A % ABORTED
1991 402,533 95,059 497,592 19.1%
1992 398,643 102,085 500,728 20.3%
1993 388,394 104,403 492,797 21.2%
1994 385,114 106,255 491,369 21.6%
1995 378,016 108,248 486,264 22.3%
1996 366,200 111,659 477,859 23.3%
1997 348,598 111,709 460,307 24.3%
1998 342,418 110,331 452,749 24.4%
1999 337,249 105,666 442,915 23.8%
2000 327,882 105,427 433,309 24.3%
2001 333,744 106,418 440,162 24.2%
2002 328,802 105,154 433,956 24.2%
2003 335,202 103,768 438,970 23.6%
2004 337,072 100,039 447,111 22.4%
2005 342,176 96,815 438,991 22.0%
2006 354,617 91,310 445,927 20.5%
2007 367,864 98,762 466,626 21.2%
2008 377,886 95,876 473,762 20.2%
2009 380,863 93,755 474,618 19.8%
2010 377,213 *64,641 441,854 *14.6%
2011 377,636 108,844 486,480 22.3%
2012 381,869 100,958 482,827 20.9%
2013 380,323 102,446 482,769 21.2%
2014 384,100 100,194 484,294 20.7%
2015 382,392 100,104 482,496 20.7%
2016 383,102 97,764 480,866 20.3%
2017 379,450 94,030 473,480 19.9%
2018 375,390 85,294 460,684 18.5%
2019 375,229 83,576 458,805 18.2%
2020 361,667 74,155 435,822 17.0%

*2010 is skewed, since Quebec didn’t fully report their totals.

This isn’t hyperbole to claim that 20% of pregnancies in recent years end with an abortion. Slaughtering large segments of future generations has been happening for decades.

Again, 4,222,858 abortions between 1970 and 2020, and that’s just Canada. Also, these are just the official figures. Factoring in the unreported, the number is likely much higher.

Don’t worry about the falling birth rates and the slaughter of Canadian children. After all, we can just import a replacement population in order to keep up.

(1) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310016901
(2) https://archive.ph/OhV01
(3) https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/aca40ae3-d026-45b8-8e37-9185b4347c43
(4) https://archive.ph/Y7DYZ
(5) http://run-with-life.blogspot.com/2021/03/cihi-is-still-underreporting-abortions.html
(6) https://love4life.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Annual_20_203.pdf
(7) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-223-x/82-223-x2008000-eng.pdf
(8) https://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a05?lang=eng&id=1069005
(9) https://www.cihi.ca/en/access-data-and-reports/data-tables?keyword=abortion&published_date=All&type_of_care=All&place_of_care=All&population_group=All&health_care_quality=All&health_conditions_outcomes=All&health_system_overview=All&sort_by=field_published_date_value&items_per_page=10
(10) https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/statistics-abortion-in-canada.pdf
(11) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310042801#timeframe
(12) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310071001
(13) https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/43-2/c-233
(14) http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=abortion+statistics&d=POP&f=tableCode%3a17
(15) https://abortion-policies.srhr.org/
(16) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion

Poilievre’s And Baird’s Questionable Commitment To Free Speech

Pierre Poilievre campaigning to become the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Notwithstanding his nonsensical claim about “running to be Prime Minister” (that’s not how the system works), he goes on and on about making Canada the freest country in the world.

While there seems to be nothing wrong with this sales pitch, his commitment to freedom — or more specifically, free speech — is quite questionable. Nothing politicians say should ever be taken at face value. Instead, it’s more important to dig into them to verify.

Poilievre’s campaign for CPC leadership is co-chaired by John Baird, a former Cabinet Minister. However, looking at what Baird has done since leaving politics is cause for concern.

In 2018, Baird became a Director with CIJA, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. He has long been a supporter of the organization. This is a lobbyist group that attempts to change policy in Canada. What’s disturbing is what CIJA lists in terms of its political influence.

Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit
Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP): The objective of the project is to combat online disinformation and hate, specifically, antisemitism and antisemitic conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 where it is spreading: online via social media. Antisemitism cannot be allowed to permeate civil discourse and become mainstream. Activities include:
Collect examples of how antisemitism presents itself in the context of COVID19
Create website landing page for campaign to highlight the campaign’s purpose and goals
•Prepare social media calendar for the duration of the campaign
•Prepare Facebook ads, prepare toolkit to distribute to partner organizations to promote the campaign
•Program content for campaign, run Facebook ads, and ensure participation from various cultural groups; and
•Report to government and stakeholders on the outcome of the campaign. The Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP) supports the priorities of the Digital Citizen Initiative by providing time-limited financial assistance that will support democracy and social cohesion in Canada in a digital world by enhancing and/or supporting efforts to counter online disinformation and other online harms and threats to our country’s democracy and social cohesion.
Provide economic support for the charitable and not-for-profit sector through a direct granting program. Donations from Canadians should be incentivized through a temporary enhancement of the charitable giving tax credit, or through a donor matching program, whereby the government matches donations from Canadians.
Public Security threats to the safety and security of the Jewish community of Canada and the extension of funding of capital costs and staff training for security of communities at risk

The project ‘United Against Online Hate’ aims to develop a national coalition with numerous targeted communities to actively combat online hate, following recommendations from the study conducted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. We have been granted $141,000 for the government’s current fiscal year (ending March 31 2021). We were also awarded $31,800 for the year April 1 2021 to March 31 2022.

Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
A civil remedy based in human rights law, included in the Canadian Human Rights Act, with respect to combating hate speech, including antisemitism. Training for provincial attorneys general, prosecutors, and police to enforce Criminal Code hate speech provisions. Training and parameters should cite the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism.

CITIZENSHIP ACT (continued support for the power of the state under the current citizenship act to remove citizenship in cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism and extreme promotion of hate.)
Civil remedy included in the Canadian Human Rights Act with respect to combating antisemitism.
Diplomatic relations with Iran should not be renewed until specific conditions are met, including an end to calls for the destruction of Israel, an end to state-sponsored terrorism, and the provision of all evidence related to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. The entirety of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be banned by the government.

Equip police departments to counter hate crimes and support targeted communities by providing additional resources to bolster existing police hate crime and community liaison units. Where such units do not exist, funding should be provided to establish them.

Update the Criminal Code of Canada with respect to combating antisemitism and online hate. Create a national strategy to tackle online hate and radicalization using the 2019 Justice Committee report, “Taking Action to End Online Hate”, as a foundation. A strategy should draw upon the Christchurch Call, and use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Policies or Program
Hate speech and internet-based hate: For Canada to adopt policies – either/and through legislation or policies adjustments that will provide measurable standards for internet-based dissemination of hate speech, including explicit provisions within the Crimical Code and/or the Human Rights Act.

Policies or Program
Accountability for Anti-Racism Initiatives: Public accountability measures should be developed and implemented to support and uphold genuine progress in combating hate in all its forms, as outlined in Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022.

Advocate for restitution for Holocaust Survivors: Canada should continue leveling diplomatic pressure on countries in Eastern Europe that have evaded their responsibility to pass meaningful restitution laws.
Advocating for the development of a national anti-poverty strategy.
Agriculture Canada: Assist in securing termination of Israeli ban on Canadian beef imports as a result of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) protocols.

This is just a partial list of their lobbying activities. However, it’s obvious that policies related to speech are a very important portion of it.

It seems completely incongruent that people who claim to value freedom would be so willing to water it down under the guise of fighting hate speech.

Poilievre and Baird are also silent about Bill C-250, a Private Member’s Bill that would criminalize Holocaust denial. Not only would this be a criminal offence, but it could result in prison time. This came from “Conservative” M.P. Kevin Waugh.

Iqra Khalid (rightfully) got a lot of flak for bringing in M-103, a Motion to finance the “study” of Islamophobia. That said, she never proposed putting anyone in prison over it. This is so much worse.

Waugh was lobbied by CIJA recently before introducing this Bill. It’s fair to assume that these are the people pushing for it.

An interesting Twitter thread shows the problem with right-wing politicians in general. There seems to be the expectation to pander endlessly, at least to 1 foreign nation. However, similar pandering with Islamic countries is a cause for concern. Whatever happened to focusing on your constituents?

Poilievre (and “conservatives” in general) claim to be supporters of freedom and individual rights. After all, it’s only the lefties that hate freedom, at least in theory. That being said, they are silent about efforts to erode those rights from within.

And Maxime Bernier? Will he address this?
Probably not.
He spends more time talking about overpriced milk.

Other red flags include Baird’s ties to the World Economic Forum. Poilievre has denied being a part of it, despite being listed in the database. Also, he doesn’t seem to mind his campaign chair being associated with WEF, and he doesn’t overtly condemn the group. Nor does he appear to object to the Eurasia Group side gig.

Another problem is that Poilievre was relatively silent when Provincial Premiers (many of them “Conservatives”) were infringing on the rights of Canadians. It’s only when Provincial martial law measures were — mostly — removed, did he start his crusade against Trudeau. It’s opportunism, to say the least.

There are of course other concerns with Baird and Poilievre. These are just a few of the larger ones.

Unfortunately, far too few Canadians will do any due diligence on candidates before voting for them. People need to look beyond the catchy slogans to see who they really represent.

(1) https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1512836656646270977
(2) https://www.pierre4pm.ca/team
(3) https://www.cija.ca/john-baird-why-israel-holds-such-a-special-place-in-my-heart/
(4) https://www.cija.ca/a-conversation-with-john-baird/
(5) https://www.cija.ca/cija-confirms-appointment-of-new-directors/
(6) https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-250
(7) https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/kevin-waugh(89084)
(8) https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/cmmLgPblcVw?comlogId=521753
(9) https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=111&regId=917368&blnk=1
(10) https://twitter.com/LindaFrum/status/1520441785285234688
(11) https://www.weforum.org/people/john-baird
(12) Wayback Machine — Pierre Poilievre
(13) https://www.eurasiagroup.net/people/JBaird