Québec Premier François Legault yesterday dropped plans to introduce the nation’s first pandemic tax amid ongoing truckers’ protests against vaccine mandates. The concession came as Freedom Convoy blockaders planned a demonstration at the Québec legislature: “They want to be heard.”

More than 200,000 mail-in ballots sent to voters in the last federal election were not counted, Elections Canada disclosed yesterday.  The number of ballot kits that were late, cancelled or marked as lost in the mail was greater than the margin of victory: “We are deeply sorry.”

The Canada Revenue Agency falsely accused Freedom Convoy protesters of ransacking office buildings. The Agency yesterday would not comment after spreading fake news that angry truck drivers had run amok in downtown Ottawa. The report was among several that falsely claimed protests had turned violent: “The biggest challenges facing our future will be the restoration of public confidence in institutions such as the media and government.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday said Freedom Convoy protesters must go home after days of demonstrations at Parliament Hill. Trudeau made the comment after describing truckers as “tin foil hats” deserving of public disgust: “What is needed is for people to go home.”

Canada’s chief public health officer is refusing to appear for questioning at the Commons ethics committee. MPs had asked Dr. Theresa Tam to explain a data scoop that saw the Public Health Agency collect information on 33 million cellphone users: “That’s not a small thing.”

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department confirms more exemptions from renewable fuel regulations that would hike the price of gasoline and diesel. Exemptions were meant to “address affordability concerns,” said a briefing note: “The Clean Fuel Standard has been narrowed.”