Canadian parents are wary of vaccinating kindergartners and resent being made to “feel guilty” by federal regulators, says in-house research by the Privy Council Office. Vaccination rates for young children are the lowest of any age group: ‘They objected to what they saw as an attempt to make them feel guilty and worried about the well-being of their children.’
The record number of uncounted mail-in ballots in the last election was “unfortunate,” Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault said yesterday. Elections Canada will track thousands of ballot kits reported as unused, he said: “These are people who wanted to cast a ballot but we were not able to count them.”
A telecom executive yesterday told the Commons ethics committee individual cellphone users’ personal data was never given to federal agents. The Public Health Agency compiled data on millions of cellphone users in the name of monitoring compliance with lockdown orders: “Telus did not share any personal information with the government, not one iota.”
Cabinet last evening at 6:29 pm Eastern tabled a Commons motion seeking “confirmation of a declaration of emergency” over the Freedom Convoy truckers blockade now in its 21st day outside Parliament. MPs today will open debate on the motion to grant police extraordinary powers to punish truckers protesting vaccine mandates: “Do you think you need to use force to get rid of the protesters?”
The Commons yesterday erupted in angry protest after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused a Jewish MP of standing “with people who wave swastikas.” Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, Ont.), representing the Commons’ most Jewish riding, called the incident a disgrace: “I have never been made to feel less except for today.”
New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday said his 25-member caucus will cast votes needed by cabinet to force an end to a Freedom Convoy blockade outside Parliament. Bloc Québécois MPs heckled Singh to “think carefully” before voting for the Emergencies Act: “Are you concerned the powers being used against the protesters from the convoy could one day be used against protesters on the left?”
Cabinet will not issue any medals in observance of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, the Department of Canadian Heritage said yesterday. No reason was given. Elizabeth this June becomes the world’s longest reigning monarch of the past 300 years: “What are we ashamed of? Is it that striking a medal is old-fashioned?”
The Department of Health is late with a mandatory review of the impact of legal cannabis. Canada became only the second country in the world after Uruguay to legalize recreational marijuana in 2018: “Cannabis has become more normalized.”
Police may break up any public gathering deemed an “illegal assembly” under an Emergencies Act order signed by cabinet. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino yesterday said extraordinary measures were needed to contain a “very small organized group” of Freedom Convoy truckers he claimed wanted to topple the federal government: “People who live in Ottawa do not feel safe right now.”
Commons Speaker Anthony Rota offered reporters armed guards at taxpayers’ expense after the Parliamentary Press Gallery complained it was troubled by Freedom Convoy truck drivers. Parliament Hill guards armed with federal-issue handguns were available to keep reporters safe, said Rota: “I have followed up with the Sergeant-at-Arms.”
The National War Memorial has attracted numerous vandals in the past five years, the Commons veterans affairs committee was told last night. A police investigation remains underway for a mystery woman in a parka who jumped on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: “It’s very emotional to see.”
Canada must raise immigration quotas again this year to help employers fill labour shortages, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said yesterday. The nation’s jobless currently number more than 1.3 million: “Get workers here to fill those jobs where business owners can’t find Canadians.”
Cabinet tolerated First Nations blockades at ports and railways in 2020 as part of its “broader commitments to reconciliation,” according to briefing notes. Federal staff said First Nation protesters were exercising “important democratic rights.”
Cabinet yesterday said a blanket recommendation against non-essential travel will be lifted February 28 after 705 days. “We are easing our current border measures,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos: “The government will no longer recommend Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.”
Cabinet yesterday claimed Freedom Convoy truckers opposed to vaccine mandates pose a threat to national security. Demonstrators in the 19th day of a protest outside Parliament were threatened with jail and seizure of cash and vehicles: “What we are facing today is a threat to our democratic institutions.”
