Blacklock's Reporter

Organizers of national election debates dropped immigration from tomorrow's English language telecast but not the French debate scheduled this evening at 6 pm Eastern. No reason was given. Provinces outside Québec have seen the highest rates of immigration and most opposition to record quotas: "Do you feel there are too many, too few or about the right number of immigrants coming to Canada?"

Liberal MP Ya'ara Saks (York Centre, Ont.) last night blamed media conspiracies in dismissing Prime Minister Mark Carney's contacts with friends of China. Saks made the comment in a heated B’nai Brith election debate as her Conservative opponent expressed astonishment: "Is that your idea of what you’re going to censor, when people talk about what is happening in our election right now?"

The new Parliament must amend the Criminal Code to prohibit hate speech under the guise of religious instruction, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said yesterday. It follows a 2023 incident in which a Muslim speaker wished death on Montréal Jews while reciting a Quran prayer: "O Allah, destroy the enemies of the people of Gaza."

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre yesterday confirmed Conservatives will defund CBC-TV English language services if elected April 28. The Crown broadcaster should rely on advertising income, subscription fees or viewer donations, he said: "Let Canadians enjoy it as a non-profit."

A Crown corporation specializing in real estate is taking credit for 13,000 housing starts in the past nine years with a few thousand more expected by 2030, says a federal memo. Canada is short 3,870,000 additional housing starts, by federal estimate: 'You have a good place to call your own at a price you can afford.'

Cabinet’s $191,000-a year Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia should be fired, the Canadian Future Party said yesterday. Amira Elghawaby, a former Toronto Star contributor, must be removed and her budget revoked, said the Party’s platform: "Remove the position and budget."

New York Consul Tom Clark billed thousands in expenses unrelated to promotion of Canadian trade including junkets to examine "high school culture" in Bermuda and an $1,800 luncheon on Indigenous art, records show. Clark in Commons committee testimony said he was tirelessly focused on promoting “partnerships with American business.”

Any future Conservative cabinet would enact strict new penalties for anti-Semitic crimes, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said yesterday. Protests targeting Jews marked a “breakdown in our society,” he said: "I can assure you they will be penalties that are so massive there will never again be some punk thinking even once of throwing a Molotov cocktail into a Jewish business."

New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday said opinion polls were underestimating Party support and would be proven wrong. “Polling does not seem to capture New Democrat support,” he told reporters: "Do you believe the polls?"

No major national party is interested in developing a nuclear weapons program, according to a Ukrainian Canadian Congress election survey yesterday. Parties were polled on a Congress proposal to build Canadian warheads: "Do you support Canada developing an independent nuclear deterrent?"

The Trudeau Foundation has passed a 15-month federal audit but cut all ties with the Trudeau family. Alexandre Trudeau, the former prime minister’s brother, was replaced as executive director after endorsing a six-figure donation from friends of the Chinese Communist Party: "These changes mark a significant step forward."

New York Consul Tom Clark charged taxpayers his liquor bill while drinking with former media colleagues purportedly on official business, records show. Billing bar tabs is forbidden without specific authority, said the Treasury Board: "Luncheon with the journalist was aimed to assess the political climate."

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it is planning a suitable national tribute for the last Canadian survivor of the Second World War. Ranks of veterans that once numbered more than a million have dwindled to fewer than 1,600: "Many splendid deeds were done."

Cabinet in a rare but not unprecedented move confirmed Saturday it spent $40.3 billion, about eight percent of its annual budget, by special warrant. The alternative would have seen federal functions cease at the start of a new budget year including payment of Old Age Security and salaries for police and prison guards: 'It is urgently required for the public good.'

New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh urged electors to “know their vote does matter” after reporters dismissed his campaign as a lost cause. Party support has averaged in the three million vote range for the past decade: "Have you learned any lessons from stumbling out of the gate?'