Canada

Reuters reports: King Charles was officially proclaimed head of state of both Australia and New Zealand at ceremonies on Sunday in the nations’ capitals. In New Zealand, the proclamation of Charles as monarch, taking over from Queen Elizabeth who died on Thursday aged 96, took place in the parliament in Wellington. Speaking from parliament’s steps, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said …

The CBC reports: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a solemn statement Thursday shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death, saying Canadians are grateful for the monarch’s decades of service to the country and the Commonwealth. Speaking later at a cabinet retreat in Vancouver, a tearful Trudeau said he’s struggling to come to terms with the Queen’s death. “I’m having trouble believing that …

Reuters reports: Canadian police have launched a huge manhunt for two men suspected of stabbing at least 10 people to death in a rampage that has shocked the nation. Two suspects named as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson are on the run and considered armed and dangerous. Victims were found in 13 locations in the remote indigenous community James Smith …

Vice News reports: People on a mission to arrest cops on behalf of the self-proclaimed “QAnon Queen of Canada” ended up being violently arrested themselves instead. Romana Didulo has built a sizable following out of the QAnon community by convincing people that she’s the true leader of Canada and waging a secret war against the supposed pedophilic cabal of globalist …

Vice News reports: Canadian government officials have agreed to share information about UFOs with the U.S. Those contacts were revealed in a pair of letters posted online this week from Canada’s Natural Resources department and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), a federal regulator. The U.S. Department of Energy has long been suspected of playing a role in the government’s …

Vice News reports: A QAnon influencer some people believe to be the true Queen of Canada took a quick break from her monthslong tour of the country to announce her intentions to go global. “The entire team was privileged to hear Queen Romana speak to the United States Commander and Chief via telephone and hear the intel disclosed. Wait for …

The New York Times reports: Most owners of what Canada calls “military-style assault weapons” would be required to turn over their firearms to a government buyback program under legislation introduced on Monday, which would tighten the country’s already stringent control of firearms. The Canadian government also announced new regulations that will ban the sale, purchase, importation or transfer of handguns. …

The CBC reports: The streets of downtown Montreal were flooded with protesters on Saturday as many gathered against Bill 96, the Quebec government’s proposed law to reform its Charter of the French language. Organized by groups that represent the province’s English-speaking community, the protest sought to send a strong message to the majority government that the legislation as it stands …

The Associated Press reports: Police wearing helmets and shields made several arrests Friday night in Canada’s capital after facing off against protesters opposed to COVID-19 mandates. Big-rig trucks attempted to make their way to Parliament Hill as part of the “Rolling Thunder” rally, organized by Freedom Fighters Canada, a group dedicated to speaking out against COVID-19 mandates. Many of the …

The BBC reports: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proposed a two-year ban on some foreigners buying homes. The measure comes as the country grapples with some of the worst housing affordability issues in the world. Prices have jumped more than 20%, pushing the average home in Canada to nearly C$817,000 ($650,000; £495,000) – more than nine times household income. …

Politico reports: Justin Trudeau has brokered a deal with the left-leaning New Democrats that will keep his minority Liberal government in power until 2025. The Canadian prime minister announced Tuesday a formal entente that will see the NDP vote with his Liberal minority government on shared objectives until the House of Commons rises in June 2025. Canada’s next fixed election …

CTV News reports: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government will take steps to end the use of the Emergencies Act after it was invoked just over a week ago in response to the ongoing trucker convoy blockades and protests. Trudeau made the announcement alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Justice Minister David Lametti, Public Safety Minister …

The CBC reports: The office of Governor General Mary Simon is telling Canadians that they can’t dissolve the federal government simply by contacting her office. Rideau Hall issued what it called the “important message” Tuesday evening on Twitter. “The Office of the Secretary of the Governor General is aware that misinformation encouraging citizens to contact the Governor General or our …

CTV News reports: Tamara Lich, one of the most visible organizers behind protests against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government near Parliament Hill, was denied bail Tuesday. Justice Julie Bourgeois said the convoy’s effect on the community was immense and she felt Lich was obstinate and disingenuous in her responses to the court. “I cannot be reassured that if I …

The CBC reports: A motion affirming the Liberal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act passed a crucial House of Commons vote Monday, ensuring the expansive powers contained in the act remain in use by authorities thanks to parliamentary support from the New Democrats. While the powers contained in the Emergency Act took effect immediately, the Liberal government needed to …

CTV News reports: In the video recorded near Parliament Hill, Sen. Michael MacDonald [above right] expressed support for the protesters who occupied Ottawa for more than three weeks. “It’s a cross-section of Canadians who have said we have had enough of the bullying, and the duplicity and the lies,” he said. Reached Sunday night, MacDonald said the video was recorded …

The CBC reports: On Friday, police began clearing those protesters out of the downtown. Ottawa police then tweeted a plea Saturday for people to “stop calling critical emergency and operational phone lines to express displeasure about the police action.” Hillier retweeted that request, affixing his own message: “Keep calling in a democracy expressing yourself is a fundamental freedom #FreedomConvoy2022.” The …

CTV News reports: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is suggesting that some of the trucks and other vehicles seized by police during a two-day operation to clear out the “Freedom Convoy” protest and occupation could be used to pay for some of the policing costs. Speaking to CTV News Ottawa, Watson said this could be a chance to recoup some of …

First, a reminder about this nutbag: The so-called “freedom convoy” – which departed for Ottawa on 23 January – was the brainchild of James Bauder, an admitted conspiracy theorist who has endorsed the QAnon movement and called Covid-19 “the biggest political scam in history”. Bauder’s group, Canada Unity, contends that vaccine mandates and passports are illegal under Canada’s constitution, the …

The CBC reports: Around 5 p.m. ET, the tension between protesters and police escalated. Police say the officers on horseback rode back and forth across Rideau to create space, allowing other officers to rush up and hold back the line of demonstrators. At least two people were knocked to the ground during the operation. However, rumours on social media quickly …