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CTV News
19 minutes ago
- CTV News
New stamp draws attention to history of civilian internment in Canada
Canada Post unveils new stamps as a tribute to the civilian internment camps during the World Wars. (Canada Post) A new stamp unveiled by Canada Post on Thursday pays tribute to the history of civilian internment in Canada during both the First and Second World Wars. The Canadian government carried out large-scale internment drives during both wars when the War Measures Act was invoked, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia. In their press release announcing the new stamp, Canada Post says thousands of people were interned in camps across Canada under the guise of national security. 'Canada Post hopes today's stamp issue will raise awareness about this history and the resilience of the people and communities whose lives were profoundly affected by this forced displacement, confinement and hardship,' the statement said. The stamp has vertical, bilingual text in red behind barbed wires, creating the visual of a fence, which Canada Post states 'captures the gloom and fear of Canada's internment camps.' Recounting camps during the wars The War Measures Act was invoked for the first time during the First World War on Aug. 22, 1914, ending on Jan. 10, 1920, according to the national encyclopedia states. This act empowered the federal cabinet to suspend any civil liberties and impose laws without the approval of Parliament. According to the news release, more than 8,500 men – including more than 5,000 Ukrainians, people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Jews, Poles, Romanians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes, people from the Ottoman Empire, including Armenians and Turks, the German Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria, were held at these internment camps during this time. More than 200 women and children chose to voluntarily join their male relatives in internment. An additional 80,000 people, the majority of whom were from Ukraine, were made to register as 'enemy aliens,' the news release said. 'People experiencing homelessness and unemployment, conscientious objectors and members of outlawed political groups, especially socialists, were also interned,' the release said, adding that detainees were put to work on labour-intensive projects in harsh conditions, which made them vulnerable to disease, injuries and death. More than 100 people died during this time and many were buried in unmarked graves, the news release recounts. The War Measures Act was invoked a second time shortly before the beginning of the Second World War, on Aug. 25, 1939, and later replaced by similar legislation on Dec. 31, 1945, the online publication reads. More than 40 internment camps held over 20,000 people, out of which around 26 camps were in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick. People targeted during the Second World War included Germans, Italians, Jews, Japanese, members of the outlawed organizations in Canada and labour leaders. The War Measures Act was repealed in 1988 and replaced by the Emergencies Act, which does not allow the cabinet to act on its own during a national emergency. 'It also reminds us of our responsibility to learn from the past,' Canada Post said.
CTV News
19 minutes ago
- CTV News
James Moore: Three policy pivots for Prime Minister Mark Carney
A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15, the TikTok app logo is shown on an iPhone, and an electric vehicle charging sign is pictured in this composite image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward, AP Photo/Ashley Landis James Moore is a former federal cabinet minister under prime minister Stephen Harper, and a columnist for Since his election as Canada's 24th prime minister, Mark Carney has enjoyed sustained strong approval ratings from Canadians, according to public opinion research. Among the reasons for this has been his willingness to reverse course on Trudeau-era policies that he either disagreed with, the public had demonstrated a clear dislike for, or policies that have been objectively proven to be failing. This is a refreshing change, and it has earned the prime minister the admiration of many Canadians who hope to be governed by leaders who are prepared to shelve partisan entrenchment and take the risk of triggering the internal disloyalty of colleagues who have overcommitted to bad ideas by being willing to change course. This was particularly true for the incumbent Liberal government on the issue of the carbon tax. When Prime Minister Carney was elected Liberal leader — but not yet elected prime minister in the general election — he moved quickly to end the consumer carbon tax that had long angered and aggravated many Canadians. Until then, the policy was considered the centrepiece of progressive Liberal identity and pride during the Trudeau era. The carbon tax was evidence of Liberal leadership on climate change, and any dissent was aggressively confronted as climate change denialism and a heartless disregard for ethical planetary stewardship. So, when Prime Minister Carney — who was a champion for the carbon tax as a private citizen — abandoned the policy ahead of the spring election, it caught a lot of people off guard. Progressives were disappointed, Liberal partisans had to swallow their climate rhetoric whole and reprogram themselves, Conservatives were stripped of a winning issue, and Prime Minister Carney was applauded by many Canadians who were hoping for signs of change in Ottawa. Prime Minister Mark Carney, carbon tax Members of the federal cabinet applaud as Prime Minister Mark Carney signs a decision note to eliminate the consumer carbon price, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang The willingness to pivot can be fairly viewed with cynicism as political opportunism ahead of an election. That's fair. But I think for many voters, their aspiration for policies they agree with and that are objectively better for Canada is more important to them than the annoyance of perceived political opportunism by the policy shift. So with this in mind, and with Prime Minister Carney having received the appreciation of voters for being clearly willing to shift policies from time to time, I think it is the perfect time to offer up a replenishment of options of other bad and failed policies of the Trudeau government that Prime Minister Carney should be willing to reverse and drop into the dustbin of history. Here are three suggestions: Gun buyback AR-15 rifle A restricted gun licence holder holds a AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. on May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Back in May 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government introduced an order-in-council banning over 1,500 models of Canadian firearms newly labeled as 'assault-style.' At the time, the government projected it would cost $200 million to compensate lawful firearms owners for forcibly taking their legally purchased and owned property from them through a forced buyback initiative. More than five years later, according to a departmental plan released by Public Safety Canada, the original $200 million cost estimate is now $459.8 million and climbing, yet only 12,195 firearms (less than 10 per cent of the targeted number) have been collected. The program has fallen so far behind schedule that private gun owners still cannot participate because only businesses that possess firearms are currently eligible. A notice on the program's official website states: 'The program is not yet available for individuals.' The Government of Ontario has said they will not divert stretched policing resources to cooperate with this initiative because of the fundamental flaws of the design of the program and the clear ineffectiveness of the policy in fighting gun crime. As noted by Ontario's solicitor general, more than 90 per cent of guns used in crimes are illegally imported into Ontario from the United States and this program diverts vast financial and policing resources towards something that does not make the public safer. The lawful ownership of well-regulated firearms by law-abiding Canadians who are also heavily regulated and screened in the process of the privilege to purchase and own a firearm is not the reason for gun violence. Further, the National Police Federation — which represents 20,000 RCMP members — has said the buyback policy is a 'misdirected effort when it comes to public safety.' The Canadian Sporting Arms & Ammunition Association, which represents firearms retailers, said it will have 'zero involvement' in helping confiscate these firearms. And Canada Post, which is tasked by the current policy with receiving and warehousing firearms all across the country, wants nothing to do with the program because of fear of conflicts between their staff and gun owners and the ability of their facilities to safely store potentially hundreds of weapons in their facilities all across Canada. The policy is in shambles, it lacks any operational common sense, there is no evidence of it contributing in any way to better public safety, stakeholders are opposed to the approach and the financial costs are spiralling out of control. This policy is begging to be abandoned by Prime Minister Carney's government. Electric vehicle mandates EV charging sign A electric vehicle charging sign is pictured in Squamish, B.C., on June, 1, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs are fantastic vehicles and can offer lots of advantages for drivers who want them. They are generally cheaper to run, they produce zero tailpipe emissions, contribute to cleaner air, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, are fantastic for urban commuting and require less maintenance. They also often offer a more enjoyable driving experience with a quieter ride, instant torque for quick acceleration and some of the best cabin technology. The case for EVs is strong for many Canadians. We don't need mandates to artificially juice the perception of demand where it doesn't make sense. The ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mandate brought in by Prime Minister Trudeau requires the number of new ZEVs sold in Canada to hit 20 per cent by next year, 60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. In practice what this would mean is the Government of Canada would mandate sales targets for car companies, which if they miss, they could instead purchase credits from the government — including by spending on charging infrastructure — or face penalties for not complying. The problems with the policy are manifest. First, while ZEVs are loved by some Canadians, sales are dropping. Statistics Canada showed a 45per cent slide in new ZEVs sold in March 2025 versus March 2024. They report that ZEVs accounted for just 7 per cent of all new vehicles sold this past March, making next years' goal of 20 per cent grossly unattainable — particularly with the rising costs of EVs due to tariff constraints and consumer anxiety. Second, the mandate hurts Canada's auto sector, our competitiveness in the auto economy and puts us out of synch with markets competing for auto assembling mandates. Brian Kingston, who is the president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, which represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, says the mandate policy will add significant costs to the economic model of the Canadian auto sector at a time when keeping production in Canada has been massively challenged by President Trump's tariff attacks. He accurately noted that: 'At a time where companies are already facing tariff pressure, they are now going to face challenges selling vehicles in the Canadian market. Very difficult to make the case for Canada with this policy in place.' Ending the current ZEV mandate would be the right move by Prime Minister Carney. Recognizing the reality of the marketplace, working to protect Canada's auto retail and manufacturing footprint, maximizing consumer choices in auto purchases, and saving Canadian jobs — these are the backbone of the Carney mandate in Ontario. Let's get on with it by walking away from the mandate. TikTok 'ban' TikTok app The TikTok app logo is shown on an iPhone on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Last fall, after a national security review of TikTok, Prime Minister Trudeau's government announced a ban of the company that operates TikTok from operating in Canada. The TikTok app will continue, people can still use the app, watch videos and upload content, but the corporate presence of TikTok is being rebuffed. This solves nothing and is a step backwards on a few fronts. First, the government's policy doesn't improve data security. Data collection of social media platforms is widespread, whether it is Meta, TikTok, YouTube, X, or mobile games. A more effective response might be an ongoing assessment of privacy policy with transparency mandates, stronger regulatory oversight and data localization. But none of that is present here. Second, maintaining the TikTok app while ordering the end of their corporate operations in Canada is all pain and no gain. Concerns about privacy, algorithms, accountability and security will likely all remain, but the tools needed to lever remedies and responsibility will be weakened. In December, Philippe Dufresne, Canada's privacy commissioner, testified to members of Parliament at the ethics committee that the approach taken by the government will make it more difficult to force the company to cooperate with Canadian privacy investigations. He noted that the privacy laws allow his office to pursue court orders to force a company to provide evidence and testimony during an investigation, but that those powers to compel cooperation will be lost due to the government's approach. 'If all the assets (of TikTok) are in another country then it becomes an issue of private international law, where you seek to have another court, another country, enforce the decision of Canadian courts,' he said. This is broken and backwards. The TikTok app will continue to operate in Canada and any oversight or accountability is being pushed away from Canada because of the government's decision. Further, TikTok's inability to continue operating in Canada will end cultural and educational partnerships that have meant millions of dollars and thousands of jobs across Canada at a time when we need to support job growth, innovation and our cultural sectors. In sum, the government policy on TikTok means less accountability, more job losses, less regulatory control, cuts to needed cultural and educational support and no pathway forward to remedy the legitimate questions of Canadians about privacy. This policy approach makes no sense and needs a rethink. Prime Minister Carney has shown a willingness to actually implement the 'evidence-based governing' that has been promised before. Moving away from failed policies he inherited should be a hallmark of his first year in government and these are three policy pivots whose time has come.
CBC
20 minutes ago
- CBC
Labrador to see development as Canada expands northern military defence
With Russia waging war to the west, threats to Canadian sovereignty to the south, and climate change threatening disaster— eyes are set on Canada's arctic as a hub of national defence. "There's a lot of focus on what is going to happen and protecting our sovereignty," said Victoria Belbin, CEO of the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA). On July 17, companies from across Atlantic Canada involved in defence, came together at the annual Maritime and Arctic Security and safety conference in St. John's. Due to climate change, waterways in the arctic are opening up, said Belbin, which means more countries are looking to access the north for trade. So, she also says threats to Canadian sovereignty are top of mind. "The urgency is now and [the] industry is showing that they're ready," said Belbin. The CEO says Labrador will have a growing role in the realm of global defence and security. She added that conversations are taking place surrounding the military presence already available in Labrador, such as the 5 Wing military base in Goose Bay. WATCH | Northern sovereignty is a hot-button issue at the St. John's conference: Labrador has important role to play in Arctic sovereignty, experts say 35 minutes ago At the Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety Conference being held in St. John's this week, experts from around the world have gathered to talk geopolitics, climate change and more as Canada looks north to expand defence. As the CBC's Abby Cole reports, that also comes with a newfound focus on what northern defence could mean for this province. Prime Minister Mark Carney r ecently announced his promise to increase defence spending to five per cent of the GDP by 2035. And now that more money is going toward defence spending, Belbin says some of Labrador's defence infrastructure will be updated. She also hopes to see more innovation surrounding Labrador's defence capabilities. "Our presence in the Arctic needs to be stronger, whether it's through ports and it's through infrastructure and with communities," said Belbin. Labrador development opportunities Military expansion in northern communities could also mean more opportunities for business development in Labrador. Garry Best, CEO of Nunatsiavut Group of Companies says they are already contributing to defence and security in Labrador today. And with Ottawa's promise of more defence spending, Best hopes to see a growth in opportunities, especially for the growing Inuit population. "Lots of young ladies and gentlemen who want to do things a little differently, keep their feet … in the traditional cultural areas," said Best, adding they'd also "explore opportunities in business, in defence and elsewhere [in] public service." Additionally, Best says increasing defence could mean upgrades elsewhere in Labrador. "Helping the communities perhaps upgrade their airstrips, upgrade the existing ports, provide employment opportunities and … build and maintain multi-use infrastructure," said Best. "That's why we're here talking to the defence industry and government people." Indigenous consultation emphasized While companies look to develop and expand in the north, Indigenous leaders say community consultation is a requirement. COO of CanArctic Inuit Networks, Madeleine Redfern, spoke at the conference about the importance of Indigenous consultation. Redfern hopes to see more meaningful consultation and partnership with the Inuit regions as defence is expanded across the North. "If we are not meaningfully consulted and we're not involved, then we actually have a legal challenge in a legal case to demonstrate that Canada and the proponents haven't fulfilled their obligation," she said.
