Manitoba Tories say bill to protect gender expression could infringe on free speech
Manitoba's Opposition leader says he is hoping for changes to a bill that would add gender expression to the province's human rights code.
Obby Khan says he's concerned the bill could infringe on free speech, and he wants the NDP government to amend the bill to clarify what would prompt a complaint to the human rights commission.
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Justice Minister Matt Wiebe has said the change would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns, and would deal with areas such as employment, housing and accessing public services.
The bill recently went before public hearings, where the head of the human rights commission said cases seen in other provinces have involved malicious and repetitive misgendering.
The bill is expected to be passed into law this spring, given the NDP majority in the legislature, and would bring Manitoba in line with most other provinces.
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Khan was asked whether he will allow his Tory caucus members a free vote on the bill, and said he plans to do so on all matters of conscience.
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Global News
28 minutes ago
- Global News
F-35 costs soar nearly 50% amid delays, AG reports
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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
BELL: Danielle Smith is playing nice with Carney, Poilievre is not
Alberta premier plays ball with Carney unless or until he screws over her province Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks as he attends a tour of the Fort York Armoury in Toronto on June 9, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. Prime Minister Carney has pledged to meet NATO's 2% spending pledge this year. (Photo byPierre Poilievre figures he's got Prime Minister Mark Carney's number. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account If an Albertan dials it, they will almost certainly not get what they want. On Monday, Poilievre raises the curtain on who he believes is the real Mark Carney. The Conservative leader says Carney recently made 'a very troubling comment.' He only heard it in French. 'The premiers will have a veto on pipelines.' B.C.'s NDP Premier David Eby is standing in the way of the bitumen pipeline Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would like to see going to the west coast, with product heading to ready and willing Asian customers. 'Is the prime minister effectively saying we're not going to get any pipelines built?' asks Poilievre. 'If you wait until everyone agrees on everything nothing will happen. We can't wait any longer. We have to get things done. It's going to take some backbone. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We, as Conservatives, believe in pushing ahead with pipelines.' Read More Poilievre adds the shortest and easiest pipeline route is through northern B.C. to the west coast and the port of Prince Rupert. The Conservative leader says it is insane almost all the Alberta oil is sold to the U.S. at a discount 'to the exclusive benefit of American refineries and commodity traders.' He says 'giant leaps' are needed on this file and Liberal anti-oil policies also must be punted. Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters in the Foyer of the House of Commons, Monday, Jun 9, 2025 in Ottawa. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith plays nice with Carney, at least for now. In fact, she has had many kind words for the prime minister even when newshounds push the premier to see if she will dish some dirt on Carney. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Smith feels Carney wants to do the right thing. To Smith, he appears sincere. She believes Alberta is making progress with him. He is moving in the right direction. Yes, Smith says Carney is far better than former prime minister Justin Trudeau. A sea of change. She says many people are telling her to give this Liberal prime minister a chance. A recent nose count showed even some federal Conservative voters in Alberta are moderately impressed with Carney. Believe it or not! The premier goes further. She thinks Carney realizes he has to change course from the Trudeau years if he wants to survive politically. Smith thinks Carney is taking seriously the sentiment for Alberta independence. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the First Ministers' Meeting at TCU Place. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Monday, June 2, 2025. Michelle Berg/Saskatoon StarPhoenix Yes, Smith has had phone calls and returned texts from Carney. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She feels if Alberta demonstrates the pipeline to the west coast is in the national interest the province will be able to get pipeline approval. On weekend TV, Smith is confronted with the fact Carney believes a pipeline thumbs-up will need the 'consensus' of the provinces. If a province doesn't want a pipeline you're out of luck and the B.C. government doesn't want Smith's pipeline to the west coast. When faced with Carney handing the B.C. government what amounts to a veto, the Alberta premier does not go after the prime minister. Smith figures Team Canada is going to prevail. She will try to convince the B.C. NDP premier to support the pipeline. Smith says she knows Eby is on Team Canada and she doesn't think Eby will go off Team Canada. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. B.C. Premier David Eby. B.C. Government We will know pretty soon where the chips will fall. The good news for Carney is Smith is not being a public thorn in the side of the prime minister. She is prepared to work with him at this time. No doubt she is trusting in the one thing we know about Liberals. They do not really believe in anything, One day they will give you the impression they stand for something. It is their principle. Here they stand. The next day, if the wind switches direction, they will stand for the exact opposite of where they stood and sound so sincere when they are advocating what they had previously attacked. That's why they can take much of the Conservative policy and say it is Liberal. That's why they can do the fear-mongering Elbows Up and then drop it when they no longer need to whip people up. They got their votes. Mission accomplished. Smith thinks Canadians are with Alberta on pipelines and Carney knows it. So Smith will play nice with Carney. If it all works out, and there are many who bet it will not work out, the Alberta premier can take a victory lap. If it doesn't work out, there is always a return to the old script. Another Liberal shafts Alberta. Then all hell will break loose. rbell@ Toronto Blue Jays World Olympics Editorial Cartoons Relationships
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Canadian military surpasses 2025 recruitment goal, hits 10-year high
Nearly 7,000 people joined Canada's military over the last year, exceeding the Canadian Armed Forces' recruitment goal and marking a 10-year high in enrollment. More recruits are enlisting at a time of heightened focus on Canadian sovereignty, and as Prime Minister Mark Carney vows to rebuild the military and reduce reliance on the United States. It's a sign of some progress in a recruitment crisis the previous defence minister described as a 'death spiral,' but government officials acknowledge significant problems with retention remain. The Department of Defence released numbers to Global News on Monday, showing that 6,706 recruits enrolled in the regular forces between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, surpassing its target of 6,496. 2:40 Carney says increasing defence spending about 'defending Canada,' not just NATO targets The figures represent a 55 per cent increase from the previous year and a 10-year peak. Story continues below advertisement 'These milestones highlight the success of the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) recent changes to the recruitment process, and commitment to building a more modern and effective military,' department spokesperson Derek Abma said in a statement. Cmdr. Pascal Belhumeur, head of the military's personnel generation group, did not tie the spike to U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation rhetoric, telling Global News it's too early to know what's behind the renewed interest. 0:35 Rutte expects a 'NATO-wide' commitment on 5 per cent of GDP spending on defence He attributed the rise in applicants to modernization efforts and widening eligibility, but added that other factors could be at play, including economic uncertainty, advertising efforts and a growing number of Canadians reflecting on 'who we are as a country.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Trump has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st state, while also launching a punishing trade war against the United States' northern neighbour and closest ally. Story continues below advertisement After years of lagging behind its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, Carney pledged on Monday to meet NATO's two per cent of GDP defence spending target this fiscal year, half a decade ahead of schedule. 1:58 Canada to discuss Golden Dome with US, military recruitment increasing: defence chief The plan amounts to an increase of $9.3 billion in defence funding for 2025-26. 'We're too reliant on the United States,' the prime minister said during a speech at the University of Toronto's Munk School. 'The long-held view that Canada's geographic location will protect us is becoming increasingly archaic.' But better protecting Canada will require digging out of a personnel hole. To do so, Carney has vowed to increase salaries, build more housing on military bases and improve health and legal services. 'They deserve better. And they will have better,' the prime minister pledged during Monday's speech. Story continues below advertisement 2:15 Canada's military recruitment tool faces rollout problems Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, defence analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the latest recruitment numbers are 'encouraging and worth celebrating' but insists there are some caveats. 'Six thousand, seven hundred and six new members in the regular force does not necessarily translate into 6,706 active members once fully trained,' Duval-Lantoine said in an e-mail to Global News. 'Is that enrolment keeping pace with attrition? Basic training is one of the moments in military life that suffers the highest level of attrition.' 2:07 How will Canada meet its defence spending targets? The CAF is short roughly 14,000 personnel. The Department of National Defence's goal is to reach 71,500 regular forces members and 30,000 reserve members in 2029. Story continues below advertisement Government officials say they're confident they'll hit those targets this time around, citing growing excitement around Canada's increased military investment and what they refer to as changing demographics. The CAF widened eligibility to include permanent residents and changed medical standards, allowing people with asthma, allergies, anxiety and ADHD to apply. 'While we're seeing an improvement in numbers in the short-term, whether it translates into readiness for the CAF is a big question,' Duval-Lantoine said.
