Latest news with #Canadians
Winnipeg Free Press
11 minutes ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sentencing hearing begins for ‘Freedom Convoy' leaders Lich, Barber
OTTAWA – The sentencing hearing for 'Freedom Convoy' leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is set to begin Wednesday morning, months after the two were found guilty of mischief. Two days have been set aside for the parties to present their sentencing submissions. The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber, who was also convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order. Lich and Barber were key figures behind the convoy protest that occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks beginning in late January 2022 to protest vaccine mandates and other pandemic measures. The protest ended after the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time ever. The convoy was cleared out of Ottawa's downtown core in a three-day police operation that began on Feb. 18. Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey said she found Lich and Barber guilty of mischief because they routinely encouraged people to join or remain at the protest, despite knowing the adverse effects it was having on downtown residents and businesses. Barber also was found guilty of counselling others to disobey a court order for telling people to ignore a judge's injunction directing convoy participants to stop honking their truck horns. Lich was not charged with that offence. In a separate Ottawa-based trial for Pat King, another convoy leader, the Crown sought a sentence of 10 years in prison for mischief and disobeying a court order. King was sentenced in February to three months of house arrest, 100 hours of community service at a food bank or men's shelter and a year of probation. He received nine months credit for time served before his conviction. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Crown's sentencing proposals for Lich and Barber. In a social media post Monday, Poilievre compared the sentencing range to sentences for other crimes and asked, 'How is this justice?' While it's quite rare for elected officials to comment directly on a sentencing hearing, Poilievre's message was echoed by several other Conservative MPs. Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman called the Crown's proposed sentence 'political vengeance not actual justice.' Some Conservatives, including Poilievre, were openly supportive of the 'Freedom Convoy' as trucks and other vehicles clogged roads around Parliament Hill. Both Lich and Barber thanked Poilievre for his support in separate social media posts. 'There is a fine line between politics and the judiciary, as there should be, and I have long understood the uncomfortable position elected officials find themselves in when it comes to commenting on cases that are before the court,' Lich said on X Tuesday. 'In our case, the double standard and the vindictive nature from the prosecution office has become too obvious to ignore and will set a precedent going forward that will affect all Canadians who choose to peacefully protest or deter them from exercising their Charter Right to peacefully assemble.' 'Thank you, Pierre, we've been waiting so long for elected officials to speak up,' Barber wrote in his own post. Poilievre lost his Ottawa-area seat in the April election and is running in an Alberta byelection. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Both Lich and Barber were found not guilty on charges of intimidation, counselling to commit intimidation, obstructing police and counselling others to obstruct police. Justice Perkins-McVey said intimidation carries a sense of menace or violence. She said that both Lich and Barber repeatedly called for protesters to remain peaceful throughout the protest. As for obstructing police, Perkins-McVey said both were arrested without incident and were in custody before the main police operation began to clear downtown Ottawa. Charges for counselling others to commit mischief were stayed at the request of the Crown. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
Calgary Herald
11 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
Auto industry says environment minister won't relent despite calls to scrap EV mandate
Article content He says while the government recognizes there is a challenge with EV sales and meeting the current targets, what remains unclear is what it intends to do next. Article content 'Minister Dabrusin and Environment Canada seem to be committed to having an (electric vehicle) mandate in place, and we continue to make the case to them that there are no changes that you could make to this mandate that will solve the current situation that we're in,' he told National Post, on a call while he attended the premiers meeting in Ontario's cottage country. Article content Any changes the government might consider would take time to implement, he said, adding that there was 'deep frustration' within the industry as it must decide how to meet the upcoming targets, with one option being to restrict sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Article content 'This is urgent,' Kingston said. 'This isn't a tomorrow problem.' Article content Article content Under the policy, companies could earn credits either by selling zero-emission vehicles, which include plug-in hybrids or ones powered by hydrogen, purchasing credits from another electric vehicle maker, or spending money on building out charging infrastructure. Article content Should they fail to meet the targets, they could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Article content 'The environment minister does not want to scrap the mandate— that was made very clear to us, and that is extremely problematic for the industry. That option cannot be off the table. It is the most effective and fastest way to address this current problem,' Kingston said. Article content In a statement, a spokesperson for Dabrusin said the policy was implemented to give Canadians access 'to affordable zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change with Canadian innovation.' Article content Article content 'The standard is currently in place, and we are continuing to meaningfully engage with industry and explore flexibility to make sure that our measures reflect (the) times we are in,' spokesperson Jenna Ghassabeh wrote. Article content Flavio Vlope, president of the Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers, who was also at the premiers' gathering, said he had spoken to around half a dozen ministers regarding the mandate and that the government was consulting 'heavily' with industry. Article content With the environment minister not appearing to entertain the question of scrapping the targets, he said the 'pressure is on' Dabrusin's department to make them 'mean something.' Article content 'Because right now, all they mean is a setup for failure,' he said. Article content 'There are lots of ways to help the industry here move along the immutable march to electrification, but as currently configured, all it does is punish them, and nobody needs religion right now.'
Edmonton Journal
11 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Edmonton Journal
Auto industry says environment minister won't relent despite calls to scrap EV mandate
Article content He says while the government recognizes there is a challenge with EV sales and meeting the current targets, what remains unclear is what it intends to do next. Article content 'Minister Dabrusin and Environment Canada seem to be committed to having an (electric vehicle) mandate in place, and we continue to make the case to them that there are no changes that you could make to this mandate that will solve the current situation that we're in,' he told National Post, on a call while he attended the premiers meeting in Ontario's cottage country. Article content Any changes the government might consider would take time to implement, he said, adding that there was 'deep frustration' within the industry as it must decide how to meet the upcoming targets, with one option being to restrict sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Article content 'This is urgent,' Kingston said. 'This isn't a tomorrow problem.' Article content Article content Under the policy, companies could earn credits either by selling zero-emission vehicles, which include plug-in hybrids or ones powered by hydrogen, purchasing credits from another electric vehicle maker, or spending money on building out charging infrastructure. Article content Should they fail to meet the targets, they could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Article content 'The environment minister does not want to scrap the mandate— that was made very clear to us, and that is extremely problematic for the industry. That option cannot be off the table. It is the most effective and fastest way to address this current problem,' Kingston said. Article content In a statement, a spokesperson for Dabrusin said the policy was implemented to give Canadians access 'to affordable zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change with Canadian innovation.' Article content Article content 'The standard is currently in place, and we are continuing to meaningfully engage with industry and explore flexibility to make sure that our measures reflect (the) times we are in,' spokesperson Jenna Ghassabeh wrote. Article content Flavio Vlope, president of the Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers, who was also at the premiers' gathering, said he had spoken to around half a dozen ministers regarding the mandate and that the government was consulting 'heavily' with industry. Article content With the environment minister not appearing to entertain the question of scrapping the targets, he said the 'pressure is on' Dabrusin's department to make them 'mean something.' Article content 'Because right now, all they mean is a setup for failure,' he said. Article content 'There are lots of ways to help the industry here move along the immutable march to electrification, but as currently configured, all it does is punish them, and nobody needs religion right now.'
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
You don't want smoke? How about a mirror?
Opinion Dear Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, A couple of weeks ago, half a dozen Republicans wrote to Canada's ambassador to the United States to complain about the wildfire smoke that sometimes drifts from our country to yours. According to the Canadian Press and the Associated Press — you know the latter crowd for sure; they're the ones still calling the Gulf of Mexico by its recognized name and not the one declared by your oh-so-capricious president — representatives Tom Tiffany, Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Glenn Grothman and Pete Stauber of Wisconsin and Minnesota are saying that 'successive years of wildfires in Canada have undermined air quality in their states and robbed Americans of their ability to enjoy the summer.' Jacquelyn Martin / The Associated Press U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, Sunday, July 13. American politicians are complaining about wildfire smoke drifting south. Columnist Pam Frampton points out something just as noxious is drifting north from the U.S. Let me just say right off the bat that we're terribly sorry if our pesky wildfires are interfering with folks' God-given right to play cornhole in the backyard, enjoy a Bud Light on the deck, or set an apple pie out to cool on the kitchen windowsill. Believe it or not, Canadians like those sorts of things, too, of a summer's day. The representatives are demanding answers and action, writing in their letter, 'As we are entering the height of the fire season, we would like to know how your government plans on mitigating wildfires and the smoke that makes its way south.' Well, forgive my boldness, sir, but those remarks seem a little light in the empathy department. Wildfires are caused by many things: some by arson, some accidentally set — by a dropped cigarette, say, or a backyard fire that sends sparks flying into tinder-dry woods — some by Mother Nature messing around with lightning. Some are even started by the sparks from trains. But the underlying factor in all of these is climate change, and the representatives' letter had nary a mention of that. Climate change can bring hotter weather and drought, earlier snow melt and high winds, all of which can set the stage for raging fires. Are there things countries can do to try to lessen the risk? Why of course, and Canada has. I don't mean to boast, but we've won recognition for our work in that regard. The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, for example, has been adapted by countries outside of our own. (Acknowledging that climate change is real is a good place to start). Those Republic representatives are worried about their constituents' —and presumably their own air quality — and fair enough. But have they given any thought to the thousands of Canadians who have had to flee their homes this summer — 12,000 evacuated in Manitoba alone so far — because of wildfires that are far more present and dangerous than second-hand smoke? And what of those who have lost their lives and properties in the fires here? Do those elected representatives care about their neighbours at all? And speaking of neighbours, your country hasn't exactly been exemplary in that regard of late. With U.S. President Donald Trump turning the tariff screws on Canadian products at every opportunity, you're no longer the ally you once were. Come to think of it, we have a complaint of our own. The squalid nature of politics in your country, sir, is making it difficult for many Canadians to enjoy their summer. Why, we can't even open our newspaper or turn on CBC Radio out on the deck without reading your president's name or hearing his voice. Instead of 'The World This Hour,' CBC might as well call their newscast 'What's Trump Done Today?' Government departments decimated. Massive employee layoffs. Families ripped apart by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Detainees caged in Alligator Alcatraz. Science denounced and underfunded. Bizarre conspiracy theories endorsed and spread by the Oval Office (we hear Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robotic clone). Playing politics with the judiciary. Promises of peace deals that don't materialize. The 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Trump's incessant use of ALL CAPS. The Epstein files. Did we mention the Epstein files? Soon, Canadian children will be tearing off daisy petals to the refrain 'Is there a client list or isn't there a client list?,' instead of 'He loves me, he loves me not.' Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Enough already. Can you do something about that, Ambassador Hoekstra? Can you take our complaint to the highest levels, as we have done with yours about wildfire smoke? To paraphrase the Republican representatives, we would like to know how your government plans on mitigating the claptrap and twaddle that makes its way north — in all seasons since Trump took office, and not just in summer. Because right now, the president's vapid ramblings, poison politics and social media proclamations are about as welcome as a parade of ants in a potato salad at a picnic. Sincere regards. Pam Frampton lives in St. John's. Email pamelajframpton@ | X: @Pam_Frampton | Bluesky: @ Pam Frampton Pam Frampton is a columnist for the Free Press. She has worked in print media since 1990 and has been offering up her opinions for more than 20 years. Read more about Pam. Pam's columns are built on facts, but offer her personal views through arguments and analysis. Every column Pam produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ballet for the blind? Dance piece takes surprising steps
The seemingly disparate worlds of ballet and blindness are coming together in a groundbreaking work by Queensland Ballet. Newborn Giants is a new 25-minute ballet for 13 dancers masterminded by two Canadians: sighted choreographer Robert Binet and blind academic and theatre-maker Devon Healey. Binet said the work, which is for both sighted and blind audiences, was much more than ballet with spoken narration. 'In its simplest form, you'll see a dance with a poetic text recorded and performed by Devon,' he said. '[But] the whole stage is miked, so you can hear the dancers breathing, you can hear the contact of one person's hand on a partner's leg as they jump into a lift. 'Sometimes the text is describing what you're seeing, but other times it might be describing what a dancer is feeling inside their body.' Binet, who was in Brisbane in April and May directing the piece, said he was invited by Queensland Ballet to 'take a big swing' with something experimental. He said his choreography was inspired by Healey's writing, rather than the other way around. 'It's blindness leading sight, rather than blindness following.'
