#CANADA: Environment Minister Opposes Cutting Gas Taxes

[world politics news]

Claiming that “climate change is killing people in Canada,” Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault has said that he opposes the Alberta in Ontario provincial governments reducing the cost of fuel by cutting gas taxes, because it “goes against our efforts to fight climate change,"

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Legislature Considers Four-Day Work Week

[world politics news]

 

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is advancing legislation to create a Four-Day Work Week Commission.

Its job will be to research whether or not the province could realistically pursue an abbreviated work schedule. The legislation was introduced in December 2021.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Baber Joins Race To Lead Conservatives

[world politics news]

Independent Ontario Member of the Provincial Parliament Roman Baber has announced he is running to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). 

He called lockdowns “the greatest policy error of our generation.” and has said the provincial lockdown is grounded in "false public health narrative."

Last January, Baber was removed from the Ontario Conservative Party caucus by Premier Doug Ford because of his opposition to lockdowns.

 
So far, the candidates for the Conservative leadership race are Baber, CPC MPs Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis and former Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest.

Baber was born in Russia, in the old Soviet Union in 1980, emigrating to Canada at the age of 15.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Health Minister Decries Doctors Spreading "Misinformation" About Vaccines

[world politics news]

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott has addressed reports that doctors are spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, calling it “unacceptable.” 

In a news conference, Elliot said she would be sending a letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario “urging them to do everything that is possible to put an end to this behavior.”

Some doctors are sharing unverified information on blood clots and myocarditis side effects, while others have been accused of issuing false medical exemptions for wearing a mask or receiving a vaccine. Several have claimed the vaccine “kills children.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Bill Would Mandate Vax In Healthcare, Education Sectors

[world politics news]

Legislation has been introduced in the Ontario legislative assembly that would require mandatory covid-19 vaccinations in the education and healthcare sectors throughout the province.  

The Bill, introduced by Ontario Liberal Party member John Fraser, requires specified education sector organizations and healthcare sector organizations to require their employees and other individuals that they retain to provide services to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Certain exceptions are provided for, such as where complying with the requirement would result in a contravention of the Human Rights Code. In such cases, the education sector organization or healthcare sector organization must ensure that the individual’s duties do not require direct contact with specified persons and that the individual undergo training respecting the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccinations

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Unveils Vaccine Passports For Sept. Rollout

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a vaccine passport program to take effect later this month.  

Beginning Sept. 22, proof of vaccination will be needed for restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor settings in Ontario where masks cannot be worn for the duration of the visit.

For the first month, proof of vaccination will be the receipt issued when getting vaccinated or downloaded from the government website. Another piece of government identification, such as a driver’s licence, will be required.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Medical Chief Says Those Not Taking Vaccine Won't Have "Freedom To Move Around"

[world politics news] 

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer says that those who refuse to take the COVID vaccine won’t have “freedom to move around” and will have to continue to wear masks.

Dr. David Williams acknowledged that “we can’t force someone to take a vaccine,” but when on to explain how people who didn’t take it would have their freedom of mobility severely restricted.

“What we can do is to say sometimes for access or ease of getting into certain settings, if you don’t have vaccination then you’re not allowed into that setting without other protection materials,” said Williams.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: #Ontario's Gov't Lost $42 Million Selling Marijuana

[world politics news]

Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp. lost C$42 million in the latest fiscal year, according to newly released public documents.

The government-run provincial Crown corporation tasked with online sales and wholesale distribution of recreational pot reported revenues of $64 million for the year ended March 31, 2019. However, Ontario's consolidated financial statements show the OCRC, which operates as the Ontario Cannabis Store, racked up expenses totaling $106 million during the period.

Canada legalized cannabis for adult use on Oct. 17 last year, and the rollout was mired by supply chain issues and product shortages, which largely have been resolved in recent months.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford Hopes To Balance Budget In Final Year Of Term Without "Slashing And Burning"

[world politics news]

Premier Doug Ford said his government "may" balance the province's budget in the final year of its four-year mandate. During the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party's policy convention in Toronto, he told media that eliminating the province's $14.5 billion deficit would take some time. "We're not going to go in there and start slashing and burning," he said. "We're going to do it responsibly. We will balance. It may be in year four, but we're going to balance."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Concerns Raised After Revelation That Premier's Chief Of Staff Ordered Police To Raid Illegal Pot Shops

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's chief of staff ordered senior political aides to direct police to raid outlaw cannabis stores the day marijuana became legal in Canada, and to show "people in handcuffs," according to a report in the Toronto Star.

Dean French reportedly made the demand in two conference calls on Oct. 17. He was met by stiff resistance from staff in the community safety ministry and the attorney general's office. Reports have also surfaced of conservative party officials expressing concerns about a government official ordering police to conduct operations.

Pictured: Doug Ford, left, and his chief of staff, Dean French.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford Denounces "Neo-Nazi" Faith Goldy After Controversial Podcast

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is distancing himself from a candidate for mayor of Toronto after a podcast surfaced in which she cited what some called "extremist" and "white supremacist" views.  Faith Goldy appeared on a podcast repeated the "14 Words," which the Anti-Defamation League labels "hate speech." The New Democratic Party, the opposition in the provincial parliament, called on Ford to condemn her views, on on twitter, he wrote, "I have been clear. I condemn hate speech, Anti-Semitism and racism in all forms - be it from Faith Goldy or anyone else."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario's Gov't Set To Release Details On How It Will Regulate Legal Cannabis Sales

[world politics news]

Ontario's government is set to release details outlining how it will manage the sale of recreational cannabis in the province. A full framework will be introduced in the legislature as early as this week. The plan may cap the number of cannabis retail licences that any single entity can own at 10% of the total available allocation, in a move that would limit the amount of stores one organization can own and prevent it from dominating the market.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Doug Ford, Jr. And His Progressive Conservatives Wins Big In #Ontario Provincial Election

[world politics news]

Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative Party won Thursday's election in Ontario thanks to significant increases in support across the province. With 40.6% of the vote, the Progressive Conservatives won 76 seats — well above the 63-seat threshold needed for a majority government and the most seats the party has won since Mike Harris's victory in 1995. With 33.7 per cent and 40 seats, the NDP is responsible for the the party's second best result ever. The ruling Liberal Party collapsed, falling to an all-time low, with just seven seats and 19.3% of the vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Prog. Conservative Leader Doug Ford Attacked For "Trump-Style" "Lock Her Up" Chants At Rally

[world politics news]

Two Ontario party leaders are condemning Progressive Conservative party leader Doug Ford for his supporters' "Trump-style" chants. Ford says he doesn’t condone chants of "lock her up" reportedly directed at Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne at a Progressive Conservative rally on Monday. She said the rhetoric is a "disturbing trend." New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath joined in the condemnation, calling the chants "unfortunate."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ontario Liberals Cast Spending Spree, Min. Wage Hike, As "Investments" In June Election

[world politics news]

The Ontario Liberals will go to voters in June painting their recent massive spending on child care and other social programs as pro-business investment. Government officials have admitted that some business owners have expressed concern about the government raising the hourly minimum wage from $11.60 to $14 now and to $15 next Jan. 1.

Pictured: Steven Del Duca, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Growth

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Brother Of Late Toronto Mayor Chosen To Lead Ontario Conservatives After Chaotic Leadership Race

[world politics news]

Doug Ford, Jr., the brother of late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, has been chosen by Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party as its leader. He goes up against Premier Katherine Wynne, a Liberal Party member in the June 7 provincial election. It was an upset over favorite Christine Elliott, who had lost leadership races twice before. The election was brought on by the resignation of party Leader Patrick Brown, who faced sexual misconduct allegations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ontario Oppo. Ldr Patrick Brown Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

[world politics news]

Ontario's Opposition leader is stepping down amid allegations of sexual misconduct, dealing a severe blow to his party just months before the province heads to the polls. Patrick Brown announced the decision in a statement issued early Thursday morning, following a hastily-called news conference in which the Progressive Conservative leader "categorically" denied what he called "troubling allegations" about his conduct and his character. Brown said that after consulting with caucus, friends and family, he decided to step down as leader but would stay on as a member of the provincial legislature to clear his name.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ontario First Province To Set Rules For Legal Pot Sales: Thru Gov't Stores Only

[world politics news]

Ontario is the first province or territory in Canada to lay out its plans for how cannabis will be sold and regulated in response to federal legislation that will legalize recreational use by July 2018. According to details announced at a Friday press conference, the province will set the minimum age at 19, the same as alcohol. The federal Cannabis Act gives provinces the ability to set the age as low as 18, although some medical groups have argued for a higher minimum age due to the effects of cannabis use on brain development.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Auditor Slams Ontario Liberal Gov't Spending Practices

[world politics news]

Ontario's Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has a bucketful of criticism for how Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government is spending tax dollars. In her new annual report released Wednesday, Lysyk bemoans "excessive" wait times for hospital beds, reveals shoddy highway paving by contractors, and unveils that the government's own projection for its cap and trade program will see the majority of its cuts to greenhouse gas emissions come from outside Ontario, despite its $2 billion yearly price tag.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ontario Premier Wynne Admits "Mistake" Of Higher Electric Bills

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is calling high electricity prices her "mistake," sounding a note of contrition on one of the major issues threatening the Liberals’ re-election bid in 2018. Amid the usual rallying of the troops at the Ontario Liberals’ annual general meeting, Wynne addressed her poor popularity numbers, which she called the "elephant in the room."

[FULL STORY HERE]