🇺🇸 Biden ordered Trudeau to end Freedom Convoy over fears US car plants would close within hours

President Joe Biden demanded Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stop the 'freedom convoy' that protested at the US-Canada border against vaccine mandates, right before Trudeau invoked emergency powers to end it.

Trudeau is set to testify in Ottawa on Nov 25 regarding his decision to clear out the convoy as part of the Canadian government's investigation into the PM using those powers.

The trucker protest grew until it closed vital trade routes along the Canada-U.S. border and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades were ended on February 14.

#USA

@maplechronicles

Alberta bans masking mandates in schools, guarantees in-person learning

The Alberta government says school boards can't require students to wear masks in school or be forced to take classes online.

In a release, the government says it has made regulatory changes that guarantee students have access to in-person learning. The changes also say that students cannot be denied in-person education by school authorities due to their personal decision to wear or not wear a mask.

Premier Danielle Smith says the changes go into effect immediately and will create an inclusive environment by ensuring personal and family choices are respected.

#Alberta

@maplechronicles

🇨🇦🇺🇸☣️ We are following a heated discussion about biolaboratories in the United States. The topic was kind of brought up by the Republicans to expose the facts of dangerous research in secret centers located all over the world and funded by the Democrats.

In this respect, let us recall some interesting facts about Canada.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, part of the coordination of biological laboratories before the war in Ukraine burst out was carried out through the Ukrainian Science and Technology Center (STCU, headquartered in Kiev). The center was established in 1993 at the initiative of the United States, Canada, and Sweden to support scientists and specialists who were associated with work on Soviet weapon of mass destruction and missile technologies. Current STCU member countries include Azerbaijan, Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Sweden, Ukraine, the United States, and Uzbekistan, as well as the European Union.

And a few years ago the National Post wrote that Canada financed the creation of biolaboratories in Kyrgyzstan and managed to invest $6 million of our taxes. They didn't have time to invest the full amount of $30 million because a revolution took place there. But as far as we know, Canada is still trying to participate in supporting research on dangerous pathogens such as anthrax, plague, and so on.

We'll be watching closely to find if there are any new mentions of Canada in this scandal.

Also, if you have anything to share, please contact us via a bot:
@maplechronicles_bot

#USA

@maplechronicles

Moderate earthquake of magnitude 4.9 reported 52 miles south of Vernon, British Columbia

An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 occurred early evening on Nov 25, near Vernon, Regional District of Mount Waddington, British Columbia, as reported by the Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN).

According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a moderately shallow depth of 22 miles. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.

@maplechronicles

Canadian gun law, and why it is not going to become a trouble-shooter

The Governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan have accused the federal government of planning to “ban legal firearm ownership altogether”. “These amendments do nothing to target illegal firearms use and further show the disconnect between the federal Liberal government and legal firearms owners in Saskatchewan and across Canada,” Scott Moe, the Saskatchewan premier, said.

In October, Canada introduced a nationwide ban on handgun sales, purchases and transfers. The federal government’s official version is that it was done to reduce gun violence across the country.

At the moment, people cannot buy, sell, or transfer handguns within Canada, nor can they bring newly acquired handguns into the country.

Canadian MSM promote the idea that a measure like this will help to reduce homicides. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of crimes is committed with handguns which were illegally purchased and not registered. The concept of “ban them all” does not seem to be able to improve the situation.

At the same time, as our readers comment, the total ban on purchasing, registering and possession of weapon may come in handy for the government in the face of disorders. The recent Freedom Convoy events have shown it is not quite easy to handle protests like this – and now Canada administration has nothing to do but to try to make themselves safe in the nearest future.

@maplechronicles

🇷🇺 Canadian farmers ask Ottawa to act on tariffs on Russian fertilizers

The Canada Border Services Agency is subjecting all goods originating in Russia or Belarus to a 35-per-cent customs tariff.

Farmers in eastern Canada are feeling the brunt of tariffs imposed on Russia in March. They are asking the federal government to act to avoid having to pay the price. As a result, agricultural producers find themselves with a hefty bill because many of them had already placed their fertilizer orders long before this date.

#Russia

@maplechronicles

Montreal must pay $3.1 million for violating the rights of protesters

The City of Montreal will have to pay $3.1 million for having violated the rights of thousands of demonstrators, notably during the Maple Spring.

The latter co-lead eight class actions concerning the arrest and detention of several thousand protesters by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) between 2012 and 2014.

The plaintiffs allege that the SPVM "violated the fundamental rights" of those arrested at rallies against tuition hikes, the P-6 bylaw that limited the right to protest or police brutality.

#Quebec

@maplechronicles

Canada Post employee stole hundreds of packages

A Canada Post employee was arrested for stealing more than 500 items, between packages and mail, in Wainwright, Alberta.

The items were seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) after a search of the offending employee's vehicle and residence.

Although charges have not been formally laid, an investigation is underway for offences of theft of mail and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. All of the seized packages were returned to the Canada Post office for delivery to their proper destination.

#Alberta

@maplechronicles

Canada includes 400,000 more job vacancies for immigrants to apply

The provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan announced a total of about 400,000 new vacant job positions which brings it to about 994,800 vacant positions within Canada.

The job vacancy rate (total number of vacant positions as a proportion of labour demand) increased to 5.7%, indicating the need to fill positions amid employee shortages.

The sectors with the most vacant positions are health and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, professional, scientific, and technical services, and manufacturing.

#Ontario #Saskatchewan

@maplechronicles

E3 Lithium gets C$27m investment from Government of Canada Fund

E3 Lithium Ltd. said that it has received a 27-million Canadian dollar ($20.2 million) investment from a Canadian government fund to support the company's resource and technology development.

The Alberta-based lithium developer said that the investment is from Canada's Innovation, Science and Economic Development's Strategic Innovation Fund.

The investment will cover all aspects of E3's resource and technology development, including drilling, piloting lithium extraction technology, process development and engineering.

@maplechronicles

Alberta Premier presented a “not-watered-down” version of the province’s ‘sovereignty’ act

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government has proposed a bill that would enable her province to deem federal laws unconstitutional, allow it to make unilateral changes to provincial legislation, and direct provincial entities to ignore “harmful” federal policies.

The act doesn’t give the provincial government the power to direct a private business or citizen to do anything, but it does let a minister issue a directive to a provincial entity — like a municipal police force or non-governmental organization — telling it to ignore a federal policy or law.

#Alberta

@maplechronicles

🇷🇺 Canada summons Russian ambassador over LGBT social media posts

Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Stepanov to demand an explanation about a series of anti-LGBT posts on Russian embassy accounts in Ottawa. This was Stepanov's third challenge to Jolie's demands since the beginning of the year.

"We absolutely cannot tolerate this rhetoric. This is an attack on Canadian values of acceptance and tolerance," the minister said.

#Russia

@maplechronicles

Quebec Immigration Minister: the province wants 100% francophone or 'francotropic' immigration

According to the province’s Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette, in the future, Quebec will want to select 100 per cent francophone or 'francotropic' immigrants. 'Francotropes' may have Arabic, Vietnamese, Laotian, Creole, Catalan, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish or Swahili as their mother tongue.

Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon suggested that there would be 'exceptions' in certain sectors of activity. According to him, 'we have to be realistic and balance this with the needs'. He provided the example of steel producer Posco, which will open a plant in Bécancour and will need South Korean experts.

#Quebec

@maplechronicles

Statistics Canada: “Canada not doing enough with its highly educated immigrants”

A steady influx of highly educated immigrants has helped Canada keep its top ranking as the G7 nation with the highest percentage (57.5 per cent) of working-age people carrying credentials from college or university, according to Statistics Canada census data.

Yet the agency also suggested the country is "leaving talent on the table" by failing to recognize the training and qualifications of workers educated abroad once they're here.

Nearly 60 per cent of working-age new immigrants (aged 25-64) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the agency said. However, a bit over 25 per cent with foreign degrees were overqualified for the jobs they have here; defined as working jobs that required a high school diploma at most.

@maplechronicles

Police charge 107 people following Ontario-wide investigation into child abuse and exploitation

Ontario Provincial Police say hundreds of charges laid in October represent a “snapshot” of the efforts of investigators and analysts working on a provincial strategy to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation on the Internet.

In all, 27 Ontario police forces conducted 255 investigations, executed 168 search warrants and seized 1,032 devices. Officers laid 428 charges against 107 people.

Sixty-one victims were identified and helped in their communities, and another 60 children were “safeguarded.” A total of 175 investigations continue with more charges possible from what was dubbed Project Maverick.

#Ontario

@maplechronicles