Some residents cleared out of East Hastings Street encampment moving into nearby CRAB Park
Some of the residents of the encampment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside that was taken apart last week by police and city staff have moved to nearby CRAB Park. There are about 40 to 50 tents.
Last week Mayor Ken Sim ordered the long-standing encampment removed after the city's police and fire chiefs warned of escalating crime and an unacceptable fire risk. At the camp's peak, about 180 structures covered the sidewalk along the street.
#BritishColumbia
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Some of the residents of the encampment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside that was taken apart last week by police and city staff have moved to nearby CRAB Park. There are about 40 to 50 tents.
Last week Mayor Ken Sim ordered the long-standing encampment removed after the city's police and fire chiefs warned of escalating crime and an unacceptable fire risk. At the camp's peak, about 180 structures covered the sidewalk along the street.
#BritishColumbia
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🇨🇦🇺🇦 Trudeau announces new military aid, bilateral agreements during Ukraine PM's visit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Tuesday in Toronto.
The main outcomes of the visit:
🔹21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition will be sent to Ukraine for a total of $59 million
🔹new sanctions against 14 Russian individuals, 34 entities, as well as nine organizations tied to the financial sector in Belarus, were imposed
🔹$2.4 billion loan has been dispersed to Ukraine
🔹joint declaration on modernizing the free trade agreement between the two countries was signed
#Ukraine
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Tuesday in Toronto.
The main outcomes of the visit:
🔹21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition will be sent to Ukraine for a total of $59 million
🔹new sanctions against 14 Russian individuals, 34 entities, as well as nine organizations tied to the financial sector in Belarus, were imposed
🔹$2.4 billion loan has been dispersed to Ukraine
🔹joint declaration on modernizing the free trade agreement between the two countries was signed
#Ukraine
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Trudeau Foundation president, board resign, citing 'politicization' of China-linked donation
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation's president and board of directors have resigned en masse, citing the charity's entanglement in the ongoing foreign interference controversy.
In a statement, the foundation said that a $200,000 donation in 2016 from a businessman linked to the Chinese government "has put a great deal of pressure on the foundation's management and volunteer board of directors, as well as on our staff and our community."
The charity announced last month that it would return the donation. The Conservatives criticized the government over the matter, saying the donation compromised a government report on the integrity of the 2021 federal election.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation's president and board of directors have resigned en masse, citing the charity's entanglement in the ongoing foreign interference controversy.
In a statement, the foundation said that a $200,000 donation in 2016 from a businessman linked to the Chinese government "has put a great deal of pressure on the foundation's management and volunteer board of directors, as well as on our staff and our community."
The charity announced last month that it would return the donation. The Conservatives criticized the government over the matter, saying the donation compromised a government report on the integrity of the 2021 federal election.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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Conservatives ask Twitter to label CBC accounts as 'government-funded' media
The Opposition Conservatives are asking Twitter to apply a "government-funded" label on accounts associated with the CBC.
On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tweeted a copy of a letter addressed to the company that made that request. In the letter, Poilievre asked that the label be applied to CBC's English "news-related" accounts.
The social-media giant currently defines "government-funded" media as outlets that "may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content." Poilievre said he believes that applies to CBC.
CBC said in a statement on Wednesday that is "clearly not the case," adding that it cannot comment on the motives behind Poilievre's letter.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Opposition Conservatives are asking Twitter to apply a "government-funded" label on accounts associated with the CBC.
On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tweeted a copy of a letter addressed to the company that made that request. In the letter, Poilievre asked that the label be applied to CBC's English "news-related" accounts.
The social-media giant currently defines "government-funded" media as outlets that "may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content." Poilievre said he believes that applies to CBC.
CBC said in a statement on Wednesday that is "clearly not the case," adding that it cannot comment on the motives behind Poilievre's letter.
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Union representing 120,000 federal public servants voted in favour of a strike
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced Wednesday morning the results of its strike votes, which were held between Feb. 22 and April 11.
“An overwhelming majority of our members have told us they can’t wait any longer and they are prepared to strike to secure a fair deal that won’t see them fall behind,” Chris Aylward, PSAC national president announced.
Aylward said the units were in a legal strike position as of Wednesday, but the union’s desire is to reach a deal with the federal government. Its division representing 35,000 Canadian Revenue Agency workers also voted in favour of a strike last week, and will be in a legal position to do so Friday.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced Wednesday morning the results of its strike votes, which were held between Feb. 22 and April 11.
“An overwhelming majority of our members have told us they can’t wait any longer and they are prepared to strike to secure a fair deal that won’t see them fall behind,” Chris Aylward, PSAC national president announced.
Aylward said the units were in a legal strike position as of Wednesday, but the union’s desire is to reach a deal with the federal government. Its division representing 35,000 Canadian Revenue Agency workers also voted in favour of a strike last week, and will be in a legal position to do so Friday.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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B.C. pledges $10M funding boost for Chinese Canadian Museum ahead of July 1 opening
Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum will open its doors on July 1 on the 100th anniversary of legislation known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, after the province pledged an additional $10 million in funding.
The legislation effectively eliminated Chinese immigration before being repealed in 1947.
The Chinese Canadian Museum will be located in the Wing Sang Building on East Pender Street, one the oldest buildings in Chinatown.
#BritishColumbia
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum will open its doors on July 1 on the 100th anniversary of legislation known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, after the province pledged an additional $10 million in funding.
The legislation effectively eliminated Chinese immigration before being repealed in 1947.
The Chinese Canadian Museum will be located in the Wing Sang Building on East Pender Street, one the oldest buildings in Chinatown.
#BritishColumbia
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🌊No tsunami risk after 6.2-magnitude earthquake rumbles off Vancouver Island
Officials say there is no tsunami risk after a moderate earthquake was detected off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island on Thursday morning.
The 6.2-magnitude quake occurred at approximately 8:55 a.m. and was located about 211 kilometres northeast of Port McNeill, according to the United States Geological Survey.
#BritishColumbia
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Officials say there is no tsunami risk after a moderate earthquake was detected off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island on Thursday morning.
The 6.2-magnitude quake occurred at approximately 8:55 a.m. and was located about 211 kilometres northeast of Port McNeill, according to the United States Geological Survey.
#BritishColumbia
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Multiple people arrested, over $800K in cash, drugs seized: police
Guelph police say a loaded handgun and more than $860,000 in cash and drugs were seized after an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking involving multiple police services in Ontario.
The investigation, dubbed “Project Hammer,” began in May of last year after officers received information about drugs being sold through a social media account.
According to police, search warrants were executed Tuesday at two addresses in Guelph and three in Toronto.
Guelph police said it believes this is the largest cash seizure in Guelph Police history.
#Ontario
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Guelph police say a loaded handgun and more than $860,000 in cash and drugs were seized after an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking involving multiple police services in Ontario.
The investigation, dubbed “Project Hammer,” began in May of last year after officers received information about drugs being sold through a social media account.
According to police, search warrants were executed Tuesday at two addresses in Guelph and three in Toronto.
Guelph police said it believes this is the largest cash seizure in Guelph Police history.
#Ontario
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The world's largest rubber duck is coming back to Toronto
That massive rubber duck that drew crowds to Toronto’s waterfront in 2017 is coming back this year for what will now be known as the Toronto Waterfront Festival, officially renamed today from its past branding of the Redpath Waterfront Festival.
The annual festival will arrive in Toronto from September 16 to 17, 2023, including the long-awaited return of the World’s Largest Rubber Duck which attracted more than 750,000 visitors to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
#Ontario
🍁 Maple Chronicles
That massive rubber duck that drew crowds to Toronto’s waterfront in 2017 is coming back this year for what will now be known as the Toronto Waterfront Festival, officially renamed today from its past branding of the Redpath Waterfront Festival.
The annual festival will arrive in Toronto from September 16 to 17, 2023, including the long-awaited return of the World’s Largest Rubber Duck which attracted more than 750,000 visitors to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
#Ontario
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First Nations leaders want Quebec to drop plans for Indigenous language law
Indigenous Peoples are calling on the Coalition Avenir Québec government to scrap plans to table legislation to protect First Nation languages and culture.
The First Nations Education Council, representing eight First Nations of Quebec, has issued a statement saying it is inconceivable that the government legislate unilaterally on languages without their consent.
“Let us recall that by virtue of their inherent right to self-government, First Nations elect their own government and have the legitimacy to adopt their own laws,” the council said. “Anything related to their languages and cultures remains under the purview of First Nations themselves.”
The issue of Indigenous languages came up during the 2022 adoption process for Bill 96, overhauling the Charter of the French Language.
First Nations sought to be exempted from the law, a request that was refused. But the government expressed interest in adopting another law, similar in nature to Bill 101, to protect and promote Indigenous languages.
#Quebec
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Indigenous Peoples are calling on the Coalition Avenir Québec government to scrap plans to table legislation to protect First Nation languages and culture.
The First Nations Education Council, representing eight First Nations of Quebec, has issued a statement saying it is inconceivable that the government legislate unilaterally on languages without their consent.
“Let us recall that by virtue of their inherent right to self-government, First Nations elect their own government and have the legitimacy to adopt their own laws,” the council said. “Anything related to their languages and cultures remains under the purview of First Nations themselves.”
The issue of Indigenous languages came up during the 2022 adoption process for Bill 96, overhauling the Charter of the French Language.
First Nations sought to be exempted from the law, a request that was refused. But the government expressed interest in adopting another law, similar in nature to Bill 101, to protect and promote Indigenous languages.
#Quebec
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Supreme Court to rule on Quebec law banning homegrown cannabis
▪️The Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule today on whether Quebec's ban on growing cannabis plants at home is constitutional.
▪️The ruling is in a case first brought before the courts in 2019 by Janick Murray-Hall. Murray-Hall's lawyer argued that Quebec's ban on owning and cultivating plants for personal use is unconstitutional and contradicts the federal cannabis law enacted in 2018.
▪️The federal law allows people to grow or own up to four cannabis plants at home, but the Quebec government banned growing for personal use, with fines running between $250 and $750.
▪️Quebec Superior Court sided with Murray-Hall and found the law to be unconstitutional. But the province successfully appealed to the Quebec Court of Appeal, and now the final word lies with the country's highest court.
#Quebec
🍁 Maple Chronicles
▪️The Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule today on whether Quebec's ban on growing cannabis plants at home is constitutional.
▪️The ruling is in a case first brought before the courts in 2019 by Janick Murray-Hall. Murray-Hall's lawyer argued that Quebec's ban on owning and cultivating plants for personal use is unconstitutional and contradicts the federal cannabis law enacted in 2018.
▪️The federal law allows people to grow or own up to four cannabis plants at home, but the Quebec government banned growing for personal use, with fines running between $250 and $750.
▪️Quebec Superior Court sided with Murray-Hall and found the law to be unconstitutional. But the province successfully appealed to the Quebec Court of Appeal, and now the final word lies with the country's highest court.
#Quebec
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40 per cent of Canadians say federal budget will do 'poor,' 'very poor' job of addressing their issues
As many as 40 per cent of Canadians believe the new federal budget will do a "poor" or "very poor" job of addressing their concerns.
Of the more than 1,000 people surveyed, 19 per cent said based on what they have heard they would grade the federal budget as poor when it comes to addressing the issues they and their families are worried about, while 20 per cent say it is very poor.
Thirty-three per cent say the federal budget, released in late March, does an "average" job based on what they have heard.
Two per cent said the budget does a "very good" job, 17 per cent described it as "good" and nine per cent were "unsure."
🍁 Maple Chronicles
As many as 40 per cent of Canadians believe the new federal budget will do a "poor" or "very poor" job of addressing their concerns.
Of the more than 1,000 people surveyed, 19 per cent said based on what they have heard they would grade the federal budget as poor when it comes to addressing the issues they and their families are worried about, while 20 per cent say it is very poor.
Thirty-three per cent say the federal budget, released in late March, does an "average" job based on what they have heard.
Two per cent said the budget does a "very good" job, 17 per cent described it as "good" and nine per cent were "unsure."
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🏠 National average rents rise 10.8 per cent in March
🔹The Canadian rental market has experienced a notable surge, with average asking rent for all property types rising 10.8% annually in March to $2,004.
🔹The past year saw an increase of $196 in average asking rents, highlighting the growing demand for rental housing and insufficient supply in the country. Private room and shared-accommodation rentals gained popularity as rents soared over the past year.
🔹The average asking rent for single room rentals in Canada was $834 in March, with British Columbia and Ontario having the highest rents at $1,053 and $934, respectively. In Vancouver and Toronto, single room asking rents averaged $1,410 and $1,309.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🔹The Canadian rental market has experienced a notable surge, with average asking rent for all property types rising 10.8% annually in March to $2,004.
🔹The past year saw an increase of $196 in average asking rents, highlighting the growing demand for rental housing and insufficient supply in the country. Private room and shared-accommodation rentals gained popularity as rents soared over the past year.
🔹The average asking rent for single room rentals in Canada was $834 in March, with British Columbia and Ontario having the highest rents at $1,053 and $934, respectively. In Vancouver and Toronto, single room asking rents averaged $1,410 and $1,309.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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Health services reduced in 6 Nunavut communities amid staff shortages
Health services have been reduced in six Nunavut communities because of critical staffing shortages.
In Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and Kugaaruk, health centres are offering reduced services, while in Gjoa Haven, Whale Cove and Resolute Bay, only emergency services are available.
The territory's health department says there are more than two dozen indeterminate positions that are vacant in those communities, with some of those vacancies filled by casual employees.
#healthcare #Nunavut
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Health services have been reduced in six Nunavut communities because of critical staffing shortages.
In Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and Kugaaruk, health centres are offering reduced services, while in Gjoa Haven, Whale Cove and Resolute Bay, only emergency services are available.
The territory's health department says there are more than two dozen indeterminate positions that are vacant in those communities, with some of those vacancies filled by casual employees.
#healthcare #Nunavut
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Members of union representing health-care workers vote 99% in favour of strike mandate
Members of a union that represents about 7,000 rural paramedics and emergency dispatch, respiratory therapists, lab and diagnostic technologists, and other allied health professionals in Manitoba have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.
The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals voted 99 per cent in favour of adopting a strike mandate. It will give the union the authority to take strike action in the future.
The union has been negotiating for a new collective agreement for more that a year.
#healthcare
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Members of a union that represents about 7,000 rural paramedics and emergency dispatch, respiratory therapists, lab and diagnostic technologists, and other allied health professionals in Manitoba have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.
The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals voted 99 per cent in favour of adopting a strike mandate. It will give the union the authority to take strike action in the future.
The union has been negotiating for a new collective agreement for more that a year.
#healthcare
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Poilievre calls for Canada Revenue Agency to audit Trudeau Foundation
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Friday, asking it to conduct an audit of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, with a “particular focus” on a $140,000 donation it received from the Chinese regime.
“Allegations suggest that the donation was directed by a state-backed group in Beijing with the stated goal of expanding the communist regime’s influence around the globe,” Poilievre said in the letter written to CRA Commissioner Bob Hamilton.
Poilievre’s request comes after the Trudeau Foundation’s volunteer board of directors and CEO abruptly resigned on Tuesday, citing the “political climate” surrounding a $140,000 donation from two businessmen connected to the Chinese Communist Party.
The foundation claims it only received $140,000 out of the alleged $200,000 donation, made by Chinese businessmen Zhang Bin and Niu Gensheng in 2016.
#China #Poilievre #Trudeau
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Friday, asking it to conduct an audit of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, with a “particular focus” on a $140,000 donation it received from the Chinese regime.
“Allegations suggest that the donation was directed by a state-backed group in Beijing with the stated goal of expanding the communist regime’s influence around the globe,” Poilievre said in the letter written to CRA Commissioner Bob Hamilton.
Poilievre’s request comes after the Trudeau Foundation’s volunteer board of directors and CEO abruptly resigned on Tuesday, citing the “political climate” surrounding a $140,000 donation from two businessmen connected to the Chinese Communist Party.
The foundation claims it only received $140,000 out of the alleged $200,000 donation, made by Chinese businessmen Zhang Bin and Niu Gensheng in 2016.
#China #Poilievre #Trudeau
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Mask mandates are lifting in hospitals across Canada
Mask mandates are lifting in hospitals, long-term care homes and other health-care facilities across the country, marking an end of COVID-19 in Canada.
British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the latest provinces to lift universal mask mandates in health-care settings, while most other provinces have either previously removed them, left them up to individual hospitals to decide, or will likely soon follow suit.
#healthcare
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Mask mandates are lifting in hospitals, long-term care homes and other health-care facilities across the country, marking an end of COVID-19 in Canada.
British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the latest provinces to lift universal mask mandates in health-care settings, while most other provinces have either previously removed them, left them up to individual hospitals to decide, or will likely soon follow suit.
#healthcare
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Telford testifies on foreign election interference
Katie Telford, Prime Minister Trudeau’s chief of staff and senior adviser, testified Friday on foreign election interference before the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee.
Telford assured Members of Parliament that no national security intelligence is kept from the Prime Minister, but she offered little insight into when he was first told of meddling in Canadian politics by Beijing.
"I can't, unfortunately, speak to specifics of what the prime minister has or has not been briefed on in all of this. But as I said before, in taking a step back from the specifics of your question, the prime minister has been briefed regularly and gets information in a variety of different ways on what was happening around election interference in the last two elections," Telford said during her two and a half hours of sworn testimony.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Katie Telford, Prime Minister Trudeau’s chief of staff and senior adviser, testified Friday on foreign election interference before the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee.
Telford assured Members of Parliament that no national security intelligence is kept from the Prime Minister, but she offered little insight into when he was first told of meddling in Canadian politics by Beijing.
"I can't, unfortunately, speak to specifics of what the prime minister has or has not been briefed on in all of this. But as I said before, in taking a step back from the specifics of your question, the prime minister has been briefed regularly and gets information in a variety of different ways on what was happening around election interference in the last two elections," Telford said during her two and a half hours of sworn testimony.
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An average of 48 work days were lost to health-related absences in 2022
A new survey, covering nearly 5,000 Canadian employees, shows employee health is taking an increasing toll on workforce productivity.
🔹48 days on average were lost per employee due to health-related problems in 2022.
🔹Employee absences and presenteeism – when employees report to work but don’t actually work – are costing employers around $645 million annually. Workers aged 18 to 24 show poorer results in mental, physical, and financial health indicators compared to older age groups.
🔹For comparison, back in 2020 the amount of days lost to absenteeism or presenteeism among employees averaged 40.8 days.
🔹Lack of sleep, nutrition, and increasing financial concern might be key factors for decreasing productivity.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
A new survey, covering nearly 5,000 Canadian employees, shows employee health is taking an increasing toll on workforce productivity.
🔹48 days on average were lost per employee due to health-related problems in 2022.
🔹Employee absences and presenteeism – when employees report to work but don’t actually work – are costing employers around $645 million annually. Workers aged 18 to 24 show poorer results in mental, physical, and financial health indicators compared to older age groups.
🔹For comparison, back in 2020 the amount of days lost to absenteeism or presenteeism among employees averaged 40.8 days.
🔹Lack of sleep, nutrition, and increasing financial concern might be key factors for decreasing productivity.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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Lake Superior’s largest private island to be sold to Nature Conservancy of Canada
Batchawana Island, located 45 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is set to be acquired by the Nature Conservancy of Canada for $7.2 million once the organization raises $1.2 million for the purchase.
The roughly 2,100-hectare island is home to several significant animal and tree species and has been owned by American investor Joe Acheson for the last 20 years.
Acheson owns several parcels of land in Ontario’s Algoma District and listed Batchawana Island for sale in February 2022, the Nature Conservancy said.
#Ontario
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Batchawana Island, located 45 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is set to be acquired by the Nature Conservancy of Canada for $7.2 million once the organization raises $1.2 million for the purchase.
The roughly 2,100-hectare island is home to several significant animal and tree species and has been owned by American investor Joe Acheson for the last 20 years.
Acheson owns several parcels of land in Ontario’s Algoma District and listed Batchawana Island for sale in February 2022, the Nature Conservancy said.
#Ontario
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Topless woman chains herself to Trudeau’s office in climate protest
A climate group says a topless woman chained herself to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office doorway in Ottawa in protest on Saturday, calling on the government to take immediate action to tackle the climate crisis.
Photos released by the climate action group, On-2-Ottawa, showed the woman holding a pink sign that read ‘Demand Climate Action Now!’ with pink paint splashed over the PMO’s walls.
The individual who chained herself to the office's entrance is the same person who crashed the Juno Awards ceremony in March.
#Ontario
🍁 Maple Chronicles
A climate group says a topless woman chained herself to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office doorway in Ottawa in protest on Saturday, calling on the government to take immediate action to tackle the climate crisis.
Photos released by the climate action group, On-2-Ottawa, showed the woman holding a pink sign that read ‘Demand Climate Action Now!’ with pink paint splashed over the PMO’s walls.
The individual who chained herself to the office's entrance is the same person who crashed the Juno Awards ceremony in March.
#Ontario
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