Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is denouncing a far-right German politician after three of his MPs met with her during her Canadian tour in support of the “Freedom Convoy” movement.
Christine Anderson, a European Parliament member with the Alternative für Deutschland party, concludes her four-stop tour of Canada with an event in Montreal on Friday after speaking in Calgary, Toronto, and Whitby, Ont.
Three Ontario Conservative MPs – Colin Carrie, Dean Allison and former leadership contender Leslyn Lewis – were photographed with Anderson this week.
Their participation was noted by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in an online statement.
“We’re deeply concerned by CPC MPs @LeslynLewis @DeanAllisonMP @ColinCarrieCPC meeting with @AndersonAfDMdEP – a member of the far-right German AFD Party known for Islamophobic and anti-immigrant views,” the advocacy group said in a Twitter post.
Poilievre said his MPs were unaware of her “vile” views and said they regret meeting with her.
“Frankly, it would be better if Anderson never visited Canada in the first place. She and her racist, hateful views are not welcome here,” he said in a written statement.
The three MPs released a statement saying it’s not uncommon for MPs to meet visiting elected officials from other countries and denied awareness of her views or her party’s.
Alternative für Deutschland has opposed immigration and decries what some of its members call the “Islamization” of Europe.
“For God’s sake, take a look around,” she said, claiming women are repressed in all Muslim countries.
“Call the devil by its name and stop using apologetic terms to downplay the true nature of the most despicable and horrific ideology women suffer from worldwide.”
Anderson made headlines in Canada last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the European Parliament.
Anderson has been welcomed warmly in Canada by many associated with the “Freedom Convoy” protests that gridlocked Ottawa and border crossings last year.
Tamara Lich, a leader of protests, was photographed with Anderson this week, along with two of her lawyers Keith Wilson and Eva Chipiuk, of the Edmonton-based Justice Centre for Freedom, which litigates against vaccine mandates and participated in the public inquiry studying the government’s use of the Emergencies Act.
From left, Christine Anderson, Keith Wilson, Tamara Lich and Eve Chipiuk
At one event, Anderson arrived in a convoy of semi-tractor trailer trucks, wearing a Freedom Fighters Canada sweatshirt.
The “What Would Christine Anderson Do” tour’s sponsors included Canadians for Truth, an organization run by Saskatchewan businessman Joseph Bourgault, which also promotes speaking events by anti-mandate activists Jamie Sale, a former Olympic figure skater, and Theory Fleury, a former NHL player. Tickets for her events sold for $50.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.
Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.
That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.
The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.
And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.
Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
