PRC Influencer ... or Loyal Canadian ...

"The so-called 'forced labour' accusation has long been an absurd lie fabricated by certain Western forces based on ideological bias."

"It has long been divorced from facts and lacks empirical evidence, yet it has been repeatedly used to smear China."

"This person [China expert Margaret McCuaig-Johnston] has repeatedly acted as an anti-China pawn in public under the guise of a so-called 'expert' ...  becoming a notorious hardliner on China in Canada with a long list of bad deeds."

Observer Network, China

 

"He [Liberal MP Michael Ma] looks like a hero, because he took me on as a critic of the motherland."

"He is supporting the motherland and that makes him look very good and makes me look terrible."

" ... I think he thought it would be well-received by the Chinese embassy, which it  was."

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston

Liberal Member of Parliament Michael Ma along with other Liberal Members of Parliament in the foyer of the House of Commons. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia

 

During a House of Commons industry committee meeting to discuss the recently agreed-upon trade issue during Prime Minister Mark Carney's trip to Beijing to promote a freer trade protocol between Canada and China, an exchange was made that satisfied both countries' priorities; 40,000 Chinese EVs would be allowed into Canada in exchange for Beijing reducing the steep tariffs it had imposed for Canadian canola, seafood and pork; in China's case a fungible alternative for products its consumers favour, and in Canada's case sacrificing its own auto industry's fragile future.

 

During the meeting, now-retired senior government bureaucrat Margaret McCuaig-Johnson brought forward conclusions of a Human Rights Watch report of 2024 that "dozens of parts in each Chinese EV are made with aluminum from Uyghur forced labour". This related directly to the Canadian House of Commons unanimously passing a  resolution identifying the Chinese Communist Party executing a 'genocide' on Uyghurs and the Turkic populations of Xinjiang Province.

 

On the committee, Mr. Ma sharply questioned that assertion, challenging Ms. McCuaig-Johnston, now a senior fellow with the graduate school of public and international affairs at the University of Ottawa, for proof of such a purported genocide: "Have you witnessed this yourself?" This despite that experts with the United Nations express deep concern with respect to persistent charges of forced labour affecting Uyghur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz groups, along with Tibetans within the Autonomous Region of the Xinjiang Uyghur area and other parts of China.

 

 

 

That pointed skepticism aroused a chorus of disbelief and condemnation of the stance taken by MP Ma sitting with the Liberal caucus, for which he later half-apologized; he was misunderstood, it appears. He was not, he averred taking the side of the Chinese government which consistently denies all and any such accusations. After all, the House had adopted that motion against the People's Republic of China in 2021. 

 

Ms. McCuaig-Johnston expressed her opinion that her aggressive interlocutor was supporting the 'strategic partnership' the PM had struck with China, since he had formed part of the delegation to Beijing. His questions whether she had an "advanced degree in technology or cyber security", followed by whether the China Strategic Risks Institute she advises "specifically looks for risks when there isn't one", marked the  tenor of his questioning which he demanded strictly 'yes' or 'no' responses to.  

 

In her turn, Ms. McCuaig-Johnston explained that for the past 40 years as a federal government employee she had travelled to and conducted business with China. It was the arbitrary arrest of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor charged with spying on China and held for almost three years before they were finally released, that spurred her to look a little harder at human rights abuses beyond China's penchant for 'hostage diplomacy', to add to her experience and impressions of the PRC. 

 

Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending new MP Michael Ma after he apologized for making dismissive comments about the issue of Chinese forced labour last week. Ma, who defected from the Conservatives, earned sharp criticism from his former party over the comments.  Still from video, CBC

"Mr. Ma has apologized for his comments and directly and unequivocally recognized the seriousness of the issue, continues to be a member of our caucus, and I'll continue to work with him."

"I followed this issue over the years in China and elsewhere, and there is evidence of child labour around the world."

"Issues of supply chain integrity, including forced labour, child labour, and ensuring that those standards are in place will be part of those discussions, I'm certain."

"And ensuring that we have the adequate transparency for any good from any of our trade partners." 

Prime Minister Mark Carney 

Liberal Gov't of Canada Where Freedom of Speech and Protests are Protected -- Just Not Against the Gov't

"It is Mr. Barber's position that he followed the instruction of the police as to where to park Big Red and that he moved Big Red at the request of the police when it was safely feasible for him to do so; as such Big Red was not used in the commission of the offence of mischief."

Defence documents filed in Gov't suit

 

"It would amount to, in my opinion, cruel and  unusual punishment. [If the judge sentences Barber to prison time and he loses his truck], that would be a really harsh financial hardship for him and his family."

"[Taking his truck would be] totally out of proportion [to the mischief caused]."

"Now his son is also driving, and he has a couple of employees that sometimes drive it too, so it's a legitimate source of business for himself, his family and his employees. [Taking away Barber's truck would cause his family] extreme financial difficulties."

"That truck's been part of his family for over 20 years. His children grew up in that truck. One of his dogs died in the truck. He had wedding pictures by the side of the truck. So, that truck is part of the family. It was named Big Red by his children when they were younger." 

Lawyer Diane Magas  

Government of Canada

The Government of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic prioritizes the health and safety of Canadians. We are committed to keeping our transportation sector, including employees and travellers, safe and secure.

Transport Canada has taken action in all modes to protect passengers and essential transportation workers while continuing to support the flow of critical goods and services during this unprecedented global crisis. 

Vaccination plays an important role in keeping each other and our transportation system safe and secure. That is why we are ensuring travellers and workers in the transportation sector are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Since October 30, employers in the federally-regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors have been required to have vaccination policies in place for their employees.

The vaccine mandate that came into effect in October has helped to protect transportation workers from the impacts of Omicron by reducing the frequency and severity of the COVID-19 illness.

With vaccination rates at home and around the world increasing, and the epidemiological situation continuing to evolve, it is important that Canada’s border and travel related measures reflect the current global and domestic context.

 

During the height of the COVID pandemic, Canada's federal lockdown strategies and inoculation mandates infuriated many Canadians. In particular a mandate that all truckers, including long-haul be vaccinated in line with government orders. Non-compliance would result in the nullification of truckers' licenses; they would effectively be put out of commission, jobless. It might have made sense for drivers of buses or any other vehicles where the drivers came in contact with other people, but truckers sit alone in their rigs, delivering goods, seeing few other people other than at delivery ramps.

 

A coalition of dissenting truckers began a cross-Canada journey in a convoy of like-minded people, all seeking to protest the government's mandates on COVID-19 infection prevention in a joint agreement that the government had gone too far, impacting the lives of tens of thousands unnecessarily and their plan was to confront the government directly, as they headed to Ottawa. Once there, the convoy parked their vehicles in the downtown area close to Parliament Hill, asking to speak to the prime minister who soon made his contempt for them and their mission a matter of public display.

 

In the central downtown area where the convoy was parked, friction between residents and convoy participants soon arose; commotion, blocking access to local businesses, noise emanating from the honking of the horns of the rigs, all conspired to arouse resentment and anger in locals. Justin Trudeau refused to meet with or speak to the organizers, one of whom was trucker Chris Barber. The upshot of a standoff where the convoy invoked their right to peaceful assembly and protest and freedom of speech, and the municipality of Ottawa dealing with neighbourhood complaints came to a head when the Trudeau government invoked the modern version of the War Measures Act (Emergencies Act) enabling government to put an end to the convoy's presence.

Protesters participating in a cross-country truck convoy walk near Parliament Hill on January 29, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

 

Part and parcel of the Emergencies Act implementation was to bring court cases against two of the more prominent convoy organizers, Chris Barber and Tamara Lich. As for citizens who supported the convoy with donations, they were identified and their bank accounts frozen. Draconian measures were imposed by government on any individual or group or company that had been involved in support of the convoy and its protests. Dramatic persecutory actions belying the democratic nature of the country. The Crown seeks a 7-year sentence for Lich, and eight years for Barber. 

"I’ve worked hard all my life as a trucker, and ‘Big Red’ is the heart of my business."

"Taking it away wouldn’t just be punishing me — it would take away my ability to provide for my family and employees." 

"The Crown is trying to forfeit this truck and then destroy it," Chris Barber says. Photo by Courtesy Chris Barber // JUSTIN TANG / The Canadian Press

 

More recently Canadian cities have been witness to thousands of keffiyeh and mask-clad supporters of a terrorist-proscribed Palestinian group, Hamas, assembling time and again to block intersections, interfere with traffic, threaten Jewish Canadians, picket synagogues and Jewish parochial schools, vandalize Jewish businesses, call for a global Intifada, chant slogans calling for the destruction of Israel, intimidate and threaten those who disagree with them, and no government or police action has ever been taken. 

 

In those protests it is not uncommon to see the flags of Palestinian and Yemeni terrorist groups flown, even though these are recognized terrorist groups and are present on Canada's terror list, including Samidoun, which continues to have its headquarters in Vancouver, and continues its agitation, with the federal government looking the other way. Palestinian supporters have protested in front of the offices of Members of Parliament, they have interfered with public events and shut down special events, yet no official action is taken, even when pedestrian and vehicular traffic is blocked off for mass Islamic street prayers.

 

The long-standing persecution since 2022 of the convoy principals continues with a Crown forfeiture application to take the 2004 Kenworth long-haul truck valued at over $150,000 from the ownership of Swift Current, Saskatchewan trucker Chris Barber. Should Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey judge that the truck was used in the commission of mischief, the truck called Big Red would be seized. "The Crown is trying to forfeit this truck and then destroy it", states Mr. Barber, pointing out "It's been my home fore the better part of 22 years". Where the collar of his dog Buddy, hangs from the ceiling. "The dog travelled with me for the better part of 17 years".

 

Both Barber, 50, and Tamara Lich, both Freedom Convoy organizers, convicted of mischief under the argument that the protest was the cause of broad community harm, have had many court appearances during their prolonged trials. Any unaffected objective observer would come away from the charade of government upholding the law on civil disobedience with its determined persecution of these people bearing the indelible impression that this is a government bent on vengeance, not upholding the law, applied unevenly to suit the mood of the government apparatus. 

 

Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber outside the courthouse in Ottawa in a file photo. Photo by Justin Tang /The Canadian Press 

"There's a great divide between the two sides. There are citizens of Ottawa that really took it to heart and felt interfered with and still some have a hatred. He's got death threats."

"I've got emails from people that were very hateful to me as a lawyer for him. I've been a criminal lawyer for over 30 years, defended a lot of different types of crimes much worse than this, and never got that type of attention and hatred from regular people."

"Mr. Barber has to cross into the United States for his work purposes. [A criminal record might see him turned away at the border]."

Lawyer Diane Magas 

Remembrance Day Disharmony in School 'Inclusivity'

"Over the last few days our school has been the focus of significant public attention due to the recent Remembrance Day events. This has resulted in a  high volume of incoming messages to the school as well as some graffiti on the outside of the school property."

"Fortunately, there has not been any significant disruption to our usual routines and learning environment, thanks in large part to the incredible work of our staff who have continued to focus on our students' educational needs and emotional well-being amidst the external pressures."

"We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment where all students feel respected and valued. We are actively working with central school board staff to monitor the situation."

Sir Robert Borden High School Principal Aaron Hobbs

 

"I think they are in general just protesting [demonstration by pro-Palestinian groups in front of her constituency office] but they also want to oppose my position on the inappropriate song on Remembrance Day." 

"I support their right to protest and I am thankful they chose my [riding] office [where their protest took place] and not Sir Robert Borden High School."

Lisa MacLeod, Conservative member of Ontario provincial parliament

Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia

Fallout from Principal Hobbs' controversial decision to highlight an Arabic song -- associated with Palestinian support for the terrorist group Hamas in the wake of its violent incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when thousands of terrorists went on a campaign of gross carnage in mass rape, mutilation, slaughter of Israeli children, men and women and hostage-taking as a 'just' reaction to the Israeli 'occupation' of Gaza in self-protection against its violent predatory mission to destroy the Jewish state -- featured at Canada's solemn Remembrance Day ceremony at the school, is ongoing.

 

That the school principal viewed it as 'inclusive' to feature an Arabic-language Palestinian song throughout the day's ceremonies at the school, was at the very least an 'exclusion' exercise, in the reality that the school hosts a large number of Jewish students, who were puzzled at the inappropriateness of introducing something so obviously political and one-sided to a ceremony dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who fell in military duty to defend and protect democracy against the forces of fascism.

 

That none of the teaching staff at the high school appear to have cautioned their principal against his decision to have the song played amidst the three presentations at the school for varying grade levels is itself peculiar. The principal initially explained that it was one of the teachers who had suggested that the song might be a good fit for the ceremonies taking place at the school for Remembrance Day. What has resulted days later is the discovery that someone vandalized the school sign with large red lettering reading "Hamas High". 

"We acknowledge that Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion, where the focus should remain on honouring those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we hold dear."

"The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school."

School Principal Aaron Hobbs

The controversy ensuing from the principal's poorly-thought-out, and obvious political messaging saw condemnation from parents whose children attend the school, as well as local, regional and national politicians. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has launched an investigation into the incident as the principal, expressing mortification and remorse reiterated that his purpose was to extend to the entire school population a spirit of 'inclusion'; a woke sentiment that seldom works well in its canted practise. 

 

A demonstration by pro-Palestinian groups was planned for the school,  which social media posts publicized as a rally to end "anti-Palestinian racism", and to "stand in solidarity with the students" following the principal's issuance of a public apology for deciding to include the Arabic protest song as a feature of Remembrance Day at the school. Other parents from the school planned for a counter- demonstration to walk their children home through the protest. The Ottawa Police Service were present to ensure an orderly and peaceful event took place. 

 

The location of the rally changed and shifted outside the constituency office of outspoken member of provincial parliament Lisa MacLeod whose riding it is. She had spoken for the principal to be fired in response to his 'inclusivity' venture. The demonstration resulted in no untoward incidents although police recommended that the riding office be closed during the demonstration. 

 

During the initial event when Jewish students asked for an explanation from the school principal for the reason and purpose of the change, he had responded it had been his intention to open up the ceremony that is usually only about "a white guy who has done something related to the military".  An expression of gross misrepresentation, making light of the sacrifice of thousands of Canadians.

"Remembrance Day is a solemn time to pay tribute to Canadian veterans."

"Including a song associated with one side of an ongoing foreign conflict -- especially one currently contributing to division and tension in our communities -- reflects poor judgement for a public school setting."

Jewish Federation of Ottawa

Graffiti on the sign at Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa following a Remembrance Day controversy. Photo by X

Claiming Race-Based Persecution

"These charges are significant and highlight the investigation's focus on individuals who planned, organized and sustained criminal activities, often using violence to maintain control."

These individuals came to our attention during criminal investigations that involved violent crimes including homicides and shootings."

Chief Eric Stubbs, Ottawa Police Service

"When you think about that many people involved in this trade, and this level of violence we see in our city, the shootings and what-have-you, we're hopeful we're going to see an immediate impact and see a decrease [in these criminal activities]."

"The arrests [I believe, would result in] a change in our environment in regards to the violence we're seeing."

Superintendent Jamie Dunlop, director of OPS serious and organized crime unit

"We are extremely aware of the devastating effects that illegal drugs can have on our neighbourhoods."

"Therefore, collaboration amongst police services is crucial in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking."

OPP Inspector Michael Moore

Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Mike Moore, right, and Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs, centre, at a news conference about 'Project Champion.' (Michel Aspirot/CBC)

 

An explosion of serious crime has created a desperate situation in some neighbourhoods with far-reaching effects across Canada, strangely enough coinciding with the increased presence of Muslims in the Canadian population base. Among whom a significant number of people, albeit dare we hope, not representative of the total, have caused crime statistics to soar in Canadian cities and police forces extended to the limits of their capacity to respond. A propensity for violent crime, to which is added politically-based street demonstrations vehemently targeting Israel and Jews in Canada make this demographic rather less than desirable within a Canadian setting.

Invariably when daily news report erupt with stories of drug exchanges gone wrong, random shootings, gang violence and homicides, the names that are reported tend to be readily identifiable as coming from the Middle East or North Africa. Reports in the last several days in the nation's capital reveal that 17 individuals now face close to 150 criminal charges in relation to drug trafficking and violent crime, the result of one investigation alone, where arrests have taken place encompassing three different organized crime groups in the National Capital Region.

Multiple warrants were executed followed by arrests of leaders of crime networks in Ottawa and neighbouring Gatineau, Quebec. The investigation that led to these charges saw people facing charges for taking part in, or supporting the activities of a criminal gang. The Ontario Provincial Police investigation of 18 months duration was carried out jointly with the Ottawa Police Service. Five guns were seized, along with 6.5 kilograms of cocaine plus "a small amount" of crack cocaine. These are three distinct crime groups involved, with overlaps between them.

Following are the identities of those facing numerous criminal charges:

• Mussa Aden, 29, 6 charges;
• Yaheya Benamiar, 26, 4 charges;
• Aaron Decastro-Singh, 39, 2 charges;
• Faisal Fareed, 28, 19 charges;
• Ahmed Hassan, 30, 4 charges;
• Bayle Khandid, 31, 7 charges;
• Bile Khandid, 33, 6 charges;
• Yasin Mohamed, 36, 4 charges;
• Tyson Morris, 35, 16 charges;
• Ibtisam Rijal Hersi, 27, 4 charges;
• Moussa Salleh Ali, 35, 5 charges;
• Abdullahi Shaheen 28, 33 charges;
• Kalif Shahreen, 29, 17 charges;
• Yussuf Tarabi, 35, 7 charges;
• Abdulaziz Warsame, 30, 7 charges;
• Leban Xadi, 29, 6 charges;
• Darioush Yavari, 31, 2 charges.

Bayle Khandid and Bile Khandid were linked as family members of two currently-serving officers with the Ottawa Police Service. As for the serving officers, they are linked to an problematical $2.5 million lawsuit that alleges the OPS had wiretapped and surveilled five of its Somali officers. Hardly surprising given the familial links to close family members engaged in crime, but in this current era of DEI/Woke/Critical Race Theory moral fog obviously grounds for a sympathetic hearing as a racist witch-hunt.

Two of five Somali officers, first cousins Liban Farah and Mohamed Islam, have alleged that they were subjected to surveillance on the basis of their race, linked to anti-racism efforts within the force, as also being 'first cousins' to 'gang-affiliated' Bile Khandid and Bayle Khandid. Claims by Farah that he had disclosed that connection on joining the guns and gangs unit in 2018 form part of the lawsuit.

 

Islam had been ordered to attend the police station at a time when he was on parental leave, and there questioned with respect to Bile and Bayle. He responded that he "was aware of their criminal lifestyle, and that he had no relationship with them and had not seen or spoken to them in many years". Clearly putting them all out of commission and securely incarcerated will have some measure of impact on the crime scene, but too great an expectation of making a difference seems unwarranted, since there are more than enough others willing and eager to take their place.

Ottawa Police Service Chief Eric Stubbs speaking at a news conference Thursday in Ottawa. Ottawa police said 14 people had been arrested and three more were being sought in an investigation into alleged organized crime and narcotics trafficking. Police said a total of 149 charges had been laid in the investigation, dubbed Project Champion, including some for attempted murder, drug trafficking and assault. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

A Violence-Prone Community in Somali-Canadians

"It's the best part of the wedding. I was sitting at a table. We had just had dinner. The room was nicely decorated. It was beautiful, it was joyful. There were people from overseas from both sides of the family."

"The victims rushed in and we realized what was happening."

"The fear, the cries, the noise. We're a people who like to get together and celebrate. There's a huge trauma that comes with experiencing something like this."

"This trauma will linger."

"Even if someone was charged tomorrow, it would not help with the trauma and it wouldn't prevent something like this from happening again. There are a lot of historic events that made people fearful in dealing with police. We want that to change."

"I have chosen to use my experience to advocate for victims and to advocate for myself and change the future of the city."

Fowsia Hussain, Somalian-Canadian, Ottawa, Ontario

 

"We ... acknowledge that many incidents that negatively impacted our community are due to easy access to firearms. Together, we are responsible for addressing these issues and working toward creating a safer environment for everyone."

"Over the past decade, our community has mourned the loss of 24 Somali Canadians. Unfortunately, a high number of these cases remain unresolved to this day."

Somali community leaders' statement

 

"Crimes are solved with witnesses. They are solved with forensics. They are solved with interviews."

"Would it be nice to have a dedicated squad [working only on issues of violence from within the Somali community]?"

"Yes, but it's a resource issue."

Superintendent Jamie Dunlop, Ottawa Police Service organized crime division

 

"I have reached out to the Somali community and I have spoken to some people within the community. We're trying very hard to solve and resolve this."

"It's devastating to the Ottawa community at large, let alone specific communities."

Ottawa Police Services Chief of Police Eric Stubbs

An Ottawa Police Service officer walks outside the Infinity Convention Centre one day after the Sept. 2 shooting that left two men dead and six others injured. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

When crimes are committed in Ottawa, invariably the names of perpetrators belonging to the Somali-Canadian community appear disproportionate to their numbers as residents of the capital city. Those who are involved in drug operations, in gangs, and in revenge killings. On September 2, a wedding was taking place at the Infinity Convention Centre in the south end of Ottawa. The wedding ceremony was over, dinner had been served, the attendees were awaiting the appearance of the bride in white as the celebration progressed. 

Suddenly pandemonium ensued as someone still unidentified entered who disrupted the proceedings. Two men were shot dead, six others injured. The police investigation revealed that 50 rounds of ammunition had been discharged into the crowded venue. The wonder was, investigators mused, that more people hadn't been injured or killed. Four days following the event where police had earlier arrived on a scene of chaos, multiple people injured and the bulk of those present still trying to flee the area, they implored witnesses to reveal what they might know of the violent event.

Appeals were even given for members of the public who might have dash cam or doorbell camera videos to help with clues to further the investigation. Two Toronto-area men, Said Mohamed Ali, 26, who had been in Canada for four months, and Abdishakur Abdi-Dahir, 29, an engineer by profession, were identified as the men who lost their lives that evening. Another six men, aged between 22 to 35 had been injured in the violent melee. 

Police now, four months after the event, reveal that while some leads have resulted from their appeal for evidence from witnesses, they cannot comment on whether any charges or arrests can be expected "so as not to jeopardize the integrity of the investigation". They continue to believe people can still come forward with information that can be useful to them. Investigators know that the shooting was a targeted event; however, those injured or shot to death were not the intended targets.

Unknown, because the police have not yet revealed details, is whether multiple shooters were involved, or whether shooting emanated from a vehicle. Members of the Somali community state that unresolved questions regarding the investigation's progress has left them with feelings of disappointment and frustration, yet few are willing to come forward and relay to investigators what they themselves know. The community leaders call for a dedicated cold case homicide unit operational from within the Ottawa Police Service.

"This is a very complex investigation, with multiple witnesses, many of whom are hesitant to come forward and speak to police. This limited cooperation has impeded our progress with the investigation."

"The firearm used was illegal and considered a crime gun."

"We have interviewed many people, and there are people who were there that night that have not come forward to speak to police."

"We continue to encourage those people to do so."

Ottawa Police Services statement

Farah Aw-Osman said it's a 'piece of crap' to claim that members of the Somali community aren't coming forward. (CBC)

 

O Canada

"It is important to note that many anti-communist and anti-Soviet advocates and fighters were also active Nazi collaborators, who committed documented massacres."

"We anticipate that the listing of names that are not thoroughly vetted and the result of a broad consensus could generate significant controversy both in Canada and abroad."

"GAC is not in a position to assess or vet the names of foreign nationals from Eastern and Central Europe that are being proposed."

Global Affairs Canada

"Although the Memorial to the Victims of Communism -- Canada, a Land of Refuge was scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of 2023, the Government of Canada is doing its due diligence to ensure all aspects of the memorial remain compatible with Canadian values on democracy and human rights."

"A memorial without specific names or events would be more inclusive and reduce the risk of potential irritants with foreign governments and the likelihood of criticism from politically active diaspora groups [veiled reference to Jewish groups] with particular interpretations of historical figures and events." 

Government of Canada

 

"Estonia has received significant international criticism for allowing ex-SS veterans to march in parades."

"More recently, it was criticized for erecting a plaque that commemorates Alfons Rebane, an SS officer and Nazi collaborator, who did, however, fight the Soviets."

Official with Canadian Heritage

Right-hand wing of Arc of Memory, Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge

Some eastern Europeans view individuals and groups who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II as freedom fighters in light of the fact they fought the Soviets. But the Soviet Union while brutally crushing national movements in eastern Europe in its tight grip on its hegemonic powers through the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also turned its back on Germany and left the Axis when Germany marched into Russia. At which point the Soviet Union joined the Allies.

 

A vexatious problem has arisen for Canada, hard on the heels as it were, of the smotheringly oblivious incident where a former WWII Ukrainian-Nazi-collaborator was invited to Parliament to meet with Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy who was to address parliament on a state visit. Yaroslav Hunka of North Bay was actually 'honoured' by Parliament with two ovations as a 'hero' on that September day. Leading Poland and Canadian Jewish groups to demand an apology. 

 

Incredibly, no one in Parliament, from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the  House Speaker who invited the man, down to all the elected Members of Parliament, quite understood that someone who fought Russia and elected to be a member of the Waffen-SS Galicia Division (SS 14th Waffen Division) was a Nazi collaborator fighting on Germany's side and involved in the butchery of Jews and Poles. The lesson was finally learned and caution is now the order of the day to make up for a lack of historical knowledge.

 

Design concept; Arc of Memory

The purpose of the erection of a memorial to the victims of Communism was meant to honour those who had suffered under communism. A wall of remembrance will be part of the memorial, allowing 600 names of individuals, groups or events to be listed. Jewish organization have raised their concerns that the names of eastern Europeans who collaborated with the Nazis during the Holocaust have been nominated to appear on the wall, in a deliberate effort to whitewash them.

Some individuals in fact who served with the Waffen SS have been identified by government officials, as among those whose names were submitted, according to federal documents. The Department of Canadian Heritage has as well identified other Nazi collaborators associated with the memorial. It was in fact reported back in 2021 that private donations were made to the monument in the names of Nazi collaborators, including that of Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian nationalist whose troops were responsible for the murder of Jews and Poles.

 

The words 'Nazi war monument' are seen on a memorial to the 1st Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army in St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville, Ont. (Kontakt Ukrainian TV/YouTube)

 

Another is Ante Pavelic, operator of a Nazi puppet regime in Croatia, considered a chief perpetrator in the Balkans of the Holocaust. The planned November unveiling of the $7.5 million Memorial to the Victims of Communism has quietly been postponed by the federal government. A government website for the project assures those interested that the federal government oversight includes alerts to the presence of proscribed names.

 

All of which has led Canadian Heritage to now "reviewing all aspects of the project" prior to its unveiling, including the names of individuals, groups or events provided by Tribute to Liberty, the project initiators. "We are not in a position to disclose further information about the process at this stage. The rescheduled inauguration is being planned in collaboration with Tribute to Liberty -- a date will be announced in due course", assured departmental spokesperson Caroline Czajkowski.

 

Ukrainians, Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians were recruited by the Nazis for various militias and police groups involved in rounding up and executing Jews. At present, some 240 names have been proposed to appear on the memorial, many of those names for which little or no information is available. Of the total investment of $7.5 for the project, $6 million represent public funds through private donations from Tribute to Liberty. 

The two wings of the Arc of Memory sculptural installation at the centre of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism — Canada, A Land of Refuge have been in place for weeks, and an official unveiling expected in November has now been delayed. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

The Benefits to Schoolchildren of Immigration From Another Culture

"While [my son] was not suspended or in any form of trouble, he needed to be kept at home and to miss a day of education because the school was unsafe for him because he was at risk of violence by a number of students, many of whom are known to the administration for ongoing violent behaviour."

"The violence and chaos no longer affect  him. It used to be upsetting behaviour. Now it's a part of his everyday life."

"But when he gets home [from school], he's destroyed."

"My son will hit me, and he's not even particularly angry. It's just his first reaction, which he's never, ever, ever, been like that."

"He's four years  old! He hadn't heard that [swearing] before he went to school."

"Oh my God, I feel like a bad parent for sending him to school. I feel guilty sending my kid to school. How messed up is that?"

Mother's name withheld to protect her son

February 15, 2023 -- Vimy Ridge Public School portables. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

"Every child deserves to be and feel physically and emotionally safe at school."

"[In future there will be class time devoted to] positive behaviour character traits and a focus on kindness."

"[School staff are] focused on building positive relationships and supporting children to develop strategies to resolve conflict between one another. [Personalized support will be offered to students with] concerning behaviour."

"[In the interim], any incidents of violence or bullying will be taken seriously and enforced following the full extent of the school's progressive discipline policy."

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

"[The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is conducting a survey among members about school violence, a concerning , pervasive and growing issue."

"Many school spaces are not safe, especially for those working on the front lines with students whose needs are not being met."

"We hope the data collected will finally convince the . . . government to take action to address the unacceptable and troubling rise of violence in schools."

"[More children are arriving at school with] dysregulated [behaviour]."

Elementary Teachers Federation, union president Karen Brown

Older residents of Ontario must be feeling relieved that they no longer have children in elementary, middle and high school in Ontario. Unfortunately, it's not just Ontario. School Boards and individual school administrations speak of 'progressive values' and 'progressive policies' while issuing boiler-plate statements that they have the best interests of their students at heart in this new kind of schooling experience. In particular the sentence: "Every child deserves to be and feel physically and emotionally safe at school" is meant to reassure parents.

Despite which, it fails to since, on the record, school administrators reproach any teacher who attempts to instill discipline in the classroom and to single out poorly behaving children for reprimands. These are children for whom social discipline is an unknown; it is not taught at home. It is, in short, a parental shortcoming that has been largely imported with the arrival of refugees, haven seekers and immigrants from many Islamic majority countries. Where law-breaking and violence appears to be endemic.

Elementary schools, high schools, and later street gangs echo the influence of Muslim offspring gravitating to lawlessness and disregard for civilized social mores. When crime reports appear in local newspapers, invariably readily-identifiable names linked to Arab or Muslim backgrounds loom disproportionately large. But to make that kind of observation is clearly leaving oneself open to charges of 'racism' and/or 'Islamophobia' and no one likes being labeled. 

 

It is not civilized to be 'intolerant', but apparently, to suffer assaults against civilized society is tolerable.

A mother revealing to her local news media outlet that her three-year-old child, happy to begin junior kindergarten began arriving home daily in tears. "It was to the point that he would get off the bus and he would just cry until he went to bed, like meltdown crying". The little boy pleaded not to be sent back to school where he felt terrorized. "The bad boys" hit him, he told his mother. Other students threw chairs around, stood on bookshelves to toss objects about. And he had become a punching bag.

The name of the elementary school? Vimy Ridge Public School in Ottawa, the nation's capital. In commemoration of an epic battle during World War I, for freedom and democracy. Another mother whose Grade 3 child attends the school spoke of his having been bullied for two years without cease, and instead of the situation improving, it is worsening. "I'm not saying he's an angel on Earth. These are boys, they can play fight."

But her son, she says, comes home with bruises on his nose and scratches on his face. He informed his mother of a recent incident when one student and his cousins ganged up on other children, asking them if they were Muslim. "[My son] came home and he said, 'yeah, mommy, I told them 'I'm Muslim, don't hit me'!" Yet another mother spoke of her son being targeted by groups of students bullying him and committing violence throughout the school year.

As she told it, a group of boys surrounded her son at recess, calling him names and hitting him. She sent an email to the school reportingt the incident, but the very next day her son was swarmed by a group again. The bullying and harassment has never stopped, she said. Raising her concerns with the principal, the vice-principal, superintendent and director has accomplished exactly nothing. Her son was 'jumped' by a student the day after she wrote the school, warning violence had been threatened against her son.

What is happening at this school is not, unfortunately, unique. The school board took the unusual step of closing Riverview Alternative elementary school in January for several days to enable staff to be trained on safety and strategies for instruction. A situation that reflects wider trends combined with aggravating factors like overcrowded classrooms and shortages of teaching staff.

Children's schoolwork is being ripped up by others and their personal supplies stolen. Some of the Vimy Ridge school's parents are actively seeking to transfer their children to another school. Sometimes switching their children's education to the Catholic board, or looking around for a private school to accommodate their child's education. 

Parents protest outside Vimy Ridge Public School to draw attention to their concerns about bullying, which they say is getting out of control. Feb. 13, 2023. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Inexplicably Serendipitous

"Originally, we were told she'd be in an induced coma for three days. Then they said they needed a few more days, then a few days more. Now they've started to wean her off [sedation] so they can see if she's stable enough that she can start to wake up."

"Every day she shows a little bit more progress. We're at the risky point right now when they're going to have to start waking her up because the longer they keep her under, the more chance there is that it could cause more damage."

"It was incredible [the realization that Serene Summers was attempting,through her coma, to communicate]. Initially she started signing 'T-H-R-O-' and we said, 'Throat?' and she gave us the thumbs-up. We started asking questions and said if she was able to answer them she should squeeze our hand."{

"I asked if she was in pain and she squeezed my hand. I said, 'Serene, do you understand what's going on?' and she signed 'Why?' and started pointing to the tubes and the bed. There's delirium too because she's under heavy medication and she gets scared and confused."

"She's not really awake. Every now and then she'll start moving around and start panicking. She can't speak. Can't make any noise. But my mom's been really good about being at her bedside and coaching her and trying to calm her down."

"My mom asks questions that require a hand squeeze. It's not a lot, but the progress she's making is amazing."

Matthew Boutros, Ottawa, brother of Serene Summers

Serene Summers, 13, is in critical condition after a hit-and-run. Photo by Supplied /Family photo

On February 13, a Sunday afternoon, thirteen-year-old Serene Summers and a friend had gone along to an area store to buy some Valentine's Day cards they meant to hand out to their classmates at Merivale High School in Ottawa. As the girls prepared to cross a street, a westbound Honda Civic, driven by an unknown person, struck the young girl, and failed to stop, leaving Serene critically injured.

At the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Serene underwent emergency surgery that same evening. She had been placed into a coma to limit damage, as her brain had continued swelling and bleeding. That swelling went on for five days. In that medically induced coma, on a ventilator, ten days following having been struck by a hit-and-run driver, a nurse tending to Serene noticed something peculiar.

The young girl was unable to communicate verbally, no sound emitted from her; she was, after all, still in that medically-induced coma. What drew the nurse's attention, however was the girl's right hand, signalling 'Pain', and then signing, 'Why?'. Serena, years earlier had been taught, for no particular reason,  how to sign the alphabet, by her mother, Anita Armstrong.

What had once been a casual diversion in learning something new and different long ago, suddenly became a miraculous mode of communication when normal communication was not possible. Serene was sufficiently intrigued and invested in sign language that she undertook on her own initiative to expand her vocabulary. As she did she taught herself many other gestures and signs of American Sign Language.

Her brother Matthew, 25, speaks of his young sister with her two brothers and three older half-siblings as tough and athletic. That she aspires in the future to become a pediatric surgeon. "She's an extremely ambitious little girl. She's also very tough. Very strong, very sporty. She's not a dainty little fragile thing. She had two older brothers so she's into rough-housing with us", he explained.

The Ottawa Police Service is actively searching for the driver of the vehicle that struck Serene. Blurry images of the vehicle were released this week, images of a black, two-door Honda Civic coupe, model  year 2006-11. Possibly with front-end damage, conceivably, windshield damage as well.

"It's kind of uncertain what type of therapy and rehabilitation she's going to need. But the doctors and surgeons have said she could be in hospital for months."

"We really don't know the extent of her brain injury, but the doctors have said she's going to require quite a lot of rehabilitation."

"It's still quite early. She's not able to speak and we're not able to see what's going on in her brain until she's awake. Then we can figure out what's going to happen."

Matthew Boutros

Serene Summers and her brother, Matthew Boutros. Serene, 13, was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Meadowlands Drive on Feb. 13. Photo by Photo supplied /Photo supplied

Do.As.I.Say

"We talked about the U.S.-based flooding of the 911 phone lines in Ottawa, the presence of U.S. citizens in the blockades and the impact of foreign money to fund this illegal activity."

"[Biden] expressed concern not just for the impacts right now, but the indication that there is international support from the United States and from elsewhere around the world for these protests."

"[On some funding platforms, the] number of U.S. donations are approaching 50 percent."

"Our police services are monitoring carefully, and watching and co-ordinating with partner agencies around the world."

"We see mobilization of some of the more challenging political elements in Canada and in the United States around support for these blockades that are hurting citizens."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

"Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo."

"All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is the Freedom Convoy campaign."

U.S.Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo

"There's messages from donors saying their location is in the U.K., Israel, U.S., and it has been promoted by some quite high-profile American content creators as well."

"[The Institute for Strategic Dialogue hasn't collected any evidence, but it's] something that I would never rule out [that some of the Convoy donations are emanating from Russia]."

Tim Squirrell, head, communications and editorial, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, U.K.

"Each hour that these blockades continue does more serious damage to our economy and society."

"Manufacturers that depend on just-in=time delivery have been forced to cancel shifts for thousands of workers, shipments of livestock and of fresh produce face serious delays or waste that threaten food security,and deliveries of products that are greatly needed by Canadian families are being cancelled."

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Anti-mandate protesters children walk beside parked trucks near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, February 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The Canadian Truckers Convoy that has dubbed itself the Freedom Convoy has reverberated globally. From New Zealand to the United Kingdom, the United States to Israel and points between, capital cities like Paris are now facing the threat of blockades by their national truckers groups, initially expressing sympathy for the Canadian Truckers, and expanding that to express their own outrage over the coronavirus mandates that have been visited on themselves nationally.

 

In Canada, Federal authority has been muted in response to the capital of the country being under the physical thrall of thousands of protesters, many driving large semi-trailers, the rigs being used as a coercive measure and menace, threatening to remain as long as it takes for the central government to revoke its COVID mandates. That demand was later substantially increased by another demanding the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign.

This is the same federal government that has failed to resolve an issue that has grown to national proportions causing both social and economic dislocation. Other truckers, attempting to deliver time-sensitive loads across the border between Canad and the United states have been held up for as long as a week at some of the critical border crossings. The Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, to Detroit, which sees a quarter of all trade pass through between the two countries has finally been cleared of protesters but not yet cleared for traffic.

The Canadian government has excoriated the provincial Ontario government and the municipality of its capital city for not having dealt expeditiously with the protests that have upended people's lives for close to three weeks with trucks idling 24 hours a day,diesel fumes polluting the atmosphere, air horns blasting continuously, and protesters openly defying mask mandates while harassing and intimidating local residents who wear masks. Grocers have shut down because of unruly behaviour, hospitals have been unable to operate as normally.

But the federal government and the prime minister sit by, critical of everyone else, themselves having in the first place caused the protesters to dig in their heels, refusing to disperse. Justin Trudeau spoke insultingly disparagingly of the truckers, characterizing them as misfits, racists, homophobes, thugs with whom he refused to meet. When Black Lives Matter demonstrated on Parliament Hill a year and a half ago, Trudeau was pleased to make an appearance and 'take a knee', though many of the BLM demonstrations turned violent.

This is the same Trudeau that when India attempted to introduce new farm legislation to upgrade and modernize their system of sales of agricultural products, and the farmers organized a protest rally just outside New Delhi to demand the legislation be repealed because of their belief it would harm their incomes, Justin Trudeau stated his support of the farmers -- mostly Sikh -- to play to Canada's large Sikh population. At that time he was pleased to urge Indian Prime Minister Modi to 'listen' to the protesters.

As for Canada's Truck Convoy, there are those in the U.S. cheering it on; Republicans and far-right figures, including former President Donald Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Georgie Representative MarjorieTaylor Greene. They'll have their own Truckers Convoy to contend with, one planned to possibly interrupt the Super Bowl and Mr. Biden's State of the Union address on March 1st.

The original GoFundMe campaign to raise funds in support of the protest saw $10 million raised in the space of a week, but the GoFundMe organizers decided to freeze the funds. Whereupon the Convoy organizers turned to an alternative source, the U.S. GiveSendGo fundraising site which has almost now matched the original fundraising of $10 million, and which, unlike its predecessor has defied Canadian government wishes that the funds raised not be given to the Truck Convoy organizers.

According to Christian Leuprecht, a professor at Royal Military College and Queen's University, "the amount of money that's being raised, the pace at which it's being raised, raises serious questions about the sources of the money", that it's "not inconceivable" that some of the funding may have come from Russia. 

 

What is undeniable, is that Canadian truckers have a legitimate grievance. There was no need to mandate vaccinations for the mere ten percent of the trucking industry that remains unvaccinated, depriving them of their livelihood and Canadians of ongoing food deliveries. A miserable failure of an incompetent federal government in its zeal to control the public to an extent not seen other than in wartime situations.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves a news conference after announcing the Emergencies Act will be invoked to deal with protests, Monday, February 14, 2022 in Ottawa. Trudeau says he has invoked the Emergencies Act to bring to an end antigovernment blockades he describes as illegal and not about peaceful protest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld