Good morning, It’s Friday, August 16th. In today’s news, A class action lawsuit has been filed against both the provincial and federal governments over the 'safer supply' drug program, BC United party promises to eliminate income taxes for over 60% of the province, Over three in five Canadians want to see the CBC defunded, Trump and Harris agree to two live debates, and much more.
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Class Action Lawsuit Over Safe Supply Filed Against Provincial and Federal Government
A proposed class action lawsuit filed in BC Supreme Court this week accuses both the provincial and federal governments of being responsible for the addictions and death of adolescents who accessed diverted safer supply drugs. The claim alleges that the government's safer supply drug program misled the teens into believing the drugs were safe. The lawsuit argues that both levels of government failed to adequately monitor the safer supply program and the terminology used to promote it.
The lawsuit has not yet been proven in court, and the provincial and federal governments have not officially responded. BC Premier David Eby and federal Health Minister Mark Holland have not commented on the lawsuit, but Eby defended the province's safer supply program, emphasizing its goal to keep people alive and provide treatment opportunities. Federal Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks highlighted the government's multifaceted approach to the addiction crisis, including supervised consumption sites.
Since the overdose public-health emergency was declared in BC in April 2016, over 14,000 people have died from drug overdoses in the province. More
Tiny Thought: In 2015, there were 529 overdose deaths in BC. By 2023, that number had risen to over 2,400 deaths. I'm all for decriminalizing drugs in Canada, but this safer supply experiment has failed. It's clear that people, on a large scale, can't handle these substances responsibly. It's time to shut down these programs and shift our focus to giving addicts the proper tools for rehab and recovery.
BC United Promises to Eliminate Income Taxes for 60% of British Columbians
BC United has proposed eliminating provincial income taxes for residents earning $50,000 or less, a move intended to boost their standings ahead of the fall election. Party leader Kevin Falcon announced that this policy would increase the basic personal exemption to $50,000, making income tax-free up to that amount. BC United claims this would benefit about 60% of British Columbians, saving the average person around $2,050. The plan would cost the provincial government an estimated $5.4 billion, which BC United hopes to offset through economic growth.
The party also promises to balance the budget within their first term by limiting spending increases and boosting revenues through their tax policy. However, NDP Premier David Eby argues that such a significant tax cut would lead to cuts in public services. BC Conservative spokesperson Anthony Koch criticized BC United's proposal as an attempt to appear more conservative, suggesting voters should support the Conservative Party instead. More
Tiny Thought: While this may not come to life, having this idea out in the open for discussion is significant. It sets a new standard that struggling Canadians can rally behind, and I expect they will.
Over Three in Five of Canadians Want to See CBC Defunded
A recent poll shows that 61.1% of Canadians support defunding the CBC either partially or completely. Specifically, 29.2% favor completely cutting taxpayer support, while 31.9% advocate for reducing funding to parts like English-language TV and CBC News.
Younger Canadians (70% of those aged 18-34) are most likely to support defunding or reducing CBC’s core services, whereas older Canadians (49% of those aged 55+) prefer maintaining full funding. Opinions also vary by education level and political affiliation, with a significant portion of Conservative voters favoring total defunding. The CBC currently receives over $1.4 billion in annual funding from taxpayers. More
Harris Campaign Agrees to Two Debates
Vice President Kamala Harris has agreed to two debates against former President Donald Trump, one on September 10 on ABC and another in October, though details for the latter are not finalized. The Trump campaign initially proposed three debates, but Harris's campaign insists on only two. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has accepted an October 1 debate on CBS against Democrat Tim Walz and pushed for more debates, while Harris's running mate has not responded to additional debate proposals. More
Sudan War Has Created World's Largest Refugee Crisis
Talks to end Sudan's civil war began in Switzerland on August 14th, but the absence of the Sudanese army has dimmed hopes for any real progress. The UN has warned of a "catastrophic breaking point" in Sudan, with tens of thousands potentially dying from hunger, disease, and violence without increased global aid.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in over 2.2 million Sudanese fleeing to other countries and more than 7.8 million displaced internally. The situation is exacerbated by blockades on humanitarian aid and ongoing violence, making it a significant global emergency. More
15-year-old Boy First in England to be Charged with ‘Riot’
A 15-year-old from Sunderland is the first person in England to be charged with riot following recent unrest in the country. Originally charged with violent disorder and burglary, his case was upgraded after new evidence emerged. The boy appeared in South Tyneside Youth Court, where his case was adjourned until September. The charge of riot carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The Crown Prosecution Service has now charged 413 individuals related to the recent riots, protesting the fatal stabbings of three girls in Southport. More
Ukraine Claims it Fully Captured Strategic Russian Town in Kursk Region
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces have taken full control of the strategic Russian town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. The town, which had about 5,000 residents before the war, houses a key gas measuring station. Despite Zelenskyy's claim, Russia's defense ministry and local officials have disputed Ukrainian control, reporting ongoing fighting and denying full capture. Russia has also ordered evacuations in nearby areas and declared a federal state of emergency in the Belgorod region. More
Ottawa Studying Creation of Federal Agency to Respond to Disasters
Ottawa is exploring the creation of a federal disaster response agency akin to the US FEMA, according to Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan. He emphasized that relying on the military for disaster response is not ideal and that any new federal agency would need to work closely with provinces and territories. The government is currently focused on increasing funding for provincial disaster management and expanding the Humanitarian Workforce program, which supports organizations like the Canadian Red Cross. More
Tiny Thought: It would be great if we didn’t build more government organizations to waste our tax dollars on bureaucracy and inefficiency.
US-Russian Dual National Jailed for 12 Years on Treason Charges for $52 Donation to Ukraine
US-Russian dual national Ksenia Khavana was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Russian court for treason related to a $52 donation to a Ukrainian charity. Arrested in Yekaterinburg in February, Khavana, a former ballet dancer, had her phone confiscated, revealing the donation. Russian authorities accused her of funding military supplies for Ukraine. The White House condemned the verdict as "vindictive cruelty," while Khavana's lawyer plans to appeal. More
Nearly Half of Canadians Report Daily Struggles Due to Cost-of-living Crisis
A new Statistics Canada report reveals that 45% of Canadians are significantly impacted by rising prices, up from 33% two years ago. Housing costs are the biggest concern, with 38% of Canadians worried about affordability, especially younger people coming in at 56%. Daily stress from financial issues has risen to 35%. The survey also highlights growing concerns about food prices, with 23% of Canadians likely to seek food assistance in the coming months. More
Rebranded SNC-Lavalin Seeking $75 Million in Taxpayer Dollars to Build Nuclear Reactors
AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC Lavalin, seeks up to $75 million annually in government funding to advance its Candu nuclear reactor technology. Their "Canadians for Candu" campaign, led by former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Ontario Premier Mike Harris, aims to secure support for a new reactor model, the Candu Monark, which promises to generate 1,000 megawatts of power. This initiative follows a scandal involving the company and its predecessor, which was fined $280 million for fraud. More
Organ Supplements: Natures Multi-vitamin
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Hackers May Have Stolen Every Canadian, American and UK Social Security Number
Public advocates are warning of a potential surge in identity theft after a hacking group, USDoD, allegedly stole the personal records of nearly 3 billion people. The breach, which occurred in April, targeted National Public Data, a company that provides personal information for background checks. USDoD attempted to sell the data for $3.5 million but has now released it for free online. The data includes names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, and appears to affect individuals from the US, Canada, and the U.K. Experts advise freezing credit files with the major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—to prevent unauthorized financial activity. More
Scientists Believe They Know Where the Dinosaur-killing Asteroid Came From
A new study published in Science confirms that the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction event 66 million years ago was a carbonaceous metorite, not a comet. Researchers identified this asteroid by analyzing ruthenium isotopes from impact debris, which match those found in these meteorites. This finding supports the theory that the asteroid came from beyond Jupiter's orbit. More
This is the Most Detailed Map of Brain Connections Ever Made
Researchers at Harvard and Google have created the most detailed wiring diagram of the human brain by mapping a tiny sample of brain tissue removed from a woman during epilepsy surgery in 2014. The map, which includes 57,000 cells and 150 million synapses, was produced using advanced imaging and machine-learning techniques. This detailed representation will help further understand neural connections and could lead to breakthroughs in treating disorders and improving AI systems. The project has made the brain map publicly accessible, offering new opportunities for neuroscience research. More
More than 40,000 People Sign Petition Claiming Break Dancer Raygun 'Manipulated' Olympic Process
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has strongly criticized an anonymous online petition—that has garnered over 40,000 signatures—targeting Rachael Gunn, a controversial competitor in the breaking event at the Paris Games, labelling it as "vexatious, misleading, and bullying." Gunn, a 36-year-old Sydney professor known as B-Girl Raygun, faced backlash after scoring zero points in her routine, including a "kangaroo dance." The AOC refuted claims that the Oceania qualifying event was rigged in Gunn's favour and demanded the petition's removal, calling it defamatory. More
The CNE Kicks Off Today
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is gearing up for its annual end-of-summer fair with a range of new attractions and food offerings. This year's highlights include unique food items like wasabi ice cream, deep-fried pickle Oreo, butter chicken hot dog, and Kool-aid fried chicken sandwich, as well as an Olympic-themed area featuring a half-pipe for skateboarding and BMX, and daily wrestling shows. Aquarama, a water-ski performance, will also return.
Gates open today and will run until September 2nd. More
Matthew Perry’s Assistant Among 5 People Charged in Star’s Death
Five people, including Matthew Perry's assistant and two doctors, have been charged in connection with the actor's death from a ketamine overdose last year. US Attorney Martin Estrada revealed that the doctors supplied Perry with large amounts of ketamine, exploiting his addiction for profit. Perry died in October after receiving several ketamine injections from his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who found him dead later that day. Two of the defendants have already pleaded guilty, while the others face charges. More
Alberta Moving Ahead With New Female Sports Rules After Olympic Controversies
Despite controversies surrounding gender identity in sports, Alberta's government is pushing forward with changes to gender divisions in competitive sports. The new policy will ensure that biological women and girls have the option to compete in women-only divisions, while also expanding opportunities for transgender female athletes in co-ed divisions. More
Chess Player Allegedly Tries to Poison Rival by Smearing Chessboard with Mercury - A Russian chess player is facing a lifetime ban from official competitions after allegedly trying to poison an opponent by spreading mercury compounds on her chess board. Surveillance footage from the Dagestan Classical Chess Championship shows Amina Abakarova, spreading a substance later identified as mercury on the chess board and pieces that would later be used by another player.
Dangerous Criminal Wanted in the US for 20 Years Found Working as Police Officer in Mexico - Antonio “El Diablo” Riano, a fugitive wanted by US authorities for almost two decades in connection to a fatal shooting in Cincinnati, was recently found working as a police officer in Mexico.
It's National Tell a Joke Day…so, here are some dad jokes for you:
I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.
Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet.
Why doesn't a duck wear underpants? Because his pecker is on his face.
Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers? He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them.
I would tell you a construction joke, but I’m still working on it.
The Duck underpants joke is my favourite