Canada is Compromised
Where news meets rational thinking
Good morning, It’s Thursday, August 15th. In today’s news, a CBSA whistleblower says transnational gangs have compromised government agencies helping terrorists and spies enter Canada, Liberals plot to redistribute immigrants into small-town Canada, The WHO officially declares Monkeypox a global health emergency, Germany issues arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man over Nord Stream Pipeline blasts, and much more.
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CBSA Whistleblower Says Transnational Gangs Have Compromised Government Agencies, Helping Terrorists and Spies Enter Canada
Luc Sabourin, a former CBSA officer, recalls a harrowing encounter where a member of one of Canada’s most violent crime families, linked to the Sinaloa cartel, threatened his children outside his home. Sabourin suspects that a colleague leaked his address to the criminal, whom he was set to testify against. This incident, over a decade old, is part of a broader pattern of organized crime infiltration within the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), according to Sabourin. He alleges that CBSA databases and operations have been compromised, aiding the entry of dangerous individuals into Canada.
Sabourin has testified about these concerns before Parliamentary committees, advocating for stronger whistleblower protections. He describes a shocking case where a CBSA unit discovered a group of armed men smuggling illegal migrants across Quebec’s border, only to have the incident covered up internally. Sabourin also alleges that in 2015, a senior CBSA manager ordered the illegal destruction of hundreds of foreign passports, some belonging to serious criminals, which could have aided their evasion of law enforcement.
Despite reporting these issues to various government officials, including his local MP and the Prime Minister’s office, Sabourin claims no action was taken. He warns that Canada’s security is at risk due to systemic corruption and the failure of accountability measures. Sabourin’s allegations align with concerns raised in a 2019 CBSA threat brief, which warned of transnational criminal organizations exploiting CBSA systems and personnel. Sabourin, along with a former colleague, believes these issues are part of a larger problem of corruption within the Canadian government. More
Liberals Plan to Redistribute Immigrants into Small-town Canada
The federal Liberals plan to redirect immigrants and newcomers from major cities to rural areas in Northern Ontario and Western Canada, as revealed by recently obtained documents. These plans are part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), launched in 2019, which aimed to help newcomers settle in smaller communities to support economic development. The pilot included cities like Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Moose Jaw.
A memo to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser suggests expanding this initiative is part of a broader strategy to regionalize immigration, aligning with programs like the Atlantic Immigration Program. Despite the program's success in meeting short-term labour needs, the memo notes concerns about its long-term impact and challenges in scaling it to more communities.
The government redacted much of the memo, including the number of immigrants involved, indicating the sensitivity of the data. Additionally, the memo acknowledges negative reactions from provinces and territories and highlights the need to address the low birth rates and aging populations in these conservative-leaning towns. More
World Health Organization Officially Declares Mpox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
On August 14th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern due to a recent surge in cases and deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision, highlighting that over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported in Africa this year.
Mpox, a virus that affects both animals and humans, typically causes a rash and resolves within weeks, but in some cases, it can be fatal. The outbreak has primarily affected gay men. The WHO calls for a coordinated international response to stop the spread of the virus, particularly the new, more severe clade 1b, which has been found in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda.
The WHO has been working on the ground in affected countries, providing resources and training to healthcare workers, but has called for $15 million in donations to support these efforts. The US and European authorities have assessed the risk of mpox spreading beyond Africa as low but remain vigilant.
Tiny Thought: Just a reminder: while transmissibility is increasing slightly, the mortality rate is decreasing. This is the direction we want a disease to go.
Germany Issues Arrest Warrant for a Ukrainian Man Over Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts
German prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany. The man, identified as Wolodymyr Z., reportedly left Poland for Ukraine before he could be detained. The investigation, now led solely by German authorities, remains focused on uncovering the responsible party, while suspicions continue to surround the incident amidst tensions over the war in Ukraine. More
Jewish Groups Pull Support from Ottawa Pride Over Anti-Israel Stance
Jewish community groups in Ottawa, including the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, are withdrawing support from Capital Pride after the organization released an anti-Israel statement endorsing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. The groups criticized Capital Pride for marginalizing Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and expressed concern that the statement increases the risks to the Jewish community, which already faces significant hate crimes in Ottawa. They called on Capital Pride to refocus on creating an inclusive and safe environment for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, free from divisive political stances. More
US Homeland Security Tightens Rules at Canadian Border for Asylum Seekers
The US has adjusted the Safe Third Country Agreement with Canada to handle a rise in asylum seekers using Canada as a transit point to the US. The changes, similar to those made at the US-Mexico border, reduce the consultation time for asylum seekers from 24 hours to 4 hours. Border officers will now only consider evidence available at the time of arrival. The update aims to manage the increased flow of asylum seekers; in the first half of 2024, 12,612 individuals were detained at the US-Canada border. US politicians, including Senator Marco Rubio, have expressed concerns about security, especially with increased Canadian visas for Palestinians from Gaza amid ongoing conflict. More
China Launches Own Version of Starlink to Challenge US Dominance in Space
China has launched the first batch of 18 satellites in its "Qianfan" constellation, aiming to challenge US space dominance and rival SpaceX's Starlink. The full project plans for 14,000 satellites to provide global surveillance and direct-to-device connectivity, with half to be launched by 2027. More
Liberal MP Says Conservatives are to Blame for Letting in ISIS Members
Liberal MP Jennifer O’Connell blamed the former Harper government for allowing two men with ISIS ties into Canada, despite the Liberals being in power since 2015. This came after the RCMP arrested Ahmed and Mostafa Eldidi in Richmond Hill for conspiring to commit a terrorist attack for ISIS. O’Connell argued that budget cuts to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) under Harper weakened national security, but the Harper government had actually increased CBSA’s budget during most of its tenure. More
Canada’s Two Major Railways Will Come to Halt Next Week if Strike Goes Ahead
Canada's two main railways, CN and CPKC, have started halting shipments, including hazardous goods, in anticipation of a potential strike set for August 22. The strike could severely disrupt Canada's supply chain, impacting various industries. Teamsters Canada, representing 9,300 rail workers, is pushing for concessions on crew scheduling, safety, and fatigue management, while the railways have rejected these demands. CN has requested government intervention, expressing concern that a negotiated deal may be impossible. Both companies are prepared to lock out workers if no agreement is reached by the deadline. More
Canada Criticizes US Move to Nearly Double Softwood Lumber Tariff
Canada is criticizing the US Department of Commerce for nearly doubling duties on Canadian softwood lumber from 8.05% to 14.54%, calling the move "unfair" and "unwarranted." International Trade Minister Mary Ng and British Columbia Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston expressed disappointment, emphasizing the negative impact on Canadian and US consumers and producers. Canada may pursue legal action under NAFTA and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement if the dispute isn't resolved. The US justifies the tariffs by claiming Canada unfairly subsidizes its lumber industry.
Liberal Government Refuses to Say If It Approved Bonus for CBC CEO Catherine Tait
The Liberal government is not disclosing whether it approved a bonus for CBC President Catherine Tait, despite calls for transparency from the Opposition Conservatives and demands from the New Democrats to ban such bonuses. The Privy Council Office, which supports the cabinet, has cited privacy laws in refusing to release details about Tait’s bonus approval. CBC recently granted over $18 million in bonuses to its staff and executives, even as it cut 346 jobs. More
Aging is Not a Gradual Process but Accelerates at Two Main Stages
Recent research from Stanford Medicine reveals that aging involves significant changes in health at two key stages: the mid-40s and early 60s. By analyzing tens of thousands of biomarkers, scientists found that molecular shifts and microbial changes are more pronounced at these ages. In the mid-40s, metabolism slows and cardiovascular risks rise, while in the early 60s, issues with glucose metabolism, kidney function, and immune system efficiency increase. Understanding these changes could lead to targeted interventions and personalized health strategies. More
New Technique for Manipulating Stem Cells Opens Door to Novel Treatments
Researchers at McGill University have developed a new technique for manipulating stem cells mechanically, which could advance stem cell treatments for various diseases. By stretching, bending, and flattening stem cell nuclei, the team can direct stem cells to become specific types, such as bone or fat cells. This method could lead to new treatments for bone regeneration and conditions like osteoporosis. Future work will focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this differentiation and applying the technique in 3D cell cultures. More
J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk Named in Boxer Imane Khelif's Cyber-bullying Lawsuit
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who recently won gold at the Paris Olympics, has filed a cyber-bullying lawsuit against J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, and other public figures over comments about his or her gender (jury is still out over here). The legal action, which also involves the social media platform X and potentially former US President Donald Trump, accuses these individuals of aggravated cyber harassment. Khelif, who identifies as a woman, claims the harassment has been ongoing and intensified following her Olympic victory. More
Hideki Matsuyama Robbed at London Airport Along With His Coach and Caddie
Hideki Matsuyama is starting the FedEx Cup playoffs without his regular caddie and coach after they were robbed at a London airport following his bronze medal win at the Olympic golf tournament. Matsuyama's wallet and his caddie’s and coach’s passports were stolen. The caddie and coach have returned to Japan to handle their passport issues, potentially missing the BMW Championship next week. More
Aaron Judge Becomes Fastest Player to Hit 300 Home Runs in MLB History
Aaron Judge hit the 300th home run of his career on Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox. The milestone home run came in the top of the eighth inning, helping the Yankees secure a 10-2 victory. Judge achieved this feat in just 954 games—the fastest in MLB history. He now ranks seventh in Yankees' all-time home runs, behind legends like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. More
New Zealand Charity Unknowingly Distributes Meth-laced Sweets - Police in New Zealand are racing to trace sweets containing "potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine" after they were distributed by a charity in Auckland. Up to 400 people may have received the sweets from Auckland City Mission as part of a food parcel, said the anti-poverty charity. The sweets were donated anonymously by a member of the public in a sealed retail package.
US Judge Hands Defendant 558 Days in Jail for Profanity-laced Tirade - A Michigan judge went toe-to-toe with a foul-mouthed defendant in court last week. Judge Cedric Simpson sentenced the man to 93 days in jail for contempt multiple times after the defendant first said "Kiss my a--" and then interrupted Simpson again with "f--- you, f--- you." All told, Simpson gave the man – who was in court for a misdemeanour trespassing charge – 558 days in jail for contempt.
Chiapas – Mexico’s Coca-Cola-Addicted State - Coca-Cola is consumed all around the world, but nowhere is it more popular than in the Mexican state of Chiapas, where the average person drinks 821.2 litres of Coca-Cola per year, roughly 32 times the global average.