Don't Censor Canada 🤐
Where news meets rational thinking
Good morning, It’s Wednesday, July 31st. In today’s news, a new report reveals that Canadians spend more on taxes than food, shelter and clothing combined, Feds give nearly $300k to university to “detect and counteract” misinformation (i.e. Censor us), Guilbeault insists feds took all possible measures to combat Jasper wildfire, UK stabbing spree sparks violent protest as third child dies, and much more.
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Study: Canadians Spend More on Taxes Than Food, Shelter and Clothing Combined
The average Canadian spent more on taxes last year than on basic necessities like shelter, groceries, and clothing combined, according to a new Fraser Institute report.
"Taxes remain the largest household expense for families in Canada," said study co-author Jake Fuss.
In 2023, the average Canadian family earned $109,235 but paid $46,988 in taxes, meaning 43% of their income went to taxes, compared to 35.6% on basic necessities. The report, titled "Taxes versus the Necessities of Life: The Canadian Consumer Tax Index 2024 Edition," highlighted a dramatic increase in taxation over the past 60 years.
In 1961, families spent 33.5% of their income on taxes and 56.5% on basic necessities. However, taxes have since surged, with the average family tax bill increasing by 2,705% since 1961, far outpacing other expenditures. Housing costs increased by 700%, food by 901%, and clothing by 478% over the same period.
"Given how much of their income goes to taxes, Canadians may question if they’re getting good value for their money," said Fuss.
The study outlined the extensive range of taxes Canadians pay, including income, payroll, health, sales, property, fuel, carbon, vehicle, import, alcohol, and tobacco taxes.
Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation criticized politicians for excessive spending, arguing it drives up taxes. According to the Fraser Institute, it takes the average Canadian family five to six months to pay off their total tax bill each year, a period referred to as "Tax Freedom Day."
Despite focus groups commissioned by the federal government recommending tax cuts, especially for the carbon tax, these suggestions were ignored, and taxes increased in the 2024 budget.
"Canadians are struggling, and politicians should make life more affordable by taking less money from our wallets," said Terrazzano. "We need politicians to put down the taxpayer credit card and pick up some scissors." More
Tiny Thought: “Everything the State says is a lie, and everything it has it has stolen.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
Feds Give Nearly $300k to University to “Detect and Counteract” Misinformation (i.e. Censor us)
Canada’s Minister of Heritage announced nearly $300,000 in taxpayer funds for a university project to combat online misinformation. The Université de Montréal will receive $292,675 to develop a website and browser tool using AI to detect and counteract misinformation across various languages and media types.
“Discerning fact from fiction in our online world has become an increasingly difficult problem,” reads a statement from Canadian Heritage. Minister Pascal St-Onge emphasized the project's importance in ensuring Canadians can trust the information they encounter online.
The technology will include "behavioural nudges" to alert users to potential misinformation and reduce the likelihood of sharing false content. The initiative aims to enhance public knowledge and media integrity by enabling quick verification of online content.
Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc noted that while social media platforms have empowered public debate, they have also facilitated the spread of false information. This funding is intended to support democratic resilience by providing tools to verify online content. More
Tiny Thought: Let’s be clear: the Liberal government is paying Liberal-run Universities to build tools to censor speech that does not comport with their narrative. This is dangerous.
Guilbeault Insists Feds Took All Possible Measures to Combat Jasper Wildfire
Steven Guilbeault, along with Parks Canada president Ron Hallman and Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, defended the federal government's response to the wildfire in Jasper, Alberta, which claimed 30% of the town. Guilbeault stated it is “simply not true” that more could have been done to combat the fire, emphasizing that Jasper is one of the best-equipped towns in Canada for dealing with wildfires.
Hallman acknowledged the devastating impact of the fire, which moved at 15 feet per minute and reached heights of 300 meters, making it impossible to stop. He highlighted Jasper's extensive preparation, including sprinkler systems, interagency emergency simulations, and prescribed burns since 1996.
The town was evacuated within five hours with no casualties, a success both Hallman and Ireland stressed. They rejected any notion of failure, praising the efforts that saved 70% of the town and ensured everyone's safety. More
Tiny Thought: The government could have done a lot more. The federal government reduced the parks budget by 45% since 2017 - a rather odd move considering their claims about climate change and wildfires. It has also been made clear that they only did about 30% of the required controlled burns, which means the fire's spread could have been greatly reduced.
Rumours About Suspect in UK Stabbing Spree Spark Violent Protest as Third Child Does Dies
Protesters clashed with police outside a mosque in northwest England after rumours circulated about the identity and background of a 17-year-old suspect involved in a fatal stabbing spree that killed three girls and injured ten others. The crowd was angered by speculation that the suspect was a refugee, despite police confirming he was born in the UK.
Protesters claimed their actions were a response to perceived leniency and lack of transparency in handling crimes by non-British individuals. More
Tiny Thought: I’m honestly not sure if he was of UK descent. I’ve heard conflicting stories, and it's hard to trust the government on this one.
‘Narco-Sub,’ 678 Tons of Drugs, Chemicals Seized in Global Police Sting
Interpol's "Lionfish Hurricane" operation, conducted across 31 countries, led to 206 arrests and the seizure of 678 tons of drugs and precursor chemicals valued at $1.6 billion. Among the confiscated items were 62 tons of cocaine, 57 tons of other drugs, and a semi-submersible "narco-sub" in Guyana. In Brazil, 17 drug mules were arrested, and in Ghana, 41 pounds of marijuana were seized. Colombia saw the confiscation of 2.3 tons of hydrochloric acid and a sulphuric acid factory. Additionally, 30,000 detonators, 280 firearms, and grenades were seized. This operation highlights the growing reach of transnational organized crime. More
Protests Erupt in Venezuela After Disputed Election Results
Protests erupted in Venezuela after a disputed election result in which both President Nicolas Maduro and challenger Edmundo Gonzalez claimed victory. The Venezuelan Conflict Observatory reported over 180 protests across 20 states, with violence from paramilitary groups and security forces. Protesters toppled a statue of Hugo Chavez, while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed Gonzalez won by a wide margin with 6.27 million votes compared to Maduro’s 2.75 million. The electoral authority reported Maduro won with 5.15 million votes (51%) versus Gonzalez's 4.45 million (44%). The US and UN have called for transparency in the vote count. More
New Secret Service Head Says He ‘Cannot Defend’ Security Lapses at Trump Shooting
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe testified before lawmakers, criticizing the unsecured roof used by the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Rowe admitted his agency's mistakes and condemned local law enforcement for not alerting them about the armed suspect seen on a nearby roof. Rowe promised reforms to prevent future security lapses and highlighted communication failures among agencies. More
Israel Says Its Beirut Strike Killed Hezbollah’s Top Military Commander
Israel's recent airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, targeted Hezbollah's senior military commander Fu'ad Shukr, killing him and two others, with 74 people injured. The strike was in response to an earlier attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel attributed to Hezbollah. Israel's Defense Minister stated the strike was a necessary response to Hezbollah "crossing the red line." Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have not confirmed Shukr's death, and Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister condemned the strike as a violation of international law. The incident has heightened fears of a broader conflict in the region. More
Meta Agrees to Pay Texas $1.4 Billion Settlement in Biometric Data Lawsuit
Meta Platforms will pay $1.4 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by Texas over the unauthorized use of Facebook users' biometric data. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Meta of collecting the facial recognition data of over 20 million Texans without consent, a violation of the state's Biometric Identifier Act. This settlement, the largest of its kind, resolves allegations stemming from Facebook's "tag suggestions" feature, which ran from 2011 to 2019. Meta has not admitted wrongdoing but agreed to pay the amount over five years, with the first installment due within 30 days. More
Air New Zealand Becomes First Major Airline to Scrap its 2030 Climate Goal
Air New Zealand has retracted its 2030 climate goal, originally set to reduce carbon intensity by 28.9% from 2019 levels, due to delays in receiving fuel-efficient aircraft and the high cost of alternative jet fuels. CEO Greg Foran cited global manufacturing and supply chain issues as key factors. This move makes Air New Zealand the first major airline to scale back near-term climate targets, highlighting the aviation industry's challenges in decarbonizing. The airline also withdrew from the Science Based Targets Initiative but reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. More
Starbucks Sales Tumble as Customers Reject High-priced Coffee
Starbucks has seen a decline in sales, with global sales dropping 3% and North American sales falling 2% at stores open for at least a year. This includes a significant 6% drop in transactions in North America, partially offset by higher prices. The decline is attributed to consumer pushback against high prices, like $6 iced coffees, and increased competition from other coffee chains and at-home brewing options.
In response, Starbucks is introducing value meals and new technology to improve service speed. The company aims to win back customers with a new "Pairings Menu" offering combo deals and faster drink preparation systems. Despite these efforts, Starbucks' stock has dropped 19% this year. More
Shape-shifting 'Transformer Bots' Inspired by Origami
Engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a shape-shifting plastic structure inspired by origami, capable of transforming into over 1,000 configurations using just three motors. The innovation could lead to versatile robotic systems for various applications, such as space exploration. The structure, made from 36 3D-printed hollow plastic cubes connected with rotating hinges, can form different shapes like tunnels, bridges, and multi-story designs. It can move in multiple directions and carry loads three times its weight. Researchers plan to enhance the structure's load-bearing capacity and explore real-world applications, including deployable space robots and habitats. More
Neuralink Rival Synchron Now Lets People Control Apple’s Vision Pro With Their Mind
Neuralink competitor Synchron announced it has successfully connected its brain implant to Apple’s Vision Pro headset, allowing patients with limited mobility to control the device using their thoughts. Synchron's brain-computer interface (BCI) aims to help paralyzed patients operate technology such as smartphones and computers. The company has implanted its BCI in six patients in the US and four in Australia but still needs FDA approval for wider commercialization. Synchron’s BCI is inserted via the jugular vein, avoiding open brain surgery, and connects to an antenna under the skin to transmit brain data to external devices. A patient named Mark, who has ALS, has been using the Vision Pro to send texts, play games, watch TV, and even create art despite his physical limitations. More
2024 Olympics Day 4 Recap: Women's Rugby 7s Makes History, Canada Secures 6th Medal in Paris
On Day 4 of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Canada continued to make headlines:
Women's Rugby Sevens: The Canadian team achieved its best-ever Olympic result, earning silver after a close 19-12 loss to New Zealand in the final. They previously defeated Australia in the semifinals.
Men's Basketball: Canada secured a 93-83 victory over Australia, improving their record to 2-0 in Group A and enhancing their chances for a medal.
3-on-3 Basketball: The Canadian women's team defeated Australia 22-14 in their opening game, thanks to strong performances from twin sisters Michelle and Katherine Plouffe.
Women's Artistic Gymnastics: Canada finished fifth, tying their best-ever Olympic result. The U.S. team, led by Simone Biles, won gold.
Swimming: Kylie Masse narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in the 100-metre backstroke. Ilya Kharun advanced to the 200-metre butterfly final, while Josh Liendo finished 11th in the 100-metre freestyle.
Tennis: Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the third round with a decisive win, while Leylah Fernandez was eliminated after a third-round loss.
Canada's medal count now stands at six, with two of each colour. More
Blue Jays Cleaned House at the MLB Trade Deadline
The Blue Jays have had a rough season, with a record of 50-58, so it’s no shock that they were sellers at this year’s trade deadline. Here are the guys who were shipped off over the last few days:
Pitcher Yimmi Garcia was traded to Seattle
Pitcher Nate Pearson was traded to the Cubs
DH Justin Turner also made his way to Seattle
Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi was traded to the Astros
Pitcher Trevor Richards was traded to the Twins
Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was traded to the Pirates
Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was traded to the Dodgers
Man Pulls Three Planes While Walking on His Hands - Italian man Matteo Pavone set a new Guinness World Record by pulling three small planes while walking on his hands. The record-breaking feat took place in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Asti, Italy.
California Woman Has 100 Different Allergies, is Restricted to Eating just 13 Foods - Jenna Gestetner is a 21-year-old from Los Angeles, California, who was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) at a young age. "The 13 foods I can eat are white fish, turkey, green beans, zucchini, cucumber, lime, dates, grapes, raspberries, pears, chia seeds, water lily seeds and olive oil," she said.