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Where news meets rational thinking
Good morning, It’s Wednesday, July 17th. In today’s news, RCMP reports that foreign interference has increased 600% since 2018, Trudeau increases annual public service payroll by $27 billion, Ontario police sound alarm on mass diversion of ‘safer supply’ drugs, severe storm leaves over 165,000 in Toronto without power, and much more.
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RCMP: Foreign Interference Has Increased 600% Since 2018
According to the RCMP, there was a 468% increase in foreign interference-related incidents between 2018 and 2022, reaching nearly 600% by mid-2023. This surge led to a rise in RCMP investigations from 31 to 182 over the four years.
The RCMP identified China as a key actor in these activities, aiming to further its political, economic, and security interests at Canada's expense. The agency is tackling threats like harassment, intimidation, and electoral interference. An ongoing public inquiry investigating Beijing's alleged meddling in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections noted China’s influence diminished voter ability to make informed decisions.
The RCMP has increased outreach to the Chinese community, encouraging them to report intimidation and harassment. Recent initiatives include door-to-door campaigns in Montreal's Chinatown to raise awareness and collect tips on foreign interference. More
Tiny Thought: China is undeniably entrenched in Canadian politics, the economy, and criminal activities. The real question is whether they are so deeply embedded that extraction is impossible, or if a Conservative prime minister could break free from China's grip on our country.
Trudeau Expands Public Service by 42%, Adds $27 Billion in Payroll Since 2015
The federal government added more than 10,000 employees to the federal public service last year, increasing Ottawa's bureaucracy to a record 367,772 employees. This increase is smaller than the 21,290 new employees added in 2022-23 and the 16,356 in the year before.
Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election in 2015, the public service has grown by 42%, while Canada’s population has only increased by 14%. Personnel spending also surged, reaching $67.4 billion in 2022-23, up from $40.2 billion in 2016-17, marking a 68% increase in payroll costs.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Fraser Institute highlighted concerns about the growing public sector and its financial implications, including higher wages, earlier retirements, and more job security compared to the private sector. They advocate for a review of public service staffing and compensation to help balance the budget. More
Ontario Police Sound Alarm on Mass Diversion of ‘Safe Supply’ Drugs
The London Police Service (LPS) in Ontario is sounding the alarm over the increasing diversion of "safe supply" drugs within the community. Police Chief Thai Truong reported that hydromorphone, prescribed for opioid replacement, is being resold and used as currency to obtain fentanyl, significantly worsening the local drug crisis.
Safer supply programs provide pharmaceutical-grade alternatives to street drugs, such as hydromorphone, to reduce harm. However, these programs are contributing to the problem as many enrolled individuals are selling or trading their prescribed hydromorphone illegally, a practice known as "diversion."
LPS data reveals a 3,000% increase in hydromorphone tablet seizures since the Safer Supply program's expansion in 2020. Seizures rose from fewer than 1,000 tablets in 2019 to 30,000 in 2022. This year’s seizures are expected to match or exceed last year's record.
Additionally, since January, LPS has seized large quantities of various drugs, including over 11,000 hydromorphone pills, 30 firearms, and nearly $80,000 in cash. The street value of these pills ranges from $2 to $5 in London and can reach $30 elsewhere.
The issue of safe supply programs has drawn national attention, with federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre recently criticizing safe injection sites and advocating for their defunding in favour of treatment and recovery facilities. Source: TCS
Severe Storm Leaves 165,000 Without Power in Toronto
A severe rainstorm in Toronto caused widespread flooding and abandoned vehicles and left over 165,000 people without power. Environment Canada warned of extremely heavy rain, rapidly rising rivers and creeks, and advised people to avoid stalled cars and keep children and pets away from waterways.
The Greater Toronto Area saw up to 125 millimetres of rain at rates of 40 millimetres per hour. Toronto Hydro, working with Hydro One, is restoring power but has no estimated timeframe.
Flooding led to road closures, including parts of the Don Valley Parkway, River Street, Lakeshore Boulevard, and sections of Highways 400 and 401. Some subway stations were also shut down. More
Macron Accepts French PM’s Resignation, No Clear Successor in Sight
French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his government after just 60 days on the job. Attal had initially offered to resign after Macron’s centrist alliance lost in the snap parliamentary election, but Macron declined. The French constitution allows the president to appoint a new prime minister, but there is no clear timeline or successor. The National Assembly is set to elect its president, which may influence the political situation. Despite the election outcome preventing the far right from gaining power, the newly elected National Assembly is gridlocked, complicating the appointment of a new prime minister. More
Trump’s VP Pick J.D. Vance is a Freedom Convoy Supporter and Trudeau Critic
Vance is known for his outspoken views on Canadian politics, criticizing the Liberal government's response to the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests and expressing concerns over government overreach. “The Canadian truckers have killed zero people and are being treated like terrorists in their own country,” Vance said on X in February 2022.
He also has connections to Jamil Jivani, a Conservative MP in Canada, and has dealt with Canada as a trading partner since taking office in 2023. More
Sen. Bob Menendez Found Guilty on All Counts in Corruption Trial
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was convicted of all 16 counts in a corruption trial, including bribery and acting as a foreign agent of the Egyptian government. Prosecutors accused the senator and his wife of taking more than $400,000 in cash, gold bars, and a car in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. More
At Least 5 Die and Thousands Injured in Crackdown on Bangladesh Student Protests
At least five people died and thousands were injured after police fired teargas into crowds of protesting students, while paramilitary forces were deployed across the country.
Protests first broke out on university campuses across Bangladesh two weeks ago as tens of thousands of students demanded an end to “unreasonable and discriminatory quotas” for government jobs.
The quotas – which reserve 30% of jobs for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 – were abolished in 2018 but reinstated this month after a court order. Source: The Guardian
Inflation Falls to 2.7% in June, Another Interest Rate Cut Likely
Canada's annual inflation rate fell to 2.7% in June from 2.9% in May, largely due to lower gasoline prices, according to Statistics Canada. This drop increases the likelihood of the Bank of Canada cutting its interest rate next week. Economists widely expect the Bank to follow up on its June rate cut due to signs of a weakening economy, including a loosening job market and slowing consumer spending. The Bank of Canada had previously cut the overnight rate to 4.75% on June 5, the first cut in over four years. More
Elon Musk Says He Will Move X and SpaceX Headquarters Out of California
Elon Musk announced that his companies, X and SpaceX, will move their headquarters from California to Texas in response to California's new gender identity law. This law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, prevents schools from disclosing students' sexual orientation or gender identity to their parents. Musk, critical of the legislation, stated this was the final straw for the move. This shift highlights Musk's ongoing disputes with California and adds to a trend of tech companies relocating to Texas for its favourable business environment. The moves were welcomed by Texas Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott. More
Canadian Housing Starts Fall 9% in June
In June, Canadian housing starts dropped more than anticipated compared to the previous month, falling by 9%. Data from the national housing agency, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), indicated a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 241,672 units, down from a revised 264,929 units in May. Source: Reuters
The Origins of Creativity in the Brain
A research team led by a University of Utah Health researcher, based at Baylor College of Medicine, used advanced brain imaging to uncover how different brain regions collaborate to generate creative thoughts. Their study, published in BRAIN, revealed that the default mode network (DMN), active during internally focused thinking like daydreaming and meditation plays a crucial role in creativity. By implanting electrodes in the brains of epilepsy patients, researchers tracked real-time brain activity during creative tasks. They found that creative ideas originate in the DMN and are then evaluated by other brain regions. Disrupting specific DMN regions reduced creativity without affecting other functions, highlighting the DMN's essential role in creative thinking. Understanding this network's function could lead to treatments for conditions like depression and interventions to boost creativity. More
A New Neural Network Makes Decisions Like a Human
Researchers at Georgia Tech, led by Associate Professor Dobromir Rahnev, are pioneering a new approach to neural networks that mirrors human decision-making processes. Unlike conventional neural networks, which make consistent decisions regardless of context, their model, RTNet, incorporates variability and confidence akin to human decision-making. Published in Nature Human Behaviour, their study trained RTNet on the MNIST dataset, showing that it adapts responses based on accumulated evidence, similar to how humans weigh options. This human-like approach aims to enhance AI reliability and accuracy, potentially revolutionizing machine learning applications in the future. More
Canada Sending 338 Athletes to Paris Olympics
Canada is sending a reduced team of 338 athletes to the Paris Olympics, down from 383 in Tokyo. This marks the fourth consecutive Summer Games where women athletes outnumber men. Of the 316 competitors, 142 have previous Olympic experience, including 38 medalists such as Penny Oleksiak and Andre De Grasse. The team includes Mo Zhang, attending her fifth Olympics, and ranges from 61-year-old dressage rider Jill Irving to 14-year-old skateboarder Fay De Fazio Ebert. Five sets of siblings and 10 children of former Olympians are also part of the contingent.
The opening ceremony is July 26. More
Ingrid Andress Bombs National Anthem at the MLB Home Run Derby, Says She Was Drunk
Country singer Ingrid Andress faced backlash for her anthem performance at the MLB Home Run Derby, with criticism flooding social media. Admitting she was intoxicated during the performance, Andress announced she would check into rehab for help. Her rendition was unfavourably compared to Fergie's 2018 NBA All-Star anthem, known for its unique style. More
British Open: Tiger Woods Pushes Back Hard on Call for Retirement
Golf legend Tiger Woods faces scrutiny over his recent performances in majors, where he hasn't finished above T37 in the 2020s and missed cuts in five of six recent majors. Despite calls from Colin Montgomerie to retire, Woods, exempt until 60 as a three-time British Open champion, remains defiant and focused on competing. He acknowledges his physical challenges but insists he's still capable of winning, highlighting improved training and optimism heading into the British Open at Royal Troon. More
‘Don't Miss Trump Next Time': Jack Black's Tenacious D Cancels Tour After 'Highly Inappropriate' Remark
The comedy rock duo Tenacious D has cancelled the remaining dates on its “Spicy Meatball Tour” of Australia, New Zealand and the United States after band member Kyle Gass commented on the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, saying ‘don’t miss Trump next time.’ Jack Black, the band’s other, more famous member, is distancing himself from the remark. More
Almost Half of Americans Prefer to Watch TV With Their Dogs - Based on a new study, 43% of Americans would rather watch a movie with their dog than their partner. According to the poll of 2,000 US dog owners, those in a relationship said their dogs are better movie companions because they don’t interrupt (44%), don’t ask questions (42%) and are better cuddlers (35%).
Ancient Temple and Theater 3,500 Years Older Than Machu Picchu Discovered in Peru - An ancient temple and theatre has been identified in Peru as dating back 4,000 years, placing it among the oldest man-made structures. More