One of the country's top Conservative strategists who just helped Ontario Premier Doug Ford win a sizable majority government says Pierre Poilievre urgently needs to make a pivot and start talking more about the issue voters care about most — the U.S. threat — or he risks losing the federal election.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh promised help for the Canadian auto sector Thursday as the industry faces 25 per cent U.S. tariffs.

The NDP is proposing to waive the GST on vehicles made in Canada and ensure the federal government, including agencies such as the RCMP, buy only Canadian automobiles.

She'll be interviewed by the host of controversial non-profit PragerU's podcast, who asked her last Canadian guest if Canada should be the 51st state (he said yes).

Anaida Poilievre’s uncle lived undocumented in Canada and received help from her and a MP. The Conservative leader has said such individuals should be ‘tracked down’ and ‘deported’

The post ‘Deeply hypocritical’: Pierre Poilievre slammed ‘illegal border crossers,’ but his own relative crossed and stayed appeared first on The Breach.

Concerns are growing over the role of foreign interference during a federal election campaign.

“There’s absolutely a concern. There have been reports by the National Security Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, as well as a national inquiry by Marie-Josée Hogue that have made it clear that foreign powers are trying to influence the outcome of our elections,” said Akaash Maharaj, a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. 

Not so long ago, a public inquiry into foreign interference gripped much of Canada for nearly two years, looking at how foreign actors like China and Russia tried to interfere in Canadian elections.

While Canadian parliamentarians may be targets of foreign interference, diaspora communities are more vulnerable, noted Maharaj.

“There has been evidence, significant evidence, that states hostile to Canada have been interfering with diaspora communities in our country. They will send agents to our country; they will try to persuade them to support or oppose certain political measures. They will intimidate them if they support a position the foreign states feel is not in their interests.”

“My heart goes out to people in this position, because they’re faced with a terrible choice. Do I stand up for what I believe in, and in doing so, do I put my family at risk?”

Foreign actors can target diaspora communities in Canada, specifically those who are campaigning on specific causes. Maharaj said an example could be how China can intimidate Uyghur-Canadians who are sympathetic to the cause.

“As those Canadians try to raise the plight of those Uyghur people and ask political actors to take public policy steps, to take foreign policy measures, to apply diplomatic pressure on the government of China, the government of China itself has been trying to silence and intimidate those people.”

Maharaj said the Canadian government should do more to address the issue.

“We owe it to ourselves to realize that the people who are most vulnerable to foreign interference and foreign intimidation are the least powerful people of our society.”

In January, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, the appointed judge who headed the foreign interference inquiry, ultimately found that foreign interference did not impact the results of the last two federal elections. But Maharaj said the risk remains. 

“I don’t think we should be overly alarmed. Especially because Justice Hogue makes it clear that these efforts have been somewhat half-hazard, marginal and ineffective. But that doesn’t mean that those powers could not increase their efforts and potentially have an effect on the future.”

According to Hogue’s report, misinformation and disinformation pose a great threat to Canadian democracy. She wrote that it could distort discourse, change views and society.

“It demonstrates what these powers are after. Typically, they’re not really trying to install one candidate over another, although that does happen. What they’re really trying to do is undermine public confidence in democracy itself.”    

“The real concern we should have as Canadians is not that politicians are being lied about, but instead, we’re being fed the lie that democracy cannot work. We have an obligation as citizens in a democracy to fight these efforts,” Maharaj said.  

Poilievre’s refusal to obtain security clearance could be ‘problematic’

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre defended his decision on Tuesday not to receive security clearance.  Hogue’s report had encouraged federal party leaders to obtain security clearance as soon as possible. He remains the only main federal party leader without security clearance.

“What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy that the Liberals want to impose on me. They don’t want me to be able to speak on these matters. So they bring me into a dark room, and they say, ‘We’re going to be able to give you a little bit of breadcrumbs of intel and then we’ll tell you, you can’t talk about any of this stuff anymore,’” Poilievre said on Tuesday.

Security clearance is needed for briefings on national security measures, including foreign interference. 

Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney took aim at Poilievre on Tuesday.

“I find it beyond baffling, downright irresponsible that the leader of the opposition, day after day, month after month, year after year, refuses to receive his security clearance. As a normal course, in peace times, when times are tranquil, that’s unacceptable then. But at this point in our history, when we face the greatest threats that we face in generations, and in most of our lifetimes, he has to answer for that,” Carney said.

Maharaj said Poilievre’s lack of security clearance could be problematic.

“At a minimum, if Mr. Poilievre does not wish to be bound by the secrecy provisions of this process but does want to reassure Canadians that he has nothing to hide, he could have for example, obtained his security clearance but not gone on to receive those reports. By receiving his security clearance, he would demonstrate that it is not the process that he fears, it is being silenced that he fears,” Maharaj said.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Trump administration launched an investigation Thursday into the California Department of Education over a law that says districts can’t force teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity at school.

The U.S. Department of Education said the policy may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a law allowing parents to access their child’s records.

“It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s wellbeing from parents and guardians,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office defended the law, saying parents still have the right to access to their child’s education records.

“If the U.S. Department of Education still had staff, this would be a quick investigation — all they would need to do is read the law the Governor signed,” Newsom spokesperson Elana Ross said in a statement, referencing Trump’s plans to dismantle the agency.

Now, the Education Department says it could take away funding if it determines California’s school gender-identity law violates federal rules.

What does the law do?

It bans school districts from adopting or enforcing rules that require staff to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the child’s consent, unless otherwise required by law. That means if a student wants to use different pronouns, the school can’t force teachers to tell the students’ parents. It does not prohibit teachers and school staff from choosing to share that information with parents.

Newsom signed the law last year, making California the first state to enact such a policy. It took effect Jan. 1.

The law also requires the state education department to develop resources to support LGBTQ+ students and their families.

Why was it passed?

A nationwide battle is underway over transgender rights, with some states imposing bans on gender-affirming care, barring trans athletes from girls and women’s sports, and requiring schools to share students’ gender identity with parents without the students’ consent.

Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli introduced a bill in 2023 that would have required schools to notify parents within three days of a school employee becoming aware of a child’s pronoun change.

Lawmakers in the Democratic-dominated Legislature blocked the bill from receiving a hearing, so school boards started to take up the issue and pass so-called parental notification policies of their own. The state started a legal battle with Chino Valley Unified School District, one of the first districts to enact such a rule, arguing the policy violated the rights of students and put the well-being of transgender children at risk.

The district later updated its rule to remove any mention of gender identification and require staff broadly to notify parents of any request their child makes for a change to their records.

Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, chair of the legislative LGBTQ+ caucus, introduced the bill largely in response to the school district policies. It passed on party lines.

What do supporters say?

The goal is to protect the privacy of students, some of whom may live in unaccepting households and are not ready to tell their parents, backers say. Teachers should not be required to get involved in family discussions about a student’s gender identity, they argue.

“Requiring governmental school officials to expose them without their consent runs afoul of the US Constitution,” Ward said in a statement, calling such policies “immorally invasive.”

David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, said the law helps ensure students have a safe and supportive learning environment.

What do opponents say?

Critics of the law say parents should be able to know if their child changes their gender identification at school. Chino Valley Unified sued the state over the policy, arguing it violated parents’ rights under the U.S. Constitution.

“I would like to get very clear guidance to school districts that they absolutely should not have policies keeping secrets from parents,” said Jonathan Zachreson, a Roseville City School District board member.

The Trump administration said children are at risk of falling victim to “radical transgender ideology” and medical interventions.

Are other California policies at risk?

Trump set the tone on his administration’s stance on issues affecting transgender and nonbinary people during his first days back in office. He signed executive orders to restrict gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes’ participation in girls sports.

Newsom has also been in the spotlight for his position on trans rights after he said on his podcast that transgender athletes’ participation in girls sports was unfair. California has a state law, signed in 2013 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, allowing students to participate on a sex-segregated sports team that aligns with their gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on the student’s records. A Republican bill seeks to reverse it; Newsom hasn’t taken a position.

___

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna

Sophie Austin, The Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano shot lava as high as 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the air during its most recent eruptive episode, geologists said Thursday.

The tall fountain of molten rock drew people to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to check out the spectacle, including some on horseback.

The lava has remained inside the volcano’s summit caldera and within the park, and no residential areas have been threatened, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Kilauea’s latest eruption began Dec. 23, pausing and resuming over a dozen times since. The most recent eruptive episode was from midday Tuesday until Wednesday evening, the USGS said.

Kilauea, located on the southeastern part of the Big Island, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and the busiest in Hawaii. Visitors come from around the world to marvel at its explosive displays.

The largest of the state’s six active volcanoes is Mauna Loa, which is also on the Big Island and erupted in 2022.

The Associated Press

An original model of E.T. used in the 1982 hit film is going up for auction. It is expected to fetch about $1 million US, according to Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chairman and global head of science and natural history. The creator of the model, Carlo Rambaldi, drew inspiration from the large, round eyes of his daughter’s cat when tasked with making E.T. look approachable and able to endear audiences.

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Quebec Premier François Legault isn't playing political favourites and remained tightlipped about who he'd like to see win the federal election. Still, he has a list of demands he wants the federal parties to consider.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

At its March 25 meeting, the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) council tackled a wide range of topics, from staffing appointments to building upgrades and legislative concerns. The meeting, presided over by chairperson Michael Murray, highlighted several key issues currently shaping the board’s operations.

Leadership transition in educational services

The council approved the appointment of Emmanuelle Gaudet as Director of Instructional Technology and Pedagogical Services, effective July 1. Gaudet will replace Eva Lettner, who is retiring at the end of August.

While welcoming Gaudet, Murray and others offered praise for Lettner’s long service. “She’s been a pillar for as long as I’ve been certainly in this chair,” said Murray. On a lighter note, he joked about recent ministerial directives that “inspired, no doubt, by news that you were intending to retire,” included a new unremunerated committee for retired administrators—“a perfect job” for Lettner, he quipped.

Request for new vocational training program

The board voted to seek ministerial authorization to add a General Building Maintenance course to its vocational training offerings. The move comes as part of a broader effort to diversify programming and respond to strong regional labour demand. If approved, the program could be run independently or in partnership with other English school boards.

Upcoming by-election in Ward 3

A by-election will be held by July 20 to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated by Commissioner Megan Séline, who resigned on March 20. The board appointed Sean Champigny as the returning officer for the election. Murray expressed regret over Séline’s departure, saying the board had “high hopes” her background would have helped the council better understand internal education processes.

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The snow over central, western and northwestern Newfoundland will end overnight for most areas. The exception will be Central and the northeast coast, where flurries will linger into Friday morning. Beyond that, the weather looks relatively quiet for the next few days. Get ALL the details in my forecast from Thursday’s NTV Evening News Hour!