Poilievre says media should stop quoting "experts" who caused the drug crisis
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took aim at legacy media reporting on drugs at a London, Ont. press conferences, calling reporters "irresponsible" for interviewing the so-called harm reduction efforts who are profiting from the system and on whose watch things have gotten so out of hand. He also told True North's Andrew Lawton that he's open to making treatment mandatory but wants to see evidence on how or if it would work.
National Post columnist Adam Zivo also weighs in.
Plus, a new documentary from SecondStreet.org draws attention to the urgent need for healthcare reform. The organization's president, Colin Craig, joins the show to explain why.
Trudeau's ban on independent journalists comes back to bite him
Justin Trudeau and his office routinely bar and block independent journalists from attending their press conferences and otherwise having any opportunities to ask him questions. And yet, when Keean Bexte of the Counter Signal tracked Trudeau down to a Tofino beach, many of Trudeau's defenders said it was in poor form to hassle a man on a vacation with his family. True North's Andrew Lawton says he would agree if Trudeau didn't shield himself from journalists he didn't like during the rest of the year.
Also, the Competition Bureau is looking at what it suspects might be "anticompetitive" practices guiding gas prices. Dan McTeague from Canadians for Affordable Energy joins to weigh in.
Plus, despite how much politicians love to talk about free trade with other countries, there isn't even free trade within Canada. Interprovincial trade barriers are costing the economy $200 billion a year, a new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says. CFIB interprovincial affairs director Keyli Loeppky joins the show to discuss.
Jagmeet Singh says Trudeau has "failed" – but won't do anything about it
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Justin Trudeau has "failed" as a prime minister. But when asked if that means he'll pull the NDP's support for the Liberal government, Singh just said there's already a scheduled election coming in October 2025 and he just wants Canadians to know they have an alternative. True North's Andrew Lawton says it's clear the NDP and the Liberals are one party, so Singh should stop pretending otherwise.
Also, a new decision by the Supreme Court of Canada allows judges to award compensation if Parliament or provincial legislatures enact unconstitutional legislation. However, legal scholars warn that the judiciary is vastly expanding its own authority here, and undermining democracy at the same time. Christine Van Geyn from the Canadian Constitution Foundation joins to discuss.
Plus, the unemployment rate for temporary residents in Canada is double the national average, with skilled and educated immigrants unable to find work due in part to how the Canadian immigration system is structured. Immigration lawyer Siavash Shekarian joins the show to offer up a couple of possible solutions.
Biden's out; Trudeau's in Tofino
President Joe Biden has responded to the mounting calls for him to bow out of the presidential race by doing exactly that – announcing the suspension of his campaign on the weekend. Meanwhile, Trudeau is taking a leisurely family vacation in British Columbia as his party continues to drag in the polls. True North's Andrew Lawton wonders whether he'll finally take the hint.
Also, the bureaucracy has grown in Canada by 42% since Trudeau took office, with 108,000 new public servants despite the population only growing by 14% in the same time. We discuss with Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Plus, gun control groups are in a panic over what they say is an "abandonment" by the Liberals of their commitment to getting rid of "assault-style rifles." Tracey Wilson of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights weighs in.
Trudeau stealing Poilievre's housing policy
Justin Trudeau has said that the federal government will not provide funding to municipalities that don't build more homes. Sound familiar? It should, True North's Andrew Lawton says, as it's right in line with the "gatekeeper" messaging and policies that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been talking about.
Also, major flooding in Toronto this week has exposed huge gaps in the city's infrastructure priorities, but Mayor Olivia Chow and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say the real culprit is climate change. Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley joins the show to discuss.
Plus, an American Home Depot cashier has been terminated after she was exposed on social media for having posted on her page that she wished the assassination attempt on Donald Trump had been successful. Is this an appropriate response or cancel culture gone too far?
Are you glad Trump's attempted assassin is dead?
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in his statement about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump that he was glad the shooter, identified as a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was dead, prompting a great deal of finger-wagging from the left and the legacy media. Is it okay to rejoice in the death of a bad person? True North's Andrew Lawton weighs in and discusses what things were like on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania with Rachel Parker, who was reporting on the rally for her new show, Rachel and the Republic.
Also, former congresswoman and 2012 presidential candidate Michele Bachmann joins the show to discuss what this means for the United States and the world.
Plus, the federal government has forced banks to label carbon tax rebates as it tries to salvage the loathed carbon tax. Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins to discuss.
Is Freeland getting thrown under the bus?
As Liberal poll numbers continue to drag, a new Globe and Mail story cites sources in Justin Trudeau's office putting the blame on Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland for "not being effective in delivering an upbeat economic message." The story also reports that the PMO has considered recruiting Mark Carney as finance minister. It was just a few years ago that Freeland's predecessor, Bill Morneau, was similarly knifed through PMO leaks, True North's Andrew Lawton asks if we are about to see one of Trudeau's most loyal foot soldiers thrown under the bus.
Also, universities have become "exasperating" with hateful rhetoric getting a pass while discussions about free speech, EDI, and gender are censored. A new essay in The Hub from Concordia professor Zachary Patterson says there's still hope to purge universities of their "extreme leftist ideology." He joins the show to explain how.
Plus, fossil fuel consumption has increased since the Kyoto Protocol and greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise following the Paris climate accord. So why are we inflicting economic harm on our country in support of net-zero measures that clearly aren't working? Fraser Institute senior fellow Dr. Kenneth Green joins the show to weigh in.
Trudeau says cost of living would have been worse without him
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an interview this week that he likes young people more than older folks because they aren't set in their ways, while acknowledging that the youth who supported him in 2015 are now in their late 20s and can't afford homes. But he said it would have been even worse without him. True North's Andrew Lawton says it doesn't seem like that, and Canadians definitely aren't buying it.
Also, Canada is getting dragged for not committing to spending two per cent of its GDP on defence, as is required of NATO allies. What is that figure and why does it matter? Retired vice-admiral Mark Norman joins the show to discuss.
Plus, Canada has become a net importer of electricity for the first time as consumers face increased prices. This is all because of a flawed "decarbonized" energy strategy, researcher Philip Cross says. He joins the show to explain why.
More bonuses for CBC employees coming
After getting hammered by Canadians and opposition politicians for paying out $14.9 million in bonuses last year, Canada's state broadcaster, the CBC, has quietly approved another round of bonuses for nearly 1,200 employees. True North's Andrew Lawton discusses with Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Rights Probe executive director Bruce Pardy writes in a National Post column that corporate leaders betrayed capitalism when they jumped on the ESG and climate bandwagons. He joins the show to explain how.
The renowned American journal Science published an article celebrating the rise of diversity-based hiring at the expense of relying on merit, but offered no evidence that diversity confers any academic benefit. Physicist Lawrence Krauss comes on the show to weigh in.
Poilievre takes aim at Trudeau's "woke ideology" in Stampede speech
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to a crowd of thousands at the Calgary Stampede over the weekend, defending firearms owners and railing against censorship and what he called Justin Trudeau's "woke ideology." True North's Andrew Lawton says it's important to note how Poilievre is doing the opposite of what the media elites and political pundits have said for years conservative politicians need to do – and his poll numbers show him doing better than his predecessors.
Also, Canada's ambassador for climate change has amassed $254,000 in travel expenses in less than two years. Saving the planet doesn't come cheap, does it? Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation weighs in.
Plus, unionized workers from Ontario's liquor store monopoly, the LCBO, are on strike over their opposition to some alcoholic beverages being available in convenience stores, which they pretend is a threat to public safety. Andrew discusses with David Clement of the Consumer Choice Center.
Liberals to spend $200 million on online censorship office
If the Liberal government's controversial Online Harms Act passes, the "digital safety commission" the bill establishes will have 330 staff and cost Canadian taxpayers more than $200 million, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has said. True North's Andrew Lawton says even if it cost nothing, it would still be wrong, but it's especially bad that Canadians will have to pay the government to police how they use the internet. He discusses with Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and Peter Menzies of The Rewrite.
Also, are teachers' colleges the best way to ensure children are getting the best education they can? A new piece in the Hub from Caylan Ford, the founder of the Alberta Classical Academy, says no. She joins to explain why not.
Plus, Andrew will be speaking at the 2024 Freedom Talk in Alberta this weekend about the decline and fall of western civilization, among cheerier subjects. Conference organizer Danny Hozack returns to the show to talk about what the stakes are and why the conversation matters.
Chrystia Freeland tight-lipped on what she did in Davos
Chrystia Freeland continues to sit on the trustee board for the World Economic Forum while serving as Canada's deputy prime minister and finance minister. She and the Canadian delegation spent over $40,000 in travel costs attending this year's meeting, but it's not clear what Canadians got out of it. She has provided only generalities about her agenda there, even in a reply to specific questions about her meetings from Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis. True North's Andrew Lawton discusses.
Also, Justin Trudeau says he needs to be reelected because democracies are under threat around the world.
Plus, a judge has granted an injunction to the University of Toronto to clear out the anti-Israel encampment at the school. Josh Dehaas from the Canadian Constitution Foundation joins to discuss.
And the federal government wants all cars to be electric or hybrid by 2035. Economist Ross McKitrick says this mandate could destroy the auto sector. He returns to The Andrew Lawton Show to explain how.
Trudeau "committed" to staying on as calls for resignation mount
Trudeau "committed" to staying on as calls for resignation mountA Liberal member of Parliament has sent a letter to caucus calling for Justin Trudeau to step aside as Liberal leader and prime minister, but Trudeau said on the weekend that he isn't going anywhere, insisting he is "committed" to seeing things through until the next election.
Also, the federal government isn't content enough to subject Canadians to their unpopular carbon tax: the Liberals have also spent $1.7 million promoting carbon taxes in other countries. Kris Sims from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins to discuss.
Plus, the number of hydromorphone pills seized by police in London has skyrocketed by 3,000% since the expansion of the city's 'safe' supply program in 2020. National Post columnist Adam Zivo joins the show to discuss.
Alberta NDP wants a divorce from Jagmeet Singh
Alberta NDP wants a divorce from Jagmeet SinghThe Alberta NDP's new leader, Naheed Nenshi, wants to sever ties between his party and the federal NDP led by Jagmeet Singh. True North's Andrew Lawton says it's hard to blame them given how insignificant a political entity the federal NDP is, as evidenced by its particularly poor performance in this week's St. Paul's byelection.
Also, a deep dive into Alberta's relationship with Ottawa featuring Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz – including how Alberta is pushing back against the carbon tax, the plastics ban, the oil and gas industry gag order, and more.
Liberal ministers rally behind Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau says he's not going anywhere after the Liberal party's embarrassing loss in Toronto—St. Paul's. Today, Liberal cabinet ministers have been lining up to say they have confidence in him while pledging to do better to listen to Canadians. True North's Andrew Lawton says it's clearly too little too late, although Trudeau is the only one who doesn't see it (or refuses to acknowledge it).
Also, this week the government is fighting in the Federal Court of Appeal to defend its plastics ban – a ban predicated on the false claim that plastic is "toxic." The Canadian Constitution Foundation is intervening in the case against the ban. CCF litigation director Christine Van Geyn joins the show to discuss.
Plus, did rampant antisemitism help drive Liberal voters to the Conservatives in Monday's byelection? An upstart third party group called Jewish Ally campaigned to mobilize Jews and their allies to support Tory candidate Don Stewart, who narrowly won the race. Jewish Ally founders Andrew Kirsch and Stephen Taylor join the show to discuss why they did it.
Does Conservative upset mean end of Trudeau?
Most Liberals went to bed thinking they had won the Toronto–St. Paul's byelection, but when all the ballots were counted, the Conservatives had managed to narrowly take hold of the Liberal stronghold, electing Don Stewart as the newest MP. These results are catastrophic for Justin Trudeau, True North's Andrew Lawton argues. He discusses with longtime political journalist and author Paul Wells, and then brings in National Post columnist Rahim Mohamed. Do you think Trudeau will resign over this?
Liberal desperation showing on Toronto byelection day
The long-awaited Toronto—St. Paul's byelection is today, and Liberal cabinet ministers have descended on the Liberal stronghold to try to get the vote out at a time when Justin Trudeau is twenty points behind Pierre Poilievre in national polls. While the Liberals may still win the riding, they have spent the last two weeks trying to lower expectations to soften the embarrassment that may be coming to them, True North's Andrew Lawton says.
Also, Naheed Nenshi is now the Alberta NDP leader. We'll talk about what that means with Lindsay Wilson from Alberta Proud.
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Kris Sims returns for her Monday checkin talking about the high-flying catering bill Trudeau racked up on one of his foreign trips.
Plus, despite claims from anti-Israel activists that Israel is "starving" Gazans, the facts show a different story. Andrew discusses with Honest Reporting Canada assistant director Robert Walker.
Government's indifference to foreign interference is alarming
It's an established fact that foreign actors have interfered in Canada's democracy and are likely to continue to do so. And yet the federal Liberal government hasn't been interested in figuring out, let alone disclosing, which parliamentarians have made this easier. In this edition of The Andrew Lawton Show, Andrew catches up with Macdonald-Laurier Institute managing director Brian Lee Crowley for a discussion about foreign interference and the state of Canadian democracy.
Parents suing Catholic hospital for not giving their daughter assisted suicide
The parents of a young woman who battled terminal cancer before ending her life through assisted suicide are suing the Catholic-run St. Paul's Hospital for transferring her to a hospice that offered MAID instead of providing it where she was. They say the hospital and the province of British Columbia violated her Charter rights. True North's Andrew Lawton says if so-called MAID is going to continue to expand, conscience rights for facilities and practitioners that want nothing to do with it need to be protected.
Also, the City of Toronto is forging ahead with its renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square to "Sankofa Square." But the whole exercise is based on a lie about Henry Dundas. Andrew discusses with historian and former member of Parliament Lynn McDonald.
Plus, new research from the Fraser Institute shows that parents want teachers to focus on teaching facts and not giving their own opinion or "interpretation" in the classroom. Do you agree? Education policy analyst Paige MacPherson joins the show to unpack the numbers.
Trudeau says bad polls are because Canadians aren't in "decision mode"
The latest poll shows the Conservatives with a twenty per cent lead over the Liberals, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says not to worry, it's just because Canadians aren't in "decision mode" right now. He says the way people vote is different from how they answer pollsters' questions. Do you agree, or is Trudeau in the most severe case of denial Canada has ever seen?
Plus, anti-Israel activists at McGill University are under fire for running a "revolutionary" youth summer camp, promoted with images of young people wearing keffiyahs and holding a rifle. National Post columnist Barbara Kay has wondered where all of the university Jewish studies programs have been with antisemitism on campus so rampant. She joins the show to discuss.
Plus, a new study finds there is no link between a company's ESG (environmental, social governance) score and its financial returns, so why are shareholders being told there is? Andrew digs in with Fraser Institute senior fellow Steven Globerman.
