Juno News - February 08, 2025


Did Danielle Smith save Canada？


Episode Stats

Length

14 minutes

Words per Minute

170.85158

Word Count

2,445

Sentence Count

128


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would receive a one-month reprieve from
00:00:15.860 President Donald Trump's tariff threats. The pause comes thanks to some concessions made by
00:00:21.200 Trudeau on the border. And if you've been following along, which I'm sure you have,
00:00:24.640 you'll know that Trudeau implemented some of Alberta Premier Daniel Smith's recommendations.
00:00:29.320 Edmonton's City Council passed a bylaw that will prohibit knives being sold in convenience stores,
00:00:34.900 which they said come in response to concerns of local business owners and residents.
00:00:39.640 The Alberta government is making some legislative amendments so that Jasperites who have been
00:00:44.440 displaced from their homes are able to participate in the upcoming municipal election, even if they
00:00:49.600 haven't returned to Jasper yet. Also, the Alberta government has followed through on their electric
00:00:55.540 vehicle tax that they promised last year. While there hasn't been as much news in Alberta as we're
00:01:00.260 used to this week, the first story has about five stories within it on its own. My name's Isaac
00:01:05.400 Lameru, your host of the show, and let's hop into that first story now. So you may recall that our
00:01:10.260 lead story last week was actually Smith calling on the Liberals to appoint a border czar to work with
00:01:15.040 US counterpart Tom Homan to avoid the incoming tariffs that the Trump administration was proposing.
00:01:20.660 She said the appointment of a border czar was the best way to avoid the tariffs after she had met
00:01:25.620 with dozens of US representatives, administrative officials, and Trump himself. And when Trudeau made
00:01:31.620 the announcement that Canada narrowly avoided the tariffs, given the threat was paused for 30 days
00:01:36.660 at the 11th hour, the first thing I noticed was Trudeau saying, quote,
00:01:41.300 Canada is making new commitments to appoint a fentanyl czar. We will list cartels as terrorists,
00:01:47.620 ensure 24-7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-US joint strike force to combat organized crime,
00:01:54.320 fentanyl, and money laundering. Yeah, so this announcement actually made me laugh a bit because
00:01:58.900 I wondered whether he named this incoming official a fentanyl czar instead of a border czar to avoid
00:02:05.400 giving Smith too much credit. Let me know in the comments what you think about that.
00:02:09.740 Additionally, Trudeau announced that his $1.3 billion border plan would include new helicopters,
00:02:16.800 technology, and personnel. He said that 10,000 personnel would be working on protecting the
00:02:21.660 border, but it's not clear how many of those are new hires and whether they are CBSA officers,
00:02:27.160 police officers, or what their background is. Smith said that diplomacy had won for now,
00:02:32.880 but that there were still more to do. She said, quote,
00:02:35.780 I once again call on our federal government officials and my fellow premiers to de-escalate
00:02:41.060 rhetoric, abandon any non-tariff measures for the time being, and turn our efforts entirely to
00:02:46.800 advocacy and good faith negotiation. There are so many win-win solutions on trade and security
00:02:52.400 between our two nations. Let us turn this crisis into an opportunity to fine them for the benefit of
00:02:57.760 Canadians and Americans. The premiers generally answered her call and removed their non-tariff
00:03:03.120 measures. I wrote an article about how each premier reacted to the news of the one-month pause,
00:03:08.280 and you can read it at tnc.news. Smith also said she'd be returning to Washington, D.C. next week
00:03:15.300 to continue diplomacy because, remember, the tariff is only paused for a month, not gone altogether.
00:03:20.720 Also, Smith said she'd be returning to America's capital later in the month to attend the National
00:03:25.560 Governors' Association Conference. She also met with every premier and the prime minister on Wednesday
00:03:30.960 morning to discuss how to move the border's security plan forward. Smith issued a statement
00:03:36.200 following the meeting, perhaps most notably calling for a federal election immediately after
00:03:41.840 the Liberal Party internal election concludes, which I'll remind you is on March 9th. She said that
00:03:46.920 a new Canada-U.S. trade agreement needs to be negotiated by a prime minister with a public mandate.
00:03:53.180 Smith said, quote,
00:03:54.120 To this end, we call on all Liberal leadership candidates and federal party leaders to agree
00:03:59.180 to an election to commence in March at the very latest. Yeah, let me know if you think we'll be
00:04:04.240 getting an election after the Liberal Party race or whether we're in for a long summer.
00:04:08.840 Moving to a story now that might help Edmontonians feel more at ease. As knife-related crimes have
00:04:14.640 been on the rise in Edmonton, despite other weapon-related offenses declining, Edmonton City Council
00:04:19.660 has passed a bylaw prohibiting the sale of knives in convenience stores, an idea previously floated
00:04:25.360 in the spring. The announcement was made Tuesday in response to concerns of local business owners
00:04:30.360 and residents. Keith Johnson, superintendent of EPS Crime Suppression and Community Operations
00:04:37.020 Division, said, quote,
00:04:38.720 Incidents involving edged weapons, in particular knives, continue to be an ongoing issue in Edmonton.
00:04:45.200 We're pleased with the city's decision to proceed with this bylaw and are hopeful it will have
00:04:49.480 positive impacts on community safety citywide. The Edmonton Police Service released 2024 crime
00:04:56.120 statistics at the end of January. The stats show that while firearm and pepper spray incidents
00:05:01.600 declined between 2023 and 2024, knife-related violent crimes rose from 949 to 979. Businesses will need to
00:05:11.100 comply with the new bylaws when they apply for a new business license or renew their existing one.
00:05:16.260 However, the city has encouraged businesses to voluntarily comply before their licenses are up
00:05:21.780 for renewal. The city said that the bylaw cannot be enforced retroactively, therefore it will only be
00:05:26.980 applied when licenses are renewed. And as for enforcement, when the bylaw is applied, the city said it will
00:05:32.740 primarily be complaint-based. The city added that it would be focused more so on education, but that
00:05:39.300 enforcement would follow where necessary. The news released from the city said,
00:05:44.040 EPS will have the authority to enforce the new operating requirements and seize weapons when
00:05:48.680 required. When the bylaw was initially proposed, local councillors heard from children who described
00:05:53.340 how common knives, brass knuckles, and bear spray had become. Many of the lethal knives were revealed
00:05:58.660 to have been bought in convenience stores. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said, quote,
00:06:03.060 convenient and quick access to knives makes our community less safe. Building a city that's safer
00:06:08.200 for everyone is our top priority, and by removing these easily accessible potential weapons from
00:06:12.880 convenience stores, all Edmontonians will feel more safe. The city said that the bylaw will take up to
00:06:18.000 two years to fully implement because that's how long business licenses last. Now some interesting
00:06:23.000 news out of Jasper for our next story. Minister of Municipal Affairs Rick McIver provided an update on
00:06:28.440 the upcoming municipal election and what it will mean for Jasper residents. He said that many Jasperites
00:06:33.520 have returned home, however unfortunately, many lost their homes and remain displaced. McIver said,
00:06:39.240 quote, regardless of their circumstances, it is critical that all residents who call Jasper home
00:06:44.400 have the opportunity to participate in their local democracy. He said that no matter where a Jasper
00:06:49.680 resident might be displaced to, they will be able to vote in the upcoming municipal election and even run
00:06:54.200 for office, either for a seat on the town council or for their local school board.
00:06:58.440 McIver proposed amendments to the local authorities election act so that Jasper residents retain their
00:07:03.280 residency and eligibility to vote and campaign as long as they were eligible to do so immediately
00:07:08.800 before the wildfire, that they intend to return to live in the community, and that they are not
00:07:13.900 disqualified for other reasons. McIver said, quote, as we look forward to October, I encourage any
00:07:19.680 temporarily displaced Jasper residents who are interested in running for Jasper town council or the school
00:07:24.740 board to do so, even if they are currently living outside of town. Local voices are crucial in
00:07:30.280 shaping the future of Jasper, and we want to ensure the right to participate remains intact, regardless of
00:07:35.100 temporary circumstances. Alberta also announced new funding for Jasper, so the provincial government
00:07:40.100 said it has provided over $170 million in support of Jasper residents and businesses since the wildfires
00:07:46.380 began. The provincial government is said to provide an additional $8 million to fund property tax relief,
00:07:52.040 to develop regional transit services, and to help recover lost municipal revenues.
00:07:57.500 McIver said, quote,
00:07:59.420 Wildfires don't just destroy homes and businesses, they change lives in ways that last much longer
00:08:04.660 than the flames. That's why we are providing an additional $8 million to the more than $170 million
00:08:10.740 that has already been provided to the municipality of Jasper during and after the wildfire. Our additional
00:08:16.660 support will provide residents and business owners with some much-needed relief, help maintain public
00:08:21.700 services, and connect communities through transit service for workers and residents who are still displaced.
00:08:27.160 The now $178 million that's been provided from the Alberta government consists of up to $149 million
00:08:33.620 in disaster recovery program funding, $7.5 million in emergency evacuation payments to more than 6,500
00:08:40.900 Jasperites, $12.9 million in matching funds to support the Canadian Red Cross in providing support to residents
00:08:47.620 and business owners in Jasper and more. The newly allocated $8 million consists of $1.9 million
00:08:53.540 in property tax relief, $1.12 million in education tax levy offset, and $3.1 million for 2024 revenue
00:09:01.460 losses for the municipality of Jasper. Additionally, a one-time $2 million transit grant is to support
00:09:07.520 contracted transit services, not capital costs will be provided. Our last story will be a brief update that
00:09:13.840 might affect your wallet if you happen to drive an electric vehicle, and if you do, let me know how
00:09:18.800 that's going given the fact that we just experienced minus 30 degrees. I'm wondering how the car held up.
00:09:24.160 You may remember that I reported back in February 2024 that Alberta was planning to begin taxing electric
00:09:29.680 vehicles at $200 a year beginning as early as January 2025. The tax rate was said to be in line with the
00:09:36.320 annual fuel tax paid by drivers of gas vehicles, but would not apply to hybrid vehicles. Additionally,
00:09:42.320 electric motorcycles and ATVs will not be subject to the tax. At the time, the Alberta government
00:09:47.280 said, quote, EVs tend to be heavier than similar internal combustion vehicles and cause more wear
00:09:52.800 and tear on provincial roadways while their owners pay no fuel tax. Now, the provincial government has
00:09:57.520 followed through on their promise, and starting February 13th, Albertans will be charged a $200 tax
00:10:03.200 when registering their electric vehicles. So if you do own an electric vehicle, try and see if you can
00:10:08.400 fast track your registration to save yourself $200. Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta said,
00:10:14.080 quote, owners of electric vehicles use the same roads as other Albertan drivers. It's only fair
00:10:18.960 they contribute to public services, including those that ensure the continued safety and upkeep of
00:10:23.680 Alberta's roads. That wraps up our stories for the week. Let's hop in to the comment roundup.
00:10:28.880 Yeah, so firstly, I just want to thank everyone for the comments last week. People keep asking me,
00:10:32.640 Isaac, how do you do it? How do you read through all of the hundreds of comments each week?
00:10:36.960 And what can I say? You guys make it easy with such insightful insights. So the first comment comes
00:10:42.640 from at Tina dash TZ2UD, who said, quote, they should all be in prison for what they did.
00:10:49.040 Seniors died alone and afraid away from their families beyond cruel. Yeah, Tina, I wanted to start
00:10:55.120 off with this comment to do my small part in the social mission of making sure we never forget what they
00:11:01.840 took from us. You're right. Seniors died alone. Families were torn apart. The list of terrible
00:11:07.520 things that happened on a social level due to the lockdowns is a lengthy list that goes on and on and
00:11:12.960 on. And society's memories seem rather fickle, especially when it comes to government. If we
00:11:19.440 stop talking about the realities of the pandemic and what Canadians lost, then we'll certainly forget.
00:11:24.800 So thank you, Tina, in helping me do my part and for doing yours.
00:11:29.120 The next comment comes from Artno 7088. I'm not sure how to pronounce that. In fact,
00:11:34.720 my first boss's name was Arno. But anyways, Artno, he said, quote, what a great thing Alberta government
00:11:41.600 just did. Very proud of them for putting this out. Everybody knows, but no other government has
00:11:47.120 the guts to say it. Yeah, I agree. No, especially, I mean, I shared your surprise when I first saw the
00:11:53.520 report and the actual evidence that they were reporting on. Of course, we've seen the reaction
00:11:58.080 from the legacy media and mainstream medical organizations. We'll remember the Alberta
00:12:03.120 Medical Association called the report, quote, anti-science and anti-evidence as if a 269 page
00:12:10.000 report filled with data and evidence from esteemed medical professionals who were previously suppressed
00:12:16.000 could be anti-science. It's through brave scientists and organizations publishing stuff
00:12:21.840 like this that will bring us eventually closer to the truth. And your comment also reminded me of
00:12:27.520 another made by Ensign Redshirt Ricky, who said, quote, these experts are afraid that they are one step closer
00:12:34.720 to being held accountable. And many of the other comments seem to agree with the sentiment and were
00:12:40.560 thankful for the report. The last comment comes from at Paul Wines 5918, who said, quote, Smith is correct
00:12:48.080 about the border czar. This position needs military style operations. We need armed personnel at our
00:12:53.920 borders. Right, Paul. So yeah, I actually reached out to the federal government and Public Safety Canada
00:12:59.200 asking them about what the czar would look like and more specifically what these 10,000 personnel
00:13:04.240 would look like. For example, would they be CBSA officers, police, intelligence officers or otherwise?
00:13:10.240 And I didn't receive a reply, but I am interested to see in the future, firstly, whether Trudeau will
00:13:15.280 heed Smith's advice to make her deputy minister, Paul Winnick, a former lieutenant general who served in
00:13:20.640 the army for 38 years, the borders are. I'm also curious to see what these 10,000 border personnel look like
00:13:26.960 and how many of them are new hires, whether they'll be armed, how they'll be trained and what else.
00:13:33.600 Let me know what you guys expect. And more importantly, whether you think Trump will be
00:13:37.440 appeased once this month long reprieve is over or whether new threats will emerge. That wraps up our
00:13:43.760 comment roundup in this week's show. My name is Isaac Lamoureux, your host of the Alberta Roundup.
00:13:48.880 Have a great weekend. Thank you and God bless. May Alberta prosper strong and free.
00:14:01.760 Thank you.
00:14:02.640 Thank you and God bless.
00:14:14.640 Thank you.