Juno News - July 03, 2025


Feds approved over 17K foreign nationals with criminal convictions


Episode Stats

Length

13 minutes

Words per Minute

150.12517

Word Count

2,099

Sentence Count

95

Misogynist Sentences

1

Hate Speech Sentences

4


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Former Manitoba Hydro CEO Jay Grewal pocketed over $880,000 despite only holding the job
00:00:11.540 for a month and a half. An ISIS devotee was convicted of attempted murder for slashing a
00:00:17.100 Surrey bus rider's throat. Immigration Canada has approved over 17,600 applications from
00:00:23.960 foreigners with criminal convictions in the past 11 years. Hello Canada, it's Thursday,
00:00:28.920 July 3rd, and this is the True North Daily Brief. I'm Isaac Lamoureux. And I'm Jeff Knight.
00:00:35.300 We've got you covered with all the news you need to know. Let's discuss the top stories of the day
00:00:40.060 and the True North exclusives you won't hear anywhere else. Former Manitoba Hydro CEO Jay Grewal
00:00:50.960 received over $880,000 in compensation in 2024, despite working only a month and a half before
00:00:57.740 being dismissed in February. The payment, revealed in Manitoba Hydro's annual compensation disclosure,
00:01:03.760 has raised questions about accountability in taxpayer-funded institutions. Grewal's 2024
00:01:08.920 compensation of $881,177.94 represented a 61% increase from her 2023 salary and more than doubled
00:01:20.000 the earnings of any other Manitoba Hydro employee. Manitoba Hydro confirmed she received the amount
00:01:26.020 in accordance with the terms of the contract she had signed with the board at that time,
00:01:30.840 and emphasized that no severance was issued. The payment followed Grewal's dismissal two weeks
00:01:36.200 after she publicly reaffirmed Manitoba Hydro's intention to pursue wind power purchases from
00:01:41.880 private firms, a plan that contradicted the NDP government's stance on public-only energy
00:01:47.640 development. At the time, the minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, Adrian Salah, rejected the
00:01:54.340 suggestion that the policy dispute led to Grewal's termination, though the timeline of events has
00:01:59.900 drawn scrutiny. Manitoba Hydro's board chair, Ben Graham, said the leadership change followed a
00:02:05.500 three-and-a-half-month assessment initiated when the new NDP-appointed board took office in December.
00:02:11.360 Grewal's ouster came shortly after she stated in a January 30 speech that Manitoba Hydro may require
00:02:17.980 new power sources by 2029, reiterating a 2023 plan to source energy from private wind developers.
00:02:24.980 The board that hired her was appointed by the previous progressive conservative government.
00:02:29.600 So, Jeff, did the Manitoba government fail to hold Manitoba Hydro accountable? And how can
00:02:34.840 taxpayers be reassured something like this won't happen again? Yeah, Isaac, the Manitoba government's
00:02:39.800 handling of this massive payout strongly suggests a failure to hold the Crown Corporation accountable,
00:02:45.020 exposing weaknesses in oversight of taxpayer-funded entities. The payment, a 61% jump from Jake
00:02:51.860 Grewal's 2023 salary and double any other employees' earnings, was justified by Manitoba Hydro as
00:02:58.460 adhering to her contract with no severance added. Yet, the lack of transparency around those terms,
00:03:04.280 especially after her dismissal in February over a policy clash with the NDP government, raises red
00:03:10.140 flags. Minister Adrian Salah's denial of a link to her push for private wind power purchases, which
00:03:15.980 contradicted the NDP's public-only energy stance, clashes with the timing. Her ouster followed a
00:03:21.380 January 30 speech restating this plan, suggesting political interference or a board realignment under
00:03:27.160 new NDP appointees. The board chair, Ben Graham's claim of a three-and-a-half-month assessment starting
00:03:33.020 in December, overlapping her hiring by the prior progressive conservative board, further hints at a rushed or
00:03:38.500 politicized decision, leaving taxpayers footing an $880,000 bill with little justification. To
00:03:44.920 reassure taxpayers that such an incident won't occur, the government must implement stricter
00:03:49.140 accountability measures. First, mandating public disclosure of executive contracts, including exit
00:03:54.520 clauses, would prevent opaque payouts. Current rules under the Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act
00:04:00.420 only require salaries over $85,000 to be reported annually, not contract details. Secondly, establishing an
00:04:07.740 independent oversight committee, separate from political appointees, could review CEO performance and
00:04:12.940 terminations, ensuring decisions aren't swayed by policy disputes, as seen with Greville's wind power stance. Third,
00:04:19.160 capping severance or compensation adjustments during leadership transitions, say at 12-month salary, would limit
00:04:24.660 financial exposure, a step that the NDP could propose in the next legislative session. These reforms, paired with
00:04:30.600 regular audits of Hydro's board decisions, would signal a commitment to protecting public funds, addressing the
00:04:35.800 2025 CBC reports finding that 62% of Manitobans distrust Crown Corporation governance.
00:04:42.020 A man who slashed a Surrey bus rider's throat on behalf of the terrorist organization ISIS was convicted of
00:04:52.200 attempted murder for the benefit of a terrorist organization and now awaits sentencing in the new
00:04:57.140 Westminster Supreme Court. Justice Miriam Grapper on Monday convicted Abdul Aziz Khawam of attempted murder
00:05:03.280 for the benefit of a terrorist organization and assault with a weapon committed in association with a
00:05:08.260 terrorist group. The case has been adjourned to July 10th for sentencing. The circumstances behind the
00:05:13.500 charges and verdict are disturbing, appearing as a top-line item in a recent U.S. Department of State's
00:05:18.900 country reports on terrorism for Canada. The April 1st, 2023 attack that led to Khawam's conviction earlier
00:05:25.440 this week left one man with life-threatening injuries after his throat was slashed aboard a Route 503 Coast
00:05:31.860 Mountain bus at Fraser Highway and 148th Street. A second victim, also attacked at a nearby bus stop,
00:05:37.820 sustained a similar injury. Both victims survived the heroin attacks. During the Crown's closing
00:05:43.060 arguments, the court heard that on April 1st, 2023, just after 9 a.m., Khawam first approached someone
00:05:49.480 at a Surrey bus stop and asked if they were a Muslim. When the person replied no, Khawam stepped away to
00:05:55.280 pray for roughly two minutes, then returned and slashed at the man's neck with a knife. Roughly 13 minutes
00:06:01.340 later, Khawam boarded a Coast Mountain bus and, without provocation, attacked another rider,
00:06:06.700 slashing at his neck multiple times. That victim managed to push Khawam off the bus and survived,
00:06:12.520 despite serious injuries. During closing arguments, Federal Crown Prosecutor Sharon Steele told the court
00:06:18.360 there was no dispute about the facts of the attack, but that Justice Gropper had to determine whether
00:06:23.080 Abdul Aziz Khawam acted for the benefit of, at the discretion of, or in association with, the Islamic State.
00:06:29.020 In the days before the attack, Steele told the judge Khawam had downloaded a document from the
00:06:33.920 information-sharing app Telegram, which explained, quote,
00:06:37.520 It is not permissible to kill Muslims until it is proven that they committed an eye deferment,
00:06:42.700 the shedding of blood which links to the question posed to the first victim.
00:06:46.680 She added that the attack technique, using a knife to slash at the victim's throats,
00:06:51.380 was also consistent with the Islamic State's signature execution style.
00:06:55.160 Even further, 10 days before the attack even occurred, Khawam made a call to 9-1-1 himself,
00:07:01.720 telling the operator he, quote, pledged allegiance to Abu al-Husayn al-Husayni al-Qurashi,
00:07:08.240 the leader of the Islamic State at the time. Justice Gropper's decision stayed two charges,
00:07:13.800 including aggravated assault, aggravated assault for the benefit of a terrorist organization,
00:07:18.780 but still went to verdict for Khawam on the more serious charges of attempted murder with
00:07:23.120 terrorist benefit and assault with a weapon for terrorist benefit. True North will be covering
00:07:27.780 Khawam's sentencing on July 10th. So, Isaac, this is a pretty disturbing case. Why are Islamic-inspired
00:07:33.860 terrorist events becoming more common in Canada?
00:07:36.120 Yeah, Jeff, so there are obviously several factors contributing to the increase in the number of
00:07:41.100 Islamist-inspired attacks or plots in Canada. For example, there are still individuals in Canada
00:07:46.740 raising money for jihadist groups, including al-Qaeda affiliates. For example, one Toronto man
00:07:53.440 previously pled guilty to terrorism charges after he used online fundraising platforms allegedly
00:07:59.520 meant to aid victims in Gaza to funnel money to ISIS. We've also seen other literal terrorists
00:08:07.480 released under Canada's catch-and-release policy. Yes, a Yemeni man previously trying to join a
00:08:13.320 Middle Eastern terrorist organization was released on bail and put on house arrest.
00:08:18.980 And Islamic-inspired terrorist events are far from the only terrorist events occurring in Canada.
00:08:24.600 For example, even the new public safety minister, Gary Anandasangari, had to recuse himself from any
00:08:31.080 conversation regarding two designated terrorist groups in Sri Lanka due to his personal background
00:08:36.500 and community ties. Also, over the last 11 years, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada
00:08:43.880 approved more than 17,600 applicants from foreigners with criminal convictions seeking to enter the
00:08:49.940 country. So it really appears as if Canada is becoming a criminal safe haven. We recently saw some
00:08:56.620 Israeli reports that senior Iranian officials were fleeing to Canada. In the Surrey bus attack,
00:09:02.360 the assailant downloaded ISIS propaganda, instructing that only non-Muslims should be targeted,
00:09:08.940 which is consistent with patterns highlighted by the RCMP and CSIS in recent parliamentary testimony,
00:09:14.800 which noted that self-radicalization over the internet is now the most common pathway to violence.
00:09:20.440 CSIS also reported that in recent years, religious and ideological motivations have surpassed all other
00:09:25.860 forms of extremism as the leading driver of terrorist-related cases in Canada. A lack of decisive
00:09:32.340 enforcement and inconsistent de-radicalization strategies have left Canada vulnerable.
00:09:37.780 The federal government often downplays the role of extremist ideology for fear of
00:09:42.520 stigmatizing communities, which can deter early intervention. Canadian authorities sometimes avoid
00:09:47.940 explicitly acknowledging the religious dimension of attacks, labeling them as ideologically motivated
00:09:53.240 violent extremism without naming the specific ideology. The reluctance prevents the public from
00:09:58.700 fully understanding the scale of the problem and limits targeted prevention efforts.
00:10:06.220 During the last 11 years, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has approved more than 17,600
00:10:13.180 applications from foreigners with criminal convictions, seeking to enter the country,
00:10:18.360 raising public safety concerns and calls for transparency over the offenses that have been forgiven.
00:10:23.620 According to figures provided by the Immigration Department, individuals convicted of crimes abroad
00:10:28.760 were deemed rehabilitated and allowed to apply for entry into Canada between 2013 and 2024.
00:10:35.360 This opens doors to visas, temporary permits, and permanent residency that would otherwise be barred
00:10:41.180 due to inadmissibility based on foreign convictions.
00:10:44.300 While the IRCC says decisions are based on a detailed review of the seriousness of each offense
00:10:49.640 and the behavior of applicants since their conviction, critics are urging the federal government to
00:10:54.860 release more information on the nature of the crimes being pardoned.
00:10:58.260 Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel-Garner said, quote,
00:11:01.940 There have been questions about the adequacy of vetting many classes of people entering Canada.
00:11:06.580 If the public is going to have any confidence in the immigration system's vetting process,
00:11:10.920 there needs to be transparency about the types of convictions being forgiven.
00:11:14.420 Under federal immigration law, individuals convicted of acts considered criminal offenses in Canada
00:11:19.800 are typically inadmissible.
00:11:21.900 In 2024, IRCC approved 1,390 rehabilitation applications while rejecting only 105.
00:11:30.060 In 2023, it approved 1,505 and rejected 70.
00:11:35.580 The Department has not released a detailed breakdown of the offenses and questions.
00:11:39.840 For serious crimes, decisions are made by the Federal Minister of Immigration.
00:11:43.620 Spokesperson Nancy Caron said the department considers factors such as the number and seriousness of offenses,
00:11:51.400 the applicant's conduct since the offense, and community support.
00:11:55.400 But Jeff, why would the Canadian government want to admit foreign criminals into the country?
00:12:00.000 The Canadian government's decision to admit over 17,000 foreigners with criminal convictions
00:12:05.100 between 2013 and 2024 sparks significant public safety debates, and for obvious reasons.
00:12:10.680 One reason the Canadian government might be doing this is Canada's commitment to rehabilitation and second chances,
00:12:16.960 aligning with its multicultural identity and obligations under international human rights framework,
00:12:22.100 like the UN Convention relating to the status of refugees.
00:12:25.320 The IRCC's process, which deemed these individuals rehabilitated,
00:12:29.400 based on factors like the seriousness of their offenses and post-conviction behavior,
00:12:33.140 reflects a belief that past mistakes shouldn't permanently bar entry if risks are mitigated,
00:12:38.720 especially for those fleeing persecution or seeking to rebuild their lives.
00:12:42.480 Economically, the government may see potential in integrating these individuals,
00:12:46.120 particularly if they possess skills or labor contributions that address Canada's workforce shortages.
00:12:51.320 By 2025, Statistics Canada projects a need for 500,000 immigrants annually
00:12:56.560 to sustain growth amid an aging population.
00:12:58.960 For instance, approving rehabilitated offenders with trade skills could fill gaps in construction
00:13:03.880 or manufacturing, sectors hit hard by the recent UF tariff disputes.
00:13:08.020 Legally, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows for exceptions via rehabilitation
00:13:12.540 or ministerial discretion for serious crimes, providing flexibility to balance security with compassion,
00:13:19.000 as spokesperson Nancy Caron noted with considerations of community support.
00:13:23.280 However, the lack of transparency on offense types, criticized by Michelle Rempel-Garner,
00:13:27.900 fuels suspicion that this could be a pragmatic move to boost numbers or appease certain international allies,
00:13:34.240 risking public trust when 62% of Canadians, per a 2020,
00:13:39.960 are not a national threat of vetting.
00:13:44.420 That's it for today, folks. Thanks for tuning in.
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