Juno News - December 31, 2022The 10 Biggest Stories of 2022
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Summary
The year of 2022 was a major year for Canadians. It was a year full of protests, global conflict, and political leadership changeups. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced some of his biggest challenges yet, including the nationwide Freedom Convoy protest movement. On the world stage, Russia's invasion of Ukraine set the world into disarray.
Transcript
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After speaking with opposition leaders, the federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act.
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2022 was a major year for Canadians. It was a year full of protests, global conflict,
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and political leadership change-ups. Domestically, Canada saw some delayed easing of COVID-19
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mandates and restrictions as the rest of the world moved quicker to open up. Prime Minister
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Justin Trudeau also faced some of his biggest challenges yet, including the nationwide Freedom
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Convoy protest movement. On the world stage, Russia's invasion of Ukraine set the world
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into disarray. These are the top 10 most influential stories of 2022 and what they might mean for the
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upcoming year. Number 10. Danielle Smith Passes the Sovereignty Act
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In a major attempt to shake up the federal-provincial balance of power, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's
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government passed the Sovereignty Act on December 8th, 10 days after the law was tabled. Smith
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promised during her campaign to replace outgoing Premier Jason Kenney that she would use the
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legislation to reinforce Alberta's jurisdiction over things like policing and managing its own
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natural resources. The federal government has indicated that they would challenge the law
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on constitutional grounds, setting up a possible showdown between Alberta and Ottawa in 2023.
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Ultimately, whether Alberta continues its fight with the federal government is largely dependent
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on the outcome of the 2023 provincial election, as NDP leader and Smith's main opponent, Rachel
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Notley, has called on the Trudeau government to revoke the act should it become law.
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Number 9. Trudeau's Invocation of the Emergencies Act
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On February 14th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to quash peaceful
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Freedom Convoy protesters who had set up in the nation's capital for weeks to demonstrate
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against federal COVID-19 mandates. What began as a protest movement by truckers opposed to a
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cross-border vaccination requirement ballooned into a nationwide movement that ultimately ended
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with federal, provincial and local police authorities arresting demonstrators en masse.
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The Liberal government's use of the law, which allowed police to freeze the bank accounts of
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protesters and their sympathizers, led to international condemnation of Trudeau,
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including while he was present in the European Parliament.
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Mr. Trudeau, you are a disgrace for any democracy. Please spare us your presence. Thank you.
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As required by law, the federal government commenced the Public Order Emergencies Commission
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to investigate whether the conditions required to declare an emergency were met.
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Commissioner Paul Rouleau's findings are expected to be presented in February 2023.
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Number 8. Pierre Polyev elected leader of the Conservative Party
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Carlton MP Pierre Polyev was elected leader of the federal Conservatives on September 10th
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in a sweeping victory that saw him take 68% of the vote on the first ballot.
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Polyev's election was seen by many as a break from the progressive side of the party.
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Throughout the campaign, Polyev maintained support for Freedom Convoy protesters,
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which saw him face many attacks from the legacy media and the Liberals.
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As the year closes, polls show that the Conservatives maintain a slight lead over the governing Liberals.
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However, without an election scheduled until 2025, Polyev still has a long path ahead of him.
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Number 7. Elon Musk hints at a Bill C-11 challenge.
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After taking over Twitter as the company's CEO in April,
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Elon Musk has indicated on several occasions that he's opposed to the Liberal government's
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Most recently, Musk said in response to a tweet by True North fellow Andrew Lawton
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that Bill C-11 and others are an attempt to muzzle Canadians.
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Musk's ardent free speech approach to running the platform has prompted both Canadian politicians
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and journalists to express outrage over the changes at Twitter.
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Although Musk has expressed interest in handing off the CEO position to his successor,
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as Bill C-11 reaches the final stages of the legislative process,
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social media companies will continue to ramp up their opposition to the regulatory scheme.
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Canadians gathered across Canada to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year.
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At the age of 96, while surrounded by her family, the late Queen was declared dead on September 8, 2022.
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With her passing, King Charles III immediately assumed the throne.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other prominent current and former politicians
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attended the state funeral of the late Queen soon after her passing.
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In May 2023, King Charles III will hold his coronation alongside the Queen Consort.
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Additionally, Canadians can expect the printing of new currency bearing the monarch's portrait next year.
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On February 24th, Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine.
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The war has had repercussions on Canada's supply chain, including making the cost of fertilizer even more unaffordable.
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Canada has responded to the invasion by issuing major sanctions against Russia
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and even closing the country's airspace to Russian planes.
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Some Canadians also jumped at the opportunity to serve on the front lines of the war.
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As exclusively reported by True North, the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Vancouver indicated
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thousands had expressed interest in joining the country's Volunteer Legion.
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Canadians can expect to see further global disruptions as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.
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Canadians will also face further pressure to expand its natural resource development
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to offset the world's reliance on Russian oil and gas.
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Nationwide discussion about assisted suicide reached a heightened level this fall
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after it was revealed that several veterans, including a Paralympic athlete,
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were offered assisted suicide by Veterans Affairs.
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In August, it was first reported that an official with the department
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had inappropriately suggested assisted suicide to a veteran seeking mental health treatment.
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Veteran Affairs eventually acknowledged the mishap and apologized.
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However, during the testimony before the Senate,
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veteran Christine Gauthier explained how she was told to seek assisted suicide
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The debacle has drawn international criticisms and forced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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to halt further opening up access to assisted suicide to those with mental health issues.
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Number 3. Ottawa Lifts Its Travel Ban on the Unvaccinated
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In June, the federal government officially lifted its vaccine requirement for domestic and international travel.
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After nearly a year of banning millions of Canadians from boarding a plane or train,
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the liberal government rescinded the policy due to pressures from the travel industry.
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On top of that, the liberal government also walked back on mandating the use of a Rivecan application for travel,
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which many blamed for severe airport delays across the country.
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When reversing the policies, the liberals left room for a potential return of mandates
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Since the pandemic has not been declared over by global health authorities,
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the federal government could still employ new measures to fight any further spread of COVID-19.
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In October, Vancouverites rejected the policies of former progressive mayor Kennedy Stewart by electing Ken Sim.
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Throughout his campaign, Sim presented himself as the law and order candidate,
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promising to hire an additional 100 police officers to combat surges and crime in the city.
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During his first few months in the position, Sim approved of a motion which requires police to wear body cams by 2025.
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In 2023, City Council will hash out the exact details of Sim's hiring plan
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and allocate appropriate budget resources to recruiting new police officers and mental health workers.
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Number 1. Oakville Prosthetic Breast Teacher Causes an International Scandal
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When news broke out that a teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School wore oversized prosthetic breasts to class,
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The teacher's antics led to several protests outside the school,
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with students expressing discomfort about the teacher's presence.
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As for administrators, the Hamilton-Wentworth School District has stood by the teacher,
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The Ontario government has since asked Education Ministry authorities
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to review dress codes for staff as a result of the incident.